Latin America

• Monday, November 9th 2009 - 09:42 UTC

  Chavez tells Venezuela to “prepare for war” and warns Obama and Uribe

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called on the military to prepare for war and help train the civilians in the midst of an escalating dispute with neighbouring Colombia which last week ratified a treaty giving United States access to Colombian military bases.

• Monday, November 9th 2009 - 09:06 UTC

  Lack of rain threatens the world’s highest lake in the world

  

  The lack of rains in most of Bolivia has caused the level of the highest lake in the world, Titicaca, shared by Bolivia and Peru, to drop 4.5 metres in the last month, according to government reports quoted in La Paz press.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 16:37 UTC

  Polls show 7 points lead for Uruguayan incumbent presidential candidate

  

  Uruguay’s ruling coalition presidential ticket, --Jose Mujica and Danilo Astori--, has a seven percentage points advantage over the opposition, Luis Alberto Lacalle and Jorge Larrañaga, for the run off the last Sunday of November, according to the latest opinion polls released in Montevideo

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 16:32 UTC

  Petrobras testing discovery of “huge” natural gas reserves in Peru’s Amazon

  

  Brazil's Petrobras said on Friday it is still studying drilling results from lot 58 in Peru's Amazon and has yet to estimate natural gas deposits there, a day after Peruvian President Alan Garcia said the company struck a large find.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 16:30 UTC

  In spite of coup denials Paraguayan president continues with military purge

  

  Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo continued to purge the top ranks of the military Friday, removing the armed forces' commander. Lugo fired the commanders of the country's army, air force and navy on Wednesday.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 16:16 UTC

  Mining and construction backbone of Chile’s economic recovery

  

  Mining and construction industries have led Chile’s economic recovery, according to a recently released economic report.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 14:56 UTC

  Chilean president Bachelet approval soars to record 80% in October

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's approval rating rose to a record 80% in October, from 76% the previous month, according to an opinion poll published Thursday by polling institute Adimark GfK.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 14:54 UTC

  Five days paid “honeymoon leave” for Chilean newlyweds

  

  A proposed new law will guarantee Chilean employees five paid working days as “honeymoon leave” and will not take away from the legal yearly vacation days workers are given.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 08:39 UTC

  Uribe’s public opinion support falls below 70% for the first time in 7 years

  

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe popularity rating is at it's lowest in his seven years in government, according to a recent public opinion poll. Uribe’s popularity rating fell from 70% to 63% in the last two months.

• Saturday, November 7th 2009 - 08:38 UTC

  Honduras crisis deal confirms Valenzuela nomination to the State Department

  

  The United States Senate finally approved Thursday evening the nomination of Arturo Valenzuela as Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, putting an end to three months of Republican veto because of the Obama administration policy towards Honduras.