Latin America

Monday, February 2nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Obama rings Chilean president and invites her to visit US

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has been invited to visit the United States in the coming months by her counterpart Barack Obama. The two leaders had a long telephone conference and analyzed bilateral relations and exchanged ideas about the regional and world situation, according to the Chilean Executive.
Monday, February 2nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Colombian guerrillas release 4 hostages; Tuesday next stage

A Colombian soldier and three police officers were released from captivity by Marxist guerrillas Sunday night, completing the first stage of a three-step release of hostages
Monday, February 2nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Punta Arenas Methanex postpones coal turbine option

The Methanex group which operates in Magallanes region, next to Punta Arenas has decided to postpone the investment in a coal turbine, which would have helped re-route more natural gas to the actual methanol processing, according to the local press.
Monday, February 2nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Nicaraguan president Ortega abides by IMF requirements

Nicaragua's president Daniel Ortega has taken the oath to the new four members of the Central Bank board, one of the conditions demanded by the IMF to sign a three year support and monitor financial program.
Monday, February 2nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine tourists “flooded” Chile during January

Tourist activity in Chile during January increased 6.4% compared to the same month a year ago, totalling 424.536 tourists and an estimated 289 million US dollars, up 9% over January 2008, according to the Chilean Tourism Office.
Saturday, January 31st 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Uribe's third consecutive mandate lacks political support

President Alvaro Uribe's hometown newspaper reported Thursday that Colombia's immensely popular leader will not seek a third consecutive term in 2010 elections.
Friday, January 30th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Five South American presidents spurn Davos meeting

While bankers and politicians met this week in Davos for the World Economic Forum a rival summit in the Brazilian city of Belem challenged them and blamed the capitalist system for the current global crisis.
Friday, January 30th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Release of Colombian hostages planned for Sunday/Wednesday

A Colombian delegation headed by Senator Piedad Córdoba left for Brazil on the first leg of a multi-day journey to obtain the release of six hostages held by the FARC guerrilla group. The first stop is at San Gabriel de Cachoeira in Brazil's Amazon jungle, where the group will coordinate the hostage release
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean ruling coalition agrees on presidential candidate

Chile's Party for Democracy, or PPD, named former president and leader of the Christian Democrats Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle as presidential candidate for the December election.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Dengue epidemic in Bolivia; worst outbreak in 22 years

Landlocked Bolivia has declared a health emergency as a dengue fever epidemic spreads across much of the country. Health officials say it is the worst outbreak in 22 years and at least three people are known to have died from the disease.