Latin America

Friday, May 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez nationalizes Argentine foundry, Venezuela's largest

President Hugo Chavez ordered the expropriation of Venezuela's largest steel maker after attempts by the government to acquire a majority stake in the Italian-Argentine conglomerate Techint failed.
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Oil exploration in Magallanes Region begins in six months

The international hydrocarbons corporations which last October were awarded oil exploration licences in the extreme south of Chile signed on Wednesday the operation contracts with the Chilean government during a ceremony headed by President Michelle Bachelet in Punta Arenas.
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Bolivia wraps up majority control of oil and telephones

Bolivia announced on Thursday, May first, that it had completed the purchase of majority ownership of four energy companies by buying back shares in the firms as part of a nationalization drive started exactly two years ago.
Thursday, May 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Call to defend human rights activists in Colombia

A group of independent United Nations experts have called for urgent measures to protect those defending human rights in Colombia, following a recent surge in violence that includes killings, harassment and intimidation of civil society activists, trade union leaders and lawyers representing victims.
Wednesday, April 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Power failure causes panic in crime-ridden Venezuelan capital

A major power blackout hit almost 40% of Venezuela's territory and left Caracas in the dark for hours on Tuesday. Power was restored to most regions and Caracas by mid-evening. However a feeling of panic invaded Caracas because the transport system grounded to a halt and commuters had to walk through the crime-ridden city.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez threatens to expropriate Argentine company

President Hugo Chávez threatened to expropriate Venezuela's largest steel maker, which is owned by an Argentine group, due to what he said are the soon-to-be-nationalized company's excessive compensation demands.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colombian president said his gov. doesn't buy consciences

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said on Monday that his government “doesn't buy consciences”. Uribe was responding to reporters' questions about a scandal involving a former Congresswoman Yidis Medina who claims that in return for political favors she voted for a measure in 2004 that enabled the president's reelection.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile on the intellectual property “priority watch list”

For the second year in a row, Chile was placed on the intellectual property “priority watch list” released Friday in the US Trade Representative (USTR) annual “Special 301” report, which looks at intellectual property protection by US trading partners.
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Seven S. American countries launch the Bank of the South

South American Economy ministers agreed in Montevideo on an initial credit turnover of 20 billion US dollars for the regional development Bank of the South as well as each country member's contribution and credit access.
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
OAS mediation to prevent armed conflict in Bolivia

The OAS, Organization of American States, has sent a top negotiator to Bolivia in an attempt to mediate between the administration of President Evo Morales and Santa Cruz province governor Ruben Costas, ahead of next Sunday's controversial autonomy referendum which could signal the beginning of the dismembering of the landlocked country.