Latin America

• Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil and Colombia agree to joint Amazon border surveillance

  A defense agreement to share military information, technology, training, intelligence, weapons procurement and joint exercises will be signed this weekend between Brazil and Colombia when President Lula da Silva arrives for two-day talks with his counterpart Alvaro Uribe.

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uribe admits Red Cross symbol used in rescue operation

  

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted one Red Cross symbol was used in a daring and successful hostage rescue mission that took place two weeks ago.

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Tighter restrictions for site access in South Georgia

  

  Under the revised Tourism Management Policy document from the government of South Georgia, in the South Atlantic, tighter restrictions have been placed on site access for private vessels with more than 10 persons on board (including paid crew).

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador, Venezuela agree to build biggest oil refinery

  

  Rafael Correa, the Ecuadorian president, and Hugo Chavez, his Venezuelan counterpart, have entered into an agreement to build the biggest oil refinery on South America's Pacific coast.

• Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile basic rate up; consumer confidence at its lowest

  

  Chile's Central Bank raised its target interest rate by 50 points last week to 7.25%, the highest level since February 1999. Citing the need to pull back inflation to its 3% policy goal, the bank raised the monetary policy rate (TPM) for the third time in 2008.

• Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Madonna December tour to Brazil, Argentina and Chile

  

  Although there's no official confirmation from world pop star Madonna's office about the dates of her South American tour next December, local representatives activities give a clear idea of what her schedule could be.

• Saturday, July 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Cubans must prepare for “realistic” brand of communism

  

  President Raul Castro warned Cubans on Friday to prepare for a “realistic” brand of communism that is economically viable and does away with excessive state subsidies designed to promote equality on the island.

• Saturday, July 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Latam must double investment in infrastructure

  

  In the immediate future, Latinamerica must invest between 150 and 200 billion US dollars a year in infrastructure in order to boost economic growth and reduce poverty, World Bank Vice President, Pamela Cox said in Lima, Peru.

• Friday, July 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez and Uribe “turn the page on a stormy past”

  

  President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe signed several agreements to promote closer ties, after months of political tension.

• Friday, July 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  FARC admits it was betrayed by its own men in military rescue

  

  Colombia guerrilla group FARC said on Friday it was betrayed by its own men in last week's military rescue of the former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages that added to a string of recent setbacks.