Latin America

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Evo Morales in Moscow to sign gas development deal

  

  Evo Morales has become the first Bolivian President to visit Russia, after touching down in Moscow on Sunday. Morales is expected to sign crucial natural gas cooperation agreements and seek aid to combat drugs.
  
  The visit is also viewed as another sign of Russia's increased interest in Latin America.
  
  Morales told reporters on Friday that he would discuss the immediate purchase of helicopters and loans of other aircraft to fight coca production when he visits Russia.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivarian leader Chavez day-after financial challenges

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's overwhelming victory in Sunday's referendum which enables him to run again in 2012, and successively to ensure the mounting of the Bolivarian Socialist revolution, is bound to experience the day-after hang over given the country's economy dependence on oil.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile with World Bank support turns to wind energy

  

  The World Bank Group is sponsoring with 61.5 million US dollars the construction of the first wind farm in Chile, advancing the development of renewable energy in Chile.

• Sunday, February 15th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador defers (”illegitimate) bonds' interest payments

  

  Ecuador won't pay bondholders 135 million US dollars in interest while it decides whether to default on a significant percentage of its foreign debt, deemed “illegitimate” by in audit, said on Saturday Finance minister Maria Elisa Viteri.

• Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela: incident with Spain before crucial referendum

  Spain said on Saturday it was preparing an official complaint against Venezuela's decision to deport a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for criticising the Venezuelan electoral commission.

• Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile annoyed with Fidel's “meddling” reflections

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday she was annoyed at “meddling” comments by former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who wrote in an article that Chile snatched Bolivia's only sea access in the 19th century.

• Friday, February 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela readies to vote controversial indefinite re-election

  Venezuelan armed forces started on Friday moving to polling stations in Caracas to guarantee security during the upcoming Sunday referendum that would abolish term limits of elected leaders and could allow President Hugo Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely.

• Friday, February 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Bachelet finds Fidel Castro “very active and very agile”

  Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro met with visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Thursday said she found him “very active and in good condition” and “very much interested in Chilean affairs”.

• Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean peso at a four month high against US dollar

  

  The Chilean peso hit a new four-month high on Wednesday, driven higher as banks and pension funds sold dollars to buy local bonds, while stocks retreated ahead of a likely aggressive central bank rate cut.

• Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Panama Canal forecasts 5% drop in cargo tonnage

  

  The global slowdown have influenced estimates of the Panama Canal Authority, CAP, which now forecasts a 5% drop in cargo tonnage going through the waterway in 2008-2009. This represents a decrease close to 19.9 million tons, leaving a total of 294.1 million.