Latin America

Sunday, June 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez names new Finance minister ahead of by-election

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez named on Sunday Ali Rodriguez, a trusted ally who has also served as head of state oil company PDVSA, as Minister of Finance. Rodriguez is currently ambassador in Cuba and was once secretary general of OPED and has also held the post of Foreign Affairs minister.
Sunday, June 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US currency gaining lost ground in Chile: 500 pesos per dollar

The US dollar is expected to open with a strong push in the Chilean money market on Monday having closed on Friday above the benchmark of 500 Chilean pesos, the highest so far this year.
Friday, June 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ecuador's Correa says assassination plot a scam

Police in Ecuador have arrested three Colombians and an Ecuadorian accused of plotting to kill the country's leftist president Rafael Correa, officials say.
Friday, June 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Latam growth prospects slowdown in rest of 08 and 09

Latin American and Caribbean economies will start to slow in the second half of this year and possibly into 2009 because of the rise in oil and food prices, the United Nations Latinamerican Economic Commission, Cepal said on Friday.
Thursday, June 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Cubans who work more will get higher salaries

In what some experts call Raúl Castro's boldest break yet from socialism, Cuban state companies have until August to overhaul their salary structures to one that pays hard-workers more than slackers, the government newspaper reported Wednesday.
Thursday, June 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Bishops praise Chavez for back stepping on his “snitch law”

Archbishop Reinaldo del Prette from the Venezuelan city of Valencia has praised the decision by President Hugo Chavez to review a controversial law on national intelligence that some say would violate fundamental rights such as the seal of confession.
Thursday, June 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Pax survive aircraft crash and 5 days in southern Chile forest

A plane carrying 10 people that disappeared four days ago in Chile's frigid southern forests was found Wednesday with nine survivors who stayed alive by huddling for warmth, sharing food and sheltering in the plane's wreckage.
Thursday, June 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Whale hunting ban is not enough to protect sanctuary”

A recent proposal to make Chile's entire coastline as a no-hunt whale sanctuary may not be enough to safeguard Chile's whales, according to world-renowned marine biologist and conservationist advocate Rodrigo Hucke-Gaete.
Wednesday, June 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
London world's leading financial centre; Santiago in Latam

London has been named the most influential financial centre in the world for the second consecutive year in spite of competition from fast rising hubs in Asia, according to MasterCard's second annual survey.
Wednesday, June 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Venezuela invites private sector with joint ventures

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez said foreign investors have no longer “any room in the country” because they are only interested in making money and transferring earnings overseas. However, he invited private companies to joint ventures in “non strategic” areas of the economy.