Latin America

• Tuesday, March 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Earthquake strikes northern Chile, no damage reported

  

  A 6.1-magnitude quake has hit northern Chile close to the border with Bolivia, the US Geological Survey reports.

• Monday, March 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Renewed tension: Bogota confirms body belongs to Ecuadorian

  Colombian Defence minister Juan Manuel Santos confirmed Sunday that one of the bodies recovered by Colombian troops when the March first raid on Ecuadorian territory was effectively of an Ecuadorian.

• Saturday, March 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador warns Colombia over raid

  Ecuador's President Rafael Correa warned on Saturday that diplomatic tension with Colombia will rise if an Ecuadorians was among the dead in a bombing raid on a rebel camp inside its territory this month.

• Friday, March 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  South America better prepared for US recession challenge

  

  Although the Latin American economy isn't “immune” to the crisis in the United States, it's in a better position than 10 years ago and Central America and the Caribbean will feel the effects more than South American countries, said World Bank vice president Pamela Cox this week in Bogota.

• Thursday, March 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez support plummets but opposition still under

  

  Support for Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez government has fallen to its lowest level since 2003, according to a new public opinion poll still reflecting damage from a stinging referendum vote defeat last December.

• Thursday, March 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean main banker cautions on low US dollar speculation

  

  Chile's Central Bank (BC) president Jose De Gregorio cautioned this week against speculation on the low US dollar, warning that, when the currency begins to regain value, such actions could cause significant financial losses.

• Wednesday, March 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile soccer friendly gesture towards Bolivia

  

  Though often at serious political odds, Chile and Bolivia appear to see eye-to-eye on at least one thing – football. In a move that surely put a smile on the face of football-mad Bolivian President Evo Morales, the Chilean Football Federation (ANFP) agreed this week to play its upcoming June 14 World Cup qualifier match against Bolivia in La Paz.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela wins asset freeze case against Exxon

  

  Exxon Mobil Corp.'s freeze on $12 billion of assets belonging to Venezuela's state oil company was overturned by a U.K. court in a set-back for the U.S. energy company in its dispute with President Hugo Chavez.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador and Colombia express satisfaction with OAS resolution

  Organization of American States (OAS) ministers meeting on Tuesday rejected the incursion by Colombian troops of Ecuadorian territory but also underlined the commitment of all member states to combat threats to security caused by the actions of irregular groups or criminal organizations and non interference in the internal affairs of other states.

• Monday, March 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru warns Venezuela against funding leftists

  

  Peru's prime minister accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Monday of secretly financing leftist causes in the country to spread his brand of socialism in Latin America.