Latin America

Wednesday, March 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile revamps famed pension system

Some 600,000 poor Chileans will receive monthly pensions starting in July under a law signed Tuesday by President Michelle Bachelet that plugs gaps in Chile's widely copied private pension system
Wednesday, March 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil is Chile's main direct foreign investment target

Santiago daily La Tercera reported that Brazil has become the top destination for Chilean foreign direct investment in 2007: more than 44% of the Chile's foreign direct investment, 427 million US dollars, was directed towards South America's largest economy.
Tuesday, March 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile/Ecuador agree to explore for gas in Gulf of Guayaquil

Chile and Ecuador will join in exploring for oil in the Gulf of Guayaquil, visiting Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said Monday in Santiago.
Tuesday, March 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Magallanes co-sponsors reopening of Antarctic base

Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile will co-sponsor the reopening of a base in the Antarctic continent which was inaugurated in 1947 but closed down in 2006, allegedly for budget reasons.
Monday, March 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chilean salmon industry faces new challenge

An association of 16 fishermen groups from Chilean Patagonia is calling on President Michelle Bachelet to freeze expansion of Chile's lucrative but environmentally-suspect farmed salmon industry.
Sunday, March 9th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez “happy” wirh regional summit and urges Latam unity

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said the “happy” end to the regional crisis with Colombia should boost unity in Latin America.
Sunday, March 9th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
NZ company buys Chile's largest farm in 80 million dollars

A New Zealander company called Manuka has finalized a deal to buy most of Hacienda Rupanco, Chile's largest farm.
Sunday, March 9th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
As tensions ease, Chavez reopens embassy in Colombia

Venezuela said Sunday that it is reopening its embassy in Colombia and will allow back Colombian diplomats expelled last week by President Hugo Chavez in a crisis sparked by a cross-border Colombian attack on rebels in Ecuador.
Saturday, March 8th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Andean countries shake hands; hope for hostages' release

The presidents of Ecuador, Venezuela and Colombia shook hands on Friday at the Rio Group regional summit, marking the end of a diplomatic crisis in the Andean region and the opening of a fresh start in an area plagued by irregular forces.

The crisis had been triggered by a cross-border raid by Colombian troops into Ecuador to attack FARC rebels and kill their number two leader.
Friday, March 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina/Venezuela complement “food and energy” axis

Argentina and Venezuela are countries of “absolute and necessary complementation in the context of the main axis of the XXI century, food and energy” said Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Thursday following the signing of food for energy agreements with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.