Latin America

• Saturday, February 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas premium beer to the US, UK and Mexico

  

  Chilean brewery Austral from Punta Arenas has announced it will begin exporting to the United States, Mexico and England. The company will market its premium Calafate, Yagun and Patagonia brands in select locations.

• Friday, February 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Exxon Wins Freeze on $12 Billion in Venezuela Assets

  

  Exxon Mobil Corp. won court orders in the U.S., U.K., the Netherlands and the Caribbean freezing more than $12 billion in Venezuelan assets amid a battle over the government's seizure of oil projects.

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile ready to announce electricity saving measures

  Depleted reservoirs, the recent closure of a major generating plant and an expected consumption surge in March have Chilean authorities concerned about Chile's ability to meet its growing electricity needs.

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Multiple factors in '02 collapse of Larsen B shelf say scientists

  

  Two scientists have claimed that climate change was not the only cause of the collapse of a 500 billion tons ice shelf in Antarctica six years ago. The 200 meters thick, 3.250 square kilometers Larsen B shelf broke apart in March 2002.

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombian Defense Minister says ties with Israel are strong

  

  Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday praised his country's long defense relationship with Israel, saying he sought to boost it further by setting up a bilateral fund for technological research and development.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Latin America Seeks Trade Alternatives

  The decline of U.S. “soft power” in South America has encouraged increased trade relations with other partners, including more arms trading, as well as rejection of U.S. calls for a shift away from conventional military to “constabulary” forces.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru en route to become significant LN gas exporter

  

  Peru's liquefied natural gas exporting project will receive a 300 million US dollars loan from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, reported the bank.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Gay marriages and end to travel restrictions in Cuba?

  

  A Cuban minister who accepts gay marriages and a world known revolution-faithful musician hopeful that traveling permits for Cubans wishing to leave or travel to the island are finally eliminated, seem to be evidence of a new tolerant environment in the continent's longest lasting dictatorship.

• Tuesday, February 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Strong earthquake shakes Peru-Chile border

  

  A strong earthquake, centered in the Andes mountains, struck Chile Monday afternoon near its borders with Peru and Bolivia.

• Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuelan military 'on alert' for possible Colombian threat

  

  President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela's military is on alert for possible threats from Colombia, warning the neighbouring government not to try to stir up an armed conflict.