Latin America

• Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela interested in Antarctica and its rich resources

  

  Venezuela prepares to move into Antarctica following the naming of a “Presidential Commission on Antarctica” with the purpose of advising President Hugo Chavez on an official policy on the matter.

• Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Two women Colombian hostages to be released Thursday

  

  Colombia's government on Wednesday approved a mission sponsored by Venezuela to free two hostages held by cocaine funded leftist rebels, said a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

• Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean exporters howling: US dollar falling to 480 pesos

  

  With the US dollar in free fall the Chilean Association of Exporters, ASOEX have called on the country's authorities so that “once and for all they understand the situation that vast sectors of the Chilean economy are experiencing, particularly small and medium enterprises which represent a significant number of jobs”.

• Thursday, January 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Freedom at last for FARC hostages in Colombia

  

  Colombian rebels freed two women held hostage for more than five years, handing them over Thursday to Venezuelan officials who flew them to Caracas where a triumphant President Hugo Chavez awaited

• Wednesday, January 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  P Arenas abattoir geared for Arab clients looks to Mecca

  Next January 17 Chilean Minister of Agriculture Alvaro Rojas will inaugurate an abattoir for sheep in Punta Arenas which has been specifically conditioned for Islamic markets. The slaughtering space looks towards Mecca the holiest of all Islamic cities which is an advantage to for selling to Arab countries.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean government aid for Magallanes private sector

  Almost five million US dollars in development funds were delivered last year to 519 companies in Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile, which represents a 30% increase over 2006.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Norwegian company suspends energy project in Chile

  Norwegian energy company SN Power recently agreed to temporarily suspend activities on its southern Chile Region XIV hydroelectric project due to vocal opposition from local indigenous groups.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Morales and dissident governors reach Bolivian unity pact

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales and provincial governors have agreed to draw up a pact of national unity to prevent the country from splitting apart. Mr Morales and the governors said they want to settle their differences over a new draft constitution and revenues from natural gas exports.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombia: no more international humanitarian missions

  Colombia will allow no more international missions seeking the release of hostages held by leftist cocaine funded rebels after a Venezuela-led plan dissolved in a flurry of accusations last week, the government announced Monday in Bogota. However FARC said the handover operation is still on and Argentina expressed “dismay” at the Colombian government's attitude.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Two weekly flights Santiago-Pto Natales Torres del Paine park

  Air Comet a Chilean subsidiary of the Spanish Group Marsans is expanding domestic flights in the country and announced two weekly flights to Puerto Natales, in the extreme south of Chilean Patagonia.