Latin America

• Wednesday, November 21st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Elections and further step for the Cuban regime transition

  

  Cuba announced Tuesday it has set January 20 for national elections that are part of the process of determining whether ailing leader Fidel Castro continues as president. The ruling, signed by interim leader Raul Castro and read on state television, set the date for elections to provincial and national assemblies — voting that is held every five years.

• Wednesday, November 21st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuadorian leader in control of charter reform assembly

  

  Ecuador's populist President Rafael Correa will control more than 60% of an assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution for the politically unstable nation, according to official election results released earlier this week.

• Wednesday, November 21st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Copper prices fall to 8 month low below 3 dollars benchmark

  

  Copper prices fell on Wednesday to an eight-month low, below 3 US dollars per pound, on the London Metal Exchange after rising dramatically last week due to several earthquakes in northern Chile's mining region. However the monthly average for copper remains at 3.21 US dollars.

• Monday, November 19th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Guyana accuses Venezuela of serious border incident

  

  Guyana insisted over the week end in accusing Venezuelan involvement in the destruction of two gold-mining dredges on Guyanese territory in spite of Venezuelan denial of such an action. Guyana's claim follows a military report on the incident.

• Monday, November 19th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  False tick or sheep ked outbreak in Magallanes flock

  

  Magallanes region flock in the extreme south of Chile is suffering an outbreak of melophagus ovinus, more commonly known as sheep's ked, with an estimated 10% of farms under strict sanitary control.

• Monday, November 19th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Royal “Why don't you shut up”, ring-tone hit in Spain & Latam

  

  The King of Spain's undiplomatic outburst at the Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez during the recent Ibero-American summit in Chile has become a ring-tone hit across Spain and much of Latinamerica.

• Saturday, November 17th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Magallanes extends oil licences to five global companies

  

  Five international corporations have won bids for hydrocarbons exploration and production in nine out of ten blocks in the extreme south of Chile, --Magallanes Region--, was announced on Thursday by the country's Deputy Mining Minister Diego Vio in Punta Arenas.

• Friday, November 16th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Spain downplays incident with Venezuela's Chavez

  Spain has sought to end tensions with Venezuela after President Hugo Chavez said he would review his country's ties with Spain. Meeting on Thursday with diplomats and reporters in Madrid Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Spain will defend its interests without more unnecessary gestures.

• Friday, November 16th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela, like Iran to launch peaceful nuclear program

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez this week told a French TV channel that Venezuela, just like Iran, is launching a peaceful nuclear program.

• Friday, November 16th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Guess what leaders Bush, Chavez and Castro share?

  

  Brazil and Chile's presidents, Lula da Silva and Michelle Bachelet, are the leaders with the greatest support in Latinamerica according to the results of a public opinion poll from Corporacion Latinobaromentro, released Friday in Santiago de Chile.