Latin America

• Wednesday, April 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile: Airline wars continue

  

  The battle between Chile's three principle domestic airlines, LAN, Sky and Aerolínes del Sur has become increasingly heated over the past months.

• Wednesday, April 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile's armed forces 100 percent voluntary for first time in history

  

  Chile's Armed Forces announced Tuesday that the 16,050 new recruits for 2007 were all volunteers. Citing the new recruitment law which provided funding for marketing and better benefits for solders, over 40,000 applications were received for the available spots.

• Tuesday, April 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US-Chilean trade booming, up 25% over January 2006

  

  During January 2007 trade between Chile and Untied States reached 1.29 billion US dollars, up 26% from the same month in 2006, according to the latest report on bilateral trade from the Chilean-North American Chamber of Commerce. (AmCham).

• Saturday, March 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  El Salvador chosen as “pilot” country for ethanol project

  

  United States and Brazil invited El Salvador to become the “pilot” country for the production of ethanol thus helping to save on hydrocarbons, was confirmed in El Salvador by the country's president Elias Antonio Saca.

• Friday, March 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile: Street protest, teargas commemorate 1985 death of young Pinochet opponen

  

  Flying rocks and teargas marked the 22nd annual Young Combatants' Day, which commemorates the slaying of brothers Eduardo and Rafael Vergara Toledo by Augusto Pinochet's military forces in 1985.

• Friday, March 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Italy/Chile cooperation in renewable energy sector

  

  Chile's presidential Palace La Moneda put out the red carpet this week for a quick official visit from Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi. During the day-long visit Prodi announced his country hoped to increase investment in Chile, especially in the renewable energy sector.

• Friday, March 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile leads Latinamerica in information technology

  In a new study released this week by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Chile ranked 31 on a list of 122 countries for efficient use of information and communication technology. Only four Latin American countries made the top 50, of which Chile was the leader.

• Thursday, March 29th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  HMS Grafton becomes Chilean Navy's “Almirante Grafton”

  

  Former Type 23 frigate HMS Grafton was delivered Wednesday in Portsmouth to the Chilean Navy and renamed “Almirante Lynch”, according to a release from the Chilean Embassy in London.

• Thursday, March 29th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “Latinamerica at the crossroads”, four possible scenarios by 2020

  

  By Lord Triesman of Tottenham
  
  British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibilities for relations with Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Overseas Territories, the Commonwealth, UK visas, Migration policy, Consular policy, Public Diplomacy, including the British Council, the BBC World Service and the Chevening Scholarships Scheme.
  
  The speech at the House of Commons, March 28, was the launching of FCO Latin America strategy paper

• Thursday, March 29th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivian massive exodus before Spain no visa deadline

  

  Thousands of anxious Bolivians desperate to travel to Spain before Friday, when visas will begin to be required, flooded this week two of the country's main airports. In the middle of the chaos the government claims the massive exodus has been encouraged by travel agencies, some of which have swindled travelers.