Latin America

• Wednesday, August 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Hurricane Dean targets Mexican oilfields in the Bay of Campeche

  

  Dean smashed up the arty resort of Tulum and washed sand off the famous beach at Cancun before crossing the peninsula and heading out into the southern Gulf of Mexico where state oil company Pemex has hundreds of wells and installations.

• Wednesday, August 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Former IMF official recommends labor flexibility in Chile

  

  Anne Krueger, the former number two official in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), recommended greater labor flexibility for Chile's labor market on Monday. The economist also took a hard stance against arguments for an “ethical salary” for Chile's wage owners, a subject of much debate today in Chile.

• Wednesday, August 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Rubber stamp assembly gives initial approval to Chavez reforms

  

  Venezuela's National Assembly dominated by allies of President Hugo Chavez, gave unanimous initial approval Tuesday to constitutional reforms that would allow him to run for indefinite re-election, creates a popular militia, ends the Central Bank's autonomy and redefines property rights.

• Tuesday, August 21st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  United Nations finalizing Flash Appeal for Peru

  As the United Nations (UN) system finalizes a Flash Appeal for the earthquake stricken parts of Peru, UN inter-agency teams are assessing the situation in the affected areas.

• Tuesday, August 21st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Latam business climate “remains favorable”, says FGV

  

  Latinamerica business climate remained favorable in July and reached its highest level since April 2000, according to the quarterly report from the prestigious Brazilian Foundation Getulio Vargas, FGV.

• Monday, August 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Hurricane Dean batters Jamaica, heads toward Mexico

  

  Hurricane Dean buffeted Jamaica's southern coast, flooding the capital and littering it with broken trees and roofs after killing nine people earlier on its run through the Caribbean.

• Saturday, August 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean Catholic Church places income distribution top of the political agenda

  The nation-wide debate sparked in Chile by Bishop Alejandro Goic's recent call for an “ethical salary” for the Chilean working class assumed a new dimension this week with the publication the second quarter profits of Chile's large corporations and holding companies. Earnings were up sharply in all sectors, but the nation's minimum wage remains stuck at 180 US dollars per month.

• Saturday, August 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru sends soldiers to quake zone

  

  Peruvian soldiers have been deployed to keep order in areas affected by a devastating earthquake, as victims wait for relief supplies to arrive.

• Saturday, August 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Pte. Chávez and his counterpart Uribe to meet

  President Hugo Chávez will meet with his Colombian counterpart this month to discuss the Venezuelan leader's offer to help mediate a humanitarian exchange with Colombia's largest rebel group.

• Friday, August 17th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  United Nations rushes aid to quake-hit Peru

  

  The United Nations is rushing food, water purification tablets, cash and other forms of assistance to Peru following last night's powerful earthquake which struck south of the capital, Lima.