Latin America

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean salmon magnate promotes Patagonia tourism industry

  

  Chilean businessman Víctor Hugo Puchi, owner of the very successful farmed salmon company AquaChile, is setting his sights on southern Chile's growing tourism industry.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US regional offensive in support of free trade agreements

  

  United States Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte warned Wednesday that rejection by the Democrat controlled Congress of free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Panama would mean a serious blow for Washington's interests in the region.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez completes re-nationalization of oil reserves

  

  Venezuela took control of the Orinoco oil installations on May first completing the process of “re-nationalization” of the nation's oil reserves. President Hugo Chávez led celebrations of the takeover of the Orinoco Oil Belt which could convert Venezuela into the country with the largest oil reserves.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia takes control of oil and gas industry

  

  Bolivia's government owned energy company YPFB took control on Wednesday of the country's oil and gas industry after a dozen oil companies, including Repsol YPF SA, British Gas, Total and Petrobras signed new contracts today.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela Set To Gain Control Of Its Oil Fields

  

  Venezuela's military might will be on full display on Tuesday as Hugo Chávez, the country's president and a former paratrooper, celebrates winning back Venezuela's natural resources in the oil-rich Orinoco for the people.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  South America's power players jockey for regional position

  Known for military strongmen, Latin America has mostly embraced peace since the end of the 1980s era of right-wing dictatorships. Now flush with profits from a commodities boom, however, many Latin American countries are beefing up their military capabilities as they seek to ascend the ranks of regional power players.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Santiago de Chile skies reach dangerous levels pollution

  Santiaguinos stuck in the city for the long weekend faced the first environmental alerts of the year after an increased level of air contamination was detected on Friday night. The contamination alerts were issued for Saturday and Sunday.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Sierra Club joins campaign to protect Chile's Patagonia

  

  Opponents of plans to construct several massive hydroelectric dams in Chile's northern Patagonia region are welcoming a new and very influential ally: the Sierra Club.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Former Chilean president named special envoy on climate change

  

  The former president of Chile, the first woman Prime Minister of Norway and the President of the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly were named on Monday Special Envoys for Climate Change by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has made the issues one of his top priorities.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez threatens with leaving OAS if Venezuela is condemned

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has threatened withdrawal from the Organization of American States, OAS, if Venezuela is condemned over the case of the private television station, Radio Caracas Television, RCTV.