Latin America

• Monday, July 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Castro promises idle land to farmers to boost food production

  

  Cuban President Raul Castro announced the redistribution of government land that is not in use to private farmers to stimulate food production and efficient farming. Cuba in spite of abundant farm land must import half of its food.

• Monday, July 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean ports system lacking for booming cruise industry

  

  With more than 400.000 tourists passing through Chile's ports in 2007 and an expected 12% growth this year, there is no doubt that cruise trips are gaining popularity in South America. Chile, along with Brazil and Argentina (the ABC triangle) is one of the leading providers of cruises through the southern tip of South America.

• Sunday, July 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean aide admits risk of loosing to conservatives

  

  Chile's ruling coalition “Concertación”, but challenged by protests and a slowing economy should be prepared to lose the 2009 elections after 18 years in power, the interior minister said in an interview published in the Santiago media.

• Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Meteorite trail surprises P. Arenas and Tierra del Fuego

  It is almost confirmed that the bright flash seen last Monday night in great parts of Magallaes region, included Tierra del Fuego in the extreme south of Chile was a meteorite.

• Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva praises strength and speed of regional integration

  South American integration is “advancing fast and with our own resources” said Brazilian president Lula da Silva on Friday during a regional summit in Amazonia with the presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela

• Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil and Colombia agree to joint Amazon border surveillance

  A defense agreement to share military information, technology, training, intelligence, weapons procurement and joint exercises will be signed this weekend between Brazil and Colombia when President Lula da Silva arrives for two-day talks with his counterpart Alvaro Uribe.

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uribe admits Red Cross symbol used in rescue operation

  

  Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted one Red Cross symbol was used in a daring and successful hostage rescue mission that took place two weeks ago.

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Tighter restrictions for site access in South Georgia

  

  Under the revised Tourism Management Policy document from the government of South Georgia, in the South Atlantic, tighter restrictions have been placed on site access for private vessels with more than 10 persons on board (including paid crew).

• Wednesday, July 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador, Venezuela agree to build biggest oil refinery

  

  Rafael Correa, the Ecuadorian president, and Hugo Chavez, his Venezuelan counterpart, have entered into an agreement to build the biggest oil refinery on South America's Pacific coast.

• Monday, July 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile basic rate up; consumer confidence at its lowest

  

  Chile's Central Bank raised its target interest rate by 50 points last week to 7.25%, the highest level since February 1999. Citing the need to pull back inflation to its 3% policy goal, the bank raised the monetary policy rate (TPM) for the third time in 2008.