Latin America

Friday, February 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Bolivia bitterly divided over constitutional vote

A bitterly divided Bolivian Congress on Thursday approved a May 4 referendum on President Evo Morales' proposed constitutional review, which would grant greater political power to Bolivia's long-oppressed indigenous groups and greater government intervention in the economy.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Released FARC hostages meet relatives in Venezuela

Four hostages held by Colombian FARC rebels were released on Wednesday, in a deal brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Several Chilean regions facing worst drought in a century

Chile's Agricultural Ministry added this week 46 districts to the growing list of agricultural zones under a state of emergency. The news comes as farmers in small towns in south-central Chile continue to loose crops and livestock due to severe drought, prompting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to call an emergency meeting in order to address the situation.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Report shows links between banks' crisis and heart attacks

There could be thousands more heart attacks if the banking crisis keeps expanding suggests a paper from Cambridge University. The report, which examines how banking crises in the UK have affected health in the last 40 years, is one of the first to look at the relationship between the two.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Most foreign tourists this summer opted for Santiago

Most foreign tourists which arrived in Chile this 2008 summer chose the capital Santiago and its surroundings as the main attraction to visit. Most of the 750.000 tourists came from Argentina, Brazil and United States, according to Sernatur, Chile's Tourism Office.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colombia forces capture a senior member of FARC

Colombian security forces have arrested a senior member of the country's largest insurgency group and one of the most wanted rebels announced the government of President Alvaro Uribe.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Light plane crashes in Santiago killing eleven

A small instruction plane belonging to Chile's Carabineros (uniformed police) crashed Wednesday morning into a recreational complex in the capital Santiago's Peñaloén borough. The accident left at least 11 people dead and a number of others injured.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Four years of de-mining” operations in Tierra del Fuego

Four years are needed to clear the five minefields planted by the Chilean Army in northern Tierra del Fuego, although one of them will be officially certified as “de-mined” at the end of 2008 according to Chilean Defence ministry sources, reports La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas.
Thursday, February 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
France warns FARC on Betancourt's fragile condition

France warned on Thursday that French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt may have only weeks to live, after fellow captives released by Colombia's FARC guerrillas said her health was failing rapidly.
Wednesday, February 27th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Venezuela May Begin FARC Hostage Rescue today

Venezuela has said it is ready to recover four hostages held by Colombian rebels, in the second release deal brokered by the government of Hugo Chavez this year.