Latin America

• Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez calls FARC to release civilians and stop kidnapping

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez confirmed he was working for the release of a third group of hostages held by the Colombian guerrilla group FARC, including Ingrid Betancourt and urged the rebels to free all civilian hostages.

• Sunday, April 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  World Bank grant for Haiti to prop social safety net programs

  The World Bank announced Sunday a 10 million US dollar grant for Haiti to help the Government respond to the increasing, unaffordable prices of food for poor families.
  
  In Haiti, the prices of rice, corn, beans, cooking oil and other foodstuffs have increased significantly in the last few months.

• Friday, April 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Record copper prices and record budget surpluses in Chile

  

  The Chilean government said Thursday that the record high copper price reached on the London Metal Exchange, over 4 US dollars a pound, is “good news” but also demands prudence.

• Friday, April 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile intervenes foreign exchange mart to weaken Peso

  

  Chile's central bank, under pressure from Congress and exporters to weaken the peso, announced Thursday it will buy 8 billion US dollars in currency markets this year to increase reserves and in response to the sharp appreciation against the dollar.

• Friday, April 11th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil is promoting South American Defence Council

  

  Brazil's Minister of Defence Nelson Jobim announced visits to neighboring countries to promote the Brazilian initiative for a South American Defence Council. Addressing the Defence and Foreign Affairs committees of the Brazilian Congress Mr. Jobim said next Monday he would be traveling to Venezuela, Surinam and Guyana the first leg of the regional tour.

• Thursday, April 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez nationalizes steel sector partly owned by Argentina

  

  President Hugo Chavez announced plans to nationalize Venezuela's biggest steel maker, Sidor, which belongs to the Argentine-Italian group Techint, with shares in the New York Stock Exchange. The group has close links with the Kirchners.

• Thursday, April 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile considering whale sanctuary along its coastline

  

  Chile appears ever closer to declaring its entire Pacific coastline – one of the longest in the world – a whale “sanctuary.” According to government officials, President Michelle Bachelet is likely to endorse the proposal as early as June, when Chile hosts this year's annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

• Thursday, April 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  IMF forecasts 4.4% growth for 2008 in “resilient” Latam

  

  Economic growth in Latinamerica will slow this year and next because of a “mild recession” in the US and turmoil in global financial markets, according to the International Monetary Fund World Outlook report released Wednesday

• Thursday, April 10th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Nuclear super-carrier in the South Atlantic next May

  

  A mighty warrior of the seas, USS George Washington will be visiting Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile next May.

• Wednesday, April 9th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  French hostage mission to leave Colombia

  

  France called off a humanitarian mission Tuesday to treat and possibly free ailing hostage Ingrid Betancourt after Colombian rebels said they wouldn't unilaterally release any more captives.