Latin America

• Sunday, January 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile suffers highest inflation in twelve years, 7.8%

  Consumer prices in Chile rose 0.5% in December and the annual rate reached 7.8% the highest level since June 1996 according to the latest report from the government-run National Statistics Institute, INE.

• Friday, January 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela's Chavez reshuffles cabinet after defeat

  

  President Hugo Chavez shuffled his Cabinet on Thursday, naming a retired military officer as vice president and other changes aimed at tackling corruption and inefficiencies in his socialist government

• Friday, January 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile Fisheries Council sets catch quotas for 2008

  

  The National Fisheries Council established global catch quotas for 2008 at a meeting held at the offices of the Subsecretariat of Fisheries (SUBPESCA) in Valparaiso in mid-December.

• Friday, January 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  DNA test solves riddle over Colombian boy 'hostage'

  Results of a DNA test on Friday revealed why leftist rebels failed to deliver this week on their promise to free a 3-year-old boy born in captivity: Little Emmanuel has spent the last two years not in a jungle rebel camp, but in a Bogota foster home.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  “Child of the FARC” frustrates hostages' release in Colombia

  DNA samples have been taken from relatives of a woman held by Colombian rebels to try to determine if her young son is in a Bogota foster home.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Santiago has dearest basic services of S. American capitals

  

  Santiago de Chile residents pay more for their light and water than the citizens of any other capital in South America, according to a recent survey conducted by the EL Mercurio newspaper.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Tug to the rescue of Chilean fishing vessel adrift in Pacific Ocean

  

  A high-seas tug left Punta Arenas on Thursday to the rescue of the Chilean flagged fishing vessel Antarctic Bay which has gone adrift after the engine broke down, according to naval authorities in the extreme south of Chile.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile's Defence minister and top brass visit Antarctica

  

  Chile's Minister of Defence Jose Goñi together with the commanders of the three services and Carabineros called in Punta Arenas before flying to Antarctica on Thursday.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Political upheaval in Chile: Interior minister resigns

  

  In the midst of the popularity slump confronted by Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and unrest inside the ruling coalition, Interior Minister (Home Secretary) Belisario Velasco resigned on Thursday, anticipating a third cabinet renewal since the current administration took office.

• Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Hostage rescue in Colombia collapses

  

  A Venezuelan-led mission to rescue three hostages, including a 3-year old boy, from leftist rebels in Colombia's jungles fell apart Monday as the guerrillas accused Colombia's military of sabotaging the promised handoff.