Latin America

• Thursday, July 28th 2011 - 11:04 UTC

  Peruvian president counts with the support of 68 out of 130 benches in Congress

  

  A working alliance of 68 members in the one-chamber Congress of 130 benches will be supporting the government of Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala who is to be sworn in on Thursday 28 July.

• Thursday, July 28th 2011 - 11:00 UTC

  All South American presidents, except Chavez and Lugo, present in Lima

  

  All South American presidents with the exception of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez under chemotherapy treatment, and Paraguay’s Fernando Lugo, who cancelled at last moment following medical instructions, will be present at Thursday swearing in ceremony of Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala.

• Thursday, July 28th 2011 - 06:15 UTC

  UK to cooperate with Bolivia in the fight against drug trafficking

  

  The British government has announced a new co-operation deal with Bolivia in the fight against drug trafficking. During a two-day visit to Bolivia, Britain's Minister for Latin America, Jeremy Browne, said the Serious Organised Crime Agency in London will join forces with the counter-narcotics police in La Paz.

• Thursday, July 28th 2011 - 00:34 UTC

  Latam’s 2010 foreign direct investment reached 159bn dollars, mostly from Asia

  

  Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 13% in 2010 to reach 159 billion dollars indicated UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) annual investment survey that was released Wednesday.

• Wednesday, July 27th 2011 - 01:13 UTC

  UNASUR leaders to meet in Lima following Humala’s taking office ceremony

  

  The twelve leaders of UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) will be meeting in Lima, Thursday following on the taking office ceremony of Peruvian president Ollanta Humala. All twelve presidents have confirmed attendance with the exception of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez undergoing cancer treatment.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2011 - 08:25 UTC

  S&P upgrades Uruguay’s rating to BB+, just one notch below investment grade

  

  The credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s upgraded on Monday Uruguay’s rating by one notch to BB-plus, only one notch below investment grade, praising years of “prudent and consistent” economic policies in the country.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2011 - 08:09 UTC

  First commercial bio-fuel flight in Latam between Mexico City and Chiapas

  

  The Mexican airline Interjet has successfully conducted the first commercial bio-fuel flight in Latin America, using a jatropha-based fuel that reduces air pollution by 80%, according to company officials.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2011 - 08:06 UTC

  Mexico Pemex buys Repsol shares, becomes third largest stock holder

  

  Mexico's state oil monopoly Pemex said on Monday it recently bought 825,150 shares in Repsol YPF, increasing its stake in the Spanish company to 5%. The stock purchase took place on July 13, Pemex's finance department said, without giving details of the cost of the deal.

• Monday, July 25th 2011 - 22:10 UTC

  Chile’s Comptroller clears Piñera of conflict of interest in Patagonian coal mine

  

  Opposition to the Isla Riesco coal-mining project in the extreme south of Chilean Patagonia suffered a setback Thursday when Chile’s Comptroller General rejected accusations of a conflict of interest at the highest level of government.

• Monday, July 25th 2011 - 22:02 UTC

  Chavez confirms he will run for a third six-year term in 2012

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has pledged to run for re-election next year, dismissing speculation that cancer treatment would force him out of the political arena.