Latin America

• Wednesday, June 8th 2011 - 03:14 UTC

  “A Lula da Silva man steps down; a Dilma woman moves in”

  

  Brazilian Senator Gleisi Helena Hoffmann, 45, wife of Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo has been chosen by President Dilma Rousseff to replace outcast Antonio Palocci as chief of staff.

• Wednesday, June 8th 2011 - 02:17 UTC

  Uruguayan homes pay highest power rates and fuel prices in South America

  

  Uruguayan homes pay the dearest rates for power in South America and the highest fuel prices in the region, including taxes, according to a paper from the Argentine energy consultants Montamat & Asociados, released last month.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 22:59 UTC

  Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Peru shoppers, most promising for retail expansion

  

  Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Peru figure among the short list of top ranked developing countries for global retail expansion. In the 10th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI), elaborated by global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, Brazil jumped to first place from number 5 in last year’s study.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 22:31 UTC

  Peru’s economic fundamentals sound and will be respected, says Humala

  

  The Peruvian currency and Lima’s stock market partially recovered on Tuesday from the dramatic Monday collapse when it was confirmed nationalist Ollanta Humala had been elected in a very tight run-off to become the country’s next president.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 14:33 UTC

  Ash cloud reaches Buenos Aires city at 5.000 metres height; all flights cancelled

  

  The Chilean volcano Puyehue ash cloud has reached the Argentine capital after moving across the Greater Buenos Aires, but the due effects of the cloud are seen to be minimal. Meanwhile local airlines confirmed cancelled all flights until further notice at the international airport of Ezeiza and at the domestic-flights metropolitan Aeroparque.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 06:07 UTC

  Argentina hosts first meeting of Unasur Economy and Finance Council

  

  Argentina will be hosting on Thursday the first meeting of the South American Economy and Finance Council that will bring together Economy ministers and Central bank governors from members of Unasur, Union of South American Nations.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 04:00 UTC

  Washington ‘ready and willing’ to work with Humala, says US top diplomat

  

  “United States is “ready and very willing” to work with Peru's president-elect Ollanta Humala said Washington’s top diplomat for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela during the Organization of American States meeting Monday in El Salvador.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 03:48 UTC

  The volcanic ash cloud could reach Buenos Aires city on Tuesday

  

  The ash cloud hovering above Argentine Northern Patagonia since Saturday after the eruption of the Puyehue volcano in the Chilean Andes may reach the city of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, experts assured.

• Tuesday, June 7th 2011 - 01:25 UTC

  Brazil government celebrates Humala’s victory; invites president-elect to Brasilia

  

  Brazil’s presidential foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia celebrated the victory of nationalist Peruvian president elect Ollanta Humala who beat Keiko Fujimori in the Sunday run off by a minimum difference.

• Monday, June 6th 2011 - 23:20 UTC

  Chile’s Concha y Toro CEO among the top ten “2011 Power List” of wine world

  

  Eduardo Guilisasti, CEO of Chile’s Concha y Toro winery, placed ninth on Decanter magazine’s recently released “2011 Power List.” The bi-annual ranking lists the 50 most influential people in the winemaking world based on their level of influence over consumer choice in wine. This year’s list elevated Guilisasti from his 2009 ranking as 13th.