Latin America

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 21:10 UTC

  Indian company to begin Bolivian iron-ore exports; a million tons the first year

  

  India’s Jindal Steel & Power plans this year to export 1 million tons of iron ore concentrate from Bolivia’s El Mutun mine, the firm said. Following on some problems that have been overcome, exports will begin in March reported Jindal Bolivia’s communications manager, Eduardo Prudencio.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 15:39 UTC

  Strong demand for Chilean lamb; exports reach 32 million USD in 2010

  

  Chilean lamb and mutton 2010 exports mostly from Magallanes Region in the extreme south of the country increased 17% over the previous year according to the country’s Agriculture Studies and Policies Office, Odepa.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 14:48 UTC

  Rail alternative to the Panama Canal proposed by China to Colombia

  

  A rail alternative to the Panama Canal built by China is being considered by Colombia in a move that would boost trade between Asia and South America. The 220 kilometers 'dry canal' would link Colombia’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts by rail, according to Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 09:10 UTC

  China, second largest copper producer in 2010, ahead of the US and Peru

  

  Chile’s Copper Commission (Cochilco) has predicted that China became the world’s second largest copper producer in 2010, overtaking the United States and Peru.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 06:11 UTC

  Colombian president supports legalizing drugs if it reduces violence and crime

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said in an interview published Sunday that he could consider legalizing drugs as a way to reduce violence and crime in his country. He joins a list of prominent Latinamerican leaders who are promoting the initiative.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 06:07 UTC

  Dengue is back in South America: 31 dead and 46.600 suspected cases

  

  An outbreak of dengue fever across much of Latin America has killed 31 people since the start of the year and is showing no sign of relenting. Endemic in several countries there’s growing concern following the discovery of a very “aggressive” strain in Peru.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 08:12 UTC

  “Limits must be imposed” on Latinamerican presidential successive re-election

  

  The Organization of American States, (OAS), Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said that democracy must impose limits on Latin America’s presidential successive re-election tendency.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 08:08 UTC

  IMF calls for fiscal austerity in South America but admits “dilemmas”

  

  IMF warned inflation is threatening South America but also admitted countries had a dilemma since increasing interest rates could further worsen the appreciation of local currencies vis-à-vis the US dollar.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 07:37 UTC

  Energy rationing powers to prevent further blackouts in Chile

  

  The Chilean government announced on Wednesday a string of measures to help prevent the possibility of more blackouts. Chile is in the middle of a yearlong drought, crippling its ability to produce hydroelectric power.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 20:58 UTC

  Chile and Uruguay on the path to nuclear energy, confirms AIEA

  

  Chile and Uruguay and another fifteen countries have officially presented plans to the International Atomic Energy Agency for the construction of nuclear plants, revealed AIEA following a four-day meeting on the issue in Vienna.