Latin America

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 20:16 UTC

  Fruit and vegetables in Chile forecasted to soar 20% because of the drought

  

  Chilean farmers and produce distributors estimate that prices will increase for some fruits and vegetables by as much as 10 to 20% within the next 60 days, due to water shortages in northern and central Chile.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:29 UTC

  Colombian oil and coal reserves attract Latam’s tycoons

  

  Carlos Slim considered by Forbes Magazine the richest man in the world said he’s seeking to boost his investments in Colombia because of the country’s open policy on oil exploration, its mineral assets and growing middle class.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:24 UTC

  Fearing food riots Bolivian President Morales abandons public event

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales was forced on Thursday to abandon a public event in the face of angry protests over food shortages and price rises. Morales was due to address a parade to commemorate a colonial-era uprising in the mining city of Oruro.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:19 UTC

  Major brawl in Venezuelan congress between pro and anti Chavez lawmakers

  

  Venezuelan lawmakers exchanged punches in parliament on Thursday when a fight erupted between members of President Hugo Chavez's socialist party and rivals, in a sign of the country’s political polarization.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:10 UTC

  Colombian rebels release hostage but at the same time kidnap two contractors

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos blasted Thursday the “double moral” of the FARC guerrilla that kidnapped two workers while preparing for the release of several hostages held for years and revealed he was tempted to suspend the liberation operation.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:20 UTC

  Easter Island Rapa Niu peoples’ land claims’ turns international

  

  The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR), a body within the Organization of American States, has issued Precautionary Measures to protect the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 22:53 UTC

  Unasur becomes fully in force March 11, following on Uruguay’s ratification vote

  

  The Uruguayan government officially delivered this week the formal ratification of the UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) founding charter thus turning the political project into juridical reality.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 10:53 UTC

  Chile prepares for energy rationing; insufficient rainfall caused by La Niña

  

  The strongest La Niña weather cycle in 35 years has reduced rainfall by up to 46% in some areas of Chile. The dry season began last March and is expected to continue through May.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 00:58 UTC

  South America/Arab countries business summit in Peru next April

  

  The South American/Arab countries III Business Summit will take place April 19 and 20 in Peru confirmed the organizers of the event that was to be held parallel to the suspended South America/Arab leaders’ summit (ASPA) this month in Lima.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 00:54 UTC

  Chile extends foreign exchange market intervention program to tame strong peso

  

  The Chilean central bank announced Tuesday it would maintain the pace of a 12 billion US dollars foreign exchange intervention to tame the strong peso between Feb. 9 and March 8, and continue to buy 50 million of US currency daily.