Latin America

Monday, July 26th 2010 - 22:31 UTC
Cuban reforms “step by step” at the “rhythm we determine” says Castro regime

The Cuban leadership on the 57th anniversary of the revolution said that economic reforms will take place “step by step, at the pace we determine” and certainly not “by campaigns from the foreign press”.
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 20:45 UTC
U2 and Bono scheduled to perform in Santiago de Chile March 2011

Chileans will have a chance to see U2 in concert, as the popular Irish rock band, headed by singer Bono, plans to perform in Santiago in March 2011 as a part of its 360 Tour. It will be the band’s third show in Chile.
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 20:38 UTC
Easier and faster access to Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia

Chilean Public Works Minister Hernán de Solminihac recently inaugurated a new 9.6 million US dollars highway - Route 9 - connecting Puerto Natales to Villa Cerro Castillo, in the region of the Torres del Paine National Park, extreme south of the country.
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 05:41 UTC
Venezuela/Colombia conflict “weakens” South America’s image, says Brazil

Brazil’s Executive foreign affairs advisor said that the breaking of relations between Venezuela and Colombia “weakens” South America and negotiations to bring both sides together should not be seen as a confrontation between Unasur (Union of South American Nations) and OAS (Organization of American States).
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 05:39 UTC
“Boys, we’re not in the sixties” Chavez tells Colombia’s FARC

In an attempt to take distance from the Colombian guerrilla following claims of his alleged links with the rebels presented by Bogotá before the Organization of American States, OAS, President Hugo Chavez said that “Colombian armed groups must reconsider their armed strategy”.
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 03:47 UTC
Kirchner begins round of contacts to defuse Venezuela/Colombia confrontation

Secretary-general of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) Néstor Kirchner who this week begins a round of contacts indicated that “it hurts that two Latin American countries like Venezuela and Colombia have this level of confrontation” and promised “to work from Unasur so that we can bring the two nations together and not affect the close relationship between their peoples.”
Monday, July 26th 2010 - 03:44 UTC
Piñera rejects Bishops plea to pardon military involved in human rights abuses

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera rejected a plea by the Roman Catholic Church that he pardon members of the armed forces over human rights abuses committed during military rule. Piñera said the proposal had caused division in Chile and reopened old wounds.
Saturday, July 24th 2010 - 05:23 UTC
Colombia insists on a reply to its claims of Venezuelan tolerance with guerrillas

Colombia insisted Friday that no reply has been given yet to “the heart of the matter” in the diplomatic row with Venezuela and those are the claims of ‘tolerated’ Colombian guerrilla presence in Venezuelan territory. Bogotá also recalled that all mediations and dialogue proposals so far have been “unfruitful”.
Saturday, July 24th 2010 - 03:32 UTC
Kirchner with Unasur support to meet Chavez and Uribe early August

Former Argentine president and Union of South American Nations, Unasur chairman Nestor Kirchner will hold talks during early August with the presidents of Venezuela and Colombia in an attempt to mediate an understanding between the two countries, according to reports from the Argentine government news agency Telam.
Saturday, July 24th 2010 - 03:26 UTC
First sale of Chilean sovereign bonds to finance earthquake rebuilding efforts

Chile hired JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc. and HSBC Holdings Plc to arrange the country’s first international bond sale in six years, Finance Minister Felipe Larrain announced Friday. Proceeds from the 10-year bonds will help finance rebuilding efforts after the February earthquake.