Latin America

Sunday, August 8th 2010 - 07:23 UTC
Punta Arenas anticipates drastic 33% fall in cruise visitors this season

Less than a month for the beginning of the official cruise season 2010/11, prospects for Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile are not at all encouraging with an anticipated activity contraction of 33% over last year, according to the Empresa Portuaria Austral, EPA, which manages local port activities.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 23:11 UTC
Santos called for understanding in spite of ideological differences

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took office Saturday with a pledge to create jobs, end rebel violence and foster economic growth while seeking to mend ties with neighbouring countries in spite of “ideological differences”.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 06:09 UTC
UNASUR suggests Venezuelan chancellor meets Colombian president Santos

Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Secretary-General Néstor Kirchner and Brazilian president Lula da Silva recommended that Venezuelan Foreign Affairs minister Nicolas Maduro should travel to Colombia on Saturday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of president elect Juan Manuel Santos.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 06:06 UTC
Uribe files complaint against Chavez before International Criminal Court

Out-going Colombian President Álvaro Uribe filed a complaint before the International Criminal Court in Rome against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez for crimes against humanity that derive from the alleged harbouring of Colombian guerrilla fighters in Venezuelan soil, Uribe's lawyer, Jaime Granados, informed.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 05:59 UTC
BP sells Colombian operation to local and Canadian companies

Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol S.A. and Canadian firm Talisman have reached an agreement to buy the Colombia operation of BP Plc for 1.75 billion US dollars.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 05:44 UTC
UN/Ecuador agree on trust fund to protect bio-diversity from oil industry

The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and Ecuador have reached agreement to set up a trust fund to protect an ecological site in an oil-rich area of the South American country’s Amazon region.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 00:43 UTC
Brazil ready to confirm another record crop: 147.1 million tons

Brazil is poised to confirm its largest crop ever, 147.1 million tons in 2009/2010, which is 9% higher that the 135.1 million of 2008/09 according to the latest survey from Conab, the country’s National Supply Agency. The latest record was in 2007/08 with 146 million tons.
Saturday, August 7th 2010 - 00:36 UTC
FARC still has 7.000 “armed terrorists” reveals outgoing Colombian Army chief

The Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, FARC guerrillas, currently have an estimated “7.000 armed terrorists” which compares favourably with the 20.000 eight years ago when President Alvaro Uribe took office for the first time, said the Colombian Army outgoing commander, General Oscar Gonzalez.
Friday, August 6th 2010 - 22:26 UTC
Chilean company and US associate to develop mining project in Minnesota

Jean Paul Luksic, executive president of Chilean company Antofagosta PLC, met this week with authorities and the press at the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field in Minneapolis to present the joint mining project developed with Duluth Metals – a venture now estimated to cost 2 billion US dollars.
Friday, August 6th 2010 - 22:20 UTC
Bolivia’s gas reserves ‘comfortably’ sufficient for the next twenty years

Bolivia’s proven gas reserves stand at 19 trillion cubic feet, which means the country can address domestic and foreign demand comfortably during the next 20 years announced Friday by Energy and Hydrocarbons minister Fernando Vincenti.