Latin America

• Saturday, September 18th 2010 - 03:41 UTC

  Women “guardians” to look after Chavez and ensure victory on September 26

  

  With less than ten days to crucial legislative elections Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez took the oath to the “Guardians of Chavez” a group of women tasked with the mission of defending the Bolivarian revolution and the permanence of the populist leader in office.

• Friday, September 17th 2010 - 06:39 UTC

  Successful testing of ninth out of ten oil-wells in extreme south of Chile

  

  Latin American oil and gas firm GeoPark Holdings Ltd said on Thursday it successfully drilled and tested a new well in the Guanaco oil field on the Fell Block in the extreme south of Chile.

• Thursday, September 16th 2010 - 21:25 UTC

  Distribution of land deeds among locals defuses conflict in Chile’s Easter Island

  

  Chile’s Interior Ministry Undersecretary Rodrigo Ubilla announced this week that more than 30 Easter Island title deeds will be delivered to Rapa Nui families within the next 60 days.

• Thursday, September 16th 2010 - 05:04 UTC

  Chavez party has “slight lead” legislative election polls, but 37% are undecided

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez party has a “slight lead” for the coming legislative elections of September 26, but final results will depend on the undecided, which still represent 37% of the electorate, according to pollster Datanalisis.

• Wednesday, September 15th 2010 - 05:57 UTC

  Strong Colombian peso debilitating exports and eliminating jobs

  

  The strong appreciation of the Colombian peso which so far this year has gained 14% against the US dollar and now stands below the 1.800 peso milestone is hitting exporters and could have an impact on employment, one of the most sensitive issues for Colombian public opinion.

• Wednesday, September 15th 2010 - 00:27 UTC

  Ending the commodities ‘curse’

  

  By Augusto de la Torre (*) - In 1672, Potosí, Bolivia, was one of the largest and richest cities in the world. Located at the base of Cerro Rico, Potosi was a hotbed of Spanish silver mining, the operations of which were so prolific; a Potosi became synonymous for great riches.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 23:37 UTC

  Former Chilean leader Bachelet named to top UN job for gender equality

  

  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Tuesday the appointment of Chilean former president Michelle Bachelet as the Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 23:22 UTC

  Chile’s Bicentennial naval review to be the largest in the country’s history

  

  Many of the celebrations planned for Chile’s bicentennial are meant to mimic the centennial celebrations, such as President Sebastián Pinera’s recreation of a dinner with foreign ambassadors in Chile.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 00:46 UTC

  Cuba with unions support announces elimination of 500.000 jobs to boost economy

  

  The Cuban government will cut more than 500,000 state jobs by March as part of a plan to reduce inefficiencies, the country’s largest union said in a statement. The reductions are part of President Raúl Castro’s goal of eliminating 1 million state jobs by 2015, according to the statement.

• Monday, September 13th 2010 - 18:26 UTC

  Protest intensifies in support of Mapuches held under law from Pinochet time

  

  Four Chilean deputies were forcefully removed last week from a jail where hunger striking indigenous Mapuche prisoners are being held. The deputies had announced they too would join the strike.