Latin America

• Friday, December 22nd 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Latin America: Unemployment is Key Problem

  

  A high number of Latin Americans are concerned about a shortage of jobs, according to the 18-country Latinobarómetro released by The Economist. 45 per cent of respondents in Panama select unemployment as the most important problem, followed by 39 per cent in Uruguay and 37 per cent in Nicaragua.

• Thursday, December 21st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile: US$4.815 billion foreign investment in 2006

  The Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) reported that in 2006 the amount of foreign investment in Chile reached US$4.815 billion, 183 percent higher than in 2005.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  U.S. environmental group opposes Aisen project in Chile

  Chilean Patagonia, one of the world's most pristine wilderness areas, is receiving major attention these days from a large and very well-connected U.S. environmental group.

• Wednesday, December 20th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Bush extends tariff preferences to Andean nations

  President George W. Bush signed legislation Wednesday extending for six months existent trade benefits to four Andean nations: Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. According to the bill countries that approve free trade agreements, FTA, with the US will have a further six months.

• Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile adds two new regions to the existing 13

  

  Chile will add two more Regions to the existing thirteen beginning mid 2007 following the approval in Congress of the initiative. The new regions are XIV Valdivia, divided into the provinces of De Los Rios and Ranco and the XV, Arica and Parinacota.

• Monday, December 18th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Survey shows Chileans among least happy in Latinamerica

  The latest in a string of international happiness surveys shows that 66% of Chileans describe themselves as “happy” or “very happy” — yet they are less happy than people in almost every other Latin American country.

• Monday, December 18th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile/UK permanent high level political dialogue

  

  Chile and the Great Britain agreed Monday to set up permanent high level political dialogue and increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Collaboration will focus on energy, environmental and social issues.

• Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Protests spark clashes in Bolivia

  At least 50 people were injured on Friday in a clash between supporters and opponents of Bolivian President Evo Morales' government, according local press reports.

• Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean leader proposes soc. sec. reform

  

  President Michelle Bachelet on Friday proposed a shake-up of Chile's widely admired but incomplete private social security system, urging a minimum government pension for 1 million elderly Chileans left out of the current program.

• Saturday, December 16th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez denies Castro cancer claim

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has dismissed suggestions that Cuban leader and ally Fidel Castro has cancer, but said he was fighting a serious illness.