Latin America

30 June 2007 -- The U.S. Embassy in Bogota is warning Americans to avoid the Colombian tourist town of Melgar, saying leftist rebels may be planning to target them there.

The embassy said in a statement it has received information indicating the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, may be preparing a plan against Americans in Melgar.

The diplomatic mission recommended that U.S. citizens avoid travel to the town in Tolima province until further notice, and that Americans already there avoid restaurants, bars and other public places.

Source: VOA News

30 June 2007 -- Cuba's National Assembly has passed a resolution that accuses the Bush administration of wanting to eliminate Fidel Castro.

The National Assembly took action Friday, one day after President Bush made a public comment about the Cuban leader's eventual death.

Mr. Bush said at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island Thursday that "one day, the good Lord will take Fidel Castro away."

Audience members laughed, but President Bush said, "no, no, no" to quiet the crowd.    » read more »

28 June 2007 -- Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have marched in the capital to press for freedom of expression, one month after self-proclaimed socialist President Hugo Chavez shut down the country's most popular private television station.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007 —The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$10 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to Brazil’s Fundação Luiz Eduardo Magalhães to contribute to the preservation, conservation, and sustainable management of the biodiversity of the Caatinga forest in the states of Bahia and Ceará, while improving the quality of life of its inhabitants.    » read more »

26 June 2007 -- A U.S.-based oil company is reportedly breaking off talks with Venezuelan officials to determine its involvement in an Orinoco Belt oil project, which was nationalized earlier this year by President Hugo Chavez.

News reports late Monday said ConocoPhillips would likely end the talks with Venezuela over compensation for its investments and seek payment through arbitration or the courts.    » read more »

24 June 2007 -- A series of bombings in Colombia's main port city has injured at least 23 people.

Authorities said rebels were behind the explosions which happened late Friday in Colombia's main port city, Buenaventura.

Officials said several children were among the wounded.

Officials say the violence stemmed from a battle between rebels for control of drug trafficking in the port city.

Source: VOA News

May 30, 2007 -- An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission headed by Mr. Benedict Clements, Division Chief in the Western Hemisphere Department, issued the following statement today in Bogota:

"An IMF team has been in Colombia over the past week for the mid-year staff visit as part of the Article IV surveillance process. The team held discussions with the authorities and private sector about recent economic and financial developments and the near-term outlook.    » read more »

13 May 2007 -- Pope Benedict has asked bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean to be faithful and effective missionaries for the Roman Catholic church. In Sao Paulo, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the pope made the call at the start of a regional conference.

Pope Benedict led Mass at a basilica near Sao Paulo, marking the start of the fifth conference of Latin American and Caribbean bishops. Tens of thousands of people traveled to the site for the open-air ceremony, including more than 160 bishops and cardinals from several nations.    » read more »

09 May 2007 -- Colombian politicians and human rights activists visiting Washington this week say U.S. aid to their country focuses too much on military and anti-drug assistance and not enough on humanitarian needs. The delegation is drawing attention to Colombia's 3.5 million refugees and internally displaced people, as estimated by the U.N. refugee agency.    » read more »

09 May 2007 -- Pope Benedict XVI has arrived in Brazil for a five-day visit that includes meetings with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and with church leaders from across Latin America. In Sao Paulo, VOA's Brian Wagner reports the pope also is expected to use his public appearances to address key social problems facing the region.

Pope Benedict's visit to Sao Paulo, opens his five-day trip to Latin America. On his arrival here, he was greeted at the airport by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife, Brazilian officials, and the Catholic bishops of the country.    » read more »

Presidents echo participants’ call for 'Santiago Consensus': Closer regional ties and a focus on education

Santiago de Chile, 26 April 2007 – Two Latin American presidents called for deeper regional integration and increased investment in education, two priorities that mirrored a consensus among the 400 business, government and civil society leaders from 28 countries participating in the World Economic Forum on Latin America. "It is important that you believe in the integration of Latin America," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said.    » read more »

Region must break out of the boom-bust cycle, Chile’s Finance Minister says

Santiago de Chile, 25 April 2007 – Latin America must break out from the boom-bust commodity price cycle by finding new sources of growth, productivity and stability, Chilean Finance Minister Andrés Velasco told participants in the opening plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Latin America. "The challenge for us is to grow regardless of the cycles," he said. The key is innovation, he added. "You cannot achieve greater productivity without innovation. There is no magic recipe.    » read more »

Chilean and Brazilian presidents to address meeting of 400 business leaders from 28 countries

Santiago de Chile, 24 April 2007 – The World Economic Forum released more details today during a press conference on the eve of its Forum on Latin America, which will be held in partnership with the Government of Chile. The World Economic Forum on Latin America, scheduled in Santiago de Chile on 25 and 26 April, will bring together more than 400 top global leaders from business, politics, government, academia, civil society and the media from 28 countries.    » read more »

Regional manifestations of global risks may shape business environment, social and economic conditions

Geneva, Switzerland, 18 April 2007 – The World Economic Forum today released its Latin America@Risk report. Produced by the Forum’s Global Risk Network, the report emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding external economic shocks, global climate change, political instability and social inequality, and its effect on regional growth and welfare.    » read more »