Latin America

• Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Two NZ adventurers reach South Pole unsupported

  

  The New Zealand Thermal Heart Antarctic Expedition of Jamie Fitzgerald (26) and Kevin Biggar (36) achieved on Tuesday their goal of trekking 1.100 kilometers unsupported to the South Pole. They are the first all NZ expedition to reach the South Pole for 50 years.

• Sunday, December 31st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Castro admits “slow recovery from surgery” in message

  Cuban President Fidel Castro said in his New Year message on Saturday that he is recovering slowly from surgery and has been collaborating with doctors as “a disciplined patient”.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Church influence and marriage, fading institutions in Chile

  The importance of religion in people's lives has diminished and this has been most significant for Chile in the last sixteen years, according to the conclusions of a report from the Chilean chapter of Mori public opinion surveys.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Latinamerica 2007: stability and the end of an era

  Latin America enters 2007 with renewed political leadership and generally booming economic prospects but highly dependent on the current global bullish market for commodities.

• Thursday, December 28th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Seven women in Ecuador's incoming cabinet

  

  Ecuadorian President-elect Rafael Correa appointed this week seven women to his Cabinet, including the country's first female Defence minister, saying he wanted to promote gender equality.

• Thursday, December 28th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  ENAP investment plan 2007/11 totals 4.5 billion

  Chile's government oil corporation ENAP announced this week investments totaling 4.5 billion US dollars in the coming four years, 2007/2011, emphasizing exploration and production and the construction of refineries.

• Thursday, December 28th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile expects 640.000 foreign tourists in high season

  

  Tourist activity in Chile expanded 11.5% during 2006 and is forecasted to grow an additional 14% this coming summer season (January, February) according to the National Tourism Office, Senatur.

• Wednesday, December 27th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Cubans waiting for Castro's New Year message

  The lack of news about the health condition of Cuban president Fidel Castro who underwent serious surgery last July, Cubans are anxiously waiting for their leader's traditional New Year's message when the island celebrates the 48th anniversary of the revolution, according to press reports from Havana.

• Tuesday, December 26th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile's top scientists join international Antarctic study

  Three of Chile's leading environmental scientists are on board the Swedish ice-breaker Oden on a 14-day voyage to study the effects of climate change on the southernmost continent.

• Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Successful C 17 airdrop mission over Antarctica

  

  An airpower milestone was reached last week when the first ever US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III completed an airdrop mission that delivered about 70,000 pounds of supplies to the South Pole.