Daily headlines: March 14, 2007

* Support for Chilean president Michelle Bachelet (image) has gone up despite problems with Santiago’s public transit system and accusations of censorship.

* “A more balanced distribution of resources and prosperity is an essential requirement to raise the levels of security for all in the region,” observed Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza during a speech on Monday.

* Taking a cue from a Brazilian anti-Bush protestor, a Chilean woman clad only in body paint protested a border dispute between Chile and Peru.

* The president of Spanish telecom group Telefonica emphasized that Latin America will be crucial for the company’s sales to continue growing this year.

* Brazilian stocks dropped by over 3% yesterday based on anxiety over a slumping U.S. economy.

* Trade between China and Cuba nearly doubled in 2006 to the tune of $1.8 billion.

* In soccer action over the weekend, Chile’s Colo Colo continued its perfect record after seven games while Uruguayan giant Nacional languishes near the bottom of the table after a shock loss to Miramar Misones.

Links- Angus Reid Consultants, The Latin Americanist, Caribbean Net News, Brazzil Magazine, Living in Peru, Reuters, Guardian UK

Image- BBC News