Daily Headlines: August 30, 2010

* Cuba: The government introduced several “free-market decrees” designed to improve the country’s sagging economy including changing property laws for potential foreign owners.

* Chile: Workers are expected to start drilling a shaft today in order to rescue 33 miners trapped several hundred yards underneath the surface.

* Mexico: Mexicana airlines suspended all of its flights on Saturday while the company is mired in financial difficulties.

* Venezuela: Guyana, the Caribbean’s largest rice producer, will sell 70,000 tons of rice to Venezuela in order to pay off part of its PetroCaribe oil debt.

Image – The Telegraph (“2.5 million Cubans over the age of 54 no longer will get four packs of cigarettes as part of the country's ration program.”)
Online Sources- AP, MSNBC, The Latin Americanist, BusinessWeek, Al Jazeera English

Daily Headlines: August 10, 2010

* Chile: President Sebastián Piñera has requested international aid in the attempted rescue of 33 miners trapped 450 yards beneath the surface.

* Guatemala: Arrest warrants have been issued against sixteen people including a former presidential candidate over clashes during a 2006 prison takeover.

* Bolivia: According to officials new deposits of natural gas have been found in an old field and will be destined for export to Argentina.

* Mexico: Airline Mexicana’s woes continued with the suspension of fifteen international flights due to the firm’s fragile financial situation.

Image – Al Jazeera English (“Authorities said 130 rescue workers had been dispatched to try to save the trapped miners.”).
Online Sources- New York Times, BusinessWeek, Reuters AlertNet, Vancouver Sun