Daily Headlines: April 16, 2008

* Colombia: Thousands of people left their homes after the Nevado del Huila volcano erupted yesterday.

* Brazil: The state of Rio de Janeiro may be undergoing a dengue outbreak, yet officials rejected supermodel Naomi Campbell’s blood donation over health concerns.

* Peru: The country’s economy grew by 11.9%, the largest monthly increase in thirteen years.

* Ecuador: Are a pair of Ecuadorians who shared an environmental award “con men” or are they being unfairly attacked by Chevron?

Sources- Reuters, MSNBC, CNN, The Latin Americanist

Image- MSNBC (“The Nevado del Huila volcano is seen in the southwestern state of Huila, Colombia, in this Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 file photo.”)

Daily Headlines: January 14, 2008

* U.S. First Daughter Jenna Bush traveled to Peru “to work with U.N. children's assistance programs”, according to one source.

* Puerto Rico’s pro-independence movement is not pleased at subpoenas handed down against three activists.

* Italian prosecutors are seeking 139 people involved with several South American dictatorships during the 1970s and 80s.

* Follow-up: First it was Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. Now roving reporter/supermodel Naomi Campbell talked politics with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

Sources- International Herald Tribune, newsday.com, Associated Press, The Latin Americanist

Image- MSNBC (“Jenna Bush reads from her recently published book "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," before a book signing”)

Hugo Chavez interviewed by supermodel Campbell

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell.

GQ magazine.

On the surface the above items seem like an unusual mix, but the latest edition of the men’s mag will contain an insightful interview of Chavez conducted by the British model. Campbell- who is a “contributing editor” to GQ- emphasized that she “simply went to interview Hugo Chavez the man” and not for personal political reasons.

Though politics was the main topic of conversation, Campbell was able to get Chavez to reveal his views on other things:

Elsewhere, Chavez found time to defend Venezuela's human rights record and vaunt his country's oil reserves, but also gave his views on less weighty matters like fashion, pop music and the British royal family.

Cuba's Fidel Castro was the world's most stylish leader, he said ("His uniform is impeccable. His boots are polished. His beard is elegant"), he was aware of the newly-reformed Spice Girls and admired Britain's Prince Charles.

He also refused to rule out following Russian President Vladimir Putin's example and posing for topless photographs. "Why not? Touch my muscles," he reportedly told the supermodel.

Sources- AFP, Bloomberg, Independent Online

Image- Guardian UK