Distorting Iranian-Latin American Relations

According to an article in the Israeli daily Haaretz entitled “Iran, Venezuela plan to build rival to Panama Canal”, the current border dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua—in which the former country has accused the latter of sending military troops into its territory along the San Juan River during a river dredging project—is a “trial balloon” for a new Iranian-funded “‘Nicaragua Canal’ linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.” The article takes care to specify that Costa Rica is “a country without an army” but does not suggest whether the announcement earlier this year regarding U.S. naval militarization of the Central American nation might also have constituted a trial balloon for something.

Miss America Latina del Mundo / Miss Latin America of the World

BBC News - Argentina and Uruguay settle seven-year pulp mill row

Argentina and Uruguay both say they are happy after a deal was reached to end their long-running row over a pulp mill on the banks of their shared river.

BBC News - Brazilian police crack international drug network

Police in Brazil say they have arrested 22 people as part of an 18-month effort to break an international drug syndicate.

BBC News - Colombian man shot dead in Medellin church

A Colombian man has been murdered inside a church as he attended a memorial mass for a relative who had also died violently, police say.

Colombia holds interest rate steady at 3%

Colombia's central bank held its benchmark interest rate for a seventh straight month at its monetary policy meeting Friday, citing low inflationary readings and a strong economic outlook.
The central bank's decision to keep the rate at 3% was widely expected by the market, with seven analysts surveyed by

Colombia, US renew human rights agreement

Colombia's Vice President Angelino Garzon and U.S. ambassador to Bogota Michael McKinley on Thursday renewed an agreement to promote human rights in Colombia.
The purpose of the agreement is to "renew a framework for international cooperation" between the Office of the

Russia releases Israeli mercenary

Israeli mercenary Yair Klein has been released from prison in Russia and is being repatriated to Israel despite repeated efforts by Colombian authorities to have him extradited, reports Caracol Radio.

"Klein has been released and is currently en route to Israel," an unnamed source told Interfax news agency.

Gov’t to invest $356 million to develop northern tourism route

Chan Chan

Peru’s government is planning to invest 1.0 billion soles ($356 million) over the next 3 years in the country’s northern regions on infrastructure to develop tourism, Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Eduardo Ferreyros said.
Government tourism promotion agency PromPeru previously announced that it would start a marketing campaign in 2011 to promote tourism to the Moche Route, which includes sites in Lambayeque and La Libertad.

Pizango launches presidential campaign

Alberto Pizango, the head of the Interethnic Association for the Development of Peru’s Jungle (Aidesep), has launched his campaign for the presidential elections in April 2011, daily La Republica reported.
The indigenous leader made the announcement on Thursday backed by representatives from Aidesep. His party, an Alliance for an Alternative for Humanity, or Aphu, will make official his candidacy.
“This morning I assume an enormous commitment and I swear to our ancient spirits to take on this assignment with honour… I promise to make Peru a multicultural state, for which we are organizing our party,” Pizango said.