Connect to share and comment
GlobalPost Blogs » Que pasa

A reported blog on happenings around Latin America.

Stephanie GarlowNovember 23, 2011 16:53

Protesting in Costa Rica

Cab drivers, bikers, doctors and government employees all protested publicly Tuesday in the Central American country.

Cab drivers, bikers, doctors and government employees all protested on Tuesday in Costa Rica, reported the Tico Times.

More than 7,000 taxi drivers demonstrated to demand better policing of illegal taxis.

Motorcycle owners were unhappy about an increase in the fee for vehicle owners. To express their displeasure, they idled and revved their engines in the capital, causing traffic jams.

Anesthesiologists are continuing a two-week long work stoppage over working conditions. Almost 1,500 surgeries have been canceled.

More
Stephanie GarlowNovember 23, 2011 16:52

Argentine president outlines economic vision

Emphasizes expansion of economy, downplays rising prices.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said that her government would pursue an economic model that emphasizes expanding the economy.

She said the focus would not be on pursuing a model of inflation targeting, reported La Nacion. 

More
November 22, 2011 12:36
Add Sarah Childress to your circles

Santos scolds Europe: get your house in order

Colombia's president had some harsh words for Europe's troubled leaders
Trading 2011 11 22Enlarge
Europe's debt crisis is a major bummer, seriously. (DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/Getty Images)
this story is part of globalpost's continuing coverage of world business. for more visit our new business page.

Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos has really been pounding the pulpit lately.

The other day, he threatened the newly appointed leader of the FARC, suggesting that he'd die the same way that his predecessor did earlier this month — in a government bombardment — if he kept fighting.

More
Stephanie GarlowNovember 21, 2011 17:22

Soccer falls in popularity in Chile

More Chileans are now choosing running and biking over soccer.
Uruguay copa america 2011 07 15 1Enlarge
(Alejandro Pagni/AFP/Getty Images)

More Chileans would now choose running sneakers over a soccer ball for exercise.

According to study released by the think tank Ispos, Chileans are now more interested in running and biking than in soccer, reports the Santiago Times.

This is the first time soccer has not been the most popular sort in Chile.

Among Chileans who participate in sports, 33 percent run, while 21 percent play soccer.

“To play soccer you have to get a group of friends, making playing the sport more complex and less common,” Ipsos CEO Cristián Lehuede told La Tercera. “It’s all about possibility and simplicity.”

More
Stephanie GarlowNovember 21, 2011 17:16

Argentine airline to cut back on international flights

The government-owned airline Aerolineas Argentinas is facing a period of austerity.

Aerolineas Argentinas is planning to discontinue its non-profitable international flights, reports the Argentine Independent.

The company loses a significant amount of money on flights to the United States, Europe and Australia.

It will focus instead on regional flights to destinations such as Brazil, Peru and Venezuela.

More
Stephanie GarlowNovember 21, 2011 17:13

Argentina optimistic about soy crop

The country is predicting a good year for its important export, but wheat production is expected to fall.
Argentina soyEnlarge
(Nani Gois/AFP/Getty Images)

Argentina is optimistic about its soy harvests this year, an important sources of revenue for the country.

The Agriculture Ministry predicts the soybean crop will rise 0.6 percent this year to 19 million hectares, reports MercoPress. Argentina is the largest soy-meal and soy-oil exporter in the world.

The Rosario Grain Exchange is expecting the second-largest soy crop ever at 49.5 million metric tons.

But wheat production is expected to be down 24 percent, said the Agriculture Ministry. A large percentage of Argentina's wheat exports go to Brazil.

More
November 21, 2011 14:50
Add Sarah Childress to your circles

New FARC commander: "We all have to die, Santos."

Timochenko, in a recent video message, appears so far to be living up to his hardline reputation
Colombia 2011 11 21Enlarge
The FARC has taken a toll on Colombia for decades. (RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images)

The new commander of the FARC spoke out over the weekend.

Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, assumed command of the long-fighting rebel group after its leader, Alfonso Cano was killed by the Colombian military on Nov. 4.

Until now, nobody had heard from the guy. Analysts suspected he was hiding in Venezuela. 

More
November 21, 2011 12:17

Mexico fights invasion of wild boars from Texas

Government will kill up to 50,000 animals
Wild boarEnlarge
European boars are said to be hazardous for Mexican fauna (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images)
They are ferocious, destroy crops and attack humans, newspapers in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua warn. Mexico’s environment department has issued a death sentence on thousands of wild boars that have crossed the border from Texas in recent years. The animals are from a race of European boar, which is tough and destructive to the local fauna, said department spokesman Ignacio Legarreta. They could also carry hazardous diseases.
More
November 21, 2011 10:53
Add Sarah Childress to your circles

Chevron says it will clean up Brazil spill

Another leak in a deepwater drilling operation
Bp oil drill resume 2011 10 21Enlarge
In this handout image provided be the U.S. Coast Guard, fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico on April 21, 2010 near New Orleans, Louisiana. An estimated 206 million gallons of crude oil have spilled into the gulf from accident. Multiple Coast Guard helicopters, planes and cutters responded to rescue the Deepwater Horizon's 126 person crew. (U.S. Coast Guard/AFP/Getty Images)
this story is part of globalpost's continuing coverage of world business. for more visit our new business page.

An oil spill at an offshore drilling project in Brazil's waters sparked a bit of tension last week between Brazil and Chevron, the major US oil company.  

Brazil's federal police said it would investigate Chevron responsibility for alleged pollution spewing from the well, which was deep underwater.

Chevron last week said it was cooperating with authorities, but admitted nothing.

That's how companies do it.

More
November 20, 2011 16:17

No reduction in Mexico kidnappings

Government crackdown isn’t stopping abductions
Jefe diegoEnlarge
A former presidential candidate became a high profile kidnap victim (Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images)

Mexico’s security forces have been unable to reduce the number of kidnappings for ransom across the country despite many arrests and deaths of gangsters, according to new government figures.

Between October 2010 and September 2011, there were 1,016 kidnappings for ransom, a report by the National Public Security System shows.

That figure is almost unchanged compared to the previous year when there were 1,017 such abductions reported.

More