Washington Post - South America

Date Posted Article Yesterday World Digest: U.N. inspectors enter Iranian nuclear fuel lab PAKISTAN The Pakistani army claimed advances in its eight-day-old offensive in a Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border Sunday, while the militants' chief warned of more terrorist attacks around the country unless the military halts the assault. Yesterday Floods, mudslides kill at least 134 in El Salvador VERAPAZ, EL SALVADOR -- Soldiers and townspeople dug through rock and debris Monday in hopes of finding dozens of people missing in a mudslide that swept down on a town, part of a wave of floods and landslides that killed at least 134 people in El Salvador. Yesterday Looking ahead, Brazil's farmers take up reforestation LUCAS DO RIO VERDE, BRAZIL -- For nearly 20 years, Luiz Alberto Bortolini cleared trees and planted soybeans as fast as he could, one of many pioneers who turned this barren outpost into prosperous farmland. Yesterday Brazil girds for massive offshore oil extraction Everything about the shipyard here is colossal -- the 4,000-man workforce, the billions sunk into it in capital costs, the half-finished 10-story-high production platforms. Yesterday In Chile, many are optimistic that prosperity is coming SANTIAGO, CHILE -- For Floripa Lizama and her family, the past is their slapdash wood-plank home located next to an unsightly concrete canal. Yesterday Colombian assassination raises fears about FARC's strength BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Colombia's largest rebel group, which in recent months has launched a string of armed attacks to demonstrate that it is not a spent force after 45 years of conflict, this week staged a strike that alarmed Colombians and raised questions about President Álvaro Uribe's U.S.-supp... Yesterday Chile race reflects Latin America's growing preference for free-market centrists Whether a billionaire businessman or a former president wins Chile's presidential election Sunday, the outcome will reflect a broader trend in Latin America -- the rise of the pragmatic centrist. Yesterday In Haiti, U.S. has chance to improve image in Latin America PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- Since last month's earthquake, this country has been deluged with American assistance. An estimated 6,500 troops are here, along with scores of U.S.-based nonprofit groups. Medics treat the wounded, and soldiers provide security for food deliveries. Yesterday Chile reels in aftermath of quake, emergency workers provide aid SANTIAGO, CHILE -- After experiencing one of the most powerful earthquakes to strike the earth in more than a century, Chileans accelerated their rescue, aid and security efforts in damaged regions Sunday but also took pride in the comparatively low death toll, a result widely attributed to the c... Yesterday Chile's coastal towns face double whammy of damage from earthquake and seaquake DICHATO, CHILE -- When one of history's biggest earthquakes hit, Francisco Larenas was shaken awake and then promptly went back to sleep. He wouldn't sleep through what came next. Yesterday Aftershocks a reality check for Chilean President Sebastián Piñera SANTIAGO, CHILE -- Sebastián Piñera pledged during his presidential campaign to bring fiscal prudence to Chile, but moments before his inauguration Thursday, he received a jolting reminder of how last month's 8.8-magnitude earthquake has shredded that promise. Yesterday As U.S. attempted to remove nuclear material from Chile, earthquake struck When the shaking began just after 3:34 a.m. on Feb. 27, Andrew Bieniawski woke up with a start in his room on the 15th floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Santiago, Chile. A picture fell off the wall. Yesterday Oil-rich Venezuela gripped by economic crisis SAN CRISTOBAL, VENEZUELA -- Every day for the past three months, government-programmed blackouts have meant the lights flicker and go dark in a city that once bustled with commerce. And Fifth Street, with its auto parts stores and car repair shops, has ground to a halt. Yesterday Venezuela's Hugo Chavez allegedly helped Colombian, Spanish militants forge ties MACHIQUES, VENEZUELA -- For two years, Colombian officials have accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of providing arms and sanctuary to Marxist rebels intent on toppling Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, Washington's closest ally in a turbulent region. Venezuela - Hugo Chávez - South America - Hugo Chavez - Twitter Yesterday Santos handily wins first round of Colombian presidential election BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- A former defense minister who would continue President Álvaro Uribe's tough anti-guerrilla policies handily defeated a former Bogota mayor Sunday in the first round of presidential elections. Juan Manuel Santos, 58, who oversaw the most decisive strikes against rebel forces, d... Colombia - South America - Juan Manuel Santos - Latin America - Politics Yesterday Hillary Clinton tries to fix relationship with Ecuador President Rafael Correa QUITO, ECUADOR -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reached out Tuesday to one of the left-leaning populist leaders of South America, attempting to edge Ecuador's President Rafael Correa out of the orbit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. United States - President - History - Clinton William Jefferson - Hillary Rodham Clinton Yesterday 'Gringo chief' Randy Borman helps Ecuador's Cofan Indians survive, thrive PIZARRAS, ECUADOR -- On a recent day, the man known as the Gringo Chief wore a traditional black smock and a necklace strung with jaguar and wild boar's teeth, perfectly suitable for the Cofan Indian ceremony marking the acquisition of yet another slice of rain forest. Ecuador - South America - United States - Angelina Jolie - Education Yesterday Italy in danger of not advancing at World Cup The World Cup is no place for defending champions, with only Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962 repeating. The Azzurri are facing an early, ignominious departure from South Africa if they don't beat Slovakia on Thursday. World Cup - Sport - Soccer - Competitions - 2006 Yesterday Venezuelan union clashes are on the rise as Chavez fosters new unions at odds with older ones MARACAY, VENEZUELA -- Calling itself the most labor-friendly government in Latin America, President Hugo Chávez's socialist administration has repeatedly increased the minimum wage, turned over the management of some nationalized companies to workers and fostered the creation of new unions. Venezuela - South America - Hugo Chávez - Business and Economy - United States Yesterday Kosovo bank chief held in graft probe; Iranian president assails Russian; Venezuela warns Colombia KOSOVO Colombia - Venezuela - South America - United States - Diplomacy Yesterday Colombia-Venezuela dispute unresolved in meeting of South American leaders BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- After the posturing and hysterics, an emergency meeting and competing press briefings, South American leaders were unable to resolve a crisis that began when the Colombian government accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of aiding and abetting Colombian guerrillas. Venezuela - Colombia - South America - United States - Business and Economy Yesterday Colombia, Venezuela restore diplomatic ties SOUTH AMERICA Colombia - Venezuela - South America - Juan Manuel Santos - Diplomacy Yesterday World Digest: U.N. inspectors enter Iranian nuclear fuel lab PAKISTAN The Pakistani army claimed advances in its eight-day-old offensive in a Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border Sunday, while the militants' chief warned of more terrorist attacks around the country unless the military halts the assault. Yesterday Floods, mudslides kill at least 134 in El Salvador VERAPAZ, EL SALVADOR -- Soldiers and townspeople dug through rock and debris Monday in hopes of finding dozens of people missing in a mudslide that swept down on a town, part of a wave of floods and landslides that killed at least 134 people in El Salvador. Yesterday Looking ahead, Brazil's farmers take up reforestation LUCAS DO RIO VERDE, BRAZIL -- For nearly 20 years, Luiz Alberto Bortolini cleared trees and planted soybeans as fast as he could, one of many pioneers who turned this barren outpost into prosperous farmland. Yesterday Brazil girds for massive offshore oil extraction Everything about the shipyard here is colossal -- the 4,000-man workforce, the billions sunk into it in capital costs, the half-finished 10-story-high production platforms. Yesterday In Chile, many are optimistic that prosperity is coming SANTIAGO, CHILE -- For Floripa Lizama and her family, the past is their slapdash wood-plank home located next to an unsightly concrete canal. Yesterday Colombian assassination raises fears about FARC's strength BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Colombia's largest rebel group, which in recent months has launched a string of armed attacks to demonstrate that it is not a spent force after 45 years of conflict, this week staged a strike that alarmed Colombians and raised questions about President Álvaro Uribe's U.S.-supp... Yesterday Chile race reflects Latin America's growing preference for free-market centrists Whether a billionaire businessman or a former president wins Chile's presidential election Sunday, the outcome will reflect a broader trend in Latin America -- the rise of the pragmatic centrist. Yesterday In Haiti, U.S. has chance to improve image in Latin America PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- Since last month's earthquake, this country has been deluged with American assistance. An estimated 6,500 troops are here, along with scores of U.S.-based nonprofit groups. Medics treat the wounded, and soldiers provide security for food deliveries.