He's baaaccckkkkk...
(Yes, this is not new news, but the inauguration was interesting.)
Nicaragua's Ortega returns to power
By TRACI CARL
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- Former Marxist guerrilla Daniel Ortega celebrated his return to power in Nicaragua with two of Washington's biggest critics - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivia's Evo Morales - who welcomed him as an ally in their campaign to curb U.S. influence in Latin America.
(continued below)
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Ortega, 61, says he isn't the same fiery revolutionary who with help from the Soviet Union became one of Washington's most despised Cold War foes. He has promised moderate economic and social policies and continued ties with the U.S.
But none of those pledges made it into his inaugural speech, which morphed into a fiery, leftist rally that highlighted his friendship with Chavez, who was recently re-elected to a third term.
Appearing in Managua before thousands of cheering supporters, the three presidents called for the quick recovery of another Latin American leftist, Cuba's ailing Fidel Castro, and pledged to build a coalition of leftist leaders who would nationalize natural resources.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/...
Now for some financial news. Maybe one of you finance wizzes could explain what "zero-exposure to US dollar liabilities" means? I have a guess...
Latin America continues to emerge
Latin American equity markets, having staged four years of strong performance, will continue to prosper in 2007, according to BlackRock Merrill Lynch.
Will Landers, custodian of the $3.05bn (£1.8bn) MLIIF Latin American Fund, said because of new-found macro-economic stability, improved corporate governance and increased overall liquidity, the risk of investing in the Latin American equity market had reduced.
Latin America’s combined current account surplus, reduced debt levels, free trading currencies and its virtually zero-exposure to US dollar liabilities in the public sector are some of the characteristics creating a favourable backdrop, he added.
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http://ftadviser.com/...
This one is fascinating. Who knew?
Latin America attempts to increase access to emergency contraception
Women's Health News
Published: Tuesday, 9-Jan-2007
Governments across Latin America are attempting to increase access to emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse -- despite "stiff resistance" from the Roman Catholic Church, Reuters reports.
Chilean President Michelle Bachelet last year announced a policy to distribute EC at public hospitals at no cost to girls as young as age 14; Mexico has required EC to be distributed at all public hospitals; and Peru has offered it at no cost.
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According to Reuters, EC has gained more "acceptance" throughout Latin America "as people increasingly ignore traditional church teachings on sexuality."
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http://www.news-medical.net/...
This is an open thread about Latin America and issues affecting Latinos in the USA. Discuss, as Babs says.