Venezuela’s entry in Mercosur faces Paraguayan hurdle (UPI)
ASUNCION, Paraguay, Dec. 18 (UPI) — Venezuela’s incorporation in Mercosur, considered a certainty after Brazilian ratification, now faces a new hurdle in Paraguay, which says the man and not the country is the problem.
Stratford lends expertise to Salvadoran town (CBC.ca)
The Stratford Festival is lending its expertise to a city in El Salvador to help create a theatre company there.
Costa Rica latest stop for Mexican drug gangs (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Mexican drug gangs are increasingly using Costa Rica as a pick-up point for South American cocaine headed north and the problem is likely to get worse, President Oscar Arias said on Monday.
De Los Cobos leaving El Salvador (AP via Yahoo! Sports)
Carlos de Los Cobos says he will not return as coach of El Salvador’s national team. De Los Cobos told a news conference on Monday that he would be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the year. The Mexico-born De Los Cobos took over the Salvador national team three years ago, but failed to get it to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
El Salvador’s national team raises at FIFA ranking (People’s Daily)
El Salvadorian soccer team was 32 places up at the year-ending FIFA rankings compared with its initial ranking of the year. According to the final ranking released by the world soccer’s governing body FIFA on Wednesday, El Salvador is 78th, 32 places up compared with its 110th ranking at the beginning of 2009. Under the coaching of Carlos de los Cobos, the national team was able to get a ticket …
Costa Rica latest stop for Mexican drug gangs (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters By Leslie Josephs SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Dec 14 (Reuters) – Mexican drug gangs are increasingly using Costa Rica as a pick-up point for South American cocaine headed north and the problem is likely …
Venezuela’s Chavez sees US threat in Dutch islands (AP via Yahoo! News)
Hugo Chavez accused the Netherlands on Thursday of allowing the United States to use Dutch islands off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast to prepare a possible military attack against his country.
El Salvador: Floods test resilience of families and effectiveness of humanitarian aid (Unicef)
LA LIBERTAD, El Salvador, 11 December 2009 – Ismael Linares, 13, put a brave face on the story of how his family fled for their lives in the floods that struck El Salvador in early November. In the tiny hamlet of Melara, he pointed to a stretch of rocks and barren ground – all that remained of the houses where he and his relatives used to live.
Ecuador’s Navy To Extend Control Of State Oil Co Petroecuador (Nasdaq)
QUITO -(Dow Jones)- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has authorized naval forces to remain in control of state-run oil company Petroecuador, delaying their withdrawal for several months.
Venezuela approves new public Bicentenario bank (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Venezuela’s economy minister has approved the merger of four banks to create a public banking institution named Bicentenario, the official gazette said.
