Stories for August 16th 2011

Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 13:41 UTC
Chile approves massive coal mining project in extreme south Patagonia

The controversial Isla Riesco coal-mining project in the extreme south of Chile took another step forward last Friday when a high-level government commission gave final approval to the first of five mines, Mina Invierno.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:30 UTC
Takeovers’ glut and lack of cattle expose Brazilian leading meatpacker Marfrig

Brazilian leading meatpacker Marfrig will not be considering takeovers until 2012, Chief Executive Marcos Molina dos Santos said on Monday after the company posted a second-quarter net loss.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:23 UTC
Mozambique offers Brazilian farmers 6 million hectares to develop agriculture

The Mozambique government is providing large tracts of land at a symbolic price to Brazilian farmers to produce soy, maize and cotton, Mozambique’s agriculture minister, José Pacheco told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:19 UTC
China wants to buy directly from Brazilian farmers, avoid intermediation

China, the second-largest buyer of soy in the world wants an end to intermediation by US multinational companies working in the sector and plans to invest purchasing directly from farmers in Mato Grosso and another five states in Brazil, according to the Brazilian press.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:16 UTC
Ambassador in Brazil Shannon back to Washington to help undermanned State Department

US Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon is returning to Washington to serve as acting Undersecretary of state for political affairs while the State Department awaits the confirmation of President Barack Obama’s nominee for the post, Wendy Sherman.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:12 UTC
Santiago mayor suggests military may be necessary to contain Chilean students’ violence

Over the weekend, Santiago Mayor Conservative Pablo Zalaquett made it clear that if the violence and destruction associated with student protests continues to escalate, intervention of Chile’s Armed Forces may be necessary.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:09 UTC
July official inflation in Argentina 0.8%; private estimates, 1.62%

Argentina's official inflation was up to 0.8% in July, the government reported on Monday, but private analysts said the real rate was about double that.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:06 UTC
Industrial activity soars 9.3% in Argentina led by the auto production

Argentina's industrial activity in June rose 9.3% on the year led by automobile production, according to manufacturers association UIA (Argentine Industrial Union).
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 06:02 UTC
DNA samples close to solving case of murdered French tourists in Argentina

Forensic studies conducted on the DNA samples found on the bodies of the two murdered French tourists in the Argentine northern province of Salta matched the samples extracted from one of the suspects in the double murder case.
Tuesday, August 16th 2011 - 05:52 UTC
World Bank warns a ‘hard landing’ in China would have great impact in Latam

The World Bank's chief economist for Latin America and the Caribbean said Monday that the bank is maintaining its 2011 outlook for the region's economic growth at about 4.5% despite concerns of a new global crisis.