Stories for August 11th 2013

Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 23:25 UTC
Mapuche conflict in Chile flares up following the killing of local indigenous activist

Dozens turned out on Saturday in southern Chile for the funeral of a Mapuche land activist and fugitive who last Tuesday was found dead of shotgun wounds to the chest. Carabineros have made no arrests and have no suspects so far, said local authorities.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 22:06 UTC
Port facilities in Santos and the state of Para will be auctioned next November

Brazil's government is expecting 3 billion Brazilian Reais (1.3 billion dollars) in new investments with the leasing of facilities at its ports in the states of Para and Santos, Sao Paulo, said government officials.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:53 UTC
Changes ahead for Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa stock index BVSP

Brazil's 45-year-old benchmark Bovespa stock index BVSP could be subject to changes in its structure for the first time to better reflect new trends facing the country's economy, financial bourse BM&FBovespa SA announced last week.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:51 UTC
Beyond pigs in the pipeline: getting ahead of the leaks

The 2010 Kalamazoo spill and the 2013 Exxon leak in Arkansas are the most glaring incidents, but these are just the big leaks that are found right away and reported. Most leaks are found eventually—but there is money to be saved and damage to be avoided by catching them at the smallest rupture. Right now, we rely on pigs in the pipeline to do this.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:36 UTC
Honda to build a second assembly plant in Sao Paulo operational by 2015

Japanese automaker Honda plans to build a new assembly plant in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo with an annual capacity of 120,000 units, the company said.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:28 UTC
Cristina Fernandez will attend Cartes inauguration in Paraguay; problems with Mercosur protocol

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez confirmed by writing that she would be attending the inauguration of Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes next Thursday 15 August, according the organization committee of the event in Asuncion, Ambassador Federico Gonzalez and head of Protocol at the Paraguayan foreign ministry.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:19 UTC
Brazil’s Rousseff approval rating bouncing back; support for economic team remains ‘soft’

President Dilma Rousseff’s approval rating gained six percentage points after diving in the wake of massive protests in Brazil, a poll published on yesterday showed. The number of Brazilians who consider Rousseff’s administration “great” or “good” was 36%, up from an all-time low 30% in late June.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 04:36 UTC
Unasur lifts suspension pending on Paraguay effective 15 August

The Union of South American Nations, Unasur, decided late Friday to lift the suspension pending on Paraguay, which will become effective next 15 August when president-elect Horacio Cartes takes office.
Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 04:32 UTC
Chinese economy could be stabilizing shows latest set of economic figures

China's economy could be stabilising, the latest set of economic figures from the country has suggested. Factory output in July rose 9.7% compared with a year ago, ahead of expectations and up from the previous month's figure of 8.9%. Consumer prices held steady in July, rising 2.7% from a year earlier, matching the rate seen in June.