Latin America

• Thursday, March 17th 2011 - 18:04 UTC

  China will finance and build 20.000 housing units in Venezuela

  

  Venezuela signed an agreement with Chinese companies Citic Group and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. to negotiate a 4 billion US dollars loan to finance oil and construction projects, President Hugo Chavez said in Caracas.

• Thursday, March 17th 2011 - 17:59 UTC

  Chavez’ new enemy: plastic surgeons pressing women to have breast implants

  

  Venezuela's populist president has identified a new plague on his nation - boob jobs. Hugo Chavez, famous for his bombastic anti-US rants, blasted plastic surgeons for pressuring women into having surgery they can't afford.

• Thursday, March 17th 2011 - 17:46 UTC

  In spite of release of dissidents, Cuba continues ‘to stifle freedom of expression’

  

  The Cuban authorities are continuing to stifle freedom of expression on the island in spite of the much-publicized recent wave of releases of prominent dissidents, Amnesty International warned ahead of the eighth anniversary of a crackdown on activists.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 23:19 UTC

  Mexico defeats Falklands in Americas Division 3 T20 cricket championship

  

  Mexico began their quest for Americas Division 3 T20 Cricket Championship with an impressive 10-wicket victory over the winless Falkland Islands in the morning session of Day 2.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 15:00 UTC

  US Travel Association urges Brazil and Chile be included in the Visa Waive Program

  

  Citing an opportunity to advance national security, economic competitiveness and public diplomacy, the U.S. Travel Association has urged President Obama to discuss prospects for including Brazil and Chile in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) when he visits South America this month.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 14:10 UTC

  Difficult Times for Chile’s Easter Island

  

  by COHA Research Associates Joss Douglas and Samantha Nadler
  Famous for its monolithic Moai head stones that were mysteriously erected at the dawn of history, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Easter Island is today making headlines of a different sort.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2011 - 04:19 UTC

  Honduras forgets Argentina and Brazil; will open trade offices in India and China

  

  Honduras is planning to close embassies in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela countries which do not recognize the government of President Porfirio Lobo.

• Tuesday, March 15th 2011 - 23:47 UTC

  Cuba devalues currency 8% to boost exports and imports substitution process

  

  Cuba devalued its convertible peso by 8% Monday to the level of parity with the US dollar as part of efforts to boost the island's flagging economy, the central bank said. Use of the convertible peso is limited to tourists and other foreigners, for Cubans who receive remittances from abroad and for export activity

• Tuesday, March 15th 2011 - 10:26 UTC

  China’s largest agro enterprise plans to buy or lease 200.000 hectares world wide

  

  China’s largest agricultural enterprise, Heilongjiang Beidahuang Nongken Group, will acquire or lease 200,000 hectares of cropland in countries including Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Russia, The Philippines, Australia and Zimbabwe, the official People’s Daily newspaper said.

• Tuesday, March 15th 2011 - 05:19 UTC

  Peru’ presidential election turns into a guessing game

  

  With less than a month to Peru’s presidential election April 10, the tailing candidates have been advancing and the favourites have been loosing ground, according to the latest public opinion poll from Ipsps-Apoyo made public in the Lima media.