Latin America

• Wednesday, July 6th 2011 - 15:35 UTC

  Brazil 2010/11 soy crop larger than estimated but strong Real eats into profits

  

  Brazil's 2010-11 soy crop was larger than previously estimated, as higher productivity and a greater area of land planted with the oilseed resulted in record output, agricultural consultancy Celeres reported this week.

• Wednesday, July 6th 2011 - 06:29 UTC

  Chavez with an impressive military display says he’s back, but many doubts linger

  

  Venezuela president Hugo Chavez thanked his peers from Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay for having attended the Tuesday bicentenary celebrations of the country’s independence, a huge military parade with an arch-display of soldiers in colonial uniforms to some with probably the most modern combat gear of the region.

• Wednesday, July 6th 2011 - 06:18 UTC

  Chile’s Piñera tries to appease student protests: 4 billion USD for higher education

  

  Chile's President Sebastián Piñera, beset by mass student protests over education standards and costs which are threatening his legislative agenda, proposed a 4 billion US dollars fund for higher education.

• Wednesday, July 6th 2011 - 06:15 UTC

  Chile among South America’s least happy nations; Venezuela top of the list

  

  Though Chile has one of South America’s strongest economies, a recent study of happiness rates it second-to-last in the region, leading experts to assert that national happiness is not determined by a nation’s wealth or economic development.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 18:50 UTC

  Brazil and UK discuss defence cooperation and Atlantic security in London

  

  Strengthening Brazil-UK defence cooperation agreement and building Atlantic and wider security are among the issues to be addressed by UK and Brazil during the three day visit of Defence minister Dr Nelson Jobim to Britain

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 05:49 UTC

  Argentina/Chile agree to jointly promote receptive tourism in far distant markets

  

  Argentina and Chile have reached an understanding to join efforts in promoting receptive tourism in far distant overseas markets. The document was signed last week by Chile’s Deputy Secretary for Tourism Jacqueline Plass and the Argentine Tourism minister Enrique Meyer at the Argentina embassy in Santiago de Chile.

• Monday, July 4th 2011 - 23:17 UTC

  Peruvian president-elect will meet Obama and Clinton in Washington

  

  Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala will be meeting next Wednesday President Barack Obama and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Humala is expected in Washington on Tuesday.

• Monday, July 4th 2011 - 17:22 UTC

  In a surprise return Chavez is back in Venezuela singing and saying he’s “fine”

  

  Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez made a surprise homecoming on Monday after cancer surgery in Cuba and declared himself “fine” despite speculation he may still require lengthy treatment.

• Monday, July 4th 2011 - 04:54 UTC

  Government promises Cubans will be allowed to buy and sell their cars and homes

  

  The authorities in Cuba have released more details of their plans to allow people to buy and sell their cars and homes for the first time in 50 years. The new laws will open up a private property market and enable Cubans to buy any car they can afford.

• Sunday, July 3rd 2011 - 11:42 UTC

  Biosphere reserve in Chilean Patagonia gives hope for preservation of the huemul

  

  The United Nations added 18 new sites to its global list of biosphere reserves, (including one in Chilean Patagonia) bringing the total to 581 in 114 different countries, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported.