Brazilian president decorates first Brazilian astronaut
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday awarded the nation's first astronaut Marcos Pontes with the National Order of Merit after he returned to Brazil from a mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

New foot-and-mouth cases confirmed in South Brazil
Brazil's government on Thursday confirmed 20 new cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay sign natural gas pipeline accord
The presidents of Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay agreed on Wednesday to study a project for a natural gas pipeline linking the three South American nations, according to reports from Asuncion.

Venezuela blasts US decision not to extradite bombing suspects
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez issued a statement on Tuesday criticizing the United States for not deporting two Venezuelans linked to 2003 bomb attacks on the Colombian and Spanish embassies in Caracas.