Chinese President Hu Jintao was on a triumphant tour through Havana on Tuesday as his country expanded its already extensive economic relationship with the communist-run island.

Peruvian authorities say a man has been arrested in Lima carrying a box of 36 grenades ahead of the arrival of 18 world leaders for a Pacific Rim economic summit.

Brazil’s stocks are off in early trading, with the Ibovespa stock index falling 2.2 percent to 34,936.

President Hu Jintao began a two-day visit to Cuba by agreeing to increase Chinese purchases of Cuban nickel and sugar, and send farm goods to the communist-run island as it recovers from three devastating storms.

Latin American stocks slipped slightly Monday on continued signs of a global recession.

The American Civil Liberties Union is criticizing a decision by the U.S. military to assign a new judge to handle the cases against the alleged Sept. 11 conspirators held at Guantanamo Bay.

The official overseeing an audit of Ecuador’s foreign debt said his committee found evidence of abuses and irregularities tied to almost all of the country’s bonds and will recommend a default on $10.3 billion in national debt.

Venezuela and Iran plan to start a new university program in the South American country with a focus on teaching socialist principles.

A stock exchange trader has shot himself on the trading floor in Brazil.

China isn’t letting the global financial crisis shrink its ambitions in Latin America, where it has sunk billions into mining and replaced the United States as Chile’s top trading partner.