Stories for July 23rd 2009
Mediators say Zelaya must return to Honduras Friday
Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should return home on Friday, mediators in the crisis have said. But the country's interim authorities, who removed him, have said they will not bow to international demands for his reinstatement.
Controversy as Israeli Foreign Minister begins South American tour
Israel's foreign minister ran into controversy on the first day of a Latinamerican trip when an official of Brazil's ruling party reportedly called him a “fascist”. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Valter Pomar, secretary of international relations for the Workers Party, described Avigdor Lieberman as “a racist and a fascist” during an interview
Snow blanket reaches outskirts of Buenos Aires city
Parts of the city of Buenos Aires were covered in snow on Wednesday as temperatures plummeted to below zero in most of Argentina. Snow was reported in the provinces of Rio Negro, San Luis, San Juan and Cordoba and along most of the Buenos Aires province coastline.
Australia’s conflict with China favours Brazilian iron-ore sales
Spot iron-ore vessel bookings from Brazil to China jumped to a record in July as Australia suspended spot sales following detentions of Rio Tinto's top sales officials in China, reports Reuters.
Record fine on world largest brewer: 176 million USD
Brazil's antitrust regulator imposed a record fine of 352 million Reais (approximately 176 million US dollars) Wednesday on beverage giant AmBev. The Cade regulator found that AmBev, brewer of Skol, Brahma and Antarctica beers, used discounts, premiums and exclusivity agreements to dissuade retailers from selling competing brands.
World’s largest meat processor applies for listing in New York market
The United States unit of the world's largest meat processor, Brazilian JBS SA, filed for an initial public offering of up to 2 billion US dollars on Wednesday, making it the largest planned offering in the US IPO pipeline.
Brazil slows basic rate cut as the economy begins to rebound
Brazil’s Central bank lowered on Wednesday the benchmark Selic rate by a half point to a record low 8.75%. The bank had cut the rate by at least a full point at all four previous policy meetings of 2009.
