Stories for April 10th 2012
Brazil deepens technology cooperation with Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday launched an initiative to deepen ties with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After meeting Monday at the White House with President Barack Obama, Rousseff continued her short visit to the United States with meetings in the Boston area where MIT is based.
US confirms poor soy crops in Argentina and Brazil; prices soar to 2008 levels
Drought in major soybean producers Brazil and Argentina cut their production more deeply than expected the US government said on Tuesday in a report that drove prices to near their highest since 2008.
Argentine Foreign ministry says BP not interested in developing Falklands’ oil
British oil giant BP will not be involved in exploration or production activities in the Falkland Islands, according to the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry which just a few days ago sent threatening letters to oil industry and financial corporations which could be working or assessing in the disputed South Atlantic waters.
Brazil targets a dollar floor of 1.80 Reais and questions private banks attitude
Having a floor of 1.80 Real to the US dollar is no great thing, but it is a target to sustain said Brazil Development, Industry and Foreign Trade minister Fernando Pimentel referring to the latest announcements to promote Brazilian industry battered by a strong currency and massive inflow of ‘cheap’ imports.
Argentina denies ‘political opportunism’ in Malvinas sovereignty-claim campaign
The Argentine government said that the Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim is “not political opportunism” or geared “to remove other issues from the country’s political agenda” and is coherent with the political and ideological thinking of both Presidents Cristina Fernandez and her late husband and former president Nestor Kirchner.
Rousseff complains about US expansionist monetary policy during meeting with Obama
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff complained about US monetary policy and expressed concern that sanctions against Iran could backfire in a meeting with President Barack Obama on Monday, highlighting strains between the continent’s biggest economies.
Argentina expects strong Malvinas support statement from the Americas summit
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez will be attending on Saturday the VI Americas summit to be held in Colombia, which is already involved in a strong controversy because of the non invitation to Cuba.
Fidel wonders about Canada’s position on Falklands issue at the Americas summit
Fidel Castro accuses Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper of suffering from illusions and says Canada should take a stand in the Falkland Islands dispute in a rambling new essay that lashes out against Cuba’s exclusion from a coming Organization of American States summit.
Uruguay will enjoy “positive discrimination” in bilateral trade with Argentina
Argentina and Uruguay presidents Cristina Fernandez and Jose Mujica agreed Monday evening to discuss their trade differences in the framework of Mercosur and promote “positive discrimination” measures for Uruguayan exports to help compensate the restrictions imported to all imports by the Argentine government.
Repsol CEO in Argentina trying to prevent YPF takeover by the government
Repsol's chairman Antonio Brufau has asked for a meeting with officials from the Argentine government, which investors fear could seize control of the Spanish oil major's unit in Argentina, YPF.
