Stories for May 2007

Saturday, May 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Only Conoco-Phillips resisting Chavez Orinoco basin control

Venezuela threatened to expel Conoco-Phillips, the US oil company, if it does not abide by the nationalization of stakes held by foreign investors in the country's Orinoco heavy oil operations.
Saturday, May 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil breaks AIDS drug patent with generic version from India

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has authorised the country to break the patent on an AIDS drug made by Merck & Co - importing a generic version from India instead. It's the first time Brazil has bypassed a patent to acquire cheaper drugs for its AIDS prevention program.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil considering nuclear option for energy shortage

Brazil will increase the use of nuclear energy if it cannot build enough hydroelectric plants, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
President Chavez threatens banks with nationalization

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Thursday to nationalize the country's banks and largest steel producer, if they don't join the country's economic expansion plans.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Punta Arenas Methanex plans to cut Argentine gas dependency

Canada's Methanex, the world's leading producer of methanol and which has a gigantic plant in Punta Arenas expects to break its Argentina natural gas dependency sometime in the next three years, and concentrate on Chilean supplies, said Bruce Aitken, the company's CEO.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Basic training in human rights for Argentine troops

Hundreds of Argentine troops are headed back to class for a different sort of basic training ÃÂ¢€” in human rights.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazilian stocks record; Bovespa index above 50.000 points

Brazilian stocks climbed Thursday to a new record pushing the benchmark Bovespa index above 50,000 for the first time. The index of most-traded shares on the Sao Paulo exchange rose 746.68 or 1.5% to 50,218.22.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
South American countries agree creation of development bank

The Finance and Economy ministers from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela decided Thursday in Quito the creation in parallel of a development bank and a macroeconomic stabilization fund to support financially the region.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Falklands: Penguin News Weekly Update

Headlines:
Tourist Board: no confidence vote for directors; Pension reversal; Harriet lands new job; War losses remembered; A long distance interview; Expo plans progress.
Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
S&P Raises Uruguay Outlook to Positive

S&P has raised its outlook on Uruguay's B+ sovereign credit rating to positive from stable to reflect expectations of a sustained implementation of the economic policy agenda.