Stories for July 2007

Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil to become a “strategic” partner of the European Union

The first ever summit between the European Union and Brazil is taking place in Portugal marking the start of what both sides hope will become a new “strategic” partnership on issues such as energy, climate change and human rights.
Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
“There are rules to belong to Mercosur, but none to leave”

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he was looking forward to talk with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez to discuss the latest Mercosur misunderstandings but he also emphasized that there are rules to become a member of the trade group, but none to leave.
Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Kirchner denies energy cuts and blames “lobby of companies”

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner denied emphatically on Wednesday that his administration was assessing the “rationalization” of electricity supply to homes and insisted that those versions are only looking “to destabilize his government”.
Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
OECD-FAO: prices for farm products forecasted to keep growing

Increased demand for bio-fuels is causing fundamental changes to agricultural markets that could drive up world prices for many farm products, according to a new report published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation.
Tuesday, July 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil offers resettlement for Palestinian refugees from Iraq

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed an offer by Brazil to resettle an estimated 100 Palestinians formerly living in Iraq starting in mid-September.
Tuesday, July 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina requested “energy aid” say Brazilian officials

Argentina has requested energy assistance from Brazil to overcome the very extreme winter the country is suffering, according to sources in Brasilia reports the Brazilian press.
Tuesday, July 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Less tourists visited Brazil in 2006 but they spent more

Foreign visitors to Brazil last year left an estimated 4.3 billion US dollars, up 11.77% over 2005, in spite the number actually dropped and the recurrent air traffic problems in Brazilian skies.
Monday, July 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
World Bank names new Latam country directors

Pamela Cox, World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, announced the appointment of three new country directors for the region to head the units of Mexico and Colombia; the Andes: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela; and the Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, effective July 1st, 2007.
Monday, July 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Colombian guerrilla accused of killing 11 lawmakers

Colombia's guerrilla movement FARC (Colombian revolutionary armed forces) are the “main culprits” for the death of the eleven local Deputies which they held captive, but so is Colombian president Alvaro Uribe, said on Sunday Melanie Betancourt, daughter of Ingrid Betancourt held at ransom by the Marxist oriented guerrillas.
Monday, July 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC
US/South Korea ambitious trade deal faces Congress hurdle

United States and South Korea signed a controversial free trade agreement, which still has to be ratified by Congress where some Democrats have expressed concern for job losses in the US car industry.