Stories for December 15th 2009

Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 04:11 UTC
Soybeans bumper crop forecasted in Mercosur countries

A soy bean bumper crop in South America in early 2010 will ease world reserves of grains, currently at very low levels, and will also have an impact on international prices according to Oil World.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:20 UTC
Brazil, Peru plan to build five hydroelectric dams in the Amazon

Brazil expects to reach an accord with Peru by March on a 5 billion US dollars power project to secure energy supplies for both countries, according to Energy minister Edison Lobao. The two governments plan to build five hydroelectric plants in Peru that will produce 6,000 megawatts of electricity
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:16 UTC
Brazil delays purchase of 36 jet-fighters; Army’s tanks’ renewal plan on schedule

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said Monday that the decision on the purchase of 36 fighter jets for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) will be made in early 2010. The three competing models being considered are the Rafale, from France’s Dassault, the F18 Super Hornet from US Boeing and the Swedish Gripen, from Saab.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:12 UTC
Rio Tinto Alcan planning a 2.5 billion USD aluminium smelter in Paraguay

Rio Tinto Alcan, a unit of global mining giant Rio Tinto said on Monday it could invest up to 2.5 billion US dollars in a potential aluminium smelter in Paraguay. Rio Tinto Alcan said it had begun negotiations on a possible power purchase agreement for the potential smelter.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:07 UTC
S&P lowers Mexico’s foreign currency debt rating to BBB

Mexico’s credit rating was cut one level by Standard & Poor’s after tumbling oil output and the worst recession since the 1930s swelled the budget deficit.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 11:10 UTC
Argentina announces 6.5 billion USD guarantee fund for 2010 debt payments

Argentina will set aside 6.5 billion US dollars of its foreign currency reserves to ensure the country meets its 2010 debt payments, the government said on Monday. The move is seen as an attempt to lower costs for issuing new debt, ahead of a complicated year.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 10:58 UTC
US and Brazil agree on road map for Honduras national reconciliation

United States and Brazil agree ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya must have safe passage to leave Honduras and want the country's de facto president to step down to pave the way for national reconciliation, a senior Brazilian official said on Monday.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 10:56 UTC
Japan extends grant to Uruguay for solar power development

Japan is extending Uruguay a grant of 8.5 million US dollars to finance a solar power project, according to official Japanese sources. Japan’s Foreign Affairs minister Katsuya Okada and his Uruguayan counterpart Pedro Vaz signed the document Monday.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 10:21 UTC
Employment and industrial production in Euro-zone confirm shrinking tendency

Employment in the Euro-zone shrank during the third quarter and October industrial production also contracted 0.6% on a month-on-month basis, according to the latest release from Eurostat, the European Community Statistics Office.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 08:45 UTC
Brazil to name “Truth committee” to look into torture crimes under military rule

A quarter of a century after the return of democracy, the Brazilian government is seriously considering naming a “truth committee” to look into the torture crimes committed during the 21 year military dictatorship (1964/1985) and which were never taken to court.