Stories for July 2016

Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 06:54 UTC
Brazil asks Mercosur chair transfer to Venezuela to be delayed until August

The deep differences among Mercosur members as to who should hold the group's rotating chair this second half of the year surfaced openly in Montevideo with the surprise visit of Brazilian foreign minister Jose Serra and ex president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The Brazilin delegation formally requested Uruguay, which currently holds the six/month Mercosur chair to suspend the transfer to Venezuela until at least August.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 04:40 UTC
Macri pushes in Berlin for EU-Mercosur accord, but Merkel sides with France in the agriculture issue

President Mauricio Macri met on Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin with both leaders holding a press conference to address the current state of talks regarding a trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 04:25 UTC
Mega agreement between Italy and Shanghai shipbuilders, and Carnival to develop China's cruise industry

Fincantieri and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), China’s largest shipbuilding conglomerate, have signed an agreement for the development of a joint venture aimed at developing and supporting the growth of the Chinese cruise industry, according to a statement.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 04:16 UTC
Spain to analyze Brexit impact for employment in Gibraltar neighboring areas

The central Spanish Government and regional authorities in Andalucia are taking an increasingly-close interest on the impact that a United Kingdom withdrawal from the EU could have on communities in the Campo de Gibraltar, neighbouring with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, and the region as a whole.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 04:02 UTC
Temer extends a Rio Olympic Games open arms message to the world

With just a month to go to the Olympic Games, Michel Temer Brazil’s interim president, invites the world to experience the beauty of Rio de Janeiro. The following is his welcome message to the world’s athletes, officials and fans:
Tuesday, July 5th 2016 - 07:49 UTC
Temer calls for “national reunification” at a friendly agro-business forum

Brazil's interim president, Michel Temer emphasized the role of agro-industry in the country's development and called for “national reunification” to guarantee jobs in the sector.
Tuesday, July 5th 2016 - 07:41 UTC
Petrobras: new round of arrest warrants in three different states

Brazil’s federal police served five arrest warrants and conducted search and seizure operations in three states on Monday, in the latest round of a sweeping corruption probe around state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA. Police said contractors paid at least 39 million reais (US$ 12m) in bribes to executives of Petrobras, and rigged public auctions at Petrobras’ research centre Cenpes.
Tuesday, July 5th 2016 - 07:31 UTC
Brazil manages US$23.6bn trade surplus in the first half of the year

Brazilian exports exceeded imports by US$23.6 billion in the first half of the year - a record for the period. In addition to the basic products, sales grew strongly with the sale of vehicles for Latin America. The data were released by the Ministry of Industry Trade and Services.
Tuesday, July 5th 2016 - 07:21 UTC
OECD-FAO forecasts agriculture prices will remain relatively flat overall in next decade

The recent period of high agricultural commodity prices is most likely over, say the OECD and FAO in their latest 10-year Outlook. But the two organizations warn of the need to be vigilant as the probability of a major price swing remains high.
Tuesday, July 5th 2016 - 06:54 UTC
Macri begins official visit to Germany looking for trade and investment

Argentine president Mauricio Macri arrived in Berlin on Monday, in his first official trip to the country and as part of an European tour aimed at strengthening Argentina’s ties with the European Union. Macri arrived from Brussels where he met EU authorities and the day before, was in Paris with president Francois Hollande.