Brazil

• Sunday, March 18th 2012 - 19:53 UTC

  Top executives from Chevron barred from leaving Brazil because of oil spills case

  

  A Brazilian court barred 17 executives from Chevron and Transocean from leaving Brazil, pending criminal charges related to a high-profile oil spill last November. A second oil spill detected last week further complicated the situation.

• Sunday, March 18th 2012 - 19:48 UTC

  Unasur supports Argentine Malvinas and call on UK to resume negotiations

  

  Foreign ministers from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) reaffirmed their support for Argentina over the Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute at the annual meeting held in Asunción, Paraguay.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 07:18 UTC

  Brazilian judge dismisses first dictatorship era case involving an Army officer

  

  Brazilian judge dismissed the first charges ever brought against an army officer over crimes committed during the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, dealing a blow to rights groups and victims' families.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 06:13 UTC

  EU/Mercosur will exchange market access proposals when Brazil chairs the round

  

  The European Union and Mercosur concluded Friday in Brussels the eighth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement with the commitment to begin exchanging market access proposals at the next meeting.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 05:56 UTC

  Rousseff and Blatter seal peace and say all will be on time for the 2014 World Cup

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff assured FIFA chief Sepp Blatter on Friday the country would be ready to host the 2014 World Cup, easing tensions over the slow pace of preparations for the finals.

• Friday, March 16th 2012 - 19:05 UTC

  Falklands tells Argentina latest intimidation and bullying efforts are entirely counter-productive

  

  The elected government of the Falkland Islands said on Friday it regrets the latest attempt by the Argentine government to economically undermine the Islanders way of life, which is yet another example of intimidation and bullying towards a country of 3.000 people.

• Wednesday, March 14th 2012 - 23:52 UTC

  Brazilian vessel looses half 5.000 cattle on board and has no port to dock

  

  An animal welfare disaster resulting in the death of more than half the 5.000 cattle on board a Brazilian-owned live export ship bound for Egypt over the past fortnight has prompted renewed calls to ban the industry.

• Wednesday, March 14th 2012 - 05:36 UTC

  Last Americas Summit without Cuba, agree Argentina and Brazil

  

  Argentina and Brazil Foreign Affairs ministers said in Sao Paulo both countries are committed that the next Summit of the Americas to be held in April in Colombia is the last without the participation of Cuba.

• Wednesday, March 14th 2012 - 02:01 UTC

  Brazilian prosecutors unveil first criminal charges for crimes committed in 1970

  

  Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday unveiled the first criminal charges for crimes committed during the two-decade military dictatorship which ended almost a quarter of a century ago.

• Wednesday, March 14th 2012 - 01:48 UTC

  Blatter scheduled to meet Rousseff on Friday to patch up differences

  

  FIFA president Sepp Blatter will meet Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday to clear the air following the recent spat over preparations for the 2014 World Cup, soccer's governing body said on Tuesday.