Brazil

• Monday, May 14th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Pope ends visit criticizing Marxism and neo-liberalism policies

  

  Pope Benedict XVI ended Sunday his five day visit to Brazil with a strong speech to Latinamerican cardinals and bishops criticising “authoritarian governments” and condemning the growing gap between rich and poor in the region.

• Saturday, May 12th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil Petrobras to sell two refineries to Bolivia YPFB for US$112mn

  

  Bolivia and Brazil have reached agreement after an acrimonious dispute over the nationalisation of two oil refineries in Bolivia owned by Petrobras, the Brazilian government-controlled oil group.

• Saturday, May 12th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  De Menezes killers escape discipline

  Eleven British police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man wrongly suspected of being a suicide bomber will not face disciplinary action.

• Friday, May 11th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras discovers gas reserves off shore Espirito Santo

  

  Brazil's government owned petroleum company Petrobras announced the discovery of natural gas reserves in the Espirito Santo Basin in the country's southeastern coast.

• Wednesday, May 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  EU threatens total ban on imports of Brazilian beef

  

  Animal health authorities in Brazil have been told in no uncertain terms that the EU will impose a total ban on imports of beef by the end of the year unless standards of welfare, traceability and residue testing match those of Europe.

• Wednesday, May 9th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Pope arrives in Brazil with strong message against abortion

  

  With a strong message against abortion Pope Benedict XVI arrived Wednesday in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo for a five day visit to the world's most populous Roman Catholic nation. This is his first visit to Latin America since becoming Pope in April 2005.

• Monday, May 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula will urge Pope to work closely in fighting poverty

  President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday he would discuss social policies with Pope Benedict on his visit to Brazil this week and urge the Catholic Church to work more closely with the government to fight poverty.

• Sunday, May 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Benedict XVI begins pastoral visit to “the continent of hope”

  

  Benedict XVI said Sunday his trip to Brazil will be an effort to promote the Church's evangelization so that Latin America will more and more be “the continent of hope.”

• 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.