Brazil

• Monday, February 25th 2013 - 06:13 UTC

  UK media says Iran/Argentina accord could hide missile project with Falklands’ range

  

  British tabloid The Sunday Times indicated on Sunday that the Iran-Argentina accord on the investigation of the AMIA bombing case could also hide a joint missile development project. Furthermore, the paper assured “Argentina is developing missile technology that could threaten the Falkland Islands.”

• Monday, February 25th 2013 - 05:54 UTC

  Brazilian clergy lobby for Sao Paulo archbishop as the next Pope

  

  Catholicism in Latin America is “lively and dynamic,” Brazilian Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis said on Sunday, suggesting that the church look to Latin America for leadership. Damasceno is one of the 117 “cardinal electors” that will participate in the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope, following Benedict XVI announcement he is stepping down at the end of the month.

• Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:51 UTC

  Brazilian economy expanded 1.35% in 2012 and 4% is projected for this year

  

  Brazil's economy grew 1.35% in 2012, above the market forecast of 1 percent, according to the Central Bank estimate. The official and final figure will be released by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) on March 1.

• Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:22 UTC

  Brazil/Russia agree to increase trade and cooperation in agriculture and defense

  

  Brazil and Russia signed several agreements in different fields geared to increase trade and to advance in defense, energy and agriculture cooperation, including the purchase of Russian anti aircraft missile batteries on condition that Moscow agrees to transfer technology.

• Friday, February 22nd 2013 - 01:11 UTC

  Cuban dissident wants an end to US economic embargo and close down Guantanamo

  

  Famed Cuban dissident Yoani Sanchez defended before the Brazilian Congress the end of the US economic embargo and called for the closing down of the US Guantanamo military base.

• Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 05:27 UTC

  Mercosur begins technical meetings for new proposals on trade accord with EU

  

  Mercosur will retake next March technical discussions for a new proposal to be presented to the European Union for a trade and cooperation agreement, announced Argentine Foreign minister Hector Timerman next to his peer Antonio Patriota following bilateral talks on Wednesday in Rio do Janeiro.

• Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 04:45 UTC

  Brazilian soybean farmers oppose contract with Monsanto to end royalties’ dispute

  

  Brazilian farmer groups are opposing a contract that Monsanto the world’s biggest seed company is offering farmers to end a dispute over royalty payments on its genetically modified soybean seeds. Monsanto is trying to resolve uncertainty over its ability to collect fees on its new Intacta soybeans, which it is scheduled to start selling in Brazil during the next growing season.

• Thursday, February 21st 2013 - 01:44 UTC

  Rousseff says end of poverty is close; 48 million Brazilians registered in social support programs

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff raised the monthly stipend of 2.5 million people living below the poverty line to make good on her promise to eradicate extreme poverty in Brazil. Even when announcing she has almost met her anti-poverty target halfway through her four-year term, Brazil’s last census points to 700,000 families who still live in extreme poverty but are not registered on government social programs.

• Wednesday, February 20th 2013 - 05:41 UTC

  “Sustainability party” is born in Brazil headed by tireless fighter for Amazon rainforest protection

  

  Former Brazilian environment minister and presidential candidate Marina Silva has launched a new political party with an eye on next year’s presidential elections. The new party is called “Sustainability Network.” It was launched in Brasilia at a meeting of politicians, congressmen and other Silva supporters.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2013 - 05:18 UTC

  Brazil heading for record crop of 185 million tons of grains, anticipated Rousseff

  

  Brazil this year will harvest the largest grain and oilseed crop in the country’s history, which could reach 185 million tons, according to an announcement from President Dilma Rousseff during her weekly radio message.