
Sao Paulo governor Jose Serra and one of Brazilian leaders tipped to dispute the presidency in 2010 warned about the possibility of an economic downturn when President Lula da Silva concludes his second mandate.
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf dealt with the submission presented by Mexico, the ninth it has received so far. This was the twenty first session of the Commission and was held at UN headquarters from 17 March to 18 April.
Brazilian president Lula da Silva, currently visiting Ghana, blamed rising oil prices for the current global food crisis, saying that bio-fuels had nothing to do with the problem, as some have suggested. He insisted escalating oil prices are pushing up freight costs, which in turn affects world food prices.

Brazil expects to host representatives from 190 countries, including several world leaders for the International Conference on Bio-fuels which is scheduled for next November in Sao Paulo.

Petrobras, Brazil's government managed hydrocarbons corporation, increased oil and gas production an average 1.4% during March reaching 2,114,089 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe).

The Senator who leads the Brazilian delegation to the Mercosur Parliament announced this week he was resigning his post to protest the lack of consideration and disrespect Brazilian ministers have shown towards the organization.
Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made an impassioned defense of bio-fuels rejecting that they are responsible for the recent rise in global food prices during the opening ceremony of a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, conference in Brasilia.
South America has a right to strengthen its armed forces but is not in an arms race, Brazil's defense minister pointed out in Venezuela. Nelson Jobim who is in the first leg of a continental visit to discuss a planned South American security council said the region needed military power to strengthen its presence on the world stage.
Brazil and Russia signed an agreement on Tuesday to jointly develop top-line jet fighters and satellite launch vehicles. Strategic Affairs Minister Roberto Mangabeira Unger said the agreement will lead to the development of fifth-generation jet fighters that are built using sophisticated engineering, such as composite materials, stealth technology and advanced radar.
Brazil's government managed oil corporation Petrobras said late Monday that more conclusive data on the Carioca ultra deep pre salt basin discovery potential will only be known after other phases in the assessment process have been completed.