International

Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 08:06 UTC
Mercosur and Syria scheduled to begin trade negotiations at next summit

Mercosur and Syria are scheduled to sign an agreement to begin trade negotiations at the group’s next summit in Brazil, December 15, according to official sources in Damascus. Syrian president Bashar al-Assad earlier this year visited South America to promote trade and political links, particularly with Brazil that has a large Syrian community.
Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 07:52 UTC
Internet database to help reduce shipping emissions rating ‘dirty’ and ‘clean’ vessels

A free Internet database that lists the energy efficiency of almost every ocean-going vessel, in a scheme designed to reduce shipping emissions by nearly 25%, was set up on Sunday by Virgin Atlantic Airways founder Richard Branson, reports London’s The Guardian.
Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 02:51 UTC
Argentina and Mercosur associates recognize the State of Palestine

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's administration announced Monday via Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman that Argentina recognizes Palestine as “a free and independent state, within the frontiers in existence since 1967.”
Monday, December 6th 2010 - 05:23 UTC
EU governments’ support for financial sector 4.5 tr Euros; UK top of the list

European Union states have underwritten their financial sectors with 4.5 trillion Euros of aid since the banking crisis hit. Top of the league is the UK, which pledged 850.3bn Euros of support between October 2008 and October 2010.
Monday, December 6th 2010 - 05:15 UTC
Germany reaffirms commitment to Euro as markets test EU monetary union

German Finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said financial markets are currently testing whether the Euro zone will survive but he insisted the 16-nation monetary union won't break up. However he also warned about the risk of the emergence of an anti-Euro party.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 06:48 UTC
Brazil recognized the state of Palestine based on borders before 1967

Brazil recognized on Friday the state of Palestine based on borders before Israel seized control of the West Bank in 1967. The foreign ministry said the recognition was in response to a request made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to President Lula da Silva earlier this year.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 02:59 UTC
China, Brazil announce “macro-prudent” measures to cut liquidity, tighten credit

Two of the strongest emerging economies Brazil and China announced Friday measures to withdraw liquidity tighten credit and contain inflation. Brazil’s “macro-prudent” measures are geared to cut on money circulation, while China said monetary emphasis will change from “relatively loose” to “prudent”.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 01:31 UTC
Lula da Silva and Obama, best evaluated leaders in Western Hemisphere

Brazil’s Lula da Silva and US Barack Obama are the Western hemisphere leaders best evaluated and most respected, according to a paper based on a public opinion poll and which was released Friday by the NGO Latinobarometro.
Friday, December 3rd 2010 - 06:33 UTC
Putin flies to Zurich to thank FIFA for trusting Russia the 2018 World Cup

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin thanked FIFA President Sepp Blatter for the trust the association deposited in Russia that was chosen to host in 2018 football’s major event, the World Cup.
Friday, December 3rd 2010 - 06:18 UTC
IMF chiefs rules out double-dip recession, praises South American countries

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn ruled out any possibility of an impending double-dip recession even as he warned against downward risks posing the countries while they were recuperating, albeit languidly.