Latin America

• Wednesday, February 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Raul Castro asks Lula da Silva help with transition process

  

  Cuba's interim president Raul Castro requested advise and help from Brazil's Luis Inacio Lula da Silva “to accelerate the political and economic transition process” in the island according to Wednesday edition of the prestigious Folha de Sao Paulo.

• Wednesday, February 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Whiffs of global economic slowdown reach Latinamerica

  

  The Latinamerica economic climate dropped to its lowest level since July 2005 because of the United States mortgage and banking situation according to the joint indicator from the University of Munich Economics Research Institute, Ifo and the Getulio Vargas Foundation from Brazil, FGV.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil and Argentina considering joint arms manufacturing

  Brazil and Argentina are considering the joint manufacturing of different types of arms both for regional defense and for export, according to the Buenos Aires press. Next Friday Brazilian president Lula da Silva will make an official visit to Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and one of the several accords to be signed refers to the “production for defense”.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  German Chancellor Merkel first visit to Latam next May

  

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Monday her first visit to the Latin American continent since taking office in 2005. Ms Merkel is scheduled to participate in the European Union-Latinamerica leaders' summit scheduled for next May in Lima, Peru.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Insufficient gas and brownouts could hit Brazil and Argentina

  Brazil reiterated it does not have the capacity to give up a percentage of the contracted Bolivian gas provision thus helping to improve the Argentine energy situation.

• Tuesday, February 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Sustainability is Antarctica's tourism main challenge

  

  “Antarctica is the ultimate destination for anyone interested in natural history but it also challenges those people who visit to think broadly about our responsibilities to all life on Earth.” That's the view of Dr Robert Lambert, a lecturer on Tourism and the Environment at The University of Nottingham, who has just returned from the Antarctic in his role as an Observer for the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO).

• Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Celebrities support pop star banned by Chavez regime

  Over one hundred celebrities from the singer Shakira to soccer star David Beckham backed a Spanish pop star in a dispute with Venezuela after a concert was canceled following his criticism of President Hugo Chavez.

• Monday, February 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  “Still much to do for Cuba”, say released political prisoners

  The four Cuban political prisoners released by the regime of interim president Raul Castro arrived Sunday in Spain “full of enthusiasm” and committed to keep battling for the more than fifty others whom remain in Cuban dungeons.

• Sunday, February 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Global warming could return predators to Antarctic waters

  

  Marine life in Antarctica will be at risk from an invasion of sharks, crabs and other predators if global warming continues, scientists warn. Crabs are poised to return to the Antarctic shallows, threatening creatures such as giant sea spiders and floppy ribbon worms, says a UK-US team.

• Saturday, February 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Petrobras & Pemex consider deepwater G. of Mexico project

  Brazil's government owned oil and gas corporation Petrobras has invited Mexico's oil monopoly Pemex to join it as a minority partner in a deepwater exploration project on the US side of the Gulf of Mexico revealed Samir Awad Petrobras executive manager for the Americas, Africa and Eurasia.