Brazil
BrazilBrazilian economy expanded at an annualized 1.63% in February
Brazil's economy grew at a 0.24% rate in February, compared to the previous month, the Central Bank said Wednesday. The Central Bank's Index of Economic Activity indicates that the economy grew 1.63% in February, compared to February 2013, while year-on-year growth was 2.41%, up from the 2.29% figure reported in the previous month.
Brazil's chief banker forecasts inflation will come down in coming months
Food prices in Brazil have started to ease and should bring inflation down in coming months, central bank chief Alexandre Tombini said on Wednesday, reinforcing views that policymakers are ready to wrap up their year-long campaign of rate hikes. He reiterated that a significant part of the impact of past rate increases on inflation has yet to be felt.
Argentina court prevents supplying Brazil with football hooligans intelligence
Notorious Argentine “barras bravas” football hooligans can travel to the World Cup without intelligence being passed on beforehand to hosts Brazil, a court has ruled. The court in Buenos Aires said that the Argentine government is not allowed to tell another country personal information about its citizens, a lawyer for the United Argentine Fans (HUA) supporters' group said on Wednesday.
Brazil sends army to World Cup host city following police strike and widespread looting
Brazil's government ordered 5,000 army troops to one of the host cities for the coming World Cup to provide law and order after a police strike led to civil unrest and looting.On Wednesday, the troops entered Salvador, the capital of Bahia state in northeastern Brazil, the state where police began striking on Tuesday night followed by the ransacking of shops and supermarkets, according to local reports.
Nissan opens new complex in Brazil to turn out 200.000 cars and engines
Japan Nissan's top executives travelled to Resende, Rio do Janeiro state on Tuesday to inaugurate a complex designed to turn out 200,000 vehicles and engines per year with the goal of capturing 5% of Brazil's new car market by 2016.
Vice-president Biden will visit Brazil and attend a US national team game
United States Vice President Joe Biden is planning to be among the crowds at this summer's World Cup soccer tournament. The White House announced Monday that Biden would travel to Brazil for the event in June. He also plans to attend a U.S. national team game.
Warnings of 'catastrophic' Chikungunya epidemic; fears it could spread during the World Cup
A team of French and Brazilian researchers warn that chikungunya virus is poised to invade, and become epidemic in the Americas according to research published ahead of print in the Journal of Virology.
Brazilian police investigation into money laundering includes Petrobras
Brazil's Federal police confirmed on Friday that it had orders from a Parana federal judge to raid Petrobras offices in search of documentation related to an alleged major money laundering scheme but it was not necessary because of the collaboration from the country's largest oil and gas corporation officials.
Police and squatters clash in Rio do Janeiro next to the Maracana stadium
A dozen people were hurt and 27 arrested Friday in clashes between police and some of the roughly 5,000 squatters occupying a vacant industrial property in Rio do Janeiro, Brazil's second-largest city. Militants among the squatters set fire to several vehicles including a police patrol as they sought to remain on the site in the impoverished Engenho Novo neighborhood just steps away from the iconic Maracana stadium.
Olympic Committee top official sent to Rio to tackle delays in the 2016 Games
The International Olympic Committee is sending its executive director Gilbert Felli to Brazil next week as part of a series of emergency measures to tackle the delays threatening the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. The announcement was made by IOC president Thomas Bach.
