Brazil
BrazilProtectionist Brazil: restrictions on 60% of imports
Brazil announced it has imposed restrictions on 60% of imports “to soften” the impact of the global crisis in its trade balance which in the first four weeks of January has registered a totally unexpected deficit of 645 million US dollars.
Italy recalls ambassador in Brazil over asylum dispute
Italy on Tuesday recalled its ambassador to Brazil for consultations in response to Brasilia's definitive decision to grant political refugee status to a convicted Italian terrorist.
“Another world is possible” forum attracts 120.000
Tens of thousands of anti-globalization activists gathered Tuesday in the north-eastern Brazilian city of Belem for the opening of the World Social Forum (WSF), finding solidarity under the slogan “another world is possible”.
Brazil to compensate cheap energy with investments
Brazil has offered investments in Paraguay in exchange for not claiming a fair price and free availability of the surplus energy produced at South America's largest hydroelectric dam Itaipú shared by the neighbouring countries.
Brazilian-made oil semi-sub platform begins production
Brazil's government managed oil and corporation Petrobras announced that the first semi-submersible platform built entirely in Brazil, went on stream Sunday, beginning the production of well MLS-99, in the Marlim Sul field, in the Campos Basin.
Brazilian helicopters for the release of Colombian hostages
The Brazilian army will provide support to groups working on the planned release of six hostages (two politicians, three policemen and a soldier) by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group, Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said Sunday.
Obama pledges closer political and trade links with Brazil
United States President Barack Obama wants to work with Brazil on bio-fuels and global trade talks as a way to strengthen bilateral relations and address the international economic crisis, President Lula da Silva's spokesman said on Monday.
Petrobras/Repsol strike gas in Santos basin shallow waters
The Consortium formed by Brazil's government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras and Spain's Repsol announced the discovery of a “thick column of natural gas” in the offshore Santos basin, southeast of Brazil.
Petrobras ignores crisis and increases investments 55%
At a time when large raw materials companies around the world are cutting back budgets in the face of falling prices and demand Brazil's government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras announced a 55% increase in its five year investment plan.
Brazil targets growth and cuts basic rate one full point
Brazil's Central bank reduced its benchmark SELIC interest rate a full point to 12.75% on Wednesday, its biggest cut since December 2003. Policy makers slashed the Selic rate by 1 percentage point to its lowest level since March 2007, when Brazil was still enjoying a boom that ended abruptly with the global economic crisis late last year.
