Brazil
BrazilBrazil’s primary surplus well below target because of ‘government efforts to prop the economy’
Brazil posted a budget primary surplus of 3.5 billion Reais (1.75bn dollars) in March, recovering after a deficit in February, but still the worst performance in the first quarter of the last four years, according to central bank data released this week.
Israel defense supplier to establish an aerospace research hub in south Brazil
Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems Ltd. plans to create a hub of aerospace research in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, company officials said.
Petrobras continues divestment program: sells blocks in US Gulf of Mexico
Brazil’s Petrobras is selling its 20% stake in the Gila prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico as part of its ongoing divestment program. The state-owned company said it had signed a sale and purchase agreement for the sale of its equity in exploration blocks KC 49, 50, 92, 93, 94 and 138, which make up the BP-operated asset.
Brazil government leader in online censorship requests, says Google Transparency Report
Brazil has a big lead as the country with the most government requests to remove online content by judicial order in the latest Google Transparency Report, released last week. In the period between July and December 2012, the search giant received 1,461 court-ordered requests from governments around the world to remove content, including YouTube videos and search results, with nearly 43% of them coming from Brazilian authorities.
Brazil re-opens the refurbished iconic but still incomplete Maracana stadium
Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, venue for next year's World Cup final and the spiritual home of Brazilian football, has re-opened with an exhibition match despite not being fully finished.
President Rousseff calls on Vale to dialogue with Argentine authorities
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said during a joint conference with her Argentine peer Cristina Fernández at Government House in Buenos Aires that she was certain the Vale mining company “would find a way to reach an agreement with the Argentine authorities” on the suspended project.
A Brazilian or a Mexican will replace Lamy as head of World Trade Organization
The next head of the World Trade Organization will be either Mexico's Herminio Blanco or Brazil's Roberto Azevedo, guaranteeing a Latin American nation will hold the top job at the global trade body for the first time, although they made it to the short list in previous occasions-.
Cristina Fernandez hosts Rousseff to address political and trade issues
Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff will travel to Buenos Aires on Thursday for a two-day meeting with her Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernández and discuss political and trade matters between the two countries after an imports drop in Argentina last year and the cancelling by Brazil of a major investment project.
Brazil to the rescue of the sugar-ethanol industry with lower taxes and soft credit
The Brazilian government has come to the rescue of the sugar-ethanol industry announcing that as of next May first the mandatory content of ethanol in gasoline will increase from 20% to 25%, taxes on the sugar-cane fuel will be eliminated and there will be soft loans to keep expansion going.
Brazil investigating sale of 20 Embraer E-190 to Aerolíneas Argentinas fearing surcharges
Brazil’ aircraft manufacturer Embrear is again resurfacing suspicions regarding the sale of commercial planes to Aerolineas Argentinas involving several million dollars in surcharges. The company informed the US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that it is investigating companies from five different countries to which it sold aircraft allegedly in transactions suspicious of irregularities.
