Brazil

• Wednesday, July 25th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Air chaos extends to all Brazil as more flights are cancelled

  

  Brazil's president fired his defense minister on Wednesday hoping to bring an end to nearly a year of chaos in the military-controlled aviation system, including flight cancellations that have stranded thousands of travelers following last week's passenger jet crash. To reduce the delays and cancellations, Brazil's aviation authority has temporarily suspended all ticket sales for flights to and from Congonhas.

• Tuesday, July 24th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil flatly rejects foreign assistance to organize air space

  

  The president of Brazil's airports agency Infiero Jose Carlos Pereira rejected point blank Monday suggestions that Brazil should accept international help to overcome the air space situation.

• Tuesday, July 24th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Air chaos in Brazil: over half of flights delayed or cancelled

  

  Chaos in Brazilian civil aviation peaked Monday with 38% of flights delayed and another 20% cancelled, reported Infraero the agency which manages the country's airports.

• Sunday, July 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Amazon radar failure deepens Brazil air travel woes

  

  A radar failure over the Amazon forced Brazil to turn back or ground a string of international flights Saturday, deepening a national aviation crisis just hours after the president unveiled safety measures prompted by the country's deadliest air disaster.

• Saturday, July 21st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva promises new airport for Sao Paulo

  Three days after Brazil's worst air accident president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addressed the nation and promised that in 90 days he will be announcing the construction of a new airport for the city of Sao Paulo.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil Central Bank lowers benchmark interest rate to 11.50%

  Brazil's Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Copom, announced Wednesday a half percentage cut in the basic interest rate or Selic, which dropped from 12% to 11.50% on an annual basis.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil's worst aviation disaster unveils “chaotic air system”

  

  Investigations are continuing into what caused Brazil's worst air disaster, as attention turns to the plane's landing speed and the general safety conditions of the country's busiest airport which could end being closed down.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian prosecutors want Congonha airport shut down

  

  Following Brazil's deadliest air disaster that killed over 200 people federal prosecutors sought a court order to shut down the entire Congonha airport, Brazil's busiest, until the investigation into the crash was completed.

• Thursday, July 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil and US not willing to yield in the global trade talks

  

  Brazil signaled this week it would take a tough stance in talks to save a global trade deal saying last-ditch compromise proposals were too weighted in favor of rich-country interests.

• Wednesday, July 18th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US planned 1963 military coup in Brazil to oust Brizola

  Declassified documents prove that United States was planning a military coup in Brazil in the early sixties to prevent labor leader Leonel Brizola from reaching power and the possible “Cubanization” of the country revealed Tuesday Folha de Sao Paulo.