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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 25th 2024 - 14:07 UTC

Brazil

  • Thursday, March 27th 2014 - 08:16 UTC

    Petrobras scandalous purchase of US refinery should be addressed by Congress

    Cardoso favors a cross-party investigative commission to shed light on the purchase of Pasadena Refinery System

    Former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso said Congress should investigate a growing scandal surrounding the controversial 2006 purchase by oil giant Petrobras of a Texas refinery.

  • Thursday, March 27th 2014 - 08:07 UTC

    Brazil lower house approves internet legislation to ensure privacy and neutrality

    Rousseff furious with US spying of her internet mail cancelled an official visit to Washington

    The lower house of Brazil’s Congress has approved legislation meant to ensure the privacy of Internet users and to guarantee what is called “Internet neutrality”, that all content be treated equally by carriers. But it dropped a demand that all data on Brazilians be saved within the country.

  • Wednesday, March 26th 2014 - 07:44 UTC

    Brazil hits back at S&P; says economy is well positioned to new challenges in the global scenario

    The central bank and the Finance ministry poured out a long list of stats to counter S&P downgrade

    Brazil's central bank on Tuesday said it will continue to respond to challenges in the international scenario after Standard & Poor's decision to downgrade the country's credit ratings. This includes a rigorous set of macroeconomic policies, a flexible exchange rate regime and the use of liquidity buffers “to smooth out moves in asset prices” the bank said in a statement.

  • Tuesday, March 25th 2014 - 08:59 UTC

    Brazil militarizes favelas in Rio do Janeiro to guarantee 'law and order'

    Rio governor Sergio Cabral requested support from the federal government

    The Brazilian government announced on Monday, 80 days before the start of the 2014 World Cup, that the military will help occupy several “favelas,” or shantytowns, in Rio de Janeiro to guarantee security in an area currently controlled by violent drug trafficking outfits where some 100,000 people live.

  • Tuesday, March 25th 2014 - 08:51 UTC

    S&P downgrades Brazil’s sovereign debt rating to BBB minus

    Bad news for Dilma Rousseff ahead of October's presidential election

    Standard & Poor's cut Brazil's sovereign debt rating closer to speculative territory in a blow to President Dilma Rousseff administration. Brazil had its long-term debt rating downgraded to BBB minus, the agency's lowest investment-grade rating. S&P changed its outlook to stable from negative, meaning further downgrades are unlikely for now, which will come as a relief for both politicians in Brasilia and financial markets.The move was widely expected but the timing surprised some investors.

  • Sunday, March 23rd 2014 - 09:43 UTC

    Federal troops to Rio do Janeiro to try and contain attacks against the police

    With less than 90 days to the World Cup, the city of Rio seems unable to contain violence

    The government in Brazil says it will send federal troops to Rio de Janeiro to help deal with a spate of violent attacks targeting the city's police. The decision came after the governor of Rio de Janeiro state, Sergio Cabral, asked President Dilma Rousseff for government support ahead of the football World Cup in June.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2014 - 08:01 UTC

    The Falklands/Malvinas: Brazil’s next regional headache?

    When Foreign Secretary William Hague recently visited Brazil, the Falklands/Malvinas issue was not on the agenda, according to Stuenkel

    By Oliver Stuenkel (*) - Brazil, foreign policy observers often point out, is blessed. Contrary to many other emerging powers such as China or India, it is located in a region that rarely experiences interstate tension or war. Not only can Brazil live on a relatively small defense budget, while India is the world's largest arms importer. Brazil can also dedicate considerable time and energy towards extending its global diplomatic reach without constantly being forced to deal with trouble in its neighborhood.

  • Saturday, March 22nd 2014 - 07:11 UTC

    Falklands' prosperity and economic boom surprises visiting Brazilian delegation

    Stuenkel admitted he was unaware of the economic blockade imposed by Argentina

    Visiting Brazilian political advisor and environmentalist Eduardo Viola emphatically expressed support for the Falkland Islands’ right of self-determination during a press conference in Stanley with other visiting Brazilian colleagues, reports this week's edition of Penguin News.

  • Friday, March 21st 2014 - 08:36 UTC

    Major corruption probe into Brazil's transport system providers

    “The evidence collated shows that the alleged cartel was active on 15 projects” and over 4 billion dollars, according to CADE

    Brazil's anti-monopolies commission announced on Thursday it had begun investigating allegations that transport providers, including several large international firms, had operated a price-rigging cartel for 15 years in major cities.

  • Thursday, March 20th 2014 - 06:57 UTC

    Dilma Rousseff questioned on “flawed” report that cost Petrobras 1.2bn

    At the time of the operation in 2006, the Brazilian president was chairwoman of Petrobras

    A scandal surrounding the costly acquisition of a Texas oil refinery by Brazilian state-run energy company Petrobras years ago resurfaced Wednesday after new questions arose about President Dilma Rousseff’s handling of the deal, which involved a sum of 1.2bn dollars.