Brazil

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 13:31 UTC

  Brazil cuts defence budget but purchase of 36 new jets remains on the agenda

  

  Brazil's government will cut 4,2 billion Brazilian Real (approximately 2.4 billion USD) from its 15.17 billion defense budget this year under proposed fiscal tightening, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim announced this week.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:14 UTC

  US President Obama visits Brazil March 19 and 20

  

  The Brazilian government confirmed on Tuesday that US President Barak Obama will make an official visit to Brazil on March 19 and 20.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 01:09 UTC

  Rio de Janeriro’s top cop forced to step down in midst of corruption scandal

  

  The head of Río de Janeiro's state's civil police quit, becoming the latest victim of a drugs and corruption scandal that has shocked the police in Brazil's second city.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 05:25 UTC

  Brazil ratifies no-support policy for UK military or government vessels linked to Malvinas

  

  Defence minister Arturo Puricelli said Monday that Argentina “has no conflict hypothesis with countries from the region” and thanked the “strong support” from his visiting Brazilian peer Nelson Jobim regarding Argentine sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

• Monday, February 14th 2011 - 18:51 UTC

  China “not too worried” about India/Brazil’s criticism of Yuan policy

  

  In spite of United States inciting Brazil and India to criticise China's currency policy, Beijing need “not worry too much” because it can defuse the tension through talks, according to Chinese officials.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 08:02 UTC

  India, Brazil, Germany, Japan demand Security Council reform this year

  

  Four regional powers hoping to get permanent seats on the Security Council — India, Germany, Brazil and Japan — said Friday they believe the U.N. will take action by September on expanding its most powerful body.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 05:31 UTC

  Brazil and Argentina will reject ‘commodity prices regulation’ at G20

  

  Brazil and Argentina came out Friday against a French proposal to be put to the G20 to regulate commodity prices whose recent rises are blamed for a spike in food costs.

• Saturday, February 12th 2011 - 05:17 UTC

  Brazilian shipyard wins Petrobras 4.6 billion contract for seven ultra-deep rigs

  

  Brazil's government managed oil and gas giant Petrobras said on Friday that local shipyard Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS) had won the tender to build seven drilling rigs in Brazil.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 18:38 UTC

  Brazil tightens mining legislation focused on local processing and jobs

  

  Brazil announced an overhaul of the management of its mineral resources and booming mining industry geared to end what it describes as “reverse specialization” based on the export of raw unprocessed minerals with minimum benefit for local labour and processing industry.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:42 UTC

  Brazil’ central bank forex surpass the 300 billion USD mark…but at a cost

  

  Brazil's forex reserves surpassed the 300 billion US dollars mark for the first time ever this week according to the country's central bank as a result of recent heavy foreign exchange inflows and accelerated US dollar buying by the institution.