Brazil

• Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:31 UTC

  Dead fish and garbage in Rio's Guanabara Bay question Brazil's Olympic celebrations

  

  Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of Rio’s Guanabara Bay during the week, not far from where events are being held at this year’s Olympic Games, environmental officials said. The incident was the latest involving water quality in the bay, where sailing, open water swimming, and triathlon races are due to take place during the Games in August.

• Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:25 UTC

  Tight budgets are forcing many Brazilian cities to cancel Carnival celebrations

  

  Cities across Brazil are cancelling carnival celebrations as increasing economic woes hit Latin America's largest economy. Local governments are citing tightened budgets, with lower tax revenues and more important projects in need of funding.

• Saturday, January 16th 2016 - 10:00 UTC

  US Dept of Agriculture studying Brazil's success as an agricultural powerhouse

  

  Over the last 25 years, the US farmer has become increasingly aware of the impact of South American agricultural output on the global supply of grains and oilseeds. For example, in recent years Brazil has risen to the number one position as an exporter of soybeans.

• Friday, January 15th 2016 - 12:31 UTC

  Toxic gas cloud in Brazil's main and busiest port area sends tens to hospital

  

  Toxic gas which on Thursday leaked from tanks in a cargo warehouse in the Brazilian coastal city of Guaruja, close to Santos the country's largest and busiest port, has sent some 40 people to hospitals.

• Friday, January 15th 2016 - 12:24 UTC

  Criminal charges against mining companies involved in major waste spill in Brazil

  

  Police in Brazil said Thursday they have brought criminal charges against two mining companies and seven executives over a mine waste spill that buried a village and killed 17 people.Federal police accuse Brazilian iron ore giant Vale, mine operator Samarco and company officials including Samarco's chief executive, Ricardo Vescovi, of violating Brazil's environmental crimes law in connection with the disastrous November 5 collapse of a waste reservoir.

• Friday, January 15th 2016 - 09:24 UTC

  Desperate for funds Rousseff offers amnesty to holders of undeclared offshore assets

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday signed a bill that gives amnesty to holders of undeclared offshore assets in exchange for a fine, part of efforts to cut a swelling budget gap and revive investment in the recession-hit economy. The law offers amnesty from prosecution to Brazilians if they bring unreported foreign funds home and pay a 30 percent fine in the form of tax.

• Friday, January 15th 2016 - 09:13 UTC

  Petrobras scandal prosecution-informer involves president Rousseff in the scheme

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, and three former heads of state have been dragged into the investigation into the huge corruption scheme in the state-run oil firm Petrobras. According to informer Nestor Cerveró, Rousseff was personally involved in negotiations for votes in Congress in exchange for top jobs in Petrobras.

• Thursday, January 14th 2016 - 06:01 UTC

  Riots in Sao Paulo as police disperses protestors over rising transport fares

  

  Sao Paulo police on Tuesday night fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters upset over rising transport fares, sparking memories of the 2013 street clashes in Brazil, this year's Olympic host. Riot cops wanted to prevent demonstrators from moving from the spot where they were gathered at one end of the city's major Paulista Avenue.

• Thursday, January 14th 2016 - 05:48 UTC

  Rio mayor confident the city has the funds to host the 2016 Olympic Games

  

  The mayor of 2016 Olympic host city Rio de Janeiro insisted authorities had the finances to avoid disruption to the summer Games despite Brazil’s recession. Latin America's largest economy is suffering from a deep recession and soaring inflation -- a contrast to the boom times of 2009, when Rio won the right to host the Olympics.

• Wednesday, January 13th 2016 - 08:11 UTC

  Brazil agribusiness exports, the locomotive of foreign trade

  

  Brazil's total agricultural exports slid 8.8% to US$88.2 billion in 2015, compared to the previous year, despite record sales of soybeans, corn, chicken, coffee and cellulose, officials said. The drop in sales was caused by falling prices for the commodities Brazil sells on the global market, Foreign Agribusiness Relations Secretary Tatiana Palermo said.