Brazil

• Wednesday, June 4th 2014 - 00:47 UTC

  UK Minister Simmonds to visit Miami and Sao Paulo to support the English team

  

  UK Foreign Office Minister Mark Simmonds is scheduled to visit Sao Paulo and Miami to promote the travel safety 'Be On The Ball' campaign, preparing fans for the World Cup and to support the English team.

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 06:03 UTC

  With help from FIFA, the stadium opening the World Cup approved the test

  

  A less-than-capacity crowd at Sunday’s final World Cup test event at the Itaquerao venue in Sao Paulo means it will host a full crowd for the first time at the tournament opener.

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 05:44 UTC

  Good news from Brazil: trade surplus in May and primary surplus in April

  

  Some good news for the beleaguered Brazilian economy and President Dilma Rousseff's bid for re-election next October. According to the latest data supplies by the government, Brazil posted a trade surplus of 712 million dollars in May, recovering from a weak start to the year but still below historical levels.

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 05:39 UTC

  Rio mayor: be sure when you arrive in Brazil it's not England or London

  

  Those travelling to Brazil imagining they have arrived in England or those coming to Rio imagining to be in London “will undergo a frustrating experience” said Eduardo Paes, mayor of Rio do Janeiro, one of the cities to host the World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 05:34 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil closer to an auto industry agreement

  

  Argentina and Brazil have 'cut differences' and advanced significantly in negotiations for an auto integration understanding that could be ready to be signed next week, according to industry sources in Buenos Aires.

• Tuesday, June 3rd 2014 - 05:26 UTC

  Latin America losing its competitive edge as demand for commodities slows down

  

  The United States ranks as the most competitive country in the world in a survey of 60 countries by IMD, a leading global business school in Switzerland. The survey finds Europe is recovering some of its competitive edge, while emerging economies, particularly in Latin America are struggling to hold their own.

• Monday, June 2nd 2014 - 08:09 UTC

  Prince Harry will be visiting Brazil, and Chile for the first time later this month

  

  Prince Harry will be visiting Brazil and Chile this month in support of the UK's interests in the region and will reflect the strong relationship the two countries have with the UK. The visit will also allow Prince Harry to build on the links he began to forge in South America during his official visit to Brazil in March 2012.

• Saturday, May 31st 2014 - 06:05 UTC

  Brazil's economy grows 0.2% in the first quarter and 1.9% in twelve months

  

  Brazil's economy grew 0.2% in the first quarter compared to the final three months of 2013, a pace slower than economists had forecast, the government said Friday. Meanwhile GDP rose 1.9% relative to the first quarter of 2013, according to figures released by the state-run Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, or IBGE.

• Friday, May 30th 2014 - 22:11 UTC

  End protests against the World Cup, “whatever money has gone has been spent or stolen already”

  

  The grand-daughter of former FIFA president Joao Havelange has stepped into the war of words over Brazil's World Cup preparations unabashedly telling protestors angry at the tournament's massive budget to get over it because some money had already been “spent” or “stolen” or “robbed.”

• Friday, May 30th 2014 - 22:02 UTC

  Brazuca ball less erratic than the Jabulani used at South Africa, say Japanese scientists

  

  Scientists in Japan say the Brazuca 2014 World Cup ball will be less erratic than the Jabulani used at South Africa 2010. The Brazuca is the 12th World Cup match ball designed by Adidas. The Jabulani was criticized for its light weight and unpredictability.