Brazil

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:47 UTC

  Brazil's trade deficit soars in February: 6.3bn dollars if first two months of 2014

  

  Brazil recorded its largest February trade deficit ever, deepening a trade gap this year that underscores the lack of competitiveness from local industry. The deficit reached 2.125 billion dollars the trade ministry announced.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 05:10 UTC

  With an eye on Argentina and Venezuela, Brazil private sector wants Mercosur trade in local currencies

  

  Brazil's private sector concerned with harsh times ahead, particularly with exports to Argentina and Venezuela are proposing that Mercosur trade should be done with local currencies leaving aside the US dollar. The initiative was launched by the president of the Brazil-Argentina Commerce Chamber.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 03:08 UTC

  UK health authorities warn travelers to Brazil World Cup about tropical diseases

  

  UK's Public Health England (PHE) and National Travel Health Network and Center (NaTHNaC9 have produced a factsheet for football fans going to Brazil for the FIFA Football World Cup from 12 June to 13 July 2014 with information on how to stay healthy and keep safe.

• Wednesday, March 5th 2014 - 04:30 UTC

  Blatter becomes Brazilian: Cup problems under control: it will be an exceptional event

  

  Problems with Brazil's World Cup venues are under control with just 100 days to go before the first match kicks off, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday.

• Saturday, March 1st 2014 - 02:32 UTC

  Cry for Me, Argentina

  

  Veteran New York Times reporter and columnist, Roger Cohen, who on several occasions has visited Argentina recently called at Ushuaia. He wrote the following piece, which is not very enthusiastic about the current situation or the heavy burden of populist history in one of the richest countries of the world.

• Friday, February 28th 2014 - 03:28 UTC

  Brazil GDP expanded 2.3% in 2013; agriculture again the main engine

  

  Brazil's economic output grew 2.3% in 2013 for a third straight year of modest expansion by Latin America's biggest economy, the government announced on Thursday. GDP for the final quarter of the year rose a 0.7% compared to the third quarter, according to Brazil's Institute for Geography and Statistics, IBGE.

• Friday, February 28th 2014 - 02:55 UTC

  Brazil and Cuba, for different reasons, trying to unravel Venezuela's political crisis

  

  The visit this week of Brazil's former president Lula da Silva to Havana could help to unravel the current political crisis in Venezuela according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga, since both countries have much to lose if the conflicting situation continues.

• Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:47 UTC

  Inter-American Development bank holds its annual meeting in Bahía

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will hold its 2014 Annual Meeting in Bahía, Brazil, March 27-30, bringing top economic and business leaders to discuss how the private sector can help boost economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:41 UTC

  Brazil raises basic interest to 10,75%; same rate as when Rousseff took office

  

  Brazil's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday to 10.75% from 10.5%, and left the door open for more rate increases while slowing the pace of the hikes. The move continues the bank's yearlong fight against inflation even as rising interest rates and the poor performance of the country's exporters jeopardize already feeble growth in an election year.

• Wednesday, February 26th 2014 - 20:33 UTC

  Brazil farmers want a Mercosur/EU trade agreement even leaving Argentina out

  

  Brazil would like free-trade talks between the European Union and Mercosur to include Argentina, but would be prepared to proceed without its regional ally if an understanding can't be reached on March 7, according to the head of Brazil's farming confederation.