Brazil

• Tuesday, May 27th 2014 - 09:49 UTC

  Brazil central bank at a cross road: fosters growth or combats inflation

  

  Analysts forecast Brazil's central bank will leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 11% this week, with the world's seventh-largest economy caught between rising inflation and sluggish growth. But given the persistence of inflation it should not come as a surprise if the monetary policy committee raises Selic to 11.25% after its two-day meeting this week.

• Tuesday, May 27th 2014 - 09:14 UTC

  Brazilian protests extend to the national team as it left Rio airport

  

  Brazil's World Cup squad were forced to avoid a group of 200 striking teachers on Monday as they headed for their tournament base camp against a backdrop of public anger over the cost of staging the event.

• Monday, May 26th 2014 - 06:33 UTC

  Brazil: Furious Dilma fires back at World Cup criticism from soccer star Ronaldo

  

  President Dilma Rousseff hit back over the weekend at criticism voiced by former soccer star Ronaldo over mishandled preparations for the World Cup. In an interview with Reuters Ronaldo lamented that many infrastructure projects promised for the tournament were significantly delayed, scaled-down, or canceled, while some stadiums remain unfinished just over two weeks from kick-off.

• Saturday, May 24th 2014 - 07:39 UTC

  FIFA warns about buying World Cup tickets from unauthorized sellers

  

  FIFA has told fans buying World Cup tickets from unauthorized sellers that they could be barred from stadiums. Three weeks from the opening match, FIFA said yesterday that it “cancels tickets discovered as illegally sold or re-sold with the bearers risking not being permitted entry.” FIFA marketing director Thierry Weil said some fans have already been affected.

• Saturday, May 24th 2014 - 07:13 UTC

  British fans travelling to the Cup in Brazil warned about 'Argentine gangs'

  

  If the recent protests and demonstrations across Brazil prior to the World Cup are any indication of the domestic and public violence that is expected to happen, fans, of all nationalities must be cautious, as the Brazilian military police has warned.

• Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 23:59 UTC

  Strikes and protests in chaotic Sao Paulo move to the suburbs

  

  Brazil faced new protests and strikes Friday as bus drivers continued their walkout in Sao Paulo's suburbs and Rio de Janeiro braced for demonstrations 20 days from the World Cup.

• Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 07:13 UTC

  Brazil supports Argentina's Malvinas claim and agrees to more presence in the South Atlantic

  

  Brazil reaffirmed support for Argentina's sovereignty rights over the Malvinas and other South Atlantic islands and surrounding maritime spaces at a meeting of the head of the Malvinas Islands affairs desk, Daniel Filmus with top officials from Defense and Foreign Affairs in Brasilia.

• Thursday, May 22nd 2014 - 01:07 UTC

  FIFA demands second test for the recently opened Sao Paulo stadium

  

  FIFA has demanded Brazil’s World Cup organizers stage one final test event at the Sao Paulo stadium staging the June 12 opener. The Brazilian league schedule has been re-jigged to accommodate Corinthians match against Brazilian champions Cruzeiro at the 68,000-seat Itaquerao, which is still unfinished, on June first.

• Wednesday, May 21st 2014 - 07:15 UTC

  Rousseff ‘guarantees’ Brazil’s airports will be prepared to welcome World Cup visitors

  

  President Dilma Rousseff has “guaranteed” Brazil's airports will be prepared to welcome visitors for the World Cup, which starts on June 12 in São Paulo. Rousseff made the comments on her weekly ''Breakfast with the President'' national radio program following criticism that a number of airports which were promised to be completed for the key football tournament remain unfinished.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2014 - 08:48 UTC

  Brazil World Cup host cities with an early warning system for dengue

  

  A heightened risk of an outbreak of dengue fever during the upcoming soccer World Cup in Brazil has prompted a high alert in three out of 12 host cities. For the first time, scientists have developed an early warning system that predicts the risk of dengue fever infections throughout parts of Brazil.