Brazil

• 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.

• Tuesday, February 25th 2014 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian Federal police on two-day strike for better wages and working conditions

  

  Brazil's federal police started on Tuesday a two-day work stoppage to demand better wages and improved security for the World Cup.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:28 UTC

  Brazil and EU agree to lay an undersea cable to avoid US internet surveillance

  

  Brazil and the European Union agreed on Monday to lay an undersea communications cable from Lisbon to Fortaleza to reduce Brazil's reliance on the United States after Washington spied on Brasilia.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:19 UTC

  Rousseff and Barroso optimistic about Mercosur/EU trade talks scheduled to begin 21 March

  

  Trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur could move quickly once a technical meeting next month has taken place, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after a meeting on Monday with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brussels and the European Council president Herman Van Rompuy.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:42 UTC

  Sao Paulo protest against World Cup and demand more hospitals and schools

  

  Brazilian police used tear gas and made an estimated 230 arrests on Saturday evening to disperse a protest in Sao Paulo ahead of the World Cup. Among those arrested in Brazil's business hub, which will host the opening match of the World Cup on June 12, were five journalists, O Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:14 UTC

  Rousseff consolidates as favorite to win re-election in October

  

  Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff remains the favorite to win re-election in October with a comfortable lead over possible contenders, according to a poll published Sunday. The Datafolha polling institute said Rousseff has recovered much of the support she had lost in the wake of mass street protests in the middle of last year.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 06:06 UTC

  Dilma invites the pope to the World Cup and presents him with a 'verde-amarella' jersey

  

  Pope Francis received Friday in a private audience Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who formally invited the Argentine pontiff to visit her country during the World Cup soccer championship, which begins June 12.