Brazil

• Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 23:21 UTC

  Brazil wants no surprises: creates elite force to support police during the World Cup

  

  Brazil has created a special riot force to help police control demonstrations expected during the World Cup later this year. Colonel Alexandre Augusto Aragon, who heads the elite National Security Force, was quoted in local news on Friday as saying that 10,000 riot troops selected from state police forces throughout Brazil will be deployed in the 12 cities hosting World Cup games June 12-July 13.

• Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 23:15 UTC

  Brazil posted its worst trade surplus since 2.000 at 2.56bn dollars

  

  Brazil posted its lowest trade surplus in 13 years on Thursday, at 2.56 billion dollars for 2013, the trade and commerce ministry said, citing rising imports. The country's foreign trade association AEB had previously warned that 2013 could see the first full-year trade deficit since 2000, which compares with a 19,4bn dollars surplus in 2012

• Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 23:12 UTC

  Brazil oil and gas production in November averaged 2.578 million boepd

  

  Brazil's oil and natural gas output rose 2.87% in November compared with the same month a year earlier as new oil fields came on line and platforms under maintenance returned to operation, Brazil's oil regulator, the ANP, said on Friday.

• Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 06:07 UTC

  FIFA takes no risks: Aggreko will provide power solutions in all World Cup stadiums

  

  FIFA announced the appointment of Aggreko as a Branded Licensee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. As part of this agreement Aggreko will provide temporary broadcast power solutions for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and the stadiums in all twelve Host Cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

• Sunday, December 29th 2013 - 08:35 UTC

  December inflation doubles in Brazil but at an annualized 5.51% remain on target

  

  Brazil's general price index, known as the IGP-M, more than doubled in December, posting a rise of 0.60% compared with a 0.29% increase in November, the Getulio Vargas Foundation said Friday.

• Sunday, December 29th 2013 - 08:30 UTC

  Brazil ups taxes on debit cards and travelers checks to contain outgoing tourism

  

  The Brazilian government said on Friday it will raise a tax on operations with debit cards and travelers checks made abroad, in a move that will raise the country's tax intake by 552 million Reais (234.65m dollars) per year.

• Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:13 UTC

  Caught you!! Brazilian Senator returns cost of air trip to have a hair implant

  

  The president of the Brazilian Senate, Renan Calheiros had decided to return the equivalent of public funds he used to fly on a Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft from Brasilia to Recife, where he underwent a hair implant.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 08:17 UTC

  Brazil conditions any future oil pre-salt bidding to local industry capacity to supply equipment and services

  

  Brazilian Government has decided that any future bidding rounds involving pre-salt blocks will only be launched according to the local industry capability to supply the demand in equipment and services needed by the sector. Local industry has been struggling to keep up with the demand placed by O&G players already involved in pre-salt E&P in Brazil, which are all Petrobras partners, such as BG and others.

• Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 07:37 UTC

  FIFA calls on Brazil to work flat-out in the months ahead of World Cup June 12 kick-off

  

  FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says there is a huge amount still to do in preparations for the World Cup. In his end-of-year statement on FIFA.com, the Frenchman urges Brazil 2014 organizers to work flat out in the months before the June 12 kick-off in Sao Paulo to deliver on their promises.

• Saturday, December 21st 2013 - 06:50 UTC

  IDB loan for Sao Paulo State to improve freight and passenger transport

  

  The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo will receive a loan for 480 million dollars from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to improve freight and passenger transport in the state highway system in order to enhance competitiveness and regional and international integration by reducing transport costs and travel time.