Brazil

• Monday, November 26th 2012 - 06:46 UTC

  Dilma Rousseff sacks top officials involved in influence-peddling ring

  

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff moved quickly and with no consideration for political allies ordered the dismissal on Saturday of all government officials allegedly involved in a bribery ring, including the country's deputy attorney general.

• Monday, November 26th 2012 - 04:35 UTC

  Sao Paulo City gripped in a “civil war” between organized crime and the police, says top Judge

  

  A Brazilian magistrate described the wave of killings in Sao Paulo city as a ‘civil war’ between organized crime and unsupported police forces to which the local population is closing its eyes.

• Saturday, November 24th 2012 - 15:28 UTC

  Brazilian Navy has its first woman two-star Rear Admiral

  

  The Brazilian navy has its first woman two-star Rear Admiral, following the signing on Friday by President Dilma Rousseff of her promotion to the rank of Officer General of the Navy.

• Friday, November 23rd 2012 - 23:41 UTC

  ‘Business climate’ up in Latam; lack of competitiveness and skilled labour remain challenges

  

  Brazil, Bolivia and Chile had the best ‘business climate’ in Latin America during October according to the Economic Climate Index, ICE from the Brazilian think-tank Getulio Vargas Foundation, FGV.

• Friday, November 23rd 2012 - 21:15 UTC

  Brazil steering its currency to competitive ground for manufacturing

  

  Brazil's exchange rate is at a reasonable level though not totally satisfactory said Finance Minister Guido Mantega on Friday, in an indication that the government is prepared to further weaken the Real to boost a still weak economy.

• Friday, November 23rd 2012 - 20:15 UTC

  Brazil has its first ever black head of the Supreme Court

  

  Brazil judge Joaquim Barbosa took the oath of office as Brazil's first ever Afro descendant head of the Federal Supreme Tribunal (Supreme Court) on Thursday, in a historic ceremony attended by President Dilma Rousseff and other top leaders.

• Thursday, November 22nd 2012 - 21:09 UTC

  Brazilian labour market robust with unemployment 5.3% in October

  

  Brazil's unemployment rate fell in October, suggesting the country’s robust labour market will continue to support domestic demand through an incipient economic recovery.

• Thursday, November 22nd 2012 - 21:05 UTC

  Brazil government exposes alleged links of the opposition and media with the king of illegal gambling

  

  A Brazilian congressional committee has asked the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute on conspiracy charges two editors from the opposition magazine Veja because of their links with the chief of illegal gambling in the country, Carlinhos Cachoeira.

• Thursday, November 22nd 2012 - 18:56 UTC

  Street killings and violence in Sao Paulo knock out the state’s head of security

  

  The head of the Sao Paulo state police who held the post for seven years quit Wednesday amid a surge of deadly violence in Brazil’s largest city and the industrial and financial hub of the country.

• Wednesday, November 21st 2012 - 20:49 UTC

  Brazil’s development bank sees economy picking up as loan requests increase

  

  Company inquiries about tapping Brazil's BNDES state development bank for loans is up 30% the past two months, a strong sign of potential growth in the near future for a sluggish economy, the bank's president revealed in the US.