Brazil

Tuesday, September 18th 2012 - 06:23 UTC
Meet the official mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup: the Brazilian armadillo

Brazil has chosen an endangered armadillo as the mascot for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. While nature's version is light brown in colour, Fifa's mascot is yellow with green eyes and a blue shell, the colours of the Brazilian flag, and will be holding aloft a football.
Tuesday, September 18th 2012 - 06:17 UTC
Brazil begins rebuilding Antarctic base destroyed by deadly fire last February

Three navy supply ships will head for Antarctica next month to begin rebuilding a Brazilian naval base destroyed by a deadly fire in February, Defence Minister Celso Amorim said Monday.
Monday, September 17th 2012 - 17:29 UTC
Cruise convention underlines South America’s potential for the industry

South America was described as a ‘fantastic destination’ for the cruise industry but with an even greater potential said Chris Hayman at the closing ceremony of the two-day Seatrade South America Cruise Convention in Buenos Aires.
Monday, September 17th 2012 - 05:43 UTC
Brazil’s ‘trial of the century’ culprits point to Lula da Silva as “the chief”

Former Brazilian president Lula da Silva was “the chief” of the corruption network the ruling Workers Party had organized to have sufficient votes in Congress, according to a report published in the weekly Veja, the magazine with the largest circulation in the country.
Monday, September 17th 2012 - 02:54 UTC
Brazil trusts the Venezuelan electoral process will be “credible and transparent”

Brazil said it is confident that the electoral process in Venezuela, where Chavez is bidding for another six years will be “credible and transparent”. Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota made the statement in an interview published on Sunday by O Estado de Sao Paulo.
Monday, September 17th 2012 - 02:47 UTC
Experts close to President Rousseff warn of a “real estate bubble” in Brazil

A team of experts working for the administration of President Dilma Rousseff has warned of the existence of a “real estate burble” in Brazil with the value of houses soaring 165% in Rio do Janeiro and 132% in Sao Paulo in the last four years.
Saturday, September 15th 2012 - 05:24 UTC
Brazil economic activity picks up in July, but will end below 2% in 2012

Brazil’s economic activity rose more than forecast in July, posting the biggest expansion in almost a year. The non-seasonally adjusted economic activity index rose 2.34% from a year earlier after rising 0.99% in June, the central bank said in a report.
Saturday, September 15th 2012 - 05:19 UTC
Two Brazilian mid-sized banks ordered liquidation by monetary authorities

Brazil's central bank ordered the liquidation of Banco Cruzeiro do Sul on Friday after no one stepped up to acquire the troubled lender, raising doubts about government oversight of small and mid-sized banks.
Friday, September 14th 2012 - 05:18 UTC
Auction of Pluna’s Bombardier aircraft collapses: terms “non attractive” and “non viable”

Uruguay’s attempt to auction the bankrupt national airline Pluna aircraft collapsed because none of the groups that showed an initial interest turned up arguing that the 136 million dollars for the seven Bombardier CRJ900 NextGen was “not attractive” and considered the whole business deal “non viable”.
Friday, September 14th 2012 - 03:40 UTC
Thousands across Argentina take to the streets to protest against re-re-election

Appealing to social networks thousands of Argentines Thursday evening took to the streets of the country’s major cities to protest some of the latest measures from the government of President Cristina Fernandez including the re-re-election plans and the increasing restrictions to the purchase of dollars.