Brazil

• Friday, February 17th 2012 - 01:22 UTC

  Rousseff names controversial pro-abortion minister for Women’s affairs

  

  Recently inaugurated Minister for Women policies Eleonora Menicucci has raised eyebrows in chauvinistic Brazil after having publicly admitted to two abortions and bi-sexual experiences

• Thursday, February 16th 2012 - 07:22 UTC

  Brazil cuts 2012 spending to meet budget surplus and allow interest rates to fall

  

  Brazil will cut 55 billion Reais (32 billion dollars) from this year’s budget to allow interest rates to fall, while increasing investment to boost growth in the world’s second-biggest emerging market.

• Thursday, February 16th 2012 - 07:13 UTC

  Brazil main airline betters profits; prepares to join one of the world’s largest carriers

  

  TAM, Brazil's largest airline, reported a fourth-quarter profit on rising ticket prices, fanning expectations of more profitable operations in the year ahead despite recent cost pressures.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2012 - 05:50 UTC

  Brazil and Germany committed to achieve the EU/Mercosur trade agreement

  

  Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and his visiting German counterpart Guido Westerwelle on Monday called for signing a free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2012 - 00:33 UTC

  Brazil and Paraguay soybean harvest forecast downgraded because of lack of rain

  

  Oil World cut its forecast for Brazil and Paraguay soybean production, extending the run of downgrades amid ideas that rains in the last two weeks has been insufficient to put a hold on crop losses.

• Wednesday, February 15th 2012 - 00:27 UTC

  Brazil imposes extra levies on blanket imports from Uruguay and Paraguay

  

  Brazil imposed additional levies on the import of blankets from Mercosur associates Paraguay and Uruguay alleging triangulation of Chinese textiles, which are restricted because of dumping practices.

• Tuesday, February 14th 2012 - 20:43 UTC

  Brazil willing to wait to see how latest Argentine trade restrictions evolve

  

  Brazil’s private sector said it would grant Argentina a “confidence vote” and would wait until the end of February before assessing the consequence of the new import restrictions imposed by the government of President Cristina Fernandez.

• Monday, February 13th 2012 - 06:21 UTC

  Latest medical tests show Lula da Silva larynx cancerous tumour has disappeared

  

  The latest medical examination of former Brazilian president Lula da Silva has shown that a cancerous tumour in his larynx has disappeared, one of his doctors told a local newspaper Sunday.

• Saturday, February 11th 2012 - 08:00 UTC

  Brazil readies 14.000 troops in case Rio do Janeiro police strike extends

  

  Brazil prepared to deploy troops on the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Friday, as a strike by the state's police force threatened to disrupt upcoming carnival festivities and raised new questions about security before the 2014 World Cup.

• Saturday, February 11th 2012 - 07:42 UTC

  Brazilean consumer prices increase 0.56% in January, fastest in nine months

  

  Brazilian consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in nine months in January on higher transport, food and drink costs. Prices increased 0.56% from December, the national statistics agency said in a report distributed in Rio de Janeiro.