Brazil

• Friday, February 17th 2012 - 02:41 UTC

  Brazil’s Trade minister questioned by Public Ethics Committee on corruption claims

  

  The Brazilian Executive Public Ethics Committee will investigate alleged corruption claims involving Development, Industry and Foreign Trade minister Fernando Pimentel. Jose Paulo Sepulveda Pertence said the investigation will focus on media reports that exposed Pimentel activities as business consultant for private companies in 2009 and 2010.

• Friday, February 17th 2012 - 01:25 UTC

  On eve of Carnival, Brazilian minister warns Rio do Janeiro of dengue epidemics

  

  Brazilian health minister Alexandre Padilha warned on Thursday that the city of Rio do Janeiro is exposed to potentially one of the worst epidemics of the mosquito transmitted dengue disease in recent history.

• 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.