Brazil

• Thursday, March 10th 2011 - 20:16 UTC

  Brazilian markets expect further tightening to bring inflation to target

  

  Brazil's central bank said Thursday it remained cautious about the outlook for prices due to uncertainties in the global economy, and hinted that more than just interest rates may be needed to bring inflation back into line with targets.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 00:59 UTC

  Half the world consider Brazil has a positive influence on global affairs, says BBC poll

  

  The number of people who see Brazil as having a positive influence in the world is rising rapidly, according to a BBC World Service poll of 27 countries. The country is regarded positively by 49%, compared with 40% last year - the largest jump by any of the 16 nations respondents are asked to comment on.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 23:29 UTC

  Monte Grande dam project in the Amazon steams full ahead

  

  Work on the Belo Monte giant hydroelectric dam complex in the Amazon, which has generated much controversy in Brazil because of its environmental impacts, officially began Monday, (in spite of Carnival celebrations) according to the Norte Energia consortium.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 07:29 UTC

  The world’s largest samba party took off in Rio do Janeiro

  

  King Momo” opened the Rio de Janeiro Carnival on Friday at a festive ceremony where he was presented with the keys to the city, which for five days will dance to the beat of the samba to celebrate Brazil’s most iconic festival.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 07:14 UTC

  Brazilian auto production increased 18.7% in February from January

  

  Automobile production in Brazil rose 18.7% in February from January, setting a record for the month, as exports surged on the back of increased global demand for automobiles, industry data showed on Friday.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 05:29 UTC

  Carnival hangover could bring capital ‘quarantine’ for speculative inflows

  

  The Brazilian government is considering additional foreign exchange measures to contain the rapid appreciation of the Real, a source inside the Finance Ministry told the Sao Paulo Estado news agency Friday.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 05:20 UTC

  Unexpected slowdown of Brazilian inflation during February: 0.8%

  

  Retail prices in Brazil, as measured by the benchmark IPCA index, rose 0.8% in February, down from 0.83% January, the national statistics agency said in a report distributed in Rio de Janeiro Friday.

• Friday, March 4th 2011 - 06:04 UTC

  Green light for the construction of the world’s third largest dam in Brazil

  

  A Brazilian court on Thursday lifted an order that suspended construction of the massive but controversial Belo Monte hydroelectric plant in the Amazon rain forest, a project expected to face barrage of lawsuits by environmental critics.

• Friday, March 4th 2011 - 01:52 UTC

  Brazil, the seventh economy of the world and ready to overtake France and UK

  

  Brazil announced Thursday it has become the world’s seventh economy after having expanded 7.5% in 2010, the strongest in 24 years. Brazil’s GDP now stands at 2.1 trillion US dollars with a per capita income of 11.185 USD.

• Thursday, March 3rd 2011 - 19:02 UTC

  Bolivian top anti-drugs intelligence advisor jailed in Miami for narcotics smuggling

  

  A top Bolivian security official pled not guilty in a Miami federal court Wednesday on charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S., in a scandal that has rocked the government of Evo Morales and provoked a wide-ranging police crackdown.