Brazil

• Wednesday, April 28th 2010 - 06:39 UTC

  Lula da Silva to Remain in Politics, Promises Caricom Trade and Political Links

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva discarded any sort of retirement once he steps down from the Executive next December 31 and underlined he will continue to act in politics.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 23:09 UTC

  Paraguayan Press Blasts 37 Anniversary of Brazilian “Imperial Itaipú Treaty”

  

  Paraguay’s president Fernando Lugo said he is looking forward to the coming meeting next May 3 with his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva because he would be coming back with “good news” referred to the shared power from Itaipu, the world’s second largest hydroelectric dam belonging to both countries.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 06:08 UTC

  Brazil will Impose Import Levies to Face “Cheap” US Dollar, Unless Accord is Reached

  

  Brazil’s government may take additional steps to limit gains in the local currency Real should advanced economies favor policies that keep their currencies weak, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 05:55 UTC

  Concerns with Inflation Anticipate Brazil will Raise Benchmark Interest Rate

  

  Brazil’s next government will need to be “very serious” about keeping inflation within its target range so real interest rates can continue to fall, Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles said.

• Monday, April 26th 2010 - 19:30 UTC

  Brazil Targets an Army of 500.000 (From 300.000) in Next Two Decades

  

  Brazil plans to increase the number of its voluntary army from 300.000 to 500.000 in the next two decades as the defence budget keeps growing steadily said ministry sources. The country’s defence budget soared 44.5% in real terms in the last five years.

• Monday, April 26th 2010 - 05:12 UTC

  Toyota Brazil is Recalling Locally Manufactured (as of April 2008) Corollas

  

  Toyota Brazil has agreed to recall an unspecified number of Corollas locally manufactured because of the risk of sudden acceleration according to a statement from the country’ Ministry of Justice website.

• Monday, April 26th 2010 - 01:10 UTC

  Serra Calls for a More “Flexible” Mercosur; Claims it Limits Brazil’s “Sovereignty”

  

  Brazilian opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra—who leads in public opinion vote intention polls—reiterated his call for a more “flexible” Mercosur, effectively becoming a free trade area, because the current format limits Brazil’s sovereignty to sign agreements with other non member countries.

• Saturday, April 24th 2010 - 08:08 UTC

  Brazil to Sell Bonds in Global Markets Given Lowest Borrowing Costs Since 2007

  

  Brazil plans to sell bonds in international markets in coming weeks, taking advantage of the lowest borrowing costs since October 2007, Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin said.

• Friday, April 23rd 2010 - 03:21 UTC

  Brazil forecasted to grow 5.5% in 2010 boosted by domestic demand, says IMF

  

  Brazil, Latinamerica’s largest economy and leading Mercosur partner is poised to grow 5.5% this year, almost a whole percentage point more than the previous forecast in January, according to the International Monetary Fund “World Economic Outlook” released in anticipation of the IMF and World Bank annual assembly this weekend in Washington.

• Thursday, April 22nd 2010 - 02:52 UTC

  Mickey Mouse parade to celebrate Brasilia’s 50 years infuriates founding architect

  

  The celebration of Brasilia’s 50th anniversary began Wednesday with a parade of Walt Disney characters that riled architect Oscar Niemeyer, the 102-year-old communist regarded as the “father” of the Brazilian capital.