Brazil

• Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 05:50 UTC

  Banco do Brazil interested in Argentina’s fourth largest bank

  

  Banco do Brazil (BB), Latinamerica’s largest government-managed bank, is in talks with Argentina’s Banco Patagonia, seeking to expand internationally, announced CEO Aldemir Bendime.

• Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:20 UTC

  Brazil, Peru plan to build five hydroelectric dams in the Amazon

  

  Brazil expects to reach an accord with Peru by March on a 5 billion US dollars power project to secure energy supplies for both countries, according to Energy minister Edison Lobao. The two governments plan to build five hydroelectric plants in Peru that will produce 6,000 megawatts of electricity

• Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 14:16 UTC

  Brazil delays purchase of 36 jet-fighters; Army’s tanks’ renewal plan on schedule

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva said Monday that the decision on the purchase of 36 fighter jets for the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) will be made in early 2010. The three competing models being considered are the Rafale, from France’s Dassault, the F18 Super Hornet from US Boeing and the Swedish Gripen, from Saab.

• Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 08:45 UTC

  Brazil to name “Truth committee” to look into torture crimes under military rule

  

  A quarter of a century after the return of democracy, the Brazilian government is seriously considering naming a “truth committee” to look into the torture crimes committed during the 21 year military dictatorship (1964/1985) and which were never taken to court.

• Monday, December 14th 2009 - 11:50 UTC

  Brazil “minimizes” visit of top envoy from the Obama administration

  

  Brazil and Bolivia reacted strongly to the US message to Latinamerica about “flirting” with the Iran regime. Brazil is “minimizing” the Monday visit of a top US Department official and Bolivia said that it is sovereign and practices a “dialogue culture” with all countries.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 14:14 UTC

  Brazil and Argentina try again to reach an agreement on bilateral trade

  

  Brazil and Argentina are currently discussing the possibility of reducing the number of products subject to the so called non automatic import licences which has been obstructing bilateral trade and causing a rift between Mercosur’s largest partners.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 14:04 UTC

  Brazilian GDP growth in thirs quarter is less that expected: 1.3%

  

  The Brazilian economy expanded 1.3% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the previous quarter according to the official release on Thursday from the country’s statistics office, IBGE.

• Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 13:24 UTC

  Idle capacity and low inflation allow Brazil to keep basic rate unchanged

  

  Brazil’s central bank kept the benchmark Selic interest rate at a record low for the third straight meeting as inflation remains below target. The bank’s eight-member board, led by President Henrique Meirelles, voted unanimously on Wednesday to keep the overnight rate at 8.75%.

• Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 11:31 UTC

  Brazilian Senate postpones vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

  

  The Brazilian senate postponed on Wednesday until next Tuesday the vote on Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur following a heated debate on the floor when the opposition strongly criticized Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

• Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:33 UTC

  HRW: 1.000 “resistance” killings annually by Rio and Sao Paulo police

  

  Police officers in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo routinely resort to lethal force, often committing extrajudicial executions and exacerbating violence in both states, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Tuesday.