Brazil

• Monday, December 21st 2009 - 17:19 UTC

  Brazilean industry to manufacture 2.044 armoured vehicles for the Army

  

  The Brazilian Army and Fiat Iveco signed an agreement for the manufacturing or 2.044 armoured vehicles involving 3.5 billion US dollars as part of the new National Defence Strategy launched by the administration of President Lula da Silva.

• Sunday, December 20th 2009 - 08:53 UTC

  Face-lift for Rio’s Maracana Stadium which will host World Cup and Olympics

  

  Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, which is due to stage the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics as well as the 2014 World Cup final, is to get a 300 million US dollars face-lift, announced the city's Secretary of Sports and Tourism.

• Thursday, December 17th 2009 - 03:05 UTC

  Brazil strong message to Paraguay on support of Venezuela inside Mercosur

  

  Following this week’s Brazilian Senate vote to for the incorporation of Venezuela as a Mercosur full member, only Paraguay’s support is pending, but the Paraguayan Senate is divided on the issue. More over President Fernando Lugo had to withdraw the initiative last August when he was informed the divided coalition that took him to office could not garner the sufficient votes to ensure support.

• Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 13:03 UTC

  Mercosur: Finally Brazil’s Senate approved Venezuela incorporation

  

  Bringing to close a year-long internal debate over the role of Venezuela in South American political and economic affairs, Brazil's Senate, by a vote of 35 to 27, voted Tuesday to approve the entrance of the country's northern neighbor into the Mercosur trade bloc.

• 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.