Brazil

• Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 13:27 UTC

  Shimon Peres ends visit to Brazil, Sunday flies to Argentina

  

  Israeli President Shimon Peres visited the headquarters of Brazilian oil company Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro Friday, on the last day of a historic official visit to Brazil.

• Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:41 UTC

  “Spiderman” caught red-handed in Rio do Janeiro airport

  

  Spiderman exists and he was caught at the Brazilian city of Rio do Janeiro. A British tourist was detained in the city’s international airport when he was discovered trying to carry overseas a thousand live spiders in his luggage, according to the local police.

• Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:16 UTC

  Lula da Silva, next to Shimon Peres, justifies Iran’s leader visit to Brazil

  

  Brazil's President justified the scheduled visit of Iran's president in two weeks time and offered to mediate in the Middle East conflict between Israel and Palestine. Lula da Silva rejected criticism over the upcoming visit of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, slated for November 23, standing next to visiting Israeli president Shimon Peres.

• Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:12 UTC

  Brazil purchases Israeli drones to clean Rio of crime and drug gangs

  

  Israel Aerospace Industries signed a 350 million US dollars contract this week to supply drones to the Brazilian police - the largest such deal ever between Israel and Brazil. The contract was signed during President Shimon Peres' state visit to Brazil, but negotiations began months ago

• Friday, November 13th 2009 - 01:04 UTC

  Brazil says massive blackout was caused by a lightning storm

  

  Brazilian officials stated the blackout that left at least 60 million of people in the dark in Brazil and neighbouring Paraguay Tuesday was caused by a lightning storm.

• Thursday, November 12th 2009 - 06:56 UTC

  Brazilian mini-skirt student rejects offer to pose for Playboy

  

  The Brazilian edition of Playboy is interested in having the 20 year college student Geisy Arruda who sparked national commotion with her miniskirts, as girl of the month. Geidy was first expelled from the university and attacked by fellow students because of her “provocative attitudes” but had to be later readmitted.

• Thursday, November 12th 2009 - 06:37 UTC

  Brazil can’t explain the four hours massive blackout

  

  The world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipú which on Tuesday caused a four hours blackout in 16 of Brazil’s 27 states and most of Paraguay was back in full production early morning Wednesday but authorities have so far remained silent about the causes of the major turnoff.

• Thursday, November 12th 2009 - 05:54 UTC

  Brazilian Senate suspends vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur admission

  

  The Brazilian Senate agreed to postpone a full house vote on the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur given the “strained climate” generated by President Hugo Chavez who alerted his people of a “possible” war with Colombia.

• Wednesday, November 11th 2009 - 11:32 UTC

  Brazil downplays Venezuela/Colombia “continental rhetoric”

  

  Differences between Venezuela and Colombia won’t reach extreme situations and both neighbours will find a way out through dialogue, said Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim.

• Wednesday, November 11th 2009 - 11:29 UTC

  Chavez “war alert” shell-shocks Mercosur admission debate in Brazil

  

  Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez alert calling on the Army and the people to prepare for “a possible war” with Colombia shell-shocked the Brazilian Senate that this week is scheduled to vote on Venezuela’s full incorporation to Mercosur.