Brazil

• Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 23:45 UTC

  Brazil leaves basic rate unchanged at 8.75%, in divided decision

  

  The Brazilian central bank kept its benchmark Selic interest rate at a record low 8.75% in a less-than-unanimous decision, signaling that borrowing costs may rise as soon as next month.

• Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 02:02 UTC

  Lula da Silva laid a wreath at Arafat’s mausoleum and ready “to talk to Hamas”

  

  Brazil's president criticised Israeli policies towards the Palestinians, warning that Israel's separation barrier, its blockade of Gaza and its continued settlement building was extinguishing “the candle of hope”.

• Wednesday, March 17th 2010 - 23:19 UTC

  Lula da Silva is warned about involvement in the presidential campaign

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva was authorized to participate in the campaign of the ruling coalition presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff, but after working hours and with all expenses billed to the Workers Party.

• Tuesday, March 16th 2010 - 18:20 UTC

  Petrobras planning to issue 60 billion US dollars of new stock

  

  Brazil’s government managed oil company Petrobras will issue as much as 60 billion US dollars of new stock, most of which will go to the government in exchange for oil rights, Energy Minister Edison Lobao announced Tuesday.

• Tuesday, March 16th 2010 - 05:16 UTC

  Lula da Silva calls for Palestinian state during official visit to Israel

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva kicked off a Middle East trip in Jerusalem by saying he wants to promote regional peace, after expressing concerns last week that Israel may attack Iran over its nuclear program.

• Tuesday, March 16th 2010 - 05:06 UTC

  Mercosur/Israel free trade agreement becomes effective April

  

  Brazil expects a new free trade agreement with Israel to swell bilateral trade to more than 3 billion US dollars within five years, officials said on Monday. Trade between Israel and Brazil slipped below 1 billion USD in 2009 from a peak of 1.6 billion USD in 2008 -- 1.2 billion USD of which were Israeli exports -- due to the global economic crisis.

• Monday, March 15th 2010 - 21:58 UTC

  Lula da Silva refers to Ahmadinejad and Chavez as two “nutties”, says O’Globo

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva allegedly referred to Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez as “nutty” leaders which must be kept under control through close links, reports the Brazilian newspaper O’Globo.

• Saturday, March 13th 2010 - 02:55 UTC

  Cuban political prisoners’ controversy backfires on Lula da Silva

  

  One of the most influential Senators from Brazil’s ruling Workers Party remembered President Lula da Silva that world figures such as India’s Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King appealed to hunger strikes as part of their peaceful struggle for the rights of their peoples.

• Saturday, March 13th 2010 - 00:41 UTC

  Norovirus again attacks “Vision of the Seas” cruise in Brazil

  

  Royal Caribbean’s cruise vessel “Vision of the Seas” which last week was struck with an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness has again suffered a similar bout while sailing along the Atlantic coast of South America, according to a Brazilian health officials.

• Friday, March 12th 2010 - 21:12 UTC

  Lula da Silva criticizes the press, attacks “false democrats’” editorials

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva blasted the “false democrats” who write “fancy editorials” in newspapers, suggesting the media corporations are attempting to embarrass his government in an election year.