Brazil

• Sunday, March 21st 2010 - 19:47 UTC

  The Dark side of Brazil’s Olympic Dreams: 2016 Olympic Host Battles Poverty, Violent Crime, and Police Brutality

  With colorful and scandalous flourishes, in a nation where the bizarre is often normal, Brazil’s Carnaval kicked off throughout the country on February 12th. The celebration is especially exotic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second largest city, where the samba dancers’ elaborate talents draw millions of tourists each year.

• Saturday, March 20th 2010 - 01:58 UTC

  Opposition leader Serra confirms he will run for Brazilian presidency

  

  Brazil’s main opposition leader and governor of the country’s biggest state of Sao Paulo Jose Serra, said Friday for the first time publicly that he will be a presidential candidate in this year's elections.

• Thursday, March 18th 2010 - 23:48 UTC

  Lula da Silva fined for “anticipated” electoral campaigning

  

  Brazilian Electoral Justice announced it had fined President Lula da Silva for having “anticipated” the campaign for next October presidential election, thus favouring the incumbent candidate and cabinet chief Dilma Rousseff.

• 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.