News on Brazil

Sept
17
2008

More Flights between Brazil and USA

Beginning this week, Brazilian TAM airline will launch a new direct route between Rio de Janeiro and Miami, and is due to begin flying direct between Rio and New York early in November. Paulo Castello Branco, Commercial and Planning VP for TAM, stated that the new routes “demonstrate our commitment to continued service to this public". The flights will be serviced by Boeing 767-300 aircraft and both commercial and business classes are offered.

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Sept
15
2008

Six Barack Obamas Run for Office in Brazil

Six politicians in Brazil have changed their name to Barack Obama in an attempt to gain an edge over rivals. Brazil, with one of the largest populations of Afro-descendents in the world, has been extremely enthusiastic about Obama's success in the USA. Under Brazilian law, political candidates can run under whatever name they please, and so many have chosen Obama to associate with the Presidential Candidate's immense popularity.

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Sept
08
2008

Brazil Oil Boom "To End Poverty"

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced through a television address the plan to use part of the revenues from the newly discovered oil fields to fight poverty and invest in education and technology.

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Sept
02
2008

Intelligence Chiefs Suspended Amidst "Phone Tapping" Allegations

President Lula has suspended Brazilian Intelligence leaders following accusations that their agency has been spying on the phone conversations of top government officials. Investigations have been demanded after transcripts of phone conversations were published in Veja magazine. It has been suggested that such tapping may occur on a regular basis.

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Sept
01
2008

Sugarcane Production Standards to Improve on Wide Scale

A number of sugarcane cultivators have signed deals to ensure their compliance with sustainable and ethical practices. This has come in the wake of heated criticism of Brazilian ethanol industry, particularly concerning its environmental impact and the working conditions of laborers. Farmers have promised to refuse child or slave-like labor, limit the use of agro-chemicals and implement mechanical harvesting.

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Aug
26
2008

Lula Urges Brazil Olympic Boost

In his weekly radio address, Brazil's President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said his country needs to take sport more seriously. Calling Brazil's Olympic performance just reasonable, Lula voiced widespread frustration with Brazil's failure in winning a gold medal in football and ranking 23rd in the table of Olympic medals, especially with the hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

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Aug
23
2008

Brazil Launches Gun-Exchange Program

In an effort to get guns out of the street and cut the country's murder rate, the Brazilian government is getting ready to launch a $28 million campaign. The campaign is in essence a gun-exchange program, in which people hand over firearms and receive between $60-185 and a pardon from investigation for illegally held firearms.

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Aug
20
2008

Brazil Anti-Dumping Tariffs Rise Sharply

With a booming economy, Brazil is now host to one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets. An influx of imports from countries such as India and China has forced Brazil to impose anti-dumping legislature, increasing taxes on companies who are selling goods at below-market prices and inflicting damage on Brazil's domestic industry.

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Aug
20
2008

Brazil to Propose New Rules on Oil Finds by September

Brazil continues to discover oil in its offshore region and the government scrambles to regulate the precious finds. It is expected that the region contains 50 billion barrels of oil and the new regulation is expected to be in place early September. A possible solution may even include a Brazilian state-run oil company to control the oil fields in the country's pre-salt region.

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Aug
19
2008

Brazil Defeated by Argentina in Olympics

Brazilian soccer stars' hopes of a first Olympic gold are in tatters after they were beaten by a skillful Argentinean team by three goals to nil in the men's tournament. The five-time World Cup champions had been favorites to claim gold but must now settle with a bronze-medal match against Belgium. Meanwhile, the women's team will contest in the final against the USA on Thursday after defeating Germany in the semis.

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