Brazil to Raise Taxes on U.S. Goods
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – In response to illegal U.S. subsidies granted to domestic cotton farmers, Brazil announced this week a list of American products that would be subject to higher rates of import tax by way of retaliation, and economists have warned of a possible trade war between the two [...]
IMF Warns of Brazilian Asset Bubble
By Jaylan Boyle, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – Chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss Khan has handed down a warning to Brazil, among others nations, that there is a very real risk of an ‘asset bubble’ developing in the emerging economies of the world.
An asset bubble (sometimes referred to as a [...]
Students’ Ship Sinks Off Rio Coast
By Marcela Canavarro, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The ordeal of the Canadian ‘Class Afloat’ on board the SV Concordia has ended well with all 64 passengers safe and on land. The tall ship from Nova Scotia sank off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, near Cabo Frio, on the night of Wednesday, [...]
Unidos da Tijuca Take 2010 Carnival Crown
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – For the first time in over seventy years Unidos da Tijuca took the title of Carnival Champions narrowly beating Grande Rio in the judge’s verdict on Wednesday afternoon.
The school captured the imaginations of the watching millions with their parade of ‘secrets’, involving some glittering costume changes [...]
Carnival Parades at Sambódromo
By Maíra Amorim, Senior Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – If you don’t have the tickets yet to watch the samba parade at the Sambódrome, one of Rio’s most popular Carnival events, it might be too late as they sell out early. But if you have them already, be prepared to watch a unique and amazing spectacle [...]
Controversial Belo Monte Dam Approved for Amazon
By Mira Olson, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The IBAMA (Brazilian Environmental Agency) issued a provisional license on February 1st to move forward with plans to build the controversial Belo Monte mega-dam in the Xingú river, a tributary of the Amazon in the state of Pará.
The Belo Monte dam is expected to start [...]
Metro Attempts to Reach Barra by 2016
By Mira Olson, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The recent attention on Rio’s metro subway system has citizens wondering whether the proposed extension to Barra will be ready in time for the 2016 Olympic Games. Nevertheless, progress is being made and seemingly ahead of schedule; the new Praça General Osório station in Ipanema, scheduled [...]
Favela Pacification Facilitating NGO Efforts
By Mira Olson, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – January 30th will mark two months of police presence in Cantagalo and Pavão-Pavãozinho, the favelas straddling the mountainous terrain between Ipanema and Copacabana, as part of the government’s new pacification strategy to target drug and arms trafficking in Rio de Janeiro.
Employees of Solar Meninos de [...]
The Truth Commission
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – The Lula Administration’s PNDH-3 (Programa Nacional de Direitos Humanos) – a polemic broad-spectrum Human Rights Directive ranging from abortion to labor laws – has caused quite a stir in recent weeks.
From civil protests, to religious manifestations, to Ministers and Military leaders threatening to resign from office, [...]
Presidential Election Shapes Up
By Pedro Widmar, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO – 2010 will mark the election of the 36th official President of the Brazilian Republic. Although the official calendar for campaigning does not begin until October 3rd, the political atmosphere is already dense with debate.
The deadline for candidate registry isn’t until July 5th, but with parties looking to [...]
