May 5:

The Brazilian Minister of Energy will sign into action the resumption of mining activity within the Serra Pelada mine in Curionópolis. The mine was deactivated in 1992 after a gold rush in the late 1980's which attracted thousands of independent prospectors looking to profit from the extraction of its resources (see: popular exploitation- "this is why we can't have nice things").

Upon the resumption of operation in the mine, all activity will be mechanized and is projected to extract 4 million tons of gold, silver and palladium over the course of eight years. This is seen as the PT's efforts to improve national industry at a broad level in the brief time preceding national elections and consolidate votes.

Source: A Folha

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u731081.shtml

May 4:

The United States' spokesperson for the State Department, Philip Crowley, issued a statement showing gratitude for Brazil's willingness to engage Iran in negotiations regarding expansion of uranium enrichment for the purposes of utilizing nuclear energy. Lula intends to visit Iran this month in order to possibly sway Iran towards accepting UN sanctions on the amount of uranium allocated to them, amounts sufficient to supply energy (deemed peaceful purposes) yet not entail possible research into nuclear weapons. Brazil maintains support for the proliferation of nuclear energy in Iran, yet seeks diplomatic concord among the nations in dispute.

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/05/100504_ira_eua_brasil_np.shtml

April 29:

Lula da Silva was rated Time Magazine's "Most Influential of the Year" in the category of "World Leaders," for his persistence in leading Brazil towards a more egalitarian economic structure which Time likens to what the United States previously viewed as the "American Dream." Among the other world leaders ranked as influential on Time's list are Barack Obama, Bill Clinton for his aid to Haiti, and U2's Bono, much to the others' discredit.

Time provided a brief biographical synopsis of Lula's tenure as a union leader jailed for staging a strike as well.

Source: A Folha

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/brasil/ult96u727706.shtml

April 27:

Brazilian economists believe it is crucial for the Central Bank to raise interest rates dramatically in 2010 due to unprecedented economic growth to maintain market equilibrium during an election year. The Brazilian economy is projected to have grown 7% in the last fiscal year, with booming real estate industries in both Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as increased tourism and job creation. However, a lack of domestic infrastructure, according to economists, may hinder further growth, especially when inflation rates rise above expected levels, as they have this year.

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63Q4GJ20100427

April 27:

In a visit to Brasilia, Iranian foreign minister Celso Amorim proposed to the Brazilian government efforts to strengthen intergovernmental ties to improve relations among the two nations as well as consolidate their efforts to expand research for nuclear expansion and stand in solidarity against further UN sanctions within the Security Council which condemn uranium enrichment in Iran. Brazil is currently a non-permanent member of the UNSC and plans to defend Iranian interests inside. Ahmadinejad, President of Iran, upon hearing of these talks stated that it would be in the economic and diplomatic interests of Iran and Brazil to cooperatively plan towards a "New World Order."

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/04/100427_iran_amorim_np.shtml

April 22:

Four Brazilian tourists that had been detained by protesters in southern Bolivia on April 20th were released and have since fled to Chile before their projected return to Brazil. The tourists, comprised of a father and son as well as two family friends, were detained in what they assured their families as a peaceful demonstration in which protesters closed a road that led to the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. The Foreign Ministry of Brazil confirms the tourists' safe entry into Chile.

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/04/100421_boliviaatualizafn.shtml

April 21:

A poll conducted between April 13-18 issued its results of national pre-electoral presidential candidate approval ratings. José Serra, the opposition leader and former governor of Brasilia, retains a 36% preference of the national voting contingent. Dilma Rousseff, the candidate chosen by incumbent president Lula da Silva, trails with a 29% preference. The poll maintains an error margin of 2%.

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/portuguese/br/2010/04/serra-mantem-lideranca-sobre-d.html

April 15:

The Brazilian government has appealed to the BRIC organization, the emerging developed economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promote greater reform in the international financial order. The statement calls upon the member states to act in greater cooperation with one another to facilitate trade between the four countries. Among the clauses in the statement is the effort to find a viable alternative to the US Dollar as a currency to which the member states can peg their own currencies to, as all four countries agree the US Dollar was responsible for the losses suffered during the 2008-2009 economic crisis.

Source: BBC Brazil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/04/100414_brics_brasilia_fa_np.shtml

April 13:

Mortality rates among expectant mothers in Brazil have fallen 68% in thirty years. In 1980, maternal mortality rates stood at 149 deaths per 100,000 people, as compared to the 2010 figure of 55 deaths per 100,000 people. Such a decrease equates to an average of 3.9% decline in rate of mortality per year. This is attributed to advances in prenatal care, curbing excessive hemorrhage and hypertension.

Source: BBC Brazil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/04/100413_mortalidadematernaml.shtml

April 12:

The Brazilian supreme court, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, in a vote of 8 to 5, ruled to release Jose Roberto Arruda, the former governor of Brasilia, after indicting him on corruption charges implicating him in a kickback scheme with local politicians and entrepreneurs. The Tribunal has stated that Arruda has been cooperative with their inquiries and poses no noticeable threat to be released on his own recognizance. Five other political figures implicated with Arruda will be released as well.

Source: BBC Brazil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/portuguese/br/2010/04/stj-decide-soltar-arruda.html

April 8:

The Brazilian federal government has just released $200 million reais in aid to the State of Rio de Janeiro, which has appealed to the national government for a total sum of $370 million in aid. The financial aid is currently amidst criticism by the Court of Civil Audit which has publicly discredited the National System of Civil Defense as "flawed and inefficient."

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/portuguese/br/2010/04/governo-federal-libera-r-200-m.html

April 8:

The Rio de Janeiro fire department is hindered in their efforts to rescue inhabitants (trapped in their homes due to flash floods) by the risk of landslides. Despite the decrease in volume of rainfall, soil remains waterlogged and a military presence has been called for. Citizens and rescue teams have worked cooperatively to excavate the soil from the surrounding areas in neighborhoods as Niteroi situated just outisde the Rio city center.

Source: BBC Brasil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/04/100407_rio_resgates_np.shtml

April 1:

Ten Ministers of Lula's cabinet, including party candidate for the 2010 election Dilma Rousseff, were dismissed from the capital, in accordance with statutes regarding campaigning laws and endorsement of candidates during a specific time preceding elections. The ten officials are said to have been replaced with technical experts in their fields maintaining a lower profile.

Source: BBC Brazil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese/noticias/2010/03/100331_ministros_novos_cq.shtml

March 31:

The Consumer Price Index used to track the monetary policies of the Brazilian Central Bank indicates inflationary interest rates in the final quarter of the 2010 fiscal year.

The estimated inflation rate on interest will rise to 5.2%, .7 points higher than the government's objective rate of 4.5 percent.

The estimation was released in the Quarterly Inflation Report on Wednesday. The Central Bank also reported a projected national GDP growth of 5.8% for 2010

Source: BBC Brazil

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/portuguese/br/2010/03/bc-eleva-projecao-de-inflacao.html

March 28:

The Datafolha Polling Index has reported that public opinion of Brazilian president Lula da Silva has reached an unprecedented approval rating of 76%. The Datafolha institute further states that the figure is the highest observed since the poll's establishment in 1990. The poll's margin for error is said to be two percentage points.

Source: Broward County Sun Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lt-brazil-silvas-popularity,0,3017575.story?track=rss

March 26:

The Brazilian national currency, the Real, rose 0.5 percent against the US Dollar, to a ratio of 1.81:1.

Source: Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aeH5MAHldbMg&pid=20601087