Brazil is to detach its internet connection with U.S., Telebras CEO Jorge Bittar said. A submarine cable with over 30 tbps will be installed from Lisbon to Fortaleza. This would boost Internet speed with Europe in 2017.
South/Central America
Brazil evicts families for 2016 Olympic Games; GOC Briefs National Federation Presidents for upcoming games
Housing advocacy groups claim that local governments in Brazil are using the Olympics to defend forced evictions and segregation in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, the Ghana Olympic Committee has held a meeting with National Federation Presidents to prepare towards the2016 Games.
Brazil analysts expect faster Inflation, interest rate calls for 2016
Brazil analysts expect faster inflation and lesser cuts in the base interest rate for 2016, as political crisis hinders the moves to strengthen fiscal accounts and avoid another sovereign downgrade to junk.
Brazil's deepening recession worries bankers, fuels job cuts
The labor market in Brazil, one of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations, is fast worsening owing to intensifying recession in the domestic economy. The unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent from the record low of 4.3 percent at the end of 2014. Many industrial estates in Brazil are running down signaling next big crisis for the economy.
Brazilian middle class struggles as economy drops
The commodities-fuelled boom has transformed many millions of Brazilian poor people into 'the new middle class' and the ongoing recession is again eroding their spending and earning capacity. Middle-class people in Brazil find it difficult to sustain their living standards amid intensifying economy recession and soaring inflation rate. Many owners of small shops, coffee stalls and other small vendors see their dwindling earnings by more than half during the past three years. As a result, many middle-class people are slashing their spending levels, which result in a cascading impact on other segments.
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The debt-ridden Island Puerto Rico has opted for value-added tax (VAT) as a measure to enhance revenues for the government. The new VAT structure will come into force starting1 April 2016.
Cuba renews its annual campaign urging the United Nations to condemn the US economic embargo. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told media the Cold War-era embargo had cost Cuba some $833.7 billion over five decades. "Seventy-seven percent of the Cuban population was born and has lived under the cruel effects of the blockade, the humanitarian impact and damage is extreme and cannot be measured (only) in numbers," he said.
Brazilian private equity (PE) major 3G Capital is mulling over a possible buyout of SAB Miller, maker of Miller, through its AnheuserBusch InBev, maker of Budweiser. Paving way for a major consolidation in the beer industry as the world's largest brewer AnheuserBusch InBev is bidding for SAB Miller, the second largest brewer. If the deal is successful, it'll be one of the top-6 global corporate takeovers in the history.
The five-year restructuring plan proposed for ailing Caribbean island Puerto Rico has become a center of criticism from economists, who question that who shall benefit from this debt deal. Economists argue that the debt plan overstated the financial requirements of the island.
Venezuelan telecom sector is reeling under pressure as it lacks additional funds availability, the physical currency of dollars. The cash-strapped telecom companies are unable to strengthen their networks. The soaring inflation doesn't allow them to raise a tariff.
Brazil's investment-grade credit falls beyond correction and into junk territory as Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's debt Wednesday. According to a report from The Guardian, Standard & Poor's said that Brazil lost its investment-grade status as it is projected with a negative outlook. This downgrade is unfortunate as the nation enters a recession.
The widening budget deficit has become a cause of concern for the Brazil. To speed up the economic recovery, the country needs a tax hike to ease the burden, the country's Chief of Staff Aloizio Mercadante said.
British engineering crown jewel Rolls-Royce is dragged into the giant Brazilian scandal, as it has been accused of giving kickbacks to officials involved in the state-owned oil giant Petrobras.
Whether Brazilians like it or not they are again headed for their worst economic crisis. The government reported Friday that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) had plunged 1.9% in Q2 alone and once again putting the nation into a technical recession.
