BRASIL / VENEZUELA: Dilma Offers Hugo Her Best Cancer Specialists.

M.PRESS
President Dilma Rousseff, who was treated in 2009 for lymphoma cancer, has offered to send President Hugo Chavez her nation's top cancer specialists.


On Friday, the WSJ quoted experts who speculated that Chavez was most likely suffering from colon cancer.

BRASIL: Dilma's Programs Paralyzed...By Balking Coalition Party.

REUTERS / B. Winter

President Dilma Rousseff's agenda is paralyzed...by a strain with the PMDB, the biggest party in her coalition.

Everything from tax reform proposals...to prep for the 2014 World Cup...is in jeopardy.

Dilma has tried to unfreeze things...by appointing new ministers... and even inviting obscure party legislators to lunch. But, so far, with little success.

"Everything is frozen. It's bad. And it's not getting any better," said a senior source.

The PMDB is pissed...because early on Dilma refused to appoint its leaders to key governmental posts...and cut $30 bn of discretionary funds.

BRASIL: Dilma Names 2 More Women To Important Positions.

AFP

President Dilma Rousseff has promoted two women to key posts... after a scandal forced out her closest aide and top political adviser Antonio Palocci.

She named Ideli Salvatti to head congressional relations...after earlier naming Senator Gleisi Hoffmann to be cabinet chief.

"Dilma is forming a female soccer team, with her on top of a winning and competent group of players,” said her party's deputy leader Jilmar Tatto. “She’s Pele with a skirt."

An O GLOBO newspaper columnist called the new appointees “amazons”.
Since taking office in January, Rousseff has named 10 women to 38 cabinet-level posts.

BRASIL: Dilma's Chief Aide Palocci Resigns Amidst Influence Peddling Charges; Sen. Hoffmann Will Replace Him.

REUTERS

   Shortly after President Dilma Rousseff consulted with former president Lula da Silva, (below) her embattled but politically savvy chief of staff Antonio Palocci (right) suddenly resigned over an influence peddling scandal...the second scandal in his governmental career.

 A first term inexperienced Senator Gleisi Helena Hoffmann, (left) 45, wife of Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo, will replace Palocci.
   The move will head-off embarrassment for the still young Rousseff administration...as it works with a hostile congress.
  “A Lula da Silva man steps down and a Dilma woman moves in”, wrote a columnist... even if Rousseff had an ‘excessive dependency’ on Palocci for most major decisions.

BRASIL: New Welfare Plan Launched; 3 Airports Will Be Sold.

BBC

    President Dilma Rousseff (right) announced a new welfare plan to raise some 16 mn people out of extreme poverty /$44 usd per month.
   The plan called Sem Miseria /Brazil Without Poverty will expand the current Bolsa Familia...and also health and education programs.

 AND:   It's a new case of...Bye, Bye Brasilia...as the government announced plans to auction off the controlling stakes of airports in Campinas, Brasilia and Sao Paulo before the 2014 World Cup and  2016 Olympics.
    The winning private companies will be responsible for the airports' expansions.
    Outside experts have long criticized Brasil's airports.
 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-31/brazil-to-sell-airports-in-sao-paulo-brasilia-to-host-world-cup-olympics.html

BRASIL: Dilma Defends Staffer Chief Palocci Over Lobbying Charges.

REUTERS/

    After two weeks of media hounding, President Dilma Rousseff is publicly defending her chief of staff Antonio Palocci...for the first time.
   "I want to assure you that Minister Palocci is giving all necessary explanations to audit agencies," Rousseff said.
     Palocci has been pressured to explain an alleged 20-fold increase in wealth as a consultant to businesses from 2007 to 2010...while still in the Congress.
     In 2006, Palocci quit as finance minister...because of a different ethics scandal.

BRASIL: Dilma's Cancelled Rio Speech Frustrates Foreign Investors; Dilma Treated For Pneumonia.

M.PRESS/

   President Dilma Rousseff's cancellation of a speech at the World Economic Forum on Latin America in Rio at the last moment has pissed off some 700 top bankers, foreign investors and CEOs.
   Her recent surprize sacking of mining giant Vale's CEO allegedly because he wanted to follow world markets rather that ‘Brasilian interests”...has been closely tracked by the market.

AND:  Perhaps the reason for her last minute cancellation.
A spokesmen announced “Dilma Rousseff was hospitalized on Saturday (30 April) after suffering for several days of flu symptoms..."
    The media reported that she was treated at S.Paulo's Sirio-Libanes Hospital and left Sunday afternoon.
    Her doctor said : "It is a preliminary stage of pneumonia. It is a common diagnosis, routine. A bout of flu worsened and a focus of pneumonia was detected."
   Rousseff "recovered" from a lymphatic cancer in 2009.

BRASIL: Debate Over A "Supercurrency" REAL...Roils Dilma's Cabinet.

REUTERS/ B. Winter

   The continuing rise of the REAL vs the usd is revealing a rift in President Dilma Rousseff's government.
   Some officials want more action NOW to curb its growth and protect local industry.
   The REAL is trading near a 12-year high...$1.57...after gaining almost 4% this month.
   "I don't know what we're waiting for," an official told REUTERS. "Everybody knows the real is going to $1.50 unless we do something to stop it. The consequences of having a supercurrency like that would be terrible."
    Even worse for Rousseff, a Morgan Stanley economist predicts the REAL could approach the $1.40 level in the near-term.

BRASIL: Dilma And Hu Jintao Sign 13 Deals...With $1.5 Bn Usd For Embraer Planes Buy; Foxconn Eyes $12 Bn Usd Ipad Plant.

M.PRESS/

     On her first state visit to China, President Dilma Rousseff  (pictured toasting with President Hu Jintao) signed 13 deals in defense, technology and sports...including the purchase of 35 Embraer 190 commercial jets for a $1.4 bn usd deal.
     With more than $56 bn usd in 2010, China is now Brasil's top trading partner.
     China also became Brasil's largest investor in 2010.

AND:     Rousseff also revealed that Taiwan-based Foxconn may invest as much as $12bn usd to build an electronics factory in Brasil.

   Foxconn currently produces goods in China for Hewlett Packard, Dell and Apple, including the popular  Ipad.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13058866

BRASIL / CHINA : Dilma To Lobby Beijing Hard...On Trade And Currency.

BLOOMBERG/ A. Soliani and M. Bristow

     President Dilma Rousseff has been more outspoken than predecessor Lula da Silva (pictured above) on trade and currency inequalities with China.
   She reportedly plans to begin to pressure President Hu Jintao (pictured below) and Chinese officials to buy more than raw materials, like iron ore from giant Vale in her first visit to Beijing.
    In 2010, iron ore and soybeans were 83.7% of Brasil’s sales to China...up from 68.2 % in 2000.
    Rousseff wants to sell China airplanes, processed foods and value-added goods.
   A former trade official says:“... we need to iron out distortions in the trade relationship, in which Brasil sells commodities and China manufactures. Dilma’s visit is a great opportunity.”

BRASIL: Prez. Rousseff Wants Vale's CEO Agnelli...Out.

M.PRESS/

    FM Guido Mantega is under attack for reports he asked big Vale shareholder Bradesco to find a replacement for  CEO Roger Agnelli, 51 (pictured), who has run the iron ore mining behemoth since 2001.
   Analyst Jose Luciano Dias says: “She (Rousseff) believes in a big, strong government and has issues with Agnelli. I have no doubt this pressure is coming directly from Dilma.”
   A source claims Rousseff wants Agnelli out of his post before she travels to China in mid-April.
    Agnelli has angered Dilma with his tough stance over  mining royalties.
    Agnelli also upset ex-president Lula da Silva for buying foreign-made vessels.

BRASIL: In Rio, Obama Praises Brasilia'sTransition To Democracy And Prosperity.

AP / M.HERALD/
2 screen read...combined

   In Rio, President Obama lauded Brasil for its peaceful transition to democracy from two decades of military dictatorship in a smaller than planned but historic venue-- because of security concerns.
    Earlier, Obama visited the infamous "City of God" slum where he played soccer with kids.
   However, Brasil's new President Dilma Rousseff surprized Obama's people when she refused to participate in a joint press conference.
   In Brasilia, Rousseff chided the U.S. for it "empty rhetoric" on lowering trade barriers for OJ, cotton, beef, airplanes and most importantly ethanol and expressed disappointment that the U.S. has not actively endorsed Brasil's desire for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

BRASIL:19 Mar UPDATE: Obama Goes To Brasilia To Meet Dilma And Rio To Visit "Pacified" Favela.

LINK CHANGE/ AP, M.HERALD/ 
M. WHITEFIELD/ 4 screen read...combined

   With his first stop Brasil, President Obama begins a 5-day tour of three Latin American nations.
    Brasil is the world’s seventh largest economy and an important U.S. trading partner.
    Brasil's new President Dilma Rousseff has slowly emerged from popular ex-President Lula's shadow and global ambitions; she wants to repair any bad feelings left by Lula.

   Obama reportedly requested to visit a "pacified" favela/slum.
   One likely favela for his visit is the "City of God" (pictured above) made infamous by the violent movie of the same name, one of more than 20 "pacified" by a security initiative.
   Residents there report recent cleanups and repairs, including a basketball court; also many reporters and soldiers were seen wandering the streets.

BRASIL: Dilma Faces Union Wage Challenges With Austerity Pledge.

BLOOMBERG/ Luri Dantas/

   Finance Minister Guido Mantega says the government “won’t budge” over demands by unions for an even greater boost in the monthly minimum age even as President Dilma Rousseff (pictured)favors lifting it an additional 6.8 percent this year to 545 reais ($327).
    Rousseff faces the task of cooling inflation from its two-year high and bringing down the high flying real in value.

BRASIL: Dilma Offers Free Diabetes, High Blood Pressure Meds.

BBC/

   While America argues about health care in a debate largely controlled by Big Pharma, Brasil will soon provide free medicines for everyone suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes through a network of 15,000 budget pharmacies.
   President Dilma Rousseff says she is fulfilling a campaign promise  to end extreme poverty
About 33 million suffer from high blood pressure and more than seven million have diabetes.

BRASIL / ARGENTINA : Dilma Meets With Cristina; Hydro And Nuke Accords Signed.

M. PRESS/

   The two female presidents of the two largest GDPs in South America met for 5 hours in Buenos Aires.
  For Brasil's new President Dilma Rousseff, her first choice for a visit was not a accidental decision.
    “It was not a casual decision to pick Argentina (and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner), as my first foreign destination” said Rousseff. “I'm here to promote our nations' relationship and make it stronger than ever in both their commercial, political and cultural ties”.
     They signed agreements over nuclear energy and bio-fuels and trade, including the construction of two hydroelectric dams and cooperation in the development of nuclear research reactors.

BRASIL: After The Deluge And 610 Deaths, Many Survivors Still On Their Own.

AP/ M.HERALD/ JULIANA BARBASSA /

FOR BBC UPDATE, SEE:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12200299

FOR GUARDIAN UPDATE, SEE:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/15/brazilian-landslides-sri-lanka-australia

   So far,there are almost 610 dead with many still missing in the suddenly denuded hillsides 40 miles north of Rio.
   But the survivors are asking... now what?
  A resident of Campo Grande said "There is nothing. I'm leaving my father up there and my house is about to collapse. But what am I going to do?"
   The army has been deployed but has a huge task ahead.
   A few helicopters had reached isolated areas, but one survivor said "they're only taking down the wounded," not dropping off body bags or food or water.
    Another claimed" the water is rotten, but people are forced to drink it. There is no food. I had meat in my house, but it's all gone bad".
    New President Dilma Rousseff so far has promised about $480 million usd in aid but experts say it will take much more than that. She faces a growing storm over remedies for poor housing conditions, the result of decades of neglect by the government.
    Rousseff also declared three days of mourning for the victims.

BRASIL: 03 Jan. UPDATE: Dilma Is Officially President; Vows To Fight Inflation "Plague."

LINK CHANGE/ BLOOMBERG /

   Dilma Rousseff, 63,  former Marxist and torture victim, was sworn in on 1 January as Brasil's first female president under tight security as 70,00 witnessed her ceremonial drive to the Congress.
   In her inaugural speech there, Rousseff said: “To ensure the continuation of the current economic growth cycle we need to ensure stability, especially price stability. We won’t allow under any hypothesis that this plague returns to eat away our economic tissue and hurt the poorest families.”
    Inflation is currently at an annual pace of 5.79 percent, the fastest in 23 months.
    "I don't come here to extol my biography, but to glorify the life of each Brazilian woman," Rousseff also said. "My supreme commitment is to honor women, protect the weakest and govern for all."
   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton  and other leaders from 130 nations attended the ceremony.
   Today, Rousseff  meets individually with many leaders.

FOR CEREMONY And OPEN CAR WAVE 1:36 ITN ( English) VIDEO,  SEE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NwEEyjMOtc&feature=player_embedded

BRASIL: Bovespa Balks At Dilma, She's No Lula; Faces Inflation And Rising Budget Deficits.

BLOOMBERG/ Overview of Challenges For Dilma Rousseff/

   President-elect Dilma Rousseff takes power with the highest inflation in 23 months and a growing budget deficit.
    Now there are growing doubts among investors that she can match her mentor Lula da Silva’s record for economic growth.
    Government spending has risen 25 percent just this year which helped the economy grow by 7.3 percent, the most in two decades. But Rousseff also inherits the most overvalued currency in the world and a record trade deficit of $49 billion.

  ALSO:   Rousseff has invited the 11 women she shared a cell with at Sao Paulo's Tiradentes prison in the early 1970s to her inauguration. All have accepted for the 1 Jan. ceremony.

BRASIL: President Lula Hints Again At Another Presidential Run.

TELEGRAPH/

   How does Dilma feel?
  That would be president-elect Dilma Rousseff after outgoing President Lula da Silva hinted on TV - AGAIN - that he might run for office in 2014.
  "I can't say no, because I'm still alive. I'm honorary president of a party, I'm a born politician, I built extraordinary political relationships," he said.
   Lula, finishing up his second term, is forbidden by the Constitution from running for a third consecutive term.
   The markets may view this latest statement as undermining Rousseff's term if she encounters problems.