Brazil rose from seventh to sixth economy in the world, according to report released on December 18th by the World Bank. The International Comparison Program compared the size of the economy of 146 countries. The document revealed that Brazil accounts for half of the economy of South America. According to the report, the Brazilian Government expenditures correspond to two-thirds of the expenditure of Governments in the region. The research is based on 2005 numbers, when all the wealth produced around the world totaled US$ 55 trillion.

The new director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), José Graziano, said on Thursday (15) that the organisation is going to open three new offices in Brazil in early 2012.

According to him, the decision has already been negotiated with the ministry of Planning, Miriam Belchior, with the objective of accompanying sustainable development in different regions of the country. A proposal will be presented for opening of an office in the state of Paraná, one in the Northeast and another in the Amazon.

The Science Corner project was launched yesterday (12), in Brasilia, a cooperation between the National Council for Science and Technology (CNPq) and the Embassy of the United States. The space, installed at the headquarters of CNPq, is open to the public and offers access to scientific books, magazines, DVDs, online databases and software.

Despite the downturn in economic activity, Brazil maintains the creation of formal jobs and low unemployment. The latest edition of the newsletter "Economia Brasileira em Perspectiva" ("The Brazilian Economy in Perspective"), released on Friday (December 9) by the Ministry of Finance estimates that domestic demand will continue to be the main driver for economic growth in Brazil in 2012, situated at a level of 5.6% of GDP, against 4.7% forecast for this year.

Business leaders, governments and non-governmental organizations in Brazil confirm that the required public policies on climate change and biodiversity are should start to be dealt with in a unified manner in Brazil. The sectors were gathered together on November at the 1st. Business Movement Seminar for Conservation and the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity ("MEB"), held in Cajamar in the State of São Paulo.

The Federal Government launched a set of actions for combating crack cocaine yesterday (December 7), with investment expected to reach R$ 4 billion by 2014. The actions are structured around three themes - care, prevention and authority - and will be developed in an integrated manner together with States and Municipalities.

Petrobras was doubly honored last night by Platts Global Energy Awards as the Energy Company of the Year and the Energy Producer of the Year. The company President, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, received the award at a ceremony in New York, where the winners were announced.

In July 2008, the Brazilian government began restricting credit extensions to Amazon farmers as a way to curb deforestation and promote sustainable forest use, through a resolution by the National Monetary Council. This resolution limited the extension of agricultural credits to producers registered in the Rural Property Certification Registry with an environmental permit or certificate of property.

As a result of the economic policy of recent years, Brazil is one of the most prepared countries to face the worsening of the current international crisis, said today (1st) the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde. In an interview to the press along with the Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, she stated that Brazil is protected by the macroeconomic fundamentals.

Speaking today at the close of the fourth day of negotiations at COP17, Brazil's chief of delegation Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago stated that the country is open to analyzing the possibility of the new roadmap to 2020/2015 proposed by the European Union this week, commenting that: “Anything that strengthens the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol is interesting, but we have to check which elements Brazil will be comfortable with and, also, we have to hear the G77+China Group.”

The Finance Minister, Guido Mantega, announced this Thursday measures to stimulate and strengthen the Brazilian economy. Initiatives aim to encourage investment, credit and consumption amid an adverse international scenario. Three decrees and a Provisional Measure (MP) will be published in an extra edition of the Diário Oficial da União (Official Government Press).