Cologne - German and Brazilian industry leaders launched a business conference Monday against the backdrop of rapidly growing economic ties between the two countries.

"German company investment in Brazil is already at a record level," said Juergen Thumann, the president of Germany's Federation of Industry (BDI).

"An investment program of about 200 billion euros (296 million dollars), a stable economy and a steady hand on the nation's finances, along with recent positive reports from rating agencies would help German investment in Brazil to increase," said Thumann on opening the conference, held in the west German city of Cologne.

Luxembourg - ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company, announced Wednesday that it was expanding its operations in Brazil with the acquisition of London Mining Brasil for about 810 million dollars (551 million euros).

The Luxembourg-based company also said it would develop an iron ore port facility in Sepetiba Bay, some 70 kilometres west of Rio de Janeiro.

ArcelorMittal wants to use the port to export iron ore extracted from the London Mining Brasil mine in the state of Minas Gerais to its steel facilities in the Atlantic basin.

World's

Rio de Janeiro - At least 10 people were killed in an hourlong gun battle with police in a Rio de Janeiro slum as officers were hunting for a stolen beer truck.

Police told Brazilian media that all the dead were criminals and the only casualty among law enforcement was an injured officer in Monday's operation in the town of Duque de Caxias in the Mangueirinha slum.

World’s largest integrated metals and mining company ArcelorMittal has acquired 70% stake in Manchester Tubos e Perfilados SA, a Brazilian steel processor and distributor, for an undisclosed amount.

ArcelorMittal said the move will reinforce its downstream position in Brazil and help it target the country's construction market as well.

New Delhi, July 17 : The Union Cabinet today gave its ex-post-facto approval for the signing of extradition treaty between India and Brazil (on April 15, 2008) and authorise ratification of the tre