Sao Paulo - Brazil's central bank on Wednesday evening cut its Selic benchmark interest rate for a third time to 10.25 per cent from 11.25 per cent, in an attempt to boost growth.

Sao Paulo, Brazil - Three-time world footballer of the year Ronaldo could be fit enough to play for Brazil at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, his team doctor told German Press Agency dpa.

Although Ronaldo will be nearly 34 when the tournament takes place, he should be physically strong enough to play at the highest level, Corinthians doctor Joaquim Grava said.

Sao Paulo  - The veteran Brazilian striker Ronaldo confirmed his recovery 13 months after knee surgery with a brace in Corinthians' 2-2 draw against Ponte Preta, in which he played the full game for the first time since the operation.

Ronaldo, 32, who has undergone three major knee injuries in his career, now has scored an average of 0.8 goals per game at his Brazilian club, very close to the best numbers of his footballing life.

Sao Paulo - Ronaldo's recovery from knee surgery is well on track, and he is now a starter at Corinthians and again scored in his team's 2-1 victory over Sao Caetano in the Sao Paulo state championship.

"Everything is going very well, I am happy," the veteran striker said after the game Wednesday night.

Sao Paulo - Before making his debut with Brazilian club Corinthians, veteran striker Ronaldo was facing his first punishment Friday - a fine for "lack of discipline."

The club leadership was upset about the forward's delayed return to work after a day off.

Corinthians officials said Friday that Ronaldo, 32, arrived at least six hours late to the team's hotel in the town of Presidente Prudente, in Sao Paulo state.

Sao Paulo  - In the streets of Sao Paulo, traffic barely moves in rush hour. The endless stream of cars moves at a snail's pace on 10-lane avenues.

Some 6 million cars, buses, motorcycles and trucks daily plough through the city of 20 million people, and an estimated 800 new vehicles join the frenzy every day. On bad days, officials estimate traffic jams reach lengths of more than 220 kilometres. The few underground lines and the 15,000 buses are full. No wonder people with the necessary cash evade the streets by taking to the air.

Sao Paulo is a city with the most helicopter taxis in the world and the highest concentration of helipads.