Brazil

• Thursday, May 11th 2017 - 11:29 UTC

  Lula was questioned for five hours and later called the corruption case “a farce”

  

  Brazil's former president Lula da Silva called the corruption trial threatening to end his storied career a “farce” during almost five hours of testimony on Wednesday. Lula is accused of receiving a seaside apartment as a kickback from the OAS construction company, and if found guilty could be barred from running for office and even jailed, destroying his hopes of coming back to power in the 2018 presidential elections.

• Wednesday, May 10th 2017 - 06:12 UTC

  Pivotal moment for Brazil: Lula and Judge Moro meet for the first time in a courtroom

  

  When Brazil's former President Lula da Silva and Judge Sergio Moro meet for the first time in a courtroom on Wednesday, contrasts and stakes could hardly be greater. One is the country's most popular president ever and the front-runner in next year's election - a former union leader who still whips up crowds with his fiery and folksy oratory.

• Tuesday, May 9th 2017 - 07:17 UTC

  Lula's five hurdles before he can ensure a comeback in the 2018 election

  

  Lula da Silva, Brazil's hugely influential leftist president between 2003-2010, faces no fewer than five court cases, each of which could thwart his dream of a comeback in 2018. On Wednesday he is due to appear before Brazil's top anti-corruption judge, Sergio Moro, to face charges that he was given a luxury apartment as a bribe.

• Monday, May 8th 2017 - 21:57 UTC

  Brazilian economy expected to begin takeoff in the first quarter

  

  Brazil's economy will post growth of between 0.7% and 0.8% in the first quarter, turning the corner on a two-year recession, Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said this week. In an interview with GloboNews cable channel, Meirelles said Brazilian companies will have to start to restock inventories and draw up investment plans.

• Saturday, May 6th 2017 - 11:36 UTC

  Brazil sacks head of indigenous affairs agency; the long arm of agri-business?

  

  Brazil's government on Friday sacked the head of its agency handling indigenous issues, a week after 13 members of one tribe were wounded in a bloody attack by ranchers in a land dispute.

• Friday, May 5th 2017 - 10:39 UTC

  Eight Isis sympathizers jailed in Brazil; they planned chemical attacks during 2016 Olympic Games

  

  Eight Isis sympathizers in Brazil have been jailed for plotting chemical attacks during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. All the men were Brazilian nationals, who were also accused of promoting militant activities on the internet. The accused men were being monitored by the FBI and found to be trying to make contact with the Islamist militant group to pledge allegiance with them.

• Thursday, May 4th 2017 - 06:36 UTC

  Two weeks of ”Think Brazil” in UK, a showcase of business possibilities between the two countries

  

  May is set to be the Brazil month in the United Kingdom. During two weeks (10-19), the Brazilian Government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Embassy in London, and the British Government, through its network in Brazil of Consulates and the Embassy, will bring to London and other UK cities a program full of cultural activities, business meetings and institutional encounters.

• Thursday, May 4th 2017 - 05:44 UTC

  Petrobras reveals Libra field achieves a breakeven price of US$ 35/bbl

  

  Brazil's oil and gas company Petrobras shared innovations and efficiency gains related to the Libra field at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston. Petrobras revealed collaboration between Libra area partners has produced a US$13/bbl reduction to the project's breakeven price.

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2017 - 06:53 UTC

  Mastermind of Lula's corruption cases temporarily released from jail

  

  Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the release from prison of Jose Dirceu, who was convicted of graft-related crimes after serving as cabinet chief of ex-president Lula da Silva. Dirceu has been detained since 2015 in connection to a vast corruption scheme known as Car Wash.

• Wednesday, May 3rd 2017 - 06:37 UTC

  Sweep against crime gangs in Rio triggers shooting and setting buses and trucks on fire

  

  Brazilian military police launched a major anti-crime operation in northern Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, arresting dozens of men and confiscating automatic rifles in a sweep that led gang members to burn public buses and left the city that hosted last year's Olympics on edge.