Brazil

Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Massive blackout hits Mercosur; Argentina and Uruguay in the dark for six hours; major investigation promised

A massive blackout left tens of millions of people without electricity in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Chile and southern Brazil on Sunday. The Argentine president called it an “unprecedented” failure in the countries' interconnected power grid.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Bolsonaro sacks moderate member of his “military” cabinet

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro replaced his minister in charge of political relations with Congress, the presidential spokesman said. Government Secretary Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz was fired during a meeting with Bolsonaro, according to reports in the Brazilian media last week.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:15 UTC
Brazil scraps visas for tourists from US, Canada, Japan and Australia

Effective June 17, tourists from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia will no longer need a visa to visit Brazil. Travellers with a valid passport will be able to explore Brazil for up to 90 days, with the possibility of extending their stay to up to 180 days (though expect a visit to the Federal Police to get the extension approved).
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Head of Brazil's powerful Development bank resigns following clash with Bolsonaro

The head of Brazilian state development bank BNDES has submitted a letter of resignation amid public tensions with president Jair Bolsonaro, reflecting the serious divisions that continue to plague the administration’s upper echelons.
Saturday, June 15th 2019 - 09:57 UTC
Thousands of public workers join the first general strike against Brazil's Bolsonaro reforms

Protests have been held across Brazil as thousands of public workers take part in a general strike against a government proposal to reform pensions. The strike, the first since far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January, has affected public transport, schools and banks.
Saturday, June 15th 2019 - 08:20 UTC
Brazil clashes with Indonesia over the blocking of poultry exports

The Brazilian government has formally asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open a panel to investigate Indonesian policies on Brazil's poultry exports, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.
Saturday, June 15th 2019 - 08:12 UTC
Bolsonaro criticizes Judges decision to criminalize homophobia

Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro on Friday criticized the Supreme Court's decision to criminalize homophobia, saying it could “hurt” gays by deterring companies from hiring them.
Saturday, June 15th 2019 - 08:06 UTC
Bolsonaro stabber declared mentally ill and was jailed for an “indefinite period”

A Brazilian judge on Friday acquitted a mentally ill man of attacking president Jair Bolsonaro on last year's campaign trail, but jailed him for an “indefinite period”. Adelio Bispo de Oliveira stabbed Bolsonaro in the stomach on Sep 6 during a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
Friday, June 14th 2019 - 08:40 UTC
The Cobra Sting: Brazil's contribution to defeating Nazism in WW 2

Brazil's contribution to the Allied war effort is extraordinary but often forgotten. Though Brazil originally tried to remain neutral in the conflict, the United States eventually encouraged the country to break off relations with the Axis powers. As a result, German u-boats began to sink Brazilian shipping and kill Brazilian citizens.
Friday, June 14th 2019 - 08:30 UTC
Bolsonaro complies with court order and apologizes to a woman lawmaker because of offensive remarks

Following on a court order, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro issued a retraction note to opposition Congresswoman Maria do Rosário (PT-RS) because of his statements about rape. During a discussion in 2003, when Bolsonaro was still congressman, he said that Mary of the Rosary “did not deserve to be raped” because she was “too ugly”.