Brazil

• Saturday, May 8th 2021 - 08:08 UTC

  Coronavirus version found in Rio de Janeiro a mutation from the Manaus one

  

  A new variant of the Brazilian coronavirus has been identified this week, according to Rio de Janeiro health authorities.

• Friday, May 7th 2021 - 09:05 UTC

  Brazilian FM underscores China's significance to the South American country

  

  Brazil's Foreign Minister Carlos França Thursday expressed his country's intentions to expand and diversify its economic and trade relations with China, which has grown to become its largest trading partner.

• Friday, May 7th 2021 - 08:55 UTC

  Butantan head points fingers at Bolsonaro for shortages of covid-19 vaccines

  

  Butantan Institute Director Dimas Covas Thursday blamed President Jair Bolsonaro's anti-Chinese stance for the delay in the arrival and distribution of anti-covid-19 vaccines into Brazil.

• Friday, May 7th 2021 - 08:40 UTC

  Deadliest clash with police leaves 25 dead in Rio de Janeiro favela

  

  An anti-drug raid by Rio de Janeiro law enforcement agents Thursday left 24 suspects and one police officer dead in the precarious Jacareizinho favela.

• Thursday, May 6th 2021 - 08:48 UTC

  Brazil's Central Bank ups basic interest rate to curb growing inflation

  

  In a move to curb growing inflation, Brazil's Central Bank Wednesday decided to raise the basic interest rate by 0.75 percentage points, to 3.5% per year. It was the second time in a row that the monetary authorities responded to this type of measure.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2021 - 09:08 UTC

  Former health minister: Bolsonaro wanted chloroquine brochure re-written to have it used against covid-19

  

  Former Brazilian Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta Tuesday told the Parliamentary Commission investigating the government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic that President Jair Bolsonaro tried to change the chloroquine brochure that comes along with the medicine so that it could be used against covid-19.

• Tuesday, May 4th 2021 - 23:15 UTC

  Brazil and Russia back to discussing Sputnik V's certification after Anvisa's ruling

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's diplomacy is trying to place its ties with Russia back on track following the rejection of the Sputnik V vaccine which was unanimously turned down last week by the entire National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) board, citing a lack of proper documents.

• Monday, May 3rd 2021 - 09:56 UTC

  Argentine Ambassador to Mercosur wants new tariffs to boost local production

  

  Argentina's Ambassador to Mercosur Mariano Kestelboim Sunday said he favoured “a new common external tariff that promotes productive development.”

• Monday, May 3rd 2021 - 09:35 UTC

  Bolsonaro thanks Putin for release of footballer's driver wrongly arrested for drug trafficking

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Sunday thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the release of Robson Oliveira, the driver of former Spartak Moscow footballer Fernando Martins, who was arrested upon arrival for carrying a banned substance.

• Monday, May 3rd 2021 - 09:29 UTC

  Former Brazilian President Temer highlights importance of ties with China

  

  Former Brazilian President Michel Temer has outscored the importance of his country's connections with China, which is their main export destination.