Brazil

• Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 18:24 UTC

  Brazilian delegation in Mexico trying to lobby rice exports

  

  A delegation of Brazilian rice producers is on a mission to Mexico this week to lobby for a cut in the 20% tariff their exports face in the lucrative Mexican market, a reduction they say could enable them to compete with U.S. rivals.

• Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 18:14 UTC

  Brazilian currency again slips to a record low against the US dollar

  

  Brazil’s real posted a record low close against the dollar for a second straight day on Wednesday, after earlier sliding to within less than one centavo of its weakest-ever level as the weight of selling pressure built up on several fronts.

• Thursday, February 20th 2020 - 18:10 UTC

  Oil workers on strike against Petrobras privatization plans

  

  Brazilian oil workers and oil giant Petrobras were locked in a power struggle over the company’s privatization plans, with the union saying thousands of employees are on an indefinite strike.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2020 - 06:31 UTC

  Mercosur urgent health ministers meeting to address dengue, measles and coronavirus threat

  

  Mercosur health ministers will be holding an urgent meeting this week in Paraguay to address the spread of dengue, the outbreak of measles and the possible arrival of the China coronavirus to the region.

• Tuesday, February 18th 2020 - 06:25 UTC

  Bolsonaro insists in a good relation with Argentina, and insists in meeting with Alberto Fernandez

  

  Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he wants a “good relationship” with Argentina and it is up to the foreign ministers of both countries to agree on a meeting with his peer Alberto Fernandez, since the announced summit scheduled for March first in Montevideo, had fallen through.

• Saturday, February 15th 2020 - 09:05 UTC

  Bolsonaro celebrates crime index falls to its lowest level in more than a decade

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro celebrated Friday after a crime index showed homicides fell to their lowest level in more than a decade during the first year of his term.

• Saturday, February 15th 2020 - 08:58 UTC

  Mystery virus Yara, with genes never seen before, uncovered in Brazil

  

  A new, mystery virus, with genes never seen before in any life form, has been uncovered in Brazil, scientists say. The Yaravirus, which was named after Yara, a mythological Brazilian water goddess, was found in Lake Pampulha, an artificial lagoon in the city of Belo Horizonte, according to a new research paper on BioRxiv.

• Friday, February 14th 2020 - 09:51 UTC

  Brazilian base in Antarctica records a temperature peak of 20.75 degrees Celsius

  

  Scientists in Antarctica have recorded a new record temperature of 20.75 degrees Celsius, breaking the barrier of 20 degrees for the first time on the continent, a researcher said on Thursday.

• Friday, February 14th 2020 - 09:50 UTC

  Lula receives papal blessing at the Vatican; not a word in Francis official agenda

  

  Former Brazilian President Lula da Silva met on Thursday with Pope Francis at the Vatican, received a papal blessing and said the two discussed prospects for a “more just and fraternal world.”

• Friday, February 14th 2020 - 08:47 UTC

  Brazil's Real among the worst performing currencies this year, shrinks 8%

  

  Brazil’s currency fell below 4.35 reais per dollar for the first time this week, as weaker-than-expected retail sales figures gave renewed impetus to the selling that has picked up notable momentum in recent days.