Brazil

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:56 UTC

  Pandemics: Bolsonaro and governors clash over priorities, the economy and jobs or public health

  

  Brazil's largest city of Sao Paulo began fifteen days of lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus on Tuesday. This after Brazil's own president, Jair Bolsonaro, has faced fierce criticism for his blasé treatment to combat the threat, which he describes as a quote “little flu.”

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 08:30 UTC

  Bolsonaro calls Xi and defuses spat; Beijing pledges to help Brazil combat Covid 19

  

  Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro laid to rest a diplomatic spat with China in a call with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, with the two agreeing to work together to fight coronavirus as Brazil’s largest city went into lockdown.

• Wednesday, March 25th 2020 - 07:55 UTC

  Drug gangs impose a strict curfew in Rio do Janeiro's favelas to combat “the disease of the rich”

  

  The “baile funk” dance parties have been called off. Some open-air drug markets are closed for business. Gangs and militias have imposed strict curfews. Coronavirus is coming, and Rio de Janeiro's lawless favelas are gearing up for the onslaught.

• Friday, March 20th 2020 - 09:47 UTC

  Brazil closing all land borders except with Uruguay, and banning entry from EU and Pacific countries

  

  Brazil on Thursday announced it was closing land borders and prohibiting entry to people from European and many Pacific Asian countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as Mexico and Peru reported their first virus deaths.

• Thursday, March 19th 2020 - 08:57 UTC

  Pots and pans protest against Bolsonaro; Brazilian markets crash and Congress approves national emergency

  

  The coronavirus outbreak hammered Brazil on Wednesday, crushing local markets, infecting more members of the country’s political elite and prompting loud protests against President Jair Bolsonaro, whose son waded into a diplomatic spat with China.

• Thursday, March 19th 2020 - 08:40 UTC

  Brazilian government security advisor, a minister and the head of the Senate, self isolated with coronavirus

  

  Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has so far escaped coronavirus contagion but his national security advisor, his mines and energy minister plus the Senate chief haven't been so lucky.

• Thursday, March 19th 2020 - 08:25 UTC

  Brazil central bank cuts benchmark rate 50 points to a record low of 3.75%

  

  Brazil’s central bank on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to a record-low 3.75% to cushion the economic blow of the coronavirus pandemic but signaled no rush to cut again and emphasized the need for more economic reforms.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2020 - 08:58 UTC

  Covid 19: Mercosur countries isolated from the world and among themselves

  

  The number of Coronavirus cases tested positive are increasing significantly, in the exponential leg of the process, in Mercosur country members and in Chile. Brazil reported the first death, a 62 year old man in Sao Paulo with a medical record of high pressure and diabetes.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2020 - 07:30 UTC

  Bolsonaro asks Congress to declare state of emergency to free federal funds from spending caps

  

  Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday his second coronavirus test was negative and his government asked Congress to authorize a state of emergency that would allow it to scrap fiscal targets and free up funds to combat the virus’ spread.

• Wednesday, March 18th 2020 - 07:12 UTC

  Brazilian meatpackers considering suspending operations because of China

  

  Brazilian meatpackers JBS and Minerva Foods are considering suspending operations at some slaughterhouses in Brazil due to supply chain issues from China, JBS and sources close to Minerva said this week.