Brazil

Friday, October 4th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Pope looking into options to recruiting more priests in the Amazon region

A shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon is eroding the church's influence in the remote region, bishops in Brazil and Peru warn, ahead of a Vatican synod dedicated to the rainforest. Wilmar Santin, one of the scores of Brazilian bishops set to attend the Oct 6-27 gathering, says the church is ceding ground to more nimble Evangelical rivals and needs to lift its game.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:51 UTC
Brazil's landmark pension reform bill closer to its final approval

Brazil’s Senate on Wednesday approved a landmark pension reform bill in the first round of voting, in relief for far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, although senators voted down an amendment in a move that dilutes the reform’s projected savings. The bill will now pass to a second and final voting round.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Operation Weak Flesh: Brazilian meat packer admits to bribing food inspectors

Brazilian meatpacker BRF SA has admitted to bribing food inspectors with bank deposits and health benefits, police said on Tuesday, although the company itself avoided raids as it was cooperating with the latest phase of the corruption probe.
Thursday, October 3rd 2019 - 09:43 UTC
Brazil's ex richest man receives additional sentence for inside trading

Eike Batista, formerly Brazil’s richest man, was sentenced to an additional eight years and seven months of prison time this week for insider trading. Batista, 62, had already been convicted for paying US$ 16.6m to get government contracts as part of a sprawling corruption probe known as Carwash and sentenced to 30 years, which he is serving under house arrest.
Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 09:48 UTC
Brazilian industrial production rose in August at its fastest pace in over a year

Industrial production in Brazil rose in August at its fastest pace in more than a year, official figures on Tuesday showed, a sign that Latin America’s largest economy may slowly be turning a corner after flirting with recession earlier in the year.
Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 08:33 UTC
Bolsonaro will attend the enthronement of Japanese emperor Narushito

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he will attend the enthronement ceremony of Japanese Emperor Naruhito scheduled for Oct 22 as part of a tour of Asia and the Middle East.
Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 08:27 UTC
Bolsonaro signs decree expanding soft financing for farmers

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday signed a decree with a variety of measures to expand financing for farmers. The measures include the creation of a “fraternal” fund that will provide an estimated 5 billion reais (US$ 1.20 billion) in additional credit for the sector, according to Rogerio Miranda, the Economy Ministry's deputy secretary for agriculture policy.
Tuesday, October 1st 2019 - 09:47 UTC
Brazil's newest oil auction attracting oil majors

Brazil’s newest oil auction is attracting some of the world’s biggest oil majors such as BP, Chevron, CNOOC, ExxonMobil, and Shell, the Brazilian government said on Monday, according to Bloomberg.
Tuesday, October 1st 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Brazilian soy farmers concerned with new Bayer biotech herbicide, Dicamba

Brazilian farmers are wary of the imminent introduction of a new genetically modified soy seed technology because of the risks associated with dicamba, a herbicide the biotech product is designed to tolerate.
Tuesday, October 1st 2019 - 09:03 UTC
Brazil's national debt at a record high in August, 79.8% of GDP

Brazil's national debt rose to the highest on record in August, central bank figures showed on Monday, driven by a combination of increased interest payments, higher borrowing and a weaker exchange rate.