
Brazilian foreign minister Ernesto Araujo batted away concerns about Brazil's relations with China, its biggest trade partner, during the BRICS summit hosted by Brazil. Many had feared ties could rupture under newly-elected President Jair Bolsonaro, whose previous criticisms of Beijing and fervent admiration of US President Donald Trump are shared by Araujo.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo on Friday pleaded with the country's partners in the BRICS group of emerging economies to heed the “cries” of Venezuelans and work together to end the crisis.

Brazil's foreign minister has made clear that there is no love lost for Beijing on his part, but when he sits down with his Chinese opposite for the first time on Thursday analysts expect pragmatism to prevail.

Brazil’s top court on Thursday ordered state-run oil company Petrobras to refuel two Iranian grain vessels stranded on the Brazilian coast due to U.S. sanctions holding up sales of fuel needed for their return trips.

Brazil hopes to inject US$ 11.2 billion into its slowing economy after announcing a plan Wednesday to put some extra cash in the pockets of workers. Workers will be allowed to withdraw up to 500 reais (US$ 133) this year and a certain percentage in 2020 from a severance fund that employers are required to pay into.

Brazilian oil giant Petrobras says it’s already sold off its majority share in its fuel distribution branch, and hopes the total sale will raise about US$ 2.5 billion. Petrobras said on Wednesday it now has a 41.25% stake in the Petrobras Distribuidora unit, down from the 70% before the sale started Tuesday.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's cell phones were allegedly targeted by a group of hackers who are also accused of breaching the devices of the investigators in a massive corruption probe, the justice ministry said on Thursday.

Armed men stole US$40 million of gold and other precious metals on Thursday from a Sao Paulo cargo terminal at South America's busiest airport, taking two hostages, police said. Several of the suspects arrived at the Guarulhos airport in a black pickup truck with livery resembling Brazil's federal police, according to security footage.

Iran has threatened to cut its imports from Brazil unless it allows the refuelling of at least two Iranian ships stranded off the Brazilian coast, a sign of the global repercussions of U.S. sanctions on the Islamic republic.

Brazil's federal police arrested four people for allegedly hacking the phone of Justice Minister Sérgio Moro, a key member of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's Cabinet who had previously been a renowned anti-corruption judge.