Brazil

Thursday, May 24th 2018 - 07:03 UTC
UN denies Lula's request for emergency action against his imprisonment

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has denied a request by Brazil's ex-president Lula da Silva seeking emergency action against his imprisonment, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Lula, currently serving a 12-year sentence over corruption, asked the committee to impose so-called “interim measures” -- a step the UN panel only takes when there is evidence an accused person is facing grave, irreparable harm.
Wednesday, May 23rd 2018 - 08:44 UTC
Brazil's Temer calls on centrist parties to support Meirelles as presidential candidate

Brazilian President Michel Temer scrapped plans to run for re-election on Tuesday and said he supported his former finance minister, Henrique Meirelles, to stand as the presidential candidate of the ruling Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB).
Tuesday, May 22nd 2018 - 07:36 UTC
Trucks loaded with soybeans block main highways in Brazil to protest fuel prices

Brazil lorry drivers blocked major roadways around the capital of the country's largest grain state to protest increases in domestic fuel prices, affecting highways in 18 states, the federal highway police said on Monday.
Tuesday, May 22nd 2018 - 06:32 UTC
Mercosur and Japan scheduled to begin trade talks next November in Argentina

Mercosur trade bloc looks to begin economic and trade talks with Japan as soon as November, Brazil's foreign minister said, calling trade with Asia essential to regional economic health as the U.S. embraces protectionism.
Monday, May 21st 2018 - 09:02 UTC
Lula's political “handy man” Dirceu, starts 31-year prison sentence for corruption

Jose Dirceu, former chief of staff under ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, surrendered last Friday to start a nearly 31-year prison sentence for corruption, officials said. Dirceu lost an appeal against his conviction for money laundering, corruption and membership of a criminal group, at a court in Porto Alegre on Thursday.
Saturday, May 19th 2018 - 09:43 UTC
Why the high unemployment rate in Brazil is going down

The number of people living in Brazil in a state of helplessness has reached record levels and has actually contributed to the reduction of the unemployment rate over the past 12 months. As the first quarter of 2018 came to an end, 4.6 million people found themselves in a state of helplessness – an increase of 511 thousand people over the course of one year.
Friday, May 18th 2018 - 08:48 UTC
Brazilian government anticipates lower economic growth for 2018

The Brazilian government on Thursday admitted for the first time this year that economic growth in 2018 will be below the original target of 3% projected in January. The downgrade followed the release of economic indicators showing a slower than expected recovery.
Friday, May 18th 2018 - 08:34 UTC
Lula lashes out at his “farce” imprisonment; Judge strips him of presidential privileges

Brazil's ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday lashed out against his imprisonment for corruption but the government rejected his claim to have been victim of a “farce” and a judge stripped him of presidential privileges. In a column in French newspaper Le Monde, Lula called his conviction and 12 year sentence for graft “a judicial farce” and said that presidential elections would be unfair without his participation.
Thursday, May 17th 2018 - 09:22 UTC
Temer claims that in two years his administration has takes Brazil out of recession

Brazilian President Michel Temer said this week that his administration has taken the country out of debt and successfully overcome the brutal economic recession of the past two years.
Thursday, May 17th 2018 - 08:53 UTC
Brazil reacts strongly to EU ex-leaders asking for Lula to run for office

Brazil on Wednesday lashed out at a demand by former European leaders for disgraced ex-president Lula da Silva to be allowed to take part in elections this year. A group of former EU left leaning leaders, including French ex-president Francois Holland and Spanish former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, called Lula's imprisonment for corruption “hurried” and said he should be “free to present himself before Brazilian voters.”