Brazil

• Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:39 UTC

  Brazil cuts basic interest rate to 12.25% per year

  

  Brazil's Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) unanimously decided Wednesday to reduce the economy's basic interest rate (known as the Selic rate) by 0.5 percentage points to 12.25% per year, Agencia Brasil reported.

• Thursday, November 2nd 2023 - 09:08 UTC

  Bolsonaro and Braga Netto guilty of politically using Independence Day celebrations

  

  Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his running mate in the 2022 elections General Walter Braga Neto were found guilty Tuesday by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of using the Sept. 7 Independence Day celebrations for political gain, Agencia Brasil reported.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2023 - 09:01 UTC

  Brazilian government announces end of privatization process of the port of Santos

  

  Brazilian minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Costa Filho, announced the termination of the Investment Partnership Program (PPI), which had originally set the conditions for the privatization of the management of the Port of Santos.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2023 - 08:58 UTC

  Brazil hopeful of de-globalization, as US/China technology clash escalates

  

  Brazil did not enjoy the globalization process that started in the 1980s to its fullest potential. Still, it may have a second chance now amid the current de-globalization process – essentially an adjustment of globalization.

• Wednesday, November 1st 2023 - 08:56 UTC

  Lula hails Messi's Ballon d'Or achievement

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Tuesday praised Argentine football start Lionel Messi on winning his eighth Ballon d'Or award. “Messi should serve as an example to Brazilian players,” said Lula on social media.

• Tuesday, October 31st 2023 - 10:42 UTC

  Brazilian FM critical of UN Security Council

  

  Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira was highly critical of the United Nations Security Council's performance regarding the ongoing war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas. “We failed,” said the top diplomat of the country currently chairing the body, Agencia Brasil reported.

• Tuesday, October 31st 2023 - 10:12 UTC

  Iguazú Falls closed to visitors as water levels rise above normal

  

  Due to recent heavy rains on the Brazilian side, the tourist attraction of the Iguazú Falls has been closed to visitors at least until Wednesday pending damage assessments given a water flow 16 times higher than usual, it was reported.

• Monday, October 30th 2023 - 09:38 UTC

  Lula tells Pedro Sanchez to make a last effort on EU-Mercosur deal

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during a telephone conversation last week that he was keen on finalizing the trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur.

• Monday, October 30th 2023 - 08:32 UTC

  Brazilian researchers developing vaccine against cocaine consumption

  

  A Brazilian-developed vaccine against cocaine addiction is almost ready for public distribution. The drug, named Calixcoca, “would block the effects on the brain,” according to the researchers behind the project.

• Sunday, October 29th 2023 - 21:02 UTC

  Ecuadorian towns hit by blackouts to curb electricity consumption amid drought

  

  Ecuadorian towns in the Amazon region have been reported to be undergoing power outages that might drag on at least until December if current drought conditions are to persist, according to local authorities. The power cuts have caused havoc and traffic chaos in a country where violence reigns supreme and darkness only adds to the insecurity condition.