Brazil

Thursday, October 19th 2017 - 20:53 UTC
“Untouchable” Temer does it again: Brazilian congress will support his full presidential mandate

A Brazilian congressional committee on Wednesday voted against making President Michel Temer stand trial on corruption charges. The 39-26 vote by the justice committee in the lower house was non-binding but gives Temer political momentum ahead of the full chamber taking up the issue.
Wednesday, October 18th 2017 - 07:37 UTC
Brazilian Senate challenges Supreme Court and returns suspended lawmaker

The Senate on Tuesday rejected a decision of Brazil's top court and returned a suspended lawmaker to his post, in what critics said was the latest self-protection move by politicians accused of corruption.
Tuesday, October 17th 2017 - 12:16 UTC
Federal audit freezes Rousseff and Gabrielli assets over losses in refinery purchase

Brazil's federal audit court ordered a freeze of former President Dilma Rousseff's assets as well as those of José Sérgio Gabrielli, ex-head of state-run oil company Petrobras, over a US$580 million loss in the 2006 purchase of a Texas refinery.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 14:56 UTC
Swiss prosecutors will help with 2016 Rio Olympics corruption investigation

Federal prosecutors in Switzerland have agreed to help Brazilian authorities investigating Olympic official Carlos Nuzman, who is suspected of vote-buying in a corruption conspiracy linked to the Rio de Janeiro Games.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 13:36 UTC
Giant meatpacker owners involved in insider trading could lose plea bargain deal with prosecutors

Brazil’s police investigation into insider trading by the owners of the world’s largest meatpacker JBS SA has found that they made a profit by taking financial positions before details of their plea bargain deal with prosecutors became public, the head of the probe said on Tuesday.
Friday, October 13th 2017 - 12:59 UTC
Meirelles optimistic about congressional approval of pensions' reform

Brazilian Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Thursday “there’s a very good chance” that the country’s proposed pension reform bill will be approved by the end of the year. Addressing a question-and-answer session at an Institute for International Finance meeting in Washington Meirelles said that it would be simpler to pass the bill this year than next year because of political challenges that could come with Brazil’s upcoming presidential election in October 2018.
Thursday, October 12th 2017 - 20:55 UTC
Global food prices up 0.8% in September, according to FAO Index

Global food prices rose slightly in September, as firmer prices of vegetable oils and to a lesser extent dairy products offset declining prices for staple cereal grains. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 178.4 points for the month of September, up 0.8% from August and marking a 4.3% increase from a year earlier.
Thursday, October 12th 2017 - 12:10 UTC
Brazilian central bank insists on the need to limit pension spending

Brazil’s lawmakers can’t duck their responsibility to pass belt-tightening measures, central bank President Ilan Goldfajn told a Senate hearing in Brasilia this week. Reform proposals, particularly a constitutional amendment to limit pension spending, will help keep inflation low, reduce the structural interest rate and buoy the country’s overall recovery, Goldfajn said.
Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 16:02 UTC
Auto industry in Brazil picking up: 10% sales and output growth forecasted in 2018

Auto industry leaders projected sales and output growth of more than 10% in Brazil next year at an industry event on Monday, underscoring hopes for a rebounding market as Mercedes-Benz announced new investments in bus and truck plants.
Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 15:56 UTC
Brazilian Congress seems prepared to again save Temer from Justice charges

A Brazilian congressional report recommended on Tuesday that President Michel Temer should not face trial for obstruction of justice and membership in a criminal organization, arguing that the charges against him were unfounded.