Brazil

• Saturday, March 19th 2016 - 06:40 UTC

  Lula takes to the streets claiming there's a coup, but he is no match to the over three million of Sunday

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's supporters took to the streets on Friday to fight back at attempts to oust her, as a flurry of court battles raged over her controversial cabinet appointment of predecessor Lula da Silva. Waving the red flags of the ruling Workers' Party, (PT) tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the country's largest city, Sao Paulo, greeting Lula with thunderous cheers when he was hoisted onto a parked truck to address the crowd.

• Saturday, March 19th 2016 - 06:09 UTC

  Neymar ordered to pay US$ 52.2 million in back taxes to the Brazilian Treasury

  

  A Brazilian court has found Barcelona striker Neymar guilty of tax fraud and ordered him to pay 188.8 million Reais (US$ 52.2) in back taxes, interest and penalties according to reports on the local media on Friday.

• Saturday, March 19th 2016 - 05:54 UTC

  Argentina concerned about Brazilian political situation's impact on bilateral trade

  

  The Argentine government expressed its concern about the impact the Brazilian political crisis will have on trade between the two countries. Argentina and Brazil are the principal partners in the Mercosur common market, which also includes Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Brazil and Argentina are mutually principal destinations for their manufactured goods, meaning that bilateral trade is crucial for both.

• Friday, March 18th 2016 - 03:18 UTC

  Lula cabinet chief for twenty minutes; street protests in Brazilian cities

  

  Former leader Lula da Silva was sworn in as President Dilma Rousseff's chief of staff on Thursday amid a deepening crisis in Brazil as protests against his appointment continued for a second day and a judge sought to block the move.

• Friday, March 18th 2016 - 03:12 UTC

  Brazilian markets surge on prospects Rousseff will be removed

  

  Brazilian share prices surged on Thursday to close 6.6% higher, a seven-year record, after fresh setbacks to populist President Dilma Rousseff raised the prospect of her being driven from power.

• Thursday, March 17th 2016 - 06:38 UTC

  “When a rich man steals they name him minister”, Lula da Silva quote in 1998

  

  “When a poor man steals, he ends in jail; when a rich man steals he is named minister”, the phrase belongs to Lula da Silva back in 1998 when he was leading the opposition, and it is now being repeated in social networks. In effect, on Wednesday Lula was named chief of staff by president Dilma Rousseff, who also phoned him to tell him she would be sending him the official decree on his nomination, so that he make use of it “if necessary”.

• Thursday, March 17th 2016 - 06:13 UTC

  Protests erupt in Brazil as Rousseff confirms Lula da Silva as chief of staff

  

  Protests erupted in Brazilian cities on Wednesday after President Dilma Rousseff named her predecessor Lula da Silva chief of staff and a taped telephone conversation fed opposition claims the appointment was meant to shield Lula from prosecution.

• Wednesday, March 16th 2016 - 06:36 UTC

  Lula da Silva on the run ready o accept position in cabinet; markets and Real collapse on the news

  

  Brazil's ex-president Lula da Silva will accept a position in his successor's cabinet, according to a leading national newspaper, in order to protect himself from prosecution in a corruption case involving the state-run oil company, Petrobras. Rio-based O Globo newspaper reported on Tuesday that Lula had told several close advisers that he would rejoin the cabinet, citing no sources. Brazilian markets and currency collapsed on the news.

• Tuesday, March 15th 2016 - 05:06 UTC

  Lula prepared to accept a ministry to avoid arrest, according to Brazil's leading media

  

  Former Brazilian leader Lula da Silva has accepted a key ministerial role in President Dilma Rousseff's government, leading media in Sao Paulo have reported. Members of the governing Workers' Party say his appointment will strengthen her beleaguered administration. In becoming a minister, Lula will also have some legal protection. Allegedly the two are to meet on Tuesday in Brasilia.

• Sunday, March 13th 2016 - 23:17 UTC

  Mercosur/EU will exchange trade proposals in April, is announced in Argentina

  

  Mercosur and the European Union will exchange trade proposals in April, a key step for the long delayed trade and cooperation agreement between the two blocks and which has gained strength since the change of administration in Argentina with president Mauricio Macri.