Brazil

• Thursday, October 22nd 2015 - 07:26 UTC

  Brazil's opposition files new impeachment petition against Rousseff

  

  Brazil's opposition filed a new impeachment petition against President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, accusing her of illegal accounting practices. The much-anticipated petition, whose authors include a founder of Rousseff's Workers' Party, was handed over to congressional lower house speaker Eduardo Cunha.

• Thursday, October 22nd 2015 - 07:09 UTC

  Brazil leaves Selic rate unchanged at 14.25%; inflation the target but with no timetable

  

  Brazil's central bank kept interest rates on hold on Wednesday, for a second straight month despite a jump in inflation expectations. The decision not to raise rates will give a breather to President Dilma Rousseff, who is fighting for her political survival amid the country's worst economic and political crisis in 25 years.

• Monday, October 19th 2015 - 07:11 UTC

  Economic activity in Brazil plunges 4.47% in the last twelve months to August

  

  Economic activity in Brazil fell for a third straight month in August, Central Bank data showed, adding to evidence of a steeper-than-expected recession in the country. The figures were unveiled on the same day the government dismissed rumors over the resignation of Finance Minister Joaquim Levy.

• Sunday, October 18th 2015 - 07:27 UTC

  Rousseff's reelection campaign alleged irregularities, investigated by federal police

  

  Brazil's federal police have opened a preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities in President Dilma Rousseff's re-election campaign last year. According to the media office of the federal police, the probe was opened on 7 October, following a decision by Justice Gilmar Mendes from the Superior Electoral Court to look into allegations of wrongdoing by the Rousseff campaign.

• Saturday, October 17th 2015 - 06:43 UTC

  “Rousseff has broken the law and must step down”, says top Brazilian lawyer

  

  President Dilma Rousseff has broken the law and must step down so that Brazil can recover its legal bearings, the author of a key impeachment petition said. Helio Bicudo, a 93-year-old lawyer who was a high-ranking member of Rousseff's ruling Workers' Party, said in an interview that Brazil must return to “the rule of law.”

• Saturday, October 17th 2015 - 06:30 UTC

  Lula da Silva questioned for 90 minutes on allegations of influence peddling

  

  Brazilian ex-President Lula da Silva, who allegedly used his influence to aid a leading domestic engineering group after leaving office, voluntarily testified on Thursday before federal prosecutors during an hour and a half, his foundation said.

• Saturday, October 17th 2015 - 06:24 UTC

  Brazil's Finance Levy minister “has not resigned and will stay in his post”

  

  Finance Minister Joaquim Levy has not resigned and will stay in his post, Brazil's government said on Friday, denying a media report that he planned to step down in a dispute over austerity measures. A finance ministry spokeswoman told reporters that Levy “continues to work and is committed to improve the country's future.”

• Friday, October 16th 2015 - 07:43 UTC

  Fitch cuts Brazil's credit rating to the brink of junk; “terrible” news says government

  

  Fitch Ratings cut Brazil's credit rating to the brink of junk, warning the country could soon lose its coveted investment grade rating as government finances deteriorate amid a prolonged recession and persistent political uncertainty.

• Friday, October 16th 2015 - 07:35 UTC

  Petrobras strikes further discovery at giant pre-salt Libra field in Santos basin

  

  Petrobras announced a further hydrocarbon discovery at the giant pre-salt Libra field in the Santos basin, offshore Brazil. The company said that well 3-BRSA-1310-RJS, in the central portion of the block, identified the presence of hydrocarbons in a low-porosity reservoir. This is the fourth well drilled in the Libra area since exploratory drilling began last August.

• Thursday, October 15th 2015 - 07:27 UTC

  Rousseff accused the opposition of a 'deliberate coup-mongering'

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has accused her opponents of trying to overthrow a democratically elected government by seeking to oust her without any material facts while spreading hatred and intolerance across the country.