Brazil

• Thursday, December 7th 2023 - 10:12 UTC

  Oil tanker runs aground midway through Amazon River

  

  Brazilian authorities said no casualties were reported and measures to gauge the potential environmental damage were underway after the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Minerva Rita, carrying 18,000 m³ of Naphtha and 8,499 m³ of gasoline, had her hull damaged after running aground on Monday about 170 kilometers from the State's capital down the Amazon River en route from Manaus to a refinery in Itacoatiara.

• Wednesday, December 6th 2023 - 10:54 UTC

  Lula skipping Milei's inauguration

  

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finally confirmed he would not be attending Javier Milei's inauguration despite last-minute efforts by Argentina's future Foreign Minister Diana Mondino who failed to undo the badmouthing the Libertarian leader made during his campaign.

• Wednesday, December 6th 2023 - 10:50 UTC

  Military build-up reported as tension between Venezuela and Guyana escalates

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Tuesday announced the creation of a military division for the Guiana Essequiba area, which the country claims as its own, particularly after Sunday's referendum, it was reported in Caracas. The Essequibo is home to 125,000 of Guyana's 800,000 citizens.

• Tuesday, December 5th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

  Lula in Germany with Scholz trying to conclude Mercosur/EU trade deal before next Tuesday

  

  The two leaders of the largest economies of Latin America and Europe met in Berlin on Monday to try and conclude a cooperation and free trade agreement between the South American block and the European Union which has been on the table for over two decades.

• Monday, December 4th 2023 - 10:50 UTC

  EU-Mercosur deal slowly vanishing

  

  The European Union's Commissioner who was due to attend the Dec. 7 Mercosur Summit in Rio de Janeiro to sign the trade agreement between both blocs has canceled his trip, it was reported Sunday. According to the Financial Times, Valdis Dombrovskis shall not be attending the event, which in addition to announcements in Buenos Aires and Brasilia coupled with further negative statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, would amount to the end. at least for now, of the much-heralded agreement.

• Monday, December 4th 2023 - 10:42 UTC

  France to donate € 500 million to Brazil's Amazon Fund

  

  French President Emmanuel Macron Saturday pledged € 500 million over the next three years to Brazil's Amazon Fund, while the United Kingdom announced an additional £ 35 million (around € 40.78 million) in addition to the £ 80 million (€ 93.22 million) it had already announced in May, Agencia Brasil reported.

• Monday, December 4th 2023 - 08:20 UTC

  UK leads action to protect rainforests committing £85 million funding at COP28

  

  The UK announced a multi-million pound package of measures to protect the world’s rainforests, encourage investment in clean energy technologies, and help developing countries cut their carbon emissions. 

• Saturday, December 2nd 2023 - 11:55 UTC

  Brazil wants to hand Mercosur chair next week with a raft of milestones

  

  Brazil who is handing the Mercosur rotating chair to Paraguay during a ceremony and regional summit in Rio do Janeiro next 7 December´, is working overtime to finalize important milestones for the trade block during its presidency, among which discussions with UAE, closing a deal with Singapore, making official Bolivia's incorporation and equally outstanding even possibly signing the definitive agreement with the European Union.

• Friday, December 1st 2023 - 22:45 UTC

  Brazil joining OPEC+ as of next year

  

  Effective Jan. 1, 2024, South America's largest country will join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira announced this week after participating virtually in a meeting with other colleagues from the bloc.

• Friday, December 1st 2023 - 10:17 UTC

  Will Maduro attempt to take over Guyana's Esequibo? Brazil sends troops to the area

  

  Brazil announced “intensified defensive actions” along its northern border fearing a possible invasion of Guyana by the dictatorial regime of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. This Friday the UN International Court is expected to halt a referendum, on a disputed area between the two neighbors, which is seen as “an exercise in forced annexation” by Venezuela.