
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva issued a pardon favoring terminally ill prison inmates as well as at-risk pregnant women or those with HIV but fell short of benefitting those who committed crimes that were either heinous - such as torture, terrorism, racism, money laundering, concealment of assets - or against democracy, it was announced Monday in a special edition of the Diário Oficial da Uniao (Official Gazette).

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's running mate in the 2022 elections, Gen. (Ret.) Walter Braga Netto, was arrested this weekend by the Federal Police (PF) in connection with the alleged plot to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's inauguration.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva released a video Friday after leaving the Intensive Care Unit at the Sírio-Libanês Hospital in São Paulo, Agencia Brasil reported. Lula underwent two surgical procedures in his head this week to drain a hemorrhage caused by a domestic accident in October that prevented him from attending the BRICS Summit in Russia, among other engagements.

Brazil's Social Communication Minister Paulo Pimenta said Thursday that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva intends to run for a fourth term in office in 2026, perhaps to dispel rumors about his health after undergoing another surgical procedure in his head. In an interview with CNN Brazil, Pimenta insisted that Lula was “the most qualified and prepared person” to continue leading the country.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva needs to go through an additional head surgical procedure on Thursday to prevent further blooding. He had been operated on earlier this week to relieve persistent headaches due to an intracranial hematoma following a domestic accident that prevented him from traveling to the BRICS Summit.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Monday underwent head surgery to drain a hematoma and relieve his persistent headache. He was said to be in good condition and recuperating at Sao Paulo's Hospital Sírio-Libanês' ICU ward. The procedure involved a craniotomy (a cut through the skull), it was also explained.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Thursday decorated former Uruguayan President José Pepe Mujica (2010-2015) with the National Order of the Southern Cross on the sidelines of the two-day Mercosur Summit in Montevideo, Agencia Brasil reported. Mujica, 89, had been granted a similar accolade earlier Thursday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Montevideo will host the XLV Mercosur Summit on 5-6 December, bringing together South American leaders to discuss pressing regional issues. Outgoing Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou will chair the meeting, along with Argentina's Javier Milei, Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Paraguay's Santiago Peña. Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi will also attend.

Uruguay's President-elect Yamandú Orsi is scheduled to meet Friday in Brasilia with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to discuss the future relationship between both countries after the Broad Front's (Frente Amplio - FA) candidate is inaugurated on March 1. Orsi defeated Álvaro Delgado of the ruling Multicolor coalition in the Nov. 24 runoff and chose Brazil as his first destination abroad to launch his administration's diplomatic agenda.

The US dollar fell an iota short of crossing the R$ 6 barrier after measures announced by the Brazilian Government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva raised uneasiness in South America's largest country Thursday. The local currency has fallen 23.4% this year and 3.36% this week alone.