Page 14 - Brazil

Brazil, EU urge India for timely notifications on sugar subsidies at WTO

A group of WTO member countries, including Brazil, Canada and the European Union, have urged India to submit timely notifications on sugar subsidies in the World Trade Organisation, an official said. The issue came up for discussion during the meeting of the WTO's agriculture committee on May 23-24 in Geneva. These countries are also major sugar exporters like India and they allege that support measures by India distort global sugar trade. Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Paraguay, New Zealand, the EU, and Guatemala have "urged India to submit timely notifications on the subsidies", the Geneva-based official said. India has stated that the Indian central and state governments neither paid for nor procured sugarcane from farmers, as all purchases were made by private sugar mills, hence, this information was not included in its notifications of domestic support. The discussion assumes significance as in 2022, India has appealed against a ruling of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) tra

Brazil's flooded south sees 2 deaths, experts warn of surge in fatalities

The first two deaths from waterborne bacterial disease were reported in southern Brazil, where floodwaters were slowly receding, and health authorities warned additional fatalities were likely. Rio Grande do Sul state's health secretariat confirmed the death of a 33-year-old man due to leptospirosis on Wednesday. On Monday, authorities registered that a 67-year-old man had died from the same infectious disease. Since the beginning of May, 29 cases of the waterborne disease have been confirmed in the state. The flooding over about a two-week period killed at least 161 people, with 82 still missing, state authorities said Wednesday. More than 600,000 people were forced from their homes, including tens of thousands who remain in shelters, they said. Health experts had previously forecast a surge in infectious diseases including leptospirosis and hepatitis B within a couple weeks of the floods, as sewage mixed into the floodwaters. There are those who die during the flood and there is

Indian courts have come to be reimagined as democratic spaces, says CJI

CJI Chandrachud also pointed crucial areas in which digitisation and technology can help us create better justice delivery mechanisms

Brazil pushes out Petrobras CEO, names ex-regulator to top job; shares dip

New York-listed shares of Petrobras fell more than 6% in after-hours trading as news broke that Prates was headed for the exit

Flooding to worsen in Brazil's south, where many who remain are poor

More rain started coming down on Saturday in Brazil's already flooded Rio Grande do Sul state, where many of those remaining are poor people with limited ability to move to less dangerous areas. More than 15 centimeters (nearly six inches) of rain could fall over the weekend and will probably worsen flooding, according to the Friday afternoon bulletin from Brazil's national meteorology institute. It said there is also a high likelihood that winds will intensify and water levels rise in the Patos lagoon next to the state capital, Porto Alegre, and the surrounding area. As of Saturday afternoon, heavy rains were falling in the northern and central regions of the state, and water levels were rising. Carlos Sampaio, 62, lives in a low-income community next to soccer club Gremio's stadium in Porto Alegre. His two-story home doubles as a sports bar. Even though the first floor is inundated, he said he won't leave, partly out of fear of looters in his high-crime neighborhood, where police

Floods likely to worsen in Brazil's South, where many who remain are poor

More heavy rain is forecast for Brazil's already flooded Rio Grande do Sul state, where many of those remaining are poor people with limited ability to move to less dangerous areas. More than 15 cm (nearly 6 inches) of rain could fall over the weekend and will probably worsen flooding, according to the Friday afternoon bulletin from Brazil's national meteorology institute. It said there is also a high likelihood that winds will intensify and water levels rise in the Patos lagoon next to the state capital, Porto Alegre, and the surrounding area. As of Saturday morning, heavy rains were falling in northern Rio Grande do Sul, while Porto Alegre and the southern part of the state were receiving drizzle. Carlos Sampaio, 62, lives in a low-income community next to soccer club Gremio's stadium in Porto Alegre. His two-story home doubles as a sports bar. Even though the first floor is flooded, he said he won't leave, partly out of fear of looters in his high-crime neighbourhood, where poli

Brazil reels from massive flooding as it faces risk from new storms

Authorities in southern Brazil rushed on Wednesday to rescue survivors of massive flooding that has killed at least 100 people, but some residents refused to leave belongings behind while others returned to evacuated homes despite the risk of new storms. Heavy rains and flooding in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left 128 people missing, authorities said. More than 230,000 have been displaced, and much of the region has been isolated by the floodwaters. More storms are expected in the state, with lightning strikes and wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in the south, according to Ctia Valente, the meteorologist in the state's situation room. Staffers of the state's civil defense agency told The Associated Press they have been struggling to persuade residents of the city of Eldorado do Sul, one of the hardest hit by the floods, to leave their homes. It is located beside Porto Alegre, near the center of the state's coastline. At

Brazil floods death toll rises to 90, dozens still stranded: Report

The flooding has hampered rescue efforts, with dozens of people still waiting to be evacuated by boat or helicopter from stricken homes

Floods in Southern Brazil kill at least 75 over 7 days, 103 people missing

Massive floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state have killed at least 75 people over the last seven days, and another 103 were reported missing, local authorities said Sunday. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 88,000 people from their homes. Approximately 16,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. The floods left a wake of devastation, including landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges across the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. More than 800,000 people are without a water supply, according to the civil defence agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan. A rescue team pulled an elderly man in serious medical condition into a helicopter from a remote area in the Bento Gonalves municipality, according to footage from military firefighters. Torrents of brown water poured over a nearby dam. On Saturday evening, residents in the town of Canoas stood up

Floods in southern Brazil kill at least 60, with above 100 people missing

Massive floods in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state killed at least 60 people and another 101 were reported missing, according to Sunday's toll from local authorities. At least 155 people were injured, while damage from the rains forced more than 80,000 people from their homes. Approximately 15,000 took refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other temporary shelters. The floods left a wake of devastation, including landslides, washed-out roads and collapsed bridges across the state. Operators reported electricity and communications cuts. More than 800,000 people are without a water supply, according to the civil defence agency, which cited figures from water company Corsan. On Saturday evening, residents in the town of Canoas stood up to their shoulders in muddy water and formed a human chain to pull boats carrying people to safety, according to video footage shared by local UOL news network. The Guaiba river reached a record level of 5.33 metres (17.5 feet) on Sunday morning at

Death toll from rains in southern Brazil climbs to 57, 70 still missing

Heavy rains had already hit Rio Grande do Sul last September, as an extratropical cyclone caused floods that killed more than 50 people

Death toll from heavy rains in Brazil jumps to 29, 60 people missing

The death toll from heavy rains in Brazil's southern Rio Grande do Sul state jumped to 29 as of Thursday night, with another 60 people missing, according to the state's civil defence agency. The agency had said in its prior report, at noon, that 13 people were dead and 21 people missing, just slightly higher than the toll on Wednesday. Brazil's President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva travelled to the state on Thursday to meet with local authorities and express his solidarity. Everything that is within reach of our government will be done to attend to the needs of the people who are being affected by these rains, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Operators reported electricity and water cuts across the state, and officials detailed numerous incidents of flooded roads, landslides and collapsed bridges as water levels of rivers and streams rose sharply. Part of the structure of a hydroelectric dam gave way on Thursday. More than 10,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to

Tobacco prices to rise in Andhra after crop failure in Brazil, Indonesia

Prices range between Rs 280 and Rs 290 per kg and are predicted to surpass Rs 300 per kg in Andhra Pradesh market

Biocon partners Biomm SA to commercialise it's diabetes drug in Brazil

Biotechnology firm Biocon on Wednesday said it has tied up with Brazil-based Biomm SA for the commercialisation of its diabetes drug in the Latin American nation. Under the terms of the agreement, Biocon will undertake the development, manufacturing and supply of Semaglutide (gOzempic), and Biomm will be responsible for obtaining regulatory approval and commercialization in the Brazilian market. Biomm focuses on developing, manufacturing and commercialising complex biotech and biosimilar drug products at its production facility in Nova Lima. "Our partnership with Biomm marks another important step forward in our strategy to expand our global footprint beyond the US and Europe for Peptides," Biocon CEO and MD Siddharth Mittal said in a statement. This is also in line with the growth strategy of bringing to market a portfolio of complex, GLP-1 drug-device combination products, he added. "We are confident that our collaboration with Biomm will provide patients in Brazil, who are livi

TCS expands presence in Brazil with new delivery centre in Londrina

Tata Consultancy Services employs around 1,700 professionals in Londrina and will be generating more than 1,600 new jobs through this centre

X received inquiry from US govt on actions in Brazil, says Elon Musk

In a decision on Sunday, Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the probe will check whether Musk was involved in obstruction, criminal organisation and incitement

Elon Musk wants Brazil's Supreme Court justice to resign; here's why

"This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached. Shame @Alexandre, shame," Musk posted on X

Brazil SC justice to probe Musk over fake news and alleged obstruction

A crusading Brazilian Supreme Court justice included Elon Musk as a target in an ongoing investigation over the dissemination of fake news and opened a separate investigation late Sunday into the executive for alleged obstruction. In his decision, Justice Alexandre de Moraes noted that Musk on Saturday began waging a public disinformation campaign regarding the top court's actions, and that Musk continued the following day most notably with comments that his social media company X would cease to comply with the court's orders to block certain accounts. The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil, de Moraes wrote. Musk will be investigated for alleged intentional criminal instrumentalisation of X as part of an investigation into a network of people known as digital militias who allegedly spread ...

Brazil's Lula calls meeting on future of Petrobras CEO Jean Paul Prates

The meeting takes place after a week of speculation that Prates would be replaced

Court denies Bolsonaro's request for passport return to travel to Israel

Brazil's Supreme Court has denied a request by former president Jair Bolsonaro's lawyers that his passport be returned to him so that he can travel to Israel, according to an official document released here. Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a statement on Thursday that Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had invited Bolsonaro to an event in May, and requested the Supreme Court to restore his passport. It is absolutely premature to remove the restriction imposed on the investigated person, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes wrote in his decision, which was in line with a recommendation from the prosecutor general's office cited by Moraes. Bolsonaro's passport was taken, precisely, to prevent him from leaving the country, given the danger to the development of criminal investigations and the possible application of criminal law, the prosecutor general's office said earlier in its opinion. Federal Police seized Bolsonaro's passport in February during a raid related to an ...