Page 18 - Brazil

Brazil's economy improves during Prez Lula's first yr back, divide remains

Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva likes to boast he had a good first year after returning to the job. The economy is improving, Congress passed a long-overdue tax reform bill, rioters who wanted to oust him are now in jail, and his predecessor and foe Jair Bolsonaro is barred from running for office until 2030. Still, the 78-year-old leader has struggled to boost his support among citizens and lawmakers. Some major setbacks, including a series of votes by Congress to override his vetoes, signaled that Lula's future could be less productive in a Brazil almost evenly split between his supporters and Bolsonaro's. Brazil's political polarization is such that it crystallized the opinions of Lula and Bolsonaro voters beyond the economy, said political consultant Thomas Traumann, the author of a recent best-selling book on Brazil's political divisions. These groups are separated by very different world views, the values that form the identity of each group are more important than

Brazil pay tributes to Pele, Christ the redeemer wears his number 10 jersey

Brazilians paid several tributes to soccer legend Pel on Friday, one year after the three-time World Cup winner's death at age 82 due to a colon cancer. A ceremony held at Rio de Janeiro's Christ the redeemer, one of the South American nation's most famous postcard locations, featured a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pel's name and number 10 on the statue and a message from Pope Francis. Pel was a devout Catholic throughout his life. Pel, as Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento became globally known, was undoubtedly an athlete who showed in his life all positive traits of a sportsman. The memory of the King of Soccer' remains indelible in the minds of many, and it stimulates new generations to seek in sport a means to strengthen the bonds of unity among us, the pontiff said in a letter as a local orchestra played. Other religious ceremonies were held at the Museu Pel in Santos, the port city he put on the map with his goals and success for Santos FC, and in the small city of Tres ...

Brazil expresses concern over border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana

Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday it was concerned about a border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana that intensified this week following Britain's decision to send a warship to Guyana's shores. Brazil's foreign ministry urged the South American neighbours to return to dialogue and said third countries should avoid "military activities" that support either side. Brazil's statement calls on both countries to stay true to the Argyle Declaration, an agreement signed by Guyana and Venezuela two weeks ago in which their leaders said they would solve the border dispute through nonviolent means. The dispute is over Essequibo, a sparsely populated region of Guyana that is the size of Florida and is rich in oil and minerals. Venezuela on Thursday began military exercises involving 5,000 troops in the eastern Caribbean near the border with Guyana in response to Britain's decision to send the patrol ship HMS Trent. In a nationally televised speech, Venezuelan President Nicol

Real Madrid extend manager Ancelotti's contract til 2026 fearing Brazil

Real Madrid has extended Carlo Ancelotti's contract until 2026, seemingly ending Brazil's hopes of hiring him as the new national team coach. Ancelotti had been linked with a move to Brazil for the past several months, with the president of the Brazilian soccer confederation publicly expressing his desire to hire the Italian coach. But Ancelotti had said all along that he would like to remain at Madrid if the club wanted him to stay. His current contract with the Spanish club Madrid was set to expire at the end of this season. Financial details of the new contract were not disclosed. This is Ancelotti's second stint with Madrid. He had previously coached the club from 2013-15, having returned in 2021. Ancelotti has won 10 titles with Madrid, including two Champions Leagues and one Spanish league. The 64-year-old Ancelotti has been linked to Brazil's men's team since Tite stepped down as its coach in December 2022 after a disappointing World Cup. Brazil is currently being coached

FIFA threatens to suspend Brazil over CBF president's removal by court

FIFA warned Brazil it could suspend its national teams and clubs from international competitions if an intervention by its soccer body leads to the election of a new president in January. FIFA said in a letter to a Brazilian soccer executive that the country's soccer body CBF could face suspension if it does not heed its call to wait and instead holds a swift election to replace Ednaldo Rodrigues as president regardless. The document was obtained by The Associated Press. A Rio de Janeiro court removed Rodrigues and all his appointees at CBF from office on Dec. 7 due to irregularities in his election last year. Brazil's two highest courts upheld that ruling last week. Soccer's governing body FIFA historically rejects government and third-party interference in its member associations, which ultimately could leave five-time World Cup winners Brazil out of major competitions until the crisis is solved. The Rio court ruling also named Jos Perdiz, the head of Brazil's top sports court, a

World's best and worst airports for 2023 offer plenty of surprises

This year's survey reflects data collected from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, plus survey responses from more than 15,800 passengers.

India, China providing more climate finance than rich nations: Report

Some developing countries, including India, China and Brazil, contribute more climate-related finance through multilateral development banks than many countries in the Global North, according to an analysis by a UK-based website reporting on climate science and policy. The analysis comes amid a push from developed countries to broaden the donor base for climate finance to include developing countries like China and Saudi Arabia. For instance, in a submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on its expectations from the global stocktake in September, New Zealand said: "Different countries have different capabilities to contribute, which have changed over time. Current and historical emissions, national wealth, and a range of other factors have changed, and are continuing to change. Bifurcation based on thirty-year-old lists does not reflect the contemporary reality of where emissions are coming from, or respective capabilities to contribute." Citi

Trafigura sets aside $127 mn provision for Brazil, US DOJ fine to end probe

Trafigura is alleged to have made profits from these contracts amounting so far to $143.7 million

Renault to invest $379 million to produce new hybrid SUV in Brazil

The model will be produced at the Curitiba Veiculos de Passeio factory, at the Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in Sao Jose dos Pinhais in the state of Parana in Brazil

Netherlands to Saudi Arabia: India's key export hubs witness high growth

These countries have displayed high growth with India defying global slowdown

Brazil ends year in poor shape under interim coach as it awaits Ancelotti

Until this year, Brazil's national soccer team had never lost three games in a row. The Selecao had never lost a World Cup qualifying match at home. It had never had anything but wins against a visiting Venezuela team, for many years the weakest in South America. Interim coach Fernando Diniz, however, has had to endure all those setbacks in only a few months on the job all while Brazil hopes that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will soon take over. Diniz's troubles, and the lack of a confirmed answer from Ancelotti, have increased the pressure on the Brazilian team, even though qualifying for the expanded 2026 World Cup is still expected despite a 1-0 loss to Argentina on Tuesday. The top six teams in the South American qualifying group will gain direct entry to the 48-team tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-place team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoff. Brazil, the only team never to miss a World Cup, has won only three of nine matches

World Cup Qualifier: ARG beat BRA 1-0 after crowd violence delays start

Many fans came to the Maracana Stadium to watch Lionel Messi in his likely last match in Brazil, a superclasico in World Cup qualifying against the hosts. Instead, they saw Nicols Otamendi score the only goal in a 1-0 win for Argentina after a brawl between fans that delayed the start of the game. The World Cup champions inflicted the first home defeat on Brazil ever in World Cup qualifying. It was Brazil's third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament another negative mark for new coach Fernando Diniz. Messi left the pitch in the 78th minute amid a mixture of jeers and applause from Brazil fans. Dozens of children arrived at the Maracana wearing the shirts of Barcelona, the star's previous club, and Inter Miami. The Argentine star wasn't able to end one of his last barriers in the sport at the Maracana, though, to score against the Brazilians in a World Cup qualifier. Argentina will return home not only atop the South American qualifying standings but also having given it

PM Modi, Brazilian Prez share concerns on situation in West Asia over call

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva on Friday shared concerns on the situation in West Asia and expressed deep concern over terrorism, violence and loss of civilian lives there. Modi's conversation with Lula da Silva comes amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Prime Minister Modi received a telephone call from the President of Brazil, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said. The two leaders shared concerns on the ongoing developments in West Asia, it said. They expressed deep concern at terrorism, violence and loss of civilian lives and called for concerted efforts for early resolution of the situation, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's full support for the success of Brazilian Presidency of the G20. They also discussed ways to further expand bilateral cooperation in all areas in follow-up to their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the statement said. After his telephonic conversatio

Brazil to militarise key airports, borders in crackdown on organised crime

-Brazil's President Luiz InAcio Lula da Silva said Wednesday he is sending the armed forces to boost security at some of the country's most important airports, ports and international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime in Latin America's largest nation. The decision comes days after members of a criminal gang set fire to dozens of buses in Rio de Janeiro, apparently in retaliation for the police slaying their leader's nephew. We have reached a very serious situation," Lula said at a news conference in Brasilia after signing the decree. So we have made the decision to have the federal government participate actively, with all its potential, to help state governments, and Brazil itself, to get rid of organized crime." Brazil will mobilise 3,600 members of the army, navy and air force to increase patrols and monitor the international airports in Rio and Sao Paulo, as well as two maritime ports in Rio and Sao Paulo's Santos port, the busiest in Latin America -

Brazil negotiates for tariff-free quota to export cotton to India

The association said in the note that a team of government officials and Brazilian cotton farmers is visiting India this week, seeking to seal a deal to have that quota implemented

Brazil offers ethanol tech to India, eyes to resolve sugar dispute at WTO

Brazil has offered to share its ethanol production technology with India as part of efforts to resolve a sugar related dispute between the two countries at WTO (World Trade Organisation), an official said. The South American nation in its proposal has stated that the ethanol production technology would help India to use surplus sugar in making ethanol. The offer can help India utilise its excess sugar output and ease competition for Brazil in the international sugar market. Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane and ethanol in the world. It is a leader in the technology used for ethanol production. It is also the largest exporter of sugar in the world. India is the world's second-largest producer. The proposal could benefit India as it aims to gradually increase the percentage of blending of ethanol in petroleum auto fuels and reduce dependence on imported crude oil. "Brazil has a flex technology. They do ethanol blending. That technology is good for India also. Brazil has ar

Bolsonaro should be charged with attempting a coup: Congressional panel

A Brazilian congressional panel on Wednesday accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of instigating the country's Jan 8 riots and recommended that he be charged with attempting to stage a coup. An inquiry panel of senators and representatives mostly allied with the current leftist President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in last fall's election voted 20-11 to adopt the damning report drafted by Sen. Eliziane Gama. The move was largely symbolic for Bolsonaro because it amounts to a recommendation for police and prosecutors to investigate, and federal law enforcement officials separately have already been investigating his possible role in inciting the Jan 8 uprising. Bolsonaro has denied involvement in the rioting, which took place more than a week after the right-wing leader had quietly left the country to stay in Florida while refusing to attend Lula's inauguration. It's completely biased, Bolsonaro said Wednesday of the inquiry, in comments to reporter

UNSC fails to adopt resolution on Israel-Palestine issue after veto by US

The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to adopt a Brazil-led draft resolution that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to allow full access for aid to the Gaza strip after the US vetoed the text. The US, a permanent member of the UNSC and a close ally of Israel, said it is disappointed the resolution makes no mention of Israel's rights of self-defence. The 15-nation Council met to vote on the draft resolution that was proposed by Council President Brazil. While 12 Council members voted in favour of the resolution, Russia and Britain abstained. The resolution could not be adopted because of a veto cast by the US. This was the second time in two days that the Council failed to adopt a resolution on the situation in the Middle East. On Monday, the Security Council rejected a draft resolution proposed by Russia on the situation in Gaza that would have called for a humanitarian ceasefire but did not mention the militant group Hamas which

India, Brazil target over 3-fold rise in trade to $50 bn: Commerce secy

India and Brazil are looking at an "aspirational" target of increasing the two-way trade by over three-fold to USD 50 billion by 2030, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Friday. He was in Brasilia from October 1 to 4 to discuss ways to promote trade between the two countries. He chaired the sixth meeting of the India-Brazil Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM). At present, the bilateral trade stood at USD 15.2 billion. "We are looking at USD 30 billion in the next 3-4 years and by 2030, we are looking at an aspirational target of USD 50 billion. There is a huge potential for trade growth," he told reporters here. He added that during his visit, the two sides also discussed market access issues as well as new areas of cooperation. Two working groups have been formed - market access issues and sectors of cooperation. "Biofuels and renewables are important sectors which we will be looking at...Ethanol and biofuel blending is another area of cooperation," he said. Brazil has adva

FM Sitharaman meets Brazil's minister, discusses issues of mutual interest

The minister met with Brazil's economy minister Haddad Fernando on the sidelines of the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting