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☆ MercadoLibre to invest $3.6 billion in Brazil this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, March 16 (Reuters) - MercadoLibre Inc. (MELI.O) said on Thursday it expects to invest 19 billion reais ($3.60 billion) in Brazil in 2023, 11.5% more than the amount invested in the previous year. The South American e-commerce and financial services giant, which in 2018 had invested one billion reais in the country, has upped its bet in Brazil in recent years, especially after a surge in demand for online shopping caused by the COVID pandemic. The goal, he said, is to service more cities and increase deliveries made within one day - which currently represent about 50% of the total. MercadoLibre does not disclose how much will be invested in each area of the company. ($1 = 5.2710 reais)Reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Steven GrattanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Once the party of foreign policy "hawks," Republicans have increasingly cooled on foreign entanglements and military support for allies, particularly after Trump took office in 2016. Republican senators Marco Rubio, who is from DeSantis' home state, and Lindsey Graham, both former presidential candidates, criticized isolationists within their party. "People care about foreign policy, but I think it's kind of mixed on Ukraine funding," said Trudy Caviness, a member of the Iowa Republican State Central Committee. By embracing Trump's hands-off brand of foreign policy, DeSantis risks turning off some of the white-collar Republicans that are most eager to move on from the former president. That will give the eventual winner of the Republican nomination significant power to shape the party's foreign policy preferences going forward.

☆ Brazil's Natura swings to loss as revenue shrinks across cosmetics lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, March 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian cosmetic maker Natura & Co (NTCO3.SA) on Monday reported a fourth-quarter net loss of 890.4 million reais ($169.7 million), as it reported lower revenues across all its business lines. Natura reported net revenues down 11% at 10.39 billion reais, dragged by Avon International and The Body Shop which both posted reported revenues down more than 20%. However, in terms of constant currency, net revenues increased by 3%. In a statement, Chief Executive Fabio Barbosa said the company was "resizing" The Body Shop, focusing on "efficiencies and key retail channels in light of the challenging channel mix changes that have taken place." Looking ahead, he added, Natura is focusing on improving profitability, cash flow, and making a return to growth.

☆ Image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reveals a rare star preparing to explode and die in a supernova
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | Jessica Orwig | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured a star getting ready to die in stunning detail. The image shows a rare Wolf-Rayet star, expelling its outer layers in the phase before a supernova. A Wolf-Rayet star is "among the most luminous, most massive, and most briefly-detectable stars known," according to NASA. Webb helps investigate a dusty cosmic mysteryThat cosmic dust is of great interest to astronomers. An artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope.

SAO PAULO, March 13 (Reuters) - Mexican unicorn Clara has secured $90 million in fresh debt funding led by U.S. debt provider Accial Capital, the company said on Monday, as it looks to boost its expansion in Latin America. Meanwhile in Colombia, where Clara has over 1,300 clients, the money will help it establish a second office in the country, located in Medellin. The new funding marks the second debt facility secured in less than a year by Clara, having announced a $150 million debt line from Goldman Sachs (GS.N) in August 2022. But he did not rule out new announcements on the equity side in the future as well. ($1 = 5.2181 reais)Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Josie Kao and Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

SAO PAULO, March 13 (Reuters) - Mexican unicorn Clara has secured $90 million in fresh debt funding led by U.S. debt provider Accial Capital, the company announced on Monday, as it looks to boost its Brazil expansion. The new funding marks the second debt facility secured in less than a year by Clara, having announced a $150 million debt line from Goldman Sachs (GS.N) in August 2022. The executive noted the move allowed the firm to separate money used to increase liquidity solutions for customers from that used to invest in team and products. But he did not rule out new announcements on the equity side in the future as well. ($1 = 5.2181 reais)Reporting by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil's Bolsonaro will be subpoenaed in jewelry scandal, says minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The jewelry with diamonds gifted to Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro by the Saudi government which was seized by customs officials, is seen at Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, in Guarulhos, Brazil, March 14, 2023. "We have enquiries in progress, hearings taking place, and at some point, the former president will be subpoenaed," Dino told reporters after an event in Rio de Janeiro. Luxury jewelry gifted to the then-president and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro by the Saudi government was seized by customs officials in October 2021 after it was found in the backpack of a government aide. Several officials from the Bolsonaro administration unsuccessfully tried to recover the jewelry from customs, according to local media. According to the minister, police will conclude the investigation into whether or not Bolsonaro attends a hearing.

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying that history will hold him accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. As the vice president has the constitutional role of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial task of approving the votes of the Electoral College to select the president and vice president. Throughout the siege, Trump sent several tweets, one calling on Republicans to "fight" and others making false claims of voter fraud. He also criticized Pence for certifying the results. "President Trump was wrong," Pence told assembled journalists and their guests at the Gridiron dinner, an annual white-tie event in Washington, D.C."I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable."

REUTERS/Leah Millis/File PhotoWASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying that history will hold him accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump supporters breached the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. As the vice president has the constitutional role of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial task of approving the votes of the Electoral College to select the president and vice president. Pence, who is considering a run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, was whisked to safety by law enforcement during the attack. For as long as I live, I will never, ever diminish the injuries sustained, the lives lost, or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day."

☆ Brazil airline Gol's shares soar after unexpected Q4 net profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The surprisingly strong figures sent shares in the company soaring more than 12% in Sao Paulo morning trading, with analysts highlighting improving operating figures and strong revenue trends. The firm's shares had already jumped roughly 30% in the previous two sessions after rival carrier Azul SA predicted bluer skies ahead, driving travel-related stocks in Brazil up. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had forecast a net loss of 484.75 million reais. Quarterly net revenue totaled 4.7 billion reais, up 61.7% and above analysts' forecasts of 4.46 billion. Full-year net revenue expectations were reduced by 500 million reais to about 19.5 billion reais, but diluted earnings per share in the full year were kept at 0.3 real, the airline added.

☆ Brazil's Lula says judiciary should force businesses to pay equal salaries
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a ceremony to mark the International Women's Day at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano MachadoSAO PAULO, March 8 (Reuters) - The Brazilian judiciary should work on compelling businesses to pay equal wages for men and women in the same roles, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday. In an event marking International Women's Day, Lula also presented a bill to promote wage equality between women and men, among other measures directed toward women. "Whoever works in the same post, with the same abilities, has the right to earn the same salary," Lula added. In a later Twitter post, Lula said the bill also includes measures encouraging greater wage transparency.

☆ Need a nanny? Chinese school trains women to take care of newborns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Casey Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Confinement care is not new in China, where the practice of one month confinement post-birth, which traditionally included strict rules around bathing, hair washing and teeth brushing for mothers, has long been the norm. What is different today is the professionalism and expectations of those doing the caring, says Jiang Lei, a teacher at the centre. "We need professionals to do professional things for professional people," Jiang added, explaining that the centre teaches "scientific feeding knowledge, sleep cultivation and other knowledge such as early childhood education". The experience of caring for her own child made the idea of a career in childcare attractive, she said. ($1 = 6.9045 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Shounak DasguptaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil's RD posts 47% increase in Q4 adjusted net profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - Brazilian pharmacy chain RD SA (RADL3.SA), Raia Drogasil, posted on Tuesday a 47% jump year-over-year in fourth-quarter adjusted net profit to 301.1 million reais ($58.00 million), boosted by an increase in market share and revenue growth in digital sales. RD also reported gross revenue of 8.35 billion reais for the fourth-quarter, a 22% increase year-on-year and beating a Refinitiv poll compiled by Reuters of 7.66 billion reais. Adjusted EBITDA rose 33.7% to 599.4 million reais. The company said it operates 2,697 drugstores after opening 86 new one and closing 9 during the quarter. ($1 = 5.1910 reais)Reporting by Carolina Pulice and Peter Frontini; Editing by Anthony EspositoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Americanas proposes $1.9 bln for creditors from top shareholders
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - Bankrupt Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) said on Tuesday it has offered a capital injection to its creditors of 10 billion reais ($1.93 billion) which would come from top shareholders. The company added that so far there is no agreement on the proposal. ($1 = 5.1910 reais)Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by David Alire GarciaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ After steep climb in rates, Latam central banks show no signs of reversal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Isabel Woodford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Brazilian central bank's weekly survey of private economists last year foresaw cuts in June 2023, but a recent survey pushed the forecast back to November. The central bank's poll of traders now expects cuts won't come until May, likely making Chile the first mover. "We've had a quite a few hawkish comments from central banks across the region, pushing back against the idea of rate cuts," she added. That gives central banks the message that it's not quite time to think about a more relaxed monetary policy," he said. Political unrest in Peru may have also moved back the goalpost for cuts, with the central bank warning that protests have caused supply chain disruption and impacted consumer prices.

☆ Brazil's Santander to sell 40% of WebMotors to Carsales.com for $240 mln
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - Brazilian lender Santander Brasil SA said on Tuesday it will sell 40% of car-selling platform WebMotors to Australia's Carsales.com (CAR.AX) for 1.24 billion reais ($238.87 million). Carsales will hold 70% of WebMotors after the deal is concluded, while Santander will own the remaining 30%. The lender will continue as a partner of the platform in providing credit, insurance and other financial solutions to its users. The deal will be accompanied by a capital increase of A$500 million ($329 million) in Carsales, Santander said. ($1 = 5.1910 reais)($1 = 1.5188 Australian dollars)Reporting by Fabricio de Castro; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Isabel WoodfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brazil police carry out more raids as part of Jan. 8 riots probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, March 7 (Reuters) - Brazil's federal police said on Tuesday they were carrying out new raids as part of a probe into the Jan. 8 riots in Brasilia, in which supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings. They were serving three arrest warrants and eight search and seizure warrants in the states of Minas Gerais and Parana, a statement said. The raids represent the seventh phase of an operation launched in mid-January to identify people who participated in, funded or fostered the riots, in which a mob invaded and ransacked the Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court. Police did not disclose the names of those targeted in Tuesday's raids, but said they were being investigated for crimes of "violent abolition of the rule of law, coup d'état, qualified damage, criminal association, incitement, destruction and deterioration of specially protected property". Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Shares in Brazil's Azul soar as carrier sees bluer sky ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Other travel-related companies in Latin America's largest economy also soared, with shares in fellow carrier Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (GOLL4.SA) and travel agency CVC Brasil (CVCB3.SA) rising 23% and 16%, respectively. The company also scrapped its forecast for roughly 3 billion reais cash burn in 2023. Azul expects to generate record revenue of 20 billion reais ($3.84 billion) this year and record earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of more than 5 billion reais, roughly 40% above 2019 pre-pandemic levels, Rodgerson said. Non-adjusted figures, nonetheless, showed a positive bottom line of 231.2 million reais, reversing the previous year's loss. Total operating revenue rose 19.4% to 4.45 billion reais in the period, slightly below analysts' forecasts, while EBITDA matched expectations at 1.1 billion, up 6.9%.

☆ Brazil investigates undeclared $3 million jewelry gift to Bolsonaro
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRASILIA, March 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino on Monday ordered police to investigate an alleged attempt to bring in undeclared jewelry, a gift from Saudi Arabia valued at $3.2 million, to former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. The diamond necklace, ring, watch and earrings gifted to Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro by the Saudi government were seized by customs officials at Sao Paulo's international airport in October 2021. Bolsonaro's critics said gifts to president belong to the state and must go into a presidential collection. In his only public comment on the jewelry, Bolsonaro said he was being "crucified" for a gift he never asked for and never received. ($1 = 5.2093 reais)Reporting by Ricardo Brito; Writing by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Bolsonaro denies 'illegal acts' in bringing Saudi jewels to Brazil -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, March 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday denied committing "illegal acts" after local media reported he tried to bring into his country jewelry that the Saudi government allegedly gifted to him and his wife, according to CNN Brasil. "I'm being accused of a gift I neither asked for nor received," CNN quoted the former far-right leader as saying in an interview. The Saudi embassy in Brazil did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He is expected to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump, his political idol, at the event. ($1 = 0.9406 euros)Reporting by Paula Arend Laier; Writing by Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sao Paulo govt to hire World Bank to study privatizing water utility
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Rodrigo Viga Gaier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 3 (Reuters) - Sao Paulo's state government will hire the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the next few days for studies on the possible privatization of state water utility Sabesp (SBSP3.SA), Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said on Friday. "The privatization of Sabesp is a very complex matter," Tarcisio told Reuters after attending an event in Rio de Janeiro. Freitas said utility would only be privatized "if we reach the conclusion that we are going to increase efficiency, have upsides, reduce tariffs." "I think that all these objectives are possible and I understand that studies will show this," he said. The board of directors of Sao Paulo's state privatization program had earlier this week authorized the body to commission studies on Sabesp's possible privatization.

In North Carolina, party activists are seeking to punish Republican Senator Thom Tillis for his support for same-sex marriage rights. North Carolina State Representative Mark Brody, who supports censuring Sen. Tillis, says it is better to address differences directly. Law, who served as a senior member of Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns in Nevada, and the county party did not respond to requests for comment. Although Tillis retains support among the party establishment, Jim Womack, a county party chair, says the Senator’s critics are gaining strength. “The North Carolina Republican party will eventually be decentralized to the point where the grassroots will actually run the party,” Womack said.

☆ Cambodian opposition figure Kem Sokha sentenced to 27 years of house arrest
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Prak Chan Thul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Cindy LiuPHNOM PENH, March 3 (Reuters) - Prominent Cambodian opposition figure Kem Sokha was sentenced on Friday to 27 years of house arrest after being found guilty of treason, in a case condemned by the United States as politically motivated. Judge Koy Sao also told the court in the capital, Phnom Penh, that Kem Sokha would be barred from running for political office or voting in elections. Kem Sokha, who headed the now-disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), had denied the charges and Washington dismissed the allegations as "fabricated conspiracy theories". Many media outlets critical of Hun Sen have also been shuttered and civil dissent crushed in recent years. Human Rights Watch said the case against Kem Sokha was a "politically motivated ploy" by Hun Sen to sideline the opposition and stamp out democracy.

GMO wheat has never been grown for commercial purposes due to consumer fears about allergens or toxicities in the staple crop used worldwide for bread, pasta and pastries. The association was against adopting GMO wheat previously, but changed its stance after a survey it commissioned showed more than 70% of Brazilians would not mind consuming products containing it. Bioceres has said its GMO wheat "showed higher yields than conventional varieties across all environments, with an average 43% yield improvement in targeted environments." In November 2021, Brazil became the first country in the world to allow imports of flour made with GM wheat. "The approval for planting, imports and commercialization of GMO wheat resolves this issue, bringing peace of mind to different market actors," Abitrigo said in a statement.

SAO PAULO, March 2 (Reuters) - A confirmed case of mad cow disease in Brazil discovered last month is "atypical," the agriculture ministry said on Thursday, adding it will work to lift beef export suspensions swiftly enacted by several countries in Asia. In a statement, the agriculture ministry pointed to an analysis conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) that confirmed the unusual case of mad cow disease. The case of mad cow disease, known scientifically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), was found in a nine-year old bull from northern Para state. Earlier on Thursday, three additional Asian markets - Thailand, Iran and Jordan - slapped temporarily bans on beef imported from anywhere in Brazil. Officials explained that atypical cases of mad cow disease can occur spontaneously in cattle populations and such infections do not depend on ingestion of feed contaminated by abnormal pathogens known as prions.

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