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That is a shift from previous budget negotiations, when Republicans suggested raising the retirement age and partially privatizing Medicare. Social Security accounted for 17% of federal spending in the 2021 fiscal year, while Medicare accounted for 13%, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That would leave another 11% of the federal budget off limits. That would force budget cuts if federal borrowing exceeded a set share of the economy, but he has not said what that limit should be. NO DEBT CEILING INCREASE AT ALLSome hardliners, such as Tim Burchett and Andy Biggs, have said they will vote against raising the debt ceiling, no matter what provisions are attached.

Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley campaigns for Georgia Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Herschel Walker at a rally with supporters in Hiram, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstWASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will launch her candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Feb. 15, squaring off against her one-time boss, former President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with her plans. If she were to win the nomination, Haley would be the first woman at the top of the Republican presidential ticket in history, as well as the party's first non-white nominee. Even in a field where most candidates have changed their mind about key issues multiple times, Haley is particularly chameleonic. Haley, who governed the state from 2011 to 2017, is popular there, polls show.

☆ Mastercard, Binance launching prepaid card in Brazil
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Representations of cryptocurrencies are seen in front of displayed Binance logo in this illustration taken November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoSAO PAULO, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Mastercard Inc (MA.N) and Binance said on Monday they are lauching a prepaid card in Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, as part of the crypto giant's efforts to "broaden the connection between traditional finance and crypto". According to a statement, the so-called Binance Card is currently in beta testing and should be widely available in the next few weeks, making Brazil the second country in Latin America to receive it after Argentina. Brazil is one of Binance's ten-largest markets, the crypto said, adding that the prepaid card will all new and existing Binance users in the country to shop and pay bills with cryptocurrencies at Mastercard merchants. Reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Steven GrattanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. In Columbia, Trump spoke to about 200 people in the state's capitol building, with Governor Henry McMaster and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina flanking him. There were several conspicuous absences in South Carolina, including the state party chairman, five Republican U.S. representatives from the state and South Carolina U.S. Reporting by Gram Slattery in Columbia, South Carolina and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin, Daniel Wallis and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina, U.S., January 28, 2023. New Hampshire and South Carolina are among the first four states to hold presidential nominating contests, giving them outsized influence as candidates jockey for position. Several top Republicans in both states that Trump visited on Saturday - including New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley - are weighing presidential campaigns. There were several conspicuous absences in South Carolina, including the state party chairman, several Republican U.S. representatives from the state and South Carolina U.S. Reporting by Gram Slattery in Columbia, South Carolina and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump said in New Hampshire that Stephen Stepanek, the state's Republican Party chairman, would join his campaign as a senior adviser. Both New Hampshire and South Carolina are seen as potential kingmakers, as they are among the first to hold their nominating contests. In South Carolina, where Trump will appear alongside Graham and Governor Henry McMaster, there will be a number of conspicuous absences. Among those not attending are the state party chairman, at least three Republican U.S. representatives from the state and South Carolina U.S. Reporting by Gram Slattery in Columbia, South Carolina and Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Trump will speak first at the New Hampshire Republican Party's annual meeting in Salem before heading to Columbia, South Carolina's capital, where he will unveil his leadership team in the state. In New Hampshire, Republican Governor Chris Sununu has said he is having conversations about a primary bid, and many high-ranking Republicans there - including those who supported Trump previously - say publicly they are looking for an alternative. In South Carolina, where Trump will appear alongside Governor Henry McMaster and Senator Lindsey Graham, there will be a number of conspicuous absences. Among those not attending are the state party chairman, at least three Republican U.S. representatives from the state and South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, who has himself been floated as a potential Republican presidential candidate.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - San Francisco authorities released video footage on Friday of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, being struck by an intruder's hammer as police rushed into their home to stop the attack. San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Adam Lipson, who represents DePape, called the release of the evidence a "terrible mistake." The assailant had been seeking Nancy Pelosi and wanted to wait for her to return to the house, Paul Pelosi said. After the attack, Pelosi underwent emergency surgery for his wounds, which included a fractured skull. While many politicians condemned the attack in San Francisco, some Republicans made light of the incident, which also spawned a number of unfounded, online conspiracy theories.

☆ George Santos had a reputation for lying as long ago as 2013, according to a man who met him for a Grindr date
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Brazilian man claims a friend advised him not to go on a Grindr date with George Santos in 2013. The friend warned him that Santos had a reputation in New York for being a compulsive liar. Insider has seen screenshots that show Santos and Hagapto regularly tagging each other in Facebook and Instagram posts from 2014. The friend, Flavio Azzari, also told Insider that he advised Hagapto against a meet-up. At the time of the Grindr date, Azzari and Hagapto said, Santos was claiming to be a TV reporter for the Brazilian media outlet Globo.

☆ Brazilian court orders seizure of emails of bankrupt retailer Americanas
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - A Brazilian court has ordered the seizure of all corporate emails of managers and board members from bankrupt retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) sent and received over the last 10 years, according to documents seen by Reuters. Bradesco said it was seeking evidence for potential litigation against Americanas, its managers, and potentially its controlling shareholders over "abuse of power." Americanas' largest shareholders are the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, Jorge Paulo Lemann, Carlos Alberto Sicupira and Marcel Telles. The judge also ordered the seizure of all emails of employees in the finance and accounting division. Americanas is one of Brazil's largest retailers and has been in business for over 90 years.

☆ Brazilian ex-senator takes over as Petrobras CEO; shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Marta Nogueira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Prates was unanimously approved by the board, on which he will also hold a seat, Petrobras said in a securities filing. He has said the Lula government would not take an aggressively interventionist approach to Petrobras. Petrobras made bumper payouts in recent quarters, but Prates has said the company cannot "just keep tapping sub-salt oil and paying dividends". Prates, who was a senator for the past four years, is the first politician in several years to hold a high-ranking office at Petrobras. Earlier in the day, the Brazilian Senate's official gazette published the resignation of Prates as a lawmaker.

☆ Bankrupt Brazilian retailer Americanas owes about $8 bln, court finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) owes a variety of creditors around $8 billion, a Rio de Janeiro court said on Wednesday, providing the most detailed picture yet of the banks and other groups exposed to the company's bankruptcy. The list provided on Wednesday includes roughly 41.2 billion reais ($8.1 billion) in debt, according to the court, which initially did not disclose the names of the creditors. Brazilian banks BTG Pactual (BPAC3.SA), Bradesco (BBDC4.SA) and Santander Brasil (SANB3.SA) - which analysts previously said were among the most exposed - were also listed, with debts of more than 3.5 billion reais each. Earlier this week, Capital International Investors also announced it had reduced its position in Americanas to 4.07% from 7.04%. Shares in Americanas were up 20% to 0.96 real on Wednesday, but still down roughly 90% year-to-date.

Here are some key moments in the months ahead:FEB. 1The Treasury Department will release a quarterly document next week laying out how it plans to fund the government over the next three months. The document, which includes information on debt the Treasury will issue, could shed light on the timing of a possible default. Data regarding government income could be an important factor in determining the so-called "X date," or the day when the government will stop paying its bills. Normally, these funds would be reinvested, but the Treasury Department has said it could use the proceeds to help make needed payments. JULY-OCTOBERMost analysts see the true X date occurring somewhere between July and October.

☆ Brazilian retailer Americanas reports 7,720 creditors, $8 bln in debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) reported 7,720 creditors and debt totaling nearly $8 billion within its restructuring process, a Rio de Janeiro court said on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) topped the list of creditors initially revealed by Americanas, but the German lender later said it had no lending relationship or credit exposure to the Brazilian company. The list provided on Wednesday included roughly 41.2 billion reais ($8.1 billion) in debt, according to the court, which initially did not disclose the names of the creditors. Later, however, Americanas revealed the full list in a securities filing, ranging from small debts with individuals and cities to multibillion-reais debts with banks. Deutsche Bank appeared with a $1 billion debt, but said in an emailed statement that it had no direct exposure to the Brazilian firm.

Sinema, who switched from Democrat to independent in December, had been a maverick within the Democratic Party, voting against several of President Joe Biden's priorities over the past two years. That angered many Democrats, some of whom had encouraged primary challengers even before Sinema left the party. The race represents a delicate balancing act for both parties, and the stakes are high. Arizona is among the most competitive states in the country, and Democrats and Republicans will be wary of splitting votes between their nominee and Sinema. Democrats hold a one-seat advantage in the Senate, when Sinema and two other left-leaning independents are counted among their ranks.

☆ Americanas' billionaire shareholders say they were unaware of accounting problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Tatiana Bautzer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) three largest shareholders, the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, said on Sunday they had not known of $4 billion in accounting 'inconsistencies' at the Brazilian retailer. "We didn't know of and would never allow any accounting manipulation in the company", the statement said. It said Americanas had been audited by PwC and that the retailer's "banks and auditors never reported any problems". Securities industry regulator CVM has also launched probes into Americanas, which has seen its stock lose more than 90% of its value since the news of the accounting problems emerged. 3G Capital itself has no stake in Americanas.

☆ Analysis: Lula confronts Brazil military's pro-Bolsonaro lean with carrot and stick
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Anthony Boadle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But at a Friday meeting the commanders of the armed forces, Lula did not bring up the attack, according to a government official who witnessed the meeting. The armed forces' strategic plans to modernize its equipment included developing a nuclear-powered submarine contracted with France's Naval Group, a subsidiary of defense contractor Thales (TCFP.PA). GENIE OUT OF THE BOTTLEWhether a splurge on military hardware will help tamp down pro-Bolsonaro sentiment in the armed forces is open to question. "Lula wants this to go away as soon as possible," he added. "Starting to punish members of the armed forces for what happened may be legally the right thing to do but politically it would open a Pandora's box."

☆ Brazilian lender Santander's Chairman Rial resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Brazilian lender Santander Brasil SA said on Friday its chairman and former chief executive, Sergio Rial, is resigning from his position at the firm. The resignation comes just days after Rial quit his short-lived job as chief executive of retailer Americanas SA after finding accounting "inconsistencies" that led the company to file for bankruptcy protection. Rial was Santander Brasil's CEO for six years, as well as the bank's regional head for South America, before transitioning to board chairman in early 2022. He is also chairman of the board at fuel distributor Vibra Energia SA (VBBR3.SA), vice chair at BRF SA (BRFS3.SA) and a board member at Delta Air Lines (DAL.N). Rial will be replaced on an interim basis by his vice chair, Deborah Stern Vieitas, until the bank's next general meeting on April 28.

☆ Brazilians work to restore relics damaged in Congress riot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Adriano MachadoBRASILIA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - A restorer in Brazil's capital gently scrapes off dirt from an ornate vase, just one of the relics damaged earlier this month when right-wing rioters stormed the country's most important institutional headquarters. Supporters of Brazilian far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded and defaced the country's Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court on Jan. 8. Rioters threw furniture through the smashed windows of the presidential palace, flooded parts of Congress with a sprinkler system, and ransacked ceremonial rooms in the Supreme Court. As soon as Sa's team was able to enter the buildings, they collected whatever they could to put some of the relics back together. "Assets inside the (presidential) palace are the history of Brazilian art itself, the history of Brazil."

☆ Brazil's Americanas mulls filing for bankruptcy, shares tank as markets see move as imminent
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Americanas said its current cash position stands at 800 million reais ($154.25 million). "The bankruptcy protection is unavoidable and might be one of the largest ever in Brazil, as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022. Last week, chief executive Sergio Rial resigned less than two weeks after taking the job citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. "Filing for bankruptcy protection is imminent and necessary," said Fernando Ferrer, an analyst at Empiricus Research, noting there could be a "cascade effect" of banks requesting to withhold money from the firm.

☆ Billionaire-backed Americanas files for bankruptcy protection, shares tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer Americanas SA (AMER3.SA) on Thursday filed for bankruptcy protection, days after uncovering nearly $4 billion in accounting inconsistencies and amid a legal feud with creditors. In the filing, Americanas asks to exclude fintech Ame from the bankruptcy protection, as it is regulated by the central bank, and for authorization to increase its capital. Chief Executive Sergio Rial resigned last week, less than two weeks after taking the job, citing the discovery of "accounting inconsistencies" totaling 20 billion reais. Andre Luzbel, head of variable income at SVN Investimentos, said the bankruptcy protection was unavoidable, noting it would be one of the largest ever in Brazil, "as complex as Oi's one." Oi SA (OIBR4.SA), a telecom firm, filed in June 2016 for Brazil's then-biggest ever bankruptcy protection and only exited it in December 2022.

☆ Embattled U.S. Rep. Santos was drag queen in Brazil pageants, say associates
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Steven Grattan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The embattled freshman congressman has also faced calls from fellow New York Republicans to step down over fabrications about his career and history. Three years later, Santos competed in a drag beauty pageant in Rio, Rochard said. Another person from Niteroi who knew the congressman but asked not to be named said he participated in drag queen beauty pageants and aspired to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro. Santos is the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent, but has positioned himself as a staunch conservative on many social issues. Santos competed in a drag beauty pageant that year but lost, Rochard said.

☆ Brazil's BTG gets court decision reversing part of Americanas' protection from creditors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SAO PAULO, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Brazilian bank BTG Pactual obtained a court decision on Wednesday overturning part of Americanas SA's (AMER3.SA) protection from creditors, according to court documents seen by Reuters, in a move the retailer says "harms its viability". BTG confirmed the decision in a securities filing, but did not give details. Americanas told Reuters in a statement that the "unilateral action taken by its creditors harms its viability", adding it was still seeking a short-term solution for its creditors. Later on Wednesday, Brazilian lender Bradesco (BBDC4.SA) said it had asked a Rio de Janeiro court to only allow Americanas to withdraw funds from the bank with prior approval. Americanas confirmed that Bradesco withheld more than 450 million reais ($86.77 million) from the company's cash position, "acting in disagreement with the injunction" the retailer had obtained protecting it from creditors.

Americanas on Tuesday disclosed that it did not pay interest due on Monday of more than 2 billion reais ($392 million) in local bonds. It made the disclosure in a filing responding to a question by securities regulator CVM, saying that it was allowed not to pay under the injunction. Fitch said that if Americanas formally announces a debt restructuring plan, its ratings will be downgraded to RD or D reflecting a default. Fitch said the retailer, backed by the billionaire founders of 3G Capital, has an unsustainable capital structure with the addition of an estimated 20 billion reais in previously undisclosed liabilities. The company last year paid 516.6 million reais in dividends related to the results in 2021, according to securities filings.

[1/5] Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as security forces operate, outside Brazil?s National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, January 8, 2023. Launched in November 2020 and run by Brazil's central bank, Pix is free of charge for individuals, allowing them to instantly transfer money to others via online banking apps. Since its launch, over 133 million Brazilians and almost 12 million companies have made or received Pix transfers, according to the central bank. INVESTIGATIVE TRAILPolice, money-laundering experts and central bank officials said Pix donations will be central to investigators' efforts to uncover who orchestrated the insurrection. Pix transfers are covered by bank secrecy laws, and police can only access a suspect's transaction history with judicial authorization.

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