Latest news with #RodrigoVigaGaier
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholicism shrinks in Brazil as evangelical faith surges
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Brazil, the world's largest Roman Catholic country, saw its Catholic population decline further in 2022 while evangelical Christians and those with no religion continued to rise, census data released on Friday by statistics agency IBGE showed. The census indicated that Brazil had 100.2 million Roman Catholics in 2022, accounting for 56.7% of the population, down from 65.1% or 105.4 million recorded in the 2010 census. Meanwhile, the share of evangelical Christians rose to 26.9% last year, up from 21.6% in 2010, adding 12 million followers to reach 47.4 million — the highest figure on record. The numbers may spell trouble to Brazil's leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose Workers Party has historically struggled to gain ground among evangelicals. A recent Quaest poll showed that while 45% of Catholics approved of the Lula administration, only 30% of evangelicals did. The share of Catholics in Brazil has been dropping since the beginning of official records in 1872, when residents could only opt between Catholic or non-Catholic, said Maria Goreth Santos, an analyst of IBGE. Enslaved people, who made up a huge share of Brazil's population at the time, were all counted as Catholics, regardless of their wishes, she added. Still, Catholicism remains the country's most popular religion – though the Vatican's dominance varies in different regions, with fewer Catholics in the Amazon region, and more in the Northeast. The new census data also revealed that the number of Brazilians who declare to have no religion rose to 9.3% from 7.9%, totaling 16.4 million people. Afro-Brazilian religions, such as Umbanda and Candomble, also gained ground, with the number of followers increasing from to 1% from 0.3%.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Petrobras approves tender to restart fertilizer plants in Brazil's northeast, say sources
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The board of Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras on Thursday approved plans to select a partner to restart operations at its fertilizer plants in northeastern Brazil, according to four sources familiar with the matter. But the move still hinges on resolving ongoing disputes with current leaseholder Unigel, added the sources, who requested anonymity as the decision has not yet been made public. Chemical company Unigel was demanding compensation from Petrobras for losses on the plants, as previously reported by Reuters, with the impasse marking a setback for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's plans to reduce Brazil's dependency on imported fertilizer. As an agricultural powerhouse, Brazil is among the world's top consumers of fertilizers, more than 80% of which it imports. Petrobras leased the two nitrogen fertilizer plants, located in the states of Bahia and Sergipe, to Unigel in 2019 under a 10-year agreement. However, both facilities have been shut down since 2023, with Unigel citing unfeasible operating conditions due to high natural gas prices in Brazil. Unigel has yet to respond to Petrobras following the board decision, the sources said. Petrobras declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Unigel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The two companies are currently engaged in arbitration proceedings related to the lease contract, including disagreements over the shutdown of operations, Unigel's investments, and gas supply terms. A formal tender can move forward only if a negotiated settlement is reached, the sources said. "We approved the tender process, but for it to happen, the arbitration must be resolved. Without that, we can't move ahead," one company source emphasized. A second source said that if the disputes are fully resolved, Unigel itself could take part in the upcoming bidding process to resume operations at the plants. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Petrobras approves tender to restart fertilizer plants in Brazil's northeast, say sources
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier and Marta Nogueira RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The board of Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras on Thursday approved plans to select a partner to restart operations at its fertilizer plants in northeastern Brazil, according to four sources familiar with the matter. But the move still hinges on resolving ongoing disputes with current leaseholder Unigel, added the sources, who requested anonymity as the decision has not yet been made public. Chemical company Unigel was demanding compensation from Petrobras for losses on the plants, as previously reported by Reuters, with the impasse marking a setback for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's plans to reduce Brazil's dependency on imported fertilizer. As an agricultural powerhouse, Brazil is among the world's top consumers of fertilizers, more than 80% of which it imports. Petrobras leased the two nitrogen fertilizer plants, located in the states of Bahia and Sergipe, to Unigel in 2019 under a 10-year agreement. However, both facilities have been shut down since 2023, with Unigel citing unfeasible operating conditions due to high natural gas prices in Brazil. Unigel has yet to respond to Petrobras following the board decision, the sources said. Petrobras declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Unigel did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The two companies are currently engaged in arbitration proceedings related to the lease contract, including disagreements over the shutdown of operations, Unigel's investments, and gas supply terms. A formal tender can move forward only if a negotiated settlement is reached, the sources said. "We approved the tender process, but for it to happen, the arbitration must be resolved. Without that, we can't move ahead," one company source emphasized. A second source said that if the disputes are fully resolved, Unigel itself could take part in the upcoming bidding process to resume operations at the plants. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Brazil gunmaker Taurus sees US plant as key to minimizing tariff hit
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian gunmaker Taurus Armas expects its production line in the United States to help it minimize the impact of tariffs imposed on Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump, its chief executive Salesio Nuhs told Reuters. Taurus is one of the world's largest gun manufacturers and mainly produces handguns and small arms for both private consumers and security forces. Currently, 85% of the 7,000 weapons manufactured daily at its Brazilian factories are exported to the U.S. market, according to the executive. It has daily production capacity for another 3,000 weapons at its U.S. facilities. "We are keeping a close eye on the consequences of the tariffs," Nuhs said in an interview at the LAAD defense conference in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, ahead of Trump's announcement of a 10% levy on Brazilian exports to the U.S. Taurus earlier this week also announced a memorandum of understanding aimed at acquiring Turkey's Mertsav and eyes completing the deal in the second half of 2025, which would increase its product portfolio. "We will be the only company in the world to offer a diverse portfolio, from the .22 caliber to the .50," Nuhs said. "The purchase of the Turkish company could speed up our decision, which has already been made, to make the .50 (machine gun)." Taurus is also eyeing the Saudi market, the executive added, adding that it could soon sign a joint venture deal with a local company. A proposal has been submitted to the Saudi government and awaits its analysis, Nuhs said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Rio de Janeiro police demolish 'drug trafficking resort' in favela
By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio de Janeiro police demolished on Tuesday a facility they dubbed a "drug trafficking resort," which they said was used as a meeting point for drug traffickers in the Brazilian city. Featuring an artificial lake, swimming pool, gym, barbecue area, and leisure space, the property was located inside a group of Rio favelas known as the Israel Complex. It had been built by Alvaro Malaquias, known as "Peixao" (Big Fish), one of Rio de Janeiro state's most dangerous and wanted criminals, according to a police statement. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Arrest warrants were served against members of the criminal organization led by Peixao, who remains at large, and three suspects were arrested, the police said. Police had arrived at the Israel Complex early in the morning and confronted suspected criminals, who had fired at security forces, the statement added. Avenida Brasil, one of the city's main expressways, was closed, and nearby bus and train lines were temporarily suspended as a security measure. Police agents used heavy machinery to destroy the facility housing the "resort," which was built in an environmental preservation area and had allegedly altered the course of a local river, according to a source familiar with the operation. Peixao, an evangelical Christian, commands organized crime in the Israel Complex and requires his allies to profess the same religion, according to the police investigation. His group, known as Terceiro Comando Puro, uses a Star of David as their symbol.
