Brazil

The U.S. FBI is investigating corporate giants Johnson & Johnson, Siemens AG, General Electric Co and Philips for allegedly paying kickbacks as part of a scheme involving medical equipment sales in Brazil, two Brazilian investigators have told Reuters.

The rapid acceleration of the Brazilian real's slide against the dollar this week has put traders on high alert for intervention from the central bank to stop the rot, although so far there is no sign the central bank has shown its hand.

Nestle SA will increase its natural and organic products in Brazil, its No. 4 market worldwide, as part of a wider Americas plan to cut sugar, sodium and saturated fats in its food, a spokesman said.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in cities across Brazil on Wednesday to rally against education spending freezes in the biggest demonstrations yet against President Jair Bolsonaro, who called marchers "useful idiots and imbeciles."

Brazilian federal prosecutors are suing the government, seeking an injunction to block President Jair Bolsonaro's gun decree that liberalized weapons regulation, according to a statement on Wednesday from the federal prosecutor's office.

Venezuela's armed forces will either depose President Nicolas Maduro and lead a transition to democratic rule or face divisions that risk a civil war, the Brazilian government's top security adviser said on Tuesday.

A Brazilian court will allow investigators to examine the banking records of President Jair Bolsonaro's senator son and his former driver in a money-laundering investigation, two sources with knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Monday.

Internacional’s Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero scored one goal and had a hand in another as they beat Cruzeiro 3-1 in Brazil’s Serie A on Sunday.

A double from Bruno Henrique gave Palmeiras a 2-0 win over Atletico Mineiro on Sunday and lifted the Sao Paulo club into joint first place in Brazil’s Serie A.