The investigation into Jair Bolsonaro took a new twist on Friday with the release of an explosive video, which showed the Brazilian president apparently admitting he tried to protect his family from being “screwed” by police investigations.
Mr Bolsonaro is currently facing a formal judicial inquiry triggered by claims from Sergio Moro, his former justice minister, that the president was interfering in police investigations.
Mr Moro claimed that Mr Bolsonaro had attempted to change the federal police chief in Rio de Janeiro, where one of the president’s sons is currently facing investigation for alleged corruption, which he denies.
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On Friday the supreme court released a video from a ministerial meeting last month during which Mr Bolsonaro said: “I will not wait for my family or friends to get screwed because I cannot change one of our law enforcement officials.”
He added: “I already tried to change the security guys in Rio de Janeiro officially, but wasn’t able.”
The supreme court had sought the video from the government after Mr Moro made his allegations.
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I would put all these bums in jail, starting with the supreme court
Mr Bolsonaro denies putting pressure on Brazil’s federal police — an agency roughly equivalent to the FBI in the US — and insists his words have been misinterpreted.
If an indictment against the president is made — and accepted by Congress — Mr Bolsonaro would be removed from office for 180 days while impeachment motions are tabled.
Eloísa Machado, a law scholar at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo, said: “The video clearly shows Bolsonaro saying that he would interfere with the federal police to prevent family members and friends from being investigated.
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“In my opinion, with this video, there is already enough evidence to start a criminal case.”
Raising further concerns about his democratic credentials, in the same video Mr Bolsonaro also said that he was “arming the people . . . because a man that does not have an arm will be enslaved”.
As the political stakes for the Brazilian leader have risen in recent weeks, so too have concerns about the radicalisation of his supporter base. At rallies some supporters appear to be adopting a paramilitary stance, wearing matching uniforms and calling for a shutdown of Congress and the supreme court.
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“I would put all these bums in jail, starting with the supreme court,” said Abraham Weintraub, Brazil’s education minister and a close ally of the president, in the released video.
Brazil’s supreme court on Friday also requested to examine Mr Bolsonaro’s mobile phone and asked him to give testimony as part of the investigation — a move that prompted his national security adviser to warn of “unpredictable consequences for the stability of the nation”.
A decision on whether or not to indict is expected in the coming weeks.
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Also ensnared in the fallout from the video’s release was Ricardo Salles, Brazil’s environment minister, who was caught on tape saying the government should take advantage of the media’s focus on the Covid-19 pandemic to “change and simplify” environmental rules.
Mr Salles and Mr Bolsonaro have faced sharp criticism from activists for the country’s weak environmental protection and the government’s professed desire to open the Amazon rainforest to commercial enterprise.
The environment minister defended his stance on the video, saying he always backed the simplification of rules “with good sense and within the law”.
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Additional reporting by Carolina Pulice
(Note: This is a Article Automatically Generated Through Syndication, Here is The Original Source
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India is on track to add up to 13,000 kilometres of roads in the financial year 2024-25, with a 5 to 8 per cent increase from the previous year, according to a report by ICRA. The government’s increased capital outlay and focus on project completion are expected to support this rapid pace of construction.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, over 90,000 kilometres of national highways have been built, nearly double the amount constructed in the previous decade. Government investment in highway infrastructure has also seen a significant jump, reaching Rs 2.4 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs 51,000 crore in 2013-14.
Although road construction was impacted by the prolonged monsoon in certain areas in the first half of 2023-24, a surge in construction was witnessed in the second half, leading to an overall growth of around 20 per cent in FY24. ICRA Vice President and Sector Head Corporate Ratings Vinay Kumar stated that the momentum in road construction is expected to continue in FY2025.
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The report highlights that a healthy pipeline of projects, increased government spending, and a focus on project completion by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will drive the pace of road construction in the coming years. As India continues to prioritize infrastructure development, the road sector is expected to play a crucial role in boosting economic growth and connectivity across the country.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has increased India’s growth projection to 6.8 percent for this year, up by 0.3 percent from its previous update in January 2024, as stated in the World Economic Outlook (WEO) released on Tuesday.
The IMF predicts India’s growth will remain strong at 6.8 percent in 2024 and 6.5 percent in 2025, driven by robust domestic demand and a growing working-age population.
India is expected to outperform other large economies, with China following at 4.6 percent in 2024 and 4.1 percent in 2025. Global output growth is anticipated to continue at a steady pace of 3.2 percent in 2024 and 2025, consistent with the growth rate in 2023.
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“The global economy remains remarkably resilient, with growth holding steady as inflation returns to target,” noted the IMF in its report. Despite previous predictions of a recession, the world economy has stayed afloat, thanks to the banking system’s resilience and stability in major emerging markets.
Regarding oil prices, the IMF foresees a 2.5 percent year-over-year decrease to an average of $78.60 per barrel in 2024, further falling to $67.50 by 2029. The organization considers the risks to this forecast as “balanced,” with potential price fluctuations due to geopolitical tensions and changes in supply and demand dynamics.
In conclusion, the IMF’s updated projections reflect a positive outlook for India’s economic growth, with the global economy showing resilience and stability despite existing challenges and uncertainties in the international landscape.
The latest UNCTAD report forecasts global economic growth at 2.6% in 2024, just above the recessionary threshold. India’s economy stands out with a projected expansion of 6.5% due to strong public investment and service sector growth, amidst a gloomy global scenario.
The report highlights weak economic activity in Europe, particularly in countries like Germany and Italy facing industrial slowdowns and fiscal constraints. The Americas are expected to experience a slowdown, with Argentina battling severe inflation and Brazil’s growth dampened by external pressures.
In Africa, growth is projected at 3.0%, slightly up from 2.9% in 2023. However, armed conflicts and climate impacts pose challenges. The continent’s largest economies, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, are underperforming, affecting overall prospects. Oceania, especially Australia, is expected to see subdued growth extending into 2024.
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Global merchandise trade fell by about 1% in 2023, diverging from overall economic growth due to trade tensions and subdued global demand. Disruptions in key shipping routes, such as the Panama Canal drought and Red Sea vessel attacks, have strained merchandise trade and increased shipping costs significantly, according to the report.
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