Brazil Roundup: Dengue cases, world competitiveness, peace talks
World competitiveness
In the 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking, Brazil dropped to 62nd out of 65 countries, down from 56th in 2020. While its economy improved slightly, Brazil scored very low in government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure, hurting its overall competitiveness, Rio Times reports.
Peace talks
Brazil declined to sign the final statement of the Ukraine peace summit, which calls for peace talks and supports Ukraine's territorial integrity on June 16. President Luiz Inácio According to Agencia Brasil, Lula da Silva said Brazil will only join peace discussions when both Ukraine and Russia are involved and noted that Brazil and China have proposed a negotiation plan to end the conflict.
Presidential visits
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will visit Fortaleza, Ceará, on June 20, focusing on the Abolition Palace and a housing complex in the José Walter neighbourhood. POVO reports that the initially scheduled visit to the Cariri region for an honorary doctorate from the Federal University of Ceará, has changed, and it's unclear if or when the title will be awarded.
Investment
Brazil is losing its appeal to international investors due to high U.S. interest rates and more attractive opportunities abroad, along with internal uncertainties and political instability. Recently, the main stock index fell by 1.40%, foreign entities withdrew billions, and ongoing fiscal issues and negative reactions to monetary policies continue to undermine investor confidence, with no rate cuts expected soon, Rio Times reports.
Dengue cases
Brazil is experiencing nearly 6 million probable dengue cases and 3,910 confirmed deaths, with young adults aged 20-29 being the most affected. São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Paraná have the highest numbers of cases, while the Federal District has the highest incidence rate. Additionally, Brazil has reported 220,828 probable cases of chikungunya, leading to 121 confirmed deaths, Agencia Brasil reports.
