Pedro Lucas Fernandes has declined President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s offer to become Minister for Communications—a key post that oversees the country’s telecoms and postal system.
Fernandes, who leads the conservative União Brasil party in the lower house, said he was honoured but would serve the country better from his current position.
The offer was no surprise. Lula had agreed to let União Brasil choose the successor to Juscelino Filho, who stepped down earlier this month after facing public allegations of embezzling public funds.
The decision was meant to keep political balance. Filho, like Fernandes, belongs to União Brasil. Government minister Gleisi Hoffmann had previously confirmed Lula’s intention to name Fernandes, based on the party’s proposal.
But Fernandes declined. The reasons remain political—and personal.
“I believe I can contribute more to Brazil where I am,” he said in a brief statement on Tuesday.
Filho’s departure followed a probe into misuse of public money, linked to actions before he joined Lula’s cabinet. His exit triggered a reshuffle Lula hoped would stabilise relations with Congress.
For now, the Communications Ministry remains vacant—and Lula, once again, must negotiate.
Mexico, Chile and Uruguay have suspended poultry imports from Brazil after the country reported its first outbreak of bird flu on a commercial farm, Brazilian officials reported.
A confirmed case of bird flu on a commercial farm in Brazil has prompted China to suspend poultry imports, while other countries introduce regional restrictions.
China and Brazil have committed to bolstering free trade and multilateralism, signing 20 agreements aimed at deepening their economic and diplomatic ties amid global trade challenges. The deal includes increased Brazilian agricultural exports to China.
Ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil is pushing for the creation of new global governance mechanisms to help nations implement their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, citing an urgent need to accelerate action.
Authorities say they stopped a planned attack on Lady Gaga’s Copacabana concert, which drew over 2 million fans.
Severe drought in Syria this year is threatening about 75% of local wheat crops, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns, risking food shortages for millions.
A major naval operation ended Monday in the Baltic Sea, involving 12 warships and 19 teams of divers and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries.
People in Damascus expressed relief and cautious optimism on Tuesday night after the European Union announced it would lift economic sanctions on Syria, following a similar decision by the United States last week.
Foreign ministers from member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) came together in Budapest for a pre-summit meeting held ahead of the organization’s informal summit.
The US State Department has given the green light for a potential $100 million sale of AW-119Kx helicopters and related equipment to Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a statement from the Pentagon on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
Google announced a new “AI Mode” for its search engine in the United States, aiming to make searching feel more like talking to an expert who can answer almost any question.
Elon Musk confirmed he plans to stay as Tesla’s chief executive for at least five more years. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk said despite pressure over his ties to Donald Trump’s administration, he remains committed to leading the electric car company.
Severe drought in Syria this year is threatening about 75% of local wheat crops, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns, risking food shortages for millions.
A major naval operation ended Monday in the Baltic Sea, involving 12 warships and 19 teams of divers and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries.
People in Damascus expressed relief and cautious optimism on Tuesday night after the European Union announced it would lift economic sanctions on Syria, following a similar decision by the United States last week.
Severe drought in Syria this year is threatening about 75% of local wheat crops, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns, risking food shortages for millions.
A major naval operation ended Monday in the Baltic Sea, involving 12 warships and 19 teams of divers and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries.
People in Damascus expressed relief and cautious optimism on Tuesday night after the European Union announced it would lift economic sanctions on Syria, following a similar decision by the United States last week.
Foreign ministers from member and observer states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) came together in Budapest for a pre-summit meeting held ahead of the organization’s informal summit.
The US State Department has given the green light for a potential $100 million sale of AW-119Kx helicopters and related equipment to Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to a statement from the Pentagon on Tuesday.
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