We’re covering talks between Brazil’s government and some (but not all) 5G suppliers. The new benchmark interest rate in the country. And the day Bolsonaro reportedly nearly staged a coup.
Breaking
Operation Car Wash has arrested São Paulo State Transport Secretary Alexandre Baldy. The investigation targets fraudulent schemes in healthcare contracts signed during Mr. Baldy’s tenure as Brazil’s Minister of Cities. Federal Judge Marcelo Bretas, who oversees the anti-corruption probe in Rio de Janeiro, issued a total of six arrest warrants to be carried out in four states.
5G: Brazil meets with Nokia, Ericsson … but not Huawei
Communications Minister Fábio Faria — who took office in June — began a round of meetings on Wednesday with representatives from the major telecom companies in the race for 5G technology in the country. He met with Finnish firm Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson — but did not schedule any talks with Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
Why it matters. Brazil plans to auction 5G frequencies next year — and the technology has become one of the many battlegrounds in the Cold War-style feud between the U.S. and China.
Pressure. Just last week, the U.S. Ambassador in Brasília Todd Chapman said that not banning...