Brazil not planning free public transport soon, presidential chief of staff says

Brazil's presidential chief of staff, Rui Costa, said on Wednesday the government has no plans to eliminate public transport fares nationwide this year or next, a day after the finance minister had confirmed studies to assess ways to finance the sector. "There is nothing planned for next year or this year," Costa said in a local radio interview. "I want to make this clear: the president only requested studies." According to a government source, there are doubts within the government regarding the logistical and political feasibility of the proposal. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked his economic team to evaluate the potential implementation of the measure, but he is reportedly in no rush and does not intend to present...