What follows are some of the chief items covered by the Brazilian Congress proposal to reform Brazil's Judicial Branch. A bill proposing several changes has just been approved by the Senate.

Brazilian equities were little changed, following recent strength. Brazil's market ebbed, as investors largely overlooked an as-expected interest rate hike. Brazil's benchmark Bovespa Index slipped 26.78 points, or 0.11%.

Brazilian troops may remain in Haiti another year, until the presidential elections in December, 2005. The United Nations (UN) Security Council is scheduled to vote on extending the duration of the peace mission on November 30.

Brazil will present a report on its activities in the area of environmental preservation at the 3rd World Conservation Congress of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.