Articles - The Brazilian Report

Power

Brazil’s Defense Minister and his “threats to democracy”

A major Brazilian newspaper published alleged threats made by Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, saying that next year's election would be canceled unless Congress reintroduces paper ballots

5 days ago • Janaína Camelo

From left to right: Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco (at the microphone), President Bolsonaro, and House Speaker Arthur Lira. Photo: Alan Santos/PR presidential

Power

Calls for a semi-presidential system in Brazil: profound change, or diversion tactics?

House Speaker Arthur Lira is under immense pressure to launch impeachment proceedings against his close ally, President Bolsonaro. In a bid to change the subject, he is now pushing for a radical change in Brazil's political system

1 week ago • Janaína Camelo

Power

Bolsonaro’s increasingly empty diary a sign of his political isolation

President Bolsonaro has met with lower house representatives just 60 times since the beginning of the year, signaling that his support in Congress is dwindling at the same pace as his public approval ratings

1 week ago • Janaína Camelo

Power

Understanding the complicated web of Brazil’s vaccine scandals

Senators in the Covid inquiry are currently investigating two separate — yet connected — scandals involving vaccine purchases by the federal government. We break down who's who in each case

2 weeks ago • Janaína Camelo

Power

Doctors “satisfied” with Bolsonaro’s health condition

It is still unclear when the president will be discharged from the hospital. With details scarce, observers fear his condition could be worse than reported

2 weeks ago • Janaína Camelo and Gustavo Ribeiro

Insider

High sea freight costs continue harming Brazilian exports

A double whammy of the pandemic and the Suez Canal blockage means freight rates have soared, with few alternative means of transport for Brazilian exporters

23 hours ago • Ana Ferraz

Business

Brazilian women to take Bayer to court over Essure side effects

Over 300 women plan to launch a class action for damages from the pharmaceutical giant, complaining that they developed severe complications after implanting Bayer's permanent contraceptive Essure

2 days ago • Renato Alves

postal company Court decreed the bankruptcy of Correo Argentino S.A. Photo: Andrea V. Gutierrez/Shutterstock

Business

Argentina a cautionary tale as Brazil moves to privatize postal service

Bolsonaro’s Economy Minister looks to complete his first privatization, but the matter remains controversial, and may only create a private monopoly instead

3 days ago • Lucas Berti

sustainable Açaí berries being transported from an Amazonian community. Photo: Paralaxis/Shutterstock

Business

Brazilian consumers struggle to engage in sustainable consumption

Brazilians have become keener about pursuing green concerns, but income restraints and economic hardship are getting in the way of widespread adoption

6 days ago • Charlotte Peet

Business

Hit by semiconductor crisis, Brazilian auto industry struggles to accelerate

Despite healthy demand, especially for heavy commercial vehicles, supply problems are holding the sector back

1 week ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: sugarcane ethanol less polluting than once thought

The most important news on tech and innovation in Brazil this week

5 days ago • Ana Ferraz

Supercomputer shutdown could cause weather data blackout in Brazil

Tech

Tech Roundup: Brazil’s supercomputer under threat

The main news about Brazilian tech and innovation this week

2 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: How AI helps Brazil’s health system

The main news on tech and innovation in Brazil during the week

2 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: Equity crowdfunding a potential boost for Brazilian startups

The week's most important news on technology, innovation, and investment in Brazil

4 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: Startups tapping into solar power business

The weekly tech roundup is a digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

1 month ago • Ana Ferraz

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #161: Little transparency around presidents’ health

President Bolsonaro has recently been discharged from the hospital. While he was in, however, conflicting reports about his health made the Brazilian public suspicious

1 week ago • Euan Marshall

Explaining Brazil #160: Bolsonaro's Evangelical Supreme Court justice

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #160: Bolsonaro’s Evangelical justice

Jair Bolsonaro is using a Supreme Court nomination to rally his base. We explain the effects of his appointment on Brazilian justice and politics.

2 weeks ago • Euan Marshall

Eduardo Leite. Photo: Valter Campanato/ABr

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #159: Leite is no Milk

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul came out as gay. But don't expect him to be a Brazilian Harvey Milk. Instead, he might be closer to Pete Buttigieg

3 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #158: Never-ending vaccine scandals

The Bolsonaro administration purposely stalled vaccine deals with Pfizer. Now, members of the government are suspected of having asked for bribes before purchasing immunizers

4 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #157: The Anti-Bolsonaro dilemma

What is keeping anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations from actually threatening the government in a more meaningful way

1 month ago • Euan Marshall

teenagers Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga. Photo: Marcello Casal Jr/ABr

Coronavirus

Health Ministry plans vaccination of Brazilian teenagers

24 mins ago • Lucas Berti

Vaccination station in Copiapó, Chile. Photo: Israel Chavez Rojas/Shutterstock

Coronavirus

Chile has lowest number of Covid-19 cases since April 2020

13 hours ago • Lucas Berti

Coronavirus

Bogotá permits return of nightclubs and fans at football matches

16 hours ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Coronavirus

Brazilian regulators suspend Covaxin import authorization

16 hours ago • Lucas Berti

Coronavirus

For economic reasons, Mexico rejects new lockdown

16 hours ago • Lucas Berti

pro guns German and Swiss firearms fueling armed conflict and police violence in Brazil

Society

German and Swiss guns fuel armed conflict and police violence in Brazil

More and more European-made guns are among the most lethal firearms seized by Brazilian police

7 days ago • Diogo Rodriguez

Society

How many Brazilians are moving to the U.S.?

The rate of migration to the U.S. usually follows economic conditions at home in Brazil. We crunched the numbers with a view to identifying trends

1 week ago • Francisco Ricci

The radio reaches even Brazil's most isolated neighborhoods — something the internet still doesn't. Photo: Ronaldy Irfak/Shutterstock

Society

Brazilian public school kids go gaga for radio classes

Distance learning has been an extreme challenge for Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of students unable to access online teaching platforms. The solution? The tried and trusted radio

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Society

Covid spikes in Brazil’s North were even deadlier than believed

Gross coronavirus death figures do not account for age differences between populations. A recent study found that mortality in northern cities was even more pronounced than initially measured

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

vaccine sommelier Brazilians are foregoing Sinovac and AstraZeneca shots to look for a Pfizer jab. Photo: Fabrício Costa/Futura Press/Folhapress)

Society

The rise of ‘vaccine sommeliers’ in Brazil

Thanks to waves of misinformation and vaccine skepticism spread on Brazilian social media, many citizens are now reluctant to take AstraZeneca or Sinovac immunizers, potentially compromising the country's vaccination efforts

3 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Diseases in the Amazon and their links to deforestation

A recent study encountered a direct link between increased deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and a number of mosquito-borne diseases. Researchers also charted the spread of Covid-19 in the Amazon

4 days ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Brazil’s new soy railway a threat to the environment, say experts

The Ferrogrão project involves building a railway directly from Brazil's soy belt to its major ports in the north. But construction would take works right through major conservation areas, threatening the livelihood of indigenous peoples

7 days ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Flames return to the Pantanal, scientists fear disaster

Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, was devastated by fires last year. Blazes have returned and experts warn that droughts could make 2021 even worse for the region

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

hydroelectric dam Itaipu dam. Photo: Bayazed/Shutterstock

Environment

The underexplored risks of hydroelectric power

Brazil's energy matrix is overly reliant on hydroelectric power. While a comparatively clean energy source, it is not without its dangers — which Brazil is experiencing after its driest summer in 91 years

3 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Environment

The legacy of Ricardo Salles as Brazil’s Environment Minister

As a member of the cabinet, Ricardo Salles was very closely aligned with the president's vision of “development.” He may prove to have been one of Mr. Bolsonaro’s most consequential ministers

1 month ago • Renato Alves

Latin America

Bukele: closer to Beijing, distant from Washington

Nayib Bukele, the increasingly powerful president of El Salvador, is gambling on a risky strategy of rapprochement with Beijing

3 weeks ago • Lucas Berti

moïse Residents of Port-au-Prince stage a protest against the government in September 2020. Photo: Arinda Mbanerjee/Shutterstock

Latin America

Moïse assassination plunges Haiti further into uncertainty

Jovenel Moïse was deploying increasingly authoritarian measures against his opposition. But his death will not bring peace to Haiti

3 weeks ago • Lucas Berti

Latin America

Life expectancy another marker of urban inequality in Latin America

A recent study shows the vast life expectancy differences between Latin American cities, showing massive disparities between nations and even within the same countries

1 month ago • Renato Alves

Latin America

Castillo leads in Peru, but will he be able to govern?

Peru has been marred in a never-ending loop of political crises, with weak presidents and a trigger-happy Congress

2 months ago • Lucas Berti

Latin America

Ortega ramps up authoritarianism in Nicaragua

Charges against journalists and opposition leaders are part of the Ortega playbook to tip the scales ahead of November’s presidential election

2 months ago • Lucas Berti

Opinion

São Paulo’s Borba Gato statue should be permanently removed. Here’s how to do it

Protesters set fire to a controversial São Paulo statue, commemorating a notorious slaver from Brazil's colonial period. But direct action can only go so far – the solution lies in legislation

2 days ago • Beatriz Rey

Opinion

Can political reform succeed where it has failed so many times before?

The House Speaker is advocating for a system of “semi-presidentialism”, which he believes will generate less resistance than failed proposals of the past

2 days ago • Fernando Bizzarro

Opinion

The devils of Brazil’s tax reform proposal

Deemed insufficient, unclear, and filled with political uncertainty, Brazil's tax reform proposal seems set to sink without a trace

6 days ago • Luciano Sobral

Opinion

Why a Bolsonaro power grab remains a long shot

The president's recent messaging suggests that he plans to ignore the 2022 election result if he loses. However, with popular support dwindling, a power grab seems to be a remote possibility

2 weeks ago • Andre Pagliarini

Opinion

Brazilian government attacking press freedoms in Brazil

Harassment against journalists has increased since Jair Bolsonaro took office, showcased by a recent threat made by the president's lawyer against a female reporter

2 weeks ago • Beatriz Rey

Tourism

Recife’s shark problem: too many questions and too few answers

The northeastern city of Recife is famous for its beaches, but locals and tourists are warned to stay away from the water, due to the risk of shark attacks

1 week ago • Renato Alves

arrudatitan maximus monte alto brazil dinosaur

Tourism

Meet the Arrudatitan: São Paulo’s very own dinosaur

First discovered in 1997, the specimen was originally believed to be a relative of the Aeolosaurus, but new research shows it came from a completely different genus, exclusive to São Paulo

3 months ago • Renato Alves

Tourism

When Hollywood royalty traded it all for a Brazilian farm

In the mid-20th century, a group of Hollywood movie stars gave up the glitz and glamor to become farmers in the Brazilian state of Goiás

4 months ago • Renato Alves

Stone City Pireneus lost hidden history Brazil

Tourism

The ancient stone city of Pireneus: Brazil’s best-kept secret

The city of Pirenópolis attracts tourists from all over for its lavish vegetation. But its most stunning attraction is remains unknown

4 months ago • Renato Alves

Tourism

Businesses in Brazilian tourist city organize their own voluntary lockdown

Small business-owners in Alto Paraíso de Goiás took matters into their own hands after the local mayor failed to do so

5 months ago • Renato Alves

Guide to Brazil

Paulo Mendes da Rocha leaves behind incomparable legacy in Brazilian architecture

Among the most influential modernists in Brazilian history, Paulo Mendes da Rocha designed many of São Paulo's most famous tourist attractions and left a legacy of devoted followers

2 months ago • Renato Alves

The Valongo Wharf was an active slave port for 20 years, during which up to 1 million African slaves landed in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Halley Pacheco de Oliveira/WikiCommons

Guide to Brazil

The forced immigration of the slave trade in Brazil

Brazil took in more African slaves than any other country during the Atlantic slave trade, and the effects of this brutal period can still be felt today

2 months ago • Euan Marshall

Guide to Brazil

The real story behind Portugal’s “discovery” of Brazil

School books will tell you that Brazil was discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500. Records show the country had visited the new land years before

3 months ago • Renato Alves

Business

How to get a Brazilian investor visa

Brazil offers indefinite residence permits for foreigners who invest in Brazilian companies, or set up their own enterprise

4 months ago • Iure Pontes Vieira

Guide to Brazil

How to become a Brazilian citizen

Migratory processes in Brazil are notoriously cumbersome and time-consuming, but the country's requirements for naturalization are fairly liberal

6 months ago • Iure Pontes Vieira

All

The man who discovered Ítalo Ferreira, Brazil’s surfing gold medalist

Luiz Campos "Pinga" first spotted a teenage Ítalo Ferreira back in 2007 and trained him up to win the world championship 12 years later. Now, he's Brazil's first champion in the Tokyo Olympics

High sea freight costs continue harming Brazilian exports

A double whammy of the pandemic and the Suez Canal blockage means freight rates have soared, with few alternative means of transport for Brazilian exporters

São Paulo’s Borba Gato statue should be permanently removed. Here’s how to do it

Protesters set fire to a controversial São Paulo statue, commemorating a notorious slaver from Brazil's colonial period. But direct action can only go so far – the solution lies in legislation

Brazil’s Olympic medal hopes rest with the Armed Forces

Thanks to the Defense Ministry's High-Performance Athlete Program, the majority of Brazil's top athletes at the Tokyo Games are members of the Navy, Army, and Air Force

Brazilian women to take Bayer to court over Essure side effects

Over 300 women plan to launch a class action for damages from the pharmaceutical giant, complaining that they developed severe complications after implanting Bayer's permanent contraceptive Essure

Can political reform succeed where it has failed so many times before?

The House Speaker is advocating for a system of “semi-presidentialism”, which he believes will generate less resistance than failed proposals of the past

Argentina a cautionary tale as Brazil moves to privatize postal service

Bolsonaro’s Economy Minister looks to complete his first privatization, but the matter remains controversial, and may only create a private monopoly instead

Athletics scholarships face cuts as Brazil competes in Tokyo Olympics

Funding for Brazil's renowned Bolsa Atleta program fell 17 percent over the last Olympic cycle, the first budget cut since the program's creation

Brazil’s Defense Minister and his “threats to democracy”

A major Brazilian newspaper published alleged threats made by Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto, saying that next year's election would be canceled unless Congress reintroduces paper ballots

Calls for a semi-presidential system in Brazil: profound change, or diversion tactics?

House Speaker Arthur Lira is under immense pressure to launch impeachment proceedings against his close ally, President Bolsonaro. In a bid to change the subject, he is now pushing for a radical change in Brazil's political system

Bolsonaro’s increasingly empty diary a sign of his political isolation

President Bolsonaro has met with lower house representatives just 60 times since the beginning of the year, signaling that his support in Congress is dwindling at the same pace as his public approval ratings

Understanding the complicated web of Brazil’s vaccine scandals

Senators in the Covid inquiry are currently investigating two separate — yet connected — scandals involving vaccine purchases by the federal government. We break down who's who in each case

Doctors “satisfied” with Bolsonaro’s health condition

It is still unclear when the president will be discharged from the hospital. With details scarce, observers fear his condition could be worse than reported

Foreign direct investment in June lowest for Brazil since 1995

Mariana disaster’s case reopens in UK courts

Bolsonaro meets with German far-right figurehead

Bolsonaro shifts tone on campaign fund as Supreme Court weighs in

Meeting postponed with Bolsonaro’s new Chief of Staff

High sea freight costs continue harming Brazilian exports

A double whammy of the pandemic and the Suez Canal blockage means freight rates have soared, with few alternative means of transport for Brazilian exporters

Brazilian women to take Bayer to court over Essure side effects

Over 300 women plan to launch a class action for damages from the pharmaceutical giant, complaining that they developed severe complications after implanting Bayer's permanent contraceptive Essure

Argentina a cautionary tale as Brazil moves to privatize postal service

Bolsonaro’s Economy Minister looks to complete his first privatization, but the matter remains controversial, and may only create a private monopoly instead

Brazilian consumers struggle to engage in sustainable consumption

Brazilians have become keener about pursuing green concerns, but income restraints and economic hardship are getting in the way of widespread adoption

Hit by semiconductor crisis, Brazilian auto industry struggles to accelerate

Despite healthy demand, especially for heavy commercial vehicles, supply problems are holding the sector back

Tech Roundup: sugarcane ethanol less polluting than once thought

The most important news on tech and innovation in Brazil this week

Tech Roundup: Brazil’s supercomputer under threat

The main news about Brazilian tech and innovation this week

Tech Roundup: How AI helps Brazil’s health system

The main news on tech and innovation in Brazil during the week

Tech Roundup: Equity crowdfunding a potential boost for Brazilian startups

The week's most important news on technology, innovation, and investment in Brazil

Tech Roundup: Startups tapping into solar power business

The weekly tech roundup is a digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

Explaining Brazil #161: Little transparency around presidents’ health

President Bolsonaro has recently been discharged from the hospital. While he was in, however, conflicting reports about his health made the Brazilian public suspicious

Explaining Brazil #160: Bolsonaro’s Evangelical justice

Jair Bolsonaro is using a Supreme Court nomination to rally his base. We explain the effects of his appointment on Brazilian justice and politics.

Explaining Brazil #159: Leite is no Milk

Governor Eduardo Leite of Rio Grande do Sul came out as gay. But don't expect him to be a Brazilian Harvey Milk. Instead, he might be closer to Pete Buttigieg

Explaining Brazil #158: Never-ending vaccine scandals

The Bolsonaro administration purposely stalled vaccine deals with Pfizer. Now, members of the government are suspected of having asked for bribes before purchasing immunizers

Explaining Brazil #157: The Anti-Bolsonaro dilemma

What is keeping anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations from actually threatening the government in a more meaningful way

Health Ministry plans vaccination of Brazilian teenagers

Chile has lowest number of Covid-19 cases since April 2020

Bogotá permits return of nightclubs and fans at football matches

Brazilian regulators suspend Covaxin import authorization

For economic reasons, Mexico rejects new lockdown

German and Swiss guns fuel armed conflict and police violence in Brazil

More and more European-made guns are among the most lethal firearms seized by Brazilian police

How many Brazilians are moving to the U.S.?

The rate of migration to the U.S. usually follows economic conditions at home in Brazil. We crunched the numbers with a view to identifying trends

Brazilian public school kids go gaga for radio classes

Distance learning has been an extreme challenge for Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of students unable to access online teaching platforms. The solution? The tried and trusted radio

Covid spikes in Brazil’s North were even deadlier than believed

Gross coronavirus death figures do not account for age differences between populations. A recent study found that mortality in northern cities was even more pronounced than initially measured

The rise of ‘vaccine sommeliers’ in Brazil

Thanks to waves of misinformation and vaccine skepticism spread on Brazilian social media, many citizens are now reluctant to take AstraZeneca or Sinovac immunizers, potentially compromising the country's vaccination efforts

Diseases in the Amazon and their links to deforestation

A recent study encountered a direct link between increased deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and a number of mosquito-borne diseases. Researchers also charted the spread of Covid-19 in the Amazon

Brazil’s new soy railway a threat to the environment, say experts