Articles - The Brazilian Report

Power

Changing tack, Covid hearings decide to follow the chloroquine money instead

Evidence that government officials may have benefited financially from pushing ineffective treatments has given the Senate hearings new momentum

17 hours ago • Janaína Camelo

Power

Covid inquiry brings Marielle murder back into the spotlight

A former Rio de Janeiro governor used the committee to suggest the president is linked to a murder case, in what is the latest episode of how the Covid inquiry is being used for political theater

2 days ago • Janaína Camelo

Power

Could Brazil’s “third way” come from the left?

Polls show voters polarized between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro ahead of the 2022 election, with candidates more to the center failing to be competitive

4 days ago • José Roberto Castro

President Bolsonaro's unwillingness to secure coronavirus vaccines stirred up his opposition. Photo: BW Press/Shutterstock

Power

Brazilian state governors in a race for vaccines (and popularity)

Several state governors announced they are bringing their local vaccination timetables forward, in a mad dash to immunize their populations ahead of the 2022 elections

5 days ago • Janaína Camelo

works Bridge over the Paraná River. Photo: TV Brasil

Power

Over 11,000 public works ‘disappear’ from government records in data blackout

A new report found a series of problems in public works databases, with thousands of projects simply disappearing from government systems. The Economy Ministry has 30 days to fix the issue

6 days ago • Janaína Camelo

Business

Minas Gerais shows steel in pandemic recovery

Home to Brazil's largest number of steel mills, Minas Gerais has been able to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic amid rising iron ore prices

2 days ago • Renato Alves

With a weakened currency and an economy ravaged by the pandemic, Brazilians are being priced out of beef on supermarket shelves

Business

Brazil’s beef consumption hits all-time low amid price hikes

With a weakened currency and an economy ravaged by the pandemic, Brazilians are being priced out of beef on supermarket shelves

2 days ago • Ana Ferraz

Wheat harvest. Photo: Jair Ferreira Belafacce/Shutterstock

Business

GM wheat from Argentina sparks clash between Brazil and green associations

Brazil imports most of its wheat from Argentina, but the prospect of purchasing genetically modified crops has led to massive pushback from civil society and environmental organizations

3 days ago • Renato Alves

Workers set up solar power plant in Brazil. Photo: Michel Luiz de Freitas/Shutterstock

Business

Brazil is starting to exploit its huge solar energy potential

New investments in solar plants in Minas Gerais and Ceará show the way in expanding the country’s capacity in renewables

1 week ago • Renato Alves

startups framework progress or a missed opportunity

Business

Brazil’s new startup framework: progress or a missed opportunity?

The federal government has ratified a new legal framework including regulations for startup companies in Brazil. However, experts warn that the legislative changes are too shallow to make a meaningful difference

1 week ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech roundup: ICT sector creating jobs

1 day ago • Ana Ferraz

E-commerce could save Brazilian Valentines' Day once again

Tech

Tech Roundup: Online sales to save Valentines’ Day

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

1 week ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: Electric cars gain steam in Brazil

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

2 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: Startup brings favelas into e-commerce boom

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

3 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz

Tech

Tech Roundup: Brazil flirts with restrictive social media decree

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

4 weeks ago • Ana Ferraz and Natália Scalzaretto

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #156: The future of work in Brazil

In Brazil, the remote work solution was never easy, as the country has an extremely informal economy. This week, we discuss the future of work in Brazil

4 days ago • Euan Marshall

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #155: Bolsonaro opens a military Pandora’s box

Amid the president's threats to ignore the results of a potential electoral defeat, seeing the Army cave to his will on a legal matter is very worrisome indeed

2 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #154: A crisis in Angola threatens Bolsonaro

President Jair Bolsonaro is battling multiple domestic crises — but one dispute across the Atlantic could cost him the support of a valuable ally

3 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #153: More variants, fewer vaccines

As vaccine rollouts stumble in multiple Brazilian regions, health officials confirm the country's first cases of the Indian variant

4 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Podcast

Explaining Brazil #152: A president without a party

Jair Bolsonaro has seen his popularity dip in recent months, now polling behind Lula. But he has an even more immediate concern: the president needs to find a party

1 month ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

Coronavirus

Brazil terrorized by manhunt for violent rampage killer

Over the past ten days, Lázaro Barbosa has been on the run for the police after a string of murders and robberies. Local residents are fleeing their homes in fear

2 days ago • Renato Alves

Society

Citizens chancing their arm with São Paulo’s zero-waste vaccine policy

As vaccination marches on in Brazil's biggest state, citizens outside of priority groups are able to sign up to receive surplus immunizers at health centers. The result is chaos, with glimmers of hope

3 days ago • Lucas Berti

Society

Online far-right grows, stoking fears of a Brazilian “January 6”

Drawing inspiration from U.S. groups, the Brazilian far-right is highly active on the Parler network, where conspiracy theories circulate freely

7 days ago • Renato Alves

Society

The House of Death and a human incinerator: dark tales from Brazil’s military dictatorship

A federal court ordered the expropriation of a Rio de Janeiro sugarcane mill this week, notoriously used by the military dictatorship to incinerate the corpses of tortured dissidents

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Society

Serrana mass vaccination trial a rousing success

Researchers administered coronavirus vaccination to 95 percent of the adult population in the small city of Serrana. Covid-19 deaths have plummeted and the town is returning to normal

3 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Widespread grain farming raising temperatures in the Amazon

A recent study found that average temperatures in the city of Belterra increased by almost 1 degree Celsius over 30 years, thanks to an increase in grain farming and deforestation

6 days ago • Euan Marshall and Natália Scalzaretto

drought crop Mandacaru cactus in São Domingos do Cariri, Paraiba. Photo: Montenegro Stock/Shutterstock

Environment

The traditional Brazilian cactus which could solve crop drought

Scientists have found that bacteria found in the mandacaru cactus can drastically improve the drought resistance of corn plants, making it a game-changer in Brazilian agriculture

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

amazon People walk on improvised footbridge in Manaus' city center after Rio Negro rises to record levels.

Environment

Neither half-full nor half-empty, glass is overflowing or bone dry in the Amazon

While experts warn of a spate of forest fires after low rainfall in Amazonas, the state's main rivers are breaking their banks and flooding cities

2 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Major Amazon mines contaminate rivers and threaten local population

Polluted rivers on an Amazonian indigenous reserve have been linked to major tin miner Taboca, which denies any responsibility for dam leaks

3 weeks ago • Renato Alves

Environment

Are Brazilian cities prepared for climate change?

Brazil is set to experience dramatic and disastrous changes in the future, whether it likes it or not

3 weeks ago • Gustavo Ribeiro

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 weeks 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 weeks ago • Lucas Berti

peru Keiko Fujimori meets supporters in Arequipa. Photo: Edson Flores Silloca/Shutterstock

Latin America

National football shirt at the center of political disputes in Peru

As has become the case in Brazil, the Peruvian national football team jersey has become a symbol of the country's right-wing movement

3 weeks ago • Lucas Berti

Latin America

Copa America in Brazil sparks flurry of outrage

Critics claim the tournament would pose a massive health hazard to the country

3 weeks ago • Euan Marshall and Lucas Berti

Latin America

Copa America shrouded with uncertainty amid pandemic surge

Copa America has already lost one of its two hosting nations to protests. It could lose the other to a new Covid-19 surge

3 weeks ago • Lucas Berti

Opinion

Impunity is the norm amid Brazil’s epidemic of police killings

The death of pregnant 24-year-old Kathlen Romeu in Rio de Janeiro sparked public outcry, but people being killed at the hands of the police is worryingly common in Brazil — and often goes unpunished

5 days ago • Beatriz Rey

Opinion

Bolsonaro’s Armed Forces meddling ushers ghosts from Brazil’s past

The president interfered with the military to save a former cabinet member. Brazilian history shows this can lead to drastic consequences

1 week ago • Andre Pagliarini

President Jair Bolsonaro greets General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, the new Army Commander. Foto: Marcos Corrêa/PR

Opinion

Army ruling opens dangerous precedent ahead of 2022 race

General Eduardo Pazuello broke military rules by taking part in a pro-Bolsonaro rally — but escaped punishment. The ramifications could be severe for Brazilian democracy

2 weeks ago • Beatriz Rey

Opinion

Rising U.S. inflation a cause of concern for Brazilian markets

Brazil's stock exchange has broken records due to a weaker currency. But concerns in the U.S. could lead to extreme capital flight and the further devaluation of the Brazilian Real

2 weeks ago • Marco Harbich

parties Tabata Amaral broke with party lines on the pension reform vote. Photo: Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom/ABr

Opinion

Tabata Amaral and the weakening of Brazilian political parties

Congresswoman Amaral was granted the right to leave her party without losing her term. The court decision opens a dangerous precedent for Brazilian democracy, as political parties become less and less powerful

3 weeks ago • Beatriz Rey

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

1 month 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

2 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

3 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

3 months ago • Renato Alves

Coronavirus

Foreign residents in Brazil being turned, despite right to enter

The government decreed that visitors from the UK would be denied entry, except for permanent residents. However, this has not been observed

5 months ago • Lucas Berti

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

4 weeks 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

1 month 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

2 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

3 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

4 months ago • Iure Pontes Vieira

All

Brazil’s Copa America hits fever pitch (literally)

The Brazilian Health Ministry has confirmed at least 82 coronavirus cases within Copa America delegations — something experts predicted would happen

Changing tack, Covid hearings decide to follow the chloroquine money instead

Evidence that government officials may have benefited financially from pushing ineffective treatments has given the Senate hearings new momentum

Tech roundup: ICT sector creating jobs

Brazil terrorized by manhunt for violent rampage killer

Over the past ten days, Lázaro Barbosa has been on the run for the police after a string of murders and robberies. Local residents are fleeing their homes in fear

Minas Gerais shows steel in pandemic recovery

Home to Brazil's largest number of steel mills, Minas Gerais has been able to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic amid rising iron ore prices

Brazil’s beef consumption hits all-time low amid price hikes

With a weakened currency and an economy ravaged by the pandemic, Brazilians are being priced out of beef on supermarket shelves

Covid inquiry brings Marielle murder back into the spotlight

A former Rio de Janeiro governor used the committee to suggest the president is linked to a murder case, in what is the latest episode of how the Covid inquiry is being used for political theater

Citizens chancing their arm with São Paulo’s zero-waste vaccine policy

As vaccination marches on in Brazil's biggest state, citizens outside of priority groups are able to sign up to receive surplus immunizers at health centers. The result is chaos, with glimmers of hope

Changing tack, Covid hearings decide to follow the chloroquine money instead

Evidence that government officials may have benefited financially from pushing ineffective treatments has given the Senate hearings new momentum

Covid inquiry brings Marielle murder back into the spotlight

A former Rio de Janeiro governor used the committee to suggest the president is linked to a murder case, in what is the latest episode of how the Covid inquiry is being used for political theater

Could Brazil’s “third way” come from the left?

Polls show voters polarized between Lula and Jair Bolsonaro ahead of the 2022 election, with candidates more to the center failing to be competitive

Brazilian state governors in a race for vaccines (and popularity)

Several state governors announced they are bringing their local vaccination timetables forward, in a mad dash to immunize their populations ahead of the 2022 elections

Over 11,000 public works ‘disappear’ from government records in data blackout

A new report found a series of problems in public works databases, with thousands of projects simply disappearing from government systems. The Economy Ministry has 30 days to fix the issue

Minas Gerais shows steel in pandemic recovery

Home to Brazil's largest number of steel mills, Minas Gerais has been able to mitigate negative effects of the pandemic amid rising iron ore prices

Brazil’s beef consumption hits all-time low amid price hikes

With a weakened currency and an economy ravaged by the pandemic, Brazilians are being priced out of beef on supermarket shelves

GM wheat from Argentina sparks clash between Brazil and green associations

Brazil imports most of its wheat from Argentina, but the prospect of purchasing genetically modified crops has led to massive pushback from civil society and environmental organizations

Brazil is starting to exploit its huge solar energy potential

New investments in solar plants in Minas Gerais and Ceará show the way in expanding the country’s capacity in renewables

Brazil’s new startup framework: progress or a missed opportunity?

The federal government has ratified a new legal framework including regulations for startup companies in Brazil. However, experts warn that the legislative changes are too shallow to make a meaningful difference

Tech roundup: ICT sector creating jobs

Tech Roundup: Online sales to save Valentines’ Day

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

Tech Roundup: Electric cars gain steam in Brazil

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

Tech Roundup: Startup brings favelas into e-commerce boom

A digest of the most important news on technology and innovation in Brazil

Tech Roundup: Brazil flirts with restrictive social media decree

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

Explaining Brazil #156: The future of work in Brazil

In Brazil, the remote work solution was never easy, as the country has an extremely informal economy. This week, we discuss the future of work in Brazil

Explaining Brazil #155: Bolsonaro opens a military Pandora’s box

Amid the president's threats to ignore the results of a potential electoral defeat, seeing the Army cave to his will on a legal matter is very worrisome indeed

Explaining Brazil #154: A crisis in Angola threatens Bolsonaro

President Jair Bolsonaro is battling multiple domestic crises — but one dispute across the Atlantic could cost him the support of a valuable ally

Explaining Brazil #153: More variants, fewer vaccines

As vaccine rollouts stumble in multiple Brazilian regions, health officials confirm the country's first cases of the Indian variant

Explaining Brazil #152: A president without a party

Jair Bolsonaro has seen his popularity dip in recent months, now polling behind Lula. But he has an even more immediate concern: the president needs to find a party

Uruguay: unions organize protests against “starvation and inequality”

Paraguay buys 1 million vaccines from Vaxxinity

PAHO: “until everybody has vaccines, we need urgent health protocols”

Mexico sends over 1 million medical supplies to Guatemala

Paraguay struggling to keep up with neighbors in vaccination push

Brazil terrorized by manhunt for violent rampage killer

Over the past ten days, Lázaro Barbosa has been on the run for the police after a string of murders and robberies. Local residents are fleeing their homes in fear

Citizens chancing their arm with São Paulo’s zero-waste vaccine policy

As vaccination marches on in Brazil's biggest state, citizens outside of priority groups are able to sign up to receive surplus immunizers at health centers. The result is chaos, with glimmers of hope

Online far-right grows, stoking fears of a Brazilian “January 6”

Drawing inspiration from U.S. groups, the Brazilian far-right is highly active on the Parler network, where conspiracy theories circulate freely

The House of Death and a human incinerator: dark tales from Brazil’s military dictatorship

A federal court ordered the expropriation of a Rio de Janeiro sugarcane mill this week, notoriously used by the military dictatorship to incinerate the corpses of tortured dissidents

Serrana mass vaccination trial a rousing success

Researchers administered coronavirus vaccination to 95 percent of the adult population in the small city of Serrana. Covid-19 deaths have plummeted and the town is returning to normal

Widespread grain farming raising temperatures in the Amazon

A recent study found that average temperatures in the city of Belterra increased by almost 1 degree Celsius over 30 years, thanks to an increase in grain farming and deforestation

The traditional Brazilian cactus which could solve crop drought

Scientists have found that bacteria found in the mandacaru cactus can drastically improve the drought resistance of corn plants, making it a game-changer in Brazilian agriculture

Neither half-full nor half-empty, glass is overflowing or bone dry in the Amazon

While experts warn of a spate of forest fires after low rainfall in Amazonas, the state's main rivers are breaking their banks and flooding cities

Major Amazon mines contaminate rivers and threaten local population

Polluted rivers on an Amazonian indigenous reserve have been linked to major tin miner Taboca, which denies any responsibility for dam leaks

Are Brazilian cities prepared for climate change?

Brazil is set to experience dramatic and disastrous changes in the future, whether it likes it or not