Daniel Vorcaro’s web of connections

🎙️ Podcast: Banco Master and the Supreme Court

Just after a historic trial, justices have pulled the court into the swirling scandal involving Banco Master. Now the Chief Justice's push for ethical standards is being put to the test

🕸️ Six Degrees of Banco Master

Since the Banco Master case first broke, we warned that it wouldn’t be long before it reached high-profile politicians. It has now.

✈️ Coming to America

What Lula and Trump discussed on Monday. Alleged conflict of interest in Brazil’s top courts. The Banco Master web extends to former Lula cabinet ministers.

😓 Boric’s last headache, Mercosur’s final steps

Chinese undersea cable plans trigger US sanctions on Chile. And Mercosur countries are moving fast to ratify last month’s trade deal with the European Union.

🇷🇺 Fueling around

Brazil-Russia commission to meet for the first time since 2015. More back and forth over the EU-Mercosur deal. A look at the PSD power project.

🎙️ Podcast: How the Mercosur-EU deal impacts Brazilian firms beyond exports

From lowering regulatory and corruption risks, to fostering foreign direct investment and production chain integration, key advances are at stake

🏔️ Davos no-show

Brazil’s president gives Davos a miss, again. Yet another delay to the EU-Mercosur deal. A bidding imbroglio at the Port of Santos.

🔋 Cannot stop the batteries

Brazil’s growing solar and wind energy generation still suffers from intermittence and curtailment. There could be an environmentally friendly way to solve that problem.

🪸 A ‘silent’ extinction

Brazil’s vast coral reefs are under threat from several angles, from global climate change to local negligence

🌿 Brazil’s most sustainable companies

28 Brazilian firms made S&P Global’s annual roll of honor for sustainability, and we take a closer look at a couple of the standouts.

🐐 Animal invasion

From Asian mussels clogging up hydroelectric plants to the political firestorm over tilapia, Brazil’s handling of invasive species has moved from the lab to the halls of power.

🤔 Neymar’s last stand

Brazil boss Ancelotti came to see Neymar play in midweek, but the 34-year-old was absent. Monday’s squad selection for upcoming friendlies is Neymar’s last chance for a World Cup spot.

🚫 São Paulo’s away fan ban

São Paulo is about to mark a decade of football derby matches without away fans. A movement is underway to bring the “other half” back to the stadium.

🏎️ Bortoleto and F1’s great leveler

Brazil’s Gabriel Bortoleto is entering his second season as a Formula 1 driver, and major rule changes could see him gain an edge over his more experienced opponents.

⚽ Banco Master and... football?

The sprawling Banco Master scandal has wide-reaching effects on major figures from the worlds of Brazilian politics, finance and the judiciary. And, as it turns out, not even Brazil’s football clubs are immune.

🇨🇺 Caribbean wave

With the US closing its doors, Brazil renews its appeal for Cubans — this time drawing a different profile of migrants.

👩‍🔬 Polylaminin in the limelight

Amid hope and controversy, an innovative biomedical study reveals Brazil’s challenges in turning science into a product.

✝️ A Christian struggle

Religious voters have become increasingly decisive in Brazilian politics — as well as a chronic challenge for the left.

🎉 What makes a Carnival champion

As a monumental spectacle decided by tenths of a point, Brazil’s samba school parades involve far more tension and detail than one might imagine

🪖 Untouchables no more

Bolsonaro and co-conspirators begin serving their prison sentences as the coup trial ends. The Lula government has fallen out with Congress, again. Projections for Black Friday leave retailers giddy.

🦶 Bolsonaro arrested after violating ankle monitor

Jair Bolsonaro was arrested after trying to remove his ankle monitor. Brazil celebrates more US tariff cuts. Final COP30 decision viewed as a dud.

⌛ Bolsonaro’s final countdown

Bolsonaro submits last appeal before coup conviction becomes final. More questions around a major data center project in Brazil’s Northeast. MBRF’s major halal meat deal.

⚖️ Another coup trial

The next wave of coup trials. Brazil experiences a brief power outage. In Brasília, Lula’s next Supreme Court pick is the hot topic.