Brazil

The economy shows strain from corporate cost-cutting and state energy sector volatility. Mosaic is idling phosphate plants, while Petrobras faces internal pressure, firing a director and refunding revenue from a gas auction criticized by Lula. Chinese investment is shifting toward consumer sectors like ice cream.

• 5Petrobras resumes billion-dollar fertilizer plant construction after years
• 4Brazil, Mexico and Spain pledge to send more aid to Cuba - news.cgtn.com
• 4Air traffic control failure halts flights in São Paulo
• 3Entities submit proposals for Brazil's new farm plan
• 3Lula announces debt relief and digital regulation plans

Politics is dominated by a tightening presidential race and Lula's strategic maneuvers. Lula has lost his poll lead and is now tied with opponents, while simultaneously distancing himself from the Supreme Court amid a corruption case. Concurrently, Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign is focusing on a first-round victory, and Congress is set to vote on Lula's veto of a bill that would reduce penalties for January 8th rioters.

• 17Senate rejects Lula's Supreme Court nominee for first time in 132 years
• 11Brazil's Lula criticizes Trump ahead of EU talks
• 7Merz and Lula discuss deeper cooperation at Hannover Messe
• 7Lula faces political challenges at home, condemns Iran conflict abroad
• 7Lula questions democracy, backs Sánchez's anti-war stance

Security is marked by a transnational incident involving Brazil's former spy chief. Alexandre Ramagem was detained and then released by US ICE agents, an event that prompted celebrations among Bolsonaro supporters. Domestically, military and police arrests for killings and a medicine theft in São Paulo indicate persistent internal law enforcement challenges.

• 7Former Bolsonaro intelligence chief arrested in the US
• 3Brazil's fugitive ex-spy chief detained by US immigration
• 2Argentinian arrested for racist insult in Rio de Janeiro
• 2Tourists trapped in Rio favela during police shootout
• 1Police killings rise 17% in São Paulo despite falling crime rates

Society is characterized by the political weaponization of social hardship ahead of elections. Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign uses a hunger video to criticize Lula and puts religion on the stage with a vice pick. This occurs as Lula signs laws on cancer treatment and the doula profession, and 36 families remain in a São Paulo favela ruins a year after a removal deal.

• 3Lula defends Pope after Trump's attacks
• 2Lula praises Brazilians in Portugal amid migrant rights dispute
• 2Lula recalls union leader arrest at German industry fair
• 2Lula courts conservatives and pushes social media regulation
• 2Brazil's Lula government suspends welfare payments, backlog grows