The demonstration reflected ongoing anger over Bolsonaro’s recent conviction and a broader backlash against Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Protest imagery included symbolic representations criticising the judiciary and government, underscoring persistent political polarisation in Brazil since Bolsonaro left office in 2023.

Speaking at a housing handover event in Rio Grande on January 20, Lula said there’s a need to bring back more human interaction in society , especially online.

Brazil ’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vetoed a controversial bill that would have dramatically shortened the 27-year prison sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving time for his role in plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election. The bill, passed by Congress in December 2025, would have cut Bolsonaro’s sentence to just over two years and reduced penalties for others convicted over the January 8, 2023 attacks on government buildings in Brasília. Lula says the convictions were based on fair trials and substantial evidence. Congress could still override the veto. Bolsonaro began his sentence in November 2025 and remains barred from running for office until at least 2030.

Brazil pork exports hit a record and poised to overtake Canada

Brazil’s pork industry achieved a new milestone in 2025, exporting 1.51 million tonnes of pork, an 11.6% increase from the previous year, and is set to surpass Canada as one of the world’s top exporters. Export revenues climbed to US$3.62 billion, up nearly 20% year-on-year. The Philippines emerged as Brazil’s largest buyer, while China, Chile, Japan and Hong Kong also took significant volumes. The boom is credited to diversified international demand and strengthened market access.

Beekeepers warn lithium mining threatens bees in Brazil

Beekeepers in Brazil’s Jequitinhonha Valley are raising alarms that expanding lithium mining, driven by global demand for battery minerals, is disturbing traditional ecosystems where wild beehives once thrived. Local farmers and apiarists, including Aécio Luiz, report that bees are harder to find and honey production is declining as mining activities grow. This region hosts a large share of Brazil’s lithium deposits, which are critical for electric vehicle and renewable energy markets, but the environmental impacts are increasingly prompting community concern.

Neymar extends Santos deal to chase World Cup return

Brazil forward Neymar has extended his contract with Santos until the end of 2026 as he targets a return to the national team ahead of the World Cup. The 33-year-old, who rejoined Santos in January 2025, has not played for Brazil since 2023 due to injury setbacks. He helped the club avoid relegation last season, scoring five goals in their final five matches, before undergoing knee surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, Neymar, is working to regain full fitness to meet coach Carlo Ancelotti’s recall criteria. Brazil will face Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in Group C when the World Cup begins on 11 June in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Roberto Carlos hospitalised, recovering

Brazil and Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos says he is recovering well after undergoing a planned preventative medical procedure. The 52-year-old shared an update on Instagram, posting a photo from his hospital bed and dismissing reports that he had suffered a heart attack. He said the procedure was successful and carried out in advance with his medical team. Carlos thanked supporters for their messages and said he expects to return to full fitness soon.

The protest highlighted growing concern among environmental groups and civil society organisations, who argue the changes significantly weaken safeguards designed to protect forests, rivers and Indigenous territories. One demonstrator captured the sentiment of the rally, saying to Viory: “We are here today in the hot sun, always remembering that we are in a climate crisis and we cannot let vetoes as important as Lula's be overturned. We cannot let bills like this pass. We cannot let laws that make environmental law more flexible.”

At the heart of the dispute is Congress’s decision on Thursday to cancel 52 vetoes that Lula had applied to the 2025 Environmental Licensing Law . The vetoes were intended to maintain strict requirements obliging companies to prove that proposed projects would not cause environmental harm before receiving authorisation. Environmental advocates warn that removing these provisions amounts to a sweeping rollback of protections and reduces mandatory consultations with Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian communities.

Supporters of the new law, however, argue that it streamlines bureaucracy, accelerates infrastructure and development projects, and strengthens Brazil’s competitiveness. They insist the updated framework maintains a balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility, a claim strongly rejected by protesters, who say the decision represents a profound step backwards for climate and environmental governance in Brazil.

Trump said he had spoken with Lula and expected an in-person meeting soon. The meeting could signal a shift in tone, following months of elevated tensions between their administrations over trade and sanctions .

On Bolsonaro’s detention, Trump expressed surprise, claiming he was initially unaware of the arrest. He added that the move raises serious concerns about political persecution, given Bolsonaro’s long-standing role in Brazilian politics .

Trump’s remarks come amid a broader realignment in US–Brazil relations. Earlier this year, he imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian exports, measures some analysts saw as support for Bolsonaro. The potential upcoming meeting with Lula could mark a return to diplomatic engagement, depending on how both sides navigate past grievances.

“It is not possible that through culture we can create committees in all African countries. Who do we depend on? On no one, on ourselves, on our will. I am going to the G20 in South Africa right now, and I will pass through Mozambique. I have the idea of making an agreement between our federal universities, Embrapa and our federal institutes to teach agricultural techniques to the African people, so that they can effectively carry out the agricultural revolution. The same thing we did here in Brazil without making the mistakes we ourselves made,” Lula da Silva said.

He added that distance learning could be central to expanding access to training and framed the effort as part of Brazil’s broader responsibility towards African nations.

“I hope that this chemistry bears fruit for the Brazilian people and the American people,” Lula said. “Someday I'm going to tell him that we can solve this Russia-Ukraine war, because the war is at its point of maturity. You see, it's already been three years of war. Trump, Putin already know what they want, the elected officials already know what they want. Everyone knows what they're going to get. What's missing is putting this on the negotiating table.”

The Brazilian leader added that he believes “the world is getting to the point of ending this war — and not waging any more wars.”

Lula’s remarks came during a press conference following the 47th ASEAN Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26 to 28. The event gathered leaders from 11 Southeast Asian nations, along with partner countries including the United States and Brazil.

Lula, who is currently serving his third non-consecutive term after returning to office in 2023, noted that his term does not end until the end of 2026 but expressed his willingness to participate in future elections. He framed his political ambitions within a broader vision of international cooperation, particularly highlighting the strategic importance of Brazil’s relationship with Indonesia.

“I’m prepared to run in other elections and try to make the relationship between Indonesia and Brazil a partnership,” Lula said, underlining his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in trade, technology, and diplomacy.

Prabowo emphasised trade as a key priority, stressing the need to expand international commerce. He also pointed to technology as an area of mutual learning, while praising Brazil’s advanced agricultural sector and expressing Indonesia’s interest in fostering cooperation in this field, the BPMI reported.

In addition, the Indonesian president noted Brazil’s sophisticated defence industry as another potential area for collaboration. “We are determined, after an intensive discussion, to continue to grow in all areas,” he said.

“I’m about to turn 80, but you can be sure that I have the same energy as when I was 30 years old,” Lula said. “I’m going to fight. I’m running for a fourth term in Brazil. I’m prepared to run in other elections and try to make the relationship between Indonesia and Brazil a partnership.”

Lula, who returned to power in 2023 for his third nonconsecutive term, remains constitutionally eligible to run again since Brazil’s two-term limit applies only to consecutive presidencies.

During the press conference, the Brazilian leader also reiterated his support for a multipolar global order, stressing the need for “multilateralism, not unilateralism” in both politics and economics. He pointed to the BRICS bloc — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — as a key platform for advancing “the development interests of the global South.”

Lula’s announcement comes amid efforts to strengthen cooperation between Brazil and Indonesia, particularly in trade, renewable energy , and environmental protection.