Brazil: The Guide

Brazil’s Joao Fonseco comes of age in Paris with five set thriller with Djokovic.

I am sure if the authorities in Rio and Niteroi contact the World Cetacean Alliance it will be able to advise them on the best, safest and most respectful way to observe whales and dolphins. worldcetaceanalliance.org/global-guideli…

Very cool, Ritchie and Steve Hackett rejoin forces in 2026 on "Voo de Coração", 44 years after their original 1982 recording of the title track of Ritchie's first album. They are still rockin' in Rio. youtube.com/watch?v=_hnjCU…

40-years ago, on 19 May 1986, Fernanda Torres became the first Brazilian to win the best actress prize at Festival de Cannes. She won it for her performance in Arnaldo Jabor’s “Eu sei que vou te amar” (Love Me Forever or Never).

A quick visit to the UK for Eduardo Paes, ex-mayor of Rio who is currently running for Governor. He came to the UK to give one of the key note presentations at the 11th Brazil Forum UK held at the Blavatnik School of Government in the University of Oxford.

Good to see Ilda Santiago of Festival do Rio l Rio de Janeiro Int'l Film Festival featured in today's "Cannes Festival News" published by Le Film Français. Shoutout to Liza Foreman for the coverage of Brazil in today's (Friday) issue at Festival de Cannes.

A classic World Cup ad from Brazil. This one from Brahma. At nearly 4 minutes it is more of a short film than an ad, designed to get Brazilians believing that the team can win a 6th title this year. youtube.com/watch?v=_THsmn…

Embraer has signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates for ten C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft, with options for ten more, the largest international single-country order in the program's history and marks the first C-390 order in the Middle East.

Another quiet Saturday night on Copacabana Beach in Rio. Audience estimated at 2 million. bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c8…

Today Ipanema celebrates the 132nd anniversary of becoming Vila Ipanema on 26 April 1894. One of my favourite spots in Rio with many happy memories and, of course, it was home to my record store, Gringos. Feliz aniversário, Ipanema, e obrigado pelas muitas lembranças felizes.

Happy St George’s Day / Feliz Dia de São Jorge. Saint George, an important figure in England and Brazil, and in the Catholic faith and Umbanda. In Umbanda he is syncretised with the Orixá Ogum. Both celebrated on 23 April, date on which both saint and orisha are commemorated.

45 years ago on 23 April 1981 an appeal hearing took place in front of the Barbados High Court. It resulted in Ronald Biggs’ deportation to the UK to be overturned. Biggs was allowed to return to Rio de Janeiro forty days after he had been kidnapped at the foot of Sugarloaf.

20 April is "Dia do Diplomata" in Brazil. A date linked to the birth on 20 April 1850 of Barão de Rio Branco, one of Brazil’s most famous Foreign Ministers and diplomats, who was even Brazil’s consul-general in Liverpool. Best wishes to Brazilian diplomats the world over.

Still 9 months to go, but following the draw by LIESA on Thursday, 16 April we now know the order that the top 12 samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, the Grupo Especial, will parade during carnival in 2027. Four school will parade on each of three nights (7-9 February 2027).

It was exactly a year ago 10 April 2025 - that we discovered that Kleber Mendonça Filho's "The Secret Agent" had been picked to screen in competition at Festival de Cannes 2025. It hasn't done badly since that time! @kmendoncafilho #Cannes

Probably not making headlines in Brazil, but the country’s Laura Cardoso has become the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20 international, with figures of 9-4 against Lesotho. She achieved the feat in 3 overs as Lesotho were bowled out for 13 chasing Brazil’s 203.

Embraer has been chosen by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in GB to be the Brazilian recipient of its Personality of the Year Award, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026. The recipient of the award on the British side will be announced shortly.

Counting down. 7 April 2027 will see start of important UNESCO Ocean Decade Conference in Rio. Ocean Decade provides framework for scientists and stakeholders to develop the scientific knowledge and partnerships to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science #OceanDecade27

Big thank you to Wanderlust Travel Magazine for featuring Brazil's important new marine protection area in Rio Grande do Sul and the World Cetacean Alliance. wanderlustmagazine.com/news/massive-m…

After being sworn as new Mayor of Rio, Eduardo Cavallieri says that in 2027 he would like to see the Grupo Especial of top Rio samba schools increase from 12 to 15, increasing the number of schools to five per night, just when four a night had seemed perfect number.