The self-reported prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among individuals aged 60 or older is 0.86 percent, corresponding to approximately 306,836 people. The rate is slightly higher among men (0.94 percent) than among women (0.81 percent).

The analysis, based on the 2022 Demographic Census, was conducted by the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Autism disinformation on Telegram soars in Latin America and Caribbean.

According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 70 million people worldwide live with some degree of ASD, a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent difficulties in communication and social interaction.

Although ASD is typically diagnosed and its signs manifest during childhood, it is a lifelong condition. Among older adults, recognition remains limited, both in terms of diagnosis and access to appropriate therapies.

“From the perspective of public health policies, these data reinforce the importance of developing strategies for the identification and support of older adults with ASD. Prevalence has increased in recent years, but national and international scientific literature is still scarce regarding what is known about ASD in the context of aging,” stated researcher Uiara Raiana Vargas de Castro Oliveira Ribeiro.

According to the researcher, people who age on the spectrum tend to have reduced life expectancy and a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression, as well as an increased risk of cognitive decline and clinical conditions, including higher rates of cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction.

“Difficulties in communication, sensory overload, and behavioral rigidity can further hinder access to healthcare for this population. Therefore, knowledge about the prevalence of ASD among older people in Brazil is a first step toward understanding their needs and supporting public policies aimed at this population,” she said.

Late diagnosis

According to the researcher, identifying ASD in older people is difficult because some manifestations of the disorder, such as social isolation, inflexibility, rigid behavior, and restricted interests, can be confused with characteristics of other disorders or symptoms of anxiety, depression, or dementia.

Furthermore, the lack of professionals trained in identification, as well as changes in diagnostic criteria, can hinder diagnosis.

“The diagnosis is often received with relief because older adults feel it offers an explanation for interpersonal and sensory difficulties experienced throughout life, promoting greater self-understanding and acceptance,” the specialist explained.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva celebrated the ratification of the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the approval by a large majority early Friday afternoon (Jan. 9). On social media, Lula called it “a victory stemming from dialogue.”

“A victory stemming from dialogue, negotiation, and a commitment to cooperation and integration between countries and blocs,” he said.

The agreement, Lula said, in addition to benefiting both blocs, is “a sign in favor of international trade.” The Brazilian president was actively involved in talks and attempted to finalize it at the end of last year, when Brazil presided over the South American bloc. In Lula’s view, the agreement between Mercosur and the EU was a priority.

The president also said it was a “historic day for multilateralism” and recalled the long 25-year negotiation process that led to the conclusion of the agreement.

“A historic day for multilateralism. After 25 years of negotiations, the Mercosur–European Union agreement – one of the largest free trade treaties in the world, has been approved. The decision endorsed by the European side unites two blocs that, together, account for 718 million people and a GDP of USD 22.4 trillion.”

Signature

With the outcome confirmed, the European Commission president could travel to Paraguay as early as next week to formalize the accord.

Mercosur countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay – need to do the same and submit the final document to their parliaments, but ratification is individual – i.e. governments do not need to wait for approval from all four member states.

Labor unions and social movements held a demonstration in defense of democracy on Thursday (Jan. 8) in Cinelândia, a central area of Rio de Janeiro. The mobilization marked the third anniversary of the January 8, 2023 attacks, a critical moment in the attempted coup d’état being judged by the Brazilian Supreme Court. On that day, supporters of then former president Jair Bolsonaro invaded and vandalized the National Congress, the Planalto presidential palace, and the Supreme Court in Brasília.

For the president of the Unified Workers’ Central of the state of Rio de Janeiro (CUT-RJ), Sandro César, the date symbolizes the need for permanent vigilance.

“This act marks another year since the unspeakable movement carried out by coup plotters in Brazil to debase Brazilian democracy and overthrow the Democratic Rule of Law. It is something we thought was distant, but it has happened again in Brazil,” said César.
He also highlighted the role of the convictions as a historical example.

“The former president imprisoned, coup-plotting generals imprisoned, and those involved in the coup imprisoned. This is what should happen when the Constitution of the Republic is violated in an attempt to debase it and to break the constitutional, republican, and democratic pact of Brazil. It is an important lesson so that future generations may never again imagine or attempt to do something like this,” added the union leader.

The president of the Rio de Janeiro Bank Workers Union (Seeb/Rio), José Ferreira, criticized any initiative to pardon those involved.

“We cannot accept amnesty for the coup plotters, nor this strategy they claim is not amnesty - the recalculation of sentences - which is nothing more than a generic form of amnesty. Lula vetoed the bill, but it will return to Congress, and we need to take to the streets to pressure parliament against this benefit for those who want to steal democracy,” Ferreira noted.

João Pedro, a militant of the Juntos youth movement (anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, and eco-socialist) and of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL-RJ), emphasized the importance of continuous mobilization.

“On this important date, we remember the need to always remain mobilized. We need to be attentive to the constant attacks from the far right that we have been experiencing,” said the militant.

“It is essential to start the year with mobilization. It is necessary to resist, but also to present an alternative to the crisis, to show that it is possible to build another society and to overcome the horizons that are set for us today,” he added.

January 8

Three years ago, thousands of protesters marched through the Esplanade of Ministries, broke through police blockades, and attacked the headquarters of the Three Powers, demanding the overthrow of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had been democratically elected and sworn in just a week earlier.

Three years later, the Supreme Court had convicted 1,399 people involved in the coup attempts. The data were updated on Monday (5) by the office of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the cases. According to the report, 179 people are in prison, 114 of them serving sentences in a closed regime after the final judgment of their convictions. Another 50 are under house arrest, and 15 are in preventive detention.

The convictions include former President Jair Bolsonaro and 28 former members of his government, held responsible for planning a coup attempt to prevent Lula’s inauguration. Among those imprisoned are also five former members of the top brass of the Military Police of the Federal District, convicted of omission for allowing protesters access to the Three Powers Square.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received a phone call from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 8). According to the Planalto  presidential palace, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in Venezuela and its impact on the region.

“Both condemned the use of force without support from the United Nations Charter and international law. Lula stressed that the fate of Venezuela must be decided sovereignly by its people and that South America must remain a zone of peace,” the Planalto said in a statement.

According to the note, the president and prime minister agreed on the need to reform global governance institutions.

Last Saturday (3), a military invasion by the US resulted in the kidnapping of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cília Flores.

During the call, the Canadian accepted Lula’s invitation to visit Brazil in April. Among the topics to be discussed is the progress of a possible trade deal between Mercosur and Canada.

Earlier, President Lula also spoke by phone with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Mexico

In his conversation with the Mexican leader, Lula also addressed the issue of Venezuela, and both defended multilateralism, repudiated the US military invasion, and challenged the view that attempts to divide the world into spheres of influence of major powers. Lula and Sheinbaum also discussed preparations for a visit by the Mexican leader to Brazil, with no date set yet, and cooperation between the countries in combating violence against women.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received a phone call from Colombian President Gustavo Petro on the afternoon of Thursday (Jan. 8), the Planalto presidential palace reported. The conversation focused on the situation in Venezuela, which was the target of a US military invasion last Saturday (Jan. 3), resulting in the kidnapping of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.

“Both leaders expressed great concern about the use of force against a South American country, in violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the sovereignty of Venezuela, and stressed that such actions constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for regional peace and security and for the international order,” the Planalto highlighted in a statement.

During the call, Lula and Petro welcomed the announcement by Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez regarding the release of national and foreign prisoners detained in the country.

President Lula informed Petro that, at Venezuela’s request, he had ordered the shipment of 40 tons of supplies and medicines, out of a total of 300 tons already collected, to replenish stocks of dialysis products and solutions at a supply center hit by US bombings on Saturday.

Brazil and Colombia share the longest land borders with Venezuela, each extending over 2 000 kilometers.

The Colombian leader spoke yesterday (7) with US President Donald Trump, following threats and unfounded accusations made by the American leader against Petro.

The Brazilian government, through the Ministry of Health, announced on Thursday (Jan. 8) that it will send 100 tons of medicines and other health supplies to Venezuela. The measure aims to support the population of the neighboring country, which suffered a military attack by the United States last Saturday (Jan. 3) that resulted in the capture of the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores.

The American military action in Caracas destroyed Venezuela’s largest medicine distribution center. In the first shipment, Brazil will send 40 tons of medicines to prioritize the needs of approximately 16,000 patients who require hemodialysis and would otherwise be left without assistance.

“This donation does not affect the structure or assistance provided to the approximately 170,000 patients currently undergoing dialysis in Brazil’s public healthcare network, the SUS. We have secure stocks and can show solidarity with our neighboring country. We cannot forget that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Venezuela provided us with 130,000 cubic meters of oxygen to treat our citizens, in the face of a crisis caused by mismanagement by the previous government,” highlighted Health Minister Alexandre Padilha.

In a letter sent to Venezuelan Health Minister Magaly Gutiérrez, Padilha reinforced the Brazilian government’s support for guaranteeing healthcare assistance to Venezuelans, especially dialysis patients, affected by the destruction of the medicine distribution center.

The supplies to be sent to Venezuela were secured through donations from university and philanthropic hospitals across Brazil. They are part of a strategic and essential set of materials. The neighboring country, with which Brazil shares a border of more than one thousand kilometers, will receive medications for continuous use, filters, arterial and venous lines, catheters, and solutions for hemodialysis treatment.

The 100 tons of donations will be stored at the Ministry of Health’s Distribution Center for Supplies and Medications, located in Guarulhos, in São Paulo state, until they are fully dispatched.

Recalling the three years since the attempted coup of January 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday (Jan. 8) that the riots at the time serve as a reminder that democracy is not an unshakable achievement.

“[Democracy] will always be a work in progress, subject to constant harassment from old and new would-be dictators. That is why democracy must be cherished and defended tooth and nail, day after day,” he declared. 

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil’s Supreme Court convicts over 800 in coup plot cases.
• New York Times: Brazil serves as example of democracy to US.
• Lula pledges to veto bill that softens penalties for attempted coup.

During an official ceremony at the Planalto presidential palace, he emphasized the need to make clear that democracy is “more than just a fancy word in the dictionary,” adding that it requires building a fairer and less unequal country, “with more rights and fewer privileges.”

“It is more than the desire and the right to vote on election day – and then keep your voter card tucked away for the next four years. Democracy requires the effective participation of society in government decisions,” he said.

“Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the strength of Brazilian democracy is the trial of the coup plotters by the Supreme Court,” he concluded saying.

No sentence reduction

Earlier, President Lula vetoed Bill 2,162 of 2023 – known as Dosimetry Bill – which had been approved in December by Congress. The piece of legislation would reduce the sentences of those convicted for the anti-democratic riots of January 8 and for the attempted coup d'état.

“All of them had ample right to defense, were tried with transparency and impartiality. At the end of the trial, they were convicted based on robust evidence,” he noted.

Brazil registered its second-largest net dollar outflow in history in 2025, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday (Jan. 7) by the country’s Central Bank. The total exchange flow was negative at USD 33.316 billion, second only to 2019, when it reached USD 44.768 billion.

Despite the significant outflow, Brazil’s currency, the real, appreciated throughout the year, supported by high domestic interest rates and a decline in the dollar on international markets.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Lula: BRICS to keep exploring dollar alternatives.
• Brazilian and Chinese central banks sign currency swap deal.

The negative performance was mainly driven by the financial channel, which accumulated a net outflow of USD 82.467 billion in 2025, the second largest in the historical series, behind only 2024. This channel includes foreign direct and portfolio investments, profit remittances, interest payments, and other financial operations.

The commercial channel recorded a net inflow of USD 49.151 billion, which was not enough to offset the overall outflow of dollars.

According to the Central Bank, the main factor behind the lower dollar inflow through the commercial channel was the increase in imports. The volume of foreign exchange contracted for external purchases reached USD 238 billion, the second largest figure on record, behind only 2022. Exports, in turn, totaled USD 287.5 billion during the year. Unlike the trade balance, which includes only exports and imports that have already been carried out, the exchange flow also encompasses operations such as advance payments and advances on foreign exchange contracts.

Outflow in December

In December, the exchange rate flow was negative at USD 13.562 billion, lower than in the same month of 2024, when it reached USD 27 billion. The result reflected a net outflow of USD 20.982 billion through the financial account, partially offset by an inflow of USD 7.421 billion through the trade account.

Traditionally, December concentrates remittances abroad for dividend payments. In 2025, these remittances intensified as companies and investors sought to anticipate the end of the income tax exemption on international remittances, which became taxable in January 2026.

The exchange flow is composed of two parts: the trade flow, which measures foreign exchange settlements for exports and imports, and the financial flow, which covers investments in companies, loans, and transactions in financial markets. Central Bank data show that the dollar outflow last year occurred through the financial channel.

Brazil’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security on Thursday (Jan. 8) authorized the deployment of National Public Security Force agents in the state capital of Roraima –  Boa Vista – and in the border town of Pacaraima, in the same state, the main gateway to Brazilian territory for Venezuelans leaving their country.

Political instability in Venezuela and the possible consequences of the military action carried out by the US last Saturday (3) to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro have prompted the Brazilian government to increase the number of agents deployed on the border with its neighbor.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil to monitor health conditions along Venezuela border.

The agents will operate in the two cities for the next 90 days – a period that may be extended if necessary. During this time span, the troops will support state public security agencies in activities and services essential to preserving public order and ensuring the safety of the people.

National Force

Composed of federal agents and military as well as civil police officers (including firefighters and experts) provided by states and the Federal District, the National Public Security Force can operate anywhere in the country at the request of governors or ministries that need support to carry out their activities.

The First Panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court has convicted more than 800 people accused of participating in acts that sought to undermine democracy and the functioning of state institutions, three years after the January 8, 2023 coup attempts, during the final phase of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s government.

The figures were compiled by the office of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur for the coup-related cases, up to mid-December 2025, and may still be updated.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Christmas pardon decree leaves out coup plotters.
• Lula pledges to veto bill that softens penalties for attempted coup.
• Supreme Court concludes coup plot trial; 29 convicted.

After the coup attempts, the Attorney General’s Office filed 1,734 criminal actions with the Supreme Court. The defendants were divided among instigators, executors, and four main nuclei that supported Bolsonaro’s attempt to remain in power after losing the election, thereby seeking to subvert the democratic order.

Nuclei

With the conclusion of the trial of defendants in the coup plot cases, the court sentenced 29 people to prison across the four main nuclei. Only two defendants were acquitted.

Army General Estevam Theófilo, indicted in Nucleus 3, and Fernando de Sousa Oliveira, a career Federal Police officer and former director of operations at the Ministry of Justice, a defendant in Nucleus 2, were the only acquitted defendants due to lack of evidence.

To date, only those in Nucleus 1, which includes former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven others, have had their sentences executed, while the remaining nuclei are still under appeal.

The convictions covered crimes including attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and the destruction of protected heritage.

The First Panel - the collegiate body responsible for the trial - held 21 sessions over four months to judge the four nuclei.

Nucleus 5 consists solely of defendant Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former president João Figueiredo, who governed during the military dictatorship. He lives in the United States, and there is no trial date set.

Fugitives

Alexandre Ramagem, a former federal representative and former director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) under the Bolsonaro government, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a coup plot–related criminal case and fled to the United States to avoid serving his sentence.

The extradition request is already being processed. As a result of the conviction, Ramagem lost his parliamentary mandate.

Approximately 60 people convicted in the coup attempts remain fugitives in Argentina after breaking their electronic ankle monitors and are now the subject of extradition requests.

Instigators and executors

The largest group of convictions comes from the nucleus of instigators and executors of the coup attempts, with 810 convictions in total. Of these, 395 were for criminal organization, attempted abolition of the democratic rule of law, and coup d’état, while 415 were for incitement to crime and criminal association, which are considered less serious offenses.

Among those convicted in this nucleus is hairdresser Débora Rodrigues dos Santos. In April of this year, she was sentenced to 14 years in prison for participating in the January 8, 2023 coup attempts and for spray-painting the phrase “You lost, fool” on the statue of Justice in front of the Supreme Court building. She is currently under house arrest.

ANPP

To date, the court has approved more than 560 non-prosecution agreements (ANPPs). The agreements were proposed by the Attorney General’s Office to individuals under investigation who were in front of the Army barracks in Brasília and did not take part in the acts of vandalism against Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court.

Under the agreements, the defendants must perform community service and pay fines of between BRL 1,000 and BRL 5,000.

They are also barred from using social media and are required to attend a course on democracy, the rule of law, and coups d’état. In return, they will not be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

All defendants must jointly pay BRL 30 million in compensation for the damage caused by the vandalism.

Loss of office and ineligibility

As a result of the convictions, those found guilty are ineligible to hold public office for eight years. Army officers will also face proceedings in the Military Court that may result in the loss of their officer rank, while public servants are expected to lose their statutory positions.

Rio de Janeiro prosecutors ended 2025 with impressive figures in its financial fight against criminal organizations in the state. As a result of the work of their Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime (GAECO) throughout the year, the judiciary was asked to freeze over BRL 906 million in assets linked to criminal individuals and organizations.

To this end, the group refined its investigation methods, expanded the exchange of information on national and transnational financial crimes, and forged partnerships to broaden the scope of its efforts.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Lula calls for South American cooperation against organized crime.
• Brazil sets up police unit to tackle organized crime.

A case in point is the Technical Cooperation Agreement, signed by Rio’s prosecution service with the Civil Police in March last year, with the aim of expanding the application of asset forfeiture in cases involving illicit wealth – a vital tool for tracking, freezing, and recovering illicit assets.

According to GAECO’s coordinator, prosecutor Letícia Petriz, the impact of these initiatives goes beyond numbers.

“The financial suffocation of criminal organizations strikes at their core, weakening their ability to operate and expand. GAECO’s actions are strategically geared toward undermining the economic power of these groups, especially through asset investigations and the application of extended confiscation, which makes it possible to remove illicitly obtained funds from criminal activity and prevent their reintroduction into the economic circuit,” she declared.

Complaints

In 2025, the special group filed 70 complaints against 767 individuals – including 120 public officials – and obtained court orders that supported 39 operations aimed at enforcing arrest orders and search-and-seizure warrants.

Among the main actions carried out throughout the year, the prosecutors acted to exercise arrest orders and search-and-seizure warrants against members of a criminal organization operating in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais that stole crude oil from Transpetro (a subsidiary of Petrobras) and participated in joint actions with prosecutors from other states – such as Operation Carbono Oculto (“Hidden Carbon”), launched by São Paulo prosecutors against a billion-dollar scheme involving fuel adulteration and illegal distribution.

Digital environment

“The creation of CyberGAECO represents a strategic step towards modernizing investigations, given the growing activity of criminal organizations in the digital environment. The experience of other prosecution offices with similar structures shows that specialization is essential to increase the effectiveness of investigations, especially in crimes involving technology, cryptocurrencies, and money laundering,” Letícia Petriz said.

In 2025, Brazil registered its best year for international tourism, with 9,287,196 foreign tourist arrivals. This represents a 37.1 percent increase compared to 2024, which had previously held the historical record with approximately 6.7 million international visitors.

In addition to surpassing the previous year’s performance, the country also exceeded the target set in the National Tourism Plan (PNT) 2024–2027. The projection for 2025 was 6.9 million international arrivals, a figure that was exceeded by 34.6 percent.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil unveils Mercosur Football Tourist Route.

In December 2025, Brazil registered an 11 percent increase in international tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2024. In total, 896,488 foreign visitors arrived at destinations across the country, approximately 90,000 more than in the same month of the previous year.

This result consolidated December as the fourth-best month of the year in terms of international arrivals, behind January, February, and March.

Destination

According to the Ministry of Tourism, São Paulo was the largest gateway for foreigners to Brazil, with 2,753,869 international visitors, followed by Rio de Janeiro, with 2,196,443, and Rio Grande do Sul, which received 1,535,806 tourists over the year.

Origin

Among the source markets, Argentina maintained its absolute leadership, with 3,386,823 tourists, reaffirming the strength of regional tourism and South American integration. Chile ranked second, with 801,921 visitors, followed by the United States, which accounted for 759,637 arrivals in Brazil in 2025. Travelers from European countries such as France, Portugal, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain together totaled 1,274,567 visitors to Brazil.

Petrobras confirmed that there has been a leak during drilling 175 kilometers from Amapá state, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin. The leak was identified last Sunday (Jan. 4). Since then, activities have been halted at the site. The company has not yet announced when activities will resume.

In a statement, the state-run company says it “has taken all necessary control measures and notified the relevant authorities. The fluid used complies with permitted toxicity limits and is biodegradable, so there is no harm to the environment or people.”

Notícias relacionadas:

• Petrobras granted environmental license to explore Equatorial Margin.
• Brazil’s Science Academy urges further research into Equatorial Margin.

According to the oil giant, what happened was a loss of drilling fluid in two auxiliary lines connecting the drilling rig to the Morpho well.

Drilling fluid is used to clean and lubricate the drill bit during the drilling of oil and gas wells. The substance mixes water, clay, and chemicals. The compound helps control well pressure and prevent wall collapse.

The company states that “there are no problems with the rig or the well, which remain in a completely safe condition. The incident also poses no risk to the safety of the drilling operation.”

The Morpho well is located in an exploratory block (FZA-M-059) about 175 kilometers off the coast of Amapá state and 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon river.

Pressured by the growth of imports and lower commodity prices (primary goods with international pricing), Brazil’s trade balance ended 2025 with a smaller surplus than in 2024, despite recording the best result for a December since 1989. Last year, exports exceeded imports by USD 68.293 billion, a 7.9 percent decrease compared to the surplus registered in 2024.

The figures were released on Tuesday (Jan. 6) by the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services. Despite the setback, this was the third-largest annual trade surplus since the beginning of the time series, in 1989.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Lula celebrates trade with 500 new markets in agriculture.
• Surge of 28.6% in Brazil’s exports to China offsets US tariffs.

Both exports and imports hit record highs. Even with US tariffs and the fall in commodity prices, especially oil, sales abroad totaled USD 348.676 billion, a 3.5 percent increase compared to 2024.

Benefiting from economic growth, however, imports increased at a faster pace. Last year, Brazil bought USD 280.382 billion from abroad, a 6.7 percent increase.

Resilience

In a press conference, Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services Geraldo Alckmin said that the country’s foreign trade grew in 2025, even with tariffs and geopolitical difficulties.

“Our export volume grew by 5.7 percent. Global trade grew by 2.4 percent. So, we grew more than twice as much as global trade. This shows the resilience and good competitiveness of Brazilian products,” declared Alckmin.

In December, the trade balance registered a surplus of USD 9.633 billion, a 107.8 percent increase compared to the same month in 2024. This was the highest result for the month in the time series, which began in 1989, surpassing the previous record surplus of USD 9.323 billion in December 2023. Imports also reached a record value for the month.

The value of exports and imports in December was as follows:
Exports: USD 31.038 billion, a 24.7 percent increase compared to December of last year;
Imports: USD 21.405 billion, up 5.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

Products

The main products responsible for the growth in exports in December were: non-monetary gold (up 88.7%), soybeans (up 73.9%), crude oil (up 74%), and beef (up 70.5%).

“The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the kidnapping of its president cross an unacceptable line. These acts represent a very serious affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and threaten the international community with an extremely dangerous precedent,” said Brazil’s representative to the OAS on Tuesday (Jan. 6).

During the extraordinary meeting of the OAS Permanent Council to discuss the United States’ military action in Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro last Saturday (3), Benoni Belli stated that the current moment is serious and recalls periods thought to be outdated, but which are once again affecting Latin America and the Caribbean.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil to monitor health conditions along Venezuela border.
• Brazil at UN: US action in Venezuela threatens peace in South America.

According to the diplomat, military aggression leads to a world in which the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism. “We cannot accept the argument that the ends justify the means. This line of reasoning lacks legitimacy and opens the door to granting the strongest the right to define what is just or unjust, what is right or wrong, and to disregard national sovereignties by dictating the decisions the weakest must make. International sovereignty, upheld by international law and multilateral institutions, is essential for peoples to exercise their self-determination,” Belli stated.

In an emergency meeting of the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday (5), Brazilian Ambassador Sérgio Danese also said that it is not acceptable to argue that the ends justify the means in the United States’ armed intervention in Venezuela.

Three Kings’ Day, celebrated this Tuesday (Jan. 6), marks a centuries-old tradition in Brazilian popular culture – the passage of revelers through the streets, bringing together groups of singers and musicians chanting lines in honor of the three wise men: Balthazar, Melchior, and Caspar. Portuguese in its origin, the Folia de Reis, or Reisado, was brought to Brazil during the colonial period.

In various cities across the country, they go from house to house wearing costumes and masks and performing dances and songs with multiple string instruments, accordions, and percussion. Some groups have characters – kings, clowns, and bastions – who visit the homes of the faithful.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Christmas pardon decree leaves out coup plotters.
• Publicly and at home, Brazilians keep nativity scene tradition alive.

Converted into saints by the Catholic Church, Belchior, Caspar, and Baltazar are said to have left the East guided by a star and carrying three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh – symbolizing royalty, immortality, and spirituality. For devotees, the date of the arrival of the three wise men at their destination marks the end of the Christmas celebrations, which begin four Sundays before December 25, the day attributed to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Thus, January 6 marks the moment when the three wise men visit the newborn Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, an ancient city currently located in Palestine. On this day, nativity scenes, trees, and other Christmas decorations are also taken down.

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has sent a team from the National Force of the country’s public healthcare network, the SUS, to Roraima, a state bordering Venezuela. The objective is to assess health infrastructure, personnel, vaccines, and other supplies.

In a statement, the ministry said it is structuring a contingency plan for the SUS’s response to a “possible worsening of the international crisis and an increase in migrant demand in the border region” following an attack by the US government.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Border state Roraima monitors impacts of US attack on Venezuela.
• Defense Minister: Brazil–Venezuela border remains calm and open.

“To date, the migratory flow in the region remains unchanged,” the ministry highlighted in the declaration.

The statement noted that the teams sent to Roraima have extensive experience in disaster situations and are identifying hospital infrastructure and assessing the possibility of expansion.

If necessary, the government informed that it will set up field hospitals and expand existing structures to reduce the impact on the Brazilian public health system.

The Ministry of Health also stated that it is making itself available to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to provide humanitarian aid, including the supply of medicines and dialysis materials, after the main distribution center in the city of La Guaira, Venezuela, was destroyed in an attack.

“The Ministry of Health reaffirms the role of the SUS as an international reference in guaranteeing comprehensive medical assistance to all people on national soil. For immigrants in border cities, this right is ensured regardless of migratory status or nationality,” the statement concluded.

The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) sent a letter to the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference expressing solidarity with the current situation in the country following the attack led by the US government.

The text was published on social media and describes the situation in the neighboring country as one marked by tensions, suffering, and uncertainties affecting the people.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil at UN: US action in Venezuela threatens peace in South America.
• Protest in São Paulo calls for Maduro’s release, Venezuelan autonomy.

“We come together spiritually in your prayers and pastoral initiatives, expressing our solidarity with the victims of violence, the wounded, and the bereaved families,” the note reads.

“As pastors of the Church in Latin America, we share the pain of the suffering people and renew our hope in the power of the Gospel of unarmed and disarming peace,” the statement goes on to say.

In the letter, the Brazilian conference cites sincere dialogue, justice, and respect for human dignity and the sovereignty of nations as the only way to promote the common good, in addition to “strengthening democracy and building a social coexistence marked by reconciliation and lasting peace.”

“May the Holy Spirit continue to sustain the prophetic mission of the Church in Venezuela, granting serenity, wisdom, and strength to all, and leading the Venezuelan people along the paths of unity and hope,” the message says.

Interventions

Last Saturday (Jan. 3), several explosions were reported in neighborhoods of the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Amid the military attack orchestrated by US, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by US elite forces and taken to New York.

The raid marks a new episode of direct US interventions in Latin America. The last time the US invaded a Latin American country was in 1989, in Panama, when the military kidnapped then-President Manuel Noriega, accusing him of drug trafficking.

As they did with Noriega, the US accuses Maduro of leading an alleged Venezuelan cartel called De Los Soles, without presenting any evidence. Experts in international drug trafficking question the existence of the cartel.

Critics see the action as a geopolitical measure to distance Venezuela from global adversaries of the US – such as China and Russia – as well as to exercise greater control over the oil of a country that boasts the largest proven oil reserves on the planet.

Unions and social movements held a demonstration on Monday afternoon (Jan. 5) in São Paulo, demanding the release of Nicolás Maduro. The protest took place in front of the United States Consulate.

Participants advocated for the autonomy of the neighboring country, the pursuit of peace, and respect and solidarity with the Venezuelan government and its people.

Notícias relacionadas:

• Brazil at UN: US action in Venezuela threatens peace in South America.

“We came to this rally today not only to demonstrate our solidarity with the Venezuelan people, but also to express the position of working-class students regarding imperialist attacks, especially those by the United States. Imperialism, regardless of the country, seeks to dominate nations, particularly those on the periphery of capitalism,” said student Bianca Mondeja, a member of the leadership of the National Union of Students (UNE).

The student organization considers a people’s “capacity for self-determination” to be “non-negotiable.”

For Professor Luana Bife, who is affiliated with the Unified Workers’ Central (CUT), the United States’ action against Venezuela constitutes “interference that destabilizes a country socially and economically.” She warned that, just one day after the invasion of Venezuela, Trump was already reiterating the possibility of military action against other countries. “Our central position is the self-determination of peoples,” she reaffirmed.

Gilmar Mauro, a member of the National Coordination of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), called for the immediate release of President Maduro. “We are here in solidarity with the Venezuelan people, in defense of sovereignty, and demanding the immediate release of President Maduro. In truth, it is the continent and democracies around the world that are under threat,” he emphasized.

Mauro said there are about 60 MST members in Venezuela today and that, among the movement’s members, there is a perception of a resurgence in popular mobilizations in the country.

“For many people who are not with us in the streets, this has generated indignation and a patriotic sentiment that is effectively surfacing at this moment. This is happening even within Venezuela, including among sectors of the Venezuelan right, and we are witnessing this within the United States as well,” he stated.