
The street Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world’s largest public cultural celebrations, begins this weekend with 462 scheduled street parades (blocos) and an expected attendance of around six million people, Brazilian state media Agência Brasil reported.

Marriages celebrated under Umbanda and Candomblé religious rites are now officially recognized in the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro as per Law 11.058/25, penned by legislator Átila Nunes of the PSD and passed by the Rio Legislative Assembly (Alerj). These unions are now convertible into civil following existing legislation.

Around 1,000 police officers from the Military and Civil Police forces of Rio de Janeiro were deployed on Thursday in the Complejo do Salgueiro favelas in São Gonçalo to chase leaders of the Comando Vermelho (CV), one of Brazil's largest and most influential criminal organizations.

An Argentine-built FAL rifle was found in the Comando Vermelho (CV) arsenal seized in two Rio de Janeiro favelas after this week's large-scale, deadly raid. In addition, the gang's brutal torture system has been exposed

Argentine authorities have reinforced the country's borders with Brazil, in case gang fighters pushed by local law enforcement might intend to escape through any of those crossings, following the controversial raid earlier this week in two Rio favelas.

Brazil's Justice and Security Minister Ricardo Lewandowski and Rio de Janeiro State Governor Cláudio Castro announced on Wednesday the creation of an emergency office to tackle organized crime at a local level in a coordinated manner between the federal and state governments.

The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) next Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro, it was announced on Friday. EFTA groups Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, which will now partner with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia.

Britain’s BP oil and gas giant announced this week its biggest oil and gas discovery in 25 years off the coast of Brazil. This happens when the corporation is in the midst of a major overhaul, dropping the renewable energy strategy thrust, and returning to traditional hydrocarbons policy.

A forum of Academies of Science of the BRICS bloc in Rio de Janeiro issued a declaration this week proposing the creation of a network of member countries to implement climate solutions, focusing on energy transition technologies and the development of joint artificial intelligence programs.

The city of Rio de Janeiro has declared July 7 (Monday) a municipal holiday due to the BRICS Summit, which will host leaders from over 20 countries. Additionally, July 4 (Friday) has been marked as an optional workday for public offices because of related events. Although the summit formally begins on July 6, key encounters among central bank heads and finance ministers will already be taking place on July 4 and 5.