D-Day for Brazil with the second and final round of the Brazilian Presidential elections. The winner, Lula or Bolsonaro, is likely to be candidate least disliked by voters rather than most liked. For the world, Lula is certainly the more palatable option.

If you missed Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” on the big screen in the U.K., you can now find it on DVD and streaming.

Good luck to Mike Biggs (Balao Magico) who is opening his new bar and kite point today on Praia de Panaquatira in São Luís, Maranhão. It’s a tough life, but I am sure he is the man for the job! Looks a great spot.

Jury out for now, but the Copacabana Palace in Rio has unveiled its newly refurbished pool. Originally opened in 1934, the pool has been reimagined in shades of the Copacabana sea, honouring its storied legacy as Rio’s ultimate gathering place.

As always,Brazil super efficient in the counting of votes. Many countries could learn a lot. But like other countries, Brazil discovered opinion polls are not as accurate as they should be. So we move on to 25 October for the final countdown.

Brazilian election votes in London: Lula: 56,33% / 8.152 votes Flávio Bolsonaro: 36,12% / 5.227 votes Renan Santos: 2,47% / 357 votes Augusto Cury: 2,31% / 334 votes Ronaldo Caiado: 1,18% / 171 votes Romeu Zema: 0,91% / 131 votes Abstentions: 60,4%

Counting down… 300 days to the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

British Airways has announced 25% increase in capacity to Latin America from 28 March 2027 with re-introduction of daily non-stop flights to Buenos Aires and onward service to Santiago. Resulting in increase in seat capacity to Rio as the daily service becomes a dedicated route

“Feito Pipa” (Gugu’s World ) has been chosen by Academia Brasileira de Cinema to represent Brazil in the international film category at the Academy Awards in 2027. A coming‑of‑age drama, the film had its world premiere at the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival

13 September is "Dia Nacional da Cachaça" in Brazil. The day in 1661, following the Cachaça Revolt, that it became legal to make and distribute cachaça in Brazil. Today cachaça is one the world's largest selling spirits with a growing following outside of Brazil. Cheers! Saúde!

6 films in running to represent Brazil at 99th Oscars: “100 dias” Carlos Saldanha; “A fabulosa máquina do tempo” Eliza Capai;“A natureza das coisas invisíveis” Rafaela Camelo; “Feito pipa” Allan Deberton; “Nosso segredo” Grace Passô; “Vicentina pede desculpas” Gabriel Martins

Elton explains why he came back to Brazil one more time.

As it is 7 de Setembro, a day that celebrates Brazil's Declaration of Independence from Portugal on 7 September 1822, it seems timely to repost this Globo recording from 2022 of the Brazilian national anthem being sung in some of the different languages of the Amazon region

From Carnival in 1978 to unforgettable shows in the pouring rain, Elton and Rio have a history stretching back nearly 50 years. He has played Rio six times and Rock in Rio twice. Read Elton’s Rio story here: eltonjohn.com/stories/elton-…

As Rock in Rio prepares to welcome Elton John back on 7 September, a reminder of Elton’s preformance of ‘Sacrifice’ at the Estádio do Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro on 25 November 1995, part of Made in England world tour. youtube.com/watch?v=GcQBPb0o…

The eleventh Rock in Rio is up and running...

11th Rock in Rio gets underway tonight with the Foo Fighters headlining. Avenged Sevenfold tops on Saturday, Calvin Harris on Sunday before Sir Elton John headlines on Monday, 7 September, Brazil’s Independence Day and national holiday, alongside Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil

Embraer (and Brazil) is celebrating the delivery of its 2,000th E-Jet. The milestone aircraft, an E195-E2, was delivered appropriately to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, now Brazil’s largest airline by number of destinations served.

One of our favourite images from the closing ceremony of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro ten years ago in 2016. In the flash of a Carmen Miranda, the games came to a close.