Written by Elisa Garbil – 31.10.2025 The Amazon is not simply a forest. It is a vast, transnational market in which criminal networks monetise land, timber, minerals, cattle, and people, and launder those proceeds into mainstream supply chains. This convergence of environmental crime, organised crime, and corporate procurement creates a composite risk that is far bigger than…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode, Dominic Bowen is joined by César Muñoz Acebes to examine the deepening crisis in the Amazon. They unpack the role of organized crime in environmental destruction, the links to drug trafficking and illegal economies, and the devastating consequences for local communities and global stability. A critical look at how crime, politics,…
César Muñoz Acebes is the Brazil director at Human Rights Watch, where he supervises research, advocates for foreign and domestic policies that promote human rights, and leads fundraising efforts in Brazil. Before his current role, he served as America’s senior researcher and later associate director. In those capacities, he researched and wrote reports and articles, produced…
Yaroslav Lissovolik worked in the International Monetary Fund, in Washington, where he was Advisor to the Executive Director for the Russian Federation (2001–2004). In 2004 he joined Deutsche Bank as Chief Economist and became Head of Company Research in Russia in 2009, and then a member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank in Russia…
Written by Elisa Garbil – 25.08.2025 In 2025, the BRICS grouping, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, stands at a pivotal juncture. Once a loosely aligned coalition of emerging economies seeking a louder voice in global governance, the BRICS have transformed into a more assertive and expanded formation, aiming to reshape the foundations…
Coordinated and Produced by Elisa Garbil In this episode Dominic Bowen and Yaroslav Lissovolik dive into the challenges and opportunities of BRICS! Find out more about the economic Asymmetries and power dynamics, consensus and decision-making, future strategies, BRICS’ role in global governance, Russia’s position, future cooperation, BRICS plus, international risks and opportunities, and more! Yaroslav Lissovolik worked in the International…
In early September, 2023, following the 15th annual BRICS summit, the BRICS nations announced its expansion, inviting Argentina, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. These states are set to become members of BRICS at the start of 2024. Whilst some see this expansion to have little effect on the international political…
This week, Dominic Bowen speaks with Gustavo Ribeiro about the January 8th attack and the political situation in Brazil. They explore what, and who, fuelled and facilitated the January 8th insurrection, as well as political and social risks in Brazil, including corruption and misinformation. Gustavo Ribeiro is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Brazilian Report,…
An award-winning journalist, Gustavo has extensive experience covering Brazilian politics and international affairs. He has been featured across Brazilian and French media outlets and in 2017 founded The Brazilian Report, an English-language website covering Brazilian politics and economy. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Latin American studies from Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris….
On 08 January, Brazil was met with the largest attack on its democracy in decades. An attack evocative of the 06 January rioters, who overtook the US Capitol, almost two years apart to the day. The parallels are undeniable and perhaps indicative of a rising international risk of violent civil unrest against democratic institutions. Jair…
