The São Paulo State Assembly has approved 70% of government proposals and only 20% of proposals made by the deputies themselves over the past 12 months. The data, collected by Volt Data Lab, reflects the dominance of the Executive branch in the legislative process since the 1988 Constitution. The current governor, Márcio França, has struggled to pass legislation due to a divided base. Many deputy proposals are of low impact, such as establishing commemorative dates. Experts like Ana Paula Massonetto and Leonardo Quintiliano suggest that the limited legislative output of state deputies is a result of the federalist system and is not necessarily negative.

The article investigates the extensive involvement of military, police, and political figures in the private security sector in Rio de Janeiro. It reveals that a significant portion of security companies are owned by active and retired security agents, often operating without proper authorization, leading to conflicts of interest and potential corruption. The report highlights the growth of the private security industry alongside increasing violence, and the lack of effective oversight by authorities. Key figures such as Eduardo Cunha and Eunício Oliveira are implicated in these operations, raising concerns about the intersection of public duty and private profit.

Business lobbyists from banking, industry, and transportation sectors are the true authors behind one in three proposed amendments by lawmakers in the discussion of Brazil's Labor Reform. These amendments, which defend employer interests without worker consensus, were submitted by 20 deputies as if they were crafted by their offices. Over half of these proposals were incorporated into the substitute text supported by the Palácio do Planalto and are set to be voted on by the Chamber of Deputies. The general tone of the reform is that agreements between employers and employees will prevail over the law, with the original government text being significantly altered to include these lobbyist-drafted amendments. The article also discusses the informal lobbying practices in Brazil, the potential conflicts of interest among lawmakers, and the broader implications for transparency and the legislative process.

The article discusses the release of the latest edition of the Verification Handbook, a resource aimed at equipping journalists with the necessary skills to tackle modern challenges such as social media account verification, bot detection, analysis of private messaging apps, and identification of information operations and deep fakes. It emphasizes the chaotic nature of today's information environment and the ease with which it can be manipulated. The handbook is an update to previous editions and is published by the European Journalism Centre with support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

Cost control is crucial for any business, but it is especially important for companies operating in seasonal markets. Renan Damasceno from 4blue emphasizes the need to maintain low costs throughout the year to ensure the company's health. He suggests detailed management of working capital and reserving part of the revenue to cover potential downturns. Adriano Augusto Campos from Sebrae-SP advises that changing products or services between seasons can be beneficial if done with proper planning and without altering the company's core essence. Key strategies include controlling operational costs, reserving revenue, avoiding extra withdrawals, and considering weather forecasts before making investments.

In an era where everything can be done with a touch on the phone, calling to book a beauty salon appointment or not knowing where the nearest manicurist is seems outdated. Marcel Gewerc created Trinks, a platform for online booking of services at around 7,000 registered salons, which also offers marketing services and website creation for business owners. Easylook, another app, focuses on booking and evaluating beauty treatments, aiming to overcome user resistance in a sector heavily reliant on recommendations. Both apps are free for consumers, with Trinks generating revenue from subscriptions paid by salon owners and Easylook planning to introduce paid additional services.

The convenience of ready-made meals appeals to children, attracting small entrepreneurs to the market of healthy and organic snacks and lunches for kids. Mariangela Tranchesi opened Small Bites in São Paulo, offering dishes with organic ingredients online. Amanda Caroline de Souza founded Merenda Natural in Belo Horizonte, providing healthy snacks and processed fruits. Papinhas Alimentação Infantil caters to São Paulo schools, selling around 11,000 meals monthly. These businesses emphasize the importance of healthy eating habits for children and take additional precautions, such as ensuring suppliers comply with Anvisa regulations and the National Register of Organic Producers.

The National Center for Research in Energy and Materials is partnering with small and medium-sized businesses for the Sirius project, a 1.3 billion Brazilian real particle accelerator in Campinas, São Paulo. Companies like Equatorial Sistemas, Brasil Ozônio, and Femto Ciências Aplicadas are developing 'off-the-shelf' technologies with support from research centers and funding from Fapesp and Finep. These partnerships provide access to high-tech labs, qualified personnel, and financial support, fostering innovation and reducing risks. The collaborations are seen as beneficial for societal advancement and the development of domestic technology. New funding opportunities are being made available, and the new Legal Framework for Science may further improve these relationships.

E-commerce sites targeting the 'geek' audience are differentiating themselves by diving into superhero and science fiction culture, creating content such as blogs, posts, and videos. Geekyard, Play Shop Games, and Quarto Geek are examples of sites that sell geek-related products and invest in content production to attract customers. They focus on trends, exclusivity, and accurate information to maintain credibility. Fiap's director of entrepreneurship, Marcelo Nakagawa, advises that while content production is beneficial, it should also cater to the lay public to attract a broader audience.

In Brazil, the interest in beer has stimulated the market for beer-related service apps, yet entrepreneurs are still exploring more profitable business models. Lokobeer, which began as a social network and later launched an app, partners with a subscription club for revenue. Bier Tab, created by Morphy Digital Group, is not yet profitable but aids in client prospecting. Cervaonde, offering both a database and interactive features, earns from bar and brewery ads. BrBeer plans to profit with a new version offering business services. Sebrae-SP suggests that partnerships are better revenue sources than excessive advertising, which can deter users.

Brazil is set to begin the transition from analog to exclusively digital open television signals in two months, a process expected to take two years. Small and medium-sized companies, such as EiTV in Campinas, are investing in this technology, manufacturing converters to adapt older TVs to receive the higher quality signal. The digital TV market is seen as a niche with potential, requiring specific technological knowledge. The transition is sparking increased demand for services like antenna installation, with businesses like Antenas Focus receiving numerous customer inquiries. The switch is scheduled to start on November 29 in Rio Verde, GO, and in São Paulo on May 15, 2016, with a government plan to complete it by 2018. Challenges include the lack of national quality standards, as noted by Roberto Franco, president of the SBTVD Forum.

The Internet Civil Framework (Marco Civil da Internet), sanctioned as Law 12.965 in Brazil, has created new opportunities for the legal profession in corporate, legal, and educational areas. Coordinators of a book on the subject, including Marco Aurélio Florêncio Filho, Juliana Abrusio, and Fabiano Dolenc Del Masso, highlight the law's impact on issues such as data protection and the legal landscape for investors. The law introduces specific regulations for internet use, including data protection parameters, and has implications for business models like 'copycat' investments. The article also discusses concerns about the law's approach to provider liability and freedom of expression, as well as the need for legal education in digital matters for the judiciary.

Brazilian companies are currently required to provision R$ 1.3 trillion for payments at the execution phase of legal sentences. This figure could be reduced with rigorous monitoring of their procedural status, according to experts. A study by legal management technology firm e-Xyon, based on data from the National Justice Council (CNJ), identified around 65 million non-criminal cases in Brazil. The provisioned amount is estimated at 50% of the total value discussed in these cases, which amounts to R$ 2.6 trillion. The highest average provision is in the tax area at R$ 40,000, followed by civil, labor, and small claims courts. Mauro Sampaio, partner-director of e-Xyon, suggests that proper monitoring could free up 10-15% of resources allocated for provisioning. José Ricardo de Bastos Martins, partner at Peixoto & Cury Advogados, emphasizes that provisions are determined by accountants based on accounting principles, with lawyers providing information to aid decision-making. Luiz Carlos Bernhoeft, partner at Bernhoeft Contadores, points out common mistakes in quantifying provisioning liabilities, which can lead to either overestimation or underestimation, affecting company balance sheets and potentially leading to credit line suspensions and fines. The article also discusses the importance of preventive measures to manage liabilities, especially in relation to outsourced labor.

The low number of police inquiries opened in Brazil and the reduced number of actions proposed by the Public Prosecutor's Office have sparked discussions on improving investigation and criminal action in the country. Data shows that the Civil Police of São Paulo only opens inquiries for one in ten registered robberies, leaving over 2 million cases uninvestigated between 2004 and 2013. Supreme Federal Court ministers Marco Aurélio and Gilmar Mendes, along with other legal experts, highlight the need for better structure, modernization of the justice system, and proper classification of crimes. They also discuss the importance of the Public Prosecutor's Office in overseeing police inquiries and the necessity of prioritizing cases to avoid the prescription of processes.

The Council for the Control of Financial Activities (Coaf) in Brazil is planning to expand its operations beyond financial intelligence to supervise sectors that lack their own regulatory bodies. This was revealed by Antonio Carlos Ferreira de Sousa, the director of analysis and inspection at Coaf, during an interview with the electronic magazine Consultor Jurídico. Coaf aims to increase its offices beyond its single unit in Brasília and currently has 45 employees. The organization is also focusing on terrorism financing, with Sousa noting that Brazil has yet to regulate measures to block resources from terrorism and to typify acts of terrorism, despite international commitments.