Its television station transmits the programmes of Globo, which produces Brazil's most popular soap operas.

ECONOMIST: A victory for semi-feudalism

This tale is worthy of one of the soap operas for which Brazil is famous.

ECONOMIST: A popular president is left politically wounded

Unlike in Britain or America where soap stars are not usually considered A-list, in Brazil they are the A-list.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Brazil's bland and beautiful