Analysis: Brazil central bank autonomy becomes political punching bag for Lula

Brazil’s central bank newfound independence that was designed to shield it from politics has turned it into a convenient punching bag for the new government that can use it to fire up its leftist base and blame it for economic woes.
U.S. lawmakers include ban on TikTok on government devices in spending proposal

U.S. lawmakers early Tuesday included a proposal to bar federal government employees from using Chinese app TikTok on government-owned devices in a key spending bill.
Germany’s half-a-trillion dollar energy bazooka may not be enough

Germany is bleeding cash to keep the lights on. Almost half a trillion dollars, and counting, since the Ukraine war jolted it into an energy crisis nine months ago.
Analysis: As British lender HSBC considers Canada unit sale, antitrust issues loom

As British lender HSBC Plc explores a potential sale of its Canadian unit, lawyers and analysts say the country’s concentrated banking market could discourage big domestic banks from bidding as the government has charged the antitrust regulator to push for more competition.
Analysis: Democrats score big wins on climate, drugs with $430 billion U.S. Senate bill

Democrats scored a major policy victory when the U.S. Senate passed a $430 billion climate change, healthcare and tax bill that will help reduce the carbon emissions that drive climate change while also cutting drug costs for the elderly.