An appeals court has upheld a corruption conviction against former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a decision that could keep him from running in October's presidential election, in which he was the leading contender.

• Lula's successor Dilma Rousseff was taken down by corruption claims last year, while the current president, Michel Temer, has also been accused of corruption, along with other members of the country's elite.
• The big picture: Lula is a giant of South American politics. He was the first working class president of Brazil, and Barack Obama once called him "the most popular politician on earth." The corruption scandal surrounding him has spread throughout Brazil and South American politics more broadly, as other leaders have faced similar allegations.