South China Morning Post
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Latest news on Brazil and Brazilian news, providing comprehensive coverage of Brazilian politics, President Lula, Bolsonaro, Brasilia, the economy, interest rates and the real, Petrobras, the Amazon rainforest, crime, business, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brazil's ties with the United States, China, BRICS and Mercosur.
Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world by area and the most populous in South America, with more than 210 million people. Its capital is Brasilia, while Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are global cities alongside Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Manaus, Curitiba and Recife. It is the continent's largest economy and a member of the G20, BRICS and Mercosur.
Brazilian politics is shaped by the presidency, the National Congress and the Supreme Federal Court. The rivalry between Lula's Workers' Party and the conservative movement around Jair Bolsonaro dominates elections, court cases and debates over democracy. Organised crime, drug trafficking and police operations in favelas keep public security high on the agenda, as do relations with the United States and tariffs.
The economy is a constant focus, from Central Bank decisions on the Selic interest rate to inflation, public spending and the value of the real. State oil company Petrobras and miner Vale are among its best-known firms, while soybeans, beef, coffee, sugar, oil and iron ore are leading exports. China is Brazil's largest trading partner, so shifts in global demand matter.
The Amazon rainforest places Brazil at the centre of the climate debate. Deforestation, wildfires, drought, El Nino and Indigenous land rights drive many headlines, and Brazil hosted the COP30 climate summit in Belem in 2025. Agribusiness, mining and energy interests often clash with environmental protection.
Portuguese colonisation began in 1500, Brazil declared independence on 7 September 1822, and it ended slavery in 1888, the last country in the Americas to do so. That Indigenous, African, Portuguese and immigrant heritage shapes Carnival, samba, bossa nova, telenovelas and the cuisine, as well as modern debates on inequality and race. Minas Gerais, Bahia and the Amazon states each add distinct regional identities.
Staying informed about Brazil means following politics, business, climate and culture at once. Our NewsNow Brazil feed gathers the latest headlines on Lula, Bolsonaro, Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the wider country, updated around the clock from reliable sources.