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Brazil

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Brazil. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Brasília

Head of State

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Head of Government

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

People shop for beef at a supermarket in Fuzhou, Fujian province. China has renewed import licences for hundreds of US beef plants. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

China-Latin America relations

China restores US beef trade amid Trump-Xi summit, alarming Brazilian exporters

Beijing’s renewal of import licences for US beef plants comes as Brazil nears its annual quota cap and scrambles for alternative markets.

15 May 2026 - 4:46AMvideocam

Shanghai

Brazil visa-free entry for Chinese visitors sparks South America travel demand

12 May 2026 - 7:00PM

Diplomacy

Opinion | Just because Brics isn’t a coherent bloc doesn’t mean it’s impotent

12 May 2026 - 7:43AMvideocam

Israel-Gaza war

Spanish, Brazilian flotilla activists released after detention in Israel

Israel deported two activists it detained near Greece for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

10 May 2026 - 6:06PM

Palestinians take part in a protest in solidarity with activists Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national, and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were arrested aboard the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters, in Gaza City on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

India

Vietnam joins rush for India’s battle-tested ‘strong, non-Western’ BrahMos

As a joint Indo-Russian venture, BrahMos offers a supersonic, non-Western alternative to US hardware with no Nato-linked conditions.

10 May 2026 - 1:35PMvideocam

China economy

Outside In | Prepare for ‘China shock 3.0’ to the global food economy

Imagine China applying the same industry policy playbook for electric cars, solar panels and AI to agriculture and food self-sufficiency.

8 May 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Lula won’t sideline China on rare earths, tells Trump refining stays in Brazil

In a three-hour White House meeting on Thursday, Brazil’s president pitched his country’s minerals to all comers.

8 May 2026 - 7:05AMvideocam

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures to reporters following his White House meeting with US President Donald Trump, at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

China-Latin America relations

China pours US$6.1b into Brazil, making it Beijing’s top global investment

Chinese miners, carmakers and tech firms are fanned out across 20 states, putting a dent in Washington’s own push throughout the region.

8 May 2026 - 12:06AMvideocam

Science

Will Iran war threaten next harvest? Which countries are most at risk?

As the Hormuz blockade cuts off vital agricultural inputs, Food and Agriculture Organization official views China as key food security partner.

7 May 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

War and conflict

Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution

Readers discuss the imperative of dialogue to end the Iran war, the growth and diversity of Chinese products and Hong Kong’s efforts to deter smoking.

7 May 2026 - 11:30AM

An Iranian walks next to an anti-US mural in a street in Tehran, Iran, on May 4. Photo: EPA

China airliners

Expat pilots hoping to fly in China warned their credentials no longer coveted

China’s aviation market still attracts foreign pilots but they face high competition, rigid standards as overseas experience loses its shine.

6 May 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

Two commercial airline pilots walk through the departure hall of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, as foreign pilots seeking to launch a career in China are warned of stiff competition and rigid standards. Photo: Getty

Americas and the Caribbean

Boy, 13, shoots 2 dead at Brazil school

Students tried to escape over a wall, but it was too tall and many were trapped on the school roof.

6 May 2026 - 7:50AM

China food security

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

5 May 2026 - 8:29AM

Israel-Gaza war

Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel face ‘extreme brutality’

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted near Greece were brought to Israel for interrogation, and appeared in court on Sunday.

3 May 2026 - 4:34PMvideocam

Boats of a new humanitarian flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip make a symbolic departure from Barcelona’s Port Vell on April 12, after the departure of the flotilla was postponed due to bad weather. Photo: AFP

China-Latin America relations

Beijing backs Cuba, Chile reveals smuggling ring: Latin America relations reads

From a smuggling ring in Chile to rare earth wrangling in Brazil, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in March 2026.

1 May 2026 - 11:00PM

People walk past a mural with the Cuban flag in Havana, Cuba, on April 15. Photo: EPA

Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil’s Congress forces early release for jailed Bolsonaro in blow to Lula

Lawmakers override presidential veto to reduce 27-year sentence, signalling a shift in power five months before elections.

1 May 2026 - 1:24PM

Brics

Iran war tests India’s Brics leadership as ‘political relevance’ questions mount

With Brics members Iran and the UAE as belligerents, the bloc has failed to reach a common position on the Middle East conflict.

30 Apr 2026 - 7:49PMvideocam

Brics

Brics to push for intra-currency payments as ‘immunity’ against Western clout

New Delhi has to be wary of any move to challenge the US dollar as it seeks to sign an interim trade deal with Washington, analysts say.

30 Apr 2026 - 4:41PMvideocam

Leaders from Brics member and partner countries gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Climate change

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

Researchers warn that fires fuelled by climate change are a dangerous new normal and could reverse gains made in tackling deforestation.

29 Apr 2026 - 9:35PMvideocam

Science

Gene study reveals unknown human migration into South America as late as 720AD

Scientists have discovered traces of a genetic signature associated with Indigenous Australasians dating from China’s Tang dynasty.

29 Apr 2026 - 3:56PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

26 Apr 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

Solar panels on a residential building in Matanzas, Cuba. Photo: AFP

Stock Connect

Brazil beckoned: China now has stock and bond ‘connect’ schemes in 5 regions

Strategic financial corridors now bridge mainland bourses with global hubs, enabling more seamless investment through specialised fund vehicles and receipts.

24 Apr 2026 - 7:00AM

An electronic board is seen at the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange in Brazil. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump

Russia’s Lavrov says balance of power shifting to emerging economies

At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, Lavrov said the foundations of globalisation powered primarily by the US had ‘come to an end’.

18 Apr 2026 - 11:42PMvideocam

Spain

Spain signs deals with Brazil as Sanchez builds anti-Trump bloc

The Spanish leader is hosting heads of state and government in a bid to counter the US president and revive the political left.

18 Apr 2026 - 5:23AM

Science

China’s space station crew to ‘maximise opportunities’ with extra month in orbit

The Shenzhou-21 astronauts were embroiled in drama last year after their probe was used in an emergency mission for the previous crew.

17 Apr 2026 - 6:31PMvideocam

Astronauts Zhang Hongzhang, Wu Fei and Zhang Lu pictured before Shenzhou-21 was launched in October. Photo: Reuters

United States

Lula blasts Trump’s fear-based rule, calls for ‘great maturity’

‘Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country,’ Brazil’s president says.

16 Apr 2026 - 6:38PMvideocam

A woman walks next to an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday. Photo: WANA via Reuters

SCMP Highlights

Brazil blacklists BYD, some foreign brands may exit China: 7 EV reads

From Telsa regaining world’s top spot to Chinese carmakers gaining rapid ground in Europe, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

15 Apr 2026 - 3:30PM

China-Latin America relations

China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

Move comes as Washington locks US$565 million deal with Brazil’s only operating rare earth mine.

15 Apr 2026 - 5:48AMvideocam

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Brazil

China restores US beef trade amid Trump-Xi summit, alarming Brazilian exporters

Beijing’s renewal of import licences for US beef plants comes as Brazil nears its annual quota cap and scrambles for alternative markets.

Brazil visa-free entry for Chinese visitors sparks South America travel demand

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Just because Brics isn’t a coherent bloc doesn’t mean it’s impotent

Spanish, Brazilian flotilla activists released after detention in Israel

Israel deported two activists it detained near Greece for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

Vietnam joins rush for India’s battle-tested ‘strong, non-Western’ BrahMos

As a joint Indo-Russian venture, BrahMos offers a supersonic, non-Western alternative to US hardware with no Nato-linked conditions.

Outside In | Prepare for ‘China shock 3.0’ to the global food economy

Imagine China applying the same industry policy playbook for electric cars, solar panels and AI to agriculture and food self-sufficiency.

Lula won’t sideline China on rare earths, tells Trump refining stays in Brazil

In a three-hour White House meeting on Thursday, Brazil’s president pitched his country’s minerals to all comers.

China pours US$6.1b into Brazil, making it Beijing’s top global investment

Chinese miners, carmakers and tech firms are fanned out across 20 states, putting a dent in Washington’s own push throughout the region.

Will Iran war threaten next harvest? Which countries are most at risk?

As the Hormuz blockade cuts off vital agricultural inputs, Food and Agriculture Organization official views China as key food security partner.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution

Readers discuss the imperative of dialogue to end the Iran war, the growth and diversity of Chinese products and Hong Kong’s efforts to deter smoking.

Expat pilots hoping to fly in China warned their credentials no longer coveted

China’s aviation market still attracts foreign pilots but they face high competition, rigid standards as overseas experience loses its shine.

Boy, 13, shoots 2 dead at Brazil school

Students tried to escape over a wall, but it was too tall and many were trapped on the school roof.

How the Middle East crisis is expanding China’s agrochemical influence

China accounts for about a third of global fertiliser production, and 70 per cent of the raw materials for chemical pesticides.

Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel face ‘extreme brutality’

Two foreign activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted near Greece were brought to Israel for interrogation, and appeared in court on Sunday.

Beijing backs Cuba, Chile reveals smuggling ring: Latin America relations reads

From a smuggling ring in Chile to rare earth wrangling in Brazil, here are highlights from the SCMP’s foreign correspondents in March 2026.

Brazil’s Congress forces early release for jailed Bolsonaro in blow to Lula

Lawmakers override presidential veto to reduce 27-year sentence, signalling a shift in power five months before elections.

Iran war tests India’s Brics leadership as ‘political relevance’ questions mount

With Brics members Iran and the UAE as belligerents, the bloc has failed to reach a common position on the Middle East conflict.

Brics to push for intra-currency payments as ‘immunity’ against Western clout

New Delhi has to be wary of any move to challenge the US dollar as it seeks to sign an interim trade deal with Washington, analysts say.

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

Researchers warn that fires fuelled by climate change are a dangerous new normal and could reverse gains made in tackling deforestation.

Gene study reveals unknown human migration into South America as late as 720AD

Scientists have discovered traces of a genetic signature associated with Indigenous Australasians dating from China’s Tang dynasty.

China is poised to reap rewards as energy shock heats up the race for renewables

The US war on Iran may have inadvertently triggered a global transition that will favour Beijing’s green leadership, analysts predict.

Brazil beckoned: China now has stock and bond ‘connect’ schemes in 5 regions

Strategic financial corridors now bridge mainland bourses with global hubs, enabling more seamless investment through specialised fund vehicles and receipts.

Russia’s Lavrov says balance of power shifting to emerging economies

At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey, Lavrov said the foundations of globalisation powered primarily by the US had ‘come to an end’.

Spain signs deals with Brazil as Sanchez builds anti-Trump bloc

The Spanish leader is hosting heads of state and government in a bid to counter the US president and revive the political left.

China’s space station crew to ‘maximise opportunities’ with extra month in orbit

The Shenzhou-21 astronauts were embroiled in drama last year after their probe was used in an emergency mission for the previous crew.

Lula blasts Trump’s fear-based rule, calls for ‘great maturity’

‘Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country,’ Brazil’s president says.

Brazil blacklists BYD, some foreign brands may exit China: 7 EV reads

From Telsa regaining world’s top spot to Chinese carmakers gaining rapid ground in Europe, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

China and the US want rare earths. Brazil will share – on one condition

Move comes as Washington locks US$565 million deal with Brazil’s only operating rare earth mine.

Opinion | Just because Brics isn’t a coherent bloc doesn’t mean it’s impotent

Letters | History shows the high cost and low yield of war as conflict resolution