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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

last updated:

29 November, 2024

A landslide in Ipatinga, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Photo: AFP

Extreme weather

At least 10 dead in Brazil landslides caused by torrential rain

At least 80mm of rain fell in the space of one hour in the city of Ipatinga, where nine died.

13 Jan 2025 - 10:18AM

Ukraine war

US imposes new Russia sanctions, hoping to reduce oil sales to China, India

11 Jan 2025 - 1:25AMvideocam

BYD

BYD ‘slavery-like conditions’ strain China-Brazil relations

10 Jan 2025 - 8:15PM

China manufacturing

China EV giant BYD hits skids in Brazil as ‘slavery-like’ claims slam workforce

China’s labour practices are driving a wedge between the world’s biggest EV maker and efforts to expand globally in areas where employee protections are paramount.

13 Jan 2025 - 1:09PMvideocam

Science

‘Gift from heaven’: China astronauts develop super niobium alloy for aerospace

An experiment conducted in space has helped Chinese scientists do the impossible – and it could revolutionise aerospace technology.

9 Jan 2025 - 2:37AMvideocam

Brics

Indonesia joins Brics as newest full member: Brazil foreign ministry

Addition of world’s fourth-most populous nation to group of major emerging national economies hailed as ‘deepening’ Global South cooperation.

7 Jan 2025 - 5:36AMvideocam

Indonesia

Indonesia admitted as full Brics member, Brazil confirms

Indonesia’s candidacy was endorsed by Brics leaders in August 2023, but it only opted to formally join after Prabowo Subianto took office.

7 Jan 2025 - 8:07AM

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (left) with Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto before a G20 leaders’ neeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 18. Photo: Brazilian Presidency / AFP

US-China relations

Trump’s pick of Rubio as top US diplomat leaves Latin America bracing

Long-time outspoken China critic raises concerns in region he might press governments to choose sides between Washington and Beijing.

31 Dec 2024 - 3:29AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil police investigating after 3 die in suspected Christmas cake poisoning

Local media said ex-husband of woman who made cake died ‘of foodborne illness’ in September and police have ordered exhumation of his body.

30 Dec 2024 - 3:28AMvideocam

Aviation accidents

Azerbaijan’ president demands Russia admits to shooting at plane before crash

Ilham Aliyev accused Moscow of initially trying to cover up cause of the fatal disaster that killed 38 of the 67 people on board.

30 Dec 2024 - 2:45AMvideocam

Workers remove coffins of victims from a plane at Heydar Aliyev International Airport outside Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday after the Azerbaijan Airlines crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Photo: AP

Venezuela

Venezuela opposition adviser holed up in Argentine residence calls it ‘prison’

Residence has been without power for more than a month, said Magalli Meda, adviser to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

29 Dec 2024 - 6:48AM

A police patrol car sits parked outside Argentina’s embassy where some members of Venezuela’s opposition are seeking asylum inside, in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: AP

BYD

Brazil suspends work visas for BYD amid claims of ‘slavery-like conditions’

Announcement came days after labour authorities also said they found Chinese workers at factory in Bahia were victims of human trafficking.

28 Dec 2024 - 6:45AM

Trade

China launches investigation into beef imports as local price of the meat falls

Imports have surged, with China representing a hugely important market for countries such as Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

28 Dec 2024 - 3:59AM

US-China relations

Trump expected to step up chase for key minerals after China restricts exports

President-elect will need to shift his ‘America First’ policy orientation to secure the supply chain crucial for defence and hi-tech.

28 Dec 2024 - 2:31AMvideocam

Outgoing US President Joe Biden has imposed export restrictions on 24 types of chipmaking equipment and three categories of software essential for semiconductor development. Photo: Shutterstock

BYD

Brazil says ‘enslaved’ Chinese workers at BYD site victims of human trafficking

BYD and its contractor Jinjiang have agreed to house the 163 labourers in hotels until a deal to end their contracts is reached.

27 Dec 2024 - 4:48PMvideocam

BYD’s new electric vehicle factory’s construction site in Camacari, Brazil. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Who is singer Anitta’s football beau, Vinicius Souza?

The pair hard-launched their relationship with an Instagram carousel and appearance at Paris Fashion Week; Souza is a sought-after professional footballer currently playing in the EFL Championship.

25 Dec 2024 - 5:00AM

BYD

Chinese workers found in ‘slavery-like conditions’ at BYD site in Brazil

Officials said staff were working excessively long hours while being kept in ‘degrading conditions’ in their accommodation.

24 Dec 2024 - 12:22PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Small plane crashes in Brazil tourist city, killing at least 10

Plane was piloted by Luiz Claudio Galeazzi, a Brazilian businessman who was travelling with his family.

23 Dec 2024 - 11:09AM

Firefighters and other rescue teams at the scene of the plane crash. Photo: : Mateus Bruxel, Agência RBS via AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41

The bus was hit by a large block of granite that apparently fell from a truck travelling in the opposite direction.

22 Dec 2024 - 11:42PM

History

Brazil-Angola cruise along slave trade route to shed light on dark past

The Great Passage cruise will make the transatlantic trip millions were forced into in reverse, in the name of education and accountability.

21 Dec 2024 - 4:15PM

Technology

Opinion | From TikTok to Apple, companies must tread carefully amid digital nationalism

Restrictive policies could hinder innovation, limit consumer choice and fragment the global digital economy.

17 Dec 2024 - 6:38PMvideocam

Participants hold signs in support of TikTok outside the US Capitol building on March 13 in Washington. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Lula discharged from hospital after emergency head surgery

President Lula wore a fedora-style hat that covered signs of operations related to a fall he took at his home.

16 Dec 2024 - 12:54PM

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leaving a hospital on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

Electric & new energy vehicles

Brazilian ports jammed with 70,000 Chinese EVs as tariffs loom

Chinese carmakers flood the world’s sixth-biggest car market as they try to avoid new tariffs.

14 Dec 2024 - 1:18AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Latest operation on Brazil’s Lula a ‘success’, doctor says

The ‘low risk’ procedure is meant to minimise the risk of future bleeding under the president’s skull after he hurt his head in a fall.

12 Dec 2024 - 10:02PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Lula alert, ‘progressed well’ since emergency brain surgery

Doctors successfully drained a bleed on the president’s brain, related to a fall in October.

11 Dec 2024 - 11:28PM

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on November 28. Photo: Reuters

Currencies

Opinion | Trump’s fuming over unlikely ‘Brics currency’ belies risks of de-dollarisation

Trump’s threat of tariffs over a currency that will likely never exist is a reminder of how much clout the dollar has in the developing world.

4 Dec 2024 - 5:59PM

Russia only started pushing to reduce global reliance on the US dollar after its banking system was cut off from the world’s reserve currency. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Trump threatens Brics countries with huge tariff if they undercut US dollar

The group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and others, discussed boosting non-dollar transactions at a recent summit.

1 Dec 2024 - 5:28AMvideocam

135

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Bolsonaro ‘actively’ took part in coup plot against Lula, police say

The ex-president was also ‘fully aware’ of an alleged plan by elite soldiers to assassinate his successor, the 884-page report adds.

27 Nov 2024 - 5:53AMvideocam

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