TOPIC

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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

Protesters rally against the sentence-reduction bill in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Lula vows to veto bill slashing Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term

The proposed law could see the ex-president spend just over two years behind bars for an attempted coup.

19 Dec 2025 - 2:09AM

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s Congress passes bill to cut Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence

18 Dec 2025 - 1:55PM

China-Latin America relations

BYD plans giant Brazil factory to scale electric bus and truck production

18 Dec 2025 - 5:14AM

China food security

Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

The two countries remain top suppliers, but efforts to promote self-sufficiency are set to reduce reliance on imports.

18 Dec 2025 - 1:12AMvideocam

Soybeans are loaded into a truck in Dwight, Illinois, in August. Photo: Getty Images

United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

The 40-metre (131ft) replica was a promotional display for Brazilian retail store chain Havan.

17 Dec 2025 - 5:36PM

Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$256 million of suspected cocaine hidden in ship hull

Underwater robots help detect 417kg of suspected cocaine wrapped in 11 waterproof packages concealed behind grate of sea chest.

17 Dec 2025 - 3:34AM

Underwater robots were used to locate the packages stashed in the cargo ship’s sea chest. Photo: Edmond So

China-Latin America relations

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Government defends tariff package as vital to supporting domestic workers and producers, and not aimed at curbing imports from China.

16 Dec 2025 - 2:27AMvideocam

Commodities

Chinese mining giant CMOC buys four Brazilian gold mines to expand

CMOC will own the Aurizona, RDM, Fazenda and Santa Luz mines, with 8 tons of combined annual gold output.

15 Dec 2025 - 12:55PM

China-EU relations

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

12 Dec 2025 - 3:03AMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, in Beijing on Monday. Photo: DPA

China technology

Opinion | Why the Global South is embracing Chinese AI

The US champions AI as an autonomous agent, a content creator. China exports a vision of AI as a digital nervous system for the real economy.

10 Dec 2025 - 10:26AMvideocam

The Chinese approach, forged in the fires of domestic industrial competition, views AI as “relational infrastructure”: a connective tissue for physical systems. It is designed to get its hands dirty, such as in mining, ports and factories. Photo: Adobe Stock

China-Latin America relations

US senators warn of China-cartel links forming a global ‘Silk Road of crime’

At a Senate hearing, officials described Chinese money brokers as key to laundering cartel funds and fuelling the illicit fentanyl trade.

10 Dec 2025 - 7:28AMvideocam

US-China trade war

‘A slap in the face’: some US farmers unhappy with Trump’s US$12 billion bailout

US soybean growers, who were hit hardest by tariff disputes, have voiced frustration that overdue funding falls well short of what they need.

9 Dec 2025 - 8:08AMvideocam

Jair Bolsonaro

Bolsonaro’s son says he could drop his Brazil presidency bid ‘for a price’

Flavio Bolsonaro’s announcement comes as his allies push for amnesty for his father, the jailed former president.

8 Dec 2025 - 11:02AM

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

China exports

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:24AMvideocam

South Korea

‘Relive the magic’? K-drama dating service probed for sex crimes in Brazil

The KDramaDate platform offers curated outings with Korean men, including one of an ‘intimate experience’ at a motel or client’s home.

4 Dec 2025 - 5:05PM

China trade

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:21AMvideocam

TikTok

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

4 Dec 2025 - 10:45AM

TikTok’s offices in Culver City, California. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

China-Latin America relations

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

4 Dec 2025 - 7:01AMvideocam

Banking & finance

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

3 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

Trump seizes on China ‘ban’ in Brazil soy trade, but data shows US gains small

China halted imports of soybeans from five Brazil-based exporters after pesticide-treated wheat was found mixed into cargo bound for Beijing.

3 Dec 2025 - 7:34AMvideocam

US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on Tuesday that US farmers are benefiting from China’s recent ban on select Brazilian soybean shipments. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

China manufacturing

Factory of factories: China’s manufacturers join wave of overseas expansions

With many of their clients moving or building sites abroad, China’s factory owners are following suit, seizing a ‘last chance’ for new revenues.

11 Dec 2025 - 11:20AMvideocam

Mental health

Teen mauled to death after climbing into lion enclosure at Brazil zoo

Authorities say 19-year-old Gerson de Melo Machado, who had mental health struggles, scaled a six-metre wall to enter the enclosure.

2 Dec 2025 - 1:47PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Brazil’s central bank chief says China’s low-cost imports have eased inflation

Gabriel Galipolo confirms imports from China have grown while their prices have fallen, easing inflation in Brazil in the short term.

2 Dec 2025 - 4:50AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

China halts Brazilian soy imports, disbelief over robot clip: 5 weekend reads

From portraits of courage from Hong Kong’s deadly fire to Brazilian soy imports, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

1 Dec 2025 - 1:49PM

A worker inspects soybeans during the soy harvest near the town of Campos Lindos in Brazil on February 18, 2018. Photo: Reuters

Music

Video killed the radio star and now streaming has killed MTV across Europe

MTV Music, MTV Hits and its 80s and 90s music shows will be shut down in the UK and other European countries in the coming months.

30 Nov 2025 - 3:20PM

Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela airspace should be considered ‘closed in its entirety’, Trump says

The South American nation slammed the US president’s ‘colonialist threat’, and said his comments were incompatible with international law.

30 Nov 2025 - 1:57PM

China-Latin America relations

China halts soy imports from Brazil plants, pivots to US amid food safety probe

China’s ban follows detection of pesticide-treated wheat in soy cargo as Beijing ramps up US farm purchases after trade talks.

29 Nov 2025 - 3:49AMvideocam

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Brazil

Brazil’s Lula vows to veto bill slashing Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison term

The proposed law could see the ex-president spend just over two years behind bars for an attempted coup.

Brazil’s Congress passes bill to cut Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence

BYD plans giant Brazil factory to scale electric bus and truck production

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

The two countries remain top suppliers, but efforts to promote self-sufficiency are set to reduce reliance on imports.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil

The 40-metre (131ft) replica was a promotional display for Brazilian retail store chain Havan.

Hong Kong customs seizes HK$256 million of suspected cocaine hidden in ship hull

Underwater robots help detect 417kg of suspected cocaine wrapped in 11 waterproof packages concealed behind grate of sea chest.

Mexico stands by its decision for 50 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods

Government defends tariff package as vital to supporting domestic workers and producers, and not aimed at curbing imports from China.

Chinese mining giant CMOC buys four Brazilian gold mines to expand

CMOC will own the Aurizona, RDM, Fazenda and Santa Luz mines, with 8 tons of combined annual gold output.

Brussels ramps up China de-risking while France and Germany pull further apart

Raids, probes and new screening rules collide with widening splits between Paris and Berlin over how tough to be on Beijing.

Opinion | Why the Global South is embracing Chinese AI

The US champions AI as an autonomous agent, a content creator. China exports a vision of AI as a digital nervous system for the real economy.

US senators warn of China-cartel links forming a global ‘Silk Road of crime’

At a Senate hearing, officials described Chinese money brokers as key to laundering cartel funds and fuelling the illicit fentanyl trade.

‘A slap in the face’: some US farmers unhappy with Trump’s US$12 billion bailout

US soybean growers, who were hit hardest by tariff disputes, have voiced frustration that overdue funding falls well short of what they need.

Bolsonaro’s son says he could drop his Brazil presidency bid ‘for a price’

Flavio Bolsonaro’s announcement comes as his allies push for amnesty for his father, the jailed former president.

Why China sees Brazil as ‘last untapped blue ocean market’ for investment boom

Chinese investment in Brazil is soaring as firms eye the vast potential growth in South America’s ‘blue ocean market’.

‘Relive the magic’? K-drama dating service probed for sex crimes in Brazil

The KDramaDate platform offers curated outings with Korean men, including one of an ‘intimate experience’ at a motel or client’s home.

Explainer | As China’s companies become industry leaders, where in the world are they going?

Across numerous sectors, China’s firms are setting up shop worldwide – and gaining ground on their well-entrenched competitors.

TikTok to invest more than US$37 billion in Brazil data centre

China is Brazil’s top trading partner and is seeking to expand economic and political ties across the region amid tensions with the US.

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

Opinion | How yuan internationalisation is helping to close the climate finance gap

Through fast-growing markets for yuan-denominated bonds, China is showing it can support sustainability projects across the Global South.

Trump seizes on China ‘ban’ in Brazil soy trade, but data shows US gains small

China halted imports of soybeans from five Brazil-based exporters after pesticide-treated wheat was found mixed into cargo bound for Beijing.

Factory of factories: China’s manufacturers join wave of overseas expansions

With many of their clients moving or building sites abroad, China’s factory owners are following suit, seizing a ‘last chance’ for new revenues.

Teen mauled to death after climbing into lion enclosure at Brazil zoo

Authorities say 19-year-old Gerson de Melo Machado, who had mental health struggles, scaled a six-metre wall to enter the enclosure.

Brazil’s central bank chief says China’s low-cost imports have eased inflation

Gabriel Galipolo confirms imports from China have grown while their prices have fallen, easing inflation in Brazil in the short term.

China halts Brazilian soy imports, disbelief over robot clip: 5 weekend reads

From portraits of courage from Hong Kong’s deadly fire to Brazilian soy imports, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Video killed the radio star and now streaming has killed MTV across Europe

MTV Music, MTV Hits and its 80s and 90s music shows will be shut down in the UK and other European countries in the coming months.

Venezuela airspace should be considered ‘closed in its entirety’, Trump says

The South American nation slammed the US president’s ‘colonialist threat’, and said his comments were incompatible with international law.

China halts soy imports from Brazil plants, pivots to US amid food safety probe

China’s ban follows detection of pesticide-treated wheat in soy cargo as Beijing ramps up US farm purchases after trade talks.

Explainer | What does future hold for Brazil, US in China’s soybean balancing act?

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

Video | Storm topples Statue of Liberty replica in Brazil