Brazil
Brazil is a federal republic in South America and the largest country on the continent by both area and population. The capital is Brasília, whilst São Paulo is the largest city and economic centre. With a population exceeding 215-million, Brazil is the sixth most populous country in the world. The economy is the largest in Latin America and ranks among the top ten globally, driven by agriculture, mining, manufacturing and services. Brazil is a leading exporter of commodities including iron ore, soybeans, coffee, sugar and beef, and holds significant reserves of gold, bauxite and other minerals. The currency is the real. The country is a presidential federal republic, with power shared between the federal government and 26 states plus the Federal District. Brazil is a member of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS Plus and Mercosur, the South American trade bloc. The Amazon rainforest covers much of the northern territory, making environmental policy and resource management recurring themes in domestic and international debate. The country was a Portuguese colony until independence in 1822 and has since developed into a major emerging economy with substantial industrial and agricultural capacity.
Brazil Updates
Committee on Trade warns that Tongaat Hulett crisis threatens sugar industry progress
3rd June 2026 The Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has welcomed progress made under the Sugar Value Chain Master Plan but warned that the... →
Ebola recoveries bring signs of hope in DRC as suspected cases emerge outside Africa
By: Reuters 1st June 2026 Four nurses who were being treated for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus have been discharged from a hospital in Bunia in the... →
SA: Ronald Lamola: Address by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, on the International Relations and Cooperation Dept Budget Vote 2026/27, Parliament, Cape town (26/0/2026)
29th May 2026 That victory paved the way for the legislative machinery of apartheid, intensifying racial segregation and stripping most of the people of this... →
Investment conferences are turning commitments into jobs
18th May 2026 Dear Fellow South African, Since the start of this year, we have held a series of high-profile engagements with domestic and international... →
Iran war to cast a shadow on BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Delhi
By: Reuters 13th May 2026 The US-Israeli war on Iran is set to cast a shadow over a two-day meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping that kicks off in New... →
24/7 renewables: The economics of firm solar and wind
12th May 2026 Solar and wind have become the cheapest sources of new electricity generation worldwide. As renewable penetration rises, however, the central... →
AngloGold delivers record free cash flow 
By: Martin Creamer 8th May 2026 The record first-quarter (Q1) free cash flow of $1.2-billion delivered by AngloGold Ashanti is almost triple the Q1 2025 amount, following steady... →
Anti-gender & anti-climate politics: exploring converging agendas in Global Majority countries
24th April 2026 Politics today is marked by accelerating global backlash against both gender equality and action on the climate crisis. This new working paper... →
Opinion: South Africa’s doctrine gap
23rd April 2026 South Africa keeps relitigating 1994 while the world builds the next industrial order without it, writes economic commentator Itumeleng Mahabane. →
We must defend and build democracy across the world
20th April 2026 Dear Fellow South African, As we prepare for Freedom Day on 27 April, we reflect on our journey to deepen democracy and advance human rights for... →
