Brazil's president is kicking off a visit to China, looking to strike a balance between business opportunities and maintaining environmental protection as China seeks more access to Brazilian agriculture.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is heading to China this week to meet with Xi Jinping, the leader of Brazil's most important trade partner. Lula will be accompanied by a delegation of over 200 businesspeople. We take a look at what's behind the record flow of exchanges between Beijing and Brasilia last year.

The Brazilian president has arrived in China ahead of a high-level meeting with Xi Jinping on Friday. Lula plans to rebuild the relations that were damaged under his predecessor.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has praised the Shanghai-based New Development Bank (NDB) on his trip to China, saying it "frees emerging countries from submission to traditional financial institutions".

Which Lula is it this week? In Lisbon, Brazil’s president charmed his hosts in a speech before the Portuguese parliament to mark nearly half a century since the Carnation Revolution that ended the dictatorship there. Lula had raised eyebrows with his recent visit to China, where he accused the US of "encouraging" the war in Ukraine, and then with last week's warm welcome for Russia's foreign minister.

Turkey is set for a second round of voting for the first time ever after neither Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor Kemal Kilicdaroglu secured an absolute majority.

Sky-high inflation and a plunging lira continue to be at the forefront of Turkish voters' minds as the country appears set for a runoff election between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Erdogan's unorthodox economic theories have unnerved investors and analysts as he contradicts mainstream methods to tame the country's cost-of-living crisis.

Ultra-nationalist Sinan Ogan has thrown his support behind the incumbent in the runoff vote. He had previously called for all refugees to be deported as one of his demands for an endorsement.

On Sunday the incumbent President Erdogan faces his challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu in the second round of the presidential election. Both candidates are still fighting for every vote.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured yet another term in office, after an historic election which went to a runoff. The Turkish leader fought back a tough challenge from opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

For the first time in nine years, leaders from the regional bloc formerly known as the Union of South American Nations have convened this week in Brazil. The gathering of these 11 countries has demonstrated a renewed spirit of cooperation. A notable highlight is Brazilian President Lula da Silva's meeting with Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, a significant move, as diplomatic relations were severed under Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.

When Brazil's newly elected president first visited the European Union in April, he steered clear of Paris, Brussels and Berlin. Now, his French counterpart is welcoming him to the Elysee Palace. Is this a new beginning?