Brazil

Brazil (ⁱ /brəˈzɪl/; Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil^[7][8] (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil,  listen (help·info)), is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 190 million people.^[9][10] It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in the world.^[9]

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 kilometers (4,655 mi).^[9] It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana,Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest byArgentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll,Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz.^[9] It borders with all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to United Kingdom with Portugal and Algarves. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese Kingdom was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.^[11] The independence from Portugal was achieved in 1822. Initially independent as the Empire of Brazil, the country has been arepublic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified.^[11] Its currentConstitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic.^[12] The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564Municipalities.^[12][13]

The Brazilian economy is the world's eighth largest economy by nominal GDP^[14] and the seventh largest by purchasing power parity.^[15] Brazil is one of the world's fastest growing major economies. Economic reforms have given the country new international recognition.^[16] Brazil is a founding member of theUnited Nations, the G20, CPLP, Latin Union, the Organization of Ibero-American States, Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations, and is one of the BRIC Countries. Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments, and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats

India

India (ⁱ /ˈɪndiə/), conventional long name Republic of India (Hindi: भारत गणराज्य Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also official names of India), is a statelocated in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; Bhutan, the People's Republic of China and Nepal to the northeast; and Bangladesh and Burma to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.

Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history.^[13] Four of the world's major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism—originated here, while Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped the region's diverse culture.^[14] Gradually annexed by theBritish East India Company from the early 18th century and colonised by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence which was marked by non-violent resistance and led by Mahatma Gandhi.

The Indian economy is the world's tenth largest economy by nominal GDP and fourth largest economy by purchasing power parity. Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India has become one of the fastest growing major economies, and is considered a newly industrialized country; however, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, illiteracy, corruption and inadequate public health. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world, and ranks tenth in military expenditure among nations.

India is a federal constitutional republic with a parliamentary democracy consisting of 28 states and seven union territories. It is one of the five BRICSnations. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

Sydney

Sydney ( /ˈsɪdni/)^[3] is the largest and most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders, comprising a cosmopolitan and internationalpopulation of people from numerous places around the world.^[4]

The site of the first British colony in Australia, Sydney was established^[5] in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, commodore of the First Fleetas a penal colony. The city is built on hills surrounding Port Jackson which is commonly known as Sydney Harbour, where the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge feature prominently. The hinterland of the metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and beaches including the famous Bondi Beach. Within the city are many notable parks, includingHyde Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens.

In 2010, Sydney was ranked 7th in Asia and 28th globally for economic innovation in the Innovation Cities Top 100 Index by innovation agency 2thinknow.^[6] Sydney also ranks among the top 10 most livable cities in the world according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting and The Economist.^[7][8]

Sydney has a reputation as an international centre for commerce, arts, fashion, culture, entertainment, music, education and tourism, making it one of GaWC's Alpha + world cities. Sydney has hosted major international sporting events, including the 1938 British Empire Games, the 2000 Summer Olympics, and the final match of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The main airport serving Sydney is Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport.^[9]