Brazil

BRASILIA, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil more than doubled in January compared with the previous year, according to official data published Friday.

More than 280 sq km were cleared, an increase of 108 per cent. It was the largest area cleared in the month of January since 2015, when such data started being collected, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The data was collected by the INPE’s satellite-based DETER system, which monitors deforestation in real time.

8 February 2020; AFP: Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil more than doubled in January compared with the previous year, according to official data published Friday.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday Rogerio Marinho will replace Gustavo Canuto as regional development minister.

Marinho previously served as secretary of labor and social security at the Ministry of Economy.

"I am sure he will do a brilliant job and will continue Canuto's work," said Bolsonaro in his weekly live stream video on social media.

Canuto will preside over Dataprev, a state-owned company which manages data processing for the social security system.

6 February 2020; AFP: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday introduced a controversial bill that opens up indigenous lands, many of them in the Amazon, to mining, agricultural activities and hydraulic energy production.

The far-right president described the measure, which still needs approval in Congress, as a "dream" while indigenous leaders have labeled it a "genocide bill."

BELO HORIZONTE (Brazil), Jan 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Another torrential downpour left the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte paralyzed, with ruined cars abandoned on streets cake with mud, as the death toll from days of violent weather reached 54.

Another 47,000 people across Minas Gerais, the southeastern state where the city is located, have been forced from their homes since the rains began on Friday, civil defense officials said.

Tuesday evening’s downpour was nothing short of spectacular: 117 millimeters of water in three hours.

BELO HORIZONTE (Brazil), Jan 29 (NNN-XINHUA) — Severe flooding has left a total of 52 people dead in southeast Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, the state civil defense agency said.

One person remains missing, 65 have been injured, 28,893 displaced and 4,397 left homeless, the agency said in a statement.

Since torrential rains began lashing the region on Friday, authorities have declared a state of emergency in 101 towns, several of which have been totally devastated by floods.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in heavy rainfall in southeast Brazil continued to mount, reaching 37 fatal victims, civil defense authorities said Sunday.

Minas Gerais state Civil Defense officials said torrential rains Friday, mainly in the capital Belo Horizonte and the metropolitan area have also left 21 people missing.

Another 12 people have been injured, while 13,687 have had to evacuate and 3,354 have been left homeless.

Gov. Romeu Zema overflew flooded areas and pledged to send humanitarian aid.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — The prosecution office of the southeastern Brazilian state of Minas Gerais said it has filed charges against mining giant Vale and consulting company TUV SUD for intentional murder over the collapse of a tailings dam in 2019.

The collapse of the tailings dam occurred in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, on Jan 25, 2019, leaving 270 people dead and more than 10 missing.

The prosecution office also filed charges against 16 individuals, including former Chief Executive officer of Vale Fabio Schvartsman.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Outrage rained on Brazil’s government from across the political spectrum after the culture secretary used language similar to that of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels in launching an arts initiative focused on nationalism and religion, forcing President Jair Bolsonaro to fire him Friday.

The parallels between Thursday’s remarks by Roberto Alvim, who had held the culture post only since November, and those of Goebbels in the 1930s drew irate reactions from Jewish organizations, key lawmakers, political parties, artists and Brazil’s bar association.

BRASILIA, Jan 16 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Brazil made significant progress, in meeting the requisites to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, said.

The government, said Bolsonaro, will continue to strive to meet the demands of the organisation.

Brazil’s membership depends on how the country adopts recommendations established by the OECD.

The United States on Tuesday announced, it plans to recommend Brazil, to be the next country to be accepted as a full member.