Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Undeclared diamond jewelry brought into Brazil from Saudi Arabia has deepened the legal jeopardy of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. An investigation into two sets of jewels reportedly worth millions is only the latest scandal threatening the far-right politician. But an extensive paper trail and even videos could make the case particularly daunting for Bolsonaro.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DIAMONDS?

BRASILIA, March 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week, where he hopes to reinforce trade, discuss international mediation in Ukraine, and
reclaim his country’s role in global geopolitics.

After a period of isolation under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, Lula is wasting no time in renewing ties with allies.

SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian government watchdog voted Wednesday to give former President Jair Bolsonaro five working days to return to authorities a set of jewels he received from Saudi Arabia in 2021.

All nine members of the government watchdog voted in favor of requiring Bolsonaro to turn the jewels over to the state-owned Caixa Economica Federal bank in the capital city of Brasilia.

The five days start counting as soon as Bolsonaro’s lawyers are officially notified, which had not happened, according to the government watchdog.

18 Mar 2023; AA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will pay a state visit to China later this month following an invitation by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazil's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry in a statement said Lula, who will be in China from March 26-31, is scheduled to meet Xi, Prime Minister Li Qiang and President of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji in the capital Beijing.

SAO PAULO, March 17 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reiterated a call to revive Unasur (Union of South American Nations), the South American integration bloc.

Accompanied by his Paraguayan counterpart Mario Abdo Benitez, Lula made the remarks during a speech in the southern city of Foz do Iguacu to mark the entry of economist Enio Verri as the new Brazilian director of the Itaipu binational hydroelectric plant, which was built 50 years ago by the two neighboring countries.

BRASILIA, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Eight died after a landslide occurred in the eastern part of Manaus, capital of the State of Amazon in northern Brazil, early Monday.

Bodies of the victims have been removed from the disaster site, including four children, reported local media, adding that the remains of a mother and daughter were found hugging under the rubble.

The local fire department said that during the landslide, nine houses were attacked by mud from the landslide. Firefighters and nearby residents are still searching for survivors.

RAPOSA SERRA DO SOL INDIGENOUS TERRITORY, Brazil (AP) — On his first trip to Indigenous land in the Amazon rainforest since taking office, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed support for creating new territories for those communities, but stopped short of announcing any demarcations.

Wearing white cap and dark shirt in the heat, Lula addressed some 2,000 Indigenous people who painted their faces, wore traditional feather headdresses and sang songs to welcome him Monday to the Raposa Serra do Sol region bordering Venezuela and Guyana.

SAO PAULO (AP) — When rioters stormed Brazil’s top government buildings in January to dispute the outcome of the presidential election, many soldiers stood by as far-right protesters broke windows, defecated in offices and destroyed valuable art.

The images from Brasilia that day still haunt the left-leaning government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has strived ever since to ensure that military leaders defend South America’s largest democracy and stay out of politics.

10 Mar 2023; MEMO: The New Development Bank, the multilateral bank set up by the BRICS states, said on Friday it had agreed to elect a new Brazilian Head at the request of the government of Brazil's new President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Reuters reports.

BRASILIA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazil received 868,587 foreign tourists in the first month of 2023, 14.7 percent more than before the COVID-19 pandemic and the highest number in the last four years, the Ministry of Tourism reported Tuesday.

January's figure exceeded by over 100,000 tourists in comparison with the numbers for the same month in 2019 and 2020, while almost tripling that in 2022, according to data from the Federal Police immigration service.