24

Sep

U.S. tells Lula it plans to quickly recognize Brazil election winner, sources say

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - U.S. diplomats have assured Brazil's leading presidential candidate, leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, that they will swiftly recognize the winner of next month's election, two sources told Reuters, seeking to avert any attempt to contest a legitimate result or sow chaos after the vote. With just days to go until the first-round vote on Oct. 2, Lula is ahead in the polls against President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right populist who has sought to discredit Brazil's electronic voting system. Critics fear Bolsonaro may follow the example of former U.S. President Donald Trump and…

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20

Sep

Lula maintains large lead over Bolsonaro ahead of Brazil election -poll

Brazil presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slightly extended his lead over President Jair Bolsonaro less than two weeks before the South American country's election, a poll by IPEC released on Monday showed. In a first-round vote scheduled for Oct. 2, Lula reached 47% of voters' support against 31% for Bolsonaro, compared with 46% and 31%, respectively, in the same poll a week ago, the survey showed. In a potential second-round runoff, Lula's lead grew to 19 percentage points from 17 previously, indicating he would get elected with 54% of the votes versus Bolsonaro's 35%. Bolsonaro's approval rate was flat at 30%, while his…

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19

Sep

Brazil’s Bolsonaro draws heat for pointed campaign speech before Queen’s funeral

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was accused by opposition figures on Sunday of turning his trip to London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral into an election campaign event, in what critics said was his latest attack on Brazil's reputation. Bolsonaro flew to London just two weeks before the Oct. 2 first-round vote, in which he trails in opinion polls to his leftist rival, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In an address to his yellow-and-green-clad supporters from the balcony of the Brazilian embassy, far-right former army captain Bolsonaro touched briefly on the queen's legacy, before accusing…

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10

Sep

Poll shows Bolsonaro narrowing gap to Lula ahead of Brazil election

 (Reuters) - Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro slightly narrowed his deficit to opponent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of an October election, a poll showed. The survey by Datafolha showed Lula's lead dipping to 11 percentage points in the first round of the election, with 45% support against Bolsonaro's 34%. Bolsonaro recorded 32% support in the previous poll last week. In an expected second-round run-off, Lula would be elected with 53% of the votes versus 39% for Bolsonaro, a 14 percentage point advantage, down from 15 points one week ago, the poll showed. Bolsonaro's approval and rejection rates did not…

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08

Sep

Bolsonaro mixes campaign politics, military displays on Brazil bicentennial

BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - President Jair Bolsonaro mingled military parades on Brazil's Independence Day with political rallies in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia on Wednesday, firing up hundreds of thousands of supporters less than a month before a heated election. Opponents and legal experts criticized the far-right leader for co-opting public celebrations of Brazil's bicentennial to serve his re-election campaign, in which polls show him trailing leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of a Oct. 2 vote. "Our battle is a fight between good and evil," Bolsonaro told his supporters from a sound truck in Brasilia, amid…

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03

Sep

Brazil’s Amazon sees worst August fires in over a decade

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest surged in August to the highest for the month since 2010, government data showed this week, surpassing the blazes in August 2019 that drew global attention soon after President Jair Bolsonaro took office. National space research agency INPE registered 31,513 fire alerts in the Amazon via satellite in the first 30 days of the month, making it the worst August since 2010, when fires totaled 45,018 for the full month. Most of INPE's Amazon fire alerts in an average year come in August and September – considered the burning season in…

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02

Sep

Bolsonaro gains on Lula ahead of Brazil election – Datafolha poll

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has a 13-percentage-point lead over President Jair Bolsonaro, but the far-right incumbent has narrowed his leftist rival's advantage ahead of the October election, according to a poll published by Datafolha. The survey by Datafolha showed Lula with 45% of voter support against 32% for Bolsonaro in the first round of the election scheduled for Oct. 2, compared with 47% and 32% respectively in the previous poll. In an expected second-round run-off, Lula would get elected by 53% of the votes versus 38% for Bolsonaro, a 15 percentage point advantage, down…

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31

Aug

Lula retains lead over Bolsonaro in Brazil’s election – poll

SAO PAULO, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has retained his strong lead over incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of the country's October election, a Genial/Quaest poll released on Wednesday showed. Lula is seen winning 44% support in a first-round vote against Bolsonaro's 32%, the poll said. They had 45% and 33%, respectively, two weeks ago. Center-left candidate Ciro Gomes saw his support rise to 8%, from 6% in the previous survey. In an expected run-off, Lula slightly widened his lead to a 14 percentage point gap - taking 51% of the votes against…

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24

Aug

Brazil receives embalmed heart of Portuguese king to mark independence

The embalmed heart of the Portuguese monarch who declared the independence of Brazil from Portugal 200 years ago was received with the military honors of a head of state in Brasilia on Tuesday at the start of bicentenary celebrations. The heart, kept in formaldehyde in a glass jar inside a gold urn, arrived at the presidential palace in an open Rolls Royce flanked by a mounted color guard and was received by President Jair Bolsonaro with a gun salute. Air Force planes flew past. Dom Pedro I's heart had been kept in a church in the Portuguese city of Porto…

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23

Aug

Bolsonaro says he will respect Brazil election result if ‘clean, transparent’

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he would respect the result of an October election regardless of the result, as long as the voting is "clean and transparent." In an interview with TV Globo's Jornal Nacional, a nightly newscast with the largest audience in Brazil, the far-right politician insisted without evidence there had been fraud in past Brazilian elections. Bolsonaro did not mention the electronic voting system that he has attacked relentlessly for months, alleging they are open to manipulation. But the former army captain said the military should have a role in deciding the transparency of the vote. Opinion polls show Bolsonaro trailing…

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19

Aug

Lula’s lead over Bolsonaro narrows slightly ahead of Brazil election -poll

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) - Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains the front-runner to win Brazil's presidential election in October, a poll of voter support showed, although incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro is gaining ground. Lula received 47% voter support versus Bolsonaro's 32% in the latest survey by pollster Datafolha, compared with 47% and 29% respectively in July. In a potential second-round runoff between the two candidates, Lula would return to office with 54% of the votes against Bolsonaro's 37%, the poll showed. Lula, a leftist candidate and a former Brazilian president, has seen his advantage in the runoff shrink each month…

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08

Aug

Lula’s lead narrows to single-digit in Brazil race – poll

Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over incumbent Jair Bolsonaro has narrowed to 7 percentage points ahead of the October election, according to a new poll published on Monday. The leftist leader has the support of 41% of voters against 34% for his far-right adversary, compared to 44% and 31% respectively last month, the BTG/FSB telephone poll said. Lula's lead has dropped steadily to 7 points from 13 last month and 14 in May, the poll said. Other polls show Lula's strong lead slipping but maintaining a double-digit advantage: Datafolha saw his advantage at 18-points and a Genial/Quaest…

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03

Aug

Lula’s advantage over Bolsonaro in Brazil’s October elections narrows -poll

SAO PAULO, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintains a lead against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October's presidential election but is losing the strong lead he had in January, a Genial/Quaest poll released on Wednesday showed. Lula is seen with 44% voter support in a first-round vote to Bolsonaro's 32%, a 12-point lead that has fallen from 14 points in the previous poll. In an expected run-off, Lula, a former president, is seen winning with a narrower 14 percentage point gap - taking 51% of the vote versus 37% for Bolsonaro, the Genial/Quaest poll…

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30

Jul

Brazil’s Lula maintains big lead over Bolsonaro ahead of October election -poll

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead over incumbent far-right President Jair Bolsonaro slipped one percentage point from 19 to 18 points ahead of the Oct. 2 election, a survey by pollster Datafolha showed. The leftist leader drew 47% voter support in the poll against Bolsonaro's 29%, compared with 47% and 28%, respectively, in June. If the vote were held today, Lula would win the election outright with 53% of the valid votes, avoiding a second-round runoff required if no candidate gets more than 50% of the unspoiled ballots, the pollster said. If there is a run-off, which…

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27

Jul

Bankers and business leaders say Brazil’s democracy in ‘grave danger’

SAO PAULO, July 26 (Reuters) - Top Brazilian bankers and businessmen issued a letter in defense of Brazil's electronic voting system that has been attacked by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, and warned that the country's democracy was in "grave danger." The manifesto, signed by some 3,000 leading Brazilian figures, did not mention Bolsonaro by name, but clearly addressed the situation he has caused by questioning the voting system ahead of the Oct. 2 election and attacking Supreme Court justices who oversee the elections in Brazil. Their letter referred to "unfounded attacks" on the voting system, which Bolsonaro claims is vulnerable…

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25

Jul

Brazil’s Bolsonaro, down in the polls, set to officially launch candidacy

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro kicked off his candidacy for re-election at a party event in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday with a speech focused on God, guns and family, as the right-wing leader attempts to claw back the commanding lead established by his main rival, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The right-wing Liberal Party (PL) tapped Bolsonaro as its nominee for the Oct. 2 vote before an audience of several thousand in Rio's Maracanazinho stadium, a move considered the official beginning of Bolsonaro's candidacy under Brazilian law. The nomination comes as the president continues…

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10

Jul

Poll shows Brazil’s Lula maintaining strong lead in presidential race

Brazilian leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintains a strong lead against incumbent right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October's presidential election, a Genial/Quaest poll released this week showed. Lula is seen with 45% voter support in a first-round vote, a 14 percentage point lead over his far-right rival, with Bolsonaro up one point from his 30% support level in June. In an expected run-off, Lula, a former president, is seen winning with a narrower 19 percentage point gap - taking 53% of the vote versus 34% for Bolsonaro, the Genial/Quaest poll said. The Genial/Quaest poll also showed that the…

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27

Jun

Family bids farewell to British journalist murdered in the Amazon

NITEROI, Brazil (Reuters) - The family of Dom Phillips on Sunday bid farewell to the British journalist, who was killed earlier this month along with Brazilian indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon. Phillips' wife Alessandra Sampaio, siblings Sian and Gareth, and brother-in-law Paul Sherwood attended the 57-year-old's funeral in Niteroi near Rio de Janeiro. "Today Dom will be cremated in the country he loved, his chosen home," Sampaio said. "He was a very special person not only for defending what he believed in as a professional but also for having a huge heart and great love for humanity," she…

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19

Jun

Brazil police arrest third suspect in murder of British journalist and indigenous expert

BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian federal police on Saturday said they had arrested a third suspect in the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon rainforest nearly two weeks ago. Jeferson da Silva Lima surrendered himself at a police station in Atalaia do Norte in the remote Javari Valley bordering Peru and Colombia. "The detainee will be questioned and referred to a custody hearing," police said in a statement. A forensic exam carried out on human remains found in the region confirmed on Saturday that they belonged to Pereira. The remains of Phillips had been…

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18

Jun

Remains of British journalist found in Amazon, police name new suspect

A forensic exam carried out on human remains found in the Amazon rainforest confirmed that they belonged to British journalist Dom Phillips, Brazil's federal police said, adding that a search was underway for a man suspected of involvement in his killing. Work is proceeding to determine the cause of death, police said in a statement. The remains of a second person, believed to be that of indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, were still under analysis, a report by CNN Brasil said earlier on Friday. Pereira and Phillips vanished on June 5 in the remote Javari Valley bordering Peru and Colombia. Earlier…

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16

Jun

Brazil police find remains in search for UK journalist, suspect confesses – investigators

Police have found human remains in their search for British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous expert Bruno Pereira after a suspect confessed to killing them in the Amazon rainforest, investigators said. The suspect, a fisherman who had clashed with Pereira over his efforts to combat illegal fishing in indigenous territory, led police to a remote burial site where the remains were unearthed, detective Eduardo Fontes told a news conference. The news marks a grim conclusion to a case that has raised global alarm, hanging over President Jair Bolsonaro at a regional summit and stirring concern in the British Parliament.…

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15

Jun

Brazil police arrest second suspect in case of missing journalist

ATALAIA DO NORTE, Brazil, (Reuters) - Brazilian police arrested a second suspect in the investigation of the disappearance of British journalist Don Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon rainforest in western Brazil. Oseney da Costa de Oliveira, also known as "Dos Santos," aged 41, was under temporary arrest on suspicion he was involved in the case with his brother Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, who was arrested last week, the federal police said a statement. Amarildo, known as "Pelado," was arrested last week in the riverside village of Sao Gabriel where the two men were last seen…

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13

Jun

UPDATED: British journalist, indigenous expert found dead in Brazil

SAO PAULO, June 13 (Reuters) - The bodies of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who had been missing for more than a week in Brazil's Amazon jungle, were found on Monday, news outlet G1 reported on Monday, quoting Phillips' wife. On Sunday, clothing belonging to Pereira had been found, including a health identification card in his name, and a backpack with clothes belonging to Phillips, along with the boots of both men. Authorities have not yet confirmed the news that the bodies have been found, G1 said. Witnesses have said they saw Pereira and Phillips, a…

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09

Jun

Poll shows Brazil’s Lula maintains strong lead in presidential race

SAO PAULO, (Reuters) - Brazil's leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is holding a strong lead against incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro for the October election, a Genial/Quaest poll Lula has 46% voter support in a first-round vote, a 16-percentage-point lead over his far-right rival, with Bolsonaro two points down from his best showing in April. In an expected run-off between them, Lula has widened his advantage to 22 percentage points and would win the election by 54% versus 32% for Bolsonaro, the Genial/Quaest poll said. Other recent polls show Lula maintaining a solid lead in the first round and winning the election…

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01

Jun

Death toll from floods in Brazil rises to 106, 10 still missing

At least 106 people have died and 10 are still missing in Brazil, the government said, as heavy rains tore through urban towns in the northeastern part of the country for a sixth consecutive day. The governor of the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Paulo Camara, in an interview with local media, said the government's priority was to find those still missing amid mudslides and major flooding. "We will not stop until we find all those missing. This is a fundamental point at the moment," Camara said. Army soldiers prevent a person from trying to remove the body of a relative…

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29

May

Heavy rains in Brazil’s northeast kill at least 35

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) - At least 35 people died amid heavy rainfall in north-eastern Brazil on Friday and Saturday, as downpours lashed two major cities on the Atlantic coast, in what is the South American nation's fourth major flooding event in five months. In the state of Pernambuco, at least 33 people had died as of Saturday afternoon, as rains provoked landslides that wiped away hillside urban neighbourhoods, according to the state's official Twitter account. Another 765 people were forced to leave their homes, at least temporarily, according to the state government. Authorities in the neighbouring state of Alagoas had registered…

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28

May

Risk of food insecurity threatens record 36% of Brazilian families -study

The risk of going hungry in Brazil is higher than ever, as the percentage of people unable to afford food for themselves or their family at some point during the last 12 months rose to a record 36% in 2021, from 30% in 2019, a newly published study showed. It is the first time that food insecurity in Latin America's largest food producer has surpassed the world average since the data tracking began in 2006, according to a new analysis of Gallup World Poll data released this week by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), a Brazilian academic institution. Brazilians are…

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04

May

Brazil cancels invite for EU observers after Bolsonaro objection

Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) has withdrawn an invitation for the European Union to send observers for the October election after President Jair Bolsonaro's government objected, the EU and the election body confirmed. The TSE, Brazil's top election authority, told Reuters last month that it had invited the European Union for the first time to observe this year's general election, when Bolsonaro will seek re-election. Two days later the foreign ministry objected, saying Brazil has never had its elections "evaluated" by an organization of which it is not a member. The TSE said in a statement it found that "the…

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03

May

EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

epa09635070 An aerial photo with a drone shows people at the Copacabana beach at sunset in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: EPA-EFE/Antonio Lacerda

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23

Apr

Photo Story: Parade of the samba schools in Rio de Janeiro

A member of Unidos Do Viradouro samba school takes part in a parade at the Samba Catwalk during the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early 23 April 2022. Via EPA-EFE/Andre Coelho

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03

Apr

Brazil eases COVID-related restrictions on international travelers

Brazilian health agency Anvisa issued a new set of rules for incoming international travelers, easing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as the health crisis subsides in the South American nation. Anvisa said vaccinated Brazilians and foreigners are now exempt from presenting proof of a COVID-19 test with a negative or non-detectable result. They are only required to present proof of vaccination, printed or electronically. "In general, the new rules confirm vaccination as the basis for national border policy for all modes of transportation," Anvisa said in a statement. "Complete immunization is mandatory for all individuals eligible for vaccination and…

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25

Mar

Bolsonaro reduces Lula’s advantage for Brazil election -Datafolha

BRASILIA, (Reuters) - Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has gained ground on favourite Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of the October election, but is still trailing the leftist leader by 17 percentage points, a new poll said. Pollster Datafolha said former President Lula would get 43% of the votes compared with 26% for Bolsonaro in a first-round vote if the election were held today. Datafolha said the government's Auxilio Brasil social welfare program started in December helped Bolsonaro gain 4 points since the previous poll, while Lula is down 5 points. If the two men, who have yet to formally declare…

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28

Feb

Bolsonaro won’t condemn Putin, says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro declined to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, while departing from his government's official stance at the United Nations to say Brazil would remain neutral. Bolsonaro, a far-right populist, recently snubbed U.S. entreaties not to visit Putin in Moscow ahead of the invasion, and angered Western allies by saying he was "in solidarity with Russia," without elaborating. On Friday, Brazil voted for a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would have denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine, despite reluctance by Bolsonaro. Russia vetoed the resolution. At a press conference, Bolsonaro said he…

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20

Feb

Nearly 200 still missing in flood-hit Brazil city of Petrópolis

Bad weather has hampered the search for survivors in the Brazilian city of Petrópolis, four days after devastating flash floods and mudslides. Emergency teams had to suspend their work several times on Saturday because of torrential rains. They say there is little hope of finding anyone alive. Officials say 146 people have died, including at least 27 children and teenagers, while 191 are still missing. More than 900 people are being housed in schools and shelters. On Saturday, workers dug with spades and shovels through the rubble and muck in a dense fog. Teams of volunteers are helping in the…

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17

Feb

Lula’s lead over Bolsonaro narrows ahead of Brazil’s October election -poll

BRASILIA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's lead has narrowed to 9 points from 14 in one month, but he would still win a second-round runoff soundly if Brazil's election were held today, according to a new poll published on Wednesday. Lula is expected to challenge far-right incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro in the October vote. Both men are already in campaign mode, although neither has declared his candidacy. In a polarized field, Lula has campaigned on the advances in reducing poverty during his two-term presidency from 2003 to 2010, while Bolsonaro has recently ramped up government…

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17

Feb

Heavy rains, flooding kill dozens in Brazil’s ‘Imperial City’

At least 94 people died in the historic Brazilian mountain town of Petropolis, local government officials said, after heavy rains caused mudslides that buried homes, flooded the streets and washed away cars and buses. Located in the hills above Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis, or the "Imperial City," was the summer getaway of Brazil's monarchs in the 19th century. On Wednesday, there was scant evidence of its regal charms, after the floods ravaged its elegant streets and destroyed its Germanic buildings. Rainfall on Tuesday exceeded the average for the entire month of February. Photo - Cars have been turned over amid…

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30

Jan

Brazil coffee crop seen up 16% as trees show mild recovery

Brazil is expected to produce 63.2 million bags of coffee in the 2022/23 season, a 16.6% increase over the previous one, as trees show a relative recovery after last year's frosts and drought thanks to better crop care and good weather, a top trader said. Coffee exporter Comexim, one of the biggest in the country that is the largest coffee producer and exporter, said in a report that the logistics situation is improving as booking allocations in ships and container availability expand, but freight rates continue to be costly. Comexim sees Brazilian farmers producing 41.1 million 60-kg bags of arabica…

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24

Jan

Brazil to stop unvaccinated footballers playing in top leagues

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Friday players must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to take part in this year’s league championship, The CBF said it was in constant contact with health bodies and had sent an updated list of requirements to member clubs. "One of these is the obligation to present a full vaccination certificate against COVID-19 to the CBF’s Medical Commission,” it said in a statement. The top four national divisions kick off in the second week of April. Brazil coach Tite has said he was not selecting Atletico Madrid defender Renan Lodi for his squad for upcoming…

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23

Jan

Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo postpone official Carnival parade to April

The Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo announced they are postponing colorful Carnival parades to the end of April, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads through the country. Both cities had already canceled their Carnival street parties, but were still considering having their samba school parades at the end of February. They will now hold the event in late-April, the two cities said in a joint statement. "Unfortunately we do not have the sanitary conditions to hold Carnival on the date that was planned," Rio's Health Secretary Daniel Soranz told journalists. Brazil is…

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21

Jan

Lula could win Brazil’s October election in first round – poll

BRASILIA, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is pulling ahead of his likely rival, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, and could win outright in the first-round of Brazil's October election, a new poll shows. If the election were held today, Lula would win 42% of the votes against 28% for Bolsonaro, the survey by PoderData published late on Thursday said. In the previous poll one month ago, Lula had 40% and Bolsonaro 30%. Voter support for Lula is now almost the same as the total support for all other candidates, which is at 45%, indicating…

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13

Jan

Lula holds big lead in Brazil as voters worry about inflation, COVID-19

BRASILIA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva retains a clear lead for this year's presidential election in Brazil, where inflation and the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic most worry voters, a poll showed. Lula would get 45% of the votes against 23% for the country's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro if the election were held today, according to the Banco Genial/Quaest Pesquisas survey. Lula would win a run-off second round vote against Bolsonaro by 54% versus 30%, it said. The two men are expected to face off in a polarized election in October, though neither…

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12

Jan

Photo Story: Heart Break In Brazil After Fatal Floods

A woman mourns between the damage caused by heavy rains and floods in Sabara, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. At least 10 people died and a hundred more had to leave their homes in the last 24 hours, due to the heavy rains that hit the Minas Gerais region, the second state most affected by downpours in Brazil in recent weeks, reported the Civil Defense. Photo - EPA-EFE/Thomas Santos

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09

Jan

Seven dead, 3 missing after rock face collapse at Brazilian waterfall

At least seven people died and nine were seriously injured when a wall of rock collapsed on top of motor boats below a waterfall in southeastern Brazil, the fire department said. A tower of rocks suddenly broke away from the canyon wall and came crashing down on several leisure boats, sending out a huge wave over the lake at Capitolio, in Minas Gerais state. Videos posted on social media showed tourists shouting as the column of rock crashed into the water, smashing two boats. Authorities said three people were still missing after others feared lost were located by telephone. Divers…

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05

Jan

Brazil’s Bolsonaro discharged from the hospital after gut blockage

SAO PAULO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said he was discharged from hospital on Wednesday morning, two days after being admitted with an intestinal obstruction. "Being discharged now. Thank you all," Bolsonaro tweeted alongside a photo of himself and his doctors giving a thumbs-up. https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1478693292896313346

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05

Jan

Rio de Janeiro cancels Carnival parade

Rio de Janeiro has cancelled its street parades and parties during its world-famous Carnival for a second year due to an increase in Covid cases and the threat from the arrival of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the city’s mayor said. However, the spectacular parade by Rio’s samba schools, which the public watches from the stands of the city’s Marques de Sapucai Sambadrome, will go ahead, unlike last year, with health precautions to prevent spreading the virus. Rio mayor Eduardo Paes made the announcement after a meeting with health authorities that the city would call off the event that draws hundreds…

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05

Jan

COVID-19 infects 214 on five cruise ships in Brazilian waters

Five cruise ships in Brazilian waters have reported 214 cases of COVID-19 among their crew and passengers, including two ships that are in quarantine in the port of Santos, health regulator Anvisa said. Two ships run by the Swiss-Italian cruise line MSC Cruises, each with more than 3,000 passengers are due to arrive in Rio de Janeiro and Santos this week, the regulator said. The MSC Seaside arriving on Thursday in Santos has reported 65 cases among crew members and 25 among passengers, while the MSC Preziosa due in Rio on Wednesday has 25 crew with COVID-19 and 8 passengers…

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03

Jan

UPDATED: Brazil’s Bolsonaro taken to hospital with abdominal pain

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was hospitalized on Monday with an intestinal blockage and may need to undergo surgery in the latest complication from a 2018 stabbing. Bolsonaro said he started feeling unwell on Sunday afternoon after lunch and doctors have inserted a nasogastric tube. "More tests will be conducted for a potential surgery on an internal obstruction in the abdominal region," Bolsonaro posted on Twitter, along with a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up in his hospital bed. Bolsonaro said it was the second hospitalization "with the same symptoms" since he was stabbed during…

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03

Jan

Brazil health agency warns against boarding cruise ships amid COVID-19 outbreaks

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian health agency Anvisa on Sunday warned passengers against boarding cruise ships operating along the Brazilian coast after outbreaks of COVID-19 affecting crew and customers, according to a statement on its website. The move follows a call for the “immediate temporary interruption of the cruise ship season in Brazil” as they pose a risk to public health. “In view of recent events, Anvisa does not recommend the embarkation of passengers who have trips scheduled on cruise ships for the next few days,” the statement said. “This recommendation takes into account the rapid change in the epidemiological…

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16

Dec

Brazil coffee crop down 24.4% in 2021 amid drought, off year for arabica -Conab

SAO PAULO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Brazil's coffee crop reached 47.7 million 60-kg bags this year, down 24.4% from the record output seen in 2020, the government's food supply and statistics agency Conab said on Thursday, noting that the output was heavily affected by drought. Conab estimated the country's arabica coffee crop, which was in an off year of its biennial production cycle, at 31.4 million bags, down 35.5% year-on-year. Brazil's robusta crop was seen at 16.3 million bags, up 13.8%. (Reporting by Roberto Samora; Writing by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

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12

Dec

Need of proof of vaccination to enter the Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Luis Roberto Barroso ruled that the country must demand proof of vaccination for visitors seeking to enter the country. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied requests of state health regulator Anvisa to demand vaccination proof from visitors. But Barroso said in his decision that Brazil needs to avoid supporting what he called "antivaccine tourism." The justice said the requirement for proof of vaccination can be waived only when the traveler comes from a country where no vaccines are available or the individual was prevented from vaccination due to health reasons. The government has delayed for…

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08

Dec

Bolsonaro dismisses vaccination requirement for entry into Brazil

Brazil will require that unvaccinated travelers entering the country go on a five-day quarantine followed by a COVID-19 test, its health minister said, after its president said he opposed the use of a vaccine passport. President Jair Bolsonaro criticized Brazil's health regulator Anvisa for proposing the vaccination passport be required for arriving travelers to help prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants. "Anvisa wants to close the country's airspace now. Not again, damn it," Bolsonaro, a vaccine skeptic, said at a business event in Brasilia. Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga, speaking after a Cabinet meeting later on Tuesday, said Brazil would…

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01

Dec

Brazil reports first Latin American cases of Omicron variant

Brazilian health regulator Anvisa said that two Brazilians had tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant, the first reported cases in Latin America. Anvisa said a traveler arriving in Sao Paulo from South Africa and his wife, who had not traveled, both tested positive for the new variant, adding to concerns of global Omicron spread before recent travel bans went into effect. The traveler landed at Sao Paulo's Guarulhos international airport on Nov. 23 with a negative test for COVID-19. But before a planned return trip, the couple tested positive and the samples were sent for further analysis which identified…

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19

Nov

Amazon sees worst deforestation levels in 15 years

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has hit its highest level in over 15 years, official data shows. A report by Brazil's space research agency (Inpe) found that deforestation increased by 22% in a year. Brazil was among a number of nations who promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030 during the COP26 climate summit. The Amazon is home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people. It is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. According to the latest data, some 13,235 sq km (5110 sq miles) was…

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17

Nov

Brazil minister says no plans to join OPEC for now

ABU DHABI, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Brazil has no plans to join the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for now, although it is working with the producer group, its energy minister said on Wednesday. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said in 2019 he wanted his country to join OPEC, a move that would likely require Brazil, a growing producer and the world's seventh-largest based on 2020 figures, to limit oil output. "At the moment there are no plans to join OPEC. We continue to work with OPEC in a cooperative way," the energy minister, Bento Albuquerque, told reporters in…

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12

Nov

Brazil plays down ‘mad cow’ risk in suspect Rio cases

Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said that two cases reported on Thursday of a neurodegenerative disorder in patients in Rio de Janeiro state were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible "mad cow" disease causing human illness. Federal biomedical institute Fiocruz, which is investigating the possibility of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis - the official name for mad cow disease - said the two patients are suspected of having the "sporadic" form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease not related to beef consumption. On Sept. 4, Brazil confirmed two cases of what it called "atypical" mad cow disease in animals, triggering a suspension of…

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11

Nov

Bolsonaro joins Liberal Party ahead of 2022 election

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will join the centrist Liberal Party (Partido Liberal) ahead of next year's presidential elections, according to a party statement released on Wednesday. Bolsonaro had left his right-wing Social Liberal Party in 2019, leaving him without an official political affiliation. Bolsonaro is required to join a party if he wants to run for reelection, with independent candidates legally not allowed on the ballot.  The far-right Brazilian leader is expected to sign his Liberal Party membership papers in Brasilia on November 22.  The Liberal Party is a member of an establishment coalition of parties called "centrao." These parties have helped…

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27

Oct

Brazil senators back criminal charges against Bolsonaro over Covid handling

Brazilian senators have voted to recommend charging President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the devastating Covid pandemic. A Senate panel backed a report calling for charges against Mr Bolsonaro including crimes against humanity, after 600,000 deaths from coronavirus. The findings will be sent to the chief prosecutor, a Bolsonaro appointee. The president has maintained he is "guilty of absolutely nothing" but the crisis has dented his popularity. Brazil's death toll is second only to that of the United States. There is no guarantee this vote will lead to actual criminal charges, as the report's recommendations must now be assessed…

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20

Oct

Brazil’s Bolsonaro should face homicide charge for COVID-19 errors, says Senate report

The senator leading a congressional probe into Brazil's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has recommended that President Jair Bolsonaro be charged with homicide for alleged government errors that led to the deaths of thousands. Bolsonaro has dismissed the probe as politically motivated. It is highly unlikely that he will face trial on any such charges, which would have to be brought by Brazil's prosecutor general whom Bolsonaro appointed. The nearly 1,200-page document, prepared by opposition Senator Renan Calheiros for a Senate commission that conducted the probe, alleges that Bolsonaro turned down early opportunities for the government to acquire vaccines, delaying…

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