Brazil

Leonardo DiCaprio Falls For Old Pic Going Viral As Amazon Rainforest Fire

Offbeat | Friday August 23, 2019

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was among the many celebrities, leaders and concerned netizens who shared posts urging for action against the forest fires. However, the image he shared was not from the ongoing blaze.

The Amazon Is In Flames. But Brazil's Past Can Show The Path Forward.

World News | Ruth DeFries, Doug Morton, The Washington Post | Friday August 23, 2019

Just over 16 years ago, on a sweltering day along the southeastern fringe of the Amazon forest, we sat down to catch our breath on a half-burnt log. Plumes of smoke on the horizon wafted to the sky, and the sound of chainsaws whirred in the distance. We couldn't have known that we were sitting in a time and place that was rapidly approaching peak d...

Deeply Concerned By Fires, Amazon Must Be Protected: UN Chief

World News | Agence France-Presse | Friday August 23, 2019

France and the United Nations called Thursday for the protection of the fire-plagued Amazon rainforest as Brazil's right-wing president blamed NGOs for promoting an "environmental psychosis" to damage the country's interests.

Amazon Rainforest Fires May Be Record Setting in Number This Year: NASA

Agencies | Thursday August 22, 2019

Amazon rainforest fires are filling the Brazilian sky with smoke, and NASA says the number of fires in the region this year may have set a new record.

Amazon Rainforest Fire: Amazon Rainforest Is Ablaze, Turning Day Into Night In Brazil

World News | Andrew Freedman, The Washington Post | Thursday August 22, 2019

Huge tracts of the Amazon, which serves as the lungs of the planet by taking in carbon dioxide, storing it in soils and producing oxygen, are ablaze. Smoke from the widespread fires has turned day into night in Sao Paulo, and intensified a controversy over the Brazilian government's land use policies.

Without Evidence, Brazil President Claims NGOs May Be Burning The Amazon

World News | Reuters | Wednesday August 21, 2019

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday said, without presenting evidence, that non-governmental organizations could be burning down the Amazon rainforest to bring shame on his government after he cut their funding.

Amazon Rainforest Burning: Brazil Reports Record Forest Fires

World News | Reuters | Wednesday August 21, 2019

Wildfires raging in the Amazon rainforest have hit a record number this year, with 72,843 fires detected so far by Brazil's space research center INPE, as concerns grow over right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro's environmental policy.

Brazil Bus Hijacker, Armed With Toy Gun, Shot Dead By Police

World News | Agence France-Presse | Tuesday August 20, 2019

A hijacker armed with what turned out to be a toy gun was shot dead by police in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday after he held a busload of passengers hostage for several hours on a major bridge in peak-hour traffic.

Half A Billion Bees Dropped Dead. A Message For Humans, Say Scientists

Science | Bruce Douglas and Tatiana Freitas, Bloomberg | Tuesday August 20, 2019

Around half a billion bees died in four of Brazil's southern states in the year's first months. The die-off highlighted questions about the ocean of pesticides used in the country's agriculture and whether chemicals are washing through the human food supply.

Brazil President Says Washington Approves Son's Nomination As Ambassador

World News | Agence France-Presse | Saturday August 10, 2019

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday the United States has approved the nomination of his son Eduardo as ambassador to Washington.

Poop Less For A Cleaner Planet, Says Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro

World News | Agence France-Presse | Saturday August 10, 2019

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro suggested Friday that people "poop every other day" as a way to save the environment, after he came under fire for a surge in deforestation of the Amazon since he came to power.

Brazil President Calls Convicted Torturer A "National Hero"

World News | Reuters | Friday August 9, 2019

Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday that an Army officer who was convicted of torture during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship was a "national hero."

Brazil Man, Who Tried To Escape Jail Dressed As His Daughter, Found Dead

World News | Reuters | Tuesday August 6, 2019

A Brazilian inmate, whose masked attempt to break out of jail dressed as his daughter reverberated around the world, was found dead in his cell on Tuesday, after apparently having hanged himself, Rio de Janeiro state authorities said on Tuesday.

Brazil Gang Leader Tries To Escape Prison By Dressing Up As His Daughter

Offbeat | Monday August 5, 2019

A Brazilian gang leader has gone viral around the world for attempting to escape prison dressed like his 19-year-old daughter.

SBI Seeks Bids For Videocon's Overseas Oil, Gas Assets: Report

Business | Thomson Reuters | Monday August 5, 2019

Videocon Industries has oil and gas assets in India, Brazil and Indonesia, in addition to its now-defunct consumer electronics business in India.