DEFORESTATION FUELS THE AMAZON FIRES
By Alex Pollock A record number of fires ravaging the Amazon has drawn international outrage because of the rainforest’s importance to the global environment and prompted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to dispatch the military to assist in firefighting. (Reuters) Overview of the current situation The Amazon – the world’s largest rainforest and river basin –…
MADURO SHUTS VENEZUELA’S BORDER WITH BRAZIL AMID AID STANDOFF
22 FEBRUARY 2019 (SOURCE: ALJAZEERA) – President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would shut its border with Brazil on Thursday “until further notice” amid a tense standoff with US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido over allowing in humanitarian aid. Maduro said he was also considering a “total closure of the border with Colombia” where he has already ordered the…
BRAZIL ELECTS FAR-RIGHT LEADER
By Cherolyn Amery Brazil’s far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro set about staffing his new administration on Wednesday [31 October], naming an astronaut as science minister while a top anti-corruption judge mulled a job offer. Mr Bolsonaro won the presidential race on Sunday [28 October], easily overcoming his leftist opponent with a vow to kneecap violent drug…
