The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has granted the Terra dos Gigantes (Land of the Giants) geopark in Uberaba, in the Triângulo Mineiro region of Minas Gerais State, the status of “geopark,” Agencia Brasil reported. With this appointment, the South American country now has six archaeological sites of global significance.
The Rio de Janeiro-based Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) conducted a series of tests among Yanomami indigenous people in the state of Roraima in northern Brazil which detected the presence of mercury in 84% of the hair samples taken from them in October 2022, Agencia Brasil reported this week. These findings were linked to illegal gold mining in the area.
Holders of US, Australian, and Canadian passports will be required a tourist visa to enter Brazil by air, land, or sea, effective next Wednesday (April 10), Agencia Brasil reported. Under Decree 11.875/2024, the initial Jan. 10 deadline was extended for three months to avoid the negative consequences for Brazil's tourism industry during peak season.
Dengue fever has killed over 1,000 Brazilians so far this year while other 1,531 deaths are under investigation, federal authorities admitted Wednesday. The Health Ministry's Arbovirus Panel said 1,020 deaths from the disease have been recorded whereas the total number of casualties from the same ailment in 2023 amounted to 1,079. The country has recorded some 2.6 million infections, Agencia Brasil also reported.
According to the Monthly Industrial Survey released Wednesday by Brazil's Rio de Janeiro-based Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), industrial production in South America's largest country fell 0.3% in February, which represented its second straight monthly decline after January's -1.5%, Agencia Brasil reported.
A court in Brasilia on Tuesday rejected a lawsuit filed by former President Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle, demanding that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva retract his statements that furniture was missing from the Alvorada Palace when he returned there last January. The Bolsonaros had also requested R$20,000 (US$3,953) in damages.
Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin stayed at home Monday after being diagnosed with Covid-19, Agencia Brasil reported. Alckin is also Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services.
According to a Datafolha survey released Friday by Folha de S.Paulo, 55% of Brazilians believe former President Jair Bolsonaro wanted to stage a coup d'état whereas 39% of those interviewed thought the retired Army captain never had such intentions. In addition, 7% of respondents were unable to answer that question.
Renowned South American political figures Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, and Gustavo Petro, head of state of Colombia, have taken an unusual stance against Venezuela's government, criticizing its refusal to allow opposition candidate Corina Yoris to register for the upcoming presidential elections.
Rio de Janeiro City authorities Friday announced that the dengue fever epidemic in the country's former capital was over, Agencia Brasil reported. The worst part of the outbreak was recorded between Feb. 18 and 24.