Brazil

Cities across Brazil are working to educate residents about the dangers of pooled and stagnant water, where mosquitoes reproduce, and in some cases have targeted breeding areas with insecticides. Efforts are particularly intense in the northeast, where most infections and Zika-related birth defects are concentrated. … [Read more...] about Brazil downplays threat from Zika virus in run-up to Carnival and Rio Olympics

More from Brazil Coronavirus: Fears for indigenous tribes after doctor in Amazon tests positive Brazil: 37 killed in flooding and landslides after two days of torrential rain 'Gay Jesus' Netflix film ban overturned by Brazil's supreme court Netflix's gay Jesus: Two million Brazilians sign petition against 'blasphemous' comedy Greta Thunberg called a 'brat' by Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro Top Brazil official: Nations should not 'point fingers' at us over Amazon fires … [Read more...] about Coronavirus: Brazil president refuses to ramp up COVID-19 lockdown as Facebook pulls video

The wider context – involving matters unrelated to the Olympic park development – helps explain why some are suspicious. In the past year, there has been a tsunami of revelations of alleged widespread and illegal collusion between politicians and businessmen, casting a shadow on all major projects. Carvalho Hosken has not been implicated, but its two partners in the Olympic Park developments – the construction firms Odebrecht and Andrade Gutierrez – are separately under investigation in the biggest bribery and kickback scandal in Brazil’s history, operation Lava Jato, which is looking into accusations of wrongdoing at the oil company Petrobras. … [Read more...] about The Rio property developer hoping for a $1bn Olympic legacy of his own

Jair Bolsonaro’s ascent was always frightening, and his record since taking power last year – with attacks on human rights, minorities, the arts, and destruction of the Amazon – has been shameful. His response to coronavirus has plumbed new depths. Many governments will have to answer for their mistakes and complacency when the pandemic is over. Mr Bolsonaro’s performance is in a league of its own. … [Read more...] about The Guardian view on Jair Bolsonaro: a danger to Brazilians

Other Tennis' French Open will now take place between September 20 and October 4 after being cancelled. The Cheltenham Festival went ahead as planned, but the Grand National will not be run in April. All horse racing will be suspended until the end April from Wednesday, March 18. Meanwhile, the World Indoor Athletics Championships were postponed, having been scheduled to be held in Nanjing between March 13-15 - with it now set to be held in 2021. The Tokyo Marathon on March 1 was run by elite athletes and closed to the public. In cycling, the UAE Tour has been cancelled after two Italian staff members tested positive for coronavirus. They were a part of one of the participating teams, with all riders - including Britain's Chris Froome - subsequently tested. WrestleMania 36 will take place behind close doors at the WWE Performance Center on April 4 & 5. In the world of golf, The Masters in Augusta has fallen victim to the coronavirus, while the NBA is suspended after Utah Jazz star … [Read more...] about Coronavirus sport cancellations: Full list of postponements as Premier League, Euro 2020, and Olympics cancelled