By , SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he tested positive for the novel coronavirus after months minimizing the severity of the pandemic and defying medical experts, even as the virus has killed more than 66,000 people in his country.The right-wing populist gave the news to reporters at his official residence standing just inches away from him, adding to criticism of his cavalier approach to the outbreak in Brazil, the world’s worst outside the United States.Even as he announced his infection, the 65-year-old former army captain dismissed the...…By , SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he tested positive for the novel coronavirus after months minimizing the severity of the pandemic and defying medical experts, even as the virus has killed more than 66,000 people in his country.The right-wing populist gave the news to reporters at his official residence standing just inches away from him, adding to criticism of his cavalier approach to the outbreak in Brazil, the world’s worst outside the United States.Even as he announced his infection, the 65-year-old former army captain dismissed the...WW…

By , Slideshow BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday withdrew the name of a family friend he had picked to run the federal police, after a Supreme Court justice blocked an appointment that opponents said would allow him inappropriate influence over law enforcement.His decision to drop Alexandre Ramagem, who was director of the Brazilian intelligence agency Abin, was published in the government’s official gazette.The suspension of the appointment by Justice Alexandre de Moraes earlier on Wednesday came after the top court authorized an investigation into...…By , Slideshow BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday withdrew the name of a family friend he had picked to run the federal police, after a Supreme Court justice blocked an appointment that opponents said would allow him inappropriate influence over law enforcement.His decision to drop Alexandre Ramagem, who was director of the Brazilian intelligence agency Abin, was published in the government’s official gazette.The suspension of the appointment by Justice Alexandre de Moraes earlier on Wednesday came after the top court authorized an investigation into...WW…

By , BRASILIA (Reuters) - Augusto Heleno, a national security advisor to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, treated Tuesday, March 17 much like any other workday.The 72-year-old former Army general attended cabinet meetings in the capital of Brasília, embraced colleagues and visited the cafeteria in the presidential palace, according to people familiar with his activities. But there was an unusual piece of business pending: He was awaiting the results of a coronavirus test.The following day, the test came back positive. Heleno announced it on Twitter. “I am in isolation at home and will not...…By , BRASILIA (Reuters) - Augusto Heleno, a national security advisor to Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, treated Tuesday, March 17 much like any other workday.The 72-year-old former Army general attended cabinet meetings in the capital of Brasília, embraced colleagues and visited the cafeteria in the presidential palace, according to people familiar with his activities. But there was an unusual piece of business pending: He was awaiting the results of a coronavirus test.The following day, the test came back positive. Heleno announced it on Twitter. “I am in isolation at home and will not...WW…

By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday the federal government will not buy a COVID-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac, one day after the health minister said it would be included in the nation’s immunization program.The apparent about-face follows anti-China social media commentary by some of Bolsonaro’s supporters and thrusts into the open a simmering debate over vaccine policy between the president and key governors, who have been exploring alternatives to the AstraZeneca vaccine the federal government has prioritized.On Tuesday, Health Minister Eduardo...…By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro said on Wednesday the federal government will not buy a COVID-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac, one day after the health minister said it would be included in the nation’s immunization program.The apparent about-face follows anti-China social media commentary by some of Bolsonaro’s supporters and thrusts into the open a simmering debate over vaccine policy between the president and key governors, who have been exploring alternatives to the AstraZeneca vaccine the federal government has prioritized.On Tuesday, Health Minister Eduardo...WW…

By , RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has gone all in on hydroxychloroquine to help his coronavirus-ravaged country beat COVID-19. He has pushed his government to make the malaria drug widely available and encouraged Brazilians to take it, both to prevent the disease and to treat it.Now the far-right populist is putting his convictions to the ultimate test: Bolsonaro on Tuesday announced that he had tested positive for the disease and was taking hydroxychloroquine.Bolsonaro said in a televised interview that he had taken an initial two doses, in...…By , RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has gone all in on hydroxychloroquine to help his coronavirus-ravaged country beat COVID-19. He has pushed his government to make the malaria drug widely available and encouraged Brazilians to take it, both to prevent the disease and to treat it.Now the far-right populist is putting his convictions to the ultimate test: Bolsonaro on Tuesday announced that he had tested positive for the disease and was taking hydroxychloroquine.Bolsonaro said in a televised interview that he had taken an initial two doses, in...WW…

By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had not been treated impartially in graft probes, strengthening his chances of running against President Jair Bolsonaro in next year’s vote.A dramatic reversal by Justice Carmen Lucia led a five-judge panel to find former judge Sergio Moro had made biased decisions in overseeing the graft probe known as Operation Car Wash, throwing out evidence that could have been used against Lula.With his convictions annulled earlier this month and the prospect of a swift retrial now...…By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had not been treated impartially in graft probes, strengthening his chances of running against President Jair Bolsonaro in next year’s vote.A dramatic reversal by Justice Carmen Lucia led a five-judge panel to find former judge Sergio Moro had made biased decisions in overseeing the graft probe known as Operation Car Wash, throwing out evidence that could have been used against Lula.With his convictions annulled earlier this month and the prospect of a swift retrial now...WW…

By , BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil on Tuesday reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths just as the country’s new health minister nominee pledged to continue the controversial policies of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the severity of the disease.The initial comments by cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga, a day after he was tapped by Bolsonaro, dashed hopes for significant change in course to curb a worsening pandemic that has killed over 280,000 people in Brazil, which already had the worst weekly death toll in the world last week.On Tuesday afternoon, Brazil recorded...…By , BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil on Tuesday reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths just as the country’s new health minister nominee pledged to continue the controversial policies of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has downplayed the severity of the disease.The initial comments by cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga, a day after he was tapped by Bolsonaro, dashed hopes for significant change in course to curb a worsening pandemic that has killed over 280,000 people in Brazil, which already had the worst weekly death toll in the world last week.On Tuesday afternoon, Brazil recorded...WW…

By SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil registered an additional 1,211 deaths attributable to the novel coronavirus over the last 24 hours and another 51,147 confirmed cases, the health ministry said on Saturday.The South American nation has now registered 86,449 deaths and 2,394,513 total confirmed cases.(This story corrects total number of cases on Saturday to 2,394,513 from 2,343,366)Reporting by Ana Mano and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards:…By SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil registered an additional 1,211 deaths attributable to the novel coronavirus over the last 24 hours and another 51,147 confirmed cases, the health ministry said on Saturday.The South American nation has now registered 86,449 deaths and 2,394,513 total confirmed cases.(This story corrects total number of cases on Saturday to 2,394,513 from 2,343,366)Reporting by Ana Mano and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards:WW…

By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has challenged a Supreme Court order that blocked several of his supporters’ profiles on social networks amid an ongoing fake news investigation, the right-wing president said using his own social media accounts on Saturday evening.The lawsuit, signed by the president and Brazil’s Solicitor General José Levi, says the ruling granted by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes violates the constitutional rights of the owners of the accounts.The blocking of the accounts was effective from Friday.The solicitor general’s role is to...…By BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has challenged a Supreme Court order that blocked several of his supporters’ profiles on social networks amid an ongoing fake news investigation, the right-wing president said using his own social media accounts on Saturday evening.The lawsuit, signed by the president and Brazil’s Solicitor General José Levi, says the ruling granted by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes violates the constitutional rights of the owners of the accounts.The blocking of the accounts was effective from Friday.The solicitor general’s role is to...WW…

By SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil registered an additional 1,211 deaths attributable to the novel coronavirus over the last 24 hours and another 51,147 confirmed cases, the health ministry said on Saturday.The South American nation has now registered 86,449 deaths and 2,394,513 total confirmed cases.(This story corrects total number of cases on Saturday to 2,394,513 from 2,343,366)Reporting by Ana Mano and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards:…By SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil registered an additional 1,211 deaths attributable to the novel coronavirus over the last 24 hours and another 51,147 confirmed cases, the health ministry said on Saturday.The South American nation has now registered 86,449 deaths and 2,394,513 total confirmed cases.(This story corrects total number of cases on Saturday to 2,394,513 from 2,343,366)Reporting by Ana Mano and Lisandra Paraguassu; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards:WW…