Brazilian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-jair-bolsonaro-shocks-brazil-with-golden-shower-tweet-201630">Jair Bolsonaro</a> left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela.

The far-right leader flew out of Brasilia early Sunday with six ministers, among them Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes and Justice Minister Sergio Moro, Brazilian media reported.

It was Bolsonaro's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting since taking office on January 1. He attended the Davos summit in Switzerland in January.

Bolsonaro, who will also meet in Washington with the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), is scheduled to return to Brazil on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Admirer of Trump

A Trump-Bolsonaro bond could see the leaders of the Americas' two largest democracies working in concert on a range of regional issues.

Most pressing is the crisis in Venezuela, where the US and Brazil — and dozens of other countries — have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president with the goal of forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

The tough-talking Bolsonaro has long expressed his admiration for Trump. He echoes the US leader in spurning multilateral organizations and leftist politics, while promoting businesses over environmental concerns at home.

Their shared nationalist sentiment can be seen in another relationship: that of Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, with Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon.

Eduardo Bolsonaro announced in early February that he was part of the Brussels-based group known as The Movement, which Bannon set up to promote far-right nationalistic values and tactics.

The older Bolsonaro announced on Saturday that one key result of his current trip would be the signing of an agreement under which the US might gain access to a satellite-launching base in Brazil near the Equator.

Eyes on Venezuela

But most eyes will be on developments surrounding Venezuela, which shares a border with Brazil.

Previous Brazilian administrations took a friends-to-all approach to neighbouring countries. But not Bolsonaro.&nbsp;

The 63-year-old former paratrooper is vehemently opposed to leftist currents, at home and abroad, and he shares Trump's hostility to the "dictator" Maduro, who took over after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that "all options are on the table" with regards to Venezuela, a phrase understood to include military action.

But Bolsonaro, like other members of the mostly Latin American Lima Group, has ruled out military action in favour of a policy of tightening the economic and diplomatic noose around Maduro.

As well as a "private meeting" with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Bolsonaro will sit down with OAS &nbsp;Secretary-General Luis Almagro, and participate in various forums to promote economic opportunities in Brazil.

The US is Brazil's second biggest trade partner after China.

After his arrival Sunday, Bolsonaro will dine at the residence of Brazilian ambassador Sergio Amaral with "opinion makers" including, according to press reports, Bannon and US-based Brazilian writer Olavo de Carvalho, considered Bolsonaro's ideological guru.

Bolsonaro will be staying in Blair House, the official US state residence opposite the White House used for visiting dignitaries.

After his return to Brazil, Bolsonaro is planning a trip to Chile and then, in late March, to Israel. He forged close ties with Israel's conservative leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the latter attended Bolsonaro's inauguration.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left for Washington on Sunday to meet with his US counterpart Donald Trump and cement a budding conservative-populist alliance that, in part, aims to ramp up pressure on Venezuela. The far-right leader flew out of Brasilia early Sunday with six ministers, among them Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo, Economy Minister Paulo Guedes and Justice Minister Sergio Moro, Brazilian media reported. It was Bolsonaro's first trip abroad for a bilateral meeting since taking office on January 1. He attended the Davos summit in Switzerland in January. Bolsonaro, who will also meet in Washington with the head of the Organization of American States (OAS), is scheduled to return to Brazil on Tuesday. Admirer of Trump A Trump-Bolsonaro bond could see the leaders of the Americas' two largest democracies working in concert on a range of regional issues. Most pressing is the crisis in Venezuela, where the US and Brazil — and dozens of other countries — have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president with the goal of forcing President Nicolas Maduro from power. The tough-talking Bolsonaro has long expressed his admiration for Trump. He echoes the US leader in spurning multilateral organizations and leftist politics, while promoting businesses over environmental concerns at home. Their shared nationalist sentiment can be seen in another relationship: that of Bolsonaro's son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, with Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon. Eduardo Bolsonaro announced in early February that he was part of the Brussels-based group known as The Movement, which Bannon set up to promote far-right nationalistic values and tactics. The older Bolsonaro announced on Saturday that one key result of his current trip would be the signing of an agreement under which the US might gain access to a satellite-launching base in Brazil near the Equator. Eyes on Venezuela But most eyes will be on developments surrounding Venezuela, which shares a border with Brazil. Previous Brazilian administrations took a friends-to-all approach to neighbouring countries. But not Bolsonaro. The 63-year-old former paratrooper is vehemently opposed to leftist currents, at home and abroad, and he shares Trump's hostility to the "dictator" Maduro, who took over after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2013. Trump has repeatedly insisted that "all options are on the table" with regards to Venezuela, a phrase understood to include military action. But Bolsonaro, like other members of the mostly Latin American Lima Group, has ruled out military action in favour of a policy of tightening the economic and diplomatic noose around Maduro. As well as a "private meeting" with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Bolsonaro will sit down with OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro, and participate in various forums to promote economic opportunities in Brazil. The US is Brazil's second biggest trade partner after China. After his arrival Sunday, Bolsonaro will dine at the residence of Brazilian ambassador Sergio Amaral with "opinion makers" including, according to press reports, Bannon and US-based Brazilian writer Olavo de Carvalho, considered Bolsonaro's ideological guru. Bolsonaro will be staying in Blair House, the official US state residence opposite the White House used for visiting dignitaries. After his return to Brazil, Bolsonaro is planning a trip to Chile and then, in late March, to Israel. He forged close ties with Israel's conservative leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the latter attended Bolsonaro's inauguration.

Brazil's Bolsonaro heads to US to cement alliance with Trump

Teaching boys and girls they are equal in every way encourages domestic violence, Brazil's women's minister said Friday as she urged a return to chivalry.

"Boys need to understand that girls are equal in terms of rights and opportunities, but are different as they're women and they need to be loved and respected as women," said Damares Alves, who was appointed by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/president-jair-bolsonaro-shocks-brazil-with-golden-shower-tweet-201630">far-right President Jair Bolsonaro</a> to lead the ministry for women, families and human rights.

"If they think that boys and girls are equal, as was preached in the past by some 'ideologies,' boys will think 'since girls are equal they can handle being hit.'"

Alves added that boys would be taught that girls "are different physically and need to be loved."

The minister, who is also an evangelical preacher, was presenting a campaign to combat violence against women as part of international women's day.

Alves said the new initiative would teach boys from a young age to respect women by "bringing flowers to girls" or "opening a car door for women."

When appointed she had previously vowed to usher in a new era where "boys will wear blue and girls pink."

She is one of just two women out of 22 ministers in the cabinet of Bolsonaro, who benefitted from the support of the evangelical church in his successful run for president last October.

As part of the campaign against domestic abuse, beauty professionals will be trained to spot signs of domestic violence.

"We're going to train manicurists when they're doing a woman's nails to look for marks on her arms or if she's trembling a lot," said Alves.

"We'll train the hairdressers so that when they lift the hair to brush it they check for marks."

In 2017, 4,539 women were murdered in Brazil, 1,133 of those considered femicide -- meaning they were killed for being women -- according to the public security forum NGO.

It also claimed there were 536 physical assaults against women in Brazil every hour in 2017.

Teaching boys and girls they are equal in every way encourages domestic violence, Brazil's women's minister said Friday as she urged a return to chivalry. "Boys need to understand that girls are equal in terms of rights and opportunities, but are different as they're women and they need to be loved and respected as women," said Damares Alves, who was appointed by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to lead the ministry for women, families and human rights.

Teaching boys and girls they are equal in every way encourages domestic violence, Brazil's women's minister said Friday as she urged a return to chivalry. "Boys need to understand that girls are equal in terms of rights and opportunities, but are different as they're women and they need to be loved and respected as women," said Damares Alves, who was appointed by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to lead the ministry for women, families and human rights. "If they think that boys and girls are equal, as was preached in the past by some 'ideologies,' boys will think 'since girls are equal they can handle being hit.'" Alves added that boys would be taught that girls "are different physically and need to be loved." The minister, who is also an evangelical preacher, was presenting a campaign to combat violence against women as part of international women's day. Alves said the new initiative would teach boys from a young age to respect women by "bringing flowers to girls" or "opening a car door for women." When appointed she had previously vowed to usher in a new era where "boys will wear blue and girls pink." She is one of just two women out of 22 ministers in the cabinet of Bolsonaro, who benefitted from the support of the evangelical church in his successful run for president last October. As part of the campaign against domestic abuse, beauty professionals will be trained to spot signs of domestic violence. "We're going to train manicurists when they're doing a woman's nails to look for marks on her arms or if she's trembling a lot," said Alves. "We'll train the hairdressers so that when they lift the hair to brush it they check for marks." In 2017, 4,539 women were murdered in Brazil, 1,133 of those considered femicide -- meaning they were killed for being women -- according to the public security forum NGO. It also claimed there were 536 physical assaults against women in Brazil every hour in 2017.

Teaching gender equality encourages domestic violence, says Brazil's women's minister

A slum close to Latin America's largest city houses some 4,500 people who have no access to clean drinking water and where residents regularly get sick due to the unhygienic and substandard conditions they are forced to live in.

The Anchieta-Grajaú community, located some 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from downtown Sao Paolo, is one of many unregulated slums where viral diseases are rampant and residents live in shacks made of wood and plastics.

"My husband complains of stomach ache more often than not," María das Graças, a 63-year-old who has been living in the shanty town for the last five years with her husband and disabled daughter, said.

"I think that it is due to a lack of sanitation, there is a need for water that has been more treated," the woman added. "Fecal waters flow in front of the house and continue downwards," Graças told EFE.

Ever since Graças' family arrived in the slum the gastrointestinal issues caused by being exposed to contaminated water have become so frequent the family does not even bother going to see a doctor anymore.

The community has no access to clean drinking water and the only spring they did have, in recent years, has become the final destination of wastewaters that travel in the open through the shantytown, which emerged in 2013.

Marcos Cruz lives with his three children, all of whom have repeatedly suffered bouts of diarrhea, which is unsurprising given that alongside the waters infected with human feces there is also a plastic hose that distributes "clean" water, which is not potable, for the home use.

The issue is that filthy residue traveling through the open sewers filter into these hoses, which transport water for showers and toilets.

"There the kids are not immunized and they end up ill," Cruz said.

Anderson Fernandes, a 38-year-old community leader of this impromptu shantytown, said that some of the main symptoms neighbors present are " diarrhea, general malaise, and headaches."

"I was even ill these last three days due to the water," he continued.

According to the Brazil Trata Institute, an NGO that collects official data on sanitation and health conditions across the country, nearly half of Brazilians, almost 1 million people, do not have access to adequate sewage systems.

About 13 million children and teenagers grow up in areas where there is no access to basic sanitation which favors the proliferation of viral outbreaks.

In some areas of the Anchieta-Grajaú slum sewage flows in front of many houses forcing residents to lay down wooden boards so as not to come into contact with the dirty water.

Rain often complicates problems further.

The shanty town is built on a hill, meaning waste sits stagnant during dry spells and when the rains return the putrid waters rise and on occasions even invade homes.

"The country generally lacks a safe and sanitized sewage system," Alceu Galvao of the Trata Institute told EFE.

The government has earmarked 508 billion reals ($ 132 billion) in order to develop a sewage infrastructure across Brazil in 2033.

However, Galvao is concerned that this target is progressively being delayed with officials already suggesting a more realistic aim would be to achieve this by 2050.

The delays are blamed on the deep economic crisis Brazil suffered between 2015-16 and the fact that recovery has been very slow.

There is also an added bureaucratic sticking point.

Sewage systems are widely developed by state-funded companies or companies that are part-funded by the government, and if they were to reform unregulated slums it would be interpreted as the state legalizing what to date has been labeled "an invasion of the lands."

The million-odd people living in Brazil's many illegal shantytowns find themselves in a catch-22 scenario.

Community leader, Fernandes, is attempting to tackle precisely this issue which leaves millions in a sort of limbo, but the case of Anchieta-Grajaú is slightly different because when individuals flocked to the land they occupied six years ago it belonged to the Achieta-Grajaú Institute Association and they approved to accommodate thousands of families in search of a home.

"In the last six years they approved the proposal of connecting us to a sewage system, now we only a need a document that backs this," Fernandes added.

Meanwhile, the community activist is rallying partners in order to launch a project that would see a green space developed around the water spring that used to supply the town with clean drinking water.

A slum close to Latin America's largest city houses some 4,500 people who have no access to clean drinking water and where residents regularly get sick due to the unhygienic and substandard conditions they are forced to live in.

A slum close to Latin America's largest city houses some 4,500 people who have no access to clean drinking water and where residents regularly get sick due to the unhygienic and substandard conditions they are forced to live in. The Anchieta-Grajaú community, located some 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from downtown Sao Paolo, is one of many unregulated slums where viral diseases are rampant and residents live in shacks made of wood and plastics. "My husband complains of stomach ache more often than not," María das Graças, a 63-year-old who has been living in the shanty town for the last five years with her husband and disabled daughter, said. "I think that it is due to a lack of sanitation, there is a need for water that has been more treated," the woman added. "Fecal waters flow in front of the house and continue downwards," Graças told EFE. Ever since Graças' family arrived in the slum the gastrointestinal issues caused by being exposed to contaminated water have become so frequent the family does not even bother going to see a doctor anymore. The community has no access to clean drinking water and the only spring they did have, in recent years, has become the final destination of wastewaters that travel in the open through the shantytown, which emerged in 2013. Marcos Cruz lives with his three children, all of whom have repeatedly suffered bouts of diarrhea, which is unsurprising given that alongside the waters infected with human feces there is also a plastic hose that distributes "clean" water, which is not potable, for the home use. The issue is that filthy residue traveling through the open sewers filter into these hoses, which transport water for showers and toilets. "There the kids are not immunized and they end up ill," Cruz said. Anderson Fernandes, a 38-year-old community leader of this impromptu shantytown, said that some of the main symptoms neighbors present are " diarrhea, general malaise, and headaches." "I was even ill these last three days due to the water," he continued. According to the Brazil Trata Institute, an NGO that collects official data on sanitation and health conditions across the country, nearly half of Brazilians, almost 1 million people, do not have access to adequate sewage systems. About 13 million children and teenagers grow up in areas where there is no access to basic sanitation which favors the proliferation of viral outbreaks. In some areas of the Anchieta-Grajaú slum sewage flows in front of many houses forcing residents to lay down wooden boards so as not to come into contact with the dirty water. Rain often complicates problems further. The shanty town is built on a hill, meaning waste sits stagnant during dry spells and when the rains return the putrid waters rise and on occasions even invade homes. "The country generally lacks a safe and sanitized sewage system," Alceu Galvao of the Trata Institute told EFE. The government has earmarked 508 billion reals ($ 132 billion) in order to develop a sewage infrastructure across Brazil in 2033. However, Galvao is concerned that this target is progressively being delayed with officials already suggesting a more realistic aim would be to achieve this by 2050. The delays are blamed on the deep economic crisis Brazil suffered between 2015-16 and the fact that recovery has been very slow. There is also an added bureaucratic sticking point. Sewage systems are widely developed by state-funded companies or companies that are part-funded by the government, and if they were to reform unregulated slums it would be interpreted as the state legalizing what to date has been labeled "an invasion of the lands." The million-odd people living in Brazil's many illegal shantytowns find themselves in a catch-22 scenario. Community leader, Fernandes, is attempting to tackle precisely this issue which leaves millions in a sort of limbo, but the case of Anchieta-Grajaú is slightly different because when individuals flocked to the land they occupied six years ago it belonged to the Achieta-Grajaú Institute Association and they approved to accommodate thousands of families in search of a home. "In the last six years they approved the proposal of connecting us to a sewage system, now we only a need a document that backs this," Fernandes added. Meanwhile, the community activist is rallying partners in order to launch a project that would see a green space developed around the water spring that used to supply the town with clean drinking water.

Unsanitized sewers leave millions in Brazil at the peril of viral outbreaks

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked shock and outrage by tweeting a video showing one man urinating on another during his country's massive annual street carnival.

"What is a golden shower?" Bolsonaro tweeted on Wednesday, a day after posting the video in which a barely dressed party-goer writhes atop a bus shelter, plays with his behind, and then bends over before another man urinates on his head.

"I do not feel comfortable showing this, but ... this is what many of the street parties in Brazil's carnival have turned into," Bolsonaro tweeted.

A former army captain, Bolsonaro came to power in 2018 at the head of a right-wing government after years of stirring controversy with homophobic, misogynistic and racist comments.

It remains to be seen whether he will face consequences over the posts. Leftist lawmaker Paulo Teixeira said on Twitter he would ask prosecutors to investigate whether Bolsonaro had broken privacy laws.

Twitter said in a statement that any violations of its content rules were "subject to appropriate measures" but declined to say whether the post constituted a violation.

Critics said Bolsonaro's tweets showed he was more focused on riling his progressive critics than building consensus in Congress for necessary reforms, such as an overhaul of the country's budget-busting pension system.

The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Local media said the video was filmed at a street party, or bloco, in Sao Paulo.

Brazil's most famous carnival celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro, where Bolsonaro was a federal congressman for nearly three decades.

This year's carnival has become increasingly politicized in the wake of Bolsonaro's election and the 2018 murder of Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco, a gay and black rights activist whose 2018 murder remains unsolved.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked shock and outrage by tweeting a video showing one man urinating on another during his country's massive annual street carnival.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has sparked shock and outrage by tweeting a video showing one man urinating on another during his country's massive annual street carnival. "What is a golden shower?" Bolsonaro tweeted on Wednesday, a day after posting the video in which a barely dressed party-goer writhes atop a bus shelter, plays with his behind, and then bends over before another man urinates on his head. "I do not feel comfortable showing this, but ... this is what many of the street parties in Brazil's carnival have turned into," Bolsonaro tweeted. A former army captain, Bolsonaro came to power in 2018 at the head of a right-wing government after years of stirring controversy with homophobic, misogynistic and racist comments. It remains to be seen whether he will face consequences over the posts. Leftist lawmaker Paulo Teixeira said on Twitter he would ask prosecutors to investigate whether Bolsonaro had broken privacy laws. Twitter said in a statement that any violations of its content rules were "subject to appropriate measures" but declined to say whether the post constituted a violation. Critics said Bolsonaro's tweets showed he was more focused on riling his progressive critics than building consensus in Congress for necessary reforms, such as an overhaul of the country's budget-busting pension system. The president's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Local media said the video was filmed at a street party, or bloco, in Sao Paulo. Brazil's most famous carnival celebrations take place in Rio de Janeiro, where Bolsonaro was a federal congressman for nearly three decades. This year's carnival has become increasingly politicized in the wake of Bolsonaro's election and the 2018 murder of Rio councilwoman Marielle Franco, a gay and black rights activist whose 2018 murder remains unsolved.

President Jair Bolsonaro shocks Brazil with 'golden shower' tweet

Argentine Guido Pella claimed his first ATP title when he beat Christian Garin 7-5 6-3 to win the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo on Sunday.

Pella, who had previously reached four ATP finals and come up short each time, made no mistake against the young Chilean and finished a superb week without dropping a set.

Ranked 48th in the world before his triumph, the 28-year-old will jump to a career best 34th place when the new rankings are published on Monday.

Pella stopped Garin from becoming the first Chilean since Fernando Gonzalez a decade ago to lift an ATP trophy and is the seventh player to claim their first ATP title this season.

The other first time winners are Alex de Minaur&nbsp;(Sydney),&nbsp;Tennys Sandgren&nbsp;(Auckland), Juan Ignacio Londero (Cordoba),&nbsp;Reilly Opelka&nbsp;(New York),&nbsp;Laslo Djere&nbsp;(Rio de Janeiro) and&nbsp;Radu Albot&nbsp;(Delray Beach).

Argentine Guido Pella claimed his first ATP title when he beat Christian Garin 7-5 6-3 to win the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo on Sunday. Pella, who had previously reached four ATP finals and come up short each time, made no mistake against the young Chilean and finished a superb week without dropping a set.

Argentine Guido Pella claimed his first ATP title when he beat Christian Garin 7-5 6-3 to win the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo on Sunday. Pella, who had previously reached four ATP finals and come up short each time, made no mistake against the young Chilean and finished a superb week without dropping a set. Ranked 48th in the world before his triumph, the 28-year-old will jump to a career best 34th place when the new rankings are published on Monday. Pella stopped Garin from becoming the first Chilean since Fernando Gonzalez a decade ago to lift an ATP trophy and is the seventh player to claim their first ATP title this season. The other first time winners are Alex de Minaur (Sydney), Tennys Sandgren (Auckland), Juan Ignacio Londero (Cordoba), Reilly Opelka (New York), Laslo Djere (Rio de Janeiro) and Radu Albot (Delray Beach).

Argentine Guido Pella wins first ATP title in Brazil

With millions of participants, Brazil is set to display largest carnival in the world

Humpback whale found beached in Brazil

Sri Lanka's police seized nearly 300 kilograms of heroin worth $17 million, the island's biggest haul of the narcotic, and arrested two people, spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said Sunday.

Anti-narcotics agents and police Special Task Force commandos raided a mall car park in the capital Colombo Saturday evening and found the drugs hidden in two vans, Gunasekera said.

"The heroin was packed in 272 plastic bags and ready for distribution," Gunasekera said. "We are now investigating how this consignment got into the country."

He said the narcotics weighing 294.4 kilos had a street value of about three billion rupees ($17 million).

In 2013, police seized 260 kilos of heroin brought into the country hidden inside tractors imported from Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's biggest drug haul, by weight, was in December 2016 when police seized 800 kilos of cocaine.

Authorities believe the Indian Ocean island is also being used as a transit point by traffickers.

In 2014, anti-narcotics authorities seized 90 kilos of cocaine concealed in sugar containers from Brazil. In the same year, police detained 14 foreigners after seizing 110 kilos of heroin worth $7.5 million from an Iranian fishing trawler.

Sri Lanka's police seized nearly 300 kilograms of heroin worth $17 million, the island's biggest haul of the narcotic, and arrested two people, spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said Sunday.

Sri Lanka's police seized nearly 300 kilograms of heroin worth $17 million, the island's biggest haul of the narcotic, and arrested two people, spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said Sunday. Anti-narcotics agents and police Special Task Force commandos raided a mall car park in the capital Colombo Saturday evening and found the drugs hidden in two vans, Gunasekera said. "The heroin was packed in 272 plastic bags and ready for distribution," Gunasekera said. "We are now investigating how this consignment got into the country." He said the narcotics weighing 294.4 kilos had a street value of about three billion rupees ($17 million). In 2013, police seized 260 kilos of heroin brought into the country hidden inside tractors imported from Pakistan. Sri Lanka's biggest drug haul, by weight, was in December 2016 when police seized 800 kilos of cocaine. Authorities believe the Indian Ocean island is also being used as a transit point by traffickers. In 2014, anti-narcotics authorities seized 90 kilos of cocaine concealed in sugar containers from Brazil. In the same year, police detained 14 foreigners after seizing 110 kilos of heroin worth $7.5 million from an Iranian fishing trawler.

Sri Lanka seizes 300 kilograms of heroin worth $17 million

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-opposition-leader-guaido-defies-travel-ban-as-aid-row-turns-deadly-199076">opposition leader Juan Guaido</a> as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend.

With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation.

He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show".

The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta.

Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away.

With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition.

Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people.

His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters.

SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE

Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado.

Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed.

"I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working."

Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said.

Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition.

Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism."

The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace".

"What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

"We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela."

China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence.

BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN'

The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun.

"Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain".

Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers.

"What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said.

As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

"The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition."

Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed.

Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points.

Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns.

Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down.

"The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation.

Venezuelan soldiers opened fire on indigenous people near the border with Brazil on Friday, killing two, as President Nicolas Maduro sought to block US-backed efforts to bring aid into his economically devastated nation. The United States, which is among dozens of nations to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president, has been stockpiling aid in the Colombian frontier town of Cucuta to ship across the border this weekend. With tensions running high after Guaido invoked the constitution to declare an interim presidency last month, Maduro has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela despite widespread shortages of food and medicine and hyperinflation. He says the opposition efforts are a US-backed "cheap show". The socialist president, who took power in 2013 and was re-elected in an election last year widely viewed as fraudulent, has declared Venezuela's southern border with Brazil closed ahead of the opposition's plan to bring in the aid on Saturday. Late on Friday, the government shuttered the Tachira frontier that connects with Cucuta. Some political analysts say the looming showdown is less about solving Venezuela's needs and more about testing the military's loyalty to Maduro by daring it to turn the aid away. With inflation running at more than 2 million per cent a year and currency controls restricting imports of basic goods, a growing share of the country's roughly 30 million people is suffering from malnutrition. Guaido showed up late on Friday at a fundraising concert in Cucuta backed by British billionaire Richard Branson that was estimated to have attracted nearly 200,000 people. His appearance, arm-in-arm with Colombian President Ivan Duque, was an open challenge to Maduro given that the pro-government Supreme Court has banned him from international travel on grounds he is under investigation for allegedly helping foreign countries to interfere in internal matters. SOLDIERS OPENED FIRE Friday's violence broke out in the village of Kumarakapay in southern Venezuela after an indigenous community stopped a military convoy heading toward the border with Brazil that they believed was attempting to block aid, according to community leaders Richard Fernandez and Ricardo Delgado. Soldiers later entered the village and opened fire, killing a couple and injuring several others, they said. A regional official confirmed that two people were killed. "I stood up to them to back the humanitarian aid," Fernandez told Reuters. "And they came charging at us. They shot innocent people who were in their homes, working." Seven of the 15 injured were rushed by ambulance to a hospital in the Brazilian frontier city of Boa Vista, a spokesman for the state governor's office said. Diosdado Cabello, one of the most prominent figures in Maduro’s Socialist Party, accused the civilians involved in the clash of being "violent groups" directed by the opposition. Venezuelan security forces have executed dozens and detained hundreds of others since protests broke out in January against Maduro's swearing-in, according to civil rights groups. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza in New York on Friday and "urged the Venezuelan authorities not to use lethal force against demonstrators," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Asked about the deaths, Arreaza told reporters the armed forces would never take disproportionate action against its own people: "Our armed forces are known for their humanism." The U.S. special envoy for Venezuela, who joined regional leaders and diplomats in Cucuta to show support for the opposition, called the killings "a crime and a disgrace". "What do we do if the government of Maduro, the former government of Maduro, does not fall tomorrow?" Elliott Abrams said after meeting the presidents of Paraguay and Chile and the secretary-general of the Organization of American States. "We continue trying to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Venezuela." China, which along with Russia backs Maduro, warned that humanitarian aid should not be forced across the border because doing so could lead to violence. BLOODSHED 'NOT IN VAIN' The bloodshed contrasted with a joyful mood at Branson's "Venezuela Aid Live", where Venezuelan and Colombian attendees, some crying, waved flags and chanted "freedom" under a baking sun. "Is it too much to ask for freedom after 20 years of ignominy, of a populist Marxist dictatorship?" Venezuelan singer Jose Luis "El Puma" Rodríguez asked. "To the Venezuelans there, don't give up: the blood that has been spilt was not in vain". Earlier in the day, Branson held a news conference near a never-used border bridge that Venezuelan authorities have blocked with shipping containers. "What we're hoping is that the authorities in Venezuela will see this wonderful, peaceful concert ... and that the soldiers will do that right thing," Branson said. As well as the foreign aid stockpiled in Cucuta, Guaido has vowed to bring in aid on Saturday from the Brazilian town of Boa Vista and the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao. "The people of Venezuela are not begging, they’re resisting a dictatorship, the onslaught of oppression," Guaido told a news conference in Cucuta after the concert. "Tomorrow ... everyone will be on the streets demanding the entry of humanitarian aid, thanking the world for this unprecedented coalition." Brazil said on Friday it had 200 tonnes of food and medicine ready for Venezuela but only one truck had arrived to pick it up before the border was closed. Venezuela's borders are porous, however, and supporters could attempt to bring in aid outside the official entry points. Guaido's move to assume the interim presidency and international backing has galvanized Venezuela's opposition, which has vowed to keep protesting until Maduro steps down. Major protests in 2014 and 2017 waned in the face of crackdowns. Some government critics are concerned it will take more than the pressure to force Maduro to step down. "The truth is that not even 10 concerts will make damned Maduro leave office," said Darwin Rendon, one of the 3.4 million Venezuelans to have emigrated since 2015 to find work. He sends what little he earns selling cigarettes to his family in Caracas. "This regime is difficult to remove."

As tensions over aid rise, Venezuelan troops fire on villagers, two dead

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense."

"I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP.

"The Venezuela question needs to be resolved by Venezuelans."

Mourao's comments came after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro announced earlier that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuelas-maduro-starts-shutting-borders-to-block-humanitarian-aid-198833">border with Brazil would be shut</a> "completely and absolutely" until further notice from 8:00 pm.

But Mourao said that "doesn't signify an act of aggression."

"This reaction is simply a way to prevent the humanitarian aid process," he said, adding that Venezuela "has the right to whatever it wants on its side of the border."

President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman Otavio Rego Barros also dismissed the possibility of Maduro's decision causing "frictions" between the neighbors.

Maduro's move came two days before a deadline set by opposition leader Juan Guaido for humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the island of Curacao to be brought into Venezuela.

The self-proclaimed acting president, recognized as such by 50 countries, set out in a convoy of vehicles from Caracas towards the border with Colombia on Thursday to personally take charge of the aid entry.

A bridge border crossing between the two countries remains blocked by the military, though, with Maduro vowing not to let it in.

The embattled socialist leader also said on Thursday he was considering "a total closure of the border with Colombia."

The issue of aid has taken center stage in the power-struggle between Maduro and Guaido, the president of the opposition controlled National Assembly legislature.

Guaido has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial reelection last May in polls boycotted by the opposition, many of whose leaders were unable to stand due to being imprisoned, barred or in exile.

The 35-year-old Guido wants to force out Maduro, 56, so he can set up a transitional government ahead of new elections. 
&nbsp;

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense." "I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP.

Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as "premature" and said it "wouldn't make sense." "I think they're more in the realm of rhetoric than action," Mourao said, referring to the threats, in an interview with AFP. "The Venezuela question needs to be resolved by Venezuelans." Mourao's comments came after Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro announced earlier that the border with Brazil would be shut "completely and absolutely" until further notice from 8:00 pm. But Mourao said that "doesn't signify an act of aggression." "This reaction is simply a way to prevent the humanitarian aid process," he said, adding that Venezuela "has the right to whatever it wants on its side of the border." President Jair Bolsonaro's spokesman Otavio Rego Barros also dismissed the possibility of Maduro's decision causing "frictions" between the neighbors. Maduro's move came two days before a deadline set by opposition leader Juan Guaido for humanitarian aid stockpiled in Colombia, Brazil and the island of Curacao to be brought into Venezuela. The self-proclaimed acting president, recognized as such by 50 countries, set out in a convoy of vehicles from Caracas towards the border with Colombia on Thursday to personally take charge of the aid entry. A bridge border crossing between the two countries remains blocked by the military, though, with Maduro vowing not to let it in. The embattled socialist leader also said on Thursday he was considering "a total closure of the border with Colombia." The issue of aid has taken center stage in the power-struggle between Maduro and Guaido, the president of the opposition controlled National Assembly legislature. Guaido has branded Maduro a usurper over his controversial reelection last May in polls boycotted by the opposition, many of whose leaders were unable to stand due to being imprisoned, barred or in exile. The 35-year-old Guido wants to force out Maduro, 56, so he can set up a transitional government ahead of new elections.

US military intervention in Venezuela 'wouldn't make sense': Brazil's Vice President

Brazil's lower chamber handed right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro his first defeat in Congress on Tuesday, the day before his government presents its most important legislative proposal to rein in a gaping budget deficit and spur growth.

The house voted overwhelmingly to suspend an executive order by the Bolsonaro government that altered Brazil's freedom of information law to broaden the number of officials allowed to designate data and documents as secret or ultra-secret.

Lawmakers voted 367 to 57 to fast-track a bill overturning the secrecy measure and government whips were unable to muster votes to avoid defeat.

The bill must still be voted on by the Senate, but the reversal showed that Bolsonaro, who took office on Jan. 1, has not yet been able to organise a coalition in Congress to back his legislative agenda.

On Wednesday, Bolsonaro will send to Congress his plan to overhaul Brazil's generous and costly pension system that eats up more than half of federal spending and is the main factor behind an unsustainable budget deficit.

Approval of pension reform is vital for the recovery of investor confidence in Latin America's largest economy.

The defeat on the floor of the house came one day after Bolsonaro fired a senior minister amid a scandal involving campaign financing for some of his party's congressional candidates in the October elections.

The ousted minister, Gustavo Bebianno, was instrumental in getting Bolsonaro elected but had a run-in with one of the president's sons, triggering the weeks-old government's first cabinet crisis.

In a note to clients, analysts at Eurasia Group said the scandal indicated the administration's political team was in disarray, but they still expected the pension reform to get passed, albeit in a less ambitious version.

Brazil's lower chamber handed right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro his first defeat in Congress on Tuesday, the day before his government presents its most important legislative proposal to rein in a gaping budget deficit and spur growth.

Brazil's lower chamber handed right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro his first defeat in Congress on Tuesday, the day before his government presents its most important legislative proposal to rein in a gaping budget deficit and spur growth. The house voted overwhelmingly to suspend an executive order by the Bolsonaro government that altered Brazil's freedom of information law to broaden the number of officials allowed to designate data and documents as secret or ultra-secret. Lawmakers voted 367 to 57 to fast-track a bill overturning the secrecy measure and government whips were unable to muster votes to avoid defeat. The bill must still be voted on by the Senate, but the reversal showed that Bolsonaro, who took office on Jan. 1, has not yet been able to organise a coalition in Congress to back his legislative agenda. On Wednesday, Bolsonaro will send to Congress his plan to overhaul Brazil's generous and costly pension system that eats up more than half of federal spending and is the main factor behind an unsustainable budget deficit. Approval of pension reform is vital for the recovery of investor confidence in Latin America's largest economy. The defeat on the floor of the house came one day after Bolsonaro fired a senior minister amid a scandal involving campaign financing for some of his party's congressional candidates in the October elections. The ousted minister, Gustavo Bebianno, was instrumental in getting Bolsonaro elected but had a run-in with one of the president's sons, triggering the weeks-old government's first cabinet crisis. In a note to clients, analysts at Eurasia Group said the scandal indicated the administration's political team was in disarray, but they still expected the pension reform to get passed, albeit in a less ambitious version.

Brazil's Bolsonaro suffers first defeat in Congress

A cement staircase in a trendy district of this Brazilian metropolis serves as a memorial to a slain Rio de Janeiro city councillor and rights activists and a vehicle for artists looking to carry on her struggle.

The staircase features a large photograph of Marielle Franco, an Afro-Brazilian lesbian and charismatic champion of the rights of black women, the LGBTI community and other marginalized people in Rio.

It also has served in recent days as a place for Afro-Brazilian and lesbian artists to display their own work after local authorities painted over an earlier mural there in honour of Franco, who was shot and killed along with her driver on March 14, 2018.

The murder of the 38-year-old Franco, an Afro-Brazilian lesbian who grew up in one of Rio's toughest neighbourhoods and was a vocal critic of killings by police and para-police death squads known as militias, remains unsolved nearly a year later.

But the militias, which usually include serving and former police officers, are suspected of having played a part in what rights organizations have called a targeted assassination.

The so-called "Escadão Marielle Franco" (Marielle Stairs) in the Pinheiros district dates to just six days after the activist's murder when the Casadalapa artists' collective placed a four-by-three meter photograph of Franco on the stairs and several graffiti artists began putting up their own designs around it.

But according to one of those artists, Patricia Bonane, local residents learned just a few months after the memorial was inaugurated that the city government was planning to carry out a reform of the staircase that included re-painting all of its walls.

The project also was to require the eviction of a married couple and a man who has been living under the stairs for eight years.

But "social pressure" succeeded in halting the eviction, according to Bonane, who said the activists had to take on the role of security guards to keep watch over those people's residences.

Despite that small victory, city authorities eventually covered the mural with grey paint at the end of last year; however, they left the photo of Marielle and some inscriptions around it due to pressure from local residents, Bonane said.

Asked by EFE about the decision to paint over the mural, the Sao Paulo city government replied that the action was a "structural reform" aimed at "improving pedestrians' safety."

With the staircase once again unadorned, the Casadelapa collective contacted a group of female graffiti artists to resume the artistic project, but the response was not what they had in mind.

"Most (of the women) were white and not marginalized," said one of the artists, Maria Luiza Meneses, who stressed the need to "subvert the established order" and provide space for those who normally do not have a voice: "black or indigenous women, the marginalized population and lesbians."

Graffiti art also is "a hierarchical world" in the sense that "only those with the money to buy material can paint," the art history student said, adding that "it's black women who still have the worst jobs."

And even when a new list of artists was created, black women had the most difficulty participating because "they worked on Saturdays, lived further away or couldn't leave their children," Meneses said.

In the discussions surrounding the design of the mural, she said some of the white female artists complained that the new system was fraught with a "victim mentality" and "segregation."

This underscored the need for debate, according to Meneses. 
"It's not easy to recognize that one has privileges" and that it's necessary to "review our behaviour."

The young artist commented while resting at the foot of her still-unfinished work, one of the different portraits of Franco that adorn the walls of the staircase and which are surrounded by floral motifs and colourful slogans and signs.

They include a well-known phrase uttered by Franco: "I will not be interrupted."

A cement staircase in a trendy district of this Brazilian metropolis serves as a memorial to a slain Rio de Janeiro city councillor and rights activists and a vehicle for artists looking to carry on her struggle.

A cement staircase in a trendy district of this Brazilian metropolis serves as a memorial to a slain Rio de Janeiro city councillor and rights activists and a vehicle for artists looking to carry on her struggle. The staircase features a large photograph of Marielle Franco, an Afro-Brazilian lesbian and charismatic champion of the rights of black women, the LGBTI community and other marginalized people in Rio. It also has served in recent days as a place for Afro-Brazilian and lesbian artists to display their own work after local authorities painted over an earlier mural there in honour of Franco, who was shot and killed along with her driver on March 14, 2018. The murder of the 38-year-old Franco, an Afro-Brazilian lesbian who grew up in one of Rio's toughest neighbourhoods and was a vocal critic of killings by police and para-police death squads known as militias, remains unsolved nearly a year later. But the militias, which usually include serving and former police officers, are suspected of having played a part in what rights organizations have called a targeted assassination. The so-called "Escadão Marielle Franco" (Marielle Stairs) in the Pinheiros district dates to just six days after the activist's murder when the Casadalapa artists' collective placed a four-by-three meter photograph of Franco on the stairs and several graffiti artists began putting up their own designs around it. But according to one of those artists, Patricia Bonane, local residents learned just a few months after the memorial was inaugurated that the city government was planning to carry out a reform of the staircase that included re-painting all of its walls. The project also was to require the eviction of a married couple and a man who has been living under the stairs for eight years. But "social pressure" succeeded in halting the eviction, according to Bonane, who said the activists had to take on the role of security guards to keep watch over those people's residences. Despite that small victory, city authorities eventually covered the mural with grey paint at the end of last year; however, they left the photo of Marielle and some inscriptions around it due to pressure from local residents, Bonane said. Asked by EFE about the decision to paint over the mural, the Sao Paulo city government replied that the action was a "structural reform" aimed at "improving pedestrians' safety." With the staircase once again unadorned, the Casadelapa collective contacted a group of female graffiti artists to resume the artistic project, but the response was not what they had in mind. "Most (of the women) were white and not marginalized," said one of the artists, Maria Luiza Meneses, who stressed the need to "subvert the established order" and provide space for those who normally do not have a voice: "black or indigenous women, the marginalized population and lesbians." Graffiti art also is "a hierarchical world" in the sense that "only those with the money to buy material can paint," the art history student said, adding that "it's black women who still have the worst jobs." And even when a new list of artists was created, black women had the most difficulty participating because "they worked on Saturdays, lived further away or couldn't leave their children," Meneses said. In the discussions surrounding the design of the mural, she said some of the white female artists complained that the new system was fraught with a "victim mentality" and "segregation." This underscored the need for debate, according to Meneses. "It's not easy to recognize that one has privileges" and that it's necessary to "review our behaviour." The young artist commented while resting at the foot of her still-unfinished work, one of the different portraits of Franco that adorn the walls of the staircase and which are surrounded by floral motifs and colourful slogans and signs. They include a well-known phrase uttered by Franco: "I will not be interrupted."

Afro-Brazilian artists carry on slain activist Marielle Franco's struggle

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead.

Those apprehended -- two executives, two managers and four members of teams that checked the stability of the collapsed dam -- were being held to determine responsibility in relation to "hundreds of crimes of aggravated homicide," the prosecutor's office in the affected southeast state of Minas Gerais said in a statement.

It said they would be held in custody for 30 days. Police with warrants were also carrying out searches for evidence, including in Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

Information leading to the arrests and warrants came from statements to police by two engineers from a German firm, TUEV SUED, contracted by Vale to inspect and certify the dam.

The engineers were arrested four days after the dam's collapse along with three Vale employees for questioning and were released a week later.

Four other TUEV SUED employees in Brazil were being sought by police.

The January 25 dam collapse is Brazil's worst industrial disaster. The reservoir, holding millions of tons of tailings -- mineral-laced mining waste -- broke apart and washed over the Vale iron ore mine near the town of Brumadinho.

Most of those buried under its thick mud were mine workers, though some nearby residents were also engulfed.

Emergency crews continue to pick through the mud to look for bodies, but officials have said it was likely not all remains would be recovered.

Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner and one of Brazil's biggest companies, lost a quarter of its market value after the disaster.

It insists that it observed all safety regulations regarding the dam. It dismisses reports that potential problems were detected before the disaster, saying they were addressed.

Its CEO, Fabio Schvartsman, said Thursday that Vale should not be punished over the disaster at its mine.

The company, he said, "is a Brazilian crown jewel that cannot be condemned for an accident that occurred in its dam, no matter how big the tragedy," he told a Congressional committee.

The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the same region of Brazil, after a 2015 collapse of another tailings dam at a jointly owned mine that caused what is considered the country's worst-ever environmental catastrophe.

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead.

Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead. Those apprehended -- two executives, two managers and four members of teams that checked the stability of the collapsed dam -- were being held to determine responsibility in relation to "hundreds of crimes of aggravated homicide," the prosecutor's office in the affected southeast state of Minas Gerais said in a statement. It said they would be held in custody for 30 days. Police with warrants were also carrying out searches for evidence, including in Vale's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Information leading to the arrests and warrants came from statements to police by two engineers from a German firm, TUEV SUED, contracted by Vale to inspect and certify the dam. The engineers were arrested four days after the dam's collapse along with three Vale employees for questioning and were released a week later. Four other TUEV SUED employees in Brazil were being sought by police. The January 25 dam collapse is Brazil's worst industrial disaster. The reservoir, holding millions of tons of tailings -- mineral-laced mining waste -- broke apart and washed over the Vale iron ore mine near the town of Brumadinho. Most of those buried under its thick mud were mine workers, though some nearby residents were also engulfed. Emergency crews continue to pick through the mud to look for bodies, but officials have said it was likely not all remains would be recovered. Vale, the world's biggest iron ore miner and one of Brazil's biggest companies, lost a quarter of its market value after the disaster. It insists that it observed all safety regulations regarding the dam. It dismisses reports that potential problems were detected before the disaster, saying they were addressed. Its CEO, Fabio Schvartsman, said Thursday that Vale should not be punished over the disaster at its mine. The company, he said, "is a Brazilian crown jewel that cannot be condemned for an accident that occurred in its dam, no matter how big the tragedy," he told a Congressional committee. The disaster was the second involving Vale in three years in the same region of Brazil, after a 2015 collapse of another tailings dam at a jointly owned mine that caused what is considered the country's worst-ever environmental catastrophe.

Brazil arrests eight Vale employees over mining dam disaster

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has beaten fever caused by pneumonia after his abdominal surgery two weeks ago, his hospital said Saturday.

The president, 63, "has no fever and has made good clinical and post-operative progress," Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital in Sao Paulo said in its daily update.

"His lung trouble has improved, and his lab test results show encouraging signs."

Since January 28, Bolsonaro has been in semi-intensive care in Sao Paulo following a procedure to remove his colostomy bag and reconnect the bowel.

He underwent an operation on January 28 to reconnect his bowel so he could resume natural waste evacuation. It was Bolsonaro's third operation since a man attacked him with a knife on the campaign trail.

The former army captain is a prolific user of social media, where he conducted large portions of his successful presidential campaign last year.

"I truly want to say thanks for the prayers of the majority of Brazilians," he said on Twitter.

"If it had not been for them, and for the skill of the experts who have helped me, in three surgeries over five months, I would not be alive."

Though he had hoped to leave hospital Wednesday, fever and other issues caused a delay. However, he is now able to eat soft foods again, in addition to liquids.

Officially, Bolsonaro has continued to run the country from his hospital bed.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has beaten fever caused by pneumonia after his abdominal surgery two weeks ago, his hospital said Saturday. The president, 63, "has no fever and has made good clinical and post-operative progress," Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital in Sao Paulo said in its daily update.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has beaten fever caused by pneumonia after his abdominal surgery two weeks ago, his hospital said Saturday. The president, 63, "has no fever and has made good clinical and post-operative progress," Albert Einstein Jewish Hospital in Sao Paulo said in its daily update. "His lung trouble has improved, and his lab test results show encouraging signs." Since January 28, Bolsonaro has been in semi-intensive care in Sao Paulo following a procedure to remove his colostomy bag and reconnect the bowel. He underwent an operation on January 28 to reconnect his bowel so he could resume natural waste evacuation. It was Bolsonaro's third operation since a man attacked him with a knife on the campaign trail. The former army captain is a prolific user of social media, where he conducted large portions of his successful presidential campaign last year. "I truly want to say thanks for the prayers of the majority of Brazilians," he said on Twitter. "If it had not been for them, and for the skill of the experts who have helped me, in three surgeries over five months, I would not be alive." Though he had hoped to leave hospital Wednesday, fever and other issues caused a delay. However, he is now able to eat soft foods again, in addition to liquids. Officially, Bolsonaro has continued to run the country from his hospital bed.

Brazil's Bolsonaro improving after pneumonia, surgery

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fire-in-brazil-kills-at-least-10-in-flamengo-youth-football-facility-196065">10 people died</a> when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo.&nbsp;

While a 15-year-old player Ryan Matheus had a narrow escape as&nbsp;a phone call with his mother saved him when the pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed players aged 14 to 17.&nbsp;

Amateur footage shot at night showed the blaze rising from part of the Ninho de Urubu training grounds in Rio's western region.&nbsp;

Matheus was meant to stay in the dorms on the night of the fire but when training was cancelled his mother insisted he return home.&nbsp;

"Training in the morning was cancelled so my mother insisted that I go back home. I was meant to leave (the club) after lunch but she insisted that I come back," said Matheus.&nbsp;

"Then I received a lot of calls, messages from friends thinking that I had stayed there (at the club)."

"We (youth players) spent time together everyday. No, it's going to be very empty without them," he added.&nbsp;

The Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said the dormitory destroyed by the blaze was built on land that was not registered for buildings and that the club had no permission to erect lodgings there.&nbsp;

Like many professional clubs in football-crazed Brazil, Flamengo has a youth development program for promising young players in their early teens, with many staying at the facilities while training.&nbsp;

Flamengo is arguably Brazil's most famous club, with an estimated 40 million fans nationwide.&nbsp;

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after 10 people died when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo.

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after 10 people died when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo. While a 15-year-old player Ryan Matheus had a narrow escape as a phone call with his mother saved him when the pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed players aged 14 to 17. Amateur footage shot at night showed the blaze rising from part of the Ninho de Urubu training grounds in Rio's western region. Matheus was meant to stay in the dorms on the night of the fire but when training was cancelled his mother insisted he return home. "Training in the morning was cancelled so my mother insisted that I go back home. I was meant to leave (the club) after lunch but she insisted that I come back," said Matheus. "Then I received a lot of calls, messages from friends thinking that I had stayed there (at the club)." "We (youth players) spent time together everyday. No, it's going to be very empty without them," he added. The Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said the dormitory destroyed by the blaze was built on land that was not registered for buildings and that the club had no permission to erect lodgings there. Like many professional clubs in football-crazed Brazil, Flamengo has a youth development program for promising young players in their early teens, with many staying at the facilities while training. Flamengo is arguably Brazil's most famous club, with an estimated 40 million fans nationwide.

Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had narrow escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire

Brazilian authorities ordered Vale SA to evacuate around 500 people from a dam area at its Gongo Soco mine in the state of Minas Gerais on Friday as a preventive measure, the mining company said.

On January&nbsp;25, a mine operated by Vale collapsed in the town of Brumadinho in the same state, killing an estimated 300 people in Brazil's deadliest mining disaster ever.

In a separate development on Friday, inhabitants of a city close to another dam in Minas Gerais state, operated by Arcelor Mittal, were also evacuated, firefighters said but did not give details or say why the dam was at risk.

Vale said in a statement that the Brazilian mining agency ordered the evacuation at the dam at Gongo Soco after engineering consultancy Walm said a certificate guaranteeing stability conditions had not been issued for the dam.

Vale said it has intensified inspections in the area and was installing equipment to detect vibrations and bringing in international consultants to assess the situation.

As a security measure, 500 inhabitants of the city of Barão dos Cocais, where the dam is situated, were taken to a gymnasium nearby, the municipality said on its Facebook page.

Also on Friday, authorities closed a port terminal operated by Vale in Vitoria, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo, due to pollution issues.

The municipality of Vitoria said on Thursday that it had fined the miner 35 million reais ($9.5 million) for throwing mining residues in the sea. Vale said in a statement that it would take appropriate measures but added that recent inspections by local authorities had not detected problems.

In the wake of the Brumadinho mining disaster, the state of Minas Gerais cancelled Vale's license to operate another dam and a mine in the state, as the company has come under intense public pressure following the accident.

On Tuesday Vale declared force majeure on some iron ore contracts after a court-ordered halt to a mine responsible for nearly 9 percent of its output following the disaster.

&nbsp;

Brazilian authorities ordered Vale SA to evacuate around 500 people from a dam area at its Gongo Soco mine in the state of Minas Gerais on Friday as a preventive measure, the mining company said.

Brazilian authorities ordered Vale SA to evacuate around 500 people from a dam area at its Gongo Soco mine in the state of Minas Gerais on Friday as a preventive measure, the mining company said. On January 25, a mine operated by Vale collapsed in the town of Brumadinho in the same state, killing an estimated 300 people in Brazil's deadliest mining disaster ever. In a separate development on Friday, inhabitants of a city close to another dam in Minas Gerais state, operated by Arcelor Mittal, were also evacuated, firefighters said but did not give details or say why the dam was at risk. Vale said in a statement that the Brazilian mining agency ordered the evacuation at the dam at Gongo Soco after engineering consultancy Walm said a certificate guaranteeing stability conditions had not been issued for the dam. Vale said it has intensified inspections in the area and was installing equipment to detect vibrations and bringing in international consultants to assess the situation. As a security measure, 500 inhabitants of the city of Barão dos Cocais, where the dam is situated, were taken to a gymnasium nearby, the municipality said on its Facebook page. Also on Friday, authorities closed a port terminal operated by Vale in Vitoria, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo, due to pollution issues. The municipality of Vitoria said on Thursday that it had fined the miner 35 million reais ($9.5 million) for throwing mining residues in the sea. Vale said in a statement that it would take appropriate measures but added that recent inspections by local authorities had not detected problems. In the wake of the Brumadinho mining disaster, the state of Minas Gerais cancelled Vale's license to operate another dam and a mine in the state, as the company has come under intense public pressure following the accident. On Tuesday Vale declared force majeure on some iron ore contracts after a court-ordered halt to a mine responsible for nearly 9 percent of its output following the disaster.

Brazil's Vale evacuates 500 people from dam area in preventive measure

Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil's most popular football club Flamengo Friday, killing at least 10 people, authorities said.

The pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed youth-category players aged 14 to 17, firefighters said.&nbsp;

In addition to the deaths, three people were injured in the fire.

The cause was not immediately known.

Globo TV broadcast aerial footage of the fire, which it said had been brought under control after it burned for two hours.

The fire broke out at 5am (Brazil time) in the Vargem Grande district of Rio in a modern facility where the top-flight professional Flamengo squad also trains, the news website G1 said.

The dead were six players and four team staff, the channel Sportv said.

The main team had been due to practice at the same facility later in the morning.

Youth league teams also train at the facility, known as Ninho do Urubu.&nbsp;

Flamengo is the most popular club in football-crazed Brazil.

Distraught relatives rushed to the facility seeking information about loved ones, TV footage showed.

The training camp is in an area of western Rio that was hit by a huge storm Wednesday night. Six people were killed.

Because of those heavy rains the football facility remained without electricity or water Friday as the fire broke out, G1 reported.

Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil's most popular football club Flamengo Friday, killing at least 10 people, authorities said. The pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed youth-category players aged 14 to 17, firefighters said.

Fire swept through a training facility for Brazil's most popular football club Flamengo Friday, killing at least 10 people, authorities said. The pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed youth-category players aged 14 to 17, firefighters said. In addition to the deaths, three people were injured in the fire. The cause was not immediately known. Globo TV broadcast aerial footage of the fire, which it said had been brought under control after it burned for two hours. The fire broke out at 5am (Brazil time) in the Vargem Grande district of Rio in a modern facility where the top-flight professional Flamengo squad also trains, the news website G1 said. The dead were six players and four team staff, the channel Sportv said. The main team had been due to practice at the same facility later in the morning. Youth league teams also train at the facility, known as Ninho do Urubu. Flamengo is the most popular club in football-crazed Brazil. Distraught relatives rushed to the facility seeking information about loved ones, TV footage showed. The training camp is in an area of western Rio that was hit by a huge storm Wednesday night. Six people were killed. Because of those heavy rains the football facility remained without electricity or water Friday as the fire broke out, G1 reported.

Fire in Brazil kills at least 10 in Flamengo youth football facility

A fire swept through the training centre of Rio de Janeiro football club Flamengo on Friday, killing 10 people, including members of the club's youth side, firefighters and news reports said.

At least three youths aged 14 and 15 were injured in the blaze. All three were taken to hospital, one of them reportedly in a serious condition.

The fire broke out in the early hours of the morning at the Ninho do Urubu, a state-of-the-art training centre that was expanded and opened only two months ago.

Like many clubs who sign youngsters from across the country, the facility has accommodation for teenagers, although it was unclear exactly how many players were among the dead.

One of them was identified as Christian Esmerio, a 15-year-old goalkeeper.

"I had the pleasure of knowing you, unfortunately, an accident interrupted your dream," Gabriel Batista, a senior keeper at the club, wrote on Instagram.

Expanded new facility

After years of financial difficulties, Flamengo last year spent 23 million reais ($6.2 million) to expand the Ninho do Urubu training ground.

In addition to accommodation for young players, the facilities include several pitches, an aquatic park, a gym, a medical centre and a mini stadium.

The Ninho do Urubu, or Vulture's Nest, is so called because the club's symbol is a vulture.

Vinicius Junior, the teenage Real Madrid forward who trained at the facility before joining for the Spanish giants last year, tweeted his condolences.

"What sad News! Praying for everyone! Strength, strength, strength," he wrote.

The fire follows days of heavy rains that hit the city and claimed at least six lives. The rains led Flamengo to close parts of its social club and cancel regular training sessions it organises for children.

Flamengo, the alma mater of players such as Zico, Junior and Leonardo, is one of the best-supported clubs in Brazil and is famous around the world. Known by fans as the Red-and-Black, they won the Copa Libertadores, South America's version of the Champions League, in 1981 and lifted the Intercontinental Cup a few months later.

Zico, who is outside Brazil, wrote on Instagram: "What a shock getting this news here on the other side of the world," the former Brazil midfielder wrote. "May the Red-and-Black nation have strength and faith to get through this moment."

Flamengo made no official statement other than to tweet that it was in mourning. But rival teams across Brazil, including fellow Rio sides Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama, tweeted their solidarity.

The tragedy came a day before the side were due to play arch rivals Fluminense at the Maracana stadium. The derby match is now expected to be postponed.

One of Flamengo's most high-profile fans, the country's vice-president, also expressed his condolences.

"As a fan and sportsman I stand in solidarity with the families, the club and the Red-and-Black nation," General Hamilton Mourao wrote on twitter. "May God comfort all."

A fire swept through the training centre of Rio de Janeiro football club Flamengo on Friday, killing 10 people, including members of the club's youth side, firefighters and news reports said.

A fire swept through the training centre of Rio de Janeiro football club Flamengo on Friday, killing 10 people, including members of the club's youth side, firefighters and news reports said. At least three youths aged 14 and 15 were injured in the blaze. All three were taken to hospital, one of them reportedly in a serious condition. The fire broke out in the early hours of the morning at the Ninho do Urubu, a state-of-the-art training centre that was expanded and opened only two months ago. Like many clubs who sign youngsters from across the country, the facility has accommodation for teenagers, although it was unclear exactly how many players were among the dead. One of them was identified as Christian Esmerio, a 15-year-old goalkeeper. "I had the pleasure of knowing you, unfortunately, an accident interrupted your dream," Gabriel Batista, a senior keeper at the club, wrote on Instagram. Expanded new facility After years of financial difficulties, Flamengo last year spent 23 million reais ($6.2 million) to expand the Ninho do Urubu training ground. In addition to accommodation for young players, the facilities include several pitches, an aquatic park, a gym, a medical centre and a mini stadium. The Ninho do Urubu, or Vulture's Nest, is so called because the club's symbol is a vulture. Vinicius Junior, the teenage Real Madrid forward who trained at the facility before joining for the Spanish giants last year, tweeted his condolences. "What sad News! Praying for everyone! Strength, strength, strength," he wrote. The fire follows days of heavy rains that hit the city and claimed at least six lives. The rains led Flamengo to close parts of its social club and cancel regular training sessions it organises for children. Flamengo, the alma mater of players such as Zico, Junior and Leonardo, is one of the best-supported clubs in Brazil and is famous around the world. Known by fans as the Red-and-Black, they won the Copa Libertadores, South America's version of the Champions League, in 1981 and lifted the Intercontinental Cup a few months later. Zico, who is outside Brazil, wrote on Instagram: "What a shock getting this news here on the other side of the world," the former Brazil midfielder wrote. "May the Red-and-Black nation have strength and faith to get through this moment." Flamengo made no official statement other than to tweet that it was in mourning. But rival teams across Brazil, including fellow Rio sides Botafogo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama, tweeted their solidarity. The tragedy came a day before the side were due to play arch rivals Fluminense at the Maracana stadium. The derby match is now expected to be postponed. One of Flamengo's most high-profile fans, the country's vice-president, also expressed his condolences. "As a fan and sportsman I stand in solidarity with the families, the club and the Red-and-Black nation," General Hamilton Mourao wrote on twitter. "May God comfort all."

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday.

The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week.&nbsp;

Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area.

It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale.

Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 121 dead and 226 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies. All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week. Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area. It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale. Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

Death toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 121 dead, 226 still missing

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 115 dead and 248 missing, according to officials Saturday.

The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week.&nbsp;

Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area.

It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale.

Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 115 dead and 248 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies.

The toll from a dam collapse last week at a mine in southeast Brazil has risen to 115 dead and 248 missing, according to officials Saturday. The emergency service for the state of Minas Gerais, where the January 25 disaster occurred near the town of Brumadinho, said the search was ongoing for bodies. All those listed as missing are presumed dead, with no survivors being found over the past week. Virtually all the dead and missing were workers at the iron ore mine, buried under an avalanche of sludgy mining waste when the dam collapsed above the facility's cafeteria and main administrative area. It was the second dam disaster in three years at a mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale. Authorities have frozen over $3 billion in company assets in anticipation it will pay damages, compensation and fines.

Toll in Brazil dam disaster rises to 115 dead, 248 missing

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/deadly-brazil-dam-collapse-raises-fears-of-environmental-woes-194307">Brazil's southeastern state of Minas</a> Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday.

According to the civil defense authorities out of the 110 victims, 71 have been identified.

The dam collapsed on January 25th in Brumadinho Municipality of Minas Gerais and<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-dam-disaster-puts-vale-ceo-deals-and-dividends-under-scrutiny-193326"> caused a mudslide, which destroyed offices </a>of Vale company that operates a mine and a residential area in the vicinity. Now the affected area remains a dangerous zone, with normal life of local residents hard to be resumed within a short period of time.

At a service station where donated life supplies are piled, workers are on duty around the clock to make sure the affected residents can get the life necessities they need.

Luciano, as a resident representative of the mining area, are among the volunteers to help affected people at the station, from which his six-member family also fetches some daily necessities.

"When the dam collapsed, I happened to be on the balcony of my home. Two small explosions had occurred before. Two or three minutes later, the dam collapsed with large quantities of mud from the mining area surging out of the dam. I'd never seen such a situation, so I led my family members to a higher place," Luciano said in an interview with China Central Television.

Luciano said though all the family members are safe now, but the dangers are still near at hand.

"The whole area is dangerous. The dangerous section of the road as assessed by the Vale company is right here. They said here is the edge of the dangerous area and that there's no danger upward," said Luciano, pointing to the road.

Luciano said the Vale, in fact, has an alarm system, but it didn’t ring at that time, which caused so many people to be buried.

According to Fabio Schvartsman, CEO of Vale, the dam collapsed so suddenly that the buzzer was swallowed before making a sound. However, local residents still doubt his explanation.

As search and rescue goes on, disease prevention is also an emergency in the affected area.

"We are worried about what will happen next, which may bring about some diseases, such as field fever, dengue, acute intestinal infectious diseases and some other diseases caused by chemicals in the mining area. We will monitor the spot and take measures to handle the diseases," said Marcelo Ribeiro, assistant director of the Minas Gerais State Hospital Foundation (FHEMIG).

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais has risen to 110, with 238 still listed as missing, the state civil defense authorities said on Thursday. According to the civil defense authorities out of the 110 victims, 71 have been identified. The dam collapsed on January 25th in Brumadinho Municipality of Minas Gerais and caused a mudslide, which destroyed offices of Vale company that operates a mine and a residential area in the vicinity. Now the affected area remains a dangerous zone, with normal life of local residents hard to be resumed within a short period of time. At a service station where donated life supplies are piled, workers are on duty around the clock to make sure the affected residents can get the life necessities they need. Luciano, as a resident representative of the mining area, are among the volunteers to help affected people at the station, from which his six-member family also fetches some daily necessities. "When the dam collapsed, I happened to be on the balcony of my home. Two small explosions had occurred before. Two or three minutes later, the dam collapsed with large quantities of mud from the mining area surging out of the dam. I'd never seen such a situation, so I led my family members to a higher place," Luciano said in an interview with China Central Television. Luciano said though all the family members are safe now, but the dangers are still near at hand. "The whole area is dangerous. The dangerous section of the road as assessed by the Vale company is right here. They said here is the edge of the dangerous area and that there's no danger upward," said Luciano, pointing to the road. Luciano said the Vale, in fact, has an alarm system, but it didn’t ring at that time, which caused so many people to be buried. According to Fabio Schvartsman, CEO of Vale, the dam collapsed so suddenly that the buzzer was swallowed before making a sound. However, local residents still doubt his explanation. As search and rescue goes on, disease prevention is also an emergency in the affected area. "We are worried about what will happen next, which may bring about some diseases, such as field fever, dengue, acute intestinal infectious diseases and some other diseases caused by chemicals in the mining area. We will monitor the spot and take measures to handle the diseases," said Marcelo Ribeiro, assistant director of the Minas Gerais State Hospital Foundation (FHEMIG).

Brazil dam collapse: Death toll rises to 110; 238 still missing

The death toll from the collapse of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-local-hero-saves-girl-from-mud-of-brazils-deadly-dam-collapse-194149">tailings dam in Brumadinho</a>, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing.

The dam ruptured on Friday&nbsp;sent&nbsp;a wave of iron ore waste and mud down the hill, destroying everything in its path, including residential areas, at least two small hotels and a large administrative area of mining giant Vale, owner of the mining complex where the dam was located.

The site of the collapsed dam has seen several firefighters searching for bodies, even though the possibility of finding people alive is widely regarded as very remote.

"Our group members and I searched out two bodies today. The most difficult part is to locate these bodies, as they are covered with mud of same colour; it's so hard to distinguish. Identifying human remains is quite difficult and is an uneasy job. We have to be highly concentrated and be alerted so as to find the bodies. We will exert all of our efforts to give the society an explanation," said Nunes, a firefighter of the Maranhao State, north to the Minas Gerais.

Apart from firefighters, medical teams and chemical experts are also present on the site.

The tailings dam, which belongs to Vale, has a large amount of deposits of wastes and chemical substances. After the dam collapsed, it has added up the possibility of chemical pollution and poisoning.

So far, the muddy waste has travelled almost 100 kilometres down the Paraopeba river. Vale started on Wednesday to install equipment in the river, trying to contain the material and prevent it from reaching the Sao Francisco River.

The Vale has announced that it will clear away 10 other tailings dams just like the one that collapsed. The company has also promised to pay&nbsp; $27,000&nbsp;as compensation to each victim's family.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing.

The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brumadinho, Brazil's southeastern state of Minas Gerais, reached 99 on Wednesday, with 259 people still missing. The dam ruptured on Friday sent a wave of iron ore waste and mud down the hill, destroying everything in its path, including residential areas, at least two small hotels and a large administrative area of mining giant Vale, owner of the mining complex where the dam was located. The site of the collapsed dam has seen several firefighters searching for bodies, even though the possibility of finding people alive is widely regarded as very remote. "Our group members and I searched out two bodies today. The most difficult part is to locate these bodies, as they are covered with mud of same colour; it's so hard to distinguish. Identifying human remains is quite difficult and is an uneasy job. We have to be highly concentrated and be alerted so as to find the bodies. We will exert all of our efforts to give the society an explanation," said Nunes, a firefighter of the Maranhao State, north to the Minas Gerais. Apart from firefighters, medical teams and chemical experts are also present on the site. The tailings dam, which belongs to Vale, has a large amount of deposits of wastes and chemical substances. After the dam collapsed, it has added up the possibility of chemical pollution and poisoning. So far, the muddy waste has travelled almost 100 kilometres down the Paraopeba river. Vale started on Wednesday to install equipment in the river, trying to contain the material and prevent it from reaching the Sao Francisco River. The Vale has announced that it will clear away 10 other tailings dams just like the one that collapsed. The company has also promised to pay $27,000 as compensation to each victim's family.

Brazil dam collapse: Death toll reaches 99; 259 people still missing

In pictures: Local hero saves girl from mud during Brazil dam collapse

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-resumes-search-for-missing-after-dam-collapse-ends-evacuation-193244">death toll</a> from the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dam-collapses-in-brazil-several-feared-dead-192820">collapse of a Brazilian dam</a> rose to 84 on Tuesday as mining giant Vale announced that moves to dismantle similar structures would hit production.

Brazilian authorities are stepping up their probe of Vale, with five engineers involved in the operating licenses and the last inspection of the dam arrested on prosecutors' orders in the state of Minas Gerais, where <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-defect-found-in-brazil-dam-during-german-inspection-month-ago-193011">the disaster occurred</a> Friday at one of the firm's mines.

Flavio Godinho, Civil Defense spokesman in Minas Gerais, said the death toll had increased from 65 to 84, while the number of missing fell from 292 to 276.

Shares in Vale — the world's biggest iron ore miner — meanwhile ticked up nearly two per cent in Sao Paulo, still far from recovering from a 24-per cent wipeout suffered on Monday.

The company said it will freeze operations around 10 dams in Brazil to dismantle structures such as the one that resulted in the Friday disaster — a move that will reduce annual iron ore production by 10 per cent or 40 million tons.

The dam collapse at the Vale mine near the town of Brumadinho occurred three years after a similar disaster at another one of its sights in the same region.

That 2015 dam rupture, near Mariana, killed 19 people and caused what was considered the worst environmental catastrophe Brazil had seen.

After the latest disaster, credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded Vale's score, and Moody's said it had the company under review for a downgrade.

Three US law firms were also making moves toward starting a class-action lawsuit against the miner.

Brazilian media speculated that Vale's board and top executives might be replaced. The overwhelming majority of the dead and missing were workers at the mine.

Authorities have ordered $3 billion in Vale assets be frozen to pay for fines, compensation and employee salaries to families.

"If there has truly been negligence or recklessness by certain people in that company, they will face criminal action," Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao vowed Monday.

Search for bodies&nbsp;

The search for bodies was ongoing Tuesday, with a team of Israeli soldiers joining Brazilian crews who have been laboriously probing for days the expanse of mud released by the dam.

The barrier, which was in the process of being decommissioned, held around 13 million tons of tailings, or sludgy mining waste.

Men were digging, often by hand, to depths of up to 15 meters (50 feet) to recover corpses encased in mud. The remains were then bagged and airlifted away by helicopter.

The fetid odour of decomposing bodies rose from the brown surface.

With a dozen kilometers (eight miles) of mud to carefully scour, the operation has proceeded slowly, barely denting the long list of the missing.

Jose Ferreira da Silva, a 55-year-old labourer, was blocked by police as he attempted to enter the zone to look for his 27-year-old son Josue, who worked for a Vale contractor.

"We just want to try to do something," he said, tearfully.

No survivors have been found since Saturday, only bodies.

Corrego do Feijao, the closest village to the mine, has been in mourning since the disaster. Most of its inhabitants work for Vale, and 20 of their number were missing.

"I'm living a horror film. These are people I grew up with. I don't know how I'm going to get through this," said Cleyton Candido, who was waiting on news of his missing nephew and several friends.

The toxicity of the mineral-laced sludge was not yet known. But an indigenous community downstream complained that fish it relies on for its livelihood were dying.

Brazil's authorities feared pollution from the mine waste could reach hydro-electric power plants between early and mid-February.

The environmental group WWF said that a forest area "equivalent to 125 football fields" had been lost, and it was still too early to know the full ecological scope of the disaster.

Public anger

The tragedy has turned public opinion against Vale.

On Monday, dozens of people staged a protest with mud in front of the company's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Newspaper editorials blasted it — and the government — for not learning the lessons of the 2015 Mariana disaster.

Minas Gerais prosecutors said they have launched a probe "evaluating the criminal responsibility of the Vale company."

The five engineers arrested were part of that investigation. They were to be held for up to 30 days for questioning.

Three of the engineers work for Vale and were directly involved in the process of the facility's operating licenses, the prosecutors said.

The other two worked for TUEV SUED, a German company that in September carried out the last safety inspection of the collapsed mine.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The death toll from the collapse of a Brazilian dam rose to 84 on Tuesday as mining giant Vale announced that moves to dismantle similar structures would hit production.

The death toll from the collapse of a Brazilian dam rose to 84 on Tuesday as mining giant Vale announced that moves to dismantle similar structures would hit production. Brazilian authorities are stepping up their probe of Vale, with five engineers involved in the operating licenses and the last inspection of the dam arrested on prosecutors' orders in the state of Minas Gerais, where the disaster occurred Friday at one of the firm's mines. Flavio Godinho, Civil Defense spokesman in Minas Gerais, said the death toll had increased from 65 to 84, while the number of missing fell from 292 to 276. Shares in Vale — the world's biggest iron ore miner — meanwhile ticked up nearly two per cent in Sao Paulo, still far from recovering from a 24-per cent wipeout suffered on Monday. The company said it will freeze operations around 10 dams in Brazil to dismantle structures such as the one that resulted in the Friday disaster — a move that will reduce annual iron ore production by 10 per cent or 40 million tons. The dam collapse at the Vale mine near the town of Brumadinho occurred three years after a similar disaster at another one of its sights in the same region. That 2015 dam rupture, near Mariana, killed 19 people and caused what was considered the worst environmental catastrophe Brazil had seen. After the latest disaster, credit ratings agency Fitch downgraded Vale's score, and Moody's said it had the company under review for a downgrade. Three US law firms were also making moves toward starting a class-action lawsuit against the miner. Brazilian media speculated that Vale's board and top executives might be replaced. The overwhelming majority of the dead and missing were workers at the mine. Authorities have ordered $3 billion in Vale assets be frozen to pay for fines, compensation and employee salaries to families. "If there has truly been negligence or recklessness by certain people in that company, they will face criminal action," Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao vowed Monday. Search for bodies The search for bodies was ongoing Tuesday, with a team of Israeli soldiers joining Brazilian crews who have been laboriously probing for days the expanse of mud released by the dam. The barrier, which was in the process of being decommissioned, held around 13 million tons of tailings, or sludgy mining waste. Men were digging, often by hand, to depths of up to 15 meters (50 feet) to recover corpses encased in mud. The remains were then bagged and airlifted away by helicopter. The fetid odour of decomposing bodies rose from the brown surface. With a dozen kilometers (eight miles) of mud to carefully scour, the operation has proceeded slowly, barely denting the long list of the missing. Jose Ferreira da Silva, a 55-year-old labourer, was blocked by police as he attempted to enter the zone to look for his 27-year-old son Josue, who worked for a Vale contractor. "We just want to try to do something," he said, tearfully. No survivors have been found since Saturday, only bodies. Corrego do Feijao, the closest village to the mine, has been in mourning since the disaster. Most of its inhabitants work for Vale, and 20 of their number were missing. "I'm living a horror film. These are people I grew up with. I don't know how I'm going to get through this," said Cleyton Candido, who was waiting on news of his missing nephew and several friends. The toxicity of the mineral-laced sludge was not yet known. But an indigenous community downstream complained that fish it relies on for its livelihood were dying. Brazil's authorities feared pollution from the mine waste could reach hydro-electric power plants between early and mid-February. The environmental group WWF said that a forest area "equivalent to 125 football fields" had been lost, and it was still too early to know the full ecological scope of the disaster. Public anger The tragedy has turned public opinion against Vale. On Monday, dozens of people staged a protest with mud in front of the company's headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. Newspaper editorials blasted it — and the government — for not learning the lessons of the 2015 Mariana disaster. Minas Gerais prosecutors said they have launched a probe "evaluating the criminal responsibility of the Vale company." The five engineers arrested were part of that investigation. They were to be held for up to 30 days for questioning. Three of the engineers work for Vale and were directly involved in the process of the facility's operating licenses, the prosecutors said. The other two worked for TUEV SUED, a German company that in September carried out the last safety inspection of the collapsed mine.

Brazil dam burst: Toll rises to 84, mining firm's output to be hit

When Fabio Schvartsman took the reins of Vale SA in 2017, he suggested a motto for the world's largest iron miner, turning the page on a tailings <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dam-collapses-in-brazil-several-feared-dead-192820">dam disaster that hit a small Brazilian town</a> two years before: "Mariana, never again."

That and many of Schvartsman's other big promises look destined for the scrap heap.

Four years later and some 100 km (60 miles) from Mariana, a breached Vale tailings dam on Friday unleashed a torrent of mud on another small Brazilian community, Brumadinho,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brazil-resumes-search-for-missing-after-dam-collapse-ends-evacuation-193244">leaving hundreds missing and presumed dead</a>.

While the company's focus so far has been on the human tragedy, analysts and shareholders have little doubt that Vale cannot continue on the track its CEO set.

Schvartsman, 63, who said recently he would stay on through 2020 after his current term expires in May, designed Vale's strategy around spending more than $10 billion in annual free cash flow as China gobbled up its high-grade iron ore.

Offering generous dividends, reinvesting in money-losing divisions and searching for mid-sized acquisitions – many of those plans may have to be abandoned as Vale braces for lawsuits that could grow into the tens of billions of dollars.

One executive at a pension fund that holds Vale shares, who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said it would be hard to justify big shareholder payouts in coming quarters, adding that a full review of Vale's governance was needed.

Indeed, the company said in a late Sunday filing that it was suspending its planned shareholder dividends, share buybacks, and executive bonuses because of the disaster.

Vale said in a statement that it was focused on helping the disaster victims. During a Sunday visit to the rescue efforts, Schvartsman pledged to renew Vale's focus on safety, going "above and beyond any national or international standards."

"We will create a cushion of safety far superior to what we have today to guarantee this never happens again," he said.

One of Vale's top shareholders, public-sector pension fund Caixa de Previdencia, known as Previ, on Saturday took the unusual step of issuing a statement saying it will demand a thorough investigation of the accident and will ensure the company helps the families and communities affected.

The fund did not reply to an additional request for comment. Another major shareholder, Bradespar SA, the investment company of Brazilian lender Banco Bradesco SA, declined to comment.

PLUNGING SHARES

US-listed Vale shares tumbled 8 per cent on Friday after the disaster. Brazilian markets were closed for a holiday.

On Saturday, rating agency Standard &amp; Poor's put Vale's rating on credit watch negative, warning that it could cut the BBB- rating by several notches depending on fines and the possible loss of an operating license in the affected area.

Three court orders over the weekend have already frozen 11 billion reais ($2.9 billion) of Vale assets pending damages.

In a statement on Sunday, Vale said it agreed to deposit 1 billion reais, but argued that the court orders freezing the additional 10 billion reais were counterproductive because they could block resources need for relief support.

Vale had 24 billion reais of cash and equivalents on hand at the end of September.

Mining analysts at Jefferies said the disaster was "likely to be an overhang on the Vale share price for an extended period" in a note cutting their price target more than 20 per cent and downgrading the stock from Buy to Hold.

"The overall impact of the dam failure is nearly impossible to quantify for now," wrote the analysts led by Christopher LaFemina. "Stringent safety inspections could affect production from other mines in Brazil as well."

Estimating the cost of a disaster on this scale is a challenge for analysts, who still steer clear of putting a final price on the 2015 dam collapse involving Samarco Mineracao SA, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Group.

As part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit, Vale and BHP committed to spending 20 billion reais on a foundation set up in Mariana to assist victims and recover the local ecosystem. The Renova Foundation spent 2 billion reais in 2018 and expects to spend 11.3 billion reais through 2030, the companies said in a statement.

A federal prosecutor told Reuters in an interview on Saturday that Friday's disaster could upend talks to settle a far bigger Samarco lawsuit seeking 155 billion reais.

The renewed legal risks are also likely to delay talks with Samarco creditors that had been based on hopes it could reopen operations soon and start making debt payments. One person involved in the talks said they might now be suspended.

EXPANSION IN DOUBT

It is unclear if Schvartsman will be able to pour fresh resources into expanding operations as planned.

Vale laid out plans in December to pump $500 million into its struggling New Caledonia nickel mine after failing to sell it or find a partner, hoping to ride out a tumble in prices and cash in eventually on an expected surge in electric vehicle sales.

The miner has also been pursuing mid-sized acquisitions in its core iron ore business, after deciding not to pursue blockbuster deals with the surging cash flow provided by rising iron ore prices last year.

In December, Vale announced the acquisition of iron miner Ferrous Resources Ltd from its controlling shareholder Icahn Enterprises for $550 million. The deal is expected to close this year.

($1 = 3.7695 reais) 
&nbsp;

When Fabio Schvartsman took the reins of Vale SA in 2017, he suggested a motto for the world's largest iron miner, turning the page on a tailings dam disaster that hit a small Brazilian town two years before: "Mariana, never again.

When Fabio Schvartsman took the reins of Vale SA in 2017, he suggested a motto for the world's largest iron miner, turning the page on a tailings dam disaster that hit a small Brazilian town two years before: "Mariana, never again." That and many of Schvartsman's other big promises look destined for the scrap heap. Four years later and some 100 km (60 miles) from Mariana, a breached Vale tailings dam on Friday unleashed a torrent of mud on another small Brazilian community, Brumadinho, leaving hundreds missing and presumed dead. While the company's focus so far has been on the human tragedy, analysts and shareholders have little doubt that Vale cannot continue on the track its CEO set. Schvartsman, 63, who said recently he would stay on through 2020 after his current term expires in May, designed Vale's strategy around spending more than $10 billion in annual free cash flow as China gobbled up its high-grade iron ore. Offering generous dividends, reinvesting in money-losing divisions and searching for mid-sized acquisitions – many of those plans may have to be abandoned as Vale braces for lawsuits that could grow into the tens of billions of dollars. One executive at a pension fund that holds Vale shares, who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said it would be hard to justify big shareholder payouts in coming quarters, adding that a full review of Vale's governance was needed. Indeed, the company said in a late Sunday filing that it was suspending its planned shareholder dividends, share buybacks, and executive bonuses because of the disaster. Vale said in a statement that it was focused on helping the disaster victims. During a Sunday visit to the rescue efforts, Schvartsman pledged to renew Vale's focus on safety, going "above and beyond any national or international standards." "We will create a cushion of safety far superior to what we have today to guarantee this never happens again," he said. One of Vale's top shareholders, public-sector pension fund Caixa de Previdencia, known as Previ, on Saturday took the unusual step of issuing a statement saying it will demand a thorough investigation of the accident and will ensure the company helps the families and communities affected. The fund did not reply to an additional request for comment. Another major shareholder, Bradespar SA, the investment company of Brazilian lender Banco Bradesco SA, declined to comment. PLUNGING SHARES US-listed Vale shares tumbled 8 per cent on Friday after the disaster. Brazilian markets were closed for a holiday. On Saturday, rating agency Standard & Poor's put Vale's rating on credit watch negative, warning that it could cut the BBB- rating by several notches depending on fines and the possible loss of an operating license in the affected area. Three court orders over the weekend have already frozen 11 billion reais ($2.9 billion) of Vale assets pending damages. In a statement on Sunday, Vale said it agreed to deposit 1 billion reais, but argued that the court orders freezing the additional 10 billion reais were counterproductive because they could block resources need for relief support. Vale had 24 billion reais of cash and equivalents on hand at the end of September. Mining analysts at Jefferies said the disaster was "likely to be an overhang on the Vale share price for an extended period" in a note cutting their price target more than 20 per cent and downgrading the stock from Buy to Hold. "The overall impact of the dam failure is nearly impossible to quantify for now," wrote the analysts led by Christopher LaFemina. "Stringent safety inspections could affect production from other mines in Brazil as well." Estimating the cost of a disaster on this scale is a challenge for analysts, who still steer clear of putting a final price on the 2015 dam collapse involving Samarco Mineracao SA, a joint venture between Vale and BHP Group. As part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit, Vale and BHP committed to spending 20 billion reais on a foundation set up in Mariana to assist victims and recover the local ecosystem. The Renova Foundation spent 2 billion reais in 2018 and expects to spend 11.3 billion reais through 2030, the companies said in a statement. A federal prosecutor told Reuters in an interview on Saturday that Friday's disaster could upend talks to settle a far bigger Samarco lawsuit seeking 155 billion reais. The renewed legal risks are also likely to delay talks with Samarco creditors that had been based on hopes it could reopen operations soon and start making debt payments. One person involved in the talks said they might now be suspended. EXPANSION IN DOUBT It is unclear if Schvartsman will be able to pour fresh resources into expanding operations as planned. Vale laid out plans in December to pump $500 million into its struggling New Caledonia nickel mine after failing to sell it or find a partner, hoping to ride out a tumble in prices and cash in eventually on an expected surge in electric vehicle sales. The miner has also been pursuing mid-sized acquisitions in its core iron ore business, after deciding not to pursue blockbuster deals with the surging cash flow provided by rising iron ore prices last year. In December, Vale announced the acquisition of iron miner Ferrous Resources Ltd from its controlling shareholder Icahn Enterprises for $550 million. The deal is expected to close this year. ($1 = 3.7695 reais)

Brazil dam burst puts Vale CEO, deals and dividends under scrutiny

WION Fineprint, 28th January, 2019

Fineprint: 58 dead, over 300 missing as Brazil dam collapses

Grief over the hundreds of Brazilians feared killed in a mining disaster has quickly hardened into anger as victims' families and politicians say iron ore miner Vale SA and regulators have learned nothing from the recent past.

By Monday, firefighters in the state of Minas Gerais had confirmed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-dam-disaster-puts-vale-ceo-deals-and-dividends-under-scrutiny-193326">60 people died in Friday's disaster</a>, in which a tailings dam broke sending a torrent of sludge into the miner's offices and the town of Brumadinho. Nearly 300 other people are unaccounted for, and officials said it was unlikely that any would be found alive.

Vale shares plummeted 17 per cent in Monday trading on the Sao Paulo stock exchange, which had been closed on Friday.

Brazil's top prosecutor, Raquel Dodge, said the company should be held strongly responsible and criminally prosecuted. Executives could also be personally held responsible, she said.

Vale Chief Executive Fabio Schvartsman said during a visit to Brumadinho on Sunday that facilities there were built to code and equipment had shown the dam was stable two weeks earlier.

The disaster at the Corrego do Feijao mine occurred less than four years after a dam collapsed at a nearby mine run by Samarco Mineracao SA, a joint venture by Vale and BHP Billiton, killing 19 and filling a major river with toxic sludge.

While the 2015 Samarco disaster dumped about five times more mining waste, Friday's dam break was far more deadly, as the wall of mud hit Vale's local offices, including a crowded cafeteria, and tore through a populated area downhill.

"The cafeteria was in a risky area," Renato Simao de Oliveiras, 32, said while searching for his twin brother, a Vale employee, at an emergency response station.

"Just to save money, even if it meant losing the little guy... These businessmen, they only think about themselves."

As search efforts continued on Monday, firefighters laid down wood planks to cross a sea of sludge that is hundreds of meters wide in places, to reach a bus in search of bodies inside. Villagers discovered the bus as they tried to rescue a nearby cow stuck in the mud.

Longtime resident Ademir Rogerio cried as he surveyed the mud where Vale's facilities once stood on the edge of town.

"The world is over for us," he said. "Vale is the top mining company in the world. If this could happen here, imagine what would happen if it were a smaller miner."

Nestor José de Mury said he lost his nephew and coworkers in the mud.

"I've never seen anything like it, it killed everyone," he said.

SAFETY DEBATE

The board of Vale, which has raised its dividends over the last year, suspended all shareholder payouts and executive bonuses late on Sunday, as the disaster put its corporate strategy under scrutiny.

"I'm not a mining technician. I followed the technicians' advice and you see what happened. It didn't work," Vale CEO Schvartsman said in a TV interview. "We are 100 percent within all the standards, and that didn't do it."

Many wondered if the state of Minas Gerais, named for the mining industry that has shaped its landscape for centuries, should have higher standards.

"There are safe ways of mining," said Joao Vitor Xavier, head of the mining and energy commission in the state assembly. "It's just that it diminishes profit margins, so they prefer to do things the cheaper way – and put lives at risk."

Reaction to the disaster could threaten the plans of newly inaugurated President Jair Bolsonaro to relax restrictions on the mining industry, including proposals to open up indigenous reservations and large swaths of the Amazon jungle for mining.

Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque proposed in an interview late on Sunday with newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo that the law should be changed to assign responsibility in cases such as Brumadinho to the people responsible for certifying the safety of mining dams.

"Current law does not prevent disasters like the one we saw on Brumadinho", he said. "The model for verifying the state of mining dams will have to be reconsidered. The model isn't good."

The ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the interview.

German auditor TUV SUD said on Saturday it inspected the dam in September and found all to be in order.

Grief over the hundreds of Brazilians feared killed in a mining disaster has quickly hardened into anger as victims' families and politicians say iron ore miner Vale SA and regulators have learned nothing from the recent past.

Grief over the hundreds of Brazilians feared killed in a mining disaster has quickly hardened into anger as victims' families and politicians say iron ore miner Vale SA and regulators have learned nothing from the recent past. By Monday, firefighters in the state of Minas Gerais had confirmed 60 people died in Friday's disaster, in which a tailings dam broke sending a torrent of sludge into the miner's offices and the town of Brumadinho. Nearly 300 other people are unaccounted for, and officials said it was unlikely that any would be found alive. Vale shares plummeted 17 per cent in Monday trading on the Sao Paulo stock exchange, which had been closed on Friday. Brazil's top prosecutor, Raquel Dodge, said the company should be held strongly responsible and criminally prosecuted. Executives could also be personally held responsible, she said. Vale Chief Executive Fabio Schvartsman said during a visit to Brumadinho on Sunday that facilities there were built to code and equipment had shown the dam was stable two weeks earlier. The disaster at the Corrego do Feijao mine occurred less than four years after a dam collapsed at a nearby mine run by Samarco Mineracao SA, a joint venture by Vale and BHP Billiton, killing 19 and filling a major river with toxic sludge. While the 2015 Samarco disaster dumped about five times more mining waste, Friday's dam break was far more deadly, as the wall of mud hit Vale's local offices, including a crowded cafeteria, and tore through a populated area downhill. "The cafeteria was in a risky area," Renato Simao de Oliveiras, 32, said while searching for his twin brother, a Vale employee, at an emergency response station. "Just to save money, even if it meant losing the little guy... These businessmen, they only think about themselves." As search efforts continued on Monday, firefighters laid down wood planks to cross a sea of sludge that is hundreds of meters wide in places, to reach a bus in search of bodies inside. Villagers discovered the bus as they tried to rescue a nearby cow stuck in the mud. Longtime resident Ademir Rogerio cried as he surveyed the mud where Vale's facilities once stood on the edge of town. "The world is over for us," he said. "Vale is the top mining company in the world. If this could happen here, imagine what would happen if it were a smaller miner." Nestor José de Mury said he lost his nephew and coworkers in the mud. "I've never seen anything like it, it killed everyone," he said. SAFETY DEBATE The board of Vale, which has raised its dividends over the last year, suspended all shareholder payouts and executive bonuses late on Sunday, as the disaster put its corporate strategy under scrutiny. "I'm not a mining technician. I followed the technicians' advice and you see what happened. It didn't work," Vale CEO Schvartsman said in a TV interview. "We are 100 percent within all the standards, and that didn't do it." Many wondered if the state of Minas Gerais, named for the mining industry that has shaped its landscape for centuries, should have higher standards. "There are safe ways of mining," said Joao Vitor Xavier, head of the mining and energy commission in the state assembly. "It's just that it diminishes profit margins, so they prefer to do things the cheaper way – and put lives at risk." Reaction to the disaster could threaten the plans of newly inaugurated President Jair Bolsonaro to relax restrictions on the mining industry, including proposals to open up indigenous reservations and large swaths of the Amazon jungle for mining. Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque proposed in an interview late on Sunday with newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo that the law should be changed to assign responsibility in cases such as Brumadinho to the people responsible for certifying the safety of mining dams. "Current law does not prevent disasters like the one we saw on Brumadinho", he said. "The model for verifying the state of mining dams will have to be reconsidered. The model isn't good." The ministry did not immediately respond to questions about the interview. German auditor TUV SUD said on Saturday it inspected the dam in September and found all to be in order.

Brazilian despair turns to anger as toll from Vale dam disaster hits 60

In pictures: Brazil dam collapse leaves hundreds missing, horror in its wake

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse.

Sirens began blaring before dawn, triggered by dangerous water levels at a tailings dam still standing near an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA near Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state.

"We have a situation of imminent risk, but there hasn't been a rupture of this dam until now and we are monitoring it," said Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the state fire department.

He said they believed the situation was dangerous, but he could not comment on the actual risk of another dam break. The second dam being monitored is about 50 meters (0.03 mile) from the burst dam and part of a large industrial complex.

The evacuation efforts diverted attention from the search for hundreds of people missing after Friday's burst dam unleashed a torrent of mud, burying the mining facilities and nearby homes.

"Our work is completely focused on the evacuation," Aihara said.

Roughly 250 people were still missing after the tailings dam accident, according to a list released by Vale, the second such disaster in less than four years. Most of the missing are presumed dead, officials said.

The confirmed death toll rose to 37 by Sunday morning, according to the fire department.

The disaster is now more deadly than a 2015 tailings dam collapse at an iron ore mine less than 100 km (60 miles) to the east, belonging to Samarco Mineracao SA, a Vale joint venture with BHP Group.

The Samarco dam break spilled five times the mining waste into a more remote region, killing 19 people, burying a small village and contaminating a major river in Brazil's worst environmental disaster on record.

In Brumadinho, families and friends mourning their lost loved ones were forced to evacuate on Sunday.

'Fed up'

Renato Maia, a 44-year-old salesman whose best friend's daughter remained missing, fled his home in panic early Sunday morning. At midday he and his wife waited on the outskirts of town for police to lift a blockade, angry at the situation.

"We're all fed up with Vale ... and this is really adding to the tension," he said. "It was a huge tragedy and now we don't know what might come next."

The Brazilian government has ordered Vale to halt operations at the Corrego do Feijao mining complex, the site of the Friday dam burst. Courts have frozen 6 billion reais ($1.6 billion) in Vale's asses to pay for the damage.

Vale Chief Executive Officer Fabio Schvartsman apologized without taking responsibility in a television interview on Saturday.

"Apologies to society, apologies to you, apologies to the whole world for what has happened," he said. "I don't know who is responsible, but you can be sure we'll do our part."

The cause of the dam burst remained unclear. Recent inspections by a German auditor TUV SUD and Vale did not indicate any problems with the dam, the companies said.

Federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio told Reuters on Saturday that state and federal authorities have failed to apply more stringent regulation to the hundreds of tailings dams around the country.

Schvartsman said all of Vale's tailings dams were checked after the 2015 disaster and periodic reviews are carried out.

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse.

Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of some 24,000 people from the Brazilian town hit by a deadly mudslide from a ruptured mining dam as rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse. Sirens began blaring before dawn, triggered by dangerous water levels at a tailings dam still standing near an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA near Brumadinho in Minas Gerais state. "We have a situation of imminent risk, but there hasn't been a rupture of this dam until now and we are monitoring it," said Pedro Aihara, a spokesman for the state fire department. He said they believed the situation was dangerous, but he could not comment on the actual risk of another dam break. The second dam being monitored is about 50 meters (0.03 mile) from the burst dam and part of a large industrial complex. The evacuation efforts diverted attention from the search for hundreds of people missing after Friday's burst dam unleashed a torrent of mud, burying the mining facilities and nearby homes. "Our work is completely focused on the evacuation," Aihara said. Roughly 250 people were still missing after the tailings dam accident, according to a list released by Vale, the second such disaster in less than four years. Most of the missing are presumed dead, officials said. The confirmed death toll rose to 37 by Sunday morning, according to the fire department. The disaster is now more deadly than a 2015 tailings dam collapse at an iron ore mine less than 100 km (60 miles) to the east, belonging to Samarco Mineracao SA, a Vale joint venture with BHP Group. The Samarco dam break spilled five times the mining waste into a more remote region, killing 19 people, burying a small village and contaminating a major river in Brazil's worst environmental disaster on record. In Brumadinho, families and friends mourning their lost loved ones were forced to evacuate on Sunday. 'Fed up' Renato Maia, a 44-year-old salesman whose best friend's daughter remained missing, fled his home in panic early Sunday morning. At midday he and his wife waited on the outskirts of town for police to lift a blockade, angry at the situation. "We're all fed up with Vale ... and this is really adding to the tension," he said. "It was a huge tragedy and now we don't know what might come next." The Brazilian government has ordered Vale to halt operations at the Corrego do Feijao mining complex, the site of the Friday dam burst. Courts have frozen 6 billion reais ($1.6 billion) in Vale's asses to pay for the damage. Vale Chief Executive Officer Fabio Schvartsman apologized without taking responsibility in a television interview on Saturday. "Apologies to society, apologies to you, apologies to the whole world for what has happened," he said. "I don't know who is responsible, but you can be sure we'll do our part." The cause of the dam burst remained unclear. Recent inspections by a German auditor TUV SUD and Vale did not indicate any problems with the dam, the companies said. Federal prosecutor Jose Adercio Sampaio told Reuters on Saturday that state and federal authorities have failed to apply more stringent regulation to the hundreds of tailings dams around the country. Schvartsman said all of Vale's tailings dams were checked after the 2015 disaster and periodic reviews are carried out.

Nearly 24,000 ordered to evacuate after Brazil dam burst, 250 still missing

President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday flew over the disaster area after the death toll grew to 34 following a dam burst at an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA.

Brazilian firefighters said on Saturday that at least 34 people were killed, as rescuers continued to search for hundreds still missing.

The Minas Gerais state fire department also said 23 people have been hospitalized after the dam released a torrent of mud on Friday, leaving a roughly 150-meter-wide (500-foot-wide) wake of destruction.

In an earlier statement, the department had said 300 people were still missing and 46 had been found alive, a figure that it did not update in its latest disclosure.

Firefighters focused their hopes for finding survivors on a bus, a train, mining offices and nearby homes that were buried on Friday in mud after the dam break at Vale's Corrego do Feijao facility in Minas Gerais state.

Frantic family members of the missing crowded into a warehouse set up by Vale for those affected, next to a stretch of river now demolished by the sludge. More than a dozen helicopters helping to survey the area took off and landed from a soccer field nearby.

"The federal government should help us in the sense of bringing some technology from the outside to help us recover the bodies that are buried, because it is very difficult to locate a body five and 10 meters deep and Israel already offered to do that," Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais, told local media.

A Brazilian judge in the state of Minas Gerais on Saturday froze 5 billion reais ($1.33 billion) in the accounts of miner Vale SA to pay for damages caused by a dam burst, prosecutors said.

President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday flew over the disaster area after the death toll grew to 34 following a dam burst at an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA. Brazilian firefighters said on Saturday that at least 34 people were killed, as rescuers continued to search for hundreds still missing.

President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday flew over the disaster area after the death toll grew to 34 following a dam burst at an iron ore mine owned by Vale SA. Brazilian firefighters said on Saturday that at least 34 people were killed, as rescuers continued to search for hundreds still missing. The Minas Gerais state fire department also said 23 people have been hospitalized after the dam released a torrent of mud on Friday, leaving a roughly 150-meter-wide (500-foot-wide) wake of destruction. In an earlier statement, the department had said 300 people were still missing and 46 had been found alive, a figure that it did not update in its latest disclosure. Firefighters focused their hopes for finding survivors on a bus, a train, mining offices and nearby homes that were buried on Friday in mud after the dam break at Vale's Corrego do Feijao facility in Minas Gerais state. Frantic family members of the missing crowded into a warehouse set up by Vale for those affected, next to a stretch of river now demolished by the sludge. More than a dozen helicopters helping to survey the area took off and landed from a soccer field nearby. "The federal government should help us in the sense of bringing some technology from the outside to help us recover the bodies that are buried, because it is very difficult to locate a body five and 10 meters deep and Israel already offered to do that," Romeu Zema, governor of Minas Gerais, told local media. A Brazilian judge in the state of Minas Gerais on Saturday froze 5 billion reais ($1.33 billion) in the accounts of miner Vale SA to pay for damages caused by a dam burst, prosecutors said.

Brazilian president Bolsonaro tours area as death toll from dam disaster rises to 34

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