Campaigning for Brazil’s president turned violent after a politician who is a close aide of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro attacked police with grenades and rifles when they arrived at his house to arrest him.

Roberto Jefferson, a former congressman who is a “personal friend” of Bolsonaro, told supporters in a video on Sunday morning that launched the attack after police arrived at his home in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

“I shot at the car and close to them,” he admitted in an&nbsp;online video, claiming that he was resisting arrest “in the name of freedom, democracy and family values”.

According to reports, two officers sustained non-fatal injuries, while the police vehicle was riddled with bullet holes.

In the video, he claimed that he would not surrender, but by evening he was under the police’s custody.

In another video, Jefferson sought to clarify that he never intended to attack the officers.

"I didn't shoot anyone to hit them. No one. I shot their car and near them. There were four of them, they ran, I said, 'Get out, because I'm going get you’,” he was quoted as saying.

"I'm setting my example, I'm leaving my seed planted: resist oppression, resist tyranny. God bless Brazil."

Jefferson was jailed in August 2021 before being placed under house arrest as part of a probe into anti-democratic social media mobs. &nbsp;

The police were at Jefferson’s because a Supreme Court judge on Sunday ordered the police to return the 69-year-old to jail after he compared a member of the court to a prostitute.

Bolsonaro issued a statement later in the day distancing himself from Jefferson, saying, “There's not a single picture of him and me". He also condemned Jefferson for attacking the police.

However, his opponents promptly posted several pictures of the two together on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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Campaigning for Brazil’s president turned violent after a politician who is a close aide of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro attacked police with grenades and rifles when they arrived at his house to arrest him.

Campaigning for Brazil’s president turned violent after a politician who is a close aide of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro attacked police with grenades and rifles when they arrived at his house to arrest him. Roberto Jefferson, a former congressman who is a “personal friend” of Bolsonaro, told supporters in a video on Sunday morning that launched the attack after police arrived at his home in the north of Rio de Janeiro. “I shot at the car and close to them,” he admitted in an online video, claiming that he was resisting arrest “in the name of freedom, democracy and family values”. According to reports, two officers sustained non-fatal injuries, while the police vehicle was riddled with bullet holes. In the video, he claimed that he would not surrender, but by evening he was under the police’s custody. In another video, Jefferson sought to clarify that he never intended to attack the officers. "I didn't shoot anyone to hit them. No one. I shot their car and near them. There were four of them, they ran, I said, 'Get out, because I'm going get you’,” he was quoted as saying. "I'm setting my example, I'm leaving my seed planted: resist oppression, resist tyranny. God bless Brazil." Jefferson was jailed in August 2021 before being placed under house arrest as part of a probe into anti-democratic social media mobs. The police were at Jefferson’s because a Supreme Court judge on Sunday ordered the police to return the 69-year-old to jail after he compared a member of the court to a prostitute. Bolsonaro issued a statement later in the day distancing himself from Jefferson, saying, “There's not a single picture of him and me". He also condemned Jefferson for attacking the police. However, his opponents promptly posted several pictures of the two together on social media. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Brazil President Bolsonaro’s ‘friend’ attacks police with rifles, grenades while resisting arrest

Brazil's leftist Former President launched his Presidential candidacy. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced his bid for the upcoming October elections. President Jair Bolsonaro is trailing in poll points. Many Brazilians are angry at Bolsonaro's handling of the pandemic, rising inflation, high fuel prices

Brazil Elections: Former President Lula launches campaign, talks about employment & recovery

Brazil's Federal&nbsp;Police&nbsp;have opened an investigation into&nbsp;allegations&nbsp;of corruption in the&nbsp;Education&nbsp;Ministry, a&nbsp;police&nbsp;source&nbsp;told Reuters on Friday, potentially adding to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October elections.

The&nbsp;probe&nbsp;comes after local media reported that two pastors had allegedly secured preferential treatment for funding requests from their municipalities in return for bribes.

Later on Friday, the Federal&nbsp;Police&nbsp;launched another&nbsp;probe&nbsp;of the role of&nbsp;Education&nbsp;Minister Milton Ribeiro in this case, according to reports from local media.

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The Federal&nbsp;Police&nbsp;did not confirm the opening of the investigations.

Newspaper Folha de S.Paulo published this week audio extracts of Ribeiro's appearing to affirm that funding applications from the pastors would be given priority. He was quoted as saying the funding decisions aligned with the wishes of Bolsonaro.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the recording.

Ribeiro denied any wrongdoing and said that he had invited investigation into the matter following an anonymous tip he received.

The presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Federal&nbsp;Police&nbsp;declined to comment.

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The&nbsp;source, who requested anonymity because the&nbsp;probe&nbsp;had not been formally announced, said the investigation was not targeting Ribeiro.

The scandal comes as Bolsonaro lags in polls ahead of this year's presidential election, trailing former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro was elected in 2018 on a law and order platform, vowing to wipe corruption out of&nbsp;Brazilian politics, but his term has been dogged by&nbsp;graft&nbsp;allegations&nbsp;against his family members and allies.

Watch |&nbsp;Scientists take research trips on the Brazilian coast

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Brazil's Federal Police have opened an investigation into allegations of corruption in the Education Ministry, a police source told Reuters on Friday, potentially adding to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October elections.

Brazil's Federal Police have opened an investigation into allegations of corruption in the Education Ministry, a police source told Reuters on Friday, potentially adding to pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro ahead of October elections. The probe comes after local media reported that two pastors had allegedly secured preferential treatment for funding requests from their municipalities in return for bribes. Later on Friday, the Federal Police launched another probe of the role of Education Minister Milton Ribeiro in this case, according to reports from local media. Also read | Brazilian supreme court bans messaging app Telegram ahead of presidential elections The Federal Police did not confirm the opening of the investigations. Newspaper Folha de S.Paulo published this week audio extracts of Ribeiro's appearing to affirm that funding applications from the pastors would be given priority. He was quoted as saying the funding decisions aligned with the wishes of Bolsonaro. Reuters was unable to independently verify the recording. Ribeiro denied any wrongdoing and said that he had invited investigation into the matter following an anonymous tip he received. The presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Federal Police declined to comment. Also read | Submarine spy couple tried to sell nuclear secrets to Brazil The source, who requested anonymity because the probe had not been formally announced, said the investigation was not targeting Ribeiro. The scandal comes as Bolsonaro lags in polls ahead of this year's presidential election, trailing former leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro was elected in 2018 on a law and order platform, vowing to wipe corruption out of Brazilian politics, but his term has been dogged by graft allegations against his family members and allies. Watch | Scientists take research trips on the Brazilian coast

Brazil police probes education ministry's graft allegations

Brazil's President to be the Guest of Honor on India's 71st Republic Day

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday (December 5) that the South American trade bloc Mercosur needs to hurry up and implement agreements the group has negotiated.

Brazil's president urges Mercosur to quickly implement trade deals

By

Akash Rai

Indians can now have easy access to Sao Paulo after&nbsp;Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced today that the South American nation will no longer require Indians to obtain a visa while visiting the country as a tourist or for business purposes.

The announcement was made by the Brazilian president while he was in China during an official visit. &nbsp;

WION&nbsp;spoke to the Brazilian embassy in New Delhi which said: "Brazil wants more businessmen and tourists from India. There are untapped opportunities for deepening people-to-people contact. We are implementing measures which could be the first step to facilitate bringing our people closer."

Earlier this year, the visa relaxation rule followed Brazil's move on similar lines to a number of nations including the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. Brazilians, on the other hand, are still required to obtain visas for the said nations.

The new strategy outlined an openness towards tourists while eliminating visa requirements for countries with the biggest economic potential which also helps to promote Brazil's diverse culture and natural marvels.

India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship at the bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, IBSA, and several others.

According to government data, more than 4,700 Indians reside in Brazil with the majority of them living in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Manaus. The community mainly comprises of professionals, businessmen, scientists and researchers connected with space, agriculture, physics, and biotechnology. There is also an India association in Sao Paulo.

Apart from this, India and Brazil also share an interest in commercial, defense and cultural relations including the ITEC program. About 55 Brazilians have visited India under the ITEC program for training in communication, defense and management in the past seven years.

By Akash Rai Indians can now have easy access to Sao Paulo after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced today that the South American nation will no longer require Indians to obtain a visa while visiting the country as a tourist or for business purposes.

By Akash Rai Indians can now have easy access to Sao Paulo after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced today that the South American nation will no longer require Indians to obtain a visa while visiting the country as a tourist or for business purposes. The announcement was made by the Brazilian president while he was in China during an official visit. WION spoke to the Brazilian embassy in New Delhi which said: "Brazil wants more businessmen and tourists from India. There are untapped opportunities for deepening people-to-people contact. We are implementing measures which could be the first step to facilitate bringing our people closer." Earlier this year, the visa relaxation rule followed Brazil's move on similar lines to a number of nations including the USA, Canada, Japan and Australia. Brazilians, on the other hand, are still required to obtain visas for the said nations. The new strategy outlined an openness towards tourists while eliminating visa requirements for countries with the biggest economic potential which also helps to promote Brazil's diverse culture and natural marvels. India and Brazil share a close and multifaceted relationship at the bilateral level as well as in plurilateral fora such as BRICS, BASIC, G-20, IBSA, and several others. According to government data, more than 4,700 Indians reside in Brazil with the majority of them living in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Manaus. The community mainly comprises of professionals, businessmen, scientists and researchers connected with space, agriculture, physics, and biotechnology. There is also an India association in Sao Paulo. Apart from this, India and Brazil also share an interest in commercial, defense and cultural relations including the ITEC program. About 55 Brazilians have visited India under the ITEC program for training in communication, defense and management in the past seven years.

Indians no longer need visa to visit Brazil: President Bolsonaro

Brazil doesn't have the funding to hire more permanent environmental enforcement agents in the wake of surging Amazon fires but will contract local environmental police on a short-term basis, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters on Friday.

The scheme will involve contracting state environmental police on their days off to assist federal government enforcement efforts, Salles said in an interview.

He said the ministry aims to have a deal in place with states to allow for such a scheme to begin before next year's peak deforestation and fire season, which generally starts in May or June.

Brazil's Amazon rainforest has recorded the highest number of fires this year since 2010, drawing an international outcry that the country is not doing enough to protect the world's largest rainforest.

President Jair Bolsonaro has said the country does not have the resources to police an area as vast as the Amazon, and the federal government is facing a severe budget shortfall as the economy recovers more slowly than expected.

The environment ministry is negotiating within the government to maintain its 2020 budget at the same level as 2019, Salles said in an interview. Funding to contract the agents will need to come from spending the ministry's resources more efficiently in other areas, he said.

"You have to be creative," Salles said.

Brazil doesn't have the funding to hire more permanent environmental enforcement agents in the wake of surging Amazon fires but will contract local environmental police on a short-term basis, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters on Friday.

Brazil doesn't have the funding to hire more permanent environmental enforcement agents in the wake of surging Amazon fires but will contract local environmental police on a short-term basis, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told Reuters on Friday. The scheme will involve contracting state environmental police on their days off to assist federal government enforcement efforts, Salles said in an interview. He said the ministry aims to have a deal in place with states to allow for such a scheme to begin before next year's peak deforestation and fire season, which generally starts in May or June. Brazil's Amazon rainforest has recorded the highest number of fires this year since 2010, drawing an international outcry that the country is not doing enough to protect the world's largest rainforest. President Jair Bolsonaro has said the country does not have the resources to police an area as vast as the Amazon, and the federal government is facing a severe budget shortfall as the economy recovers more slowly than expected. The environment ministry is negotiating within the government to maintain its 2020 budget at the same level as 2019, Salles said in an interview. Funding to contract the agents will need to come from spending the ministry's resources more efficiently in other areas, he said. "You have to be creative," Salles said.

Brazil to hire short-term environmental enforcers following Amazon fires

Thousands of tribal women decorated with feathers and body paint marched on Brazil's capital Tuesday denouncing the "genocidal policies" of President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces growing criticism over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-vows-to-fight-illegal-deforestation-in-brazil-240639">destruction of the Amazon</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poop-less-for-a-cleaner-planet-says-brazils-president-jair-bolsonaro-241912">Far-right Bolsonaro</a> wants to develop the rainforest -- seen as vital to combatting climate change -- by allowing more mining and farming in the region.

The latest official figures show a sharp increase in deforestation in recent months compared with a year earlier. Activists blame the rise on Bolsonaro's anti-environment rhetoric.&nbsp;

But Bolsonaro has dismissed the data as lies and sacked the head of the government agency tasked with tracking tree clearing.&nbsp;

Carrying bows, arrows and spears, the indigenous women advanced on Congress in Brasilia carrying a large banner that said "Resist to exist" as they demanded greater protection of their land.&nbsp;

"Bolsonaro wants to wipe out our lands, our ethnicities," Potira Guajajara, a 22-year-old student from the northeastern state of Maranhao, told AFP.

"There have been many invasions of our lands by hunters and gold miners."&nbsp;

Brazil's government has demarcated hundreds of territories since the 1980s for the exclusive use of its 800,000 indigenous inhabitants. Access by outsiders is strictly regulated.

Bolsonaro opposes demarcating more land, claiming indigenous people already live "like a zoo animal."

Elected last year with support from the powerful agriculture lobby, Bolsonaro has pledged to combat illegal deforestation.&nbsp;

While the government admits clearing has increased, it insists it is not as great as indicated by the National Institute for Space Research. 
&nbsp;

Thousands of tribal women decorated with feathers and body paint marched on Brazil's capital Tuesday denouncing the "genocidal policies" of President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces growing criticism over destruction of the Amazon.

Thousands of tribal women decorated with feathers and body paint marched on Brazil's capital Tuesday denouncing the "genocidal policies" of President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces growing criticism over destruction of the Amazon. Far-right Bolsonaro wants to develop the rainforest -- seen as vital to combatting climate change -- by allowing more mining and farming in the region. The latest official figures show a sharp increase in deforestation in recent months compared with a year earlier. Activists blame the rise on Bolsonaro's anti-environment rhetoric. But Bolsonaro has dismissed the data as lies and sacked the head of the government agency tasked with tracking tree clearing. Carrying bows, arrows and spears, the indigenous women advanced on Congress in Brasilia carrying a large banner that said "Resist to exist" as they demanded greater protection of their land. "Bolsonaro wants to wipe out our lands, our ethnicities," Potira Guajajara, a 22-year-old student from the northeastern state of Maranhao, told AFP. "There have been many invasions of our lands by hunters and gold miners." Brazil's government has demarcated hundreds of territories since the 1980s for the exclusive use of its 800,000 indigenous inhabitants. Access by outsiders is strictly regulated. Bolsonaro opposes demarcating more land, claiming indigenous people already live "like a zoo animal." Elected last year with support from the powerful agriculture lobby, Bolsonaro has pledged to combat illegal deforestation. While the government admits clearing has increased, it insists it is not as great as indicated by the National Institute for Space Research.

Brazil tribal women protest Bolsonaro's 'genocidal policies'

The Brazilian government has been alerting local companies about the extent of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and the possible consequences in case of noncompliance, President Jair Bolsonaro said on Friday.

Brazil alerted companies about U.S. embargo on Iran - Bolsonaro

The presidents of Uruguay and Paraguay arrived in Santa Fe, Argentina on Tuesday (July 16) ahead of the biannual summit of South American trade bloc Mercosur.

Presidents of Mercosur trading bloc begin to arrive ahead of meeting in Argentina

Land conflict in Brazil's Amazon is coming to a head between indigenous peoples and land invaders who take their lead from the anti-environment rhetoric of ultra-conservative President Jair Bolsonaro.

Deadly tug-of-war over Brazil's Amazon land

A decade after the Macuxi people won a bloody battle to expel rice planters from their reservation with the backing of the Supreme Court, their hold over ancestral lands has come under threat again from Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazil tribal lands under new threat from farmers, miners