Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro abruptly cancels US visit after protests

Climbdown by far right leader, who was due to receive prestigious award, called ‘a very big embarrassment’

Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has abruptly cancelled a US trip to receive a prestigious award following a storm of protest over his history of homophobic, racist and misogynist remarks and plans to erode environmental protections in the Amazon.

The cancellation, announced suddenly on Friday, came after the original venue ditched the event, the mayor of New York City attacked his presence and major corporate sponsors pulled out. Bolsonaro’s spokesman blamed ideological attacks from interest groups and Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York.

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Rio de Janeiro: killings by police hit a record high in Brazilian state

Rise comes under Governor Wilson Witzel, a Bolsonaro ally who has promised a zero-tolerance policy against criminals

Police killings in the state of Rio de Janeiro have hit a record high, rising by 18% in the first three months of this year.

Official data reviewed by the Associated Press on Friday show police forces in Rio killed 434 people during clashes in those months, compared with 368 people in same period last year.

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The plot that failed: how Venezuela’s ‘uprising’ fizzled

When the coup was hurriedly launched a day early, defections from the regime failed to materialise, Maduro remained in power and the US government looked like it had badly miscalculated

The video that appeared on Tuesday morning had the appearance of history in the making. In the purple light of dawn, it showed a group of armed men and a military vehicle on a road leading to La Carlota airbase in eastern Caracas.

In the foreground, stood Juan Guaidó – the head of the national assembly recognised by most western countries as the rightful leader of Venezuela – declaring the “final phase of Operation Freedom” with oratory seemingly destined for legend.

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‘We stood in shock’: what happens to a city after a hurricane? A cartoon

After Maria is a graphic novella by Dr Gemma Sou and John Cei Douglas about a family’s recovery from Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017

On 20 September 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, a US territory that is home to 3.3 million people. Maria devastated the Caribbean island, causing more than $30bn in damage, and an initial death toll of 64 grew to an estimated figure of between 2,975 and 4,645. Many of the deaths happened during the aftermath from treatable chronic illnesses, because power outages prevented people from receiving routine medical care – but most of the media had left by November.

Dr Gemma Sou of the University of Manchester visited Puerto Rico five times during the first year after Maria to talk to families about their recovery. One of the results is After Maria, extracted here, a graphic novella about a fictional family in the neighbourhood of Ingenio that is based on common experiences Sou heard from Puerto Ricans across the island.

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Call for students to film ‘biased’ teachers brings Brazil’s culture wars to classroom

President Bolsonaro has accused schoolteachers of indoctrination but educators say his aim is to stifle critical thinking

Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged school students to film teachers during class if they suspect them of pushing leftist ideas, reigniting a battle in one of the most contested arenas of Brazil’s raging culture wars.

“Teachers need to teach and not indoctrinate,” Bolsonaro tweeted this week as he shared a video shot in class by a student who accused her teacher of criticizing the far-right president.

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Scientology cruise ship leaves St Lucia after measles quarantine

Church of Scientology vessel held in port after contagious disease detected onboard

A cruise ship quarantined for a reported case of measles has left the Caribbean island of St Lucia after health officials supplied 100 doses of vaccine to the ship, according to reports.

The Church of Scientology cruise ship was confined to port this week by island health officials after the highly contagious disease was detected onboard.

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The Vale do Amanhecer religious community in Brazil – in pictures

This eclectic community holds its most important ritual of the year on Labour Day to honour the mediums who communicate with good and bad spirits. The group combines a range of religious practices, including Christian and Hindu, with symbols borrowed from the Incas and Mayans, as well as a belief in extraterrestrial life and intergalactic travel. With some 600 temples throughout Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Japan, Bolivia, Uruguay and the US, the religious movement claims to have 800,000 members

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Venezuela: Maduro denounces ‘coup plotters and traitors’ – video

The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, has said 'the time to fight has come', in a televised address surrounded by his military high command. Maduro gave the warning following clashes in the past two days after the opposition attempted a military insurrection

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Venezuela: Maduro thanks military and denounces ‘senseless coup-mongers and traitors’

After a botched attempt to overthrow him, Maduro holds ‘march to reaffirm the absolute loyalty of the armed forces’

Nicolás Maduro has thanked Venezuela’s military for resisting what he branded a treacherous “imperial” plot to topple him this week by sparking a conflict that would justify foreign military intervention.

“Loyalty is a value that you either have or you don’t … I know you will not fail the homeland,” Maduro told troops during an early-morning parade in Caracas that was broadcast on state television.

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Financial Times pulls out of gala honouring Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro

Corporate boycott of New York event grows after campaign by LGBT rights activists

The Financial Times has pulled its involvement in an event honouring Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, after a campaign by LGBT rights activists against the celebration of the self-declared homophobe.

The recently elected South American leader is due to be honoured at the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce’s person of the year gala dinner, which is scheduled to take place in New York later this month.

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Venezuela: Guaidó calls on supporters to intensify ‘peaceful rebellion’ against Maduro

Tens of thousands of protesters hit the streets again on Wednesday and clashed with security forces after fruitless bid to oust Maduro

Clashes have broken out between protesters and Venezuelan security forces as tens of thousands of protesters returned to the streets one day after a dramatic but so far fruitless bid to force Nicolás Maduro from power by triggering a massive military rebellion.

Juan Guaidó, the young opposition leader who led that attempted mutiny on Tuesday morning, told demonstrators in the capital, Caracas, they needed to intensify their “peaceful rebellion” against Maduro.

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Guaidó’s uprising seems to have flatlined. What’s next for Venezuela?

Nicolás Maduro retains power and support from country’s military top brass but the opposition challenge is not dead

When Venezuela’s Juan Guaidó appeared outside one of the most important military installations in Caracas on Tuesday flanked by defecting soldiers toting assault rifles, many supporters hoped the game was finally up for Nicolás Maduro and his embattled regime.

“The time is now,” Guaidó announced in his dramatic pre-dawn declaration, calling on Venezuela’s armed forces to turn on their Chavista commander-in-chief.

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Venezuela: Maduro and Guaidó both claim upper hand after day of violence – video

The Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and the opposition leader, Juan Guaidó, have both taken to the airwaves to claim the advantage after a day of violence and political turmoil. Portraying the events of Tuesday as a US-backed military coup, Maduro insisted his opponent had already been defeated, while Guaidó called for Venezuelans to take to the streets again

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Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims victory over ‘deranged’ coup attempt

President blames Trump imperialists and ‘coup-mongering far right’ for plot put down by military

Nicolás Maduro claimed his troops have thwarted a botched attempt to topple him masterminded by Venezuela’s “coup-mongering far right” and Donald Trump’s deranged imperialist “gang”.

In an hour-long address to the nation on Tuesday night – his first since the pre-dawn uprising began – Maduro accused opposition leader Juan Guaidó and his political mentor Leopoldo López of seeking to spark an armed confrontation that might be used as a pretext for a foreign military intervention.

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As it happened – Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims coup has been ‘defeated’

In first appearance since rebellion lead by Juan Guaidó, president calls for applause for ‘obedient’ armed forces. Follow updates

I am wrapping up this blog shortly.

Tom Phillips has filed a new story on the latest goings-on which he leads with Maduro’s claim that a coup attempt by Juan Guaidó has been defeated. You can read that here:

Related: Venezuela crisis: Maduro claims victory over 'deranged' US-backed coup attempt

Away from the immediate politics, it’s worth looking at what is happening with the price of oil – Venezuela’s main export and in many ways the source of much of the trouble engulfing the country.

Crude prices dipped in early trade in Asia on Wednesday thanks to a report showing that US inventories were higher than exppected. Spot Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, were at $71.65 per barrel at 01.43 GMT, down 41c, or 0.6%, from their last close.

Related: $100 a barrel? Will Iran sanctions and Venezuela crisis bring oil price spike?

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Former bus driver Nicolás Maduro clings to wheel in Venezuela

Lack of charisma and luck have hurt the ‘fumbling showman’ who succeeded Hugo Chávez

Nicolás Maduro has ruled Venezuela without two of the greatest assets possessed by his mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chávez. He has not been lucky. And he has no charisma.

Chávez enjoyed an oil bounty and sublime political talents that secured his power at home and reputation abroad.

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National Guard armoured vehicle drives into protesters in Venezuela – video

Hundreds of demonstrators in Caracas have confronted military vehicles on a road outside La Carlota airbase. One of the vehicles fired a water cannon at protesters crowded around it. At one point, the vehicle accelerated over a median barrier and appeared to hit demonstrators

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Unrest in Caracas – in pictures

The Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó took to the streets with activist Leopoldo López and a small contingent of heavily armed soldiers early on Tuesday in a call for the military to rise up and oust the socialist leader, Nicolás Maduro. Events started when Guaidó appeared in an early morning video surrounded by heavily armed soldiers backed by armoured vehicles. Guaidó said soldiers who had taken to the streets were protecting Venezuela’s constitution. Information minister Jorge Rodríguez said on Twitter that Maduro’s government was confronting a small ‘coup attempt’ led by military ‘traitors’ backed by rightwing opponents

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Canada: extreme floods show climate threat as experts warn of further tumult

Thousands evacuated from eastern Canada as Justin Trudeau admits urgent action necessary to improve climate preparedness

News footage showed people boating where they once walked, homes and cars filled with muddy water, volunteers searching for lost pets. Thousands of people in eastern Canada have been forced from their homes as heavy rains and meltwater cause unprecedented flood evacuations.

One of the worst-hit areas was a Montreal suburb where more than 6,000 people were evacuated after a dyke burst on Sunday. A further 3,000 people were evacuated in other parts of Quebec, and in Ontario and New Brunswick, hundreds more are waiting out the floods in hotels and shelters.

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Guantánamo prison commander fired for ‘loss of confidence’ in leadership

Navy rear admiral John Ring was relieved of his duties on Saturday. About 40 prisoners are being held at the facility

The commander of the US prison camp at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba was abruptly fired for unknown reasons over the weekend.

Navy R Adm John Ring was relieved of his duties on Saturday. A statement from US Southern Command said the change in leadership was “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command”, and would “not interrupt the safe, humane, legal care and custody provided to the detainee population” at Guantánamo.

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