Good morning! We’re covering the hike in Amazon deforestation numbers. More controversy surrounding Justice Minister Sergio Moro. And a case that could limit Brazil’s anti-corruption efforts. (This newsletter is for platinum subscribers only. Become one now!)
Breaking
A new phase of Operation Car Wash, launched this morning, targets former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes (2013-2018). An arrest warrant has been issued against Mr. Cartes, who is believed to have helped Dario Messer, a notorious money launderer, flee the police last year.
Today’s operation focuses on money laundering schemes, but also concerns the smuggling of firearms and illegal cigarettes across the Brazil-Paraguay border. Mr. Cartes’ dealings with Mr. Messer have reportedly been monitored by U.S. law enforcement agencies for nearly two decades.
Amazon deforestation at highest in ten years
Between August 2018 and July 2019, Brazil lost 9,762 square kilometers of Amazon forest coverage, according to official data. That is roughly the size of Cyprus and represents a 29-percent bump from the previous 12 months. The government minimized the results, saying that deforestation rates have been rising since 2012.
Why it matters. President Jair Bolsonaro and his administration have backed looser environmental controls. And even if the government is right that Amazon...