Brazil's government

Brazil's government said on Monday that the flow of mysterious crude oil hitting the country's northeastern beaches has slowed, adding that the cost of the disaster could reach into the billions of reais.

Amid global concern about raging fires in the Amazon, Brazil's government complained on Aug. 22 that it is being targeted in smear campaign by critics who contend President Jair Bolsonaro is not doing enough to curb widespread deforestation.