Sao Paulo

Brazil confiscates $16 million from Equatorial Guinea VP's entourage

Cash and luxury watches were in the luggage of Teodorin Nguema Obiang's delegation
A delegation led by the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea - Teodorin Nguema Obiang, son of the longtime president - has had $16 million worth of cash and luxury watches confiscated at an airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

In October 2017, Mr Obiang was sentenced to a three year suspended sentence in France on charges of money laundering. 

Tutu Alicante is Executive Director of EG Justice, an NGO which advocates for human rights in Equatorial Guinea. He explains why he thinks many people in the country won't be surprised by the latest incident.

The Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Brazil had not replied to a request for comment at the time of publishing. 

(Photo: Teodorin Nguema Obiang. Credit: Getty Images)

Sao Paulo declares state of emergency

burning car and rioters
AFP

The mayor of Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, has declared a state of emergency because of fuel shortages caused by a truck drivers' protest, which is now on its fifth consecutive day.

The drivers have blocked many main roads across the country, in protest against the high price of diesel. They're demanding that the government scrap a fuel tax.

Long queues have formed outside petrol stations, shelves are empty in many supermarkets, several airports have run out of fuel and workers have been told to stay at home.

Late on Thursday, the Brazilian government announced it had reached a deal to suspend the strike, but the haulage companies later denied this.

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