Brazil space institute director sacked in Amazon deforestation row

Far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro calls satellite data showing rise in deforestation 'lies'

The director of Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE) has been sacked in the midst of a controversy over its satellite data showing a rise in Amazon deforestation, which the far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, has called "lies".

Ricardo Galvio, who had defended the institute and criticised Bolsonaro's attack, was dismissed on Friday after a meeting with the science and technology minister, Marcos Pontes.