Briefly

BRAZIL

34 die in mudslides near Rio de Janeiro

At least 34 people died in mudslides and floods when torrential rains swept a mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, as searchers check damaged areas on Wednesday. The state fire department said late on Tuesday that more than 180 soldiers were already working in the stricken Petropolis region, which saw hundreds of deaths from heavy rainfall in 2011. The department said the area got 25.8 centimeters of rain within three hours on Tuesday－almost as much as during the previous 30 days combined. Footage posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides and water swirling through Petropolis city and neighboring districts.

CANADA

Ottawa's police chief ousted for inaction

Ottawa's police chief was ousted on Tuesday amid criticism of his inaction against the trucker protests that have paralyzed Canada's capital for over two weeks. Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly lost his job after failing to move decisively against the bumper-to-bumper demonstration by hundreds of truck drivers. The protests by the "Freedom Convoy" have infuriated many residents, who have complained of being harassed and intimidated on the streets. Ottawa's police board said 360 vehicles remain involved in the blockade in the city's core, down from a high of roughly 4,000.

Agencies Via Xinhua