Natural History Museum Will Not Host Gala for Brazil’s President

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has said it will not now host an event at which Brazil's leader Jair Bolsonaro was due to be honoured.

The museum drew heavy criticism for agreeing to host a ceremony at which Mr Bolsonaro, who has advocated relaxing environmental policies, was scheduled to receive a person of the year award.

Museum officials said the event would now be held at a different location.

They said that the museum in New York was "not the optimal location".

How did this row erupt?

The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit non-governmental organisation that promotes trade, investment and cultural ties between the two countries, hired the museum's Hall of Ocean Life for its annual gala to be held on 14 May.

At the annual event, the chamber gives out its person of the year awards. This year one of those prizes is going to Mr Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil's president on 1 January.