 The number of fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has gone up by more than 60% in the first six months of the year, reaching its worst level in two decades. Brazil's space agency has reported 13,500 fires. The environment minister says most of the fires have been initiated by farmers clearing the land for agriculture. Political parties in France will today pick their candidates for this Sunday's run-off elections amid frantic efforts to block the far-right national rally from winning an overall majority.