Feb 18, 2012

U.S. Visa Wait Shrinks for Brazilians

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – The wait for a visa to visit the United States is getting shorter at the American consulate in Sao Paulo. A month after President Barack Obama announced that Brazilian tourists would find it easier to get a visa, the wait time at the consulate has shrunk considerably.

Blank United States of America visitors visa

U.S. Tourist Visa (Image: hostelbookers.com)

Video: São Laurenço Pajama Party

Brazil News

| BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – On Friday night, Carnaval drew crowds to the streets of several cities in Minas Gerais state. For example, in the colonial city of São Laurenço, the traditional Pajama Block Party drew about 20 thousand – mostly young clad only in sleepwear – into the streets to celebrate, dancing the night way.

São Lourenço, Minas Gerais Carnaval Pyjama Party in the streets draws crowds of scantily-clad teenagers

São Lourenço Pajama Party (Photo: G1 MG)

Man Swallows Fork While Scratching Itch

Brazil News

| CURITIBA, Brazil – A man in northern Parana swallowed a fork during a meal on Thursday afternoon. Doctors at Santa Casa Hospital, in Bandeirantes, successfully performed surgery to remove the fork. Doctors say the patient, 50, is under observation but doing fine in semi-intensive care.

X-ray of man who swallowed fork while scratching an itchy throat caused by chronic hiccups

Swallowed Fork X-ray (Photo: RPC TV/G1 PA)

Feb 17, 2012

Sao Paulo Bound Flight Returns to Paris

Brazil News

| PARIS – An Air France flight that departed Paris on Thursday, bound for Sao Paulo, made an emergency landing. The flight returned to Charles de Gaulle airport after a fire-detection system alarm sounded.

Air France flight AF456 from Paris to Sao Paulo dumped fuel at sea and returned to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris to make an emergency landing

Paris/Sao Paulo AF456 (Image: neonflights.com)

Tokyo: Husband of U.S. Diplomat Recognized

Brazil News

| TOKYO – Japan has granted diplomatic status to the gay Brazilian husband of an American diplomat. Although Japan does not recognize homosexual marriage, in an unprecedented case, Tokyo has given a diplomatic visa to Emerson Kanegusuke, 39, the husband of the United States Consul General for Osaka-Kobe, Patrick Joseph Linehan, 59.

American diplomat Patrick Joseph Linehan and Brazilian husband Emerson Kanegusuke. Kanegusuke given diplomatic recognition by Japan

Patrick Linehan and Emerson Kanegusuke (Photo: Personal Archive/BBC Brazil)

Feb 16, 2012

Bob Dylan Touring Brazil in April 2012

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – On Thursday, Time for Fun productions announced the schedule for Bob Dylan's 2012 Brazilian tour. The American singer will perform at six shows across Brazil during the month of April.

American rocker Bob Dylan will tour Brazil in April 2012, performing in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia and Porto Alegre

Bob Dylan Brazil 2012 Tour (Photo: G1 Pop & Art)

Feb 15, 2012

New Laws Regulate Physician's Speech

Brazil News

| BRASILIA – New regulations go into effect today in Brazil that restrict the ways doctors may communicate with their patients. The resolution of the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) was published in the Official Gazette (Diário Oficialda da União) on August 19th, 2011 and take force 180 days later.

Brazil's Official Gazette

Official Gazette of Brazil (Image: resumodicas.blogspot.com)

Brazilian City Accommodates the Obese

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – A city in the state of Sao Paulo approved a law that will make it easier for obese people to board buses. People with a certificate from a medical doctor stating that they are obese will be able to bypass turnstiles to get on public transportation throughout the city of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste.

Accommodations didn't have to be made for Garriela Pezzo, apparently.

Gabriela Pezzo is unaffected by the new law (Photo: terra.com.br)

Video: 60 SP Restaurant Patrons Robbed

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – A video showing 60 restaurant patrons being robbed in Sao Paulo was made public Wednesday. Civil Police released the video hoping somebody might recognize the assailants who forced the diners to the floor and robbed them.

Pinheiros SP Restaurant Robbery (Video G1 SP)

Feb 14, 2012

Thai Woman Arrested Carrying Cocaine

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – Civil Police arrested a Thai woman, 28, on Monday as she made her way to the Sao Paulo Int'l Airport to board a flight to Turkey. Police say the woman, who speaks no Portuguese, was carrying about one kilo of pure cocaine hidden in disposable diapers.

Civil Police in Sao Paulo arrested a 28-year-old Thai woman carrying one kilo of pure cocaine as she was traveling by taxi to the city's international airport to board a flight to Turkey

Sao Paulo Civil Police (Photo: www2.policiacivil.sp.gov.br)

Video: Hugh Hefner Honored at Carnaval

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – Hugh Hefner, founder of “Playboy” magazine will be guest of honor in the Devassa Beer skybox at this year's Carnaval in Rio. Despite his reputation as a connoisseur of beautiful women, this will reportedly be Hefner's first visit to Brazil.

Hugh Hefner, 85, founder of Playboy magazine will be the guest of honor of Devassa Beer at the 2012 Rio de Janeiro Carnaval

Hugh Hefner Toasts Devassa (Photo: clicrbs.com.br)

Feb 13, 2012

Video: Gays Pummeled at Rio's Airport

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – A gay couple was viciously attacked by two pirate taxi drivers outside the Rio de Janeiro International Airport on Monday. Images of the attack were captured by the airport's surveillance cameras.

Gay Couple Attacked in Rio (Video G1 RJ)

UK Man Arrested with 2 Kilos Cocaine

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – An Englishman was arrested yesterday afternoon in Bom Retiro, Sao Paulo, on suspicion of international drug trafficking.

Brazil Federal Police emblem

Policia Federal Brasileiro (Photo: wikimedia.org)

Beer Bribery Case Gets Man Two Years

Brazil News |

CURITIBA, Brazil – A judge in southwestern Parana sentenced a man to two years for trying to bribe police with six bottles of beer. Police responded to the man's home when his daughters called to report that he was threatening his wife with violence.

Man sentenced to two years imprisonment for trying to bribe police with six bottles of beer.

Skol Beer Rio de Janeiro (Photo: cabecadecuia.com)

Video: Men Blasting Open Gas Station ATM

Brazil News |

SAO PAULO – Security cameras recorded a gang of men blowing up an ATM in the early hours of Saturday, in the interior of Sao Paulo state. Two men were arrested right after the blast which completely destroyed the cash machine, which was located in a gas station.

Men Explode ATM at Gas Station (Video G1 Ribeirão e Franca)

Feb 12, 2012

Austrian Woman Dies at Casa Dom Inacio

Brazil News |

GOIANIA, Brazil – Police in Abadiania, 85 km (53 mi) from Goiania, opened an inquiry into the death of an 80-year-old Austrian woman. She died last Thursday at Casa Dom Inacio, a world-renowned religious center for spiritual healing run by medium João de Deus.

An 80 year old Austrian woman dies at Joao de Deus' Casa Dom Inacio

ID of Dead Austrian (Photo: contrapontomaraba.blogspot.com)

Second Brazilian Warship to Lebanon

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – On Tuesday, a new contingent of Brazilian military will depart to serve the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). On the 25th, Rear Admiral Wagner Lopes de Moraes Zamith assumes command of the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of UNIFIL. In April, the Brazilian Navy Frigate Liberal departs for Beirut with 270 men aboard.

Brazilian Navy Frigate 'Liberal' to be Deployed to Lebanon as part of UNIFIL mission

Brazilian Navy Frigate Liberal F-43 (Photo: G. Wiltgen/naval.com.br)