Dec 17, 2011

Florianopolis Beachgoers Out in Force

Brazil News

| FLORIANOPOLIS, Santa Catarina – The last weekend of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere began with temperatures of 32º C (90º F.) and beaches crowded with beauties in Floripa. On Saturday, the heat was intense beginning in the early hours and by 10 am had reached its high for the day.

Young women walk and talk on the sand of a Florianopolis beach Saturday 17 December 2011

Beautiful Women on Florianopolis Beach (Photo: Fabrício Escandiuzzi/Specially for Terra.com.br)

It's a White Christmas in...Brazil?

Brazil News

| PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – A hail storm on Thursday, hit several cities in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, leaving them in a state of emergency. According to the Civil Defense authorities, the situation was most dire in Sao Geronimo, where 12,000 people were affected.

Brazil: Hail hits several cities in Rio Grande do Sul, 15 December 2011

White Christmas Brazil (photo: terra.com.br)

Policeman Killed Peeing on Roadside

Brazil News

| BRASILIA – A sergeant of the Federal District Military Police (PMDF) was hit by a car and killed this morning in Vicente Pires, 17 km (10 miles) from the capital. Police said the officer, 32, who was traveling in a van with a friend when they stopped the vehicle on the roadside to urinate, was struck by a car and killed.

Federal Police Distrito Federal Brasilia insignia

PMDF (image: pilotopolicial.com.br)

Dec 16, 2011

Rhea Dies After Swallowing Padlock

Brazil News

| BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – A rhea at the Municipal Zoo of Uberlandia died Friday morning, after undergoing surgery to remove a 6 cm (2 ¼") padlock it had swallowed. The large flightless bird, resembling an ostrich but smaller, took advantage of its keeper's inattention and swallowed the lock, which was hanging on its cage.

X-ray showing padlock swallowed by a Rhea at a zoo in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil 16 December 2011

Rhea Swallowed Padlock (image: Correio de Uberlandia)

Dec 15, 2011

Brazilians Fear War over Amazon

Brazil News

| BRASILIA – A survey released on Thursday says that half of Brazilians believe the country will be the target of foreign aggression in the next 20 years. The study, done by the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), shows that 50% believe “totally” or “very” likely that Brazil will be attacked militarily because of concerns about the Amazon. Another 45% believe that Brazil could be attacked because of the pre-salt oil basins.

Amazon – one of the Seven New Wonders of the World – and a souce of fear for Brazilians who believe foreign military attack over their stewardship is very or totally likely

Amazon (photo: new7wonders.com)

Suspect Arrested in Murder of Finns

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – A suspect in the triple-homicide involving victims from Finland, arrested Wednesday in Sao Paulo, will be returned to Paraiba to face justice. The 58-year-old mechanic, who was named as a suspected accomplice in the gruesome crime, will be sent back to Paraiba today and is expected to arrive by Monday.

Suspect in murder of three Finns in Paraiba a few weeks ago is arrested in Sao Paulo

Suspect in triple murder (photo: G1 Paraiba)

$87,000 Cash Found in Airbag Well

Brazil News

| FLORIANOPOLIS, Santa Catarina – Before dawn Thursday, Federal Highway Police (PRF) found U.S. $87,000 in cash hidden in a space meant for a car airbag. The cash was seized and the occupants of the vehicle were arrested.

Couple with $87,000 hidded in car's airbag were bused by police in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina

$87,000 U.S. dollars cash seized(photo: clicrbs.com.br/PRF Release)

Brazil Cracks Down Hard on Smoking

Brazil News

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Brazilian government has taken historic action to protect the health of the nation's more than 190 million citizens by enacting a comprehensive tobacco control law. Signed by President Dilma Rousseff today, the new law will make Brazil the largest country in the world to go completely smoke-free, adding momentum to a movement sweeping across Latin America to protect citizens from the deadly toll of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

Beautiful woman smoking

Beautiful woman smoking (photo: cigarettesdigest.com)

Read the full article at PRNEWSWIRE

Dec 14, 2011

Brazil to Open Diplomatic Office in Palestine

Brazil News

| DUBAI, UAE - Brazil's Foreign Ministry plans to open a diplomatic office in the West Bank city of Ramallah in preparation for the possible creation of a Palestinian state, reported The Gulf News.

Clock Square, Ramallah, Palestine

Clock Square, Ramallah, Palestine (photo: palestineremembered.com)

Read the complete article at The Gulf News

Rio's Guanabara Palace Reopened

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – After going through a meticulous restoration, Guanabara Palace – once the seat of state government – will be reopened to visitors on Thursday. The monument, located in the Laranjeiras neighborhood, was completely made over, including electrical, plumbing, lighting and art. The restoration cost R$19.2 million reals ($10.2 million USD).

Guanabara Palace in Rio de Janeiro reopens to the public after restoration

Guanabara Palace (photo: terra.com.br/Government of Rio de Janeiro Press Release)

Brazil Supported Chile's Pinochet

Brazil News

| SANTIAGO - Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo published a report on Monday revealing a series of 266 telegrams from the Brazilian embassy in Santiago that unveiled strong economic and diplomatic ties between the nations’ military regimes in the early 1970s.

Read the complete article at The Santiago Times

Augosto Pinochet (photo: wikipedia)

Dec 13, 2011

Biker Cited for Not Wearing Seatbelt

Brazil News

| CAMPO GRANDE, Brazil – A 20-year-old man has appealed a R$127 ($68 USD) citation he received for not wearing a seat belt while riding a motorcycle. The ticket, which was dated 30 November, was issued in the state capital, Campo Grande.

A motorcycle rider in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul was cited for not wearing a seatbelt

Biker cited for not wearing seatbelt (photo: Felipe Moura/G1 MS)

Woman Accused of Bank Fraud

Brazil News

| GOIANIA, Brazil – A 27-year-old woman was arrested in the capital on Saturday, suspected of helping defraud banks of up to R$1 million (about $537,000 USD). According the the Military Police (PM), she is suspected of belonging to a gang that put up “chupa-cabra” devices at bank ATMs.

A 27-year-old woman arrested for bank fraud in Goiania, Goias on Monday

Young woman suspect (photo: TV Anhaguera)

Most Undignified Death of December 2011

Brazil News

| BELEM, Brazil – A 49-year-old man suffered a heart attack and died in a porno theater in the Nazarene neighborhood of Belem, Para, in northeastern Brazil on Sunday afternoon.

Italian porn actress Cicciolina. A man in Belem Brazil suffered a heart attack and died in a porn theater while watching one of her films

Cicciolina (photo: vejaariquemes.com.br)

Police Seize Half Million in Cash

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – Police on Monday seized almost a half million in cash found in false compartments in the cab of a truck in Barretos, in the interior of the state. Police arrested the driver on the spot and later were able to identify and detain the man who was to receive the cash.

R$464,000 in cash seized from a truck driver in Barretos, Sao Paulo on Monday, 12 December 2011

R$464,000 in Cash (photo: G1 Sao Paulo)

Dec 12, 2011

Two Busted with Cocaine at Rio's Airport

Brazil News

| RIO DE JANEIRO – An Angolan man, about 40 years old, was arrested on Sunday evening trying to board a flight to Luanda, Angola with cocaine hidden inside 357 sandals. Also arrested trying to board the same flight, departing from Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio, was a Tanzanian man carrying 61 capsules of cocaine hidden on his body.

In this photo, Federal Police in Sao Paulo show sandals seized from another Angolan in that city trying to board a flight to Africa in October 2011.

Sandals loaded with Cocaine seized in October 2011 bust in Sao Paulo (photo: G1 Sao Paulo)

Nude Woman Thrown From Moving Car

Brazil News

| JOAO PESSOA, Brazil – A woman was stabbed and thrown nude from a moving car early Monday morning in Joao Pessoa, according to the Civil Police (PC). Rescue workers said she was found naked and with various injuries.

Suspected of throwing his nude wife out of his automobile on Avenida Rui Cameiro in Joao Pessoa on Monday, 12 December 2011 after nasty breakup, man crashes his vehicle and flees.

Crashed after throwing nude wife from car (photo: Walter Paparazzo/G1 Paraiba)

Sao Paulo Releases Tourism App

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – The City of Sao Paulo's tourism agency (SPTuris) released last week the SP Mobile app for tablets and smartphones. The app offers tips on tourism and culture in the capital. The electronic guide has tips for city hotels, restaurants and other useful information such as phone numbers, services, public transportation routes and maps.

City of Sao Paulo releases app for smartphones and tablets on Monday, 12 December 2011

Sao Paulo App (photo: G1 Sao Paulo)

Feds Seize 648 Kilos Marijuana

Brazil News

| SAO PAULO – The Federal Police (PF) seized 648 kilos of marijuana and made five arrests early Monday morning in Osasco, Sao Paulo. According to the PF, the drugs were discovered in a cargo truck.

Over 600 kilos of marijuana seized by federal narcotics police in Ososco, Sao Paulo, Brazil on Monday 12 December 2011

600 Kilos Pot (photo: Military Police/G1 Sao Paulo/Reuters)

Dec 11, 2011

Consul's Wife Accused of Assault

Brazil News

| BELO HORIZONTE, Minas Gerais – The wife of the Honorary Consul of Honduras was accused by neighbors of assaulting a homeless man on Saturday night. According to the police, the woman, identified as Marilia, 51, has for sometime been bothered by the presence of a man who made himself at home in front of her building, located in the Funcionarios neighborhood of the capital.

Police talk to neighbors after savage attack on homeless stroke victim by wife of Honduras' Honorary Consul in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Police investigate attack. (photo: Toninho Almada via Hoje em Dia)