A seven-year-old girl was named drum corps queen of one of Rio's top samba schools, a highly coveted Carnival role usually reserved for adults. Child protection agencies are outraged.
Another world is possible: that’s the slogan of the World Social Forum. Sure, but what world? In the streets of Porto Alegre, between union demands, political struggles and national grievances, it’s tough to find a unifying, common message. Last December's climate summit in Copenhagen has given the activists an idea: some think the popular theme of saving the planet could unify the diverse campaigns.
An international summit gets underway in Montreal today, with aim to search for ways to rebuild Haiti in the wake of this months earthquake. The United States, France and Brazil are among the many countries attending the meeting, which will also be joined by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union.
Today on the Net: Brazilian Web users point the finger at the Governor of Brasilia in a corruption scandal; the first lady of Northern Ireland’s extra marital affair shakes the blogosphere; and two students transform a Christmas tree into a rocket.
This week in the Americas: Obama hits out at the CIA's security "screwup", a mudslide in Brazil leaves more than 70 dead, new controversy around the Dakar rally in Argentina as a female spectator is killed, and a new US theme park that's all about... Jesus Christ.
The mayor of a southern Brazilian town hit by landslides that have killed at least 68 people across the state of Rio de Janeiro says two neighbouring nuclear plants may be temporarily shut as a precaution.
Mudslides and flooding have killed scores of people in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state. Authorities have said that the death toll could climb with more heavy rains in the forecast.
At least 18 people have died in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state after 24 hours of heavy rains caused flooding and landslides, the country's civil protection service reported Thursday.
President Lula da Silva has implemented several social programmes which have helped the country to come out of the economic crisis reasonably well. Presidential elections are now just a few months away - is this perhaps an re-election strategy ?
