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Brazil probes rumor that set off panic run on state bank

May 21, 2013 02:15
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday she ordered the Federal Police to investigate the source of a rumor that sent thousands of poor Brazilians running to state bank branches seeking payment of a monthly family stipend. A rumor that payments of the Bolsa Familia program would be ended led crowds to line up over the weekend at branches of the Caixa Economica Federal government bank to get their money. The rumor spread by word of mouth and cellphone text messages.

Florida law on Cuba contracts loses another round in court

Agencia EFEMay 7, 2013 13:08
Miami, May 7 (EFE).- A federal appellate court upheld a U.S. district judge's decision to block a Florida law that barred companies doing business in Cuba and Syria from bidding on government contracts in the state. The company that sued to stop the law, Florida-based Odebrecht Construction Inc., said it was "gratified" by the ruling. The firm is a subsidiary of Brazilian giant Odebrecht, which has another unit working on the expansion of the Cuban port of Mariel.

Pope to visit Brazil slum, meet prisoners, on first trip

May 7, 2013 10:59
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis will visit the poor in a favela and meet young prisoners when he travels to Brazil on his first international trip as pontiff in July, the Vatican said on Tuesday. Francis, who has said he wants to make concern for the poor a hallmark of his papacy, will visit the Manguinhos slum in Rio de Janeiro on the fourth day of his July 22-29 trip to the world's largest Catholic country.

Violent youth crimes in Brazil spark debate over sentencing of minors

Agencia EFEMay 1, 2013 17:45
Brasilia, May 1 (EFE).- A series of horrific crimes attributed to minors has touched off a debate in Brazil about the age at which young offenders should be allowed to be charged as adults, with those demanding tougher sentences for youth convicts pitted against humanitarian groups and the federal government. In the latest shocking crime, a female dentist was burned alive by a 17-year-old robber after he only found 30 reais ($15) in her possession.

Brazil moves to pacify Rio slums ahead of papal visit

Agencia EFEApril 29, 2013 14:45
Rio de Janeiro, Apr 29 (EFE).- More than 400 police were deployed Monday in three shantytowns on the slopes of Corcovado two months before Pope Francis is due to visit Brazil, authorities in Rio de Janeiro said. The officers entered the three slums before dawn and needed only 30 minutes to establish control without firing a shot, Rio state police commanders said.

Brazil police sentenced for prison 'massacre'

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 13:15
Twenty-three Brazilian police were sentenced to 156 years in jail each on Sunday for their role in the killing of 111 inmates in 1992 during Brazil's deadliest-ever prison uprising. The policemen, most of them now retired, were accused of killing 15 prisoners in Sao Paulo's Carandiru prison during the operation to quell the revolt on October 2, 1992, which came to be known as the "Carandiru massacre."

Brazil police sentenced for prison 'massacre'

Agence France-PresseApril 21, 2013 09:30
Twenty-three Brazilian police officers were sentenced to 156 years in jail each on Sunday for their role in the killing of 111 inmates during Brazil's deadliest prison uprising in 1992. The 23 were among 26 military officers on trial before the Sao Paulo state tribunal. The three others were cleared. The officers, most of them now retired, were accused of killing 15 prisoners in Sao Paulo's Carandiru prison during the operation to quell the revolt on October 2, 1992, which came to be known as the "Carandiru massacre."

Brazil vows top security for pope visit, sports events

April 16, 2013 13:46
Brazil will take all necessary measures to ensure security during the upcoming papal visit and major sporting events, Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said Tuesday following the Boston bombings. "Brazil is taking all necessary precautions and we are confident that the security of these events will be ensured," he said in response to questions in the wake of Monday's deadly attacks near the Boston Marathon finish line.

Lula is subject of corruption probe, Brazilian police say

April 12, 2013 16:30
Brasilia, Apr 12 (EFE).- The Brazilian Federal Police confirmed Friday that it has opened a new investigation of ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's possible involvement in corruption. The probe began with a plea made 10 days ago by prosecutors and specifically refers to Lula's alleged efforts to secure campaign contributions from Portugal Telecom.

Brazil police launch probe of ex-leader Lula

April 12, 2013 13:16
Brazilian police said Friday they have launched an investigation into whether popular ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had a role in a congressional vote-buying scandal. "A police investigation was opened at the request of the prosecutor's office in Brasilia. It will be carried out by the financial crime unit," a police spokesman told AFP. The probe is expected to last 30 days. Federal prosecutors want to know whether Lula was aware of the vote-buying scheme put in place by his Workers Party (PT) from 2003 to 2005 during his first term in office.
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