Rio de Janeiro | GlobalPost

One killed in Brazil giant fuel depot blaze

Agence France-PresseMay 23, 2013 21:31

One person was killed in a spectacular fire that broke out in a fuel depot on the northern edge of Rio de Janeiro and spread to nearby homes, officials said. Six giant fuel containers at the storage site caught fire, sending giant flames up to 50 meters (165 feet) leaping into the air and columns of thick smoke far into the sky that could be seen miles away. The victim was a 43 year-old man who worked at the site, owned by Petrogold fuel distributors. He was rushed to the hospital with 90 percent of his body burned but died soon after, local media reported.

1 Dead in fuel tank fire in Rio de Janeiro

Agencia EFEMay 23, 2013 20:31

Rio de Janeiro, May 23 (EFE).- One person died and seven other were injured when a huge fire destroyed at least six large fuel storage tanks outside Rio de Janeiro, local government sources said. The fire broke out in the storage area of fuel and lubricant distributor Petrogold in Duque de Caxias, a municipality in the Rio metropolitan area, and it took firefighters four hours to bring it under control. The Duque de Caxias city hall confirmed the death of one of the storage center's workers and the fact that seven others had been admitted to Adao Pereira Nunes Hospital.

Brazil to hold 1st pre-salt auction in October

Agencia EFEMay 23, 2013 17:33

Rio de Janeiro, May 23 (EFE).- Brazil's first auction of contracts to develop offshore oil and gas reserves in the pre-salt region will be held in October, or earlier than previously scheduled, the government said Thursday. The government's National Council for Energy Policy authorized the change. Rights to develop blocks in the Libra field, which is estimated to hold between 8-12 billion barrels of recoverable oil, will be on offer in the first bidding round. Brazil currently has 14 billion barrels of proven reserves.

Judge suspends Brazil stadium privatization

Agencia EFEMay 11, 2013 15:45

Rio de Janeiro, May 11 (EFE).- A Brazilian judge has suspended the decision to grant a concession for the Maracana stadium to a private consortium headed by Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht, judiciary officials said. Rio de Janeiro state Judge Gisele de Faria on Friday granted a request for an injunction filed by the autonomous Public Prosecutor's Office of Brazil, or MP, which argued that the Rio state government should not be allowed to sign any concession-related contract until Brazil's courts can rule on the lawfulness of the process.

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

Thomson ReutersMay 10, 2013 20:45

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.

Petrobras makes discovery of crude in pre-salt layer

Agencia EFEMay 8, 2013 22:16

Rio de Janeiro, May 8 (EFE).- Oil giant Petrobras said it found "good quality" crude in an exploration well in Brazil's deepwater Santos basin. The Entorno de Iara well is 235 kilometers (146 miles) off the coast of the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro in the pre-salt layer, Petrobras said. The pre-salt layer is found beneath the sea bottom and contains a gel-like deposit of salt that could be up to two kilometers (1.24 miles) deep.

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

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:59

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.

Fashion Rio puts the focus on the Andalusian woman

Agencia EFEApril 16, 2013 10:31

Rio de Janeiro, Apr 16 (EFE).- The first night of Fashion Rio put the spotlight on the Andalusian woman, focusing on the sobriety and sensuality of the women from the Spanish region. Fashion Rio, one of Brazil's largest fashion industry fairs, used Monday night's show by Filhas de Gaia, a brand created by designers Renata Salles and Marcela Calmon, to unveil fashions for the next Southern Hemisphere summer inspired by the sophisticated women and heat of Andalusia, while avoiding cliches.

Fashion Rio gives designers opportunity to showcase new winter offerings

Agencia EFEApril 15, 2013 10:46

Rio de Janeiro, Apr 15 (EFE).- Fashion Rio, one of Brazil's largest fashion industry fairs, opens Monday and will showcase new offerings for the Southern Hemisphere winter. The event, which ends on Friday, will feature the work of 25 fashion houses, taking visitors to the Marina da Gloria on a tour of the world. Organizers will also hand out the Rio Moda Hype prize to draw attention to new talents. The tropical jungle is one of the themes chosen by designers, such as Alessa (Migani) and Äuslander, for this year's show.