The Rio Times

Rio Reassures Public as Police Plan Strike

Sarah de Sainte Croix — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:06:21 +0000

By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Following a week of police strikes and soaring crime rates in the northeastern state Bahia, Rio de Janeiro’s State Governor, Sergio Cabral, has been seeking to reassure citizens that the same thing will not occur in Rio. He announced on Monday, “Carnival [...]

CREA: Rio Building Standards Review

Ben Tavener — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:05:39 +0000

By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After the collapse of three buildings in downtown Rio de Janeiro in late January left at least seventeen people dead, new concerns about the condition of high-rise residential and office blocks are being raised. Now questions are being asked of CREA (the Regional Council [...]

Carnival Rehearsals at Sambódromo

Fiona Hurrell — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:04:56 +0000

By Fiona Hurrell, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As Carnival approaches, each samba school in the Grupo Especial (Special Group) is given the opportunity to rehearse their parade on the avenue of the Sambódromo, the grounds of the world-renowned competition. Not only does this allow valuable practice time for the performers, it also [...]

Finance Ministry Manages Denucci Scandal

Contributing Reporter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:04:44 +0000

By Luke Milner, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Saturday January 28th, Guido Mantega, the Brazilian Finance Minister, reportedly dismissed Luiz Felipe Denucci Martins, the Head of Casa da Moeda do Brasil (the Brazilian Mint), following accusations that Denucci was receiving bribes and depositing them in off-shore bank accounts. According to Folha de [...]

Rio Music Conference 2012 Arrives

Laura Madden — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:03:30 +0000

By Laura Madden, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Although the name invokes images of men in suits with briefcases, the Rio Music Conference (RMC) is the antithesis of a typical business meeting. With over sixty attractions including acts from the top names of the digital music world on two stages over the course [...]

Brazil Strives for Economic Equality

Sarah de Sainte Croix — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:03:13 +0000

By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As Brazil’s economy has boomed its poverty rates have halved over the last two decades according to some reports. The socialist policies of the current and previous governments have been credited with lifting 28 million people out of extreme poverty and allowing [...]

Jaguar Land Rover to Open Factory in Brazil

Laura Madden — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:02:11 +0000

By Laura Madden, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After months of speculation, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) CEO Ralph Speth in January confirmed plans to build a factory in Brazil. This, just after the sixth largest economy in the world announced that its automotive industry beat its own sales record for the fifth year [...]

Paraguay Landless and Brazilians Clash

Ben Tavener — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:01:13 +0000

By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter ÑACUNDAY, PARAGUAY – Tensions have reached boiling point in a landownership dispute between landless Paraguayans and Brazilian-born farmers, known locally as “Brasiguayos”, who operate farmland in the agricultural community of Ñacunday in the Alto Paraná department of eastern Paraguay. Those seeking the “foreign” farmers’ eviction believe the land is being illegally occupied [...]

First Classico Ends in Stalemate

Robbie Blakeley — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:57 +0000

By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The first Carioca Taça Guanabara classico of 2012 ended goalless on Sunday evening as Botafogo and Flamengo clashed at the Engenhão in a result that saw both sides leave the qualification places at the top of Group A. Botafogo have now gone three games [...]

Vidigal Guesthouses Thrive After UPP

Contributing Reporter — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:13 +0000

By Nathan M. Walters, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Prior to the pacification of Vidigal in November 2011, a visit to the favela was usually only made by adventure travelers, or those who had friends to escort them. The idea of a foreigner owning real estate and starting a business in the area [...]