It was a hair-raising day for Louis Smith at the Rio Olympics on Saturday. 
 
But rather than his fluid movements over the pommel horse providing the excitement during men&#39;s qualifying, it was the hair tied up on top of his head. 
 
&quot;People are calling it a man bun. I don&#39;t call it anything, I just tie it up,&quot; grinned the British showman whose toned back is covered with tattoos of two angels and a message for his late grandmother. 
 
&quot;I was growing it and I hadn&#39;t put any hair spray in it for training so it was flopping around everywhere. I went to one of the girls in training and asked for a hairband and I just tied it up. 
 
&quot;I caught myself in a mirror and thought, &#39;It looks all right,&#39; so I&#39;ve just been doing this every day as it&#39;s so convenient.&quot; 
 
The man who waltzed to victory in Britain&#39;s version of &#39;Dancing with the Stars&#39; after claiming a silver medal at the 2012 London Games on his signature apparatus was happy with his new look as it saves time with his daily beauty regime. 
 
&quot;You get out of the shower, tie it up and it&#39;s done. Before I had to condition it, had to straighten it, had to hair spray it back,&quot; he added. 
 
&quot;I haven&#39;t seen anybody else with this hairstyle before and it&#39;s nice to be different.&quot; 
 
For the record, he was heading for another pommel horse showdown with world champion Max Whitlock after the British duo topped the provisional standings in the apparatus. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

'People are calling it a man bun. I don't call it anything, I just tie it up,' grinned the British showman

It was a hair-raising day for Louis Smith at the Rio Olympics on Saturday. But rather than his fluid movements over the pommel horse providing the excitement during men's qualifying, it was the hair tied up on top of his head. "People are calling it a man bun. I don't call it anything, I just tie it up," grinned the British showman whose toned back is covered with tattoos of two angels and a message for his late grandmother. "I was growing it and I hadn't put any hair spray in it for training so it was flopping around everywhere. I went to one of the girls in training and asked for a hairband and I just tied it up. "I caught myself in a mirror and thought, 'It looks all right,' so I've just been doing this every day as it's so convenient." The man who waltzed to victory in Britain's version of 'Dancing with the Stars' after claiming a silver medal at the 2012 London Games on his signature apparatus was happy with his new look as it saves time with his daily beauty regime. "You get out of the shower, tie it up and it's done. Before I had to condition it, had to straighten it, had to hair spray it back," he added. "I haven't seen anybody else with this hairstyle before and it's nice to be different." For the record, he was heading for another pommel horse showdown with world champion Max Whitlock after the British duo topped the provisional standings in the apparatus. (Reuters)

Smith's 'man bun' grabs attention on pommel horse at Rio 2016

On debut day for Olympic boxing, fighters said they were happy to be competing at the first Games since 1980 without protective headgear, welcoming better peripheral vision even if it means more cuts and scrapes. 
 
After decades of debate, and some studies suggesting headgear did not make the sport safer, boxing governing body AIBA eliminated the equipment at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games. 
 
With a global audience at the Olympics, boxers said they were especially pleased to go - even if no headgear means more scratches and, sometimes, cuts. 
 
&quot;You feel unimpeded,&quot; said Juan Nogueira, a Brazilian heavyweight from S?o Paulo, the biggest city of the host country, whose fans erupted in cheers as he defeated Australian Jason Eric Whateley on Saturday. 
 
&quot;He is a really good opponent, a technical fighter, and I was happy to be able to see more,&quot; he added, echoing comments by other fighters that headgear limits a boxer&#39;s ability to see to the side. 
 
The prospect of cuts, and consequent stopping of matches because of safety concerns about blood, continues to be a sore subject. At the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Australian Daniel Lewis complained that he lost a medal because he was deemed unfit to compete because of a cut. 
 
Still, on Saturday most boxers said they were willing to take the risk. 
 
&quot;Yeah, you can feel the sting a little more, but it&#39;s worth it,&quot; said Misael Uziel Rodriguez, a Mexican middleweight who squares off against Iraq&#39;s Abdulridha Waheed on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

Boxing governing body AIBA removed headgears at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games

On debut day for Olympic boxing, fighters said they were happy to be competing at the first Games since 1980 without protective headgear, welcoming better peripheral vision even if it means more cuts and scrapes. After decades of debate, and some studies suggesting headgear did not make the sport safer, boxing governing body AIBA eliminated the equipment at events since 2013, including two world championships and one Commonwealth Games. With a global audience at the Olympics, boxers said they were especially pleased to go - even if no headgear means more scratches and, sometimes, cuts. "You feel unimpeded," said Juan Nogueira, a Brazilian heavyweight from S?o Paulo, the biggest city of the host country, whose fans erupted in cheers as he defeated Australian Jason Eric Whateley on Saturday. "He is a really good opponent, a technical fighter, and I was happy to be able to see more," he added, echoing comments by other fighters that headgear limits a boxer's ability to see to the side. The prospect of cuts, and consequent stopping of matches because of safety concerns about blood, continues to be a sore subject. At the Commonwealth Games in 2014, Australian Daniel Lewis complained that he lost a medal because he was deemed unfit to compete because of a cut. Still, on Saturday most boxers said they were willing to take the risk. "Yeah, you can feel the sting a little more, but it's worth it," said Misael Uziel Rodriguez, a Mexican middleweight who squares off against Iraq's Abdulridha Waheed on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Boxers scuffed up but happy sans headgear at Rio

Brazil&#39;s interim President Michel Temer asked Latin America&#39;s biggest construction tycoon, now in jail for his role in a massive corruption scheme, for millions of dollars in political donations, a report said Saturday. 
 
The report in Veja magazine quoted the former executive, Marcelo Odebrecht, saying that Temer asked him for &quot;financial support&quot; during a 2014 dinner with members of his centre-right PMDB party. 
 
Odebrecht said he donated 10 million Reais (about $3.156 million at current exchange rates) to the party, Veja reported. 
 
The information was quoted from a leaked portion of a plea deal that Odebrecht is negotiating with prosecutors from the huge corruption probe dubbed Operation Carwash, Veja said. 
 
Odebrecht has been jailed since last year for his role in the scheme in which his company and others paid bribes to the state oil giant Petrobras in exchange for inflated contracts. The scheme involved top politicians and some of Brazil&#39;s richest men. 
 
Odebrecht and other senior executives at his company have promised to give prosecutors the details of how they made illegal donations to politicians in the massive pay-to-play scheme. 
 
There was no evidence cited in the report that the donation allegedly given on Temer&#39;s request was a bribe. 
 
The report, however, was likely to stoke tensions in the capital Brasilia where Temer came to power in May after suspension of elected president Dilma Rousseff for a Senate impeachment trial. 
 
Rousseff looks set to be removed from office within weeks, with Temer staying on as president until 2018. 
 
Prosecutors and Temer&#39;s office could not be reached immediately for comment on the report. 
 
Veja quoted Temer&#39;s office as confirming the dinner and a discussion on &quot;financial aid from Odebrecht construction to the PMDB&#39;s electoral campaign in complete accordance with electoral legislation.&quot; 
 
Temer has not been accused in the Car Wash conspiracy, although many of his allies, including several ministers, have been. 
 
Many in Rousseff&#39;s Workers&#39; Party have also been accused of involvement in the embezzlement of Petrobras, including her mentor and predecessor in the presidency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Rousseff herself has not been accused of taking bribes. 
 
Rousseff however is accused of spending money without congressional approval and taking out unauthorized loans from state banks to make the national budget look better than it really was as she campaigned for re-election in 2014. 
 
(AFP)

Jailed construction magnet Marcelo Odebrecht says he donated $3 million to PMDB party in 2014, Veja magazine reported

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer asked Latin America's biggest construction tycoon, now in jail for his role in a massive corruption scheme, for millions of dollars in political donations, a report said Saturday. The report in Veja magazine quoted the former executive, Marcelo Odebrecht, saying that Temer asked him for "financial support" during a 2014 dinner with members of his centre-right PMDB party. Odebrecht said he donated 10 million Reais (about $3.156 million at current exchange rates) to the party, Veja reported. The information was quoted from a leaked portion of a plea deal that Odebrecht is negotiating with prosecutors from the huge corruption probe dubbed Operation Carwash, Veja said. Odebrecht has been jailed since last year for his role in the scheme in which his company and others paid bribes to the state oil giant Petrobras in exchange for inflated contracts. The scheme involved top politicians and some of Brazil's richest men. Odebrecht and other senior executives at his company have promised to give prosecutors the details of how they made illegal donations to politicians in the massive pay-to-play scheme. There was no evidence cited in the report that the donation allegedly given on Temer's request was a bribe. The report, however, was likely to stoke tensions in the capital Brasilia where Temer came to power in May after suspension of elected president Dilma Rousseff for a Senate impeachment trial. Rousseff looks set to be removed from office within weeks, with Temer staying on as president until 2018. Prosecutors and Temer's office could not be reached immediately for comment on the report. Veja quoted Temer's office as confirming the dinner and a discussion on "financial aid from Odebrecht construction to the PMDB's electoral campaign in complete accordance with electoral legislation." Temer has not been accused in the Car Wash conspiracy, although many of his allies, including several ministers, have been. Many in Rousseff's Workers' Party have also been accused of involvement in the embezzlement of Petrobras, including her mentor and predecessor in the presidency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Rousseff herself has not been accused of taking bribes. Rousseff however is accused of spending money without congressional approval and taking out unauthorized loans from state banks to make the national budget look better than it really was as she campaigned for re-election in 2014. (AFP)

Brazil's Temer asked Latin American tycoon for financial aid: Report

Restaurant-goers usually pay hundreds of Euros to eat the creations of Massimo Bottura, but he will be serving poor Brazilians for free at the Olympics. 
 
The 53-year-old Italian modernist chef owns Osteria Francescana in Modena, rated best in the world by Restaurant magazine this year. 
 
He is known for dishes such as &quot;An eel swimming up the Po River&quot;, or eel with polenta, Campanie apple jelly, burnt saba onion and charcoal salt. It will set you back 220 Euros at his restaurant, which has three Michelin stars. 
 
In Rio de Janeiro, Bottura will be serving up scraps, and his customers won&#39;t pay a cent. The idea is to tackle the twin social ills of waste and poverty with one creative, delicious project, set against the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro&#39;s lush landscapes amid the excitement of the Olympics. 
 
Bottura&#39;s ingredients will be garbage-bound surplus food donated by the catering companies at the Olympic park and athletes&#39; village. He and a team of celebrity chefs plan to use that to make some 5,000 meals for some of the most &quot;vulnerable&quot; people in Brazil, a country plagued by poverty and inequality. 
 
Their restaurant, called Refettorio Gastromotiva, will open Monday in the trendy Lapa neighborhood. The 108-seat restaurant is funded by corporate sponsors. Customers will be chosen by charities working in Rio&#39;s poorest neighbourhoods. 
 
Doing mom proud 
 
The restaurant was decorated by renowned Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, with furniture designed by the Campana brothers, icons of Brazilian design. It is the brainchild of Bottura, Brazilian chef and activist David Hertz and journalist Alexandra Forbes. 
 
&quot;I promised my mother I would use my fame to make invisible people visible. The time has come to give back to the world what it has given to me,&quot; said Bottura. 
 
&quot;We have an opportunity with this project, which is cultural, and not a charitable project, to fight wastefulness. If we change the way people think, we can help give birth to a new tradition,&quot; he told a press conference. 
 
His kitchen team will include French chefs Alain Ducasse and Claude Troisgros, Spain&#39;s Andoni Aduriz and Brazilians Alex Atala, Felipe Bronze, Roberta Sudbrack and Rafa Costa e Silva. They will take turns cooking, setting the menu based on the ingredients available, which will be surplus food, not leftovers. 
 
Rio city hall has granted them the site free of charge for 10 years. After the Olympics and Paralympics, Refettorio Gastromotiva will operate as a culinary institute as well as a regular restaurant. Patrons paying to eat there will also donate a meal to someone in need, under the motto &quot;buy lunch, give dinner,&quot; a spokeswoman said. 
 
Co-founder David Hertz, who runs a &quot;social gastronomy&quot; charity in Brazil called Gastromotiva, said the project is more about changing the way people think than feeding them. 
 
&quot;We had never worked with the issue of food waste before. That&#39;s a legacy we&#39;ll leave,&quot; he said. 
 
The project builds on a similar one, Refettorio Ambrosiano, that Bottura launched last year for the World&#39;s Fair in Milan. He is working on others in Los Angeles, New York and Montreal, to open next year. 
 
(AFP)

Customers pay ?220 for Bottura's signature dish, but in Rio they won't pay a cent. The cultural project aims to tackle ills of waste

Restaurant-goers usually pay hundreds of Euros to eat the creations of Massimo Bottura, but he will be serving poor Brazilians for free at the Olympics. The 53-year-old Italian modernist chef owns Osteria Francescana in Modena, rated best in the world by Restaurant magazine this year. He is known for dishes such as "An eel swimming up the Po River", or eel with polenta, Campanie apple jelly, burnt saba onion and charcoal salt. It will set you back 220 Euros at his restaurant, which has three Michelin stars. In Rio de Janeiro, Bottura will be serving up scraps, and his customers won't pay a cent. The idea is to tackle the twin social ills of waste and poverty with one creative, delicious project, set against the backdrop of Rio de Janeiro's lush landscapes amid the excitement of the Olympics. Bottura's ingredients will be garbage-bound surplus food donated by the catering companies at the Olympic park and athletes' village. He and a team of celebrity chefs plan to use that to make some 5,000 meals for some of the most "vulnerable" people in Brazil, a country plagued by poverty and inequality. Their restaurant, called Refettorio Gastromotiva, will open Monday in the trendy Lapa neighborhood. The 108-seat restaurant is funded by corporate sponsors. Customers will be chosen by charities working in Rio's poorest neighbourhoods. Doing mom proud The restaurant was decorated by renowned Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, with furniture designed by the Campana brothers, icons of Brazilian design. It is the brainchild of Bottura, Brazilian chef and activist David Hertz and journalist Alexandra Forbes. "I promised my mother I would use my fame to make invisible people visible. The time has come to give back to the world what it has given to me," said Bottura. "We have an opportunity with this project, which is cultural, and not a charitable project, to fight wastefulness. If we change the way people think, we can help give birth to a new tradition," he told a press conference. His kitchen team will include French chefs Alain Ducasse and Claude Troisgros, Spain's Andoni Aduriz and Brazilians Alex Atala, Felipe Bronze, Roberta Sudbrack and Rafa Costa e Silva. They will take turns cooking, setting the menu based on the ingredients available, which will be surplus food, not leftovers. Rio city hall has granted them the site free of charge for 10 years. After the Olympics and Paralympics, Refettorio Gastromotiva will operate as a culinary institute as well as a regular restaurant. Patrons paying to eat there will also donate a meal to someone in need, under the motto "buy lunch, give dinner," a spokeswoman said. Co-founder David Hertz, who runs a "social gastronomy" charity in Brazil called Gastromotiva, said the project is more about changing the way people think than feeding them. "We had never worked with the issue of food waste before. That's a legacy we'll leave," he said. The project builds on a similar one, Refettorio Ambrosiano, that Bottura launched last year for the World's Fair in Milan. He is working on others in Los Angeles, New York and Montreal, to open next year. (AFP)

Michelin chef gives Brazil's poor a taste of the high life

Corinthians manager Tite has accepted an offer to coach Brazil but his appointment was met with fury at his former club, who have accused the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) of underhand tactics and unethical behaviour. 
 
Tite, who led Corinthians to two Serie A titles, the Copa Libertadores and the World Club Cup, will replace Dunga, who was fired on Tuesday after Brazil were knocked out of the Copa America at the group stage for the first time since 1987. 
 
The 55-year-old Tite, whose proper name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, is expected to sign a deal on Thursday, although details have yet to be hashed out, the CBF said in a statement. 
 
Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade, however, hit out at the confederation. 
 
&quot;I am furious with the CBF,&quot; Andrade told reporters. &quot;They didn&#39;t even call us once. It wouldn&#39;t have changed anything if they&#39;d called us and asked for permission to talk to the manager. Of course I&#39;d have said yes.&quot; 
 
&quot;Tite deserves the national side for the work he has done and for the person he is,&quot; Andrade added. &quot;The national side doesn&#39;t deserve Tite. The CBF doesn&#39;t deserve a person like Tite. They aren&#39;t used to dealing with ethical people.&quot; 
 
The CBF responded by saying they had tried calling Andrade on Wednesday morning after spending three hours in talks with Tite but were unable to reach him via phone or text. 
 
&quot;The CBF has only respect for Brazilians clubs and their interests,&quot; the governing body added in a statement. 
 
Although Andrade&#39;s comments were unusually outspoken they were not the first public criticism of the CBF over the last six months. 
 
The last three CBF presidents, including the current boss Marco Polo Del Nero, were indicted in the United States for bribery and racketeering offences as part of the FIFA corruption scandal. Tite himself was one of 100 people who signed an open letter last December calling for Del Nero to resign. 
 
Del Nero did not respond to the letter, which was signed by Pele, Zico and Rai among others, and he did not accompany Brazil to the U.S. for either the Copa America or friendly matches played there. 
 
Tite, who has a reputation as an honest man who knows how to organise even limited sides, will have his work cut out at the national team. Brazil have lost their way in recent years and have failed to win a major tournament since 2007, when Dunga led them to the Copa America during his first spell in charge. 
 
He was replaced after Brazil fell to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup but returned in 2014 after they were hammered 7-1 by Germany in their home World Cup. That result exemplified Brazil&#39;s decline and Dunga was hired to stop the rot and restore some pride. 
 
However, he failed miserably and was fired after Brazil lost 1-0 to Peru on Sunday and went out of the Centenary Copa America which is being played in the United States. 
 
They also sit in sixth place in the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup, presenting the almost unthinkable prospect of the five-times champions missing out on global soccer&#39;s showpiece tournament. The top four teams qualify automatically for Russia and the fifth-placed side enter an inter-continental playoff. 
 
(Reuters)

He will replace Dunga who was fired on Tuesday after Brazil's exit from Copa America

Corinthians manager Tite has accepted an offer to coach Brazil but his appointment was met with fury at his former club, who have accused the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) of underhand tactics and unethical behaviour. Tite, who led Corinthians to two Serie A titles, the Copa Libertadores and the World Club Cup, will replace Dunga, who was fired on Tuesday after Brazil were knocked out of the Copa America at the group stage for the first time since 1987. The 55-year-old Tite, whose proper name is Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, is expected to sign a deal on Thursday, although details have yet to be hashed out, the CBF said in a statement. Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade, however, hit out at the confederation. "I am furious with the CBF," Andrade told reporters. "They didn't even call us once. It wouldn't have changed anything if they'd called us and asked for permission to talk to the manager. Of course I'd have said yes." "Tite deserves the national side for the work he has done and for the person he is," Andrade added. "The national side doesn't deserve Tite. The CBF doesn't deserve a person like Tite. They aren't used to dealing with ethical people." The CBF responded by saying they had tried calling Andrade on Wednesday morning after spending three hours in talks with Tite but were unable to reach him via phone or text. "The CBF has only respect for Brazilians clubs and their interests," the governing body added in a statement. Although Andrade's comments were unusually outspoken they were not the first public criticism of the CBF over the last six months. The last three CBF presidents, including the current boss Marco Polo Del Nero, were indicted in the United States for bribery and racketeering offences as part of the FIFA corruption scandal. Tite himself was one of 100 people who signed an open letter last December calling for Del Nero to resign. Del Nero did not respond to the letter, which was signed by Pele, Zico and Rai among others, and he did not accompany Brazil to the U.S. for either the Copa America or friendly matches played there. Tite, who has a reputation as an honest man who knows how to organise even limited sides, will have his work cut out at the national team. Brazil have lost their way in recent years and have failed to win a major tournament since 2007, when Dunga led them to the Copa America during his first spell in charge. He was replaced after Brazil fell to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup but returned in 2014 after they were hammered 7-1 by Germany in their home World Cup. That result exemplified Brazil's decline and Dunga was hired to stop the rot and restore some pride. However, he failed miserably and was fired after Brazil lost 1-0 to Peru on Sunday and went out of the Centenary Copa America which is being played in the United States. They also sit in sixth place in the South American qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup, presenting the almost unthinkable prospect of the five-times champions missing out on global soccer's showpiece tournament. The top four teams qualify automatically for Russia and the fifth-placed side enter an inter-continental playoff. (Reuters)

Corinthians furious after Tite accepts Brazil job

Brazil fired Dunga as coach on Tuesday, the national football confederation (CBF) said, two days after his side failed to get past the group stages of the Centenary Copa America. 
 
The Brazilians drew 0-0 with Ecuador and beat Haiti 7-1 but were beaten 1-0 by Peru to exit the competition at the group stages for the first time since 1987. 
 
Dunga, who was in his second spell as Brazil coach, was fired after a meeting at the CBF in Rio de Janeiro. 
 
&quot;The Brazilian Football Confederation decided this Tuesday to dissolve the technical commission of the Brazilian national team,&quot; the CBF said in a short statement. 
 
&quot;National teams coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi, coach Dunga and their entire team will leave their posts. 
 
&quot;The CBF has began the process of choosing a new technical commission for the Brazilian team.&quot; 
 
The overwhelming favourite to become Brazil&#39;s new coach is Corinthians 55-year-old manager Tite. 
 
The new man will also be charged with leading the under-23 squad in August&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the only major tournament Brazil have never won. 
 
Tite led Sao Paulo&#39;s biggest club to Brazil&#39;s Serie A title in 2011 and 2015 as well as the Copa Libertadores and World Club Cup for the first time in 2012. 
 
Dunga had never coached until he was first hired as Brazil boss in 2006. He led them to the Copa America in Venezuela in his first major tournament the following year. 
 
He was fired in 2010, immediately after Brazil were eliminated by the Netherlands at the quarter-final stage of that year&#39;s World Cup. 
 
After coaching his boyhood club, Internacional, for a year in 2013, Dunga was a surprise choice to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari after Brazil&#39;s humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup. 
 
Dunga, who was captain of Brazil&#39;s 1994 World Cup winning side, was given the task of revamping the national set-up but his defensive style of play and curt manner won him few fans. 
 
Led by Barcelona striker Neymar, Brazil performed well in friendlies, but were knocked out of the 2015 Copa America at the quarter-final stage by Paraguay and, without several first-team players, they were poor again at this year&#39;s tournament in the United States.One of the main priorities for the new boss will be ensuring Brazil qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After a poor start, Brazil sit in sixth place in the South American qualifying group. 
 
The top four teams qualify automatically for the tournament and the fifth-placed side enter an inter-continental playoff.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

This is the first time in 30 years that the South American powerhouse hasn't got past the first round

Brazil fired Dunga as coach on Tuesday, the national football confederation (CBF) said, two days after his side failed to get past the group stages of the Centenary Copa America. The Brazilians drew 0-0 with Ecuador and beat Haiti 7-1 but were beaten 1-0 by Peru to exit the competition at the group stages for the first time since 1987. Dunga, who was in his second spell as Brazil coach, was fired after a meeting at the CBF in Rio de Janeiro. "The Brazilian Football Confederation decided this Tuesday to dissolve the technical commission of the Brazilian national team," the CBF said in a short statement. "National teams coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi, coach Dunga and their entire team will leave their posts. "The CBF has began the process of choosing a new technical commission for the Brazilian team." The overwhelming favourite to become Brazil's new coach is Corinthians 55-year-old manager Tite. The new man will also be charged with leading the under-23 squad in August's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the only major tournament Brazil have never won. Tite led Sao Paulo's biggest club to Brazil's Serie A title in 2011 and 2015 as well as the Copa Libertadores and World Club Cup for the first time in 2012. Dunga had never coached until he was first hired as Brazil boss in 2006. He led them to the Copa America in Venezuela in his first major tournament the following year. He was fired in 2010, immediately after Brazil were eliminated by the Netherlands at the quarter-final stage of that year's World Cup. After coaching his boyhood club, Internacional, for a year in 2013, Dunga was a surprise choice to replace Luiz Felipe Scolari after Brazil's humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup. Dunga, who was captain of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning side, was given the task of revamping the national set-up but his defensive style of play and curt manner won him few fans. Led by Barcelona striker Neymar, Brazil performed well in friendlies, but were knocked out of the 2015 Copa America at the quarter-final stage by Paraguay and, without several first-team players, they were poor again at this year's tournament in the United States.One of the main priorities for the new boss will be ensuring Brazil qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. After a poor start, Brazil sit in sixth place in the South American qualifying group. The top four teams qualify automatically for the tournament and the fifth-placed side enter an inter-continental playoff. (Reuters)

Dunga gets the sack after Brazil fail to get past group stage

This is an interactive guide to the travel history of the dreaded Zika virus

Interactive: Zika's origin and global spread

Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick as Brazil ramped up their Copa America campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over a hapless Haiti yesterday. 
 
Renato Augusto scored a brace and substitutes Lucas Lima and Gabriel also goaled for Brazil while James Marcelin put in Haiti&#39;s consolation goal. 
 
The scoreline, identical to Brazil&#39;s nightmare 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-final two years ago, took Brazil to the top of Group B with four points, ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador. 
 
Coutinho got Brazil off to a positive start in the Camping World stadium with a goal after 14 minutes when he skipped past a defender and hammered home from 20 metres out. 
 
He doubled Brazil&#39;s lead 15 minutes later thanks to Jonas, who was on hand to poke a loose ball across goal and leave the Liverpool player with the simplest of tap-ins. 
 
Renato Augusto made it three in 35 minutes when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right. 
 
Although the eight-times Copa America champions appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, they still created chances at will against 74th-ranked Haiti. 
 
Gabriel scored the fourth just 13 minutes after replacing Jonas at half-time and his Santos team mate Lucas Lima nodded home a Dani Alves cross eight minutes later. 
 
Haitian striker Marcelin delighted the Caribbean contingent in the Orlando crowd by hammering in a rebound but Renato Augusto restored Brazil&#39;s five-goal advantage when he seized on a loose pass and side-footed home from 20 metres. 
 
Coutinho completed his hat-trick in the final minute of injury time with a trademark 25-metre strike. 
 
Brazil, who were held 0-0 by Ecuador in their opener, next face Peru on Sunday. Haiti, who also lost their opener to Peru 1-0, will take on Ecuador.

The scoreline took Brazil to the top of Group B ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador

Philippe Coutinho grabbed a hat-trick as Brazil ramped up their Copa America campaign with a resounding 7-1 win over a hapless Haiti yesterday. Renato Augusto scored a brace and substitutes Lucas Lima and Gabriel also goaled for Brazil while James Marcelin put in Haiti's consolation goal. The scoreline, identical to Brazil's nightmare 7-1 defeat by Germany in the World Cup semi-final two years ago, took Brazil to the top of Group B with four points, ahead of the game between Peru and Ecuador. Coutinho got Brazil off to a positive start in the Camping World stadium with a goal after 14 minutes when he skipped past a defender and hammered home from 20 metres out. He doubled Brazil's lead 15 minutes later thanks to Jonas, who was on hand to poke a loose ball across goal and leave the Liverpool player with the simplest of tap-ins. Renato Augusto made it three in 35 minutes when he rose unmarked to head home a cross from the right. Although the eight-times Copa America champions appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, they still created chances at will against 74th-ranked Haiti. Gabriel scored the fourth just 13 minutes after replacing Jonas at half-time and his Santos team mate Lucas Lima nodded home a Dani Alves cross eight minutes later. Haitian striker Marcelin delighted the Caribbean contingent in the Orlando crowd by hammering in a rebound but Renato Augusto restored Brazil's five-goal advantage when he seized on a loose pass and side-footed home from 20 metres. Coutinho completed his hat-trick in the final minute of injury time with a trademark 25-metre strike. Brazil, who were held 0-0 by Ecuador in their opener, next face Peru on Sunday. Haiti, who also lost their opener to Peru 1-0, will take on Ecuador.

Brazil hammer hapless Haiti 7-1 in Copa America massacre

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday&#39;s opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. 
 
The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. 
 
Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for,&quot; said Phelps. 
 
&quot;For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. 
 
&quot;And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it&#39;s about so much more than medals.&quot; 
 
Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. 
 
The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men&#39;s 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. 
 
The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. 
 
(Reuters)

Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 gold medals among his career haul of 22, will carry the US flag in Friday's opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics. The US Olympic Committee said today that Phelps, who will be the first American male swimmer to compete at five Games, had been chosen in a vote of fellow team members to lead the delegation into the Maracana stadium. Phelps, who won eight of his golds in Beijing in 2008, is set to add to his haul in Rio with three individual events as well as relays. "I'm honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for," said Phelps. "For Sydney (in 2000), I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done. In London, I wanted to make history. "And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud. This time around, it's about so much more than medals." Taking part in the opening ceremony will mean a late night for Phelps on Friday, with the stadium at least an hour away from the Athletes Village in Barra, and plenty of standing around as well. The 31-year-old will not be in action on the opening Saturday, however, with his first event likely to be the men's 4x100 freestyle relay on Sunday. The US team have not announced their lineup for that event and Phelps is unlikely to take part in the afternoon heats, meaning he will make his competitive entry in the pool late in the evening if selected. (Reuters)

Rio 2016: Michael Phelps chosen as US team flag bearer

Brazilian police said on Sunday they had rescued the kidnapped mother-in-law of British Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone unharmed after more than a month in captivity. 
 
Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira -- the 67-year-old mother of Ecclestone&#39;s Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi -- had been missing since she was kidnapped on June 22. 
 
Authorities said in a short statement she had been &quot;liberated&quot; and was &quot;unharmed,&quot; adding that they had arrested two suspects. 
 
Local Globo TV showed the woman hugging waiting relatives as she arrived at a Sao Paulo police station under police escort. 
 
A demand for a 168-million-Euro ($188 million) ransom, made to the family via e-mail, had not been paid, the O Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported. 
 
Police did not respond to AFP requests for information. 
 
Kidnappers posing as delivery men abducted her from her home in the Jardin Santa Helena area of southern Sao Paulo, neighbours told AFP last week. 
 
She is the mother of Ecclestone&#39;s 38-year-old Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, who met the 85-year-old billionaire while working for the Interlagos Grand Prix in 2009. 
 
The couple married in Switzerland and now live in London. 
 
Kidnappings were common in Brazil in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, but dropped with more intensive policing and the creation of a specialised anti-kidnapping department. 
 
Relatives of footballers were particularly targeted, including the mother of Brazilian international star Robinho in 2004. She was held for 41 days in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. 
 
(AFP)

Two suspects have been arrested, police said. A demand for a 168-million-Euro ransom had not been paid

Brazilian police said on Sunday they had rescued the kidnapped mother-in-law of British Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone unharmed after more than a month in captivity. Aparecida Schunck Flosi Palmeira -- the 67-year-old mother of Ecclestone's Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi -- had been missing since she was kidnapped on June 22. Authorities said in a short statement she had been "liberated" and was "unharmed," adding that they had arrested two suspects. Local Globo TV showed the woman hugging waiting relatives as she arrived at a Sao Paulo police station under police escort. A demand for a 168-million-Euro ($188 million) ransom, made to the family via e-mail, had not been paid, the O Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported. Police did not respond to AFP requests for information. Kidnappers posing as delivery men abducted her from her home in the Jardin Santa Helena area of southern Sao Paulo, neighbours told AFP last week. She is the mother of Ecclestone's 38-year-old Brazilian wife Fabiana Flosi, who met the 85-year-old billionaire while working for the Interlagos Grand Prix in 2009. The couple married in Switzerland and now live in London. Kidnappings were common in Brazil in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, but dropped with more intensive policing and the creation of a specialised anti-kidnapping department. Relatives of footballers were particularly targeted, including the mother of Brazilian international star Robinho in 2004. She was held for 41 days in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. (AFP)

British Formula 1 boss Ecclestone's mother-in-law rescued after month-long captivity

Yulia Stepanova, the key whistleblower in the Russian doping scandal, said on Thursday she is not a traitor to her country.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t consider myself a traitor as they portray me in Russia. I think the traitors are those who have created the system. Those who give drugs to young athletes and ruining the future of those athletes and force them to become haters of sport. I was trying to tell the truth. I saw a lot of ruined careers of sportsmen,&quot; Stepanova told Reuters. 
 
Her disclosure of state-sponsored, however, doping almost led to Russia being completely excluded from the Rio de Janeiro Games. 
 
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited the middle-distance athlete and her husband to attend next month&#39;s Games as guests but denied her a competitive spot in Rio, arguing her doping-tainted past made her ineligible. 
&nbsp; 
Stepanova&#39;s husband Vitaly, a former Russian sports official, said the couple would not be appealing the IOC ban with CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). &quot;We will not appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) the decision about Yulia. It is not enough time. That was not our intention to go to courts. Our intention was to make sports cleaner and hopefully try to set up some future program for whistleblowers,&quot; Vitaly said in the living room of their tiny apartment. 
 
&#39;Would like to apologise for my past&#39;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I would like to apologise for my past. I doped and I&#39;m not using that as an excuse but to tell about what was going on you had to be on the inside of what was happening.I regret that I believed in that system and that I trusted those people who said that was the only way to join the national team,&quot; Stepanova told Reuters. 
 
Stepanova, who provided evidence of doping in a series of German broadcaster ARD documentaries, has fled Russia and is living in hiding at an undisclosed location in North America, fearing for her safety. 
 
Sunday&#39;s decision by the IOC ruling out a total ban on Russia was a clear disappointment for many athletes campaigning for clean sport. 
 
&quot;We don&#39;t know for sure but to us, it seems that the IOC doesn&#39;t have a zero-tolerance policy to doping and in fact, with the decision about Russia it seems that it sends the opposite signal. That if you run a systematic state-sponsored doping program you will not be sanctioned for it and in this regard there will be Russian athletes who have doping in preparation and athletes from other countries as well,&quot; Vitaly said. 
 
Stepanova was cleared to compete in Rio as a neutral athlete by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and received praise for revealing one of the biggest doping scandals in decades. 
 
However, the IOC ruled on Sunday that any Russian athlete with a doping past, including Stepanova, would not be allowed to compete in Rio. 
 
&quot;The executive board have appreciated that she came forward and she and her husband, who also played a very important role, are being invited to the Olympic Games as a guest of the IOC,&quot; IOC President Thomas Bach said. 
 
Unfortunately, she could not compete due to her doping background, Bach added. An online petition requesting the IOC reconsider the ban has collected thousands of signatures. &quot;I think it&#39;s amazing that so many people believe in us and support us. It&#39;s true. It&#39;s happened,&quot; Yulia said Vitaly Stapanov said the couple were determined to keep fighting for clean sport despite their recent setback. 
 
&quot;The reason we started whistleblowing is that we saw there is a problem in our home country and it&#39;s unfortunate there are corrupt sport officials setting up these kinds of systems in our home country again but I don&#39;t think that should be used as an excuse for not fighting corruption and doping and that was the reason we decided to fight it or at least try to fight it.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

'I don't consider myself a traitor as they portray me in Russia. I think the traitors are those who have created the system,' said Stepanova

Yulia Stepanova, the key whistleblower in the Russian doping scandal, said on Thursday she is not a traitor to her country. "I don't consider myself a traitor as they portray me in Russia. I think the traitors are those who have created the system. Those who give drugs to young athletes and ruining the future of those athletes and force them to become haters of sport. I was trying to tell the truth. I saw a lot of ruined careers of sportsmen," Stepanova told Reuters. Her disclosure of state-sponsored, however, doping almost led to Russia being completely excluded from the Rio de Janeiro Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited the middle-distance athlete and her husband to attend next month's Games as guests but denied her a competitive spot in Rio, arguing her doping-tainted past made her ineligible. Stepanova's husband Vitaly, a former Russian sports official, said the couple would not be appealing the IOC ban with CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). "We will not appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) the decision about Yulia. It is not enough time. That was not our intention to go to courts. Our intention was to make sports cleaner and hopefully try to set up some future program for whistleblowers," Vitaly said in the living room of their tiny apartment. 'Would like to apologise for my past' "I would like to apologise for my past. I doped and I'm not using that as an excuse but to tell about what was going on you had to be on the inside of what was happening.I regret that I believed in that system and that I trusted those people who said that was the only way to join the national team," Stepanova told Reuters. Stepanova, who provided evidence of doping in a series of German broadcaster ARD documentaries, has fled Russia and is living in hiding at an undisclosed location in North America, fearing for her safety. Sunday's decision by the IOC ruling out a total ban on Russia was a clear disappointment for many athletes campaigning for clean sport. "We don't know for sure but to us, it seems that the IOC doesn't have a zero-tolerance policy to doping and in fact, with the decision about Russia it seems that it sends the opposite signal. That if you run a systematic state-sponsored doping program you will not be sanctioned for it and in this regard there will be Russian athletes who have doping in preparation and athletes from other countries as well," Vitaly said. Stepanova was cleared to compete in Rio as a neutral athlete by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and received praise for revealing one of the biggest doping scandals in decades. However, the IOC ruled on Sunday that any Russian athlete with a doping past, including Stepanova, would not be allowed to compete in Rio. "The executive board have appreciated that she came forward and she and her husband, who also played a very important role, are being invited to the Olympic Games as a guest of the IOC," IOC President Thomas Bach said. Unfortunately, she could not compete due to her doping background, Bach added. An online petition requesting the IOC reconsider the ban has collected thousands of signatures. "I think it's amazing that so many people believe in us and support us. It's true. It's happened," Yulia said Vitaly Stapanov said the couple were determined to keep fighting for clean sport despite their recent setback. "The reason we started whistleblowing is that we saw there is a problem in our home country and it's unfortunate there are corrupt sport officials setting up these kinds of systems in our home country again but I don't think that should be used as an excuse for not fighting corruption and doping and that was the reason we decided to fight it or at least try to fight it." (Reuters)

Russia doping scandal: Key whistleblower says she is no 'traitor'

Brazil&nbsp;arrested 10&nbsp;suspected of belonging to a poorly-organised group supporting Islamic State (IS) on Thursday and for plotting terrorist acts during the next month&#39;s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The group, described as &quot;absolutely amateur&quot; by justice minister Alexandre Moraes, were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They did not know each other personally, the minister said.

The arrests came a week after a truck massacre in Nice, France, and amid growing fears of a possible attack when the Olympics starts on August 5. Some 500,000 visitors are expected to travel to&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;for the Games, many of them from the United States.

Although&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has no history of conflict with known militant groups, Moraes said the Games had made the Latin American country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting IS.

&quot;Today was the first operation against a supposed terrorist cell in&nbsp;Brazil,&quot; he told a news conference. &quot;Brazil&nbsp;was not part of the coalition against IS but, because of the upcoming Olympics and because it will receive many foreigners,&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has become a target.&quot;

Moraes said the individuals detained on Thursday were being monitored because they had accessed websites linked to IS, but the group had &quot;no preparation at all&quot; and was a &quot;disorganised cell&quot;. He said that authorities intervened when the group started planning actions including martial-arts training and the purchase of firearms.

While the group did not have direct contact with IS, some members had made &quot;pro forma&quot; declarations of allegiance to the militant Islamist group via social media, the minister said.

A presidential aide said on Thursday that&nbsp;Brazilian police and intelligence services had cooperated with French, German, British, Israeli and US&nbsp;intelligence agencies in the arrests.

Brazil&#39;s federal police are monitoring around 100 people for possible links to terrorist groups, mostly in the lawless tri-border region with Paraguay and Argentina, said the aide, requesting anonymity.

&quot;Brazil&nbsp;was really being preemptive in this case,&quot; said Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical analysis at Stratfor, a global intelligence and advisory firm. &quot;There are some tactical benefits to arrests like this...You could disrupt anything in the works and it may also give other people pause.&quot;

Operation Hashtag

Brazil&nbsp;plans to deploy about 85,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel during the Rio Games, more than twice as many in place for the London Olympics in 2012.

It will also operate a joint security centre where representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to help share intelligence and monitor the event.

Local media raised concern that the arrests might affect ticket sales for the Games, with the release of 100,000 tickets on Thursday aimed at improving attendance.

The local Olympic organising committee, Rio 2016, referred requests for comment to the federal government.

Moraes said there was no evidence that the group had acquired weapons though one member had contacted a clandestine weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sells AK-47 assault rifles.

&quot;Those involved participated in an online group denominated &#39;the defenders of Sharia&#39; and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;and even overseas,&quot; Moraes said.

Two will be brought in for questioning, including the head of a local NGO, in addition to the 10 arrested across as many states, Moraes added.

Federal judge Marcos Josegrei da Silva, who approved the arrests from the southern city of Curitiba, said police had 30 days to analyse evidence. He emphasized that no-one had been charged in the operation, codenamed Hashtag.

&quot;These are internet affirmations on social networks,&quot; Josegrei told a news conference. &quot;Not everything a person conceives of in the virtual world is carried out in the real world.&quot;

Interim president Michel Temer called an emergency cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under&nbsp;Brazil&#39;s tough new anti-terrorism law approved this year.

Brazilian and US&nbsp;officials have raised concern over the disappearance of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jihad Diyab, after he had resettled in neighbouring Uruguay, saying he could now be in&nbsp;Brazil.

Last week,&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;deported a French-Algerian nuclear physicist convicted by a Paris court in 2012 for his involvement in helping to plot an attack in France in 2009 with an al Qaeda militant in Algeria.

Brazil&#39;s intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, after a previously unknown&nbsp;Brazilian Islamist group calling itself &quot;Ansar al-Khilafah&nbsp;Brazil&quot; pledged allegiance to IS. It was unclear whether those detained on Thursday have any relation with that group.

On Wednesday, SITE Intelligence Group, a US&nbsp;company that monitors the internet, said alleged Islamist militants were giving advice for lone actors to carry out attacks during the Games, including the use of toy drones. The messages are being sent via the mobile messaging system Telegram, SITE said.

Stratfor&#39;s Stewart said that, with no ability to project terrorist operatives into&nbsp;Brazil, IS could only seek to encourage grassroots groups.&nbsp;Brazil&nbsp;has one of the world&#39;s largest Arab diasporas, mostly Christians of Syrian and Lebanese origins.

After last week&#39;s attack in Nice, France,&nbsp;Brazilian authorities said they would step up security measures for the Games by adding further roadblocks and cordons and frisking more visitors in Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp;Brazilian police have travelled to Nice to study the attacks there, officials said. 
 
(Reuters)

The Games and the influx of foreigners making Brazil a target for terror groups, justice minister said

Brazil arrested 10 suspected of belonging to a poorly-organised group supporting Islamic State (IS) on Thursday and for plotting terrorist acts during the next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The group, described as "absolutely amateur" by justice minister Alexandre Moraes, were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They did not know each other personally, the minister said. The arrests came a week after a truck massacre in Nice, France, and amid growing fears of a possible attack when the Olympics starts on August 5. Some 500,000 visitors are expected to travel to Brazil for the Games, many of them from the United States. Although Brazil has no history of conflict with known militant groups, Moraes said the Games had made the Latin American country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting IS. "Today was the first operation against a supposed terrorist cell in Brazil," he told a news conference. "Brazil was not part of the coalition against IS but, because of the upcoming Olympics and because it will receive many foreigners, Brazil has become a target." Moraes said the individuals detained on Thursday were being monitored because they had accessed websites linked to IS, but the group had "no preparation at all" and was a "disorganised cell". He said that authorities intervened when the group started planning actions including martial-arts training and the purchase of firearms. While the group did not have direct contact with IS, some members had made "pro forma" declarations of allegiance to the militant Islamist group via social media, the minister said. A presidential aide said on Thursday that Brazilian police and intelligence services had cooperated with French, German, British, Israeli and US intelligence agencies in the arrests. Brazil's federal police are monitoring around 100 people for possible links to terrorist groups, mostly in the lawless tri-border region with Paraguay and Argentina, said the aide, requesting anonymity. "Brazil was really being preemptive in this case," said Scott Stewart, vice president of tactical analysis at Stratfor, a global intelligence and advisory firm. "There are some tactical benefits to arrests like this...You could disrupt anything in the works and it may also give other people pause." Operation Hashtag Brazil plans to deploy about 85,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel during the Rio Games, more than twice as many in place for the London Olympics in 2012. It will also operate a joint security centre where representatives from more than 100 countries are expected to help share intelligence and monitor the event. Local media raised concern that the arrests might affect ticket sales for the Games, with the release of 100,000 tickets on Thursday aimed at improving attendance. The local Olympic organising committee, Rio 2016, referred requests for comment to the federal government. Moraes said there was no evidence that the group had acquired weapons though one member had contacted a clandestine weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sells AK-47 assault rifles. "Those involved participated in an online group denominated 'the defenders of Sharia' and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in Brazil and even overseas," Moraes said. Two will be brought in for questioning, including the head of a local NGO, in addition to the 10 arrested across as many states, Moraes added. Federal judge Marcos Josegrei da Silva, who approved the arrests from the southern city of Curitiba, said police had 30 days to analyse evidence. He emphasized that no-one had been charged in the operation, codenamed Hashtag. "These are internet affirmations on social networks," Josegrei told a news conference. "Not everything a person conceives of in the virtual world is carried out in the real world." Interim president Michel Temer called an emergency cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under Brazil's tough new anti-terrorism law approved this year. Brazilian and US officials have raised concern over the disappearance of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jihad Diyab, after he had resettled in neighbouring Uruguay, saying he could now be in Brazil. Last week, Brazil deported a French-Algerian nuclear physicist convicted by a Paris court in 2012 for his involvement in helping to plot an attack in France in 2009 with an al Qaeda militant in Algeria. Brazil's intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, after a previously unknown Brazilian Islamist group calling itself "Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil" pledged allegiance to IS. It was unclear whether those detained on Thursday have any relation with that group. On Wednesday, SITE Intelligence Group, a US company that monitors the internet, said alleged Islamist militants were giving advice for lone actors to carry out attacks during the Games, including the use of toy drones. The messages are being sent via the mobile messaging system Telegram, SITE said. Stratfor's Stewart said that, with no ability to project terrorist operatives into Brazil, IS could only seek to encourage grassroots groups. Brazil has one of the world's largest Arab diasporas, mostly Christians of Syrian and Lebanese origins. After last week's attack in Nice, France, Brazilian authorities said they would step up security measures for the Games by adding further roadblocks and cordons and frisking more visitors in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian police have travelled to Nice to study the attacks there, officials said. (Reuters)

Brazil arrests 10 for plotting terror acts during Olympics

A judge on Tuesday suspended the WhatsApp smartphone messaging service across Brazil, where it is hugely popular, for failing to surrender user data in a police investigation, the court said. 
 
&quot;WhatsApp is blocked across the whole national territory,&quot; a spokesman for the court in Rio de Janeiro told AFP. 
 
WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, has clashed several times with Brazilian courts after refusing to give access to police. 
 
The 19-page ruling said that Brazilian telephone operators must &quot;immediately suspend&quot; WhatsApp services and also said that continued non-compliance would see the Facebook company fined 50,000 Reais ($15,265) a day. 
 
The decision by Judge Daniela Barbosa Assun??o de Souza in the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro applies to Brazil&#39;s five wireless carriers. The reason for the order was not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case, and will only be lifted once Facebook surrenders data, Souza&#39;s office said. 
 
Shortly after the ruling was filed, WhatsApp messaging continued to function in Rio, however. It was not clear how quickly the order would be fulfilled. 
 
A spokeswoman for WhatsApp said she had no immediate comment. 
 
(Agencies)

The reason for the order was not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case and will only be lifted once Facebook surrenders data

A judge on Tuesday suspended the WhatsApp smartphone messaging service across Brazil, where it is hugely popular, for failing to surrender user data in a police investigation, the court said. "WhatsApp is blocked across the whole national territory," a spokesman for the court in Rio de Janeiro told AFP. WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, has clashed several times with Brazilian courts after refusing to give access to police. The 19-page ruling said that Brazilian telephone operators must "immediately suspend" WhatsApp services and also said that continued non-compliance would see the Facebook company fined 50,000 Reais ($15,265) a day. The decision by Judge Daniela Barbosa Assun??o de Souza in the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro applies to Brazil's five wireless carriers. The reason for the order was not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case, and will only be lifted once Facebook surrenders data, Souza's office said. Shortly after the ruling was filed, WhatsApp messaging continued to function in Rio, however. It was not clear how quickly the order would be fulfilled. A spokeswoman for WhatsApp said she had no immediate comment. (Agencies)

Brazil blocks Facebook's WhatsApp

Brazil said on Friday that it will bolster security for next month&#39;s Olympics in Rio following the truck attack in the French city of Nice. 
 
Brazil&#39;s interim president Michel Temer held an emergency meeting with his intelligence chief and members of his cabinet late Friday to weigh the next steps after the Nice attack, which killed at least 84 people. 
 
As he left the meeting, intelligence chief Sergio Etchegoyen said new security measures would include extra checkpoints, barricades and traffic restrictions. 
 
Brazil had already planned to deploy 85,000 police and soldiers to provide security for the Olympics, running August 5-21, which is double the number used in the 2012 London Games. 
 
Heightened fears, heightened security 
 
Etchegoyen said fears over security at the Rio Games had &quot;gone up a notch&quot; &nbsp;after the attack in Nice, where a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne white truck into a huge crowd gathered to watch the annual Bastille Day fireworks display on Thursday, leaving a gruesome trail of bodies in his wake. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re trading a little comfort for a lot more security,&quot; he told a press conference at the presidential offices. 
 
Brazilian intelligence officials met with French counterparts for a briefing on the Nice attack, he said. 
 
Defense Minister Raul Jungmann expressed &quot;worries&quot; over the Nice attack. 
 
&quot;This worry will translate to more checkpoints, security, staff and procedures being put in place,&quot; he told reporters at an air force base near the Rio international airport. 
 
Jungmann said Brazil is corresponding with all 106 countries sending representatives to the event&#39;s international intelligence center. 
 
&quot;As of now, none of these countries have informed us of a potential or concrete threat of a terrorist attack in Brazil,&quot; Jungmann said. 
 
Brazil is already on alert after the French military intelligence chief said France had been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Olympics. 
 
In June, Brazil&#39;s intelligence service said it had detected Portuguese-language messages linked to the Islamic State group on an online forum. 
 
An even more explicit warning came after bloody attacks in Paris in November, when a French jihadist tweeted that Brazil was the &quot;next target.&quot; 
 
Jungmann said officials will supervise the Olympic delegations based on the security threat they face, with countries including the United States and France labeled as high-risk. 
 
&quot;The dozen or so countries in that group will have special accompaniment,&quot; Jungmann said. 
 
Simulation exercises&nbsp; 
 
Security services staged simulation exercises in Rio to test counterterrorism response plans. 
 
Another exercise on &quot;confronting external threats&quot; is planned for today at the railway station in Deodoro, one of four Olympic zones in Rio along with Maracana, Copacabana and Barra da Tijuca. 
 
Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and Olympic organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman met with federal and regional government officials to assess plans, notably discussing a potential increase in street blockades. 
 
(AFP) 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The country had already planned to deploy 85,000 cops, soldiers, double the number used in 2012 London Games

Brazil said on Friday that it will bolster security for next month's Olympics in Rio following the truck attack in the French city of Nice. Brazil's interim president Michel Temer held an emergency meeting with his intelligence chief and members of his cabinet late Friday to weigh the next steps after the Nice attack, which killed at least 84 people. As he left the meeting, intelligence chief Sergio Etchegoyen said new security measures would include extra checkpoints, barricades and traffic restrictions. Brazil had already planned to deploy 85,000 police and soldiers to provide security for the Olympics, running August 5-21, which is double the number used in the 2012 London Games. Heightened fears, heightened security Etchegoyen said fears over security at the Rio Games had "gone up a notch" after the attack in Nice, where a Tunisian-born man drove a 19-tonne white truck into a huge crowd gathered to watch the annual Bastille Day fireworks display on Thursday, leaving a gruesome trail of bodies in his wake. "We're trading a little comfort for a lot more security," he told a press conference at the presidential offices. Brazilian intelligence officials met with French counterparts for a briefing on the Nice attack, he said. Defense Minister Raul Jungmann expressed "worries" over the Nice attack. "This worry will translate to more checkpoints, security, staff and procedures being put in place," he told reporters at an air force base near the Rio international airport. Jungmann said Brazil is corresponding with all 106 countries sending representatives to the event's international intelligence center. "As of now, none of these countries have informed us of a potential or concrete threat of a terrorist attack in Brazil," Jungmann said. Brazil is already on alert after the French military intelligence chief said France had been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Olympics. In June, Brazil's intelligence service said it had detected Portuguese-language messages linked to the Islamic State group on an online forum. An even more explicit warning came after bloody attacks in Paris in November, when a French jihadist tweeted that Brazil was the "next target." Jungmann said officials will supervise the Olympic delegations based on the security threat they face, with countries including the United States and France labeled as high-risk. "The dozen or so countries in that group will have special accompaniment," Jungmann said. Simulation exercises Security services staged simulation exercises in Rio to test counterterrorism response plans. Another exercise on "confronting external threats" is planned for today at the railway station in Deodoro, one of four Olympic zones in Rio along with Maracana, Copacabana and Barra da Tijuca. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and Olympic organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman met with federal and regional government officials to assess plans, notably discussing a potential increase in street blockades. (AFP)

Brazil to bolster Olympics security to quell concerns after Nice attack

Could hunting for a Pokemon get any hotter? Maybe in Rio, so the city about to host the Olympic Games is urging makers of the popular app to come down to Brazil.&nbsp;The app, based on a Nintendo title that debuted 20 years ago, uses GPS and mapping capabilities in smartphones to let players roam the real world to find &quot;PokeStops&quot; stocked with supplies and hunt cartoon monsters to capture and train for battles. 
 
&quot;Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody&#39;s coming. You should come on down too,&quot; Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Facebook on Wednesday, with the welcoming hashtag #PokemonGoNoBrasil (Pokemon Go in Brazil). 
 
Since its release in the United States, Australia and New Zealand last week, the free Pokemon Go smartphone game that overlays play on the real world has triggered a major craze. 
 
Some, like Paes, think people might enjoy hunting around the city&#39;s landmarks like Copacabana beach.&nbsp;Half a million foreign tourists are expected in Rio for South America&#39;s first Olympics from August 5-21.&nbsp;Ex-supermodel Gisele Bundchen will be in her native Brazil to host the opening ceremony. 
 
(AFP)

'Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody's coming. You should come on down too', said Mayor Eduardo Paes on Facebook

Could hunting for a Pokemon get any hotter? Maybe in Rio, so the city about to host the Olympic Games is urging makers of the popular app to come down to Brazil. The app, based on a Nintendo title that debuted 20 years ago, uses GPS and mapping capabilities in smartphones to let players roam the real world to find "PokeStops" stocked with supplies and hunt cartoon monsters to capture and train for battles. "Hello Nintendo! There are 23 days until the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Everybody's coming. You should come on down too," Mayor Eduardo Paes said on Facebook on Wednesday, with the welcoming hashtag #PokemonGoNoBrasil (Pokemon Go in Brazil). Since its release in the United States, Australia and New Zealand last week, the free Pokemon Go smartphone game that overlays play on the real world has triggered a major craze. Some, like Paes, think people might enjoy hunting around the city's landmarks like Copacabana beach. Half a million foreign tourists are expected in Rio for South America's first Olympics from August 5-21. Ex-supermodel Gisele Bundchen will be in her native Brazil to host the opening ceremony. (AFP)

Pokemon Go welcome at Rio Olympics, mayor says

Brazil&#39;s suspended president Dilma Rousseff could still wriggle out of a looming impeachment vote, her ally and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today. 
 
Lula, Brazil&#39;s most prominent leftist leader, told Radio Jornal that Rousseff&#39;s case is not hopeless, despite months of mounting pressure on her to be removed from office. 
 
Previous votes in the lower and upper houses easily passed the simple majorities needed to send her to trial for allegedly breaking budgetary laws - a case she claims is a coup d&#39;etat. 
 
However, when the Senate votes again in a final session on August 25-27, it must reach a two-thirds majority and the result is expected to be far closer. 
 
&quot;To defeat the impeachment is easier than before,&quot; said Lula, who was president from 2003-2010 and founded the Workers&#39; Party, which has been in power for 13 years. 
 
Lula said Rousseff, 68, needs to secure support from a handful of extra senators to swing the vote. &quot;Dilma depends on only six votes,&quot; he told the radio station from northeastern Pernambuco state. 
 
The Senate must vote by 54 votes out of 81 for the impeachment to pass. In that case, Rousseff foe Michel Temer, who is currently serving as interim president, would stay as president until the next scheduled elections in 2018. 
 
If the vote fails, Rousseff would return to office. However, she is seen as badly weakened, with rock bottom popularity in a country that blames her for a deep recession, massive corruption and months of political instability. 
 
Temer and Rousseff are both invited to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which start in Rio on August 5. 
 
(AFP)

The Senate must pass 54 votes out of 81 for Dilma Rousseff's impeachment to pass. If the vote fails, she could return to office

Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff could still wriggle out of a looming impeachment vote, her ally and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today. Lula, Brazil's most prominent leftist leader, told Radio Jornal that Rousseff's case is not hopeless, despite months of mounting pressure on her to be removed from office. Previous votes in the lower and upper houses easily passed the simple majorities needed to send her to trial for allegedly breaking budgetary laws - a case she claims is a coup d'etat. However, when the Senate votes again in a final session on August 25-27, it must reach a two-thirds majority and the result is expected to be far closer. "To defeat the impeachment is easier than before," said Lula, who was president from 2003-2010 and founded the Workers' Party, which has been in power for 13 years. Lula said Rousseff, 68, needs to secure support from a handful of extra senators to swing the vote. "Dilma depends on only six votes," he told the radio station from northeastern Pernambuco state. The Senate must vote by 54 votes out of 81 for the impeachment to pass. In that case, Rousseff foe Michel Temer, who is currently serving as interim president, would stay as president until the next scheduled elections in 2018. If the vote fails, Rousseff would return to office. However, she is seen as badly weakened, with rock bottom popularity in a country that blames her for a deep recession, massive corruption and months of political instability. Temer and Rousseff are both invited to the opening ceremony of the Olympics, which start in Rio on August 5. (AFP)

Brazil's suspended president tries to slip impeachment

Dilma Rousseff is getting a little help from her friends.Two leftist supporters of the suspended Brazilian President on Wednesday launched a project to crowdfund her campaign against her removal from office. 
 
Rousseff, 68, was suspended last month after lawmakers voted to hold an impeachment trial against her over allegations she misused state funds. 
 
Called &quot;Day for Democracy - All for Dilma&quot; and mounted on the crowdfunding platform Catarse.me -- whose motto is &quot;Collective funding for everyone&quot; -- the campaign racked up pledges of $20,377 during its first four hours. 
 
That amount came in 747 micro-grants that started at around $3. 
 
The project aims to ease the burden of financial restrictions imposed by the government of interim president Michel Temer, making it difficult for Rousseff to travel the country to raise support ahead of a senate vote in late August on whether to permanently remove her from office. 
 
The leftist leader, who continues to live in the presidential palace outside the capital Brasilia, accuses Temer -- her vice president -- of mounting a parliamentary coup d`etat. 
 
The interim government has barred her from using official planes, paying for hotels and has even restricted food and other expenses. 
 
&quot;We found it important to open an account where people could make donations and provide resources for the president to use for her trips,&quot; Guiomar Silva Lopez said in a video embedded on the crowdfunding website. 
 
A 72-year-old doctor, Lopez once shared a prison cell with Rousseff where the future president was imprisoned and tortured when she was a guerrilla opposing the country`s right-wing military dictatorship. 
 
Lopez led the crowdfunding initiative with Maria Celeste Martinez, 74, another leftist opposition member during the 1970s. 
The project aims to raise $154,000. 
 
All donors will receive the same acknowledgement regardless of donation size: a mention on the website Dilma.com.br, an autographed digital photo and a video of thanks. 
 
(AFP)

The project, called 'Day for Democracy - All for Dilma', aims to raise $154,000 for a campaign against Rousseff's removal from her office

Dilma Rousseff is getting a little help from her friends.Two leftist supporters of the suspended Brazilian President on Wednesday launched a project to crowdfund her campaign against her removal from office. Rousseff, 68, was suspended last month after lawmakers voted to hold an impeachment trial against her over allegations she misused state funds. Called "Day for Democracy - All for Dilma" and mounted on the crowdfunding platform Catarse.me -- whose motto is "Collective funding for everyone" -- the campaign racked up pledges of $20,377 during its first four hours. That amount came in 747 micro-grants that started at around $3. The project aims to ease the burden of financial restrictions imposed by the government of interim president Michel Temer, making it difficult for Rousseff to travel the country to raise support ahead of a senate vote in late August on whether to permanently remove her from office. The leftist leader, who continues to live in the presidential palace outside the capital Brasilia, accuses Temer -- her vice president -- of mounting a parliamentary coup d`etat. The interim government has barred her from using official planes, paying for hotels and has even restricted food and other expenses. "We found it important to open an account where people could make donations and provide resources for the president to use for her trips," Guiomar Silva Lopez said in a video embedded on the crowdfunding website. A 72-year-old doctor, Lopez once shared a prison cell with Rousseff where the future president was imprisoned and tortured when she was a guerrilla opposing the country`s right-wing military dictatorship. Lopez led the crowdfunding initiative with Maria Celeste Martinez, 74, another leftist opposition member during the 1970s. The project aims to raise $154,000. All donors will receive the same acknowledgement regardless of donation size: a mention on the website Dilma.com.br, an autographed digital photo and a video of thanks. (AFP)

Friends of suspended Brazil President launch crowdfunding effort

India&#39;s pistol ace Jitu Rai clinched the silver medal at the ISSF Shooting World Cup after posting a score of 199.5 in the finals of the 10m air pistol event today. 
 
The 28-year-old, who won his sixth World Cup medal, finished second behind Brazillian Felipe Almeida Wu, who shot 200 to claim the gold medal. 
 
Jin Jongoh of South Korea settled for bronze with a score of 178.8.With the silver podium finish, Jitu has reaffirmed faith that he is in good shape ahead of the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil starting from August 5. 
 
On Friday, the world number one in 50m pistol had finished tenth in the qualification round of the event in Baku. Last September, he had become the first Indian shooter to earn a Rio quota with a second place finish at the World Championships in Spain. 
 
(ANI)

The 28-year-old won his sixth World Cup medal, finished second behind Brazillian Felipe Almeida Wu

India's pistol ace Jitu Rai clinched the silver medal at the ISSF Shooting World Cup after posting a score of 199.5 in the finals of the 10m air pistol event today. The 28-year-old, who won his sixth World Cup medal, finished second behind Brazillian Felipe Almeida Wu, who shot 200 to claim the gold medal. Jin Jongoh of South Korea settled for bronze with a score of 178.8.With the silver podium finish, Jitu has reaffirmed faith that he is in good shape ahead of the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil starting from August 5. On Friday, the world number one in 50m pistol had finished tenth in the qualification round of the event in Baku. Last September, he had become the first Indian shooter to earn a Rio quota with a second place finish at the World Championships in Spain. (ANI)

Indian shooter Jitu Rai bags silver in Baku World Cup

Russia&#39;s weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. 
 
Five days after its track and field team&#39;s suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia&#39;s weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. 
 
Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport&#39;s governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. 
 
Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. 
 
The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. 
 
Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF&#39;s decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country&#39;s systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport&#39;s federation. 
 
Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend&#39;s youth world championships. 
 
The IWF, stressing its &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). 
 
As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: &ldquo;The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year.&nbsp;Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus.&quot; 
 
Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport&#39;s administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. 
 
The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. 
 
&quot;Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,&rdquo; said a statement. 
 
The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. 
 
The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world&rsquo;s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. 
 
The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. 
 
The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. 
 
(Reuters)

Five days after its track and field team's suspension was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the Games

Russia's weightlifters face being banned from the Rio Olympics, subject to confirmation by the International Olympic Committee, in another collective doping punishment to hit the country. Five days after its track and field team's suspension from the 2016 Games was upheld, Russia's weightlifters are now also set to be suspended from the 2016 Olympics. Belarus and weightlifting superpower Kazakhstan were also banned over failed retests from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics on Wednesday by the sport's governing body, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), which also punished other nations by reducing the number of available athlete slots in Rio. Retrospective doping tests carried out by the IOC have led to 17 positives from 2008 and 2012, said the IWF. The governing body added there may be more cases to come. The IWF is awaiting confirmation of those failures and a final tally from the IOC, who were not immediately available when contacted late on Wednesday by Reuters. Earlier this week the IOC supported the IAAF's decision to continue its ban on all Russian track and field athletes as a collective punishment for the country's systematic doping problems, saying that such a decision was for each sport's federation. Because of those results, and an unprecedented 24 positives at the weightlifting world championships in Houston, Texas, last November, a special meeting was called for this week in Tbilisi, host of this weekend's youth world championships. The IWF, stressing its “zero tolerance” towards dopers, said it had taken 11 places away from teams who had committed four or more doping offences in 2015. Two of those teams were Russia and Kazakhstan, so the sanctions could yet be overtaken by a team ban. The others were Azerbaijan, North Korea and Moldova (two places each) and Belarus (one). As for the banning of entire teams, the IWF said in a statement: “The IWF Executive Board has decided that national federations confirmed to have produced three or more anti-doping rule violations in the combined re-analysis process of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games shall be suspended for one year. Countries thus subject to suspension are Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus." Because the tests were not carried out by the IWF, the sport's administrators are seeking formal confirmation from the IOC that the positives are not subject to appeal or amendment. The executive board also castigated the European Weightlifting Federation for its recent appointment of Sergey Systsov, president of the Russian Federation, as chair of its anti-doping commission. "Given the current environment, the IWF Executive Board strongly suggests that Mr Syrtsov and the European Weightlifting Federation reconsiders the appointment,” said a statement. The IWF has set up an independent commission to investigate the nations who returned three or more positives from the retesting of 2008 and 2012 samples, which was carried out after advances in science enabled better detection of prohibited substances. The worst offender was Kazakhstan. Ilya Ilyin, the world’s most popular weightlifter, is expected to lose his gold medals from Beijing and London, while three Kazakh women who won in 2012 also tested positive. The IWF also vowed to toughen its anti-doping policy in future, threatening to ban nations who had the worst doping record during an Olympic qualifying period. It also said it would set up a task force and aimed to test every athlete, before the Games, who will be competing in Rio. The situation as of now indicates that four nations will not be allowed to compete in Rio. Bulgaria had been excluded last year, after 11 lifters at a training camp tested positive. Romania and Uzbekistan had already lost one quota place each. (Reuters)

Russia faces another Rio ban over dope tests

China&nbsp;led opposition to India&#39;s membership of NSG at a three-hour post-dinner meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group here on Thursday night which ended in a deadlock.&nbsp;

Preceding the two-day plenary of the 48-member NSG, which began today, China had repeatedly said that India&#39;s membership was not on the agenda and is said to have made every effort to prevent any discussion on India&#39;s bid.&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, Japan is believed to have raised India&#39;s case in the morning session after which it was agreed that the matter would be taken up at the special post-dinner meeting.&nbsp;

Indian official sources said that China was joined by Austria, Ireland and Brazil among other countries which questioned as to how a country like India which had not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty(NPT) can be admitted to the grouping.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Essentially their opposition was couched in principles and processes.&nbsp;

Brazil&#39;s objections are said to have surprised the Indian diplomats who pointed out that it is a member of the five-nation BRICS grouping. Besides India and Russia, the grouping includes&nbsp;China and South Africa.&nbsp;

Indian foreign secretary S&nbsp;Jaishankar, who is camping in Seoul, had earlier met the Brazilian delegation.&nbsp;

Officials said that discussions were inconclusive and that it would only be clear before the end of the plenary on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(PTI)&nbsp;

It was joined by others like Austria, Ireland and Brazil. However, Japan supported India in the morning session

China led opposition to India's membership of NSG at a three-hour post-dinner meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group here on Thursday night which ended in a deadlock. Preceding the two-day plenary of the 48-member NSG, which began today, China had repeatedly said that India's membership was not on the agenda and is said to have made every effort to prevent any discussion on India's bid. However, Japan is believed to have raised India's case in the morning session after which it was agreed that the matter would be taken up at the special post-dinner meeting. Indian official sources said that China was joined by Austria, Ireland and Brazil among other countries which questioned as to how a country like India which had not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty(NPT) can be admitted to the grouping. Essentially their opposition was couched in principles and processes. Brazil's objections are said to have surprised the Indian diplomats who pointed out that it is a member of the five-nation BRICS grouping. Besides India and Russia, the grouping includes China and South Africa. Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar, who is camping in Seoul, had earlier met the Brazilian delegation. Officials said that discussions were inconclusive and that it would only be clear before the end of the plenary on Friday. (PTI)

China leads opposition to India's NSG bid at post-dinner meet

World athletics federation IAAF has&nbsp;come closer to destroying sport in Russia than helping it develop by suspending the country&#39;s track and field team over doping offences, the Russian sport minister said. 
 
First imposed in November, the IAAF ban was extended on Friday and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday. 
 
&quot;I have written an open letter to (the IAAF)... If you are an organisation whose aim is to develop athletics then you have done everything to destroy it,&quot; Vitaly Mutko told Reuters in an interview. 
 
Russian track and field athletes had not participated in international competitions in January. 
 
&quot;I, on behalf of the state, cannot finance the country&#39;s national team. That means all this is falling apart. Next, I cannot finance the training centre, all these are closing down. The young athletes do not have any motivation,&quot; Mutko said. 
 
Individual Russian track and field athletes assessed as clean will be able to compete for their country in Brazil, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday, diluting the IAAF&#39;s ban. 
 
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach also said all competitors from both Russia and Kenya would, given their countries&#39; recent history of doping, have to be screened individually before being allowed to participate in the Games. 
 
He did not elaborate on what the evaluation would include. 
 
The Russian track and field team remains suspended from Rio de Janeiro after the IOC supported the ban, for systemic doping, which world athletics federation IAAF had extended on Friday. 
 
But Bach, speaking at the end of a summit on doping, offered a limited number of Russian athletes the chance to race under their flag. 
 
In a decision welcomed by the sports ministry in Moscow, he said those cleared by the IAAF or the Court of Arbitration for Sport as clean and eligible would be able to compete in Brazil. 
 
The unsatisfactory record of anti-doping bodies in Russia, as well as Kenya, had put &quot;very serious doubts on the presumption of innocence&quot; of their athletes, Bach said. 
 
But they had the right of appeal and &quot;if there are (Russian) athletes qualified then they will compete as members of the Russian Olympic Committee team,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
The IAAF had said on Friday that any Russian athlete would have to compete under a neutral flag, a recommendation it reiterated on Tuesday following Bach&#39;s comments. 
 
&quot;This decision has been unequivocally supported across sport and the IOC Summit today unanimously agreed to fully respect the IAAF decision,&quot; the federation said in a statement. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

However, Russia's sports minister has said that the suspensions are destroying sport in the country

World athletics federation IAAF has come closer to destroying sport in Russia than helping it develop by suspending the country's track and field team over doping offences, the Russian sport minister said. First imposed in November, the IAAF ban was extended on Friday and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Saturday. "I have written an open letter to (the IAAF)... If you are an organisation whose aim is to develop athletics then you have done everything to destroy it," Vitaly Mutko told Reuters in an interview. Russian track and field athletes had not participated in international competitions in January. "I, on behalf of the state, cannot finance the country's national team. That means all this is falling apart. Next, I cannot finance the training centre, all these are closing down. The young athletes do not have any motivation," Mutko said. Individual Russian track and field athletes assessed as clean will be able to compete for their country in Brazil, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Tuesday, diluting the IAAF's ban. International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach also said all competitors from both Russia and Kenya would, given their countries' recent history of doping, have to be screened individually before being allowed to participate in the Games. He did not elaborate on what the evaluation would include. The Russian track and field team remains suspended from Rio de Janeiro after the IOC supported the ban, for systemic doping, which world athletics federation IAAF had extended on Friday. But Bach, speaking at the end of a summit on doping, offered a limited number of Russian athletes the chance to race under their flag. In a decision welcomed by the sports ministry in Moscow, he said those cleared by the IAAF or the Court of Arbitration for Sport as clean and eligible would be able to compete in Brazil. The unsatisfactory record of anti-doping bodies in Russia, as well as Kenya, had put "very serious doubts on the presumption of innocence" of their athletes, Bach said. But they had the right of appeal and "if there are (Russian) athletes qualified then they will compete as members of the Russian Olympic Committee team," he told reporters. The IAAF had said on Friday that any Russian athlete would have to compete under a neutral flag, a recommendation it reiterated on Tuesday following Bach's comments. "This decision has been unequivocally supported across sport and the IOC Summit today unanimously agreed to fully respect the IAAF decision," the federation said in a statement. (Reuters)

IOC offers Rio lifeline to Russian track and field athletes

A jaguar trotted out for the Olympic torch&#39;s passage through Brazil&#39;s Amazon was killed shortly afterward when it escaped its handlers and threatened a vet, the Brazilian military said on Tuesday. 
 
The feline - whose species is the symbol of the Amazon - was shot dead in the northern city of Manaus on Monday soon after it was photographed with the torch passing by. An attempt to use tranquilizer darts on it failed. 
 
&quot;It escaped and ran off as it was being moved from one area to another in the zoo,&quot; said Colonel Luiz Gustavo Evelyn, whose unit is deployed in the region. 
 
He explained that, once located, the jaguar was hit by four tranquilizer darts. But they did not slow it down and it turned on a veterinarian, forcing the soldiers to use bullets. 
 
&quot;To protect the handler, it was sacrificed,&quot; Evelyn said. 
 
The organizing committee of the Rio Games said it was &quot;very unhappy&quot; about the jaguar&#39;s killing. 
 
&quot;We erred by allowing the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and union among people, to be displayed next to a chained wild animal. That contradicts our beliefs and values,&quot; the committee said in a statement to AFP. 
 
&quot;We are very unhappy with the outcome. We guarantee there won&#39;t be more situations like this in the 2016 Rio Games.&quot; 
 
The animal, a 17-year-old female named Juma, had been raised since it was a cub and was kept in the military-run zoo in the Amazon with half a dozen siblings. 
 
Just before its escape, Juma and another jaguar had been exhibited as the Olympic torch crossing Brazil passed through the zoo on its way to Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting the Games due to start on August 5. 
 
&quot;Unfortunately, this occurred the day of the torch&#39;s passage,&quot; Evelyn said. &quot;The animal participated in the event because the torch went through the zoo.&quot; 
 
He added that Juma was not a wild animal, having been raised in captivity, and called its death &quot;very sad&quot;. 
 
The military has opened an investigation into the incident. 
 
A US-based animal rights group decried the jaguar&#39;s &quot;needless death&quot;. 
 
&quot;Wild animals held captive and forced to do things that are frightening, sometimes painful and always unnatural are ticking time bombs - our actions put them and humans at risk,&quot; Brittany Peet of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in a statement. 
 
The jaguar is the biggest feline in the Americas. It can weigh up to 135 kilograms and is in danger of extinction. 
 
(AFP)

The 17-year-old feline named Juma, whose species faces extinction, escaped and was put down after being unphased by four tranquilizer darts

A jaguar trotted out for the Olympic torch's passage through Brazil's Amazon was killed shortly afterward when it escaped its handlers and threatened a vet, the Brazilian military said on Tuesday. The feline - whose species is the symbol of the Amazon - was shot dead in the northern city of Manaus on Monday soon after it was photographed with the torch passing by. An attempt to use tranquilizer darts on it failed. "It escaped and ran off as it was being moved from one area to another in the zoo," said Colonel Luiz Gustavo Evelyn, whose unit is deployed in the region. He explained that, once located, the jaguar was hit by four tranquilizer darts. But they did not slow it down and it turned on a veterinarian, forcing the soldiers to use bullets. "To protect the handler, it was sacrificed," Evelyn said. The organizing committee of the Rio Games said it was "very unhappy" about the jaguar's killing. "We erred by allowing the Olympic torch, a symbol of peace and union among people, to be displayed next to a chained wild animal. That contradicts our beliefs and values," the committee said in a statement to AFP. "We are very unhappy with the outcome. We guarantee there won't be more situations like this in the 2016 Rio Games." The animal, a 17-year-old female named Juma, had been raised since it was a cub and was kept in the military-run zoo in the Amazon with half a dozen siblings. Just before its escape, Juma and another jaguar had been exhibited as the Olympic torch crossing Brazil passed through the zoo on its way to Rio de Janeiro, which is hosting the Games due to start on August 5. "Unfortunately, this occurred the day of the torch's passage," Evelyn said. "The animal participated in the event because the torch went through the zoo." He added that Juma was not a wild animal, having been raised in captivity, and called its death "very sad". The military has opened an investigation into the incident. A US-based animal rights group decried the jaguar's "needless death". "Wild animals held captive and forced to do things that are frightening, sometimes painful and always unnatural are ticking time bombs - our actions put them and humans at risk," Brittany Peet of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said in a statement. The jaguar is the biggest feline in the Americas. It can weigh up to 135 kilograms and is in danger of extinction. (AFP)

Jaguar photographed in Olympic torch event shot dead in Brazil

The Australian Olympic Committee has demanded Rio de Janeiro immediately ramps up security in the city after a Paralympic sailor and team official were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend while training for the Games. 
 
Australia&#39;s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said the incident was a &quot;light warning&quot; and that she had written to the Rio organising committee and mayor demanding action. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re demanding that the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues,&quot; she told reporters in Sydney. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s not an isolated incident,&quot; she added. &quot;It&#39;s got to a point now that steps and measures are taken to ensure that all our team members who go to Rio for the Olympic Games next month are safe.&quot; 
 
Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross said they were taking a bike ride in a park near their hotel at Flamengo Beach early on Sunday when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was carrying a pistol. 
 
Tesch, who won a sailing gold at the London Paralympic Games and has also competed in wheelchair basketball, told Australian television that the armed man pointed the gun at her and then shoved her to the ground. 
 
&quot;It was absolutely horrific, I can see it clear as day in my own head. We are both shaken, but physically we&#39;re both okay,&quot; said Tesch, who trained on her boat later that day. 
 
Chiller said the &quot;extremely concerning and disturbing&quot; incident was all the more worrying because it took place in broad daylight close to the training venue. 
 
The AOC, Chiller said, had decided to engage a private security firm in Rio and were considering extending their existing ban on athletes entering favelas to other areas of the city. 
 
Olympic organisers plan to deploy in excess of 85,000 security personnel for the Games, double the number used in London in 2012. 
 
&quot;It doesn&#39;t seem that 100,000 is enough,&quot; said Chiller. &quot;It&#39;s a lot more than we had in London, but Rio is not London and in my opinion we need to make sure all the competition and training venues are safe. If we take 750 people over in that team, we want 750 people to come back safe and secure.&quot; 
 
Security issues are just one of the concerns facing Rio, which on Friday declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfil obligations for public services during the Olympics. 
 
Emergency measures are needed to avoid &quot;a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management,&quot; a decree in the state&#39;s Official Gazette said. 
 
The financial pinch resulted in a 30 percent cut in the state&#39;s security budget, just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. 
 
The September 7-18 Paralympics follow the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend

The Australian Olympic Committee has demanded Rio de Janeiro immediately ramps up security in the city after a Paralympic sailor and team official were robbed at gunpoint over the weekend while training for the Games. Australia's Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller said the incident was a "light warning" and that she had written to the Rio organising committee and mayor demanding action. "We're demanding that the level of security forces, which number about 100,000, is reviewed and also we are also asking that they are deployed earlier prior to Games time, especially around training and competition venues," she told reporters in Sydney. "It's not an isolated incident," she added. "It's got to a point now that steps and measures are taken to ensure that all our team members who go to Rio for the Olympic Games next month are safe." Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and physiotherapist Sarah Ross said they were taking a bike ride in a park near their hotel at Flamengo Beach early on Sunday when they were confronted by two men, one of whom was carrying a pistol. Tesch, who won a sailing gold at the London Paralympic Games and has also competed in wheelchair basketball, told Australian television that the armed man pointed the gun at her and then shoved her to the ground. "It was absolutely horrific, I can see it clear as day in my own head. We are both shaken, but physically we're both okay," said Tesch, who trained on her boat later that day. Chiller said the "extremely concerning and disturbing" incident was all the more worrying because it took place in broad daylight close to the training venue. The AOC, Chiller said, had decided to engage a private security firm in Rio and were considering extending their existing ban on athletes entering favelas to other areas of the city. Olympic organisers plan to deploy in excess of 85,000 security personnel for the Games, double the number used in London in 2012. "It doesn't seem that 100,000 is enough," said Chiller. "It's a lot more than we had in London, but Rio is not London and in my opinion we need to make sure all the competition and training venues are safe. If we take 750 people over in that team, we want 750 people to come back safe and secure." Security issues are just one of the concerns facing Rio, which on Friday declared a state of financial emergency to help fulfil obligations for public services during the Olympics. Emergency measures are needed to avoid "a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport and environmental management," a decree in the state's Official Gazette said. The financial pinch resulted in a 30 percent cut in the state's security budget, just as Rio has seen a jump in homicides and assaults in recent months, raising concerns about safety ahead of the Olympics. The September 7-18 Paralympics follow the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games. (Reuters)

Australia demands extra Rio security after armed robbery

Brazil&#39;s interim President Michel Temer dismissed graft allegations against him as dishonest and reckless, pledging in a national address on Thursday that his government would not be distracted from fiscal reforms aimed at reviving the economy. 
 
Temer said it was &quot;irresponsible, ridiculous, mendacious and criminal&quot; to suggest, as former Petrobras executive Sergio Machado did in plea bargain testimony, that he had sought campaign funds for his party from a graft scheme at the state-run oil company. 
 
The testimony, made public by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, was the first direct link between Temer and the sweeping corruption probe that has thrown Brazil&#39;s politics into chaos and deepened its worst recession in decades. 
 
&quot;I say it again, when an idea as flippant as this comes out, it embarrasses or can embarrass the government&#39;s activity. But I want to say here, to register, loud and clear, nothing will embarrass our intentions, our mission, our task during the period in which I am in front of the presidency of the republic, with an extraordinary economic team, with a foreign affairs team which is equally as extraordinary, and a very adequate ministry. Nothing will impede us from continuing to work for the good of Brazil and the Brazilian people,&quot; said Temer in Brasilia on Thursday. 
 
The highly charged plea bargain implicating Temer and two dozen other elected officials, many of them senior members of his ruling coalition, stole the thunder from a landmark fiscal reform revealed the same day. 
 
Machado&#39;s plea deal included allegations that Temer had sought campaign funds for his party&#39;s 2012 Sao Paulo mayoral candidate from the graft scheme at Petrobras, the biggest ever uncovered in Brazil. 
 
The accusations provide more fodder for suspended President Dilma Rousseff and her allies, who accuse Temer and his party of&nbsp;&nbsp;mounting the impeachment process against her in order to distract from their own roles in the corruption scandal. Rousseff faces a trial in the Senate on unrelated charges of breaking budget rules. 
 
(Reuters)

The testimony by Petrobras executive Sergio Machado has thrown Brazil's politics into chaos and deepened its worst recession in decades

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer dismissed graft allegations against him as dishonest and reckless, pledging in a national address on Thursday that his government would not be distracted from fiscal reforms aimed at reviving the economy. Temer said it was "irresponsible, ridiculous, mendacious and criminal" to suggest, as former Petrobras executive Sergio Machado did in plea bargain testimony, that he had sought campaign funds for his party from a graft scheme at the state-run oil company. The testimony, made public by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, was the first direct link between Temer and the sweeping corruption probe that has thrown Brazil's politics into chaos and deepened its worst recession in decades. "I say it again, when an idea as flippant as this comes out, it embarrasses or can embarrass the government's activity. But I want to say here, to register, loud and clear, nothing will embarrass our intentions, our mission, our task during the period in which I am in front of the presidency of the republic, with an extraordinary economic team, with a foreign affairs team which is equally as extraordinary, and a very adequate ministry. Nothing will impede us from continuing to work for the good of Brazil and the Brazilian people," said Temer in Brasilia on Thursday. The highly charged plea bargain implicating Temer and two dozen other elected officials, many of them senior members of his ruling coalition, stole the thunder from a landmark fiscal reform revealed the same day. Machado's plea deal included allegations that Temer had sought campaign funds for his party's 2012 Sao Paulo mayoral candidate from the graft scheme at Petrobras, the biggest ever uncovered in Brazil. The accusations provide more fodder for suspended President Dilma Rousseff and her allies, who accuse Temer and his party of mounting the impeachment process against her in order to distract from their own roles in the corruption scandal. Rousseff faces a trial in the Senate on unrelated charges of breaking budget rules. (Reuters)

Brazil's Temer denies alleged link to Petrobras scandal

<div style="text-align: justify;">Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA&nbsp;said on Monday that a 20 billion-Reais ($5.7 billion) civil lawsuit seeking environmental and property damages for last year&#39;s deadly Samarco mine disaster has been dismissed. 
 
The mine is operated by Samarco Minera??o SA, a joint venture between Vale and the world&#39;s largest mining company, BHP Billiton Ltd. Vale said the judge did not rule on the merits of the case. 
 
A tailing&nbsp;dam burst at the mine in November and unleashed 60 million cubic meters of mud and mine waste that devastated a village, killed at least 13 people and polluted a major river valley. 
 
The National Humanitarian Society (Sohumana) filed the lawsuit before a federal judge in Rio de Janeiro in December. 
 
Brazil&#39;s federal and state governments also threatened to sue Samarco and its owners for 20 billion Reais in compensation for the disaster and a settlement was reached in March to cover the damages. 
 
Under the agreement, Samarco, BHP and Vale will pay the 20 billion Reais over 15 years to cover and repair damages. Vale, however, has outlined it expects to pay less than that due to the way the deal is structured, calculating future payments depending on how much work remains to be done. 
 
The settlement was approved by a Brazilian judge in May, which potentially reduced the threat of a separate $44 billion lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors in the states of Minas Gerais, where the mine is located, and neighbouring Esp?rito Santo, who based their claim on the clean-up costs of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. 
(Reuters)</div>

A lawsuit filed by National Humanitarian Society against Samarco about a mining disaster that killed 13 people has been shot down

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale SA said on Monday that a 20 billion-Reais ($5.7 billion) civil lawsuit seeking environmental and property damages for last year's deadly Samarco mine disaster has been dismissed. The mine is operated by Samarco Minera??o SA, a joint venture between Vale and the world's largest mining company, BHP Billiton Ltd. Vale said the judge did not rule on the merits of the case. A tailing dam burst at the mine in November and unleashed 60 million cubic meters of mud and mine waste that devastated a village, killed at least 13 people and polluted a major river valley. The National Humanitarian Society (Sohumana) filed the lawsuit before a federal judge in Rio de Janeiro in December. Brazil's federal and state governments also threatened to sue Samarco and its owners for 20 billion Reais in compensation for the disaster and a settlement was reached in March to cover the damages. Under the agreement, Samarco, BHP and Vale will pay the 20 billion Reais over 15 years to cover and repair damages. Vale, however, has outlined it expects to pay less than that due to the way the deal is structured, calculating future payments depending on how much work remains to be done. The settlement was approved by a Brazilian judge in May, which potentially reduced the threat of a separate $44 billion lawsuit filed by federal prosecutors in the states of Minas Gerais, where the mine is located, and neighbouring Esp?rito Santo, who based their claim on the clean-up costs of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. (Reuters)

Brazil judge rejects $5.7-billion civil suit against mining company

The threat of Zika at the Rio Olympics is on the mind of many athletes, but may be not more than&nbsp;China&#39;s former badminton world champion, Wang Yihan, who was attacked mercilessly by insects while competing in Indonesia last week. 
 
The svelte 28-year-old, who won silver in the women&#39;s singles at the London Games, was still smarting from red bites up and down her arms as she competed at the Australian Badminton Open in Sydney on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;They&#39;re itchy,&quot; she told Reuters, lathered in sweat after a tough opening round win over Scotland&#39;s Kirsty Gilmour at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. 
 
&quot;And the sweat makes it worse.&quot; 
 
&quot;I&#39;m really not sure what kind of bugs they were. I don&#39;t think they were mosquitoes. Maybe it was on the bed that I was sleeping on. 
 
&quot;I bought some cream for them, but they&#39;re still itchy.&quot; 
 
A number of athletes have already pulled out of the Olympics citing health risks associated with the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause crippling birth defects and development problems in babies. 
 
Others are declining to bring family members and loved ones with them. Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford decided to freeze his sperm to safeguard future plans for extending his young family. 
 
However, the outbreak in Brazil will not stop China from unleashing its full artillery of badminton champions, who will attempt to defend their sweep of five titles at London. 
 
&quot;Yes, I think everyone&#39;s been thinking about (Zika),&quot; Wang said. &quot;But obviously we&#39;ve been told about how to be safe, wearing repellent and staying indoors and so on.&quot; 
 
Shanghai-born Wang is determined to go one better at Rio, having been upset in London&#39;s gold-medal decider by compatriot Li Xuerui, an unheralded player, before her Olympic triumph. 
 
Wang&#39;s anguish upon losing the final was written large on her face and she was still gloomy as she mounted the podium next to her beaming team mate. 
 
&quot;I did feel disappointed at the time, even though it was my team mate who won the gold,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;Of course it&#39;s great to get any medal but in the end, there&#39;s only one champion.&quot; 
 
World badminton has changed the Olympic rules so that nations can only enter two shuttlers into the singles events, which will make it harder for China to repeat their London domination. 
 
Wang is currently ranked third in the world, ahead of fourth-ranked Li, with the top two spots occupied by Spain&#39;s world number one Carolina Marin and Thai Ratchanok Intanon. 
 
China&#39;s women have traditionally dominated the singles rankings, so the variety at the top has been welcomed by badminton fans and raised hope of a more open tournament at Rio. 
 
Wang said any number of players could win her event but felt Chongqing-born Li would be hard to beat and perhaps the biggest threat to her own gold ambitions. 
 
&quot;I think Li&#39;s game is really complete overall,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve both got our different strengths. 
 
&quot;There are other players like Ratchanok, Marin and (Indian player) Saina Nehwal who all have a chance but I think Li is still at a higher level.&quot;

Citing health risks associated with Zika virus, many athletes have pulled out of Olympics, while others are unwilling to bring family

The threat of Zika at the Rio Olympics is on the mind of many athletes, but may be not more than China's former badminton world champion, Wang Yihan, who was attacked mercilessly by insects while competing in Indonesia last week. The svelte 28-year-old, who won silver in the women's singles at the London Games, was still smarting from red bites up and down her arms as she competed at the Australian Badminton Open in Sydney on Wednesday. "They're itchy," she told Reuters, lathered in sweat after a tough opening round win over Scotland's Kirsty Gilmour at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre. "And the sweat makes it worse." "I'm really not sure what kind of bugs they were. I don't think they were mosquitoes. Maybe it was on the bed that I was sleeping on. "I bought some cream for them, but they're still itchy." A number of athletes have already pulled out of the Olympics citing health risks associated with the mosquito-borne virus, which can cause crippling birth defects and development problems in babies. Others are declining to bring family members and loved ones with them. Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford decided to freeze his sperm to safeguard future plans for extending his young family. However, the outbreak in Brazil will not stop China from unleashing its full artillery of badminton champions, who will attempt to defend their sweep of five titles at London. "Yes, I think everyone's been thinking about (Zika)," Wang said. "But obviously we've been told about how to be safe, wearing repellent and staying indoors and so on." Shanghai-born Wang is determined to go one better at Rio, having been upset in London's gold-medal decider by compatriot Li Xuerui, an unheralded player, before her Olympic triumph. Wang's anguish upon losing the final was written large on her face and she was still gloomy as she mounted the podium next to her beaming team mate. "I did feel disappointed at the time, even though it was my team mate who won the gold," she said. "Of course it's great to get any medal but in the end, there's only one champion." World badminton has changed the Olympic rules so that nations can only enter two shuttlers into the singles events, which will make it harder for China to repeat their London domination. Wang is currently ranked third in the world, ahead of fourth-ranked Li, with the top two spots occupied by Spain's world number one Carolina Marin and Thai Ratchanok Intanon. China's women have traditionally dominated the singles rankings, so the variety at the top has been welcomed by badminton fans and raised hope of a more open tournament at Rio. Wang said any number of players could win her event but felt Chongqing-born Li would be hard to beat and perhaps the biggest threat to her own gold ambitions. "I think Li's game is really complete overall," she said. "We've both got our different strengths. "There are other players like Ratchanok, Marin and (Indian player) Saina Nehwal who all have a chance but I think Li is still at a higher level."

Zika threat bugging Chinese shuttler Wang

Japanese scientists have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission around the world. 
Countries that are well connected to/from Brazil have been at particularly high risk of importation, researchers said. 
However, subtropical and tropical countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest risk of the virus spreading once it arrives in the country, they said. 
This means many nations in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, face the highest risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites, researchers said. 
France, southern parts of China, and the UAE also fall into this category having experienced previous outbreaks. 
&quot;We have shown that the predicted risk of local transmission was frequently seen in tropical and subtropical countries with dengue or chikungunya epidemic experience, while the risk of importation was more scattered around the world,&quot; said Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor of hygiene at Hokkaido University. 
The Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947, and then detected in 39 countries around the world, including the US, India and Japan, researchers said. 
In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was soon followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. 
The link between the two is not definitively understood, but is strongly suspected. Since the Brazil outbreak, Zika virus has been detected in an additional 39 countries, including in Europe, the UK, South America and Asia. 
Many researchers are working to anticipate the virus&#39;s potential spread, especially given that it can be carried by lightly infected travellers and then passed onto others by mosquitoes. 
Global concern and attention are elevated with thousands of visitors set to attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer. 
Nishiura and colleagues predicted the virus&#39; potential of importation and local transmission by the end of this year using a survival analysis model, information about airline transportation networks, and transmission data for dengue and chikungunya viruses, which are also transmitted by the same mosquito species. 
They collected Zika data up to January 31 this year and they note that new cases were confirmed in more countries shortly thereafter.

In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. In January 2016, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel guidance on affected countries, including the use of enhanced precautions, and guidelines for pregnant women.

Japanese scientists have developed a new tool that can predict the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission around the world. Countries that are well connected to/from Brazil have been at particularly high risk of importation, researchers said. However, subtropical and tropical countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases have the greatest risk of the virus spreading once it arrives in the country, they said. This means many nations in South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, face the highest risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites, researchers said. France, southern parts of China, and the UAE also fall into this category having experienced previous outbreaks. "We have shown that the predicted risk of local transmission was frequently seen in tropical and subtropical countries with dengue or chikungunya epidemic experience, while the risk of importation was more scattered around the world," said Hiroshi Nishiura, a professor of hygiene at Hokkaido University. The Zika virus was first found in Uganda in 1947, and then detected in 39 countries around the world, including the US, India and Japan, researchers said. In early 2015, a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was soon followed by a high number of microcephaly cases, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads. The link between the two is not definitively understood, but is strongly suspected. Since the Brazil outbreak, Zika virus has been detected in an additional 39 countries, including in Europe, the UK, South America and Asia. Many researchers are working to anticipate the virus's potential spread, especially given that it can be carried by lightly infected travellers and then passed onto others by mosquitoes. Global concern and attention are elevated with thousands of visitors set to attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer. Nishiura and colleagues predicted the virus' potential of importation and local transmission by the end of this year using a survival analysis model, information about airline transportation networks, and transmission data for dengue and chikungunya viruses, which are also transmitted by the same mosquito species. They collected Zika data up to January 31 this year and they note that new cases were confirmed in more countries shortly thereafter.

Japanese scientists develop new tool to predict spread of Zika virus

Rio de Janeiro police said on Monday that&nbsp;they were&nbsp;certain a 16-year-old girl was gang raped earlier this month, but added that it will be hard to prove&nbsp;that she was assaulted by more than 30 men, as alleged by her.

Two suspects in the case, which came to light after a video of the May 21 incident was posted to Twitter almost a week ago, shocking Brazilians, were placed in custody on Monday, authorities said. Arrest warrants are pending for four others.

In the clip, the semi-conscious naked girl is seen on a bed as men hurl insults and boast that 30 people had raped her. At one point, a man is seen touching her genitals.

&quot;I am convinced there was a rape, it&#39;s right there in the video, when the guy touched the girl,&quot; lead investigator Cristiana Bento said in a news conference.

&quot;The rape is proven,&quot; Bento said. &quot;What I want to do now is verify the extent of this rape and how many people took part.&quot;

Her remark was the first time police have definitively stated the girl, who has not been identified, was raped. Previously, they had said there were all indications that a rape had occurred but that they needed more proof.

Authorities said a medical exam of the victim was only performed five days after the incident, hindering their ability to gather physical evidence that would lead to additional suspects and arrests.

&nbsp;

DRUG GANG

The case has sparked a debate over sexism and violence in Brazil and raised security concerns ahead of Rio&#39;s hosting of the Summer Olympics in August. Crime has fallen in recent years in Rio, though there has been a recent increase in homicides.

The video, which was posted by one of the suspects, was widely shared across social media, prompting widespread outrage and igniting protests in several cities that continued Monday.

Some people, however, have focused their blame on the girl, with Bento noting that &quot;she is being victimized by people judging her because she may have dressed in a certain way.&quot;

Protesters chanted &quot;there was no rape&quot; and held placards stating the same thing during a small demonstration at a bus stop near the western Rio slum where the girl said the gang rape occurred.

Police scattered the crowd with pepper spray.

The O Globo newspaper posted on its website an audio sent via the Whatsapp messaging service in which an alleged member of the drug gang that controls the slum is heard ordering residents to attend the demonstration.

Bento, the investigator, said she is certain drug gang members were involved in raping the girl. She noted that police have an arrest warrant for Sergio Silva, the local head of the Red Command gang in the slum.

One suspect, 22-year-old Rai Souza, turned himself into police on Monday, authorities said. A second, 20-year-old local professional soccer player Lucas Perdomo, was arrested.

The girl at the center of the case is now under state protection. She&nbsp;and her family intend to leave Rio, officials said.

Brazil&#39;s Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes, visiting Rio for a meeting about Olympic security, said he would put the girl and her family in the federal government&#39;s witness protection program, should they want it.

Two suspects, who had come to light after the May 21 video was released on twitter, have been arrested. However, the allegation that the girl was raped by 30 men still needs to be testified

Rio de Janeiro police said on Monday that they were certain a 16-year-old girl was gang raped earlier this month, but added that it will be hard to prove that she was assaulted by more than 30 men, as alleged by her. Two suspects in the case, which came to light after a video of the May 21 incident was posted to Twitter almost a week ago, shocking Brazilians, were placed in custody on Monday, authorities said. Arrest warrants are pending for four others. In the clip, the semi-conscious naked girl is seen on a bed as men hurl insults and boast that 30 people had raped her. At one point, a man is seen touching her genitals. "I am convinced there was a rape, it's right there in the video, when the guy touched the girl," lead investigator Cristiana Bento said in a news conference. "The rape is proven," Bento said. "What I want to do now is verify the extent of this rape and how many people took part." Her remark was the first time police have definitively stated the girl, who has not been identified, was raped. Previously, they had said there were all indications that a rape had occurred but that they needed more proof. Authorities said a medical exam of the victim was only performed five days after the incident, hindering their ability to gather physical evidence that would lead to additional suspects and arrests. DRUG GANG The case has sparked a debate over sexism and violence in Brazil and raised security concerns ahead of Rio's hosting of the Summer Olympics in August. Crime has fallen in recent years in Rio, though there has been a recent increase in homicides. The video, which was posted by one of the suspects, was widely shared across social media, prompting widespread outrage and igniting protests in several cities that continued Monday. Some people, however, have focused their blame on the girl, with Bento noting that "she is being victimized by people judging her because she may have dressed in a certain way." Protesters chanted "there was no rape" and held placards stating the same thing during a small demonstration at a bus stop near the western Rio slum where the girl said the gang rape occurred. Police scattered the crowd with pepper spray. The O Globo newspaper posted on its website an audio sent via the Whatsapp messaging service in which an alleged member of the drug gang that controls the slum is heard ordering residents to attend the demonstration. Bento, the investigator, said she is certain drug gang members were involved in raping the girl. She noted that police have an arrest warrant for Sergio Silva, the local head of the Red Command gang in the slum. One suspect, 22-year-old Rai Souza, turned himself into police on Monday, authorities said. A second, 20-year-old local professional soccer player Lucas Perdomo, was arrested. The girl at the center of the case is now under state protection. She and her family intend to leave Rio, officials said. Brazil's Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes, visiting Rio for a meeting about Olympic security, said he would put the girl and her family in the federal government's witness protection program, should they want it.

Rio de Janeiro police arrest two men in gang rape case

Rio de Janeiro police swarmed two slums on Sunday searching for suspects in the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old Brazilian girl who siad more than 30 men assaulted her, a case that shocked the nation set to host the Olympics in August. 
 
More than 70&nbsp;Officers&nbsp;&nbsp;used helicoptors,armored vehicles and dogs to enter the slums,&nbsp;but there was no&nbsp;word if the suspects had&nbsp;been captured in the operation.&nbsp; 
 
In the five days since&nbsp;a video of the rape was posted by an alleged perpetrator on Twitter and set&nbsp;off a wave of outrage, police have brought in five people for questioning and made no arrests.&nbsp; 
 
Police said there are indications the gang rape occured on May 21, but they could not confirm how&nbsp;many took part. 
 
Over the weekend, women and men&nbsp;marched in several cities to demand justice and&nbsp;decry sexism in Brazilian culture. A woman who sits on the Supreme Court lashed out at a pervasive macho culture that permits such&nbsp;barbaric acts. 
 
&quot;&nbsp;Each and every woman is a victim,&quot; Justice Carmen Lucia said in a written statement.&quot; Our bodies are tormented, our souls are trashed. That is what these criminals think and do, and they must be quickly held accountable.&quot; 
 
The case added to the concerns about security in Rio and the political breakdown in Brazil as the city and the country prepare for South America&#39;s first Olympics starting August 5. 
 
?rime has fallen in recent years, but&nbsp;there has been an increase in homicides in recent months as Rio&#39;s police department had its budget slashed during an economic downturn.&nbsp; 
 
The country&#39;s elected President, Dilma Rousseff, has been suspended on allegations she broke budget laws, and her impeachment trials in the Senate will likely play out as the&nbsp;Games are held.&nbsp; 
 
Brazil&#39;s worst economic crisis since the 1930s&nbsp; has compounded political chaos. 
 
In addition, an outbreak of the Zika virus has prompted health warnings and led top&nbsp;global health experts to advise the Games be postponed or moved. 
 
The reported&nbsp;rape came to light in&nbsp;a video of the nude, semi-conscious youth, with a few men brazenly insulting the girl, showing their faces and, one man heard saying:&quot; More than&nbsp; 30 impregnated her!&quot; The Twitter account where the video had been posted has been suspended. 
 
Both,&nbsp;Rousseff, the first woman to be elected President in&nbsp;Brazil and interim President Michel temer condemned the act.&nbsp; 
 
&#39;FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF TRASH&#39;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
In an interview with Rio&#39;s O&nbsp;Globo newspaper, the alleged victim said she&nbsp;wanted&nbsp; to &nbsp;see justice done so that&nbsp;no other person would have to go through the brutal assault like the one she said she suffered. 
 
&quot; Today, I feel like a piece of trash, she told the newspaper.&quot; I hope that no other person ever feels this way.&quot; 
 
Late on Sunday, the police siad in an emailed statement tehy removed the original lead investigator fromt he case. 
 
That was in response to a formal request made by the alleged victim&#39;s lawyer, Eloisa Samy, to have investigator Alessandro Thiers taken off the case because she said he made the girl feel uncomfortable during questioning. 
 
Samy told TV Globo in an interview that Thiers asked the girl if she participated in group sex parties. 
 
Samy was not immidiately available to provide further details. 
 
&nbsp;

 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

Police brought in five people for questioning but no arrests made.

Rio de Janeiro police swarmed two slums on Sunday searching for suspects in the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old Brazilian girl who siad more than 30 men assaulted her, a case that shocked the nation set to host the Olympics in August. More than 70 Officers used helicoptors,armored vehicles and dogs to enter the slums, but there was no word if the suspects had been captured in the operation. In the five days since a video of the rape was posted by an alleged perpetrator on Twitter and set off a wave of outrage, police have brought in five people for questioning and made no arrests. Police said there are indications the gang rape occured on May 21, but they could not confirm how many took part. Over the weekend, women and men marched in several cities to demand justice and decry sexism in Brazilian culture. A woman who sits on the Supreme Court lashed out at a pervasive macho culture that permits such barbaric acts. " Each and every woman is a victim," Justice Carmen Lucia said in a written statement." Our bodies are tormented, our souls are trashed. That is what these criminals think and do, and they must be quickly held accountable." The case added to the concerns about security in Rio and the political breakdown in Brazil as the city and the country prepare for South America's first Olympics starting August 5. ?rime has fallen in recent years, but there has been an increase in homicides in recent months as Rio's police department had its budget slashed during an economic downturn. The country's elected President, Dilma Rousseff, has been suspended on allegations she broke budget laws, and her impeachment trials in the Senate will likely play out as the Games are held. Brazil's worst economic crisis since the 1930s has compounded political chaos. In addition, an outbreak of the Zika virus has prompted health warnings and led top global health experts to advise the Games be postponed or moved. The reported rape came to light in a video of the nude, semi-conscious youth, with a few men brazenly insulting the girl, showing their faces and, one man heard saying:" More than 30 impregnated her!" The Twitter account where the video had been posted has been suspended. Both, Rousseff, the first woman to be elected President in Brazil and interim President Michel temer condemned the act. 'FEEL LIKE A PIECE OF TRASH' In an interview with Rio's O Globo newspaper, the alleged victim said she wanted to see justice done so that no other person would have to go through the brutal assault like the one she said she suffered. " Today, I feel like a piece of trash, she told the newspaper." I hope that no other person ever feels this way." Late on Sunday, the police siad in an emailed statement tehy removed the original lead investigator fromt he case. That was in response to a formal request made by the alleged victim's lawyer, Eloisa Samy, to have investigator Alessandro Thiers taken off the case because she said he made the girl feel uncomfortable during questioning. Samy told TV Globo in an interview that Thiers asked the girl if she participated in group sex parties. Samy was not immidiately available to provide further details.

Rio de Janeiro police search slums for gang rape suspects

Brazilian police on Friday were investigating the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl whose attackers boasted about it by posting an online video of her that has horrified the country.

Online social networks erupted with outrage over the video posted on Wednesday featuring the girl naked on a bed and the apparent rapists bragging that she had been raped by more than 30 men.

They are suspected of assaulting her on May 21 in Rio de Janeiro, a city stricken by violent crime that will host the Olympic Games in August.

&ldquo;There are strong indications that the young woman was raped,&rdquo; Rio police chief Fernando Veloso told a news conference. 
&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
30 men gangrape Brazilian teen; post pictures, videos on Twitter 
 
Brazil, May 28th: Brazil&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/bdeUoFJZjh">https://t.co/bdeUoFJZjh</a> <a href="https://t.co/bqYssc2xLs">pic.twitter.com/bqYssc2xLs</a>
&mdash; muhammad waseem (@mw569256) <a href="https://twitter.com/mw569256/status/736474778085646336">May 28, 2016</a></blockquote>

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&ldquo;We cannot say whether there were 30 attackers, 33 or 36. The investigations will determine that,&rdquo; he said.

Police have identified four of the men suspected of taking a &ldquo;direct or indirect&rdquo; part in the rape or the posting of the video, he added.

Brazil&rsquo;s acting president Michel Temer and other senior figures reacted with outrage.

&ldquo;I condemn most forcefully the rape of the teenager in Rio de Janeiro,&rdquo; he wrote on Twitter. 
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<h5>&quot;This case is not unusual,&quot; said Luise Bello, spokeswoman for women&rsquo;s rights group Think Olga, of the Rio gang-rape. &quot;The culture of rape is very strong in Brazil. It is part of our daily life, although people deny it.&quot;</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=&quot;This case is not unusual,&quot; said Luise Bello, spokeswoman for women?s rights group Think Olga, of the Rio gang-rape.

&quot;The culture of rape is very strong in Brazil. It is part of our daily life, although people deny it.&quot;">&nbsp;</a></div>
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&ldquo;It is absurd that in the 21st century we should have to live with barbaric crimes such as this.&rdquo;

The authorities are working &ldquo;to find those responsible and rigorously punish the authors of this rape and the publishing of this criminal act on social networks,&rdquo; he said.

 
Brazil&rsquo;s &lsquo;culture of rape&rsquo;&nbsp; 
The United Nations women&rsquo;s rights agency condemned the case along with another recent alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in the northeastern state of Piaui.

&ldquo;Apart from the fact that these are young women, these barbaric cases are similar in that the teenagers were lured by their attackers in premeditated plots,&rdquo; UN Women in Brazil spokeswoman Nadine Gasman said on Thursday.

&ldquo;They were violently attacked in a context of illegal drug use.&rdquo;

Brazilian police recorded a sexual assault in the country every 11 minutes in 2014, the Brazilian non-governmental organisation Public Safety Forum said in a study, estimating that half a million such assaults take place overall each year.

&ldquo;This case is not unusual,&rdquo; said Luise Bello, spokeswoman for women&rsquo;s rights group Think Olga, of the Rio gang-rape.

&ldquo;The culture of rape is very strong in Brazil. It is part of our daily life, although people deny it.&rdquo;

Top officials were meeting to discuss new measures to stop violence against women, Temer said.

He took over as interim president earlier this month from suspended leftist leader Dilma Rousseff, who faces an impeachment trial for allegedly fiddling government accounts.

Rousseff, Brazil&rsquo;s first female president, also expressed outrage over the Rio case.

&ldquo;Once more I reiterate my condemnation of violence against women,&rdquo; she wrote on Facebook.

Countless messages of condemnation on social networks have included calls for a street demonstration in Rio on Friday evening.

Graphic footage of a 16-year-old getting gang-raped shocks the country, and beyond

Brazilian police on Friday were investigating the gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl whose attackers boasted about it by posting an online video of her that has horrified the country. Online social networks erupted with outrage over the video posted on Wednesday featuring the girl naked on a bed and the apparent rapists bragging that she had been raped by more than 30 men. They are suspected of assaulting her on May 21 in Rio de Janeiro, a city stricken by violent crime that will host the Olympic Games in August. “There are strong indications that the young woman was raped,” Rio police chief Fernando Veloso told a news conference. 30 men gangrape Brazilian teen; post pictures, videos on Twitter Brazil, May 28th: Brazil… https://t.co/bdeUoFJZjh pic.twitter.com/bqYssc2xLs — muhammad waseem (@mw569256) May 28, 2016 “We cannot say whether there were 30 attackers, 33 or 36. The investigations will determine that,” he said. Police have identified four of the men suspected of taking a “direct or indirect” part in the rape or the posting of the video, he added. Brazil’s acting president Michel Temer and other senior figures reacted with outrage. “I condemn most forcefully the rape of the teenager in Rio de Janeiro,” he wrote on Twitter. "This case is not unusual," said Luise Bello, spokeswoman for women’s rights group Think Olga, of the Rio gang-rape. "The culture of rape is very strong in Brazil. It is part of our daily life, although people deny it." “It is absurd that in the 21st century we should have to live with barbaric crimes such as this.” The authorities are working “to find those responsible and rigorously punish the authors of this rape and the publishing of this criminal act on social networks,” he said. Brazil’s ‘culture of rape’ The United Nations women’s rights agency condemned the case along with another recent alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old girl in the northeastern state of Piaui. “Apart from the fact that these are young women, these barbaric cases are similar in that the teenagers were lured by their attackers in premeditated plots,” UN Women in Brazil spokeswoman Nadine Gasman said on Thursday. “They were violently attacked in a context of illegal drug use.” Brazilian police recorded a sexual assault in the country every 11 minutes in 2014, the Brazilian non-governmental organisation Public Safety Forum said in a study, estimating that half a million such assaults take place overall each year. “This case is not unusual,” said Luise Bello, spokeswoman for women’s rights group Think Olga, of the Rio gang-rape. “The culture of rape is very strong in Brazil. It is part of our daily life, although people deny it.” Top officials were meeting to discuss new measures to stop violence against women, Temer said. He took over as interim president earlier this month from suspended leftist leader Dilma Rousseff, who faces an impeachment trial for allegedly fiddling government accounts. Rousseff, Brazil’s first female president, also expressed outrage over the Rio case. “Once more I reiterate my condemnation of violence against women,” she wrote on Facebook. Countless messages of condemnation on social networks have included calls for a street demonstration in Rio on Friday evening.

Gang-rape video from Brazil shocks the world

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