The Changing Face of Lapa
By Felicity Clarke, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Lapa, Rio’s frenzied center of culture and nightlife, is undergoing major changes as a series of initiatives to improve safety, regulate business and conserve the heritage of the area take effect. Heightened presence and activity of the citywide public order guards, Choque de Ordem, in [...]
Health Fears Close Rio Bars and Shops
By Sibel Tinar, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Currently aiming to attain a standard of improved quality in many aspects of life in Rio de Janeiro, the Prefeitura intends to continue its six-month long campaign against bars and restaurants flouting hygiene regulations, closing and fining several establishments across the city in the process. Operation [...]
Fire Engulfs Rio Hillside
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – At around 10PM on Saturday night a wildfire spread across Morro dos Cabritos in the Copacabana corner of the Lagoa neighborhood, its size and speed assisted by strong winds. The fire department responded before houses were seriously at risk and no injuries were reported, but [...]
Favelas Demolished as Rains Kill 230
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Last week’s flooding wreaked havoc in Rio with the heaviest rains in fifty years bringing the city to a standstill on Tuesday and Wednesday. With the death toll now estimated at around 250 people following a huge landslide in Morro do Bumba, the Governor Sergio [...]
77 Dead as Storm Rains Chaos on Rio
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Monday night saw intense rains fall on Rio de Janeiro which continued throughout Tuesday, flooding roads, causing landslides, and prompting city mayor Eduardo Paes to recommend Cariocas not to attempt their journeys to work or school on Tuesday morning. Winds up to 75km/hour struck the [...]
Ibsen Amendment Mobilizes Rio
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – Last Wednesday saw the largest political protest march in the city of Rio since 1992’s rally against controversial President Fernando Collor as thousands of politicians, celebrities and citizens from across the state descended on Avenida Rio Branco. The source of the collective anguish was the [...]
World Urban Forum Arrives in Rio
By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The week after a conference was held in PUC University, Gavea, to discuss the current travails of the United Nations, one of its more successful programs, The World Urban Forum (WUF), arrives in Rio de Janeiro to discuss modern urban life at a time when, [...]
Rio’s Athletes Receive R$12M
By Jayme Monsanto, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) and the Prefeitura (local government) have just signed a deal to invest more money in young Carioca athletes that have medal potential in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Time Rio (‘Team Rio’) is the name of the new [...]
2016 Olympic Preparations Underway
By Jayme Monsanto, Senior Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – On October 2nd the world’s attention was fixed on Copenhagen, Denmark, as Jaques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Rio de Janeiro had been chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games ahead of Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. The announcement ensured that Brazil [...]
Gay Pride Parade Turns 14
By Bruno De Nicola, Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO – The 14th annual Gay Pride Parade is set to take over Copacabana beach on November 1 in a mega-party aimed at tackling discrimination based on sexual orientation. Two million people from all over the globe are expected to attend this year’s event. Along with the [...]