Barack Obama opened his first tour of Latin America by acknowledging Brazil’s aspirations to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as he arrived in the Brazilian capital on Saturday.
The US president also sought to build a personal connection with his host, Brazil’s new president Dilma Rousseff, while stressing the economic benefits for the US of the tour, which has been criticised as ill-timed with crises breaking out in Libya and Japan.
“The United States will continue our efforts to make sure that the new realities of the 21st century are reflected in international institutions … including the United Nations, where Brazil aspires to a seat on the Security Council,” Mr Obama said during a joint appearance before the media with Ms Rousseff.
The comments fell short of hopes in some quarters in Brazil that Mr Obama might express support for the country’s UN aspirations, as he did for India during a visit to New Delhi last year. Read more
By Joe Leahy in Brasília
Brazil’s Carnival kicked off Thursday with millions of people taking to the streets of the northeastern city of Salvador de Bahia to dance and party, effectively putting the nation on a week-long hiatus.
Over the coming days, the festivities will consume the entire country of 193 million people.
The climax arrives Sunday and Monday with Rio de Janeiro‘s extravagant and sexy parades, replete with near-naked dancing queens and over-the-top fantasy floats.
Even the capital Brasilia was suspending political and legislative work, with many lawmakers leaving town to enjoy the celebrations.
“Brazil’s Carnival is a tradition. Nobody can resist the need to be part of it,” the head of the senate, Jose Sarney, said.
Salvador de Bahia, with its heady melange of African rhythms and Portuguese colonial architecture, as usual was quickest to get the party started, playing host to dozens of street dance-and-drinking celebrations Thursday.
Google was inciting envy worldwide by broadcasting the fun there through its YouTube site.
The annual pre-Easter frenzy of non-stop partying, drinking, flirting and concerts in Brazil is a big tourist draw, especially for Rio, where authorities have cracked down in recent weeks and months on criminal gangs to improve the city’s violent image.
Rio will join the festivities on Friday night, like most of the country.
Then, Sunday and Monday, the top Carnival parade groups — Rio’s samba schools — will crown the rejoicing by filing through the 70,000-seat Sambadrome stadium for a global broadcast audience. (more…)
