Brazil: Intense fire rages through slum in Sao Paulo; injuries but no deaths reported

September 25th, 2009 No injuries, evacuations from refinery fire in LALOS ANGELES — Los Angeles fire officials say they've choked off a fire at an oil refinery south of downtown, but nearby schools are being urged to keep students indoors until the smoke clears. The fire at the 300-acre Tesoro Corp.

September 24th, 2009 Brazil fireworks blast flattens homes, kills 3SAO PAULO — A fireworks explosion demolished several houses and killed at least three people on the outskirts of Sao Paulo on Thursday, officials said. About five houses were turned into rubble, and at least 14 people were injured by the blast in a residential neighborhood in the city of Santo Andre, according to the local fire department.

September 24th, 2009 Reports: 11 dead in fireworks explosion in BrazilSAO PAULO — An explosion has rocked a neighborhood on the outskirts of Sao Paulo and Brazilian news media say a fireworks store exploded, killing at least 11. Bandeirantes TV showed destroyed buildings and overturned cars and it said an entire city block was blown up.

September 8th, 2009 Tornado, mudslides kill 16 in Argentina, BrazilBUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A violent storm that spawned a tornado and mudslides killed at least 16 people across northern Argentina and southern Brazil, authorities said Tuesday. Dozens were injured in the winds and hail as their homes were destroyed.

September 8th, 2009 Tornado, mudslides kill 15 in Argentina, BrazilBUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A violent storm that spawned a tornado and mudslides killed at least 15 people across northern Argentina and southern Brazil, authorities said Tuesday. Dozens were injured in the winds and hail as their homes were destroyed.

August 27th, 2009 Fire rages at chemical plant near DetroitHAMTRAMCK, Mich. — A fire broke out Thursday at a chemical plant near Detroit, sending flames and black smoke hundreds of feet into the air and forcing a nearby expressway to be closed.

August 23rd, 2009 SAO PAULO - Brazil will build five submarines in collaboration with France to protect its vast off shore oil reserves in the Amazon region, a media report said Sunday. The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already approved the submarine project prepared by the defence ministry.

August 16th, 2009 Mexico's president favor trade deal with BrazilSAO PAULO — Mexican President Felipe Calderon says he supports the idea of a free trade agreement between Brazil and Mexico, the two biggest economies in Latin America. Calderon says he's enthusiastic about the idea of a deal proposed by Brazilian business executives to push for a commercial accord for the two nations.

August 1st, 2009 Brazil busts international prostitution ringSAO PAULO — Brazilian police say they have busted a ring that allegedly sent some 200 women in the last year to the United States, Europe and elsewhere to work as prostitutes. Leandro Daiello Coimbra of the federal police in Sao Paulo tells state-run Agencia Brasil that nine Brazilians and one American were arrested in Brazil on Friday.

July 24th, 2009 SAO PAULO - Nine people were killed and 17 others injured when the passenger bus in which they were travelling rammed into a truck in southern Brazil Thursday, officials said. The accident occurred early Thursday in Parana State.

July 2nd, 2009 Brazil launches bus powered by hydrogen fuel cellsSAO PAULO — Sao Paulo state officials have launched what they say is Latin America's first passenger bus with an electric engine powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Gov. Jose Serra says the bus will start test runs on the streets of South America's biggest city in August and will be joined by three similarly powered vehicles next year.

May 14th, 2009 Brazil slum residents riot after police drug raidSAO PAULO — Slum dwellers rioted after the arrest of drug dealers in a Sao Paulo shantytown Wednesday, burning vehicles and tires, pelting police with rocks and briefly shutting down a major urban highway, local media said. During a 90-minute rampage, rioters set fire to a van, a bus and a truck in the Tiqautira neighborhood after authorities arrested a group of young men suspected of being drug dealers, CBN radio said.

May 14th, 2009 Brazil slum residents torch cars after drug raidSAO PAULO — A police anti-drug raid in a Sao Paulo slum has enraged inhabitants who burned vehicles and tires in protest. CBN Radio says residents set fire to a van, a bus and a truck during 90 minutes of upheaval in the Tiqautira neighborhood.

May 12th, 2009 Brazil flood chaos eases, but 265K still homelessSAO PAULO, Brazil — The chaos from epic flooding in northern Brazil has eased, with the number of homeless dropping from more than 300,000 to 265,000. Officials say people have started heading back home in some of the 10 states affected by the floods — an affected area three times the size of Alaska.

January 18th, 2009 SAO PAULO - The collapse of the roof at a church here Sunday night killed at least seven people, authorities said. The failure of the structure left at least 40 people injured, some seriously, according to media reports in Brazil.