Brazil

A mudslide caused by two days of downpours has killed at least 13 people in a small town in southeastern Brazil, and another 11 are listed as missing, the head of the Rio de Janeiro state civil defence department says.

Brazil provides opportunities for New Zealand universities, writes Andrew Kaushal.

Brazil, with playmaker Ronaldinho back in the side, struggled to beat 10-man Ghana 1-0 in a friendly at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground in London.

Germany ended an 18-year wait for a victory over Brazil and Italy beat Spain in a meeting of the last two world champions in friendlies on Wednesday.

Carnival is still a few days away, but some Brazilians are already strutting through the streets wearing next to nothing.

At least 16 people were electrocuted when a power line fell atop a packed pre-Carnival street parade in rural Brazil, police say.

Summer rains have sent tonnes of red mud and torrents of water rushing down mountainsides in towns outside Rio de Janeiro, enveloping homes of rich and poor alike and killing at least 257 people in 24 hours. Some survivors clung to trees to escape the water and landslides.

Brazilians are battling the bulge. A government study says the South American country known for its bikinis is expanding at the waistline.

After clinging to life rafts in high seas for up to 40 hours, 64 students and crew, including a New Zealand teen, rescued from a sinking Canadian sailing ship have begun arriving in Rio de Janeiro.

Surgeons today successfully removed four sewing needles from the lung and near the heart of a Brazilian toddler, allegedly plunged into him by his stepfather during a month-long series of bizarre rituals.