New Delhi, Feb 11 : A Brazilian website is selling a coffee cup which was reportedly used by Tom Cruise while on holiday in Forte da Urca, Brazil.

So far the empty cup has a sale price of 2,200 dollars, reports the China Daily.

The man who initiated the auction on website Mercado Libre goes by the screen name Rafael Mak.

The authenticity of the sale has, however, been contested.

London  - Brazil's Italy-based internationals said Monday they were looking forward to meeting the Azzurri in a high-level friendly in London Tuesday.

Inter Milan defender Douglas Maicon, one of the 10 Serie A players summoned by coach Dunga, Monday told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "It never occurred to me to play against the national team of the country where I play.

"I hope it all goes well for Brazil. It will certainly be a good experience."

Sao Paulo  - An airplane carrying 24 people crashed into a river in the state of Amazonas in northern Brazil late Saturday.

The turboprop plane manufactured by Brazilian company Embraer was on its way to Manaus and crashed because of unknown reasons in the Manacapuro River. Officials said the plane disappeared from the radar screens about 20 minutes before its scheduled arrival.

At the last minute, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in the town of Manacapuro, but crashed about 500 metres from the runway.

Rio de Janeiro  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday that he prays for US President Barack Obama to be successful in his efforts to overcome the ongoing economic and financial crisis.

"I pray for him more than I pray for myself, that he may find a way out for the United States. And who knows whether that may help solve the problem for other countries," Lula said as he opened a hydroelectric plant in the central Brazilian state of Tocantins.

Nuremberg, Germany - Toys made of a renewable material, bamboo, or tiny cars that demonstrate low-emission engines are eye-catching examples of a green trend at the Nuremberg Toy Fair which opened Thursday.

While no one could claim that the vast variety of plastic dolls and semiconductor-filled remote-control cars at Nuremberg are biodegradable, a few manufacturers have put environmental standards at the centre.

"We see it as the children's future. Toys ought not to damage our environment," said Felicitas Hoegger of Slowtoys, a tiny Swiss company, that uses recycled cardboard to make dolls' houses.

Rio de Janeiro - At least nine people, including a teenager, died Wednesday as police raided four slums in Rio de Janeiro in the fight against drug trafficking.

According to the city's Civil Defence Department, about 300 police officers took part in the operation in the favelas (slums) of Coreia, Taquaral, Rebu and Vila Aliança, in western Rio.

Police chief Rodrigo Oliveira claimed at least six of the dead were criminals. Police seized firearms and arrested three alleged drug dealers.