Brazil

Brazilian government calls Prince Charles "Chaves"

Brazilian government calls Prince Charles "Chaves" Brasilia  - The Brazilian presidency got stuck in a diplomatic fumble Wednesday when it got wrong the name of Britain's Prince Charles in an official agenda.

As the Prince of Wales started a five-day visit to the South American country, the first version of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's agenda mentioned a meeting with "Charles Philip Arthur Chaves," according to Brazilian news website G1. The complete name of the heir to the British crown is Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor.

Brazil should further lower trade barriers: WTO

World EconomyGeneva - Brazil should further reduce barriers to trade in order to boost its economy, particularly given the global economic downturn, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in a report released Monday.

The report was prepared in February ahead of Brazil's trade policy review, which goes on for three days and will conclude on Wednesday.

Lula blasts archbishop for excommunications over child's abortion

Lula blasts archbishop for excommunications over child's abortion Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Friday said it was "regrettable" that a Roman Catholic archbishop excommunicated the mother of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion after being raped by her stepfather.

Brazilian Archbishop Jose Gomes Sobrinho also excommunicated the doctors who performed the procedure.

"As a Christian and a Catholic, I deeply regret that a bishop has had such conservative behaviour," Lula told reporters in the city of Vitoria.

Archbishop excommunicates mother, doctors for 9-year-old's abortion

Rio de Janeiro  - The Catholic Church on Thursday excommunicated the mother of a 9-year-old girl who had an abortion after being raped by her stepfather.

Brazilian Archbishop Jose Gomes Sobrinho also excommunicated the doctors who performed the procedure ending the girl's pregnancy with twins.

Abortion is illegal in predominantly Catholic Brazil, but the law admits exceptions, allowing it in cases of rape and pregnancies that put the mother's life at risk.

According to the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife in northeastern Brazil, all the people involved in the termination of the pregnancy on Wednesday, had committed "a serious crime," more specifically "homicide against two innocent lives."

Ronaldo returns to action after over a year out

Ronaldo returns to action after over a year outRio de Janeiro - Ronaldo made his long-awaited return to competitive football Wednesday, making a second-half appearance as a substitute for Brazilian side Corinthians in a cup match against Itumbria.

Three-time world footballer of the year Ronaldo failed to get on the scoresheet after coming on in the 68th minute but saw his side win 2-0.

The 32-year-old striker has been out of action since undergoing knee surgery on his left knee to cure an injury he picked up while playing for AC Milan in February 2008.

Nine-year-old Brazilian girl, raped by stepfather, aborts twins

Rio de Janeiro  - A nine-year-old Brazilian girl, who was raped by her stepfather and conceived twins, had an abortion Wednesday, doctors said.

Sergio Cabral of the University of Pernambuco's Amaury de Medeiros Integrated Health Centre said the procedure was successful and the girl was recovering quickly.

Abortion is illegal in Brazil, but the law admits exceptions, allowing it in cases of rape and pregnancies that put the mother's life at risk. Cabral said the abortion was carried out with the consent of the girl and her mother.

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