BRASIL: Transport Min. Nascimento Resigns...After 5% Kickbacks Alleged.

                                         M.PRESS
The press is now calling Transport Minister Alfredo Nascimento (above)..."Senhor 5%."


He resigned suddenly after the magazine VEJA reported that his aides were charging companies a 5% fee to win contracts.


His quick exit may mean that President Rousseff is less tolerant of corruption than her predecessor Lula da Silva...especially in the... $1tn... infrastructure area...crucial to Brasil's hosting of the 2014 World Cup, 2016 Olympics...and clogged highways and ports.

BRASIL: Veja Claims Again...Al Queda And Other Terrorists...Hiding On Brasil's Border.

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   Veja magazine claims that at least 21 people affiliated with al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas and two other organizations are hiding in Brasil.
   It says these members have been raising money and working to incite attacks abroad.
   The USA has long claimed that Islamic militants operate in the tri-border region between Brasil, Paraguay and Argentina...which Brasil vehemently denies.

BRASIL: Actor Sylvester Stallone Accused Of Stiffing Rio Company Of Millions.

GUARDIAN/       Veja magazine reports that actor Sylvester Stallone left Brasil after shooting his film, "The Expendables," in April 2009... allegedly without paying debts of nearly £1.4m. Stallone, 64, is being sued by his Brasilian partners, O2, the firm behind "Blindness" and "City of God."  Veja claims O2's accountants hired armed guards after being harassed by unpaid employees. Brasilian drivers for the film had "threatened to invade O2's offices in Rio".

PARAGUAY: "VEJA" Calls It A "Rich Beggar."

MERCO PRESS/           Brasil's influential weekly magazine "Veja," is calling neighboring Paraguay a “rich beggar." "Veja" likens the nation to a man dressed as a beggar to ask for alms and pity, and claims that this also works in Latin American diplomacy. “Officially Paraguay’s per capita income is 2,300 USD, but the right figure is according to economist Enis Weber is 6,160 USD which puts the country four steps higher above Colombia and Peru in regional ranking." He claims that President Fernando Lugo (pictured) supports the distorted figures.                                                       

BRASIL: Speculation Lula Wants To Be U.N. Chief .

MIAMI HERALD/ Andres Oppenheimer/ Opinion/        "Veja," Brasil's leading weekly magazine hints that President Lula da Silva may consider running for United Nations secretary general after he leaves office this year. Former U.N. official Diego Arria,claims ``Lula would be a very strong candidate because of Brazil's weight as an increasingly independent power, and because of his international prestige.''

O Fuxico: Lula May Take 3-Month Leave To Campaign For Rousseff!

BLOOMBERG/
Veja Magazine reports that Brasilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva may take a three-month leave of absence to campaign for his Cabinet Chief Dilma Rousseff in the 2010 elections.
Lula has been mentioning that possibility to some of his Cabinet ministers, the magazine reported in its Radar column. Rousseff is trailing badly in recent polls. (See Sept 23rd story)