Jet Crashes, Explodes in Brazil

Mayor must still sign it before it becomes law

(NEWSER) - We're here, not queer, get used to it? Sao Paolo's city council has just passed legislation designating an official Heterosexual Pride Day to be held on the third Sunday of each December, the AP reports. Mayor Gilberto Kassab must sign the bill before it goes into effect, however, and he hasn't said if he will. The bill's author, Carlos Apolinario, insists it's "not anti-gay, but a protest against the privileges the gay community enjoys." More»

Problems at huge hydroelectric dam spread beyond border

(NEWSER) - Trouble at the world’s largest hydroelectric dam has millions in Brazil without power tonight. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro—the nation’s largest cities, with combined metropolitan populations well beyond 20 million—are affected, as are many smaller towns. An official at the Itaipu dam tells the BBC that it has lost its entire hydroelectric output. CBS reported over the weekend that hackers are beyond recent blackouts, a charge Brazil’s government denied. More»

(NEWSER) - A French airline-workers union has urged Air France crews to boycott long-haul Airbus jets until new speed sensors are installed, the Times of London reports. “To prevent a repeat” of the Flight 447 disaster, the Alter union said, “we call on flight deck and cabin crew to refuse all flights aboard the A330 and A340 series which have not been modified.” Alter represents 10% of Air France crews. More»

(NEWSER) - The Air France flight that disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean early today after leaving Rio de Janeiro for Paris is believed to have crashed, Reuters reports. Mechanical malfunctions kept the aircraft's crew from keeping in touch with air-traffic controllers after they reported serious turbulence about 4 hours into the flight. "It is probably a combination of circumstances that could have led to the crash," an airline rep said. More»

He clings to life after suicide attempt in wake of plunging market

(NEWSER) - A Brazilian trader was in critical condition after shooting himself in the chest on the floor of the nation's commodities and futures exchange yesterday. The tragedy occurred in the raucous interest rate futures pit, where some $21 billion in contracts are traded daily. Brazil's main stock index has plunged 50% since May. More»