SÃO PAULO – With just days until the 2014 FIFA World Cup kickoff in Brazil, concerns are growing over whether the tournament will be marred by protests, further damaging the country’s already tarnished image, or whether the “Land of Football” will come together to support the world’s biggest football event.
strike
Anadolu Agency
SÃO PAULO – A wildcat strike by bus drivers in São Paulo continued for a second day on Wednesday, with many commuters struggling to reach workplaces and schools.
Drivers and conductors from five bus companies continued their walkout and protested at various locations, with buses lined up to block bus lanes and at least nine of 28 bus terminals out of action by early Wednesday evening.
The stoppages come just three weeks ahead of the World Cup, with other public workers also on strike with more threatening walkouts in the coming days that could weigh on the sporting mega-event.
Anadolu Agency
SALVADOR – Military police in the state of Bahia, in northeast Brazil, decided to end their strike Thursday afternoon, after nearly two days of stoppages which were accompanied by a spike in murders, violence crime and theft.
The move to end the walkout came after leaders of the striking police forces met in Salvador, Bahia state capital and World Cup host city, following a meeting with the city’s archbishop and other key city figures.
Ben Tavener 