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World Cup diary: Rainy season lives up to its name with Natal downpour World Cup diary: Rainy season lives up to its name with Natal downpour
(2 months later)
A deluge of biblical proportions preceded last nightMonday’s match between USA and Ghana in Natal, prompting the local governor to declare a state of alert. The rainy season in the north-east has already affected matches in Recife and Salvador, where fans and players have been drenched by downpours but Natal is worst hit. In the past 48 hours the region has been inundated with more rain than in a normal month. Landslides have blocked a coastal highway on the route between the airport and the hotel. The civil defence has evacuated more than 50 buildings in the hardest-hit areas, where cars have been submerged and residents have had to wade through the streets. A deluge of biblical proportions preceded last nightMonday’s match between USA and Ghana in Natal, prompting the local governor to declare a state of alert. The rainy season in the north-east has already affected matches in Recife and Salvador, where fans and players have been drenched by downpours but Natal is worst hit. In the past 48 hours the region has been inundated with more rain than in a normal month. Landslides have blocked a coastal highway on the route between the airport and the hotel. The civil defence has evacuated more than 50 buildings in the hardest-hit areas, where cars have been submerged and residents have had to wade through the streets.
Optimism of American fans knows few boundariesOptimism of American fans knows few boundaries
The United States entered the World Cup fray with its fans in an incredibly optimistic mood. A majority of USA supporters believe their team will win the tournament, according to a recent survey by the New York Times.The United States entered the World Cup fray with its fans in an incredibly optimistic mood. A majority of USA supporters believe their team will win the tournament, according to a recent survey by the New York Times.
This was a remarkable anomaly in the survey, which showed fans in almost every other country believed Brazil would win. The other exceptions were fans of the defending champions, Spain, and Argentina. The Diary is curious why Americans are so confident. True, they are a respectable 14th in the Fifa rankings but bookmakers give odds of 250-1 on USA winning the tournament.This was a remarkable anomaly in the survey, which showed fans in almost every other country believed Brazil would win. The other exceptions were fans of the defending champions, Spain, and Argentina. The Diary is curious why Americans are so confident. True, they are a respectable 14th in the Fifa rankings but bookmakers give odds of 250-1 on USA winning the tournament.
Rio police fire live rounds in anti-World Cup demo Rio police fire live rounds in anti-World Cup demo
Police in Rio appear determined to cement their notoriously bad reputation by detaining a journalist and firing live rounds during a demonstration. A Globo reporter was held as he tried to film the arrest of an Argentina supporter. When he tried to contact his office, the police took his cellphone and put him in handcuffs, according to a report in his newspaper. Police also appear to have reacted during a small but violent protest by anti-World Cup activists. An AP report describes how a police officer fired two shots into the air to ward off a crowd of demonstrators and then continued shooting as he drove off.Police in Rio appear determined to cement their notoriously bad reputation by detaining a journalist and firing live rounds during a demonstration. A Globo reporter was held as he tried to film the arrest of an Argentina supporter. When he tried to contact his office, the police took his cellphone and put him in handcuffs, according to a report in his newspaper. Police also appear to have reacted during a small but violent protest by anti-World Cup activists. An AP report describes how a police officer fired two shots into the air to ward off a crowd of demonstrators and then continued shooting as he drove off.
Generation gap shown up by Brasilia solar powerGeneration gap shown up by Brasilia solar power
As the second most expensive football venue in the world (after Wembley) the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasilia might be expected to offer a lot more than a decent pitch and comfy seats.As the second most expensive football venue in the world (after Wembley) the Mané Garrincha stadium in Brasilia might be expected to offer a lot more than a decent pitch and comfy seats.
A new report suggests its solar power-generating capacity of 2.5MW is greater than that of 11 of the 32 countries at the tournament. The study by the British NGO Practical Action highlights an energy and technology gap between nations that is underscored by reports that Ghana will ration electricity at its biggest smelting plant so that sufficient energy can be supplied to millions of TV sets tuning into the game against USA.A new report suggests its solar power-generating capacity of 2.5MW is greater than that of 11 of the 32 countries at the tournament. The study by the British NGO Practical Action highlights an energy and technology gap between nations that is underscored by reports that Ghana will ration electricity at its biggest smelting plant so that sufficient energy can be supplied to millions of TV sets tuning into the game against USA.