RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil is launching a top-level drive to expand its economic ties with Africa, a sign of how crises in the rich world are pushing faster-growing emerging economies to trade and invest among themselves.

The new initiative, ordered by President Dilma Rousseff after her three-country trip to Africa last month, comes as nervousness grows in Brazil over the impact in the coming months of Europe’s debt crisis and lurch toward recession.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil is launching a top-level drive to expand its economic ties with Africa, a sign of how crises in the rich world are pushing faster-growing emerging economies to trade and invest among themselves.

The new initiative, ordered by President Dilma Rousseff after her three-country trip to Africa last month, comes as nervousness grows in Brazil over the impact in the coming months of Europe’s debt crisis and lurch toward recession.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Three thousand troops backed by helicopters and armored cars occupied Rio de Janeiro’s largest slum without firing a shot on Sunday, the biggest step in the Brazilian city’s bid to improve security and end the reign of drug gangs.

The occupation of Rocinha, a notorious hillside “favela” that overlooks some of Rio’s swankiest areas, is a crucial part of the city’s preparations to host soccer’s World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later.

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Hundreds of police and soldiers backed by helicopters occupied Rio de Janeiro’s largest slum on Sunday, the biggest step yet in the Brazilian city’s bid to improve security and end the reign of drug gangs.

The occupation of Rocinha, a notorious hillside “favela” that overlooks some of Rio’s swankiest areas, is viewed by officials as a crucial part of the city’s preparations to host soccer’s World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years later.