Brazil picks new sports minister

BRASILIA - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff appointed a member of the scandal-tainted Communist Party as the country's new sports minister on Thursday, a day after the previous minister quit over corruption allegations.

Aldo Rebelo, a congressman with a nationalistic streak, will take up the role at a crucial time as the country prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

He belongs to the Communist Party of Brazil, as does his predecessor Orlando Silva, who resigned on Wednesday after being accused of arranging up to 40 million reais ($23 million) in government contract kickbacks to benefit himself and his party, which is a member of Rousseff's ruling coalition.