Brazil’s finance minister was taken hostage for hours this week by armed assailants who invaded and robbed a country retreat he was visiting for a barbecue during carnival, officials and Brazilian media said Friday. At least three hooded gunmen overpowered a caretaker on Tuesday and broke into the gated home of a friend where the minister, Guido Mantega, was with his wife and two children. The incident occurred in Ibiuna, a rural area of weekend getaway houses about 40 miles southwest of South America’s largest city. Full Story