Brazil’s Lula pledges to finish paving road experts say could worsen Amazon deforestation
brasilia — In a visit to see the damage caused by drought and fire in the Amazon, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged to pave a road that environmentalists and some in his own government say threatens to vastly…
Haiti: Education in jeopardy as gang violence continues
The continued surge in armed gang activity, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, has put immense pressure on local communities and their already fragile social services. Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti, noted that more than 270,000 people…
Remembering 9/11, UN chief expresses solidarity with victims and their loved ones
Two of the planes struck the twin skyscrapers of the World Trade Center in Manhattan’s financial district, while another was flown into the US military headquarters at the Pentagon outside Washington, DC. The fourth aircraft crashed into a field in…
Like Brazil, the European Union also has an X problem
Brussels — Elon Musk’s woes are hardly limited to Brazil as he now risks possible EU sanctions in the coming months for allegedly breaking new content rules. Access to X has been suspended in South America’s largest country since Saturday…
Musk’s Starlink will comply with judge’s order to block X in Brazil
SAO PAULO, brazil — Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service provider Starlink backtracked Tuesday and said it will comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court justice’s order to block the billionaire’s social media platform, X. In a statement posted on X, Starlink…
New UN report details Nicaragua’s ongoing human rights crisis
Human rights violations in Nicaragua have been ongoing since 2018 when university students and other civil society activists began protesting a new Social Security Act and calling for the president to step down. The violent crackdown by security forces directed…
Venezuela: UN rights office describes pervasive ‘climate of fear’
“It is a climate of fear in the country at the moment. We are urging the government to ensure that all steps are taken in line with international human rights law with transparency and that steps are taken to resolve…
Brazil Supreme Court panel upholds judge’s decision to block X nationwide
RIO DE JANEIRO — A Brazilian Supreme Court panel on Monday unanimously upheld the decision of one of its justices to block billionaire Elon Musk’s social media platform X nationwide, according to the court’s website. The broader support among justices…
Brazil’s block on X comes into effect after judge’s order
Brasilia, Brazil — A block on Elon Musk’s X social network in Brazil started to take effect early Saturday after a Supreme Court judge ordered its suspension, according to AFP. Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes on Friday ordered…
High rents are forcing small businesses in into tough choices
NEW YORK — While many costs have come down for small businesses, rents remain high and in some cases are still rising, forcing many owners into some uncomfortable decisions. “Every time the rent goes up, we have to raise prices,…