International
Brazil’s Petrobras hikes prices, ignoring Bolsonaro

AFP
Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras announced hefty increases in gasoline and diesel prices Thursday in response to the Ukraine crisis, ignoring President Jair Bolsonaro’s criticism of what he calls excessive prices.
Petrobras said it would raise the price of gasoline from its refineries by 18.8 percent and diesel by 24.9 percent from Friday, citing the “worldwide surge in the prices of oil and oil derivatives as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
The company said the move was in line with increases by other fuel suppliers, and emphasized that it had not raised prices in nearly two months.
But the move will likely irk the far-right president, who has been trying to rein in surging fuel prices and inflation more broadly, phenomena which are hurting his popularity as he gears up to seek reelection in October.
Bolsonaro, who regularly criticizes Petrobras for high prices, said Monday the company’s policy of parity with international prices “cannot continue.”
Petrobras shares dove more than seven percent following the comment.
That echoed a stock plunge of more than 20 percent just over a year ago, when Bolsonaro changed Petrobras’s chief executive after saying the company should not be constantly “surprising people” with price increases.
Bolsonaro is pushing for Congress to pass legislation to bring fuel prices down, though experts say the short-term impact would be minimal.
He is also reportedly looking at decreeing emergency subsidies to lower prices.
Both measures are unpopular with fiscal conservatives.
Surging prices in Brazil, where the annual inflation rate stands at 10.38 percent, are a weak spot for Bolsonaro as he eyes a tough reelection battle in seven months, likely against leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The international oil market has been rocked by volatility since Russia invaded Ukraine two weeks ago.
The Brent crude price hit a peak of $139 a barrel Monday, a 14-year high, before falling to around $116 Thursday.
International
Supreme Court allows Trump to proceed with massive layoffs at Education Department

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with his plan for massive layoffs at the Department of Education, overturning a lower court injunction that had blocked the effort.
The ruling nullifies a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge in Massachusetts in response to a lawsuit filed by about twenty states, teachers’ unions, and school districts.
Until now, the order had prevented the federal government from carrying out Trump’s plan, announced at the end of March, to cut one-third of the Department’s more than 4,100 employees this year alone.
The Trump administration, which has acknowledged it cannot shut down the Department since that power belongs to Congress, intends to dismantle the agency so that it only retains core functions, such as managing student aid, scholarships, and loans.
Ultimately, the project aims to reduce the Department’s workforce by half, with the goal of returning education powers to the states and eliminating what the administration considers federal budget waste.
As is common in emergency rulings, the majority of justices did not provide a detailed explanation for their decision, which was opposed by the Court’s three liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the ruling confirms “the obvious: that the President of the United States, as head of the executive branch, ultimately has the authority to make decisions about personnel, agency organization, and day-to-day operations.”
“While today’s ruling is an important victory for students and families, it is a shame that the highest court in the country had to intervene to allow President Trump to move forward with the reforms Americans elected him to implement using the constitutional authorities granted to him,” McMahon added in a statement.
Internacionales
U.S. plans five new ‘Alligator Alcatraz’-style migrant detention centers

The U.S. government announced plans to build five new mega detention centers for migrants, modeled after the controversial facility recently opened in Florida, nicknamed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ by activists and opponents.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that President Donald Trump’s administration is already in talks with five Republican-led states to replicate the model used in the wetlands of southern Florida. “We are working to expand this strategy to more territories with state governments committed to border security,” she said.
These statements follow remarks by Stephen Miller, Trump’s chief immigration advisor, who urged Republican governors in a Fox News interview to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate the construction of new centers.
“Pick up the phone, call DHS, work with us to build facilities in your state so we can remove illegals and criminals,” Miller said.
The Florida detention center has faced strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers and human rights organizations due to the inhumane conditions faced by detained migrants. Located in a reptile-infested wetland reserve, the site has become highly controversial.
Last Saturday, a group of Florida federal and state legislators reported that about 750 migrants were “in cages” at the facility after inspecting the site. While Congress members were allowed access, the press remains banned.
Early reports from detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ describe extreme heat, high humidity, scarce potable water, spoiled food, and makeshift tents used as confinement areas. These conditions have been labeled “inhumane” by migrants themselves and civil organizations.
International
Trump gives Russia 50 days to end war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Tuesday his 50-day ultimatum for Russia to halt its military operations in Ukraine and warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to launch attacks on Moscow.
When asked whether the 50-day timeline was too long, Trump firmly rejected the idea: “I don’t think 50 days is a long time; it could even be less,” he said.
Trump also deflected responsibility for the ongoing war, once again blaming his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the conflict that erupted following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, Trump announced a new round of military aid to Ukraine and threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Russia, as well as secondary sanctions on countries that continue doing business with Moscow, unless a peace deal is reached within the 50-day window.
In response, the Kremlin said Tuesday that it needs “time to analyze what has been said in Washington.”
Trump’s remarks mark a notable shift in tone towards Russia, a country with which he had recently sought closer ties. His frustration appears to stem from President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to cease the bombings during ongoing peace negotiations.
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