International
Brazil’s Lula appoints former mayor as finance minister
| By AFP |
Brazil’s president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday named former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, viewed unfavorably by many in the business community, as his finance minister.
Lula da Silva, who narrowly defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in October elections, unveiled ministers in the key posts of foreign affairs, justice, defense, and chief of staff.
However, all eyes were on his pick for finance minister, with markets nervous over the incoming government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and the inflation-hit economy in fragile recovery.
“(I chose) comrade Fernando Haddad as Minister of Finance,” Lula said during a press conference in the capital Brasilia.
Haddad, 59, who served as education minister from 2005 to 2012, succeeds powerful liberal economy minister Paulo Guedes, an ally of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
After Lula’s new government takes office following his January 1 inauguration, the economy ministry will be dissolved and transformed into finance, industry and planning agencies.
When Haddad’s name started circulating for the role, markets reacted with unease, viewing him as too much on the left and fearing he would jeopardize the budgetary balance.
“He represents the heterodox economic policy” that Lula’s Workers’ Party (PT) defends, said Antonio Madeira of the MCM consultancy firm.
Madeira said that with Haddad in the finance ministry, he expects “an increase in spending” and “a more assertive state giving a significant role to public companies.”
Despite some of the reluctance towards Haddad, the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange’s Ibovespa index was up Friday by 0.5% after the names of the future ministers were announced.
Lula also tapped Mauro Vieira as foreign minister.
Vieira is a 71-year-old career diplomat who has already served as foreign minister as well as ambassador to Argentina, the United States and the United Nations.
He is currently serving as ambassador to Croatia, which on Friday knocked Brazil out of the World Cup.
For the justice ministry, Lula appointed Flavio Dino, a former governor of the northeastern state of Maranhao.
Rui Costa, governor of the province of Bahia, was named to a ministry that falls between the roles of prime minister and chief of staff.
Jose Mucio Monteiro, a civilian, was named defense minister.
After appointing five white men to the key ministries, Lula promised that “in time, you will see more women than men here … as well as a number of Afro-Brazilians.”
“We will try and form a government in the image of Brazilian society.”
Lula, a former unionist who already served two terms as president between 2003 and 2010, said that he would announce the names of more ministers next week and he has “not yet decided the total number of ministers” he would have in his government.
One of the most highly anticipated posts is that of the environmental minister, who will play a crucial role as Brazil seeks to tackle deforestation in the Amazon.
International
Latin Music Stars Unite in Miami to Raise Aid for Victims of Venezuela’s Devastating Earthquake
Latin music stars including Marc Anthony, Ricardo Montaner and Feid will take part in a benefit concert in Miami on August 16 to raise funds and support victims of the devastating double earthquake that struck Venezuela.
The disaster has left 4,734 people dead and 16,740 injured, according to the latest official figures.
The lineup will also feature artists such as Jay Wheeler, Elena Rose, Silvestre Dangond, Gente de Zona, Mau y Ricky, Olga Tañón, Lasso, San Luis, Piso 21, Alleh, Zhamira Zambrano and Enrique Santos, with organizers expecting additional performers to join the event in the coming weeks.
Athletes, actors, entertainment figures, media personalities and leaders from the Hispanic community are also expected to participate in the initiative.
Organized by the United for Venezuela coalition, the concert will take place at the Kaseya Center in Miami starting at 6:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. GMT) and will be broadcast simultaneously through multiple platforms.
According to organizers, viewers will be able to contribute through donation platforms and QR codes available during the event.
The concert will also feature reports on rescue efforts, the work of humanitarian organizations on the ground, and testimonies from people affected by the disaster to highlight the scale of the tragedy.
Venezuela was hit on June 24 by a powerful double earthquake measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, with the strongest impacts reported in areas including Caracas and La Guaira.
The event aims to bring together the international community and mobilize resources to assist families affected by the earthquake and support ongoing recovery efforts.
International
Trump Administration Seeks Global Action Against “Resurgent” Left-Wing Terrorism
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host a ministerial meeting in Washington on Thursday to discuss what the Donald Trump administration describes as a growing threat from left-wing terrorism around the world.
According to a statement from the State Department, the meeting aims to promote “stronger joint action” among international partners to address what Washington considers security gaps that terrorist groups continue to exploit.
The U.S. government has not yet disclosed which countries will participate in the meeting or which foreign ministers are expected to attend.
The Trump administration claims that “far-left terrorism is resurging”, pointing to violent attacks linked to extremist movements in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and other regions.
U.S. officials argue that the threat has been “underestimated” by the international community for years as part of broader counterterrorism strategies.
As part of its efforts, the Trump administration has designated several left-wing extremist groups as terrorist organizations, including Antifa Ost, the Informal Anarchist Federation/International Revolutionary Front (FAI/FRI), Armed Proletarian Justice, and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense.
The United States has also announced rewards of up to $10 million for information that helps disrupt the financial networks supporting those organizations.
The meeting comes as the Trump administration seeks greater international cooperation on counterterrorism policies and increased coordination among governments to address what it considers emerging extremist threats.
International
President Noboa Declares New Security Strategy as Ecuador Faces Record Violence Levels
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Tuesday declared the National Comprehensive Security Plan 2025-2029 as a nationwide public policy, a strategy aimed at guiding state actions on security matters over the next four years.
The measure was formalized through an executive decree that activates the plan approved on March 9 by the Public and State Security Council (Cosepe) and replaces the National Comprehensive Security Plan 2019-2030, which had been designated as public policy in 2021.
Under the new decree, implementation of the strategy will be led by the ministries of Interior, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, along with the National Intelligence Center and the National Secretariat for Risk Management. These institutions will be responsible for coordinating actions according to their respective areas of responsibility.
According to the official document, the new plan adopts a multidimensional and comprehensive security approach, with a long-term vision focused on national interests and on strengthening the State’s ability to respond to current threats.
The Ecuadorian government said the strategy seeks to improve coordination among public institutions within the framework of the “internal armed conflict” declared by Noboa in 2024 as part of the fight against criminal organizations operating across the country.
The plan also includes measures to strengthen international cooperation against transnational organized crime, which authorities identify as one of Ecuador’s main security challenges due to its links to drug trafficking and illegal mining.
The government described the document as a roadmap for prevention, protection, response and recovery actions in the face of national security risks, promoting coordinated efforts among state institutions.
Ecuador has remained under an internal armed conflict declaration since 2024, when Noboa intensified operations against criminal gangs that his administration has labeled terrorist organizations. Despite the increased security measures, the country recorded around 9,300 homicides in 2025, the highest figure in its history, according to data from the Ministry of Interior.
The new security plan comes as Ecuador seeks to strengthen its institutional response to escalating violence and the growing influence of organized crime networks.
Latin Music Stars Unite in Miami to Raise Aid for Victims of Venezuela’s Devastating Earthquake
Trump Administration Seeks Global Action Against “Resurgent” Left-Wing Terrorism
President Noboa Declares New Security Strategy as Ecuador Faces Record Violence Levels
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International2 days agoICE reverses course and moves forward with New Jersey migrant detention facility project
-
International2 days agoJudge rules Trump’s IRS lawsuit was a “bad faith” attempt to manipulate the judicial process
-
International2 days agoMarco Rubio launches U.S. campaign to “dismantle” the International Criminal Court
-
International2 days agoFrance Holds Largest Bastille Day Military Parade as Europe Highlights Strategic Defense
-
International2 days agoPresident Noboa Declares New Security Strategy as Ecuador Faces Record Violence Levels
-
International3 days agoVenezuela Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 4,490 as Rescue Efforts Continue
-
International2 days agoForeign Medical Teams Race to Prevent Health Crisis in Venezuela Earthquake Camps
-
International12 hours agoLatin Music Stars Unite in Miami to Raise Aid for Victims of Venezuela’s Devastating Earthquake
-
International12 hours agoTrump Administration Seeks Global Action Against “Resurgent” Left-Wing Terrorism