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
Over 450 bags of human remains found near Jalisco’s World Cup stadium
At least 456 bags containing human remains have been found in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, according to reports from the search collective Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco. The remains were discovered at various locations, all near Akron Stadium — one of the venues selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — said José Raúl Servín García, a member of the organization.
“We are counting approximately 456 bags, more or less, and they are all in the vicinity of Akron Stadium, which is set to be a World Cup venue. Unfortunately, it’s tragic that a World Cup will be held here when there is so much evil,” Servín told Aristegui Noticias. He revealed that the most recent discovery was made in September, although searches in the area began in 2022.
What is most alarming, Servín explained, is that the remains do not all belong to people who disappeared years ago; some of the bodies appear to have been buried less than a year ago, indicating that the clandestine graves are still active.
Among the bags are complete bodies, dismembered parts, and skeletal remains. Servín also reported that search collectives have documented pressure and threats suggesting the involvement or intimidation of organized crime in the handling of bodies within official institutions.
“We know that criminal groups have threatened Forensic Sciences, because they decide which bodies are released and which are not. Families are told that if they know their child is there, they should leave them and not claim the body, or there will be consequences,” he added.
International
Colombia rescues 17 minors linked to ultra-orthodox sect Lev Tahor
Colombian authorities have rescued 17 minors from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor in the northwestern region of the country, Migration Colombia reported on Sunday. Five of the rescued children were listed under international search notices issued by Interpol for kidnapping and human trafficking.
Lev Tahor has been at the center of several recent cases involving child abuse and mistreatment in countries such as Guatemala. Colombian officials said they received alerts about the group’s presence in the country along with several minors, who were transferred to a government-supervised shelter following their rescue.
“We rescued 17 children and adolescents from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect Lev Tahor (…) There are international alerts for crimes against minors linked to this community,” Migration Colombia stated on X, sharing a photograph showing several of the minors dressed head-to-toe in black tunics with their faces concealed.
According to a police report, the minors hold various nationalities, including Guatemalan, American, and Canadian. The rescue operation was conducted on Saturday. “There are indications that some may have been abducted, suggesting a possible scenario of human trafficking concealed under religious doctrine,” the report noted.
Interpol has issued red notices for some members of the sect, who are wanted internationally. Authorities indicated that the group had traveled to Colombia “seeking a country where they would not face restrictions on continuing their alleged irregular activities.”
In December 2024, Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children from the group. Numerous members were arrested and charged with crimes such as human trafficking, forced pregnancy, and the forced marriage of minors.
The sect was founded in the 1980s and established a base in Guatemala in 2013, but has also clashed with authorities in Mexico and Canada.
International
At least 10 dead and 20 injured in highway crash near Morelia
The accident occurred on the highway connecting Morelia, the capital of Michoacán, with the town of Pátzcuaro, the Morelia police reported in a statement.
“Preliminary information indicates there are around 10 fatalities and nearly 20 people injured. Emergency teams are carrying out extraction efforts and providing medical assistance at the scene,” the department said. It added that traffic on the roadway remains closed while rescue crews continue their work.
So far, authorities have not specified the cause of the crash.
Road accidents are common in Mexico, often caused by excessive speed or poor vehicle maintenance, particularly involving buses or cargo trucks.
In September, a truck carrying nearly 50,000 liters of gas exploded at an intersection in Mexico City, resulting in 32 deaths.
Over 450 bags of human remains found near Jalisco’s World Cup stadium
Colombia rescues 17 minors linked to ultra-orthodox sect Lev Tahor
At least 10 dead and 20 injured in highway crash near Morelia
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