International
Bolsonaro exalts the tycoon Elon Musk for defending freedoms, in front of a crowd in Rio
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) received a large show of support during the march he convened in Rio de Janeiro to defend democracy and freedom of expression, in the middle of a dispute between the Justice of his country and the tycoon Elon Musk over censorship and disinformation.
The far-right leader was accompanied by thousands of followers who gathered in front of Copacabana beach dressed in green and yellow T-shirts, the colors of the Brazilian flag, raised as a symbol of patriotism by the bolsonaristas.
However, the appointment in the capital of Fluminense, Bolsonaro’s main political fortress, was visibly smaller than the one held two months ago in São Paulo, where about 185,000 people accompanied him on Avenida Paulista.
The leader of the Brazilian far-right arrived confident at the meeting for the tensions caused by the billionaire owner of the social network X after the criticism of Alexandre de Moraes, the magistrate of the Supreme Court of Justice who leads the investigations against him.
The judge, who has Bolsonaro in his sights for his alleged participation in the coup attempt that sought to overthrow the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in January 2023, was accused by the billionaire of censoring social networks.
It was precisely that issue that focused the speech of the leader of the Brazilian far-right, who defended freedom of expression and exalted Musk, of whom he said he had “the courage to show with some evidence” where the country’s democracy was heading.
In his speech, the former president posed as a victim of “the persecution” and “cowardice” of those who want to see him far from the political cause, and rantled against Lula’s government, whom he accused of being a “lover of the dictatorship.”
As he did in São Paulo, the far-righter again defended himself from the accusations that fall on him for “inciting” his followers to violently invade the headquarters of the three powers on January 8 of last year and asked for amnesty for those who participated in the acts, although he avoided explicitly mentioning Judge De Moraes or the highest court of justice.
That work was left in the hands of Silas Malafía, the influential evangelical pastor allied to Bolsonaro, who ranted about the Supreme Court, called De Moraes “dictator of the toga” and even charged the military.
In Copacabana, Bolsonaro was accompanied by his wife, three of his children and several political allies.
In the crowd, between the flags of Brazil and Israel, they chanted “no to the dictatorship,” “freedom for Brazil” and “Lula thief, prison.”
International
Scottie Pippen’s dream predictions about Bitcoin gain attention as market faces volatility
Financial analyst Jim Bianco commented on Monday about Scottie Pippen’s dream encounters with Satoshi Nakamoto, noting that the NBA legend’s predictions about Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) have been surprisingly accurate.
What Happened Bianco, president and founder of Bianco Research, stated in a post on X that Pippen’s predictions have gained followers due to their accuracy, despite the strange methods he claims to use, such as receiving messages from Bitcoin’s anonymous creator in his dreams.
Bianco also analyzed Pippen’s latest forecast, in which the basketball star said, “I just took a nap, and Satoshi whispered to me: ‘Bitcoin will get closer to the Black Mamba numbers before it returns to Chamberlain.’”
According to Bianco, the post referenced NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 81 and 100 points in a single game, respectively. Simply put, Pippen expected Bitcoin to drop to $81,000 before recovering to $100,000.
Why It Matters The world’s leading cryptocurrency has fallen below the key support level of $93,000 and is at risk of falling further. Since the Christmas rally, Bitcoin has dropped by up to 6.5%.
Earlier, Pippen grabbed attention by predicting Bitcoin would hit $84,000 on U.S. presidential election day. While the digital asset didn’t meet these predictions, it reached $84,000 a week later.
International
Ecuador Imposes 60-Day State of Emergency in Most Violent Provinces as Drug Gangs Clash
Ecuador, engaged in a war against drug trafficking gangs, has declared a new state of emergency in Quito and seven of its 24 provinces, which are considered the most violent, according to a presidential decree released on Friday.
The 60-day measure suspends the rights to the inviolability of the home and correspondence in the coastal provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and El Oro, as well as the Amazonian provinces of Orellana and Sucumbíos. This state of emergency has been in effect since Thursday and was implemented due to the severe internal turmoil and internal armed conflict declared last year because of drug-related violence.
The decree includes Quito (in the province of Pichincha) and the towns of La Troncal (Cañar) and the mining town of Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay), as well as the prison system, now under military control.
The government of Daniel Noboa, which began in November 2023, has consistently used this measure in response to an escalating wave of drug gangs fighting for control of the streets and prisons.
“This declaration is based on… the increase in violence rates, the commission of crimes, and the prolonged intensity of the presence of organized armed groups,” states the decree released on the presidential website.
International
Elon Musk’s comments on UK abuse scandal spark government response
A prominent British politician addressed Elon Musk’s recent criticism on Friday regarding the government’s handling of a historic child abuse scandal.
In recent days, Musk shared and reacted to posts on his social media platform X, condemning the UK government’s decision to reject a public inquiry into the child abuse scandal in Oldham, a town in northern England.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed Musk’s comments as “wrong and certainly misinformed” but extended an invitation to the tech mogul to collaborate with the government in combating child sexual exploitation.
The UK government argued that Oldham should follow the example of other cities by commissioning its own investigation into historical abuse. A 2022 report on safeguarding measures in Oldham between 2011 and 2014 highlighted failures by local agencies to protect children but found no evidence of a cover-up. The report noted “legitimate concerns” about far-right groups exploiting the high-profile convictions of predominantly Pakistani offenders across the country.
Musk has also criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of failing to bring justice to what many describe as “grooming gangs” during his tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013. On Friday, Musk referred to the scandals as a “massive crime against humanity.”
Speaking to ITV News, Streeting emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation. He welcomed Musk’s potential involvement, stating, “Some of the criticisms Elon Musk has made, I think, are wrong and certainly misinformed. But we are ready to work with him. With his social network, he has a significant role to play in helping the UK and other countries address this serious issue. If he wants to roll up his sleeves and work with us, we’d gladly welcome him.”
Musk’s apparent interest in UK politics has grown since the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the July 2024 elections, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.
Scottie Pippen’s dream predictions about Bitcoin gain attention as market faces volatility
Ecuador Imposes 60-Day State of Emergency in Most Violent Provinces as Drug Gangs Clash
Elon Musk’s comments on UK abuse scandal spark government response
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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