International
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon continues to decline and falls another 31% in the last year
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 30.6% between August 2023 and July 2024, after another 22.3% in the previous period, the Government reported on Wednesday.
The area affected by the deforestation was 6,288 square kilometers, the lowest result in nine years and a reduction compared to the 9,001 square kilometers destroyed in the previous period, according to the most accurate measurement of deforestation released annually by the National Institute of Space Research.
Retreat in the felling in the Amazon
If the last two results are added, which mainly correspond to the mandate of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a 45.7% decline was recorded in looting and 7,900 square kilometers of jungle were saved.
In the Cerrado, as the rich tropical savannah located in central Brazil is known, deforestation was reduced by 25.7% in the last year and the area that was affected was 8,174 square kilometers.
This is the first fall after five years of increases in an ecosystem that lives under the constant pressure of the agricultural sector.
With the reduction in looting in both the Amazon and in the Cerrado, the Executive estimates that in the last two years there has been a decrease in greenhouse emissions of 400 million tons of CO2 compared to the previous period.
Government hard hand
The Government attributed the fall in deforestation to the hard hand exercised in the application of environmental standards, with a 98% increase in sanctions and embargoes imposed by the Brazilian Institute of the Environment on offenders.
At the same time, in the last two years with Lula as president, indigenous lands were expanded by 8,100 square kilometers and conservation areas by 3,030 square kilometers.
These actions contrast with the lax environmental policy of former far-right Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who opposed the creation of new indigenous reserves and natural parks and emptied the bodies responsible for the application of the rules.
The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, pointed during the presentation of the results to the “immense effort” and the “integrated” work undertaken by federal authorities and security forces to combat deforestation.
The Government also improved this year the resolution of satellite images used to monitor looting and incorporated radar technology, which allows tracking the territory when the sky is covered with clouds.
International
Biden administration approves $8 billion arms sale to Israel ahead of Trump’s Presidency
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden approved a weapons sale to Israel worth approximately $8 billion, which includes air defense ammunition, the State Department announced on Saturday.
The sale—which must be approved by Congress—was agreed upon just days before Republican Donald Trump assumes the presidency, also a strong ally of Israel in the Gaza conflict. Before leaving office, Joe Biden once again ignored pressure from human rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers who oppose the arms sale to Israel.
“The president made it clear that Israel has the right to defend its citizens in accordance with international law and humanitarian law, and to deter aggression from Iran and its allied organizations,” it was stated.
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.
Honduras arrests former military leaders over 2009 killings
Biden administration approves $8 billion arms sale to Israel ahead of Trump’s Presidency
Scottie Pippen’s dream predictions about Bitcoin gain attention as market faces volatility
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
Ecuador prison riot leaves at least 43 dead
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