International

Bolsonaro gathers thousands of Brazilians in defense of Musk and his battle against the Supreme Court

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered thousands of his supporters this Saturday in São Paulo, where he again attacked the Supreme Court judge who is investigating him and Elon Musk, amid the controversy over the suspension of the social network X.

The far-right leader also fueled the ghost of electoral fraud on Paulista Avenue, which was partially occupied, although with fewer attendees compared to the protest of February 25, which was held at a time when the judicial fence was tightening against him.

Coinciding with Brazil’s Independence Day, the former president (2019-2022) called on Congress to put a brake on Alexandre de Moraes, “that dictator who does more damage to Brazil than (President) Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva himself,” he said.

Bolsonarism raises the tone against the Supreme Court

De Moraes, one of the eleven magistrates of the high court, is currently the number one public enemy of the extreme right that embodies Bolsonaro and in this Saturday’s protest he was the target of all criticism.

In his hands he has several processes in which Bolsonaro appears as investigated, including one for allegedly plotting a coup d’état against Lula and another for spreading false news and seriously attacking democratic institutions.

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In that last cause is also Musk. The owner of X and Tesla is suspected of “obstruction of justice”, “criminal organization” and “incitement to crime,” after failing to comply with several court orders that forced him to eliminate profiles suspected of misinformation.

On Paulista Avenue, the face of the South African businessman appeared stamped on several posters with proclamations against the Supreme Court, and specifically against De Moraes, on whom serious disqualifications were poured, such as “criminal”, “censor” and “dictator”.

“They want to censor the truth,” Bolsonaro exclaimed, who was aphonic at the end of a bumpy speech that began demanding that the Police disconnect a sound system that was bothering him near the truck from which he led the act.

Tarcísio de Freitas invited to “not let” freedom die

Previously, the governor of the state of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, appointed as Bolsonaro’s possible political successor, invited those present to “not let freedom die.”

“We are here to say that there is no censorship or blocking of social networks. We want to pacify this country,” he said in a moderate tone.

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More ardent was the intervention of the influential evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, who financed the demonstration and accused De Moraes of “tearing the Constitution.”

“De Moraes has to be dismissed and go to jail,” he said.

Another of the demands of Bolsonaro and his allies was to demand from Congress an amnesty for the convicts who, on January 8, 2023, stormed the headquarters of the three powers, in Brasilia, to incite a military intervention against Lula.

“Suspending X is taking away our freedom”

The demonstration took place peacefully, except for some isolated incident, such as the throwing of eggs from one of the apartments in the area against the Bolsonaros.

The acolytes of the former head of state dressed in green and yellow colors, and wrapped themselves with flags of Israel and Brazil, which were mixed with posters in which the presidents of Argentina, Javier Milei, and El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, as well as the former US governor Donald Trump, appeared.

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Joana Popular, a 35-year-old micro-entrepreneur, traveled 2,000 kilometers from the state of Bahia, Lula’s traditional vote barn, to join the Bolsonaro campaign against the Judiciary.

“Suspending X is taking away our freedom. We can’t let this last,” this former user of Musk’s platform, blocked in Brazil since last Saturday, told EFE.

A few meters away, Renato do Nascimento defines himself as “the Joker (The Joker) on the right.” He comes disguised as the villain of Batman.

“The Supreme is exceeding his powers a lot. They are judicial activists. Musk does well because illegal orders are not fulfilled,” said this 45-year-old merchant.

For his part, Lula led this Saturday the civic-military parade on the occasion of Independence Day, in Brasilia.

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Today he did not make any political speech, but the day before he gave one on the national network in which he stressed that his Government will “always be intolerant of anyone, whatever fortune they have, who challenges Brazilian legislation,” in an apparent allusion to Musk.

International

Oil prices surge again as Middle East tensions persist

Oil prices climbed again on Friday for a second consecutive session, as markets remained concerned about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East with no tangible diplomatic progress.

North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose 4.22% to close at $112.57 per barrel.

Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached the $100 mark, settling at $99.64, up 5.46%.

The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to delay by ten days his ultimatum for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to reassure market participants.

“It means there will be ten additional days of disruptions in the Middle East for crude and refined product flows,” said Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates.

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“For prices to come down, a resolution to the conflict is necessary,” Lipow added. “And even in the event of a ceasefire, it is not certain that Iran would allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”

International

Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate

A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.

She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.

In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.

Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.

The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.

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International

Over 300 U.S. Troops Wounded Since Start of Iran Conflict, CENTCOM Says

More than 300 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday.

“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries are minor, and 273 troops have already returned to duty,” said U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, indicated that 10 American troops remain seriously injured.

According to the latest figures, an additional 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including seven in the Gulf region and six in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces warned on Friday that hotels hosting U.S. troops in the region could be considered legitimate military targets.

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“When U.S. forces enter a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” said armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi in remarks broadcast on state television.