#Rio de Janeiro police violence

[probablyasocialecologist]

Many on the right have sought to depict the protesters as extremists, but the sheer scale and regularity of the protests and actions are in fact a sign of how mainstream pro-Palestinian feeling is within British society. The question, assuming the movement succeeds in ending the Israeli assault, is where does it go next? What becomes of movements when they stop moving? Traditionally, social movements went through phases of emergence, coalescence, institutionalisation and decline, followed by dissipation and co-optation by mainstream parties. This usually took decades, the classic case being the US civil rights movement. Yet the era since “Occupy Wall Street” in 2011 has been one of so-called “flash movements”. From Black Lives Matter to the gilets jaunes, movements have coalesced around hashtagged slogans with astonishing celerity, producing deep political crises – and then subsiding. The Gaza campaign resembles a flash movement. It didn’t come out of nowhere. Palestine has been a cause of the international left since the six-day war in 1967, and the UK has seen repeated protests over Israel��s flattening of the West Bank, invasion of Lebanon and serial bombardments of Gaza. There is a network of organisations doing the groundwork, such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War. But the turnout for these protests shows the virtues of the flash movement: it can rapidly mobilise masses of people, tolerate a diversity of tactics and keep focus on a simple, morally obvious demand. In many respects, it is succeeding. In the UK, despite efforts to demonise the protests as “hate marches”, and the then home secretary Suella Braverman’s inept provocation of the far right against the protests, the demonstrations brought up to 800,000 people to the streets on 11 November. This was the largest such demonstration since the invasion of Iraq. Nor was the UK alone. There have been mass protests everywhere from Tokyo and Kerala to Cairo, Washington DC and Rio de Janeiro. In France and Berlin, protesters have defied official bans. In the US, the Jewish left has led the movement and often engaged in the most militant tactics,including blockading Manhattan Bridge. The embattled Israeli left has also staged protests, despite a climate of police repression and mob violence. The movement has done what successful movements do: win over public opinion, catalyse cracks in elite consensus and expose divisions in the state. These splits were visible in the form of staffer dissent in the US state department, frontbench resignations in Labour over Keir Starmer’s refusal to support a ceasefire, protests by Dutch civil servants and EU employees, Macron’s ceasefire demand, and recently the call from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, three of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing coalition countries, for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. Only the US now vetoes UN ceasefire resolutions.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

In Brazil’s favelas, activists find common ground with Palestinians in Gaza

Residents of Brazil’s poorest neighbourhoods say they see their struggles reflected in Israel’s treatment of Gaza.

Cosme Felippsen’s nephew was 17 years old when he was killed by Brazil’s military police in a Rio de Janeiro alley nicknamed the Gaza Strip.

“Almost every favela in Rio has an area residents call Gaza,” Felippsen said, pointing to the bullet holes along the alley walls. Residents have used the name for at least 15 years, he added. “It designates the area where most of the gunfire is concentrated at any given time.”

The neighbourhood where Felippsen’s nephew, José Vieira, died in 2017 is called Morro da Providência. It is one of hundreds of impoverished communities — or favelas — strewn across the city.

Activists and residents say the violence they have seen in the favelas has given them unique insight into the urban warfare currently unfolding in Gaza, a Palestinian territory under Israeli siege. And the parallels they perceive are motivating them to take action.

“Militarisation, armed groups executing inhabitants — many things that happen in Palestine also happen in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro,” said Felippsen, a local politician and tour guide who specialises in Black history.

Continue reading.

[gravedangerahead]

In Brazil’s favelas, activists find common ground with Palestinians in Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Cosme Felippsen’s nephew was 17 years old when he was killed by Brazil’s military police in a Rio de Janeiro alley nicknamed the Gaza Strip.

“Almost every favela in Rio has an area residents call Gaza,” Felippsen said, pointing to the bullet holes along the alley walls. Residents have used the name for at least 15 years, he added. “It designates the area where most of the gunfire is concentrated at any given time.”

The neighbourhood where Felippsen’s nephew, José Vieira, died in 2017 is called Morro da Providência. It is one of hundreds of impoverished communities — or favelas — strewn across the city.

Activists and residents say the violence they have seen in the favelas has given them unique insight into the urban warfare currently unfolding in Gaza, a Palestinian territory under Israeli siege. And the parallels they perceive are motivating them to take action.

“Militarisation, armed groups executing inhabitants — many things that happen in Palestine also happen in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro,” said Felippsen, a local politician and tour guide who specialises in Black history.

[scratchybongvt]

SIDEMASCOTS SPECIAL (Sidemascots 1.4)

OLYMPIC PHRYGE ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE PARALYMPIC PHRYGE!

Vinicius: With help from…

THE SIDEMASCOTS!

Vinicius: Season 1!

Burke: To be honest, shouldn’t you call the police and arrest her for alcohol toxicity?

Sumi: Then this episode would have been a walk in the park!

Burke: Oh.

Vinicius: Sidemascots, devise a master plan for Olympic Phryge to sabotage her sister after what she did in the previous two episodes!

Sumi: The mascot with the best execution gets a massive pay rise!

Everyone: OOH!

Vinicius: The mascot with the WORST execution gets KICKED OUT of THE SHOW!

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOOOH!

Vinicius and Sumi: LET THE SABOTAGING COMMENCE!

[Transition]

Note from the creative director: This is a satirical and comedic work of fiction. The content may include mature themes such as political satire, exaggerated depictions of soft drink use, sports rivalries, and dark humor involving violence. While the show uses real-world references, such as sports teams and public figures, it is intended purely for entertainment purposes and does not reflect the views or endorsements of any actual individuals, organizations, or events.

Additionally, this episode includes exaggerated portrayals of disability, violence, and extreme political ideologies for comedic effect. These portrayals are not meant to mock or trivialize serious issues but to satirize cultural and societal dynamics. Viewer discretion is advised, especially for sensitive audiences.

Vinicius

Sumi: Vinicius, my bestie-westie…

Mukmuk: MUKMUK! (Show-off!)

Sumi: What’s your idea?

Vinicius: Send her to Brazil and force her to be a fan of Fluminense!

Sumi: That soccer club you call them shit?

Vinicius: That football club I call them shit. She won’t stand a chance against Flamengo Ultras like me.

Burke: Didn’t we force her to support another club in the Sidemascots 1.2?

Vinicius: Which one?

Burke: You know? Rennes?

Vinicius: Oh yes, I almost forgot that. But that’s my point. All we do is to make her a target of all Flamengo and PSG ultras! South American football is toxic.

[To Rio de Janeiro!]

Sumi: Paralympic Phryge, we have a big surprise for you…

Vinicius: It’s a strip club in Brazil!

Paralympic Phryge: *burps* WAHEY!

Olympic Phryge: Guys…

Sumi: Oh hi Phryge.

Olympic Phryge: Shouldn’t you guys let me do it? The title said I sabotage her, not you guys!

Vinicius: Oh haha.

(Vinicius and Sumi throw Paralympic Phryge into a bar full of Flamengo fans and shut the door)

Vinicius and Sumi: RUN!!!!

Olympic Phryge: What the…

(Back to the studio!)

Vinicius: BREAKING NEWS – 20 Flamengo fans are arrested for assaulting a rival club’s fan, are you serious? We never get arrested for punching a Fluminense fan, not even in the ballbags!

Sumi: Does it have anything to do with the fact that you send her to a bar that only opens at night and people get there not to have a drink but to see football on a 1990s TV?

Olympic Phryge: 5/10!

Vinicius: You can’t rate!

OC IV: According to the title of this video, she is the one who sabotages, not you all, who else do you think should rate your sabotages? Me?

Sumi: Fair point.

Vinicius: At least she survived.

Olympic Phryge: *dings* Sigh, she ran away.

Vinicius: WHAT?

Olympic Phryge: They assault a different fan.

Vinicius: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

Everyone: 3/10! Good intentions, bad results!

Vinicius: Everyone’s… a… critic.

Sumi

Sumi: After what I did to Miga, I think it’s best to let her binge-watch my cringe YouTube channel, and as Burke suggested to me, I should rename it to UR – Shit.

Burke: You do know that’s not a real suggestion, that’s an insult?

Olympic Phryge: I mean, what do you expect from someone who has autism all of the time? Also, what happened to Miga?

Sumi: Well…

(Flashback to Sidemascots 1.3)

(Sumi’s phone dings)

Sumi: Sorry guys, Mukmuk sent me a message. Mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk mukmuk.

Vinicius: Aw, he speaks like Pokemon.

Miraitowa: What does it mean?

Sumi: He said “Miga lost her eyeballs after repetitive eye strain and the fact that she was watching Sumi’s shit YouTube channel in the last episode. She’s now in hospital. Apologize to her now, or I’ll never again lend you maple syrup!”

Vinicius: Aw, guys, filming is postponed.

Honohon: Aw, come on!

(Transition to now)

Olympic Phryge: Let me get this straight, Miga got blind because she watched your YouTube channel and now you want to use it as a sabotage weapon?

Sumi: The truth is that loads of people got blind because they watched my YouTube channel.

Everyone: WHAT?

Sumi: It’s so cringe, I bet they never see life the same way again.

Olympic Phryge: But how does her being blind do anything? She’s a Paralympic Phryge after all. I’m seeing this plan as useless as Lunchly!

(Everyone laughed.)

(To Sumi’s bedroom!)

Sumi: Good luck watching all of my epic YouTube videos without going for a restroom break!

Paralympic Phryge: LET’S GET THIS STARTY PARTED! *cracks open a can of Carabao*

(10 hours later)

Sumi: Phryge, I’m thrilled to announce that your sister…

Olympic Phryge: …

Sumi: Is bli- WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?! ALL SHE DO IS JUST SLEEPING?! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!

Olympic Phryge: I’m sorry, but my sister sleeps in daylight more than at night nowadays.

Miraitowa: Aw, she’s so cute…

Olympic Phryge: 2/10!

Sumi: WHAT? I thought Vinicius’ was worse…

Everyone: Good intentions, bad results!

Sumi: I’m going to round all of your houses.

Burke

Burke: How about I score a home run?

Vinicius: This isn’t Wii Sports, Burke…

Burke: I meant you throw C4 for me to hit it with a baseball bat, then it’s to Paralympic Phryge we go!

Sumi: Oh… do you think explosives is a good idea?

Burke: Think harder, not smarter! Like a box of explosives, you never know what you’re gonna get.

OC IV: WAY TO GO WITH YOUR MOVIE REFERENCES, BURKE!

Burke: Thanks OC!

(Transition to outdoors)

Sumi: Paralympic Phryge, you stay there, and unlike last time, I will allow you to sleep!

Paralympic Phryge: Can I go to *farts* a strip club after that…

Sumi: Uhhh… Let’s talk about that later. (opens walkie-talkie) Batter up, over!

Vinicius: Batter up, over! Let’s go, Burke!

Burke: FOR THE BRAVES, FOR THE WORLD SERIES!

Vinicius: Here goes nothing…

(Vinicius throws a C4, which was then hit on the bat by Burke, the C4 went ridiculously high)

(Here’s J. Hall with the pass…)

(The C4 hit the window of a New York RB fan)

New York RB fan: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I’M A FAN OF A RED BULL CLUB, GET ME OUT OF HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERE!

Sumi: (takes walkie-talkie) The bomb just hit a New York Red Bull fan, over.

Paralympic Phryge: DID ANYONE SAY RED BULL?!

Vinicius: BURKE!

Burke: Sorry but ever since that away game against NYRB, I’ve been aiming at their fans, even if I don’t want to.

Vinicius: This is worse than sending that fan to a bar full of Atlanta United fans!

Olympic Phryge: 1/10!

Burke: 1/10? This is getting worse…

Everyone: Good intentions, bad results!

Burke: Hey, it’s not like it’s everyone’s catchphrase!

Miraitowa

Miraitowa: I plan to put her stranded on top of Mount Fuji!

Olympic Phryge: 1/10.

Miraitowa: I haven’t executed it yet, besides, it has a snow cap!

Olympic Phryge: I’m sorry but I do feel like your plan is gonna fail.

Everyone: BAD INTENTIONS EQUALS BAD RESULTS!

Miraitowa: Oh, haha.

Wenlock

Wenlock: I’m going to call someone…

Burke: James Bond?

Wenlock: No.

Vinicius: The king?

Wenlock: No.

Borobi: Rishi Sunak mate?

Wenlock: No! And stop talking about British politics!

Borobi: David Cameron?

Wenlock: Stop… (rings phone… phone hung off immediately.)

Sumi: Who was that?

Wenlock: *sighs* @crackheadfromsainsburys… She’s unfortunately unavailable… well not until she finishes her cash-in Battle for Olympus.

Olympic Phryge: 0/10!

Everyone: Good intentions, bad results!

Wenlock: Time for plan B…

Olympic Phryge: Plan B?

Wenlock: Follow me.

(To another studio!)

Wenlock: After your sister forced me to press that “mystery button” in the last episode and almost got me canceled, I’ve decided to do the exact opposite!

Olympic Phryge: So you want to cancel her on social media?

Wenlock: I want to cancel her on social media… with this special button!

Olympic Phryge: Why does it have a Union Jack on it?

Wenlock: Come on, I had to find the buzz-buzz somewhere.

Olympic Phryge: And how exactly will it work?

Wenlock: Well, I’ve worked closely with a person who specializes in programming!

OC IV: Me! I use Scratch!

Olympic Phryge: Oh…

Wenlock: Let’s do this!

(Transition)

Wenlock: Paralympic Phryge, I know you love alc- I mean soft drinks. Press this button for a free ticket to a soda shop!

Paralympic Phryge: SODA SHOP! WAHEY! (presses button)

(Wenlock runs away)

Paralympic Phryge: Oui? Where you going?

(To the outdoors!)

Olympic Phryge: What have you made her post? Is it another roast?

Wenlock: No, I made her post about right-wing extremism!

Olympic Phryge: *gasps* What have you done?

Wenlock: British politics? Meh. French politics? Crazee bonkerz! She won’t stand a chance!

(Transition to the studio)

Miraitowa: Paralympic Phryge has been blocked due to violating X’s community guidelines. Forget choking someone, this is state-of-the-art shitfuckery!

Wenlock: I know, coming from someone who has seen toxic from politics before.

Vinicius: We don’t talk about politics here, we even auditioned a few Russian and Israeli mascots last week.

Wenlock: Oh sorry.

Vinicius: But since Paralympic Phryge is a bitch, it’s for the better.

Olympic Phryge: 5/10.

Everyone: NO! 7/10! CONTROVERSIAL INTENTIONS, GOOD RESULTS!

Wenlock: Massive pay rise here I come!

Myaku-myaku

Myaku-myaku: How about we dump an ice bucket on her?

Vinicius: What?

Sumi: It’s not 2014!

Soohorang: But you did dump an ice bucket on me.

Myaku-myaku: She’s hypnotized after all.

Vinicius: HYPNOTIZED? HOW IS SHE HYPNOTIZED WHEN SHE DRINKS ALL OF THE TIME?

Myaku-myaku: Who knows? Maybe she is.

Sumi: Fine, let’s roll.

(Transition)

Paralympic Phryge: Has anyone seen *burps* the soda shop…

Civilian: Here she is!

Police officer: Well she does match the description of being a massive Phrygian Cap with trainers… Paralympic Phryge, I arrest you for supporting right-wing extremism on social media!

Myaku-myaku: Snap out of it! (throws ice bucket on Paralympic Phryge)

Civilian: What the f***.

Vinicius: We knew it looked stupid in the first place.

Olympic Phryge: -1/10!

Myaku-myaku: What?

Everyone: BAD INTENTIONS LEAD TO BAD RESULTS!

Myaku-myaku: Aw, second chance?

Everyone: NO!

Borobi

Borobi: Anyone remember her forfeit mate?

Vinicius: She had to support Stade Rennais in PSG’s next home game?

Borobi: Yes mate!

Sumi: But she already supports right-wing extremism, and that was toxic enough to get her arrested.

Vinicius: Besides, she’s going to jail, she already failed her forfeit anyway.

Borobi: Oh. I was thinking if we let her support Olympique Marseille for life.

Olympic Phryge: PSG’s Le Classique rival?

Borobi: She won’t stand a chance against the PSG ultras.

Vinicius: Look, we already took her to South America hoping to be beaten by crazy football fans but she got away. I think it’s more or less the same.

Olympic Phryge: 3/10.

Everyone: GOOD INTENTIONS, EXPECTED TO BE BAD RESULTS!

Borobi: Oh, haha.

Sumi: Intermission: One like = 1 more year in prison for Paralympic Phryge! She deserves it. I’m not replying to any of the Phryges’ fanboys and girls in the comments, (spits), ciao!

Honohon

Honohon: How about I blow fire on her?

Vinicius: What?

Sumi: Last time around, she didn’t even feel the fire!

Honohon: Not fire from me – fire from this Boring Company flamethrower!

Vinicius: Fire’s still fire.

Wenlock: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE’RE ON FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE TONIGHT!

Olympic Phryge: Not that kind of Fire, Wenlock.

Wenlock: What fire? Kasabian’s “Fire”? I used to listen to that whenever there’s the Premier League on!

Olympic Phryge: I mean actual fire.

Wenlock: ohhh…

Sumi: How does this flamethrower help you? I see this as useless as Lunchly.

Honohon: This flamethrower takes up more natural gas than any other flamethrower combined! Thank Elon Musk for that.

Vinicius: I’ll never forgive him for killing blocks on Twitter.

Sumi: If you think this flamethrower does any better, fine!

(BREAKING NEWS)

Jim Orange: Breaking news: Former Paralympic mascot was arrested for supporting right-wing extremism on social media! Sources say it’s a f**king disgrace. We now cut to her being taken to court earlier today…

(Honohon blows fire on Paralympic Phryge)

Witness: SOMEONE BRING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER!

Honohon: You’re a fire extinguisher!

(Back to the studio)

(Everyone laughed)

Vinicius: Oh she was in court on fire!

Honohon: 10/10 then?

Olympic Phryge: Comedy? Yes. Sabotaging? No. 0/10.

Everyone: GOOD INTENTIONS, UNINTENDED RESULTS!

Honohon: You’re right. Fire’s still fire. But at least there’s material for memes now.

Wenlock: I’M ON FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-

Soohorang

Soohorang: I’ve successfully released her from potential sentences!

Vinicius: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

Soohorang: Calm down and let me finish.

Sumi: Fine, better not something controversial.

Soohorang: Instead of taking her to prison, how about taking her to SQUID GAME?

Everyone: SQUID GAME?!

Olympic Phryge: Grow up!

Soohorang: Come on, I’m South Korean, what do you expect?

Vinicius: Well, we did plan a Squid Game ripoff after how MrBeast did, but decided not to because it’s a dead meme.

Sumi: So what game do you want her to play? Biscuit carving? Marble trading? Tug of war? Glass bridge? Musical chairs?

Soohorang: It’s the first one.

Vinicius: Hm… what’s the first one?

(Transition to a larger set)

Soohorang: Welcome drunk to the first and only game?

Paralympic Phryge: Games? I love games, WAHEY! *drinks Pepsi*

Vinicius: Please refrain from drinking soft drinks, dickhead.

Sumi: Tonight we’ll play red light green light, this CGI doll will say either red light or green light!

Soohorang: When she says green light, move! When she says red light, stop. It’s like musical statues you find in a strip club.

Vinicius: If you can cross the finish line in 10 minutes, then on behalf of all of Twitter we’ll forgive you!

Paralympic Phryge: Freedom?! Wahey!

Soohorang: On your marks, get set, GO!

Doll: Green light!

(Paralympic Phryge walks like a drunk)

Doll: Red light!

Paralympic Phryge: Green light, red light? CHRISTMAS, WAHEY!

(A cannonball hits Paralympic Phryge which kills her)

Olympic Phryge: NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

Soohorang: Oh sorry Phryge, I didn’t mean to kill her.

Olympic Phryge: F**k you Soohorang!

Soohorang: It should have been worse.

Olympic Phryge: WORSE?!

Soohorang: My original idea was to use guns, but I realize that crossed the line.

Olympic Phryge: So?

Soohorang: I decided to rent some cannons, but I also realized that cannonballs shoot as fast as a bullet.

Olympic Phryge: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Soohorang: On the bright side, we did sabotage her! Pop some champagne, everyone!

Vinicius and Sumi: WE’RE NOT ALCOHOLIC!

Soohorang: Oh, a trip to a Korean restaurant then.

Vinicius and Sumi: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

(Olympic Phryge sobs)

THE SIDEMASCOTS!

Vinicius: Season 1!

Sumi: Sidemascots, the points are tallied. The winner of the “sabotage Paralympic Phryge” challenge is…

Wenlock: Me. Surprise, surprise.

Vinicius: Soohorang!

Wenlock: WHAT?!

Sumi: Who, from us, is given a 10/10 for making Squid Game relevant again!

Soohorang: YES!

Vinicius: And with that, Soohorang’s salary for the Sidemascots increased from $5/episode to $456/episode! Cha-ching!

Soohorang: YAY- WHAT?!

Sumi: The mascot with the LOWEST score is… Myaku-myaku!

Myaku-myaku: What?

Vinicius: On behalf of the Sidemascots, you’re KICKED OFF THE SHOW!

Myaku-myaku: Thanks for the otherwise wonderful time here.

Sumi: Join us next week for another episode of…

THE SIDEMASCOTS!

Vinicius: Season 1!

Olympic Phryge: I’M DONE! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!

Tom: Did anyone say-

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 2 May 1919, 50,000-strong general strike of all different trades started in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Though police reacted with violence, the workers won an eight-hour day and wage increases of between 20-30%. Our new T-Shirt of the Month design, made by a worker-owned co-operative, and supporting grassroots labour unions in South Asia, commemorates this strike and the strike wave it was part of over the previous two years. From 1917 to 1919, a large strike movement shook the First Brazilian Republic, concentrated in São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. The 1917 general strike is considered the first general strike in the labor history of Brazil. It all started with about 400 striking workers – mostly women – from the Cotonifício Crespi textile factory in Mooca, São Paulo. They asked, among other things, for higher wages and shorter working hours. In a few weeks the strike spread to various sectors of the economy, throughout the state of São Paulo and then to Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre. This month’s design by Rio de Janeiro based artist @hells_tatt is inspired by these brave women who sparked the fire that would become the country’s first general strike. “Greve Geral” is Portuguese and means general strike. SP stands for São Paulo. This item is available strictly limited edition for this month only, with global shipping. Be sure to preorder yours by May 31 as all items will be sewn and printed together. Now also with hoodies! https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/t-shirt-of-the-month https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=619105713595981&set=a.602588028581083&type=3

[bananaofswifts]

Scoop Harrison

June 12, 2023 | 9:18am ET

Taylor Swift fans in Brasil reportedly faced threats of violence from scalpers while waiting in line to purchase tickets for the singer’s upcoming “Eras Tour” shows in the country.

According to multiple Brasilian news outlets, scalpers repeatedly attempted to cut in line for tickets sold in both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Some fans reported being threatened with weapons, including metal clubs. A 19-year-old fan named Rylie Nef told Joven Pan that he received verbal threats from a group of scalpers who informed him they intended to “beat these fags to death.”

Other fans claimed seeing scalpers disguise themselves as senior citizens or people with disabilities in order to get preferential access in the ticket line.

Police were repeatedly called to both locations, but offered little assistance, according to O Globo. Swift fans also sought to raise awareness of the issue by launching the hashtag “T4F QUEREMOS RESPEITO,” which was directed at Brasilian concert promoter T4F.

Along with shows in Mexico and Argentina, Taylor Swift’s upcoming visit to Brasil marks the first international dates of “The Eras Tour.” It also marks the singer’s first time playing shows in Brasil since 2012.

Update: Due to overwhelming demand, Taylor Swift has added additional shows in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janerio, and São PauloUpdate:

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Meta Accused by States of Using Features to Lure Children to Instagram and Facebook (NYT) Meta was sued by more than three dozen states on Tuesday for knowingly using features on Instagram and Facebook to hook children to its platforms, even as the company said its social media sites were safe for young people. In their complaint, the states said Meta had “designed psychologically manipulative product features to induce young users’ compulsive and extended use” of platforms like Instagram. The company’s algorithms were designed to push children and teenagers into rabbit holes of toxic and harmful content, the states said, with features like “infinite scroll” and persistent alerts used to hook young users. The attorneys general also charged Meta with violating a federal children’s online privacy law, accusing it of unlawfully collecting “the personal data of its youngest users” without their parents’ permission. “Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the states said in their 233-page lawsuit. “Its motive is profit.” It’s unusual for so many states to come together to sue a tech giant for consumer harms. The coordination shows states are prioritizing the issue of children and online safety and combining legal resources to fight Meta, just as states had previously done for cases against Big Tobacco and Big Pharma companies.

Republican search for new US House leader returns to square one (Reuters) Republicans, whose party infighting has paralyzed the U.S. House of Representatives for three weeks, tried on Monday to find consensus on a new speaker to lead the chamber and address funding needs for Israel, Ukraine and the federal government. Eight candidates to be speaker made their pitches to fellow Republicans at a 2-1/2 hour closed-door forum and answered questions about how they would handle the job. With a narrow majority of 221-212 in the House, it is not clear whether any Republican can get the votes needed to claim the speakership. The speaker position has this year been a flashpoint for factional strife between right-wing hardliners and more mainstream Republicans.

Day of bloodshed in southwest Mexico kills at least 19 people (AP) A local security secretary and 12 police officers were shot dead in Guerrero state Monday, authorities said, the worst episode in a day of violence across southwestern Mexico that killed at least 19 people. Officials are finding themselves increasingly endangered in the region, where several powerful drug cartels continue to fight for control. According to figures from Common Cause, 341 police officers have been killed in Mexico so far this year. In 2022, at least 403 were slain.

Rio gangsters torch at least 35 buses after Brazil crime boss killed (Reuters) Criminal groups set at least 35 buses on fire in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on Monday, according to the industry group that represents bus companies, after police killed a crime boss in an operation. The attacks on buses came after a police operation that killed the nephew of the leader of the state’s largest militia, according to the police. Rio’s so-called militias, often composed of current and former police officers, have become one of the region’s largest security threats. Originally set up as self-defense forces for poor neighborhoods blighted by drug gangs, they have now metastasized into criminal outfits operating in multiple different rackets.

Argentine economy minister and right-wing populist look to runoff (AP) Argentina’s economy minister and the anti-establishment upstart he faces in a presidential runoff next month began competing Monday to shore up the moderate voters they need. Economy Minister Sergio Massa earned almost seven points more than chainsaw-wielding economist and freshman lawmaker Javier Milei in Sunday’s vote. Most polls had shown Massa slightly trailing, as voters had been expected to punish him for triple-digit inflation that has eaten away at purchasing power and boosted poverty. Massa focused his messaging on how Milei’s budget-slashing chainsaw would negatively affect citizens already struggling to make ends meet, showing his Peronist party’s power to mobilize Argentine voters.

A Glimpse Into Spain’s Future, Where Water Comes by Truck, Not Tap (NYT) It was 10 a.m. when the villagers, clutching empty plastic containers, lined up behind the tanker truck of drinking water. A cake shop owner arrived with four big jugs for his pastries. Workers from a retirement home carried two dozen bottles back on wheelchairs for their wards. And a mother of four loaded her trunk with fresh water to wash vegetables and cook pasta. Spain has been blighted by a long-running drought, caused by record-high temperatures in 2022, a string of heat waves in 2023, and almost three years of reduced rainfall. Throughout the country, reservoirs have been depleted; in the worst-affected areas, they are at less than 20 percent of their capacity. But few places on the continent have been as badly hit as tiny Pozoblanco, a village of about 18,000 in southern Spain, where the daily struggle for drinkable water has become a glimpse of what may lie ahead for parts of Europe where drought and extreme heat have become increasingly common.

Commando Raids Unnerving Russia in Crimea (NYT) Late one evening this month, two Ukrainian commandos eased into a side street in Kyiv in a battered SUV. Back from a dangerous nighttime assault on Russian positions in the Crimean Peninsula, they slipped into a sparsely furnished apartment where they sat at desks, weary and a little disheveled, and described their latest operation in matter-of-fact fashion. The two men had joined more than 30 others racing more than 100 miles across the western Black Sea on jet skis to attack critical Russian defense installations before making their getaway, the second Ukrainian amphibious raid in six weeks. The raids were part of a series of punishing attacks on Crimea by Ukrainian forces since midsummer that have succeeded in disabling some Russian air-defense systems and damaging naval repair yards at Sevastopol. Russia later moved 10 warships from Sevastopol on the west coast of Crimea to the port of Novorossiysk on the Russian mainland, though U.S. officials say it remains unclear whether the withdrawals were tied to security concerns or just a regular rotation. But there is no denying that attacks within Crimea are increasing, and may rise even further with the new ATACMS long-range missiles just delivered from the United States. “A dynamic, deep strike battle is underway,” British military intelligence said in a statement.

US renews warning it will defend Philippines after incidents with Chinese vessels in South China Sea (AP) The United States renewed a warning Monday that it would defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack under a 1951 treaty, after Chinese ships blocked and collided with two Filipino vessels off a contested shoal in the South China Sea. Philippine diplomats summoned a Chinese Embassy official in Manila on Monday for a strongly worded protest following Sunday’s collisions off Second Thomas Shoal. No injuries were reported but the encounters damaged a Philippine coast guard ship and a wooden-hulled supply boat operated by navy personnel, officials said. The Philippines and other neighbors of China have resisted Beijing’s sweeping territorial claims over virtually the entire South China Sea, and some, like Manila, have sought U.S. military support as incidents multiply.

Continued Escalation (NYT) Israel launched more than 400 strikes against alleged Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, killing dozens of militants, including three deputy commanders, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday. The assault followed another wave of Israeli strikes that the IDF claimed hit 320 militant targets in Gaza the day before. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 700 Palestinians were killed during the overnight strikes—the highest 24-hour death toll since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7. If confirmed, that would bring the total number of Palestinians killed to almost 5,800 people, including around 2,360 children. Around 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and Hamas is holding more than 200 people hostage, having only released four people thus far. As strikes escalate and Israel prepares for a ground invasion, the United Nations is asking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow more aid into Gaza. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that nearly two-thirds of all health facilities in the Gaza Strip, including 12 out of 35 hospitals, are no longer functioning.

Developing World Sees Double Standard in West’s Actions in Gaza and Ukraine (NYT) For 20 months, the Biden administration has attempted to stake out the moral high ground against Russia, condemning its brutal war on Ukraine for indiscriminately killing civilians. The argument resonated in much of the West, but less so in other parts of the world, which viewed the war as more of a great-power conflict and declined to participate in sanctions or otherwise isolate Russia. Now, as Israel bombards the Gaza Strip, killing more than 4,300 people since Oct. 7, the Biden administration’s unwavering support risks creating new headwinds in its efforts to win over global public opinion. Israel’s attack on Gaza, its threats to mount a ground invasion and America’s tight embrace of its most important Mideast ally have prompted cries of hypocrisy. “Anywhere else, attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population of food, water, basic necessities would be condemned, accountability would be enforced,” said King Abdullah. “International law loses all value if it is implemented selectively.” Palestinians have criticized Western capitals for not expressing outrage over the bombing of Gaza similar to their labeling of Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure as “barbaric” and “crimes against humanity.”

Israel prepares for months-long war (BBC) Israel’s military campaign in Gaza “may take a month, two or three”, its defence minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday, adding the next stage of the war, a widely-expected ground invasion, would “come soon”. But Western leaders who’ve publicly embraced Israel’s right to defend itself are also sending messages, in public and private, about the need to “avoid rushing forward in rage”, explains our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet. A pause could give more time to free more than 200 hostages held in Gaza, help foreign nationals to get out of the enclave, and let in more desperately needed aid. Humanitarian convoys are barely trickling into Gaza from Egypt while the situation on the ground is “catastrophic”, according to a Red Cross spokeswoman.

‘My daughters don’t understand that we cannot return.’ (BBC) Rushdi Abualouf of BBC News is in Gaza reporting on a conflict he cannot escape from. He has shared with us his personal experience, after he had to relocate his family four times in the past two weeks: Two days ago, my wife and children nearly died. They were about to leave for the day to meet me when an Israeli drone attack punched through the top floor of a four-storey building in Khan Younis, Gaza. My nine-year-old twin daughters ran out into the street screaming, separated from their mother, who was struck in the head by a piece of rubble.  My daughters have had to leave behind everything they love in Gaza City and head south—their school, their friends, their horse riding club, their favourite pizza shop. Both of them are constantly asking to go back there, to relative normality. They are begging to go back. They don’t understand that we cannot return.

Want to be sharper? Try golf or walking (Yahoo News) A new study of 25 healthy golfers age 65 and over found that playing 18 holes of golf or walking 3.7 miles significantly improved their immediate cognitive function. The research, which was published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, underscores “the value of age-appropriate aerobic exercise,” said Julia Kettinen, the first author of the article and a doctoral researcher in sports and exercise medicine at the University of Eastern Finland. It seems that the walking element is key here: Research consistently shows that walking has enormous health benefits, from reducing risk of heart disease and dementia to improving the quality and duration of your sleep.

[cwfilmreviews]

City Of God Film Review

“City of God,” directed by Fernando Meirelles and released in 2003, offers a raw, unfiltered look at the gritty realities of gang life in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. The film centers on the interconnected lives of several young residents, each entangled in the violence and lawlessness that define the “City of God.” Through its dynamic cinematography and layered storytelling, the film not only explores the brutal cycles of crime but also delivers a narrative of resilience, particularly embodied in the character Rocket. 

One of the most compelling characters in this brutal narrative is Li’l Dice, a child desperate to prove himself within the gang hierarchy. This ambition leads him down a dark path early on. As a boy, he savagely murders several people in a motel, a crime that cements his transformation into the feared Li’l Ze. Unlike typical portrayals of young criminals, Li’l Dice’s arc emphasizes the allure of power and the moral decay that accompanies it. His lack of remorse makes him an embodiment of chaos, a stark contrast to his brother, Shaggy, whose reckless actions lead to suffering throughout the village. 

Shaggy, Li’l Dice’s older brother, finds himself in hiding from the police after a robbery, dragging the people of his neighborhood further into the cycle of violence. Shaggy’s disregard for the consequences of his actions paints him as an agent of destruction, and yet he is merely the first link in a chain that propels Li’l Ze into power. Shaggy’s death is a pivotal moment that marks the passing of the torch to the younger, even more ruthless generation, as Li’l Ze steps into his own as a figure feared by all. 

Contrasting Li’l Ze is Benny, his close friend and partner in crime, yet a man with a markedly different outlook. Known for his cool demeanor and a hint of decency, Benny represents a softer, human side to gang life. In one telling scene, Benny and his girlfriend Angelica describe themselves as “hippies” at heart, hinting at a longing for peace that starkly contrasts with the violence around them. Benny’s tragic death, inadvertently caused by Blacky in a confrontation aimed at Li’l Ze, underscores the fatalistic theme running through the film. His departure represents a rare glimmer of humanity extinguished in a world that rewards brutality. 

Rocket, the film’s protagonist and narrator, serves as the audience’s window into this unforgiving environment. As a photographer, Rocket stands apart from his peers as he seeks to document, rather than participate in, the violence that surrounds him. His eventual escape into a career as a reporter offers a rare sense of hope, breaking the cycle that traps so many others. By elevating Rocket’s journey, “City of God” transcends the traditional “hood movie” by showing that there is, however slim, a path out. 

The film’s ending, wherein Li’l Ze is ironically killed by the very children he once terrorized, echoes the themes of cyclical violence and poetic justice. It is a powerful visual parallel to the death of Knockout Ned, also killed by a child, reinforcing the idea that these cycles of violence will persist into the next generation. This parallel is reminiscent of Scar’s death in The Lion King, where the once-powerful villain meets his end at the hands of those he once intimidated. 

Meirelles’ direction captures the relentless energy and chaos of the favela, bringing to life a world of complex relationships, impossible choices, and fleeting loyalties. By focusing on Rocket’s escape, “City of God” provides a glimmer of hope in an otherwise grim narrative, challenging viewers to question whether the cycle of violence can truly be broken or if it will inevitably continue. 

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By Jack Nicas and Ana Ionova

Reporting from Rio de Janeiro

The race to lead São Paulo, Latin America’s largest city, has been transformed in recent weeks by the brash candidacy of a right-wing self-help coach who has soared in the polls while getting under his opponents’ skin with harsh and sometimes misleading attacks.

In a live, televised mayoral debate between six candidates on Sunday, that candidate, Pablo Marçal, was at it again, calling José Luiz Datena, an anti-crime television journalist, a vulgar insult and bringing up sexual harassment accusations against him that were later dropped.

“You crossed the debate stage recently to slap me,” Mr. Marçal said, referring to an earlier debate, in which Mr. Datena got close to Mr. Marçal. “You’re not even man enough to do that.”

He then looked to his right and, from offscreen, Mr. Datena came swinging an iron chair, striking Mr. Marçal over his back.

It was a stunning moment even for the often outrageous political antics of Brazil — one candidate assaulting another on live television — and a show of political violence that was likely to reorder the country’s biggest election this year.

Mr. Marçal quickly capitalized, posting multiple videos on social media after the attack, including a dramatized clip of him being rushed to the hospital and breathing with the help of an oxygen mask. He also posted from the hospital, clad in a hospital gownwith an arm sling.

Although the facility did not release details about his injuries, Mr. Marçal’s team initially said that he was believed to have broken a rib and had difficulty breathing. A video from inside the debate hall after the attack showed him and Mr. Datena standing and yelling at one another.

Mr. Marçal has shaped his political style in the mold of other brazen right-wing leaders like Donald J. Trump and former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. On Sunday night, he also postedan image of the chair attack alongside photos of July’s assassination attempt against Mr. Trump and a stabbing that Mr. Bolsonaro suffered during his 2018 campaign. “Why all the hate?” he wrote.

He initially called the incident “attempted murder.” But as he left the hospital on Monday morning, he said that he had suffered just a “bump.”

Mr. Marçal’s team said it had filed a police report about the incident.

One Instagram follower asked Mr. Marçal in a comment whether it was worth being attacked to run for mayor. “It will be worth it,” he replied.

Mr. Marçal is locked in a three-way tie for first place in the polls to lead São Paulo, one of the world’s largest cities, with 11.5 million people. The first round of voting is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Mr. Datena, a centrist who became famous for hosting a television show that reports on crime across Brazil, is in fifth place, with just 7 percent of voters saying they intend to cast ballots for him.

The other leading candidates include the current right-wing mayor, Ricardo Nunes, who was endorsed by Mr. Bolsonaro; and Guilherme Boulos, a leftist congressman endorsed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Following the episode, Mr. Datena said that “he lost his cool,” but stopped short of apologizing and said he would remain in the race. “I made a mistake, but I don’t regret it in any way,” he said.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Police militias used to fight Brazil’s gangs. Now they extort, traffic and kill, too.

For years, police in Rio de Janeiro state have waged a bloody and expensive campaign against the gangs that dominate many of its impoverished favelas.

But all the violence and effort, prosecutors and analysts say, has missed the most pressing security challenge confronting this notoriously turbulent region: A shadow force made up of active and retired police officers themselves, which extorts, traffics drugs and kills at will and with impunity.

These police militias, rooted in Brazil’s authoritarian past but with ties to government today, claim that they’re private security enterprises needed to contain gang violence. But they now control far more of Rio than gangs ever have, researchers say. They have more weapons, more money, more political power. Still,they haven’t raised nearly as much concern among authorities.

“Their explosive expansion constitutes a great threat to democracy,” said Carolina Grillo, a researcher at the Fluminense Federal University in Rio.

Continue reading.

[hondana]

#32 The Sun on My Head - Geovani Martins | Brazil | short stories | 128 pages

In The Sun on My Head, Geovani Martins recounts the experiences of boys growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the early years of the twenty-first century. Drawing on his childhood and adolescence, Martins uses the rhythms and slang of his neighborhood dialect to capture the texture of life in the slums, where every day is shadowed by a ubiquitous drug culture, the constant threat of the police, and the confines of poverty, violence, and racial oppression. And yet these are also stories of friendship, romance, and momentary relief, as in “Rolézim,” where a group of teenagers head to the beach. Other stories, all uncompromising in their realism and yet diverse in narrative form, explore the changes that occur when militarized police occupy the favelas in the lead-up to the World Cup, the cycles of violence in the narcotics trade, and the feelings of invisibility that define the realities of so many in Rio’s underclass.

from: Goodreads

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 2 May 1919, 50,000-strong general strike of all different trades started in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Though police reacted with violence, the workers won an eight-hour day and wage increases of between 20-30%. Our new T-Shirt of the Month design, made by a worker-owned co-operative, and supporting grassroots labour unions in South Asia, commemorates this strike and the strike wave it was part of over the previous two years. From 1917 to 1919, a large strike movement shook the First Brazilian Republic, concentrated in São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro. The 1917 general strike is considered the first general strike in the labor history of Brazil. It all started with about 400 striking workers – mostly women – from the Cotonifício Crespi textile factory in Mooca, São Paulo. They asked, among other things, for higher wages and shorter working hours. In a few weeks the strike spread to various sectors of the economy, throughout the state of São Paulo and then to Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre. This month’s design by Rio de Janeiro based artist @hells_tatt is inspired by these brave women who sparked the fire that would become the country’s first general strike. “Greve Geral” is Portuguese and means general strike. SP stands for São Paulo. This item is available strictly limited edition for this month only, with global shipping. Be sure to preorder yours by May 31 as all items will be sewn and printed together. Now also with hoodies! https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/t-shirt-of-the-month https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=619105573595995&set=a.602588028581083&type=3

[globalcinemabsu]

Blog #5

When looking at gang violence in South American countries and the countries that I've chosen there is quite the similarities between the story they're telling and how they're being told. On one side we see Cidade de Deus, a movie being told through the eyes of a photographer that lives in the slums (Favelas) of Rio de Janeiro and the other movie (Tropa da elite) is told by a swat officer for the Brazilian Police that combats against the all of the gang violence. The gang violence and is what I guess you could call civil war between the gangs and the police in Brazil is quite large. Each and everyday there are police officers receiving bribes from several different people from several different gangs. These bribes that the police officers receive are what truly make Brazil the corrupt country that it is.

The movies cicada de deus and the movie trope da elite is on of the movies that really makes things special and brings attention to the daily fights that go one in the favelas of the Brazil. Meirelles and Lund who are the directors of the film City of God do a great job of showing how the story is through the lens of the camera. They use several different techniques and different ways to get the viewer engaged with what is going on and they are also very good at telling a story and sharing their vision through their camera lens. This applies to the director of Elite Squad, José Padilha, as he is one of the best in South American television scene at making sure the message gets across to all his viewers. Not to mention the main actor in this movie is Wagner Moura, who is also one the stars in the Netflix show series, narcos. Narcos goes over the rise of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. experience is one thing that Padilha is definitely checking off the box for. These are some of the techniques used by Lund and Meirelles.

Realism: Meirelles and Lund used a realistic directing style to portray the harsh realities of life in the favelas. They employed handheld cameras and documentary-like techniques to create a sense of authenticity and immersion, making viewers feel like they are witnessing real events.

Visual Storytelling: The directors utilized strong visual storytelling to convey emotions and messages. They employed dynamic camera movements, vibrant colors, and striking compositions to enhance the narrative and engage the audience visually.

Montage Editing: Meirelles and Lund used montage editing techniques to create fast-paced sequences that capture the energy and chaos of life in the favelas. These sequences often feature quick cuts, overlapping images, and rhythmic editing to convey the intensity of the characters' experiences.

Social Commentary: The directing style of "Cidade de Deus" also serves as a form of social commentary, shedding light on issues of poverty, violence, and inequality in Brazilian society. Meirelles and Lund use the film as a platform to raise awareness and provoke thought about these issues. Below are some of the techniques that are used by Padilha in his movie: Elite Squad.

Documentary Realism: Padilha used a documentary-like directing style to capture the raw and gritty reality of police operations in Rio's favelas. He employed handheld cameras, natural lighting, and on-location shooting to create a sense of authenticity and immersion.

Voiceover Narration: The film features a voiceover narration by the main character, Captain Nascimento. This directing style provides insight into Nascimento's thoughts and emotions, guiding the audience through the story and adding depth to the narrative.

Flashbacks and Non-linear Storytelling: Padilha incorporates flashbacks and non-linear storytelling techniques to provide backstory and context for the characters and events. This adds complexity to the narrative, allowing the audience to piece together the story over time.

High-Action Sequences: The film includes intense and fast-paced action sequences, showcasing Padilha's skill in directing thrilling and dynamic scenes. He employs quick cuts, handheld camera movements, and rapid pacing to create a sense of urgency and tension.

Social Commentary: Like in "Cidade de Deus," Padilha uses "Tropa de Elite" as a platform for social commentary. He critiques issues such as police corruption, brutality, and the cycle of violence in Brazilian society, sparking debate and reflection.

Another Movie that plays a big role in South American gang violence movies is the movie "Carandiru". Carandiru was at one point and time the largest prison in South America. The movie tells a very sad, dramatic and gruesome story filled with long cuts and short cuts.

The gun scenes in these South American movies are what make this so special. One of the things that caught my attention the most is how gruesome some of the scenes are. Whether is Lil, ze' shooting a couple in the hotel, Captain Nasicmento taking decisions into his own hands. These are the things that make the movies so special and filled with emotion.

When we look at gang violence in South American countries, especially the ones I'm focusing on, there are some similarities in the stories being told and how they're shown. One side is "Cidade de Deus," told through a photographer living in Rio de Janeiro's slums. The other is "Tropa da Elite," told by a SWAT officer fighting gangs.

The violence between gangs and police in Brazil is like a civil war. Police get bribes from different gangs every day, which adds to Brazil's corruption. Both movies highlight the struggles in Brazil's slums.

The directors of "City of God," Meirelles and Lund, use different techniques to engage viewers. They make the movie feel real using handheld cameras and documentary-style filming. They use strong visuals with dynamic camera work and vibrant colors. They also use quick editing to show the chaos in the slums. The movie also talks about poverty and violence in Brazil.

José Padilha, director of "Elite Squad," also uses techniques to make the movie feel real. He uses handheld cameras and natural lighting to give it a documentary feel. The main character's voiceover helps explain what's going on. Flashbacks and non-linear storytelling add depth. Action scenes are fast-paced and intense. Like "City of God," "Elite Squad" also talks about social issues like police corruption and violence in Brazil.

(NOTE) All of the links found below were found on google scholar and are very trustable sources.

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Mere inches (AP) Jarring, chaotic and sudden, the bullet whizzed toward the stage where former President Donald Trump stood behind a podium speaking. In its wake: the potential for a horrifying and tragic chapter in American history. But the Republican presidential candidate had a narrow escape—mere inches, possibly less—in Saturday’s assassination attempt. The projectile from the shooter on a nearby rooftop left Trump with just a bloodied right ear, initially shaken but otherwise unharmed. A tiny margin for survival. Sometimes history can come down to inches.

Four in five Americans fear country is sliding into chaos, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds (Reuters) Americans fear their country is spiraling out of control following an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, with worries growing that the Nov. 5 election could spark more political violence, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Tuesday found. The two-day poll found Republican presidential candidate Trump opening a marginal lead among registered voters—43% to 41%—over Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden, an advantage that was within the poll's 3 percentage point margin of error, suggesting the attempt on Trump's life had not sparked a major shift in voter sentiment. But 80% of voters—including similar shares of Democrats and Republicans—said they agreed with a statement that "the country is spiraling out of the control." The poll, which was conducted online, surveyed 1,202 U.S. adults nationwide.

Bystanders Warned Law Enforcement of the Gunman Two Minutes Before He Began Shooting, Video Shows (NYT) Video taken by a bystander shows people pointing to the man suspected of shooting at former President Donald J. Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania and frantically warning law enforcement, just two minutes before the first burst of gunfire rang out, according to an analysis of the footage by The New York Times. “Someone’s on top of the roof,” one person is heard saying. “There he is, right there.” “He’s on the roof!” says another, calling to an officer. The footage shows the suspected gunman lying prone on the roof of a building roughly 400 feet from the stage where Mr. Trump was standing, but was outside the rally’s security perimeter. The video was taken at 6:09 p.m., two minutes before Mr. Trump was shot. As the camera zooms in, the man crawls from the edge of the roof toward its peak.

Brazilian police launch mega-operation in Rio de Janeiro favelas to fight organized crime (AP) Brazilian authorities launched a mega-operation in Rio de Janeiro that sent a force of nearly 2,000 military and civil officers into 10 low income neighborhoods Monday seeking to regain control of areas dominated by organized crime. The officers deployed in the city’s western zone, an area that has been the target of intense territorial disputes involving drug traffickers and militias in recent years, the Rio de Janeiro state government said in a statement. The operation, which also seeks to carry out arrest warrants, has no end date, the statement said. Organized by Rio’s state government, the operation included participation by Brazil’s navy and the municipal guard as well as employees for cable TV and internet operators and water, electricity and gas utilities. The spread of organized crime in Rio’s western zone has led to fierce confrontations between law enforcement agencies and different factions of drug-trafficking groups and militias.

Will the Seine be clean enough by the Olympics? Not even the experts know (AP) With the Paris Olympics less than two weeks away, a question hangs over the Games: Will the Seine River be clean enough for athletes to swim in? Triathlon and marathon swimming are scheduled to take place in the Seine, where it has been illegal to swim for more than a century. Despite the city’s efforts to clean up the long-polluted river, the water has tested unsafe for humans in recent weeks, and cleaner on other days. The Games run from July 26-Aug. 11. To clean up the river, Paris invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in building infrastructure to catch more stormwater when it rains—the same water that contains bacteria-laden wastewater that enters the river during periods of heavy rain and makes it unsafe to swim in.

Ukraine Battles to Contain Russian Advances Across the Front (NYT) Russian forces over the weekend pushed into Urozhaine, a southern village won back by Ukraine last summer, the latest in a series of slow but steady advances that are reversing hard-won Ukrainian victories. The Russian advances are a sobering development for Kyiv as its troops battle to contain attacks along a more than 600-mile front line. In the east, Moscow’s troops are also pressing forward. They have entered the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a Ukrainian stronghold in the region, and are closing in on a key Ukrainian supply route. Ukraine hopes that weapons and ammunition recently supplied by Western allies will help it hold back Russian forces.

Pakistan’s government seeks to ban party of former PM Imran Khan (Guardian) Pakistan’s government is going all-out in its campaign against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Honestly, the whole situation in Pakistan takes some explaining—this February, the PTI claimed victory in national elections, but a coalition government formed by the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan People's Party is currently ruling the country because some PTI candidates were forced to run as independents thanks to harassment from the government and military. That coalition now finds itself threatened by a supreme court ruling, which decided that the PTI should be given a majority in parliament. In response, the government has called for a full-on ban on the PTI, claiming that some of the party’s supporters were involved in plots targeting military installations during mass protests against the arrest of PTI head Imran Khan. “The government has become frustrated after the recent decision of supreme court, as PTI has become the largest party in the parliament,” said one PTI MP. “They are taking the country towards anarchy.”

Thailand is set to roll out a controversial $13.8 billion handout plan in digital money to citizens (AP) Thailand’s prime minister said Monday that eligible businesses and individuals can register from August for digital cash handouts, a controversial program that will cost billions of dollars and is meant to boost the lagging economy. The government announced in April the widely criticized ambitious plan, named the Digital Wallet, meant to give 10,000 baht (about $275) to 50 million citizens in digital money to spend at local businesses. The government says that this scheme will cause an “economic tornado.” Thailand has in recent years suffered from a sluggish economy that appears to have deteriorated with no clear sign of growth.

The Book Bag That Binds Japanese Society (NYT) Nearly every elementary school student in Japan carries a book bag known as a randoseru, a staple of Japanese childhood for close to 150 years. No one mandates that students use these backpacks, but strong social norms lead most families to purchase them for their children. Made of leather or some sturdy facsimile, randoseru, which cost hundreds of dollars, are meant to last for the entire six years of elementary school. More than a simple school bag, the randoseru is a unique Japanese symbol, reflecting the conformity and consistency that is deeply rooted in the culture. In Japan, cultural expectations are repeatedly drilled into children at school and at home, with peer pressure playing as powerful a role as any particular authority or law. Carrying the bulky randoseru to school is “not even a rule imposed by anyone but a rule that everyone is upholding together,” said Shoko Fukushima, associate professor of education administration at the Chiba Institute of Technology.

U.N. peacekeepers take cover as Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel trade attacks (NPR) United Nations vehicles rumble along a deserted road in south Lebanon, past abandoned villages, destroyed houses and burned and blackened farmland—remnants of daily attacks along the border with Israel that now threaten to escalate into all-out war. For most of the past nine months since the war in Gaza began, Israel and Lebanon confined the border attacks mostly to military targets within a zone a few miles from either side of a historic cease-fire line. But recently, escalated attacks by both sides, which have reached farther into both Lebanon and Israel, have raised concerns about intensified fighting. Literally in the middle of this confrontation is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. UNIFIL has not been directly targeted in the conflict. But since October, the mission has become more dangerous. Increased shelling means that peacekeepers regularly take cover on bases, and even in concrete bunkers. At the UNIFIL base closest to the blue line, just a few hundred feet from Israel, cracks radiate from holes in solar panels hit by shrapnel from missiles destroyed in the air by Israeli defenses.

They Were Told They Were in a Safe Area. Then Came the Missiles. (NYT) When the explosions began on Saturday, many Gazans were sitting down to meager breakfasts, or drinking tea. They were waking up their children, or walking down the road. Suddenly, the sound of destruction was booming through Al-Mawasi, the once sparsely populated part of southern Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians had fled to after the Israeli military declared it safe for civilians. Despite that designation, Israel struck the area with a barrage of airstrikes on Saturday morning, saying that it had targeted Hamas’s top military commander and another military leader. While it remained unclear on Sunday whether the main target had been killed, Gaza health officials said more than 90 people were killed in the attack, about half of them women and children, and more than 300 wounded.

Far-right groups that block aid to Gaza receive tax-deductible donations from US and Israel (AP) Under American pressure, Israel has pledged to deliver large quantities of humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. But at the same time, the U.S. and Israel have allowed tax-deductible donations to far-right groups that have blocked that aid from being delivered. Three groups that have prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza—including one accused of looting or destroying supplies—have raised more than $200,000 from donors in the U.S. and Israel, The Associated Press and the Israeli investigative site Shomrim have found in an examination of crowdfunding websites and other public records. Incentivizing these donations by making them tax-deductible runs counter to America’s and Israel’s stated commitments to allow unlimited food, water and medicine into Gaza, say groups working to get more aid into the territory. Donations have continued even after the U.S. imposed sanctions against one of these groups.

Leaving Syria's civil war to be a mercenary in Africa (BBC) For more than 10 years, Abu Mohammad has been living in a tent with his family in northern Syria, displaced by the long-running civil war. Abu Mohammad (not his real name), who is 33, and his wife have four young children—they have no running water or toilet and rely on a small solar panel to charge his phone. Their tent is sweltering in summer and freezing in winter, and leaks when it rains. “Finding work has become extremely difficult," he says. He is a member of Turkish-backed opposition forces that have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad for more than a decade. The faction he works for pays him less than $50 (£40) a month, so when Turkish recruiters appeared offering $1,500 a month to work in Niger, he decided it was the best way to earn more money. He says Syrian faction leaders help facilitate the process and after “faction taxes and agents” he would still be left with at least two-thirds of the money. “And if I die in battle [in Niger], my family will receive compensation of $50,000," he adds. Abu Mohammad is not alone in wanting to go to Niger. Since December 2023, more than 1,000 Syrian fighters have travelled to Niger via Turkey, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which monitors the conflict in Syria through a network of sources on the ground. They end up under Russian command fighting militant jihadist groups in the border triangle between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

[womenareheroes]

Brazil

Moro de Providencia is a place of which the name has become synonymous for violence in Rio de Janeiro. However the reason this favela located in the center of Rio appeared on television screens in August 2008 wasn’t the regular scenes of clashes between drug dealers and the police but to present the art exhibition Women. In order to pay tribute to those who play an essential role in society but who are the primary victims of war, crime, rape and political or religious fanaticism, JR pasted huge photos of the faces and eyes of local women all over the outside of the favela, suddenly giving a female gaze to both the hill and the favela. “The inhabitants have got a real buzz out of the project. On our last day, they threw a little party before we left. Even the big tough guys of the favela, with guns and bullet-proof vests, were sad to see us go”

It has to be said that he arrived at an interesting time: a few weeks before, some soldiers captured three young people from Providencia and handed them over to drug dealers from another favela who executed them and cut them into pieces.