Local News

Bolsonaro stumps for reelection in United Nations speech

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro bore little resemblance to his past speeches before world leaders. Bolsonaro’s rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is seen as more likely to protect the environment. Deforestation is accelerating in Brazil as Bolsonaro’s first term ends, experts say. During his presidency, which ran from 2002 to 2010, deforestation fell 65% in Brazil, according to INPE. Brazilian domestic politics are nothing new to many in New York, with pro-Bolsonaro supporters and critics seen airing their views in the streets around the UN headquarters.

United Nations Headquarters
CNN
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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday bore little resemblance to his past speeches before world leaders. Touting Brazil’s development under his administration and swiping at political rivals, the Brazilian leader seemed more focused on appealing to voters at home, as the country’s presidential election looms next month.

The first world leader to speak at the UN headquarters podium in New York City, Bolsonaro spent much of his speech describing economic and political achievements, saying that poverty, inflation and unemployment are decreasing in the country.

These indices have indeed all shown small decreases in the past two to three months, though the overall economic picture is somewhat starker, with one in 10 Brazilians currently unemployed and inflation at 8.73% in August, compared to the same month last year.

The President, who has long positioned himself as business-friendly, also argued that privatization and deregulation under his government have promoted a better economic environment in the country, and called for that model of governance to continue – a not-so-subtle appeal for reelection.

The right-wing Bolsonaro faces leftist former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the polls in October, and appeared to take a direct swipe at him in his speech, telling the assembled world leaders, “Between 2003 and 2015 alone, when the left ruled over Brazil, Petrobras’ indebtedness due to mismanagement, political subdivision, and deviations reached $170 billion,” he said, referring to the state petroleum company.

“The person responsible for this was unanimously convicted in three instances,” he continued, an unmistakable reference to da Silva, whose conviction was annulled by Brazil’s Supreme Court in March 2021 – clearing the way for the former leader to mount a political challenge to Bolsonaro this year.

Socially conservative themes from Bolsonaro’s election campaign also surfaced during his UN speech. “Other fundamental values for Brazilian society, reflected in the human rights agenda, are the defense of the family, the right to life from conception, self-defense and the repudiation of gender ideology,” he said.

As in previous years, the Brazilian President also pushed back against environmental concerns about Brazil’s management of the vast Amazon rainforest, telling the General Assembly that two-thirds of the entire Brazilian territory is still covered with native vegetation, “which is exactly as it was when Brazil was discovered, in 1500,” he said.

“In the Brazilian Amazon, an area equivalent to Western Europe, more than 80% of the forest remains untouched, contrary to what is publicized by the major national and international media,” Bolsonaro added.

Nevertheless, under Bolsonaro’s presidency, deforestation in the Amazon has risen to extremes, and the President himself has explicitly called for more development and economic activity that makes use of the country’s natural resources and vast protected forest.

As CNN has previously reported, between 2019 – when Bolsonaro took office – and 2021, Brazil lost over 33,800 square kilometers (13,000 square miles) of rainforest in the Amazon according to Brazil’s Space Research Institute (INPE), a government agency. That’s an area larger than Belgium, with an average of 11,000 square kilometers (4,250 square miles) lost per year.

His rival da Silva – or Lula, as he is widely known – is seen as more likely to protect the environment, recently telling CNN Brasil that in his government “there will be no Amazon deforestation.” During his presidency, which ran from 2002 to 2010, deforestation fell 65% in Brazil, according to INPE

Brazilian domestic politics are nothing new to many in New York, with pro-Bolsonaro supporters and critics seen airing their views in the streets around the UN headquarters.

Local News

Video: Deer crashes through window and roams Alabama elementary school classroom

On video, a deer was captured crashing through a classroom window at an elementary school in Alabama and then wandering around among the desks. According to Evergreen Elementary School, the incident occurred on February 11, and the “unexpected intrusion” was not hurt. The school posted on Facebook that they had an “unexpected intruder” this weekend. It was undoubtedly interested in seeing all the great things happening in their school. ALASKA WOMAN IS KOMBLED BY HUGE MOOSE AFTER SLEEPING UP ON HIM. The facility claims that the deer left after “a couple of hours.” BUDWEISER CYDESDALES GET TANGLED UP DURING TEXAS STOKES AND RODEO SHOW “It struggled for a few minutes learning to walk on our waxed flooring,” Evergreen Elementary School stated. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Video footage shows the deer sliding around on the ground as it moves around the desks of children inside the classroom.

Local News

Texas school administrator seems to have thrown a 14-year-old boy in the wall

A mother who was concerned released surveillance video that shows a school administrator throwing a boy, 14 years old, into a wall at Round Rock High School. The incident occurred at GOALS Learning Center on April 29, a school for students with a primary disorder of emotional disturbance. Tatiana Alfano, the mother, said that she received an email and a call from the school stating that her son was defiant and had struck his head when he fell. Quintin Proctor, Quintin’s son, insisted that Quintin was actually thrown into a wall by the school administrator. His mother was shocked to receive surveillance video from the school two week later.
Just before he tried to leave, the student was standing in a corridor.
(Round Rock Independent Schools District via Fox 7 Austin) The video shows Proctor in a hallway along with two female teachers as well as the male administrator. Fox 7 Austin reported that Proctor had been brought to the “cool down area” after yelling at his teachers. Proctor tried to follow the two teachers as they left. The administrator grabbed Proctor and threw him against the wall. WILD BRAWL BREAKS OUT at the END OF ARIZONA HOST SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES: ‘IT WAS UGLY.’Proctor jumped up several times and raised his arm as if he was going for a punch. But he never did. The teachers later took him down a different corridor. Proctor said that he didn’t know what to think when he hit the wall. Fox 7 Austin echoed this statement.
Quintin Proctor claims he was shoved by an administrator against a wall.
(Round Rock Independent Schools District via Fox 7 Austin). A spokesperson for Round Rock Independent Schools District stated that the administrator was no longer on campus at GOALS Learning Center. Jenny LaCoste Caputo, the spokesperson for Round Rock Independent School District, stated that the incident was thoroughly investigated by the district. She also reported it to all appropriate state agencies. “The staff member is currently employed at the district, but is not on a campus. He is assigned to special projects in Central Administration.
The 14-year old hit his head against the wall.
(Round Rock Independent Schools District via Fox 7 Austin). His mom said that she shared the surveillance video because she has heard similar stories from other families. “What happened to Quintin isn’t unusual or exceptional or rare. It’s just that we have footage of it because these events are usually happening behind closed doors. So now it’s grown and it’s larger,” Alfano explained to Fox 7 Austin. “We must do right by all the kids. This shouldn’t be happening.”

Local News

Ex-Honduran congressman who lives in NY is sentenced to 30 years in international drug conspiracy

A federal judge in New York sentenced Fredy Renan Najera Montoya, a former Honduran congressman, to 30 years imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale drug trade operation. Prosecutors claimed that Najera Montoya had imported more than 30 tonnes of cocaine into the United States. He had also pleaded guilty previously to conspiracy to import cocaine and a weapons offense. The sentence was handed down by U.S District Judge Paul Gardephe. Najera, 46, was also ordered to forfeit $39 Million and pay a $10,000,000 fine.
Fredy Renan Najera (46), was ordered to forfeit $39 Million and pay $10 Million in fines for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, Najera distributed more than 30 tons cocaine from the Honduran region he represented between 2008 and 2015. According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, Najera helped distribute more than 30 tons of cocaine from the region of Honduras that he represented in his government role between 2008 and 2015.

Local News

High ranking US officials meet with Taliban for the first time since July, when al Qaeda’s leader was killed by the US

Two officials familiar with the talks stated that top officials from the Biden administration met with the Taliban in person on Saturday, the first meeting since al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri was shot to death in Kabul in late Jul.

The administration sent the CIA’s deputy Director and the top State Department official responsible in Afghanistan to Doha, Qatar, for talks with the Taliban delegation. This included their head of intelligence Abdul Haq Wasiq.

Zawahiri was killed during a strike by the US. The US then accused the Taliban of a “clear violation” of the Doha Agreement, “brokered in part by the Trump administration. This agreement stated that the Taliban would not harbor terrorists if the US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, which they did in august 2021.

After a US drone shot down fatal Hellfire missiles at Zawahiri in Afghanistan, American officials accused the Taliban leaders of the Haqqani network knowing Zawahiri was missing. The Taliban reacted angrily to the incident.

The US has maintained its engagement with the Taliban since then, including negotiating Mark Frerichs’ release. However, senior officials hadn’t met face-toface since Zawahiri’s death on July 31.

The presence of CIA Deputy Director David Cohen, and the Taliban’s Wasiq, at Saturday’s meeting indicates a focus on counterterrorism. Last month, the White House called cooperation with Taliban on counterterrorism “a work-in-progress.”

Cohen was accompanied by Tom West, the Special Representative for Afghanistan at the State Department. West has been a leader in engagement with the Taliban ever since the US withdrawal last January.

Frerichs was freed almost three weeks ago, after spending more than two years in captivity. With the help of Qatar, Frerichs was also released. According to administration officials, they claimed that they spent months negotiating with Taliban leaders for Frerichs’ release and warned them about Frerichs’ death after the strike. They stated that the best way to restore trust would be to release him.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least one other American, Ivor Shearer (a filmmaker) is currently being held in Taliban custody. He was arrested alongside Faizullah Faizbakhsh, his Afghan producer. They were filming in the same area Zawahiri was murdered. Shearer was reportedly summoned by the Taliban several times for questioning prior to his detention.

The State Department and the CIA declined to comment.

The Taliban maintains ties to al Qaeda but they are now facing an insurgency by the Islamic State offshoot known ISIS-K. This group has repeatedly targeted Afghanistan’s Hazara ethnic minority. A suicide attack at an education center in Kabul’s predominantly Hazara neighborhood resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, mostly young women. No one claimed immediate responsibility.

Beth Sanner, a former Deputy director of National Intelligence, who led Afghanistan analysis at CIA, says that “the Taliban are struggling to stop ISIS-K attacks,” Sanner is also a CNN contributor.

Sanner stated that Cohen is likely to send a clear message that we will continue to strike as we did against Zawahiri if we discover that al Qaeda members are supporting operations that threaten the US and its allies. “ISIS-K is now a threat to the Taliban and to sectarian security. However, there is some concern that ISIS -K could eventually turn its sights to external plotting if they are unable to contain them.”

The Biden administration announced last month that it had established a $3.5 billion “Afghan Fund” to freeze Afghan money in order to promote economic stability. Two officials said to CNN that the US doesn’t believe there is an institution that can guarantee the funds will be used to benefit Afghans.

Instead, it will be managed by an outside organization, independent from the Taliban and the central bank.

In their discussions with the Taliban, administration officials have repeatedly brought up the issue of women and girls. Last month, the United Nations’ rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan called the “staggering” decline of Afghan women and girls in society “staggering.”

Bennett stated that “in no other country has women and girls so quickly disappeared from all spheres in public life.” “Despite this, women’s rights and accountability for human rights are being maintained by girls and women.”

This report was contributed by Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood, CNN.

Local News

The latest Kindle Paperwhite is now at its lowest ever price

Today’s deals include a discount on KitchenAid appliances, a Kindle Paperwhite (11th Generation) and savings on a Manduka Pro Yoga Mat. You can find all that and more here.

Overstock Day

Today is the last day to save huge on furniture and decor during Overstock Day. You won’t regret shopping for new rugs, bedding, and outdoor items to decorate your home and garden.

All major appliances eligible for 15% off with code COLUMBUS15

A long-standing staple of wedding registries and wish lists, a variety of iconic KitchenAid appliances — including ranges, microwaves, ranges, and refrigerators — are on sale now. Use code COLUMBUS15 to get 15% off

Amazon: $129 $101.99

Get a new mat to refresh your yoga practice. The Maduka Pro, our top pick for hot Yoga, is just shy of the lowest Amazon price. The Manduka Pro Yoga mat 6mm is a great choice for regular hot yoga practitioners. It can withstand the sweat generated in a hot yoga class. The mat’s ultra-dense PVC content helps to cement it in your flooring. Its ultra-tacky top features a state of the art texture that provides a no-slip grip, even when you’re sweaty.

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Tile trackers are great for people who have a tendency to misplace things. You can save on two models right now, including one slim model and one mat, plus a bundle. These trackers are perfect for attaching to your key rings or storing your wallet. They’re currently 30% off at Amazon.

Amazon: $139.99 $99.99

The Kindle Paperwhite is our choice for the best budget ereader. It has a lightweight design, a glare-free display with adjustable warmth that reduces strain on your eyes, and it is light. The Paperwhite is waterproof and comes with a long-lasting battery. It’s the perfect accessory for vacation reading, or as a nightstand companion. Amazon is currently offering the Paperwhite at $40, the lowest price we have seen.

o Save 20% on your entire order of holy grail makeup by Kosas, thanks to the brand’s Family and Friends Sale.

The Echo Glow is a great companion to your Alexa setup and it’s only $17 on Amazon right now.

Blue Bottle Coffee is offering $3 off all espresso products to Underscored readers by using code CNN3.

Amazon has a great deal on Dove products: body wash, deodorant, and more!

This handy pet hair roller removes (you guess it) pet hair from furniture and upholstery in a flash. It costs less than $18 with the coupon clipped on the page.

Saucony and Keen offer great discounts on running shoes. Prime members can also save $5

Artifact Uprising offers 10 free cards when you buy a product to celebrate its anniversary. Use code 10FREE from now until Nov. 5.

Lenovo’s Semi Annual Sales Week is currently underway. This week, you can save 25% on Smart Tab M10s and get Legion gaming laptops starting at $1,700.

o This handy GIR spatula can be used in a mini size and is nonstick and flexible.

Lulu and Georgia’s Anniversary Sale is now live. Get 25% off furniture, decor, and linens.

Hanky Panky

Friends & Family Event

Are you looking to upgrade your underwear collection? Hanky Panky is currently offering 30% off all items — a rare deal on the entire site. You can save up to 30% on thongs and underwear, bras, loungewear, pajamas, and more, now through Oct. 3. Hanky Panky’s Friends & Family event has a lot to offer, whether you are looking for something lightweight, lacy, or cozy.

Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover Notebook

Woot! $24.95 $18.95

Journalists who are dedicated know that the Leuchtturm1917 is a great choice for planning, everyday notes, and more. The notebook opens flat and the high-quality pages won’t bleed. This notebook is a great way to organize your life. Regularly $24.95, it’s on sale for a few dollars now at a rare discount.

Universal Standard

25% Discount on All Sites

Universal Standard’s on-trend, size-inclusive clothing is 25% off thanks to its Anniversary Sale. Use code BIRTHDAY25 to get discounts on everything, from sweaters to denim, intimates and outerwear. It’s a great opportunity to refresh your fall wardrobe with timeless fashion in sizes 00-40.