The symbol of his policies is a chainsaw: President Javier Milei wants to slash the Argentine state and its expenditures down to a minimum. This was the campaign promise that carried him to election victory in November 2023, and it's now the basis for how he's running the government.

Following 15 years of deficit-based fiscal policy and three sovereign debt defaults since 2001, the majority of voters backed his proposed drastic program. But that support now appears to be crumbling. On April 23, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets throughout the country to protest his radical austerity measures.

According to police, the capital city of Buenos Aires alone saw some 100,000 demonstrators turn out; the University of Buenos Aires put the number at more than 500,000. 

Gatherings also took place in many other university cities across Argentina, including Tucuman, Cordoba, Corrientes and Ushuaia. People even turned out in front of the Argentine consulate in Barcelona, Spain, to show solidarity with the demonstrators on the other side of the Atlantic. Various media described the protests as the largest in 20 years.

Warning sign for Milei

Milei's government has faced protests ever since he took office in early December. Facundo Cruz, a political scientist at the University of Buenos Aires, described many of them as "large, important rallies." But they were limited at the same time, he added. "The impetus came from a specific political sector."

For instance, in January, the nation's largest union, CGT, called for a general strike. The CGT is closely tied to the populist left-wing, Peronist Union por la Patria (Union for the Homeland). Currently the largest opposition party, it spent the last 20 years dominating Argentine politics with leading politicians such as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

But this week's demonstrations were different, said Cruz. "Mobilization took place across sectors and, in some parts of the country, even included people who voted for [Milei's] government and who, when polled, say they support its course."

'Education is a very sensitive subject'

According to Cruz, people from across the entire political spectrum demonstrated on Tuesday because of the specific policy that was targeted: the government's decision to keep the budget for public universities nominally the same in comparison to the previous year. With 280% inflation over the past 12 months, this corresponds in real terms to cuts of roughly 65%.

"For Argentine society, Argentina set itself apart from the rest of Latin America because social mobility was always tied to public education; this was a guarantee of social mobility," explained Mariana Llanos, an Argentine political scientist at the GIGA Institute for Latin American Studies in Hamburg, Germany.

"Argentines can learn to live with many cuts but education is a very sensitive subject," added Llanos. She believes Milei's drastic cuts may actually work against him.

Five months in, how popular is Milei?

Milei's approval ratings back the idea that Argentines are ready to make sacrifices to stabilize the national budget and economy. Some 50% still support the government's extreme liberalization reform program, even following massive cuts and layoffs in the public sector.

Nevertheless, the other half of the population almost entirely opposes Milei's government. Fewer than 5% of respondents usually say they are undecided — a clear sign of societal division, said Cruz.

Milei's position in the legislature is also historically fragile. His party, La Libertad Avanza (Liberty Advances), holds a mere 45 seats (14%) out of Congress' 329 seats. The opposition is split, said Llanos, explaining that Milei can negotiate with one half, but not with the other. 

Can Milei keep himself in office?

This is one reason why observers have been speculating since Milei took office as to how long he will be able to remain president. However, Cruz currently doesn't see anyone who would be in the position and willing to take on Milei's complicated legacy. The incumbent inherited runaway inflation and high unemployment from his predecessor.

Cruz also pointed out that there is currently no consensus among the opposition as to what a political counterproposal would look like. As long as Milei's approval ratings remain as high as they have been until now, Cruz doesn't believe he will be chased out of office. 

Brian Winter, the editor-in-chief of the Americas-focused political magazine Americas Quarterly, has come to a similar conclusion, though he warned that the unconventional politician isn't entirely in the clear.

"I think Milei's job security is pretty good but always in question for a non-Peronist president, especially one making severe budget cuts. The protests [on April 23] were a sign that Argentine society is conflicted about what to cut, and whom to support," he said.

For Llanos, the drastic budget cuts in the education sector are a big — and avoidable — political mistake that could mark a turning point. "Milei is a smart person. He might want to correct this mistake in progress."

This article was originally written in German.

Thousands of Indigenous people marched through Brazil's capital, Brasilia, on Thursday, protesting against the government's failure to recognize more of their ancestral lands officially.

Along with calling for more land recognition, some tribes also protested a proposed 950-kilometer (590-mile) rail project.

The Ferrograo railway will transport grain from farms in the central part of the country, to ports along the Tapajos River, a large Amazon tributary.

Lula fails to quell concerns

One of the people's main grievances is what they call the failure of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government to fulfill its promise of legally recognizing more of the land they have lived on for centuries.

This recognition is crucial to safeguard their territories from encroachment by unauthorized loggers, illegal miners and land grabbers.

Lula's administration has created 10 Indigenous territories, but Indigenous leaders told him in the meeting it is not enough. 

He later said on X, formally known as Twitter: "It is my moral duty to do what I can to minimize the suffering of Indigenous people and guarantee their rights,"

However, Indigenous leader Chief Edinho of the Macuxi tribe in Roraima state told reporters: "We left well aware that our struggle continues.

"We have a government that talks to us, but a farm lobby that stops it from governing."

Dispute over Ferrograo railway

Indigenous leaders from the Kayapo, Panará, and Munduruku tribes criticized the proposed Ferrograo railway, saying they were not adequately consulted.

They are worried the new infrastructure would lead to increased deforestation.

"Ferrograo is the train of death, of deforestation," said Alessandra Korap Munduruku, the Goldman environmental prize winner.

The prize is awarded to grassroots environmental champions from around the world who take significant action for our planet.

"The railroad is not going to carry people, as they claim, but grain production of international companies financing this project," Munduruku added.

Marivelton Bare, head of the Rio Negro Federation of Indigenous Organizations said "there is political instability, disrespect and mistrust."

Indigenous demands face mounting opposition from the powerful agribusiness sector.

"We are in favor of Ferrograo, a federal government project of extreme importance for the shipment of grains," the farm caucus in Congress said.

They say the railway will cut freight costs by 25% and release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that the trucks that currently carry the grain.

km/lo (Reuters, AP)

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned on Thursday, paving the way for the establishment of a new government.

It comes after months of gang violence that has gripped the country, including parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Also on Thursday, a new transitional council was sworn in to appoint a new interim government to pave the way for the first elections since 2016.

Finance Minister Patrick Boisvert is to serve as provisional prime minister after being appointed by Henry's remaining cabinet. 

It was not immediately clear when the transitional council would select its own interim prime minister.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the new authorities in Haiti "to expedite the full implementation of the transitional governance arrangements," according to UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

 

What do we know about Henry's resignation?

In a letter uploaded to social media on Thursday, Henry said his government had "served the nation in difficult times."

"I sympathize with the losses and suffering endured by our compatriots during this period," he said in the letter.

In another text published on the same day, Henry said that he chose to resign for "personal reasons."

Haiti's outgoing government formalized a transition process two weeks ago, a month after Henry announced his planned resignation.

Henry's resignation follows widespread gang violence

Gangs launched coordinated attacks that began on February 29 in Haiti's capital and surrounding areas. They opened fire on the main international airport, which has been closed since early March, and stormed Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing over 4,000 people.

The attacks began when Henry was on an official visit to Kenya in an attempt to garner support for an international policing mission in Haiti.

He remains locked out of the Caribbean country.

"Port-au-Prince is now almost completely sealed off because of air, sea and land blockades," UNICEF director Cahterine Russel said.

More than 2,500 people were killed or injured in the violence between January and March, according to data from the United Nations INtegrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

This is a 53% compared to the last three months of 2023.

 UN Secretary General Guterres called on Haiti's new authorities to allow the deployment of a multinational security mission.

"The Secretary-General appeals to all member states to ensure the multinational security support mission receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed," said UN spokesperson Dujarric.

sdi/wmr (AP, Reuters, AFP)

The volcanic island of Robinson Crusoe, 670 kilometers (416 miles) west of Chile's mainland, was renamed in 1966 after the famous Daniel Defoe novel about a man left to survive on a remote island.

Over 300 years after the novel was written, this island of roughly 1,200 residents is now set to enjoy one of the most magical moments of sporting history.

For the first time ever, the island will compete in Chile's domestic football cup. The Football Federation of Chile invited Robinson Crusoe Island and Alejandro Selkirk Island to join together and compete as the "Juan Fernandez Archipelago." This weekend, on the last Sunday in April, they will host three-time cup winners Santiago Wanderers. 

Most of the visiting team will undertake a more than 30-hour boat trip to travel to and from the island because its airstrip is so tiny.

Marcelo Diaz is one of the journalists who traveled to the Robinson Crusoe to cover the game. After taking a flight on a small aircraft with space for no more than eight passengers, he says he then needed to take another forty-minute boat trip to reach the main town of San Juan Bautista.

Although isolated, San Juan Bautista has places to stay, a state-of-the-art phone system and satellite television. Chile's air force reportedly drops by to deal with routine medical and dental care on the island's rudimentary airstrip.

"They want the island to be better known. In 2010, they suffered a tsunami, in 2011 an air tragedy. They want to be looked at differently. That's why they are excited about the game," Diaz told DW.

"The coach is Jorge Garces, a former player and a title-wining coach in 2001. They have prepared in the best way."

Fishermen vs. pros

Garces, who ironically won his title with Santiago Wanderers, the team Juan Fernandez will be facing, has been living on the island for two months getting the team ready. 

"God brought me here personally, and I thank him for it," said Garces.

There are perhaps four to five teams on the island who compete for a title, but they are amateur players and most work as fishermen. The local spiny lobsters are a particular delicacy, but harvesting them does make time for football hard to find.

Nevertheless, the cup has sparked tournament fever on the island and the launching of the club's Instagram presence in late February has brought this remarkable sports story to the world.

"Meet Hernan Retamales, master of the sea and goal. His skills at sea and on the field are indisputable!" reads the caption under a video introduction of Retamales.

"Meet Pedro Calderon, an experienced fisherman and dedicated councilor, now shining in our team's frontline!"

Another reads: "Fredy Arredondo, only 16 years old, the youngest talent on our team! A student and central midfielder, he shows maturity and skill on every play and the future of the team is in good hands."

It seems the whole country's football community has become captivated by this meeting, with Chile's former national goalkeeper Luis Marín gifting goalkeeping gloves to the two keepers.

More than a game

Reportedly, 150 journalists and associate league members are expected on the island this weekend. Which means that the Chilean navy is likely to help out, and that accomodations, which are limited, will also be booked out. Wherever you stay though, barking dogs will likely accompany you through the night.

Traveling to remote islands for football games is not as rare as it seems. In France's domestic cup competition, overseas teams affiliated to the French Football Federation from territories such as Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Tahiti have all competed in the preliminary rounds, with some traveling thousands of kilometers to play.

But there is no denying that a boat trip to Robinson Crusoe Island to play in the first round of the cup is something unique. Although an upset is unlikely, Chile's cup competition has had its fair share of surprise results, perhaps none more famous than in 2008, when third-division side Deportes Ovalle made the final before narrowly losing.

Beyond its lobster and the scuba diving, the island is looking to change its image in the world. The fixture alone is beginning to do that, and even if this group of fishermen, students and council members don't win on Sunday, what a bit of history they have altready written for their community.

In the Robinson Crusoe novel, Defoe famously wrote: "it is never too late to be wise." On this remote island in the Pacific, it turns out it is never too late to dream either.

Edited by: James Thorogood

Gang violence led to 1,660 deaths and 850 injuries in the first three months of 2024 in Haiti, a UN report said on Friday.

That's a more than 50% increase on the previous quarter's figures, when the BINUH (or United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti) reported 1,104 deaths and 532 injuries.

Almost four in every five of the deaths or injuries (79%) took place in the lawless capital Port-au-Prince, as authorities struggle to retain control.

The report warned that recent months had also been characterized by more frequent and more organized gang attacks targeting government or law enforcement facilities. 

It noted the major prison breaks orchestrated by Port-au-Prince gangs when "more than 4,600 inmates escaped from the two main prisons in the capital," and also said that at least 22 police facilities had been looted or set on fire, with 19 police officers killed or injured during the first three months of the year. 

Why did the situation worsen in recent months in Haiti? 

Haiti had long been plagued by gang violence with a weak government in only partial control of the country and particularly the capital Port-au-Prince.

But it descended into even more unrest in February when a group of gangs joined forces and said they wanted to oust the unelected government. 

Prime Minister Ariel Henry soon said, under increasing international pressure, that he would step down. 

Establishing a transitional council to usher in elections turned into a long and drawn out process that was only completed last week. 

A potential new government or election date remains elusive, with no votes in Haiti since November 2016, almost two months after Henry said he would step aside. 

The gangs' opposition to Henry's government had also coincided with growing popular dissatisfaction with and protests against the unelected leader's period in power since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Henry had argued during his tenure that the security situation was so poor that elections were not possible. 

The violence intensified when Henry was on a visit to Kenya, trying to drum up support for an international policing mission that Haiti had requested in 2022. It took well over a year of appeals before Kenya volunteered to lead it, but now it's on hold again amid the uncertainty over the country's governance.

Gangs fighting each other and the police

The report outlined an array of different reasons for the fighting. Sometimes it was rival gangs fighting over territory and influence. Sometimes they would fight with police and other law enforcement.

It warned that rape was being used as a weapon, both against civilians in territory controlled by rivals and recently when gangs overran a women's prison and said the recruitment of children was commonplace. 

BINUH also noted an increase in deaths and injuries inflicted during police operations, as law enforcement sought to respond to the uptick in violence. 

A total of 590 people had been killed or injured in police operations, the report said, adding that "many were apparently not involved in gang violence, and some were people living with mobility impairments." 

Kidnappings for ransom, however, had become less frequent amid the intensifying violence, down 37% compared to the previous quarter. Still, more than 400 people were kidnapped, many of them taken while traveling on public transport in the Artibonite region north of the capital.

Vigilante killings also on the rise

The report also warned that the Haitian mob justice phenomenon, commonly referred to as "Bwa Kale" (Haitian Creole, literally meaning "peeled wood," that is an idiom for an act of swift justice), was also picking up pace as civilians tried to turn the tables on gang members. 

"Between January and March, at least 62 adults, allegedly affiliated to gangs or suspected of crimes, were killed by the population with machetes and stones. Their bodies were often set on fire," the report said. It noted how these cases took place outside the capital, where the gang presence is less pronounced, "indicating a growing fear on the part of the population in these areas of the escalating violence affecting Port-au-Prince." 

The more formal and organized "self-defense groups" in places with a heavier gang presence, meanwhile, were responsible for the deaths of at least 79 people, two of them under the age of 16, the report said.

msh/wd (AFP, Reuters)

Humans first crossed into the American continent from Asia via the Bering Strait in several waves of migration between 25,000-15,000 years ago. The migrating hunter-gatherers found landscapes untouched by humans and full of unknown plants and animals.

Paleo-Indian cultures migrating through (what is now) Latin America left traces of their lives, painting rock art in caves and on cliff faces.

These paintings trace how early cultures learned to live in their new environments. They also give researchers clues about the ways the ancient humans left their legacies on the region's biodiversity and culture today.

Key evidence about early Paleo-Indian culture has come from Latin America's oldest cave art at Serranía de La Lindosa, in Colombia.

The paintings there are thought to be 12,800 years old, which dates them around the end of the Ice Age.

Francisco Javier Aceituno, an archeologist at the University of Antioquia, Colombia, described the art there as "photographs of the past." Aceituno has spent years studying the caves .

"We have been able to compare the rock paintings with the results of the archaeological excavations we have carried out. We have excavated the 'houses of the artists' who painted the wall," he told DW via email.

The art, mostly in red ochre, depicts various animal species, which some scholars suggest could be now-extinct animals, such as ground sloths and species of native horses, or domesticated species, including cows and dogs.

But these scenes of nature are more than just creative expressions. Experts believe the drawings served as educational tools that helped teach younger generations when and how to manage different plant and animal species — not just in Colombia, but all over South America.

Evidence found in a Patagonian cave, for example, suggests paintings from 8,200 years ago were used to pass information across 130 human generations, perhaps helping people to survive changing climates.

Cave art shows early spirituality

Much of the cave art at Serranía de La Lindosa, as well as those in other parts of South America, contain symbolic art depicting the spiritual world.

"[There are] scenes of dancing rituals or shamanic rites. With these spiritual scenes, [people were] trying to domesticate the natural world by controlling the forces of nature," said Aceituno.

Spirituality is evident in ancient art all over the world, both through painting and music. Experts say this evidence reveals the earliest forms of religion, when humans formed a sacred connection with the natural world.

Hallucinogenic drugs, of which many are native across the Americas, may have played an important role in early spirituality and religious ceremonies.

Paleo-Indians in California, for example, were thought to have used hallucinogenic drugs to induce spiritual states, like LSD parties which swept California in the 1960s or contemporary Ayahuasca use in Brazil. 

How did Paleo-Indian cultures influence modern Amazonia?

Between 13,000-8,000 years ago, Amazonia transformed from a dry savannah and scrubland into the tropical rainforests we know today.

The period saw rapid changes in climate and local cultures had to learn to adapt.

Excavations at Serranía de La Lindosa allowed Aceituna and his colleagues to indirectly date the cave art to the beginning of this period of transformation.

But the most amazing discovery, said Aceituna, was that human cultures had lived in the Serranía de La Lindosa for over 12,000 years.

Aceituna believes they may have strongly influenced Amazonia's biodiversity and plant-life during the climate transition — and that we can still see this today.

Rock art in the region, for example, shows hints that humans were managing plant species about 9000 years ago. That could explain a persistence of useful plants in Amazonia now.

Amazonia has an unusual richness of plants used for food and medicine. Many medicines and drugs, including quinine and cocaine originate from the Amazon, earning it the nickname "the world's largest medicine cabinet".

"They [Paleo-Indians] achieved a balance in the management of natural resources. Plants and animals were more than food — they were also seen as living beings to be respected. [People used] the preservation principle: I cannot extinguish my resources, my food," Aceituno said. 

Genetic history of Indigenous groups not yet known

Another legacy, Aceituna said, was the heritage of Paleolithic groups in ethnic groups living in Latin America today.

"Current Indigenous groups [in the region] have inherited some traditions and ways of exploiting the forest, and [Mesoamerican] cosmovision," said Aceituna.

Elements of the Mesoamerican cosmovision — their worldview — can be seen in things like the Day of the Dead ceremony and the Indigenous belief that everything in the universe is part of a pair. 

But we cannot be sure that current Indigenous communities are direct descendants of Paleo-Indian cultures "in a biological sense," said Aceituna.

Recent advances in testing ancient DNA could, however, help discover the genetic history of local Indigenous groups, and with the help of other cave art, trace how their cultures spread around South America. 

Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany

Sources:

Colonisation and early peopling of the Colombian Amazon during the Late Pleistocene and the Early Holocene: New evidence from La Serranía La Lindosa, in Quaternary International, 2021, by Gaspar Morcote-Ríos, Francisco Javier Aceituno, et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2020.04.026

Earliest directly dated rock art from Patagonia reveals socioecological resilience to mid-Holocene climate in Science Advances, 2024, by Guadalupe Romero Villanueva et al. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk4415

Datura quids at Pinwheel Cave, California, provide unambiguous confirmation of the ingestion of hallucinogens at a rock art site in PNAS Anthropology, 2020, by Robinson DW, Brown K, McMenemy M, et al. https://www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10.1073/pnas.2014529117

Before they reach the display windows of fashion giants like Zara and H&M, cotton pants, shorts, shirts and socks leave behind a trail of deforestation, land grabbing and human rights violations in Brazil.
Though many of them carry a sustainable production label,  a yearlong investigation by UK-based NGO Earthsight detailed the connection between crops in Brazil, the world's fourth largest cotton producer, and European brands. Earthsight analyzed satellite images, shipping records, public archives and visited producing regions to track the journey taken by 816,000 tons of cotton.  

According to the report, this raw material was produced specifically for eight Asian companies which, between 2014 and 2023, manufactured around 250 million retail items. Many of them, the investigation claims, supplied brands such as H&M and Zara, among others.

"It's shocking to see these links between very recognizable global brands that apparently don't make enough effort to have control over these supply chains. To know where the cotton comes from and what kind of impact it causes," Rubens Carvalho, head of deforestation research at Earthsight, told DW. 

The problem lies at the source: Cotton for export is mainly produced in the western part of Brazil's Bahia state, a region immersed in a tropical and extremely biodiverse savanna called the Cerrado. 

Vegetation in the Cerrado is often razed illegally to make space for crops and cultivation. Deforestation there has doubled in the last five years, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. 

Deforestation and land grabbing 

Among the cases analyzed in the report is the SLC Agricola group, which claims to be responsible for 11% of Brazil's cotton exports. The Earthsight report estimates that in the last 12 years, Cerrado land equivalent to 40,000 football fields has been destroyed within SLC's farms.  

And in 2020, the company, which also grows soybeans, was named the biggest deforester in the biome, according to the American think tank Chain Reaction Research. 

In 2021, SLC committed to a zero-deforestation policy with its suppliers. A year later, a report by the nonprofit consultancy Aidenvironment found that 1,365 hectares of the Cerrado had been razed within properties that grow cotton . And almost half of this was within a legal reserve.

When questioned about these allegations, the group told DW that "all of SLC's conversions of native vegetation occurred within the limits established by law."  

Regarding Aidenvironment's accusation, the company said the destruction was caused by "a natural fire, and not to open new areas for production."

Another group analyzed in detail is Horita, which Earthsight has accused of violent land disputes with traditional Indigenous communities. The Horita Group didn't respond to DW's request to comment. 

Cotton linked to European brands 

In its investigation, Earthsight retraced and followed the route of 816,000 tons of cotton exports from SLC Agricola and the Horita Group between 2014 and 2023. The main destinations were China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The traceable data led to eight clothing manufacturers in Asia.  

All the intermediaries identified (PT Kahatex in Indonesia; Noam Group and Jamuna Group in Bangladesh; Nisha, Interloop, YBG, Sapphire, Mtmt, in Pakistan) supply retail products to brands such as Zara and H&M, according to the NGO.

"The cotton that we linked to land rights and environmental abuses in Bahia is Better Cotton-certified. The scheme patently failed to prevent this cotton reaching concerned consumers," said the Earthsight report. 

Launched in 2009 by the fashion industry and organizations such as WWF, Better Cotton created a seal to certify the safe origin of the raw material. According to the initiative, there are 370 certified farms in Brazil in partnership with the country's Cotton Producers Association, Abrapa. 

Switzerland-based Better Cotton told DW that it has just completed an enhanced third-party audit of the farms involved, and that it needs time to analyze the findings and implement changes if necessary.  

"The issues raised [by the report] demonstrate the pressing need for government support in addressing the issues brought to light and ensuring a fair and effective implementation of the rule of law," said the initiative's email.

More control over supply chains needed

H&M told DW that "the findings of the report are highly worrying," adding that it takes the issue very seriously.  

"We are in close dialogue with Better Cotton to follow the outcome of the investigation and the next steps that will be taken to strengthen and revise its standard," the retailer said in an email. 

Zara told DW that it also takes "the accusations against Better Cotton extremely seriously," and demands that the certifier share the outcome of its investigation as soon as possible.  

On April 10, Inditex, which owns Zara, demanded more transparency from Better Cotton after it was announced that the report would be released the following day. 

Inditex sent a letter to the initiative dated April 8, requesting clarification on the certification process. Inditex does not buy cotton directly from suppliers, but the companies that produce it are audited by certifiers such as Better Cotton. 

For Rubens Carvalho from Earthsight, holding Europeans accountable is part of the solution to ending deforestation and rights violations in commodity-producing centers like Brazil. 

"Cotton is still poorly regulated in European markets. They need to regulate its consumption and decouple it from negative environmental and human impacts," he said. "They need serious regulations that punish non-compliance. This increases the pressure on producers."

This article was originally written in Portuguese.

Sources:

Aidenvironment Realtime Deforestation Monitoring (RDM) report - November 2022
https://aidenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LIFE_RDM_Report_7_Nov_2022.pdf

Fashion Crimes, Earthsight - 11th April 2024
https://www.earthsight.org.uk/fashion-crimes

Elon Musk has lambasted Alexandre de Moraes, one of the 10 judges on Brazil's Supreme Court, for ordering X to block several accounts, including that of a blogger and two members of Congress. For a while now, Brazil's Constitutional Court has been clamping down on so-called digital militias accused of spreading disinformation and vitriol online. 

Musk, who owns X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, took aim at Moraes saying "this aggressive censorship appears to violate the law & will of the people of Brazil."

Musk followed up his post with an even stronger message: "This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached. Shame @Alexandre, shame."

Musk also said he would defy the Constitutional Court order to block users and reactive the accounts.

Musk under investigation by federal police

Defiantly, Musk announced X would be "lifting all restrictions. This judge has applied massive fines, threatened to arrest our employees and cut off access to X in Brazil. As a result, we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there. But principles matter more than profit."

Moraes, in turn, reacted by ordering federal police to launch an investigation into Musk for obstruction of justice and incitement to commit crimes. He said Musk was now also being investigated as part of the broader probe into the so-called anti-democratic digital militias and their financing.

Bolsonaro calls on supporters to 'take to the streets for freedom'

This Musk-Moraes confrontation has further deepened the political polarization in Brazil. While The New York Times has celebrated Moraes as a defender of democracy, Brazil's former right-wing populist President Jair Bolsonaro has lauded Musk as a "legend of freedom."

Bolsonaro has sought to capitalize on the power struggle and further his own agenda, calling on his supporters to "take to the streets for freedom" on April 21 in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana neighborhood.

Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo, meanwhile, who holds a seat in Brazilian parliament, said he wants to convene an expert hearing on the "Twitter files and censorship in Brazil" in the foreign relations committee.

What are the Twitter files?

The "Twitter files" refer to a number of internal Twitter documents published on X between December 2022 and March 2023 after Musk acquired the platform. Musk handed the files over to a select number of journalists and writers, including US author Michael Shellenberger.

Shellenberger, who disagrees with many of the accepted findings when it comes to climate science, regards himself as a "libertarian" activist. He holds controversial views and has been criticized numerous times for publishing inaccurate environmental data.

He recently claimed on X that at "any moment, Brazil's Supreme Court could shut off all access to X/Twitter for the people of Brazil."

He added that the South American country was on the "brink of dictatorship at the hands of a totalitarian Supreme Court Justice named Alexandre de Moraes."

Moraes accused of 'censorship'

Shellenberger has accused Brazil's Supreme Court of several legal offenses, saying Moraes had ordered X to hand over users' personal data because they had published hashtags Moraes "did not like."

He said Moraes had requested access to the social network's internal data in breach of X guidelines. He also said Moraes had "censored on his own initiative and without any respect for due process" posts on the platform made by members of Brazilian Congress, and used the social network to go after Bolsonaro supporters .

Yet Brazilian lawyer Fernando Boscardin, who teaches at the University of Miami School of Law, disagrees. He said Shellenberger is not genuinely concerned about freedom of expression but wants to "prevent the regulation of social media platforms akin to the European model."

Fake news law in the pipeline

Media outlets have reported that the Brazilian Congress is poised to adopt a law to combat fake news. The first draft dates back to 2020 but was withdrawn several times due to pushback from tech companies and right-wing lawmakers, most recently in May 2023.

Due to the delay, Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court passed several resolutions earlier this year for the upcoming municipal elections on October 6. They stipulate that electoral courts must have "efficient instruments to combat misleading party advertising, hate speech, anti-democratic statements and the use of artificial intelligence."

Misinformation experts interviewed by Brazilian daily O Globo told the outlet they thought Musk's accusations against the Brazilian judiciary went too far.

"Musk would have to ask a court to clarify whether the constitution has been violated," said Yasmin Curzi, a lawyer and professor at Fundacao Getulio Vargas, a Rio de Janeiro university.

Curzi added that Musk's threat to "defy court orders is a violation of national sovereignty."

This article was originally written in German.

At the end of March, Brazil and Tottenham striker Richarlison told ESPN Brazil that therapy saved his life and his football career.

"We know how prejudiced people are when they say they're looking for [psychological] help," the 26-year-old said.

"I talk about it because it saved my life. I was at rock bottom. Only players know how much pressure we're under, not only on the pitch but also off it."

Richarlison's comments were just the latest example of an athlete speaking publicly about their mental health, something that has increased in the last five years. In Brazil, though, such comments are not as commonplace as elsewhere.

According to a 2023 paper by professor Tania Maria de Araujo published in a Brazilian health journal, efforts to improve mental health provisions across the country have been hampered by a lack of access to mental health services and legislation.

In the book "Mental Health in Elite Sport: Applied Perspective from Across the Globe," eight authors collated insight into mental health in Brazilian sport and revealed how much of an impact socioeconomic factors, such as access to adequate nutrition and sanitation, are for young players.

Despite this and the overwhelming popularity of football in Brazil, cross-disciplinary teams delivering the technical, tactical, psychological and mental health needs of players and coaches are not common in the country. Sports psychologists are not often seen in the staff of first teams and although they are mandatory in youth academies, they are often under enormous strain, managing a number of teams alone. This, however, is an issue that is not unique to Brazil, but exists across many football academies in the world .

"This issue is bigger than football," Cauan de Almeida, head coach of second-division side America Mineiro, told DW.

And at America, the club where Richarlison started his career, Cauan de Almeida and his staff are doing their best to help players develop mentally on and off the field.

Coaching through values

The 35-year-old is the face of a new coaching generation in Brazil, one that has developed their skills in the academy and is now bringing those values into the first-team environment.

He has moved up from America's academy and in doing so, he is bringing the values in his coaching philosophy — resilience, attitude, behavior, respect, courage, responsibility and being a family — with him, and is delivering them on the training pitch in combination with his technical and tactical coaching.

This isn't to say the club is not focused on winning. As one of the most traditional clubs in the country, America is desperate to return to the top flight, but Cauan de Almeida and his staff also know there is value in creating a meaning beyond just the victory on the pitch.

"We understand if we deliver on these values and this philosophy, day by day we can bring something more consistent for our players as a group," he said.

"When we bring these values for the players day by day, we are putting these values into their head, not just for our club but also for our families. We are inspiring new leaders. They will be better players and better people, and at home they can pass that knowledge onto their family."

There is a recognition here of the importance of holistic coaching.

"We understand it's a very important thing to talk about with our group, but also for Brazilian football as a whole," he said.

"We as a leader of the process, we also deal with this situation. We can feel what Richarlison felt. We need to understand the pressure of the result and how to handle it when you lose the game. We also need to be mentally strong."

To this end, Cauan de Almeida is working with a leading sports psychologist in the country to help himself and his players. When asked if this was common practice in football in the country, his response was telling.

"I think no, because my psychologist told me I am the first football coach she has seen," he said.

Leaving a legacy

The biggest challenge for Brazilian football is to move away from the idea that to be a Brazilian football means to possess an ability that is purely expressive and natural, and toward one that recognizes the importance of the person and the mind.

"We also understand when we deliver on our values, we can leave a legacy for the club and players," said Cauan de Almeida.

He wants to implant these values into the heart of the club so that when the day comes when he is no longer the coach, the values remain, creating a strategic consistency that allows for long-lasting personal and professional development.

Richarlison has opened the door for generational change, and Cauan de Almeida is making sure America Mineiro are doing their best to follow though. Their hope is that Brazilian football as a whole does the same.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

With literally one minute until the deadline, the opposition coalition in Venezuela managed to register a candidate for the presidential election on July 28. In January, the Supreme Court confirmed that Maria Corina Machado, the headlining candidate of the electoral alliance PUD (Plataforma Unitaria Democratica, or Democratic Unitary Platform), would be barred from running.

Then on Monday, the alliance was unable to register Machado's designated replacement, Corina Yoris, "due to technical reasons."

On Tuesday, after the deadline was extended, the PUD was finally able to register the former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as its candidate to campaign against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's highest electoral office, the CNE, also confirmed two other opposition candidates.

Who are the opposition candidates in Venezuela?

According to the PUD, Gonzalez's hasty registration should be recognized as a provisional candidacy, as the group still aims to get Machado on the ballot. This is legally possible until 10 days before the election, they say. 

This was also the plan when the PUD sought to nominate Corina Yoris as a replacement. The 80-year-old retired philosophy professor is regarded as eloquent but totally inexperienced politically. 

At least Gonzalez, the second replacement candidate, is a member of the leadership committee of MUD (Mesa de la Unidad Democratica, or Democratic Unity Roundtable), which is tied to the PUD. However, he is not well-known by the Venezuelan public. Following Gonzalez's registration, opposition leader Machado promised to keep fighting for her right to participate.

Three opposition candidates: Spreading risk or driving division? 

Just before the registration deadline passed, the former representative and ex-vice president of the electoral commission, Enrique Marquez, also registered as an independent opposition candidate. However, the registration of Manuel Rosales caused more uproar.

Rosales is the current governor of Zulia, Venezuela's most densely populated state. In 2006, he was the opposition coalition's presidential candidate and ran (unsuccessfully) against then-incumbent Hugo Chavez. Though Chavez died in 2013, his Socialist Unity Part (PSUV) remains in power — with Maduro holding the presidential reins.

Rosales' party Un Nuevo Tiempo (A New Time) is part of the anti-Maduro PUD coalition and initially supported first Machado's and then Yoris' candidacies. Rosales claims he registered for the same simple reason as Gonzalez: to ensure that PUD would be able to participate in the election.

There was apparently no agreement backing this, however: Shortly after Rosales' registration was made public, opposition leader Machado accused him of treason. 

Accusations of a 'loyal opposition'

Machado's accusations reveal that she counts Rosales as a member of the so-called "loyal opposition," said Victor M. Mijares of the University of the Andes in Bogota, Colombia. The term is used to describe opposition forces whose non-confrontational positions lend the appearance of political diversity while not actually posing a threat to the regime. 

These forces "receive political advantages that take the form of access to public offices such as mayor or governor," said Mijares.

On Wednesday, Rosales strongly denied claims made on social media that his candidacy had been arranged in agreement with Nicolas Maduro. But whether by design or by chance, Rosales' candidacy is nevertheless in the interest of the government, said Günther Maihold from the Latin America Institute at Berlin's Free University.

"As a governor, he's actually not supposed to be allowed to run, but the electoral commission, which is controlled by the ruling party, allowed it in order to split the opposition," he said.

Strongest candidate has been sidelined

For her part, Machado is considered radical, even in opposition circles. It's potentially why the liberal right-wing politician remained in the shadows of more moderate, left-leaning political leaders such as Enrique Capriles, Leopoldo Lopez and Juan Guaido.

However, by October 2023, Machado had definitively secured her position as opposition leader. In the PUD's primary elections, she received more than 90% of the more than 2 million votes cast — even though she had already been sentenced by government authorities to a 15-year ban on holding office. One of the accusations leveled against her was that she had been involved in a "corruption scheme" along with Guaido, the former Parliament president.

"This has significantly strengthened Machado's position," said Maihold. "Just last week I spoke with opposition members who really believe they have a chance to win the election with Machado — if the vote were to be free and democratic."

What are the opposition's election chances? 

Still, no one expects that to be the case. The rulers of the Socialist Unity Party and their allies really have no other choice than to prevent a democratic vote from taking place, said Mijares.

"Maduro's administration and his governing coalition are facing a dilemma in which ceding power is not a viable option, as this is considered to be a political and even existential risk," he said. The opposition has accused the regime of massive corruption and human rights abuses that would hardly be left unpunished were the country to be re-democratized.

Of all the stumbling blocks that the government is putting in the opposition's path, Maihold believes the exclusion of Machado is the crucial one. Maduro only has the backing of some 30% of Venezuelans, he explained, and these tend to be party members, members of the military and their relatives — in other words, voters who have directly benefited from his rule.

"The opposition's success largely depends on how many voters they can mobilize," said Maihold, adding that only a leader like Machado could presumably manage to unite a democratic majority behind them.

This article was originally written in German.

Cocaine use is at a record high: Experts at the United Nations estimate that about 22 million people took the drug in 2021. That's more than the population of the US state of New York.

In Europe, cocaine is the second most common street drug after cannabis. The substance, which is extracted from coca leaves, is typically snorted as a powder.

It is highly addictive and can cause organ damage. Cocaine pushes the body to its limits, resulting in a physical effect similar to running a marathon. Withdrawal can cause intense physical and mental stress.

Researchers in Brazil hope to support people struggling with cocaine addiction with a vaccine that would stop users getting high off the drug and lower their risk of addiction.

What does cocaine do to the body and brain?

When cocaine is snorted or smoked through a pipe as crack, the substance quickly reaches the brain via the blood.

There, the drug stimulates the body to release various messenger substances, including dopamine. The overriding sensation is one of intense euphoria.

The body gets hyperactive and irritable. The heart pumps at full capacity, the arteries narrow. Blood pressure and body temperature rise. Needs like hunger and thirst grow irrelevant. In the worst case, cocaine consumption can lead to convulsions or cardiac arrest.

The high lasts between five and thirty minutes.

"It feels like all the traffic lights become green," said Hanspeter Eckert, a therapist at a Berlin drug therapy association.

The brain wants more. And the body stores the experience as one that is "important for survival," said Eckert.

When you're addicted, the desire for more cocaine dominates your mind. Inner voices warning you of the consequences grow quieter.

You might start to neglect aspects of your life that were once important — your health, friends and work. 

How would a vaccine help?

The researchers in Brazil want their vaccine to encourage the body to produce antibodies that would bind to the drug when it's consumed, and make it more difficult for the substance to pass through the blood and into the brain.

If the cocaine can't reach the brain and stimulate it, the user can't get high. And those brain reactions that trigger cravings stop as well.

The patient perceives the drug differently, said Frederico Garcia, a researcher helping build the vaccine at Brazil's Federal University of Minas Gerais, in an interview with DW Brazil.

Garcia's research team has conducted trials of the vaccine on rats. They think the results of these experiments could be transferable to humans. If so, their vaccine would be the world's first anti-cocaine jab.

Researchers in the US are also developing a cocaine vaccine.

Clinical trials on humans are pending, and it is still uncertain when and whether either vaccine will become available.

Can vaccination protect against addiction?

Eckert welcomes vaccine research in principle: If intoxication doesn't occur, the mind can relax and the body can free itself from the permanent irritation of addiction, he said.

But Eckert said he was also skeptical. Therapy is hard work, he said, and people need at least a year of treatment to heal, to reflect and understand their bodies and minds, to discuss their feelings and problems and find the courage to make difficult decisions.

It is only by confronting hard questions — for instance, are there friends I should avoid, and how will I endure the physical pain of withdrawal? — that patients can gain back control of their lives, said Eckert.

The vaccine is not intended for occasional users.

Would a cocaine vaccine increase a risk of overdose?

Eckert warns that those who are vaccinated could find themselves at a higher risk of cocaine overdose. If you consume the drug and it doesn't "kick" in the way it once did, you may reach for a higher dose, which would overload your system and potentially result in cardiac and respiratory arrest.

Marica Ferri from the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction had further concerns: "The substance itself is not an isolated problem."

The mere fact that a person stops consuming cocaine will not automatically solve all of their problems. Both the physical damage of addiction, as well as the addiction's impact on a person's mental health, need to heal.

"That takes time," said Ferri, and hoped to see more therapy spots for people struggling with addiction.

A vaccination would only be suitable for a small number of people already in therapy, Ferri said. It wouldn't have any benefit for addicts and users who are unable to access counseling for their addiction.

This article was originally published in German.

Sources

"New psychoactive substances" in the European Drug Report 2023, published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction: https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2023/new-psychoactive-substances_en

Safety and immunogenicity of the anti-cocaine vaccine UFMG-VAC-V4N2 in a non-human primate model. By Brian Sabato, et al. Published in Vaccine, 2023: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X23001664

Global report on cocaine 2023: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/cocaine/Global_cocaine_report_2023.pdf

Brazilian football has seen better days. The country's Olympic team failed to qualify for Paris 2024, while Brazil's full men's national team, the "Selecao," are languishing in sixth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. Utterly unacceptable for a team who have won a record five World Cups.

On Saturday, Dorival Junior became the fifth man in the past two years to take his place in the Selecao's coaching zone — for their friendly against England at Wembley. It seems as if the record-breaking world champions have lost their footballing identity.

Former Brazilian stiker Grafite, who led Wolfsburg to their sole Bundesliga title in 2009, told DW the  "jogo bonito" — the "beautiful game" for which former Brazilian stars such as the late Pele were admired — is no longer recognizable. "This type of Brazilian football no longer exists today," said Grafite, who, as an expert for Globo TV, is a keen observer of the development of football in his homeland.

Several hundred transfers abroad annually

It's not as though Grafite was the first to raise the alarm. After the 2014 World Cup when the Selecao were humbled 7-1 by the eventual world champions Germany in the semifinals, Mario Zagallo, a World Cup winner as both a player and coach, warned of a sell-out of home-grown talent. Zagallo warned that Brazilian football was in peril of losing its identity as a result.

It's been around 20 years since a change in European law effectively made it easier for non-EU citizens to ply their trade in Europe. This sparked a wave of transactions that continues to this day. Brazil now loses hundreds of footballers to the rest of the world every year.

"This affects the development of the identity of Brazilian soccer," historian David 'Dere' Gomes told DW. Gomes has been researching the history of football in Rio de Janeiro for years. The most talented players, those capable of deciding a game in the Brazilian way, are being deprived of the time needed to sufficiently develop their talent in their own country, Gomes said. The Brazilian way is, among other things, the spectacular dribbling that can lift fans out of their seats. It's a big part of the country's footballing identity.

Top transfers not the only problem

The focus is usually only on the top transfers of exceptional talents such as Vinicius Junior in 2018 or Endrick to Real Madrid last summer. However, the Brazilian league is constantly losing substance and quality, not just at the top of the talent pool. Many transfers go largely unnoticed.

One could compare this to the exploitation of raw materials. The only difference is that it is not copper, oil or lithium that the rich industrialized countries are buying up, but footballing talent.

"It's normal for Brazilian players to adapt to the style of European soccer, but Brazil hasn't kept pace," Grafite said. Footballers who play in Brazil have a different rhythm and speed than those who play in Europe, the now 44-year-old added.

The game simply has a different dynamic overseas. These two identities then clash within the national team at a Copa America or a World Cup and lead to coordination problems.

"This was quite evident at the last World Cup," Grafite noted.

 In Qatar, at the end of 2022, Brazil were eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals.

Premier League success at the expense of others

The Premier League is currently considered the measure of all things in club football worldwide.

"But how can the Premier League be the biggest league in the world if England has neither the best players nor a tradition of winning the World Cup?" asked historian Gomes rhetorically.

"It only works by importing players," he answered. "Talent from Latin America and Africa. And Brazil is one of the biggest treasure troves for this talent. Imagine how strong a Brazilian football league would be if it had players who earn their money in England, like Douglas Luiz, Lucas Paqueta, Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Richarlison — or in other European leagues, like Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo."

Dere Gomes is well aware that with billions of euros changing hands every year, reversing this trend would be a very tall task indeed.

"Building a strong league in Brazil would require good club management coupled with financial fair play," he said. "You'd also need to find a way of reducing the clubs' dependence on large revenues."

And, he said, politics would also have an important role to play.

"We need legislation that protects the clubs that develop [talent]."

Ramona Samuel contributed to this report.
This article was originally published in German.

Poverty, political chaos and a high crime rate have plagued the Caribbean country of Haiti for decades. Now, violence has spiraled out of control again.

On February 29, acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced new elections — for August 2025. His term of office had been supposed to end in February so many violent gangs interpreted Henry's announcement as a call to arms. They attacked the National Palace and prisons, which led to over 3,000 prisoners freeing themselves.

These armed groups now control large parts of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, and tens of thousands of residents have fled. Henry is currently in the US unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico. He arrived there from the Kenyan capital Nairobi where was promoting a Kenyan-led police mission to restore security in Haiti.

The former colonial power France bears a historical responsibility for the current crisis.

The Haitian Revolution

In 1804, Haiti made history by becoming the first independent country in Latin America and the Caribbean — thanks to the Haitian Revolution, the most successful rebellion by enslaved people in history. But in 1825, France said that it would only recognize Haiti's independence at a price of 150 million francs, the equivalent of about three times Haiti's GDP at the time. France also said that import duties on French products had to be halved.

"Paradoxically, the victors paid reparations to those who had been vanquished, also out of fear of another military invasion," Jean-Claude Bruffaerts, one of the co-authors of the 2022 book "Haïti-France. Les chaînes de la dette: Le rapport Mackau" (Haiti-France. The Chains of Debt: The Mackau Report.)

Haiti even had to borrow money from French banks, at high interest rates, to pay off the debts. Economists call this a "double debt" and Haiti was only able to pay its debts off in 1947.

"So this money was not there for urgently needed infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals. Haiti also needed the protection of an army, which swallowed up even more money. This slowed down the country's economic development considerably," explained Bruffaerts, saying that the lack of investment in infrastructure remained noticeable today. "There are no roads in many parts of the island, healthcare is inadequate, and most schools have no electricity."

Myriam Cottias, a historian and the head of the Paris-based International Research Center on Slavery and Post-Slavery, said countries that freed themselves from slavery struggled to imagine themselves as homogeneous societies. "Slavery creates a breeding ground for political instability, and the divisions in society caused by it do not simply disappear," she told DW. "Even in Haiti today, there is a corrupt elite and a population that remains largely very poor."

The French Revolution

Jean Fritzner Etienne, a Haitian historian at Universite Paris 8, said Haiti's debts helped bolster hierarchical power structures. "The Haitians were inspired by the French Revolution, which had taken place shortly before, in 1789. ... But the French did not apply the principles of their own revolution — liberty, equality, fraternity and human rights — outside their own borders."

Etienne said the United States, which occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, further reinforced the perception that the country was "inferior." "From 1957 to 1986, it supported the brutal dictatorship of Francois, and later Jean-Claude, Duvalier, known as 'Papa Doc' and 'Baby Doc'" he sai. "And it continues to interfere in internal affairs to this day."

In April 2003, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide demanded that France's government repay the debt once imposed on Haiti. At that time, this would have amounted to almost $22 billion. About a year later, Aristide was overthrown in a coup organized by France and the United States. When asked by DW at a recent press conference whether there was any intent to repay the debt, the French Foreign Ministry replied that this was "not currently under discussion."

Observers doubt that France will return the money. "No former colonial power would do that," said Laurent Giacobbi from the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS). "It would trigger a chain reaction. All ex-colonies would then make claims."

Enduring colonial legacy

Frederic Thomas from the independent Tricontinental Center in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, told DW that "former colonial powers still have a colonial perspective of Haiti." He said that, in their view, "the country is ungovernable and thus international interference is justified." He added that the international community had contributed directly to the current situation by supporting Henry, who was unpopular from the start, after theassassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.

"If the vicious circle of violence and chaos is to be broken, the Haitian population must now finally decide what happens next," Thomas said. "With the help of the so-called Montana Group — with representatives from civil society, the church and trade unions — a transitional government should be formed, and a decision made on whether to station international troops in the country, and if yes, how."

The Montana Group might provide members for a transitional government that will appoint a new interim prime minister and call elections. It is unclear exactly when this government will come into being, but only then will Henry officially resign.

Bruffaerts hopes that the international community will let Haitians decide their future. "France should also invest at least some of the money that Haiti paid it in infrastructure for the island," he said, so that Haiti can finally develop economically.

This article was originally written in German.

With poverty rising and inflation dropping, the first 100 days of Javier Milei's presidency in Argentina have given cause for hope and concern.

The Social Observatory of the Catholic University (UCA) found that poverty had risen from 45% to 57% in Argentina. And the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) expects the country's child poverty rate to climb from 62% to 70%. These growing societal tensions pose an ever-greater problem for Argentina's new libertarian-conservative government under President Milei.

Inflation slows

The rise in poverty opposes the first fiscal achievements. Milei has overseen an inflation drop from around 25% in December to around 20% in January to 13.2% in February. Argentine weekly Perfil recently predicted inflation would fall by up to 7% by July.

The president said the "sharp slowdown" in inflation was "the result of the national government's work to enforce strict budgetary discipline." Even so, the current rate of 13.2% is still high for the average Argentinian.

"The biggest success is pushing down inflation, which has exceeded expectations," said Carl Moses, a Buenos Aires-based economic advisor. "Argentinian shares and bonds have sharply risen in value despite the severe recession. 

"This matches the overall mood among the population, which is more positive than one would expect given the dramatic deterioration of Argentina's economic and social situation."

However, Milei hasn't been able to push through his ambitious economic reforms. Opposition in Argentina's Congress, where Milei's La Libertad Avanza party does not command a majority, and the Senate have stalled the president's reforms.

"[The country] is still lacking real reforms that would bring lasting improvements," Moses said. "The short-term balancing of public finances that the government is so proud of has been based on devaluating pensions and wages as well as other provisional measures that cannot be sustained long term."

Economist Agustin Etchebarne of the Libertad y Progresso Foundation in Buenos Aires told DW that Milei's reforms need to be implemented.

"This economic adjustment and transformation process is essential to lay the foundations for sustainable growth and long-term stability," he said. "We expect the economy to recover in the second half of the year."

Major cuts

Milei's government is trying to restructure the highly indebted state budget it inherited from previous governments by implementing tough austerity measures. These include closing the deficient state news agency TELAM. In addition, Argentina's national radio station will not renew the fixed-term contracts of countless staffers. Moreover, state institutions have been shut down, and provincial governments have seen their funding cut.

Upon taking office, Milei announced Argentina's state coffers were empty and that "there is no money." Yet support for the president has been comparatively stable despite his harsh austerity measures and the country's rising poverty rate. Most recently, however, opinion polls have shown a slight dip in approval ratings. That said, Milei has benefited from warning about and delivering on his promise of a "difficult first year" — half of Argentina's population is convinced that sacrifices must be made to get the country back on track. The other half, however, is deeply worried by these developments.

Welfare groups and the opposition are highly critical of the government's policies. The Catholic Church has focused its attention on the country's needy, with priests tending to the poor, saying a growing number of people now rely on food banks. Priest "Paco" Olveira accuses President Milei of targeting the social movements that traditionally had strong ties with previous Peronist governments.

"The government wants to destroy all community, social and political organizations." Emilio Persico of the Peronist Evita Movement thinks growing poverty in the country could bring Milei's presidency to an early end, telling DW: "It would be a miracle if Javier Milei lasts four years."

This article was translated from German.

The destabilization and ongoing conflict in Haiti has displaced thousands of people from their homes.

According to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping of 20 nations, Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry is ready to resign. Now a presidential council consisting of seven members is to be established to appoint an interim prime minister for a transitional period leading up to elections in Haiti, Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said late Monday following a meeting of Caribbean leaders in Jamaica.

"The government that I'm running cannot remain insensitive to this situation. There is no sacrifice that is too big for our country," Henry said in a videotaped statement.

Powerful criminal gangs controlling large swaths of Haiti and almost all of the capital, Port-au-Prince, have been demanding Henry's resignation for weeks and now look as if they may have acheived their objective.

Gang members in Haiti have been attacking state institutions such as police stations, government administrative buildings and prisons, leaving dead bodies reportedly lying in the streets and forcing the internal displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

"Criminals have now taken over the country. There is no government, it is becoming a failed state," said Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo prior to Monday's emergency CARICOM meeting.

Around the capital Port-au-Prince, a state of emergency has been declared and a night curfew put in place. According to reports, however, police are now barely visible and are more or less tolerating pillaging and vigilantism. According to a UN estimate, gangs already controlled 80% of the capital last year. Now, Germany, the EU, the US and other countries have recalled embassy staff for fear of their safety.

How did Haiti's crisis erupt?

All signs have been pointing to escalation in Haiti since February 7 at the latest. That was the date chosen by various political and social groups, in unison with Prime Minister Ariel Henry, for the inauguration of a new government. Henry, however, did not stage elections. Instead, in late February, he floated the idea of a new transitional period lasting until August 2025.

When Henry finally announced his resignation, it was from Puerto Rico, where he has been since March 5. Among other things, the ongoing violence has closed Haiti's main international airport, which has repeatedly come under fire from gangs. When the attacks began, Henry was in Kenya, pushing for a UN-backed deployment of a police force from the East African country.

During Henry's absence, the situation rapidly deteriorated. At the beginning of March, gang members stormed two prisons and helped free some 4,500 inmates.

Who is gang leader 'Barbecue'?

The gravity of the situation is aggravated by the fact that previously warring gangs have now formed an alliance. Primarily, it is an association of nine formerly independent gangs now called the G9 Family and Allies. It is led by Jimmy Cherizier, who is better known by his nickname "Barbecue."

A former police officer, Cherizier has repeatedly been named one of the most powerful men in Haiti by observers. Interviewed by the New Yorker magazine last year, Cherizier cited former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and US civil rights campaigner Malcolm X, among others, as his role models.

"I like Martin Luther King, too, but he didn't like fighting with guns, and I fight with guns," he told the magazine.

The background to the current conflict

A former French colony, Haiti makes up the western third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola; the remaining two-thirds, formerly ruled by Spain, are known as the Dominican Republic today. Large parts of the population of both nations descend from the African west coast, where people had been abducted and enslaved at the behest of colonial rulers.

Haiti gained independence from France in 1804, in the wake of a revolution resulting from a decades-long slave uprising. Haiti is the only country in the Western Hemisphere to have shed colonial rule through the leadership of former slaves with African roots. Since then, however, many periods of Haiti's history have been marked by violence and instability as various ethnic groups fought for domination.

From the mid-20th century onward, Haiti's dictator Francois Duvalier promoted the deprivation of power from the country's multi-racial elite in favor of the Black majority population. It was also under his regime that ruthless and violent gangs grew to become a powerful parallel force capable of rivaling state power.

Widely regarded as another key event leading up to the current crisis was a devastating 2010 earthquake that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The weak state could barely grapple with the consequences. As a result, gangs were able to extend their respective spheres of control beyond their traditional neighborhoods.

Resentment among the population grew and by 2019 was increasingly directed at then-President Jovenel Moise, who was accused of corruption. In the wake of protests, Moise suspended elections and increasingly ruled by decree. In July 2021, he was murdered by unknown assailants at his official residence. Since then, Ariel Henry — whom Moise had only recently named prime minister — has been head of state, simultaneously serving as interim president.

Since Moise's murder, which remains unsolved, public order has come under ever more pressure, forcing Henry to turn to the international community for help. In October 2023, the UN Security Council voted to deploy a Kenya-led multinational security force to Haiti.

What hurdles does the UN response team face?

Kenya's President William Ruto proposed the deployment up to 1,000 security forces — referring to police officers as opposed to soldiers — several months prior to the UN Security Council decision. Though observers in Nairobi immediately voiced doubt that their training and equipment would be sufficient for fighting heavily armerd Haitian gangs.

A legal argument, however, is now causing serious problems for the mission. In January, a Kenyan court ruled that the National Security Council can only deploy soldiers — not police officers. The court, nevertheless, left a loophole for a police mission, allowing deployment if an official accord with the country in question exists. But Kenya's opposition has already announced a new lawsuit to challenge the plan.

In addition, funding for the mission also remains an open question. US President Joe Biden's government previously promised to provide up to $200 million (€183 million). It is questionable though, whether Republicans in Congress will support the plan in the middle of an election campaign. It therefore remains unclear whether the international community will answer Haiti's call for help.

This article was originally written in German.