Author: HotspotorlandoNews

President Lula signed a bill restricting the use of smartphones at school, following a global trend for such limitations. The move will impact students at elementary and high schools across the South American nation starting in February. It provides a legal framework to ensure students only use such devices in cases of emergency and danger, for educational purposes, or if they have disabilities and require them.

The U.S. government posted an $87 billion budget deficit in December, reduced partly by a shift of benefit payments into November but capping a record $711 billion deficit for the first three months of the 2025 fiscal year, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Tuesday. The Treasury, releasing its final budget report before President-elect Donald Trump takes office next week, said that the $711 billion October-December deficit was $201 billion, or 39% higher, than the $510 billion deficit in the same period a year earlier as outlays grew sharply and revenues declined slightly.

Trump nominee Pete Hegseth weathers Democrat grilling to emerge largely unscathed Hegseth’s past controversies raise concerns among lawmakers Trump’s nominee declines to rule out firing top general Confirmation would be by a very narrow margin Hegseth receives critical support from Republican Senator Joni Ernst Hegseth’s management experience questioned for Pentagon role WASHINGTON, Jan 14- President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, endured fierce Democratic grilling over everything from his inexperience, alleged drinking and his past opposition to women in combat to emerge largely unscathed among Republicans at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News…

Brazilian government said today: it is “seriously concerned” about Meta Platforms’ announced changes to its hate speech policy, adding it would hold a public hearing later this week to discuss the topic. Facebook owner Zuckerberg, already reduced curbs on discussions around contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity, while also scrapping its fact-checking program in the United States.

At least 10 people have died after landslides swept through two cities in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, state officials have said. The Bethania neighborhood in the city of Ipatinga was the worst affected by the mudslides, which were triggered by torrential rain.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, defended his support for service members accused and convicted of war crimes on Tuesday, saying there was “prosecutorial misconduct” in their cases and that he was “proud” to ensure they were looked after.

At least 24 people dead, over 12,000 structures damaged or destroyed More than 92,000 people under evacuation orders Winds could reach 70 mph, threatening firefighting efforts Biden announces more disaster aid, banks ease mortgage terms LOS ANGELES, Jan 14 Los Angeles firefighters on Tuesday braced for the return of dry, intense winds that could recharge two monstrous wildfires that have already killed at least 24 people, leveled entire neighborhoods and scorched an area the size of Washington, D.C. Much of Los Angeles and Ventura County could experience gusts of 50 to 70 mph from early Tuesday through Wednesday as dangerous…

Medvedev survives five-setter Fritz up and running Fonseca dazzles on Grand Slam debut Rybakina powers into second round MELBOURNE, Jan 14 – Three-times Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev allowed his frustrations to boil over in a Melbourne Park meltdown before advancing to the second round on Tuesday while Taylor Fritz made a strong start in his bid to end a 22-year Grand Slam drought for American men. The third day of action concluded with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca more than living up to the hype around him as the qualifier crushed Russian ninth seed Andrey Rublev in a stunning Grand…

Brazil judge who suspended Elon Musk’s X in the country has ‘warning’ for Google, Apple, Microsoft and other tech giants Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes, who last year had led the Supreme Court decision that temporarily suspended social media platform X in the country, said on Wednesday tech firms would need to comply with laws in order to keep operating in Brazil. Although he did not name any company, Moraes remarks come a day after Meta (META.O), opens new tab announced through a video of Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg it would scrap its U.S. fact-checking program and reduce curbs on…

A joint online campaign spearheaded by the Israeli Diaspora Affairs Ministry and Bolsonaro led Brazilian authorities to announce they would not pursue the case. By ANNA BARSKY Anna Barsky is the politics reporter for The Jerusalem Post’s sister publication, Maariv.