In a recent development, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry refused visa requests from two officials of the United States State Department who planned to visit the country the following week. This decision marks another chapter in the growing political tensions between the two nations.

The situation came into the limelight following The Washington Post’s report, which quoted Brazilian authorities. The officials in question, Riley M. Barnes, an assistant secretary, and Samuel Samson, a deputy assistant, reportedly aimed to scrutinize the integrity of Brazil’s forthcoming October elections.

According to a spokesperson for Brazil’s foreign affairs office, Barnes and Samson made their visa applications on July 20, but those applications were rejected last Friday.

The spokesperson, however, did not provide an explanation for why the visas were denied.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign for reelection. He is set to challenge Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, who, along with his family, has multiple connections with the former Trump administration.

Sen. Bolsonaro and his brother, Eduardo, visited US officials in Washington, including US President Trump, in late May.

Shortly afterward, the Trump administration classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups — First Command Capital and Red Command — as foreign terrorist organizations, a move Lula opposes.

The Trump administration also imposed an up to 37.5% tariff hike on thousands of Brazilian exports, which came into force Friday.

The US government claims the South American nation has unfair competition practices and fails to stop forced labor practices — both accusations rejected by the Lula administration as an attempt to sway the election to Sen. Bolsonaro.

The US State Department said Barnes and Samson planned to go to Brasilia July 27-30 to meet government officials, religious leaders and others about “election integrity,” religious freedom and freedom of expression.

The department, in response to a query from The Associated Press, called it a routine visit and said that “any insinuation of a ‘ploy’ to undermine a democratic nation’s election is a baseless lie.”

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has for years fed concerns about the country’s electronic voting system, without providing any evidence for his claims.

He is now serving a 27-year prison sentence at home for an attempted coup. He has long insisted that the machines, used for a quarter-century, are prone to fraud.

His son, Sen. Bolsonaro, has recently repeated some of these claims, although he steered clear of those on Saturday when his Liberal Party confirmed him as a presidential candidate in Sao Paulo.

The struggle with homelessness in Los Angeles County has reached a critical point, as highlighted by a recent report. This development presents another significant challenge for Mayor Karen Bass, who is already facing mounting pressure.

According to the report, the homeless population across the county increased by 1.2 percent over the past year, resulting in an estimated 73,040 individuals living without homes. This figure spans across the county’s 85 cities, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis.

Focusing on the city of Los Angeles itself, the situation appears more daunting. Homelessness rose by 3.4 percent, bringing the estimated total to 45,194 people struggling to find shelter within city limits.

The number of people living in precarious conditions—including those residing in encampments or vehicles—grew by 3.3 percent across the broader county. Within the city, this increase was even more pronounced, with a startling 7.9 percent rise in such living situations.

Despite Mayor Bass’s initiative to tackle homelessness by investing approximately $82,420 annually for each individual accommodated in motels, the challenges remain formidable. Nearly 40 percent of those provided with temporary shelter eventually find themselves back on the streets, often grappling with addiction and other obstacles that impede long-term stability, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The latest figures mark a reversal from the progress seen in recent years. In the city of Los Angeles, unsheltered homelessness had fallen 7.9 percent in last year’s count, with a 17.5 percent drop over the previous two years.

Officials said the stalled progress was driven by fewer homeless residents moving into shelters, along with funding cuts and a shortage of affordable housing preventing people from transitioning into permanent homes.  

In a statement, Mayor Bass acknowledged the troubling numbers but vowed to continue her efforts to tackle the homelessness crisis. 

‘For two years straight, we drove down homelessness by historic margins – but as expected, last year our efforts ultimately couldn’t keep up with policies and funding cuts at the federal and state levels that pushed more people onto the streets,’ the statement read, per ABC7.

She went on to blame the Trump administration for rising costs of gas, groceries and rent, as well as cuts to safety-net programs, saying those pressures have contributed to homelessness in Los Angeles. 

‘Last year’s 50 percent cut in state HHAP funding from $1 billion to $500 million – resulting in a $70 million hit to L.A. city alone – severely impacted our work to keep people housed and get more Angelenos off the streets,’ the statement continued.

Bass added that the city raised ‘philanthropic dollars’ to help offset the cuts and worked with other mayors to push for restoration of the funding, which was brought back to $900 million.

‘The lack of adequate services provided by L.A. County continues to be a real problem and a contributing factor to people cycling in and out of homelessness,’ the statement said.

Despite these challenges, Bass said Los Angeles has reduced homelessness by 11 percent since 2023, moved tens of thousands into temporary housing, helped 6,000 people leave the streets through Inside Safe, and housed more than 1,000 homeless veterans. 

‘We declared a homelessness state of emergency on day one, addressed 130 encampments, and helped keep 85,000 people in their homes through eviction defense. We’re doubling down on what works.’

But Bass also acknowledged that parts of the system are failing, saying the city’s decades-long approach through LAHSA has been plagued by poor tracking of funds, unpaid providers and eroding public trust. 

‘The City must build something better – results-driven, transparent, and centered around the people we’re trying to help, not the bureaucracy,’ the statement concluded.

Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman, a rival to Bass in the mayoral race, called this year’s figures ‘disappointing, but not surprising’ in a statement.

‘Leadership at City Hall has not shown the willingness to shift toward an approach that actually moves people into permanent housing. And these results make clear that the Mayor’s approach is not working well enough.

‘The results in my district tell a different story-a significant decrease in the number of people living on our streets. Those results came from sustained, hands-on work, and I am confident we can bring that approach-and those results-citywide,’ she added.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Bass’ office for comment. 

CHICAGO — On Saturday night, Jonquel Jones expressed sincere regret over a comment she made during the “StudBudz” livestream that gained widespread attention. In an emotional statement, Jones clarified that her words had been misunderstood.

While appearing on the stream hosted by Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, Jones mentioned feeling that the Connecticut Sun was more deserving of the 2019 WNBA Finals win compared to the Washington Mystics. She likened the situation to her belief that the Minnesota Lynx deserved victory over the Liberty in 2024.

The remark quickly went viral, sparking discontent among some Liberty fans who took issue with her statement.

Describing the experience as “a gut punch,” Jones admitted it weighed heavily on her, preventing her from fully enjoying her weekend.

Jones explained that she was out enjoying an evening and was having an unguarded conversation with a friend when she made the remark.

“What I said it didn’t really come out in the way that I meant it,” Jones said moments after winning this year’s All-Star Game MVP. “What I was just saying is that you can have a team that has a lot of chemistry, that is great on paper, that has had a great season and it’s still not enough to get it done and that’s what I was trying to explain to her with that whole clip.

“Obviously we put our hearts out there on the court in 2024, and I wouldn’t want it to finish any other way. I know what it means to our city. I know what it meant to me and every single player that stepped on the court, put their heart into that and so obviously I feel like what I said was taken the wrong way and I’ll take accountability for that as well and understand that I do have a responsibility when I speak to make sure that I’m representing not just myself but our organization in the right way.”

At one point during her answer, Jones, the 2024 Finals MVP, was overcome with emotion and needed to take a moment’s pause to gather herself.

“New York means a lot to me,” she continued through tears. “The organization means a lot to me. Our locker room, our chemistry, what we built, I never wanted to misrepresent that and I just never wanted people to ever feel like I was doing anything other than trying to put my best foot forward for our team, so I apologize.”

The Liberty beat the Lynx in five games to capture the franchise’s first championship. The series ended in controversy when fiery Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said the series “was stolen from us” because of poor officiating.

But Jones set the record straight Saturday that she didn’t mean any harm by the comment she made to the StudBudz.

In a shocking incident underscoring the unpredictable nature of violence today, a dedicated art gallery manager from California, who was also working on an illustrated children’s book, met a tragic end.

Rachell Summers, aged 73, was viciously stabbed 11 times in broad daylight at Capitola Mall in Santa Cruz County this past Monday. Investigators have since categorized this harrowing incident as a random act of aggression.

The alleged assailant, 19-year-old Tyler Leibelt, faces charges of murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait and wielding a deadly weapon, as indicated by court records. Notably, Liebelt has yet to submit a plea in this case.

Prosecutors present a disturbing picture, contending that before heading to the mall, Leibelt had premeditated the act of killing. They argue that he purchased knives mere minutes before perpetrating the murder.

Charging documents, referenced by ABC 7, suggest that Summers was not initially targeted but rather chosen by Leibelt only after he had considered several other potential victims.

Summers managed the Art of Santa Cruz, a nonprofit gallery situated inside the mall.

She had gone to the gallery to pick up a check and was walking to the bank when Leibelt allegedly attacked her.

Summers, who was also a published author, became a grandmother for the first time last year and had been working on a children’s book at the time of her death. 

‘Her passing has left a deep void in the lives of everyone who loved her, especially her grandson,’ her loved ones wrote in a GoFundMe campaign.

‘Rachell became a grandmother for the very first time last year, and her only grandchild will soon be celebrating his first birthday. Rachell was a loving and devoted grandmother, mom, and friend who loved her community.’

Summers ‘dreamt of a bright future’ for the young boy and ‘hoped to see him pursue his education,’ according to the fundraiser.

The campaign, which has already raised more than $8,800, will be used to fund a 529 educational savings account for the child.

‘This support will help ensure that, despite the pain and uncertainty he faces, he will have the opportunity to follow his dreams and access the education Rachell so deeply valued,’ the GoFundMe read.

Leibelt ran up to Summers outside the mall and stabbed her from behind, the court document said.

Summers was ‘stabbed multiple times in her back, defensive stab wounds to her forearms, and stab wounds to her center chest, more than 11 total,’ prosecutors alleged in the filing.

The 19-year-old ran into the mall, leaving a trail of the grandmother’s blood behind him. Prosecutors say he also discarded a knife.

He then went to a nearby gas station, purchased a beverage, and called 911 to confess to the slaying and surrender to police, the documents said.

Leibelt told police that ‘he purchased two knives so that he could hold one in each hand as he was killing someone,’ the court filing says. 

He gestured stabbing with both of his hands during the interview with investigators.

Investigators have found nothing to suggest that Leibelt knew Summers before he targeted her in the deadly attack. It is also unclear why he chose her as his victim.

Leibelt told police that he had been suffering from ‘homicidal fantasies for awhile’ and claimed he had ‘previously disclosed these fantasies but he ‘kept getting let out’ of custody,’ according to the filing.

Prosecutors noted that a gun violence restraining order was issued against the alleged killer in November last year. 

He allegedly told sheriff’s deputies during that incident that he ‘expressed a desire to cause a mass casualty event,’ the court document said.

He also allegedly ‘wrote a goodbye letter expressing a desire to kill as many people as possible.’ 

Leibelt appeared in court Wednesday for his arraignment, which has been continued until July 29, records show. He is being held without bail.

Summers’ family and the local arts community were her world, her co-worker Marilyn Gwynn told KSBW. 

‘She gave by putting her energy, you know, into the store and into the artists and helping us run the store, and that was selfless in a way,’ Gwynn said.

‘She didn’t have to do that at 73. You know, she was contributing to us, to our organization, and we will miss her.’

A makeshift memorial with flowers and candles has been set up outside the mall.

Capitola Mayor Margaux Morgan also issued her condolences to the Summers’ grieving family and friends.

Morgan also vowed to keep the community safe despite the horrific stabbing.

‘This isn’t Capitola,’ she said. ‘We will rise above this, we will move forward and not forget this … and we really want to make sure that everybody still feels safe.’