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Miami Herald
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Dictators win as Trump cuts aid to human rights groups in Cuba, Venezuela
The dictators of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua are breathing more easily these days. Human rights groups and independent media in their countries are being decimated, courtesy of President Trump's massive foreign aid cuts to pro-democracy groups abroad. In the wake of Trump's July 18 law slashing $9 billion from foreign aid and public broadcasting, many pro-democracy groups in Latin America are drastically downsizing. Some are considering shutting down altogether, activists tell me. Trump's budget cuts stripped $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other organizations that provided foreign assistance. Nearly half of that —$4 billion— had funded international organizations and pro-democracy groups, countering China and Russia's outsized cultural and political propaganda programs in developing countries. If you think that America is spending too much on foreign aid to promote democracy, think again. Trump's recently passed 'Big Beautiful' law injects $170 billion in new funds —over 4,000% more— to arrest and imprison undocumented immigrants. That includes $45 billion earmarked for immigration detention centers — critics call them concentration camps — to keep mostly hard-working undocumented people who have committed no serious crimes. Many human rights groups in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador and other countries are now facing 'an existential threat' because of U.S. budget cuts, says Juan Pappier, Latin America director at the Human Rights Watch advocacy group. Much of this aid flowed through the International Republican Institute (IRI), a nonprofit group linked to the Republican Party. But since the start of Trump's second term, the IRI has had to suspend 92 of 95 programs to defend democracy in authoritarian countries, the Miami Herald reported in March. About 85% of the IRI's staff have been laid off, and all of its 64 overseas offices have been closed, according to On Wednesday, the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee approved legislation that could restore some of the foreign aid programs that Trump wants to defund, but the scope and fate of that congressional effort is still unclear. Laritza Diversent, the U.S.-based executive director of CubaLex, one of Cuba's best-known human rights groups, told me that 'there will be a major weakening of human rights organizations that are operating in Cuba' as U.S. foreign aid dwindles. Her own group, which gathers data on political prisoners and provides them with legal help, has had to layoff some employees and cut 50% of its contract workers, Diversent told me. Justicia 11J, another Cuban human rights group, has had to cancel presentations before the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to denounce the plight of Cuban prisoners. The group helps hundreds of political prisoners arrested during the massive demonstrations of June 11, 2021. Camila Rodriguez, head of Justicia 11, told me the group was informed earlier this year it would lose 90% of its U.S. funding for a key project. Later, they were told some aid would be restored, but it's not clear how much, or when. Right now, Justicia 11J is operating with a skeleton crew that is doing all of its work on a voluntary basis, Rodriguez said. This has caused 'a significant decrease in the production and dissemination of content aimed at documenting and denouncing systematic violations of the right to peaceful protest in Cuba,' she added. A similar crisis is hitting the Voice of America and independent news websites in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, El Salvador and other countries, as their U.S. funds are being cut. In many countries, these websites are the only sources of critical news, and are competing against Russia's state-run Russia Today en Español and Telesur regional TV network, funded by the Venezuelan and Cuban regimes. 'Trump's budget cuts to USAID and the Voice of America are manna from heaven for China and Russia,' Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the United States, told me. He added, 'This withdrawal of U.S. soft power, the abandonment of public diplomacy, and the capacity to counter Russian propaganda in Latin America is an own goal for the United States.' I agree. Worst of all, these cuts to support human rights groups and independent media in Latin America amounts to peanuts compared to the astronomical sums the Trump administration plans to spend arresting mostly hard-working immigrants who are doing jobs that most Americans won't do. Indeed, the dictators of Russia and China, and their allies in Latin America, will have a field day, thanks to Trump's abrupt end to the post-World War II bipartisan consensus that promoting democracy abroad is a moral duty, and a smart thing to do to keep the U.S. safe. Don't miss the 'Oppenheimer Presenta' TV show on Sundays at 9 pm E.T. on CNN en Español. Blog:
OC Media
22-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Pashinyan remains most trusted politician in Armenia — at only 13% approval
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Amidst the crisis between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, a new survey commissioned by the International Republican Institute (IRI) has found that Armenians are largely satisfied with the church. In addition, while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was the most trusted politician in Armenia, his popularity, as well as that of his Civil Contract party, has declined. The data was collected via telephone administered interviews with 1,505 Armenian residents and Nagorno-Karabakh refugees from 16–26 June. The results of the survey were published on Monday. According to the results, Pashinyan was the most trusted politician in Armenia, with 13% of respondents expressing confidence in him. He was followed by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, with 5%, and opposition leader and former President Robert Kocharyan with 4%. Notably, 61% of respondents said they did not trust any political figure. Support for Pashinyan and his Civil Contract party declined to 17%, down from 20% in both 2023 and 2024. In contrast, the rating of Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance faction doubled, rising from 2% to 4%. Amidst the crisis between the Armenian government and the Armenian Apostolic Church, which has escalated since late May, survey data showed that the church was the institution with the second-most level of approval in Armenia, with 58% of respondents expressing satisfaction with its work. Respondents were most satisfied with the Armenian Armed Forces, which received an approval of 72%. Meanwhile, only 38% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the Prime Minister's office, a continued decline from over 80% in the aftermath of the 2018 Velvet Revolution. Advertisement The courts were the only public institution where the public have consistently been dissatisfied since August 2018 — according to the latest data, 52% of respondents were dissatisfied, while only 31% were satisfied. Despite criticism and protests against the government's handling of social assistance, 55% of respondents said they were satisfied with the Armenian government's support programmes for displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, while 36% expressed dissatisfaction. In addition, the IRI survey noted that they 'found signs of increasing political disengagement among young Armenians, with 37% of youth (age 18 to 35) responding that they would not vote if national parliamentary elections were held next Sunday'. The report quoted Stephen Nix, Senior Director for Europe and Eurasia at IRI, as saying that the Armenian government 'should undertake serious efforts to involve Armenian youth in the political and electoral processes'. Russia is still seen as a political threat Despite the apparent favourable turn in Armenia–Russia relations, following a freefall that started after lack of support in light of the Azerbaijani attack towards Armenia in 2021 and 2022, Armenians still view Russia as a political threat, behind just Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Israel. When asked about the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, 47% of respondents supported such a move while 40% opposed it. Those against the signing of a peace deal mentioned security issues, risks of war, the cession of territories to Azerbaijan, a lack of trust, and that the terms of the agreement are dictated only by Azerbaijan as the main disadvantages to such an agreement. Separately, Armenia's prospective membership in the EU enjoys broad support, with 49% of respondents saying they would vote in favour and only 15% opposed. Among those who expressed support for Armenia's accession to the EU, the main perceived benefits were strengthening the country's security, stability, and economy, and developing the country. In contrast, opponents of EU membership cited several concerns, including the deterioration of traditional Armenian family values, problems related to preserving national identity, the emergence of security problems, a negative impact on the economy, and risks of 'angering' Russia. Indeed, national security and border issues were considered to be the main problem that Armenia currently faces, with 44% expressing such a standpoint. Unemployment was the next biggest issue, receiving 14%, while political instability — 12% — was the third largest problem.
Web Release
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Web Release
Saudi Roads Authority Deploys World's Largest AI-Powered Road Inspection Fleet During Hajj
To prepare for this year's Hajj season, the Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) has launched the largest and most advanced AI-powered road inspection fleet in the world. This fleet consists of 18 high-tech units utilising five state-of-the-art technologies, all aimed at improving road safety, enhancing quality, and ensuring an exceptional experience for pilgrims. The fleet includes specialized equipment for scanning surface damage, measuring the International Roughness Index (IRI), assessing pavement layer thickness, evaluating structural deflection, and testing skid resistance. Among the highlights are seven surface damage scanners equipped with high-resolution cameras, laser units, GPS, and data storage systems for precise analysis and immediate maintenance decisions, especially critical on routes to the holy sites. Four IRI units evaluate road smoothness and driving comfort using laser sensors. Another three use multi-frequency radar to check pavement layer thickness, while another three measure road deflection under traffic loads using advanced sensor systems. A single skid resistance unit simulates rainy conditions to test friction levels and ensure safety in adverse weather. The fleet is completed by a mobile digital imaging scanner that inspects unpaved elements such as road signs and safety barriers, assisting in identifying potential risks and optimising maintenance planning. The Roads General Authority, the national regulator of Saudi Arabia's Road sector, aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world's leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 kilometres. For further inquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Mid East Info
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Mid East Info
Saudi Roads Authority Deploys World's Largest AI-Powered Road Inspection Fleet During Hajj - Middle East Business News and Information
Mecca To prepare for this year's Hajj season, the Saudi Roads General Authority (RGA) has launched the largest and most advanced AI-powered road inspection fleet in the world. This fleet consists of 18 high-tech units utilising five state-of-the-art technologies, all aimed at improving road safety, enhancing quality, and ensuring an exceptional experience for pilgrims. The fleet includes specialized equipment for scanning surface damage, measuring the International Roughness Index (IRI), assessing pavement layer thickness, evaluating structural deflection, and testing skid resistance. Among the highlights are seven surface damage scanners equipped with high-resolution cameras, laser units, GPS, and data storage systems for precise analysis and immediate maintenance decisions, especially critical on routes to the holy sites. Four IRI units evaluate road smoothness and driving comfort using laser sensors. Another three use multi-frequency radar to check pavement layer thickness, while another three measure road deflection under traffic loads using advanced sensor systems. A single skid resistance unit simulates rainy conditions to test friction levels and ensure safety in adverse weather. The fleet is completed by a mobile digital imaging scanner that inspects unpaved elements such as road signs and safety barriers, assisting in identifying potential risks and optimising maintenance planning. The Roads General Authority, the national regulator of Saudi Arabia's Road sector, aims to elevate the quality of roads to rank sixth globally by 2030 and reduce road fatalities to fewer than five per 100,000 people. Saudi Arabia currently boasts the world's leading intercity road connectivity, with a total network exceeding 73,000 kilometres.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Think About Buying Integrated Research Limited (ASX:IRI) Now?
While Integrated Research Limited (ASX:IRI) might not have the largest market cap around , it led the ASX gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. The recent rally in share prices has nudged the company in the right direction, though it still falls short of its yearly peak. As a small cap stock, hardly covered by any analysts, there is generally more of an opportunity for mispricing as there is less activity to push the stock closer to fair value. Is there still an opportunity here to buy? Let's examine Integrated Research's valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if there's still a bargain opportunity. We've discovered 3 warning signs about Integrated Research. View them for free. Good news, investors! Integrated Research is still a bargain right now according to our price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, we've used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stock's cash flows. we find that Integrated Research's ratio of 3.98x is below its peer average of 67.89x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the Software industry. What's more interesting is that, Integrated Research's share price is quite volatile, which gives us more chances to buy since the share price could sink lower (or rise higher) in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Check out our latest analysis for Integrated Research Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Although value investors would argue that it's the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. However, with an extremely negative double-digit change in profit expected over the next couple of years, near-term growth is certainly not a driver of a buy decision. It seems like high uncertainty is on the cards for Integrated Research, at least in the near future. Are you a shareholder? Although IRI is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. Consider whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to IRI, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping tabs on IRI for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, we recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Integrated Research (1 is a bit unpleasant) you should be familiar with. If you are no longer interested in Integrated Research, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
