On Thursday evening at the Nilton Santos Stadium, Botafogo claimed their first victory of the Brazilian Championship season, edging out Atlético-GO with a narrow 1-0 win.
This crucial victory propelled the Rio de Janeiro team to three points in the standings, leaving Atlético-GO still searching for their first points of the season.
The match’s decisive moment came in the first half when Mateo Ponte netted a goal, marking a noteworthy achievement for Botafogo under the leadership of coach Artur Jorge.
This victory could potentially set a positive tone for Botafogo’s upcoming challenges in the league.
Botafogo demonstrated their intent from the start, launching vigorous attacks though initially struggling to convert these into substantial opportunities.
Botafogo Secures Initial Win in Brazilian Championship Against Atlético-GO. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Their efforts finally paid off in the 31st minute when Ponte skillfully received a pass outside the penalty area and delivered a precise shot into the back of the net.
This goal spurred Atlético-GO to increase their offensive efforts, but they were unable to penetrate Botafogo’s solid defense.
As the game progressed into the second half, the dynamics shifted with Atlético-GO aggressively seeking an equalizer, which opened up more space for Botafogo to potentially extend their lead.
Despite several close calls and maintained possession, Atlético-GO’s most significant threat came at the 34-minute mark with a powerful shot by Vagner Love, which Gatito Fernández adeptly saved.
The match’s intensity peaked in the closing stages as Atlético-GO pressed hard for a draw.
However, Botafogo’s defense stood firm, particularly highlighted by Lucas Halter’s critical intervention in the final moments, ensuring the team maintained their slender lead until the final whistle.
Looking forward, Botafogo is scheduled to host Juventude at the same venue on Sunday, whereas Atlético-GO faces a tough encounter against São Paulo in Goiânia.
Botafogo Secures Initial Win in Brazilian Championship Against Atlético-GO
Score: Botafogo 1, Atlético-GO 0
Location: Estádio Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro
Date: April 18, 2024
Time: 9:30 PM local
Officials: Referee Luiz Flavio de Oliveira, assistants Neuza Ines Back and Daniel Paulo Ziolli, with VAR by Thayslane de Melo Costa
Disciplinary Actions: Yellow cards for Lucas Halter, Patrick de Paula, Tiquinho Soares (Botafogo); Pedro Henrique, Bruno Tubarão, Rhaldney, Luiz Felipe (Atlético-GO)
This win not only boosts Botafogo’s morale but also signals their readiness to tackle the season’s challenges, with a renewed focus on strategic play and robust defense.
São Paulo FC is currently engaged in negotiations with Luis Zubeldía, aiming to bring the Argentine onboard as their new head coach.
Previously eyed before Thiago Carpini’s hiring, Zubeldía was passed over but reconsidered due to recent managerial vacancies.
The team is optimistic about negotiations with the 43-year-old coach, who is eager to boost his career in Brazil.
Zubeldía’s prestige grew after his team clinched the 2023 Copa Sudamericana, defeating Fortaleza.
His team’s success was further highlighted by their dramatic elimination of São Paulo via penalties at Morumbi Stadium.
His tactical acumen was evident in the first leg in Ecuador, where his side clinched a 2-1 victory over São Paulo, showing potential for an even more decisive win.
São Paulo FC in Advanced Talks with Luis Zubeldía for Coaching Role. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Zubeldía’s coaching journey began at Lanús in Argentina and has since spanned several countries.
His coaching career has taken him to Barcelona SC and LDU in Ecuador, Racing Club in Argentina, and Santos Laguna in Mexico.
He has also managed Independiente Medellín in Colombia, Alavés in Spain, and Cerro Porteño in Paraguay.
This diverse experience across Latin America and Europe underscores his adaptability and strategic insights.
São Paulo FC in Advanced Talks with Luis Zubeldía for Coaching Role
As São Paulo has not yet confirmed their new coach, assistant Milton Cruz is temporarily overseeing the team’s preparations.
The club’s next challenge is an away game against Atlético-GO in the Brazilian Championship, scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 PM Brasília time.
The São Paulo board is eager to quickly conclude negotiations, aiming for Zubeldía to start before next Wednesday’s Copa Libertadores match.
They hope he can assume his role in time for the game against Barcelona SC in Ecuador.
This appointment could herald a new era for São Paulo FC, blending Zubeldía’s international experience with the club’s rich footballing heritage.
Brazil plans to deepen its energy ties with Argentina, aiming to import three million cubic meters of natural gas daily from Vaca Muerta.
Located in southern Argentina, Vaca Muerta is the world's second-largest reserve of unconventional oil and gas, making it a key regional energy player.
During "Gas Week 2024," Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, indicated that negotiations to access this . . .
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Paraguay recently decided to close seven consulates across Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil, marking a significant shift in its foreign relations strategy.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, announced this from the Government Palace in Asunción.
The closures affect consular offices in Mendoza, Córdoba, Corrientes, and Neuquén in Argentina, along with Campo Grande and Porto Alegre in Brazil, and Villa Montes in Bolivia.
These are not merely cost-cutting measures; they represent a realignment of Paraguay’s diplomatic priorities under President Santiago Peña’s administration.
Lezcano stated that these decisions aim to optimize the use of limited budgetary resources and enhance the effectiveness of Paraguay’s foreign policy.
Paraguay to Close Consulates in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil – Consulate in Mendoza. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Lezcano stressed that this move is not a retreat from international engagement.
Rather, it shows a strategic adaptation to global diplomatic dynamics, ensuring Paraguay remains an active international player.
This adjustment follows another announcement about closing embassies in Egypt, Canada, Portugal, Australia, and Switzerland, due to a lack of reciprocal diplomatic arrangements.
These closures are expected to save about 8 million dollars annually, highlighting the government’s commitment to fiscal prudence and diplomatic efficiency.
This significant savings will support a more focused international relations strategy, including maintaining engagement through concurrent embassies.
Moreover, Paraguay is looking to expand its diplomatic presence in strategic locations like Lisbon, Portugal, and Canberra, Australia.
These potential new openings demonstrate Paraguay’s intent to enhance its diplomatic network and optimize its global presence.
By doing so, Paraguay aims to better represent its interests abroad and foster stronger international partnerships.
The United States has reactivated stringent sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry, casting shadows over its economic future.
This abrupt policy shift strips Venezuela of a vital license, which had propelled its oil exports and fostered investment opportunities.
Announced on Wednesday, this policy change compels businesses to conform to a new, more restrictive regime within 45 days, known as license 44A.
Previously, this license had momentarily softened the sanctions, invigorating PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-run oil behemoth.
This was a boon, considering Venezuela’s status as once the top oil producer in Latin America.
From PDVSA’s Caracas offices, President Nicolas Maduro rebuked the US decision, predicting adverse effects not only for Venezuela but also for American economic interests.
Renewed US Sanctions Stir Economic Tension in Venezuela. (Photo Internet reproduction)
He pledged Venezuela’s steadfastness in pursuing its sovereign path.
The US justifies this license revocation citing Venezuela’s lag in embracing democratic reforms.
They were conditions of an earlier agreement with opposition leaders aimed at ensuring transparent elections.
Conversely, Venezuelan officials argue the sanctions barely touch them but significantly thwart efforts to mend ties with the US.
Companies like Chevron, Repsol, and Eni, despite the license expiration, still retain prior authorizations, ensuring continued Venezuelan oil flow to the US and Europe.
The US remains open to processing specific business proposals with Venezuela, hinting at a possible albeit limited ongoing engagement.
Amidst this backdrop, Venezuela grapples with a deep economic crisis, though it has recently made strides in curbing inflation.
The oil sector, crucial to the national economy, expects exports to stabilize at approximately 900,000 barrels per day.
By 2025, production might reach its peak at 1 million barrels per day.
Facing these renewed sanctions, Venezuela races against time to recalibrate its economic strategies and international alliances.
(Sponsored) The world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has experienced new heights with the creation of Bitcoin Ordinals.
Since they were launched in January 2023, Bitcoin Ordinals have gathered a lot of popularity, and they have attracted more developers and users on the Bitcoin blockchain as the capabilities of the platform expanded way further than just being a store of value.
Since the time it was launched, thousands of Ordinals have been created, and a lot of the collections have become known worldwide. In this article, we will explore some of them.
Taproot Wizards
Taproot Wizards is a very creative project that has been crafted by Udi Wertheimer, a Web3 developer.
The collection has 2,108 unique Taproot Wizards, and each of them has its own attributes and design.
Exploring Creative Bitcoin Ordinals: From Satoshis to Digital Art. (Image Freepik)
Additionally, the non-fungible tokens are unique, as they have been hand-drawn by the developer himself.
The purpose of this collection was to reignite the magic of Bitcoin and remind the community about the great potential that the Bitcoin blockchain holds.
This is why the creator of this collection sees these pieces as more than digital art, as they also want to be pieces that highlight the excitement and original spirit of Bitcoin.
Each wizard symbolizes this idea, and this is why they have become a testament to the innovations of the Bitcoin network.
The Taproot Wizards also inspired other collections, including the Taproot Cows, Taproot Punks, Taproot Shrooms and so on.
Bitcoin Puppets
Bitcoin Puppets is a popular collection of NFTs created on the Bitcoin blockchain, which has shown great demand and interest.
Additionally, this collection has benefited from a record-breaking price, which proves the great potential of Bitcoin Ordinals and their huge ability to attract both users and investors.
This collection contains more than 10,000 hand-drawn MS Paint monkeys in numerous edgy activities.
If you are interested in Bitcoin NFTs collections, including those mentioned above, then you can consider Magic Eden Ordinals.
Bitcoin Punks
CryptoPunks is a popular NFT collection, and it was quite obvious that people would want to have it also on the Bitcoin blockchain, once this aspect has become possible.
That is why the Bitcoin Punks are a milestone in the evolution of Bitcoin Ordinals, as they represented the first collection having 10K NFT art pieces.
These interesting digital artworks have numerous characters with distinct expressions on a light orange background.
The entire collection has been minted, and collectors from all around the world have bought and sold these unique NFTs.
For example, a passionate collector has acquired six ape Punks and two alien Punks for a sum that is equivalent to something around $84,500. As the demand has increased, the price of the pieces from this collection can reach new heights.
Bitcoin Frogs
Bitcoin Frogs is a unique project created on the Bitcoin Ordinal ecosystem, which has gained the reputation of being the most traded non-fungible collection.
These pieces have won the hearts of collectors with unique frog-themed digital assets, which include no more no less than 10,000 unique frog collectibles.
As these artworks have gathered a lot of popularity, they have become a testament to the growing demand for NFT pieces created directly on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Bitcoin Rocks
Bitcoin Rocks drew inspiration from the Ethereum project, Ether Rocks, being created by the artist Rocktoshi 21.
This collection contains unique digital rocks of only 100 NFTs. Each rock has unique features, and they all have an astonishing value.
Their value can be seen from their listing, where some of them had a commanding price of 1,000 BTC, which means $26 million.
As this collection is a limited one, the Bitcoin Rocks have some crucial features, including uniqueness and exclusivity.
OnChainMonkey
OnChainMonkey is a project that is part of the OnChainMonkey universe, popular in the landscape of digital collectibles.
The original collection contains 10,000 pieces that are developed on the Ethereum platform, which depicts monkeys.
Each monkey has common traits, represented by mouth, fur, hat, eyes, earring, clothes and background.
Even if at first this project was developed on Ethereum, in 2023, OCM made the transition to Bitcoin, with the help of the Ordinals inscriptions.
Still, they needed to take some measures, as they wanted to commit to sustainability, even though the Bitcoin platform was known for its impact on the environment.
The solution found? They addressed this aspect by uploading their OCM collection to the Bitcoin blockchain by using a single transaction. In this way, they only used 20,000 bytes of data.
Battle of BTC
Battle of BTC are digital artwork from an inventive collection made on Bitcoin, which blends fantasy elements with medieval history.
The collection was created by the artist Payens, who wanted to combine his passion for fantasy games and medieval history with the capabilities of the Bitcoin Ordinals inscriptions.
The Battle of BTC contains 10,000-pixel warriors in the form of a GIF, each being uniquely generated. All these warriors have a simplistic but captivating aesthetic that resonates with the essence of the fantastic and medieval themes.
The artist behind this collection wanted to have characteristics like efficiency and simplicity in his collection, and this is why he only used two frames of animation and a limited color palette.
They have a size of 24×24 pixels and are visually appealing warriors that perfectly represent the era from which they come.
Last remarks
The Ordinals ecosystem is a new and exciting space of innovation and creativity. Each project created on the platform contains unique, interesting and visually appealing pieces that bring a lot of perspective and flair to the digital art landscape.
Additionally, all these collections showcase the potential that the Ordinals have, which can be used to design numerous digital artworks that have distinct characters and styles.
A remarkable trait of the Bitcoin collection is that they have great diversity and can draw inspiration from fantasy or history, which proves that the Bitcoin blockchain can be used for anything.
Oil futures experienced a slight decline on Thursday, reflecting the markets’ subdued response to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Despite the potential for escalations, particularly from Israel, the week passed without any new significant developments that might worsen the situation.
On the New York Mercantile Exchange, June delivery West Texas Intermediate (WTI) decreased slightly by 0.06% to close at $82.10/barrel.
In a similar trend, Brent crude for June delivery fell by 0.21%, or $0.18, settling at $87.11 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange.
Iran’s drone and missile strikes on Israel triggered geopolitical tensions, influencing restrained oil price fluctuations in the aftermath.
Subtle Shifts in Oil Prices Amid Stabilizing Middle East Situations. (Photo Internet reproduction)
Despite these provocations, Israel has yet to respond, although retaliation remains a distinct possibility.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly committed to taking all necessary measures to defend Israel, as reported by Oxford Economics.
The financial markets have remained relatively calm in the face of these events, suggesting a low expectation of a broader conflict.
Oil surged to $88 but declined due to factors like U.S. inflation, reduced demand, and Iran’s robust oil output.
The future actions Israel might undertake remain unclear, especially considering the delayed response so far.
Should Israel decide on substantial military retaliation, it could intensify the regional tensions, notes Oxford Economics.
Furthermore, Julius Baer, in its baseline scenario, does not foresee a major escalation in Middle East conflicts.
Anticipated factors such as reduced demand and Saudi Arabia‘s production cuts relaxation signal a downward oil price trend ahead.
This outlook offers a glimpse of potential stabilization in oil markets despite the current geopolitical frictions.
The Brazilian orange market is currently experiencing significant stress due to a combination of disease, climate change, and market dynamics.
This has led to a noticeable impact on both domestic and global orange juice supplies.
In São Paulo, the traditional heart of Brazil's citrus production, orange and orange juice prices have soared by nearly 40% over the past year.
This level of increase even surpasses those seen during the 2020 pandemic.
This sharp increase is attributed to decreased harvests, a persistent issue with pest infestations, and heightened demand from international markets, particularly Asia and the Middle East.
According . . .
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