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Coup Plot: Former President in house arrest as tension mounts on Trump

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Coup Plot: Former President in house arrest as tension mounts on Trump

Brazil’s Supreme Court put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot, underscoring the court’s resolve despite escalating tariffs and sanctions from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the target of U.S. Treasury sanctions last week, issued the arrest order against Bolsonaro. His decision cited a failure to comply with restraining orders he had imposed on Bolsonaro for allegedly courting Trump’s interference in the case.

Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a “witch hunt” and called it grounds for a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods taking effect on Wednesday.

The U.S. State Department condemned the house arrest order, saying Moraes was using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy, adding the U.S. would “hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.”
It did not provide details, though Trump has said the U.S. could still impose even higher tariffs on Brazilian imports.
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The Monday order from Moraes also banned Bolsonaro from using a cell phone or receiving visits, except for his lawyers and people authorized by the court.

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A press representative for Bolsonaro confirmed he was placed under house arrest on Monday evening at his Brasilia residence by police who seized his cell phone.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a statement they would appeal the decision, arguing the former president had not violated any court order.
In an interview with Reuters last month, Bolsonaro called Moraes a “dictator” and said the restraining orders against him were acts of “cowardice.”
Some Bolsonaro allies have worried that Trump’s tactics may be backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for Bolsonaro and rallying public support behind Lula’s leftist government.

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However, Sunday demonstrations by Bolsonaro supporters — the largest in months — show that Trump’s tirades and sanctions against Moraes have also fired up the far-right former army captain’s political base.

Bolsonaro appeared virtually at a protest in Rio de Janeiro via phone call to his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in what some saw as the latest test of his restraining orders.

Moraes said that the former president had repeatedly made attempts to bypass the court’s orders.
“Justice is blind, but not foolish,” the justice wrote in his decision.

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On Monday, Senator Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil that Monday’s order from Moraes was “a clear display of vengeance” for the U.S. sanctions against the judge, adding: “I hope the Supreme Court can put the brakes on this person (Moraes) causing so much upheaval.”

The judge’s orders, including the restraining orders under penalty of arrest, have been upheld by the wider court.

Those orders and the larger case before the Supreme Court came after two years of investigations into Bolsonaro’s role in an election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that rocked Brasilia in January 2023. That unrest drew comparisons to the January 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol after Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat.

In contrast with the tangle of criminal cases which mostly stalled against Trump, Brazilian courts moved swiftly against Bolsonaro, threatening to end his political career and fracture his right-wing movement. An electoral court has already banned Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030.

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Another of Bolsonaro’s sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman, moved to the U.S. around the same time the former president’s criminal trial kicked off to drum up support for his father in Washington. The younger Bolsonaro said the move had influenced Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on Brazil.

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In a statement after the arrest on Monday, Congressman Bolsonaro called Moraes “an out-of-control psychopath who never hesitates to double down.”
Trump last month shared a letter he had sent to Bolsonaro. “I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you,” he wrote. “This trial should end immediately!”

Washington based its sanctions against Moraes last week on accusations that the judge had authorized arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressed freedom of expression.

The arrest could give Trump a pretext to pile on additional measures against Brazil, said Graziella Testa, a political science professor at the Federal University of Parana, adding that Bolsonaro seemed to be consciously provoking escalation.

“I think things could escalate because this will be seen as a reaction to the Magnitsky sanction” against Moraes, said Leonardo Barreto, a partner at the Think Policy political risk consultancy in Brasilia, referring to the asset freeze imposed on Moraes last week.

Reuters

 

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Govt To Ban Social Media For Under-15s

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Govt To Ban Social Media For Under-15s

Denmark said Tuesday it planned to introduce a social media ban for children under the age of 15.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not specify which social media networks would fall under the ban, nor how it would work in practice, as she announced the initiative in a speech to parliament at the opening of its autumn session.

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The bill, the timeline of which remains unspecified, would authorise parents to let their child use social media from the age of 13.

“The cell phone and social media are robbing our children of their childhood,” Frederiksen said, arguing that 60 percent of Danish boys aged 11 to 19 preferred to stay home over spending time with friends.

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Australia has been a leader in global efforts to prevent internet harm among young people.

In late 2024, its parliament adopted a ban on social media for under-16s, though there are still almost no details on how the measure would be enforced.

Platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube fall under the Australian ban’s remit.

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And in June, Greece proposed setting an “age of digital adulthood” across the 27-country European Union, meaning children would not be able to access social media without parental consent.

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Badenoch’s Conservative Party Criticised for Misspelling ‘Britain’ on Conference Goodies

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Badenoch’s Conservative Party Criticised for Misspelling ‘Britain’ on Conference Goodies

The Conservative Party in the United Kingdom has faced criticism after chocolate bars handed out at its annual conference misspelled the word “Britain” on their wrappers.

The blue-wrapped confectionery carried a slogan attributed to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch that read: “When Labour negotiates, Britian loses.”

The chocolate was part of the conference goodies given to attendees in Manchester, according to The Sun.

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Organisers have blamed the mistake on a printing error and confirmed that the bars were removed from the bags.

The goodie packs also included satirical items such as a mock version of Reform UK’s manifesto and a fake CV for Labour’s Rachel Reeves.

The typo quickly drew ridicule online. One social media user joked: “I’m hearing Wispas about Kemi’s leadership.”

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The blunder came as Badenoch sought to rally support for her party amid poor polling numbers. She opened the conference on Sunday with a speech and is expected to deliver another on Wednesday, breaking from usual practice.

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Spelling mistakes are not unique to the Conservatives. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour faced similar embarrassment after campaign leaflets for a by-election in Glenrothes Central and Thornton misspelt the word “Scottish”.

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The leaflet read: “Your Scotish [sic] Labour candidate for the Glenrothes Central and Thornton byelection Maciej Dokurno.”

In 2024, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson’s campaign material also contained a typo, naming him “Lee Andersin”. Anderson appeared unaware of the mistake and later shared a video of himself delivering the leaflets in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

The Nigerian Tribune

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4 Soldiers Killed In Helicopter Crash In U.S

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Four elite team U.S. Army soldiers lost their lives when the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed earlier this week near a military base in Washington state, Army officials reported on Friday.

The helicopter was conducting a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord when it went down at approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.Click link for full details

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US Attorney Sets To Resign, Reasons Emerge

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As Donald Trump’s contentious administration progresses in the United States, numerous allegations of intimidation have emerged, prompting many high-ranking officials to leave their positions within the government.

Critics argue that this environment of fear and pressure has created a turbulent atmosphere in Washington, leading to significant turnover among key personnel….Click link to continue reading.

Dictator: Donald Trump describes himself with one word

U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert informed employees at his office in Alexandria, Virginia, Friday that he intends to resign, according to sources, after President Donald Trump said he wants him out.

ABC News has reported that Trump was expected to fire Siebert after investigators were unable to find incriminating evidence of mortgage fraud against New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to sources.

Trump officials had pushed Siebert to bring charges against James, despite investigators failing to find clear evidence that she committed a crime, sources said.

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“It looks to me like she is very guilty of something, but I really don’t know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

When asked about Siebert, Trump said he wanted him “out” of the position because Virginia’s two Democratic Senators supported his nomination. Trump nominated Siebert for the position in May, and he has served as the interim U.S. attorney since Trump’s inauguration.

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“When I saw that he got approved by those two men, I said, pull it, because he can’t be any good,” Trump said. “When I learned that they voted for him, I said, I don’t really want him.”

Siebert’s departure leaves one of the nation’s most important U.S. attorney’s offices without a leader, according to sources, as Siebert’s deputy has already left her position and intends to continue work in the office as a line prosecutor. With her position vacant, there is currently no answer to who specifically will take over the office and whether any of its attorneys have any authority to continue regular prosecutorial activity.

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The investigation into James began in April when Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, sent the Department of Justice a criminal referral alleging that James falsified records related to her 2023 purchase of a home in Virginia.

After investigating the allegations for five months and interviewing 15 witnesses, investigators were unable to find clear evidence that James knowingly falsified records to obtain better loan terms, ABC News first reported earlier this week.

James has denied wrongdoing, and her lawyer, in a statement on Friday, called the reported firing of Siebert a “brazen attack on the rule of law.”

“Firing people until he finds someone who will bend the law to carry out his revenge has been the President’s pattern — and it’s illegal,” Abbe Lowell said Friday morning in a statement to ABC News. “Punishing this prosecutor, a Trump appointee, for doing his job sends a clear and chilling message that anyone who dares uphold the law over politics will face the same fate.”

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The forcing out of Siebert because he refused to charge one of Trump’s political rivals marks an escalation in what the president’s critics have called a retribution campaign, with ongoing investigations also targeting Sen. Adam Schiff and Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

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Trump has repeatedly accused James — who successfully brought a civil fraud case against him last year and leads multiple lawsuits challenging his administration’s policies — of targeting him for political reasons, calling her “biased and corrupt.”

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4 Soldiers Died In Helicopter Crash In U.S

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Four U.S. Army soldiers who were part of an elite team that does nighttime missions died when the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were aboard crashed earlier this week near a military base in Washington state, Army officials said Friday.

The helicopter was on a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said. Click to continue reading.

The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne, officials said.

Recovery efforts are underway, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation, Army officials said.

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The skies in the area were mostly clear with light winds from the south around the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.

Army officials said they would release the soldiers’ names “when appropriate,” out of respect for the families.

“Our hearts are with the families, friends, and teammates of these Night Stalkers,” said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, USASOC Commander. “They were elite warriors who embodied the highest values of the Army and the Army Special Operations, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said on X, “my heart is heavy,” after hearing about the crash. “While we await further updates, my prayers are with those involved, their families, and the entire Night Stalkers, Special Operations, and JBLM community,” he said.

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The regiment’s mission is to organize, equip and employ Army special operations aviation forces around the world, according to the Army’s website.

“Known as Night Stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations,” the website said. “They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision.”

Law enforcement, firefighters and specialty personnel from the joint base are conducting recovery efforts at the site of the crash, Braga said.

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“We thank the skilled professionals who are working tirelessly, around the clock to bring our soldiers home,” Braga said.

The crash sparked a small wildfire that had grown to 1.25 acres (0.5 hectares) by Friday morning, the Washington Department of Natural Resources said. The agency said there was “pretty minimal fire activity” so they had one engine on the scene.

The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.

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ABOMINATION: North Korea Govt Kills Citizens For Watching Foreign Films, TV Shows

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The government of North Korea has reportedly commenced executing citizens for watching foreign movies and TV shows.

According to a report from the United Nations (UN), North Korea has publicly executed individuals for watching or distributing foreign media, including films and popular TV shows, such as South Korean dramas.

A recent report from UN report reveals that North Korea’s executions for watching or distributing foreign media stem from the desire to instill fear in the population and serve as a deterrent.

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The human rights report was based on interviews with over 300 witnesses and victims who reported increased restrictions on freedom after fleeing North Korea.

The report covers developments since the landmark 2014 report, which found that North Korea had committed crimes against humanity.

Reports claim that the new laws criminalize access to unauthorized foreign information and prohibit the consumption or dissemination of information.

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Recent Policy Carried Out by North Korea
it’s worth noting that North Korea has implemented laws to restrict citizens freedoms, including the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Law, which punishes those who access or distribute foreign media, including South Korean content.

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The Youth Education Guarantee Act aims to indoctrinate youth with the regime’s ideology and prevent them from being influenced by foreign ideas.

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The Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law protects the North Korean language and culture from foreign influences, punishing those who use South Korean vocabulary or language style.

Despite the report unconfirmed by the North Korean government, it has dominated buzz online.

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