6 h. ago Jair Bolsonaro faces justice over alleged attempt to usurp Brazilian democracy

Former president in court along with seven others accused of failed power grab after losing 2022 electionBrazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies, including four senior members of the military, have gone on trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup – the first time in Brazilian history such powerful figures have faced justice for seeking to topple the country’s democracy.Bolsonaro, a paratrooper turned far-right populist who governed from 2019 until 2023, stands accused of masterminding a failed power grab after losing the 2022 election to the leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Continue reading...

Society

54 h. ago ‘I’m holding his political wake’: the trumpeter waiting to mark Bolsonaro’s judgment day

Brazil’s ex-president is expected to be convicted over failed coup – and Fabiano Leitão, who has provoked him for years, is readyWhen Jair Bolsonaro was Brazil’s far-right president, the guerrilla trumpeter Fabiano Leitão would stalk him around the capital, Brasília, to taunt him with renditions of the anti-fascist anthem Bella Ciao.In March, when Bolsonaro was charged with plotting a coup, Leitão changed his tune and began provoking the ex-president by serenading him with Chopin’s Funeral March. “It symbolises his political demise, which is what we want to see,” said the 46-year-old musician. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago What to know about the verdict and sentencing phase of Bolsonaro's trial in Brazil

The verdict and sentencing phase in the coup trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro starts Tuesday at the Supreme Court in Brasilia

Politics

7 d. ago Bruise on Trump’s hand won’t go away, and neither will questions about his health – US politics live

Large bruise on president’s hands, hidden poorly under makeup, renews speculation that White House may be concealing information about his healthThe justice department is alleging in a new court filing that three Smartmatic executives who were indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges transferred money from a 2018 voting machine contract with Los Angeles county into slush funds that were originally set up to pay bribes to election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines between 2012 and 2016 to obtain and retain lucrative election contracts.Prosecutors say one of the executives transferred an undisclosed amount from the $282m LA county contract into the slush funds in 2019 but did not say if anyone actually received bribes from the county’s money at that point. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Brazil's government says it will buy some domestic products hit by Trump's tariffs

Brazil’s government says it will buy several domestic products that have been hit by the 50% higher U.S. tariffs on the country’s exports

Politics

7 d. ago Trump says he wants ‘Department of War’ instead of defense department – US politics live

US president floats idea several times on Monday; Trump threatens again to send troops to Democratic-run cities amid misleading claim on crime in ‘red cities’National guard start carrying firearms in DC as Trump says Chicago may be nextThe justice department is alleging in a new court filing that three Smartmatic executives who were indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges transferred money from a 2018 voting machine contract with Los Angeles county into slush funds that were originally set up to pay bribes to election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines between 2012 and 2016 to obtain and retain lucrative election contracts.Prosecutors say one of the executives transferred an undisclosed amount from the $282m LA county contract into the slush funds in 2019 but did not say if anyone actually received bribes from the county’s money at that point. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Ice is processing Kilmar Ábrego García for deportation, Kristi Noem says – US politics live

US homeland security secretary says Ábrego García is being processed for deportation but doesn’t say where he will be sent amid concerns he will go to UgandaKilmar Ábrego García detained after reporting to US immigration agentsThe justice department is alleging in a new court filing that three Smartmatic executives who were indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges transferred money from a 2018 voting machine contract with Los Angeles county into slush funds that were originally set up to pay bribes to election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines between 2012 and 2016 to obtain and retain lucrative election contracts.Prosecutors say one of the executives transferred an undisclosed amount from the $282m LA county contract into the slush funds in 2019 but did not say if anyone actually received bribes from the county’s money at that point. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Noel Clarke loses libel case against Guardian over sexual misconduct investigation

High court rejects actor’s claim that accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracyThe Guardian has successfully defended a libel action brought by the actor Noel Clarke over an investigation by the newspaper in which he was accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women.In a high court judgment handed down on Friday, Mrs Justice Steyn rejected Clarke’s claim. He had said the allegations set out in the Guardian’s investigation were false and that he had been the victim of an unlawful conspiracy.There were strong grounds to believe that over 15 years, he used his power to prey on and harass female colleagues.He sometimes bullied female colleagues.He engaged in unwanted sexual contact, kissing, touching or groping.He engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments.He was involved in professional misconduct.He took and shared explicit pictures and videos without consent, including secretly filming a young actor’s naked audition. Continue...

Economics

1 week ago Bolsonaro given 48 hours to explain alleged plans to flee to Argentina

Brazilian supreme court judge sets ultimatum after police claim far-right populist sought to flee to avoid punishment over failed coupA supreme court judge has given Brazil’s ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, 48 hours to explain police claims he was planning to flee to Argentina to avoid punishment for allegedly masterminding a failed coup after losing the 2022 election.Bolsonaro’s trial for the alleged attempt to seize power is scheduled to conclude early next month, with the far-right populist facing more than four decades in prison if found guilty. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Justice Department investigating DC police over Trump allegations of ‘fake’ crime data

Trump accused city officials of manipulating data to create ‘false illusion of safety’

Events

2 w. ago Brazil's former president Bolsonaro temporarily leaves house arrest for medical exams

Former President Jair Bolsonaro temporarily left house arrest Saturday for medical exams in Brasilia

Politics

2 w. ago Verdict and sentencing for Brazil's Bolsonaro is set for early September

Brazil's Supreme Court has announced that it will deliver a verdict and sentence in the coup trial against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro early next month

Politics

2 w. ago Brazil's Lula announces $5.5 billion in credits for exporters hit by US tariffs

The Brazilian government has unveiled a plan to support local exporters affected by U.S. tariffs

Economics

3 w. ago Bolsonaro supporters pray for Trump rescue as coup plot trial verdict nears

Far-right ex-president’s devotees pin hopes on pressure campaign but tariffs and sanctions appear likely to failEach morning, Edite Costa steps out of her bungalow on Brasília’s sun-baked savannah, stands beneath a mango tree and lifts her hands to the sky in prayer. “I ask God to work so that not just Trump but all Americans come to help us rip out the evil that has taken hold of the country I love,” said the 66-year-old Baptist, who is a fervent supporter of Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.Bolsonaro could face decades in jail for allegedly leading a murderous conspiracy to seize power after his leftwing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat him in the 2022 presidential election. But Costa believes her populist leader can still be saved – if her prayers are answered and Donald Trump intervenes. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Top US diplomat in Brazil summoned to foreign ministry over Bolsonaro trial comments

US embassy in Brazil made social media post accusing high court judge of persecuting former president, who is now on trial for alleged coup attemptBrazil’s foreign ministry has summoned the US chargé d’affaires after the embassy posted comments about the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro, as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate.On Thursday, the embassy published a social media post in Portuguese criticising supreme court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the cases against Bolsonaro, who is on trial over an alleged coup attempt. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Brazil judge eases Jair Bolsonaro house arrest to allow family visits

Ex-president can see children and grandchildren without prior court approval, but phone and video ban remainsA Brazilian supreme court judge has eased the terms of Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest, allowing the far-right former president to receive visits from family members without prior judicial approval.The former paratrooper turned populist has been under house arrest since Monday, when Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the measure on the grounds that Bolsonaro had allegedly violated court orders. Continue reading...

Society

4 w. ago US steps up efforts to help Bolsonaro avoid jail over alleged coup plot

State department condemns judge’s decision to place former Brazil president under house arrest as trial proceedsThe US has intensified its campaign to help Jair Bolsonaro avoid punishment for allegedly masterminding a failed coup, with the state department denouncing the decision to place Brazil’s former president under house arrest.“Let Bolsonaro speak!” the department’s bureau of western hemisphere affairs tweeted on Monday night after the far-right populist was confined to his mansion in the capital, Brasília, and police seized his mobile phone. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago US condemns Brazil supreme court judge for ordering house arrest of ex

US claims judge attempting ‘to silence opposition’ as Bolsonaro accused of breaching ban imposed amid fears he may abscond ahead of trialIn a move immediately condemned by the US, a Brazilian supreme court judge has ordered the house arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro for breaching “preventative measures” that were imposed ahead of his trial for an alleged coup attempt.According to the ruling on Monday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the far-right leader breached a ban on using social media which was imposed last month, when he was also ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Brazil’s Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is on trial for an alleged coup plot after losing the 2022 election

Events