Coup

Brazil's ex-Prez Jair Bolsonaro begins serving 27-year prison sentence

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro started on Tuesday to serve his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt designed to keep him in office after losing the 2022 presidential elections, a move that many in the South American nation doubted would ever take place. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled Bolsonaro will remain at the same federal police headquarters where he has been since he was preemptively arrested on Saturday for being considered a flight risk. Brazil's criminal law also could have allowed the 70-year-old to be transferred to a local penitentiary or to a prison room in a military facility in capital Brasilia. The Supreme Court justice considered that Bolsonaro's defence had exhausted all appeals of his conviction on Monday. His lawyers wanted him to be on house arrest due to his poor health. The embattled leader had been under house arrest since August when de Moraes first mentioned he could escape. The far-right

Former Madagascar president Rajoelina stripped of citizenship after coup

Former Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has been stripped of his citizenship after he was ousted during a military takeover just over a week ago. Rajoelina, whose whereabouts remain unknown after he fled the country following protests that demanded his resignation, also holds French citizenship. The country's new prime minister, Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, has signed a decree invoking laws which strip all Madagascans of their citizenship if they have citizenship of another country. Rajoelina's possession of French nationality had previously caused a debate about his eligibility to run for the presidency in the 2023 polls, an election he won. He fled the country at the height of youth-led protests, which brought thousands into the streets in several cities and initially sparked a harsh crackdown by security forces that left 22 people dead and more than 100 injured, according to the United Nations. At the time, he said he feared for his life, and addressed the nation from an unk

Brazilians protest bill that may pardon Bolsonaro, allies convicted of coup

Brazilians held protests in all 26 states and the Federal District on Sunday against a possible pardon for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, who were convicted of attempting a coup. Calls for demonstrations grew after the lower house on Tuesday passed a constitutional amendment that would make it harder to arrest or launch criminal proceedings against lawmakers. The measure now heads to the Senate. The following day the lower house voted to fast-track a bill backed by right-wing opposition lawmakers that could grant amnesty to Bolsonaro, his closest allies and hundreds of supporters convicted for their roles in the January 2023 uprising. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison on Sept. 11 for attempting to stay in power after losing a 2022 reelection bid. He is the first former president convicted of trying to overturn an election in Latin America's largest economy. Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing. Some of Brazil's most prominent artists helped

Brazil's top court jails Bolsonaro for more than 27 years over coup attempt

A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison Thursday after convicting him of attempting a coup to remain in office despite his 2022 electoral defeat. Bolsonaro, who has always denied any wrongdoing, is currently under house arrest in Brasilia. He can appeal the ruling. Four of the five justices reviewing the case in the panel found the far-right politician guilty on five counts, in a ruling that will deepen political divisions and likely prompt a backlash from the United States government. It makes Bolsonaro is the first former Brazilian president to be convicted of attempting a coup. US President Donald Trump said that he was very unhappy with the conviction. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, he said he always found Bolsonaro to be outstanding. The conviction, he added, is very bad for Brazil. Bolsonaro can appeal ruling The sentence doesn't mean he will immediately go to prison

Trump slaps 50% tariff on Brazil over Bolsonaro 'witch hunt' trial

US President Donald Trump triggers a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports over Jair Bolsonaro's prosecution, prompting sharp retaliation from President Lula

Brazilian ex-Prez Bolsonaro out of intensive care but still hospitalised

Brazilian ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, who continues to recover after undergoing bowel surgery, has left intensive care, his doctors said Thursday. The medical team at the DF Star Hospital in Brasilia said that he left intensive care on Wednesday and there is no set discharge date from the facility. His health condition is stable and he has begun receiving a liquid diet. Bolsonaro underwent a 12-hour surgery on April 13 to remove intestinal adhesions and reconstruct the abdominal wall. It was the sixth procedure related to long-term effects of being stabbed in the abdomen during a campaign rally in September 2018. He has been in and out of hospitals since the attack and underwent multiple surgeries during his presidency from 2019-2022. Doctors described the latest surgery as the most complex since the stabbing, requiring a very delicate and prolonged post-surgery. Bolsonaro was admitted with severe abdominal pain to a hospital in Santa Cruz, a small city in Rio Grande do Norte, on

Brazilian judges accept charges against Bolsonaro allies in coup plot

A panel of Brazil's Supreme Court justices unanimously accepted criminal charges Tuesday against six more key allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged coup plot to keep him in office after his 2022 election defeat. Last month, the panel unanimously accepted charges against Bolsonaro and seven close allies over the alleged coup plot following his loss to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and ordered the former right wing leader to stand trial. When Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet accused Bolsonaro and 33 others of attempting a coup, he divided them into five different groups, based on their roles and positions in the alleged plot. Bolsonaro and his closest allies, including running mate Gen. Braga Netto, were placed in the core group, according to the charges. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court panel reviewed charges against the second group, which Gonet said held managerial roles. The second group includes former presidential foreign affairs adviser Filipe ...

Brazil's Bolsonaro to face trial over coup plan; here's what happens next

A panel of Brazil Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his associates will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup after the far-right leader lost the 2022 election. The panel will review existing evidence, potentially gather new evidence and hear testimonies. Legal experts estimate that Bolsonaro could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison, though his actual jail time if convicted would be less than that due to procedural considerations. Here's what to know about what will happen after Wednesday's ruling: What charges does Bolsonaro face? Bolsonaro will stand trial on the counts of attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage characterized by violence and a serious threat against the state's assets, and deterioration of listed heritage. The five-justices panel of Brazil's Supreme Court ruled based on th

Brazil SC orders ex-Prez Bolsonaro to stand trial over alleged coup plan

A panel of justices on Brazil's Supreme Court has accepted charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged attempt to stay in office after his 2022 election defeat, and they have ordered the former leader to stand trial. All five justices ruled in favour of accepting the charges levelled by Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. Last month, Gonet charged Bolsonaro and 33 others of attempting a coup that included a plan to poison his successor and current President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva and kill a Supreme Court judge. The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Coup charges alone carry a penalty of up to 12 years. Combined with other crimes Bolsonaro is charged with, he could be sentenced to decades in prison if convicted.

Bangladesh coup? Muhammad Yunus calls it just a 'festival of rumours'

Muhammad Yunus urged citizens to remain vigilant, warning that as the yet-to-be-announced election approaches, misinformation campaigns would intensify

Brazil SC to rule on ex-Prez Bolsonaro's trial over coup attempt accusation

A panel of Brazil's Supreme Court justices will gather on Tuesday to determine whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro last month with plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election to his opponent and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Part of that plan allegedly included poisoning Lula and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of Bolsonaro. Five Supreme Court justices including de Moraes, the rapporteur will meet from 9:30 am local time in Brasilia to rule on the charges levelled by Gonet. If a majority votes in favour, the accused will become defendants in a criminal case. Bolsonaro and his alleged accomplices also stand accused of participating in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence and a serious threat against the state's assets

Brazil's Bolsonaro slams vague allegations after attempted coup indictment

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday dismissed as vague accusations that he orchestrated an attempted coup to stay in office despite his 2022 election defeat and said the charges were the result of an authoritarian regime manufacturing internal enemies. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet on Tuesday charged Bolsonaro with devising a multi-pronged scheme to remain in power despite his loss to current President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, including a alleged plan to poison Lula and shoot dead Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of the former president. Lula on Wednesday said the current stage was only the indictment and said Bolsonaro and the other 33 people facing charges of plotting a coup would have every right to defend themselves. Bolsonaro took to X and Instagram say that the trick of accusing democratic opposition leaders of plotting coups is not something new. Every authoritarian regime, in its lust for power, needs to manufacture internal enemies to ..

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot

Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro and his running mate, General Walter Braga Netto, with leading a "criminal organization" that aimed to overthrow Brazil's 40-year-old democracy

Police indict ex-Brazilian President Bolsonaro, aides in 2022 coup attempt

Brazil's federal police said on Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings were to be delivered on Thursday to Brazil's Supreme Court to be referred to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either agree with the charges and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing leader has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Other investigations focus on his potential roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them, and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others' COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. On Tuesday, the federal police arrested four military and a federal .

Brazilian police arrest 5 officers in alleged 2022 coup plot to kill Lula

Brazil's federal police arrested on Tuesday five officers accused of plotting a coup that included plans to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections and kill then-President-elect Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, authorities said. The five also planned to kill Lula's running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The arrested included four special operations military personnel, one of whom is a retired brigadier general, and a federal police officer. The police said they also carried out three search warrants along with other measures, including seizing the suspects' passports and preventing them from contacting others. It was not clear when charges would be officially raised against the five suspects. "The objective was to prevent the inauguration of the legitimately elected government and undermine the free exercise of democracy and the authority of Brazil's judiciary," de Moraes, who authorised the arrests, said of the plot in his order. "Thes

UN accuses Myanmar's military of mass killings, torture since 2021 coup

Three years into the conflict, the UN estimates that more than 19 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, with over three million displaced

Bangladesh police orders return of looted arms, ammunition by Sep 3: Report

Bangladesh police on Sunday ordered citizens to return by September 3 all arms and ammunition looted from police stations during the recent violence which led to prime minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, according to media reports. The violence that hit the country during the massive quota reform protests saw widespread attacks and looting of police stations across the country, The Daily Star newspaper reported. In a directive, the Police Headquarters said looted arms and ammunition of police must be returned by Tuesday. By Saturday, law enforcement authorities had recovered a total of 3,872 weapons of various types, looted from police stations and offices during the recent unrest, the report said. In addition, as many as 286,216 rounds of bullets, 22,201 teargas shells, and 2,139 stun grenades were also recovered, it said. The directive follows the interim government's earlier decision to suspend the firearms licences issued to all civilians during the more than 15 years of the ...

Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina falls from grace in nation her father founded

Hasina first led the Awami League party to victory in 1996, serving one five-year term before regaining power in 2009, never to lose it again

Who is Bolivia's President Arce? Former economist who survived coup attempt

Arce, a former economist known for keeping a low personal profile, was at one time Morales' protege and crafted the economic plan for Morales' successful 2005 presidential run

Bolivia coup fails as prez asks people to mobilise against democracy threat

Armored vehicles rammed the doors of Bolivia's government palace Wednesday in an apparent coup attempt against President Luis Arce, but he vowed to stand firm and named a new army commander who ordered troops to stand down. The soldiers later pulled back as supporters of Arce waved Bolivian flags and cheered in a central square. In a video of Arce surrounded by ministers in the palace, the Bolivian leader said: "Here we are, firm in Casa Grande, to confront any coup attempt. We need the Bolivian people to organize. Arce confronted the general commander of the army Juan Jos Ziga, who appeared to be leading the rebellion in the palace hallway, as shown on video on Bolivian television. I am your captain, and I order you to withdraw your soldiers, and I will not allow this insubordination, Arce said. Before entering the government building, Ziga told journalists in the plaza: Surely soon there will be a new Cabinet of ministers; our country, our state cannot go on like this." But, he