“Brazil’s attorney general on Tuesday, February 19, formally charged far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others over an alleged coup attempt after his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro, 69, and his co-accused were hit with five charges over the alleged bid to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after a bitter election race. Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco filed the charges at the Supreme Court ‘based on manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets and exchanges of messages that reveal the scheme to disrupt the democratic order,’ his office said in a statement. ‘They describe, in detail, the conspiratorial plot set up and executed against democratic institutions.’ … Bolsonaro has denied the accusations and said he was the victim of ‘persecution.'” (02/19/25)
“President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he plans to impose tariffs of around 25% on [American buyers of] auto imports as well as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals shipped to the United States as early as April 2. Trump recently enacted a 10% across-board-tariff on [American buyers of] goods coming from China and 25% tariffs on [American buyers of] all steel and aluminum imports. For tariffs on [American buyers of] semiconductor chips and drugs, he told reporters at his resort in Mar-a-Lago, Florida that he intended to eventually increase the rate even more. … The revelation comes days after Trump ordered an investigation into other nations’ tax and tariff policies, paving the way for new reciprocal tariffs to take effect as soon as April 2, the day after the investigation is set to conclude, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary said last week.” (02/19/25)
“Hamas said it’s ready to exchange its remaining Israeli hostages all at once with Palestinian [hostages] during the Gaza truce’s second phase as a step leading to a ‘permanent ceasefire’ and the full withdrawal of Israel’s forces from the enclave. The militant group is attempting to hold onto its two longstanding demands as Israel’s security cabinet has a stated war goal of removing Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US and many other countries, as a governing and military force in Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim said on Telegram that the group refuses to be either expelled from the Gaza Strip or disarmed, adding that any arrangements for the future of Gaza will be based on national consensus.” (02/18/25)
“Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a Florida prison on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents. For nearly half a century, Peltier’s imprisonment has symbolized systemic injustice for Native Americans across the country who believe in his innocence. The decision to release the 80-year-old to home confinement was celebrated by supporters. … After being released from USP Coleman, a high-security prison, Peltier planned to return to North Dakota, where he is expected to celebrate with friends and family on Wednesday.” (02/18/25)
“In the first major negotiations for a ceasefire in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion nearly three years ago, U.S. officials and their Russian counterparts met in Saudi Arabia after refusing to include Ukraine or other European countries in the talks. As the gathering wrapped on Tuesday, it was still unclear on what terms the bloody conflict could stop. And Ukraine and its European allies questioned whether a deal guaranteeing lasting security could be reached at all without the invaded country’s input. The meeting represented the first thaw in U.S.-Russia relations in years, even amid accusations that the U.S. was making concessions to Russia by holding direct talks in the first place. The negotiations covered security guarantees and territory, according to the U.S. delegation.” (02/18/25)
“The European Union is considering backing investments in overseas fossil fuel infrastructure and shifting to long-term contracts to cut the high energy prices damaging European industries, according to a leaked proposal seen by POLITICO. The move would mark a major change in the bloc’s energy policies, strengthening the continent’s links to the carbon-intensive liquefied natural gas it eventually wants to phase out. Currently, the EU only signs short-term LNG contracts and has worked to limit the use of public money to expand fossil fuel extraction. Notably, the plan also raises the prospect that European government funds could help finance American LNG projects — just as Brussels officials try to hammer out a deal with United States President Donald Trump to buy more American energy and avoid a trade war.” (02/18/25)
“A judge approved an emergency plan Tuesday to keep Britain’s largest water company afloat, averting the possibility of a temporary government takeover. Thames Water, which serves 16 million customers in and around London, was seeking court approval for about 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) in rescue loans to prevent it from being nationalized when it runs out of cash next month. Justice Thomas Leech ruled in the High Court in London that the company’s restructuring proposal was a better alternative for the public than having Thames Water become insolvent and come under government administration, or a competing plan by a small group of investors.” (02/18/25)
“A federal judge ordered embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams, his attorneys, and Department of Justice prosecutors to appear in court on Wednesday afternoon to explain the DOJ’s controversial request to dismiss criminal corruption charges against Adams. Manhattan U.S. District Judge Dale Ho’s order Tuesday suggests that he will not rubber stamp the highly unusual dismissal request, which has sparked concerns that the DOJ struck a deal with Adams to toss the case in exchange for the Democratic mayor’s cooperation with President Donald Trump’s immigration orders. Seven top DOJ prosecutors — including ones directly involved in Adams’[s] case — last week resigned in protest of the department’s bid to toss out the case.” (02/18/25)
“North Korea criticized the United States and its allies for pursuing the ‘absurd and outdated’ goal of denuclearization in state-run media Tuesday, saying that Pyongyang would stick to leader Kim Jong Un’s goal of building up its nuclear forces. … Pyongyang’s statement came after the top diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan met at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend and reaffirmed their ‘resolute commitment’ to the complete denuclearization of the North. … In September 2022, the North passed a law declaring itself a nuclear weapons state and giving it the right [sic] to conduct a preemptive nuclear strike to protect itself. Kim called the decision ‘irreversible’ and later amended the country’s constitution to enshrine the permanent growth of Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.” (02/18/25)
“Billionaire Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration is as a White House employee and senior adviser to the president, and is not an employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and has no decision-making authority, the White House said in a court filing on Monday. According to a filing signed by Joshua Fisher, director of the Office of Administration at the White House, Musk can only advise the president and communicate the president’s directives.” 902/18/25)
