Brazil's top court rules U.S. laws do not apply to its territory
Washington used the Magnitsky Act, a US law which provides for sanctions against individuals accused of human rights violations around the globe, to impose restrictions on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro's alleged coup plot.
Mr. Moraes is also the judge which banned the social network X, formerly Twitter, in Brazil last year.
"Judge Flavio Dino, of the Federal Supreme Court, suspended the effectiveness of judicial decisions, laws, decrees, and executive orders of foreign nations in our country," Brazil's high court said in a statement.
According to the Constitution of Brazil, foreign court decisions "can only be enforced in Brazil upon approval or in compliance with international judicial cooperation mechanisms," the court said.
Dino said this same principle applied to recent decisions from UK court rulings made against the Brazilian Mining Association (Ibram) for the Mariana and Brumadinho dam disasters.
Although the ruling did not explicitly mention the Magnitsky Act, a Brazilian court source told AFP that the ruling "in theory" invalidates the law in Brazil -- though Washington has already contested this interpretation.
"No foreign court can invalidate United States sanctions -- or spare anyone from the steep consequences of violating them," the US government's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said in a statement on X after the ruling.
"Alexandre de Moraes is toxic to all legitimate businesses and individuals seeking access to the US and its markets," it continued.
"US persons are prohibited from transacting with him and non-US persons must tread carefully: those providing material support to human rights abusers face sanctions risk themselves."
The United States at the end of July had blocked all of Moraes' assets in the country as a result of his work on the Bolsonaro trial.
The case against the former Brazilian president, an ally of US President Donald Trump, has sparked a diplomatic and trade spat between Brasilia and Washington.
The verdict for the trial is expected to be announced by the court between September 2 and 12.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Barnala: Three arrested for spraying Khalistani slogans on MLA's residence
Barnala police have arrested three men for spraying Khalistani slogans on Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori's house in Pandori village. Police have recovered five mobile phones, the motorcycle used in the crime, Nihang Cholas and Dumalas, one filled paint can and two empty cans. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sarfaraz Alam said the defacement was carried out by two unidentified motorcycle-borne men on the intervening night between August 14 and 15. Following a complaint, an FIR was lodged on August 15 under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3 of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. The SSP said police teams were swiftly formed to investigate the matter, leading to the arrest of two of the accused, Gurmeet Singh, alias Tandi, and Gursewak Singh, alias Mani, on August 18. A third accused, Kirpa, was arrested on August 19. Police have recovered five mobile phones, the motorcycle used in the crime, Nihang Cholas and Dumalas, one filled paint can and two empty cans. Interrogation revealed that the accused were lured by a US-based individual, Surinder Thikriwal, who has also been nominated in the case. Investigators said Gurmeet had come into contact with Surinder around 10 years ago while learning Gatka, a Sikh martial art. Probe revealed that Surinder instructed the accused to wear Nihang attire, which was provided by Kirpa Singh, the granthi of Gurdwara Chhevi Patshahi Ladda. Gurmeet and Gursewak were paid ₹20,000 for the work, which were transferred to the bank account of Gursewak's cousin. Police noted that Surinder had a history of luring youth with money and drugs, rebranding such criminal acts as religious. The accused were promised that the act, once went viral, would improve their financial situation, and lead to fame and more such work. Police further stated that Surinder was named in 15 cases under various sections, while Gurmeet also had a case registered against him.
Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
South vs South: Oppn names ex-SC judge Reddy as V-P pick
Former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy will be the Opposition's candidate for the vice-presidential election, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Tuesday, pitching the September 9 poll as a battle between those who uphold the Constitution and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee CP Radhakrishnan began his political life. INDIA bloc's Vice-Presidential candidate former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy with MPs of Opposition parties at Delhi airport. Justice Reddy's nomination is also a calculated move to push lawmakers from K Chandrasekhara Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi, YS Jaganmohan Reddy's YSR Congress, and N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party to vote for a Telugu-speaking public figure. To be sure, the TDP and the YSRCP reiterated their support for Radhakrishnan although there was no comment from the BRS. 'All Opposition parties have decided to have a common candidate; the decision has been taken unanimously. I am happy that all opposition parties have agreed on one name. It is a big achievement for democracy, Whenever democracy and the Constitution are under attack, Opposition parties unite to fight against it. So we have decided to field a good candidate in this election,' Kharge said. Justice Reddy's nomination means that the vice-presidential election will be a battle between two candidates from southern India, a first for the position. In the 781-member electoral college comprising both Houses of Parliament, the NDA holds the edge with 425 votes. HT had reported on Monday that the Trinamool Congress was pushing for justice Reddy. 'It is the parliamentarians who elect the vice-president. Political parties may sponsor the candidates. There is only one citizenship in this country. Myself and CP Radhakrishnan ji are Indian nationals. Whether it is South, North, East, West, nothing matters…,' the former judge said. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hailed justice Reddy's selection. 'A distinguished jurist and champion of justice, he represents the spirit of our Constitution - safeguarding people's rights, equality and our democracy. We stand united in this ideological battle and wish him all the very best,' he said. After discussing a number of possible candidates in the Opposition meeting on Monday, the contest narrowed to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's choice of former space scientist Mylswamy Annadurai and Trinamool Congress-backed justice B Sudershan Reddy on Tuesday. As a back-up, Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi's name was also shortlisted. On Tuesday, DMK leaders indicated they won't 'push' for Annadurai if there is a larger consensus for Reddy. When the Opposition leaders met again at Kharge's house on Tuesday morning, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh proposed the name of Reddy. Kharge spoke about Reddy's profile. No other names were discussed in the meeting. Later, Congress general secretary Nasser Hussain told HT, 'In the background of the ideological battle taking place in the country, we need someone with clear thoughts, who can defend democracy and can uphold the spirit of the Constitution. We also thought a person belonging to none of the parties, someone non-partisan, and who can uphold all these values would be a good candidate in this election.' An expert on the Constitution, Reddy was born in an agricultural family on July 8, 1946 in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana (then part of the princely state of Hyderabad). Reddy graduated from Osmania University in Hyderabad in 1971. He was elevated as the additional judge of the Andhra Pradesh high court on May 2, 1995 and chief justice for Gauhati high court on December 5, 2005. On January 12, 2007, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India; he retired on July 8, 2011. Among his notable verdicts was one declaring Salwa Judum, a local militia propped up by the state government in Chhattisgarh to fight Maoists, as anti-constitutional. He was also part of a bench that pulled up the then United Progressive Alliance government for 'sleeping' on the issue of black money, and ordered a special investigation team in 2011. After his retirement, he was appointed as the first Lokayukta of Goa in March 2013. Reddy was also the chairman of the expert group for the Telangana caste survey. Reddy arrived in Delhi on Tuesday evening to an impromptu reception by Opposition leaders. The last date of filing nominations for the V-P election is August 21. Reading out the joint statement, Kharge said, 'This vice-presidential contest is an ideological battle. The Opposition parties have nominated Shri B. Sudershan Reddy garu as their joint candidate since he fully reflects the values that shaped our country's freedom movement so profoundly and the values on which our country's Constitution and democracy have been anchored. All these values are under assault and therefore, our collective and determined resolve to fight this election.' DMK leader K Kanimozhi tweeted, 'Safeguarding democracy is about fighting all battles, big and small, on behalf of the people of India. INDIA stands united in this fight.' Communist Party of India lawmaker P Sandosh called the poll a fight between an RSS pracharak and the Constitution. 'This may create certain political changes in Andhra Pradesh,' he said. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said, 'Justice Reddy has had an outstanding reputation in the legal field... I believe our entire alliance has made an excellent decision...' Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji said, 'This will be a close contest.' Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh announced that his party will support justice Reddy. Bharatiya Janata Party's Amit Malviya said justice Reddy is remembered for a judgment that weakened India's fight against Naxalism, referring to the banning of the Salwa Judum. 'The judgment was seen not just as a blow to a state government's counter-insurgency strategy, but as an instance of judicial sympathy for those aligned with the Maoist cause.'
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dog bite panels formed: Govt to HC
Kochi: The state govt has informed the Kerala HC that district-level committees have been constituted for handling dog bite compensation claims, in compliance with the court's earlier directive to replace the Justice Siri Jagan Committee. The additional advocate general submitted that as directed by the court, each committee includes the secretary of district legal services authority (DLSA), district medical officer (DMO) and the joint director of the local self-govt department (LSGD). In addition, the govt has also included the district animal husbandry officer as a member. These district panels are intended to take over the function of the Justice Siri Jagan Committee—a body appointed by the Supreme Court in 2016 to adjudicate compensation for stray dog bite victims. The committee ceased functioning after a 2024 Supreme Court directive clarified that such matters now fall under the jurisdiction of high courts, leaving its future operations in limbo. These submissions were made in response to a batch of petitions seeking the court's intervention to curb stray dog attack incidents across the state. The AAG further stated that since a similar matter is pending before the Supreme Court, the present petitions may be considered only after the apex court issues its order. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Accordingly, the bench of Justice C S Dias adjourned the petitions to Sept 11, after the Onam holidays. At a previous hearing on July 28, the HC had asked whether stray dog attacks could be brought within the ambit of the state disaster management act—similar to wild animal attacks—at least for the limited purpose of providing compensation. The bench had also impleaded the state police chief, directing him to submit details of the FIRs registered in connection with dog bite incidents. Meanwhile, former Thiruvananthapuram collector Biju Prabhakar IAS (retd.) has urged the state govt to take immediate measures to prevent further street dog attacks, citing the SC's observation that human life should not be valued less than that of other creatures. Speaking at the inauguration of a protest organized by the Confederation of Residents Association and Welfare Association in front of the Secretariat, Prabhakar said, "The law permits the killing of wild animals that endanger human life. Various animals are killed for food. Yet, laws should not prevent action against street dogs that attack children and spread deadly rabies." He argued that Section 11(3)(b) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 permits elimination of dangerous stray dogs in death chambers. "There is no legal barrier. The claim that central amendments are needed is false. The state govt only needs to issue an order," he said, adding that no one is demanding extermination of all dogs. Prabhakar proposed a two-phase approach: First, eliminate rabid dogs and those that bite or kill humans; second, capture, microchip, sterilize and release others, culling those that remain a threat. Cases should be filed against people who feed stray dogs irresponsibly or dump household waste on streets, he added, arguing that this fuels the problem. He also criticised the delay in convening an all-party meeting on the issue. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
