Tensions rise as Lula blasts US over visa sanctions tied to Bolsonaro trial
BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called a U.S. decision to impose visa bans on officials involved in former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial "arbitrary" and "baseless," and said foreign interference in the judiciary was "unacceptable."
In a statement on Saturday, the leftist leader said the action violated fundamental principles of respect and sovereignty between nations.
In an escalation of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the government of Latin America's largest economy, Washington imposed visa restrictions on Friday on Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family and other unnamed court officials.
The visa bans were a response to the Supreme Court's decision to issue search warrants and restraining orders targeting Trump ally Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the results of a 2022 election he lost.
"I am certain that no form of intimidation or threat, from anyone, will compromise the most important mission of Brazil's powers and institutions, which is to permanently defend and uphold the democratic rule of law," said Lula.
Solicitor general Jorge Messias, the top judicial official for Lula's executive branch, said in a statement posted on X late Friday that Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet was also targeted by the ban.
Messias said no "improper maneuver" or "sordid conspiratorial act" would intimidate the judiciary in carrying out its duties with independence, as he condemned what he also described as arbitrary U.S. visa revocations targeting Brazilian officials for fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure
Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world
Singapore Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display
Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers
Asia SIA, Cathay Pacific cancel flights as typhoon nears Hong Kong
Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore
Singapore 'I thought it was an April Fool's joke': Teen addicted to Kpods on news that friend died
Singapore Why hiring more teachers makes sense, even with falling student numbers
In addition to Moraes, seven other justices from Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court were also hit by the U.S. visa restrictions, Government Institutional Relations Minister Gleisi Hoffmann said on Friday.
They include justices Luis Roberto Barroso, Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia, Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Mendes.
The Prosecutor General's Office and the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump has criticised the proceedings against Bolsonaro as a "witch hunt", a term he has used to describe his own treatment by political opponents, and has called for the charges to be dropped. In a letter last week, he announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, opening the message with criticism of the trial.
Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023.
The right-wing firebrand has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but has acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the election's outcome. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pakistan arrests suspect after viral video of couple shot dead in the name of ‘honour'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistan on July 20 arrested a suspect after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot and killed for marrying against the wishes of their families, in a so-called honour killing, authorities said. The couple, who were not identified, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council in June in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to provincial authorities, who investigated after the video went viral. One of the suspects has been arrested after the location and people in the video were identified, the provincial chief minister, Mr Sarfraz Bugti, said in a statement. A case has been registered against all those involved, he said. The video shows people in a desert, and some pickup trucks and SUVs that they had apparently driven there. The woman is given a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and she then tells a man: 'Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me.' The man then follows her for a few steps. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi A local police official said the woman did not cry or seek mercy. 'You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that,' the woman says in the regional Brahavi language, translated by the official. It was not clear what she meant by 'nothing more than that'. The man, who had followed her, then aimed a pistol at her. The woman, wrapped in a shawl, stood still as shots were fired. She remained standing after two shots, delivered from close range, dropping to the ground after the third shot. That is followed by a series of gunshots. The footage then shows a bloodied man lying on the ground, close to the woman's body. Then, men are shown shooting at both the bodies. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2024, there were at least 405 'honour killings', criticising the authorities for failing to stamp out these crimes. Most victims are women, and killings are usually carried out by relatives professing to defend their family's reputation, human rights groups say. Conservative families do not allow couples to marry against their wishes. Such killings are against the law. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pakistan arrests suspect after viral video of couple shot dead in the name of `honour`
Find out what's new on ST website and app. QUETTA, Pakistan - Pakistan on Sunday arrested a suspect after a video emerged on social media of a woman and a man being shot and killed for marrying against the wishes of their families, in a so-called honour killing, authorities said. The couple, who were not identified, were shot dead on the orders of a local tribal council last month in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, according to provincial authorities, who investigated after the video went viral. One of the suspects has been arrested after the location and people in the video were identified, the provincial chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, said in a statement. A case has been registered against all those involved, he said. The video shows people in a desert, and some pickup trucks and SUVs that they had apparently driven there. The woman is given a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and she then tells a man: "Come walk seven steps with me, after that you can shoot me." The man then follows her for a few steps. A local police official said the woman did not cry or seek mercy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi "You are allowed only to shoot me. Nothing more than that," the woman says in the regional Brahavi language, translated by the official. It was not clear what she meant by "nothing more than that". The man, who had followed her, then aimed a pistol at her. The woman, wrapped in a shawl, stood still as shots were fired. She remained standing after two shots, delivered from close range, dropping to the ground after the third shot. That is followed by a series of gunshots. The footage then shows a bloodied man lying on the ground, close to the woman's body. Then, men are shown shooting at both the bodies. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said that in 2024, there were at least 405 "honour killings", criticising the authorities for failing to stamp out these crimes. Most victims are women, and killings are usually carried out by relatives professing to defend their family's reputation, human rights groups say. Conservative families do not allow couples to marry against their wishes. Such killings are against the law. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
R&A discussed holding British Open at Turnberry with Eric Trump
Find out what's new on ST website and app. R&A CEO Mark Darbon said he met with Mr Trump's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. – R&A chief executive officer Mark Darbon confirmed on July 16 he recently had a 'really good discussion' with Eric Trump about hosting a future British Open at Turnberry, owned by United States President Donald Trump. The course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, owned by Trump's organisation since 2014, has hosted the Major four times but not since 2009. 'It's a somewhat hypothetical question in that unless we address the logistical challenges, it's difficult for us to go back,' Darbon told reporters at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, site of the 153rd Open, which teed off on July 17. He said he met the American leader's son, Eric, and representatives from Turnberry 'a couple of months ago'. Logistical issues include the fact that only 120,000 spectators attended the last Open at Turnberry, compared to the 280,000 expected this week and the 250,000 at Royal Troon in Scotland in 2024. 'We had a really good discussion,' Darbon said. 'I think they understand clearly where we're coming from. 'We talked through some of the challenges that we have, so we've got a good dialogue with them.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Both Bukit Panjang LRT disruptions in July linked to newly installed power system: SMRT Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Asia Johor Bahru collision claims lives of e-hailing driver and Singapore passenger Sport Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle Business Crypto exchange Tokenize to shut down Singapore operations Singapore More initiatives and support for migrant community announced at Racial Harmony Day event Singapore ComfortDelGro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Meeting a member of the Trump family continues the thaw in what had become a testy relationship between the R&A and the current occupant of the White House. After Mr Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021, then R&A boss Martin Slumbers said there were no plans to restore Turnberry to the Open rotation 'in the foreseeable future'. 'We will not return until we are convinced that the focus will be on the championship, the players and the course itself and we do not believe that is achievable in the current circumstances,' Slumbers said at the time. That stance has softened since Mr Trump's election to a second term. Darbon, who replaced Slumbers in July 2024, said in April that he 'would love' to see the tournament return to Turnberry. 'We love the golf course but we've got some big logistical challenges there,' he said on July 16. 'We've got some work to do on the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure around Turnberry. 'We've explicitly not taken it out of our pool of venues, but we'd need to address those logistical challenges should we return.' Darbon also said the R&A has had an ongoing dialogue with the British government about staging a Major at a Trump-owned property. 'We've spoken to them specifically about Turnberry and I think they've made it clear that the decision around where we take our championship rests with us,' he said. Meanwhile, Oakmont Country Club has banned 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark from the property after the American caused damage in the locker room at June's US Open there. A letter from club president John Lynch to members this week that revealed the punishment was obtained by Golf Digest, ESPN and Golf Channel. The 31-year-old damaged his locker after missing the cut at the US Open, later apologising for the incident, the results of which were shown in photos on social media. REUTERS
