British Journalist Charlotte Peet Goes Missing in Brazil

Brazil's Attorney General has formally charged former President Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others with attempting a coup following his 2022 election defeat. The charges, filed in the Supreme Court on February 19, 2025, include accusations of forming an "armed criminal organization" to obstruct the inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to a statement from the attorney general's office, the case is supported by over 800 pages of evidence from a federal police report that implicates Bolsonaro in a conspiracy to undermine democratic institutions. The indictment details a systematic campaign against Brazil’s electronic voting system and co-ordination with military figures to disrupt the election results. The Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco stated that Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators aimed to prevent Lula from assuming office, culminating in the January 8, 2023 riots where pro-Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings. Bolsonaro has denied all accusations, claiming to be a victim of "persecution." The Supreme Court will now decide on the potential proceedings against him.

Brazilian authorities have launched an investigation into Mayor José Aprígio da Silva of Taboão da Serra for allegedly staging a fake assassination attempt to boost his re-election campaign. Police reports indicate that the October incident, where Silva sustained a gunshot wound from an AK-47, was orchestrated by the mayor’s supporters, meant to generate public sympathy and sway voters ahead of local elections. According to police, the alleged conspirators paid nearly 500,000 reais (approximately $100,000) to hire fake hitmen for the plot. Despite initial widespread outrage and condemnation from high-profile politicians, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, investigators now believe that the supposed attack was a ruse. Evidence suggests that the mayor's armored vehicle lacked adequate ballistic protection to stop assault rifle rounds, potentially leading to his unintended injury. Silva's lawyers have denied any involvement in this scheme, asserting that he was a genuine victim of violence. Following the revelation, Silva lost the election to rival Daniel Plana Bogalho, who expressed relief that the truth had surfaced.

A young man from an isolated Indigenous tribe in Brazil's Amazon made a brief appearance in the community of Bela Rosa on February 12, 2025, before returning to his tribe less than 24 hours later. According to Brazilian authorities, the man encountered locals while reportedly asking for fire. Video footage showed him in good health, wearing a simple loincloth and carrying logs. Officials from Brazil's Indigenous affairs agency, Funai, responded promptly and took him to a nearby facility for evaluation. After assessing his health, Funai confirmed he returned to his tribe the following afternoon, emphasizing the need for monitoring the isolated community to prevent potential disease exposure. Funai has established protected areas, such as Mamoriá Grande, where interactions with isolated tribes are carefully managed. Brazil generally discourages contact with these groups as a policy but maintains surveillance to ensure their safety and well-being, striking a balance between protection and preservation of cultural autonomy.