Across Brazil’s 26 states and Federal District, citizens protested a potential pardon for former President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies, following the passage of controversial legislation in the lower house. These demonstrations were spurred by a constitutional amendment making it more difficult to prosecute lawmakers and a bill that could grant amnesty to individuals involved in the January 2023 uprising, including Bolsonaro, who was convicted of attempting to overturn his election loss. Prominent artists like Caetano Veloso, Anitta, and Wagner Moura participated in the protests, emphasizing the need for accountability and representing the will of the people. Despite significant support for Bolsonaro among a segment of the population, polls indicate a majority favors his conviction and imprisonment.
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Recent analysis by Mediazona and the BBC’s Russian service confirmed the identities of 15,000 mobilized Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, representing a significant portion of the 133,117 total Russian military deaths verified since 2022. The data reveals that 42% of these deaths occurred within the first year after President Putin’s partial mobilization in September 2022. Bashkortostan and Tatarstan had the highest confirmed deaths among mobilized soldiers, while Chechnya had the lowest. The actual number of losses is likely far higher, and the report also noted that many were coerced into signing contracts.
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At the Defense Tech Valley 2025 exhibition in Lviv, Ukraine publicly displayed its TOLOKA underwater drone, a platform with three variants designed to strike targets up to 2,000 kilometers away. The TLK-150 model is designed for stealth, while the larger TLK-400 and TLK-1000 offer increased range and payload capacity. The unveiling of TOLOKA aligns with Ukraine’s focus on precision strikes, particularly against Russian infrastructure, and may have even been involved in attacks on the Crimean Bridge. This development underscores Ukraine’s ongoing expansion of its naval drone fleet, which has already proven effective in targeting Russian assets in the Black Sea.
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Australia has officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state, aligning itself with over 150 other nations, and marking a significant shift in its Middle East policy. This declaration reflects Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution, acknowledging the aspirations of the Palestinian people while also setting conditions on the Palestinian Authority. The move has sparked strong reactions, with the Israeli Prime Minister criticizing the decision and the Palestinian Authority welcoming it, but also demanding further concrete action. The announcement comes amid ongoing international efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, alongside climate and social media platform discussions.
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On Sunday, German Eurofighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea after it failed to communicate and turned off its transponders. The incident followed a recent violation of Estonian airspace by Russian jets, prompting Estonia to call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting and condemn Russia’s behavior as part of a broader pattern of escalation. Amid rising tensions, including airspace violations by Russian forces in other nations, and Russia’s increasing aggression, several leaders expressed concerns about a potential for serious conflict, while the Kremlin accused the UK of supporting a “pro-war camp” and maintained it would only hold talks if Ukraine surrendered.
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The European Union is reportedly preparing trade measures to potentially halt Russian oil imports through the Druzhba pipeline, the primary crude supply route for Hungary and Slovakia. These measures, unlike sanctions, would bypass the need for unanimous approval, thus circumventing potential resistance from these countries. This move aligns with the EU’s efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy, a goal also encouraged by the US. Hungary and Slovakia are currently the only EU nations still importing Russian pipeline oil, while Czechia recently ended its imports.
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Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) successfully targeted Russian assets in occupied Crimea, resulting in significant damage. The operation destroyed three Mi-8 helicopters, used for transport, reconnaissance, and combat support, and a 55Zh6U Nebo-U radar station. This radar system is crucial for detecting aircraft and missiles, providing targeting data for air defense systems. The HUR has been actively targeting Russian military infrastructure in Crimea since the start of the full-scale invasion.
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Sunday marked a significant shift in international policy as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia officially recognized Palestine as a state, with several other nations expected to follow suit. This move, largely symbolic in nature, grants Palestine increased diplomatic standing amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The decisions, driven by the desire to revive the two-state solution, have sparked criticism from both Israel and the United States, who see this recognition as a reward for Hamas. Despite these criticisms, this recognition aligns these nations with over 140 other U.N. member states already recognizing Palestine, signaling a growing international consensus.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the U.K.’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state, joining Canada and Australia in a move opposed by the U.S. and Israel. This decision, intended to revive the two-state solution and foster peace, explicitly excludes Hamas from any future governance. Though largely symbolic, it marks a significant shift, given the U.K.’s historical role in the region and its previous stance that recognition would be contingent upon a peace plan. While over 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, critics argue that the move rewards Hamas and is an empty gesture due to internal divisions within Palestinian territories.
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Canada, along with Britain and Australia, officially recognized the State of Palestine, shifting from its previous stance of requiring a negotiated peace agreement. Prime Minister Mark Carney cited the eroding viability of a two-state solution due to Israeli actions, including settlement expansion and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as justification for this recognition. This move, which will be followed by France, aims to support a peaceful future for both Palestine and Israel, despite conditions set to prevent Hamas from having any role in government and requiring democratic reforms. However, the decision has received criticism from the United States and some hostage families, who fear it will embolden Hamas and undermine peace efforts.
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John Q. Hosedrinker