November 23, 2025 – Short News

Bolsonaro, the former president, already sentenced to 27 years in prison, last escape route - and the end of a political myth!!

The arrest of Jair Bolsonaro marks a moment that is extraordinary even for Brazil’s political conditions. The former president, already sentenced to 27 years in prison, is said to have tried to open his ankle monitor with a soldering iron - an escape plan so desperate that it captures the country’s political climate in a single image. Federal Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the arrest because he believed Bolsonaro might use the turmoil of a protesting crowd to flee to the U.S. Embassy. Outside the federal police headquarters, opponents cheer while supporters organize prayers and speak of political persecution. The Bolsonaros style themselves as martyrs, but the facts tell a different story: Investigators have uncovered clear signs of an attempted escape and earlier plans to flee to Argentina. The arrest comes at a time when the country remains deeply divided, but with one growing realization: The era of impunity for extremist politicians is over.

A judge against a system - and the consequences for Brazil’s future
Alexandre de Moraes knew what his decision would trigger. For years he has been the target of attacks from the Bolsonaro camp, but in this case he moved decisively. The planned rally by Bolsonaro’s son was, for him, the final proof that the ex-president was aiming for escalation. Reactions followed immediately: While the government speaks of a victory for the rule of law, Bolsonaro allies accuse the judge of “psychopathy” and fuel conspiracy theories. Brazil is once again witnessing how quickly political conflicts can be charged with religious symbolism, how quickly a simple arrest warrant can be turned into a national myth. But for the 2026 election this arrest marks a turning point. Bolsonaro is politically incapacitated, the project of the extreme right stands without a leader, and even conservative voices are beginning to question openly whether the Bolsonaro family represents the country’s future. Republicans in Washington are watching closely - because the fall of an ally sends a signal far beyond Brazil’s borders.

Children in the Crosshairs - ICE raid hits an entire neighborhood

As the news spread, chaos erupted in Belhaven Estates in Charlotte. Parents ran to the school bus, pulled the doors open, and grabbed their children while the first ICE vehicles appeared in the background. It was the moment when it became clear that the authorities had scheduled their operation exactly at a time when elementary school children were getting off and parents were nearby. Panic spread immediately, screams mixed with the noise of engines, and no one knew who would be taken next. For many families it felt like a deliberate show of force, a shock that struck even those who believed they were not in the authorities’ sights. That the raid began precisely at school bus time was no coincidence. ICE timed the action so that as many people as possible would witness it and parents would have no chance to prepare. The images of desperate families spread quickly, and the question arose how a state that claims to bring order can knowingly accept such scenes. For the affected families one feeling remains that will not fade soon: that even their children’s route home from school is no longer safe.

"Then he can continue to fight his little heart out"

What happens if Zelensky doesn't agree to your peace plan? Trump: "Then he can continue to fight his little heart out."

Belarus seeks closer ties with the West

Belarus has released 31 imprisoned Ukrainians - a step that would hardly have been possible without a direct agreement between Alexander Lukashenko and Donald Trump, which comes as little surprise. Minsk describes it as an “act of goodwill” carried out at Kyiv’s explicit request. Those released were handed directly over to Ukraine. It is not the first symbolic gesture: just days earlier, Lukashenko freed two Catholic priests at the Vatican’s request. Minsk is making a visible effort to loosen its diplomatic isolation, even as Belarus continues to serve as Russia’s staging ground - including the deployment of nuclear weapons and ongoing prisoner exchanges on Belarusian soil. What purpose Lukashenko’s behavior ultimately serves remains to be seen.

“It is not our peace plan”

GOP Senator Mike Rounds, Republican: “Rubio did call us this afternoon, and he made it unmistakably clear that we are simply the recipients of a proposal that was delivered to one of our representatives. It is NOT our recommendation, it is not our peace plan.”

Nigeria counts more than 300 abducted children - a trauma that repeats itself

In Nigeria, the number of kidnapped children has risen sharply after the attack on St. Mary’s School. The Christian Association of Nigeria now reports 303 students and 12 teachers - far more than the initially reported 215. Another 88 children were captured as they tried to flee. The pattern mirrors previous abductions: armed gangs, remote areas, and a state that can offer little protection. In neighboring Kebbi state, 25 children were kidnapped just four days earlier. Authorities are now relying on a mix of tactical squads and local hunter groups, but no group has claimed responsibility. Niger State has closed all schools to prevent further attacks. The situation is escalating at a moment when Trump is publicly speaking of targeted killings of Christian communities in Nigeria - while the violence in reality affects Christians and Muslims alike.

"To say no to President Trump would be saying no to God".

Paula White crossed a line with this statement, showing how closely political loyalty and religious appropriation are intertwined within the president’s inner circle. The spiritual adviser to the White House elevates Trump not only above political criticism but places dissent against him in an allegedly divine dimension. White portrays a president whose decisions are no longer meant to be examined within a democratic framework but appear as God-willed authority. Anyone who disagrees, in her logic, is not opposing a person but the heavens themselves. This rhetoric is not meant to persuade but to intimidate, turning political allegiance into spiritual duty. Yet these religious embellishments reveal the nervousness inside the president’s circle: when arguments no longer suffice, faith is invoked to secure loyalty. But democracy does not survive on promises of salvation. It survives on the freedom to question every president.

A country in digital darkness - how Russia is cutting its population off from the outside world!!

For many Russians, 2025 will be remembered as the year the government tightened its control over the internet so severely that daily life began to falter. In dozens of regions, the mobile network collapses every day, supposedly to stop Ukrainian drones - yet the impact is negligible, while millions can no longer use payment apps, messaging services, or even medical devices reliably. Mothers report they can no longer monitor their children’s blood sugar, workers cannot pass electronic gates, credit cards stop functioning on public transport. Instead of solutions, the state offers a cartoon extolling the “joys of being offline”, which mainly triggers anger and ridicule. Meanwhile, fears grow over a system that limits access to state-controlled “white lists” - a single bank app, government portals, and a messenger that openly cooperates with authorities. Many try to survive by constantly switching VPNs, but experts warn: The government is testing how far it can go. And it is going further than many ever thought possible.

Russia’s digital isolation - and the quiet adaptation to a permanent state of emergency
With each new restriction it becomes clearer how far Moscow is willing to go in forcing the population into a digital corset. SIM cards are blocked for 24 hours after international travel, devices in cars or power meters cannot be reactivated at all. WhatsApp and Telegram are throttled, in some regions completely shut down, while the state messenger MAX becomes mandatory on all smartphones. Critics call it a surveillance tool, and user numbers confirm it: Many download the app, but few use it daily. Yet the most dangerous effect is another one: The population is beginning to adapt. Many accept the restrictions like weather conditions - there is nothing you can do anyway. The government is counting on exactly that. Step by step, alternatives are blocked until people give up and remain inside the state-controlled information space. Activists warn of further shutdowns, even complete blocks of messengers and VPNs. Russia is not testing whether digital isolation works - it is already rehearsing the permanent condition.

Charlotte stands tall – a city pushes back against fear

When Border Patrol announced its sudden withdrawal, the streets of Charlotte filled within hours. Thousands came together to support a community that had been under heavy pressure in recent weeks. The city became the visible counterimage to a policy that uses intimidation as a tool. Operation “Charlotte’s Web” and the resistance of its residents. According to the DHS, the operation led to more than 130 arrests — an intervention that poisoned the atmosphere across the city. But instead of falling silent, hundreds of residents organized safety trainings, local support networks, and public protests. Charlotte did not simply raise its voice; it showed a unity that proves intimidation meets its limits where a community decides to stand up for one another.

The voice of a daughter - and an appeal to an America that claims it wants to protect Christians

In Washington, Grace Jin Drexel describes how her father, the Chinese pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, was arrested after one of the largest church raids in decades. Zion Church, one of China’s biggest independent congregations, defied state demands and refused to install surveillance cameras in its sanctuary. Now 18 church leaders have been charged for spreading their faith through digital channels. China calls it “illegal use of information networks”, human rights groups call it the next level of repression. Drexel pleads with Congress to ensure that the U.S. government does not forget her father. Meanwhile, the White House says Trump will “champion religious freedom worldwide”. But the reality remains: Christians who resist state control in China continue to risk their lives, their freedom, and their families.

China has tightened its pressure on independent religious communities for years. Churches are closed, Bibles burned, congregants intimidated or arrested. Zion Church once grew to 1,500 members and reached tens of thousands online - a success that made Beijing particularly nervous. Now the detained leaders face up to three years in prison. At the same time, U.S. attention is not focused solely on China: The Trump administration has again designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern”, while mass violence there affects Christians and Muslims alike. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demands the release of the Zion pastors and warns of China’s “hostility” toward Christians. But much depends on how seriously Washington intends to act. For the families of those detained, one thing is clear: They need not only words, but political pressure - and they need it now.

A president for the powerful – and farmers left on their own

Farm debt is expected to climb to roughly $560 billion this year — a new record. But the cause is not the trade war with China alone. Farmers report that a handful of massive corporations dominate their markets so completely that they can barely break even, while the companies push every risk downward. This pressure has been building for years, and it has intensified in a political climate that consistently favors the biggest players. The policy landscape that weakens the small and empowers the powerful. Under Donald Trump, key regulations were rolled back — especially in the financial sector, where parts of the Dodd-Frank Act were set to be weakened. At the same time, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed the corporate tax rate, a change that delivered enormous benefits primarily to large companies. Analyses show that these new breaks significantly reduced federal revenue from corporate taxes. While corporations thrive, farmers are fighting to survive — an imbalance that feels politically intentional.

Speaking Spanish as “suspicion” – an attack on a charity worker

A MAGA supporter erupted in a Hope Ministries thrift store in Mount Pleasant, Texas, after a staff member spoke Spanish. Without hesitation, he hurled insults, calling her a “stinking, inferior immigrant” and shouting that she “couldn’t even speak English.” The woman stood her ground and calmly replied that she was a U.S. citizen, had come to the country legally — and “spoke better English than he did.” When intimidation becomes routine. As she pointed to the gun the man was openly carrying, she asked him, “Are you going to shoot me?” The incident shows how quickly everyday situations can escalate into open threats — and how hostility toward language becomes a pretext for harassment. Charlotte, Chicago, Mount Pleasant: the patterns repeat themselves. And they reveal a climate in which people become targets simply because they speak a different language.