Operation Condor-50 Years Later

Operation Condor: A Network of Transnational Repression 50 Years Later IIC July 28, 1976 On 50th Anniversary of Condor Inauguration, National Security Archive Posts Declassified Documents on History of Condor’s Targeted Repression Published: Nov 26, 2025 Briefing Book # 910 Edited by Peter Kornbluh and John Dinges For further information, contact Peter Kornbluh: peter.kornbluh@gmail.com John Dinges: jcdinges@gmail.com Subjects Human Rights and Genocide Terrorism and Counterterrorism Torture Regions South America Events Argentine Dirty War, 1976-1983 Chile – Coup d’État, 1973 Operation Condor, 1975-1980 Project Southern Cone BOOKS The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents by John Dinges, The New Press (August 1, 2012) Los Anos del Condor book cover Los años del Cóndor (Updated and expanded 2021 Spanish edition) by John Dinges, DEBATE (June 1, 2021) book The Pinochet File by Peter Kornbluh, The New Press, Updated edition (September 11, 2013) book cover Pinochet desclasificado by Peter Kornbluh, Un Dia en La Vida/Editorial Catalonia (August, 2023) The Condor Trials: Transnational Repression and Human Rights in South America book cover The Condor Trials: Transnational Repression and Human Rights in South America by Francesca Lessa, Yale University Press (May 31, 2022) Washington, D.C., November 26, 2025 - On General Augusto Pinochet’s 60th birthday, November 25, 1975, four delegations of Southern Cone secret police chieftains gathered in Santiago, Chile, at the invitation of the Chilean intelligence service, DINA. Their meeting—held at the War College building on la Alameda, Santiago’s downtown thoroughfare—was called “to establish something similar to INTERPOL,” according to the confidential meeting agenda, “but dedicated to Subversion.” During the three-day meeting, the military officials from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay agreed to form “a system of collaboration” to identify, track, capture and eliminate leftist opponents of their regimes. As the conference concluded on November 28, a member of the Uruguayan delegation rose to toast the Chileans for convening the meeting and proposed naming the new organization after the host country’s national bird, the condor. According to secret minutes of the meeting, there was “unanimous approval.” Chilean records refer to Condor as “Sistema Condor.” CIA intelligence reports called it Operation Condor. It was, as John Dinges writes in his comprehensive history, The Condor Years, an agency of “cross-border repression, [whose] teams went far beyond the frontiers of the member countries to launch assassination missions and other criminal operations in the United States, Mexico and Europe.” His investigation documented 654 victims of kidnapping, torture and disappearance during Condor’s active operational period in the Southern Cone between 1976 and 1980. A subdivision of Condor codenamed “Teseo”—for Theseus, the heroic warrior king of Greek mythology—established an international death squad unit based in Buenos Aires that launched 21 operations in Europe and elsewhere against opponents of the military regimes. On the 50th anniversary of the secret inauguration of Operation Condor, the National Security Archive is posting a selection of documents that record the dark history of transnational repression under the Condor system. The selected records include: The only known DINA document on the inaugural meeting—the “Closing Statement of the First Inter-American Meeting of National Intelligence”—which summarized the agreement between the original five Condor nations. The first declassified CIA document to name “CONDOR” as a “cooperative arrangement” against subversion. The heavily censored CIA document, dated June 25, 1976, provides initial intelligence on the 2nd Condor meeting held from May 31 to June 2 in Santiago. It was the first in a flurry of CIA intelligence cables in the summer of 1976 on Condor’s evolution from an intelligence sharing collaboration to a transnational system of disappearance and assassination. “The subjects covered at the [2nd] meeting,” this CIA report noted, “were more sweeping than just the exchange of information on terrorism and subversion.” A CIA translation of the “Teseo” agreement—an extraordinary document that bureaucratically records the procedures, budgets, working hours, and operational rules for selecting, organizing and dispatching death squads to eliminate targeted enemies of the Southern Cone regimes. The “Teseo” operations base would be located “at Condor 1 (Argentina).” Each member country was expected to donate $10,000 to offset operational costs, and dues of $200 would be paid “prior to the 30th of each month” for maintenance expenses of the operations center. Expenses for agents on assassination missions abroad were estimated at $3,500 per person for ten days “with an additional $1000 first time out for clothing allowance.” A CIA report on how the Teseo unit will select targets “to liquidate” in Europe and who will know about these missions. The source of the CIA intelligence suggests that “in Chile, for instance, Juan Manuel Contreras Sepulveda, chief of the Directorate of National Intelligence (DINA) the man who originated the entire Condor concept and has been the catalyst in bringing it into being, will coordinate details and target lists with Chilean President Augusto Pinochet Ugarte.” The first briefing paper for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger alerting him to the existence of Operation Condor and the political ramifications for the United States. In a lengthy August 3, 1973, report from his deputy Harry Shlaudeman, Kissinger is informed that the security forces of the Southern Cone “have established Operation Condor to find and kill terrorists…in their own countries and in Europe. Brazil is cooperating short of murder operations." Juan manuel mentioned CIA memoranda, written by the chief of the Western Hemisphere division, Ray Warren, sounding the alarm on Condor’s planned missions in Europe, and expressing concern that the CIA will be blamed for Condor’s assassinations abroad. One memo indicates that the CIA has taken steps to preempt the missions by alerting French counterparts that Condor operatives planned to murder specific individuals living in Paris. The completely unredacted FBI “Chilbom” report, written by FBI attaché Robert Scherrer one week after the car bomb assassination of former Chilean Ambassador Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt in downtown Washington, D.C. It was this FBI report that resulted in the revelation of the existence of the Condor system in 1979, when its author, FBI attaché Robert Scherrer, testified at a trial of several Cuban exiles who assisted the Chilean secret police in assassinating Letelier and Moffitt. IIC June 25, 1976 The first Senate investigative report on Condor based on CIA documents and briefings written in early 1979 by Michael Glennon, a staff member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations. The draft report was never officially published but was leaked to columnist Jack Anderson; a copy was eventually obtained by John Dinges and Saul Landau and used in their book, Assassination on Embassy Row. A declassified copy was released as part of the Obama-authorized Argentina Declassification Project in 2019. “These documents record the dark history of multilateral repression and state-sponsored terrorism in the Southern Cone—a history that defined those violent regimes of the past,” notes Peter Kornbluh, author of The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability. “Fifty years after Condor’s inauguration, these documents provide factual evidence of coordinated human rights atrocities that can never be denied, whitewashed or justified.” After many years of investigations and resulting trials, it is now clear that Condor may have backfired on its perpetrators, according to John Dinges, whose updated and expanded edition of The Condor Years was published in Spanish in 2021 as Los Años del Condor: Operaciones Internacionales de asesinato en el Cono Sur. “It is a kind of historic irony,” Dinges notes, “that the international crimes of the dictatorships spawned investigations, including one resulting in Pinochet’s arrest in London, that would eventually bring hundreds of the military perpetrators to justice. Moreover, because Condor’s most notorious crime was in Washington, D.C., the United States government unleashed the FBI to prosecute DINA and the Chilean regime.” Other documents on Condor discovered in the archives of member states such as Uruguay can be found on this special website https://plancondor.org/ established to record the history of Condor’s human rights atrocities and hold those who committed them accountable for their crimes. The Documents 910 d 1 Document 1 DINA, Summary, “Acta de Clausura de la Primera Reunion Interamericana de Inteligencia Nacional,” [Closing Statement of the First Inter-American Meeting of National Intelligence], Secret, November 28, 1975 [with English translation] Nov 28, 1975 Source Rettig Commission Files, as reproduced in The Pinochet File, by Peter Kornbluh This summary of Operation Condor’s inaugural meeting, hosted by the Chilean secret police, DINA, in Santiago, Chile, provides substantive detail on the mission, coordination, communications, intelligence sharing, joint operations and the Latin American intelligence officers involved in initiating a regional effort to suppress the left in the Southern Cone. It also identifies the origins of the name of this cross-border collaboration - Chile’s national bird, the condor. “This organization will be called CONDOR, by unanimous approval of a motion presented by the Uruguayan Delegation to honor the host country,” the document concludes. In January 1976, this founding document was signed by five high-ranking intelligence officers in the Southern Cone, representing the original Condor nations: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Peru and Ecuador joined Condor in 1977. Brazil became a formal member in 1976; Peru and Ecuador joined Condor in 1978. 910 d 2 Document 2 CIA, Intelligence Information Cable, “Meeting of Intelligence Services of Argentina, [Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil] and Arrangement for Future Cooperation Among these Services,” Secret, June 25, 1976 Jun 25, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project This CIA report summarizing the second meeting of Southern Cone intelligence services in Santiago, Chile, from May 31 to June 2, 1976, is the first known declassified document to reference “Condor.” The report states that “Condor, the name given to this cooperative arrangement, will establish a basic computerized data bank” to centralize intelligence registries on operations against leftist enemies. The CIA also reports that, besides intelligence sharing, Chile “agreed to operate covertly” with the Argentines and Uruguayans to conduct operations “against the Revolutionary Coordinating Junta (JCR) and other terrorists.” Those operations to assassinate targets abroad would expand Condor’s reach outside of the Southern Cone to Europe and elsewhere. 910 d 3 Document 3 CIA, Intelligence Information Cable, “‘Condor,’ A Cooperative Program of the Intelligence Services of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil to Counter Terrorism and Subversion; Basic Mission of ‘Condor’ teams being Sent to France,” Secret, July 21, 1976 Jul 21, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project This CIA cable describes a third Condor meeting, held in Buenos Aires on July 2, 1976, that focused on “mounting of operations in France.” “The basic mission of the teams being sent to operate in France,” the cable states, “will be to liquidate top-level terrorist leaders.” The CIA also reveals divisions within the Condor states about these operations but notes that “the bulk of the effort in France will probably be carried out by Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.” Brazil’s contribution, the document suggests, “will be to supply communications equipment for the Condor net in Latin America.” 910 d 4 Document 4 CIA, Intelligence Information Cable, “Structure and Operational Plans of Condor, A Cooperative Program of the Intelligence Services of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil to Counter Terrorism and Subversion; Selection of Targets for the ‘Condor’ Teams that will Operate in Europe,” Secret, July 28, 1976 Jul 28, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project This CIA report, drawn from the same source that provided information for the July 21, 1976, cable, is the first to provide details of Condor plans to “liquidate” targets in France. The report provides the first breakdown for the Condor bureaucratic “groupings,” including CONDORTEL for communications and CONDOREJE for operations. Not only leftists residing in Europe will be targeted, the source reports, but “some leaders of Amnesty International might be selected for the target list.” The document remains significantly redacted hiding considerable information about Condor’s planned operations. 910 d 5 Document 5 CIA memorandum, “Operation Condor – Regional Co-operation Among Latin American Intelligence Services Against Terrorism,” Secret, July 24, 1976 Jul 24, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019 In this memo to the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, Raymond A. Warren, CIA Chief of the Latin America Division, raises concerns that the “Condor” countries are organizing assassination squads with the specific purpose “to liquidate key Latin American terrorist leaders” outside the Southern Cone region. This Condor program “poses new problems for the Agency,” he warns, and “every precaution must be taken to ensure that the Agency is not wrongfully accused of being party to this type of activity.” Warren asks his superiors “what action the Agency could effectively take to forestall illegal activity of this sort.” 910 d 6 Document 6 State Department, ARA Monthly Report (July) “The ‘Third World War’ and South America,” August 3, 1976 Aug 3, 1976 Source Department of State Argentina Declassification Project In early August 1976, this 14-page briefing memo for Henry Kissinger alerts him to the existence of Operation Condor. Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America, Harry Shlaudeman, advises Kissinger that the Southern Cone governments see themselves as engaged in a Third World War against terrorism and that they “have established Operation Condor to find and kill terrorists … in their own countries and in Europe.” “[T]hey are joining forces to eradicate ‘subversion’, a word which increasingly translates into non-violent dissent from the left and center left.” Their definition of subversion is so broad as to include “nearly anyone who opposes government policy.” Shlaudeman echoes the concerns of CIA officials that Condor death squads will create serious repercussions for the United States. “Internationally, the Latin generals look like our guys,” Shlaudeman notes. “We are especially identified with Chile. It cannot do us any good.” 910 d 7 Document 7 CIA, Intelligence Cable, “Further Developments in the Plans and Intentions of ‘Condor,’ a Cooperative Program of the Intelligence Services of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil to Counter Terrorism and Subversion,” Secret, August 5, 1976 Aug 5, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project This CIA cable illuminates how Condor officials in Uruguay, Chile and the other member nations will secretly select targets “to liquidate” in Europe and who will know about these missions. The source of the CIA intelligence suggests that “in Chile, for instance, Juan Manuel Contreras Sepulveda, chief of the Directorate of National Intelligence (DINA) the man who originated the entire Condor concept and has been the catalyst in bringing it into being, will coordinate details and target lists with Chilean President Augusto Pinochet Ugarte.” The CIA reports that “action operations in Europe are to be mounted by Condor teams of various Condor countries. These are to be mixed teams. Moreover, there is to be a single Condor target list, not separate lists by each country.” 910 d 8 Document 8 Joint CIA/Department of State memorandum, “Meeting at Department of State to Discuss Operation Condor,” Secret, August 13, 1976 Aug 13, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019 This memo recounts a meeting between CIA and State Department officials—among them, Hewson Ryan, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs, James Gardner, head of the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), and the CIA’s deputy chief of the Latin America division. They discuss a draft of a diplomatic demarche to the Condor regimes most involved in international assassination planning—Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. The CIA signs off on the demarche. 910 d 9 Document 9 CIA memorandum, “Potential Political and Security Ramifications of Operation Condor,” Secret, August 17, 1976 Aug 17, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019 The CIA’s Chief of the Latin America Division, Raymond A. Warren, once again raises alarms about planned Condor operations in France. In this memo, he reports that the CIA is so concerned that such operations will have “repercussions” for the CIA’s own liaisons with the Western European intelligence services that the Agency has taken steps “to preempt any political ramifications for the Agency” by alerting French authorities to the Condor assassination missions. Warren also informs his superiors that the State Department has sent a special demarche to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay to pressure those regimes to curtail international assassination operations. 910 d 10 Document 10 CIA, Cable, “Text of the [September 1976] Agreement by Condor Countries Regulating Their Subversive Targets,” [English translation of a Condor document titled “Teseo Regulacion, Centro de Operaciones,” originally dated September 1976], Secret, August 16, 1977 Aug 16, 1977 Source Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019 The CIA obtained the “text of the agreement by Condor countries regulating their operations against subversive targets”—a comprehensive planning paper on financing, staffing, logistics, training and selection of targets that reveals both the banal and dramatic details about the organizing and implementing of Condor’s “Teseo” death squad operations. The “Teseo” operations base would be located “at Condor 1 (Argentina).” Each member country was expected to donate $10,000 to offset operational costs, and dues of $200 would be paid “prior to the 30th of each month” for maintenance expenses of the operations center. Expenses for agents on assassination missions abroad were estimated at $3,500 per person for ten days, “with an additional $1000 first time out for clothing allowance.” Condor’s “Teseo” death squad program was named for Theseus, the mythological Greek warrior-king who killed the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. 910 d 11 Document 11 FBI cable, “[Condor: Chilbom]” Secret, September 28, 1976 Sep 28, 1976 Source Argentina Declassification Project, April 2019 The FBI’s legal attaché in Buenos Aires, Robert S. Scherrer, drafted this now famous “Chilbom” cable eight days after the car bomb assassination of former Chilean ambassador, Orlando Letelier, and his colleague, Ronni Karpen Moffitt, in Washington D.C. Scherrer’s sources pointed the finger of responsibility at General Augusto Pinochet and the Chilean secret police, DINA. This cable suggests the assassination may have been a “phase three” mission of Operation Condor. In 2019, this cable was declassified without any redactions, identifying Scherrer’s source as an official named Arturo Horacio Poire at Argentina’s presidential intelligence service, the Secretaria de Inteligencia del Estado (SIDE). 910 d 12 Document 12 Townley Papers, “Relato de Sucesos en la Muerte de Orlando Letelier el 21 de Septiembre, 1976 [Report of Events in the Death of Orlando Letelier, September 21, 1976],” March 14, 1978 Mar 14, 1978 Source Patricio Aylwin Presidential Archive at Alberto Hurtado University In his only confession to the Pinochet regime’s infamous act of international terrorism made prior to being detained by the FBI in Chile, DINA hit man Michael Townley recounts how he received orders from DINA deputy director Pedro Espinoza to assassinate the leading opponent of the dictatorship, Orlando Letelier, in Washington D.C. “The explicit orders were: Find Letelier’s home and workplace and contact the Cuban group [of violent exiles working with DINA] to eliminate him, or use SARIN gas, or orchestrate an accident, or in the end by whatever method—but the government of Chile wanted Letelier dead.” In an important admission, Townley records that the mission would draw on the “Red Condor”—the Condor network of Southern Cone secret police services. His account details how he traveled to Paraguay to obtain false passports and visas to travel to the U.S., enlisted a team of Cuban-exile terrorists to assist him in the mission, and later assassinated Letelier and his young associate, Ronni Moffitt, who was riding in the car with her husband when the bomb was detonated. 910 d 13 Document 13 U.S. Senate, Subcommittee on International Operations, Foreign Relations Committee, Report, “Staff Report on Activities of Certain Intelligence Agencies in the United States,” Top Secret/Sensitive, January 18, 1979 [Section on DINA and Operation Condor] Jan 19, 1979 Source Argentina Declassification Project Early public references of CIA knowledge of Operation Condor were provided by a Top Secret/Sensitive Senate staff report for the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Operations in mid-January 1979. The scandal of the Korean intelligence service, KCIA, operating in Washington, generated a Senate investigation into other foreign intelligence services also conducting surveillance, secret lobbying, disinformation and other operations in the United States. Since the Chilean secret police had already been identified as responsible for the car-bomb assassination of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt, a Senate staffer named Michael Glennon obtained permission from the Carter White House to obtain CIA briefings based on secret intelligence records regarding DINA operations in the United States and around the world. Drawing on those detailed files shared with him at the CIA’s headquarters—many of which remain classified to this day—Glennon reported that “Chile has been the center of Operation Condor” and that DINA had stationed agents in Chilean embassies not only in the other Condor countries but also in Spain for operations in Western Europe. CIA briefers informed Glennon that they had learned Condor was “planning to open a station in Miami” but the CIA had alerted the State Department and voiced objections to its Condor liaisons and “the Condor Miami Station was never opened.” Glennon had access to the memos of CIA Western Hemisphere chief Ray Warren on actions the Agency took to block Condor’s Teseo plots in Paris; the report cited efforts by the CIA to alert French and Portuguese authorities to Condor assassination missions in their countries. Glennon’s study also drew on a then-secret FBI report, written by FBI attaché Robert Scherrer one week after the assassination of Letelier and Moffitt, that provided extensive intelligence on “phase three” Condor death squad operations and suggested that it was “not beyond the realm of possibility that the recent assassination of Orlando Letelier in Washington D.C. may have been carried out as a third phase of Operation Condor.” The Senate report was never officially published as a committee print. A draft was obtained by syndicated investigative columnist Jack Anderson, who published an eight-part series based on its contents. Although there were earlier references to the Condor alliance in Robert Scherrer’s testimony in the Letelier assassination trial in early 1979, Anderson’s August 2, 1979, Washington Post column titled “Condor: South American Assassins,” provided a more detailed description of Operation Condor in the U.S. media and established that the CIA had knowledge of the Condor plots even before the assassination of Letelier. 910 d 14 Document 14 State Department, memorandum, “Meeting with Argentine Intelligence Service,” June 19, 1980 Jun 19, 1980 Source State Department Argentina Declassification Project In this unusual report, the Regional Security Officer, James Blystone, meets with a Battalion 601 Argentine intelligence source while a major Condor operation is unfolding in Peru. Peru joined Condor, along with Ecuador, in 1978; in June 1980, the Peruvian military government collaborated with Argentine operatives to kidnap and rendition four Montenero militants living in exile in Lima. Several of the targets were kidnapped in broad daylight in a public park, creating a major media spectacle. While the operation was unfolding, Blystone’s source tells him that, “The present situation is that the four Argentines will be held in Peru and then expelled to Bolivia where they will be expelled to Argentina. Once in Argentina they will be interrogated and then permanently disappeared.” The Lima rendition was one of the last recorded Condor operations.

Brasil's Notorious 'Catwoman' Was Humiliated By Her Previous Sentence

Brazil’s notorious ‘Catwoman’ was humiliated by her previous sentence. Now police reveal the insane lengths she went to just to steal again By Manodeep Mukherjee, 1 days ago Paola Carita Gobel, famously known in Brazil as the “Catwoman” and “Criminal Barbie,” was arrested this week in São Paulo after allegedly running an incredibly brazen scheme where she rented a luxury condo just so she could rob her neighbors, as per The Sun. The 32-year-old woman is facing her second major burglary accusation, and this time, the police claim she went to absolutely insane lengths to ensure she could get back to stealing high-end goods. Her latest arrest came after police discovered she had used a fake name and even produced a completely bogus rental contract to gain access to the upscale residential building. Police in São Paulo claim that once she’s inside, she pretends to be a legitimate resident. Then, she allegedly breaks into other luxury homes within the building to snatch money, expensive jewelry, high-end watches, designer perfumes, and designer handbags. This is at least the second time she’s been accused of burglary. Two years ago, Gobel was arrested for robbing luxury apartments across several states. She earned the “Catwoman” moniker because she reportedly always committed her crimes dressed completely in black. You can draw parallels from this with the shoplifter’s wheelchair masquerade that we reported on earlier. This ‘Catwoman’ stayed true to the moniker, with serious dedication to a criminal lifestyle The State Department of Criminal Investigations in São Paolo previously claimed Gobel even took a locksmith course just to ensure she could enter victims’ homes without a hitch. Even after police released CCTV footage of her previous crimes, reports indicated that numerous local men were still totally smitten by her attractiveness, which is just bizarre to me. When she was caught previously, she was only sentenced to community service and charged with a fine. For robbing multiple high-end apartments, she essentially got a slap on the wrist. I think that’s awful for the victims, and it clearly didn’t deter her in the slightest. She was only caught then because police put her under surveillance, and she went on the run—very much like the U.S.’s own ‘Slender Man’ knife attacker’s escape earlier this week. Police Chief Joao Prata previously commented on the difficulty of catching her. He stated at the time, “She is already known for stealing from high-end residences.” He added, “We’ve tried to arrest her before. Unfortunately, we couldn’t.” The recent raid didn’t just net Gobel. Three men were also arrested, and police found drugs and a stolen vehicle in the building’s garage. Gobel is currently facing a long list of serious charges. These include criminal association, vehicle identification tampering, intentional receipt of stolen goods, trespass, and using false identities. Right now, police are waiting on forensic analysis to unlock the phones belonging to her and the other suspects. It sounds like they’re trying to build a much stronger case this time around.

Peru: Expresident Sentenced To 14 Yeas For Corruption

Peru's ex-president jailed for 14 years for corruption By DPA, 10 hours ago A Peruvian court has sentenced former president Martín Vizcarra to 14 years in prison for corruption. A court in the capital Lima found it proven that Vizcarra, who was president from 2018 to 2020, accepted bribes from construction companies in 2014 during his time as governor of the province of Moquegua in connection with the awarding of public contracts. "This is not justice, this is revenge," Vizcarra wrote on the social media platform X after the verdict was announced. "But they will not break me. The answer lies in the ballot box." His brother Mario Vizcarra is running in next year's presidential election and wants to pardon the former president if he wins. Several former presidents already behind bars In Peru, almost all heads of state of the past 25 years have had problems with the justice system. In April, former president Ollanta Humala (2011-16) was sentenced to 15 years in prison for money laundering, and last year Alejandro Toledo (2001-06) was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison for corruption. A criminal trial is currently under way of former president Pedro Castillo (2021-22) for an attempted coup d'état. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016-18) is under investigation for corruption. Former president Alan García (1985-90 and 2006-11) killed himself in 2019 when the police tried to arrest him on corruption charges.

Colombia Probes Allegations Of Government Infiltration By Drug Trafficking Guerillas

Colombia Probes Allegations of Government Infiltration by Drug Trafficking Guerrillas Colombia Colombia’s military launched an investigation this week into allegations that senior army and intelligence officials passed sensitive information to the leader of an armed drug-trafficking organization, a scandal that is deepening the country’s diplomatic rift with the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported. The probe followed an explosive Sunday report by Colombian broadcaster Noticias Caracol, which found that Alexander Díaz, commander of a dissident guerrilla group, allegedly maintained channels of communication with high-ranking Colombian officials: These include retired Gen. Juan Miguel Huertas, who is head of the army’s personnel command, and Wilmer Mejía, a senior official at the National Intelligence Directorate. The documents – seized after the army detained Díaz and six others at a July 2024 checkpoint near the city of Medellín – reportedly describe the group’s efforts to acquire weapons, evade military operations, and, in some cases, receive help from contacts inside state institutions. The Caracol report said dissidents discussed making financial contributions to President Gustavo Petro’s 2022 campaign. The dissidents also referenced the armed group’s role in major attacks, including Diaz’s alleged involvement in the June 7 assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, according to the City Paper Bogota, an English-language newspaper based in Colombia. The report has prompted fierce reactions across Colombia and sparked fears that former guerrilla fighters involved in cocaine trafficking have penetrated state institutions in the Petro administration. Colombian analysts warned that the allegations could further erode trust in the security services, while some opposition politicians have accused Petro of “treason” and called for his prosecution. On Monday, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez ordered a military investigation and insisted that “no illegal act will be tolerated.” Huertas has denied wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate. Petro has rejected the accusations as politically motivated, calling the claims against senior officers “false” and aimed at discrediting his administration. The allegations surfaced as relations between Bogotá and Washington continue to falter over record-high drug production. US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Petro and accused Colombia of failing to curb soaring cocaine production. The Trump administration has also conducted strikes against alleged drug boats departing from Colombian and Venezuelan waters – operations that Petro has denounced as extrajudicial killings.

Cecilia Vicuna-An Incredible Chilean Artist

https://www.ft.com/content/5b631217-bbd1-4be9-bb2e-65905cee96d2?segmentId=6bf9295a-189d-71c6-18fb-d469f27d3523

Brasil's Ex-President Bolsonaro Exhausts All Appeal. He Is Beginning To Serve His 27-Year Sentence

Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro exhausts appeals, will serve 27-year sentence By FRANCE 24, 20 hours ago ©Eraldo Peres, AP Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday formally concluded former President Jair Bolsonaro's coup-plotting case, preventing him from lodging any more appeals and clearing the way for the court to order him to begin serving a sentence of more than 27 years in prison, according to a court document. The court, which rejected an appeal from Bolsonaro earlier this month, said it does not yet have details regarding when the former president could begin serving the sentence. Bolsonaro, 70, was in September convicted by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazil’s democracy following his 2022 election defeat. Prosecutors said the coup plot included plans to kill Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and de Moraes. Bolsonaro was also found guilty on charges of leading an armed criminal organisation and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. He denies any wrongdoing. (FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)

Brasil's First Bullet Train Is On Its Way

Brazil's First Bullet Train Is On The Way, And Its Top Speed Is Staggering By Tom Clark, 1 days ago In the modern age of travel, people expect to get where they need to go fast. This includes traveling by train, especially bullet trains, which can reach incredible speeds. If you live in Brazil, you'll eventually be able to take the country's first ever bullet train, capable of maxing out at a blistering speed of 320 kilometers per hour, or 199 miles per hour. To put that speed in perspective, if you're traveling from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo today, you'll be driving or taking the bus, and it's about a 6-hour ride. But Brazil's new train will take you the same distance in under two hours. The bullet train will be on par with those currently running in other countries, including France and Japan, which have some of the fastest high-speed trains in operation today. However, Brazil's train will be slower than the one tested in China in the fall of 2025. That high-speed train, a next generation model of the CR450, hit a top speed of 281 miles per hour. Spearheaded by the company TAV Brazil, the route from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo will cover 417 kilometers, or around 219 miles, with stops along the way in Volta Redonda and São José dos Campos. The electrified trains will run on a dedicated railway, guided by the same high-tech signaling system currently used in countries like Spain. Required environmental and technical studies are being conducted and are set for completion in late 2026. Read more: 10 Of The Most Reliable Motorcycles Ever Built Brazil's first bullet train comes with controversy As of this writing, construction on Brazil's new bullet train project has not yet begun. But if everything proceeds on schedule, trains should be howling down the tracks sometime in 2032. Once the trains are operational, they should ease the burden on the country's congested highways and airports. While that's a plus for people traveling inside the country, the project isn't without controversy. First there's the cost, which is expected be around $11.3 billion in U.S. dollars. Though it is a privately funded effort, the money will come from fundraising. So if there's not enough money collected, then the project could hit a wall. Even if the money's there and the bullet train becomes a reality, high ticket prices could keep many Brazilians either on the highway or in the air. Early projections estimate that tickets could go as high as $94. The question of capacity is also unknown, as TAV Brazil, the company behind the project, hasn't released those numbers. The issue becomes even more complicated when looking at bullet trains in other countries like China, which has the most high-speed rail mileage in the world. China's system has faced enormous deficits and eventually required government money to keep going. It was so bad that revenue collected from people riding the train typically didn't go toward the principal debt, but the interest only. Whether or not Brazil's bullet trains will experience the same problems remains to be seen. Want the latest in tech and auto trends? Subscribe to our free newsletter for the latest headlines, expert guides, and how-to tips, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on SlashGear.

Survivors Describe Deadly Snowstorm In Chilean Patagonia

Survivors Describe Deadly Snowstorm in Chilean Patagonia Five tourists, from Mexico, Britain and Germany, died Monday on a popular hiking trail in the Torres del Paine National Park. Listen to this article · 5:56 min Learn more Share full article Three people are visible on a mountainous area. They are wearing visibility vests and other climbing and rescue equipment. There is snow on the rocks and there are trees in the background. A picture released by Chile’s Carabineros shows a rescue team at the end of their search and recovery operation for a group of tourists.Credit...Agence France-Presse, via Carabineros de Chile By Livia Albeck-Ripka and Pascale Bonnefoy Nov. 21, 2025 When the hikers left the campsite early Monday, it was drizzling, windy and just above freezing in Torres del Paine, a national park with towering granite peaks and glaciers in Chilean Patagonia. They had the most difficult stretch of their journey ahead. But they had no idea they would be hit by a blizzard with hurricane-force winds of 120 miles an hour, unable to see more than 10 feet in front of them. Within hours, more than two dozen were injured and five were missing. The next day, the authorities confirmed that all five of the missing — tourists from Mexico, Britain and Germany — had died. At a news conference on Thursday, Cristián Crisosto, the regional prosecutor for Magallanes, which includes the national park, said that he had opened an investigation and that the police were taking statements from park staff, from Vertice, the company that operates the campground, known as Los Perros, and from 69 people who were there on the day of the snowstorm. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Mr. Crisosto said all five had died of hypothermia, and 27 people were injured in the blizzard. Álvaro Elizalde, the Chilean interior minister, said the government was working with consulates to return the bodies of Cristina Calvillo Tovar and Julián García Pimentel from Mexico, Victoria Bond from Britain and Nadine Lichey and Andreas Von Pein from Germany. Chile’s National Forest Corporation said Wednesday that it deeply regretted the episode and was focused on relocating anyone who had been on the affected trail, the O Circuit, a challenging 85-mile loop that takes eight or nine days to complete. The five died on a stretch of the circuit known as the John Gardner Pass, the highest and most exposed section. The park authority said the circuit would be closed while it investigates. In an interview with local media on Wednesday, Mauricio Ruiz, the regional director of the park service in Magallanes, said there were no rangers in the park on Monday because they left the previous day to vote in the country’s presidential election. He described the region where the blizzard took place as “the most complex area of the mountain.” Rodrigo Illesca, the director of the park service, told the radio station ADN that he was not informed of the emergency until 6 p.m. on Monday. Dozens of hikers who were on the trail and at the campground on the day of the snowstorm sharply criticized the lack of warning and the emergency response, which they said was severely delayed and insufficient. Editors’ Picks The World’s Largest Afro Took Three People to Measure It I Was Deemed Unfit to Be a Mother Why ‘Surveillance Pricing’ Strikes a Nerve SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT “We want to make it clear that this was a terrible, avoidable tragedy. Nobody should have been allowed, let alone encouraged, to go up the pass that day, as we were by Vertice staff,” the group said in a statement shared by one of the hikers. According to the group, the staff at the camp offered no safety guidance or help, even after dozens of hikers — forced to turn back because of the conditions — had returned to the campsite suffering from hypothermia, frostbite, abrasions and head injuries. “They just were not seeming to grasp what had happened, like at all,” said Dr. Megan Wingfield, one of the surviving hikers. Vertice, the company that operates the campground, said in a statement that it had contacted the authorities and provided logistical support to rescue teams. Dr. Wingfield, 34, said she and her husband, both anesthesiologists and avid hikers from Colorado, had arrived at the Los Perros campsite on Sunday evening, planning to hike the John Gardner Pass the next day. The hikers had no internet access at the site, she said, but asked the staff whether the rain and wind were typical for this time of year. She said the staff reassured her and others that the conditions were not unusual, and recommended hiking the pass between about 8 a.m. and noon. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Around 6:45 a.m. the next day, the couple left the campsite, Dr. Wingfield said, wearing warm layers, wind pants, raincoats, hiking boots and crampons, as well as gloves, hats and gaiters to keep their faces warm. Within a few hours, she said, the wind was so strong that she and others in the group could barely stand. Then, less than 700 feet from the top of the pass, three young men heading in the opposite direction, their facial hair encased in icicles, warned them it was too treacherous to go on. “We all sort of came to the conclusion, ‘OK, we’re not doing this,’” she said. The group turned around. Between gusts, the hikers could see about 10 feet ahead, and otherwise only two or three. They were forced to backtrack down a steep rocky slope that had turned into an “ice rink,” she said. Bodies slid in all directions. One man skidded nearly 50 feet, headfirst toward a pile of rocks, Dr. Wingfield said. “Thank God, his backpack hit the rocks before his head did,” she said. “He stood up and said, ‘Am I going to die today?’” The ice, she said, was streaked with blood. People screamed as they slid into one another. When a man who was diabetic collapsed, Dr. Wingfield and her husband wrapped him in an emergency shelter, gave him a packet of applesauce and pleaded with him to keep going. Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Around 11:30 a.m., Dr. Wingfield and her husband had returned to the camp with dozens of others, many bleeding and bruised, and nearly all with mild hypothermia, she said. There were doctors in the group who worked to treat the injured, she added, but the staff offered no assistance, refused to call for help and would not open a room where the group could stay warm. Around 12:30 p.m., she said, the hikers organized a search-and-rescue effort for those who had not returned. Some were trying to determine who was missing and which authorities to call. A few recalled one of the hikers, who was later found dead, falling repeatedly. Just after 3:30 p.m., another hiker, Arab Ginnett, posted for help on social media. “We are snowed in and people are still out on the pass,” she wrote. “We need urgent help, climbers and rescuers are on the risk of dying based on our current situation,” she said. Livia Albeck-Ripka is a Times reporter based in Los Angeles, covering breaking news, California and other subjects. Share full article

Argentine Congress Report Accuses President Of Crypto Fraud

Argentine Congress Report Accuses President of Crypto Fraud Argentina An Argentine congressional commission this week found that President Javier Milei may have committed misconduct and engaged in “alleged fraud” by using his public office to promote a cryptocurrency project that later collapsed, MercoPress reported Wednesday. The House of Deputies’ Investigative Commission released a final report this week in which they alleged that Milei and his sister, Presidential Secretary Karina Milei, were “key players” in enabling what lawmakers allege was an international scam. The scandal began in mid-February, when Milei promoted the $LIBRA token on social media. The token initially surged in value but crashed within hours, causing losses of several million dollars for more than 114,000 digital wallets. Industry analysts described the operation as a “rug pull,” a scam in which developers boost a token’s value and then exit before it collapses, according to the Buenos Aires Times. Technical reports show that 80 percent of wallets lost money, while 36 individuals made profits of more than $1 million. The commission’s findings claimed that Milei breached Argentina’s public ethics law by using his presidential authority to promote a private venture and by bypassing technical and legal reviews. The report also found direct links between Milei and the project’s promoters, including US entrepreneur Hayden Davis and Argentines Mauricio Novelli and Manuel Terrones Godoy. Meanwhile, the commission said it will also file criminal complaints against a number of officials who allegedly obstructed the investigation, including Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and Anti-Corruption Office head Alejandro Melik. Lawmakers wrote that these officials “systematically refused to cooperate” with the probe. Milei has denied promoting the project, claiming he merely “shared” it and “did not know the details.” He called himself a “fanatic techno optimist” who wants Argentina to become a “technology hub.” The commission has now submitted its report to Congress to determine whether Milei engaged in poor performance of his duties. However, no timeline for considering the question has been set, and observers said that after new pro-Milei lawmakers elected in October’s midterm vote take office on Dec. 10, it’s likely that no further action will be taken.

Peruvian Roulette: Peruvians Take To The Streets Against Another New Government That Feels all Too Familiar

Peruvian Roulette: Peruvians Take to the Streets Against Another New Government that Feels All Too Familiar Peru Ernesto, 43, used to love being a bus driver in the Peruvian capital of Lima. Now, he is scared of dying on the job for refusing to pay gangs. “Before, they’d rob you, take your cell phone, or your day’s earnings,” Ernesto told El País. “Now it’s like Russian roulette: Imagine I go out right now and it’s my turn, they shoot me and it’s all over.” “People are terrified,” he added. Driving a bus has become one of Peru’s most dangerous jobs, with drivers often murdered for refusing to pay protection money to gangs such as Peru’s Los Pulpos and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. But most people being extorted have very little extra to give. “We’re being murdered for 5 soles ($1.50),” Julio Campos, a 57-year-old bus driver, told Le Monde. “Extortion has become institutionalized.” From January to September this year, the country had 20,705 complaints for extortion, though analysts believe the actual number of such crimes is far higher. Meanwhile, murders in Peru have surged: There were 2,082 homicides last year – half of them contract killings – up from a previous high of 676 total homicides in 2017. Fed up with crime, political chaos and the rising cost of living, Gen Z-led protests broke out in September, often turning violent. A month later, President Dina Boluarte, 63, already under investigation for corruption and facing single-digit approval ratings, was impeached for “permanent moral incapacity,” but mainly for failing to make a dent in the growing criminality taking over the country. The move came just hours after a shooting at a concert in Lima outraged the public. Boluarte was replaced by interim President José Jerí, a conservative politician best known for being elected as the Speaker of Congress despite being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Christmas party last year. He has become Peru’s eighth president in less than a decade. According to the Economist, one of Jerí’s first moves as interim president was to “unfollow adult content accounts on social media and delete his lecherous past posts,” with critics calling him “el presidente Pajero,” or “the wanker president.” Fresh protests broke out with Peruvians calling for Jerí to resign, but they were met by a harsh government crackdown in which one protester died and hundreds more were injured. In response to the unrest, Jerí declared a one-month state of emergency in Lima and the neighboring port of Callao. He’s also made a show of visiting prisons to promote a tough-on-crime image, wrote CNN’s Spanish edition. Still, youth groups have pledged to defy the state of emergency – which has sent soldiers onto the streets and restricted the freedoms of assembly and movement – and continue protesting. “We have the constitutional right to protest,” said Jorge Calmet, one of the Gen Z protest leaders. “That right cannot be taken away from us by a police commander, a congressman – and certainly not by someone who pretends to be president. We will march as many times as necessary.” Despite violent nationwide protests and a failed attempt by leftist lawmakers to impeach him, Jeri has refused to resign, the Financial Times noted. With approval ratings below 5 percent, the unpopular leader is seen as more of the same, analysts say. Still, “Even by the recent dismal standards of Peruvian politics, the ascension of Jose Jeri to be interim president marks a new low” for the country, World Politics Review wrote.  Meanwhile, analysts say that it wasn’t Boluarte’s failure to tackle rising crime that got her impeached but that lawmakers realized her usefulness to them was over – that support for her would hurt their 2026 election campaigns. In 2022, serving as vice president, Boluarte took over the top job following the ouster of far-left President Pedro Castillo, who was impeached for attempting to dissolve Congress to prevent his removal, the BBC explained. Without her own political party in Congress, she was only able to govern due to the support of an informal coalition of right-wing and centrist lawmakers. During her administration, these politicians effectively reshaped Peru’s institutions to protect themselves from corruption investigations, a move that included weakening law enforcement and the judicial system, thereby empowering criminal networks. Analysts say that’s why Boluarte’s impeachment should not be viewed as resolving a political problem. Rather, it actually deepened Peru’s crisis to bring the country to a breaking point. They add that the upcoming election – which has no clear frontrunner yet – could still serve up a reformist leader who could address crime and corruption and shore up Peru’s democracy. Or it may lead to a populist president who capitalizes on the widespread frustration with insecurity and inflation by promising strict order among an electorate that feels abandoned by its leaders. “Peru’s crisis is no longer just about corruption or governance – it is about the basic survival of the rule of law,” wrote Martin Cassinelli of the Atlantic Council. “The October protests should not be seen as another episode in the country’s cyclical instability but as a warning that the old model – political chaos insulated from economic collapse – has possibly reached its breaking point. Unless the next government restores both security and institutional credibility, Peru’s democracy risks becoming not merely ungovernable, but unrecognizable.”

Ecuadorians Reject Foreign Military Bases In Their Country

Ecuadorians Reject Foreign Military Bases in the Country Ecuador Ecuadoreans overwhelmingly rejected four constitutional proposals backed by President Daniel Noboa on Sunday, including the reversal of a ban on foreign military bases in the country passed by the legislature in 2008, the BBC reported. The result was a disappointment for Noboa, having campaigned for the reversal, claiming foreign troops would help fight organized crime and curb the rising violence that has swept the country in recent years, as it has emerged as one of the world’s drug-trafficking hotspots. It also dashed US hopes of expanding its presence in the eastern Pacific. Earlier this year, Noboa said that he wanted foreign militaries to join what he described as a “war” against narco-trafficking groups. Ecuador does not produce cocaine, but its huge ports and proximity to Colombia and Peru – where drugs are produced in large quantities – make the country an appealing and lucrative location for drug-trafficking gangs. According to Noboa, about 70 percent of the world’s cocaine transits through Ecuador. Noboa has also recently discussed increased regional security and migration co-operation with US officials and met with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem last week to examine possible locations for US bases, MercoPress added. The US – which is currently striking alleged drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean – had hoped the referendum would allow it to re-establish a military base in Ecuador. The US was forced to close a facility on the country’s Pacific coast 16 years ago, when former President Rafael Correa decided not to renew its lease and pushed for the ban. Voters in Ecuador also rejected proposals to eliminate state funding for political parties, reduce the size of Congress, and establish a constitutional assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. Noboa insisted that a new constitution would allow for tougher punishments for criminals and stronger measures to secure the borders. But critics contended that the proposed changes would not solve Ecuador’s security situation and accused Noboa of trying to obtain a custom-made constitution to govern without limits. They also warned that plans to shrink the size of Congress and reduce funding for political parties could result in a reduction in checks and balances on the government and weaker representation for Ecuadorans living in poorer areas. The government countered that the moves would trim state expenditures. A military crackdown on criminal gangs, including deploying armed soldiers on the streets, has been the hallmark of Noboa’s presidency. While his supporters think the approach has been successful, opponents accuse his government of authoritarianism. Share this story

Mexico: Generation Z Protestors Clash With Police

Gen Z-led Protesters Clash With Police Over Rising Insecurity Mexico Thousands of people took to the streets of Mexico’s capital Saturday to protest against rising crime, corruption, and impunity from prosecution in a demonstration led by Gen Z activists but joined by older opposition supporters, the Associated Press reported. The protest began peacefully but later descended into clashes near the National Palace in Mexico City, where President Claudia Sheinbaum resides. Protesters dismantled parts of a security barrier and threw stones, fireworks, and chains at police, who responded with tear gas. Authorities said at least 120 people were injured, including 100 police officers. Twenty people were arrested. The marches were organized by members of Generation Z – people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s – with participants carrying signs denouncing insecurity and government inaction. Others rallied against the assassination of Mayor Carlos Manzo, who was killed in the western city of Uruapan earlier this month. Manzo was known for confronting drug cartels in Michoacán state and has become a rallying symbol for protesters demanding stronger action against the criminal organizations, the BBC noted. While Sheinbaum has increased efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and cartel violence, her administration has come under scrutiny in recent months over a series of high-profile assassinations. The president – who retains an approval rating above 70 percent after her first year in office – dismissed Saturday’s protests as politically driven. She accused right-wing opponents of financing the marches and using bots to amplify calls for participation. Former President Vicente Fox and Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego expressed support for the demonstrations, while some Gen Z protesters said earlier this week they would not back the weekend rallies.

Argentina Opens Files On Nazi War Criminals Fleeing To Argentina

https://www.foxnews.com/world/argentina-reveals-secret-wwii-files-hitlers-henchmen-who-fled-before-after-war.amp

Chile: A Change Lection Isn't Likely To Bring Change

A ‘Change’ Election In Chile Isn’t Likely To Bring Change Chile Henchmen convicted of murdering, torturing, and suppressing the civil rights of Chileans under military dictator Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990 had been enjoying tennis courts, barbecues, television, and a well-stocked library until Chilean President Gabriel Boric recently announced they would serve their sentences like normal prisoners from now on. “The fact that Chile has a special prison like this has no justification,” said Boric, according to the Guardian. “Places will be decided according to security criteria, not privilege…this is a step further in the direction of a more democratic Chile, which is more respectful of human dignity.” The move was a clear message to voters who will decide on Nov. 16 whether to elect a new head of state who would continue Boric’s progressive policies or restore the conservatism that the memory of Pinochet evokes in the South American country. An increase in crime in recent years – kidnappings and murders have doubled in the past decade – has put public safety at the top of voters’ minds, giving conservatives a boost. Many Chileans are expressing nostalgia for the tough-on-crime days under Pinochet, especially the young, who weren’t even born when he and other generals ordered warplanes to bomb the presidential palace in 1973 and had thousands of opponents rounded up and murdered or disappeared. “I didn’t live through that time, but we need someone who takes a firm hand like he did,” Vicente Sepulveda, a 20-year-old engineering student, told Agence France-Presse. Chile is one of South America’s safest countries but the rise in violent crime has caused deep disquiet in a nation with a reputation for stability, causing the issue to become a national obsession. Communist Party member Jeannette Jara, who was Boric’s labor minister, is currently running ahead in the polls, wrote the Americas Society/ Council of the Americas. But her success might reflect how numerous right-wing candidates are vying to be the standard-bearer of their ideology, splitting the vote. Still, because candidates must succeed in two rounds of voting, Jara can’t rest on her laurels: Some analysts say she’ll lose to the conservative candidate if the vote goes to a second round. Jara’s challenges include Boric’s failure to score major policy gains that might have ended some of the ideological battles in Chile. Voters rejected two new constitutions – one leftist and progressive, one right-wing and populist. The proposed constitutions aimed to address some of the tensions that flared in 2019 when large-scale protests broke out after students took to the streets to complain about fare increases in the capital Santiago’s subways. Police cracked down on the largely peaceful demonstrations that followed. Analysts suspect the country might now swing to the right to see if Boric’s opponents can succeed where the incumbent has failed, a European Parliament policy paper explained. The changes could be dramatic. Following in the footsteps of Javier Milei, the president of neighboring Argentina, right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast, the frontrunner among the Chilean conservative candidates, would cut billions in government spending, enact tough policing, and crack down on migration, reported El País. Boric administration officials warned that those moves would affect legally mandatory social welfare spending. Jara has proposed a minimum income and other spending to reduce crime and reduce migration, especially from Venezuela, wrote Americas Quarterly. Voters will decide whether to double down on Boric’s prescriptions or seek out a second opinion. But regardless of whom they pick to lead the nation, it isn’t likely much will change, say analysts. “Chile has held seven nationwide ballots in the six years since large-scale protests rocked the (country)…,” wrote World Politics Review. “…that will make the presidential and legislative elections…and the second round…the ninth and tenth times Chileans will have gone to the polls since the country so loudly demanded that its political system be changed. And yet, no clear direction for change has emerged, nor is one likely to this time.”

Brasil: Indigenous Protestors Storm UN Climate Talks

Indigenous Protesters Storm UN Climate Talks in Brazil Brazil Hundreds of Indigenous and environmental activists clashed with security guards this week at the United Nations climate summit in Belém, northern Brazil, after forcing their way into the conference center to demand stronger protections for Indigenous lands and a greater voice in global climate talks, Al Jazeera reported. Conference representatives said protesters breached barriers at the main entrance late Tuesday, causing “minor injuries to two security staff, and minor damage to the venue.” Witnesses said participants included Indigenous and non-Indigenous demonstrators, some wearing feathered headdresses, holding signs that read “Our forests are not for sale” and chanting “They cannot decide for us without us.” Brazil is hosting the UN Climate of Parties – short for COP30 – where leaders and representatives of 195 countries are meeting this week to discuss efforts to combat climate change. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sought to showcase COP30 as a milestone for climate cooperation and Indigenous leadership. Lula told world leaders last week that participants would be “inspired by Indigenous peoples and traditional communities – for whom sustainability has always been…(a) way of life.” But observers noted that the protests highlighted growing tensions between the Brazilian government’s public embrace of Indigenous inclusion and what demonstrators described as the ongoing exploitation of the Amazon rainforest by its host countries. Days before the clashes, Petrobras, Brazil’s state oil company, was granted a license for exploratory drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River. Many Indigenous groups and environmental advocates have been calling for Indigenous lands to be freed from commercial exploitation: They criticized Lula’s left-leaning administration for investing in building “a whole new city” in Belém to host the conference – it was also recently designated as Brazil’s temporary capital – instead of in education, health, and forest protection elsewhere, the Guardian wrote. Others also stressed that Indigenous people need to be present at the COP30, considering that the global conference has seen the participation of thousands of lobbyists from the fossil fuel industry in recent decades. This year’s COP30 summit follows a ruling by the International Court of Justice declaring that nations failing to meet climate commitments could be in violation of international law. The absence of the United States – which has opposed recent global climate finance and emissions initiatives under President Donald Trump – has further sharpened divisions over the summit’s direction.

Why Are They Few Black People In Argentina and Mexico?

Profile photo for Da Mu Da Mu · Follow Works at Market Force Information Mystery Shopping7y Why are there many black people in Latin America except in Mexico and Argentina? For both Mexico and Argentina the reasons are different as to why there are so few people of African descent. In Mexico, the main reasons were two fold. For one the Spanish looked at the plentiful native populations (native american) and determined it was more economical to use them for free or cheap labor rather than import African slaves at considerable cost. Secondly, Mexico went from colonial outpost to the principal Spanish settlement and ruling center in the New World, and with that meant significant Spanish migration, and with that Catholic education and teaching, evangelization/conversion, and founding of important Catholic institutions in Mexico. Whatever one may think about colonial Spaniards and colonial Catholic priests and missionaries, writings indicate that both Mexican and Spanish Catholic leaders acknowledged that slavery (whether African or native) was a moral evil that must be done away with. In fact, just like Britain did, Spain, and many Latin American countries (including Mexico) did away with slavery years (even decades) before the U.S. fought the Civil War over slavery. For Argentina the simple answer is geography and time. Argentina developed fairly late because it was such a remote region of the Spanish colonial empire. The country remained sparsely populated for a long time, even after they gained independence from Spain. The little population it had prior to the 1850s was largely Spanish, native peoples, or mestizos. The main population boom in Argentina didn’t arrive until the late 1800s, and early 1900s with large immigration waves from Europe. Many Italians, Germans, Spanish, as well as some Czechs, French, Hungarians, and a smattering of Brits made for a big wave of immigrants and their descendants. Since Argentina is a temperate weather country, it also had little to offer agriculturally to the Spanish in its early years, and therefore little need for the importation of slaves. That is not to say that African slaves weren’t transferred to Argentina, but that over time, just like in Mexico the few slaves that were transported there were diluted by the eventual far larger native and European populations. 104.1K views View 541 upvotes View 9 shares

Mexican President Presses Charges After Being Groped While On The Street

Mexican President Presses Charges After Being Groped in the Street Mexico Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Wednesday that she is pressing charges against a man who groped her while she was greeting people outside the presidential palace in the capital this week, the Washington Post reported. Video shared on social media shows that while Sheinbaum, 63, was walking from the presidential palace to the Education Ministry and interacting with supporters on Tuesday, a man approached her from behind. He put an arm around her, grabbed her breast, and tried to kiss her neck until a member of her team stepped between them. Sheinbaum is seen calmly but swiftly removing the man’s hands and walking away. The man had been bothering other women in the area before groping the president. Sheinbaum, who said she was unaware of the attack until she saw the video, filed a complaint with the Mexico City attorney general’s office. The man has been arrested, according to the BBC. Women’s rights groups noted that the attack demonstrates how ingrained machismo is in Mexican society, where women are routinely assaulted on the street in broad daylight. Sheinbaum’s decision to press charges was seen as a message that these crimes cannot go unpunished. “If I do not report the crime, what condition will all Mexican women be left in?” Sheinbaum said. “If they do this to the president, what will happen to all of the young women in our country?” Sheinbaum said Tuesday that sexual harassment should be criminalized across the country, adding that she would take action to address the problem. She had promised to tackle these crimes during her campaign. Data from 2022 found that seven in 10 Mexican females over the age of 15 have reported having experienced some kind of violence. Feminicides are also common in the country, and about 98 percent of gender-based murders go unpunished.

Cristina Kirchner Goes On Trial For Largest Corruption Case In Argentina History!

Kirchner on trial in Argentina's 'biggest ever' corruption case By Tomás VIOLALuis ROBAYO, 11 hours ago Cristina Kirchner has been under house arrest after being convicted of fraud in a separate case /AFP Argentine ex-president Cristina Kirchner, already serving a six-year fraud sentence under house arrest, went on trial Thursday in a new corruption case described as the biggest in her country's history. The center-left Kirchner, a dominant and polarizing figure in Argentine politics for over two decades, served two terms from 2007-2015. Her latest trial comes as her ailing Peronist movement -- named after iconic post-war leader Juan Peron -- reels from its stinging defeat at the hands of budget-slashing President Javier Milei's party in last month's midterm elections. Milei has hailed the result as a vindication of his radical free-market agenda, which the Peronists, champions of state intervention in the economy, vehemently oppose. The so-called "notebooks" case at the heart of Kirchner's latest trial follows "the biggest ever corruption investigation in Argentina's legal history," according to prosecutor Estele Leon. It revolves around records kept by a government chauffeur of cash bribes he claims to have delivered from businessmen to government officials between 2003 and 2015. Kirchner, 72, was first lady from 2003-2007, when her late husband Nestor Kirchner was president. She succeeded him after his term ended and later served as vice president to Alberto Fernandez from 2019 until 2023, when Milei took office. She is accused of leading a criminal enterprise that took millions of dollars in bribes from businesspeople in return for the awarding of state contracts. She appeared at the start of her trial via Zoom from her apartment in Buenos Aires. A total of 87 people are charged in the case, including dozens of businesspeople and a former minister. Kirchner's defense team has cast doubt on the credibility of the notebooks at the heart of the prosecution's case, saying the entries were changed over 1,500 times. - Battle over left's future - Kirchner's political career effectively ended in June when the Supreme Court upheld her corruption conviction over the awarding of public works contracts in the southern Patagonia region when she was president. She was sentenced to six years in prison, which she was allowed serve under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, and banned from holding public office for the rest of her life. The charismatic politician, who is revered by many on the left but detested by the right, maintains she is the victim of a right-wing judicial hounding aimed at destroying her career. Kirchner faces between six and 10 years in prison if convicted at the end of what is expected to be a lengthy trial, and would likely ask again to serve her term under house arrest. She continues to try to rally her supporters on social media and by appearing regularly on her balcony to greet well-wishers. Her attempt to retain leadership of the Peronist movement has created tensions with Buenos Aires' popular governor, Axel Kicillof, widely seen as a possible future presidential contender. "Peronism is going through a leadership crisis," political analyst Raul Timerman told AFP. 4 Comments Login to write comments Response Community Policy YOU MAY ALSO LIKE AFP partner publisher · 191.3K followers Follow Argentine ex-president Kirchner goes on trial in new corruption case Argentine ex-president Cristina Kirchner, who is serving a six-year fraud sentence under house arrest, goes on trial Thursday in a separate case for allegedly taking millions of dollars in bribes. Kirchner, who was placed under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor in June after being convicted of "fraudulent administration" as president, maintains she is the victim of a politically-inspired judicial hounding. 21h

Brasil Dismantles Hundreds Of Illegal Dredges In Major Amazon Mining Crackdown

Brazil dismantles hundreds of illegal dredges in major Amazon mining crackdown By Steven Grattan, 14 hours ago Dredging barges operated by illegal miners converge on the Madeira River, a tributary of the Amazon River, searching for gold, in Autazes, Amazonas state, Brazil, in November 2021. (Edmar Barros / Associated Press) Brazilian police backed by Interpol have destroyed hundreds of dredges used in illegal gold mining along the Madeira River, in one of the biggest coordinated crackdowns yet on criminal networks operating across the Amazon Basin. The international police agency said officers dismantled 277 floating mining rafts worth an estimated $6.8 million. When factoring in lost gold, equipment and environmental damage, officials estimated the total financial blow to organized crime groups at about $193 million. The Madeira River, one of the Amazon’s largest tributaries, flows from the Andes through Bolivia into northern Brazil before joining the main Amazon River — an area long plagued by illegal mining and environmental crime. The raids were led by Brazil’s Federal Police Amazon and Environment Protection Division, a special unit focused on combating environmental crimes, with support from a new regional coordination center linking law enforcement agencies from several Amazon countries. More than 100 officers used satellite data to map 155 square miles of forest and river areas scarred by mining, Interpol said Monday. Interpol — the international organization that helps police in nearly 200 countries share intelligence and coordinate operations — said the crackdown builds on a series of recent cross-border missions in Latin America targeting illegal gold mining, logging and wildlife trafficking. Such crimes are among the biggest drivers of deforestation and river contamination in the Amazon, and often fund broader organized crime networks. The operation comes just weeks before world leaders gather in the northern Brazilian city of Belem for COP30, where Brazil is expected to highlight its efforts to curb Amazon destruction and illegal mining. “This operation marks a new chapter in our collective effort to protect the Amazon,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said in a statement, calling it proof that regional cooperation can strike at the financial networks behind environmental crimes. Interpol said liaison officers from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Suriname took part in the operation, though it did not specify when it took place. Authorities said samples of sediment and other materials were collected for forensic analysis to trace their origin and detect hazardous substances such as mercury and cyanide. Residents were also tested for possible toxic exposure linked to gold-mining activities. Brazil’s Federal Police said follow-up investigations aim to identify and prosecute the financiers and ringleaders behind the illicit gold trade — not just the miners, who are often exploited in the process. Grattan writes for the Associated Press.

Mexicans Protest Murder Of Mayor Killed At Day of the Dead Festivities

Mexicans Protest Murder of Mayor Killed At Day of the Dead Festivities Mexico Hundreds of Mexicans took to the streets of Uruapan, in the western state of Michoacán, on Sunday, calling for justice during the funeral of Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, an outspoken critic of organized crime who was shot dead the day before during Day of the Dead festivities, Al Jazeera reported. Uruapan residents, clad in black clothing and holding up photographs of Manzo Rodríguez, 40, participated in the funeral procession of the former mayor while chanting “Justice! Justice! Out with Morena!” referring to the ruling party of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Associated Press added. Manzo Rodríguez, a former Morena legislator, was shot Saturday night in the town’s historic center and died later that day at the hospital, according to authorities. Footage of the attack shared on social media shows dozens of people running for cover after hearing gunshots. A city council member and a bodyguard were also wounded in the shooting. The former mayor, who had expressed concerns for his safety and was often seen wearing a bulletproof vest, had been under protection since December 2024, three months after taking office. Authorities told reporters that the mayor was killed by an unidentified man who shot him seven times and was later killed at the scene. The murder weapon was connected to two previous armed clashes between rival criminal groups in the area. Recently, Manzo Rodríguez had used social media to ask the federal government for help to confront the criminal groups. He had also accused Michoacán’s pro-government governor and the state police of corruption. After the shooting, Sheinbaum condemned the assassination and promised justice. The murder is the latest in a long list of assassinations of local politicians in Mexico, often targeted by criminal gangs. A mayor of the municipality of Tacambaro, also in Michoacán, was killed in June. Michoacán is one of the country’s most violent states, where criminal gangs fight for control of the territory, drug distribution routes, and other illegal activities. Uruapan, also known as Mexico’s avocado capital, is particularly vulnerable because the industry is a target for organized crime.

Venezuela: Some In The Region Welcome US 'Gunboat Diplomacy'

As the US Ships Move Toward Venezuela, Some in the Region Welcome the ‘Gunboat Diplomacy’ Venezuela As the world’s biggest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, headed to the Venezuelan coast, the South American country’s president, clearly worried, claimed US President Donald Trump was manufacturing a crisis. “They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal, and totally fake one,” said President Nicolás Maduro, in an address to the nation. “Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves.” Only a small amount of cocaine in the US arrives via Venezuela, according to the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank. But Trump has claimed that Maduro, as the alleged leader of the Cartel de los Soles, along with Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, are leveraging the Venezuelan state to aid and abet drug runners selling their products in the US. American officials have killed 64 people in air strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats in recent weeks in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Trump has described the attacks as acts of war. He hasn’t ruled out invading Venezuela either. “We have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela,” he said, adding: “We’re going to stop them by land also…The land is going to be next.” His critics, including Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, have described these attacks as extrajudicial killings, the Guardian noted. “So far, they have alleged that these people are drug dealers. No one’s said their name, no one’s said what evidence, no one’s said whether they’re armed, and we’ve had no evidence presented,” he said on Fox News Sunday. Meanwhile, many legal experts deem them illegal, questioning the administration’s justification that it is in an “armed conflict” with drug traffickers. The US has also sought to apprehend Maduro by offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The endgame, according to analysts, is that Trump is likely trying to increase pressure in a bid to oust Maduro’s regime, wrote the BBC. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina, who recently won the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote democracy and civil rights in Venezuela, and is in hiding because of them, has undoubtedly influenced the White House’s thinking, added Reuters. The Gerald R. Ford, its accompanying destroyers, and detachments of US marines in the region could represent a force whose goal might be to invade Venezuela, an oil-rich nation that has sunk into poverty under Maduro’s corruption and collectivist economic policies. American bombers have been flying in Venezuelan airspace, too. Until more American soldiers mass in Puerto Rico, a land invasion is unlikely, however, the Economist contended. “Plenty of firepower is in place,” it wrote. “The build-up of ships is the largest in the region since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962…(but) the aim of this gunboat diplomacy is fuzzy.” This could all be an effort to rattle Maduro, it added, or to map out his air defenses, or both. Alternatively, the American goal might be to scare Venezuelan generals sufficiently for them to mount a coup against Maduro, the Hill reasoned. The results might be backfiring so far, however. Venezuela and Russia recently signed an agreement to cooperate more closely on energy, mining, transport, and security, for instance, the German Press Agency noted. To that end, a Russian cargo plane that may have carried mercenaries or weapons recently landed in the capital of Caracas, Defense News added. Maduro is a survivor. He probably lost reelection in 2024, but, as the Journal of Democracy explained, he controls the government and kept himself in office. Gunboat diplomacy can be very effective, too, however, as well as popular in Latin America. “At first glance, the number of countries and leaders that are rhetorically supportive of Trump’s aggressive military operations against the cartels may be surprising, as it goes against the conventional narrative that Latin America always rejects US interference in regional affairs,” wrote World Politics Review. “But on closer scrutiny, it makes more sense. Security populism and promises to use military assets to target criminals are winning election campaigns across the region.” 

Why Didn't The Argentines Try To Stop The British Task Force On The Way To The alkans/

Profile photo for Frank West Frank West · Follow Updated 1h Why didn’t Argentina try to stop the British task force on its way to the Falklands in 1982? This has always puzzled me — Argentina has a long coast and surely knew the fleet was coming. Why didn’t they intercept or attack it on its voyage south? The Argentines did try to intercept the British at sea. It just didn’t work. The Argentine Navy sortied a fairly sizable task force of around 20 ships to intercept the British. Included in the fleet was the aircraft carrier ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, the cruiser ARA General Belgrano, other surface ships like destroyers and corvettes, and the submarine ARA San Luis. These warships represented a lot of firepower and, especially considering the Argentine aircraft carrier, was potentially very dangerous to the British. ARA Veinticinco de Mayo & ARA General Belgrano The Royal Navy dealt with this threat by sending the nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror. She fired 3 torpedoes at the Gen Belgrano on 2 May ‘82. The Argentine cruiser was struck twice and sank in minutes at the cost of over 300 lives. (Edited) HMS Conqueror (S48) This action spooked the Argentine leadership who immediately withdrew the remaining warships back to port. They stayed in harbor for the duration of the war. The Argentinian Navy just didn’t have an answer for a modern nuclear submarine. If they had, the Argentines had a decent chance of stopping the British fleet. AMA Gen Belgrano, low in the water before sinking on 2 May 1982. The sinking of the Belgrano cost many young lives, but it did force a positive outcome. The loss of the Falklands war, compounded by the sinking of the Belgrano, discredited the Argentine military junta and contributed to the restoration of civilian rule in 1983. __________________________________________ ***EDIT - UPDATE*** Several people in the comments have pointed out, correctly, that the action I describe above actually happened after the British were in the Falklands area. So, they ask again, why didn’t the Argentines “intercept” the British well before? Fair enough, so here’s that answer: The Argentines didn’t really think the British would fight. Not properly. They assumed the conflict would be settled by negotiation, so they neglected to prepare for a large naval war. Consequently, there was no plan ahead of time to ready the fleet and defend the islands. The British moved very fast. The ARA wasn’t ready to put to sea for a couple of weeks, but the British launched about 3 days after the invasion. There was a British submarine on station in about 48 hours. It just took too long for the Argentines to assemble and fit-out their full fleet. Submarines. By the time the Argentines were ready to sail, the British had submarines deployed south of the Falklands. That forced the ARA to move cautiously and slowly. No operations master plan. The Argentines didn’t have an integrated war plan. Each military branch planned independently. As such, the Army didn’t really consult the Navy and the Navy didn’t know what the Air Force was doing, etc. If they had worked together, the ARA could have sailed before the invasion, the Air Force could have deployed fighters to the islands….and they wouldn’t have wasted so much time. So there’s the answer. The Argentines were unprepared and didn’t anticipate a proper fight. Therefore, they neglected to use their forces in a coordinated, strategic, and timely manner. By the time it was clear there would be a real war, it took them too long to respond and react. C’est la guerre… 146.3K views View 1,649 upvotes View 8 shares 1 of 26 answers 130 comments from Robert Storms and more More from your Digest MyIQ Sponsored Answer 30 questions to find out your score. Are you smarter than the average American? The ave

Argentina: Milei's Party Secures Surprise Win In Midterms

Milei’s Party Secures Surprise Win in Midterms Argentina Argentine President Javier Milei won a decisive victory in Sunday’s midterm elections, tightening his control over Congress and bolstering his free-market overhaul with backing from Washington, CBS News reported. With nearly all votes counted, Milei’s right-wing La Libertad Avanza party exceeded projections by securing about 41 percent of the national vote, defeating the once-dominant Peronist opposition, which received around 31 percent. The results showed his party and allies gained 14 new seats in the upper house of the legislature and 64 in the lower house. While still short of a full majority, the vote’s outcome surprised many observers who had described the midterms as a referendum on Milei, elected in 2023 on promises to boost Argentina’s chronic economic malaise. A self-described “anarcho-capitalist,” the libertarian leader imposed a series of “shock therapy” policies that devalued the peso, cut energy subsidies, and saw tens of thousands of public employees lose their jobs. The policies briefly stabilized Argentina’s finances, producing its first balanced budget in more than a decade and reducing inflation from 200 percent two years ago to 32 percent now, the Wall Street Journal added. Even so, his administration has been plagued by a series of scandals and mass protests against his policies that cast doubt on his popularity ahead of the vote. But Sunday’s results now give Milei effective veto power over opposition legislation and solidify his hold on Argentina’s austerity program, which has drawn both popular anger and investor praise. Milei thanked supporters, saying the vote was “the confirmation of the mandate we assumed in 2023.” Praise also poured from Milei’s key ally, US President Donald Trump, who had tied billions in US financial aid to the outcome of the vote. The Trump administration had conditioned a $20 billion currency-swap deal with Argentina’s central bank and another $20 billion in private loans on Milei’s electoral success, after warning it would withdraw support if the Peronists prevailed. Markets reacted positively on Monday, with Argentine bonds and stocks surging and analysts describing the results as a relief for investors who had doubted Milei’s political endurance. Observers noted, however, that the domestic strain remains severe: Inflation continues to erode real wages, and more than 250,000 jobs have been lost since Milei came to power, with at least 18,000 businesses closing, CBS noted. Axel Kicillof, the Peronist governor of Buenos Aires province, warned Milei was ignoring “the suffering of many Argentines,” adding that US-backed loans “will do nothing to help ordinary people.”

Congress Targets Hezbollah Drug Smuggling In Latin America

Congress targets Hezbollah drug smuggling in Latin America By Pedro Rodriguez, 3 days ago The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing this week on the Iran-financed Islamic terrorist network Hezbollah, and its oil smuggling, money laundering, counterfeiting, and illegal weapons procurement operations. All of these efforts are tied to drug cartels and communist regimes in Latin America. It comes as no surprise that after the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah’s ally, the terrorist network has had to seek funding and shelter elsewhere. CUT OFF HEZBOLLAH’S LIFELINE TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCING “In this critical time, Hezbollah may seek to further expand its Latin America drug trafficking and money laundering networks, and that's why we are holding this hearing today,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the caucus, stated in Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations. “As noted by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Hezbollah established a presence in the lawless tri-border region of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, infiltrating the largest shiite muslim diaspora,” Cornyn added. FINCEN also reported that Hezbollah’s expanding partnerships with South American drug cartels and the Chavez-Maduro regime in Venezuela are helping to advance the Islamic terrorist network’s money-laundering operations. “I’m concerned about reports that indicate that the former Venezuelan Vice President was responsible for issuing the Venezuelan passports to Hezbollah members, facilitated their coming into Latin America, and helped Hezbollah to channel funds to the Middle East,” Cornyn said. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) called Venezuela a “safe haven” for one of the world’s most lethal terrorist networks. In 2020, the Justice Department charged a former member of the Venezuelan General Assembly with narcotrafficking, terrorism, weapons offenses, and acting as a liaison between Cartel of the Suns and Hezbollah and Hamas. As stated by Cornyn, Hezbollah’s ties to the communist regime have facilitated the terrorist network’s illicit activities in the region. The group’s operations in Latin America first drew U.S. government attention during President Barack Obama’s administration, as Hezbollah began shifting its focus away from the Middle East. With the collapse of its chief financial patron, the Iranian regime, and the weakening of Syria’s Assad, the organization sought new funding sources abroad. Now, under President Donald Trump’s second administration, Hezbollah is accelerating its activities across Latin America, filling the financial void left by its declining power base in the Middle East. HEZBOLLAH IS DOWN, NOT OUT “President Trump's brave decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer could dry up a key source of funding for Hezbollah,” Cornyn said. Hezbollah’s other ally, Hamas, has been almost completely eradicated in Gaza thanks to Trump’s military alliance with Israel, which aimed to eliminate the terrorist organization after its brutal attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, giving Hezbollah an even stronger reason to expand its operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Renato Giovannoni's Essential Buenos Aires

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Colombia's Petro Fires Back At US Sanctions

Colombia’s Petro Fires Back at US Sanctions Colombia Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced US sanctions imposed on himself, his family, and senior officials this week, as tensions between Bogotá and Washington plunged to their lowest point in years following escalating threats and military action by the US in the Caribbean, the Wall Street Journal reported. On Friday, the US Treasury froze all US-based assets belonging to Petro and the others under the new sanctions regime, accusing the Colombian leader of “allowing drug cartels to flourish.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said cocaine production in Colombia had reached “the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.” Petro denied the allegations, writing on X that “fighting drug trafficking for decades – and effectively – has brought me this measure from the government of the very society we helped so much to curb its cocaine consumption.” The sanctions mark the latest escalation in the feud between Petro and Trump, who last week halted all US aid payments to Colombia and threatened to impose additional tariffs on the country’s exports. Trump accused Petro of being an “illegal drug leader” and warned he needed to close up drug operations, “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.” Washington has also launched airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that have killed at least 43 people. Petro and human rights groups allege that some of the victims were civilians, an accusation the White House denies, according to CBS News. Amid the ongoing spat, the leftist leader recalled Colombia’s ambassador to Washington and countered that the suspension of US aid would have little effect. However, he acknowledged that cuts to military assistance, particularly the loss of US helicopters, would harm anti-drug operations in the South American country, Reuters wrote. Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, and the supply of the drug has reached a historic peak around the globe, according to US and United Nations anti-drug officials. Although the Colombian government has continued to struggle to take control of major hubs for rebel and criminal activity, Petro said authorities have seized a record amount of cocaine in the past three years, totaling more than 3,000 tons. The former guerrilla leader has floated the idea of legalizing cocaine to weaken the cartels, while complaining that the narcotic was only illegal because it was made in Latin America. Share this story

Brasil: Embraer Begins Construction Of Massive Maintenance Center In Fort Worth!

4 By Tatenda Karuwa Published 3 days ago Tatenda is an award-winning aviation journalist. He provides the latest news and insight on airlines, airports, and all other developments across the continent. Based in Dubai, UAE. follow Like Thread 4 Log in Embraer has started the construction of its new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center for commercial jets at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) in Texas. The milestone was celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Embraer executives, local officials, and representatives from partner companies. The Brazilian manufacturer has hundreds of regional jets flying across the US, and the establishment of this center will bring more economic opportunities to Fort Worth. The new center will be part of Embraer’s global network, serving as a hub for maintenance work and innovation. Expanding MRO Capabilities In Texas A United Airlines Express Embraer 175 commuter jet. Credit: Shutterstock ✕ Remove Ads Embraer’s new facility is scheduled to open by 2027. It will allow the manufacturer to increase capacity by 53% to serve E-Jets operators in the United States. The investment is expected to reach up to $70 million and create up to 250 new skilled aviation jobs in Texas. In June 2025, Embraer started operations at an existing hangar at Alliance Airport, in collaboration with the City of Fort Worth, Denton County, and the State of Texas. With construction commencing at the site, Embraer marks a new chapter in its journey in the US, where it has been present for over 46 years. The new facility represents a long-term commitment to the US market. Parties across industry, government, and education will come together to innovate and build the infrastructure and talent base that will sustain aviation in the region. Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said, “We are honored to be here in Fort Worth, Texas – a city that represents innovation, resilience, and opportunity – to celebrate the groundbreaking of our new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at Perot Field Alliance Airport. ✕ Remove Ads Investing In The Local Economy Embraer celebrates the groundbreaking of its new MRO facility in Fort Worth Credit: Embraer Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker describes Alliance Airport as a hub for innovation and economic opportunity. Embraer’s new facility will further strengthen Fort Worth’s position as a leader in aviation and advanced manufacturing. The investment also highlights the strength of the city’s business environment and the talent of its workforce. The expansion will mark a new era in the city’s long and proud aviation legacy. Earlier this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott officially declared Fort Worth the Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas. The designation, introduced by state representatives and sponsored by the Texas Comptroller, acknowledges the city’s leadership in aerospace and defense manufacturing and technology. The declaration recognizes Fort Worth’s deep history in aircraft production, including the B-36 Peacemaker, B-58 Hustler, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-35 Lightning II. ✕ Remove Ads Alliance Airport is the second-largest airport facility in North Texas after Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). AFW is owned by the city of Fort Worth and managed by Alliance Air Services. While it does not welcome any major commercial passenger airlines, it provides a range of aviation services and serves cargo operations. The new MRO center will be part of Embraer’s global facilities, which include over 80 authorized service centers and 13 Embraer-owned service centers. Embraer Operations In The US Delta Embraer E-175 taking off Credit: Shutterstock Although Embraer has been present in the US for nearly five decades, its E-Jets started operating in the US in 2005. The E190 was launched by JetBlue, although the airline has now retired the aircraft. While the number of regional jets is decreasing in the US, they remain a vital part of the ecosystem, operating on various domestic and regional routes. ✕ Remove Ads According to ch-aviation, there are over 800 Embraer E-Jets in active service with 15 operators across the US. SkyWest Airlines is the largest operator with 265 aircraft, followed by Republic Airways with 253, and Envoy Air with 173. SkyWest and Republic operate services for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United, while Envoy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group. Great News For Embraer As SAS Orders 45 E195-E2s Play Video 3:36 Other Embraer operators in the US include Breeze Airways and Horizon Air. Embraer recently secured a huge victory with its E-2 program, winning its first order in the US. Last month, Avelo Airlines placed a firm order for 50 E195-E2s with options for 50 more. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2027. ✕ Remove Ads Manufacturers Embraer Embraer MRO hangar Follow Like Share

Peru Declares 30-Day State Of Emergency In Lima Amid Protests and Crime

Peru Declares 30-Day State of Emergency in Lima Amid Protests and Rising Crime Peru Peru’s interim president José Jerí declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital of Lima and the neighboring port of Callao this week, in an effort to quell weeks of anti-government protests and a sharp surge in violent crime that has destabilized the country, Agence France-Presse reported. On Tuesday, Jerí said the decree would take effect at midnight Wednesday, allowing the government to send troops onto the streets and restrict freedom of assembly and movement. The measure marks the new president’s first major action since assuming office nearly two weeks ago, following the impeachment of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, over corruption allegations and her failure to curb organized crime. It follows weeks of youth-led demonstrations that have spread throughout the country, demanding government accountability amid worsening insecurity. The capital had already been under a partial state of emergency earlier this year following the murder of singer Paul Flores in an alleged extortion attempt. More than 200 people have been injured in the protests, including police officers and journalists. Last week, one person was killed during demonstrations demanding that Jerí resign. Jerí – who is expected to serve until July 2026 – has refused calls to step down. Meanwhile, critics and observers questioned whether the government has a concrete plan to address the root causes of organized crime, including a rise in extortion, Al Jazeera wrote. Authorities have said extortion cases have surged to an estimated 18,000 this year – a 30 percent increase over 2024 – while homicides rose to 1,690 between January and September, compared with 1,502 during the same period last year. At least 47 bus drivers have been killed in suspected extortion-related attacks, prompting widespread outrage over the state’s inability to maintain order. Share this story