International
Colombian general investigated for illegal wiretapping
November 13 |
The Colombian Attorney General’s Office announced Saturday that it will investigate the Army commander, General Luis Mauricio Ospina, for allegedly ordering illegal surveillance and interceptions of his wife’s English teacher, linking him as an alleged member of FARC dissidents.
According to local media, General Ospina ordered to investigate Leonardo Colmenares, his wife’s English teacher, who became friends because of their classes, which caused her husband to have doubts about the real reasons why they met periodically.
Thus, in order to justify this illegal monitoring and eavesdropping, General Ospina made Colmenares pass himself off as a member of the Carolina Ramírez front, of the FARC dissidents commanded by alias “Iván Mordisco”.
The Army commander acknowledged in statements to local media that he gave the order to investigate the teacher and blamed his subordinates for any irregularities they may have committed in this case.
“According to the allegations published in the media, the military high command allegedly abused his functions and ordered to use the intelligence and counterintelligence services of the Army for personal purposes”, explained the Public Prosecutor’s Office in a statement.
The disciplinary investigation of the Attorney General’s Office seeks to determine if, in addition, General Ospina “would have ordered a set-up, accusing without any evidence a citizen of belonging to a group outside the law, and thus justifying such monitoring”.
Likewise, the control body will verify, through the collection of testimonies, evidence and documents, “if the current Army commander would have incurred in disciplinary offenses, by abusing his power and using the intelligence and counterintelligence services, as well as using subordinates, for purposes far from those of the institutionality”.
In turn, the Army Command said in a statement that intelligence and counterintelligence tasks are defined in statutory laws: “in the specific case of the Counterintelligence function, the activities seek to anticipate, prevent, detect and neutralize actions to protect personnel, facilities, material and information,” the statement said.
And it adds: “This is the basis for the Army Commander’s authority to order the Military Counterintelligence Unit to carry out verification activities in response to information that alerts about a possible violation of the security and integrity of the Commander and his family”.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
International
FBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens
Kash Patel did not provide further details, but police sources told CBS News that the potential attack was “inspired” by the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This morning, the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested several individuals in Michigan who were allegedly planning a violent attack during the Halloween weekend,” Patel wrote on X.
“Thanks to swift action and close coordination with our local partners, a possible terrorist act was prevented before it could be carried out,” he added.
CBS reported that five people between the ages of 16 and 20 were arrested on Friday. At least one of them was reportedly acquainted with a former member of the Michigan National Guard, who was arrested in May for plotting an ISIS-inspired attack on a U.S. military facility in the Detroit suburbs.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
-
International4 days agoJamaica faces widespread destruction as hurricane Melissa hits the island
-
International1 day agoHurricane Melissa kills over 30, leaves thousands displaced in the Caribbean
-
International5 days agoColombian president Gustavo Petro denies alleged ties to criminal networks
-
International3 days agoMelissa leaves path of destruction in Caribbean, 735,000 evacuated in Cuba
-
International5 days agoMexican journalist reporting on drug cartels killed in Durango
-
Central America4 days agoNew dismembered bodies found in San Juan river days after mass killing in Palencia
-
Central America4 days agoFour guatemalan soldiers arrested for stealing weapons from Northern Air Command
-
International2 days agoHurricane Melissa leaves Jamaican residents homeless as recovery efforts begin
-
Central America4 days agoArévalo accuses Porras and judge of undermining democracy in Guatemala
-
Central America5 days agoEl Salvador cracks down on narcotics: 24 tons confiscated in major anti-drug operation
-
International3 days agoArgentina’s Milei opens dialogue with parties to push “Second-Generation Reforms”
-
International1 day agoU.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
-
International2 days agoUS Deputy Secretary criticizes Mexico’s call to end Cuba trade embargo at UN
-
International2 days agoVenezuela warns citizens who call for invasion risk losing nationality
-
Central America5 days agoEl Salvador’s FGR prosecutes 89,875 gang members under state of exception
-
International2 days agoBrazilian president defends coordinated anti-drug operations after deadly Rio raid
-
International2 days agoTrump orders immediate U.S. nuclear testing, ending 30-year moratorium
-
International1 day agoTrump sets historic low refugee cap at 7,500, prioritizes white South Africans
-
International2 days agoMexico advances continental shelf claims at UN Commission in New York
-
International1 day agoU.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
-
International9 hours agoFloods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
-
International2 days agoSimeón Pérez Marroquín, ‘El Viejo,’ detained for role in Miguel Uribe Turbay assassination plot
-
International1 day agoUNICEF: Over 700,000 children affected by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean
-
International1 day agoPope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
-
International9 hours agoFBI foils ISIS-Inspired attack in Michigan, arrests five teens



























