International

Milei, willing to convince other countries to adopt sanctions against Venezuela

“I would have no problem” in adopting diplomatic sanctions against Venezuela, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, said in an interview with CNN, who would even be willing to convince other countries to support that same measure.

“Yes, I would be willing to do it, because the carnage that is Venezuela is truly unheard of; the same as the prison island of Cuba,” said the Argentine head of state during an interview with journalist Andrés Oppenheimer, whose first part was broadcast in full this Sunday.

“Then there are other cases that are on the way, such as the case of Colombia, with Mr. (Gustavo) Petro. Well, you can’t expect much from someone who was a terrorist killer, a communist,” Milei added in a part of that interview that was already anticipated last Wednesday.

As a result of those statements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia issued a statement reporting that the expulsion of diplomats from the Embassy of Argentina in that country was ordered.

“The expressions of the Argentine president have deteriorated the confidence of our nation, in addition to offending the dignity of President Petro, who was democratically elected,” said the Colombian Foreign Ministry, which communicated its decision to the Argentine diplomatic representation through “institutional channels.”

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Last Monday, the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay issued a joint statement in which they expressed their “serious concern” about the allegations of the Venezuelan opposition about the obstacles to registering their candidate.

Buenos Aires’ support for that statement represents “a step forward,” according to Milei, because “the previous Government (presided over by the Peronist Alberto Fernández) would not have condemned any of those dictatorships,” he said.

Asked about the critical opinions of him of the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and the ruling and favorite candidate in the polls, Claudia Sheinbaum, the Argentine president responded: “It is a compliment that an ignorant like López Obrador speaks ill of me, exalts me.”

And he added: “It is a problem of Mexicans if they choose socialists (…), I feel sorry for the one who has to suffer a socialist regime.”

Regarding an eventual trip of Pope Francis to Argentina, Javier Milei considered that “we should not be pressuring him,” and pointed out that it is a decision that is up to the Supreme Pontiff.

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“I offered to accompany him and be by his side, I would almost tell him like a human cane (…), but he is the one who must make that decision to face so much physical burden,” he added.

After asserting that “the left in its different versions is the cancer of humanity,” Milei considered that, in fact, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, and the Brazilian, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, were democratically elected, but added that “every day they advance more on individuals towards more collectivist solutions.”

The Argentine ruler maintained that the desire he conveyed to former United States president Donald Trump (2017 -2021) to return to the White House “in protocol terms does not count,” because it took place in a casual meeting during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held a month ago in Maryland (USA).

“I am more affioy to the ideas of the Republican Party (…), it is true and that is known, but my priority is to be an ally of the United States. That is, my international allies are the United States and Israel and I am absolutely consistent in that,” he emphasized.

Regarding the criticisms of the presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Chile that Israel’s military response to the terrorist attack in Hamas is a genocide, Milei said: “I find it condemnable that they make such condemnations.”

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“Israel received a brutal attack and this kind of thing requires exemplary responses. And in fact, Israel is doing everything he is doing within the rules of the game. In other words, Israel is not committing a single excess,” he concluded.

International

Five Bodies Found in Ecuador as Police Probe Suspected Gang Turf War

Ecuadorian authorities are investigating the deaths of five people whose bodies were found inside a rural home, in what police believe may be linked to a territorial dispute between organized criminal groups.

The victims, aged between 21 and 30, were discovered Tuesday in the town of La Troncal, in the Andean province of Cañar. Police reported that two of the bodies were bound with wire, while a burned-out vehicle was found outside the residence.

Investigators said graffiti on the walls of the house included messages such as “Lobos territory” and “Lobos active,” suggesting a possible connection to the criminal organization known as Los Lobos.

Police believe the killings were likely the result of a conflict over territorial control between rival gangs.

The discovery came on the same day authorities arrested a former mayor in the neighboring province of Azuay. Officials identified him as the alleged main financial backer of Los Lobos, one of Ecuador’s most powerful criminal organizations.

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Ecuador has experienced an unprecedented surge in violence in recent years, driven by criminal groups involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, kidnapping, and extortion.

According to Insight Crime, the country recorded 51 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025—equivalent to roughly one killing every hour—making it one of the most violent countries in Latin America.

International

Georgia Teen Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Deadly School Shooting

A Georgia teenager who killed four people in a 2024 school shooting was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the attack.

Colt Gray, now 16, admitted to opening fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) northeast of Atlanta. He was 14 years old at the time of the shooting.

The attack claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, while nine other people were injured. Despite being a minor when the shooting occurred, Gray was prosecuted as an adult.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Nicholas Trimm acknowledged the failures of the teenager’s family but said they did not excuse his actions.

“Your parents failed you. Your family failed you. But that does not absolve you,” the judge said.

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Trimm also rejected any suggestion that the shooting was motivated by bullying or personal grievances.

“You were not bullied at Apalachee. This was not driven by hate. You didn’t know anyone at that school. It was simply the desire to commit a notorious act,” he told Gray.

The case also led to the prosecution of the shooter’s father, Colin Gray, who was convicted in March of voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. The case marked one of the first instances in which a parent was held criminally responsible for a mass shooting carried out by their child.

Prosecutors said Colin Gray had given his son an AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift in 2023, despite being aware that the teenager had previously threatened to carry out a school shooting.

Authorities said the same rifle was used in the attack less than a year later. Months before the shooting, FBI investigators had alerted local law enforcement after receiving reports of online messages linked to the Gray family’s internet address that referenced plans for a school massacre.

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The case reflects growing legal scrutiny in the United States over the responsibility of parents whose children commit acts of gun violence.

In a similar case, the parents of a Michigan teenager who killed four people at his high school in 2021 were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2024 and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 15 years.

According to U.S. health authorities, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children and teenagers in the United States for several years.

International

Portuguese Authorities Seize 2.6 Tons of Cocaine Worth More Than $550 Million in Drug Bust

Italian financial police reported Monday that Portuguese authorities intercepted a speedboat carrying more than 2.6 tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value exceeding $550 million.

Four people — two Spanish nationals, one Albanian citizen, and a man from Gibraltar — were arrested in connection with the operation, according to Italian authorities.

The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Lisbon by Portugal’s maritime police following an investigation led by Italian authorities.

Italian financial police estimated that the seized shipment had a street value of approximately 500 million euros ($570 million), making it one of the largest drug seizures reported in the region in recent years.

Portuguese authorities said the interception took place on Thursday, about 90 kilometers (50 nautical miles) southwest of Cape Espichel, during an operation targeting international drug trafficking routes.