International

The Pokrovsk sector is still the hottest of the war in Ukraine

This Friday, 139 fighting was recorded at the front, most of them in the Pokrovsk sector, in the eastern region of Donetsk, according to the part of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine updated on Saturday morning.

Russian forces launched six missile attacks on July 5, using twelve missiles, 55 air strikes (with 72 guided aerial bombs) and carried out more than 3,000 bombings, including 105 of them with multiple rocket launch systems.

The Russian army carried out air strikes mainly in the regions of Kharkov, Donetsk and Zaporiyia.

In the Kharkov sector, Russian troops continued offensive and assault operations with the support of aviation, with a total of eight combats.

In the Kupiansk sector, the number of fights increased to five throughout the day, in the Liman sector 21 attacks were repelled and in Siversk, seven.

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In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian defenders thwarted ten Russian attempts to break the defensive lines.

In the Toretsk sector, Russian troops were quite active and launched 18 attacks with air support.

In the Pokrovsk sector, 45 Russian attacks were repelled and in the Kurajove sector, the Ukrainian defense forces continued to contain the Russian troops that tried to break the defensive lines on nine occasions.

In the Vremivka sector, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian positions seven times and in the Orijiv sector there were two fights.

In the Dnieper River sector, the Russians continue to try to evict the Ukrainian defense forces from their positions on the bridgeheads on the left bank. The five attacks were unsuccessful.

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In the Volin and Polissia sectors, the operational situation has not changed significantly and there are no indications of the formation of Russian offensive groups.

In addition, eleven civilians were killed and another 43 were injured in several Russian attacks on Friday in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, reported the head of the regional military administration, Vadim Filashkin.

On the other hand, about 100,400 subscribers in a total of 348 settlements were still without electricity this morning after a Russian attack last night against an energy infrastructure in the Sumi region, in northern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy reported on Saturday.

Ukrainian drones attacked and set fire to two fuel tanks last night in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar, near the annexed Crimean peninsula, regional authorities reported today.

According to the statement, the drones were shot down, but their fragments impacted and set fire to two fuel tanks in two localities. The emergency services did not specify the volume of the deposits reached.

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As a result of the night attack, a mobile phone tower in the city of Yeisk, located on the shores of the Sea of Azov, also suffered damage.

The Russian Ministry of Defense in turn reported that the anti-aircraft defense systems shot down seven Ukrainian fixed-side drones last night over the Kursk region and one on the Belgorod region.

These two Russian regions are bordered by Ukraine and suffer almost daily attacks with drones and artillery.

In addition, the Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 24 of the 27 Shahed-131/136 attack drones launched by Russia during the night from the occupied territory of Crimea and the Russian region of Kursk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mikola Oleshchuk, reported on Saturday.

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International

Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions

Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.

“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.

Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.

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Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.

International

Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight

The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.

Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.

Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.

In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.

While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.

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The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.

Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.

International

Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo

Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.

The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.

According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.

The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”

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However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”

These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.