International

The trial of the perpetrators of the murder of Brazilian councilor Marielle Franco begins

The trial against former policemen Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz, accused of the murder of Brazilian councilor and human rights activist Marielle Franco, began this Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro with the testimony of Fernanda González Chaves, the only survivor of the attack.

Franco was shot dead on March 14, 2018 along with Anderson Gomes, the driver of the vehicle in which she was traveling, after participating in a political act in downtown Rio de Janeiro.

Testimony of the only survivor

During her testimony, the then advisor to Marielle Franco, narrated how the events occurred from her point of view.

For security reasons, González Chaves had to leave for Madrid with his family after the attack and could not even be at the funeral of the one who, in addition to his boss, was his friend.

“There was no way to have a normal life after that episode,” he said in the audience.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

The defendants answer for the crimes of three-time qualified double homicide, attempted homicide and receipt of the stolen vehicle used in the crime and face penalties of up to 84 years in prison for each, as requested by the Prosecutor’s Office.

The hearing, which began at 11:00 local time (14:00 GMT), two hours later than scheduled, is scheduled to end on Thursday and takes place in the fourth room of a Rio court, with seven juries who were elected from a group of 21 and who will decide the fate of Lessa and Queiroz, prisoners since 2019.

Marielle Franco defender of human rights.

Woman, black, lesbian and born in a favela, Franco stood out for being an energetic defender of the human rights of the most needy and for fighting the mafia groups that dominate the imprived communities of Rio.

The attack against the councilor of the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), who was 38 years old at the time, had a clear political connotation that only began to be elucidated at the beginning of 2023, when the investigations passed to the Supreme Court in Brasilia after five years practically paralyzed in Rio de Janeiro.

Family and friends call for justice

The start of the trial was preceded by a demonstration in which family, friends and supporters of the activist participated to demand justice for Marielle Franco but also for “black, poor and favela” citizens, victims of crimes who remain unpunished.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Dozens of people met in front of the court where the hearing is held, loaded with posters, pamphlets and brooches, with phrases “I want justice for Marielle and Anderson” and “What Marielle did for us, we will do for Marielle.”

The event organized by the Marielle Franco Institute, founded by the activist’s family, seeks to demand a “forceful and serious response” to the case, after more than six years of waiting.

International

Peruvian presidential candidate proposes death penalty amid crime surge

Peru is facing an unprecedented surge in crime ahead of its presidential election scheduled for April 12, with violence fueled by extortion networks and a wave of contract killings linked to organized crime.

Police data show that 2,200 homicides tied to organized crime were recorded in 2025, while extortion complaints increased by 19%, underscoring the growing security crisis in the South American nation.

Amid this backdrop, presidential candidate Álvarez has proposed reinstating the death penalty if elected, arguing that extreme measures are needed to curb the violence.

To implement the proposal, Álvarez said Peru would withdraw from the American Convention on Human Rights—also known as the Pact of San José—which the country signed in 1978. The agreement prevents member states that have abolished capital punishment from reinstating it.

Currently, Peruvian law only allows the death penalty in cases of treason during wartime.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“We have to leave the Pact of San José and apply the death penalty in Peru because those miserable criminals don’t deserve to live,” Álvarez told AFP during a campaign stop at a market in Callao, the port city neighboring Lima.

“An iron fist against those criminals,” he added, proposing to declare hitmen as military targets.

During the campaign event, Álvarez walked through stalls selling vegetables, groceries, and fish, greeting vendors while musicians played cumbia music nearby.

The 62-year-old candidate, who spent more than four decades working in television as a comedian, is a newcomer to politics and is running for president under the País para Todos party.

Polls place him fifth in voter preference with nearly 4% support in a fragmented race featuring 36 candidates.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“I am an artist who has taken a step into politics to bring peace to my country,” Álvarez told reporters while surrounded by supporters.

International

FBI: Man who attacked Michigan synagogue died from self-inflicted gunshot

The man who died during Thursday’s attack on a synagogue in the United States suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the FBI.

FBI agent Jennifer Runyan told reporters that the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Lebanese citizen Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, shot himself at some point during the confrontation.

“At some point during the shooting, Ghazali suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” Runyan said during a press conference.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the suspect’s identity.

Authorities said Ghazali drove a truck into the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, located in the state of Michigan, on Thursday.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

According to Michael Bouchard, sheriff of Oakland County, synagogue security personnel noticed the vehicle and confronted the suspect with gunfire.

Investigators said it would be premature to speculate about the motive for the attack, although reports indicate Ghazali recently lost relatives during Israeli strikes in Lebanon earlier this month.

“It would be irresponsible for me to speculate about his motive,” Runyan said.

Ghazali arrived in Detroit in 2011 on a spouse visa for U.S. citizens and obtained American citizenship in 2016, according to reporting by The New York Times.

He was the father of two teenagers, divorced from his wife in 2024, and had recently been working as a waiter.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

The newspaper also reported that Ghazali attended a memorial service in the nearby city of Dearborn for relatives killed in the recent conflict, alongside other grieving family members from the Lebanese town of Machghara.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the incident is being investigated as an act of violence targeting the Jewish community.

A source from Michigan’s Lebanese-American community told CBS News that several of Ghazali’s relatives had been killed roughly ten days before the attack, leaving him deeply devastated.

International

Mexican Navy Ships Deliver Third Shipment of Humanitarian Aid to Cuba

Two logistics support vessels from the Mexican Navy — the ARM Papaloapan and the ARM Huasteco — docked again on Friday in the bay of Havana carrying a third shipment of humanitarian aid for Cuba.

The vessels had previously arrived on the Caribbean island on February 28 with a second cargo that included 1,200 tons of food, sent to help alleviate the country’s ongoing crisis, which has worsened following the U.S. oil restrictions affecting fuel supplies to the island.

Cuba’s deputy foreign minister Josefina Vidal confirmed the new shipment in a social media post.

“Two ships carrying a third shipment of aid from the Government and the people of Mexico for the Cuban people are now arriving at the port of Havana. Thank you Mexico for your solidarity with Cuba,” she wrote.

Previous aid shipments

During the second shipment, the Papaloapan transported 1,078 tons of beans and powdered milk, while the Huastecocarried 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of assorted food products collected by social organizations with support from the government of Mexico City.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

In recent months, Mexico has become the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Cuba, sending around 2,000 tons of supplies, mostly staple foods and hygiene products, in the two shipments prior to Friday’s delivery.

The first shipment alone included 814 tons of food.

Cuba praises Mexico’s support

Hours before the ships arrived, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted Mexico’s support during a televised appearance, describing the country as “a friendly and brotherly nation that has shown tremendous solidarity,”particularly praising Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Díaz-Canel also addressed reports suggesting that Mexican donations were being resold in state-run stores, dismissing them as a “disinformation campaign” promoted by right-wing groups.