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.
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.
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
U.S. doubles bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to $50 million
In February, the United States designated eight Latin American criminal organizations as “global terrorist” groups, including Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, and the MS-13 gang. In July, it added the Cartel of the Suns to the list — a group Washington claims is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, raising it from $25 million to $50 million, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on social media platform X.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that labeling the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization allows for a strategic shift in dealing with the Venezuelan regime, as it is now also considered a direct threat to U.S. national security, according to El Espectador.
In an interview with The World Over on EWTN, Rubio said the designation enables the U.S. to “use intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, or any other element of American power to go after them.” He stressed this is no longer just a law enforcement matter, but a national security operation.
When asked at the White House whether he believes it is worth sending the military to combat Latin American drug cartels, Trump responded:
“Latin America has many cartels, a lot of drug trafficking, so, you know, we want to protect our country. We have to protect it.”
International
Three injured in early-morning New York City shooting
A shooting in New York City early Saturday morning left three people injured, a police spokesperson told AFP.
The incident occurred at around 1:20 a.m. local time (05:20 GMT) following a dispute. An 18-year-old woman sustained a scratch to the neck, while a 19-year-old man and a 65-year-old man were injured in the lower limbs.
The victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
The alleged shooter was taken into custody at the scene, and a firearm was recovered. As of now, the suspect has not been formally charged.
Videos circulating on social media show scenes of panic among the crowd, though AFP has not been able to verify their authenticity. The incident comes just weeks after another shooting in a Manhattan skyscraper that left four people injured before the gunman took his own life.
International
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announces talks with clan del Golfo outside country
Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on Friday that his government has begun talks outside the country with the Clan del Golfo, Colombia’s main criminal group also known as the Gaitanist Army.
“We have started conversations outside Colombia with the self-called Gaitanist Army,” the president said during the handover of 6,500 hectares of land to farmers in the Caribbean department of Córdoba.
The president noted that his administration “has seized more cocaine than any other government” because it seeks to “cut off the finances (of criminal groups) that fuel violence in many regions of Colombia.”
“A bill has been introduced that I hope the Congress studies thoroughly, because it essentially elevates restorative justice even for serious crimes,” Petro said.
The initiative he referred to was presented by his Minister of Justice, Eduardo Montealegre, aimed at “the consolidation of total peace.”
According to the Ministry of Justice, the bill seeks to provide the government with clear regulations to achieve the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of illegal armed groups.
For groups such as the Clan del Golfo, a judicial submission process will be applied, which could bring possible legal benefits if they genuinely cooperate, surrender weapons, and dismantle their groups.
U.S. doubles bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro to $50 million
Three injured in early-morning New York City shooting
Nicaragua’s Telica volcano erupts four times, no damages reported
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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