International
Europol warns of the increase in groups on the Internet to radicalize minors
Europol issued an alert on Thursday about the growth of groups on the Internet dedicated to “extremely violent child abuse” and warned that these communities seek to “normalize violence and corrupt minors,” by spreading ideologies that inspire “mass shootings, bomb attacks and other crimes.”
The European police coordination agency issued what is known as an “Intelligence Notification” to draw attention to the increase of these communities that “recruit both aggressors and victims” globally and function as “sects led by charismatic figures who manipulate and deceive” their followers to “control” them.
These groups, the agency explains, seek to “normalize violence and corrupt minors, promoting the collapse of modern society through terror, chaos and violence, and spreading ideologies that inspire mass shootings, bomb attacks and other crimes.”
The hierarchy within these groups is based on “the amount of shared content, where the most active members get higher ranks” and participants exchange “extremely violent material, including bloody images, animal cruelty, child sexual exploitation and depictions of murders,” said the Hague-based agency.
The aggressors use “video game platforms, live streaming services and social networks” to identify and attract their victims, and focus especially on vulnerable young people, in particular children between the ages of 8 and 17, including those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities or young people with mental health problems.
“In some cases, the perpetrators infiltrate online self-help or support communities, where victims seek help for their emotional problems,” he says.
The leaders of these communities use “various manipulation tactics” to attract their victims and “force them to generate explicit sexual content, self-harm, harm others or even commit murder.”
Among the methods identified by Europol is what is known as “love bombing”, which is explained as “extreme expressions of affection, understanding and kindness to gain the trust” of the minor.
As the relationship progresses, they collect sensitive personal data of the victim, before moving to “the phase of exploitation”, in which they force the minor to produce sexual content or commit acts of violence.
If the victim does not want to obey, the aggressors “threaten” to share the explicit images or videos with family, friends or on social networks.
“Once trapped in this network, minors become even more vulnerable. Detecting these criminal activities in time is crucial,” Europol warns, sharing a list of “warning signs” in children.
The agency asks to pay attention to, among others, its activities on the Internet (interaction with unknown contacts, use of encrypted communications or exposure to worrying content), social isolation, emotional distress, interest in violent or harmful content, change in language, use of unknown symbols and concealment of physical signs of damage.
“The perpetrators spread harmful ideologies, often addressing our young people. These networks radicalize in the shadows, inciting them to bring violence to the real world. Awareness is our first line of defense. Families, educators and communities must be attentive and provide young people with critical thinking skills to resist online manipulation,” added Europol Director Catherine De Bolle.
De Bolle considered international cooperation “key” and urged to continue sharing information and holding perpetrators accountable, in order to “fight these dangerous communities and protect future generations from extremism and crime.”
International
El Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, pleaded guilty on Monday to drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court, months after his brother Ovidio reached a similar plea agreement, according to local media reports.
The defendant appeared before a federal court in Chicago early Monday afternoon and changed his previous plea in the case, the Chicago Tribune reported. U.S. authorities accuse him of forming, together with his three brothers, the cartel faction known as “Los Chapitos.”
The group is believed to have continued the operations of El Chapo, who has been serving a life sentence in the United States since 2019.
Guzmán López, 39, was arrested after landing in Texas in a small aircraft alongside cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
International
Venezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
The arrival of U.S. aircraft carrying undocumented Venezuelan migrants continued regularly despite rising tensions between Washington and Caracas over President Donald Trump’s military deployment in the Caribbean.
Trump maintains that the deployment is part of an anti-narcotics operation, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro insists the true objective is to remove him from power and seize the nation’s oil resources.
Venezuela’s aviation authority has “received a request from the United States government to resume repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants from that country to Venezuela,” the Ministry of Transportation said in a statement .
“Under the instructions of President Nicolás Maduro, authorization has been granted for these aircraft to enter our airspace,” it added.
Caracas will permit two Eastern Airlines flights to land on Wednesday and Friday.
Migration remains one of the Trump administration’s flagship issues. On Monday, the U.S. president held a meeting with his National Security Council to discuss the situation in Venezuela, a day after confirming he had spoken with Maduro by phone, without offering further details.
According to the Venezuelan government, roughly 75 deportation flights have been carried out this year, returning at least 13,956 Venezuelans from the United States.
International
20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
The German army confirmed the theft of a shipment of ammunition that occurred a week ago while it was being transported by a civilian delivery driver, a military spokesperson told AFP, confirming earlier media reports.
According to Der Spiegel and the regional broadcaster MDR, around 20,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen from an unguarded parking lot near Magdeburg, in eastern Germany, while the driver was asleep in a nearby hotel. No information has been released regarding the identity of the suspects, and the military declined to specify the exact type or amount of ammunition taken.
Authorities have also not indicated how the perpetrators knew the cargo would be left unattended.
“The theft was discovered upon delivery at the barracks,” the German army spokesperson said.
A police spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that an investigation has been opened but refused to provide further details “for tactical reasons.”
Sources close to the German military, cited by Der Spiegel, believe it is unlikely the theft was a coincidence. They suspect the thieves waited for the driver to stop for the night before striking.
Der Spiegel also reported that the Defense Ministry normally requires two drivers for this type of transport to ensure the cargo is constantly monitored. However, in this case only one driver was assigned, meaning the civilian transport company failed to comply with the security protocols.
El Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
Venezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America4 days agoTrump Pardons Former Honduran President Hernández and Warns of Aid Cuts Ahead of Election
-
Central America3 days agoHonduras Extends Voting by One Hour Amid High Turnout, CNE Announces
-
International2 days agoHong Kong police arrest 13 over deadly high-rise fire that killed 151
-
Central America3 days agoHonduras’ China–Taiwan Future Hinges on Sunday’s Presidential Election
-
International4 days agoMeta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
-
International2 days agoSri Lanka and Indonesia deploy military as deadly asian floods kill over 1,000
-
International2 days ago
Trump says asylum decision freeze will remain in place “for a long time”
-
International2 days agoChile enters runoff campaign with Kast leading and Jara seeking a last-minute comeback
-
International22 hours ago20,000 rounds stolen from german army after driver leaves cargo unattended
-
International22 hours agoVenezuela authorizes return flights as U.S. continues deportations amid rising tensions
-
International22 hours agoEl Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán López pleads guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges
-
International22 hours agoTrump convenes National Security Council as U.S.–Venezuela tensions intensify