International
Families hold vigil in Caracas, demand release of political prisoners
Dozens of people held a vigil outside the Attorney General’s Office in Caracas on Wednesday, calling for the release of political prisoners—one day after Amnesty International (AI) reported a “surge” in enforced disappearances following Venezuela’s presidential elections nearly a year ago.
In 2024, protests erupted after President Nicolás Maduro’s controversial re-election on July 28, amid widespread allegations of fraud. Official figures reported 27 deaths and 2,400 arrests during the unrest.
With balloons, prayers, candles, and photos, families of the detainees demanded a review of the cases—some still under trial—and called for their release, as has occurred with about 1,900 previously detained individuals. Prosecutors have promised to meet with families next Tuesday.
“We need to keep the pressure on (…) and get a more concrete and secure response, because if there is no answer by Tuesday, we will gather again,” said Sorangel Arguinzones, whose 25-year-old son Jesús Jiménez was arrested in Mérida (west) 11 months ago. He is being held in Tocorón prison, one of the facilities designated for protesters, and is accused of “terrorism.” Jiménez, a former scientific police officer, is described by his mother as innocent.
“We have to stay in prayer and ask for our boys’ freedom (…) it’s been almost a year now,” added Karina Martínez, whose brother Daniel has been detained since January, following Maduro’s swearing-in.
“My brother says: I’ve never been involved in politics,” she said.
Maduro was declared re-elected by the pro-government electoral authority without presenting the detailed vote count, as required by law.
In its report released Tuesday, Amnesty International warned of a “surge” in enforced disappearances over the past year. Of the 15 cases recorded, 11 people remain missing with their whereabouts and conditions still unknown.
International
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
A man identified as the main financial operator of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was arrested Thursday at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities reported.
The individual, named by Mexican media as Óscar Antonio Álvarez, was apprehended during an operation involving the army, navy, National Guard, police, and the attorney general’s office, according to a joint statement.
Álvarez is considered the primary financial operator of a criminal group originating in Jalisco, and the capture took place at Benito Juárez Airport as he arrived on a flight from Barcelona, Spain.
Authorities stated that Álvarez faces charges of organized crime and money laundering, specifically for receiving and transferring illicit funds. His work with the CJNG reportedly included purchasing properties and managing businesses in the tequila and livestock sectors.
According to El Universal, Álvarez was directly under the command of Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, the cartel’s top leader, for whom the U.S. offers a $15 million reward.
The CJNG, which operates throughout Mexico and in various parts of the world, was designated earlier this year as a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government.
Álvarez was handed over to the federal public prosecutor to determine his legal situation, the report added.
International
Jair Bolsonaro sentenced for leading armed criminal plot after 2022 election loss
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, 70, has been sentenced for leading an armed criminal organization that attempted to cling to power after losing the 2022 elections to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The alleged coup plot, which reportedly included a plan to assassinate Lula, was not carried out due to lack of support from the military leadership.
By a four-to-one vote of the judges overseeing the case, seven co-defendants, including former ministers and military chiefs, were also convicted.
“A criminal armed organization was formed by the defendants, who must be sentenced based on the factual circumstances I consider proven,” said the final judge to cast a vote, Cristiano Zanin.
Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August, did not attend the court hearings, citing health issues.
Reacting on X, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, said: “They call this a trial a process whose outcome everyone already knew before it began.”
One of the first international reactions came from the White House. Former U.S. President Donald Trump called the sentence “very surprising,” while Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the United States will “respond accordingly” to the “unjust” ruling.
International
Poland invokes NATO Article 4 after russian drone incursion
The violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones on Wednesday triggered the most serious clash between Russia and NATO since the start of the war in Ukraine, prompting Poland to invoke Article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which calls for consultations among allies.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed Parliament on Wednesday, describing an unprecedented “aggression” in which at least 19 Russian drones breached Polish airspace, creating a situation that the Prime Minister described as “the closest to an open conflict since World War II.”
Speaking at the start of an extraordinary Council of Ministers session, Tusk stated that “this is the first time Russian drones have been shot down over the territory of a NATO member state, and that is why all our allies are taking the situation very seriously.”
Although he affirmed that “there is no reason to claim that we are in a state of war,” he labeled the incidents as “a large-scale provocation” and ordered the invocation of NATO’s Article 4 to call for consultations with allied nations.
Tusk also noted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had received “not only expressions of solidarity with Poland but, above all, concrete proposals to support the country’s air defense” during discussions with European leaders throughout the day.
The Polish leader specifically mentioned conversations with the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands—Keir Starmer, Giorgia Meloni, Friedrich Merz, and Dick Schoof—along with French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
22-Year-Old Suspect Arrested After 33-Hour Manhunt in Small Western U.S. Town
Authorities capture CJNG financial chief in international airport operation
Jair Bolsonaro sentenced for leading armed criminal plot after 2022 election loss
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