International

Colombia sees deadliest surge in violence since FARC peace deal

Colombia is experiencing its most intense wave of violence since the signing of the 2016 peace agreement with the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group. Authorities are denouncing a new offensive by rebel factions and drug cartels, reminiscent of the brutal tactics used by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar during the 1990s, when he waged open war against the state.

“We are deeply concerned by the ongoing violence from armed actors. In just two weeks, 18 members of the security forces have been killed—even during the suspension of military operations against one of the armed groups,” wrote Juanita Goebertus, Americas Director for Human Rights Watch, on social media platform X.

On Sunday, seven soldiers were killed when a military patrol in the conflict-ridden Guaviare department was ambushed and attacked by dissident members of the FARC. Ironically, this group is currently engaged in peace talks with the government.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a total of 47 military personnel have been killed so far this year. Some of them were attacked while off duty.

“They cowardly hide among the civilian population, dress in plain clothes, and launch surprise attacks,” the ministry said in a statement. Authorities are offering a reward equivalent to $48,000 for information leading to the capture of the gunmen responsible.

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In response to the surge in violence, Colombia’s Inspector General’s Office has requested a report from the Defense Ministry on the “systematic acts of violence” against security forces.

President Gustavo Petro’s leftist government has ramped up its offensive against armed groups and recently appointed a military figure to head the Ministry of Defense, as several peace processes have stalled or collapsed.

On Friday, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti publicly admitted that Petro’s peace strategy “has not gone well.”

International

IEA warns Middle East conflict could spark worst energy crisis in decades

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could trigger the worst energy crisis in decades, warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who described the situation as “very serious.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Birol compared the current scenario to the oil crises of the 1970s, noting that during those events the world lost around five million barrels of oil per day in each crisis.

“Today, we have lost 11 million barrels per day—more than the two major oil shocks combined,” he said.

The Turkish economist referred to the conflict that began on February 28, following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have significantly disrupted global energy markets and driven oil prices higher.

Birol warned that the global economy is facing a “very, very serious threat” and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved soon.

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“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues in this direction. Global efforts are urgently needed,” he emphasized.

International

Colombian Air Force Hercules plane crashes during takeoff with troops onboard

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force was involved in a “tragic accident” while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo department of southern Colombia, as it was transporting troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday.

The minister stated on social media that the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined. He also extended his condolences to the families affected and urged the public to avoid speculation until official information is confirmed.

“This is a deeply painful event for the country. Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” Sánchez said, adding that emergency protocols have been activated and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that there would be no fatalities in what he described as a “horrific accident that should not have happened.”

Petro also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s air fleet and reiterated the need to acquire new helicopters and transport aircraft to strengthen military mobility, particularly in remote regions.

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According to local media reports, approximately 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft. So far, at least 20 injured military personnel have been rescued.

International

Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.

According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.

The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.

French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.

Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.

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When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.

Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.