International
Trump defends National Guard deployment, warns “L.A. would have been annihilated” without it

President Donald Trump on Monday defended his decision to deploy the National Guard to California in response to protests against immigration raids, warning that without federal intervention, “Los Angeles would have been totally annihilated.”
“We made the tremendous decision to send the National Guard to confront the violent riots instigated in California. Had we not done so, Los Angeles would have been totally wiped out,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
In his statement, Trump sharply criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, calling him “incompetent” and referring to him disparagingly as “Gavin Newscum.” He also lashed out at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In response, Newsom announced plans to sue the federal government, arguing that Trump had no legal authority to order such deployment.
“They should be saying ‘THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP. YOU’RE TREMENDOUS. WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SIR,’ but instead, they choose to lie to the people of California and the United States, claiming these were ‘peaceful protests,’” Trump added.
Trump cited “images and videos of violence and destruction” as justification for the deployment and reiterated his campaign slogan: “We always do whatever is necessary to keep our citizens safe, so that together, we can Make America Great Again.”
Later, during a White House appearance, Trump blamed the unrest on “professional agitators,” whom he labeled “insurrectionists” and “bad people who should be in jail.”
The former president also expressed support for former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director and “border czar” Tom Homan, who recently threatened to arrest Governor Newsom.
“I’d do it if I were Tom. I think it’s great… He’s doing a tremendous job,” said Trump.
Governor Newsom, in an interview with NBC, responded with irony: “He’s a tough guy. Why doesn’t he do it? He knows where to find me. Come at me. Arrest me. Go ahead, tough guy. I don’t care. What I care about is my community. And sorry to be so blunt, but that kind of bravado is exhausting. So, Tom—go ahead. Arrest me,” he concluded.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
International
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
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