International

Mexican authorities arrest 17 linked to ‘Mayos’ Cartel in major operations across Sinaloa

Mexican authorities arrested seventeen individuals during various operations in Culiacán, Sinaloa (northwestern Mexico), including ten linked to the criminal faction known as the ‘Mayos.’ The authorities seized over 29 firearms, more than 150 magazines, live ammunition, and illicit substances.

According to a statement from Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), after investigative work and citizen reports, four properties in the La Laguna Colorada area of Culiacán were located. There, eight people were arrested, along with the confiscation of ten firearms and 42 magazines.

Additionally, two individuals traveling in pickup trucks were detained while transporting approximately 79 liters and 60 kilograms of various substances and a long firearm.

“The detainees are linked to a criminal group operating in the region. The properties were sealed and remain under police custody,” the authorities confirmed.

In another operation, during ground patrols in Caminaguato, a member of the same criminal group was arrested with ten firearms, including a Barrett rifle and a machine gun.

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Authorities also seized two grenades, twelve improvised explosive devices, 69 magazines, 2,838 rounds of ammunition, tactical equipment, and two pickup trucks, one of them with improvised armor.

In a separate incident, personnel from the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) were fired upon while conducting security patrols in the towns of El Pozo and La Cuesta. After repelling the attack and securing the area, six people were arrested, including three minors.

The SSPC reported confiscations of seven long guns, one handgun, live ammunition, 62 magazines, a bag of marijuana, cash, ten vehicles, tactical gear, an illegal laboratory, 200 liters of acetone, 75 kilos of caustic soda, ten antennas, and 47 improvised explosive devices.

Moreover, in Agua Caliente, San Ignacio municipality, aerial and ground patrols led to the seizure of nine long guns—including two machine guns—63 magazines, over 3,000 rounds, and four pickup trucks, three armored.

Omar García Harfuch, head of the SSPC, announced on social media that the operations also involved the Secretariat of Defense, Navy, National Guard, Attorney General’s Office, and the Sinaloa State Security Secretariat.

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Mexico’s security cabinet institutions have conducted over 4,600 arrests, including cartel leaders wanted by the FBI, following agreements with the U.S. government under President Donald Trump to avoid tariffs on Mexico and strengthen efforts against drug trafficking.

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.