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More than 100 Killed or Missing as Sinaloa Cartel War Rages in Mexico

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More than 100 Killed or Missing as Sinaloa Cartel War Rages in Mexico

Violent clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have left at least 53 people dead and 51 missing in Mexico’s western Sinaloa state since September 9, local authorities reported on Friday.

The conflict erupted following the July arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, 74, a legendary trafficker and leader of one cartel faction, in the United States. Zambada claims he was kidnapped by members of Los Chapitos, another faction led by the sons of jailed kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and forcibly taken to the U.S.

The violence has severely disrupted daily life in Culiacán, the state capital, forcing schools to close and businesses to shutter early. Governor Rubén Rocha Moya announced that over 40 people have been arrested, and more than 5,000 food packages distributed across the affected areas.

On Thursday, Mexican military forces arrested Fernando Perez Medina, known as “El Piyi,” the alleged head of security for Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán, leader of Los Chapitos. This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict.

In a bizarre twist, Mexico’s Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) reported efforts to rescue a tigress tied to a tree, highlighting the extravagant lifestyles of cartel leaders who often keep exotic animals as pets.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has partly blamed the United States for the instability, referencing prior surrender talks between U.S. officials and Joaquín Guzmán López, the trafficker accused of kidnapping Zambada. U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar has denied American involvement in Zambada’s kidnapping, stating that U.S. officials were surprised to find him on U.S. soil.

As the violence continues unabated, concerns grow about the Mexican government’s ability to control the situation and the potential for further escalation in this long-standing cartel conflict.

Palestinians Report 22 Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza Shelter, Israel Claims Militant Target

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Palestinians Report 22 Killed in Israeli Strike on Gaza Shelter, Israel Claims Militant Target

At least 22 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced civilians in southern Gaza City on Saturday, Palestinian officials reported. The Israeli military countered that the attack targeted a Hamas command center.

Gaza’s Health Ministry stated that most victims were women and children. The Hamas-run government media office specified that 13 children and six women were among the dead.

The Israeli military asserted it struck a Hamas command center embedded within the compound, which previously served as a school. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilian facilities for military purposes, a claim the group denies.

Reuters footage from the scene showed extensive damage, including blasted walls, destroyed furniture, and ceiling holes. Witnesses described a sudden attack on civilians in the school’s playground.

“The women and their children were sitting in the playground of the school, the kids were playing, and suddenly two rockets hit them,” said witness Said Al-Malahi.

Some victims were wrapped in blankets and transported on donkey carts, while ambulances carried away other bodies.

In a separate incident in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry reported four health workers killed by an Israeli strike on ministry warehouses. Ambulance crews were reportedly unable to reach the dead or treat the wounded.

The Israeli military stated that forces operating in Rafah since May have killed dozens of militants and dismantled military infrastructure in recent weeks.

These incidents occur amid ongoing international efforts to broker a ceasefire. Major sticking points include Israel’s demand to control the southern border between Rafah and Egypt, and disagreements over hostage exchanges.

The conflict, which began on October 7 with a Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths and displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, according to local health authorities.

US Soldier Who Fled to North Korea Sentenced for Desertion

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US Soldier Who Fled to North Korea Sentenced for Desertion

Travis King, the U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea from South Korea in July 2023, has been sentenced to one year of confinement and given a dishonorable discharge from the military. However, due to time already served and credit for good behavior, King was released immediately following the hearing at Fort Bliss, Texas on Friday.

The 24-year-old Army private pleaded guilty to five of the original 14 military charges filed against him, including desertion and assault of a non-commissioned officer. The remaining charges were dismissed.

During the hearing, King told military judge Lt. Col. Rick Mathew that he had been dissatisfied with his work and had contemplated leaving the Army for about a year before his unauthorized entry into North Korea. “I wanted to desert from the US Army and never come back,” King stated in court.

King’s lawyer, Franklin Rosenblatt, said his client accepts full responsibility for his actions, citing “significant challenges in his life, including a difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and struggles with mental health” as contributing factors.

The incident occurred when King joined a civilian tour of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, shortly after being released from a South Korean prison where he had served time for assault. Instead of returning to Fort Bliss as ordered, King crossed into North Korea, where he was detained for two months before being released through diplomatic efforts.

King’s case drew international attention as the first American detention in North Korea in nearly five years. North Korean media had claimed he fled due to “inhuman treatment” and racism in the U.S. military.

The plea deal and subsequent release mark the end of a complex legal and diplomatic situation that strained U.S.-North Korea relations and raised questions about military discipline and mental health support for service members.

Jury Awards $116M in New York Helicopter Crash Lawsuit

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Jury Awards $116M in New York Helicopter Crash Lawsuit

A jury has awarded $116 million to the family of Trevor Cadigan, one of five passengers killed in a 2018 no-door helicopter crash in New York City’s East River.

The verdict, delivered Thursday, found multiple companies at fault for the fatal accident. FlyNYON, which arranged the flight, was assigned 42% of the liability. Liberty Helicopters, the aircraft’s owner and operator, was found 38% responsible. Dart Aerospace, manufacturer of a malfunctioning flotation device, was held 20% liable.

Cadigan, a 26-year-old journalist, was among five passengers who drowned after the helicopter plunged into the East River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that a passenger’s tether became entangled with the fuel shutoff switch, causing engine failure.

Gary C. Robb, the family’s lawyer, described the helicopter as “a death trap,” criticizing the use of construction-grade safety harnesses that passengers couldn’t escape. The pilot, wearing a conventional seatbelt, was the sole survivor.

The NTSB report largely blamed FlyNYON for installing hard-to-escape harnesses and exploiting regulatory loopholes to avoid stricter safety requirements. The company promoted “doors-off” flights for dramatic photo opportunities while maintaining a certification with less stringent safety standards.

Following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily grounded doors-off flights with tight restraints. New regulations now require easily releasable harnesses.

Cadigan’s parents initiated the lawsuit hoping to end no-door flights. Jerry Cadigan, Trevor’s father and a Dallas broadcast journalist, passed away in July during a break in the trial.

AP

New Zealand Pilot Freed After 19 Months of Rebel Captivity in Indonesia-AP

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New Zealand Pilot Freed After 19 Months of Rebel Captivity in Indonesia-AP

Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a 38-year-old New Zealand pilot, has been released after being held hostage for over a year by separatist rebels in Indonesia’s Papua region.

Mehrtens, who was working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was abducted on February 7, 2023, from a remote airport in Papua. His release on Saturday marks the end of a 19-month ordeal that highlighted the ongoing tensions in Indonesia’s easternmost province.

“Today I finally got out. I am so happy to be back home with my family soon,” an emotional Mehrtens told reporters at a news conference in Timika, a mining town in Papua. Television footage showed the pilot, visibly emaciated with long hair, sobbing while speaking to his family via video call.

The Free Papua Movement, led by regional commander Egianus Kogoya, had initially demanded Indonesia grant Papua independence in exchange for Mehrtens’ release. However, the group recently proposed terms for his freedom, including media involvement in the process.

Bayu Suseno, a spokesperson for the taskforce involved in negotiations, attributed the successful release to a “soft approach” involving communication with the separatists through local church and community leaders.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that various government agencies had been working with Indonesian authorities to secure Mehrtens’ release. Peters emphasized the toll the ordeal had taken on the Mehrtens family, who have requested privacy.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo congratulated the military and police for prioritizing negotiation and safety in resolving the hostage situation. “This was through a very long negotiation process and our patience not to do it repressively,” Widodo stated.

The incident underscores the ongoing conflict in Papua, a region incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 under controversial circumstances. The area has since seen a low-level insurgency, with violence escalating in recent years.

Mehrtens’ release brings relief after a tense period that saw other violent incidents in the region, including the killing of another New Zealand pilot in August 2023.

Death Toll Rises to 31 in Israeli Airstrike on Beirut Suburb

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Death Toll Rises to 31 in Israeli Airstrike on Beirut Suburb

The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb has climbed to 31, including seven women and three children, Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad announced Saturday.

Abiad told reporters that 68 people were wounded in the attack, with 15 still hospitalized. He warned that the casualty count could rise as search and rescue operations continue in the densely populated southern neighborhood hit during Friday afternoon’s rush hour.

The strike, the deadliest on Lebanon’s capital since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, destroyed an eight-story building and damaged an adjacent structure. Israel claimed it killed 11 Hezbollah operatives, including Ibrahim Akil, leader of the group’s elite Radwan Force.

Hezbollah acknowledged overnight that 15 of its operatives were killed by Israeli forces, without specifying the location. The militant group allowed journalists to tour the strike scene Saturday morning, where workers continued to dig through the rubble.

Public Works Minister Ali Hamie reported that 23 people remain missing.

The attack came hours after Hezbollah launched an intense rocket barrage on northern Israel, largely targeting military sites. Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted most of the rockets.

This escalation follows recent explosions of Hezbollah communication devices that killed at least 37 people and wounded about 2,900 others, an assault widely attributed to Israel.

As tensions rise, Israel’s security cabinet has made stopping Hezbollah’s attacks an official war goal, considering wider military operations in Lebanon.

The ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands in both southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

Separately, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that five of its workers were killed and five injured by Israeli fire striking ministry warehouses in southern Gaza.

AP

Ukraine Blows Up Another Russian Arms Depots

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Ukraine Blows Up Another Russian Arms Depots

A Russian arms depot in the northwestern Tver region caught fire Saturday following a reported Ukrainian drone strike, causing explosions and prompting authorities to close a major highway and evacuate a nearby rail station.

The incident occurred near the town of Toropets, approximately 380 kilometers (240 miles) northwest of Moscow and 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Local Telegram channels reported that a missile depot was targeted, with unverified images showing a large fireball and multiple smoke trails from detonations.

This attack follows a similar strike on Wednesday that injured 13 people and caused a significant fire at another arms depot in the same region.

In a separate incident on Saturday, an ammunition depot and missile arsenal in Russia’s southwestern Krasnodar region also ignited, leading to evacuations. Social media videos depicted bright orange clouds rising over the horizon, accompanied by continuous detonation sounds.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 101 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and occupied Crimea overnight. No immediate casualties were reported in either region.

These strikes represent an escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to target Russian military infrastructure deep within Russian territory, potentially affecting Moscow’s ability to supply its forces in the ongoing conflict.

The attacks have forced Russian authorities to take emergency measures, including closing a 100-kilometer (62-mile) stretch of highway and evacuating civilians from affected areas.

As the conflict continues, these drone strikes demonstrate Ukraine’s increasing capability to conduct long-range operations against strategic Russian targets, potentially altering the dynamics of the war.

AP

Guinea’s Most Wanted Fugitive Extradited from Liberia

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Guinea’s Most Wanted Fugitive Extradited from Liberia

Claude Pivi, a former senior military officer and Guinea’s most wanted fugitive, has been extradited from neighboring Liberia, Guinean officials announced Thursday.

Pivi, a former colonel, had been on the run since a high-profile prison escape in November. He was arrested in Liberia on Tuesday, according to Yaya Kairaba Kaba, Guinea’s Minister of Justice.

Claude Pivi (years ago while in service and younger)

The fugitive was a key figure in the regime of former dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, who ruled Guinea from 2008 to 2010. Pivi had been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity related to his involvement in the 2009 stadium massacre in Conakry.

On September 28, 2009, at least 157 people were killed and dozens of women raped when soldiers opened fire on demonstrators at a stadium. The protesters had gathered to oppose then-military leader Camara’s plans to run for president.

Human Rights Watch reported that Camara’s top aides, including Pivi, were present at the stadium and did nothing to stop the massacre. Witnesses described horrific scenes of people being shot, crushed, or stabbed to death, while women were dragged from hiding places and gang-raped by uniformed men over several days.

Claude Pivi, now older when arrested

The junta at the time claimed that “uncontrolled” elements of the army had carried out the atrocities. However, evidence pointed to the involvement of high-ranking officials like Pivi.

Pivi’s extradition marks a significant development in Guinea’s efforts to address past human rights abuses and hold those responsible accountable. The case has been closely watched by international human rights organizations and victims’ families seeking justice for the 2009 massacre.

As Guinea continues to grapple with its turbulent political past, Pivi’s return to face justice represents a step towards reconciliation and accountability in the West African nation.

Mexican Cartel Leader’s Son Convicted in U.S. Drug Trafficking Case

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Mexican Cartel Leader’s Son Convicted in U.S. Drug Trafficking Case

Rubén Oseguera, son of a prominent Mexican drug cartel leader, was found guilty Friday of charges related to violent drug trafficking operations, including the downing of a military helicopter.

A federal jury in Washington, D.C. convicted Oseguera, known as “El Menchito,” on two counts: conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy. The verdict came after several hours of deliberation over two days.

Oseguera, 34, is the son of Nemesio Oseguera, the fugitive leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG). The younger Oseguera served as the cartel’s second-in-command before his extradition to the U.S. in February 2020.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking Oseguera to numerous violent acts, including ordering the 2015 downing of a Mexican military helicopter that killed at least nine people. They also alleged he was responsible for ordering at least 100 killings and personally killing two individuals.

Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the conviction, stating, “El Menchito now joins the growing list of high-ranking Cartel leaders that the Justice Department has convicted in an American courtroom.”

The prosecution’s case included testimony from six cooperating witnesses and coded BlackBerry messages exchanged between Oseguera and other cartel members. They also presented physical evidence, including a rifle bearing Oseguera’s nicknames and the cartel’s acronym.

Defense attorney Anthony Colombo attempted to discredit the witnesses, calling them “sociopaths” and “pathological liars.” He also argued that prosecutors lacked evidence of the cartel trafficking drugs into the U.S.

Oseguera, who holds dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 40 years. Sentencing is scheduled for January 10 before U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell.

The U.S. government continues to offer a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera’s father, known as “El Mencho.”

This conviction marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against international drug cartels and their operations affecting the United States.

Real Madrid Aim for Third Straight Win as They Host In-Form Espanyol

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Real Madrid Aim for Third Straight Win as They Host In-Form Espanyol

Reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid seek their third consecutive victory when they welcome a resurgent Espanyol to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid (3-2-0) currently sit third in the table with 11 points from five matches. They enter the fixture on the back of a 3-1 Champions League victory over Stuttgart midweek, where 18-year-old Endrick became the club’s youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer.

Espanyol (2-1-2), who returned to La Liga via playoffs last season, arrive in good form after back-to-back league wins. Javi Puado’s hat-trick propelled them to a 3-2 victory over Alaves last weekend, lifting them to 12th in the standings.

Real Madrid will be without injured players Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga, and David Alaba. However, Jude Bellingham is expected to start after returning from injury against Stuttgart.

Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez is likely to field an unchanged lineup from their win over Alaves, with Puado leading the attack alongside on-loan Tottenham forward Alejo Veliz.

Real Madrid have won their last three league encounters with Espanyol, including a 3-1 home victory last season. The visitors haven’t won at the Bernabéu in La Liga since April 1996.

Despite Espanyol’s recent form, Real Madrid’s home advantage and superior firepower make them favorites. The match kicks off at 20:00 local time (CEST) on Saturday.

Predicted lineups:

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius

Espanyol (4-4-2): J. Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Tejero, Kral, Aguado, Carreras; Puado, Veliz

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