US Cracks Down on Latin American Crime Gangs

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US will 'blow up' foreign crime groups if needed, during a visit to Ecuador. The US will designate two Ecuadorian criminal gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organisations. The comments come after a recent US military strike on a boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 drug-traffickers. The Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has been fighting against criminal gangs and has requested US assistance. The designation will allow the US to target the assets of the gangs and share intelligence with Ecuador. However, legal experts have raised concerns that the US strike may have violated international law.

The US military recently conducted a strike on a boat allegedly operated by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, off the coast of Venezuela. The strike, authorized by President Trump, resulted in the deaths of 11 people. The gang is known for its involvement in contract killings, extortions, and human smuggling, but not for large-scale drug trafficking. Trump has designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and has taken various measures to combat its activities. The strike represents a paradigm shift in how the US combats drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

A new large-scale randomized control study has found that banning smartphones in classrooms improves students' focus and performance. This development comes as 35 states in the US have implemented laws or rules prohibiting phones in schools, with at least 40% of national education systems worldwide following suit. The study provides significant evidence to support the growing bipartisan momentum for phone-free classrooms.

The article discusses the changing nature of crime in Chicago, where violent crime is down but new scams are emerging. Despite the president's concerns about gun crime, robberies have fallen by a third and the city is on track for its lowest murder rate in over a decade. However, visitors are still at risk of becoming victims of crime, particularly street theft, which is increasingly being committed using clipboards rather than guns.

The article discusses how Donald Trump is targeting public universities in the United States, particularly those in areas considered 'enemy territory'. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is used as an example, where a year ago students were protesting the war in Gaza. The article also touches on other topics related to Trump's policies and actions, including defending democracy, banning smartphones in classrooms, and the legality of killing drug suspects at sea.

The article discusses the unpopularity of Donald Trump and the challenges of opposing him, citing the servility of Republicans and the slow pace of the courts. It argues that despite Trump's unpopularity, he continues to govern by diktat, and questions whether the Democrats can effectively counter him. The article touches on the broader implications of Trump's actions, including the erosion of checks on executive power and the impact on American democracy.

The article discusses the recent military strike ordered by President Donald Trump on a boat allegedly carrying drugs and 'narco-terrorists' from a Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. Trump celebrated the strike, warning potential drug traffickers to 'BEWARE!' The article questions the legality of killing drug suspects at sea and references other controversial actions by Trump's government, including their stance on defending democracy and the Capitol invasion.

The article discusses the threat to democracy in the United States under Donald Trump's presidency, drawing parallels with the warnings issued by the US military in 1945 about the dangers of fascism. It highlights how Trump's government has normalized extremist behavior and how fascist tactics, such as dividing people and encouraging hatred, are being employed. The article emphasizes the need for vigilance against these threats and the importance of recognizing the vulnerabilities within American society.

The article discusses a recent legal setback for Donald Trump's tariffs, as a federal appeals court ruled that he cannot unilaterally change America's tariff schedules. Trump has asked the Supreme Court to quickly hear and reverse the ruling. The tariffs will remain in effect while the justices consider the request, setting up a potential showdown at the Supreme Court. The article provides context and analysis of the ruling and its potential implications.

The US Department of Defense has condemned Venezuela's actions after two Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a US Navy vessel in international waters, calling it a 'highly provocative' move. The incident has heightened tensions between the two countries, with the US having recently deployed over 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters around Latin America and the Caribbean to combat drug cartels. The US has also carried out a lethal military strike against a suspected drug vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, killing 11 people. The Trump administration has increased the bounty for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million for drug trafficking.

The Venezuelan Air Force flew two armed F-16 fighter jets over a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, the Jason Dunham, in the southern Caribbean Sea, as a show of force. This incident occurred two days after the U.S. carried out a deadly military strike on a Venezuelan boat suspected of carrying drugs, killing 11 members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The U.S. Pentagon stated that the flyover was a 'highly provocative move' designed to interfere with counter-narco-terror operations. The incident escalates tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has been amassing warships and surveillance planes in the region as part of a major counternarcotics operation, and President Trump has authorized the use of military force against certain Latin American drug cartels labeled as 'terrorist' organizations.