Newly revealed documents show ExxonMobil funded right-wing think tanks, such as the Atlas Network, to spread climate change denial throughout Latin America, hindering support for UN climate treaties. This initiative involved translating denialist materials, sponsoring speaking engagements for American climate skeptics, and facilitating connections with local media and politicians. The goal, according to internal communications, was to influence developing nations and foster skepticism about the urgency of climate action. Despite efforts to remain anonymous, the documents, including checks, underscore Exxon’s strategy to undermine global climate efforts through strategic financial investments.
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Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, known for his strong stance against drug cartels, was fatally shot at a Day of the Dead celebration. Manzo had been critical of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s approach to combating cartel violence and vowed not to back down. Following his death, Mexican Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced an investigation, vowing there would be no impunity for those responsible. Manzo’s security detail was comprised of handpicked officers and National Guard members, and he was known as the “Mexican Bukele” for his tough-on-crime approach.
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The former top lawyer in the Israeli military, Maj Gen Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, has been arrested following her resignation and admission of responsibility for leaking a video allegedly depicting severe abuse of a Palestinian detainee. The video, which surfaced in August 2024, allegedly shows reserve soldiers at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel physically assaulting a detainee. The detainee was later released to Gaza as part of an exchange. Tomer-Yerushalmi’s arrest, along with the former chief military prosecutor, is part of a deepening political conflict surrounding the incident and its handling.
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In Uruapan, Michoacán, Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez was fatally shot in a public plaza during Day of the Dead celebrations, with the attacker killed at the scene. The attack, which injured a city council member and a bodyguard, involved a weapon linked to prior criminal activity. Following the incident, the Mexican president pledged justice, while Michoacán, a region plagued by cartel violence, mourned the loss of the independent mayor, with the community referencing the ruling party in their calls for justice. The mayor had previously sought help from the government to combat cartels and had been under protection since December 2024.
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Video analysis confirms Venezuela’s deployment of the Russian-supplied Buk-M2E air defense system near Caracas, bolstering its air defense capabilities and posing a direct threat to U.S. aircraft and missiles. The Buk-M2E, capable of engaging targets up to 45 km away, includes advanced radar systems, like the 9S36 fire-control radar, which can simultaneously engage multiple targets, and the Kupol target radar which can detect a large amount of targets from a great distance. This system is a significant threat to U.S. airpower, including fighters and cruise missiles, complicating U.S. military planning, and forcing the U.S. to take further ISR operations. This deployment signals Venezuela’s intent to restrict U.S. access in the region.
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In a stunning turn of events, Israel’s chief military lawyer, Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, was arrested on Sunday. The arrest followed her admission of authorizing the leak of a video depicting Israeli reservists abusing a Palestinian prisoner. Furthermore, she confessed to lying to the Supreme Court regarding her involvement. This news came after she was reported missing for several hours, with her car found near a beach.
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The UK government has authorized the transfer of more Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, bolstering their ability to target Russian territory. This decision aims to ensure Ukraine’s preparedness for potential intensified attacks by Russia over the winter. While the exact quantity of missiles remains undisclosed, the Storm Shadow’s range exceeds 250 kilometers, providing a significant strike capability. This development follows reports of the US loosening restrictions on the use of long-range missiles by Ukraine, although, the Tomahawk missiles are not currently being considered.
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Goli Kouhkan, a 25-year-old child bride, faces execution in Iran for the killing of her abusive husband. She was convicted of participating in the killing of her husband, which occurred after years of suffering physical and emotional abuse. Under Iranian law, Kouhkan can be spared if she pays 10 billion tomans (approximately £80,000) to the victim’s family, a sum she is unlikely to obtain, and is representative of the discriminatory treatment of women and minorities in Iran. Human rights groups condemn the case, citing the rising number of executions, particularly of women, and the lack of legal protections against domestic violence and forced marriage within the country. Kouhkan is Baluch, a marginalized ethnic minority, and was married at 12, a situation reflective of the poverty and lack of rights faced by women in Iran.
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Documents reveal China employed a campaign of intimidation against Sheffield Hallam University to suppress research on alleged human rights abuses. This involved threats to university staff in China by individuals linked to the Chinese government, and website blocks that hindered student recruitment. Sheffield Hallam eventually decided against publishing Professor Laura Murphy’s research and asked her to halt her investigation after pressure and a defamation suit. Following legal action by Prof. Murphy, the university apologized and allowed her to resume her work, though the incident raised concerns about academic freedom and foreign interference.
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On November 1st, multiple unidentified drones were detected near the Kleine-Brogel Air Base in Belgium, a site housing US nuclear weapons. The Belgian Defense Minister confirmed the drone sightings, and a helicopter was deployed to intercept them, though unsuccessfully. Local authorities are scheduled to meet to analyze the threat and develop measures to identify the drone operators. This incident follows a previous detection of a swarm of drones over the Elsenborn training base, a NATO facility near the German border.
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John Q. Hosedrinker