Tottenham’s Conte era gets off to winning start
AFP
Antonio Conte was dished up the good and the bad in his first match in charge of Tottenham who beat Vitesse Arnhem 3-2 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday in a game which also three red cards.
Conte took his place in the dug out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after his work permit arrived in time two days after his appointment.
Spurs had not mustered a single shot on target in the weekend defeat to Manchester United, which spelled the end for Nuno Espirito Santo after just four months in charge.
Against Vitesse they’d conjured up two within the first 90 seconds, encouraging the fans, some draped in Italian flags to make Conte feel at home.
The Italian former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Juventus boss only had to wait 14 minutes for his new side’s first goal, with Son Heung-min driving in a low angled shot from the right.
Shortly after Lucas Moura, taking receipt of an inch-perfect cross from Harry Kane, clinically converted the chance, sliding the ball past the onrushing keeper Markus Schubert.
The reenergized hosts were 3-0 up before the half hour, the goal awarded to Vitesse defender Jacob Rasmussen who in trying to keep out Kane’s close range shot dragged the ball over the line.
Rasmussen made quick amends, heading past Hugo Lloris four minutes later.
On 39 minutes a defensive error by Moura resulted in Matus Bero slotting past Lloris to give Conte plenty to talk about at his first half-time prep talk in the Spurs dressing room.
On the hour Tottenham went a man down after defender Cristian Romero received his second booking for a foul on Lois Openda.
Lloris was then kept busy as Vitesse tried to capitalise on their numerical advantage, the Spurs skipper superbly denying Riechedly Bazoer’s curling shot with his left hand.
Conte made a triple substitution, introducing Harry Winks, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndomblee for Son, Moura and Oliver Skipp.
Vitesse had a man sent off of their own when captain Danilho Doekhi felled Kane in the centre circle to earn his second booking, as Tottenham held on for a much needed win.
Vitesse keeper Markus Schubert was also sent off for handling the ball outside of his area.
While Conte was left with plenty of food for thought in north London ahead of his Premier League return against Everton, former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho watched his Roma side earn a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt.
The Norwegians had embarrassed Mourinho’s Serie A charges 6-1 at home in the first match between the two sides last month.
International
Colombian president Gustavo Petro denies alleged ties to criminal networks
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Monday rejected claims made by Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who suggested that the president might be involved in a criminal network linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Petro called the accusation “criminal and arbitrary” in a post on social media platform X.
“Leopoldo López’s attempt to link me to drug trafficking structures is criminal and arbitrary,” wrote the Colombian president, responding to statements made by López from Madrid, where he has been exiled since 2020.
During a press conference, López claimed that Petro “has become the first international spokesperson supporting Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship” and suggested that this support could stem from a direct relationship or shared interest with what he described as a “criminal structure.”
President Petro responded that he does not have accounts or assets abroad and that his income comes solely from his salary as a public official. “Not a single peso more. I have no accounts abroad or assets. My only property is the house I built for my children, completed before becoming mayor; I owe money on it to the bank and no one lives there. I have no other assets in Colombia or abroad, so stop being foolish,” the president said.
These statements follow the U.S. Treasury Department’s inclusion of Petro, his wife Verónica Alcocer, his son Nicolás Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti on the so-called ‘Clinton List’ by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) due to alleged links to drug trafficking.
Being on this list blocks assets in the United States and prohibits financial transactions with U.S. entities.
Central America
El Salvador’s FGR prosecutes 89,875 gang members under state of exception
Records from the Office of the Attorney General of El Salvador (FGR) show that under the state of exception, 89,875 gang members from various criminal organizations have been arrested, of which 91.3% (82,078) are currently in the preliminary trial stage before the courts specialized in organized crime. The FGR anticipates favorable rulings with maximum sentences for all convicted criminals.
During a recent visit to the Legislative Assembly, Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado provided details about the work carried out under the state of exception. A dedicated team of 291 legal professionals has been assigned to these cases, including office chiefs, coordinators, assistant prosecutors, and legal collaborators.
“The team working on state-of-exception cases includes 291 professionals, plus personnel from the Telecommunications Intervention Center and supervisory staff, representing roughly 30% of the FGR’s total prosecutorial workforce,” Delgado explained.
The prosecutors have prepared 590 criminal cases with formal charges:
-
299 cases against Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) members
-
281 cases against the 18th Street gang
-
3 cases against Mao Mao
-
5 cases against Mara Máquina
-
2 cases against Mirada Loca
The Attorney General emphasized that the investigation and prosecution of 89,875 gang members is unprecedented in the country’s history. “Over the next two years, we expect to gradually reduce the number of defendants in the preliminary trial stage and move them toward final convictions,” he said.
Delgado also highlighted the work of the Analysis Section, which has processed 25,412 pieces of evidence, of which 19,658 are related to the state-of-exception cases, while the remaining 5,754 belong to other cases, reflecting the unit’s dual role in defending the interests of both the state and society.
Central America
El Salvador cracks down on narcotics: 24 tons confiscated in major anti-drug operation
During the presentation of the 2026 budget for the Ministries of Security and Defense before the Legislative Assembly, Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro and Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy highlighted key achievements from the 2025 budget, including the seizure of 24.35 tons of drugs, with an estimated street value of $604,552,232.50.
“Just as we have achieved historic results in reducing homicide rates, addressing impunity, and removing serial killers from the streets, 2025 has also been a successful year in terms of drug seizures. We confiscated more than 24 tons of drugs, causing these criminal organizations economic losses exceeding $604 million,” said Minister Villatoro.
Of the seized drugs, between January 1 and October 16, 2025:
-
24 tons of cocaine, valued at over $603 million
-
348 kilograms of marijuana, valued at more than $1 million
-
1.89 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth over $65,000
-
424 grams of crack, valued at $10,683
-
230 grams of hashish, worth over $8,000
“As you know, we have maintained a strong and consistent approach against drug trafficking. Previously, a terrorist organization controlled almost 85% of the territory, basing much of its criminal activity on monopolizing the world’s cheapest drugs, causing death and mourning for thousands of Salvadoran families,” Villatoro added.
The minister emphasized that the fight against drug trafficking would not be possible without the efforts of the National Navy.
Colombian president Gustavo Petro denies alleged ties to criminal networks
El Salvador’s FGR prosecutes 89,875 gang members under state of exception
El Salvador cracks down on narcotics: 24 tons confiscated in major anti-drug operation
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International3 days agoControversial $130 million donation to Pentagon sparks debate over troop pay
-
International3 days agoPentagon deploys USS Gerald R. Ford after narco-boat operation kills six
-
International4 days agoColombia ready to replace suspended U.S. support, President Petro asserts
-
International3 days agoTrump to Meet Qatari Leaders During Asia Stopover to Discuss Gaza Peace
-
International4 days agoCristina Fernández calls Argentina’s legislative elections “decisive” to stop Milei
-
International4 days agoTrump announces over 3,000 arrests in major U.S. crackdown on drug cartels
-
International4 days agoPutin calls U.S.-Russia summit a “mistake” without guaranteed results
-
International1 day agoArgentina’s Milei secures strong victory and calls for dialogue after election surge
-
International3 days agoMaduro Requests Supreme Court to Strip Opposition Leader López of Venezuelan Citizenship
-
International9 hours ago
Colombian president Gustavo Petro denies alleged ties to criminal networks
-
International9 hours agoMexican journalist reporting on drug cartels killed in Durango
-
International1 day agoMaduro accuses U.S. of aggression over Caribbean military drills
-
Central America9 hours agoEl Salvador cracks down on narcotics: 24 tons confiscated in major anti-drug operation
-
Central America9 hours agoEl Salvador’s FGR prosecutes 89,875 gang members under state of exception