International
STF of Brazil annuls Odebrecht “evidence” against Jorge Glas

August 11|
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) on Thursday issued a ruling that annuls the evidence presented by the company Odebrecht against the former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge Glas, confirmed this Friday the international law firm, Juscogens.
The communication recalls that Glas was unjustly convicted in Ecuador, while explaining that “the annulment is based on the fact that the evidence was delivered without judicial authorization and without respecting due legal process”.
Glas’ defense, led by Brussels-based Juscogens, challenged the validity of Odebrecht’s evidence before Brazil’s STF and “demonstrated the illegality of the evidence through strategic, innovative and effective litigation.”
The legal team expresses that the annulled evidence includes documents and testimonies provided by Odebrecht executives, which were illegally used by the Ecuadorian prosecution in a “process that has been criticized for directing and selecting evidence a la carte”.
In this sense, they denounced that “this practice has questioned the integrity of the legal process in the region. The STF’s determination to annul this evidence not only deals a blow to the fight against corruption in Latin America, but also sheds a critical light on the tactics employed by Odebrecht, a company that admitted to having paid more than $700 million in bribes, often in a targeted and selective manner.”
The then Ecuadorian vice president was in prison for more than five years for Odebrecht-related convictions. However, in April 2022, he was granted provisional release under precautionary measures.
According to his lawyers, Glas’ case highlights “the trend of lawfare in Latin America, defined by the Lawfare Observatory of the Latin American Strategic Center for Geopolitics (CELAC) as a political war through judicial-media channels, with economic, political and geopolitical interests hidden from public opinion”.
They exemplify that “leaders such as Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentina and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil have been victims of this strategy, which has been dismantled or reversed in many cases”.
Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, whose second in command was Glass himself, celebrated the decision: “The farce is over!
International
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.
The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).
“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.
Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”
International
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.
Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.
A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”
According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.
International
Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.
Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.
“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.
“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.
-
International5 days ago
Son of journalist José Rubén Zamora condemns father’s return to prison as “illegal”
-
Central America3 days ago
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border
-
Central America4 days ago
Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending
-
International5 days ago
Miyazaki’s style goes viral with AI but at what cost?
-
Central America3 days ago
Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua
-
International3 days ago
Trump urges Putin to reach peace deal
-
International1 day ago
Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal
-
International4 days ago
Deportation flight lands in Venezuela; government denies criminal gang links
-
Sports1 day ago
Filipe Luis debuts as coach in Copa Libertadores with Flamengo
-
Central America22 hours ago
Guatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping
-
International1 day ago
Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders
-
Sports1 day ago
Venezuela investigates 18 baseball players seeking asylum in Spain
-
International1 day ago
ICE agent’s arrest of suspect sparks controversy in Boston
-
International1 day ago
Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join
-
International1 day ago
Óscar Arias: Trump’s trade policies are a step backward