Internacionales
22 cocaine manufacturing laboratories destroyed in Bolivia

October 23 |
Bolivia’s Vice Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances, Jaime Mamani, announced on Friday the dismantling of 22 laboratories destined for the illicit manufacture of cocaine in the province of Chapare, department of Cochabamba.
According to Mamani, the destruction was carried out thanks to the execution of two operations by the Bolivian Army in less than 48 hours, on October 18 and 19.
“With the two operations that have been executed, on October 18 and 19, the patrimony of drug trafficking has been affected by 1,065,755 dollars”, he assured in a press conference, offered together with the director in that territory of the Special Force against Drug Trafficking (Felcn), Juan José Torrico.
The vice minister explained that the first operation, called Leopardo, took place on October 18 and 20 mobile cocaine paste factories were found, with a daily production capacity of up to 20 kilos.
The Colombian Rafael Ramirez Morales (52 years old), armed with a rifle, and Bolivian Ernesto Yucra Seña (46 years old) were arrested in this action.
Also destroyed were 48 tanks of 1,200 liters; 54 bags of cement; 240 gasoline cans of 60 liters; 719 jute bags; 20 hoses; 30 racks and 1,175 liters of rich water equivalent to 40 kilos 705 grams of cocaine; among other elements of artisanal manufacture.
The second operation, named Rinoceronte, took place on October 19 and two clandestine cocaine paste factories and two cocaine crystallization laboratories were found, and a minor and Evo Ramírez Méndez were arrested.
Also dismantled were eight 1,000-liter tanks; 200 liters of liquid cocaine equivalent to nine kilos; 28 packages of coca leaves; 18 drums with a capacity of 60 liters and eight bags of lime, among other products.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the drug produced in Bolivia is mainly destined for Europe, although at least 31 countries, including some in the region — such as Chile, Uruguay, Panama and Argentina — have reported receiving cocaine from Bolivia.
Internacionales
Cuban Supreme Court Confirms Successful Completion of Prisoner Release

The People’s Supreme Court of Cuba announced on Monday that it has successfully completed the release of 553 prisoners, a process first announced on January 14. Among those freed were political prisoners, including opposition figures José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro.
The announcement came shortly after Washington, in the final days of the Biden administration, decided to remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
While Havana has insisted that the releases were a unilateral and sovereign decision, the United States maintains that the measure was part of an agreement mediated by the Vatican. According to U.S. sources, many of those released were participants in the July 11, 2021, anti-government protests, the largest demonstrations Cuba has seen in decades.
Cuban authorities have not provided a list of the released prisoners or a timeline for the implementation of the measure, despite multiple requests for information from EFE.
Internacionales
Russia calls Zelensky’s Washington visit a “complete failure” after altercation with Trump

Russia stated on Saturday that Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington was a “complete failure” following the altercation with Donald Trump, accusing the Ukrainian leader of being “obsessed with continuing the war” with Moscow.
The visit “was a complete political and diplomatic failure of the Kiev regime,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova in a statement. Zakharova accused Zelensky of being “incapable of demonstrating a sense of responsibility,” of “rejecting peace,” and of using “lies and manipulations to justify the continuation of hostilities and the reception of military and financial aid from the West.”
Zelensky’s visit to Washington on Friday turned into a verbal brawl before cameras worldwide, when his counterpart, Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance accused the Ukrainian leader of being ungrateful for U.S. aid and rejecting peace talks. Zelensky was prematurely escorted out of the White House without signing the agreement he had gone to Washington for, which involved giving up the exploitation of Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for security guarantees.
“With his excessively rude behavior during his visit to Washington, Zelensky confirmed that he is the most dangerous threat to the international community as an irresponsible warmonger,” Zakharova stated.
She also accused European leaders of “political weakness” and “baseness” for backing Zelensky after the “moral lesson” he received in Washington.
Internacionales
Lula criticizes Trump-Zelensky meeting: “Grotesque and disrespectful”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was humiliated during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling the scenes broadcast live by the media “grotesque.”
“I’m not a diplomat, but since diplomacy was created, there has never been such a grotesque and disrespectful scene as the one that took place in the Oval Office of the White House,” Lula told reporters in Montevideo, where he was attending the inauguration of Uruguay’s president-elect, Yamandú Orsi.
“Honestly, I believe that part of society thrives on disrespecting others, and it is impossible to talk about democracy without respecting other human beings. I think Zelensky was humiliated, and I believe that in Trump’s mind, Zelensky deserved it,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Lula met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a bilateral discussion. During their meeting, Lula stated that Europe would likely bear the responsibility for rebuilding Ukraine and maintaining NATO.
“It is very likely that Europe will be blamed for the disaster happening now, when in reality, it is not the fault of any specific country. It is a matter of irresponsible leaders who refuse to discuss peace and instead prefer to talk about war,” he argued.
Lula also reiterated Brazil and China’s proposal for a negotiated peace process, which would bring Ukraine and Russia to the table with other countries acting as mediators.
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