International

Lula: Milei’s absence at the Mercosur summit was an “immense stupidity”

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said on Monday that the absence of his counterpart from Argentina, Javier Milei, at the Mercosur summit in Asunción was an “immense stupidity.”

“It is immensely stupid that a president of an important country like Argentina does not participate in a meeting with Mercosur. It’s sad for Argentina,” he said in words quoted by the Brazilian media.

However, Lula said that the member countries of the bloc are working to “strengthen” Mercosur “with Argentina” and that Milei’s absence “does not hinder” if the country is present in another way at the meeting, in which the Argentine Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, did participate.

“He who loses by not appearing is the one who does not come,” added the Brazilian president, who said to “learn” things in meetings of this type.

In addition, within the framework of Mercosur, Lula criticized Milei’s participation in a far-right meeting organized by the family of former President Jair Bolsonaro last weekend in southern Brazil and in which Milei charged against socialism, but avoided explicitly mentioning the Brazilian.

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“You shouldn’t waste time doing such an unpleasant, anti-people, anti-democratic extreme right thing,” he said.

Milei canceled his trip to the Asunción meeting, in which all the leaders of the member countries participated except him, after Lula said that he expects an apology from the Argentine for the insults he uttered during the electoral campaign, in which he called him “corrupt” and “communist.”

Far from apologizing, the Argentine said that he was not going to retract because, according to him, he had limited himself to telling the truth.

International

Singer seriously injured after knife attack in Tokyo’s Akasaka District

A woman in her forties was stabbed on Sunday by a man in Tokyo’s busy Akasaka district, leaving her with serious injuries, according to local media reports.

At around 10:25 a.m. (local time), police received an emergency call reporting that a woman was bleeding after being attacked with a knife by a man wearing a black hood in the basement of a building in Akasaka, police sources told Kyodo News.
The woman sustained severe injuries to her abdomen and hand but was conscious when she was transported to a hospital, Tokyo Metropolitan Police said, adding that the suspected assailant fled the scene with what appeared to be a knife.

The victim, believed to be a singer, was reportedly attacked while waiting alone outside a live music club where she was scheduled to perform.

Police stated that they are searching for the suspect and noted that the woman did not know him.

International

Ombudsman confirms deaths of six minors in bombing targeting FARC dissidents

Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office reported on Saturday the deaths of six minors who had been recruited by guerrilla groups, killed during the deadliest airstrike ordered by President Gustavo Petro in an Amazonian region in the south of the country.

Amid pre-election criticism and pressure from the United States demanding stronger action against drug trafficking, Petro has intensified military operations against armed groups. Over the past week, a series of bombings have left 28 people dead.
The minors were killed in an airstrike announced on Tuesday against a camp belonging to dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla in the department of Guaviare, resulting in 19 deaths—the largest operation of its kind under Petro’s administration.

“This is all deeply regrettable; it is war in its most painful and inhumane expression, harming the most vulnerable—minors recruited due to lack of protection and now turned into military targets,” said Ombudswoman Iris Marín in an audio message sent to the press, confirming the deaths of six minors without providing their ages.

Marín held the guerrilla group led by the country’s most-wanted man, alias Iván Mordisco, responsible for recruiting the children.
However, she also stressed that “the military forces must take every feasible precaution to protect children,” in accordance with international principles that require “careful evaluation of the means and methods of warfare to avoid disproportionate or unnecessary harm.”

International

Colombia reaches $4.5 billion deal to acquire 17 Gripen Fighter Jets from Saab

The Colombian government has finalized a negotiation agreement with the Swedish company Saab for the purchase of 17 SAP-39 Gripen fighter jets, valued at more than $4.5 billion, according to local media reports.

Colombian outlets indicated that payments are scheduled to begin in 2026, starting with an initial installment of 100 billion Colombian pesos. However, the aircraft will be delivered between 2027 and 2032, when the final jet is expected to arrive in Colombia.

This new contract represents the second-largest public purchase made by Colombia so far this century, surpassed only by the investment in the Bogotá metro system, local media noted.

The agreement is expected to be officially signed during the ceremony commemorating the 216th anniversary of the Colombian Aerospace Force, to be held in Cali on November 14 of this year.