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Colombian warlord involved in hundreds of murders deported after serving drug sentence in the US

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Colombian warlord involved in hundreds of murders deported after serving drug sentence in the US

Colombian warlord Salvatore Mancuso was sent to his native country Tuesday after serving a drug trafficking sentence in the United States and being denied several requests to be sent to Italy, where he also has citizenship.

Mancuso arrived in Bogota’s El Dorado Airport on a charter flight that also carried dozens of Colombians who were deported from the U.S. after illegally crossing the southern border. Mancuso was quickly taken into police custody, wearing a green helmet and a bullet proof vest.

Human rights organizations and government officials in Colombia hope that Mancuso will cooperate with the justice system and provide information about hundreds of crimes that took place when paramilitary groups fought leftist rebels in rural Colombia in the 1990s and early 2000s.

COLOMBIA TO SEND DEEP-WATER EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE 300-YEAR-OLD SHIPWRECK THOUGHT TO HOLD TREASURE

“This event marks an important step towards reconciliation and the construction of a lasting peace in Colombia,” said Fernando García, the director of Colombia’s national immigration service.

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Mancuso, 59, was one of the leaders of the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia, a paramilitary group founded by cattle ranchers who fought against leftist rebels during one of the most violent stretches of Colombia’s decades-long armed conflict.

He will remain in prison in Colombia, where courts have judged him responsible for more than 1,500 acts of murder and disappearances. He will attempt to get a reduced sentence, and possibly a release from prison, from a transitional justice system created by Colombia’s 2016 peace deal.

Victims of the nation’s conflict are hoping that Mancuso helps shed light on hundreds of murders and forced disappearances carried out by paramilitary fighters, including extrajudicial executions where victims were buried in mass graves.

In multiple hearings with Colombian judges, including some by teleconference while in U.S. custody, the former warlord has spoken of his dealings with politicians, and of the potential involvement of high-ranking politicians in war crimes.

But his extradition to the United States in 2008 had slowed down investigations.

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“When Mancuso was extradited, truth was extradited, as well as justice and reparations for victims,” said José Melendez, a human rights lawyer who represents war victims in northern Colombia.

“We welcome him. And want him to tell the truth about the multinational companies, the businessmen and the government ministers who helped with the creation of paramilitary groups.”

In this photo released by the Colombian Immigration agency, migration officials meet former Colombian paramilitary leader, Salvatore Mancuso, at the gate of the plane at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, upon arrival from the U.S. which deported him after he served time for drug trafficking. (Colombian Immigration Agency via AP)

Mancuso was born to a wealthy family in the department of Cordoba in northwest Colombia, and was a prosperous cattle rancher.

He began to collaborate with the Colombian army in the early 90s after his family was threatened by rebel groups who demanded extortion payments.

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Mancuso quickly transitioned from providing intel to the military to leading operations against leftist rebels, and by the late 90s he had become one of the most powerful paramilitary leaders in Colombia.

In 2003 he joined a peace process under which paramilitary leaders demobilized in exchange for reduced sentences.

But he was extradited to the United States five years later during the administration of President Álvaro Uribe, along with 13 other paramilitary leaders who were wanted for drug trafficking in the United States.

Critics said that the surprise extradition was part of an effort to stop Mancuso and other paramilitary leaders from discussing their ties with Colombia’s political establishment.

Mancuso was sentenced in 2015 for guiding more than 130 tons of cocaine to U.S. soil, as he turned to drug trafficking to finance his armed group.

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He completed his 12-year-sentence in 2020, and had been held at an immigration detention center for the past three years, as officials decided where to send the former paramilitary leader.

Mancuso is the son of an Italian immigrant. His lawyers had requested he be deported to Italy, where he is a citizen, arguing his life would be in danger in Colombia.

U.S. officials decided instead to send Mancuso to Colombia, whose government requested his extradition in 2020, arguing that his return to the country was vital for the investigation of war crimes.

“The problem Mancuso has is that if he talks too much and he could get killed,” said Laura Bonilla, a researcher of Colombia’s conflict for the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation.

The administration of President Gustavo Petro already has given Mancuso, prior to his arrival, a special designation to play a role in peace negotiations despite being in prison.

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The government is currently engaged in peace talks with two left-wing rebel groups who were not part of a 2016 peace deal. It has also tried unsuccessfully to start peace talks with the AGC, a right-wing group that was set up following the disarmament of Mancuso’s paramilitary group.

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Olivia Rodrigo Announces Massive ‘Unraveled’ Tour Dates

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Olivia Rodrigo Announces Massive ‘Unraveled’ Tour Dates

Olivia Rodrigo has announced dates for “The Unraveled Tour,” a huge 65-date run across North America, Europe, and the UK. The tour supports her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” out June 12, 2026 via Geffen Records.

Promoted by Live Nation, the global tour kicks off Friday, September 25 in Hartford, CT at PeoplesBank Arena and features multi-night plays in cities around the world including Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Vancouver, Oakland, Las Vegas, Stockholm, Paris, Milan, and more.

Opening acts include Devon Again, Die Spitz, Grace Ives, The Last Dinner Party, and Wolf Alice will join Olivia on select dates. Full dates appear below.

Rodrigo is set to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” tonight (April 30), and will make her hosting debut with double duty on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend on May 2.

American Express is partnering with Olivia Rodrigo for the tour. Eligible American Express Card Members will have access to Amex Presale Tickets for the North America, Europe and UK dates starting Tuesday, May 5 at 12pm local time through Wednesday, May 6 at 10pm local time, while supplies last. Presale dates and times vary by show.

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NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: The general onsale will begin Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

EUROPE TICKETS: For Europe dates, fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

UK TICKETS: For UK dates, tickets will first be available via an O2 presale beginning Tuesday, May 5 at 10am local time. Fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album or by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those who already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.

VIP: The Unraveled Tour will also offer VIP packages and experiences.

SILVER STAR TICKETS: Olivia Rodrigo will once again offer Silver Star Tickets on her upcoming tour, with a limited number of $20 USD tickets (or local currency equivalent, plus taxes where applicable) available at a later date. Originally introduced during the “Guts” world tour, the program is designed to make attending shows more accessible and affordable for fans. Tickets must be purchased in pairs, with a maximum of two per order. Seats will be assigned together, with locations revealed on the day of show at venue box office pickup. Ticket locations may include limited view, lower and upper levels, as well as floor seating.

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OLIVIA RODRIGO’S FUND 4 GOOD: Fund 4 Good is a global initiative that supports community-based nonprofits to build an equitable and just future for all women and girls. Past donations supported organizations championing girls’ education, reproductive rights, and the prevention of gender-based violence. A portion of Olivia’s proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the fund.

THE UNRAVELED TOUR 2026/2027 DATES:

Fri, Sep 25—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+

Sat, Sep 26—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+

Tue, Sep 29—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+

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Wed, Sep 30—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+

Sat, Oct 3—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+

Sun, Oct 4—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+

Wed, Oct 7—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+

Thu, Oct 8—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+

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Sun, Oct 11—Chicago, IL—United Center+

Mon, Oct 12—Chicago, IL—United Center+

Thu, Oct 15—Boston, MA—TD Garden+

Sat, Oct 17—Boston, MA—TD Garden+

Wed, Oct 21—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+

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Thu, Oct 22—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+

Mon, Oct 26—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+

Tue, Oct 27—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+

Thu, Oct 29—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+

Fri, Oct 30—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+

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Sat, Nov 7—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^

Sun, Nov 8—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^

Wed, Nov 11—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^

Thu, Nov 12—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^

Sun, Nov 15—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^

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Mon, Nov 16—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^

Thu, Nov 19—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^

Fri, Nov 20—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^

Mon, Nov 23—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^

Tue, Nov 24—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^

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Tue, Dec 1—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^

Wed, Dec 2—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^

Mon, Dec 7—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^

Tue, Dec 8—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^

Fri, Dec 11—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^

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Sat, Dec 12—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^

Tue, Dec 15—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^

Wed, Dec 16—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^

Sat, Dec 19—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^

Sun, Dec 20—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^

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Tue, Jan 12—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Wed, Jan 13—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Sat, Jan 16—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Sun, Jan 17—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^

Thu, Feb 11—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

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Fri, Feb 12—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Mon, Feb 15—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Tue, Feb 16—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^

Fri Mar 19—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~

Sat Mar 20—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~

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Tue Mar 23—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~

Wed Mar 24—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~

Thu Apr 1—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~

Fri Apr 2—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~

Mon Apr 5—London, UK—The O2~

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Tue Apr 6—London, UK—The O2~

Thu Apr 8—London, UK—The O2~

Fri Apr 9—London, UK—The O2~

Fri Apr 23—Paris, France—La Defense Arena=

Tue Apr 27—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=

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Wed Apr 28—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=

Sat May 1—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=

Sun May 2—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=

Support:

+ Wolf Alice

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^ Devon Again

# The Last Dinner Party

~ Grace Ives

= Die Spitz

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Rubio warns China after Panama ship detentions, calls hemisphere sovereignty ‘non-negotiable’

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Rubio warns China after Panama ship detentions, calls hemisphere sovereignty ‘non-negotiable’

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that “the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable” after the U.S. and regional allies accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships in a dispute tied to canal port control.

In a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. said China’s actions targeting Panama-flagged vessels were a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and infringe on regional sovereignty, framing the dispute as a broader strategic test over control of one of the world’s most critical commercial arteries.

While the Panama dispute centers on shipping detentions rather than a physical blockade, critics increasingly view it alongside battles over other strategic choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, as part of a widening contest over whether Beijing or Washington will shape the rules governing global trade and energy corridors.

IRAN’S $800M OIL SMUGGLING SCHEME USES TANKERS POSING AS IRAQI SHIPS TO DODGE BLOCKADE

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Containers and cranes at the Port of Balboa at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, Feb. 25, 2025. 

The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court decision earlier in 2026 to invalidate the legal framework behind Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking the Panama Canal, a choke point that handles roughly 5% of global maritime trade. 

U.S. regulators have monitored nearly 70 Panama-flagged vessels detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters — a surge American officials say appears designed to retaliate against Panama and pressure global shipping.

“China has used Iran to destabilize the Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy,” China expert Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions in Panama fit a broader global pattern in which China uses economic leverage, trade pressure and regional partners to expand influence while condemning similar tactics from Washington.

Chang said Beijing is now facing growing resistance as the U.S. increasingly moves not only against China directly, but also against governments and geopolitical flashpoints he argues have strengthened Beijing’s hand.

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“Trump apparently decided that he would counter this sly tactic by taking China’s proxies — Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran — off the board,” Chang said.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE BILL TO REPURCHASE PANAMA CANAL AFTER TRUMP RAISES CONCERNS OF CHINESE CONTROL

An aerial view shows the port of Rodman in Panama City Jan. 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

He also framed pressure on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a larger strategic effort aimed at both Tehran and Beijing.

“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a two-fer, starving Iran’s regime and shaking China’s already fragile economy,” Chang said. “Trump is using energy to reorder the world.”

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Chang also accused Beijing of hypocrisy over trade.

“China’s Communists invented hypocrisy. Nobody does hypocrisy better than the Chinese Communists,” he said, arguing China long benefited from a global trading system it increasingly weaponized for geopolitical purposes.

“The elemental truth is that China started this cycle of action and retaliation,” Chang said. “If China had not threatened America, America would not have leaned on Panama. If America had not leaned on Panama, China would not have detained Panamanian vessels.”

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Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

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China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, with its foreign ministry arguing U.S. criticism reflects Washington’s own strategic ambitions around the canal.

China’s foreign ministry called the statement on Wednesday “entirely baseless and misleading”, said it would take steps to safeguard China’s interests in Panama, and accused the United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.

“China also urges the relevant countries not to be deceived or exploited by malevolent forces,” added Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Reuters contributed to this article.

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Belgium reopens the nuclear door in high-stakes deal with Engie

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Belgium reopens the nuclear door in high-stakes deal with Engie

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The Belgian government will partner with the French energy giant to revive nuclear power in its energy mix as soaring electricity prices, driven by ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty in the Middle East, have already pushed the country’s inflation to 4% in April.

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Belgium’s plans to phase out nuclear energy by 2025 were partly derailed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which drove a surge in natural gas and electricity prices.

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While the idea of revoking the 2003 Belgian law to shut down all nuclear reactors faced resistance from the Greens, the Belgian parliament repealed it in May 2025.

With a new energy crisis already driving electricity prices up by more than 50% and uncertainty over the duration of the Middle East crisis, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever unveiled on Thursday a deal with Engie to conduct feasibility studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear power plant and the halt of decommissioning activities.

“This government opts for secure, affordable, and sustainable energy. With less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” De Wever said on Thursday.

The deal signed on Thursday aims to reach an agreement on the takeover of the nuclear fleet by 1 October, but it remains unclear how much Belgium will pay for this nuclear renaissance.

Belgium boasts seven nuclear reactors: four at Doel in East Flanders and three in Tihange in Wallonia. Two of these are still operational: Doel 4 and Tihange 3. Their operating licenses were recently extended until 2035, but amid vulnerabilities exposed by the energy crisis, the government may consider extending them further.

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“With this, the Belgian government assumes responsibility for the country’s long-term energy supply, with the aim of developing a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience, and socio-economic prosperity,” reads the press statement from the Belgian government and Engie.

Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet dubbed the government’s decision a “coherent political vision” which will ensure cheaper energy prices and a reliable supply, while strengthening Belgium’s strategic energy autonomy.

“Less than a year after the law enabling the return of nuclear energy in Belgium came into force, this momentum is already materialising through our determination to regain control of our assets and capabilities,” Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet told Euronews.

In 2024, under Alexander de Croo’s government, Belgium hosted a landmark nuclear summit, drawing eleven EU countries to back a declaration to boost nuclear energy.

Two years later, Paris hosted the nuclear summit, with numerous nations in attendance pledging to deploy small modular reactors to counter energy price volatility and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that phasing out nuclear power was a “strategic mistake”.

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