Author: Matt Murphy

Five individuals tied to Ecuador’s notorious Los Lobos gang have been sentenced for the brutal assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio, a former journalist and member of the national assembly, was gunned down after a campaign rally in Quito last August. Gang leader Carlos Angulo, known as The Invisible, and Laura Castilla were handed lengthy prison terms for orchestrating the murder. Three others received 12-year sentences for aiding in the attack.According to prosecutors, Angulo directed the hit from prison, where he was serving time on firearms charges. Castilla facilitated the logistics of the murder, providing weapons, money, and motorcycles.…

Russia’s Wagner Group: From Mutiny to Uncertainty By Matt Murphy, BBC News, in London Published: 2 hours ago Russia’s Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has undergone significant changes since the mercenaries’ mutiny against President Putin. Experts suggest that the group has been dismantled and replaced, with former Wagner troops dispersing across Russia. The late Prigozhin’s forces played a crucial role in various conflicts, including Ukraine, Africa, and Syria. Following Prigozhin’s death, his son, Pavel, allegedly controls remnants of Wagner in the Central African Republic. UK intelligence reveals that some ex-Wagner units have merged with Russia’s National Guard. The Wagner…

Getty Images The US has urged Israel to be transparent after an airstrike hit a central Gaza school, killing at least 35 people. The strike targeted classrooms at a school in the Nuseirat refugee camp, claiming it was a “precise” hit on a “Hamas compound.” However, the US called for Israel to publicly identify the killed Hamas fighters, a move rarely seen. Israel later revealed the names of nine fighters killed in the strike. The school, hosting displaced people, suffered significant damage, with conflicting reports on the death toll. Witnesses described a devastating scene, with many dead and injured rushed…