By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
Brazil Orders Independent Probe Into Deadly Rio Police Raid
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced that his government will push for an independent investigation into last week’s police raid in Rio de Janeiro, which left 121 people dead, including four police officers.
Speaking to reporters in Belém ahead of the upcoming COP30 Climate Summit, President Lula said it was vital to determine the conditions under which the deadly operation took place.
“The judge’s order was for arrest warrants to be served, not a mass killing — and yet there was a mass killing,” he stated.
The October 28 operation, described as the deadliest in Brazil’s history, targeted the Comando Vermelho gang, which controls parts of the drug trade in several densely populated favelas across the city’s hilly terrain.
While Rio de Janeiro state officials hailed the raid as a success, State Governor Cláudio Castro defended the operation, claiming the only true victims were the slain officers and that all other fatalities were gang members.
The incident, however, has sparked international concern over human rights violations and placed President Lula in a politically delicate position — balancing global pressure for accountability with domestic calls for a tougher stance on crime.
Trinidad and Tobago Reaffirms Commitment to CARICOM
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has reaffirmed that Trinidad and Tobago has no plans to leave CARICOM, despite the government’s growing focus on strengthening partnerships beyond the Caribbean region.
Speaking during her first official visit to Tobago since being re-elected, Persad-Bissessar stated that Trinidad and Tobago must expand its international ties while remaining committed to the regional bloc.
“CARICOM will continue as a strong regional block,” she said, “but we must also seek new investment opportunities and partnerships globally.”
Her remarks come amid renewed discussions on how Caribbean nations can maintain regional integration while pursuing economic diversification and foreign investment outside the hemisphere.
Russia Maintains ‘Constant Contact’ With Venezuela Amid Regional Tensions
The Kremlin has confirmed ongoing communication with Venezuela amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS News Agency that Russia maintains “constant working contacts” with the Venezuelan government. However, he declined to elaborate on the nature of Moscow’s assistance.
Last weekend, Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as “excessive U.S. military force” in the Caribbean Sea, reaffirming support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The U.S. campaign—focused on curbing drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific—has reportedly targeted at least 14 vessels and resulted in the deaths of 61 people. Washington has also expanded its military presence in the Caribbean in recent months.
In May, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Moscow, further solidifying ties between Russia and Venezuela amid growing Western pressure.
