The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” on Sunday, decapitating what had become Mexico’s most powerful cartel and giving the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration for its efforts.Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco about two hours drive southwest of Guadalajara Sunday and died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statem ...

Group 1 - Warner Bros. Discovery's board plans to reject Paramount Skydance's hostile takeover bid, while Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners has backed out of the deal [2] - The EU has reversed its post-2035 combustion-engine ban and is easing regulatory burdens on European automakers [3] - Oil futures have increased by more than 2% following President Trump's blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuela tensions [3][4] Group 2 - Approximately 30% of Venezuela's oil shipments are at risk due to U.S. sanctions, with tankers exporting nearly 590,000 barrels per day last month [5] - Chevron remains the only company exporting crude from Venezuela without delays, with its operations representing about one-third of Venezuela's total oil production [6] - Venezuela's oil customers are demanding deeper discounts and revised contracts due to rising costs associated with U.S. military actions in the Caribbean [5]

Geopolitical Strategy & Military Posture - The US administration is considering options ranging from negotiation to potential military actions (air strikes or ground invasion) against Venezuela, but lacks a clear long-term strategy [4][5][8] - The redeployment of the US Navy's Gerald R Ford carrier strike group from the Red Sea to the Caribbean leaves a void in US naval presence in the Middle East, Europe, and Indo-Pacific regions [9][10][11] - Approximately 10% of the US Navy is currently positioned off the coast of Venezuela [10] Venezuela's Situation - Venezuela is geographically a large country, approximately 880,000 square kilometers, larger than Ukraine (580,000 square kilometers), with a population of 31 million [6][7] - Venezuela possesses a military supported by Russia, making any potential military intervention a complex undertaking [7] Transparency & International Concerns - There is a lack of transparency regarding the US strategy in Venezuela, raising concerns among members of Congress [8] - Senator Gene Shaheen questions whether the focus on Venezuela is diverting resources and attention from larger international threats [8][9] Casualties & Impact - According to the Pentagon, 82 people have died in strikes, with as many as 50 victims unidentified due to fear of speaking out [12]