A potent synthetic opioid in medicine and a focal point in global drug enforcement
The United States has announced a broad enforcement drive against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), charging five senior leaders and unveiling bounties. The actions follow the cartel’s alleged drug trafficking operations and a fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans, with a call to crack down on cartel influence in Mexico and beyond.
The governor has resumed duties after a leave stemming from a US drug-trafficking indictment. Morena leaders deny prior knowledge of the move, urging restraint as investigations continue. The drama highlights tensions between Mexican authorities and the United States over cartel-linked charges.
The U.S. Southern Command has confirmed lethal strikes against low-profile vessels linked to drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. The administration is pressing allied nations to extend operations onto land; critics warn of civilian harm and legal questions. Officials say the goal is to disrupt narco-terror networks and stem drug flows into the United States.
Trump has threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel, arguing a US deficit is unsustainable. Ottawa says talks have collapsed; Canada plans retaliatory duties. The White House has not commented yet.
Federal prosecutors allege that a gang known as Los Baja Deo trafficked fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, generating nearly $50 million and driving violence. The operation involved drug distribution through public housing, use of the USPS, and violence to protect the conspiracy. The DOJ seeks assets totaling about $49.7 million.
Rep. James Comer has issued a letter requesting internal DEA records on the agency’s practice of monitoring major fentanyl shipments without seizing them. The move follows New Mexico officials’ concerns and whistleblower accounts alleging orders to stand down. The inquiry mirrors a broader debate over risk-mitigation rules and the pace of seizures amid the nation’s fentanyl crisis.
The Guardian reports on Furious, a Disney+ thriller, where Catherine Grace’s mission against predatory men unfolds with a moral core. Alice Black confronts trauma as they pursue justice against institutional indifference. The series has earned praise for its depth and lead performance, while exposing systemic failings in law enforcement and elites.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Washington for a state visit and a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss extending a trade truce, AI safety and the fate of Americans detained in China. Preparatory talks have produced limited deliverables; officials are expecting targeted, incremental agreements rather than a broad breakthrough.
The UN Special Rapporteur has concluded that US strikes on 68 vessels in international waters since September last year have killed at least 223 people and may constitute crimes against humanity. The report says self-defence claims are not supported by evidence, and calls for investigations and accountability.
President Donald Trump has hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a ceremonial state visit in Washington that has focused on pageantry rather than major agreements. The two leaders have extended a trade truce to January 10, held private talks, attended a state dinner with US tech executives and staged a rare tarmac greeting and military flyovers.
Suspicious letters containing a white powder have been sent to more than three dozen congressional and election offices across the United States, triggering evacuations and security alerts ahead of the 2026 midterms. Federal agencies are investigating; initial tests show no hazardous material, and officials warn more letters may still be circulating.