The Ecuadoran government extradited notorious drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," to the United States, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum security penitentiary, the country's prison authority said.

Adolfo Macias, also known as 'Fito', was transferred from La Roca, a maximum-security prison in Ecuador, and handed over to U.S. officials for prosecution in a federal court in Brooklyn. He faces charges related to cocaine and weapon trafficking. Macias led the Choneros gang, which is accused of multiple crimes including murder, extortion, and controlling Ecuador's prisons, as well as maintaining ties to international drug cartels.

Macias is the first person to be extradited from Ecuador since the procedure was approved by parliament. He was serving a 34-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking before escaping prison, an event that triggered widespread violence and unrest in Ecuador. He is also suspected of involvement in the assassination of a presidential candidate in 2023. Following his recapture, Macias is now incarcerated in the United States.

Ecuador's biggest drug lord 'Fito' extradited to U.S.

Adolfo Macias, known as Fito, was taken out of La Roca, a maximum-security prison, and handed to U.S. officials. Ecuador's prison authorities shared these pictures before the country's most infamous drug lord was extradited so he could be tried in a federal court in Brooklyn. He's charged with cocaine and weapon trafficking. The criminal gang he heads, the Choneros, is accused of committing murders, extortion, drug trafficking, and controlling Ecuador's prisons. He's tied to drug cartels and mafias in neighboring countries. He's the first to be extradited from Ecuador since the procedure was voted by parliament last year. My duty is to not turn away and spare myself the effort of fighting criminals who thought for years that they owned our country. The man who used to work as a cab driver years ago was serving a 34-year sentence in a maximum-security prison for murder and drug trafficking when he escaped in January of last year. This led to unprecedented violence across the country, mutinies in prison, dozens of people were killed, and a TV crew was taken hostage by gangs during a live broadcast. Fito is suspected in the 2023 assassination of one of the main candidates running for the presidential election. Once recaptured, he was returned to prison and is now incarcerated in the U.S.

A sweeping cyber espionage operation targeting Microsoft server software 'SharePoint' compromised about 100 different organizations as of the weekend, two of the organizations that helped uncover the campaign said on Monday (July 21).

Redmond

Microsoft server hack hit about 100 organizations, experts say

Protestors showed up at the federal courthouse in Boston on Monday amid Harvard's $2 billion legal battle with the Trump administration.

Boston

Protestors gather outside courthouse amid Harvard-Trump hearing

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, an actor and artist who rose to fame as a child as Theodore Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” has died in a drowning accident in Costa Rica, where he was on vacation with his family, according to a source close to the actor.

Los Angeles

‘The Cosby Show’ star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dead at 54

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New York

Off-duty Border Patrol agent shot in NYC by undocumented migrant

The jet crashed onto the campus of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara neighbourhood, where students were taking tests and attending regular classes.

Dhaka

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Muan-gun

Report says pilot shut wrong engine before Jeju Air crash

Iran, China and Russia will discuss Tehran's nuclear activities and sanctions on Tuesday, with the E3 nations set for talks on Friday amid threats of reimposing sanctions.

Tehran

Iran to consult with Russia, China ahead of European nuclear talks

Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday (July 21) as part of a U.S.-backed truce meant to end fighting that has killed hundreds of people, state media and witnesses said.

As Suwayda

Bedouin civilians evacuate Syria's Sweida as tense truce holds

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to remain in office on Monday after his ruling coalition suffered a bruising defeat in upper house elections, prompting some of his own party to deliberate his future as the opposition weighed a no-confidence motion.

Tokyo

Japan PM Ishiba vows to stay on after bruising election defeat

Police say Fernando Ramirez drove onto a crowded sidewalk outside a Los Angeles nightclub early Saturday, injuring dozens. He was later shot by a bystander who fled the scene, prompting a citywide search.

Police search for gunman after car-ramming attack in L.A.

Japan's ruling coalition is certain to lose control of the upper house in election, public broadcaster NHK reported, an outcome that further weakens Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power as a tariff deadline with the United States looms.

Japan's ruling coalition loses control of upper house

Iran's foreign minister has said the country France, Germany and the UK are looking to set a date for a meeting for nuclear talks, in what could be a step toward ending the protracted impasse over Iran's nuclear programme and Western concerns.

Middle East Conflict

Iran and three European powers set to resume nuclear talks

The Trump administration said on Saturday (July 19) it will take action against Mexico under its "America First" policy, saying the Mexican government's earlier decision to cut flight slots in Mexico City, which affects U.S. airlines, violates a bilateral air agreement.

Washington

U.S. threatens Mexican flights over cargo, competition issues

U.S. President Donald Trump has sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners including Rupert Murdoch for at least $10 billion, over the report that his name was on a 2003 birthday greeting for Jeffrey Epstein that included a sexually suggestive drawing and a reference to secrets they shared.

Trump sues Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over Epstein report

Over 200 Venezuelans who were deported from the U.S. on allegations of gang membership earlier this year and detained in an El Salvador jail have arrived home to Caracas as part of a coordinated prisoner exchange. Ten Americans held in Venezuela returned to the U.S., officials said.

Caracas

El Salvador sends detained Venezuelans home in swap for Americans

Japanese voters headed to the polls on Sunday (July 20) in a tightly contested upper house election that could unleash political turmoil, with rising prices, immigration concerns and the emergence of a Trump-style "Japanese-first" party threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power.

Japan heads to the polls for Upper House elections

The violent clashes between the Druze minority, Bedouins and other armed groups in the southern province of Sweida have left at least 900 people dead. Some reports suggest that fighting may have halted early on Sunday.

Damascus

Syrian interim president urges respect of ceasefire in Sweida clashes

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy proposes new round of peace talks with Russia

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Epstein’s ex-girlfriend describes alleged incident with Trump

A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people waiting to enter an East Hollywood nightclub, injuring 30, seven of them critically, in Los Angeles on Saturday morning. Authorities say bystanders attacked the driver, who also sustained a gunshot wound.

West Hollywood

Driver crashes into line of people in Hollywood, police say he was shot

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Hạ Long Bay

Dozens drown after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay

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Ukraine has appointed a new prime minister, 39-year-old Yulia Svyrydenko, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle announced by President Volodymyr Zelenkskyy. This marks the most significant political shift since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Yulia Svyrydenko takes charge as Ukraine's new prime minister

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, currently on trial at the Supreme Court, has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro is accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election.

Rio de Janeiro

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At least three deputies were killed after an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, officials said. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal agents were at the scene.

Three killed in explosion at L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility

The UK's Labour Party has passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party.

London

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The U.S. House of Representatives approved a rescissions package to slash $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

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Trump orders release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

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U.S. President Donald Trump denies writing a letter signed 'Donald' beneath a nude sketch in Jeffrey Epstein’s 50th birthday album, details of which were published by the Wall Street Journal. The letter is now under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

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