Colombia's largest narco-trafficking gang ‘Gulf Clan’ head Dairo Antonio Usuga has been captured near one of his main outposts in Necocli by security officials. &nbsp; &nbsp;

In the images released by the government, the 50-year-old drug lord, who is also called as Otoniel,&nbsp;can be seen in handcuffs and surrounded by soldiers. &nbsp;

In a message, Colombian president Ivan Duque said, "This is the hardest strike to drug trafficking in our country this century." &nbsp;

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He added that the arrest was "only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar," the infamous Colombian narco-trafficking kingpin. &nbsp;

Otoniel, who was caught near Panama border, is one of the most feared men in Colombia. &nbsp;

The United States had also offered a $5 million bounty for any information, which could lead to his arrest. &nbsp;

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Indicted in the United States in 2009, Otoniel faces extradition proceedings to the country. In US, he would appear in the Southern District of New York federal court. &nbsp;

According to the Colombian government, the group was financed mainly through drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion. It is also being accused of being one of the main drivers of the worst spate of nationwide violence since the signing of a peace pact with FARC guerillas in 2016. &nbsp;

As per independent think tank ‘Indepaz’, the group is present in almost 300 municipalities in the country. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Colombia's largest narco-trafficking gang ‘Gulf Clan’ head Dairo Antonio Usuga has been captured near one of his main outposts in Necocli by security officials. In the images released by the government, the 50-year-old drug lord, who is also called as Otoniel, can be seen in handcuffs and surrounded by soldiers.

Colombia's largest narco-trafficking gang ‘Gulf Clan’ head Dairo Antonio Usuga has been captured near one of his main outposts in Necocli by security officials. In the images released by the government, the 50-year-old drug lord, who is also called as Otoniel, can be seen in handcuffs and surrounded by soldiers. In a message, Colombian president Ivan Duque said, "This is the hardest strike to drug trafficking in our country this century." Also Read: Biden the dealmaker finds that compromise can have consequences He added that the arrest was "only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar," the infamous Colombian narco-trafficking kingpin. Otoniel, who was caught near Panama border, is one of the most feared men in Colombia. The United States had also offered a $5 million bounty for any information, which could lead to his arrest. Also Read: NATO chief welcomes Navalny's award of top EU rights prize Indicted in the United States in 2009, Otoniel faces extradition proceedings to the country. In US, he would appear in the Southern District of New York federal court. According to the Colombian government, the group was financed mainly through drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion. It is also being accused of being one of the main drivers of the worst spate of nationwide violence since the signing of a peace pact with FARC guerillas in 2016. As per independent think tank ‘Indepaz’, the group is present in almost 300 municipalities in the country. (With inputs from agencies)

Colombia's most feared drug lord Dairo Antonio Usuga captured

A former Colombian military officer wanted by Haitian authorities over the assassination of President Jovenel Moise has been captured in Jamaica, Colombian authorities said on Friday.

Mario Palacios is accused of being one of 26 Colombian mercenaries who allegedly took part in the July 7 murder of Moise at his home in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, in which his wife Martine was also shot and wounded.

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"We have already been notified about the capture of Mr Palacios. What is happening now&nbsp;is the extradition process to Haiti," said Colombia's police chief Jorge Vargas in a video.

He said he was informed of the arrest by the Interpol office in Kingston, Jamaica.

No details were given about the arrest, nor how Palacios would have managed to reach the neighboring island of Jamaica from Haiti.

Palacios had been the subject of an Interpol red notice.

Three Colombians were killed by Haitian armed forces responding to the attack and 18 more were detained, alongside two US citizens of Haitian descent.

Vargas previously said the captured Colombians claimed that the initial plan was to arrest Moise and hand him over to the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

The mercenaries were contracted by Miami-based Venezuelan security firm CTU.

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Colombia's government has complained about the poor treatment of its citizens by Haitian authorities.

The assassination deepened an already dramatic crisis in Haiti, which is suffering from a lack of security, soaring gang violence and a spate of kidnappings.

The capital has also been paralyzed by fuel shortages caused by gangs controlling oil access, and demonstrations by those angry that gasoline is only available on the black market.

A former Colombian military officer wanted by Haitian authorities over the assassination of President Jovenel Moise has been captured in Jamaica, Colombian authorities said on Friday.

A former Colombian military officer wanted by Haitian authorities over the assassination of President Jovenel Moise has been captured in Jamaica, Colombian authorities said on Friday. Mario Palacios is accused of being one of 26 Colombian mercenaries who allegedly took part in the July 7 murder of Moise at his home in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, in which his wife Martine was also shot and wounded. Also Read | Haiti gang leader threatens to kill kidnapped American missionaries "We have already been notified about the capture of Mr Palacios. What is happening now is the extradition process to Haiti," said Colombia's police chief Jorge Vargas in a video. He said he was informed of the arrest by the Interpol office in Kingston, Jamaica. No details were given about the arrest, nor how Palacios would have managed to reach the neighboring island of Jamaica from Haiti. Palacios had been the subject of an Interpol red notice. Three Colombians were killed by Haitian armed forces responding to the attack and 18 more were detained, alongside two US citizens of Haitian descent. Vargas previously said the captured Colombians claimed that the initial plan was to arrest Moise and hand him over to the US Drug Enforcement Agency. The mercenaries were contracted by Miami-based Venezuelan security firm CTU. Also Read | Haiti gang demands $17 million ransom for kidnapped missionaries and children Colombia's government has complained about the poor treatment of its citizens by Haitian authorities. The assassination deepened an already dramatic crisis in Haiti, which is suffering from a lack of security, soaring gang violence and a spate of kidnappings. The capital has also been paralyzed by fuel shortages caused by gangs controlling oil access, and demonstrations by those angry that gasoline is only available on the black market.

Colombian linked to Haiti president's murder captured in Jamaica

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. 
 
Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. 
 
&quot;Visions of the Great White South&quot;, which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself.&nbsp; 
 
Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, &nbsp;holds a unique place in national folklore. 
 
&quot;He`s one of those great British heroes,&quot; exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. 
&quot;But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway.&quot; 
 
Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. 
 
With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Some of the images are really haunting,&quot; said Connelly. 
 
&quot;One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching.&quot; 
 
One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves.&nbsp; 
 
Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying &quot;I am just going outside and may be some time&quot; before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. 
 
Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. 
 
The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. 
 
Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. 
 
Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. 
 
The free exhibition will run until August 19. 
 
(AFP)

Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. "Visions of the Great White South", which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself. Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, holds a unique place in national folklore. "He`s one of those great British heroes," exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. "He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. "But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway." Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather. "Some of the images are really haunting," said Connelly. "One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching." One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves. Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying "I am just going outside and may be some time" before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. The free exhibition will run until August 19. (AFP)

Paintings and photos of tragic Scott pole mission reunited

The Islamic State jihadist group has executed at least 24 civilians after seizing a village in northern Syria from a Kurdish-Arab alliance, a monitor said on Friday. 
 
&quot;IS has executed at least 24 civilians in the last 24 hours&quot; after seizing the village of Buyir close to the northern town of Manbij from the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. 
 
(AFP)

The village of Buyir was captured from a Kurdish-Arab alliance before the execution

The Islamic State jihadist group has executed at least 24 civilians after seizing a village in northern Syria from a Kurdish-Arab alliance, a monitor said on Friday. "IS has executed at least 24 civilians in the last 24 hours" after seizing the village of Buyir close to the northern town of Manbij from the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. (AFP)

Islamic State executes 24 in Syria: Monitor

Syria&#39;s al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front has abducted the commander of the Western-backed Jaish al-Tahrir brigade, along with several of his aides and scores of fighters in coordinated raids in northern Syria, Jaish al Tahrir said on Sunday. 
 
Jaish al Tahrir was set up in February as part of an effort to forge unity among moderate rebels in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) alliance at a time when a major Islamic State advance threatened their main stronghold near the Turkish border. 
 
The powerful Islamist Nusra Front is ideologically opposed to the more moderate FSA rebels and their Western supporters, but occasionally fights alongside them against Islamist State. 
 
Jaish al Tahrir, which has 4,000 well trained fighters, said their leader Mohammad al Ghabi and a number of his aides were taken in a house raid in Kfr Nubl in Idlib province Saturday night. 
 
&quot;They were injured and kidnapped and taken to an unknown location,&quot; Jaish al Tahrir said in a statement. 
 
Nusra Front fighters stormed several locations in coordinated raids and set up checkpoints to arrest around 40 fighters, the group said. 
 
The Nusra Front has previously targetted rebel groups supported by the West, leading to the dissolution of the Syria Revolutionaries Front and the Hazzm movement last year. 
 
In March, the al Qaeda offshoot seized the bases and weapons of the 13th Division rebel group, one of the factions that has received foreign military aid, capturing US-made anti-tank missiles. 
 
Jaish al Tahrir called on Syria&#39;s main rebel groups al Ahrar al Sham and others to put pressure on Nusra to release their leader and prevent an escalation in tensions. 
 
They also said they wanted a judicial court that would arbitrate their differences. Nusra Front has accused leaders of Jaish al Tahrir of participating in a US-led programme to train and equip Syrian insurgents to fight Islamic State. Nusra Front regards the United States as an enemy. 
 
Jaish al Tahrir called on restraint by its fighters on their main fronts in northern Syria near the Turkish border where they are battling Islamic State militants and fighting the Syrian government army and allied Iranian-backed militias in Aleppo countryside and Latakia province. 
 
(Reuters)

Nusra Front also captured some aides and scores of fighters

Syria's al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front has abducted the commander of the Western-backed Jaish al-Tahrir brigade, along with several of his aides and scores of fighters in coordinated raids in northern Syria, Jaish al Tahrir said on Sunday. Jaish al Tahrir was set up in February as part of an effort to forge unity among moderate rebels in the Free Syrian Army (FSA) alliance at a time when a major Islamic State advance threatened their main stronghold near the Turkish border. The powerful Islamist Nusra Front is ideologically opposed to the more moderate FSA rebels and their Western supporters, but occasionally fights alongside them against Islamist State. Jaish al Tahrir, which has 4,000 well trained fighters, said their leader Mohammad al Ghabi and a number of his aides were taken in a house raid in Kfr Nubl in Idlib province Saturday night. "They were injured and kidnapped and taken to an unknown location," Jaish al Tahrir said in a statement. Nusra Front fighters stormed several locations in coordinated raids and set up checkpoints to arrest around 40 fighters, the group said. The Nusra Front has previously targetted rebel groups supported by the West, leading to the dissolution of the Syria Revolutionaries Front and the Hazzm movement last year. In March, the al Qaeda offshoot seized the bases and weapons of the 13th Division rebel group, one of the factions that has received foreign military aid, capturing US-made anti-tank missiles. Jaish al Tahrir called on Syria's main rebel groups al Ahrar al Sham and others to put pressure on Nusra to release their leader and prevent an escalation in tensions. They also said they wanted a judicial court that would arbitrate their differences. Nusra Front has accused leaders of Jaish al Tahrir of participating in a US-led programme to train and equip Syrian insurgents to fight Islamic State. Nusra Front regards the United States as an enemy. Jaish al Tahrir called on restraint by its fighters on their main fronts in northern Syria near the Turkish border where they are battling Islamic State militants and fighting the Syrian government army and allied Iranian-backed militias in Aleppo countryside and Latakia province. (Reuters)

Syrian al Qaeda-linked group abducts Western-backed commander

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