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UK bans ninja swords in move to crack down on violent knife crime
Brits have until Aug. 1 to get rid of all their ninja swords as the U.K.’s Labour government looks to crack down on knife crime.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Thursday that «ninja swords» specifically will be banned this summer after the 2022 murder of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was stabbed to death by a ninja sword just outside his home.
«Confirmed: Ninja swords will be banned by this summer,» Starmer said in a post on X. «When we promise action we take it.»
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An activist wearing a T-shirt with the slogan «Put Knives Down!» stands in front of pictures of victims of knife crime during a demonstration outside New Scotland Yard. (Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The new ban, «Ronan’s Law,» will now make it illegal to possess, sell, make or import ninja swords.
«Since losing our beautiful boy Ronan, we have relentlessly campaigned for a ban on ninja swords, the lethal weapon which took his life,» Pooja Kanda, the mother to the 16-year-old boy, said, according to a government readout. «We believe ninja swords have no place in our society other than to seriously harm and kill.
«Each step towards tackling knife crime is a step towards getting justice for our boy Ronan.»
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The British government has set up a surrender process for any owner of a ninja sword, defined as a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches «with one straight cutting edge with a tanto-style point.»
«From 1 August, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face 6 months in prison, and this will later increase to 2 years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill,» the government said in a statement. «There is already a penalty of up to 4 years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.»
Knife crime has long plagued the U.K. and though offenses involving a «sharp instrument» committed last year across England and Wales were down from a 15-year peak in 2019, they were still substantially higher than crimes reported in 2010, when 33,800 crimes were reported, versus the 50,500 cases in 2024.
A person views knives available to purchase via an online website. (Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
A sharp instrument, according to the U.K., could include knives, but it could also include the use of a broken bottle to commit an offense.
The U.K. saw a significant drop from the 52,000 cases involving a «sharp instrument» reported in 2019 by the following year with 41,700 cases reported.
But these incidents have continued to increase each year since.
Nearly two dozen different types of knives are already banned in the UK, including swords that are not a part of a national uniform, switch blades, zombie knives, belt buckle knives or butterfly knives, to name a few.
Knives that are permitted are those used for cooking or while working and have a cutting edge of no more than three inches.
Though the government states that «it’s illegal to use any knife or weapon in a threatening way.»
Under Ronan’s Law, jail sentences were also increased for selling knives to minors and the illegal sale of banned knives.
An officer outside All Saints Catholic High School on Granville Road in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, after a 15-year-old boy died in a stabbing at the school Feb. 3, 2025. (Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)
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«Knife crime is destroying young lives as too many teenagers are being drawn into violence, and it is far too easy for them to get hold of dangerous weapons,» Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement. «Ronan Kanda was just 16 when he was ruthlessly killed by two boys only a year older than him.
«We are acting with urgency to bring forward measures to prevent deadly weapons from getting into the wrong hands and will continue to do whatever is needed to prevent young people being killed on our streets as part of our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.»
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Japón denunció el arresto de un nipón en Teherán y exigió su liberación al régimen iraní
El Gobierno de Japón denunció este miércoles la detención de un ciudadano nipón en Teherán, capital de Irán, ocurrida a mediados de enero, y exigió “enérgicamente” a las autoridades de la República Islámica su liberación.
El subsecretario de gabinete, Masanao Ozaki, informó en rueda de prensa que el arresto tuvo lugar el 20 de enero, pero evitó dar detalles sobre las circunstancias o la identidad del detenido para proteger su integridad.
“Desde que se conoció el incidente de la detención, el Gobierno instó encarecidamente a la parte iraní a que lo libere lo antes posible. También estamos en contacto con el detenido, su familia y otras partes relacionadas, y le brindamos el apoyo necesario. Nos gustaría seguir brindando el máximo apoyo posible desde la perspectiva de la protección de los ciudadanos japoneses”, declaró Ozaki.
El funcionario respondió así a preguntas sobre las informaciones de Iran International, que señalaban que el detenido sería un periodista de NHK. La cadena pública japonesa se limitó a manifestar que “siempre priorizamos la seguridad de nuestro personal”. “No hay nada que podamos decir en este momento”, insistió.
Las declaraciones llegan un día después de que Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty afirmara que el jefe de la oficina de NHK en Irán, Shinnosuke Kawashima, fue arrestado en Teherán y transferido el lunes a la capitalina prisión de Evin, utilizada por Irán para recluir a presos políticos.
En la capital del país en plena crisis, estudiantes de varias universidades realizaron nuevas protestas el lunes pasado contra el régimen iraní, en la tercera jornada consecutiva de movilizaciones tras la represión que dejó miles de muertos en enero.
De acuerdo con testigos y videos verificados, las manifestaciones se llevaron a cabo en la Universidad de Sharif, la Universidad de Teherán y Al-Zahra, donde los jóvenes corearon consignas contra los ayatollahs, exhibieron banderas del antiguo monarca Reza Pahlavi y, en algunos casos, se enfrentaron con la fuerza paramilitar Basij.
En Al-Zahra, estudiantes y profesoras se congregaron para expresar su apoyo a la monarquía exiliada y reclamar derechos civiles y libertad política, gritando “¡Queremos recuperar Irán, basta de opresión!”. En el campus de Al-Zahra, los estudiantes intensificaron las protestas quemando banderas del régimen y mostrando pancartas en apoyo a la monarquía.
“Es nuestra responsabilidad levantar la voz, aunque nos amenacen con detenciones”, afirmó una estudiante que solicitó anonimato por razones de seguridad.
En la Universidad de Sharif, los alumnos se concentraron frente a la cafetería central ondeando una bandera con el emblema del león y el sol, mientras entonaban “Mujer, vida, libertad”, consigna presente en las protestas de 2022.
En la Universidad de Teherán, la protesta surgió durante un homenaje a un estudiante fallecido en las manifestaciones previas. Los asistentes corearon consignas contra el Líder Supremo, Ali Khamenei, y exigieron la caída del régimen. En esta ocasión, los guardias no intervinieron en la Universidad de Teherán, aunque se registraron enfrentamientos aislados en otros campus con miembros de la Basij que intentaron dispersar a los manifestantes.
La Agencia de Activistas de Derechos Humanos, con sede en Estados Unidos, informó que al menos 7.015 personas han fallecido, entre ellas 214 miembros de las fuerzas de seguridad. Por su parte, las autoridades iraníes reconocen 3.117 víctimas. Las restricciones en las comunicaciones dentro del país dificultan la verificación independiente de estas cifras.
(Con información de Europa Press)
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Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes
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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger slammed President Donald Trump over his mass deportation operations in her official Democratic response to the State of the Union and repeated claims her party favors «affordability» even as the Old Dominion sees scores of new taxes.
Spanberger, elected in November to succeed conservative Gov. Glenn Youngkin, has sought to claim the mantle of «affordability,» even as she and Richmond Democrats move to enact or raise new taxes in multiple forms.
Speaking from the original historic House of Burgesses at the head of Colonial Williamsburg’s Duke of Gloucester Street, Spanberger noted how in 1705, the colony first gathered with the «extraordinary task of governing themselves.»
«The United States was founded on the idea that ordinary people could reject the unacceptable excesses of poor leadership, band together to demand better of their government, and create a nation that would be an example for the world,» she said, contrasting that vision with what Trump has brought.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers an address in Richmond. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
«Tonight, as we watched our nation’s lawmakers gather for a joint session of Congress, we did not hear the truth from our president,» she said, going on to rhetorically ask three questions:
«Is the President working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the President working to keep Americans safe — both at home and abroad? Is the President working for you?»
Spanberger recounted her 2025 election season, traveling around Virginia and addressing, «housing, health care, energy and childcare.»
She blamed Trump’s tariff policies for increasing costs, and claimed it has been Republicans trying to «make your life more expensive.»
Republicans have criticized Spanberger for supporting the legislative Democratic majority’s slew of taxes, from new sales taxes to a levy on fantasy football operators.
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Instead, Spanberger said it was Virginia’s blue legislature that is working to lower costs:
«But here in Virginia, I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the Commonwealth more affordable.»
«And it’s not just me. Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability — in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America.»
At one point in her speech, Spanberger appeared to briefly lose her place on the teleprompter:
«But as the President spoke of his perceived successes tonight, he continues to cede economic power and technological strength to Russia … bow down to … China …to bow down to a Russian dictator, and make plans for war with Iran,» she said, as her prepared remarks cited China as the technological rival.
Just as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wielded George Washington’s gavel for the first time in State of the Union history, Spanberger also gave a nod to the famous Stafford, Va., native.
«In his Farewell Address, George Washington warned us about the possibility of ‘cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men’ rising to power,» she said. «But he also encouraged us — all Americans — to unite in ‘a common cause’ to move this nation forward.»
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«That is our charge once more. And that is what we are seeing across the country. It is deeply American and patriotic to do so, and it is how we ensure that the State of our Union remains strong, not just this year but for the next 250 years as well.»
«Because ‘We the people’ have the power to make change, the power to stand up for what is right, and the power to demand more of our nation,» Spanberger said to close her remarks.
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Troops reinforce Puerto Vallarta as unrest shows signs of easing following El Mencho’s death
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Mexico’s Navy and armed forces have reinforced security across Jalisco following the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho,» in an operation that triggered retaliatory violence and raised concerns for the safety of the many American and foreign tourists who are staying in the area.
In a Feb. 24 press release, Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy said 103 Marines and tactical vehicles arrived in the main tourist area of Puerto Vallarta aboard the naval vessel ARM «Usumacinta» (A-412) to reinforce surveillance and security operations after attacks targeting businesses and property in several neighborhoods.
Naval authorities said additional personnel supported by boats, aircraft and ground vehicles were deployed to conduct maritime, aerial and land patrols to help restore order.
A soldier clears a roadblock on a road leading to Tapalpa, Mexico, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, a day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as «El Mencho.» (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)
The naval reinforcement came as federal authorities sent roughly 2,000 additional soldiers to Jalisco following the cartel leader’s death, Reuters reported.
The operation targeting El Mencho, long considered one of Mexico’s most powerful drug traffickers and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, sparked immediate retaliation from cartel members, including roadblocks, vehicle burnings and clashes across multiple states, AP reported.
Mexican officials have framed the killing as a major blow to organized crime. But analysts caution that removing a cartel leader does not necessarily translate into lasting stability.
David Mora, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, stated that «federal authorities announced that they are reinforcing troop deployments to contain the cartel’s backlash, which may be protracted.»
SOCCER MATCHES POSTPONED AFTER MEXICO KILLS CARTEL LEADER ‘EL MENCHO’ NEAR WORLD CUP HOST
The State Department declared El Mencho deceased on Tuesday. (State Department)
Mora added that «El Mencho left no clear heir, and the remaining leaders could dispute control,» and warned that the cartel’s ongoing turf wars with smaller groups, especially in Guanajuato and Michoacán, could intensify as rivals seek advantage.
While the killing delivered President Claudia Sheinbaum «a win with Washington,» Mora said, «it is far from clear the killing will aid the president’s ultimate goal of pacifying Mexico.»
Duncan Wood, a visiting fellow for North America at the Wilson Center, described the operation as a demonstration of state authority but warned the aftermath may hinge on the cartel’s structure.
TRUMP’S ‘TOTAL ELIMINATION’ STRATEGY PAVED WAY FOR FALL OF CARTEL KINGPIN ‘EL MENCHO’
Mexican navy marines guard the area where new clandestine mass graves were found near the town of La Joya, on the ouskisrts of Iguala, Mexico, Thursday Oct. 9, 2014. ((AP Photo/Felix Marquez))
«The removal of El Mencho represents a meaningful assertion of Mexican state authority against one of the country’s most violent criminal organizations. The chaos that followed was real, but temporary,» Wood said.
«In the medium term, the focus shifts to the resilience of the CJNG’s decentralized cells and the Mexican government’s capacity to sustain a comprehensive security strategy.»
In a statement posted Feb. 24 on X, the Embassy of Mexico in the United States said transit corridors were reopening and public services were being restored, airline operations were returning to normal and Puerto Vallarta International Airport had reopened to domestic traffic.
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Members of the National Guard stand guard outside the facilities of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) in Mexico City, Mexico on Feb. 22, 2026. The security presence outside the FEMDO facilities follows an operation earlier in the day in which cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’ was killed during a military operation in Tapalpa, in the state of Jalisco, authorities confirmed. (Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Image)
The embassy said some local security measures remain in place and that authorities are working with international partners to ensure safety at transit hubs and tourist destinations.
Whether the surge of troops and naval forces will prevent a broader escalation remains uncertain as authorities brace for potential power struggles within the cartel and continued clashes with rival groups.
Armando Regil Velasco and Reuters contributed to this report
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