Driving the news: José Rodolfo Villarreal-Hernandez, known as "El Gato," was apprehended in an operation that involved the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and elements of the Nuevo León State Investigation Agency.
Senior officials from the U.S., Israel, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain and Morocco will convene in Abu Dhabi on Monday for a meeting of the Negev Forum to discuss regional integration.
The big picture: Tensions in the region are especially high after an extreme right-wing minister of the new Israeli government, which took office less than two weeks ago, visited the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, also known as the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif, drawing widespread condemnation.
A U.S. citizen convicted of spying for Cuba was released from federal prison on Friday after more than 20 years behind bars, Reuters reported.
Why it matters: Ana Belen Montes, 65, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) analyst, was one of the most senior U.S. officials ever proved to have spied for Cuba.
China has removed more than 1,000 social media accounts for criticizing the government's COVID-19 policies, BBC reports.
Driving the news: Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, suspended or banned 1,120 accounts for what it described as personal attacks against the county's coronavirus specialists, per BBC.
A State Department official stressed the importance of Israel's "independent institutions" for its "thriving democracy" after the country's new government revealed a plan to pass laws that would weaken the Supreme Court.
Why it matters: The Biden administration is treating the issue with utmost sensitivity because of its domestic political aspects. But the U.S. also understands the implementation of the plan could have an impact on Israel’s democracy and, as a result, on the two country's bilateral relationship, U.S. officials say.
A federal judge in Mexico City halted the extradition Friday of Ovidio Guzmán, a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, to the U.S, per CNN.
Driving the news: The order comes a day after the younger Guzmán was arrested in Culiacán, Mexico, in an operation that led to deadly clashes resulting in at least 29 deaths.
