Author: Admin

MEKELE, Ethiopia — Tour guide Gebreegziabher Berehe no longer expects visitors to show up in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, as concerns mount about a possible return to warfare.

The 37-year-old says his tourism business has completely collapsed, bank machines in Mekele sit without cash, and he’s thinking about leaving Ethiopia since he can’t make ends meet anymore.

“If war arises again, I think the situation will be even more severe than before,” Berehe explained. “My colleagues and I are now facing serious economic and moral crises, even before hearing the sound of any gun.”

An uneasy quiet has settled over Mekele, which serves as the regional capital, though friction continues building between regional leaders and Ethiopia’s federal government based in Addis Ababa.

The region has been preparing for potential renewed warfare following a peace agreement signed in November 2022 that ended brutal fighting. That conflict claimed thousands of lives as Ethiopian federal forces, supported by troops from neighboring Eritrea, battled against Tigrayan military units.

Currently, Tigray’s leadership claims Ethiopian federal officials have violated the peace accord through drone attacks. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s government alleges that Eritrea has shifted course to support and finance armed groups within Tigray, which borders the country.

The nightmare scenario involves Eritrea joining forces with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Tigray’s governing body, in armed conflict against Ethiopian military forces.

The war that concluded in 2022 was devastating, marked by extensive reports of sexual assault and the deliberate restriction of food supplies as a military tactic.

Numerous Mekele residents are seeking ways to flee any new violence while possible, remembering the communication shutdown and movement restrictions Ethiopia’s government placed on the region during the previous conflict.

Some analysts believe a potential trigger for war lies in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s aggressive position regarding efforts to secure Red Sea access for landlocked Ethiopia through Eritrea, which Ethiopia lost when Eritrea became independent in 1993 following decades of guerrilla conflict.

Abiy declared to parliament earlier this month that the Red Sea and Ethiopia “cannot remain separated forever.” Eritrean government spokesperson Yemane Gebremeskel rejected Abiy’s goal as “delusional malaise” when speaking with The Associated Press.

Eritrea, concerned about a potential military attack on its Assab port, has begun rebuilding relationships with its former enemies in Tigray’s leadership, despite denying any formal partnership. This development has worried officials in Addis Ababa, prompting the Ethiopian government to mobilize reserve troops.

Since assuming power in 2018, Abiy has worked to establish Ethiopia’s international reputation as an emerging power. However, multiple conflicts throughout his tenure have hindered these efforts.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all sides to show restraint, with similar appeals from the European Union and the United Kingdom, which has advised its citizens against visiting the region.

On January 29, Ethiopian Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, suspended flights to Tigray following violent clashes between federal soldiers and Tigrayan forces in Tselemti district, an area claimed by both Tigray and the adjacent Amhara region. Flight service resumed on February 3.

The fighting was followed by drone attacks that left one person dead and another wounded. Tigrayan officials blamed Ethiopian forces for the strike. Ethiopia’s military has not publicly addressed the accusation.

These incidents have damaged travel to Tigray, whose historic stone churches and stunning mountain terrain provide a scarce but crucial source of foreign currency and jobs through tourism.

As business owners like Berehe fear financial losses, Tigray agricultural workers such as Johannes Tesfay share similar concerns.

Tesfay farms north of Mekele in Debretsion, where his family cultivates chili peppers, potatoes and onions at the foot of mountains that Eritrean soldiers previously used to enter Ethiopia during the recent conflict, destroying crops and farm machinery.

Distribution problems linked to the renewed hostilities have left him deeply worried.

“There’s no fuel for my irrigation pumps, there’s no fertilizer and there’s barely any transportation for buyers to bring the produce to market,” he explained.

When asked about his plans if violence returns to the area, Tesfay gazed toward the mountains and responded, “What can we do? All we can do is pray. We need help from the global community to make some kind of reconciliation between all the forces.”

HONG KONG (AP) — An appeals court in Hong Kong on Monday rejected challenges from pro-democracy activists in the territory’s largest prosecution under Beijing’s national security legislation.

The democracy supporters were part of a group of 47 activists who faced charges in 2021 for allegedly conspiring to commit subversion through their participation in an unofficial primary vote. This sweeping legal action against some of the city’s most prominent activists effectively dismantled much of Hong Kong’s once-vibrant pro-democracy movement, which had peaked during the massive anti-government demonstrations of 2019.

In 2024, forty-five defendants received prison sentences ranging from four to ten years, with international governments and human rights organizations condemning the harsh punishments.

The eleven activists whose conviction appeals were denied included former legislative members Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and Helena Wong.

The Court of Appeal also rejected all challenges to the sentences handed down.

Lawrence Lau, a former pro-democracy district councilor who was among two activists cleared in the case, saw his acquittal maintained after prosecutors appealed the decision.

Building on momentum from the 2019 demonstrations, the pro-democracy faction had planned to capitalize on the 2020 legislative elections. The unofficial primary was designed to select pro-democracy candidates for the formal election.

The movement hoped to win a legislative majority that could advance protesters’ goals, including increased police oversight and democratic selection of the city’s leadership.

Throughout the proceedings, government lawyers argued the activists sought to paralyze Hong Kong’s administration and compel the city’s chief executive to step down. In their 2024 ruling, judges determined that the activists’ strategy to create change through the unofficial primary would have weakened governmental authority and triggered a constitutional crisis.

Opposition voices argued the activists’ convictions demonstrated how officials suppressed dissent after the 2019 protests. Both Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain the national security legislation was essential for maintaining the city’s stability.

The prosecution encompassed democracy advocates from various backgrounds, including legal academic Benny Tai, who received a 10-year sentence, and former student activist Joshua Wong, who was sentenced to four years and eight months.

Close to 20 activists from the case have been freed from custody during the past year. This group included former district councilors Jimmy Sham and Lester Shum. Sham and Lee Yue-shun, another cleared activist, spoke with Lau prior to Monday’s court session.

When imprisoned activists entered the courtroom, several gestured and smiled toward family members and supporters, who responded with waves of their own.

Some citizens waited in line outside the courthouse since Saturday to obtain courtroom seats. Retiree Margaret Chan came Monday morning, wanting to demonstrate solidarity with those she viewed as innocent.

Witnessing some activists freed from prison brought her comfort. “They have survived it,” she said.

SEOUL – South Korean officials are calling on Russia’s diplomatic mission in Seoul to remove a massive banner proclaiming “Victory will be ours” as Tuesday marks four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.

The South Korean foreign ministry issued a statement Sunday confirming they had expressed their objections to the embassy regarding the display, though officials did not indicate whether Russian diplomats had responded to their request.

Measuring approximately 49 feet in length and featuring Russian flag colors with text written in Russian, the banner was mounted on the embassy’s exterior wall in downtown Seoul. As of Monday, the controversial display remained visible.

In their official statement, ministry officials restated South Korea’s stance that Russia’s military actions against Ukraine violate international law.

The ministry further emphasized that the military partnership between Russia and North Korea must end, calling it a serious danger to South Korean national security and a breach of both the United Nations Charter and Security Council resolutions.

This month, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev publicly commended North Korean forces for their combat role in Russia’s Kursk region, according to news reports.

Following a mutual defense agreement signed in 2024, North Korea deployed approximately 14,000 troops to support Russian forces in their conflict with Ukraine. South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western intelligence sources report that over 6,000 of these North Korean soldiers have been killed in action.

Attempts to contact the Russian embassy in Seoul for their response were unsuccessful. An automated phone message indicated the embassy was closed Monday due to a public holiday.

HONG KONG – An appeals court in Hong Kong on Monday denied requests from a dozen pro-democracy advocates seeking to overturn their convictions in a significant national security prosecution that observers describe as emblematic of Beijing’s tightening grip on the territory.

The court decision involves the high-profile “Hong Kong 47” prosecution, in which numerous prominent democracy advocates and elected officials were taken into custody during widespread arrests in early 2021. They faced charges of conspiring to undermine state authority. After extensive court proceedings that stretched over years, the vast majority of defendants received prison terms of four to ten years in late 2024, with just two individuals found not guilty.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican military forces achieved a significant victory against organized crime on Sunday by killing the nation’s most influential drug cartel boss, who was also among America’s most sought-after criminals. However, the operation triggered widespread violent retaliation throughout Mexico.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died during a military operation aimed at capturing him in Jalisco state. This represents the most significant success against criminal organizations since authorities recaptured former Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán ten years ago.

In response to Oseguera Cervantes’ death, armed groups launched violent attacks nationwide. Criminal members set vehicles ablaze to block highways in approximately twelve Mexican states, sending smoke clouds into the sky. Residents barricaded themselves inside their homes in Guadalajara, the nation’s second-most populous city and Jalisco’s state capital, while Monday classes were suspended in multiple states as security personnel went on high alert across the country. Guatemala even strengthened border security along its Mexican frontier.

This success could strengthen Mexico’s position in negotiations with the incoming Trump administration, which has threatened economic sanctions or direct military intervention unless Mexico demonstrates progress in combating criminal organizations.

However, experts remain uncertain about the long-term impact on Mexico’s security situation.

Oseguera Cervantes, commonly called “El Mencho,” was 59 years old and originally from Michoacan state in western Mexico. His involvement in criminal enterprises spanned at least thirty years.

In 1994, American courts convicted him of heroin trafficking, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. After returning to Mexico, he rapidly advanced through the country’s drug trafficking hierarchy.

Approximately in 2009, he established the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which developed into Mexico’s most rapidly expanding criminal enterprise. The organization trafficked cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl and migrants into the United States while pioneering violent tactics including drone warfare and homemade explosive devices.

The organization gained notoriety for bold assaults on Mexican law enforcement, including shooting down a military helicopter in Jalisco during 2015 and orchestrating a failed but dramatic attempt to assassinate Mexico City Police Chief Omar García Harfuch, who currently serves as Mexico’s federal security secretary.

The cartel recruited members aggressively and explored innovative online methods to attract potential recruits.

Oseguera Cervantes died while his supporters battled Mexican troops attempting to arrest him.

Mexico’s Defense Department released a statement explaining that army units initiated an operation in southern Jalisco state to apprehend Oseguera Cervantes, deploying the Mexican Air Force and elite military units.

Criminal forces launched a counteroffensive, and during the resulting battle, federal troops killed four criminal organization members, including their leader, while wounding three others who later died during helicopter transport to Mexico City, the statement indicated.

Three military personnel sustained injuries and two individuals were arrested during the action. Authorities confiscated rocket launchers capable of destroying aircraft and armored vehicles at the location.

Oseguera Cervantes’ elimination will assist Mexico’s government in demonstrating results to the United States, which is demanding more aggressive action against drug cartels from its southern neighbor. Officials from both nations confirmed that intelligence sharing contributed to Sunday’s successful operation.

Oseguera Cervantes faced numerous criminal charges in the United States, and the State Department had established a $15 million bounty for information leading to his capture. The Trump administration classified his cartel and similar organizations as foreign terrorist groups one year ago.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico during Trump’s first presidency, praised the operation on X, stating “The good guys are stronger than the bad guys. Congratulations to the forces of law and order in the great Mexican nation.”

Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the DEA, explained that Mexico had delivered “a strong message to Donald Trump’s administration that they are fighting aggressively and effectively” against the most powerful cartels. He emphasized that “the majority of the information came from the Mexican armed forces and all credit goes to Mexico.”

The identity of Oseguera Cervantes’ successor remains unknown, and it’s uncertain whether any single individual can fill his role.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jalisco cartel operates in at least 21 of Mexico’s 32 states and maintains activity throughout nearly all American territory. The organization also functions globally, meaning their leader’s death could impact operations far beyond Mexico.

“El Mencho controlled everything, he was like a country’s dictator,” Vigil explained.

His death could decelerate the cartel’s aggressive growth and territorial expansion while initially weakening it against the Sinaloa cartel across multiple conflict zones where they or their allies are engaged. However, the Sinaloa organization faces its own internal leadership conflict between “El Chapo’s” sons and supporters of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who remains in American custody.

Vigil urged Mexico to capitalize on this opportunity by launching “an effective frontal assault based on intelligence.”

“This is a big opportunity for Mexico and the United States if they work together,” he stated.

Security expert David Saucedo warned that if Oseguera Cervantes’ family members assume cartel leadership, the violence witnessed Sunday could persist. If other individuals seize control, they might be more inclined to move forward and maintain operations.

The most concerning scenario would involve the cartel adopting indiscriminate violence tactics. They could choose to “launch narcoterrorism attacks … and generate a scenario similar to what Colombia lived in the 1990s,” launching comprehensive attacks against the government including “car bombs, assassinations and attacks on aircraft.”

Japan’s central bank could move to increase interest rates as soon as next month if the nation’s currency continues its downward trend before an anticipated meeting between Japanese and American leaders, according to a former monetary policy official.

Makoto Sakurai, who previously served on the Bank of Japan’s board, told Reuters that the timing could coincide with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s expected trip to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump around the central bank’s upcoming policy session scheduled for March 18-19.

According to Sakurai, Takaichi might request assistance from the Bank of Japan to prevent further currency depreciation, especially since Washington’s recent actions to support the yen suggest American officials prefer a stronger Japanese currency relative to the dollar.

“Currency intervention has only a temporary effect in combating yen-selling pressure. The best way to counter a weak yen is for the BOJ to raise interest rates,” Sakurai explained during a Friday interview, noting he maintains connections with current policymakers.

The former official explained that additional currency weakness would drive up inflation through increased import expenses, which would counteract some downward price pressure from government fuel subsidies.

Should the need arise to address significant currency declines, the Bank of Japan could justify a March rate increase by highlighting expectations for robust wage increases in the country’s annual spring labor negotiations, Sakurai noted.

“It would make better sense to wait until April but depending on yen moves, there’s a chance the BOJ could raise rates in March,” he stated.

Sakurai held his position on the central bank’s board from 2016 through 2021, during a period when the institution transitioned from massive asset purchasing programs toward managing long-term rates through bond yield controls.

Looking ahead, he suggested the Bank of Japan might need to implement two rate increases each in 2026 and 2027 to bring its benchmark rate from the current 0.75% to 1.75%, which he believes represents a neutral level that neither restricts nor stimulates economic growth.

Moving too quickly with rate increases could damage Japan’s banking sector by causing more small business failures and weakening regional bank balance sheets, Sakurai cautioned.

The central bank concluded its decade-long massive stimulus program in 2024 and has implemented several rate increases, including a December move that brought the short-term policy rate to 0.75%, its highest level in three decades.

With inflation running above the Bank of Japan’s 2% goal for almost four years, Governor Kazuo Ueda has indicated the institution’s willingness to continue raising rates if economic conditions develop as projected.

Most economists surveyed by Reuters anticipate the Bank of Japan will increase rates to 1% by the end of June, while financial markets indicate approximately 70% odds of a rate hike by April.

The central bank’s next policy meeting is set for March 18-19, followed by an April 27-28 session that will include updated quarterly economic growth and inflation projections.

Currency weakness has created political challenges for Japanese officials as it increases costs for households and businesses by making imported fuel and food more expensive.

Since Takaichi, known for favoring loose fiscal and monetary policies, assumed the prime minister role in October, the yen has declined roughly 8% against the dollar, reaching an 18-month low of 159.45 in January.

While the currency has recovered somewhat from those lows, it currently trades around 155 per dollar, significantly weaker than the 147 level seen before Takaichi took office.

The death of one of Mexico’s most wanted drug kingpins has unleashed a wave of retaliatory violence that spread across multiple states on Sunday, forcing tourists to shelter indoors and airlines to cancel flights.

Nemesio Oseguera, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ was killed during a military operation in the town of Tapalpa. Within hours, suspected cartel supporters began setting fire to vehicles and businesses while establishing roadblocks on major highways throughout the region.

The chaos reached the popular beach resort of Puerto Vallarta, where visitors watched in shock as smoke clouds filled the sky above the normally peaceful destination. Major carriers including Air Canada, United Airlines, and Aeromexico scrapped their scheduled flights to the tourist hotspot as the situation deteriorated.

Local authorities in several towns issued warnings for residents and visitors to remain inside their homes and hotels, while transportation companies advised truck drivers to seek safe routes or return to their facilities until the unrest subsided.

A member of Oseguera’s criminal organization, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed the attacks were launched as payback for their leader’s death. The source also issued an ominous warning about additional violence to come.

“The attacks were carried out in revenge for the leader’s death, at first against the government and out of discontent,” the cartel member explained. “But later the internal killings are coming, by the groups moving in to take over.”

The widespread disorder represents a troubling but familiar pattern for Mexico, where decades of government campaigns against drug trafficking organizations have repeatedly resulted in devastating cycles of violence across large portions of the country.

In Puerto Vallarta, located about five hours from where the military strike occurred, beachgoers used their mobile phones to record the disturbing scenes of thick smoke obscuring their ocean views.

Daniel Drolet, a Canadian visitor who has spent multiple winters in Puerto Vallarta, expressed alarm about what this could mean for the traditionally peaceful resort area. “I have never seen anything like this before,” he stated during a telephone conversation.

The state of Jalisco saw gunmen launch an assault on a National Guard facility, prompting officials to advise hotel guests to stay inside and halt public transportation services.

Government security officials shared additional footage showing the scope of the crisis: military tanks rolling through residential areas in Aguascalientes state, roadblocks shutting down the heavily traveled Mexico-Puebla highway, and armed cartel members in pickup trucks blocking roads in Colima state.

A trucking industry organization released a statement expressing deep concern about the highway violence and urged drivers to stick to secure areas or head back to their home bases until conditions stabilized.

Guanajuato state, considered a stronghold of the Jalisco cartel, documented 55 separate incidents spanning 23 municipalities, resulting in 18 arrests. Officials reported that all situations were brought under control by evening.

Carlo Gutierrez, a resident of Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, described how people were using WhatsApp messaging groups to encourage others to stay home. “There is fear and a lot of caution,” he said about the city, which is scheduled to host World Cup soccer matches this summer.

Beyond the cartel members and officials killed during the initial military operation, authorities have not reported additional casualties from the subsequent violence.

This pattern of retaliation following major cartel arrests or killings has become a recurring concern for Mexican officials, often causing them to reconsider launching significant operations against criminal organizations.

Similar incidents occurred in 2019 when Ovidio Guzman, son of imprisoned Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, was captured but quickly released after widespread gun battles erupted. His eventual arrest in 2023 also triggered more violence.

The 2024 capture of Sinaloa Cartel chief Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada sparked an ongoing power struggle within that criminal organization that has continued for more than a year.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who previously served as ambassador to Mexico, shared his reaction on social media. “I’m watching the scenes of violence from Mexico with great sadness and concern,” he wrote. “It’s not surprising that the bad guys are responding with terror. But we must never lose our nerve.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the violence through her own social media post, attempting to project calm amid the chaos. “In most of the national territory activities are happening with absolute normalcy,” she stated.

SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong Un has secured another term leading North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, with party officials praising his expansion of the nation’s nuclear weapons program and enhanced international influence, according to state media reports released Monday.

The party congress proceedings, where Kim is anticipated to reveal his primary political and defense objectives for the coming five years, indicate he plans to accelerate his nuclear weapons program that already possesses missiles threatening U.S. partners in Asia and America itself.

The gathering, which commenced last Thursday, occurs as Kim becomes more aggressive in regional affairs, after dramatically expanding his nuclear capabilities and developing stronger relationships with Russia through collaborative involvement in Ukraine’s conflict, intensifying tensions with both Washington and Seoul.

Political observers believe Kim will likely announce fresh military objectives during this meeting, including enhancing traditional military forces and combining them with nuclear weapons, while reinforcing his push for economic independence through mass citizen participation, building on steady post-COVID recovery driven by renewed Chinese trade and Russian arms sales.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Kim’s reelection as party general secretary occurred with the “unshakable will and unanimous desire” of thousands of party representatives during Sunday’s fourth day of proceedings.

According to party regulations, this congress, which Kim has convened every five years beginning in 2016, selects the general secretary to lead the organization. The 42-year-old Kim has maintained the party’s highest position throughout his leadership, although his official title evolved from first secretary to chairman during 2016’s congress, then to general secretary at 2021’s gathering.

Party officials stated in their announcement that through nuclear force development, Kim has established military capabilities to counter “any threat of aggression” and “any form of war,” while praising his guidance for “reliably guaranteeing” the nation’s prospects and “boosting the pride and self-esteem” of North Korean citizens.

KCNA reported the congress approved changes to party regulations during Sunday’s session but provided no immediate specifics. Political experts had expected Kim might use this congress to solidify his aggressive position toward South Korea and potentially modify party guidelines to formalize his description of inter-Korean relations as between two “hostile” nations.

Official media reports have not yet revealed any remarks from Kim or other top officials at the congress directly discussing relationships with Washington and Seoul.

North Korea has halted all significant diplomatic engagement with both the United States and South Korea following the breakdown of 2019 negotiations between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump over disagreements regarding sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear program reductions.

Kim’s administration has declined diplomatic overtures from Trump following the American leader’s return to office, pressing Washington to abandon its requirement for North Korean denuclearization before resuming discussions. Relations between the two Koreas worsened further in 2024 when Kim rejected the North’s historical objective of peaceful reunification and labeled the divided South a perpetual adversary.

A young Pakistani girl’s incredible cricket talents have captured global attention, but the viral fame came with dangerous consequences for those who helped share her story.

Aina Wazir, just eight years old, has become an international sensation after footage of her remarkable bowling abilities spread across social media platforms. The young athlete comes from Shiga Zalwal Khel, an isolated village in North Waziristan near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The girl’s background adds another layer to her inspiring story – she lost her father, Omar Wazir, who worked as a respected educator before being murdered by militants. Despite facing such tragedy at a young age, Aina has found solace and skill in the sport of cricket.

However, the viral success brought unexpected danger. The cameraman responsible for recording Aina’s impressive cricket demonstration was later taken captive by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). The militant group eventually freed him, but only after forcing him to issue a public apology.

The incident highlights the complex security challenges faced in the volatile border region, even as young Aina’s story continues to inspire cricket fans and supporters around the world. The talented youngster is now seeking opportunities for formal education alongside her athletic pursuits.

Mexican military forces eliminated the head of the nation’s most dominant criminal organization on Sunday, taking down Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known by his alias ‘El Mencho.’ His death marks the end of leadership for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which had risen to become the country’s most influential drug trafficking network.

The operation’s aftermath sparked widespread disorder across multiple Mexican states, with reports of automobiles set ablaze in various locations. Military personnel took defensive positions around the General Prosecutor’s offices in the nation’s capital as authorities braced for potential retaliation from cartel members.

Ukrainian forces conducted a large-scale missile strike early Monday morning that severely damaged power systems and left residents without basic utilities in Russia’s Belgorod region, according to local officials.

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Telegram that the strike caused “serious damage to energy infrastructure” and resulted in widespread outages. “In residences, there are interruptions in supplies of electricity, water and heat,” Gladkov stated.

The governor characterized the Monday morning assault as “massive,” impacting both Belgorod city, located 25 miles from the Ukrainian border, and surrounding communities. Officials planned to conduct a full damage assessment once daylight arrived.

The border region has repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian military operations throughout the ongoing war, which will reach its fourth anniversary later this week.

Kim Jong Un will continue leading North Korea’s Workers’ Party after being confirmed for another term as general secretary, according to an announcement from the country’s state-controlled news agency KCNA on Monday.

The decision came during the fourth day of the party’s congress meetings, which took place on Sunday. Along with confirming Kim’s leadership position, party members also selected new Central Committee members and approved changes to party regulations, though KCNA did not reveal specific details about what modifications were made.

The congress meetings represent significant political events in North Korea, where the Workers’ Party maintains complete control over the isolated nation’s government and policy decisions.

A recently established American military intelligence operation assisted Mexican forces in tracking down one of the world’s most wanted drug kingpins during a deadly weekend raid, according to a US defense official speaking with Reuters.

The operation targeted Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ who led one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, a multi-agency American unit focused on gathering intelligence about drug trafficking organizations, contributed to the successful Mexican military mission.

This specialized task force began operations quietly in late 2023, with its primary mission being to chart the complex networks of cartel operatives operating on both sides of the border between the United States and Mexico, according to US government sources.

The American defense official, who requested anonymity when discussing the matter, declined to specify what type of intelligence assistance the US task force provided to Mexican authorities. The source emphasized that Mexican forces conducted the actual raid independently.

According to Mexico’s defense ministry, the confrontation occurred in Jalisco state in western Mexico, where gunfire erupted during the operation. Oseguera sustained severe injuries during the firefight and succumbed to his wounds while being transported by air to Mexico City for medical treatment. Mexican officials acknowledged that American authorities had supplied “complementary information” for the mission.

The successful operation triggered widespread retaliation across Mexico, with criminal associates setting vehicles ablaze and establishing roadblocks on major highways in more than six different states throughout the country.

Repair crews have successfully brought electricity back online for the vast majority of residents affected by blackouts following Ukrainian strikes on power facilities in the Russian-occupied sections of Zaporizhzhia region, according to Moscow-appointed officials.

The Russia-installed regional administrator, Yevgeny Balitsky, announced on his Telegram channel that electrical service had been restored to all areas except for 12,000 homes located in one district. He stated that repair teams continued working to bring power back to the remaining affected households.

According to Balitsky’s earlier statements, the southeastern Ukrainian region experienced two separate electrical outages. Repair workers had already managed to restore electricity to half of the territory, while backup generators kept essential infrastructure operating during the blackouts.

Meanwhile, in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of northeastern Ukraine, a fuel storage tank ignited following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil facility, according to Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed regional administrator.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A Venezuelan prisoners’ rights organization announced on social media Sunday that it has confirmed the freedom of 16 individuals following the enactment of new amnesty legislation targeting those imprisoned on political charges earlier this week.

This confirmed figure stands dramatically lower than numbers announced by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez just one day earlier. Rodríguez stated Saturday that officials were immediately processing 1,557 applications and that hundreds of people imprisoned under political circumstances were already gaining freedom through the new amnesty legislation.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez put her signature on the amnesty legislation Thursday, marking a significant policy change after last month’s dramatic U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.

The legislation is designed to help opposition figures, political activists, human rights advocates, journalists and numerous others who have spent months or years behind bars.

However, human rights organizations have responded skeptically to the law’s passage, describing it as inadequate since it fails to include imprisoned military officers, among others.

The legislation also does not cover individuals convicted of murder, narcotics trafficking and severe human rights abuses.

Following Maduro’s arrest, Rodríguez’s administration promised to free a substantial number of prisoners as a peace-building measure. Since that time, 464 individuals have gained release while over 600 continue to be held, according to Foro Penal.

These releases have not provided complete freedom but instead represent precautionary measures replacing incarceration. Those freed face restrictions preventing them from media contact, international travel and political participation.

Opposition groups continue pushing for amnesty legislation that would provide complete freedom for political prisoners.

The Venezuelan Red Cross announced Sunday in an official statement that it would accept the government’s request to oversee the prisoner release process under the new amnesty law.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates announced Saturday that they successfully stopped a series of coordinated cyber attacks directed at the country’s essential services and digital networks, according to the state news agency.

The UAE Cybersecurity Council reported that these digital assaults were characterized as terrorist operations aimed at disrupting the nation’s stability and interfering with crucial institutional operations. The country’s cyber defense systems managed to identify and stop these threats before any damage occurred, though officials did not reveal who orchestrated the attacks.

The Cybersecurity Council detailed that the hostile activity “included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms.” The organization noted that the attackers utilized artificial intelligence technologies to create advanced attack tools, marking what the council called a significant advancement in terrorist groups’ methods and capabilities.

While authorities confirmed that various sectors were targeted in these digital assaults, they declined to specify which particular systems were involved or when exactly these attempts took place. Officials emphasized that the nation’s cybersecurity measures successfully identified and neutralized all threats before any service interruptions could occur.

As Ramadan begins – a time when charitable donations typically surge throughout the UAE and the broader Muslim community – the council issued warnings for residents to exercise caution while online. They encouraged citizens to follow “safe practices” when using digital services, especially when contributing to charities or providing personal and financial details.

The council additionally offered advice on data protection and fraud prevention, noting that cybercriminals frequently take advantage of seasonal spikes in internet usage. They urged both individuals and businesses to report any questionable cyber activity or suspicious online behavior through official reporting channels.

According to the state news agency, this announcement from the council demonstrates the country’s continued commitment to protecting national digital systems as online threats become increasingly sophisticated.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces announced Saturday they have successfully seized Al-Tina, a strategic border town adjacent to Chad, representing yet another territorial advancement in their ongoing conflict against Sudan’s national military.

Through a social media announcement, the RSF declared their forces had overtaken the town, which was previously understood to be under control of Joint Forces supporting Sudan’s army. The declaration included video evidence displaying armed personnel celebrating under a sign identifying “District of Al-Tina.”

Sudan’s military has not yet provided an official response to these assertions. Nevertheless, Darfur Governor Minni Minnawi, an army supporter, delivered harsh criticism of the RSF, alleging they deliberately target non-combatants. Minnawi condemned what he characterized as “repeated criminal behavior embodying the worst offenses against the innocent.”

This alleged seizure of Al-Tina occurs while combat between the RSF and government forces continues throughout Sudan, approaching the two-year mark since hostilities began in April 2023. The ongoing warfare has devastated Sudan’s governmental structures and created massive population displacement, with United Nations officials estimating tens of thousands of deaths and approximately 11 million individuals forced to abandon their residences.

Darfur has experienced particularly devastating humanitarian consequences as RSF operations have intensified in recent months. This past Thursday, the United Nations’ independent investigation team examining Sudan determined that the RSF’s October assault on El Fasher, a major Darfur center, demonstrated “the hallmarks of genocide.” El Fasher had represented one of the final significant population centers in the area not completely dominated by RSF before its collapse.

Following that development, the paramilitary organization has escalated activities near Chad’s border, raising alarm about potential regional consequences of the conflict. Late last year, two Chadian military personnel died in border violence incidents, highlighting the expanding regional dangers associated with the warfare.

While opposing forces persist in competing for control over municipalities and supply corridors, extensive areas of Sudan continue experiencing violence, trapping civilians between changing battle zones amid an increasingly catastrophic humanitarian emergency.

Syrian officials have revealed they successfully disrupted a significant narcotics smuggling scheme through collaborative efforts with Iraqi security forces, highlighting enhanced intelligence sharing between both nations as they battle international drug trafficking organizations amid mounting regional alarm over Captagon distribution.

An official from Syria’s Interior Ministry spoke with The Media Line, explaining that drug enforcement teams conducted what he called a “high-quality” security operation in Homs province, working alongside Iraq’s General Directorate of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. The mission successfully prevented a substantial drug shipment from leaving the country.

The official verified that accurate intelligence shared through joint cooperation channels between both nations made the operation possible.

Law enforcement officials revealed the mission led to capturing two people who operated an international network involved in cross-border drug smuggling. They noted the suspects were trying to transport a shipment of narcotic pills for overseas smuggling when authorities intercepted them and seized the drugs.

An unnamed security official informed The Media Line that law enforcement confiscated roughly 400,000 Captagon pills, weighing approximately 65 kilograms, that were being prepared for distribution beyond Syria’s borders. The arrested individuals have been turned over to judicial authorities for continued investigation and appropriate legal action.

This mission is part of ongoing security efforts Syrian authorities have launched in recent months, targeting domestic and international smuggling operations to stop the drug trade that has emerged as a regional security and economic concern.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed the operation demonstrates an advanced form of direct security collaboration, stating that a specialized team from the General Directorate for Narcotics Affairs traveled to Syrian territory after high-level coordination with Damascus officials.

This advancement shows a change in security cooperation between both nations, moving from intelligence exchange to conducting joint field missions, indicating an evolution in security partnership levels to address international organized crime.

The border between Syria and Iraq serves as a primary pathway for smuggling operations due to extensive desert landscape and challenges in maintaining complete control, leading both countries to improve intelligence coordination and security presence in border regions.

Security and regional assessments show Captagon has emerged as a major security challenge across the Middle East, being manufactured and transported in massive amounts through various pathways, including Iraq, Jordan, and Gulf nations.

Throughout the past year, Syrian-Iraqi security collaboration has included multiple joint missions resulting in confiscating substantial amounts of hashish and Captagon, along with apprehending internationally sought suspects, as part of efforts to eliminate trafficking sources and boost regional security.

Iraqi intelligence services also previously reported breaking up an international network operating within Syrian territory that planned to smuggle significant drug quantities into Iraq in multiple shipments, showing the scope of challenges these networks present.

Specialists suggest the expanding cooperation between Damascus and Baghdad shows growing awareness that fighting narcotics has become part of regional national security, especially considering connections between these networks and other criminal activities like weapons trafficking, money laundering, and funding armed groups.

Border management and stopping narcotics distribution have also become central to relationships among regional nations, with international pressure mounting to strengthen collaborative efforts in this area.

Following political changes in Syria during late 2024, authorities have worked to rebuild security institutions and strengthen border presence to regain complete control and prevent Syrian territory from serving as a smuggling corridor.

Despite ongoing security campaigns, analysts believe eliminating drug networks demands long-term commitment, including economic development in border areas, improved technological surveillance, and expanded regional and international cooperation.

Leaders in both countries stress the importance of additional joint operations, intelligence sharing, and developing monitoring systems to restrict criminal networks’ ability to exploit shared borders.

With continuing security challenges throughout the region, combating drugs appears to be among the most urgent issues that will influence security cooperation among Middle Eastern nations in upcoming years, particularly with growing concerns this trade could become a steady funding source for organized crime.

A former law enforcement officer who became one of Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpins met his end during a military operation on Sunday. Nemesio Oseguera, better known by his alias ‘El Mencho,’ was killed at age 60 after years of evading capture despite carrying a $15 million U.S. bounty.

The deceased crime boss had commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal organization that security experts consider among Mexico’s most formidable drug trafficking networks. His organization gained infamy for flooding American streets with deadly substances, particularly fentanyl, contributing to countless overdose fatalities across the United States.

Vanda Felbab-Brown, who studies security issues at the Brookings Institution, emphasized Oseguera’s significance in the criminal underworld. “Apart from the heads of the Sinaloa cartel, ‘El Mencho’ has been the biggest prize for many, many years,” she stated. “And it’s really stunning, just like the heads of the Sinaloa cartel, how long he managed to evade U.S. and Mexican law enforcement gunning for him.”

Following the imprisonment of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, many viewed Oseguera as Mexico’s most powerful crime figure. However, unlike Guzman’s media-friendly persona, El Mencho maintained a low profile, becoming known primarily through profanity-filled audio messages where he issued threats against rivals and government officials.

His criminal enterprise extended far beyond drug trafficking, encompassing fuel theft, human trafficking, and forced labor operations. The cartel’s brutal enforcement methods included beheadings and other violent intimidation tactics designed to terrorize opponents.

One particularly audacious escape attempt occurred in May 2015, when his associates used rocket-propelled grenades to down a military helicopter, allowing their leader to flee advancing Mexican forces. His victims were rarely afforded such dramatic rescues.

The cartel’s violence reached staggering levels during a six-week span in 2015, when they executed 24 police officers in western Mexico as a message to authorities. In 2020, they attempted to assassinate Omar Garcia Harfuch, then Mexico City’s police chief and now the nation’s security minister who helped coordinate Sunday’s fatal operation. Two bodyguards died in that attack, though Harfuch survived.

Oseguera’s journey from poverty to criminal prominence began in 1966 in an impoverished mountain village in Michoacan state, a region where illegal drug cultivation has long competed with legitimate avocado farming. After working in agricultural fields as a youth, he migrated to the United States seeking better opportunities but instead entered the heroin trade.

Following his arrest and imprisonment in America, he was sent back to Mexico, where he initially joined law enforcement before transitioning to the Milenio Cartel, which operated under the Sinaloa Cartel’s umbrella. He climbed the criminal hierarchy, serving as an assassin and enforcer before attempting unsuccessfully to seize control of the Milenio organization.

After that failed takeover, he established his own criminal empire, declaring war against his former Sinaloa allies and creating the CJNG through partnerships with local money laundering networks. The organization took its name from Jalisco state, which includes the major city of Guadalajara.

His cartel combined traditional Sinaloa trafficking methods and community engagement with the extreme violence characteristic of the Zetas Cartel, a group known for military-style operations and diversification into kidnapping and extortion.

Corruption played a crucial role in Oseguera’s success, as he systematically bribed law enforcement and sought political protection throughout Jalisco state. Columbia University organized crime researcher Edgardo Buscaglia noted the cartel’s political influence, explaining that “El Mencho’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel was one of the biggest buyers of politicians and political campaigns, which has given it an enormous social base.”

Buscaglia highlighted how the organization cultivated public support, particularly during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic when cartel members distributed food packages bearing CJNG logos to struggling families during lockdowns. “Compared to the Mexican government,” Buscaglia observed, “he was the least bad option.”

Canada’s flagship airline announced Sunday it has temporarily halted all flights to the popular Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta due to continuing security concerns in the region.

The decision by Air Canada comes amid reports that Mexican military forces conducted an operation that reportedly resulted in the death of notorious cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, who goes by the alias “El Mencho.”

The airline has not specified how long the flight suspension will remain in effect, citing the fluid nature of the security situation in the coastal tourist destination.