Category: World News

MOSCOW – A suicide bombing targeting law enforcement officers in Russia’s capital left one police officer dead and two others wounded in the early morning hours Tuesday, according to Russian authorities.

The incident unfolded shortly after midnight in downtown Moscow, near the Savyolovsky Train Station, as reported by the Interior Ministry’s Moscow division.

Officials say an unknown individual walked up to a traffic enforcement patrol car and set off an explosive, instantly killing one officer while sending two colleagues to the hospital with injuries.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened an investigation into the bombing but has not released the identity of the perpetrator or provided any details about what may have motivated the attack.

The timing of the assault coincides with the four-year mark since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military forces into Ukraine.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday he will embark on a multi-nation diplomatic mission to India, Australia and Japan over the next two weeks as part of his strategy to reduce his country’s economic reliance on the United States.

The prime minister’s first stop will be Mumbai on Thursday, where he is scheduled to hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet with business executives.

Carney’s itinerary includes a historic address to Australia’s Parliament in Canberra, marking the first time a Canadian leader has spoken to both legislative chambers in two decades. He will also hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese focusing on defense cooperation and artificial intelligence developments.

The diplomatic tour concludes in Tokyo, where Carney plans to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to explore partnerships in renewable energy, essential minerals and food security initiatives.

“In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control. We are diversifying our trade and attracting massive new investment,” Carney said in a statement.

The Canadian leader has established an ambitious objective to double his nation’s exports to countries other than the United States within ten years, citing concerns that American trade barriers are deterring investment.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Canada’s economy and independence through tariff threats, including controversial suggestions that Canada should become “the 51st state.”

Trump has recently warned of imposing 100% tariffs on Canadian imports in response to Canada’s potential trade agreement with China, escalating tensions with the longtime North American ally and Carney personally.

During last month’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney criticized economic bullying tactics used by major powers against smaller nations. His remarks garnered significant international praise and media attention, overshadowing Trump’s presence at the event.

Canada and India have worked to rebuild their trade relationship over the past year following a two-year period of diplomatic tensions. India currently ranks as Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner as of 2024.

The relationship between the two nations deteriorated after Canadian law enforcement officials alleged that New Delhi was involved in the June 2023 killing of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver.

Canada is not alone in making such accusations against Indian officials regarding foreign assassination plots.

U.S. federal prosecutors revealed in 2023 that an Indian government representative orchestrated an unsuccessful attempt to kill another Sikh separatist leader in New York. Earlier this month, an Indian national pleaded guilty to conspiring to hire an assassin to carry out the planned killing of the Sikh separatist leader.

MEXICO CITY – Mexican officials dispatched 2,000 additional military personnel to Jalisco state on Monday as violence erupted following the capture and killing of the nation’s top-priority cartel boss.

The military reinforcements were sent to the western Mexican state after authorities apprehended and killed Nemesio Oseguera, who went by the alias “El Mencho” and was considered Mexico’s most wanted cartel leader.

The troop deployment represents the government’s response to unrest that broke out in Jalisco following Oseguera’s death while in custody.

PANAMA CITY – Panama officially ended more than two decades of port operations by a Hong Kong-based company on Monday, transferring temporary control of two vital Panama Canal terminals to major international shipping firms.

The country’s Supreme Court ruling, now published in Panama’s official record, officially terminated the port agreements held by Panama Ports Company, a division of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison. The decision clears the path for new operators to manage the Balboa and Cristobal terminals.

Panama’s Maritime Authority has assumed control of both facilities through government decree to maintain continuous operations, according to Alberto Aleman Zubieta, who leads the technical committee managing the transition process.

The government announced Monday afternoon that it has authorized two interim operating agreements with the Maritime Authority, each running up to 18 months. APM Terminals Panama, owned by Maersk, will manage the Balboa facility, while TIL Panama, connected to Mediterranean Shipping Company, will oversee Cristobal operations.

President Jose Raul Mulino described the interim agreements as “a legitimate tool that respects asset ownership.”

“Let me be clear, this does not imply an expropriation of those assets, but rather their use to ensure the operation of the ports until their real value is determined for the corresponding actions. I repeat, this is not an expropriation,” Mulino stated during a Monday afternoon television broadcast.

Earlier this month, Mulino had indicated the government would proceed with formalizing arrangements with APM Terminals Panama to oversee the ports once the court decision became legally enforceable.

Mulino explained the temporary setup will continue while Panama creates a new “competitive” bidding process for future port management, “with the humility not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The president assured that neither port functions nor jobs would be disrupted during the transition period.

Maersk has not yet provided a response regarding the development.

“The moment the official gazette publishes the court’s ruling, Panama Ports loses control of the ports,” political observer Jose Stoute had predicted before the official publication.

The January court decision emerges during intensifying competition between the United States and China over international shipping lanes and represents a victory for Washington’s interests.

President Donald Trump has actively worked to limit Chinese control over the Panama Canal, a waterway that handles approximately 5% of worldwide maritime commerce.

PARIS – France has prohibited US Ambassador Charles Kushner from conducting meetings with French government officials following his failure to appear at a scheduled Foreign Ministry appointment on Monday, according to diplomatic sources.

The ambassador had been called to the ministry to address statements made by the US Embassy regarding last week’s death of French far-right activist Quentin Deranque. A diplomatic source explained the situation: “Following the publication by the U.S. Embassy of comments on a tragedy that occurred in France and concerns only our national public debate – which we refuse to allow to be exploited – ambassador Charles Kushner was summoned today to the ministry. He did not show up.”

Deranque died after being attacked during a confrontation with suspected far-left activists in an incident that has deeply disturbed France. Some have compared it to “France’s Charlie Kirk moment,” referencing the shooting of the American conservative activist last year.

The American Embassy in France and the State Department’s counterterrorism office issued statements on social media platform X, declaring they were tracking the situation and cautioning that “violent radical leftism was on the rise” and represented a threat to public safety.

French officials expressed their displeasure with what they viewed as inappropriate interference. “Faced with this apparent misunderstanding of the basic expectations of an ambassador who has the honour of representing his country, the minister requested that he no longer be allowed direct access to members of the French government,” the diplomatic source stated.

This marks the second occasion Kushner has ignored a French government summons. Previously, in August 2025, he was called to provide explanations at the Foreign Ministry after publicly expressing concerns about increasing antisemitic incidents in France and condemning French officials for insufficient action against such acts.

MEXICO CITY – A daring military strike that eliminated Mexico’s top cartel kingpin has become President Claudia Sheinbaum’s most significant gamble since taking office, as she escalates her administration’s battle against the nation’s most dangerous criminal organizations.

Mexican forces executed a surprise assault Sunday targeting Nemesio Oseguera, better known as “El Mencho,” who commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The criminal organization, abbreviated as CJNG in Spanish, had grown into Mexico’s largest and most violent syndicate, surpassing even the notorious Sinaloa Cartel in geographic influence.

U.S. officials had placed a $15 million reward on Oseguera’s head, and the crime boss had successfully avoided capture across several American and Mexican presidential terms.

Sunday’s operation – representing Mexico’s most significant security action in over ten years – could signal a turning point in the nation’s ongoing cartel conflict.

American intelligence agencies assisted in the mission, as Washington has intensified pressure on Sheinbaum to strengthen anti-cartel efforts. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned of potential unilateral U.S. military intervention in Mexico.

The successful raid allowed Sheinbaum to demonstrate to Washington that Mexico can execute complex operations against top criminals without requiring American ground forces. However, domestically, the action threatens to generate public opposition if it leads to uncontrolled violence.

“It was a huge bet to go against the most powerful criminal group in the country,” stated David Mora from the International Crisis Group in Mexico. “The stakes are really high.”

Mexico’s presidential office declined to provide comment on the matter.

DEPARTING FROM PREVIOUS STRATEGY

Oseguera’s followers responded with widespread revenge attacks Sunday that revealed the extensive territorial control of their criminal network through destructive displays.

Cartel members burned vehicles and commercial properties while establishing over 250 roadblocks across 20 of Mexico’s 32 states, with violence extending from the American border to Guatemala’s frontier, Mexican officials reported.

Authorities had cleared most blockades by Monday morning, though the violent outbursts renewed concerns among citizens exhausted by nearly twenty years of brutal cartel warfare.

These political dangers pose particular challenges for Sheinbaum, whose leftist MORENA party gained control in 2018 largely due to Mexican frustration with the drug conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and disappearances.

Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador focused on addressing poverty and violence’s underlying causes through social initiatives, adopting the motto “hugs not bullets.” However, opponents argue his strategy enabled groups like CJNG to strengthen territorial control and diversify into numerous criminal enterprises, ranging from avocado producer extortion to sophisticated fuel trafficking operations.

Although Sheinbaum has generally continued Lopez Obrador’s political direction, Oseguera’s elimination marks her clear departure from her predecessor’s security approach, according to Jeronimo Mohar, who leads Aleph risk analytics firm.

U.S. officials immediately praised the mission. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Sunday that the Trump administration “commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation.”

Nevertheless, Trump maintained pressure on Sheinbaum Monday, posting on social media: “Mexico must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!”

EXPANDING THE CONFLICT?

Under Sheinbaum’s leadership, Mexico has experienced significant homicide rate reductions, though analysts wonder whether post-raid violence might reverse this improvement.

Mexican security specialist Carlos Perez Ricart explained that declining murder statistics partly resulted from CJNG establishing territorial monopolies in various regions. The leader’s death could destabilize this arrangement.

Unlike conventional cartels, CJNG operates through a franchise model – Perez Ricart likened it to Mexico’s widespread Oxxo convenience store network – with numerous smaller organizations functioning under CJNG branding. Following Oseguera’s elimination, some semi-independent groups might change loyalties, noted Carlos Olivo, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent and CJNG specialist.

Mexican leadership must now determine whether to launch comprehensive operations against CJNG while already conducting year-long campaigns against the established Sinaloa Cartel. Mexico has positioned hundreds of soldiers in Sinaloa state, yet violent incidents continue, including January’s kidnapping of ten Canadian mining company employees.

Matthew Smith, former Joint Task Force North commander experienced in Mexican anti-cartel missions, questioned the military’s capacity to simultaneously wage intensive campaigns against both Sinaloa and CJNG organizations.

“The Mexican military couldn’t seize and hold terrain when they were fighting only the Sinaloa Cartel. There’s no way they could do it with both,” Smith explained.

The Brazilian government announced Monday it will cancel a controversial policy that would have expanded privatization of Amazon waterways, following the takeover of a major grain shipping facility by Indigenous demonstrators.

Indigenous groups had occupied a Cargill grain terminal on the Tapajos River over the weekend, bringing operations at the Santarem port facility in Para state to a halt. The demonstrators had been protesting outside the terminal for several weeks before moving inside the facility.

The protesters opposed an August government decree that they said would lead to increased dredging of Amazon rivers including the Tapajos. They argued such operations would damage water quality and threaten the fishing that provides their primary food source. The waterways are crucial shipping routes for soybeans, corn and other agricultural products heading to international markets.

Guilherme Boulos, who heads Brazil’s presidential secretariat, confirmed the policy reversal while explaining the protesters’ concerns. “Indigenous people have been demonstrating for more than 30 days, questioning the decree and pointing out the effects it could have on their communities,” Boulos stated.

Demonstrators at the Cargill terminal cheered when they learned of the announcement, according to witnesses. However, a local Indigenous leader said the group would continue occupying the facility until the government officially publishes the decree’s cancellation in the federal register.

Cargill has not yet provided a statement regarding the situation at their Santarem terminal.

A Venezuelan government official announced Monday that approximately 2,200 individuals have been freed from the country’s prison system following the launch of a new amnesty program.

Jorge Arreaza, who heads the commission responsible for overseeing the amnesty law’s implementation, confirmed the prisoner releases. The legislation officially went into effect this past Friday.

Arreaza serves as the chairman of the monitoring body established to track how the new law is being carried out across Venezuela’s correctional facilities.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Officials in Peru announced Monday the recovery of two bodies – a father and his son – who perished when heavy rainfall in the nation’s southern region caused deadly mudslides that have impacted approximately 5,500 residences and prompted mass evacuations.

The tragic deaths occurred when the pair were caught in a landslide within Arequipa city, in an area where houses were constructed directly on top of a historic natural waterway. Experts note these residences sit on a route that has channeled rushing water for hundreds of years whenever intense rainfall occurs.

Local officials in Arequipa are urging the nation’s interim president to issue an emergency declaration for their region. Regional Governor Dr. Rohel Sánchez Sánchez has announced the establishment of numerous emergency shelters throughout the Arequipa area. He also reported that both the National Institute of Civil Defense and Arequipa’s regional administration have begun distributing emergency supplies including food and temporary housing.

Weather experts attribute the recent weeks of torrential downpours to the El Niño Costero weather pattern.

Officials report that Pacific Ocean temperatures are rising, with El Niño Costero projected to intensify somewhat during March. The elevated ocean temperatures create higher evaporation levels and severe precipitation, along with swollen river systems.

Two fatalities resulted from a bombing incident that occurred during the early morning hours Tuesday outside a railway station in Moscow, according to statements from Russian law enforcement officials.

The deadly blast at Savyolovsky station in central Moscow claimed the lives of both a police officer and the individual suspected of carrying out the attack, Russian news agencies reported citing police sources.

According to law enforcement officials, surveillance video revealed that a suspect had approached a police vehicle stationed outside the railway terminal and positioned an explosive device at that location.

The incident also left two additional officers with injuries from the blast. Authorities have not provided any details regarding the motive behind the attack or circumstances that may have led to the incident.

The United States Ambassador to Chile stood firm Monday in supporting recently imposed visa restrictions targeting three senior Chilean government officials, characterizing the decision as America’s sovereign authority to control border access.

Ambassador Brandon Judd addressed the diplomatic tensions arising after the Trump administration implemented travel prohibitions against the officials over their purported participation in actions that Washington claims have jeopardized regional stability. Transport and Telecommunications Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz is among those facing sanctions.

“It’s our sovereign right to take actions when we feel that the region’s security is being threatened,” Judd stated during a Santiago press briefing.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the penalties Friday, alleging the three officials engaged in “activities that compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and eroded regional security.” This statement appears to reference a proposed underwater fiber optic cable project, currently under review, that would establish communications links between Chile and China.

Chilean authorities confirmed Muñoz was targeted by the sanctions but declined to reveal the identities of the remaining two officials.

The ambassador maintained that Washington pursued all diplomatic channels before implementing sanctions, asserting that despite explicit concerns about the submarine cable initiative, Chilean leadership failed to offer adequate transparency.

The American action has triggered fierce backlash from Chile’s leftist administration. President Gabriel Boric criticized the decision, alleging the Trump government made “indeterminate accusations” and imposed “unilateral sanctions” that violate Chilean independence.

Boric, scheduled to transfer authority to far-right leader José Antonio Kast within two weeks, has emerged as one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken regional opponents.

When questioned about the heated Chilean government response, the US ambassador insisted America poses “no threats.” “We are not making any threats. What we have strictly told you all the time is that everything we do depends upon communication and security,” he explained.

Without identifying particular nations, Judd contended that “there are many malicious actors in this region that want to cause harm, not just to this region and to Chile, but to the United States as well.”

Chilean-American relations have significantly worsened during Trump’s second presidency. Boric has launched harsh attacks against his American counterpart, describing the Republican’s governing approach as resembling a “new emperor.”

Trump has publicly expressed frustration with Boric while embracing Kast’s forthcoming presidency after his decisive December electoral triumph.

“We look forward to working with the new government to provide what the Chilean people demanded,” Judd commented.

SANTO DOMINGO – Electricity vanished across the Dominican Republic on Monday morning after a catastrophic breakdown in the country’s electrical transmission system, government officials announced, marking the Caribbean nation’s second complete power failure in three months.

The widespread outage brought traffic to a standstill, crippled public transportation networks, and forced numerous businesses to close their doors while utility crews rushed to restore electrical service nationwide.

Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos revealed during a news briefing that the electrical system collapsed around 10:50 a.m. due to a malfunctioning transmission line switch that activated protective shutdowns throughout the grid.

“From the very first moment, the established protocols for this situation were activated, with the goal of restoring the system as quickly as possible,” Santos told the press.

According to the government-owned Dominican Electricity Transmission Company, the nation’s primary power generation facilities unexpectedly reduced their output before noon, creating a cascade effect that shut down additional power plants across the system.

Santos reported that by the middle of the afternoon, electrical crews had managed to restore approximately 30% of the grid’s normal operating capacity.

Critical infrastructure including medical facilities, water treatment plants, public transportation systems, and airports continued operating through emergency backup power systems, Santos confirmed.

Electrical service interruptions occur frequently throughout the Caribbean island nation, which previously suffered a similar country-wide power failure in November.

MEXICO CITY — Mexican officials revealed Monday that tracking one of his romantic relationships ultimately led to the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the feared boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel who went by “El Mencho.”

Defense Secretary Gen. Ricardo Trevilla announced that the high-stakes military mission on Sunday, supported by American intelligence, concluded when elite troops discovered Oseguera Cervantes “hiding in the undergrowth” within his native Jalisco state. Following multiple firefights, eight gunmen lost their lives while the drug kingpin and two personal guards sustained injuries. All three were detained but succumbed to their wounds during transport to Mexico City, according to Trevilla.

The total death count from the operation and subsequent violence exceeded 70 individuals, encompassing military personnel, alleged cartel operatives, and civilians.

Mexican and American law enforcement had pursued “El Mencho” for years, with multiple warrants pending in both nations for organized crime and narcotics trafficking charges.

This breakthrough came when military intelligence officers identified and monitored a close companion of one woman linked romantically to Oseguera Cervantes. This associate accompanied the woman to Tapalpa, Jalisco, on Friday for a rendezvous with the crime boss. Trevilla explained that pinpointing his exact whereabouts was made possible through “very important additional information” supplied by U.S. intelligence agencies.

After the woman departed following an overnight stay with “El Mencho,” special operations teams completed their tactical preparations, having verified his presence in the region alongside armed protection.

Mexican army and National Guard forces created a perimeter on the ground while six helicopters and backup special forces units positioned themselves in neighboring states around Jalisco.

Air Force assets provided additional reconnaissance and aerial support, Trevilla reported. The assault commenced before dawn Sunday after confirming his location. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum received continuous updates throughout the mission while traveling in northern Mexico.

Gen. Trevilla characterized the criminals’ reaction as exceptionally brutal.

During the battle, he reported that “El Mencho” tried escaping with two bodyguards while a heavily armed faction stayed behind to delay military progress. The on-site casualty count reached eight, four higher than Sunday’s initial reports.

Confiscated weapons included two rocket launchers, one matching the type the CJNG employed in 2015 to bring down a military helicopter. That 2015 incident marked a dark turning point, demonstrating the cartel’s willingness to engage Mexican forces with devastating, military-grade firepower.

Oseguera Cervantes sought refuge in a forested area scattered with small structures near Tapalpa’s edges. Despite the criminals possessing rocket launchers, Trevilla observed they failed to use them effectively. Special forces ultimately “located him hiding in the undergrowth,” sparking another fierce battle that wounded “El Mencho” and his two guards.

Amid the violence, a military helicopter made an emergency landing after taking gunfire, leading to two arrests at the location. Three soldiers suffered injuries during the engagement.

After securing the area, the cartel leader and his guards were placed aboard a helicopter for urgent medical transport. However, Trevilla confirmed their deaths during the flight, stating they were already in “critical condition.”

The flight path was then altered. Rather than touching down in Jalisco’s capital, the remains were transported to Mexico City to prevent potential violent revenge by the criminal organization.

Approximately 100 kilometers west of Tapalpa, a logistics and financial operative identified only as “El Tuli” allegedly promised gunmen 20,000 pesos — more than $1,000 — for each soldier eliminated, Trevilla stated.

The defense minister also identified “El Tuli” — reportedly Oseguera’s second-in-command — as the architect behind numerous roadblocks, arson incidents, and attacks on government facilities throughout Jalisco state.

Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported that Jalisco experienced the worst violence, with fatalities including 25 National Guard personnel, one prison worker, one prosecutor’s office staff member, and one presumed civilian woman, plus 30 suspected criminals.

In adjacent Michoacán, four additional gunmen perished while 15 security officers sustained wounds.

A paratrooper rifle unit hunted down “El Tuli” and eliminated him in a gunfight, recovering various firearms and nearly $1.4 million in combined American and Mexican currency. Nevertheless, cartel retaliation persisted across several Mexican states.

American officials have directed non-essential government employees and eligible family members to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, following increased security threats throughout the Middle East region.

The State Department announced the evacuation Monday, explaining their decision in an official statement: “The Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel and eligible family members from US Embassy Beirut.” Officials further stated: “We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel.”

This diplomatic withdrawal coincides with a massive American military deployment throughout the region. Current U.S. naval forces include destroyers stationed in the Mediterranean Sea (two vessels), Red Sea (one vessel), and Persian Gulf (four vessels). The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and its four accompanying destroyers are positioned in the Arabian Sea, while the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier arrived in Mediterranean waters Friday with its escort ships.

According to Axios reporting Tuesday, American forces have deployed over 50 fighter aircraft to Middle Eastern locations within the last day, as confirmed by a U.S. official. Flight tracking services documented F-16, F-22, and F-35 warplanes heading toward the region as part of the expanded air and sea presence near Iran.

These security measures occur while Washington prepares for nuclear negotiations with Iran scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. However, The New York Times reports that President Donald Trump is evaluating potential limited military action against Iran designed to force Tehran’s compliance with nuclear agreement terms.

The newspaper’s reporting indicates initial strike options would focus specifically on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters, ballistic missile installations, or components of Iran’s nuclear program. Should these targeted operations prove unsuccessful, the administration is reportedly considering a broader military campaign later this year designed to remove Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from power.

The Israeli Defense Forces and law enforcement officials are looking into allegations that Jewish settlers torched the Abu Bakr al-Taddiq Mosque in the Arab community of Tel, located near Nablus in the West Bank, according to reports from both Palestinian and Israeli sources on Monday.

According to reports, the perpetrators also spray-painted the words “revenge” and “price tag” on the mosque walls after starting the blaze.

The Palestinian Authority’s Religious Affairs Ministry described the incident through the PA-controlled news agency WAFA as a “nationalistic attack.”

In response to the incident, the IDF issued the following statement: “The IDF strongly condemns such incidents, including harm to religious institutions, and will continue to act resolutely to maintain security and order in the region.”

The PA ministry highlighted an increasing pattern of attacks on Islamic religious facilities, claiming that 45 mosques have been targeted in 2025, which they attribute to what they termed a “protection of the occupation.”

In a separate incident also occurring Monday, Israeli forces detained four teenagers suspected of planning an assault on military personnel in Karmiel, according to Israel’s domestic security service, Shin Bet. The security agency stated in their announcement that the suspects had “conspired to carry out an attack targeting soldiers in Karmiel” and noted that several of the individuals had undergone training and received instructions for executing their planned operation.

GENEVA (AP) — A senior American arms control official on Monday released what he described as newly declassified information about a suspected Chinese underground nuclear test from nearly six years ago, calling on the international community to pressure Beijing and Moscow toward greater nuclear disarmament efforts.

Christopher Yeaw, who serves as assistant secretary of state for arms control and nonproliferation, addressed a United Nations-supported forum following this month’s expiration of the final nuclear weapons agreement between America and Russia. The treaty’s end has removed restrictions on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, sparking fears of a renewed arms competition.

Yeaw demanded increased openness from China while highlighting weaknesses in the expired New START agreement, including its failure to cover Russia’s extensive collection of tactical nuclear weapons — estimated at up to 2,000 warheads.

“But perhaps its greatest flaw was that New START did not account for the unprecedented, deliberate, rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup by China,” he told the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament.

According to Yeaw, Beijing “has deliberately, and without constraint, massively expanded its nuclear arsenal” contrary to its public statements. He expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding China’s ultimate objectives or “endpoint.”

“We believe China may achieve parity within the next four or five years,” he said.

China has resisted any limitations on its smaller yet expanding nuclear stockpile and continues to deny conducting such nuclear testing.

Yeaw held discussions Monday with Russian representatives and planned to meet with Chinese and additional delegations Tuesday in Geneva. American officials have already conducted multiple sessions with allies, including nuclear powers France and Britain.

During his remarks, Yeaw referenced a blast registered at China’s Lop Nur underground facility in the western region as a 2.75 magnitude seismic occurrence on June 22, 2020, according to data gathered from an international monitoring network station in nearby Kazakhstan.

“It was a probable explosion based upon comparisons between historic explosions and earthquakes,” he said. “The seismic signals were indicative of a single fire explosion, not typical of mining explosions.”

Yeaw stated that China has made monitoring its testing operations “difficult” for the global community and that during negotiations, Beijing refused to permit seismic monitoring equipment at distances comparable to what America allows near its Nevada test facility.

China’s representative to the conference responded Monday that Beijing “resolutely rejects the unfounded accusations” from the US and criticized the “continued distortion and smearing of China’s nuclear policy by certain countries.”

“The U.S. accusation that China conducted a nuclear explosion test is completely unfounded and is merely a pretext for resuming its own nuclear testing,” Ambassador Jian Shen said. “The U.S.’s practice of smearing other countries to evade international arms control obligations seriously damages its own international standing.”

President Donald Trump indicated in October America’s intentions to restart nuclear testing for the first time since 1992, though Energy Secretary Chris Wright subsequently clarified such tests would not involve nuclear detonations.

During his initial presidency, Trump unsuccessfully attempted to establish a three-nation nuclear agreement including China.

Following the New START treaty’s expiration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated America was “pursuing all avenues” to achieve Trump’s “desire for a world with fewer of these awful weapons,” while emphasizing Washington would not remain passive as Russia and China build up their nuclear capabilities.

“Since 2020, China has increased its nuclear weapons stockpile from the low 200s to more than 600 and is on pace to have more than 1,000 warheads by 2030,” Rubio wrote on Substack this month.

America has indicated willingness to explore various diplomatic approaches to address the issue — whether through bilateral discussions, small group negotiations, or broader international talks.

“We are looking to all of you to help encourage nuclear-weapon states like China and Russia to engage meaningfully in a multilateral process,” Yeaw told the conference, which includes approximately 65 nations addressing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons issues.

Shen emphasized that China has continuously backed the objectives of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, “always adhered” to commitments by the five nuclear weapon states to halt nuclear testing and “never” participated in activities violating the agreement.

He also noted that Beijing, despite its recent extensive military expansion, maintains a smaller nuclear arsenal than America or Russia and called it “unfair, unreasonable and unfeasible” to expect China to participate in three-way nuclear arms control discussions.

“China’s nuclear arsenal is not on the same scale as the country with the largest nuclear arsenal, and the strategic security environment faced by China’s nuclear policy is completely different from that of the U.S.,” Shen said.

GALAXIDI, Greece — A coastal Greek community transformed into a chaotic battlefield of flying flour Monday as locals and tourists engaged in their traditional celebration marking the beginning of the Lenten season.

The main waterfront street in Galaxidi became covered in a rainbow of colored flour as participants hurled bags of the dyed powder at one another during the annual festivities. Town residents and numerous visitors enthusiastically joined the messy celebration, while others watched safely from nearby balconies.

The colorful chaos lasted several hours, though some dedicated participants continued the festivities well into the evening hours.

“This custom was brought here by (our ancestors) in their sailboats, in 1800. It only exists here,” said Panayiotis Paphilis, a local resident.

This vibrant spectacle occurs annually on Clean Monday, an important Orthodox Christian observance that begins Lent — the 40-day fasting period leading up to Easter. The holiday also signals the conclusion of carnival season, which maintains connections to the nation’s ancient pre-Christian customs.

First-time visitors, particularly young adults, made up a significant portion of the crowd.

“We had a great time. We’ll come back,” said Stephanos Kapetanakis, 28, who was accompanied by several of his friends.

Across most of Greece, Clean Monday observances tend to be much calmer, typically involving kite flying and eating large quantities of shellfish and seafood.

However, in Galaxidi — a former shipping hub located approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Athens — the celebrations are notably boisterous, with participants attempting to make each year more intense than the last.

While many comparable festivals trace back to ancient pagan origins that have been incorporated into Christian traditions, Galaxidi’s flour battle appears to have more recent beginnings.

The custom dates to the 1800s, when seafaring merchants drew inspiration from similar events they witnessed in Sicily during the era when locally-constructed sailing vessels traveled global trade routes.

Those prosperous times eventually ended, and Galaxidi — now home to 1,700 residents — became cut off from the wider world as harbor traffic declined and mountain ranges blocked road access to other areas.

Road construction didn’t occur until the 1960s, but the decades of isolation helped maintain the community’s distinctive traditions.

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia has suspended emergency power assistance to Ukraine on Monday, intensifying a disagreement over oil shipments as Ukraine continues to face widespread blackouts from Russian attacks on its electrical infrastructure.

Oil deliveries from Russia to Slovakia and Hungary have been disrupted since January 27 following what Ukrainian authorities describe as Russian drone strikes that harmed the Druzhba pipeline, a crucial route transporting Russian crude through Ukrainian land into Central Europe.

Slovakia and Hungary, considered the EU’s most Russia-friendly nations, have accused Ukraine of intentionally blocking oil shipments. Both countries secured temporary waivers from European Union restrictions on Russian oil imports.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a populist leader, announced Monday’s action came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to address the matter with him before Wednesday.

“Given the seriousness of the situation and the declared state of oil emergency in Slovakia, we are forced to take the first reciprocal measure immediately. It will be lifted immediately after the resumption of oil transit to Slovakia,” Fico said in a statement.

“As of today, if the Ukrainian side turns to Slovakia with a request for assistance in stabilizing the Ukrainian energy network, it will not receive such assistance,” he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged both nations “to engage in constructive cooperation and responsible behavior.”

Opposition parties in Slovakia criticized the move.

Fico warned of additional actions if oil deliveries don’t restart, including withdrawing Slovak support for Ukraine’s European Union membership bid.

Both Slovakia and Hungary have disputed Ukraine’s account, asserting the Druzhba pipeline remains operational for oil transport, though they haven’t provided supporting evidence.

“Our intelligence services report that the oil pipeline in Ukraine is functional,” Fico said. “Our ambassador to Kyiv has not yet been allowed to visit the part of the oil pipeline that the Ukrainian side claims is damaged.”

The Slovak leader claimed halting oil shipments represented “a purely political decision with the aim of blackmailing Slovakia” due to the country’s differing perspective on the Russian conflict compared to mainstream European views.

PARIS (AP) — France’s foreign minister announced Monday that US Ambassador Charles Kushner will face restrictions on his direct access to French government officials following his failure to attend a mandatory diplomatic meeting.

Kushner was ordered to appear at France’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Monday evening to address controversial statements made by the Trump administration regarding the fatal beating of a far-right activist, but diplomatic sources confirm he did not attend.

Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot implemented the access restrictions citing “this apparent misunderstanding of the basic expectations of the mission of an ambassador, who has the honor of representing his country.”

Despite the diplomatic tensions, French officials indicated willingness to resolve the dispute.

“It remains, of course, possible for Ambassador Charles Kushner to carry out his duties and present himself at the Quai d’Orsay, so that we may hold the diplomatic discussions needed to smooth over the irritants that can inevitably arise in a friendship spanning 250 years,” the ministry stated.

The diplomatic crisis began after the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau published a social media post declaring that “reports, corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior, that Quentin Deranque was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all.” The US Embassy subsequently shared this statement on its social platforms.

Deranque, who was involved in far-right activism, succumbed to severe brain trauma earlier this month following a violent assault in Lyon, France. The attack occurred during clashes on the sidelines of a student gathering featuring a far-left politician as the main speaker.

The incident has intensified France’s already volatile political atmosphere as the nation approaches its upcoming presidential election.

“We reject any instrumentalization of this tragedy, which has plunged a French family into mourning, for political ends,” Barrot declared over the weekend. “We have no lessons to learn, particularly on the issue of violence, from the international reactionary movement.”

The State Department’s original post asserted that “violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety. We will continue to monitor the situation and expect to see the perpetrators of violence brought to justice.”

This marks the second time Kushner has avoided a diplomatic summons, having previously failed to appear in August when called to explain his correspondence to French President Emmanuel Macron criticizing France’s efforts to combat antisemitism. On that occasion, French officials met with a representative from the US embassy instead.

CAIRO (AP) — University campuses throughout Iran’s capital became centers of opposition demonstrations Monday, with eyewitness accounts and online footage showing renewed civil unrest while American military assets position themselves in the region for potential military action.

The campus demonstrations, which saw numerous students voicing backing for Iran’s exiled royal heir from the former monarchy, started over the weekend. Monday witnessed protest activity on no fewer than three university grounds, with one incident resulting in physical confrontations involving the paramilitary Basij force.

Iranian authorities launched a brutal suppression campaign in January targeting widespread demonstrations, resulting in thousands of deaths and the imprisonment of tens of thousands more. President Donald Trump issued threats of military intervention in response before redirecting attention to Iran’s controversial atomic program and demanding negotiations.

American and Iranian representatives plan to conduct another session of indirect negotiations in Geneva this week, with Iran anticipated to present a comprehensive plan for limiting its nuclear activities. The USS Gerald R. Ford, representing the globe’s most massive aircraft carrier, is currently en route to the Middle East to supplement another carrier already deployed.

Iranian officials maintain their atomic program serves entirely civilian purposes and claim no uranium enrichment has occurred since 12 days of combined Israeli and American bombardments last June. The United States and international partners have historically questioned Iran’s intentions regarding nuclear weapons development. Iran has blocked inspections of atomic facilities following extensive bombing campaigns last year.

Country-wide demonstrations began late last year following Iran’s currency collapse under persistent American sanctions targeting the nuclear program. Protesters have demanded the removal of the Shiite religious government that has controlled the nation since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Monday’s demonstrations included activity at Sharif University, a prestigious institution in the capital, according to a student witness. The student described how he and fellow classmates assembled outside dining facilities at midday before covering their faces and applauding while chanting during the Muslim prayer call broadcast through speakers.

As participant numbers grew, one student displayed a printed banner featuring the lion-and-sun symbol of the former monarchy, while dozens voiced support for exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi.

The student reported physical altercations between demonstrators and Basij members, who have historically suppressed opposition activities, as campus security personnel attempted to keep the groups apart.

At the University of Tehran, protest activity occurred during commemorative services for a student killed in previous demonstrations, another student reported. Participants chanted “women, life, freedom” — the rallying cry from 2022 protest movements — and demanded the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The student noted that university security did not intervene. Both student sources requested anonymity citing safety concerns.

Video footage reviewed and confirmed by The Associated Press documented additional protests at Al Zahra University, where female students assembled and voiced pro-Pahlavi messages.

Measuring Pahlavi’s actual support within Iran remains challenging, though some of the largest demonstrations in years erupted in early January following his public call for street protests. Trump issued military action threats regarding protester killings and potential mass executions as authorities worked to eliminate those demonstrations.

The United States-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 7,015 deaths during recent protest activities and government crackdowns, including 214 government personnel. The organization has demonstrated accuracy in documenting casualties during previous Iranian unrest periods and uses activist networks within the country to confirm deaths. The casualty count continues increasing as the group verifies information.

Iran’s government provided its sole official death count from earlier protests on January 21, claiming 3,117 fatalities. Iran’s religious leadership has historically undercounted or failed to report deaths from past civil unrest.

The Associated Press cannot independently verify casualty figures, partly due to significant disruptions affecting Iran’s communication infrastructure.

American diplomats engaged in nuclear arms control discussions with Russian officials in Geneva on Monday and are set to hold similar talks with Chinese representatives today, according to a senior State Department official.

The United States is pushing for a comprehensive new arms control agreement that would include China alongside Russia, following the expiration of the New START treaty, which previously limited missile and warhead deployments between the US and Russia.

However, China’s disarmament ambassador, Shen Jian, stated earlier this month that Beijing would not join nuclear arms control negotiations with Moscow and Washington at this time. Officials have not clarified whether today’s discussions will constitute formal negotiations.

Neither the Chinese nor Russian diplomatic missions in Geneva have responded to requests for comment.

Tensions have been elevated after the United States accused China of conducting a covert nuclear test in June 2020, an allegation that Shen strongly rejected.

The senior American official noted that productive bilateral discussions had already taken place with the United Kingdom and France, both permanent members of the UN Security Council.

“Taking discussions to the five permanent members of the Security Council was the next logical step,” the official said, expressing optimism about the process.

MEXICO CITY – Mexican military forces successfully eliminated the nation’s most sought-after drug trafficking leader during a weekend operation that resulted in widespread violent backlash across the country.

Nemesio Oseguera, known by his criminal alias ‘El Mencho,’ died during a complex military assault on Sunday. Oseguera controlled the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the primary organizations smuggling deadly fentanyl into American communities.

Mexican authorities provided a detailed account of the operation on Monday:

FEBRUARY 20: INTELLIGENCE BREAKTHROUGH

Intelligence operatives received crucial information from a confidential source connected to one of Oseguera’s romantic companions. This intelligence led authorities to track the companion to a compound located in Tapalpa, within Jalisco state, where the cartel leader was hiding. Government officials declined to release additional specifics about the location.

FEBRUARY 21: MILITARY MOBILIZATION

After the romantic partner departed the compound, Mexican intelligence agencies verified that Oseguera remained inside under armed protection from his security detail.

A massive force comprising army units, National Guard military police, elite tactical teams, combat aircraft and six helicopters deployed to the region under strict secrecy.

According to a U.S. defense official speaking to Reuters, a recently established American military task force focused on cartel intelligence gathering provided assistance during the operation.

FEBRUARY 22: THE ASSAULT

Before sunrise, Mexican ground troops surrounded the target area in preparation for a prolonged confrontation. Armed cartel members initiated combat, but specialized units successfully countered their assault, resulting in eight suspected criminal organization members being killed.

Oseguera and his closest associates escaped to a cabin compound situated in nearby forested terrain. Elite forces followed them into the wilderness, where additional armed confrontation occurred.

Once Mexican security personnel gained control of the scene, they discovered Oseguera and two of his bodyguards with serious injuries. Medical evacuation by helicopter was arranged to transport them to a treatment facility, however Oseguera succumbed to his injuries while airborne.

Meanwhile, the military action had sparked extensive violent retaliation from cartel operatives, preventing the helicopter from reaching its intended destination in Guadalajara, the Jalisco state capital. The aircraft was redirected to Morelia airport in neighboring Michoacan state, where Oseguera’s remains were transferred to a military aircraft heading to Mexico City.

FEBRUARY 22: ESCALATING RETALIATION

Violent responses rapidly expanded throughout the region.

Defense ministry officials identified an individual known as ‘El Tuli’ – described as Oseguera’s primary lieutenant and chief financial coordinator – as the organizer behind numerous roadway blockades, arson incidents and attacks targeting government facilities throughout Jalisco state.

Law enforcement reported that ‘El Tuli’ was providing financial incentives of 20,000 pesos ($1,100) for the assassination of military personnel.

Security forces tracked ‘El Tuli’ to El Grullo, a small municipality approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) southwest of Guadalajara. When confronted, he attempted to escape by vehicle and engaged the arrest team in combat. He was fatally wounded during the confrontation.

Multiple commercial airlines suspended service to Puerto Vallarta, a popular Pacific coast resort destination in Jalisco state, where shocked vacationers recorded video of smoke columns rising above the city.

Throughout various municipalities, tourists and local residents received advisories to remain indoors while commercial truckers were instructed to utilize alternative routes or return to their facilities. Educational institutions including schools and universities suspended operations across Jalisco and multiple neighboring states.

Government officials reported Monday that approximately 30 suspected criminal organization members, 25 National Guard personnel, and one civilian died in the violence following the initial raid. Additionally, at least 70 individuals were detained across seven states, while authorities documented 85 cartel-organized roadblocks on Sunday alone.

FEBRUARY 23: RESTORING ORDER

During a Monday press briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that roadblocks had been cleared as of Monday morning. She indicated that conditions were anticipated to return to normal and that airline operations should resume Monday or Tuesday.

Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that individuals considered potential successors to Oseguera’s cartel leadership position were under intensive government monitoring. He emphasized that authorities remained vigilant for additional retaliatory actions from the organization or competing cartels seeking territorial expansion.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that Mexico ‘must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!’ Mexico serves as America’s primary trading partner, and the North American trade agreement faces review this year.

Seven Ukrainian police officers sustained injuries during a Monday blast in the southern city of Mykolaiv, with two officers suffering serious wounds, according to the country’s top police official.

National police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi reported that the officers were positioned near their patrol vehicles while awaiting a shift change when the blast took place.

Writing on his Facebook page, Vyhivskyi connected the incident to another recent attack on law enforcement personnel.

“The day before yesterday, a terrorist attack against police officers took place in Lviv,” Vyhivskyi stated, referencing the western Ukrainian city located close to Poland’s border.

“This is not a coincidence. The enemy is deliberately trying to kill Ukrainian police officers who defend people and the state every day,” he added.

The Saturday incident in Lviv resulted in the death of a female police officer and left 24 additional people with injuries.

FRANKFURT, Germany — European lawmakers are demanding answers from Washington after President Donald Trump announced new import taxes that could undermine a trade agreement negotiated this summer, leading EU officials to delay ratification of the deal.

The European Parliament’s trade committee canceled Tuesday’s scheduled vote on the agreement following Trump’s Saturday announcement of a 15% worldwide tariff on imports. This move came after the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s previous attempt to impose tariffs using emergency powers, prompting the president to invoke different trade legislation to justify the new rates that begin Tuesday.

“A deal is a deal,” stated European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill, summarizing the EU’s stance. “So now we are simply saying to the US, it is up to you to clearly show to us what path you are taking to honor the agreement.”

The original US-EU agreement established a maximum 15% tariff rate on most European products entering America, while eliminating tariffs entirely on American industrial exports to Europe. Though the deal raised costs for consumers and businesses compared to the previous 4.8% average, it provided market stability that economists credit with helping Europe dodge recession last year.

Trade committee chairman Bernd Lange explained that Trump’s newly announced 15% rate would stack on top of existing tariffs, violating the ceiling established in their agreement. This prompted legislators to postpone Tuesday’s committee vote.

The situation also raises concerns about separate agreements negotiated with individual nations, including Brazil, India, and Britain. Britain’s deal caps tariffs at 10%, while India accepted 18% and Vietnam agreed to 20%. Though the Supreme Court ruling doesn’t directly impact these bilateral arrangements, they were negotiated using the threat of tariffs that have now been invalidated.

US Trade Representative Jamison Greer addressed these concerns Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” stating the administration had warned negotiating partners that Trump intended to pursue tariffs regardless of the court’s decision. “Whether we won or lost, there were going to be tariffs,” Greer explained.

Greer emphasized that the bilateral agreements “are good deals, we expect to stand by them, we expect our partners to stand by them.”

Berenberg bank economist Atakan Bakiskan noted that switching from country-specific rates to a uniform 15% global tariff “will have considerable implications elsewhere.” Some nations would see reduced rates, including Brazil, which would drop nearly 15 percentage points, and China, facing a reduction of almost 10 percentage points.

The legal authority Trump is using for these latest tariffs only permits them for 150 days unless Congress approves an extension. This timeframe could allow Trump to seek alternative legal justifications for his trade policies.

The uncertainty affects both European businesses and the American economy, where consumers and companies bear the cost of import tariffs. “Uncertainty around trade policy appears here to stay — putting continued pressure on the US economy,” Bakiskan observed.

QUITO, Ecuador — A dozen attackers wearing military uniforms invaded a coastal property in western Ecuador during the early morning hours Monday, fatally shooting at least seven individuals in what authorities describe as the newest chapter of escalating drug-related bloodshed plaguing the South American country.

Law enforcement officials reported that the assailants, posing as government soldiers while carrying firearms, targeted the seaside location in Manabi province and opened fire on multiple victims, including three adult male siblings.

The nation’s murder statistics have increased fivefold since 2020, with Ecuador documenting its most deadly year on record in 2023 when homicides reached 50 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, data from the Interior Ministry shows.

This dramatic rise in deadly violence stems from battling criminal organizations linked to Mexican and Colombian drug cartels, along with their domestic partners, as they compete for dominance over narcotics smuggling corridors and shipping facilities used to transport cocaine northward to American markets.

President Daniel Noboa responded to the crisis in January by implementing emergency powers across seven provinces, granting law enforcement authority to conduct warrantless home searches while deploying military forces for city patrols.

Noboa has accused Colombia’s leadership of fueling the bloodshed by failing to adequately manage rebel factions and trafficking networks operating near their mutual boundary. Colombian officials have rejected these claims, sparking a commercial dispute between the adjacent nations.

Ecuador documented over 9,000 homicides throughout 2023, with the majority of these killings occurring within the coastal regions of Guayas, Manabi and Esmeraldas provinces.

The United States has evacuated dozens of diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Lebanon as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, raising fears of potential military confrontation in the region.

A high-ranking State Department official announced Monday that non-essential government workers and their eligible family members have been withdrawn from the Beirut facility as a precautionary measure.

“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” the official told reporters while requesting anonymity.

The official emphasized that operations will continue with skeleton staffing. “The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist U.S. citizens,” they explained.

Sources indicate approximately 50 individuals were evacuated, with airport officials in Beirut confirming that 32 embassy employees and their family members departed on flights Monday.

This diplomatic pullback comes as the United States has assembled one of its largest military presences in the Middle East in recent years. President Trump issued stern warnings last Thursday, stating that “really bad things will happen” without progress on resolving the ongoing nuclear dispute with Tehran. Iranian officials have countered with threats to target American military installations throughout the region if attacked.

Internal State Department communications obtained by news outlets detailed instructions for remaining staff, advising those in critical roles to coordinate coverage arrangements and consult with regional offices before considering departure.

The State Department also revised its Lebanon travel guidance Monday, maintaining its recommendation against all travel to the country. Current embassy staff face restrictions on personal travel and may encounter additional limitations “with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats,” according to the updated advisory.

Lebanon holds particular significance for American security concerns, as U.S. interests faced repeated attacks during the country’s 1975-90 civil conflict. The Iran-supported Hezbollah organization was blamed for devastating strikes, including the 1983 bombing of Marine barracks that claimed 241 American lives and a separate embassy attack that same year killing 49 diplomatic personnel.

Despite rising tensions, diplomatic efforts continue. Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains plans to visit Israel this Saturday for discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though officials note scheduling could change based on developments.

The nuclear standoff remains at the heart of U.S.-Iran relations, with Washington demanding Tehran abandon its atomic program while Iran maintains its activities are peaceful and refuses to halt enrichment operations. American officials view Iran’s uranium enrichment as a potential route to weapons development.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed cautious optimism Sunday, confirming plans to meet with Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff in Geneva Thursday. Araqchi suggested “a good chance” exists for diplomatic resolution.

However, significant disagreements persist between the nations, particularly regarding sanctions relief timing and scope, following two previous negotiation rounds. A senior Iranian source indicated both sides remain far apart on key issues.

Recent reporting suggests the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with diplomatic sources across the Gulf and Europe warning that military conflict appears increasingly likely as peaceful solutions seem less achievable.

Witkoff commented Sunday that President Trump questions why Iran has not yet “capitulated” and agreed to nuclear program restrictions.

Any potential military action would mark the second time within twelve months that U.S. and Israeli forces have struck Iranian targets, following coordinated attacks on military and nuclear sites last June.

LONDON – Britain’s public broadcaster issued an apology Monday after failing to remove offensive language from its coverage of the country’s premier film awards ceremony, where a guest living with Tourette syndrome called out a racial slur during a presentation by two Black performers.

The incident took place Sunday evening at the British Academy Film Awards as actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present an award. John Davidson, whose life story inspired the award-winning film “I Swear,” shouted the offensive term from the audience. When the BBC aired its delayed broadcast approximately two hours later, the slur remained in the program and stayed available on the network’s streaming service until Monday morning.

Meanwhile, the broadcaster chose to remove director Akinola Davies Jr’s “Free Palestine” comment from his acceptance speech in the edited version.

Davidson had been invited to attend Sunday’s London ceremony after his personal journey with Tourette syndrome became the basis for “I Swear,” which received multiple honors at the awards show. The neurological condition causes individuals to experience sudden, uncontrollable sounds or movements called tics, which may sometimes involve profanity.

A BBC representative acknowledged Monday that audience members may have been exposed to “strong and offensive language” during the awards broadcast.

“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer,” the spokesperson stated.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts organization did not provide a response when contacted for comment.

During the live ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the situation later in the evening, explaining that the individual with Tourette’s could not control his words and stating: “We apologise if you were offended.”

Several prominent figures in the entertainment industry expressed frustration with how the situation was handled. Wendell Pierce, who appeared alongside Jordan in “The Wire,” took to social media platform X to voice his anger that the two presenting actors did not receive an immediate and comprehensive apology.

“The insult to them takes priority,” Pierce wrote. “It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”

Hannah Beachler, who worked as production designer on “Sinners,” described the circumstances as an “impossible situation” but criticized what she called a “throw-away” apology for making matters worse. “Of course we were offended,” Beachler commented.

The film “Sinners,” a vampire thriller highlighting blues music and Black culture during America’s segregation period, is experiencing a remarkable awards season that has been celebrated as historic for Black filmmakers.

The movie earned a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations and claimed three victories at the British awards: best original screenplay for writer-director Ryan Coogler, best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and best original score.

Jordan received nominations across multiple award ceremonies, including an Oscar nod, for his dual role as twin brothers in the film. Lindo, an accomplished stage and screen performer, also earned an Oscar nomination.

“I Swear” chronicles Davidson’s experience growing up with Tourette syndrome and how the condition shaped his life, leading him to become an advocate for raising public understanding of the disorder.

The advocacy organization Tourettes Action released a statement acknowledging the pain Davidson’s words caused at the awards ceremony while emphasizing that such outbursts do not represent a person’s true beliefs, intentions, or character.

“We are deeply sorry to the Black community for the harm caused but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary,” the group’s statement read.

Four Syrian government security forces were killed Monday when ISIS militants attacked a checkpoint in northern Syria, according to the country’s state news agency, marking the terrorist organization’s most lethal strike against government troops since President Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.

The deadly incident occurred at a security post located west of Raqqa city and represents a significant increase in hostile activities by the extremist organization targeting President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration. This attack follows ISIS’s recent announcement just two days prior, when the group proclaimed “a new phase of operations” against Syria’s current leadership.

While ISIS has not yet taken responsibility for Monday’s deadly assault, the terrorist group did claim credit for two separate attacks over the weekend that targeted Syrian military personnel in the country’s northern and eastern regions, resulting in the deaths of one soldier and one civilian.

Syrian state media reported that government forces successfully repelled the Monday attack and eliminated one of the attacking militants. A security official confirmed to the news agency that ISIS was responsible for carrying out the assault.

Syria’s government became part of the U.S.-led international effort to defeat ISIS last year. During January, Syrian government troops took control of Raqqa city from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and secured significant portions of surrounding territory across northern and eastern Syria.

At the same time, American military personnel started their departure Monday from their primary base in northeastern Syria, according to three Syrian military and security officials. This withdrawal is part of a larger pullback of U.S. forces who were originally deployed to Syria ten years ago to combat ISIS.

LONDON — For the first time in nine decades, Britain may remove a royal family member from the line of succession to the throne. The UK government announced it’s exploring legal measures to formally exclude Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the monarchy’s succession order.

King Charles III’s younger brother currently holds the eighth position in line for the crown, even though he lost his prince title last October due to his connections with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Constitutional experts warn that eliminating him from succession could take considerable time since it would need approval from approximately a dozen nations that recognize the British monarch as their head of state.

However, support for this change appears to be growing following Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest last week on charges of suspected misconduct in public office. The 66-year-old faces accusations of providing confidential trade secrets to Epstein during his tenure as Britain’s trade representative between 2001 and 2011. These allegations emerged after the US Justice Department released extensive Epstein-related documents last month.

Authorities released Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday after holding him for approximately 11 hours, though the investigation continues.

“The government is clear that we are not ruling out action in respect of the line of succession at this stage, and we will consider whether any further steps are required in due course,” Chief Secretary Darren Jones informed Parliament members on Monday.

Jones emphasized that any action would wait until police complete their investigation.

The current succession order places Prince William as heir apparent, followed by his three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry ranks fifth, with his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in sixth and seventh positions respectively.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who held second place at birth, now sits in eighth position. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, occupy ninth and twelfth places.

Parliamentary legislation would be necessary to remove him from succession, requiring lawmaker approval.

The Liberal Democrats have openly endorsed such action.

“I think it would be intolerable for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to succeed to the crown,” party leader Ed Davey stated last week. “It’s not as remote as some people think.”

Commonwealth nations where Charles serves as head of state would also need to approve succession changes.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed Monday his willingness to support any UK plan to exclude Mountbatten-Windsor.

“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously,” Albanese wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.”

Starmer’s administration hasn’t received comparable letters from the other 13 countries recognizing Charles as head of state, including Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Tuvalu.

University College London politics professor Robert Hazell, who established the Constitution Unit, noted that some nations would need formal constitutional amendments while others could act through legislation. He questioned whether governments would invest time removing someone ranked eighth in succession.

“The last time this happened was for the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which made the law of royal succession gender neutral,” Hazell explained. “It took two years of protracted negotiations for all the different countries to amend their own laws or constitutions.”

Questions remain about whether excluding Mountbatten-Windsor would impact his daughters and their children.

“Not necessarily — it depends how the legislation is framed,” Hazell said.

The most recent royal removal from succession occurred when King Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to wed American divorcee Wallis Simpson. That legislation eliminated both him and any future descendants from the succession list.

King Charles hasn’t publicly revealed his position on removing his brother from succession. The monarch has emphasized allowing the legal process to proceed, stating: “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”

British media reports suggest the palace wouldn’t oppose legislative changes to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from succession. The Times of London reported Saturday that an unnamed palace source said the royal family would “never get in the way” of Parliament’s decisions.

LONDON — Authorities in Britain have detained Peter Mandelson, the former United Kingdom’s ambassador to America, as part of an ongoing investigation into his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest occurred on Monday, just days following the detention of former Prince Andrew in a related case involving the convicted financier.

The detention comes as authorities continue examining over 3 million pages of Epstein-related materials made public by the U.S. Justice Department.

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers detained a 72-year-old individual on charges related to misconduct in public office at a residence in northern London. The suspect was transported to a police facility for interrogation.

While police did not release the suspect’s identity following standard British protocol, the individual has been previously identified as the former diplomat, who is 72 years old. Video footage captured Mandelson being escorted from his London residence by two undercover officers on Monday afternoon.

British law permits authorities to detain suspects without formal charges for up to 24 hours, with possible extensions reaching 96 hours maximum. Mandelson may face formal charges, unconditional release, or release pending continued investigation.

Investigators are examining allegations that Mandelson shared confidential government data with Epstein approximately fifteen years ago. The case does not involve any sexual misconduct accusations.

His detention occurred four days following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, on similar charges connected to his relationship with Epstein. Andrew was freed after spending 11 hours in custody while the investigation proceeds.

Mandelson lost his diplomatic position in September after published emails revealed he continued his relationship with Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction on sex crimes involving a minor.

Mandelson held high-ranking government positions under previous Labour administrations and served as Britain’s ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed him in September due to his Epstein connections.

The Epstein documents indicate that Mandelson shared confidential government intelligence with Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson held a government position. This included an internal government analysis exploring methods for Britain to generate revenue following the 2008 financial crisis, including through government asset sales. Mandelson also reportedly informed Epstein he would advocate with other government officials to lower taxes on banking bonuses.

British authorities initiated a criminal investigation earlier this month and conducted searches of Mandelson’s residences in London and western England.

Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson nearly jeopardized his position as questions arose about his judgment regarding someone with a controversial political history spanning decades.

While Starmer has admitted his error and issued apologies to Epstein’s victims, his political future remains uncertain. His survival may depend on files related to Mandelson’s appointment. The government has committed to releasing these documents in early March, though his arrest may complicate this schedule.

Mandelson has remained a significant, though controversial, figure within the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is recognized as a skilled political strategist whose expertise in political maneuvering earned him the moniker “Prince of Darkness.”

As the grandson of former Labour Cabinet member Herbert Morrison, he helped orchestrate the party’s 1997 return to power as the centrist “New Labour” movement under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mandelson occupied senior government roles under Blair from 1997 to 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. He also served as the European Union’s trade commissioner during this period. Brown has expressed particular anger over these revelations and has assisted police in their investigation.

During the Blair years, Mandelson resigned from government twice due to allegations of financial or ethical violations, admitting errors while maintaining his innocence.

He subsequently returned to government service and resumed frontline politics when Starmer appointed him as ambassador to Washington at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Mandelson’s trade knowledge and ease with wealthy individuals were viewed as significant advantages. He successfully negotiated a trade agreement in May that protected Britain from some tariffs Trump imposed globally.

The agreement’s future remains uncertain following Trump’s announcement of new worldwide tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling overturned his previous import tax directive.

TORONTO — Canadian officials revealed Monday they are developing assistance measures for Cuba as the Caribbean nation grapples with widespread power outages and critical fuel shortages intensified by U.S. oil sanctions.

Foreign Minister Anita Anand refused to elaborate on specific details regarding the assistance package.

“We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any details of the announcement,” Anand stated.

The Caribbean island confronts a worsening energy emergency that has escalated in recent weeks following the suspension of oil deliveries from Venezuela, Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, after U.S. actions against the South American nation in early January resulted in the arrest of its leader. Mexico, another key supplier, subsequently halted oil shipments following U.S. pressure.

Air Canada along with other carriers have suspended service to the Caribbean nation due to aviation fuel shortages on the island.

Tourism from Canada plays a crucial role in Cuba’s economic stability. Global Affairs Canada, a government department, reports that Canada ranks as Cuba’s second-largest source of direct investment, especially in mining and tourism industries.

Canada will be joining Mexico in offering assistance.

Earlier this month, two Mexican naval vessels carrying humanitarian supplies arrived in Cuba, occurring two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of imposing tariffs on nations selling oil to the island, further worsening an already critical economic and energy situation in the Caribbean country. The vessels delivered approximately 800 tons of supplies, plus an additional 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans.

Cuba’s economic troubles that began in 2020 have been worsened by heightened U.S. sanctions designed to pressure changes in the island’s political system. These measures have created critical supply shortages and devastating blackouts that reached their worst point in early 2026.

Since Cuba only generates 40% of its needed fuel domestically, the nation remains extremely susceptible to external blockades. Although strong allies including Russia and China have criticized the U.S. actions, their assistance has been mostly symbolic to date.

A recent episode of ‘Facing the Middle East’ explores Iran’s escalating internal crisis, where economic desperation has evolved into a nationwide call for political transformation. Host Felice Friedson examines how what started as economic grievances in late December has morphed into widespread civil unrest.

According to the program’s analysis, the current upheaval represents more than isolated domestic unrest – it’s characterized as a rapidly developing crisis with international implications. The demonstrations reportedly began as a response to severe economic difficulties but have since grown into massive public gatherings spanning what observers believe to be hundreds of Iranian cities.

The economic backdrop driving the unrest includes a dramatically weakening Iranian currency and inflation that reached 42.2% by late 2025. These harsh economic realities have transformed public anger from financial concerns into broader demands for political freedom, with many participants now calling for complete governmental change.

Friedson’s program suggests that millions of Iranian citizens have joined the street demonstrations, indicating the scope and intensity of the current situation. The episode frames these events as having significance beyond Iran’s borders, potentially affecting regional and global stability.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s most significant remaining insurgent organization announced Monday it would temporarily halt military operations before next month’s crucial legislative elections, which have been disrupted by violent incidents targeting political candidates in remote regions.

The National Liberation Army, known as ELN, released a statement on its official website declaring it would suspend attacks on government forces and election officials to ensure voters can participate “in liberty,” though the organization did not specify an end date for the temporary truce.

The insurgent organization has faced longstanding allegations of targeting political figures who challenge its agenda and maintaining control over local government positions in territories under its influence to divert government resources.

The group disputed these accusations in its announcement, stating it does not seek electoral victories and “does not finance any campaigns as drug traffickers do.”

“For the ELN it is very important for the people to vote for whom they think is best, or to abstain if they feel that is most appropriate,” the statement read.

Colombian officials suspended negotiations with the insurgent organization last year after a series of ELN operations in the nation’s northeastern regions displaced over 50,000 residents from their communities.

On March 8, Colombian voters will select new members for both chambers of Congress, with political candidates vying for more than 300 legislative positions.

The same day will feature primary contests to determine representatives for a progressive political alliance and a moderate-conservative coalition in the upcoming May presidential race.

These legislative contests represent a crucial moment for President Gustavo Petro as he works to secure a congressional majority for his progressive movement, the Historical Pact, which could potentially support efforts to draft a new national constitution.

However, the electoral process has already been disrupted by violent incidents targeting candidates and campaign workers across multiple Colombian regions, where insurgent influence has expanded during the Petro presidency.

This month, Indigenous Senator Aida Quilcue was abducted while traveling between communities in the southwestern Cauca province but was freed without harm several hours later after military forces mobilized for her rescue.

In Colombia’s eastern territories, two security personnel protecting Senator Jairo Castellanos were killed when ELN militants opened fire on his convoy. The organization later claimed they had not targeted the senator specifically, explaining they fired on the vehicle after it failed to halt at their checkpoint.

Last year, conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was wounded during a political gathering in Bogota and succumbed to his injuries two months afterward. This assassination represented the first attack on a Colombian presidential contender in thirty years and prompted some current candidates to reduce public campaign events due to safety considerations.

The Movement for Electoral Observation, a Colombian democracy monitoring organization, reported this month that 11% of the country’s municipalities face “extreme risk” of election-related violence.

This assessment considers various factors including armed group presence, recent population displacement incidents, and violence against civil rights advocates.

BRUSSELS – The head of the European Council is demanding that Hungary’s leader stick to a previously agreed-upon financial package worth 90 billion euros ($106 billion) for Ukraine, according to correspondence obtained Monday.

Antonio Costa, who leads meetings of European Union heads of state, sent a strongly-worded message to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after Hungary threatened to obstruct the massive loan arrangement. Budapest’s opposition stems from its demand that Russian oil shipments resume through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs across Ukrainian territory.

In his correspondence to Orban, Costa emphasized that European leaders must stand by agreements they’ve already reached. “When leaders reach a consensus, they are bound by their decision. Any breach of this commitment constitutes a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation,” Costa stated in the letter reviewed by news agencies.

Costa further stressed that individual countries cannot be permitted to damage the reliability of collective European Council decisions, specifically referencing the Ukraine loan package that received approval from EU leadership during their December summit meeting.

BRUSSELS – European Union parliamentary members decided Monday to delay their scheduled vote on a trade agreement with the United States following President Donald Trump’s implementation of new 15% import tariffs, according to two sources within the parliament.

The delay comes after the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s earlier worldwide tariff policies, prompting the president to establish the blanket import duty as a replacement measure.

European legislators have been reviewing proposals that would eliminate numerous EU import taxes on American products, which represents a central component of the agreement negotiated in Turnberry, Scotland, during late July. The package also includes provisions to maintain duty-free status for American lobster imports, a policy originally established with Trump in 2020.

Both the parliament and EU member nation governments must give their approval for these measures to take effect.

The parliamentary trade committee had originally planned to conduct their vote on Tuesday, but this marks the second time EU legislators have suspended proceedings on this trade deal.

Previously, lawmakers had paused their deliberations in response to Trump’s efforts to purchase Greenland and his warnings of additional tariffs against European nations that rejected his proposal.

Numerous parliament members have expressed concerns that the trade agreement favors the United States unfairly, requiring Europe to reduce most of its import duties while America maintains its comprehensive 15% rate.

Despite these objections, legislators had shown previous willingness to move forward with the deal, though they wanted specific conditions including an 18-month expiration date and protective measures against potential flooding of European markets with American imports.

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top foreign policy official announced Monday her intention to recommend removing sanctions against Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez, following recent legislative action in the South American nation.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, made the announcement after Venezuelan lawmakers passed a limited amnesty bill for select prisoners last week.

“I will propose that we will lift the sanctions on Delcy Rodriguez as, the current … interim president in office. Whether we have consensus then we will see. We don’t know that yet,” Kallas stated during a press briefing with reporters.

The announcement came just days after Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares publicly called on the European Union to move forward with such action on Friday.

LONDON – Ukraine’s former military commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi brushed off speculation about running for president, calling such discussions “pub talk” while his nation remains under martial law due to the ongoing war with Russia.

During an appearance at London’s Chatham House think tank, Zaluzhnyi – who now serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain – stated he won’t reveal any political intentions until the conflict concludes.

“When it is over, when martial law is lifted in Ukraine…only then will we be able to discuss my personal future,” he said.

The former general led Ukraine’s military forces until February 2024 before taking his current diplomatic post in London. While he hasn’t announced any campaign plans, polling data consistently positions him as the strongest potential opponent to current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy has indicated willingness to conduct elections after the fighting stops, particularly as the United States pushes for a peace agreement.

Recent media interviews featuring Zaluzhnyi revealed fresh information about disagreements between him and Zelenskyy, fueling renewed discussion about future electoral contests and the widely reported friction between the two Ukrainian leaders.

However, Zaluzhnyi deflected questions about any presidential aspirations with humor.

“In order to answer this question, I should go to one of the wonderful pubs in this very city…it’s pub talk, actually, or bar talk,” he responded when pressed about his political intentions.

University students across Iran continued demonstrations against their government for a third consecutive day Monday, as tensions escalate between Tehran and Washington over potential US military action.

Iranian state media documented student demonstrations at multiple universities in the capital city, including anti-government chants at Tehran University, flag burning at the women-only al-Zahra University, and confrontations at Amir Kabir University.

Video footage confirmed by Reuters captured students at al-Zahra University shouting slogans such as “we’ll reclaim Iran,” though the exact timing of the recording could not be verified.

The demonstrations follow weeks after Iranian security forces suppressed widespread civil unrest that resulted in thousands of casualties.

Meanwhile, escalating Middle East tensions prompted the United States to withdraw non-essential embassy staff and family members from Beirut, according to a senior State Department official.

President Donald Trump has issued repeated warnings to Iran following January’s nationwide protests, stating Thursday that “really bad things will happen” should diplomatic negotiations fail to reach an agreement.

The US administration is demanding Iran significantly reduce its nuclear program, which Washington believes aims to develop weapons capability, restrict its missile range to short distances, and cease support for regional proxy groups.

American military forces have increased their presence throughout the Middle East, intensifying pressure on Iran while the country weighs its response to US demands during ongoing diplomatic talks.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confronts the most serious challenge of his 36-year leadership, facing an economy weakened by international sanctions and increasing domestic unrest that erupted into major protests in January.

Despite a second US aircraft carrier moving toward the Middle East, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that diplomatic talks with America had “yielded encouraging signals.”

Trump has not provided detailed information about potential military action against Iran. A senior White House official informed Reuters last week that the administration lacks “unified support” for proceeding with an attack.

PANAMA CITY — Panama’s administration issued an official order Monday to take immediate control of two strategic ports positioned at the Panama Canal’s gateways, following the nation’s highest court’s final decision that deemed a Hong Kong corporation’s management contract unconstitutional.

The government directive gives the Panama Maritime Authority permission to assume control of the facilities citing “urgent social interest” as justification. This takeover encompasses all equipment and assets at both the Balboa and Cristóbal port facilities, including lifting equipment, transportation vehicles, computing infrastructure and operational software.

This port controversy reflects the larger geopolitical tension between America and China, with Panama finding itself in the crossfire after President Trump claimed last year that China was “running the Panama Canal.”

The Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison had planned to transfer ownership of both ports to a group including American investment giant BlackRock, but China’s government quickly stepped in to block the transaction.

Earlier this year in January, Panama’s highest court overturned the legislation that had approved the management agreement for Panama Ports Company, a CK Hutchison subsidiary. The court decision also cancelled a 2021 contract extension, leaving the port management without legal authorization.

Since 1997, PPC has managed these port facilities after Panama granted the company rights to oversee operations at both the Pacific and Atlantic canal entry points.

Just days earlier, Panama’s leadership promised to maintain uninterrupted port services and protect worker employment, announcing that APM Terminals, owned by Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk corporation, would handle interim management duties until new contracts are finalized.

In response, CK Hutchison Holdings has initiated dispute resolution procedures against Panama through the International Chamber of Commerce framework. The duration and potential consequences of these legal actions remain uncertain. The company has also warned of potential legal action against APM Terminals should they proceed with operations, though the Danish company maintains it has no involvement in the legal dispute.

Last week, a PPC representative informed local news outlets that the company was pursuing negotiations with Panama’s government to maintain their operational role.

Ukraine is experiencing its most severe economic downturn since the opening phase of Russia’s military invasion, as relentless aerial bombardments have devastated the nation’s electrical infrastructure during the conflict’s fifth year, compelling businesses to reduce production and diminishing government income.

Industrial leaders across Ukraine’s manufacturing sector – spanning steel production, mining operations, cement manufacturing, and food processing – report being compelled to slash output while absorbing increased operational expenses as they attempt to adjust work schedules and protect machinery from unexpected power failures, according to executives from eight major companies.

Sergii Pylypenko, who leads Kovalska Group – the nation’s top concrete and construction materials manufacturer – explained that backup diesel generators purchased by his company cannot sustain full production at their large-scale facilities.

“For more than two months now, we have been working under emergency power cuts without any predictable schedule,” Pylypenko stated.

“In certain periods, the lack of a stable power supply can reduce production volumes by up to 50%.”

The Ukrainian economy contracted by approximately one-third during the war’s initial year, and while experiencing slight expansion in following years, it remains significantly smaller than pre-invasion levels and depends heavily on public sector expenditure. Nearly 6 million citizens have departed Ukraine while over 3 million face internal displacement, representing more than one-fifth of the country’s pre-war population.

During February, the monthly business activity recovery index compiled by Kyiv’s Institute for Economic Research – which measures companies reporting improved versus deteriorated business conditions compared to the previous year – recorded its first negative reading since 2023.

Ukraine’s economic health proves essential not just for generating tax income to support military operations and service debt obligations, and manufacturing weapons, but also for creating employment opportunities and economic stability for veterans and returning refugees once peace is restored.

Oleksandr Myronenko, serving as chief operating officer at Metinvest – a mining and metals corporation generating approximately $7 billion in annual revenue – described how extended power interruptions complicate restarting operations following Russian attacks.

Metinvest, under the control of Rinat Akhmetov, among Ukraine’s wealthiest individuals, has served as a significant source of tax income and steel for military needs.

The company had projected expansion this year within Ukraine but failed to meet those targets during the first two months due to Russian bombardment effects, according to Myronenko.

“This included damage to generating capacities and also to the transport infrastructure, which affects not only steel makers but all producers in Ukraine: they have to decrease volumes,” he explained.

Nataliia Kolesnichenko, an economist with Kyiv’s Centre for Economic Studies, calculated that energy demand surpassed available supply by 30% during January and February. “The energy situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months,” she noted.

Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on February 12 that despite rising temperatures, maximum demand reached 16.4 gigawatts, considerably exceeding Ukraine’s production capacity of 12.3 gigawatts, with the country importing nearly 2 gigawatts during peak periods.

Companies must navigate reduced output, increased expenses, supply chain disruptions, and extended delivery periods. These factors impact competitiveness and will drive inflation higher, which already operates at approximately 7%, according to three economists.

The electrical crisis has already led Ukraine’s central bank to lower its annual economic growth projection to 1.8% from 2% – matching the 1.8% growth anticipated to be reported for the previous year.

Independent economic analysts express greater caution. Dragon Capital, an investment firm, predicts 1% growth this year due to electricity shortages, while ICU – a Kyiv-based asset management and investment banking company – has reduced its growth forecast to 0.8% from 1.2%.

ICU determined that roughly 20-25% of economic production depends on reliable electricity access.

Numerous small enterprises have fought to survive during the war’s coldest and darkest winter season, also dealing with reduced consumer spending caused by prolonged blackouts.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko revealed that the energy crisis cost the national budget approximately 12 billion hryvnias ($280 million) in customs duties and tax collections during January alone.

An increase in Ukraine’s debt burden to nearly 100% of gross domestic product – despite two restructuring efforts – has concerned some investors. Last week, when Geneva peace negotiations appeared to stagnate, Ukrainian bond prices declined.

However, Ukraine appears close to securing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a new $8.1 billion lending package after the IMF agreed to relax certain conditions, including controversial tax hikes, Svyrydenko has indicated.

IMF approval should facilitate European Union assistance valued at roughly 90 billion euros ($105 billion) across two years, provided Hungarian opposition can be resolved – crucial support following President Donald Trump’s administration’s termination of direct budget assistance.

Hungary recently threatened to block the aid unless Kyiv restores Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.

More urgently, Hungary and Slovakia last week warned they would cease power exports to Ukraine if oil transportation did not resume. Kyiv attributed pipeline damage to Russian strikes and by Monday had provided no repair timeline.

Hungary and Slovakia supplied 68% of Ukraine’s imported electricity this month, according to Kyiv-based consultancy ExPro.

While businesses have invested millions of hryvnias in backup power systems, including generators, batteries, solar equipment, and gas, a recent survey by Ukraine’s European Business Association revealed that outages created difficulties for four out of five companies. Half reduced production, while 61% reported increased costs.

International steelmaker ArcelorMittal experienced approximately 10% losses in hot metal production and over 25% in finished rolled products due to electricity shortages in January.

ArcelorMittal halted one continuous casting machine to prevent emergency shutdowns and equipment damage, resulting in more than 70% losses in planned hot-rolled billet production.

QAMISHLI, Syria (AP) — American military personnel have begun evacuating a strategic base in northeastern Syria, according to security officials who spoke Monday about what appears to be a broader reduction of U.S. military presence in the region.

Security sources from Iraq and Syria confirmed that American forces started relocating personnel and military hardware from the Qasrak base to Iraq’s Kurdish-controlled northern territory.

Reporters from the Associated Press witnessed a large military convoy on Monday in Qamishli, a northeastern Syrian city, where dozens of trucks transported military vehicles and gear toward Iraq’s border while military helicopters provided aerial support.

Neither the U.S. military’s Central Command nor the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which maintains control over the area surrounding the Qasrak installation, provided responses to requests for comment.

According to a high-ranking Iraqi security source, the base evacuation commenced Sunday, with American personnel and military assets crossing into Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Monday.

A Syrian security source reported that approximately 200 troops remained at the facility Monday, working to disassemble military communication jamming equipment, air defense installations, and the base’s engineering operations.

Both security sources requested anonymity since they lacked authorization to speak publicly about the matter.

This evacuation follows an announcement earlier this month from CENTCOM and Syria’s defense ministry confirming that American troops had departed from the al-Tanf installation in eastern Syria, located near Jordan’s border.

The military withdrawal occurs after U.S. forces completed relocating approximately 5,700 suspected Islamic State fighters from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi prisons, where the detainees will face trial.

American troops stationed in Syria primarily focus on preventing Islamic State from regaining strength. While the extremist organization lost its final Syrian territory in 2019, dormant cells continue launching sporadic attacks throughout Syria, Iraq, and internationally.

The prisoner transfer decision followed clashes between Syrian government troops and the SDF last month, during which dozens of IS suspects escaped from a detention facility, while an undetermined number of families reportedly fled from al Hol camp, which housed relatives of Islamic State members.

The camp’s remaining occupants have since been relocated to alternative facilities or returned to their home countries.

CAIRO (AP) — Chad announced Monday that it has temporarily sealed its frontier with Sudan following incidents where armed combatants from Sudan’s civil war crossed into Chadian territory during recent battles.

The border closure will remain in effect indefinitely as a protective measure, according to government spokesperson Gassim Cherif Mahamat. “It aims to prevent any risk of the conflict spreading to our soil, to protect our citizens and refugee populations, and to guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of our country,” Mahamat stated.

The boundary shutdown follows weekend combat in the border community of Tine, where Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched an offensive. Sudan’s regular army and its allies reported successfully defending against the assault, forcing RSF combatants to retreat across the international border into Chad.

Tine represents one of the final strongholds maintained by Sudan’s military forces in the vast Darfur region, an area that has fallen under RSF dominance since October 2025.

Since Sudan’s civil conflict erupted, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese civilians have sought refuge in Chad. Officials indicated that the border restrictions will include “exceptional exceptions, strictly justified by humanitarian reasons” for those fleeing violence.

This marks Chad’s second temporary border closure since Sudan descended into warfare in April 2023, when tensions between the country’s military leadership and the RSF escalated into widespread combat throughout Khartoum and other regions.

United Nations data indicates the fighting has claimed over 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual casualty count could be significantly higher.

The Sudanese crisis has generated what experts call the globe’s most severe humanitarian emergency, displacing more than 14 million individuals from their communities. The violence has also triggered disease epidemics and created famine conditions across portions of Sudan.

WASHINGTON — American diplomatic personnel and their families have been directed to evacuate Lebanon following escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, according to a State Department official who spoke Monday.

The evacuation order affects non-essential staff members, with the official describing the move as a “prudent” response based on ongoing evaluations of regional security conditions. Only critical embassy personnel will remain to maintain operations.

The official, who requested anonymity since no formal announcement had been made, emphasized that the evacuation is temporary and that embassy operations continue as of Monday.

Military tensions have intensified as Iran conducted joint exercises with Russia last week while a second U.S. aircraft carrier moved toward the Middle East region. Both Washington and Tehran have indicated readiness for military action should nuclear negotiations collapse completely.

Speaking Thursday, President Donald Trump stated his belief that Iran has “enough time” within 10 to 15 days to negotiate an agreement. However, nuclear discussions have remained stalled for years, with Iran rejecting broader American and Israeli demands to reduce its missile capabilities and cut support for armed militant organizations. Recent indirect diplomatic efforts have shown minimal advancement, raising concerns that either side may be stalling while making final military preparations.

A separate State Department source, also speaking anonymously about unannounced plans, indicated Secretary of State Marco Rubio might postpone his planned weekend trip to Israel.

MEXICO CITY – Violence erupted across Mexico after the death of the nation’s most notorious drug cartel leader, resulting in the deaths of 25 National Guard members, according to Mexican officials.

Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch announced during a Monday press briefing that the fatalities occurred during attacks in Jalisco state following the capture of Nemesio Oseguera, known by his alias “El Mencho,” on Sunday. An additional state prosecutor’s office official was also killed in the violence, Harfuch confirmed.

Oseguera had been the country’s top fugitive cartel leader, with authorities offering a $15 million reward for information that would lead to his arrest. His death sparked retaliatory violence throughout Mexico as members of his criminal organization launched revenge attacks against government forces.

Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla revealed Monday that intelligence which led to Oseguera’s capture and subsequent death came from a romantic relationship the crime boss maintained.

The United Nations confirmed Monday that Pakistani military operations in eastern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and left seven others wounded, marking a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations.

These casualties raise concerns about a potential return to retaliatory violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, putting at risk a delicate ceasefire along their 1,600-mile shared border and worsening diplomatic relations as both countries blame each other for militant attacks.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the organization received “credible reports” that Pakistani air operations conducted during the night of February 21-22 resulted in civilian casualties in the Behsud and Khogyani areas of Nangarhar province.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban representative, had previously stated that dozens were killed or wounded in the military actions, which also targeted areas in Paktika province. Reuters was unable to confirm these casualty figures independently.

Pakistani officials justified the military action by pointing to recent suicide bombings, including attacks during Ramadan, which they attributed to militant groups operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan’s information ministry stated on X that the “intelligence-based” mission targeted seven facilities belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province, claiming they possessed “conclusive evidence” that terrorist operations against Pakistan were coordinated by “Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”

Afghan authorities have consistently rejected claims that they permit militant organizations to use their territory for launching attacks against Pakistan.

The military strikes occurred just days after Kabul freed three Pakistani military personnel through a Saudi-brokered prisoner exchange designed to reduce months of border tensions.

Afghanistan’s defense ministry denounced the strikes as violations of national sovereignty and international law, warning that an “appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time.” Additionally, the Afghan foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s diplomatic representative.

In response to the February 21-22 operations, Afghanistan’s education ministry reported that eight students – five male and three female – died in Behsud within Nangarhar province, while one religious school student was injured in Barmal in Paktika province. The ministry added that numerous other civilians were killed or wounded and educational facilities were damaged. Reuters could not verify this information independently.

These recent military actions follow months of border conflicts and repeated frontier closures that have disrupted commerce and travel along the mountainous boundary region.

TUNIS – Family members confirmed Monday that a Tunisian court has ordered the freedom of lawyer Ahmed Souab, who had been imprisoned while serving a five-year sentence.

Souab, known for his vocal opposition to President Kais Saied, was released following the court’s decision on Monday.

TELL, West Bank — A mosque in the Israeli-occupied West Bank was attacked by vandals who set fires and spray-painted hateful messages during the early morning hours Monday, coinciding with the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, according to Palestinian officials.

The Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in Tell, located near Nablus, sustained damage when attackers ignited fires that continued smoldering when morning worshippers arrived for daily prayers. Dark smoke billowed from the mosque’s entrance, while the decorative doorway bore stains from the blaze.

Munir Ramdan, a nearby resident, described his reaction upon discovering the destruction. “I was shocked when I opened the door,” Ramdan stated. “The fire had been burning here in the area, the glass was broken here, and the door was broken.”

Surveillance video captured two individuals approaching the religious building while carrying gasoline and spray paint before fleeing moments later, according to Ramdan.

Palestinian religious authorities report that 45 mosques across the West Bank faced vandalism or attacks from settlers during the previous year. This latest incident occurred as Muslims worldwide began observing Ramadan.

Tell resident Salem Ishtayeh explained the timing’s significance, saying: “The provocation is directed especially at the person who is fasting, because you are fasting and entering a month of mercy and forgiveness from God. So they like to provoke you with words — it’s not that they are attacking you personally, they are attacking your religion, the Islamic faith.”

Israeli military and police officials confirmed their response to the incident and stated they are actively seeking the perpetrators. Military representatives said they “strongly condemn” any damage inflicted upon religious sites.

Palestinian officials and human rights organizations maintain that Israeli authorities consistently fail to pursue legal action against settlers or ensure accountability for acts of violence.

Settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have escalated recently. Just last week, settlers fatally shot Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old Palestinian-American.

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Hundreds of people gathered inside a Catholic cathedral in Uganda’s capital Monday for a prayer service supporting detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye, defying government pressure to cancel the event as they demanded his release after more than a year behind bars on treason charges.

The planned Mass at Lubaga Cathedral was supposed to be led by Kampala’s archbishop, Paul Ssemogerere, but attendees learned upon arrival that the service had been delayed. Archdiocese chancellor Pius Male explained to The Associated Press that the archbishop requested the postponement “because there were issues which were still being discussed so that may have harmony,” though he declined to elaborate.

Rather than leaving, the crowd inside the cathedral sang religious songs and offered prayers, with Winnie Byanyima leading the gathering. Byanyima serves as UNAIDS director and is Besigye’s wife, having married him in the same church years earlier.

This marked the first organized religious gathering advocating for Besigye’s freedom. The 69-year-old has made several court appearances in a wheelchair and continues to be refused bail despite widespread calls for mercy from Ugandans. His formal trial has yet to begin.

Byanyima informed those present that the archbishop had received word from President Yoweri Museveni asking to delay the event while officials determined whether it constituted political activity.

“So we are here and unable to have the Mass that we wanted because of the order of our president,” she said. “I would like that we still pray because we came to pray.”

Presidential spokesperson Sandor Walusimbi did not return calls seeking comment.

Museveni has previously stated that Besigye must face consequences for “the very serious offenses he is alleged to have been planning,” while advocating for “a quick trial so that facts come out.”

Besigye, formerly Uganda’s leading opposition voice and a candidate in four presidential races, stands accused of conspiring to overthrow Museveni through violent means.

The opposition figure vanished while in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2024. Several days afterward, he appeared before a military court in Kampala facing national security-related accusations. The case was subsequently moved to civilian courts and upgraded to treason charges, which could result in execution.

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and Uganda’s chief military officer, has claimed Besigye planned to assassinate the president. Last week, Kainerugaba referred to Besigye as “a dead man walking.”

Advocates pushing for Besigye’s compassionate release cite his advanced age and argue he should be allowed to see a physician of his choosing rather than only government-selected medical staff at the high-security prison where he’s detained.

Besigye previously served as one of Museveni’s closest allies during the rebel campaign that brought the current president to power in 1986. He worked as both Museveni’s personal physician and military aide.

He eventually became one of the president’s harshest critics, denouncing what he viewed as a slide toward dictatorship that violated the democratic ideals of Museveni’s initial leadership. Constitutional restrictions on presidential terms and age have since been eliminated.

Museveni was announced as the victor in last month’s election with over 71% of votes cast, securing his seventh consecutive term. His primary challenger, opposition leader known as Bobi Wine, has since gone into hiding due to safety concerns.

BRUSSELS – The European Union announced Monday it has targeted eight Russian officials with fresh sanctions over alleged severe human rights abuses and attacks on democratic institutions within Russia, according to a statement from the Council.

Those facing penalties include judicial officials who handed down sentences to well-known Russian opposition figures in what European leaders characterize as cases driven by political motives, along with administrators of correctional facilities where political detainees endured cruel and dehumanizing treatment, the announcement detailed.

Among those hit with sanctions are Aleksei Vasilyevich Valizer, who runs a correctional facility, and Anton Vladimirovisch Rychar, who oversees a detention center for those awaiting trial.

The penalties prevent the eight individuals from entering or passing through European Union territory, lock down any assets they hold, and prohibit European individuals and businesses from providing them with financial resources, the statement explained.

LONDON – The populist Reform UK party announced sweeping immigration proposals on Monday, calling for the establishment of a deportation agency modeled after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove thousands of undocumented migrants from Britain.

The party, headed by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, is leading in polling data ahead of the country’s next election scheduled for August 2029 at the latest. Reform UK has been increasing its policy announcements as it seeks to demonstrate its readiness to lead the nation.

Speaking from Dover, the primary entry point for migrants crossing from France, Reform’s home affairs policy leader Zia Yusuf characterized current immigration levels as a crisis requiring immediate action. Yusuf, whose parents were immigrants themselves, called for the creation of a “Deportation Command” similar to America’s ICE.

“Our country is being invaded … Make no mistake, as Home Secretary (interior minister) I will end and indeed reverse this invasion,” Yusuf declared to assembled reporters at the English Channel port city.

The ruling Labour Party responded by highlighting its own immigration enforcement efforts, noting it has expelled nearly 60,000 individuals without legal status since taking office in 2024.

“Reform wants to divide our country, not deliver for the British people,” stated Labour party chair Anna Turley.

Though Reform holds just eight seats in Britain’s 650-member parliament, the party expresses growing confidence about defeating both Labour and the Conservative opposition in a nation where immigration ranks among voters’ primary concerns.

Government statistics show that while Britain’s overall net migration decreased last year, Channel crossings have increased. More than 41,000 asylum seekers arrived via small boats in 2025, marking the second-highest total ever recorded.

In Reform’s most comprehensive immigration policy outline to date, Yusuf proposed an “Illegal Migration Mass Deportation Act” that would mandate government deportations of undocumented migrants while preventing judicial interference.

The proposed Deportation Command would have capacity to remove up to 288,000 people annually, according to Yusuf, who drew parallels to ICE while claiming Britain would avoid similar controversies that have plagued the U.S. agency.

ICE operations in America have faced significant criticism, particularly following incidents where agents killed two American citizens in separate Minneapolis encounters. While U.S. officials supported the agents involved, ICE has since reduced large-scale street operations.

Additional Reform proposals include ending benefit payments to foreign nationals and imposing visa restrictions on countries like Pakistan, Somalia, Eritrea, Syria, Afghanistan and Sudan for allegedly refusing to accept returned migrants.

Nigerian law enforcement officials report that 38 individuals lost their lives while numerous others were taken captive during a violent assault last Thursday in the country’s northwestern Zamfara state.

State police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar revealed to The Associated Press that authorities had received advance warning about the impending assault, but poor transportation infrastructure prevented officers from arriving at the location before the violence occurred.

“By the time we have our way, the assailants have invaded the community and killed 38 while also abducting many residents,” Abubakar stated on Monday.

According to Abubakar, officials in the West African country are currently working to create a comprehensive record of the women and children who were taken during the raid.

The violence occurred in Tungan Duste, located within the Anka local government district of Zamfara state, marking another incident in a series of civilian attacks plaguing Nigeria’s northern territories where such violence occurs regularly. A separate incident in neighboring Kebbi resulted in 33 deaths during coordinated strikes the same week.

On Sunday, the African Union, representing 55 continental member nations, issued a condemnation of the assault and demanded the immediate freedom of all captured women and children.

“The African Union unequivocally rejects all acts of terrorism and violent extremism against civilian populations, particularly women and children, as grave violations of human rights and serious threats to peace, security, and stability,” the organization said in a statement.

Nigeria continues to confront a multifaceted security emergency involving various militant organizations. American military personnel have been deployed to the West African country to provide strategic guidance to Nigerian forces in their efforts to combat widespread insecurity.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Survivors of a deadly attack in South Sudan report that over a dozen civilians lost their lives after being deceived by government-allied fighters who falsely promised food aid registration.

The tragic incident occurred Saturday morning in Pankor village, located in Ayod County within conflict-torn Jonglei State, approximately 250 miles north of Juba, the nation’s capital. The victims included women and children.

Two survivors, who requested anonymity fearing reprisals, described how dozens of armed fighters arrived in pickup trucks and used loudspeakers to announce they were there to register villagers for food assistance.

“They gathered them in a luak,” one witness explained, describing a traditional mud structure typically used for cattle. “People were thinking they would get aid or some help.”

The fighters then restrained several men’s hands and began shooting at the assembled group. While the two survivors reported 22 deaths and multiple injuries, the government-appointed county commissioner stated 16 people died. The Associated Press could not independently confirm either count.

Graphic photographs obtained by the AP from an opposition representative showed bodies of women and young men, some with bound hands, appearing to have been shot at close range.

Makuach Muot, 34, made the journey to Pankor on Sunday to attend funeral services for eight family members. He explained that most village residents had evacuated due to earlier fighting, leaving primarily elderly residents and young children behind.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang was unavailable for comment.

James Chuol Jiek, Ayod’s government-appointed county commissioner, verified that more than a dozen people, primarily women and children, died in the assault.

According to Jiek, the attackers were members of the Agwelek militia, composed of fighters from the Shilluk ethnic community who remain outside full national army integration despite participating extensively in recent military campaigns.

Jiek reported that the fighters departed their base overnight without their commander’s authorization. He said they claimed the killings were retaliation for a 2022 Nuer militia assault on Shilluk communities that resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths and abductions.

The county commissioner denounced the killings and announced that multiple officers had been detained while the army confiscated weapons from 150 fighters in the involved battalion. He rejected claims that civilians were deceived with aid registration promises, calling this “an opposition lie.”

In January, Agwelek militia leader Lt. Gen. Johnson Olony was recorded instructing his troops to target civilians during Jonglei state operations. “Spare no lives,” he commanded. “When we arrive there, don’t spare an elderly, don’t spare a chicken, don’t spare a house or anything.”

His statements prompted widespread condemnation from the United Nations and other organizations. Olony has since issued an apology.

Ongoing armed conflicts, aerial strikes, and prolonged severe flooding have created severe food insecurity for more than half of Ayod County’s population.

Ayod County sits in northern Jonglei state, an opposition stronghold and center of renewed violence that the U.N. estimates has displaced 280,000 people since December. Humanitarian organizations have cautioned that restricted access to opposition-controlled areas threatens civilian safety.

Northern Jonglei residents are predominantly from the Nuer ethnic community of suspended vice president and opposition figure Riek Machar.

Opposition leaders have consistently characterized government actions in Nuer territories as “genocidal.” Reath Tang Muoch, a senior SPLM-IO official, described Olony’s recorded statements as “an early indicator of genocidal intent.”

Ukrainian military leadership announced Monday that their forces have successfully reclaimed 400 square kilometers of land, encompassing eight communities, in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region since the final weeks of January.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi revealed these territorial victories, which represent an unusual bright spot for Ukrainian forces amid what has largely been a pattern of gradual Russian territorial expansion over the conflict’s duration.

The announcement comes as Ukraine approaches the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military assault, which began on February 24, 2022. Ukrainian officials appear eager to demonstrate military progress to international observers, especially to U.S. President Donald Trump, as Washington increases diplomatic pressure for peace negotiations.

Syrskyi’s announcement left unclear whether the recaptured areas had been under direct Russian occupation or were part of contested “grey zone” territories where neither military maintained firm control.

Ukrainian military officials have not yet provided additional details when asked for clarification about the nature of the reclaimed territory.

Modern warfare conditions have made frontline boundaries increasingly fluid, with thousands of unmanned aircraft operating daily overhead, forcing ground troops to seek underground shelter and creating areas where neither army maintains complete authority.

President Trump has previously argued that Ukraine should consider territorial concessions, suggesting the country risks defeat in the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian leadership and European partners have contested this assessment, emphasizing that Russian forces have secured barely more than 1% of Ukrainian territory since 2023, while suffering substantial casualties and facing increasing threats to Moscow’s critical petroleum facilities from Ukrainian drone operations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz commended Ukraine’s February territorial successes as “astonishing” on Monday, arguing these victories prove Ukrainian military resistance remains more capable than commonly believed.

JOHANNESBURG – Conservative writer and activist Leo Brent Bozell III officially began his role as the United States ambassador to South Africa on Monday, formally presenting his diplomatic credentials to government officials in Johannesburg.

According to South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry, Bozell delivered his official letters of credence to Deputy Director-General Clayson Monyela during the formal ceremony.

The new ambassador’s arrival earlier this month comes during a particularly challenging period for diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Recent tensions have emerged over multiple issues, including President Trump’s allegations that South Africa mistreats its white population, criticism of the country’s relationships with Russia and China, the implementation of significant trade tariffs on South African goods, and the complete elimination of US aid to the nation.

South African officials have firmly denied any persecution of white citizens within their borders.

During his Senate confirmation process in October, Bozell expressed optimism about his diplomatic mission, stating he would approach his ambassadorship “with respect for the South African people” and noting he saw “real opportunity for a lasting partnership” even amid current disagreements between the countries.

The diplomatic relationship has been further complicated by the fact that South Africa currently has no ambassador stationed in Washington, following the Trump administration’s decision to expel the previous representative.

JOHANNESBURG – The youngest child of Zimbabwe’s late former president Robert Mugabe made his initial court appearance Monday in South Africa, facing charges of attempted murder following a shooting incident that injured a groundskeeper at a Johannesburg residence where he had been living.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe was not required to submit a plea during the hearing. The proceedings involving him and another defendant have been delayed until March 3 to permit additional investigation work.

The court determined that Bellarmine Mugabe, thought to be in his late twenties, will stay behind bars until his upcoming hearing date.

The two defendants are also facing charges related to obstructing justice, since authorities have not yet located the firearm believed to have been used in the incident.

Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, representing Bellarmine Mugabe, refused to discuss his client’s stance regarding the accusations, stating he would provide a response to Reuters at a later time.

According to a police representative, the groundskeeper continues to receive medical treatment at a hospital after being shot on Thursday.

Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe for nearly four decades following the country’s independence from British rule in 1980. Military forces removed him from power in 2017, and he passed away in 2019 at a Singapore medical facility at age 95.

LONDON – Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his government’s support for efforts to strip Prince Andrew from the British royal succession line, according to correspondence released by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office on February 23.

The development follows last week’s announcement from a British official that the UK government is exploring legislative options to permanently bar Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who currently holds the eighth position in the royal succession, from ascending to the throne. This consideration comes after his arrest in connection with an ongoing police probe into his connections with Jeffrey Epstein.

The matter carries significance for Australia since King Charles serves not only as Britain’s monarch and head of state, but also holds the same roles across Australia and 13 additional nations.

According to the correspondence, Albanese informed Starmer that his administration would support any initiative aimed at removing Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession order given recent developments.

“I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation,” Albanese wrote in his letter. “These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously.”

Iraq’s top diplomat announced Monday that Turkey has committed to accepting the return of its nationals who are among thousands of ISIS detainees recently moved from Syria to Iraq following the closure of detention facilities.

The massive transfer of prisoners took place through a U.S.-coordinated operation after Kurdish military forces pulled back and closed detention camps and facilities that had held suspected Islamic State members for almost ten years.

Iraqi officials have stated they plan to prosecute the suspects under their own terrorism laws, while simultaneously urging other nations to reclaim their citizens from the detainee population.

During discussions with U.S. representative Tom Barrack, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein revealed that Iraq is conducting negotiations with multiple countries regarding the return of their nationals and has successfully secured Turkey’s cooperation.

Speaking to the U.N. Human Rights Council in a separate address, Hussein stated: “We would call the states across the world to recover their citizens who’ve been involved in terrorist acts so that they be tried in their countries of origin.”

The situation involving suspected ISIS fighters and thousands of associated women and children has become critically urgent following the collapse of Kurdish security forces amid a Syrian government military campaign.

During its peak control between 2014 and 2017, the Islamic State commanded vast territories across Syria and Iraq under its declared caliphate, governing millions while drawing foreign fighters from around the globe. The extremist group’s control ended following coordinated military operations by regional authorities and a coalition led by the United States.

Hungary appeared poised Monday to obstruct additional European Union penalties against Russia and prevent a 90-billion-euro financial package for Ukraine, while strikes in Ukraine’s Odesa region claimed two lives just before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military assault.

With Tuesday marking four years since the invasion began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared to the BBC that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “already started” a third world war, urging global leaders to apply maximum pressure in response.

“The question is how much territory he (Putin) will be able to seize and how to stop him… Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves,” Zelenskyy stated.

Moscow has consistently rejected accusations of seeking broader confrontation with Western nations, describing its “special military operation” in Ukraine as necessary to defend against what it characterizes as Western hostility and aggression. Ukrainian officials and their Western supporters maintain Putin is pursuing territorial expansion in an imperial fashion.

American officials have attempted to facilitate negotiations between the warring nations, though meaningful progress remains out of reach. The most recent diplomatic discussions in Geneva on February 17-18 failed to produce any significant breakthrough.

Moscow demands Ukraine surrender approximately 20% of the eastern Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control, a requirement Zelenskyy firmly rejected during his BBC appearance, explaining it would mean “abandoning hundreds of thousands of our people who live there.”

The Ukrainian leader’s remarks coincided with Hungary’s pledge to obstruct the EU’s 20th sanctions package targeting Russia and the 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) Ukrainian loan due to an oil pipeline disruption that Budapest attributes to Kyiv.

European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels following escalating tensions between Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine regarding the Druzhba pipeline outage, which threatens to undermine the bloc’s latest support efforts for Ukraine.

Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia through Druzhba ceased on January 27, when Ukrainian officials reported a Russian drone strike damaged pipeline infrastructure. Both Slovakia and Hungary hold Ukraine responsible for the extended disruption.

“We do not hate Ukraine… but the Ukrainian state behaves in a hostile manner towards Hungary,” declared Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. “The ball is in Ukraine’s court.”

In correspondence reviewed by Reuters, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban informed European Council leader Antonio Costa that the Druzhba disruption represented an “unprovoked act of hostility that undermines the energy security of Hungary,” promising to block the loan until resolution.

Orban, who has preserved friendly ties with Russia, has framed Hungary’s April 12 election as a fundamental decision between “war or peace,” claiming his political rivals seek to involve the nation in the conflict, allegations they vehemently reject.

EU foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas indicated member nations would likely fail to reach consensus on the proposed Russian sanctions package during Monday’s session, though negotiations are expected to continue until agreement is achieved.

Both Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine unless oil shipments resume, though operational data from Slovakia’s transmission operator SEPS showed power exports to Ukraine continued Monday.

German and Polish foreign ministers both pressed Hungary to reconsider its stance.

“I would have expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Brussels reporters, referencing the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary.

“And instead, with the help of state propaganda… the ruling party managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression. And now it’s trying to exploit that in the general election. It’s quite shocking,” Sikorski added.

The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, forced over five million people to seek refuge throughout Europe, and devastated Ukrainian communities. The conflict has evolved into a prolonged battle of attrition in eastern regions, where Russian forces have achieved gradual territorial advances.

Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced Monday that his forces had “restored control” over 400 square kilometers along a portion of the southern front.

Russian drone strikes continued overnight, killing two civilians and wounding three others in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, according to emergency response teams.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that Russia targeted port facilities in the Odesa area.

Russian state media RIA, citing defense ministry sources, claimed Moscow’s military successfully struck Ukrainian transportation, energy and fuel infrastructure.

The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s deceased longtime ruler Robert Mugabe made his first court appearance Monday in South Africa, where he’s charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident at his residence.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, age 29, stood before an Alexandra Magistrates Court judge alongside co-defendant Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33. Both men are charged with attempted murder, obstructing justice, and illegal firearm possession.

The charges stem from a Thursday shooting at the Mugabe residence located in Hyde Park, an upscale Johannesburg neighborhood. A household employee working as a gardener was wounded in the incident and required hospitalization.

Authorities report that following what they describe as an “altercation,” the gardener was shot, though investigators have not determined what sparked the confrontation.

Both defendants were taken into custody Thursday, but law enforcement officials say they have been unable to locate the weapon believed used in the shooting.

The pair will return to court March 3rd to request bail.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is the child of Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe, the former president’s second spouse.

Robert Mugabe controlled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades until military forces removed him from power in 2017. The former dictator passed away in Singapore in 2019 at 95 years old.

International Criminal Court prosecutors are pushing forward with murder charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming he played a central role in the deaths of thousands during his anti-drug campaign.

During pre-trial proceedings that began Monday at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, prosecutors outlined three counts of murder as a crime against humanity against the 80-year-old former leader.

“Duterte’s so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children,” prosecutor Mame Niang told the court during opening statements for the confirmation hearings.

“Mr Duterte must be held to account and this case should be confirmed for trial,” Niang added.

The charges involve dozens of specific victims, though prosecutors argue this represents only a small portion of the actual casualties from Duterte’s crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Court officials arrested Duterte and brought him to The Hague last March. Prosecutors allege he established, financed and equipped death squads specifically to hunt down and eliminate people accused of drug-related activities.

“Mr Duterte played a pivotal role in the committing of the charged crimes. His contribution was essential, as he was at the very heart of the plan to neutralise alleged criminals including through murder,” Niang stated.

Throughout his presidency, Duterte maintained that he only authorized police to use deadly force when defending themselves and consistently justified his anti-drug operations.

Outside the courthouse, Duterte’s critics demonstrated, shouting “Hold Duterte accountable!” in the Filipino language Tagalog.

“I hope, and I am quite confident, that the charges of murder and attempted murder will be confirmed” and Duterte’s guilt ultimately proven, said Cristina Palabay, who works with the human rights organization Karapatan.

Duterte will not attend the hearings, with his legal team citing cognitive deterioration that would prevent him from comprehending the proceedings.

“For us, it’s cowardice,” responded Sheerah Escudero, whose brother died during the anti-drug campaign. “We know that Duterte will not be able to escape accountability.”

The hearings will wrap up Friday, after which judges have up to 60 days to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to a full trial. Under ICC procedures, judges must approve the charges before any trial can begin.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Regional tensions are rising as Gulf Arab nations have thrown their support behind Kuwait in a renewed territorial disagreement with Iraq concerning their shared maritime boundaries in the Persian Gulf.

The conflict escalated after Baghdad recently provided the United Nations with maps and coordinates outlining what it considers Iraqi territorial waters — boundaries that Kuwait argues violate its sovereign territory.

While diplomatic ties between the two nations have strengthened following the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 — who launched an invasion of Kuwait in 1990 — disagreements over water boundaries continue to create ongoing tensions.

According to Kuwait’s foreign ministry, Iraq’s territorial claims violate Kuwaiti sovereignty by incorporating areas that belong to Kuwait, specifically the Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij shoals, into Iraqi territory.

Several of Kuwait’s regional allies have expressed support for its position, with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman releasing solidarity statements. Saudi Arabia expressed “serious concerns” regarding Iraq’s maritime map, stating it also intrudes upon a jointly administered Saudi-Kuwaiti area.

In response, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated Monday that Kuwait had “deposited its maps with the United Nations in 2014, without consulting Iraq at the time.”

Hussein emphasized that Iraq remains dedicated to “the provisions of international law and … to regulating its maritime rights within the established legal frameworks, thereby contributing to the strengthening of stability and cooperation in the region.”

Back in 2019, Iraq filed a formal complaint with the UN, claiming Kuwait was implementing a “policy of fait accompli by creating a new situation that changes the geography of the region” following construction of a port facility on the Fasht al-Aij shoal.

The two countries have maintained a long-standing disagreement over Khor Abdullah, a narrow channel shared between Iraq and Kuwait that flows into the Persian Gulf.

While both nations signed an accord in 2012 governing navigation through the waterway, two Iraqi legislators challenged the agreement in 2023, claiming it violated Iraq’s sovereignty and lacked proper parliamentary approval. Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court later invalidated the agreement.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands has ushered in a new era of leadership as Rob Jetten was sworn into office Monday, making history as both the nation’s youngest prime minister and its first openly gay leader.

At 38 years old, Jetten breaks the previous age record held by Christian Democrat Ruud Lubbers, who assumed the role of premier in 1982 at 43. Lubbers later became one of the Netherlands’ most enduring political leaders.

Jetten’s path to the country’s highest office began with his initial election to parliament in 2017, representing the centrist, pro-European D66 party that he now heads. His political journey spans nearly ten years in Dutch national government.

During his early political career, Jetten struggled with a robotic public image, earning the moniker ‘Robot’ Jetten due to his tendency to deliver rehearsed, uninspiring answers during media interviews.

His public persona has since transformed dramatically, with Jetten developing a more casual approach that resonates with voters. His popularity received a boost when he advanced to the finals of a popular television quiz show called ‘The Smartest Person.’

Jetten maintains an active social media presence, frequently sharing images with his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine field hockey player who earned bronze with his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Netherlands pioneered marriage equality globally, becoming the first country to recognize same-sex unions in 2001.

Following his victory in October’s snap election, Jetten shared a photograph of himself embracing Keenan, accompanied by a bilingual message in Dutch and Spanish: ‘Dear Nico, thanks for your unconditional support, I couldn’t do it without you.’

Despite his electoral success, Jetten faces significant legislative challenges ahead. His three-party coalition commands just 66 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives, forcing him to seek opposition support for any major initiatives. The coalition also lacks control of the upper chamber.

Since joining parliament in 2017, Jetten built his reputation as his party’s environmental spokesperson, earning the label ‘climate pusher.’ During his tenure as a cabinet minister under former prime minister Mark Rutte, who now serves as NATO’s chief, Jetten spearheaded an ambitious environmental agenda featuring 120 different measures worth 28 billion euros designed to reduce Dutch carbon output by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 benchmarks.

The new prime minister’s roots trace back to Uden, a town in the country’s southeast. After completing his business administration studies, he worked for ProRail, the state railway infrastructure company. In his youth, Jetten showed athletic promise and even served as a training partner for Sifan Hassan, who later became an Olympic distance running champion.

LONDON (AP) — The British Broadcasting Corporation and Britain’s film academy issued formal apologies to television viewers following an incident where a guest diagnosed with Tourette syndrome involuntarily yelled a racial epithet during the British Academy Film Awards ceremony.

The deeply offensive language was audible as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” were announcing the winner for outstanding visual effects during Sunday evening’s awards show.

Earlier in the program, ceremony host Alan Cumming had introduced audience member John Davidson to viewers, identifying him as a Scottish advocate for individuals living with Tourette’s whose life story served as inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated movie “I Swear.”

The neurological condition known as Tourette syndrome causes individuals to experience uncontrollable, recurring physical movements and vocal outbursts, which can include speaking inappropriate or offensive words.

Following the verbal outburst, Cumming addressed attendees at London’s Royal Festival Hall with an apology for the “strong and offensive language.”

“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language,” Cumming said. “We apologize if you were offended.”

When contacted for additional comment on Monday, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts pointed to Cumming’s remarks from the ceremony.

Television audiences heard the slur when the BBC aired the delayed broadcast approximately two hours following the live ceremony. The network issued its own apology on Monday, despite the offensive language remaining audible on the broadcaster’s online streaming platform.

“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional,” it said in a statement. “We apologize for any offense caused by the language heard.”

The film “I Swear” received two BAFTA honors, with Robert Aramayo taking home the best actor award for his portrayal of Davidson.

Ed Palmer, who serves as vice chairman for the charitable organization Tourettes Action, suggested the BBC should have edited out the offensive word.

“This is really one of the most acute examples of where something that is a disability can cause quite understandably huge amounts of offense to someone,” he told Times Radio. “So, if it’s being prerecorded now, then bleeping it out, for example, might be a reasonable compromise.”

Chad announced Monday it would seal its eastern frontier with Sudan following deadly weekend violence that claimed the lives of five Chadian military personnel, according to two sources speaking with Reuters.

Sudan’s internal warfare between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has repeatedly crossed into Chad’s territory, resulting in casualties and damage to property.

According to a Chadian government official, Saturday’s fighting in the border community of Tine between RSF fighters and pro-government militia groups resulted in five military deaths, three civilian fatalities, and twelve injuries.

A border security officer stationed in Tine verified the soldier casualties and emphasized the necessity for enhanced protective measures to safeguard Chadian civilians in the area.

The two sources, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated that Chad is sending additional military forces to the region.

On Monday, Chad’s administration announced the frontier would stay shut indefinitely, pointing to “repeated incursions and violations committed by forces in Sudan’s conflict.”

According to an official government statement, the decision “aims to prevent any risk of the conflict spreading to our soil, to protect our fellow citizens and refugee populations, and to guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of our country.”

Neither Sudan’s military nor the RSF provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

In a previous incident last year, a drone strike killed two Chadian military personnel, though authorities could not determine who was responsible for the attack.

“One thing is certain: whether we like it or not, Chad now appears to be a party to the conflict,” said Ahmat Yacoub from the Center for Studies for the Development and Prevention of Extremism, a think tank.

India’s chief drug regulator announced Monday that comprehensive inspections of the country’s cough syrup manufacturing facilities have revealed widespread safety violations, as the nation works to address international concerns over contaminated medications.

Speaking at a pharmaceutical summit in Mumbai, Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Raghuvanshi disclosed that regulatory officials have examined approximately 1,100 facilities representing nearly 90% of all cough syrup producers in the country.

The extensive inspection campaign was launched following a tragic incident last October when 24 children died after consuming contaminated cough syrup. The deadly product, called Coldrif and manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceutical, contained dangerous levels of diethylene glycol.

“We took serious actions on serious non-compliances, and our belief is that the rot of cough syrup manufacturing will be removed,” Raghuvanshi stated during his address at the IPA 11th Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit.

The regulatory crackdown comes as India faces mounting international pressure to strengthen oversight of its massive $42 billion pharmaceutical sector, which consists primarily of smaller manufacturing operations. Since 2022, Indian-produced cough syrups have been implicated in the deaths of over 140 children across Africa and Central Asia, damaging the country’s reputation as a global medicine supplier.

According to Raghuvanshi, the inspections revealed multiple serious violations including poor manufacturing standards, inadequate testing of raw materials, and the use of improper production methods. However, he did not identify which specific companies were found to be non-compliant.

Beyond the cough syrup facilities, regulators have also conducted preventive inspections at an additional 1,250 drug manufacturing plants since 2022 to assess potential risks. Raghuvanshi declined to specify how many of these facilities had compliance problems or were temporarily shut down.

The regulatory agency is now working toward achieving standards comparable to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through various reforms including addressing staff shortages, accelerating approval processes, and increasing available resources.

Plans are underway to establish 1,500 new positions within the regulatory framework, with approximately 40% designated as flexible contract roles. The agency may also recruit international industry specialists as advisors and is testing artificial intelligence technology to streamline application reviews.

In a separate development, the regulator has simplified export procedures by eliminating no-objection certificate requirements for medications shipped to the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This change is expected to reduce processing time and administrative costs.

BRUSSELS – Hungary is standing in the way of the European Union’s newest round of economic penalties against Russia, according to the bloc’s leading foreign policy official who spoke Monday.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters that the union’s 27 foreign ministers meeting in Brussels would probably fail to reach agreement on the 20th sanctions package, which officials had hoped to finalize before Tuesday’s fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine.

“I think there is not going to be progress regarding this today,” Kallas stated prior to the regular gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where the 20th sanctions package was scheduled for discussion.

The diplomatic session followed Hungary’s weekend announcement threatening to halt both the EU sanctions proposal and a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine unless Russian oil shipments to Hungary are restored.

Oil deliveries from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off since January 27 following what Ukrainian authorities describe as Russian drone strikes that harmed the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian crude oil through Ukrainian land into Central Europe. This disruption has escalated friction between Budapest and Kyiv.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reinforced his unsupported claim Monday that Ukraine was intentionally blocking Russian oil shipments, while also charging that Kyiv aims to overthrow his administration.

Through a social media message, Orbán characterized the oil supply interruptions as a “Ukrainian oil blockade” orchestrated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“We have given President Zelenskyy firm and proportionate responses,” Orbán posted. “He, too, must understand: by attacking Hungary, he can only lose.”

The sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member nations to take effect.

Kallas indicated that work would continue Monday to move forward with the EU’s 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.

With a critical election approaching in under two months, Orbán has initiated an aggressive campaign against Ukraine and claimed the opposition Tisza party, which polls show leading, is working with the EU and Ukraine to establish what he termed Monday a “pro-Ukraine government aligned with Brussels and Kyiv.”

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested Hungary’s unexpected Sunday declaration might actually relate to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s intense battle to retain power.

“I would have expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine,” he stated in Brussels. “The ruling party managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression. And then it is now trying to exploit that in the general election. It’s quite shocking.”

Almost all European nations have substantially reduced or completely stopped Russian energy purchases since Moscow began its comprehensive war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. However, Hungary and Slovakia, both EU and NATO allies, have continued and even expanded their Russian oil and gas supplies, receiving temporary permission to bypass an EU ban on Russian oil imports.

“Tomorrow we are entering the fifth year of the war,” stated Latvian foreign minister Baiba Braže before the meeting. “We are fully committed both to the 20th sanctions package including maritime and maritime services ban, but also political commitment, economic commitment, military commitment to support European values.”

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed surprise at Hungary’s stance.

“I don’t think it is right if Hungary betrays its own fight for freedom and European sovereignty,” Wadephul informed reporters in Brussels, referencing Hungary’s participation in ending European communism in 1989. “So we will once again come to the Hungarians with our arguments, in Budapest but of course also here in Brussels, for them to reconsider their position.”

“The German position is very clear: we must now show strength, we must support Ukraine sustainably, and we must do exactly what we did last year too: continue to raise the pressure on Russia,” Wadephul added, expressing confidence the EU will ultimately reach agreement on the 20th sanctions package “at the end of the day.”

Also at stake is a substantial 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) EU loan to Ukraine designed to help Kyiv address its military and economic requirements for the coming two years.

“We must release that. We must find an agreement between the member states because Ukraine needs this money heavily,” said Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s foreign minister.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially installed a new coalition government on Monday, with 38-year-old Rob Jetten taking the helm as the country’s youngest prime minister in history.

Jetten will lead a three-party minority government comprising his centrist D66 party, the Christian Democrats, and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. The coalition controls just 66 seats in the 150-member parliament, meaning Jetten must build consensus with opposition members to advance any legislative agenda and complete a full four-year term.

The swearing-in ceremony took place in the elaborate Orange Hall at the royal palace located in a wooded area near The Hague. During the proceedings, King Willem-Alexander offered his best wishes to the new administration for success during these “uncertain times.”

Environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion gathered outside the palace gates during the ceremony, blowing sirens while the newly appointed ministers posed for their official photograph.

After completing the customary cabinet photo on the palace steps, the administration planned to hold its inaugural cabinet session that afternoon.

Taking to social media platform X, Jetten expressed that serving as prime minister represents “an enormous honor to be able to get to work.”

The government formation process took 117 days following national elections where Jetten’s party secured a slim victory over Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam Party for Freedom. The final outcome wasn’t determined until postal votes were tallied in what marked the Netherlands’ fourth national election since 2017, reflecting the country’s fragmented political landscape.

The new administration assumes power just one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. Jetten has committed to maintaining the Netherlands’ robust support for Ukraine in its conflict against Vladimir Putin’s forces.

Additionally, Jetten has indicated plans to continue increasing defense spending to strengthen Dutch military capabilities amid current global uncertainties.

NEW DELHI — A veteran Associated Press photographer who spent nearly two decades documenting India’s political landscape and the vibrant street life of Mumbai has passed away at age 55.

Rajanish Kakade passed away Monday at his Mumbai residence after battling an illness, according to his family members.

Kakade began his career with the Associated Press in 2008, working from Mumbai where he helped create a comprehensive visual documentation of India’s commercial hub. Prior to his AP tenure, he gained experience working for the Sakal Group media company and the Hindustan Times publication.

The Mumbai Press Club issued a tribute, stating: “Through his work, he captured defining moments with integrity and sensitivity. Through his mentorship, he shaped countless careers, always encouraging young photographers to pursue the truth with courage and compassion.”

Photography ran in Kakade’s family, as he represented the third generation of photojournalists, continuing a tradition established by both his grandfather and father.

During his time with the Associated Press, Kakade’s assignments spanned the breadth of Indian society — covering significant political developments, electoral campaigns, and sporting events, as well as tragic incidents like the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 health crisis. His photography of Mumbai’s daily life revealed the pulse of a city in constant transformation, showing both its enormous scope and personal moments.

Colleagues at the AP remembered Kakade as a gentle professional who showed unwavering dedication to his photography work.

Manish Swarup, who serves as the AP’s chief photographer for South Asia, remarked that Kakade “possessed that rare, quiet grace of a true observer.”

“He didn’t just take pictures; he earned the trust of those in his frame. That is why his photographs always stand out — they carry an intimacy and a truth that only a person of his character could capture,” Swarup explained.

Swarup, who collaborated closely with Kakade over many years, described him as “more than a talented eye for The Associated Press,” calling him “a steadfast friend and a cherished colleague.”

“We haven’t just lost a great photojournalist; we have lost a beautiful soul, whose kindness was as luminous as his work,” he added.

Yirmiyan Arthur, who manages photography and visual storytelling for the AP across the Asia Pacific area, noted that Kakade “helped us understand everyday Mumbai, a city of contradictions, with utter honesty,” through his documentation of economic disparities, the seasonal monsoon experiences, and the bustling commuter rail system.

“He was a son of Mumbai and made sure he told its story the right way,” Arthur stated.

Kakade leaves behind surviving family members.

Polish prosecutors announced Monday that authorities have arrested a Belarusian citizen accused of gathering classified information for Belarus military intelligence services, amid ongoing concerns about Russian and Belarusian efforts to undermine nations supporting Ukraine.

Tensions between Poland and Belarus have deteriorated significantly since Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, given Belarus’s alliance with Moscow.

The suspect, identified only as Pavlov T. in accordance with Polish privacy regulations, remains in custody and could face a minimum five-year prison sentence if found guilty, according to prosecutorial statements.

Authorities have charged him with collecting sensitive information for Belarus across three NATO member countries: Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. His alleged activities involved surveilling vital infrastructure, particularly facilities crucial to Polish and NATO defense operations, prosecutors revealed.

The Belarusian diplomatic mission in Warsaw has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the arrest.

The American diplomatic representative in Portugal is making a strong push for the European nation to modernize its military aircraft with advanced F-35 fighters, arguing the move would strengthen ties with premier European air forces.

In a recent interview with CNN Portugal, Ambassador John Arrigo advocated for replacing Portugal’s outdated F-16 aircraft with Lockheed Martin’s cutting-edge F-35 jets, emphasizing their stealth technology and compatibility benefits.

“F-35 is the best fighter – it’s a fifth-generation stealth fighter, it’ll get them (the Portuguese Air Force) into the Champions League when it comes to the EU,” Arrigo stated during the Sunday evening broadcast.

The ambassador also discussed his goals to leverage his commercial background to assist Portugal in increasing military expenditures to meet NATO’s 5% GDP target by 2035, up from the present 2% allocation.

Portugal’s Defense Minister Nuno Melo indicated in November that the country has not yet begun the selection process for new fighter aircraft.

Arrigo highlighted that over 900 F-35 aircraft are currently operational or ordered throughout Europe, stating that for “interoperability, the F-35 is definitely the way to go.” He also noted that European manufacturers contribute 25% of the aircraft’s components.

Regarding U.S.-China relations, the ambassador clarified that the Trump administration is not forcing Portugal to pick sides between Washington and Beijing or completely separate from Chinese partnerships. Instead, the U.S. is promoting a “de-risking” approach focused on cybersecurity protection and investment oversight.

Chinese investment in Portugal expanded significantly after the 2011-14 financial rescue package, when reduced asset values attracted international buyers.

The country received a 78 billion euro bailout in May 2011 from the European Union, International Monetary Fund, and European Central Bank after rising borrowing costs during the eurozone crisis blocked market access, requiring strict austerity measures that triggered a severe economic downturn.

Currently, China Three Gorges maintains a 21.4% stake in utility company EDP, China State Grid controls 25% of grid operator REN, and Hong Kong-based Fosun owns 20% of Millennium BCP bank and 85% of insurer Fidelidade.

The ambassador described the United States as Portugal’s “best partner but wants to keep any adversary… at arm’s length.”

Portugal became part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in December 2018. Arrigo suggested that Lisbon’s relationship with Washington would “flourish” if Portugal withdrew from the program, following Italy’s example in 2023.

At age 38, Rob Jetten has made history as the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister after King Willem-Alexander officially installed his minority government on Monday.

Jetten led his progressive, pro-European Union D66 party to an unexpected electoral win last October through a polished campaign that promised to move away from the divisive policies of the previous administration led by nationalist Geert Wilders.

However, his optimistic outlook will face immediate challenges, as his center-right coalition government lacks majority control in both chambers of the Dutch parliament, requiring opposition backing for every legislative proposal.

The partnership between D66, the conservative Christian Democrats, and the right-wing VVD represents an unusual political experiment in Europe’s fifth-largest economy, where majority coalitions with comprehensive governing agreements have been the norm.

Finding majority support has grown increasingly challenging in the Netherlands’ fragmented political environment, where voter loyalties shift with each election cycle and moderate parties continue losing ground.

Opposition groups across the political spectrum have already criticized the coalition’s strategy to finance a significant defense spending boost through reductions in social programs and healthcare funding.

Left-wing opposition leader Jesse Klaver condemned the proposals as “unfair” last Friday, citing independent analysis showing the plans would disproportionately impact lower-income citizens.

“Working families will face hundreds of euros in additional costs, while the wealthy face no extra burden,” Klaver wrote on social media platform X. “This must be changed.”

Wilders has vowed to block every initiative from Jetten’s administration, while numerous smaller parties have expressed reservations about the coalition’s announced policies.

The government has committed to raising defense expenditures to NATO’s new 3.5% of GDP benchmark by 2035, up from the current 2%, through what they call a “freedom tax” – an additional income tax surcharge.

Additional coalition goals include restricting unemployment benefit duration, increasing individual healthcare contributions, and speeding up retirement age increases to match longer life expectancy.

The government has also pledged stricter asylum and migration policies, an issue that has divided Dutch politics for years and contributed to the collapse of the two previous administrations.

Jetten has attempted to minimize concerns about controlling just 66 of 150 lower house seats, framing it as a chance for enhanced parliamentary cooperation following years of political gridlock under Wilders that prevented progress on major policy initiatives.

Leading up to his government’s installation, he indicated flexibility in adjusting their proposals.

“We recognize that everyone bears costs, but the distribution isn’t completely balanced,” Jetten acknowledged.

“We have time over the coming months to refine these plans before finalizing our budget.”

Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz will oversee the military spending increase. She assumed leadership of the VVD party in 2023, succeeding Mark Rutte, who served as the Netherlands’ longest-tenured prime minister and now heads NATO.

Former European Parliament member Tom Berendsen has been appointed Foreign Minister, while Eelco Heinen continues in his role as Finance Minister.

The war in Ukraine marks its fifth year this Tuesday, representing the largest European military conflict since World War II and causing devastating losses for both military personnel and civilians while fundamentally altering Europe’s security landscape.

As the conflict continues with no clear end in sight, the Trump administration has facilitated negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives over the past year in pursuit of peace. However, major obstacles remain, including disputes over territories currently under Russian control and ensuring Ukraine’s security in any post-conflict arrangement.

Combat operations have claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers from both nations, while Ukrainian civilians continue to endure Russian airstrikes that have resulted in prolonged electrical blackouts and water service disruptions.

According to recent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, total military casualties on both sides may reach as high as 2 million soldiers killed, wounded, or reported missing since the February 24, 2022 invasion began.

The research organization calculated that Russian forces have sustained approximately 1.2 million casualties, with troop fatalities potentially reaching 325,000 between February 2022 and December 2025. This would represent the highest military death toll for any major nation in any conflict since World War II.

Moscow has not provided updated casualty figures since January 2023, when officials reported over 80 soldiers killed in a Ukrainian attack, bringing Russia’s acknowledged military deaths to slightly more than 6,000 total.

The same analysis suggests Ukraine has experienced between 500,000 and 600,000 military casualties, with fatalities potentially reaching 140,000.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier this month that 55,000 Ukrainian service members have perished in the fighting, noting that many others remain unaccounted for.

Both governments rarely provide current information about military losses, making independent confirmation impossible.

The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission has documented civilian deaths in Ukraine since the large-scale invasion began, though officials acknowledge this figure likely represents an undercount. Their December report also recorded more than 40,600 civilian injuries during the same timeframe.

At least 763 children have died as a result of the war, according to U.N. data.

Civilian casualties reached their highest levels since 2022 during the past year. The fighting resulted in 2,514 civilian deaths and 12,142 injuries throughout Ukraine in 2025, marking a 31% rise in civilian casualties compared to the previous year.

Russian forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, based on calculations from the Institute for the Study of War.

During the most recent year of fighting, Russia has captured just 0.79% additional Ukrainian land in what has become a grueling war of attrition, according to the Washington-based research group’s analysis shared with The Associated Press earlier this month. This minimal territorial gain highlights the limited advancement Moscow’s military has achieved despite enormous losses in personnel and equipment.

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Russian control extended over nearly 7% of Ukraine, encompassing Crimea and portions of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Moscow-supported separatists had been battling Ukrainian forces, according to Ukrainian government sources and Western intelligence assessments.

International military assistance to Ukraine decreased significantly last year, falling by the percentage indicated compared to the annual average from 2022 through 2024, according to tracking data from Germany’s Kiel Institute.

Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration just over a year ago, the United States ceased shipments of American-funded weapons to Ukraine. European nations have attempted to compensate for this reduction, boosting their military aid by 67% last year compared to the 2022-2024 timeframe, the institute reported this month.

International humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine declined by 5% last year when measured against the average provided during the previous three-year period.

The conflict has displaced millions of Ukrainian civilians, with many seeking safety in other countries.

European nations have provided sanctuary to approximately 5.3 million of these displaced individuals, according to a recent United Nations office report from Ukraine.

An additional 3.7 million Ukrainians have been forced to relocate within their own country’s borders, the U.N. reported in December.

Ukraine’s population before the war exceeded 40 million people.

Russian military actions have disrupted medical services in Ukraine through numerous attacks, according to World Health Organization documentation covering the period from the invasion’s start through February 11.

These incidents include 2,347 direct strikes on healthcare facilities, along with attacks that damaged medical transport vehicles and supply storage locations.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Tragedy struck on a mountain highway in Nepal during the early morning hours Monday when a passenger bus carrying dozens of travelers crashed off the roadway, claiming 19 lives and injuring 25 others.

The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight as the crowded vehicle made its journey from the tourist destination of Pokhara toward Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu. The bus veered off the Prithvi highway and tumbled down the mountainside, eventually coming to rest along the Trishuli river near Benighat, located approximately 50 miles west of Kathmandu.

Authorities from the Dhading district police office confirmed that a 24-year-old British citizen was among the fatalities. Officials have only been able to identify nine of the victims so far.

The wounded passengers included international travelers, with a Chinese national receiving care at Kathmandu’s National Trauma Center and a 27-year-old New Zealand woman being treated for minor injuries at a nearby medical facility. China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported through the Chinese Embassy in Nepal that another Chinese citizen remains unaccounted for.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the crash scene and worked to extract the injured from the damaged bus before transporting them to area hospitals, according to government administrator Mohan Prasad Neupane.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the deadly crash.

Such transportation disasters occur frequently throughout Nepal, primarily attributed to inadequate road maintenance and vehicle upkeep. The mountainous Himalayan nation relies heavily on narrow roadways that wind through challenging terrain.

The bus came to rest beside the rapidly flowing mountain waterway. In 2024, two separate buses carrying 65 passengers plunged into this same river and disappeared, with most occupants either confirmed dead or never recovered. Debris from one of those vehicles was only discovered this year, buried beneath layers of sand.

Two civilians lost their lives and three others sustained injuries during an overnight Russian assault on Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to Monday statements from Ukrainian emergency services and government officials.

The fatalities occurred after a Russian drone crashed into a truck stop facility, sparking a deadly blaze, emergency responders reported via the Telegram messaging platform.

Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed through Telegram that Russian forces had targeted port facilities within the Odesa region during the strike.

“This is yet another blow to civilian logistics and port infrastructure. Russia is systematically attacking facilities that have no military purpose, trying to undermine the economy of the region and the country as a whole,” Kuleba said.

The minister reported that cargo transport storage facilities sustained damage during the bombardment.

The Odesa region houses a major maritime shipping center featuring terminals at the Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi, and has faced repeated attacks throughout Russia’s comprehensive invasion that began in 2022.

Moscow dramatically escalated its assault frequency against Black Sea port facilities in late 2023 after President Vladimir Putin made threats to “cut Ukraine off from the sea.”

An anonymous transportation industry source told Reuters last week that recent months of strikes against Odesa’s ports have diminished their export capabilities by as much as 30% compared to levels before the war began.

Philippine government officials experienced a jarring reminder of territorial disputes Saturday when their cell phones displayed an unexpected roaming message upon arriving at a contested South China Sea outpost: “Welcome to CHINA.”

The message greeted passengers aboard a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft as it approached Thitu Island, including Senator Risa Hontiveros and Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela, both vocal opponents of Beijing’s regional activities.

Following their Saturday arrival, the officials addressed local inhabitants to emphasize that Thitu Island “is ours,” despite Chinese Coast Guard ships, a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, and Chinese fishing boats remaining visible near the coastline.

Beijing’s continuous maritime presence has forced island dwellers, whose livelihoods depend on surrounding waters, to retreat from seas they previously accessed without restriction.

Measuring only 37 hectares, the coral-surrounded Thitu – called Pag-asa or “Hope” by Filipinos – represents the largest and most valuable of nine Philippine-controlled territories in the Spratly chain, situated 450 kilometers from the mainland.

Approximately 400 inhabitants live simply on the island, distant from urban conveniences. However, their steady residence strengthens Philippine sovereignty assertions amid escalating Chinese territorial pressure.

The officials’ arrival, occurring during a period of heightened bilateral tensions, will likely attract Beijing’s attention and intensify the already strained territorial conflict.

“We will never give up the Kalayaan Island Group, including Pag-asa,” Hontiveros declared to residents, referencing Manila’s claimed and administered portion of the Spratly Islands that encompasses Thitu.

Chinese Embassy communications and digital campaigns have repeatedly targeted both officials as part of broader efforts to influence South China Sea narratives.

Manila’s decision to assign a dedicated foreign ministry maritime spokesperson demonstrates increasing government concern as China escalates both physical and information warfare tactics.

For Pag-asa residents, Chinese pressure creates tangible daily challenges.

Fisherman Rando Asiado, 45, explained to Hontiveros how persistent Chinese vessel presence prevents him from reaching productive fishing areas near Subi Reef and adjacent Sandy Cays.

“There are times when Chinese Coast Guard vessels would chase us away, so we are forced to stay on one side of the island. And when we try to fish on the other side, Chinese drones fly over us,” stated Asiado, a 2012 island arrival.

Beijing maintains territorial claims over most South China Sea waters, despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in The Hague that invalidated these assertions.

Located merely 14 nautical miles from Thitu, Subi Reef hosts one of seven man-made islands China constructed throughout the Spratlys to support territorial claims. Several artificial installations feature surface-to-air missile systems, aircraft storage facilities, and landing strips.

Chinese Coast Guard encounters have become so commonplace that Filipino fishermen now work less productive waters to prevent confrontations.

Beijing’s South China Sea operations, including water cannon attacks and aggressive ship maneuvering, have caused vessel collisions and injured Philippine crew members.

China defends its actions as lawful and professional while accusing Manila’s vessels of territorial violations.

“We’re not afraid because we know we’re in the right, but they’re using ships while we only have small boats. We don’t stand a chance, so to avoid trouble, we just steer away,” explained 51-year-old fisherman Ronnie Cojamco.

The world’s top United Nations official delivered a stark warning Monday about the deteriorating state of global human rights, pointing to civilian casualties in multiple international conflicts as evidence of widespread violations.

Speaking at the Human Rights Council’s opening session in Geneva, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres highlighted the devastating impact on civilians caught in conflicts across Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine as examples of how international law is being ignored.

“The rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force,” Guterres told the assembled delegates.

The UN leader emphasized that human rights protections are facing intentional rollbacks worldwide, cautioning member nations against treating international human rights standards as optional choices rather than binding obligations.

Guterres also mounted a strong defense of the United Nations’ human rights infrastructure, which he described as operating in “survival mode” due to severe financial constraints. The system faces mounting pressure from budget reductions, attacks against its experts, and the United States’ decision to withdraw from a crucial universal rights accountability framework.

“Humanitarian needs are exploding while funding collapses,” the Secretary General stated.

The UN’s human rights division is experiencing the same financial difficulties affecting other parts of the organization, stemming largely from reduced contributions by the United States and other donor countries. As the UN’s largest financial contributor, America’s funding decisions significantly impact the organization’s operations.

According to a UN spokesperson who spoke Thursday, Washington made a payment of approximately $160 million in February toward its outstanding UN obligations, which total more than $4 billion.

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top diplomat announced Monday that member nations will not reach consensus on a new set of penalties targeting Russia during today’s scheduled meeting.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, informed journalists that Hungary’s persistent opposition has prevented agreement on the latest sanctions proposal ahead of the foreign ministers’ gathering in Brussels on Monday.

The announcement came as Kallas spoke with reporters prior to the start of the ministerial meeting, indicating that the diplomatic deadlock would continue despite ongoing discussions among the 27-member bloc.

KATHMANDU – A tragic bus accident in western Nepal claimed 19 lives early Monday morning when the vehicle tumbled off a mountainous roadway, according to local police officials.

Among the fatalities was a citizen from the United Kingdom, authorities confirmed. Police report that only nine victims have been positively identified at this time.

The accident occurred before sunrise when the passenger bus, traveling from the popular tourist destination of Pokhara to Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, plummeted approximately 650 feet down an embankment near Behighat in Dhading district. The crash site is located roughly 50 miles west of Kathmandu.

Twenty-five passengers survived the crash with injuries, including citizens from New Zealand and China. All injured victims have been transported to medical facilities in Kathmandu for treatment, police officials stated.

The bus was transporting a total of 44 passengers at the time of the accident.

Such transportation disasters occur frequently throughout Nepal’s predominantly mountainous terrain, where roadway infrastructure remains inadequate. The country experiences hundreds of traffic-related fatalities each year due to these challenging conditions.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands welcomed its youngest prime minister in history Monday as Dutch King Willem-Alexander administered the oath of office to 38-year-old Rob Jetten and his new minority coalition government.

Jetten leads a three-party alliance consisting of his centrist D66 party, the center-right Christian Democrats, and the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. The coalition controls just 66 seats in the 150-member lower parliamentary chamber, creating significant governing challenges that will require Jetten to secure opposition backing for every legislative proposal.

The new administration faces immediate resistance from the largest opposition group, the recently combined Green Left and Labor Party, which has voiced strong disapproval of Jetten’s proposed reductions to healthcare and social welfare spending.

Opposition leader Jesse Klaver criticized the government’s fiscal approach in a Friday post on X, stating that under the new administration’s proposals, “ordinary people will have to pay hundreds of euros more, while the wealthiest are not asked to contribute anything extra.” Klaver continued: “We are taking responsibility to adjust these plans. This must change.”

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the royal palace located in a wooded area outside The Hague, where Jetten and his ministerial team formally accepted their positions. Following the traditional Cabinet photograph on the palace steps, the new government held its inaugural meeting.

Jetten secured victory in the October 29th election by the narrowest of margins, earning the same seat count as anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom but receiving slightly more total votes. The final outcome was determined through postal ballot tallying.

The unexpected election occurred after Wilders, who had won the previous contest, pulled his ministers from the four-party right-wing coalition his party controlled in June of last year. Departing Prime Minister Dick Schoof, whose administration lasted only 11 months and ranks among the briefest in Dutch history, has served in a caretaker capacity since then.

The new prime minister aims to establish a fresh period of parliamentary cooperation following years of divisive partisan conflicts across the fragmented political landscape.

Jetten also seeks to restore the Netherlands’ diminished influence within the European Union, which many observers believe weakened under the previous administration.

Speaking to The Associated Press last month, Jetten, who has previously criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, explained that among his initial priorities will be to “talk to my colleagues in Europe to see what role the Dutch can play again in strengthening the European cooperation.”

However, he emphasized the continued significance of Dutch-American relations, noting the United States’ importance as a key economic partner.

Jetten has committed to sustaining robust Dutch assistance for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict against Russia’s four-year military offensive.

Cabinet positions in the new government are distributed among Jetten’s party and his coalition allies.

Christian Democrat Tom Berendsen assumes the foreign ministry role and is anticipated to work toward revitalizing the Netherlands’ European standing, drawing on his experience as his party’s European Parliament delegation leader.

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen continues in his current position from the previous government, where he earned recognition for his prudent fiscal management.

Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, formerly justice minister and head of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, transitions to defense minister, where she will manage efforts to strengthen the country’s armed forces.

Christian Democrat Bart van den Brink takes charge of asylum and immigration policy, with expectations that he will advance the former government’s initiatives to limit migration and expedite asylum application processing.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party faces a potential historic upset in Manchester, where a constituency that has backed Labour politicians for nearly a century might break tradition in Thursday’s special election.

The Gorton and Denton constituency in northwest England will choose a new member of parliament after current MP Andrew Gwynne announced his resignation last month. This merged district combines two areas with deep Labour roots – Gorton has elected Labour representatives for almost 100 years, while Denton has done so since World War Two.

Despite Labour’s commanding victory in July 2024’s general election, when the party captured just over 50% of votes in this seat, current polling suggests a dramatically different outcome this time around.

The political landscape has shifted dramatically, with Labour hemorrhaging support in opposite directions. Younger, diverse voters in Manchester’s inner western suburbs are gravitating toward the Green Party, while older, white working-class residents in eastern Denton are considering Reform UK.

Dave Ward, a 59-year-old retired firefighter from Denton, exemplifies this shift. “I’ve always been a staunch Labour voter,” Ward explained. “But now I’m giving Reform a chance. Labour have let us down. They’ve made promises after promises. U-turn after U-turn.”

The constituency encompasses some of Manchester’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, highlighting the challenges facing Britain’s second-largest city after London.

Starmer’s difficulties have intensified due to policy reversals, declining approval ratings, and recent controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson, his chosen U.S. ambassador, who faces allegations of sharing government secrets with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has denied any misconduct.

A recent Omnisis poll released Friday shows the Green Party holding a slight edge over Reform UK, with Labour trailing closely behind – results that align with betting market predictions.

Financial markets are monitoring the situation closely, as British government bonds have shown volatility during periods of uncertainty about Starmer’s political stability. Bond investors express concern that a Labour leadership change could push policies leftward and increase government borrowing.

The Green Party, under new leadership from Zack Polanski, has attracted former Labour supporters disappointed by the party’s moderate approach after 14 years of Conservative governance.

In Levenshulme, a neighborhood with a substantial Muslim population, Green Party campaign signs are prominently displayed on numerous homes.

Josie, a 37-year-old educator who preferred not to share her surname, represents this demographic shift. “I’ll be voting Green this time around,” she stated. “I’m a former Labour member, but… I don’t think they can win round here anymore,” citing disagreements with Starmer’s Gaza policy and the Mandelson controversy.

Labour’s decision to prevent popular Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from seeking the nomination may have damaged the party’s prospects further. While officials justified this move as avoiding an expensive mayoral election, critics viewed it as blocking a potential leadership rival from entering parliament.

Sue Ashton, a 75-year-old lifelong Labour supporter from Gorton, criticized Starmer for throwing Labour “under the bus” by excluding Burnham from candidacy consideration.

“I’ve got to keep Reform out. It’s the only reason I’m voting Labour this time. I would have gone Green, but… it’s too much of a risk,” Ashton explained.

Green candidate Hannah Spencer, a local councillor and plumber, launched her campaign headquarters to enthusiastic reception from approximately 90 volunteers.

“I think people now are just ready for change,” the 34-year-old Spencer told reporters. “It is between us and Reform.”

Spencer believes her party’s message can appeal to working-class Denton voters, noting “we’re not all one group that thinks and acts the same way.”

Reform UK, the right-wing populist movement led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, poses the primary national threat to Labour’s government. Though holding few parliamentary seats, Reform consistently leads in national polling.

At Reform’s campaign base in a Denton warehouse, volunteers worked at computer stations beneath illuminated displays featuring Farage and candidate Matt Goodwin.

“It will probably go to the wire but we’ve got overwhelming support in large parts of the seat,” said Goodwin, a 44-year-old former academic turned media commentator.

When asked about appealing to the constituency’s more diverse western areas, Goodwin, who argues mass migration threatens British cultural identity, insisted the campaign had “nothing to do with race, ethnicity and religion.”

“If you contribute, if you play by the rules, if you’re part of the hard-working majority, then you should be voting Reform,” Goodwin declared.

Both Green and Labour candidates have condemned Reform’s approach as divisive, though they disagree on the best strategy to defeat it.

“This is a choice between Labour and Reform,” Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia said after meeting with pensioners at a community center. “The Greens say a lot but they deliver very, very little.”

Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester, warned that a Labour defeat would constitute a “disaster” for Starmer, who recently weathered a leadership challenge that could resurface after May’s local elections.

Ford characterized the situation as “not typical mid-term blues, but signs of an existential crisis.”

An appeals court in Hong Kong has denied requests from 12 pro-democracy advocates to overturn their convictions, maintaining their prison sentences in what critics describe as evidence of China’s suppression of political opposition in the territory.

The ruling on Monday involved defendants from the widely-watched “Hong Kong 47” case, in which numerous prominent democracy supporters and political figures were taken into custody during mass arrests in early 2021 on charges of conspiring to commit subversion. After extensive court proceedings, the majority of these individuals received prison sentences ranging from four to ten years in late 2024, while two defendants were found not guilty.

International human rights organizations and several nations, including the United States and Britain, have denounced the prosecutions as political persecution targeting Hong Kong’s opposition movement and have demanded the immediate freedom of all detained individuals.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed being “deeply concerned” about the failed appeal of Australian national Gordon Ng, stating that Canberra has “expressed our strong objections to Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation.”

In their written decision, Judges Jeremy Poon, Derek Pang and Anthea Pang determined that the defendants participated in a plot conceived, promoted and carried out by legal academic Benny Tai to create a “constitutional mass destruction weapon” designed to overthrow Hong Kong’s constitutional framework.

The charges focused on an informal “primary election” that democracy advocates organized in mid-2020 to choose their strongest contenders for legislative council seats.

Prosecutors claimed the democracy supporters were plotting to secure a legislative majority so they could cripple government operations by systematically blocking the city’s yearly budget in an attempt to compel Hong Kong’s chief executive to step down.

Among the 11 democracy advocates whose conviction appeals were rejected were former legislators Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung; former district council members Clarisse Yeung, Kalvin Ho and Tat Cheng; and political activists Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow, Winnie Yu, and Gordon Ng.

The democracy supporters, along with another activist named Prince Wong, were also unsuccessful in challenging their sentences, except for Gwyneth Ho who only contested her conviction.

Following the announcement, the defendants remained composed and gestured to relatives and supporters in attendance.

“What crimes have they committed?” questioned Chan Po-ying, wife of activist Leung Kwok-hung, following the decision. Her comment reflected defense arguments that Hong Kong lawmakers had the legal right to oppose legislation and reject budgets as a legitimate “check and balance” mechanism under the city’s basic law.

Despite widespread international criticism, both Hong Kong and Beijing maintain that the democracy advocates received proper legal proceedings, and argue that a national security law imposed by China in 2020 helped restore stability to Hong Kong following large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.

The court stated that any strategy to block the budget without regard to its substance or value represented “clearly an abuse of the power (of legislators).”

However, the judges rejected a government appeal challenging the acquittal of attorney Lawrence Lau, determining he had not publicly and explicitly supported budget vetoing like the other defendants.

Lau informed media representatives he was “happy” with the outcome.

To date, 18 of the 45 convicted democracy supporters have been freed after completing their prison terms.

“By failing to overturn these wrongful convictions and sentences today, the court has missed a critical opportunity to correct this mass injustice,” stated Fernando Cheung, a representative for Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas.

“Peaceful opposition to a government is not a crime, and all remaining jailed members of the Hong Kong 47 should be released immediately and unconditionally.”

Two world leaders with remarkably similar backgrounds came together in Seoul Monday to strengthen ties between their nations in what marked Brazil’s first state visit to South Korea in over two decades.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung conducted high-level discussions that resulted in plans to upgrade their countries’ relationship to a strategic partnership level. The meeting produced agreements spanning multiple sectors from commerce to national security.

During a joint news conference, President Lee emphasized the importance of regional stability, stating: “Peace, built on conditions where conflict isn’t needed, is the strongest form of security.”

The summit culminated in the signing of 10 formal agreements addressing cooperation in commerce and industrial policy, essential minerals, artificial intelligence and digital technology, farming, healthcare and biotechnology, small business partnerships, and joint law enforcement efforts targeting cybercrime, drug trafficking, and other international criminal activities.

President Lee revealed that both nations have adopted a comprehensive four-year roadmap designed to outline specific measures for enhanced collaboration across various fields, including strategic mineral resources, defense manufacturing, aerospace industries, and food security initiatives.

The economic dimension proved particularly significant, as Brazil currently serves as South Korea’s primary trading partner throughout South America. President Lula highlighted Brazil’s abundant rare-earth mineral reserves and significant nickel resources, expressing his administration’s desire to draw investment from South Korean corporations.

In a social media post earlier that day, President Lee welcomed his Brazilian counterpart by acknowledging their shared personal histories. “As a former child labourer, you proved with your whole life that democracy is the most powerful tool for social and economic progress,” Lee wrote. “I support your life, your struggle and your achievements, which will remain forever in the history of global democracy.”

The two presidents, who initially connected at last year’s G7 gathering in Canada and later at the G20 meeting in South Africa, have developed a bond based on their common experiences of working in factories as children and suffering workplace injuries.

The diplomatic meetings occurred at South Korea’s presidential Blue House, representing the first major official reception ceremony since President Lee relocated his administration back to the historic building.

The day’s events were scheduled to conclude with an evening state dinner featuring barbecue cuisine and Brazilian bossa nova music performed by a Korean jazz ensemble accompanied by a children’s chorus, according to the presidential office.

ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Throughout the Arab world, Ramadan brings not only fasting and prayer, but also the cherished annual tradition of television drama series specially produced for viewing during the holy month.

Following their evening meal, families across the region settle in to watch their favorite selections from the year’s collection of soap operas and dramatic productions, enjoying sweets, nuts, tea and coffee late into the night.

Syrian productions have long held the most prestigious position in this tradition. While Egypt dominates cinema and Lebanon leads in music, Syria’s television series have maintained their reputation as the region’s finest for many years.

Now, as Syria moves forward from 14 years of devastating civil war, more than a year since Islamist-led forces ended the Assad family’s authoritarian rule, the country’s television sector is working to establish itself within the new political landscape.

During Assad’s reign, when political speech faced severe restrictions, “television became the main sort of platform for freedom of expression and also for employment for artists and intellectuals,” serving as a space where creators could carefully challenge limits, explained Christa Salamandra, an anthropology professor at Lehman College and the City University of New York who studies Syrian drama.

When widespread anti-government demonstrations began in 2011, they were crushed violently and escalated into civil war.

Following that turning point, “the industry fractured,” Salamandra noted. “Creatives went into exile — or they stayed, but it split.”

Now that Assad has fallen, performers and filmmakers previously separated by political divisions are collaborating once more. Productions exploring formerly prohibited subjects, such as torture within Assad’s infamous detention facilities, are being filmed within Syria’s borders.

However, like all aspects of the new Syria, the post-conflict future of television drama remains complex.

During a cold day in the week leading up to Ramadan, a film crew had converted an Aleppo street into an enchanting scene.

Though destroyed buildings in the distance served as stark reminders that the city had been a major battlefield during Syria’s conflict, the cameras had recreated the atmosphere of a bygone era. Vintage automobiles from the 1970s and a horse-drawn cart filled the street while a vendor in traditional headwear offered sahlep, a warm spiced milk beverage.

The production, “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), adapts a novel that authorities banned under Assad due to its examination of troubling periods in Syrian history, including the 1982 “Hama massacre.” During that event, then-President Hafez Assad commanded forces to attack Hama to suppress a Muslim Brotherhood uprising, resulting in 10,000 to 40,000 deaths or disappearances during the month-long offensive that devastated the city.

The television adaptation features Yara Sabri, a well-known performer who spent years abroad due to her Assad opposition, portraying the mother of a disturbed young man from an Alawite community who becomes influential within the nation’s oppressive security system.

Wissam Rida, who portrays her son, explained that as an emerging actor in Damascus, working alongside exiled celebrities like Sabri seemed impossible.

“I used to watch them when I was younger and wish that I could work with them,” he explained. Following Assad’s downfall, Rida observed, “They came back with such beautiful energy you can’t imagine, and you can’t imagine how much we were in need of them.”

Nevertheless, filming has faced challenges.

“Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” director Allaith Hajjo has created programs including “Dayaa Dayaa” (“A Lost Village”), a comedy about small mountain town life, and “Intizar” (“Waiting”), a social drama set in an impoverished Damascus neighborhood. He remained in Syria throughout the conflict.

“In the days of the (Assad) regime’s existence, we were always trying to put forward material that would go over the heads of the censors,” he explained.

During that period, “I dealt with actors who were a red line in the eyes of the regime,” Hajjo stated. “At the same time, now I am dealing with people who may be rejected” by current leadership.

Social media criticism has targeted the production due to certain cast members perceived as Assad supporters. Hajjo maintains that political considerations shouldn’t influence casting decisions.

He noted that current authorities lack experience with artistic projects and the work has encountered “some problems” with review boards.

“It’s their right to need some time to gain experience, but I hope this time won’t affect the quality and the level” of productions, he said.

The National Drama Committee, the governmental organization that examines scripts, did not provide responses to inquiries.

The series, initially scheduled for Ramadan broadcast, has experienced production delays and will likely air following the holy month.

Director Rasha Sharbatji, who created the Ramadan series “Matbatkh al Medina” (“The City’s Kitchen”), described the new authorities as cooperative.

She mentioned meeting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa “and he is personally interested in drama and appreciates how important it is.”

However, questions remain about whether his administration will allow television dramas to address openly post-Assad issues, including sectarian violence incidents involving government forces.

Salamandra suggested creators will likely “make serials about the old atrocities with subtle references to the recent ones. Because that’s what they’ve always done.”

Jihad Abdo represents one of the returning exiled performers. A leading actor during the 1990s and early 2000s, he left Syria in 2011 after criticizing Assad publicly.

He rebuilt his career in America, where he sought entry-level positions and changed his name from Jihad — a typical name among Muslim and Christian Arabs meaning “striving” — to Jay for Hollywood work, where many connected “jihad” with extremism.

He eventually secured roles in major projects, including appearing with Nicole Kidman in 2015’s “Queen of the Desert.” Despite his success, he yearned to return home.

Back in Damascus, he stars in the web series “Al-Meqaad al-Akheer” (“The Last Seat”), a social drama airing during Ramadan, as someone battling Alzheimer’s. He now heads Syria’s General Organization for Cinema, facing the challenging task of rebuilding the Syrian film industry without funding.

Abdo stated that “the margin of the freedom is bigger” compared to Assad’s era and officials haven’t declared any topics forbidden.

“We’re not sure yet about how this margin of freedom will be shaped,” he said. “We are trying to make it as big as possible, because we need to address the problems in order to solve them.”

Abdo sees the television industry as crucial for Syria’s post-conflict healing by sharing human experiences and demonstrating that people with opposing political beliefs can collaborate.

“The wound is big, it’s bleeding, it is still open,” he said. “But it’s our responsibility, the people in entertainment, the intellectuals, prominent names, to bring everybody together again and to keep talking, no matter how different we are.”

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Along a bustling street in downtown Accra, Clement Azaabire displays carefully crafted fugu smocks on clotheslines, their vibrant striped patterns dancing in the wind. Azaabire has spent a decade and a half proudly marketing these garments that represent his northern Ghanaian heritage. Today, they’ve become the center of national conversation.

A growing number of Ghanaians are embracing these vibrant traditional garments with renewed enthusiasm following a wave of internet criticism.

When Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama traveled to Zambia in early February dressed in traditional fugu attire, social media critics responded with mockery. Ghanaians rallied to protect what they viewed as their valuable cultural legacy, leading Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie to establish Wednesdays as official “Fugu Day.”

Following the February 10th “Fugu Day” announcement, increasing numbers of people have adopted the smock for Wednesday workwear and beyond. Merchants like Azaabire report completely depleted inventory.

“It makes me feel connected to where I come from,” explained businessman Wango Abdul Karim, who dons fugu attire every Wednesday at his workplace.

Ghana enjoys international recognition for its sophisticated fashion culture and centuries-old textile traditions, with traditional smock production historically centered in northern regions where weaving techniques pass between generations.

The fugu smock achieved historical significance in March 1957 when Ghana’s founding President Kwame Nkrumah selected it for the nation’s independence celebration. Currently, it appears at cultural festivals, government events, and modern fashion collections.

Known regionally as batakari, this comfortable fugu garment consists of hand-woven cotton strips assembled into a flowing robe, typically worn over pants with a coordinating hat. Artisans traditionally create the fabric using narrow looms throughout Ghana’s northern grasslands, incorporating distinctive patterns and stitch counts that identify specific regions.

Academic research traces its origins to commercial and population movements throughout West Africa, incorporating elements from Mossi and Hausa cultures. The term batakari originates from Hausa language meaning “outer gown,” while fugu translates to cloth in Mossi dialect. The garment historically symbolizes status among chiefs, fighters, and community officials, with particular designs designated for ceremonial occasions.

Inside Accra’s Arts and Crafts Centre, Moses Adibasa carefully feeds woven strips through his sewing machine, stopping to manually position the narrow sections before joining them.

After nearly twenty years creating traditional smocks professionally, he anticipates positive outcomes from the “Fugu Day” initiative.

“It will benefit those selling thread, those weaving and those of us sewing,” Adibasa explained.

At her Accra workspace, fashion designer Perfectual Linnan, who established Roots by Linnan, transforms fugu material into contemporary jackets, pants, and shirts suitable for daily use. She represents an emerging generation of designers integrating traditional fabrics into current styles.

“We want to show that you can wear the northern fabric in different ways,” she explained. “If you’re not into the traditional smock, you can still carry a piece of culture with you.”

While traditional looms continue producing the clothing, many artisans now depend on foreign yarn because of insufficient domestic cotton cultivation.

The “Fugu Day” initiative has created increased demand and additional challenges for smock producers, many struggling to expand output, according to Abigail Naki Gabor, secretary of Ghana’s smock weavers and sellers association.

Government investment could provide solutions, Gabor suggested. “Using our hands slows the process and limits our ability to be productive. We need industrial machines,” she stated.

Beyond “Fugu Day,” Ghana is developing an expanded “Wear Ghana” initiative promoting domestic fashion and cultural identity through planned trade shows, according to Ghana Tourism Authority representative Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi.

Returning to her Accra studio, Linnan emphasizes respectful treatment of the smock despite its labor-intensive production requirements.

“It is a careful, intentional process,” she states. “If we treat it only as a commodity and not as heritage, we lose something important.”

BRUSSELS (AP) — High-ranking European Union officials plan to convene Monday with Nikolay Mladenov, who heads President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, following mixed reactions from EU nations regarding Trump’s Gaza reconstruction and security plans.

Mladenov, a former Bulgarian political leader and United Nations diplomat selected by Trump to oversee the Board of Peace, is scheduled to meet with EU foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas along with foreign ministers from the 27-member union. The diplomatic gathering will also address ongoing conflict in Ukraine and additional Russian sanctions.

Given its Mediterranean location near the Middle East, the European Union maintains significant connections with both Israeli and Palestinian communities. The bloc currently oversees operations at the Rafah border crossing and serves as the largest financial contributor to the Palestinian Authority.

European capitals from Nicosia to Copenhagen remain divided on whether to collaborate with Trump’s peace board initiative. The EU continues backing the United Nations’ Gaza operations.

Hungary and Bulgaria represent the EU as full board members, while EU candidates Turkey, Kosovo and Albania also hold membership positions.

A dozen additional EU countries participated as observers during Thursday’s inaugural Washington meeting: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Officials displayed the EU flag at the event alongside flags from observer and member nations.

Notable European figures including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined participation invitations, as did Pope Leo XIV. However, von der Leyen dispatched European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica as an observer to the Washington gathering.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized Šuica’s attendance, claiming the Commission violated EU protocols by not consulting the European Council leadership group first.

“The European Commission should never have attended the Board of Peace meeting in Washington,” Barrot wrote on X. “Beyond the legitimate political questions raised by the ‘Board of Peace,’ the Commission must scrupulously respect European law and institutional balance in all circumstances.”

Von der Leyen spokesperson Paula Pinho responded Friday, stating “It is in the remit of the Commission to accept invitations.”

While the executive branch won’t join the board officially, it aims to shape Gaza reconstruction and peacekeeping efforts beyond its current role as the Palestinian Authority’s primary financial supporter, Pinho explained.

Trump’s expanding vision for the board encompasses governing and transforming Gaza into a modern metropolis while potentially challenging the UN Security Council’s conflict resolution authority. However, these ambitious goals may face practical constraints given the limited ceasefire progress achieved so far in Gaza.

Beijing officials are conducting a comprehensive review of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned numerous tariffs and are calling on Washington to eliminate unilateral trade penalties against its partners, stating that economic conflicts between the nations cause damage to all involved.

China’s Commerce Ministry issued these statements Monday, following the nation’s highest court delivering a significant blow to President Donald Trump by overturning multiple tariffs he implemented during his global trade conflict, including several targeting China.

Hours following the court’s decision, Trump announced plans to implement a new 10% levy on imports from all nations beginning Tuesday, then quickly escalated it to 15% in a decision that appeared to catch some administration officials off guard.

“U.S. unilateral tariffs … violate international trade rules and U.S. domestic law, and are not in the interests of any party,” the Chinese ministry stated.

“Cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, but fighting is harmful,” the ministry added.

Trade policy and tariff discussions are anticipated to be central topics for both nations leading up to Trump’s expected visit to China in late March and early April, during which he will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump’s proposed new duties rely on an untested legal provision called Section 122, which permits tariffs up to 15% but requires congressional authorization to continue beyond 150 days. This section has never been used by any previous president, and its implementation may trigger additional legal disputes.

“China will continue to pay close attention to this and firmly safeguard its interests,” the Commerce Ministry declared.

Gao Lingyun, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted by state-run Global Times describing the U.S. tariff decisions as “highly arbitrary” and being used as a “political weapon.”

“Tariff policy should be based on rigorous assessment, not political preference,” he was quoted as saying.

The Supreme Court’s decision eliminated several tariffs the Trump administration had placed on major Asian exporters including China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, which serves as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer and crucial technology supply chain participant.

South Korea announced it would maintain discussions with the U.S. to preserve a “balance of interests” between the nations, while its industry minister expressed concerns among officials across multiple sectors, including automotive, battery, and semiconductor industries.

“The public and private sector need to work together to secure Korean companies’ export competitiveness and diversify their markets,” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated Monday.

India postponed sending a trade delegation to Washington this week to complete an interim trade agreement, primarily due to new tariff uncertainties from the U.S., according to a trade ministry source.

Under the proposed deal, U.S. tariffs on Indian products would decrease to 18%, while India committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of American goods over five years, including energy supplies, aircraft and components, precious metals, and technology products.

In Europe, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde cautioned about business risks, emphasizing that companies seek predictability rather than legal disputes. She stressed that any new tariff proposals must be clearly outlined to prevent additional challenges and ensure constitutional compliance.

“To sort of shake it up again is going to bring about disruptions,” Lagarde said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — International Criminal Court prosecutors will begin Monday laying out their case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, presenting evidence of his alleged role in numerous killings during his anti-narcotics campaigns.

The former president faces three charges of crimes against humanity related to lethal drug enforcement operations he directed both during his tenure as mayor of Davao in southern Philippines and throughout his presidency.

Advocacy organizations and victims’ families celebrated Duterte’s March arrest as progress toward accountability.

“We have waited for this for so long, for years we have waited, but we did not relent,” Llore Pasco said during a press briefing before the proceedings. She explained that her two sons departed for work in May 2017 and never came home, with their bullet-riddled bodies discovered later.

Monday’s proceedings represent a confirmation hearing rather than a full trial, providing prosecutors the opportunity to present their case before the court. Following review of the presented evidence, judges will have 60 days to determine whether to validate the charges.

Duterte has chosen not to participate in the Hague-based court proceedings. In a written statement to the judges, he declined to attend legal proceedings “that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail.”

The former leader also dismissed the accusations as an “outrageous lie.”

Court officials determined last month that the elderly defendant was mentally competent for trial proceedings, after an earlier hearing was delayed due to health-related concerns.

Duterte’s allies have condemned current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration for apprehending and transferring the former leader to a court whose authority they question. Critics include his daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte, who declared her intention last week to run for president in 2028.

Sheerah Escudero expressed concern about potential consequences if another Duterte gains power. Her 18-year-old brother’s body was discovered bound with tape in 2017. “We know that the same policy of killings will continue,” she stated to media before the hearing.

ICC prosecutors announced in February 2018 their decision to launch a preliminary examination of the violent drug enforcement operations. Human rights advocates claim Duterte’s subsequent announcement that the Philippines would withdraw from the court was designed to avoid responsibility.

The court dismissed arguments from Duterte’s defense team seeking case dismissal based on jurisdictional challenges following Philippine withdrawal. Nations cannot “abuse” their withdrawal rights from the Rome Statute “by shielding persons from justice in relation to alleged crimes that are already under consideration,” according to the September ruling.

An appeal of that determination remains under review.

Death toll estimates from Duterte’s presidential period range from over 6,000 according to national police records to as many as 30,000 as claimed by human rights organizations.

When Russian forces launched their full-scale assault on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it marked the start of the most significant military conflict Europe has witnessed since World War II ended. The invasion has now stretched into its fourth year, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape.

A specially assembled collection of photographs, selected by Associated Press photo editors, captures the defining moments and human impact of this prolonged conflict. The visual documentation spans the entire duration of the war, offering a comprehensive look at how the situation has evolved over these four years.

A Moscow-area bakery owner gained national attention after making a desperate plea to Vladimir Putin during the Russian president’s December call-in program. Denis Maksimov, standing outside his bakery Mashenka — named for his eldest daughter — asked Putin via video to reconsider new tax policies that are crushing small business owners nationwide.

“We understand very well that it’s not an easy situation for the country. We understand that raising taxes is necessary,” Maksimov said. “We’re looking ahead without optimism, frankly speaking. Many (businesses) will close down.”

Nearly four years into Putin’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia’s economy is showing significant strain. Oil income is falling, the government’s budget shortfall is growing, and military expenditures that previously drove economic expansion have plateaued.

Moscow is now turning to consumers and small enterprises for additional funding. The government has increased the value-added tax by 2% and dramatically reduced the income thresholds that trigger businesses to pay these taxes.

Russian citizens are experiencing real hardship, according to business owners who spoke with The Associated Press. They report steadily declining customer demand, sudden cost increases as vendors adapt to the tax changes, and tax obligations that have multiplied by tens of times. Some entrepreneurs have reduced their operations to survive, while others have shut down completely.

Social media footage recently highlighted the economic damage: empty storefronts lining St. Petersburg’s famous Nevsky Prospekt, where numerous businesses have failed.

“I’ve never felt so scared as this year, so unprotected, so anxious,” said Darya Demchenko, who operates multiple beauty salons in Russia’s second-largest city.

Maksimov’s public appeal to Putin did not succeed in stopping the tax overhaul, which reduced the threshold requiring businesses to pay VAT from 60 million rubles ($783,000) in yearly sales to 20 million rubles ($261,000) this year, with further reductions to 10 million rubles ($130,500) planned by 2028.

Similar reductions affected the “patent taxation system,” where small businesses previously made fixed annual payments — typically only tens of thousands of rubles — rather than percentage-based taxes on income or profits. Now, those earning more than 20 million rubles must pay at least 6% tax on revenues plus 5% VAT.

During their televised conversation, Maksimov explained he had operated under the patent system for eight years. Putin acknowledged the need for tax reform to address “uncontrolled” illegal imports but promised to examine possible solutions.

Maksimov’s television appearance brought publicity and new customers to Mashenka, which operates three locations in the Moscow area. The bakery sent baked goods to the Kremlin and advertises on its website that Putin “tried our pies.”

Russian news outlets reported that Maksimov’s sales increased temporarily, but without tax policy changes, he considered shutting down.

Putin discussed Mashenka’s situation at a government meeting last month, and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov suggested measures to exempt Maksimov’s business from VAT and reduce other taxes. Following this, the owner said he was no longer planning to close.

“I think we will grow, maybe slower than before, but no less confidently, I think,” Maksimov told AP this month. However, he acknowledged still waiting for officials to implement the proposed measures, with no clear timeline for when this might occur.

Maksimov’s case sparked outrage among other small and medium business owners. Through an online movement called “We Are Mashenka,” initiated by the Association of Beauty Industry Enterprises, entrepreneurs nationwide shared similar struggles, noting that unlike Maksimov, who gained Putin’s attention, they had no one to rescue them.

Demchenko, who participated in the campaign, told AP that she was forced to close one salon and sell another from her four-location chain — three owned and one franchised — to survive the dramatically higher taxes, increased costs, and reduced demand.

The tax changes disqualified her from the patent system, requiring much higher tax payments and the hiring of a full-time accountant for paperwork, she explained. Her expenses — including rent, supplies, security, and banking — jumped 30%, with suppliers raising prices far beyond the 2% VAT increase.

Customer demand for beauty services has been declining for months.

Russia’s restrictions on social media and messaging platforms eliminated her access to affordable advertising and easy client communication, Demchenko noted.

The beauty industry survived the COVID-19 pandemic with government assistance including tax relief, payment deferrals, and opportunities to negotiate rent waivers with landlords, she said.

“This year, we haven’t felt any support at all. We feel like they want to shut us down,” she said.

Lyalya Sadykova, president of the Association of Beauty Industry Enterprises, reported that approximately 10% of St. Petersburg’s beauty businesses closed and another 10% sold their companies in December and January. She expects additional closures this spring.

“People will do the math. The first deadline for taxes is in April, and people will see that they have nothing to pay with, and that’s when the collapse will begin,” she said. “I think there will be bankruptcies, and mass exodus from the market, because now it seems to me that not everyone has done the math and understood it.”

When the tax reforms were enacted last year, pastry shop owners Ilsiya Gizatullina and Railya Shayhieva decided to close their Kazan business. Like Demchenko, they cited massive tax increases, rising expenses, and declining demand.

The decision was extremely difficult, “like cutting off a body part. Because we lived there, it was our life, 24/7,” Gizatullina told AP.

They launched their business in 2020 and weathered the pandemic, which Gizatullina noted was temporary. The new tax structure is permanent.

“We understand very well that it won’t be abolished the day after tomorrow, and there will likely be an even higher tax burden in the future,” Gizatullina said.

Under the reforms, additional businesses will face increased taxes in 2027 and 2028, as changes will impact those with even smaller revenues.

Small and medium businesses represent just over 20% of Russia’s economy, but remain significant, according to Chris Weafer, CEO of Macro-Advisory Ltd. Consultancy. Expanding VAT application to these businesses will generate “a meaningful amount” of government revenue.

This represents “a deliberate strategy by the Finance Ministry to create more stable, predictable sources of income” during a period of reduced oil revenues and increased budget deficits, Weafer explained.

Small and medium enterprises have faced pressure since 2014, when Russia encountered sanctions over its illegal Crimean Peninsula annexation, and the government focused support on large corporations. The new tax regulations intensify this pressure, Weafer said, and while unlikely to destroy the economy, will hinder growth after the war concludes.

“The one engine of expansion and growth and innovation that you need in an economy is the sector that has suffered most in the last four years and is continuing to suffer today,” he said.

Mexican authorities are working to restore order after the death of one of the world’s most notorious drug lords sparked violent retaliation across multiple states, forcing school closures and prompting residents to shelter in place.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known by his alias “El Mencho,” died Sunday during a military operation in Jalisco state. The 57-year-old commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most ruthless criminal organizations responsible for smuggling vast quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.

The drug lord was fatally wounded during a fierce gunfight when Mexican forces attempted to apprehend him in Tapalpa, located roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported by air to Mexico City, according to defense officials.

Cartel members launched immediate revenge attacks nationwide, establishing over 250 roadblocks spanning 20 states and torching vehicles in the streets. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for citizens to remain calm while announcing that most barriers had been dismantled by late Sunday.

The operation received intelligence assistance from the United States, with the White House praising Mexico’s military for eliminating one of both nations’ most sought-after fugitives. The State Department had placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho’s head.

Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area, came to a virtual standstill Sunday as frightened residents remained indoors. The city’s international airport operated with skeleton crews, and most incoming flights were grounded due to security concerns.

Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old vendor, described her anxiety while navigating the airport late Sunday evening. Earlier that day, travelers had scrambled for cover behind seating areas amid fears of violence.

“My plan today leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, but I’m scared of everything. That there are blockades, that there’s a curfew, that something could happen,” she said. “I’m all alone.”

Regional authorities confirmed at least 14 additional deaths Sunday, including seven National Guard personnel killed during the widespread unrest in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guanajuato states.

Social media footage captured tourists on Puerto Vallarta beaches with smoke columns visible in the background. At the airport, elderly Mexican travelers huddled together planning their journey home.

“We better all go together,” one person was heard saying. “Go with God.”

International Crisis Group analyst David Mora characterized the events as a pivotal moment for President Sheinbaum’s anti-cartel strategy amid mounting pressure from Washington to combat fentanyl trafficking.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded stronger Mexican action against drug smuggling, threatening additional tariffs or potential military intervention without visible progress.

U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson praised the Mexican armed forces’ achievements and sacrifices in a Sunday statement, noting that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”

However, Mora cautioned that the cartel leader’s elimination could trigger additional bloodshed as competing criminal organizations attempt to exploit the weakened Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

“This might be a moment in which those other groups see that the cartel is weakened and want to seize the opportunity for them to expand control and to gain control over Cartel Jalisco in those states,” he explained.

The analyst noted Sheinbaum’s administration has adopted a more aggressive military approach against criminal networks compared to previous governments.

“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in power, the army has been way more confrontational, combative against criminal groups in Mexico,” Mora said. “This is signaling to the U.S. that if we keep cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it, we don’t need U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”

Defense officials reported that troops encountered heavy resistance during the capture attempt, resulting in four immediate fatalities at the scene. Three wounded individuals, including Oseguera Cervantes, later died from their injuries.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that American intelligence supported the operation, describing El Mencho as “a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland.”

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel emerged around 2009 and rapidly became one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal enterprises. The Trump administration designated the organization as a foreign terrorist group in February 2025.

Despite Sheinbaum’s previous criticism of “kingpin” elimination strategies that historically triggered violence when cartels splintered, mounting security concerns and U.S. diplomatic pressure have intensified demands for results against drug trafficking operations.

The Jalisco organization distinguished itself through particularly aggressive tactics against military forces, including helicopter attacks and pioneering use of drone-delivered explosives and landmines. In 2020, the cartel orchestrated a brazen assassination attempt in central Mexico City using grenades and military-grade weapons against the capital’s police chief, who now serves as federal security secretary.

TOKYO – On his 66th birthday Monday, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito shared his continued worries about those still recovering from the catastrophic 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, with the disaster’s anniversary approaching next month.

In birthday statements released last week, the emperor noted that while physical rebuilding efforts have advanced significantly, deeper healing remains incomplete. “While recovery of infrastructure has made progress, I feel that reconstruction of livelihoods and community still needs to be addressed,” Naruhito said in the remarks made last week. “As I think of those who lost their loved ones and had to cope with complete change of their living environment, I feel their scars have not healed yet … they stay despite the passage of time.”

The emperor appeared alongside Empress Masako, their daughter Princess Aiko, and Crown Prince Akishino’s family on the imperial palace balcony, greeting enthusiastic crowds who gathered with Japanese flags to celebrate the occasion.

The devastating March 2011 natural disasters and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant meltdowns resulted in almost 20,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. Although most radiation-affected areas have been declared safe for habitation, relatively few former residents have chosen to return due to limited employment opportunities and fractured community bonds.

The nation will also commemorate another tragic milestone this April – a decade since the Kumamoto earthquake claimed close to 300 lives.

During his birthday remarks, Naruhito emphasized the importance of passing disaster preparedness knowledge to future generations while remaining ready for potential future emergencies. The emperor committed to maintaining close connections with citizens, sharing in both their celebrations and hardships, and continuing to hear from those in disaster-impacted regions while hoping for a future free from such tragedies.

Regarding his daughter’s future role, Naruhito expressed his desire for Princess Aiko to carry forward historical awareness to younger people. “We have raised Aiko hoping she will be a fine person as a human being and a royal member,” he said. “And I have a strong wish for her to continue to exert her strength and be active in international peacekeeping.”

Princess Aiko, now 24 and the couple’s sole child, faces restrictions under Japan’s succession laws that prevent her from inheriting the throne. Current regulations require her to abandon royal status if she chooses to marry outside the imperial family, rules that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continues to support and strengthen.

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.