Blog

Paraguayan opposition legislator Leidy Galeano came back from a fully-funded journey through six Chinese metropolises with a new perspective: her nation was potentially forfeiting significant economic opportunities by maintaining its alliance with Taiwan instead of pursuing ties with Beijing.

“Everything I saw there, I wanted for my country,” Galeano stated. She belongs to the recently established Yo Creo party, whose leadership has expressed positive views toward China.

Her journey, along with similar excursions that sources indicate were sponsored by China’s consulate in São Paulo, featured elaborate dining experiences, accommodations at high-end hotels, and visits to the Great Wall. Paraguayan officials view these as part of a systematic campaign to pull their nation away from democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory.

Despite having only 6.4 million residents and being landlocked, Paraguay holds significant symbolic importance as Taiwan’s final diplomatic partner in South America. Should Paraguay switch sides, it would hand Beijing a meaningful victory in its effort to diplomatically isolate Taipei. This campaign also demonstrates China’s determination to strengthen its presence in Latin America, where former President Trump also sought American dominance.

President Santiago Peña’s administration, with over two years remaining in office, has limited motivation to alter the Taiwan relationship that has long defined its international affairs. Political experts suggest the future remains uncertain, as internal power struggles could fragment the governing Colorado Party or force partnerships with opposition factions that have historically favored Beijing recognition.

Peña has openly confirmed his support for Taipei. “All the Latin American countries that switched from Taiwan to China and fell into the arms of the promise of the Chinese dream – every single one of them is worse off than Paraguay,” he declared in December during his podcast. The presidential office declined to provide additional comments.

The foreign ministry issued a statement saying Paraguay’s Taiwan relationship “are founded on principles and values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.”

China’s increased involvement conflicts with intensified efforts from Taipei and Washington to maintain current relationships. Paraguay established a defense agreement with the United States in January, became part of Trump’s “Board of Peace,” and attended a White House summit on critical minerals this year. Washington also removed sanctions from former President Horacio Cartes, who previously faced corruption allegations and serves as Peña’s advisor.

Conversations with six trip participants, including three legislators and three media professionals, plus Reuters’ examination of travel documents, reveal China’s influence campaign in Paraguay has intensified over the past year. Reuters documented at least 19 Paraguayan lawmakers, five journalists, and one emerging opposition presidential candidate visiting China since late 2023, with activity accelerating significantly last year.

China’s foreign ministry stated that “siding with Taiwan authorities holds no future,” noting that increasing numbers of Paraguayans across various sectors believe establishing Beijing diplomatic relations would benefit both nations’ “fundamental and long-term interests.” The ministry rejected claims of lobbying, describing people-to-people exchanges as mutual efforts requiring no persuasion.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded that Beijing was trying to “poach” its partners and confirmed it was “actively working to maintain ties with all of Taiwan’s diplomatic partners.”

A U.S. embassy representative in Asunción expressed hope that Paraguayans participating in Chinese-organized tours would “understand the degree of information manipulation” present in such visits.

Beijing’s Paraguay outreach mirrors regional patterns. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and recently Honduras all shifted recognition following persistent Chinese lobbying and promises of trade and infrastructure development.

Opposition legislator Roya Torres described how Chinese officials during her October 2025 visit highlighted advanced healthcare services and technology, guiding her through medical facilities and high-speed rail systems while suggesting trade and investment could increase if Paraguay recognized Beijing. The healthcare demonstrations particularly impressed her.

The comparison with Paraguay’s situation reinforced her concern that the country was “running out of time” – a message Chinese officials repeatedly emphasized – and risked falling behind in medical technology access and Chinese market opportunities by maintaining Taipei ties.

Paraguay, traditionally among South America’s less wealthy nations, has experienced recent growth driven by beef exports, manufacturing, and construction. The country achieved investment-grade rating in 2024, though persistent corruption and educational and infrastructure investment gaps continue limiting broader economic benefits.

Trip participants indicated invitations came from China’s São Paulo consulate, though Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the source or funding. China’s foreign ministry didn’t verify the origin in their response.

Last October, Galeano, Torres, and fellow lawmakers stayed at Beijing’s luxury Shangri-La hotel before touring Chongqing’s massive manufacturing complex and meeting regional officials, according to itineraries Reuters reviewed.

Interviewed lawmakers described the tours as exceptional opportunities to witness China’s technological ambitions and political confidence firsthand.

Liberal Party Deputy Billy Vaesken, who spent 15 days in China during late 2024 alongside two Colorado Party colleagues, now supports stronger Beijing relationships.

“We must not miss our chance,” he emphasized, citing potential Chinese infrastructure investment. Reuters contacted at least six Colorado Party members who declined discussing their China visits. Several prominent opposition participants also refused to comment on their trips.

China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative has expanded throughout South America, recently including Peru’s Chancay mega-port, a logistics center reducing Asian shipping times and serving as Beijing’s regional gateway.

In Paraguay, the discussion increasingly centers on economics. While the country’s primary exports are soybeans and beef, direct Chinese sales are impossible because Beijing refuses trading with Taiwan-recognizing nations. Instead, shipments travel through Argentina and Brazil, reducing profits. Meanwhile, Chinese imports flood Paraguay, reaching a record $6 billion in 2025 according to official statistics.

Taipei has funded various projects including the parliament building and a university campus under construction. However, local research center CADEP found Paraguay’s Taiwan ties have produced only limited economic benefits. Public opinion may be changing: a recent Metro consultancy poll showed growing support for Chinese relations. Metro declined identifying who commissioned the survey.

Taiwan embassy officials in Asunción confirmed they’re actively lobbying against China through television appearances and inviting Colorado Party lawmakers to Taiwan.

Nevertheless, Beijing’s strategy appears effective with some officials.

“More people in parliament are already looking toward mainland China,” said lawmaker Vaesken, who plans returning to China this year. “Before long, Taiwan will end up like Hong Kong—it will become part of China, be annexed, and Paraguayans will be left with nothing.”

BEIJING (AP) — China’s top legislative body has commenced its yearly gathering in the country’s capital city.

The Associated Press photography team has assembled a visual collection showcasing the proceedings of this annual governmental session.

NEW DELHI (AP) — A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Washington and Tehran following the submarine attack that destroyed an Iranian naval vessel in the Indian Ocean, with both nations presenting conflicting narratives about whether the ship carried weapons.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command dismissed Iranian assertions on Sunday that the warship IRIS Dena lacked armaments when it was torpedoed in international waters near Sri Lanka on March 4. Military officials used social media platform X to label Iran’s claims as “false.”

Tehran has consistently maintained that the destroyed vessel posed no threat, describing it as defenseless while returning from participation in multinational naval drills.

An unnamed Indian naval official, who spoke without authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated the Iranian ship wasn’t “entirely unarmed” and had participated in exercises with vessels from multiple nations.

Defense experts note that ships attending such international events typically don’t carry full ammunition loads unless live-fire training is planned. During maritime exercises, vessels usually transport only restricted munitions designated for specific training purposes.

Independent defense analyst Rahul Bedi, based in India, explained that while the ship might have carried limited non-combat ammunition during the naval exercises, standard procedures demand “the participating platforms to be unarmed.”

“The precondition of participating in such a parade, or such a ceremony, is that it (the vessel) comes unarmed. That is the precondition of the Indian Navy and it’s a precondition of most navies when they hold such similar sort of fleet reviews,” Bedi said.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh declared Friday that the warship, destroyed by an American torpedo, carried no weapons and criticized Washington for attacking a ceremonial vessel.

“That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends, attending an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

The IRIS Dena went down March 4 in Indian Ocean waters near Sri Lanka after a torpedo strike from an American submarine, according to officials from both countries. Sri Lankan naval forces saved 32 crew members and retrieved 87 bodies from the water.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the IRIS Dena a “prize ship” and remarked it “died a quiet death.” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as “an atrocity at sea” and emphasized the vessel had been “a guest of India’s Navy.”

Arguments over the ship’s armament status have escalated tensions surrounding the incident, which happened as the vessel traveled home from India’s multinational naval exercises, sparking debate about whether it operated in a non-combat capacity during the attack.

India’s defense ministry noted in post-exercise statements that “live firings as part of surface gun shoots, as well as anti-air firings, were also undertaken” by participating vessels.

The warship’s destruction demonstrates how the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran is expanding beyond Middle Eastern boundaries.

Two additional Iranian ships — the IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Lavan — remain docked at ports in Sri Lanka and India after requesting aid from both nations.

Iranian authorities issued a stern warning Monday that citizens living overseas could face property seizure and legal action if they show support for the United States and Israel during the current conflict.

The announcement from Iran’s prosecutor general’s office comes after some Iranian expatriates seeking political change in their homeland celebrated in European and American cities following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. On Monday, Iran appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as his father’s successor.

State media reported the prosecutor general’s office as stating: “A warning has been issued to those Iranians living abroad who in different ways sympathise, support or cooperate with the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy.”

The office added: “They will be met with the confiscation of all their properties and other legal penalties in accordance with the law.”

New Telegram channels have begun documenting information about notable Iranian expatriates who have posted statements condemning Iran’s religious leadership while expressing backing for the U.S.-Israeli military operations that started February 28.

Iranian government statistics indicate between 5 and 10 million Iranians reside outside their home country, with most concentrated in the United States and Western European nations.

KYIV, Ukraine — An overnight assault combining missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s capital region, resulting in four deaths and injuring at least 15 people by Saturday morning, regional officials confirmed.

Regional administrator Mykola Kalashnyk reported that three victims remain in critical condition, with two currently in surgery. The bombardment affected four separate districts, causing damage to homes, schools, businesses, and vital infrastructure, Kalashnyk stated in his social media update.

This latest assault follows the United States’ decision to delay planned peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that were set for this week, with officials citing ongoing Middle East conflicts as the reason for postponement.

While U.S. and Israeli forces conduct operations against Iran, Russia has offered only verbal criticism without providing military support to its ally. Moscow’s inability to assist Iran, following similar situations with Syria’s Assad regime in 2024 and Venezuela’s Maduro earlier this year, demonstrates the boundaries of Russian global influence, though the Kremlin anticipates gaining advantages from the Iranian conflict.

Russia is currently benefiting from increased worldwide energy costs and may hope the Middle East situation will shift focus away from Ukraine while reducing Western military supplies.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Friday’s U.S. decision to grant a 30-day exemption on Russian oil sanctions during the Iran conflict, calling it misguided and unhelpful for ending Russia’s invasion that has lasted more than four years.

“This easing alone by the United States could provide Russia with about $10 billion for the war,” Zelenskyy said. “This certainly does not help peace.”

Both Russian and Ukrainian military leaders claimed territorial gains this week, with Ukraine reporting successful pushbacks against Moscow’s forces while the Kremlin maintains its invasion continues advancing.

Russia’s near-daily bombardments of Ukrainian civilian targets persist throughout the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian forces conducted overnight drone attacks on Russian infrastructure in the Krasnodar region, targeting both an oil processing facility and a major port, according to Russian officials who reported the strikes on Saturday, March 14.

Regional authorities in Krasnodar announced through social media that three individuals sustained injuries during the attack on Port Kavkaz, a critical shipping hub that handles grain exports and liquefied petroleum gas. The facility sits along the Kerch Strait directly across from Crimea.

The drone strike damaged both a service ship and the port’s pier infrastructure, officials confirmed in their public statement.

In a second incident, regional leaders reported that Ukrainian drones ignited a blaze at the Afipsky oil refinery after striking the processing plant.

Russia’s military command claimed its air defense systems successfully intercepted 87 Ukrainian drones during the nighttime operation, with 31 shot down over the Sea of Azov waters and another 16 destroyed above the Krasnodar region itself.

DENPASAR, Indonesia — Three Australian nationals received significant prison terms Monday from an Indonesian court for the murder of a compatriot on the resort island of Bali, following their claims that an anonymous individual paid them for the deadly attack.

The Denpasar District Court convicted Mevlut Coskun, Paea I Middlemore Tupou, and Darcy Jenson in the June killing of 32-year-old Melbourne resident Zivan Radmanovic. Another victim, 34-year-old Sanar Ghanim, survived gunshot wounds and a beating during the same incident.

The court imposed 16-year prison terms on both Coskun, 22, and Tupou, 27, while sentencing Jenson, 24, to 12 years behind bars. Both Coskun and Tupou maintained the fatal shooting was accidental amid the confusion of that evening.

Radmanovic had traveled to Bali for his wife Jazmyn Gourdeas’ birthday celebration, accompanied by her sister and Ghanim, who was dating the sister. Medical examination revealed Radmanovic sustained three bullet wounds along with injuries from physical assault.

According to prosecutors, Jenson masterminded the assault while his co-defendants executed the plan. Authorities apprehended Jenson at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta airport in June as he tried to flee Indonesia. International law enforcement agencies assisted in capturing Coskun and Tupou in Singapore and Cambodia respectively.

Throughout the October trial proceedings, all three defendants testified they accepted payment to travel to Bali and intimidate Ghanim into settling an outstanding debt. They claimed an unidentified Australian man made this arrangement but refused to reveal his identity, citing concerns for their families’ safety.

Law enforcement officials testified that the group took orders from a mysterious “Mr. X” whose true identity remains unknown. The judicial panel acknowledged the defendants acted in exchange for “a promised payment.”

The prosecution had requested 18-year sentences for both Coskun and Tupou, and 17 years for Jenson.

Although the three-judge panel acknowledged the defendants inflicted “deep trauma” on both victims’ families, Presiding Judge Wayan Suarta emphasized the men had clean criminal histories and cooperated fully during the investigation and court proceedings.

“They are still young and have the chance to improve themselves in the future,” he stated, explaining that the punishment “is not intended as revenge, nor to degrade their dignity, but as a preventive measure so similar acts do not occur again.”

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched approximately 10 ballistic missiles into eastern waters on Saturday, according to South Korean military officials, marking the latest display of military strength as US and South Korean forces continue joint training exercises.

The missiles originated from an area close to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital city, though South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately release details about the distance traveled. Japanese Defense Ministry officials confirmed the weapons splashed down in waters beyond Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

South Korean military leadership announced increased surveillance measures and maintained combat readiness for potential additional launches while coordinating closely with American and Japanese counterparts.

The missile tests occurred during the annual spring military drills between American and South Korean forces, involving thousands of service members, while the Trump administration simultaneously manages an intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

The Middle Eastern conflict has sparked worries about possible security vulnerabilities in South Korea, as domestic news outlets have suggested through security footage and other evidence that America may be moving missile defense equipment from the country to support Iranian operations.

When The Associated Press inquired this week about whether US Forces Korea was transferring interceptor missiles from its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, installation in Seongju to Middle Eastern operations, President Lee Jae Myung’s administration stated it could not verify specifics regarding American military activities.

The administration emphasized that any potential movement of US military equipment would not compromise the alliance’s defensive capabilities against nuclear-equipped North Korea, while highlighting South Korea’s conventional military capabilities. Officials provided similar statements regarding reports about possible Patriot missile defense system relocations from South Korea.

North Korea has consistently characterized the allied exercises as preparation for invasion and frequently uses them as justification to escalate its own military displays or weapons development.

In past years, the North has executed multiple coordinated launches of missiles or artillery while characterizing them as practice runs for nuclear strikes against South Korean locations.

The recent launches followed criticism from Kim Jong Un’s influential sister on Tuesday, who condemned Washington and Seoul for continuing their exercises during a dangerous period for international security, warning that any threat to North Korea’s safety would result in “terrible consequences.”

Without explicitly mentioning the Iranian conflict, Kim Yo Jong stated the US-South Korea exercises damage regional stability during a time when the international security framework is “collapsing rapidly and wars break out in different parts of the world due to the reckless acts of outrageous international rogues.”

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has issued separate declarations condemning joint US-Israeli operations against Iran and expressing solidarity with Tehran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

The 11-day Freedom Shield exercise, scheduled through March 19, represents one of two yearly command post training programs conducted by American and South Korean military forces. The primarily computer-based simulations evaluate the allies’ combined operational readiness while incorporating developing warfare scenarios and security threats. Freedom Shield will operate alongside a field training component called Warrior Shield.

North Korea has consistently rejected appeals from Washington and Seoul to restart diplomatic negotiations focused on dismantling its nuclear capabilities. Discussions stalled in 2019 after Kim Jong Un’s second meeting with US President Donald Trump during his initial presidency ended unsuccessfully.

Kim has prioritized Russia in his international relations, deploying thousands of soldiers and substantial military supplies to assist Moscow’s Ukrainian campaign, potentially in return for assistance and defense technology.

On Monday, Kuwait conducted military funeral ceremonies honoring two interior ministry personnel who lost their lives “in the line of duty,” according to government officials.

The Gulf nation, which houses American military bases and has experienced Iranian drone and missile attacks during Tehran’s ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, reported that both men perished early Sunday morning without providing additional specifics about the circumstances.

Kuwait’s military forces confirmed separately that regions close to the country’s international airport came under attack Sunday, with their units successfully stopping incoming missiles and unmanned aircraft.

Sunday’s statement from the Interior Ministry expressed grief for “the martyrs of duty, Lieutenant Colonel Staff Abdullah Emad Al-Sharrah and Major Fahad Abdulaziz Al-Mejmed, from the General Administration of Land Border Security, who were martyred at dawn.”

The ceremonial service took place at Sulaibikhat Cemetery, with First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah presiding alongside other high-ranking officials.

Government sources report that the ongoing Iranian crisis has claimed five lives total, including four service members and one young girl, while injuring dozens more.

Regional authorities in Ukraine report that a deadly Russian aerial bombardment during nighttime hours has claimed four lives and left 15 people injured in areas surrounding the capital city of Kyiv.

According to Mykola Kalashnyk, who leads the regional military administration, the bombardment struck homes, schools, businesses and essential infrastructure across four separate districts in the Kyiv region.

Kalashnyk indicated that casualty reports continue to be updated as damage assessments proceed, with the death toll potentially climbing higher.

These aerial bombardments represent part of an ongoing pattern by Russian military forces, which have consistently launched strikes against Ukrainian population centers and cities located well away from active combat zones throughout their four-year military campaign, frequently targeting power systems and vital infrastructure.

AMSTERDAM – A blast struck a Jewish educational facility in Amsterdam during the early hours of Saturday morning, causing property damage in what city leadership has characterized as an intentional assault on the local Jewish population.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema confirmed the incident occurred at a school located in an affluent residential area on the city’s southern side. The damage remained minimal due to the swift response of law enforcement and emergency personnel who quickly arrived on scene.

Authorities reported no individuals were harmed in the incident.

The attack comes as Dutch officials had already increased protective measures around Jewish houses of worship and community centers throughout Amsterdam following a separate arson incident at a Rotterdam synagogue that took place overnight Friday.

Similar violence has occurred across the region, with a blast triggering a fire at a synagogue in Liege, Belgium earlier this week on Monday.

“This is a cowardly act of aggression against the Jewish community,” Halsema stated in her official response.

“Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable,” the mayor added.

Global Jewish communities have faced growing security threats amid escalating tensions following recent military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Marion Soulet navigates her bicycle through Paris City Hall via a street that previously overflowed with automobiles but now serves as a dedicated cycling path, representing the French capital’s environmental makeover that will be evaluated in this Sunday’s mayoral contest.

The cyclist advocacy leader from Paris en Selle appreciates the approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of bicycle infrastructure developed under progressive Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s administration during the past ten years, noting that close to half of all Parisians now use bicycles weekly.

“The more the city is redesigned to accommodate it, the more cycling increases,” Soulet explained to Reuters following her journey down Rue de Rivoli. “People like it because it’s easy, inexpensive, and fast.”

The campaign to convert Paris from a contaminated urban center into a “15-minute-city” featuring extensive cycling infrastructure and increased greenery stems from initiatives by Hidalgo and her progressive predecessors, who have controlled City Hall for decades.

This environmental record now confronts judgment in Sunday’s voting, as Hidalgo steps aside while conservative opponents hope to capitalize on citizen exhaustion regarding the increasingly automobile-restricted metropolis, construction-related disruptions, and growing municipal debt.

Polling data indicates the victor will likely be either Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, who advocates intensifying environmental policies, or conservative former minister Rachida Dati, who claims Paris’s traditional charm is being eroded.

Far-right nationalist candidate Sarah Knafo, age 32, shows increasing poll strength and might complicate Dati’s prospects if she advances to the March 22 runoff. Knafo’s support exceeds the 10% minimum required for second-round qualification.

Current polling shows Grégoire, 48, leading with approximately 33%, while Dati, 60, follows at roughly 30%.

“We’re not fighting an ideological battle on mobility issues,” Dati stated to Reuters while meeting shoppers in northern Paris. “We just want things to be organised.”

During Hidalgo’s tenure, municipal officials have worked to prepare Paris for climate challenges while improving livability for its 2 million inhabitants within the broader metropolitan area of 10 million people.

City administrators have added 130,000 trees and eliminated thousands of street-level parking spots. Roadways alongside the Seine River have been converted to pedestrian areas.

Municipal statistics show automobile traffic has decreased more than 60% since 2002 while bicycle usage has increased threefold. Air quality has also improved.

“There aren’t many major cities in the world that have known such a spectacular transformation,” commented Patrick Le Gales, an urban planning expert at Sciences-Po University in Paris.

“But there’s been strong criticism over cleanliness and the debt,” he added, referencing municipal obligations totaling approximately 10 billion euros ($11 billion), representing a 42% increase since 2020.

Pierre Chasseray, director of the motorists’ advocacy organization 40 Million Motorists, accused Hidalgo of creating a “Berlin Wall” separating affluent central Paris residents from automobile-dependent citizens in economically disadvantaged suburbs who lack influence over municipal policies.

“We’ve ended up with a caricatured image of the capital: motorists on one side, cyclists on the other — the good guys versus the bad guys,” he explained.

Hidalgo has additionally encountered widespread social media criticism using the #saccageParis hashtag that showcases urban problems ranging from persistent construction projects to litter-covered walkways.

Grégoire attributed these issues to Hidalgo’s excessive ambition.

“We did too many things at the same time,” he acknowledged. “I would have chosen a different timetable, above all for reasons of implementation quality.”

Dati, an attorney with North African heritage, has softened her opposition to well-received cycling lanes, instead emphasizing concerns about unsanitary streets, and published footage of herself wearing safety gear while accompanying sanitation workers.

“The city is increasingly dirty — it hasn’t escaped anybody,” she observed.

Dati’s evolving moderate position on transportation matters — combined with her upcoming September corruption trial on charges she disputes — has created opportunities for Knafo.

Knafo has presented an Artificial Intelligence-developed proposal to restore automobile access to Seine riverbanks and conducted interviews from vehicle passenger seats while traveling through Paris.

Soulet considers Knafo’s influence restricted to “a very small group of Parisians who…want to turn the clock back.”

A unique sporting tradition brought together approximately two dozen couples in southern England this weekend, where relationships faced the ultimate endurance test on a challenging hillside course.

Partners gripped tightly as they were hauled up and down a slope during the U.K. Wife Carrying Race, marking another year of one of Britain’s most unusual annual competitions.

Finnish competitors Teemu Touvinen and Jatta Leinonen claimed victory on Sunday with a time of 1 minute and 45 seconds, earning themselves a barrel of locally brewed ale as their reward.

The peculiar race held in Dorking, Surrey draws its origins from a 19th-century Finnish tale involving raiders who would storm villages and abduct women.

Today’s event focuses purely on entertainment and humor. Participants are encouraged to don amusing outfits, and the competition welcomes male or female carriers transporting anyone aged 18 or older who weighs at least 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Those below the weight requirement must add a backpack filled with flour or water to meet the minimum standard.

“You do not have to carry your own wife. It could be someone else’s. Or a mate, girlfriend, boyfriend, sister or brother,” organizers said. “They should ideally weigh less than you do.”

Teams may select their preferred carrying method, although most participants opted for the classic “Estonian Hold,” positioning the carried person upside-down across the carrier’s back with legs wrapped around their face.

Participants navigated up a moderately inclined hill and returned downward, maneuvering around barriers including low hay bale rows while enduring water bucket splashes along the way. The 380-meter (416-yard) track presents “a long way under the circumstances,” according to event organizers.

Though remaining a specialty interest, this Scandinavian-origin sport has gained popularity across the U.K., United States, Australia, Poland and additional nations. England’s version of the competition began in 2008.

British champions Edward Nash and Kathryn Knight, who finished merely 4 seconds after the winning team, earned the right to compete for the U.K. at July’s World Wife Carrying Championships in Finland.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian Prime Minister is calling on European Union leadership to eliminate sanctions against Russian energy imports as fuel costs soar amid ongoing Middle East warfare.

Viktor Orbán, widely regarded as Moscow’s strongest ally within the EU, announced through a social media video Monday that he had written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following what he described as explosive growth in oil prices.

The conflict involving Iran, now entering its second week, has affected key regions vital to Persian Gulf oil and gas production and transportation, driving up costs in international markets.

In his video message, Orbán declared that the 27-member European Union should “review and suspend all sanctions on Russian energy across Europe.” He also announced calling an emergency cabinet session Monday to examine ways to prevent additional increases in Hungary’s gasoline and diesel costs.

Orbán’s nationalist administration has consistently resisted EU initiatives to reduce Russian energy dependence, and together with Slovakia has continued and even expanded Russian oil and gas purchases since Moscow began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Both nations received temporary waivers from EU restrictions on Russian oil imports and had been receiving Russian crude through the Druzhba pipeline crossing Ukrainian territory until recently.

However, Druzhba pipeline deliveries stopped on January 27, creating growing disputes between Hungary and Ukraine. Ukrainian officials attribute the halt to Russian drone attacks damaging pipeline facilities, while Orbán has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for intentionally blocking oil shipments.

As a result, Orbán blocked new EU sanctions against Russia and is preventing a massive 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan to Ukraine until deliveries restart.

With polls showing him behind just one month before crucial elections, Orbán has claimed Zelenskyy is attempting to trigger an energy crisis in Hungary to affect voting results — a key element in his administration’s extensive anti-Ukraine messaging campaign before the April 12 election.

Adding to the diplomatic tensions, Hungary temporarily held seven Ukrainian state bank workers Thursday and confiscated two Ukrainian armored vehicles transporting millions of euros in cash and gold through Hungary on suspected money laundering charges.

Ukraine has maintained the cash transport was routine banking business and firmly rejected the money laundering accusations.

Security concerns are mounting across Europe following two separate explosive incidents that rocked Belgium and Norway over the weekend, with authorities treating both as potential acts of terrorism.

In Belgium, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned Monday an overnight explosion that occurred outside a synagogue in Liege as “a despicable antisemitic act” while federal investigators launched a probe into the incident.

Authorities in Liege reported the detonation took place during the early morning hours on Monday near the religious building. While no injuries occurred, the blast shattered windows in a structure facing the synagogue.

Investigators cordoned off the surrounding area as they searched for evidence, according to an official statement.

“The explosion in front of the Liege synagogue was a despicable antisemitic act that directly targeted the Jewish community of Belgium,” Quintin wrote on X. “Security around similar sites will continue to be strengthened.” The minister did not connect the incident to the ongoing Iran conflict.

Multiple European nations including Belgium, France and Germany have announced plans to increase security measures in response to Middle Eastern hostilities, while emphasizing they remain uninvolved in active combat alongside the United States and Israel.

Belgium’s transportation chief has called for enhanced protection of the country’s railway system.

The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced Monday it was assuming control of the investigation “given the possible indications of a terrorist offense.” Officials provided no additional details about the explosion or potential suspects.

In a separate incident, Norwegian authorities in Oslo reported they are examining security footage while searching for whoever detonated an explosive device outside the American Embassy early Sunday.

Law enforcement released surveillance images showing an individual dressed in dark clothing and carrying a backpack, with their face concealed. The suspect remains unidentified, police stated.

Oslo officers responded to reports of a “loud bang” or explosion near the US Embassy around 1 a.m. Sunday. No casualties were reported, though the embassy’s entrance sustained damage, officials confirmed.

“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on multiple hypotheses,” said Frode Larsen, who leads Oslo police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit, in a Sunday statement. “Given the current security situation, it is natural to consider whether this was a targeted attack on the American Embassy. However, we have not committed to any single hypothesis.”

On Monday, investigators determined an improvised explosive device had been positioned near the embassy’s entrance area.

Police also said they were examining a video uploaded to Google Maps around the time of the blast. Norwegian media outlet NRK previously reported the video, which appeared at the embassy’s location on the mapping platform, featured Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Two men wanted in connection with the murder of a Bangladeshi activist have been captured in India, with diplomatic negotiations now underway to bring them back to face charges.

Indian authorities apprehended the two Bangladeshi citizens, identified as Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, during a police operation in Bongaon, located in West Bengal state’s North 24 Parganas district on Sunday.

A judge in India has ordered the pair to remain in custody for interrogation, according to reports from PTI news agency.

Bangladesh’s top police official, Inspector General Mohammed Ali Hossain Fakir, announced Monday that the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is pursuing the suspects’ return using the existing extradition agreement between Bangladesh and India.

The case centers on the December 12 shooting death of Sharif Osman Hadi in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka. Following the attack, Hadi was transported to Singapore for advanced medical care but succumbed to his injuries on December 18.

Hadi had played a significant role in the 2024 political movement that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government after 15 years in power. He served as both a student organizer and spokesman for Inquilab Mancha, a youth organization focused on cultural transformation.

The activist’s death triggered widespread demonstrations throughout Bangladesh. Angry crowds gathered in Dhaka and targeted the headquarters of two major national newspapers during the unrest.

Those supporting Hadi have pointed fingers at both India and the former prime minister for his death. The activist had been an outspoken critic of both India and Hasina, who sought refuge in India following the August 2024 uprising that forced her from office. However, some liberal voices in Bangladesh had criticized Hadi for what they viewed as extremist rhetoric that resonated with young people and Islamic groups.

Bangladesh law enforcement had previously confirmed they had identified the shooting suspects but believed the men had escaped across the border. Indian officials reported that the arrested individuals had been hiding near the Bongaon border crossing while planning their return to Bangladesh.

BEIRUT (AP) — After Israeli forces issued a mass evacuation directive for Beirut’s southern districts, Fatima Nazha and her family found themselves homeless, spending two nights sleeping outdoors.

With government-operated shelters at schools completely filled and no money for hotel rooms or rental apartments, Nazha and her spouse ultimately settled into a tent at Lebanon’s largest sports venue. Their children and grandchildren managed to secure accommodation near Sidon, a coastal city in the south.

Within a mere 10-day period, the current conflict has forced more than 800,000 Lebanese citizens to abandon their residences, occurring just over 12 months after the previous confrontation displaced over one million people. According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian organization, this represents approximately one out of every seven residents in the small nation. Countless individuals lack proper accommodation, while Lebanon’s financially struggling government has managed to house only around 120,000 people despite efforts to establish additional shelters and increase supply deliveries.

For Nazha, who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, this forced displacement has proven significantly more challenging than during the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict that occurred more than a year earlier. The current military strikes against the Iranian-supported militant organization have been more severe and unpredictable, with Israel’s evacuation directive arriving suddenly and preventing her from collecting all personal possessions.

“Previously, the bombardments focused on particular locations, but currently they’re striking everywhere,” she explained while smoking a cigarette. Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported Friday that the conflict has claimed more than 700 lives, including 103 children.

Israeli military operations against its northern neighbor intensified after Hezbollah launched multiple rockets into Israeli territory following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the conflict’s beginning.

The majority of Lebanese citizens had hoped Hezbollah would refrain from retaliating against the Iranian attack, since the militant group’s backing of Hamas, another Iran-supported organization, in 2023 resulted in Israeli military action against Hezbollah within Lebanon. Anti-Hezbollah sentiment and opposition to its supporters has grown throughout Lebanon, while existing tensions and divisions within the fractured nation continue to intensify.

Property owners have been increasing rental prices to discourage new tenants, worried about becoming targets themselves. Hotels have implemented stricter guest screening procedures since Israel attacked two hotel rooms, claiming it was pursuing Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives conducting activities in Beirut.

Those without family or friends to accommodate them, or who cannot afford apartments or hotel accommodations, have resorted to sleeping outdoors or in vehicles throughout central Beirut, choosing safety over comfort. However, this perceived security was destroyed when an overnight Israeli attack resulted in at least eight deaths and over 30 injuries in the capital’s Ramlet el-Bayda district, where numerous displaced individuals had established tent camps along the coastline or slept on mattresses along the waterfront promenade.

Relief organizations, constrained by years of insufficient funding, are finding it difficult to meet demands. They caution about an impending humanitarian disaster.

“Requirements are growing much more rapidly than our ability to address them,” stated Mathieu Luciano, who leads the International Organization for Migration in Lebanon, during a recent media briefing.

The government has converted Lebanon’s primary sports stadium into an emergency shelter, housing Nazha, her husband, and over 800 additional people who sleep in the partially enclosed walkways beneath the seating areas. The facility provides restrooms and washing stations but lacks shower facilities and has unreliable electrical service.

“Simply providing food isn’t sufficient… A can of fish or bread loaf or water jug isn’t adequate,” Nazha stated Thursday from her portable bed.

In the stadium parking area where Lebanon’s national football team typically competes during peaceful times, children engaged in an informal match while an Israeli surveillance drone circled above, identifiable by its distinctive buzzing sound. From this location, observers can witness and hear the explosions occurring daily in surrounding neighborhoods.

Naji Hammoud, who manages athletic facilities for Lebanon’s Youth and Sports Ministry, said he never anticipated assuming such significant responsibilities.

“We’re working against the clock,” Hammoud commented as relief workers and volunteers hurried to erect tents.

The previous conflict displaced over one million people, but that occurred near its conclusion after a year of limited combat that slowly intensified. This time, developments that previously required months have happened within days.

Hezbollah’s initial rocket assault followed by Israel’s immediate overnight bombardments shocked Lebanon, and the widespread evacuation announcements caught residents unprepared. Israel initially directed dozens of villages south of the Litani River to move northward. Subsequently, it advised residents to evacuate Dahiyeh, a predominantly Shiite suburban area on Beirut’s southern periphery that ranks among the country’s most densely populated regions.

Every major highway connecting the capital to southern Lebanon experienced severe traffic congestion as people rushed to locate safe accommodations.

“We traveled for two days before discovering this location that would accept us,” explained Seganish Gogamo, an Ethiopian worker who escaped from the southern city of Nabatieh and found refuge in a Beirut church sheltering migrant workers from Asia and Africa. She departed during nighttime hours following intense aerial bombardments.

The fighting shows no signs of concluding, as approximately 100,000 Israeli soldiers have gathered along the U.N.-established Blue Line separating both countries in preparation for an expected ground offensive. Many worry the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation might extend beyond the Iran conflict.

Joe Sayyah was among numerous residents who stayed in their border village, Alma al-Shaab, during the war’s initial days, hoping evacuation wouldn’t become necessary. As a Christian community, Israel has primarily targeted Shiite areas where Hezbollah maintains operations.

Sayyah and others contacted the Vatican and the United States, presenting themselves as uninvolved parties in the conflict and emphasizing the absence of military personnel or activities in their area. They also spent several days taking shelter within a church.

However, when his friend died in an Israeli drone attack while tending to his garden, they realized departure was essential. He and the remaining residents rang the church bell one final time before traveling to the capital in a convoy protected by United Nations peacekeeping forces.

Upon reaching a church in Beirut’s northern outskirts to conduct a funeral service for his friend, Sayyah said the relief of arriving somewhere secure was quickly overshadowed by the sobering understanding that this conflict might differ from the previous one.

“This time, there’s a significant chance we might never return to our village,” he said.

BANGKOK, March 14 – Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn will formally inaugurate parliament on Saturday while the nation’s Constitutional Court examines potential legal violations from last month’s general election involving ballot security features.

The country’s Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns that barcode technology on voting ballots could compromise voter anonymity and has asked the Constitutional Court to review the matter.

Although Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party secured a decisive win in the February 8 election, the ombudsman announced Friday that 21 public complaints have been filed alleging that barcodes and QR codes on ballots might enable identification of individual voter choices.

This scrutiny carries significant weight, as the court previously invalidated a 2006 election due to violations of ballot secrecy requirements.

Election officials have defended the barcode system, stating it serves security functions and that voter identification would only be possible with access to the top portion of ballots, which remain in secure storage.

Bhumjaithai secured at least 191 seats in the 500-member legislative body and plans to establish a governing coalition with the third-place Pheu Thai Party along with smaller political groups. This alliance would control more than 290 seats, potentially providing governmental stability following years of political upheaval.

Parliamentary sessions will resume Sunday with lawmakers selecting a new house speaker and two deputy positions.

Veteran Bhumjaithai politician and Deputy Prime Minister Sophon Zaram announced to media Thursday that his party has put forward his name for the speaker position. The newly elected speaker will then schedule parliamentary proceedings to select the prime minister.

According to Bhumjaithai deputy leader Siripong Angkasakulkiat, the prime ministerial vote is anticipated for Thursday.

American military forces launched strikes Friday against Kharg Island, Iran’s critical oil export facility that handles nine-tenths of the nation’s petroleum shipments, raising concerns about global energy supply disruptions.

Former President Donald Trump announced on social media that U.S. forces “totally obliterated every MILITARY target” on the strategic island and warned that oil facilities could become targets if Iran continues disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The island facility, located 16 miles off Iran’s coastline and approximately 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as the primary export point for Iranian crude oil due to its deep-water ports capable of accommodating large tankers.

Data from TankerTracker.com and Kpler indicates Iran has maintained oil shipments between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels daily, even after increasing production before the February 28 conflict launched by Israel and the United States.

Energy markets closely monitored whether the military action affected Kharg’s complex system of pipelines, loading terminals and storage facilities. Any operational disruption could further strain already tight global oil supplies and increase market volatility.

“You take out Kharg infrastructure, then you take 2 million bpd out of the market for good – not until the Straits get fixed,” explained Dan Pickering, chief investment officer for Pickering Energy Partners.

Iran’s military responded Saturday through state media, warning that attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against oil company facilities belonging to U.S. regional partners.

Patrick De Haan, an analyst with fuel price tracking service GasBuddy, expressed alarm about escalating tensions. “I’m very concerned it elevates the temperature and Iran has less to lose and it seems to escalate. Iran when backed into a corner is highly emboldened to act,” De Haan stated.

Iran has effectively blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries 20% of global oil supplies, primarily to Asian markets.

China represents the largest destination for Iranian crude exported through Kharg Island. According to Kpler tracking data, Iranian oil comprises 11.6% of China’s seaborne petroleum imports this year, with independent refiners drawn to previously discounted prices resulting from U.S. sanctions.

Export figures show Iran shipped 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil this year, with 1.55 million barrels flowing through Kharg facilities. Before the current conflict, Iran had increased exports to approximately 2.17 million barrels daily in February, including a record 3.79 million barrels during the week of February 16.

The island’s storage infrastructure can hold roughly 30 million barrels, with approximately 18 million barrels of crude stored there as of early March, according to JP Morgan analysis of Kpler data. Satellite imagery from Wednesday showed multiple large crude carriers loading at Kharg terminals.

As OPEC’s third-largest producer, Iran supplies about 4.5% of global oil, with current output reaching 3.3 million barrels daily of crude oil plus 1.3 million barrels of condensate and other petroleum liquids.

An accomplished Belarusian journalist received a nine-year prison sentence Monday after being found guilty of treason charges, marking another blow to press freedom in the authoritarian nation.

Pavel Dabravolski, 36, was convicted during a private hearing at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The award-winning reporter, who contributed to both international and local news organizations, most recently worked for BelaPAN, a news agency that Belarusian officials have labeled as extremist.

This conviction represents the fifth journalist to receive prison time within a two-week period, highlighting the government’s ongoing assault on media independence.

Alexander Lukashenko has maintained his grip on power for more than thirty years through systematic suppression of opposition voices.

The country erupted in widespread demonstrations after the disputed 2020 election results, which international observers condemned as illegitimate. Authorities detained over 65,000 individuals and physically assaulted thousands during the unrest. Following these protests, officials forced the closure of hundreds of independent news organizations and civil society groups.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, accused authorities of pursuing fabricated accusations against Dabravolski.

“Dabravolski’s only ‘crime’ was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections,” she said. “We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated.”

Media advocates report an intensification of government harassment targeting news professionals.

“Repression is escalating and Dabravolski’s sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe,” Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists’ association, told The Associated Press.

The organization reports that 28 media workers are currently imprisoned throughout Belarus.

“It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners,” Bastunets said.

During Lukashenko’s rule, Belarus has endured extended diplomatic isolation and economic penalties from Western nations due to authoritarian practices and for permitting Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory in 2022. Recently, the leader has attempted to rebuild Western relationships by freeing hundreds of political detainees.

Nevertheless, many others remain incarcerated, with human rights group Viasna calculating that 1,140 political prisoners are still held captive.

Extremist fighters launched devastating simultaneous assaults across northeastern Nigeria early Monday, claiming the lives of 15 people in what military sources and local residents describe as carefully orchestrated attacks.

The casualties included 12 military personnel and three civilians who died during the overnight raids that struck three different locations, highlighting the persistent threat posed by terrorist organizations in the region.

For nearly two decades, extremist violence has plagued northeastern Nigeria, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing 2 million people from their homes, according to humanitarian organizations. This devastation continues despite extensive military operations aimed at eliminating the threat.

The Monday morning strikes targeted Kukawa, Dalwa, and Goniri, occurring just days following a comparable assault on military forces in Ngoshe. These incidents demonstrate the terrorist organizations’ capability to execute simultaneous operations across multiple locations.

Fighters affiliated with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province launched their assault on Kukawa district in Borno state just before sunrise Monday, advancing toward a nearby military installation in what became a three-hour firefight, according to soldiers who participated in the battle.

Military personnel eventually regained control of the facility, but not before losing their commanding officer and five additional soldiers, a military source reported. Karta Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the legislative representative for Kukawa, verified both the attack and the commanding officer’s death.

The assault on Dalwa resulted in two military deaths and three civilian fatalities, while militants destroyed more than 250 residences by fire, according to Shetima Isa, a local resident and traditional leader.

In the adjacent Yobe state, insurgents successfully captured the Goniri military installation, killing four soldiers and destroying vehicles and structures through arson, another military member reported.

Army officials have not provided responses to requests for official statements regarding these incidents.

Nigerian military forces have increased their operations against insurgent strongholds throughout this year as part of an intensified campaign. However, both ISWAP and Boko Haram continue to take advantage of challenging geography, poorly secured borders, and limited government presence throughout the northeastern region’s dry territories.

These most recent attacks occurred mere hours after military intelligence had issued warnings about a probable ISWAP offensive operation.

American military forces destroyed key targets on Iran’s Kharg Island Friday, according to President Donald Trump, striking at the heart of the nation’s oil export operations. Iran’s parliamentary leadership had previously cautioned that attacks on such facilities would trigger unprecedented retaliation measures.

The Pentagon is deploying an additional 2,500 Marines along with an amphibious assault vessel to the Middle East region as the conflict with Iran enters its third week, according to a U.S. defense official.

Iranian forces have maintained extensive missile and drone bombardments against Israel and neighboring Gulf nations while successfully blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries twenty percent of global oil shipments. American and Israeli aircraft continue intensive bombing campaigns targeting Iranian military installations and strategic sites.

These developments suggest the two-week military confrontation is far from reaching a resolution.

Early Saturday morning, an aerial strike targeted a residential building in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood, resulting in one fatality and two injuries, according to security sources and officials connected to Iranian-backed militia organizations who requested anonymity due to authorization restrictions.

Iraqi military leadership issued a statement denouncing the attack as “a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and a disregard for international conventions.”

This incident preceded a separate missile assault on the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad.

Iran’s Fars news agency documented at least fifteen explosions accompanied by heavy smoke clouds over Kharg Island following the American military strikes.

The news outlet reported that the bombardment focused on air defense systems, naval installations, airport control facilities, and helicopter storage areas belonging to offshore petroleum companies, while claiming no damage occurred to oil production infrastructure.

Iranian military command renewed warnings about potential attacks on American-connected energy assets throughout the region should their oil facilities face targeting.

Speaking for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaghari issued threats early Saturday through state television channels.

“All oil, economic, and energy infrastructures belonging to oil companies across the region that have American shares or cooperate with America” would become targets if Iran’s energy and economic facilities face attack, he warned.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad provided no immediate response following the missile strike on its compound.

Embassy officials reissued their highest Level 4 security warning for Iraq on Friday, noting that Iranian forces and affiliated militia groups have historically conducted attacks against American personnel, interests and facilities, with the potential for continued targeting.

The massive embassy facility, ranking among the world’s largest American diplomatic installations, has faced repeated rocket and drone attacks from Iranian-aligned militant groups in previous incidents.

These organizations have recently intensified their assault campaigns against military bases housing American and coalition personnel.

A drone attack in northern Iraq Thursday resulted in the death of a French soldier and injuries to several others serving with the international coalition forces.

Security officials confirmed that a missile impacted a helicopter landing area within the U.S. Embassy grounds in Baghdad.

The projectile struck inside the embassy perimeter after targeting the Green Zone, the heavily secured central Baghdad district containing Iraqi government buildings and international diplomatic missions, according to security personnel who requested anonymity due to speaking restrictions.

Associated Press footage captured smoke rising from within the embassy compound following the attack.

Iraqi security officials reported Saturday that the United States Embassy in Baghdad came under missile fire, with the attack generating visible smoke from the diplomatic compound.

According to the security sources who spoke with Reuters, the missile strike targeted the American embassy facility in Iraq’s capital city. While smoke was observed rising from the embassy building following the attack, officials have not yet released information regarding the extent of damage or any potential casualties.

The incident occurred on March 14, marking another security challenge for American diplomatic personnel stationed in the volatile region.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are standing firm on their decision to prevent Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s ousted president, from accessing state funds to pay for his legal defense against drug trafficking charges.

In court documents filed Friday, prosecutors argued that Maduro should not have access to Venezuelan government money, emphasizing that the United States has refused to recognize him as the country’s legitimate leader for several years.

The legal dispute began last month when Maduro’s attorney Barry Pollack petitioned U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein to throw out the criminal charges. Pollack claimed the Treasury Department wrongfully canceled a sanctions exemption that had previously allowed Venezuela’s government to fund Maduro’s legal representation.

The defense attorney contended this action violated Maduro’s Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel. Pollack explained that according to “Venezuelan law and custom,” the government is responsible for covering legal expenses for the president and his spouse. Court documents from last month show that an official from Venezuela’s attorney general’s office confirmed the government’s willingness to cover these costs.

Manhattan federal prosecutors countered these arguments, telling Judge Hellerstein that the original exemption was simply an “administrative error.” They emphasized that both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, remain free to use their own personal assets for their legal defense. Flores’ attorney, Mark Donnelly, has also requested dismissal of charges against his client based on the funding restrictions.

“While both defendants claim that they are entitled to funds under the Venezuelan constitution … both defendants also surely knew that the U.S. Government did not consider them to hold legitimate positions,” prosecutors stated in their filing, pointing out that removing Maduro and Flores from power was a key objective of U.S. sanctions.

Venezuelan government officials did not respond to requests for comment through the communications ministry, which handles all media inquiries.

Both Maduro and Flores were taken into custody on January 3 during a U.S. military operation at their residence in Caracas. They have entered not guilty pleas and remain detained in Brooklyn while awaiting trial.

Their legal representatives have not yet commented on the latest court filings.

Judge Hellerstein is scheduled to address the legal funding dispute during a March 26 hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Federal authorities have accused Maduro, who assumed the presidency in 2013 as a socialist leader, of manipulating election results in both 2018 and 2024. Maduro has consistently denied these allegations.

Since Maduro’s arrest, his former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has taken control of Venezuela’s government. According to a March 11 State Department court filing in an unrelated case, the United States now recognizes Rodriguez as Venezuela’s official head of state.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te defended his administration’s massive defense spending proposal on Saturday, arguing the island’s strong economic performance justifies the $40 billion military investment amid growing tensions with China.

Speaking during commemorations of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election three decades ago, Lai addressed criticism from opposition lawmakers who have stalled the eight-year defense package in parliament. Opposition members, who hold a majority, argue the spending details lack clarity and refuse to approve what they call “blank cheques.”

“With Taiwan’s economic growth, we can absolutely afford it,” Lai stated during his address. “If we look at the United States’ National Security Strategy, the U.S. emphasises collective defence and burden-sharing.”

The island nation has experienced remarkable economic expansion, driven largely by its semiconductor industry and surging demand for artificial intelligence technology. Taiwan’s economy grew at its fastest rate in 15 years during 2025, benefiting from its position as the world’s leading producer of advanced computer chips.

Lai’s defense spending push aligns with pressure from the Trump administration for allies to increase their military budgets, a policy the Taiwanese president has publicly supported.

The president outlined plans to integrate artificial intelligence into Taiwan’s defense capabilities while strengthening domestic military manufacturing. “In other words, our defence budget is not only a budget for national defence, but also a budget for economic and industrial development,” he explained.

Despite parliamentary resistance to the broader spending plan, lawmakers on Friday authorized the government to proceed with approximately $9 billion in arms purchases from the United States to meet contract deadlines.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and maintains it will use military force if necessary to bring the island under its control. Lai has consistently rejected China’s territorial claims, insisting that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine their political future.

Chinese military forces conducted their latest war exercises near Taiwan in December, and Beijing regularly deploys naval vessels and military aircraft around the island as part of ongoing pressure campaigns.

A projectile hit the helicopter landing zone within the United States embassy complex in Baghdad on Saturday morning, according to reports from Iraqi security sources.

Witnesses observed a plume of smoke ascending from the diplomatic facility following the Saturday morning incident, as reported by the Associated Press.

Two Iraqi security officials confirmed the strike on the embassy compound’s helipad to news outlets.

Multiple sources in Brazil report that Finance Minister Fernando Haddad will likely resign from his cabinet position within the next week to launch a gubernatorial campaign in São Paulo state, following encouragement from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

According to four sources who spoke with Reuters on Monday, while Haddad and Lula haven’t held final discussions about the gubernatorial run, the two officials have been in regular contact regarding the potential campaign.

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo first broke the story earlier Monday. Officials at the finance ministry have refused to provide comment on the reports.

Political analysts suggest Lula’s encouragement stems from his need to establish a stronger foothold in São Paulo, a state where right-wing opposition candidates typically perform well. Party officials believe a poor showing in São Paulo could damage the president’s chances for reelection.

The finance minister had originally planned to avoid seeking office this election cycle, instead expressing his desire to help coordinate Lula’s presidential reelection effort.

However, sources indicate that concerns about the president facing a difficult reelection battle have created pressure for Haddad to enter the São Paulo race.

Recent polling data from Datafolha reveals that a hypothetical runoff between President Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, would essentially result in a dead heat.

Separate Datafolha polling focused on the São Paulo gubernatorial race shows Haddad capturing 31% support in a first-round matchup, trailing incumbent Governor Tarcísio de Freitas at 44%. De Freitas, who has backing from the Bolsonaro political family, previously defeated Haddad in the 2022 election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday from Kyiv that his nation stands prepared to engage in U.S.-supported peace negotiations immediately, though he acknowledged that international allies are currently preoccupied with the escalating Iran situation.

The Ukrainian leader revealed that the United States has requested to delay a scheduled diplomatic meeting due to the shifting focus toward Iranian activities in the region.

In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskyy accused Russia of attempting to exploit the Middle East tensions for strategic advantage. He warned that Moscow seeks to transform Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries and American military installations into “a second front of Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

LIMA – A new survey reveals that two conservative politicians are currently leading Peru’s crowded presidential contest scheduled for April 12, though widespread voter uncertainty suggests the race remains wide open.

Keiko Fujimori and Rafael Lopez Aliaga have emerged as frontrunners among a historic field of 36 candidates, according to polling data from Datum Internacional released Sunday evening on Peruvian television. Fujimori captured 10.7% support while Lopez Aliaga garnered 10%, making them the only contenders to reach double-digit backing.

The narrow margins reflect deep political uncertainty in the South American nation, with approximately two-fifths of survey respondents either refusing to select a candidate or indicating they won’t participate in the election at all.

These modest approval ratings make a June 7 runoff election highly probable, continuing a pattern for the Andean country where no presidential candidate has secured a first-round victory since the late 1990s.

Peru’s presidency has experienced remarkable instability, cycling through eight different leaders since 2018. Currently, four former presidents are incarcerated, and the nation’s unpopular conservative-dominated legislature ousted the most recent president last month following revelations of undisclosed meetings with a Chinese business figure.

The Datum survey, conducted between February 27 and March 4, found that over 38% of voters had not made a decision or planned to abstain from voting. Company CEO Urpi Torrado noted that many participants who do intend to vote will likely make their final choice just one week before the election.

Fujimori, whose father Alberto Fujimori served as president before receiving a 16-year prison sentence for human rights violations including authorizing death squad operations during his ten-year rule, is making her fourth presidential bid.

Her polling position has fluctuated with Lopez Aliaga, an ultra-conservative former Lima mayor who has adopted the campaign nickname “Porky” due to his resemblance to an American cartoon character. Two weeks earlier, a previous Datum survey showed Lopez Aliaga leading with 13.4% compared to Fujimori’s 9.7%.

Additional candidates polling around 5% include leftist Alfonso Lopez-Chau, who previously served as a central bank official; wealthy entrepreneur Cesar Acuna; Carlos Alvarez, a well-known comedian famous for impersonating past presidents; and Wolfgang Grozo, a retired military general and former intelligence director.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that American forces carried out devastating attacks on military installations located on Iran’s Kharg Island, a strategic location that serves as the nation’s primary oil export hub, while issuing stern warnings that petroleum facilities could face bombardment if Tehran persists in disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media statement, Trump revealed that U.S. military forces had “obliterated” strategic positions on Kharg Island during Friday’s operations. The island serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal, making it a critical component of the country’s economic infrastructure. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had previously cautioned that such military actions would trigger unprecedented retaliation from Tehran.

Defense officials confirmed that an additional 2,500 Marines along with an amphibious assault vessel are being deployed to the Middle East region, marking nearly two weeks since hostilities began with the Islamic Republic.

These developments suggest the two-week conflict shows no signs of reaching a resolution anytime soon.

Tehran has maintained its barrage of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and neighboring Gulf nations while effectively blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that facilitates one-fifth of global oil trade. This continues despite intensive bombing campaigns by U.S. and Israeli aircraft against Iranian military installations and other strategic targets.

The crisis in Lebanon has worsened dramatically, with casualty figures reaching nearly 800 deaths and 850,000 people forced from their homes as Israeli forces conduct repeated strikes against Hezbollah forces backed by Iran, with Israeli officials stating the campaign will continue without pause.

Military sources speaking anonymously to discuss classified operations confirmed that components of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship have received orders for Middle East deployment.

Marine Expeditionary Units possess capabilities for beach assault operations while also specializing in embassy security reinforcement, civilian evacuation missions, and emergency response operations. This deployment doesn’t necessarily signal imminent ground combat operations.

The Wall Street Journal initially broke news of the Marine deployment.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Tripoli, along with accompanying amphibious vessels carrying the Marines, operate from Japanese bases and have spent recent days in Pacific waters, according to military photographs. Satellite imagery captured the Tripoli sailing independently near Taiwan, positioning it over a week’s journey from Iranian coastal waters.

Naval forces earlier this week included 12 vessels operating in the Arabian Sea, featuring the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and eight destroyer escorts. The Tripoli’s arrival would create the region’s second-largest naval presence behind the Lincoln.

While exact numbers of American military personnel stationed throughout the Middle East remain classified, Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base alone typically accommodates approximately 8,000 U.S. service members at one of the region’s largest installations.

Trump’s social media announcement detailed how American strikes against Iran’s Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf focused on military targets while deliberately avoiding petroleum infrastructure.

However, he cautioned that interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by Iran or other parties would force him to reconsider his current policy avoiding attacks that would “wipe out the Oil Infrastructure.”

Thursday saw Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf issue social media warnings that strikes against Iran’s southern maritime border islands would prompt Tehran to “abandon all restraint,” highlighting these territories’ crucial role in the nation’s economic and security framework.

Iraqi security personnel reported that a missile impacted a helicopter landing area within the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad.

Associated Press video documentation captured smoke plumes rising Saturday morning above the embassy grounds.

The extensive embassy facility, ranking among the world’s largest American diplomatic installations, has faced repeated rocket and drone attacks launched by Iranian-supported militant organizations.

U.S. Embassy officials in Baghdad provided no immediate response. Friday saw the embassy extend its Level 4 security warning for Iraq, alerting that Iran and affiliated militia organizations have conducted previous strikes against American citizens, interests and facilities, with potential for continued targeting.

Friday afternoon in Iran’s capital, a massive blast shook a central plaza where thousands had assembled for the government’s annual pro-Palestinian demonstration calling for Israel’s destruction. No injuries were immediately reported.

The Tehran explosion occurred at midday in the Ferdowsi Square vicinity, where crowds had gathered for the annual Quds Day demonstration, shouting “death to Israel” and “death to America.”

Israeli forces had issued evacuation warnings through a Farsi-language social media account shortly before the explosion. However, few Iranians likely received the message due to authorities’ near-complete internet shutdown. Video footage showed crowds chanting “God is greatest” as smoke filled the area.

Israel’s military subsequently posted additional Farsi messages, noting Iran’s judiciary chief attended the rally while criticizing Tehran for preventing citizens from accessing their warnings.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the hardline judiciary leader, was conducting a state television interview at the demonstration when the attack occurred. Security personnel surrounded him as he raised his fist, declaring Iran would “under this rain and missiles will never withdraw.”

Israeli officials announced another round of Iranian infrastructure strikes, reporting their air force had struck over 200 targets within 24 hours, including missile systems, defensive installations and weapons manufacturing facilities.

From Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that more than 15,000 enemy positions have been attacked—exceeding 1,000 daily since combat operations began.

Addressing concerns about Strait of Hormuz disruptions, he told media representatives: “We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it.”