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JAKARTA – A court in Indonesia’s capital has handed down prison sentences to nine individuals connected to a massive corruption scandal involving the country’s state-owned energy giant Pertamina, with prosecutors alleging the scheme resulted in $17 billion in government losses.

The corruption case focuses on unauthorized leasing arrangements for a fuel terminal and unlawful crude oil import operations, marking one of the most significant anti-corruption prosecutions launched during President Prabowo Subianto’s tenure, who has made eliminating graft a key priority.

Verdicts were delivered by the Central Jakarta Court beginning Thursday afternoon and extending into Friday’s early morning hours. The court imposed sentences between nine and 15 years behind bars for the defendants, which fell short of prosecutors’ requests for 14 to 18-year terms.

Two former subsidiary leaders received nine-year sentences: Yoki Firnandi, who previously headed Pertamina International Shipping, and Riva Siahaan, former leader of Pertamina Patra Niaga.

The harshest penalty of 15 years was given to Muhamad Kerry Adrianto Riza, who held beneficial ownership of a fuel terminal that Pertamina had leased. This sentence was three years less than what prosecutors had requested.

Riza is the child of business figure Mohammad Riza Chalid, who authorities have identified as a suspect in the case and who police report remains a fugitive.

All three men had maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings and entered not guilty pleas, according to local news coverage of the trial.

Attorney Patra Zen, representing Riza, announced Friday that his client disputes the court’s decision and intends to file an appeal.

Speaking outside the courthouse Friday, Firnandi expressed his dissatisfaction with what he characterized as a sham verdict and indicated he would consult with his legal team regarding an appeal.

Legal counsel for Siahaan, attorney Luhut Pangaribuan, described feeling both sorrow and disappointment over the court’s ruling.

Pertamina issued a statement through company spokesperson Muhammad Baron expressing respect for the judicial decision while reaffirming the company maintains a policy of complete intolerance toward corrupt practices.

“We continue to make improvements and transform in carrying out business processes and operations,” Baron stated, noting that the company stands ready to provide legal support to the defendants pending a final court determination.

MOSCOW – Against the backdrop of freezing temperatures just outside Russia’s capital, visitors from Oman and the United Arab Emirates experience their first taste of winter weather while being pulled through snow-laden landscapes by teams of sled dogs.

At a nearby location, travelers from Qatar interact with deer while other Middle Eastern guests navigate hovercrafts at high speeds across frozen lake surfaces.

“It was like drifting in the desert but here on ice,” explained Badreya Almarooqi, a UAE visitor at the Nazarievo Husky Park located 30 miles west of downtown Moscow, where signage appears in both Arabic and Russian languages.

Further north of Moscow, additional Gulf region tourists gather in hot air balloons to float above the expansive winter terrain.

“(It was) one of the best activities in my life!” exclaimed Ayoub Aziz, a Saudi Arabian traveler who participated in activities in the Dmitrov area, situated 40 miles from Moscow’s center and representing one of numerous recreational destinations surrounding the capital.

As Russia enters its fourth year of conflict in Ukraine, Moscow’s strategic shift away from Western nations and efforts to strengthen relationships with other global regions has created a significant increase in Arabic-speaking visitors.

Enhanced diplomatic connections have resulted in additional direct flight routes connecting Moscow with major Gulf capitals, implementation of visa-free travel policies, and strengthened political relationships through Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in facilitating prisoner exchanges and child transfers to Ukraine.

Chinese tourists, representing Russia’s longstanding ally, dominated visitor statistics with over 800,000 arrivals last year. However, Saudi Arabia claimed the second position for the first time with approximately 75,000 tourists, representing a nearly 36% year-over-year growth, while the UAE contributed more than 59,000 visitors, ranking sixth overall.

“Virtually all Arab countries have at least doubled their numbers,” stated Alexander Musikhin, who serves as general director of the Intourist tour operator.

“But there are also destinations like Saudi Arabia, which has increased its arrivals in Russia — and in Moscow in particular — by almost 15 times compared with the pre‑pandemic period,” he added.

Gulf visitors typically choose luxury accommodations in Moscow’s central district and frequently visit premium Russian-themed dining establishments and popular shopping areas throughout the city.

Tour operators report these guests typically spend between 200,000-300,000 rubles ($6,523) on additional services, though spending could be higher if regulations didn’t restrict cash imports to $10,000 without declaration. Western sanctions have disabled Visa and Mastercard services in Russia, “so it has to be in cash,” noted UAE visitor Rashan Godani.

Despite ongoing military operations in Ukraine, Russia attracted 1.64 million total tourists in 2025 according to the nation’s tour operator association, marking a 4.5% increase from 2024, though significantly below 2018’s 4.2 million foreign visitors during the World Cup year.

In comparison, 2.45 million Russians traveled to the UAE alone last year, increasing nearly 25% year-over-year, while some Russian business owners have established Dubai offices.

Musikhin acknowledged that war-related impacts are constraining tourism growth, including periodic Russian airport closures due to Ukrainian drone strikes and extended border crossing times from enhanced security procedures.

“Tourists are generally understanding about this,” he observed.

Border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated through the night on February 27th, with casualties reported on both sides and Pakistan’s defense minister declaring his nation in an “open war” with Afghanistan.

Military analysis from the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London shows Pakistan holds overwhelming advantages in military strength compared to Afghanistan’s Taliban-controlled forces.

MILITARY STRENGTH COMPARISON

Pakistan maintains well-staffed military forces with strong recruitment programs, supported by equipment partnerships with China. The country continues advancing its nuclear weapons programs while upgrading naval and air capabilities.

In contrast, Afghanistan’s Taliban military forces have seen their operational capacity diminish since taking control in 2021. Their ability to operate foreign military equipment captured during their rise to power has deteriorated significantly.

The Taliban government’s lack of international recognition has also hampered efforts to modernize their military capabilities.

TROOP NUMBERS

Pakistan fields 660,000 active military personnel across all branches: 560,000 army troops, 70,000 air force members, and 30,000 naval personnel.

Afghanistan’s Taliban forces maintain only 172,000 active military members, though they have announced intentions to grow their forces to 200,000 personnel.

GROUND EQUIPMENT

Pakistan operates more than 6,000 armored combat vehicles and maintains over 4,600 artillery pieces.

While Afghan forces control various armored vehicles including Soviet-era tanks, personnel carriers, and underwater vehicles inherited from previous governments, exact quantities remain unclear.

Afghanistan’s artillery capabilities span at least three different systems, but precise numbers are not publicly available.

AVIATION CAPABILITIES

Pakistan’s air power includes 465 combat aircraft and more than 260 helicopters serving multiple roles including attack, transport, and multi-mission operations.

Afghanistan lacks any operational fighter jets or substantial air force. Their aviation assets consist of approximately six aircraft, some dating to Soviet times, plus 23 helicopters of questionable operational status.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons capability with 170 warheads in its arsenal, while Afghanistan has no nuclear weapons program.

Officials in Kazakhstan report that a deadly explosion and subsequent fire at a restaurant has resulted in at least seven fatalities and injured 19 others in the northern community of Shchuchinsk on Friday.

Local authorities confirmed through social media that a 16-year-old girl was among those killed in the tragedy, while up to 13 victims remain hospitalized for their injuries.

Officials have not yet released additional information about what may have caused the explosion or the current condition of those being treated at area hospitals.

Three women from Brazil’s Akuntsu Indigenous community had spent years believing their ancestral line would end with them. Pugapia and her two daughters, Aiga and Babawru, represented the final survivors of their people after government-sponsored Amazon development projects decimated their tribe decades ago.

Everything changed this past December when Babawru, the youngest woman in her 40s, delivered a baby boy named Akyp. The unexpected arrival has sparked renewed optimism for the tribe’s future and broader Amazon conservation initiatives.

“This child is not only a symbol of the resistance of the Akuntsu people, but also a source of hope for Indigenous peoples,” declared Joenia Wapichana, who leads Brazil’s Indigenous protection agency, Funai. “He represents how recognition, protection and the management of this land are extremely necessary.”

The birth carries significance beyond tribal survival. Environmental experts consider Indigenous land protection among the most successful strategies for preventing Amazon deforestation. The massive rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, and scientists caution that ongoing forest destruction could worsen global warming.

Data from MapBiomas, a coalition of environmental organizations monitoring land usage, revealed that Indigenous territories in Brazil experienced only 1% native vegetation loss over thirty years, while private lands nationwide lost 20% during the same period.

The Akuntsu territory in Rondonia state exemplifies this conservation success. Satellite imagery shows their protected land as a green forest island completely encircled by cattle ranches, soy plantations, and corn fields. Approximately 40% of Rondonia’s original forest has disappeared, with remaining wilderness primarily existing within conservation zones and Indigenous reserves.

The destruction began during Brazil’s 1970s military government, which actively encouraged rainforest settlement. A World Bank-supported infrastructure initiative promoted internal migration to the Amazon region and included highway construction through Rondonia state.

Census records show Rondonia’s population more than doubled during the 1980s. Government policies promised land ownership to settlers who cleared forest for farming while threatening to revoke claims if Indigenous peoples occupied the area. This system incentivized violent attacks by hired gunmen against Indigenous communities including the Akuntsu.

Funai officials first encountered the Akuntsu in 1995, discovering seven survivors. Researchers estimate approximately 20 tribe members existed ten years earlier before ranchers attacked them to seize their territory. Government agents uncovered assault evidence, and surviving Akuntsu members described the violence when contacted. Several still carried gunshot injuries.

The tribe’s final male member passed away in 2017, leaving Babawru with her mother Pugapia and sister Aiga. The women, whose exact ages remain uncertain, have maintained their isolation from the outside world and shown minimal interest in non-Indigenous society.

Funai established territorial protection for the Akuntsu in 2006, creating the Rio Omere Indigenous Land, which they now share with the Kanoe people. These formerly hostile groups began interacting through official mediation, though their relationship remains complicated by cultural distinctions and communication barriers.

Anthropologist Amanda Villa from the Observatory of Isolated Peoples explained that Akuntsu women rely on Kanoe men for traditionally masculine duties like hunting and field preparation. The groups have also shared spiritual practices, with the current Kanoe spiritual leader having learned from the deceased Akuntsu patriarch.

The most significant development occurred when Babawru became pregnant by a Kanoe man last year.

Linguist Carolina Aragon serves as the sole outsider capable of communicating with the three women after years documenting their language. She collaborates closely with Funai, providing daily translation services through video conferences. Aragon remotely assisted Babawru during childbirth and accompanied her to ultrasound appointments confirming the pregnancy.

According to Aragon, Babawru expressed shock at the pregnancy news. “She said, ‘How can I be pregnant?’” Aragon remembered. Babawru had consistently used contraception to prevent pregnancy.

The remaining Akuntsu women had previously chosen not to become mothers. Their decision stemmed not only from lacking men in their community but also from believing their world had become too chaotic and unsuitable for child-rearing.

“You can trace this decision directly to the violent context they lived through,” Villa explained. “They have this somewhat catastrophic understanding.”

The Akuntsu felt they couldn’t bring children into a world lacking Akuntsu men who could perform and teach traditionally male responsibilities like hunting and shamanic practices.

“A breakdown of social relations that followed the genocide shaped their lives and deepened over the years. That does lead people to think — and rethink — the future,” Aragon noted. “But the future can surprise everyone. A baby boy was born.”

Aragon described the women as beginning a “new chapter,” choosing to embrace the child and modify their traditions with assistance from the Kanoe and Funai. Villa emphasized that having a male newborn creates possibilities for restoring traditional male roles like hunting.

Researchers and officials who have worked extensively with the three women recognized that territorial protection depended on the Akuntsu’s survival as a people. They wanted to prevent a situation similar to Tanaru, an Indigenous man discovered after living alone for decades without outside contact.

Following Tanaru’s discovery, authorities faced challenges protecting his territory. After his 2022 death, non-Indigenous groups began claiming the land. The federal government finally secured the area late last year, converting it into a protected conservation zone.

Funai’s Wapichana said Babawru’s child “is a hope that this next generation will indeed include an Indigenous person, an Akuntsu, ensuring the continuity of this people.”

Through careful long-term efforts, Funai secured territorial protection for the Akuntsu and facilitated relationships with the Kanoe. The agency also provided spiritual support from an allied shaman, helping the women feel secure about bringing new life into their world after decades of trauma and loss.

The Akuntsu maintain deep emotional connections with the forest and its wildlife. Now they’re building those same bonds with new human life in their community.

“What kind of relationship will this boy have with his own territory?” Aragon wondered. “I hope it will be the best possible, because he has everything he needs there.”

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Three vastly different candidates are competing to lead Nepal in the country’s first national election since violent demonstrations forced out the previous government last September, leaving dozens dead.

The contenders include a former hip-hop artist turned mayor, a youthful politician leading Nepal’s most established party, and a seasoned communist official seeking to reclaim power after being driven from office during the deadly youth uprising.

The victor will become Nepal’s 16th prime minister in fewer than 20 years, highlighting the ongoing political turmoil that has plagued the Himalayan country since ending its monarchy in 2008.

Last year’s demonstrations exposed deep frustration among Nepal’s youth over widespread corruption and limited opportunities in a nation where approximately 20% of young people lack employment, while politicians’ children appear to live lavishly with numerous privileges.

Following public anger that forced the government’s collapse, millions of Nepali citizens are preparing to choose representatives for the House of Representatives, parliament’s influential lower house. The future prime minister will need to secure a majority within this chamber.

Balendra Shah, commonly called Balen, leads the race after becoming a campaign sensation. The 35-year-old served as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2022 before stepping down to pursue the National Independent Party’s prime ministerial nomination.

Shah studied structural engineering before achieving recognition as a rapper, incorporating social and political themes into his music.

Wearing his characteristic black clothing and sunglasses, Shah has traveled nationwide to enthusiastic crowds of supporters who gather to demonstrate their backing for him and his movement.

Shah captured Kathmandu’s mayoral position as an independent candidate, benefiting from widespread dissatisfaction with established political organizations. He earned recognition for removing unauthorized street vendors, addressing the capital’s persistent waste management crisis, and expanding roadways, though he also faced backlash for demolishing buildings and homes without sufficient planning or warning.

“Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda,” he stated to supporters in western Nepal recently.

Gagan Thapa represents another option as the recently appointed head of the Nepali Congress, the nation’s oldest major political organization and a liberal democratic party maintaining strong connections with India.

Thapa, 49, had long been viewed as a promising figure within the Nepali Congress but was constrained by veteran party leadership until this year, when he successfully challenged the establishment and won election as party leader.

While the Nepali Congress maintains popularity, it participated in the previous coalition government that youth protesters forced from power in September. The youth-driven demonstrations began over social media restrictions before expanding into widespread government opposition. Dozens died and hundreds sustained injuries when demonstrators stormed government facilities and police responded with gunfire.

Thapa pledges his primary goal would involve eliminating corruption from Nepal within five years while ensuring complete government transparency to citizens.

The third candidate is Khadga Prasad Oli, the divisive yet influential communist politician who headed the coalition government removed from power last year. Many blame him for the fatalities during the violent demonstrations that ended his tenure.

Despite facing criticism over his response to last year’s protests, Oli retains backing within the Communist Party and among numerous supporters.

Oli consistently maintains that consistent policies and governance are vital for Nepal, emphasizing that economic development requires political stability.

Oli’s reputation reached its peak when he resisted an economic embargo imposed by neighboring India in 2015, which created shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and other essential goods.

Nepal sits between regional powers India and China, with both nations actively seeking influence over their smaller neighbor. Thapa’s organization traditionally aligns with India, while Oli’s communist factions are considered more favorable toward China.

Officials from both Pakistan and Afghanistan confirmed Friday that Pakistani forces conducted overnight airstrikes targeting major Afghan cities, marking a dangerous escalation in months of border tensions between the neighboring Islamic nations.

The aerial and ground operations targeted Taliban military installations, command centers, and weapons storage facilities across multiple border areas, according to officials in both Islamabad and Kabul. The strikes followed an Afghan assault on Pakistani border personnel, officials reported.

Casualties were reported on both sides of the conflict, with Pakistan’s defense minister characterizing the situation as an “open war.”

The violence represents an intensification of tensions that began building after Pakistan conducted airstrikes against militant positions in Afghanistan the previous weekend.

Previous border fighting in October resulted in dozens of military deaths before diplomatic intervention by Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia helped establish a temporary truce between the countries.

ROOT OF THE CONFLICT

Initially, Pakistan celebrated the Taliban’s return to control in Afghanistan during 2021, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan declaring that Afghans had “broken the shackles of slavery.”

However, Pakistan’s government quickly discovered the Taliban leadership would not provide the level of cooperation Islamabad had anticipated.

Pakistani officials maintain that leaders and fighters from the militant organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory. They also claim that armed separatists fighting for Balochistan province’s independence use Afghanistan as a base for operations.

Data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an international monitoring group, shows militant activity has grown annually since 2022, with increasing attacks from both TTP and Baloch separatist forces.

Afghan officials have consistently rejected claims that they permit militants to launch Pakistani attacks from their soil.

The Taliban government accuses Pakistan of providing sanctuary to Islamic State fighters, allegations Pakistani officials deny.

According to Islamabad, the previous ceasefire collapsed due to ongoing militant strikes originating from Afghanistan, leading to repeated confrontations and border shutdowns that have disrupted commerce and travel along the mountainous frontier.

RECENT TRIGGER EVENTS

Pakistani security officials claimed they possessed “irrefutable evidence” linking Afghan-based militants to a recent series of attacks and suicide bombings targeting Pakistani military and law enforcement personnel.

These sources identified seven planned or executed militant operations since late 2024 with connections to Afghanistan.

A recent attack in Bajaur district that claimed the lives of 11 security personnel and two civilians was carried out by an Afghan citizen, Pakistani security sources reported. The TTP claimed responsibility for this operation.

BACKGROUND ON PAKISTANI TALIBAN

Multiple militant groups operating in northwestern Pakistan formed the TTP in 2007, earning the designation “Pakistani Taliban.”

The organization has conducted attacks on civilian markets, religious sites, airports, military installations, and police facilities while seizing territory along the Afghan border and in interior regions including the Swat Valley. The group orchestrated the 2012 assault on student Malala Yousafzai, who later received the Nobel Peace Prize.

TTP forces fought alongside Afghan Taliban against American-led coalition forces in Afghanistan while providing refuge for Afghan fighters within Pakistan. Pakistani military campaigns against TTP on domestic soil achieved limited results, though a major offensive concluding in 2016 significantly reduced attacks until recent years.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Military analysts predict Pakistan will expand its campaign while Afghanistan may respond with border post raids and increased cross-border guerrilla operations against security forces.

The military balance heavily favors Pakistan. Taliban forces number approximately 172,000 personnel, less than one-third of Pakistan’s military strength.

While the Taliban possess at least six aircraft and 23 helicopters, their operational status remains unclear, and they lack fighter aircraft or functional air power.

Pakistan maintains over 600,000 active military personnel, operates more than 6,000 armored combat vehicles, and fields over 400 military aircraft, according to 2025 International Institute for Strategic Studies data. Pakistan also possesses nuclear weapons capability.

Young people across Europe are embracing creative and unconventional housing solutions as the continent grapples with an unprecedented affordability crisis that has left traditional homeownership out of reach for many.

The severity of the situation becomes clear when examining the numbers: European Commission data reveals that housing costs have climbed 10% faster than wages over the last ten years, with younger generations bearing the brunt of this economic squeeze.

In response to these challenging conditions, innovative businesses are developing alternative pathways into property ownership. Spain’s Habitacion.com has carved out a unique niche by marketing individual bedrooms in shared apartments for up to 80,000 euros ($95,200) – roughly one-third the cost of purchasing a complete one-bedroom unit in comparable neighborhoods.

The company’s success speaks to the desperate need for affordable options: they completed 200 bedroom sales in the previous year and maintain a waiting list of 32,000 potential buyers across seven Spanish cities.

Company founder and CEO Oriol Valls attributes the demand to both financial pressures and evolving lifestyle patterns. Spanish wage data shows salaries increased just 26% over the past decade while property values jumped 81%.

“People no longer get married, or if they do, they get married but don’t have children … or they do it much later,” Valls explained. “They require much smaller living spaces that are also much more affordable.”

The bedroom-buying process involves detailed compatibility assessments covering everything from relationship status to dishwashing habits, ensuring suitable matches between co-owners or renters. Buyers must secure personal loans rather than traditional mortgages and work through the company for any future resales.

One potential customer, Alvarez, who preferred not to share his full name, described how Habitacion.com arranged a 10-year personal loan at 6% interest through a regional bank – double the typical mortgage rate. However, he ultimately couldn’t locate available rooms in Madrid and noted the arrangement “loses all appeal if I can’t live with my partner.”

Across the English Channel, London-based developer Fairview has launched their “Buddy Up” program, facilitating joint property purchases between friends by connecting them with brokers and solicitors while contributing up to 2,000 pounds ($2,726) toward legal expenses for buyers in London and surrounding areas.

Financial institutions throughout Britain, France, Germany, and Italy are also reintroducing zero or minimal down payment mortgages that disappeared following the 2008 financial crisis. While these products carry higher costs and require proof of substantial, steady income, they provide opportunities for those unable to accumulate traditional down payments.

Natalie and Martin Walker from West Yorkshire exemplify this trend. After receiving an eviction notice when their infant was just one month old, they secured a zero-deposit mortgage last year to purchase their home following four years as renters.

“The sense of stability that it brings you, that’s the biggest delight for me,” Natalie shared.

In Spain, 36-year-old industrial engineer Carlos Sempere faces a different challenge. Unable to afford Madrid properties selling for approximately 1 million euros, he purchased rental property in southern Spain through investment firm PropHero.

“Either it helps me pay the rent, or I sell it in the future,” Sempere said.

PropHero also accommodates smaller budgets by offering fractional ownership in rental apartment buildings across Spain and Ireland for investments as low as 20,000 euros.

Real estate consultant Patricio Palomar, who heads alternative investments at AIRE Partners, believes the harsh market reality drives first-time buyers to overlook the legal complications and additional costs associated with these innovative approaches.

“All these housing solutions serve to show how people are getting poorer,” Palomar concluded.

The head of the World Food Program announced Thursday she will be leaving her leadership role due to medical reasons.

Cindy McCain, who serves as the executive director of the global humanitarian organization, revealed her decision to resign from the position, pointing to health issues as the driving factor behind her departure.

McCain’s announcement marks the end of her tenure leading the United Nations agency responsible for addressing hunger and food insecurity worldwide.

Deep beneath the ocean’s surface, France’s nuclear-powered submarines patrol as a final line of defense, ready to deliver devastating retaliation if their nation’s leader ever gives the order.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a significant address outlining potential changes to how France might deploy its nuclear weapons carried by submarines and aircraft. The speech comes amid growing European anxiety that Russia’s aggression could expand beyond Ukraine’s borders, combined with questions about President Donald Trump’s commitment to defending allies.

For generations, Europe has depended on America’s nuclear shield, with US atomic weapons deployed across the continent since the 1950s to discourage Soviet and later Russian aggression. Recently, though, European leaders and security experts are expressing doubts about America’s willingness to deploy such weapons when necessary.

These concerns carry special weight for France, which stands as the European Union’s sole nuclear-armed nation among its 27 members.

Any adjustments to France’s nuclear strategy, which will be closely examined by both friends and foes, could rank among Macron’s most significant decisions during his final 14 months in office before the 2027 presidential race.

Macron’s decision to deliver this major nuclear policy address – his second such speech since taking office in 2017 – reflects his repeatedly expressed worries about shifting global security dynamics that endanger France and its partners.

Among those questioning America’s dependability is Rasmus Jarlov, who leads Denmark’s parliamentary Defense Committee.

“If things got really serious, I very much doubt that Trump would risk American cities to protect European cities,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We don’t know but it seems very risky to rely on the American protection.”

Jarlov and other officials are now looking toward France for security assurances. Long-term, he believes additional European countries should develop their own nuclear capabilities – a previously unthinkable idea when US protection seemed guaranteed.

“The Nordic countries have the capacity. We have uranium, we have nuclear scientists. We can develop nuclear weapons,” he said. “Realistically, it will take a lot of time. So in the short term, we are looking to France.”

Global circumstances have shifted dramatically since Macron’s initial nuclear policy speech in 2020, replacing longtime assumptions with new uncertainties.

Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine, now in its fifth year, brought warfare to Europe’s doorstep while Russian President Vladimir Putin repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation.

Both China and North Korea continue expanding their atomic arsenals. In October, Trump discussed potentially resuming US nuclear testing for the first time since 1992, though Energy Secretary Chris Wright later clarified this wouldn’t involve actual nuclear detonations.

Russia updated its nuclear doctrine in 2024, reducing the threshold for potential atomic retaliation. Britain announced plans to acquire nuclear-capable US F-35A fighter aircraft, restoring air-delivered nuclear strike capabilities it abandoned in the 1990s while maintaining only submarine-launched nuclear missiles.

Macron’s choice to speak at the Île Longue submarine base on Monday will emphasize that French leaders also possess nuclear capabilities in an increasingly volatile world. Each of France’s four nuclear submarines can deploy 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with multiple warheads.

“There are high expectations from the allies and partners, and maybe also the adversaries, about how the French nuclear doctrine could evolve,” said Héloïse Fayet, a nuclear deterrence specialist at the French Institute of International Relations, a Paris think tank.

Speaking in an AP interview, Fayet said she’s hoping for “real changes.”

“Maybe something about a greater and a clearer French commitment to the protection of allies, thanks to the French nuclear weapons,” she said.

In 2020, Macron revealed France maintains fewer than 300 warheads – a figure that has stayed constant since former President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a modest reduction to that level in 2008.

Macron described this arsenal as adequate to cause “absolutely unacceptable damage” to the “political, economic, military nerve centers” of any nation threatening France’s “vital interests,” “whatever they may be.”

Nuclear experts will monitor whether Macron suggests the French arsenal might be insufficient and require expansion.

Nuclear deterrence language typically involves intentional vagueness, keeping potential adversaries uncertain about actions that might provoke atomic response. Macron administration officials, speaking anonymously about possible nuclear policy modifications, remained extremely cautious in their comments, particularly since nuclear decisions rest solely with the president.

“There will no doubt be some shifts, fairly substantial developments,” one of the officials said.

Using measured language in 2020, Macron indicated France’s “vital interests” that could warrant nuclear defense extend beyond national boundaries and possess “a European dimension.”

Several European countries have accepted Macron’s previous invitation to discuss French nuclear deterrence and potentially participate in French nuclear training exercises.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reports having “initial talks” with Macron regarding nuclear deterrence and has publicly speculated about German Air Force aircraft possibly carrying French nuclear weapons.

European nations engaging with France seek “a second life insurance” against any possibility of losing US nuclear protection, explains Etienne Marcuz, a French nuclear defense expert at the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research think tank.

“The United States are unpredictable — have become unpredictable — because of the Trump 2 administration,” he said. “That has legitimately raised the question of whether the United States would truly be prepared to protect Europe, and above all, whether they would be willing to deploy their nuclear forces in defense of Europe.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney touched down in Mumbai Friday for his inaugural official journey to India, seeking to repair diplomatic tensions with the world’s largest nation by population while pursuing fresh international partnerships.

During his Mumbai visit, Carney plans to engage with corporate executives and begin negotiations for a broad trade pact, which Canada’s foreign minister indicated to Reuters should wrap up by November. The prime minister will then head to New Delhi for discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This India trip represents part of Carney’s broader diplomatic push to strengthen relationships with China and Middle Eastern nations, as he works to decrease Canada’s economic reliance on the United States and establish what he describes as a new international trading framework centered on middle-power nations.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bombshell accusations that India’s government played a role in killing a Canadian citizen who advocated for Sikh independence. Indian officials have consistently rejected these claims.

Breaking with tradition set by previous Canadian leaders including Trudeau, Carney will skip visiting India’s Punjab region, which serves as a major source of Indian immigration to Canada. Sikh independence advocates have campaigned for Punjab’s separation, making such a visit potentially offensive to Indian officials.

Political observers suggest this approach reflects a more business-focused foreign policy designed to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States, particularly given President Donald Trump’s trade disputes and territorial ambitions.

“The Prime Minister has a laser-beam focus on attracting capital to Canada, not playing to the Indian diaspora back home,” said Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada.

“This is a business trip aimed at growing the economy to give Canadians more economic sovereignty,” Hyder explained, describing the strategy as a major departure from Trudeau’s approach.

Recent developments have created optimism for Canadian-Indian trade relations, as the European Union and India finalized a significant trade agreement last month to reduce tariffs on most products. India’s top diplomatic representative in Canada revealed to Reuters in January that Carney will likely finalize a decade-long uranium supply contract worth C$2.8 billion ($2.05 billion), plus smaller deals covering petroleum, environmental issues, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, education and cultural exchange.

Trudeau faced ridicule during his 2018 Indian visit for donning overly ornate traditional clothing and received public criticism from Prime Minister Modi for permitting “anti-India activities,” referring to outspoken Sikh separatist groups based in Canada.

“Carney has a sense of gravitas and is very strategic,” observed Partha Mohanram, a management professor at the University of Toronto. “He’s not going to do a bhangra dance over there.”

However, Carney’s India strategy has faced pushback from certain Sikh organizations in Canada.

“The Carney government has failed to hold India accountable or to create any meaningful safeguards to ensure that Sikh Canadians are protected from foreign interference and transnational repression,” the World Sikh Organization of Canada declared Wednesday.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed to Reuters that high-level discussions between both nations have addressed concerns about criminal activities potentially connected to India. Anand mentioned new protocols to monitor illicit financial flows, cyber threats and surveillance targeting diaspora populations.

Anand emphasized that Carney’s international strategy responds to shifting global trade dynamics and that “no country will ever have a pass in terms of the domestic safety and security of this country.”

Following his India visit, Carney will travel to Australia for a parliamentary address and discussions on military cooperation, commerce and defense partnerships. On his return journey to Ottawa, he’ll meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to explore expanded trade in automotive, energy and strategic mineral sectors.

Jonathan Kalles, a former Trudeau administration advisor, explained that Carney’s agenda reflects the new international framework he presented at Davos, where he advocated for middle-power countries to pursue a “principled and pragmatic” approach to counter American dominance.

“When the world is nice and calm, you can try to change the world and talk about virtues,” Kalles noted. “But when you’re living in uncertain times, the Prime Minister’s job is to advance the country’s interests and Mark Carney knows very well his job is to diversify our trade and strengthen the economy.”

MOSCOW – Russia’s space agency announced Thursday it will assist Myanmar in choosing and preparing the Southeast Asian nation’s inaugural astronaut, marking another step in strengthening diplomatic relationships between the two countries.

The commitment came during a Myanmar visit this week by Dmitry Bakanov, who leads Russia’s space organization Roscosmos. Bakanov formalized an agreement with Myanmar officials focused on advancing collaboration in human spaceflight programs.

According to Roscosmos, Bakanov also conducted meetings with Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmar’s ruling military government.

As part of the space cooperation deal, Myanmar will establish a ground station to support Russia’s GLONASS satellite positioning network and will host facilities designed to monitor dangerous debris and objects orbiting near Earth, the Russian space agency announced.

The space partnership builds on recent diplomatic exchanges, including Min Aung Hlaing’s Moscow visit last year for discussions with President Vladimir Putin. Following those talks, both nations finalized an investment agreement that Russia anticipates will create new opportunities for its energy sector companies in Myanmar.

Russia has additionally committed to constructing a compact nuclear power facility in Myanmar, where military leaders overthrew the democratically elected administration of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.

BRUSSELS – European Union officials announced Thursday that member countries can utilize current EU social funding to provide cost-free pregnancy termination services for women who must travel from nations with restrictive reproductive healthcare laws.

The announcement from the European Commission came as a response to the “My Voice, My Choice” advocacy campaign, which had called for establishing a dedicated EU budget fund. The proposed fund would cover abortion procedure expenses for women from countries with nearly complete prohibitions like Malta and Poland, or nations where reproductive services remain difficult to obtain, including Italy and Croatia.

Though the Commission stopped short of establishing the new funding mechanism requested by advocates, officials indicated that member nations could voluntarily redirect resources from current EU social programs to ensure access to safe reproductive healthcare services.

The decision represents the EU executive body’s effort to address reproductive healthcare disparities across member states while working within existing financial frameworks.

The Biden administration has given potential buyers of Russian oil giant Lukoil’s worldwide holdings an additional month to complete their purchases, moving the deadline from February 28 to April 1, according to government documents obtained by Reuters.

Four sources with knowledge of the situation say Washington is deliberately slowing down the sale process to leverage these valuable assets during ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will announce the extension on Thursday, marking the fourth time officials have pushed back the original deadline since sanctions were imposed on Russia’s two largest oil companies last October.

Recent diplomatic meetings in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Miami between American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives have failed to produce any major agreements on ending the conflict in Ukraine. Three sources briefed on these discussions revealed that sanctions against state-owned Rosneft and Lukoil were part of the negotiation topics.

Another round of trilateral talks is scheduled for March.

The sanctions mandate forced Lukoil to sell its international business empire, worth approximately $22 billion and spanning oil fields, refineries, and gas stations across multiple countries from Iraq to Finland. More than a dozen companies have expressed interest in purchasing these assets, including major American oil company ExxonMobil and even the former owner of Pornhub.

While OFAC initially managed the asset sale process, senior officials from the White House, Treasury Department, and State Department have now become directly involved, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent taking a more hands-on role, according to three sources.

Government agencies declined to provide comments when asked about connecting the deadline extension to peace negotiations. Lukoil representatives also did not respond to requests for comment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed earlier this month that his intelligence agencies informed him of a $12 trillion economic proposal from Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the Trump administration. One source familiar with the matter indicated this deal includes Lukoil assets, potentially creating additional complications for any sale.

Several major firms have already reached preliminary agreements with Lukoil, including American private equity company Carlyle Group, Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy, and American billionaire Todd Boehly partnering with investment bank Xtellus Partners and UAE-based Alliance Investment Partners.

A joint venture between Chevron and Texas-based Quantum Capital Group remains in active negotiations for the asset portfolio but has not yet reached final terms with Lukoil.

CAIRO (AP) — When Enas Arbab escaped Sudan’s Darfur region, she carried only her infant son and the painful memory of losing her father — a volunteer killed for his work at a community kitchen feeding war-displaced families.

Arbab’s father, Mohamed, was among the victims of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization that has battled Sudan’s military since April 2023. The RSF besieged el-Fasher in western Darfur, cutting off food supplies before capturing the city.

United Nations officials report that several thousand civilians died when the RSF seized el-Fasher last October. Of the city’s 260,000 inhabitants, only 40% successfully escaped the assault, with thousands suffering injuries. The whereabouts of remaining residents remains unclear.

According to Arbab, RSF soldiers removed her father from their residence after assaulting him before his family, then demanded payment for his release. When relatives couldn’t provide the ransom, the fighters claimed they had executed him. The family still doesn’t know his burial location.

After her husband vanished a month afterward, Enas Arbab chose to journey north toward Egypt. “We couldn’t stay in el-Fasher,” she explained. “It was no longer safe and there was no food or water.”

Her father represents one of over 100 community kitchen volunteers who have lost their lives since hostilities commenced, based on information from aid workers who contacted The Associated Press and the Aid Workers Security database, an organization monitoring global incidents affecting humanitarian personnel.

In regions experiencing heavy combat — particularly throughout Darfur — hunger is expanding while food and essential items become increasingly rare. These community-operated public kitchens serve as crucial survival resources, yet many volunteers face kidnapping, theft, detention, physical violence or death.

Salah Semsaya, a volunteer with the Emergency Response Rooms — an organization that started as a grassroots effort and now functions across 13 provinces in Sudan with 26,000 volunteers — recognizes the hazards confronting charity kitchen staff.

The actual count of murdered workers probably exceeds the estimated 100, he notes, as ongoing warfare has hindered dependable information gathering and documentation.

Semsaya provided documentation indicating that 57% of confirmed charity kitchen worker deaths happened in Khartoum, primarily during RSF occupation of Sudan’s capital before military forces reclaimed it last March. Darfur accounted for at least 21% of the fatalities.

Over 50 Khartoum victims worked alongside his organization, Semsaya reported.

Sudan’s conflict began when disputes between military and RSF forces intensified into combat that originated in Khartoum before expanding countrywide, causing thousands of deaths and creating widespread displacement, disease outbreaks and critical food shortages. Humanitarian workers frequently became targets.

Dan Teng’o, communications director for the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, explains it remains uncertain whether charity kitchen volunteers are attacked due to their humanitarian activities or suspected connections to either warring faction.

These kitchen volunteers maintain high community visibility through their service, making them easy targets, according to activists. Ransom requests usually span $2,000 to $5,000, often increasing after families make partial payments.

“A clear deterioration in the security context … has significantly affected local communities, including volunteers supporting community kitchens,” Teng’o stated.

Farouk Abkar, a 60-year-old el-Fasher resident, distributed grain bags at a charity kitchen in Zamzam camp, located 15 kilometers south of the city, for one year. He endured drone attacks and recalls when RSF fighters assaulted his kitchen. One soldier struck his face, dislodging several teeth.

Abkar said he escaped el-Fasher during nighttime with his daughter, traveling on foot for 10 days. During their journey, RSF fighters shot birdshot that struck his head, causing persistent headaches.

Currently residing in Egypt, he shares living space with at least 10 other Sudanese refugees and cannot afford medical treatment. Disturbing memories from his hometown continue to trouble him.

“Many things happened in el-Fasher,” he recalled. “There was death. There was starvation.”

Mustafa Khater, a 28-year-old charity kitchen volunteer, departed with his expecting wife to Egypt just days before el-Fasher fell to RSF control.

Throughout the 18-month blockade, some el-Fasher residents cooperated with the RSF by identifying kitchen workers to paramilitary forces, Khater explained. Many subsequently disappeared.

“They would take you to an area where there is a dry riverbed and kill you there,” Khater described.

A volunteer working with Semsaya’s humanitarian organization in Darfur reported that some colleagues faced beatings, arrests and interrogation, with attackers claiming they received “illicit funds” for kitchen operations. This volunteer requested anonymity due to retaliation concerns.

Despite these obstacles, numerous charity kitchens remain the sole dependable food source in conflict areas and provide locations where people can gather for mutual support, Semsaya noted.

The community of Khazan Jedid in East Darfur province operates three charity kitchens that feed approximately 5,000 individuals daily, according to Haroun Abdelrahman, spokesperson for the local Emergency Response Rooms branch.

Abdelrahman reports experiencing interrogation by RSF fighters while several colleagues have suffered knife-point robberies. Despite fear and intimidation, many kitchen workers continue volunteering and serving, he said.

In Kassala, located in eastern Sudan, military officials questioned a local branch volunteer and his associates in January 2024 after their kitchen began providing meals and shelter to people who fled nearby Wad Madani when RSF captured that community. He also requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Khater, the 28-year-old who left el-Fasher, learned from hometown contacts that following RSF occupation, all charity kitchens in the city shut down and his former colleagues were either “killed or fled.”

Teng’o explains these closures in combat zones have left “vulnerable households with no viable alternatives” and forced residents to purchase from local “markets where food prices are unaffordable.”

Arbab, the 19-year-old expecting mother who fled with her infant son, hoped to restart her life in Egypt, according to friends and a humanitarian worker who spoke anonymously about the young woman.

However, while traveling to the northern city of Alexandria last month, Egyptian authorities stopped her and her child and deported them back to Sudan.

During the week of February 20-26, 2026, dramatic scenes unfolded across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Military personnel maintained security positions near destroyed vehicles that had been torched across several Mexican states including Michoacán and Jalisco. The violence erupted after Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died.

Meanwhile, Bolivia’s vibrant Carnival celebrations came to a close during the same period.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, an unusual gathering took place as individuals who call themselves “therians” – those who believe they identify as non-human animals – met in a city park where they spent time jumping and barking.

The photo collection showcasing these events was assembled by photographer Juan Karita, who works from La Paz, Bolivia.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Thousands of missing person flyers cover every available surface throughout Mexico’s second-largest city, creating a haunting reminder of the country’s disappearance crisis.

Messages reading “We miss you,” “have you seen her?” and “we’re looking for you” blanket buildings, monuments, streetlights, parking meters, planters and transit stops across Guadalajara. Daily commuters walk past them in crowds, basketball players compete on courts encircled by them, and vehicles drive by them continuously.

These posters have become part of everyday existence in Jalisco state, the epicenter of Mexico’s forced disappearance emergency. The region, which experienced a surge of violence this week after the death of Mexico’s most influential cartel boss known as “El Mencho,” records among the nation’s highest numbers of missing individuals with 12,500 confirmed cases.

Families who post these flyers while searching for missing relatives now claim they face government pressure to remove the images before the FIFA World Cup arrives, with Guadalajara serving as a host location in June. As battles between criminal organizations and Mexican security forces have suspended search operations for the missing throughout Jalisco, several local legislators are advancing legislation that would simplify removing the signs.

“They don’t want people coming to the World Cup, people coming from abroad, to see” the fliers, said Carmen López, a woman looking for her brother and nephew, who went missing in two separate incidents. “It’s not in their interest, because they would get their hands dirty. It makes the government look bad in front of the entire world.”

Mexico records nearly 131,000 missing individuals, sufficient to populate a small municipality. Criminal organizations have historically used forced disappearances as a strategy to establish dominance through fear while hiding murder statistics.

Many view the forced disappearance emergency as representative of inadequate justice systems and extensive corruption that persist throughout Mexico, particularly evident in states such as Jalisco.

Families such as López’s frequently handle investigations independently, coordinating searches for remains and displaying flyers to maintain their efforts and pressure local officials.

“Little-by-little it kills a part of your soul. They don’t only disappear your loved one, but also you as a father, or as a mother along with them,” said Héctor Flores, a leader of one of Jalisco’s many search groups, Luz de Esperanza, or Light of Hope.

Flores began posting flyers throughout Guadalajara following his 19-year-old son’s forced disappearance by officers from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office. A Mexican court later acknowledged the 2021 forced disappearance, motivating Flores to establish the organization representing 500 families investigating missing relatives.

His organization ventures into Jalisco’s capital streets and posts between 2,000 and 5,000 flyers each weekend. The notices display smiling photographs of individuals ranging from teenage girls to middle-aged men, including identifying characteristics such as tattoos plus the date and location where they vanished.

Search organizations continuously post signs because the materials are routinely removed.

“This is an act of searching in real time, with the hope that people who see these ID cards, they can provide us with information that will help us locate our families,” Flores said. “It’s also an act of visibility.”

Families now express concern about facing additional obstacles following this week’s cartel violence that has heightened security worries before the summer’s World Cup.

In December, legislators proposed changes to legislation originally designed to protect the flyers from removal. Local politicians attempted to alter the law in ways families believe would create forbidden public areas for posting the materials.

Carmen López, Flores and other relatives claim the local administration is attempting to sanitize the missing persons issue before the international sporting competition. They argue this continues years of official efforts to minimize Mexico’s disappearance crisis.

“We’re aware that the city doesn’t look beautiful because of the search IDs, but they’re not trash,” said López, who wore a shirt with the faces of her two missing family members. “But what are we supposed to do? We’re doing everything in our power to find them.”

State legislator Norma López, a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party, along with other lawmakers promoted the modification.

The state representative denied the accusation during a Thursday interview with The Associated Press, calling it a “bad interpretation” of the proposal by search groups. She stated her intention to support families searching for missing relatives and mentioned that one of her own family members also disappeared.

She explained that if approved, the law would permit poster removal from locations including public universities, the state legislature, the Supreme Court, museums, churches and similar venues without penalties. She noted they would remain permitted in other areas.

“My proposal is not a basis for banning them,” she said. “We are all concerned about what is happening in Jalisco. The disappearances also pain me.”

Mexican officials have faced questions regarding Guadalajara’s capacity to host World Cup games.

Sheinbaum declared this week there was “no risk” for visitors, but Thursday brought the cancellation of the Diving World Cup scheduled for a Guadalajara suburb in March due to security concerns. Earlier this week, the Portuguese soccer federation announced it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” before a friendly match against Mexico’s national team in Mexico City.

Meanwhile, some Jalisco search groups report suspending investigations of potential secret burial sites because Mexico’s federal government informed them that security forces providing team protection cannot assist temporarily due to the violence.

Mexico’s National Search Commission for the disappeared did not respond to requests for comment.

Flores’ group and others have reported canceling search operations at grave sites around Guadalajara, leaving many feeling justice is more distant than previously.

The count of missing persons continues increasing hourly. City residents passing signs during daily travels barely notice them.

“Now, it’s just normal,” said Jacinto González, 47, walking past hundreds of signs covering a wall Wednesday.

After several minutes of conversation, he mentioned casually that his sister-in-law disappeared six years ago.

BUENOS AIRES — A public square in Argentina’s capital recently became an impromptu animal habitat as teenagers engaged in an emerging cultural phenomenon that has captivated social media.

During the weekend gathering, Sofia donned a realistic beagle costume and crawled through the grass on her hands and knees. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Aguara jumped over barriers while mimicking the behavior of a Belgian Malinois dog. Additional participants climbed trees while dressed as felines and foxes, maintaining distance from spectators who watched with curiosity.

This meetup represents the growing ‘therian’ community — young people who believe they connect with animals on mental, spiritual, or psychological levels. The movement has exploded across Argentina’s social platforms in recent months, particularly on TikTok where #therian content has exceeded 2 million posts, with Argentina showing the highest participation rates among Latin American nations. The phenomenon has captured attention from content creators and news organizations, generating responses ranging from amusement and confusion to hostility.

Mental health professionals are now examining this trend and its broader cultural implications.

Aguara, who believes she embodies a Belgian Malinois and calculates her age as two years and two months in canine terms, describes her daily routine as typical for someone her age.

‘I wake up like a normal person and live my life like a normal person,’ she explained. ‘I simply have moments when I like being a dog.’

Leading what she describes as her ‘pack,’ Aguara has accumulated over 125,000 TikTok subscribers and organizes frequent gatherings throughout Buenos Aires.

Sixteen-year-old Aru attended the park event wearing a seal costume and identifies with the ‘otherpaw’ subset of therians — participants who don animal accessories or move like animals purely for enjoyment. ‘It’s not necessarily about identifying as an animal,’ she clarified.

Aru believes Argentina’s ‘fairly free’ cultural atmosphere has allowed the therian movement to flourish. Many young Argentines have found the community offers genuine acceptance and belonging.

Mental health expert Débora Pedace, who directs Buenos Aires’ Integral Therapeutic Center, recognizes that this trend creates complicated reactions including bewilderment, humor, and frustration.

‘From a psychological standpoint, this is a symbolic identification with an animal,’ Pedace explained. ‘It becomes pathological or alarming only when it turns into a deeply rooted belief and the person fully assumes the role of an animal, potentially leading to self-harm or hurting others.’

Anti-corruption prosecutors in Panama conducted document seizures Thursday at multiple locations tied to a Hong Kong-based corporation that recently lost its rights to operate crucial Panama Canal ports following a Supreme Court ruling last month.

Azael Samaniego, a public prosecutor specializing in anti-corruption cases, confirmed to local news organizations that authorities visited three Panama City locations belonging to Panama Ports Company. The Maritime Authority of Panama and officers from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation joined the operation. Panama Ports Company serves as the regional arm of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison.

According to Samaniego, his department has received information suggesting potential criminal activity occurred, though he declined to elaborate on the specific nature of any suspected crimes. He emphasized that the probe remains in preliminary phases.

Neither Panama Ports Company nor Panamanian law enforcement responded to media inquiries seeking additional details.

These investigative actions follow closely behind the Maritime Authority’s recent takeover of the Balboa and Cristobal port facilities from Panama Ports Company. The corporation has disputed the court decision, while Chinese officials have claimed Panama succumbed to pressure from Washington.

Since 1997, the company has maintained control over these strategic ports, which became entangled in legal challenges amid escalating U.S.-China rivalry for regional dominance.

During the Trump presidency, American officials criticized Chinese oversight of the ports and alleged China was effectively controlling canal operations – claims that both Panama and China have consistently rejected.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer encountered a crushing political setback Friday when his Labour Party lost a parliamentary seat in Greater Manchester that had been under party control for nearly a century, highlighting the crumbling foundation of the UK’s traditional two-party system.

The electoral upset in one of Labour’s most secure districts represents the most significant voting challenge in nearly twelve months, intensifying demands on Starmer to justify his leadership amid weeks of political chaos and mounting resignation calls.

Hannah Spencer of the left-leaning Green Party secured victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary race, while Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK claimed second position, relegating Labour to a humiliating third-place finish.

Labour party chair Anna Turley acknowledged the outcome was “clearly disappointing.”

Starmer had invested significant political capital in securing this seat, going so far as to prevent popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from running and personally campaigning in the district this week—a move British leaders typically avoid when facing potential losses.

This electoral blow follows Starmer’s most precarious period as prime minister earlier this month, when several party legislators suggested he step down over his controversial choice to name Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador, given Mandelson’s connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During the 2024 general election, Labour captured more than half the votes in Gorton and Denton. However, Starmer’s declining popularity, stagnant economic performance, and multiple scandals and policy reversals led to a dramatic collapse in party support.

Friday’s special election, called after a sitting parliamentarian stepped down due to health issues, saw the Green Party capture 40.7% of votes. Farage’s Reform Party secured 28.7%, while Labour managed only 25.4%.

Labour legislators indicated before the vote that Starmer wouldn’t face immediate leadership challenges if defeated. However, they suggested he could encounter opposition following May elections, when Labour anticipates poor performance in local and regional contests, including parliamentary races in Wales and Scotland.

This marks the Green Party’s first victory in a special parliamentary election and their first win in northern England. The party, which advocates for NATO withdrawal and recreational drug legalization, now holds five of the 650 House of Commons seats.

BEIJING – Chinese military officials are pointing fingers at the Philippines following recent naval activities in the contested South China Sea waters, claiming Manila is destabilizing the region through international partnerships.

Beijing announced Friday that its forces carried out standard patrol operations in the disputed maritime area between February 23 and 26. Military spokesman Zhai Shichen from the Southern Theatre Command stated the nation will “resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability.”

The Chinese criticism comes as Philippine naval forces joined American and Japanese military units for collaborative training exercises in the same waters this week. According to Philippine armed forces officials, the joint operations were designed to strengthen military cooperation between the allied nations.

The timing of China’s patrol announcement and accusations suggests heightened tensions over the strategically important waterway, where multiple nations maintain competing territorial claims.

Officials in South Africa and Kenya are grappling with evidence that their citizens are being lured into combat roles in the Ukraine conflict, with deadly consequences emerging on Thursday.

Pretoria confirmed that two South African nationals lost their lives while fighting on Ukrainian battlefields. These fatalities are distinct from a separate group of 17 South Africans who were deceived into military service for Russia and have since been brought home, according to the nation’s foreign affairs department.

Details about when and how these two individuals perished were not disclosed by officials.

Moscow has rejected allegations that it unlawfully recruits African nationals for combat in Ukraine.

“The government continues to investigate the networks involved in these recruitment efforts to ensure that those who exploit vulnerable citizens face the full might of the law,” South Africa’s foreign ministry said.

Meanwhile, in Kenya’s capital, legal proceedings began against Festus Arasa Omwamba, who heads a recruitment firm accused of human trafficking. Nairobi prosecutors allege he transported 25 Kenyan victims to “Russia for the purpose of exploitation by means of deception,” according to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Authorities rescued 22 of these individuals from a residential facility in Athi River, located in Machakos County near Nairobi, last September before their planned departure to Russia, prosecutors stated.

The remaining three had already traveled to Russia and reportedly ended up in active combat zones during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, later returning with battle wounds, the prosecutor’s office revealed. Omwamba has entered a not guilty plea to all charges.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated Wednesday that more than 1,700 African fighters are currently serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, claiming Moscow uses fraudulent tactics to recruit them.

A recent intelligence report from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service revealed that recruitment organizations worked with corrupt Kenyan airport personnel, immigration officers, other government officials, and staff from both the Russian Embassy in Nairobi and Kenya’s Embassy in Moscow to arrange travel for fighters. The report estimates over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited.

Russia’s diplomatic mission in Nairobi has disputed claims of illegal recruitment of Kenyan fighters for Ukraine, while acknowledging that foreign nationals may voluntarily enlist in Russian military forces.

The court has ordered Omwamba to remain in police detention while awaiting a bail determination, prosecutors announced.

Kenya’s foreign ministry reports that 27 Kenyan nationals have been rescued after becoming stranded in Russia. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi has announced plans to travel to Russia in March for discussions on this matter.

A recent survey suggests that Edouard Philippe, France’s former Prime Minister, faces an unexpected challenge that could derail his presidential aspirations for 2027 – losing his current role as mayor of Le Havre in upcoming municipal elections.

Philippe, who held the position of Prime Minister under President Emmanuel Macron through 2020, has emerged in polling as the centrist politician with the strongest chance of defeating far-right National Rally candidates in France’s next presidential contest.

The OpinionWay survey, conducted for the Hexagone Institute and published Wednesday evening, indicates Philippe would secure 37% of votes in the initial round of mayoral voting, placing him first. However, the poll predicts Communist Party candidate Jean-Paul Lecoq would ultimately prevail in a runoff election.

The potential mayoral loss carries significant implications for Philippe’s national political future, something he has openly acknowledged. Speaking to LCI television in December, Philippe stated his concerns about the connection between local and national electoral success.

“If I fail to convince the people of Le Havre, despite the fact I have been their mayor since 2010 and they know me well…, I wouldn’t be in a good position to convince the French,” Philippe explained during the television interview.

Polling data has consistently shown Philippe as the mainstream candidate best positioned to defeat far-right contenders, including Marine Le Pen and her political ally Jordan Bardella, though recent surveys show increasingly competitive races.

An Ifop survey from last April demonstrated the tight nature of these potential matchups, showing Philippe and Bardella tied at 50% each. Even more concerning for Philippe’s supporters, an Odoxa poll from November showed Bardella ahead with 53% support.

ISLAMABAD — Following a series of cross-border attacks and retaliatory strikes, Pakistan’s Defense Minister has declared that his nation is now engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif took to social media platform X to announce that Pakistan’s tolerance has reached its breaking point. He explained that Pakistan had anticipated peace would come to Afghanistan following the departure of NATO forces, and believed the Taliban would prioritize Afghan citizens’ well-being and regional peace.

However, Asif accused the Taliban of transforming Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” recruiting extremists from across the globe, and engaging in “exporting terrorism.”

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he stated.

This surge in hostilities between the two nations casts doubt on the stability of a ceasefire agreement that Qatar helped broker. Notably, the Pakistani defense minister made no reference to the existing ceasefire arrangement in his statements.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday that his nation has entered into an “open war” with Afghanistan, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries as both sides reported substantial casualties from overnight fighting.

Speaking from Islamabad on February 27th, Asif declared that Pakistan’s tolerance for the situation had reached its breaking point.

“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan),” he stated.

The minister’s stark announcement comes amid deteriorating relations between the two countries, with tensions reaching a boiling point following recent cross-border incidents that resulted in heavy losses on both sides.

BERLIN – German lawmakers on Thursday authorized their nation’s military to take enhanced action against unauthorized drones, marking a significant policy shift amid growing aerial security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The legislative body known as the Bundestag passed changes to existing aviation security regulations with backing from ruling party members and opposition groups, including the Alternative for Germany party, designed to streamline defensive responses against unmanned aircraft.

Drone encounters above German territory have multiplied since Moscow launched its military campaign against Ukraine, with many operators remaining unidentified. Security analysts believe Russian operatives may be responsible for numerous flights.

The updated regulations permit Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, to actively engage threatening drones when civilian agencies request military assistance, including deployment of electronic disruption technology or direct weapon systems.

Military involvement had been severely limited under previous rules.

Defense officials may now initiate counter-drone missions without waiting for other authorities, enabling quicker responses during urgent situations, legislative documents indicate.

While state police agencies handle drone enforcement duties, they frequently lack appropriate technological resources.

Federal law enforcement capabilities have been recently enhanced, and officials established a specialized drone response facility in the capital to coordinate these operations.

The new law also establishes tougher criminal penalties for operating drones within airport zones, specifically addressing environmental protesters who have caused repeated flight disruptions.

These violations will now result in criminal charges punishable by imprisonment up to two years, replacing previous monetary fines.

Naval forces from three allied nations conducted collaborative training exercises in the contested South China Sea waters this week, according to an announcement from Philippine military officials on Friday.

The maritime training operation brought together warships and aircraft from the Philippines, United States, and Japan as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military partnerships in the region.

The Philippine military has been actively partnering with various nations since 2023 to defend its territorial claims and maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. Beijing maintains sovereignty over the majority of this resource-abundant waterway, dismissing a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its historical territorial assertions.

According to Philippine military officials, the collaborative exercise “underscores the sustained commitment of partner forces to enhance interoperability, reinforce maritime security, and improve Maritime Domain Awareness in the region.”

The Philippines contributed its Antonio Luna frigate along with helicopter and fighter aircraft support for the training mission. Japan participated by deploying a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft, while American forces brought the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and a Poseidon reconnaissance plane to the operation.

Training activities encompassed various maritime operations including at-sea refueling procedures, coordinated aerial patrols, aircraft flyover demonstrations, and communication system testing between the participating forces.

This exercise follows similar joint training operations that the Philippines conducted with Australian and American forces on February 15 and 16.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Early Friday morning, Pakistani military forces launched airstrikes targeting Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul along with two additional provinces, according to Afghanistan’s government spokesperson. The strikes came just hours following Afghanistan’s overnight cross-border military operation against Pakistan, marking a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations that puts a Qatar-brokered ceasefire in serious jeopardy.

Residents in Kabul reported hearing at least three explosions, though immediate details about the precise strike locations within the capital or potential casualties remained unavailable. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces also conducted aerial attacks in the southern province of Kandahar and the southeastern region of Paktia.

Two high-ranking Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press because they lacked authorization for public statements, confirmed their military targeted what they characterized as Afghan military installations across Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces. These officials claimed the strikes successfully destroyed two brigade headquarters but provided no casualty information.

Afghan military forces launched their cross-border offensive into Pakistan late Thursday evening, which they described as retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes that hit Afghan border regions on Sunday. Afghanistan claims its forces successfully seized more than a dozen Pakistani army positions during the assault.

Pakistani leadership characterized last Sunday’s airstrikes as operations against militants operating in the border area, while dismissing Thursday’s Afghan military action as an unprovoked assault. Pakistani officials also rejected Afghan claims about captured army positions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on both nations to safeguard civilian populations as mandated by international law and “to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” according to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

“In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line,” Mujahid stated in a Thursday night social media post. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry reported conducting retaliatory operations along border areas spanning six provinces.

The disputed 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) boundary between the nations is called the Durand Line, which Afghanistan refuses to officially acknowledge.

Both countries provided dramatically different casualty reports from the fighting.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers died in the clash, including some whose remains were brought into Afghan territory, while “several others were captured alive.” The ministry reported eight of its own fighters killed with 11 additional wounded. Afghan officials said they demolished 19 Pakistani army positions and two bases, with combat ending at midnight approximately four hours after operations began.

However, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated only two Pakistani soldiers were killed with three others injured. He reported 36 Afghan fighters had died. In a social media statement, he said Pakistan was delivering a “strong and effective response” to what he termed unprovoked Afghan aggression.

Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, rejected claims that Pakistani soldiers had been taken prisoner. He later posted that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed with over 200 wounded, claiming 27 Afghan positions were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify casualty locations, adding there would be “many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets.”

Both nations also documented gunfire exchanges in the Torkham border region.

Afghan officials began evacuating a refugee settlement near the Torkham crossing after multiple refugees sustained injuries, according to Qureshi Badlon, director of Torkham’s Information and Public Awareness Board. The Defense Ministry reported 13 civilians wounded in a missile attack on the camp, including women and children.

On Pakistan’s side of the frontier, police reported residents fleeing to safer locations, while Afghan refugees awaiting return to Afghanistan were relocated to secure areas. Pakistan initiated an extensive migrant crackdown in October 2023, expelling hundreds of thousands of people.

Pakistani police confirmed mortars launched from Afghanistan struck nearby villages, though no civilian casualties were reported.

“Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens,” Pakistan’s Information Ministry declared in a social media statement.

Afghanistan’s military distributed nighttime video footage showing military vehicles in motion and sounds of intense gunfire, though the footage could not be independently confirmed.

Relations between the neighboring countries have remained strained for months, with deadly border confrontations in October resulting in dozens of military, civilian and suspected militant deaths. That violence followed Kabul explosions that Afghan authorities attributed to Pakistan. Islamabad subsequently conducted deep strikes inside Afghanistan targeting militant strongholds.

A Qatar-facilitated ceasefire between the nations has generally held, though both sides have periodically exchanged fire across the border. Multiple peace negotiations in November failed to achieve a formal agreement.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s military executed strikes along the Afghan border, claiming they eliminated at least 70 militants.

Afghanistan disputed this assertion, stating dozens of civilians died, including women and children. The Defense Ministry said “various civilian areas” in eastern Afghanistan were targeted, including a religious school and multiple residences. The ministry characterized the strikes as violations of Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty.

Militant activity has increased dramatically in Pakistan recently, with much of the violence attributed by Pakistan to the Pakistani Taliban, known as TTP, and banned Baloch separatist organizations. The TTP operates independently from but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Islamabad accuses the TTP of conducting operations from Afghan territory, which both the group and Kabul reject.

Investigators in Panama conducted a search Thursday at offices belonging to a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison, according to someone with knowledge of the operation.

The search at CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company (PPC) was not connected to the government’s recent decision to cancel contracts that allowed the company to manage two key port terminals along Panama’s canal system, the source indicated.

The individual requested anonymity since details of the investigation have not been released publicly.

CK Hutchison has not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the matter.

“This is an independent investigation carried out exclusively by the Public Ministry of Panama in the exercise of its legal powers,” Panama’s government stated, though officials did not specifically identify CK Hutchison as the focus of the search.

Trading of CK Hutchison stock dropped 0.9% during early Friday sessions in Hong Kong markets.

Panamanian news outlets first reported the investigation. Local television network TVN broadcast footage showing approximately twelve individuals, several wearing jackets marked with Panama’s investigative police unit (DIJ) insignia, working in an underground garage in Panama City’s upscale Albrook district.

The footage captured personnel placing cardboard containers into a police vehicle.

Building identification was not clear in the broadcast images, and Reuters was unable to confirm the location independently.

A court official speaking on local television verified that a search operation had occurred but would not identify the targeted business or specify what evidence was collected.

Panama’s highest court ruled recently that CK Hutchison’s agreements to manage port facilities at Panama Canal entrances violated the constitution, prompting government officials to void those contracts.

The ruling has created tensions involving both China and the United States, following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump for Panama to limit Chinese control over the Panama Canal, which handles approximately 5% of worldwide shipping traffic.

CK Hutchison has characterized the court decision as illegal and indicated it may pursue legal remedies.

Cross-border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached dangerous new levels overnight Friday, with Pakistani forces conducting airstrikes against Taliban positions in several major Afghan cities, according to officials from both nations.

Pakistani security sources confirmed their military launched coordinated air and ground operations targeting Taliban command centers, weapons storage facilities, and military outposts across multiple border sectors.

The escalation represents the most significant military confrontation between the neighboring countries in recent months, jeopardizing a delicate ceasefire along their extensive 1,615-mile shared boundary and intensifying ongoing disputes over Pakistan’s claims that Afghanistan shelters Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters—allegations Taliban leadership consistently rejects.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistani aircraft struck locations within Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces.

“Pakistani counterstrikes against targets in Afghanistan continue,” Pakistani government spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi posted on social media platform X, characterizing the military action as retaliation for “unprovoked Afghan attacks.”

Residents in Kabul reported hearing numerous ambulance sirens racing through the capital after powerful explosions echoed across the city.

Pakistani military officials released footage showing nighttime combat operations along the frontier, including artillery fire lighting up the darkness and flames engulfing what they identified as a Taliban command facility in Paktia province.

Casualty reports from both sides varied dramatically and remain unverified. Zaidi claimed Pakistani forces eliminated 133 Afghan Taliban fighters, wounded over 200 others, demolished 27 military positions and seized control of nine additional posts.

Meanwhile, Mujahid reported 55 Pakistani troops killed and 19 positions captured by Taliban forces, while acknowledging eight Taliban casualties, 11 wounded fighters and 13 civilian injuries in Nangarhar province.

The current violence follows earlier Pakistani airstrikes this week that Islamabad claimed targeted TTP and Islamic State militant training camps in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities reject accusations they permit militant operations within their borders and had threatened retaliation.

Border clashes erupted Thursday evening when Taliban forces launched what they termed retaliatory assaults on Pakistani military installations, with both armies claiming successful destruction of enemy border positions during that initial fighting.