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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Authorities in Bangladesh’s capital received judicial orders Thursday to pursue an Interpol red notice targeting a British parliamentarian facing corruption allegations tied to a private property development.

British MP Tulip Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate in London and previously held a ministerial position, now confronts corruption accusations from Bangladesh’s Anti-corruption Commission related to a real estate matter.

The lawmaker has already received a six-year prison sentence in Bangladesh across three separate corruption proceedings, all connected to her influential relative, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Student-led protests forced Hasina from power in 2024, ending her decade-and-a-half reign, with the former leader fleeing to India on Aug. 5, 2024.

Siddiq has dismissed all accusations against her, calling the court decisions a “complete farce,” while emphasizing her British citizenship rather than Bangladeshi nationality.

According to the commission, Siddiq leveraged her relationship with Hasina to sway the land allocation process for a private developer in Dhaka’s prestigious Gulshan district. The MP is Sheikh Hasina’s niece, being the daughter of Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammed Sabbir Faiz granted the directive Thursday following a request from the anti-corruption agency.

The judicial decision followed Assistant Director A.K.M. Mortuza Ali Sagar’s application seeking the red notice through Interpol channels to enable Siddiq’s detention.

Siddiq had not responded to the Thursday developments by press time.

Last January, Siddiq stepped down from her role as a minister in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration due to mounting pressure over her connections to Hasina. While stating she had been exonerated of any misconduct, Siddiq left her position as economic secretary to the Treasury, explaining the controversy had become “a distraction from the work of the government.”

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus assumed interim leadership three days following Hasina’s removal and supervised elections held on Feb. 12. The current administration under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, whose father was Hasina’s primary political opponent and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has now assumed control.

GENEVA – Ukrainian representatives gathered with American officials Thursday in Geneva to plan for the massive task of rebuilding their war-torn nation, even as peace talks with Russia remain stalled.

The discussions involved US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, who met with Ukrainian negotiators around midday. Officials indicated the Ukrainian team would not make public statements following the session.

These reconstruction conversations center on what’s being called a “prosperity package” – a comprehensive funding plan designed to restore Ukraine’s battered economy after years of devastating conflict.

Witkoff and Kushner also scheduled a separate meeting Thursday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, marking their third round of indirect discussions about Iran’s nuclear activities, with Oman serving as mediator.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a phone conversation Wednesday with President Trump, where both leaders agreed that upcoming three-way negotiations with Russia in March should pave the way for a summit between the nations’ top leaders to address the most challenging remaining disputes.

“This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war,” Zelenskiy stated following the call, which included participation from both Witkoff and Kushner.

Planning Ukraine’s reconstruction has emerged as a crucial component in broader diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to a close, as the war marked its fifth anniversary this week.

Ukrainian officials are working to secure approximately $800 billion in combined public and private investment over the coming decade to restore their nation.

A fresh World Bank evaluation released Monday calculated that Ukraine’s economic recovery will require an estimated $588 billion, based on damage assessments from February 24, 2022, through the end of 2025.

American officials continue pushing Ukraine to find pathways toward ending what has become Europe’s largest military conflict since World War Two, though significant gaps remain between Moscow and Kyiv’s positions.

Representatives from Ukraine and Russia participated in US-facilitated discussions last week in Geneva – their third such meeting this year – but achieved no major progress on critical disagreements, particularly regarding territorial control.

Moscow demands that Ukraine surrender the remaining 20 percent of the industrial Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control, while Kyiv refuses to abandon territory that thousands of its citizens have died defending.

COPENHAGEN – A sudden flood of American buyers seeking real estate in Greenland’s capital city last year has accelerated efforts by territorial lawmakers to establish new foreign investment oversight rules, according to officials and sources close to the matter.

During January 2025, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s renewed push for greater influence over Greenland, legal professionals and property agents in Nuuk began fielding numerous inquiries from potential U.S. purchasers, six individuals with knowledge of the situation reported.

Previously, international buyers had demonstrated minimal interest in acquiring property within the community of 20,000 residents.

“The most aggressive ones wanted to buy everything available on the market,” a Nuuk-based lawyer said, requesting anonymity.

ECONOMIC NEEDS VERSUS POLITICAL CONCERNS

Trump’s focus on the Arctic territory has created a challenging situation for Greenland’s legislators, who must weigh their need for investment capital to revitalize a sluggish economy against concerns about U.S. investors who may harbor undisclosed political objectives.

The identity of these potential investors remained unclear, as did any possible connections to Trump’s Greenland initiative. The territory operates as a semi-autonomous region within Denmark’s kingdom.

However, this unexpected surge of interest concerned legislators, who worried that external purchasers might displace local residents from Nuuk’s already constrained housing supply, three sources indicated. By February 2025, Greenland’s administration had strengthened restrictions on international property acquisitions.

This housing market concern contributed to broader efforts to provide officials with mechanisms for examining the sources of incoming investment funds.

INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER

Foreign investment screening legislation, which had been under development for an extended period and officially presented to parliament in October, was originally designed partly to guard against unwelcome Chinese investment. However, three sources indicated the emphasis had changed following Trump’s renewed Greenland objectives.

“We are very interested in working with American investors, but not in a way where they try to push certain political goals,” MP Aqqalu Jerimiassen from the Atassut party, which belongs to Greenland’s ruling coalition, stated.

Greenland has consistently worked to broaden its economic base, primarily through pursuing mining sector investments. Nevertheless, insufficient infrastructure, including absent roadways linking the territory’s 72 communities, harsh weather conditions, and workforce shortages have hindered efforts to secure substantial international funding.

Denmark has provided additional funding for infrastructure and development programs, while the EU has suggested more than doubling its financial support. Despite these efforts, the Arctic territory’s economy continues to stagnate, with 2025 growth reaching only 0.2% alongside substantial public finance shortfalls.

MANDATORY REVIEW REQUIRED FOR KEY SECTORS

Initially discussed in November, the screening legislation is scheduled for additional debate in April and is anticipated to receive approval that month. The proposal requires international investors to reveal their funding sources and allows officials to deny transactions if investors’ political connections or intentions create concerns.

“If someone is working for Trump, we will find out with this screening law. This is about our own security,” Jerimiassen continued.

The proposed legislation avoids targeting particular nations but encourages collaboration with allies, suggesting American and European investors might encounter reduced scrutiny compared to Chinese counterparts. Nevertheless, it provides Greenland authority to examine foreign investments deemed security threats.

“The purpose of the law is to prevent foreign investments from posing a threat to Greenland’s security or public order,” the proposed legislation declares. Additionally, it aims to strengthen security for “Greenland and its allies, including NATO member states.”

International investments in essential infrastructure, information technology and classified data networks, natural resources and mining operations, hydroelectric power, and government-controlled enterprises would require mandatory review under the proposed regulations.

The legislation applies only to areas under Greenland’s authority and excludes U.S. military operations on the territory, which remain under Danish oversight.

China has stated it has no plans to compete for influence in Greenland.

TERRITORY REMAINS OPEN TO AMERICAN INVESTMENT, OFFICIAL SAYS

Last month, Drew Horn, a former senior official from Trump’s initial presidency, revealed plans for a multi-billion-dollar data center in Greenland – the type of development some legislators believe demonstrates the necessity for more comprehensive screening procedures.

Greenland’s administration reported it has not received applications or official requests regarding the proposal.

Horn, who currently operates an investment and consulting company, informed Reuters the project lacked political connections and expressed no concerns about meeting screening requirements in Greenland.

“Greenland wants American capital, but we fear hidden political motives behind certain U.S. private investors,” one parliamentary member said, speaking anonymously due to the matter’s sensitivity.

Discussions between Greenland and the United States regarding access and presence on the territory continue, with Trump maintaining demands for “total access” to the island.

Business Minister Naaja Nathanielsen informed Reuters the foreign investment screening legislation was not created in response to U.S. interest and that she remains receptive to American investment.

However, if U.S.-Greenland negotiations failed, she noted, “then of course we would need to reevaluate our position. But we are not there yet.”

Greenland’s housing ministry indicated property limitations implemented last year were precautionary measures not connected to specific information but designed to preserve control over Nuuk’s housing supply.

A massive defense partnership worth more than $35 billion has been established between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates following the signing of a formal cooperation agreement, according to a Seoul government official.

Kang Hoon-sik, serving as chief of staff to President Lee Jae Myung, announced the milestone agreement to news media upon his return from the UAE on Thursday. The presidential envoy detailed that the military collaboration will encompass multiple defense sectors including air defense systems, air force operations, and naval capabilities.

The memorandum of understanding represents one of the largest international defense partnerships in recent years, highlighting the growing strategic relationship between the two nations across various military technologies and systems.

Photographic evidence has surfaced confirming that Russia has deployed a controversial nuclear-capable cruise missile in its war against Ukraine – the same weapon that prompted the United States to abandon a crucial nuclear arms control agreement during the Trump administration.

Military analysts examining missile debris fragments obtained by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have verified Russia’s repeated use of the 9M729 cruise missile system. This marks the first visual confirmation of the weapon’s battlefield deployment.

The missile’s development originally caused President Trump to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, a critical nuclear arms control framework from the Cold War era. Trump cited concerns that this ground-launched weapon could travel well beyond the treaty’s 500-kilometer distance restriction.

According to Ukraine’s General Prosecutor’s Office, one 9M729 missile launched by Russian forces on October 5 traveled more than 1,200 kilometers to reach its target.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and intelligence sources report that Moscow fired this missile system twice during 2022, followed by 23 additional launches between August and October of last year. These represent the weapon’s first documented combat applications anywhere in the world.

Law enforcement officials indicate Russia launched at least four more of these missiles at Ukrainian targets on February 17, marking previously unreported attacks. Additional strikes have occurred since October, according to the sources.

Jeffrey Lewis, a Distinguished Scholar of Global Security at Vermont’s Middlebury College, analyzed the debris images and concluded: “The images really do appear to show the 9M729. In addition to the markings, the debris are similar to other cruise missiles that are related to the 9M729.”

Defense intelligence specialists at Janes, a British-based company, determined there was strong probability the wreckage in the 10 photographs originated from the ground-launched 9M729 system.

Ukrainian law enforcement sources indicated the fragments were recovered across western Ukraine, including the Zhytomyr, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia regions.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the exact locations and timing of when these fragment photographs were captured.

Several pieces display identifying marks, including one bearing serial number 0274 and others stamped with “9M729.” A Reuters journalist observed an additional fragment with the 9M729 marking, though Ukrainian officials requested it not be photographed for publication.

Russia’s Defense Ministry declined to provide comment regarding this report.

While Moscow has acknowledged the missile’s existence, Russian officials have disputed claims that it violated the 1987 treaty or possessed the range capabilities alleged by other nations.

The October 5 missile strike hit a residential home in Lapaiivka village near Lviv, killing five civilians. This attack occurred over 1,200 kilometers from the launch point, according to the Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s Office statement.

Ukrainian authorities are investigating the missile’s use across eight different regions throughout the country.

The original INF Treaty specifically prohibited ground-launched missiles exceeding 500 kilometers in range because their mobile launchers are more difficult to detect than aircraft or naval vessels carrying similar weapons, creating enhanced security threats.

Russia has also deployed the Oreshnik twice since November 2024 – a newly developed intermediate-range ballistic missile that would have similarly violated INF Treaty restrictions.

Both the 9M729 and Oreshnik systems can be equipped with either nuclear or conventional warheads, with ranges capable of reaching major European cities.

According to the Missile Threat database maintained by Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, the 9M729 has an operational range of 2,500 kilometers.

Multiple NATO member countries in Europe are now pursuing acquisition or development of their own long-range strike capabilities to address the growing deterrence gap with Russia.

European governments have expressed growing concerns about America’s long-term commitment to continental defense, as Washington has indicated Europeans must assume primary responsibility for conventional military protection.

Last August, Russia announced it would eliminate all restrictions on deployment locations for intermediate-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Russia has launched thousands of drones and missiles against Ukraine since beginning its full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. Recent attacks have specifically targeted power generation and heating infrastructure during what has been Ukraine’s harshest winter of the conflict.

The strategic reasoning behind Russia’s decision to deploy the 9M729 system remains unclear.

Missile analyst Lewis expressed surprise that Russia would risk exposing sensitive military technology by using the nuclear-capable weapon in Ukraine, where military experts can analyze its combat effectiveness and examine recovered fragments.

“Russia may have a relatively small stockpile of sophisticated cruise missiles and so it’s willing to dip into its longer-range stockpile,” Lewis suggested.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan authorities have captured a suspect believed to be behind a deceptive recruitment operation that promised skilled employment in Russia but instead sent workers to combat zones in Ukraine.

Law enforcement officials detained Festus Omwamba on human trafficking charges in Moyale, a northern border town near Ethiopia. According to police spokesman Michael Muchiri, Omwamba was attempting to flee the country after recently returning from Russia and will be transferred to Nairobi.

Three Kenyan victims who spoke with The Associated Press had previously identified Omwamba as a key figure in the recruitment scheme. He had disappeared from public view once families began demonstrating over missing and deceased relatives involved in the Ukraine conflict.

Last week, Kenya’s government revealed that recruitment operations had ensnared more than 1,000 citizens to serve in Russia’s military forces in Ukraine. Current estimates show 89 Kenyans remain in active combat, 39 are receiving medical treatment, 28 are unaccounted for, while others have managed to return home. Officials have confirmed at least one fatality.

Parliamentary majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah presented an intelligence briefing alleging coordination between Kenyan and Russian government representatives with fraudulent employment agencies to deceive potential recruits.

Russia’s diplomatic mission in Nairobi has rejected these claims, stating Thursday that no visas were granted to individuals planning to participate in the Ukraine conflict. The embassy added: “The Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the armed forces.”

Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi announced on February 9 his intention to visit Russia for what he described as a “diplomatic approach to rein in any dubious entities that are taking advantage of anyone in this misadventure.”

Mudavadi confirmed that diplomatic efforts continue to free Kenyans detained in Ukrainian facilities and bring home those currently in Russia.

“You recall that even at the highest level, the president made an appeal that if indeed there are Kenyans who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law, the appeal was made to the Ukrainian government to look at how they can be processed and brought back,” the minister explained.

This arrest represents a significant breakthrough in government efforts to halt the recruitment of Kenyan citizens for the Ukraine war.

John Kamau, a recruit who fled the battlefield and found safety at Kenya’s Russian embassy before being repatriated, told the AP he encountered Omwamba at a Nairobi residence where prospective recruits waited for travel arrangements.

A second recruit, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, described how Omwamba deliberately avoided written communication, preferring phone calls and face-to-face meetings with potential recruits.

This individual had enrolled believing he would work as a plumber in Russia, but upon arrival, authorities confiscated his passport and sent him to military training before battlefield deployment.

Multiple recruits confirmed that Omwamba managed their tourist visa paperwork and flight bookings, with the entire process from initial contact to departure taking approximately two weeks.

JERUSALEM (AP) — With American military forces building up across the Middle East, the Islamic Republic of Iran confronts the possibility of major military action from the globe’s strongest armed forces, with potential targets including leadership, military installations, nuclear facilities, and essential infrastructure.

Tehran’s military strength pales in comparison to U.S. capabilities and has been further diminished following Israel’s military campaign last year and domestic unrest. However, the nation retains the ability to cause significant harm to American troops and regional partners, particularly if regime survival becomes the primary concern.

Despite substantial losses sustained in June, Israeli intelligence indicates Iran maintains hundreds of missiles with the range to strike Israeli territory. The country possesses an even more extensive collection of shorter-range weaponry capable of reaching American military installations throughout Gulf nations and naval forces, which will soon include a second aircraft carrier group.

Tehran has repeatedly issued warnings about blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for international petroleum commerce, and asserted it achieved partial closure during recent military exercises.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued threats about destroying U.S. naval vessels, while senior government figures have declared that American aggression would trigger broader regional conflict. Iran’s United Nations representative Amir Saeid Iravani stated that “all bases, facilities and assets of the hostile force in the region” would become valid military objectives.

During the 12-day conflict in June, Israeli forces conducted extensive bombardments against Iran’s long-distance missile stockpiles, along with military commanders and nuclear infrastructure. American forces targeted Iran’s primary atomic facilities, with President Donald Trump declaring at that time they had been “obliterated.”

The full scope of destruction and subsequent reconstruction efforts remains unclear. Iranian forces maintained their missile and drone attacks against Israel throughout the hostilities, progressively penetrating the country’s advanced defensive systems.

Danny Citrinowicz, an Iranian affairs specialist at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, noted that Iran’s short-range missile capabilities remained mostly intact. This situation could encourage Iranian retaliation against the tens of thousands of American military personnel stationed in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and other regional locations.

“Iran may be weak. But it still has ways to inflict real pain on the United States — and much more incentive to try than it did before,” Nate Swanson, head of the Atlantic Council’s Iran Strategy Project, wrote in Foreign Affairs. “Iranian officials feel they need to give Trump a bloody nose or they will perpetually be at risk.”

Following the assassination of its leading military commander in 2020, Iran fired missiles at an American installation in Iraq and struck a U.S. facility in Qatar during the final stages of last year’s warfare. These attacks, which seemed deliberately signaled beforehand, resulted in property damage without casualties as warning systems and defensive measures activated successfully.

Tehran could execute operations beyond the immediate region. Intelligence agencies have linked the country to utilizing criminal organizations and militant factions for planning or executing attacks globally, targeting dissidents, Israelis, and Jewish communities.

Israeli military action last year eliminated multiple high-ranking officers and nuclear researchers, exposing significant security weaknesses. Trump previously claimed American intelligence had located Khamenei’s whereabouts, describing him as an “easy target.”

Following the recent apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump might pursue targeted elimination operations designed to topple Iran’s multi-decade Shiite religious government, which he recently described as something that “would be the best thing that could happen.”

Iranian leadership has spent eight months addressing previous vulnerabilities and strengthening internal protection measures. Citrinowicz suggested contingency arrangements likely exist should Khamenei be eliminated. Instead of designating a single replacement, authority would probably transfer to a small governing body during active conflict.

Analysts believe the death of 86-year-old Khamenei, who has controlled Iran for more than thirty years, would not automatically destroy the Islamic Republic. Leadership might ultimately transfer to a trusted associate, similar to Venezuela’s transition, or to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces.

Regional allies express clear anxiety about widespread warfare, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised severe retaliation for any Iranian assault on Israel.

Arab Gulf nations have historically regarded Iran with suspicion and depended on American protection, yet prefer avoiding military involvement. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, hosting thousands of U.S. service members, have declared they would prohibit use of their airspace.

A Gulf diplomatic source revealed regional leadership maintains communication with both Iran and America to prevent warfare, cautioning about serious ramifications including petroleum price increases. The official requested anonymity when discussing these confidential negotiations.

Iran maintains its own partnerships, including Yemeni Houthi fighters, Iraqi militant organizations, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Hamas in Palestinian areas. However, this self-proclaimed Axis of Resistance experienced major defeats during fighting that spread throughout the region following Hamas’s October 2023 Gaza offensive.

Another nearby objective could enable Iran to cause broader economic damage.

Approximately twenty percent of global oil commerce travels through the Strait of Hormuz, located near Iranian coastline. The U.S. Navy maintains commitment to keeping this waterway accessible, but Iranian interference could disrupt commercial activity, similar to the Houthis’ successful Red Sea disruption over the past two years.

Iranian authorities have not directly threatened the strait during current tensions, but military forces achieved partial closure last week during training exercises, demonstrating potential vulnerability during wartime.

Additional vital petroleum infrastructure would fall within striking distance. In 2019, attacks on oil facilities temporarily reduced Saudi Arabia’s output by half. Yemen’s Houthis accepted responsibility, though American officials subsequently attributed blame to Iran.

After initially threatening military response to Iran’s suppression of demonstrators, Trump redirected focus toward the nuclear program, warning that “bad things” would occur without a negotiated agreement. Both parties plan another round of indirect discussions in Geneva on Thursday.

Iran has consistently maintained its atomic program serves peaceful purposes, while America and other nations have long suspected Tehran ultimately intends weapons development. After Trump abandoned a 2015 nuclear accord, Iran accelerated uranium enrichment activities, accumulating stockpiles of near-weapons grade material.

Iran’s largest facilities suffered American and Israeli strikes, causing considerable surface damage. Whether enriched uranium was relocated before attacks or stored underground remains unknown. Iran claims enrichment capabilities have been eliminated since then, while simultaneously preventing inspections.

Iran is still considered far from producing functional nuclear weapons, though radioactive materials could create hazards during extensive military strikes.

Spain’s ambitious plan to provide legal status to at least 500,000 undocumented immigrants is creating overwhelming pressure on government agencies and causing widespread concern among potential applicants, even before the program officially launches, according to union representatives, attorneys, and migrants interviewed by Reuters.

The mass legalization initiative, announced by Spanish officials last month, could face serious obstacles due to insufficient information and government funding, warn two individuals familiar with the program. This latest effort continues Spain’s welcoming immigration approach that economists say has fueled the country’s recent economic growth.

While Spanish authorities have indicated the program will operate from early April through June, they have released minimal details about how people can apply or what paperwork will be needed. The migration ministry’s website stated in January that no extra budget or personnel had been allocated to handle the anticipated flood of applications.

This uncertainty has created stress for both the immigrants hoping to gain legal status and the government workers at immigration facilities already dealing with months of accumulated cases.

“Our offices are completely jammed. If there are no more people, if there is no technological reinforcement, without more money, this is impossible,” said César Pérez, a union leader for Spain’s immigration officers.

Pérez informed Reuters that most of his fellow workers are still processing legal status requests that were filed in June 2025.

Spanish officials released a preliminary outline of the program last month. A confidential draft of the complete decree, dated February 18th and obtained by Reuters, indicated that “a specific, preferential and differentiated procedure” would be created for the legalization period but offered no specifics.

Spain’s ministries of Inclusion, Interior and Territorial Policy did not respond to detailed inquiries from Reuters. A representative from the ministry overseeing migration stated that the final decree remains under development.

‘CHAOS AT LAUNCH’

While other European nations are restricting their borders, Spain’s Socialist administration continues to support immigration, which economic experts say accounts for much of the nation’s rapid economic expansion over the past four years.

Earlier administrations, including conservative-led governments, have implemented several mass amnesty programs in recent decades. The most extensive occurred in 2005, when 570,000 individuals who could demonstrate formal employment contracts received legal status.

There’s a compelling reason for legalization: Spain requires approximately 2.4 million additional people contributing to social security over the coming decade to maintain its welfare system, based on government projections.

However, conflicts with smaller political parties have destroyed the current government’s majority in parliament’s lower chamber. The resulting political gridlock has blocked legislators from approving a budget since 2023 — limiting the government’s capacity to implement its new immigration agenda.

The absence of additional government funding for the 2026 program would represent a significant change from earlier mass legalizations. In 2005, 1,700 workers were brought on and 742 new information centers were created to support the existing system, according to research by scholar Claudia Finotelli.

To address this year’s anticipated shortfall, the government is exploring the possibility of enlisting non-profit organizations and labor unions to assist with processing applications, according to four sources knowledgeable about the situation.

Another possibility being discussed involves extending immigration offices’ operating hours, according to Perez, the union representative.

However, neither solution has been officially implemented, leaving administrators skeptical about whether the program will begin as scheduled.

“The government is optimistic, but coordinating everyone will not be easy. We can expect chaos at launch,” said a person involved in the migration ministry’s discussions.

DESPERATE MIGRANTS IN LIMBO

Immigrants have also been left in uncertainty.

They are lining up at immigration facilities seeking information about the program that staff members cannot yet provide, according to police and civil service unions.

Spanish officials have stated that immigrants with clean criminal backgrounds who have lived in Spain for five consecutive months or filed asylum claims before the end of 2025 may be eligible. However, they have not clarified what documentation will serve as acceptable evidence.

“It’s still not clear what requirements we’ll have to meet. I’m afraid they will ask for something I can’t provide,” said Iris Rocha, a 37-year-old Peruvian mother of two. She spoke to Reuters following a presentation by a local immigration-focused nonprofit organization in Barcelona, often the only resource available to migrants seeking more information.

Rocha, who stated she escaped Peru with her daughters in 2023 following life-threatening domestic violence, lost her temporary work authorization last year after her asylum request was rejected.

She explained that she requires legal documentation to find employment again.

“I would get my life back. Until then I have to survive,” Rocha said.

Spain’s immigration minister Elma Saiz informed reporters in January that applicants could work legally once they receive notification that their application is under review, which she said would occur within 15 days of submitting required documents.

Specialists remain doubtful, citing persistent delays in the immigration system. Spanish research institution Funcas reports that migrants currently spend an average of two to three years trying to obtain legal status, with roughly 840,000 undocumented immigrants working illegally while navigating the process.

“People become undocumented not because they don’t want to register, but because they can’t,” said Gabriela Domingo, a lawyer at migration consultancy Legalizados.

Some worried migrants are already paying middlemen to reserve April appointments at immigration offices, according to three attorneys.

This practice violates the law, and the government admitted in November 2025 that it resulted from a lack of available appointment times.

“People are selling appointments even though the start date is only a rumour, which shows the fear this process has instilled in migrants,” said Pilar Rodriguez, a lawyer for migrants advocacy organisation Aculco.

Russian officials expressed concerns Thursday about potential conflicts between President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace and the United Nations Security Council, which has been the primary international peacekeeping body since World War II ended.

Trump initially introduced the peace board concept in September as part of his strategy to resolve the conflict between Israel and Gaza. He later broadened the board’s scope to address international conflicts worldwide, roles typically handled by UN mechanisms.

Among the UN Security Council’s five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—only America has participated in Trump’s new board.

Kirill Logvinov, who heads the Russian foreign ministry’s international organizations department, shared his concerns with the state news agency TASS, stating: “The charter of the Board of Peace defines itself as a new international structure designed to replace ‘mechanisms that have too often proved ineffective.’”

Logvinov noted that the board’s official mandate makes no reference to Gaza despite its origins in addressing that conflict.

“It is clear that this approach raises questions about how the Board of Peace will coexist with the United Nations and its Security Council, which is the only universally recognised body for maintaining international peace and security,” he explained.

The Russian official also highlighted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has not received invitations to any board meetings thus far.

According to its charter, the board commits to conducting “peace-building functions in accordance with international law.”

Trump serves as the board’s chairman and holds significant executive authority, including veto power over decisions and the ability to dismiss members, though some limitations apply.

The UN Security Council has maintained primary responsibility for global peace and security since its inaugural meeting in London in 1946, though it now operates from New York headquarters.

MOSCOW – The Kremlin accused Washington of deliberately provoking conflict after a deadly maritime confrontation near Cuba left four people dead on Wednesday, according to Russia’s state media outlet TASS.

The fatal encounter occurred when a speedboat registered in Florida entered Cuban territorial waters and engaged in gunfire with Cuban patrol vessels. Cuban military forces responded by opening fire, killing four Cuban exiles aboard the vessel and injuring six others during the Wednesday incident.

Maria Zakharova, who serves as Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, characterized the maritime clash as intentional American aggression designed to increase regional tensions.

“This is an aggressive provocation by the United States aimed at escalating the situation and detonating a conflict,” Zakharova stated, as reported by the Russian news agency.

The deadly confrontation comes during a period of increased strain between Washington and Havana, adding another layer of complexity to already tense U.S.-Cuba relations.

KYIV – Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces conducted a widespread aerial bombardment during the overnight hours, leaving approximately 20 people wounded across the nation’s eastern and southern territories, according to local government statements released Thursday.

The assault involved both ballistic and cruise missile strikes targeting the capital city of Kyiv along with surrounding areas and the eastern city of Kharkiv, while unmanned aircraft struck the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukrainian officials have not yet revealed the total count of projectiles launched during the nighttime bombardment or identified the primary objectives of the strikes.

Over the past several months, Russian forces have concentrated their aerial campaigns on Ukraine’s electrical grid infrastructure, systematically destroying generating facilities and distribution networks, leaving vast areas without power for extended periods.

Kharkiv region sustained the heaviest casualties with at least 14 wounded civilians, including a child aged seven, according to regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov’s statement on the Telegram messaging platform. He reported that the city endured strikes from two missiles and 17 unmanned aircraft.

In Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed that no fewer than seven residents suffered injuries during the nighttime bombardment. The drone strikes caused structural damage to 19 residential apartment complexes, while an additional 500 households lost heating services due to infrastructure destruction.

Fedorov shared images showing residential structures with gaping holes in exterior walls, completely destroyed private residences, and damaged commercial establishments.

Officials in Ukraine’s capital reported that multiple structures across three city districts sustained damage from debris created when air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones.

Chinese military forces have been operating surveillance drones over the South China Sea while broadcasting deceptive identification signals, according to new analysis of flight tracking data reported by Reuters.

The large military drone has been conducting routine missions in recent months while transmitting fraudulent transponder codes that disguised it as various other aircraft, including a sanctioned cargo plane from Belarus and a British Typhoon fighter jet.

Defense experts and military officials analyzing these operations believe the flights mark a significant escalation in China’s gray-zone military tactics in the disputed waters and may represent preparation for potential invasion scenarios involving Taiwan.

Flight tracking data reveals that since August, no fewer than 23 missions have been recorded using the call sign YILO4200, identified as a Chinese military drone with extended flight capabilities. However, the aircraft broadcast registration codes belonging to completely different planes during these operations.

The drone’s typical flight routes originate from China’s Hainan province and head eastward toward the Philippines, passing near the contested Paracel Islands and along Vietnam’s coastline.

This represents the first comprehensive reporting on the scope and sophistication of these deceptive operations.

According to regional diplomatic sources, intelligence specialists, and security researchers who have examined the flight information, these missions demonstrate a new level of complexity in China’s expanding military presence throughout the South China Sea and around Taiwan. The operations involve real-time deployment of electronic warfare and deception techniques as China’s military works to enhance combat readiness.

While such masking techniques may not completely fool air traffic control systems or advanced military radar, they could create costly delays and confusion during actual conflict, hide sensitive intelligence gathering, or serve propaganda purposes, according to diplomatic and intelligence sources.

Ben Lewis, who founded the open-source intelligence platform PLATracker, said the operations were unprecedented.

“We’ve not seen anything like this before,” Lewis stated. “It’s … a kind of deception trial being carried out in real time using aircraft that are not exactly low profile. It does not appear to be at all accidental.”

China’s defense ministry has not responded to inquiries about these flights or their intended purpose.

The flights have primarily appeared on flight tracking systems as an Ilyushin-62 cargo aircraft operated by Belarus-based Rada Airlines, though they have also masqueraded as a Royal Air Force Typhoon, a North Korean Il-62 passenger aircraft, and an unidentified Gulfstream business jet.

Since mid-December, the drone designated YILO4200 has also conducted several missions in northwestern China, most recently on February 15 when it transmitted signals identifying it as an anonymous Pilatus PC-12 turboprop passenger plane.

Aircraft identification codes originate from a specialized 24-bit address system managed by the International Civil Aviation Authority. These numbers, transmitted through transponder systems, help determine an aircraft’s location, heading, and velocity.

Though each aircraft receives a unique address, these codes are publicly available, and aviation experts confirm that reprogramming a transponder to broadcast a different registration number is technically feasible.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Rada Airlines in August 2024 for transporting cargo to and from Africa that included Wagner Group personnel connected to Russian military operations, as well as involvement in illegal wildlife trafficking.

Flight data shows the actual Belarusian Il-62 aircraft remained active during this period using its legitimate call sign and was even airborne simultaneously with the Chinese drone that was impersonating it.

Rada Airlines has not responded to requests for comment, and Britain’s defense ministry declined to provide statements on the matter.

An International Civil Aviation Organization representative said the organization does not comment on issues or speculation regarding specific member nations.

Operating from Qionghai Boao International Airport in Hainan, the aircraft typically remained airborne for extended periods, flying distinctive star-shaped or hourglass patterns over identical areas repeatedly.

These flight characteristics match those commonly associated with large military drones conducting surveillance missions and covered strategically important sections of the South China Sea, including waters frequently used by submarines, according to intelligence analysts reviewing the data.

Chinese military forces typically operate their drones in “dark” mode, transmitting neither call signs nor registration identifiers.

Two missions among the 23 examined were particularly noteworthy: During one flight spanning August 5-6, the drone initially broadcast the RAF Typhoon’s identification code, then switched between three different aircraft signals over approximately 20 minutes before finally landing while transmitting the Rada Airlines identifier.

In another instance on November 18, the drone operated while impersonating the Belarusian aircraft at the same time the genuine Rada Il-62 departed from near Belarus bound for Tehran.

Alexander Neill, a Singapore-based security analyst, described the Hainan operations as representing a novel approach within China’s digital warfare capabilities designed to “muddy the waters” if regional tensions escalate into armed conflict.

“They don’t appear to be exercises as much as the kind of action the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has described as rehearsals for a confrontation – anything the Chinese can do to sow confusion in the minds of their rivals is to their advantage,” Neill explained. Neill serves as a fellow at Hawaii’s Pacific Forum.

“The U.S. and its allies know that given the realities of highly automated conventional conflict, even milliseconds count along the kill chain of escalation.”

The Pentagon has not responded to requests for comment regarding the Chinese drone operations.

Lewis and three additional open-source intelligence analysts identified the YILO4200 call sign as belonging to an extended-range Wing Loong 2 unmanned aircraft, comparable to the U.S. Reaper drone with a 67-foot wingspan.

The Wing Loong primarily serves surveillance functions but can be configured for additional roles including command and control operations, precision missile attacks, and anti-submarine warfare.

State-connected Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, an AVIC subsidiary, manufactures the aircraft but declined to comment on the matter.

Flight tracking specialist Amelia Smith originally linked the Wing Loong 2 to the call sign through analysis of flight data, official press reports, and government announcements.

Lewis, Smith, and other intelligence analysts said it remains unclear which Chinese agency operates the aircraft from Boao Airport, which serves both commercial and military purposes.

Satellite imagery from July, September, and January obtained show large drones positioned on the airport’s tarmac alongside support facilities in a section currently undergoing expansion.

Ian Petchenik, communications director for Flightradar24, confirmed the tracking service had observed the Hainan flights and had not encountered similar activity previously, apart from apparent accidental miscoding, nonexistent addresses, or data corruption.

“Based on the flight patterns and the kind of usage of these 24-bit addresses, it doesn’t seem like it is a mistake in the programming of the transponders,” Petchenik stated.

It could not be determined whether the flights follow pre-programmed routes or receive ground-based control.

The flight paths traverse areas of significant naval activity, including waters south of Hainan near Chinese submarine installations and eastward toward the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines – a critical passage point for China’s navy to reach the Pacific Ocean.

Security analyst Neill suggested the route patterns indicate preparation for operations over Taiwan.

When the 23 flight paths are mapped over Taiwan, they pass numerous military locations of strategic importance, concentrated around Taipei while also extending along the island’s southern coast. The eastward trajectories bring the aircraft near Japanese and U.S. military installations in Okinawa and other Ryukyu chain islands.

“It is a compelling image – extensive rehearsals across the South China Sea to be deployed over Taiwan’s key points,” Neill observed.

GENEVA (AP) — Iranian and American diplomats gathered Thursday in Geneva for nuclear discussions that many view as diplomacy’s final opportunity, as Washington has positioned naval vessels and military aircraft throughout the Middle East to apply pressure on Tehran for an agreement.

President Donald Trump seeks an agreement that would limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities, believing this moment presents an opening while Tehran faces domestic turmoil from widespread protests that occurred last month. Iran continues to assert its right to uranium enrichment, despite its nuclear infrastructure suffering significant damage after Trump authorized strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

Should American military action occur, Iran has declared that all U.S. military installations across the Middle East would become legitimate targets, potentially endangering tens of thousands of American troops. Tehran has also issued threats against Israel following an intense 12-day conflict last year, raising concerns about another regional war erupting throughout the Middle East.

“There would be no victory for anybody — it would be a devastating war,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told India Today in an interview recorded Wednesday before his departure to Geneva.

“Since the Americans’ bases are scattered through different places in the region, then unfortunately perhaps the whole region would be engaged and be involved, so it is a very terrible scenario.”

Araghchi will once again negotiate with Steve Witkoff, a wealthy real estate mogul and Trump associate who functions as the president’s special Middle East representative. These two officials conducted several negotiating sessions last year that broke down after Israel initiated its military campaign against Iran in June. Oman, the sultanate positioned on the Arabian Peninsula’s eastern border that has historically facilitated communication between Iran and Western nations, is once again mediating these current discussions.

Trump is now demanding that Iran completely stop uranium enrichment activities, while also addressing Tehran’s ballistic missile development and its backing of regional militant organizations. Iran insists the negotiations must concentrate exclusively on nuclear matters.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed reporters Wednesday that Iran is “always trying to rebuild elements” of its nuclear program. He stated that Tehran currently isn’t enriching uranium, “but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”

Iran claims it hasn’t conducted enrichment since June, yet has prevented International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from accessing the facilities targeted in American bombings. Satellite imagery examined by The Associated Press has revealed ongoing activity at two of these locations, indicating Iran may be evaluating and possibly recovering materials from these sites.

Western nations and the IAEA maintain that Iran operated a nuclear weapons program until 2003. Prior to the June military action, Tehran had been enriching uranium to 60% purity levels — requiring only minor technical advancement to reach weapons-grade concentrations of 90%.

American intelligence services conclude that Iran hasn’t restarted a weapons program but has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.” Despite claiming their program serves peaceful purposes, Iranian leadership has made threats about pursuing nuclear weapons in recent years.

“The principle’s very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters at the White House Wednesday.

Vance explained that Trump is “sending those negotiators to try to address that problem” and “wants to address that problem diplomatically.”

“But, of course, the president has other options as well,” Vance added.

Should these negotiations collapse, questions remain about when any potential military action might occur.

If military strikes aim to force Iranian concessions in nuclear talks, it remains unclear whether limited attacks would achieve this goal. If the objective involves removing Iran’s government, this would likely require America to commit to an extensive, prolonged military operation. No public evidence exists of planning for subsequent steps, including potential chaos within Iran.

Questions also surround how military action might affect the broader region. Tehran could strike back against Persian Gulf nations allied with America or target Israel. Oil prices have climbed recently partly due to these worries, with benchmark Brent crude reaching approximately $70 per barrel. During previous negotiations, Iran reported briefly stopping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf through which one-fifth of global oil trade passes.

Satellite photographs taken Tuesday by Planet Labs PBC and reviewed by The Associated Press seemed to indicate that American naval vessels normally stationed in Bahrain, headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, had all deployed to sea. The 5th Fleet directed inquiries to U.S. Central Command, which refused to provide comment. Before Iran’s attack on Qatar in June, the 5th Fleet similarly dispersed its ships to sea as protection against possible assault.

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron plans to present his country’s updated nuclear strategy Monday, rejecting the idea of shared European nuclear control while explaining what France might provide to allies concerned about America’s nuclear protection under President Donald Trump.

While both France and Britain possess nuclear weapons, most European nations depend heavily on the United States for protection against potential threats — a cornerstone of transatlantic security for decades.

However, Trump’s closer ties with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict and his tougher stance toward traditional partners — including threats to take control of Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark — have unsettled European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in Munich earlier this month that Berlin had begun talks with France about creating a European nuclear deterrent. Macron described this as needing a “holistic approach of defence and security.”

Several other nations, including Nordic countries traditionally supportive of the US, have carefully shown interest in such discussions.

DOUBTS ABOUT FRANCE’S REACH

Behind closed doors, European officials wonder whether France’s nuclear arsenal can adequately defend the entire continent. Their concerns involve sharing costs, determining who would make launch decisions, and whether emphasizing nuclear weapons might reduce crucial investments in conventional military forces.

France allocates approximately 5.6 billion euros ($6.04 billion) annually to maintain its collection of 290 nuclear weapons launched from submarines and aircraft — ranking fourth globally in arsenal size.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the European Parliament in January: “For Europe, if you really want to go it alone… you have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros.”

“You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” he added.

Expert analysis indicates the US maintains roughly 100 nuclear weapons across Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey as part of NATO’s deterrent strategy.

During wartime, these non-nuclear nations’ air forces would deploy the American weapons under what’s called “nuclear sharing” policy.

US Undersecretary of Defence Elbridge Colby assured allies in Brussels this month that Washington will maintain its nuclear protection for Europe, despite investing over a trillion dollars in upgrading its own weapons systems.

French leadership emphasizes Paris doesn’t aim to replace American protection or challenge NATO’s role.

Etienne Marcuz from the FRS research institute explained in a recent analysis: “While U.S. nuclear forces’ primary mission is to target adversary nuclear arsenals, their French and British counterparts aim to inflict unacceptable damage on the political, military, and economic centres of potential adversaries.”

“This doctrine requires far fewer warheads to be credible,” he noted.

CLARIFYING FRANCE’S APPROACH

French authorities want Europeans to better grasp what France’s nuclear policy can and cannot deliver. However, Paris insists that financing its deterrent remains exclusively French to maintain complete national authority.

A fundamental aspect of France’s position involves “strategic ambiguity” about when nuclear weapons might be deployed and where French essential interests align with broader European security.

This lack of clarity troubles some partners.

“We first want to see what France has to offer… It’s not about having deterrence. It’s about how credible it is,” stated a senior eastern European diplomat.

Any expanded French nuclear role would require Europe to create long-range strike missiles exceeding 2,000 kilometers — technology currently unavailable.

Creating tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use, rather than strategic weapons for long-distance strikes, appears even more unlikely.

Officials believe such development would raise serious concerns under nuclear non-proliferation agreements that European governments have long supported.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Brussels reporters this month: “We understand where these discussions are coming from. They’re stemming from the fact that our transatlantic alliance is not what it used to be.”

“My personal view is that, you know, if we have more nuclear weapons all around the world, I don’t think we’re going to be in a more peaceful world,” she said.

MACRON’S NUCLEAR STRATEGY UPDATE

At France’s nuclear submarine facility in Brittany, Macron will present his traditional once-per-presidency nuclear doctrine briefing.

France’s approach seeks to maintain a small but effective arsenal capable of inflicting damage significant enough to prevent any initial attack.

“Just discussing alternatives is sending a message to Moscow,” observed a senior European official.

French officials provided no advance details about Macron’s address but noted the strategic environment has changed dramatically since his previous speech in 2020, pointing to Russia’s expanding arsenal and heightened nuclear threats following its 2022 Ukraine invasion.

France has consistently stated its essential interests include a European component. In 2020, Macron extended invitations to partners for strategic consultations — an offer that received limited interest then.

Officials confirmed one principle remains constant: only France’s president can authorize nuclear weapons use.

“It is the case and will remain so,” a French presidential adviser confirmed.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A new Truth and Reconciliation Commission has begun operations in South Korea, with investigators focusing heavily on fraudulent practices that plagued the country’s international adoption system for decades.

This marks the third such commission in South Korea’s history, which started accepting cases on Thursday. The previous commission concluded its work in November, leaving over 2,100 complaints without resolution.

The newly formed panel will take on these outstanding cases, including 311 submissions from Korean adoptees living in Western nations. These cases were either postponed or given incomplete reviews when the second commission ended its groundbreaking adoption investigation in April of last year, after internal disagreements arose about which cases deserved recognition as problematic.

Adoption advocacy groups report significantly greater interest from adoptees this time around, with hundreds already requesting investigations. Many of these requests come from the United States, a group that was underrepresented in the prior inquiry despite American families being the primary recipients of Korean children throughout the past seventy years.

However, former investigators from the earlier commission warn that actual investigations may not begin for several months, potentially stretching into May or June. The government has not yet named a chairperson for the commission, which lacks organized investigative teams and will initially operate under civil servants responsible for receiving and cataloging cases.

The current commission operates under expanded authority granted by legislation passed in January, allowing it to examine additional government-linked human rights violations. These include civilian deaths during the Korean War period from 1950-53, suppression under military rule from the 1960s through 1980s, and long-term mistreatment of individuals in welfare institutions.

During its peak years, South Korea facilitated the placement of thousands of children annually with Western families, beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the early 2000s. The 1980s saw the highest numbers, averaging over 6,000 children per year. At that time, the nation operated under military leadership that viewed population expansion as detrimental to economic objectives, using international adoptions as a method to decrease domestic welfare obligations. This practice contributed to creating what may be the world’s largest population of international adoptees.

The previous adoption investigation was suspended in 2025 after nearly three years of case reviews spanning Europe, the United States, and Australia. During this period, the second commission validated human rights violations in only 56 out of 367 adoptee complaints.

Despite the limited number of confirmed cases, the commission produced an important preliminary report establishing government accountability for an international adoption system characterized by fraudulent practices and abuse. The report concluded that the program was motivated by cost-cutting measures and executed by private organizations that frequently falsified children’s histories and backgrounds.

This report contradicted the long-held belief in both South Korea and receiving Western countries that adoptions were primarily humanitarian efforts. The findings supported earlier investigative work conducted by The Associated Press.

The AP’s investigations, conducted in partnership with Frontline (PBS), utilized thousands of documents and numerous interviews to demonstrate how South Korean officials, Western governments, and adoption agencies collaborated to place approximately 200,000 Korean children with overseas families, despite ongoing evidence of corrupt and illegal procurement methods.

A Hong Kong court has imprisoned the 69-year-old father of a Washington-based democracy advocate for eight months after he attempted to access money from his daughter’s insurance plan, marking the first prosecution of a family member under Hong Kong’s domestic national security legislation.

Kwok Yin-sang was convicted earlier this month under the 2024 security statute, known locally as Article 23 legislation, for trying to handle financial assets of an “absconder.” His daughter, Anna Kwok, serves as executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council and condemned her father’s conviction as “transnational repression.”

Hong Kong police have placed a bounty of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $127,900) on the younger Kwok’s capture and prohibited anyone from managing her financial assets. She is one of 34 individuals facing police rewards as part of what observers describe as a broader suppression of dissent following the large-scale anti-government demonstrations in 2019.

Officials claim she has called for foreign sanctions and blockades while conducting hostile activities against China and Hong Kong through meetings with international politicians and government representatives.

Following the ruling, Anna Kwok stated “my father was convicted simply for being my father,” describing his charges as based on “incoherent fiction.”

The elder Kwok had purchased the insurance plan for his daughter during her early childhood, with ownership transferring to her at age 18. This year, the father attempted to cancel the policy and retrieve approximately $11,000 in funds, according to court proceedings. He was taken into custody the same year on allegations of attempting to manage an “absconder’s” assets.

Acting principal magistrate Cheng Lim-chi delivered Thursday’s sentence. Kwok’s defense attorney had requested a 14-day jail term, contending that no proof existed showing his client planned to transfer the funds to his daughter.

While Kwok’s offense could have resulted in up to seven years imprisonment, his case was processed through magistrates’ courts, which typically impose sentences not exceeding two years.

Law enforcement has similarly issued rewards for other Hong Kong activists living abroad, including former pro-democracy legislators Nathan Law and Ted Hui. Both U.S. and U.K. governments have criticized these bounty programs.

In 2025, Washington imposed sanctions on six Chinese and Hong Kong officials it accused of participating in “transnational repression” and actions threatening the city’s autonomy. Beijing responded weeks later by announcing sanctions against U.S. officials, legislators, and NGO leaders it claimed have “performed poorly” regarding Hong Kong matters.

Both Hong Kong and Chinese authorities maintain that the 2024 legislation and a Beijing-implemented national security law from 2020 were essential for maintaining the city’s stability.

In Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, 21-year-old Rahul Pariyar practices attaching his safety harness to climbing ropes at a job preparation facility. These fundamental techniques will serve him well when he begins painting buildings and cleaning skyscrapers in the United Arab Emirates.

“I am not happy to leave my family back and go for work in a foreign country. But what to do?” Pariyar said while wearing his bright yellow safety helmet. He noted that workers in Dubai typically earn approximately four times the wages available in Nepal.

The mountainous country, situated between China and India, faces elections on March 5. These elections came about after unprecedented demonstrations led by young citizens who demanded change due to limited employment opportunities and widespread government corruption, ultimately forcing the elected leader to step down.

However, Pariyar expressed little interest in the political process, stating: “I am not interested in the upcoming elections. It does not pay my wages.”

According to World Bank statistics, Nepal’s jobless rate among young people stands at 20.6%, making it the worst performer across all South and Southeast Asian countries. This figure highlights how multiple administrations have failed to address the employment shortage.

Industry representatives report that approximately three million of Nepal’s 30 million citizens currently work in other countries, particularly in Middle Eastern nations. Many of these workers participated in last September’s uprising.

Data from the Rastriya Shramik Mahasangh Nepal (RSMN), a nationwide labor union organization, shows roughly 1,500 young Nepalis depart daily to find work abroad.

Mahesh Raj Dahal, who works at Motherland Overseas recruitment company where Pariyar receives training, observed: “Over the past six months the number of people going for work abroad has increased.”

“This is because of the political instability, lack of jobs in Nepal and low wages for workers,” Dahal explained.

This mass departure has devastated rural communities throughout Nepal’s remote areas, leaving behind primarily children and elderly residents while most working-age adults have migrated elsewhere.

During their campaigns, Nepal’s major political organizations pledge to address the worker outflow that started when the nation opened its economy in 1991, allowing private employment agencies to establish operations.

The migration surge intensified during subsequent years as Maoist rebels gained control over rural regions.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), considered the leading contender due to prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah’s popularity, has committed to establishing 1.2 million employment opportunities to decrease involuntary migration.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress, the nation’s most established political organization, claims it will produce 1.5 million jobs and cut worker emigration in half over the coming five years.

Yet widespread doubt exists about their ability to fulfill these commitments. Many young people hold Nepal’s political organizations responsible for insufficient development and employment, criticizing parties that have contributed to decades of uncertainty through constantly changing alliances and frequent elections.

Economist Keshav Acharya, formerly employed at Nepal’s central bank, explained: “Nepal was always an agricultural economy, and it directly shifted to the service sector. The politicians here bypassed the manufacturing sector, which created this crisis of jobs.”

“They come and make promises, but they hardly act on it,” Acharya added.

Multiple structural obstacles have hindered Nepal’s industrial development, including unstable policies, insufficient infrastructure, poor governance, and workforce skill gaps.

A World Bank analysis from last year stated: “The manufacturing sector, historically an engine of growth in other developing countries, has been on a constant decline.”

The report continued: “Increasing remittances have also not translated into significant job creation or higher productivity in key sectors.”

During the fiscal period ending July 15, 2024, overseas Nepali workers transferred 1.44 trillion rupees ($9.93 billion) back home, representing a 16.5% increase from the prior year and accounting for nearly 25% of Nepal’s total economic output, according to central bank records.

While Nepal’s service industries comprise more than half of its $42 billion economy, farming continues to provide employment for over 60% of workers in a country where approximately one-fifth of residents survive on less than $2 daily.

Astha Bhatta from Kathmandu’s Institute for Integrated Development Studies noted: “Even where people are counted as employed, a bigger problem is under-employment – wages that are not enough to sustain a decent living.”

“That gap between effort and earnings is a major reason why many people try to leave the country,” Bhatta said.

At Kathmandu’s primary international airport, 31-year-old Ramesh Bahadur B.K. Nimaile prepared for his departure to Romania for employment. As the oldest among six children, Nimaile supports his entire family and previously spent two years working construction in Dubai before returning due to harsh working conditions.

“Will this election give me a job? No, right? Inflation is soaring, everything is expensive,” he stated.

“I carry a family debt of over 2.5 million rupees ($17,200). What option do I really have except to migrate for work?” Nimaile asked.

HONG KONG – A Hong Kong judge handed down an eight-month prison term Thursday to a 69-year-old man whose daughter is a prominent democracy activist now living in the United States.

Kwok Yin-sang was convicted of violating Hong Kong’s national security law when he tried to cancel his daughter’s insurance policy and access the money. The court found him guilty earlier this month of “attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets or economic resources” that belonged to someone considered an “absconder” under local security laws.

This marks the first time anyone has been charged and found guilty of this particular violation. Kwok had entered a not guilty plea and chose not to take the stand during his trial.

His daughter, Anna Kwok, currently serves in a leadership role with the Hong Kong Democracy Council, an advocacy organization based in Washington. She is among 34 overseas activists that Hong Kong national security authorities are seeking to arrest.

Authorities have accused Anna Kwok of working with foreign powers against Hong Kong’s interests, and law enforcement has put up a reward of HK$1 million, equivalent to about $128,000, for information leading to her capture.

HONG KONG — Former media owner and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai scored an uncommon legal win Thursday when a Hong Kong appeals court reversed his fraud convictions, though the 78-year-old will remain behind bars serving a separate 20-year sentence.

Lai, who established the shuttered Apple Daily newspaper and has been a vocal opponent of China’s Communist leadership, received the two-decade prison term just weeks ago following his conviction under Beijing’s national security legislation.

His arrest occurred over five years ago as part of extensive government efforts to silence Hong Kong’s democracy movement leaders. International observers have condemned his treatment as an attack on press freedom, while local officials maintain his prosecution was unrelated to journalism.

Thursday’s overturned conviction stemmed from allegations that Lai’s consulting company improperly used office space leased by his media operations for publishing and printing activities.

In 2022, Lai received a sentence of five years and nine months after a court found him guilty on two fraud counts.

The original judge determined that Lai and co-defendant Wong Wai-keung had hidden the consulting firm’s use of the space, violating their lease terms. The judge stated Lai had used his news organization as cover and imposed a 2 million Hong Kong dollar fine ($257,000).

However, appellate judges determined prosecutors failed to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants made misleading statements, resulting in both convictions being dismissed.

Both defendants were absent from Thursday’s proceedings.

The decision may marginally reduce Lai’s overall prison time. Judges in his national security case permitted concurrent serving of sentences for only two years, with the remaining 18 years to follow completion of the fraud sentence.

The extended imprisonment has sparked worries that Lai may die in custody.

Lai’s family members have expressed optimism that President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing might help secure their father’s freedom. Lai holds British citizenship. The White House has announced Trump will visit China from March 31 through April 2 to meet with President Xi Jinping.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that Lai was punished for exercising free speech rights and has urged Hong Kong officials to release him for humanitarian reasons.

Both Chinese and Hong Kong leadership have justified Lai’s national security conviction, claiming it demonstrates proper legal procedures. They maintain the security legislation is essential for maintaining regional stability.

A Hong Kong appeals court has reversed the fraud conviction of imprisoned pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, throwing out his nearly six-year prison sentence in a Thursday ruling.

Three appellate judges – Jeremy Poon, Anthea Pang, and Derek Pang – granted Lai’s appeal request along with that of a co-defendant in the case.

In their written decision, the justices stated: “The Court of Appeal gave them leave to appeal against their conviction, allowed their appeals, quashed the convictions and set aside the sentences.”

The media tycoon had received a sentence of five years and nine months behind bars in December 2022 after a lower court determined he violated lease agreements for Apple Daily’s office space. The court found Lai guilty of hiding the operations of a private firm called Dico Consultants Ltd within the newspaper’s building.

A second Next Digital company executive, 61-year-old Wong Wai-keung, had also been convicted on fraud charges and received a 21-month prison term.