Thousands gather in Pyongyang. Loyalty pledges made. Nuclear power praised. What signal is Kim sending now?

North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary, using a rare national congress to spotlight what it described as major advances in the country’s nuclear arsenal.

State media reported Monday that senior military leaders pledged loyalty to Kim during the once-in-five-years gathering in Pyongyang, where thousands of party elites convened to set the country’s political and military direction.

The Korean Central News Agency said the congress praised Kim for “radically” strengthening North Korea’s nuclear forces and transforming the Korean People’s Army into a military prepared for “any form of war.” The message was unmistakable: national defense — anchored in nuclear capability — remains central to Kim’s rule.

The congress, only the ninth in the party’s history, offers rare insight into North Korea’s power structure. Analysts closely monitor seating arrangements and imagery to assess shifting influence within the regime. Attention is also focused on Kim’s teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who has increasingly appeared in state events and is viewed by South Korean intelligence as a potential successor.

Under Kim, North Korea’s nuclear program has evolved from intermittent testing to a more sophisticated weapons enterprise. Though it has not conducted a nuclear test in more than eight years, Pyongyang has worked to miniaturize warheads for long-range missiles. Days before the congress, Kim unveiled what state media described as nuclear-capable rocket launchers.

China’s President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim on opening a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, signaling continued regional backing. Kim has also appeared publicly with Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, underscoring closer ties amid tensions with Washington.

The congress comes as US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to renewed talks with Kim. At the previous party congress, Kim labeled the United States his country’s “biggest enemy.” Whether he chooses to soften or reinforce that stance in the coming days will be closely watched.

For now, the message from Pyongyang is clear: Kim remains firmly in control — and nuclear power remains

A secretive US military task force, a $15 million bounty, and Mexico’s most wanted cartel boss — here’s what we now know.

A newly formed US military-led intelligence task force played a role in the Mexican operation that killed Nemesio Oseguera, the notorious cartel leader known as “El Mencho,” according to US defense officials.

The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JITF-CC), launched last month, specializes in mapping cartel networks operating across the US-Mexico border. A US defense official told Reuters the unit contributed intelligence ahead of Sunday’s raid in Jalisco, though the operation itself was carried out entirely by Mexican forces.

A former US official said Washington assembled a detailed “target package” on Oseguera, combining intelligence and law enforcement data, and shared it with Mexico. El Mencho had long ranked at or near the top of US priority targets, with a $15 million bounty on his head.

Mexico’s defense ministry confirmed the United States provided “complementary information,” but stressed the mission was designed and executed by Mexican authorities without US troops on the ground.

Oseguera, 60, led the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), widely viewed as one of Mexico’s most sophisticated criminal organizations. His death triggered immediate retaliation, including torched vehicles and highway blockades across multiple states.

The operation marks a significant win for Mexico’s fight against drug trafficking networks that funnel billions of dollars’ worth of cocaine and fentanyl into the United States. It also underscores growing US involvement in cartel targeting under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has pressed Mexico to intensify its crackdown and has designated cartels as terrorist organizations.

Brigadier General Maurizio Calabrese, who leads the new task force, recently said the US military is applying lessons learned from counterterrorism campaigns against al-Qaeda and ISIS to dismantle cartel networks. He estimates that while a few hundred figures sit at the top of cartel hierarchies, as many as 200,000 to 250,000 contractors assist with drug movement.

The task force is part of a broader US strategy that includes expanded surveillance, military control along parts of the border and maritime strikes against suspected drug vessels.

For Washington and Mexico City alike, the killing of El Mencho sends a clear message. But history suggests that removing a cartel kingpin rarely ends the violence — it often reshuffles it.

Twelve democracy campaigners lose their appeal in Hong Kong’s biggest national security trial. What does it mean for the city’s future?

Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday upheld the convictions and prison sentences of 12 pro-democracy campaigners in the city’s largest national security case, reinforcing Beijing’s sweeping crackdown on dissent.

The defendants were part of a group of 45 opposition figures convicted in 2024 for organizing an unofficial primary election in 2020. Authorities deemed the vote a subversive plot, arguing it aimed to secure a legislative majority capable of vetoing the government’s budget and forcing political concessions such as universal suffrage.

Chief Judge Jeremy Poon ruled that the strategy amounted to an unlawful attempt to undermine Hong Kong’s constitutional order. While lawmakers are legally permitted to veto the budget under the city’s Basic Law, the court said using that mechanism as coordinated political leverage crossed into subversion.

Among those whose appeals were dismissed were veteran activist Leung Kwok-hung, known as “Long Hair,” former journalist Gwyneth Ho and Australian citizen Gordon Ng. The defendants waved to supporters in court as the three-judge panel delivered its decision.

Critics swiftly condemned the ruling. Pro-democracy figures described it as a blow to political freedoms, while Amnesty International said the court had missed a chance to correct what it called a miscarriage of justice.

The case traces back to the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019. In response, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020, criminalizing acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Since then, dozens of opposition politicians, activists and civil society leaders have been arrested or jailed.

Sentences in the broader case ranged from just over four years to 10 years in prison. The 12 appellants may seek a final appeal at Hong Kong’s top court, though it remains unclear whether they will pursue that route.

For many in the city, Monday’s ruling underscores a stark reality: the legal boundaries of political opposition in Hong Kong have fundamentally changed.

Trump says help is “on the way.” Greenland says it never asked for it. What’s really behind the hospital ship move?

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he is dispatching a U.S. naval hospital ship to Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory he has repeatedly sought to acquire — an announcement that Greenland’s leadership swiftly rejected.

“Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland,” Trump wrote on social media, alongside an illustration of the USNS Mercy. He claimed the ship would assist “many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there.”

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded bluntly: “No thank you.”

In a statement, Nielsen said Greenland operates a universal public health care system that provides free treatment to citizens — a “deliberate choice” central to the island’s social model. He urged Washington to engage in direct dialogue rather than make unilateral announcements online.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed that sentiment, defending Denmark’s national health care system and emphasizing equal access regardless of wealth.

It remains unclear whether any deployment order has been issued. The Pentagon directed inquiries to U.S. Northern Command, which referred questions to the Navy. The Navy did not respond. Ship-tracking data showed the USNS Mercy moored in Alabama, with no indication of imminent departure.

The announcement follows Denmark’s recent evacuation of a U.S. submarine crew member from Greenlandic waters for medical treatment — a routine operation handled by Greenlandic authorities. The episode underscores an existing level of cooperation between Copenhagen and Washington.

Strategically, Greenland occupies a critical position in the Arctic, where melting sea ice is opening new shipping routes and intensifying competition among global powers. The United States maintains Pituffik Space Base on the island’s western coast, a key early-warning and surveillance facility.

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland has unsettled European allies and reignited debate over sovereignty in the Arctic. For many Greenlanders, concerns center less on geopolitics and more on preserving social systems — particularly public health care and education — that differ sharply from the American model.

Whether the hospital ship proposal signals humanitarian outreach or another attempt to assert influence remains uncertain. What is clear is that Greenland’s leadership wants decisions about its future made in Nuuk, not Washington.

A street brawl in Lyon has now triggered a diplomatic row between France and the United States — and tensions are rising.

France has summoned the U.S. ambassador in Paris after American officials publicly commented on the death of a 23-year-old far-right activist, a move French authorities described as unacceptable interference in domestic affairs.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Sunday that Ambassador Charles Kushner would be called in for talks following a social media post from the U.S. Embassy that amplified statements from the State Department’s Counterterrorism Bureau.

The controversy stems from the death of Quentin Deranque, who died two days after suffering severe head injuries in a violent altercation in Lyon on February 12. Video footage of the brawl, showing masked individuals attacking a man on the ground, circulated widely and sparked national outrage.

French authorities have charged two suspects with murder and arrested a total of 11 individuals in connection with the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

The U.S. Embassy reposted comments suggesting Deranque “was killed by left-wing militants” and warning that “violent radical leftism is on the rise.” Barrot rejected that framing, saying the event concerns France’s national community and that Paris “rejects any interference.”

The diplomatic tension widened after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the death as linked to “left-wing extremism,” criticizing what she called a climate of ideological hatred across Europe.

This is not the first time tensions have flared between Paris and Washington during Kushner’s tenure. In August 2025, French officials also summoned him after remarks accusing the government of insufficient action against antisemitism.

While the United States and France remain close allies, the episode underscores how domestic political violence — particularly involving far-right and far-left groups — can quickly spill into international diplomacy.

As investigations into Deranque’s death proceed, the focus now shifts to whether the diplomatic fallout will subside — or deepen amid already polarized transatlantic politics.

As China tightens its grip on rare earths, India is looking elsewhere. A new deal with Brazil could reshape global supply chains.

India and Brazil have signed a new agreement to deepen cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths, a move New Delhi hopes will reduce its dependence on China and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, where the two leaders discussed expanding trade and investment ties. Modi described the minerals agreement as a “major step towards building resilient supply chains.”

China currently dominates global mining and processing of rare earths and other critical minerals, materials essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, smartphones, jet engines and advanced weapons systems. Beijing has tightened export controls in recent months, adding urgency to efforts by countries like India to diversify sources.

Brazil, which holds some of the world’s largest reserves of critical minerals after China, is well positioned to become a key alternative supplier. Lula said increasing cooperation in renewable energy and critical minerals was central to the “pioneering agreement” signed between the two countries.

Although specific details of the minerals pact have not been released, analysts say it reflects India’s broader strategy of securing long-term access to resources vital for industrial growth and clean energy transition. India has recently pursued similar supply chain partnerships with the United States, France and the European Union.

Beyond minerals, the two governments signed nine additional agreements spanning digital cooperation, health and other sectors. Modi called Brazil India’s largest trading partner in Latin America and set a target of pushing bilateral trade beyond $20 billion within five years.

According to trade data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Indian exports to Brazil reached $7.23 billion in 2024, led by refined petroleum products. Brazilian exports to India totaled $5.38 billion, with raw sugar among the top commodities.

For both nations, the agreement signals more than commercial ambition. As emerging powers, India and Brazil have increasingly framed their cooperation as strengthening the voice of the Global South in shaping new trade and energy rules.

In a world where control over minerals can shape geopolitical influence, their partnership may mark another step in the global race to loosen China’s grip on strategic resources.

A foreign ISIS fighter captured at midnight — and a U.S. airstrike hours later. The battle for Al-Miskaad is intensifying.

Puntland security forces say they captured a suspected Islamic State fighter in a late-night operation in the Al-Miskaad Mountains, as the United States confirmed it carried out an airstrike in the same region days earlier.

According to officials overseeing operations in the mountainous area, the suspect was detained around midnight in the Tasjiic locality. He was identified as Bishaar Mohamed, described as a Yemeni national believed to be affiliated with ISIS.

Commanders said the man was unarmed at the time of his arrest and had reportedly fled from the Shankaala base in the Baalade valley — an area Puntland authorities describe as a key command hub for ISIS militants operating in the mountains east of Bosaso.

The capture comes amid intensified pressure on the group. In recent weeks, Puntland officials say several ISIS members, many of them foreign nationals, have surrendered to security forces as military operations expand deeper into the rugged terrain.

Separately, United States Africa Command confirmed that on February 16 it conducted an airstrike targeting ISIS fighters in Somalia. AFRICOM said the strike occurred in the Al-Miskaad Mountains, roughly 70 kilometers southeast of Bosaso, but did not disclose details on casualties or the specific targets.

The U.S. military has periodically supported Somali and regional forces with air operations aimed at degrading ISIS and al-Shabaab networks. While ISIS in Somalia is smaller than al-Shabaab, intelligence officials consider its mountainous strongholds strategically significant, particularly due to the presence of foreign fighters and suspected financial networks.

Puntland recently announced a shift in its military approach against ISIS — moving away from direct frontal assaults toward a strategy focused on encirclement and containment. Officials argue that isolating supply routes and tightening control around key bases will weaken the group’s operational capacity over time.

The twin developments — a ground arrest and an aerial strike — underscore a coordinated push to dismantle ISIS infrastructure in northeastern Somalia. Whether the new strategy yields lasting results may depend on sustained pressure, intelligence coordination, and the ability to prevent fighters from regrouping in the difficult terrain of Al-Miskaad.

A shocking “leaked call” spreads online — but is it real? There’s no credible evidence it ever happened.

Social media posts circulating in late February 2026 claim to show a transcript of a phone call between Senator Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy discussing extreme proposals, including “bringing back slavery” and forcing eighth-grade girls to become pregnant.

There is no credible evidence that the conversation ever took place.

The videos, shared across Instagram, X, Facebook, Reddit and other platforms, feature an unidentified voice reading what is described as a leaked transcript. In the alleged exchange, the two Republican politicians are portrayed discussing slavery, state-funded religious schools, mass deportations and mandatory pregnancy for school graduation.

Fact-checkers found no reputable news organizations reporting on such a recording or transcript — an absence that raises serious doubts given the explosive nature of the claims. No details have been provided about who recorded the alleged call, when it supposedly occurred or how it was leaked. Some online posts reference July 2022 but offer no supporting evidence.

The content of the purported transcript also sharply contradicts both politicians’ documented public positions. While McConnell and McCarthy have opposed federal abortion protections and supported conservative judicial appointments, neither has publicly endorsed policies resembling the extreme and inflammatory statements described in the viral posts.

Both lawmakers have previously condemned slavery. In past public statements, McCarthy referred to the “evils” of slavery, while McConnell acknowledged it as a “stain on our history,” though he has opposed federal reparations.

The transcript also references Senator Lindsey Graham and “SCOTUS,” implying coordination around Supreme Court decisions. However, no independent evidence supports the authenticity of the alleged exchange.

Representatives for the lawmakers have not confirmed the transcript as genuine.

Experts warn that fabricated transcripts and AI-generated audio have become increasingly common tools for political misinformation, especially in election cycles. Without verifiable sourcing, audio proof or confirmation from credible outlets, the claim remains unsubstantiated.

In short, there is no proof that McConnell and McCarthy held the conversation described in the viral posts. The allegations appear to be based on an unverified and highly sensationalized script circulating online.