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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to increase production of the country's nuclear warheads “exponentially.” SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the “exponential” expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal and the development of a new, more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, state media reported Sunday, after he entered 2023 with another weapons test following a record number of missile firings last year. Kim’s moves suggest he will continue his provocative run of weapons tests this year despite U.S.-led pressure campaigns to curb his nuclear ambition. Regional tensions on the North's nuclear program will likely continue, but some experts said Kim would ultimately try to use his enlarged arsenal to wrest concessions like sanctions relief in future dealings with his rivals. “They are now keen on isolating and stifling (North Korea), unprecedented in human History ,” Kim said at a recently ended ruling party meeting, according to th

For three years, Juan Guaidó has led the Venezuelan opposition’s efforts to bring about new elections and remove socialist President Nicolás Maduro CARACAS, Venezuela -- For three years, Juan Guaidó led the Venezuelan opposition’s efforts to bring about new elections and remove socialist President Nicolás Maduro. But on Friday, dozens of politicians who once backed Guaidó voted in favor of removing the 39-year-old engineer and replacing his U.S.-supported “interim government” with a committee to oversee presidential primaries next year and protect the nation’s assets abroad. The vote reflects a changing balance of power within the opposition, which is trying to find new ways to connect with voters ahead of the nation’s 2024 presidential election. Three of Venezuela’s four main opposition parties backed the proposal to remove Guaidó, who was supported only by his own Popular Will party. After the vote, Guaidó said the move would create a “power vacuum” that could encourage more foreig

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have vowed to deepen their bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of Moscow’s 10-month war in Ukraine KYIV, Ukraine -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping vowed Friday to deepen their bilateral cooperation against the backdrop of Moscow’s 10-month war in Ukraine, which weathered another night of drone and rocket attacks following a massive missile bombardment. Putin and Xi made no direct mention of Ukraine as they held bilateral talks via videoconference. But they hailed strengthening ties between Moscow and Beijing amid what they called “geopolitical tensions” and a “difficult international situation.” “In the face of increasing geopolitical tensions, the significance of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is growing as a stabilizing factor,” Putin said. He invited Xi to visit Moscow in the spring. In Ukraine, authorities reviewed the toll from a widespread Russian miss

Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen the commissioning of new warships and vowed to further strengthen his country’s navy MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw the commission ing of new warships and vowed Thursday to further strengthen his country's navy. “We will speed up and increase the volumes of construction of ships of various projects, equip them with the most modern weapons, and conduct the operational and combat training using the experience received during the special Military operation,” Putin said, referring to Russia's 10-month-old campaign in Ukraine. The newly commission ed vessels included a corvette, a minesweeper and the Generalissimus Suvorov nuclear submarine. The submarine armed with Bulava nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles is the sixth submarine of the new Borei-class to join the Russian navy. “It will ensure Russia's security for decades ahead,” Putin said. Another submarine of the same type, Emperor Alexander

France’s defense minister has pledged further military support for Ukraine, insisting his government’s backing is unflagging while efforts are also being made with Moscow to reach an eventual negotiated end to Russia’s invasion KYIV, Ukraine -- France's defense minister on Wednesday pledged further Military support for Ukraine, insisting his government's backing is unflagging while efforts are also being made with Moscow to reach an eventual negotiated end to Russia's invasion. Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu said France’s support will include French army equipment and a 200 million euro (US$212 million) fund that would allow Ukraine to purchase weapons. While France has been less vocal about its military support for Ukraine than the United States and Britain, the country has sent a steady supply of weapons to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. France hosted two aid conferences for Ukraine this month. But many in Ukraine rema

Mexico's president is appealing to the country's citizens not to accept holiday handouts and gifts from drug gangs MEXICO CITY -- Mexico’s president appealed to the country’s citizens Tuesday not to accept holiday handouts and gifts from drug gangs, after videos posted online showed garish pickup trucks handing out loads of gifts while bystanders described the drivers as members of the Jalisco drug cartel. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that some drug gangs were looking to resume such giveaways — often seen years ago — to gain the support of the local population. López Obrador said in his morning press briefing that local residents in some communities have tried to protect traffickers, stop drug seizures or oppose the installation of National Guard bases intended to fight drug trafficking. Authorities have not confirmed the source of the gifts — mostly toys — in the Dec. 21 handout in a low-income neighborhood in the city of Guadalajara, the capital of Jali

South Korea’s president has called for a stronger air defense and high-tech stealth drones to better monitor North Korea SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for a stronger air defense and high-tech stealth drones to better monitor North Korea, a day after Seoul accused North Korea of flying five drones across the rivals’ tense border for the first time in five years. South Korea’s military fired warning shots and scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters in response Monday, but there has been no confirmation that any of the North Korean drones were shot down. That has raised a serious question about South Korea’s air defense network at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea’s torrid run of missile tests this year. “We have a plan to create a Military drone unit tasked with monitor ing key Military facilities in North Korea. But we’ll advance the establishment of the drone unit as soon as possible because of yesterday’s incident,” Presiden

China flew 71 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone, including 47 planes that crossed the defacto maritime border between the mainland and the island. HONG KONG and TAIPEI -- China on Monday flew 71 war planes into Taiwan’s air defense zone, as part of a drill that included 47 planes crossing the de-facto maritime border between the mainland and the island. The 47 aircraft crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, entering into Taiwan’s southwest air defense zone at about 6 a.m. local time, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said. President Joe Biden on Dec. 23 signed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023, a bill that included funding for Taiwan, along with support for its “meaningful participation” in the international community. Officials from China’s People Liberation Army said Monday’s Military drills were in response to a “provocation” from the U.S. and Taiwan. Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, Dec.

The leader of former communist rebels has become Nepal’s new prime minister with the support from his ex-opponent and other smaller political parties KATHMANDU, Nepal -- The leader of former communist rebels became Nepal’s new prime minister Sunday with the support from his ex-opponent and other smaller political parties. The announcement was made by the office of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari after the Maoist communist party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal met her to stake his claim for the prime minister following last month's elections in a major twist in Politics in the Himalayan nation. Dahal has support of more than half the members of the newly elected House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. He is likely to take the oath of office on Monday and prove his majority in the 275-member house later in the week. Seven parties have pledged their support for Dahal, including his friend-turned-foe Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), led by Khadga Prasad

In the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis was presiding over Christmas Eve Mass VATICAN CITY -- Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable, Pope Francis rebuked those “ravenous” for wealth and power at the expense of the vulnerable, including children, in a Christmas Eve homily decrying war, poverty and greedy consumerism. In the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica, Francis presided over the evening Mass attended by about 7,000 faithful, including tourists and pilgrims, who flocked to the church on a warm evening and took their place behind rows of white-robed pontiffs. Francis drew lessons from the humility of Jesus’ first hours of life in a manger. “While Animals feed in their stalls, men and women in our world, in their hunger for wealth and power , consume even their neighbors, their brothers and sisters,” the pontiff lamented. “How many wars have we seen! And in how many places, even today, are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt!” “As always, the principal vict

As China grapples with its first-ever national COVID wave, emergency wards in small cities and towns southwest of Beijing are overwhelmed BAZHOU, China -- Yao Ruyan paced frantically outside the fever clinic of a county hospital in China’s industrial Hebei province, 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of Beijing. Her mother-in-law had COVID and needed urgent medical care, but all hospitals nearby were full. “They say there’s no beds here,” she barked into her phone. As China grapples with its first-ever national COVID wave, emergency wards in small cities and towns southwest of Beijing are overwhelmed. Intensive care units are turning away ambulances, relatives of sick people are searching for open beds, and patients are slumped on benches in hospital corridors and lying on floors for a lack of beds. Yao’s elderly mother-in-law had fallen ill a week ago with the coronavirus. They went first to a local hospital, where lung scans showed signs of pneumonia. But the hospital couldn’t handl

South Korea's military says North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters, its latest weapons demonstration that came days after U.S. and South Korean warplanes conducted joint drills that North Korea viewed as an invasion rehearsal SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Friday, South Korea's military said, its latest weapons demonstration that came days after U.S. and South Korean warplanes conducted joint drills that North Korea viewed as an invasion rehearsal. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch occurred Friday but gave no further details, such as what type of weapon was fired and how far it flew. The U.S. flew nuclear-capable bombers and advanced stealth jets near the Korean Peninsula for joint training with South Korean warplanes on Tuesday. North Korea typically calls such military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea an invasion rehearsal. South Korea’s Defense Ministry earlier said

Lawmakers in Spain and Scotland have passed gender self-determination bills allowing citizens over 16 to change their registered gender without medical supervision MADRID -- Spain's lower house of Parliament Thursday passed a law that allows people over 16 years of age to change their legally registered gender without any medical supervision. Under the Spanish law, drawn up by the center-left coalition government, minors ages 12and 13 will need a judge’s authorization to make the change, while those between 14 and 16 will have to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Up to now, Spanish transgender people needed a diagnosis by several doctors of gender dysphoria, which is the psychological condition of not feeling a match between one’s biological sex and gender identity. In some cases, they also needed proof they had been living for two years as the gender they identified with — or even records showing they had taken hormones. Transgender rights groups say the law repr

Families of Iranian protesters in jail say their loved ones are being tortured. LONDON -- Actress Taraneh Alidoosti was arrested over the weekend by the Iranian regime for supporting the ongoing protests, becoming the most prominent person in the country to be targeted. Alidoosti, who starred in the 2016 film "The Salesman," which won an Academy Award for best foreign language film, had posted a photo of herself without a headscarf to her 8 million Instagram followers. She also held a sign with the revolutionary slogan: "Woman, life freedom." "Every international organization who is watching this bloodshed and not taking action is a disgrace to humanity," she posted on social media, denouncing the execution of protesters in prison. The protests began after a 22-year-old woman was detained by the country's morality police for not wearing a headscarf in public. She later died in prison. Alidoosti's first request was to allow her family to send her me