International

Intelligence chiefs: Russia’s election interference ambitions unfazed by ukrainian conflict

U.S. intelligence officials are sounding the alarm, asserting that Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has not dampened its desire to interfere in the upcoming 2024 elections and sow discord in the United States. General Paul Nakasone, Director of the National Security Agency, and FBI Director Chris Wray, spoke at a cybersecurity conference in New York, emphasizing that Russia still possesses the capability to meddle in U.S. presidential elections despite the exhaustive two-year conflict in Ukraine.

Nakasone stated, “This is a significant year for them. They are assessing this [U.S. elections], and I anticipate that, given the challenge they have in Ukraine, this is where they obviously want to make an impact.”

Wray agreed, adding, “If anything, one could argue that their focus on Ukraine has heightened their desire to shape how we [the United States] are and how we think about issues because American politics is deeply important to their interests. Unprovoked and outrageous invasion of Ukraine.”

According to them, the “stars align” for Russia concerning its military efforts in Ukraine and operations of interference or influence in the United States. Despite a Department of Justice official stating that Russian intelligence’s focus on Ukraine benefits the U.S., concerns persist regarding its impact on American support for Ukraine, including military logistical assistance.

Both Nakasone and Wray expressed confidence in securing elections through “exponentially more sophisticated” collaboration between national security, cyber agencies, and the private sector. However, they acknowledged the improving capabilities of foreign adversaries.

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“The threats are more challenging, but the defense is better,” said Wray.

Wray and Nakasone identified Russia, China, and Iran as major actors seeking to interfere in U.S. elections. Wray highlighted China’s formidable cyber army, estimating it to be 50 times larger than that of all major countries combined.

While Nakasone acknowledged the numerical disadvantage, he emphasized the qualitative advantage the U.S. holds through partnerships, intelligence, academic collaboration, and a skilled workforce.

With the upcoming departure of NSA and Cyber Command chief Nakasone, the challenge of defending against cyber activities from foreign adversaries remains a priority.

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International

Peruvian presidential candidate Napoleón Becerra dies in campaign road accident

Presidential candidate Napoleón Becerra, representing the Partido de los Trabajadores y Emprendedores (PTE) in Peru, died in a traffic accident while traveling to a campaign event, local authorities confirmed Sunday.

Becerra, who also served as president of the centrist political party, ranked among the lowest in opinion polls in a crowded field of more than 30 candidates competing in the presidential election scheduled for April 12.

Recent surveys place Rafael López Aliaga at the top of voter preferences.

The accident occurred near the town of Ayacucho, in southern Peru, when the vehicle carrying the candidate overturned for reasons that remain under investigation.

“The candidate Becerra has died,” Balvin Huamani, mayor of the district of Pilpichaca, told RPP radio.

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According to Huamani, he personally transported the 61-year-old candidate to a local health center, where doctors confirmed his death.

The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) expressed condolences over Becerra’s passing and wished a speedy recovery to the three people who were traveling with him and were injured in the crash.

International

Noboa intensifies anti-cartel crackdown as violence persists in Ecuador

A close ally of Washington, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has pursued a hardline security strategy against cocaine cartels for more than two years, yet homicide, disappearance and extortion rates remain high across the country.

Between Sunday night and the morning of March 31, Ecuador’s armed forces will launch a “very strong offensive” with “advisory support” from the United States, Interior Minister John Reimberg announced Tuesday.

The government has kept details of the operation confidential and has not confirmed whether U.S. troops will be deployed on Ecuadorian soil, as has occurred at times during Noboa’s administration.

As part of the security measures, residents in the coastal provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and El Oro will be subject to a nightly curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time for the next two weeks.

“We are in a war,” Reimberg said, urging citizens to remain indoors. “Do not take risks. Stay home and allow the security forces and our allies to do the work that must be done.”

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Although Ecuador does not produce cocaine, it has become a major departure point for drugs heading to the United States. Meanwhile, the violence associated with trafficking has increasingly affected the local population.

Bordering the world’s largest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has gone from being considered a relatively peaceful country to recording one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America—52 killings per 100,000 inhabitants—according to the **Observatory of Organized Crime.

International

Peruvian presidential candidate proposes death penalty amid crime surge

Peru is facing an unprecedented surge in crime ahead of its presidential election scheduled for April 12, with violence fueled by extortion networks and a wave of contract killings linked to organized crime.

Police data show that 2,200 homicides tied to organized crime were recorded in 2025, while extortion complaints increased by 19%, underscoring the growing security crisis in the South American nation.

Amid this backdrop, presidential candidate Álvarez has proposed reinstating the death penalty if elected, arguing that extreme measures are needed to curb the violence.

To implement the proposal, Álvarez said Peru would withdraw from the American Convention on Human Rights—also known as the Pact of San José—which the country signed in 1978. The agreement prevents member states that have abolished capital punishment from reinstating it.

Currently, Peruvian law only allows the death penalty in cases of treason during wartime.

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“We have to leave the Pact of San José and apply the death penalty in Peru because those miserable criminals don’t deserve to live,” Álvarez told AFP during a campaign stop at a market in Callao, the port city neighboring Lima.

“An iron fist against those criminals,” he added, proposing to declare hitmen as military targets.

During the campaign event, Álvarez walked through stalls selling vegetables, groceries, and fish, greeting vendors while musicians played cumbia music nearby.

The 62-year-old candidate, who spent more than four decades working in television as a comedian, is a newcomer to politics and is running for president under the País para Todos party.

Polls place him fifth in voter preference with nearly 4% support in a fragmented race featuring 36 candidates.