International

UK Intelligence estimates russian casualties in Ukraine at over 1.2 million

British intelligence services estimate that Russia has suffered approximately 1,213,000 casualties — killed and wounded — since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, an offensive ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin that is approaching its fourth year.

The UK Ministry of Defence said that in 2025 alone, Russian forces are believed to have sustained around 415,000 casualties, making it the second deadliest year for Moscow’s military since the start of the war. That figure is slightly below 2024, when casualties were estimated at about 430,000, according to data released on Sunday.

Citing figures from Ukraine’s General Staff, the British Defence Ministry reported that in December 2025, Russian forces suffered an average of 1,130 casualties per day. The increase marked the fourth consecutive month of rising losses, following a period of comparatively lower casualty rates between April and August of the same year.

According to the assessment, the average daily casualty rate recorded between August and December 2025 was the highest since April 2024. British officials attribute the surge largely to repeated infantry assaults carried out by Russian troops across multiple fronts, particularly in areas where Moscow has recently made limited advances.

The UK warned that it is “highly likely” that Russia’s elevated casualty rates will continue into January 2026, as Moscow maintains large-scale ground offensives despite the significant human cost of the conflict.

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Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.

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International

Trump says Iran seeks new talks after failed negotiations in Pakistan

Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran has reached out to United States to resume negotiations, following the collapse of recent talks held in Islamabad.

“We’ve been contacted by the other side,” Trump told reporters, adding that Iran is eager to reach a deal “at all costs.” Speaking from the Oval Office, he reiterated that his main objective is to prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons and warned that he will not allow Iran to “blackmail” the international community.

After negotiations between Washington and Tehran ended without agreement on Sunday, Trump announced that the U.S. would move to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil trade.

The waterway had already been disrupted by Iran in response to a U.S. and Israeli offensive launched on February 28, causing significant shocks to the global economy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump further warned that any Iranian vessel attempting to bypass the U.S. naval blockade in the strait would be “eliminated immediately.”