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Authorities governing the eastern portion of divided Libya have officially closed their borders to citizens of four neighboring African nations, in what appears to be an effort to reduce the flow of migrants using the country as a stepping stone to reach Europe.

Libya’s northern coastline has long served as one of the primary departure points for migrants from across Africa hoping to reach European shores. Smugglers routinely load these individuals onto overcrowded and dangerous vessels, and thousands have lost their lives making the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean.

The ban, which was announced late Tuesday, formally states that nationals from Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia are “prohibited from entering Libyan territory through all land, sea, and air ports.” The government noted that exceptions would apply to diplomats as well as workers in the health and education fields.

In a separate but related development, hostility toward refugee resettlement has been growing in both eastern and western Libya over recent months. Large-scale crackdowns have resulted in thousands of refugees being arrested, according to Amnesty International.

The United Nations reports that more than 900,000 migrants and refugees are currently living in Libya, with Sudanese nationals making up the largest group. While many of these individuals are attempting to reach Europe, boats are frequently intercepted and returned to Libya, where migrants are often placed in government-run detention facilities. Those facilities have been documented as sites of serious abuses — including forced labor, beatings, sexual violence, and torture — conduct that U.N.-commissioned investigators have characterized as crimes against humanity.

Libya has been in a state of instability since the NATO-supported overthrow of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The nation currently operates under two separate governments — one in the west and one in the east — with no unified authority in place.

LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham moved a step closer to becoming Britain’s next prime minister on Wednesday after Cabinet minister Darren Jones, who had been floated as a potential rival, announced he would not seek the Labour Party leadership.

At the same time, outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with efforts to leave a lasting mark on his tenure before departing office. Starmer faced the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in Parliament on Wednesday before traveling to Berlin to meet with European allies for discussions on Ukraine and the Middle East.

Starmer revealed his intention to step down on Monday and is expected to be out of office within weeks, once the Labour Party selects a new leader.

Jones, a close ally of Starmer, had been urged by some party members to enter the race so that Burnham’s ideas and policies would face scrutiny from Labour lawmakers and members. Others within the party, however, argued that a leadership contest would only shine a spotlight on internal divisions and prolong political uncertainty.

Speaking to Sky News, Jones said running for the leadership is “not something that I’m going to do.”

Even so, Jones offered a warning to Burnham, cautioning him against shifting too far to the left on economic matters — a concern shared by some in the business and financial sectors. Burnham is widely expected to name a new Treasury chief to succeed Starmer’s appointee Rachel Reeves. Jones said the person chosen must be someone “that can reassure the markets, reassure the trade unions and reassure the parliamentary Labour Party, and by extension the public.”

Burnham is expected to deliver a speech next week laying out elements of his economic vision.

Starmer is departing after two years in office that were clouded by missteps and poor judgment calls that weakened his standing with both his party and the British public.

Burnham, a former Cabinet minister who has served as mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, won a special parliamentary election last week specifically to position himself to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership and the prime ministership.

As of now, he has no declared opponents. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, once seen as Burnham’s main competition, has announced he will support Burnham instead.

Labour leadership nominations are set to open on July 9 and close one week later. Should Burnham be the sole candidate, he could be installed as prime minister as soon as July 17. If a contest does emerge, the new leader is expected to be in place when Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1.

On Tuesday, Starmer told his Cabinet he intends to oversee an “orderly transition” to whoever succeeds him.

Despite his lame-duck status, Starmer is maintaining a packed schedule in an effort to cement his legacy. However, he is restricted from making major new policy announcements or committing to new spending during the remainder of his time in office.

His trip to Berlin for a gathering of the “E5” — Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom — for talks on European defense, the Ukraine war, and Middle East conflict highlights the international role he has played. Starmer has generally been seen as more confident on the world stage — particularly in rallying allies to support Ukraine and managing fallout from the Iran conflict — than he has been on domestic issues.

The British government is expected to release a long-awaited defense investment plan before a NATO summit in Turkey on July 7 and 8, which Starmer is likely to attend. That same plan triggered the resignation of Defense Secretary John Healey on June 11.

BUDAPEST — Hungary’s LGBTQ+ community is taking to the streets of the capital Budapest on Saturday for its annual Pride march, with activists and community members pushing to reclaim rights that were steadily eroded during Viktor Orban’s 16-year tenure in power.

Last year’s march became far more than a celebration — when police moved to ban it under Orban’s direction, the event transformed into a massive anti-government protest drawing tens of thousands of participants.

The political landscape has since shifted. Orban was ousted from power after Peter Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party defeated him in April elections. With the change in government, the ban on the march has been removed and Saturday’s event has received official authorization to proceed. Still, organizers are cautioning that the struggle isn’t finished.

“Last year, our love of freedom and our courage forced authoritarian power to retreat… But we have not reached our goal yet,” organizers said in a statement ahead of the march.

During his time in office, Orban positioned himself as a protector of what he described as Christian values against Western liberalism. His government enacted laws that eliminated the ability to change gender on official documents, prohibited same-sex couples from adopting children, and outlawed educational materials deemed to promote homosexuality or gender transition.

For LGBT activist and writer Adam Andras Kanicsar, the damage caused by those years will take considerable time to heal. Speaking with Reuters during a film shoot at a Budapest vintage shop, he reflected on the lasting personal toll.

“I’m still processing the Orban regime, I guess, and then I will process it for years. And I’m not alone with it,” he said.

He added: “In these last 16 years …working as an LGBTQ journalist and writing and speaking about LGBTQ people meant that I always had to go that one extra mile, every time…And I will never get back these miles in my life.”

Magyar, who identifies as a conservative, has urged patience when Hungarian media pressed him on plans to reverse legislation that restricted LGBT rights. However, he has spoken out against Orban’s former party, Fidesz, telling them in parliament “to leave the bedrooms of the Hungarian people as soon as possible” and condemning the party’s efforts to suppress the right to public assembly by banning the Pride march.

Labor unrest is intensifying across Australia’s resources industry, with the country’s iron ore mines and ports now facing a heightened threat of strikes. Major companies including BHP say the combination of rising costs and increased red tape is weakening Australia’s standing as a destination for mining investment.

Mining unions have stepped up industrial action ever since the Labor government passed legislation in 2022 that gave them greater power to negotiate wage agreements covering multiple employers, more flexibility in working arrangements, and the ability to call industry-wide strikes.

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that working days lost to labor disputes surged in the final three months of 2025 to their highest point since 2022. Workers have been pushing for pay increases and stronger job protections as Australia contends with 4% inflation and three interest rate hikes over the past year.

Earlier this month, strike activity disrupted shipments of liquefied natural gas from the Ichthys LNG project, which produces about 10% of Australia’s total LNG output. The project’s Japanese operator, Inpex, eventually reached a deal with unions to end the disruption.

Shell’s Prelude floating LNG vessel is now heading into its own wage negotiations. If no new employment agreement is reached, unions have the option of applying to Australia’s labor arbitration body to authorize strike action.

David Peetz, a professor of employment relations at Griffith University, noted that recent union wins in the energy sector are sending a message to workers across the industry. “Seeing union victories in the oil and gas sector in the region will tell a lot of workers that being unionised can make a difference,” he said.

Oil and gas workers had already begun rejoining unions before the 2022 law took effect, and they waged extended wage battles in 2022 and 2023 that resulted in significant pay increases.

Tensions are also rising at BHP’s Port Hedland operations, a critical hub for iron ore exports. Unions may pursue coordinated industrial action if no agreement is reached at their next scheduled meeting on July 7.

Port Hedland, which is also used by Fortescue and Hancock, moves approximately $150 million worth of iron ore every day — highlighting just how much is at stake if operations are disrupted at Australia’s most important export facility.

At a conference in March, BHP’s head of Australian operations, Geraldine Slattery, warned that Australia risks “losing its status as a top mining destination” if issues with costs and productivity are not resolved. Australian mine workers are already counted among the highest-paid in the world.

Jon Mills, an analyst at Morningstar, cautioned that if escalating industrial action continues to push wages higher, “then BHP and Rio will continue to automate as much as possible.”

Europe’s aviation safety agency is urging commercial airlines not to let their guard down over the Middle East, even after a framework deal was reached between Washington and Tehran.

The EU Aviation Safety Agency, known as EASA, announced Wednesday that it is extending its conflict-zone advisory covering the region through July 1. The agency said airlines should continue avoiding the airspace above Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon.

According to EASA, short-term violations of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remain a real possibility — especially in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the airspace surrounding it.

The agency also pointed to the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as an ongoing concern, warning that military activity could still affect Lebanese airspace.

In addition, EASA called on all airline operators to exercise caution and carefully weigh potential risks when flying through the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Train service across Germany was operating close to normal Wednesday morning after a communication system failure brought rail traffic to a sudden stop late Tuesday, leaving passengers stranded and sparking sharp criticism of the country’s main railway operator.

The disruption was caused by a malfunction in the GSM-R digital communication system, which the rail network relies on for internal operations. All train movement across Germany was halted abruptly, with service not resuming for approximately two hours. During that time, frustrated travelers crowded around information desks seeking answers.

Deutsche Bahn, the federally owned company that operates Germany’s primary rail network, reported that trains were moving “largely seamlessly” by Wednesday morning, though it acknowledged the possibility of some isolated service reductions throughout the day.

Officials have not yet revealed what caused the system to fail.

The incident comes amid a backdrop of growing frustration over the reliability of German rail service, with complaints about delays and interruptions becoming more common in recent years. Deutsche Bahn is currently undertaking major overhauls of key rail routes — a response to years of underinvestment — though the work itself has caused significant disruptions.

Oliver Krischer, who serves as the regional transport minister in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populated state, did not mince words in his reaction. Speaking to news agency dpa, he called the shutdown “a new low in already poor operating quality,” adding that “all rail traffic in Germany comes to a halt because of a technical defect.”

Krischer also stressed the need for better safeguards, saying there must be “emergency mechanisms that prevent such a disaster in the future. People rely on reaching their destination at least somewhat punctually by rail.”

Officials from Israel and Lebanon are engaged in ongoing discussions in Washington over a U.S.-supported proposal that would have Israeli forces hand over portions of southern Lebanese territory — currently under Israeli occupation following the war with Hezbollah — to the Lebanese military, according to Israeli and Lebanese officials.

Israeli officials said that Lebanese troops who would take control of the territory would first undergo training and screening by the United States to confirm they have no ties to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Under the proposal, Israel would continue to maintain a military footprint in a buffer zone running along the border.

The proposal is being described as a “pilot” project and is part of the current round of negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials, which began in Washington on Tuesday.

Hezbollah has rejected the diplomatic effort, and the process has been further complicated as Iran has made Lebanon a central issue in its own separate negotiations with the United States.

When asked about the Israeli officials’ statements, a senior Lebanese security official confirmed that talks were continuing in Washington and that Wednesday’s agenda would include direct military-to-military discussions, with the pilot zones among the topics on the table.

The Lebanese official said the conversations would center on a timeline for Israeli withdrawal, and that no final plan is expected to emerge until the last day of talks on Thursday. The official declined to address the Israeli account of U.S. vetting procedures for Lebanese troops.

The most recent conflict between Hezbollah and Israel broke out when the group began firing on Israel in a show of solidarity with Tehran during the early stages of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

A ceasefire has largely held since Sunday, though Israeli forces remain positioned deep within southern Lebanon, where they have established a self-declared security zone. Israel has said the zone is necessary to protect northern Israel from potential Hezbollah attacks.

A preliminary agreement reached between Iran and the United States last week calls on both nations and their allies to immediately and permanently halt military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and to uphold Lebanon’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

SYDNEY — A top official at Australia’s central bank said Wednesday that the institution still has more to do to bring inflation down, describing current price pressures as “far too high” — though he noted that falling global oil prices tied to a possible end to the Middle East conflict could offer some relief.

Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser delivered a speech focused on the Phillips curve, an economic framework that describes how inflation and unemployment tend to move in opposite directions. He explained how that framework has shaped the bank’s decisions to raise interest rates this year.

Hauser said the board chose to begin lifting rates back in February out of concern that consumer demand was outpacing the economy’s ability to supply goods and services by a greater margin than anticipated. That imbalance was pushing inflation higher, and officials determined that tightening monetary policy was necessary to bring prices back under control over time.

“But this is where being on the steeper part of the Phillips curve has a potential silver lining,” Hauser said. “It also implies that timely policy steps to reduce inflationary pressures, of the kind we have taken, should also have a proportionally smaller unemployment cost.”

The Reserve Bank of Australia has now raised interest rates three times in 2025, completely reversing the easing measures it had put in place the prior year. Those rate hikes came in response to an energy price shock driven by the ongoing war. While headline inflation slowed to 4.0% in May, a more closely watched measure known as trimmed mean inflation actually moved higher, reaching 3.6% — well above the bank’s target range of 2% to 3%.

There are also signs that Australia’s job market is beginning to soften. The unemployment rate climbed to 4.5% in April, marking a four-and-a-half-year high.

Hauser pointed to several notable economic shifts since May, including the possibility that the conflict in the Middle East could be moving toward a resolution. He said lower oil prices resulting from such a development would be a positive sign for inflation.

“By itself, lower global oil prices would be a welcome development, helping to lower and flatten the Phillips curve somewhat,” he said. “But a full resolution is not yet assured and we still have work to do to reduce inflation here in Australia, which remains far too high.”

BEIJING — China’s government is asserting its right to hold people living outside the country legally responsible under a sweeping new ethnic unity law, with a top official defending the measure as both lawful and in keeping with global standards.

The law, which was passed in March and takes effect July 1, was designed to forge a unified national identity among China’s 55 ethnic minority groups — including Tibetans and Uyghurs, communities that have historically pushed back against Chinese authority and, at times, staged protests that turned violent.

A key clause in the legislation states that individuals and organizations operating outside the People’s Republic of China can be held legally accountable if they are found to be undermining “ethnic unity and progress or inciting ethnic separatism.”

The provision has triggered significant concern, especially in Taiwan — which Beijing considers part of China — over fears it could give the Chinese government yet another legal tool to go after Taiwanese citizens it labels as separatists. Human rights organizations have also raised alarms, pointing to China’s past use of Interpol “red notices” as a means of pressuring foreign governments to detain individuals abroad for what critics describe as political offenses.

At a press conference in Beijing focused on the new law, Vice Justice Minister Hu Weilie dismissed what he called distortions of the overseas clause by certain unnamed Western media outlets.

“This provision is based on China’s national conditions, conforms to legal principles, and is consistent with international practice. It is a legitimate, lawful, necessary, and feasible legal provision,” Hu stated.

He further argued that governments around the world routinely use domestic legislation to guard against separatist activity and maintain social order, saying, “Countries around the world all have the right to prevent separatist and destructive activities, and to maintain social solidarity and normal order, through domestic legislation.”

Hu described the overseas provision as targeting illegal conduct through rule-of-law methods, meant to “guard against various unlawful acts involving ethnic affairs from outside the country.”

He added that enforcing the clause would protect China’s sovereignty, national security, and development interests, while also safeguarding the rights of people across all of China’s ethnic groups.

“It will not affect normal people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries, academic discussions, economic and trade cooperation, or other activities,” Hu said.

CAIRO — Concern is mounting across the international community over a potential large-scale attack on civilians in central Sudan, where a paramilitary force is gathering around a strategically vital city of approximately 500,000 people as the country’s ongoing war enters its fourth year.

A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning, saying: “We must not allow the horrors of El Fasher to be repeated in El Obeid.”

That warning references a devastating assault last year in which the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, seized el-Fasher, resulting in more than 6,000 deaths over just three days — an attack that U.N. experts said carried the “hallmarks of genocide.”

The U.N. Security Council has expressed alarm over reports of “substantial” RSF reinforcements building up around el-Obeid in North Kordofan. The United States, Britain, and several other European nations have also issued warnings about “escalating atrocity risks” in the region. The RSF did not respond to requests for comment.

El-Obeid sits along Sudan’s main east-west road connecting to the Nile Valley and the capital, Khartoum, making it a critical asset for Sudan’s military as it continues battling the RSF. The army broke a siege on the city that had lasted more than a year, doing so early last year. The city is also home to a large air base and an infantry division.

Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, explained the broader significance of the situation. “El Obeid is important beyond even the strategic implications because it shows what happens when you have two forces that are highly depleted attempting to gain advantage on the other in high proximity,” he said.

Raymond noted that the RSF is seeking to control the road to Khartoum — which Sudan’s military recaptured last year — along with the neighboring city of Omdurman. Regaining that territory would create “havoc for civilians” and severely complicate the work of humanitarian organizations trying to return to the capital area, he said.

Experts say a potential assault on el-Obeid would differ from the attack on el-Fasher, which followed an 18-month siege and involved widespread ethnically motivated killings. “This is not a genocidal move, it’s a tactical one,” Raymond said, though he cautioned that those perceived as aligned with the military could face reprisal killings if the RSF were to take the city.

Ali Mahmoud Ali, a Sudan researcher with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, known as ACLED, said the RSF has the ability to cut off el-Obeid from multiple directions, but maintaining a prolonged siege would drain the paramilitary group of significant manpower, vehicles, and equipment. If the RSF does manage to capture and hold the city, he warned the situation there “could deteriorate rapidly.”

In recent months, el-Obeid has been subjected to repeated RSF drone strikes that have destroyed civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and residential neighborhoods. The U.N. reports that bridges and key supply routes into the city have also been targeted.

Taghreed al-Rashid, a 35-year-old resident reached by phone, said she takes some comfort in the presence of army forces but is increasingly frightened by drone attacks hitting homes and markets. A recent strike on a power facility triggered a water shortage so severe that she now pays $5 per barrel of water. “We’re committed to staying in the city despite our ongoing hardships because forced displacement is a bigger struggle,” she said.

The toll from these drone attacks has been severe across the broader Kordofan region. According to ACLED, at least 2,670 people — both civilians and combatants — were killed in 2025, representing a 600% increase in drone-related deaths and an 81% rise in drone attacks compared to the previous year.

Another el-Obeid resident, Magdy Abdou, said daily life — including visits to mosques and markets — remains manageable for now, but he is deeply worried about further strikes on critical infrastructure.

Capturing the city would give the RSF a base from which to launch drone attacks at a much closer range. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, described the humanitarian conditions as dire. “Many civilians are trapped. Those who are able to flee are doing so. The imminent offensive must be halted, and civilians enabled to safely leave the city,” she said, adding that recent infrastructure attacks have left residents with scarce food, fuel, water, health services, and transportation.

Raymond said the RSF’s “force strength is significantly reduced due to defenses and intertribal fighting” and that it lacks the personnel needed to withstand an expected military counterattack. Nevertheless, Ali noted that the RSF has deployed air defense systems in Abu Zabad, West Kordofan, which could serve as a logistical hub for operations targeting el-Obeid and the nearby city of Dilling, potentially intensifying the conflict.

Since the army broke the siege on el-Obeid last year, the RSF has launched multiple offensives trying to reestablish control from various directions. Sudan’s army, which also operates drones, said recent strikes destroyed an RSF battalion and more than 50 armored vehicles in West Kordofan, blocking advances toward North Kordofan and el-Obeid. An army official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the military has a plan in place to protect the city’s airspace from RSF drone attacks.

Federico Donelli, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Trieste, said the army has made defending el-Obeid and the east-west corridor to the Nile Valley a priority since last year. “Overall, the SAF appears capable of mounting an organized initial defense, but the key open question is whether it can sustain it against a faster, better-equipped RSF push,” Donelli said.

The leader of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency made his strongest statement yet Wednesday, confirming that his inspectors would be visiting Iranian nuclear enrichment sites — a central piece of the interim agreement struck between the United States and Iran.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi made the remarks at a news conference held at the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, signaling that the IAEA’s role in the deal is non-negotiable.

Ever since Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in 2025, Tehran has blocked IAEA inspectors from accessing enrichment sites where the Islamic Republic is believed to have stockpiled enough highly enriched uranium to potentially construct as many as 10 nuclear weapons, if it chose to pursue them. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though it remains the only nation on Earth to have enriched uranium to 60% purity without having a weapons program.

On Tuesday, the U.S. and Iran offered conflicting accounts of whether those enrichment sites would be subject to inspections under the new deal.

Grossi addressed that tension directly, telling reporters: “I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there has been a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by both presidents.”

He said the agreement “says explicitly that the nuclear activities that are going to be carried out with the regards to the nuclear material facilities will be supervised by the IAEA — in all letters.”

Grossi left no room for ambiguity about what comes next: “Obviously, to do that, we will have to inspect. Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential. This is going to happen.”

Those inspections are a critical element of the deal, which requires Iran’s uranium stockpile to be “downblended” — reduced from its current highly enriched state.

Iran did not immediately respond to Grossi’s comments. A day earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that U.N. inspectors were not on schedule to examine nuclear facilities that were bombed by the United States last year. Those remarks came in direct contrast to statements made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

While the IAEA has been permitted to visit some Iranian nuclear facilities since the 12-day war — including the Bushehr nuclear power plant — it has been shut out of the enrichment sites. Without that access, the agency says it cannot confirm the current status of Iran’s uranium stockpile or assess the centrifuge systems used for enrichment. Both Iran and the IAEA say Tehran has not been actively enriching uranium, but experts in nuclear nonproliferation have raised concerns that Iran may be relocating its stockpile to undisclosed locations.

The U.S. and Iran reached their agreement last week, under which Tehran would dilute its enriched uranium stockpile. In return, U.S.-backed sanctions on Iran would be waived, and both sides would have 60 days to work toward a broader, more comprehensive agreement.

The fragile ceasefire has already faced strain, however, with Iran announcing it closed a key strait again following renewed fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon. Violence flared again in Lebanon on Tuesday, though it did not escalate further.

JDEIDAT MARJAYOUN, Lebanon — Standing on a friend’s balcony, Milia el-Cheikh strained to make out what remained of her home village among the rubble below — its entrances now sealed off with coils of barbed wire.

Her village, Dibbine, is among several communities in southern Lebanon with Shiite majorities that have been destroyed by Israeli forces engaged in combat against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Israel has taken control of large swaths of territory, and fighting has continued even through declared ceasefires. The most recent truce — established as part of an interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran — appears to be holding for now.

El-Cheikh, one of the few Christians who called Dibbine home, found temporary shelter in a nearby village. She regularly makes her way to Jdeidat Marjayoun — a predominantly Christian village adjacent to her hometown — to share coffee with a church friend. What was once a comforting routine now unfolds against a landscape of destruction and dread.

“I don’t know anything about my house,” she said. “Nothing is more agonizing than not being able to get to your home.”

Jdeidat Marjayoun is one of several towns and villages that the Associated Press visited along the uncertain boundary of Israel’s occupied zone in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have pushed out the largely Shiite population from many areas, believing those communities shelter Hezbollah fighters, and numerous towns have been leveled.

Residents of neighboring Christian, Sunni, and Druze communities have been permitted to remain, but the conflict has upended their lives. Their homes have been struck, road closures have cut them off from the rest of Lebanon, and Israeli military raids in the night have left residents shaken.

Israeli warnings against sheltering Hezbollah fighters have effectively prevented these communities from taking in displaced Shiite neighbors, creating a rift between people who have lived side by side for generations and inflaming political and sectarian tensions.

The current round of fighting began when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in the days following an Israeli and U.S. military campaign against Iran that started on February 28. Israel subsequently invaded Lebanon and has extended its zone of control as deep as 12 kilometers — roughly 7 miles — in some areas.

As Israeli forces moved forward, they warned civilians to evacuate large portions of southern Lebanon. In April, Israel released a list of 53 towns and villages — the majority of them Shiite — where residents are prohibited from returning. On Thursday, eight additional predominantly Shiite villages were added to that list.

Israel maintains that its troops are stationed in southern Lebanon for defensive purposes, asserting that Hezbollah was deeply embedded in the region. The military has released videos it says show tunnels and military infrastructure hidden within civilian neighborhoods.

Iran has stated that any broader ceasefire agreement must include Lebanon and that Israel must pull back its forces. Hezbollah has declared it will resist the occupation, and Lebanon’s government has also demanded an Israeli withdrawal.

Mixed communities perched on hills and nestled in valleys among orchards and olive groves sit within view of the devastation that has befallen their neighbors. Residents there have pledged to stay put.

The Shiite town of Khiam — now a flattened white expanse of destroyed buildings under Israeli control — is visible from the Christian village of Qlayaa.

Qlayaa’s residents are essentially cut off from their olive groves in the valley below. “Now another season is lost,” said Hanna Daher, the mayor of Qlayaa.

A priest in Qlayaa was killed by shelling while he was inspecting the site of an earlier strike. A father and his two children were killed in a drone attack while driving toward the village. Israel says it targets only militants.

In Jdeidat Marjayoun, a house was bombed on the suspicion that militants were using it. Rockets — believed to have been fired by Hezbollah — damaged the dome of a church. In other locations, solar panels, electrical transmitters, and water facilities have been struck.

El-Cheikh fled Dibbine with her neighbors in early March after Israel issued warnings to evacuate. In late May, after weeks of sustained fighting, Israeli forces raided Dibbine before pulling out in early June.

While the fighting raged, el-Cheikh’s friend Lolitta Costantine sheltered with her husband in their home in Jdeidat Marjayoun, at one point moving in with neighbors. The walls of her home now bear cracks from nearby explosions. Windows were blown out and doors knocked off their frames. She has kept a piece of shrapnel as a reminder of what she endured.

“We didn’t know where the danger was coming from,” Costantine said.

Shiites seeking refuge from the fighting have been turned away by residents who fear Israeli airstrikes or forced evacuation, worsening tensions that had largely been dormant since Lebanon’s civil war, which lasted from 1975 to 1990.

When one Qlayaa resident allowed a friend from a Shiite village to stay on his orchard property, his house was bombed, according to Mayor Daher. Other residents have asked Shiites seeking safety to move on.

“We told them, we don’t want problems for you or for us,” Daher said.

Israel has warned the municipality of Jdeidat Marjayoun not to allow displaced people from neighboring villages to enter, saying doing so could endanger the town or lead to a forced evacuation, according to a post from the municipality on social media.

“We were forced to ask some to leave the town,” said the parish priest, Father Philip Habib Okla. “It caused many disagreements and tension. We are counting on faith to remain united.”

The Israeli military said it has cautioned people in parts of southern Lebanon not to allow Hezbollah to operate within their villages, saying the militant group uses civilian areas as cover, putting residents in danger.

During Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000, the area was a stronghold for the South Lebanon Army, a mostly Christian militia that cooperated with Israeli forces. When Israel withdrew, some militia members fled to Israel while others faced prosecution in Lebanon, where they were broadly regarded as collaborators.

Some current residents worry they will be unfairly labeled as collaborators simply for remaining in their homes. Few are willing to speak openly about the tensions, afraid of retaliation from either Israel or Hezbollah.

At a church visited by the AP, a man cried out in frustration that suspicion had spread throughout the community — even among Christians themselves. He placed blame on Hezbollah for drawing Lebanon into the conflict, saying the group had made a grave error.

Late one night in March, Israeli forces surrounded a building in the predominantly Sunni village of Halta. They broke in and arrested a man named Chadi Abdel-Al, who cried out “my heart” as he was beaten and dragged into a vehicle, according to his mother, Ayesha al-Qaderi, who lives in the same building.

In the chaos, a 15-year-old relative named Mohammad Abdel-Al ran through the darkness in his pajamas toward the house, according to his grandfather, Hatem. Israeli soldiers shot and killed him. A neighbor who had stepped out onto his balcony was wounded in the incident.

The Israeli military said it had detained the leader of a local militant organization.

In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers detained three farmers from Halta during a raid on a nearby village.

They are among at least eight people detained by Israeli troops since March, according to Lebanese media reports. The Israeli military has said those detained were suspected of involvement in militant activities and in plots targeting its forces.

“We still don’t know why they kidnapped them. Maybe to instill fear in the village and to send a message that they see everyone,” said Issa Abdel-Al, the community’s leader. “It has become like the West Bank here,” he added, drawing a comparison to the occupied Palestinian territory.

Al-Qaderi, who has received no information about her son since he was taken away, said simply: “I just want to know his fate.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is heading to the White House this Wednesday for a face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump, looking to cool rising tensions between the U.S. and its allies before a high-stakes NATO summit next month in Ankara.

Trump, who has long been critical of NATO — at one point calling it a “paper tiger” — has grown increasingly frustrated with the alliance’s refusal to back American military action in the Middle East. He has also been angered by NATO’s failure to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route that was disrupted following a U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28.

Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply criticized what he called “free-riding” allies during a NATO gathering and announced a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments across Europe — a process that could lead to reductions in American forces stationed there. That came on the heels of a U.S. decision to scale back the military resources it makes available to the alliance during crises, leaving NATO members scrambling to cover the shortfall.

Managing Trump’s rocky relationship with NATO has been a central part of Rutte’s job since Trump’s election in November 2024. He has repeatedly worked to prevent flashpoints — including Trump’s push to take control of Greenland, a territory belonging to fellow NATO member Denmark — from turning into full-blown crises, earning him a reputation as a so-called “Trump whisperer.”

Wednesday’s meeting is expected to follow that same careful diplomatic approach.

Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington-based think tank, offered his take on what Rutte is trying to accomplish. “I expect he is trying to get on the same page with Trump to make sure that the NATO summit is a success or not a wipeout,” Wertheim said.

Wertheim also cautioned that the summit itself carries real dangers. “The NATO summit carries a potential for significant risk because Trump is upset and erratic, and even if Rutte comes and thinks he has an understanding with Trump, who knows what two weeks later will bring,” he said.

The relationship between Trump and NATO allies has deteriorated in recent months. After the alliance declined to support Trump’s Iran military campaign — which he launched without first consulting allies — Trump publicly questioned whether the U.S. should remain bound by NATO’s mutual defense commitment and suggested he might pull out of the alliance altogether.

In a Tuesday interview on Fox News, Rutte pushed back on the idea that NATO members broadly blocked U.S. military operations, calling such incidents “isolated.” He noted that hundreds of American aircraft flew out of U.S. bases across Europe in support of Washington’s military campaign — a point he said he plans to bring up with Trump on Wednesday.

“We will also zoom out from this to this bigger picture of what he is doing for NATO,” Rutte said, adding that member nations have been boosting their defense budgets and that he would be unveiling what he described as “huge” spending figures during Wednesday’s meeting.

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed that Rutte’s White House visit is part of the final preparations for the July 7-8 Ankara summit. Hart said the gathering “will focus on how Allies are delivering on the commitments made last year at the NATO Summit in The Hague, including on increasing defense investment, expanding defense industrial production, and continuing support for Ukraine.”

The NATO alliance is under extraordinary pressure, with several European nations worried that Washington could withdraw entirely — a move that would fundamentally reshape the future of the alliance. Trump has previously threatened to do exactly that.

During Rutte’s visit, he is also expected to meet with members of Congress. The trip comes as U.S. officials have expressed concern about what they see as an “unhealthy co-dependence” by European nations on American military forces.

Despite the tensions, Rutte has maintained solid working relationships with Pentagon leadership. Hegseth spoke positively about Rutte’s leadership during last week’s NATO meeting in Brussels.

At last year’s summit in The Hague, NATO leaders agreed to Trump’s demand for a major boost in defense spending, pledging to dedicate 5% of their GDP to defense and defense-related measures within a decade. However, while some European countries have significantly ramped up their military budgets, others have been slow to follow through.

When most people imagine a prison, they think of metal bars, locked doors and stripped-away freedom. But visitors to a correctional facility in Johannesburg — South Africa’s largest city — are met with something far different: an art gallery.

The display of work created by incarcerated individuals is part of a broader national push to lower reoffending rates through rehabilitation efforts inside the country’s prisons. Since 2023, the Department of Correctional Services has launched nine arts-and-crafts galleries at facilities across the country, with the goal of helping inmates build skills, generate income and prepare themselves for life once they’re released.

At Leeuwkop Correctional Facility, artwork made by 34 inmates is on view for the public, offering a window into stories of culture, personal memory and transformation — all within a country that struggles with one of the highest crime rates in the world. Inmates also have the opportunity to view one another’s creations.

“I get a peaceful and healed mindset when I do my art,” inmate Freddy Mongkoai told the Associated Press. “It encourages me to be strong and present. I can focus, so it gives me peace of mind.”

Mongkoai, 51, has been serving nearly two years of a 12-year murder sentence connected to an act described as vigilante justice. He joined the prison’s art program in October and has since explored both painting and papier-mâché sculpture. His most recent creation is a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy.

Estimates of how often released offenders return to crime in South Africa vary widely depending on how recidivism is measured, with some figures reaching as high as 95%.

South African prisons are well known for serious violence problems tied to overcrowding, gang activity, underfunding and administrative shortcomings. Correctional officials say repeat offenders are a major driver of that overcrowding.

With that reality in mind, the correctional department argues that initiatives like the arts program can play a meaningful role in breaking the cycle of reoffending.

“As they leave here to serve parole and finish their sentences, this is the most effective way of making it a point that they don’t do crime again,” said Makgothi Thobakgale, national commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services.

The gallery at Leeuwkop reflects a wide range of artistic experience and personal backgrounds. Works on display include Mongkoai’s detailed grayscale portrait of a woman balancing firewood on her head while carrying a baby on her back, as well as a simple pencil sketch bearing the words “STOP GBV” — a reference to South Africa’s deeply troubling levels of gender-based violence.

Mongkoai said the portrait is among his favorites because it draws from a childhood story he grew up hearing in Limpopo province — a piece of folklore about a woman said to live on the moon.

“The elders would tell us that there is a woman carrying firewood on her head and a baby on her back, while being followed by a dog, on the moon,” he said. “That is my favorite because it reminds me of my childhood.”

According to Unathi Mahlati, a senior program officer at Just Detention International-South Africa — which has partnered with the correctional department on the program since 2024 — inmates frequently gravitate toward themes of home and family in their work.

Mahlati explained that the program is designed to be therapeutic in nature, though it differs from formal art therapy, which is clinical and led by a licensed physician. Participation is entirely voluntary, and the emphasis is on helping inmates process their thoughts, feelings and personal needs — not on developing artistic talent.

“A lot of them have experienced a lot of trauma before coming into the facilities, but there’s not a lot of services for them to process and metabolize that trauma,” Mahlati said. “We emphasize that it’s not about skill. It’s a creative expression to process trauma.”

She also noted that correctional environments tend to be “very rigid and very dogmatic,” adding, “So we give people a chance to just be.”

Artwork created through the program is made available for public purchase, with prices ranging from roughly 50 rand (about $3) to more than 2,000 rand (over $120), depending on the size and complexity of each piece.

Officials say the money raised goes back into restocking art supplies and providing small stipends to participating inmates, who traditionally earn money through work in places like orchards and dairy farms, or through training programs that produce furniture, uniforms and baked goods.

Inmate artwork is also regularly featured at major South African events, including the Comrades Marathon Expo and the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, broadening the reach of the inmates’ creative work.

“For them to also see that this can be a way of living, it helps because now they are able to manage their own finances, albeit at a small scale,” Commissioner Thobakgale said.

For Mongkoai, the vision extends well beyond his time behind bars.

“My dream is to have my own gallery,” he said.

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s top defense official says the island’s military must be prepared to respond instantly to an outbreak of war, as the amount of advance warning before a potential Chinese attack continues to shrink.

This week, Taiwan is carrying out five days of “immediate combat readiness” drills. The military has begun structuring some exercises around a scenario in which China abruptly converts one of its routine operations near the island into an actual assault.

Defense Minister Wellington Koo addressed reporters in parliament on Wednesday, explaining that the drills place a heavier focus on speed and the ability to quickly shift into a wartime footing.

“It is intended to build the speed we believe is necessary for converting from peacetime to wartime status,” Koo said.

He continued: “In other words, given the current threat situation from the enemy, and as we believe the warning time is shortening, we need to verify that we can respond immediately.”

Koo also noted that the exercises are testing whether Taiwan’s armed forces can operate effectively under a decentralized regional command structure.

China considers Taiwan, which is democratically governed, to be part of its own territory. Chinese military forces conduct operations near the island on a near-daily basis. On Tuesday, China’s newest aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan has held several military drills this month, including tests of its U.S.-manufactured HIMARS rocket system — the same system widely used in Ukraine — firing into the Taiwan Strait. The island’s major annual military exercises, known as Han Kuang, are scheduled for August.

From Beijing, Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, condemned the drills on Wednesday, saying they revealed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s “malicious intent to seek independence by force.”

“In the face of the powerful people’s army, the DPP authorities’ posturing is completely futile; it will only harm and destroy Taiwan and bring about their own destruction,” Zhang said.

Zhang also reiterated Beijing’s stated preference for “peaceful reunification” while drawing a firm line: “However, we will never pledge to renounce the use of force, and we will never leave any room for separatist activities seeking Taiwan independence in any form.”

China last conducted large-scale war games around Taiwan in late December.

Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-annexed Crimea, lost power Wednesday after Ukraine carried out strikes targeting energy facilities in the area, according to Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor installed by Russia to lead the city.

Razvozhayev announced on Telegram that defense systems had intercepted and shot down nine drones over Sevastopol earlier in the day.

In a separate development, Russian forces shelled the eastern Ukrainian city of Balakliia on Wednesday, and local officials reported via Telegram that the attack claimed one life.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details surrounding these latest military strikes.

North Korea has officially added a 5,000-ton warship to its naval fleet, with leader Kim Jong Un using the occasion to boast about the country’s expanding nuclear and maritime military power, according to state media reports released Wednesday.

The country’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim attended a commissioning ceremony on Tuesday at the western port of Nampo, where the destroyer — named the Choe Hyon — was formally inducted into service. Kim told those gathered that vessels like the Choe Hyon are evidence that his plan to arm the navy with nuclear weapons is moving forward on schedule.

According to KCNA, the Choe Hyon will be responsible for protecting North Korea’s western coastline. State media has previously reported that the ship carries a variety of weapons systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship armaments, along with ballistic and cruise missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

Kim first revealed the ship in April 2025, presenting it as a significant advancement in his military’s ability to strike targets at range and take preemptive action. North Korea has conducted several tests with the vessel in the months leading up to its commissioning, including test launches of what it described as nuclear-capable cruise missiles fired from the ship.

Speaking at Tuesday’s ceremony, Kim declared that his navy’s role has fundamentally changed. “It has clearly become a thing of the past when our navy existed as a force for defending the sea off our land,” he said. “It is rising into a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means as the program of equipping the Navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly.”

Officials and analysts in South Korea believe the Choe Hyon was likely constructed with help from Russia, reflecting the growing military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. However, some experts have questioned whether the destroyer is genuinely ready for active combat operations.

Kim’s attention has increasingly turned to naval power in recent years, following years of prioritizing ballistic missile development. He also highlighted naval goals — including the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of being launched from underwater — at a Workers’ Party congress held in February. North Korea is also in the process of building a nuclear-powered submarine.

Following a missile test conducted aboard the Choe Hyon back in March, Kim claimed that arming his navy with nuclear weapons would “constitute a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty, something that we have not achieved for half a century.” State media offered no further explanation of the remark, though some analysts believe North Korea may be laying the groundwork to formally declare a maritime boundary that could overlap with waters currently under South Korean control.

Kim has repeatedly stated that he does not recognize the Northern Limit Line — the sea boundary established by the U.S.-led U.N. Command following the 1950-53 Korean War — as inter-Korean tensions continue to escalate. That contested boundary has been the scene of multiple deadly confrontations over the years.

A second destroyer of the same class as the Choe Hyon, named the Kang Kon, was unveiled in May 2025 but suffered damage during a failed launch at the northern port of Chongjin, drawing a sharp and angry reaction from Kim. North Korea later announced the ship had been relaunched in June following repairs, though outside experts remain skeptical about its operational status. During Tuesday’s ceremony, Kim indicated the Kang Kon would also be entering service in the near future. Separately, North Korea has announced plans to construct an even larger 10,000-ton destroyer.

Since the breakdown of nuclear negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, Kim has moved aggressively to grow his nuclear stockpile and strengthen ties with both Moscow and Beijing. While taking a hardline approach toward South Korea, he has indicated a willingness to return to talks with Washington — provided the United States abandons its insistence on denuclearization as a starting condition for any new negotiations.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States delivered a sharp warning Tuesday as Israeli and Lebanese officials sat down in Washington for a fifth round of negotiations, saying the talks have veered away from the principles that brought both sides to the table in the first place.

Ambassador Yechiel Leiter voiced serious concern that discussions once centered on eliminating Hezbollah as a military force and driving out Iranian influence from Lebanon have grown increasingly murky in recent weeks.

Speaking directly to reporters at the start of Tuesday’s session, Leiter pulled no punches in describing where things stand.

“We are in a train wreck,” he said.

The ambassador recalled that the first four rounds of talks had been grounded in a shared vision among Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, with Washington taking the lead in pushing toward concrete security arrangements and a broader peace framework between the two neighboring nations.

“Before four rounds, we all boarded the same train, with the United States serving as the locomotive,” Leiter said. “The train was heading toward a very clear destination: full peace and security between the countries; the removal of Iran and its malicious influence from Lebanon; the dismantling of Hezbollah.”

Leiter said recent shifts in the tone and focus of the negotiations have cast doubt on whether those goals are still firmly on the table.

“The basic assumption was that Iran was out, and that the central discussion concerned Lebanon and Hezbollah — not the question of how much Iran can restrain Hezbollah,” he said.

In Leiter’s view, the talks should be about building up Lebanese sovereignty, not handing Tehran any role in determining what happens inside Lebanon.

“It is not Iran’s role. Its role is to leave Lebanon. The role of the Lebanese government is to exercise its sovereignty,” he said. “Sovereignty means that Iran will no longer be involved in activity or malicious influence in Lebanon.”

The ambassador also pushed back on the growing use of the term “deconfliction” — a concept being discussed between the United States and Iran as it relates to Lebanon — suggesting it signals a troubling shift in priorities.

Leiter said Israel urgently needs a clearer picture of where the negotiations are actually headed and whether dismantling Hezbollah is still at the heart of the discussions.

“Is the dismantling of Hezbollah still the basis of these discussions? Because from our perspective it must remain so,” he said.

The latest edition of Facing the Middle East, hosted by Felice Friedson, takes a three-part look at Israel — examining efforts in higher education, faith-based diplomacy, and transportation innovation.

The episode opens with a conversation with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Israel’s special envoy for trade and innovation and a former deputy mayor of Jerusalem. She discusses Campus Israel, a newly launched initiative designed to make Israeli universities more accessible to Jewish students living outside the country. Hassan-Nahoum explains that the program grew directly from growing concern about antisemitism and hostility toward Israel on college campuses following October 7.

She makes the case that Israeli universities offer more than English-language academic programs — they also give students a firsthand look at the country’s culture of entrepreneurship and creative problem-solving. In her view, even a relatively small number of Jewish students choosing to study in Israel could produce lasting results, helping to shape a future generation of diaspora leaders with deeper ties to the country.

The discussion also covers the ongoing Iran conflict, the possibility of a US-Iran agreement, and the broader landscape of regional diplomacy. Hassan-Nahoum describes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a significant barrier to any real or lasting change, and she stresses that the Iranian people deserve the chance to reclaim their freedom. She also speaks to the durability of Israel’s trade relationships with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, noting that commerce with the UAE actually grew during the war. She adds that Saudi Arabia’s path toward normalizing relations with Israel remains closely tied to how the situation with Iran and regional alliances develops.

Friedson then speaks with Albert Veksler, the global director of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, as the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary with a three-day event in Jerusalem. Veksler addresses the rise of antisemitism, the role of Christian communities in supporting Israel, the place of prayer in public life, and why he believes allies must remain visible and vocal even in times of conflict and instability.

The episode also includes a report by Gabriel Colodro from the Samson International Smart Mobility Summit 2026, held in Tel Aviv. Elon Musk joined the event via video call, offering praise for Israel’s track record of innovation and speaking about Tesla’s self-driving technology. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev joined industry leaders in presenting the latest developments in autonomous vehicles, drone technology, elevated transit systems, child safety tools, and smart infrastructure. The central question driving the summit was whether these emerging mobility technologies can move beyond test programs and become regulated, trusted parts of everyday life.

Taken together, the episode presents a portrait of Israel confronting war, campus hostility, and an uncertain regional environment — while simultaneously investing in education, international partnerships, faith-based support networks, and technologies aimed at shaping what comes next.

Nearly 1,500 journalists representing at least 65 nations have required emergency assistance after being driven from their home countries since 2021, according to figures released June 19 by the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders — known internationally by its French acronym RSF — ahead of World Refugee Day.

RSF reported that it provided support to 1,468 journalists between 2021 and 2025 who escaped threats, imprisonment, or dangers to their lives. During that same timeframe, the number of countries from which journalists fled more than doubled, rising from 19 to 40. In 20 of those nations, at least 10 journalists were compelled to leave.

Afghanistan stood out as the single largest source of displaced journalists, with 677 individuals supported by RSF following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Russia ranked second, with 160 journalists aided by the organization, while 101 journalists from Myanmar received RSF support after the military took control of that country in 2021.

RSF noted that the trend has spread significantly across Sub-Saharan Africa — particularly in the Sahel region and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo — as well as in parts of Latin America, where political violence and organized criminal networks have made independent journalism increasingly life-threatening.

The organization cautioned that when journalists are forced out of their home countries, it weakens the public’s access to credible information and creates fertile ground for disinformation — a concern RSF specifically linked to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

Vianney Loriquet, a data journalist and head of the World Press Freedom Index at RSF, said the numbers reflect a troubling and expanding global pattern. “The exile journeys of journalists supported by RSF paint a global picture of repression year after year,” he said. Referring to the total number of reporters driven out over the past five years, Loriquet added, “This is a staggering figure, yet it represents only a fraction of a much larger phenomenon.”

Loriquet also emphasized that the dangers journalists face do not end when they cross a border, pointing to ongoing risks such as extortion, deportation, and administrative abuse. He called on governments to strengthen protections for journalists in exile through emergency visa programs, residency permits, resettlement pathways, and safeguards against refoulement — the practice of forcibly returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution.

Victoria Lavenue, who heads RSF’s Assistance Office, echoed those concerns. “When a journalist is forced to flee his or her country, exile does not put an end to the threats,” she said. “Precarious living conditions, isolation and transnational repression often compound administrative and linguistic difficulties in host countries.”

Lavenue argued that protecting journalists in exile is essential to preserving access to reliable information and sustaining democratic discourse. She urged governments to put stronger reception and integration measures in place, including improved legal protections, financial assistance, and support for exiled journalists to continue their professional work.

Celia Mercier, head of RSF’s South Asia Desk, told The Media Line that Afghan journalists have been fleeing their country since the Taliban takeover due to severe restrictions on press freedom, censorship, arrests, detention, torture, and persecution. She said exile has not ensured safety for many of them, with ongoing insecurity, legal uncertainty, harassment, financial hardship, and transnational repression remaining serious concerns. Approximately 200 Afghan journalists currently in Pakistan face risks of arrest, extortion, and forced deportation, she said.

Mercier described the mass exile of journalists as a global threat to democracy and the right to information, arguing that it strips societies of independent coverage of corruption, conflict, and human rights violations. RSF supports displaced journalists through emergency relocation grants, administrative help, advocacy against forced returns, and limited financial and capacity-building assistance for media organizations operating from abroad, she said.

Iqbal Khattak, RSF’s representative in Pakistan, told The Media Line that the situation facing exiled journalists is nearing a breaking point. “If this trend continues, it will have disastrous consequences for journalists and citizens who will be deprived of independent and reliable information,” he warned.

Khattak said that in some countries, criticizing those in power is increasingly being treated as a criminal act, while restrictions on public information deny citizens fundamental rights. He called for Pakistan to significantly improve working conditions for journalists and urged coordinated international action and stronger support systems for media workers at risk.

“RSF is doing its part by highlighting unsafe countries and supporting those in exile. We advocate for safe relocation with governments and provide training to help them continue their journalism from abroad,” Khattak said, stressing that meaningful political will is essential to keeping independent journalism alive.

For Afghan journalists, the dangers are especially severe. Azita Nazimi, a veteran Afghan journalist and former television presenter for TOLOnews and other major outlets, was among the female journalists who confronted Taliban chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid following the group’s seizure of power in 2021.

“That interview exposed the group’s true mentality,” Nazimi told The Media Line. “I saw first-hand that they were systematically oppressive toward women’s inclusion in society.”

“As the regime cracked down, female journalists became primary targets. My home was raided multiple times, but I managed to escape,” she recalled. “Because I was a recognizable face on television, concealing my identity was impossible. Fear and absolute uncertainty forced me to flee to Pakistan.”

Nazimi said Afghan journalists in exile in Pakistan and Iran continue to face grave security threats, including persistent deportation risks. “They remain deeply vulnerable, knowing the Taliban commands significant local support in both host countries,” she said. She also noted that the practical hardships of exile are made worse by the psychological weight of being separated from home and family.

Abdul Haq Hamidi, a former Afghan journalist now living in Nice, France, previously served as editor-in-chief of the Gardish-e-Etilaat news agency and worked with multiple media organizations in Kabul. He told The Media Line that conditions in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover made his journalism increasingly dangerous.

In January 2024, he said, he was detained for three days, beaten, tortured, and humiliated. The ordeal left him feeling frightened and powerless, while ongoing surveillance and pressure continued to threaten both his professional freedom and personal safety.

“The threats ultimately forced me to leave Afghanistan to protect my life and family. I sought refuge in Pakistan, where I lived for nearly two years in uncertain and exhausting conditions under fear of deportation,” he explained, noting that with RSF’s support and financial assistance, he was able to relocate to France in February 2026.

Hamidi said arriving safely in France has not erased the trauma of exile. “It is not easy,” he said, “to escape the shadow of fear, memories of torture, psychological pressure, and the sorrow of losing one’s homeland.” He said exiled journalists carry a daily burden of professional displacement, instability, and the loss of a life built over many years — and that even in safer countries, many do not feel fully secure.

Selsela, an exiled Afghan female journalist identified only by her first name for security reasons, said she was targeted by Taliban officials because of her critical reporting. After narrowly avoiding multiple arrest attempts, she fled Afghanistan, only to face deportation threats in her host country.

“In exile, we face multiple hardships, including uncertain legal status, the threat of deportation, economic difficulties, limited employment opportunities, and the psychological burden of separation from family and an uncertain future,” Selsela said.

She noted that anxiety among exiled Afghan journalists has intensified following the recent deportation of a senior Afghan journalist from Turkey. “For journalists in limbo, safety requires more than surviving the initial escape. True security exists when a person has legal residency, the ability to continue their professional work, and confidence that they will not be sent back to a place where their life may be at risk,” she said.

PARIS — Pharrell Williams brought a surf fantasy to life at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, closing out the first day of menswear presentations with a Louis Vuitton show that placed the clothes front and center — even as a massive wave loomed overhead.

The outdoor setting featured a moonlit sky with visible stars and a towering barrel wave rising from a sandy landscape, spraying mist into the warm evening air. A glass-walled camper, styled as a sleek habitat nestled among dunes, anchored the scene and nodded to one of Vuitton’s oldest themes: travel.

The celebrity turnout was considerable. Jeremy Allen White, Charles Melton, Future, Missy Elliott, Lola Young, Coco Jones, Quavo, Victor Wembanyama, Jackson Wang, BamBam, and Finn Bennett were all spotted in the front row.

Williams’ vision for the Louis Vuitton spring-summer 2027 men’s collection drew heavily from surf culture — but filtered through a lens of luxury and refinement. Wetsuit-inspired textures, patched outerwear, sun-faded hoodies with gilded LV drawstrings, weathered denim, beaded bomber jackets, and logoed surfboards all made appearances on the runway.

Since taking the creative helm at Vuitton, Williams has consistently returned to the idea of the well-dressed gentleman — polished yet relaxed. This season, that figure found himself at the beach, arriving with cashmere and luggage in hand.

The collection shone brightest when the surf influences were kept subtle. Technical diving pieces carried the house’s Monogram branding. Jackets had a worn-in quality. Coats took on a robe-like ease, evoking the feeling of wrapping up after a swim. Denim and outerwear featured shibori-style indigo patterns, while bomber jackets were adorned with thick layers of beadwork.

Williams’ signature trompe l’oeil technique also reappeared, with materials designed to look like something else entirely, and casual-looking pieces that revealed intricate handwork on closer inspection.

A new flat-soled skate shoe rounded out the collection, connecting the surf theme back to Williams’ roots in skateboarding and streetwear culture — and providing a clear commercial anchor for the line.

The production surrounding the show was elaborate. A cinematic opening sequence featured surfers Mikey February and Julian Wilson, and the soundtrack included contributions from Quavo, Williams, and Angélique Kidjo. Live performances came from L’Orchestre du Pont Neuf and the Voices of Fire choir.

Still, the spectacle did not overshadow the garments themselves — a balance Williams has not always struck in previous seasons, where massive sets sometimes commanded more attention than the clothes.

Vuitton also announced a conservation commitment tied to the collection’s ocean theme, pledging to support Coral Gardeners with plans to plant 1,000 corals and restore 250 square meters of reef habitat in French Polynesia in 2026.

Williams took his final bow with the enormous wave still rising behind him — a fitting image for a collection that managed to hold its own against the tide.

BERLIN (AP) — A failure in a critical communications system brought Germany’s entire rail network to a standstill late Tuesday evening, leaving passengers stuck at stations throughout the country.

The nation’s primary rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, announced that all trains were being held in place due to a nationwide outage affecting the GSM-R digital communications system — a network used for internal coordination across the railway.

About an hour and a half after first reporting the issue, Deutsche Bahn released a statement at midnight saying the root cause had been pinpointed, though the company did not reveal what had gone wrong. The statement noted that technicians “are working intensively on a solution.”

The company did not indicate how long repairs might take, nor did it provide figures on how many trains or travelers were impacted.

According to the Bild newspaper, Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla stated that “we are now trying to get the trains into stations so that travelers can disembark.”

Deutsche Bahn said it would provide affected passengers with taxi and hotel vouchers and, when possible, allow travelers to wait inside trains parked at stations. The company issued an apology for the disruption.

GSM-R — which stands for Global System for Mobile Communications–Railway — provides the voice and data services essential to running a rail network, including direct communication between train operators and control centers.

The European Union Agency for Railways notes that the system has been rolled out across Europe since 2000 as a unified standard for rail operations.

While Germany’s rail network has occasionally suspended all or most service in the past, those instances were typically caused by severe storms rather than technical failures.