Author: Admin

Last month, a commander from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group known as Ali Rizkallah arrived in the capital city of Khartoum, was outfitted in a military uniform, and assigned a rank within the very armed forces he had been battling for roughly three years.

The military-backed government celebrated his switch of sides — the most recent in a string of high-profile defections that have been shifting Sudan’s wartime alliances and strengthening the army’s position in one of the most devastating conflicts of this century.

However, the sight of Rizkallah and other former RSF figures walking freely and holding press conferences has provoked deep anger among many people who fear these men will never face justice for crimes allegedly committed under their command.

“These RSF soldiers, even if they seek God’s forgiveness, I can’t forgive them because of what I saw face to face,” said Halima Ismail, a woman living in western Darfur, in an interview with Reuters. She described how forces under Rizkallah’s command fired weapons into the air during a 2024 attack on a village where she had taken shelter.

Sudan’s civil war is estimated to have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, uprooted millions of people, and triggered widespread famine and disease since the RSF and the army turned against each other and began fighting in April 2023.

Some of the most severe violence has taken place in Darfur, the RSF’s stronghold where Rizkallah — commonly referred to by his nickname “al-Savannah” — served as a military commander. The RSF faced accusations of committing atrocities during its assault on the city of al-Fashir last October, which was the subject of a Reuters documentary.

Another senior commander from North Darfur, al-Nour Guba, also crossed over to the military side in April. Speaking to Reuters, Guba rejected the notion that he defected to avoid legal consequences, and stated that any former RSF commanders who carried out crimes should be brought to justice.

“If anyone from the Sudanese people has anything against us, I swear we are ready,” he said.

Rizkallah, who did not respond to requests for comment, has previously stated publicly that he would turn himself in if formally accused of wrongdoing. Neither Sudan’s military-affiliated government nor the RSF — which has denied committing atrocities in Darfur — responded to requests for comment.

Ismail, now taking refuge in the Darfur village of Tawila, said she had been forced to flee her home multiple times as RSF fighters raided communities surrounding al-Fashir. She recounted witnessing women being raped and said she herself was whipped by RSF fighters.

“You can see the scars on my arms, all the way down my legs,” she said.

In the neighboring Kordofan region, resentment runs equally deep. A merchant in the town of al-Nuhud told Reuters he intends to file a private lawsuit against Rizkallah under Sudan’s sharia law framework, alleging that one of Rizkallah’s units looted peanuts and gum arabic from his storage facilities.

“What happened is the responsibility of Savannah, the RSF, and the army that did not protect us,” said the trader, who spoke anonymously out of concern for his personal safety.

Mohamed Salaheldin, a member of the executive board of Emergency Lawyers, an activist organization, said such individual lawsuits were unlikely to move forward given the chaos of wartime. “This issue can’t be dealt with piecemeal — it needs transitional justice,” he said.

This stands in stark contrast to 243 cases tracked by Emergency Lawyers that have gone to trial against individuals accused of collaborating with the RSF, on charges that include providing intelligence and cooking meals for RSF fighters during their occupation of various areas.

Analysts say the army is deliberately encouraging these defections to exploit ethnic divisions within the RSF. Emadeddin Badi, a senior fellow at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, explained that many top RSF commanders belong to the Arab Rizeigat tribe, which has experienced growing internal tensions between its clans — particularly after an RSF raid earlier this year on the hometown of army-aligned figure Musa Hilal.

Hilal is a member of the Mahamid clan, as is Rizkallah. In his Reuters interview, Guba pointed to these internal dynamics, describing the RSF as being “based on a racist, tribal” structure that primarily served the interests of RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

The army is hoping that these internal fractures could produce results similar to what happened in the central state of El Gezira, where the defection of militia commander Abuagla Keikal — who had been aligned with the RSF — helped turn the tide of battle in 2024, according to Badi.

“There’s a military rationale, but the social repercussions are probably underappreciated by the armed forces,” he added.

BERLIN — The German government announced Monday that it plans to acquire a 40% ownership stake in defense contractor KNDS, a company whose military hardware includes Leopard and Leclerc tanks, as part of a broader effort to bolster European defense production alongside NATO partner France.

France’s government already holds a 50% share in KNDS, a company created in 2015 through the merger of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter. The remaining ownership is held by the German family connected to Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

KNDS, which is based in Amsterdam, reported revenues of 4.4 billion euros — roughly $5 billion — last year and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide.

European nations have been working to increase defense spending, ramp up weapons production, and grow their military forces in response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and growing uncertainty about the reliability of the United States as an ally.

In a statement, the German government said its planned investment “will secure long-term influence on a company that is strategically significant for European security and defense capability.” It added that the move will also strengthen “national industrial value creation, as well as technological sovereignty and the protection of security interests and key technologies in Germany.”

A joint statement released by both governments said France and Germany have reached an agreement on how KNDS will be managed and governed, noting that both countries “intend to become joint shareholders through transactions aiming at equal shareholding levels for both countries.”

The statement did not provide a specific timeline for when the transactions would be completed or what the final ownership percentages would be. However, it indicated the agreement could open the door for a potential initial public offering of KNDS in the near future.

Together, the two governments said their deal “reflects the shared determination of France and Germany to strengthen Europe’s industrial and defense capabilities, support their armed forces, and strengthen European sovereignty over the long term.”

In addition to tanks, KNDS manufactures Puma infantry fighting vehicles, as well as Boxer and Dingo armored personnel carriers.

LONDON (AP) — When Keir Starmer was elected Britain’s prime minister, voters saw him as a steady, reliable figure who could put an end to years of turmoil under Conservative leadership. He was seen as dependable rather than dazzling — exactly what many thought the country needed.

But his time in office is now coming to a close in under two years, brought down by a string of political blunders, divisions within his own party, and one catastrophic appointment that drew him into the orbit of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal — a man Starmer had never personally met and whose crimes he had no part in.

On Monday, Starmer delivered an emotional announcement that he is stepping away from the leadership of the governing Labour Party. He will remain as a caretaker prime minister while the party selects a new leader in the weeks ahead.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” he said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”

Rob Ford, a political science professor at the University of Manchester, noted that Starmer’s appeal had been built on a promise of “no more soap opera politics.” But Ford said the government turned out to be “the antithesis of what he said he was going to be about, and it’s very hard to survive that.”

The breaking point came when Labour suffered a crushing defeat in a midterm round of local and regional elections on May 7. That loss set off a wave of government resignations and internal challenges that appear poised to bring former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham into 10 Downing Street.

The fall from grace is dramatic when measured against where Starmer stood on July 4, 2024, when he led the center-left Labour Party back to power after 14 years in opposition, capturing 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

The day after that victory, standing outside the prime minister’s official residence, Starmer vowed to restore “respect to politics” and build a government rooted in “public service.” After the turbulence of the final years of Conservative rule — which saw scandals and the rapid removal of prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss — Starmer pledged to dial back the drama and make governing more routine.

Some of the seeds of his downfall were planted in the nature of his victory itself. Despite Labour’s commanding majority in Parliament, the party had only earned the support of 34% of voters, with many of those votes appearing to reflect frustration with the Conservatives rather than genuine enthusiasm for Labour.

That lukewarm foundation was further weakened by a succession of stumbles. Early controversy over accepting gifts — including designer eyeglasses and tickets to a Taylor Swift concert — was followed by a series of policy reversals, most notably awkward efforts to reduce welfare spending that sparked outrage among Labour members.

What ultimately ended his tenure, however, was his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States.

Mandelson was viewed as well-suited to help Britain manage relations during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. His background in trade and his ease among the wealthy were seen as valuable credentials, and he helped negotiate a trade agreement that shielded Britain from some of the tariffs Trump had imposed globally.

But the appointment turned disastrous. Mandelson had referred to himself as Epstein’s “best pal” back in 2003, and in September 2025, documents surfaced revealing just how deep that connection ran. Starmer dismissed Mandelson from the post, but additional revelations in the months that followed sent his leadership into a tailspin.

Ford noted that because Starmer came to politics in his 50s following a distinguished legal career, he lacked the “political radar” needed to detect potential pitfalls before they became crises.

That legal career had been a distinguished one — Starmer rose to become chief prosecutor for England and Wales, handling cases involving terrorism, organized crime, and other serious matters. He was knighted for his leadership of the Crown Prosecution Service, and political opponents used his title, Sir Keir Starmer, to portray him as out of touch — an elite “lefty London lawyer.”

That characterization persisted even though Starmer’s background was far from privileged. The son of a toolmaker — a fact he frequently referenced in speeches — he has a passion for soccer and still plays the sport at age 63. He enjoys watching his favorite team, Arsenal, over a beer at his local pub. He and his wife Victoria, who works in occupational health, have two teenage children they have worked hard to keep away from public scrutiny.

Starmer first won a seat in Parliament in 2015 and was chosen to lead and rebuild Labour five years later, following the party’s worst election performance since 1935. He took over from veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn, who had steered Labour to defeats in both 2017 and 2019. Starmer moved the party toward the political center, abandoned some of his predecessor’s more left-leaning positions, and issued an apology for antisemitism that an internal investigation found had been allowed to take hold under Corbyn.

His sharp, prosecutorial style served him well in Parliament, where he relentlessly challenged the three Conservative prime ministers he faced. He was particularly cutting in his attacks on Boris Johnson over the parties held inside Downing Street during the COVID-19 pandemic, in clear violation of the nation’s own lockdown rules.

Yet the role of prime minister demands a different kind of skill, and Starmer frequently came up short domestically, lacking the adaptability and political instincts the position requires.

He appeared far more at ease on the world stage — particularly in rallying European backing for Ukraine in its war against Russia and in working to contain the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

That conflict created tension between Starmer and Trump, with whom he had initially built a cordial relationship despite their very different political outlooks.

“He’s liberal, which is a bit different from me, but I think he’s a very good person and I think he’s done a very good job thus far,” Trump said in January.

Starmer initially avoided public criticism of Trump, but began speaking out more forcefully after the U.S. president made threats regarding Greenland. His criticism sharpened further once the Iran conflict began, and by March, Trump was dismissing him as “not Winston Churchill” and taking jabs at the Royal Navy.

Starmer’s choice to keep Britain largely out of the Iran conflict was well-received by the British public, but it did nothing to reverse his party’s declining poll numbers.

Many Labour members of Parliament, elected with relatively narrow margins in their districts, grew increasingly nervous as the party’s standing in polls continued to fall. Starmer’s personal approval rating sank to among the lowest ever recorded for a sitting prime minister.

For much of the Labour caucus, the Mandelson-Epstein revelations were the last straw, exposing what they saw as a serious lapse in Starmer’s judgment.

Significant anger arose over the fact that Mandelson had been placed in such a sensitive, high-visibility role at all. Starmer removed him after a first set of emails published in September showed Mandelson had maintained a friendship with Epstein even after the late financier’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

Then, emails released in January 2026 indicated that Mandelson had also shared sensitive government information — information that could potentially affect financial markets — with the disgraced financier in 2009, while serving as a member of the Labour Cabinet.

Mandelson has since been arrested and questioned by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has not been charged, and faces no allegations of sexual misconduct.

Making matters worse was the disclosure that Mandelson had been appointed despite failing security screening required for the ambassador position. Starmer’s apologies and his claims that he had been unaware of the failed vetting process found fewer and fewer sympathetic ears.

In the House of Commons on April 28, Labour lawmaker Emma Lewell said she felt “let down, disappointed and angry,” describing Mandelson’s appointment as “a fundamental failure of judgment.”

Following Labour’s drubbing at the polls in May’s local and regional elections, the party moved quickly. A Labour lawmaker in Greater Manchester stepped aside to allow Burnham to run for a parliamentary seat. Burnham won by a wide margin and described the moment as a “turning point” for British politics. Within days, Starmer announced he would be stepping down.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepped down as head of the governing Labour Party on Monday, potentially making him the sixth leader in a decade to leave office ahead of schedule — and clearing the path for the United Kingdom’s seventh prime minister in just over ten years.

Starmer announced he will not immediately vacate 10 Downing Street, instead staying on as caretaker prime minister while Labour selects a new leader. He said nominations will open on July 9 and close when Parliament begins its summer recess, currently set to start July 16. Even if a leadership contest develops, Starmer said a successor would be in place by September 1.

In his remarks outside Downing Street, an emotional Starmer reflected on his time in office and explained his decision.

“Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life. A new Labour government. The first in 14 years. A page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair. … The chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That’s what I came into politics for,” he said.

Starmer acknowledged the pressure he faced from within his own party, saying: “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. And I accept that answer with good grace.”

He added: “Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision. I will remain in post as Prime Minister until the contest is complete. And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.”

His voice noticeably broke with emotion toward the end of the brief address. As he began speaking, protesters nearby played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” — the anthem of the European Union.

Former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is widely seen as the leading candidate to take over. Burnham, who until last week served as Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, won a special parliamentary election and was set to be sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday. He has since confirmed he will run for the Labour leadership.

Another prominent contender, Wes Streeting, announced he would throw his support behind Burnham — a move that could allow Burnham to secure the leadership without a formal contest.

Starmer won a sweeping general election victory in July 2024 but saw his popularity and that of his party fall sharply during his two years in office, amid a series of political missteps that eroded public confidence.

International leaders offered reactions to the news. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer’s record, writing on X: “It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.”

A spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described Starmer as “a reliable and close partner in foreign policy questions, particularly regarding Ukraine,” while declining to weigh in on the “internal motives in Britain.” The spokesperson added that a planned Wednesday meeting in Berlin of the so-called “E5” nations — Germany, France, Britain, Italy, and Poland — is expected to proceed as scheduled. That gathering is part of preparations for the upcoming NATO summit.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said whoever succeeds Starmer must address deeper problems in British governance. “The British people are sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of prime ministers while nothing really changes for them,” Davey said. “This time must be different. It can’t just be about changing who’s in No. 10, it has to be about changing our broken politics so we can fix our country.”

Green Party leader Zack Polanski also called for significant change, saying the UK needs a “bold change of direction.” Referring to Burnham, Polanski warned: “The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone — if he becomes the next PM, Burnham must be bold or he will be bust.”

Starmer’s departure continues a turbulent stretch for British leadership. He had succeeded Rishi Sunak, who held the office from 2022 to 2024. Before Sunak, Liz Truss served only 45 days. Truss followed three other Conservative prime ministers: Boris Johnson (2019–2022), Theresa May (2016–2019), and David Cameron (2010–2016).

Starmer delivered his resignation speech at a lectern bearing the royal coat of arms — a crest featuring a lion and a unicorn that has been part of British royal symbolism since the 17th century. The lion, though never native to England, is its national animal. The unicorn, though mythical, is Scotland’s official animal. The two were united on the crest in 1603 when King James I took the English throne, having already ruled Scotland as King James VI.

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s former justice minister has been handed a 25-year prison sentence after a court determined he played a key part in helping ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol carry out a brief but dramatic declaration of martial law in 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Park Sung-jae was deeply involved in Yoon’s attempt to consolidate power following the martial law declaration on December 3, 2024. According to the court, Park directed ministry officials to evaluate how many people correctional facilities could hold in preparation for detaining politicians.

The court also found that Park instructed officials to look into deploying prosecutors to Yoon’s martial law command to assist with potential investigations targeting political opponents. Those investigations would have been tied to Yoon’s unverified allegations of election fraud by liberal political figures. Park additionally ordered immigration officials to be ready to enforce travel restrictions, the court stated.

Yoon’s martial law decree came after years of political conflict with liberals who controlled the legislature. The measure lasted only about six hours before lawmakers managed to push past a military blockade Yoon had set up around the National Assembly and voted to cancel it, compelling Yoon’s Cabinet to rescind the order.

Judge Lee Jin-gwan said Park had abandoned his constitutional duty by participating in what the judge called a “self-coup” — an attempt by a sitting leader to seize unchecked power. The judge noted that Park’s contributions would have been pivotal if Yoon had succeeded in neutralizing his political rivals and blocking the legislature from overturning the martial law declaration.

Park maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, arguing he was simply carrying out obligations required during a national emergency. His legal team did not immediately indicate whether they plan to file an appeal.

Yoon himself was impeached and removed from office on December 14, 2024, and the Constitutional Court formally ousted him in April 2025. He was arrested in July 2025, and several criminal cases against him remain active. The Seoul court previously sentenced Yoon to life in prison on rebellion charges. In a separate case, he received a 30-year sentence for allegedly ordering drone flights over Pyongyang in October 2024, which prosecutors say was intended to stoke tensions with North Korea and provide justification for declaring martial law. Yoon has appealed both convictions.

Park joins a growing list of former Cabinet members sentenced to prison for their roles in the martial law episode. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun received a 30-year sentence for his central role in mobilizing the military and pursuing arrests of political opponents, along with a separate 30-year term connected to the Pyongyang drone flights. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was initially sentenced to 23 years for helping lend official legitimacy to Yoon’s decree by pushing it through a formal Cabinet approval process, though an appeals court later reduced that sentence to 15 years.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he would be stepping down, positioning the United Kingdom to welcome its seventh head of government in just ten years.

The roots of this prolonged political turbulence stretch back to the Brexit referendum, which fell exactly ten years prior on Tuesday. In the years following that historic vote, Britain has worked to chart an independent course but has found it difficult to stimulate a sluggish economy burdened by significant debt, an expanding welfare bill, and an increasingly unstable global landscape.

JUNE 2016: BREXIT VOTE SHOCKS THE WORLD, CAMERON STEPS DOWN

British voters delivered a stunning result by choosing to leave the European Union by a margin of 52% to 48%, ending a membership spanning more than four decades and triggering the country’s gravest political crisis since World War Two. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announced his departure, and the party selected Theresa May to take his place.

JUNE 2017: SNAP ELECTION GAMBLE FAILS

With strong poll numbers and a desire for a larger parliamentary majority to advance Brexit legislation, May called a surprise election. The move backfired — the Conservatives lost their majority and were forced to enter into an agreement with Northern Ireland’s pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party to hold onto power.

MAY 2019: PARLIAMENTARY GRIDLOCK ENDS MAY’S TENURE, JOHNSON STEPS IN

Unable to break a parliamentary stalemate over the terms of Britain’s EU departure, May resigned. Boris Johnson, a prominent figure in the pro-Brexit movement, won the internal Conservative Party vote to become the new prime minister.

DECEMBER 2019: CONSERVATIVES WIN BIG UNDER JOHNSON

With parliament still deadlocked over Brexit, Johnson called another snap election. Running on the straightforward slogan “Get Brexit Done,” he led the Conservatives to their most decisive election victory since Margaret Thatcher’s landslide win in 1987.

JANUARY 2020: BRITAIN EXITS THE EU

Armed with a fresh mandate, Johnson pushed a Brexit agreement through parliament and finalized terms with Brussels. On January 31, 2020, Britain officially left the European Union, becoming the first nation ever to withdraw from the bloc.

JULY 2022: JOHNSON FORCED OUT

Johnson steered Britain through the COVID-19 pandemic — even spending time hospitalized with the illness himself — but an accumulation of scandals and poor decisions eventually caught up with him. A revolt among his own ministers led to his resignation.

SEPTEMBER 2022: TRUSS ENTERS AND EXITS IN RECORD TIME

Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak in the race to replace Johnson. Her so-called “mini-budget,” which included unfunded tax cuts, rattled financial markets and sent borrowing costs soaring, severely damaging Britain’s standing for fiscal and political reliability. She lasted just 44 days before announcing she would resign.

OCTOBER 2022: SUNAK TAKES THE HELM

Sunak became Britain’s third prime minister within a single calendar year, vowing to bring stability back to government. He outlined five core pledges centered on the economy, curbing illegal immigration, and fixing the health system. In February 2023, he reached an agreement with the EU on trade arrangements for Northern Ireland, helping to ease tensions with the bloc.

MAY 2024: SUNAK CALLS AN ELECTION

With Labour holding roughly a 20-point lead in opinion polls, Sunak announced a general election for July 4.

JULY 2024: STARMER WINS POWER

On July 5, 2024, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addressed supporters following a landslide election victory. “We said we would end the chaos and we will,” he declared — though the win came with the smallest share of the electoral vote of any majority government in modern history.

AUGUST 2024: STARMER SOUNDS THE ALARM ON FINANCES

Starmer raised concerns about the country’s financial condition, describing what Labour had inherited as “an economic black hole” and cautioning voters that “things will get worse before they get better.”

OCTOBER 2024: LABOUR DELIVERS ITS FIRST BUDGET

Finance minister Rachel Reeves unveiled tax increases totaling £40 billion — roughly $52.76 billion — per year, largely driven by higher employer social security contributions. The move pushed Britain’s peacetime tax burden to its highest recorded level and drew sharp criticism from the business community.

FEBRUARY 2025: REFORM UK SURGES IN THE POLLS

For the first time, the right-wing, anti-immigration party Reform UK pulled ahead of Labour in a national opinion poll. The party, headed by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, has continued to lead in polls ever since.

JUNE 2025: STARMER REVERSES WELFARE CUTS UNDER PRESSURE

Facing the prospect of a defeat in parliament at the hands of his own lawmakers, Starmer was compelled to abandon plans to reduce Britain’s welfare expenditures.

SEPTEMBER–APRIL 2025: AMBASSADOR APPOINTMENT SPARKS CONTROVERSY

Scrutiny intensified over Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington. Mandelson was eventually dismissed due to his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising doubts about Starmer’s judgment and the thoroughness of the vetting process.

MAY 2026: LOCAL ELECTIONS DELIVER A BLOW TO LABOUR

Labour suffered significant defeats in English local elections and in votes for the Scottish and Welsh assemblies, fueling further doubts about Starmer’s leadership. Reform UK emerged as the primary winner from Labour’s losses.

MAY 2026: HEALTH MINISTER STEPS DOWN

Health Minister Wes Streeting resigned, stating he had lost faith in Starmer’s ability to lead. He called for a leadership contest and indicated he intended to put his name forward as a candidate.

JUNE 2026: DEFENCE MINISTER ALSO QUITS

Defence Minister John Healey departed after a months-long disagreement over military spending, accusing Starmer of refusing to commit sufficient funds to protect the country against growing threats.

JUNE 2026: BURNHAM VICTORY CLEARS PATH FOR LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham secured a victory in an election in northern England, soundly defeating Reform UK in the process. His return to Westminster eliminated a significant barrier to a potential leadership challenge against Starmer.

BRUSSELS — China’s top environment official delivered a firm message Monday: the worldwide effort to combat climate change will not be derailed simply because some countries choose to step away.

“The multilateral process will not stop or even slow down because of the absence of individual countries,” said Chinese environment minister Huang Runqiu, addressing a gathering of nations convened to discuss climate action.

The meeting, held in Brussels, was jointly organized by China, the European Union, and Canada. Representatives from Japan, Australia, and South Africa were among those who also attended.

The remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement in January — the international treaty widely considered the cornerstone of global climate policy. The U.S. is the world’s largest economy.

This marks the second time the U.S. has exited the Paris accord. Trump also withdrew during his first term in office back in 2017. Notably, no other nation has followed the United States in leaving the treaty.

Keir Starmer was once celebrated as the pragmatic, steady leader Britain needed after years of political turmoil. But when he announced his resignation as prime minister on Monday, it was that same absence of strong ideology — the very quality that had helped carry him to power — that many blamed for his fall.

Starmer led the Labour Party to a historic parliamentary majority in 2024, the largest in Britain’s modern era. Yet rather than laying out a bold vision for the country’s future, he focused narrowly on what he thought was achievable. That approach quickly wore thin.

More than 20 Labour insiders said voters and party members alike came to view him as someone without conviction or direction. One senior Labour lawmaker described the absence of “a guiding light” in his leadership. Without it, the former lawyer found himself pulled in different directions by competing factions within his own party, pressured by outside interests, and unable to connect with a skeptical public that grew to resent what many saw as indecision and stiff, robotic public appearances.

His tenure was marked by policies that fell apart, a revolving door of resignations and firings among his staff, and a communications team that struggled to craft any coherent story about what his government actually stood for.

As pressure mounted, the 63-year-old prime minister increasingly leaned on his wife Victoria for guidance. On May 12 — five days after a crushing set of local election results triggered calls for him to step aside — he had a long lunch with her and came away resolved to continue fighting. But a weekend retreat at the prime minister’s official country residence at Chequers with Victoria appeared to be the turning point that convinced him to accept the inevitable and step down.

Standing outside his Downing Street residence, Starmer pledged to ensure a smooth handover of power to the next Labour leader, widely expected to be Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” he said in an emotional address, his voice breaking as he thanked his family for their support. “I have heard the answer from my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace.”

By the time he resigned, Starmer had become deeply unpopular with voters, weighed down by broken campaign promises and repeated policy reversals. Even some of his most trusted cabinet allies had privately begun urging him to step aside rather than drag the party through a damaging leadership battle. His earlier vows to fight on quickly gave way once most of the party concluded they could not head into the next national election, due in 2029, with him leading the charge.

Burnham had recently won a parliamentary seat in northwestern England and was being hailed as a “Reform slayer” — someone with a real shot at holding back the populist movement led by veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.

Fear of Farage’s growing influence was a driving force behind the push to remove Starmer. Lawmaker Catherine West, who broke ranks during the May 9-10 weekend to pressure others into mounting a challenge against the prime minister, put it bluntly: “I would do anything to stop Farage.”

Starmer’s political journey had been remarkable in its own right. He became a Labour lawmaker in 2015 at the age of 52, and just five years later took over the party following its worst election performance since 1935 under his predecessor, veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn — a tenure defined by antisemitism allegations and a muddled position on Brexit.

Drawing on his background running the Crown Prosecution Service, an independent body that advises police and handles criminal prosecutions, Starmer set about modernizing Labour and making it a credible governing force. He tackled antisemitism accusations, reined in internal factionalism, stabilized the party’s finances, assembled a strong front bench, and developed a policy platform aimed at addressing Britain’s needs.

“Everything we offer will be built on a bedrock of economic stability and a plan for growth,” his spokesperson said at the time.

At first, the strategy worked. Labour won a commanding majority in Britain’s 650-seat parliament. But analysts were quick to note the victory’s fragility — the party actually recorded one of its lowest vote shares in history, and the win relied heavily on tactical voting. After 14 years of Conservative infighting, Brexit chaos, and five prime ministers in eight years, the opposition had essentially self-destructed.

Prominent pollster John Curtice summed it up: “All in all this looks more like an election the Conservatives lost than one Labour won.”

That shaky foundation made governing all the harder. Starmer’s team had deliberately avoided detailed policy planning during the campaign to avoid scaring off voters. One person from his inner circle recalled being told to “stop” developing policy so as not to “frighten people in advance of the general election.” As that person remembered: “We don’t have a plan for what we’re going to do when we get in, if we do get in, because it might jinx it.”

Once in office, the government struggled both to define its agenda and to follow through on it — chasing economic growth that never materialized, trying to curb illegal migration that continued unabated, and attempting to fix a health system that kept presenting new crises.

Starmer repeatedly tried to highlight his government’s accomplishments — improvements to workers’ rights, reductions in health service wait times, and an economic climate that allowed for interest rate cuts. But a former aide said he never managed to offer voters “a destination” — a clear endpoint that would help them understand and connect with his decisions.

Instead, the public fixated on a series of missteps: controversies over personal gifts and donations, policy reversals, and the appointment of Labour veteran Peter Mandelson despite his known ties to the late convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer’s claim that he had not been fully informed about the extent of Mandelson’s connections left many feeling he was either out of touch or not in control. “It was a bad appointment,” said one former aide, who suggested it had been pushed through by just two other former advisers.

The atmosphere inside Downing Street grew increasingly tense. Some aides pointed fingers at a hostile right-wing media, but after one attempted reset followed another, Starmer consistently failed to project what one adviser described as “his passion for these domestic causes.” He lost key staff members, including his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, in the fallout from the Mandelson controversy, and his relationship with Britain’s civil service deteriorated after he dismissed the top official at the foreign office.

Starmer fared better on the world stage. He earned praise from some European counterparts for helping to lead the so-called “coalition of the willing” — nations prepared to assist in the event of a Ukraine peace agreement. Alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, he also played a role in talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

He initially made some headway with U.S. President Donald Trump, at times appealing to his ego by offering a second state visit to Britain and praising Trump’s efforts toward peace in Ukraine and other conflicts. That goodwill soured, however, after Starmer declined to involve Britain in military action against Iran. On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!” Trump had also said Starmer was no Winston Churchill.

Perhaps Starmer’s most lasting mark on Britain will be the splintering of its traditional two-party political system. Local elections in England and parliamentary votes in Scotland and Wales showed that system had been shattered, with the Reform party establishing a powerful presence across the country. Labour membership numbers declined while Reform’s surged past 270,000.

Starmer had tried to use that threat to rally his own base, warning Labour in February that the battle against Reform was “the fight of our lives.” In the end, it was a fight he could not win.

Indonesia is working on a plan to weave artificial intelligence into several of its flagship government programs, including a massive $15 billion initiative to provide free meals to citizens, according to a draft presidential regulation reviewed by Reuters.

The document outlines a roadmap for government ministries and regional agencies to adopt AI technology between 2026 and 2029. Officials believe the effort could grow Indonesia’s gross domestic product by 12%, or roughly $366 billion, by 2030. The stated goals include driving economic growth and making Indonesia more competitive with neighboring countries in the region and around the world.

Compared to Singapore and Malaysia — which have attracted billions of dollars in investment from major technology companies looking to build cloud and AI infrastructure — Indonesia has been slower to advance in the AI space.

The draft regulation has not been previously reported and is currently awaiting the signature of President Prabowo Subianto. His office did not respond to a request for comment on timing.

Tech analyst Wahyudi Djafar, who helped write portions of the regulation and serves on a government AI task force, said companies including Meta Platforms, IBM, and Microsoft contributed to the drafting process. Those companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In 2024, Microsoft announced a $1.7 billion commitment to expand cloud and AI services in Indonesia over several years.

Within the free meals program, the draft says AI would be used to design menus tailored to specific regions, track kitchen cleanliness, forecast food demand, flag irregularities, and connect health data to support early emergency warnings.

The free meals program has faced significant scrutiny. Earlier this month, the head of the program was removed from his position and arrested. Tens of thousands of children experienced food poisoning last year, raising concerns about safety standards. Questions about spending efficiency have also surfaced given Indonesia’s tight budget situation.

Beyond the meal program, the regulation calls for AI to assist with health screenings and tuberculosis testing across the country.

The document also revisits a proposal for a “sovereign AI fund” to be managed primarily through the country’s new wealth fund, Danantara Indonesia, and suggests offering financial incentives to AI researchers while working to address workforce skill gaps.

A companion regulation in the draft would require government bodies to report AI-related risks, including the misuse of biometric data, violations of intellectual property, and the spread of deepfakes.

Not everyone is optimistic about the plan’s prospects. Derwin Suhartono, a professor of artificial intelligence at Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta, said Indonesia has yet to establish itself as a competitive player in AI development and warned the country “may stay as a consumer of products that foreign companies sell to.” He also cautioned that while a structured roadmap for using AI in government programs is possible, the execution so far has been “all rhetoric.”

Analysts more broadly note that Indonesia lacks the infrastructure — including computer chips — and the skilled workforce needed to become a true AI developer rather than simply a user of technology built elsewhere.

DILI, East Timor (AP) — Francisco Guterres, who served as president of East Timor and was a central figure in the nation’s long fight for independence, has passed away at the age of 71.

Guterres, commonly known by his resistance nickname “Lu Olo,” died Sunday at Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to a statement posted on his official Facebook page by his family. No cause of death was immediately provided. He had been receiving treatment in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

He held the presidency from 2017 to 2022, the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to the political and armed struggle that ultimately brought independence to Southeast Asia’s youngest nation in 2002.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim extended his condolences to Guterres’ family and the people of East Timor, also known as Timor Leste. “Throughout his life, he remained committed to the freedom of his people and the building of a democratic nation,” Ibrahim said.

Fretilin, the political party Guterres had led for many years, described his passing as a “profound loss” for everyone who shared the vision of a free, democratic, and sovereign East Timor. The party noted his unwavering commitment to the independence cause and his contributions to national unity, dialogue, peace, and political stability over the course of his public life.

Born on September 7, 1954, in Ossu, a town in the Viqueque District of what was then Portuguese Timor, Guterres became a prominent voice in the resistance against Indonesia’s occupation of the territory, which lasted from 1975 to 1999. As a senior leader within Fretilin, he played an important role in guiding the country through its transition to independence following a United Nations-backed referendum in 1999.

Guterres served as president of the Constituent Assembly in 2001, where he oversaw the creation of East Timor’s constitution. After independence was achieved in 2002, he became the first speaker of the National Parliament. Though he made several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, he was finally elected in 2017 and served one term. In 2022, he lost his reelection campaign to current President Jose Ramos-Horta, another veteran of the independence movement.

He is survived by his wife, Cidalia Lopes Nobre Mouzinho Guterres, and their children. Funeral arrangements had not yet been announced at the time of this report.

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Two Palestinian teenagers were fatally shot by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Monday, Palestinian officials reported. The Israeli military, however, stated that the individuals had launched an attack on a neighboring Jewish settlement using fire bombs and burning tires.

Palestinian officials did not provide additional comment on the deadly incident, which occurred in the Beit Ummar area. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported the two teens were 15 and 19 years old, a detail confirmed to Reuters by a relative of the victims.

Reuters was not able to independently confirm the Israeli military’s version of events. According to the military, its forces opened fire on three individuals who were hurling fire bombs and burning tires near the settlement of Karmei Tzur. Of the three, two were killed and one was wounded, the military said. WAFA reported that the surviving individual was taken to a hospital and is listed in stable condition. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society identified that person as 15 years old.

Israeli military forces conduct raids throughout the West Bank on a regular basis and have increasingly restricted movement for Palestinians living near settlements in recent months.

United Nations bodies and the majority of countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal under international law and a major barrier to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Israel disputes this characterization, arguing the land is contested rather than occupied and pointing to a Jewish historical presence in the region spanning thousands of years.

Attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their communities have also increased significantly. According to U.N. data, at least 57 Palestinians have been killed so far this year in incidents involving settlers and the military.

Palestinians have also conducted attacks targeting Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank. Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security service reports that at least one such attack proved deadly in 2026.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia and Canada have officially signed a $1.75 billion export agreement to construct an Australian-designed long-range radar system on Canadian soil.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Canadian Secretary of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr put their signatures on the first phase of the agreement Monday, which calls for deploying early warning radar coverage from the Canada-United States border northward into the Arctic.

Speaking to reporters at Australian Parliament House in the capital Canberra, Marles described the significance of the agreement. “What this really means is that Australia and Canada are now partners in terms of the future development of the Over-the-Horizon Radar,” he said, adding, “There is now a very strategic dimension to the relationship.”

Fuhr, speaking alongside Marles at a joint press conference, highlighted the longstanding bond between the two nations, both members of the British Commonwealth and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance — which also counts the United States, Britain, and New Zealand as partners. “As the world adjusts to its new strategic and economic realities, I can’t think of a stronger partner to work with more than Australia,” Fuhr said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had announced his preference for the Australian radar technology over comparable American systems shortly after taking office last year. In March, Carney became the first Canadian prime minister to travel to Australia in 12 years. During that visit, Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to expand cooperation in defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.

BAE Systems Australia released a statement confirming it will assist both governments in developing the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar. The Australian system, which took more than four decades to develop, operates by bouncing high-frequency electromagnetic waves off the ionosphere, allowing it to detect objects far beyond the reach of standard radar systems — objects that would otherwise be hidden by the natural curvature of the Earth.

The agreement represents Australia’s single largest defense export in the country’s history. The previous record was a $700 million deal finalized in 2024 to supply Germany with 100 Australian-manufactured Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles.

MANILA, Philippines — Two teenage students opened fire inside a high school in the central Philippines on Monday morning, killing three of their fellow students and injuring seven others, according to police.

The two suspects, ages 14 and 15, each carried a pistol during the attack. Both were taken into custody. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy confirmed that the suspects and all of their victims were enrolled at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the shooting occurred mid-morning.

Authorities launched an investigation to determine what motivated the attack at the government-run school, which serves more than 1,500 students. Capoy said the two suspects, who were reportedly close friends, told investigators during initial questioning that they had been bullied at school. He did not provide additional details.

Neither suspect had a prior criminal record, and it remains unclear how they obtained the weapons. Capoy noted that the guns were brought onto campus because only a single security guard was on duty across multiple entry and exit points.

“The suspects barged into two rooms because after the shooting in the first, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room,” Capoy told reporters.

Capoy added that the majority of those killed and wounded were female students.

One of the suspects was apprehended at the school shortly after the attack. The second fled and took refuge in a nearby home, where he was located after residents alerted police to his whereabouts.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and called on law enforcement to strengthen security measures at schools, workplaces, and public spaces throughout the country, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.

National police urged the public to stay calm and assist investigators by sharing any relevant information tied to the case.

While gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines — largely due to the widespread presence of unlicensed firearms — shootings inside schools remain relatively uncommon.

BUCHAREST — Romania’s prime minister-designate Adrian Vestea formally requested a parliamentary confidence vote late Sunday, counting on support from the country’s largest party. However, political analysts say his cabinet stands little chance of passing without votes from far-right opposition lawmakers.

Centrist President Nicusor Dan nominated Vestea, a member of the Liberal Party, earlier this week — a move made without consulting the party itself. Observers described it as a bold attempt to restore a pro-European government capable of pursuing economic reforms and reducing Romania’s budget deficit, the largest in the European Union.

The backdrop to this political standoff is the collapse of the previous pro-European coalition government in early May. That administration, led by Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan, fell apart when the leftist Social Democrats broke from the coalition and joined with far-right opposition parties in a successful no-confidence vote.

On Sunday, the Liberal Party made clear it would not support Vestea, voting to expel him from the party and threatening to remove any member who backs or joins his proposed government. The Liberals also announced they would no longer govern alongside the Social Democrats.

Despite that, the Social Democrats announced Sunday they would support Vestea’s cabinet, which includes nine Social Democrat ministers and the government’s secretary general. The Social Democrats had previously indicated they were open to rejoining a pro-European coalition — provided the prime minister was someone other than Bolojan.

The Liberals’ refusal to back Vestea was echoed by their former junior coalition partners — the centre-right Save Romania Union and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR party — making it extremely difficult for Vestea’s government to win a parliamentary majority without defectors, independents, or far-right support.

The hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians, known as AUR, is currently parliament’s largest party and leads all other parties by a wide margin in public opinion polls.

AUR vice president and senator Petrisor Peiu took to Facebook on Monday to weigh in, saying, “Nicusor Dan and PSD have placed themselves in the difficult situation of proposing a government that cannot pass through parliament.” He added that the best path forward for Romania would be holding an early election, asking pointedly, “Why would AUR self-destruct to save PSD?”

The prolonged political instability puts at risk Romania’s ability to access billions of euros in European Union funds and maintain its sovereign credit rating at investment grade. Romania’s next regularly scheduled parliamentary election is not set to occur until 2028, and the country has never held an early election in its history.

TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Dust still lingers over the ancient Mediterranean city of Tyre following weeks of relentless Israeli airstrikes that have left the Lebanese coastal city deeply scarred.

Though a fragile quiet has descended on the area, daily life has come to a near-complete standstill.

A fresh ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah is now in effect, but residents remain anxious — previous ceasefires have collapsed before. Fear and uncertainty continue to grip the population, even as the United States and Iran hold talks in Switzerland that Lebanese residents are hoping will finally bring stability to their country.

More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in Israeli strikes since the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, two days after the Iran war began, when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel. The militant group has also engaged in fighting with Israeli forces who have pushed deeper into southern Lebanon than at any point in more than 25 years.

Vast portions of southern Lebanon now lie in ruins — and Tyre is no exception.

In the summer months, Tyre — Lebanon’s fourth largest city — typically draws crowds of tourists who come to relax on its beaches, explore its Roman ruins, dine on fresh seafood at charming waterfront restaurants, and take in the scenery from boat tours.

Today, the scene is starkly different. The few restaurants that remain open sit with empty tables. Parking areas that once overflowed with beachgoers’ cars now serve as makeshift camps, with displaced families living in tents. Fishermen say they are afraid to venture far from the harbor, fearing they could be targeted.

LONDON (AP) — Simon Boyd builds prefabricated steel structures on England’s south coast and exports them to clients in places like Ghana and Barbados. Mike Hawes leads the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, representing the country’s automotive industry. The two business figures stood on opposite sides when the Brexit debate raged a decade ago — yet today, both share the same frustration over how things have turned out.

Ten years ago, supporters of leaving the European Union promised a bold new era for Britain — one where the country would reclaim authority over its own laws and borders, free from Brussels bureaucrats, and where the economy would thrive. That vision has not materialized. Instead, Britain has struggled to find its footing after losing seamless access to the EU’s single market, which encompasses 27 nations and roughly 450 million consumers.

The country’s economic growth has been sluggish at best. Taxes are elevated, public services are under strain, and government after government has failed to stop the steady stream of migrants crossing the English Channel in small inflatable boats. In short, there is little cause for celebration on this anniversary.

Boyd, who still supports the original Brexit decision, acknowledged the shortcomings. “No, it’s not delivered everything that was said it would deliver on the tin, but it is delivering,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s very sluggish. You only need to look at the statistics to see that.”

As managing director of REIDSteel — a company with around 130 employees based in Christchurch, England — Boyd places the blame for poor results on politicians who lacked the commitment to follow through. He also points to a series of unforeseen crises over the past decade, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The fallout from the Brexit vote began almost immediately, as businesses braced for an uncertain future during years of drawn-out negotiations over the U.K.’s new terms with the EU. When Britain formally departed the bloc on January 31, 2020, newly established trade rules made conducting business with European partners more expensive and time-consuming than before.

Creon Butler, who oversees the global economy and finance program at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, said the consequences of leaving the European single market have been far-reaching. “Whatever was promised, whatever one hoped for, (you have) to accept that it has been a major loss of wealth and prosperity for us through the choice we made to leave,” he said. “That’s a decision the British public have made, and they’re entitled to make it, but it does make us poorer.”

A recently published report from the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, backs up that assessment. Compiled by researchers from Britain, Germany, and the United States, the report measured the U.K. economy’s performance against 33 other countries, including European neighbors, the U.S., Canada, and Japan. The findings concluded that Brexit has shrunk Britain’s gross domestic product — a key measure of economic output — by 6% to 8%, cut investment by 12% to 13%, and reduced productivity by 3% to 4%.

The automotive sector was among the loudest voices against Brexit from the start, warning that the added red tape around parts shipments and finished vehicles would hurt an industry built on cross-border supply chains spanning multiple European countries. Those warnings proved well-founded. International automakers became less inclined to view Britain as an attractive gateway to European consumers, dampening investment. The industry is now looking to international trade agreements to help pick up the slack.

“We have been able to move with the times, so to speak, but undoubtedly it’s putting us at more cost into the industry, more pressure,” said Hawes.

Brexit backers frequently cited the ability to strike independent trade deals as one of the biggest upsides of leaving the EU, and Britain has since reached agreements with dozens of countries, including Australia, India, and the United States. Even so, EU nations still account for 41% of Britain’s exports and half of its imports, according to the latest government data.

Over more than five decades as an EU member, British businesses also grew accustomed to drawing workers from across Europe — particularly after the bloc expanded eastward in 2004. That access ended when Brexit eliminated the free movement of labor.

Few industries have felt that loss more acutely than Britain’s curry restaurant sector. Owners across the country — from Aberdeen in Scotland to Aberystwyth in Wales — have struggled after Eastern European workers returned home rather than navigate complex new visa requirements. Adding to their frustration, many in the industry had supported Brexit after being told it would open the door to more visas for South Asian cooks — a promise that was never kept.

“We feel betrayed,” said Oli Khan, president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association UK, who runs a restaurant in Stevenage, north of London, serving dishes like tandoori lamb chops, vegetable biryani, and chili paneer.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has responded to the economic stagnation by opening talks with the EU aimed at forging a closer relationship, hoping to inject new life into Britain’s sluggish economy.

Those efforts come as new polling data suggests public disillusionment with Brexit is deepening. A survey of 2,245 Britons aged 18 and older, conducted in May by Ipsos, the Policy Institute at King’s College London, and the think tank UK in a Changing Europe, found that 48% of respondents said Brexit was going worse than they had anticipated — up sharply from 28% in March 2021. Only about 9% said it was going better than expected, while roughly one in three said it was going about as they had foreseen.

Boyd, however, maintains that the most meaningful vote was the one cast on June 23, 2016, when 51.9% of voters — totaling 17.4 million people — chose to leave the EU. He remains convinced that Britain’s best days lie ahead outside the bloc, arguing that entrenched political and corporate interests sabotaged a genuine Brexit by keeping the country too closely aligned with the EU. That, he says, prevented Britain from unlocking its full potential as an entrepreneurial, innovative nation.

And he is firm that there is no turning back. “Imagine if we were to rejoin … today. The conditions upon which we would be allowed back in would be akin to us re-boarding the Titanic on the condition that we surrender our life vests first,” he said. “Need I say any more?”

Colombia has taken a sharp turn to the right, choosing nationalist attorney and political outsider Abelardo De La Espriella as its next president — a move that analysts say further solidifies a sweeping conservative wave rolling across Latin America.

Meanwhile, in Peru, officials are still tallying disputed votes from that country’s June 7 presidential runoff. Early projections show conservative Keiko Fujimori on track to win by a razor-thin margin of just over 0.2%, which would give her the presidency after three previous unsuccessful bids.

With Colombia and Peru now trending right, they join Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama in a regional shift that sharply contrasts with the so-called “pink tide” — a period in the early 2020s when a wave of leftist governments rose to power across the continent, including Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist head of state.

Under Colombian law, a final verified vote count supervised by notaries and judges is required before results are official. That process was nearly finished late Sunday, though it remains to be seen whether it will fully match the initial tally.

Analysts point to struggling economies and surging crime rates as the driving forces behind the region’s political realignment. Once-fringe hard-right candidates have found growing audiences by pledging to crack down on lawlessness, riding a global wave of right-wing nationalism and benefiting from President Donald Trump’s push to counter China’s expanding footprint in Latin America and assert greater U.S. influence over the region.

“This is an unusual alignment of the stars for Trump,” said Steven Levitsky, a professor of Latin American Studies and government at Harvard University. “Rarely do you see a large number of governments as ideologically convergent as we’re seeing now.”

Over the past year, Trump has ordered military strikes that killed more than 150 people aboard suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, launched a right-wing regional coalition called the Shield of the Americas, and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a raid on Caracas.

Colombia’s Petro had been among Trump’s harshest critics in the region, drawing threats of military action and economic sanctions in response. De La Espriella stands in stark contrast — he is a self-described Trump supporter. A naturalized U.S. citizen who previously lived in Miami, De La Espriella received Trump’s endorsement before the runoff election. He has promised to join the Shield of the Americas, take a hard line against drug traffickers, cut business regulations and taxes, and restart oil and gas projects that were shelved under Petro.

His victory arrives as Colombia grapples with natural gas shortages, even as global energy markets are being rattled by the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

With significant oil reserves in Guyana and Venezuela — which Trump has pledged to help develop — and one of the world’s largest shale formations located in Argentina, experts suggest Latin America is positioned to emerge as a major global energy supplier.

Right-wing governments in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia have built support on promises of tax relief, reduced government spending, and relaxed rules for mining and fossil fuel development. But many of those same governments are now wrestling with budget deficits, leading to unpopular spending cuts that have sparked public protests.

Bolivia declared a state of emergency this past weekend and began clearing blockades that had brought the country to a standstill for more than 50 days, as labor unions and other groups protested austerity measures introduced by center-right President Rodrigo Paz.

In Chile, President Jose Antonio Kast saw his approval numbers drop sharply after the Iran conflict prompted his government to raise fuel prices. In Argentina, President Javier Milei’s belt-tightening policies have been met with repeated demonstrations.

Security remains a stubborn challenge despite tough-on-crime campaign pledges. In Ecuador, homicides jumped 30% last year, with President Daniel Noboa’s government attributing the spike to territorial conflicts among fragmented criminal gangs. Murder rates have also climbed in Costa Rica under right-wing populist Rodrigo Chaves, and his successor, President Laura Fernandez, has pledged a war on crime — though killings remain high as the small Central American nation has become a major transit point for South American cocaine bound for the U.S. and Europe.

For De La Espriella, governing Colombia will be no easy task. Analysts say drug trafficking, illegal mining, and minimal government presence in remote parts of the country pose serious obstacles.

He won by less than 1% and will have to navigate a divided Congress, where his opponent Ivan Cepeda’s Historic Pact party controls more seats than any other faction.

De La Espriella’s fashion choices and his proposal to build mega-prisons have invited comparisons to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has dubbed himself the “world’s coolest dictator.” De La Espriella has pushed back on that characterization.

“Colombia is a much larger country and far more complex to manage than El Salvador, and importing El Salvador’s security solutions into Colombia is not feasible, whether legally, budget-wise, or in terms of international engagement,” said Sergio Guzman, founder of Colombia Risk Analysis.

Harvard’s Levitsky added that De La Espriella will need to work within Colombia’s established democratic institutions to advance any reforms, warning that “if he tries to be more radical then he can get into some trouble.”

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is widely expected to lay out a departure timeline as soon as Monday, yielding to growing demands from within his own Labour Party to step aside and pass the torch of leadership.

Should he follow through, Starmer would join a long line of predecessors, becoming the sixth prime minister in the past decade to make an early exit announcement from outside 10 Downing Street.

Starmer spent the weekend weighing his political future after Labour rival Andy Burnham claimed victory in a special parliamentary election. Burnham, who stepped down last week as the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, entered the race with the explicit goal of challenging Starmer for both the party leadership and the country’s top job.

Burnham is scheduled to be formally sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday.

Starmer’s office offered no comment on reports of a potential resignation. However, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Sunday that Starmer is “making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities that he finds himself in.”

Whether Burnham would face a clear path to leadership or a competitive contest remains to be seen. Wes Streeting, who stepped down as health secretary last month in protest of Starmer’s leadership style, has publicly stated he intends to run if a leadership contest takes place.

Frustration with Starmer has been growing among Labour lawmakers for months. Party members have been eager to reverse the government’s falling popularity since Starmer led Labour to a sweeping election victory in July 2024.

His tenure has been marked by struggles to deliver on promises of economic growth, restore deteriorating public services, and ease financial pressures on ordinary citizens. His leadership has also been dogged by a series of missteps, including his decision to name Peter Mandelson — a figure with ties to Jeffrey Epstein and a history of controversy — as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

Labour is hemorrhaging liberal voters to the expanding Green Party while simultaneously facing a surge from Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage that has consistently topped national opinion polls.

U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in even before any official announcement, tying Starmer’s potential exit to two of his frequent talking points: immigration and energy policy.

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.

It was not clear whether Trump’s post was a reaction to media speculation about Starmer’s plans. The two leaders did not speak over the weekend, and their once-cordial relationship has reportedly cooled in recent months over disagreements including the Iran conflict, which the United Kingdom chose not to join.

On the world stage, Starmer has earned recognition for his diplomatic efforts, particularly in uniting European nations in support of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion and working to manage the fallout from the Iran conflict.

Not all Labour voices have joined the chorus calling for Starmer’s exit. London legislator Neil Coyle pushed back sharply on the situation, writing on X: “the prospect of an utter stitch-up & the media circus being rewarded.” He added, “When the next leader cannot change Trump, Iran, Ukraine, Putin, Musk, broadcast editorial & algorithm bias overnight they’ll bay for his blood too. Better keep that guillotine sharp.”

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s deeply divided electorate handed conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella a razor-thin advantage in a presidential runoff Sunday, though the results face an imminent legal challenge from the opposing camp.

De la Espriella — a business owner and attorney who secured an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump despite never previously seeking elected office — captured 49.7% of the vote with 99.9% of ballots counted. His opponent, progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, received 48.7% support. Electoral authorities have not yet formally declared a winner.

Should de la Espriella prevail, his administration is expected to reverse many of Petro’s policies, including a controversial effort to conduct simultaneous peace talks with multiple illegal armed groups — an initiative that has largely fallen short. Cepeda had promised to continue that approach along with broader social reforms if he had won Sunday’s vote.

The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of widespread public anxiety over the possibility of renewed internal conflict in the country.

Addressing thousands of supporters from behind bulletproof glass in the northern city of Barranquilla on Sunday night, de la Espriella — known by the nickname “The Tiger” — opened with a unifying message before shifting to a more combative tone.

“I will govern for all Colombians,” he said, before adding: “Pack your bags and prepare to exercise the opposition. Make no mistake, Mr. Cepeda. You already know how fiercely the tiger roars.”

Speaking to his own supporters in Bogota after the results were tallied, Cepeda declared the vote count “unofficial and non-binding” and announced his campaign would contest results from more than 30,000 polling stations. It is worth noting that no presidential election recount in Colombian history has ever reversed an outcome. Petro also pledged to join the challenge.

“We will not allow … the rollback of the social gains we have achieved,” Cepeda said. “We will not allow democracy to be violated.”

The winner of Sunday’s election will begin a four-year presidential term on August 7.

The two candidates offered starkly contrasting visions for addressing the ongoing violence — including car bombings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and mass displacements — that has plagued Colombia for decades.

De la Espriella, 47, advocated for a tough-on-crime stance, particularly regarding drug trafficking. He pledged to end Petro’s dialogue efforts with armed groups and proposed building large-scale prisons modeled after the aggressive security policies of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele — measures that have reduced homicide rates in that country but have also drawn human rights criticism. De la Espriella holds both Colombian and U.S. citizenship and is a member of the Republican Party.

Trump weighed in on the results via his social media platform, writing: “He Won, BIG!”

Yolanda Hernández, a 49-year-old who earns her living recycling trash, said she voted for Petro in 2022 but chose de la Espriella this time around. While she acknowledged that congressional gridlock prevented Petro from delivering on his promises to the poor, she said the country cannot afford another four years of his leadership.

“We want change in Colombia because it’s always the same violence, always the same thing,” Hernández said. “(Petro) said he was going to lower the cost of services, that he was going to lower the price of food, and everything is more expensive.”

Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the close result indicates Colombia “has not shifted overwhelmingly or decisively” either against Petro’s agenda or in favor of de la Espriella’s outsider “iron fist showmanship.” Freeman also noted the outcome highlighted deep regional divisions within the country.

“It’s regional not just ideological polarization; or rather, the two overlapping,” Freeman said. “Ironically, de la Espriella’s iron-fist message performed best in the core of the country, not the periphery, which bears the brunt of Colombia’s violence.”

Colombia’s illegal armed groups currently number more than 27,000 members. Last year, authorities recorded 14,780 homicides — the highest total since at least 2015 — driven largely by clashes between those groups. Among those killed was conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe.

MELBOURNE, Australia — In what officials are calling the biggest cocaine seizure in Australian history, law enforcement discovered 2.7 metric tons — roughly 3 tons — of the drug hidden on a property on the outer edge of Sydney, authorities announced Monday.

The discovery was made on June 19 in the suburb of Londonderry, on Sydney’s western outskirts. According to a statement from the Queensland Joint Organized Crime Taskforce, the cocaine was packed into plastic tubs and buried in underground bunkers concealed beneath three shipping containers on a semirural piece of land. The containers were equipped with false floors that allowed access to the hidden drugs below.

Authorities estimate the cocaine’s street value at 816 million Australian dollars, which equals approximately $572 million in U.S. currency. Two men, Sydney residents aged 21 and 25, were taken into custody at the scene and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an illegal substance. If convicted, both men could spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

The previous Australian record for a cocaine seizure was 2.34 metric tons — about 2.58 tons — taken off a fishing vessel near K’gari, formerly called Fraser Island, along the Queensland coast in 2024.

Investigators say the drugs were brought ashore by boat at Midge Point, a remote area in the Queensland tropics. Police allege that a Sydney-based organized crime group then moved the shipment overland to the city, a road journey of approximately 1,800 kilometers, or about 1,100 miles.

Authorities also believe the same vessel responsible for this shipment previously offloaded 178 kilograms — about 392 pounds — of cocaine that was seized earlier in Queensland. Six individuals have already been charged in connection with that earlier haul, which also included 142 kilograms, or 313 pounds, of methamphetamine.

Police suspect the vessel in question is the MV Wealth, a cargo ship registered in Belize that has since been seized by authorities in the Solomon Islands on suspicion of involvement in international organized crime. The Solomon Islands are located roughly 2,000 kilometers — about 1,200 miles — northeast of Queensland.

Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay warned that criminal organizations are increasingly exploiting Queensland’s vast 13,000-kilometer, or 8,000-mile, coastline as a smuggling route for narcotics.

Australia is considered an especially attractive market for drug traffickers because its residents pay some of the highest prices for cocaine anywhere in the world.

Negotiators from the United States and Iran gathered Monday in Obbuergen, Switzerland for a second day of diplomatic talks, working toward a permanent resolution to the conflict between the two nations following a turbulent opening day.

The mediating countries, Qatar and Pakistan, described the initial round of discussions as showing “encouraging progress.” A senior U.S. diplomat, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing negotiations, said headway had been made on several issues — notably the creation of “mechanisms” to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global energy shipping and to maintain a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

However, the first full day of negotiations was thrown into turmoil by sharp remarks from President Donald Trump, who was thousands of miles away from the Swiss talks but whose comments drew strong objections from the Iranian side.

Iranian state media reported that the talks were temporarily halted following the “publication of an insulting message by the U.S. President.” The Iranian delegation then met separately with Qatari mediators before leaving the negotiating site, according to state media. The senior U.S. diplomat later said the Iranians had remained on the premises and that talks were continuing.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had declared he would “never back down from the right to enrich uranium,” state media reported. Trump then told Fox News in a phone interview that Pezeshkian should be careful about his words, and also threatened to take over Iran, according to one of the network’s correspondents.

Trump continued posting warnings to Iran on social media even as negotiators were at the table, writing: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”

The American negotiating team includes Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. Iran’s delegation is led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the country’s parliamentary speaker, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Vance told Fox News on Saturday that he expected to remain in Switzerland only a “day or two,” with Kushner and Witkoff managing the bulk of the technical discussions.

In a joint statement, Qatar and Pakistan announced that the high-level portion of the talks had concluded and that technical negotiations would continue in Switzerland for the remainder of the week. The two countries said both sides had agreed to establish a “communication line” to ensure safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for ending the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The United States did not immediately respond to the joint statement, while Iran expressed appreciation for the mediators’ efforts. Foreign Minister Araghchi wrote on X that the first “real test” of the negotiations would be whether the new mechanism could actually halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Among the topics discussed was Iran’s posture regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s military claimed it had closed the strait on Saturday in response to ongoing fighting in Lebanon, though U.S. Central Command disputed that claim.

An interim agreement signed last week by the leaders of both countries calls for a 60-day window in which negotiators will work out the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The international community has raised concerns that Iran may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons — something Iran denies. Additional issues, including the status of frozen Iranian financial assets, are also part of the agenda.

While the talks cover a wide range of complex subjects, Iran has made clear its priority is resolving the conflict in Lebanon. A renewed ceasefire there that took effect Saturday appeared to be holding, and Israel’s military announced it would lift movement restrictions for residents near the Israel-Lebanon border on Monday morning. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a party to the U.S.-Iran agreement.

BEIJING — China’s government struck back Monday, announcing sanctions against 10 American defense companies after the United States recently blocked several prominent Chinese technology firms from receiving U.S. military contracts.

China’s Commerce Ministry announced that Chinese businesses would be prohibited from shipping so-called “dual-use” goods to the 10 American companies. Dual-use items are products that can serve both military and civilian purposes. The targeted American firms include military drone manufacturers and companies involved in rare earth mineral extraction.

The ministry stated the action was necessary to protect China’s national security and described it as a direct response to what it called the U.S. government’s “wrongful expansion of its so-called List of Chinese Military Companies.”

Chinese officials had previously stated that the American sanctions contradict an understanding reached between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump when Trump visited China in May.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Defense Department added several major technology companies — including Alibaba and Baidu — to its list of businesses it claims have ties to the Chinese military. Baidu pushed back on the designation, calling the claim that it is a military company “totally baseless.”

Being placed on that list bars the companies from obtaining U.S. military contracts.

China’s Commerce Ministry noted that Chinese firms may still apply for special export approval when goods are “genuinely necessary.” The ministry also warned that businesses or individuals in other countries are forbidden from transferring dual-use Chinese goods to any of the sanctioned American companies.

The 10 American companies facing the Chinese export restrictions are: AVEOX, based in Simi Valley, California; Red Cat Holdings and Teal Drones, both located in South Salt Lake, Utah; IMSAR in Springville, Utah; Jaia Robotics in Bristol, Rhode Island; Ball Aerospace & Technologies in Broomfield, Colorado; Oshkosh Defense in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; L3Harris Maritime Services in Norfolk, Virginia; MP Materials in Las Vegas; and USA Rare Earth in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer may announce a timeline for leaving office as soon as Monday, potentially setting the stage for an orderly handover of power to rival Andy Burnham and making him the United Kingdom’s seventh leader in a single decade.

Not even two years after Starmer led Labour to a sweeping election victory — one that was supposed to bring stability to Britain’s turbulent political scene — a source close to him said the prime minister spent the weekend weighing his options: either step aside voluntarily or fight to keep his job in a formal party leadership contest.

“Keir likes to think about things,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The pressure on Starmer has been mounting for months, but it intensified sharply on Friday when Burnham, who currently serves as the mayor of Greater Manchester, won a parliamentary by-election and returned to Westminster. His victory came at the expense of a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has topped national opinion polls for over a year.

That win energized Labour lawmakers who believe Burnham — a veteran politician widely praised for his ability to communicate — could reverse the party’s declining fortunes. Starmer’s personal approval ratings have fallen to the lowest level recorded for any British prime minister.

However, a leadership change carries its own risks. Burnham has spoken broadly about the need for sweeping national change and reducing the cost of living, but has not laid out detailed positions on foreign policy, economic strategy, or defense spending.

Much like Starmer, Burnham could find his hands tied by bond market investors who strongly resist any increase in government borrowing. He would also face a frustrated public that feels the country’s core systems are failing them.

Britain currently carries the heaviest borrowing costs among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, a situation driven by high debt levels, years of sluggish economic growth, difficulties in cutting public spending, and growing demands for investment in areas such as defense.

Investors consulted by Reuters were split on whether Burnham would take a market-friendly approach. Last September, Burnham said Britain needed to move “beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets” — a comment he later said was taken out of context.

“In our view, a Burnham premiership would inherit a precarious fiscal situation with few tools to deliver meaningful change,” economists at Citibank said on Friday.

Starmer had publicly stated on Friday that he would compete in any formal leadership contest held to replace him. Meanwhile, former health minister Wes Streeting said he has secured the support of the 81 Labour lawmakers required to enter such a race. However, a senior party figure suggested Streeting might cut a deal with Burnham — possibly accepting a high-ranking role in exchange for staying out of the contest.

While Starmer’s inner circle argues that his 2024 national election landslide gives him a mandate to govern through 2029, business minister Peter Kyle acknowledged on Sunday that the prime minister was thinking carefully about “the political challenges that he faces in this moment.”

Should Starmer step up to a podium at Downing Street on Monday to announce a departure date, he would join a long line of recent British leaders to exit under pressure. If Burnham succeeds him, he would become the seventh person to hold the office of prime minister since the Brexit referendum — a vote to leave the European Union that took place ten years ago this week.

That rate of leadership turnover is the highest Britain has seen in nearly two centuries, reflecting the deep difficulty successive governments have faced in improving living standards, public services, and controlling illegal immigration.

The political advisory group Eurasia suggested the most favorable scenario would be for Starmer to announce a September departure, allowing him to attend a planned UK-European Union summit in July while giving Burnham adequate time to prepare for taking office.

A powerful explosion erupted at Qatar’s primary natural gas export facility late Sunday night, injuring at least 54 people and leaving 18 others unaccounted for, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry. The blast occurred as workers were attempting to bring the terminal back online after it had been struck by Iranian forces during the ongoing conflict.

The explosion took place at the Barzan gas supply facility within the Ras Laffan industrial area, according to state-run energy company QatarEnergy. Initial reports from officials suggested only a small number of injuries, but the Interior Ministry later released significantly higher casualty numbers hours after the incident.

The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined. The Barzan facility had the capacity to process nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day — energy that Qatar relied on mainly for domestic electricity generation and to operate its vital water desalination plants across the Arabian Peninsula.

Qatar holds the vast majority ownership of the plant, with a minor stake belonging to ExxonMobil. The oil company had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of this report.

The explosion comes after Iran struck Ras Laffan with a missile in March, triggering a fire that officials described as causing “extensive” damage before it was brought under control. Qatar had already suspended production at the site due to repeated Iranian attacks.

The disruption adds more uncertainty to global energy markets, as Qatar ranks among the world’s leading natural gas producers. The country had been forced to halt shipments when Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut off its export routes. With Iran beginning to ease its grip on the strait amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Qatar moved to restart operations — an effort that ended in Sunday’s disaster.

Qatar shares a vast offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with Iran. Revenue from that gas production has funded Qatar’s rise as a global player, including hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, launching the Al Jazeera news network, and serving as an international mediator — including facilitating talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland.

Russian officials say Moscow’s air defenses intercepted close to 60 drones in the early morning hours of Monday, prompting a temporary shutdown of flights at several airports near the capital.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Telegram that nearly 60 drones headed toward Moscow had been shot down. He did not offer additional details but confirmed that emergency crews were sent to the areas where the drones went down.

The aviation watchdog reported that four airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovskiy, which is located near the capital — all suspended flight operations during the incident. Flights were later allowed to resume at all four locations.

The latest attack comes on the heels of another drone strike last week that targeted Moscow’s only oil refinery. During that earlier offensive, Moscow’s defense systems knocked down nearly 200 drones in what was described as one of the largest aerial attacks on the city since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in 2022.

Meanwhile, in the Russia-annexed city of Sevastopol in Crimea, city governor Mikhail Razvozhayev announced on Telegram that all outdoor public events scheduled for Monday were being cancelled and that street lights would remain off. He also urged residents to reduce their electricity consumption.

Crimea, which draws large numbers of Russian tourists, has also suspended fuel sales to the general public and private businesses. Fuel supplies are now being directed exclusively to government agencies responsible for essential services and security, as Ukrainian drone strikes on supply routes and energy infrastructure have triggered a fuel shortage across the region.

SYDNEY — Australia announced Monday that it has reached its biggest defense export agreement in history, agreeing to sell cutting-edge radar technology to Canada in a deal worth A$2.5 billion, or roughly $1.75 billion U.S. dollars.

The technology at the center of the deal is known as Over-the-Horizon Radar, which is capable of detecting and tracking aircraft, ships, and missiles at distances of up to 3,000 kilometers — approximately 1,864 miles. This marks the first time Australia has sold this particular radar system to another country.

Canada plans to use the technology to strengthen its ability to monitor the Arctic, a region that makes up roughly 40% of the country’s total landmass. Despite its enormous size, the Canadian Arctic remains sparsely populated and largely undeveloped. A significant portion of Russia’s Arctic territory — about one-fifth of its total land area — faces both Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the significance of the agreement. “Today’s agreement marks a significant milestone in Australian defence trade and lays the foundation for deeper and mutually beneficial defence industry collaboration with Canada,” he said in a written statement.

Canadian officials also weighed in on the importance of the project. Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement, described the deal as part of a larger initiative. “Canada is reinforcing Arctic security through the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project,” Fuhr said. “This project is part of a broader effort to build an integrated Arctic surveillance and communications network that will strengthen Canada’s ability to monitor, understand and respond to activity in the Arctic.”

Australia noted that the agreement will create around 300 jobs domestically and represents only the first phase of what is expected to be a broader, ongoing collaboration between the two nations on radar development.

BOGOTA — Colombia has chosen a new direction, electing nationalist attorney Abelardo De La Espriella as its next president in a Sunday vote count that signals a dramatic rightward shift for the country.

Affectionately called “The Tiger” by his supporters, De La Espriella presented himself as an outsider capable of turning around Colombia’s struggling economy and bringing stability to a nation long troubled by illegal armed factions and drug trafficking.

His rise began early in the year, fueled by a firm stance on crime and public safety. He secured a first-round victory in late May with 43.7% of the vote, then defeated leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in the runoff election — earning 49.66% compared to Cepeda’s 48.7%, according to the national registrar’s official count.

De La Espriella has placed the blame for Colombia’s economic and security struggles squarely on outgoing President Gustavo. He won over a large portion of voters by promising to cut the size of government by 40%, expand the tax base, and abandon peace negotiations with armed groups in favor of a stronger military approach.

Among his economic plans, he intends to resume oil exploration and permit fracking, with the goal of nearly doubling production to 1.3 million barrels per day.

The president-elect says he funded his own campaign and that his political movement, “Defenders of the Homeland,” developed independently without backing from established parties or business interests. Reuters was unable to confirm that claim on its own.

Beyond his legal career, De La Espriella has built a wide-ranging business portfolio covering wine, rum, clothing, and real estate. Investigative news outlet La Silla Vacia reported that a number of those businesses have been dissolved, carry debt, and collectively lost money in 2024 — with his law practice standing out as his most financially successful venture. His campaign refused to respond to La Silla Vacia’s inquiries about his businesses, and later publicly questioned the outlet’s funding sources. La Silla Vacia denied any bias.

Despite never having served in the military, De La Espriella used a military salute as a signature gesture throughout his campaign. At 47 years old, he is frequently photographed wearing luxury timepieces, designer sunglasses, and a neatly trimmed beard — an image that has drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has famously referred to himself as the “world’s coolest dictator.”

Bukele has pursued aggressive law enforcement policies in El Salvador, including the construction of massive prisons, which have pushed crime rates to some of the lowest in Central America. Critics, however, point to the detention of more than 90,000 people and raise serious human rights concerns.

While De La Espriella denies that he is copying Bukele’s model, he has put forward a proposal to build 10 large-scale prisons across Colombia.

His legal career has also drawn scrutiny. De La Espriella previously represented Alex Saab, who is facing charges in the United States for allegedly laundering money on behalf of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He has also taken on clients connected to corruption cases, financial fraud, and right-wing paramilitary organizations. De La Espriella maintains that his work as an attorney does not imply any personal wrongdoing or criminal involvement.

A married father of four, De La Espriella was raised in the Caribbean city of Monteria and is known for his love of vallenato, a traditional folk music style from that region. He holds citizenship in three countries — the United States, Italy, and Colombia — and is scheduled to be inaugurated as Colombia’s president on August 7.

BEIJING — China has placed 10 American companies on its export control list, describing them as entities connected to the U.S. military, in a retaliatory move against Washington’s recent actions targeting Chinese firms.

The companies affected include Aveox, a manufacturer specializing in motors for mission-critical uses, along with rare earth producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth. Being placed on the list means Chinese exporters are prohibited from selling dual-use items — goods with both civilian and military applications — to those companies.

China’s Commerce Ministry released a statement Monday saying the actions were taken in response to what it called the “U.S. government’s malicious practice.” The ministry said the measures were necessary to protect national security and fulfill international obligations, including commitments related to non-proliferation.

The ministry also stated that any ongoing export activities involving those listed companies must be halted immediately.

In a separate announcement, China’s finance ministry said it is moving against an additional 46 U.S. companies, banning Chinese buyers from purchasing any products those firms make. However, U.S.-funded businesses operating within China are still permitted to make such purchases.

The escalation comes two weeks after the United States added Chinese tech and automotive giants — including e-commerce company Alibaba, internet search provider Baidu, and automakers BYD and NIO — to a list of companies Washington believes are supporting Beijing’s military operations.

Authorities in Australia announced Monday they have made the nation’s biggest cocaine bust in history, recovering 2,700 kilograms of the drug from a semi-rural property on the western edge of Sydney.

The Australian Federal Police reported the seized cocaine carries an estimated street value of approximately A$816 million — roughly $572.3 million in U.S. currency. Officers found the drugs packed into plastic tubs that had been buried inside three shipping containers equipped with false floors.

The discovery was made on Friday during an ongoing investigation targeting an organized crime syndicate believed to be responsible for bringing illegal drugs into Australia along the country’s eastern coastline.

Two men, one 21 years old and the other 25, were taken into custody after they allegedly tried to run from the scene on foot. Both now face charges of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug — an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Investigators say the cocaine was initially smuggled into the country near Midge Point in northern Queensland before being moved south to Sydney under the direction of the criminal organization. The investigation into the syndicate remains active.

This latest find comes on top of earlier drug interceptions tied to the same case, including 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine. Combined with Monday’s announcement, the total amount of drugs seized through this investigation has surpassed three metric tonnes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sweeping defense of his country’s recent military actions at the JNS International Policy Summit on Sunday, claiming that operations against Iran and its regional allies have dramatically reduced threats to Israel’s security.

Speaking to the gathering, Netanyahu pushed back against critics who had urged him to avoid military action in Rafah, hold back from striking Hezbollah, and steer clear of any confrontation with Iran.

“What have we achieved?” he asked the audience, before walking through what he called the results of those decisions.

Netanyahu said Israel successfully prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and that joint operations with the United States resulted in what he described as the most extensive airstrike campaign in Israel’s history. He credited American military cooperation for making those strikes possible.

“We destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,” he said. “We knocked out 20 of their top nuclear scientists — 12 in Rising Lion, another eight in Roaring Lion.”

Beyond nuclear targets, Netanyahu said Israeli forces also struck Iran’s missile production, military industries, navy, and air force, while causing what he estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He argued that the sustained military pressure had weakened the Iranian regime to the point where its eventual collapse was possible.

“But we didn’t just confront Iran. We shattered Iran’s terror axis,” he said.

Netanyahu told the summit that Israel eliminated senior terrorist leaders, killed tens of thousands of fighters, and managed to bring all hostages held in Gaza back home.

“And despite those who said it couldn’t be done, we brought back to Israel every single hostage, every single hostage, every last one of them,” he declared.

Addressing the situation in Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel had wiped out more than 90% of the roughly 150,000 rockets and missiles that Hezbollah had stockpiled, severely weakening the group’s military capability.

He also confirmed that Israel has established security zones in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, and made clear those positions would be held indefinitely.

“As long as we need to protect our people, we will remain in the security zone in South Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister also defended the conduct of Israeli forces in both Lebanon and Gaza, saying troops go to great lengths to minimize civilian casualties while carrying out operations against armed groups.

He closed his remarks by reaffirming his personal commitment to keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands, regardless of how ongoing diplomatic talks unfold.

“No matter what happens in the talks, with an agreement, without an agreement, I pledge to you that Iran, as long as I’m Prime Minister, will never have a nuclear weapon, never,” he said. “As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, I will not let that happen.”

Turkey has put the finishing touches on a landmark transit project, completing the last segment of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı Metro Line on Friday. The fully operational 69-kilometer route is now recognized as the nation’s longest and fastest metro line.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presided over the opening ceremony in Istanbul, officially inaugurating the 22-kilometer Halkalı-Arnavutköy section — the project’s final phase. The completion brings the entire underground corridor connecting Gayrettepe, Istanbul Airport, and Halkalı into full service.

Stretching 69 kilometers with 16 stations total, the line reaches top speeds of 120 kilometers per hour, making it Turkey’s fastest metro route and placing it among the world’s lengthiest underground airport rail links.

At the ceremony, Erdoğan spoke to the scale of Istanbul’s growth and connectivity goals. “We are weaving our city, one of the world’s largest metropolises, with a population of 16 million and nearly 20 million annual visitors, stitch by stitch with a network of railways,” he said.

The newly unveiled segment features five stations: Ibn Haldun University, Kayaşehir, Olimpiyatköy, Halkalı Stadium, and Halkalı. Officials noted that around 1.5 million residents living in the Başakşehir and Küçükçekmece districts will now have direct rail access to both Istanbul Airport and the city center.

The metro system runs without drivers and uses the COBALT signaling platform, a technology developed domestically by ASELSAN. Of the 25 train sets assigned to the route, 15 were built to fully autonomous specifications by CRRC.

Turkish government projections suggest the line will produce economic benefits totaling 935 million euros by the year 2043. Additionally, reduced traffic congestion is expected to save commuters and travelers roughly 117 million hours of travel time.

The project was rolled out in phases over several years. Service on the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport section launched in January 2023, with the Kağıthane-Gayrettepe portion following in January 2024. The Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport segment came online in March 2024.

With the full line now active, travel times are expected to drop considerably. Riders going between Halkalı and Istanbul Airport should reach their destination in about 30 minutes, while the trip from Gayrettepe to the airport is projected at roughly 35 minutes. End-to-end travel between Halkalı and Gayrettepe is estimated at 57 minutes.

The metro line also connects to a broader web of transportation options, including Marmaray commuter rail, high-speed rail services, and several other metro lines throughout the city.

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Monday that two vessels operating under South Korean management have navigated through the Strait of Hormuz, a development that comes in the wake of a memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire agreement signed by the United States and Iran last week.

According to the ministry, both ships are currently underway without incident, though officials noted they have not yet fully cleared the high-risk zone in the area. The ministry chose not to release additional details about the specific vessels involved.

Officials also confirmed that neither ship carries South Korean crew members, and neither vessel is headed to South Korea as its destination.

Despite this development, the situation remains tense for South Korean maritime operators in the region. A total of 22 South Korean-operated ships are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said.

Peace negotiations between the United States and Iran pushed into their second day Monday in Switzerland, following a rocky first session that saw Tehran announce it had once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz while President Donald Trump renewed his warnings of military action against Iran.

Vice President JD Vance led talks with Iranian representatives on Sunday at the Qatari-owned Buergenstock mountain resort in Switzerland. The discussions were held under a memorandum of understanding reached last week, which extended a fragile ceasefire — originally established in April — by at least 60 more days.

Just before negotiations formally got underway Sunday, Fox News reported that Trump warned Iranian officials directly, saying “you won’t have a country” if they attempted to close the strait again. Trump also repeated an earlier threat that the U.S. could take control of the waterway and potentially charge its own toll, according to Fox News.

The two sides offered conflicting accounts of how the talks unfolded. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed informed source, reported that after Trump’s remarks became public, the Iranian delegation refused to re-enter the negotiating room — though communication continued through Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries.

According to Tasnim’s source, the Iranian side insisted that before nuclear discussions could begin, the U.S. needed to fulfill other parts of the memorandum, including releasing frozen Iranian assets and issuing waivers to allow Iranian oil exports.

A U.S. diplomat directly involved in the negotiations pushed back on that characterization, telling Reuters: “The Iranians never left and are still here meeting and negotiating deep into the night. We’ve talked about the Strait, Lebanon, nuclear issues, and details of implementing the MOU, among other topics.”

A U.S. official said high-level talks were expected to conclude Monday, with technical teams staying on to continue more detailed discussions.

The memorandum of understanding had called for the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments — to remain open, and for all hostilities to cease, including in Lebanon. There, Israel has continued to carry out deadly strikes even as Iranian ally Hezbollah fires on Israeli targets.

Iran cited the ongoing fighting in Lebanon as justification for again halting maritime traffic through the strait over the weekend, and said Sunday’s session would not address substantive issues like Iran’s nuclear program.

At the Swiss talks, Vance downplayed the violence in Lebanon, telling reporters that progress had been made toward ending the fighting there. “These things are always a little bit messy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Trump took to social media from the United States to issue a stern warning: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” The message appeared to be directed at Hezbollah.

Even as Trump was issuing those warnings, Vance told reporters that the president had “asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran.”

Late Sunday, a U.S. diplomat said discussions focused on “clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran on the Strait and building deconfliction mechanisms to ensure the Strait will remain fully open.”

Despite a new ceasefire announced in Lebanon on Friday, there has been little evidence of a genuine halt to the fighting. Iran said Saturday that, as a result, it had closed the strait once more — a closure that, over nearly four months, had caused the most significant disruption to global energy supplies in history.

U.S. officials disputed that the strait was actually closed, but shipping data told a different story. According to analytics firm Kpler, only five vessels passed through the strait on Sunday — a dramatic drop from the 26 ships recorded just one day earlier. The figures may not account for vessels that turned off their tracking transponders while in the Gulf.

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a military source Sunday saying no new permits were being issued for ships to cross the strait until further notice.

Trump said he agreed to last week’s memorandum of understanding in order to prevent a global economic depression driven by surging oil prices caused by the strait’s closure. Oil prices had fallen sharply over the past week to their lowest levels since the conflict began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran. By early Monday, Brent crude futures had climbed more than $1 to $81.66 per barrel following the turbulent start to the peace talks.

Sunday appeared to be one of the calmer days Lebanon had seen in some time, with no major incidents reported by nightfall — a relative quiet following two days of intense Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire on Israeli positions.

More than one million people have been displaced from their homes in Lebanon since Israel launched a ground operation in March targeting Hezbollah fighters who had been firing across the border in support of Tehran. Reuters journalists in southern Lebanon on Sunday observed some of the heaviest traffic seen since the memorandum was signed, as residents began returning home — some stopping along backed-up highways to wave Hezbollah flags.