Author: Admin

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s already fragile economy is facing a new crisis as conflict in the Strait of Hormuz has severed crucial supply lines, leaving businesses struggling and humanitarian aid organizations unable to deliver life-saving assistance.

The landlocked nation had already lost access to Pakistan’s key Karachi shipping hub when border disputes closed crossings between the two countries in late 2023. Afghan importers then shifted their operations to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port as an alternative route.

However, that backup plan quickly unraveled when warfare erupted in the strategic waterway, trapping hundreds of vessels and thousands of crew members. Simultaneously, thousands of containers destined for Afghanistan remained stranded in Pakistan.

The dual blockade has created a catastrophic situation for Afghan commerce and international relief efforts.

The World Food Program, which provides essential nutrition assistance including supplements for undernourished mothers and children plus fortified energy biscuits for students, has watched transportation expenses soar while supply deliveries ground to a halt.

According to the organization, most nutrition materials previously came through Pakistan. When that border shut down in October, shipments were redirected through Dubai and Iran by sea. However, that pathway became unusable as Tehran gained control over the strait while U.S. forces established blockades around Iranian ports.

Critical nutritional supplies steadily decreased before completely running out by mid-April.

“At a time when malnutrition is already at near-record levels, weakened and desperate mothers and children are being turned away from health clinics, as we have no food to give them,” said John Aylieff, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan.

The organization was already struggling with severe funding shortfalls, having received just 8% of its annual budget requirements this year.

“On top of a funding crisis, conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the border with Pakistan are choking WFP’s operations — blocking supply routes, driving up costs and straining markets at the worst possible time,” Aylieff said in emailed comments.

Relief supplies now must travel overland through Central Asian countries, completely avoiding ocean routes. This has caused WFP’s shipping expenses to triple, while supplement costs for malnourished mothers and children have increased by 35%, according to Aylieff.

When the Iran conflict began in late February, one of the organization’s shipments of fortified energy biscuits became stranded in the United Arab Emirates.

Rather than taking the direct route from Dubai through Iran into Afghanistan, the cargo has been forced onto an extremely lengthy detour through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and across the Caspian Sea into Turkmenistan, the organization reported.

That shipment has been in transit for three months.

Local businesses are equally devastated. Lutfullah Akbari, who operates a small Kabul company importing construction machinery, faces an impossible situation with his Chinese supplies trapped on vessels unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while logistics costs continue climbing.

“I have nothing else to use to continue my business here,” he said.

Akbari is now contemplating abandoning his cargo entirely if the waterway doesn’t reopen soon.

“The Iran-U.S. war has had a huge impact on my business,” he said. While other merchants have redirected shipments through Central Asia, the route is both longer and more costly.

“The logistics company now wants more than the value of our goods and the capital we had invested in them. We can’t afford it,” Akbari said.

“Even if I bring them here, I’ll have to sell them all at a loss. I can’t afford to lose twice.”

Gul Meer Amini, logistics director at freight company Etifaq Bamyan International Transport and Trade Forwarding, reported that the Iran conflict has dramatically inflated expenses. His company handles various cargo including humanitarian supplies.

Container rental fees that previously ranged from $3,000 to $3,600 per shipment have now jumped above $7,000. For certain goods, costs have exceeded $11,000, he noted.

“The impact is reaching all traders,” Amini said.

Mohammad Murtaza Ishaqzai, a Kabul electronics retailer, said shipping his Chinese merchandise through Iran previously cost between $1,100 and $1,500 before the conflict. Those expenses have now skyrocketed to more than $15,000.

“We can’t export and we can’t import,” he said, urging the Taliban government to settle its dispute with Pakistan to allow border commerce to restart.

If current conditions persist, he warned, “our business will be finished.”

Afghanistan’s Commerce and Trade Ministry spokesperson Abdul Salam Jawad noted that nationwide price increases have remained relatively modest at approximately 3%, due to ongoing commerce with Iran and sourcing many imports from Central Asia, Russia and China.

“The problem we faced was the restrictions on our imported goods and containers coming from other countries” via Iran, he said. “We are waiting for a solution to be found in the Strait of Hormuz so that we can export normally.”

Khan Jan Alokozai, senior adviser to Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment, said over 60% of Afghanistan’s trade now flows through Central Asia, helping to reduce the Iran conflict’s overall impact.

Food and fuel products are arriving through Central Asia and Russia, while significant trade is now being conducted via Turkey, with goods then transported by rail through Iran or Azerbaijan, Alokozai explained.

The former chief executive of Scotland’s National Party entered a guilty plea on Monday for stealing more than $540,000 from party coffers, acknowledging he redirected organizational funds to purchase vehicles, a recreational vehicle, and high-end merchandise.

Peter Murrell was previously married to the former party leader, who stepped down unexpectedly in 2023 just before being taken into custody during the financial investigation. She was exonerated of any criminal conduct in March of last year.

The law enforcement investigation and detention of the party’s most tenured leader created significant scandal for the independence-supporting organization that has controlled Scottish governance for much of the past twenty years.

Authorities had been examining the fate of donations collected by Scottish independence advocates in 2017 that were meant to be set aside but were reportedly diverted for alternative uses.

According to his written admission of guilt, Murrell acknowledged stealing £400,310.65 from the party spanning from August 12, 2010, through January 13, 2023, approximately £60,000 below the initial charges.

“Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the Chief Executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years,” said Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston.

“He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.”

Court documents revealed he had purchased multiple automobiles and merchandise from premium retailers including Estee Lauder and Harrods using the stolen funds.

Murrell remains in jail custody awaiting his sentencing hearing scheduled for June 23.

Russian investigators announced Monday they discovered multiple magnetic mines manufactured by NATO countries on a commercial tanker docked at the Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga.

Divers conducting a hull inspection found the explosive devices attached to the tanker Arrhenius, which had sailed from Belgium’s Antwerp port to take on liquefied petroleum gas cargo, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee.

Russian authorities have enhanced security protocols at their ports following what they describe as suspected sabotage attempts targeting the country’s energy facilities.

The heightened security measures were implemented last year after Russia mandated underwater inspections of vessels following suspected attacks on four oil tankers. In February 2025, the Suezmax tanker Koala became grounded at Ust-Luga following an explosion in its engine compartment.

Ship tracking information from LSEG indicates the Arrhenius operates under Liberia’s flag and is operated by Maple Mariner Holding based in the UAE.

Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, confirmed the mines originated from a NATO member nation. She noted the ship docked at Ust-Luga on May 20 and was preparing to depart for the Turkish port of Samsun.

NATO officials were not immediately accessible for a response.

The explosive devices have been rendered safe, Petrenko confirmed.

“Based on initial investigative actions, it can already be concluded that the magnetic mines could not have been installed in Russia’s territorial waters,” Petrenko said.

The creator of a satirical social media presence that rapidly attracted more than 22 million Instagram followers in India claims he’s facing government retaliation and family intimidation after his content criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

Abhijeet Dipke, who runs the “Cockroach Janta Party” account, says his content struck a chord with India’s younger generation by addressing issues like joblessness and educational scandals, including leaked examination materials.

“The government has taken down our iconic website,” Dipke stated on X, claiming that his X account had been restricted in India, his Instagram presence had been hacked, and his relatives had been intimidated.

Reuters was unable to confirm independently whether government officials ordered the website’s removal. Neither India’s home ministry nor IT department responded when asked for comment about any actions taken against the social media accounts or website.

The account’s rapid rise in popularity stands in sharp contrast to recent election successes by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in important state races, strengthening the party’s position after governing nationally for over ten years.

The Internet Freedom Foundation, which advocates for digital rights, condemned what it called an arbitrary attempt to silence free expression through the alleged blocking of the X account.

Federal minister Kiren Rijiju, a prominent BJP official, responded to the controversy on social media by expressing sympathy for those who he suggested were gaining followers from foreign sources.

“Those who are heroes of the anti-India gang cannot be heroes of India,” Rijiju wrote on X without directly referencing the viral account. “We have complete faith in Indian democracy and Indian youth.”

In response to the minister’s comments, Dipke shared data about his Instagram audience demographics, stating, “More than 94% of the audience is from India.”

He also questioned on X, “Why is a union minister, Kiren Rijiju, labelling Indian youth as Pakistani?”

Research by polling organization CVoter revealed that the issues raised by the account connected with younger Indians, with over 60% of survey participants between ages 18 and 24 expressing worry about their prospects.

Sixty percent of those surveyed indicated the account captured their frustrations regarding joblessness and administrative problems such as leaked test materials, including a recent medical school entrance examination that impacted approximately 2.3 million test-takers.

Official statistics show that unemployment among India’s city-dwelling young people reaches 14%, significantly exceeding the national unemployment rate of roughly 5%.

Most survey participants believed government efforts to block such social media platforms would be unjustified.

Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan suggested the online movement might expand if it moves beyond digital platforms.

“If they want to take it forward, they will have to organise and mobilise on the ground,” he stated.

Deadly flooding in China’s Chongqing municipality has claimed nine lives while 11 individuals remain unaccounted for after intense storms battered the region, according to state broadcaster CCTV’s Monday report.

Multiple communities and rural areas within the Yongchuan district experienced devastating impacts from intense precipitation that struck suddenly during Saturday night hours, according to earlier state media accounts. Officials had initially confirmed three fatalities on Sunday.

The intense precipitation triggered rapid flooding and slope failures throughout the region, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 2,000 local residents, according to the state-operated Xinhua news agency.

The latest casualties add to the dozens of fatalities recorded earlier in the week as a band of severe weather moved through extensive portions of central and southwestern China.

Law enforcement officials in Greece detained 20 individuals on the island of Crete Monday, announcing they had broken up a criminal organization accused of stealing European Union agricultural subsidies in what represents the most recent development in an expanding fraud investigation that has created political turmoil for the government.

Police officials reported that the organization’s alleged ringleaders included two accountants along with government workers who helped farmers file paperwork to obtain EU agricultural funding through fraudulent land ownership claims.

Authorities stated that the criminal network generated illegal profits exceeding €3 million ($3.49 million) after beginning operations in 2019.

The Monday detentions represent the most recent developments in multiple local investigations connected to a broader examination by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office — an independent EU agency — into suspected criminal activity in Greece targeting the bloc’s financial resources.

During the previous year, European prosecutors brought charges against numerous Greek livestock farmers for falsifying grazing land ownership documents to obtain millions of euros in EU subsidies, allegedly with assistance from government employees and conservative politicians.

The fraud investigation has created significant political controversy in Greece, leading to parliamentary investigations — which reached no definitive conclusions — along with cabinet resignations and demands from opposition parties for early elections.

Following a request from the European chief prosecutor, parliament voted in April to remove parliamentary immunity from 13 lawmakers belonging to the ruling New Democracy party, allowing them to face investigation regarding their suspected involvement in related cases.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on EU prosecutors to quickly determine whether to formally charge the lawmakers, as he attempts to limit the political damage from the investigation ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled by spring 2027.

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Officials in Lithuania are investigating what they believe was a state-sponsored cyberattack that compromised more than 600,000 records from government databases.

On Friday, Lithuania’s general prosecutor’s office revealed that hackers gained access to property and business registry information by using stolen login credentials belonging to organizations with authorized access to the databases.

Adrijus Jusas, who led the State Enterprise Centre of Registers, stepped down from his position on Monday in the wake of the security breach.

In response to the incident, officials quickly put new cybersecurity protocols in place, which included shutting down accounts belonging to users under suspicion and requiring all users to create new login credentials, according to prosecutors.

While prosecutors indicated they believe another nation orchestrated the attack, they have not identified which country they suspect.

The breach has heightened concerns in Lithuania, a nation of 2.9 million people that faces ongoing threats from Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign targeting Europe, which encompasses sabotage operations, arson incidents, vandalism, and propaganda efforts.

On Sunday, opposition politician Laurynas Kasčiūnas posted on social media that he believes Russian intelligence services were behind the data theft, though he provided no supporting evidence for his assertion.

The politician expressed concern that the stolen information could include home addresses of intelligence operatives, service members, diplomatic staff, or elected officials, potentially enabling foreign actors to conduct surveillance or intimidation campaigns against these individuals.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — At least 15 people died and 10 others sustained injuries when a truck loaded with iron rods and carrying passengers flipped over on a main highway during the early morning hours Monday in central Bangladesh, according to police reports.

The accident occurred around 5 a.m. when the driver lost control of the vehicle in the Soratoil area of Tangail district, located 83 kilometers (52 miles) northwest of Dhaka, the country’s capital, according to local police chief Fuad Hossain.

The truck was transporting hitchhiking passengers and was en route from Dhaka to the northern part of the country as holiday travelers began their journeys before the Islamic festival Eid al-Adha scheduled for Thursday, Hossain explained. The vehicle rolled over, killing the victims instantly at the crash site, he reported.

According to the official, the majority of those aboard were day laborers making their way to reunite with family members for the religious celebration.

People who saw the accident told television news outlets that they hurried to the crash site after hearing the commotion and began helping to rescue passengers who had become trapped.

Traffic fatalities claim thousands of lives annually in this country of over 170 million residents due to poor enforcement of driving regulations, deteriorating roadway infrastructure and inexperienced drivers.

An opposition politician in Latvia announced Monday his efforts to establish a new four-party majority government following the breakdown of the current ruling coalition earlier this month due to national security disagreements.

The collapse occurred amid ongoing concerns about Russian drone violations in the Baltic region, as these NATO member nations continue supporting Ukraine while facing repeated airspace breaches during Ukraine’s expanded military operations against Russian targets near the Baltic Sea.

The current Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned following internal coalition disagreements about the government’s response to the drone violations, causing the government to fall apart just five months ahead of the planned general election.

“We have now reached a division plan,” stated Andris Kulbergs of the United List, who has received authorization from President Edgars Rinkevics to establish a new cabinet, during a news conference.

“The way we reached this solution, a division among four partners, was straightforward. We had to proceed based on the simplest possible principles – four partners, equal terms – and simply move forward from there,” he explained.

As head of the United List, which represents the parliament’s largest opposition group, Kulbergs would assume leadership if legislators approve his proposed centre-right cabinet. According to Rinkevics, parliamentary voting on the new government could occur within days.

Security matters are anticipated to continue as a primary focus for any new coalition led by Kulbergs, as the Baltic nations maintain their strong opposition to Russia and continue as vocal opponents of Moscow regarding the Ukrainian conflict.

The current administration under Silina will continue operating in a temporary capacity until a replacement government takes office.

Political instability in Senegal has intensified as the country’s National Assembly leader El Malick Ndiaye stepped down from his position on Sunday, just two days following the president’s decision to remove the prime minister from office.

Ndiaye, who holds a prominent position within the governing PASTEF party, characterized his departure as a personal choice, stating he was acting in the “higher interest of the nation” when explaining his decision to resign.

The resignation follows President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s Friday dismissal of Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the dissolution of the entire government, marking the end of months of escalating friction between the two officials.

The relationship between Faye and Sonko, former political partners who rose to power as a team in 2024, has deteriorated amid increasing economic pressures related to national debt and domestic consequences stemming from the Iran war.

Parliamentary members are scheduled to meet Tuesday for votes on two key matters: restoring Sonko’s status as a legislator and selecting Ndiaye’s replacement to lead the National Assembly.

However, some opposition voices argue that returning Sonko to parliamentary status would violate legal requirements, pointing out that he has never previously served as a member of parliament.

Indian oil refineries have shifted their crude oil purchasing patterns, turning to suppliers in Latin America and Africa after Middle Eastern supply chains faced disruptions, according to trade data sources.

The world’s third-largest oil importing nation and consumer historically relied heavily on Middle Eastern crude until conflict erupted at the end of February. The Israeli-U.S. war on Iran has created shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing refiners to seek alternative sources.

Trade data from Kpler reveals that during April and May, Indian refineries increased their purchases from Venezuela, Brazil, Angola and Nigeria to compensate for the supply gaps, while maintaining their Russian oil acquisitions.

In April, India halted purchases from Iraq due to suspended exports, but resumed Iranian oil imports for the first time in seven years after Washington issued a temporary waiver aimed at stabilizing global oil markets.

Russian oil imports to India dropped by approximately 29.4% from March levels to 1.6 million barrels daily, primarily due to Nayara Energy closing its 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery for scheduled maintenance.

May projections indicate India will receive roughly 1.9 million barrels per day from Russia and about 41,000 barrels per day from Iraq, according to preliminary Kpler data.

India’s total oil imports reached 4.57 million barrels daily in April, matching March levels but representing a 15.5% decrease compared to the previous year.

Imports from the United Arab Emirates surged in April to 669,700 barrels per day from March’s 230,600 barrels per day, while Saudi Arabian oil intake remained steady at approximately 619,500 barrels per day.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia maintain the only Gulf pipeline systems that can export crude oil without using the Strait of Hormuz, unlike Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain, which depend on the waterway for shipments.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ portion of India’s oil imports climbed to 45.2% in April from roughly 30% in March, with the UAE counted as a member during that period.

The UAE withdrew from OPEC in May, eliminating its obligation to follow oil production quotas.

Increased UAE imports helped prevent a larger drop in the Middle East’s share of India’s oil supply, while Russian oil’s portion fell to about 35% from nearly 50%.

Russia maintained its position as India’s primary oil supplier, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia following. Brazil ranked as the fourth-largest supplier, and Venezuela came in fifth. Data suggests Venezuela is positioned to become the fourth-largest supplier in May.

CAIRO (AP) — An agreement appears to be taking shape between the United States and Iran to conclude their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. President Donald Trump stating over the weekend that negotiations had been “largely completed.”

The timeline for finalizing the agreement and implementing its various components remains unclear. Trump made his comments following conversations with Middle Eastern allies, including a separate discussion with Israel. Information comes from two regional officials and a U.S. official who requested anonymity to discuss the delicate negotiations.

Here’s the current situation:

During the 12 weeks following the start of hostilities when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran that resulted in the deaths of senior officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Tehran has maintained that any agreement must address ending combat on all battlefronts. This encompasses Lebanon, where the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militant organization has been engaged with Israel since the conflict’s second day.

A tentative ceasefire has remained in place since April 7. Concluding the war would reduce tensions across a region that witnessed Gulf safe havens and transportation centers like the United Arab Emirates hit by Iranian missiles and drones. This would permit global commerce, including approximately 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies, to resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz. It would also enable reconstruction of energy and other critical infrastructure throughout the region.

Both regional officials indicated the preliminary agreement encompasses ending hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, along with a pledge to avoid meddling in regional countries’ internal matters, including Iran. This represents a crucial reference to Iran’s backing of proxy forces, which also encompass the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hamas militants in Gaza and Shiite armed groups in Iraq.

The U.S. seeks Israel to maintain freedom to respond to perceived Lebanese threats while Iran opposes this, one regional official noted. The U.S. official stated the agreement would ensure Israel’s right to act against immediate threats in self-defense.

Iran’s nuclear activities, missile capabilities and proxy support were the declared justifications for U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. However, Tehran’s retaliatory control over the Strait of Hormuz rapidly became a primary global concern as hundreds of vessels transporting oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities became stranded.

According to the developing accord, the strait would progressively reopen alongside the U.S. ending its blockade of Iranian ports initiated on April 17, the regional officials reported. The blockade has restricted Iran’s capacity to export oil and generate desperately needed revenue for its struggling economy.

The U.S. would permit Iran to market its oil through sanctions exemptions, according to one official briefed on the discussions. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s billions in frozen assets would be negotiated during a 60-day timeframe, the official added.

Iran’s nuclear activities and international worries about its potential weapons development underpin all tensions, with the U.S. and Israel having contemplated highly sophisticated military operations to eliminate its highly enriched uranium.

Under the prospective agreement, Tehran would consent to surrender that stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to regional officials. One official with direct negotiation knowledge said the method of Iran’s surrender would be determined through additional discussions during the 60-day period. Some would likely be diluted while the remainder transferred to a third nation, possibly Russia, the official noted. Russia has expressed willingness to accept it.

A U.S. official verified the 60-day timeframe and stated that without Iran surrendering its stockpile, sanctions relief would not occur.

Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, representing a brief technical advancement from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran claims an “inalienable” right to nuclear technology while maintaining its program serves peaceful purposes. On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian told state television they were prepared “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.”

Trump posted on social media Sunday that “our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”

Several matters have not been addressed in descriptions of the developing deal, including Iran’s uranium enrichment status.

Another concern is Iran’s missile program, which Israel particularly has aimed to eliminate.

While the United States and Israel began the war with declared goals of encouraging Iranians to challenge their government following nationwide demonstrations earlier in the year, any discussion of leadership change in Tehran seems to be excluded.

Regarding Iran’s previously stated negotiation objectives, there appears to be no reference to U.S. military withdrawal from the region, or compensation for war-related damages.

Iran’s foreign ministry announced Monday that substantial progress has been achieved on various issues being discussed in potential talks with the United States, though officials stressed this doesn’t indicate an imminent agreement.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that Iran’s current diplomatic efforts center on ending warfare and do not involve nuclear matters at this time. He also reiterated concerns that shifting stances from U.S. officials continue to complicate any potential agreement.

The comments come as diplomatic discussions continue between the two nations, though the timeline for any formal agreement remains unclear.

JAMUNDI, Colombia — Gladys Marín faces a difficult decision this Sunday. Though the polling station sits just across the street from her home in the small Colombian town of Potrerito, safety concerns may prevent her from casting her ballot in the country’s presidential election.

Marín’s residence sits within 100 meters of the local police station, which has repeatedly been targeted by explosive devices dropped from drones. Government officials attribute these assaults to rebel fighters who refused to accept a peace deal negotiated with the Colombian government ten years ago.

“You have to stay alert to what is happening, because we live very close to the police station,” Marín explained while speaking from her porch in the town located approximately 470 kilometers from Bogotá, the nation’s capital.

The South American nation will select its next president and vice president on May 31 in elections widely viewed as a judgment on President Gustavo Petro’s administration, particularly his divisive “total peace” program designed to establish negotiations with remaining insurgent organizations.

Most observers agree that violence from armed factions has intensified during Petro’s presidency.

Data from Colombia’s Electoral Observation Mission shows that 386 municipalities — roughly one-third of all local governments — face threats from illegal military organizations. Research from the Ideas for Peace Foundation indicates approximately 27,000 individuals remain armed across the nation.

In the nearby community of Robles within Jamundi municipality, makeshift barriers block roads approaching the police headquarters. Law enforcement personnel have fortified their positions behind sandbag and black fabric shelters, constantly monitoring the skies for incoming drone threats.

“You pass by the police station with this sense of dread, looking up, hoping you won’t run into a nasty surprise,” explained Eucaris Zamora, who was forced to abandon her residence after a cylinder bomb damaged it in October, leaving the structure partially demolished.

Guillermo Londoño, a regional security administrator in Valle del Cauca where Jamundi is situated, noted that criminal armed organizations have adopted coordinated “swarm-style” drone operations to increase destruction. This represents a change from earlier methods where attackers used single drones, reloaded them, and continued their offensive.

Explosive-carrying drones have transformed Colombia’s internal conflict dynamics since 2024, creating significant dangers for both civilians and military personnel, especially near the Venezuelan frontier, in northern Bolivar province, and along southwestern coastal regions.

The Defense Ministry documented 333 drone strikes in 2025, a sharp increase from 61 incidents in 2024. Military forces have logged 107 drone assaults this year alone, resulting in two soldier fatalities.

Regional authorities believe their area has suffered consequences from Petro’s “total peace” approach, which seeks to end one of the globe’s most enduring conflicts.

Petro admits the program has not succeeded in dismantling illegal networks as intended, and his willingness to engage with all groups has become more restrictive. He has suspended talks with certain organizations due to ongoing violence while maintaining communication with others.

A sharp division exists among presidential candidates. Some support continued negotiations with illegal groups, including Sen. Iván Cepeda from Petro’s political coalition. Others advocate abandoning such efforts in favor of military action, such as opposition Democratic Center Sen. Paloma Valencia and Abelardo de la Espriella, who describes himself as an admirer of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and promises aggressive action against armed groups.

Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, warns violence could escalate if an aggressive candidate wins office.

“Right-wing candidates propose a ‘hard-line’ response that could exacerbate the violence, because the armed groups will respond to pressure from security forces with terror-style attacks, as they lack the means to respond symmetrically, army-to-army,” Dickinson stated.

Last December, gunmen terrorized the small southern community of Buenos Aires, attacking the police facility and injuring multiple officers while destroying a local bank and surrounding residences.

The destruction included the home of 89-year-old Celimo Enrique Aguilar.

“I haven’t lost faith that, someday, one might be able to live in peace,” he said.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Seventeen people died and five others sustained injuries when a fast-moving minibus collided with a stationary bus on a highway in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, according to police and emergency response officials.

The deadly collision happened close to Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as the minibus crashed into the parked vehicle, Shah Fahad, director-general of Rescue 1122 emergency services, reported. Initial investigations point to driver negligence as the probable cause of the tragedy, he stated.

The stationary vehicle had been transporting travelers headed for the picturesque Swat Valley.

Emergency responders and law enforcement transported both the deceased and wounded to a medical facility, Fahad reported.

Such traffic collisions occur frequently throughout Pakistan due to inadequate road systems, dangerous driving practices and insufficient enforcement of vehicle safety laws.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has secured another term as Iran’s parliamentary speaker, according to a Monday report from the semi-official Fars news agency.

Qalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s chief negotiator in discussions with the United States, won reelection to the legislative leadership position.

Workers equipped with metal detectors searched mountainous terrain in northern Sudan, hunting for gold deposits in conditions lacking even basic safety protections. One miner crouched down with a digging implement to probe the earth for valuable ore.

These unregulated workers operate at a small private gold extraction site in the northern community of Dalgo Mahas. This facility represents just one among thousands of small and artisanal mining operations spread throughout Sudan, forming part of an industry central to the destructive conflict that has occasionally driven regions of the nation toward starvation.

The precious metal emerged as a crucial revenue source for Sudan’s national treasury following the loss of more than two-thirds of oil income when South Sudan gained independence in 2011. Gold represented 70% of national income in the years following South Sudan’s separation, supplying the Sudanese administration with essential foreign currency.

Currently, gold sits at the heart of the continuing conflict between military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Substantial amounts of gold have been illegally transported from the country to fund paramilitary groups, who maintain control over gold-producing territories in Darfur and Kordofan regions, according to United Nations-commissioned experts.

The fighting has resulted in the deaths of at least 59,000 individuals, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a U.S.-based war tracking group that says its toll is almost certainly an underestimate, given the difficulties in reporting.

The conflict also generated the globe’s most severe humanitarian catastrophe, compelling over 10 million individuals to abandon their residences. Numerous displaced persons entered the mining sector to support their families financially.

“Gold mining is the only thing I can rely on,” said Atta al-Khazin, a 28-year-old miner who abandoned his previous profession as a farmer. “Due to the high oil prices, agriculture no longer covered expenses.”

Zahir Adam, a 35-year-old father from the Darfur city of el-Fasher who worked in gold mining for more than a decade, said the sector has drawn many people since the war broke out over three years ago.

They had “no other option,” he said. “Many young people, and many families, depend on mining.”

Sudan extracted 70 tons of gold during the previous year, increasing from 64 tons in 2024, according to official figures, positioning it among Africa’s leading producers. Gold brought in approximately $1.8 billion in income during 2025, data from the state-run Sudanese Mineral Resources Company indicated.

Small-scale and artisanal gold extraction represents the bulk of gold recovered in the vast nation, where safety protocols are mostly disregarded.

Independent miners like those working in Dalgo Nahas typically remove the gold, then pulverize the raw material before adding poisonous mercury to form an amalgam. The mixture is subsequently heated, often using a stove, to eliminate the mercury and retrieve the gold.

This procedure, involving dangerous chemicals, also poses threats to residents living close to mining sites.

Government oversight does not extend to many of these operations. The U.N. panel of experts stated in their 2024 report that more than 50% of the gold mined in Sudan was not traded through formal channels but was smuggled out of the country.

Fatal mining cave-ins occur regularly in Sudan, where safety requirements are not broadly enforced. During the previous month, no fewer than seven miners perished in a mine collapse within the Red Sea province. Thirteen additional workers died in another collapse in South Kordofan province during January.

A civilian transitional government that ruled the country for over a year after the military overthrow of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 attempted to regulate the crucial industry.

However, its efforts were aborted by a military coup in October 2021, and the war that began in 2023.

ANGELES, Philippines — Emergency crews recovered two construction workers from the debris of a collapsed nine-story hotel building early Monday morning in a northern Philippine city, raising the fatality count to three while 17 people remain unaccounted for, according to local authorities.

The first worker was found deceased, while rescue teams worked frantically in the pre-dawn hours attempting to save the second worker’s life inside an ambulance positioned near the massive debris field of concrete chunks, mangled steel rods, and twisted aluminum framework that once formed the structure in Angeles City, located in Pampanga Province. Medical personnel ultimately ceased their revival attempts and departed the scene.

This heartbreaking moment unfolded before a small gathering of reporters, including representatives from The Associated Press, who observed as hundreds of emergency responders — primarily firefighters and law enforcement — worked tirelessly for hours to free the two workers, who had been conscious but pinned beneath heavy concrete and metal beams.

Emergency teams attempted to deliver fluids and medications through IV lines to one of the pinned workers amid the wreckage in a frantic bid to sustain him through the intense summer temperatures, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez explained to the AP.

“He never made it despite all the efforts,” he said.

The third fatality involved a Malaysian visitor who had been staying at a nearby budget lodging facility that sustained partial damage from the cascade of falling debris. A second guest at the same establishment suffered injuries but successfully escaped, authorities reported.

Following the thunderous collapse of the incomplete structure after severe storm activity, Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin announced that search and rescue operations would continue rather than transitioning to body recovery mode.

“My best hope is that we can rescue more people alive,” Lazatin told the AP. “We don’t want to give the families of the trapped workers any bad news.”

Growing distress and concern grip the family members of those still buried, who maintain vigil in temporary shelters erected close to the wreckage site.

“I’m losing hope because of what I see— slow rescue work,” said Lea Mendoza Casilao, a 47-year-old sardine factory worker whose boyfriend, a mason, was among those still trapped in the rubble.

She had delivered a week’s worth of rice and canned fish for him at the job site, but explained they would never have their planned weekend meeting after the structure where he had been resting collapsed in the early Sunday morning hours.

Lazatin explained that rescue personnel were proceeding with extreme caution due to massive concrete sections being supported only by tangled aluminum framework that could potentially fall and endanger the rescue teams.

A total of 26 construction workers either escaped or were successfully extracted from the failing structure, where they had been sleeping on plywood sheets at ground level. Among the 17 workers who remain missing, one has been spotted but rescue teams have not yet been able to reach him, officials confirmed.

National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced his department will assist with an “ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the incident and possible violations of safety and building regulations.”

Angeles City previously served as the location for one of America’s most significant Air Force installations beyond the continental United States, transforming Angeles and surrounding communities into major entertainment and business centers within the primary northern Philippine island of Luzon.

Clark Air Base, situated approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Manila, ceased operations in the early 1990s.

The former military installation has evolved into a thriving industrial and tourist destination known as the Clark Freeport Zone, and remains encircled by vestiges of the American military era including adult entertainment districts, drinking establishments, nightlife venues, tattoo parlors and affordable accommodations.

MELBOURNE, Australia — The leader of Australia’s primary domestic intelligence service testified Monday that he had redirected resources from counterterrorism operations to focus on espionage and foreign interference several years prior to a deadly shooting that claimed 15 lives at a Sydney Hanukkah event.

Mike Burgess, who heads the Australian Security Intelligence Organization known as ASIO, appeared before a comprehensive government investigation examining antisemitism’s growth in Australia leading up to the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach.

The intelligence agency lowered Australia’s National Terrorism Threat Level from “probable” to “possible” in November 2022 — placing it at the second-lowest rating on their five-level system — following the defeat of the Islamic State group in the Middle East and the end of their recruitment efforts.

Following this change, ASIO redirected attention toward foreign interference and espionage cases while maintaining adequate staffing for counterterrorism operations, according to Burgess.

“Because terrorism has the potential to cause people to lose their lives or get harmed, it always remained a priority for us. There was just less activity that we were investigating because the nature of the environment had changed and the number of tasks we were looking at had reduced,” Burgess testified.

“At the same time, every rock we lifted up we found espionage or foreign interference that needed to be inquired and investigated and so resources were moved over there,” he continued.

Following the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, Burgess said he took the unusual step of issuing a public warning about how inflammatory rhetoric could spark violence — something no previous ASIO director had done.

“Before the Israeli government responded to that horrific attack, we saw the strong emotions appear in this country where we had people celebrating the Hamas terrorist attack,” Burgess stated.

The intelligence chief reported that threatening and intimidating conduct toward Jewish Australians continued through late 2023, especially in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. This behavior intensified to include targeting Jewish-owned businesses and religious sites by October 2024, he noted.

ASIO raised Australia’s terrorism threat level back to “probable” in August 2024.

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Australia’s most authoritative form of investigation, must deliver its findings to the government before the first anniversary of what became the country’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996.

Prosecutors claim the father-and-son shooters, Sajid and Naveed Akram, drew inspiration from IS and carried homemade IS banners to Bondi.

Both attackers sustained injuries during a police confrontation, with the father dying from his wounds, all within eight minutes of the shooting’s start. The son faces charges for terrorist activity, 15 murder counts and 40 attempted murder counts. He has not entered any pleas.

Richard Lancaster, who directs the legal team as Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission, revealed that only four police officers were present when the attackers began firing on approximately 1,000 attendees.

In the first 29 seconds of gunfire, 10 people died and another was injured, Lancaster reported.

Eleven police officers arrived within five minutes, with three sustaining wounds, he added.

The Community Security Group, a Jewish safety organization, had asked the New South Wales Police Force to station officers at the waterfront park throughout the Hanukkah celebration, Lancaster explained. Instead, officers received orders to make periodic visits.

Law enforcement assigned the Hanukkah event the lowest security classification on their three-level system, with a local commander overseeing police deployment, Lancaster said.

In contrast, Jewish High Holy Days in September and October received top-level security status, with the specialized Police Force Major Events Group coordinating with the Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command.

“There is no evidence that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency had any actual knowledge or specific information to suggest there might be an armed attack on the Hanukkah celebration,” Lancaster testified.

“In that sense, it was a surprise attack,” he concluded.

NEW DELHI (AP) — America’s top diplomat Marco Rubio traveled to India this week as both nations work to repair diplomatic relationships that have become strained while attempting to strengthen strategic and economic partnerships amid ongoing trade disputes.

During Sunday discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio emphasized collaboration in areas including trade, energy, defense and maritime security. The Secretary of State indicated both nations continue to share strategic goals and voiced confidence about reaching a comprehensive trade agreement.

The four-day diplomatic mission will also feature discussions with representatives from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, an Indo-Pacific partnership commonly referred to as the Quad.

Here’s the significance of Rubio’s diplomatic mission for India-U.S. relations:

Diplomatic ties between India and America have become tense in recent months following the Trump administration’s decision to implement significant tariffs on Indian exports, partially due to New Delhi’s ongoing Russian oil purchases. This action frustrated Indian leadership and raised questions within India’s government about America’s dependability as a partner.

Both nations subsequently negotiated a temporary trade agreement that reduced certain tariffs and increased Indian acquisitions of American products, including energy resources. However, negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement remain incomplete.

Even with these diplomatic challenges, India and America are continuing to expand defense and technology partnerships, as Washington considers India crucial for balancing China’s power in the Indo-Pacific area.

In Sunday’s discussions with Jaishankar, Rubio characterized India as among America’s most vital strategic allies and expressed confidence that both countries would complete a bilateral trade agreement in the near future. Rubio also delivered an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump for Modi to visit Washington this year.

Rubio’s diplomatic visit is also scheduled to feature Tuesday meetings with foreign ministers from India, Australia and Japan, which comprise the Quad alliance membership alongside America.

This partnership has emerged as an important forum for collaboration on maritime security, supply chains and regional strategy as China increases its military and economic presence throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad has consistently condemned China’s behavior in the South China Sea, charging Beijing with militarizing contested waters. China’s government has responded by accusing the Quad of attempting to limit China’s growth and regional power.

Current trade disputes between Washington and New Delhi, combined with Trump’s recent China visit, have generated increased focus on this alliance.

Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, explained that India’s expanding global significance has been largely connected to its function in countering China’s regional power, and any modification in American policy toward Beijing might impact New Delhi’s strategic importance to Washington.

“If the U.S. changes its approach towards China, it will diminish India’s importance,” Donthi said.

The Iran conflict has intensified India’s energy challenges, creating concerns about shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, an essential pathway for the nation’s crude oil imports. Increasing fuel expenses have added economic pressure on India.

Jaishankar stated Sunday that India would continue increasing energy imports, including from America, while diversifying suppliers to maintain market stability and affordable pricing. He indicated New Delhi seeks energy markets to stay open and unrestricted to support worldwide economic expansion.

India’s acquisition of discounted Russian crude oil since the Ukraine conflict began has occasionally created tension with America.

Washington has encouraged India to boost purchases of American oil and gas as part of broader initiatives to diversify energy sources, with Rubio highlighting enhanced energy cooperation during New Delhi meetings.

Beyond official discussions, Rubio’s visit has also featured cultural activities.

He started the trip in Kolkata and toured the Missionaries of Charity headquarters established by Mother Teresa. He also participated in a gala reception in New Delhi celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Rubio’s schedule includes visits to Agra and Jaipur, two of India’s most popular tourist locations famous for monuments, forts and palaces.

International tensions surrounding the war in Iran, America’s strategic focus in Asia, and escalating disputes over Taiwan are expected to take center stage at Singapore’s premier defense conference this week.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, scheduled for May 29-31, brings together defense ministers, military leaders, intelligence officials, diplomats, policy experts and defense contractors for both public presentations and private discussions at the annual gathering.

Vietnam’s President To Lam will present Friday evening’s main address, but attention will center on U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as he speaks amid ongoing efforts to resolve the Iranian conflict.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he had instructed his negotiators to avoid rushing into any agreement with Iran, as his administration tempered expectations for a quick resolution to the three-month conflict.

The American naval blockade of Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” Trump posted on Truth Social. Iran has effectively closed the strait since fighting began February 28, blocking a crucial shipping route that normally handles approximately 20 percent of worldwide oil and gas transport.

Regional partners are anticipated to closely watch Hegseth for indications that President Trump’s government is stretched too thin, drawn into Middle Eastern warfare, engaged in European disputes including German troop withdrawals, and therefore less focused on Asian concerns.

“There will likely be some continued anxiety over the unpredictability and volatility of U.S. policy, and the consequences for stability,” said Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore.

“The most pressing issue for Asia would be the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict and its effects on energy supply.”

The Iranian conflict has disrupted the worldwide economy through significantly increased oil costs that fuel inflation and stress supply networks for everything from fertilizer to food products, creating particular challenges for Asia’s import-reliant nations.

Uncertainty remains over China’s participation after Beijing declined to attend last year’s forum, allowing Washington to dominate the proceedings while China later criticized Hegseth for “vilifying” the country.

China’s defense ministry has not announced whether Defense Minister Dong Jun will participate or which other representatives might attend. The ministry did not reply to Reuters’ inquiry.

Hegseth’s appearance follows the recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump in Beijing, occurring during heightened Taiwan-related tensions.

China has intensified pressure on Taiwan through expanded military activities near the island, maintaining Taipei’s alertness for additional Chinese actions after the leadership meeting.

China considers democratically ruled Taiwan part of its territory, a stance Taiwan’s government disputes.

“In the aftermath of the summit, I suspect he will tread carefully on China,” said Bonnie Glaser, head of the Indo-Pacific Program of the German Marshall Fund think-tank, adding that Hegseth might further push allies and partners to spend more on defence.

Military representatives indicate the Chinese delegation will likely encounter direct questions about how extensive anti-corruption campaigns targeting senior officers are impacting Chinese military preparedness.

Experts anticipate discussions on how smaller nations manage U.S.-China competition, along with attention on maritime conflict zones in the South China Sea and Strait of Malacca, plus defense expenditures.

Vietnam’s Lam is expected to emphasize Hanoi’s neutral stance as it strengthens relationships with both Washington and Beijing while asserting its territorial claims against China.

Recently appointed to both Communist Party leadership and the presidency, Lam represents Vietnam’s most influential leader in recent decades and is positioned to assume a greater diplomatic presence.

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, May 25 (Reuters) – America will either secure a favorable deal with Iran or handle the situation through alternative means, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday, while Washington tempered expectations for a quick resolution to the three-month conflict.

Speaking to the press in New Delhi, Rubio indicated that diplomatic efforts would be given full opportunity to work before considering other options, following President Donald Trump’s Sunday statement that he had instructed negotiators against rushing into any Iranian agreement.

“There was a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off,” Rubio stated.

The previous day, Trump posted on Truth Social that America’s naval blockade of Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”

“Both sides must take their time and get it right,” he continued.

Iranian officials have not yet responded publicly. However, the Tasnim news agency, which has connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, reported that America continues to block certain aspects of a possible agreement, particularly Tehran’s request for unfrozen assets.

Energy markets responded positively Monday, with oil prices dropping 6% to two-week minimums as investors grew hopeful that Washington and Tehran were progressing toward a peaceful resolution.

Expectations for a quick agreement rose Saturday when Trump announced that both nations had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding for a peace framework that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Prior to the hostilities, this vital shipping channel handled one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.

Both nations continue disagreeing on several complex matters, including Iran’s nuclear program, Israel’s military operations in Lebanon against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization, and Tehran’s insistence on sanction removal and the release of billions in Iranian petroleum revenues held in international banks.

STICKING POINTS

A high-ranking Trump administration official described what he characterized as the current framework of negotiated issues.

The official, speaking without attribution, revealed that Iran had accepted “in principle” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for America ending its naval blockade, and to eliminate Tehran’s weapons-grade uranium stockpile.

America believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the general structure of the agreement, the official noted.

Iranian officials have not immediately verified this or explained the meaning of an “in principle” commitment.

The American official explained that Washington envisions initially reopening the waterway and ending the naval blockade. Working out nuclear program specifics would require additional time.

The official disputed claims that Iran had rejected disposing of its enriched uranium reserves. “It’s a question about how,” the official explained.

Another senior administration official revealed Sunday that the proposed structure would allow negotiators 60 days to finalize an agreement.

Iranian sources previously informed Reuters that in subsequent phases, “feasible formulas” might be developed to address the enriched uranium stockpile disagreement, potentially including diluting the material under U.N. nuclear agency oversight.

Iran has consistently rejected American and Israeli claims of pursuing nuclear weapons, maintaining its right to enrich uranium for peaceful uses, though the concentration levels achieved exceed power generation requirements.

Trump, whose public support has suffered due to the conflict’s effect on American energy costs and who faces legislative attempts to limit his military authority, has consistently emphasized the possibility of an agreement to end the conflict that began February 28 between America and Israel.

A fragile ceasefire has remained in place since early April.

The president responded to those criticizing his negotiation approach and willingness to reach compromises with Iran.

“If I make a deal with Iran, it will be a good and proper one … So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about,” Trump wrote Sunday.

Any agreement strengthening the current unstable ceasefire would provide market relief but wouldn’t immediately resolve the worldwide energy crisis that has increased fuel, fertilizer, and food expenses.

The American-Israeli military campaign against Iran resulted in thousands of Iranian deaths before being halted in early April.

Israel has also caused thousands more casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands in Lebanon during its invasion targeting the militant organization Hezbollah. Iranian attacks on Israel and nearby Gulf nations have resulted in dozens of deaths.

Iranian authorities carried out the execution of a man connected to nationwide anti-government demonstrations that took place in January, according to state media reports released Monday.

State media sources identified the executed individual as Abbas Akbari.

Taiwan’s top diplomat indicated Monday that his government would welcome a phone conversation between President Trump and Taiwan’s president, though he emphasized that no preparatory discussions have taken place between the two nations.

Such a conversation between the leaders would mark a historic first and could potentially strain relations between Washington and Beijing, which considers the democratically-run island nation part of its territory. Direct communication between American and Taiwanese presidents has been absent since Washington transferred its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.

Last Wednesday, Trump reiterated his intention to have a conversation with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, clearing up earlier uncertainty about whether his initial comments following a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping were made inadvertently.

During questioning by lawmakers in parliament, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung explained that while Trump would need to initiate such contact, no bilateral discussions about arranging the call have occurred, though such preparations would be necessary if the conversation were to happen.

“If there were a phone call between the heads of state of the United States and Taiwan, I think we would view that very positively,” Lin said.

“I believe the president’s side is well prepared,” he added, referring to Lai. “But of course, this also depends on President Trump and how he might proactively bring it about.”

Last week, Lai indicated that if given the chance to speak with Trump, he would express concerns that China was threatening peace and that no nation has the authority to “annex” the island. Lai did not indicate whether any conversation had been arranged.

Reuters reported Friday that the U.S. and Taiwan have not established concrete arrangements for presidential discussions.

The situation affects a proposed $14 billion military equipment package for Taiwan, which Trump has indicated he has not yet decided upon. In December, Washington greenlit $11 billion worth of weapons for Taiwan, representing the largest such approval to date.

Officials from both Taipei and Washington have stated that U.S. policy regarding Taiwan has not changed following the Trump-Xi meeting.

The U.S. remains obligated under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to supply Taiwan with defensive capabilities.

Lai, who disputes Beijing’s territorial claims, has consistently proposed dialogue with China but has been rejected. Beijing labels him a “separatist”.

America’s top diplomat issued a firm warning to Iran on Monday, declaring the United States will pursue either successful negotiations or handle the situation through “another way.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that diplomatic efforts will be given full opportunity to work before the nation considers “alternatives,” speaking to reporters during his visit to New Delhi.

According to Rubio, there appears to be “a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off.”

Eleven Australian aid workers have returned home following their detention by Israeli forces during an international humanitarian mission to Gaza, bringing with them disturbing accounts of their treatment while in custody.

The activists were part of a 430-person volunteer group from 40 nations operating 50 vessels that were stopped in international waters last week as they attempted to transport aid supplies to Gaza.

The returning Australians arrived at various airports over the weekend and Monday, landing in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane after what organizers describe as a traumatic ordeal.

Documentary filmmaker and activist Juliet Lamont described her experience to reporters Monday, saying she endured physical violence and sexual assault during her capture.

“That was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell. I’ve looked into the eyes of the most soulless people in the universe, and nothing came back. These people need to be stopped,” Lamont said.

Fellow Australian activist Sam Woripa Watson reported suffering a broken rib along with multiple bruises and cuts. Watson also described witnessing other volunteers being subjected to tasers, rubber bullets, and stun grenades.

The flotilla’s organizing group, Global Sumud Flotilla, claims to have recorded evidence of at least 15 instances of sexual abuse. According to their statement, the most severe incidents occurred aboard an Israeli vessel that had been modified into a temporary detention facility using barbed wire and shipping containers.

Israeli prison authorities have categorically rejected all accusations of mistreatment, sexual assault, and abuse. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the activists’ claims.

The controversy has intensified international criticism of Israel, particularly after far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted video footage showing him mocking detained activists who were restrained on the ground.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the video as “shocking and unacceptable.” Australia previously imposed travel restrictions and financial penalties on Ben-Gvir last year due to his role in encouraging violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Search and rescue operations continue in the Philippines after emergency crews recovered two additional bodies from a collapsed construction site, raising the fatality count to three people, authorities announced Monday.

Maria Leah Sajili, information officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, confirmed in a telephone interview that one victim showed vital signs during extraction but subsequently passed away, while the second person went into cardiac arrest while still buried in the debris.

The multi-story structure under construction came down in Angeles, a city located north of Manila, the nation’s capital. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what triggered the building’s collapse.

Emergency teams are working to extract another body from the wreckage, though Sajili noted it won’t be included in the official count until recovery is complete.

Thermal imaging equipment has detected breathing patterns and heartbeats underneath the collapsed structure, suggesting additional survivors may be trapped, according to Sajili.

Seventeen individuals remain unaccounted for, with the majority being construction workers who were documented as present at the worksite when the incident occurred, Sajili reported.

The first fatality was a 65-year-old Malaysian citizen whose remains were found Sunday in an adjacent hotel structure that was also impacted by the collapse.

Building permits showed the structure was approved as a nine-story condominium-hotel, but construction crews were adding a swimming pool to an unauthorized tenth level, officials revealed.

Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin informed media that local authorities are attempting to contact the property owner for answers, including verification of how many workers were present during the collapse.

Relatives of the missing workers have expressed mounting anger and impatience over the speed of rescue efforts.

Lea Casilao, who made the journey from Manila, said she simply wants consistent updates regarding her husband, a construction worker believed to be buried in the rubble.

“My youngest child keeps asking, but I do not have answers,” the 47-year-old said.

Lorena Angcao, 50, shared similar concerns, stating officials should provide regular information to waiting families.

Angcao explained that her brother and sister-in-law, who operated as vendors close to the construction site, are among the missing persons. “They can’t feel what we’re feeling,” she said.

GIBRALTAR (AP) — Hundreds of British naval personnel are standing by off Gibraltar’s coast, ready to deploy for a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz that remains uncertain.

President Donald Trump has criticized allies for insufficient support during the U.S. conflict with Iran, as Iran’s control over the strategic waterway has disrupted global shipping and driven up energy costs. In March, Trump told NATO partners to “go get your own oil” and handle strait security independently.

At Gibraltar, the British Overseas Territory on the Iberian Peninsula’s southern edge, the Royal Navy is making preparations for exactly that mission — but only after peace negotiations conclude. Trump announced Saturday that an agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated” following discussions with Israel and regional partners, though final details remain pending.

Britain’s Armed Forces Minister Al Carns brought reporters aboard the RFA Lyme Bay as preparations continue for a potential international mission, with the U.K. and France leading efforts to secure the waterway. During the visit, crews were loading the amphibious vessel with ammunition and sonar-equipped mine-hunting drones at the Mediterranean gateway.

The RFA Lyme Bay, carrying several hundred crew members, will soon leave Gibraltar to meet up with the destroyer HMS Dragon and allied vessels for air support before transiting the Suez Canal toward the Persian Gulf.

“Which other country can pull together 40 nations and come up with a solution to deal with a complex problem that we couldn’t predict because we weren’t involved?” Carns asked when questioned by The Associated Press about Trump’s expectations for Britain.

Following the February 28 launch of the U.S.-Israeli military action, Tehran responded by essentially shutting down the strait, a vital passage for regional oil, natural gas and fertilizer exports, creating worldwide economic disruption. Britain has particularly drawn Trump’s criticism, with the president calling the British fleet “toys” and describing Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “not Winston Churchill.”

According to Carns, more than 6,000 vessels have been prevented from transiting the strait since hostilities started.

Iranian mines could pose varied dangers

Iran may have deployed a “huge” array of mines across the strait, according to Cmdr. Gemma Britton, who leads the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group. These explosive devices could be rocket-powered, tethered by cables, or positioned on the ocean floor with triggers activated by sound, motion or light.

AP reporters were shown automated systems capable of scanning seabed and water column areas with sonar technology in roughly half the time required for manned vessels to survey and chart hazardous zones. These unmanned sonar-equipped craft generate images of underwater objects ranging from fishing equipment to infrastructure pipelines. These images help identify mines that can then be examined using sophisticated acoustic equipment and cameras, Britton explained.

Several systems aboard the RFA Lyme Bay can be transferred to smaller craft that launch and operate independently from the main vessel, which serves as a command ship positioned safely outside suspected mine areas, Britton noted. This approach minimizes personnel exposure to danger zones.

Traditional mine disposal involves a diver manually attaching explosive charges to mines before swimming to safety for detonation. However, the RFA Lyme Bay is testing a remote-controlled underwater vehicle that can place charges near mines and trigger them without human divers, Britton said.

The initial focus will be establishing a clear transit corridor through the strait to enable approximately 700 stranded ships to depart, she explained. Subsequently, crews would clear a reverse-direction lane for incoming vessels, though completely clearing the entire strait might require months or years.

Deployment remains uncertain

Whether mines actually exist in the strait — or whether British and allied forces will ultimately deploy — remains unclear.

A U.S. official, speaking anonymously about sensitive military information, told AP that American forces have neither located nor eliminated any mines in the strait, and no vessels have sustained mine damage. Commercial shipping has continued at reduced levels throughout the conflict.

When AP asked whether the British preparations were partially theatrical to please the U.S., Carns acknowledged some mines may have exploded or drifted away, but said such uncertainty fails to satisfy commercial insurance requirements. Insurance companies demand “absolute certainty” before authorizing renewed strait transit.

“That’s what this capability will provide,” he stated.

The multinational strait security operation would commence only after fighting ends.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump posted Saturday on social media, without specifying timing.

Recent weeks have seen multiple claims of near-completed agreements.

“We don’t know when the Americans, Iranians and Israelis are going to come up with a suitable solution,” Carns said.

Until then, the RFA Lyme Bay and its personnel will remain on standby and be “really, really ready,” Carns added.

KUALA LUMPUR – A workplace tragedy at a Malaysian offshore oil facility has resulted in three fatalities and one injury during routine maintenance operations on Sunday, according to the state energy company.

The Malaysian state energy firm Petronas, formally known as Petroliam Nasional Berhad, announced Monday that the deadly incident took place at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time at the FSO Sepat facility located off the coast of Terengganu state on Malaysia’s eastern peninsula.

Company officials confirmed that three workers were declared deceased upon reaching the hospital, while a fourth employee who sustained injuries was transported for emergency medical care and continues to be monitored by medical staff.

“Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing in coordination with the relevant authorities,” the company stated in its official announcement.

The energy company declined to release additional information about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

According to Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama, the workers had entered a lifeboat positioned on the floating storage and offloading platform with plans to descend into ocean waters for maintenance duties. Local law enforcement sources told Bernama that the rope or connecting mechanism securing the lifeboat appears to have failed, resulting in the workers plunging into the water below.

Colombia’s three main presidential contenders brought their campaigns to a close Sunday with large-scale public events, setting the stage for the May 31 election that political experts believe will lead to several weeks of intense and divisive campaigning before a June 21 runoff vote.

According to the most recent polling data before the May 31 election, leftist politician Ivan Cepeda, 63, held a slim lead among the candidates. However, the same survey suggested he would be defeated in the June runoff against either of his conservative opponents. Previous polling had indicated he would prevail in a second-round contest.

Cepeda has committed to advancing the social reform agenda initiated by current President Gustavo Petro, but he faces scrutiny over the sitting president’s unsuccessful “total peace” strategy that seeks to resolve conflicts through dialogue with illegal armed organizations operating in the nation.

Opposition voices claim Cepeda maintains connections to former leaders of the disbanded FARC guerrilla movement, whose breakaway groups continue to play significant roles in the ongoing six-decade conflict that has included right-wing paramilitary forces, narcotics traffickers and resulted in over 450,000 deaths.

Running closely behind Cepeda in the polls was Abelardo De La Espriella, 47, a business executive and attorney who has promised to reduce taxes, boost investment in mining and energy sectors, and launch military operations against illegal armed organizations and drug trafficking networks.

De La Espriella has encountered criticism for his legal representation of disputed clients, including businessman Alex Saab, who stands accused of serving as a financial intermediary for Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolas Maduro. Saab was extradited to the U.S. last week to face criminal charges.

Running in third place in polling was Paloma Valencia, 48, whose platform includes expanding military forces, reducing government size and lowering tax rates. She has received endorsement from former President Alvaro Uribe.

“We can expect a fear-mongering campaign focused on each candidate’s worst attributes,” Sergio Guzman, director of consulting firm Colombia Risk Analysis, told Reuters.

According to Guzman, accusations like “corrupt, amoral, guerrillas, drug traffickers, and paramilitary sympathizers” will likely characterize the political discourse leading up to the runoff election.

The incoming president will confront significant challenges including restoring public safety, strengthening the nation’s financial position, addressing informal employment issues and tackling poverty and inequality.

Cepeda held his final campaign event in the Caribbean coastal city of Barranquilla, while De La Espriella chose Colombia’s second-biggest city and corporate hub Medellin, and Valencia concluded her campaign in the capital Bogota.

Detainees at a correctional facility in Venezuela’s Barinas region climbed onto the building’s roof Sunday in a dramatic demonstration against alleged violence by guards and administrative misconduct.

The inmates set mattresses ablaze during their rooftop demonstration and demanded the dismissal of the facility’s administrator, claiming guards had fired weapons at unarmed detainees.

“We want justice. They are shooting us, the guards and the wardens,” one detainee stated in footage distributed by the Venezuelan Prison Observatory, a local advocacy organization, on X. The video showed an individual with what appeared to be a gunshot injury to his torso.

The demonstrating prisoners maintained they were conducting a peaceful protest when correctional staff discharged firearms, resulting in injuries to some detainees.

Government officials in Venezuela have not yet provided a response to inquiries about the incident.

In footage circulated by the advocacy group, detainees demanded the dismissal of the newly installed facility administrator Elvis Macuare Guerrero. The prisoners alleged their garments had been confiscated, family visits had been prohibited, and they faced coercion to participate in narcotics trafficking.

Relatives of the detainees confronted National Guard personnel equipped with protective shields outside the facility, attempting without success to prevent their entry. These family members reported to the advocacy organization that they heard shouting and explosive sounds shortly after the officers went inside.

The advocacy organization stated it was recording the incidents and would submit reports to human rights monitoring agencies.

Venezuela’s correctional system has drawn international attention as the administration of interim President Delcy Rodriguez enacted legislation to free hundreds of individuals classified as political detainees. The U.S. launched an operation against Caracas in January, resulting in the capture of then-President Nicolas Maduro.

KINSHASA, Congo — Medical workers at a Congo hospital scrambled to evacuate Ebola patients Sunday night after furious men broke into the facility demanding the remains of deceased relatives, amid sounds of gunfire in the surrounding area.

The assault on Monbgwalu General Hospital left casualties unknown, according to Dr. Richard Lokudu, the facility’s medical director, who spoke with The Associated Press. The intruders insisted on receiving two bodies of family members who had died.

“There was gunfire and the medics were trying to evacuate the patients and the staff,” Lokudu explained during a phone interview.

“Monbgwalu General Hospital is on general alert,” he stated, noting he lacked additional information about the developing crisis.

This incident represents the third assault in seven days targeting medical centers where healthcare workers battle limited resources while treating potential Ebola patients, highlighting the difficulties surrounding this outbreak that the World Health Organization has labeled a public health emergency of international concern.

Remains of Ebola victims carry extreme infection risks and can trigger additional transmission when families handle burial preparations and hold funeral ceremonies.

Congo’s government has ordered that burial procedures for suspected victims be handled by officials when feasible, a policy that has sparked resistance from grieving families and communities. Friday brought new restrictions as authorities prohibited funeral gatherings and assemblies exceeding 50 people across northeastern Congo to limit viral transmission.

Saturday saw Mongbwalu residents attack and burn down a tent facility established by Doctors Without Borders for treating suspected and confirmed Ebola patients.

That assault resulted in 18 individuals with suspected infections fleeing the site, with their current whereabouts unknown, Lokudu had reported previously.

Thursday witnessed another treatment facility destroyed by fire in Rwampara after relatives were prohibited from claiming a local man’s body who allegedly died from Ebola.

The World Health Organization has elevated the outbreak’s threat level to “very high” for Congo, upgrading from the previous “high” classification, while maintaining that global spread probability remains minimal.

Sunday morning brought updated figures from Congo’s Ministry of Communication via X, reporting 904 suspected Ebola cases, predominantly in northeastern Ituri Province — a substantial increase from the previously reported total exceeding 700 suspected infections.

The ministry listed total suspected Ebola fatalities at 119, though regional breakdowns totaled 220 deaths. Officials were unavailable to clarify this numerical inconsistency.

No vaccine exists for the Bundibugyo virus, an uncommon Ebola strain that circulated undetected for weeks throughout Ituri after the initial reported death in late April in Bunia, the provincial capital, while authorities tested unsuccessfully for a more prevalent Ebola variant.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced Saturday that three volunteers had perished from the outbreak in Mongbwalu. The organization believes these healthcare workers became infected March 27 while handling corpses during a humanitarian operation unconnected to Ebola.

If verified, this information would dramatically alter the outbreak’s established timeline.

New Zealand announced Monday it will impose stricter English language standards for certain work visa categories while creating new philanthropic opportunities for investor visa holders, according to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford.

The policy updates take effect June 1 and affect the Accredited Employer Work Visa program and the Active Investor Plus Visa Growth category. Officials are also working to launch two additional skilled residence programs in August.

Under the revised rules, English proficiency requirements for the Accredited Employer Work Visa will now include skill level 3 positions in areas like hospitality and skilled trades. This brings those roles in line with standards already required for skill levels 4 and 5.

“Being able to communicate in basic, everyday English ensures that workers understand their rights and engage effectively at work and in the community while they are here,” Stanford stated.

The English language mandate does not affect Global Workforce Seasonal Visa or Peak Seasonal Visa candidates, and existing workers seeking job changes are also exempt from the requirement.

Meanwhile, applicants for the Active Investor Plus Visa Growth category will now have the option to direct up to 20% of their investment total toward charitable contributions. This allows up to NZ$1 million ($587,600) of the required NZ$5 million minimum investment to go to philanthropic causes, with remaining funds still required to go toward higher-growth investments.

A small aircraft accident in northern Israel’s Jezreel Valley claimed the lives of two retired Israeli Air Force officers on Sunday morning, according to emergency services and local media outlets.

Officials identified the victims as Lt. Col. (res.) Yuval (Eyal) Inbar, 50, a former squadron commander, and retired Lt. Col. Itai Talmi, 70, who also served as an Air Force officer and later worked as a captain for El Al.

The fatal accident happened during the morning hours of May 24, 2026, when the small plane went down in farming fields close to Tel Adashim in northern Israel.

According to Magen David Adom, both men, described as being around 50 years of age, sustained life-threatening injuries when their small plane crashed. Emergency medical teams rushed both victims to HaEmek Medical Center in Afula while performing life-saving procedures, but hospital staff ultimately declared them deceased.

Emergency services received the initial report at 9:06 a.m. through Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency dispatch center serving the Gilboa region.

First responders reported that crews who reached the crash site discovered the plane severely damaged in an open field close to the moshav.

Magen David Adom motorcycle unit paramedic Maor Atadgi described the emergency response to Ynet.

“This is a difficult incident. We arrived at the scene with ambulances, intensive care units, and motorcycles as an immediate response. They led us through the area to the crashed plane, which had severe metal damage, and nearby were 2 men who were unconscious, without a pulse, and not breathing.”

Atadgi continued, “We immediately began advanced resuscitation efforts and evacuated them in MDA intensive care units to the hospital while their condition was critical.”

Authorities continued investigating the crash circumstances and gathering additional information throughout Sunday.

Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court has overturned legislation that removed criminal penalties for attempted suicide, determining the changes conflict with Islamic principles.

The court made this decision after reviewing multiple petitions challenging the law that Parliament enacted.

In 2022, the National Assembly modified the Pakistan Penal Code by eliminating attempted suicide from criminal offenses. The amended law prohibited legal prosecution of individuals who attempted suicide.

The Federal Shariat Court explained in its decision that governments must safeguard citizens’ lives and emphasized that criminalizing suicide attempts previously served to discourage such actions and prevent them through fear of prosecution.

The court determined that mental illness alone does not justify eliminating this law.

During proceedings, government representatives cited World Health Organization statistics showing millions of annual suicide deaths globally, with mental illness being the leading factor.

The federal government maintained that the law’s main purpose was recognizing that people who attempt suicide typically experience psychological problems or mental health issues.

Government officials additionally argued that since suicide attempters are victims themselves, these situations should be addressed medically rather than legally, without criminal prosecution.

Officials contended that people in these circumstances often face mental, economic, and social pressures, requiring medical care instead of punishment.

However, the Federal Shariat Court countered that suicide and attempted suicide stem from factors beyond just mental illness or psychological distress.

These factors may encompass suicide attempts for terrorist purposes, hunger strikes seeking political or economic benefits, public self-immolation using kerosene, and sometimes suicide attempts influenced by internet content or mobile apps.

The court noted that while each suicide attempter faces unique circumstances, removing criminal status from all suicide attempts regardless of motivation is inappropriate.

The court pointed out that Pakistan’s Constitution already contains provisions for helping individuals with mental disabilities.

The Federal Shariat Court also consulted the Council of Islamic Ideology, which declared suicide a serious sin requiring discouragement.

Tanzeela Javed, an Islamabad-based clinical psychiatrist, told The Media Line “In most cases, attempted suicide is associated with treatable mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, or acute psychosocial stressors like financial hardship or relationship breakdown.”

She added “Prevention strategies are never purely medical; they also require social support systems, crisis services, and responsible public policy. The most effective frameworks internationally tend to treat suicide prevention as a public health priority while still ensuring appropriate safeguards in exceptional contexts”.

Javed emphasized, “Ultimately, the clinical goal is not punishment, but risk reduction, treatment access, and preservation of life through early and non-judgmental intervention.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is organizing a restricted security cabinet session for Sunday night to address a developing agreement between the United States and Iran, as Israeli leadership expresses worries about specific terms in the proposed memorandum of understanding that could halt hostilities with Hezbollah and postpone comprehensive nuclear discussions.

A representative for one of the ministers scheduled to attend the session confirmed the meeting to The Times of Israel, noting that a specific time has not been established.

Based on reports from Kan, Netanyahu has expressed worry about at least two components of the proposed deal: a mandate to cease military actions against Lebanon and the deferral of meaningful talks about Iran’s nuclear program to a later phase of negotiations.

The memorandum of understanding being considered would extend the ceasefire for 60 days and mandate that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States would terminate its naval blockade. Throughout the 60-day timeframe, the US would consider removing sanctions against Iran, while American forces would stay in the area until negotiations are completed.

Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah would cease under the agreement, though Israel would maintain the capability to respond with military force if Hezbollah initiates attacks.

Israel was excluded from Saturday’s “phone summit” that included the United States and leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey discussing the revised memorandum of understanding. Reuters indicated that Pakistan also joined the call.

Israeli broadcaster N12 stated that Netanyahu considers the proposal potentially detrimental to Israel. An Israeli official mentioned in the coverage said US special envoy Steve Witkoff strongly backed the agreement and “wants a deal at almost any price, and is placing immense pressure on Trump not to resume the war.”

Two American officials informed The New York Times that Iran had consented as part of the developing arrangement to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The coverage indicated that the proposal does not detail how Tehran would give up the material, and talks on implementation were delayed to the subsequent round of nuclear negotiations.

The coverage stated that Iran initially opposed including uranium provisions in the first stage of the agreement, but American officials communicated through intermediaries that military operations would continue without such an understanding.