Author: Admin

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced Tuesday that his party will use its parliamentary majority to establish investigative panels examining alleged corruption and power abuses during Viktor Orbán’s previous administration.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured a decisive victory over the autocratic former leader in last month’s elections. The overwhelming win provided Tisza with a two-thirds majority, enabling them to reverse numerous policies that earned Orbán criticism as a far-right authoritarian leader.

A central campaign pledge for Tisza involved holding Orbán, his nationalist-populist Fidesz party, and their business allies responsible for suspected wrongdoing.

Speaking Tuesday, Magyar announced that six parliamentary investigative panels will examine various aspects of Orbán’s time in office, including suspected misuse of public money handled by Hungary’s National Bank — a matter currently under police review involving potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We will put all corruption and abuses of power on full display,” Magyar said. “The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich from the vulnerability of the people.”

Throughout his 16-year tenure as Hungary’s prime minister, Orbán faced accusations from numerous critics of overseeing widespread public fund misuse, including directing profitable government contracts to relatives and business figures connected to his party.

Critics also accused him of wielding government power to weaken democratic institutions, prompting the European Parliament to declare in 2022 that Hungary was no longer a democracy.

Since assuming office earlier this month, Magyar’s party lawmakers have introduced a constitutional amendment restricting prime ministers to eight-year terms — a limitation that would apply to Magyar himself. Orbán, who completed four consecutive terms, would be barred from serving as prime minister again under this proposal.

Magyar stated Tuesday that his administration would also consider applying the eight-year restriction to other elected positions, noting: “No one should imagine that electoral authority is inherited forever. Power exercised without limits leads to loss of control over time in any democratic system.”

Another investigative committee will examine details surrounding a pardon granted to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case by Hungary’s former president, Katalin Novák, which resulted in her 2024 resignation, Magyar explained.

The new premier has also committed to passing a constitutional amendment dissolving Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency established by Orbán’s administration in 2023 to investigate non-governmental organizations, media companies and political parties under the guise of preventing foreign interference.

Magyar additionally promised his government would eliminate “political privileges” previously granted to officeholders, including salary reductions for the prime minister and cabinet members, state company executives, and legislators.

Officials in Hong Kong announced Tuesday they will offer 10,000 new vehicle permits for drivers working with ride-sharing platforms such as Uber, representing roughly half of what transportation industry groups had requested.

Currently, Hong Kong operates approximately 18,000 licensed taxis and limits private car-hire permits to 1,500 vehicles, with these drivers able to accept rides through mobile apps. However, additional drivers working through these platforms operate illegally and have previously faced criminal charges, despite being widespread throughout the city.

Hong Kong officials revealed specifics of their regulatory plan last summer to formalize oversight of the industry, responding to years of lobbying from taxi operators.

The Smart Transportation Alliance, representing ride-hailing companies and other transport businesses, had requested in May that authorities approve 20,500 new vehicle permits during the initial rollout phase.

However, in documentation presented Tuesday to lawmakers, Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau stated that limiting permits to 10,000 would be reasonable and suitable, considering both passenger needs and public road capacity. Officials indicated they would reassess the limit later to determine if modifications are necessary.

City legislators approved legislation last year mandating licenses and permits for ride-hailing platforms and their vehicles and drivers. When issuing licenses, Hong Kong’s transport commissioner may evaluate companies based on their track record, financial stability and planned regional investments. Licensed operators must provide “proper and efficient” service.

Driver requirements include being at least 21 years old, holding a driver’s license for a minimum of one year, maintaining a clean record without serious traffic violations over five years, and successfully completing an examination.

According to Tuesday’s announcement, most new ride-hailing rules will take effect in August, with remaining provisions implemented by August 2027. At that point, all platforms must obtain licenses and verify that their associated vehicles and drivers hold proper permits.

The proposals require companies to implement technology such as facial recognition systems to confirm drivers match the registered vehicle owners.

Law enforcement has previously arrested several Uber drivers suspected of operating without permits, and in 2018, more than two dozen drivers received fines.

Many taxi operators have historically opposed platforms like Uber, viewing them as competitors that harm their livelihoods. However, Uber, which launched Hong Kong operations in 2014, maintains popularity in the financial center, where numerous residents express dissatisfaction with taxi service quality. Uber has recently incorporated licensed taxi drivers into its platform.

In earlier legislative submissions, Uber’s Hong Kong division stated it maintains over 30,000 active drivers citywide over the past year. The company warned that even with 15,000 permits issued and enforced, booking wait times during peak periods could double from current levels, with fares potentially increasing up to 70%.

Uber said in a Tuesday statement that the legislative proposal represents an important step toward establishing clear regulations, but noted the initial quota falls “significantly lower” than necessary to satisfy rider demand. The company added that more than 20,000 people would lose earning opportunities under the proposals.

“This legislation is just a start. We hope to continue working closely with the government on an efficient allocation framework and a practical review mechanism that allows the system to evolve over time,” the company stated.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed being “deeply concerned” on Tuesday regarding Russia’s declared intentions to target Ukrainian defense facilities and command centers located in Kyiv.

The U.N. leader delivered these comments to the Security Council following Moscow’s Monday declaration of its plans to carry out such attacks, coming just one day after launching one of its most intense bombardments of the Ukrainian capital since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started.

The Secretary-General noted that Russia’s announcement came in response to reports about a Ukrainian drone strike that hit an educational facility and student housing in Starobilsk, a Ukrainian city currently under Russian control.

“We condemned the attack on the school – as we condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur,” Guterres stated.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians, and that risks making the search for peace even more distant, prolonging the suffering of people,” the U.N. chief continued.

BRUSSELS, May 26 (Reuters) – Several European nations and the European Union called in Russian diplomatic officials Tuesday following Moscow’s warnings for foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to evacuate Ukraine’s capital amid threats of renewed attacks.

Russian officials announced Monday their plans to target Ukrainian military installations and government decision-making facilities in Kyiv, coming just one day after launching one of the most intense bombing campaigns against the city since the conflict started.

The European Union’s foreign affairs department called in Russia’s chargé d’affaires, according to the bloc’s foreign policy spokesperson on Tuesday.

Russia’s “threat to foreign citizens & diplomats to leave Kyiv is an unacceptable escalation”, spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a post on X, calling for Moscow to “stop hitting civilians”.

The EU’s delegation is remaining in Kyiv, the spokesperson added.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said he had summoned Russia’s ambassador Nikolai Korchunov to address “the explicit threats against foreign personnel in Ukraine”.

Sweden on Monday evening summoned the Russian ambassador to “condemn Russia’s false claims of airspace violations in the Nordic-Baltic region and Russia’s threats against Latvia and other countries in the region”.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The head of Africa’s most economically advanced nation is confronting impeachment proceedings stemming from a years-old controversy involving approximately $580,000 in cash hidden in furniture at his wildlife ranch before being stolen.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stands accused of improper conduct regarding where the money came from and allegedly trying to conceal the 2020 theft through his private security personnel to keep the cash’s presence secret. He has rejected any wrongdoing.

Here’s background on the “Farmgate” controversy and the reasons impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa have been renewed years after the initial incident.

The controversy initially emerged in 2022 when a former director of South Africa’s state security agency entered a police station, disclosed the theft and charged Ramaphosa with money laundering and additional crimes. The robbery at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala ranch occurred in February 2020, one year following Ramaphosa’s electoral victory, but remained hidden from public view.

Following these disclosures, Ramaphosa confirmed the theft occurred, but rejected any misconduct, stating he reported it immediately to the commander of his police protection detail.

Ramaphosa explained that the $580,000 in U.S. currency taken from the furniture came from legitimate buffalo sales at his ranch. He stated the cash was placed beneath sofa cushions in a guest bedroom at his farm residence by an employee worried that other staff had access to a safe.

Ramaphosa operated as a successful businessman prior to his presidency and is recognized for his passion for livestock and game breeding.

A neutral panel designated by Parliament conducted an investigation and released findings indicating preliminary evidence of serious improper conduct by Ramaphosa, including inadequate reporting of the theft, questionable money sources and the possibility that the actual amount exceeded Ramaphosa’s claims.

Ramaphosa also reportedly used his connections with the then president of neighboring Namibia to help quietly locate a theft suspect who had escaped there, the report stated. It advised a complete investigation.

Ramaphosa weathered an initial Parliamentary vote regarding the controversy in late 2022 when his African National Congress party — which held a majority then — voted to dismiss the panel findings, halting any impeachment proceedings.

Nevertheless, two opposition parties brought a case to South Africa’s highest Constitutional Court, contending that the panel report evidence should have prompted formation of an impeachment committee to thoroughly examine whether Ramaphosa committed misconduct and deserved an impeachment vote.

The court decided this month in the opposition parties’ favor, declaring the 2022 Parliamentary vote failed to follow proper procedure and should be overturned, renewing the controversy and impeachment possibility.

Parliament has announced it will establish an impeachment committee for a thorough investigation.

Ramaphosa has stated he will not step down and submitted his own court documents this week challenging the panel report conclusions, national broadcaster SABC reported on Tuesday. He has called it having “grave flaws.”

Removing Ramaphosa through impeachment would need at least two-thirds of South Africa’s 400-member Parliament to support it, under the nation’s constitution. Although Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its clear majority in 2024, it retains sufficient numbers to prevent an impeachment.

The 73-year-old Ramaphosa is in his final presidential term, scheduled to conclude in 2029.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — In a direct challenge to presidential authority, Senegal’s National Assembly chose dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as parliament speaker on Tuesday, just days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from office. The move raises concerns about potential political gridlock in the West African nation as it struggles with unprecedented debt levels.

Last week, the president dismissed Sonko along with the entire cabinet after months of growing friction between the two leaders whose once-strong alliance had propelled them to power. The dismissal prompted the previous parliament speaker to step down. On Monday, the president appointed a replacement prime minister and plans to unveil a new cabinet soon.

Both leaders assumed their positions after winning the March 2024 presidential race, pledging sweeping changes including anti-corruption efforts, job creation for the nation’s expanding youth demographic, and better utilization of natural resources for national benefit.

However, the former partners have publicly clashed over major policy decisions in recent months, particularly regarding discussions with the International Monetary Fund about potential lending arrangements.

In his new position as speaker, Sonko will wield significant influence over legislative priorities, government oversight, and bill introduction — authority that could create direct confrontation with his former boss, according to Babacar Ndiaye, a political analyst at the Senegal-based Wathi think tank.

While Sonko pledged not to exploit his parliamentary role for personal vendettas against the president, he vowed to maintain strict government oversight and utilize all available constitutional mechanisms to fulfill that responsibility.

The two politicians previously worked together within the Pastef party, which maintains commanding control of parliament with 130 seats out of 165 total. As party leader, Sonko maintains the potential to undermine the president’s governing agenda.

The political drama unfolds as Senegal confronts escalating financial difficulties and increasing living costs. The nation ranks among Africa’s most debt-burdened countries by GDP ratio, following a government review last year that uncovered $13 billion in previously undisclosed obligations from the former government.

Iran sharply criticized U.S. military operations conducted Monday, characterizing them as evidence of “bad faith and unreliability” while diplomatic efforts continue toward reaching an agreement to conclude the ongoing conflict.

American military officials described Monday’s operations in southern Iran as protective measures, stating that targets encompassed missile launching facilities and vessels deploying mines, emphasizing that the U.S. demonstrated “restraint” given the multi-week truce period.

Iran’s foreign ministry characterized the operations as a breach of the ceasefire and cautioned that Washington would be held accountable for “all consequences,” though specific details were not provided.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered,” it added in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday said it had shot down and deterred drones and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran’s official Mizan news agency, which did not specify when the incident occurred.

The impact these events will have on ongoing diplomatic discussions remains uncertain. The military actions occurred following Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s travel to Qatar for the negotiations, which U.S. President Donald Trump described Monday as “proceeding nicely.”

These operations represent the most recent escalation in the delicate truce that commenced April 7 and has remained mostly intact.

Diplomatic discussions focus partly on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel near southern Iran that facilitated passage for one-fifth of global crude oil and natural gas before hostilities began with U.S.-Israeli operations in February. Tehran responded by essentially blocking the waterway, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded and disrupting the worldwide economy.

The waterway has emerged as a significant bargaining tool for Tehran during negotiations, alongside the ongoing matter of Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium. Iran seeks removal of the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports that started on April 17.

The strait also generates increasing worry as fertilizer supplies face severe disruption for at-risk global agricultural producers.

“What we are witnessing today is not only a geopolitical crisis, it is a systemic shock to the global agrifood system,” the director-general of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, said Tuesday.

Trump has brought a fresh perspective to negotiations for resolving the conflict, stating that any agreement to conclude the war should mandate several additional nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to become part of the Abraham Accords, a collection of U.S.-facilitated diplomatic, economic and security agreements designed to normalize relationships with Israel.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join in 2020; Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have followed. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties. Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.

Israel’s conduct against Palestinians, including in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has alienated Gulf Arab states and the wider Muslim world, but Trump has been keen to build on the Abraham Accords, forged during his first term. He even has suggested that Iran eventually could sign on.

ATMEH, Syria (AP) — When rebel forces successfully removed President Bashar Assad from power in late 2024, ending more than thirteen years of devastating warfare, Sobhieh al-Saleh believed she would immediately abandon her temporary shelter and go back to her original residence.

However, she remains housed at the al-Karama camp, a temporary settlement located in Atmeh within Idlib province close to the Turkish border, alongside her spouse and eleven children.

“I went and saw my house and it was completely razed to the ground,” she told The Associated Press regarding her residence in al-Lataminah across Idlib province, which she abandoned during the peak of the fighting. While over half of the camp’s population has departed, she lacks the financial means to reconstruct her dwelling and relocate, similar to many other impoverished Syrians.

Therefore, she remains in difficult living conditions. Annually, rainwater seeps into her shelter, and during summer months, she and approximately 40,000 other camp residents must endure extreme temperatures and insect problems.

The Syrian conflict that began as protests in 2011 and continued until late 2024 devastated the nation, forcing over 90% of its roughly 26 million citizens into economic hardship. According to United Nations estimates, reconstruction efforts will require hundreds of billions of dollars.

The warfare resulted in 500,000 deaths, over 1 million injuries, and forced more than half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million to flee their homes.

Under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the administration has made progress in rebuilding Syria’s international relationships, seeking relief from devastating sanctions while pledging comprehensive reforms.

Over a year following the conflict’s conclusion, more than 7 million internally displaced Syrians cannot return to their original communities. According to United Nations data, one million continue residing in temporary shelters like al-Saleh.

Al-Sharaa has promised that displaced Syrians will no longer remain in temporary housing and will receive proper accommodations before 2027 ends. Saudi Arabia has committed $1.5 billion to support this effort.

However, even with significant investment pledges and partnerships designed to create employment and economic opportunities, the enormous scope of destruction means reducing poverty and facilitating returns will require considerable time.

The World Bank calculates that postwar rebuilding would require approximately $216 billion. Nearly 18 months after ending five decades of Assad family control, substantial portions of Syria’s major urban centers including Aleppo and Raqqa in the north, Homs in the center, and sections of Damascus remain destroyed.

Meanwhile, the government faces time constraints. Humanitarian organizations, which have endured years of significant funding reductions, continue scaling back programs that millions of Syrians depend upon.

“Where are we going to get money to rebuild? We’re barely able to provide ourselves with bread and water,” al-Saleh said. “No aid has come to the camp since the liberation.”

Most recently, the World Food Program announced on May 13 that it reduced by half its food assistance program to the most vulnerable that once supported 1.3 million people. It also cut a bread subsidy program that millions relied on.

Simultaneously, Syrian inflation has increased dramatically, preventing people from accumulating sufficient savings for reconstruction.

“The cost of building materials has surged beyond comprehension. I can barely afford to take my medications,” said Abdulhamid Abu Alaa, who lives with his family in the same camp as al-Saleh.

He explained that he and numerous others continue repaying loans they obtained to cover essential living expenses.

Abu Alaa stated that despite Syria’s significant diplomatic and economic progress, he encourages the government to address quickly the needs of the nation’s most impoverished citizens who remain in terrible conditions.

“The government’s priorities need to change, and put the needs of the poorest people above all things,” he said.

The United Nations continues pledging to maximize its available resources to help reduce Syrian financial hardships and support al-Sharaa’s 2027 initiative.

During a visit to a camp in Idlib’s Maarat Misrin area, the U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Nathalie Fustier, said that the private sector and international financial institutions might need to help al-Sharaa reach the late 2027 deadline.

“I don’t know exactly how long it will take,” Fustier said. “Maybe there will still be camps, but we will be working again and again to end these camps.”

BEIJING – Chinese authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation into a devastating coal mine explosion that claimed at least 82 lives on Friday, uncovering an elaborate scheme of deception designed to hide illegal mining operations from government inspectors.

The fatal gas blast occurred at the Liushenyu mine located in Shanxi province, a coal-producing region in northern China. Two people remain missing while 128 others were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to government media reports.

This incident marks China’s most catastrophic mining disaster since 2009, when 108 workers perished in a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province.

Initial findings from the investigation reveal that the mine operator maintained secret tunnels, doctored blueprints, and employed unregistered workers who lacked mandatory safety tracking devices, state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The mining facility, operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, maintained dual sets of operational plans and monitoring systems. Officials used one set for actual mining activities while presenting the other to government inspectors, effectively concealing portions of their operation from regulatory supervision.

Company representatives could not be reached for comment, as state media reports indicate they have been taken into custody.

Coal extracted from these unauthorized tunnels was excluded from official production records and escaped taxation.

These duplicate planning systems are commonly referred to as “yin-yang drawings” – one version displayed openly for inspector review and another kept secret. The national mine safety administration acknowledges that such profit-motivated deceptions persist throughout China’s coal industry despite enforcement efforts.

According to Xinhua, the Liushenyu operation “constructed false doors using wire mesh and woven plastic bags coated with mortar, creating barriers that closely resembled the natural rock walls of mining tunnels.”

Mine personnel received advance warning when inspectors approached, allowing them to close these deceptive barriers and apply coal dust to camouflage them within the underground passages.

To avoid detection, mine management employed subcontracted workers in the concealed areas without providing mandatory identification and location tracking equipment or recording their presence in official entry logs.

These tracking devices would have enabled authorities to monitor worker locations throughout the underground facility, particularly during emergency situations.

Official records indicated only 124 workers had entered the mine when Friday’s explosion occurred, based on footage broadcast by state television CCTV on Monday. However, 247 workers were actually present in the facility, indicating that 123 individuals were operating in unmonitored tunnels beyond official oversight.

The absence of precise maps and worker location data has significantly complicated rescue efforts, state media reported.

The Liushenyu facility – designated as a “high-gas mine” due to elevated explosion risks – also intentionally failed to install gas-detection equipment to further avoid regulatory scrutiny, according to a separate report from state radio.

These violations were previously known to authorities before Friday’s tragedy. In 2025, regulators fined the mine operator after discovering hidden work areas, but “the penalty failed to serve as an effective deterrent, and the company continued illegal production,” Xinhua stated.

Following this incident, several mines throughout China have suspended or reduced operations for safety evaluations.

Ukraine’s diplomatic representative to Turkey anticipates that NATO will address financial assistance for his country during the alliance’s July summit, even though the funding proposal has struggled to win over member nations.

Ambassador Nariman Dzhelialov stated during a Tuesday interview that he hopes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will participate in the July 7-8 gathering in Ankara. He emphasized that Ukraine also seeks renewed commitments from members regarding the country’s aspirations to join the military alliance.

Ukraine relies heavily on foreign assistance to meet its budget requirements and finance its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Last June, Zelenskiy requested that Western allies dedicate 0.25% of their gross domestic product toward helping Ukraine enhance weapons manufacturing. Officials indicated that NATO leader Mark Rutte had proposed the concept of alliance members, excluding the United States, spending that percentage for Ukraine’s benefit.

The proposal has encountered opposition, and Rutte acknowledged last week his doubts about its acceptance. Diplomatic sources indicated that conversations continue regarding ways to show NATO’s commitment to Ukraine during the summit.

Even with limited support for the concept, the ambassador indicated Ukraine continues advocating for the plan.

“A mechanism here (could be) one in which every NATO member contributes a part of their finances to support strengthening Ukraine’s security capabilities,” he explained, recognizing that some allies hesitate to allocate resources while working to enhance their own military capabilities according to NATO standards.

“But we are not saying ‘give us 100%’, just a very small piece,” he added without providing additional specifics.

The summit occurs during a period of strain between Washington and European partners on multiple fronts. U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently called for NATO allies to substantially increase defense spending, as his administration argues that European nations should eventually take primary responsibility for the continent’s conventional security.

Dzhelialov praised Turkey’s mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia, noting that Ukraine remains prepared for leadership-level discussions with Russia.

He identified Turkey as the most suitable location for such talks, given its history of hosting previous negotiations and its relationships with both nations.

The ambassador highlighted defense industry collaboration as a crucial area of partnership between Turkey and Ukraine, mentioning that Zelenskiy discussed this topic with President Tayyip Erdogan during an Istanbul visit in April.

He revealed that Ukraine has presented Turkey with a proposal concerning potential sales, joint manufacturing, or technology sharing for Ukrainian drone systems, with Ukraine prepared to provide operator training if necessary.

“We have ideas, dreams, technology and they are working, but (Turkey) has the production capacity. This is a bit slow for us because the Russians are always attacking … This is why it is difficult to produce some weapons for us, but (Turkey) has that capacity,” he explained.

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities deployed water cannons Tuesday to disperse crowds attempting to attend a rally featuring the ousted head of Turkey’s primary opposition political organization.

A court directive issued Thursday stripped Ozgur Ozel and the central leadership team of the Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, from their positions in what many observers view as a decision driven by political considerations.

Ozel planned to speak to his supporters Tuesday in Izmir, a western Turkish municipality, but attendees found steel barricades and law enforcement officers blocking access to Cumhuriyet Square.

Broadcasting network Halk TV, which supports the opposition, documented numerous attendees, primarily middle-aged individuals, getting drenched by water cannons while attempting to access the square. Regional news outlets additionally reported authorities used pepper spray.

The governmental turmoil began last week after an Ankara appeals court reversed a 2023 party convention decision that selected Ozel to lead the CHP. The judicial ruling reinstated his former colleague, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, creating anger among party members.

The 51-year-old Ozel, who replaced the 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu following 13 years of largely unsuccessful resistance to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appealed Tuesday for Kilicdaroglu to conduct a new leadership election. “Don’t divide the party, don’t stop our march to power,” he stated. “Let’s ask the 2 million members (and) whoever they choose, let’s hold the congress immediately.”

Critics of the president regard the legal proceedings, which focused on voting irregularities during the convention, as another judicial assault on the CHP, during which numerous elected representatives and party participants have faced imprisonment.

After the court’s determination, Ozel and his allies fortified themselves within CHP headquarters in Ankara. Authorities raided the facility Sunday, using plastic pellets and pepper spray to violently conclude the standoff.

Ozel, who has promised to continue the fight in public spaces, announced upon reaching Izmir that he would “go wherever the people are waiting.” He subsequently appeared at Cumhuriyet Square before moving to an adjacent square where he addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters.

The clash in Izmir — Turkey’s third-most populous city and historically a CHP fortress — occurred one day before the official Eid al-Adha celebration, though many citizens had also taken Monday and Tuesday as vacation days.

During a broadcast Eid address, Erdogan expressed hope the holiday would serve as “an occasion for hearts to soften, for those who are estranged to reconcile, for grievances to be resolved.”

Recent polling shows the CHP tied with the governing Justice and Development Party, known as AKP, and while the next election isn’t scheduled until 2028, many anticipate Erdogan will seek earlier voting.

Ozel inflicted significant damage on the AKP during 2024 municipal contests, reinforcing the opposition’s control over major cities it had captured five years prior, including Istanbul and Ankara.

Istanbul’s CHP mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has become the most probable opponent to Erdogan, who has governed Turkey since 2003, in the upcoming presidential contest. However, he has been incarcerated since March of last year while confronting multiple criminal charges that could result in decades of imprisonment.

Numerous analysts have stated the legal actions targeting the CHP — primarily focusing on corruption accusations — are designed to weaken the party. Government officials maintain that Turkey’s judicial system remains impartial and operates without political interference.

Dutch authorities announced Tuesday they will prevent the acquisition of a critical cloud computing firm by an American technology company, citing national security risks.

The Netherlands will block US-based software firm Kyndryl from purchasing Solvinity, a Dutch cloud services provider that operates the country’s essential DigiD digital identity platform. Citizens rely on this system to interact with government agencies and access personal medical, insurance, and tax records.

Junior Economic Affairs Minister Willemijn Aerdts informed parliament in a written statement that government officials determined the proposed acquisition could threaten public interests. The decision follows implementation of legislation aimed at limiting foreign oversight of telecommunications infrastructure.

Parliamentary representatives had expressed concerns that allowing Kyndryl to complete the purchase might enable US authorities to gain access to all data managed by Solvinity’s systems.

Officials from the Economic Affairs ministry indicated they are currently coordinating with Solvinity and its existing ownership to determine how to proceed following this ruling.

South Africa’s president has taken legal action to overturn a panel’s determination that he potentially engaged in misconduct connected to a controversy involving stolen cash hidden in furniture at his property, according to broadcaster eNCA’s Tuesday report.

The president is seeking to have the 2022 finding that he possibly breached the constitution thrown out, contending the report relied on secondhand information and the panel exceeded its authority, eNCA reported, referencing court documents.

Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesperson, has not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

The president, who has held office since 2018, has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the controversy that local news outlets have nicknamed “Farmgate.”

The incident sparked concerns about the president’s acquisition of the $580,000 in cash that he claimed was taken from his property in 2020, questions about proper declaration procedures, and why the money was concealed in furniture instead of being placed in a banking institution.

Before entering politics, the president worked as a successful businessman and explained the funds represented earnings from buffalo sales. A central bank review determined he had not broken exchange control rules.

The controversy has created significant political difficulties for the leader, who assumed power promising to combat corruption and restore the reputation of his African National Congress (ANC) party.

In 2022, ANC legislators prevented impeachment actions against the president, but the constitutional court ruled this month that the parliamentary decision was illegitimate and the accusations warrant additional investigation.

The 73-year-old president has stated he accepts the court’s decision and has resisted pressure from political opponents calling for his resignation.

His current term extends until 2029, and political experts believe he will likely survive any parliamentary impeachment vote.

The ANC reaffirmed its backing for the president this month, improving his prospects of surviving any renewed impeachment attempts.

Any impeachment would need approval from two-thirds of parliament, and despite the ANC losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 election, the party maintains approximately 40% of National Assembly seats.

Federal authorities in Belgium reported Tuesday that multiple individuals sustained injuries when a train struck a minibus transporting children at a railroad crossing in the northern part of the country.

The collision occurred at a railway crossing close to Buggenhout, situated approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Brussels, the nation’s capital. Authorities have not yet released specific information about how the incident developed.

Federal police confirmed that “several people” sustained injuries in the collision, though they stated they cannot release additional specifics at this time. A Belgian private television network, VTM, reported that multiple fatalities occurred in the incident.

Officials said that prosecutors along with forensic investigators and transportation specialists were expected to arrive at the location.

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin posted on social media expressing “great sadness” regarding “the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones.”

Ukrainian air force officials reported Tuesday that Russia launched more than 100 drones and two ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine during overnight attacks, while Moscow issued warnings of intensified strikes on the capital city.

Moscow on Monday advised foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to quickly evacuate the Ukrainian capital and warned civilians to avoid military and government buildings. Russian officials stated they were preparing “systemic strikes” against Kyiv.

According to a foreign ministry statement, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by telephone Monday, urging America to withdraw its diplomatic personnel from Kyiv. While Rubio did not indicate whether the State Department would follow that recommendation, he expressed concerns during his India visit that the “terrible” conflict in Ukraine might intensify.

The Trump administration has spent more than a year attempting to end the hostilities that began following Russia’s February 2022 invasion. However, these diplomatic efforts have produced no major breakthroughs and are currently suspended as Washington concentrates on the Iran war.

No diplomatic missions announced plans to depart from Kyiv. The European Union, French and Polish delegations publicly declared their intention to remain.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued a statement late Monday asserting that security threats from Russia against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities “remains the same as in previous years and months.”

The ministry emphasized that Russia has consistently conducted missile and drone strikes against the capital for over four years, while noting Ukraine stands ready to help diplomatic missions requiring enhanced security measures.

Moscow characterized its largest missile assault of the year last weekend as retaliation for Friday’s fatal Ukrainian drone attack on what Russia described as a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in Ukraine’s Russia-controlled Luhansk region.

However, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that its Starobilsk strike targeted the regional headquarters of the Russian military’s specialized drone unit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed that advanced American-manufactured air defense systems needed by Ukraine to counter Russian ballistic missiles are scarce because of the Iran war.

“Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America on expanding the production of anti-ballistic capabilities,” Zelenskyy posted on social media late Monday, noting that Kyiv is collaborating with Europe to develop sufficient anti-ballistic defenses.

He highlighted that Ukrainian military successes in recent months have allowed the country to “stabilize” the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line across eastern and southern Ukraine, indicating Kyiv’s forces are maintaining their position against Russia’s larger military.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia’s spring offensive is struggling as Ukraine’s medium-range drone attacks disrupt Moscow’s rear supply operations.

The Washington-based think tank stated late Monday that Moscow’s threats of major strikes are designed to divert public focus from its “poor battlefield performance” and economic strain from war expenses and international sanctions.

A century-old private club in India’s capital faces potential closure after government officials demanded it abandon the prestigious location it has called home since British colonial times, setting off a court fight and public discussion about privilege among India’s wealthy elite.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club has operated continuously since 1913 on a sprawling property adjacent to where the prime minister lives in central New Delhi. The facility features an expansive complex of elegant buildings and perfectly maintained grounds, complete with teakwood furnishings, leather seating, and large artwork adorning the walls.

While the organization and government officials have previously disagreed over how the club is run, authorities issued a notice last Friday demanding return of the leased property, pointing to security concerns and infrastructure requirements.

Through a legal filing exceeding 900 pages that Reuters reviewed, a coalition of club members and staff petitioned the Delhi High Court to stop the action while their legal challenge proceeds.

According to court documents Reuters examined, the government seeks to “illegally gain possession of a hundred-year-old institution in a period of 15 days.”

During Tuesday’s court session, the club’s legal representative asked the judge to block authorities from taking forceful measures, while government attorneys stated no removal would occur without proper procedures. The judge scheduled the next hearing for July.

The exclusive venue serves as a gathering place for high-ranking government workers, military leaders, and influential corporate executives, with membership waiting periods extending over three decades. The Delhi Gymkhana Club has also been the setting for elaborate celebrations, including wedding parties for children of the capital’s wealthy families.

The private facility provides recreational amenities such as an indoor pool and tennis courts with both clay and grass surfaces. Multiple dining establishments and bars operate within the club, which maintains strict clothing requirements that prohibit round-neck T-shirts.

The organization relocated to its present 27-acre location two years following Britain’s designation of New Delhi as India’s capital city.

The conflict with government officials has generated discussion across social media platforms and television broadcasts, with some critics questioning whether such exclusive organizations should exist on subsidized government property, while supporters argue the club provides important cultural and recreational value.

“If ‘elite privilege’ is suddenly the issue . . . why not also question sprawling ministerial residences, endless VIP (very important person) convoys, private aircraft and the entire ecosystem of taxpayer-funded political privilege?” one user wrote on X.

The dismissal of Senegal’s prime minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has injected new momentum into long-stalled negotiations to address West Africa’s most severe debt crisis, though the move brings both opportunities and fresh uncertainties.

Faye’s decision Friday to remove Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a vocal opponent of International Monetary Fund policies, could eliminate a key barrier to reaching an IMF agreement. However, financial experts and investors warn that the political upheaval may create new challenges for the ongoing discussions and increase risks for those holding Senegalese bonds.

“The removal of PM Sonko creates additional political uncertainty,” explained Thalia Petousis, portfolio manager at Allan Gray. “There is also a chance that a newly appointed PM might be in favour of a deep debt restructuring, increasing the probability of a negative outcome for Senegalese bondholders.”

On Monday evening, Faye appointed Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, an experienced economist and former regional central bank official, to take over from the populist Sonko.

Financial markets responded negatively Tuesday, with Senegal’s foreign currency government bonds dropping significantly – falling as much as 5.7 cents on the euro and nearly 4 cents on the dollar, according to Tradeweb data.

Morgan Stanley noted Tuesday that investors were now calculating higher chances of a restructuring following recent developments.

Petousis cautioned that if foreign-currency debt underwent restructuring while local currency debt remained untouched, “the risks are that realised haircuts could be steeper than what is currently priced.”

Over the past three months, Senegalese dollar-denominated bonds have generated losses of 9.7% for investors, contrasting sharply with the 0.1% average return of comparable securities in the JPM EMBI Global Diversified Africa index. Bonds maturing in May 2033 were trading around 50.6 cents on the dollar, reaching historic lows.

Senegal has been pursuing intermittent discussions to secure a new IMF agreement since the Fund suspended a $1.8 billion program in 2024 after discovering previously undisclosed debt that pushed the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio beyond 130%.

The nation is essentially shut out of international capital markets and faces mounting challenges in controlling escalating fuel subsidy costs. Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the government’s capacity to meet its debt obligations.

Earlier this month, President Faye’s office announced he was assuming direct control of Senegal’s debt portfolio. Cheikh Diba, who served as finance minister until Friday, indicated that IMF discussions would restart during the week of June 8, with a potential agreement on a new program’s framework possible by late June.

In one of his final actions as prime minister, Sonko, who had previously advocated against debt restructuring pressure, criticized the IMF Friday before lawmakers, declaring it had “never developed a country” and arguing Senegal should depend more on domestic resources rather than foreign lenders.

Despite losing his prime ministerial position, Sonko is expected to maintain significant political influence. His party continues to control the National Assembly and plans to meet Tuesday to “reintegrate” him as a legislator.

The sudden resignation of the National Assembly speaker Sunday has sparked rumors that Sonko might assume that position, which would preserve his ability to influence Senegal’s future relationship with the Fund.

Previous government timelines for IMF agreements have proven overly ambitious, with officials initially projecting a program would be established last year.

Responding to emailed inquiries, the IMF told Reuters it was monitoring Senegalese developments closely and anticipated working with the new administration.

“The timing of IMF staff’s next visit to Dakar will be guided by the availability and readiness of the incoming authorities,” the organization stated.

Fuel subsidies will likely dominate future negotiations when talks resume.

Senegal had allocated 250 billion CFA francs ($446.03 million) for subsidies this year before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, triggering a conflict that drove oil prices higher.

Former Finance Minister Diba warned Friday that subsidy costs could surpass the 2026 budget by 1.39 trillion CFA francs – approximately $2 billion – should oil prices reach $115 per barrel.

However, Sonko had rejected a proposal to increase fuel prices, Diba informed parliament.

Barclays analyst Michael Kafe wrote that it “seems unlikely that the IMF would sign an agreement with Senegal that would not include the removal of the country’s expensive fuel subsidies.”

Should Sonko become parliament speaker, Kafe added, this could create conditions for future confrontations between executive and legislative branches.

“In many countries, energy prices are incredibly politically sensitive and thus governments will be tempted to alleviate price pressure,” observed Nicholas Sauer, portfolio manager at Robeco.

“There is indeed a long history of inflation-inspired social unrest that can eventually topple governments.”

A Lithuanian communications official reports that Russia has significantly expanded its capability to disrupt GPS signals across large portions of Europe, with interference now extending up to 280 miles from Russian territory.

According to Darius Kuliesius, deputy head of Lithuania’s communications regulator, Russia has dramatically increased its GPS “spoofing” equipment in the Kaliningrad region from just three antennas in early 2025 to 36 currently operating. These devices transmit false location data designed to confuse navigation systems.

The equipment operates from Kaliningrad, a heavily fortified Russian territory located between NATO members Lithuania and Poland along the Baltic Sea.

“The occasional interference began with the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius. Now they have built up the infrastructure and the interference has become systemic, permanent, unending Russian provocation against European security,” Kuliesius stated.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European countries have repeatedly alleged electronic interference from Moscow, though President Vladimir Putin’s administration rejects these claims, attributing them to Western smear campaigns.

The Russian embassy in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment, though Moscow has consistently denied similar allegations previously.

Lithuanian regulatory data shows the GPS disruption potentially affects Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, most of Poland, portions of Finland, Sweden, Belarus, and Baltic Sea waters within the 280-mile range.

Several high-profile incidents have occurred, including GPS interference experienced by a Spanish military aircraft carrying Defence Minister Margarita Robles near Kaliningrad, and jamming of a plane transporting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while traveling to Bulgaria.

Both Estonia and Finland have also attributed GPS navigation disruptions in regional airspace to Russian interference.

Despite these disruptions, most commercial aircraft and major airports maintain multiple navigation backup systems when GPS becomes unreliable.

Kuliesius noted that mobile phone service quality near Kaliningrad suffers due to frequency interference, with notable increases during Ukrainian drone operations against Russia.

“Online bus schedules in Klaipeda stop working during the spikes, because they rely on tracking buses by GPS,” he explained, referencing a community located 30 miles from the Kaliningrad border.

A deadly Israeli military strike targeted a village in eastern Lebanon, claiming 12 lives according to state media reports released Tuesday. Israeli officials confirmed the deployment of additional military personnel to the region.

The attack occurred late Monday in Mashghara, located in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The strike followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement authorizing more aggressive military operations against the Hezbollah militant organization throughout Lebanon. While Israeli military forces did not provide details about this specific attack, they confirmed Monday that operations were focused on Hezbollah facilities in eastern Lebanon.

A security official from Israel, speaking anonymously due to protocol requirements, confirmed that military leadership had deployed an additional battalion to Lebanon.

Emergency response teams recovered a dozen bodies from debris after a series of overnight bombardments struck multiple areas across southern and eastern Lebanon.

The escalated military action occurs just three days before scheduled direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli military representatives in Washington.

Hezbollah forces continue their offensive against Israeli military units in southern Lebanon and northern Israeli communities, pledging to maintain combat operations until Israel ceases daily bombardments and removes military forces from Lebanese territory.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has claimed success using advanced fiber-optic drone technology that Israeli forces have found difficult to counter, successfully targeting both military personnel and northern border communities.

Israel has revised its security protocols for northern regions in response to current developments, advising residents to avoid large gatherings.

“What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media Monday ahead of the strikes.

Lebanese government officials express hope that upcoming direct negotiations with Israel, which Hezbollah opposes, will result in a ceasefire agreement.

More than one million Lebanese residents have been forced from their homes due to the conflict, which began when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran.

Lebanese Health Ministry statistics show 3,185 people in Lebanon have died from Israeli strikes since fighting began, with over 9,600 additional casualties reported as wounded.

The increased military operations have raised concerns throughout Lebanon about the possibility of expanded warfare, leaving the capital vulnerable to potential future attacks.

“By just saying a few words on TV he (Netanyahu) causes everyone to panic and flee their homes,” said Tony Aboud, in Beirut’s bustling Hamra district. “I don’t know what’s going to happen and how long we can live like this.”

A tragic incident in Seoul, South Korea claimed three lives and left three people injured on Tuesday when an aging overpass being demolished partially gave way, according to fire department officials.

The deadly incident happened while safety inspectors were examining the structure after demolition crews had stopped their work when they observed that part of the bridge had begun to sink slightly during concrete cutting operations, according to Lee Jong-woon, an official at Seoul’s Seodaemun District Fire Station. The fatalities occurred when victims were struck by falling debris and wreckage as a portion of the bridge deck suddenly gave way, authorities reported.

Law enforcement and emergency responders blocked off traffic in the surrounding area, where mangled steel supports and broken concrete pieces remained dangerously suspended from the overpass edge.

Falling debris also struck a nearby railroad line, prompting the Korea Railroad Corp. to halt certain train services to Seoul Station.

The overpass, originally constructed in 1966, had been in the demolition process since August of the previous year due to structural safety issues.

French authorities announced Tuesday that seven fatalities have occurred due to circumstances directly or indirectly connected to the ongoing heat wave affecting the nation, according to French Junior Energy Minister Maud Bregeon.

Among the casualties, five deaths involved individuals who drowned while seeking relief in lakes, rivers, or at beaches, Bregeon reported.

In response to the dangerous conditions, officials have directed local authorities to implement protective measures during sporting events, the minister stated.

The country has been experiencing temperatures above normal levels since Saturday, with weather conditions continuing to deteriorate.

Weather agency Meteo France has issued an orange-level alert for most of Brittany, forecasting temperatures could climb as high as 36 degrees Celsius by Tuesday afternoon.

The extreme heat conditions are anticipated to persist through Wednesday and Thursday, according to Meteo France’s official website.

DHAKA, May 26 – Border security forces in Bangladesh have stepped up patrol operations and initiated community outreach efforts along sections of the India-Bangladesh frontier amid worries that India is unlawfully pushing individuals across the border, according to government officials.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India, which controls the frontier states of Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, has indicated it plans to address unauthorized migration as a key objective.

This month, India’s foreign ministry informed journalists that the country has requested Bangladesh confirm the citizenship status of over 2,860 individuals believed to be Bangladeshi nationals residing unlawfully within India’s borders. India’s foreign ministry did not provide a response to requests for comment on Tuesday.

The 60th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh initiated outreach efforts on Sunday in frontier regions of the Brahmanbaria district, employing loudspeakers to alert local populations and encourage them to watch for efforts to force people across the boundary.

“We have started miking in border villages to raise awareness among residents and ask them to stay vigilant against any illegal crossings or push-in attempts,” Lieutenant Colonel S. M. Shariful Islam, commander of the battalion, told Reuters.

“Our patrols and surveillance have been strengthened across the border areas. Intelligence operations are also continuing to prevent illegal push-ins, human trafficking, and the smuggling of drugs and other goods,” he said.

The frontier between Bangladesh and India extends for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), representing one of the world’s most extensive land boundaries.

Three administrative areas within Brahmanbaria district in eastern Bangladesh encompass approximately 73 kilometres of the frontier with India’s Tripura state.

India’s northeastern Assam state, which borders Bangladesh, has since May 2025 forced hundreds of individuals back into Bangladesh from among the 30,000 people that legal tribunals have determined to be non-citizens. Multiple human rights organizations have stated that officials have randomly expelled people from the nation.

The government in Dhaka has consistently stated that any deportation process must adhere to established diplomatic protocols and has cautioned against one-sided forced movements across the frontier.

BANGKOK — Rescue operations for seven villagers stuck in a water-filled cave in central Laos have reached their seventh day Tuesday, with emergency crews facing challenging conditions and harsh weather while attempting to locate the group whose status remains unclear.

The group went into the cave located in Xaisomboun province on May 19, but intense rainfall caused sudden flooding that sealed off their way out, rescue teams from Laos and Thailand reported.

Rescue Volunteer for People, a Lao organization collaborating with local officials, announced on Facebook that Tuesday’s rescue strategy involves examining air shafts located above the cave to find potential entry routes and determine where the trapped individuals might be.

Emergency personnel from Thailand arrived at the location during the weekend to help with rescue efforts.

Rescue teams report that diving specialists have made their way approximately 100 meters into the water-filled, confined cave. Officials believe the villagers could be stuck roughly 30 meters past the farthest reachable location. Teams are operating pumps to remove water from the cave to help their search mission.

The location sits in an isolated section of Longcheng district in Xaisomboun province, positioned approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the capital city. Emergency workers have documented on social media the difficult mountainous landscape and persistent rainfall creating obstacles for their mission.

Online footage from Thai rescue workers demonstrated that accessing the cave opening demands a challenging uphill trek on foot covering roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The opening itself features steep, rocky terrain and remains so narrow that only one individual can pass through at any given time.

Within the cave, rescue workers must navigate through muddy corridors, water-filled areas and tight passages requiring them to crawl on their hands and knees.

Officials have not provided formal confirmation regarding the villagers’ purpose for entering the cave, though rescue personnel indicated they went inside searching for gold deposits.

Bounkham Luanglath from the Lao rescue organization informed The Associated Press that local people regularly visited the cave seeking gold, despite repeated safety warnings from authorities advising against cave entry.

Laos maintains one of Southeast Asia’s lowest average individual incomes at approximately $2,000-2,500, with even lower earnings in underdeveloped rural regions.

While Laos doesn’t rank as a significant gold-producing nation, its mining sector represents a substantial portion of the developing country’s economy. Foreign investment, primarily from Thailand and China, drives the mining industry. Copper serves as a major export product, while rare earth element mining for modern technology has grown increasingly prevalent in Laos.

The Laos Foreign Ministry stated Tuesday that no official details are available for media distribution. The Southeast Asian country operates as a single-party communist government without organized political opposition and maintains strict control over information release.

The situation gained attention in Thailand due to similarities with the dramatic 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand, where 12 boys and their soccer coach remained trapped for over two weeks before successful rescue in an operation that captured worldwide attention. A former Thai navy SEAL diver died during that search and rescue mission.

Another recent tragedy occurred this month when five Italian divers were discovered dead after disappearing while cave diving in the Maldives. A Maldivian military diver participating in the body recovery operation was killed during the dangerous retrieval mission.

Cave entrapment poses significant health dangers, with cold temperatures rapidly causing hypothermia. While the human body can survive weeks without food, clean water remains essential to prevent dehydration. Contaminated water sources may trigger diarrhea, accelerating dehydration.

Reduced oxygen levels create symptoms resembling altitude sickness and can eventually harm lungs and other vital organs, while carbon dioxide accumulation leads to fatigue and potential loss of consciousness.

Continuous darkness affects time awareness and disrupts the body’s natural sleep cycles. It also creates extreme light sensitivity when eyes must readjust to illumination.

Spanish regulators have issued a temporary shutdown order against two American prediction market platforms, Polymarket and Kalshi, after determining they were operating without proper gambling licenses, according to the country’s official state gazette published Tuesday.

The Consumer Rights Ministry announced that its gambling oversight agency has launched an investigation into the U.S.-based firms for allegedly violating domestic regulations by failing to obtain required administrative permits.

Officials estimate the prohibition will remain in effect for approximately three to four months while the investigation runs its course.

These prediction market platforms allow participants to purchase and trade positions based on anticipated results of upcoming events, with market prices indicating the likelihood of various outcomes.

Spanish authorities — similar to other European regulators — classify prediction markets as gambling activities when participants wager on uncertain results.

According to the ministry, unlicensed operators are missing essential technical and regulatory protections including identity verification processes, age restriction controls for minors, blocking mechanisms for individuals who have self-banned or been prohibited from gambling, plus necessary user protection standards.

What began as a specialized internet sector has expanded into a multi-billion-dollar market after establishing significant presence in American political betting during 2024.

Rescue operations in Laos are showing promising signs as teams work around the clock to reach seven individuals who have been stuck underground for nearly a week, according to the mission leader.

The group became stranded inside a cave located in Laos’ central Xaisomboun province on May 20 when heavy rainfall caused a landslide that blocked their path out, local rescue organizations and state-run Lao Phattana News reported.

International assistance arrived Sunday when a Thai rescue squad joined the mission, bringing expertise that has led to major advances in reaching the chamber where the trapped individuals are believed to be located.

“From this moment on, I believe our success is not far away,” said Kengkard Bongkawong, who leads the rescue operation, in a statement posted to social media Monday.

The rescue effort is being conducted in partnership with a local organization called the Laos Rescue Volunteer for People, which reported that the seven people had gone into the cave system while searching for gold. Attempts to contact the country’s disaster management agency were unsuccessful.

Video shared on the Facebook account of Lao Phattana News revealed the challenging conditions facing rescuers, showing helmet-wearing team members crawling through narrow passages by flashlight, struggling to breathe, while others moved slowly through muddy water that reached their chests in the cave’s depths.

Among the rescue personnel is a diver who participated in the 17-day mission at a flooded mountain cave in Thailand during 2018 that drew worldwide attention, when experts from multiple countries, including American military forces and Thai Navy SEALs, converged on Chiang Rai province to free a youth soccer team called the “Wild Boars.”

Kengkard, who leads a volunteer emergency response organization in northeastern Thailand, announced that water removal operations would proceed continuously, following the team’s breakthrough of sand and rock barriers that brought them closer to an underwater passage they believe will provide access to the trapped group.

He reported that an examination of the terrain above the cave system identified four potential shafts that might connect to the underground network and offer an alternative rescue route.

“We estimate that less than 20 metres remain before we reach the key target area,” he stated.

BEIJING, May 26 – Beijing voiced its concerns Tuesday regarding the four-nation alliance between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, emphasizing that international partnerships should promote regional stability and prosperity without singling out specific nations.

“We also do not support the formation of exclusive cliques or bloc confrontation. No cooperation should undermine mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a daily press conference.

Foreign ministers from the four Quad nations met Tuesday in India, where they reached agreements to jointly construct a port facility in Fiji and established agreements focused on critical minerals and energy security matters.

WILER, Switzerland – One year has passed since a catastrophic glacier collapse wiped out the Swiss village of Blatten, and residents are demonstrating remarkable resilience as they work to rebuild their shattered community.

Standing prominently above Switzerland’s Loetschen Valley, Hotel Momentum represents hope and determination in the face of devastating loss. The wooden structure, completed in just 105 days near the adjacent town of Wiler, serves as a powerful example of how displaced villagers are piecing their lives back together following the natural disaster.

A German-language wooden plaque at the hotel’s front desk delivers a poignant message that captures the spirit of many who lost everything: “The past is no longer, the future is not here yet, life is here and now.”

Through the hotel’s windows, visitors can gaze across rugged mountain peaks toward the site where Blatten previously existed — now transformed into a gray expanse of rubble and a turquoise lake, with rooftops of buried homes still protruding from the water.

The catastrophe unfolded after several days of official warnings. Government officials ordered the evacuation of more than 300 village residents when falling rocks destabilized the Birch glacier positioned above their community. On May 28, 2025, an avalanche of stone, earth and ice thundered down the slope in an enormous dust cloud, covering most of Blatten.

Scientists have connected the glacier failure to climate change impacts throughout the Alps. Melting permafrost undermines rock formations that were once permanently frozen — creating concerns about whether settlements like Blatten can be safely restored.

Despite these challenges, reconstruction blueprints target completion around 2030. Meanwhile, former villagers such as hotel proprietor Lukas Kalbermatten have been forced to begin anew.

Kalbermatten’s family lost the Hotel Edelweiss, which served as both their residence and a three-generation family enterprise. Following their safe evacuation, he partnered with another displaced Blatten hotel operator to establish Hotel Momentum.

BEGINNING AGAIN

Almost twelve months later, Kalbermatten describes his journey using grief as a comparison.

“In the grieving process, there’s always that first time, isn’t there? For us, it was the first church service, then the kids’ first St. Nicholas Day that wasn’t spent at home, then the first Christmas,” he explained. “And now this anniversary is coming up, and I think then we’ve made it once around, right?”

Welcoming visitors once more has created conflicted feelings. “Now you’re welcoming them back in a different place and it’s difficult,” Kalbermatten noted. “Some of them are very sad themselves, still almost in shock.”

Throughout Momentum’s interior, subtle touches honor Blatten — including throw blankets designed to match those from the destroyed village — though the facility itself is planned as temporary. Stairwell walls remain incomplete, and the building serves as a five-year interim measure before potential disassembly and relocation.

RESTORATION ‘WILL TAKE TIME’

Authorities report that progress toward reconstructing Blatten remains on schedule. Road reconstruction commenced last month, and if everything proceeds as planned, residents whose properties survived could potentially return this year. By 2029, major benchmarks should enable wider resettlement.

Manfred Ebener, construction project lead of the Blatten 2030 coordination group, emphasized that the focus involves creating a village capable of lasting for coming generations, regardless of whether all former residents choose to return.

“Rebuilding Blatten will take time before the village can return to a size similar or the same as what it was before. We realise that some of us may not live to see that happen,” he stated.

With climate change threats increasing, surrounding mountains, including those near Kandersteg, face continuous monitoring. Several kilometers from Blatten, isolated fragments breaking from the Oigschtchummun glacier triggered preventive road closures this month.

However, specialists indicate that the collapse that devastated Blatten was uncommon. Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss glacier monitoring network, informed the media outlet Swissinfo that the Birch glacier collapse resulted from an exceptional accumulation of rock, and warned against making direct comparisons.

RETURNING HOME?

For Daniel and Karin Ritler, reconstruction has involved transforming their means of earning a living.

Prior to the catastrophe, their work encompassed everything from sheep farming to glamping accommodations and food service. One month following the upheaval of their world, they started planning a fresh beginning.

They are currently launching a new hotel within the Loetschen Valley, explaining that additional lodging is essential — not just for visitors, but also for homeless residents. Through April, they remained in temporary housing.

The pair has since relocated to an apartment within their new hotel, scheduled to debut later this year under the name Zeitlos, meaning “timeless.”

While official statistics are unavailable, Kalbermatten believes approximately 80% of Blatten’s previous residents continue living in the valley. Students from the village still attend identical schools in Wiler.

As reconstruction efforts advance, the mountainside’s stability cannot be assumed, and Blatten’s future remains unclear.

“We’re not saying we will never go back to Blatten, and we also can’t say we will be back in Blatten at this or that time. That will have to unfold,” Daniel Ritler explained.

For others, the choice is more definite.

“Personally, we will certainly go back. That’s not really up for debate for us,” said Kalbermatten.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Tuesday that the nation plans to develop its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s as part of efforts to address submarine-launched nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

According to Ahn, the submarine will utilize low-enriched uranium fuel and will be constructed domestically within South Korea. The defense minister outlined South Korea’s fundamental strategy for obtaining nuclear-powered submarine capabilities.

The initiative will leverage South Korea’s existing nuclear technology, shipbuilding expertise, and defense manufacturing sectors, Ahn explained, while preserving Seoul’s pledge to avoid acquiring or developing nuclear weapons.

During the process of obtaining low-enriched uranium fuel, South Korea plans to collaborate closely with the United States to ensure non-proliferation standards are met and will also coordinate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to Ahn.

The defense minister confirmed that the timeline calls for deploying the first submarine by the mid-2030s.

Government officials have stated that nuclear propulsion technology would allow these new submarines to remain submerged for significantly longer periods and provide enhanced mobility compared to South Korea’s current submarine fleet.