Author: Admin

The small Himalayan nation of Bhutan has launched a financial incentive program aimed at reversing its declining birth rates by offering monthly payments to families who have more children.

Located between China and India in the eastern Himalayas, the kingdom with a population under 800,000 will provide families with monthly payments of 10,000 ngultrums (approximately $105) for each third child and any additional children born on or after June 4, 2026, continuing until the child reaches age three, according to a government announcement made Thursday.

The program will also extend benefits to eligible third and subsequent children who were born prior to that date but have not yet reached three years of age when the policy takes effect.

Cabinet Secretary Kesang Deki explained that the financial support would apply to families regardless of how many children they have beyond the second child. “They can have three, four, five, six or seven children,” she stated to Reuters on Friday.

Government data reveals that annual births in Bhutan have dropped from 11,001 in 2015 to 8,153 in 2024, representing approximately a 26% decrease, while the total fertility rate has fallen to nearly the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman during this timeframe.

According to the government statement, the combination of a shrinking and aging population along with emigration poses significant challenges for Bhutan’s workforce, communities, and economic growth over the long term.

Many young people from Bhutan are looking for opportunities in other countries, particularly Australia, as economic dissatisfaction grows within the landlocked Buddhist nation.

The government described the new initiative as demonstrating its “commitment to the welfare of mothers, children, and families, and to the long-term sustainability of Bhutan’s population.”

In a similar move, the neighboring Indian state of Sikkim introduced incentives in 2023 including year-long maternity leave for women, month-long paternity leave for men, and financial assistance for those pursuing in-vitro fertilization.

Bhutan has gained recognition for creating the Gross National Happiness index, an innovative economic measurement that incorporates elements typically overlooked by traditional gross domestic product calculations, including recreation and emotional well-being.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced Friday that his government plans to directly address what he called China’s “entirely inappropriate” decision to ban four legislators from Chinese territory following their visit to Taiwan.

Four New Zealand parliament members – Laura McClure, David Wilson, and Maureen Pugh from the centre-right coalition, plus Duncan Webb from the Labour party – spent five days in Taipei last month.

Following their trip, the Chinese embassy notified the legislators through an email from the Office of the Clerk that they were prohibited from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau for one year, according to parliamentary administration officials.

Speaking to reporters during his trip to Australia where he plans to meet with his counterpart Anthony Albanese, Luxon defended the lawmakers’ right to travel independently.

“We think it’s entirely inappropriate, the reaction that we’ve seen from the Chinese. We will raise that with them ourselves,” Luxon stated, emphasizing that the backbenchers were not acting as official government representatives in Taiwan and should be “free to see who they want to see.”

The diplomatic tension comes despite generally stable relations between New Zealand and China in recent years, with China serving as New Zealand’s top trading partner. However, Wellington has become increasingly vocal about Beijing’s growing presence in the Pacific region.

High-level officials from both nations have conducted numerous visits over the past three years, including Luxon’s own trip to China in 2025.

The dispute centers around Taiwan’s contested status, as China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not dismissed using military force to gain control of the island. Taiwan’s leadership disputes Beijing’s territorial claims.

A New Zealand parliament official confirmed Thursday that a meeting occurred with Chinese embassy representatives but declined to share specifics. Foreign Minister Winston Peters directed New Zealand diplomatic staff in both Beijing and Wellington to address the issue with Chinese officials.

Australia has indicated it will also express concerns through the Chinese embassy in Canberra and Beijing.

While Luxon appreciated Australia’s backing, he characterized the dispute as a “nation-to-nation” matter between New Zealand and China.

He indicated he would emphasize New Zealand’s “one China policy” stance, which recognizes Beijing as the legitimate government and acknowledges its Taiwan claims without formally endorsing them.

A contentious telephone conversation between the U.S. president and Israeli prime minister has brought their behind-the-scenes disagreements into the public spotlight, creating political complications for the Israeli leader as he faces a challenging election cycle.

The heated exchange, which was initially reported by media outlets and later acknowledged by Trump, featured the president calling the prime minister “fucking crazy” during discussions about Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Israeli government sources, who requested anonymity, described the conversation as one of the most confrontational exchanges between the two leaders. One source indicated that the public disclosure of the call has politically harmed Netanyahu as the country prepares for national elections.

The news website Axios first revealed details of the conversation on Monday, reporting that Trump angrily challenged Netanyahu regarding Israeli threats to resume bombing campaigns in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods. “Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” Trump was quoted as saying.

The American president instructed Netanyahu to avoid targeting Beirut after Iran indicated that Israeli military actions in Lebanon were hampering diplomatic efforts to conclude the conflict, which started with combined U.S.-Israeli operations and has become unpopular with American voters.

A high-ranking Israeli official explained to Reuters that Netanyahu had emphasized to Trump that any suspension of Israeli military plans against Beirut would only be viable if Hezbollah ceased its attacks on northern Israel. The official noted that Trump was open to this perspective.

After their conversation, Trump announced that Israel and Hezbollah had reached an agreement to halt hostilities, leading to criticism from Netanyahu’s political adversaries and some members of his own administration who accused him of surrendering Israeli independence to American pressure.

“A total protectorate,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid, suggesting Netanyahu had put Israel in the position of an American client state.

While Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has frequently disagreed with both Republican and Democratic U.S. administrations, Israel has maintained its position as Washington’s primary Middle Eastern partner.

Nimrod Goren, the president of Mitvim, an Israeli think tank, said “the differences are now very public”, unlike in the past when they were usually quietly managed behind closed doors.

Speaking to the New York Post on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged he was “a little bit perturbed” by Netanyahu’s continued attacks on Lebanon, while adding: “We’ve worked very well together.”

Trump’s choice to participate with Israel in military strikes against Iran on two separate occasions within a year seemed to represent a significant achievement for Netanyahu, who had spent years encouraging Washington to employ military force to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

However, Trump has also implemented several policies that many Israelis view as contrary to their country’s interests, including terminating U.S. military operations against Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthis, removing sanctions from Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and directing a cessation of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in June 2025.

While the United States and Israel jointly initiated the military campaign against Iran in February, Israel has not participated directly in U.S.-Iran negotiations to end the conflict. These discussions have been facilitated through Pakistan, an unusual mediator that maintains no official diplomatic relations with Israel.

The conflicts with Iran and Hezbollah have received broad support in Israel, including from supporters of Netanyahu’s political opponents, with much of the population favoring continued military action.

This contrasts sharply with American sentiment, where many voters—including members of Trump’s conservative constituency—oppose the war.

Trump has consistently stated that the U.S. is approaching an agreement with Iran to end the hostilities. Tehran maintains that any settlement must include Israel stopping attacks on its partner Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“We are basically being forced to stop,” said Israeli pollster Mitchell Barak. “We don’t have a say in this anymore.”

At the beginning of this year’s conflict with Iran, Netanyahu declared that the Iranian government would be overthrown and its nuclear and missile capabilities eliminated. He has also stated that Hezbollah, which launched attacks against Israel in March supporting Iran, must be disarmed in southern Lebanon. None of these objectives have been accomplished.

Current domestic polling consistently indicates that Netanyahu’s coalition government, described as the most right-wing in the nation’s history, would be unable to secure a majority in the next election.

According to Goren, Netanyahu is attempting to satisfy Trump’s requirements because the Israeli leader will require the president’s backing as elections approach, including a potential visit by the American leader to Israel. Prior to the Iranian conflict, Trump was widely anticipated in Israel to visit in April to receive the country’s highest civilian award. His most recent visit occurred in October.

Some Israelis expressed discomfort with the degree to which Trump appears capable of influencing Israeli military choices, Goren noted. Conversely, in the U.S., some Trump critics argue that Netanyahu wields excessive influence over American foreign policy.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu’s national security minister said on Thursday that there are times when an Israeli leader must know how to say “no” even to the U.S. president.

Nadav Shtrauchler, a former Netanyahu adviser, said the Israeli premier was counting on Trump’s support in the election.

“The way the war (with Iran and Hezbollah) will end will affect, more than anything, the result of the election.”

Trump has frequently offered public praise for Netanyahu and has openly urged Israel’s president to grant clemency to the prime minister, who faces corruption-related charges in Israeli courts.

Yet Trump has also publicly stressed how much Israel depends on Washington, according to his view, and has used profanity previously when discussing Israel, including publicly stating last year that Israel and Iran “don’t know what the ​fuck they are doing.”

Netanyahu, for his part, characterizes Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House”, providing the type of public recognition that appeals to the Republican president, who is recognized for valuing personal devotion and approval.

Since the U.S. and Israel began their war with Iran, Netanyahu has occasionally mentioned that he communicates with Trump nearly every day, often describing their relationship to the Israeli public as a partnership between equals who collaborate on decisions.

When questioned about the call during a CNBC interview on Wednesday, Netanyahu compared the situation to the “best of families” where there have occasionally been “tactical disagreements” with the U.S. president.

A U.S. official informed Reuters that the phone conversation was among several in which the president has been very straightforward with Netanyahu, but emphasized that the two remain friends and close partners.

“Their conversations are pretty direct,” the official said.

Both the official and another Israeli source familiar with the U.S.-Israel relationship rejected any indication of a substantial shift in the relationship between Netanyahu and Trump.

Nevertheless, the Israeli source admitted that the disclosure of the call—and Trump’s later confirmation of it—was unhelpful to Netanyahu before an election he is projected to lose.

Shtrauchler, the former adviser to Netanyahu, argued that the perception of a disagreement with Trump was exaggerated and that the two leaders still seem to agree on most significant matters.

However, a sudden conclusion to the conflicts with Iran and Hezbollah would create a “huge problem” for Netanyahu, he noted, as many Israelis would view it as Trump having pressured him into submission.

“No one wants here to feel like we are another star on the (U.S.) flag. We want to feel independence,” Shtrauchler said.

The ongoing Middle East conflict is driving millions of people toward severe hunger as escalating fuel and transportation expenses cause food costs to soar, according to the U.N. World Food Programme’s Friday announcement. The crisis is further complicated by funding shortages that are forcing humanitarian organizations to reduce their operations.

Regional warfare erupted following joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran in February, creating widespread disruption from the Gulf region extending into Lebanon. Critical maritime passages, including the Strait of Hormuz, have been affected, compelling ships to find alternate routes and severely limiting worldwide energy distribution and supply networks.

The WFP projected in March that up to 45 million individuals could experience acute food insecurity should oil prices stay near $100 per barrel through June. This prediction is becoming reality, the organization reported, as benchmark crude oil has remained above that threshold since early March began.

Communities in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka are experiencing the most severe impacts, confronting increased challenges from elevated fuel expenses, food cost increases, reduced incomes and interrupted commerce.

Somalia is projected to have 6.5 million residents – approximately one-third of its total population – experiencing severe hunger by 2026, while Afghanistan may see 17.4 million people impacted, according to WFP data. The crisis is expected to intensify, with another 2.5 million Somalis and 2.3 million Afghans potentially facing food insecurity if current disruptions continue. Both nations depend heavily on energy and food imports.

This Middle East emergency occurs during a significant funding crisis for humanitarian organizations. The WFP anticipates serving 1.5 million fewer individuals worldwide in 2026, with an additional 9 million people losing assistance if conditions persist for six months.

Afghanistan has seen fuel price increases drive aid transportation expenses up by as much as five times normal costs, while delivery timeframes have extended from 10 days to as long as 75 days as vehicles must utilize alternative routes, the WFP reported.

Somalia faces rising jet fuel costs that are increasing operational expenses for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service – the sole safe method for reaching remote locations, according to the WFP.

BUCHAREST, June 5 – A naval drone similar to those deployed in the ongoing Ukraine conflict exploded Friday at Romania’s Constanta port on the Black Sea, causing no injuries but prompting immediate safety measures, according to the country’s defense ministry.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of the port facility and issued warnings for residents along Romania’s Black Sea coastline to seek shelter. Two helicopters conducted aerial surveillance of the surrounding area to search for any additional drones, deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat reported.

“We now know there is the risk of self-detonation, we have … evacuated in case there are more drones,” Arafat stated.

“We are not panicking, the measures are purely preventative.”

This detonation occurred one week following an incident where a Russian drone struck an apartment complex in Galati, a southeastern Romanian city located near Ukraine’s border, wounding two individuals. That event marked the first instance during the Russia-Ukraine conflict where a drone impacted a heavily populated area within a NATO member nation.

As both a NATO and European Union member nation, Romania maintains a 650-kilometer (400-mile) boundary with Ukraine. The defense ministry reports that 28 violations of Romanian airspace by Russian drones have occurred since Moscow initiated attacks on Ukrainian Danube River ports.

Debris from Ukrainian drones has also fallen within Romanian borders.

The United Nations announced Friday it will double its financial assistance request for Lebanon as humanitarian crises worsen during the ongoing regional conflict now in its fourth month.

The conflict expanded to include Lebanon in early March after the Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia launched rocket attacks against Israel in support of Iran, which was facing U.S.-Israeli strikes. This action triggered a significant Israeli military response involving both air strikes and ground operations.

Lebanese officials report that Israeli attacks have resulted in more than 3,500 deaths since March 2, though their figures do not separate military personnel from civilian casualties.

Israeli authorities state that Hezbollah attacks have claimed the lives of 26 soldiers and four civilians on their side since the March escalation began.

The U.N. will work with Lebanon’s government Friday to launch an updated aid request seeking an extra $331.5 million to assist 1.4 million affected individuals, raising the complete appeal to $639.9 million.

As of May 31, the organization had collected $185.9 million toward its goals.

“In the past three months, communities across Lebanon have faced an appalling situation due to the escalation of hostilities,” stated U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza, highlighting significant casualties, mass population displacement and severe infrastructure destruction.

“The toll on civilians is alarming and worsening by the day,” Riza added.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A defense attorney told an Australian court Friday that her client charged with enslaving a Yazidi teenager in Syria would accept electronic ankle monitoring and religious counseling as conditions of bail.

Zeinab Ahmad, 31, pursued her bail request in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on charges of slavery. The proceedings took place Thursday and Friday, with continuation scheduled for June 15 when defense lawyer Grace Morgan plans to call a police witness.

The mother of three would reside with her daughter at her uncle Abraham Abbas’s Melbourne residence. The mechanic expressed his contempt for the Islamic State group during court testimony.

“They’re evil and they don’t represent anything to do with Islam at all,” Abbas said.

Ahmad and her 53-year-old mother Kawsar Ahmad, also identified as Kawsar Abbas, have remained in custody on slavery charges since arriving back in Australia last month from a Syrian refugee camp alongside other Australian women and children connected to IS.

A Yazidi woman claims she was held in slavery at the Ahmad family residence during 2017 and 2018 in Raqqa, Syria, which was then an IS stronghold. The alleged victim also claims she suffered rape and beatings from the defendants’ husband and father Mohammed Ahmad, who remains imprisoned in Iraq.

Morgan informed the court her client would accept religious counseling if released through a police-administered program involving a council of imams designed to combat violent extremism.

Ahmad would also submit to what’s known as a control order featuring requirements such as electronic ankle monitoring and phone surveillance.

Courts typically impose these orders on convicted terrorists nearing the completion of prison sentences who still present an unacceptable public threat. The orders limit an individual’s behavior, travel and communications for a designated timeframe.

Two police officers testified Friday that such orders cannot legally substitute for or supplement bail conditions.

Detective Senior Constable Marc Clendenning, who leads the investigation, stated that electronic monitoring of Ahmad’s location and communications would not reduce the risk to acceptable levels.

“There’s a lot of unknown information about the accused’s ideology,” Clendenning said.

“The fact of being under Islamic State for over a decade, no conditions of that nature would ameliorate the risk,” he added.

Three generations of Ahmad family members relocated from Melbourne to Syria through Turkey between 2013 and 2014.

Morgan contended that since Victoria state has never previously prosecuted such slavery charges, the trial would require more time than typical criminal cases.

Detective Sgt. Matt Archer, who supervises the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, disagreed that it would necessarily extend beyond other prosecutions but acknowledged that first-time offenses create certain legal complications.

Australian authorities located the woman who claims she was enslaved in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq in 2019. Officials were unable to electronically record her interview regarding her accusations against the Ahmad family, but she submitted a written statement, according to prosecution materials.

Morgan questioned how defense attorneys could obtain all necessary evidence and documentation through the Kurdistan Regional Government, which governs Iraq’s semi-autonomous region.

Ahmad faces two crimes against humanity charges: enslavement and use of a slave. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment.

The Norwegian royal family announced Friday that Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been added to the nation’s lung transplant waiting list due to worsening health conditions.

The 52-year-old royal, married to Crown Prince Haakon who is next in line for Norway’s throne, received a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis six years ago in 2018. This chronic condition creates scar tissue in the lungs, which reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen effectively.

Medical officials at Oslo University Hospital indicated in December that the timing for a transplant procedure was drawing near, though at that point the crown princess had not yet been added to Norway’s recipient waiting list.

Massive crowds filled the streets of Albania’s capital city Thursday evening in the week’s largest demonstration against a proposed $1.6 billion luxury development connected to Jared Kushner’s investment company near an ecologically important section of the Adriatic coastline.

Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners is spearheading the massive project, which would span an Albanian island and an undeveloped coastal area adjacent to the Vjosa-Narta protected region. This southern wetland serves as crucial habitat for flamingos, seals and nesting sea turtles.

Environmental advocates are fighting the development, arguing it would impact several hundred hectares of unspoiled beaches and disrupt thousands of flamingos that breed and migrate through the region annually.

Construction preparation and heavy equipment arriving at the Vjosa-Narta location sparked local demonstrations last week, which escalated into major street rallies in the capital city.

Demonstrators assembled once more outside Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office Thursday evening, carrying pink inflatable flamingos while shouting “revolution” and “stop the project.” One sign demanded: “Edi Rama, resign.”

“Albania is not for sale. Albania belongs to the Albanian people and we decide what we want to do here. It’s not that some corrupt politicians who run Albania can decide what they can do with our property, with the Albanian heritage, the natural heritage, a cultural heritage,” said Lindita Komani, a writer who joined the protests.

Prime Minister Rama has supported the development. Project developers have stated their commitment to “responsible stewardship and environmental enhancement.”

Albania’s Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj announced Thursday that environmental impact studies are currently being prepared for the proposed development, which must fully meet environmental regulations and protect local ecosystems.

She noted that European environmental standards and Albanian legislation offer legal protections against developments that could damage the protected lagoon and surrounding wildlife areas, according to Albania’s state news agency ATA.

Kushner revealed plans for the resort development in 2024 as part of a broader investment portfolio that also involved a former military facility in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital. He abandoned the Serbian project last year after facing public demonstrations.

A Chinese state media company plans to spend more than $162 million developing an artificial intelligence system designed to promote President Xi Jinping’s political ideology, according to stock exchange documents filed this week.

Xinhuanet, which operates under China’s official Xinhua news agency, described the initiative as an ‘authoritative’ AI platform called ‘Xinhua Yudian,’ or Xinhua lexicon. The system will function as ‘an intelligent agent for learning, researching, and disseminating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,’ company officials stated.

The AI platform will be guided by mainstream values and focused on ‘spreading the positive voice,’ while delivering current events and political news to users struggling with information overload and ‘a dilemma of trust in distinguishing truth from falsehood,’ according to the filing.

This technology initiative aligns with China’s comprehensive ‘AI+’ strategy introduced in March, which aims to integrate artificial intelligence throughout the nation’s economy. The project also builds on earlier digital campaigns to expand official state ideology’s influence among tech-savvy young people.

Chinese authorities previously launched a successful propaganda application called ‘Xuexi Qiangguo’ in 2019, which translates to ‘Study to make China strong.’ The app became so popular after its debut that it temporarily surpassed WeChat and the Chinese version of TikTok as the top download on Apple’s China app store.

The planned AI system will present key elements of Xi’s speeches to users, functioning as a politically sensitive reference tool to ensure that citations of Xi’s statements ‘in official document writing and policy interpretation are accurate and error-free.’

Built using the state news agency’s ‘pure and clean’ information database, the artificial intelligence platform will help broadcast the party’s message across all areas of Chinese society, providing additional support for ‘consolidating the ideological and public opinion foundation,’ company representatives explained.

PARIS, June 5 – France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called an urgent meeting Friday with the interior minister, justice minister and other officials following intense public criticism over a missing child case that has exposed serious flaws in the judicial system, according to government officials.

An 11-year-old girl named Lyhanna disappeared from the small southern French community of Fleurance on May 29 after leaving her middle school that afternoon.

The man arrested in connection with her disappearance – who is the father of one of Lyhanna’s classmates – had previously been the target of multiple sexual assault complaints involving children.

Politicians across the political spectrum, from far-right leader Jordan Bardella to Green party leader Marine Tondelier, have pointed to this case as evidence of serious problems in France’s justice system and its failure to shield women and children from sexual violence.

“We have a family who is mourning. We cannot forget that,” said Gregory Bobbato, the mayor of Fleurance, during a television interview with BFM. “It’s a real dysfunction of the state, of France.”

Community members organized massive search efforts involving hundreds of volunteers after Lyhanna’s disappearance. On Thursday, officials announced they had discovered a body that is currently being identified.

“As a minister, I am terrified, and as a father, even more so, by this despicable tragedy that is unfolding,” French justice minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters Thursday evening.

Darmanin announced that both the justice ministry and interior ministry will launch a combined investigation into the system failures that allowed the complaints against the suspect to go unaddressed, including a local prosecutor’s request for an investigation that was never carried out.

The minister promised that investigation results will be released publicly and appropriate measures will be implemented.

Citizens of Peru will head to polling stations Sunday to select their nation’s ninth leader in a single decade, choosing between a conservative candidate whose father previously held the presidency and a nationalist lawmaker.

In April’s initial voting round, Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez emerged victorious over 33 competing candidates by pledging to address escalating criminal activity, which has become the primary concern for citizens witnessing murder rates climb twofold and extortion incidents skyrocket throughout this decade. However, neither candidate secured even 20% of voter support.

Sunday’s final results are anticipated to show a close race, with the ultimate winner potentially remaining unknown for several days. Election officials required over a month to formally announce that Fujimori — whose late father Alberto Fujimori was a former president later convicted of crimes — and Sánchez — who supports imprisoned former President Pedro Castillo — had won the April 12 primary.

Peruvian law requires citizens between 18 and 70 years old to participate in elections. Registration records show more than 27 million eligible voters, with approximately 1.2 million expected to submit ballots from overseas locations, primarily from the United States and Argentina.

A significant portion of these voters has indicated uncertainty about their choice.

“There is a large group of undecided voters … I think that’s where the emotionally driven anti-votes will play out the final battle,” political analyst Iván García said.

The primary worry among Peruvians centers on increasing criminal activity, especially extortion schemes, which have sparked numerous public demonstrations. Research conducted in 2025 by the state’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics revealed that 84% of urban respondents expressed fear of becoming crime victims within the next year.

Specialists link the growing influence of criminal organizations in Peru to revenue generated by long-established gangs involved in unauthorized gold extraction operations in the Andes and Amazon regions. During 2025, Peru shipped 100 tons of illegally extracted gold, nearly matching the volume of legitimately mined gold exports.

Over the past five years, extortion reports nationwide have increased five times, totaling 28,948 incidents last year, while murders have doubled to reach 2,226 in 2025, based on government statistics.

The Ministry of Economy calculated in July that criminal activity costs Peruvians approximately $5 billion each year. This amount encompasses government investment in law enforcement operations as well as private expenditures on security cameras and protection services.

Despite crime issues and political turmoil caused by frequent presidential changes — with three leaders since October alone — Peru’s economy has remained resilient. Benefiting from its position as the globe’s second-largest copper producer, the nation achieved over 3% economic expansion in both 2024 and 2025.

At age 51, Fujimori is making her fourth bid for the presidency.

During her campaign, she has vowed to address crime with strict enforcement measures. Her platform includes deploying technology to monitor extortion activities, militarizing national borders, and expanding police and military presence in dangerous zones. She has also stated that incarcerated individuals will be mandated to work and “repay society.”

During the sole pre-runoff debate, Fujimori supported her father’s administration and vowed to eliminate crime similar to his victory over the Shining Path terrorist organization.

She told voters that should she win, they will see “cheaper chicken, affordable gas cylinders, reasonably priced fertilizers for your crops” and will “return home safe and sound.”

Recently, Fujimori has also worked to moderate her hard-line crime stance through friendly outreach to past political opponents, including former President Pedro Kuczynski, who beat her in 2016.

Kuczynski stepped down in 2018 following removal demands led by Fujimori’s political party, to whom she later offered an apology for creating instability.

“I know that throughout my political life I have made mistakes, and I have learned from them,” Fujimori said during the debate.

Sánchez, a former government minister, has worked to calm investor worries about his candidacy by stating he will not seize assets belonging to international companies extracting minerals or gas from Peru.

He has also committed to fighting police corruption and advancing reforms allowing military involvement in security operations.

During the debate, Sánchez, who enjoys strong support among rural communities, indicated openness to “all options to generate jobs and progress” while highlighting his backing of Chinese investment.

He told The Associated Press that he will seek to renegotiate mining contracts, including the one for Las Bambas, one of the world’s largest copper mines, controlled by the Chinese state-owned company Minmetals.

The 57-year-old candidate, who wears a wide-brimmed peasant hat given to him by Castillo, has also separated himself from ultranationalist ally Antauro Humala — a former military officer and brother of the imprisoned former President Ollanta Humala — who proposes applying the death penalty in corruption cases.

Registration numbers for China’s demanding national university entrance examination have plummeted this year, with 450,000 fewer students signing up compared to last year, bringing the total to 12.9 million test-takers.

The Ministry of Education released these statistics on Wednesday, showing the second straight year of declining participation in the exam scheduled to start Sunday. This follows a decrease of 70,000 registrations in the previous year from 2024.

The drop reflects both a shrinking population of college-aged youth and deteriorating employment conditions, with joblessness among 16 to 24-year-olds surpassing 16%. Economic experts anticipate unemployment rates will climb further when a record 12.7 million college graduates flood the job market this summer.

Education officials did not address the falling registration numbers but stated they would “resolutely crack down on illegal and irregular activities such as false publicity, high fees, organising fraud or cheating.”

The trend shows growing student preference for vocational training programs that typically lead directly to employment. Local news outlets reported hundreds of parents lined up at a Beijing trade school in May competing for only 30 openings. Shanghai’s vocational institutions have experienced a 15% jump in enrollment over the past three years.

The challenging job climate became evident when over 700 people applied for just two shepherd positions in remote grasslands south of Mongolia. Chinese farm owner Zuo Xiaoyong’s online job posting attracted 59 million views on Weibo, China’s version of X, within hours and drew applications from urban professionals in major cities like Shanghai and Chongqing, factory employees nationwide, and college graduates.

This massive response underscores the mounting pressure in the nation’s employment sector.

For students taking this year’s examination, education authorities have implemented enhanced security protocols, including “intelligent screening systems to prevent high-tech cheating involving devices such as mobile phones and smart glasses.”

TIVAT, Montenegro (AP) — Top officials from the European Union and Balkan nations convened Friday in Montenegro to explore expanding the EU to encompass regional countries, viewed as crucial territory for addressing security and economic challenges from Russia and China.

The EU-Western Balkans conference, taking place in the coastal Adriatic town of Tivat, brings together European officials including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni, alongside leaders from other Balkan EU hopefuls and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Central to discussions will be Montenegro’s EU membership bid. This small, mountainous former Yugoslav republic celebrated the 20th anniversary last month of declaring independence from its union with neighboring Serbia.

Following its 2017 NATO membership, the nation of 623,000 residents has set an ambitious goal of becoming the EU’s 28th member state by 2028. The slogan “28 by 28” appears on aircraft belonging to Montenegro’s national carrier.

Brussels has established a working group to prepare Montenegro’s membership agreement — indicating that joining the bloc is achievable. The country leads other regional candidates including Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and North Macedonia.

These nations are progressing through various phases of the membership process, with the EU recently pushing for reforms among candidate countries due to concerns over expanding Russian and Chinese influence.

Prospective members must align their legislation across 35 policy sectors or “chapters,” covering everything from judicial standards to agricultural and fisheries regulations. All 27 current EU nations must approve opening each chapter and closing it afterward.

Ukraine and Moldova also rank among roughly ten nations seeking to join the organization. Iceland plans an August referendum on whether to submit an application.

European Council President Antonio Costa will lead the summit. During his Western Balkans tour this week, he has stressed the bloc’s commitment to expansion.

With conflicts ongoing in Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East, and questions surrounding Europe’s security as the United States appears less dedicated to NATO partnerships, EU nations have prioritized strengthening military capacity and defending against an increasingly hostile Russia.

Following his Thursday meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Costa stated that amid “global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability,” EU expansion is “not just an opportunity. It is a geostrategic necessity for Europe.”

Faruk Bašić, who researches at the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, predicted the summit will accelerate Montenegro’s 2028 membership timeline while establishing new measures to prevent member states from violating EU principles.

This marks the first EU leaders’ gathering since Viktor Orbán’s surprising April defeat. Hungary’s former Russia-aligned prime minister spent 16 years undermining EU democratic and rule-of-law standards while building relationships with other authoritarian leaders.

Learning from Orbán’s democratic deterioration and his frequent use of European Council vetoes, the EU is developing alternative approaches using financial sanctions or limited single market access to pressure new members toward reform and compliance with bloc standards, Bašić explained.

“The EU is trying to find a way how to admit a country that isn’t fully ready to be admitted without losing the ability to hold it accountable after the fact,” he said, referencing Ukraine’s membership application as well as Western Balkan nations like Serbia and Kosovo.

Australian environmental officials announced Friday they had confiscated more than 100,000 prohibited live cockroaches from a commercial breeder in what authorities describe as the nation’s biggest seizure of exotic invertebrates ever recorded.

The massive collection of Madagascar hissing cockroaches and dubia cockroaches, valued at 200,000 Australian dollars ($142,000), was taken from a breeder operating in Bathurst, New South Wales state, during a May operation, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water reported.

Madagascar hissing cockroaches rank among the planet’s largest cockroach species, growing to lengths of 2 to 3 inches. Department photographs revealed glossy, brown creatures exceeding the size of human fingers.

These exotic insects dwarf Australia’s native cockroach species, which typically measure just 0.9 to 1.4 inches long. The continent’s subtropical climate conditions support cockroach populations, with hundreds of different species calling Australia home.

Local snake catcher Stefanie Lesser explained to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that these oversized exotic varieties were probably marketed as economical food for reptiles since their substantial size reduced the quantity needed per feeding. Department officials recommended pet owners choose crickets or wood roaches as alternative food sources for their lizards.

Australian law prohibits importing both Madagascar hissing and dubia cockroaches. The insects cannot be legally possessed, bred, or sold regardless of how someone acquired them, according to departmental statements.

The country maintains rigorous border security measures designed to safeguard its farming industries and indigenous wildlife from invasive pest problems. Individuals caught smuggling undeclared or prohibited animals, insects, or plant materials face substantial monetary penalties.

These foreign cockroach species “have not been subject to an environmental risk assessment” and could potentially transmit diseases or threaten local wildlife populations, officials explained. Authorities warned they would pursue legal action against anyone found possessing these invertebrates.

A department spokesperson confirmed no criminal charges were filed against the Bathurst breeder. Officials stated the confiscated cockroaches would be destroyed.

A top Japanese technology official issued a stark warning Friday that the nation faces the risk of becoming an “AI colony” unless it accelerates its artificial intelligence development efforts.

Digital Minister Hisashi Matsumoto delivered the cautionary message while supporting proposed legislation that would modify Japan’s data privacy regulations. The changes would permit artificial intelligence companies to use personal information, including medical and criminal records, for training their systems without obtaining consent from individuals.

“I hope many Japanese people understand that we need to press ahead with AI development, or we’ll end up becoming an ‘AI colony’,” Matsumoto stated.

The minister emphasized the urgency behind the proposed legal changes during a news conference. “The point of this change is that, with AI development moving so fast, Japan can’t afford to fall behind,” he explained to reporters.

Opposition political groups have raised objections to the government-sponsored legislation, expressing worries about potential data security breaches. The measure successfully cleared the lower chamber of parliament last week and is currently under consideration in the upper house.

Japanese leadership has intensified initiatives to bolster domestic artificial intelligence capabilities through various means including financial subsidies, strategic purchasing programs, and regulatory adjustments. These efforts come as the nation navigates an increasingly competitive global technology landscape dominated by the United States and China.

The country has pursued partnerships with American technology firms including Microsoft and OpenAI while simultaneously supporting domestic companies such as SoftBank, Sakura Internet, and semiconductor manufacturers to expand locally-developed AI systems and computing infrastructure.

Japan’s determination to maintain competitiveness in artificial intelligence development mirrors similar concerns among governments globally, as nations worry about technological dependence on foreign entities. This week, the European Union announced a comprehensive technology independence initiative aimed at strengthening domestic cloud computing, AI, and semiconductor sectors while reducing reliance on American technology companies.

May 29 – June 5, 2026

A new photo gallery captures a week of significant events across Latin America and the Caribbean, showcasing demonstrations and political developments throughout the region.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, thousands of people took to the streets in demonstrations against femicide. Meanwhile, elderly citizens gathered in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, demanding improved healthcare and retirement benefits. In Mexico City, educators held rallies seeking increased wages, and Chilean students engaged in confrontations with law enforcement while opposing proposed reductions to education funding.

Political activity was also prominent during this period. Citizens in Colombia participated in the initial round of presidential voting, while Peru made preparations for an upcoming runoff election. Mexico continued its preparations to serve as host nation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The photo collection was assembled by photojournalist Marco Ugarte, who is based in Mexico City.

China’s top leader will make a state visit to North Korea early next week, marking his first journey to the neighboring nation in almost seven years, officials from both countries confirmed Friday.

The diplomatic trip comes just one day after North Korea revealed a new nuclear facility designed to produce bomb-making materials. Analysts believe the timing of the facility’s disclosure suggests North Korea’s leader is working to strengthen his nation’s nuclear credentials before the Chinese leader’s arrival.

State media from both nations reported the visit will span Monday through Tuesday. The Chinese leader’s previous trip to North Korea occurred in June 2019.

This visit follows recent separate meetings the Chinese leader held with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing just weeks ago.

North Korea’s leader has recently focused on strengthening ties with Russia, providing military personnel and weapons to assist in Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. However, he has also been working to improve relations with China, which serves as North Korea’s primary trading partner and source of aid.

The two leaders met in Beijing during September, where they committed to mutual support and increased cooperation. The North Korean leader was visiting China’s capital to participate in a military parade alongside other international figures, including Putin.

Military officials in South Korea have identified the newly revealed nuclear facility as a uranium enrichment plant. During his tour of the facility, the North Korean leader announced intentions to strengthen his country’s nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.”

According to experts, the North Korean leader seeks global acknowledgment of his country’s nuclear status to pressure for the removal of U.N. economic sanctions. Analysts suggest he ultimately aims to engage in arms reduction negotiations with the U.S. to secure benefits in exchange for partially reducing his nuclear arsenal.

Trump has consistently indicated interest in restarting diplomatic talks with the North Korean leader, but North Korea has responded that the U.S. must first abandon its requirement for North Korea to eliminate its nuclear weapons before negotiations can begin.

Both Russia and China, which hold veto power on the U.N. Security Council, have previously blocked efforts by the U.S. and other nations to strengthen international sanctions against North Korea, despite its prohibited weapons testing.

During their Beijing meeting last month, Putin and the Chinese leader voiced their opposition to “foreign policy isolation, economic sanctions, military pressure and other methods of creating threats to the security” of North Korea, according to a Kremlin statement.

Adopting concepts of a “new Cold War” and a multipolar world order, the North Korean leader has pursued a more aggressive foreign policy approach by strengthening relationships with nations that are in conflict with the United States.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing alliance confronts a critical examination of public confidence following announcements this week that two states will hold unexpected elections, raising questions about potential early national voting.

Coalition partners of Anwar control the state governments in Negeri Sembilan and Johor, where legislative bodies were disbanded on Friday and Monday respectively, triggering elections that must occur within two months.

Although these regional contests won’t directly affect Anwar’s parliamentary majority at the national level, substantial defeats could damage his coalition’s standing before the next general election scheduled for early 2028. Last month, Anwar indicated he might call an early national vote if disagreements within his government continue expanding.

Officials from Anwar’s office had not responded to requests for comment by Friday.

Anwar’s governing partnership, comprising his Pakatan Harapan group, former opponent Barisan Nasional, and several smaller parties, has experienced disagreements over approaches to ethnic and religious matters in the diverse, predominantly Muslim nation. Progressive coalition members have expressed dissatisfaction with the gradual implementation of reform measures.

The prime minister has also faced demands from the previously powerful United Malays National Organisation, a Barisan component, regarding its campaign for royal clemency for former prime minister and UMNO chief Najib Razak, who received a prison sentence in 2022 for his involvement in the massive 1MDB financial scandal.

Pakatan currently controls Negeri Sembilan state, where voting wasn’t scheduled until late 2028, while Barisan oversees Johor, where elections weren’t expected until next year.

Highlighting coalition strains, Barisan announced it will compete in Johor’s state elections alone, without Pakatan backing. In Negeri Sembilan, Pakatan plans to field candidates for all 36 available positions, having secured 17 seats in the previous state contest.

Two additional states, Malacca and Sarawak, must also conduct elections in upcoming months. The Election Commission, responsible for scheduling state voting, has noted that an early general election would enable simultaneous state contests, reducing expenses.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea from June 8 to 9, according to state news agency Xinhua’s announcement Friday, marking his first visit in nearly seven years as China works to strengthen relationships with Pyongyang.

The trip comes after Xi recently hosted separate summits in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Trump, who held three meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term, has previously indicated willingness to meet with the North Korean leader again.

Kim attended a large-scale military parade in Beijing last September, making the journey to China’s capital aboard his distinctive green armored train.

China has been working to bring Pyongyang — its sole formal treaty ally — back into closer alignment after COVID-19 restrictions halted diplomatic exchanges and the North Korean leader strengthened ties with Moscow through military support, including troops and weapons for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

VIENNA (AP) — International nuclear monitors have been blocked from accessing Iranian nuclear sites impacted by ongoing warfare since June, according to a classified document from the U.N. nuclear oversight body that was distributed to member nations and obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.”

The IAEA cautioned that it was “unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities” required under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, emphasizing that Tehran’s compliance with Treaty obligations is “indispensable and urgent.”

Since February’s previous report, IAEA inspectors have only been able to examine one Iranian nuclear site — the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which they visited June 1-3. The facility’s operational reactor utilizes Russian-supplied uranium enriched to 4.5%, the minimal concentration required for electricity production at such installations.

This classified assessment emerges amid escalating Middle East tensions.

Iranian drones severely struck a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s primary airport Wednesday, resulting in one death and injuring dozens while temporarily shuttering the facility — marking another episode in the ongoing exchange of strikes between Iran and the U.S. that challenges a tenuous ceasefire.

The IAEA reports Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity — requiring only minor technical advancement to reach weapons-grade concentrations of 90%.

This stockpile could enable Iran to construct up to 10 nuclear weapons if it chose to militarize its program, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi cautioned in a recent AP interview. He emphasized this doesn’t indicate Iran currently possesses such weapons.

Nuclear material enriched to such high levels typically requires monthly verification under IAEA protocols.

The assessment noted Grossi’s continued “full support to the negotiations underway aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme, and his readiness … to support an eventual agreement.”

Diplomatic discussions have continued for weeks as intermediaries pursue a more lasting ceasefire in the conflict, now entering its fourth month. These efforts face increasing pressure from Israel’s expanding confrontation with Iran-supported Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Iran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz — a vital passage for global oil and natural gas shipments plus related commodities like fertilizer — while the U.S. maintains its embargo of Iranian ports. International energy costs stay elevated, with conflict impacts extending far beyond the immediate region.

Armed attackers stormed a student residence in Nigeria’s northwest region and abducted seven students, according to local police authorities.

The raid took place in the early morning hours on Wednesday in Kaura Namoda, located in Zamfara state, which has been plagued by ongoing conflict, police spokesman Yazid Abubakar reported in an official statement. One student managed to flee during the attack and is now being held in protective custody.

According to the police spokesman, authorities are uncertain about the location where the abducted students were transported, though rescue operations are currently in progress to locate the six remaining victims.

The region of Zamfara has become a center of activity for criminal organizations that conduct kidnapping operations to collect ransom payments, with student abductions becoming more frequent throughout Nigeria in recent years.

Research conducted by local news organization Premium Times revealed that no fewer than 1,900 students have been taken from 20 educational institutions since the large-scale 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 female students from Chibok in Borno state.

GUIZHOU, China — A colossal suspension bridge in China’s southwestern mountains has transformed into more than just a spectacular photo opportunity for visitors. While tourists flock to capture social media moments at the impressive structure, local communities are experiencing something much more significant: dramatically reduced travel times and unprecedented connectivity through high-speed internet infrastructure investments.

Standing 625 meters (2,050 feet) above the valley floor, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province holds the distinction of being the planet’s tallest bridge. The massive structure spans 2,890 meters (9,482 feet) across the canyon, featuring a central span measuring 1,420 meters (4,660 feet).

Following its September 2025 opening, the bridge has attracted thousands of visitors to the previously isolated region, where telecommunications companies are simultaneously developing advanced 5G network capabilities. This tourism boom has sparked the creation of numerous local enterprises, including retail shops, dining establishments, and guest accommodations designed for travelers.

The Associated Press participated in a recent media expedition to explore the area’s transformation.

China’s expansion of transportation networks and digital infrastructure into isolated regions has delivered significant benefits to surrounding communities through enhanced internet connectivity. Tianlong Tunpu, a historic settlement with over six centuries of history situated more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the bridge, exemplifies these improvements.

Founded as a military garrison during the Ming Dynasty era, this ancient community is renowned for its distinctive Dixi opera performances. These theatrical productions feature military narratives, elaborate wooden masks, and unique performance techniques that distinguish them from other Chinese opera traditions.

Local inhabitants report increasing visitor numbers, attributing part of this growth to social media platforms that enable them to showcase their community to broader audiences.

A leading figure from Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party has conducted meetings with high-ranking Russian officials, including sanctioned energy executives and advisors to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Markus Frohnmaier, who serves as the AfD’s parliamentary foreign policy spokesperson, participated in Putin’s signature economic summit in St Petersburg despite explicit warnings from Germany’s foreign ministry, which stated it “explicitly advised the AfD against these trips”.

Through posts on social media platform X, Frohnmaier revealed he had conducted meetings with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, during Wednesday’s events.

All three individuals – Dmitriev, Miller and Gazprom – face Western sanctions related to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine.

Frohnmaier, who has consistently advocated for Germany to restore diplomatic ties with Russia for energy supply purposes, indicated the discussion with Miller centered on pipeline infrastructure and complete restoration of Russian gas shipments to Germany.

“Germany is caught in a severe economic downward spiral, and a key driver of this is the high cost of energy,” Frohnmaier stated.

“That is why all options must be put back on the table, including the recommissioning of Nord Stream and the resumption of trade relations with Russia.”

Gazprom officials also verified the meeting occurred with Frohnmaier.

“Looking forward to building a great FUTURE together with AfD, Germany’s most popular party,” Dmitriev posted on his X account.

Germany’s economic foundation relied heavily on affordable Russian energy resources for many years. Before Moscow’s military action in Ukraine began, Russia provided more than one-third of crude oil imports and over half of natural gas supplies.

The nation has faced significant challenges recovering from the disruption caused by the Nord Stream pipeline shutdown, which suffered damage from explosions in September 2022, forcing Berlin to seek alternative energy sources urgently.

The blasts damaged both pipelines in Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2, which was completed in 2021, maintains one undamaged pipeline, but Germany suspended the project and operations never commenced.

Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for the pipeline attack, though Kyiv has consistently rejected any responsibility.

Current polling data indicates the AfD, presently the main opposition party in parliament, is gaining ground against Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives, who maintain a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats.

With two significant state elections approaching in eastern Germany this September, the AfD aims to secure governmental control for the first time in Saxony-Anhalt, while polling suggests the party could capture the most votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The party, which has also achieved notable success in recent western German elections, has criticized Merz’s robust Ukraine support and indicates it would seek to rebuild diplomatic ties with Moscow.

“At a time when many seem more comfortable with confrontation than conversation, genuine dialogue matters more than ever,” Frohnmaier posted on X following his meeting with Dmitriev.

A recent survey by Ipsos reveals that Peru’s presidential runoff election has become a dead heat between the two remaining candidates ahead of Sunday’s decisive vote.

The leftist contender Roberto Sanchez, who has connections to the previously removed and imprisoned former President Pedro Castillo, has narrowed the gap considerably and now holds 43.8% support according to the polling data released Thursday. His opponent, conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori, whose father previously served as president, captured 43.2% of voter intentions in the same survey.

The numbers show a dramatic shift from Ipsos polling conducted on May 31, which had Fujimori leading with 38% compared to Sanchez’s 35%, while 27% of respondents remained undecided at that time.

Key details from the latest polling:

• The survey was completed on June 3 with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1%, according to sources familiar with Ipsos methodology.

• Approximately 13% of those polled indicated they would submit blank or invalid ballots.

• Fujimori, making her fourth presidential bid and known for her pro-market positions, secured victory in the initial round of voting on April 12 with 17.18% of the vote.

• Sanchez finished as the runner-up in that first round, earning 12.03% of votes cast.

Sanchez has recently adjusted his campaign approach, softening his rhetoric as the runoff approaches.

Peruvian election law prohibits the publication of polling results during the final week before a presidential election, though surveys may still be conducted as long as domestic news outlets do not report the findings.

The International Monetary Fund has chosen Alvaro Piris Chavarri to serve as its new mission chief for Venezuela, Bloomberg News reported Thursday, according to sources with knowledge of the decision.

When contacted by Reuters, the IMF declined to provide comment on personnel matters.

Piris currently holds the position of assistant director within the IMF’s African Department and serves as mission chief for Ethiopia, the IMF confirmed. His background includes heading IMF missions in Mozambique, Lebanon and China.

This selection follows Venezuela’s announcement last month that it would begin restructuring efforts after defaulting on its external debt in 2017. Analysts believe the total amount owed, which includes unpaid bonds, arbitration awards and accumulated interest, surpasses $150 billion.

Venezuela is working to rejoin the global financial community after reestablishing connections with the IMF and World Bank, relationships that were halted in 2019 due to disagreements over government recognition.

The IMF confirmed it is exploring a pathway toward conducting an “Article IV” consultation with Venezuela, indicating that engagement with Caracas is progressing toward standard economic oversight.

The discussion surrounding Israel’s ultra-Orthodox population has evolved beyond religious and political considerations into a pressing economic challenge, according to experts who spoke at a prominent policy conference this week.

As military expenditures climb toward 8% of the nation’s gross domestic product and approximately 25% of the government budget, while the ultra-Orthodox are expected to represent an increasing portion of military-age Jewish citizens, the issue has taken on new urgency.

Military service forms part of Israel’s social framework, defense costs consume an expanding portion of national resources, and the armed forces represent a shared experience for most Jewish citizens. Under these mounting pressures, ultra-Orthodox integration has transformed from a dispute about exemptions into a budgetary, military, and economic concern.

The implications are clear. As the ultra-Orthodox become a larger segment of Israel’s population, the mix of military exemptions, restricted core education, reduced male workforce participation, and political influence could burden the military, tax system, and skilled economy that Israel increasingly relies upon.

This theme permeated the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society, hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem. While the conference addressed defense spending, artificial intelligence, technology, living costs, reconstruction, healthcare, and the national budget, the ultra-Orthodox issue emerged repeatedly through discussions of human capital, labor participation, education, and public priorities.

The ultra-Orthodox community refers to Israel’s rapidly expanding religious population whose traditional male institutions focus on full-time religious study. Many ultra-Orthodox boys don’t receive the standard curriculum in mathematics, English, and science that other Israelis do; many men don’t serve in the military and enter employment late or remain outside the workforce for long periods. Ultra-Orthodox women work at higher rates, often supporting large families, but household earnings remain relatively modest.

Gilad Cohen Kovacs, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute who led a session on “The Economy as a Driver of Change in Haredi Autonomy,” contended that the matter also involves how a separate institutional framework affects growth, employment, and social services.

Cohen Kovacs stated that subsidies supporting the current ultra-Orthodox model total approximately 35 to 37 billion shekels annually, roughly 5.5% of the national budget. Without modifications, he cautioned, that amount could increase to more than 60 billion shekels yearly in coming decades. These numbers were part of his conference presentation analyzing ultra-Orthodox autonomy and government support.

He emphasized that the issue shouldn’t be viewed as simply transferring “money to Haredim.” In his assessment, some funding encourages behaviors that keep ultra-Orthodox men out of the workforce, while other portions strengthen what he called a parallel system of authority, educational networks, community institutions, and political influence.

A welfare system, Cohen Kovacs explained, aims to assist those unable to work, protect those who have been harmed, and enable advancement. In the ultra-Orthodox situation, he maintained, part of the subsidy supports the reverse pattern: reduced use of earning potential, partial employment, large families, and a religious study-centered lifestyle.

“These are not the conditions for which the welfare state was built,” he said.

This perspective redirects attention from individual poverty toward policy incentives that, according to Cohen Kovacs, maintain dependence and separation. His overall finding was that the present model creates a substantial cross-community transfer from non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish households to ultra-Orthodox households through tax differences, public services, subsidies, and exemptions from shared responsibilities.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also referenced research on this balance. According to Bennett, what he termed a “Zionist household”—a non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish household participating in military service and the job market—contributes about 6,000 shekels more monthly to the state than it uses or receives, while an ultra-Orthodox household receives about 4,000 shekels more monthly than it contributes. He characterized this as approximately a 10,000 shekel monthly difference between the two household categories.

The comparison brought the budget discussion from national figures to family income levels. It wasn’t presented as claiming one specific family directly supports another, but as an overall measurement of taxes, government services, subsidies, benefits, and participation in public duties.

Dr. Gilad Malach, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute who presented separate research on defense burdens, told The Media Line that his work examined one particular aspect of the broader subsidy discussion: security. He noted Israel typically views defense spending as a national budget matter, without examining how this burden distributes across different community sectors.

Malach said it would be “too simplistic” to attribute the disparity solely to the ultra-Orthodox community being poorer and therefore paying less tax. “You might say, ‘OK, this is a poor society, so they pay less than their share in the population,’” he said. “But we see that the gaps between them and others—it’s much more than that.”

According to Malach, the apparent security budget totals about 120 billion shekels annually, but the actual cost approaches 150 billion once hidden burdens are included: conscripts paid below their market value, delayed workforce entry, and costs to employers when reservists leave jobs for extended service.

If the ultra-Orthodox represent about 14% of Israel’s population, he said, they should bear roughly 21 billion shekels of that burden. In reality, he estimated, they contribute about 6 billion.

“So, the gap is 15 billion,” he said.

This figure carries political weight because it positions the draft discussion within a broader fiscal framework: who funds security, who serves, and who bears the indirect costs of a society structured around extended military service.

Malach was cautious not to claim the gap could close rapidly. He said the policy measures he presented could reduce it, but not eliminate it. At best, he estimated, the immediate impact could be several billion shekels, not the complete 15 billion.

“Just to make the situation less unequal, more equal than today, but not a real equality between the population,” he said.

The demographic projection was more alarming. Some forecasts, Malach noted, project the ultra-Orthodox population at around 30% of Israel’s total population within roughly four decades. The more significant figure, he added, isn’t the overall population percentage, but the proportion among draft-eligible Jews.

Among Jewish 18-year-olds, he said, the ultra-Orthodox percentage could surpass half. In his assessment, if this forecast materialized, “We won’t have manpower for an army if the situation would be that they are not serving in the army. And we can’t have a prosperous economy if so many people won’t have the ability to work in a modern labor market.”

Reem Aminoach, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies who previously served as financial adviser to the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, told The Media Line that the problem is often portrayed as more complex than necessary.

“All you need is to cancel the deferral,” he stated, referring to the legal process that has permitted many ultra-Orthodox men to avoid conscription while remaining in religious study.

In his opinion, eliminating the deferral would create a clearer choice: service, employment, or another publicly accountable framework, rather than a system where avoiding the army also discourages work. Aminoach said the army’s requirement is practical and urgent.

“The army lacks fighters, not clerks,” he said.

Shaul Meridor, a former senior Finance Ministry official, brought the discussion from national totals to individual Israeli family level. He described a middle- or lower-middle-class family in places such as Migdal HaEmek or Dimona, with five children, one serving in Lebanon, and struggling financially. Based on figures he cited from a recent study, such a family subsidizes a comparable low-income ultra-Orthodox family by nearly 1,000 shekels monthly.

“Many times we talk about high-tech and the rich and all kinds of other people who subsidize,” Meridor said. “I am talking about socioeconomic cluster four. Whoever knows what that means understands that this is not high-tech, and these are not people sitting in Tel Aviv or Ramat Hasharon. These are people who do not finish the month.”

He said the moral question after October 7 was no longer theoretical.

“Why should a family that does not finish the month have to allocate, from money it does not have, 1,000 shekels net a month to subsidize a Haredi family that chose a different life?”

Meridor also maintained that Israel’s current policies damage ultra-Orthodox children themselves by directing them toward poverty.

“As leadership, we must not condemn Haredi children to poverty,” he said. “And that is what we are doing today.”

His suggested principle was straightforward: those who serve should receive benefits, those who don’t serve should not. Combat service, he said, should receive the most; other service should receive less; avoidance should receive nothing. But he warned that dismantling ultra-Orthodox autonomy wouldn’t happen through one major law. It would require changes in thousands of government decisions, benefits, tax rules, and allocations that currently favor institutions over individuals.

Political speakers addressed the same matter from various angles. Bennett concentrated on education and subsidies, using his remarks to criticize daycare payments for families where the father doesn’t work and doesn’t serve. He also suggested broad education reform based on a shared state curriculum, while maintaining limited community autonomy.

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beitenu and a former defense and finance minister, approached the issue through coalition politics. In a discussion with Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, Liberman contended that Israel cannot maintain higher defense spending while preserving sectoral budgets and avoiding structural reform. He said meaningful change would require a government not reliant on the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz provided a more measured criticism. He said parts of the ultra-Orthodox leadership were making a serious error by continuing a situation where the community takes precedence over the state. Simultaneously, he stressed that there are ultra-Orthodox who work, study, serve, and contribute to the economy, and they deserve recognition.

Meirav Cohen, a Yesh Atid lawmaker and former minister for social equality, used Jerusalem as a cautionary example. Speaking as a Jerusalem resident, she said the capital already demonstrates what occurs when integration in the army, employment, and education doesn’t advance quickly enough. Jerusalem, she said, has dropped in fewer than three decades from socioeconomic cluster five to cluster two. Every second household receives a municipal property tax discount, she said, meaning the other half must bear some of Israel’s highest municipal tax burdens.

“There is no economic model for this,” Cohen said. “You don’t need prophecies or warnings. Look at what happened to us in Jerusalem.”

The ultra-Orthodox discussion occurred during a conference focused on rising security costs and shrinking civilian spending space. Former Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug said in the opening budget session that Israel’s economy had demonstrated resilience, but the Israel-Hamas war had imposed a significant cost. Defense spending, she said, now reaches nearly 8% of GDP, compared with slightly more than 4% before October 7, 2023. Its budget share has increased to about one-quarter, compared with 16% before the war.

This broader fiscal context helps explain why ultra-Orthodox integration is no longer viewed solely as a dispute over religious exemptions. Israel is attempting to fund a larger defense establishment, increased rehabilitation needs, more reservist support, reconstruction in the north and south, health-system gaps, transportation infrastructure, and a technology sector facing global competition. Speakers also warned that insufficient investment in Arab society carries its own cost in lost output, making the broader point that Israel cannot afford to underinvest in any large population group while defense and rehabilitation needs are increasing.

Artificial intelligence and technology added another dimension. The Israel Innovation Authority’s 2026 report, presented at the conference, showed that technology remains Israel’s primary growth engine. In 2025, the sector contributed roughly half of the economy’s growth, reached 18.3% of GDP, accounted for 58% of exports, and employed more than 400,000 people. But the same report also warned of employment share stagnation, declining research and development jobs in Israel, activity expansion abroad, and growing pressure from currency appreciation.

This is why ultra-Orthodox integration now intersects with the artificial intelligence discussion. Israel wants to compete in a global economy based on advanced skills, data science, engineering, defense technology, and artificial intelligence. But a growing portion of its future workforce is educated in systems that often don’t provide the tools required for that economy. The point wasn’t that every Israeli must work in technology, but that the next economy will demand basic quantitative and digital skills across far more jobs.

Eli Hurvitz, CEO of the Eddie and Jules Trump Family Foundation, told the conference that children currently choosing what to study in high school will be the workforce of 2040. In an artificial intelligence-driven world, he said, mathematics, data, teamwork, and independent learning will become basic requirements for opportunity.

The challenge of ultra-Orthodox integration doesn’t fit easily into familiar categories of minority rights or welfare policy. In Israel, it connects to compulsory service, repeated wars, high defense costs, a knowledge-based economy, and a parliamentary system where sectoral parties can hold the balance of power. The ultra-Orthodox community is a growing part of Israel’s electorate, budget, labor market, and future security burden. This is why the discussion has become one of the country’s central governance tests.

The conference produced no single, comprehensive solution. Some speakers emphasized immediate enforcement of the existing draft framework. Others focused on incentives, core education, tax benefits, or direct ties between the state and ultra-Orthodox individuals rather than through community institutions. Some warned against coercion that could backfire, while others argued that decades of gradualism have failed. But there was notable agreement around one point: the status quo is no longer to be treated as a manageable inconvenience.

The discussion, as reflected in the conference sessions and interviews cited here, was dominated by economists, former senior officials, and political figures warning about the long-term costs of the current model. Representatives of the major ultra-Orthodox parties were not quoted in those sessions or interviews.

Malach expressed the warning in the most direct terms. Israel has survived enormous shocks, he said, and remains a wealthy country with a strong economy. But if current patterns continue as the ultra-Orthodox population grows, the problem will not remain a matter of resentment or budgetary imbalance. It will become a question of manpower, productivity, and national resilience.

“Right now, it’s very hard, but we are handling,” he said. “The point is that if you call today’s situation very bad, things would be worse than that.”

What emerged in Jerusalem was more than an argument over the draft. It was a broader economic assessment of who serves, who pays, who studies the skills needed for the next economy, and whether the state can continue financing separate rules for a growing part of its population. Israel’s next election may decide the coalition arithmetic. The harder question, raised throughout the conference, is whether any government will be willing to change the arithmetic of the country itself.