Author: Admin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

STICKING POINTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A fragile ceasefire has remained in place since early April.

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

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

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

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

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

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

State media sources identified the executed individual as Abbas Akbari.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Iranian mines could pose varied dangers

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

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

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

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

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

Deployment remains uncertain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

During his annual State of the Union speech on Sunday, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa highlighted his administration’s crime-fighting initiatives backed by the United States while also pointing to improvements in economic measures.

Speaking before the National Assembly in Quito, the capital city, Noboa pointed to the transfer of twelve crime leaders to the U.S. and the confiscation of nearly 300 tons of illegal drugs as proof of what he called a strong and successful strategy against organized crime, which remains the primary worry for citizens of Ecuador during this decade.

“We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” Noboa declared regarding wanted criminals, emphasizing that the South American nation cannot progress “if families live in fear” because of organized crime.

The country has faced challenges controlling drug-related violence beginning in 2021 as competing cartels form alliances with neighborhood gangs and fight over control of trafficking routes and coastal ports for moving cocaine. Ecuador sits between Colombia and Peru, which are the world’s leading cocaine-producing nations.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, Ecuador experienced its worst homicide rate in decades last year with 50 killings for every 100,000 people.

To address this crisis, Noboa, who won reelection last year for a four-year period, has implemented emergency powers allowing military forces to execute various anti-crime tactics, including combined patrols with law enforcement and searches of properties without warrants. Earlier this year, Ecuador’s armed forces also conducted a joint mission with U.S. military against a training facility reportedly operated by Colombian drug dealers, striking the location using drones, helicopters and boats.

Civil society organizations have criticized Noboa, arguing his aggressive tactics have not succeeded in lowering crime rates while endangering innocent people.

Glaedys González, who analyzes the Andean region for the International Crisis Group, stated Sunday that Noboa may have presented an overly positive view of the nation’s security situation in his address, but “progress on violence is far from being achieved.”

“It is evident that the situation in Ecuador has reached unprecedented levels,” González said.

During Sunday’s address, Noboa also highlighted economic improvements, informing legislators that poverty decreased from 26% to 21.4% in 2025 while severe poverty fell from 10.4% to 8.4%.

Noboa initially won office in 2023 through a special election that occurred after former President Guillermo Lasso disbanded the National Assembly and cut short his own presidency.

Ireland’s center-right ruling Fine Gael party and the smaller center-left Social Democrats each secured victories in Sunday’s by-elections, while a figure identified by courts as leading a notorious criminal organization failed once again to win office.

The outcomes represented a setback for the left-wing nationalist Sinn Fein party, which has emerged as one of Ireland’s three major political forces and had aimed to capture a seat in the Dublin Central district where party leader Mary Lou McDonald currently serves as a representative.

The weak performance by Fianna Fail, the other party in the governing coalition, across both contests may intensify criticism of Prime Minister Micheal Martin from members of his own party.

Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats claimed victory in Dublin, building on the party’s success from the general election held 18 months earlier when it expanded its representation from six to 11 seats in the 174-member legislative body.

The party now holds the position as parliament’s fourth-largest faction, achieving this status just over ten years since its establishment.

The results indicated that the Social Democrats attracted some progressive voters who previously supported Sinn Fein, though the main opposition party also saw erosion of its traditional working-class base to increasingly popular right-wing candidates, continuing a trend from 2024.

Gerry Hutch, identified by an Irish court in 2023 as leading a prominent criminal organization in Ireland, secured 11% of initial preference votes to finish in fourth place. Running on a platform that included anti-immigration positions, Hutch barely failed to secure one of four Dublin Central seats during the 2024 general election.

In media statements, Hutch has rejected claims that he leads a criminal enterprise.

Sean Kyne, a former junior minister representing Fine Gael, achieved the rare distinction of becoming just the fourth government party candidate to win a by-election since 1982. His success in the western Galway county preserved the coalition’s substantial parliamentary majority.

Independent Ireland, a recently formed rural-oriented right-wing party that prominently backed recent public demonstrations against rising fuel costs, posed the strongest challenge to Kyne.

The election results highlighted the divided state of Ireland’s voting public, with four parties spanning the political spectrum engaged in tight competition for the two available seats.

STAROBILSK, Russian-controlled Ukraine, May 24 (TV Delmarva) — Investigation teams spent Sunday examining the destroyed remains of a dormitory building following what Russian officials describe as a deadly Ukrainian drone assault in the Luhansk region, an area under Russian occupation during the ongoing four-year conflict.

Officials reported that rescue operations ended late Saturday evening, with the final casualty count from the attack on the educational facility reaching 21 victims, including numerous young women.

The structure’s front wall showed massive damage with large openings and shattered glass throughout. Debris consisting of bent metal pieces and broken concrete scattered around what had been the building’s central yard, while damaged furniture and classroom equipment remained stacked inside.

An investigator wearing safety equipment studied metal fragments and other wreckage arranged on a protective covering while personnel from Russia’s Investigative Committee gathered evidence from Friday’s incident.

Reuters covered this story from Starobilsk during an official press tour arranged by Russia’s Foreign Ministry on May 24, 2026.

Ukrainian military officials rejected claims of responsibility for the strike, stating they had targeted a specialized drone operations unit in the vicinity and maintained adherence to international humanitarian standards.

Reuters could not independently confirm the details of what occurred.

“Three waves of UAVs (drones) 10-15 minutes apart,” Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantrova, told journalists outside the damaged structure while a group displayed photographs of the deceased.

“Sixteen UAVs in total. They waited for the children to run out. They fired directly at the children.”

The educational institution, located in eastern Luhansk region and annexed by Russia months following the Kremlin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, displayed official Russian government emblems.

Posted on one interior wall were guidelines for responding to “the threat of terrorism.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his armed forces to develop retaliatory options against Ukraine following the incident.

Less than 24 hours later, during the early hours of Sunday, Russia launched an assault on Kyiv and nearby regions using hundreds of drones and missiles in what represented one of the most intense bombardments of the capital since the conflict began.

The nighttime attack resulted in four deaths and included the deployment of a Russian Oreshnik hypersonic missile targeting an area south of Kyiv.

Eight Arab-Islamic nations issued a harsh rebuke on Sunday against Israeli police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for his conduct toward humanitarian workers who were detained while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.

The controversy erupted after Ben-Gvir shared a video showing him mocking activists who were restrained on the ground during their detention. Several of the detained individuals, who had been part of a flotilla seeking to transport humanitarian supplies to Gaza, have since claimed they suffered physical abuse while in custody – allegations that Israel’s prison service has rejected.

In their joint statement, the foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan declared: “Ben-Gvir’s deliberate public humiliation of detainees is a disgraceful assault on human dignity and a clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and international human rights law.”

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu secured his party’s nomination for the upcoming presidential election after winning Saturday’s primary by an overwhelming margin, according to results released Sunday.

The All Progressives Congress party conducted its presidential primary following an unexpected challenge from Stanley Osifo. Tinubu dominated the voting, capturing close to 11 million votes while Osifo received only 16,500.

The president has earned praise from international investors following his implementation of significant economic reforms, which included eliminating fuel and electricity subsidies, dismantling foreign exchange restrictions, and restructuring the nation’s tax system.

Tinubu’s path to re-election became clearer when an opposition alliance aimed at presenting a unified candidate against him fell apart earlier this month.

The president assumed office in 2023 following his victory over two primary opponents, who later contested the election results in court claiming fraud. Tinubu maintained that his victory was legitimate.

Approximately 2,000 demonstrators marched through Bilbao, Spain on Sunday, expressing outrage over how Basque police officers handled activists returning from a Gaza aid mission who had been held in Israeli custody.

The controversy erupted Saturday at Bilbao airport when a family member of one of six returning activists attempted to reach them, but was forcibly stopped by an officer, sparking confrontations between both groups, according to footage from state broadcaster TVE.

Video evidence revealed officers using batons to strike individuals and forcing others to the ground while bystanders shouted in disapproval. Prior to the altercation, the activists had apparently blocked passenger exits, prompting police intervention to relocate them.

The Basque regional police department announced Sunday that it has opened an inquiry to assess whether officers followed proper protocols. Reuters has contacted the Spanish government seeking their response.

During Sunday’s demonstration, pro-Palestinian marchers displayed signs criticizing the Basque police department and claiming the regional government was cooperating with Zionism.

The activists had been freed from Israeli custody following their detention aboard a flotilla attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza. Event organizers claimed Friday that the activists faced mistreatment during Israeli detention, with multiple individuals requiring hospitalization for injuries and no fewer than 15 alleging sexual violence, including rape.

Israel’s prison service rejected these accusations, and Reuters could not independently confirm the activists’ allegations.

Spain joined other Western nations Thursday in expressing outrage after Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video of himself ridiculing the activists while they were restrained on a prison floor.

Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories, has urged accountability for those involved in the Bilbao airport incident, while Amnesty International has called for a comprehensive investigation.

The Israeli Embassy in Spain has requested an “explanation” from the Spanish government regarding the airport events.

Israel’s Prime Minister conveyed to the U.S. President during a Saturday phone conversation that his nation would continue operating freely against security threats in Lebanon, according to an Israeli government source.

The discussion occurred as the President revealed that Washington and Iran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding regarding a peace agreement that would restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route that has been essentially blocked since the U.S. and Israel began their military campaign against Iran in February.

“In last night’s conversation with President Trump, the Prime Minister emphasized that Israel will maintain freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon, and President Trump reiterated and supported this principle,” the Israeli political source told Reuters on Sunday, asking not to be named.

Hope increased for a possible resolution to the three-month conflict after the President announced that Pakistan was helping broker an emerging deal to restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported the proposed agreement includes provisions preventing the U.S. and its partners from attacking Iran or its allies, while Iran would commit to avoiding preemptive strikes against them.

A prominent Israeli politician expressed opposition to accepting any ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israeli forces have deployed to combat the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militia, as part of negotiations with Iran.

The Israeli source indicated that the U.S. continues briefing Israel on the ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran.

“President Trump made it clear that he will stand firm in negotiations on his consistent demand for the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from its territory,” the source said, “and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met”.

The President posted on Truth Social that his conversation with Israel’s leader had proceeded “very well”.

Thousands of demonstrators filled Madrid’s city center Sunday, voicing their frustration over escalating housing prices that have pushed homeownership and rental costs beyond reach for many Spanish citizens, despite the nation’s recent economic growth. The problem is particularly acute in major urban centers like Madrid and Barcelona.

The housing affordability crisis poses a significant political challenge for Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as he approaches the 2027 elections.

Spain has historically emphasized homeownership with limited public rental housing available. According to analysts, rental prices have climbed due to heightened demand from tourism growth and population increases tied to immigration.

Demonstrators carried signs and voiced chants emphasizing housing as a basic right. One sign displayed the message: “We want neighbors, not tourists.”

Among those marching was Estrella Baudu, a 28-year-old teacher currently residing with her grandmother. “The situation for many young people like me is quite complicated, and it is very difficult to find a rental home due to the prices and low salaries,” she said.

The housing demonstration occurred one day following a separate large-scale protest in Madrid targeting Sanchez, amid growing political tensions surrounding corruption accusations and general government dissatisfaction.

Home purchases have become financially impossible for many Spanish residents, with market forces and speculation inflating costs, particularly in major metropolitan areas and coastal regions.

In recent weeks, Spain’s government approved an extensive 7 billion euro ($8.23 billion) initiative aimed at constructing additional public housing over four years while providing assistance to young renters and prospective homebuyers who face the greatest burden from elevated housing expenses.

“The government may say it is taking measures, but the reality for those of us who rent is that we are receiving notices from our landlords who want to evict us,” said protester Fernando de los Santos, a 36-year-old university professor. “The only thing they offer us are abusive price increases.”

A related legislative measure that would have continued temporary rent controls failed to gain parliamentary approval, leaving the Sánchez administration vulnerable to additional housing-related criticism in the near term.

Spanish citizens have organized multiple street demonstrations nationwide in recent years to oppose high rental and purchase costs. A primary demand involves stricter regulation of tourist rental properties that have expanded throughout Spanish city centers, as the country welcomed a record 97 million international visitors last year.

Housing expenses increased nearly 13% compared to the previous year by late 2025, based on data from Eurostat, the EU statistics agency.

Spain’s central bank calculates that the Southern European country of 50 million residents faces a shortage of 700,000 homes when comparing housing demand to new construction rates.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A veteran British mountaineering guide shows no signs of slowing down after achieving a remarkable milestone on the world’s tallest peak.

Kenton Cool, a climber from southwest England, reached Mount Everest’s summit for the 20th time this week, establishing a new record for most successful climbs by a non-Sherpa guide on the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain.

“Maybe another two or three more times,” Cool said when speaking with reporters following his flight from the mountain region to Kathmandu on Sunday.

The 52-year-old mountaineer had previously indicated last year that he planned to attempt Everest perhaps just once more before turning his attention to other, smaller peaks.

Cool joined hundreds of other climbers and their Sherpa guides who successfully reached the summit in recent days, despite delays created by a dangerous serac threatening the climbing route. The hazardous conditions forced mountaineers to attempt their climbs during a brief window of favorable weather, creating significant crowding at the top.

Wednesday saw 274 climbers reach the summit in a single day, establishing a new daily record for the popular southern route located in Nepal.

“We had no issues. We had no crowds, we had a great summit,” Cool explained, noting that his successful climb occurred on Friday.

While climbers can approach the summit from Nepal’s southern side or from the northern face in China’s Tibet region, Chinese officials have blocked access to their route this season. Nepal’s authorities granted climbing permits to 494 mountaineers, each accompanied by an equal number of Sherpa guides.

Veteran guide Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds climbing records of his own, has recommended limiting climber numbers due to excessive crowding this season.

Cool disagreed with restricting climber quantities, instead advocating for greater focus on the expertise and knowledge of permit holders attempting the mountain.

“It is the various companies being little more diligent on who they take, so they are making sure there is the experience of the climbers and then just being little more careful with when they want to climb,” he explained.

Nepal’s mountaineering officials are working to implement new rules that would require climbers to demonstrate previous experience, though current regulations only mandate payment of $15,000 permit fees.

Benin’s newly inaugurated president, Romuald Wadagni, promised during Sunday’s ceremony to tackle increasing security concerns and make sure economic progress reaches ordinary citizens in meaningful ways.

The Constitutional Court confirmed Sunday that Wadagni secured his victory on April 12, capturing more than 94% of votes cast against opponent Paul Hounkpe.

The incoming leader replaces Patrice Talon, who governed the West African country from 2016 and departed after completing two terms as required by the constitution.

At 49 years old, the former finance minister brings a decade of experience in that position and is anticipated to build upon Talon’s reform policies that produced consistent economic expansion and enhanced the nation’s business environment.

“Our economy has progressed. That’s a fact. But we all know that national growth only makes sense when it becomes visible in people’s everyday lives,” Wadagni stated during his swearing-in speech.

His administration plans to emphasize employment opportunities, availability of essential services, and social safety nets.

“The development of Benin must be experienced in every component of society and in every territory of the Republic,” he declared.

The new president also recognized growing security concerns, as extremist organizations spreading from the Sahel region have increased attacks in Benin’s northern areas over recent years.

“Benin will not yield to fear or complacency,” he stated, promising enhanced collaboration with neighboring nations confronting similar threats.

Representatives from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, the Sahel nations most affected by these security issues, attended the inauguration ceremony along with several other countries.

In an area where certain leaders have attempted to prolong their time in office, Wadagni emphasized his dedication to democratic principles.

“I will serve with the constant awareness that power is never a personal privilege,” he remarked.

The previous administration barely weathered an attempted coup in December, highlighting the unstable political and security conditions Wadagni inherits as he begins his presidency.