Author: Admin

MOSCOW, June 9 – Officials from Russia’s digital ministry announced Tuesday they have petitioned law enforcement agencies to reverse a prohibition on the American gaming platform Roblox, following commitments from the company to strengthen protections for minors and adhere to Russian regulations.

The communications oversight agency Roskomnadzor implemented the restriction last December, citing concerns over child protection. The decision frustrated Russian gamers and even triggered an unusual demonstration in the Siberian community of Tomsk.

“In connection with the guarantees of responsible conduct in the Russian market provided by Roblox, the Ministry of Digital Development, together with Roskomnadzor, has appealed to the relevant law enforcement authorities with a request to support the lifting of restrictions,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to ministry officials, Roblox has agreed to establish age-appropriate access controls for specific games and put in place additional safeguards to block harmful material from reaching users.

Following the initial prohibition, Roblox indicated its willingness to modify certain platform features specifically for the Russian market.

European Union officials issued a stern warning to Albania on Tuesday, demanding the country follow environmental regulations if it hopes to join the bloc, amid controversy over a high-profile resort development.

The warning from a European Commission spokesperson comes as Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama announced his government would continue supporting a luxury resort project backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, despite growing environmental opposition.

The development, planned for a remote coastal area in the Balkans, has triggered demonstrations known as the “Flamingo Revolution” – named for the migratory birds that use the coastline as a stopping point during their journeys. These protests have expanded into wider criticism of Rama’s 13-year leadership.

The European Union, which includes 27 member nations, has indicated it might accept new countries like Montenegro, Albania and Ukraine by 2030, contingent on their compliance with EU regulations, particularly environmental standards.

“Albania should refrain from action that could undermine the fulfilment of the closing benchmark, and we expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay,” stated spokesman Guillaume Mercier.

He further noted, “We are in contact with the Albanian authorities on this issue.”

Despite facing a week of demonstrations both in the capital Tirana and along the southern coastline where the resort is proposed, Rama dismissed environmental worries and promised an environmental impact study would be conducted.

“We are very proud of what we have done for the wildlife in Albania. The European Commission has no reason to doubt our firm will to protect whatever has to be protected when it comes to wildlife and nature,” he stated.

Kushner’s Affinity Partners company, which plans to construct the resort, has not responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

Survivors of brutal violence during Sudan’s civil war turned to Kenyan authorities Tuesday, requesting an investigation into torture and sexual assault allegations against members of a feared paramilitary organization.

This marks the initial effort to pursue legal action against the Rapid Support Forces, known as RSF, beyond Sudan’s borders. The paramilitary unit has battled the Sudanese military for more than three years.

Human rights organizations have labeled the RSF’s actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group maintains connections with Kenya’s administration, and Kenyan President William Ruto previously welcomed RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo for discussions he described as promoting Sudanese peace initiatives, creating diplomatic friction.

Legal Action Worldwide, a Switzerland-based international legal organization, submitted the formal complaint describing torture and sexual assault by RSF personnel across multiple sites in and around Khartoum during the period from April 2023 to March 2025, when paramilitaries controlled Sudan’s capital.

Twelve survivors are requesting Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions to authorize criminal charges against 10 RSF members, with several suspected of currently living in Kenya.

The Associated Press has contacted the RSF for a comment.

The latest complaint describes victims confined under deplorable conditions with minimal food, restricted water access, and poor sanitation. They claim they endured beatings, burning, suffocation, electric shock treatment, and sexual assault including rape. Some were allegedly compelled to move corpses from detention centers.

Antonia Mulvey, who founded Legal Action Worldwide, stated Kenya should pursue prosecution of the alleged offenses under the nation’s International Crimes Act of 2008.

“For Kenya, despite the sensitivity of the matter, it is an opportunity to lead in the fight against impunity. Authorities can now demonstrate the strength of the country’s investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial institutions in addressing the most serious international crimes, regardless of where they are committed,” she said.

The RSF began fighting the Sudanese military in April 2023, after disagreements between both factions exploded into armed confrontation in Khartoum and additional areas nationwide.

The organization developed from the infamous Arab Janjaweed militias, blamed for extensive brutalities in the early 2000s targeting communities with East or Central African heritage in Sudan’s western Darfur area.

Human rights groups and the United Nations have charged the RSF with committing violence during the current war that could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially in Darfur where the organization maintains significant control.

Mulvey contended that victims have little chance of receiving justice within Sudan since the nation’s legal system remains “inaccessible, unavailable, and ineffective.”

She noted the International Criminal Court’s authority covers only Darfur and excludes offenses occurring in or near Khartoum.

Willis Otieno, a Kenyan attorney who submitted the local complaint, indicated evidence suggests some individuals of interest have Kenyan connections and that the nation has adequate legal structures to investigate and prosecute these offenses.

Otieno characterized Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as capable, stating: “We have faith that the office will act. For now, let’s treat them with that goodwill.”

The RSF has previously faced accusations of mass executions, gang rape, and ethnically-motivated violence, including during an October attack on the Darfur city of el-Fasher that killed over 6,000 people in three days. U.N.-commissioned experts characterized the operation as displaying “hallmarks of genocide.”

Among its final actions, the Biden administration charged the organization with genocide and sanctioned its leaders, including Dagalo.

The conflict has claimed at least 59,000 lives during three years, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a U.S.-based monitoring organization that noted the figure likely underestimates actual casualties due to reporting challenges.

The fighting has generated the globe’s most severe humanitarian emergency, with approximately 34 million people — nearly two-thirds of all Sudanese — requiring aid, the U.N. reports.

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration urged restraint Tuesday following law enforcement’s announcement that they had detained a Sudanese individual in connection with a knife attack in a Belfast neighborhood that gained widespread attention due to disturbing footage circulating on social media.

Authorities reported that the injured party, a male in his 40s, was transported to a medical facility with severe wounds to his eyes, face and back during Monday evening hours. The detained individual, described as being in his 30s, faces charges of attempted murder and remains held by police. Investigators recovered a kitchen knife from the location.

Law enforcement officials are working to establish what motivated the attack, though no evidence points to terrorist connections, according to Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. He noted that investigators are not looking for additional suspects in the case.

“This brutal attack will have sent shock waves through the community, causing real concern,” he said.

Gavin Robinson, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, told Parliament that the perpetrator was living in the U.K. under a five-year visa and urged authorities to curb “uncontrolled immigration.”

Authorities believe the detained person had received authorization to stay in the nation and resided close to where the incident occurred, Henderson explained. He refused to share additional information while the investigation continues.

When questioned in Parliament, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said he could not confirm whether the alleged attacker came to the U.K. illegally.

Starmer condemned the attack as “sickening” and said that he had “no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.”

His office said “it is time for calm,” adding “it’s important that police have the time and space to investigate appropriately.”

Law enforcement and government leaders asked the public to avoid sharing disturbing footage of the incident found on internet platforms and to refrain from spreading false information about the circumstances.

Last week a separate case of a university student who was stabbed to death in Southampton, England in December was seized on by activists and U.S. Vice President JD Vance who blamed immigration for the violence.

Henry Nowak, who was white, was killed by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh who falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist assault by Nowak. When police officers arrived, they initially treated the wounded Nowak as a suspect before noticing his injury and trying to resuscitate him.

Digwa was convicted of murder for stabbing Nowak with a Sikh dagger and sentenced last week to life in prison with a minimum 21-year term. But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks. Several people were charged with violent disorder over the protest.

The Trump administration has informed Belarus’s exiled opposition leadership about setbacks in diplomatic efforts to secure additional prisoner releases from President Alexander Lukashenko, according to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in an exclusive interview.

This represents the first time officials have publicly acknowledged that momentum has slowed in negotiations spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s envoy John Coale, which have successfully secured freedom for over 400 detainees to date. Human rights organization Viasna reports that close to 870 individuals remain imprisoned, with at least 170 considered “particularly vulnerable” because of their age, medical conditions, or severe detention circumstances.

During her conversation with Reuters, Tsikhanouskaya revealed that American officials informed her that “the next releases were postponed for a while,” though she declined to reveal the specific reasoning behind the delay.

“Knowing the reason, it doesn’t worry me. Of course, we want more people to be released as soon as possible, and any delay, it ruins health for many of them,” she explained in English. “But it’s not the end of the process.”

She referenced encouraging statements from Coale, who wrote on X on June 3: “We are not finished. Keep hope alive!”

Neither Coale nor Lukashenko’s office provided responses when contacted for comment.

The Trump administration’s decision to engage directly with Lukashenko – who maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin – marked a dramatic shift from earlier Western approaches. Previously, he faced isolation and extensive U.S. and EU sanctions due to his human rights violations and support for Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine.

Tsikhanouskaya – whom Western nations view as the legitimate victor of the contested 2020 election that Lukashenko claimed – has endorsed the U.S. diplomatic initiative as a crucial humanitarian effort, while cautioning against legitimizing the long-serving authoritarian leader.

She has openly expressed discomfort with Trump’s public praise of Lukashenko, whom he has termed “the Highly Respected President of Belarus,” but recognizes the strategy’s effectiveness.

“Neither President Trump nor those around him are naive, they understand who they are dealing with, and they can make some tactical moves to free people,” she stated.

As part of a significant policy change, the U.S. announced in December that it was removing sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizer – a major global export – to reward the prisoner releases.

However, this hasn’t generated substantial revenue increases for Lukashenko because EU sanctions persist, forcing Belarus to route exports through Russia rather than the more efficient path via Lithuania’s port of Klaipeda.

Lithuania announced last month that the U.S. was urging restoration of Belarusian access to Klaipeda, but Vilnius stated it wouldn’t consider this while EU sanctions remain active until February 2027.

Pavel Slunkin, a former Belarusian diplomat currently working as an independent political analyst in Warsaw, suggested that Lukashenko’s disappointment with America’s inability to persuade European allies likely explains the negotiation delays.

“Probably the Americans delivered a promise (to Lukashenko) that they could not fulfil,” he said during a phone interview.

“The American sanctions have never been the biggest problem for the regime in Minsk. The toughest sanctions are the European ones.”

Coale, age 79, received his appointment from Trump last year to lead discussions with Lukashenko. He has built rapport with the former collective farm administrator through extended negotiations and vodka-drinking meetings, quietly disposing of his alcohol on the floor to remain alert.

Notable figures among the hundreds of freed prisoners include Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition members such as Tsikhanouskaya’s husband Siarhei Tsikhanouski.

On April 28, Coale told Reuters he anticipated securing more prisoner releases within the following month. However, six weeks have passed without such developments.

On June 4, Coale disputed claims made on X by Valery Tsepkalo, a Belarusian opposition politician and former ambassador to the U.S., who alleged that Lukashenko had declined to meet with him in May.

The negotiation standstill occurs amid escalating tensions between Lukashenko and Western nations in recent weeks.

Belarus has participated in joint nuclear training exercises with Russia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed belief that Moscow seeks to involve Belarus more deeply in the conflict.

New arrests of Lukashenko’s critics have persisted, despite Coale’s statement that the U.S. had demanded an end to such actions.

Tsikhanouskaya reported that arrests occur “every day” but precise numbers remain unclear because families fear government retaliation.

Rights organization Viasna has documented at least 50 prison sentences since December that it considers politically motivated. In the previous month alone, it added 32 individuals to its political prisoner registry.

Tsikhanouskaya described Lukashenko as operating a “revolving door” system, replacing released prisoners with new detainees to preserve his negotiating leverage.

While commending Coale for doing a “fantastic job,” she said she had expressed concerns that Lukashenko was attempting deceptive tactics.

“He wants to get a Lamborghini for the price of a bicycle. Take a lot while giving a little,” she explained.

“And now if the Americans and the Europeans don’t maintain a principled position, we will repeat the same cycle again: Lukashenko will deceive, the sanctions will be removed, and the regime will still be there, without systemic changes.”

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — Three Christian religious leaders from the historic Lebanese port city of Tyre issued an urgent appeal Tuesday, asking world leaders and Lebanese government officials to take swift action to protect the city’s Christian quarter from potential Israeli military strikes. Their plea came as aerial bombardments in surrounding areas resulted in eight deaths and dozens of injuries.

Israeli forces have issued evacuation orders for the entire port city, including the Christian neighborhood that had previously been untouched by the conflict.

The appeal came from George Iskandar, the metropolitan archbishop of Tyre for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church; Elias Kfoury, the Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies; and Charbel Abdullah, the archeparch of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Tyre.

Following Israel’s military warning, hundreds of residents began evacuating the Christian area along the Mediterranean coastline, with Civil Defense teams helping elderly residents reach secure locations, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

Long lines of vehicles loaded with mattresses, suitcases and household items stretched for kilometers on Lebanon’s coastal roadway as Tyre residents responded to the newest Israeli evacuation order. Traffic came to a standstill as families stuffed whatever belongings they could into their cars, with rugs hanging from rooftops and trunks left open to fit furniture and personal items.

“After the warnings in Tyre, we left. We picked up and left,” said Ali Bahar, who was traveling with his wife and three children in a car loaded with possessions.

“Where should we go? There is nowhere to go,” Bahar said. “We will end up in the streets. We are heading to Sidon.”

Not far away, Hussein Darwish sat in the traffic jam after loading his car with whatever he could take.

“We left to be reassured and safe,” he said.

A separate Israeli airstrike Tuesday in another Tyre neighborhood resulted in eight fatalities and left 32 people injured, the Health Ministry reported.

The three religious leaders urged the international community and Lebanese authorities to “take immediate and serious action to spare the old quarter of Tyre from destruction and human tragedies.”

Israel’s warning to Tyre followed an exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran after Israel struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut on Sunday, escalating Middle East tensions and raising concerns about the conflict’s potential expansion.

During recent weeks, Israeli air attacks have caused extensive damage throughout Tyre, Lebanon’s fourth-largest urban center.

Recognized as among the world’s most ancient cities, Tyre contains numerous archaeological locations, including some underwater sites. UNESCO designated the city as a World Heritage Site in 1984.

“The old city is not merely a residential area,” the clergy stated. “It is the historical and human heart of Tyre, home to thousands of civilians, including families, children, and the elderly.”

They emphasized that the historic district contains valuable cultural, religious and civilizational heritage spanning centuries.

“Any targeting or destruction of this neighborhood would constitute a humanitarian and national catastrophe with irreversible consequences,” they warned.

Kfoury stated that the current conflict extends beyond just targeting Hezbollah.

“The war is against all of Lebanon, not just one particular group within Lebanon,” he said.

“They are destroying Lebanon. Period,” Kfoury said about the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, two days after the U.S. and Iran began attacking Iran on Feb. 28.

He called for an end to the fighting, describing it as a “destructive war.”

Last week, Israel alerted Christian neighborhoods in Tyre that Hezbollah members were operating among them. Many Lebanese Shiite Muslims had sought refuge in those areas during the past two weeks, as they had been spared from coastal aerial bombardments.

Following last week’s warning, Lebanese military forces moved into Tyre’s Christian district to try preventing Israeli attacks and demonstrate that Hezbollah maintains no armed presence there.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, wrote on X that since the military had warned days earlier about Hezbollah members operating within the Christian district, Israeli forces “will have to act against their terrorist activities in the neighborhood soon.”

Adraee stated that any structure used by Hezbollah for military operations “may be subject to targeting.”

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon has resulted in approximately 3,500 deaths and forced more than 1.2 million people from their homes.

European officials are sounding the alarm about changing patterns in illegal drug markets, with synthetic opioids becoming an escalating threat across the continent, according to a new annual assessment from the European Union Drugs Agency.

The Lisbon-headquartered organization, which compiled information from all 27 EU nations plus Norway and Turkey, documented the discovery of at least 50 previously unknown psychoactive substances appearing in Europe for the first time during 2025.

Officials specifically pointed to dangerous substances like nitazenes, which have been discovered mixed into fake benzodiazepines and common street drugs including cocaine, heroin and ketamine.

The deadly impact of nitazenes became evident in England and Wales, where these substances caused 195 fatalities in 2024 – representing nearly a four-fold increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, Bulgaria experienced more than 100 fentanyl-related deaths spanning 2024 and 2025, with the crisis expanding from Sofia to additional urban areas throughout the country.

Drug trafficking patterns are also shifting significantly, according to the assessment. Cocaine shipments are increasingly arriving through smaller ports that receive less monitoring attention, while cannabis is now being imported from Canada and the United States, potentially driven by regulatory changes and surplus production creating lower prices in North America.

Enforcement agencies across EU nations conducted approximately 1 million drug seizures during 2024, with cannabis representing 68% of all confiscations. The organization estimates Europe’s illegal cannabis market is worth €12 billion, even as Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and Czechia have implemented experimental laws permitting limited legal purchases or cultivation.

Cannabis continues to dominate usage statistics, with 24.9 million adults between ages 15 and 64 reporting consumption within the past year. Drug trafficking operations have adopted increasingly sophisticated methods, including drones and speedboats, creating new challenges for law enforcement officials.

Cocaine maintains its position as the second most commonly used illegal substance, with 4.3 million adults reporting usage in 2024.

The agency’s data reveals an estimated 7,600 fatal overdoses occurred throughout the EU in 2024, translating to a mortality rate of 25 deaths per million people in the 15-64 age group.

LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) – Technology companies operating in Britain must now develop emergency protocols to address dramatic increases in harmful online material during public safety emergencies like the 2024 Southport riots, according to new requirements announced by the regulator on Tuesday.

Widespread violence erupted two years ago after a stabbing incident in Southport, a city in northern England, that killed three young girls during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Officials determined that false and inflammatory material spreading rapidly across the internet helped spark the widespread disorder.

The new requirements from regulator Ofcom mandate that social media companies and other online platforms establish emergency response procedures to manage sudden surges in prohibited content.

“Given the speed at which online harms can escalate during a crisis, and the serious risks this can pose to public safety, we have decided to accelerate our work on these crisis response measures to ensure that services can begin to take appropriate steps,” the regulator stated in its published protocol.

The oversight agency indicated that companies should prepare to activate emergency response teams, increase content monitoring capabilities, and conduct evaluations following crises. Major platforms would additionally need to establish direct communication lines with police during emergencies.

The Online Safety Act, considered among the world’s most comprehensive internet regulations, defines prohibited content as material related to approximately 140 criminal offenses involving terrorism, hate speech, harassment, and threats, rather than encompassing all unlawful material.

Individual companies bear responsibility for determining their response to such risks, following the regulator’s guidelines.

Violence broke out in Afghanistan on Tuesday when authorities used force to disperse demonstrators protesting the detention of more than a dozen women accused of violating dress code requirements, leaving at least three people wounded according to reports.

Witnesses reported that armed officers fired weapons during the demonstration involving more than 100 participants in Herat.

Such public demonstrations are uncommon in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has maintained control since 2021 following the turbulent departure of U.S.-led military forces. The current government has established regulations based on their rigid understanding of Islamic law, including severe limitations on women and girls such as prohibiting education past elementary levels and dictating acceptable public attire. Opposition is forbidden, and demonstrations challenging official policies are banned.

Current official requirements mandate that women may appear publicly only while wearing complete hijab — including head covering and full-length garments — plus facial covering that exposes only the eyes. These standards are enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Kakar, who observed the confrontation, described driving past the demonstration site when he noticed police vehicles arriving and officers discharging weapons into the air.

“After several shots, we got scared and got out of the car, to not be injured,” said Kakar, who requested only his single name be published due to concerns about retaliation for media contact. He continued that police subsequently confronted the demonstrators “and the police opened fire again, and some people were injured. I saw blood on the road.” Kakar indicated he could not determine the precise number of casualties.

A second witness, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, reported observing three wounded individuals.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations’ investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed being “alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in Herat today.”

Writing on X, he stated that individuals responsible for the violence should face consequences. “It’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm,” Bennett said.

This past Sunday, the U.N.’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan posted on X that detaining women in Herat for alleged dress code infractions created “serious human rights concerns.” The organization had voiced similar worries regarding comparable arrests in the Afghan capital, Kabul, during the previous year.

A human rights observer, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to share information with media, confirmed Monday that monitors had documented no fewer than 16 arrests and detentions in Herat since Friday for suspected dress code non-compliance, including one expectant mother.

Afghanistan’s vice and virtue ministry rejected claims regarding women’s arrests and detentions.

“The issues being spread about women being arrested in Herat are all rumors,” the ministry declared, stating that wearing “hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement.”

During the previous week’s Friday prayers, religious leaders at Herat mosques made proclamations for the vice and virtue ministry declaring women could not leave their residences without proper hijab. The human rights observer noted that arrests and detentions commenced soon thereafter.

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine officials announced Tuesday they have formally objected to China’s placement of a floating platform staffed with personnel on a contested shoal in the South China Sea, expressing concerns it may represent Beijing’s initial step toward constructing another artificial island military outpost.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila filed an official complaint regarding China’s recent actions at Scarborough Shoal, which Philippine coast guard and military forces observed, though officials provided no additional specifics.

Beijing rejected the Philippines’ concerns and restated its position of having “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal and surrounding waters, while declining to provide details about the situation to Philippine authorities.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian stated from Beijing: “Any activities China conducts on Huangyan Island, including scientific research, are the legitimate rights of a sovereign state.”

“China urges the Philippine side to cease maritime infringements and provocations and stop hyping up the issue,” he added.

Following weeks of intense confrontation with Philippine vessels in 2012, China positioned ships to control the uninhabited Scarborough area, leading Manila to pursue international arbitration against Beijing’s territorial claims, which the Philippines substantially won.

The 2016 arbitration decision, based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, struck down China’s assertions over nearly the entire South China Sea.

However, China declined to take part in the Philippines-initiated arbitration process and rejected the decision as fraudulent, alleging it was orchestrated by the United States working with the Philippines.

Over ten years ago, China began converting contested and uninhabited reefs into what are now missile-defended island installations — including three equipped with military-grade airstrips — throughout the Spratlys archipelago, a heavily contested South China Sea region.

During the mid-1990s, Chinese military forces took control of one of seven locations, Mischief Reef, by constructing small elevated huts and claiming they would function as fishermen’s refuges in international waters.

The Philippines vigorously objected to China’s takeover of Mischief, asserting the location falls within its internationally acknowledged exclusive economic zone.

Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stated the Philippine military will prevent China from converting Scarborough into another island installation.

“We will not allow an incident before to happen again, where a small structure was built and later on, it grew into an artificial island,” Brawner said.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also assert territorial rights in the South China Sea, though confrontations have especially intensified between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval units in recent years.

The U.S. has consistently stated it is bound to protect the Philippines, its longest-standing treaty partner in Asia, if Filipino military personnel, vessels and aircraft face armed assault, including in disputed maritime areas.

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Commerce came to a standstill and transportation ground to a halt throughout Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Tuesday following a strike organized by a recently outlawed organization with a history of violent demonstrations.

The shutdown was initiated by the Joint Awami Action Committee in response to deadly confrontations on Sunday in Rawalakot between the organization’s followers and law enforcement that resulted in seven fatalities. The deadly violence began after Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s Supreme Court determined that 12 legislative positions designated for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan have constitutional protection and cannot be eliminated without amending the constitution.

The JAAC, established in 2003, advocates for expanded political representation for Kashmir’s population and elimination of the refugee positions.

Local residents from the regional capital, Muzaffarabad, and surrounding communities reported to The Associated Press that commercial areas were mostly vacant and transportation hubs were abandoned on Tuesday. Nevertheless, it remained uncertain whether citizens were participating in the organized strike or staying away from public areas due to concerns about additional violence.

The organization had announced Tuesday’s “long march” from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad and the strike prior to the recent bloodshed. Eyewitnesses reported that thousands of followers assembled in the eastern community of Mirpur to journey to Rawalakot, where JAAC leadership was anticipated to launch the march toward Muzaffarabad.

Officials have positioned extra law enforcement and security forces throughout the area and cut internet access in major urban centers to discourage participation in the march.

Law enforcement and regional authorities alleged that armed JAAC followers fired weapons at officers during Sunday’s violence, marking the region’s most lethal unrest in recent years. During comparable disturbances last year, multiple officers were kidnapped and subjected to torture while in captivity.

The territorial administration prohibited the JAAC last week, expressing concerns regarding public safety and security, and arrested numerous supporters.

Regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore stated Monday he continued to welcome discussions with the organization’s representatives. He indicated the administration had agreed to most JAAC demands during previous year’s negotiations, with the exception of eliminating refugee positions and ending benefits provided to government officials and ministers, which must be handled by the Legislative Assembly due to constitutional limitations.

The refugee positions are maintained for individuals who relocated to Pakistan from Indian-controlled Kashmir decades earlier and are designed to represent communities displaced by the ongoing dispute over the Himalayan territory. The JAAC contends that these seats provide excessive power to people residing outside the region.

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir remains split between Pakistan and India, with both nations claiming complete control and having engaged in two military conflicts over the area since achieving independence from British control in 1947.

Political tensions have been escalating for weeks in advance of elections planned for next month.

The existing Legislative Assembly has finished its term, and political discussions have intensified regarding the future of refugee seats following the judicial decision.

PARIS — French entertainer Patrick Bruel remains detained by authorities as prosecutors examine accusations from at least 13 women alleging rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, according to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office on Tuesday.

The 67-year-old performer, who has been held since Monday, maintains his innocence regarding all accusations.

Bruel rose to prominence throughout French-speaking nations during the 1980s and 1990s through numerous chart-topping recordings that became cultural staples. His career also includes roles in over 40 film and television projects.

According to a statement from the Nanterre prosecutor’s office, the probe started when three women came forward alleging sexual assault and attempted rape that supposedly occurred in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

As the probe continued, investigators identified and spoke with more women. These additional accusers reported claims of rape or attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment, the statement indicated.

In a separate matter, prosecutors in western France had opened an inquiry regarding an alleged 2012 rape in Dinard, located in the Brittany region, which has now been moved to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.

Belgian officials also formally informed French prosecutors this month about accusations from a woman claiming Bruel committed rape and sexual assault in Brussels during 2010, the statement revealed.

Legal representatives for Bruel, Christophe Ingrain, Céline Lasek and Fanny Colin, released a statement saying their client has signaled for weeks “he was available to the judicial authorities so that he could finally respond through the proper legal proceedings.”

French court officials may either bring preliminary charges against Bruel or release him without charges before day’s end.

Recent media coverage, particularly by French investigative publication Mediapart, has highlighted claims from multiple women spanning decades against Bruel, resulting in additional formal complaints being submitted.

MONTERREY, Mexico – Where dozens of children now kick soccer balls in a peaceful park, a deadly cartel battle once claimed 49 lives in one of Mexico’s most violent correctional facilities.

The dramatic transformation of this northern Mexican city illustrates how Monterrey has evolved from a battleground of drug violence into one of the nation’s safest metropolitan areas, just as it prepares to welcome international soccer fans for four World Cup matches.

Liberty Park now occupies the former grounds of the infamous Topo Chico prison, where inmates were brutally killed with knives and beaten with chairs during a savage clash between rival cartels a decade ago. The bloodshed represented some of the worst violence that plagued the Monterrey area during the early 2010s.

While drug-related violence continues to plague other regions of Mexico – including Guadalajara, another World Cup host city where cartel members recently burned vehicles and blocked roads after a major drug lord’s arrest – Monterrey residents worry more about traffic congestion and air pollution than personal safety.

Significant investments in law enforcement and broader economic growth have helped transform Monterrey into one of Mexico’s most secure major urban centers over the past decade and a half.

The tree-lined Liberty Park, featuring playing fields and recreational areas, opened initially in 2021 on the former prison site. City officials have continued expanding the facility with additional playground equipment and athletic fields in preparation for the World Cup.

Francisco Rodriguez Castillo, a 66-year-old retired accountant who has resided near the location for many years, vividly remembers the chaos that once defined the area.

“We could hear the riots, the explosions, the helicopters, and the soldiers’ patrols all over this area,” Rodriguez recalled.

Today, Rodriguez participates in morning running groups at the park and watches in amazement as youngsters play safely well into the evening hours.

“It’s an enormous change,” he said.

When officials demolished the 76-year-old correctional facility in 2019, workers conducted thorough searches of the prison’s soccer field and other areas looking for hidden burial sites, though none were discovered.

For neighborhood residents like 30-year-old attorney Gala Jazmín Rojas Cruz, converting the prison into a park represented a significant opportunity, particularly for local children.

“When I was a child, I had nowhere to play,” Rojas Cruz explained.

She remembered how dangerous it was to play outdoors and how families would seek shelter when gunfire erupted, signaling another prison uprising.

“(We knew) that at that very moment people were being killed,” she said.

In 2023, city leaders announced plans to construct a pediatric medical facility on the former prison property.

However, the proposal met strong opposition from community members, including Rojas and Rodriguez, who organized demonstrations and pursued legal action that successfully protected Liberty Park.

To prevent future development attempts, the activist group then lobbied officials to designate Liberty Park as a protected natural area. State authorities are currently completing the process to grant the park this special conservation status.

Afghan security forces shut down a demonstration supporting women’s rights in Herat province on Tuesday, following reports that morality police had detained women for alleged violations of required dress codes.

According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation resulted in one fatality, multiple injuries, and the arrest of dozens of participants, including women and girls. Taliban officials have not verified these casualty reports or arrest numbers.

The police spokesperson for Herat, Sayed Masoud Hosseini, informed the government-controlled Bakhtar News Agency that the demonstration in the Jebrail district had “created tensions” and disrupted public peace while opposing the Islamic hijab under false pretenses, calling it a religious duty.

Eyewitness accounts indicate the demonstration began after officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice tried to detain women who opposed the compulsory dress regulations.

Local residents reported that authorities even targeted women who were already following the mandated dress standards, which require complete coverage of the face and body.

Footage from Herat captured armed officials dispersing the crowd, which included completely veiled women among those protesting. One video showed people seeking shelter as gunfire could be heard nearby.

Following their takeover of power in Kabul during 2021, the Taliban has established extensive limitations on women and girls throughout the conflict-torn nation, including restrictions on educational access, work opportunities, and athletic participation, prompting widespread condemnation from the international community.

Herat, historically known as one of Afghanistan’s most culturally and socially dynamic cities, has experienced substantial transformations.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed concern on Monday regarding reports of women being detained in western Afghanistan for purportedly not meeting dress code standards. The mission called on Taliban leadership to honor freedom of movement and equal treatment under the law.

Taliban officials maintain they honor women’s rights according to their understanding of Islamic law.

State media from China and North Korea published extensive coverage this week about the meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, yet completely omitted discussion of a critical concern for Washington: North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons capable of threatening the United States and regional allies.

This notable omission reveals more than volumes of carefully crafted state propaganda could convey.

Before diplomatic negotiations collapsed in 2019, Washington and Beijing had maintained a years-long partnership aimed at convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear program in exchange for essential aid and international legitimacy.

China consistently advocated for “denuclearization” — diplomatic language for nuclear disarmament — and officials in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo held hopes that Beijing would leverage its position as North Korea’s key diplomatic and economic ally to pressure Pyongyang regarding the nuclear crisis.

Xi’s trip to Pyongyang on Monday and Tuesday — marking his first journey there in seven years — may represent the conclusion of such expectations and indicate a major change in his approach to North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

From China’s viewpoint, Xi’s refusal to address the nuclear issue might reflect recognition of how advanced North Korea’s nuclear development has become since Kim Jong Un assumed leadership in 2011 — and acknowledgment of how improbable it is that negotiations could convince the North to surrender weapons it considers its primary defense against external threats.

The Chinese leader’s previous North Korean visit in 2019 presented a dramatically different message — Xi was reported in Chinese outlets as stating his country would contribute constructively to Korean Peninsula denuclearization efforts.

China’s primary objective remains maintaining stability in North Korea and the broader region. A governmental collapse in Pyongyang could result in millions of refugees crossing their extensive shared border.

With this goal in mind, China has frequently refrained from directly demanding an end to North Korea’s nuclear activities, according to research by Jiyong Zheng, dean of the Institute of Regional Studies at Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China.

Rather than targeting North Korea specifically, Beijing advocated for denuclearization across the entire Korean Peninsula — strategic language that enabled China to simultaneously call for ending U.S. nuclear protection commitments to South Korea and halting deployments of American nuclear-capable aircraft near the Korean Peninsula.

Recent months have seen Beijing indicate its preference for prioritizing regional stability over denuclearization goals, Zheng noted in his analysis.

“China is increasingly concluding that a rigid denuclearization-first approach is impractical and may worsen the regional security environment,” he said.

For Kim Jong Un, the absence of any public discussion or condemnation of his nuclear arsenal represents a victory. He has consistently sought international acknowledgment of his nation’s nuclear weapons status, which could result in lifting U.N. sanctions.

When questioned Tuesday about whether Seoul should reduce its expectations of Beijing following Xi’s apparent avoidance of nuclear topics in Pyongyang, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il maintained that China continues supporting nuclear disarmament objectives.

Likewise, following last month’s meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi, the White House stated both leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to North Korean denuclearization.

China, however, merely reported that the American and Chinese leaders discussed Korean Peninsula nuclear matters.

On Sunday, Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, rejected the U.S. account of the Xi-Trump discussion as “false information.”

Last week, Kim Jong Un revealed a new facility for producing nuclear materials and promised to strengthen nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.” His sister also characterized any American efforts toward North Korean denuclearization as an “anachronistic dream.”

China may prefer preventing North Korea and the United States from developing closer ties, suggested Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University, noting that Beijing might want to maintain North Korea within its influence sphere and utilize that connection as bargaining power with the U.S.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung informed reporters Monday that North Korea produces sufficient nuclear material yearly for approximately 10 to 20 weapons and approaches completion of intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities that could deliver nuclear warheads to the American mainland.

Kim, meanwhile, has emphasized that nuclear weapons form a fundamental component of North Korea’s national character. He has incorporated North Korea’s nuclear status into the constitution and allocated increasing resources, industry, and government infrastructure toward maintaining it.

Several analysts interpret China’s avoidance of “denuclearization” terminology during Xi’s current visit as a clear shift in Beijing’s position and implicit recognition of North Korea’s nuclear status.

This transformation could mean that deterrence efforts by the United States, Japan, and South Korea will become ongoing rather than temporary measures, according to Seong-Hyon Lee, a senior fellow at the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.

“Beijing’s silence should not be viewed as a bureaucratic oversight but as a deliberate strategic signal,” Lee said. “By tacitly accepting North Korea’s nuclear status, Beijing strengthens its position as an indispensable stakeholder in any future negotiations.”

Nevertheless, China’s tolerance for North Korea’s military objectives may have boundaries.

While Xi’s visit demonstrates a “strategic embrace of Kim,” it does “not a blank check for North Korea,” said Leif-Eric Easley, also a professor at Ewha Womans University.

Beijing seeks stability and recognition of its regional goals, Easley explained. “North Korea’s persistent expansion of military capabilities is pushing the limits of what its larger neighbor will tolerate.”

TOKYO (AP) — Authorities in a Japanese city located north of Tokyo successfully tranquilized a roaming bear on Tuesday, ending several days of widespread fear that forced the closure of educational institutions throughout the area.

The animal was initially observed on Saturday close to a park in Utsunomiya, which houses approximately 500,000 residents north of Tokyo.

Local authorities reported receiving numerous bear sighting calls over the subsequent days, with the creature appearing near educational facilities, a library, and a community center. These incidents prompted officials to shut down all municipal schools on both Monday and Tuesday.

Through social media platforms and mobile announcement vehicles, the municipality issued safety advisories instructing residents to seek refuge in buildings and cars when encountering bears, while emphasizing the importance of securing doors and windows and avoiding nighttime garbage disposal.

“On Tuesday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun,” city official Ryuhei Irie said. “Nobody was injured.”

Municipal workers deployed drone technology on Tuesday to locate the animal after it appeared earlier that day on a university campus, resulting in the cancellation of all academic sessions.

“Officials believe there was only one bear but that they are investigating to be safe,” Irie said.

This incident in Utsunomiya represents another instance of Japan’s expanding bear population moving into regions experiencing demographic decline and aging.

Just last week, a separate bear incident in Fukushima, located in northeastern Japan, resulted in four people sustaining moderate injuries during an attack in a residential neighborhood.

Government estimates from March place Japan’s total bear population at approximately 57,800. Authorities have implemented a management strategy that includes organized culling programs.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his journey back to China on Tuesday after completing a significant diplomatic visit to North Korea that featured high-level discussions and public events with leader Kim Jong Un, highlighting both nations’ efforts to strengthen their partnership.

The Chinese leader arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to the country in seven years. During their high-level discussions that day, Xi indicated China’s readiness to broaden collaboration across multiple sectors such as trade, agriculture, construction and technology, while Kim described maintaining their nations’ friendship as “the most important top-priority strategic work,” based on reports from Chinese and North Korean state media.

On Tuesday, Xi and Kim made a visit to a North Korea-China friendship tower that pays tribute to Chinese soldiers who served alongside North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. The leaders emphasized the significance of continuing their nations’ longstanding friendship and spirit of opposition to the United States, according to Chinese state media coverage.

The two leaders, whose previous meeting took place in Beijing in September, also visited a ruling Workers’ Party training school and planted a fir tree as a symbol of their bilateral relationship. Xi subsequently participated in a luncheon and farewell ceremony before departing for Beijing, Chinese state media reported.

Analysts believe Xi probably sought to rebuild his nation’s unique influence over North Korea, which has recently prioritized its foreign policy relationship with Russia. They evaluate that Kim requires certain economic and political advantages in exchange.

Coverage from both nations’ state media organizations regarding Monday’s summit highlighted Xi and Kim’s dedication to expanding cooperation and featured Kim’s continued backing of China’s “one-China” policy concerning the Taiwan matter.

However, the coverage failed to indicate whether the leaders addressed North Korea’s nuclear program, a delicate security matter in the region. During his 2019 visit to Pyongyang, Xi stated Beijing was prepared to play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

This situation could represent a diplomatic victory for Kim, who seeks international acknowledgment as a nuclear weapons state, a position that analysts say he would leverage to demand the removal of international economic sanctions.

By avoiding mention of the denuclearization matter, China creates space for the understanding that it seems to acknowledge North Korea’s potential nuclear state status, going beyond simply ignoring it, according to analysis by Ban Kil Joo, assistant professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul.

In a strategic exchange, North Korea confirmed its backing of China regarding the Taiwan matter, Ban noted.

Kim Gyubeom, an analyst at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul, indicated China seems to be following a “managerial approach” that neither completely endorses nor heavily pressures Pyongyang, while keeping strategic dialogue with North Korea and emphasizing regional stability.

Rebuilding unique influence over North Korea would provide Xi with advantages in negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently voiced his interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim.

Concerns have emerged about China’s influence over North Korea in recent years, as the North has concentrated on supporting Russia’s war efforts through troop and weapon deployments in return for economic and other aid.

MOSCOW, June 9 – Russian officials announced Tuesday that no phone conversation is currently scheduled between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He noted that American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are continuing their diplomatic communications with both Russian and Ukrainian officials.

The two American mediators had been working on diplomatic efforts between the warring nations, but those initiatives came to a halt in February when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.

“The mediation process on Ukraine is currently on hold. That said, U.S. negotiators are maintaining contacts — discussions are continuing with us through existing channels and with the Ukrainians. There is no exact date for their visit yet, but we would be delighted to welcome them in Russia at any time,” Peskov stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described his Monday discussion with Witkoff and Kushner as “positive” and commended their willingness to pursue a resolution to the Ukraine conflict in the upcoming weeks.

The Kremlin spokesman confirmed that Russian officials had not received notification about that conversation from American representatives.

When questioned about possible European involvement in mediation, Peskov characterized such participation as “unacceptable” from Russia’s perspective.

“First of all, starting mediation efforts by putting forward certain conditions to Russia is likely illogical and wrong… But the main thing is that, as far as we can see, the Europeans are far more inclined to focus on continuing the war rather than on peace talks,” he explained.

Authorities in Northern Ireland announced Tuesday that they have taken into custody a suspect connected to a violent stabbing that left one individual hospitalized in critical condition and prompted widespread concern after video of the assault spread across social media platforms.

The incident unfolded in north Belfast during the late evening hours on Monday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the assault as “sickening” following the widespread circulation of video footage online.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly called for public calm in the aftermath. “My thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victim of this savage and barbaric attack,” she wrote in a social media post on X.

According to police statements released Tuesday, the detained individual is a man in his 30s who authorities believe is of Somali origin. The victim, described as a man in his 40s, remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Social media posts circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp have called for demonstrations to take place Monday evening in response to the incident.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson addressed the severity of the situation, stating: “This is a deeply concerning assault and I have declared this a critical incident. We have commenced an investigation to establish a motive.”

Henderson also issued a strong appeal regarding the video footage: “We are also aware of footage circulating online and we would strongly urge members of the public not to share or repost these images. Doing so risks causing further trauma to the injured man’s loved ones and may impact the ongoing investigation.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in Estonia Tuesday for a gathering of Nordic and Baltic nation leaders and a meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR.

The summit took place in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city. Estonia currently leads the rotating presidency of the NB8, which brings together five Nordic nations and three Baltic states. The meeting included prime ministers from the bloc alongside Zelenskyy.

First lady Olena Zelenska joined the Ukrainian leader on the trip, with Estonia’s Foreign Ministry posting a welcome message on social platform X.

The diplomatic visit occurs during rising tensions over Ukrainian drones that have repeatedly entered the area in recent months as Kyiv increases attacks on Baltic Sea ports used by Russia for oil exports, attempting to impose economic consequences on Moscow for its war against Ukraine.

Russian forces continued their bombardment across Ukraine. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, attacks in the last day killed three people and injured 25 others, including three children, according to regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

Three people sustained injuries in the Dnipropetrovsk region when multiple districts faced overnight attacks, regional administration head Oleksandr Hanzha reported.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 166 long-range attack drones and two guided missiles at Ukraine during the night. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 146 of those drones, officials said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses destroyed 140 Ukrainian drones overnight. Regional emergency officials reported that a woman died when a Ukrainian drone struck an apartment building in the Belgorod region.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also made the trip to Tallinn, meeting with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna. Their discussions covered Ukraine’s security situation, pressure on Russia, and Kyiv’s efforts to join the European Union, Tsahkna said.

“Estonia will continue to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Tsahkna wrote on X. “As Putin intensifies his attacks and shows no sign of abandoning his imperial ambitions, our responsibility is to increase pressure, not offer concessions.”

In May, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Estonia supports Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and wants the bloc to keep advancing the process.

In related news, Zelenskyy reported Monday that he conducted productive discussions with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during an airport meeting in Moldova’s capital, characterizing the talks as focused on war resolution. He posted on social media that both sides explored diplomatic possibilities before this month’s Group of Seven summit, and that he updated the U.S. delegation on Ukraine’s analysis of Russia’s intentions.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed criminals seized 39 individuals in Nigeria’s northwest region during what was supposed to be a peace negotiation meeting, authorities reported Monday.

The mass kidnapping occurred Sunday when 47 people had gathered to meet with relatives of a suspected criminal leader known for orchestrating abductions in the area, according to police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar. The group was attempting to arrange “reconciliation and peace engagement” when the bandit leader showed up with his armed followers and captured 39 attendees, Abubakar explained in an official statement.

The incident unfolded in the Magamin Diddi community within the Maradun area of Zamfara, located in Nigeria’s northwestern region. Such community-led negotiations are common occurrences, as local residents often feel compelled to bargain directly with criminal organizations when military forces fail to shield them from ongoing violence.

The West African nation continues to grapple with widespread security troubles, particularly in northern territories where more than ten years of insurgent activity and criminal organizations conducting ransom kidnappings and unauthorized mining operations have intensified safety concerns nationwide.

This long-running insurgency began in the northeast and has expanded throughout the nation, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing millions to flee their homes, the United Nations reports. Criminal gang violence also occurs frequently across Nigeria.

This recent mass abduction follows Sunday’s announcement by Nigeria’s military that they had rescued 360 individuals who had been captured by the extremist organization Boko Haram in southern Borno, which is also situated in the country’s northeastern area.

Military officials stated that rescue mission occurred in the Mandara mountains, a known stronghold for the extremist organization. Boko Haram along with its splinter group — an affiliate of the Islamic State known as Islamic State West Africa Province — represent the most significant Islamic extremist organizations operating in the region.

The previous month, the West African nation announced that a combined operation with the United States had eliminated 175 members of the Islamic State affiliate.

Security experts argue that the government is not taking sufficient action to safeguard its population, despite ongoing commitments from President Bola Tinubu to address the security emergency.

A United Nations investigation released Tuesday concluded that Israeli military personnel actively protect settlers during violent confrontations with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli authorities providing direct support for these attacks.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory determined that Israeli officials have facilitated settler violence through economic backing and military assistance, creating an environment where perpetrators face no consequences due to weak judicial oversight and law enforcement.

According to the investigation, violent incidents targeting Palestinian communities and farmland have dramatically increased since 2023, climbing 130% and often involving groups of masked attackers. Israeli military personnel regularly escort settlers and serve as protection during these violent encounters, the commission reported.

Neither the Israeli Prime Minister Office nor military officials provided immediate responses when asked for comment.

Israel denies allegations that its forces protect settlers during West Bank attacks on Palestinians, characterizing such incidents as unauthorized actions that breach military guidelines and undergo investigation. Both Israeli and Palestinian advocacy organizations report that these investigations seldom result in disciplinary action.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers reside alongside millions of Palestinians in territory Israel seized during the 1967 conflict, where Palestinians aspire to establish their own nation. The majority of nations and the U.N.’s highest court view these settlements as violations of international law, though Israel contests this interpretation, pointing to historical and biblical connections to the region.

United Nations data shows at least seven Palestinians died and 832 sustained injuries last year, with violence persisting into 2026 through almost daily assaults.

“The increasing participation of Israeli security forces in settler attacks amounts to a de facto collapse of the distinction between settlers and soldiers,” the investigation concluded.

The commission determined that such violence serves to advance government objectives, including the illegal occupation, forced removal of Palestinians, and territorial annexation of Palestinian land.

Investigators documented instances of physical attacks, kidnappings, and mistreatment of Palestinian minors by settlers. One case from April 19, 2025, involved a 12-year-old girl and her 3-year-old brother being kidnapped at knifepoint, taken to an olive grove, and restrained to a tree with plastic ties until family members rescued them.

Last July, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding legal opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlement construction illegal, recommending immediate withdrawal in its most definitive ruling on the dispute to date.

The investigation also found that settlers engaged in or threatened sexual violence to create fear and intimidated Palestinian women.

“The relentless, daily assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians are intolerable — and must end,” stated commission leader S. Muralidhar, an Indian former senior judge. He called on the international community to pressure Israel to eliminate settlements and outposts while stopping the violence.

The investigation found that despite occasional criticism and removal of some unauthorized outposts, Israeli officials have failed to implement lasting measures to halt the attacks.

HAMAS VIOLATIONS

The commission also expressed serious concern about severe violations it documented in the Gaza Strip, another Palestinian territory, committed by the militant organization Hamas that governs the area.

Hamas officials did not provide immediate responses regarding the investigation’s conclusions.

The commission discovered that Hamas-connected forces participated in at least 60 of 249 documented cases of executions and brutal physical violence from 2024 to 2025, including beatings with metal pipes and deliberate bone-breaking as punishment for suspected cooperation with Israel or stealing aid supplies.

Two incidents involved the public execution of 11 men. The Commission classified these actions as war crimes and breaches of international law.

The investigation determined that the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and other armed organizations, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and included hostage-taking and property destruction, constituted war crimes. These attacks triggered an Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread territorial destruction.

An earlier commission report concluded that Israel had committed genocide during its Gaza military operation, with senior Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, encouraging these actions. Israel dismissed these claims as “scandalous.”

Law enforcement officers in Kenya used tear gas Tuesday to break up demonstrations in the central community of Nanyuki, where residents are opposing an American-built quarantine facility for Ebola exposure cases.

The planned 50-bed medical unit, located on an air force base, has sparked outrage among many Kenyan citizens who believe the United States is transferring the health risks associated with treating individuals exposed to the Ebola crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Last week’s demonstrations in Nanyuki turned deadly, claiming two lives, as local frustration has intensified while Kenyan and American officials continue to publicly support the project despite existing court injunctions.

Officers deployed tear gas to break up small gatherings of demonstrators who assembled early Tuesday morning. Among the protesters, one individual held a white cross bearing the red-lettered message “Respect Ebola.”

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has stated it “cannot and will not allow” any cases to enter the U.S., marking a departure from the 2014-2016 West African Ebola crisis when several infected American citizens received treatment within the United States.

The Nanyuki medical facility is intended for Americans who have encountered the virus but remain without symptoms. Those who develop symptoms would be transferred to other nations for treatment, according to U.S. officials.

Military aircraft from the United States have continued delivering personnel and supplies despite judicial orders stopping the project, based on information from U.S. and diplomatic sources along with flight tracking records, with additional aircraft scheduled to arrive this week.

Satellite images reviewed by Reuters reveal a growing collection of white tents positioned in the center of approximately 0.046 square kilometers (11 acres) of cleared land within the Laikipia Air Base since May 27.

American officials have acknowledged awareness of the legal challenge and stated they are “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections.”

Kenyan authorities have indicated the facility would accommodate Kenyan citizens and other foreign nationals alongside American citizens, though U.S. officials have not verified this arrangement.

A United Nations refugee official says Thailand’s decision to allow Myanmar refugees to work legally has created opportunities for thousands and could serve as a blueprint for other Southeast Asian countries.

Since Thailand relaxed employment restrictions last year, more than 5,500 Myanmar refugees residing in border camps have secured jobs, according to Raouf Mazou, UNHCR assistant high commissioner for operations.

The policy shift responded to declining global humanitarian funding, partly due to foreign aid cuts by U.S. President Donald Trump, and Thailand’s growing labor shortages exacerbated by armed conflicts with Cambodia.

Thailand now permits approximately 80,000 Myanmar refugees to work legally – a major change for a community that has depended on humanitarian assistance for decades while living in nine border facilities.

Mazou believes Thailand’s initiative could provide a framework for other regional nations like Bangladesh and Malaysia that accommodate large refugee populations, demonstrating how displaced people can contribute economically while maintaining legal protections and government supervision.

“If it works here, it will have an impact on the region,” Mazou stated during an interview.

Since the program began in October, Thai officials have collaborated with employers to guarantee refugee workers receive legal safeguards, medical benefits, and minimum wage compensation, according to Mazou.

The initiative includes providing refugees with special identification documents that enable them to establish bank accounts, acquire mobile phone service, and confirm their legal standing – measures Mazou described as essential for incorporating them into Thailand’s official economy.

UN projections suggest that current patterns indicate between 10,000 and 20,000 refugees may obtain employment within the coming year, though growth depends on bureaucratic procedures and practical job availability.

Mazou noted that refugees continue facing obstacles including movement limitations and adjusting to life beyond the aid-dependent camp environment they’ve known for decades.

“Self-reliance prepares people to be part of the country they’re from… helps them if they are resettled elsewhere, or helps them integrate where they are,” he explained.

Taiwan’s maritime authorities are accusing Chinese coast guard vessels of intimidating commercial shipping in waters off the island nation, according to an announcement made Tuesday.

Officials say Chinese ships have been demanding information from merchant vessels about where they originated and where they’re headed, while asserting authority over the area. Taiwan’s coast guard characterized these actions as harassment of legitimate maritime traffic.

The confrontations began Sunday and stem from China’s displeasure over last month’s announcement that Japan and the Philippines would start official discussions about their sea boundaries. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and was upset by talks it viewed as affecting waters near the island.

Chinese state media reported Saturday that vessels had been deployed for what they called a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” in waters east of Taiwan, responding to the Japanese and Philippine declaration.

Taiwan’s coast guard detailed how Chinese ships contacted three commercial vessels since Sunday, requesting details about their departure points and destinations through radio broadcasts.

Taiwanese vessels responded by announcing over radio that the area constituted Taiwanese territorial waters where China lacked any legal authority, telling the Chinese ships to stop bothering passing vessels, according to the coast guard statement.

The coast guard also advised merchant ships traveling through the region to ignore any requests from the Chinese vessels.

Despite the confrontations, Taiwan’s coast guard noted that commercial traffic continued moving normally through the area, with Chinese government ships not attempting to board, examine, or physically interfere with any vessels.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department addressed the increased Chinese coast guard presence, stating America expects any disagreements between China and Taiwan to be settled through peaceful methods without pressure tactics.

“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with the elected leadership,” the spokesperson stated.

Taiwan’s leadership disputes China’s territorial claims over the island. China refuses diplomatic contact with Taiwan’s president, labeling him a “separatist.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not provided a response to requests for comment, and Beijing does not acknowledge Taiwan’s government as having any sovereign authority.

IMBERSAGO, Italy — A unique watercraft drifts smoothly across northern Italy’s Adda River, powered only by flowing water and guided by cables, providing stressed travelers with five peaceful minutes and an alternative path around traffic delays caused by a closed bridge.

Known as “Leonardo’s Ferry,” this reaction ferry system was conceived five hundred years ago and captured forever in a sketch by the Renaissance master, now housed in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle near London.

This vessel represents the final surviving example of its type operating on the Adda River, which flows from the Alps down to the Po River through the Lombardy region.

“This transportation method has served this location for 500 years, consistently linking both sides of the Adda,” explained Massimo Zoia, a volunteer operator of the watercraft. “Now it has resumed its fundamental function: bringing together communities separated by the river.”

While the ferry bears Leonardo’s name, questions remain about whether the Renaissance genius actually created the design. However, records confirm he documented it in 1513 during his extensive research of waterways, including Milan’s canal network. Leonardo was among history’s most versatile intellectuals, documenting inventions across numerous fields, including aircraft concepts that wouldn’t become reality for hundreds of years.

The vessel operates on a remarkably straightforward yet brilliant concept that produces zero environmental impact.

“The current pushes us downstream. A cable secures us, and through force distribution following the parallelogram principle we learn in secondary school, the energy splits with one portion creating resistance while the other generates sideways motion,” Zoia explained.

“We adjust the rudder to change the ferry’s angle, allowing it to better capture the water flow that strikes us and creates our movement,” he added.

The town of Imbersago operates the ferry service, carrying passengers to Villa d’Adda across the water. The operation nearly ended in 2023 when its previous operator abandoned the contract. Determined to preserve the service, Imbersago Mayor Fabio Vergani earned his own ferryman certification and worked with the local tourism group to recruit volunteer operators.

Starting in 2024, they mainly served weekend tourists traveling between the river’s banks.

However, they expanded to include daily commuter runs this spring when a local bridge closed for repairs, helping reduce road congestion. Current operations run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a two-hour midday break. Foot passengers pay 1.50 euros (approximately $1.75), bicycle riders pay 2 euros ($2.30), motorcycle users pay 2.50 euros ($2.88), and cars cost 3.50 euros (roughly $4).

Gianpaolo Graffagnino resides in Villa d’Adda while working across the river. He now cycles to his job, utilizing the ferry as a convenient route.

“Currently this represents the quickest option, but more importantly the most pleasant since you experience three minutes of tranquility,” he stated.

Mauro Carnati transported his daughter to school by driving his Maserati aboard the ferry, bypassing lengthy alternate routes created by the bridge shutdown.

“We do spend some money, and it’s not feasible daily, but the charm and special quality of the Adda and this ferry are genuinely remarkable. It creates a more pleasant beginning to the day,” he commented.

In the small community of Guangopolo, located east of Ecuador’s capital city, 76-year-old Ligia Ipiales sits in her humble dwelling, meticulously pulling apart horsehair strands from a tail. She’s creating a delicate mesh resembling fine cloth for a “cedazo” — a time-honored strainer that’s barely hanging onto existence.

This age-old skill that once brought recognition to the community is slowly disappearing. Just nine “cedacero” craftspeople are left. The group’s youngest member is 51-year-old Guido Paucar, who stands as the sole male practitioner, while Ipiales represents the eldest at 76 years old.

“This is our village’s identity. If it disappears, Guangopolo loses a part of who it is,” said Paucar. “We are the last generation making these sieves.”

Five decades ago, Paucar remembered, approximately 500 Indigenous households earned their livelihood creating and marketing these strainers, distributing as many as 600 pieces monthly at costs between $6 and $30 based on size. However, the introduction of less expensive plastic strainers and man-made materials transformed these sieves into decorative items with no practical household use. “Now we only sell up to 10 each week,” he added.

Community documentation reveals that 1,500 Guangopolo inhabitants have been creating sieves for two centuries. Constructed similar to a percussion instrument, each strainer includes a slender wooden border measuring 15 centimeters (6 inches) in height that holds the customary horsehair material in place. Through the end of the previous century, these implements were essential in Ecuadorian cooking areas, where cooks mainly employed them for filtering flour.

Manufacturing expansion and ecological changes have created growing challenges in obtaining horsehair and timber from the indigenous Pumamaqui tree.

Previously, horses served as essential partners for farm labor throughout the Andean highlands. Currently, though, agricultural workers choose motorcycles and farm machinery instead. This transformation has compelled craftspeople to search other areas, making southern Colombia and central Ecuador the main suppliers of horsehair. Yet the raw material carries a significant cost, with 100 pounds (approximately 45 kilograms) priced at roughly $1,000.

Following cleaning and air-drying, horsehair gets organized by strand length and mounted on a basic wooden structure called a guanga. Sitting with legs folded on the ground, the craftspeople operate with remarkable velocity that makes their hands appear to move in a blur, choosing, extending and tying single strands into a complex pattern.

Creating cedazos previously gave women additional earnings and occasionally covered their children’s schooling costs.

At the El Cedacero workshop facility, where Guangopolo’s surviving weavers gather, attempts to educate younger people through training sessions and instruction have consistently failed to succeed.

“From the age of 6 or 7 our mothers taught us how to weave sieves,” said Leonor Cuje, 57, gesturing toward a table lined with sieves, bracelets and brushes made from horsehair. “Now they are professionals and they don’t want to do this anymore.”

A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, though President Donald Trump confirmed both crew members aboard are safe following the incident in the strategically important waterway that remains under Iranian influence.

The cause of the Tuesday morning crash in the Middle East was not immediately determined, occurring as the region continues dealing with fallout from the previous day’s exchange of fire between Iran and Israel – marking the most significant escalation yet in the fragile ceasefire during the Iran conflict. Iranian state media reported on the helicopter incident through foreign news sources but provided no additional details.

The ongoing conflict that started when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 has disrupted the global economy, increased energy costs worldwide, and raised prices on essential items including food. Government officials have struggled to transform the April ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement.

Speaking with reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York following Monday night’s NBA Finals viewing, the president confirmed the aircraft incident.

“The pilots are fine. Yeah,” Trump said. “Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”

The New York Times initially broke the story about the U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter going down near the strait under unknown conditions. Neither the U.S. military’s Central Command nor the Defense Department immediately provided comment to The Associated Press when contacted.

Apache helicopters serve as crucial equipment for American military operations enforcing restrictions on Iranian oil shipments and tankers as part of efforts to pressure Tehran toward diplomatic agreement. The United Arab Emirates has also deployed these helicopters to intercept Iranian drones throughout the Iran conflict.

The president also shared renewed hope regarding diplomatic talks with Iran.

“We have a good chance” of reaching agreement within “two or three days,” Trump stated, though he offered no specifics about the basis for this optimism.

“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” the president explained. “If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”

He continued: “If we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don’t.”

Diplomatic mediators, primarily from Pakistan, have spent weeks attempting to finalize an agreement. Both Iran and the U.S. have maintained inflexible stances throughout negotiations.

American demands include Iran surrendering its highly enriched uranium reserves, believed to remain buried within the country following U.S. airstrikes during the 12-day 2025 conflict. Iran has rejected this requirement while seeking sanctions relief and unfrozen assets before any final agreement, which Trump has refused.

President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that two American helicopter pilots are safe following a crash near the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports that the Apache gunship crew was successfully rescued after their aircraft went down close to the Iran-controlled waterway.

The cause behind the Apache’s crash remains unknown, with uncertainty over whether Iranian forces shot down the helicopter, if it suffered mechanical problems, or encountered different issues entirely.

Reuters reached out to the White House, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Central Command for comment but received no immediate response.

When reporters asked Trump about what caused the helicopter to go down, he indicated officials would release a report later Tuesday.

“The pilots are fine,” Trump stated while speaking to media on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport before his return trip to Washington, D.C. “Nobody injured.”

This helicopter incident occurred one day after Iran and Israel announced they had stopped attacking each other following Trump’s appeal, although Tehran issued warnings that hostilities would restart if Israel kept striking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The renewed fragile ceasefire develops as Washington attempts to negotiate an agreement with Tehran to conclude their conflict that has lasted over three months.

Trump also mentioned to reporters he might have “an idea” for an Iran deal in the coming days, though he provided no details. The Republican president, facing historically low approval numbers before November midterm elections, has frequently suggested an approaching deal with Tehran, but none has materialized.

The weekend brought the most direct confrontation between Iran and Israel since their April ceasefire.

Tehran launched missiles toward Israeli territory late Sunday, describing the attacks as payback for strikes against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militia near Beirut.

Israel responded by targeting Iranian air defense systems and a petrochemical facility that officials claimed was being used for ballistic missile production. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported it struck back at a comparable Israeli facility in Haifa.

Authorities from both sides reported no fatalities.

U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone conversation Monday.

During an Axios interview, Trump revealed he cautioned Netanyahu that resuming war with Iran could leave the Israeli leader fighting without support. “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon,’” Trump stated.

An Israeli military official indicated Israel was ready to maintain operations for “as long as it takes,” while Iranian officials expressed similarly defiant positions.

A military source cited by the semi-official Tasnim news agency stated Tehran was prepared for extended conflict and could restart attacks against U.S. interests throughout the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described Tehran’s message exchanges with Washington as occurring in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion.”

Tehran has maintained that any peace agreement with the U.S. partially depends on ending the fighting in Lebanon, which Israel entered in March while pursuing Hezbollah fighters who had launched cross-border attacks.

Israel has not stopped its Lebanon campaign, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, arguing the conflict should remain separate from any U.S.-Iranian ceasefire. Hezbollah has maintained its attacks as well.

Tehran continues blocking most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which transported one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the war began. Washington has established its own blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump has stated any peace agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran’s conditions include removing international sanctions, releasing billions in frozen assets, and acknowledging its control over the strait.