Author: Admin

The Central African Republic has reached an agreement to receive migrants from various nations who are being deported by the United States, according to two informed sources. This marks another instance of the Trump administration establishing partnerships with African nations to expedite removal processes.

The United States has previously sent these third-country deportees to African nations such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea through unclear agreements that Senate Democrats claim have required tens of millions in taxpayer funding. Many of these individuals had obtained legal safeguards through U.S. immigration courts preventing their return to their home countries. However, advocacy organizations argue these third-country arrangements enable the U.S. to bypass such legal protections.

The arrangement with Central African Republic was negotiated during a May 18 meeting in Bangui involving a U.S. delegation headed by Christian Jové Ehrhardt, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, according to a Central African government official.

“Central African Republic will indeed take in, within the framework of agreements with the U.S., immigrants deported by American authorities,” the official stated, requesting anonymity. A regional diplomat, also speaking confidentially, confirmed the agreement had been finalized.

Central African Republic has experienced ongoing cycles of conflict since gaining independence from France in 1960, resulting in widespread poverty among its 5.5 million residents. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who secured a third term in last December’s election, has sought Russian assistance for security matters while also expressing renewed interest in Western partnerships regarding critical minerals.

Details regarding the number of migrants to be relocated, their countries of origin, or the timeline for deportation flights remain unclear, though court records indicate attempts have already begun. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal issued a temporary restraining order on May 22 preventing the deportation of a Turkish national, noting that U.S. officials had scheduled the individual’s removal to Central African Republic for May 26.

An official from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the agency would assist deportees upon their arrival in Central African Republic. The IOM has previously aided third-country deportees in other African locations, including Congo. The United States allocated $85 million to the IOM this year for Central African Republic operations.

The Central African presidency and State Department did not respond to requests for comment. The Department of Homeland Security stated all deportees receive complete due process and directed questions about agreement details to the State Department. Washington has maintained the deportations are legally justified.

A deadly shooting incident in central Israel on Sunday left one person dead and five others wounded in what authorities are treating as a terror attack, according to Israeli police.

The victim, a 35-year-old man, was killed by gunfire while five additional people sustained injuries during shootings that occurred at three separate locations near the occupied West Bank, police reported. Two of the wounded are in serious condition.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the suspected shooter, identified as an Israeli Arab from the nearby city of Tayibe, was also killed. A weapon was recovered from the scene. Israeli media outlets reported that a second suspect was also fatally shot.

“Large police forces remain at the scene, and searches are continuing,” authorities stated, while asking residents to stay alert. Israel’s emergency medical services confirmed the 35-year-old victim died from gunshot wounds and characterized the incident as a drive-by shooting.

The attacks occurred close to the Palestinian West Bank city of Qalqilya. While the militant organization Hamas commended the attack, they did not take credit for carrying it out.

Following the shootings, Israeli military forces were sent to one location in central Israel and to a nearby Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Police reported they have found the vehicle believed to have been used in the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed of the situation, according to his office. Hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a “profound change” among Israel’s Arab community, saying they are a “dangerous and extremist breeding ground for terrorism is growing that seeks to destroy the State of Israel.”

Nigeria’s military announced Sunday that it successfully rescued 360 individuals who had been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Boko Haram in the southern portion of Borno state, located in the country’s northeastern region.

Military officials said the rescue mission took place in the Mandara mountains, an area that serves as a key stronghold for the extremist organization. The operation resulted in the liberation of numerous victims, including children, who had been taken from various communities throughout Borno state.

According to army spokesperson Haruna Sani, two infants died from exhaustion caused by the difficult mountain conditions and the harsh treatment they experienced during their extended imprisonment.

“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group,” Sani said.

The West African nation continues to grapple with severe security issues, particularly in northern regions where more than ten years of insurgent activity and operations by armed criminal organizations conducting kidnappings for money and unauthorized mining have worsened the country’s safety concerns.

The most notable Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram and a splinter group that has ties to the Islamic State group and goes by the name Islamic State West Africa Province.

In the previous month, the West African nation reported that a combined military operation with the United States resulted in the deaths of 175 ISWAP militants.

According to United Nations data, the northeastern insurgency has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced millions from their homes. Security experts argue that the government has not taken sufficient action to safeguard citizens, despite repeated commitments from President Bola Tinubu to address the crisis.

Pakistan’s interior minister traveled to Tehran Sunday in a renewed effort to restart diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States, while American military forces destroyed two additional Iranian drones threatening shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

The military action occurred as the U.S. administration continues pushing Iran to reach an agreement ending the Middle East conflict, which has damaged the global economy and created the risk of food shortages in some of the world’s most at-risk nations.

The most intense combat concluded with a temporary ceasefire on April 8, though the parties have failed to reach agreement on a permanent end to hostilities.

Combat between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah persisted, even after last week’s announcement that a U.S.-mediated ceasefire had been prolonged.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran carrying a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Iranian state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Khamenei has remained out of public view since assuming leadership of the Islamic Republic following his father’s death on the conflict’s opening day, Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel began bombing operations against Iran.

Naqvi conducted meetings with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni late Saturday, then held discussions Sunday morning with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, official Iranian media stated.

The message’s specific contents were not disclosed. Pakistani officials have indicated Islamabad, backed by regional nations including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, has been working to resolve differences between the United States and Iran while promoting efforts to reduce tensions and ensure the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

The recent Lebanon ceasefire, announced during U.S.-mediated discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Washington last week, appeared to be failing.

The Iranian-supported Hezbollah has refused the U.S.-mediated agreement and instead supports Iran’s requirement that ending the Lebanon conflict be included in negotiations with the U.S.

Israel attacked what it described as more than 150 Hezbollah military positions during the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centers, throughout southern Lebanon.

Early Sunday, Israel detected at least five projectiles fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, which were either intercepted or landed in unpopulated areas. Hezbollah did not immediately acknowledge launching projectiles at Israel. The militant organization did confirm it attacked Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Two Israeli soldiers died in southern Lebanon fighting on Saturday, the Israeli military reported.

The Lebanon fighting, where Israeli forces have captured significant portions of the south during their latest ground operation, jeopardizes efforts to end the Iran conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for oil and gas transport. Its closure has disrupted the global economy.

Iran has insisted that any permanent ceasefire include Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections later this year, wants to continue Israel’s military campaign until he believes Hezbollah no longer represents a threat.

Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, departed for Pakistan Saturday following an invitation from Pakistan’s army chief. The Lebanese army provided no additional information and did not indicate whether this relates to Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the U.S.

The U.S. military announced Saturday that it had destroyed multiple Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab partners, and attacked some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar installations in retaliation.

“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported it had targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which houses U.S. forces in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The U.S. military stated there were no reports of injuries to U.S. personnel.

Earlier this month, Iranian drones severely damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s primary airport, killing one person and injuring dozens.

The U.S. military has maintained its blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s control of the strait, a vital route for global oil and natural gas shipments.

Energy costs have risen sharply, creating political challenges for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party before midterm congressional elections in November.

A pair of earthquakes struck the Greek island of Evia on Sunday, registering magnitudes close to 5.0 according to information from the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

The consecutive tremors occurred on the island located northeast of Athens, causing no reported injuries. However, authorities noted some rockslides resulted from the seismic activity.

Residents in Greece’s capital city, situated approximately 80 miles away from the earthquake’s center in northern Evia, felt the ground shaking from the Sunday afternoon event.

Citizens of Peru headed to polling stations Sunday for a closely contested presidential runoff that could determine whether the South American nation joins a regional conservative movement or stands against it by selecting a leftist leader who has caused market concerns.

The choice comes down to two candidates: conservative Keiko Fujimori, whose father Alberto Fujimori served as a hardline president before being imprisoned for human rights violations, and leftist Roberto Sanchez, a cowboy-hat wearing politician who mirrors the rural messaging of jailed former President Pedro Castillo.

Recent polling data indicates both contenders are locked in a virtual dead heat.

The broader region has witnessed a conservative wave, with Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica and Ecuador all selecting right-wing leaders in recent contests, while Bolivia brought an end to twenty years of socialist governance in its most recent presidential race.

Crime has emerged as the dominant concern among Peruvian citizens surveyed by pollsters. Murder and extortion statistics have skyrocketed, sparking widespread demonstrations and ultimately leading to the removal of former President Dina Boluarte from office.

After previously attempting to separate herself from her father’s authoritarian and hardline crime-fighting approach, Fujimori secured first-round victory in April by embracing his political heritage. She drew parallels between his campaign against left-wing Maoist rebels and today’s battle against criminal organizations.

“We remember her father’s legacy and he built a good government. He ended terrorism; he ended hyper-inflation,” stated Willy Policarpo, 44, an independent worker and longtime “Fujimorista” who made the journey from the central Huancayo region to attend Fujimori’s Thursday campaign finale.

This marks Fujimori’s fourth appearance in a presidential final round. During the 2021 race, she suffered defeat by approximately 45,000 votes, representing slightly more than 0.2%, against Castillo.

Sanchez aims to duplicate Castillo’s success by concentrating on Peru’s second major political concern: economic disparity and the enormous socioeconomic gap separating the capital city of Lima from outlying rural areas.

His platform includes sweeping changes such as drafting a new constitution, restructuring mining agreements, and increasing rural investment. These proposals have found support among various groups, including the nation’s expanding informal mining community, though they have created market anxiety. Peruvian equities declined Friday as polling showed his campaign strengthening to match Fujimori’s support levels.

Political tensions remain elevated following a turbulent first round that generated fraud allegations and protest threats from both sides. The eventual winner must also navigate a divided congress that has removed three presidents over the past five years.

Voting begins at 7 a.m. local time and concludes at 5 p.m. Initial results should emerge within three hours, though final official tallies may require several weeks to complete.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Multiple gunmen carried out shooting incidents in areas adjacent to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and five injuries, Israeli emergency services reported.

Authorities confirmed they fatally shot one gunman. Extensive military operations involving ground troops and aerial units swept the region searching for other potential attackers. The multiple locations of the shooting incidents initially sparked fears of a coordinated assault.

Emergency response teams from Magen David Adom reported receiving initial shooting alerts from a fuel station near Kokhav Yair, a community on the Israeli side of the West Bank border, around 10:30 a.m. Additional shooting incidents were subsequently reported in Tsur Natan, Tsur Yitzhak, and near the Israeli settlement of Sal’it within the West Bank territory.

Authorities identified the gunman as a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the neighboring Arab community of Taybeh.

Local residents received orders to remain indoors while schools implemented security lockdowns, according to regional leadership.

“Since Oct. 7, the scenario we were expecting was terrorist crossing into our towns from over the boundary, I don’t think that anyone imagined that we would discover the attackers were Israeli citizens,” Oshrit Gani Gonen, the regional council head for the area that includes the towns where the shootings took place, told Israeli media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Sunday evening with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to coordinate continued assistance for Ukraine.

Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 European alliance – have served as major supporters of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Britain and France are spearheading the “coalition of the willing” effort aimed at providing security assurances for Ukraine during any future peace negotiations.

Sunday’s gathering follows a major Ukrainian drone assault that struck Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, demonstrating Kyiv’s expanding capability to launch attacks far into Russian territory. Gov. Alexander Beglov reported that three individuals suffered minor injuries during Saturday’s strike, which prompted authorities to urge residents to remain inside their homes.

As the battle lines remain largely static while drone swarms prevent territorial gains, both nations have attempted to gain advantages through long-distance attacks. The conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of its neighboring country has now stretched beyond four years with no resolution in sight.

The Saint Petersburg strike, occurring fewer than 24 hours after the conclusion of the city’s premier economic forum, delivered an embarrassing setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to portray the war as a remote conflict that doesn’t impact ordinary Russian citizens.

Putin on Friday dismissed Zelenskyy’s proposal for a meeting, stating he sees “no point” in such discussions.

In related developments, a Russian strike Sunday claimed three lives and injured one person as they waited for transportation in Balabyne in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional military administration head Ivan Fedorov, who posted the information on his Telegram channel.

WASHINGTON, June 7 – More than three months have passed since President Donald Trump initiated military action against Iran, and American armed forces are now adapting to an extended period of conflict that exists somewhere between full warfare and complete peace.

Throughout naval vessels and military installations across the Middle East, American service members – including those healing from combat wounds – continue operations while engaging in periodic firefights with Iranian forces as the Navy maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, the Pentagon works urgently to increase production of ammunition supplies that have been depleted, while military families at home struggle with the emotional burden of prolonged overseas assignments.

Iran has continued launching retaliatory strikes against regional U.S. allies, including Bahrain and Kuwait, with Iran conducting a ballistic missile strike against Kuwait on Friday.

Although Trump announced a ceasefire agreement with Iran in April, the military situation has evolved into a deadlock, with Iran maintaining its closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most maritime traffic while Trump warns of resuming large-scale bombing campaigns against Iran should peace talks collapse.

This ongoing threat necessitates that American forces maintain heightened combat readiness.

Such preparedness involves everything from ensuring military bases are equipped with missiles and defensive interceptors to continuously analyzing intelligence gathered from unmanned aircraft and satellite surveillance to keep target lists within Iran current in case intensive combat operations restart.

“To maintain this constant state of ‘Level 10’ alert vigilance, to be ready to go at the drop of a hat, is a very stressful and difficult operational mission,” said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Joseph Votel, the former commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command, described the current conflict phase as “a very, very dangerous period for us.” He said keeping troops ready during the ceasefire is no small challenge.

“It puts on a lot of pressure on leaders to make sure that people are still at their edge,” Votel said.

Asked for comment, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the U.S. military stands ready to support deployed troops “in every way imaginable.”

“The Department of War is proud of our incredible troops. Their courage, readiness, grit, and unmatched professionalism are why they are the greatest fighting force in human history,” Parnell said.

IMPACT ON SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

American troops who are recovering from combat injuries face significant challenges as the military adapts to this prolonged state of wartime operations.

U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks, 37, is among those wounded who are healing from an Iranian drone strike early in the conflict that caused him to lose his pulse for several minutes.

Hit by shrapnel that cut through an artery and broke his jaw, Hicks is also dealing with the effects of a traumatic brain injury from the explosion that may affect him permanently.

“It sounded like a small prop plane coming in quick,” Hicks told Reuters. “And then it just smashed into the building and blew up. And I remember a big bright ball of flames and lots of pressure and heat, and I was out.”

Hicks is not alone in adjusting to these new circumstances. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, where he receives treatment, is managing a fresh wave of combat medical cases years following the conclusion of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Hicks said.

Approximately 400 American troops have sustained injuries during this conflict, with many suffering traumatic brain injuries similar to Hicks. More than 90% have returned to active service, according to military officials. Thirteen service members have lost their lives in the conflict.

Military families also face emotional strain amid uncertainty about events occurring during the ceasefire period.

Iranian state media regularly broadcasts assertions about strikes against American naval vessels and aircraft. On Friday, Iran claimed it fired warning shots at U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman, an incident the U.S. military denies occurred.

“It’s just really scary not to know details of what exactly is going on,” said Yadira Dessaint, mother of a sergeant in the Army Reserve from California’s San Fernando Valley.

Dessaint asked not to identify her son for fear of retaliation by the U.S. military. She has protested for an end to the war, which has damaged Trump’s popularity.

Just one in four respondents in a May Reuters/Ipsos poll said the U.S. military action in Iran has been worth it.

Dessaint said her son has witnessed multiple attacks on his position by Iranian drones, their debris falling around him after being intercepted by air defenses.

“I tend to send a text every day: ‘Good morning, son. I love you,’” Dessaint said. “Every so often, I get ‘I love you mom’ or ‘I miss you’ or something.”

CONTINUING DANGERS

While the United States and Iran work toward a potential agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil shipments passed before the conflict began, it appears increasingly probable that any deal would extend the current ceasefire while postponing resolution of the most complex issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program.

This suggests the current tense situation and demands on American military forces will persist.

Evidence of pressure on military operations can be seen in the massive consumption of ammunition during the war. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it could require years to completely restore American stockpiles of missiles and interceptors.

Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., said it is not just inventories that are eroding.

“Wars are expensive. They grind on the equipment and the people, as well as the missiles that are shot,” Karako said.

Back in Maryland, Hicks maintains contact with fellow American soldiers in the Middle East, some frustrated by deployments that are being extended as the conflict continues.

“They’re doing a lot better now than they were. The threat is not as bad,” he said, referring to the reduced scale of fighting.

But Hicks carries the memory of six fellow soldiers who died in the Kuwait attack that injured him, including Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39.

“I was talking to Sergeant Amor when the drone hit. She was maybe 10 feet away from me,” he said. “It’s something that I’m going to have to deal with the rest of my life.”

Security forces in Nigeria have successfully liberated 360 captives from kidnappers who were holding them in a remote mountain stronghold located in Borno state’s northeastern region, military officials announced Sunday following an intelligence-driven mission.

The West African country’s administration has faced ongoing challenges for many years in addressing security threats, including conflicts between herders and farmers in central regions, as well as kidnapping operations, Islamist extremists, and community defense groups operating throughout northern areas.

The captives had been detained by militants from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) in a remote location within the Mandara mountains in the state’s southern region, according to military officials. JAS represents the Arabic designation for Boko Haram’s primary faction.

The victims had been taken from different local communities in the region during an undetermined timeframe.

A combined task force including specialized military units conducted the liberation mission, compelling JAS militants to retreat from their stronghold positions, military sources reported.

Military officials confirmed that two young captives perished from exhaustion and the severe conditions they endured while being held prisoner.

The ongoing wave of abductions and the growing influence of armed organizations throughout Nigeria — the continent’s most populated nation — are expected to become major campaign topics leading up to the presidential vote scheduled for January.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung announced Sunday that he has demanded a comprehensive investigation into voting irregularities that disrupted the nation’s recent local elections, stating that both prosecutors and law enforcement will participate in the inquiry.

“As one citizen and as the president responsible for the government, I express deep regret,” he said in an X post.

The country’s local elections last week were disrupted when insufficient ballots prevented qualified voters from participating in the democratic process.

Following the controversy, the leader of the National Election Commission, an autonomous organization responsible for overseeing the election process, stepped down from their position. Despite this resignation, thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul, demanding that the local elections be conducted again.

In his social media statement, Lee described the situation as “difficult to comprehend” and criticized the NEC’s public response and explanations as inadequate.

The president revealed that he has requested parliament to launch a fact-finding investigation and develop preventive measures to avoid similar problems in future elections. He also indicated that he has called for discussions regarding structural changes to the NEC.

A newly premiered opera in Kyiv brings to life the harrowing real-world experiences of Ukrainian mothers who embarked on a perilous 3,000-mile journey to rescue their children from Russian captivity in occupied Crimea.

The musical work, titled “Mothers of Kherson,” received backing from New York’s Metropolitan Opera and draws from actual accounts of women who departed the southern Ukrainian city following its liberation in November 2022. Their mission: to retrieve their abducted children and bring them safely home.

These determined mothers navigated around the extensive 750-mile battle zone, traveling through Poland, Belarus and Russia to reach the facility in Crimea where their children were detained.

Ukrainian officials report that approximately 20,000 children have been confirmed as taken by Russian forces throughout the four-year conflict. A United Nations commission determined in March that Russia’s deportation and forced disappearance of Ukrainian children constitutes a crime against humanity.

Russian officials reject these allegations, claiming they relocated Ukrainian children to ensure their protection.

According to Save Ukraine, an organization that coordinates rescue efforts, only 1,343 children have successfully returned home to date.

Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, expressed his belief that using artistic expression to document Russian war crimes could increase public awareness and create a permanent historical record.

“It’s just an incredibly emotional story that these mothers would basically sacrifice everything, including their lives if necessary, to get their children back,” Gelb, 73, stated. He explained that transforming their experiences into operatic form amplified the story’s emotional impact.

“It has the capability of doing something that watching the news can’t possibly do, or reading a newspaper, which is to elevate our souls,” he remarked.

Among those attending the premiere at Kyiv’s historic 19th-century national opera house was Yulia Radzevilova, one of the mothers whose experience inspired Ukrainian composer Maxim Kolomiiets’ work. She successfully returned home just over three years ago with her son Maxim, who is now 16.

“The journey was very difficult and long,” the 39-year-old shared. Watching her story performed on stage moved her to tears: “I was transported back to those times and emotions. It sounds so beautiful.”

Radzevilova’s ordeal began when a teacher arranged what was described as a two-week recreational trip to Crimea in October 2022 for children to find respite from the war. However, Maxim remained there for four months. When Yulia requested his return, officials told her she would need to collect him personally.

Maxim, who was 12 during his detention, described the facility as resembling a “prison.” Children were prohibited from speaking Ukrainian, faced physical punishment, and were required to perform morning exercises while the Russian national anthem played.

He remembered tearfully contacting his mother through Telegram: “I wanted to go home. When I saw my mother, I was so happy.”

Thursday’s presentation, coinciding with Ukraine’s memorial day for children lost in the conflict, featured selections from the ongoing composition. The complete production will debut at the Polish National Opera in October, followed by its Metropolitan Opera premiere in April 2028.

Mykola Kuleba, who established Save Ukraine, recalled his surprise when Gelb contacted him following the 2023 rescues. The two later met in Washington to discuss the artistic project.

“An opera about kidnapped children – I’d never heard of such a thing,” Kuleba noted. He described experiencing the “magical music” at the premiere as a “moment of healing” during a period when Kyiv faces frequent air attacks.

Save Ukraine continues discovering additional cases of abducted children, many whose parents were killed, detained or have vanished. Kuleba reported that rescued children described being cut off from Ukrainian cultural connections and taught to view the West as hostile.

“We will not stop. We’ll continue our rescue missions,” he declared.

Keri-Lynn Wilson, who led the premiere performance, established the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra after the Russian invasion to highlight Ukraine’s artistic achievements globally. The Canadian conductor, who has Ukrainian heritage, believes the opera will increase awareness of Ukraine’s struggles and strength.

“Ukrainian culture and music are vital and alive and you can’t silence it,” said Wilson, who is married to Gelb.

Ukrainian authorities announced Sunday that a Russian drone attack targeted a nuclear fuel storage building located near the abandoned Chornobyl nuclear power plant, though radiation measurements at the location have remained normal.

According to statements from Ukraine’s General Staff and the country’s atomic energy agency, the strike partially demolished a building designed for receiving containers, though no nuclear fuel was being housed in the structure when the attack occurred.

Officials reported that a fire broke out following the strike but was successfully put out, with no casualties recorded from the incident.

Moscow has not issued any public response regarding the alleged strike on the facility, which sits approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from the Chornobyl plant, known as the location of history’s most catastrophic nuclear accident.

“This is not the first time Russian forces are putting Ukrainian nuclear facilities at risk,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

“Russia’s nuclear blackmail and threats to nuclear safety are systemic, deliberate, and unacceptable.”

Earlier this year in February 2025, a Russian attack drone caused damage to a protective structure covering the Chornobyl reactor that was destroyed during the April 1986 disaster and subsequent meltdown. Russia has rejected claims of responsibility for that incident.

Both Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of launching attacks against the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant located in southeastern Ukraine, which stands as Europe’s largest nuclear facility.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Citizens of Peru head to the polls Sunday to select between two candidates offering contrasting political visions, as the nation prepares to install its ninth president within a decade while grappling with escalating criminal activity.

The runoff features Keiko Fujimori, a conservative politician whose father previously held the presidency, facing off against Roberto Sánchez, a nationalist lawmaker. Both candidates advanced from an initial voting round in April where they defeated 33 other contenders, though each received less than 20% of voter support. Polling data suggests approximately 30% of the electorate has yet to make a decision.

Election officials anticipate a close contest on Sunday, and based on the previous round’s timeline, final results may take several days to determine. It required more than a month for electoral authorities to formally announce Fujimori and Sánchez as the April winners.

Peru mandates voting participation for citizens between 18 and 70 years old. Registration records show over 27 million eligible voters, with roughly 1.2 million expected to participate from overseas locations, primarily from the United States and Argentina.

April’s official tallies showed Fujimori securing 17% support compared to Sánchez’s 12%. Following more than six weeks of campaigning, a national survey by Ipsos revealed comparable backing for both candidates, with approximately 3 out of 10 respondents remaining uncommitted.

Fujimori carries associations with the authoritarian and corrupt administration of her late father, Alberto Fujimori, during the 1990s. She assumed the role of Peru’s first lady in 1994 following her parents’ marital split.

Sánchez maintains close ties to imprisoned former President Pedro Castillo, widely viewed as corrupt and ineffective. Castillo’s 16-month presidency witnessed over 70 Cabinet personnel changes.

Rising criminal activity, especially extortion schemes, represents the primary voter concern. A 2025 national survey conducted by the state’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics revealed that 84% of urban respondents expressed fear of becoming crime victims within the next year.

Analysts link the growing influence of organized crime in Peru to revenue generated by established criminal organizations through illegal gold mining operations in the Andes and Amazon regions.

Throughout her fourth presidential bid, Fujimori has emphasized tough crime-fighting measures. Her platform includes deploying technology to monitor extortion activities, militarizing border regions, and expanding police and military presence in dangerous areas. The 51-year-old candidate has also proposed requiring prisoners to work and “repay society.”

During the sole pre-runoff debate, Fujimori defended her father’s administration and vowed to eliminate crime similar to his defeat of the Shining Path, a violent extremist organization. She assured voters that under her leadership, they could leave their homes and return without falling victim to criminal acts.

Sánchez, a former minister who has gained popularity among rural constituents, has committed to fighting police corruption and advancing reforms allowing military assistance in security operations.

The 57-year-old candidate, who wears a wide-brimmed peasant hat given by Castillo, told debate audiences he would remain open to “all options to generate jobs and progress” while highlighting his backing of Chinese investments.

He has also attempted to calm investor anxieties about his candidacy, stating he will not nationalize assets belonging to transnational companies engaged in mineral or gas extraction from Peru.

Israeli defense forces reported successfully intercepting two projectiles that entered their airspace from Lebanon on Sunday, according to military officials. Warning sirens were activated in the northern border communities of Yiftah and Ramot Naftali during the incident.

The exchange comes as fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continues without resolution. The Lebanese militant organization has turned down ceasefire proposals that would tie any truce to their disarmament, demanding instead that Israel end its attacks and pull back troops from southern Lebanon before any agreement.

Iran has established a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, its regional ally, as a prerequisite for any potential peace agreement with the United States.

Hezbollah joined the conflict on March 2, stating it was responding to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader at the beginning of hostilities that have resulted in thousands of deaths in Lebanon and forced over one million people from their homes.

Israeli military operations in Lebanon have persisted even before the March 2 escalation, continuing despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement that began in November 2024. Israeli officials maintain their strikes target Hezbollah operatives and facilities.

Citizens of Armenia will cast ballots Sunday in parliamentary elections while the current administration faces increasing pressure from Russia as it attempts to strengthen relationships with Western nations and reduce dependence on Moscow.

The prime minister and his Civil Contract party are seeking a robust endorsement for shifting the country’s geopolitical direction. Opposition groups competing against them include several organizations that openly support closer Russian ties.

Moscow has imposed numerous trade barriers on Armenian goods in recent weeks, and senior Russian leadership, including the president, have made subtle warnings drawing parallels between Armenia’s trajectory and the path Ukraine has followed.

Armenian law enforcement announced they had issued six arrest warrants for Strong Armenia party members on Saturday, claiming they engaged in vote purchasing. The country’s Central Election Committee verified that the party would be permitted to participate after a Republic party member challenged efforts to exclude Strong Armenia based on corruption claims.

The National Assembly requires a minimum of 101 members serving five-year terms. Individual parties need at least 4% of votes to gain representation, while coalitions of three or more parties must reach 8%.

Sunday’s contest features two political coalitions and 17 individual parties. Political analysts and polling organizations widely expect the prime minister, who assumed office in 2018 after massive public demonstrations, to emerge victorious.

“I think Armenians expect, first of all, a peaceful, independent and prosperous Armenia from this election, as we have today,” said Hripsime Grigoryan, a Civil Contract member of the outgoing Parliament.

The prime minister has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining balanced international relationships that preserve positive connections with the United States, Europe, Russia, and regional powers including Turkey and Iran.

Nevertheless, Western leaders have shown significantly more support for the prime minister than Moscow has. Multiple European officials and the U.S. president have publicly backed his leadership.

“Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, of Armenia, a great friend and Leader, is making his Country strong, wealthy, and very secure,” the U.S. president posted on social media, encouraging Armenians to “Make (Armenia) Great Again.”

This Western support has frustrated the Kremlin. During a media appearance following Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9, the Russian president stated that if Armenians believed European Union membership would benefit them, “we will certainly have nothing to say against it.”

However, he also cautioned reporters, “We are currently living through everything that is happening in respect of Ukraine. And how did it start? It started with Ukraine’s joining or attempting to join the EU.”

In contrast to the Civil Contract party, most Armenian opposition groups favor strengthening connections with Moscow.

Strong Armenia advocates for expanding commercial relationships with Russia and has criticized the prime minister for allegedly attempting to provoke conflict with Moscow. The party’s leader is currently facing trial for supposedly promoting government overthrow, charges the Armenian-Russian billionaire dismisses as politically driven. He has directed the party’s campaign from house arrest with assistance from his nephew.

Additional opposition candidates include a former president leading the Hayastan bloc who has criticized the prime minister for “seriously undermining” Russian relations, and the Prosperous Armenia Party headed by a pro-Russian business leader.

These opposition groups have also sharply criticized the prime minister’s efforts to establish normal relations with neighboring Azerbaijan. The Armenian leader and the Azerbaijani president signed an initial agreement toward a peace settlement at the White House with the U.S. president in August.

The two nations have been engaged in a prolonged dispute over Karabakh, a separatist territory that ethnic Armenian forces supported by Armenia had controlled for decades. Azerbaijan gained complete control of the Karabakh region through a swift military campaign in 2023.

“I want this government to change because the condition of our country is getting worse,” Sahakyan Elina, a supporter of the Prosperous Armenia Party, told The Associated Press at a rally Thursday. “I don’t want to live with my enemies in unity.”

Russian authorities have implemented fresh restrictions on Armenian agricultural products leading up to the parliamentary election, prohibiting imports of Armenian flowers, specific cognac and wine varieties, eggplants, potatoes, dried fruits, fish, and additional items.

Russia claims these prohibitions stem from violations of agricultural import regulations.

The European Commission on Thursday described the move as “nothing short of economic coercion.”

“By extending export restrictions on Armenian products, Moscow is weaponizing economic relations for political pressure. We know this playbook all too well,” the commission said in a statement.

Moscow also maintains substantial control over Armenia’s energy sector and infrastructure while providing discounted natural gas, a leverage point the Russian president has emphasized during meetings with the Armenian prime minister.

The Russian president has also stressed that Armenia cannot simultaneously join the EU while remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led trade organization.

“Being in a customs union with the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union is impossible,” the Russian president said. “It’s simply impossible by definition.”

Citizens of Kosovo participated in another early parliamentary election Sunday, marking the third such vote in a year and a half as the small Balkan country struggles to break free from political gridlock while pursuing membership in the European Union and NATO.

The election became necessary when major political parties missed a March deadline to choose a successor for former President Vjosa Osmani. An initial election in February 2025 produced no clear results, leaving Kosovo without an operational government for most of the previous year and necessitating a December election.

This extended political turmoil has damaged Kosovo’s economic prospects, which were already struggling due to worldwide energy shortages and increased fuel costs. The nation, among Europe’s youngest and most economically disadvantaged, broke away from Serbia in 2008 following a 1998-99 conflict that concluded with NATO airstrikes forcing Serbian withdrawal.

The center-left Vetevendosje party, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, has maintained a solid parliamentary majority following December’s early election. However, selecting Kosovo’s president requires support from at least 80 members of the 120-seat assembly, demanding wider political cooperation.

Two primary opposition groups, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo, are contesting Kurti’s leadership, claiming he aims to dominate all government institutions throughout the nation.

Osmani, the former president, is campaigning with the opposition LDK faction in this election after breaking ties with Kurti when he declined to support her bid for another presidential term.

As political leaders point fingers over responsibility for the crisis, their failure to find common ground has disappointed Kosovo’s approximately 2 million eligible voters, who prefer government attention on economic issues and quality of life improvements.

Political experts predict minimal shifts in election results compared to December’s voting.

The absence of stable governance has prevented Kosovo from accessing EU and other international funding opportunities. European Council President Antonio Costa visited recently and called on Kosovo to resolve its political paralysis and focus on EU membership goals.

While the United States and most EU nations have recognized Kosovo’s independence, Serbia and its supporters, Russia and China, have not. Both Pristina and Belgrade face pressure to improve their relationship as a condition for advancing their respective EU membership applications.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is set to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang on Monday, operating from what appears to be a position of enhanced strength backed by solid Russian support, an expanding nuclear weapons program, and minimal interest in diplomatic engagement with Washington.

The Chinese leader, who heads the globe’s second-largest economy, is making his first journey to the neighboring nation in seven years as part of Beijing’s strategy to pull Pyongyang back under Chinese influence during this two-day diplomatic mission.

Last year, Xi welcomed Kim along with other world leaders to an elaborate military display in Beijing, and the two nations have subsequently restored certain passenger railway and aviation connections.

The current diplomatic gathering will likely stand in stark contrast to Xi’s previous state visit in 2019, which occurred just months following the collapse of negotiations between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding North Korean nuclear disarmament and sanctions removal.

In the years following that failed diplomacy, Kim has strengthened military and economic partnerships with Moscow, enhanced by sending North Korean forces to support Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, expanded his nation’s nuclear weapons program despite U.N. restrictions, and tightened border security to prevent citizen defections.

Ahead of Xi’s diplomatic arrival, North Korea has made several displays of military strength, revealing plans Saturday for a 10,000-ton naval destroyer and reasserting its nuclear weapons status on Sunday.

“Having Xi visit Pyongyang is a big deal and the culmination of a good couple of ‘comeback’ years for Kim,” said Andrew Gilholm, an analyst at consultancy Control Risks.

During Xi’s 2019 visit, Kim organized an extravagant welcome featuring thousands of citizens displaying cards that created Xi’s portrait and the Chinese flag, along with a musical performance of “I Love Thee, China.”

However, the relationship between both leaders has experienced tensions, especially regarding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Beijing has openly criticized Pyongyang’s atomic testing and urged the abandonment of its nuclear arsenal.

North Korea has remained wary of excessive dependence on China, with whom it maintains an 1,400-kilometer border. Russian backing appears to offer some strategic balance.

“North Korea is certainly gaining economically from what they’re able to provide militarily to Russia,” said John Delury, a senior fellow of the Asia Society. “That actually puts North Korea in a position where they may feel more confident to increase the volume of trade and investment with China.”

According to a regional diplomat, any meaningful results from the meeting will likely focus on economic collaboration, as North Korea launches a five-year development strategy that includes transforming tourism into a major industry and constructing additional housing.

North Korea closed its borders to international visitors in early 2020 while implementing some of the planet’s most severe COVID-19 restrictions, eliminating a small but crucial source of foreign currency.

Prior to the health crisis, Chinese visitors formed the foundation of North Korea’s tourism sector, representing approximately 90% of international tourists according to some assessments. The initial leisure travelers permitted to return following COVID were roughly 100 visitors from Russia’s Far East in February 2024, as reported by Russian regional officials and a Western tour operator.

Singapore’s foreign minister, following a recent visit, noted that North Korea has achieved economic advancement and indicated Pyongyang shows minimal interest in diplomatic engagement with either the United States or South Korea.

North Korea has abandoned reunification goals with South Korea, despite this being a longtime objective for both countries separated since the 1950-1953 Korean War. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung continues to support dialogue and has requested Xi’s assistance in these diplomatic efforts.

“Improving inter-Korean relations through the mediation of President Xi Jinping, we are hoping that President Xi would play that kind of role,” said Moon Chung-in, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul who was national security adviser to a previous South Korean president.

Kim has established certain non-negotiable positions, particularly concerning his nuclear weapons program. Beyond Sunday’s declaration, he demanded Thursday an “exponential” growth of the nation’s atomic weapons stockpile.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, predicted Kim would likely continue expanding nuclear material production, increase and position nuclear weapons, and stress the importance of strengthening Pyongyang’s nuclear defense capabilities.

“Kim is emboldened,” said Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

“He feels able to publicly pursue a marked expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal with a confidence that comes from knowing that as long as he doesn’t foment outright instability in the region, Beijing will not try to stop him.”

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced Sunday his selection of Han Seongsook as the country’s next prime minister nominee, according to the presidential office.

Han currently serves as the minister for small and midsize businesses and startups. Should parliament give its approval, she would mark a historic milestone as South Korea’s first woman prime minister in two decades.

The nominee brings significant private sector experience, having previously led South Korean internet giant Naver as its chief executive. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik indicated during a press briefing that Han is anticipated to spearhead the nation’s artificial intelligence transformation efforts.

“Han will be able to transform South Korea’s economic growth — driven by the semiconductor boom and rising exports — into inclusive growth that reaches everyone, including small and medium-sized enterprises,” Kang said.

Under South Korea’s governmental structure, the prime minister position functions primarily in ceremonial and administrative capacities within the presidential system.

In a basic tent within southern Gaza, Mostafa Shaaban constructed a crude bathroom facility for his family using whatever materials he could find. Behind a makeshift curtain, he excavated a shallow hole in the sand, surrounded it with concrete, placed a bucket without a bottom over the opening, and added an old plastic toilet seat on top.

The improvised latrine produces terrible smells and attracts swarms of insects just steps away from where his family sleeps and cooks. Weekly, Shaaban must manually remove waste from the pit. Despite these conditions, he considers it preferable to the overcrowded shared facilities used by hundreds of others in the expansive encampment.

“I did not want the kids and my wife to use any public toilet. It is humiliating,” said the 38-year-old Shaaban, who was driven from his home city of Rafah by Israeli forces two years ago and eventually settled in a tent camp in Khan Younis.

“The situation is revolting,” he said of having the toilet inside the tent, “but at least it has more dignity.”

Across the enormous temporary settlements that shelter most of Gaza’s 1.7 million displaced Palestinians, not one adequate restroom facility exists. Families without homes have been forced to create their own waste disposal systems, with some facilities serving multiple related households.

At shared camp restrooms, people of all ages form lengthy queues before using facilities separated from waiting crowds by only thin fabric or metal barriers. Women are afraid to walk to these communal areas after dark.

This creates a catastrophic health situation as terrible odors spread throughout the densely populated tent areas and sewage pools form from overflowing waste pits or people emptying their personal latrines. Rights organizations report that more than 80% of Gaza’s sewage treatment facilities have been destroyed during Israel’s military operations over the past 2 ½ years.

While some humanitarian organizations have undertaken small projects to enhance family sanitation facilities, these efforts remain limited in scope due to supply shortages. When Gaza’s reconstruction might commence remains highly uncertain.

The U.S.-backed official overseeing the ceasefire in place since October has blamed Hamas for holding up the process by failing to reach an agreement on disarmament. The ceasefire deal calls for the entry of major construction and repair equipment into Gaza even before disarmament, and so far little has entered.

“It’s the most basic right. Making a toilet is more important than food and water, because you see the insects everywhere, the smell covers everyone,” said Shaaban’s wife, Iman Mansour, who is pregnant with their third child. “We want something clean.”

Creating a latrine requires significant expense. Shaaban explained that establishing his toilet took considerable time because he needed to purchase piping for the waste hole and concrete for sealing. The concrete frequently deteriorates, requiring replacement when finances allow.

A ceramic toilet seat costs between 1,700 to 2,000 shekels ($500 to $680), making it unaffordable for most families. Even if purchased, such a seat would simply rest over the hole without flushing capability. People instead use modified chairs or bottomless containers, or squat directly over the opening.

One merchant operating from a tent in Khan Younis creates metal coverings that fit around latrine openings, offering easier cleaning and selling them for 100 shekels ($34).

At one encampment near Khan Younis, Khaled Kollab worked to clear sewage drainage and pools of contaminated water beside his shelter. His tent’s waste facility consists of a basic squat toilet without seating, constructed from salvaged materials due to financial constraints. His 3-year-old daughter, Sila, stood close by, her skin showing multiple sores.

“You go into this toilet and feel humiliation and shame,” Kollab said.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — For the first time in almost seven years, China’s Xi Jinping is making a journey to North Korea, providing Kim Jong Un with an opportunity to demonstrate his increasingly bold diplomatic strategy built on strengthening relationships with his nation’s historical Cold War partners.

Beijing, which serves as North Korea’s vital economic lifeline, is looking to reestablish its sway over an allied nation that has recently developed stronger connections with Russia.

This marks the initial face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since Kim made a trip to Beijing for a World War II commemoration in September 2025.

Here’s an examination of what both sides might hope to achieve from their scheduled discussions:

Following years of emphasizing Russia — sending thousands of soldiers and weapons to assist Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine — North Korea’s leader now wants enhanced relationships with China to further escape international isolation, adopting the concept of a “new Cold War” and positioning Pyongyang as part of a coalition opposing Washington.

Throughout previous leadership periods, North Korea has consistently pursued an “equidistance” strategy with Beijing and Moscow, leveraging its two primary supporters against one another to optimize benefits.

Although Kim is gaining essential support from Russia in return for supporting its military efforts, possibly including defense technologies and assistance, he cannot deliver on his commitment to enhance his people’s quality of life without increased economic help from China, according to Koh Yu-hwan, a former president of Seoul’s Institute of National Unification.

“North Korea vows to maintain a self-reliant economic system and focus on advancing its nuclear capabilities, but in reality it’s nearly impossible to raise living standards by mobilizing internal resources alone,” Koh said.

The discussions between Kim and Xi might cover restarting Chinese tourist visits to North Korea and activating a bridge spanning the Yalu River that has sat dormant for years following its construction, Koh explained. The leaders may also explore collaborative economic development initiatives in border areas shared by North Korea, China and Russia.

Questions remain about whether Kim will eventually leverage his strengthened diplomatic position to restart dialogue with Washington after his negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump broke down in 2019 due to disputes over sanctions against North Korea.

So far, Pyongyang has rejected Trump’s proposals to restart discussions following the American president’s return to office, demanding that Washington first abandon its requirement for North Korea’s denuclearization as a prerequisite for talks. Kim previously met Xi before his trips to Singapore and Vietnam for his meetings with Trump in 2018 and 2019, actions commonly viewed as attempts to strengthen his negotiating stance. “From North Korea’s perspective, there’s belief that having China’s backing provides a sense of security and confidence when seeking to improve relations with the United States,” said Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha University.

For China, this visit represents an opportunity to draw a traditional partner back into its sphere of influence by providing potential economic incentives and food assistance, traditional resources it has historically supplied to North Korea.

“I think the Chinese are privately a little uneasy at the embrace of Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, that the North Koreans have really gravitated towards very heavily towards the Russians. Part of Xi Jinping’s goal is to correct the balance,” said Mike Chinoy, a former CNN journalist and author of an upcoming book about the insular country.

Xi is conducting his first international journey in 2026 after becoming more selective about state visits following the pandemic. Following separate meetings with both Trump and Putin, this decision carries strategic significance.

“The trip ensures no one can reshape the peninsula’s security architecture without his concurrence,” Seong-Hyon Lee, a senior fellow at the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations, said.

Beijing is also taking a pragmatic approach regarding Kim’s obvious nuclear aspirations.

In April, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Pyongyang and met with Kim. Analysts highlighted the missing reference to “denuclearization” from the visit’s official statement, a shift from China’s typical position calling for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

“The most telling sign of the visit may be a silence: if China’s official readout omits the word ‘denuclearization,’ Beijing has effectively accepted North Korea as a nuclear state, folding the issue into its broader buffer strategy against the U.S.,” said Lee.

In return, China might pursue expanded access to the Tumen River estuary, which creates part of the boundary between the nations, and navigation privileges in waters near the Korean Peninsula’s eastern coastline.

Ultimately, Kim will likely provide Xi with an elaborate and ceremonial reception on a symbolic level, but China may struggle to gain substantial concessions from an increasingly self-assured Kim, analysts suggest.

“He’s going to give Xi Jinping a welcome befitting of the head of state of their giant neighbor, but he’s not going to play the pliant ‘little brother,’” said Chinoy.

Armenian citizens are casting their votes in a crucial parliamentary election that will determine whether the current government’s peace initiatives and pivot toward Western nations will continue following a devastating military defeat by Azerbaijan three years earlier.

Polling data indicates Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party maintains a commanding lead with support from as many as 32% of voters, while the pro-Russian Strong Armenia party holds second position at approximately 11%.

Since assuming office in 2018, Pashinyan has shifted Armenia’s foreign policy orientation toward Western nations and reduced dependence on Russia, the country’s historical ally, creating tension with Moscow ahead of Sunday’s voting.

Under Pashinyan’s leadership, the nation has seen its GDP per capita increase twofold, with the former journalist and opposition figure transitioning into political leadership.

“I really like how Armenia has been growing right before my eyes,” said 39-year-old voter Karine Darbinyan during a Pashinyan campaign event in Yerevan’s main square on Friday.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH DISPLACEMENT CREATES POLITICAL TENSIONS

Opposition groups and segments of the population have sharply criticized Pashinyan, claiming he surrendered to Azerbaijani demands, especially following the 2023 conflict.

In response, Pashinyan has made his peace negotiations the focal point of his campaign, highlighting the accord he reached at the White House last August with Azerbaijan, ending decades of intermittent warfare that began in the late 1980s.

The opposition landscape is largely controlled by Russia-aligned factions, including Strong Armenia, established last year by Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. His platform emphasizes maintaining close ties with Russia, which serves as a major energy provider and export market for Armenia.

During a Strong Armenia campaign gathering in Yerevan last week, a supporter identifying herself only as Gayane expressed backing for Karapetyan because he would guarantee “that our Armenia remains Armenian.”

Gayane explained her family origins trace to Nagorno-Karabakh, the disputed region populated by ethnic Armenians that Azerbaijan reclaimed during the 2023 conflict. Following the swift one-day military operation, the territory’s complete Armenian population evacuated in disorder.

“We lost Artsakh, hoping it would remain with us,” Gayane stated, referencing the traditional Armenian designation for the region.

“The current authorities have taken away that hope from us. And Samvel Karapetyan has now given us new hope that we can at least preserve our Armenia and our traditions.”

Opposition figures and human rights organizations have charged Pashinyan with authoritarian behavior following the imprisonment of numerous political rivals in recent years.

Government officials have generally supported law enforcement actions against people they claim are attempting to orchestrate government overthrows.

A series of detentions leading up to the election has focused on opposition members, including parliamentary nominees from the Strong Armenia party.

Voting locations opened at 8 a.m. local time and will remain accessible until 8 p.m. Approximately 2.48 million citizens are eligible to participate in the election within the landlocked nation of 3 million residents.

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected American efforts to eliminate her country’s nuclear weapons program, describing such goals as an outdated fantasy during remarks made Sunday.

Her comments preceded the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to North Korea for discussions with Kim Jong Un, marking his first trip to the nation in seven years.

“The U.S. assertion to backbite the status of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state has no legally binding force and no one will be bound by the U.S. unilateral rhetoric,” stated Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, referring to North Korea by its official designation.

Kim Yo Jong characterized as misleading information an American claim that President Donald Trump and Xi had agreed on shared objectives to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear capabilities during their recent summit in Beijing.

“Some officials in the United States have failed to wake from their escapist and anachronistic dream,” Kim Yo Jong declared.

Since Kim Jong Un’s diplomatic efforts with Trump ended unsuccessfully in 2019, North Korea has concentrated on expanding its nuclear capabilities. Experts believe the North Korean leader seeks international acknowledgment as a nuclear power to pressure for the removal of international economic restrictions against North Korea.

While touring a newly constructed nuclear materials facility last week, Kim Jong Un announced North Korea would strengthen the nation’s nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.” Sunday’s state media coverage showed Kim Jong Un had inspected a weapons manufacturing facility the day before, where he advocated for expanding the country’s missile manufacturing capabilities by 2.5 times within a five-year timeline.

In her remarks, Kim Yo Jong criticized the U.S. and South Korea for pursuing “ceaseless arms build-ups,” describing her brother’s efforts for “steadily beefing up the nuclear war deterrent for self-defense” as “an irreversible final conclusion to be carried out unconditionally.”

Experts suggest Xi’s upcoming North Korea visit primarily aims to reestablish China’s influence over North Korea, which has increasingly prioritized its relationship with Russia in recent years. They anticipate Xi will likely avoid directly addressing nuclear disarmament and instead propose economic cooperation programs during his discussions with Kim Jong Un.

North Korea has deployed military personnel and conventional armaments to Russia supporting its military campaign against Ukraine. American and South Korean officials report that North Korea has received economic and additional support from Russia in exchange.

Voters in Kosovo are participating in parliamentary elections on Sunday, marking the third such vote in just a year and a half as the nation continues to grapple with a prolonged governmental crisis where no single political party has managed to secure sufficient control.

The Balkan nation, which holds the distinction of being Europe’s newest country, maintains goals of European Union membership but has operated without an effective government for the majority of the past year. This dysfunction stems from a divided parliament that has been unable to select both a parliamentary speaker and a president.

While recent polling data is unavailable, political experts anticipate another win for Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party. Nevertheless, analysts believe he will need to negotiate agreements with rival parties to obtain the two-thirds parliamentary support necessary for choosing a new president.

In December’s previous election, Kurti’s party secured 51.1% of votes, an increase from the 42% they received in February 2025. Despite this success, disagreements with other parties over presidential candidates led to parliament’s dissolution in April and triggered this latest emergency election.

European Union officials have called on Kosovo’s political leaders to establish robust governmental institutions capable of implementing the changes required for EU membership. Kosovo proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008.

Kurti’s political movement initially gained power in 2021 running on a platform emphasizing nationalism and social welfare programs. The party maintains a pro-Western stance like other Kosovo political groups while rejecting additional compromises with Serbia, a relationship that continues to face difficulties.

Election officials report that over 900 candidates representing 17 political parties and three coalition groups are vying for positions in the 120-member parliament.

Registration records show approximately 2.1 million eligible voters, a number exceeding Kosovo’s domestic population of 1.6 million residents due to a substantial expatriate community living primarily throughout western Europe. This overseas population typically supports Kurti’s party.

The United States Treasury Department has extended negotiations for Hungary’s top oil and gas company, MOL, to acquire majority control of a Serbian oil firm currently owned by Russia, the Hungarian corporation announced over the weekend.

The transaction centers on acquiring a 56.16% ownership stake from Russia’s Gazprom Neft in the Serbian oil company NIS.

American sanctions were placed on NIS in October due to its Russian ownership connections, as part of wider economic measures against Moscow’s energy industry following Russia’s military action in Ukraine. The U.S. has been advocating for the removal of Russian control, with NIS obtaining multiple temporary exemptions from the American government during this period.

According to a stock exchange announcement, MOL has obtained authorization from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to extend discussions through June 16.

The company stated that talks have advanced significantly and the latest license extension will enable completion of the transaction paperwork.

MOL had previously obtained a two-week deadline extension through June 6 last month to wrap up negotiations, before seeking another extension this past Wednesday to finish the discussions.

The United States plans to redirect Iranian assets to assist Gulf nations in reconstruction efforts following damage from Iranian attacks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation revealed Saturday. This development follows Friday’s Iranian strikes against Kuwait and Bahrain.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has instructed a team to evaluate costs for damage Gulf allies have already sustained from Iranian actions, the source indicated, noting that the US may utilize Iranian assets for those repairs as well.

This announcement came one day after Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, stated to CNN that any peace agreement would depend on releasing $24 billion in Iranian assets currently frozen by the United States.

The source did not detail which specific assets the Treasury Department was reviewing Saturday. The terminology describing these new measures appeared to extend beyond just frozen assets.

Peace talks seem to have reached an impasse, though a minister from mediating nation Pakistan flew to Tehran Saturday carrying correspondence for Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.

This potential redirection of Iranian assets may introduce fresh tensions to an already fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which faced new challenges this weekend through military actions by both nations.

American forces targeted Iranian coastal radar installations at Goruk and Qeshm Island, both located in the Strait of Hormuz, early Saturday following the downing of Iranian-launched drones that US Central Command described as threatening maritime traffic.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported retaliating against US installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, while Kuwait’s army announced Saturday it intercepted seven ballistic missiles that flew over civilian neighborhoods, causing property damage but no injuries.

Bahrain experienced warning sirens as residents received shelter advisories. Both Kuwait and Bahrain denounced the attacks.

Iran subsequently claimed successful ballistic missile strikes on US bases in both nations, though the US military stated six missiles were intercepted while a seventh failed to reach its intended target.

The US and Iran have maintained primarily indirect negotiations seeking an interim agreement to end the three-month conflict, leaving matters such as Iran’s nuclear program for future discussions.

However, reaching an agreement has proven challenging while both sides continue periodic confrontations.

Tehran seeks access to billions in oil revenues, sanctions relief on crude exports, removal of US port blockades, and control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively closed this waterway, which previously handled approximately one-fifth of global oil transit before hostilities began.

Iranian state media confirmed Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s Saturday arrival in Tehran for discussions with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Naqvi indicated he was delivering a “special letter” from his nation’s army chief and prime minister to Iran’s Khamenei, ISNA reported.

Trump faces increasing domestic political pressure over rising fuel costs to conclude the unpopular conflict. He informed NBC that while most Iranian drone and missile production facilities had been eliminated, Iranians retained access to roughly one-fifth of their missiles.

“They have some missiles, they have some drones. I would say percentage wise, maybe 21% to 22% of their missiles. It’s a lot of missiles, but it’s not what it was when we first attacked,” Trump stated to NBC News’ “Meet the Press” program, according to network excerpts released Friday.

Following the February 28 launch of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, Tehran struck Gulf states housing US bases and essentially halted Strait of Hormuz shipping.

The conflict has elevated oil prices and disrupted supply chains for various goods, including humanitarian assistance.

In related Lebanese fighting, two Lebanese army officers and one soldier died in an Israeli attack on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army reported. Israeli military officials said they were investigating the incident.

Iran has established a Lebanon ceasefire between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah as a prerequisite for any peace agreement with Washington.

Lebanon’s army announced Saturday that its commander, General Rudolf Haykal, departed for Pakistan following an invitation from his Pakistani counterpart, providing no additional details.

The unexpected visit drew attention given Washington’s insistence — along with Lebanese leadership including the president — that Lebanese ceasefire discussions remain distinct from US-Iran negotiations mediated by Pakistan.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected this week a US-mediated agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government to cease Lebanese fighting. The arrangement did not include Israeli withdrawal provisions and Hezbollah had not participated in negotiations.

Israel has declared its forces would not withdraw or suspend operations in the country amid growing tensions with the US.

The sister of North Korea’s leader has declared that the nation will maintain its nuclear weapons capabilities and refuses to accept any threatening actions, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency on Sunday.

Kim Yo Jong’s statement comes as China’s President Xi Jinping prepares to travel to North Korea on Monday, marking his first visit to the country in almost seven years. The trip represents Beijing’s effort to strengthen relationships with Pyongyang, which remains China’s sole formal treaty partner.

During the visit, Xi is expected to hold discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, focusing on their nations’ relationship and shared interests, according to statements from China’s foreign ministry.

Russian military officials announced Saturday that their air defense systems destroyed 339 Ukrainian drones during a 13-hour span across multiple regions of the country, including the capital area.

According to a statement posted on Telegram by the defense ministry, the drone interceptions occurred across 13 different regions plus areas above the Black Sea, taking place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (0400-1700 GMT).

The affected areas spanned from central Russian territories to the Leningrad and Pskov regions in the country’s northwest, according to the ministry’s list of locations where interceptions occurred.

Throughout the day, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted multiple updates on Telegram describing air defense operations against drones in the capital region. Unofficial tallies indicated that 14 drones were brought down in the Moscow area during the day.

The country’s aviation authority issued multiple flight suspension orders at various airports throughout the day. News agencies reported that the Black Sea resort city of Sochi received four separate flight suspension orders at different times.

A 20-year-old American college student who vanished during a family vacation in Japan has been discovered deceased in the mountains outside Kyoto, according to his mother’s social media announcement on Saturday.

James Higginbotham’s body was located in a mountainous region by volunteer search-and-rescue teams, his mother Nancy Higginbotham revealed in her Facebook post.

Authorities have not yet released information about what caused his death or additional circumstances surrounding the discovery.

“Our family is heartbroken,” she wrote. “The grief we feel is impossible to put into words.”

Higginbotham, who lived in Alabama and studied engineering at Auburn University, was last spotted departing from a Kyoto train station on May 29. His cell phone stopped working and location tracking was disabled later that evening, his mother had previously shared with Reuters.

Nancy Higginbotham had been monitoring his whereabouts through the Life360 application until that point, she explained.

His family suspected he was traveling to a hiking trail in the area. Nancy Higginbotham had earlier told Reuters that she thought her son might have “needed space.”

The family had traveled to Japan to mark James Higginbotham’s younger brother’s high school graduation celebration.

Japanese law enforcement conducted an extensive three-day search operation involving approximately 100 officers, search dogs, and aircraft, but failed to locate any evidence of his whereabouts, according to CNN’s reporting.

American military forces destroyed Iranian missiles and unmanned aircraft aimed at Gulf region targets and the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday, while diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran persist despite escalating regional tensions.

CENTCOM reported that Iran launched seven ballistic missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain hours after American forces destroyed four Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain hours after US Central Command shot down four Iranian one–way attack drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said Saturday local time in a statement.

Preliminary assessments showed that six of the missiles were intercepted, and the seventh failed to reach its intended target. CENTCOM said no US personnel were injured in the incident.

The command also rejected Iranian claims regarding hitting American military facilities in the Gulf. “Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false,” CENTCOM added. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously announced that it struck what it described as “enemy bases in the region.”

CENTCOM said the drones intercepted over the Strait of Hormuz represented an immediate danger to maritime activity in the area.

The command further reported that US forces targeted Iranian surveillance radar installations in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. According to CENTCOM, the strikes were carried out “to defend against further maritime attacks.”

Separately, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported Saturday that Iranian forces fired several warning shots near the Strait of Hormuz. The agency said the activity “may have been related” to the repositioning of US naval vessels operating in the region.

The developments came as discussions continued regarding a possible settlement between Washington and Tehran. CNN reported that a senior Iranian official said any prospective agreement would depend on the Trump administration releasing $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets and warned of the possibility of a broader conflict.

President Trump expressed optimism about the diplomatic track on Friday: “The situation with Iran seems to be going quite well,” President Trump told reporters during an event with farmers in Wisconsin.

“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly, and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or the very tough way,” he said. “The very tough way is maybe the easier way, but we’re going to come out.”

US and Iranian negotiators reached a tentative agreement one week ago to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and begin a new round of discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program.