Author: Admin

Medical facilities in Gaza reported that nine Palestinians died during overnight attacks in Gaza City, as international attention remained largely focused on the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Hospital officials at Shifa Hospital confirmed they received the bodies from at least four different attacks that occurred throughout Gaza City during the night.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided any statement regarding these overnight operations. Earlier this week, Israeli forces eliminated a senior Hamas military commander, coming just two weeks after similar strikes that killed that leader’s predecessor.

These deaths represent the most recent casualties in the Palestinian territory following an October ceasefire agreement that aimed to end more than two years of warfare between Israeli forces and the Hamas militant organization controlling Gaza. Despite the reduction in major combat operations, the fragile truce continues to experience nearly constant Israeli military action.

Israeli military forces have conducted numerous aerial bombardments and regularly engage Palestinians approaching military-controlled areas, resulting in over 936 deaths since the ceasefire began, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports.

The ministry operates under Hamas leadership but maintains credibility with United Nations organizations and independent analysts. Officials do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties in their reporting.

Hamas fighters have launched armed assaults against Israeli troops, with Israel stating its military operations respond to ceasefire violations or threats against its personnel. Israeli military casualties in Gaza total four soldiers since the truce took effect.

Israel began its Gaza military campaign following Hamas’ October 2023 assault that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken as hostages.

A mountain guide from Nepal has been pulled to safety from Mount Everest after enduring nearly a week on the world’s tallest peak with no food or supplemental oxygen, according to climbing officials who described the survival as extraordinary.

The 52-year-old guide, Dawa Sherpa, had been descending the mountain with a Polish climber following an unsuccessful summit attempt when he disappeared somewhere between Camp III and Camp IV.

Climbing records show Dawa was last spotted on May 29. While his client made it back to base camp safely, officials have not explained how the two became separated during their descent.

The pair were among the final mountaineers attempting Everest during this year’s climbing season, which concluded last month.

Lama Kazi Sherpa, who works with the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, reported that his cleanup crew found Dawa positioned above base camp close to the Khumbu Icefall and successfully brought him to safety. The team had been conducting post-season cleanup operations when they made the discovery.

Medical personnel transported Dawa, who was still wearing his climbing gear, from the helicopter landing area to a medical facility using a stretcher.

Family members report that Dawa is recovering and receiving medical care for frostbite along with other health issues related to his ordeal.

“He recognised me … is good and speaks,” said Mhendo Lhamo Sherpa, the guide’s daughter. “We are happy.”

The Himalayan Times reported that throughout seven days, the guide survived with “no food, no bottled oxygen, no rescue team.”

This climbing season saw unprecedented numbers, with more than 1,000 mountaineers and their guides successfully reaching Everest’s summit. The government distributed 494 climbing permits during the period.

Earlier in the season, numerous climbers found themselves stuck at base camp when a massive glacial ice formation blocked access to the summit route during April.

Vietnam’s foreign ministry has pushed back against U.S. Trade Representative findings that suggest the Southeast Asian nation has not done enough to prevent trade involving goods produced through forced labor.

Speaking at a Thursday press briefing in Hanoi, foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that the U.S. assessment “does not fully or accurately reflect Vietnam’s mitigation efforts.”

“Vietnam’s policy strictly prohibits any form of forced labour, and it complies with the regulations of the International Labour Organization,” Hang explained during the regular press conference.

The disagreement follows the Trump administration’s announcement earlier this week of proposed tariffs reaching 12.5% on goods from 60 nations, including Vietnam. The administration determined these countries had not adequately addressed trade involving forced labor products, a claim that affected trading partners have disputed.

This investigation has occurred alongside a dramatic increase in Vietnamese exports to America. During the first quarter of this year, the U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam hit $54.8 billion, ranking second only to Taiwan and exceeding deficits with major exporters China and Mexico, according to U.S. trade data.

The Trump administration has consistently expressed its goal of reducing trade deficits with other nations.

“Vietnam has been and will continue to exchange and work with the United States in a constructive and cooperative manner to resolve existing disagreements, while always trying to protect legitimate interests of workers and businesses,” Hang stated.

The Trump administration has focused on Vietnam for what it considers trade distortions through excess capacity, intellectual property violations and the use of goods from forced labour.

CANTON, Mich. — Each week, Mirvet Makki allocates a portion of her catering business profits to assist Lebanese families forced from their homes due to ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah forces.

The 47-year-old entrepreneur, who prepares traditional Lebanese cuisine including couscous dishes and kibbeh in Dearborn Heights, came to Michigan in 1990. However, her emotional ties remain strong to Bint Jbeil, her hometown village, which has become one of the most severely affected regions in southern Lebanon.

The current round of violence has touched virtually every Lebanese American family, forcing over 1 million residents to flee their homes — approximately one-sixth of Lebanon’s entire population — while claiming more than 3,500 lives. This represents Israel’s most extensive military operation in Lebanon in over 25 years.

“I was thinking, ‘What can I do for other people?’” Makki said. “So I used my business.”

Despite increasing living expenses across America, she explained, “the money I can spare personally, I’ve been sending it to family.”

Throughout metro Detroit, where Arabic script decorates restaurant storefronts, coffee shops, and bakeries along busy commercial strips, a profound sadness has settled over the community as residents monitor the distant crisis.

Similar to Makki’s experience, many community members struggle with feelings of guilt and powerlessness. Providing assistance to relatives who cannot or will not abandon their homeland becomes increasingly challenging amid Lebanon’s deteriorating economic situation.

“Honestly it’s hard. Like, what do you say?” Makki said. “They’re going to ask me what I’m doing. Let’s say I’m at work. They lost their jobs. Let’s say I tell them I’m home. They lost their homes.”

Lebanese migration to America began in the 1890s. Current census figures show approximately 625,000 Lebanese Americans residing in the United States, though alternative calculations suggest the population may reach 1.4 million.

Political perspectives regarding Lebanon’s government, Hezbollah, and Israel differ throughout the diaspora community, mirroring the divisions within Lebanon itself, where viewpoints correlate strongly with religious identity. The nation’s demographics include roughly equal proportions of Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and various Christian groups, plus a smaller Druze population.

Regardless of these disagreements, the worldwide Lebanese diaspora maintains strong homeland connections, partially through billions of dollars in annual remittances.

“There is really no Lebanese homeland without the Lebanese diaspora,” Edward Curtis, director of Arabic Studies at Indiana University, said.

Lebanese Americans frequently unite around shared concerns, such as during the 2024 presidential campaign supporting the “uncommitted movement” opposing American backing for Israel’s Gaza operations, or denouncing the Michigan synagogue incident perpetrated by a Lebanese individual in March.

“When they see suffering in Lebanon, people’s immediate reaction … is for the community to come together, raise funds, raise money, and try to help everybody as much as they can,” Akram Khater, director of Lebanese Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University, said.

Most community members depend on mutual support networks rather than seeking federal government assistance.

Curtis noted that numerous Lebanese Americans have become frustrated with American political processes, instead choosing to “celebrate Lebanese life when other peoples are threatening its death.”

Maya Attoui, whose parents remain in Beirut, coordinates a metro Detroit charity event supporting Lebanon while increasing public awareness about the situation. Although lacking sufficient personal funds to help her extended family members, she believes an event featuring activities and speakers will generate substantially more resources.

“We don’t feel like talking, we don’t feel like cooking in our houses,” Attoui said. “We’re just 24/7 on the phone or on the news. Our heart is really melting and breaking because of whatever we see.”

While international remittances flow to nations worldwide, Lebanon demonstrates exceptional reliance on its extensive diaspora population. The nation’s financial system has collapsed dramatically in recent years, with the American dollar increasingly replacing local currency in daily transactions.

During Makki’s February Lebanon visit, she witnessed dramatic price increases firsthand. Previously, $200 covered both vehicle rental and hotel accommodations; this trip, the same amount barely purchased a single restaurant meal.

Some individuals utilize online crowdfunding platforms. Although established humanitarian organizations exist, most prefer transferring funds directly to family members.

Makki plans to limit her total contributions to $10,000 to avoid raising regulatory concerns. Beyond that threshold, she joked, “Maybe take it there myself?”

Nadia Bryant, 37, from Troy, Michigan, regularly transfers money to her half-sisters in Lebanon, who currently occupy temporary shelter after Israeli forces entered their village of Ayta ash-Shab.

Instead of using the funds personally, Bryant explained, her sisters directed the money toward helping orphaned children.

“They’re such righteous people,” Bryant said. “They are not even trying to take the money and get themselves a better house or anything. They’re like, ‘Oh, we have shelter, but this person needs a mattress.’”

Through WhatsApp, her sister shared an image of a boiling teapot positioned over flames among the scattered remains of their former residence. The message stated: “Best cup of tea since 9 october 2023.”

“I don’t even ask, ‘How are you?’ That feels so stupid to me,” Bryant said. “I ask, you know, ‘What does today look like,’ or ‘Where are you today?’”

Attoui, who organizes fundraising efforts, has repeatedly attempted to persuade her family to relocate to America since her own 2006 arrival. They refuse to depart. Additionally, the United States suspended immigrant visa processing for Lebanese citizens in late January.

“I have all my aunts and my cousins over there,” she said. “So like, how many people can you bring here?”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei delivered a message Thursday claiming that the country’s adversaries have shifted tactics after suffering military setbacks, now attempting to weaken public morale and create internal discord.

In his statement, Khamenei emphasized the need for national solidarity when confronting these challenges and cautioned that behaviors fostering pessimism or discouragement among citizens serve to assist hostile forces.

The statement was delivered on his behalf during commemorative events honoring the death anniversary of Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic, alongside observances of an important Shi’ite religious occasion.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Violence broke out Wednesday night between opposition supporters and government security forces in Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu, occurring just hours before a scheduled protest against the current administration.

Casualty numbers from the fighting were not immediately released, though the violence prompted both the United Nations and United States to call for calm as government officials and opposition leaders pointed fingers at each other for starting the conflict.

Local residents described hearing intense gunfire and explosions as battles spread across multiple neighborhoods on Wednesday.

“We heard heavy weapons fire, and people were fleeing their homes,” said Abdullahi Mohamed, who lives in the city’s Howlwadaag district. “Many families left the area looking for safer places.”

Opposition leaders stated that Thursday’s planned demonstration was meant to challenge what they describe as constitutional violations and attempts by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to extend his time in office. Government officials have denied these claims.

Police in Mogadishu characterized the violence as stemming from “organized attacks” conducted by armed militias connected to groups with political motivations.

“The incidents were not the organization of peaceful public demonstrations, but rather coordinated armed acts that directly threatened the security, order and stability of the capital,” the police said in a statement.

According to police, state security forces fought off attacks on their locations and began investigations to determine who was responsible for planning, funding and executing the violence.

Opposition figures claimed that security forces targeted homes associated with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

“We are under attack,” Khaire said in a statement. “For the second time in less than 24 hours, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has directed armed forces against our peaceful gatherings.”

Khaire reported that traditional elders, politicians, and community leaders were gathered at his home when the attack took place.

Government officials disputed this version of events.

The U.N. expressed serious concern about the fighting. Secretary-General António Guterres noted that the violence caused deaths, civilian injuries, and damage to essential infrastructure.

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns all acts of violence and incitement to violence undertaken for political advantage,” he said in a statement. Guterres also called on all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilians and resolve political differences through dialogue.

The U.S. also expressed worry about the conflict. The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu called the violence “reckless” and pushed for Somali leaders to find a peaceful solution.

“Somali leaders on all sides have a responsibility to preserve stability and resolve differences through peaceful means,” the embassy said. “Actions taken in the coming hours and days may have lasting consequences for Somalia’s security, unity, and future.”

Khaire accused the president of using government security forces against political rivals and claimed that troops trained and equipped by international allies to combat the al-Shabab extremist group had been turned against opposition members.

The fighting highlights increasing political tensions as disagreements over the nation’s electoral and constitutional future have created growing friction between government and opposition leadership. Somalia remains engaged in fighting al-Shabab while working to build stronger government institutions with help from international allies.

HAVANA — Rising temperatures and mounting concern gripped residents on a Havana street as they confronted a makeshift garbage dump sprawling across the sidewalk.

The pile contained decomposing food waste, ripped plastic bags, cardboard pieces and construction debris. Flies swarmed the area while stray cats prowled through the refuse, which emitted a foul odor carried by ocean breezes.

“What you’re looking at is depressing,” lamented María Odalys Ramírez, a 63-year-old who lives across the street from the capital’s iconic Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital. “The trash in this area, the flies, the rats, the filth — it’s completely unsanitary.”

For several months, Havana’s 2 million inhabitants — representing one-fifth of Cuba’s nearly 10 million population — have endured growing mounds of refuse on virtually every corner. Conditions worsened following a U.S. energy blockade that caused electrical blackouts, water supply disruptions and a fuel shortage that left government waste collection vehicles unable to operate.

With no regular pickup service, citizens have resorted to incinerating garbage in public areas, prompting health authorities to express concern about dangerous fumes.

Local residents worry that approaching months will bring deteriorating circumstances as summer temperatures rise and hurricane season approaches.

An extensive survey conducted by The Associated Press throughout the city documented similar conditions in neighborhoods across Havana, where locals reported sporadic garbage truck visits at best.

From downtown districts to suburban areas, vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians navigate around waste heaps. Some people sift through the debris searching for salvageable items.

Municipal data from last July showed Havana generated solid waste equivalent to roughly 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools daily. Even at that time, city services managed to collect only 57% of the total.

The “improper management of urban solid waste” has been designated as a major environmental concern in Cuba’s national strategy, according to Odalys Goicochea, an official at the ministry of science, technology and the environment.

Goicochea cautioned that the present waste collection crisis, when combined with increasing heat and approaching rainfall, threatens to make matters worse. The combination of elevated temperatures and humidity could lead to explosive growth of disease-transmitting flies and mosquitoes.

The emergency has prompted grassroots efforts to address neighborhood cleanup needs.

El Batazo represents one such program covering eight city blocks in Havana. A waste collector sounds a bell twice each day to gather pre-separated household garbage, while additional team members maintain street cleanliness.

Participants generate income by selling recyclable materials including aluminum and glass, convert organic waste into animal feed, and deposit remaining refuse in containers for eventual landfill disposal.

“The fundamental impact of this project is proving to the community that it can be done,” said Evelyn Martínez, a collaborator at El Batazo. “It is entirely possible to live in a cleaner environment, give value to what we call ‘trash’ and put it to good use.”

When Anna Yegoyan relocated from Armenia’s capital city to the mountainous northern community of Ijevan, she had to navigate rough, damaged roadways to reach her destination.

Today, she highlights freshly constructed streets and roadways as evidence of progress during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s leadership, who was raised in that area, and declares her intention to support him in Sunday’s electoral contest.

The nation has transformed into “a proper country,” stated the 40-year-old, who participated in a Pashinyan campaign event in the community of approximately 20,000 residents. “Our place in the world is more recognisable.”

Citizens will cast ballots in a parliamentary election on June 7 that will evaluate Pashinyan’s attempts to establish peace with long-standing adversary Azerbaijan and strengthen relationships with Western nations, shifting away from traditional ally Russia. He expresses his goal to transform the landlocked country of 3 million into a “crossroads of peace,” reopening borders with Azerbaijan and its partner Turkey that have been sealed for years.

Polling data indicates Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party holds the lead with approximately 30% backing, while his primary opponent, Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who advocates for strengthened Moscow relations, follows with 6 to 11% support.

The shift from Russia represents a sensitive maneuver. Armenia exports roughly one-third of its goods to Russia and has historically relied on Moscow for energy needs. Recently, Russia – which operates a significant military installation in Armenia – has increased pressure by limiting various Armenian exports and threatening to eliminate affordable gas and oil supplies.

Yerevan’s administration has mostly minimized these concerns, though polling reveals one-third of Armenians now consider Russia threatening, ranking only behind Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Pashinyan has received strong backing from U.S. President Donald Trump, who facilitated discussions between him and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev while promoting a transportation route through southern Armenia as part of peace negotiations.

European leaders are also monitoring developments closely. Seeking influence in a region positioned between Russia and Iran, Europe has clear interests in Armenia “being more sovereign, more autonomous, and more able to trade westwards,” according to Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe.

Sunday’s election marks the first since Armenia’s 2023 military loss, when Azerbaijan reclaimed the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, causing approximately 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee.

Pashinyan emphasizes his achievements toward peace and reopening the Turkish border, closed since 1993. However, no agreement with Baku has been finalized, and opponents argue he has surrendered too much.

“The ruling party says peace has arrived, (but this) diverts the responsibility for all the security failures we’ve had throughout the years,” said Tigran Grigoryan, director of the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security think-tank in Yerevan.

If Pashinyan cannot achieve a two-thirds parliamentary majority, his commitment to Azerbaijan regarding a constitutional referendum would become challenging to honor, potentially hampering peace initiatives.

He also confronts accusations of authoritarian behavior from opposition groups and international human rights organizations. Numerous political opponents have been arrested, including supporters of main challenger Karapetyan, who remains under house arrest for allegedly inciting power seizure.

Karapetyan and another candidate, former President Robert Kocharyan, seek to preserve positive Russian relations and caution that Pashinyan is developing excessive closeness with Azerbaijan.

During the 2021 election, Pashinyan gained backing from voters outside power centers while struggling in the affluent capital.

“Pashinyan is able to talk the language of the common people, the language people understand,” said Mikayel Zolyan, a political analyst and former member of parliament.

Since assuming leadership during the 2018 Velvet Revolution, he has presided over doubled GDP per capita, established hundreds of kindergartens, and constructed thousands of kilometers of roadway.

Such achievements hold no significance for Anahit Grigoryan, who escaped Nagorno-Karabakh with her young child after her spouse died in a military fuel depot explosion during the brief conflict.

Now 26, she resides with four family generations in a village near Yerevan, surviving on modest refugee assistance and income from selling baked goods made with eggs from her backyard poultry.

As a former Karabakh resident, Grigoryan would require Armenian citizenship documentation to participate in voting, but expressed no interest.

“I feel like my voice will not be heard,” said the mother of four-year-old Karen. “Justice, for me is not realistic…It’s very hard for me to look my mother, my grandmother, and other women who lost their kids in the eyes.”

BELGRADE, June 4 — Serbia’s intelligence service has cautioned President Aleksandar Vucic against attending a summit in Montenegro on Friday where European Union and Balkan leaders will gather, pointing to safety concerns amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the neighboring nations.

The coastal town of Tivat will host French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Friday as they meet with leaders from six Western Balkan nations to evaluate progress on EU membership prospects.

In a Wednesday evening statement, Serbia’s Security and Information Agency (BIA) declared that Montenegro poses significant safety risks for Vucic because of “hostile activities of foreign secret services and a presence of a criminal clan there.”

Despite the security warning, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic indicated that Vucic intends to proceed with his Montenegro travel plans and expects to conduct significant meetings during his visit.

The security alert follows reports from media outlets in Podgorica that Montenegro authorities on Wednesday rejected entry to an aircraft carrying 87 Serbian men who had landed in Tivat, declaring them a security concern before the EU-Western Balkan Summit.

According to the Vijesti news portal, law enforcement confiscated two buses intended to transport the group.

Diplomatic relations between Serbia and Montenegro have deteriorated due to Podgorica’s connections with Kosovo, which Serbia refuses to acknowledge, and Belgrade’s perceived interference in domestic political matters through religious institutions and political organizations linked to Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party.

Montenegro, a NATO member nation, declared independence in 2006 after ending its union with Serbia, and contrary to Belgrade’s position, has imposed sanctions on Russia while coordinating its foreign policy with the European Union.

Serbian N1 TV reported that Serbia implemented enhanced border controls with Montenegro on Wednesday evening, resulting in extensive delays at border crossings.

Japan’s central bank is anticipated to increase interest rates this month unless severe escalation of Middle East conflicts disrupts financial markets, according to three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they lack authorization to comment publicly.

The sources indicate that rising energy costs from regional tensions are contributing to growing inflation pressures throughout Japan’s economy. Central bank officials plan to monitor Middle East developments and their economic impact right up until their final decision.

Financial markets are currently anticipating approximately an 80% probability that the central bank will increase its short-term policy rate from 0.75% to 1% during the two-day policy meeting concluding June 16. Such an increase would push the policy rate to heights not witnessed since 1995.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda nearly guaranteed a June rate increase during Wednesday remarks, signaling a clear shift toward combating inflation and suggesting more regular increases in borrowing costs ahead.

“Unless there’s a severe escalation in the conflict, the BOJ will probably hike rates in June,” stated one source knowledgeable about the bank’s deliberations, with two additional sources expressing similar views.

These comments follow a series of recent signals from the central bank that have increased expectations for a June rate adjustment, as worries about inflation risks from the Iran war drove bond yields to nearly 30-year peaks last month.

Following that development, central bank board members Kazuyuki Masu and Junko Koeda have issued warnings about increasing price pressures, suggesting they might align with three other officials favoring a rate increase as early as June.

A surge in wholesale inflation has concerned policymakers regarding how quickly businesses are transferring costs to consumers, which analysts believe will drive consumer inflation beyond the central bank’s 2% objective.

The Bank of Japan ended its decade-long massive stimulus program in 2024 and has implemented several policy rate increases, including one in December, based on expectations that Japan was approaching sustainable achievement of its inflation goal.

Escalating energy expenses from Middle East conflicts have created challenges for central bank rate decisions, driving up prices while simultaneously harming an economy that depends heavily on fuel imports.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s Democratic Party dominated Wednesday’s local elections across the nation, securing 12 out of 16 major mayoral and provincial races, while the conservative People Power Party claimed four victories.

The results provide Lee’s party with extensive control over local governments one year after he took office. However, the ruling party faced a significant symbolic blow when conservative incumbent Oh Se-hoon secured another term as Seoul’s mayor.

The defeat in Seoul, the nation’s largest city and most politically significant mayoralty, dampened the ruling party’s overall success and provides conservatives with an important stronghold as they work to recover from the controversy surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s unsuccessful 2024 martial law attempt and resulting impeachment.

On the first anniversary of taking office, President Lee stated the government would “humbly accept the will of the people” and collaborate actively with local governments from all political parties.

Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae expressed gratitude to voters for what he described as a “great victory” across the nation, while recognizing the disappointment of the capital city loss.

“I deeply thank the people for giving the Democratic Party a great victory across the country. But it hurts that we failed to retake Seoul,” Jung stated.

During his victory address, Oh declared that Seoul voters had maintained “the great democratic principle of checks and balances” to prevent the nation from leaning completely toward one political direction.

“The key question was who would win symbolic battlegrounds such as Seoul and Busan,” explained Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

According to Shin, Seoul voters seemed partly influenced by displeasure with the government’s housing policies, as officials attempt to moderate the capital’s overheated real estate market.

Nevertheless, the Democratic Party’s comprehensive performance, including a victory in Busan — the country’s second-largest city and traditional conservative territory — indicates Lee maintains solid nationwide backing, supported by strong exports from an AI chip surge and related stock market gains.

Prior to the election, the opposition People Power Party held 12 of the 16 major local government positions.

Fourteen parliamentary by-elections occurred simultaneously with the local races. In Busan’s Buk-A district, independent candidate and former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon prevailed, representing a political return for a prominent conservative who had separated himself from the party’s pro-Yoon wing.

The election faced disruption due to ballot paper shortages at several Seoul polling locations, prompting demands for accountability from Lee and both major political parties.

The shortages, documented at more than a dozen voting sites, forced some citizens to wait for hours or depart without voting, leading to extended voting hours at impacted locations.

These problems sparked demonstrations by voters and conservative organizations, including actions that blocked ballots from leaving a Seoul polling station and prevented the National Election Commission from officially validating the Seoul mayoral results as of Thursday midday.

The commission issued an apology and promised a comprehensive investigation, stating the incidents did not justify postponing the election or conducting a new vote.

Lee voiced “deep regret” regarding the ballot shortages, directing relevant organizations to identify the cause, hold responsible parties accountable, and quickly establish reliable protective measures.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A mountain guide has been rescued alive from Mount Everest after disappearing for seven days, with a helicopter transporting him to medical care on Thursday, according to rescue teams.

Dawa Sherpa was last spotted approximately on May 29 making his way down the mountain, but failed to reach base camp despite his client successfully completing the descent. The two were among the final climbers on the peak as the season concluded and equipment was being removed.

A cleanup team discovered Dawa on Thursday morning as he crawled through the snow-covered terrain near the Khumbu Icefall above base camp, according to Pemba Sherpa from 8K Expeditions, who helped coordinate rescue efforts.

Rescue workers immediately brought him to safety and provided food and water before a helicopter arrived to transport him to medical facilities.

Despite the guide’s disappearance since the previous week, organizing a search operation was delayed. Air searches conducted earlier this week failed to locate him.

The crew that found him belonged to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, an organization responsible for installing ladders and ropes at the beginning of each climbing season and later removing equipment and cleaning the area after climbers depart.

The 52-year-old Dawa is employed by Himalayan Traverse, a small company based in Kathmandu, and was leading a Polish climber. He originates from Okhaldhunga, a town located south of Everest.

Over 1,000 climbers and their guides successfully reached Everest’s summit this May, marking the most crowded climbing season in the mountain’s history.

This year’s climbing period started later than usual due to a large ice formation blocking the path above base camp, requiring approximately two weeks to remove.

The peak, standing 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) tall, was initially conquered on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

China has imposed a one-year travel prohibition on four New Zealand parliamentarians and is requesting they issue an apology following their visit to Taiwan during a parliamentary delegation, according to correspondence from China’s embassy that was shared with The Associated Press on Thursday through parliamentary channels.

While China has previously imposed sanctions on legislators from other nations for Taiwan-related activities, this marks the first instance involving New Zealand parliamentarians, Wellington’s government confirmed. China has escalated its pressure in recent years on the democratically-ruled island, which it considers part of its territory.

When contacted by the AP on Thursday, two of the affected lawmakers refused the apology demand, while the remaining two were not immediately available for comment. New Zealand’s government indicated it plans to raise concerns about these travel restrictions with China.

The parliamentarians traveled to Taipei in May, continuing a practice New Zealand legislators have maintained “for decades,” according to a statement from a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

China maintains that Taipei lacks authority to engage in foreign diplomatic activities and considers visits by international lawmakers to the island as challenges to China’s territorial claims.

The spokesperson for Peters stated the officials’ trip was “not inconsistent with New Zealand’s One China policy,” which recognizes China’s position that Taiwan constitutes a Chinese province. New Zealand does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan’s government, unlike 12 other countries globally.

Communications sent to the legislators through New Zealand’s Parliamentary Service, which the AP reviewed, indicated that China’s Wellington embassy had requested notification be given to the four officials regarding their prohibition from entering China, Macau and Hong Kong for twelve months.

The restriction could potentially be lifted if the affected lawmakers issued apologies for their Taiwan visit, the correspondence noted.

“China has consistently opposed visits to China’s Taiwan region by members of the legislatures of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including New Zealand, and this case is no exception,” stated a spokesperson for China’s Wellington embassy in a Thursday website posting. “The New Zealand side should not be surprised.”

New Zealand representatives in both Beijing and Wellington plan to address this issue with China “in order to express concern at this departure from past practice and to better understand it,” Peters’ spokesperson noted. New Zealand lawmakers make individual decisions about joining international delegations, and these trips typically include members from various political parties.

Laura McClure, a legislator from the libertarian ACT party, characterized the apology “demand” as “frankly insulting” and stated she would not comply.

Duncan Webb from the center-left Labour Party emphasized that New Zealand supports democratic institutions and the freedom to engage with international partners.

“If the cost of doing that is to be excluded from China for a year, I will pay that price,” Webb stated in an email response.

Wellington-Beijing relations have generally remained favorable in recent years. China serves as New Zealand’s primary trading partner, and New Zealand became the first Western nation to establish a free trade agreement with China.

In neighboring Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced Thursday that her government would also voice concerns to Beijing and China’s Canberra mission regarding the lawmakers’ restrictions.

“We agree with the principle expressed by New Zealand that members of parliament, including the Australian Parliament, are free to make their own decisions about their travel independent of government,” she informed a Senate committee in Canberra on Thursday.

“Placing pressure on parliamentarians is not appropriate,” she continued.

Chinese officials are intensifying their efforts to eliminate any public remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, blocking families of victims from visiting graves on Thursday’s 37th anniversary of the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.

Authorities informed family members they would be prohibited from accessing a Beijing cemetery on the anniversary date, according to an individual familiar with the situation who requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation.

For over three decades, family members belonging to the Tiananmen Mothers organization had conducted annual cemetery visits on the anniversary to deliver memorial statements while under police surveillance, according to Amnesty International.

The 1989 military assault resulted in hundreds or potentially thousands of deaths as armed forces pushed through crowds attempting to block troops from reaching demonstrators in the expansive central Beijing plaza. The Communist Party leadership’s choice to deploy military force marked a crucial turning point in China’s contemporary history, establishing that economic reforms transforming the nation into the globe’s second-largest economy would proceed without accompanying political freedoms.

In Hong Kong, law enforcement increased security measures Thursday to block any commemorative activities at or around a park that previously hosted an annual massive candlelight ceremony until restrictions began following significant anti-government demonstrations in 2019. On Wednesday, officers detained two performance artists attempting symbolic acts in separate events, including one who briefly displayed a question-mark-shaped balloon outside a retail store.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently traveled with President Donald Trump on a state visit to Beijing, released a commemorative statement. “No amount of censorship can erase the past,” it said. “Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday.”

The Tiananmen Mothers organization published their yearly justice appeal before this year’s anniversary. Their declaration, endorsed by 107 individuals, called for complete transparency about the events, victim and family compensation, and legal prosecution of responsible parties.

“The sacrifice of our family members is an indelible pain etched in our hearts. Our tears have run dry, grief is buried deep within, what remains is eternal remembrance of our family members and hatred for the crime of massacring the people,” Zhang Xianling, a group member, stated in a Facebook video message — a platform banned within China.

Amnesty expressed serious concern about China’s apparently intensifying suppression of commemoration efforts. “Banning the relatives of people killed in the Tiananmen crackdown from visiting their loved ones’ graves is a heartless act by the Chinese authorities,” Sarah Brooks, the organization’s deputy director for Asia, said in a statement.

The Beijing Public Security Bureau failed to respond to a faxed comment request.

Hong Kong officials have prohibited the vigil since 2020, initially citing COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Three vigil organizers face charges under a 2020 national security law, with one entering a guilty plea that could lead to reduced sentencing while the other two await trial verdicts.

Lawyer Chow Hang-tung, one of the defendants, announced in a recent online post that she would conduct a 37-hour prison hunger strike. “Behind the glitter of power and dictatorship lies the blood and broken dreams of ordinary people. For in amnesia lies the demise of democracy,” she wrote.

Derek Chu, a former district councilor, posted on Instagram that he visited Chow on Thursday and pledged to join her 37-hour fast in solidarity. He noted that his shop is distributing LED candles for victim remembrance.

NEW DELHI (AP) — A lethal blaze tore through a structure in New Delhi’s Malviya Nagar district on Wednesday.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian court issued a restraining order Wednesday against a 63-year-old man, prohibiting him from contacting Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexander or her relatives for the next two years while she pursues her education at a Sydney university.

David James Cook faced court proceedings where he received an Apprehended Violence Order lasting two years, which bars him from stepping foot on Sydney University grounds, conducting online searches about the 22-year-old royal, or reaching out to her or her family members.

These protective orders are designed to shield individuals from violent acts, threatening behavior, or persistent harassment.

Speaking to media outside the Newtown Court House in Sydney, Cook explained that the legal action resulted from correspondence he mailed to Ingrid, who holds the position of second heir to Norway’s throne.

“I sent her a card just asking for friendship, that’s all,” Cook stated to Nine News television. He continued: “I did not intentionally upset her in any way and I wouldn’t do so. She’s a nice person. I bumped into her at an event and I followed up with the card.”

Following his court hearing, Cook faced additional charges for attacking a news photographer. Police confirmed the photographer sustained minor injuries during the incident.

Authorities released Cook from custody, and he is scheduled to return to court July 17 to face the assault charges.

The princess has resided on the Sydney university campus since arriving in Australia the previous year to pursue a three-year academic program in international relations.

According to media accounts, the daughter of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit recently traveled back to Norway to be with her mother, who is facing a serious illness.

Taiwan plans to dramatically expand its collection of anti-ship missiles to exceed 1,800 weapons by early 2029, according to a calculation by Reuters. The massive buildup represents the island’s effort to strengthen defenses against potential Chinese invasion or blockade threats.

This weapons expansion reflects Taiwan’s adoption of an asymmetric defense strategy, where the island seeks to counter China’s overwhelming military superiority through large quantities of cost-effective yet lethal armaments. The approach also incorporates shorter-range missiles and swarms of surface and aerial drones, according to current and former Taiwan military officers.

Military officials say Taiwan’s goal is creating a defensive force capable of surviving an initial Chinese bombardment and remaining able to attack invasion fleets or vessels attempting to blockade the island. These officers cite Ukraine and Iran’s effectiveness in using missiles and drones against more powerful opponents as proof this strategy works.

Reuters’ calculation draws from arms trade information, U.S. export approval records, defense analyst projections, and conversations with Taiwanese government representatives.

Taiwan’s parliament recently authorized an additional $25 billion for U.S. munitions purchases, funding more precision missiles with enough range to target Chinese ships in the Taiwan Strait or forces at Chinese coastal departure points.

The core of Taiwan’s anti-ship capabilities consists of U.S.-provided Harpoon missiles and locally manufactured Hsiung Feng missiles. Such a substantial weapons force would enable Taiwan to establish a “kill zone” in the Taiwan Strait, creating concentrated firepower to inflict severe casualties and potentially stop a Chinese invasion, explained Ou Si-fu, deputy chief executive officer for research at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, Taiwan’s leading military think tank.

“Our goal is to stop them from landing and completing their mission, not to destroy every PLA ship,” Ou told Reuters, referring to the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military.

Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and researcher at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, called anti-ship missile investment a smart decision.

From China’s perspective, “one thing you’d not want to deal with are long-range precision weapons that can crack your ships in half before they even set out across the Taiwan Strait, or at any point between the Chinese mainland” and Taiwan’s shores, Newsham said. “Employed properly and with adequate numbers, these missiles are a huge problem for a Chinese invasion force.”

Military experts say China would require a massive fleet of warships and civilian transport vessels to launch an invasion across the Taiwan Strait. China operates the world’s largest navy and an enormous merchant fleet.

Taiwan’s defense ministry stated that anti-ship missiles “can establish a powerful maritime strike capability and degrade the enemy’s combat effectiveness. Details regarding their deployment involve military security and are not disclosed.”

China’s defense ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to comment requests. A Pentagon official said they had no comment on Taiwan’s specific capabilities, delivery schedules, or potential future security assistance packages. The White House did not respond to questions.

Taiwan is seeking approval from U.S. President Donald Trump for an arms sale package worth up to $14 billion currently under consideration. Trump indicated last month he would decide soon on the sale after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. During their discussions, Xi cautioned Trump that mishandling Taiwan could trigger conflict between the two superpowers.

Beijing considers Taiwan its own territory and has never ruled out using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, maintaining that only the island’s residents can determine their future.

Ou and other military specialists point to Ukraine’s success attacking Russian warships and transports with missiles and surface drones in the Black Sea as proof this strategy could work for Taiwan against Chinese invasion or blockade. Iran’s continued ability to strike shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and hit other regional targets despite over a month of massive U.S. and Israeli air-and-missile attacks showed how a weaker power could maintain fighting capability, they noted.

Supporters of this warfare type argue that anti-ship missiles, especially those on ground-based mobile launchers, could be spread out and hidden around Taiwan. This would make it harder for the PLA to locate and destroy them in initial attack waves.

However, many of the island’s anti-ship missiles remain deployed on warships and at fixed ground installations vulnerable to preemptive strikes, said Yuster Yu, a retired Taiwanese naval officer who served on Taiwan’s National Security Council. “And, the Chinese know where they are,” he said.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said existing anti-ship missiles were “deployed in a mobile and dispersed manner to preserve combat effectiveness.” Missiles in fixed positions, it said, were “equipped with protective and backup mechanisms and can be converted to mobile configurations as needed to enhance battlefield survivability.”

While Taiwan’s military keeps weapon inventory sizes secret, the figure of more than 1,800 anti-ship missiles includes 450 Boeing-manufactured Harpoon missiles already delivered to the island, according to two senior Taiwanese government officials speaking anonymously.

Deliveries of another 400 of these sea-skimming cruise missiles will start this year under an arms sale worth $2.4 billion approved during the final months of the first Trump administration in late 2020. All 400 missiles are expected to arrive by the end of March 2029, according to U.S. government arms sales approval documents. The Taiwanese navy told Reuters that according to the letter of offer signed by the U.S. in 2021, the missiles would arrive on schedule.

If deliveries proceed as planned, Taiwan would possess 850 Harpoon missiles by early 2029.

By that time, the island’s military will also have approximately 1,000 or more domestically manufactured Hsiung Feng II and Hsiung Feng III anti-ship cruise missiles, according to Ou and two senior Taiwanese government officials. This would bring Taiwan’s anti-ship missile collection to roughly 1,850.

This projection of Taiwan’s anti-ship missile inventory by 2029 assumes U.S. deliveries occur mostly on time and in full. It doesn’t account for potential production delays or competing wartime demands on U.S. supplies that could slow deliveries.

One of the two senior Taiwanese officials told Reuters the delivery schedule could extend to 2030.

In separate arms agreements, Washington has also approved selling another 195 air-launched Harpoon missiles or weapons derived from this system, valued at a combined $1.36 billion, according to U.S. government approval documents and arms trade data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The two sides are still negotiating terms for these deals and no delivery date has been set, according to one of the senior Taiwanese officials.

Michael F. Miller, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, confirmed during congressional testimony in March that Taiwan is America’s top priority for Harpoon deliveries.

To coordinate this additional firepower, the Taiwan military will establish a new Littoral Combat Command on July 1 to combine its coastal radars, anti-ship missiles and drones into one force.

For Taiwan’s defenders, the anti-ship missiles will support their goal of resisting an attempted invasion long enough to allow allied forces time to assist the island.

“We must always be prepared to fight a prolonged, war-of-attrition style battle,” Ou said.

A Ukrainian drone attack on a passenger train in Crimea left one person dead and three others wounded, according to the peninsula’s Russian-appointed governor Sergei Aksyonov on Thursday.

The strike targeted a commuter train operating in the region, marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

The European Union rolled out an ambitious technology independence strategy on Wednesday, with one senior official celebrating by declaring “Today is Tech Liberation Day.” However, achieving genuine freedom from American technology dominance remains a distant goal, according to industry analysts.

The comprehensive strategy seeks to strengthen European technology companies while restricting access for powerful American competitors. Though representing an important milestone, the European bloc continues to lag significantly behind the United States and Asia in artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, cloud computing, and data center operations.

Ralf Wintergerst, president of German digital industry group Bitkom, described initiatives like the proposed Chips Act 2.0 as a “step in right direction,” but emphasized Europe requires concrete implementation and improved investment conditions spanning semiconductors to AI infrastructure.

“It is now crucial that these efforts do not stop at mere announcements. Europe needs to move quickly,” he said.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen introduced the comprehensive package that blocks American technology leaders including Amazon, Microsoft and Google from the most critical cloud computing contracts, while promoting rapid development of data centers incorporating European hardware or software components.

Regarding semiconductors, the strategy focuses less on attracting cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and more on strengthening existing capabilities surrounding leading chip equipment maker ASML, from raw materials to sophisticated packaging, while leveraging government purchasing to help emerging companies expand.

However, with limited regional technology leaders, reducing dependency will require considerable time. The bloc lacks a European equivalent to Nvidia for AI chip design, no competitor to Taiwan’s TSMC for manufacturing, and no software companies matching the scale of major American firms capable of generating demand through extensive cloud platforms.

“We will continue to rely on Nvidia and AMD for GPUs and will need to cooperate with international partners on certain AI models. This is not a weakness, but realism,” said Achim Weiß, CEO of German cloud provider Ionos.

“It must be clear that sovereignty does not mean self-sufficiency.”

The EU strategy contains minimal new funding, particularly when compared to substantial American investment and Chinese government support. This leaves financing responsibilities to member nations already facing budget constraints, while businesses confront elevated energy expenses, workforce shortages and fragmented financial markets.

“Europe cannot regulate its way into semiconductor leadership,” said Erik Rein, head of European chipmaker association ESIA, who also heads Bosch’s semiconductor business.

Mitchell Rutledge, Europe Policy Manager at the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said focusing on data center capacity was positive but Europe needed to attract investment, “not shutting it out.”

A Microsoft spokesperson said the firm shared the EU’s ambition to strengthen technological sovereignty and global competitiveness in AI, but called for an open market with “fair competition.”

Wolfgang Weber, managing director of ZVEI, the German electrical and digital industry group, praised plans for faster approvals of strategic tech projects that require state aid, though he said Europe couldn’t “force the issue.”

“Europe achieves sovereignty through its own strength, not through barriers,” he said.

The final European Commission package also avoided implementing a strict “Buy European” policy, leaving some critics arguing the measures were insufficient.

“I am sceptical that this will be sufficient to ensure long term independence from the U.S.,” said Greens/EFA European parliament member Kim van Sparrentak.

“This long delayed package finally recognises the scale of Europe’s digital dependency, but ultimately falls short.”

Others highlighted the balanced approach of the measures – practical incremental progress toward a longer-term objective.

“The package frames tech sovereignty in a more pragmatic way than previous debates often did,” Julia Hess of interface, a German technology policy think-tank, told Reuters.

Tony Blair Institute’s Director of Science & Technology, Keegan McBride, said the package was an important step, though he cautioned a retreat into a Europe-first approach would leave the continent weaker.

“Europe can’t regulate its way to competitiveness, it must build,” he said. “There’s still much more to do if Europe wants to close the gap with the U.S. and China.”

Officials in Delhi announced plans for widespread enforcement of fire safety regulations following a fatal hotel fire that claimed 21 lives on Wednesday, according to the chief minister’s office.

The deadly incident occurred at a hotel located in the Malviya Nagar area of Delhi. Among the victims were 12 foreign nationals, with media outlets reporting the fatalities included individuals from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Liberia, though Reuters could not independently confirm these details.

According to media reports, the hotel was frequently used by patients receiving treatment at a nearby medical facility and their family members. The fire represents the most deadly such incident in the city since 2022.

Law enforcement officials confirmed they have filed criminal charges and taken the building owner into custody in connection with the tragedy.

In response to the incident, city leadership announced a comprehensive enforcement initiative targeting guest accommodations and other businesses that fail to meet fire safety standards and building regulations. The chief minister’s office stated in a social media post late Wednesday that non-compliant facilities will face closure and those responsible will face legal action.

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar confirmed via social media that the country’s foreign ministry is coordinating with relevant diplomatic missions and providing necessary support services.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — A towering dark plume of smoke billowing over St. Petersburg’s horizon from a Ukrainian drone attack cast an ominous shadow as President Vladimir Putin prepared to launch his yearly display of Russia’s economic accomplishments.

As Putin was scheduled to reach his birthplace on Thursday for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Ukrainian assault from the previous day that ignited an oil facility delivered yet another humiliating setback to his attempts to downplay the consequences of the 4-year-old war and portray it as a remote occurrence with no impact on everyday Russian life.

The strike, which simultaneously targeted a naval installation near Russia’s second-most populous city on the Gulf of Finland, highlighted Ukraine’s expanding capacity to reach far into its neighboring country and proved that even the heavily fortified city of Putin’s birth faces increasing danger.

Dozens of airline flights experienced delays or rerouting at St. Petersburg’s airport, while officials disabled mobile internet connectivity in an effort to thwart drone operations.

Putin had reduced the scale of Russia’s yearly Victory Day military parade on May 9, concerned about potential Ukrainian drone attacks. Several days afterward, a large-scale drone assault on Moscow’s outskirts resulted in three deaths and exposed the capital’s susceptibility.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian military forces were advancing within Ukraine “in order to prevent such attacks” similar to the St. Petersburg incident. He observed that “systematic” bombardments of Kyiv that Russia had warned about the previous week were currently taking place.

On Tuesday, Russia launched attacks against Kyiv and additional Ukrainian cities using hundreds of drones and multiple missiles, resulting in 23 fatalities and injuring 151 individuals.

Putin has utilized the forum as a platform to highlight his nation’s economic progress and attract international investment. Frequently described as Russia’s answer to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the event typically brings together tens of thousands of participants from across the globe.

Although Western government representatives and business leaders have avoided the forum since Putin deployed military forces into Ukraine in 2022, Russia has worked to draw more attendees from different regions to emphasize its stated objective of fostering a “multipolar world.”

Saudi Arabia, serving as this year’s special guest nation, has dispatched a substantial delegation. The leaders of Uzbekistan and Tanzania, along with China’s vice president, are also participating. A U.S. official, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, will attend the event for the first time in years.

Russia’s economic prospects have dimmed as the initial benefits from extensive military expenditures have diminished. The administration has implemented tax increases and expanded domestic borrowing to maintain budget deficit control.

Putin is anticipated to downplay Russia’s economic difficulties during his forum presentation, but the Ukrainian strike on St. Petersburg’s port approximately 15 kilometers (about 9 miles) from the forum’s location has emphasized the mounting obstacles created by the ongoing conflict.

In the hours before the forum commenced on Wednesday, Ukrainian drones also struck the Kronstadt naval facility located on an island in the Gulf of Finland, which has served as the headquarters for Russia’s Baltic Fleet since Peter the Great established St. Petersburg. Although the majority of the fleet has relocated to Russia’s Baltic territory of Kaliningrad, Kronstadt maintains its symbolic significance as the center of the nation’s naval heritage, featuring its historic cathedral and ancient defensive structures.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda has virtually guaranteed an interest rate increase this month as he adopts a more aggressive stance against rising inflation driven by Middle East conflict and energy price shocks.

During a Wednesday address, Ueda abandoned his previously cautious approach and emphasized the central bank’s willingness to combat escalating inflation that could damage Japan’s economy if allowed to continue unchecked.

This represents a fundamental change in Japan’s monetary policy direction, placing inflation concerns at the heart of interest rate decisions rather than simply focusing on reaching the stable 2% inflation target.

Most significantly, he dropped previous uncertainty regarding supply disruptions, signaling the BOJ will no longer ignore war-related inflation if it threatens to create broader economic ripple effects.

This messaging signals a new chapter in Ueda’s five-year leadership. After spending his initial period dismantling his predecessor’s aggressive stimulus measures, he’s now guiding the BOJ toward a more traditional function: maintaining stable inflation.

The BOJ ended a decade of massive economic stimulus in 2024 and has increased its benchmark rate multiple times, including in December, based on expectations that Japan was approaching sustainable achievement of its 2% inflation goal.

“Even if the situation surrounding the Middle East remains unclear, we must discuss the pros and cons of raising the policy rate if we judge that upside risks to prices outweigh downside risks to economic activity,” Ueda stated, words that strengthened widespread market expectations for a rate increase at the June 15-16 policy meeting.

His comments mirrored statements he made before December’s rate boost, when he mentioned a similar “pros and cons” evaluation.

However, this time Ueda expanded the circumstances under which rates might increase.

Previously, the BOJ’s tightening approach had been characterized as a careful, gradual withdrawal from stimulus connected to achieving consistent 2% inflation.

Ueda has now introduced an additional catalyst focused solely on inflation dangers. With companies altering their pricing strategies, he cautioned that energy disruptions could intensify price pressures.

“Unless there’s a severe escalation in the conflict, the BOJ will probably hike rates in June,” said a source familiar with its thinking, a view echoed by another source.

Ueda also warned against delaying action too long, pointing out that increasing raw material expenses are already pushing up wholesale prices and could spread more widely throughout the economy.

The shift in messaging demonstrates the BOJ’s increasing worry about building price pressures, according to veteran BOJ watcher Mari Iwashita, who considers a June rate hike certain.

“The war-induced wave of price increases has only just begun and is likely to intensify around summer,” she said. “Ueda’s remarks suggest the BOJ is bracing for the chance of being forced to raise rates in autumn, possibly at a faster pace.”

Meanwhile, Ueda attempted to ease concerns from a dovish government about potential economic harm from rate increases.

He presented policy tightening as protection against declining household buying power. Considering the administration’s resistance to higher government borrowing expenses, Ueda also promoted timely hikes as a method to maintain market confidence and prevent disruptive spikes in bond yields.

Despite the more hawkish direction, the yen kept declining, highlighting ongoing market doubt. The currency stays close to the 160-per-dollar threshold viewed as Tokyo’s intervention trigger, maintaining pressure on import costs and living expenses.

Even a June increase may not reverse the yen’s downward trajectory.

Some experts believe it will require a stronger, sustained tightening message to significantly impact the currency.

“Even if the BOJ raises rates in June, any rebound in the yen will be limited,” said Rinto Maruyama, a strategist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

Taiwan’s leadership called on China Thursday to acknowledge the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square 37 years ago, marking an anniversary that China continues to treat as forbidden territory.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te used social media to address the sensitive milestone, writing: “I sincerely hope that China can face up to the June 4 incident of 37 years ago, acknowledge the truth, soothe the pain, and open the door to reconciliation and dialogue.”

The June 4, 1989 incident, when Chinese military forces fired on student-led democracy advocates in and around the Beijing square, remains off-limits for public discussion in China with no official recognition of the anniversary.

Memorial events now occur in cities outside China’s borders, including Taipei, where Taiwan’s government officials regularly use the date to criticize China. Beijing considers the democratically-run island nation part of its territory.

In his social media statement, Lai cautioned against “blindly believing” in military force and argued that responsible governments and societies should work to improve future generations’ prospects rather than employ “violence, surveillance, and other means to strangle their dreams and erase their opinions.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not provided a response to requests for comment regarding Lai’s statements.

Beijing labels Lai a “separatist” and has rejected his repeated attempts at dialogue. Lai maintains that Taiwan’s citizens alone should determine their nation’s path forward.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also marked the anniversary Wednesday, stating that Beijing’s censorship efforts cannot eliminate recollections of the military attack. This continues the American tradition of the nation’s chief diplomat recognizing the date, which consistently angers Beijing.

“Those who sacrificed to uphold their unalienable rights of free expression and peaceful assembly will be vindicated someday,” Rubio stated.

China’s foreign ministry had not responded to requests for comment on Rubio’s remarks. Last year, Beijing condemned Rubio for his Tiananmen commentary, claiming he was “distorting” historical reality and attacking China’s governing structure.

Chinese military tanks entered Tiananmen Square in the early morning hours of June 4, 1989, ending weeks of democracy demonstrations by students and laborers.

Beijing has never released complete casualty figures, though human rights organizations and eyewitnesses estimate deaths could number in the thousands. China characterized the demonstrations as counter-revolutionary efforts to topple the ruling Communist Party.

In Hong Kong, where annual candlelight ceremonies in Victoria Park once attracted tens of thousands annually, public memorial events ended after Beijing enacted a national security law in 2020.

These vigils previously symbolized the financial center’s greater freedoms compared to mainland China, but the anniversary there now features heavy police deployment with minimal visible remembrance activities.

Multiple memorial events were planned for Thursday in various global cities, including four locations in Germany and one in Australia.

Ukrainian military forces conducted operations against two primary population centers in the Crimean peninsula under Russian control, according to Moscow-appointed regional authorities who reported the incidents early Thursday morning. The attacks occurred following a day of mutual strikes between the two nations targeting urban areas.

The Russia-appointed leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, posted on Telegram that Ukrainian military forces had struck a non-residential area of Simferopol, which serves as the peninsula’s primary administrative center. Three people lost their lives in the attack while seven others sustained injuries, according to his statement.

In Sevastopol, a major Crimean port city, the locally-installed Russian governor Mikhail Razvozhayev reported that defense systems had successfully intercepted over 20 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft.

While Razvozhayev did not report any casualties in Sevastopol, he noted that falling drone fragments caused damage to several structures. The city remained under air raid warnings for almost five hours.

Russia took control of and formally annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014, eight years prior to launching its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This occurred after widespread demonstrations led to the departure of a pro-Moscow Ukrainian leader.

Regional authorities have implemented steps to address fuel supply issues following Ukraine’s intensified campaign targeting petroleum infrastructure, including facilities located far within Russian territory.

Both countries launched strikes against each other’s urban centers on Wednesday.

In the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, described as one of the nation’s key “fortress cities” positioned along the 1,200-kilometer front line, Russian bombardment resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians, as reported by Vadym Filashkin, who governs Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

In the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region, local governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported that Russian military actions wounded eight individuals in the vicinity of Dnipro, the region’s primary urban center.

Ukraine’s campaign against Moscow’s petroleum sector included an assault on an oil facility in St Petersburg on Wednesday. Zelenskiy stated that these strikes allow Ukraine “to end this war on equal footing.”

In Russia’s Bryansk border region, Acting Regional Governor Yegor Kovalchuk reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed a crane operator employed by the area’s utility company.

Diplomatic efforts mediated by the United States aimed at progressing toward resolution of the conflict, which has lasted more than four years, have reached an impasse as Washington maintains its attention on the situation in Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed a Senate subcommittee on Wednesday that the possibility of conflict escalation was “real,” representing a greater threat than existed two years earlier.

Russia announced last month its intention to conduct “systematic” attacks on targets in Kyiv as retaliation for what it characterized as a drone assault on a dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region. Ukraine has rejected responsibility for that attack.

Russian military actions against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities resulted in 23 deaths early Tuesday morning.

Aviation officials from South Korea and China have finalized their first flight expansion deal in seven years, marking another positive development in the relationship between the neighboring countries, according to Seoul’s transport ministry announced Thursday.

During bilateral aviation discussions held in Seoul from May 27 to 28, both nations agreed to boost passenger flight allowances by 56 weekly flights, bringing the total from 608 to 664. Cargo flight permissions will also grow by 14 weekly flights, increasing from 54 to 68, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reported.

According to ministry officials, the expanded flight rights will facilitate additional service on popular travel corridors like Incheon to Shanghai and Incheon to Guangzhou, where current flight allocations have reached capacity for both countries.

The agreement will also open new pathway options connecting South Korea’s smaller airports, including those in Busan and Cheongju, to 10 destinations across China including Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Xian, ministry representatives stated.

Travel between the two countries has already rebounded strongly, with first-quarter passenger numbers hitting approximately 4.39 million – surpassing the pre-pandemic figure of 4.14 million, the ministry’s data shows.

Lee So-young, who serves as the ministry’s aviation policy chief, expressed optimism about the timing of the flight expansion coinciding with increased bilateral exchanges.

“We expect this agreement to help promote visits to South Korea by Chinese tourists, improve convenience for our citizens travelling to China and for import-export companies, and contribute to revitalising the economy by further boosting Korean airlines’ entry into the Chinese market,” Lee said.

The ministry indicated it will distribute the additional flight rights to South Korean carriers during the latter half of this year.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un revealed a new nuclear fuel production facility on Thursday, declaring his intention to strengthen the nation’s atomic weapons capabilities “at an exponential rate.”

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the plant employs “more sophisticated technology,” though no additional specifics were shared regarding its location or when operations commenced. Images released by state media displayed what looked like an extensive centrifuge hall, suggesting the facility’s purpose is enriching uranium for weapons use.

This revelation aligns with Kim’s ongoing promises to expand the nuclear weapons program in response to what he describes as growing military threats led by the United States.

KCNA reported that Kim toured the nuclear installation on Wednesday to examine its operational metrics and future production strategy.

The news agency quoted Kim as stating that the need to strengthen the country’s nuclear war deterrent, in both quality and quantity, has intensified due to confrontations with “the most ferocious enemies,” seemingly referring to the United States and South Korea. Kim pointed to additional unidentified threats and crises as justification for enhancing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, according to the report.

Kim asserted that North Korea’s production capacity for weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled from five years ago, KCNA stated. Independent verification of this assertion is virtually impossible.

Following a meeting at the site, Kim announced that he and other senior officials “confirmed the order of priority for implementing the ambitious future plan designed to beef up our state’s nuclear forces at an exponential rate,” KCNA reported.

State media photographs depicted Kim moving through narrow pathways surrounded by densely packed rows of metallic tubes and pipes, appearing to be within a centrifuge facility. A separate image captured him discussing matters with high-ranking officials in a conference room, where a blurred diagram showing a cone-shaped item was visible on a table. The nature of the diagram, whether depicting a warhead design, remained unclear.

The facility’s announcement follows less than two years after North Korea revealed another hidden uranium-enrichment plant in September 2024, marking the first public acknowledgment of such a facility since displaying one at the primary Yongbyon nuclear complex to visiting American academics in 2010.

Kim conveyed a comparable message during his 2024 visit to that facility, demanding an increase in centrifuge numbers to “exponentially” grow the country’s nuclear stockpile and pushing for the creation of more advanced centrifuge systems.

Last September, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated that North Korea was running four uranium enrichment facilities in total, including the Yongbyon complex, and that they operated daily.

Nuclear weapons can be constructed using either highly enriched uranium or plutonium, and North Korea maintains facilities to produce both materials at Yongbyon.

North Korea has concentrated on expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal since Kim’s high-stakes diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019. Kim has subsequently rejected U.S. and South Korean proposals to resume diplomatic talks.

In April, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi informed reporters that his organization had verified “a rapid increase” in activities at nuclear facilities in North Korea.

MANILA, Philippines — A political standoff that forced the Philippine Senate to close for two straight days came to an end Wednesday when opposition lawmakers secured enough members to reopen the legislative chamber.

The upper house had been paralyzed since Monday when Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and 10 supporting senators refused to attend sessions. Their absence came after two of Cayetano’s allies faced legal troubles, reducing the 24-seat chamber to 22 functioning members.

Cayetano defended his group’s boycott as a form of “protest” designed to block opposing senators from seizing leadership of the chamber. The 11 lawmakers who oppose Cayetano condemned his actions and demanded his resignation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged the missing senators to return immediately to their duties, warning that the legislative gridlock would block critical laws needed to address an energy crisis triggered by Middle Eastern conflicts affecting the impoverished nation.

The stalemate broke when Sen. Francis Escudero, who had previously supported Cayetano, appeared at the Senate to establish the minimum attendance required for official business before lawmakers begin a scheduled multi-week break.

“The current impasse in the Senate is untenable and unacceptable,” Escudero stated, noting that “political divisions” had “become too extreme” for the chamber to operate effectively.

Writing on Facebook, Cayetano insisted he continues to hold the Senate presidency and declared that he and his remaining supporters would reject any committee leadership changes implemented by opposing senators on Wednesday.

The Marcos administration issued a statement backing Sen. Win Gatchalian, whom anti-Cayetano senators named as temporary Senate leader. “What happened in the Senate…was based on the law and the rule of law,” the administration declared.

Cayetano’s opponents accused him of desperately supporting two missing allies — Ronald dela Rosa and Jinggoy Estrada — to preserve his narrow majority leadership.

Dela Rosa, who previously served as national police chief, has gone into hiding following an International Criminal Court arrest warrant naming him as a co-conspirator with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces trial in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity. Both men deny authorizing extrajudicial executions.

Estrada was taken into custody at the Senate on Monday on corruption allegations connected to a flood control project. He maintains his innocence and remains jailed pending trial.

Cayetano maintains ties to the former president, whose daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has blamed Marcos and his government for the “kidnapping” of her father by police and his transfer to the international court.

Senate leadership control carries significant weight as the chamber prepares to begin the July trial of Sara Duterte, who was impeached as vice president last month by the House of Representatives, which is controlled by Marcos supporters.

The vice president, who has announced plans to run for president in 2028, faces impeachment on criminal allegations including unexplained wealth and publicly threatening to assassinate the president — charges she denies but has declined to address comprehensively.