Author: Admin

Iranian human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi has been moved to a medical facility in Tehran after collapsing in prison over a week ago, according to her foundation.

The organization reports that Mohammadi’s hospital transfer occurred following persistent appeals from family members and supporters. Officials have granted her a temporary suspension of her prison term with bail conditions.

Since December, Mohammadi had been held at Zanjan prison facility. On May 1st, she was taken to a nearby medical center after losing consciousness on two separate occasions.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, her foundation expressed that the temporary release falls short of what’s needed, emphasizing that Mohammadi requires “permanent, specialized care.”

The organization’s statement further declared: “we must ensure she never returns to prison to face the 18 years remaining on her sentence. Now is the time to demand her unconditional freedom and the dismissal of all charges.”

A controversial activist organization already prohibited in the United Kingdom is facing new scrutiny in Canada over digital materials that critics say blur the lines between legitimate protest and potential targeting operations.

Palestine Action has created an online mapping system that identifies businesses with connections to Israel’s military sector, including detailed information about companies, their suppliers, operational facilities, and in certain instances, personal addresses of individuals associated with these enterprises. The organization also provides an accompanying instructional guide for supporters looking to organize activities.

Although British authorities imposed a ban on Palestine Action this past February, the group continues its operations without restriction in other nations. The organization’s Canadian affiliate actively distributes the controversial materials, which remain accessible to the general public online.

B’nai Brith Canada has formally requested that Ottawa conduct an investigation into whether Palestine Action warrants inclusion on Canada’s list of designated terrorist entities. The Canadian advocacy group expressed concerns about the nature of the shared materials and their potential implications for public safety.

The debate centers on whether the detailed mapping and organizational guidance crosses the boundary from protected protest activity into more concerning territory that could facilitate vandalism or operational targeting of specific locations and individuals.

President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria has announced sweeping changes to his administration through multiple presidential orders, marking the latest phase in ongoing governmental reforms that began following the establishment of a transitional government in March 2025.

Reports from Damascus indicate that Presidential Order No. 98 of 2026 has designated Abdul Rahman Badr al-Din Al-A’ma as the new secretary-general of the presidency. This appointment removes Dr. Maher al-Sharaa, the president’s brother, from his position after a brief period in office, bringing to a close a disputed selection that had generated significant public discussion.

Additional ministerial changes include Presidential Order No. 100 of 2026, which places Khaled Zaarour in charge of the information ministry, taking over from Hamza Al-Mustafa. Order No. 101 simultaneously designates Basel Hafez Al-Suwaidan as the new agriculture minister, succeeding Amjad Badr.

The administrative changes reach into regional leadership as well, with four new provincial governors receiving appointments. The president has selected Ghassan Al-Sayyed Ahmed to lead Quneitra province, while Marhef Khaled Al-Nassan will oversee Homs. Ahmed Ali Mustafa takes charge of Latakia, and Ziad al-Ayesh assumes leadership of Deir ez-Zor province.

These personnel moves follow the March 29, 2025 establishment of Syria’s transitional administration. The 23-member cabinet was characterized as a “government of reconstruction and stability” during the nation’s political transformation period.

The current administration has consistently implemented step-by-step institutional modifications, encompassing regular ministerial adjustments and high-level personnel changes, all aimed at updating government operations and enhancing effectiveness throughout critical departments.

Political observers interpret the recent personnel changes as the president’s strategy to restructure influential positions within the government structure. This comes particularly as various ministries face performance critiques, with the Ministry of Information receiving notable criticism, alongside continued discussions regarding the placement of presidential allies in crucial roles.

The removal of Information Minister Hamza Al-Mustafa has generated divided responses on Syrian social media platforms. Some citizens have commended his efforts to promote more transparent media communication compared to earlier periods, while critics contend that his ministry struggled to adapt to Syria’s quickly changing political and governmental landscape.

These recent modifications demonstrate Syria’s quickening institutional reorganization process, as presidential authority extends its influence across governmental departments, ministerial positions, and regional administrations, indicating comprehensive changes to the nation’s political and administrative framework.

Iran has established a new regulatory body to oversee vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, implementing a mandatory registration system that requires ships to gain approval from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before entering the vital shipping corridor.

The newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) mandates that maritime companies complete comprehensive documentation before their vessels can traverse the waterway. CNN obtained copies of the registration documents, which contain over 40 required data points including vessel identification numbers, current and former ship names, departure and arrival ports, cargo specifications, and nationality information for crew members, vessel owners, and operators.

Communications from the PGSA emphasize that “complete and accurate information is essential” for passage authorization, with additional guidance to be provided through email correspondence.

The authority’s messaging warns that “any incorrect or incomplete information provided will be the sole responsibility of the applicant, and any resulting consequences will be borne accordingly.”

Industry experts have not confirmed whether shipping companies have begun using this new approval process. Security analysts caution that participation in Iran’s system could potentially subject companies to United States sanctions. Iran previously suggested in April that transit fees might be implemented to offset infrastructure damage and conflict-related expenses, though current fee requirements remain uncertain.

This development coincides with the United States advancing Project Freedom, a maritime protection program for vessels departing through Omani territorial waters on the strait’s southern boundary. The American initiative operates as a cost-free, US-supervised transit arrangement. Iran has expressed opposition to this program and has conducted attacks against commercial ships and US Navy vessels in attempts to interfere with the operation.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a conduit for approximately 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments. The creation of the PGSA represents Iran’s effort to strengthen its influence over this passage amid ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel, signaling Tehran’s intention to treat such control as a strategic advantage gained through conflict.

A social media account attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei recently advocated for a “new regional and global order under the strategy of a strong Iran,” declaring no tolerance for foreign presence “and their mischief.” The posts also referenced “using the leverage of closing the strait” as part of this strategic vision.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to step down as dozens of lawmakers demand his resignation following crushing defeats for his Labour Party in recent local elections.

The embattled leader plans to deliver a critical speech Monday in an attempt to demonstrate he can shift course and restore his government’s standing. However, his position remains precarious as political rivals consider their next moves. Lawmaker Catherine West has threatened to initiate a leadership challenge if Starmer’s Monday address fails to meet her expectations.

Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister who many view as a possible successor, stopped short of directly demanding Starmer’s departure but emphasized that the party “needs to change.”

“The prime minister must now meet the moment and set out the change our country needs,” Rayner stated.

The prime minister is attempting to rebuild support following significant defeats for his center-left party in English local elections and legislative races in Scotland and Wales. Political observers widely interpreted last week’s voting as an unofficial judgment on Starmer’s leadership, whose approval ratings have nosedived since his landslide victory less than two years ago.

His administration has failed to deliver on promises of economic expansion, improvements to struggling public services, and relief from rising living costs. The government has also been weakened by a series of blunders and policy reversals on matters including welfare changes. Starmer’s standing took another hit with his controversial choice to name Peter Mandelson, who has connections to Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to the United States.

The recent elections showed Labour losing support from multiple directions, with voters abandoning the party for both the anti-immigration Reform UK party and the environmentally-focused Green Party. This demonstrates the growing political fragmentation in Britain, historically controlled by Labour and Conservative parties.

Despite the turmoil, Starmer expressed to The Observer newspaper Sunday his intention to remain in power for ten years. He’s counting on Monday’s address and an extensive legislative agenda that King Charles III will outline Wednesday during the State Opening of Parliament.

A central element of his strategy involves strengthening relationships with the European Union, which Britain departed in 2020 following a narrow “leave” victory in a 2016 referendum. Starmer’s administration has already begun reducing some trade barriers that have challenged British companies since Brexit, and he promises to negotiate a youth mobility agreement allowing young people to work throughout Europe for several years.

“Brexit has held back our young people,” Starmer told The Observer, stating that “we have to be closer to Europe.”

While Labour supported remaining in the EU during the 2016 campaign, the party has hesitated to restart a debate that deeply divided Britain. Starmer has rejected pursuing EU membership again or rejoining the EU’s customs union or single market, moves that would significantly benefit UK businesses.

High-profile Labour figures viewed as potential rivals to Starmer — including Rayner, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham — have not demanded his resignation.

However, increasing numbers of Labour legislators are urging the prime minister to establish a departure timeline. British political system permits parties to replace leaders during their term without requiring new elections.

Josh Simons, a previously loyal Labour representative, wrote in the Times of London that Starmer “has lost the country” and “should take control of the situation by overseeing an orderly transition to a new prime minister.”

West, a former junior minister, is attempting to accelerate the process by threatening to initiate a leadership contest unless Starmer delivers an exceptional speech Monday. West admitted she lacks support from the 81 colleagues required to force such a contest, and her action appears designed to pressure more prominent contenders to act.

“Working people sent us a message,” West declared. “We have to listen to that, and we have to change and we have to do it quickly.”

PARIS – A French national evacuated from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak developed concerning symptoms while aboard an emergency repatriation flight, according to French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

The individual was among five French citizens being transported back to France on Sunday following the disease outbreak aboard the cruise vessel. Lecornu announced the development through a post on the social media platform X.

The Prime Minister did not provide additional details about the passenger’s condition or specify which symptoms had emerged during the flight home.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a public appeal on Sunday, May 10th, calling on the nation’s residents and companies to reduce their fuel consumption as rising worldwide energy costs put pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves.

The Prime Minister specifically recommended that both individuals and organizations should embrace remote work arrangements and virtual meetings once again – practices that became widespread during the coronavirus pandemic – stating these measures would provide benefits to the nation as a whole.

According to Modi, the elevated cost of fuel on the international market means India needs to preserve its foreign currency by decreasing the use of gasoline and diesel products throughout the country.

Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Spruds stepped down from his position on Sunday, following a controversial incident where Ukrainian drones crossed into the country and struck oil storage tanks.

The resignation came after Prime Minister Evika Silina called for Spruds to leave his post, criticizing the government’s slow response in setting up anti-drone defense systems. Silina has named army colonel Raivis Melnis as Spruds’ replacement.

The incident occurred Thursday when two unmanned aircraft crossed over from Russian territory and exploded at a Latvian oil storage facility. The strike prompted both Latvia and neighboring Lithuania to request enhanced NATO air defense capabilities for their region.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed Sunday on social media platform X that the drones belonged to Ukraine. He explained that the aircraft ended up in Latvia due to “Russian electronic warfare deliberately diverting Ukrainian drones from their targets in Russia.”

Following the cross-border incident, Sybiha announced Friday that Ukraine is exploring the possibility of sending technical specialists to help improve air defense systems across the Baltic region.

Venezuelan officials are raising alarm about what they claim is a significant oil spill originating from neighboring Trinidad and Tobago that has damaged coastal areas across multiple Venezuelan states.

In a statement released Saturday evening to the global community, Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry reported that preliminary evaluations revealed “severe risks” to natural habitats in Sucre and Delta Amacuro states, as well as the Gulf of Paria region. Officials warn the contamination threatens mangrove forests, wetland areas, and the overall ecological stability of the Caribbean region.

Venezuelan authorities have not disclosed when they initially discovered the spill or provided estimates of the volume of oil involved. Trinidad and Tobago’s government has yet to respond to or acknowledge the spill allegations.

The Venezuelan administration has called for detailed information regarding the incident and plans for cleanup and containment efforts, while also seeking compensation measures under international environmental regulations, according to the official declaration.

Both nations share the Gulf of Paria, an enclosed body of water situated at Venezuela’s western boundary and south of Trinidad island, following a border agreement signed in the 1990s that outlined terms for developing oil and gas resources along their shared maritime boundary.

According to Trinidad’s Ministry of Energy, Trinidad and Tobago operates extensive petroleum and natural gas extraction projects both onshore and in coastal waters, ranking among the Caribbean region’s top energy producers.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng is set to travel to South Korea next week to participate in trade discussions with American officials, according to an announcement from China’s Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.

The scheduled meetings on May 12-13 will build upon agreements made during previous conversations and gatherings between leadership from both countries, including a meeting that took place in Busan last October, the ministry stated on its official website. The talks are expected to address economic and trade matters of shared interest.

According to Reuters sources, President Donald Trump is anticipated to travel to China later this week, with the White House extending invitations to a select group of corporate executives to join the presidential delegation to Beijing.

Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has traveled to the Netherlands to represent her nation at the International Court of Justice in a territorial dispute hearing, the presidential office announced.

Rodriguez will head Venezuela’s delegation at Monday’s proceedings before the United Nations’ highest judicial body regarding a longstanding disagreement with neighboring Guyana over the Esequibo region, an area abundant in oil resources that has been contested for more than a century.

The legal challenge was initiated by Guyana in 2018 when they brought the matter before the international court.

While a final decision remains several months away, any ruling issued by the court carries binding authority with no option for appeal. However, the judicial body lacks enforcement mechanisms and must depend on the U.N. Security Council for implementation.

This marks Rodriguez’s inaugural European visit since assuming leadership following the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a January operation.

The European Union had previously imposed travel restrictions on Rodriguez, along with other Venezuelan officials, citing allegations that they had worked to undermine democratic institutions in Venezuela.

Tehran delivered its official response to a United States peace initiative through Pakistani mediators on Sunday, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

The Iranian counter-proposal prioritizes ending current military conflicts in the region as the main objective of ongoing diplomatic talks, an informed source told IRNA.

Multiple sources from both nations have informed Reuters that current diplomatic efforts seek to establish a temporary agreement that would stop the fighting and restore normal shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway. Such an interim deal would provide time for negotiators to work toward a comprehensive agreement addressing more complex issues, including Iran’s controversial nuclear development program.

The conflict, which has now lasted more than two months, continues to threaten one of the world’s most important shipping lanes for oil and commercial goods.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian law enforcement officials conducted a major raid Saturday against an illegal online gambling network in Jakarta, detaining 321 foreign nationals in what authorities describe as one of the nation’s most significant operations targeting digital betting crimes.

The foreign workers, predominantly from Vietnam, were taken into custody at a commercial facility located near Jakarta’s Chinatown district. Investigators say the location served as headquarters for more than 70 gambling websites that marketed services to customers outside Indonesia, according to promotional materials and electronic evidence gathered during the operation.

The detained individuals consist of 228 Vietnamese citizens, 57 Chinese nationals, and others from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, according to Wira Satya Triputra, who heads general crimes investigations for Indonesia’s National Police. Authorities continue working to identify the organizers and financial supporters of the network.

“We arrested the suspects in the act while they were carrying out activities related to online gambling,” Triputra stated during Saturday’s press briefing. He explained the enterprise functioned with clear organizational structure, assigning workers to specific duties including customer support, sales calls and money management. Law enforcement estimates the operation had been active for approximately two months.

Officials noted that gambling organizations frequently relocate their activities to avoid law enforcement detection, commonly hiring foreign employees to manage websites and customer support services.

According to Triputra, many suspects had entered Indonesia with temporary tourist visas but remained beyond their authorized stay while employed at the gambling facility. He added that “immigration violations were uncovered in addition to suspected gambling and money-laundering offenses.”

During the raid, police confiscated currency from various countries, computing equipment, cellular devices, travel documents and other materials believed connected to the gambling platform management. Officials estimate the organization controlled at least 75 betting websites.

By Saturday, 275 detainees had been officially designated as suspects, while remaining individuals continued under interrogation, Triputra reported. Those facing charges could receive up to nine years imprisonment under Indonesia’s criminal and immigration statutes, plus fines reaching 2 billion rupiah ($116,000).

Comparable international criminal enterprises have emerged recently in Surabaya, Bali and Batam, demonstrating the necessity for enhanced cooperation between law enforcement and government departments to address online gambling and associated fraud schemes, stated Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Indonesia’s Interpol division.

Widyatmoko indicated authorities have observed evidence that online gambling operators formerly operating in Myanmar and Cambodia are moving their activities to different nations, including Indonesia, following crackdowns in those locations.

“After enforcement measures in Cambodia, we started to see a shift toward Indonesia, and that was something we anticipated,” Widyatmoko explained.

Approximately 210 foreign citizens – including 47 women – from Vietnam, China and Myanmar, suspected of involvement in online investment fraud schemes, were detained Wednesday during an immigration enforcement action at an apartment complex on Indonesia’s Batam island, adjacent to Singapore.

Officials in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, announced Friday they had arrested 44 foreign nationals from Japan and China for impersonating law enforcement officers in an international telephone and online fraud operation, following the March arrest of 13 Japanese men in West Java’s Bogor city connected to the same case.

During the previous month, approximately 16 suspects from an international scamming network from China, Malaysia and Taiwan were arrested in West Java’s Sukabumi region, while 26 alleged online fraudsters, including individuals from Philippines and Kenya, were expelled from Bali.

Online gambling remains prohibited in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, which has intensified enforcement efforts due to concerns about organized crime and international cyber operations. Police indicated the investigation may result in additional arrests connected to international networks.

Military forces from the United Kingdom executed an unprecedented humanitarian mission over the weekend, parachuting medical personnel and emergency supplies onto one of the world’s most isolated islands to treat a suspected hantavirus patient.

Six paratroopers and two military medical specialists from the 16 Air Assault Brigade made the historic jump onto Tristan da Cunha, delivering crucial oxygen tanks and other medical equipment. The team flew more than 6,700 kilometers from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Ascension Island, then traveled an additional 3,000 kilometers south to reach their destination.

The emergency airdrop took place Saturday and marks the first instance of UK military forces deploying medical staff through parachute operations for humanitarian purposes, according to Ministry of Defence officials.

The mission was launched to assist a British citizen who health officials believe contracted hantavirus while aboard a cruise vessel that experienced an outbreak. The ship made port at Tristan da Cunha from April 13 through April 15, and the passenger began showing symptoms consistent with the virus on April 28. World Health Organization representatives report the individual remains in stable condition under isolation protocols.

“With oxygen supplies on the island at a critical level, an airdrop with medical personnel was the only method of getting vital care to the patient in time,” Ministry of Defence officials stated.

The remote British territory houses approximately 200 residents and sits roughly halfway between the African and South American continents. Located more than 2,400 kilometers from its closest inhabited neighbor, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha typically requires a six-day sea voyage to reach. The island operates with just two medical professionals under normal circumstances and lacks any airport facilities.

Military aircraft had previously delivered PCR testing materials to Ascension Island on May 7 for another British passenger from the same cruise who was later evacuated to South Africa for treatment.

“The arrival of paratroopers, medical personnel and medical supplies from the sky has hopefully reassured the people of Tristan da Cunha,” stated Brigadier Ed Cartwright, who leads the 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Military forces in the United Arab Emirates successfully intercepted two unmanned aircraft originating from Iran on Sunday, according to an announcement from the country’s Defense Ministry. This incident represents the most recent escalation in a series of renewed hostilities targeting the wealthy Gulf nation.

The Emirates has faced multiple attacks from Iran in recent days, breaking a month-long period of relative peace that followed the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran conflict by the United States.

While Iran has rejected claims that it conducted operations against the UAE recently, Tehran issued a warning of a “crushing response” should any hostile actions be launched from Emirati territory against Iran.

The ongoing security concerns forced the UAE to transition schools to remote instruction last week. However, officials announced Sunday that classroom learning will return starting Monday.

Iranian petroleum officials have firmly rejected claims that an oil spill occurred near the country’s largest crude export facility, following reports this week of satellite images showing what appeared to be contamination in Gulf waters.

The head of Iran’s Oil Terminals Company announced Sunday that thorough examinations revealed no evidence of petroleum leakage from any infrastructure at Kharg Island, including storage facilities, transport pipelines, loading equipment, or vessels operating in the vicinity.

The executive noted that the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC), which monitors regional maritime pollution incidents, had similarly found no indication of any spill in the area surrounding the critical export hub.

Iranian authorities conducted comprehensive on-site evaluations and scientific analysis following the initial reports, with officials stating they discovered no trace of contamination whatsoever in their investigation.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Search and rescue teams in Indonesia successfully recovered the remains of two Singaporean hikers on Sunday, following a deadly volcanic eruption that occurred Friday on the remote island of Halmahera.

The two men, ages 30 and 27, were discovered just a short distance from where recovery teams had found the body of an Indonesian woman hiker the previous day, according to Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency. The three fatalities had been positioned approximately 165 feet from the main crater’s edge when Mount Dukono erupted.

Dense volcanic debris had completely buried the men’s remains, creating significant challenges for rescue operations and hampering recovery efforts, Muhari explained.

“The bodies were buried under deep, densely packed volcanic material that is difficult to dig through,” Muhari said, “Rescue teams must proceed cautiously to ensure safety.”

The three deceased hikers were part of a 20-person group that had attempted to climb the 4,445-foot mountain in North Maluku province, despite existing safety prohibitions. The group became trapped when the volcano erupted in the early morning hours Friday, launching a massive ash plume approximately 6 miles skyward.

Emergency teams successfully rescued 17 individuals within hours of the initial eruption, including seven people from Singapore. Ten of those rescued sustained minor burn injuries, while two were able to assist in the search efforts by providing crucial information about the missing hikers’ locations.

Nearly 100 rescue personnel participated in the search operation, confronting challenging terrain while the volcano remained active, Muhari reported.

Iwan Ramdani, who leads the regional search and rescue department, explained that Sunday’s recovery mission required constant monitoring by volcanic experts as Mount Dukono continued ejecting ash, heated materials, and glowing debris.

“The search operation was repeatedly disrupted by Mount Dukono’s continued volcanic activity,” Ramdani said, “Teams must be extremely careful during the evacuation process.”

All three victims’ remains were initially brought to an emergency staging area before being transferred to Tobelo Regional Hospital for identification procedures and additional processing, Ramdani confirmed.

Officials from the National Disaster Management Agency announced the formal conclusion of all search and rescue activities.

The agency issued a strong appeal for residents, visitors, and tourism companies to follow established safety protocols and stay away from designated danger zones.

Government officials have implemented a complete prohibition on all activities within a 2.5-mile radius surrounding the crater, following guidance from Indonesia’s volcanic monitoring agency.

Mount Dukono represents one of over 120 active volcanic peaks throughout Indonesia, a nation particularly susceptible to geological instability due to its position along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a curved chain of volcanoes and seismic fault lines surrounding the Pacific Ocean.

MOSCOW, May 10 – Moscow has condemned Armenia for allowing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to deliver what Russia calls anti-Russian statements during his recent visit, signaling deepening tensions between the traditionally allied nations.

During his trip to Yerevan last week, Zelenskyy suggested that Russia was concerned about potential drone strikes over Red Square in Moscow during the May 9 Victory Day celebration marking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.

The military parade proceeded on Saturday as scheduled but in a reduced format, omitting the typical display of military equipment due to concerns about possible Ukrainian drone strikes.

Russian officials had already called in Armenia’s ambassador on Thursday to object to what they characterized as terrorist threats against Russia delivered by Zelenskyy while in Yerevan.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed displeasure with the situation, stating: “This is not normal, it is not in keeping with the spirit of our relations with Yerevan.”

“The main thing for us is that Armenia does not adopt an anti-Russian stance,” Peskov added, noting that Russia expects clarification from Yerevan regarding the matter.

On Thursday, Russian officials also voiced concerns about Armenia being pulled into what they termed the European Union’s anti-Russian sphere of influence following Armenia’s hosting of a European Political Community gathering on May 4.

Over 40 European leaders, including Zelenskyy, participated in that meeting, which was followed by an EU-Armenia summit.

Relations between Russia and Armenia, which houses several Russian military installations, have become increasingly strained since Azerbaijan forcibly reclaimed its separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region in September 2023, despite Russian peacekeepers being stationed there.

Kuwaiti military forces successfully neutralized multiple hostile unmanned aircraft that entered the nation’s airspace during early morning hours on Sunday, marking another episode in a pattern of cross-border drone incidents connected to regional Middle East tensions.

This latest incident follows a previous attack on April 25, when Kuwaiti defense forces reported that two unmanned aircraft launched from Iraqi territory struck a pair of northern border installations, resulting in property damage.

The country’s air defense systems also successfully countered a wave of Iranian unmanned aircraft on April 8 that were directed at critical infrastructure facilities.

Despite a reduction in active hostilities following an April ceasefire agreement, unmanned aircraft continue to be deployed from Iraqi territory toward Gulf nations, with both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait experiencing such attacks.

BERLIN, May 10 – German leadership on Sunday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to have former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder serve as a mediator for potential European Union peace negotiations regarding Ukraine.

The suggestion came after European Council President Antonio Costa recently indicated he saw “potential” for EU discussions with Russia about negotiating peace and addressing Europe’s future security framework. Putin responded by naming Schroeder as his preferred intermediary for such discussions.

However, a German official told Reuters the proposal lacked credibility since Russia hasn’t modified any of its existing demands. The official, speaking anonymously, noted that Moscow’s willingness to extend a three-day ceasefire would serve as an initial measure of their genuine interest in negotiations.

The same official characterized Putin’s suggestion as part of a pattern of false proposals designed to create divisions within the Western alliance.

Schroeder’s relationship with Russia has drawn significant controversy in Germany. Following his departure from the chancellorship in 2005, he immediately accepted a position leading a German-Russian gas pipeline consortium, leading to widespread criticism over his ties to Putin.

A German government representative stated Friday that Berlin has observed no indication that Moscow is genuinely interested in meaningful negotiations. The spokesperson emphasized that any potential EU discussions would require careful coordination with member nations and Ukraine.

Moscow and Kyiv exchanged accusations Sunday over violations of a weekend ceasefire that President Trump helped negotiate, with both sides reporting continued military action despite the temporary truce.

Russian defense officials claimed Ukraine broke the ceasefire more than 1,000 times, according to state media reports from a Sunday briefing. The ministry alleged Ukrainian forces targeted civilian areas in Russian territory and struck military positions along the front lines.

Russia’s military “responded in kind” to the ceasefire violations,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian regional leaders reported casualties from ongoing Russian attacks. Ivan Fedorov, who heads the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, confirmed one death and three injuries from artillery and drone strikes over a 24-hour period.

In the Kherson region, Oleksandr Prokudin reported seven wounded civilians during the same timeframe. Additionally, Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-appointed leader of Russian-controlled Kherson territory, said two people were hurt by Ukrainian bombardment.

A Russian drone strike also damaged a nine-story apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, injuring five residents, according to regional administrator Oleh Syniehubov.

The temporary halt in fighting was announced Friday by President Trump, who said both nations agreed to his request for a Saturday-through-Monday ceasefire to coincide with Victory Day, Russia’s commemoration of defeating Nazi Germany.

Trump said there would also be an exchange of prisoners, declaring that the break in fighting could be the “beginning of the end” of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously suggested Russian authorities “fear drones may buzz over Red Square” during the May 9 parade in Moscow. Following Trump’s announcement, Zelenskyy sarcastically declared Red Square temporarily off-limits for Ukrainian strikes to allow the Russian parade to proceed. The Kremlin dismissed his remarks as a “silly joke.”

Ukraine’s air force reported Sunday that it successfully intercepted or destroyed all 27 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia during overnight operations.

South Korean officials confirmed Sunday that an unknown object struck a cargo ship operated by shipping company HMM while the vessel remained stranded in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, following an inspection conducted Friday.

The rear section of the bulk carrier HMM Namu was damaged in the incident. The same ship had suffered an explosion and fire seven days earlier while anchored near United Arab Emirates waters in the strait. No crew members were injured in either incident.

President Donald Trump previously attributed the initial blast to an Iranian attack on the vessel.

Following the fire on Monday, investigators towed the damaged ship to a Dubai port facility. South Korean authorities had been conducting their own investigation into the original incident.

Ministry officials stated they could not determine the nature of the object that struck the vessel. Authorities plan to gather debris from the area for further examination and analysis.

In response to the incidents, Trump called on South Korea to participate in “Project Freedom,” a currently halted American-led initiative aimed at protecting maritime traffic through the vital shipping corridor.

Iran’s diplomatic mission in South Korea has rejected any involvement in the attack. Embassy officials did not provide immediate responses to inquiries about the unidentified object incident when contacted after business hours.

An HMM company representative refused to provide comments regarding the ministry’s announcement about the investigation findings.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is standing firm against mounting pressure to resign, declaring his administration a decade-long initiative following devastating local election results this week.

The Labour Party leader’s political future hangs in the balance after suffering the most significant local election defeats by any ruling party in over thirty years. The poor showing has sparked increasing demands from party members for Starmer’s ouster.

One former government minister has threatened to gather support from fellow lawmakers to initiate a leadership challenge unless Starmer’s cabinet removes him by Monday.

When questioned by the Observer newspaper about his political future and whether he would lead Labour into the next national election while serving a complete second term, Starmer firmly declared: “Yes, I will.”

“I’m not going to walk away from the job I was elected to do in July 2024. I’m not going to plunge the country into chaos,” he stated.

Should Starmer be forced out in the coming weeks, Britain would face its seventh prime minister within a single decade.

Despite Thursday’s electoral setback, Starmer’s cabinet members have remained supportive of his leadership.

Education Minister Bridget Phillipson expressed confidence in the prime minister’s ability to reverse the party’s fortunes, announcing on Sky News Sunday that Starmer would outline a “fresh direction” for the nation during Monday’s address.

“We got a real kicking from the voters, there’s no escaping that,” Phillipson acknowledged regarding Labour’s electoral performance. “We have to reflect seriously on that.”

Catherine West, who previously held a junior foreign ministry position before Starmer dismissed her last year, indicated she would evaluate Monday’s speech before deciding whether to pursue the 81 parliamentary supporters required to launch a leadership challenge.

When asked Sunday about her chances of securing sufficient backing, West responded to the BBC: “We will find out.”

Britain’s next general election must occur no later than 2029. If Starmer completes a second five-year term, he would rank as the third-longest serving consecutive British leader over the past two centuries, following Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

Iran’s highest-ranking military official has received fresh strategic directives from the country’s Supreme Leader, according to reports from the Fars news agency on Sunday.

Ali Abdollahi, who leads the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters overseeing Iran’s unified military command, met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to receive what Fars described as “new guiding measures to pursue military operations and firmly confront adversaries.” The timing of their meeting was not disclosed by the news outlet.

During the session, Abdollahi provided Khamenei with an assessment of Iran’s military preparedness across all branches of the armed forces.

“The armed forces are ready to confront any action by the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemies. In case of any error by the enemy, Iran’s response will be swift, severe, and decisive,” Abdollahi stated, according to the Fars report.

MOSCOW, May 10 — Moscow’s Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces on Sunday of breaking ceasefire agreements through drone operations and artillery bombardments targeting Russian military positions, according to reports from the Interfax news agency.

The ministry stated that Russian forces intercepted and destroyed 57 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft during the previous 24-hour period, while asserting that Moscow has been adhering to ceasefire conditions.

According to the ministry, Russian forces had “responded in kind” to Ukraine’s military actions, conducting counterattacks using multiple launch rocket systems and mortar fire.

Previously, Ukrainian officials had blamed Russia for carrying out drone operations and approximately 150 combat encounters during the same timeframe, despite an existing U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement.

Independent verification of these military claims from the battlefield was not immediately available through Reuters.

Israeli authorities expelled two humanitarian activists on Sunday following their detention for more than a week after leading an aid convoy that attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade around Gaza.

The expelled activists were identified as Saif Abukeshek, a Spanish-Swedish national of Palestinian heritage, and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian citizen. Both individuals served on the leadership board of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an organization working to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade while delivering humanitarian supplies to Palestinian territories.

In a Sunday statement posted to X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry labeled the pair as “professional provocateurs,” declaring that “Israel will not allow any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza.”

When initially apprehended, Israeli officials stated the duo was being held for interrogation, with Abukeshek “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization” and Ávila “suspected of illegal activity,” though no supporting evidence was presented. No official charges have been made public.

The governments of Spain and Brazil jointly denounced what they termed “the kidnapping of two of their citizens in international waters by the Government of Israel” when the detention occurred. The incident prompted solidarity demonstrations across multiple nations.

Israeli naval forces intercepted a total of 22 vessels carrying 175 activists. According to the activists, Israeli military personnel boarded their ships, destroyed engines, and arrested several participants. The confrontation took place several hundred miles from both Gaza and Israel during the overnight hours between Wednesday and Thursday.

Israeli representatives justified their preemptive action against the flotilla, citing the substantial number of vessels involved as requiring intervention before they could enter Israeli territorial waters.

This flotilla mission represents the group’s second attempt to reach Gaza in under a year, following Israeli authorities’ successful prevention of an earlier effort. The previous operation included approximately 50 ships and 500 activists, featuring notable participants such as Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Mandla Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s grandson), and various elected officials.

Israel had previously arrested, detained, and deported those participants, including Ávila, who alleged mistreatment during custody. Israeli authorities rejected these allegations.

Meanwhile in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle, resulting in at least two fatalities including a Hamas police official, according to Nasser hospital records.

The attack occurred late Sunday morning in the Al-Amal district of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to civil defense officials operating under the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry.

Among those killed was Col. Wessam Abdel-Hadi, who directed the police investigation unit in Khan Younis, hospital officials confirmed.

Israeli military officials stated they were examining the incident.

These deaths add to the Palestinian casualties in the coastal territory since a fragile ceasefire agreement in October aimed to end more than two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Although major combat operations have decreased, the unstable truce has witnessed nearly daily Israeli military action.

Israeli forces have conducted numerous airstrikes and routinely opened fire on Palestinians approaching military-controlled areas, resulting in at least 850 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The ministry, operating under Hamas governance, keeps comprehensive casualty documentation that UN agencies and independent analysts generally consider credible. However, it does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

Armed groups have conducted attacks against Israeli troops, with Israel claiming its strikes respond to these incidents and other ceasefire violations. Four Israeli soldiers have died since the ceasefire began.

Three Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Sunday, medical officials reported, with two victims being members of the Hamas-controlled police force. The deadly incidents raise fresh questions about the durability of the U.S.-mediated truce agreement.

According to medical personnel, one fatality occurred when an airstrike hit the Maghazi refugee camp within the Gaza Strip. In a separate attack, the commander of Khan Younis criminal police, Wessam Abdel-Hadi, was killed alongside his assistant, as confirmed by Gaza’s Hamas-controlled interior ministry.

Previous Reuters reporting has documented Israel’s increased targeting of Gaza’s Hamas-operated police units, which the militant organization has deployed to reestablish administrative control in territories under their authority.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided statements regarding either attack.

Despite the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, hostilities in Gaza have continued, with Israel launching strikes on an almost daily basis.

Local medical sources report that no fewer than 850 Palestinians have died since the truce began, while Israeli officials state that militants have killed four Israeli soldiers during the same timeframe.

Both Israel and Hamas have accused one another of breaking the ceasefire terms.

Gaza health officials report that more than 72,500 Palestinians have died since the conflict began in October 2023, with the majority being civilians.

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Fed up with fuel shortages and rising gas prices, Simón Huanca decided to take action.

The 53-year-old Indigenous craftsman purchased a Chinese electric vehicle to get around El Alto, Bolivia’s highest-elevation city, using it to transport his family and alpaca wool for his textile business.

Huanca even put in his own charging station at home for convenience, since only three public charging points exist for the entire metropolitan region of El Alto and nearby La Paz — an area with over 1.6 million residents.

“Since last year, I’ve been trying to get an electric car to save on costs,” Huanca said while driving his electric SUV through a working-class district.

Huanca represents a small but increasing group of Bolivians switching from gas-powered vehicles to electric ones as the South American nation faces fuel shortages and a presidential order that eliminated longtime fuel subsidies, essentially doubling gasoline costs.

Bolivia’s energy problems intensified in 2023 during former President Luis Arce’s administration, which maintained government subsidies where the nation bought fuel at world prices but sold it domestically at half the cost.

However, Bolivia — which brings in 80% of its diesel and 55% of its gasoline from other countries — slowly exhausted its foreign currency reserves to buy fuel, with the subsidy costing the government over $2 billion annually.

Extended lines of cars at gas stations became routine.

In December — just one month after assuming office — President Rodrigo Paz eliminated the subsidy, causing energy costs to nearly double and severely impacting Bolivians.

Several weeks afterward, transportation workers complained that inferior gasoline was harming their vehicles. The administration blamed sabotage, with Paz stating that fuel distributed by state oil company Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos contained gum and manganese residue left in storage tanks from the previous Arce government.

The contaminated fuel controversy sparked widespread strikes and demonstrations among transport workers and led to two senior officials at the state oil company stepping down.

The final breaking point for many Bolivians was the Iran conflict. Confronted with potential additional fuel price increases, some exchanged their gasoline vehicles for electric alternatives.

“The investment exceeds $36,000, but I no longer waste valuable working hours searching for fuel or managing vehicle repairs,” said Ever Vera, a 54-year-old attorney.

Electric vehicle registrations in Bolivia increased from 500 to 3,352 over the past five years, based on Single Registry for Tax Administration data tracking tax-registered vehicles. The biggest jump occurred in the last two years during the fuel crisis. These still represent only a small portion of approximately 2.6 million vehicles in the nation of nearly 12 million people.

Most of these vehicles came from China, with the United States as the second-largest source.

“The growth is exponential,” said Freddy Koch, an electric mobility specialist with nonprofit organization Swisscontact. While noting these vehicles are currently purchased by wealthier buyers, he anticipates broader market appeal and projects the electric vehicle total could triple within two to three years.

Paz also removed import duties on all automobile types, increasing the number of importers competing to bring these vehicles into Bolivia at reduced prices.

The growing electric vehicle market has opened new business prospects for 38-year-old electrician Marcelo Laura. A month ago, he discovered a profitable specialty installing home and business charging stations.

“There aren’t many public charging stations,” he said. “A year ago, I thought it was practically impossible to think that people would actually be bringing in electric cars.”

Ukrainian authorities say Russian forces launched drone attacks and engaged in close to 150 combat encounters during the last day, even though a US-mediated ceasefire was supposed to be active, officials reported Sunday.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that both Russia and Ukraine had committed to a three-day truce running from May 9 through May 11, part of broader diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that has now stretched beyond four years.

Regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported Sunday morning that one person died and three others sustained injuries from Russian attacks in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia area.

In Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed that eight individuals, including two minors, were injured during drone assaults targeting the main city and surrounding communities.

Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced Sunday that seven people, including one child, suffered wounds from Russian drone and artillery bombardments in the southern Kherson area since early Saturday.

Regional administrator Oleksandr Hanzha reported that a minor was also injured and critical infrastructure sustained damage during Russian attacks in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk area.

Ukraine’s air force reported separately that Russia deployed 27 long-distance drones against Ukrainian targets during overnight hours — fewer than typical numbers — though Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted all incoming threats.

Ukraine’s General Staff documented 147 separate confrontations occurring across the front lines in their morning briefing.

While these incidents occurred, Ukrainian leadership has refrained from making public statements regarding any breaches of the US-facilitated truce, which was also designed to facilitate an exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war from both nations.

Both Russia and Ukraine had previously declared independent ceasefires earlier in the week — beginning Friday and Wednesday respectively — but rapidly blamed each other for violations.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Officials confirmed Sunday that fourteen police officers lost their lives in a coordinated assault on a security station in Pakistan’s northwest region. A militant organization identifying itself as a breakaway Taliban faction has taken credit for the deadly incident.

The attack occurred late Saturday evening in Bannu district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border, according to senior police official Sajjad Khan. Armed attackers detonated a vehicle packed with explosives at the security facility, sparking a prolonged gun battle. Some officers perished during the firefight, while others were killed when the station building subsequently collapsed.

Emergency teams worked through the night using heavy equipment to recover victims trapped beneath the debris, Khan reported. Three additional officers sustained injuries in the assault.

Law enforcement agencies have initiated a manhunt to capture those responsible for the attack.

The militant organization Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan issued a statement to media outlets claiming responsibility. Though this group asserts it consists of former members of the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, government officials believe it operates as a cover organization for the TTP.

The country has experienced an uptick in extremist violence recently, with much of the activity attributed to the TTP. This organization maintains ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, which regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Pakistani leadership frequently alleges that Afghanistan’s current government harbors TTP militants, accusations that Kabul consistently rejects.

Relations between the neighboring countries remain strained, with both nations engaging in border conflicts that have resulted in hundreds of casualties since late February.

Chinese mediators facilitated discussions between Afghan and Pakistani representatives in early April. Despite these diplomatic efforts, intermittent border skirmishes persist, though with reduced frequency compared to previous months.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A cargo vessel experienced a fire on Sunday following an attack by an unidentified projectile while traveling in waters near Qatar, according to British maritime officials.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that the incident resulted in a minor blaze aboard the bulk carrier, which crew members successfully extinguished.

The vessel was struck approximately 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) to the northeast of Doha, Qatar’s capital city, according to the UKMTO.

No injuries were reported from the incident, officials confirmed.

This marks another in a series of attacks targeting ships in Persian Gulf waters following an unstable ceasefire that ended hostilities between the United States and Iran.

A commercial cargo ship sailing in international waters near Qatar was struck by an unidentified projectile on Sunday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

The vessel was traveling approximately 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha when the incident occurred. The projectile impact caused a minor fire aboard the ship, but crew members were able to extinguish the flames quickly.

The ship’s captain confirmed that no crew members were injured in the incident and that there was no damage to the marine environment, UKMTO officials reported.

Maritime authorities have launched an investigation to determine what type of projectile struck the vessel and where it originated from.

In response to the incident, officials have issued safety advisories for ships operating in the region. Vessel operators have been told to exercise extra caution while passing through the area and to immediately report any suspicious activities to UKMTO.

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — After losing his life savings when his clothing venture failed 18 months ago, Tariqul Islam began driving a motorcycle taxi to support his family. Recently, he has spent countless hours waiting in fuel lines as energy shortages connected to the Iranian conflict have reached Bangladesh.

The 53-year-old father of four worries the economic pressure will intensify if the conflict continues, explaining that extensive waits for fuel have dramatically reduced his earnings and made it increasingly challenging to provide for his family in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, including supporting a daughter and son in higher education.

“My family was managing fairly well through ride-sharing,” he said. “But after the fuel shortage began, I would buy fuel one day and run the bike for two days. As a result, I had to sit idle for one day, which reduced my income.”

Islam’s financial struggles mirror a wider economic crisis in Bangladesh, which depends heavily on fuel imports. Energy shortages have disrupted everyday activities, reduced manufacturing production, and raised alarm about economic expansion as international conflicts drive up prices and limit availability.

The situation has improved modestly recently, with shorter lines at gas stations following government efforts to boost supplies, though worries remain throughout various industries.

Throughout Asia, nations are experiencing comparable difficulties as conflict-related energy price increases affect economies that depend on imported petroleum and natural gas.

The region faces vulnerability because it depends on fuel imports, with much of the supply traveling through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passage for approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and natural gas commerce.

Increased fuel expenses are causing inflation and pressuring family budgets, while sectors ranging from manufacturing to transportation confront higher operational costs and supply chain interruptions.

The Asian Development Bank reduced growth projections for developing Asia and the Pacific in late April, cautioning that conflict-related energy disruptions would decelerate economies and increase inflation. The bank now anticipates 4.7% growth in 2026, with inflation climbing to 5.2% as petroleum prices rise and financial conditions become more restrictive.

Many hope for a swift resolution to the conflict and a return to stability.

“If this situation continues, we will have to move back to our village and find some other way to earn a living,” Islam, the struggling father said. “It is not possible to survive in Dhaka by doing ride-sharing under these conditions.”

Escalating energy prices are anticipated to burden Bangladesh’s budget, with officials likely spending an extra $1.07 billion on LNG subsidies during the April-June period alone if worldwide prices stay elevated.

Bangladesh has requested supplies from neighboring India, which has responded favorably as it has diversified fuel sources, including purchases from Russia.

Officials have already implemented cost-cutting measures to address the crisis as international lenders predict slower growth in the nation of over 170 million residents. Natural gas and diesel shortages have caused more frequent electricity outages in manufacturing areas.

The administration has also closed fertilizer plants to redirect gas to power facilities, limited evening operating hours for shopping centers, and established fuel rationing programs.

The World Bank stated in April that it anticipates Bangladesh’s growth to decrease to 3.9% in the fiscal year concluding in June 2026, cautioning that an extended Middle Eastern conflict could increase inflation, expand the current account deficit, and strain government finances through higher energy subsidies.

Jean Pesme, the World Bank’s division director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, noted the economy already confronted “pre-existing vulnerabilities and challenges, in particular on the economic and employment front.”

The increasing expenses are “obviously making the fiscal situation more difficult.”

He also cautioned that officials should be careful about raising fuel prices, noting that higher costs could damage farmers and agricultural production.

The energy shortage is also increasing expenses and endangering Bangladesh’s clothing exports, which form the foundation of its economy, according to business executives.

Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries, indicated exports to Europe and the United States could experience a major decline. Shipments have decreased between 5% and 13% in recent months, he reported. He expressed concern that buyers could lose trust in Bangladesh’s delivery capabilities and that competing countries such as India, Vietnam, and Cambodia could capture market share if the crisis continues.

Chowdhury reported that factory production has declined by 30% to 40% for multiple reasons and that conditions have deteriorated since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran, while business expenses have increased by approximately 35% to 40%.

Bangladesh, the globe’s second-largest clothing exporter following China, generates roughly $39 billion yearly from the industry, which employs around 4 million workers, primarily women from rural regions.

Alvi Islam, director of Arrival Fashion Limited, explained that manufacturers face higher expenses for petroleum-derived materials such as sewing threads, poly bags — plastic packaging materials — and shipping boxes, while spending more on diesel generators to manage frequent power outages.

His company, which exports products valued at approximately $40 million annually, now operates generators for at least four hours daily during production.

“For that reason, the cost of doing business for exporting garments has increased quite significantly in past one month,” he said.

Garment worker Mosammet Runa, 35, expressed concern about her family’s prospects if the conflict persists.

“Millions of people like us depend on this industry. It is how we survive,” said Runa, who, together with her husband, makes about $400 monthly to support their six-member family.

She indicated that an extended conflict could eliminate employment opportunities and urged for an end to the violence.

“We are innocent people. The world should not make us victims,” she said.

Germany is making a renewed push to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States, according to a Financial Times report published Sunday that cited sources familiar with Berlin’s defense strategy.

German officials are hoping to convince the Trump administration to approve the sale of Tomahawk missiles along with their accompanying Typhon ground-based launching systems, the newspaper reported.

Neither the White House, U.S. Department of Defense, nor Germany’s Ministry of Defence provided immediate responses when contacted by Reuters for comment on the report.

According to the Financial Times, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is planning to travel to Washington in an attempt to restart Berlin’s request for the long-range weapon systems. The original proposal was submitted in July of last year but has not yet received a response from U.S. officials.

Sources speaking anonymously to the Financial Times indicated that Pistorius’s planned visit depends on whether he can arrange a meeting with Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary.

Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles are sophisticated, long-range cruise missiles designed for deep-strike operations and are traditionally fired from naval vessels to hit distant targets.

The Pentagon announced in February that it had entered into a seven-year contract with Raytheon to boost Tomahawk missile production, as military stockpiles have been reduced due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

A deadly car bomb attack targeted a police station in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of twelve law enforcement officers, according to a senior police official.

The explosive attack occurred at a police facility in Bannu, where militants detonated a vehicle bomb before engaging officers in armed combat. Following the initial blast, a gun battle ensued between the attackers and police personnel.

Emergency responders managed to rescue three officers who survived the assault, and they have been transported to a local medical facility for treatment, the police official confirmed.

Two international activists were sent back to their home countries by Israeli authorities on Sunday following questioning about their involvement in a flotilla attempting to reach Gaza, according to Israel’s foreign ministry.

The men identified as Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Ávila from Brazil were released after officials completed their investigation into the May 10 incident.

According to the foreign ministry, Abu Keshek faced suspicions of connections to a terrorist organization, while Ávila was suspected of engaging in illegal activities. Both men rejected these accusations against them.

The deportations concluded the investigation into their roles in the Gaza-bound maritime convoy.

A right-wing populist political party in Australia that seeks to mirror former President Donald Trump’s deportation policies has secured its first seat in the nation’s lower house of parliament, promising to prioritize ending large-scale immigration.

Farmer David Farley claimed victory for the One Nation party in Saturday’s special election in the rural Farrer district, located approximately 340 miles south of Sydney. While this win doesn’t impact the parliamentary majority held by center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, since the seat was previously occupied by a Liberal party member representing the main conservative bloc, it marks a notable milestone for One Nation.

The victory represents major progress for One Nation, which currently holds four Senate positions. Recent polling shows the party ranking second behind Albanese’s Labor Party, surpassing the traditional conservative coalition. Party leader Senator Pauline Hanson enjoys higher public approval than both Albanese and the Liberal party leader.

Following the electoral success, Hanson took to social media platform X on Saturday evening, declaring: “The people of Australia will not be forgotten. One Nation will fight for you on the floor of Parliament. We will fight to lower cost of living, end net-zero and stop mass migration.”

Immigration has emerged as an increasingly contentious topic across Australia, where approximately half of the nation’s 27 million residents were either born in other countries or have at least one foreign-born parent. Anti-immigration demonstrations drew thousands of participants in Australia’s major metropolitan areas during the previous year.

Liberal shadow treasurer Tim Wilson acknowledged that One Nation’s electoral success “showed there’s a lot of work we’ve got to do.” During Sunday television interviews, Wilson stated: “We need to outline very clearly a bold and confident vision for the country about where we want to take it.”

Albanese’s Labor Party, which has never controlled the Farrer seat and chose not to field a candidate in this special election, has characterized One Nation as harmful to Australia’s social cohesion.

JAKARTA – Rescue operations for two missing hikers from Singapore remain severely challenged by ongoing volcanic activity and harsh weather conditions at Mount Dukono in Indonesia, according to local officials who expressed little hope for finding the pair alive.

Local rescue agency chief Iwan Ramdani reported that approximately 150 rescue workers equipped with two thermal drones have been conducting search operations since Sunday morning, concentrating their efforts within 100-150 meters of the volcanic crater’s edge.

“However, Mount Dukono continues to erupt and rain is also falling in the area. We carry out rescue efforts during intervals when there are no eruptions,” Iwan told Reuters.

The volcano, situated in North Maluku province along the Pacific Ocean, initially erupted Friday and launched ash columns reaching 10 kilometers into the sky. Smaller-scale eruptions have persisted since the initial blast.

According to Iwan, volcanic ash still covers the crater area, while search teams are combing approximately 1.25 kilometers around where the missing hikers were last seen.

Search teams have discovered backpacks believed to belong to the two Singapore nationals. Police chief Erlichson Pasaribu previously stated that survivors reported the pair had died.

Indonesian authorities confirmed Saturday that one missing Indonesian hiker was found dead.

The volcanic incident left 17 people alive, including seven from Singapore and 10 Indonesians.

Singapore’s Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that the surviving Singapore citizens would return home Sunday.

Indonesia’s volcano monitoring agency documented at least three eruptions by Sunday morning, with the largest sending ash 1.3 kilometers skyward.

The agency continues enforcing its third-highest danger warning for Mount Dukono and prohibits all human activity within 4 kilometers of the crater.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s transitional president conducted a major government reorganization on Saturday, dismissing his brother from a senior administrative role amid growing criticism over family favoritism while working to rebuild the war-torn nation following years of devastating conflict.

Maher al-Sharaa, brother of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, had been serving in the role of secretary-general to the presidency based in Damascus. The family appointment had sparked criticism and comparisons to the governing style of Syria’s ousted President Bashar Assad and his predecessor father, Hafez Assad.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa spearheaded the rebel campaign that successfully removed Bashar Assad from power in December 2024, ending nearly 14 years of civil warfare. Throughout Assad’s tenure, he similarly installed relatives, including his spouse and brother, into positions of power and influence.

Maher Assad, the former president’s brother, held command of the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division — a force that opposition groups accused of murder, torture, extortion and narcotics smuggling. Assad’s spouse, Asma Assad, led the powerful Syrian Trust for Development organization.

Through an official order issued Saturday, al-Sharaa named Abdul Rahman Badreddine al-Aama — who had been serving as Homs province’s governor — to take over his brother’s responsibilities, according to state media outlet SANA.

Officials have not announced what role, if any, Maher al-Sharaa will assume moving forward. The physician had previously held the position of Syria’s temporary health minister.

The interim administration also named new provincial leaders for Homs, Latakia, Deir el-Zour and Quneitra regions, along with selecting a new information minister, Khaled Zaarour, a university professor who recently served as media faculty dean at Damascus University. Zaarour is taking over from Hamza Mustafa, a former broadcasting industry leader who had directed the private Syria TV channel before joining the government as information minister.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces issued stark warnings on Saturday, threatening massive retaliation against U.S. military installations in the region and enemy vessels if Iranian commercial ships or oil tankers face any strikes, despite an ongoing fragile truce that appears to be maintaining stability.

UK Sends Naval Vessel to Middle Eastern Waters

The British defense ministry announced plans to dispatch a warship to Middle Eastern waters as part of preparations for a possible mission safeguarding commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz after current hostilities conclude.

Officials stated that the HMS Dragon would establish a strategic position in the area, prepared to participate in a security initiative spearheaded by the United Kingdom and France. This week, France declared it was repositioning its aircraft carrier battle group to the Red Sea as part of these preparations.

The UK and France have organized discussions with dozens of nations regarding an alliance aimed at restoring safe passage through the waterway. However, officials emphasize that operations will not commence until a lasting truce is established and shipping companies feel confident about vessel safety in the strait.

Round-the-Clock Diplomatic Efforts Continue

President Donald Trump has restated warnings about resuming comprehensive bombing campaigns unless Iran agrees to reopen the strait and scale back its nuclear activities. On Friday, Iranian foreign ministry representative Esmail Baghaei stated through state media IRNA that the nation was disregarding imposed “deadlines.”

Diplomatic negotiations persist. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed his nation has maintained continuous communication with both the United States and Iran “day and night” while working to extend the current truce and achieve a comprehensive peace settlement.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced that both Russia and Saudi Arabia are advocating for diplomatic initiatives to establish a “sustainable, long-term agreement” that would conclude the conflict.

In a separate development, Putin informed Moscow reporters that removing enriched uranium from Iran as part of settlement negotiations would provide transparency regarding “how much of it there is, and where it is located,” adding that “all of this would be placed under the control of the IAEA,” referring to the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency.

Senior diplomats from Egypt and Qatar emphasized that diplomatic solutions represent the only viable path forward, according to an official summary of a telephone conversation between both nations’ foreign ministers.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has remained absent from public view and has not made any public statements since hostilities began, generating questions about his current situation.

On Friday, a senior Iranian official confirmed that Khamenei was in “complete health” and would eventually make public appearances. Mazaher Hosseini, connected to the office of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died when the war started, spoke at a government-supporting event. Hosseini explained that Mojtaba, the late Khamenei’s son, sustained knee and back injuries during the conflict’s initial attacks but has mostly recovered.

Bahraini officials revealed Saturday that security forces have detained 41 individuals suspected of operating within an intelligence network connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with allegations including espionage activities and assistance to Iranian operations.

According to the Interior Ministry, security services discovered this organization while conducting investigations overseen by prosecutors examining cases involving “espionage on behalf of foreign entities and sympathy for Iranian aggression.”

These detentions occur as Bahrain has strengthened domestic security protocols amid escalating regional conflicts involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The island nation serves as home to a significant US military installation and was among Gulf states impacted by Iranian strikes that followed American and Israeli military actions against Iran.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry released a statement Saturday expressing Riyadh’s complete backing of Bahrain’s actions to counter efforts designed to undermine the kingdom’s stability.

The ministry additionally lauded Bahraini security personnel, highlighting what it characterized as their success in thwarting attempts to compromise national security.

Following the start of regional hostilities, Bahraini officials have implemented measures targeting individuals suspected of publicly backing Tehran. In the previous month, Bahrain stripped citizenship from 69 people charged with demonstrating support for Iran.

The Bahraini Interior Ministry reiterated Saturday that this case originated from previous investigations connected to foreign-sponsored intelligence operations and assistance to Iranian activities.

Three Israeli soldiers sustained injuries Saturday when explosive drones launched by Hezbollah detonated close to the Lebanese border in the Shlomi region, amid ongoing military exchanges between the two sides.

According to Israeli military reports, one reserve soldier from the Israel Defense Forces suffered serious injuries, while an officer and another reserve soldier received moderate wounds. Medical teams transported the injured personnel to a hospital, and their families have been informed of the incident.

Israeli forces successfully intercepted multiple aerial attacks targeting troops operating in southern Lebanon, with no additional casualties recorded from those incidents.

Reports from Lebanese media outlets indicate that Israeli airstrikes resulted in 12 fatalities in southern Lebanon on Saturday. Prior to the strikes, Israeli military officials ordered civilians in multiple southern Lebanese villages to leave their homes.

Army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee issued a statement to local residents, saying: “In light of the Hezbollah terror organization’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is forced to act against it with force and does not intend to harm you.”

Israeli military officials reported conducting operations against more than 85 Hezbollah infrastructure sites throughout various regions of Lebanon during the previous 24-hour period. The targeted facilities included ammunition storage sites, rocket launchers, and buildings used by the militant organization.

Additional Israeli operations targeted a subterranean weapons production facility located in the Bekaa Valley, along with militant fighters positioned in southern Lebanon.

In separate military actions, Israeli forces attacked storage facilities containing military equipment and destroyed a Hezbollah drone launch site in southern Lebanon that had been used for attacks against Israeli forces. The military also eliminated two rocket launchers that were loaded and ready for deployment.

Warning systems for drone infiltrations activated across the Western Galilee region on Saturday before the Home Front Command declared the threat had passed and authorized residents to exit protective shelters.

Israeli Air Force units intercepted several suspicious aerial objects launched from Lebanese territory toward Israel, according to military statements. Near the border town of Metula, security forces identified an explosive drone deployed by Hezbollah. Military officials confirmed no injuries or property damage occurred, and investigators are examining the location.

Washington remains in a holding pattern as Iranian officials deliberate over a comprehensive peace proposal designed to halt the conflict that started in February.

Iranian leadership is examining a detailed 14-point plan from the United States that would establish a two-month cessation of hostilities, restore access through the Strait of Hormuz, and halt Iran’s uranium enrichment activities for a minimum of 12 years in return for lifting economic sanctions.

The wait extended into Saturday despite earlier expectations for a quicker response. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated Friday that Washington anticipated hearing from Tehran within hours, while Donald Trump suggested the Iranian decision would come “tonight.” As of Saturday, no official word had emerged regarding Iran’s position on the offer.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that Islamabad continues intensive diplomatic efforts with both nations “day and night” to maintain the current ceasefire and advance broader peace negotiations.

Ali Safari, who advises the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, spoke with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen network about Tehran’s perspective on the strategic waterway dispute. “Iran’s priority is to stop the war, open the Strait of Hormuz and stop American maritime piracy,” Safari stated.

Safari elaborated on Iran’s comprehensive approach to ending hostilities: “When we say ending the war, we mean all fronts, especially Lebanon. We decided to use the Strait of Hormuz card for the Lebanese front. We are in contact with official parties in Lebanon.”

The Iranian advisor also leveled accusations against the United Arab Emirates regarding military involvement. “The United Arab Emirates is among the countries that participated in the war against Iran. We have evidence,” he claimed.

United States Central Command reported Saturday that American forces had “diverted 58 commercial vessels and disabled four, since April 13, to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports,” characterizing these actions as components of the Strait of Hormuz blockade operations.

The past several days have witnessed the most intense confrontations in the critical shipping corridor since a ceasefire began one month ago. The United Arab Emirates also experienced additional attacks on Friday.

Iran’s ISNA news agency published details of diplomatic exchanges that revealed Tehran’s concerns about American military activities in the Persian Gulf. “The recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violating the ceasefire have added to suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy,” according to the Iranian diplomatic account.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published Saturday, Israel established a hidden military facility in Iraq’s desert region to bolster its aerial operations against Iran, with sources including U.S. officials providing details to the publication.

The covert installation served as a base for Israeli special operations forces and functioned as a supply center for Israel’s air force operations, according to the newspaper. The facility was constructed with American awareness prior to the commencement of joint U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, the report states. Search-and-rescue personnel were also stationed at the location to provide assistance to any Israeli aviators who might be shot down, the Journal reported.

Reuters was unable to confirm the Wall Street Journal’s account independently. Israeli Prime Minister’s office did not provide an immediate response when Reuters sought comment on the matter.

The hidden facility nearly came to light in early March when Iraqi state television reported that a local herder had observed suspicious military operations, including aircraft activity in the region.

When Iraqi military personnel were sent to examine the area, Israeli forces conducted aerial bombardments to maintain distance and avoid detection of their position, according to the newspaper’s sources.

The Journal referenced a formal complaint Iraq submitted to the United Nations in late March, alleging that foreign military forces and aerial attacks were responsible for the incident, with Iraq pointing to U.S. involvement. However, the WSJ reported that a source knowledgeable about the situation stated the United States did not participate in the strikes.