Category: World News

An explosion at a marketplace in northwestern Pakistan resulted in seven fatalities on Tuesday, according to a senior law enforcement official.

The deadly incident occurred in Lakki Marwat, where the blast claimed the lives of two police officers and five civilians, authorities confirmed.

The explosion took place in the market area of the northwestern Pakistani town, though details about the cause of the blast have not yet been released by officials.

PYONGYANG, North Korea – In a nation historically plagued by famine and nuclear tensions, residents of North Korea’s capital are now confronting an entirely different challenge: finding somewhere to park their cars.

Pyongyang is witnessing an unprecedented explosion in private vehicle ownership, leading to the country’s first traffic jams and forcing officials to construct new parking facilities and electric vehicle charging stations, according to three recent visitors and satellite analysis conducted by Reuters.

The emergence of automobile culture in one of the globe’s most sanctioned and economically isolated countries is remarkable. Evidence appears throughout the city – hotel parking areas overflow with vehicles that spill onto neighboring streets, cars crowd around the Gold Lane bowling center and Rakrang Market shopping area. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged this development in April when he toured an automotive service facility, examining various vehicles that were deliberately covered with silver tarps to hide their brands.

While official trade records don’t reflect this automotive surge due to United Nations sanctions prohibiting car exports to North Korea, Chinese customs information reveals skyrocketing shipments of related products like tires, mirrors, and lubricants, indicating rising demand for automotive components as more North Koreans begin driving.

This automotive revolution follows recent modifications to North Korean legislation that officially recognized private vehicle ownership within the last two years, permitting licensed drivers to purchase one car per family through government-approved dealerships. Vehicle ownership remains primarily limited to elite citizens and the entrepreneurial class called donju, according to regional experts.

Reuters investigated how Pyongyang’s emerging automobile obsession is changing the city and China’s role – as the world’s largest car exporter – in meeting this demand. Journalists analyzed numerous satellite photographs and confirmed social media posts displaying increased traffic and foreign vehicles in North Korea, while interviewing more than ten sources including business leaders, diplomatic officials, and recent country visitors.

Peter Ward, a research fellow at Seoul’s Sejong Institute think tank, explained that North Korea’s automotive policies represent part of a wider effort to bring private economic activities under government oversight. Kim has permitted personal car ownership because it directs consumer spending through state enterprises – vehicles sold by government dealers, serviced by state providers, and refueled at government gas stations.

“It thus stimulates consumption, and also regularizes what previously was a burgeoning black-market trade,” Ward told Reuters.

North Koreans’ driving enthusiasm is transforming more than Pyongyang’s street appearance. Some experts believe it’s also increasing reliance on China, North Korea’s primary trading partner and the source of most vehicles now filling its streets.

China’s foreign ministry informed Reuters that China and North Korea maintain friendly neighborly relations with normal trade exchanges. The ministry avoided directly addressing Chinese vehicle flows to North Korea but stated China requires companies to conduct trade “lawfully and compliantly.”

North Korea’s Beijing embassy and its United Nations mission in New York did not respond to inquiries about the country’s vehicle surge.

Pyongyang license plates were historically blue or black, signifying state or military ownership. However, yellow plates designated for private cars are becoming commonplace, two recent visitors reported.

Aram Pan, a Singapore photographer operating a North Korea-focused Instagram account, said he was amazed to encounter a traffic jam in Pyongyang during October, his 20th country visit.

“Main roads have become bottleneck points simply because there are now too many cars,” he said. “I definitely saw over a hundred yellow-plated cars.”

Most vehicles Pan observed were Chinese brands, he noted.

A foreign business person who regularly visits North Korea reported that central Pyongyang parking has become challenging, with many spaces informally managed by attendants collecting fees. In October, state media showed Kim touring a new hospital featuring an underground parking garage – a feature the businessman described as unusual in the capital.

Electric vehicle infrastructure remains limited, but charging stations for electric taxis have started appearing, according to the businessman and a diplomat.

The exact number of private cars on North Korean roads remains unclear. However, five-digit license plates have recently emerged. One video and one image posted on Chinese social media since March by foreigners in North Korea, verified by Reuters, display vehicles with yellow plates and registration numbers in the 10,000s.

Jung Chang-hyun, a North Korea analyst and director of Seoul’s Korean Peace and Economy Institute think tank, told Reuters the total private car count in North Korea could exceed 20,000 within the next year.

United Nations sanctions targeting North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have prohibited vehicle supplies to the country since December 2017. Officially, China exported only two vehicles to North Korea last year, customs data indicate, compared to more than 3,200 in the year the ban began.

However, Chinese exports of automotive-related products to North Korea have increased dramatically compared to pre-pandemic levels. New tire shipments for passenger cars reached nearly 193,000 units in 2025, rising 88% from pre-COVID averages, while rear-view mirror exports nearly quadrupled. Lubricating oil and grease shipments increased more than 150%.

Vehicles continue entering North Korea through unofficial channels along the 1,400-kilometer Chinese border, multiple sources told Reuters. This occurs despite a Chinese smuggling crackdown in recent months, according to two individuals.

Lu Ming, a used-car dealer in China’s northeastern Jilin province, explained that vehicles bound for North Korea change ownership multiple times before border crossing, with a small group of experienced smugglers managing final delivery. Lu said some cars he has sold have reached North Korea but he doesn’t trade directly with importers. Once a car leaves his lot, he said, he cannot control its resale or final user.

Video and photo content posted on social media between late 2024 and early 2026 by nearly a dozen Pyongyang residents and visitors, verified by Reuters, show foreign-brand vehicles at service centers and on city streets. The cars include models from Chinese manufacturers Changan, Chery and Geely, plus European brands like BMW and Audi.

“In the past, you could point to a particular brand” as most popular in North Korea, said Joung Eun-lee, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a South Korean government-funded think tank. “But recently, the variety has become so wide that it is difficult to identify a single dominant one.”

Prices range from $5,000 to $30,000 for various new and used, gasoline and electric models, Joung said, citing border region trader information. She shared photographs with Reuters taken from the Chinese side last year, showing more than 30 vehicles parked along the North Korean border in Hyesan city, one of several entry points.

Audi and BMW told Reuters they conduct no business activities in North Korea and their importers and dealers are contractually required to comply with sanctions. Both German manufacturers said they were unaware of their vehicles operating in Pyongyang. Audi added it has no control over used cars in private ownership.

Changan, Chery and Geely did not respond to requests for comment about their vehicles’ presence in North Korea and their sanctions compliance measures.

On Pyongyang’s increasingly crowded streets, the cumulative impact of all imported cars is unmistakable.

“It’s crazy how dense traffic has become,” said the foreign businessman. “Yellow plates are everywhere.”

French defense contractors Thales and ArianeGroup announced this month they have completed the inaugural test launch of their new long-range rocket launcher system, the FLP-t 150.

The companies released a joint statement confirming the successful trial, saying “This first flight test validates the studies and underscores the value this first complete system offered.”

According to the announcement, the new rocket launcher system is capable of striking targets at distances exceeding 150 kilometers, or approximately 93 miles.

The successful test comes as France continues to expand its military capabilities amid growing global security concerns. Last month, French officials announced plans to increase defense spending by an additional 36 billion euros, equivalent to about $39 billion, through 2030.

This significant budget increase is part of France’s updated military planning legislation, which aims to expand the country’s nuclear weapons capabilities while also increasing missile and drone inventories.

France is moving forward with these defense investments despite facing one of the largest budget deficits in the eurozone. Officials cite increasing security threats from ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as questions about future U.S. involvement in NATO under President Donald Trump’s leadership.

ArianeGroup, which partnered on the rocket launcher project, is jointly owned by aerospace companies Airbus and Safran.

Six workers were hospitalized Monday evening after a blaze erupted at a Mexican oil refinery operated by the country’s state-owned petroleum company, Pemex officials announced.

The fire broke out in a cooling tower at the Salina Cruz refinery located in Oaxaca, according to company statements released late Monday. Pemex officials confirmed that crews successfully extinguished the flames and brought the situation under control.

Company representatives stated that the six individuals who sustained injuries during the incident were transported to local medical facilities for treatment. Officials emphasized that residents living in areas surrounding the refinery face no danger from the fire.

Financial markets continue to swing between optimism and pessimism as diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing Middle East conflict remain at an impasse, with recent breakdowns in negotiations pushing oil prices upward and strengthening concerns about rising inflation.

President Donald Trump described ceasefire negotiations with Iran as being “on life support” following Tehran’s rejection of the most recent American proposal to end hostilities. This development has created a cautious atmosphere among investors who believe both nations want to avoid escalating military actions.

Although a temporary ceasefire that began on April 7 initially boosted market confidence, the continued stalemate in discussions between Washington and Tehran is now creating pressure in specific market sectors.

Government bond yields are climbing worldwide as investors prepare for interest rates to remain elevated longer than expected to combat inflation driven by higher energy costs.

European markets are fully anticipating two quarter-point interest rate increases from the European Central Bank through September, with approximately 75% odds of a third hike before year’s end. Meanwhile, traders have completely eliminated expectations for any Federal Reserve rate reductions this year.

These conditions have strengthened the U.S. dollar due to safe-haven buying, though gains remain limited as investors continue hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations soon.

Today’s U.S. inflation report will be closely watched as investors examine how the conflict has affected consumer prices. Germany will also release final April inflation figures after preliminary data showed price increases.

This information may highlight Europe’s continued vulnerability due to its energy dependence, particularly with the critical Strait of Hormuz essentially closed for ten weeks since fighting began.

European stock futures indicate a weaker opening as negative sentiment spreads, with the STOXX 600 index still trading roughly 4% below pre-conflict levels and trailing other global markets that have recovered on artificial intelligence enthusiasm.

Tuesday’s key economic releases include Germany’s April inflation data and May economic sentiment survey, along with the U.S. inflation report.

VIENNA (AP) — The 70th Eurovision Song Contest launches Tuesday with its first semifinal round, though controversy surrounding Israel’s participation casts a shadow over the celebrated musical competition.

Vienna has been decorated with hearts and the event’s “United by Music” theme as performers from 35 nations prepare to vie for Europe’s top musical honor this week. However, five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — have chosen to skip the competition in protest of Israel being allowed to participate.

Multiple pro-Palestinian rallies are scheduled throughout Eurovision week in Vienna, prompting authorities to implement enhanced security measures. Police officers from throughout Austria have been stationed in the capital, with additional support from German law enforcement.

Security concerns were heightened after a 21-year-old Austrian man pleaded guilty last month to planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024, admitting he had sworn loyalty to ISIS. Austria’s DSN intelligence chief Sylvia Mayer warned that “the terror threat posed by Islamist terror groups, as well as Iran-affiliated groups, is still at a high level.”

Israeli performer Noam Bettan will compete alongside 14 other acts for votes from television audiences and national panels during Tuesday’s semifinal at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle arena. The top 10 performers advance to Saturday’s championship round, joined by 10 qualifiers from Thursday’s second semifinal. The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy receive automatic spots as major financial contributors to the contest, while Austria advances as the host nation after winning last year.

Bettan hopes to advance Israel to Saturday’s finale with his ballad “Michelle,” following Israel’s second-place finish in 2025. Similar to last year’s Israeli representative Yuval Raphael, Bettan has rehearsed performing while facing hostile crowd reactions.

Finland enters as the betting favorite with “Liekinheitin” (“Flamethrower”), an energetic collaboration between violinist Linda Lampenius and pop artist Pete Parkkonen.

Tuesday’s semifinal also features Greece’s Akylas performing the crowd-pleasing party-rap number “Ferto” (“Bring It”); Portuguese group Bandidos do Cante with their emotional track “Rosa”; and Senhit representing San Marino with “Superstar,” a celebratory anthem featuring Boy George as a guest performer.

Eurovision has historically served as a platform for friendly — and occasionally sharp — national competition, but recent years have seen increasing difficulty separating entertainment from political tensions. Russia faced expulsion in 2022 following its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

Both the 2024 competition in Malmo, Sweden, and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrations demanding Israel’s removal over its military actions against Hamas in Gaza and accusations of improper vote solicitation campaigns.

After organizers refused to exclude Israel, the five boycotting nations announced their withdrawal in December.

The European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision’s governing body, has strengthened voting procedures following vote manipulation allegations, reducing individual voting limits from 20 to 10 votes and implementing stricter monitoring for “suspicious or coordinated voting activity.”

Dean Vuletic, who wrote “Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest,” remains optimistic about the competition’s resilience.

“We’ll see demonstrations, but we’ll also see a lot of colorful events going on which will really represent what Eurovision is about, which is bringing Europeans together,” he said.

“If you look at the history of Eurovision, it’s gone through so many crises, so many political challenges, so many geopolitical changes in Europe, and it’s always managed to survive.”

Israel’s Knesset voted late Monday to establish a specialized military court that will prosecute Palestinian fighters involved in the devastating October 7, 2023 Hamas assault, with lawmakers describing the measure as necessary for national healing.

The Hamas-led attack, spearheaded by elite “Nukhba” commandos, marked the deadliest day in Israeli history and the most severe assault on Jewish people since the Holocaust. The violence claimed at least 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign against Gaza that has resulted in more than 72,000 Palestinian deaths, mainly civilians, while devastating large portions of the territory.

Israeli authorities are currently detaining an estimated 200-300 fighters captured during the initial attack – though exact figures remain classified – who have yet to face formal charges.

The newly authorized military tribunal will operate in Jerusalem with a three-judge panel and may also prosecute additional suspects apprehended in Gaza who are believed to have participated in the attack or mistreated Israeli captives.

The legislation received broad support from 93 of the Knesset’s 120 members, demonstrating unusual political consensus in Israel.

During the October 7 assault, militants breached Gaza’s border barriers and attacked Israeli communities, military installations, highways, and a music festival. Beyond the killings, the attackers seized 251 hostages and transported them to Gaza.

Both ruling coalition and opposition legislators co-authored the bill, designed to guarantee prosecution of all perpetrators under Israeli criminal law for what the legislation characterizes as crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Court sessions will be open to the public, with significant hearings transmitted live. While defendants will appear in person only for crucial proceedings and participate via video for others, attack survivors will receive in-person courtroom access under the new statute.

Ya’ara Mordecai, an international law scholar at Yale Law School, expressed reservations about due process protections within the military court framework and warned of potential risks that atrocity trials could become politicized or symbolic “show trials.”

Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky, who helped draft the legislation, defended the law as guaranteeing fair and legal proceedings.

“They will be sentenced by Israel’s judges, not by the street or by what we all feel,” Malinovsky stated before the vote. “At the end of the day, what makes us great is our spirit, our resilience, ability to cope and withstand this immense pain.”

Israel’s criminal code permits capital punishment for certain charges the militants will likely confront. Any death sentence would automatically trigger a defendant’s appeal under the new law.

Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Nazi Holocaust who was captured by Israeli operatives in Argentina, remains the last person executed in Israel when he was hanged in 1962. While military courts in the occupied West Bank possess authority to impose death sentences on Palestinian defendants, they have never exercised this power.

A separate March law making death by hanging the standard penalty for Palestinians convicted in military courts of fatal attacks has faced domestic and international criticism and is anticipated to be overturned by the Supreme Court.

Hamas Gaza spokesperson Hazem Qassem denounced the new legislation, claiming it “serves as a cover for the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza.”

The International Criminal Court is investigating Israel’s Gaza war conduct and has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three Hamas leaders who have all been subsequently killed by Israel.

Israel is also defending against a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Israeli officials dismiss these allegations as politically driven and maintain that their military operation targets Hamas rather than Palestinian civilians.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted phone conversations with foreign ministers from Australia and Britain on Monday, focusing on Iran and the critical shipping corridor known as the Strait of Hormuz, according to State Department officials.

During his discussions with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Rubio addressed “Iran and ongoing efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” the State Department announced in separate statements following the calls.

The conflict with Iran has essentially shut down the strategic waterway, creating what officials describe as the most significant energy market disruption in recorded history. Prior to hostilities, approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments traveled through this vital passage.

Tehran has prevented virtually all vessels from transiting the strait except for Iranian ships. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has established his own blockade targeting Iranian ports.

Trump has consistently criticized Western allies, claiming they have not provided adequate support to the United States in the conflict that commenced when American and Israeli forces struck Iran on February 28.

Iran retaliated with attacks against Israel and Gulf nations that house American military installations. The combined U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, along with Israeli military actions in Lebanon, have resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced millions of people.

Speaking on Monday, Trump described a ceasefire agreement with Iran that was established over a month ago as being “on life support.”

The United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom have all implemented sanctions targeting Iranian networks and individuals, both before and during the current conflict.

Malaysian maritime authorities have initiated an extensive search and rescue mission following the sinking of a vessel carrying undocumented Indonesian migrants off the nation’s western shoreline on Monday, leaving 14 people unaccounted for.

The emergency response began after a local fisherman notified officials early Monday morning upon spotting victims in the waters near Pangkor island, according to Perak state maritime director Mohamad Shukri Khotob.

Twenty-three Indonesian nationals, including seven women, were pulled to safety by a fishing boat in the area and transported to a marine police dock for processing and questioning, Mohamad Shukri reported.

Preliminary findings revealed the vessel had been transporting 37 individuals when it went down. The boat had left Kisaran, Indonesia on May 9, with passengers planning to reach various Malaysian locations including the capital Kuala Lumpur and northwestern Penang island.

“As of now… the remaining victims have yet to be identified and search operations are continuing,” Mohamad Shukri said.

Such maritime disasters frequently occur in the waters separating Indonesia and Malaysia, typically involving overcrowded vessels transporting workers seeking employment opportunities in Malaysian agricultural operations and manufacturing facilities.

Migrant advocacy groups report that between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians attempt this dangerous crossing annually, with many recruited by human trafficking organizations and facing abuse upon arrival.

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — A Palestinian family describes being forced by Israeli settlers to dig up their elderly father’s freshly buried remains from their village cemetery in the northern West Bank, with settlers claiming the grave site was positioned too near a recently government-approved settlement.

According to Mohammed Asasa, his family had properly coordinated with Israeli military officials before burying his 80-year-old father Hussein in the cemetery of their village, which shares the Asasa name. The family says their ancestors have been laid to rest in this clearly designated burial ground for generations.

Last Friday’s confrontation demonstrates the growing power that extremist settlers have accumulated over the last four years under Israel’s present administration, as well as the military’s failure or reluctance to stop settler aggression and land grabs.

Asasa explained that following the funeral service, armed individuals from the neighboring Sa-Nur settlement appeared and demanded the family remove the body, asserting the territory belonged to their settlement located less than half a kilometer away.

“While we were receiving condolences at home, some young men from the village came running and told us that the settlers were digging at the grave we had just buried at the cemetery,” he said. “When we reached the cemetery we found it filled with settlers and the army surrounded by them.”

The villagers chose to remove the remains themselves after settlers made threats to excavate the grave using bulldozer equipment. Video footage captured them transporting the body away from the cemetery under military supervision, while apparent settlers watched from higher ground.

“This had never happened before,” he said. “You have no other choice.”

Israeli military officials stated that troops responded to reports of confrontations at the location and seized digging equipment from settlers. The army maintained they did not compel the family to relocate the remains, but provided protection during the transfer to another nearby cemetery. Military sources did not indicate whether any arrests were made.

Sa-Nur was evacuated by Israel in 2005, though settlers opposing that evacuation have worked for years attempting to rebuild it as an unauthorized outpost. Israel gave new authorization to the settlement in 2025 and formally reopened it last month with an official ceremony featuring multiple government ministers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current administration includes numerous settler movement leaders and supporters.

Palestinian authorities and most international observers view all West Bank settlements in occupied territory as violations of international law and barriers to achieving peace, though Israel challenges these characterizations.

President Donald Trump’s current administration has cultivated close relationships with settler representatives, marking a departure from previous U.S. policies.

Asasa expressed uncertainty about future burial arrangements following these events. “Are we going to go around the neighboring villages asking for a place to bury them?” he asked.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian man on Monday whom police described as carrying a rifle near a refugee school on Jerusalem’s outskirts.

Police reported the man was killed after stepping out of his vehicle while holding a military-style weapon. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah identified the victim as 30-year-old Ayman Al-Hashlamoun from Kufr Aqab in northern Jerusalem. Officials said his remains are being held by Israeli authorities.

The shooting occurred outside a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school in Kufr Aqab, close to the Qalandia refugee camp, during a period of increased violence throughout the occupied West Bank as Israel approves additional settlements and modifies administrative policies for areas under its jurisdiction.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs data shows at least 45 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers as of May 3.

A Brazilian activist arrived back in São Paulo on Monday after spending 10 days in Israeli custody, making serious allegations about his treatment while detained.

Thiago Avila was part of an international aid mission called the Global Sumud Flotilla that departed from Spain on April 12, aiming to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza and challenge Israel’s naval blockade. Israeli naval forces stopped the flotilla at sea, arresting Avila and Spanish citizen Abu Keshek while directing over 100 other pro-Palestinian demonstrators to Crete.

Israeli authorities held the two men on charges including providing assistance to enemies and communicating with terrorist organizations. Both men rejected these accusations. They were freed on Saturday and transferred to immigration officials for removal from the country.

Speaking to media at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, Avila described his experience in harsh terms. “My return was simply a correction of a serious violation. I was kidnapped by Israel, I wasn’t imprisoned,” he stated.

The activist described enduring various forms of mistreatment alongside Abu Keshek, while claiming Palestinian detainees in adjacent cells faced even harsher conditions.

Israeli officials rejected torture allegations made by Adalah, a human rights organization that provided legal representation for the men during Israeli court proceedings. Israel maintained that all actions taken followed proper legal procedures.

Both the Spanish and Brazilian governments have condemned the detention as illegal.

At the airport, with supporters displaying banners urging Brazil to sever diplomatic relations with Israel, Avila made political statements. “We need to defeat (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu and (U.S. President) Donald Trump, we need to defeat the war criminals,” he declared.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization that governs Gaza, is classified as a terrorist group by Israel and many Western nations.

The current conflict began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, sparking a war that has displaced most of Gaza’s residents and created widespread dependence on humanitarian assistance that aid organizations say is not arriving quickly enough.

KAMPALA, Uganda — After four decades leading Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni begins his eighth term in office Tuesday at age 81, in what many believe could be his final presidency.

However, the Museveni family’s grip on power may continue through his son, army chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who supervised extensive military parade preparations for his father’s inauguration ceremony. Russian-manufactured Sukhoi fighter aircraft roared above Kampala’s official ceremonial venues during the multi-day rehearsals.

Millions of Ugandans have never experienced leadership under anyone other than Museveni, and many now recognize his presidency is approaching its conclusion. The key questions revolve around how the transition will unfold and whether it will proceed peacefully during his remaining time in office.

Kainerugaba appears positioned to assume control and has publicly expressed his intention to follow his father as president, recently stating the mission cannot be stopped.

Political observers identify two potential routes for his ascension: either an unconstitutional military takeover led by Kainerugaba, or constitutional changes allowing the ruling party’s legislative supermajority to select him as Museveni’s replacement. Electoral victory seems unlikely for Kainerugaba, who would face opposition leader Bobi Wine, the former entertainer who challenged Museveni twice and disputed the January election results.

Parliamentary Speaker Anita Among pledged last month that legislators would support Kainerugaba’s presidential ambitions.

“For the sake of MK, just assure MK that we will do whatever it takes,” Among told lawmakers celebrating the general’s birthday, using Kainerugaba’s initials. “In the 11th parliament, opposition got swallowed. In the 12th parliament, it is going to be walloped.”

Beyond the speaker, numerous officials have rushed to demonstrate loyalty to Kainerugaba. While these actions reflect their desire for political survival, they also highlight Kainerugaba’s emergence as Uganda’s effective leader as his aging father increasingly depends on the army chief to wield authority.

“Many Ugandans close to power have learned this lesson. That the president is old and exhausted, both intellectually and physically,” wrote Andrew Mwenda, a close ally and friend of Kainerugaba, in The Independent online newspaper last month. “He has a limited ability to monitor many things across a large spectrum of sectors.”

The 52-year-old Kainerugaba enlisted in the military during the late 1990s, and his advancement to military leadership has sparked controversy, with opponents calling it the “Muhoozi Project” designed to prepare him for the presidency.

Both Museveni and Kainerugaba previously rejected claims of such a plan, but recent developments over the past two years suggest hereditary succession may be the president’s preferred option.

With Museveni refusing to announce retirement plans and facing no internal party opposition, many analysts believe the military will play a decisive role in selecting his replacement.

“While people are waiting for the legal transition from Museveni, the de facto transition has already happened,” said Angelo Izama, an analyst who runs the Uganda-based Fanaka Kwawote think tank. “Kainerugaba, more than the president, is the final voice on defense and security matters.”

Those close to Kainerugaba portray him as a committed military leader who avoids flashy displays of wealth. He completed military education in both the United States and Britain before commanding a presidential guard unit that later expanded into an elite special forces division.

Beyond his military responsibilities, he established a political organization called the Patriotic League of Uganda, attracting supporters from government ministers to business leaders.

Unlike his father, Kainerugaba lacks Museveni’s public appeal and down-to-earth approach that helped maintain power through political negotiations and even recruiting former opponents into government service. Kainerugaba adopts a more aggressive stance, frequently making inflammatory social media statements that cause controversy. He has authorized corruption arrests of several generals, including former personal friends.

Museveni originally seized power through force in 1986, leading guerrilla fighters committed to democratizing Uganda following years of turmoil and civil conflict. He initially argued that Africa’s main issue was leaders who refused to step down. Later, he modified his position, claiming his criticism targeted leaders who extended their rule without electoral approval.

While Museveni, a U.S. partner on regional security matters, receives credit for maintaining relative peace and stability, critics point to growing authoritarian tendencies that contradict his early democratic promises. Constitutional term and age restrictions have been eliminated, and political opponents have faced imprisonment or marginalization.

Recently, legislators approved controversial legislation ostensibly aimed at preventing foreign interference, though critics worry it will damage non-governmental organizations and opposition movements.

The new law prohibits “agents of foreigners” from receiving grants or financial assistance from external sources exceeding 400 million Ugandan shillings — approximately $110,000 currently — within twelve months without interior ministry approval.

Wine’s National Unity Platform party criticized the legislation as “unconstitutional, irrelevant and brought in bad faith to further persecute those with divergent views.”

BEIJING — President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are set to hold a crucial summit meeting as both nations describe their relationship as generally stable in recent months, with plans to maintain that stability moving forward.

However, numerous complex issues remain unresolved in what many consider the world’s most important bilateral relationship, with no clear resolution on the horizon.

Experts anticipate limited major progress on longstanding tensions between the two superpowers, which include technological competition and disputes over Taiwan, where the United States serves as the primary supporter. The ongoing conflict involving Iran is expected to join the discussion topics, as China has taken on an unofficial mediation role.

“Both nations agree that maintaining U.S.-China stability matters,” explained Henrietta Levin, a senior fellow for the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “Beyond maintaining stability, determining the relationship’s future direction becomes more challenging, which is why this meeting will likely produce minimal concrete results.”

Here are the key issues at stake:

The economic conflict between China and the United States began during Trump’s initial presidency but intensified significantly in April of last year on what Trump termed “Liberation Day,” when he imposed 34% tariffs on Chinese imports. China responded with retaliatory tariffs and additional restrictions, including limits on rare earth mineral exports. The escalating conflict saw tariffs climb as high as 145%.

Recognizing that such extreme tariffs were unsustainable, both countries agreed to a trade ceasefire, suspending many punitive economic actions. The leaders previously met in South Korea in October and extended their truce for an additional year. China agreed to buy soybeans from U.S. farmers, while America reduced tariffs by more than half.

“China’s approach involved promoting stability through pushback,” said Fudan University professor Zhao Minghao, who specializes in international relations. “Both nations could potentially announce a comprehensive trade deal this time. However, this wouldn’t end the conflict, and any agreement will include specific conditions.”

Last year’s ceasefire failed to address fundamental underlying issues and didn’t restore previous trade relationships. China has implemented new export permit requirements for rare earth materials that can be tightened whenever necessary.

Additionally, “there’s been insufficient intensive dialogue that has marked previous summits,” noted Wendy Cutler, Asia Society vice president and former U.S. trade negotiator.

China introduced new regulations in April establishing a framework for identifying and countering foreign actions targeting Chinese businesses. Under these rules, China’s Ministry of Commerce instructed affected companies, including a petroleum refinery purchasing Iranian crude oil, to disregard U.S. sanctions.

While some anticipate the sides might announce an extended trade truce, observers note continued targeted actions. “It’s a delicate ceasefire,” Cutler stated.

The White House announced Sunday plans to discuss establishing a new “Board of Trade” to maintain ongoing economic dialogue between the countries.

America implemented restrictions on advanced computer chip exports to China and related technology, including manufacturing equipment, during Trump’s first administration.

Nvidia, the California-based leading advanced chip designer, has urged Trump to permit exports to China. Company founder Jensen Huang argues that selling chips would create Chinese AI company dependence on American technology.

However, expanding chip export restrictions may drive China toward greater self-sufficiency. “China’s position has shifted somewhat, appearing more concentrated on developing its domestic chip sector rather than continuing dependence on advanced U.S. chips,” Zhao commented in written statements.

Two weeks prior to the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone call that bilateral relations have stayed generally stable, but Taiwan represents the “greatest risk” to their ties. China indicated again Thursday that Taiwan would be a primary discussion topic.

Few anticipate resolution of the Taiwan situation, which has persisted since China and Taiwan separated during a civil war in 1949. While Beijing claims Taiwan, the island operates as a self-governing democracy.

Tensions have escalated since Taiwan elected Tsai Ing-wen as president in 2016. Her Democratic Progressive Party maintains Taiwan is functionally independent and sovereign. Beijing has ceased communication with Taiwan’s government and recently began sending military aircraft and naval vessels near the island in nearly daily exercises.

Taiwan’s current President Lai Ching-te also belongs to the DPP. Beijing has repeatedly criticized Lai, even portraying him as a “parasite” in military exercise propaganda.

U.S. law requires ensuring Taiwan can defend itself, but America officially maintains “strategic ambiguity,” leaving unclear whether the U.S. would intervene militarily if China attempted to reclaim Taiwan by force. Trump recently mentioned discussing Taiwan arms sales with Xi, raising additional questions about American support for Taiwan.

“One option involves China and the U.S. adopting ‘reciprocal restraint,’ such as reducing American arms sales to Taiwan in exchange for fewer mainland military exercises targeting Taiwan,” Zhao suggested.

As the world seeks an end to the Iran war that has disrupted the global economy, this conflict will likely arise in discussions.

China has openly criticized both the United States and Israel regarding the war. Additionally, given its strong political and economic connections with Iran, some view it as an unofficial mediator capable of influencing Tehran. Beijing has remained cautious so far, preferring minimal deep involvement.

“I don’t believe China has any desire to resolve Middle East problems the U.S. has created for itself,” said Levin from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Days before the summit, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged China to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, claiming Beijing’s Iranian oil purchases fund terrorism.

“Let’s see if China — let’s see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” Bessent said on Fox News. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90% of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism.”

Crude oil markets experienced upward movement during Tuesday’s early Asian trading session as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue to face significant obstacles, maintaining concerns about global energy supply chains.

Brent crude futures climbed 30 cents to reach $104.51 per barrel, representing a 0.29% increase, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 31 cents to $98.38, marking a 0.32% gain by 0002 GMT. Both oil benchmarks had already posted substantial gains of nearly 2.8% during Monday’s session.

President Donald Trump characterized the current ceasefire arrangements with Iran as being “on life support” during Monday remarks, citing fundamental disagreements on multiple critical issues including ending military operations across all theaters, lifting U.S. naval restrictions, allowing Iranian petroleum exports to resume, and providing financial restitution for conflict-related damages.

Iranian officials have also stressed their authority over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that facilitates approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.

Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, explained in an email statement: “As long as the US-Iran negotiations remain inconclusive and physical flows through the Strait of Hormuz stay restricted, we should see prices holding above $100.”

Waterer further predicted: “A genuine breakthrough toward a peace deal could trigger a sharp $8–12 correction, while any escalation or renewed blockade threats would quickly push Brent back toward $115+.”

Supply interruptions caused by the strait’s near-complete closure have forced petroleum producers to reduce their export operations, with a Monday Reuters survey revealing that OPEC’s April oil production dropped to its lowest point in more than twenty years.

Saudi Aramco’s chief executive Amin Nasser issued a warning Monday that export disruptions through the strategic waterway could postpone market stabilization until 2027, potentially eliminating approximately 100 million barrels of weekly oil production.

The Trump administration revealed plans Monday to release 53.3 million barrels from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve through lending arrangements, aimed at moderating volatile oil market conditions.

Maritime tracking information indicated that an SPR crude shipment is currently traveling toward Turkey, representing the first such delivery to that Mediterranean country.

Additionally, with Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping approaching, Washington implemented sanctions targeting three individuals and nine entities, including businesses operating in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, for enabling Iranian petroleum shipments to China.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that UAE forces executed military operations against Iran, including an early April strike on a refinery facility located on Iran’s Lavan Island. According to the report, UAE officials have not publicly confirmed these military actions.

MEXICO CITY – Educational leaders across Mexico have decided to maintain their traditional academic schedule for the 2025-2026 school year, backing down from a controversial proposal that would have cut the term short due to World Cup considerations.

On Monday, federal and state education officials reached a unanimous decision to stick with the standard 185-day academic calendar, according to Education Minister Mario Delgado. This means students will continue attending classes until the regularly planned conclusion date of July 15.

The reversal came after President Claudia Sheinbaum called for the change, while also addressing concerns from countless Mexican families who structure their daily lives around the established school schedule, Delgado explained.

While the main calendar remains intact, education officials noted that individual states retain flexibility to make localized modifications when facing exceptional situations, such as severe weather conditions or complications stemming from World Cup activities.

The education minister had initially suggested wrapping up the academic year on June 5 rather than the traditional July 15 date, pointing to rising temperatures and the desire to reduce logistical strain in cities hosting the international soccer tournament, which Mexico will jointly present alongside the United States and Canada.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament unanimously passed legislation Monday establishing a specialized court system with power to impose death sentences on Palestinians found guilty of participating in the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault that sparked the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The Knesset voted 93-0 in favor of the measure, with 27 members either absent or choosing not to vote. The overwhelming support demonstrates broad consensus for holding accountable those responsible for what became Israel’s most devastating attack in its history.

Civil rights organizations have condemned the legislation, arguing it creates an easier pathway to capital punishment while eliminating important protections for fair legal proceedings. Under the new system, defendants may appeal their verdicts, but these appeals must go through a separate specialized appeals court instead of standard appellate channels.

The law allows a panel of judges to impose death sentences through majority decision and mandates that proceedings be broadcast live from a Jerusalem courthouse, drawing parallels to Adolf Eichmann’s 1962 war crimes trial, which was also televised.

Eichmann’s execution by hanging marked Israel’s last use of capital punishment, though the death penalty technically remains legal for genocide, wartime espionage, and specific terrorism charges.

Critics worry that broadcasting trials before establishing guilt could transform serious legal proceedings into public spectacles. They also question whether evidence presented might have been obtained through coercive interrogation techniques.

The conflict erupted when Hamas-led fighters invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken hostage. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 72,628 Palestinian fatalities, including at least 846 deaths since the ceasefire began last October.

These casualty figures come from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but reports roughly half the victims were women and children. United Nations agencies and independent analysts generally consider the ministry’s data reliable, despite its connection to Hamas-controlled governance.

Israeli military operations also eliminated hundreds of militants during fighting in the coastal territory and captured numerous suspects now held in Israeli facilities awaiting trial.

Coalition member Simcha Rothman, who co-sponsored the bill, described the unanimous support as evidence that Israeli legislators can unite “around a common mission.”

Multiple Israeli human rights organizations, including Hamoked, Adalah, and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, acknowledged Monday that “justice for the victims of October 7 is a legitimate and urgent imperative,” but emphasized that accountability “must be pursued through a process which includes rather than abandons the principles of justice.”

This legislation differs from a March law that authorized death penalties for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, which drew international condemnation as discriminatory and inhumane.

The earlier law only applies to future cases and cannot be used retroactively against October 2023 suspects.

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel reports that approximately 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza remain in Israeli detention without formal charges. Since October 2023, at least 7,000 Gaza Palestinians have been held in Israeli custody, with 5,000 subsequently released.

The 1,300 figure excludes those detained on suspicion of participating in the October 7 attack or involvement with hostage-taking.

According to a Wall Street Journal report published Monday, the United Arab Emirates has been conducting covert military operations against Iran, sources with knowledge of the situation told the publication.

The operations, which UAE officials have not publicly confirmed, reportedly included an assault on an oil refinery facility located on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, the Journal reported. The publication indicated this particular operation occurred during the first week of April.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these claims at this time.

WASHINGTON – Federal officials on Monday imposed financial penalties on a dozen individuals and businesses accused of facilitating Iran’s petroleum exports to China, the Treasury Department announced.

The sanctions target three individuals and nine companies operating across multiple countries, with four entities located in Hong Kong, four in the United Arab Emirates, and one in Oman.

Monday’s action follows similar penalties imposed Friday against people and organizations that helped Iran acquire weapons and components for manufacturing drones and ballistic missiles.

The timing comes just ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where Trump plans to urge China’s cooperation in resolving tensions with Iran and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

According to Treasury officials, the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s latest designations focus on individuals and organizations that assisted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in selling and transporting Iranian petroleum to China through shell companies established in countries with lenient economic oversight.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the Trump administration plans to intensify economic pressure on Tehran to cut off funding streams that support Iran’s weapons programs, nuclear activities, and regional proxy groups.

“Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy,” Bessent said.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Military officials have sentenced two Israeli service members to prison time following an incident where they vandalized a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, with one soldier inserting a cigarette into the statue’s mouth while another captured the act on camera.

The image, showing the service member with a cigarette hanging from his own lips, spread rapidly across social media platforms and generated significant international criticism. This incident represents another example of actions by Israeli military personnel that have been characterized as anti-Christian behavior in southern Lebanon, where Israel conducted ground operations this year targeting the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization.

Military authorities announced that the soldier who posed for the photograph will serve 21 days behind bars, while his counterpart who took the picture faces a 14-day sentence.

According to military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ariella Mazor, who posted on X, the armed forces “views the incident with great severity and respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities.”

This controversy emerged just days following another incident where photographs showed an Israeli soldier attacking a fallen crucifix statue with an ax in the southern Lebanese community of Debel, drawing sharp criticism from international officials, religious authorities, and Israeli political figures. Military leadership also imposed prison sentences on personnel involved in that separate incident.

Israeli military units gained control over southern Lebanon during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which commenced on March 2 after the Iranian-backed Lebanese organization launched rockets across the border two days following the beginning of hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Israeli forces have maintained their presence despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement.

Military officials also reported Monday that a soldier serving as a driver was killed during operations near the border region, bringing the total number of Israeli military deaths in the area to 18 since the Iran conflict began.

According to Israeli military statements, their operations focus exclusively on structures that served as Hezbollah strongholds. However, the extensive damage has raised concerns among Lebanese government officials and civilians that many people forced from their homes during the recent fighting may have no place to return to if the current fragile ceasefire continues.

NETHERLANDS — Venezuela’s acting leader Delcy Rodríguez firmly dismissed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he might make Venezuela America’s 51st state, declaring her nation will remain independent.

Rodríguez made these statements Monday while speaking to reporters at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, where final arguments were being heard in Venezuela’s territorial dispute with Guyana over the resource-rich Essequibo region.

“We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,” Rodríguez stated. She emphasized that Venezuela is “not a colony, but a free country.”

The Venezuelan leader’s response came after Trump told Fox News he was “seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st US state,” according to a social media post by Fox News co-anchor John Roberts. The White House has not yet commented on Trump’s statement.

Trump has previously made similar remarks regarding Canada.

Despite rejecting the statehood comments, Rodríguez noted that Venezuelan and American officials have maintained contact and are pursuing “cooperation and understanding.”

During the court proceedings, Rodríguez argued that political negotiations, rather than judicial decisions, should settle the longstanding territorial conflict with Guyana over Essequibo.

The disputed territory spans 62,000 square miles and represents two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass. The region contains valuable deposits of gold, diamonds, and timber, plus sits adjacent to offshore oil fields producing approximately 900,000 barrels daily.

This oil production rivals Venezuela’s own output of roughly 1 million barrels per day and has elevated tiny Guyana into a major energy player in South America.

Venezuela’s territorial claims date back to Spanish colonial times when the jungle region fell within its borders. However, an 1899 arbitration decision by British, Russian, and American officials established the current boundary along the Essequibo River, largely favoring Guyana.

Venezuela maintains that a 1966 Geneva agreement to resolve the dispute invalidated the 19th-century arbitration. But in 2018, three years after ExxonMobil discovered significant oil reserves off Essequibo’s coast, Guyana asked the International Court of Justice to confirm the 1899 boundary decision.

Tensions escalated in 2023 when Rodríguez’s predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, threatened military annexation of the region following a referendum on incorporating Essequibo as a Venezuelan state. Maduro was captured January 3 during a U.S. military operation in Caracas and transported to New York to face drug trafficking charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

While avoiding mention of the referendum, Rodríguez told the court that the 1966 Geneva agreement was designed to facilitate bilateral negotiations between Venezuela and Guyana. She criticized Guyana’s government for making an “opportunistic” decision to seek judicial resolution.

“At a time when the mechanisms established in the Geneva agreement were still fully in force, Guyana unilaterally chose to shift the dispute from the negotiating arena to a judicial resolution,” she explained. “This change was not accidental; it coincided with the discovery in 2015 of the oil field that would become world-renowned.”

Last week’s opening statements featured Guyana’s foreign minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, telling international judges that the dispute “has been a blight on our existence as a sovereign state from the very beginning.” He noted that 70% of Guyana’s territory hangs in the balance.

The court will likely require several months to issue its final, legally binding decision.

Venezuela has cautioned that its participation in the proceedings does not constitute acceptance or acknowledgment of the court’s authority over the matter.

Hundreds of displaced Haitians found themselves sleeping on streets near the capital’s main airport Monday after weekend gang battles forced them from their homes in Port-au-Prince.

Among those seeking refuge along the highway was 56-year-old Monique Verdieux, who escaped after witnessing armed groups setting fire to homes in her community. Her family members fled in separate directions, leaving her uncertain of their whereabouts.

“I am now sleeping in the street,” Verdieux explained, emphasizing that returning home remained too dangerous.

The violent confrontations between rival gangs broke out during the weekend throughout multiple northern districts of Haiti’s capital, forcing displaced residents onto the roadway that connects to Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Criminal organizations have seized control of over 90% of Port-au-Prince following President Jovenal Moïse’s murder at his residence in July 2021. Law enforcement officials report these groups have broadened their criminal operations beyond the capital, engaging in theft, abductions, and sexual violence throughout rural areas. The country has remained without a president since the killing occurred.

During the past two weeks, Haiti’s Barbancourt rum company along with two major beverage bottling firms have raised alarms about worsening security near the Port-au-Prince airport, where flight operations face significant limitations.

The businesses issued a joint declaration Sunday criticizing the government’s crisis response as “largely insufficient,” while highlighting how deteriorated road conditions around the airport hinder Haitian security personnel from effectively patrolling the vicinity.

“You cannot secure an airport if you allow the roads around it to degrade,” their statement declared.

Initial international military personnel connected to a United Nations anti-gang mission reached Haiti in April to assist in combating persistent violence.

The U.N. Security Council granted approval in late September for deploying a 5,550-member peacekeeping force, though the complete contingent has yet to arrive on the Caribbean island.

Research published this year by the International Organization for Migration revealed that gang-related violence has uprooted more than 1.4 million Haitians, with roughly 200,000 currently residing in overcrowded and underfunded displacement camps throughout the nation’s capital.

Medical facilities in Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil district cleared out patients on Monday while the international aid organization Doctors Without Borders suspended operations as armed gang violence that started two weeks ago worsened during the weekend.

The humanitarian group, known internationally as MSF, reported that hundreds of local residents fled to their medical facility for safety, where a security guard was wounded by gunfire that entered the hospital grounds. A separate medical facility reported moving newborn babies from their intensive care ward to safety.

During a comprehensive CBS 60 Minutes interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that Israel and the United States maintain their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, suggesting military operations could restart if diplomatic approaches prove unsuccessful. He emphasized that the ongoing conflict has fundamentally altered Middle Eastern power dynamics.

When questioned about whether the conflict with Iran had concluded, Netanyahu responded: “I think it accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over because there’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran.” He highlighted that uranium enrichment facilities require dismantling, Iran’s proxy network continues operating, and Tehran persists in ballistic missile development. “There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports.”

The Israeli Prime Minister indicated that President Trump shares his position that Iran cannot be permitted to maintain nuclear weapons capabilities. Referencing discussions with President Trump during both 2016 and the 2024 campaign period, Netanyahu recalled the president consistently stating: “We cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons.”

According to Netanyahu, while sanctions and economic measures during Trump’s initial presidency temporarily slowed Iran’s nuclear advancement, they ultimately proved insufficient. “They went back to enrichment. They went back to full, their full efforts on nuclear, to develop a nuclear weapon,” he explained. Netanyahu claimed Iran was “very close” to acquiring nuclear weapons before Israeli and American operations struck their infrastructure.

When pressed about methods for removing enriched uranium from Iran, Netanyahu avoided detailing military strategies but mentioned President Trump’s belief that the material could be physically extracted through an agreement. “If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not?” he stated. He consistently declined to elaborate on potential military contingencies, noting only that both nations could “reengage them militarily” when necessary.

Netanyahu characterized Iran as experiencing its greatest weakness since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, citing economic damage, internal divisions, and public unrest that have destabilized the regime. “There are fissures in the regime,” he observed, noting that some officials worry about economic collapse and potential popular uprisings. He credited combined US-Israeli attacks on petrochemical facilities, steel plants, and missile infrastructure with substantially weakening Tehran.

However, Netanyahu avoided predicting regime change definitively. “Is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No,” he stated. Drawing parallels to the Soviet Union’s collapse and communist Romania’s fall, he noted that authoritarian governments often seem stable until experiencing sudden collapse.

The Prime Minister revealed that Israeli intelligence has extensively infiltrated Iran and conducted what he termed “surgical attacks” on scientists, commanders, and senior officials. Nevertheless, he dismissed suggestions that Israeli operations alone could spark a revolution. “One out of 100 Iranians is in the secret police,” he said, describing the regime as relying on terror and oppression.

Netanyahu also challenged New York Times reporting suggesting he privately assured President Trump that joint operations could guarantee regime change. He emphasized both leaders understood the risks and uncertainties involved. “There was danger in action,” he said, “but there’s greater danger in not taking action.”

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz situation, Netanyahu commended the United States’ blockade approach against Iran, describing it as “a brilliant move.” While acknowledging that Iran’s shipping threats created worldwide economic disruption, he said Tehran miscalculated the repercussions. “They should have understood that that would eventually cause … a reaction that was very powerful,” he commented.

Concerning Lebanon, Netanyahu claimed Israel had eliminated over 90% of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket arsenal, which he said previously totaled 150,000 projectiles targeted at Israeli cities. “Hezbollah is basically a proxy of Iran,” he stated, accusing the organization of controlling Lebanon. He reported Israel had created a security zone in southern Lebanon to prevent another large-scale infiltration similar to the October 7 Hamas attack.

Netanyahu dismissed the concept that any ceasefire with Iran should automatically include Hezbollah. “They want Hezbollah to stay there and continue to torture Lebanon,” he said regarding Tehran’s stance. When asked if he would accept such conditions even under President Trump’s pressure, Netanyahu answered: “No.”

The Israeli leader argued that weakening Iran would similarly weaken Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. “The whole scaffolding of the terrorist proxy network that Iran built collapses if the regime in Iran collapses,” he said, while acknowledging the process would take time.

Addressing Gaza, Netanyahu admitted Hamas had failed to fulfill previous commitments to disarm and demilitarize under earlier agreements. “Hamas promised to do it, and they violated the deal,” he said. While weapons production and smuggling operations had been significantly curtailed, Netanyahu stated: “The disarmament and the demilitarization of Hamas has not been done.”

He pledged Israel would ultimately ensure Hamas could no longer endanger Israeli civilians. “We are not going to let Hamas ever threaten Israel again,” he declared, adding that Israel preferred achieving this objective “the easy way” if possible.

Netanyahu firmly rejected allegations that Israel was conducting indiscriminate attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. “We’re as discriminating and surgical as any army has ever been in history,” he asserted, claiming Israel had taken exceptional steps to warn civilians through phone calls, leaflets, and text messages. He blamed Hamas and Hezbollah for intentionally positioning themselves among civilian populations.

The Prime Minister also contended that Israel was losing the “social media war,” particularly among younger Americans. He alleged foreign governments and coordinated “bot farms” were manipulating online conversations to undermine Israel support and damage US-Israel relations. “While we were fighting the physical military battle on seven battlefields … we were completely exposed on the eighth front, the media war,” he said.

Netanyahu expressed his desire for Israel to eventually eliminate American military aid completely and replace it with joint defense and technology partnerships. “I want to draw down the American support for Israel to zero,” he said, proposing collaborative projects involving missile defense, intelligence, and advanced technologies. “We’ve come of age,” he added, citing Israel’s technology economy and expanding regional relationships.

The Prime Minister also suggested several Arab nations were pursuing closer strategic cooperation with Israel following the Iran conflict. “Let’s strengthen our alliance with Israel,” he said some regional leaders were privately communicating. Netanyahu connected these developments to the Abraham Accords and expressed belief that new partnerships involving energy, artificial intelligence, and defense cooperation were achievable.

Regarding Chinese and Russian support for Iran, Netanyahu said China had provided “a certain amount of support on particular components of missile manufacturing,” while characterizing Russian assistance during the conflict as limited and inconsistent.

Near the interview’s conclusion, Netanyahu rejected claims that he pursued war for political gain. Before October 7, he noted, he was often criticized for being too militarily restrained. However, after Hamas’ attack, he determined Israel faced a coordinated effort by Iran and its proxies to eliminate the Jewish state. “It’s not going to happen. Not on my watch,” he concluded.

A well-known Arab Israeli activist is taking steps toward launching a political party for Israel’s next national elections, according to reports from The Jerusalem Post. Yoseph Haddad is reportedly discussing a potential collaboration with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who previously served as Jerusalem’s deputy mayor.

This development represents a potential transition from advocacy work to electoral politics for Haddad as Israel gears up for elections that must occur by October at the latest. Sources familiar with Haddad’s plans provided details to Israeli media outlets about the emerging political venture.

Haddad has become one of Israel’s most recognizable Arab voices in public diplomacy efforts. The Christian Arab hails from Nazareth and served with the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade, where he sustained severe injuries during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Following his military service, he established Together Vouch for Each Other, a group dedicated to advancing Arab participation in Israeli society.

Recent months have brought growing speculation about whether Haddad might leverage his public recognition and substantial social media presence to secure parliamentary representation. Israel Hayom reported that Haddad has begun concrete preparations for political entry, including consultations with an attorney who specializes in establishing political parties. Associates of Haddad informed the publication that “Big things are coming.”

Polling data from the Midgam Institute, commissioned by Haddad supporters and published by Israel Hayom in February, suggested a Haddad-led party might secure four parliamentary seats – sufficient to meet Israel’s minimum threshold for representation. The survey indicated such a party could attract supporters from Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Bennett 2026 party, which is running alongside Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid on the Together list. Haddad’s entrance into the political arena could potentially shift the dynamics between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and opposition forces.

When the February polling results emerged, Haddad stated, “All options are on the table.”

Hassan-Nahoum, a British-born politician, held the position of Jerusalem deputy mayor from 2018 through 2023 and previously served on the Jerusalem City Council. She currently works as a special envoy for trade innovation within the Foreign Affairs Ministry and holds the role of secretary-general for Kol Israel, a World Zionist Congress faction.

A political alliance between Haddad and Hassan-Nahoum would presumably target voters interested in a Zionist, civic-minded agenda emphasizing Arab involvement in Israeli public service, national duty, and fostering a more encompassing Israeli national identity. The success of such a parliamentary campaign will ultimately hinge on organizational capacity, financial resources, strategic partnerships, and navigating Israel’s challenging electoral requirements.

Israeli parliament members are pushing forward with legislation to establish specialized courts for prosecuting those accused in the October 7 attacks, arguing that current anti-terrorism laws weren’t designed to handle such a massive and historically significant assault.

The proposed legislation, developed through rare cooperation between governing coalition and opposition members, would create dedicated court procedures for October 7 defendants. This includes specialized judicial panels, modified evidence rules, faster proceedings, public documentation, enhanced victim rights, and potential death penalties for the most serious offenses. The bill’s creators emphasize this is distinct from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s separate efforts to broaden death penalty applications for terrorists.

According to materials from the bill’s sponsors, the legislation centers on three primary objectives: swift, focused, and uncompromising legal proceedings; giving victims a voice; and ensuring permanent historical record. The sponsors position this proposal not just as legal machinery but as a moral and historical statement designed to transform the prosecution of alleged October 7 attackers into justice for future generations.

During a press conference, opposition parliament member Yulia Malinovsky from Yisrael Beitenu declared alongside Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin: “This is the modern Eichmann trial. Just as there was Nuremberg and later Eichmann, this is what this law creates.”

Israel has executed only two individuals in its history: IDF officer Meir Tobianski in 1948, who was convicted by military tribunal during the Independence War and later cleared posthumously in 1949, and Adolf Eichmann in 1962, a key Holocaust architect. By referencing Eichmann and Nuremberg, the bill’s supporters are positioning the October 7 trials as more than criminal cases—they’re framing them as national documentation and historical judgment.

Rothman characterized the legislation as an extraordinary moment of political cooperation around an incident he said couldn’t be handled as routine criminal proceedings.

“This is not a partisan event, and not a personal event,” Rothman stated. “It is a national event.”

He noted that legislators who “normally cannot agree on which side the sun rises and which side it sets” collaborated in “complete harmony” on this bill.

“The October 7 massacre was not an attack on a specific community or a specific individual,” Rothman explained. “It was an attack on the entire Jewish people standing against enemies who seek to destroy it.”

Parliament members presented the bill as addressing an assault they believe standard criminal procedures cannot properly manage. The proposed system aims to handle large defendant numbers, sensitive evidence, victim participation, public access, and long-term preservation of trial records.

The legislation would cover crimes committed by enemy attackers from October 7 through October 10, 2023, defining relevant offenses as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against the Jewish people.

Levin identified the primary challenge as preventing proceedings that would extend for years under standard criminal procedures. “If these proceedings were conducted at the normal pace of legal proceedings in Israel, it would take an extraordinarily long time before they reached a conclusion,” Levin said.

The justice minister explained that drafters worked to build a system that would operate faster while maintaining process credibility. “We invested enormous effort and thought into creating the optimal combination between the desire to work efficiently and the need to preserve the essential principles required for a fair trial,” he stated.

The proposed system would feature main trial panels with three judges, including at least one district-level judge. Appeals would go before three-judge panels led by retired Supreme Court justices alongside senior district-level judges.

The case scale represents one reason lawmakers cite for needing separate procedures. Levin said Israel faces “hundreds of defendants” and legal questions that standard trials aren’t equipped to handle.

“There are solutions here for very complex questions, including how to conduct a trial when there may be 20, 30, or 40 defendants in the same case,” Levin noted.

Rothman confirmed the exact suspect number remains classified but acknowledged the scope has expanded as investigations progressed.

“When we began this process, the numbers were in the dozens,” he said. “As time passed, more intelligence was uncovered, more investigations matured, and the numbers developed.”

The bill would permit courts to modify standard procedural and evidence rules when needed to uncover truth in exceptionally large cases while maintaining proceeding fairness. Sponsors cite examples including written testimony in limited situations, preliminary proceedings before single judges, and rules to help manage indictments with multiple defendants.

The proposed system also emphasizes public memory unusually strongly. Proceedings would be recorded, archived, and accessible through a dedicated digital platform, creating records for courts, Israeli society, and future generations.

“We wrote into the law that the trial will be filmed and broadcast,” Malinovsky said. “There will be a dedicated website and archives in order to preserve the memory.” Malinovsky suggested part of the purpose involves forcing renewed international focus on October 7.

“The world forgot October 7,” she stated. “The media forgot. People moved on to other issues. These trials will remind the world what happened.”

Levin opened the event by characterizing the legislation as a moral obligation to those killed, injured, kidnapped, and left behind.

“For the memory of the murdered, for their families, for the wounded, for the hostages, and for the entire people,” Levin said, “we must fulfill our highest moral obligation and bring the perpetrators of the massacre to justice.”

The legislation would expand protections and rights for victims and grieving families, including rights to receive proceeding information, privacy protection, separation from defendants when needed, and access to public broadcasts and trial documentation.

Malinovsky described the legislation as parliament’s response to a day when many Israelis felt helpless.

“We are not soldiers,” she said. “We are legislators. This is our battlefield.”

The proposal includes capital punishment provisions. Rothman said the law would allow courts to impose the harshest penalties available under Israeli law.

“The law says clearly that the harshest punishments in Israel’s legal system will apply, including the death penalty,” Rothman stated.

The system would require political-level determination before executing death sentences: The defense minister, after consulting the justice minister, would decide implementation timing and method. Implementation regulations would need approval from the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Knesset.

Nevertheless, Malinovsky emphasized that decisions would remain with judges.

“In the end, these are decisions of Israeli judges,” she said. “The entire system is built so the process will be efficient and fast, but while preserving the principles of justice, including public proceedings and victims’ rights.”

That balance—speed, documentation, punishment, and due process—will likely be central to legal debates over the measure. Special evidence rules, accelerated proceedings, filmed trials, and capital punishment could draw examination from legal experts, civil liberties advocates, and international observers, even with broad political Knesset support.

The proposal includes an unusual legal representation provision. The state wouldn’t provide representation through Israel’s public defender system as standard practice. If defendants lack lawyers, courts could appoint private defense attorneys to ensure fair trials, with attorney fees paid from tax funds Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority rather than directly from Israeli taxpayers.

Another sensitive issue involves a proposed amendment preventing October 7 massacre participants from release in future prisoner or hostage deals.

“We believed it would not be appropriate for participants in the October 7 massacre ever to be released in any future agreement,” Malinovsky said. “This is also a very clear moral statement.”

Such provisions would carry political and diplomatic weight. Israel has repeatedly released convicted prisoners in past exchange deals, and legal restrictions on future releases could affect government flexibility in hostage negotiations or future agreements.

Rothman acknowledged the clause raised legal and political difficulties, including within coalition and opposition, but said he would support it.

“I know there are complexities surrounding this proposal for many reasons,” Rothman said. “But I will support it, and I will call on my colleagues in the coalition to support it as well.”

The legislation would also adjust detention periods to investigation and prosecution needs, modifying certain deadlines and mechanisms to reflect October 7 case scale and complexity.

The lawmakers defended the bill against expected legal challenges and international criticism. Levin said the framework was drafted considering how trials would be viewed internationally, especially in the United States and other Western nations.

“There are countries in the world that support terrorism and support Hamas regardless of what happens,” Levin said. “We certainly do not act according to their dictates.” Still, he argued most countries would understand the need to prosecute attackers. “I think that in other countries there is understanding and agreement that these terrorists must stand trial. Both for justice and for the future.”

“When people see how these proceedings are conducted, they will recognize them as fair trials,” he added.

Malinovsky said she doesn’t expect Israel’s High Court of Justice to strike down the law, arguing it was drafted with legal advisers and relevant state bodies.

“When you know how to legislate wisely, and you understand the limits of power, you reach the desired result,” she said. “This law is balanced.”

The proposal also outlines logistical and security frameworks around trials, including dedicated Israel Prison Service security units for military courts, detention facilities and budgets, information-sharing mechanisms among justice and security agencies, and centralized defendant and witness registries, subject to legal restrictions.

Rothman said the bill expects support from approximately 110 Knesset members, an unusually high number in Israel’s divided 120-member parliament.

“This is the Knesset at its best,” he said. “If I was elected for this law and for this moment, then I feel I fulfilled my mission.”

For the bill’s sponsors, the legislation represents a historic justice framework following the deadliest attack in Israeli history. For Israel’s legal system, it may become a test of whether exceptional procedures, public memory, victim rights, capital punishment, adapted evidence rules, security logistics, and fair-trial guarantees can coexist within one courtroom.

Israeli military authorities announced Monday the death of Staff Sgt. (Res.) Alexander Globenyov, age 47, from Petah Tikva, who died following a drone strike near the Lebanese border. The explosive devices, launched from Lebanese territory, detonated within Israeli boundaries in what military officials characterized as another ceasefire violation by Hezbollah.

The 47-year-old reservist worked as a primary vehicle operator within the 6924 Transporters Battalion. Military sources report that Globenyov lost his life when one of multiple unmanned aircraft exploded in the border region during the assault.

In a heartbreaking interview with Ynet studio, his mother Flora Globnyov remembered her son as “a very good person.”

“He was my only son, I have no one now. He had golden hands. He was an athlete. We came to Israel in 1996,” she told reporters. “They told us it happened at the border; he was at the base. We spoke two days ago for the last time. I was afraid. I was in touch with him, and he said everything was fine.”

The grieving mother revealed that Globenyov is survived by two children – an infant daughter just 8 months old and a teenage son of 15.

“What will I do now? My life is over,” she expressed in her grief.

President Trump firmly dismissed Iran’s counter-proposal to an American peace initiative on Monday, declaring their terms unacceptable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated: “I just read the response from Iran’s ‘representatives.’ I don’t like it – completely unacceptable!”

According to diplomatic sources speaking to Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen, Iran’s counter-proposal contained several key demands: termination of economic blockades, authority over the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor, removal of U.S. economic sanctions, and access to frozen Iranian assets. The sources indicated Iran’s proposal also featured provisions regarding a Lebanese ceasefire, which they characterized as among Tehran’s non-negotiable conditions.

Meanwhile, America’s position has emphasized unrestricted navigation through maritime corridors and suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.

The same diplomatic sources revealed that Iran suggested continuing future discussions through written correspondence via Pakistan. Iran’s reported framework also outlined a 30-day negotiation period following any halt in hostilities to resolve outstanding issues. Sources emphasized that Iran demanded any Washington agreement must trigger immediate warfare cessation upon announcement.

According to the source, Iran’s draft demanded “an immediate end to the war and a guarantee that it will not be attacked again.” The source additionally noted Iran sought prompt termination of maritime blockades once preliminary agreements are signed.

A high-ranking Iranian official speaking to Al Jazeera characterized Tehran’s response as “realistic and positive,” explaining it prioritized ending regional warfare, “especially in Lebanon,” while addressing disputes with Washington.

On Sunday evening, Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran “has been playing games with the United States and the rest of the world for 47 years (delay, delay, delay!).”

He continued: “For 47 years, the Iranians have been ‘squeezing’ us,” killing US citizens in roadside bombs, executing tens of thousands of their own citizens and “laughing at our country, which is now great again. They won’t be laughing anymore!”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam indicated Sunday his nation would be willing to explore a peace deal with Israel, provided specific conditions are satisfied, though he emphasized the government’s top priority remains halting current combat and establishing a withdrawal schedule for Israeli military forces from Lebanese soil.

During a television interview with Al-Arabiya, Salam explained that ongoing discussions with Israel focus on Lebanon’s requirement for “a clear agenda for Israeli withdrawal.” He noted that Beirut’s stance continues to prioritize “stopping hostilities and ending the war.”

“The majority of Lebanese support negotiations to stop the war,” he stated.

The Prime Minister characterized Lebanon as having been unwillingly drawn into conflict, saying the country “did not choose the war, but was dragged into the confrontation between Iran and the United States.” His remarks came amid continued exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced in April, while Washington works to prevent the Lebanese conflict from expanding into a broader regional war involving Iran.

Salam described the devastation in southern Lebanon’s city of Bint Jbeil as having “become a copy of Gaza” due to extensive damage, and reported that 86 Lebanese villages remain under Israeli control. Israeli officials maintain their southern Lebanon operations target Hezbollah positions near the border to protect northern Israeli communities from future threats. Lebanese authorities insist complete Israeli military withdrawal must occur before any permanent agreement can be established.

The Lebanese administration has worked to position diplomatic efforts as a means to end warfare without characterizing it as normalization with Israel. Earlier this week, Salam stated Lebanon wants “peace, not normalization with Israel,” reiterating that a withdrawal timeline represents Beirut’s basic requirement. He also indicated Lebanon plans to consolidate weapons under government control, a stance that would directly confront Hezbollah’s autonomous military capabilities.

The two nations technically remain in a state of war with no formal diplomatic ties. Recent US-facilitated discussions in Washington have examined security frameworks, military pullbacks, and potential ceasefire structures, though Salam has indicated circumstances aren’t ready for senior-level political negotiations.

Costa Rica’s newly sworn-in President Laura Fernández Delgado has informed Israeli President Isaac Herzog of her intention to relocate Costa Rica’s Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv back to Jerusalem, sources from Herzog’s office confirmed Friday.

This diplomatic shift would undo a 2006 policy change implemented by former President Óscar Arias, who had moved the embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to align Costa Rican foreign policy with international standards and strengthen relationships with Arab nations.

The discussion took place during a meeting in San José following Fernández’s presidential inauguration ceremony, which Herzog attended as Israel’s official representative. According to Herzog’s office, this marked Fernández’s inaugural official presidential meeting.

For many years prior to 2006, Costa Rica had operated its Israeli embassy in Jerusalem. The relocation to Tel Aviv was part of broader international diplomatic practice, as most nations maintain their Israeli embassies there due to ongoing disputes over Jerusalem’s final status in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, while Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the future capital of their proposed state.

Fernández officially began her 2026-2030 presidential term on Friday, taking over from outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. Her administration is anticipated to maintain many of Chaves’ policy priorities, particularly emphasizing security matters and strengthening relationships with the United States. During the inauguration events, Herzog conducted meetings with multiple regional and international dignitaries.

Herzog’s diplomatic schedule included discussions with Spain’s King Felipe VI, Chilean President José Antonio Kast, Honduran President Nasry Asfura, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, and Dominican President Rodolfo Abinader Corona.

Reflecting on his Latin American visit, Herzog expressed his impressions before departing for Israel. “I was moved to see the depth of appreciation for Israel, the great interest in its capabilities, and the recognition of its unique contribution to humanity,” Herzog stated.

He further commented on regional diplomatic trends, saying, “In contrast to many voices on the international stage, a positive trend of change, tightening of ties, and deepening of cooperation with Israel is evident in Latin America.”

During his stay, Herzog also participated in Shabbat morning services at San José’s Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, where he performed the Haftarah reading and spoke to the assembled congregation.

Haiti’s Prime Minister announced Monday that deteriorating security conditions will prevent the Caribbean nation from conducting its scheduled August presidential election, as violent gangs continue to terrorize the country.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime made the announcement during a radio interview, stating that safety concerns make it impossible to proceed with voting as planned. The Caribbean’s most populated country has been waiting nearly ten years for a presidential election.

“It is clear that the security conditions are not met at the level for us to have elections in August,” Fils-Aime told Le Nouvelliste newspaper’s editor-in-chief during the Magik9 radio broadcast.

The Prime Minister expressed hope for conducting elections before year’s end, adding: “I would like for elections to happen by the end of the year. On February 7, we would have an elected president.”

Fils-Aime assumed leadership from a transitional presidential council this past February 7, a date traditionally significant for Haiti’s power transitions, though leaders often ignore this timeline to extend their rule.

The electoral process has faced numerous postponements as armed criminal organizations have strengthened their grip on the capital city and expanded into Haiti’s rural and central regions. This violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced more than one million residents from their homes in recent years.

Haiti’s previous president, Jovenel Moise, was murdered in 2021 after postponing elections. His assassination created a leadership void that allowed already powerful gangs to gain control over nearly all of Port-au-Prince.

The deteriorating security situation has hampered election preparations, as criminal groups solidify partnerships and extend their reach throughout the country, making it nearly impossible for officials to ensure legitimate and fair voting procedures.

Meanwhile, both the United Nations and United States have linked their promises to assist Haiti’s security forces with the government’s commitment to conducting elections.

Voter registration was supposed to begin April 1, and the electoral council had set August 30 for the first round of voting, with a runoff scheduled for December. More than 280 political organizations received approval to participate.

“We are not going to hand an encyclopedia to the population to choose from,” Fils-Aime explained. “Choice is a good thing but too much choice is not necessarily what is needed. I would love for us to have elections with 10 to 15 presidential candidates.”

The Prime Minister indicated his administration is negotiating with political organizations regarding electoral regulations, though he remains unsatisfied with the council’s proposed election budget.

Business leaders have recently reported increased gang attacks nationwide. Delphine Gardere, who leads the 154-year-old Rhum Barbancourt distillery, confirmed that one of her workers was fatally shot overnight in the capital city.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African lawmakers announced Monday they will form an impeachment committee to examine four-year-old accusations that President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in serious misconduct by concealing the robbery of more than $580,000 in cash that was hidden in furniture at his wildlife ranch.

The announcement comes after the nation’s highest court ruled Friday that Parliament’s 2022 decision to halt impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa violated constitutional procedures.

During that earlier vote, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress held a parliamentary majority. Lawmakers voted to stop the proceedings despite an independent investigation that found evidence suggesting the president failed to properly notify police about the theft and attempted to secretly conduct his own recovery efforts.

Last week’s Constitutional Court decision stated that proper procedure required the 2022 independent investigation to be sent to an impeachment committee for additional review.

Removing the leader of Africa’s largest economy would need backing from at least two-thirds of the 400 Parliament members, as outlined in the Constitution.

The multi-party impeachment panel must complete its investigation before any impeachment vote can occur. Monday’s parliamentary announcement did not specify a timeline for this process.

Following a historic 2024 election, Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its parliamentary majority and now leads a coalition government comprising 10 parties. He could still survive impeachment if his party members support him.

The controversy severely tarnished the image of a president who assumed office in 2018 promising to fight corruption after ten years of government scandals under previous leader Jacob Zuma.

The accusations first surfaced when a former state security agency director visited a police station in 2022, alleging the president committed money laundering and other crimes related to the stolen funds. It later became known that the 2020 theft had been kept hidden.

Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence, explaining the U.S. currency came from legitimate buffalo sales at his ranch. Questions persisted about the money’s origin and why it was concealed in a sofa.

The 2022 independent investigation concluded there was “legitimate doubt” about the money’s source, with some evidence suggesting the amount exceeded Ramaphosa’s claimed $580,000. The report also found that Ramaphosa used his presidential security chief and others to “surreptitiously” pursue the theft suspects.

“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favor or prejudice,” his office stated Friday after the court ruling that revived the scandal.

A German humanitarian rescue vessel came under gunfire from Libyan coast guard ships on Monday after pulling approximately 90 migrants from a dangerously overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the aid organization operating the ship.

The German nonprofit Sea-Watch reported that its vessel, the Sea-Watch 5, was attacked following a rescue mission conducted around 8 a.m. GMT on Monday, roughly 27 miles off Libya’s coastline. According to the organization, the approaching ships “fired live ammunition, first a single shot and then a burst of 10 to 15 rounds, and ordered the ship to stop.”

Officials from Libya’s government in Tripoli have not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Libya’s coastline serves as a primary launching point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa in small vessels, with thousands perishing during these dangerous voyages.

According to Sea-Watch, approximately 30 crew members and the rescued individuals were on board during the attack and experienced genuine fear for their safety. The crew broadcast a mayday distress signal and notified both Italian and German officials, subsequently issuing a second emergency call when two additional Libyan coast guard vessels appeared in the vicinity.

An Italian coast guard representative confirmed they received notification of the incident. “This appears to be a security incident, for which the relevant bodies and authorities have been informed, including the vessel’s flag state (Germany),” stated spokesperson Roberto D’Arrigo, noting the ship was operating within the search-and-rescue zone under Libyan authority when the confrontation occurred.

The search-and-rescue zone represents the area where local authorities manage responses to maritime emergencies.

Italian coast guard officials later escorted the Sea-Watch 5 away from the area, with the vessel proceeding north toward the Italian port of Brindisi, which authorities designated as a safe harbor.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Julia Winkler expressed concern for passenger and crew safety, urging European governments to take action against what she characterized as an assault by forces “paid and legitimized by them.”

The European Union maintains an arrangement with Libya’s government aimed at decreasing migrant flows through the country. Since 2015, the EU has provided Libya with 700 million euros ($824 million), with much of this funding directed toward strengthening border control measures.

Sea-Watch confirmed that all individuals aboard the migrant vessel were successfully rescued.

The aid organization emphasized that hostile encounters have continued during rescue missions in this region, referencing comparable incidents from recent years.

In August of last year, humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee reported that Libya’s coast guard opened fire on their vessel, the Ocean Viking, while it searched for a migrant boat in distress in the Mediterranean.

Italy’s migration strategy in the central Mediterranean has historically depended on collaboration with Libya to prevent departures, including providing support, training and equipment to Libyan coast guard forces for intercepting migrant vessels.

Critics, particularly humanitarian organizations, argue this arrangement has intensified conflicts with rescue groups and subjected migrants to mistreatment when intercepted and returned to Libya, while also creating confrontations between Libyan patrol units and NGO ships.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch authorities have formally charged a 37-year-old man with terrorism in connection with a bombing at the headquarters of the nation’s ruling political party, officials announced Monday during a court hearing that extended his detention for another two weeks.

The explosive device detonated on May 8 after being inserted through a mail slot at the D66 party offices, a centrist political organization. While no injuries occurred, the blast happened while approximately 30 young party members were conducting a meeting inside the building. Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the attendees as shaken but physically unharmed during his weekly press briefing.

Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity, following standard Dutch privacy laws, and he was taken into custody immediately following the incident. Officials report that the man has remained silent regarding his reasons for the attack.

“The man is suspected of causing an explosion with terrorist intent. An explosion targeting the headquarters of a political party instills fear in a part of the population. For this reason, the terrorist motive has been charged,” The Hague Public Prosecutor’s Office stated in their official announcement.

Speaking to media representatives on Friday, Jetten, who assumed office in February, dismissed the intimidation attempt. “It was pretty futile if you think you can intimidate politicians with these kinds of actions,” he said.

This marks the second assault on the same downtown Hague facility within twelve months. Last September, the building suffered damage during a violent right-wing protest that turned destructive, occurring just weeks before the country’s national elections.

The Eurovision Song Contest is implementing significant changes to its voting system after facing criticism over Israel’s ability to rally public support in last year’s competition, which was already marked by boycotts over the country’s participation.

The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the 70-year-old musical celebration, has established new guidelines for 2026 aimed at preventing “disproportionate promotion campaigns” following concerns raised by multiple national broadcasters about the previous year’s results.

Israel’s entry “New Day Will Rise” secured an exceptionally high 83% of its total points from public voting, ultimately finishing second in the overall competition. In contrast, Austria’s winning song “Wasted Love” received only 41% of its points from the public and depended heavily on jury votes to claim victory.

Social media activity from Israel’s foreign ministry X account during last year’s semi-final actively promoted voting for singer Yuval Raphael, specifically noting that “you can vote up to 20 times.”

Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green explained the reasoning behind the rule changes without directly addressing the Israeli posts. “We saw some activity last year which we could describe as disproportionate marketing and promotional activity that we felt was out of sync with the nature of the show, so we put some rules in about that,” Green stated in an interview with Reuters.

The updated regulations reduce the maximum number of votes per caller from 20 to 10, with voters identified through their payment methods to prevent abuse.

This past Saturday, Green issued a formal warning to Israel’s national broadcaster KAN regarding online videos posted by this year’s contestant Noam Bettan that instructed viewers to “vote 10 times for Israel.” Officials determined that directly soliciting the maximum number of votes violated both contest rules and the competition’s spirit.

KAN responded by stating it “follows all EBU rules” and characterized the videos as “an independent initiative carried out by the artist’s close personal team, without any prohibited financing, similar to activities conducted by other contestants as well.”

Israel has not provided a direct response to questions about its promotional strategies from the previous year, though the country has frequently claimed it faces unfair global criticism, particularly since the Gaza conflict began.

These developments highlight the ongoing challenges Eurovision faces in managing what the EBU describes as the world’s largest and most complicated television voting system.

Green emphasized that encouraging diaspora support is common practice among participating nations. “All countries ask their people, particularly their diasporas – because of course you can’t vote for your own country in your own country – to get behind (them). It’s a sport. We are the Olympics of music, so there’s nothing unusual about that,” he said during Friday’s interview.

The European Broadcasting Union is now encouraging viewers to distribute their votes among multiple songs while implementing additional fraud prevention measures.

Despite the new restrictions, determined voters can still potentially cast up to 30 votes by using all three available payment methods: online, text message, and phone calls.

Juan Moreno-Ternero, an economics professor at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, Spain, who authored a 2022 academic study on Eurovision voting patterns, acknowledged the inherent challenges in any voting system. “You can always find pros and cons for almost any protocol,” he noted. “All voting rules, no matter what, are subject to manipulation.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court made public Monday an arrest warrant targeting a high-ranking Philippine senator connected to the brutal anti-narcotics campaign conducted under former President Rodrigo Duterte, which reportedly resulted in the extrajudicial executions of drug suspects.

The court document, initially issued under seal in November, accuses Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, who previously headed the Philippine national police force and served as a Duterte confidant, with crimes against humanity involving the murder of “no less than 32 persons” during a period spanning July 2016 through late April 2018.

Duterte, dela Rosa, and additional law enforcement leaders have rejected claims they sanctioned the executions of drug suspects, maintaining these individuals were fatally shot after purportedly posing threats to officers. Throughout his presidency, Duterte publicly and consistently issued death threats against drug suspects.

According to the court filing, judges determined after reviewing prosecutorial evidence that dela Rosa “made essential contributions to committing the alleged crime” of murder and designated him as an “indirect co-perpetrator.”

Dela Rosa made a surprise appearance at the Philippines Senate Monday following a summons related to a fresh inquiry into the suspected extrajudicial executions. Officers from the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to pursue dela Rosa upon his Senate arrival but were unsuccessful in apprehending him as he rushed into the legislative chamber seeking sanctuary among his senatorial colleagues.

Former Philippines Senator Antonio Trillanes displayed the warrant to reporters in Manila Monday, with the ICC subsequently verifying its legitimacy.

Dela Rosa previously held the position of national police commander under Duterte and was the initial official to implement the violent anti-drug initiative that resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily among small-time suspects. Philippine law enforcement authorities have called upon dela Rosa to present himself for questioning regarding his involvement in the Duterte administration’s killings.

Duterte faced arrest in March of the previous year and remains in custody in the Netherlands on crimes against humanity charges. These accusations also relate to the lethal anti-drug operations he authorized during his tenure. While he contests the charges, judicial officials have determined sufficient evidence exists to proceed with his trial. No trial date has been established, and Duterte has been absent from multiple court proceedings citing health issues.

The mass killings of predominantly poor drug suspects occurred both during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao city in the southern Philippines and following his 2016 presidential inauguration. The deaths resulting from police operations drew concern from human rights organizations and Western nations, particularly the United States.

MADRID – A married couple with American and German citizenship received prison sentences of nearly three years each after a Spanish court found them guilty of confining their three children to their residence for more than three years following pandemic-related anxieties about the outside world.

Spanish authorities convicted both the father and mother on Monday of family abandonment and inflicting psychological damage on their children. However, the court dismissed more severe unlawful detention charges that prosecutors had pursued, which could have resulted in 25-year sentences.

The father holds German citizenship, while the mother possesses dual nationality from both Germany and the United States. Court officials have withheld their identities to safeguard their children – a pair of nine-year-old twins and one 11-year-old.

The court mandated that each parent compensate their children with 30,000 euros (approximately $32,000) per child and removed their parental rights for a minimum of three years and four months.

Authorities took the couple into custody in April 2025 after uncovering that the children had spent several years living in unsanitary conditions at a residence on the outskirts of Oviedo, a northern Spanish city. The children had not attended formal schooling during this period.

The mother’s attorney, Javier Muñoz, defended the family’s situation, stating the children received home-based education and maintained “a stable family life” while being properly nourished.

Muñoz indicated that his clients, who have remained in custody since their arrest, felt “moderately satisfied” with the court’s decision but are contemplating an appeal of the verdict.

A court in Bolivia issued a contempt ruling against former President Evo Morales on Monday when he did not show up for a scheduled hearing, according to local media reports from La Razon.

The former leader, who ran Bolivia from 2006 until 2019, was supposed to appear in court to face criminal charges involving the trafficking of a minor.

The contempt citation adds another legal complication for Morales, who has been dealing with various legal challenges since leaving office.

BRUSSELS — Foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member nations broke through years of political stalemate Monday, unanimously approving fresh sanctions targeting both Hamas leadership and Israeli settler groups operating in the West Bank.

Following the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on social media that violence and extremism must face repercussions. “It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery,” she stated.

While ministers stopped short of implementing more aggressive economic measures advocated by certain European nations and withheld immediate specifics about the new restrictions, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the decision encompasses sanctions against Hamas leaders plus key figures and organizations within Israel’s West Bank settler movement.

“The European Union is sanctioning today the main Israeli organizations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonization of the West Bank, as well as their leaders. These most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay,” Barrot wrote on social media Monday.

“It is sanctioning the main leaders of Hamas, responsible for the worst antisemitic massacre in our history since the Shoah during which 51 French people lost their lives, a terrorist movement that must imperatively be disarmed and excluded from any participation in the future of Palestine,” Barrot added.

International observers, Palestinian officials, and human rights organizations have increasingly sounded alarms about escalating violence throughout the West Bank, where young Palestinian men face mounting casualties amid widespread arson, property destruction, and forced displacement of agricultural communities near settlement areas in the occupied territory.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs data shows at least 40 Palestinians have died since January began, with a record 11 killed by settlers — exceeding the total settler-related deaths for all of 2025 by two.

The unified EU decision reflects new political dynamics following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s removal from office last month after governing Budapest for 16 years. Orbán, a vocal ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had consistently blocked previous attempts to sanction Israeli settlers for West Bank activities.

Orbán’s April electoral defeat to Péter Magyar enabled Monday’s sanctions approval, “validates the notion that Orbán was blocking them single-handedly,” according to Martin Konečný, who leads the Brussels-based European Middle East Project.

These sanctions may represent a pivotal shift in EU-Israel relations. Growing criticism of Netanyahu’s government regarding its operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran had driven multiple European governments — particularly Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands — to pursue such penalties.

“You can’t just turn a blind eye,” Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel commented before the meeting.

Nevertheless, EU diplomats could not reach consensus on more forceful measures to pressure Israel, such as prohibiting West Bank settlement products or suspending crucial trade agreements.

“There’s so much that you can and should be doing, and so to get stuck in this question of adding a few more settlers is missing the big picture,” said Hugh Lovatt, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The EU’s narrowed the scope of action now to individuals and to a few entities, and in doing that it’s ignoring the far more systemic issues at play.”

Claudio Francavilla, Human Rights Watch associate EU director, called the sanctions “a step in the right direction, but so many more needed for the EU to comply with international law.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani indicated before the Brussels gathering that his government required additional time to examine a French-Swedish proposal for cutting West Bank settlers off from EU markets, essentially withholding Italian backing for the initiative despite rising domestic political pressure.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen noted that individual countries could independently ban settlement products should the Brussels process remain stalled.

The EU’s upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting later in May will concentrate on trade matters.

“We have been talking about measures for too long,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno said in Brussels. “Let’s move on to a vote and stop saying that there is no qualified majority for it. Let’s see how many of us are in agreement and who is not.”

BOGOTA, Colombia — Native organizations throughout the Amazon basin and Latin America plan to deliver a message Monday to the United Nations, calling attention to how organized criminal activity is fueling violence and environmental harm in rainforest communities. The groups are asking governments to tackle illegal mining, drug trafficking, and logging operations without deploying heavy military presence in Indigenous territories.

The correspondence, directed to U.N. member nations and departments including the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime and the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, describes how criminal operations are spreading throughout Amazon regions and other Indigenous lands in Latin America, putting communities, natural ecosystems, and local leadership at risk.

Those signing the correspondence say criminal expansion is damaging Indigenous leadership structures and endangering communities that have historically protected some of Earth’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.

The request comes as Indigenous communities throughout the Amazon basin face increasing pressure from both growing criminal operations and government security responses. Over recent years, unlawful gold extraction, timber harvesting, and narcotics trafficking have penetrated further into isolated rainforest areas in nations like Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, introducing violence, mercury pollution, and forest destruction.

International human rights organizations and U.N. specialists have expressed alarm about increasing attacks on Indigenous leaders and environmental activists connected to conflicts over territory, natural resources, and criminal enterprises throughout the Amazon. Global Witness reports that no fewer than 2,253 land and environmental advocates have been murdered or vanished worldwide from 2012 to 2024, with Latin America representing the majority of incidents.

In Peru, five individuals face trial for the 2023 murder of Indigenous advocate Quinto Inuma Alvarado, who had consistently exposed illegal timber operations and drug trafficking in his territory. Human rights organizations say most comparable murders in the region remain unprosecuted.

Raphael Hoetmer, Western Amazon Program Director at Amazon Watch, an environmental and Indigenous rights advocacy organization, said the correspondence demonstrates increasing concern among Indigenous organizations as these dangers grow.

“More and more Indigenous Peoples are experiencing the violence and impacts of illicit economies in their territories, so it is higher on the agenda,” he told The Associated Press in written comments. “Even four years ago this was not a central topic for most of our partners, but now it is one of the central topics for the wide majority.”

Hoetmer said criminal expansion is increasingly influencing daily life throughout large Amazon areas.

“The expansion and control of organized crime and violent conflict is taking over more and more of the Amazon, becoming a risk to their ways of living and to the global climate,” he said.

The correspondence warns that these situations are not only causing environmental harm but also undermining Indigenous leadership and territorial authority.

Unlawful gold extraction specifically has emerged as a significant cause of forest loss and mercury pollution throughout Amazon regions, while armed organizations and trafficking operations have attempted to control important river passages and Indigenous territories.

“Drug trafficking in the Amazon often connects with illegal mining, logging and land grabbing — a criminal ecosystem where environmental degradation disproportionately impacts local populations and Indigenous people,” said United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Deputy Director of Operations Jeremy Douglas in written statements to AP.

“Pushing back requires territorial protection, prioritizing environmental crimes, and cooperation against transnational organized crime networks active across the Amazon,” he added.

When providing the statements, the U.N. agency noted it had not yet reviewed the Indigenous organizations’ correspondence and that the response should not be considered an endorsement of its contents. UNODC said its Latin American offices are collaborating with Indigenous communities and national authorities to strengthen territorial protection and fight environmental crimes connected to organized criminal operations.

The AP also reached out to the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

The document received signatures from major Indigenous organizations including the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin, known as COICA, Brazil’s Indigenous umbrella organization APIB, Peru’s AIDESEP and Ecuador’s CONAIE, along with dozens of regional Indigenous federations and international advocacy organizations.

Ercilia Castañeda, vice president of Ecuador’s largest Indigenous organization, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, or CONAIE, said governments have increasingly addressed organized crime and illegal mining through militarization that has failed to solve the crisis in many Indigenous territories.

“Militarization has not provided answers,” she said.

Rather, she said, some communities have experienced displacement, fear, and psychological damage.

“It has affected their relationship with the land, with the water, with sacred sites, with their spiritual life,” she said. “We are talking about a deterioration of the identity and life of Indigenous peoples.”

Herlín Odicio, vice president of Organización Regional AIDESEP Ucayali, or ORAU, an Indigenous organization representing communities in Peru’s Amazon region of Ucayali, said organized crime organizations have increasingly modified their operations in Indigenous territories.

“Organized crime in Indigenous territories has changed its strategies significantly,” he said in a call with AP. “They no longer make direct threats. Now they use other strategies.”

Odicio said criminal organizations are increasingly integrating themselves into local political frameworks and campaigns to maintain control and continue operations in Indigenous territories.

He said criminal expansion has severely impacted Indigenous communities, where poverty and lack of government services leave many susceptible to recruitment into illegal operations.

“They recruit young people to work as ‘mochileros,’” he said, referring to people used to transport drugs or supplies through remote areas. “Then, in the end, when they no longer want them or do not want to pay them, they kill them.”

Odicio also warned of increasing sexual exploitation of Indigenous girls in communities and border regions affected by criminal organizations, some as young as 13 and 14, he said.

In the correspondence, organizations say government responses focused mainly on military force risk worsening conditions for Indigenous communities if they fail to acknowledge Indigenous territorial rights and self-governance systems.

“In light of this situation, it is essential that responses to organized crime and illicit economies do not translate into new processes of militarization, criminalization, or the subordination of Indigenous governance systems,” the letter says.

The correspondence asks the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to conduct a dedicated study on organized crime and illicit economies in Indigenous territories and urged U.N. agencies to include Indigenous perspectives in anti-crime and anti-corruption policies.

“We are talking about a deterioration of the identity and life of Indigenous peoples,” Castañeda said.

LONDON – The United Kingdom announced sanctions Monday against a dozen individuals and organizations allegedly connected to Iran, claiming they participated in hostile activities including attack planning and financial operations aimed at destabilizing Britain and other nations.

The sanctions target suspected members and affiliates of what British officials have identified as the Zindashti criminal network, along with multiple currency exchange businesses and financial operators.

British authorities stated the network engaged in Iranian-supported hostile operations, including making threats, planning or carrying out attacks against individuals and property in the UK and internationally.

Iran has consistently rejected claims of involvement in attacks or conspiracies within the UK and other nations.

The sanctions notice indicates some individuals face penalties for direct participation in hostile actions, while others are accused of supplying financial services or additional material assistance to enable such activities.

The punitive actions, detailed in an official government sanctions announcement, encompass asset freezes, travel restrictions and orders barring individuals from serving as company directors.

British officials said the sanctioned financial organizations had delivered services to people and groups connected to destabilizing operations, enabling Iran-linked networks to transfer and obtain funding despite international sanctions.

In recent weeks, law enforcement announced investigations into potential Iranian connections to a string of arson incidents targeting Jewish facilities in London, which triggered counter-terrorism investigations and alerts about hostile actions by Tehran or affiliated groups.

The UK elevated its national terrorism threat assessment to “severe,” representing the second-highest level, as police and government officials cautioned about increased attack risks and mounting concerns regarding hostile activities tied to foreign governments, including Iran.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday firmly dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could serve as Europe’s representative in potential future security negotiations with Moscow.

Putin had indicated over the weekend that he believed the conflict in Ukraine was nearing its conclusion and expressed willingness to discuss new European security frameworks, with Schroeder as his preferred negotiating partner.

However, EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels for their scheduled meeting expressed serious doubts about Russia’s genuine commitment to ending the conflict and engaging in authentic peace discussions for Europe.

The ministers completely rejected any involvement from Schroeder, who has maintained employment with Russian state enterprises and developed a personal friendship with Putin over the years.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas explained the obvious conflict of interest to reporters: “It’s clear why Putin wants him to be the person – so that actually … he would be sitting on both sides of the table. If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf … that would not be very wise.”

Germany’s Europe minister, Gunther Krichbaum, stated that Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, lacks the qualifications to serve as an “honest broker.”

“He is, and certainly has been, heavily influenced by Mr Putin. Close friendships may be legitimate anywhere in the world, but they do not help one to be perceived as an impartial mediator,” Krichbaum explained.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union has maintained a strategy of diplomatically isolating Moscow through comprehensive sanctions and minimal high-level political engagement.

Despite this approach, some European officials have begun advocating for direct EU engagement with Russia as U.S.-led peace efforts show limited advancement, particularly as Washington shifts focus to the conflict involving Iran.

European Council President Antonio Costa revealed last week that he has been consulting with fellow EU leaders “to organise ourselves and to identify what we need” for eventual discussions with Russia when “the right moment” arrives.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested the EU could participate in negotiations that would be “complementary” to U.S.-led talks, though he provided no additional specifics.

“We could talk about (a) new role of Europe,” Sybiha told Brussels reporters. “We have mainstream peace talks under the leadership of the U.S.A. and we need this track … but Europe could play also its role.”

Kallas and several other ministers emphasized that the EU should first intensify pressure on Russia and establish clear negotiating objectives before considering any discussions or selecting representatives.

“It’s not about choosing someone,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys. “We should get to the basics and the basics is to get our tools ready to pressure Russia.”

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger supported greater EU involvement in Russian negotiations and appointing a negotiating team.

“But we will decide that – Russia won’t decide it,” she declared.

WASHINGTON — A pivotal diplomatic meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled for May 14th and 15th in Beijing, with discussions potentially determining the trajectory of relations between the world’s two economic superpowers amid escalating international tensions.

The diplomatic discussions will cover a broad range of contentious issues including commercial disagreements, technology and artificial intelligence policies, Taiwan’s security situation, Middle Eastern peace initiatives, and China’s alleged connections to Iran. Additional topics on the table include agricultural trade agreements, Boeing aircraft transactions, export restrictions, and collaborative efforts to combat fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

Political experts suggest the likelihood of significant diplomatic victories remains minimal, though both countries seem committed to preventing further deterioration of relations between the globe’s dominant economic powers.

The situation surrounding Taiwan is anticipated to emerge as one of the most delicate subjects during negotiations. Reports indicate Beijing wants the self-governing territory to feature prominently in the conversations. Some advocates for Taiwan express concern that President Trump might adopt a more business-oriented stance regarding American support for Taipei. Former Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery has voiced worries that Taiwan might become a bargaining chip in discussions between the two leaders.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently called on the United States to “make the right choices” regarding Taiwan to preserve bilateral stability. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains that American policy remains unchanged, cautioning that any forced alteration of Taiwan’s circumstances would create regional and global instability.

The White House emphasizes ongoing American military assistance to Taiwan, highlighting that the Trump administration has authorized billions in defense equipment sales and aircraft components for the island’s protection.

The situation of imprisoned Christian publisher and Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai is also expected to arise during the summit. The 78-year-old activist’s family members have expressed hope that President Trump might help secure his freedom from detention. Trump has indicated his intention to discuss Lai’s case directly with Xi Jinping during their meetings.

OSLO, Norway — A Norwegian court announced Monday it will issue its decision next month in the criminal case against the stepson of Norway’s future king, who faces serious charges including rape that have brought unwanted attention to the royal family.

The Oslo District Court scheduled June 15 as the date for announcing the verdict in the prosecution of Marius Borg Høiby.

Following six weeks of legal proceedings that concluded March 19, prosecutors have requested a prison term of seven years and seven months for Høiby, who maintains his innocence regarding the rape accusations.

The 29-year-old defendant is Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son from an earlier relationship and serves as stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, who stands in line to inherit Norway’s throne. Authorities have brought 40 criminal charges against him, including four separate rape counts spanning from 2018 through 2024.

Legal representatives for Høiby, who holds no royal status or ceremonial responsibilities, argued that prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to prove the rape allegations. The defendant has acknowledged guilt for various minor infractions, including possessing illegal drugs, transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana in 2020, violating traffic laws, and breaking court-ordered restrictions regarding a former romantic partner. He has also partially confessed to certain violent acts and making threats while challenging crucial elements of those accusations, particularly regarding his intentions.

Høiby’s legal team contends that an 18-month maximum sentence would be fitting for the offenses he has accepted responsibility for. They maintained that their client has endured exceptional media scrutiny because of his family ties to royalty, which they claim has influenced how the public views the case.

As this legal drama has unfolded, Mette-Marit has encountered separate criticism this year regarding her past associations with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These connections have prompted questions about her decision-making abilities, although she faces no allegations of criminal behavior.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders announced new sanctions Monday targeting 16 officials and seven facilities they say have participated in Russia’s systematic removal of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homes.

The sanctioned facilities are accused of indoctrinating the children or preparing them for military service with Russian forces or pro-Russian groups operating within Ukraine.

The latest round of penalties brings the total number of individuals and organizations facing EU sanctions related to these child abductions to more than 130.

European Union headquarters stated that the asset freezes and travel restrictions were implemented because these officials and institutions are considered “responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

Estimates suggest that approximately 20,500 children have been illegally removed or forcibly relocated to Russia or Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine since Moscow began its full-scale military assault in early 2022.

European officials report that many of these children have their Ukrainian heritage and culture systematically erased, receive Russian citizenship documents, and are placed in adoptive families. Others face forced enrollment in indoctrination programs or military training facilities.

“Russia is trying to erase their identity,” said Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže during Monday’s meeting with European counterparts in Brussels, where the sanctions received approval. “When you look at the Genocide Convention, it’s one of the features of the genocide crime. So, it’s very serious.”

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges, holding him personally accountable for these forced relocations.

While approximately 2,200 children have been returned to Ukraine, the identification process remains extremely challenging. Young children who were taken can become difficult to recognize after just a few years. The process of bringing them home is traumatic, and some children face difficulties readjusting upon their return.

On Monday, the EU joined Canada in hosting a gathering of the 47-nation International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, aimed at increasing diplomatic pressure on Russia and building support for efforts to locate and track those who have been taken.

“War has really many faces, but stealing the children is really one of the most horrific,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos before the meeting. “We should stop this, and Russia should pay.”

Monday’s sanctions target individuals including camp directors, government officials, and military personnel overseeing youth programs.

Among the 16 people named was Lilya Shvetsova, who runs the “Red Carnation” facility in occupied Crimea. The EU stated she oversees “activities aimed at shaping the political and ideological views of children present at the facility, including Ukrainian children.”

Like others facing sanctions, she was found to be “supporting and implementing actions and policies contributing to the deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, including indoctrination, or militarized education of Ukrainian minors.”

Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States hit another roadblock Monday as negotiations to end their ongoing conflict stalled, while a fragile ceasefire continues to deteriorate with both nations trading fire in recent confrontations.

The escalating tensions have also involved attacks on maritime vessels and Gulf region nations, along with renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization.

President Trump dismissed Iran’s latest diplomatic response on Sunday, declaring it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”

The president is scheduled to visit Beijing later this week for a postponed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, China’s significant economic relationship with Iran, combined with ongoing trade disputes and tariff disagreements dating back to Trump’s previous presidency, may complicate the discussions, despite Trump’s history of publicly praising the Chinese leader.

The current volatility threatens to plunge the Middle East back into full-scale conflict and extend the global energy crisis triggered by the dispute. Iran maintains control over the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route while America continues its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump plans to use his upcoming China visit to encourage Xi Jinping to apply pressure on Iran for diplomatic concessions to break the current deadlock. China serves as Iran’s largest purchaser of sanctioned oil, providing Beijing with considerable influence over the situation.

The president’s rejection of Iran’s proposal centers on concerns that lifting the blockade before addressing Iran’s nuclear activities would remove a crucial bargaining chip from future negotiations.

Meanwhile, the ongoing standoff has created ripple effects in global markets, with oil prices climbing more than 2% following Trump’s announcement. World stock markets showed mixed results Monday after Wall Street achieved new record highs.

As Trump prepares for his Beijing summit, questions remain about various contentious issues on the agenda, including trade relations, the Iran situation, and Taiwan’s status. The president has indicated he may also raise the case of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during his discussions with Xi.

A former justice minister from Poland who is wanted on criminal charges in his home country has made his way to the United States after receiving political asylum in Hungary, according to reports from Warsaw.

Zbigniew Ziobro served as a prominent member of the nationalist conservative Law and Justice party, which controlled Poland’s government from 2015 through 2023. During that period, the administration gained political influence over Poland’s court system by appointing sympathetic judges to senior positions and retaliating against critics through disciplinary measures or relocations.

Ziobro revealed in January that Hungary had granted him asylum under the leadership of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Speaking to the Polish right-wing news outlet Republika on Sunday, Ziobro confirmed his arrival in America the day before, which happened to coincide with the swearing-in ceremony in Budapest for Orbán’s replacement, Péter Magyar, who won against the veteran leader in last month’s election. According to Polish news service PAP, Ziobro stated he was traveling with documentation provided as part of his asylum status.

Poland’s current Prime Minister Donald Tusk took office in late 2023 with plans to reverse the judicial reforms implemented by the previous administration, though these efforts have faced resistance from two consecutive presidents who support the nationalist right.

Last October, prosecutors sought to remove Ziobro’s parliamentary protection so they could file charges against him. The allegations include misappropriating funds designated for violence victims, specifically for acquiring Israeli Pegasus spying technology.

Tusk’s political party maintains that Law and Justice illegally deployed Pegasus to monitor political rivals during their time in office. Ziobro maintains his actions were within legal bounds.

The national prosecutor’s office announced Monday through social media that they are tracking Ziobro’s location and examining whether others helped him in “escaping and avoiding criminal responsibility, thus hindering the probe into the justice fund.”

Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek posted on X Sunday night that Poland had canceled Ziobro’s travel credentials, including his diplomatic passport, and that Warsaw plans to question both the United States and Hungary regarding the legal foundation for Ziobro’s departure from Hungarian soil and entry into America.

Ziobro’s international movement could strain relations between Warsaw and Washington.

Polish Foreign Ministry representative Maciej Wewiór told The Associated Press that “we don’t want this issue to become political.”

“Our relationship with the U.S. goes much deeper than what happens with Ziobro,” he said. “But we do want our citizen to eventually return to Poland and face justice.”

Pakistani officials called in Afghanistan’s top diplomat Monday to formally complain about a deadly suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 15 police officers in the country’s northwestern border region.

The Pakistani government is pointing fingers at the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly called the Pakistani Taliban, for Saturday’s devastating attack. Pakistani leaders have repeatedly accused Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers of providing safe haven to the TTP, which maintains close ties to the Afghan Taliban despite being a distinct organization. Afghanistan’s government rejects these allegations, insisting it prevents militant groups from launching attacks on neighboring countries from Afghan territory.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, officials presented their complaint to Afghanistan’s charge d’affaires, stating that “a detailed investigation into the incident, along with evidence collected and technical intelligence” showed the attack was “masterminded by terrorists residing in Afghanistan.”

The ministry also warned that Pakistan “reserves the right to respond decisively against the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” according to their official statement.

Afghan officials have not yet responded to the diplomatic protest.

The deadly assault occurred in Bannu district within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where an explosive-packed vehicle driven by a suicide bomber struck near a security checkpoint while armed accomplices provided support. The blast sparked intense gunfire between militants and security forces. Authorities report that some officers died during the firefight, while others perished when portions of their building crumbled from the explosion. The attack also left four officers injured.

A recently established offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban called Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan has taken credit for the assault. Pakistani authorities maintain this group operates as a cover organization for the broader Pakistani Taliban movement.

The country has experienced an uptick in extremist violence over recent years, with officials attributing much of the bloodshed to TTP activities.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain strained, with border conflicts resulting in hundreds of casualties since late February. Chinese mediators facilitated peace discussions between Afghan Taliban and Pakistani representatives in early April, yet intermittent cross-border skirmishes persist, albeit with reduced frequency compared to previous months.

BRUSSELS – The European Union announced new punitive measures Monday against Russian officials and organizations accused of systematically removing Ukrainian children from their homeland.

The sanctions target 16 individuals and seven organizations connected to what the EU Council describes as the unlawful forced deportation of Ukrainian minors, according to a statement released Monday.

European officials estimate that Russia has forcibly relocated approximately 20,500 Ukrainian children since the conflict began.

The EU Council stated these deportations represent serious violations of international law and infringe upon children’s basic rights, with the goal of eliminating Ukrainian cultural identity and damaging future generations.

Among the organizations now facing sanctions are federal agencies connected to Russia’s Education Ministry, according to the Council’s announcement.

The sanctions also target government officials and political figures from Russian-controlled territories, as well as directors of youth facilities and military-focused patriotic groups.

Under the new measures, those sanctioned will have their assets frozen, while European citizens and businesses are prohibited from providing financial support or economic resources to them. Individual targets also face restrictions on traveling to EU countries, the Council explained.

Political chaos continues to engulf Italy’s Culture Ministry as Minister Alessandro Giuli terminated two top officials following public backlash over the rejection of funding for a documentary project.

The dismissals represent the most recent upheaval in a department that has experienced significant instability under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative administration, which has been working to transform Italy’s traditionally left-leaning cultural establishment.

According to Italian news outlets, Giuli removed Emanuele Merlino, who directed the ministry’s technical secretariat, along with Elena Proietti, who managed the minister’s private office. While no formal announcement was made, high-ranking government officials verified the terminations on Monday.

The controversy erupted after the ministry rejected financial support for a film documenting the story of Giulio Regeni, an Italian university student who was abducted, tortured and murdered in Cairo during early 2016. Italian authorities have accused Egyptian security personnel of responsibility for his death.

Giuli characterized the funding rejection as “unacceptable” and claimed he was unaware the decision had been made.

Sources indicate Merlino lost his position due to his role in the funding controversy, while Proietti was reportedly dismissed for missing a scheduled departure for an official trip to New York last month.

Both dismissed officials have remained silent about their terminations, and the Culture Ministry has refused to provide statements.

The two figures held significant positions within right-wing political circles, prompting opposition leaders to characterize their removals as evidence of increasing discord within Meloni’s governing coalition, particularly following their loss in a justice reform referendum in March.

“This is the sign of a coalition riven by internal wars, score-settling, clashes between factions and competing leaderships,” said Sandro Ruotolo, the culture spokesman for the centre-left Democratic Party.

The current crisis represents just the latest disruption to plague the Culture Ministry during Meloni’s tenure, including the 2024 resignation of Giuli’s predecessor, Gennaro Sangiuliano, followed by a series of sudden dismissals and departures.

Since assuming power in 2022, Meloni has worked to expand conservative influence throughout Italy’s major cultural organizations, including theaters and museums.

The transformation has encountered significant obstacles. Last month, conductor Beatrice Venezi, who maintains close ties to Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, was removed from her role as musical director at Venice’s La Fenice opera house after publicly criticizing the orchestra for nepotism.

Meanwhile, the renowned Venice Biennale art exhibition has become embroiled in scandal after a government appointee permitted Russia’s return to the event, sparking anger from both Giuli and Meloni, who viewed the decision as a betrayal of Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.

BRUSSELS, May 11 – European Union regulators are holding separate conversations with two major American artificial intelligence companies, OpenAI and Anthropic, according to a Commission representative who spoke Monday.

Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters that officials appreciate OpenAI’s willingness to cooperate, particularly the company’s offer to provide access to its newest artificial intelligence technology. Meanwhile, the Commission has conducted four to five separate meetings with Anthropic, though conversations about potential access to that company’s AI systems have not yet begun.

During his daily news conference, Regnier explained the different stages of engagement with each company. “With one (OpenAI), you have a company proactively offering to give access to the company. With the other one (Anthropic), we have good exchanges though we’re not at a stage where we can speculate on potential access or not,” Regnier stated.

The conflict involving Iran has now stretched into its 11th week, lasting more than double the timeframe initially anticipated when President Donald Trump first authorized military action against the nation.

Hopes for a peaceful resolution that emerged last week were dashed over the weekend after Trump characterized Iran’s latest diplomatic response as “totally unacceptable.”

The ongoing standoff centers around Tehran’s nuclear program and its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that remains largely closed to oil tankers and commercial vessels.

Global oil markets reacted sharply to Trump’s overnight statement, with prices spiking almost 5% before moderating slightly. Brent crude was trading around $104 per barrel, putting pressure on stock markets that had been performing strongly.

Despite energy sector concerns, the artificial intelligence boom and semiconductor rally continue to capture investor attention. South Korea’s technology-focused KOSPI index demonstrated this trend with a more than 4% surge on Monday.

U.S. stock futures showed little movement in early Monday trading, following another week of record highs for the S&P 500. Friday’s April employment data reinforced market optimism, joining other labor indicators that suggest the conflict hasn’t significantly impacted job growth yet.

However, employment effects may emerge with a delay, and elevated gasoline prices could eventually affect consumer spending.

Chinese stock markets gained ground ahead of this week’s scheduled meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, set to begin Thursday. The energy crisis has pushed Chinese producer and consumer prices higher than expected, potentially complicating the diplomatic discussions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is traveling to Tokyo today for discussions with Japanese government officials.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure from his Labour Party colleagues following disappointing local election results. Despite weekend speculation about a potential leadership challenge, Starmer stated he would not resign and delivered remarks Monday intended to rally party support.

This week’s domestic economic calendar includes existing home sales figures for Monday, with April inflation data taking center stage Tuesday. The Senate may also vote Monday on Kevin Warsh’s nomination as the next Federal Reserve Chair, as current Chair Jerome Powell’s tenure ends Friday.

Major corporate earnings reports this week include technology companies Cisco and Applied Materials.

Chinese export activity accelerated in April as manufacturers worked to fulfill orders from artificial intelligence companies and other businesses stockpiling materials amid concerns that the Iran situation could drive global supply costs higher.

China’s trade surplus with the United States has expanded to $87.7 billion this year, a figure that will likely feature prominently in next week’s Trump-Xi summit discussions aimed at extending last year’s trade agreement.

Today’s key economic releases include U.S. existing home sales data and the Conference Board Employment Trends Index, both scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern. A three-year Treasury note auction is set for 1 p.m. Eastern.

TEL AVIV – The executive leading Israel’s primary missile defense contractor announced Monday that the Iron Dome system has achieved remarkable success rates approaching 99% in stopping incoming projectiles from militant organizations.

Speaking at a Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs gathering, Yuval Steinitz, who heads the government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, revealed that militant groups have launched approximately 40,000 rockets toward Israel following the Hamas attack in October 2023.

“Iron Dome intercepted most of them with success rates that (are) not 100% but close to 100%. It’s around 98%, even 99%, so it’s not perfect, but almost,” Steinitz stated during his presentation.

Regarding Iranian ballistic missile strikes, Steinitz reported that roughly 1,500 missiles were launched at Israel across two separate attack waves in 2024, with “only several dozens” managing to evade the defense system.

The Rafael chairman emphasized that Israel maintains adequate supplies of interceptor missiles to continue operations.

A 72-hour truce between Russia and Ukraine, negotiated by the United States, came to an end Monday amid mutual accusations of violations from both warring nations, leaving American and European leaders weighing their next diplomatic moves.

Officials in Ukraine reported Monday that Russian aerial attacks, explosive devices, and artillery bombardment targeted civilian locations in the northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson areas, resulting in at least two deaths and seven injuries.

Moscow’s military leadership claimed Sunday that Ukraine had violated the temporary truce more than 1,000 times, according to state-controlled media outlets.

Previous temporary ceasefires declared throughout the conflict, which began when Russia invaded its neighboring country over four years ago, have likewise collapsed, and diplomatic initiatives led by the United States over the past year have produced no results.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported that NASA satellite data showed reduced but ongoing military operations following Trump’s Friday announcement that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy had agreed to his ceasefire proposal spanning Saturday through Monday. The timing coincided with Victory Day, Russia’s annual commemoration of Nazi Germany’s defeat.

The ISW observed Sunday evening that “ceasefires without explicit enforcement mechanisms, credible monitoring, and defined dispute resolution processes are unlikely to hold.”

Trump had indicated the agreement would include a prisoner swap, stating the pause in hostilities might represent the “beginning of the end” of the conflict. Zelenskyy confirmed preparations were underway for exchanging 1,000 detainees from each nation.

However, neither side appears willing to compromise on their fundamental negotiating demands.

Putin seeks control over the entire Donbas region, Ukraine’s manufacturing center, despite his forces failing to fully secure it, while Zelenskyy refuses to cede the territory. The Ukrainian president has proposed a ceasefire and direct talks with Putin, but the Russian leader has rejected face-to-face meetings until a negotiated agreement is nearly complete.

Putin proposed over the weekend that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, who maintains close Russian business connections, could serve as an intermediary. However, German and European officials rejected this suggestion while acknowledging the European Union might assume a larger role in peace negotiations after being marginalized by Washington’s efforts over the past year.

Nevertheless, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the bloc must clarify its goals before engaging with the Kremlin.

“Before we discuss with Russia, we should discuss amongst ourselves what we want to talk to them about,” she told reporters in Brussels.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha participated in the Brussels gathering with EU foreign ministers. “We have mainstream peace talks under the leadership of the U.S., and we need this track and we need U.S. leadership. But Europe could play also its role,” Sybiha said.

He emphasized that Ukraine has recently strengthened its battlefield position, forcing the larger Russian military into slow and expensive advances along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) battle line, while deploying domestically produced long-range drones and missiles against targets within Russian territory.

“We have a new reality on the battlefield … Ukraine became stronger after the most difficult winter,” Sybiha said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius became the newest high-ranking European official to visit Kyiv, arriving Monday for an unscheduled trip focused on expanding defense collaboration between the nations.

Prime Minister Evika Silina ordered the dismissal of Defense Minister Andris Sprūds on Sunday following recent drone incidents in the Baltic nation.

In a social media post, Silina stated Sprūds had “lost my trust” after a drone incident that “clearly demonstrated that the political leadership of the defense sector has failed to fulfill its promise of safe skies over our country.”

Sprūds resigned, characterizing it as a domestic political disagreement.

Ukraine’s Sybiha reported Sunday he had another conversation with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže regarding recent drone incidents in Latvia, after investigations revealed Russian electronic warfare had intentionally redirected Ukrainian drones from their planned targets inside Russia.

Sybiha confirmed Ukraine’s dedication to collaborating with the Baltic nations and Finland to avoid similar incidents, proposing direct participation from Ukrainian technical experts.

Estonia, Poland and Romania have also documented stray drones landing within their borders.

As President Donald Trump prepares for a crucial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, concerns are mounting about the future of U.S. support for Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing considers its territory.

Trump’s recent actions have sent mixed signals regarding America’s relationship with Taiwan. While he greenlit a record-breaking $11 billion weapons package for the island in December, the delivery remains on hold, and Trump has acknowledged discussing the sale directly with Xi. The president has also criticized Taiwan for taking away America’s chip manufacturing dominance and suggested the island should compensate the United States for military protection.

Meanwhile, Trump has used tariff threats to pressure Taiwan into making substantial investments in American semiconductor facilities and agreeing to purchase billions in U.S. natural gas and oil.

These mixed messages have sparked debate in Washington, Beijing, and Taipei about whether America’s long-standing commitment to Taiwan’s defense might be wavering under Trump’s leadership.

Retired Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, expressed worry about Taiwan becoming a bargaining chip in the upcoming talks.

“I do worry that we have a transactional president and a transactional opportunity could arise, and then we would have a challenge,” Montgomery stated.

Chinese officials have made clear they plan to prioritize Taiwan discussions during the summit. Foreign Minister Wang Yi brought up Taiwan during preparations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, encouraging the United States to “make the right choices” regarding the island to maintain bilateral stability.

However, Rubio maintained that American policy remains unchanged. Speaking to reporters in Rome on Friday, he said, “We don’t want to see any forced or compelled change in the situation,” calling such action “destabilizing to the world.” He confirmed Taiwan would be discussed but wouldn’t be “a feature of our trip.”

The White House has emphasized that Trump has already authorized more military aid to Taiwan in his second term’s first year than the approximately $8.4 billion approved by former President Joe Biden throughout his entire presidency, including $330 million in aircraft components last November.

Under pressure from the Trump administration to boost defense spending, Taiwan’s legislature ended months of political deadlock Friday by approving $25 billion for military purchases. This amount fell short of the $40 billion requested by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te last year. A senior Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, called the reduced funding disappointing.

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen attempted to calm concerns, telling reporters that while “(China) may attempt some maneuvering during the talks,” the United States has consistently reaffirmed through public and private communications that its Taiwan policy hasn’t changed.

The central question among China specialists is how aggressively Xi will push Trump toward Beijing’s perspective on Taiwan.

Beijing views Taiwan as a rebellious province that must be reunited with mainland China, using military force if necessary. China prevents nations with which it maintains diplomatic ties from establishing formal relationships with Taiwan. Since recognizing modern China diplomatically in 1979, America has balanced Beijing’s demands while providing unofficial support and weapons to Taiwan.

This delicate balance involves Washington acknowledging Beijing’s claim that Taiwan belongs to China without explicitly agreeing with that position. The U.S. has traditionally stated it “does not support” Taiwan’s independence while opposing any unilateral changes to the current situation.

Experts suggest Xi might try to convince Trump to reduce Taiwan ties by limiting arms sales or restricting high-level American visits to the island. In February, Trump indicated he had broken with established policy by consulting Xi about Taiwan weapons sales.

Patricia Kim from the Brookings Institution’s Assessing China Project warned about potential policy shifts.

“Even if we don’t see something as dramatic as a formal shift in declaratory policy, this time around, there is always a risk that President Trump may make an off-the-cuff remark given he’s not necessarily somebody who appreciates the nuances of longstanding policy language,” Kim explained.

Tensions between U.S. ally Japan and China have also raised questions about Trump’s Taiwan commitment. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan a regional concern that could create “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, possibly requiring military response.

Trump spoke with both Takaichi and Xi that same month but has remained mostly quiet about the dispute. When hosting Takaichi for discussions in March, Trump said, “I know they have a little bit of an edgy relationship,” adding, “I’ll be speaking Japan’s praises when I’m in China with President Xi.”

Questions about Trump’s Taiwan support also arose when the 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy failed to specifically mention the island.

Taiwan’s advantage lies in its dominant global semiconductor industry, which America needs to maintain its technological edge over China.

“Trump at the very least realizes the role that Taiwan plays in the U.S.’s economic growth,” said Lev Nachman, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. “So I think that is sort of the main silver lining in thinking that nothing drastic will change in terms of policy toward Taiwan.”

Despite Trump’s deal-making reputation, his administration hasn’t treated challenging U.S.-China issues as tradeable commodities, according to Edgard Kagan, a former State Department official who worked under both Trump and Biden on East Asian affairs.

“The president understands leverage. My experience of being in meetings with him, he has a very, very acute sense of how to use it,” said Kagan, now the China Studies chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “And so I think that the idea that there’s going to be a trade where the president sort of sacrifices U.S. interests in Taiwan in order to get other things — I think it’s unlikely based on my own experience of how he operates.”

The summit’s impact on Taiwan will likely be measured by the leaders’ public statements afterward.

Following his previous face-to-face meeting with Xi in October, Trump claimed Xi hadn’t mentioned Taiwan and that Chinese officials “know the consequences” of military action against the island.

“I think the best-case scenario Taiwan can hope for is that Taiwan is not talked about publicly or, at the very least, in a minimal way,” Nachman concluded.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States have stalled once more on Monday, as both nations struggle to find common ground for ending their conflict while a fragile ceasefire continues to deteriorate through recent military exchanges, attacks on vessels and Gulf nations, and escalating clashes between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

This unstable situation threatens to plunge the Middle East back into full-scale conflict and extend the global energy emergency triggered by the ongoing hostilities, as Iran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz while America maintains its naval blockade of Iranian harbors. President Donald Trump plans to leverage his upcoming diplomatic visit to China this week, seeking to convince Chinese leader Xi Jinping to apply pressure on Iran for meaningful compromises to break the current deadlock. China’s position as Iran’s largest purchaser of sanctioned petroleum provides Beijing with significant influence over the Islamic Republic.

However, reaching any meaningful agreement appears challenging. Iranian leadership demands the lifting of American naval blockades and economic sanctions before entering discussions about their stockpiled enriched uranium. Washington and Israeli officials insist on removing this nuclear material first, citing concerns it could eventually support weapons development if Iran chooses that path. While Tehran maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes, the country has enriched uranium far beyond levels required for civilian energy production.

On Sunday, Trump declared Iran’s latest diplomatic offer “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Lifting the blockade prior to nuclear discussions would strip Trump of crucial negotiating power in future talks.

During this standoff, the disputed strait remains a critical passage for global oil and natural gas shipments, causing fuel costs to surge dramatically and creating widespread market instability.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who initiated the February 28th military campaign alongside Trump, emphasized the conflict remains ongoing. Speaking to CBS’ “60 Minutes” in Sunday’s broadcast, he stressed that removing nuclear materials from Iran represents a vital objective. Should diplomatic efforts fail, Netanyahu indicated Israel and America are prepared to “reengage them militarily.”

Netanyahu further stated the current Iranian leadership’s “days are numbered — but it could take a lot of days.”

American and Israeli forces have eliminated numerous senior Iranian officials, including the nation’s supreme leader during the war’s initial phase, while the conflict has severely damaged Iran’s economic infrastructure, though the theocratic government retains control.

Trump swiftly dismissed Iran’s newest proposal delivered Sunday through Pakistani intermediaries. The Iranian demands included war compensation from America, complete Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions removal, and return of frozen assets overseas, according to Iranian state media reports.

Iran additionally requested immediate cessation of all hostilities, including the Israel-Hezbollah fighting — groups that continue exchanging attacks despite their technical ceasefire status. This secondary conflict has involved Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, Israeli occupation of Lebanese areas, and fatal Hezbollah counterattacks, including one that claimed another Israeli soldier’s life, military officials confirmed Monday.

“We did not demand any concessions — the only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” stated Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Monday. “The American side still insists on its one-sided views and unreasonable demands.”

Iran did propose diluting portions of their highly enriched uranium while transferring remaining materials to neutral territory, requesting 30-day negotiations for finalizing arrangements, according to two regional diplomatic sources familiar with the talks who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of ongoing diplomacy.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has volunteered to accept Iran’s uranium materials.

Russia operates Iran’s only nuclear facility at Bushehr and previously received Iranian uranium under the 2015 international nuclear agreement. When questioned Monday regarding Putin’s statements, Baghaei responded: “At the current stage, our focus is on ending the war.”

Separately, Iran executed another individual accused of espionage for both the CIA and Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Iran’s official IRNA news service named the executed prisoner as Erfan Shakourzadeh, claiming he handled satellite communications and transmitted classified intelligence to those agencies.

Iran has conducted multiple executions since nationwide demonstrations erupted in January. Human rights organizations have consistently criticized Iran for conducting secretive trials where defendants cannot adequately defend themselves. Iran’s chief judicial officer has repeatedly announced Tehran’s intention to accelerate execution schedules as retaliation against domestic and international adversaries.

ANKARA – Turkey’s top diplomat Hakan Fidan will travel to Qatar on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conflict involving Iran and its broader implications for Middle East stability, according to a Turkish diplomatic source who spoke Monday.

The NATO-allied nation of Turkey, which shares a border with Iran, has maintained ongoing communications with the United States, Iran, and mediating nation Pakistan throughout the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Turkish officials have advocated for ending the hostilities while denouncing both attacks against Iran and Tehran’s military actions targeting Gulf nations.

Fidan, whose most recent trip to Doha occurred in March and who conducted two phone conversations with Iran’s foreign minister over the weekend, plans to reaffirm Turkey’s backing of ally Qatar amid Iranian aggression, the diplomatic source indicated.

The foreign minister will communicate Ankara’s demands for maintaining secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane and emphasize how crucial such protection is for both regional security and economic stability, according to the source.

The diplomatic source noted that Fidan is anticipated to “state that permanently resolving the conflict in the Gulf is the most urgent priority and exchange views on diplomatic initiatives to achieve this.”

Turkey and Qatar maintain robust diplomatic relationships and collaborate across multiple sectors including energy and military defense. Turkey operates a military installation in Qatar and has been discussing with Doha the potential purchase of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft through a British-brokered deal.

Business representatives on Japan’s primary economic advisory committee issued a warning Monday to the nation’s central bank about potential financial pressures on smaller businesses as Middle East conflicts continue.

The recommendations were presented to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which guides Japan’s budget planning and long-term economic strategy. The advisory effectively asks for careful consideration before implementing policy changes, even as the Bank of Japan has indicated possible interest rate increases to address inflation concerns related to ongoing conflicts.

Four private sector representatives released a joint statement saying: “We expect the BOJ to conduct appropriate monetary policy while closely monitoring price developments, including inflation expectations, and taking into account trends in supply and demand for funds across financial markets.”

Although current data shows no immediate financing difficulties for small and medium enterprises, the panel expressed worry that elevated energy prices and supply chain disruptions might create greater capital requirements for these businesses.

Companies are already taking defensive measures against potential supply disruptions. Bank of Japan statistics reveal that commitment line agreements, which provide companies with predetermined borrowing capacity from banks, jumped by 2.5 trillion yen (approximately $16 billion) in March. This represents the steepest monthly climb since May 2020 during the coronavirus outbreak.

Japan’s central bank maintained current interest rates during its recent meeting but sent strong indications about a possible rate adjustment as early as June. This consideration stems from growing worries that rising energy expenses could accelerate inflation beyond manageable levels.

Financial experts suggest the gradual approach to rate increases contributes to the yen’s ongoing decline, creating policy challenges for government officials as it drives up import costs for everything from petroleum to food products.

However, increased interest rates would also mean higher debt payments, particularly affecting smaller businesses that depend more heavily on bank financing and typically maintain smaller cash reserves.

The four business representatives, including two individuals considered supportive allies of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s economic policies, emphasized the need for strong cooperation between the central bank and government officials.

Additionally, the panel suggested the government should evaluate fiscal health using multiple measurements instead of depending solely on one indicator, shifting away from Japan’s traditional emphasis on primary balance as the primary fiscal responsibility metric.

NAIROBI, Kenya — French President Emmanuel Macron is leading a diplomatic push to reshape his country’s relationships across Africa during a groundbreaking summit that kicked off Monday in Kenya, coinciding with France’s complete military pullout from West African nations that many view as a sign of waning French influence across the continent.

The French government is using the two-day Africa Forward Summit, which it is jointly hosting, to promote what officials describe as a fresh approach to African relations that emphasizes English-speaking nations and establishes what Paris terms a “partnership of equals.” France’s recent defense pact with Kenya exemplifies this new strategic direction.

For decades, France has exercised substantial economic, political and military control over its former colonies through a system known as Françafrique, which involved deploying thousands of soldiers throughout the region. However, following sustained criticism from African leaders and opposition movements who characterized France’s approach as patronizing and authoritarian, the French government has been compelled to remove the majority of these forces.

This gathering marks France’s inaugural summit held in an English-speaking African nation and will welcome over 30 heads of state and government representatives, including leaders from French-speaking countries. Upon his Sunday arrival, President Macron stated that while France might have disagreements with West African governments, it “never disagrees with the people.”

Kenya’s recently approved defense pact with France has drawn criticism from advocacy organizations who argue it provides excessive legal immunity to French military personnel under local law — a contentious matter in a nation where a comparable arrangement with the United Kingdom has resulted in numerous difficult-to-prosecute offenses against local residents.

During a period when numerous African countries, especially those in the Sahel region, are limiting or removing foreign military operations as part of what they describe as efforts to restore their independence, Kenya is welcoming an expanding international military presence.

The Kenya-France Defense Cooperation Agreement received signatures on October 29, 2025, from Kenya’s Defense Minister Soipan Tuya and French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, with parliamentary approval following on April 8. During that same month, lawmakers also approved defense partnerships with several nations including the Czech Republic, China and Italy.

While supporting the defense agreements, parliament defense committee chair Nelson Koech explained that Kenya’s partnerships with militarily advanced nations provide training opportunities and intelligence-sharing capabilities that will strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.

“These agreements were not a ‘surrender of sovereignty,’” Koech stated, noting that more recent pacts ensure foreign military personnel will face trial in Kenya if accused of serious offenses such as murder.

One month before the summit’s start, approximately 800 French soldiers arrived in Kenya via naval vessel.

The agreement provides visiting French forces with primary legal authority over their personnel for duty-related violations, mirroring extensive legal protections in previous UK agreements that protected British soldiers from Kenyan judicial proceedings during controversies including the 2012 killing of a young woman named Agnes Wanjiru and the fatal 2021 Lolldaiga ranch fire.

A British soldier faces extradition after Kenyan courts determined he must answer for the 2012 death of Wanjiru, who was last observed alive with him near British military training facilities in Nanyuki, central Kenya.

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — The German diplomat responsible for monitoring peace efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina since the 1990s conflict has announced his resignation, according to his office on Monday.

Christian Schmidt has made a “personal decision to conclude his service” as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina following almost five years in the position, according to an official statement. The German official will remain in his role until authorities select his replacement.

Throughout his tenure, Schmidt engaged in frequent disputes with Milorad Dodik, the leading Bosnian Serb politician who heads the Serbian portion of Bosnia known as Republika Srpska. In August, officials stripped Dodik of his presidential position and imposed a temporary political ban for refusing to comply with Schmidt’s directives.

Dodik, who maintains pro-Russian positions, has advocated for the Serbian region of Bosnia to break away and unite with Serbia. His political stance has raised concerns about potential renewed conflict in Bosnia, where ethnic divisions persist among Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks, who are predominantly Muslim.

The United States previously imposed sanctions on Dodik for his separatist activities, though these penalties were recently removed. He maintains regular contact with Russia and attended Saturday’s annual military ceremony in Moscow marking the end of World War II in Europe.

The High Representative’s office was created through a peace accord brokered by the United States that concluded the 1992-95 ethnic conflict, which claimed over 100,000 lives. This position holds power to modify legislation and remove officials who obstruct post-conflict reconciliation efforts.

As a potential European Union member nation, Bosnia has struggled to complete required reforms because of ongoing political disputes and ethnic divisions among nationalist leaders. The nation is structured with a Serbian entity and a Bosnian-Croat entity, unified under a multi-ethnic federal government.

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine lawmakers delivered a decisive blow to Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, voting overwhelmingly to remove her from office amid accusations of financial misconduct and threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s life.

The chamber, controlled by allies of President Marcos, cast ballots 255-26 with nine members choosing not to vote. Two separate impeachment cases against Duterte will now advance to the Senate, where lawmakers will form a trial tribunal to hear the charges.

Duterte faces accusations of accumulating unexplained wealth, improperly using government money, and making assassination threats against the current president. The vice president, whose father previously served as the country’s leader, has broadly rejected the allegations while avoiding detailed responses to the specific criminal charges.

This marks the second time in consecutive years that House members have moved to impeach Duterte. Her previous impeachment effort was halted when the nation’s highest court intervened, citing constitutional procedural issues that prevented a Senate trial.

Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters has pushed back against media reports claiming civilian casualties occurred during recent drone operations targeting armed criminal groups in the country’s northern Niger state.

Defense spokesperson Major-General Michael Onoja stated Monday that the overnight drone operations conducted between May 9 and 10 were guided by intelligence and struck only militant locations. The operations focused on four villages in the Shiroro district: Katerma, Bokko, Kusasu and Kuduru, where intelligence suggested armed criminal groups known locally as bandits were assembling to plan future attacks.

The military’s response addresses Nigerian media reports that alleged civilian deaths, highlighting ongoing concerns about how airstrikes in conflict areas affect local populations.

Nigeria’s armed forces are currently fighting criminal gangs in the country’s northwest region while also combating a 17-year Islamic extremist uprising in the northeast.

Just last month, approximately 200 people died when military aircraft hit a village marketplace during operations against Islamic militants in the northeast, according to local residents who spoke with Reuters.

Regarding the recent operations, Onoja reported that no fewer than 70 suspected criminals were eliminated in Kusasu village alone. Intelligence gathered after the strikes revealed surviving fighters were regrouping, with over 200 motorcycles observed moving toward the nearby village of Zango.

“The strikes were precisely targeted at identified terrorist enclaves and achieved their intended military objectives,” Onoja stated. He added that local residents had moved to another village prior to the operation, reducing the possibility of civilian casualties.

Onoja did not specify whether civilians received advance warning about the planned strikes.

The military has directed field commanders to look into any allegations of civilian harm, according to Onoja.

Hungary’s new government plans to examine a massive nuclear power plant expansion agreement with Russia, according to the country’s nominee for economy and energy affairs minister during a parliamentary hearing Monday.

The ministerial candidate, Istvan Kapitany, announced the review of the controversial $14.7 billion project to add two Russian-built VVER reactors to Hungary’s existing Paks nuclear facility. The original deal was granted to Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom in 2014 without any competitive bidding process and has faced multiple delays over the years.

“We need a transparent nuclear strategy,” Kapitany stated during his hearing. “We have to review the financing and costs of Paks 2 (expansion project) and its implementation conditions. These are classified contracts, which we have not yet seen, we need to examine them.”

The nuclear expansion has long been viewed by political analysts as evidence of the strong relationship between Budapest and Moscow under previous prime minister Viktor Orban. Hungary’s new leadership has promised to alter this dynamic as part of broader efforts to improve ties with the European Union.

Centre-right leader Peter Magyar, who took the oath as prime minister Saturday, previously stated that the project’s costs were artificially inflated. Rosatom has indicated its willingness to defend the pricing structure.

Despite the review, Kapitany emphasized that nuclear energy would remain a significant component of Hungary’s power strategy. He also committed to combating corruption, addressing criticism that graft flourished under Orban’s administration – allegations the former leader has rejected.

In a separate committee hearing, foreign minister nominee Anita Orban outlined her priority to restore international confidence in Hungary following deterioration under the previous administration.

The former government maintained frequent disputes with EU leadership on matters including judicial independence and minority protections. Hungary’s sustained connections with Moscow amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, combined with blocking financial assistance to Kyiv, further damaged these relationships.

“Laws need to be passed that will ensure that Hungary’s judiciary is independent, that public tenders are transparent, that corruption can be fought, wealth declarations can be checked and the use of European Union funds can be tracked,” Orban explained.

She clarified that Hungary would not deploy military personnel or armaments to Ukraine.

Nearly 500 mountaineers are pushing forward with their quest to reach the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, even as a treacherous ice formation threatens the primary climbing path, along with rising expedition costs and higher permit prices.

Approximately 492 climbers accompanied by an equal number of Nepali guides are preparing for their journey to the summit of the towering peak that reaches nearly 8,850 meters (roughly 29,000 feet) this month, taking advantage of the eagerly awaited period of favorable weather conditions.

Mountaineers started assembling in April at base camp, positioned at 5,300 meters (17,340 feet) above sea level. However, a colossal and precarious ice formation, known as a serac, has prevented their advance up the mountain for more than two weeks.

This serac forms part of the Khumbu Icefall, a continuously moving glacier filled with deep cracks and enormous overhanging ice chunks that can reach the size of a ten-story structure. This area ranks among the most challenging and dangerous sections to navigate.

Mountaineering specialist Ang Tshering Sherpa from Nepal noted that despite ongoing conflicts in Iran and rising travel expenses, a substantial number of climbers are tackling Mount Everest this climbing season. While fewer mountaineers from America and Europe are participating, there has been an increase in Asian climbers making the attempt.

The mountain sits along the border between Nepal and China, though China has shut down its climbing route this year, forcing all climbers to attempt their ascent from Nepal’s southern approach.

Ukrainian military commanders and local officials documented continued Russian drone attacks and combat engagements on Monday, breaking terms of a ceasefire arrangement facilitated by the United States.

Both nations had committed to halting hostilities from May 9 through May 11 under an American-led diplomatic initiative spearheaded by President Donald Trump, aimed at concluding the conflict that has persisted for over four years following Russia’s comprehensive military offensive launched in 2022.

The temporary truce, which Trump expressed hope on Friday could be prolonged, began showing cracks on Sunday as both countries pointed fingers at each other for ceasefire breaches.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday that while Moscow had avoided major air and missile bombardments, Russian forces maintained offensive operations across sections of the extensive battle line where they continue advancing.

Moscow’s Defense Ministry countered on Sunday by claiming Ukraine violated the truce terms, reporting the destruction of 57 Ukrainian drones within a 24-hour period and stating they had “responded in kind” during ground fighting. Russian officials had not released updated battlefield assessments by Monday.

Casualties mounted across Ukrainian territories, with Zaporizhzhia’s southeastern region recording one fatality and two injuries, according to the area’s governor. The southern Kherson region saw two deaths and two wounded, as reported by local leadership.

Additional injuries were documented in neighboring areas: three wounded in the Mykolaiv region, five injured in northern Kharkiv, and four casualties in eastern Donetsk, based on statements from regional governors.

Ukraine’s military General Staff documented 180 separate combat incidents across front-line positions during the previous 24-hour period, noting that Russian forces had launched 8,037 “kamikaze” drones targeting both civilian areas and military installations on Sunday.

BEIJING, May 11 – Beijing has sharply criticized recent United States penalties imposed on three Chinese businesses that American officials accused of supporting Iran’s military capabilities, denouncing the measures as unlawful and one-sided.

During a routine media briefing on Monday, Chinese government spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated: “We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws and regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

Guo also emphasized that current efforts should focus elsewhere, saying: “The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate and smear other countries.”

The Chinese official’s remarks represent Beijing’s formal response to Washington’s latest round of economic restrictions targeting companies it claims have facilitated Iranian military activities.

South Korean officials issued their harshest condemnation Monday regarding an assault on a Korean-operated commercial vessel in Middle Eastern waters earlier this month, promising retaliation once they determine the perpetrator.

The incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz when the cargo ship Namu, run by shipping company HMM Co., came under attack while operating legally in waters near the United Arab Emirates, according to government representatives.

Initial forensic examination revealed damage to the vessel’s lower left rear section, which sparked a blaze in the engine compartment, a Blue House spokesperson reported.

“We condemn this in the strongest terms,” declared Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s presidential national security adviser, during a press conference. Wi explained that Korean officials and specialists confirmed the vessel damage during their forensic review at a Dubai port facility.

The assault’s impact wasn’t immediately apparent because of where it struck the ship’s lower rear port area, Blue House representatives noted.

Officials stated they remain uncertain about Iran’s potential involvement in the incident. Tehran has previously rejected any culpability for the assault, which involved a powerful blow to the vessel’s side.

The Iranian embassy in Seoul released a statement Monday indicating they had no current stance on the situation but would provide updates if an official position develops.

Following the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of attacking the Korean ship and called on Seoul to participate in American-led maritime security operations in the strategic waterway.

BEIJING – Law enforcement officials from the United States and China have successfully apprehended five individuals as part of a collaborative investigation targeting international drug trafficking operations, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency on Monday.

The coordinated enforcement action took place across both nations, resulting in the arrest of two individuals from China and three from the United States, Xinhua reported. During the operation, authorities also confiscated quantities of illegal drugs.

The joint investigation demonstrates ongoing cooperation between American and Chinese law enforcement agencies in combating cross-border narcotics smuggling networks.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is battling to save his political career by promising stronger European relationships following crushing electoral defeats that have sparked widespread calls for his resignation.

The embattled Labour leader will deliver a major address Monday where he intends to declare he will “face up to the big challenges” and restore “hope” across Britain.

Central to his message will be “putting Britain at the heart of Europe,” marking a significant shift ten years after the United Kingdom decided to exit the European Union, according to his office.

However, Starmer’s grip on power appears increasingly tenuous, with numerous members of parliament demanding he announce when he will step down.

Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister and influential figure viewed as a possible successor, declared “what we are doing isn’t working, and it needs to change.”

While Rayner stopped short of directly demanding Starmer’s resignation, she criticized him for overseeing “a toxic culture of cronyism” and insisted the administration must “stay true to labor and social democratic values” while addressing living costs for working families.

“This may be our last chance,” Rayner stated Sunday.

The Labour Party has fallen into despair following significant defeats in recent local elections throughout England and parliamentary contests in Scotland and Wales. Political observers view these results as an unofficial judgment on Starmer, whose approval ratings have collapsed since his overwhelming victory less than two years ago.

His administration has failed to achieve promised economic expansion, rebuild struggling public services, and address cost-of-living concerns, while being undermined by continuous blunders and policy reversals on matters including welfare changes. His troubles deepened 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 demonstrated Labour losing support from multiple directions, with voters defecting to both the anti-immigration Reform UK party and the “eco-populist” Green Party. This highlights the growing division in British politics, traditionally controlled by Labour and Conservative parties.

Starmer hopes Monday’s address and an extensive legislative agenda to be presented Wednesday by King Charles III during Parliament’s ceremonial opening will help him recover politically.

A central element involves strengthening European connections, as the UK departed the EU in 2020, four years following the narrow “leave” victory in the membership vote. Starmer’s administration has already begun reducing trade barriers that have impacted British companies since Brexit, and he promises to negotiate a youth mobility agreement allowing young people to work temporarily across Europe.

Labour supported remaining in the EU during the 2016 campaign but has avoided reopening the divisive national debate. Starmer has rejected pursuing EU membership or rejoining the organization’s customs union or single market.

Prominent Labour figures considered potential replacements for Starmer — including Rayner, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham — have not yet demanded his resignation.

However, increasing numbers of Labour parliamentarians are urging the prime minister to establish a departure timeline. British political systems permit parties to replace leaders during their terms without requiring new elections.

Josh Simons, a previously supportive Labour member of parliament, 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.”

Catherine West, a former junior minister, threatens to initiate a leadership challenge unless Starmer delivers an exceptional speech Monday. West admitted lacking support from the required 81 colleagues to force a contest, with her action appearing designed to pressure more prominent candidates to act.

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

MANILA – Philippine legislators will cast ballots Monday determining whether to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, a decision that could significantly impact her anticipated 2028 presidential campaign.

Last month, a house justice committee determined there was sufficient evidence to support impeachment proceedings based on an activist petition. The charges include allegations of public fund mismanagement, acquiring wealth without explanation, and making threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his spouse, and the previous house speaker.

Duterte stands as the leading candidate to replace Marcos in 2028, as constitutional restrictions prevent him from seeking a second term. She has expressed regret for supporting Marcos’ rise to power in 2022, when they campaigned together and secured overwhelming electoral victories before their relationship soured.

Duterte maintains her innocence, while her attorneys have characterized the petition as flawed and described it as a “fishing expedition.”

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil and Representative Leila de Lima, who serves on the justice committee, confirmed Monday’s voting schedule.

Should more than one-third of the lower chamber support impeachment, the Senate must conduct a trial with senators serving as jurors. A conviction would result in Duterte’s removal from office and prohibition from future political participation.

POLITICAL DYNASTY FACES CHALLENGES

This impeachment attempt represents another blow to the powerful Duterte political dynasty. The vice president continues facing pressure from her bitter conflict with Marcos, while her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, awaits International Criminal Court proceedings related to his anti-drug campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths during his 2016-2022 administration.

The house previously voted to impeach Sara Duterte last year, but the Supreme Court later overturned that decision due to procedural errors.

Should she be impeached, Duterte would become the highest-ranking Philippine official to face such proceedings since former President Joseph Estrada in 2000, whose trial ended abruptly when prosecutors withdrew.

Three other senior officials have faced impeachment: an ombudsman and election commission leader who both stepped down before trial, and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who remains the only official convicted through this process.

Marcos successfully avoided a separate impeachment attempt in February when his congressional supporters voted to dismiss it. He has maintained distance from the proceedings targeting his former running mate.

Dozens of impeachment supporters assembled outside Congress Monday, shouting slogans and displaying signs reading “Impeach Sara Now.”

Left-wing Congressman Perci Cendana joined the demonstration, expressing confidence in securing sufficient votes for impeachment and calling it a “historic day for democracy.”

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian nations are confronting a deepening energy crisis as their initial emergency responses to the Iran conflict prove inadequate, with more severe economic consequences now emerging.

When hostilities began, regional governments rushed to address the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for Asian energy supplies. Officials implemented emergency strategies including conservation measures that slowed business operations, redirected natural gas from industrial uses to residential needs, and depleted strategic energy reserves for short-term stability.

However, these emergency responses were designed for a brief conflict that would allow energy shipments to resume quickly. That scenario has failed to materialize.

As the war continues indefinitely, the energy shortage is spreading throughout regional economies. Transportation costs, freight charges, and energy bills are surging, threatening economic stability. The United Nations Development Program warns that approximately 8.8 million people face the risk of falling into poverty, while the conflict could generate $299 billion in economic damage across the Asia-Pacific area.

“The countries with the least resources to respond, or the consumers who can least afford to pay, are the ones who feel everything first,” said Samantha Gross of the U.S.-based think tank Brookings Institution.

Regional governments structured their fiscal plans expecting oil to cost approximately $70 per barrel on average. Energy subsidies helped maintain stable fuel pricing. However, the conflict drove Brent crude prices to peaks of roughly $120 per barrel.

Officials now confront a difficult decision between continuing expensive subsidies that burden government budgets, or eliminating them to transfer increased costs to citizens, potentially triggering public unrest, explained Ahmad Rafdi Endut, a Kuala Lumpur-based independent energy analyst.

In India, initial efforts to redirect fuel supplies toward cooking gas for approximately 330 million households reduced availability for fertilizer manufacturing. Rising fertilizer costs combined with meteorologists’ predictions of poor rainfall during an El Niño year create concerns for the world’s top rice exporting nation.

India has used subsidies to protect its 1.4 billion citizens so far, but on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on residents to purchase domestic products and reduce international travel to conserve foreign currency. He also promoted working from home and using public transportation to decrease fuel usage, while asking farmers to reduce fertilizer consumption by half.

The Philippines rapidly implemented a four-day work schedule to conserve fuel. The country also introduced targeted financial assistance for lower-income families. Nevertheless, Fitch Ratings observed that most consumers continue facing elevated energy expenses, leading to reduced business operations in major urban areas like Manila.

Thailand eliminated its diesel price controls less than one month into the conflict as fuel subsidies were depleted. The country is now reducing other expenditures to handle increased oil costs while attempting to maintain fiscal discipline.

Vietnam extended its suspension of fuel taxes to reduce domestic price pressures. Jet fuel shortages have resulted in flight cancellations. Since tourism represents nearly 8% of Vietnam’s gross domestic product, these disruptions impact the broader economy.

“Business is not good right now,” said Hanoi-based tour guide Nguyen Manh Thang. “There are already fewer tourists.”

Fuel shortages have forced financially strained nations like Pakistan and Bangladesh to purchase oil and gas at spot market rates, which typically exceed long-term contract prices and show greater volatility. This increases import expenses and strains their already limited foreign currency reserves.

Governments can maintain expensive fuel subsidies by reducing spending on other priorities such as social programs, or increase borrowing and risk higher inflation, Endut explained from Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, they can decrease subsidies and transfer higher costs to consumers, potentially angering constituents.

After subsidies are depleted and inflation begins climbing, nations could encounter what he described as a “fiscal time bomb.”

The conflict’s conclusion will not provide immediate relief to Asia.

Global oil and gas commerce will not recover immediately, and restarting production will require time, Gross from the Brookings Institution noted. Rebuilding damaged infrastructure, reactivating facilities, and accounting for shipping time from the Middle East to destination markets will require weeks or potentially months.

Europe will experience similar effects to Asia, but with approximately a four-week delay, according to experts.

Americans are also experiencing pressure as gasoline prices increase nationwide. However, Southeast Asia remains the “biggest pain point,” according to Henning Gloystein of the Eurasia Group consultancy firm.

“This fuel shortage situation is going to get worse,” he stated.

In Africa, elevated energy and import expenses are similarly pressuring budgets, expanding deficits, and increasing inflation. The conflict is also affecting Latin America and the Caribbean, where economic growth is expected to decelerate slightly.

The complicated disruptions throughout global supply networks will continue creating broader consequences, cautioned Ted Krantz, CEO of supply chain risk company Interos.ai.

The crisis also demonstrates the vulnerability of Asia’s expanding middle class, according to Maria Monica Wihardja of the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, with numerous individuals at risk of returning to poverty.

The energy disruption will transform Southeast Asia’s economies gradually, she explained, including changes in employment markets and how nations prepare for future energy emergencies.

Nations are already discussing and implementing long-range solutions, such as diversifying fossil fuel sources, advancing nuclear energy, and developing renewable options like solar power.

The conflict is placing geopolitical risk at the center of Southeast Asia’s economic projections and directly hampering regional growth, stated Albert Park of the Asian Development Bank.

“The longer it lasts, the larger those negative effects would be,” he concluded.

Iranian officials have carried out the death sentence of a man found guilty of conducting espionage activities for American and Israeli intelligence agencies, according to reports from the country’s judicial system on Monday.

The executed individual was identified as Erfan Shakourzadeh by Mizan, the judiciary’s official news source. Officials stated that Shakourzadeh had been employed at a scientific facility that handled satellite operations and had allegedly transmitted sensitive scientific data to foreign intelligence organizations.

The Iran Human Rights Society, an advocacy organization, reported that Shakourzadeh was a 29-year-old who held a degree in aerospace engineering. The group claims he was taken into custody in 2025 and that authorities coerced him into making his confession.

Financial markets continue hoping that neither the United States nor Iran seeks to intensify their ongoing dispute, though a clear resolution pathway remains elusive following weekend developments that initially raised optimism but ultimately led nowhere.

President Donald Trump’s dismissal of Iran’s latest peace offer as “totally unacceptable” highlighted the substantial gap that still exists between both nations regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Asian trading sessions saw oil prices jump over 4% while the dollar strengthened.

Iran unveiled its proposal Sunday for ending hostilities across all areas, which included demands for war damage payments and stressed Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States had suggested halting combat operations before beginning discussions on more complex matters, such as Iran’s nuclear development program.

S&P 500 futures dipped following this news while European futures remained steady, though artificial intelligence companies were the primary force behind equity movements.

South Korean stock markets jumped nearly 5% to achieve new record levels, driven by semiconductor manufacturers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, with SK Hynix shares nearly tripling in value since January began.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to launch a political comeback Monday with remarks positioning European relationship rebuilding as his administration’s central goal, as he works to address mounting resignation demands.

Additional developments showed China’s producer prices exceeded April forecasts, reaching a 45-month peak and adding strain to manufacturers already facing domestic demand challenges. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is visiting Japan while the yen remains under scrutiny following recent Japanese market interventions.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to address Iran, Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and nuclear weapons during discussions about potentially extending a critical minerals agreement, according to U.S. officials previewing Trump’s upcoming two-day China visit.

This week’s corporate earnings reports include technology networking company Cisco and semiconductor equipment manufacturer Applied Materials. Major companies Nvidia and Walmart will report results later this month.

Monday’s economic data includes U.S. housing sales figures, along with after-hours Tokyo results from SoftBank and shipping company Nippon Yusen.

Monday’s key market influences include:

Corporate earnings: SoftBank, Nippon Yusen, Fox Corp

Economic indicators: U.S. housing sales data

Taiwan’s maritime authorities announced Monday they successfully intercepted and expelled a Chinese research vessel conducting what they described as unauthorized activities in waters near the island.

Officials reported spotting the Chinese ship “Tongji” last Thursday approximately 29 nautical miles southeast of Taiwan’s southern coastline, positioned just beyond restricted territorial boundaries. The vessel, which entered service only last year, was observed deploying ropes and equipment into the water in what appeared to be unauthorized scientific surveying operations.

Taiwan’s coast guard responded by dispatching their own vessel to the area. The Taiwanese ship approached the Chinese vessel and created disruptive wake patterns while broadcasting warnings to “forcefully expel the vessel, prohibiting it from conducting related activities.”

Following the intervention, the “Tongji” pulled up its research equipment and changed direction, leaving Taiwan’s maritime zone. Coast guard officials continued monitoring the Chinese ship until Monday when it moved away from the island’s vicinity.

“Chinese research vessels, in disregard of international law, have attempted to conduct illegal survey activities in our waters,” Taiwan’s coast guard stated, urging China to cease such operations.

According to Chinese state media reports, the “Tongji” is equipped with advanced capabilities including all-weather operational systems, remotely operated vehicles, onboard laboratories, and unmanned technology. The vessel can conduct various marine research including geology, oceanography, chemistry, and biology studies, as well as offshore engineering projects like pipeline installation.

This incident represents part of what Taiwan considers escalating provocative behavior from China, which claims the island as its territory. Beyond regular military operations in the region, Taiwan has accused China of deploying civilian vessels in a “grey zone” strategy designed to pressure Taiwanese forces and exhaust their resources through constant monitoring requirements.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has not yet provided a response regarding the incident.

KYIV, Ukraine — In Ukraine’s capital city, an art exhibition is offering residents something precious during wartime: a chance to escape the harsh realities of conflict through creative expression.

The Art Kyiv fair, operating under the theme ‘This is Normal,’ represents an unconventional approach to dealing with the psychological toll of war. Rather than waiting for peace, organizers decided to move forward with cultural events despite ongoing hostilities.

“Holding the event during wartime means not waiting for a better moment, but working with reality as it is,” explained Anna Avetova, who directs the Art Kyiv fair. “In this context, art does not stand apart from life — it helps make sense of the present, preserve cultural continuity, and lay the groundwork for the future.”

The exhibition has transformed into a sanctuary where Ukrainians process their new reality through artistic works and dialogue, even as missile attacks, casualties, and grief have become part of daily existence.

At the Lavra Gallery, visitors can view hundreds of pieces ranging from uniquely-shaped sculptures to various painting styles including abstract expressionism, surreal portraits, and scenic landscapes. Organizers made a conscious decision not to feature any displays explicitly focused on the ongoing conflict.

“The war is always in the air, we just really didn’t want to make a point of mentioning it,” Avetova noted. “Art is one of the things that keeps us human. It sustains us and warms our soul when things are very hard.”

Beyond providing emotional support, the fair aims to revitalize Ukraine’s domestic art scene, which had already suffered under pandemic restrictions before Russian aggression further damaged the market. Officials say the industry is slowly recovering, with this exhibition demonstrating that Ukrainian artists are prepared both to discuss the war and continue selling their work.

Art Kyiv positions itself as a meeting place where artistic creativity, public conversation, and modern Ukrainian life intersect. Despite occasional interruptions from air raid warnings signaling potential Russian attacks, the event has brought together the country’s leading galleries, artists, collectors, and cultural organizations.

This marks only the second time the fair has operated since hostilities began, following its initial wartime launch in October.

Ceramic artist Tala Vovk is participating for the first time and regularly attends cultural events in Kyiv because they help her mentally distance herself from the conflict and “detach from the tragedy.”

“Art is a place where the everyday doesn’t exist,” she observed. She believes such events remain important during wartime because supporting cultural foundations helps them grow stronger. “And that would give strength in any situation,” she added.

Artist Yuriy Vatkin experienced this firsthand when he became trapped under occupation near Kharkiv during the early weeks of Russia’s invasion. According to his fair representative Denys Dmytriev, painting became crucial for Vatkin’s survival and mental well-being, even after his studio suffered damage in an attack.

The artwork on display, most of which is available for purchase, avoids war-related themes in favor of more neutral subjects. Vatkin’s pieces showcase his distinctive approach, using thick, layered brushwork, broken forms, and bold colors to convey movement and uncertainty.

Visitor Anna Domashchenko said she felt attracted to the rich, intense colors because they trigger powerful emotions. She frequently attends art events and considers their continuation during wartime deeply meaningful.

“Sometimes you wonder whether it’s appropriate… but these are exactly the things that inspire you and remind you that life is full of color, and all of those colors should be present at any time,” she reflected. “Even in times as hard as these.”

KATHMANDU, Nepal — An aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines experienced a fire incident during its arrival at Nepal’s primary aviation hub on Monday morning, prompting airport authorities to temporarily suspend operations while emergency crews responded.

The aircraft, traveling from Istanbul, touched down at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu when flames and smoke erupted from the right-side landing gear assembly. Airport personnel confirmed that emergency responders quickly brought the blaze under control and successfully evacuated all travelers without any reported injuries.

Operations at the airport were suspended Monday morning as authorities addressed the situation.

The Airbus 330 aircraft was carrying 277 passengers at the time of the incident.

Multiple aircraft scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu were placed in holding patterns while officials conducted their investigation and worked to clear the airport’s single operational runway.

Aviation incidents occur with notable frequency in Nepal due to challenging flying conditions created by the country’s mountainous geography and unpredictable weather patterns.

A similar incident involving Turkish Airlines occurred in 2015 when another aircraft landing in heavy fog conditions at Kathmandu slid off the wet runway surface, resulting in airport closure for multiple days.

That earlier incident also resulted in no passenger injuries, and the aircraft was eventually removed from the airport grounds and repurposed as a museum exhibit.

BANGKOK — Billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked out of a Bangkok detention facility Monday morning, completing eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption-related offenses that have marked the latest chapter in his controversial political career spanning more than two decades.

Approximately 300 political supporters and allies assembled outside Klong Prem Central Prison to welcome the 76-year-old populist leader back to freedom.

The telecommunications tycoon established his political party in 1998 and led Thailand as prime minister from 2001 until military forces removed him from power in 2006 during his overseas travel. His removal sparked almost 20 years of intense and occasionally violent political division, while his political organization mounted multiple returns to power despite Thaksin remaining in voluntary exile to avoid what he characterized as judicial persecution.

Family members, including his daughter and former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, arrived early at the prison to greet him upon release.

Wearing a white polo shirt and blue trousers, Thaksin stepped through the prison entrance and received embraces from relatives. He displayed a wide smile while moving among his supporters, who called out “we love Thaksin” and presented him with red roses. He departed the scene without addressing media representatives.

About one hour later, he reached his home in western Bangkok. Video footage from Thairath News showed Thaksin lowering his car window to acknowledge a small gathering of supporters at his residence, telling shouting reporters “I was in hibernation, I can’t remember anything now.”

Thaksin holds the distinction of being Thailand’s first elected leader to complete a full four-year term in office. His initiatives including universal healthcare coverage and infrastructure development in underdeveloped regions earned strong backing from lower-income citizens, especially in northern and northeastern rural areas, though his appeal and occasionally authoritarian approach created significant divisions with urban elites, monarchy supporters, and military officials.

Authorities charged him with power abuse related to accusations of leveraging his office for personal business advantage and illegally authorizing a government lottery program that resulted in state financial losses.

A court convicted Thaksin while he remained outside the country, but he returned to Thailand for sentencing in 2023 when the Pheu Thai Party, his latest political organization, established a new government. Many believed he had negotiated a private agreement with traditional royalist power structures. Initially facing an eight-year prison term, King Maha Vajiralongkorn reduced his sentence to one year, which he was permitted to serve in a Bangkok Police Hospital suite due to health considerations.

Following complaints about preferential treatment, the Supreme Court ordered in September 2025 that Thaksin must serve his remaining time in standard prison facilities.

A Justice Ministry committee approved his parole last month during a review affecting more than 900 eligible inmates, pointing to his positive conduct while incarcerated, his advanced age, and minimal likelihood of reoffending.

Following his release, Thaksin faces four months of supervised probation requiring him to live at his registered Bangkok address, wear electronic monitoring equipment, and maintain regular contact with probation authorities.

His daughter Paetongtarn achieved the position of Thailand’s youngest prime minister in 2024 but lost her position when the Constitutional Court removed her in August 2025 after audio emerged of a problematic telephone conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The Pheu Thai party secured only third place in this year’s national elections.

A Turkish Airlines aircraft experienced a tire fire Monday after touching down at Nepal’s main airport in Kathmandu, prompting officials to evacuate all passengers and crew members safely.

The incident occurred when the Airbus A330, which had flown from Istanbul, developed a fire in one of its tires following landing. Airport operations were suspended for one hour while emergency crews responded to the situation.

Emergency evacuation procedures were immediately activated, with all 277 passengers and 11 crew members exiting the aircraft through emergency slides. No injuries were sustained during the evacuation, according to Gyanendra Bhul, who serves as spokesperson for Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority.

“The fire broke out in the right rear tyre of the aircraft…the fire was doused and the plane was towed to the taxiway…it is grounded,” Bhul explained to reporters.

Fire crews successfully extinguished the blaze, and the aircraft was subsequently moved to a taxiway area where it remains out of service. Airport operations resumed after the emergency response concluded.

Turkish Airlines has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.

Taiwan’s top diplomat expressed optimism about the island nation’s relationship with the United States on Monday, just days before President Donald Trump’s scheduled meeting with Chinese leadership in Beijing.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told reporters that Taiwan remains confident about its diplomatic ties with Washington, despite the upcoming three-day summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping set to begin Wednesday. The status of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory but operates as a democracy, is expected to be a major topic of discussion.

Speaking from Taiwan’s parliament building in Taipei, Lin emphasized his government’s ongoing dialogue with American officials regarding the high-stakes meeting.

“We have also maintained continuous communication with the United States — whether through public statements from the U.S. government or through non-public channels. We are confident in the stable development of Taiwan-U.S. relations,” he said.

Lin also noted American consistency on the issue, stating: “The U.S. government has repeatedly expressed that its Taiwan policy will not change.”

The diplomatic assurances come as regional tensions remain high, with Beijing having never ruled out military action to bring Taiwan under its control. Meanwhile, American law requires the U.S. to help Taiwan maintain its defensive capabilities, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently emphasized the need for regional stability.

However, Taiwan faces pressure to increase its military spending. Last week, the island’s opposition-controlled legislature approved a defense budget smaller than what the government had requested, prompting disappointment from U.S. officials who want Taiwan and other allies to boost their military investments.

Lin urged lawmakers to take corrective measures to ensure adequate funding for Taiwan’s security needs, arguing that regional peace requires demonstrating strong defensive capabilities.

“However, peace depends on strength — it requires demonstrating the defence capability for self-defence in order to deter aggression,” he said.

“In particular, the Chinese communists are currently pursuing military buildup and authoritarian expansion.”

Former President Donald Trump quickly shot down Iran’s counter-proposal to a U.S. peace initiative on Monday, causing oil markets to spike as the ongoing 10-week conflict shows no signs of resolution.

The United States had recently put forward a peace offer hoping to restart diplomatic talks. Iran responded on Sunday with its own set of conditions, including demands to halt fighting across all theaters of war, particularly in Lebanon where Israel continues battling Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces. According to Iranian state television, Tehran’s response also sought war reparations and asserted Iranian control over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s demands extended to requiring the U.S. to halt its naval blockade, promise no additional attacks, remove sanctions, and lift restrictions on Iranian oil exports, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Trump’s response came swiftly through his Truth Social platform.

“I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Trump posted, offering no additional explanation.

The original American proposal had suggested stopping hostilities first, then addressing more complex matters like Iran’s nuclear activities through negotiations.

Monday’s oil markets saw a $3 per barrel increase following news that the diplomatic impasse continues, leaving the critical Strait of Hormuz mostly inaccessible. This narrow waterway previously handled about 20% of global oil transport and has become a key flashpoint in the current crisis.

Polling data indicates American voters are growing frustrated with the conflict as gas prices surge just months before crucial elections that will decide Republican congressional control.

International backing for U.S. actions remains limited, with NATO partners declining requests to deploy naval forces to reopen the strait without a comprehensive peace agreement and proper international authorization.

The path forward for either diplomatic or military action remains uncertain.

Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing on Wednesday, where discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to include the Iran situation as pressure mounts to resolve the conflict and its global energy implications.

The former president has been urging China to leverage its relationship with Tehran to encourage a deal with Washington.

When asked about the status of military operations against Iran, Trump stated in Sunday remarks: “They are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they’re done.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the conflict remains active because “more work to be done” exists regarding Iran’s enriched uranium removal, dismantling enrichment facilities, and addressing Iranian proxy forces and missile programs.

During a CBS “60 Minutes” interview aired Sunday, Netanyahu said diplomatic solutions would be preferable for uranium removal but didn’t eliminate the possibility of using force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded through social media that Iran would “never bow down to the enemy” and would “defend national interests with strength.”

Regional shipping and economic threats persist despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Fighting around the strait has intensified in recent days, marking the most serious escalation since ceasefire efforts began.

Sunday saw the United Arab Emirates intercept two Iranian drones, while Qatar criticized a drone strike on a cargo vessel from Abu Dhabi in Qatari waters. Kuwait reported successfully defending against hostile drones in its airspace.

Combat between Israel and Hezbollah continues in southern Lebanon despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire announced April 16.

Netanyahu noted in his “60 Minutes” appearance that resolving tensions with Iran wouldn’t automatically end Lebanese hostilities. He also acknowledged that Israeli strategists had miscalculated Iran’s capacity to disrupt Hormuz Strait traffic.

“It took a while for them to understand how big that risk is, which they understand now,” he explained.

Relatives of two Americans who have been held in Chinese prisons for more than a decade are making an urgent plea to President Donald Trump to raise their cases during his scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The imprisoned Americans are Dawn Michelle Hunt, a 54-year-old artist and former flight attendant from the Chicago area, and Nelson Wells Jr., a 52-year-old Louisiana man and father of three children. Both were found guilty on narcotics charges following what their relatives describe as separate schemes where they were deceived into transporting drugs without their knowledge.

This summit presents an opportunity for Trump, who has positioned himself as a negotiator capable of bringing Americans home, to achieve a concrete victory by securing the freedom of two sick U.S. citizens. The meeting is anticipated to yield few major breakthroughs given ongoing disputes over trade policies, Iran, and Taiwan.

From China’s perspective, releasing the two Americans on humanitarian grounds would represent a relatively inexpensive way to generate positive relations with an unpredictable U.S. leader during a delicate period in bilateral ties.

“With President Trump meeting President Xi, our two families are writing letters – we’re asking, ‘Can you please ask for the release of our loved ones?’,” said Tim Hunt, Dawn Michelle’s older brother.

“Hopefully, we can get those letters delivered and read.”

Tim Hunt described his sister as an artistic “brainiac,” a highly intelligent person, and former flight attendant with a degree in fashion design who loved entering sweepstakes with her mother.

According to Hunt, Dawn Michelle was deceived into taking an international “prize” trip by fraudsters who, after she arrived in China, gave her handbags and a new suitcase that contained concealed drugs, which she unknowingly agreed to transport on her departure flight.

Nelson Wells Jr. was a world traveler who climbed mountains and explored Japan’s peaks, sharing the views with his father. Wells was taken into custody after agreeing to carry someone else’s luggage while returning from a China trip, his family explained. The person disappeared after airport security found narcotics concealed in the bag.

“I enjoyed serving my country,” said Wells’ father, Nelson Wells Sr., a U.S. Army veteran whose wife also worked for the Department of Defense for 28 years. “Now I just want my country to serve me.”

A U.S. State Department representative confirmed they are providing consular assistance to both individuals and that officials are working to protect the health and welfare of the two citizens, but refused to elaborate due to privacy concerns.

A representative from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that both individuals are completing sentences for significant drug-related offenses and that the government is managing their cases in accordance with legal procedures while ensuring their health and legitimate rights remain protected.

HEALTH CONCERNS MOUNTING

Sources indicate the State Department has formally requested Chinese officials to release both prisoners on compassionate grounds, and Chinese authorities have privately suggested they would consider such a request if it comes from high-level U.S. officials.

“The Chinese side has shown a willingness to grant the humanitarian release, but they are also keen to hear from the U.S. side just how important it is for the American people,” said Beijing-based lawyer James Zimmerman, who is advising the Hunt and Wells families.

Family members report that both prisoners are experiencing worsening health conditions. Hunt has developed significant medical issues and requires blood transfusions but lacks confidence in prison medical staff to agree to surgical procedures. Wells experiences severe seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure and other medical complications, according to his family.

In 2024, China and the U.S. each released three citizens both governments said were wrongfully detained in the other country, concluding years of diplomacy.

Supporters say U.S. government focus has increased in recent months. Peter Humphrey, a fraud investigator and former Chinese prisoner who now counsels families of foreign detainees in the country, reported that the U.S. embassy has been discussing these cases more regularly with Chinese officials.

Medical concerns have become the focal point of both families’ campaigns.

“Both Dawn Michelle Hunt and Nelson Wells are gravely ill and in desperate need of medical care in the U.S. – they should both be granted humanitarian parole,” said John Kamm, whose San Francisco-based Dui Hua Foundation researches political prisoners in China. Dui Hua estimates that there are around 200 Americans in carceral facilities in China.

Both families report their cases gained traction after they provided testimony at a September 2024 Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing, which brought broader attention to Americans held in Chinese prisons.

They are also supporting legislation introduced by Representative Chris Smith, named for Hunt and Wells, that they believe would enhance assistance for families facing similar situations.

For both families, the emotional burden at home has grown heavier over time. Tim Hunt revealed his father passed away in January without witnessing his daughter’s release. Wells’ youngest daughter, now 12 and residing in Japan, has little connection with her father since she was only six months old when he was arrested, his family explained.

“We are common people,” Wells Sr. said. “We cry every night. Our loved ones never leave our minds.”

BANGKOK – Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked free from a Bangkok prison Monday morning, completing roughly eight months of incarceration after a court determined he had improperly extended his hospital stay to dodge jail time.

The 76-year-old billionaire politician, who shaped and controlled Thai politics for 25 years, emerged from Klong Prem Central Prison at approximately 7:40 a.m. local time wearing a simple white shirt with closely trimmed hair. His political influence has diminished recently due to his imprisonment and his Pheu Thai Party’s historically poor showing in this year’s elections.

Family members immediately embraced Thaksin upon his release, including his daughter and political successor Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from the prime minister position by court order last August, just weeks before his father’s imprisonment.

Crowds of supporters who had gathered outside the Bangkok prison since early morning hours shouted “we love Thaksin” as he acknowledged them following his release. He completed approximately two-thirds of his sentence before receiving parole.

Following 15 years of voluntary exile, Thaksin came back to Thailand in 2023 to face an eight-year prison term for conflicts of interest and power abuse during his 2001-2006 tenure as prime minister. The king had reduced his sentence to one year.

However, his actual prison time lasted only hours after his return, as he reported cardiac issues and chest discomfort. He subsequently spent six months in a hospital’s VIP section before gaining parole status.

The Supreme Court ruled in September that Thaksin must complete his sentence behind bars, determining that he and his medical team had deliberately extended his hospital treatment through unnecessary minor procedures.

Prison officials confirmed he must wear an electronic monitoring device on his ankle for his remaining sentence period.

A 76-year-old supporter from northern Chiang Rai province, Rommanee Nakano, expressed that Thaksin never deserved punishment.

“He is a very good person,” she stated before his release. “Whatever he did, he did it for the people. He just wanted the people to be well-fed and have enough to live on.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his goal to eliminate U.S. military assistance to his nation within the next ten years during a television interview broadcast Sunday.

Speaking on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Netanyahu expressed his desire to completely phase out American financial assistance for military cooperation between the two countries. “I want to draw down to zero the American financial support, the financial component of the military cooperation that we have,” the Israeli leader stated.

Currently, Israel receives approximately $3.8 billion annually in U.S. military assistance. Under an existing agreement, America has committed to providing $38 billion total in military aid to Israel spanning from 2018 through 2028.

Netanyahu emphasized that now represents the ideal moment to potentially restructure the financial relationship between the United States and Israel, calling it “absolutely” the appropriate time for such a change.

“I don’t want to wait for the next Congress,” Netanyahu explained to CBS reporters. “I want to start now.”

Although Israel has historically enjoyed broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress regarding military assistance, that backing has weakened among both legislators and American citizens following the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez touched down in the Netherlands on Sunday, preparing to present her nation’s case before the world’s highest court regarding a long-standing territorial conflict with neighboring Guyana over a resource-abundant region.

The International Court of Justice located in The Hague is conducting a series of proceedings between these South American nations, both of whom assert ownership over Essequibo — a nearly 62,000-square-mile area abundant in gold, diamonds, timber and additional natural resources, positioned close to substantial offshore petroleum reserves.

Since the era of Spanish colonization, Venezuela has regarded Essequibo as part of its territory, as the forested region was within its colonial borders. However, an 1899 arbitration decision made by representatives from Britain, Russia and the United States established the boundary along the Essequibo River, primarily favoring Guyana’s position.

Venezuelan officials contend that a 1966 Geneva agreement designed to settle the territorial disagreement essentially invalidated the 19th-century arbitration decision.

Monday will mark the concluding court session, featuring Rodríguez’s testimony. The tribunal will likely require several months before delivering a final and legally enforceable decision.

Upon her arrival at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, Rodríguez — who took office in January after a U.S. military action that removed Nicolás Maduro from power — stated that her nation has “demonstrated at every historical stage what our territory has meant since we were born as a Republic.”

Guyana initiated the Essequibo case at the ICJ in 2018, seeking international confirmation that the 1899 decision — rather than the 1966 agreement — should determine the boundary. Venezuelan officials have cautioned that their participation in these proceedings doesn’t constitute acceptance or acknowledgment of the ICJ’s authority.

During the hearings’ opening session, Guyanese Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd informed the international panel of judges that this territorial disagreement “has been a blight on our existence as a sovereign state from the beginning” and noted that 70% of Guyana’s land area is in question.

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is mounting a desperate effort to save his political career, planning to announce Monday that strengthening ties with Europe will become the cornerstone of his administration’s new direction amid escalating demands for his resignation.

The Labour Party leader finds himself in serious jeopardy following devastating defeats in last week’s local elections, which marked the worst performance by a ruling party in over thirty years. More than 30 members of parliament from his own party have demanded either his immediate resignation or a clear timeline for his departure.

According to advance excerpts from his upcoming address, Starmer plans to acknowledge that “incremental change won’t cut it” and will admit the scope of necessary reforms for economic recovery, military reconstruction, and energy independence exceeds his initial expectations.

While the speech preview contains no specific new policy announcements, Starmer intends to declare his administration “will be defined by rebuilding our relationship and by putting Britain at the heart of Europe” – a significant shift nearly ten years after the Brexit vote.

This European focus could resonate well with Labour parliamentarians and younger demographics, as recent polling indicates approximately 60% of British citizens now view the EU departure as an error.

Nevertheless, such efforts to restore European connections would create complex challenges, including potential agreements to increase European immigration in exchange for enhanced EU market access. This approach would likely draw fierce resistance from conservative Eurosceptic movements and certain media organizations.

Starmer secured one of the most commanding parliamentary victories in recent British political history during 2024, campaigning on promises to stimulate economic growth, reduce unauthorized immigration, and eliminate healthcare waiting periods in the national health system.

His administration’s progress has stalled due to policy reversals, internal party criticism regarding his reluctance to make tough choices, and multiple political controversies, resulting in approval numbers among the lowest recorded for any British leader.

In his forthcoming remarks, Starmer will concede his government has sometimes fallen short of delivering the transformation voters expected, stating that “people need hope” while expressing readiness to “face up to the big challenges” confronting the nation.

The crisis intensified when former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner issued a rare public warning Sunday that the Labour Party might be approaching its “last chance” for course correction.

Additionally, Catherine West, a relatively unknown former junior minister, demanded over the weekend that cabinet members remove the prime minister. She threatened that if they refuse by Monday and she finds his speech unsatisfactory, she will personally attempt to initiate leadership proceedings.

However, the Labour Party has never successfully ousted one of its prime ministers throughout its 125-year existence.

Party regulations require 20% of parliamentary members – totaling 81 lawmakers – to unite behind a single alternative candidate to launch a leadership challenge.

Thus far, none of Starmer’s primary potential successors have acted against him. Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor and considered a leading replacement candidate, lacks parliamentary membership and cannot mount a challenge.

This threat to Starmer’s leadership, occurring less than two years following his electoral triumph, exemplifies Britain’s growing governance difficulties.

Should Starmer face removal in coming weeks, Britain would experience its seventh prime minister within the past decade, representing unprecedented political instability in nearly 200 years.

Political experts attribute this pattern to multiple factors: sluggish economic expansion since the 2007-2009 financial crisis, stressed government budgets particularly after extensive pandemic borrowing, and deep political divisions following Brexit.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday through his Truth Social platform that five individuals from Poland and Moldova have been freed from detention facilities in Belarus and Russia.

The announcement detailed the release of three Polish nationals and two Moldovan citizens. Trump gave recognition to special envoy John Coale for facilitating the prisoner releases and expressed gratitude to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko for his “cooperation and friendship.”

Among those freed was Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist and activist holding both Polish and Belarusian citizenship, who had been imprisoned in Belarus. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had previously confirmed Poczobut’s release on April 28, explaining it occurred through a prisoner exchange agreement.

Lukashenko, who maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has freed hundreds of detainees over the past two years. This prisoner release pattern has gained momentum since Trump began his second presidential term. In exchange for these releases, the United States has started lifting economic sanctions imposed on Belarus.

NAIROBI, Kenya — French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Kenya Sunday to launch the Africa Forward Summit, a diplomatic gathering designed to demonstrate France’s evolving relationship with African nations as Paris moves away from its colonial-era influence.

The summit represents the first time this event has taken place in an English-speaking African nation, coming after France completed its military withdrawal from West Africa last year following declining regional influence across the continent.

For decades following independence, France maintained what critics called “Françafrique” — a system of economic, political and military control that included deploying thousands of soldiers throughout the region. African leaders and opposition groups frequently condemned this approach as patronizing and heavy-handed.

Kenyan President William Ruto, who is hosting Macron, expressed hopes that the summit will serve as a “turning point” for improved partnerships between the nations.

Addressing the evolving political dynamics, Macron acknowledged that France may “disagree” with West African governments but “never disagrees with the people.”

The two-day conference beginning Monday expects to host 30 heads of state, with ten having already arrived in Nairobi.

However, Kenyan opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka criticized selecting Kenya as the host location, arguing the country faces democratic challenges, opposition suppression and human rights violations as it approaches the 2027 elections.

“There will be an air of pretense that we are a cohesive nation,” Musyoka said. “We know that is far from the truth.”

Ruto responded Sunday by stating that Nairobi aims to develop diverse international relationships and was “neither looking East nor West” but “looking forward.”

During Sunday’s proceedings, Kenya and France finalized 11 partnership agreements covering multiple sectors, including plans for a major nuclear energy facility, transportation improvements, and sustainable farming initiatives.

Macron described these investments as efforts to build “human capital,” aligning with the summit’s emphasis on innovation and Africa’s expanding youth population.

WASHINGTON/BEIJING – A high-ranking American official voiced frustration on Sunday following Taiwan’s legislative decision to authorize military funding below what the United States considers necessary for the island nation’s security needs.

Speaking anonymously, the official stated that Washington found the outcome “disappointing in that there was some stuff left on the cutting room floor that we believe still needs to be funded.”

The official added, “We’d like to see the rest of the original proposed package funded.”

Taiwan’s legislature gave final approval on Friday to additional military expenditures totaling $25 billion, representing approximately two-thirds of the full amount Taiwan’s government had requested. The funding is intended to strengthen the island’s defensive capabilities as it faces an increasingly advanced Chinese military threat.

The reduced spending approval came through Taiwan’s parliament, which is currently under opposition party control.

The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Narges Mohammadi has been transferred to a Tehran medical facility and granted temporary release from prison on bail following a recent heart attack, according to her family’s foundation.

The 54-year-old activist received the prestigious award last year while incarcerated for her efforts promoting women’s rights and opposing capital punishment. She experienced cardiac complications two weeks ago while serving her sentence.

Family members had advocated for her relocation from Zanjan, located northwest of the Iranian capital, where she was initially hospitalized, seeking access to superior medical treatment for her condition.

According to a statement from the Narges Mohammadi Foundation, she has been transported by ambulance to Tehran Pars Hospital, where her personal medical specialists are providing treatment.

Earlier this year in February, Mohammadi received an additional prison sentence totaling seven and a half years, the foundation reported. This occurred weeks prior to escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The Nobel Prize committee urged Iranian authorities to release her without delay.

Her December arrest followed her public criticism regarding the death of attorney Khosrow Alikordi. Officials stated that she made inflammatory statements during Alikordi’s memorial service.

The foundation did not provide specific information about the bail conditions or details surrounding her sentence suspension.

“However, a suspension is not enough,” the organization stated. “Narges Mohammadi requires permanent, specialized care. We must ensure she never returns to prison.”

Iranian authorities severely restricted internet access throughout the country in January while suppressing widespread demonstrations sparked by economic concerns. Human rights organizations have documented continued executions of individuals connected to the civil unrest.

Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Mexico City on Sunday, led by mothers whose children vanished during years of cartel-related violence. The Mother’s Day march drew attention to the country’s crisis of missing persons as Mexico gears up to co-host the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Groups representing families of the disappeared organize this annual demonstration each Mother’s Day. This year, they urged soccer supporters to stand with them, declaring in a public statement that “there is nothing to celebrate, because the mothers of Mexico are playing the most difficult match: the one for justice.”

Marchers filled Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s main thoroughfare, carrying photographs of missing loved ones on banners and posters. “Mexico, champion in disappearances,” the crowd chanted as they walked past a traffic circle permanently decorated with images of those who have vanished, now surrounded by metal barricades.

“We had to start fighting, because no one wanted to take charge of the disappearance (case),” explained Graciela Perez Rodriguez. Her daughter and four other family members went missing in 2012 while driving through the northern state of Tamaulipas after visiting the United States.

The nation faces a staggering crisis with over 130,000 people reported missing. These disappearances dramatically increased following 2006, when Mexico declared war against drug trafficking organizations.

Law enforcement officers and government workers are frequently connected to these crimes. Mothers who conduct their own searches when official investigations stall often become targets themselves, facing threats and violence from criminal organizations.

Mexican officials announced in March that they had possibly identified more than 40,000 individuals from the missing persons database who might still be alive, following an examination of the national registry that revealed activity in other government databases.

However, research from Mexico Evalua, a public policy organization, shows disappearances have tripled during the past ten years as organized crime groups have expanded their influence.

Rodriguez expressed concern that authorities no longer prioritize her family’s case after nearly 14 years have elapsed.

“We feel this emptiness,” she said.

A high-ranking United States official confirmed on Sunday that the current rare earth materials agreement between America and China remains valid, with discussions underway regarding a possible extension.

The confirmation comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, set to take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15.

“It’s still in effect. It doesn’t expire yet,” the official stated during a briefing with reporters. The official added that while discussions continue, it remains unclear whether the agreement will receive an extension. “I’m confident we’ll announce any potential extension at the appropriate time.”

The upcoming two-day summit, beginning Thursday, is expected to cover several contentious topics including the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, trade relations, Taiwan, and other areas of tension between the two nations.

The leaders previously met in October in South Korea, where they reached an agreement to halt an escalating trade dispute. That conflict had resulted in the United States implementing substantial tariffs on Chinese products while Beijing had threatened to limit global access to rare earth materials.

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.