Category: World News

Russian legislators have enacted new legislation authorizing the nation’s central bank and financial institutions to deploy anti-drone defense capabilities and provide weapons to employees for protection against aerial attacks, according to documentation released by the lower parliamentary chamber on Tuesday.

Following Moscow’s comprehensive invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has maintained regular drone operations targeting Russian territory, with energy facilities often serving as primary objectives as Kyiv seeks to cut off Moscow’s revenue streams and end the conflict.

Anti-drone protection systems will be positioned at the central bank, Sberbank which is the nation’s largest banking institution, and the Russian Cash Collection Association. Personnel at these facilities will receive authorization to carry weapons.

According to statements reported by RBC news, Anatoly Aksakov, who leads the financial committee in Russia’s lower parliamentary house, the State Duma, indicated that these institutions will bear the expenses for drone protection systems themselves.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Alexander Shokhin, who heads Russia’s most influential business organization, informed President Vladimir Putin that companies are prepared to fund the acquisition of advanced weaponry and electronic defense systems to protect their facilities from drone assaults.

Singapore’s top diplomat Vivian Balakrishnan held discussions with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on Tuesday in Pyongyang, focusing on ways to enhance diplomatic relations between their countries, according to North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency reporting Wednesday.

The two officials also shared perspectives on international and regional matters, though KCNA provided no additional details about those conversations.

Following his North Korean visit, Balakrishnan is scheduled to travel to South Korea, marking an uncommon diplomatic journey to both Korean nations by a Singapore official.

The Singaporean minister served in his country’s cabinet when Singapore played host to the historic first meeting between North Korean and American leaders in 2018.

During that June 2018 gathering, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un put their signatures on a joint declaration committing to establish new peaceful diplomatic relations and collaborate on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program.

Trump has expressed interest in arranging another meeting with Kim and has described their relationship positively, though North Korea has not provided a direct response to these diplomatic overtures.

A senior British intelligence leader will deliver stark warnings Wednesday about mounting security challenges facing the United Kingdom from hostile nations and rapidly evolving technology threats.

Anne Keast-Butler, who heads GCHQ, plans to address what she describes as a critical juncture for Britain during her agency’s inaugural annual lecture. Her prepared remarks characterize the current global situation as a “new era of radical uncertainty, contested geopolitics and rapidly changing technology.”

“The risk of miscalculation is as high as I’ve ever seen it,” Keast-Butler will tell audiences, according to advance excerpts from her presentation.

GCHQ serves as one of three British intelligence branches, focusing on communications monitoring and national cybersecurity operations. The agency has consistently raised alarms about security risks from Russia and China in recent years.

Just last month, officials from the National Cyber Security Centre, operating under GCHQ’s umbrella, cautioned that Britain should prepare for increased cyberattacks from unfriendly governments.

Speaking from Bletchley Park, the historic site where British codebreakers operated during World War Two, Keast-Butler will describe how Russia is “scaling up its daily hybrid activity against the UK and Europe” while “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust.”

The intelligence chief will also outline her organization’s efforts in “disrupting Russia’s efforts to smuggle Western tech, fending off cyber attacks, and countering reckless sabotage and assassination attempts,” based on speech previews.

Regarding technological developments like artificial intelligence breakthroughs, Keast-Butler will note that the “ground beneath our feet is shifting,” creating competitive pressures for Britain and allied nations to maintain their advantage over rivals including China.

RAQQA, Syria (AP) — Officials in Syria issued evacuation warnings Tuesday for people living along the Euphrates River after water levels climbed significantly over recent days, triggering widespread flooding across northern and eastern regions.

The flooding has impacted two provinces – Raqqa in the north and Deir el-Zour in the east – though no injuries have been documented so far. Such flooding events have become uncommon in Syria following the construction of Turkish dams years ago that now regulate water flow into Syria and Iraq.

According to state media reports, the rising waters have damaged farmland along with residential and commercial properties in areas that saw fighting between government troops and Kurdish forces earlier this year.

Officials attribute the flooding to unusually heavy rainfall this season, which forced authorities to release water through gates at the Euphrates Dam to relieve structural pressure on the facility.

The state news agency SANA reported that opening the dam gates has created a flow rate of approximately 1,800 cubic meters (63,566 cubic feet) per second, potentially causing further water level increases.

Forecasters predict river levels could climb an additional 2 meters (6.5 feet) in the coming hours.

Mohammed Amin, 65, owns the well-known Greek House restaurant in Raqqa, which suffered partial submersion and thousands of dollars in losses. Fish were spotted swimming through the main dining area where water reached several centimeters deep.

“Our losses are huge,” Amin stated, explaining that refrigeration equipment failed and floodwaters swept away more than 200 chairs positioned along the riverbank.

Sabha Mohammed, 50, who was forced to leave her home in Maadan within Raqqa province, watched as flood waters destroyed much of her possessions at the riverside tent where she currently lives. “It was early in the morning when the flood began,” she explained.

Syria’s Civil Defense organization issued safety warnings advising people to stay out of the river and avoid crossing small bridges or using boats during the flooding. The agency also recommended that residents relocate themselves and their livestock to elevated areas.

LIMA, Peru (AP) — An international heritage organization that focuses on preserving world-famous archaeological locations has extended an offer to collaborate with Peru’s leadership to address persistent issues at Machu Picchu, where visitors regularly encounter lengthy waits, excessive crowds, and undependable transportation services.

The New7Wonders foundation made this announcement on Tuesday, several months following their September warning that Machu Picchu’s status as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World — a title awarded in 2007 — could be jeopardized due to ongoing visitor service problems.

Jean Paul De la Fuente, who heads the foundation, stated he had observed “no progress” at the ancient site following last year’s alert, blaming Peru’s “political paralysis” for the lack of improvement.

De la Fuente, who is currently visiting Peru to meet with tourism authorities, expressed his readiness to engage with Peru’s incoming administration to “explore solutions” for the inadequate services plaguing the location.

Peruvian officials have not yet responded to the offer. The country is preparing for a presidential runoff election on June 7 to select its next leader — marking the ninth president in ten years.

The electoral contest features Keiko Fujimori, whose father previously served as president before being imprisoned for human rights violations, competing against Roberto Sanchez, a former commerce minister who has pledged significant changes to the country’s mining industry. The winner will form the next government.

“People travel to Machu Picchu thinking that they will visit a marvel of the world,” De la Fuente said. “But for many that dream is turning into a nightmare.”

The ancient Inca fortress, constructed during the 15th century, received UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1983. Twenty-four years later, it earned recognition through an internet-based survey organized by the New7Wonders foundation, where travelers selected seven modern world wonders.

De la Fuente noted that visitor numbers have increased dramatically since that designation, while Peruvian officials have failed to implement necessary infrastructure improvements.

He emphasized that removing Machu Picchu’s wonder status is not currently under consideration, though he hopes the government will review his organization’s improvement proposals.

“We hope to be able to work with a new leadership once its in place, to find a positive outcome for Machu Picchu,” De la Fuente said. “Going from a negative situation to making sure than Machu Picchu can be an example that many of the other wonders of the world can look up to.”

WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council issued a formal condemnation Tuesday regarding an assault on the Barakah Nuclear Plant located in the United Arab Emirates, declaring in an official statement that such actions represent a breach of international law.

The security council stopped short of assigning responsibility for the assault.

According to UAE officials from the previous week, six unmanned aircraft were deployed against the nation from Iraqi territory, with one of the drones sparking a blaze at the nuclear facility in the Gulf nation. Iraq serves as a base for influential militia organizations backed by Iran, which have taken credit for strikes against “enemy bases in Iraq and the region” throughout the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Late Tuesday evening, Israeli forces launched dual airstrikes in Gaza City, resulting in three fatalities and leaving 12 people wounded, according to medical officials. The military action occurred just hours before Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s most significant religious celebrations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with defense minister Israel Katz, issued a joint statement confirming the strikes aimed at Mohammed Odeh, who they identified as Hamas’ new military wing commander. The officials described Odeh as “one of the architects” behind the October 7, 2023, assault that sparked more than two years of ongoing conflict.

This latest military action follows another recent Israeli operation that eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the former commander of Hamas’ military branch, less than two weeks earlier.

Hamas has not yet responded to the strikes. Medical personnel transported the victims’ remains to Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, where officials verified the casualties.

The timing of the operation coincided with the start of Eid al-Adha, traditionally marked by festive family reunions and celebratory feasts.

For Gaza residents, this year’s holiday observance remains muted, as most of the population continues living in displacement camps and makeshift accommodations following extensive warfare destruction.

The October ceasefire agreement between Israeli and Hamas forces continues to face challenges. Since the truce began, Israeli military operations have resulted in more than 880 Palestinian deaths. Israeli officials justify these actions as responses to Hamas ceasefire breaches or security threats against their troops, though Palestinian medical authorities report significant civilian casualties among the fatalities. During the same timeframe, four Israeli military personnel have also lost their lives.

Israel’s Gaza military campaign began following Hamas’ October 2023 offensive, which claimed approximately 1,200 lives and resulted in 250 individuals being taken captive.

Gaza’s Palestinian Health Ministry reports that Israeli military action has killed more than 72,700 Palestinians. The ministry, operating under Gaza’s Hamas administration, does not distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties in its tallies.

ATHENS, Greece — The former Greek prime minister who battled European creditors during his nation’s financial crisis has made his political comeback, announcing the formation of a new party ahead of upcoming elections.

Alexis Tsipras unveiled the Greek Left Alliance on Tuesday during a rally held outdoors near the Acropolis, with enthusiastic supporters in attendance.

“We cannot stand by and watch society suffocate,” Tsipras declared, claiming the current center-right administration’s business-friendly policies have increased income disparity. “We don’t want to get used to a world of war and injustice.”

The 51-year-old politician has concluded a three-year hiatus from political activity, though he continues to divide public opinion.

Tsipras gained power in 2015 by pledging to eliminate the severe austerity policies required by Greece’s European lenders and the International Monetary Fund. The confrontation shook international markets as Greece nearly exited the eurozone. The country ultimately agreed to additional loans and continued austerity measures.

The former leader now aims to draw support — and possibly legislators — from competing opposition groups as he prepares to confront conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his attempt at securing a third term.

During the party launch, Tsipras emphasized affordable housing, enhanced worker protections, and growing economic disparity — issues his supporters believe could appeal to younger and working-class voters facing increased living expenses. He also denounced the administration’s strong relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Even with ongoing cost-of-living pressures and a corruption controversy affecting his administration, Mitsotakis maintains a substantial lead in polling, supported by consistent economic expansion and decreasing joblessness.

The nation’s opposition remains severely divided, with seven parties holding parliamentary seats.

Multiple new groups and smaller organizations are working to build momentum before the election. Recently, the parent of a 19-year-old college student who died in Greece’s 2023 train crash created an anti-corruption movement, increasing challenges for established opposition factions.

Supporters of Tsipras claim he protected working-class Greeks throughout the nation’s most difficult economic period and accepted difficult compromises to prevent national catastrophe.

However, detractors charge him with deceiving voters by opposing austerity measures during his campaign, then later agreeing to a strict bailout deal.

“No matter how hard Mr. Tsipras tries — investing in communication that has no substance — to bury his record deep in the ground, the truth will follow him forever,” government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said.

Oil markets experienced significant volatility Tuesday as Brent crude futures surged approximately 4% following U.S. military action in Iran, dealing a blow to weekend optimism that Washington and Tehran might reach a deal to conclude their three-month conflict and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

While international oil prices climbed, U.S. crude futures declined as they adjusted to Monday’s Brent selloff that occurred while American markets were shuttered.

The global Brent benchmark increased $3.44, or 3.6%, closing at $99.58 per barrel, whereas U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $2.71, or 2.8%, finishing at $93.89.

Monday saw Brent reach its lowest point since April 20, falling 7% amid fresh optimism for a U.S.-Iran accord. American crude markets were closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday.

WTI hit its lowest close since April 22 on Tuesday, with U.S. gasoline futures plummeting 7% and diesel declining 4% to five-week lows.

American officials have repeatedly indicated they were nearing an agreement with Iran to cease hostilities, though no deal has materialized beyond a temporary truce that has minimized attacks.

Tuesday brought Iranian accusations that the U.S. violated the ceasefire through what America termed defensive operations in southern Iran, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested reaching a conflict-ending agreement might “take a few days.”

Iran’s foreign ministry characterized the U.S. operations in the southern Hormozgan province, where Iranian media documented explosion sounds early Tuesday, as a “gross violation” of the fragile seven-week ceasefire.

Previously, both nations had signaled advancement on a memorandum of understanding that could end hostilities and resume Strait of Hormuz shipping, providing negotiators 60 days to address more complicated matters, including Iran’s nuclear activities.

“We are still waiting for more details on a potential deal,” said Giovanni Staunovo at UBS. “Meanwhile we see renewed tensions in the Middle East, while flows through the Strait remain restricted.”

The American military action coincided with Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister conducting discussions in Doha with Qatar’s prime minister to pursue an agreement.

Iran has essentially blocked nearly all non-Iranian vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since late February when the conflict commenced, restricting roughly one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.

Nevertheless, vessel tracking information revealed three LNG carriers recently transited the Strait heading to Pakistan, China and India, alongside a supertanker transporting Iraqi crude to China that had been stranded for almost three months.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported Tuesday that a tanker experienced an external blast on its port side near the waterline, approximately 60 nautical miles from Oman’s capital, Muscat.

Pakistan intends to expand domestic storage capacity for crude oil and refined products to enhance energy security, according to government documentation shared with oil producers and major global trading companies.

American consumer confidence decreased in May as concerns about war-related inflation escalated and households maintained negative labor market outlooks.

Rising inflation increases consumer costs for goods, prompting central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve to consider tighter monetary policies that would likely raise borrowing expenses and slow economic expansion.

China’s top diplomat called on Tuesday for all sides involved in the Iran conflict to maintain their dedication to ceasefire negotiations and continue working toward compromise.

The statement from Foreign Minister Wang Yi came as tensions escalated, with Iran accusing the United States of breaking the ceasefire following what the U.S. described as defensive military actions in southern Iran. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that reaching an agreement to end the fighting could require “a few days” of additional negotiations.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York following his leadership of a 15-member Security Council session, Wang expressed his desire for progress toward peace.

“We hope that the parties concerned can stay committed to pursuing a ceasefire and continue to meet each other halfway, so that peace can return to the Middle East as early as possible,” Wang told the media.

The Chinese Foreign Minister acknowledged the complexity of resolving deep-rooted conflicts, using a metaphor to illustrate his point.

“As we have been saying, it takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice, and long-standing issues cannot be resolved overnight,” Wang stated.

Despite the challenges, Wang emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in diplomatic efforts.

“However, every step forward in the negotiation brings more hope to peace, and one day earlier the conflict is ended means less civilian casualties,” he added.

Three sources familiar with the situation revealed Tuesday that Canadian satellite company Telesat has conducted initial discussions with Italian officials regarding the provision of encrypted communication services for government personnel, diplomats, and military officials working in dangerous locations.

The pursuit of satellite communication solutions has emerged as a particularly delicate matter in Italy following the breakdown of negotiations with Elon Musk’s Starlink service last year, highlighting increasing strains between European and American interests.

According to company information, Telesat currently manages 11 geostationary satellites and has plans to deploy between 150 and 200 low-Earth-orbit satellites starting this year to serve both commercial and military clients.

The unnamed sources indicated that Telesat officials engaged in preliminary conversations with Italian government representatives, though no financial terms were discussed during these early meetings.

According to one source, the most recent discussions occurred within the past month. A separate source noted that Italian officials have not yet provided any response to Telesat’s proposal.

When contacted, a Telesat representative stated the company could not offer any comments regarding the matter at this time.

Reuters previously reported that Rome had explored a potential five-year agreement worth €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) with SpaceX’s Starlink, which leads the industry with approximately 7,000 operational low-Earth-orbit satellites.

Low-Earth-orbit satellites function 36 times nearer to Earth compared to conventional satellites, resulting in reduced transmission delays and delivering superior, faster internet connectivity even in isolated regions.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Twelve months ago, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro promoted his family’s ties to U.S. President Donald Trump as a significant political advantage. This week, the senator has traveled to Washington to strengthen that alliance once more as he works to stabilize his faltering presidential campaign following revelations that he accepted millions from a corrupt banking executive.

The senator touched down on Tuesday with no announced public schedule. His political opponent in October’s election, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, held a three-hour session with Trump on May 7. The 80-year-old president is pursuing a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

The Trump administration has remained silent regarding the Bolsonaro controversy.

The former President Jair Bolsonaro’s son has faced intense criticism since May 13, when leaked communications published by The Intercept from a federal police probe revealed he obtained approximately $12 million from Daniel Vorcaro, the former head of the now-closed Banco Master.

Vorcaro faces charges of stealing hundreds of millions from bank clients after persuading them to participate in questionable investment schemes. Federal police in Brazil calculate the institution’s overall fraud at 12 billion reais ($2.3 billion).

Flávio Bolsonaro has rejected all allegations of misconduct and maintains that Vorcaro’s funds were utilized to finance a biographical film about his father. While Bolsonaro is not anticipated to face charges in the matter, the probe remains ongoing.

Opposition figures have launched attacks following the disclosure.

“Anyone getting close to a criminal banker gives a bad sign,” former Minas Gerais Gov. Romeu Zema, a Jair Bolsonaro supporter who is running for the presidency, said on Monday.

The senator’s campaign has experienced turbulence as he hunts for a vice presidential candidate and works to build coalition partnerships. These alliances are crucial for securing additional funding and complimentary television and radio coverage, which depends on each party’s representation in the lower legislative chamber.

Prior to the public emergence of Bolsonaro’s ties to Vorcaro, he already faced limited backing from much of the business sector.

Former Goias Gov. Ronaldo Caiado and Renan Santos, both seeking the presidency, have expressed skepticism about Bolsonaro, while some political figures suggest that former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro should take his place as the presidential nominee.

“Michelle would bring many voters back. She has a good name for herself,” former environment minister and lawmaker Ricardo Salles said in a recent podcast. “She is much softer and that could work.”

Michelle Bolsonaro resides with the former president in Brasilia, where he remains under house arrest following his conviction for attempting a coup. She has stayed quiet about the connection between the senator and the failed banking executive, as well as about potentially launching her own presidential campaign.

“That is none of my business. I have to take care of my husband,” she said last week.

Sen. Marcos Rogerio, among Flávio Bolsonaro’s primary congressional supporters, stated the presidential candidate has been providing appropriate explanations regarding his dealings with Vorcaro.

“Moments like this deserve our attention. He needs to make it all clear. But he has also argued in favor of a congressional inquiry on Banco Master. This thing will not bar his candidacy at all,” Rogério told journalists on Saturday. “We are not going to re-evaluate his bid or choose a different person. The senator’s candidacy is still standing.”

Political analyst Lula Guimaraes, who has advised candidates from various political backgrounds in Brazilian campaigns, indicated the revelations would have been devastating for Bolsonaro had they emerged closer to election day.

The ongoing police investigations may continue to damage his prospects, though voters could set the matter aside when casting ballots, Guimaraes noted.

“As of now, people in Brazil want to know who will win the next World Cup. They want to know whether Neymar will play or not. That alone will make this whole affair less visible for a month,” Guimaraes said. “I don’t think this alone will be deadly for Flávio Bolsonaro, but even the man himself said there’s more about him and Vorcaro to come out. He’d better buckle up.”

The head of Israel’s biggest defense company says his firm is working on new technology to stop deadly explosive drones from Hezbollah that have been killing Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.

Bezhalel Machlis, who leads Elbit Systems, told Reuters in an interview Tuesday that his company is actively collaborating with Israel’s defense ministry to create a rapid response to the drone problem. The solution might include what he called an “energy weapon solution,” noting that his company is “very active in energy weapons such as lasers.”

“There are other means, which are also relevant to this threat. We are heavily involved in the development of a solution (to) this challenge” of explosive drones, Machlis explained after his company announced strong first-quarter earnings and profit increases.

The Iran-supported Hezbollah has deployed these inexpensive, simple-to-build kamikaze drones against Israeli forces who have stayed in southern Lebanon following an April 16 ceasefire. These drones pose a significant challenge for air defense systems to stop and are also causing devastating damage in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Facing mounting pressure to tackle this threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday his intention to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, he didn’t outline a specific strategy for dealing with the drones, which can bypass Israel’s advanced jamming technology.

Currently, Israel has resorted to basic methods like nets to prevent the First-Person-View drones, operated through fiber-optic cables, from striking troops.

The Israel-Hezbollah fighting represents the most lethal extension of the wider U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, where prospects for a quick resolution dimmed Tuesday after U.S. forces launched strikes in the country’s southern region.

Iran maintains that any agreement to conclude the war must include stopping Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining the authority to strike throughout the region to counter perceived dangers.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that its forces deployed explosive drones and rockets against Israeli troops moving toward the southern Lebanese community of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, calling it retaliation for Israeli attacks on Lebanese villages.

This drone threat and the Israeli defense sector’s efforts to develop countermeasures come during a surge in Israeli military exports, with international demand for Israeli defense technology including ammunition, laser systems, electronic warfare equipment, and night-vision devices rising dramatically since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.

Machlis reported that Elbit is experiencing increased demand across Europe, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from the United Arab Emirates.

“We are active in this region,” Machlis commented regarding Elbit’s Middle East operations. “It is fast growing.”

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced Tuesday that his party will use its parliamentary majority to establish investigative panels examining alleged corruption and power abuses during Viktor Orbán’s previous administration.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured a decisive victory over the autocratic former leader in last month’s elections. The overwhelming win provided Tisza with a two-thirds majority, enabling them to reverse numerous policies that earned Orbán criticism as a far-right authoritarian leader.

A central campaign pledge for Tisza involved holding Orbán, his nationalist-populist Fidesz party, and their business allies responsible for suspected wrongdoing.

Speaking Tuesday, Magyar announced that six parliamentary investigative panels will examine various aspects of Orbán’s time in office, including suspected misuse of public money handled by Hungary’s National Bank — a matter currently under police review involving potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.

“We will put all corruption and abuses of power on full display,” Magyar said. “The Hungarian people have the right to know who benefited from their money, who stole their money, who got rich from the vulnerability of the people.”

Throughout his 16-year tenure as Hungary’s prime minister, Orbán faced accusations from numerous critics of overseeing widespread public fund misuse, including directing profitable government contracts to relatives and business figures connected to his party.

Critics also accused him of wielding government power to weaken democratic institutions, prompting the European Parliament to declare in 2022 that Hungary was no longer a democracy.

Since assuming office earlier this month, Magyar’s party lawmakers have introduced a constitutional amendment restricting prime ministers to eight-year terms — a limitation that would apply to Magyar himself. Orbán, who completed four consecutive terms, would be barred from serving as prime minister again under this proposal.

Magyar stated Tuesday that his administration would also consider applying the eight-year restriction to other elected positions, noting: “No one should imagine that electoral authority is inherited forever. Power exercised without limits leads to loss of control over time in any democratic system.”

Another investigative committee will examine details surrounding a pardon granted to an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case by Hungary’s former president, Katalin Novák, which resulted in her 2024 resignation, Magyar explained.

The new premier has also committed to passing a constitutional amendment dissolving Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Office, an agency established by Orbán’s administration in 2023 to investigate non-governmental organizations, media companies and political parties under the guise of preventing foreign interference.

Magyar additionally promised his government would eliminate “political privileges” previously granted to officeholders, including salary reductions for the prime minister and cabinet members, state company executives, and legislators.

Officials in Hong Kong announced Tuesday they will offer 10,000 new vehicle permits for drivers working with ride-sharing platforms such as Uber, representing roughly half of what transportation industry groups had requested.

Currently, Hong Kong operates approximately 18,000 licensed taxis and limits private car-hire permits to 1,500 vehicles, with these drivers able to accept rides through mobile apps. However, additional drivers working through these platforms operate illegally and have previously faced criminal charges, despite being widespread throughout the city.

Hong Kong officials revealed specifics of their regulatory plan last summer to formalize oversight of the industry, responding to years of lobbying from taxi operators.

The Smart Transportation Alliance, representing ride-hailing companies and other transport businesses, had requested in May that authorities approve 20,500 new vehicle permits during the initial rollout phase.

However, in documentation presented Tuesday to lawmakers, Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau stated that limiting permits to 10,000 would be reasonable and suitable, considering both passenger needs and public road capacity. Officials indicated they would reassess the limit later to determine if modifications are necessary.

City legislators approved legislation last year mandating licenses and permits for ride-hailing platforms and their vehicles and drivers. When issuing licenses, Hong Kong’s transport commissioner may evaluate companies based on their track record, financial stability and planned regional investments. Licensed operators must provide “proper and efficient” service.

Driver requirements include being at least 21 years old, holding a driver’s license for a minimum of one year, maintaining a clean record without serious traffic violations over five years, and successfully completing an examination.

According to Tuesday’s announcement, most new ride-hailing rules will take effect in August, with remaining provisions implemented by August 2027. At that point, all platforms must obtain licenses and verify that their associated vehicles and drivers hold proper permits.

The proposals require companies to implement technology such as facial recognition systems to confirm drivers match the registered vehicle owners.

Law enforcement has previously arrested several Uber drivers suspected of operating without permits, and in 2018, more than two dozen drivers received fines.

Many taxi operators have historically opposed platforms like Uber, viewing them as competitors that harm their livelihoods. However, Uber, which launched Hong Kong operations in 2014, maintains popularity in the financial center, where numerous residents express dissatisfaction with taxi service quality. Uber has recently incorporated licensed taxi drivers into its platform.

In earlier legislative submissions, Uber’s Hong Kong division stated it maintains over 30,000 active drivers citywide over the past year. The company warned that even with 15,000 permits issued and enforced, booking wait times during peak periods could double from current levels, with fares potentially increasing up to 70%.

Uber said in a Tuesday statement that the legislative proposal represents an important step toward establishing clear regulations, but noted the initial quota falls “significantly lower” than necessary to satisfy rider demand. The company added that more than 20,000 people would lose earning opportunities under the proposals.

“This legislation is just a start. We hope to continue working closely with the government on an efficient allocation framework and a practical review mechanism that allows the system to evolve over time,” the company stated.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed being “deeply concerned” on Tuesday regarding Russia’s declared intentions to target Ukrainian defense facilities and command centers located in Kyiv.

The U.N. leader delivered these comments to the Security Council following Moscow’s Monday declaration of its plans to carry out such attacks, coming just one day after launching one of its most intense bombardments of the Ukrainian capital since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine started.

The Secretary-General noted that Russia’s announcement came in response to reports about a Ukrainian drone strike that hit an educational facility and student housing in Starobilsk, a Ukrainian city currently under Russian control.

“We condemned the attack on the school – as we condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, wherever they occur,” Guterres stated.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians, and that risks making the search for peace even more distant, prolonging the suffering of people,” the U.N. chief continued.

BRUSSELS, May 26 (Reuters) – Several European nations and the European Union called in Russian diplomatic officials Tuesday following Moscow’s warnings for foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to evacuate Ukraine’s capital amid threats of renewed attacks.

Russian officials announced Monday their plans to target Ukrainian military installations and government decision-making facilities in Kyiv, coming just one day after launching one of the most intense bombing campaigns against the city since the conflict started.

The European Union’s foreign affairs department called in Russia’s chargé d’affaires, according to the bloc’s foreign policy spokesperson on Tuesday.

Russia’s “threat to foreign citizens & diplomats to leave Kyiv is an unacceptable escalation”, spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a post on X, calling for Moscow to “stop hitting civilians”.

The EU’s delegation is remaining in Kyiv, the spokesperson added.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said he had summoned Russia’s ambassador Nikolai Korchunov to address “the explicit threats against foreign personnel in Ukraine”.

Sweden on Monday evening summoned the Russian ambassador to “condemn Russia’s false claims of airspace violations in the Nordic-Baltic region and Russia’s threats against Latvia and other countries in the region”.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The head of Africa’s most economically advanced nation is confronting impeachment proceedings stemming from a years-old controversy involving approximately $580,000 in cash hidden in furniture at his wildlife ranch before being stolen.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stands accused of improper conduct regarding where the money came from and allegedly trying to conceal the 2020 theft through his private security personnel to keep the cash’s presence secret. He has rejected any wrongdoing.

Here’s background on the “Farmgate” controversy and the reasons impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa have been renewed years after the initial incident.

The controversy initially emerged in 2022 when a former director of South Africa’s state security agency entered a police station, disclosed the theft and charged Ramaphosa with money laundering and additional crimes. The robbery at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala ranch occurred in February 2020, one year following Ramaphosa’s electoral victory, but remained hidden from public view.

Following these disclosures, Ramaphosa confirmed the theft occurred, but rejected any misconduct, stating he reported it immediately to the commander of his police protection detail.

Ramaphosa explained that the $580,000 in U.S. currency taken from the furniture came from legitimate buffalo sales at his ranch. He stated the cash was placed beneath sofa cushions in a guest bedroom at his farm residence by an employee worried that other staff had access to a safe.

Ramaphosa operated as a successful businessman prior to his presidency and is recognized for his passion for livestock and game breeding.

A neutral panel designated by Parliament conducted an investigation and released findings indicating preliminary evidence of serious improper conduct by Ramaphosa, including inadequate reporting of the theft, questionable money sources and the possibility that the actual amount exceeded Ramaphosa’s claims.

Ramaphosa also reportedly used his connections with the then president of neighboring Namibia to help quietly locate a theft suspect who had escaped there, the report stated. It advised a complete investigation.

Ramaphosa weathered an initial Parliamentary vote regarding the controversy in late 2022 when his African National Congress party — which held a majority then — voted to dismiss the panel findings, halting any impeachment proceedings.

Nevertheless, two opposition parties brought a case to South Africa’s highest Constitutional Court, contending that the panel report evidence should have prompted formation of an impeachment committee to thoroughly examine whether Ramaphosa committed misconduct and deserved an impeachment vote.

The court decided this month in the opposition parties’ favor, declaring the 2022 Parliamentary vote failed to follow proper procedure and should be overturned, renewing the controversy and impeachment possibility.

Parliament has announced it will establish an impeachment committee for a thorough investigation.

Ramaphosa has stated he will not step down and submitted his own court documents this week challenging the panel report conclusions, national broadcaster SABC reported on Tuesday. He has called it having “grave flaws.”

Removing Ramaphosa through impeachment would need at least two-thirds of South Africa’s 400-member Parliament to support it, under the nation’s constitution. Although Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its clear majority in 2024, it retains sufficient numbers to prevent an impeachment.

The 73-year-old Ramaphosa is in his final presidential term, scheduled to conclude in 2029.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — In a direct challenge to presidential authority, Senegal’s National Assembly chose dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko as parliament speaker on Tuesday, just days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye removed him from office. The move raises concerns about potential political gridlock in the West African nation as it struggles with unprecedented debt levels.

Last week, the president dismissed Sonko along with the entire cabinet after months of growing friction between the two leaders whose once-strong alliance had propelled them to power. The dismissal prompted the previous parliament speaker to step down. On Monday, the president appointed a replacement prime minister and plans to unveil a new cabinet soon.

Both leaders assumed their positions after winning the March 2024 presidential race, pledging sweeping changes including anti-corruption efforts, job creation for the nation’s expanding youth demographic, and better utilization of natural resources for national benefit.

However, the former partners have publicly clashed over major policy decisions in recent months, particularly regarding discussions with the International Monetary Fund about potential lending arrangements.

In his new position as speaker, Sonko will wield significant influence over legislative priorities, government oversight, and bill introduction — authority that could create direct confrontation with his former boss, according to Babacar Ndiaye, a political analyst at the Senegal-based Wathi think tank.

While Sonko pledged not to exploit his parliamentary role for personal vendettas against the president, he vowed to maintain strict government oversight and utilize all available constitutional mechanisms to fulfill that responsibility.

The two politicians previously worked together within the Pastef party, which maintains commanding control of parliament with 130 seats out of 165 total. As party leader, Sonko maintains the potential to undermine the president’s governing agenda.

The political drama unfolds as Senegal confronts escalating financial difficulties and increasing living costs. The nation ranks among Africa’s most debt-burdened countries by GDP ratio, following a government review last year that uncovered $13 billion in previously undisclosed obligations from the former government.

Iran sharply criticized U.S. military operations conducted Monday, characterizing them as evidence of “bad faith and unreliability” while diplomatic efforts continue toward reaching an agreement to conclude the ongoing conflict.

American military officials described Monday’s operations in southern Iran as protective measures, stating that targets encompassed missile launching facilities and vessels deploying mines, emphasizing that the U.S. demonstrated “restraint” given the multi-week truce period.

Iran’s foreign ministry characterized the operations as a breach of the ceasefire and cautioned that Washington would be held accountable for “all consequences,” though specific details were not provided.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered,” it added in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday said it had shot down and deterred drones and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran’s official Mizan news agency, which did not specify when the incident occurred.

The impact these events will have on ongoing diplomatic discussions remains uncertain. The military actions occurred following Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s travel to Qatar for the negotiations, which U.S. President Donald Trump described Monday as “proceeding nicely.”

These operations represent the most recent escalation in the delicate truce that commenced April 7 and has remained mostly intact.

Diplomatic discussions focus partly on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital shipping channel near southern Iran that facilitated passage for one-fifth of global crude oil and natural gas before hostilities began with U.S.-Israeli operations in February. Tehran responded by essentially blocking the waterway, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded and disrupting the worldwide economy.

The waterway has emerged as a significant bargaining tool for Tehran during negotiations, alongside the ongoing matter of Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium. Iran seeks removal of the U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports that started on April 17.

The strait also generates increasing worry as fertilizer supplies face severe disruption for at-risk global agricultural producers.

“What we are witnessing today is not only a geopolitical crisis, it is a systemic shock to the global agrifood system,” the director-general of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, said Tuesday.

Trump has brought a fresh perspective to negotiations for resolving the conflict, stating that any agreement to conclude the war should mandate several additional nations, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to become part of the Abraham Accords, a collection of U.S.-facilitated diplomatic, economic and security agreements designed to normalize relationships with Israel.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join in 2020; Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have followed. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties. Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.

Israel’s conduct against Palestinians, including in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has alienated Gulf Arab states and the wider Muslim world, but Trump has been keen to build on the Abraham Accords, forged during his first term. He even has suggested that Iran eventually could sign on.

ATMEH, Syria (AP) — When rebel forces successfully removed President Bashar Assad from power in late 2024, ending more than thirteen years of devastating warfare, Sobhieh al-Saleh believed she would immediately abandon her temporary shelter and go back to her original residence.

However, she remains housed at the al-Karama camp, a temporary settlement located in Atmeh within Idlib province close to the Turkish border, alongside her spouse and eleven children.

“I went and saw my house and it was completely razed to the ground,” she told The Associated Press regarding her residence in al-Lataminah across Idlib province, which she abandoned during the peak of the fighting. While over half of the camp’s population has departed, she lacks the financial means to reconstruct her dwelling and relocate, similar to many other impoverished Syrians.

Therefore, she remains in difficult living conditions. Annually, rainwater seeps into her shelter, and during summer months, she and approximately 40,000 other camp residents must endure extreme temperatures and insect problems.

The Syrian conflict that began as protests in 2011 and continued until late 2024 devastated the nation, forcing over 90% of its roughly 26 million citizens into economic hardship. According to United Nations estimates, reconstruction efforts will require hundreds of billions of dollars.

The warfare resulted in 500,000 deaths, over 1 million injuries, and forced more than half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million to flee their homes.

Under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the administration has made progress in rebuilding Syria’s international relationships, seeking relief from devastating sanctions while pledging comprehensive reforms.

Over a year following the conflict’s conclusion, more than 7 million internally displaced Syrians cannot return to their original communities. According to United Nations data, one million continue residing in temporary shelters like al-Saleh.

Al-Sharaa has promised that displaced Syrians will no longer remain in temporary housing and will receive proper accommodations before 2027 ends. Saudi Arabia has committed $1.5 billion to support this effort.

However, even with significant investment pledges and partnerships designed to create employment and economic opportunities, the enormous scope of destruction means reducing poverty and facilitating returns will require considerable time.

The World Bank calculates that postwar rebuilding would require approximately $216 billion. Nearly 18 months after ending five decades of Assad family control, substantial portions of Syria’s major urban centers including Aleppo and Raqqa in the north, Homs in the center, and sections of Damascus remain destroyed.

Meanwhile, the government faces time constraints. Humanitarian organizations, which have endured years of significant funding reductions, continue scaling back programs that millions of Syrians depend upon.

“Where are we going to get money to rebuild? We’re barely able to provide ourselves with bread and water,” al-Saleh said. “No aid has come to the camp since the liberation.”

Most recently, the World Food Program announced on May 13 that it reduced by half its food assistance program to the most vulnerable that once supported 1.3 million people. It also cut a bread subsidy program that millions relied on.

Simultaneously, Syrian inflation has increased dramatically, preventing people from accumulating sufficient savings for reconstruction.

“The cost of building materials has surged beyond comprehension. I can barely afford to take my medications,” said Abdulhamid Abu Alaa, who lives with his family in the same camp as al-Saleh.

He explained that he and numerous others continue repaying loans they obtained to cover essential living expenses.

Abu Alaa stated that despite Syria’s significant diplomatic and economic progress, he encourages the government to address quickly the needs of the nation’s most impoverished citizens who remain in terrible conditions.

“The government’s priorities need to change, and put the needs of the poorest people above all things,” he said.

The United Nations continues pledging to maximize its available resources to help reduce Syrian financial hardships and support al-Sharaa’s 2027 initiative.

During a visit to a camp in Idlib’s Maarat Misrin area, the U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Nathalie Fustier, said that the private sector and international financial institutions might need to help al-Sharaa reach the late 2027 deadline.

“I don’t know exactly how long it will take,” Fustier said. “Maybe there will still be camps, but we will be working again and again to end these camps.”

BEIJING – Chinese authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation into a devastating coal mine explosion that claimed at least 82 lives on Friday, uncovering an elaborate scheme of deception designed to hide illegal mining operations from government inspectors.

The fatal gas blast occurred at the Liushenyu mine located in Shanxi province, a coal-producing region in northern China. Two people remain missing while 128 others were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to government media reports.

This incident marks China’s most catastrophic mining disaster since 2009, when 108 workers perished in a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province.

Initial findings from the investigation reveal that the mine operator maintained secret tunnels, doctored blueprints, and employed unregistered workers who lacked mandatory safety tracking devices, state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.

The mining facility, operated by Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, maintained dual sets of operational plans and monitoring systems. Officials used one set for actual mining activities while presenting the other to government inspectors, effectively concealing portions of their operation from regulatory supervision.

Company representatives could not be reached for comment, as state media reports indicate they have been taken into custody.

Coal extracted from these unauthorized tunnels was excluded from official production records and escaped taxation.

These duplicate planning systems are commonly referred to as “yin-yang drawings” – one version displayed openly for inspector review and another kept secret. The national mine safety administration acknowledges that such profit-motivated deceptions persist throughout China’s coal industry despite enforcement efforts.

According to Xinhua, the Liushenyu operation “constructed false doors using wire mesh and woven plastic bags coated with mortar, creating barriers that closely resembled the natural rock walls of mining tunnels.”

Mine personnel received advance warning when inspectors approached, allowing them to close these deceptive barriers and apply coal dust to camouflage them within the underground passages.

To avoid detection, mine management employed subcontracted workers in the concealed areas without providing mandatory identification and location tracking equipment or recording their presence in official entry logs.

These tracking devices would have enabled authorities to monitor worker locations throughout the underground facility, particularly during emergency situations.

Official records indicated only 124 workers had entered the mine when Friday’s explosion occurred, based on footage broadcast by state television CCTV on Monday. However, 247 workers were actually present in the facility, indicating that 123 individuals were operating in unmonitored tunnels beyond official oversight.

The absence of precise maps and worker location data has significantly complicated rescue efforts, state media reported.

The Liushenyu facility – designated as a “high-gas mine” due to elevated explosion risks – also intentionally failed to install gas-detection equipment to further avoid regulatory scrutiny, according to a separate report from state radio.

These violations were previously known to authorities before Friday’s tragedy. In 2025, regulators fined the mine operator after discovering hidden work areas, but “the penalty failed to serve as an effective deterrent, and the company continued illegal production,” Xinhua stated.

Following this incident, several mines throughout China have suspended or reduced operations for safety evaluations.

Ukraine’s diplomatic representative to Turkey anticipates that NATO will address financial assistance for his country during the alliance’s July summit, even though the funding proposal has struggled to win over member nations.

Ambassador Nariman Dzhelialov stated during a Tuesday interview that he hopes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will participate in the July 7-8 gathering in Ankara. He emphasized that Ukraine also seeks renewed commitments from members regarding the country’s aspirations to join the military alliance.

Ukraine relies heavily on foreign assistance to meet its budget requirements and finance its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Last June, Zelenskiy requested that Western allies dedicate 0.25% of their gross domestic product toward helping Ukraine enhance weapons manufacturing. Officials indicated that NATO leader Mark Rutte had proposed the concept of alliance members, excluding the United States, spending that percentage for Ukraine’s benefit.

The proposal has encountered opposition, and Rutte acknowledged last week his doubts about its acceptance. Diplomatic sources indicated that conversations continue regarding ways to show NATO’s commitment to Ukraine during the summit.

Even with limited support for the concept, the ambassador indicated Ukraine continues advocating for the plan.

“A mechanism here (could be) one in which every NATO member contributes a part of their finances to support strengthening Ukraine’s security capabilities,” he explained, recognizing that some allies hesitate to allocate resources while working to enhance their own military capabilities according to NATO standards.

“But we are not saying ‘give us 100%’, just a very small piece,” he added without providing additional specifics.

The summit occurs during a period of strain between Washington and European partners on multiple fronts. U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently called for NATO allies to substantially increase defense spending, as his administration argues that European nations should eventually take primary responsibility for the continent’s conventional security.

Dzhelialov praised Turkey’s mediation efforts between Ukraine and Russia, noting that Ukraine remains prepared for leadership-level discussions with Russia.

He identified Turkey as the most suitable location for such talks, given its history of hosting previous negotiations and its relationships with both nations.

The ambassador highlighted defense industry collaboration as a crucial area of partnership between Turkey and Ukraine, mentioning that Zelenskiy discussed this topic with President Tayyip Erdogan during an Istanbul visit in April.

He revealed that Ukraine has presented Turkey with a proposal concerning potential sales, joint manufacturing, or technology sharing for Ukrainian drone systems, with Ukraine prepared to provide operator training if necessary.

“We have ideas, dreams, technology and they are working, but (Turkey) has the production capacity. This is a bit slow for us because the Russians are always attacking … This is why it is difficult to produce some weapons for us, but (Turkey) has that capacity,” he explained.

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities deployed water cannons Tuesday to disperse crowds attempting to attend a rally featuring the ousted head of Turkey’s primary opposition political organization.

A court directive issued Thursday stripped Ozgur Ozel and the central leadership team of the Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, from their positions in what many observers view as a decision driven by political considerations.

Ozel planned to speak to his supporters Tuesday in Izmir, a western Turkish municipality, but attendees found steel barricades and law enforcement officers blocking access to Cumhuriyet Square.

Broadcasting network Halk TV, which supports the opposition, documented numerous attendees, primarily middle-aged individuals, getting drenched by water cannons while attempting to access the square. Regional news outlets additionally reported authorities used pepper spray.

The governmental turmoil began last week after an Ankara appeals court reversed a 2023 party convention decision that selected Ozel to lead the CHP. The judicial ruling reinstated his former colleague, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, creating anger among party members.

The 51-year-old Ozel, who replaced the 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu following 13 years of largely unsuccessful resistance to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appealed Tuesday for Kilicdaroglu to conduct a new leadership election. “Don’t divide the party, don’t stop our march to power,” he stated. “Let’s ask the 2 million members (and) whoever they choose, let’s hold the congress immediately.”

Critics of the president regard the legal proceedings, which focused on voting irregularities during the convention, as another judicial assault on the CHP, during which numerous elected representatives and party participants have faced imprisonment.

After the court’s determination, Ozel and his allies fortified themselves within CHP headquarters in Ankara. Authorities raided the facility Sunday, using plastic pellets and pepper spray to violently conclude the standoff.

Ozel, who has promised to continue the fight in public spaces, announced upon reaching Izmir that he would “go wherever the people are waiting.” He subsequently appeared at Cumhuriyet Square before moving to an adjacent square where he addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters.

The clash in Izmir — Turkey’s third-most populous city and historically a CHP fortress — occurred one day before the official Eid al-Adha celebration, though many citizens had also taken Monday and Tuesday as vacation days.

During a broadcast Eid address, Erdogan expressed hope the holiday would serve as “an occasion for hearts to soften, for those who are estranged to reconcile, for grievances to be resolved.”

Recent polling shows the CHP tied with the governing Justice and Development Party, known as AKP, and while the next election isn’t scheduled until 2028, many anticipate Erdogan will seek earlier voting.

Ozel inflicted significant damage on the AKP during 2024 municipal contests, reinforcing the opposition’s control over major cities it had captured five years prior, including Istanbul and Ankara.

Istanbul’s CHP mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has become the most probable opponent to Erdogan, who has governed Turkey since 2003, in the upcoming presidential contest. However, he has been incarcerated since March of last year while confronting multiple criminal charges that could result in decades of imprisonment.

Numerous analysts have stated the legal actions targeting the CHP — primarily focusing on corruption accusations — are designed to weaken the party. Government officials maintain that Turkey’s judicial system remains impartial and operates without political interference.

Dutch authorities announced Tuesday they will prevent the acquisition of a critical cloud computing firm by an American technology company, citing national security risks.

The Netherlands will block US-based software firm Kyndryl from purchasing Solvinity, a Dutch cloud services provider that operates the country’s essential DigiD digital identity platform. Citizens rely on this system to interact with government agencies and access personal medical, insurance, and tax records.

Junior Economic Affairs Minister Willemijn Aerdts informed parliament in a written statement that government officials determined the proposed acquisition could threaten public interests. The decision follows implementation of legislation aimed at limiting foreign oversight of telecommunications infrastructure.

Parliamentary representatives had expressed concerns that allowing Kyndryl to complete the purchase might enable US authorities to gain access to all data managed by Solvinity’s systems.

Officials from the Economic Affairs ministry indicated they are currently coordinating with Solvinity and its existing ownership to determine how to proceed following this ruling.

South Africa’s president has taken legal action to overturn a panel’s determination that he potentially engaged in misconduct connected to a controversy involving stolen cash hidden in furniture at his property, according to broadcaster eNCA’s Tuesday report.

The president is seeking to have the 2022 finding that he possibly breached the constitution thrown out, contending the report relied on secondhand information and the panel exceeded its authority, eNCA reported, referencing court documents.

Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesperson, has not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

The president, who has held office since 2018, has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the controversy that local news outlets have nicknamed “Farmgate.”

The incident sparked concerns about the president’s acquisition of the $580,000 in cash that he claimed was taken from his property in 2020, questions about proper declaration procedures, and why the money was concealed in furniture instead of being placed in a banking institution.

Before entering politics, the president worked as a successful businessman and explained the funds represented earnings from buffalo sales. A central bank review determined he had not broken exchange control rules.

The controversy has created significant political difficulties for the leader, who assumed power promising to combat corruption and restore the reputation of his African National Congress (ANC) party.

In 2022, ANC legislators prevented impeachment actions against the president, but the constitutional court ruled this month that the parliamentary decision was illegitimate and the accusations warrant additional investigation.

The 73-year-old president has stated he accepts the court’s decision and has resisted pressure from political opponents calling for his resignation.

His current term extends until 2029, and political experts believe he will likely survive any parliamentary impeachment vote.

The ANC reaffirmed its backing for the president this month, improving his prospects of surviving any renewed impeachment attempts.

Any impeachment would need approval from two-thirds of parliament, and despite the ANC losing its parliamentary majority in the 2024 election, the party maintains approximately 40% of National Assembly seats.

Federal authorities in Belgium reported Tuesday that multiple individuals sustained injuries when a train struck a minibus transporting children at a railroad crossing in the northern part of the country.

The collision occurred at a railway crossing close to Buggenhout, situated approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Brussels, the nation’s capital. Authorities have not yet released specific information about how the incident developed.

Federal police confirmed that “several people” sustained injuries in the collision, though they stated they cannot release additional specifics at this time. A Belgian private television network, VTM, reported that multiple fatalities occurred in the incident.

Officials said that prosecutors along with forensic investigators and transportation specialists were expected to arrive at the location.

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin posted on social media expressing “great sadness” regarding “the tragic accident in Buggenhout, where a school bus was struck by a train. My thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones.”

Ukrainian air force officials reported Tuesday that Russia launched more than 100 drones and two ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine during overnight attacks, while Moscow issued warnings of intensified strikes on the capital city.

Moscow on Monday advised foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to quickly evacuate the Ukrainian capital and warned civilians to avoid military and government buildings. Russian officials stated they were preparing “systemic strikes” against Kyiv.

According to a foreign ministry statement, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by telephone Monday, urging America to withdraw its diplomatic personnel from Kyiv. While Rubio did not indicate whether the State Department would follow that recommendation, he expressed concerns during his India visit that the “terrible” conflict in Ukraine might intensify.

The Trump administration has spent more than a year attempting to end the hostilities that began following Russia’s February 2022 invasion. However, these diplomatic efforts have produced no major breakthroughs and are currently suspended as Washington concentrates on the Iran war.

No diplomatic missions announced plans to depart from Kyiv. The European Union, French and Polish delegations publicly declared their intention to remain.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued a statement late Monday asserting that security threats from Russia against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities “remains the same as in previous years and months.”

The ministry emphasized that Russia has consistently conducted missile and drone strikes against the capital for over four years, while noting Ukraine stands ready to help diplomatic missions requiring enhanced security measures.

Moscow characterized its largest missile assault of the year last weekend as retaliation for Friday’s fatal Ukrainian drone attack on what Russia described as a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in Ukraine’s Russia-controlled Luhansk region.

However, the Ukrainian General Staff stated that its Starobilsk strike targeted the regional headquarters of the Russian military’s specialized drone unit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy observed that advanced American-manufactured air defense systems needed by Ukraine to counter Russian ballistic missiles are scarce because of the Iran war.

“Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America on expanding the production of anti-ballistic capabilities,” Zelenskyy posted on social media late Monday, noting that Kyiv is collaborating with Europe to develop sufficient anti-ballistic defenses.

He highlighted that Ukrainian military successes in recent months have allowed the country to “stabilize” the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) front line across eastern and southern Ukraine, indicating Kyiv’s forces are maintaining their position against Russia’s larger military.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia’s spring offensive is struggling as Ukraine’s medium-range drone attacks disrupt Moscow’s rear supply operations.

The Washington-based think tank stated late Monday that Moscow’s threats of major strikes are designed to divert public focus from its “poor battlefield performance” and economic strain from war expenses and international sanctions.

A century-old private club in India’s capital faces potential closure after government officials demanded it abandon the prestigious location it has called home since British colonial times, setting off a court fight and public discussion about privilege among India’s wealthy elite.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club has operated continuously since 1913 on a sprawling property adjacent to where the prime minister lives in central New Delhi. The facility features an expansive complex of elegant buildings and perfectly maintained grounds, complete with teakwood furnishings, leather seating, and large artwork adorning the walls.

While the organization and government officials have previously disagreed over how the club is run, authorities issued a notice last Friday demanding return of the leased property, pointing to security concerns and infrastructure requirements.

Through a legal filing exceeding 900 pages that Reuters reviewed, a coalition of club members and staff petitioned the Delhi High Court to stop the action while their legal challenge proceeds.

According to court documents Reuters examined, the government seeks to “illegally gain possession of a hundred-year-old institution in a period of 15 days.”

During Tuesday’s court session, the club’s legal representative asked the judge to block authorities from taking forceful measures, while government attorneys stated no removal would occur without proper procedures. The judge scheduled the next hearing for July.

The exclusive venue serves as a gathering place for high-ranking government workers, military leaders, and influential corporate executives, with membership waiting periods extending over three decades. The Delhi Gymkhana Club has also been the setting for elaborate celebrations, including wedding parties for children of the capital’s wealthy families.

The private facility provides recreational amenities such as an indoor pool and tennis courts with both clay and grass surfaces. Multiple dining establishments and bars operate within the club, which maintains strict clothing requirements that prohibit round-neck T-shirts.

The organization relocated to its present 27-acre location two years following Britain’s designation of New Delhi as India’s capital city.

The conflict with government officials has generated discussion across social media platforms and television broadcasts, with some critics questioning whether such exclusive organizations should exist on subsidized government property, while supporters argue the club provides important cultural and recreational value.

“If ‘elite privilege’ is suddenly the issue . . . why not also question sprawling ministerial residences, endless VIP (very important person) convoys, private aircraft and the entire ecosystem of taxpayer-funded political privilege?” one user wrote on X.

The dismissal of Senegal’s prime minister by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has injected new momentum into long-stalled negotiations to address West Africa’s most severe debt crisis, though the move brings both opportunities and fresh uncertainties.

Faye’s decision Friday to remove Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, a vocal opponent of International Monetary Fund policies, could eliminate a key barrier to reaching an IMF agreement. However, financial experts and investors warn that the political upheaval may create new challenges for the ongoing discussions and increase risks for those holding Senegalese bonds.

“The removal of PM Sonko creates additional political uncertainty,” explained Thalia Petousis, portfolio manager at Allan Gray. “There is also a chance that a newly appointed PM might be in favour of a deep debt restructuring, increasing the probability of a negative outcome for Senegalese bondholders.”

On Monday evening, Faye appointed Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, an experienced economist and former regional central bank official, to take over from the populist Sonko.

Financial markets responded negatively Tuesday, with Senegal’s foreign currency government bonds dropping significantly – falling as much as 5.7 cents on the euro and nearly 4 cents on the dollar, according to Tradeweb data.

Morgan Stanley noted Tuesday that investors were now calculating higher chances of a restructuring following recent developments.

Petousis cautioned that if foreign-currency debt underwent restructuring while local currency debt remained untouched, “the risks are that realised haircuts could be steeper than what is currently priced.”

Over the past three months, Senegalese dollar-denominated bonds have generated losses of 9.7% for investors, contrasting sharply with the 0.1% average return of comparable securities in the JPM EMBI Global Diversified Africa index. Bonds maturing in May 2033 were trading around 50.6 cents on the dollar, reaching historic lows.

Senegal has been pursuing intermittent discussions to secure a new IMF agreement since the Fund suspended a $1.8 billion program in 2024 after discovering previously undisclosed debt that pushed the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio beyond 130%.

The nation is essentially shut out of international capital markets and faces mounting challenges in controlling escalating fuel subsidy costs. Investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the government’s capacity to meet its debt obligations.

Earlier this month, President Faye’s office announced he was assuming direct control of Senegal’s debt portfolio. Cheikh Diba, who served as finance minister until Friday, indicated that IMF discussions would restart during the week of June 8, with a potential agreement on a new program’s framework possible by late June.

In one of his final actions as prime minister, Sonko, who had previously advocated against debt restructuring pressure, criticized the IMF Friday before lawmakers, declaring it had “never developed a country” and arguing Senegal should depend more on domestic resources rather than foreign lenders.

Despite losing his prime ministerial position, Sonko is expected to maintain significant political influence. His party continues to control the National Assembly and plans to meet Tuesday to “reintegrate” him as a legislator.

The sudden resignation of the National Assembly speaker Sunday has sparked rumors that Sonko might assume that position, which would preserve his ability to influence Senegal’s future relationship with the Fund.

Previous government timelines for IMF agreements have proven overly ambitious, with officials initially projecting a program would be established last year.

Responding to emailed inquiries, the IMF told Reuters it was monitoring Senegalese developments closely and anticipated working with the new administration.

“The timing of IMF staff’s next visit to Dakar will be guided by the availability and readiness of the incoming authorities,” the organization stated.

Fuel subsidies will likely dominate future negotiations when talks resume.

Senegal had allocated 250 billion CFA francs ($446.03 million) for subsidies this year before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, triggering a conflict that drove oil prices higher.

Former Finance Minister Diba warned Friday that subsidy costs could surpass the 2026 budget by 1.39 trillion CFA francs – approximately $2 billion – should oil prices reach $115 per barrel.

However, Sonko had rejected a proposal to increase fuel prices, Diba informed parliament.

Barclays analyst Michael Kafe wrote that it “seems unlikely that the IMF would sign an agreement with Senegal that would not include the removal of the country’s expensive fuel subsidies.”

Should Sonko become parliament speaker, Kafe added, this could create conditions for future confrontations between executive and legislative branches.

“In many countries, energy prices are incredibly politically sensitive and thus governments will be tempted to alleviate price pressure,” observed Nicholas Sauer, portfolio manager at Robeco.

“There is indeed a long history of inflation-inspired social unrest that can eventually topple governments.”

A Lithuanian communications official reports that Russia has significantly expanded its capability to disrupt GPS signals across large portions of Europe, with interference now extending up to 280 miles from Russian territory.

According to Darius Kuliesius, deputy head of Lithuania’s communications regulator, Russia has dramatically increased its GPS “spoofing” equipment in the Kaliningrad region from just three antennas in early 2025 to 36 currently operating. These devices transmit false location data designed to confuse navigation systems.

The equipment operates from Kaliningrad, a heavily fortified Russian territory located between NATO members Lithuania and Poland along the Baltic Sea.

“The occasional interference began with the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius. Now they have built up the infrastructure and the interference has become systemic, permanent, unending Russian provocation against European security,” Kuliesius stated.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, European countries have repeatedly alleged electronic interference from Moscow, though President Vladimir Putin’s administration rejects these claims, attributing them to Western smear campaigns.

The Russian embassy in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius did not provide an immediate response to requests for comment, though Moscow has consistently denied similar allegations previously.

Lithuanian regulatory data shows the GPS disruption potentially affects Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, most of Poland, portions of Finland, Sweden, Belarus, and Baltic Sea waters within the 280-mile range.

Several high-profile incidents have occurred, including GPS interference experienced by a Spanish military aircraft carrying Defence Minister Margarita Robles near Kaliningrad, and jamming of a plane transporting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen while traveling to Bulgaria.

Both Estonia and Finland have also attributed GPS navigation disruptions in regional airspace to Russian interference.

Despite these disruptions, most commercial aircraft and major airports maintain multiple navigation backup systems when GPS becomes unreliable.

Kuliesius noted that mobile phone service quality near Kaliningrad suffers due to frequency interference, with notable increases during Ukrainian drone operations against Russia.

“Online bus schedules in Klaipeda stop working during the spikes, because they rely on tracking buses by GPS,” he explained, referencing a community located 30 miles from the Kaliningrad border.

A deadly Israeli military strike targeted a village in eastern Lebanon, claiming 12 lives according to state media reports released Tuesday. Israeli officials confirmed the deployment of additional military personnel to the region.

The attack occurred late Monday in Mashghara, located in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The strike followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement authorizing more aggressive military operations against the Hezbollah militant organization throughout Lebanon. While Israeli military forces did not provide details about this specific attack, they confirmed Monday that operations were focused on Hezbollah facilities in eastern Lebanon.

A security official from Israel, speaking anonymously due to protocol requirements, confirmed that military leadership had deployed an additional battalion to Lebanon.

Emergency response teams recovered a dozen bodies from debris after a series of overnight bombardments struck multiple areas across southern and eastern Lebanon.

The escalated military action occurs just three days before scheduled direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli military representatives in Washington.

Hezbollah forces continue their offensive against Israeli military units in southern Lebanon and northern Israeli communities, pledging to maintain combat operations until Israel ceases daily bombardments and removes military forces from Lebanese territory.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has claimed success using advanced fiber-optic drone technology that Israeli forces have found difficult to counter, successfully targeting both military personnel and northern border communities.

Israel has revised its security protocols for northern regions in response to current developments, advising residents to avoid large gatherings.

“What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media Monday ahead of the strikes.

Lebanese government officials express hope that upcoming direct negotiations with Israel, which Hezbollah opposes, will result in a ceasefire agreement.

More than one million Lebanese residents have been forced from their homes due to the conflict, which began when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel on March 2 in solidarity with Iran.

Lebanese Health Ministry statistics show 3,185 people in Lebanon have died from Israeli strikes since fighting began, with over 9,600 additional casualties reported as wounded.

The increased military operations have raised concerns throughout Lebanon about the possibility of expanded warfare, leaving the capital vulnerable to potential future attacks.

“By just saying a few words on TV he (Netanyahu) causes everyone to panic and flee their homes,” said Tony Aboud, in Beirut’s bustling Hamra district. “I don’t know what’s going to happen and how long we can live like this.”

A tragic incident in Seoul, South Korea claimed three lives and left three people injured on Tuesday when an aging overpass being demolished partially gave way, according to fire department officials.

The deadly incident happened while safety inspectors were examining the structure after demolition crews had stopped their work when they observed that part of the bridge had begun to sink slightly during concrete cutting operations, according to Lee Jong-woon, an official at Seoul’s Seodaemun District Fire Station. The fatalities occurred when victims were struck by falling debris and wreckage as a portion of the bridge deck suddenly gave way, authorities reported.

Law enforcement and emergency responders blocked off traffic in the surrounding area, where mangled steel supports and broken concrete pieces remained dangerously suspended from the overpass edge.

Falling debris also struck a nearby railroad line, prompting the Korea Railroad Corp. to halt certain train services to Seoul Station.

The overpass, originally constructed in 1966, had been in the demolition process since August of the previous year due to structural safety issues.

French authorities announced Tuesday that seven fatalities have occurred due to circumstances directly or indirectly connected to the ongoing heat wave affecting the nation, according to French Junior Energy Minister Maud Bregeon.

Among the casualties, five deaths involved individuals who drowned while seeking relief in lakes, rivers, or at beaches, Bregeon reported.

In response to the dangerous conditions, officials have directed local authorities to implement protective measures during sporting events, the minister stated.

The country has been experiencing temperatures above normal levels since Saturday, with weather conditions continuing to deteriorate.

Weather agency Meteo France has issued an orange-level alert for most of Brittany, forecasting temperatures could climb as high as 36 degrees Celsius by Tuesday afternoon.

The extreme heat conditions are anticipated to persist through Wednesday and Thursday, according to Meteo France’s official website.

DHAKA, May 26 – Border security forces in Bangladesh have stepped up patrol operations and initiated community outreach efforts along sections of the India-Bangladesh frontier amid worries that India is unlawfully pushing individuals across the border, according to government officials.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in India, which controls the frontier states of Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, has indicated it plans to address unauthorized migration as a key objective.

This month, India’s foreign ministry informed journalists that the country has requested Bangladesh confirm the citizenship status of over 2,860 individuals believed to be Bangladeshi nationals residing unlawfully within India’s borders. India’s foreign ministry did not provide a response to requests for comment on Tuesday.

The 60th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh initiated outreach efforts on Sunday in frontier regions of the Brahmanbaria district, employing loudspeakers to alert local populations and encourage them to watch for efforts to force people across the boundary.

“We have started miking in border villages to raise awareness among residents and ask them to stay vigilant against any illegal crossings or push-in attempts,” Lieutenant Colonel S. M. Shariful Islam, commander of the battalion, told Reuters.

“Our patrols and surveillance have been strengthened across the border areas. Intelligence operations are also continuing to prevent illegal push-ins, human trafficking, and the smuggling of drugs and other goods,” he said.

The frontier between Bangladesh and India extends for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), representing one of the world’s most extensive land boundaries.

Three administrative areas within Brahmanbaria district in eastern Bangladesh encompass approximately 73 kilometres of the frontier with India’s Tripura state.

India’s northeastern Assam state, which borders Bangladesh, has since May 2025 forced hundreds of individuals back into Bangladesh from among the 30,000 people that legal tribunals have determined to be non-citizens. Multiple human rights organizations have stated that officials have randomly expelled people from the nation.

The government in Dhaka has consistently stated that any deportation process must adhere to established diplomatic protocols and has cautioned against one-sided forced movements across the frontier.

BANGKOK — Rescue operations for seven villagers stuck in a water-filled cave in central Laos have reached their seventh day Tuesday, with emergency crews facing challenging conditions and harsh weather while attempting to locate the group whose status remains unclear.

The group went into the cave located in Xaisomboun province on May 19, but intense rainfall caused sudden flooding that sealed off their way out, rescue teams from Laos and Thailand reported.

Rescue Volunteer for People, a Lao organization collaborating with local officials, announced on Facebook that Tuesday’s rescue strategy involves examining air shafts located above the cave to find potential entry routes and determine where the trapped individuals might be.

Emergency personnel from Thailand arrived at the location during the weekend to help with rescue efforts.

Rescue teams report that diving specialists have made their way approximately 100 meters into the water-filled, confined cave. Officials believe the villagers could be stuck roughly 30 meters past the farthest reachable location. Teams are operating pumps to remove water from the cave to help their search mission.

The location sits in an isolated section of Longcheng district in Xaisomboun province, positioned approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the capital city. Emergency workers have documented on social media the difficult mountainous landscape and persistent rainfall creating obstacles for their mission.

Online footage from Thai rescue workers demonstrated that accessing the cave opening demands a challenging uphill trek on foot covering roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The opening itself features steep, rocky terrain and remains so narrow that only one individual can pass through at any given time.

Within the cave, rescue workers must navigate through muddy corridors, water-filled areas and tight passages requiring them to crawl on their hands and knees.

Officials have not provided formal confirmation regarding the villagers’ purpose for entering the cave, though rescue personnel indicated they went inside searching for gold deposits.

Bounkham Luanglath from the Lao rescue organization informed The Associated Press that local people regularly visited the cave seeking gold, despite repeated safety warnings from authorities advising against cave entry.

Laos maintains one of Southeast Asia’s lowest average individual incomes at approximately $2,000-2,500, with even lower earnings in underdeveloped rural regions.

While Laos doesn’t rank as a significant gold-producing nation, its mining sector represents a substantial portion of the developing country’s economy. Foreign investment, primarily from Thailand and China, drives the mining industry. Copper serves as a major export product, while rare earth element mining for modern technology has grown increasingly prevalent in Laos.

The Laos Foreign Ministry stated Tuesday that no official details are available for media distribution. The Southeast Asian country operates as a single-party communist government without organized political opposition and maintains strict control over information release.

The situation gained attention in Thailand due to similarities with the dramatic 2018 cave rescue in northern Thailand, where 12 boys and their soccer coach remained trapped for over two weeks before successful rescue in an operation that captured worldwide attention. A former Thai navy SEAL diver died during that search and rescue mission.

Another recent tragedy occurred this month when five Italian divers were discovered dead after disappearing while cave diving in the Maldives. A Maldivian military diver participating in the body recovery operation was killed during the dangerous retrieval mission.

Cave entrapment poses significant health dangers, with cold temperatures rapidly causing hypothermia. While the human body can survive weeks without food, clean water remains essential to prevent dehydration. Contaminated water sources may trigger diarrhea, accelerating dehydration.

Reduced oxygen levels create symptoms resembling altitude sickness and can eventually harm lungs and other vital organs, while carbon dioxide accumulation leads to fatigue and potential loss of consciousness.

Continuous darkness affects time awareness and disrupts the body’s natural sleep cycles. It also creates extreme light sensitivity when eyes must readjust to illumination.

Spanish regulators have issued a temporary shutdown order against two American prediction market platforms, Polymarket and Kalshi, after determining they were operating without proper gambling licenses, according to the country’s official state gazette published Tuesday.

The Consumer Rights Ministry announced that its gambling oversight agency has launched an investigation into the U.S.-based firms for allegedly violating domestic regulations by failing to obtain required administrative permits.

Officials estimate the prohibition will remain in effect for approximately three to four months while the investigation runs its course.

These prediction market platforms allow participants to purchase and trade positions based on anticipated results of upcoming events, with market prices indicating the likelihood of various outcomes.

Spanish authorities — similar to other European regulators — classify prediction markets as gambling activities when participants wager on uncertain results.

According to the ministry, unlicensed operators are missing essential technical and regulatory protections including identity verification processes, age restriction controls for minors, blocking mechanisms for individuals who have self-banned or been prohibited from gambling, plus necessary user protection standards.

What began as a specialized internet sector has expanded into a multi-billion-dollar market after establishing significant presence in American political betting during 2024.

Rescue operations in Laos are showing promising signs as teams work around the clock to reach seven individuals who have been stuck underground for nearly a week, according to the mission leader.

The group became stranded inside a cave located in Laos’ central Xaisomboun province on May 20 when heavy rainfall caused a landslide that blocked their path out, local rescue organizations and state-run Lao Phattana News reported.

International assistance arrived Sunday when a Thai rescue squad joined the mission, bringing expertise that has led to major advances in reaching the chamber where the trapped individuals are believed to be located.

“From this moment on, I believe our success is not far away,” said Kengkard Bongkawong, who leads the rescue operation, in a statement posted to social media Monday.

The rescue effort is being conducted in partnership with a local organization called the Laos Rescue Volunteer for People, which reported that the seven people had gone into the cave system while searching for gold. Attempts to contact the country’s disaster management agency were unsuccessful.

Video shared on the Facebook account of Lao Phattana News revealed the challenging conditions facing rescuers, showing helmet-wearing team members crawling through narrow passages by flashlight, struggling to breathe, while others moved slowly through muddy water that reached their chests in the cave’s depths.

Among the rescue personnel is a diver who participated in the 17-day mission at a flooded mountain cave in Thailand during 2018 that drew worldwide attention, when experts from multiple countries, including American military forces and Thai Navy SEALs, converged on Chiang Rai province to free a youth soccer team called the “Wild Boars.”

Kengkard, who leads a volunteer emergency response organization in northeastern Thailand, announced that water removal operations would proceed continuously, following the team’s breakthrough of sand and rock barriers that brought them closer to an underwater passage they believe will provide access to the trapped group.

He reported that an examination of the terrain above the cave system identified four potential shafts that might connect to the underground network and offer an alternative rescue route.

“We estimate that less than 20 metres remain before we reach the key target area,” he stated.

BEIJING, May 26 – Beijing voiced its concerns Tuesday regarding the four-nation alliance between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, emphasizing that international partnerships should promote regional stability and prosperity without singling out specific nations.

“We also do not support the formation of exclusive cliques or bloc confrontation. No cooperation should undermine mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a daily press conference.

Foreign ministers from the four Quad nations met Tuesday in India, where they reached agreements to jointly construct a port facility in Fiji and established agreements focused on critical minerals and energy security matters.

WILER, Switzerland – One year has passed since a catastrophic glacier collapse wiped out the Swiss village of Blatten, and residents are demonstrating remarkable resilience as they work to rebuild their shattered community.

Standing prominently above Switzerland’s Loetschen Valley, Hotel Momentum represents hope and determination in the face of devastating loss. The wooden structure, completed in just 105 days near the adjacent town of Wiler, serves as a powerful example of how displaced villagers are piecing their lives back together following the natural disaster.

A German-language wooden plaque at the hotel’s front desk delivers a poignant message that captures the spirit of many who lost everything: “The past is no longer, the future is not here yet, life is here and now.”

Through the hotel’s windows, visitors can gaze across rugged mountain peaks toward the site where Blatten previously existed — now transformed into a gray expanse of rubble and a turquoise lake, with rooftops of buried homes still protruding from the water.

The catastrophe unfolded after several days of official warnings. Government officials ordered the evacuation of more than 300 village residents when falling rocks destabilized the Birch glacier positioned above their community. On May 28, 2025, an avalanche of stone, earth and ice thundered down the slope in an enormous dust cloud, covering most of Blatten.

Scientists have connected the glacier failure to climate change impacts throughout the Alps. Melting permafrost undermines rock formations that were once permanently frozen — creating concerns about whether settlements like Blatten can be safely restored.

Despite these challenges, reconstruction blueprints target completion around 2030. Meanwhile, former villagers such as hotel proprietor Lukas Kalbermatten have been forced to begin anew.

Kalbermatten’s family lost the Hotel Edelweiss, which served as both their residence and a three-generation family enterprise. Following their safe evacuation, he partnered with another displaced Blatten hotel operator to establish Hotel Momentum.

BEGINNING AGAIN

Almost twelve months later, Kalbermatten describes his journey using grief as a comparison.

“In the grieving process, there’s always that first time, isn’t there? For us, it was the first church service, then the kids’ first St. Nicholas Day that wasn’t spent at home, then the first Christmas,” he explained. “And now this anniversary is coming up, and I think then we’ve made it once around, right?”

Welcoming visitors once more has created conflicted feelings. “Now you’re welcoming them back in a different place and it’s difficult,” Kalbermatten noted. “Some of them are very sad themselves, still almost in shock.”

Throughout Momentum’s interior, subtle touches honor Blatten — including throw blankets designed to match those from the destroyed village — though the facility itself is planned as temporary. Stairwell walls remain incomplete, and the building serves as a five-year interim measure before potential disassembly and relocation.

RESTORATION ‘WILL TAKE TIME’

Authorities report that progress toward reconstructing Blatten remains on schedule. Road reconstruction commenced last month, and if everything proceeds as planned, residents whose properties survived could potentially return this year. By 2029, major benchmarks should enable wider resettlement.

Manfred Ebener, construction project lead of the Blatten 2030 coordination group, emphasized that the focus involves creating a village capable of lasting for coming generations, regardless of whether all former residents choose to return.

“Rebuilding Blatten will take time before the village can return to a size similar or the same as what it was before. We realise that some of us may not live to see that happen,” he stated.

With climate change threats increasing, surrounding mountains, including those near Kandersteg, face continuous monitoring. Several kilometers from Blatten, isolated fragments breaking from the Oigschtchummun glacier triggered preventive road closures this month.

However, specialists indicate that the collapse that devastated Blatten was uncommon. Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss glacier monitoring network, informed the media outlet Swissinfo that the Birch glacier collapse resulted from an exceptional accumulation of rock, and warned against making direct comparisons.

RETURNING HOME?

For Daniel and Karin Ritler, reconstruction has involved transforming their means of earning a living.

Prior to the catastrophe, their work encompassed everything from sheep farming to glamping accommodations and food service. One month following the upheaval of their world, they started planning a fresh beginning.

They are currently launching a new hotel within the Loetschen Valley, explaining that additional lodging is essential — not just for visitors, but also for homeless residents. Through April, they remained in temporary housing.

The pair has since relocated to an apartment within their new hotel, scheduled to debut later this year under the name Zeitlos, meaning “timeless.”

While official statistics are unavailable, Kalbermatten believes approximately 80% of Blatten’s previous residents continue living in the valley. Students from the village still attend identical schools in Wiler.

As reconstruction efforts advance, the mountainside’s stability cannot be assumed, and Blatten’s future remains unclear.

“We’re not saying we will never go back to Blatten, and we also can’t say we will be back in Blatten at this or that time. That will have to unfold,” Daniel Ritler explained.

For others, the choice is more definite.

“Personally, we will certainly go back. That’s not really up for debate for us,” said Kalbermatten.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Tuesday that the nation plans to develop its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s as part of efforts to address submarine-launched nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

According to Ahn, the submarine will utilize low-enriched uranium fuel and will be constructed domestically within South Korea. The defense minister outlined South Korea’s fundamental strategy for obtaining nuclear-powered submarine capabilities.

The initiative will leverage South Korea’s existing nuclear technology, shipbuilding expertise, and defense manufacturing sectors, Ahn explained, while preserving Seoul’s pledge to avoid acquiring or developing nuclear weapons.

During the process of obtaining low-enriched uranium fuel, South Korea plans to collaborate closely with the United States to ensure non-proliferation standards are met and will also coordinate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to Ahn.

The defense minister confirmed that the timeline calls for deploying the first submarine by the mid-2030s.

Government officials have stated that nuclear propulsion technology would allow these new submarines to remain submerged for significantly longer periods and provide enhanced mobility compared to South Korea’s current submarine fleet.

SEOUL, May 26 – A portion of a bridge in South Korea’s capital city came down Tuesday during demolition operations, leaving six people injured, according to reports from the Yonhap News Agency.

Authorities are working to determine if additional individuals were caught in the incident, according to the news report.

North Korea conducted a missile test Tuesday, firing several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea from its western coastline, according to South Korean military officials.

The missiles were launched from Jongju city along North Korea’s western shore, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported.

In response to the weapons test, South Korean military officials said they have increased their surveillance operations and are sharing intelligence with both U.S. and Japanese counterparts.

Tuesday’s missile launch marks the first weapons test conducted by North Korea since April 19, when the nation fired several short-range missiles that state media characterized as testing cluster bomb warheads.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has prioritized building up his country’s nuclear and missile capabilities following the breakdown of nuclear negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. While Trump has publicly stated his interest in restarting diplomatic talks with Kim, North Korea has dismissed these attempts and insists Washington must abandon its demands for nuclear disarmament before any negotiations can proceed.

Kim has adopted an increasingly aggressive approach toward South Korea, labeling it his nation’s permanent and most hostile enemy while working to sever all diplomatic connections.

During a Cabinet session earlier Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for enhanced military development efforts. He highlighted the need for advances in artificial intelligence and drone technology, as well as the possible procurement of a nuclear-powered submarine, which has been a topic in discussions with Washington.

Lee, who advocates for better relations with North Korea, did not directly address the northern threat. However, he emphasized South Korea’s need to show “resolve to take responsibility for and protect our own security ourselves,” arguing that such independence would also strengthen the alliance with the United States.

South Korean military authorities reported Tuesday that North Korea launched multiple missiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, into waters along the nation’s western shoreline.

According to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the weapons were fired around 1 p.m. local time (0400 GMT) from Chongju, located in North Korea’s North Pyongan Province.

This represents the first documented missile test by North Korea since April 19, when the nation launched several short-range ballistic missiles that officials claimed were fitted with cluster bomb technology.

Earlier in April, Pyongyang announced it had conducted tests of a new cluster-bomb warhead attached to a ballistic missile along with an electromagnetic weapon. Military analysts characterized these tests as demonstrations of North Korea’s capabilities for contemporary warfare.

In March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that his nation’s nuclear weapons status could not be reversed and emphasized that building up a “self-defensive nuclear deterrent” remained crucial for the country’s security.

North Korea has intensified its weapons development programs under Kim’s leadership in recent years, despite facing U.N. sanctions on its nuclear and ballistic missile activities since 2006. These efforts have drawn criticism from South Korea, Japan and the United States.

Financial markets across Asia showed varied results Tuesday following U.S. military operations in southern Iran that targeted missile launch facilities and vessels deploying mines, according to military officials who described the actions as defensive measures.

The military operations occurred despite President Donald Trump’s social media statements indicating that peace negotiations were “proceeding nicely.”

American market futures experienced significant gains while petroleum prices showed mixed movement, with Brent crude trading under $95 per barrel.

Military officials stated the Monday operations aimed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” They noted exercising restraint due to an existing ceasefire agreement with Iran, which has not provided an official statement. Additional information regarding specific Iranian threats and negotiation implications remained unavailable.

Financial markets continue responding to various developments and Trump’s statements as the future of peace discussions with Iran remains uncertain.

“Markets are behaving as though a full Iran breakthrough already exists, even though the hardest parts of the negotiation remain unresolved,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management wrote in a commentary. “Washington continues to signal optimism, while Tehran insists no agreement is imminent.”

Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.4% to 64,897.64, retreating from Monday’s record closing high.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbed 0.3% to 25,668.55, while Shanghai’s Composite index dropped 0.7% to 4,122.87.

South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.9% to 8,075.71, making up ground after Monday’s holiday closure.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4% to 8,653.80.

Early Tuesday trading showed S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rising 0.6%.

U.S. benchmark crude oil dropped $5.01, more than 4%, reaching $91.59 per barrel. International standard Brent crude increased $1.57 to $94.99 per barrel following Monday’s nearly $5 decline.

American markets remained closed Monday for Memorial Day while European exchanges posted gains.

France’s CAC 40 advanced 1.1%, Germany’s DAX climbed 1.0%, and Britain’s FTSE 100 added 0.2%.

The increases followed indications of peace agreement progress. Regional officials reported Sunday that the United States was approaching a deal with Iran to conclude the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and secure Iran’s surrender of highly enriched uranium stockpiles.

The Strait of Hormuz reopening will significantly influence petroleum pricing direction. War-related closure has blocked oil tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf and delivering crude to global customers. Japan, which imports nearly all its oil primarily through the strait, exemplifies this impact.

Early Tuesday currency trading showed the U.S. dollar rising to 158.94 Japanese yen from 158.91 yen. The euro traded at $1.1634, down from $1.1645.

A devastating construction site accident in the Philippines has left families heartbroken as rescue teams officially ended their search for survivors following a building collapse that occurred early Sunday morning.

Lea Casilao, 47, described the daily routine she shared with her husband Joselito – morning text messages that began each day with her “Good morning” greeting and his response of “Good morning, love.” However, Sunday brought only silence.

Casilao explained that her spouse had been staying overnight in the workers’ housing facility on Saturday, as they had been texting until evening hours. This meant he was likely inside when the structure under construction in Angeles, located north of Manila, came crashing down at daybreak on Sunday.

Officials terminated search and rescue activities Monday night after emergency responders used specialized life detection equipment and found no indications of survivors trapped in the wreckage.

Recovery operations for the deceased began Tuesday.

“My hope of still finding him alive has collapsed,” Casilao expressed, her voice filled with emotion.

The grieving wife recounted how she and her husband had arranged to meet at the construction location Sunday afternoon, where he was supposed to collect her. When she couldn’t contact him, she traveled directly to the site and witnessed the destruction of concrete debris, twisted metal, and fallen scaffolding.

“I kept calling his number, but nothing,” Casilao shared while sitting in a temporary shelter as heavy machinery worked outside to remove debris from the roadway.

Other families sat nearby, anxiously awaiting updates about their missing relatives.

“We know how hard this is for you,” stated Maria Leah Sajili, information officer at the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, during a Tuesday news conference.

“We sympathise with what you are going through. Rest assured, we did everything we could to save lives, and now we have to move forward,” she added.

The confirmed death toll stands at four people, including one Malaysian citizen whose body was retrieved Sunday from an adjacent hotel structure also damaged in the collapse. Sixteen individuals, primarily construction workers, are still unaccounted for.

Among the fatalities was the father of 19-year-old Evelyn Alicaway. She learned about the accident from her uncle, and after viewing footage on social media, she recognized her father among those rescue workers were trying to extract from the debris.

“Even with his face blurred, I knew right away it was him. It hurt me so much to see my father like that,” Alicaway said through tears during her father’s funeral service.

Officials have initiated an investigation into the cause of the structural failure and whether the project exceeded its approved construction permits. While authorization was granted for only nine floors, a swimming pool was being built on a tenth level.

The Philippine labor agency had halted construction at the location in September 2025 due to safety infractions, but removed the work stoppage order one month later after the company addressed regulatory requirements.

“We hope the owner will take responsibility and address what happened to the workers. The families are also suffering. This is not what we wanted, but they need to coordinate with us,” said Rosenda, Alicaway’s mother.

Energy markets experienced volatility Tuesday as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran encountered new obstacles, according to financial analysts tracking global developments.

Crude oil values increased following U.S. military operations in southern Iran, which American officials characterized as defensive measures. The timing proved particularly significant as negotiators had been pursuing diplomatic solutions to end the ongoing three-month conflict.

Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister traveled to Doha on Monday for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister regarding a possible agreement with the U.S. to conclude the war. However, both Washington and Tehran have tempered expectations for any immediate diplomatic breakthrough.

This cautious approach has influenced financial markets, with the dollar strengthening as investors seek safer assets while stock markets showed mixed performance.

Market participants remain focused on the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor. Japan’s Nikkei newspaper indicated that both nations are exploring a framework to reopen this waterway approximately 30 days following any peace agreement, though specific details have not been disclosed.

The continued uncertainty is expected to keep energy costs elevated, creating challenges for policymakers and increasing financial pressure on businesses and consumers as inflationary concerns mount.

In other economic developments, Sri Lanka’s central bank surprised markets by implementing a substantial 100 basis point increase to its benchmark policy rate, aiming to address inflation and currency pressures.

Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino noted that Middle Eastern developments would influence the central bank’s decisions regarding interest rate adjustments.

Financial markets are now anticipating a 25-basis-point rate increase from the Federal Reserve by December, marking a significant shift from the two rate reductions that were expected at the beginning of the year. Similar policy tightening is anticipated from the European Central Bank and Bank of England.

Tuesday’s economic calendar includes the release of the Conference Board’s U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for May, with economists projecting a decline of eight-tenths of a point to 92. Rising gasoline prices related to the Iran conflict are expected to continue affecting consumer sentiment.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Top diplomats from four allied nations convened in India’s capital Tuesday to address ways to bolster their partnership across the Indo-Pacific region amid shared concerns over China’s expanding regional influence.

The diplomatic gathering brought together India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. According to India’s foreign ministry, the diplomats planned to review current Indo-Pacific developments and explore enhanced collaboration between their countries.

The diplomatic leaders are also anticipated to address the Iran war and disrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

These four countries comprise the Quad group, an important strategic alliance focused on maritime security collaboration, supply chain coordination and regional planning as China extends its military and economic reach throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The Quad has consistently criticized China for demonstrating military strength in the South China Sea and forcefully advancing its ocean territorial demands. Beijing argues that its military presence serves defensive purposes to safeguard what it considers China’s rightful sovereignty and characterizes the Quad as an effort to limit its economic development and regional power.

The diplomatic session occurs following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to China, a journey that New Delhi officials monitored carefully for potential changes in Washington’s strategy toward Beijing.

Rubio, who touched down in India on Saturday, stated that Washington seeks to transform the Quad from a discussion forum into an organization that implements concrete measures on topics such as maritime security and critical minerals. He also mentioned that officials are planning a summit of the four leaders sometime this year, though no specific date has been set.

The four nations had previously planned to conduct a leaders’ summit in India last year, but those arrangements were postponed due to tensions in U.S.-India diplomatic relations, including disputes over tariffs.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Nineteen Australian women and children with ties to the Islamic State group have arranged flights back from Syria, with some potentially facing criminal charges upon arrival, according to Australia’s government on Tuesday.

The group consists of seven women and 12 children who were scheduled to land in Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday. This comes less than three weeks following the return of 13 individuals in comparable circumstances to Australia’s two most populous cities.

Among the four women from the previous flights, three were hit with slavery and terrorism charges and are currently incarcerated.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that any of the 19 individuals heading to Australia who committed crimes “can expect to face the full force of the law.”

“The government has not and will not provide any assistance to this group,” Burke declared in a statement.

“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” he continued.

Burke explained that Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been making preparations for their return since 2014 and have established long-term plans to manage and monitor them.

“The priority of the government, as always, is the safety of the Australian community,” he stated.

Following this latest group’s departure, a minimum of two Australians will stay at Roj camp, a facility in northeastern Syria close to the Iraq border where individuals connected to IS have been detained since IS forces in the Middle East were defeated in 2019.

A mother who was blocked from returning to Australia in February through a temporary exclusion order was not part of this traveling group.

The government previously disclosed that one woman at Roj was subject to an order that can be utilized to prevent high-risk citizens from returning for as long as two years.

These exclusion orders were established through legislation passed in 2019 to stop defeated IS fighters from coming back to Australia.

The most recent Australian group returned from Syria on May 7, also without government assistance.

Kawsar Ahmed, also known as Kawsar Abbas, 53, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmed, 31, were taken into custody upon landing in Melbourne regarding allegations that their family had purchased a female Yazidi slave.

Janai Safar, 32, was arrested at Sydney Airport when she arrived with her 9-year-old son on charges of membership in a terrorist organization and entering or remaining in territory controlled by a terrorist organization.

Australian governments have brought Australian women and children back from Syrian detention camps on two separate occasions. Other Australians have returned discreetly without government support.

A tragic residential fire in Russia’s Omsk region has claimed the lives of six individuals, with four children among the deceased, according to reports from the TASS news agency citing regional officials.

The deadly blaze occurred at a private residence in the region, which is situated in southwestern Siberia approximately 1,370 miles east of Moscow.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that reaching an agreement with Iran might require “a few days” more, diminishing expectations for a swift resolution to the conflict following new American military strikes in southern Iran on Monday.

The strikes targeted various locations including vessels attempting to place mines and sites for launching missiles, according to Rubio, who emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must remain accessible “one way or the other.”

“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open,” Rubio stated while speaking to journalists aboard his aircraft in India’s Jaipur.

U.S. Central Command announced Monday that despite an April ceasefire remaining in effect, American forces executed additional strikes intended “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”

Iranian officials reported Monday that their military had shot down what they described as a “hostile” stealth drone using newly deployed air defense technology, though they did not specify the aircraft’s origin, according to Iranian media outlets.

The American military action occurred while Iran’s chief negotiator and foreign minister were meeting in Doha with Qatar’s prime minister to discuss a possible agreement with the United States to conclude the three-month conflict, according to a source familiar with the visit.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi earlier, Rubio indicated the U.S. would exhaust diplomatic options before exploring alternative approaches to dealing with Iran.

He described having a “pretty solid thing on the table” regarding discussions about reopening the strait and a “very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter.”

President Donald Trump posted extensively on Truth Social Monday, stating that discussions with Iran were progressing “nicely” while cautioning about potential additional attacks if negotiations collapse. “It will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all,” he posted.

Highlighting regional tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would escalate attacks against the Iran-supported Hezbollah militia operating in Lebanon.

Israeli military forces subsequently confirmed they were striking Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and additional locations.

While Israel and Lebanon established a ceasefire in mid-April, Israeli airstrikes have continued, with Israel characterizing them as defensive measures against Hezbollah, which was not included in the truce agreement.

The source briefed on the Iranian delegation’s Doha visit told Reuters that conversations centered on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, with Iran’s central bank governor participating to address potentially unfreezing Iranian assets as part of any final agreement.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated earlier that nuclear discussions would only commence after establishing the framework agreement.

Trump has identified preventing Iran from creating nuclear weapons using its highly enriched uranium as his primary objective in the conflict. Tehran has repeatedly rejected claims that it intends to develop such weapons.

Baghaei noted that the proposed Iran agreement lacks specific provisions for managing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes.

Iran would not impose transit fees for ships but would charge for services like navigation assistance and environmental protection measures, he explained, under a protocol to be established with Oman, located on the waterway’s opposite side.

Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, citing a Middle East diplomatic source, reported that the U.S. and Iran were considering a proposal to reopen the strait approximately 30 days after reaching a hostilities agreement.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to only dozens of ships compared to the previous daily average of 125 to 140.

This standoff has triggered rising oil prices and increased costs for fuel, fertilizer, and food products.

During early Tuesday Asian trading, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude showed slight gains from Monday’s closing price but remained 5.5% below Friday’s close.

A prominent international human rights organization released findings Tuesday alleging that the United Arab Emirates provided military instruction to Colombian fighters before deploying them in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

Human Rights Watch’s latest findings represent another accusation against the Gulf nation, claiming it has provided financial and military assistance to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organization facing widespread allegations of committing serious violations including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The UAE rejected these new claims when contacted by The Associated Press for comment.

“The recruitment of Colombian private military contractors adds to a growing body of evidence that the UAE provides military support to the Rapid Support Forces, which have repeatedly carried out heinous atrocities in Sudan,” said Mausi Segun, executive director of HRW’s Africa Division.

The conflict in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, after tensions between the country’s military leadership and the RSF escalated into armed confrontations in Khartoum and other areas throughout the large northeastern African nation.

The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militias, Arab groups that gained infamy for brutal acts committed against East and Central African populations in Sudan’s Darfur region during the early 2000s.

According to Human Rights Watch’s investigation, hundreds of Colombian fighters received instruction from UAE citizens at a military installation in the Al Dhafra region, located approximately 250 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, as well as at a second location in Abu Dhabi, before being sent to Sudan to support RSF operations.

The organization cited an unidentified Colombian fighter who said he provided training to RSF personnel at facilities near Nyala, South Darfur’s main city, in April of the previous year.

Numerous trainees were “young children,” according to the fighter’s account. The rights organization reported conducting interviews with another Colombian fighter and additional sources, including former Colombian military personnel.

A United Nations expert panel reported to the U.N. Security Council in September that Colombian fighters participated in combat operations across various regions of Sudan, including Khartoum, the neighboring city of Omdurman, and the Darfur and Kordofan areas. The panel noted that these fighters’ responsibilities included operating RSF unmanned aircraft, artillery equipment and armored vehicles, while also taking part in direct military operations.

In February video statements, RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo confirmed that Colombian fighters have assisted his organization with drone operations.

Human Rights Watch identified Global Security Services Group, a private security company based in Abu Dhabi, as the entity responsible for hiring the fighters. The U.N. experts reported that Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zaabi, a UAE citizen, led the company.

While UAE authorities and the security firm did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s inquiries, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry disputed the claims in correspondence with the AP.

“The UAE does not permit its territory to be used for the recruitment, training, financing or transit of foreign fighters to any conflict, including Sudan,” the ministry stated.

The ministry added that any individual or organization, whether Emirati or foreign, providing assistance to non-state armed organizations “would be doing so without state authorization, in violation of Emirati law, and would be subject to criminal investigation and prosecution.”

Human Rights Watch reported authenticating video evidence showing fighters, believed to be Colombian, supporting RSF forces during their seizure of el-Fasher in Darfur this October. U.N.-commissioned experts characterized this military campaign as displaying “the hallmarks of genocide.” The United Nations reported that no fewer than 6,000 people died within three days.

The rights organization urged the global community, including the European Union, to pressure the UAE to cease its RSF support by halting military cooperation and weapons transactions.

“Other countries need to stop accepting the UAE’s blanket denials of support to the RSF which fly in the face of the facts, and should put an end to its impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Segun said.

The United States has placed sanctions on numerous individuals and companies in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, for allegedly recruiting and sending Colombian fighters to support the RSF. However, it has not responded to reports regarding the UAE’s alleged RSF assistance, despite accusing the group of conducting “summary executions, ethnically motivated attacks, sexual and gender-based violence, and torture throughout areas under its control” during the conflict.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported that at least 59,000 people have died during the three-year period. The U.S.-based monitoring organization acknowledged that its casualty count likely underrepresents the actual toll due to reporting challenges.

Authorities in Malaysia took 51 men into custody during weekend operations at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, where officials say drugs were being used during what they characterized as illegal activities.

The arrests occurred across four different raids on Sunday, according to narcotics investigations department director Hussein Omar Khan, who released details in a Monday evening statement. The detained individuals ranged in age from 21 to 52 years old, with 28 being foreign nationals.

Officers confiscated illegal substances valued at approximately 103,070 ringgit ($26,021), which included MDMA, ecstasy in both pill and powder forms, and ketamine, Khan reported.

“This group was found to be using rooms in upscale hotels for entertainment, drug abuse, and is believed to be involved in immoral activities,” Khan stated, noting that investigators are proceeding under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Before the raids took place, authorities discovered an unconscious man in the hotel lobby who they suspect was connected to the gathering. Emergency responders transported him to Kuala Lumpur Hospital, where medical staff declared him deceased upon arrival. Khan did not reveal information regarding what caused the death.

The detained men are being held for three to six days while the investigation proceeds, Khan explained, and drug tests came back positive for 36 of those arrested.

In Malaysia, a nation with a Muslim majority, homosexuality remains illegal under a dual legal framework that combines Islamic law for Muslims with civil statutes. Sodomy carries criminal penalties, while sharia law prohibits same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.

Advocacy organizations have cautioned that LGBT individuals in Malaysia are experiencing heightened surveillance and growing hostility.

In the previous year, Kuala Lumpur law enforcement announced they would examine their protocols following an incident where 171 people detained on suspicion of same-sex conduct were released without charges when no prosecutable evidence emerged. LGBT rights organizations criticized police for allegedly holding some detainees illegally for almost two days despite a court order for their release.

America’s top diplomat declared Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz must remain accessible following U.S. military strikes against Iran the previous day.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the emphatic statement while speaking with reporters aboard his aircraft in Jaipur, India.

“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open,” Rubio declared.

The Secretary of State also indicated that finalizing the language for an agreement with Iran could require “take a few days” to complete.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The chairman of South Korea’s Starbucks operations delivered his second public apology within two weeks on Tuesday, following intense criticism over a marketing promotion that many interpreted as disrespectful to victims of a 1980 military assault on democracy advocates.

Chung Yong-jin, who leads Shinsegae Group that controls a 67.5% ownership in Starbucks Korea, performed three ceremonial bows during a broadcast appearance while seeking forgiveness from relatives of democracy fighters killed under the nation’s previous military regime and from citizens at large.

The controversy erupted when the coffee company tried to market a large tumbler called a ‘tank’ by designating May 18 as ‘Tank Day.’ This date marks the anniversary of a democratic revolt in Gwangju, a southern city where military forces using troops, armored vehicles and aircraft violently crushed the movement, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

The marketing effort further inflamed public anger by featuring the phrase ‘Thwack it on the table!,’ which many interpreted as referencing an infamous 1987 police explanation that sought to conceal the torture killing of student protester Park Jong-chol. Authorities had claimed Park suddenly died after investigators ‘hit the desk with a thwack.’

Public fury was swift, prompting Shinsegae to halt the campaign within hours and dismiss Starbucks Korea’s chief executive. Law enforcement also launched an inquiry following complaints from families of Gwangju victims.

‘I take it very seriously the fact that many people felt deep pain and anger because of Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing campaign,’ Chung stated Tuesday.

He additionally urged the public not to direct their anger toward store employees, emphasizing that leadership bears the responsibility. No significant incidents at retail locations have been reported.

Chung’s initial apology came on May 19, when he released a statement acknowledging the campaign brought ‘deep pain to the victims and bereaved families of the May 18 Democratization Movement as well as to the public.’

Jeon Sangjin, a top Shinsegae Group official, indicated the company hasn’t discovered definitive proof that Starbucks Korea marketing staff deliberately intended to ridicule the pro-democracy movement, claims the workers have rejected.

Nevertheless, he noted some staff members declined management’s requests to surrender their mobile phones during a seven-day internal investigation. Jeon stated the company would review findings from the police examination and terminate any employee proven to have intentionally mocked protesters.

The campaign backlash has generated widespread boycott demands, supported by government leaders including Interior and Safety Minister Yoon Ho-jung, who announced Starbucks items would be banned from government functions and criticized the company’s ‘anti-historical behavior.’

President Lee Jae Myung posted on X last week that the campaign demonstrated ‘inhumane and disgraceful behavior by cheap profiteers who deny the values of the South Korean community, basic human rights and democracy.’

The Gwangju suppression occurred months following General Chun Doo-hwan’s power seizure through a late 1979 military takeover. Official documents indicate approximately 200 deaths in Gwangju, though activists believe the actual casualty count was significantly higher. Chun’s administration also jailed tens of thousands under the guise of eliminating social problems.

Public fury regarding Chun’s authoritarian rule sparked massive nationwide demonstrations in 1987, compelling him to approve constitutional changes establishing direct presidential voting, commonly regarded as the beginning of South Korea’s democratic transformation.

Top diplomats from four major Indo-Pacific nations are convening Tuesday in New Delhi, working to breathe new life into their strategic alliance that observers say has lost steam during President Donald Trump’s administration.

The foreign ministers gathering represents the third such diplomatic meeting since September 2024, bringing together Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s S Jaishankar, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Plans for a leadership summit in India last year fell through as tensions mounted between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Washington’s trade tariffs and other disagreements.

Despite these challenges, the four countries remain united in their concerns about China’s expanding influence in the region. Rubio, who touched down in India Saturday for a four-day diplomatic mission focused on strengthening ties with New Delhi, has emphasized the critical need to preserve a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Speaking to Indian media Sunday, Rubio outlined his vision for the partnership’s future. “We don’t just want the Quad to be a semi-annual meeting of like-minded countries,” he explained. “We want it to actually be a forum on which we continue to partner on things.”

The U.S. Secretary of State called for the Quad to pursue “concrete actions” in areas such as maritime security and critical minerals cooperation, while diplomatic teams work toward arranging a leaders’ summit before year’s end.

“I don’t have a date on that yet, but hopefully this year we’ll find a time for all four leaders to get together,” Rubio stated.

Japan has particular urgency in diversifying its critical mineral sources after Beijing halted shipments of materials essential for aerospace, defense and semiconductor manufacturing following a recent diplomatic clash.

The diplomatic gathering occurs amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations potentially aimed at resolving their three-month standoff and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran’s blockade of this vital shipping lane has thrown energy markets into chaos and disrupted the worldwide economy, creating an issue expected to dominate Quad discussions.

Earlier Quad initiatives have focused on preserving “the free and open maritime order” throughout the Indo-Pacific by enhancing intelligence-sharing about regional maritime activities.

A Japanese foreign ministry official indicated last week that Japan anticipates discussions will address the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, alongside rising tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, where China’s increased military activity in contested waters has heightened friction with Tokyo, the Philippines and neighboring nations.

Beijing has denounced the Quad as a Cold War-era mechanism designed to restrict its growth and development.

India also faces territorial disagreements with China, though Modi had indicated openness to improving relations with Beijing during his disputes with Trump.

New Delhi has advocated for a Trump visit to India, a trip that would likely coincide with a Quad summit. Political analysts have raised concerns that the absence of high-level leadership engagement may have diminished the Quad’s strategic significance.

The Japanese official noted that India, as the host nation, would determine when a leaders’ meeting could be scheduled.

“It is quite difficult to get all four leaders together,” the official acknowledged.

Trump’s attention has been divided by the Iranian conflict, failed attempts to resolve the Ukraine situation, and strained relationships with Quad partners due to his broad tariff policies.

However, Trump recently praised Modi during a phone call to a U.S. reception in New Delhi Sunday, expressing his affection for the Indian prime minister.

“India can count on me, 100%,” Trump declared.

Stock prices for South Korean retail company Shinsegae dropped on Tuesday following a public apology from Chairman Chung Yong-jin regarding a controversial Starbucks Korea marketing effort that appeared to reference a deadly 1980 military assault on democracy activists.

The retail company, which runs Starbucks operations in Korea, encountered significant public criticism over its “Tank Day” promotional campaign featuring tumblers on May 18, coinciding with the nation’s remembrance of the student-led Gwangju Uprising from May 1980.

“I take it very seriously that Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing hurt and angered many people,” Chung said. “I will take all responsibility for the incident.” While Shinsegae stock initially rose Tuesday morning, it subsequently declined 2.6% after the chairman’s statement.

Military forces and tanks were deployed by the military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan to suppress the demonstrations, resulting in an estimated hundreds of deaths and disappearances.

Last week, Shinsegae dismissed the leader of Starbucks Korea following an apology for “inappropriate marketing.” The global Starbucks corporation has also issued an apology and announced the start of an investigation.

In response to the controversy, South Korea’s Interior Minister announced that his department would cease purchasing products from businesses that “make light” of the nation’s democratic heritage.

According to company documents, Starbucks Korea ownership is split between E-Mart at 67.5% and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC at 32.5%.

The Russian leader has authorized financial relief for military recruits joining the Ukraine conflict and their families, according to an announcement from Moscow late Monday, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military forces in the prolonged war.

Those who enter into military service agreements with Russia’s defense ministry starting May 1, along with their spouses, will have debts up to 10 million roubles ($139,700) forgiven if legal collection proceedings were active prior to that date, according to the official decree published on Moscow’s government website.

Military service agreements for what Russia terms its ‘special military operation’ — Moscow’s designation for its February 2022 invasion and occupation of Ukraine — must span at least one year, officials stated.

The debt forgiveness amount equals roughly the cost of a 35 square meter studio apartment in Moscow, based on Cian real estate data.

This financial incentive joins other support programs for Russian military personnel, including substantial payments and preferential university admission policies, as Moscow works to expand its military capacity while U.S.-led peace negotiations remain stalled.

Both nations blame each other for escalating tensions, with Ukraine preparing to deploy additional forces to northern territories in response to suspected Russian plans for renewed offensive operations.

The Russian leader also signed additional legislation Monday permanently extending state land rental agreements for those participating in the Ukraine conflict, according to government officials.

($1 = 71.6000 roubles)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued official congratulations Monday to King Abdullah II and Jordan’s citizens as the kingdom marked eight decades of independence, highlighting Jordan’s important contribution to Middle East peace and security.

In a statement released to commemorate Jordan’s National Day on May 25, Rubio declared: “On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my best wishes and congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Jordanian people on the 80th anniversary of Jordan’s Independence.”

The secretary of state emphasized that the relationship between Washington and Amman stems from “our shared commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, and secure Middle East.”

“We deeply value Jordan’s critical role in advancing our shared priorities for the region,” he stated.

Rubio also voiced America’s commitment to maintaining the ongoing partnership between the nations.

“As you celebrate Jordan’s National Day, the United States wishes the people of Jordan lasting prosperity under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, and we look forward to continuing our steadfast, decades-long partnership,” Rubio declared.

An additional statement released under Rubio’s authority noted that the United States “deeply value[s] the pivotal role Jordan plays in advancing our shared priorities in the region” and confirmed Washington’s dedication to preserving its enduring alliance with the kingdom.

Each year on May 25, Jordan celebrates its independence day, marking when the British Mandate concluded and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was founded in 1946.

After World War I ended, the region came under British control. An agreement reached during King Abdullah I’s reign terminated the mandate in March 1946, and the Jordanian Legislative Council officially proclaimed independence on May 25 of that same year.

The milestone is celebrated as a national holiday throughout Jordan featuring government ceremonies, military parades, cultural events, concerts, and public celebrations.

Traditional festivities include gatherings with Hashemite royal family members, government leaders, and international diplomats, alongside fireworks, flag ceremonies, and community events in locations such as Amman.

Israeli military officials confirmed Monday the death of Sgt. Nehorai Leizer, a 19-year-old soldier from Eilat, following a drone attack on Israeli forces conducting operations in southern Lebanon. The explosive device also left another service member from his unit with serious injuries.

According to military sources, Leizer was assigned to the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion within the “Iron Tracks” Brigade (401). The injured soldier was transported to a medical facility for treatment, with his family receiving notification of the incident.

Military officials stated that the attack happened when an explosive-laden drone targeted the location where Israeli troops were positioned during their southern Lebanon mission.

This announcement follows Sunday’s funeral for Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger, a 23-year-old from Atlit who died during military operations in northern Israel.

Military reports indicate Hamburger was fatally injured when an explosive drone from Lebanese territory hit a position near the Lebanon border where Israeli forces were stationed within Israeli boundaries. The same attack left one soldier with severe wounds and caused minor injuries to a noncommissioned officer.

Hamburger had been serving as a technology and maintenance specialist in Battalion 9 of the “Iron Tracks” Brigade (401) and was scheduled to finish his military duty in just one month.

His funeral drew hundreds of mourners, with local residents from the Hof HaCarmel Regional Council lining the streets with Israeli flags as the funeral convoy proceeded to the burial site.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid delivered sharp criticism of settler violence during a Foreign Press Association briefing, declaring without hesitation that “Settler terror is terror” when questioned about extremist actions in the West Bank.

During the press conference, Lapid addressed foreign policy matters involving Iran, Gaza and the West Bank, but made headlines when he outlined potential leadership arrangements for a future government headed by Naftali Bennett.

“I assume that the ideal government for most Israelis will be Naftali Bennett as prime minister, and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot as defense minister, and former finance minister Avigdor Lieberman as finance minister, and myself as foreign minister,” Lapid stated. “Again, this will be subject, I assume, to political results, but this is what we’re trying to do.”

Lapid characterized this potential partnership as “a union between the center and the liberal right” while indicating that additional political groups might still join the coalition. He expressed hope that Eisenkot would formally participate, saying “he will eventually.”

When pressed about whether settler violence constitutes terrorism, Lapid responded immediately and forcefully. “I never thought that in my lifetime we would talk about Jewish terrorism,” he declared. “But this is Jewish terror.”

The opposition leader argued that radical settler actions in the West Bank create both security risks and diplomatic problems for Israel. “These people are the greatest gift anti-Semites around the world could ask for,” Lapid explained. “It allows anti-Semites on both the right and the left to claim that this is Zionism and these are the values of the State of Israel. It is not.”

Lapid also targeted National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir regarding treatment of Gaza flotilla activists, describing the situation as “a national disgrace” and emphasizing that “democracy comes with a price,” which includes “upholding international law.”

International relations emerged as a major focus when The Media Line questioned what Israel’s Foreign Ministry had accomplished recently and what changes he would implement. “You’re asking what the Foreign Ministry has done right in the last three and a half years?” Lapid responded. “Nothing.”

He blamed the current administration for damaging Israel’s bipartisan support in the United States, mismanaging European relationships, and choosing public confrontation over diplomatic engagement. “Part of foreign relations is dealing with these issues, not calling everybody an anti-Semite,” Lapid stated. “There are enough anti-Semites. We don’t have to create new ones.”

To illustrate his point, he referenced Israel’s decision to withdraw its ambassador from Ireland during a diplomatic disagreement, while Ireland kept its diplomatic presence in Israel. “So now if you’re an Israeli in Ireland, you have no one to talk to if you lost your passport,” Lapid observed. “But if you’re an Irish man or woman in Israel who lost his passport, you have an ambassador to talk to. This doesn’t make any sense.”

Lapid also expressed concern that Israel’s Washington influence had declined substantially despite the close ties between Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. “In Washington, the Israeli government is actually at an all-time low in its ability to influence decisions in Washington,” Lapid warned. “Israel is not a vassal state and we are not a protectorate.”

Despite his harsh assessment of current diplomatic efforts, Lapid maintained tough positions on Iran and security matters. He supported Israel’s right to take military action against Iran when needed and expressed concerns about developing agreements between Washington and Tehran that could threaten Israeli interests.

“There will be no two-state solution in the coming years,” Lapid declared later during the session, explaining that Israelis have lost confidence that a Palestinian state could avoid becoming “another failing terror state on our border.”

However, he indicated that a Bennett-led administration would pursue a cautious approach in the West Bank, avoiding major policy shifts. The government would implement neither annexation nor significant diplomatic efforts toward Palestinian statehood in the immediate future. “We will make sure that nothing will happen that is irreversible,” Lapid promised.

The head of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency testified that anti-Jewish sentiment had become commonplace and went unaddressed prior to a deadly incident at Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah gathering last December.

Michael Burgess, who serves as director-general of security for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, delivered these statements while appearing before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, a panel established to examine circumstances that led to the Bondi incident.

“There is no doubt that the war in the Middle East invoked a range of emotions in Australia,” Burgess told the commission. “Some of those violent aspects … and those behaviors, including antisemitism that, in our view, were left unchecked, were therefore normalized and gave more permission for violence … and Jewish Australians were on the receiving end.”

The intelligence leader explained that anti-Jewish hostility grew more severe starting in late 2024, evolving from harassment and intimidation into physical assaults aimed at Jewish individuals and organizations.

“From late 2024,” he said, antisemitism escalated from “threatening, intimidating behavior to direct targeting of people, businesses, and places of worship.”

Burgess pointed to destructive acts and fire-bombing incidents against residences, educational facilities, houses of worship, and automobiles in the period leading up to the Bondi incident.

According to Burgess, the intelligence organization also concluded that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps orchestrated strikes against a kosher dining establishment in Sydney and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue.

“They use their network of proxies and agents to do their bidding, and that is to bring harm to Jewish people wherever they are in the world,” he said.

The security official revealed that his agency elevated Australia’s national terrorism alert status to “probable” in August 2024 following an assessment that terrorist incidents had become more likely.

The alert level had been previously reduced in November 2022 from “probable” to “possible,” which Burgess characterized as the second-lowest designation on the nation’s five-level threat system.

He explained that the prior reduction came after the collapse of the Islamic State group in the Middle East and a decrease in foreign fighter recruitment efforts.

OTTAWA, Ontario — A recent diplomatic visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to India has helped establish a pathway for completely resetting relations between the two nations, according to India’s trade minister speaking on Monday. The diplomatic relationship had deteriorated under Carney’s predecessor following the 2023 death of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made these statements during his visit to Canada, where he held discussions with Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu.

Goyal arrived with more than 100 senior business leaders representing India’s mining, energy, automotive and aerospace industries, forming what New Delhi describes as its largest business delegation ever sent to Canada.

“This is a partnership that is being reset very, very rapidly,” Goyal stated on Monday.

According to Goyal, Carney’s late February visit — marking the first time a Canadian prime minister had traveled to India in eight years — “completely changed the way Canada and India looked at each other.”

“It has set in motion the pathway to a complete overhaul of this relationship, setting new agendas, new goals,” he explained.

Trade negotiations between the two countries began in 2010 but were suspended by Ottawa in 2023 when Canadian officials claimed India played a role in the death of Canadian Sikh activist Hareep Singh Nijjar, who was killed near Vancouver in June of that year.

New Delhi strongly rejected these claims and criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration for providing refuge to Sikh extremists associated with the Khalistan movement. This movement seeks to establish an independent Sikh nation and is prohibited in India.

Prior to his meeting with Sidhu, Goyal expressed that both nations are eager to finalize a free-trade agreement within this year.

During Carney’s India trip, he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the countries executed multiple agreements — including a 2.6 billion Canadian dollar ($1.9 billion) contract to provide approximately 22 million pounds of uranium to India for nuclear power production.

A Canadian trade delegation traveled to New Delhi earlier this month for negotiations, and another Indian delegation plans to visit Canada later this year to advance discussions.

Goyal also mentioned that both countries aim to increase their trade volume threefold to $50 billion by 2030.

While in Ottawa, Goyal held meetings with Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. His itinerary also includes discussions with chief executives from major corporations, startups and pension funds.

Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, noted that both nations seek to broaden their partnerships and decrease reliance on the United States, which some allies increasingly view as unpredictable.

India has recently completed trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

“India is now pivoting to Europe as well as to other Western economies like Australia and Canada to be able to meet its needs for capital, technology and innovation,” Nadjibulla said.

Taiwan’s military forces responded to China’s second major military exercise near the island within a seven-day period, deploying naval vessels and fighter aircraft for monitoring operations.

Beijing has intensified military pressure on Taiwan through expanded naval and air operations in the region, prompting heightened vigilance from Taiwanese officials following recent discussions about Taiwan between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing.

Beijing considers the democratically-run island part of its sovereign territory and conducts near-daily military operations with naval vessels and aircraft in the area. Taiwan’s leadership disputes China’s territorial assertions.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported Monday evening that surveillance detected 21 Chinese military aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets and unmanned vehicles, conducting operations around the island’s perimeter alongside naval vessels in what officials termed a “joint combat readiness patrol.”

Beijing’s defense ministry has not yet provided comment regarding the military activities.

Taiwanese defense officials released three photographs captured by their personnel – including an image from an F-16 aircraft showing two Chinese fighters following a Y-20 refueling plane, a photo of the Chinese naval vessel Yinchuan, and documentation of a Taiwanese naval crew member observing the vessel with field glasses.

Beijing conducted a comparable “readiness patrol” the previous Tuesday, one day prior to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te commemorating his second anniversary in office. Chinese leadership regards Lai as a “separatist” and has rejected his repeated diplomatic overtures.

During the weekend, Taiwan reported that its coast guard encountered a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Taiwan-administered Pratas Islands, which hold strategic importance at the northern edge of the South China Sea.

On Saturday, Taiwan’s National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu used social media to highlight what he described as 100 Chinese vessels currently positioned in the first island chain, an area extending from Japan through Taiwan to the Philippines.

Australian officials announced Tuesday that seven women and 12 children with connections to the Islamic State have arranged to depart a Syrian refugee camp and return to Australia, marking the second such group to make this journey within the month.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government is providing no assistance with their travel arrangements and warned that anyone who has broken laws “can expect to face the full force of the law.”

“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Burke stated.

While Burke did not specify an arrival date for this second group, and his office has not yet provided additional details, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported the group departed a northeastern Syrian camp last Thursday and may arrive within days.

Earlier this month, four women and nine children returned to Australia following more than seven years in Syrian detention facilities. Authorities subsequently charged two of the women with slavery-related crimes, while a third faced terrorism charges, including allegations of joining the Islamic State.

The upcoming arrivals have sparked opposition criticism, with detractors arguing the center-left government has failed to prevent these repatriations. Government officials countered that there are “very serious limits” on their ability to block Australian citizens from re-entering their home country.

Officials stated that law enforcement and intelligence services have spent over ten years preparing for such returns and have established monitoring protocols for arriving individuals.

During the period from 2012 to 2016, several Australian women traveled to Syria to reunite with husbands who were reportedly ISIS members. After the caliphate’s fall in 2019, many ended up in detention camps.

This January, the United States initiated the relocation of detained ISIS members from Syria following the breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been overseeing approximately twelve facilities housing fighters and associated civilians, including foreign nationals.

DAKAR, Senegal — A former banking executive has been chosen to lead Senegal’s government after the country’s president dismissed his previous prime minister last week amid mounting political tensions and economic difficulties.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced through a televised statement on Monday his selection of Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo to serve as the nation’s new head of government, taking over from Ousmane Sonko.

The dismissal of Sonko occurred on Friday following several months of growing friction between the former prime minister and the president. This action led to the complete dissolution of the government as all ministers submitted their resignations.

Lo brings extensive financial experience to his new role, having previously worked as an executive with the Central Bank of West African States where he helped develop monetary and economic strategies across the region. He also held positions as state minister to the president and secretary-general under Sonko’s administration.

The relationship between Faye and Sonko had deteriorated over recent months due to disagreements on major policy decisions, particularly regarding discussions with the International Monetary Fund about potential loan arrangements. In May, Faye publicly stated that Sonko’s continued employment depended on his job performance.

Both leaders previously worked together within the political party Pastef, which stands for Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité in French.

The party gained control following the March 2024 parliamentary elections after campaigning against the incumbent Alliance pour la République party, amid widespread concerns that former President Macky Sall might exploit a 2016 constitutional amendment to extend his time in office.

Due to a defamation conviction confirmed by Senegal’s highest court and subsequent rejection by the Constitutional Court, Sonko was prohibited from seeking the presidency. Faye stepped in as the party’s candidate and later named Sonko as prime minister after winning the election.

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney drew comparisons Monday between an upcoming Alberta independence vote and Britain’s Brexit decision, describing the provincial referendum as a potentially “dangerous bluff.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that residents will vote October 19th on whether the oil-rich province should remain part of Canada or pursue constitutional measures toward holding a binding separation referendum.

Drawing from his Brexit experience as Bank of England governor in 2016, Carney helped steer the central bank through Britain’s European Union departure process.

“I saw firsthand what happened in the United Kingdom when the view was, ‘Vote for this, it’ll be soft and then we’ll negotiate, etc.,’ Carney said. “They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having.”

The referendum proposal wasn’t part of Smith’s party platform during their most recent provincial election campaign.

Carney expressed concern that the vote undermines his efforts to bring investment into Canada, questioning its democratic legitimacy.

“Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper,” Carney said.

Smith has publicly stated her preference for Alberta to stay within Canada. Observers have noted similarities between her position and former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s approach to Brexit — using the referendum to manage internal party divisions while personally opposing separation.

Carney is currently working to develop a new oil pipeline connecting Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coastline. Alberta residents have historically criticized Ottawa for insufficient efforts to connect the province’s substantial oil resources with Asian markets.

“We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada,” Carney said. “I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”

In response to Carney’s Monday remarks, Smith maintained that separation decisions belong exclusively to Alberta residents.

“Albertans’ frustrations have been fueled by the last 10 years of disastrous policies from Ottawa under … Justin Trudeau,” Smith said in a statement from her office, referencing the previous prime minister.

“I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans. Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney strongly criticized Israel’s treatment of detained activists during a conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday, according to a statement from Carney’s office.

Carney described the handling of civilians aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla as “appalling” and characterized the Gaza situation as “catastrophic” during the diplomatic exchange.

“The Prime Minister reiterated that the appalling treatment of civilians, including Canadian citizens, aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla was unacceptable, and he called for an independent investigation,” the official statement read.

The Canadian leader also restated his country’s stance against unauthorized Israeli settlement growth, violence by settlers in the West Bank, and attacks on Palestinian civilians, according to the statement.

While Carney had previously criticized Israel’s flotilla response last week, Monday’s comprehensive rebuke demonstrates the growing tension between Israel and some of its traditional allies.

Israeli embassy officials in Ottawa could not be reached for immediate response.

Flotilla organizers report that activists faced mistreatment during detention, with several requiring hospital care for injuries and at least 15 alleging sexual violence, including rape. Israel’s prison service has rejected these claims.

Israel’s ambassador to Canada recently told the Globe and Mail that diplomatic relations between the two nations had reached their lowest point in history.

In a related development, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand revealed she spoke with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Monday, informing him that Ottawa would share evidence of Canadian citizens’ mistreatment aboard the flotilla.

“I raised that denying Canadian citizens access to consular services while they were detained violates the Vienna Convention and must never happen again,” Anand wrote on social media platform X.

Saar responded by claiming the activists were motivated by Hamas and criticized Canada’s handling of antisemitic incidents.

“I also highlighted the horrific antisemitic wave in Canada — an average of 19 incidents a day. The Canadian government must take steps against antisemitic incitement and attacks,” Saar posted on X.

Israeli warplanes conducted bombing missions against Hezbollah positions throughout Lebanon, including targets in the eastern Bekaa Valley region, on Monday evening after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to escalate military operations against the Lebanese militant organization.

The prime minister’s pledge followed recent weeks of Hezbollah deploying fiber optic drones against Israeli military personnel in southern Lebanon and northern Israel – the same type of weaponry that has been extensively utilized during the conflict in Ukraine.

“We will hit them. It’s true that they are shooting drones at us, fiber optic drones. We have a special team working on that and we will solve that too,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media. “What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh.”

Following Netanyahu’s social media statement, some civilians began evacuating Beirut’s southern neighborhoods where Hezbollah maintains a significant presence, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The same agency reported multiple bombing runs targeted the eastern community of Mashghara in the Bekaa area Monday evening.

Hezbollah announced it conducted eight separate operations during the day, including launching a drone strike against Israeli soldiers stationed in Misgav Am in northern Israel.

These daily exchanges of fire between both forces have continued even with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on April 17.

A U.S. State Department official reported Monday that Hezbollah has disregarded multiple calls to cease attacking Israel, including a recent ultimatum. The official, who lacked authorization to speak publicly and requested anonymity, stated that Israel cannot be expected to passively endure assaults on its military personnel and citizens.

The official revealed that since the ceasefire began, Hezbollah has launched more than a thousand drones and over 700 rockets in an effort to disrupt ongoing diplomatic discussions between Lebanon and Israel, describing “the status quo is untenable.”

Lebanon and Israel initiated their first face-to-face negotiations in over thirty years last month through meetings conducted in Washington. Military representatives from both Lebanese and Israeli forces are scheduled to reconvene Friday at the Pentagon to review the ceasefire agreement. Both Israel and the United States are working toward Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The State Department official explained that the direct diplomatic engagement between Lebanon and Israel, along with the possibility of substantial U.S. assistance to Lebanon, poses a challenge to the Iran-supported Hezbollah and undermines its anti-Israel resistance messaging.

“A successful ceasefire led by the government of Lebanon would strip Hezbollah of their power and their narrative,” the official said.

Earlier Monday, an Israeli bombing attack on the southern community of Kfar Rumman resulted in four deaths and three injuries, the Lebanese NNA documented. Additional Israeli drone operations in southern areas – including an attack on a roadway near Kfar Rumman’s municipal center – caused three more fatalities.

Israeli military officials confirmed striking more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure locations throughout Monday.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict started March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel, occurring two days following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.

Lebanese Health Ministry data shows more than 3,000 people have died in Lebanon during the recent hostilities. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and one defense contractor have been killed in or around southern Lebanon, while two civilians have died in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.

HAVANA, May 25 – Cuban officials on Monday made public the full roster of inmates who were freed during a prisoner release program in April, which took place while the island nation engaged in complex diplomatic talks with the United States.

In April, Cuba announced plans to release more than 2,000 inmates from its correctional facilities, marking the second prisoner amnesty declared by the communist-led administration this year.

Prior to Monday’s announcement, officials had not disclosed the names of those who benefited from the release program.

Iranian news agencies reported Monday that multiple explosions were detected in coastal regions of Iran near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, though officials have not determined what caused the blasts.

According to Tasnim news agency, three separate explosions were detected in the port city of Bandar Abbas. Meanwhile, Fars news agency reported that comparable explosive sounds were registered near the towns of Sirik and Jask, both located close to the crucial maritime passage.

Iranian authorities have not yet provided an explanation for the source of the explosions in the area.

Hospital officials in Gaza report that an Israeli airstrike on Monday resulted in the deaths of a Palestinian woman and a young girl in the southern region of the territory.

According to the Kuwait field hospital that treated the victims, the attack targeted a temporary shelter housing a displaced family in Muwasi, located on Khan Younis’ western edge. Medical staff confirmed that another young girl sustained injuries in the incident.

Israeli military officials acknowledged conducting a strike against what they described as a militant target, though they provided no additional information about the operation.

These deaths add to the ongoing casualties among Palestinians in the territory following an October ceasefire agreement that sought to end more than two years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant Hamas group controlling Gaza. Despite the reduction in major combat operations, the fragile truce continues to experience nearly continuous Israeli military action.

Since the ceasefire began, Israeli military operations including repeated aerial bombardments and regular gunfire targeting Palestinians in proximity to military-controlled areas have resulted in over 880 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

While the ministry operates under Hamas leadership, United Nations agencies and independent experts generally consider its casualty reporting credible. However, the ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant fatalities in its counts.

Palestinian militants have conducted armed attacks against Israeli forces, with Israel justifying its military responses as necessary to address ceasefire violations or protect its personnel from threats. Israeli military casualties since the truce began total four soldiers.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio by phone on Monday to inform him of Moscow’s plan to target military-connected locations in Kyiv, according to an announcement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The ministry released a statement indicating that Lavrov explained the action to Rubio as a response “in response to the continuing terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime against the peaceful population and civilian sites on Russian territory.”

According to the statement, Russian military forces “are starting systematic strikes on facilities located in Kyiv that are used for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on centres where the corresponding decisions are being made.”

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition secured a surprising victory in Venice’s mayoral race on Monday, according to election projections, maintaining their grip on Italy’s most high-profile city in nationwide local elections.

The electoral contest took place across more than 600 Italian municipalities, marking the government’s first major political test following a significant loss in a justice referendum this past March – a defeat that represented Meloni’s biggest political setback since assuming office in 2022.

Venice, which has remained under right-wing leadership for ten years, appeared headed for a political shift based on recent polling data that indicated the center-left held a commanding position. The city recently faced diplomatic tensions regarding Russia’s participation in the Biennale Art Festival.

Despite the polling predictions, center-right candidate Simone Venturini captured approximately 51% of voter support, latest projections indicated, significantly outpacing his primary challenger who received 39%. This margin eliminated the need for a runoff election that occurs when no candidate reaches the 50% threshold.

Polling firm Youtrend declared Venturini the winner, stating his substantial lead made the election outcome certain.

Giovanni Donzelli, a high-ranking member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, commented on the victory: “(Opposition) turned up in Venice convinced they could push the narrative that Meloni was finished, that the centre-right was in crisis. Then Italians went to the polls and those expectations ran up against reality.”

These local elections represent some of the final contests before national elections scheduled for next year, with political analysts viewing the two major coalitions as evenly matched in a competition that will determine the country’s political direction through 2027.

In other election results, Vincenzo De Luca secured his fifth consecutive term in Salerno, located near the Amalfi Coast in southern Campania, after previously completing a decade as regional governor within a center-left alliance.

The Sicilian city of Messina saw former Mayor Federico Basile, who operates independently of the major coalitions, win another term. Meanwhile, the center-right achieved significant gains in Reggio Calabria, displacing leftist leadership that had controlled the city since 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Monday that his country has encountered significant obstacles in discussions with America about boosting missile defense manufacturing capabilities.

“Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic missile production,” he stated during his evening video address.

“We are trying to accelerate this work in Europe, the production of our own anti-ballistic systems on the continent in sufficient quantities.”

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that his nation continues diplomatic discussions with America about potential assistance, noting that American leadership remains crucial to Ukraine’s defense efforts.

Zelenskiy expressed appreciation to French President Emmanuel Macron for his contributions to developing defense systems and highlighted Europe’s significant role in providing financial support for Ukraine’s weapons procurement.

“Europe is helping us financially. But the leadership of the United States is also very much needed. Today it is very, very important to say this,” he remarked.

While acknowledging gratitude for American technical knowledge, Zelenskiy stressed the importance of achieving tangible outcomes. “Very important that there are results. The same applies to diplomacy. We expect new diplomatic measures with representatives of the President of the United States of America.”

American-led diplomatic efforts to reach a resolution in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has persisted for more than four years, have encountered delays as attention has shifted toward the war with Iran. Last week, Zelenskiy indicated he anticipated fresh American proposals for advancing peace negotiations.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A new military draft law in Cambodia is now active, establishing prison terms as long as five years for individuals who dodge mandatory service, according to the country’s Prime Minister Hun Manet, who announced the development Monday.

Senate president Hun Sen signed the legislation Saturday while serving as interim head of state as King Norodom Sihamoni receives treatment in China for prostate cancer.

The push for updated conscription rules came after deadly border clashes with Thailand that erupted on two occasions last year, killing roughly 100 individuals and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.

The updated legislation features eight chapters and 20 articles, taking the place of a 2006 law that was never put into practice and had become obsolete. Under the new rules, Cambodian males between 18 and 25 must complete two years of military duty, while females can volunteer for service. Those called to serve have 30 days to report after notification or face charges for avoiding service, unless they have legitimate reasons for absence.

Punishment for dodging service depends on whether the nation is experiencing peace or conflict.

In times of peace, violators could receive six months to two years behind bars plus fines between $250 and $1,000. If the country faces war or foreign invasion, sentences jump to two to five years in prison with fines from $1,000 to $2,500.

The law provides exceptions for monks, priests, disabled individuals and people with specialized expertise in science and technology. Following completion of mandatory service, citizens join reserve units until reaching age 45.

Speaking to legislators earlier this month, Hun Manet characterized the law as a framework for shaping young Cambodians’ thinking to develop love for their homeland, build patriotic feelings and create readiness to serve militarily in defense of the nation.

Iran’s president has directed the restoration of global internet connectivity following an almost three-month restriction period, according to state media outlets reporting Monday.

The directive was confirmed by the head of public relations at Iran’s Communications Ministry, though details about the timeline and implementation process remain unclear.

According to internet monitoring group NetBlocks, Iranian citizens have been largely cut off from worldwide web access for 87 days as of Monday. Only a small number of residents with costly and sophisticated VPN technology have been able to bypass the restrictions.

The initial internet shutdown began January 8 in response to widespread anti-government demonstrations across the country. Service had started returning to normal in February before officials implemented another blackout on February 28, coinciding with military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran.

Even during typical periods, Iranian internet access faces significant limitations through website censorship. Government officials have increasingly shifted toward using a domestic intranet system to deliver online services without depending on global internet infrastructure, particularly for educational institutions currently operating with digital learning programs.

The United States and Iran are reportedly negotiating an agreement that would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz approximately one month following a peace deal between the two nations, according to a report published Monday by the Nikkei newspaper citing a Middle East diplomatic source.

Under the proposed arrangement, Iran would spend a 30-day period removing mines from the strategic waterway after reaching an agreement, the report states. Once this process is completed, vessels from all nations would regain the ability to travel through the strait without restrictions or safety concerns, and Iran would cease charging transit fees, according to Nikkei.

The publication also reported that the ceasefire established in early April would receive a 60-day extension, during which time negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program would take place throughout the two-month period.

Canada’s Prime Minister issued a stern warning Monday about Alberta’s upcoming referendum on potentially leaving the country, describing the non-binding vote as potentially becoming “a dangerous bluff.”

The western oil-producing province announced last week its intention to hold a non-binding referendum this October asking residents whether they want Alberta to stay part of Canada.

Drawing from his experience during Britain’s exit from the European Union, the Prime Minister referenced the ongoing complications from that 2016 decision. “I saw firsthand what happened in the United Kingdom … They’re still 10 years later trying to undo what people didn’t think they were voting for, but what they ended up having,” he stated.

October’s ballot will ask Albertans if their province should continue as part of Canada or if officials should begin constitutional procedures needed for a future binding independence vote.

“Is it helpful to ask these fundamental questions? No, it’s not helpful, of course it’s not,” the Prime Minister told reporters. “Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t.”

Alberta’s right-of-center United Conservative Party made no mention of separation during their successful 2023 provincial campaign.

A new Angus Reid survey released Monday shows 60% of Alberta residents would choose to remain in Canada, with 67% opposing a binding independence referendum if one were eventually scheduled.

Separation supporters cite frustration with environmental policies from the Prime Minister’s predecessor, which they claim damaged Alberta’s oil and gas sector. The current Prime Minister has reversed several of those environmental measures since assuming office in March 2025.

Having served as governor of the Bank of England during Brexit, the Prime Minister cautioned against arguments that supporting a non-binding vote would improve Alberta’s negotiating position with Ottawa.

“This is an observation from experience. In these separation issues, it’s often advanced that, ‘Vote for this, and it’s a free option, vote for this, and we will strengthen our hand in future negotiation.’ That is a very dangerous bluff,” he explained.

This October vote would represent the first instance in Canadian history where a province other than Quebec has presented separation as a public question.

The referendum is anticipated to create divisions both within Alberta and across Canada, as the Prime Minister works to maintain national unity while addressing U.S. trade tariffs and upcoming negotiations for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Armed groups carried out two devastating attacks in Nigeria’s Kwara state over the weekend, resulting in three deaths and the kidnapping of 25 people, according to local authorities.

The first assault occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday morning in Yashikira, located in the Baruten local government area close to Nigeria’s northwestern border. Police described the incident as a well-planned coordinated strike.

Armed attackers targeted the police divisional headquarters, but officers successfully fought off the assault, according to a statement from the Kwara State Police Command. However, during the same operation, the gunmen torched portions of the Emir of Yashikira’s palace and kidnapped 10 local residents before fleeing to parts unknown.

Police Commissioner Ojo Adekimi announced that security forces have initiated a comprehensive search operation combining military personnel, forest guards and local vigilantes. The mission focuses on combing through nearby wooded areas and suspected criminal hideouts to free the hostages and capture the perpetrators.

In a separate incident, authorities confirmed another attack occurred late Friday in the Ekiti local government area. Gunmen opened fire on worshippers conducting an overnight prayer vigil at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, killing three people and taking 15 others captive.

A local pastor reported the Friday night assault, stating the attackers invaded the religious gathering around 8:30 p.m., firing randomly before forcing victims to leave with them.

Law enforcement officials said they have deployed specialized tactical units, including drone operators and mobile force specialists, to conduct rescue missions and pursue the attackers.

Kwara state, situated in Nigeria’s north-central area, has increasingly experienced violence from armed criminal organizations locally known as bandits in recent years. These groups typically operate throughout forested border territories and frequently engage in kidnapping schemes to collect ransom payments.

A controversial Turkish appeals court decision has removed opposition leader Ozgur Ozel from his leadership role, creating a significant political upheaval that has disrupted financial markets and may extend President Tayyip Erdogan’s 23-year tenure in power.

The May 21 court decision represents the latest development in an ongoing government offensive targeting the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has resulted in the arrest or imprisonment of hundreds of party members and multiple mayors.

Opposition Response and Street Protests

The CHP has denounced the appeals court decision as a “judicial coup,” with Ozel pledging to challenge the ruling through legal channels.

Following a police action involving tear gas that forced him from party headquarters on May 24, Ozel proceeded to parliament and declared that the CHP would now be “on the streets, in the squares, marching towards power.”

Other opposition groups have also criticized the decision as undemocratic, though Erdogan ally Devlet Bahceli suggested courts should avoid interfering in party internal affairs.

The pro-Kurdish DEM, which holds the third-largest parliamentary presence, condemned the ruling and called the police action at CHP headquarters a “disgrace to democracy.”

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek defended the court’s action, stating it showed democracy’s self-correcting mechanisms and rule of law were working properly, a position supported by a spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party (AKP).

The European Union expressed concerns about rule of law, judicial independence and democratic pluralism in Turkey, an EU membership candidate, emphasizing that opposition parties must operate freely without facing repression.

Political analysts consider the ruling a critical test of the democratic-autocratic balance in NATO member Turkey and believe it could extend Erdogan’s time in office.

The political crisis caused market turbulence, weakening the lira and other Turkish investments and forcing the central bank to sell billions in foreign reserves, though markets recovered the following day.

Central Political Figures

Ozel assumed the CHP chairmanship through a party congress in 2023, succeeding Kemal Kilicdaroglu. He has organized anti-Erdogan demonstrations since the detention of Erdogan’s primary political opponent, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The court ruling has restored Kilicdaroglu to CHP leadership. The controversial figure headed the party for 13 years and lost his leadership position after his 2023 presidential election loss to Erdogan.

Imamoglu was imprisoned in March 2025 facing corruption and additional charges including espionage and terrorism, all of which he firmly denies. His university credentials were also invalidated, making him ineligible under Turkish law to seek the presidency.

Erdogan has reached his constitutional term limits and can only seek reelection if an early election occurs or the constitution is modified. He currently lacks the required 360 members in the 600-seat parliament needed for a referendum. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2028.

Timeline of Government Actions

The crackdown began on October 31, 2024, when Ahmet Ozer, the CHP mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, was imprisoned pending trial over suspected connections to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant organization, before his release on November 12, 2025 with proceedings still ongoing.

Hundreds of party members and elected officials have faced detention since 2024 on corruption and other allegations, which the CHP rejects. Imamoglu’s March 2025 arrest triggered significant market decline and Turkey’s biggest demonstrations in ten years.

The CHP, fellow opposition parties, rights organizations and some European officials characterize the crackdown as a politically motivated effort to silence opposition under Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian governance. Government officials reject these claims, maintaining Turkey’s judicial system operates independently.

Imamoglu, whose legal proceedings continue, confronts additional allegations of espionage and insulting chief prosecutor Gurlek, whom Erdogan appointed as justice minister earlier this year.

Gurlek has previously sought a prison term exceeding 2,000 years for Imamoglu, claiming he directed an extensive corruption scheme that cost the government billions of lira, allegations the Istanbul mayor categorically denies.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has begun preventive radiation therapy following a diagnosis of early-stage skin cancer, according to his medical team and presidential office announced Monday.

The 80-year-old leftist leader underwent surgery on April 24 to remove a basal cell lesion.

Medical staff at the Sirio-Libanes Hospital released a statement saying they “decided to proceed with complementary treatment with preventive, superficial radiotherapy on the scalp.” The doctors noted that the president will continue his normal daily responsibilities without any limitations.

A presidential spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the “small” lesion was identified as early-stage cancer. The president will complete 15 radiotherapy treatments designed to prevent additional lesions from developing.

The president is anticipated to seek a fourth non-consecutive term in the October election and currently holds a lead over right-wing opponent Flavio Bolsonaro in multiple polling surveys for a possible second-round runoff.

As Brazil’s oldest serving president, he has faced several health challenges, including emergency surgical procedures in 2024 to address and prevent brain bleeding. In 2011, the president received treatment for throat cancer.

Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party on Monday criticized a court decision that removed leadership of the country’s main opposition party, describing a police raid that forced leaders from their headquarters as shameful for democratic principles.

Security forces deployed tear gas and stormed the Republican People’s Party headquarters in Ankara on Sunday, removing ousted leader Ozgur Ozel. His party has characterized the court decision as an attack on democracy and promised to challenge it.

The DEM Party, which holds the third-largest number of seats in parliament, joined other opposition groups in denouncing the appeals court decision as undemocratic.

After meeting with Ozel at parliament, DEM Party co-chair Tuncer Bakirhan described the police actions as “shameful and unacceptable,” stating the security forces’ response represented “a disgrace to democracy and a scandal for the rule of law.”

“The fate of political parties should not be determined by courts; it should be determined by their members and the choices of their voters,” Bakirhan added.

The DEM Party ranks as the third-largest parliamentary group, trailing the Republican People’s Party and President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party.

The party has worked to broker peace negotiations between Turkish authorities and the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives since 1984.

However, the DEM has criticized government management of peace efforts, demanding more substantial democratic reforms. The party has expressed concern that the crackdown on opposition forces undermines public confidence in the peace process.

Thursday’s court ruling removed Ozel by invalidating results from the 2023 party congress where he won leadership, citing procedural violations, and restored former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who lost to Erdogan in that year’s presidential race.

The Republican People’s Party accused the court of functioning as an extension of the governing party.

Following his departure from party headquarters Sunday, Ozel organized a demonstration march to the national parliament, declaring to assembled supporters that the legislature would serve as their temporary base “until this struggle frees the party from occupation.”

Omer Celik, spokesman for Erdogan’s AK Party, dismissed criticism of the court ruling Monday.

“Today’s events simply involve the judiciary investigating and reaching a conclusion regarding certain allegations that emerged as a result of internal conflicts and struggles within the CHP,” Celik said.

This controversy unfolds during an extraordinary legal campaign targeting the Republican People’s Party, which polls similarly to Erdogan’s conservative, Islamic-oriented AK Party.

Since 2024, hundreds of party members and elected officials, including Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu who serves as the party’s expected presidential nominee, have been arrested on corruption allegations the party disputes.

Turkey’s next nationwide election is scheduled for 2028, though it would require earlier scheduling if Erdogan, now 72 and facing constitutional term restrictions, seeks another candidacy.

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced Monday that he will reduce his own salary along with his cabinet members’ compensation by 50% as the South American nation grapples with mounting civil disorder and calls for his ouster.

During remarks at a gathering in Sucre, Bolivia’s constitutional capital, Paz characterized the salary reductions as evidence of his administration’s “commitment to the country.”

The wage cuts follow nearly four weeks of ongoing political turmoil and civil demonstrations across Bolivia. The unrest has disrupted supply chains throughout La Paz and El Alto, creating critical shortages of essential items including food, fuel and medical supplies that have impacted retail outlets, healthcare facilities and fuel stations.

Demonstrators are demanding that Paz’s moderate administration reverse budget-cutting policies and tackle escalating costs of living.

Paz, who assumed the presidency in November after inheriting significant economic challenges, has maintained that reducing government spending and cutting fuel subsidies are essential steps to restore fiscal stability.

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned on Monday the potential agreement under discussion between the United States and Iran, stating it accomplishes none of Israel’s objectives for the conflict while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his inability to secure more favorable terms.

Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, Lapid, who leads an alliance working to remove Netanyahu from office in upcoming elections this year, described the specifics of the potential agreement as “troubling.”

“The deal is bad for Israel, bad for the region, bad for the citizens of Iran,” Lapid stated.

The conflict began February 28 with Israel and the United States declaring their intention to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, halt its backing of proxy militant organizations throughout the region, and eliminate Iran’s capacity to develop nuclear weapons. Both Netanyahu and President Donald Trump also expressed hopes of creating circumstances that would lead to the overthrow of Iran’s current government.

Regional officials report that the current agreement under consideration would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz. In return, the U.S. would end its blockade of Iranian ports and remove sanctions against the country. Critical aspects of Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed through negotiations over a 60-day timeframe. Whether the agreement will tackle Iran’s missile capabilities or its backing of regional militant organizations remains uncertain.

While Lapid thanked Trump for initiating the conflict alongside Israel, he faulted Netanyahu for permitting Washington to pursue negotiations with minimal coordination with Israeli leadership.

“The Israeli government is at an all-time low in its ability to influence decisions in Washington,” he stated, referencing Trump’s recent comment that “Netanyahu will do whatever I want him to do.”

The leader of the centrist “Yesh Atid” party, Lapid held the position of prime minister temporarily in 2022 through a power-sharing arrangement with Naftali Bennett, who heads a smaller conservative party. Their coalition administration brought Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure to an end.

The two politicians have again combined their parties into a unified faction under Bennett’s leadership as they work to defeat Netanyahu in elections scheduled by late October.

Since Netanyahu’s return to office in late 2022, Lapid has served as Israel’s opposition leader, while Bennett stepped away from political activities. Their partnership seeks to consolidate a divided opposition largely united by their mutual opposition to Netanyahu.

Among the dwindling number of Israeli political figures who advocate for Palestinian independence, Lapid indicated this matter would not be prioritized by the next administration. He cited inappropriate conditions following the devastating impact of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and subsequent conflicts.

“There will be no two-state solution in the coming years, because Israelis now understand this will become just another failing terrorist state on our borders,” Lapid explained, adding that the Palestinian Authority lacks the capability to effectively stop attacks against Israel.

However, Lapid indicated he would resist unilateral actions that would eliminate the possibility of a future Palestinian state and had secured commitments from Bennett, a former West Bank settlement leader, that Israel would not pursue annexation of the occupied territory.

Lapid also dismissed the possibility of working with Arab parties to create a coalition capable of removing Netanyahu from power.

Polling data suggests Bennett and Lapid may be unable to establish a governing majority without support from Arab legislators, similar to their previous administration. They challenged a long-standing convention in 2021 by including Mansour Abbas, who leads a small Arab faction, in Israel’s governing coalition – marking the first and only occurrence in the nation’s history.

Lapid characterized his earlier collaboration with Abbas as “the right government for the moment,” but emphasized that Israel faces vastly different circumstances after almost three years of warfare, and he and Bennett will not form a coalition with Abbas’ party in the upcoming elections.

BEIJING (AP) — While tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police in his home country over the weekend, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was in Beijing on Monday strengthening his nation’s relationship with China through high-level diplomatic meetings.

Vucic met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two leaders oversaw the execution of more than 20 cooperation deals spanning politics, trade, technology and education sectors, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. During their discussions, Xi emphasized that both nations should enhance their exchanges and collaborative efforts to elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership.

“China supports Serbia in persisting on a development path that suits its own national conditions, and is willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Serbia,” CCTV quoted Xi as saying.

Xi also highlighted the importance of expanding collaboration in artificial intelligence, digital economy and green energy sectors to create new opportunities for growth.

A joint statement issued by Chinese official news agency Xinhua outlined both countries’ position that human rights issues should not be used for political purposes, while emphasizing their commitment to sovereign equality, multilateralism and adherence to international legal frameworks.

According to CCTV, Vucic expressed Serbia’s strong commitment to building relations with China and pledged unwavering support for China’s core interests. Xi presented him with a “friendship medal,” Xinhua reported.

The Serbian leader launched his five-day state visit to China on Sunday while confronting significant political challenges at home. Violence broke out between protest groups and riot police following Saturday’s massive anti-government demonstration that drew tens of thousands of opposition supporters to the Serbian capital of Belgrade.

Vucic has attempted to suppress the widespread demonstrations that have challenged his authoritarian governance in the Balkan nation. However, Saturday’s large turnout indicated that public opposition remains strong more than a year after protests initially began demanding accountability for a fatal train station collapse in November 2024.

The disaster has become a catalyst for widespread frustration with Serbia’s leadership and has sparked increasing public calls for transparency in the corruption-riddled country, which has implemented a rapid succession of major infrastructure developments, primarily through Chinese contractors.

While Serbia officially pursues European Union membership, the country has cultivated relationships with Russia and China. In an opinion piece Vucic published in the South China Morning Post newspaper on Sunday, he argued that European discussions about China are “too often clouded by suspicion and strategic anxiety.”

“I understand that every major political community must guard its future, but I believe Europe should approach China not with fear and suspicion but with confidence and a serious, open-eyed willingness to cooperate,” he wrote.

BRUSSELS, May 25 – Officials forced residents to leave their homes Monday after a textile warehouse caught fire in Turbize, Belgium, creating what the local mayor described as a substantial explosion threat from gas canisters stored in the facility.

The town council instructed other residents throughout Turbize to remain indoors with all windows and doors shut tight because of dangerous smoke from the blaze, according to information posted on the municipality’s website.

“Right now, we are evacuating everybody in the street, as there is a significant risk of explosion for the nearby houses because of the gas canisters inside the building,” mayor Samuel d’Orazio told local radio station RTBF.

The mayor explained that officials were conducting tests to determine the toxicity levels of the dense black smoke rising from the fire.

The safety warning to secure homes extended throughout a wide region west of Brussels as dangerous fumes continued spreading across the surrounding area.

Medical professionals working to contain Congo’s Ebola crisis are confronting a dangerous new challenge as violent incidents target treatment facilities, causing infected patients to escape into surrounding communities.

Three separate assaults have taken place in Ituri province, where initial cases emerged, including two weekend incidents at one hospital that resulted in more than 24 patients fleeing the facility.

These violent episodes echo the widespread targeting of medical centers during Congo’s 2018-2020 Ebola crisis in the eastern region, which resulted in over 25 healthcare worker fatalities.

Previous attacks involved community members angry about burial restrictions or those believing the disease was fabricated. The sudden arrival of resources and personnel in regions long overlooked during years of warfare and humanitarian disasters has created local skepticism about true intentions behind the heightened attention.

Dr Richard Lokodu, who leads the Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital that experienced attacks on both Saturday and Sunday, indicated similar patterns are emerging now.

“There is denial of the disease within the population, with some members wanting to claim the bodies of suspected and/or confirmed cases,” he said.

The World Health Organization has classified this outbreak of the uncommon Bundibugyo strain as the third-largest recorded and declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported Sunday that more than 900 suspected cases have occurred during this outbreak, with 101 laboratory-confirmed infections.

On Monday, Tedros announced 220 suspected fatalities in the current crisis and noted that delayed case identification has left response teams “playing catch-up”.

At Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital in the town where numerous cases have emerged, 18 Ebola patients escaped Saturday after “unidentified individuals” set fire to isolation tents established by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, according to Lokodu.

Laboratory testing of four escapees has returned three negative and one positive result, he reported.

“So we have one confirmed case of Ebola that continues to circulate in the community and evade the response,” Lokodu said.

Sunday brought four separate assault waves by youth organized by family members of a deceased Christian religious leader who died from Ebola, he explained.

Seven additional patients escaped while Congolese law enforcement and military forces intervened to restore calm, he said.

A critically ill suspected Ebola patient experiencing hemorrhaging died during the second assault while attempting to leave his bed, Lokodu reported.

Those conducting the attacks demanded release of deceased Ebola victims for burial purposes, according to Lokodu.

Ebola victims remain extremely contagious after death, and improper burials where family members contact bodies without adequate protective gear represent a primary transmission source.

Healthcare workers encountered several mob attacks during West Africa’s 2013-2016 outbreak, the largest recorded, with some accusers claiming medical staff were spreading the disease.

However, such incidents dramatically increased during eastern Congo’s 2018-2020 outbreak in a region characterized by widespread violence and distrust toward official institutions.

Beyond spontaneous community anger, research revealed many attacks were conducted by armed groups seeking to exploit the outbreak for political and economic advantage.

The present outbreak reportedly began in Ituri before expanding to North and South Kivu provinces, including territories controlled by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, and crossing into neighboring Uganda.

Monday brought two additional confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda, raising that country’s total to seven infections.

President Trump has made it clear that any potential agreement with Iran must meet his standards of being exceptional and significant, or no deal will be reached at all.

The president shared his position this morning through a Truth Social post as reports surface that some form of agreement may be developing – described as a potential Memorandum of Understanding that could require several days to finalize.

President Trump is criticizing those who oppose a potential agreement to resolve the current tensions with Iran.

Through his social media platform, the president states that those finding fault with the proposed arrangement lack understanding of the situation. Various conflicting reports have emerged regarding what terms have been settled.

The timeline and process for completing any agreement remains uncertain, as does when different components might go into effect. The president held discussions with Middle Eastern allies, including Israel, during the weekend. These details come from two regional officials and a U.S. official who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of the ongoing negotiations.

A delegation from Iran headed by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the trip to Qatar on Monday as negotiations continue, although the specific topics for discussion were not immediately known. Qalibaf previously conducted significant direct negotiations with Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan last month.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — A leading Cambodian opposition figure was freed from house arrest Monday after receiving a royal pardon that overturned his 27-year treason conviction, just one month following an appeals court’s decision to uphold both his guilty verdict and sentence.

The Senate president, Hun Sen, acting in place of King Norodom Sihamoni while the monarch receives medical care in China during an extended visit, granted the pardon that released Kem Sokha from his confinement.

In a post shared on Telegram, Prime Minister Hun Manet characterized the pardoning decision as a measure to promote national unity. Kem Sokha has not yet made any public statements regarding his release.

Political analysts suggest this development will have minimal impact on Cambodia’s political landscape, given that other prominent opposition leaders remain in exile while activists continue facing limitations on their freedom of expression and activities.

The opposition leader’s conviction came in 2023 after spending an extended period in pretrial custody. Authorities alleged he plotted with the United States to overthrow Cambodia’s ruling government. Prosecutors relied heavily on video footage showing him receiving political guidance from American pro-democracy organizations.

Kem Sokha has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, telling the appeals court last month that he had never conspired with any foreign country to cost the lives of Cambodian citizens or the loss of national territory.

His 2017 detention triggered a widespread government campaign targeting independent journalists and political adversaries, particularly affecting Kem Sokha’s well-supported Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Following his arrest in 2017, the Supreme Court disbanded the political party. This action enabled Hun Sen’s governing Cambodian People’s Party to claim every parliamentary position in the 2018 electoral contest.

When Kem Sokha faced arrest and conviction, Hun Sen held the prime minister’s office. In 2023, Hun Sen transitioned to Senate president while his son, Hun Manet, assumed the role of prime minister.

Throughout his 38-year tenure leading Cambodia, Hun Sen faced persistent allegations of weaponizing the court system against critics and political rivals. Despite government claims of upholding legal principles within a democratic electoral framework, the judiciary has repeatedly dismantled opposition parties viewed as threats and imprisoned or intimidated their leadership.

Critics maintain that conditions have shown little improvement under Hun Manet’s leadership.

At the end of April, the Phnom Penh Appeals Court upheld Kem Sokha’s 27-year punishment after a significantly delayed appeals hearing. The court imposed an additional restriction preventing him from international travel for five years beyond his sentence completion. The current status of this travel ban remains uncertain.

Earlier Monday, before the pardon announcement, Kem Sokha had received court approval to visit his sick 101-year-old mother.

While he avoided media interviews, his attorney shared social media footage showing him embracing his mother and expressing that if freed, he would join the Buddhist monkhood in her honor. He also stated he would not pursue retribution against those responsible for his imprisonment.

Former President Donald Trump announced Monday that he believes several Middle Eastern nations should be required to sign the Abraham Accords simultaneously as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran.

Speaking about weekend conversations with foreign leaders, Trump said he discussed the normalization agreements with officials from Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, along with representatives from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, who have already signed the accords establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

“I stated that, after all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Monday.

The former president indicated that these nations would welcome Iran’s participation in the accords following the completion of a peace agreement to end current conflicts.

While Trump described talks with Iran as “proceeding nicely,” he provided no timeline or details suggesting an agreement might be reached soon.

A British mountaineer who recently achieved his 20th successful climb of Mount Everest is calling on expedition companies to more carefully evaluate the qualifications of those attempting the dangerous journey.

Kenton Cool, age 52, completed his latest ascent of the world’s tallest peak at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) last week, setting a record for most summits by a non-Sherpa climber. Speaking from Kathmandu on Monday, he emphasized that expedition leaders need to be more selective about which climbers they accept for summit attempts.

“It is the operators who should be more diligent with who they allow to be with the team (of guides) that goes to the summit,” Cool stated, highlighting the importance of screening out climbers with insufficient experience.

This climbing season has already seen five fatalities on Everest, with several mountaineers requiring emergency rescue operations from the dangerous high-altitude area known as the “death zone” during their descent.

Cool believes the mountain itself isn’t inherently dangerous when proper protocols are followed, including working with qualified guides, using correct techniques, and implementing thorough preparation strategies.

“People should not die on Everest if they have good enough experience,” Cool explained.

The safety concerns have intensified following last week’s unprecedented milestone when 274 climbers successfully reached the summit on the same day – the highest single-day total ever recorded from Nepal’s side of the mountain.

This massive influx of climbers has reignited discussions about the dangers of overcrowding on Everest and renewed criticism that Nepal has previously encountered regarding mountain management.

The congestion often creates dangerous bottlenecks and extended waiting periods in the “death zone,” where oxygen levels fall far below what humans need to survive safely.

Nepalese authorities have recognized these hazards stemming from crowded conditions and inexperienced climbers, responding with stricter regulations and increased permit costs.

Cool, whose first Everest summit occurred in 2004, noted that mountaineering conditions have evolved significantly due to technological advances.

According to Cool, Sherpa guides now have better understanding of their clients, rope installation has become more systematic and reliable, and improvements in gear, communication systems, and weather prediction have enhanced safety.

While Cool acknowledged that passing other climbers at the congested Hillary Step bottleneck during summit attempts remains challenging due to crowds, he described the situation as ultimately manageable.

Earlier this season, a massive ice formation caused nearly two weeks of delays in opening the climbing route, leaving hundreds of mountaineers stranded at base camp throughout April.

However, Cool praised the skilled Sherpas from the “Icefall Doctors” team and the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal for completing rope installations to the summit on schedule despite the initial setbacks.

“It is much more professional than last year,” Cool concluded.

Provincial authorities in Pakistan report that a devastating suicide attack on a passenger train has claimed the lives of more than 30 individuals, marking another deadly incident in the country’s ongoing security crisis.

The attack occurred Sunday when a suicide bomber crashed a vehicle packed with explosives into a shuttle train in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Pakistan’s restive province. Two provincial officials, who requested anonymity because they lacked authorization to share the details publicly, confirmed Monday that fatalities had climbed beyond 30 from an initial count of 24.

The targeted train was transporting Pakistani security forces members and their relatives from Quetta’s military cantonment district. Passengers were connecting to the Jaffar Express for holiday travel to their hometowns for Eid al-Adha celebrations, according to an official.

The powerful blast caused the locomotive and three cars to derail, while two additional cars flipped over, Pakistan’s railways ministry reported. Photographs from the attack site revealed charred vehicles, overturned train cars, damaged homes, mangled metal and scattered wreckage along the railway line, with flames and smoke continuing to rise from the destruction.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the bombing, characterizing it as a suicide attack. Reuters was unable to independently confirm this claim.

Neither Pakistan’s civilian government nor its military leadership has issued an official casualty figure for the incident, which represents the most recent in an ongoing series of assaults targeting trains, security personnel and critical infrastructure.

The separatist organization has waged a multi-decade campaign over what it calls the unfair exploitation of natural resources in the mineral-wealthy province, arguing that residents are denied their rightful portion of the benefits.

The province shares borders with both Iran and Afghanistan and hosts Chinese development initiatives as well as the strategically important Gwadar deep-water port.

In a previous major incident last March, BLA fighters seized control of the same Jaffar Express while it carried army soldiers, holding hundreds of passengers captive before military forces ended the daylong siege. That confrontation resulted in 21 hostage deaths, four military casualties and the elimination of all 33 attackers.

Pakistani security forces announced earlier this year that they had eliminated 145 militants following coordinated strikes the group launched throughout the province that killed nearly 50 people.

NICOSIA, Cyprus — A Cypriot social media influencer who transformed his internet fame into a rapid-fire political rise announced Monday he will retain his position in the European Parliament, turning down a seat he won in Cyprus’ national legislature.

Fidias Panayiotou, known simply as Fidias, told reporters ahead of a ceremonial event that staying in the European Parliament would benefit his Direct Democracy party. “I’ll stay in the European Parliament because it would be good for the Direct Democracy party to have a European Parliament member,” he stated.

“We could’ve done better but we’re happy with what has happened, this is a small victory,” he added.

The 26-year-old YouTuber and TikToker kept observers guessing about his political intentions throughout his campaign, creating widespread speculation about his plans.

Fidias established the Direct Democracy party just six months ago with the goal of disrupting Cyprus’ traditional political establishment both domestically and internationally. The party’s approach allows regular citizens to participate in policy development and apply online to become candidates.

In Sunday’s parliamentary contest, Direct Democracy secured 5.4% of votes cast and claimed four positions in the 56-seat House. While Fidias received the highest vote count among his party’s nominees, he passed his seat to the second-place finisher, Yiannis Laouris.

The outcome represents a significant achievement for an organization that rejected conventional voter outreach methods and policy presentations. However, the results disappointed compared to Fidias’ earlier performance when nearly 20% of voters supported him in the June 2024 European Parliament race, despite his refusal to take policy stances, make campaign pledges, or outline governing plans.

“It seems now that people are hungry not for political positions, but for true people that are not lying, (but) saying the truth,” he explained to The Associated Press following the 2024 election.

Fidias built his following through years of attention-grabbing video content, including footage of lavish spending sprees in Vietnam, surviving a week in an airport without money, and remaining buried underground for 10 days.

His online breakthrough occurred when he persistently sought and obtained an embrace from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who subsequently became a supporter.

Fidias has recognized that his internet stunts provided Cypriot voters—who have grown deeply frustrated with perceived corruption in a political system built on exchanging favors for votes over decades—a method to voice their dissatisfaction.

Using digital platforms as his main communication channel, Fidias has shared European Parliament operations with supporters, explained his voting decisions on various issues, and responded to increasing criticism from those who view him and his learning-as-he-goes approach as politically immature.

He has generated significant controversy for his apparent backing of discussions with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict and for questioning the International Criminal Court’s characterization of Ukrainian children’s transfer to Russia as “unlawful deportation.”

Sunday’s parliamentary voting showed substantial gains for the ultranationalist National Popular Front, or ELAM, party, which captured nearly 11% of votes and eight seats—an increase from just under 7% and four seats in the prior election.

Emergency crews are working urgently against the clock to reach seven individuals who have remained stuck inside a cave in central Laos since the previous week.

The group of local residents from Xaisomboun province entered the cave on May 19 searching for gold, but intense rainfall caused flash flooding that sealed off their escape route, rescue teams from both Laos and Thailand reported.

On Monday, Bounkham Luanglath, who heads the Laos’ Rescue Volunteer for People, explained to The Associated Press that one member of the original group managed to get out before the entrance became blocked and notified emergency services. The condition of the seven individuals who remain trapped is currently unclear.

According to him, the cave consists of a tight passageway that local residents frequently visit while hunting for gold deposits. He noted that officials had consistently cautioned people not to enter the cave due to safety risks.

Lao National Radio, operated by the state, reported that rescue personnel from Thailand reached the location on Sunday to provide support. Diving teams have started making their way through the water-filled portions of the cave system toward the location where officials believe the group could be stranded.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos refused to provide comment. The Southeast Asian country operates as a single-party communist government without organized political opposition, and officials frequently restrict information flow.

Cambodia’s monarch has issued a royal pardon for former opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was serving time for a treason conviction, according to an official decree made public Monday.

The 72-year-old Kem Sokha, who helped establish the now-disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party, had remained under house arrest following his treason conviction in March 2023. Authorities alleged he worked with foreign entities in a plot to remove then-premier Hun Sen from power.

Just last month, a Phnom Penh court confirmed his 27-year prison term and imposed a five-year travel restriction to take effect after his sentence concluded. The royal decree specified that the pardon covers only his original punishment.

Legal representatives for Kem Sokha could not be reached for immediate response regarding the pardon.

Kem Sokha’s prosecution stood out as one of the most high-profile cases in an extensive campaign against rivals of the Cambodian People’s Party, which has maintained control over Cambodia for more than 40 years.

American officials characterized his conviction as rooted in “fabricated conspiracy theories” when it was announced.

He remained one of the few opposition voices left in the Southeast Asian nation, as many others had fled following a 2017 Supreme Court decision that dissolved the CNRP.

Cambodia’s current administration, led by Hun Manet, the American- and British-educated son of the still-powerful former premier Hun Sen, rejects claims of political persecution and maintains that convicted individuals violated the law.

Hun Sen, who currently holds the position of senate president, executed the decree on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni, who is receiving medical care for prostate cancer.

President Xi Jinping described China’s relationship with Pakistan as “unbreakable” during a Monday meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, as both nations work to strengthen their comprehensive partnership.

The Chinese president greeted the Pakistani leader as an “old friend” during ceremonies at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, noting that both nations have “understood, trusted and supported each other” for many decades.

Pakistan holds a special status among the select nations that China considers an “all-weather strategic partner,” a designation that encompasses extensive economic, trade and security collaboration.

However, recent attacks by Islamist militants targeting Chinese citizens and infrastructure projects in southwestern Pakistan have created tensions with Beijing, while Pakistan’s improved relations with Washington have added complexity to the bilateral relationship.

“No matter how the international situation changes, China always prioritises the development of China-Pakistan relations in its neighbourhood diplomacy,” Xi stated.

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, China expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan across multiple sectors including agriculture, industry, artificial intelligence and talent development.

Beijing indicated its readiness to collaborate with Pakistan in building a stronger China-Pakistan community with shared objectives, CCTV reported. The Chinese leader stressed the importance of maintaining high-level diplomatic exchanges and reinforcing strategic communication.

Prime Minister Sharif responded by describing China and Pakistan as “iron brother” nations with a relationship that is “next to none.”

Sharif traveled to Beijing alongside Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, who recently visited Tehran for discussions with Iranian leadership.

Following a fragile ceasefire in the Iran conflict established in April, Pakistan facilitated mediation discussions between Washington and Tehran, serving as an intermediary for proposals and communications between the two sides.

After several weeks of Pakistan’s diplomatic intervention, Washington has indicated advancement in negotiations with Tehran.

“I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts for the current peace. We still appreciate the constructive role played by Pakistan,” Xi remarked.

CCTV quoted Xi as saying both nations should pursue enhanced and more comprehensive security cooperation to support regional peace and stability, though he did not reference any particular conflict.

For Pakistan, involving China in its mediation activities holds significance given the close relationship between Beijing and Tehran.

In March, China and Pakistan released a joint initiative when their foreign ministers convened in Beijing, advocating for peace negotiations and the restoration of regular shipping operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Palestinian medical authorities reported Monday that an Israeli helicopter attack on a displacement camp in southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of two civilians, including a young child, while injuring 17 others.

Health officials identified the victims as six-year-old Mennatallah Abu Libda and 31-year-old Hanan Mahmoud, who were killed when the strike hit tents housing displaced families in the Mawasi section of Khan Younis in Gaza’s southern region.

According to witnesses at the scene, the assault involved two military helicopters.

Israeli military officials had not provided a response regarding the incident at the time of this report.

The deadly strike occurred despite a ceasefire agreement negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump in October, which has not succeeded in stopping Israeli military operations in Gaza. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled over implementing the agreement’s second phase, which would require the militant organization to disarm and Israeli forces to withdraw.

Under the current truce terms, Israel maintains authority over more than half of Gaza’s territory, while Hamas retains control of a narrow coastal strip.

Gaza health authorities report that approximately 900 Palestinians have died in Israeli military actions since the ceasefire took effect, though these numbers do not separate militant fighters from non-combatants.

Israeli military sources indicate that four of their soldiers have been killed by militants during this same timeframe.

Hamas has not released casualty figures for its fighters. Israeli officials state that their continued strikes after the ceasefire are designed to prevent attacks and stop individuals from approaching the armistice boundary with Hamas.

KYIV, Ukraine — The exiled opposition leader from Belarus traveled to Kyiv on Monday as Ukraine’s capital worked to recover from Russia’s most extensive missile bombardment this year, while international leaders monitored how much assistance the Belarusian government might offer to Moscow’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya of Belarus reached Kyiv by rail for her inaugural trip to the Ukrainian capital, occurring one day after French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a telephone conversation with President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with authoritarian control for over thirty years.

The French president “underscored the risks for Belarus of allowing itself to be dragged into Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” according to a presidential aide in Macron’s office who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with the presidential palace’s practices.

Macron additionally held discussions on Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has recently intensified warnings that Belarus might serve as a staging area for Russia to establish a new battlefront in northern Ukraine.

With the comprehensive invasion extending beyond four years, Russian forces remain engaged in a difficult and expensive campaign along the 1,250-kilometer (780-mile) battle line that primarily winds through eastern and southern Ukraine. Given the shortage of American-manufactured air defense missiles due to the Iran war, Ukrainian defenses face greater challenges stopping Russian projectiles.

American diplomatic initiatives to end the conflict have achieved minimal advancement and are currently at a standstill.

Sunday’s massive bombardment featured Russia’s advanced hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, capable of carrying multiple warheads. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed it can strike targets at velocities reaching Mach 10.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian intelligence agencies had been alerted by the United States and European nations that Russia was preparing to deploy an Oreshnik missile.

No fewer than 87 individuals sustained injuries in Kyiv, including three minors, during the attack, Zelenskyy announced Monday. Twenty-one people required hospitalization.

The fierce bombardment caused damage to structures throughout the city, including areas near government facilities, apartment buildings, educational institutions and a marketplace, Ukrainian officials reported. Broken glass remained scattered on walkways Monday.

Macron’s conversation with Lukashenko marked their first communication since 2022, shortly following Russia’s launch of the comprehensive invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, when Belarus’ administration permitted Moscow to utilize the nation’s land as a base for deploying forces into neighboring Ukraine.

A brief statement issued by the Belarusian presidential press office indicated the call occurred “on the French side’s initiative” and that both leaders addressed “regional issues” and Belarus’ relationships with the European Union and France.

Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, stated Sunday that France aims to prevent Belarus from becoming involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“The main goal — to warn Lukashenko that dragging Belarus into the war would be unacceptable,” Tsikhanouskaya told The Associated Press.

“Lukashenko’s regime knows well what needs to be done to improve ties with the European Union, but it isn’t happening, instead hybrid attacks, nuclear blackmail and threats to the entire region continue,” she said.

Lukashenko depends on the Kremlin for affordable energy, financial assistance and additional support. Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear exercises last week.

Zelenskyy has consistently cautioned that Belarus might expand its assistance to Moscow.

The estranged spouse of a former Scottish First Minister admitted guilt Monday for stealing more than $540,000 from the Scottish National Party during his time as the organization’s top executive.

Peter Murrell, age 62, was taken into custody following his confession at Edinburgh’s High Court that he misappropriated the funds to purchase a recreational vehicle, two automobiles, and high-end merchandise.

Authorities first detained Murrell in April 2023 during a probe into the party’s financial dealings, with formal charges filed against him in April 2024.

The former First Minister, who was a commanding presence in Scottish politics for nearly ten years, was exonerated of any misconduct last year, roughly two years following her surprise departure from leading Scotland’s semi-autonomous administration. Her tenure in that position lasted eight years.

Murrell and the former leader announced their marital separation last year, ending approximately 15 years together as husband and wife.

The financial probe created uncertainty around the former First Minister for nearly two years and sparked concerns about party governance as authorities examined how more than $810,000 earmarked for Scottish independence efforts was utilized.

A former party financial officer was also exonerated. Both he and the former First Minister were detained and questioned approximately three years ago before being released pending further investigation.

The former leader transformed her party into Scotland’s dominant political force and reshaped it from a single-focus organization into a governing powerhouse with progressive social policies. She steered her party through three nationwide elections and two Scottish contests, while guiding Scotland during the health crisis and earning recognition for her clear and thoughtful public communications.

However, she stepped down while the party faced internal conflicts, without achieving her primary objective of securing independence from the United Kingdom for the nation of 5.5 million residents.