Category: World News

MADRID, May 23 – Authorities arrested several masked individuals Saturday after they attempted to breach security barriers surrounding the official residence of Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during a large demonstration demanding his resignation over multiple corruption allegations.

Law enforcement officers detained the group on the primary roadway leading to Madrid’s Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s family residence, according to footage broadcast on Spanish television networks.

Massive crowds of protesters displayed signs reading “Resignation of the socialist mafia” along with other critical messages, while waving numerous Spanish national flags during the March for Dignity event, coordinated by the Spanish Civil Society association.

Representatives from the opposition People’s Party and the far-right Vox party participated in the demonstration, which remained mostly peaceful throughout.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, a Spanish court revealed that former Spanish Socialist prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is under investigation for allegedly orchestrating an influence-peddling and money-laundering operation, adding to the current leftist administration’s mounting corruption troubles.

Zapatero, who serves as a crucial supporter of the sitting prime minister, rejected all allegations of misconduct on Tuesday.

Event coordinators claimed 80,000 participants joined the demonstration, while the Spanish government’s Madrid representative estimated attendance at approximately 40,000 people.

Tehran’s lead negotiator delivered a firm message during weekend diplomatic meetings, declaring that Iran will not yield on its core national interests while pursuing peace talks with Washington.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the statement Saturday during discussions with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir in Tehran, according to state television coverage. The Iranian official characterized the United States as an unreliable negotiating partner.

Pakistan is spearheading regional diplomatic efforts to bridge the gap between the two nations following weeks of warfare that forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most commercial vessels. The shipping disruption has created instability in global energy markets, despite a fragile ceasefire currently in place.

The Pakistani military leader also held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi during his Tehran visit before departing, Iranian state media reported.

Discussions focused on a 14-point proposal from Iran that serves as the primary framework for negotiations, along with messages passed between both sides.

Qalibaf emphasized Iran’s commitment to defending its “legitimate rights” through both military action and diplomatic channels, while expressing distrust toward “a party that has no honesty at all” – a criticism Tehran has voiced repeatedly.

The Iranian speaker warned that the country’s military forces have strengthened their position during the current ceasefire. Should the United States “foolishly restarts the war,” he cautioned, the results would be “more forceful and bitter” than when fighting initially began.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Friday that some advancement toward an agreement has occurred, though significant work remains. Iran’s foreign ministry countered that substantial disagreements persist between the parties.

Throughout the weeks of conflict, Iran has maintained its stockpile of highly enriched uranium approaching weapons-grade levels, along with its missile, drone and proxy force capabilities that both the United States and Israel seek to restrict.

Denmark’s King Frederik on Saturday requested that caretaker Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen make another attempt at forming a government following the breakdown of center-right negotiations headed by Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.

This development provides Frederiksen, whose Social Democrats continue to hold the position as Denmark’s largest political party even after significant electoral setbacks, with an opportunity to claim a third straight term leading the country.

Earlier this month, Poulsen, who heads the right-wing Liberal Party, had been tasked with investigating potential government arrangements after Frederiksen’s initial coalition discussions fell apart when the centrist Moderate Party withdrew from negotiations.

Frederiksen will likely need to offer compromises to Moderate Party leader Lars Lokke Rasmussen, whose backing is considered crucial following the March election that resulted in parliament being divided between 12 different parties.

The Social Democrats secured 38 seats in Denmark’s 179-member parliament, a decline from their previous 50 seats in 2022, marking their poorest electoral performance since 1903.

These extended negotiations have hindered government operations during a critical period for Denmark, as the country works to address tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration regarding Greenland.

PARIS, May 23 – France announced Saturday it will prohibit Israeli far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, according to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who said the move represents mounting international frustration over how Gaza flotilla activists were handled.

“As from today, Itamar Ben-Gvir is banned from entering French territory,” Barrot posted on X.

“Along with my Italian counterpart, I am asking the European Union to also take sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir,” he continued.

International leaders expressed fury after Ben-Gvir shared footage showing himself mocking activists bound to Gaza who were being restrained on the ground, with several later claiming they suffered physical abuse while in custody.

Ben-Gvir’s actions drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the United States, Israel’s closest supporter. Netanyahu described Ben-Gvir’s behavior as “not in line with Israel’s values and norms.”

The activists, whose ship was seized earlier this week in international waters by Israeli naval personnel while attempting to transport humanitarian supplies to Gaza, were eventually expelled from Israel after being initially held in custody.

At least 90 workers lost their lives in a devastating gas explosion at a coal mining facility in China’s Shanxi province, according to state media reports released Saturday.

The deadly incident occurred Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine located in Changzhi city, China’s official Xinhua News Agency confirmed. Approximately 247 workers were present during their shifts when the explosion took place.

The province of Shanxi serves as China’s primary coal-producing region. This area, which exceeds Greece in land mass and houses roughly 34 million residents, employs hundreds of thousands of miners who extracted 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal during the previous year – representing almost one-third of the nation’s entire coal production.

Such tragic incidents occur regularly throughout China, where fast-paced industrial development has resulted in aggressive resource extraction, substandard workplace safety measures, and insufficient oversight systems.

Mine operators and regional government officials often face criticism for prioritizing financial gains over worker protection. These underground catastrophes typically stem from inadequate ventilation systems needed to remove dangerous gases that naturally emerge from coal deposits. Over the last twenty years, Chinese authorities have worked to decrease mining fatalities through enhanced safety protocols and shutting down certain smaller operations.

2023: 53 people were killed after a collapse at an open-pit mine in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region.

2009: 108 miners died as a result of a gas explosion at the state-run Xinxing mine in Heilongjiang province near the border with Russia. State broadcaster CCTV displayed a diagram showing the miners trapped about a third of a mile underground. Footage showed one entrance was blocked and rescuers in orange suits with breathing equipment attempting to enter through another.

2005: 171 people died in a blast at the Dongfeng coal mine in Qitaihe in Heilongjiang province.

2005: 214 miners were killed following a gas explosion at the Sunjiawan coal mine in the Liaoning province in China’s northeast.

2004: 166 died in a gas explosion at the Chenjiashan coal mine in the Shaanxi province, in China’s northwest.

2004: 148 people were killed in a gas explosion at the Daping coal mine in China’s inland Henan province.

2000: 162 people died after an explosion at the Muchonggou coal mine in the mountainous Guizhou province in China’s southwest.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced Saturday that three volunteers have died from Ebola after being exposed to the virus while conducting body management work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The volunteers – Ajiko Chandiru Viviane, Sezabo Katanabo, and Alikana Udumusi Augustin – were working with the Mongbwalu branch in Ituri province in the northeastern part of the country when they contracted the disease on March 27. They passed away on May 5, 15, and 16.

According to the IFRC, the three workers were engaged in body management duties as part of humanitarian operations that were not connected to Ebola response efforts. The current outbreak had not been detected when the exposure occurred.

The World Health Organization has classified the current outbreak as an international emergency. This particular strain, known as Bundibugyo Ebola, currently has no licensed vaccine or therapeutic treatment available.

Deceased Ebola patients remain extremely contagious, and improper burial practices where relatives touch bodies without adequate protection are a major source of virus spread. Red Cross teams are actively working in affected areas to prevent such unsafe practices.

“These volunteers lost their lives while serving their communities with courage and humanity,” the IFRC said.

Red Cross workers are currently conducting house-to-house visits in outbreak zones to counter false information about the disease circulating in affected communities.

Five Palestinian police officers died Saturday when Israeli missiles struck their security post in northern Gaza, according to local police authorities, marking an escalation in attacks against the Hamas-controlled security force.

Gaza’s police directorate reported that two missiles struck the facility in the Tawam area, killing at least five officers and injuring additional personnel. The directorate oversees security operations in Gaza territories that came under Hamas administration after a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement in October.

Israeli military officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The role of Hamas’ approximately 10,000 police officers has become a major obstacle in negotiations surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza strategy. While Hamas seeks to incorporate these officers into a future security force outlined in the proposal, Israel opposes including any personnel with Hamas connections.

The diplomatic discussions have reached an impasse due to Hamas’ unwillingness to surrender its weapons and continued Israeli military operations throughout the territory. Health authorities report that more than 880 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began, while at least four Israeli soldiers have been killed in militant operations during the same timeframe.

KYIV, May 23 – A deadly drone attack by Russian forces targeted mourners attending a funeral service Saturday in the vicinity of Sumy, a northeastern Ukrainian city, leaving one person dead and nine others wounded, according to a top regional authority.

Oleh Hryhorov, head of the regional military administration, offered no additional information about the incident. Media outlets in the area reported that an attack drone with guidance capabilities struck the roadway close to a bus.

The city of Sumy sits approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) away from the Ukrainian-Russian border and has faced repeated strikes from Russian missiles and drone attacks throughout the ongoing conflict.

Local Russian authorities reported Saturday that a Ukrainian drone strike ignited a blaze at an oil facility in the Krasnodar region during overnight hours, marking another assault on Russia’s crucial petroleum infrastructure.

Officials from Novorossiysk reported that debris from the downed drone caused the fire at the oil terminal, resulting in injuries to two individuals. The authorities did not identify which specific facility was targeted.

According to Russia’s Astra news outlet, the attack hit the Sheskharis oil terminal and depot, which serves as the endpoint for the state-controlled pipeline company Transneft’s primary oil transportation lines in the area. Astra published images that seemed to display smoke billowing from the terminal, though the photos’ authenticity could not be confirmed. Ukrainian officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.

Ukrainian forces have broadened their capacity for medium and long-distance strikes, utilizing drone and missile systems developed within the country to combat Russia’s 4-year-old invasion. Strikes against Russian petroleum facilities that provide crucial funding for the invasion have become nearly routine events.

In related developments, Moscow-appointed officials announced that the fatality count from a Ukrainian drone attack on a college dormitory in Starobilsk, located in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region of Ukraine, has climbed to 11 following the overnight strike into Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the dormitory attack on Friday as a “crime” and directed military leaders to present options for response. He stated that no military or law enforcement installations were located near the educational facility.

During an emergency U.N. Security Council session requested by Russia to address the strike, Ukrainian Ambassador Melnyk Andrii rejected his Russian colleague’s war crimes allegations, characterizing them as a “pure propaganda show” and maintaining that the May 22 operations “exclusively targeted the Russian war machine.”

Turkish intelligence operatives have successfully detained 10 individuals suspected of Islamic State involvement during an operation in Syria, according to security sources who spoke to the Anadolu news agency on Saturday.

The operation was conducted jointly with Syrian intelligence services, with sources indicating all detained suspects have Turkish citizenship and are believed connected to previous terrorist incidents within Turkey’s borders.

According to the state-run Anadolu agency, one detainee allegedly maintained ties to those responsible for the devastating 2015 bombing at Ankara’s train station, an attack that claimed over 100 lives.

Security sources revealed that among those captured was an individual who reportedly functioned as the terrorist organization’s intelligence leader overseeing Turkey-related operations.

The detained suspects face accusations of participating in weapons training, conducting propaganda activities, and either organizing or providing support for terrorist attacks, sources stated.

A devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in northern China’s Shanxi province has resulted in the deaths of at least 90 people, representing the country’s most catastrophic coal mining incident in over 16 years.

The deadly blast occurred late Friday evening, adding to China’s lengthy record of fatal mining accidents spanning several decades.

China’s mining industry has experienced numerous tragic incidents throughout its history:

In 1950, a mining accident at the Yiluo Mine in Henan province claimed at least 174 lives.

A decade later in 1960, a methane explosion at the Laobaidong Coal Mine in Shanxi province resulted in 684 fatalities.

The 1990s brought another tragedy when a gas explosion at the Sanjiao River coal mine in Shanxi province killed 147 workers in 1991.

The year 2000 saw a gas explosion at the Muchonggou Coal Mine in Guizhou province that took 162 lives.

Multiple disasters struck in 2004, including a gas explosion at the Daping Coal Mine in Xinmi, Henan province, killing 148 people, and another gas explosion at the Chenjiashan Coal Mine in Tongchuan, Shaanxi province, that claimed 166 lives.

The following year proved particularly deadly with several major incidents: a gas explosion at the Sunjiawan colliery of state-owned Fuxin Coal Industry Group in Liaoning province killed 214 people, flooding at the Daxing Mine in Guangdong province resulted in 123 deaths, and an explosion at the Dongfeng Coal Mine in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang province, killed approximately 170 people.

In 2007, heavy rainfall caused flooding in two mines in Shandong province, leading to 181 fatalities.

The most recent major incident before this week occurred in 2009, when a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province killed 108 people.

The current disaster at the Liushenyu Coal Mine represents the deadliest coal mining accident China has experienced since that 2009 incident.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Taiwan’s capital Saturday, calling for lawmakers to approve the complete defense budget package after parliament only authorized a portion of the requested funds.

The opposition-controlled legislature approved just two-thirds of the $40 billion supplementary defense budget that President Lai Ching-te had sought. The president’s proposal included funding for American-made weapons systems as well as domestic military equipment like drones, aimed at strengthening defenses against China, which considers the island part of its territory.

Parliamentary opposition members, holding the majority of seats, passed their own modified version of the spending plan this month, authorizing funds only for American arms purchases. They argued the administration’s proposals lacked clarity and risked enabling corruption.

Multiple human rights organizations and pro-independence advocacy groups organized the demonstration in the capital, with participants displaying flags and chanting in favor of increased defense expenditures.

“True peace requires national defence. Only by strengthening our national defence can we ensure Taiwan’s freedom,” Wang Hsing-huan, chairman of the small Taiwan Statebuilding Party, which has no lawmakers in parliament, told the crowd.

Government officials are now working to secure approval for the remaining funds, including money for a new “T-Dome” integrated air defence system.

“We need to protect ourselves against China’s expansion,” said civil engineer Angela Yen, 34. “China and Taiwan are two different countries.”

Leaders from both major opposition parties maintain they support defense investments but refuse to approve “blank cheques” for military spending.

During remarks in southern Taiwan earlier Saturday, Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the largest opposition party the Kuomintang, stated that no one wished to see military conflict with China emerge.

Her party reported she emphasized that Taiwan possesses adequate resources but must avoid wasteful expenditures. Taiwan should invest in peace, not war, and not send the next generation to serve as soldiers and fight, added Cheng, who last month met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

The island’s government continues to reject Beijing’s territorial claims, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine their political future.

Officials appointed by Russia report that fatalities from a drone attack on a student dormitory in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region have increased to 10, up from an earlier count of six deaths.

Moscow blamed Ukraine for what it called an intentional drone attack on the town of Starobilsk on Friday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin directing his military to develop retaliatory options.

According to Leonid Pasechnik, who leads the Russian-appointed regional administration, the strike resulted in 10 deaths, left 48 people wounded, and 11 individuals remain missing.

Ukrainian military officials rejected Russia’s claims and stated they had targeted an elite drone command unit in that location. They maintained that Kyiv operates within international humanitarian law guidelines.

ISTANBUL, May 23 – Authorities in Turkey have arrested 13 individuals as part of an investigation into the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s 2023 leadership congress, according to state media reports released Saturday. The arrests come after a court decision earlier this week removed party leader Ozgur Ozel from his position, escalating a significant political crisis.

An appeals court in Turkey ruled Thursday to invalidate the congress where Ozel won his leadership role, pointing to unspecified voting irregularities. The court’s decision restored former CHP Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu to the leadership position – a controversial figure who previously lost to President Tayyip Erdogan in that year’s elections.

Party officials strongly criticized the court’s decision, with the CHP calling it a “judicial coup.” Ozel vowed to challenge the ruling through the legal system and declared his intention to stay “day and night” at the party’s Ankara headquarters.

According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, the Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office announced that suspects were apprehended across seven provinces on accusations of tampering with delegate voting during the 2023 congress.

The detained individuals are facing multiple charges including “violating the law on political parties,” “accepting bribes,” and “laundering assets derived from crime,” prosecutors stated. Law enforcement conducted search and seizure operations at locations in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Kilis and Malatya provinces.

Political experts described this week’s court ruling as a crucial test of Turkey’s fragile democratic institutions amid concerns about authoritarian governance. They suggest the decision could extend Erdogan’s 23-year presidency even as the nation struggles with persistent inflation challenges.

While the next scheduled national election is 2028, an earlier vote might be necessary if the 72-year-old Erdogan, who faces term limitations, decides to seek reelection. Political observers believe the court ruling increases the likelihood of an early election. Government officials reject accusations that courts are used to suppress political opponents, maintaining that the judicial system operates independently.

Above the countryside of western Ukraine, an interceptor drone shaped like a bullet plunged toward its objective while dozens of military personnel watched from below. Soldiers erupted in celebration as the aircraft successfully severed a cable connecting another drone to a balloon, sending it floating into the distance.

This week, Ukraine’s top military drone operators faced off in an unusual competition – not battling Russian forces, but competing against fellow pilots for recognition and advanced equipment for their respective units.

Unmanned aircraft have revolutionized warfare in Ukraine. Young soldiers operating explosive-laden strike drones through video game controllers – often from command posts well behind battle lines – have become a source of terror for opposing forces.

The “Wild Drones” competition took place in open fields near the resort community of Truskavets, bringing together operators from 19 of Ukraine’s premier units alongside manufacturers of frontline drone equipment.

“This is an opportunity for them to communicate with each other a little, to learn something or share something with someone, and to see from manufacturers what new products are available,” said “Grey”, the sergeant major of the Black Raven drone battalion of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, an organizer of the event. He asked to be identified by his military call sign.

Ukraine has embraced the “gamification” of warfare. The previous year saw implementation of a scoring system for confirmed drone eliminations. Military units can exchange these points for gear through the armed forces’ DOT-Chain and Brave1 Market digital platforms, dubbed “Amazon for war”.

“It’s a bit like choosing a car. They all do different things,” said one soldier from the first battalion of the 22nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, who asked not to be identified.

Military leaders say this approach boosts soldier morale through competitive elements while ensuring top-performing pilots receive resources most effectively.

While Russia’s monetary reward system focuses on equipment destruction, Ukraine’s point structure also incentivizes targeting personnel, as Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov aims to inflict 50,000 casualties monthly on Moscow’s forces. Ukrainian officials estimate current Russian military deaths and serious injuries at approximately 35,000 per month, though Moscow disputes these numbers.

The competition, established two years prior, provided respite for participants who have served on the front since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The atmosphere remained casual, featuring barbecue meals and social gatherings, with some attendees accompanied by spouses and children.

Multiple officers reported their units maintain regular communication with drone producers to suggest enhancements.

“It’s a constant, ongoing process,” said “Dym”, the call sign of the commander of the about 400-strong Black Raven unit. “If we have one version of a drone today, in three months it could be a completely different drone.”

The expanding operational range of drones continues to widen the “Kill Zone” – presently extending roughly 15 kilometers (nine miles) on either side of battle lines – where personnel and vehicles face rapid drone strikes.

Multiple competitors noted that aircraft like the Vampire heavy bomber – manufactured by Ukrainian defense technology firm Skyfall – now transport food, water and medical equipment into dangerous areas to minimize human presence.

Category champions at the competition earned three Vampire drones along with batteries and operating systems.

A company representative, using the call sign “Ares”, stated Skyfall maintains capacity for producing over 10,000 drones daily while continuously incorporating battlefield feedback.

“The biggest demand is automisation, so fewer people can operate more drones,” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected a German proposal for associate European Union membership, calling the plan unjust in a letter sent to top EU officials on Friday.

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had put forward the idea of allowing Ukraine to attend EU meetings without voting privileges as a transitional measure toward complete membership. Merz suggested this approach could help broker an agreement to conclude the four-year conflict that began with Russia’s invasion.

However, Zelenskiy argued in his correspondence, which Reuters obtained, that recent electoral changes removing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – a strong critic of Ukraine’s EU bid – now open the door for meaningful advancement in membership discussions.

“It would be unfair for Ukraine to be present in the European Union, but remain voiceless,” Zelenskiy wrote in his message. “The time is right to move forward with Ukraine’s membership in a full and meaningful way.”

The Ukrainian leader directed his letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who currently holds the rotating EU Council presidency.

In his correspondence, Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to European officials for their wartime assistance and emphasized Ukraine’s role as a shield protecting the entire 27-member union from Russian attacks.

“We are defending Europe – fully, not partially, and not with half-measures,” he stated. “Ukraine deserves a fair approach and equal rights within Europe.”

Japan’s Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa confirmed Saturday that he engaged in an informal conversation with China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during international meetings, though he emphasized no official bilateral discussions took place between the two nations.

The Japanese official made his comments to media representatives following his participation in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ministerial sessions held in Suzhou, located in eastern China.

This interaction represents the most significant contact at the senior official level between Japan and China since tensions between the countries escalated in November.

“Before the dinner began on Friday, I approached Minister Wang and had a brief conversation,” Akazawa stated, explaining that he couldn’t provide specifics since the exchange involved diplomatic matters.

According to Kyodo news agency, Akazawa had expressed hope on Friday that he might have the chance to address various topics with Wang should the circumstances allow.

When asked whether Japan had made an official request for bilateral meetings, a trade ministry representative chose not to provide comment.

Any formal meeting between Akazawa and his Chinese counterpart would have represented the most substantial diplomatic engagement since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked the current dispute by stating that a theoretical Chinese military action against Taiwan might prompt a Japanese response.

Following those remarks, Beijing implemented various countermeasures, including advising Chinese nationals against traveling to Japan and restricting exports of certain rare earth materials essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, military equipment and other goods.

While participating in the APEC ministerial sessions, Akazawa urged countries that export materials to address unreasonable restrictions on rare earth exports, though he refrained from identifying specific nations, according to the ministry representative.

China has blocked Japan’s access to multiple heavy rare earth elements and other critical materials for a minimum of four months, timing that aligns with the diplomatic disagreement and indicates Beijing may be leveraging its mineral resources for diplomatic purposes.

ISHØJ, Denmark (AP) — A Danish artist who specializes in creating sculptures from recycled materials has spent more than ten years placing giant wooden troll figures across the globe. Thomas Dambo has constructed nearly 200 of these creations spanning 19 nations.

The former hip-hop performer and poet is now moving his fairy tale-inspired works indoors for his inaugural museum exhibition.

“The Garbage Man” exhibition at the Arken Museum of Contemporary Art, located outside Copenhagen, presents a narrative about playful trolls who secretly enter the museum, assume control, and transform the space.

“They build and leave a giant human made of trash … as a lesson for the humans to behave better and don’t put their trash where everybody else lives,” Dambo explained from his workspace near Denmark’s capital city.

The 46-year-old creator began installing his troll sculptures in 2014 when he constructed two pieces for a music festival in Denmark.

In 2016, he concealed six massive trolls throughout forested locations surrounding Copenhagen. This initiative became an internet sensation, attracting millions of online viewers.

“I was like, if I tell a story that combines them all, then when I’ve done this (for) 10 years, I will probably have made over 100 sculptures and … I have made the world into my stage,” he explained.

After twelve years of work, Dambo has completed nearly 200 sculptures. He and his crew construct approximately 25 new troll figures each year. His tallest creation, “Long Leif,” measures 13 meters (43 feet) in height and is located in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Typically, Dambo’s creations function as both treasure hunts and artistic displays. His storybook-inspired sculptures are positioned in remote locations including woodlands, mountainous regions, tropical areas, and meadows worldwide, with visitors able to locate them through a digital “Troll Map.”

Examples include “Little Lisa” concealed within a forest in Germany and “Happy Kim” relaxing in a botanical garden in South Korea.

Young visitors climb on the sculptures while adults marvel at discovering the trolls. Dambo calculates that approximately 5 million people encounter his works each year.

“The sculptures bring people out to experience things that they would otherwise have been too lazy or maybe not creative enough to go and visit,” he noted. “My trolls, they bring people to all these small, little corners of the world.”

Every troll created by Dambo features distinct naming and styling. In the Arken exhibition, launching Sunday and continuing through Nov. 29, his latest pieces draw inspiration from childhood companions.

These sculptures possess “personalities of a late teenage, young 20s type of group of boys that are causing havoc, and the type of gang that would break into a museum and fill it up with trash,” Dambo described.

While trolls frequently feature in Nordic legends, Dambo selected these mythological beings as a means to communicate themes about waste management and recycling.

The environmental artist’s sculptures consist almost completely of waste materials and abandoned items, including wooden shipping pallets, used furniture, and old whisky containers.

He explained that working within a museum setting allows him to incorporate materials unsuitable for outdoor conditions, such as abandoned electronics, cardboard, and clothing items in large quantities.

In one section, a troll called “Dyna Dee” rests atop a 6-meter (nearly 20-foot) pile of donated clothing from a neighborhood recycling group.

Dambo aims for museum attendees to depart with motivation to reduce their purchasing habits.

“It’s not really about recycling, it’s about you probably have enough clothes in your cabinet to wear for the rest of your life,” he stated. “This is not my recycling project, this is my stop buying stuff project.”

WASHINGTON – Three months following President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, questions emerge about whether battlefield successes can convert into meaningful strategic achievements.

Despite winning numerous tactical engagements, Trump now confronts a more complex challenge as Iran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz while showing minimal willingness to compromise on nuclear issues, leaving the theocratic regime fundamentally unchanged.

Multiple analysts suggest Trump’s declarations of total success appear unconvincing as both nations navigate between uncertain diplomatic efforts and his intermittent threats to renew military strikes, which would likely trigger Iranian counterattacks throughout the region.

The president now risks a scenario where America and its Gulf Arab partners conclude the confrontation in a weaker position, while Iran, despite suffering military and economic damage, potentially gains increased influence after demonstrating its ability to disrupt one-fifth of global oil and gas flows.

Though the crisis continues, some experts suggest Trump might discover a face-saving resolution if negotiations develop favorably, while others anticipate a troubling post-conflict landscape.

“We’re three months in, and it’s looking like a war that was designed to be a short-term romp for Trump is turning into a long-term strategic failure,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Republican and Democratic administrations.

This situation particularly concerns Trump, given his well-known aversion to appearing unsuccessful – a characterization he frequently applies to political rivals. In this Iranian crisis, he leads the world’s most powerful military against a secondary power that seemingly believes it holds advantages.

This predicament could make Trump, who hasn’t established clear end goals, more resistant to compromises that might appear as retreats from his maximum demands or resembling the 2015 Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran that he abandoned during his first presidency, according to analysts.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the U.S. has “met or surpassed all of our military objectives in ‘Operation Epic Fury.’”

“President Trump holds all the cards and wisely keeps all options on the table,” she added.

Trump sought reelection promising to avoid unnecessary military interventions but has created an entanglement that could permanently harm his foreign policy legacy and international credibility.

The ongoing confrontation occurs as he encounters domestic criticism over elevated U.S. gasoline costs and declining approval numbers after initiating the unpopular conflict before November’s midterm elections. His Republican Party struggles to retain Congressional control.

Consequently, more than six weeks into a ceasefire, some analysts believe Trump confronts a difficult decision: accept a potentially imperfect agreement as an exit strategy or escalate militarily while risking an extended crisis. Should diplomacy fail, his options might include launching focused but limited strikes, declaring final victory, and moving forward.

Another possibility involves Trump potentially redirecting attention toward Cuba, as he has indicated, hoping to change the conversation and pursue a potentially simpler victory.

Such a move might lead him to underestimate Havana’s challenges, similar to how some Trump aides privately admit he incorrectly assumed the Iran operation would mirror the January 3 raid that captured Venezuela’s president and resulted in his replacement.

Nevertheless, Trump maintains supporters.

Alexander Gray, a former senior adviser in Trump’s first term and now chief executive officer of the American Global Strategies consultancy, rejected the notion that the president’s Iran campaign was on the ropes.

He argued that significant damage to Iranian military capabilities represented a “strategic success,” that the conflict brought Gulf states closer to America while distancing them from China, and that Iran’s nuclear program’s future remains undetermined.

However, signs suggest Trump’s frustration with his inability to shape the narrative. He has criticized opponents and accused news media of “treason.”

The conflict has continued twice beyond the maximum six-week timeline Trump established when joining with Israel to begin the war on February 28. While his MAGA political supporters have remained loyal regarding the war, fractures have emerged in his previously nearly unanimous Republican lawmaker support.

Initially, extensive airstrikes rapidly weakened Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, destroyed much of its naval fleet, and eliminated numerous senior leaders.

But Tehran responded by closing the strait, causing energy prices to surge, and attacking Israel and Gulf neighbors. Trump then ordered Iranian port blockades, but this has also failed to force Tehran’s compliance.

Iranian leaders have countered Trump’s victory claims with their own propaganda characterizing his campaign as a “crushing defeat,” though Iranian officials have clearly exaggerated their own military capabilities.

Trump stated his war objectives included preventing Iran’s nuclear weapons development, ending its regional and U.S. interest threats, and facilitating Iranian citizens’ efforts to overthrow their government.

No evidence suggests his frequently changing goals have been accomplished, and many analysts consider achievement unlikely.

Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East, said that while Iran suffered devastating damage, its leaders view mere survival of the U.S. assault as success while learning their control extent over Gulf shipping.

“What they discovered is they can exercise that leverage and with few consequences for them,” said Panikoff, now at the Atlantic Council think tank, adding that Iran appeared confident it could endure more economic hardship than Trump and outlast him.

Trump’s primary stated war goal – Iran’s denuclearization – remains unachieved, and Tehran has demonstrated little willingness to substantially limit its program.

Highly enriched uranium stockpiles are believed to remain buried following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes last June and could be retrieved and further refined to weapons grade. Iran claims it wants America to acknowledge its uranium enrichment rights for stated peaceful purposes.

Complicating matters further, Iran’s supreme leader has issued orders that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium cannot be exported, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.

Some analysts have suggested the war could increase, rather than decrease, Iran’s likelihood of accelerating nuclear weapon development efforts for protection similar to nuclear-armed North Korea.

Another Trump declared objective – forcing Iran to cease supporting armed proxy groups – also remains unmet.

Adding to Trump’s challenges, he now confronts new Iranian leaders considered more hardline than their eliminated predecessors. Post-conflict, they are widely expected to retain sufficient remaining missiles and drones to continue threatening neighbors.

He also faces consequences from further deteriorating relationships with traditional European allies, who have largely declined his assistance requests for a war they weren’t consulted about.

China and Russia, meanwhile, have observed lessons about U.S. military limitations against asymmetric Iranian tactics and how some weapons supplies have become depleted, analysts said.

Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank, has argued that the outcome will represent an even more decisive blow to U.S. standing than its humiliating withdrawals from much longer, bloodier conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan because those countries “were far from the main theaters of global competition.”

“There will be no return to the status quo ante, no ultimate American triumph that will undo or overcome the harm done,” he wrote in a recent commentary entitled “Checkmate in Iran” on the Atlantic magazine’s website.

A knowledgeable source is pushing back against claims that America’s weapons transfers to Taiwan have been delayed because of the ongoing Iran conflict, stating that such military sales require years to complete and have no connection to the current war.

The island nation of Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, continues to await American approval for a weapons package that could reach $14 billion in value, according to previous reports.

Uncertainty emerged in Taipei after President Donald Trump indicated following his recent meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping that he remained undecided about approving the military package.

During a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Thursday, acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao stated that weapons sales to Taiwan had been temporarily halted to ensure America maintained sufficient munitions for Operation Epic Fury, the military operation targeting Iran.

However, a source with knowledge of the situation noted that Trump has indicated a decision on Taiwan’s weapons sales would come soon.

“These sales take years to process and are unrelated to Operation Epic Fury,” the source explained, referencing the military campaign that America and Israel began in February. “The United States Military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump’s strategic goals and beyond.”

The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act legally requires America to supply Taiwan with defensive capabilities, and officials have maintained since Trump’s meeting with Xi that Taiwan policy remains consistent.

Taiwan’s leadership stated Friday that they had received no notification regarding any delays in American weapons sales.

Beijing has consistently demanded that America cease all military sales to the island.

Taiwan’s administration dismisses China’s territorial claims, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens have the authority to determine the island’s destiny.

A deadly gas blast at a mining facility in China’s Shanxi province has resulted in eight fatalities and left 38 workers trapped beneath the surface, according to state media reports released Saturday.

The incident occurred Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine located in Changzhi city, as reported by the official news agency Xinhua. At the time of the blast, approximately 247 workers were operating below ground. By early Saturday morning, rescue teams had successfully evacuated 201 workers to safety.

Authorities are currently investigating what triggered the deadly explosion, Xinhua stated.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered comprehensive rescue efforts for the missing workers and demanded a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy, with accountability measures for those found responsible, according to the news agency.

The affected province serves as China’s primary coal mining region. Despite being larger than Greece with approximately 34 million residents, Shanxi’s extensive mining workforce of hundreds of thousands extracted 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal during the previous year, representing nearly one-third of the nation’s total coal production.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in India Saturday, beginning a crucial four-day diplomatic visit designed to rebuild a relationship strained by trade conflicts and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

This marks Rubio’s inaugural journey to India, with scheduled visits to Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi. According to the State Department, discussions will center on trade partnerships, energy collaboration and defense cooperation.

American leaders, including Trump during his initial presidency, have consistently worked to draw the historically neutral nation closer as a balance against Russian influence and China’s expanding presence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, these diplomatic efforts suffered a significant setback when Trump imposed some of America’s steepest tariffs on Indian goods last year.

While many of these trade penalties were reduced through a temporary agreement, both nations have yet to reach a final comprehensive trade deal.

Indian officials had pushed for a Trump visit connected to a Quad summit involving the United States, India, Japan and Australia, but experts indicate this proposal was shelved due to trade disagreements and other pressing matters, including the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Meanwhile, America has strengthened relationships with India’s neighboring rival Pakistan, with Islamabad playing a crucial role in peace negotiations, creating additional friction in U.S.-India relations.

The energy emergency triggered by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has also hindered American attempts to reduce India’s dependence on Russian oil.

Speaking Thursday, Rubio identified energy as a primary focus, noting ongoing discussions to increase America’s portion of India’s energy imports.

“We want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy,” he said. “There’s a lot to work on with India. They’re a great ally, a great partner. We do a lot of good work with them.”

For Indian officials, Trump’s recent visit to Beijing this month heightened worries about American commitments, according to Basant Sanghera, a former State Department South Asia policy expert now with The Asia Group consultancy.

Sanghera explained that Trump’s strategy had “created a perfect storm of anxiety” in India regarding the U.S. relationship, “but ties have stabilized and both sides are trying to build momentum in the areas that there is convergence.”

The previous Biden administration prioritized India as a crucial strategic ally and honored Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a 2023 state visit. Trump also hosted Modi at the White House early in his second term before implementing harsh tariffs that derailed diplomatic progress.

U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor, nicknamed “the India whisperer” by Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council think tank, began his duties in New Delhi in January and has worked to restore relations. Gor maintains a personal friendship with Trump and previously served as a White House adviser.

In February, both countries established a “framework for an interim agreement” on trade, reducing Trump’s tariffs on Indian products to 18% from a severe 50%, with half previously tied to India’s earlier Russian oil purchases.

However, negotiations to complete the agreement stalled after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Trump’s tariffs in late February.

This decision effectively lowered duties on Indian goods to 10%, but New Delhi continues evaluating its options as the Trump administration pursues investigations under unfair trade practices laws expected to reinstate much of the previous levies.

A source familiar with the negotiations revealed American disappointment with India’s perceived delays and apparent expectation of securing favorable terms without significant concessions, a sentiment likely to complicate Rubio’s efforts to stabilize relations.

“I do not expect Secretary Rubio will have much impact in changing the downward trajectory,” said Richard Rossow of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank.

“The lack of a trade agreement – more than three months after the announcement of the ‘interim deal’ – clouds other areas of engagement.”

India’s requests for the White House to arrange a Trump visit for a Quad summit, designed to counter China’s growing influence, remain unanswered, according to another source familiar with the discussions.

Rubio’s upcoming meeting with fellow Quad foreign ministers in Delhi will mark the third such gathering without leader-level participation and represents an “unannounced downgrade” of the alliance, Rossow noted.

Despite this, the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi posted on X emphasizing the Quad’s significance, stating it stands “together for a free and open Indo-Pacific… From supporting regional security to diversifying critical minerals supply chains.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in India Saturday, preparing for crucial discussions next week with officials from India, Australia, and Japan – the four nations that make up the Indo-Pacific coalition called the Quad.

The diplomatic mission comes as the United States works to repair damaged relationships with India following tensions created by President Donald Trump’s trade policies, which imposed higher tariffs on various Indian goods.

During his four-day stay, Rubio plans to travel to multiple cities and attend a celebration in New Delhi commemorating America’s 250th year of independence.

“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.

Rubio landed in Kolkata Saturday morning and plans to tour Mother House, the central operations of the Missionaries of Charity established by Mother Teresa. His itinerary includes stops in Agra and Jaipur, cities famous for their historic landmarks and royal architecture.

The Secretary of State will conduct one-on-one discussions with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and is anticipated to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tuesday’s Quad ministerial gathering in New Delhi will bring together officials from the alliance that has consistently criticized China for demonstrating military strength in the South China Sea and aggressively advancing its territorial maritime demands.

China argues its military presence serves purely defensive purposes to safeguard what it considers legitimate territorial rights, characterizing the Quad as an effort to limit its economic expansion and global influence.

Following his swearing-in ceremony in January of last year, Rubio’s initial official overseas commitment involved conferences with foreign ministers from the remaining Quad nations, conducted both collectively and individually.

A Japanese nurse who holds the distinction of being the only woman to successfully climb the world’s second-tallest mountain, K2, on three separate occasions has accomplished something even more remarkable: reaching the top of all 14 of Earth’s highest peaks.

However, for 44-year-old Naoko Watanabe, mountaineering represents much more than accumulating achievements. She views it as pursuing adventure, finding happiness, and discovering new cultures, people, and cuisines. This June, she plans to guide a team of amateur climbers back to Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat, dubbed the “killer mountain,” which remains her preferred destination.

“I’m just an ordinary person who has happened to achieve records while climbing the Himalayas during my vacations,” Watanabe explained during a recent Associated Press interview conducted in Tokyo. “I don’t consider myself a mountaineer.”

Watanabe’s high-altitude journey began in 2006 during her nursing school years when she successfully ascended Cho Oyu, standing at 8,201 meters (26,906 feet) as the world’s sixth-tallest mountain along the Nepal-China border.

This marked her inaugural climb of one of the globe’s 14 mountains that rise above 8,000 meters (26,246 feet).

Following her transition to full-time nursing at a university hospital in 2009, she found it challenging to juggle her career with her climbing passion, ultimately choosing temporary nursing positions to allow more frequent expeditions.

She now regularly ventures into the Himalayas as an escape from Japan’s demanding, conformity-focused society, using these climbs to restore her mental equilibrium. Her current mission involves introducing others who need respite to the happiness that mountain climbing can provide.

Watanabe is currently organizing a June expedition to Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-tallest peak, which she successfully summited on her second try in 2022. For this upcoming journey, she intends to accompany amateur climbers, with most participants remaining at base camp.

“The Nanga Parbat base camp is extremely scenic and it’s my favorite among the 14 peaks,” Watanabe explained. “I want everyone to see that.” She encourages participants to move at their preferred speed, take breaks freely, capture photographs, and engage with Sherpa guides.

“They are not supposed to be working hard,” Watanabe emphasizes. “I want (the climbers) to be free from the stereotypes and realize that the Himalayas can be fun … and to know there are more important things than reaching the summit.”

Born in Onojo City in southern Japan in 1981, Watanabe began her adventure journey at age 3 when her mother enrolled her in a children’s adventure program. Her early experiences included island camping in China, expeditions across Mongolian grasslands with other youngsters, and climbing a snow-covered Pakistani mountain at age 12.

Throughout her youth, she credits her love for adventure and climbing with helping her navigate challenging periods as she wrestled with Japan’s cultural expectations to participate in group activities while avoiding individual distinction.

Her healthcare background has proven invaluable during her 31 expeditions spanning the last two decades.

“The experience (as a nurse) has become useful in the mountains when I face emergencies and need to make a quick decision on the spot about the weather or my own health conditions.”

During her initial Everest attempt in 2011, with only 150 meters (160 yards) remaining to the summit, she chose to retreat when weather conditions rapidly declined. Her emotional Sherpa objected, insisting they were merely one hour from the peak. However, Watanabe foresaw potential oxygen supply issues if deteriorating weather caused delays. During their descent, she temporarily lost her vision. They returned safely, though she developed pneumonia.

Returning to Everest in 2013 on an exceptionally windy day, conditions appeared more favorable. While other climbers withdrew, she proceeded cautiously and successfully reached the summit.

Watanabe achieved the milestone of becoming the first Japanese woman to conquer all 14 of the world’s tallest mountains in October 2024, when she summited the 8,027-meter (26,335-foot) Mount Shishapangma in China.

In July 2024, she also earned recognition from Guinness World Records as the first woman to reach the summit of the 8,611-meter (28,251-foot) K2, the world’s second-tallest mountain, on three occasions.

Watanabe intends to continue climbing for the pure enjoyment it provides.

“I will probably end up climbing (mountains in the Himalayas) about 100 times,” she projects. “It would be fun if that eventually becomes a record that I set in my own unique way.”

A month-long United Nations gathering focused on examining the global nuclear nonproliferation agreement concluded Friday without reaching consensus, as disputes between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s atomic activities derailed negotiations.

The conference chair, Vietnam’s U.N. Ambassador Do Hung Viet, declared that the 191 nations party to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty could not agree on even a diluted concluding statement. He declined to identify which nations prevented consensus.

This marks the third consecutive unsuccessful review of the NPT, widely regarded as the foundation of worldwide efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and promote disarmament. During the previous treaty assessment in August 2022, Russia prevented consensus on a concluding document due to its February 2022 Ukraine invasion and mentions of Moscow’s control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, Europe’s largest.

Disputes regarding Tehran’s atomic activities intensified before the Iran war, which commenced with U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Feb. 28. President Donald Trump has stated the conflict aimed to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Iran has processed uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade purity but maintains its program serves only peaceful purposes.

The U.S. and Iran have confronted each other since the review conference began on April 27. The U.S. has charged Iran with displaying “contempt” for its treaty obligations, while Iran has claimed U.S. and Israeli attacks on its atomic installations breached international law.

Iran participates in the NPT, which mandates nations allow the U.N. nuclear oversight body to inspect all atomic facilities. However, Iran has denied International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors entry to nuclear locations bombed by the U.S. last June.

During closing remarks, the United States labeled Iran a “prolific treaty violator” and accused it of “shirking accountability for its grotesque violations” throughout the conference. Iran charged the U.S. and its partners with waging a “relentless campaign” to justify their “unlawful attacks” on the nation and its nuclear infrastructure.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, said the conference “showed that rhetorical support for the NPT is strong, but the foundations of the NPT are cracking due to inaction, inattention, and intransigence on the part of the major powers.”

“Much more enlightened, engaged, and pragmatic leadership and diplomacy will be needed to guard against the growing risks of an unconstrained nuclear buildup, threats to resume nuclear testing, and the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran,” Kimball said.

Britain’s Rebecca Johnson, founding executive director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, delivered sharp criticism of both the U.S. and Russia, the world’s two largest nuclear powers, which she said “double down on nuclear threats, blame others and try to undermine or ignore the NPT’s nuclear disarmament commitments and related agreements.”

An internal World Bank document obtained by Reuters shows that 27 nations have taken steps to secure rapid access to emergency funding through existing bank programs following the start of the Iran war.

The confidential document did not identify which specific countries are involved or reveal the total dollar amounts they are seeking. World Bank officials declined to provide comment on the matter.

According to the document, three nations have successfully established new funding mechanisms since the Middle East conflict started on February 28, while the remaining countries continue working through the approval process.

The ongoing conflict has created widespread disruption in global energy markets, damaging supply chains worldwide and blocking critical fertilizer deliveries to developing nations.

Government officials from Kenya and Iraq have publicly confirmed their efforts to obtain emergency World Bank assistance to address war-related impacts, including Kenya’s struggle with rising fuel costs and Iraq’s significant decline in oil revenues.

These 27 nations are part of a larger group of 101 countries that have access to various pre-established financing tools for crisis situations. This includes 54 countries enrolled in the Rapid Response Option, which permits nations to utilize up to 10% of their unused financing.

World Bank President Ajay Banga announced last month that the institution’s emergency response tools would enable countries to access between $20 billion and $25 billion through pre-arranged emergency financing, existing project funds, and rapid-disbursement programs.

Banga indicated the bank could redirect portions of its investment portfolio to reach $60 billion within six months, with potential long-term adjustments bringing the total to approximately $100 billion.

During the same period, International Monetary Fund head Kristalina Georgieva predicted that up to 12 countries would request between $20 billion and $50 billion in immediate assistance from the global lending institution. However, according to three informed sources, few formal requests have been submitted.

“Countries are definitely in wait-and-see mode,” one source said, requesting anonymity.

Kevin Gallagher, director of the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University, explained that nations prefer World Bank funding over IMF negotiations because IMF programs typically mandate austerity policies that could worsen social unrest already occurring in countries like Kenya.

A deadly gas explosion at a coal mining facility in northern China’s Shanxi province has claimed eight lives, with 38 workers still trapped underground, according to Saturday reports from state news agency Xinhua, which cited the local emergency management authority.

The blast happened late Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine located in Qinyuan county, where 247 employees were working below ground when the explosion occurred, Xinhua stated.

Rescue teams had successfully evacuated 201 individuals to safety by early Saturday morning, which included the eight fatalities, according to the news report.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A man from Argentina who was held in Venezuelan custody for 448 days issued an appeal Friday for global leaders to intensify efforts pressuring the administration of interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez to free other detainees.

Nahuel Gallo, age 35, gained his freedom on March 1 following his arrest on spy-related charges leveled by the administration of former President Nicolás Maduro, who has since been removed from power.

“I think we’re still imprisoned until our fellow inmates are freed,” Gallo told The Associated Press.

Throughout his nearly 15-month incarceration, Gallo reported suffering physical assaults, inadequate healthcare, and relentless mental torment while confined at Rodeo I facility.

Since assuming the role of acting president following Maduro’s January apprehension by U.S. forces, Rodríguez has pledged democratic changes, and Venezuelan officials have previously rejected accounts of prison mistreatment. However, opposition voices maintain that hundreds continue to be held on political grounds.

According to Gallo, these ongoing imprisonments demonstrate that Venezuela’s oppressive apparatus continues to function.

During a Thursday meeting in Buenos Aires with U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas, the diplomat issued a statement declaring that “the Maduro regime in Venezuela used the arbitrary detention of foreign citizens as a tool of political repression.”

Earlier this week, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez — who is the interim president’s brother — revealed intentions to free 300 prisoners, including some whom human rights organizations view as politically motivated cases.

Gallo’s arrest occurred on Dec. 8, 2024, during his attempt to cross into Venezuela for a visit with his Venezuelan partner, María Alexandra Gómez García, and their child, who was under 2 years old at the time.

While passing through border control, Venezuelan officials examined his mobile device and discovered WhatsApp messages between him and his partner discussing Venezuela’s political and economic circumstances.

“You’re criticizing my president,” Gallo recalled officers telling him.

He was subsequently taken to the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, where he reported being restrained, struck, and kicked during questioning sessions.

Following this, he was placed in a truck where agents persisted with interrogation after discovering contacts connected to Argentine legal institutions on his phone.

“You are a spy. You work for the government,” he recalled them saying while threatening to throw him from the vehicle, pressing a gun against his head and pointing a Taser at him.

Almost three weeks following his detention, then-Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab charged Gallo with engaging in “terrorist actions” against Venezuela.

Throughout his nearly 15-month stay at Rodeo I, Gallo reported having zero communication with Argentine representatives and receiving no updates about potential release discussions.

Gallo painted a picture of brutal circumstances within the facility. Healthcare was severely restricted. Prisoners received only brief daily periods for bathing, laundering, and restroom use. Guards regularly deployed pepper spray against inmates.

His foreign status prohibited him from receiving visitors. His first conversation with his wife occurred only after a full year behind bars and following his decision to begin a hunger strike.

The experiences that continue to trouble him most involve witnessing guards assault prisoners in adjacent cells.

“I think the greatest torture is seeing something being done to someone else and not being able to do anything,” Gallo said.

He currently utilizes social media platforms to expose Venezuelan prison conditions and campaign for those who remain incarcerated.

“The person who’s still inside is waiting for the one who got out to do something,” he said.

Gallo continues to recall the words his fellow prisoners shared as he departed Rodeo I: “Gallo, don’t forget about us.”

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — In a dramatic late-night announcement on Friday, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye dismissed Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko following prolonged political friction between the two leaders.

Government Secretary General Oumar Samba Ba made the announcement during a nighttime television broadcast, revealing the end of a partnership that had brought their party to power.

The dismissal marks the climax of escalating disputes between these once-allied leaders from the Patriotes Africains du Sénégal pour le Travail, l’Éthique et la Fraternité (Pastef) party, which had successfully ousted the previous administration.

According to Ba, the prime minister’s removal triggered the resignation of all government ministers and led to the cabinet’s complete dissolution.

The Pastef party had secured victory following an aggressive political battle against the previously governing Alliance pour la République party. This came amid widespread concerns that former President Macky Sall might exploit a 2016 constitutional amendment to extend his presidency. Sall, who governed from 2012 to 2024, ultimately chose not to seek reelection, leading to his party’s defeat.

Sonko, who leads the Pastef party, was prohibited from seeking the presidency after courts upheld a defamation conviction and the Constitutional Court rejected his candidacy. Faye stepped in as the party’s candidate in Sonko’s place.

Following his dismissal, Sonko posted a brief message on X, stating: “Praise be to Allah. Tonight I will sleep with a light heart in the Keur Gorgui neighborhood.”

Wreckage from unmanned aircraft sparked a blaze at an oil facility in Russia’s Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, leaving one person hurt, authorities reported in the early hours of Saturday, May 23.

According to the General Headquarters of southern Krasnodar Region in a Telegram post, multiple technical and administrative structures were engulfed in flames. The falling wreckage also struck the facility’s oil storage terminal.

WELLINGTON, May 23 – The New Zealand government announced a major defense investment of NZ$1.58 billion ($924.62 million) as part of its 2026 budget, with maritime security taking center stage, according to Defence Minister Chris Penk on Saturday.

The country’s naval combat operations currently rely on two Anzac-class frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, which entered service in 1997 and 1999 respectively. These vessels, along with most of the nation’s fleet, are projected to reach their operational limits by the mid-2030s. Last year, the government committed to doubling defense expenditures to approximately 2% of GDP over an eight-year period to strengthen the nation’s military capabilities.

The funding breakdown includes NZ$880 million for additional operational expenses and NZ$700 million in capital investment for defense initiatives and priority projects outlined in the Defence Capability Plan.

Under the Maritime Fleet Renewal initiative, resources will support the development of two distinct drone platforms: extended-range surveillance aircraft for intelligence gathering across the South-West Pacific region, and specialized polar-capable units designed to operate from Royal New Zealand Navy ships in Southern Ocean missions.

The budget allocation will also support essential repairs and upgrades to the Anzac-class frigates and HMNZS Canterbury, extending their service life until replacement vessels become operational.

Penk noted that combined defense investments have totaled NZ$5.8 billion since the Defence Capability Plan’s introduction just over twelve months ago.

The complete budget details are scheduled for public release on May 28.

Bolivian officials announced Friday that law enforcement and military personnel will establish humanitarian corridors Saturday in the La Paz region to allow essential goods to bypass protest blockades that have disrupted supply chains.

The demonstrations have escalated over recent weeks as various groups including labor unions, mining workers, transportation employees, and rural communities demand that President Rodrigo Paz reverse austerity policies and tackle increasing costs of living. Several groups have demanded the president step down, signaling growing opposition to the current administration.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The current White House approach toward Cuba mirrors the tactics used against Venezuela: petroleum sanctions, increased American naval presence, criminal indictments and ongoing intervention warnings.

However, analysts caution that identical pressure strategies don’t guarantee identical outcomes, despite President Donald Trump frequently stating that “Cuba is next.”

“President Trump viewed the Venezuelan intervention as a fantastic success,” said Brian Finucane, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and a former State Department lawyer. “And he’s sought to replicate the Venezuela model elsewhere, including in Iran. But obviously, Cuba, like Iran, is a very different country than Venezuela.”

Should Washington succeed in removing Cuba’s current government, no clear replacement exists who would collaborate with the Trump administration, Finucane noted. This contrasts sharply with Venezuela, where American forces apprehended leader Nicolás Maduro in January, allowing his deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control with Washington’s backing.

Cuban officials, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public statements, assert “there is no Delcy in Cuba.”

Current American military deployment in Caribbean waters remains significantly smaller and less intimidating compared to the extensive naval buildup preceding Maduro’s removal, Finucane observed. Additionally, prosecuting 94-year-old former Cuban leader Raúl Castro carries less weight than charging Venezuela’s active president with narcotics crimes to justify his detention.

The following outlines key parallels and contrasts between Washington’s pressure strategies targeting Venezuela and Cuba:

Following his established pattern, Trump established groundwork for American involvement in Venezuela — and potentially Cuba — through escalating warnings months ahead of any military intervention.

The president has cautioned Caribbean nation leaders to comply or confront American military power. Prior to the bold operation that removed Maduro from office, Trump appeared alongside senior national security officials in Florida, delivering what became his final public warning to the authoritarian ruler.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump declared in December. Following Maduro’s transport to America for prosecution, Trump redirected attention toward regional targets, particularly Cuba.

“Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out,” he informed reporters on Jan. 5.

Trump proceeded to threaten trade penalties against nations selling or providing petroleum to Cuba, suggesting America might have “the honor of taking Cuba” after military actions in Venezuela and Iran.

Thursday brought renewed warnings, with Trump labeling Cuba “a failed country.”

“Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something,” Trump stated. “And, it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.”

American petroleum sanctions targeting Cuba and Venezuela aim for identical outcomes: applying severe pressure on governing authorities through completely opposite approaches.

Regarding Venezuela, the administration focused on blocking the nation’s oil sales to deprive Maduro’s regime of income. Post-Maduro, efforts shifted toward preventing Venezuela from shipping oil to specific nations — especially Cuba, which provided no monetary compensation — while demanding compliance with American terms for such exports.

Most Venezuelan crude now flows through American refineries.

Cuba faces restrictions on oil imports, though Washington has permitted limited shipments to reach the island nation, which recently announced depleted reserves. These petroleum sanctions, expanding the decades-old American trade embargo, have severely hampered the government’s ability to supply electricity and fuel to citizens.

Such measures risk going too far, Finucane warned, potentially driving many Cubans to attempt the 90-mile journey to Florida in improvised vessels, similar to 1990s exodus patterns.

“President Trump especially cares about immigration. And if they push too hard on Cuba and destabilize the island, there’s the possibility of some kind of a refugee crisis,” he explained.

Federal prosecutors charged Maduro with narco-terrorism conspiracy and additional counts during Trump’s initial presidency in 2020.

These charges justified Maduro’s capture, leading to his current detention in New York where he awaits trial after entering not guilty pleas. This action transformed Venezuela’s relationship with America, permitting previously banned Venezuelan oil sales to American companies and international markets — a dramatic reversal after years of blocked government and petroleum sector dealings.

The indictment targeting Castro for the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exiles represents another escalation step in the administration’s pressure strategy, according to William LeoGrande, an American University professor specializing in Latin American politics.

However, he noted that apprehending Castro on murder and aircraft destruction charges wouldn’t alter Cuban government operations.

Castro “still has influence and the leadership seeks his opinion on major decisions, but he is not running the government on a day-to-day basis,” LeoGrande explained.

Months before Maduro’s capture, Washington deployed naval vessels near Venezuelan waters in what became the largest Latin American military buildup in decades.

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, America’s most sophisticated warship, was redirected from European operations to participate. Three amphibious assault vessels transported Marine expeditionary forces along with helicopters and Osprey aircraft.

American forces spent months targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters — operations that continue — while fighter aircraft conducted flights over the Gulf of Venezuela.

Maduro’s actual capture involved over 150 aircraft deployed throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Current Caribbean Sea military presence remains smaller, including two amphibious assault ships carrying Marines. Officials highlighted the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier’s arrival with accompanying vessels coinciding with this week’s Castro charges announcement.

However, the Nimitz is conducting final regional maritime exercises before decommissioning.

“They’re very different situations, and it’s very difficult to see similar outcomes,” Finucane concluded. “A snatch-and-grab raid against Raúl Castro or someone who’s actually in a leadership position doesn’t seem like it’s going to have the same outcome in Cuba as in Venezuela.”

A new survey from pollster Datafolha reveals Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has opened up a lead over opposition Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in this year’s presidential race, with the incumbent benefiting from recent news stories connecting his right-wing opponent to a discredited banking figure.

According to the poll released Friday, the leftist president would capture 47% of the vote compared to 43% for Flavio in a hypothetical second-round matchup. This marks a shift from a survey conducted May 16 that showed the two candidates in a dead heat.

The polling was conducted in Sao Paulo and released on May 22.

ISTANBUL — Internal turmoil within Turkey’s primary opposition political organization intensified Friday following a court decision that has created competing claims to party leadership.

A judicial panel in Ankara ruled Thursday to invalidate the Republican Peoples’ Party’s November 2023 leadership convention, where Ozgur Ozel won election to succeed former party head Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

The court’s action has temporarily removed Ozel and current executive committee members from their positions. Kilicdaroglu and officials who served prior to the November 2023 gathering will assume control on an interim basis.

Party officials contend the judicial ruling stems from political interference.

Previously, a trial court had dismissed challenges regarding voting irregularities and improper conduct during Ozel’s selection, but Thursday’s appellate decision reversed that earlier judgment.

Government representatives supported the legal challenge against the Republican Peoples’ Party, stating that party members themselves raised the corruption allegations. The most prominent complainant was former Antakya Mayor Lutfu Savas, who faced party expulsion for disciplinary violations in December 2024 before filing his lawsuit two months afterward to invalidate the leadership convention.

The party quickly challenged Thursday’s decision, but the court denied their request Friday. An evening appeal to the Supreme Election Council also failed, though the Supreme Court agreed to hear Ozel’s petition.

Friday saw Kilicdaroglu dismiss three party attorneys who had submitted the appeals. News outlets reported he began contacting previous associates to form his leadership team and updated his social media profile from “7th chairman of the CHP” to “chairman of the CHP.”

The 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu stepped down after 13 years leading the organization during which it never secured national electoral victory. In contrast, Ozel achieved significant success against Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party in his first major test during 2024’s municipal contests.

Thursday’s decision represents another significant challenge for the struggling party as it confronts numerous legal proceedings targeting its members and elected representatives.

The country’s next presidential contest is scheduled for 2028, though Erdogan retains authority to schedule an earlier vote. His primary political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the Republican Peoples’ Party, has been incarcerated since March and faces corruption trial proceedings.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who previously handled multiple cases against the party as Istanbul’s top prosecutor, characterized the court’s action as strengthening “our citizens’ trust in democracy.”

Political analysts widely view the legal actions against the Republican Peoples’ Party — primarily involving corruption accusations — as politically driven efforts to weaken the organization before upcoming elections. Government officials maintain that Turkish courts operate independently without political influence.

Erdogan has governed Turkey since 2003, serving first as prime minister then president. His electoral dominance faced challenges in 2019 when the opposition captured control of several major urban areas. Imamoglu’s victory in Istanbul established him as an appealing leader whom many believed capable of defeating Erdogan.

BOGOTA, Colombia — More than 500 Colombian military personnel flooded into the southwestern municipality of Silvia on Friday after deadly fighting erupted between two Indigenous communities over disputed land, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 100 others.

Military officials announced on social media that over 500 troops, supported by air units, would be sent to the region to secure the communities and stop further violence from breaking out.

Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters Friday that preliminary casualty figures show at least seven fatalities and more than 110 wounded — the majority suffering gunshot wounds. “This figure could rise,” he warned.

The violent confrontation occurred in a rural section of the Cauca department, where the Misak and Nasa Indigenous communities are fighting over the same piece of land that both groups say belongs to them.

According to a statement from Colombia’s government-run National Land Agency, officials have been working since April when conflicts first began to help resolve the dispute through mediation meetings and technical committees aimed at “providing clarity regarding the territorial boundaries of the two groups.” The agency called on both communities to continue participating in negotiations.

On Thursday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia released a statement calling for peace between the communities and demanding that government officials investigate and bring charges against those who caused the deaths and injuries.

Criminal armed organizations operate throughout the area, including breakaway groups from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, that refused to accept the historic 2016 peace deal with the government.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia’s legislative body voted Friday to install right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the nation’s new prime minister, marking a political transition for the small European Union member previously led by a liberal administration.

Parliamentary members supported Jansa by a margin of 51-36 in the 90-seat legislature. The newly appointed prime minister must return to Parliament in the coming 15 days for an additional vote to approve his proposed Cabinet.

Jansa’s selection ends a political deadlock in Slovenia following parliamentary elections two months prior that resulted in virtually even results. Previous liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement secured victory by a narrow margin, but he could not secure enough parliamentary support to govern.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party finalized a coalition deal this week with multiple right-wing organizations. The incoming administration also receives support from a nonestablishment Truth party that originated as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This upcoming term marks the fourth time in office for the experienced Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and maintained close ties with former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who suffered a decisive electoral defeat last month.

During his address, Jansa outlined the economy, anti-corruption efforts, reducing bureaucracy, and decentralization as primary objectives for his upcoming administration. He has pledged to reduce tax burdens for wealthy citizens and boost private education and healthcare sectors.

Criticizing what he called the outgoing government’s “inefficiency,” Jansa stated his new administration would transform Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted.”

Similar to Orban, Jansa maintained strong anti-immigration positions during Europe’s major migration crisis in 2015. Also resembling Orban, Jansa has encountered criticism for allegedly restricting democratic institutions and media freedoms during his previous 2020-2022 tenure. These actions sparked public demonstrations and drew European Union oversight.

In his remarks, Golob characterized Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy.”

Claiming that Jansa had made threats of arrest against him, Golob stated that Jansa’s “idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, who supports Israel, has also been a vocal opponent of the Golob government’s 2024 decision to recognize a Palestinian state.

The March 22 election faced claims of foreign interference and corruption. The approximately 2 million residents of the Alpine country remain sharply split between liberal and conservative viewpoints.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing conflict with Russia during his Friday evening video address, stating he anticipates American suggestions for new negotiation formats.

During his nightly remarks following a virtual conference with leaders from Britain, France and Germany, Zelenskiy emphasized that current battlefield conditions favor Ukraine.

“Right now everything must be done to intensify diplomacy,” Zelenskiy said. “I am also expecting a response from the American side regarding possible formats and the schedule of meetings.”

The Ukrainian leader described the military situation as unfavorable for Russian forces, stating the battlefield trend was “not in the interests of the occupier. We continue to increase the rate at which we are destroying Russian personnel. This, together with sanctions of all forms, is forcing Russia towards choosing diplomacy.”

Zelenskiy reported that he briefed French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on current military developments along the front lines.

According to the Ukrainian president, his country has regained control of 590 square kilometers (228 square miles) of previously occupied land since January began.

A statement from Britain indicated that Zelenskiy updated the three leaders about “the progress made by Ukraine’s military in recent weeks, as it continues to ramp up its defence in the face of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s continued attacks.”

The British statement noted that all three leaders “confirmed they would double down on their support in the coming months” and reached consensus that “standing up to Russian aggression remains vital for European and global security.”

Officials in Taiwan stated Friday they have received no notification regarding potential delays in American weapons sales, following comments from a high-ranking U.S. official who indicated such sales were temporarily halted.

The island nation, which Beijing considers part of its territory, has been anticipating approval of a new weapons package from Washington that could reach $14 billion in value, according to previous reports.

President Donald Trump indicated uncertainty about approving the package after meeting with China’s Xi Jinping in Beijing the previous week.

During a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing Thursday, U.S. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao addressed questions about future weapons sales to Taiwan.

“We have done some foreign military sales to them. It’s just right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury – which we have plenty,” he stated, referencing American operations against Iran.

“But we’re just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary,” he added, noting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would determine approval of Taiwan sales.

Taiwan Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo addressed reporters in Taipei, acknowledging the official’s comments.

“However, at present we have not received any relevant information about the U.S. adjusting these military sales,” she stated.

Taiwan’s defense ministry also confirmed no notification of weapons sale delays had been received.

The ministry continues to “monitor U.S. security cooperation policy” and maintain close coordination and communication with the U.S. to ensure that arms sales proceed according to plan, according to their statement.

American law requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive capabilities. Beijing has consistently demanded Washington cease weapons sales.

Taiwan’s leadership disputes China’s territorial claims, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine the island’s future.

Slovenia’s legislative body confirmed Janez Jansa as the country’s prime minister-designate on Friday, breaking a political stalemate that has persisted since March elections failed to produce a clear majority winner.

The right-leaning politician, who is pursuing his fourth term in office, obtained 51 votes from the 90-member parliament on May 22, clearing the path for establishing a new administration committed to business-friendly policies and tax reductions.

The coalition supporting Jansa consists of five center-right political parties that have outlined key objectives including financial relief for companies and families, assistance for emerging businesses and rapidly expanding enterprises, plus establishing a special fund to support the nation’s retirement system. The alliance has also promised to reduce bureaucratic obstacles, address government corruption, and transfer greater authority to municipal governments.

“Our goal is Slovenia as a highly developed, competitive, and socially cohesive state based on knowledge, innovation, fairness, and quality of life,” Jansa told lawmakers.

During the March 22 parliamentary contest, Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) finished in second place with 28 seats, trailing the liberal Freedom Movement (GS) led by former prime minister Robert Golob, which captured 29 seats. Golob’s political organization moved into opposition status last month following unsuccessful attempts to build a governing majority.

On Thursday, the SDS joined with four other center-right organizations – New Slovenia, Democrats, Slovenian Peoples Party and Focus – to finalize their governing partnership agreement.

This five-party alliance holds 43 parliamentary seats and gained extra support from the right-wing Resnica party, though that group will remain outside the formal government structure. Representatives of national minority groups also endorsed Jansa’s selection as prime minister-designate.

Ten people died Friday in Israeli military strikes targeting southern Lebanon, with six paramedics and a Syrian child among the casualties, Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported. The deadly attacks represent the most recent violence in ongoing cross-border hostilities that persist despite a fragile, U.S.-negotiated ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The ministry detailed that the initial strike targeted Hanouiyeh village, resulting in four deaths among paramedics employed by Hezbollah’s Islamic Health Association. Two additional paramedics sustained injuries in that attack.

A second Friday morning strike hit Deir Qanoun al Nahr village in the coastal Tyre province, claiming six lives including a Syrian child and two paramedics from the Al-Rissala Scouts Association, a medical group connected to Amal movement, which allies with Hezbollah. Six others suffered injuries, among them three paramedics and a Syrian woman.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry characterized both strikes as violations of international law.

The U.N. World Health Organization reported Thursday that 169 documented attacks against healthcare personnel and medical facilities have occurred in Lebanon since the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict started, causing 116 fatalities.

Israeli military officials did not provide responses to requests for comment. The military has previously claimed that the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant organization uses ambulances to conceal military operations, though no supporting evidence has been presented.

Cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah continues despite the U.S.-negotiated ceasefire agreement.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry announced earlier this week that casualties from the most recent round of Israel-Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon have exceeded 3,000 deaths.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict commenced on March 2, following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel two days after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, a primary supporter of the Lebanese militant organization.

Friday also saw statements from Lebanon’s army and General Security Directorate emphasizing their officers’ discipline, professionalism and exclusive loyalty to their institutions and country.

These declarations followed Thursday’s announcement by the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposing sanctions on multiple Hezbollah-connected legislators, state security personnel and militant group allies for allegedly working to maintain the Iran-supported organization’s control over Lebanese government institutions while hindering disarmament initiatives.

Washington sanctioned sitting Lebanese state security officials for the first time, targeting one official from the General Security Directorate and another from military intelligence. Both face accusations of supplying Hezbollah with unauthorized support and intelligence throughout the current conflict.

Lebanon’s health ministry announced Friday that six emergency medical workers lost their lives in two separate Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon over a 24-hour period, denouncing the strikes as breaches of international law.

The ministry reported that four paramedics with the Islamic Health Association died in an Israeli attack that occurred overnight from Thursday into Friday in Hanaway, a town in southern Lebanon. A second strike Friday morning claimed the lives of two emergency workers from the Al-Rissala Scouts Association in Deir Qanoun En-Nahr, according to ministry officials.

Israeli military officials did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries about the attacks.

The ministry released video footage purportedly from Deir Qanoun En-Nahr showing two individuals wearing yellow vests assisting someone along a roadside. As an ambulance draws near the pair, a bright flash appears followed by a loud explosion. The same two men are subsequently visible lying on the ground.

Reuters verified the video’s location as the western perimeter of Deir Qanoun En-Nahr by comparing buildings, vegetation and street patterns with archived satellite images of the region.

Ministry officials stated that six people total perished in Deir Qanoun En-Nahr, including the two medical workers and a Syrian child. The community had already suffered an earlier airstrike this week that claimed 14 lives, marking the most deadly single attack since a fragile ceasefire was declared last month.

Since March 2, when the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in the initial phase of renewed conflict, more than 3,100 people have died in Lebanon.

The casualties include 123 medical personnel, along with over 210 children and nearly 300 women, based on data released by the health ministry Friday.

International humanitarian law provides special protections for emergency responders, medical staff and civilian infrastructure, particularly healthcare facilities.

The World Health Organization reports that multiple hospitals in southern Lebanon have sustained damage or been completely disabled by Israeli strikes.

Thursday saw an Israeli attack near Tebnine Hospital in southern Lebanon that caused damage across all three levels of the facility, affecting the emergency department, intensive care unit, surgical wing and ambulances stationed outside, the health ministry reported.

Thousands of seafarers continue to endure harsh conditions aboard vessels trapped in the Gulf as Iran strengthens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil shipping route.

Approximately 20,000 maritime workers remain stranded on roughly 2,000 ships in the Gulf, with many unable to disembark and facing shortages of food and fresh water while living in fear of potential attacks in what has become a war zone.

Recent interviews conducted by Reuters with affected sailors have revealed the severe hardships and anxiety they face daily, with a maritime workers’ federation warning of desperate circumstances.

“The only thing we do here is plan how to spend the night and pray to God that we do not get hit during an attack,” said Indian sailor Salman Siddiqui during a phone call from his trapped vessel last month.

For almost three months, these maritime workers have lived in isolation with small groups of crewmates, confined to cramped living spaces, shared dining rooms, and blistering hot decks under the scorching sun.

The waterway was shut down by Tehran after U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran commenced on February 28. With thousands of ships now trapped and peace talks at a standstill, Iran continues to strengthen what amounts to an effective maritime blockade.

On Wednesday, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, an organization established by Iran to handle transit requests, released a map reinforcing Tehran’s territorial claims over extensive waters surrounding the strategic chokepoint.

Vessel operators attempting to free their ships and valuable cargo must work through a complex web of fees and approvals established by Iran, according to a Reuters investigation.

“Seafarers’ vulnerability and exposure is more, let’s say, extreme because of the war,” explained Mohamed Arrachedi, network coordinator for the Arab World and Iran at the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

Arrachedi outlined numerous problems including delayed wages, refusal to assist with sailor repatriation, insufficient supplies, and constant fear of missile and drone attacks. He noted that some seafarers have contacted him while crying.

Since the conflict began, the ITF has received contact from over 2,000 Gulf sailors requesting assistance or guidance with various issues including abandonment, wage delays, and supply shortages, according to Arrachedi.

From the Saudi port of Dammam, approximately seven large vessels could be seen anchored offshore – an unusually high number under normal circumstances. As a supply boat approached a tanker amid strong winds, crew members shouted across the water while loading large bags of medical supplies.

Mohit Kohli, captain of a large freight ship caught in the Gulf when hostilities erupted after departing Singapore, said when he initially learned the Strait might close he “could not even fathom that this was remotely possible.”

While his German-owned vessel secured safe anchorage near Dammam, just over a week into the conflict, the crew began witnessing and hearing missiles and drones that Iran was launching at Gulf nations.

“The crew who was usually loud and happy were now silent. Meals got shorter. Conversations were more guarded,” he explained, describing the ship’s atmosphere during a Reuters interview this month following his return to India.

Kohli and his fellow crew members were fortunate to be on a vessel whose operators arranged for replacement crew, he noted.

Many sailors endure far worse conditions, Arrachedi explained. In cases he’s handling, some sailors haven’t received their modest salaries of $100 to $200 monthly since last year, and ship operators refuse repatriation assistance or only provide it if workers surrender back wages.

Some mariners report surviving on just one daily meal of rice or lentils and having only brief internet access to reach family members or request outside assistance, Arrachedi added.

“They need a collective intervention because they are key for our economies, for the supply chains, but also because they are active seafarers and they are civilians,” he stated.

Gulf nations are making efforts to support sailors by enabling supply deliveries and crew transfers.

“Seafarers stuck on a vessel in uncertain waters, the most important thing in the world is knowing that there is a shore open to reach,” said Suliman Almazroua, president of the Saudi Ports Authority.

The authority has assisted hundreds of vessels with resupplying food, fresh water, fuel, and medical supplies, while helping more than 500 sailors transfer from their ships, Almazroua said, describing thank-you messages from sailors he’s helped evacuate as the most fulfilling aspect of his work.

Family members of a detained Belarusian journalist are sounding the alarm about his deteriorating health condition, demanding his immediate release from prison to prevent his death.

Kiryl Pazniak, age 49, has been held in custody since authorities arrested him in September on extremism-related charges, which critics say are commonly used to silence opposition voices. The former YouTube show host could face up to seven years in prison if found guilty.

His 20-year-old daughter has also been detained on similar extremism charges. Human rights defenders have classified both as political prisoners.

According to his former wife Elena, Pazniak is battling pneumonia and COVID-19, and was transferred to a prison medical facility this month in critical condition. She contends that authorities have failed to provide him with appropriate medical treatment, putting his life at serious risk.

Government officials in Belarus have not yet responded to reports about Pazniak’s medical status or allegations of inadequate healthcare.

“Freedom of speech in Belarus has a specific price, and today 21 journalists behind bars, including Pazniak, are paying for it with their health and ruined lives,” said Andrei Bastunets, head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. “Belarus has already become a black hole of Europe and leads the continent in the number of arrested journalists.”

The nation’s authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, has maintained strict control over the country of 9.5 million people for over thirty years. Western countries have imposed multiple sanctions on Belarus for its human rights violations and for permitting Moscow to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian territory starting February 24, 2022.

Mass demonstrations erupted following the 2020 presidential election, with hundreds of thousands of citizens protesting what they believed was a fraudulent vote. The government responded with widespread arrests, detaining tens of thousands of people and subjecting many to police violence. Key opposition leaders either fled abroad or were jailed.

After U.S. President Donald Trump resumed office in January 2025, Lukashenko freed hundreds of political detainees through agreements negotiated by American officials, which resulted in the removal of certain U.S. sanctions as the isolated leader seeks better relations with Western nations.

Despite these releases, human rights organizations report that Belarusian officials continue suppressing opposition activities. The Viasna human rights center reports that 841 political prisoners remain in custody throughout Belarus.

Crowds of demonstrators in Ireland are demanding accountability following the death of a Congolese man who became unresponsive after being held down by security personnel outside a major Dublin retail establishment.

Community advocates say troubling footage showing Yves Sakila in obvious distress while being pinned down on the pavement brings back memories of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020.

The 35-year-old Sakila was pursued and apprehended on May 15 by multiple security officers who believed he had stolen merchandise from Arnotts, Ireland’s oldest and largest department store, located in central Dublin. When police officers arrived at the scene, he was already unresponsive and was subsequently declared dead at a medical facility.

“Yves Sakila was a man who did not deserve to die,” Suzie Tansia, of the Congolese Community Ireland, said at a demonstration Thursday. “He was a human being, like you and I. He was somebody’s son, and that could have been any one of us.”

According to attorney John Gerard Cullen, who is representing Sakila’s relatives, the man had allegedly taken a bottle of perfume from the establishment.

Security personnel chased Sakila as he attempted to escape, during which he collided with an elderly man in his 80s who required hospital treatment for his injuries, according to law enforcement.

Footage from the confrontation, which the Irish Network Against Racism characterized as “very disturbing,” depicts a man identified as Sakila fighting and screaming in distress while being restrained by multiple individuals for approximately five minutes.

During the restraint, another individual wearing a gray suit can be seen placing his knee on Sakila’s neck, according to the organization. The video concludes with him lying still.

“We are very concerned that this case appears to have the hallmarks of a case of excessive use of force,” said Shane O’Curry, director of the network. “The death of a Black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying, and we urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances leading to this man’s death, in order to ensure minority ethnic community confidence in the criminal justice system.”

The retail establishment expressed being “deeply saddened” by Sakila’s death and announced it was reviewing its private security contractor arrangements. The store confirmed it was assisting with the police inquiry.

Prime Minister Micheál Martin has requested a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

“My deepest sympathies go out to his family, and to the wider Congolese community,” Martin said. “I don’t want to prejudice the outcome of that investigation but I think a lot of people are clearly very concerned about what has transpired here.”

Law enforcement officials are examining the death while simultaneously facing their own internal review by the ombudsman regarding their handling of the situation.

Media outlets reported that the initial responding officers placed handcuffs on Sakila before discovering he was unresponsive and beginning CPR.

While a post-mortem examination has been conducted, authorities have not disclosed the cause of death, citing operational considerations.

Cullen stated that Sakila’s relatives are disappointed with the limited information they have received.

Authorities are requesting witnesses to step forward with information.

Sakila had relocated from Congo to Galway during his teenage years and had resided in Ireland for over two decades. He had been employed in the technology sector but had been without housing in recent times. Cullen noted that Sakila battled substance addiction.

Walter Kabangu, the director of the Congolese Chamber of Commerce in Ireland who attended school with Sakila, characterized him as a “very down-to-earth young man.”

A memorial gathering took place Tuesday in front of Arnotts, and hundreds of demonstrators assembled peacefully Thursday outside Parliament.

Participants carried signs reading “Black lives matter here too,” and chanted, “Justice for Yves, dignity for all,” and “No justice, no peace.”

Prior to the demonstration, the Black Coalition Ireland conducted a press briefing and presented five requirements: a transparent examination of the death; racial sensitivity training for law enforcement; legislation against excessive force in civilian arrests; cessation of “demonizing rhetoric” toward ethnic communities; and equal treatment for all in reality — not merely in policy.

“We are demanding this because our lives matter,” said Yemi Adenuga, a Meath County councilor who is a spokeswoman for the coalition. “It would be sad to see this happen again on the streets of Dublin.”

TORONTO (AP) — Following Alberta’s announcement of a planned independence vote, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Friday his commitment to strengthening Canada for all provinces.

The leader of Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, revealed Thursday that citizens will vote October 19th on whether the province should remain part of Canada or pursue constitutional measures leading to a binding separation referendum. This approach disappointed independence advocates who had demanded an immediate referendum on leaving Canada entirely.

Speaking for the first time since Smith’s declaration, Carney acknowledged Alberta’s significant contributions to the nation.

“Canada is the greatest country in the world, but it can be better and we are working on making it better. We’re working with Alberta on making it better,” Carney stated during a tour of Parliament buildings currently undergoing renovations.

The Prime Minister highlighted his administration’s efforts to construct a new oil pipeline connecting Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coastline. Albertans have historically criticized Ottawa for insufficient action in bringing the province’s extensive oil resources to global markets.

Smith emphasized Thursday her preference for Alberta to stay within Canada. Political observers have drawn parallels between her position and former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s approach before the Brexit vote, where he supported the referendum to manage party factions while opposing actual departure from the European Union.

Even if voters approve a referendum, independence would not automatically follow. Federal government negotiations would be required.

Ian Brodie, who previously served as chief of staff to former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and currently teaches political science at the University of Calgary, believes Smith is taking a cautious approach.

“A vote to see if people even want a vote. It’s a good way to let the swing voters swing against separation,” Brodie explained.

Jeff Rath, representing Stay Free Alberta, the organization that gathered petition signatures demanding a separation referendum, condemned the decision as disrespectful to independence supporters. Cam Davies, who leads the pro-independence Republican Party of Alberta, shared this criticism and labeled Smith’s referendum proposal “spineless.”

Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, suggested Smith aims to satisfy pro-referendum members within her party. Béland predicted a future referendum would likely fail since separation support remains below 30%, though he acknowledged campaigns can influence outcomes.

Candace Laing, who serves as president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, condemned Smith’s choice, emphasizing that businesses throughout Canada, including Alberta, require stability for investment, job creation, talent recruitment, and major project development.

“Prolonged uncertainty around constitutional or political separation brings real risks for investor confidence, economic growth, and Canada’s global competitiveness at exactly the wrong time,” Laing stated.

James Moore, a former federal Conservative Cabinet minister, also expressed opposition.

“A referendum that will divide your party and make the province look unstable for investment, all to ultimately affirm the constitutional status quo, is an odd choice,” Moore wrote on social media.

French officials announced Friday they have prepared an alternative UN Security Council resolution aimed at establishing an international mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while a competing US-Bahrain proposal faces significant opposition that could prevent it from coming to a vote.

The strategic waterway’s effective blockade has become a central issue in the ongoing three-month conflict between the United States and Iran, with the closure causing oil prices to skyrocket as the narrow passage serves as a crucial route for global energy shipments.

The American-Bahraini proposal has been under consideration for over two weeks, but voting has been repeatedly postponed due to signals from China and Russia that they may block the measure.

The US-Bahrain draft calls for Iran to stop attacks and mining operations in the waterway. Both China and Russia previously blocked a similar American-supported measure in April, claiming it unfairly targeted Tehran.

According to two European diplomats, Washington has gained support from nearly 140 nations to co-sponsor their proposal in an attempt to prevent a veto.

France, which also holds veto power, has declined to support the American proposal.

“There is a draft resolution between the U.S. and Bahrain currently under discussion. This forms the basis of the current discussions. The date for the vote has not yet been announced,” stated France’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux.

French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated Paris plans to advance its own UN initiative, building on Franco-British cooperation to establish an international mission for restoring navigation freedom in the strait when circumstances allow and following discussions with both Washington and Tehran.

“We are working on an international mission to restore freedom of navigation. We have also prepared, as a permanent member, a draft resolution that could be discussed if the conditions are right,” Confavreux explained.

The American diplomatic effort at the United Nations marks a notable shift from recent months, during which Washington primarily operated outside UN structures, conducting military operations against Iran without council approval and encouraging allies to participate in informal naval patrols to maintain navigation rights.

Officials announced Friday that the Royal International Air Tattoo, recognized as among the globe’s premier defense exhibitions, will not proceed as planned due to military activities related to the Iran conflict.

The event had been set for July 17-19 at RAF Fairford, an operational Royal Air Force installation located in England’s southwest region.

“This has not been an easy decision. It follows extensive discussions with the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force regarding uncertainty over access to RAF Fairford, given the ongoing situation in the Middle East,” RIAT said on its website.

Event organizers indicated they plan to resume the exhibition in 2027.

A heartbroken father mourned as he carried his deceased 6-year-old son Amir, covered in a yellow and brown blanket, through northwest Syria.

Idris al-Ridah broke down and fell to the earth as he buried his child, placing the small body in a grave alongside two other young victims who were brother and sister, Aya al-Fankih, 4, and Rayan al-Fankih, 6.

All three youngsters died Thursday in Abu Habbah village, located in the rural areas of northwestern Idlib province, after an abandoned landmine from Syria’s ongoing conflict detonated as they played close to a water well.

These fatalities serve as another tragic example of the ongoing threat from unexploded military devices spread throughout the nation years following the start of the war.

Explosive devices and hidden traps have caused death and serious injuries to hundreds of Syrian citizens since the nation’s civil war started in March 2011, resulting in approximately half a million total deaths.

According to the Syrian Civil Defense, four additional children who were in the vicinity of the well sustained injuries from the explosion.

“We heard a very loud explosion next to our house,” said one resident, Mahmoud al-Aleiwi. He added that “when we got to the location there were a number of children’s bodies thrown around the well.”

He reported that the blast hurled one child 300 meters (984 feet) from the site, and the victim was discovered on a house rooftop.

At a local medical facility, injured children wailed while relatives cared for them. One youngster suffered shrapnel injuries covering his face and torso, with his legs bound in medical wrapping. Another patient remained bedridden with blood seeping through head bandages.

Ten-year-old Ibrahim al-Suwadi suffered injuries in a different incident last month when unexploded military ordnance detonated inside a damaged school building in al-Habit town, located in southern Idlib countryside.

Speaking from his family’s residence while his father sat nearby, al-Suwadi recounted how he and friends were playing at the school when they entered a room and discovered the explosive device.

“Two brothers picked it up and took it to the bathroom,” the boy said. “We thought it was an exploded mine so we started throwing rocks at it. All of a sudden, an older boy grabbed my hand and we ran, the mine exploded and I lost consciousness then I don’t remember anything.”

The boy’s father explained that their family escaped their home village in 2013 during combat operations and lived for years in refugee camps before returning following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s administration in December 2024.

Relief organizations identify unexploded military ordnance as among the most dangerous remnants of Syria’s armed conflict.

“Syria has ranked among the top contaminated countries around the world over the past years,” said Jakub Valenta, head of humanitarian disarmament and peace building for the Danish Refugee Council in Syria. He added that according to the data from the United Nations, around 14.3 million people are in danger of explosive ordnance in the country.

Valenta explained that the explosive threats include anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and other unexploded devices left behind in residential and agricultural areas.

“We’re estimating that around 1,200 people and probably more have been affected by explosive ordnance accidents directly,” he said. “Out of those 1,200 people there were around 740 fatal casualties. The vast majority of these people are men and children.”

The Danish Refugee Council reports that approximately 60% of contaminated zones in Syria consist of farming land, creating additional challenges for displaced families attempting to return home and restart their lives.

In the Damascus southern suburb of Kisweh this month, Syrian trainees collaborated with Danish Refugee Council teams to carefully locate and eliminate unexploded ordnance during practice sessions designed to expand local bomb disposal capabilities.

The organization reports it has hired and prepared new Syrian explosive ordnance disposal teams to assist in clearing dangerous areas and teaching communities about the hazards.

“The number of the casualties is among the highest worldwide in terms of explosive accidents and victims,” Valenta said.

“These people suffer lifelong injuries, physical like losing a limb or their vision and suffer mental health problems,” he said. “These people also lose their jobs and livelihoods.”

KYIV, Ukraine — Hundreds of Ukrainian families took to the streets of the capital Friday, calling on government leaders to reject proposed legislation they worry could result in missing military personnel being prematurely declared legally deceased.

The demonstration focused on opposing Bill No. 13646, legislation that deals with the legal status of people who have gone missing. Those who participated in the march expressed concern that specific parts of the proposed law might enable courts to legally declare missing Ukrainian service members dead without confirmation of what actually happened to them.

“Today all the families came out so that the missing are not equated with the dead,” said Mariana Yatselenko, 27, who took part in the Kyiv march.

According to the country’s commissioner for missing persons, Artur Dobrosierdov, more than 90,000 individuals are currently listed as missing in Ukraine’s unified registry of persons who disappeared under special circumstances.

Both Russia and Ukraine refrain from releasing regular casualty figures from the ongoing conflict, though military analysts believe hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded in the fighting.

Ukraine’s missing persons registry includes individuals who vanished during military operations, due to armed aggression, or in territories under occupation, with most cases occurring after Russia’s full-scale invasion started on Feb. 24, 2022. However, some entries go back to 2014, when Russian forces invaded the Crimean Peninsula and pro-Russia groups began fighting in eastern Ukraine.

The registry started functioning in May 2023, at which time data about both military personnel and civilians from earlier years was added to the system.

Previous protests have taken place regarding this legislation, showing increasing pressure from family members of missing soldiers.

Ukrainian drones hit a college dormitory building in Starobilsk, a city in Ukraine’s Russia-occupied Luhansk region, killing four people and wounding 39 others, Russian authorities said. Up to 18 people could be buried under the rubble, officials said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the strike as a “heinous crime.” Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday said that it intercepted 217 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions, including the Moscow region and St. Petersburg, the country’s second-largest city.

For the fourth time this month Ukraine struck Russia’s Yaroslavl oil refinery, around 700 kilometers (440 miles) from the border, in an overnight operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.

Ukraine has been pounding Russian oil facilities in an effort to deny Moscow funding for its invasion.

U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting have brought no significant results and recently appeared to peter out.

“They were not fruitful, unfortunately,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said of negotiations over the past year with Russia and Ukraine.

No talks are happening now, he said during a trip to Sweden, although they could resume if Washington sees an opportunity for progress.

Ukraine’s air force said that it shot down or jammed 115 of 124 Russian drones that were launched overnight, in regular bombardments of civilian areas that in recent months have escalated.

Eleven people, including a child, were wounded in Russian attacks across the northern Sumy region, the National Police said. Also, a man was killed by a Russian drone in the city of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, according to the region’s military administration chief.

The number of Ukrainian civilian casualties verified by the United Nations increased by 21% in the first four months of this year, compared with the same period last year, with 815 civilians killed and 4,174 wounded.

In Washington, the Trump administration approved a modest $108 million arms sale to Ukraine that will help the country sustain its midrange air defense missile system.

The U.S. State Department announced the sale of ground-to-air Hawk missile components, spare parts and logistic support late Thursday. Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washington has slashed military support for Ukraine.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian counterattacks have driven the Russian army out of more than 400 square kilometers (150 square miles) of southern Ukraine since the end of last year, Western analysts say.

Those successes are attributed to Ukraine’s increasingly homegrown drone and missile technology, as well as Russian forces being denied access to Starlink satellite services used to steer drones toward targets.

Zelenskyy said that Russia could be planning new attacks on northern Ukraine, launched from Belarus.

Moscow “is eager to draw (Belarus) deeper into this war,” Zelenskyy said on social media, warning that “there will be consequences” for the Belarusian government, if it provides a platform for strikes on Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha alerted allies at a NATO meeting in Sweden about what Ukrainian intelligence services say are growing threats from Belarus. Sybiha urged partners to take unspecified deterrence measures against Minsk.

Russia and Belarus held joint nuclear exercises earlier this week.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, underscored “Russia’s ability to leverage Belarus for future Russian military operations and Russia’s deepening de facto control over Belarus.”

Diplomatic representatives from Qatar traveled to Iran’s capital on Friday as part of a coordinated effort with Washington to facilitate negotiations aimed at ending the current conflict and addressing unresolved disputes, according to a knowledgeable source who spoke with Reuters.

The Gulf nation, which has previously served as an intermediary in the Gaza conflict and other international disputes, had initially kept its distance from mediating in the Iran situation after suffering attacks from Iranian missiles and drones during recent hostilities.

“A Qatari negotiation team is in Tehran on Friday,” the source confirmed, explaining that the delegation had coordinated their visit with Washington and aimed to help “reach a final deal that would end the war and address outstanding issues with Iran.”

Officials at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Although Pakistan has been serving as the primary mediator since hostilities commenced, Qatar’s renewed involvement highlights its established position as a Washington ally in the region and its history as a reliable communication channel between the U.S. and Tehran.

A fragile truce currently exists in the conflict that started with joint U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, though significant progress has been limited due to America’s naval blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran’s effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz creating complications for talks.

A high-ranking Iranian source informed Reuters on Thursday that while no agreement has been finalized, differences have been reduced, with Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and its control over the waterway remaining as key obstacles.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged some advancement on Thursday, stating: “There’s some good signs. I don’t want to be overly optimistic … So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.”

When questioned Friday regarding Qatar’s diplomatic team in Iran, Rubio addressed reporters during a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Sweden, emphasizing that Pakistan remained the main negotiating partner in the Iran discussions and had performed an “admirable job.”

He continued: “Obviously other countries have interests, because especially Gulf countries that are, you know, in the middle of all this — they have their own situation going. And we talk to all of them. I would just say that the primary country we’ve been working with on all of this, is Pakistan, and that remains the case.”

Qatar’s return to diplomatic involvement occurs despite Iran having launched hundreds of missiles and drones against the nation, striking civilian infrastructure and its crucial liquefied natural gas production facility at Ras Laffan. Those attacks eliminated approximately 17 percent of Qatar’s LNG export capabilities. The country had previously suspended LNG operations on March 2 after Iranian strikes.

Prior to the conflict, roughly 20% of worldwide LNG commerce passed through the Strait of Hormuz, mainly from Qatar — Iran’s effective blockade of the waterway has eliminated nearly all of its LNG export capabilities.

Qatar holds the status of a designated major non-NATO ally of the United States and is home to Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military facility in the Middle East.

OTTAWA, May 22 (Reuters) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the significance of Alberta to the nation on Friday, one day following the petroleum-rich province’s declaration of a non-binding vote on whether citizens wish to stay part of Canada.

This mostly ceremonial action could present a significant obstacle for Carney, who is promoting national cohesion while facing U.S. trade penalties and President Donald Trump’s annexation rhetoric.

“Canada is the greatest country in the world, but it can be better …we’re working with Alberta on making it better,” Carney told reporters.

“We’re renovating the country as we go. And Alberta being at the center of that is essential,” said Carney, who did not specifically mention the referendum announcement.

Separation advocates express dissatisfaction with the environmental policies of Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau, claiming these measures damaged the province’s petroleum and natural gas sector.

Carney assumed leadership in March 2025 and later reversed multiple environmental initiatives implemented by Trudeau.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — European Union leaders announced Friday that citizens across Europe should prepare for energy costs to stay well above pre-Iran war levels through at least the end of 2027, with additional goods expected to see price increases as well.

According to EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, elevated energy costs are the main driver behind inflation projections of 3.1% for this year and 2.4% for 2027. These figures represent a substantial increase from the previous 1.9% projection for this year.

“We expect that this energy inflation will gradually also trickle down to different sectors of the economy,” Dombrovskis said after a meeting of the 21-member eurozone’s finance ministers, who make up the Eurogroup.

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, warned that even if Middle Eastern conflicts were to cease immediately, “lagging effects” would continue to drive up commodity prices.

“And it’s probably a fact that price levels will be higher at the end of this crisis, when we see the end of the crisis,” Lagarde said.

Lagarde indicated the ECB would implement “all the necessary measures” to maintain price stability at 2% by closely monitoring the ongoing economic impacts from the energy price surge. She also referenced the EU’s oil reserves as a factor in meeting potential demand.

Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis explained that crisis resolution for the EU would require restored free passage without tolls through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.

Pierrakakis confirmed that eurozone economic expansion would hit 0.9% this year and 1.2% in 2027, representing a downward revision from earlier projections, “but clearly far from a recession scenario.”

While increased inflation forecasts have sparked speculation about potential ECB interest rate increases to counter rising prices, Lagarde provided no specific guidance on future bank actions.

“We will continue to follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach in order to determine the most appropriate monetary policy stance in order to deliver on our 2% medium-term target,” Lagarde said.

ATHENS, Greece — An 82-year-old man who headed a Greek extremist organization responsible for 23 deaths has walked free from a maximum-security facility, according to officials who announced the development Friday. The release is now under review by a high-ranking prosecutor.

Alexandros Giotopoulos, who led the militant organization November 17, left an Athens detention facility on Thursday.

A court panel granted his conditional freedom based on his elderly status, declining health, and positive conduct while imprisoned.

However, the ruling has sparked fresh examination. A prosecutor with Greece’s highest court is studying the decision and may attempt to overturn it.

The November 17 organization stayed hidden from law enforcement for over 25 years while conducting bombings, killings, and financial institution robberies. Their initial documented strike occurred in 1975 with the deadly shooting of Richard Welch, who served as the CIA station chief in Greece, in Athens.

The group’s careful concealment fell apart following a failed 2002 bombing that severely wounded a member, allowing investigators to discover the organization’s activities and participants.

Giotopoulos, born in Paris and who spent years living with a false identity, had been serving 17 life terms plus 25 years. His 2003 conviction was confirmed during a 2007 appeal for directing numerous killings, bombings, and thefts, along with criminal organization membership.

He has rejected all accusations, claiming that fellow defendants were coerced by officials into making untrue statements against him in return for lighter punishments.

Officials weighing his freedom observed that Giotopoulos finished university correspondence education during imprisonment and followed the conditions of temporary releases given to him recently.

The November 17 name comes from the 1973 date when student protesters opposing Greece’s military government were violently suppressed by police and military forces, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The organization took credit for strikes against business leaders, diplomatic personnel, and high-ranking judges, including the deaths of two Turkish Embassy workers and Stephen Saunders, Britain’s defense attache in Athens, in 2000.

Of the 15 original November 17 members found guilty in the case, three remain imprisoned.

Humanitarian volunteers who were recently released from Israeli detention have made serious allegations of mistreatment while in custody, according to organizers who spoke out on Friday. The activists were among 430 individuals arrested on Tuesday when Israeli forces intercepted 50 vessels attempting to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza in international waters.

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

Israeli prison officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding these accusations on Friday, which is a holiday in Israel. When contacted, the Israeli military directed inquiries to the Foreign Ministry, which then referred questions back to the prison service.

On Thursday, the prison service had stated: “All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff.”

“Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines,” the statement continued.

These new allegations are expected to intensify scrutiny of Israeli authorities regarding how the detainees were treated, particularly following international condemnation of a video showing an Israeli cabinet minister mocking some of the activists in prison. Italy has indicated that European Union members are considering sanctions against the minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

“At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people’s bones broken,” organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla wrote on the Telegram messaging platform.

“While the world’s eye is trained on the suffering of our participants, we cannot emphasize enough that this is a mere glimpse of the brutality Israel imposes daily on Palestinian hostages.”

Luca Poggi, an Italian economist who was among those detained on the flotilla, described his experience upon arriving in Rome: “We were stripped, thrown to the ground, kicked. Many of us were tasered, some were sexually assaulted, and some were denied access to a lawyer.”

Sabrina Charik, who coordinated the return of 37 French citizens from the flotilla, reported that five French participants required hospitalization in Turkey, with some suffering broken ribs or fractured vertebrae. She noted that some individuals have provided detailed accounts of sexual violence, including rape.

In a social media post verified by Reuters, French national Adrien Jouen displayed bruises covering his back and forearms.

According to activists, some of the alleged mistreatment occurred at sea following their interception by Israeli naval forces, while other incidents reportedly happened after their arrest and imprisonment in Israel.

Volunteers from multiple European nations were scheduled to return home on flights from Turkey after being deported from Israel on Thursday.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares informed reporters that 44 Spanish flotilla participants were expected to arrive on Friday via flights from Istanbul to Madrid and Barcelona. He noted that four of them had received medical treatment for injuries.

Western governments expressed outrage on Thursday after Ben-Gvir shared a video of himself taunting activists who were restrained on the ground in a prison facility.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said during the NATO meeting in Sweden that he was coordinating with all his EU colleagues “so that there may be a quick decision to impose sanctions” on Ben-Gvir.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had proposed sanctions against Ben-Gvir and another Israeli minister last year, but the proposal failed to receive the required unanimous support from all 27 EU member countries.

“EU sanctions are discussed and adopted by the 27 EU Member States and this is in unanimity,” EU foreign policy spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said during the European Commission’s daily press briefing on Friday, noting that he could not discuss confidential sanctions deliberations.

Gabriel Attal, who previously served as France’s prime minister, officially announced his presidential campaign on Friday, adding his name to an already packed list of moderate candidates competing in next year’s election.

The contest to replace President Emmanuel Macron — who is constitutionally barred from seeking another term — appears increasingly divided, with polling data showing the far-right National Rally (RN) holding a commanding position while numerous candidates create the possibility of a final round dominated by political extremes.

At 37 years old, Attal became a household name during Macron’s presidency, though some observers suggest his close association with the unpopular incumbent could hurt his chances. He must also persuade fellow moderate candidates that he represents their strongest option against extremist opponents from both sides of the political spectrum.

During remarks delivered in the town square of Mur-de-Barrez, a small community in central France, following conversations with residents, Attal expressed an upbeat vision for the country’s future, vowing to transform France into “the leading European power.”

“I’ve had enough of French politics being about 50 shades of managing decline,” he declared to journalists. “So because I love France with a passion and love the French passionately, I’m a candidate for the presidency.”

Attal’s political ascent was swift, earning widespread recognition as the government’s spokesperson throughout the COVID-19 crisis before being appointed as the nation’s youngest-ever prime minister.

His time in the top government role lasted only seven months, ending suddenly when Macron decided to call an unexpected parliamentary election — a move Attal had advised against — creating tension between the two leaders.

Following his departure from the prime minister’s office, Attal assumed control of Macron’s Renaissance party, positioning himself to leverage the organization’s substantial financial resources and established infrastructure for a nationwide presidential campaign.

His primary challenge within the moderate coalition comes from Edouard Philippe, another former prime minister who has spent months establishing himself as the centrist movement’s leading figure.

Recent polling indicates Attal could capture up to 14% of first-round votes, while Philippe appears capable of securing as much as 25%. Current survey data suggests Philippe, who serves as mayor of Le Havre, holds the strongest position among moderate candidates to challenge the RN.

The central concern for moderate politicians is the risk of vote splitting. A fractured center could create opportunities for far-right and far-left candidates to advance to the decisive second round of next year’s presidential election.

Numerous figures within France’s political establishment worry about a final round featuring far-right leaders Jordan Bardella or Marine Le Pen facing off against hard-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Earlier this month, Attal revealed he had discussed this potential scenario with Philippe, and both men have established a process to determine by early 2027 which candidate is better positioned to unify centrist supporters, with the possibility that one might withdraw from the race.

The two candidates present markedly different approaches to campaigning.

Philippe has maintained a reserved, almost severe public presence since announcing his candidacy, keeping his private life away from media attention. Attal has chosen the opposite strategy, embracing a more intimate and highly visible campaign style.

He has traveled extensively throughout France while promoting his autobiography, which explores his childhood experiences, his father’s death, being targeted for bullying due to his sexual orientation, and his romantic relationship with European Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné, his partner.

Although Attal began his political career within the Socialist party, he has developed his public image by supporting stricter approaches to criminal justice and immigration policy.

While serving as education minister, he gained national recognition by prohibiting abayas — loose-fitting, full-length robes worn by some Muslim women — in schools, citing France’s commitment to secularism.

Mexico and the European Union will finalize a comprehensive trade agreement Friday as both regions work to reduce their economic dependence on the United States and shield themselves from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

The agreement builds upon a 2000 trade deal between Mexico and the EU that only covered industrial products. This expanded version includes services, government procurement, digital commerce, investment opportunities and agricultural goods.

The signing ceremony in Mexico City will bring together Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa for their first summit in more than ten years.

“This summit means more than trade; it’s a geopolitical statement,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, on Thursday in Mexico City before the signing ceremony.

Both regions are working to expand their export markets beyond the United States.

The European Union faced extensive new tariffs through Trump’s “Liberation Day” duties in April 2025 and developed retaliatory measures, though these were suspended while both sides pursued negotiations. Despite a tariff ceasefire and July agreement that reduced some tensions, U.S. duties on EU products remain higher than previous levels.

Mexico has similarly faced significant U.S. tariffs on car manufacturing, steel and aluminum shipments, with trade relationships between the nations remaining unstable during Trump’s second presidency.

Officials from Mexico’s economy ministry project the agreement could boost Mexican shipments to the EU from approximately $24 billion annually to $36 billion by 2030. The EU currently sends roughly $65 billion worth of products to Mexico each year.

Commerce between Mexico and the EU has grown 75% over the past decade, primarily consisting of transportation equipment, machinery, chemicals, energy products and mining materials.

The updated agreement eliminates tariffs on nearly all products, including agricultural items like Mexican poultry and asparagus alongside European dairy powder, cheese and pork, though some quantity restrictions will apply.

Despite being completed, the enhanced trade agreement has taken more than a year to reach the signing stage. The EU focused on completing a trade deal with the Mercosur South American alliance and finished trade negotiations with Indonesia, India and Australia over the past eight months.

Mexico has been careful about actions that might provoke the Trump administration during delicate discussions to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. More than 80% of Mexico’s current exports are shipped to the United States.

The European Parliament will vote on the trade agreement and is expected to approve it within several months.

BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) — Chinese authorities announced new policy guidelines Friday designed to broaden access to essential public services for workers who lack official household registration in their employment cities, potentially helping millions of migrant laborers obtain urban services.

These policy shifts could strengthen social protections for families and may boost consumer spending in China’s export-dependent economy.

The new directives urge government departments and municipal officials to deliver public services such as schooling and essential healthcare based on where individuals actually live, rather than their official household registration status, which typically reflects their birthplace.

China’s household registration system, known locally as hukou, ties access to public services primarily to a person’s place of birth. Officials implemented this framework during the 1950s to control internal population movement, particularly migration from countryside to urban centers.

Workers with rural registration from their home regions frequently face barriers when trying to access public services in urban areas where they live and work. Officials have attempted to modify this system for over ten years.

POLICY CHANGES TARGET EDUCATION AND HOUSING ACCESS

“Providing basic public services by the place of residence, gradually eliminating the link between basic public services and household registration, and promoting equal access to basic public services … are conducive to meeting people’s growing needs for a better life,” China’s State Council stated in the guidelines.

The new directives encourage municipal governments to help more children of migrant families — those who relocate to cities with their parents — enroll in public schools and allow qualified students to take entrance examinations where they currently live.

Additional cities should broaden public housing rental programs to include families with steady jobs but lacking local registration, and workers should gain access to social insurance programs at their work locations, according to the guidelines.

The policy recommendations also suggest loosening registration requirements in areas including childcare, senior care and disability services, while encouraging provincial governments to increase financial support for regions experiencing population growth to fund public services.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that diplomatic negotiations with Iran have shown “slight progress” as questions linger over whether an agreement can be reached or if military action will restart.

His comments came several days after President Donald Trump announced he was postponing a planned military operation against Iran due to ongoing “serious negotiations.” For weeks, Trump has warned that the ceasefire established in mid-April could collapse if Iran fails to reach an agreement, though the terms for such a deal have continued to shift.

Speaking before a gathering of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio addressed the situation. The military alliance is anticipated to examine what assistance it might provide in monitoring the Strait of Hormuz following the conclusion of hostilities.

Rubio cautioned against overstating the diplomatic advancement, noting there had been “a little bit of movement and that’s good.” He confirmed that discussions remain active. However, despite multiple recent assertions of progress, negotiators have yet to finalize any agreement.

Trump has established multiple deadlines for Tehran before retreating from them. While he has previously suggested delaying military operations to permit continued dialogue, he has also reversed course and authorized attacks. This pattern occurred at the conflict’s beginning when he approved strikes in late February after initially suggesting he would allow negotiations to proceed.

He explained that he canceled this week’s planned attacks on Iran following requests from Middle Eastern allies, including leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, nations that have faced targeting by Iran and its affiliated militias.

However, Trump’s choice to pursue diplomatic channels created friction this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A source speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization revealed Thursday that Trump and Netanyahu engaged in a “dramatic” telephone discussion Tuesday regarding the Iranian negotiations, with Israel expressing frustration over Trump’s pursuit of an agreement with Iran.

Trump subsequently informed reporters that Netanyahu “will do whatever I want him to do.”

These remarks represent the first visible signs of disagreement between the leaders since initiating the conflict in February.

Friday brought news from Pakistan that the interior minister made two trips to Tehran this week for meetings with Iranian officials as part of efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States.

During a weekly press conference in the capital, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi explained that Pakistan’s political and military leadership are working toward peace, with the minister’s dual visits demonstrating this commitment.

He announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Beijing Saturday following China’s invitation for a four-day visit, noting that Pakistan’s peace initiatives are likely to be addressed during the trip.

Nevertheless, significant obstacles persist.

Iran has essentially blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for transporting oil, gas, fertilizer and other petroleum products. The United States is maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports and has redirected 85 commercial ships from mid-April through Monday, according to a U.S. Central Command social media announcement.

Both the United States and Israel have declared that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons. Though Iran reportedly offered some nuclear compromises, Trump has stated his goal of removing highly enriched uranium from the country and preventing nuclear weapons development. Iran maintains its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes.

Two regional officials and a western diplomat informed the Associated Press that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates conducted separate multiple strikes against Iran and Iranian-supported Shiite militias in Iraq throughout the war. An Israeli military officer familiar with the situation also verified that the UAE actively targeted Iran at least once.

All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

The regional officials indicated that strikes on Iran focused on military installations, including missile and drone launch sites, primarily controlled by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

One regional official reported that Saudi Arabia’s strikes targeted Iraqi militia hideouts, particularly Kataib Hezbollah, after Riyadh determined that most drone attacks on Saudi Arabia originated from neighboring Iraq. He noted that Saudi Arabia repeatedly informed Baghdad about the Iraqi-based attacks before choosing to strike.

The western diplomat and one regional official said the UAE had advocated for coordinated military action from Gulf Arab nations since the war began.

When asked for comment, the United Arab Emirates referenced a May 16 Foreign Ministry statement saying “all measures undertaken by the UAE have been within the framework of defensive actions aimed at protecting its sovereignty, civilians, and vital infrastructure, in line with the country’s legitimate right to safeguard its national security and maintain its stability.” Saudi Arabia did not immediately provide a response to requests for comment.

Iran has also remained silent regarding being targeted by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

After allegations that attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE originated from Iraqi territory, the Iraqi prime minister ordered an investigation. Iraq’s government has not responded to comment requests.

Officials in Taiwan report they have not received any formal communication regarding delays to a massive $14 billion weapons agreement with the United States, despite recent testimony from Pentagon leadership suggesting such sales are on hold.

The clarification came Friday after acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao informed senators Thursday that foreign military sales are being temporarily suspended to guarantee sufficient ammunition supplies for the Iran conflict, which the current administration has dubbed ‘Epic Fury.’

Speaking to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Cao explained the reasoning behind the delay. “Right now we’re doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for ‘Epic Fury,’” he stated. “Then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary.”

Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo acknowledged Friday that officials are aware of the reports but emphasized no official word has arrived. “Currently there is no information regarding any adjustments the U.S. will make to this arms sale,” Kuo said when questioned about Cao’s remarks.

The weapons deals in question include an $11 billion package approved in December that remains stalled, plus a separate $14 billion sale authorized by Congress in January that awaits presidential submission before moving forward.

These developments come as tensions over Taiwan’s status continue to complicate U.S.-China relations. Beijing considers the island a breakaway province that must eventually come under Chinese control, using military force if needed. While Washington maintains no formal diplomatic recognition of Taiwan as an independent nation, America serves as the island’s primary military supporter and weapons provider.

The arms sales have become a contentious issue following recent diplomatic exchanges. In a Fox News interview after his Beijing visit, the president described Taiwan weapons deals as “a very good negotiating chip” in discussions with China.

During his second anniversary in office Wednesday, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te expressed hope for continued American military support, calling such purchases vital for maintaining peace in the region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing’s position when asked about the Navy secretary’s comments, stating that “China’s opposition to the U.S. arms sale to China’s Taiwan region is consistent, clear-cut and resolute.”

The weapons issue gained additional prominence during last week’s presidential visit to Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a stern warning about Taiwan policy. Xi told his American counterpart that the “Taiwan question” represents the most critical aspect of bilateral relations and warned that mishandling could lead to “clashes and even conflicts.”

Following those discussions, the president indicated interest in speaking directly with Taiwan’s leader, though he avoided naming Lai specifically. Beijing has labeled Lai a separatist and would likely view any direct communication between the two leaders as a provocative act.

Spokesperson Kuo said Friday that no additional details are available regarding potential talks between Lai and the American president.

A Turkish court in the nation’s capital turned down on Friday a challenge filed by the country’s primary opposition party against a decision to remove their leader, according to reports from the Cumhuriyet newspaper and additional Turkish news outlets.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) has also filed challenges with a higher court and the Supreme Election Board (YSK), though decisions on those appeals remain pending. The removal of CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel has intensified a political crisis and caused market instability.

The creator of the worldwide Slow Food movement that champions sustainable agriculture and traditional cooking methods has died at age 76 in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, according to an announcement from the organization.

Carlo Petrini passed away Friday in his hometown, leaving behind a legacy as what Slow Food described as “a visionary leader and a public intellectual with a profound commitment to the common good, human relationships and the natural world.”

The movement began as Arcigola and emerged from resistance to fast food chains entering Italy. A 1986 demonstration at the Spanish Steps outside a newly opened McDonald’s in Rome marked the beginning of their campaign.

On December 9, 1989, Petrini became president when delegates from more than 20 nations gathered in Paris to sign the Slow Food Manifesto. He served in this role until 2022.

Built on the belief that food should be “good, clean and fair,” the organization expanded rapidly across Italy and eventually reached more than 160 countries. Establishments following these principles display Slow Food stickers featuring the distinctive snail logo, officially known as the Snail of Approval.

Among the movement’s major accomplishments was establishing Terra Madre in 2004, which brought together farmers, fishers, chefs and academics to advance their mission.

Petrini also established the University of Gastronomic Sciences, promoted as the first academic institution focused on comprehensive food and food culture studies. This approach gained official recognition when the Italian government created a Bachelor’s degree in gastronomic sciences in 2017.

The northern Italian university has educated approximately 4,000 food industry professionals from 100 nations, according to Slow Food.

In 2017, Petrini collaborated with the bishop of Verona, Monsignor Domenico Pompili, to create the Laudato Si’ Communities, implementing Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical through approximately 80 local groups.

Among Petrini’s written works are “Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean and Fair” and “Slow Food: The Case for Taste,” which features a foreword by Alice Waters, a leader in America’s farm-to-table movement.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A massive cooking vessel now dominates a small body of water in the heart of the Dutch capital.

The enormous pot, measuring 7 meters (23 feet) in height, floats in front of the renowned Mauritshuis museum, which houses the famous “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painting. This striking installation is one element of a month-long outdoor art showcase called the BlowUp Jubilee, which displays 24 inflatable sculptures throughout the Dutch city’s parks, building facades, and transportation hubs.

Curator Mary Hessing conceived this ambitious project. “What I really wanted to do is show the area and show arts to everybody,” she told The Associated Press.

The Dutch government launched an extensive restoration effort for the Binnenhof complex in 2021, encompassing both the Mauritshuis and the Parliament building. This historic location, with origins tracing back to the 13th century, became off-limits to visitors, prompting city officials to organize artistic programming during the closure period.

The inaugural BlowUp Art showcase in 2022 featured six artists’ creations positioned around the Binnenhof area. Following exhibitions also presented several inflatable pieces, but this 2026 jubilee version brings back all previous installations while introducing additional new works.

“For me it was important to show the real Curacao in this artwork, and that is our parties, our food, and our lifestyle,” artist Eugenie Boon told AP. The 21-year-old creator hails from the former Dutch Caribbean colony, and her piece, Koncha pa dilanti, named after an island board game, depicts imagery from regional daily life.

British artist Steve Messam has gained recognition for his oversized inflatable installations across the United Kingdom, China and The Hague. His creation called Crested, consisting of a cluster of crimson spikes, sits atop a parking structure entrance surrounded by century-old architecture along a tree-covered street.

“The idea was that this piece would hold its own amongst this wonderful architecture that we see around us,” he said.

The BlowUp Jubilee continues through June 21.

GOTEMBA, Japan — Fire erupted from a mobile launcher positioned in the peaceful foothills near Mount Fuji this week as U.S. Marines demonstrated a weapons system that’s becoming central to America’s evolving Pacific defense strategy.

The first missile launched from the truck-mounted system cut through the clear sky, its orange trail visible against the blue backdrop. Five additional rockets launched quickly after, followed by a second HIMARS vehicle that emerged from its hidden spot among the evergreen trees, fired six missiles of its own, then disappeared back into cover.

The brief training exercise at Camp Fuji’s east maneuver area represented more than routine military practice — it showcased American military capabilities to Pacific partners as the U.S. works to prevent potential Chinese military action against Taiwan, the independent democracy that Beijing considers its territory and has threatened to seize by force if necessary.

The demonstration also highlighted Washington’s tactical evolution in the Pacific region, changes driven by China’s rapid military advancement and modernization over recent years.

“The U.S. does not want China to invade Taiwan, but it would not be relying on the traditional aircraft carrier-based attack wings of the past,” said Euan Graham, a senior defense analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

“In Iran, with the U.S. conflict there, there were over 40 U.S. aircraft, manned and unmanned, either destroyed or damaged against a much less capable adversary, so in the case of conflict with China that vulnerability would be much greater,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeing the U.S. emphasizing … these smaller units.”

The Pentagon’s most recent annual congressional report states the objective is to “deny the ability of any country in the Indo-Pacific to dominate us or our allies.” The document emphasized strengthening deterrence “through strength, not confrontation.”

The HIMARS system’s purpose is clear from its complete designation: “High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.” This truck-based rocket launcher can remain concealed from aerial surveillance, move into position to launch its GPS-guided projectiles, then rapidly relocate using military tactics known as “shoot-and-scoot.”

“It depends on the crew, but it can get as fast as four minutes, (even) two minutes sometimes,” said Sgt. Kevin Alvarez, section chief of one of the two Fox Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division HIMARS involved in the Camp Fuji exercise.

While the HIMARS entered service approximately two decades ago and saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, it remained relatively obscure to civilians until Ukraine successfully employed it against Russian forces.

Recent conflicts, particularly the widespread use of battlefield drones that can rapidly locate stationary artillery, have highlighted the importance of mobility, according to Lt. Col. Ryan Anness, commander of the 3rd Battalion.

“They’re much quicker, much faster, and much easier to hide than, say, traditional cannon artillery, and obviously having the precision fire weapons and having the ability to hide easier is why so many countries, and why it’s important for us, to have the HIMARS,” he said.

The system can launch various missile types. Ukraine initially received only shorter-range ammunition before the U.S. approved the ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, which can strike targets approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) away.

During the early stages of the war against Iran following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28, HIMARS fired both ATACMS and the longer-range Precision Strike Missiles in their first combat use, destroying “multiple” Iranian naval vessels and a submarine in port, according to Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The PrSM can engage targets beyond 500 kilometers (310 miles), manufacturer Lockheed Martin reports.

Combined with the Army’s Typhon — another truck-mounted launcher that fires longer-range Tomahawk missiles but offers less mobility than HIMARS — these systems could effectively cover both the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan and China, and the strategically vital Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan, if positioned on Taiwan and surrounding Philippine and Japanese islands, Graham explained.

Both waterways would play crucial roles in any Chinese invasion or blockade scenario.

“In advance of a conflict around Taiwan, there would likely be a large-scale outflux of U.S. assets within the envelope of China’s missile capabilities,” Graham said. “All that would be left is submarines, which are more survivable, and small units based on rugged survivability — mobile systems like the HIMARS.”

Wednesday’s Camp Fuji training employed practice rockets — concrete-filled tubes without explosives — and followed rigorous safety protocols while Japanese military officials observed. Local authorities closed a nearby road during the exercise as a precautionary measure in case any projectiles fell short of their targets.

Despite the safety measures that required conducting the live-fire drill more slowly than combat conditions would allow, Lt. Col. Anness emphasized its importance for both Marine training and allied relationships.

“Being able to have long-range precision-fire weapons provides deterrence here in the Pacific, and we train with our Japanese partners as much as we can to make sure we’re ready,” he said.

Spanish officials are rolling out an employment matching system as part of a comprehensive initiative to provide legal status to roughly 500,000 undocumented workers, aiming to boost the nation’s economic growth, according to the country’s leading immigration official.

The initiative, first revealed in January, has drawn criticism from far-right political figures both within Spain and throughout Europe. However, the Socialist-led coalition administration maintains that immigration will help Spain’s economy continue outperforming other European nations by developing a more youthful labor force as the overall population grows older.

Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela revealed that government offices have processed more than 200,000 applications during the program’s initial month as of last week. She noted that many applicants received temporary employment permits after their submissions were accepted for review.

Cancela described the approach as an intelligent immigration strategy that would strengthen public services and pension systems. Official projections indicate Spain requires approximately 2.4 million additional social security contributors over the coming decade to maintain its welfare programs.

Government agencies, working alongside NGOs and specialized offices, have prepared to handle up to one million applications – double the anticipated volume – and have developed a strategy to assist migrants in securing legitimate employment, Cancela explained.

Research organization Funcas estimates roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently work in the informal economy, primarily individuals from Latin America.

The employment matching approach seeks to bring thousands of workers from the underground economy into legitimate positions to address labor shortages in critical industries.

“It’s a huge opportunity to harness the potential of all these people who are already helping to build the country alongside us, often working in precarious conditions,” Cancela stated, noting that “real integration” would occur once workers secure formal employment.

The Migration Ministry plans to conduct voluntary surveys of individuals receiving provisional work permits to assess their abilities and employment preferences.

Officials are collaborating with industry organizations in construction, tourism, transportation and care services to evaluate workforce needs and connect with legalized migrants seeking employment opportunities.

A study from Esade Business School cautioned that a similar migrant legalization effort in 2005 resulted in some employment losses within the informal sector. Researchers recommended enhanced labor inspections and support programs to facilitate the transition to legitimate work.

Cancela confirmed the ministry’s strategy will include expanded labor monitoring efforts.

“I think it’s also a major opportunity to bring certain situations to light, because when people come forward in the regularisation process, we will learn about their circumstances,” she explained.

Political tensions escalated in Turkey on Friday as the country’s main opposition movement refused to accept a controversial court decision that removed its current leadership and reversed the results of its 2023 party convention.

An appeals court cited unidentified procedural violations in the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 congress and restored former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu to his previous position, replacing current leader Ozgur Ozel. Kilicdaroglu, a polarizing political figure, had previously been defeated by President Tayyip Erdogan in elections held earlier that year.

The opposition party denounced the court’s decision as a “judicial coup” and Ozel pledged to challenge the ruling through legal channels while personally staying “day and night” at the main opposition party’s headquarters in Ankara.

Political analysts view this situation as a crucial examination of Turkey’s fragile relationship between democratic governance and authoritarian control. The court’s action could potentially reignite anti-Erdogan demonstrations while also creating internal opposition conflicts that might benefit Erdogan’s efforts to maintain power in Turkey, an important NATO member nation and developing economy.

Financial markets responded negatively to the escalating political turmoil, with Turkish investments declining and the lira reaching a historic low. This prompted the central bank to deploy billions in foreign currency reserves to stabilize the situation.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, addressing the situation from Istanbul on Friday, dismissed what he characterized as “daily developments” in financial markets, stating Turkey would maintain its commitment to implementing its economic strategy.

According to Berk Esen, a political scientist at Sabanci University, the court’s action “marks an unprecedented development in our administrative law and political history.” He added, “If upheld, it would open the door for courts to determine party leadership, with no comparable example in Turkey’s electoral system since 1946.”

Other opposition groups condemned the ruling as undemocratic, while Devlet Bahceli, a nationalist leader and important Erdogan supporter, indicated that the judicial system should avoid interfering in party internal affairs.

The CHP, established by modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, has also encountered an extraordinary legal offensive in which hundreds of party members and elected representatives have been arrested since 2024 on corruption and various other accusations that the party rejects.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is among those imprisoned. He serves as Erdogan’s primary political opponent and the CHP’s presidential nominee for an election scheduled for 2028, though recent court developments suggest it may occur sooner.

Erdogan confronts presidential term restrictions and can only seek reelection if an early election is scheduled or if constitutional changes are made. His administration rejects accusations of using courts against political opponents, maintaining that the judiciary operates independently.

The CHP, which polls show running approximately equal with Erdogan’s governing AK Party (AKP), declared the court ruling invalid and submitted an appeal to the Supreme Election Board (YSK), which they claim is the sole authority authorized to invalidate a party congress.

While the YSK supervises all elections and party conventions with final authority over its decisions, the court issued its ruling based on association laws – an unprecedented action in contemporary Turkey. The YSK met Friday to review the CHP’s appeal.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Transport operators across Kenya have ended their countrywide work stoppage on Friday following a weeklong suspension that allowed for negotiations regarding escalating fuel costs.

The labor action earlier this week on Monday and Tuesday sparked demonstrations that turned deadly when law enforcement opened fire with live rounds on protesters, resulting in four deaths and injuries to more than 30 people.

Following a Friday meeting between the operators and President William Ruto, the group announced they would not restart their strike after the president committed to lowering diesel costs during June’s scheduled monthly fuel price adjustment.

The president turned down suggestions to cut fuel taxation, maintaining that dropping the VAT on fuel from 16% to 8% had already created substantial revenue shortfalls and that additional reductions would harm the government’s ability to provide services.

Earlier this week, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets, setting tires ablaze on main roadways and preventing private cars from traveling. Schools and businesses stayed shuttered as initial government negotiations with transport operators broke down.

The work stoppage was put on hold Tuesday to enable continued discussions between government officials and fuel industry representatives.

The president, who had been traveling abroad during the strike, came back Thursday and began negotiations that led to the agreement for reduced fuel costs in the next monthly assessment.

Fuel costs in Kenya continue to rank among East Africa’s most expensive, even though the nation functions as a major import center for multiple landlocked countries that depend on Mombasa Port and overland transportation systems.

Opposition leaders have attributed the elevated prices to corruption and what they characterized as unreasonable profit margins by business operators.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An experienced Mount Everest guide who achieved his 32nd successful summit this week, setting a new world record, called on officials Friday to impose restrictions on the number of climbers attempting the ascent.

Climbing numbers on the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain from Nepal’s side have increased this season after China shut down access from Tibet. The world’s tallest peak can be approached from Nepal’s southern route or China’s northern path.

This past Wednesday saw 274 climbers successfully reach the top, marking the highest single-day total from Nepal’s approach. Nepal’s mountaineering officials have granted permits to 494 climbers, with an equal number of Sherpa guides supporting their expeditions.

“It was very crowded this year compared to last year because there was more clients,” Kami Rita Sherpa said to media at Kathmandu airport following his return flight from the mountain. “There is a need for authorities to control this number.”

Weather conditions suitable for summit attempts occur only during brief periods. When large groups wait in the fixed rope system that all climbers must use, the risk of dangerous bottlenecks increases while exposing everyone to prolonged exposure to severe conditions.

Kami Rita’s nearest rival, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, completed his 31st summit Friday, marking his second successful climb this week.

The 56-year-old Kami Rita made his initial Everest ascent in 1994 and has returned almost annually since then. He represents one of numerous Sherpa guides whose knowledge and abilities are essential for the safety and achievement of international climbers seeking to reach the mountain’s summit each year.

His father served as one of the earliest Sherpa guides. Beyond Everest, Kami Rita has conquered additional peaks ranking among the world’s tallest, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse.

A fatal blast at a petrochemical facility in eastern Hungary has claimed one life and left several workers with serious injuries, according to company officials who released details Friday.

The deadly incident took place at MOL’s industrial complex in Tiszaujvaros, where Hungarian oil and gas group MOL operates major chemical production operations.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Facebook that economy minister Istvan Kapitany and MOL’s executive chairman Zsolt Hernadi were traveling to the facility. Magyar shared an image displaying massive dark smoke pouring from the industrial site.

“An explosion occurred at MOL Petrochemicals’ site in Tiszaújváros during the restart of the Olefin 1 plant. The fire was localised by firefighters, and the intervention is still ongoing,” MOL said.

Company officials stated that investigators are examining what led to the deadly incident, though they declined to provide additional information about the circumstances.

Kapitany wrote on Facebook that preliminary reports indicate a compressor unit exploded while workers were bringing the Olefin 1 facility back online, and emergency crews were still working to extinguish the blaze.

The affected Olefin 1 facility operates as a steam cracker unit within MOL’s larger petrochemical complex in Tiszaujvaros. This particular plant can produce roughly 370,000 metric tons of ethylene annually. The Tiszaujvaros site houses two steam cracking facilities with combined ethylene production capacity of 660,000 metric tons yearly, based on MOL’s corporate website.

The company primarily uses its ethylene production for creating polyethylene plastics, which are then distributed to plastics and packaging manufacturers.

Russian authorities reported Friday that a nighttime drone strike by Ukrainian forces on a student residence hall in Russian-occupied Luhansk resulted in at least four deaths and injuries to 35 children.

Reuters could not independently confirm the incident, and Ukrainian officials had not immediately responded to the allegations. Ukraine continues its efforts to reclaim Luhansk, which Russia declared as its territory in 2022 in what Ukraine condemned as an unlawful seizure.

Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, stated that 86 students between the ages of 14 and 18 were asleep at the Starobilsk college of Luhansk Pedagogical University when the drone assault occurred.

“The Ukrainian armed forces carried out a targeted strike on sleeping children,” Lantratova said in a statement.

The top Russian-appointed administrator in Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, reported that two individuals had been rescued from the wreckage while emergency crews continued searching for children believed to be trapped under the debris.

Images and footage distributed by Russian officials depicted rescue teams carrying a man from the destruction on a stretcher, buildings with extensive damage including what appeared to be a partial collapse, and ongoing fires.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of mutual benefit within NATO partnerships during remarks made Friday before alliance discussions in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Speaking ahead of the NATO gathering, Rubio indicated the Swedish meeting would help establish the foundation for the upcoming NATO leaders summit planned for Ankara, Turkey later this year.

“Like any alliance, it has to be good for everyone who’s involved. There has to be a clear understanding of what the expectations are,” Rubio said.

The Secretary of State also addressed Middle East tensions, stating that any Iranian tolling system implemented in the Strait of Hormuz would not be acceptable.

The United States has imposed financial penalties on Tanzania’s top police official and blocked his ability to travel to America, accusing him of participating in human rights abuses by law enforcement.

The penalties were revealed Thursday in the aftermath of Tanzania’s October general election, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a complete term with 97% of votes following a campaign marked by suppression of political opposition. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated in December that America was reassessing its relationship with Tanzania due to oppression and electoral violence.

Rubio explained that the penalty designation targeting police Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele was founded on reliable evidence of his participation in rights abuses.

“One year ago, members of the (Tanzanian police) detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who were in Dar es Salaam to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu,” he said in the statement.

The activists from Uganda and Kenya were taken into custody and held in Tanzania last May. They claimed Mafwele subjected them to torture during their imprisonment before they were left stranded near the border between Kenya and Tanzania.

An investigative panel established by Hassan to examine post-election violence determined that 518 individuals lost their lives and thousands suffered injuries. Opposition groups maintain the death toll was significantly higher during the first major violent demonstrations in the East African country in many years.

The panel’s findings, published in April, called for additional scrutiny of police behavior during the demonstrations, when reports indicated unarmed citizens were shot inside their residences. Online connectivity in the nation was also interrupted for multiple days following the election, and footage of the shootings circulated on social platforms after internet service returned, despite police warnings against sharing such videos online.

NATO partners and military leaders voiced confusion Friday over President Donald Trump’s announcement to deploy 5,000 American troops to Poland, coming just weeks after he directed 5,000 soldiers to be withdrawn from Europe.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

American military officials also expressed puzzlement. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

Through a Truth Social post, Trump declared “I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.” He attributed this decision to his strong relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

This reversal followed weeks of contradictory messages from Trump and his team regarding reducing rather than expanding America’s military presence across Europe.

Alliance members found themselves caught off guard, despite American promises to coordinate military deployments. “We’re going to stay well-synchronized with our allies moving forward,” NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, promised on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, The Trump administration has said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer deploying to Poland.

The initial withdrawal announcement followed Trump’s anger over comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the war.

Trump subsequently informed journalists that America would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.” He simultaneously unveiled new tariffs on European automobiles. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Approximately 80,000 American service members are currently positioned across Europe. The Pentagon must maintain no fewer than 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

Removing 5,000 troops could potentially push numbers beneath that threshold.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed Trump’s decision, which ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

Carlo Petrini, the visionary behind Italy’s influential Slow Food movement that champions high-quality ingredients, authentic food preparation and locally-sourced products, has passed away at 76 years old.

Petrini died Thursday in his home city of Bra, located in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, according to a Friday statement from Slow Food. The organization did not specify what caused his death.

The movement’s former president, who stepped down from that role in 2022, had publicly shared in recent years that he was battling prostate cancer.

The Slow Food organization originated in 1986 as a response to McDonald’s establishment of its first Italian location in Rome’s historic downtown area.

According to the organization’s statement, Petrini “brought to life a global movement rooted in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all, connecting communities, farmers, food artisans, cooks, activists, and young people across the world.”

The movement grew from a small circle of companions in Italy’s rural areas during the 1980s into a worldwide network that now operates in over 160 nations, Slow Food noted.

Petrini developed a personal friendship with Britain’s King Charles through their shared commitment to sustainable farming practices, as both men championed organic agriculture methods.

BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) — Chinese authorities on Friday expanded their restrictions on chemical exports by placing three additional substances on the banned precursor list for shipments to the United States, Mexico and Canada, according to a commerce ministry announcement.

China’s National Narcotics Control Commission simultaneously released a notice identifying eight chemicals with potential use in synthetic drug manufacturing, directing businesses to “strictly comply with domestic and foreign laws and regulations when engaging in related business and export trade activities.”

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to travel to New York where he will lead a high-level UN Security Council session on May 26, according to an announcement from China’s foreign ministry on Friday.

During his time in New York, Wang is expected to hold discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will meet with foreign ministers from “relevant countries,” the ministry stated in their official announcement.

Following his UN duties, Wang will make an official trip to Canada scheduled for May 28-30, accepting an invitation extended by his Canadian counterpart, the ministry confirmed.

HAVANA (AP) — The most recent public sighting of former Cuban President Raúl Castro occurred during a government-sponsored International Workers’ Day demonstration along Havana’s renowned waterfront, where he was surrounded by thousands of attendees.

The 94-year-old remained steady and composed beneath the intensifying sun on May 1, while others in his vicinity succumbed to the heat before the ceremony commenced. His security team, headed by his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, positioned themselves behind him.

Such public appearances have become uncommon for the final Castro brother from Cuba’s revolutionary period. Though he reportedly continues to hold considerable sway over governmental affairs, he keeps a minimal public presence despite his position as general of Cuba’s armed forces.

Castro returned to public attention Wednesday when federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against him related to directing the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles. The accusations encompass murder and aircraft destruction charges. Castro held the defense minister position during that time.

The criminal charges and subsequent statements Thursday from U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked concerns about potential American military action against Cuba, similar to recent events in Venezuela during early January.

“We expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way,” acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the charges against the former Cuban president during a press conference in Miami.

Cuba’s socialist government condemned the indictment and prepared to hold a rally Friday to honor Castro, who turns 95 on Jan. 3. Protests were planned Friday morning in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

“The Cuban people reaffirm that neither threats, nor blockade, nor energy embargo, nor false accusations will be able to break the will of an entire people in defense of their Revolution,” read a statement published by state media.

It is not known if Castro will attend Friday’s event.

During July 1953, Castro faced arrest in Cuba on charges of armed insurrection after an unsuccessful attack on military installations. Though sentenced to 13 years imprisonment, he gained freedom after two years through political amnesty. Subsequently, he departed for Mexico to help coordinate revolutionary activities.

Castro wed guerrilla combatant Vilma Espín during the 1960s, and they became parents to four children. Details about Castro’s personal life remain limited: He maintains a reputation as devoted to family and officially lives in an area west of Havana.

Throughout his tenure as defense minister under his deceased brother Fidel Castro, and subsequently as president, his daily operations were notably private: avoiding scheduled appointments, formal events, or public and family celebrations.

Following his departure from office and transition of power to President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Raúl Castro has made few public appearances. He continues wearing his characteristic olive-green military attire when receiving foreign officials.

“He still has influence, and the leadership seeks his opinion on major decisions, but he is not running the government on a day-to-day basis,” said William LeoGrande, a political scientist at American University in Washington.

“If the U.S. were to abduct him, it would not change the operations of government, unlike what happened in Venezuela,” LeoGrande said.

The charges against Raúl Castro have intensified diplomatic friction between the U.S. and Cuba, which recently declared its petroleum supplies exhausted due to continuing American energy restrictions.

The nation’s difficulties have escalated following the Jan. 3 U.S. invasion of Venezuela, which stopped essential oil deliveries from that South American nation. Later in January, Trump issued threats of tariffs against any nation selling or supplying oil to Cuba.

Senior Trump administration officials — including Rubio, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and other prominent national security personnel — have conducted meetings with Cuban representatives in recent months to discuss relationship improvements. However, American officials have expressed dissatisfaction with these discussions, resulting in additional sanctions against Cuba’s government over the past week.

A 27-year-old Moroccan worker who has spent seven years as an undocumented migrant in Spain sees new possibilities ahead as the country’s leftist government rolls out a comprehensive amnesty program.

Abdelmoujoud Erra has survived on temporary jobs and lived in makeshift settlements, but now hopes the amnesty initiative could change his circumstances. “Without documents you work for five euros ($5.80) an hour. With documents, you work legally, with more money — maybe seven or eight euros an hour,” Erra explained from the southern Spanish province of Almería, where undocumented workers congregate at traffic circles seeking employment in the region’s vast greenhouse operations.

The amnesty program, which continues through June, represents a cornerstone of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s strategy to capitalize on migration’s economic advantages for Spain’s aging society, contrasting with border restrictions implemented by other nations.

However, the initiative has sparked fierce criticism from conservative opposition groups. The People’s Party argues it will overwhelm government services, while Vox has claimed the administration seeks to displace Spanish citizens.

For Erra, legal documentation would have opened doors to pursuing his boxing ambitions and visiting relatives in Morocco. “I’ve lost a lot of time. If only I had had papers earlier,” he reflected. Recently, a blaze destroyed the informal camp where he resided, though his amnesty paperwork survived because he had stored it at the local Red Cross facility.

Almería’s agricultural zone spans over 30,000 hectares (74,100 acres) of plastic-covered intensive farming, making it the European Union’s primary winter vegetable source. The region ships tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce valued at 3 billion euros each year while providing work for approximately 80,000 individuals, according to labor organizations and government officials.

Agricultural business associations and worker representatives express optimism that the amnesty will help solve staffing shortages. Andrés Góngora, coordinator of farmers’ union COAG, recognized that the industry relies on some undocumented workers and said the amnesty would create stability. Expanding the legal workforce could enable cultivation of more labor-demanding crops while promoting community harmony, he noted.

Advocacy organizations have consistently condemned living conditions in the Almería area, estimating approximately 10,000 migrants reside in inadequate housing and that at least 70% of agricultural workers lack legal status.

Spain’s population of 50 million has grown recently due to migration flows. Research organization Funcas calculates that roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently participate in the labor force.

Michael Aymaga, a 35-year-old from Ghana, represents another hopeful applicant. He lives in a migrant encampment near Nijar, where electrical service is sporadic and water availability is restricted. The amnesty opportunity fills him with excitement as he expresses his desire to give back to his adopted country. “I would definitely use all my skills and everything I have to help Spain (become) a better Spain,” he stated.

Pakistani officials are working to facilitate peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, with diplomatic meetings continuing in Tehran as both nations remain divided over key issues including uranium enrichment and maritime shipping controls.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi conducted another diplomatic session with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. This meeting occurred two days after Pakistani representatives delivered the most recent American proposal to Iranian officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism about the diplomatic progress on Thursday, telling reporters there had been “some good signs” in the negotiations. However, he emphasized that any resolution would be impossible if Iran continues to impose shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed to commercial traffic since the conflict began on February 28.

“There’s some good signs,” Rubio stated. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic … So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.”

A senior Iranian source indicated to Reuters on Thursday that negotiators have made progress in narrowing differences, though uranium enrichment activities and Strait of Hormuz control remain significant obstacles.

The conflict has severely impacted global markets, with rising oil costs raising concerns about widespread inflation. Prior to the war, approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Financial markets reflected the ongoing uncertainty Friday, with the U.S. dollar reaching near six-week highs and oil prices climbing as investors questioned whether diplomatic efforts would succeed.

“We’re coming to the end of week 12, we’re six weeks in the ceasefire, and I’m just not really that convinced we’re any closer to a resolution between the U.S. and Iran,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, regarding the Middle East conflict.

President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the United States would ultimately secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, which Washington claims is intended for weapons development despite Tehran’s assertions that it serves peaceful purposes.

“We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Prior to Trump’s remarks, two senior Iranian sources informed Reuters that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered that the uranium must not leave the country.

The president also criticized Tehran’s plans to impose charges on vessels using the strait.

“We want it open, we want it free. We don’t want tolls,” Trump declared. “It’s an international waterway.”

Trump is facing political pressure domestically with November midterm elections approaching, as Americans express frustration over rising fuel costs and his approval ratings hover near their lowest point since his return to office last year.

Iran presented its most recent proposal to the United States earlier this week.

According to Tehran’s descriptions, the offer largely repeats conditions Trump has previously rejected, including demands for Strait of Hormuz control, war damage compensation, sanctions relief, asset unfreezing, and U.S. military withdrawal.

The International Energy Agency has characterized the conflict as creating the world’s most severe energy crisis.

The agency warned Thursday that peak summer fuel consumption combined with reduced Middle Eastern supply could push the market into the “red zone” during July and August.

Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically compared to the 125 to 140 daily transits recorded before the war began.

Iran has indicated it plans to reopen the strait to allied nations that comply with its conditions, which may include fee requirements.

“It would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue to pursue that. So it’s a threat to the world if they were trying to do that, and it’s completely illegal,” Rubio said.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated their military objectives include reducing Iran’s support for regional militant groups, eliminating its nuclear capabilities, destroying its missile arsenal, and facilitating regime change by Iranian citizens.

However, Iran has maintained its stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium and continues to possess the capability to threaten neighboring countries through missiles, drones, and proxy forces.

LONDON — Law enforcement officials in Britain issued a public appeal Friday for witnesses to come forward as part of their ongoing investigation into alleged criminal conduct by former Prince Andrew, with sexual misconduct among the potential charges being examined.

Thames Valley Police confirmed they have established communication with legal representatives of a woman who claims she was brought to a Windsor location in 2010 for sexual activities.

“Should she wish to report this to police it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy,” police said in a statement.

A Florida-based lawyer named Brad Edwards informed the BBC in January that his client had a sexual encounter with the former royal family member, who now goes by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, at his Windsor residence. Edwards stated his client was trafficked there by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

The former prince has consistently rejected any claims of wrongdoing related to the accusations made against him.

Mystery enthusiasts worldwide observed International Sherlock Holmes Day on Friday, paying tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on his birthday and celebrating the enduring legacy of literature’s most famous detective.

The festivities stretched from the iconic 221B Baker Street in London’s heart to the dramatic Reichenbach Falls nestled in Switzerland’s mountainous landscape, where devoted fans gathered to honor both the author and his legendary creation.

Earlier this month, members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London made a special journey to Switzerland, donning Victorian-era clothing including traditional capes, deerstalker hats, and period dresses. Their mission: to recreate one of fiction’s most memorable death scenes at the Reichenbach Falls.

This dramatic confrontation between the brilliant detective and his arch-enemy Professor James Moriarty left readers stunned when “The Final Problem” was published, seemingly ending the career of one of literature’s most cherished characters.

Conan Doyle’s 1893 tale depicted Holmes vanishing over the waterfall’s edge alongside Moriarty, with only Dr. John Watson left behind to find a goodbye note near the rushing waters. The author, born May 22, 1859, had planned to eliminate Holmes permanently, believing the detective tales were preventing recognition of his more scholarly historical works.

Public reaction was immediate and intense. Magazine readers cancelled their subscriptions, donned black armbands as symbols of grief, and voiced strong opposition to their beloved detective’s demise. Ten years passed before Conan Doyle changed course, resurrecting Holmes in “The Adventure of the Empty House” with the revelation that the detective had faked his death and escaped the falls.

The Holmes chronicles established numerous foundations of contemporary detective literature. From 1887 through 1927, Conan Doyle produced four novels and 56 short stories featuring Holmes, pioneering methods like forensic reasoning, careful observation, and systematic analysis that became cornerstones of mystery writing.

These tales have inspired countless adaptations across theater, film, and comics globally, featuring performances by Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone, Christopher Lee, Robert Downey Jr., and Benedict Cumberbatch in various interpretations.

The newest adaptation features British actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Amazon Prime’s recent prequel series “Young Sherlock,” developed by Guy Ritchie and launched this year. Production on a second season is currently underway.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street has welcomed visitors since 1990, displaying fascinating artifacts like Holmes’ violin and chemistry equipment, plus a pistol concealed within a carved-out book.

According to the stories, Holmes resided in this Georgian townhouse from 1881 to 1904, sharing the space with Watson. However, 221B was fictional when Conan Doyle wrote his stories, as Baker Street’s numbering system didn’t extend that far during that period.

The museum, actually situated between numbers 237 and 241, required special authorization from Westminster City Council to display the famous fictional address.

“It has to be the most famous address in the world, I would say,” tour guide Paul Leharne said. “No matter what reincarnation Sherlock Holmes is going to take, he’s always going to be living at 221B Baker Street.”

On May 3, society members delivered dramatic performances at Reichenbach Falls, complete with theatrical gestures, elaborate acting, and dark cloaks flowing in the waterfall’s mist as they portrayed the Holmes-Moriarty battle.

Established in 1951, the society unites readers, collectors, scholars, and admirers of Conan Doyle’s writings. Their Swiss expedition followed portions of the path outlined in “The Final Problem,” with members traveling through Switzerland in classic buses before taking a steep cog railway to reach the waterfall.

Reichenbach Falls gained fame as one of detective fiction’s most significant locations following Conan Doyle’s 1893 visit to the region.

Philip Porter, an author and publisher who portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the society’s recreation, emphasized the location’s continuing importance to the stories’ enduring popularity.

“It’s a pilgrimage,” he said. “It’s a very dramatic setting: The sound, the backdrop, the music behind us of the cascading water.”

Peter Horrocks, who took on Moriarty’s role, described the challenge of returning to everyday life after several days embodying the villain. “It’s a strange feeling, getting out of these clothes,” he said. “You do start to inhabit the character that you’re playing after a while.”

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A sweeping transformation of Indonesia’s commodity trade policies has industry experts comparing the sudden shift to a corporate takeover of major sectors in the resource-abundant nation, with potential worldwide consequences.

The policy change, revealed to parliament Wednesday by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, requires a newly established state-owned company to manage all national exports of coal, palm oil and iron alloys starting in September.

Prabowo explained that boosting tax collections is a primary goal. This would help replenish depleted government coffers that have been drained by energy disruptions from the conflict in Iran. Given Indonesia’s position as a leading commodities supplier, these policy changes are expected to create waves throughout global supply networks.

The Southeast Asian country stands as the world’s top supplier of thermal coal used for power generation and palm oil, an essential component in products ranging from beauty items to alternative fuels. This nation of approximately 287 million residents also possesses the planet’s largest confirmed nickel deposits, a crucial material for electric car batteries and stainless steel production.

Industry analysts predict China, as Indonesia’s primary trading ally, will experience the most significant impact from this policy transformation.

China is monitoring Indonesia’s “initiative to nationalize” while evaluating “how it would impact China’s further cooperation,” according to Lie Xie from the UK-based think tank Third Generation Environmentalism. “The future path that Indonesia is taking is highly important for China.”

The rapid timeline for implementing these new regulations could disrupt China’s access to essential materials for its clean technology sectors, which depend on Indonesian resources to meet expanding renewable energy demands. Chinese corporations represent major stakeholders in numerous Indonesian sectors, including essential minerals.

“Indonesia has become vital to China” as it provides the materials that “underpin China’s dominance in electric vehicles, batteries, and industrial manufacturing,” explained Li Shuo from the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Climate Hub. “But the relationship is evolving.”

If executed properly, consolidating Indonesia’s trade operations could also create opportunities for increased American investment, experts noted, as the U.S. competes with China for critical resources.

“Such a move is a clear signal that U.S. investment is being attracted to come to Indonesia even more,” stated Bhima Yudhistira from the Jakarta-based Center of Economic and Law Studies. He characterized the new approach as a “hostile takeover” that will require reviewing every agreement in Chinese-controlled industries.

Prabowo informed legislators that Indonesia had forfeited up to $908 billion due to exporters misrepresenting their sales figures to evade taxes and additional charges.

“The primary objective of this policy is to strengthen oversight and monitoring — and to combat under-invoicing, transfer pricing and the diversion of export proceeds,” he stated.

The organization assuming control of Indonesia’s commodity exports — PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia — received official registration one day prior to Prabowo’s declaration. Danantara, the sovereign wealth fund established by the president last year, holds 99% ownership and will enhance government authority in commodity pricing decisions.

This “represents a governance reform, a step toward strengthening our credibility in managing strategic commodity trade in an orderly and accountable manner,” commented Yvonne Mewengkang from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between June and August, private enterprises must transfer their import and export operations to Danantara, which should oversee all international trade transactions by September.

“There will be an explanation for investors later, so that stakeholders will be informed before June 1,” noted Airlangga Hartarto, the coordinating economic minister in Indonesia. “After all, in the initial phase, we are focusing on transparency in reporting.”

Trade specialists question whether the government can smoothly assume control of commerce across all these sectors in under four months.

China serves as Indonesia’s leading trade partner and represents one of its largest foreign investment sources.

Chinese companies control Indonesia’s nickel sector while China remains a top buyer of resources covered by the trade reorganization.

Additional significant buyers of Indonesian palm oil, coal and nickel include the U.S. and European Union. India, Japan, South Korea and regional neighbors Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines would also face effects.

Under Prabowo’s leadership, the administration has expanded oversight of strategically vital commodities, targeting illegal mining activities, assuming plantation control and promoting domestic refining capabilities for critical minerals.

Prior to Prabowo’s announcement, the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia delivered a five-page complaint letter last week expressing investor worries about Indonesia’s unpredictable business environment.

Chinese companies have recently encountered “excessively stringent regulation, over-enforcement, and even corruption and extortion by competent authorities,” the correspondence stated. This has “severely disrupted normal business operations” and “undermined long-term investment confidence.”

“Prabowo didn’t listen to the complaint from these Chinese companies and then did something very, very shocking with this new body to control the export,” Yudhistira observed.

Through establishing state oversight of key sectors, Indonesia aims to diversify its investor base, according to Yudhistira with CELIOS. Diminishing Chinese influence may generate interest from alternative partners, including the U.S.

This will only escalate the resource competition between the two superpowers, he cautioned.

Whether this new approach successfully draws fresh investors will hinge on implementation transparency, noted Syahdiva Moezbar from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Private companies report remaining uninformed about specifics.

Danantara’s effects on small-scale trade, specialty product exports and processing industries require clarification, according to Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.

“Exporters usually already have their own established markets; we must ensure we do not lose these markets if they are not managed properly,” he emphasized.

WARSAW, May 22 – Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki expressed appreciation to President Donald Trump following the US decision to deploy additional American military personnel to Poland.

Nawrocki’s thanks followed Trump’s Thursday announcement that the United States would deploy 5,000 additional troops, with Trump citing his relationship with the conservative nationalist leader as the motivation.

“Good alliances are those based on cooperation, mutual respect, and a commitment to our shared security,” Nawrocki wrote on X.

“I thank U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his friendship toward Poland and for the decisions whose practical dimension we see very clearly today,” Nawrocki added on Thursday night.

The move to deploy more soldiers to Poland demonstrates that Polish-American relations remain “very strong, and Poland is a model ally,” Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated, also posting on X.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance informed reporters that a planned US military deployment to Poland had faced delays, though he clarified it would be incorrect to characterize this as a withdrawal of troops from Europe.

Previously, Polish officials had expressed concern over reports suggesting the Pentagon had scrapped deployment plans for their country, but they later provided assurances to Polish citizens that such reports were inaccurate.

Trade officials from across the Asia-Pacific region have convened in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou for discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation amid mounting global tensions.

The two-day conference, which began Friday, brings together representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations – a bloc that handles nearly half of worldwide trade. Participants are addressing multilateral partnerships, trade imbalances, and how to build more resilient supply chains during times of international crisis, including the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

During Friday’s opening ceremony, Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative and vice commerce minister, emphasized the importance of collaboration during uncertain times. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must adhere to seeking common ground while reserving differences, working together to overcome difficulties, striving to reach more consensus, leading the Asia-Pacific economy through the crisis and injecting confidence into the global economy,” Li stated.

The Suzhou meetings serve as preparation for this year’s annual APEC leaders summit scheduled for Shenzhen. Attendees are also examining ways to advance regional free-trade agreements, enhance digital commerce, improve artificial intelligence capabilities, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Li outlined this year’s conference priorities as “optimising institutional arrangements, cultivating momentum in emerging fields, jointly expanding the Asia-Pacific economic pie and ensuring fair distribution of that pie to achieve inclusive, mutually beneficial, and win-win outcomes.”

The gathering occurs against a backdrop of significant trade tensions. China recently reported a record trade surplus approaching $1.2 trillion for the previous year. Meanwhile, Group of Seven finance ministers recently reached consensus on addressing current trade imbalances, describing the situation as unsustainable. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has advocated for increased protections against an influx of low-priced Chinese goods.

The conference follows recent high-profile diplomatic visits to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. All three nations hold APEC membership.

APEC Business Advisory Council chair Li Fanrong addressed the gathering Friday, highlighting the economic pressures facing the global marketplace. Speaking for the business community, he called for a moratorium on additional trade restrictions to avoid creating more uncertainty. “The stakes could not be higher for business confidence, jobs, living standards and long-term prosperity in our region,” he declared.

Notable participants representing APEC’s 21 member economies include Rick Switzer, the deputy U.S. trade representative; Don Farrell, Australia’s trade minister; Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN’s secretary general; and Taiwan’s top trade negotiator, Yang Jen-ni.

Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa’s attendance marks the highest-ranking Japanese official visit to China since diplomatic relations deteriorated in November. A potential meeting between Akazawa and senior Chinese officials would represent the most significant diplomatic contact since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked controversy by suggesting Japan might respond militarily to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Following those remarks, Beijing implemented various retaliatory actions, including discouraging Chinese citizens from traveling to Japan and restricting exports of certain rare earth materials essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, weapons, and other products.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – Starting June 1, Malaysia will implement fresh regulations designed to shield young people from dangerous online material, according to an announcement Friday from the country’s communications regulator.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced that these new regulations will mandate online service companies to establish protective measures that restrict account creation and ownership for individuals younger than 16, while also enforcing enhanced content oversight across their platforms.

According to the commission, these initiatives target providing suitable age-based protections and limitations for high-risk elements found on digital platforms.

The regulatory body stated that online platform companies must establish “effective reporting and response mechanisms, advertiser verification measures and the labelling of manipulated content where appropriate.”

While the commission mentioned that online platforms will receive a grace period to put these measures into effect, officials did not reveal how long this transition period will last.

In recent years, Malaysia has increased its oversight of social media corporations following discoveries of a significant increase in dangerous online material. Malaysian officials classify online gambling, fraudulent schemes, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying, and material concerning race, religion, and royalty as harmful content.

The administration intends to implement age verification for users within this year, mirroring comparable actions worldwide aimed at restricting social media access for young people.

Turkish officials have permanently shut down Istanbul Bilgi University by canceling its operating permit, according to an announcement in the country’s Official Gazette on Friday. The closure comes after government authorities took control of the institution during a criminal investigation last year.

The private university, which opened its doors in 1996, was purchased by Can Holding in 2019. However, the holding company’s assets were confiscated by the government as part of an ongoing probe into money laundering, tax evasion, and organized crime activities last year.

Following the government seizure, officials placed the university under the management of a state-appointed trustee. The institution currently serves approximately 22,000 students, with about 3,400 new enrollments expected for 2025.

According to Turkish news outlets, affected students will transfer their studies to the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, which serves as Istanbul Bilgi University’s guarantor institution. Under Turkish law, all private foundation universities must designate a state university as their guarantor school.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gave final approval for the decision to cancel Istanbul Bilgi’s operating license, effectively ending the university’s nearly three-decade operation.

KHARTOUM, Sudan — A routine call from a husband became the last contact a Sudanese family would ever have. He had finished his duties and planned to visit the market on his way home. But this wasn’t an ordinary workday — he was coming back from battle.

Fahmy al-Fateh never returned home that day. His wife, Azaher Abdallah, began reaching out to friends, family members, and eventually his military unit colleagues. Witnesses last spotted her husband departing from a military facility in Khartoum on a motorcycle. That occurred more than 12 months ago.

Today, their young 3-year-old boy yells at every motorcycle that passes by, believing his father might be riding it, Abdallah explained.

“He was the most precious thing in my life,” she expressed through tears, covering her face with her palms. “I would feel more at peace if I knew something. It’s better than not knowing what happened to him, whether he’s alive or dead.”

Al-Fateh represents just one case among more than 8,000 individuals who have disappeared throughout Sudan’s three-year conflict, based on data from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The warfare has shattered families across the nation. Citizens have become separated during evacuation attempts, vanished amid combat operations, or been secretly imprisoned, leaving loved ones desperate for answers about their whereabouts.

Numerous missing persons from Khartoum state are believed to rest in unmarked burial sites where tens of thousands of remains have been discovered since Sudan’s army regained control of the capital from paramilitary forces last year.

During active fighting, burying bodies in traditional cemeteries proved extremely hazardous. Residents created graves wherever possible under the circumstances.

While traveling through the city last month, Associated Press journalists observed sports facilities and burial grounds filled beyond capacity with the deceased. Dirt piles next to an abandoned fuel station displayed improvised markers bearing names and dates, though many lacked any identification.

A military media representative accompanied the AP throughout the visit, including during interview sessions. The AP maintains complete editorial authority over its reporting.

The ICRC reported resolving more than 1,000 missing person cases but declined to specify how many individuals were found alive versus deceased.

Abdallah was asleep when her husband departed their home before dawn last January. Al-Fateh, a 38-year-old farmer and trader, had enlisted with Sudan’s army at the war’s onset. That morning, he was participating in efforts to reclaim Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Since his disappearance, the 30-year-old Abdallah has searched throughout the city, checked hospital morgues, and requested military assistance. His unit promised to attempt locating him. If no news emerged, they advised, she should assume he was missing.

At their residence on Khartoum’s outskirts, she reviews photographs of him wearing his uniform, maintaining hope for his eventual return.

“That is what my heart tells me,” she stated.

Mental health experts explain that uncertainty regarding missing family members can trigger years of severe emotional distress.

“Families of missing persons experience additional layers of vulnerabilities due to hostilities, displacement and ambiguous loss,” explained Nathalie Nyamukeba, a psychologist with the ICRC.

Several Sudanese families report that continuing the search remains their only coping mechanism.

Sulafa Mustafa’s son disappeared two years ago. The reserved 18-year-old Suleiman Abdalsid visited a friend’s residence near Khartoum and failed to return home.

His mother persistently traveled through neighborhoods, even while artillery sounds echoed nearby, conducting house-to-house inquiries. She has checked medical facilities and detention centers, showing his photograph to countless strangers.

She has even used a rented microphone to call out his name.

“I haven’t lost faith in finding you,” she declared, then covered her face with her hands.

Locating people dead or alive remains extremely difficult in Sudan, particularly as the conflict continues. Laboratories that could have conducted DNA analysis have been destroyed, and few forensic experts remain in the country.

In Khartoum state, officials have relocated nearly 30,000 bodies — from approximately 50,000 total — that had been quickly buried near residences, in athletic fields, or alongside roads when the RSF controlled the territory. Their efforts are ongoing.

Roughly 10% of relocated bodies remain unidentified.

Hisham Zienalabdien, director general of the forensic medicine department for Khartoum state, explained they are preserving DNA from unidentified remains with hopes of eventually matching it with family members.

For families who have located loved ones but cannot provide proper burials, a different type of anguish exists.

Abubakar Alswai waited over a year to transfer his 73-year-old brother, Mohamed, from where he had been interred in front of his residence to a public cemetery.

The RSF had killed Mohamed but waited three weeks before allowing a neighbor to bury his bullet-struck and decomposing body. According to Islamic customs, widely practiced in Sudan, funeral services should occur as rapidly as possible, preferably within 24 hours.

Alswai wiped tears from his face while watching grave diggers exhume his brother’s remains. At least Mohamed would now receive the respectful burial he deserved, he said, and his family could find some closure.

“What happened had left a mark on my heart,” he said.

BELGRADE, Serbia — University students across Serbia are preparing for their largest demonstration of 2025 this weekend, intensifying their campaign for sweeping political reform in the Balkan nation governed by authoritarian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Saturday’s rally in the capital city of Belgrade is expected to draw thousands of participants from across the country.

The student-led movement previously organized massive anti-corruption demonstrations that challenged Vucic’s authority throughout last year. Currently, the activists are focusing their efforts on upcoming elections scheduled for later this year or early next, which they believe could remove Vucic’s right-wing populist administration from power.

“We hope a lot of people will come and spend the day with us, and then continue to support the students because we are preparing for the elections,” youth representative Isidora Jovanovic told The Associated Press. “Serbia needs a change, and students will bring that change.”

Saturday’s demonstration will take place at Belgrade’s Slavija Square, where a massive anti-government gathering occurred last March. That previous rally concluded with an abrupt disturbance that analysts later claimed — though the government disputed — involved authorities deploying a sonic weapon against peaceful demonstrators.

Earlier this week at the square, law enforcement officers intervened to keep Vucic’s supporters separated from students who were creating their “Students win” banners. Several days before that incident, an elderly person sustained injuries when a motorist disrupted a traffic blockade in downtown Belgrade.

Multiple confrontations have occurred in recent months, including violent episodes that disrupted a local election in March.

Jovanovic stated that event organizers are taking every precaution to prevent any confrontations, particularly given the large number of attendees expected from throughout Serbia. The students “don’t want any of them (citizens) to leave with a bad feeling or injuries.”

The student activism began following a railway station disaster that claimed 16 lives in northern Serbia during November 2024. The movement maintained faculty blockades for months in 2025, ultimately forcing then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his administration to step down.

The demonstrators declared that outcome insufficient and have called for early elections, which Vucic has yet to schedule.

The demand for responsibility regarding the concrete canopy collapse at the Novi Sad station struck a chord with the general population, as many citizens attributed the disaster to widespread corruption and carelessness in government infrastructure developments.

Dusan Vucicevic, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, described how the youth movement has evolved into a significant political force with substantial public backing. He believes students can anticipate an “excellent result” in future voting.

“We finally have a political group that can challenge the (ruling) Serbian Progressive Party and Aleksandar Vucic,” Vucicevic told the AP.

Vucic has mounted an aggressive campaign against the demonstrators. Government-aligned media outlets have labeled his opponents as terrorists and foreign operatives seeking to harm the nation — language that has intensified political tensions.

The president’s supporters will probably occupy a park encampment near the presidency building on Saturday, which he established last March, seemingly as protection against protesters. Multiple assaults on demonstrators and media personnel have been documented near the camp previously.

Accounts of law enforcement using disproportionate force and making arbitrary arrests of protesters have drawn international attention. Serbia’s retreat from democratic principles could result in the loss of approximately 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding designated for membership candidate countries.

Branislav Vasic and Filip Novakovic, first-year students at Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, told the AP they plan to attend Saturday’s demonstration. The 19-year-olds described participating alongside their senior classmates in protests as essential.

“Everyone should go to the rally out of principle because of the situation,” Vasic said. He maintains that “there is the strength for change as long as people want it.”

Novakovic expressed his belief that “we are together in this, one step away from a better future.” He said this generation possesses a unique opportunity to achieve the transformations that earlier generations were unable to accomplish.

“I will keep trying as long as I live,” he said. “This struggle is a long one.”

British law enforcement officials announced Friday that their criminal investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will require considerable time and resources, following the royal family member’s arrest earlier this year on charges of misconduct in public office.

The younger sibling of King Charles was taken into custody at his Norfolk residence in February and questioned for several hours by investigators. His arrest came after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents connected to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The detention of the 66-year-old royal, who holds eighth position in the line of succession, marked an extraordinary moment in contemporary British history. International media outlets featured photographs of the former prince departing the police facility.

Mountbatten-Windsor, the second child of the late Queen Elizabeth, has consistently rejected allegations of any improper conduct regarding Epstein, though he has acknowledged regretting their association. He has remained silent publicly since his arrest.

“The investigation is by necessity hugely thorough and will take time,” Oliver Wright, Assistant Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who are carrying out the inquiry, told reporters. “It’s not going to be a quick investigation by any means.”

Investigators are examining the former prince’s duties as special representative for trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, with correspondence from the DOJ indicating he may have disclosed sensitive information to Epstein.

The misconduct charge, which can result in life imprisonment, encompasses various forms of serious wrongdoing including information breaches, corruption, and sexual impropriety.

“There’s a number of aspects of alleged misconduct that the investigation is examining. So we’re speaking with a range of witnesses,” said Wright, who followed British protocol by not naming Mountbatten-Windsor directly, as is standard practice before formal charges are filed.

Wright reported that authorities have gathered “a significant amount of information” from citizens and various sources, emphasizing the investigation’s complexity.

Officers are also examining claims that a woman was brought to a Windsor location in 2010 for sexual purposes, after legal representation for the alleged victim informed the BBC that Epstein had arranged for her to travel to Britain for a sexual encounter with the former prince.

While investigators have interviewed the attorney, the woman herself has not yet filed a formal complaint. British authorities noted that some potential victims may hesitate to come forward due to intense media scrutiny.

“In terms of Epstein victims and survivors, we hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward and I really want to stress that our door is open whenever a victim survivor is ready to engage with us. We’re ready for you at whatever point that may be,” Wright said.

A specialized team of veteran officers is handling the case, which has been classified as a major crime equivalent to a homicide investigation. They are coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice but have not yet obtained the Epstein documents.

“That is ongoing, and it’s a fairly complex thing to do, but we’re working very hard on that,” Wright said.

On Thursday, the British government disclosed confidential records regarding Mountbatten-Windsor’s trade envoy appointment, revealing that the late queen had advocated for his selection to the position.

King Charles, who removed his brother’s titles and honors last October, expressed deep concern about the arrest and stated that authorities have the family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”

Thames Valley is not the sole British police department investigating potential crimes related to the Epstein files.

Surrey police announced Tuesday that they are examining two allegations of child sexual abuse, one reportedly occurring in the 1980s and another from the mid-1990s to 2000. Officials provided no additional information about the individuals involved.

May 15-21, 2026

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in connection with civilian aircraft shot down in 1996 that were operated by Miami-based exiles, marking an escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s socialist government.

In Bolivia, demonstrations and roadblocks organized by mining workers and labor unions brought the country’s political capital to a standstill, intensifying pressure on President Rodrigo Paz merely six months after he took office.

Suspected members of Los Ardillos launched attacks on communities throughout Mexico’s Guerrero region using gunfire, fire-setting and explosive drones, compelling hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes.

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This gallery was assembled by photojournalist Eraldo Peres based in Brasilia, Brazil.

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AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography

AP News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

WASHINGTON — America’s top diplomat Marco Rubio is working to calm worried European partners about the Trump administration’s plans for NATO, attempting to present a more diplomatic approach amid confusion over U.S. military presence overseas.

On Friday, Rubio will participate in a NATO foreign ministers gathering in Sweden while Pentagon leadership simultaneously briefs the 32-member alliance on America’s military dedication to European security at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

This diplomatic meeting, which comes before a NATO leaders summit scheduled for Turkey in July, occurs during significant uncertainty about the Iran war’s trajectory and whether stalled American efforts to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict might restart. European frustration continues over President Donald Trump’s critiques of partner nations and his expressed desire to acquire Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark.

Rubio frequently serves as a more moderate voice from the Trump administration during international gatherings. He has been sent on multiple diplomatic missions this year, including the Munich Security Conference in February and a recent trip to Italy, where he engaged with Italian leadership and Pope Leo XIV following Trump’s criticism of the pontiff regarding his positions on crime and the Iran conflict.

Before departing for the meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio refused to address potential modifications to America’s military footprint in Europe, including possible reductions in troop numbers under the NATO Force Model, which serves as a backup plan for European security during serious threats.

The Trump administration had previously decided to halt the deployment of thousands of American troops to Poland and Germany, but the president then announced on social media Thursday that “the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.”

Uncertainty remains about whether this means the previously canceled brigade would resume its Poland deployment, if extra troops beyond the rotational assignment would be added, or if troop reductions would still occur in other European nations. Pentagon officials directed inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately provide clarification.

Previously, Rubio confirmed that Trump and other administration officials, including himself, are “very disappointed” with NATO, particularly regarding its Iran war response.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked to know that the United States, and the president in particular, is very disappointed at NATO right now,” he told reporters in Miami before boarding his plane.

While describing himself as a “strong supporter” of the transatlantic military partnership and calling it significant, Rubio echoed criticisms that certain NATO partners, particularly Spain, had blocked U.S. base access for Iran conflict operations. He noted others showed reluctance to join efforts to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping passage that Iran has largely shut down.

“I know why NATO is good for Europe, but why is NATO good for America?” Rubio asked rhetorically, answering his own question by referring to bases that allow the U.S. and others to project power globally. “So, when that is the key rationale for why you’re in NATO, and then you have countries like Spain denying us the use of these bases, well, then, why are you in NATO?”

Rubio observed that virtually all NATO members oppose Iran developing nuclear capabilities, yet few responded when Trump announced he would act to prevent such development.

“He’s not asking them to commit troops. He’s not asking them to send their fighter jets in. But they refuse to do anything, and so I think the president looks at that and says, ‘Hold on a second,’” Rubio said. “I think we were very upset about that. The president has made that very clear.”

NATO leadership has minimized the significance of American troop level adjustments in Europe, claiming these changes were planned well in advance and are not unexpected.

However, these announcements have caught some partners off guard and occurred despite American commitments to coordinate military decisions to prevent security vulnerabilities. Trump’s apparent reversal on Poland also came as another surprise.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated Wednesday that American allies have been aware for a year that the Trump administration would withdraw some European troops, and the alliance expects “rightly, for Europe and Canada to take a bigger responsibility for the conventional defense of NATO and particularly, of course, the European part of NATO.”

Rutte indicated the U.S. “will stay involved” but might eventually redirect resources to other global regions. U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads both American and NATO forces in Europe, assured this week that European security would remain intact but cautioned that allies should anticipate additional reductions in coming years.

The Trump administration has indicated that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine’s protection, going forward.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his plans to hold a conversation with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, marking an extraordinary step for an American leader that could strain diplomatic ties with China and potentially trigger additional Chinese military exercises near the island.

This marks Trump’s second announcement in a week regarding his intention to contact Lai, eliminating earlier theories that his initial mention following last week’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was an accidental comment.

Taiwan expressed willingness for Lai and Trump to engage in dialogue, although neither Washington nor Taipei has confirmed specific timing for such a conversation.

Addressing the potential Trump-Lai discussion, China’s foreign ministry stated Thursday that the United States must “handle the Taiwan issue with extreme caution and stop sending wrong signals to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence.”

The following explains why Beijing might strongly oppose such communication.

CHINA’S STANCE ON TAIWAN

Beijing considers Taiwan its most crucial and delicate matter, involving Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity that outsiders should not question or meddle with.

China regards Taiwan as unfinished business from the Chinese civil war, during which the defeated Republic of China government escaped to the island in 1949 after losing to Mao Zedong’s communist forces, who established the People’s Republic.

Beijing declares Taiwan a Chinese province without legitimate claims to statehood and has not ruled out military action to achieve control, while stating preference for “peaceful reunification.”

China describes Taiwan as its “core of core interests” and an uncrossable red line, consistently condemning high-level interactions between foreign officials and Taipei as meddling in Chinese domestic matters.

Both Chinese and Taiwanese administrations do not officially acknowledge each other, and China declines to address Lai as “president.”

CHINA’S PREVIOUS RESPONSES TO U.S.-TAIWAN ENGAGEMENT

Beijing conducted significant military exercises around Taiwan in 2022 following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit, and has organized multiple other military drills responding to American engagement with Taiwan.

China’s most recent major military maneuvers near the island occurred in late December. Earlier that month, the Trump administration authorized an $11 billion weapons sales package to Taiwan, representing its largest ever.

TAIWAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Taiwan operates as a flourishing democracy whose leadership firmly dismisses Beijing’s sovereignty assertions. Taiwan maintains it is an independent nation named the Republic of China, the island’s official designation, with rights to international engagement and democratic self-determination.

Lai has consistently proposed discussions with China but faced rejection. Beijing labels him a “separatist.”

AMERICAN POSITION

America ended formal diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, choosing Beijing instead, but remains obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to supply the island with defensive capabilities. America officially maintains neutrality on Taiwan’s sovereignty through Washington’s “One China” policy.

In 2022, the State Department incorporated language regarding the Six Assurances, referencing six Reagan-era security commitments to Taiwan that America declassified in 2020.

These assurances from 1982, previously kept confidential, include statements that America has not established a timeline for ending weapons sales to Taiwan, nor agreed to prior consultation with Beijing regarding such sales, or to modify the Taiwan Relations Act governing American policy toward the island.

China has consistently demanded America cease weapons sales to Taiwan.

TRUMP’S PREVIOUS TAIWAN CONTACT

In late 2016, President-elect Trump conducted a 10-minute conversation with then-President Tsai Ing-wen. China responded with measured criticism, filing a diplomatic protest and accusing Taiwan of pursuing a “petty action.”

A South Korean government minister announced his department will cease providing products from businesses that trivialize the nation’s democratic past, following widespread criticism of a Starbucks Korea promotional campaign that referenced a deadly 1980 military assault on democracy advocates.

The coffee company introduced its “Tank Day” promotion on the anniversary date of the May 18 Gwangju uprising, when military forces deployed troops and armored vehicles to crush mass demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.

“Conduct that makes light of that history or consumes it as commercial material is an issue that can never be taken lightly,” Yun Ho-jung wrote on X late on Thursday, expressing deep regret over what he called Starbucks Korea’s “anti-historical conduct” and saying the Ministry of the Interior and Safety would no longer offer products from companies that made light of the history and value of democracy or used it as commercial material.

This week, Shinsegae Group, which operates Starbucks locations in South Korea under license, terminated the coffee chain’s local chief executive due to the promotional campaign, stating it was unsuitable.

When contacted regarding the voucher decision, Shinsegae pointed to Tuesday’s public statement of remorse issued by Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.

According to Yun, government departments including the Interior Ministry typically distribute gift certificates such as coffee vouchers to individuals participating in surveys, competitions and civic engagement activities.

He called on other institutions and citizens to adopt his ministry’s approach.

The Interior Ministry handles government operations along with emergency and safety oversight.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oheul also criticized Starbucks in an X post late on Thursday, saying his ministry would strengthen monitoring to prevent the spread of false information related to the uprising.

Military forces under the dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan are believed to have killed or caused the disappearance of hundreds during the Gwangju protest suppression. Numerous aspects of the incident remain unclear, including the identity of who authorized troops to fire on demonstrators.

In his statement this week, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin recognized the suffering the promotional campaign had inflicted.

“I deeply bow in apology as the representative of the group,” Chung said. The marketing “deeply hurt the public, the bereaved families, and the victims of the May 18 demonstration.”

The controversy has sparked consumer boycott movements on social media and prompted police complaints against Chung, according to Seoul law enforcement.

Data from WISEAPP shows Starbucks holds the top position among food and beverage chains in South Korea based on estimated customer numbers during the six-month period ending in February.

A British mountaineer has established a new milestone for foreign climbers by successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest for the 20th time, according to hiking officials in Nepal.

Kenton Cool, age 52, conquered the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) summit in the early morning hours on Friday and was making his way down to lower camps, according to Ishwori Poudel from the expedition organizing company Himalayan Guides.

An expedition organizer who has climbed Everest four times described Cool as someone who is “quietly rewriting the record books.” Lukas Furtenbach of the Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures company praised the achievement.

“More Everest summits than any non-Sherpa ever… and still making it look like just another walk in the hills. Absolute legend,” Furtenbach told Reuters from the base camp. Cool climbed with one of Furtenbach’s teams.

Cool, whose initial Everest climb took place in 2004 and who has returned annually except during years when authorities shut down the mountain for various reasons, emphasized that reaching Everest’s peak is never routine.

“It never gets any easier or any less frightening. It’s the tallest mountain in the world and with it comes an incredible sense of majesty,” Cool said in a statement.

“I rely on every bit of experience I have to move safely in this environment. Standing on the summit for the twentieth time is incredibly special.”

A Nepali Sherpa, Kami Rita, holds the overall record for most Everest summits at 32.

More than 8,000 people have successfully climbed Everest, with many completing multiple ascents, since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first reached the top in 1953.

ANTIBES, France — Hollywood stars attending the film festival in the French Riviera traveled to a luxury charity event Thursday evening, where an exclusive auction generated substantial funds for AIDS research initiatives.

The elegant gathering took place at the Hotel Du Cap, Eden Roc, featuring dinner entertainment from notable performers including Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson and Lizzo. Actress Geena Davis served as the evening’s host, appearing prominently on this year’s festival promotional materials honoring the film “Thelma & Louise.”

Speaking to reporters before the event, Lizzo shared her enthusiasm for upcoming musical projects. “I’m just so excited. I’m trying to bring back good, clean fun. Like, I just want to have fun again, people need to dance, people need to laugh,” she said.

The guest list included prominent entertainment figures such as Rami Malek, who has a project competing at the current festival, along with Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, Sofia Carson, Natasha Poly and Bar Refaeli.

The auction featured an impressive collection of valuable items and exclusive opportunities.

Actor William Abadie offered a cameo appearance in the television series “Emily in Paris” while revealing that the sixth season would conclude the show. Following competitive bidding, organizers provided two such opportunities, each selling for 375,000 euros ($435,545).

High-value artwork dominated the evening’s sales, with a complete collection of Andy Warhol screen prints featuring Marylin Monroe commanding 2.8 million euros ($3,252,228).

Luxury accessories also drew significant interest. Festival sponsor Chopard contributed diamond earrings that brought 600,000 euros ($696,906), while an extremely rare Audemars Piguet timepiece — limited to just five pieces worldwide — sold for an impressive 1,450,000 euros ($1,684,160).

Williams delivered a compilation of his popular songs, concluding with “Angels” as a tribute to his daughter. Premium concert tickets became an unexpected auction item, with two bidders each paying 220,000 euros ($255,5278) for separate ticket packages.

Larsson concluded the dinner portion with an energetic set that drew attendees to dance near the performance area. Following the formal program, guests continued celebrating at a poolside reception.

The organization has accumulated nearly 841 million euros ($950 million) for AIDS research and related programs since its founding in 1985, distributing more than 3,800 grants during that period.

A Chinese industrial empire that grew from a failing textile factory into one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies now finds itself caught in an international sanctions battle between Washington and Beijing.

The Hengli Group’s petrochemical division, which operates a massive 400,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Dalian, was sanctioned by the United States last month over allegations of purchasing Iranian crude oil. The company has denied these accusations.

The sanctions targeted Hengli along with approximately 40 shipping companies and vessels as the US seeks to pressure China into helping broker a resolution to Middle East conflicts that began when America and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. This occurred as the presidents of both nations were preparing for diplomatic meetings.

Hengli represents the largest Chinese refining operation to face US sanctions to date.

China, which has consistently opposed such unilateral actions, quickly moved to protect the company by implementing for the first time a 2021 law designed to prevent businesses from complying with foreign sanctions.

In the past, Washington had primarily focused on smaller players, including independent Chinese refiners called “teapots” that were the primary buyers of Iranian crude since sanctions were reimposed in 2018.

“Hengli is no teapot refinery. It is a world-class, world-scale plant that is representative of the large integrated refining and petrochemical facilities in which Beijing increasingly wants to consolidate its refining capacity,” said Erica Downs, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.

“This is probably why Beijing felt compelled to use its anti-sanctions law for the first time,” she said.

The company’s billionaire co-founders, Chen Jianhua and his wife Fan Hongwei, have not responded to requests for comment.

SWIFT CONSEQUENCES

The financial penalties produced immediate results across Hengli’s international operations.

The company’s Singapore trading division, which had employed roughly 100 workers, is scheduled to close this month according to reports. Additionally, China’s Wanhua Chemical has halted a long-standing contract to purchase benzene from Hengli Petrochemical.

Industry experts suggest the sanctions could threaten a tentative 2024 agreement with Saudi Aramco for the oil giant to acquire a 10% ownership stake in Hengli Petrochemical. Aramco has declined to provide comment on the matter.

Despite these setbacks, Hengli’s primary focus on domestic markets and support from Beijing allows the company to maintain most operations. Management has stated they continue purchasing oil using Chinese yuan, avoiding the dollar-based settlement system.

A similar situation occurred last year when competitor Shandong Yulong Petrochemical faced British and European sanctions for Russian oil transactions, ultimately becoming even more dependent on Russian crude supplies.

Industry analysts expect Hengli will likewise increase its reliance on sanctioned oil sources while redirecting petrochemical sales to Chinese customers.

When asked during his Friday flight from Beijing about potentially removing sanctions on Chinese companies buying Iranian oil, the former president said he would consider the option.

“We talked about that and I’m going to make a decision over the next few days,” he said.

As of Thursday, no changes had been announced.

ANTICIPATING CHALLENGES

Nine days before the sanctions took effect, Fan, who leads Hengli’s publicly-traded Shanghai division, expressed caution in a letter to shareholders following Hengli Petrochemical’s 2025 earnings report showing profits of 7.07 billion yuan ($1.04 billion) on revenues of 201 billion yuan.

“Great-power competition continues to evolve and intertwine, and geopolitical turbulence has never ceased,” she wrote. “We are well aware that the road ahead may not be smooth.”

The company has overcome significant obstacles throughout its history.

Chen, now 55, grew up in Suzhou’s Wujiang district, an area where most families traditionally raised silkworms. He left school before age 14 and built his initial wealth through scrap silk trading.

During a speech to the National Young Entrepreneurs Conference last year, Chen Jianhua, whose name translates to “build China,” described purchasing a bankrupt textile facility with 27 workers when he was 23 years old.

This occurred in 1994 as China’s economic transformation was accelerating under Deng Xiaoping’s reforms.

To support China’s efforts to challenge foreign dominance in synthetic fiber manufacturing, Chen expanded Hengli’s operations upstream, eventually entering the state-controlled refining industry to create a fully integrated petrochemical operation.

Hengli established a model for a new generation of large, private petrochemical manufacturers producing materials for plastics and other products serving China’s rapidly expanding industrial sector.

In a bold move, Hengli constructed what became an $11 billion facility on the then-isolated Changxing island near Dalian, directly competing with state-owned China National Petroleum Corp’s nearby refinery.

“There was no electricity, no water, and no mobile signal – just a mountain, a stretch of sea and a small road. For a full four years, I lived and ate on the construction site,” Chen recalled.

CURRENT OPERATIONS

Hengli now holds the position as the world’s top producer of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a key component in synthetic fiber manufacturing.

In 2022, responding to Beijing’s infrastructure investment initiatives aimed at stimulating the pandemic-affected economy, Hengli acquired an unused shipyard on Changxing island.

“At the start, all the shipowners didn’t trust us and wouldn’t place orders, so we placed our own orders,” building two 300,000-ton very large crude carriers and an 82,000-ton bulk carrier, he said.

Hengli Heavy Industry secured contracts for 115 ships valued at over 100 billion yuan last year, with customers including Greek, Norwegian and Japanese shipping companies.

In February 2025, Chen attended a private sector leadership meeting with Xi, who encouraged participants to support China’s technological independence and supply chain security objectives.

Chen remembered Xi’s message: “Show your talent, the time is now.”

($1 = 6.8012 Chinese yuan renminbi)

The State Department announced Thursday that it has given the green light for a potential $108.1 million equipment sale to Ukraine, according to officials.

The approved sale would provide Ukraine with equipment needed to maintain its Hawk Missile System operations, the department stated on May 21.

Russian air defense systems intercepted drone strikes targeting Moscow and the surrounding Yaroslavl region during the early morning hours on Friday, according to statements from local officials posted on the Telegram messaging platform.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported via Telegram that four drones approaching Moscow were successfully shot down, prompting the deployment of emergency response teams to the affected areas. The mayor did not elaborate on additional specifics regarding the incident.

Both Moscow and the Yaroslavl region, located northeast of Russia’s capital city, experienced similar drone strikes earlier in the week. The targeted areas contain significant energy infrastructure facilities.

Independent confirmation of the reported military incidents could not be obtained by Reuters.

A new group of Australian women and children connected to the ISIS terrorist organization have exited a detention facility in northeastern Syria and could be making their way back to Australia, according to Friday reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The news outlet stated that a bus transporting the group departed the Al-Roj facility on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by Syrian government officials in a convoy. While the group is anticipated to arrive in Damascus, the timing of any potential journey to Australia remains uncertain, according to the report.

Australia’s home affairs ministry has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The Australian government has previously stated it would not offer direct help for bringing back Australian families connected to ISIS, though officials have recognized “very serious limits” in their ability to block citizens from returning to the country.

Earlier in May, four women and nine children with ISIS ties came back to Australia following seven years in detention facilities. When they arrived, Kawsar Ahmad, 54, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, faced slavery-related charges, while 32-year-old Janai Safar was charged with terrorism-related offenses.

The women’s return sparked controversy, with critics claiming Australia’s centre-left government failed to stop their repatriation.

From 2012 to 2016, several Australian women traveled to Syria to reunite with husbands who were reportedly ISIS members. After the caliphate fell in 2019, many ended up detained in camps, though some managed to return home.

In January, the United States started relocating detained ISIS members from Syria following the breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been overseeing multiple detention centers holding ISIS fighters and associated civilians, including foreign nationals.

Canada’s petroleum-wealthy Alberta province has announced plans for an October public vote regarding potential separation from Canada, though the province’s top official clarified Thursday that the ballot won’t directly address independence.

Danielle Smith explained that citizens would instead decide whether the time has come for a binding referendum on departing Canada.

“I want to be clear. I support Alberta remaining in Canada, and this is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum. It is also the position of my government,” Smith stated during broadcast comments.

The ballot measure will ask whether Alberta should continue as part of Canada or pursue constitutional legal measures toward conducting a binding independence referendum.

Even a “yes” result in such a binding vote would not automatically create independence. Federal government negotiations would be required. According to a 1998 Supreme Court decision, provinces lack authority to withdraw from Canada unilaterally.

Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, observed that Smith has publicly rejected independence, leading some to draw parallels with Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron before the Brexit referendum, which he supported as a method to handle a vocal party faction despite opposing U.K. departure from the European Union.

“Politically Smith seems committed to do so to appease supporters of her own party who want a referendum. If she doesn’t follow suit, she might face a potentially perilous mutiny within her partisan ranks,” Béland stated.

Thursday morning saw three United Conservative Party of Alberta caucus members approve a committee motion requesting Smith and her cabinet schedule the referendum for Oct. 19.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal Liberal government had not immediately responded to Smith’s declaration.

Carney has been collaborating with Smith on Pacific coast oil pipeline construction aimed at satisfying many Albertans.

“As part of his emphasis on economic development in the aftermath of the trade war between Canada and the U.S., Mark Carney is clearly more favorable to pipeline building and the energy industry than his predecessor Justin Trudeau,” Béland noted.

Béland predicted referendum failure.

“Support for Alberta independence is slightly below 30% and the percentage of people truly committed to the cause is below 20% according to polling data so the odds of a ‘yes’ vote appear to be very low right now but campaigns matter,” he explained.

Opposition Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre previously stated that he and all Conservative Parliament members would advocate for Alberta’s continued Canadian membership during any referendum campaign.