Category: World News

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The military leader of Mali appeared publicly for the first time since his West African country endured massive coordinated strikes by Islamic extremists and separatist forces over the weekend, meeting Tuesday with Russia’s top diplomat in the capital.

Colonel Assimi Goita’s office distributed photographs of his meeting with a Russian diplomatic team headed by Ambassador Igor Gromyko, which took place at what appeared to be the presidential palace in Bamako.

At the same time, the United States Embassy in Mali warned of “possible terrorist movements within Bamako, including reports of forced school closures” in a security bulletin.

The military government, which has controlled Mali since seizing power in 2020, faced its most significant challenge Saturday when al-Qaida-affiliated fighters and the Azawad Liberation Front separatist organization launched synchronized strikes against at least four cities in what experts consider a global terrorism hotspot.

The nearly simultaneous assaults targeted Bamako’s main airport, the military garrison town of Kati located nearby, and multiple locations in northern and central Mali, including the cities of Kidal and Sevare.

According to the Azawad Liberation Front, their forces ultimately captured Kidal after both Malian troops and Russian personnel pulled back from the area. The violence also claimed the life of Mali’s defense minister, General Sadio Camara.

Three days after the attacks began, questions remained about who controlled the affected territories and how many people were killed or wounded in the fighting.

Tension gripped Bamako as some citizens expressed concerns about their personal security.

Russia’s Defense Ministry characterized the weekend violence as an attempted overthrow of the government and stated that Russian troops — specifically the Africa Corps supporting Mali’s military leadership — working alongside Malian security personnel successfully thwarted the effort.

According to a Russian military statement, approximately 12,000 fighters launched the offensive using advanced weaponry, prompting the deployment of military aircraft to support ground troops who used “all types of weapons” while pursuing the attackers.

The ministry acknowledged pulling back from Kidal but described it as a Malian government decision, stating that forces stationed in the northern city had “fought for more than 24 hours in full encirclement against vastly superior enemy forces and repelled four massive attacks on its main stronghold and outer defensive positions.”

Mali’s government has not released any comprehensive details about the attacks, and The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the Russian version of events.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Officials in Uganda announced Tuesday they have arrested 231 foreign nationals during a multi-day operation investigating suspected human trafficking networks and illegal immigration schemes.

The arrests began Monday and focused on two main locations: a group of Nigerian nationals in Uganda’s northern region and a heavily secured residential compound in the capital city of Kampala where foreigners from multiple countries were living.

The Kampala facility housed 169 individuals from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Malaysia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs described the location as a tightly controlled residential complex with its own dining facilities and amenities specifically designed to limit residents’ freedom of movement. Among those found at the compound, 36 were women.

Government officials said they launched the operation based on intelligence reports indicating large numbers of foreign nationals were residing and working in Uganda without proper legal documentation. Many of those detained did not possess valid passports, according to ministry officials.

“Some individuals have claimed they were trafficked into Uganda with promises of employment,” the statement said. “Others were engaged in cyber-scamming activities. A few were found in possession of materials suggesting involvement in other criminal activities.”

Ministry spokesman Simon Peter Mundeyi explained to The Associated Press that the detained individuals fall into three distinct groups: people believed to be trafficking victims, suspected criminal operators, and those who simply exceeded their visa limits without engaging in illegal activities.

According to Mundeyi, trafficking victims and visa overstayers will receive assistance to purchase their own transportation out of Uganda, while suspected trafficking leaders will face criminal charges and potential deportation proceedings.

The East African nation is known for its open-door policy toward foreign visitors and refugees, currently providing sanctuary to hundreds of thousands of people escaping violence in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and South Sudan. Citizens from numerous African and other nations can enter Uganda for short stays without obtaining advance visas.

BUENOS AIRES – Argentine President Javier Milei has intensified his public stance regarding the disputed Falkland Islands, marking a departure from his earlier diplomatic approach as he navigates complex international relationships.

The libertarian president, who previously admired former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and favored bilateral talks with Britain, faced domestic criticism for not being forceful enough about Argentina’s territorial claims to the South Atlantic archipelago, which Argentines call Las Malvinas.

That changed dramatically on Friday when Milei posted a strong message on social media platform X, declaring that Las Malvinas “were, are and will always be Argentine.” His statement came just hours after Reuters reported on an internal Pentagon email suggesting the U.S. might reassess its position on the islands in response to Britain’s stance regarding Iran.

The territorial dispute dates back to Argentina’s claim that it inherited the islands from Spain following independence in 1816, while Britain assumed control in 1833 in what Argentina considers an illegal colonial seizure. The conflict escalated into a 74-day war in 1982 under Thatcher’s leadership, resulting in 649 Argentine and 255 British military deaths after Argentina’s unsuccessful invasion attempt.

More than four decades later, the islands remain an emotionally charged issue for Argentines. Memorial portraits of war casualties cover Buenos Aires walls, some athletic organizations prohibit British flag imagery, and the nation observes an annual commemoration of the conflict.

Current tensions between Washington and London may provide Milei with a political opportunity as his approval numbers decline due to increasing inflation and corruption allegations, according to policy analysts.

“The fight for the Falklands is a national obsession in Argentina, and there is no upside to downplaying it,” explained Benjamin Gedan, who heads the Latin America program at Washington’s Stimson Center. “Though Milei is not known for pandering to his opponents, he might find the Falklands to be an irresistible opportunity for a rally-around-the-flag boost in his popularity.”

Milei’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

During his presidential campaign, Milei had praised Thatcher as among the world’s “greatest leaders,” drawing sharp criticism from war veterans who accused him of disrespecting fallen soldiers. In a 2024 BBC interview, he criticized politicians who “beat their chests” about sovereignty without achieving results.

He previously suggested Argentina wanted islanders “to one day decide to vote for us,” mirroring Britain’s position on residents’ self-determination rights. In 2013, islanders voted decisively in a referendum to remain under British governance.

However, Milei recently claimed in a streaming platform interview that Argentina was “making progress like never before” on the islands question.

Guillermo Carmona, who formerly served as secretary for Argentina’s foreign ministry’s Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic office under the previous center-left administration, believes Argentina should “take advantage of the fissures that are being produced.”

The United States has historically maintained neutrality on the islands’ sovereignty while acknowledging British administration. President Donald Trump, who has called Milei his “favorite president,” could potentially mediate future Argentina-Britain negotiations, though Gedan suggests the leaked Pentagon correspondence reduces that likelihood by revealing potential U.S. bias toward Argentina.

Despite current political developments, experts believe the territorial status quo will likely persist.

“It’s difficult for me to think that the United States can force Britain to modify its position if it changes its own, since Britain is a strategic ally of the U.S.,” noted Argentine historian Federico Lorenz.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly honored troops who took their own lives during combat operations in Ukraine’s Kursk region rather than risk being captured by Ukrainian forces.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony for fallen North Korean soldiers, Kim acknowledged for the first time the extreme measures taken by his forces deployed alongside Russian troops. Approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to support Russia’s military operations in the Kursk area, where they have faced significant losses.

According to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western military officials, more than 6,000 North Korean personnel have been killed in the fighting. Intelligence reports and accounts from defectors have documented instances where North Korean soldiers chose self-detonation and other suicide methods to avoid capture.

During his address to Russian officials and families of the deceased at the memorial dedication ceremony, Kim referred to these soldiers as “heroes,” according to Monday’s report from North Korea’s state news agency KCNA.

“It is not only the heroes who unhesitatingly chose the path of self-destruction and suicide to defend great honor, but also those who fell while charging at the forefront of assault battles,” Kim stated.

The North Korean leader also praised surviving soldiers, saying: “Those who writhed in frustration at failing to fulfil their duty as soldiers rather than suffering the agony of their bodies being torn apart by bullets and shells — these too can be called the party’s loyal warriors and patriots.”

South Korean intelligence agencies report that in exchange for providing military personnel and weapons to Russia, North Korea has received economic aid and advanced military technology from Moscow.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An international tribunal has mandated a comprehensive medical examination for Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military leader dubbed the “Butcher of Bosnia,” after his legal team petitioned for his humanitarian release due to declining health at age 84.

The former commander received a life sentence in 2017 for his role in genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes during Bosnia’s devastating 1992-95 conflict.

Defense attorneys argue that Mladic has entered an “advanced, irreversible medical decline” and merits release on compassionate grounds.

Court documents reveal the ex-general required emergency medical treatment earlier this month for undisclosed health complications.

Judge Graciela Gatti Santana has mandated an independent health evaluation to be completed by May 1, seeking details about Mladic’s “current health condition” and the quality of medical care at his detention center, where he has remained for 15 years.

The Yugoslav conflict began following the nation’s dissolution in the early 1990s, with Bosnia experiencing the most severe atrocities. The war claimed over 100,000 lives and displaced millions before peace accords were reached in 1995.

Following approximately a decade in hiding, Mladic was captured in Serbia during May 2011.

The defiant Bosnian Serb commander was removed from the United Nations war crimes tribunal courtroom while his sentence was announced, after shouting at the panel: “Everything you said is pure lies. Shame on you!”

Mladic represented the final prominent figure to face prosecution for the conflict that concluded over 25 years ago. His case is now under review by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which handles remaining matters from the defunct U.N. courts for Rwanda and the Balkans.

The tribunal previously rejected his bid for early release in 2025, stating his “conditions of detention continue to be in full compliance with the principles of humanity and respect for human dignity.” Judges also refused his November request to visit Serbia for a funeral.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A diplomatic dispute has erupted between Ukraine and Israel over allegations that Israeli ports are accepting grain shipments that Ukraine claims were illegally seized by Russia from occupied territories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Tuesday that a grain-carrying vessel had reached an Israeli port and was getting ready to discharge its cargo, describing the transaction as unlawful and threatening punitive measures against participants.

Israeli officials countered that the ship had not docked at the port and had yet to file required paperwork. However, the marine tracking platform MarineTraffic.com indicated the vessel had been stationed in Haifa for multiple days.

“In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability,” Zelenskyy posted on X, noting that Ukraine’s intelligence agencies were developing sanctions aimed at businesses and people benefiting from these deliveries.

“We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes,” he stated.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that the nation’s tax officials had launched a probe into a vessel anticipated to arrive at Haifa port.

Saar criticized Zelenskyy’s statements as “Twitter diplomacy,” stating during a Jerusalem press briefing that Ukraine had failed to supply adequate details or seek legal cooperation.

Heorhii Tykhyi, representing Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, maintained that Kyiv had notified Israeli officials about the ships beforehand. He reported that over two vessels had reached Israel carrying agricultural goods that Ukraine claims Russia illegally seized from occupied Ukrainian territory.

The ministry reported summoning Israeli Ambassador Michael Brodsky and delivering a formal complaint regarding what it characterized as an ongoing stream of such deliveries. Officials added that they had determined the grain’s source and were familiar with concealment tactics, including vessel-to-vessel transfers in the Black Sea.

Nevertheless, the shipments kept arriving at Israeli ports and entering commercial markets, the ministry stated, criticizing Israel for not responding to official requests to seize the ships and their cargo.

Kyiv characterized the problem as widespread rather than an isolated incident, calling on Israel to stop imports it claims involve stolen Ukrainian grain and cautioning that the situation could damage diplomatic ties between the nations.

KAMPALA, Uganda – The World Bank has expressed serious concerns to Uganda’s government about pending legislation that would require individuals and organizations receiving overseas funding to register as foreign agents, warning it could severely impact the bank’s operations in the country.

According to a Reuters-obtained letter, the international lending institution cautioned that the proposed law could interfere with its development work throughout Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni’s administration presented the bill to parliament on April 15, claiming it aims to safeguard national sovereignty. Under the proposed rules, any Ugandan citizen or organization accepting international funding must register with authorities and report all incoming financial support.

The draft legislation further prohibits foreign agents from actions that could “hinder, frustrate or disrupt the implementation of a government policy” and makes it illegal to create or advocate for alternative public policies without official government authorization.

In correspondence dated April 23 that Reuters reviewed, the World Bank warned the law could make many of its standard “routine development activities” subject to criminal prosecution, including hosting meetings where different policy approaches are explored.

“By classifying international organisations as ‘foreigners’ without qualification, the bill subjects them … to all of its substantive restrictions, registration requirements, financial reporting obligations, and criminal penalties,” the Bank stated.

Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi has not yet responded to requests for comment on the World Bank’s concerns.

The World Bank serves as a significant financial partner for Uganda, maintaining approximately $4.57 billion in active projects throughout the nation.

The institution previously suspended new loans to Uganda in 2023 following the passage of strict anti-homosexuality legislation, but restored funding two years later after government officials agreed to certain modifications.

Violations of the proposed sovereignty legislation could result in substantial penalties, including fines reaching 4 billion Ugandan shillings (equivalent to $1.08 million) and prison terms extending up to two decades.

The measure, currently under review by a parliamentary committee, faces opposition from political rivals, non-governmental organizations, and commercial banking institutions, all arguing it would restrict legitimate international funding streams.

Museveni, Uganda’s leader since 1986, has consistently claimed his political opponents operate as representatives of foreign interests.

BUDAPEST – Hungary’s tax authorities have halted international money transfers from individuals connected to a key adviser of departing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to incoming leader Peter Magyar.

Magyar, scheduled to take office on May 9 following his election victory, announced through social media that Hungary’s NAV tax agency had “suspended several transfers linked to Antal Rogan’s circle worth billions of forints, on suspicion of money laundering.”

The allegations, shared in a social media video posted Monday evening, were not backed by supporting evidence from Magyar, and Reuters could not independently confirm the claims. The amount referenced equals millions of dollars in U.S. currency.

Government representatives did not respond to requests for comment regarding Rogan, who serves as minister of the prime minister’s cabinet under Orban’s administration. Direct contact with Rogan or his legal representation was not established.

When questioned about Magyar’s statements, Hungarian police referenced an existing announcement on their website indicating an ongoing investigation into suspected hiding of illegally obtained money or assets. No suspects were named in the police statement.

Both the tax office and Hungary’s central bank, which oversees financial regulation, failed to respond to comment requests.

Magyar did not specify which individuals within Rogan’s network were involved in the alleged activities.

The incoming leader has previously expressed concerns that Orban’s supporters might attempt to protect profits from what he characterizes as extensive corruption throughout Orban’s 16-year tenure during their remaining time in office.

According to Magyar, banking accounts belonging to “several front men” connected to the departing administration have also been frozen, though he provided no identifying information or supporting documentation for these claims.

In his recorded message, Magyar urged Hungary’s tax authority leadership to submit police reports regarding the questionable financial activities and called on banking institutions to strengthen their compliance operations while reporting suspicious transactions.

“Let me signal now, that anyone – be it an authority or a bank – not acting in line with the letter and the spirit of the law will have to face the Hungarian justice system,” he stated.

The 54-year-old Rogan has served as one of Orban’s most trusted advisers during his administration and holds a prominent position within the Fidesz Party.

In January 2025, the Biden administration imposed U.S. sanctions on Rogan over corruption allegations that Washington claimed benefited entities connected to the ruling party. Fidesz dismissed these accusations as politically driven at the time. President Donald Trump’s administration later removed the sanctions, reflecting Trump’s support for Orban.

BUCHAREST – Romania’s pro-European Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan faces the potential downfall of his minority administration in early May following Tuesday’s submission of a no-confidence motion by his previous coalition allies, the leftist Social Democrats, working alongside far-right opposition forces.

The breakdown of the governing coalition threatens to create weeks or potentially months of political gridlock, which analysts warn could negatively impact Romania’s debt yields, credit ratings, and ability to secure European Union funding while negotiations for a new parliamentary majority take place.

Ministers from the Social Democratic party abandoned the government last week, though the reform-focused Bolojan has declined to resign from his position. He maintains his administration must continue implementing essential reforms to secure more than 10 billion euros ($12 billion) in pandemic recovery and resilience funding before the EU’s August cutoff date.

The country faces additional pressure to reduce the European Union’s highest budget deficit, targeting 6.2% of economic output this year compared to over 9% in 2024, or face the risk of losing its investment grade status.

Romania’s leading employers’ organization Concordia warned Tuesday that losing this rating would burden Romania with 100 billion lei ($23 billion) in additional debt expenses over the next five years.

Although the Social Democrats (PSD), who represent parliament’s largest party and are essential for forming any pro-EU majority, have indicated willingness to rejoin a similar pro-European coalition under different leadership, other parties have declared they will refuse future collaboration with the PSD.

The PSD has partnered with the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) to advance the no-confidence motion, though PSD leadership has rejected any plans for cooperation with AUR beyond the May 5 vote.

Should Bolojan’s government survive the challenge, he must still pursue a new confidence vote within 45 days, coinciding with the expiration of interim appointments replacing departed PSD ministers.

In the event of government collapse, centrist President Nicusor Dan, who holds the authority to nominate prime ministers, is anticipated to work toward reconstructing the four-party pro-EU coalition with either a different Liberal leader or a technocratic candidate at the helm.

A 20-year-old man received a seven-year prison sentence Tuesday from a court in Brno, Czech Republic, after being convicted of attempted terrorism and attempted murder.

The defendant was among two minors who attempted to firebomb a synagogue in the Czech Republic’s second-largest city during January 2024, using a homemade explosive device. The pair also attempted to kill an individual who survived the assault.

The now-20-year-old defendant received an additional two-year sentence for terrorism promotion, crimes committed after he reached adulthood.

His co-defendant remained below the legal age for prosecution and faced proceedings in a closed courtroom.

Both individuals belonged to a five-person group of teenagers arrested last year following alleged online radicalization by the Islamic State terrorist organization, Czech officials reported.

According to authorities, the five promoted hateful content targeting minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, and Jewish people across social media platforms. Law enforcement operations in both the Czech Republic and Austria resulted in the confiscation of various weapons, including knives, machetes, axes, and gas-powered firearms.

Officials indicated the teenagers participated in online recruitment networks for Islamic State fighters in Syria and demonstrated shared interests in violence and hatred directed at Jewish people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other groups.

The case involved collaborative efforts between Czech authorities and their counterparts in Austria, Britain, and Slovakia, along with Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency.

BAMAKO – Mali’s military chief Assimi Goita emerged publicly for the first time since devastating weekend attacks, meeting with Russia’s ambassador on Tuesday according to his office’s social media announcement.

The Tuesday afternoon post marked Goita’s first visible activity following coordinated strikes by insurgent forces on Saturday that targeted multiple locations across the West African nation.

The weekend offensive saw al Qaeda’s West African branch team up with a Tuareg separatist organization to launch simultaneous assaults on Mali’s primary military installation and locations surrounding Bamako’s airport. The attackers also successfully expelled Russian military personnel from the northern city of Kidal, where they had been stationed to support government troops.

The violence claimed the life of Mali’s defense minister Sadio Camara during the assault, while Goita remained out of public view until Tuesday’s diplomatic meeting.

Military analysts noted the attacks revealed an extraordinary level of coordination between disparate militant organizations with varying objectives, allowing them to execute strikes across the expansive nation and penetrate the military government’s core defenses.

Despite the scope of the offensive, Mali’s military leadership maintains they have regained control of the security situation.

Authorities in Northern Ireland have taken a 66-year-old man into custody under terrorism legislation following a weekend car bomb incident targeting a Belfast police station, officials announced Tuesday.

The militant organization New IRA has claimed responsibility for the attack at Dunmurry police station and issued disturbing threats to escalate their campaign by targeting law enforcement officers at their residences.

According to reports from the Irish News, the extremist group acknowledged hijacking a delivery truck and compelling the driver to transport the vehicle to the police facility on Saturday. Their plan involved having the driver alert authorities to the explosive device as officers exited the building.

In a statement containing authentication codes provided to the newspaper, the organization made an ominous declaration: “It is our intention, if they keep harassing the republican people, to bomb them (police officers) in their own houses, with no warning.”

This threat represents a dangerous escalation in tactics. The most recent police fatality in Northern Ireland occurred 15 years ago when Constable Ronan Kerr lost his life after an explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle outside his residence.

The New IRA represents one of several small extremist factions that reject the historic 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to decades of sectarian conflict in the region. These dissidents oppose the peace accord’s central principle that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom unless residents vote through referendum to join with Ireland.

This organization, significantly smaller than the original Irish Republican Army that surrendered weapons following the peace settlement, has been responsible for numerous attacks against law enforcement, including a similar attempted bombing at another police station outside Belfast just last month.

In response to these escalating threats, senior law enforcement officials have announced enhanced security measures across Northern Ireland. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck characterized the recent incident as demonstrating clear intent to destabilize communities while potentially causing serious harm or death to police personnel and staff.

The police response includes increased high-visibility patrols throughout the region as authorities work to counter what they describe as a persistent threat from dissident groups.

Law enforcement officials in Greece have taken into custody an 89-year-old man suspected of injuring five individuals during a pair of shooting incidents that occurred Tuesday in Athens, according to the Greek citizens’ protection ministry.

The elderly suspect initially used a shotgun to open fire at an EFKA social security office, striking one worker in the leg, authorities reported.

Following the first attack, the shooter took a taxi to a nearby courthouse where he discharged multiple rounds inside the building, causing minor injuries to four female administrative staff members, law enforcement officials, court representatives and the judicial workers’ union confirmed.

According to media accounts, the assailant abandoned his shotgun at the courthouse location alongside correspondence intended for news organizations before escaping on foot.

When authorities apprehended the suspect, they discovered he possessed a second firearm, local news outlets reported. News sources have identified the man as a sanitation worker from the greater Athens region.

Law enforcement has not disclosed any potential reasons behind the attacks.

Officials captured the individual at a lodging facility in Patras, located approximately 200 kilometers from the Greek capital.

BUCHAREST, Romania — An unlikely political alliance between Romania’s main leftist party and a hard-right opposition group filed paperwork Tuesday aimed at removing the country’s center-right prime minister from office.

The Social Democratic Party, known as PSD and Romania’s biggest political force, teamed up with the opposition Alliance for the Unity of Romanians to present their no-confidence motion to Parliament. Their target is liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan of the center-right National Liberal Party, whose pro-European coalition took power less than 12 months ago.

According to PSD officials, they have gathered sufficient backing for their effort to oust Bolojan. Alliance leader George Simion announced at Tuesday’s press briefing that their motion carries 251 signatures and predicted it would succeed “without any problems.”

Parliamentary voting on the no-confidence measure is expected to occur next week.

This political maneuvering comes after PSD abandoned the governing coalition last week, stripping Bolojan of his parliamentary majority and pushing the EU member nation into another governmental crisis.

The country has endured extended political upheaval since presidential elections were canceled in December 2024, while also wrestling with one of the European Union’s largest budget shortfalls, rising inflation, and a technical recession.

PSD President Sorin Grindeanu acknowledged Monday that “there are many things that divide us … but there is a common goal, that of voting for this motion and toppling the Bolojan government.”

“I want to be very clear, it is a parliamentary initiative, it is an initiative that currently has support beyond political color,” Grindeanu stated, noting that the far-right nationalist S.O.S. Romania party and additional right-wing factions have endorsed their effort.

Last June’s governing coalition had committed to prioritizing budget deficit reduction. However, PSD frequently clashed with Bolojan regarding various austerity policies, including increased taxes, frozen public sector salaries and pensions, and reductions in government spending and administrative positions.

In Tuesday’s statement, PSD accused Bolojan of having “failed to implement any genuine reform” during his 10-month tenure and argued Romania requires leadership “capable of collaboration.”

“In the complicated geopolitical context we find ourselves in, Romania urgently needs coherent leadership, without blockages and without political arrogance, which can ensure good administration and economic recovery,” their statement declared.

Should Bolojan’s removal succeed, PSD would become essential for establishing a pro-European parliamentary majority, though the party has previously rejected governing alongside AUR.

Siegfried Muresan, a Romanian European Parliament member from Bolojan’s National Liberal Party, defended the prime minister’s fiscal reform implementation according to coalition agreements.

Bolojan remains “serious about consolidating the budget, reforming the country, and respecting the commitments,” Muresan explained to the Associated Press. “The Socialist Party has now decided all of a sudden not to continue supporting this prime minister, to oppose the reforms and the measures which they all agree to in the coalition.”

Bucharest political analyst Cristian Andrei predicts Romania will probably encounter “a long crisis” following the vote, which “breaks the pro-European coalition and offers the populist party, AUR, a place at the mainstream table.”

“For PSD it’s a power play and a way to get back in touch with and to signal to its former voter base that has migrated toward populist parties,” he explained. “PSD wants to be great again, to regain the status of the party in charge. AUR gains a respectability aura and it shows a strong position in the Parliament, at the same time with PSD moving towards populism at speed.”

Under the original power-sharing arrangement, the prime ministerial role was scheduled to transfer from Bolojan to a PSD leader in 2027, with general elections planned for 2028.

A Swiss court has abandoned corruption charges against the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president, citing her inability to participate in legal proceedings while imprisoned in her home country.

Gulnara Karimova, 53, daughter of the late President Islam Karimov, faced allegations of money laundering and bribery in Switzerland, but the case was dropped Tuesday in Bellinzona just one day after proceedings began.

The presiding judge explained that Uzbek officials confirmed Karimova remains incarcerated and will not gain freedom until completing her full prison term in December 2028. This timeline means the Swiss corruption charges will expire due to statutory time limits before she could stand trial.

Karimova currently serves a 13-year prison sentence in Uzbekistan for leading a criminal organization, extortion, and embezzlement. Her legal troubles began in 2015 with her first conviction, initially allowing her to serve house arrest at her daughter’s residence. However, authorities moved her to prison in 2019 after she violated confinement conditions.

According to Uzbek media outlet Podrobno, Karimova has been detained at a women’s correctional facility near Tashkent, the nation’s capital, since early 2023.

The Swiss investigation focused on an alleged criminal network called “The Office,” involving dozens of individuals and multiple companies accused of bribery and laundering assets valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

While charges against Karimova were dismissed, the trial continues against Swiss private banking institution Lombard Odier and a former staff member. Swiss prosecutors allege these defendants played a “decisive role” in concealing profits from the criminal organization’s operations.

Lombard Odier disputes the allegations, stating the charges involve “organizational shortcomings in prevention measures” rather than direct participation in money laundering activities. The bank maintains it will contest all accusations.

WASHINGTON — King Charles III arrived in the nation’s capital today hoping to strengthen the relationship between Britain and America through formal diplomatic ceremonies, despite recent tensions between the two allies.

The royal visit occurs during a difficult period for US-UK diplomatic relations. President Trump’s rocky relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has deteriorated in recent months as Trump has worked to build international backing for military action in Iran.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will start their Washington schedule with a White House meeting alongside President Trump at 10:35 a.m. ET. Later this afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, the King will make history by speaking to the US Congress — marking the first time a British monarch has done so since his mother Queen Elizabeth II addressed lawmakers in 1991. The day concludes with a formal state dinner at the White House.

An interesting revelation emerged this week when Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper reported that Trump and King Charles share ancestry that would make them 15th cousins. Both men reportedly descend from the 3rd Earl of Lennox, who was a great-grandson of Scotland’s King James II.

“Wow, that’s nice. I’ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Tuesday morning before welcoming the royal couple. “I’ll talk to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!!”

Some members of Congress have called for King Charles to meet with Jeffrey Epstein victims during his American visit. There are no signs he plans to do so, despite the scandal affecting his brother, former Prince Andrew, who was taken into custody in February on misconduct charges that he disputes.

California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna encouraged the King over the weekend to at least mention the matter during his congressional address.

Trump has consistently praised Charles, calling the monarch his “friend” and describing him as a “great guy.”

The President frequently references his “amazing” September visit to Britain with First Lady Melania Trump for an unusual second state visit. Prime Minister Starmer personally delivered the King’s invitation in the Oval Office just five weeks after Trump took office, in a clear effort to court the Republican leader.

During that trip, the British royal family provided elaborate ceremonies for the Trumps, featuring red-uniformed guards, military bands, and an elegant feast at Windsor Castle.

“President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship was further strengthened by the president’s historic visit to the United Kingdom last year,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said to The Associated Press.

Trump’s relationship with Prime Minister Starmer has grown increasingly strained as the President seeks global support for Iranian military operations. Trump criticized Starmer for largely rejecting his appeals, saying he was “no Churchill.”

The President has also placed tariffs on Britain and threatened additional trade penalties, despite a Supreme Court decision earlier this year that complicated such unilateral actions. Just last week, Trump warned he would impose a “big tariff” on the UK unless it eliminates a digital services tax affecting American tech companies.

Trump has more broadly questioned the traditional Atlantic partnership through attempts to acquire Greenland and warnings about leaving NATO. He has repeatedly imposed trade penalties on and criticized Canada, which belongs to the British Commonwealth.

Today’s congressional address will make King Charles III the first British ruler to speak before US lawmakers since Queen Elizabeth II three decades ago. Her 1991 speech emphasized the common heritage of both nations and the significance of their democratic principles — themes Charles is expected to echo today.

Such speaking opportunities are reserved for only the most distinguished international figures, including Pope Francis, Václav Havel, and Winston Churchill. This will likely represent the most significant public statement Charles makes during his four-day American visit celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence from British rule.

The King and Queen Camilla began their day with the White House meeting with Trump. The Oval Office session provides another chance for the spontaneous, sometimes controversial encounters with foreign dignitaries that have characterized Trump’s second presidency.

However, given the traditionally non-political role of British monarchs and Trump’s appreciation for the royal family, the chances of an uncomfortable meeting may be lower.

Trump will welcome Charles this evening for a state banquet at the White House.

American officials and companies finalized agreements worth billions of dollars with southeastern European nations on Tuesday, expanding Washington’s energy footprint in the region while supporting artificial intelligence initiatives.

The partnerships represent America’s strategy to strengthen relationships and challenge Russian energy dominance in southern Europe, building on last year’s long-term liquefied natural gas export arrangement with Greece.

“President Trump is opening a new era of cooperation with southern, and central and eastern Europe,” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters at the Three Seas Initiative business forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

In Albania’s capital of Tirana, U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle formalized a $6 billion, two-decade contract between Venture Global and Aktor LNG USA for liquefied natural gas exports to Albania.

“This commitment strengthens energy security – and national security – across the entire region,” Guilfoyle said on X.

The Albanian agreement coincided with Wright’s endorsement of a partnership between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia to construct a natural gas pipeline. The infrastructure will transport American natural gas from Croatia’s Krk island LNG facility to Bosnia.

This pipeline initiative seeks to diversify Bosnia’s energy portfolio while decreasing dependence on Russian gas supplies. American firm AAFS Infrastructure and Energy LLC will finance and oversee the project, with leadership from Jesse Binnall, a former Trump attorney, and Joseph Flynn, brother of Trump’s previous national security adviser Michael Flynn.

AAFS has committed approximately 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) to fund the pipeline construction.

Additionally, Croatia and the United States released a collaborative statement regarding civilian nuclear energy cooperation.

In a separate development, Croatian engineering firm Rade Koncar partnered with American investment group Pantheon Atlas LLC through a letter of intent for an artificial intelligence development and data center initiative in central Croatia, with an estimated value of 50 billion euros.

The proposed facility would feature 1 gigawatt of power capacity dedicated to AI computing and cloud services, with construction potentially beginning in 2027 and operations launching by 2029, pending necessary permits and electrical grid improvements.

A senior American diplomat expressed optimism Tuesday that Belarus may release additional prisoners in the coming weeks, while suggesting that further sanctions relief could be considered if such releases occur.

Speaking from Warsaw, U.S. Special Envoy John Coale shared his expectations during a phone interview, stating his belief that prisoner releases could happen within the next 30 days.

“I expect that we can get some prisoners released in the next month,” Coale explained to reporters. “And I’ll be going back to facilitate that in the next month. Nothing definite, but probably the next month.”

The envoy’s comments suggest ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Minsk regarding detained individuals, with the possibility of sanctions adjustments tied to any successful prisoner releases.

THE HAGUE – International Criminal Court judges ruled Tuesday that more than 65,000 people harmed by a Malian extremist leader deserve 7.25 million euros ($8.5 million) in reparations. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz played a central role in the religious police that enforced strict Islamic law in Timbuktu during 2012, overseeing public beatings and harsh punishments.

The compensation will primarily take the form of group rehabilitation efforts, including education initiatives, job training, and mental health services, with special focus on women and girls who bore the brunt of Al Hassan’s persecution, court officials announced.

Female residents faced the harshest restrictions under the Islamic police control, as their daily activities were severely monitored and regulated. Women could only venture outside their homes while wearing specific clothing requirements, leading many to develop a fear of leaving their residences, according to the judges’ findings.

Al Hassan received his conviction in June 2024 on eight separate charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but judges determined he lacks the financial means to pay victims directly. The court has requested assistance from its Trust Fund for Victims to finance the compensation package. This fund currently manages reparation payments in five additional ICC cases following convictions.

The defendant received a 10-year prison sentence for his participation in running the Islamic police established by the Ansar Dine extremist organization after militants seized control of the Sahara desert city. Since Al Hassan has already served approximately six years in detention leading up to his conviction, his release is anticipated in the near future.

Court records show Al Hassan either participated in or witnessed numerous public floggings that caused severe psychological trauma to both victims and community members who were forced to watch.

The Trust Fund for Victims has until January to develop an implementation strategy for the compensation program, which requires judicial approval before moving forward.

The ICC serves as the globe’s sole permanent tribunal for war crimes and has been investigating Mali-related incidents since 2012. French and Malian military forces successfully expelled the rebel groups from Timbuktu the year after their takeover.

LONDON – The British government launched an appeal Tuesday to defend its controversial terrorism designation of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian organization, after a court determined the ban violated constitutional rights to free expression.

The activist group, which has conducted operations against Israeli-connected military contractors throughout Britain with special attention to Elbit Systems, Israel’s primary defense manufacturer, received the terrorist classification under anti-terrorism legislation last year.

In February, London’s High Court determined the prohibition was illegal, though the designation continues while the government pursues its appeal, which commenced Tuesday.

Legal representatives for Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood argued before the Court of Appeal that the lower court’s conclusion regarding free speech violations was “overstated and wrong.”

Huda Ammori, Palestine Action’s co-founder who established the organization in 2020 and successfully contested the ban, contends the terrorist designation has created “severe restrictions on the fundamental free speech and assembly rights of vast numbers of people.”

The organization received its terrorist classification following a June incident at RAF Brize Norton air base, where demonstrators broke in and caused damage to two military aircraft.

This designation puts Palestine Action in the same category as Islamic State and al Qaeda, making participation a felony carrying potential sentences up to 14 years imprisonment.

Since the ban took effect, authorities have detained more than 2,700 individuals for displaying Palestine Action support signs, though prosecutors may dismiss these cases if the High Court’s February decision stands.

Following the court’s ruling in February, London’s Metropolitan Police announced a temporary halt to arrests while reassessing their approach, but enforcement resumed this month with over 500 additional arrests.

The High Court’s February decision came shortly after six defendants facing charges related to a 2024 Elbit facility raid were cleared of aggravated burglary accusations.

These same six individuals are currently facing trial for property destruction charges, with one defendant additionally accused of attacking a police officer with a sledgehammer. All defendants have entered not guilty pleas.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates declared Tuesday its intention to withdraw from the OPEC oil cartel and the broader OPEC+ alliance, with the departure taking effect May 1. Industry observers had speculated about this possibility as the Emirates grew frustrated with output limitations and experienced deteriorating ties with Saudi Arabia.

The Emirates had maintained OPEC membership for decades, initially joining through Abu Dhabi in 1967 before continuing as a unified nation following the UAE’s formation in 1971.

However, the UAE has pursued an independent Middle Eastern foreign policy approach that has sometimes conflicted with Saudi positions, especially as the kingdom under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has aggressively competed with the Emirates for international investment opportunities.

The Emirates disclosed its decision through the official WAM news service.

“This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets,” the UAE said.

“Following its exit, the UAE will continue to act responsibly, bringing additional production to market in a gradual and measured manner, aligned with demand and market conditions,” the country added.

Saudi Arabia has traditionally dominated OPEC, the Vienna-headquartered oil organization that has experienced diminished influence as American crude production has expanded in recent years.

Competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has intensified across economic and regional political matters, especially concerning Red Sea affairs. Both nations initially collaborated in a military alliance against Yemen’s Iranian-supported Houthi forces starting in 2015. However, this partnership deteriorated into mutual accusations by late December, when Saudi forces struck what they claimed was an arms shipment destined for UAE-supported Yemeni separatists.

Saudi media companies that had operated from Dubai, the UAE’s commercial center, have also relocated back to the kingdom recently as bilateral relations have soured.

DUBROVNIK, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Two Balkan nations took a major step toward energy independence Tuesday when Croatia and Bosnia finalized an agreement to construct a natural gas pipeline aimed at breaking their dependence on Russian energy sources.

The project, known as the Southern Interconnection pipeline, will connect Bosnia to Croatia’s existing gas infrastructure and a liquefied natural gas facility located on Krk island in the Adriatic Sea. Bosnia has selected AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, a company based in the United States, to serve as the investor and developer for this initiative.

The agreement was formalized by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Borjana Kristo, who chairs Bosnia’s Council of Ministers, with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright witnessing the ceremony. The signing took place during a regional summit involving countries from the Baltic, Black Sea, and Adriatic areas.

Writing on social media, Plenkovic emphasized the pipeline’s role in supply diversification, stating: “We are strengthening energy security and independence … which is especially important in these challenging global circumstances.”

Kristo described the occasion as “a big day for both countries.”

Currently, Bosnia relies almost entirely on Russian gas imports that flow through pipelines crossing neighboring Serbia and Bulgaria via the TurkStream corridor.

According to reports from regional media outlets, the pipeline project could require investments totaling $1.5 billion.

The American delegation also featured Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker, who addressed a panel discussion by explaining how the United States can assist efforts to “reduce energy dependency on Russia and to spur economic growth” throughout the region.

In a related development, investment firm Pantheon Atlas LLC revealed plans to build a massive 50 billion-euro ($58 billion) artificial intelligence data center and innovation facility in Croatia. The company signed a letter of intent with Croatia’s Koncar Group to serve as their local partner.

SAO PAULO – A new survey released Tuesday shows Brazil’s upcoming presidential race could be extremely close, with current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro running virtually even in polling data.

The AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey indicates that in a hypothetical second-round matchup, the conservative challenger Bolsonaro would capture 47.8% of voter support, while the leftist president would earn 47.5%.

This represents a slight shift from March polling, which had shown Bolsonaro at 47.6% compared to Lula’s 46.6%. Another recent survey from BTG Pactual/Nexus released Monday similarly found the two leading candidates in a statistical dead heat.

When looking at potential first-round voting scenarios, the polling data suggests Lula could earn between 44.2% and 46.6% of votes, while Bolsonaro might receive between 39.3% and 39.7%, with exact percentages varying based on which other candidates participate.

Under Brazil’s electoral system, any race where no candidate secures more than half of valid votes triggers a runoff between the top two finishers – a scenario that has occurred in every presidential election since 2002.

The South American nation’s general elections are scheduled for October, and financial markets have been closely monitoring polling trends since December, when former President Jair Bolsonaro – currently under house arrest – threw his support behind his 44-year-old son Flavio.

The 80-year-old Lula, who previously defeated the elder Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, is now pursuing what would be his fourth non-consecutive presidential term.

The AtlasIntel poll questioned 5,008 respondents between April 22 and 27, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An international court has mandated that a militant extremist pay 7.2 million euros ($8.4 million) in compensation to those harmed during his leadership of religious police forces in Mali’s historic city of Timbuktu.

The International Criminal Court’s ruling Tuesday targets Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, who received a 10-year prison sentence in 2024 following his conviction on charges including torture, religious persecution and cruel treatment. Court officials determined he played a central role in brutal control after Islamic militants seized Timbuktu in 2012.

“Mr. Al Hassan, as the person found responsible for the crimes, which caused the harm to the victims, is the person financially liable for the cost of repairing the harm,” Presiding Judge Kimberly Prost said, addressing the courtroom in the Dutch city of The Hague.

However, the tribunal cannot recover funds from the 49-year-old defendant, who was deemed financially unable to pay and required court-appointed legal representation throughout his proceedings.

The Trust Fund for Victims, established by court member nations to distribute compensation, will instead provide reparations to more than 65,000 affected individuals.

“We are one of the many innovations of the Rome Statute,” the fund’s executive director, Deborah Ruiz Verduzco, told The Associated Press.

According to the court’s founding document, the Rome Statute, the fund “responds to the harm resulting from the crimes under the jurisdiction.”

Ruiz Verduzco oversees 24 staff members responsible for supporting victims and families, creating programs in violence-affected communities and securing financial backing for their mission.

Throughout its twenty-year history, the trust fund has collected money directly from convicted individuals in just one instance.

“Substantial fundraising will need to take place,” Prost said.

Member nations provide most funding, though the organization also welcomes private contributions. Germany donated 40,000 euros ($46,000) in March, while Sweden and the Netherlands serve as primary supporters.

Court officials determine compensation distribution methods while seeking input from affected parties through their legal representatives and the trust fund.

For Al Hassan’s case, compensation will fund “socio-economic support, educational programs or trainings and psychological support,” the ruling states. Initiatives should prioritize women and girls, who experienced particularly severe treatment under extremist control.

Malian communities have previously received assistance. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi admitted guilt and faced conviction in 2016 for demolishing historic burial sites in Timbuktu. The trust fund launched building restoration efforts in 2021.

Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger have confronted more than ten years of insurgent violence from armed organizations, including groups affiliated with al-Qaida and Islamic State. After recent military takeovers in all three countries, new governments have removed French troops and sought security assistance from Russian mercenary forces.

Tuesday’s announcement follows recent large-scale coordinated attacks in Mali by an alliance of al-Qaida-affiliated militants and separatist groups, marking the biggest such offensive in more than a decade.

WARSAW, Poland — A well-known journalist who spent three years behind bars in Belarus has walked free following an international prisoner exchange involving 10 people, according to officials from multiple countries who announced the development Tuesday.

Andrzej Poczobut, who writes for Poland’s major newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and serves as a prominent voice for Belarus’s Polish community, had been sentenced to eight years in prison in what critics called a politically driven prosecution.

Authorities arrested Poczobut in 2021, sparking condemnation across Europe. The European Union later honored him with the Sakharov Prize, its highest human rights recognition.

The prisoner release represents another example of U.S.-brokered exchanges that have characterized improving ties between Belarus’s capital and Western governments since President Trump began his second presidency.

According to a Polish Foreign Ministry representative, Belarus freed five prisoners, with three traveling to Poland in return for three individuals Poland sent to Belarus. The broader exchange involved additional nations and totaled 10 people.

Earlier this year in March, Belarus’s leader Alexander Lukashenko authorized the freedom of 250 political detainees as part of an agreement with Washington that resulted in the lifting of certain American sanctions.

Belarus, which maintains close ties with Russia, has endured years of international isolation. Lukashenko has controlled the country of 9.5 million people with authoritarian rule for over thirty years, facing repeated Western sanctions for human rights violations and for permitting Moscow to launch its 2022 Ukraine invasion from Belarusian soil.

On the social media platform X, John Coale, Trump’s special representative for Belarus, confirmed that three Polish citizens and two Moldovan nationals gained their freedom through the exchange.

“We thank Poland, Moldova, and Romania for their invaluable support in this effort, as well as President Lukashenka’s willingness to pursue constructive engagement with the United States,” Coale posted.

PARIS – What typically amounts to a mundane parliamentary procedure has been converted into a divisive political theater, providing France’s far-right movement with an unexpected opportunity to launch a cultural battle against state-funded television and radio networks.

The investigation is being spearheaded by Charles Alloncle, a 32-year-old politician allied with National Rally leader Jordan Bardella, who has converted the process into a compelling clash between far-right parliamentary members and media organizations they’ve long claimed show political favoritism.

Through his confrontational questioning of well-known reporters, celebrity hosts and top-level management – while sharing attention-grabbing clips across social platforms – Alloncle has generated remarkable public interest and positioned himself as an emerging figure within the far-right movement.

With the six-month investigation into France’s 4-billion-euro annual public broadcasting system nearing completion, media experts and politicians predict its influence will extend far beyond the actual hearings.

They caution that the inquiry has contributed to undermining confidence in public media and established a foundation for the National Rally’s (RN) commitment to sell off the industry should they gain control in the 2027 elections.

RN leadership has enjoyed directing attention toward public broadcasters that have historically examined the far right and its media supporters closely.

For Alloncle, who currently serves with a faction of former conservatives now supporting the RN, the potential reward could include a ministerial position in a future far-right administration, according to RN insiders.

“He really did the job,” RN lawmaker Renault Matthias told Reuters. “It’s part of a culture war. Privatising public broadcasting is in our manifesto, so this serves our programme.”

FINANCIAL CRITICISMS CONNECT WITH VOTERS

Opponents argue the investigation has exceeded typical parliamentary supervision, drawing parallels to assaults by Britain’s conservative parties against the BBC surrounding the Brexit vote.

Although initial questions concentrated on supposed editorial prejudice, the focus moved toward expenses, employing cherry-picked instances and unsubstantiated suggestions to diminish public backing for government-funded media, according to critics.

“The strategy is not so much to debate editorial bias, but to hammer home the message that it ‘costs too much’,” said Erwan Balanant, a centrist lawmaker on the committee. “It’s a very effective way of destroying the legitimacy of public broadcasting.”

Alloncle highlighted a 60,000 euro payment made to actress Virginie Efira for hosting the 2022 Cannes Film Festival opening ceremony – a standard amount by global measures – as evidence of what he characterized as wasteful expenditure by public broadcasters.

He additionally disclosed the total sum the public broadcaster paid for the festival’s broadcast rights – confidential business information that private rivals could exploit to submit lower bids in future negotiations.

When the investigation began in December, surveys indicated 70% of French citizens held positive views of public broadcasting. However, Alloncle’s budget-centered messaging has gained traction during a period of economic strain.

During Reuters’ conversation with Alloncle near parliament, a pedestrian approached to praise him. “Keep up the good work,” the man said.

Alloncle informed Reuters he entered politics from the financial industry after encountering Bardella at a tech conference. He was subsequently selected as a candidate through an agreement between the RN and a smaller coalition ally.

He offered no regrets for his aggressive approach, which he attributed to toughness developed in business rather than politics. He stated his only objective was enforcing French media regulations that ensure diverse political perspectives.

“That means making sure public broadcasters do not chronically under-represent the RN, but also, say, the hard-left party France Unbowed,” he said.

CONCERNS ABOUT BOLLORE’S MEDIA INFLUENCE

Alloncle’s narrative has received support from conservative Catholic billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s media conglomerate, which stands to gain from any privatization of state media. His properties – including CNews, Journal du Dimanche and Europe 1 – have provided substantial coverage of the investigation and Alloncle’s public appearances.

Several lawmakers claim Bolloré’s media division, Lagardère News holding, went beyond coverage – alleging it distributed suggested question lists reflecting what they characterized as an antagonistic stance toward public broadcasters.

“It was a clear case of interference, and I told them to stop,” the inquiry’s chair, centrist lawmaker Jeremie Patrier-Leitus told Reuters, confirming an earlier Le Monde report.

Neither Lagardère News nor Alloncle responded to requests for comment regarding the question lists.

Media historian Alexis Lévrier views the situation as demonstrating a wider alignment between media ownership and political influence. “It’s a political and media empire aspiring to wield power in 2027,” he said.

During his testimony before the same investigation last month, Bolloré rejected any coordination with Alloncle. “I had never seen him before today,” Bolloré told lawmakers. “But he seems very likeable — and very effective.”

A journalist of Polish descent has been freed from a Belarusian prison through a prisoner exchange conducted at the border between the two nations on Tuesday.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the release of Andrzej Poczobut, who holds both Polish and Belarusian citizenship, on social media. “Andrzej Poczobut is free! Welcome to your Polish home, my friend,” Tusk wrote on social media platform X, posting a picture of himself with the journalist of Polish origin.

The exchange involved five prisoners from each country, according to Belarus’s state-run news agency Belta.

Poczobut had been behind bars since his arrest in March 2021. A Belarusian court handed him an eight-year prison sentence in 2023 after convicting him of inciting ethnic hostility and undermining Belarusian security.

Polish officials have consistently maintained that the accusations against Poczobut were unfair and driven by political motives.

Poland has served as a safe haven for critics and dissidents fleeing the authoritarian rule of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The country has also emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies following Russia’s full-scale military assault on Ukraine that began in 2022, with Russia being Belarus’s primary partner.

LONDON – British authorities announced Tuesday they are examining a suspected arson incident targeting a memorial wall located in Golders Green, a north London neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, following a series of recent incidents throughout the capital city.

The Metropolitan Police of London confirmed that Counter Terror Policing units are spearheading the inquiry, although officials clarified the case is not being classified as terrorism-related.

Authorities reported that no individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, and the memorial wall itself sustained no damage from the attack.

“We recognise that this incident will heighten concerns in the Golders Green area, where residents have already faced a series of attacks,” stated Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams.

During the past month, counter terrorism investigators have taken more than two dozen individuals into custody as part of ongoing probes into assaults on Jewish-affiliated properties, including an incident on March 23 where ambulances owned by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer emergency service, were set ablaze in Golders Green.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted more than 33,000 Russian drones of different varieties during March, marking the highest monthly total since Moscow began its full-scale invasion over four years ago, according to Ukraine’s defense minister.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian-manufactured long-range attack drones targeted a Russian oil refinery and terminal along the Black Sea coast for the third occasion in under two weeks, leading to precautionary evacuations of area residents.

The nation has created advanced and combat-proven drone technology that has become vital for defending against Russia’s larger military force and has attracted military attention from nations worldwide.

Ukrainian officials report that Middle Eastern and Gulf nations are now seeking interceptor drones as components of comprehensive air defense systems due to ongoing conflicts involving Iran.

Ukraine continues expanding its supply of interceptor drones to counter Russian aerial assaults, with the military establishing a new command structure within the air force to enhance the nation’s defensive abilities, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced in a Monday evening Telegram post.

Ukrainian offensive capabilities have similarly advanced, with the Defense Ministry announcing Tuesday that the country’s forces have more than doubled their deep-strike range since Russia’s February 2022 invasion began.

Initially, Ukrainian forces could engage military targets approximately 630 kilometers (400 miles) away, the ministry stated. Current operations now reach targets roughly 1,750 kilometers (1,100 miles) behind enemy lines, according to the ministry’s statement.

This enhanced capability has enabled Ukraine to target Russian oil facilities that generate essential funding for Moscow’s military operations. Ukrainian forces have also struck manufacturing facilities supplying Russia’s armed forces.

Ukraine hit a Russian oil refinery at the Black Sea port of Tuapse for the third time this month through a coordinated operation involving multiple defense and security service branches, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces announced Tuesday.

The two previous strikes this month eliminated 24 oil storage tanks and damaged four additional tanks, according to the report.

Independent confirmation of these claims was not available.

Residents living near the Tuapse refinery underwent evacuation Tuesday, stated Krasnodar Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev. He provided no specifics regarding evacuation numbers or duration.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted 186 Ukrainian drones overnight across Russian regions, annexed Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas.

In the border region of Belgorod adjacent to Ukraine, three individuals died and three others sustained injuries in a drone strike, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported.

Russian drone strikes on Ukraine resulted in three civilian deaths and five injuries, Ukrainian authorities confirmed.

Two fatalities occurred in Chuhuiv city within the northeastern Kharkiv region, reported regional military administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

A 40-year-old man perished and five other men were injured in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

An additional Russian assault on Konotop in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region disrupted the city’s electrical and water services.

ATHENS, Greece — Greek police launched a manhunt Tuesday after an elderly shooter attacked two government buildings in downtown Athens, injuring multiple victims with a shotgun. Media reports identified the suspect as an 89-year-old man.

The violence began at a social security office in central Athens, where authorities say the armed suspect shot and wounded a worker. Emergency responders provided medical care to the victim before the shooter escaped the scene.

The same individual later targeted a courthouse in a different area of downtown Athens, where additional people were injured, according to police. Officers recovered the shotgun used in both incidents.

Video from Greece’s state television network ERT captured paramedics loading at least three victims from the courthouse into ambulances for transport to area hospitals.

Authorities have not determined what motivated the attacks. ERT reported that the gunman scattered envelopes containing documents across the courthouse floor following the second shooting, suggesting they explained his reasons for the violence.

Alexandros Varveris, who leads the National Social Security Fund (EFKA), described how the attacker entered the Kerameikos district office and climbed to the fourth floor before opening fire. The gunman concealed his weapon beneath a trench coat and warned one worker to take cover before shooting another employee in the leg.

“He went in, went up to the fourth floor, raised his shotgun, told an employee to duck and hit another one,” Varveris explained during an ERT radio interview. The official noted that the shooter did not appear to deliberately target the specific employee he wounded.

Medical personnel transported the injured worker to a hospital after police applied emergency first aid, including a tourniquet, at the scene.

Such violent incidents remain uncommon in Greece, where citizens may own firearms but face strict government regulations.

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean appeals court has extended the prison term for Kim Keon Hee, spouse of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, increasing her sentence from 20 months to four years on corruption-related charges. This development comes roughly two months following her husband’s life sentence for rebellion.

Kim, the former first lady, initially received a 20-month prison sentence in January from a district court after being found guilty of accepting luxury items, including a diamond necklace from Graff and a Chanel handbag, from the Unification Church in exchange for pledges of political influence. At that time, she was cleared of charges related to stock manipulation that allegedly occurred before her tenure as first lady.

Following appeals from both sides, the Seoul High Court on Tuesday extended her imprisonment to four years after finding her guilty of accepting an additional Chanel bag from the religious organization and the stock manipulation allegations.

The presidential pair experienced a steep decline after Yoon’s December 2024 martial law declaration triggered his impeachment and ultimate removal from the presidency. Yoon now confronts multiple criminal proceedings stemming from his martial law actions and additional controversies. Authorities have stated that Kim played no role in her husband’s martial law implementation.

The Seoul High Court emphasized that as a first lady, being in the closest position to a president, Kim represents the nation alongside her spouse and wields considerable influence over him. The court determined that Kim disappointed public trust expectations and instead leveraged her prominent position to obtain gifts from the Unification Church.

Kim and the independent prosecutor have seven days to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, South Korea’s highest judicial authority. Independent prosecutor Min Joong-ki’s team had previously sought a 15-year sentence, while Kim’s legal representatives have contended that Min’s probe was politically motivated.

Kim has remained in custody since August when the Seoul district court granted an arrest warrant, citing concerns she might tamper with evidence. During Yoon’s presidency, Kim became entangled in multiple controversies that damaged her husband’s public approval and gave his political opponents continuous ammunition.

On December 3, 2024, Yoon, representing the conservative faction, suddenly imposed martial law and deployed military and law enforcement to the National Assembly, claiming his goal was to eliminate “anti-state forces” and “shameless North Korea sympathizers.” He has justified his actions as a last-resort effort to gain public backing in his conflict with the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which blocked his legislative priorities.

In February, the Seoul Central District Court convicted Yoon of rebellion for illegally deploying military and police forces in an attempt to take control of the Assembly, detain political adversaries, and establish unlimited authority for an undetermined duration.

A controversial bill allowing physician-assisted death in England and Wales has been rejected by the United Kingdom’s House of Lords. The proposed legislation would have permitted terminally ill individuals to end their lives with medical assistance.

Advocates for the measure have announced plans to reintroduce the bill during the upcoming summer legislative session, though they acknowledge the procedural challenges ahead will be complex.

The proposal faces considerable resistance from both the general public and pro-life organizations. Critics cite evidence from other European nations where similar laws have been enacted, noting significant increases in suicide rates following legalization of the practice.

Nearly eight weeks have passed, yet Rabih Khreiss struggles to accept his drastically changed circumstances.

The 45-year-old mechanic once supported his nine children through his automotive repair business in southern Lebanon, but now finds himself barely getting by while living in a makeshift tent in Lebanon’s capital city.

The Khreiss family joined countless others who evacuated their home community of Khiyam during the early morning hours of March 2nd, after receiving word that Hezbollah militants had launched attacks against Israel, marking the beginning of renewed warfare.

As a seasoned resident, Khreiss quickly realized that Israeli forces would likely respond with airstrikes against southern Lebanese communities and immediately moved his family to safety, taking only what they wore.

His prediction proved accurate as bombing commenced almost immediately. However, Khreiss never anticipated that nearly eight weeks later, his family would remain on Beirut’s streets as fighting continues, surviving solely through charitable assistance.

“I feel like my children and I are prisoners in a room, sentenced to life imprisonment. But when will relief come so we can get out of this life sentence? No one knows,” said Khreiss.

Each morning, the family awakens inside shelters constructed from wooden supports and plastic sheeting that shake ominously during strong winds. Without access to proper bathing facilities, they wash using plastic containers and clean their clothing by hand.

Adding to their hardships, Khreiss’s elderly sister who lives with the family battles cancer but has difficulty accessing medical treatment.

“We’re living in tents, not knowing where these days will take us. We start thinking, ‘if only we could wake up and win the lottery so we could get out of this mess’,” Khreiss said.

Even with a United States-mediated truce in place, Israeli military operations have continued throughout Lebanon while forces maintain control over portions of the southern region, demolishing structures they claim serve as Hezbollah facilities.

This includes regular controlled explosions in Khiyam, which has been almost completely leveled and abandoned by its previous population of approximately 10,000 residents.

Hezbollah forces have maintained their offensive operations against Israeli soldiers stationed in Lebanon and continue targeting northern Israeli territory.

Both Israeli and Hezbollah representatives claim the opposing side has violated the ceasefire agreement, which received signatures from Israeli and Lebanese government officials but not directly from Hezbollah leadership.

The persistent violence has intensified feelings of hopelessness among many Lebanese citizens, especially the 1.2 million displaced individuals who expected the ceasefire would enable their homecoming but instead remain permanently blocked from southern regions.

“Khiyam is my town, my region, my land, my home, my work, my people, my loved ones, everything. Of course, all my memories are in Khiyam. I miss everything about it,” said Khreiss, describing his community situated among rolling hills and agricultural areas including olive orchards.

During the previous Hezbollah-Israel conflict in 2024, one of Khreiss’s older sons suffered the loss of an eye when an Israeli attack struck their Khiyam residence. Khreiss personally extracted his children from the debris and recalls aging “years” during that single hour.

His repair shop sustained damage during that earlier conflict. Nevertheless, he returned and reconstructed his business, though he remains uncertain whether his workshop or residence survived the current destruction.

Khreiss worries that stress about his children’s prospects might cause him to suffer a stroke. He contemplates selling his vehicle if employment opportunities don’t materialize.

“It’s showing in my children that they’ve never known joy or happiness, never been to an amusement park, never had fun like other children,” he said.

“I brought them into this world, and I have to take responsibility for them and secure their future. But circumstances have forced me to do nothing for them. There’s nothing I can do.”

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government has unveiled new draft legislation targeting major social media platforms with a revenue-based tax designed to support local journalism funding.

Officials released the proposed bill on Tuesday, planning to present it to Parliament before July 2nd. The legislation would establish financial pressure on companies like Meta, Google, and TikTok to negotiate compensation agreements with news publishers for journalistic content.

The social media companies have criticized the initiative, calling it a misguided “digital services tax” that fails to recognize changes in the advertising landscape and won’t create long-term sustainability for news organizations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the importance of compensating journalists for their work during a press conference.

“It shouldn’t just be able to be taken by a large multinational corporation and used to generate profits for that organisation with no compensation appropriate for the people who produce that creative content,” Albanese told reporters.

“We think that investment in journalism is critical to a healthy democracy,” he added.

This represents Australia’s second legislative effort to require these platforms to compensate for Australian news content and imagery consumed by their users.

Previously, the 2021 News Media Bargaining Code had pressured digital companies to establish payment agreements with Australian news publishers rather than face mandatory arbitration proceedings.

Initially, the platforms opted to negotiate commercial agreements with content creators to avoid court-mandated pricing. However, they subsequently discontinued these arrangements by eliminating news content from their platforms entirely.

Under the new News Bargaining Incentive proposal, major platforms that refuse to establish commercial agreements with news publishers would face a 2.25% tax on their Australian earnings.

Companies would receive tax reductions and lower overall expenses if they choose to compensate publishers for journalism, according to government officials.

Australian authorities anticipate the incentive could generate between 200 to 250 million Australian dollars ($144 million-$179 million) annually. This amount roughly matches what platforms previously paid news outlets when the original News Media Bargaining Code was most effective.

Communication Minister Anika Wells explained that the government would allocate these funds to news organizations based on their journalist employment numbers.

The tax would target Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram’s parent company), Google (owned by Alphabet Inc.), and TikTok (majority-owned by U.S.-backed investors).

Meta strongly opposed the proposed legislation, stating that news organizations “voluntarily post content on our platforms because they receive value from doing so.”

“The idea that we take their news content is simply wrong. This proposed legislation, which would apply to platforms regardless of whether news content even appears on our services, is nothing more than a digital services tax,” Meta said in a statement.

“A government-mandated transfer of wealth from one industry to another, with no connection to the value exchanged, will not deliver a sustainable or innovative news sector. Instead, it will create a news industry dependent on a government-administered subsidy scheme,” Meta added.

Google responded by saying “we reject the need for this tax.”

“It ignores the fact that Google already has commercial agreements with the news industry, misunderstands how the ad market changed and mandates payments from some companies while arbitrarily excluding platforms like Microsoft, Snapchat and OpenAI — despite the major shift in how people consume news,” a Google statement said.

TikTok had not provided an immediate response to requests for comment.

All three targeted platforms are American companies. U.S. critics have previously argued that Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code unfairly burdened American corporations.

Albanese dismissed concerns about potential U.S. government opposition to the measure.

“We’re a sovereign nation and my government will make decisions based upon the Australian national interest,” Albanese said.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, April 28 – During a diplomatic meeting in Brunei on Tuesday, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas encouraged Southeast Asian nations to avoid purchasing Russian oil as they navigate fuel supply challenges stemming from Middle East conflicts.

Earlier this month, the EU implemented new sanctions targeting Russia, which included stricter limitations on oil commerce, as part of efforts to weaken Moscow’s financial capacity to continue its military operations in Ukraine.

According to Kallas, Russia has gained advantages from the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has resulted in the practical shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz – a crucial shipping lane that handles approximately 20 percent of global oil transportation and other essential commodities.

“Just let me remind you that the oil revenues are the revenues that Russia is using to fund this war (in Ukraine). We have an interest that this war stops,” she stated to journalists following her discussions with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“That’s why we are, of course, advocating for diversifying resources and finding them elsewhere, not from Russia,” Kallas added.

The EU diplomat did not clarify whether this topic was specifically discussed during her formal meetings with ASEAN officials.

According to previous Reuters reporting from last month, several Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, have been exploring increased oil purchases from Russia.

ACCRA, April 28 – Armed attackers ambushed a Ghanaian military convoy escorting 140 civilians through the northern town of Binduri on Monday, leaving three civilians dead and one wounded, according to military officials.

The convoy was traveling through Ghana’s Upper East Region from Bawku toward Bolga when unknown gunmen launched multiple attacks on the vehicles, military authorities reported in an official statement.

Binduri sits near the violence-plagued town of Bawku, where ongoing ethnic tensions between the Mamprusi and Kusasi communities have centered around disputes over traditional leadership appointments in the region.

This ethnic conflict has claimed over 300 lives since 2021, with the bloodshed now extending beyond Bawku’s city limits into surrounding areas like Binduri.

Local authorities had previously implemented nighttime curfews in Binduri Township starting in March 2025, which were lifted in February 2026 after security conditions showed signs of improvement.

Military personnel fought back against Monday’s assault, fatally shooting seven of the attackers, according to army officials. Following the confrontation, troops seized a G3 automatic rifle, two loaded magazines containing 20 rounds each, and an additional 176 rounds of ammunition from a suspect who had sought refuge in a local mosque.

Authorities have taken ten additional suspects into custody, who are now cooperating with ongoing investigations into the attack, military sources confirmed.

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister announced Tuesday that the country stands ready to transfer its defensive military technology to allied nations, particularly those belonging to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, according to reports from Iranian state media.

Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik made the announcement during a defense ministers’ meeting in Kyrgyzstan’s capital city. The statement follows a two-month military confrontation between Iran and both the United States and Israel that stretched from late February through early April.

During that conflict, Iranian forces deployed multiple waves of unmanned drones and missile strikes targeting American military installations throughout the region and Israeli locations. Iran also successfully intercepted various U.S. aircraft, mostly drones, that entered Iranian airspace during the hostilities.

“We are ready to share the experiences of America’s defeat with other members of the organisation,” Talaei-Nik stated during the SCO defense ministers’ gathering.

The Iranian defense official has recently conducted discussions with military leaders from Russia and Belarus, with both Moscow and Minsk expressing their commitment to maintaining collaborative relationships with Tehran.

While a ceasefire declaration earlier this month has temporarily suspended the two-month military confrontation, diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving a permanent resolution to the conflict have reached an impasse.

Iran has identified underwater internet cables running through the Strait of Hormuz as potential targets, sparking worries about threats to critical digital infrastructure that keeps the global internet running.

This strategic waterway, already crucial for worldwide oil transport, serves as an equally important pathway for digital communications. Multiple fiber-optic cables run along the ocean floor through the strait, linking nations from India and Southeast Asia to Europe through Gulf nations and Egypt.

These underwater cables carry approximately 99% of global internet traffic, according to the International Telecommunication Union, the UN’s digital technology agency. The cables also transport telecommunications signals and electrical power between nations, making them essential for cloud computing services and online communications worldwide.

“Damaged cables mean the internet slowing down or outages, e-commerce disruptions, delayed financial transactions … and economic fallout from all of these disruptions,” explained geopolitical and energy analyst Masha Kotkin.

Gulf nations, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have poured billions into artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure as they work to reduce their dependence on oil revenues. Both countries have created national AI companies serving regional customers — all depending on these underwater cables for high-speed data transmission.

Key cable systems passing through the Strait of Hormuz include the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1), which links Southeast Asia to Europe through Egypt with connection points in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The FALCON network connects India and Sri Lanka to Gulf states, Sudan, and Egypt. The Gulf Bridge International Cable System links all Gulf nations, including Iran. Several additional networks are currently being built, including one led by Qatar’s Ooredoo.

While submarine cable length has expanded significantly from 2014 to 2025, cable failures have held steady at approximately 150-200 incidents annually, according to the International Cable Protection Committee. Though state-sponsored sabotage remains a concern, 70-80% of cable damage results from accidental human activities, mainly fishing operations and ship anchors.

Additional threats include ocean currents, seismic activity, underwater volcanic activity, and severe storms, noted Alan Mauldin, research director at telecommunications research company TeleGeography. The industry mitigates these dangers by burying cables, adding protective armor, and choosing safer routes.

The Iran conflict, now approaching its second month, has caused unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies and regional infrastructure, including damage to Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain and the UAE. The submarine cables have remained undamaged thus far.

However, an indirect threat exists from damaged ships accidentally striking cables while dragging anchors.

“In a situation of active military operations, the risk of unintentional damage increases, and the longer this conflict lasts, the higher the likelihood of unintentional damage,” Kotkin stated. A comparable incident happened in 2024 when a commercial ship attacked by Iran-backed Houthis drifted in the Red Sea and cut cables with its anchor.

The extent to which cable damage might affect connectivity in Gulf countries depends heavily on individual network operators’ reliance on them and available backup options, according to TeleGeography.

Fixing damaged cables in war zones presents unique challenges beyond simply protecting them. While the actual repair work isn’t extremely complex, repair ship owners and insurance companies may hesitate due to risks from combat or mines, experts explain.

Getting permission to enter territorial waters creates another complication. “Often one of the biggest problems with doing repairs is you have to get permits into the waters where the damage is. That can take a long time sometimes and can be the biggest source (of problems),” Mauldin explained.

After conflicts end, industry operators must also re-examine the sea floor to identify safe cable locations and avoid ships or debris that may have sunk during fighting.

While potential submarine cable damage wouldn’t cause complete connectivity loss due to land-based connections, experts agree that satellite systems cannot serve as adequate replacements since they cannot manage the same traffic volume and cost significantly more.

“It’s not as though you could just switch to satellite. That’s not an alternative,” Mauldin emphasized, explaining that satellites depend on ground-based network connections and work better for mobile applications like aircraft and ships.

Low-Earth-orbit systems like Starlink represent “a boutique solution, which is not scalable to millions of users, at this time,” Kotkin added.

A South Korean appeals court on Tuesday handed down a four-year prison term to Kim Keon Hee, the country’s former First Lady, following her conviction on charges of stock manipulation and accepting bribes.

The Tuesday ruling represented an increase from her previous sentence, as the appeals court decided to impose harsher punishment for the financial crimes.

Kim Keon Hee faced charges related to illegally manipulating stock prices and receiving bribes during her time in the public spotlight.

German military officials have ruled out working with American defense technology firm Palantir, citing national security concerns about data access, according to statements made to a German business publication.

Thomas Daum, who oversees cyber defense operations for Germany’s armed forces, told Handelsblatt newspaper that such partnerships are not being considered currently. “I don’t see that happening at all at the moment,” Daum stated in the publication’s Tuesday edition.

The military official explained that while German forces recognize the potential benefits of the company’s database capabilities, security protocols prevent such collaboration. “As much as we are interested in the functionality for our own database, it is simply inconceivable at the moment to grant industry staff access to the national database,” Daum explained.

This decision comes as Palantir has secured significant contracts with the U.S. military. Last month, reports indicated that the company’s artificial intelligence technology had been formally adopted by the Pentagon for long-term use, particularly for weapons-targeting applications across American military branches.

German military leaders have been exploring artificial intelligence solutions to process battlefield information more quickly than traditional human analysis methods allow.

Rescue operations have concluded following a devastating train accident near Jakarta, Indonesia, with officials confirming 14 fatalities and 84 people wounded in the collision.

The tragic incident occurred Monday evening in Bekasi, located just outside Indonesia’s capital, when a commuter train and a long-distance train crashed into each other.

PT KAI, Indonesia’s state railway company, confirmed through CEO Bobby Rasyidin that the death count had reached 14 people.

Mohammad Syafii, who leads Indonesia’s search and rescue operations, announced Tuesday that all evacuation efforts had wrapped up. He described the complex nature of freeing passengers who were stuck inside the destroyed train cars.

“We needed to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” Syafii explained, noting that while no additional passengers remain to be found, rescue workers will continue searching the debris for any remaining body parts.

The crash’s most severe damage occurred to a car designated exclusively for female passengers. According to Syafii, every person who died was a woman, with the majority crushed beneath twisted metal.

Emergency responders used specialized cutting equipment, including angle grinders, to slice through the metal compartments and reach those who survived before separating the trains.

Railway executive Bobby explained during a news briefing that the sequence of events began when the commuter train struck a taxi positioned on the railway tracks, followed by the long-distance train hitting the commuter train.

Green SM Indonesia, the taxi company involved, confirmed through social media that one of their vehicles was part of the accident. The company stated it provided information to investigators to help with their inquiry.

The taxi service operates as the Indonesian division of Green and Smart Mobility JSC, a Vietnamese electric vehicle company connected to Vingroup.

Following a visit to a Bekasi medical facility, President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to construct an overpass near the railway to address severe traffic problems in the area. He also promised a thorough investigation into the accident and acknowledged that significant portions of the country’s rail system lack proper maintenance.

The crash is currently under review by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee.

Family members and concerned individuals gathered at the train station Tuesday, many searching for missing relatives.

Heriyati, who was traveling on the train, shared that she had originally planned to board the women’s car but chose the one directly behind it instead. She was speaking with her husband by phone, arranging for him to collect her from the station, when the collision happened.

“I haven’t even finished with the call and the trains collided,” she recalled.

The commuter rail system serves as one of Jakarta’s busiest transportation networks in what ranks as the world’s most populated urban area. PT KAI announced that several commuter routes were shortened Tuesday due to the crash aftermath.

Adriansyah Yasin Sulaeman, who holds an executive position at the Forum Transport for Jakarta research organization, emphasized the need for government investment in upgrading the deteriorating railway infrastructure. He specifically recommended creating separate tracks for express long-distance services and local commuter trains.

“These commuter trains are a symbol for the working class,” Sulaeman stated. “It’s a big alarm for the government to seriously improve it.”

Transportation accidents involving land vehicles occur frequently throughout Indonesia. A separate train accident in West Java province during 2024 resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries.

War-displaced civilians who sought safety in a remote South Sudan village have been cut off from critical humanitarian assistance by their own government, despite mounting casualties, according to witnesses and relief organizations.

The Associated Press interviewed individuals who recently escaped to Nyatim, a community surrounded by marshland. They reported severe food shortages and contaminated water sources in such an isolated location that satellite internet was their only means of requesting emergency help.

However, when humanitarian workers contacted South Sudan’s leadership requesting permission to provide emergency supplies, officials refused. Even reports indicating dozens had perished, some apparently from hunger, failed to change their decision.

“It was a ‘no’ from local and national authorities and from the military,” said Yashovardhan, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan, who goes by one name. “Meanwhile, people are eating leaves and roots to survive.”

The U.N. World Food Program, typically cautious about addressing this ongoing issue in South Sudan, confirmed to the AP that authorities had prevented their assistance despite “numerous engagements with both national and local authorities,” according to the agency’s country director, Adham Effendi.

This pattern has repeated throughout South Sudan’s history, where citizens battled for independence from Sudan before civil conflict erupted internally. Whichever faction controls relief supplies stands accused of preventing the opposition from accessing them, leaving ordinary people to bear the consequences.

Current violence has escalated since Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir’s longtime political adversary, was removed from his position as first vice president and placed under house detention for alleged conspiracy last year. These leaders commanded rival armies during a brutal civil conflict that claimed approximately 400,000 lives before a 2018 peace accord established their unstable coalition government.

Last December, opposition troops supporting Machar captured military installations in Jonglei state. Government armies retaliated the next month.

On February 7, government soldiers approached Lankien town’s perimeter, where days before an air assault had targeted a Doctors Without Borders medical facility. Local residents described heavy weapons fire before troops invaded the settlement using armored vehicles.

Thomas Nim was among the evacuees. Accompanied by his expecting wife, three young children, and elderly mother, they navigated through wetlands, praying soldiers wouldn’t pursue them.

They joined many others who eventually reached Nyatim, roughly one day’s journey on foot.

“Some of the most vulnerable, like the elderly and children, ended up in Nyatim because they couldn’t make it any farther,” said Nim, a 43-year-old pharmacist.

As time went on and fatalities began occurring due to hunger and contaminated water, he requested assistance. Yet no help arrived.

Gatkhor Dual, an opposition representative managing relief efforts in Jonglei state, pointed to county commissioner James Bol Makuei for preventing humanitarian access. Makuei refuses aid to reach individuals who “support the opposition,” Dual explained, particularly when they’re located near government-controlled territories.

Makuei confirmed that entry to Nyatim had been limited but argued that population estimates of displaced persons — 30,000 according to Doctors Without Borders — were inflated. He charged South Sudan’s primary opposition movement, identified by its acronym SPLM-IO, with keeping civilians in Nyatim to draw aid and establish a strategic position near the county’s government center.

Nim, the pharmacist, insisted no opposition fighters were present in the region.

Worries about aid misappropriation have historical basis. Armed factions in South Sudan, including government forces, have extensively redirected humanitarian resources for military use. During recent Jonglei fighting, combatants ransacked more than two dozen humanitarian-operated medical centers, the U.N. reported.

Doctors Without Borders indicated it initially contacted authorities about Nyatim on February 22. The organization made another appeal on March 3 after receiving death reports. By March’s end, the medical organization released a public statement highlighting their efforts.

Providing assistance in South Sudan presents constant challenges. Transportation networks are inadequate. Water-based transport, when possible, faces attack risks. Official authorization remains mandatory.

The humanitarian emergency has worsened significantly. In March, more than half of over 1,000 children examined by Doctors Without Borders in Chuil, where South Sudan’s government has permitted humanitarian entry, showed severe malnutrition.

Relief workers face overwhelming demands. During February, Doctors Without Borders expanded a four-bed clinic to 60 beds, then 80. The facility is now expanding to accommodate 100 patients.

Meanwhile, some people are abandoning isolated Nyatim and returning to destroyed homes.

“People are returning to their homes,” said one of them, Koang Pajok. “There was no food and shelter.”

Unable to access the region through ground or water routes, the World Food Program has conducted airdrops of 415 metric tons of food supplies to Chuil since March, country director Effendi reported.

However, as civilians arrive seeking help, armed young men carrying assault rifles also appear. Some residents fear this could make Chuil a military target.

During an April morning, an aircraft circling above created nervous spectators.

“It’s a surveillance plane,” said Gal Wai Tut, who had reached the area days earlier with his wife and infant child. He remembered observing a similar aircraft over Lankien on the day he claimed a December bombing killed at least 11 civilians.

An elderly man warned against clustering together, explaining that groups are more vulnerable to attack.

Security fears are mounting across Colombia as insurgent forces have launched a devastating campaign of violence just weeks before the nation’s May presidential election.

Since Friday, militant groups have carried out more than 24 violent strikes targeting both civilian populations and government military installations throughout Colombia’s southwestern regions.

The escalating attacks have heightened concerns about safety and stability as the country prepares for its upcoming presidential vote.

The violence represents a significant security challenge for Colombian authorities as they work to ensure safe conditions for the democratic process.

BEKASI, Indonesia — Emergency teams have finished retrieving the final casualties from a deadly railway accident that occurred just outside Indonesia’s capital city on Tuesday. The tragic collision took place Monday evening when a passenger train traveling long distances struck the back end of a commuter train that had stopped at the Bekasi station near Jakarta.

Recovery operations continued through Tuesday as rescue workers worked to extract all victims from the wreckage at the station located in the outskirts of the Indonesian capital.

BEIJING (AP) — More than 200 people were forced from their homes after intense rainfall created dangerous flooding conditions in a southern Chinese city, according to state media reports released Tuesday.

Emergency responders used inflatable boats to reach residents who became trapped inside their homes in Qinzhou, located in the Guangxi region, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Video from the scene showed rescue workers moving through water that reached their chests, while firefighters physically carried elderly residents to safety.

Local officials in Qinzhou reported that weather monitoring equipment measured more than 270 millimeters of precipitation — approximately 10 inches — in the 24-hour span that concluded Monday morning at 8 a.m. This rainfall total set a new single-day record for the month of April in the area.

Weather expert Lin Nan explained in a social media post that this type of extreme precipitation normally doesn’t occur in coastal areas of southern China until the summer monsoon season begins in the middle to end of May. “It is rare to see such a heavy downpour in late April,” Lin said.

By Tuesday morning, educational institutions throughout Qinzhou had reopened for regular classes, and vehicle movement had returned to normal conditions in most areas of the city, according to reports from a news organization run by China’s emergency management officials.

The Trump administration showed little enthusiasm Tuesday for Iran’s diplomatic overture to halt current hostilities and restore access to the Strait of Hormuz in return for the United States ending its economic sanctions against the nation.

Iran’s proposal would delay negotiations regarding the country’s nuclear capabilities, an approach that Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemingly rejected during a Monday Fox News appearance.

“We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” Rubio stated regarding the proposal, which Pakistan delivered to American officials.

White House officials confirmed that President Donald Trump’s national security advisors reviewed the Iranian offer and indicated Trump would respond to it at a later time.

The diplomatic initiative surfaced Monday while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conducted meetings in Russia, a nation that has historically supported Tehran. Officials have not clarified what support, if any, Moscow might provide in this situation.

Casualty figures from the ongoing conflict show at least 3,375 deaths in Iran and a minimum of 2,521 fatalities in Lebanon, where clashes between Israel and Iran-supported Hezbollah forces restarted just two days following the Iran conflict’s beginning. Additional deaths include 23 Israelis, more than a dozen people in Gulf Arab nations, 16 Israeli military personnel in Lebanon, 13 American service members in the region, and six United Nations peacekeepers stationed in southern Lebanon.

During his Fox News interview, Rubio addressed Iran’s latest diplomatic effort, which would delay nuclear program discussions while ending Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz if America removes its sanctions and concludes the war.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that at some point in the future if this radical clerical regime remains in charge in Iran, they will decide they want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio explained.

“That fundamental issue still has to be confronted,” he continued. “That still remains the core issue here.”

When questioned about Iranian sincerity regarding potential negotiations, Rubio characterized them as experienced diplomats seeking to gain additional time.

“We can’t let them get away with it,” Rubio emphasized. “We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point.”

NAIROBI/GENEVA – The Middle East conflict involving Iran has created devastating consequences for Somalia’s most vulnerable population: severely malnourished children who were already facing the dual crises of potential famine and significant reductions in international assistance.

Medical facilities across Somalia are being forced to deny treatment to critically undernourished children and limit their supply distributions due to shortages of essential therapeutic nutrition products caused by maritime shipping interruptions, according to recent reporting.

Nearly 500,000 children below the age of 5 are experiencing severe acute malnutrition, also known as wasting – the deadliest category of hunger – and the transportation delays are amplifying the impact of reduced humanitarian funding.

Medical staff in the cities of Baidoa and Mogadishu report they must carefully ration their limited inventory of specialized milk products and nutrient-rich peanut-based therapeutic paste that are essential for saving these young lives.

“Since the needs are large and we don’t have a lot of supplies, we have had to keep reducing the amount we give children,” said nurse Hassan Yahye Kheyre.

Kheyre’s medical facility treats over 1,200 children but has only 225 containers of peanut paste remaining, which the International Rescue Committee estimates will be depleted in approximately two weeks.

“If treatment is on-and-off, the children will become very weak, physically and mentally. And it may not be possible to reverse it,” Kheyre explained.

Three humanitarian organizations, including the IRC, have confirmed that transportation setbacks and increased expenses connected to the Iranian conflict are compounding an already dire situation.

At the medical center in Baidoa’s southwestern region, operated by IRC partner READO, Muumino Adan Aamin, a mother of nine children, has repeatedly attempted to obtain peanut paste for her 11-month-old daughter Ruweido.

Although Ruweido requires three packets daily, Aamin has been denied treatment twice due to supply shortages at the clinic.

Aamin previously almost lost her daughter Anisa during a 2017 drought that brought Somalia close to famine conditions. The child was reduced to “just bone and skin” but survived thanks to peanut paste treatment, Aamin recalled.

Nine years later, another drought has left 6.5 million people – representing one-third of Somalia’s population – facing severe hunger, while aid organizations struggle desperately to address the gaps.

An IRC shipment of peanut paste sufficient to feed more than 1,000 children became stranded two months ago at Mundra port in India, which is now overcrowded with redirected cargo unable to reach Gulf ports, explained Shukri Abdulkadir, IRC’s Somalia coordinator.

When informed that the Indian-manufactured peanut paste would require at least 30 additional days to arrive, IRC canceled the shipment.

The organization then placed an urgent order for 400 containers from Nairobi and is transferring existing supplies from Mogadishu to Baidoa while waiting for the new delivery.

However, increased transportation and production expenses have driven the cost of individual containers from $55 to $200, according to CARE International, whose most recent purchase now provides supplies for only 83 children instead of 300.

During 2024, shipments of therapeutic milk and ready-to-use therapeutic food from Europe to Somalia normally required 30-35 days, extending to 40-45 days in 2025 as vessels rerouted around Africa due to Red Sea security concerns.

Following the February 28 U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran and Iran’s subsequent closure of Gulf access, vessel shortages have extended delivery times to 55-65 days, said Mohamed Omar, Health and Nutrition director at Action Against Hunger in Mogadishu.

Currently in Somalia, the IPC global hunger monitoring system indicates that over 2 million people have reached the “Emergency” classification, just one step below official famine status.

Between January and March, admissions of severely malnourished children to health centers supported by ACF increased by 35% compared to the previous year.

Personnel at Daynile General Hospital, currently treating 360 children for wasting, reported on April 20 that they possessed barely adequate supplies for one week.

“Some children’s nutritional status has already worsened,” stated health and nutrition supervisor Xafsa Ali Hassan.

Somalia was excluded from the 17 impoverished countries selected to receive portions of this year’s funding allocated to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs by the United States, which has implemented the most severe reductions among international aid contributors.

OCHA reports that more than 200 medical facilities have shut down and mobile treatment teams have been dissolved.

The organization announced in December that over 60,500 severely malnourished children had received no treatment as a consequence, with projections indicating this number could reach 150,000 if funding shortfalls continue.

When the Iranian conflict began, domestic fuel costs increased by 150%.

“Somalia is really hard hit by the Iran war because people are still reeling from the impact of the previous drought,” said IRC’s Abdulkadir. “It’s very difficult for people to absorb these shocks.”

OCHA has requested $852 million from international donors to prevent complete famine conditions.

This represents a significant decrease from last year’s $1.42 billion request, yet only 14% of the reduced amount has been received so far.

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that her administration has formally complained to the United States through diplomatic channels about the unsanctioned participation of American officials in a counter-narcotics mission in northern Chihuahua state.

Four people died in a vehicle accident on April 19 following the drug operation – two American officials and two Mexican personnel. Sources have identified the U.S. officials as CIA operatives. The incident has reignited diplomatic friction between the neighboring countries regarding security collaboration.

The controversy led to the resignation of Chihuahua’s top prosecutor, Cesar Jauregui, late Monday evening. He stepped down after admitting he had given contradictory statements about what happened.

Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico’s federal authorities had no knowledge that the American officials, reportedly CIA agents, were participating in the mission.

“What we told (the U.S.) was that the federal government didn’t know about the involvement of these people (in the operation) and we hope that it’s an exception,” Sheinbaum stated during her regular morning news briefing.

The Mexican leader said her country demanded that “our constitution and national security law should be followed,” and noted that Washington had expressed its understanding.

The participation of American personnel in anti-cartel missions remains an extremely contentious issue in Mexico. While Sheinbaum supports intelligence coordination and security partnership, she firmly opposes allowing U.S. agents or military forces to conduct operations within Mexican borders.

This stance contrasts sharply with U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach, who has consistently advocated for expanded American military involvement against Mexican drug cartels and has warned that the United States might act unilaterally if Mexico’s efforts prove insufficient.

Mexico’s security leadership revealed Saturday that the American officials lacked proper authorization to engage in security activities within the country, with one having entered Mexico using tourist documentation.

Initially, prosecutor Jauregui claimed the day after the crash that the U.S. officials had not participated in the laboratory raid itself, but were collected by Mexican operatives at a different location afterward. He said they were being transported to the state capital when the fatal accident happened.

However, Jauregui acknowledged Monday that his earlier statements contained inaccuracies, though he did not specify which details were wrong.

“Regarding the events that have come to light around the presence of individuals who identified themselves as alleged foreign officials, the information we initially had – and which I shared with the public – was inconsistent,” he stated in an announcement from the Chihuahua Attorney General’s office, which he also read during a news conference.

“There were omissions both in the information and in the institutional handling of points of contact with those individuals.” He expressed hope that his departure would help authorities “restore public trust.”

North Korea dramatically escalated its use of capital punishment during COVID-19 border restrictions, with the majority of death sentences connected to consuming prohibited foreign entertainment and religious activities, according to a human rights organization based in Seoul.

Research conducted by the Transitional Justice Working Group reveals that 148 individuals were executed in 60 separate incidents from 2020 through 2024, representing a significant jump from 41 death penalty cases during the preceding five-year span.

The organization compiled its findings through conversations with 880 North Korean refugees currently residing in South Korea and utilized satellite imagery to identify locations where executions took place. Researchers emphasized that their data should not be viewed as comprehensive.

Violations involving foreign cultural content and religious practices, such as viewing South Korean television programs and films, represented the highest percentage of execution cases, the study found.

Prior to pandemic restrictions, homicide had been the primary offense leading to death sentences.

Political crimes resulting in executions climbed to 28 cases from just four during the comparable earlier timeframe, as leader Kim Jong Un intensified efforts to suppress opposition during isolation measures.

Cultural offense executions also took place in the nation’s interior regions rather than solely near the Chinese border, indicating South Korean entertainment had penetrated across the entire country, according to Hubert Lee, who serves as the organization’s executive director.

North Korea has gradually begun loosening restrictions and permitted the 2023 return of citizens who had been overseas, while recently restoring passenger rail connections with China.

However, the count of North Korean defectors, which serves as a measure of the country’s external engagement, stayed minimal at 223 in 2025, down from 1,275 recorded in 2015, based on South Korean official statistics.

The expected leadership transition to Kim’s daughter, identified as Ju Ae, might also lead to increased executions, Lee suggested.

“The number of executions may surge when the time for Ju Ae to succeed is imminent, to remove the inner circle of her father and appoint her people,” Lee stated.

North Korean diplomatic missions in Singapore and London, along with Pyongyang’s permanent United Nations office, did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment regarding the report’s conclusions.

CAIRO (AP) — Iran’s renowned carpet manufacturing region has seen production come to a virtual standstill. Dairy companies can’t secure packaging materials for their milk and butter products. Massive steel production facilities that previously powered the nation’s economy have ceased operations. Hundreds of thousands have become unemployed, with millions more facing potential job losses.

Following more than five weeks of sustained attacks, American and Israeli military operations have targeted thousands of manufacturing facilities. The destruction is creating shockwaves throughout Iran’s economic system, threatening successive rounds of unemployment while Iranians confront dramatically rising costs. Chicken prices have surged 75% in the past month, while beef and lamb costs have climbed 68%. Numerous dairy items have seen price increases of 50%.

The situation may deteriorate further as America implements a naval blockade of Iranian harbors, severely restricting imports and petroleum exports worth billions annually. Economic hardships previously triggered widespread demonstrations that were violently suppressed before the current conflict and might once again drive citizens to protest publicly.

However, Iran possesses its own economic leverage against the world through its control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials declare they will only allow the crucial global energy passage to reopen when the blockade ends and hostilities cease. They’re wagering that an economy designed for self-sufficiency through decades of international sanctions can withstand hardship longer than U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to state media reports, Deputy Labor Minister Gholamhossein Mohammadi stated that Iran has lost no fewer than 1 million jobs directly due to the conflict.

However, the cascading consequences threaten between 10 million and 12 million positions — representing half of Iran’s workforce — according to Iranian economist Hadi Kahalzadeh’s warning.

Israel has asserted it targeted the industrial infrastructure of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, the attacks extended far beyond this scope, damaging facilities not controlled by the organization.

According to Kahalzadeh, a research fellow at Brandeis University, military strikes damaged 20,000 manufacturing plants, representing approximately 20% of the nation’s production facilities. Among the affected sites was Tofigh Daru, Iran’s largest pharmaceutical company, which produces cancer treatment medications and other medicines. Optical equipment and chemical manufacturing plants, along with aluminum and cement production facilities, also sustained damage.

Most significantly destructive were Israel’s attacks on Iran’s largest steel production and petrochemical manufacturing plants, primarily during a series of strikes just prior to the April 8 ceasefire. The nation’s two largest steel companies, Mobarakeh Steel and Khuzestan Steel, along with smaller operations, suspended production. Over 50 petrochemical facilities have ceased operations, according to Iran’s semiofficial Jamaran news agency.

This has severely damaged Iran’s two largest non-petroleum export sectors, causing price increases for everything from plastic products to piping, textiles and food packaging for items like milk, butter and cheese.

Military attacks aren’t the sole source of economic difficulties. Internet services have been mostly disabled since the protests began, devastating small and medium businesses dependent on online commerce. Even prior to the U.S. blockade, Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates, which supplied roughly one-third of Iran’s imports, prompted that nation to sever trade relations.

Approximately 80% of carpet and rug producers have halted operations in the industrial district of Kashan, the hub of Iran’s rugmaking sector, according to a rugmaker’s son. His family’s factory, which employs 20 to 30 workers and previously manufactured hundreds of rugs monthly using machines, is among those that have closed, though his father continues visiting the facility daily.

“Never have I heard my father so upset,” said the son, who lives in the United States and spoke on condition of anonymity for his family’s security.

Kashan, housing hundreds of carpet producers, “relies on the rug industry and unfortunately it’s been crippled,” he explained. Export sales have plummeted since the conflict started, and domestic purchases are nearly nonexistent. Synthetic fiber costs have jumped 30%-50% — partially resulting from damage to petrochemical plants, he noted.

Mehdi Bostanchi operates a ventilation and air conditioning manufacturing facility, plus a second plant producing household fans, employing more than 1,130 workers total. Both continue functioning. However, the HVAC factory depends heavily on the construction sector, and “construction is facing a massive shock,” he explained.

Most new construction projects are suspended, while iron sheeting prices have more than doubled.

Bostanchi, who serves on a council representing Iranian manufacturers, explained that “all the country’s industries in some way rely on our petrochemical industry.” Even businesses that don’t directly require steel or petrochemical materials have contracts with companies that do.

A chemical engineer employed at one of Iran’s largest private construction companies reported it eliminated half of its 180 headquarters employees and was forced to cancel a project with Mobarakeh Steel, eliminating 1,000 positions.

A Tehran resident resigned from his consulting engineering position just before the conflict began, and the new position he had secured is now uncertain.

“I am at the top 1% (of society), and I am without a job. I am super worried about my future,” he stated, noting that people’s savings will begin running out in coming weeks.

Both he and the chemical engineer requested anonymity due to security concerns.

Millions demonstrated in January’s protests initially sparked by worsening inflation but evolved into demands for ending the Islamic Republic, resulting in violent government suppression.

Government officials are attempting to assure citizens that Iran can endure the economic suffering. The administration has pledged to expand unemployment benefits. However, the strain on Iran’s social security system is increasing while its funding sources are being damaged, since it relies heavily on investments in petrochemical companies and other essential industries, Kahalzadeh explained.

The U.S. blockade threatens to eliminate export income: Iran earned approximately $98 billion from exports in 2025, with just under half coming from oil sales.

However, implementing a complete blockade presents challenges; roughly half of Iran’s non-oil commerce travels overland or through Caspian Sea harbors, according to economic expert Esfandyar Batmanghelidj.

Iran has also developed substantial resilience and “readiness for worst-case scenarios,” Batmanghelidj wrote for the Bourse and Bazaar Foundation, a research organization he leads focusing on economic development in West and Central Asia.

Iran maintains substantial reserves of essential materials. By the end of 2025, Iran had stockpiled enough electrical equipment for nearly eight months, cement supplies lasting nearly six months and sufficient steel and iron for four months, he wrote, noting that supplies could be extended further through rationing.

Bostanchi, the factory owner, expressed belief that Iran’s economy could recover after the conflict ends. However, the extent depends on whether Iran can achieve an end to international sanctions.

“If we cannot lift the sanctions in any agreements, then no, the optimistic forecast … will not happen,” he stated.

WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria — Legal proceedings commence Tuesday against a young man charged with swearing loyalty to ISIS and conspiring to launch an attack during Taylor Swift’s Vienna concert performances in August 2024.

While authorities successfully prevented the assault, officials made the decision to call off Swift’s trio of scheduled shows. Disappointed fans, called Swifties, had traveled internationally to witness her phenomenally successful Eras Tour but responded by transforming Vienna into an impromptu community for bracelet exchanges and group singing.

The accused, identified as 21-year-old Beran A. under Austria’s privacy protocols, confronts multiple charges including terrorism violations and terrorist group participation. A conviction could result in a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Defense lawyer Anna Mair informed The Associated Press Monday that her client intends to admit guilt to several charges, though she declined to detail which specific accusations he would acknowledge.

Investigators allege he intended to harm crowds congregating outside Ernst Happel Stadium — potentially 30,000 nightly, plus 65,000 inside — using bladed weapons or improvised bombs. Officials stated in 2024 that the suspect aimed to “kill as many people as possible.” American intelligence contributed to the concert cancellation decision.

Beran A. reportedly communicated with additional ISIS members while preparing the assault. Legal authorities claim conversations included weapon purchases and explosive device construction, with the defendant attempting illegal firearm acquisition before the scheduled performance. He also reportedly declared loyalty to the extremist organization.

Law enforcement raided his residence on August 7, 2024, discovering bomb-creation supplies. The concerts were supposed to commence the following day.

“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift wrote in a statement posted to Instagram two weeks later. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”

Court proceedings are taking place in Wiener Neustadt, approximately one hour from Vienna. The case will resume May 12.

Legal officials have additionally brought terrorism-related accusations against Arda K., whose complete identity remains confidential, in the same trial.

Prosecutors contend that Beran A. and Arda K., alongside another individual called Hasan E., coordinated to execute concurrent strikes in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates during 2024’s Ramadan period for ISIS.

Hasan E. reportedly attacked a security officer with a blade at Mecca’s Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia on March 11, 2024. He was apprehended and continues in Saudi custody awaiting trial, Austrian prosecutors confirmed.

Beran A. and Arda K. abandoned their Turkey and UAE operations. Beran A. returned to Vienna and subsequently began developing the Swift concert attack plan.

The Vienna conspiracy reminded many of a 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande performance in Manchester, England, which claimed 22 lives. The explosive detonated as the concert concluded and thousands of young attendees were departing, marking the UK’s most lethal extremist incident in recent memory.

LAS MINAS, Cuba (AP) — In the rural town of Las Minas, 58-year-old farmer Eduardo Obiols Sobredo faces an impossible challenge: feeding his fellow Cubans while battling crippling fuel shortages caused by US energy sanctions that have triggered widespread power outages and water disruptions.

“I feel like crying,” Obiols Sobredo expressed. “It’s so sad to see crops grown with so much effort go to waste, especially when you know there are so many who need them.”

Agricultural machinery sits idle throughout Cuba as fuel supplies dwindle to nothing. Farmers such as Obiols Sobredo have resorted to using oxen and hand labor, though many cannot afford these alternatives and resources remain scarce.

The crisis has worsened poverty and expanded hunger throughout the Caribbean nation, home to almost 10 million residents. Fresh produce quality and availability continue declining while costs climb beyond what most citizens can afford.

Unlike other nations experiencing energy shortages due to global conflicts, Cuba directly attributes its struggles to targeted measures implemented by the Trump administration.

For three months, Cuba received no fuel deliveries after the US targeted Venezuela, a crucial oil partner, and issued threats of tariffs against any nation providing petroleum to the island.

The country was already struggling under intensified US sanctions that have existed for decades, blocking imports of essential items. The Trump administration has demanded Cuba’s socialist leadership free political detainees, enact significant economic changes, and alter its governing structure to eliminate perceived national security risks. Cuban officials consistently deny posing any danger to America.

With diplomatic tensions persisting, high-level government representatives are traveling to farms across Cuba, encouraging producers to increase output for greater national independence.

However, the impact of US energy restrictions is clearly visible in Las Minas, where 65 farmers share just 18 oxen.

Obiols Sobredo rents these animals and their operators when possible, but depends on manual work for smaller farming tasks. His crops include tomatoes, sorghum, cassava and other vegetables. He also maintains goats whose milk feeds local schoolchildren.

He joins other agricultural workers in a system that provides for Cuba’s most needy populations, including orphanages and elder care facilities.

Land preparation that once required 15 minutes using motorized equipment now demands three full days. His last government gasoline allocation arrived in January.

“It has forced us to take other kinds of actions in order to survive,” Obiols Sobredo explained.

Petroleum shortages also mean delivery vehicles don’t always arrive, compelling farmers to use their limited fuel reserves to transport milk to freezing facilities, hoping it won’t spoil before collection.

Electrical outages prevent Obiols Sobredo from processing feed for his goats, which produce less milk due to poor nutrition.

Crop irrigation has also suffered. Though a charitable organization funded solar irrigation equipment for his property last year, he lacks the gasoline needed for installation. He depends on rainfall that hasn’t occurred in almost two months.

Distribution companies increasingly use horse-drawn vehicles to move produce, causing bruising during extended journeys to marketplaces.

At a government market in Havana offering relatively affordable prices, 68-year-old customer Juan Lázaro expressed disappointment with produce quality.

“Look,” he stated, indicating a display of small, unripe tomatoes. “They’re lacking fertilizer, you can tell they’re lacking water. Look at their color.”

Lázaro retired from industrial mechanics but returned to work at a small shop to survive financially. During a recent visit, he purchased six potatoes as an unusual luxury.

“I’ve had to cut back. I either buy bread or I buy potatoes,” he noted.

He emphasized that Cuba’s present difficulties exceed the “Special Period” of the 1990s, when Soviet Union collapse eliminated aid and created widespread hardship. “We’ve been hitting rock bottom for a while.”

Fellow shopper Griselle Guillot, 64, now hesitates before buying rice.

“I need to see how much I can buy, because I also need onions,” she said.

Anthony Batista Guerra, a 47-year-old produce seller, noted customers understand the declining standards without explanation: “They know things are bad right now.”

As the market prepared to close, one vendor discarded a tomato into the street after shoppers rejected it as unsuitable.

On a steamy morning, 82-year-old Argelio González Juvier wielded a hoe against weeds surrounding cassava plants at his workplace.

A former interior ministry official who retired in 1995, he returned to work for additional income and selected agriculture.

“The earth provides everything. That’s what we should focus on,” he stated. “We have no other alternative.”

He condemned US energy restrictions, describing them as criminal.

“Cuba doesn’t deserve what they’re doing to us,” he declared. “The Americans think they’re the owners of the world.”

Working beside González Juvier was 36-year-old Jordanis Ríos, formerly a truck operator transporting construction materials until fuel shortages eliminated his position.

He now uses a machete to clear agricultural land, cutting dried vegetation each morning for $4 daily wages. He hopes to resume truck driving.

“My job is there. Just waiting for the country to improve,” he said.

Ríos avoided discussing recent US-Cuba negotiations, with American representatives visiting the island this month for the first time since 2016. Conversation details remain confidential, though Cuba has stated lifting the blockade remains its top priority.

Ríos indicated the outcome rests with leadership: “My goal is to survive here and see what happens.”

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronts escalating political turmoil Tuesday as Parliament prepares to vote on launching a formal investigation into his controversial selection of Peter Mandelson for the U.S. ambassador position.

The House of Commons will debate whether to refer Starmer to Parliament’s standards watchdog following the botched diplomatic appointment that has dominated headlines for months. Mandelson, who had ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was ultimately removed from consideration after security vetting failures came to light.

Adding to Starmer’s challenges, his former top aide Morgan McSweeney is scheduled to appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee to answer questions about the flawed appointment process. McSweeney stepped down in February, accepting blame for recommending Mandelson despite the security red flags.

The twin proceedings represent significant political risks for Starmer, who has weathered weeks of resignation calls stemming from the Mandelson controversy. The Prime Minister terminated Mandelson’s appointment in September when additional information surfaced regarding his relationship with Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019.

Authorities launched a criminal probe into Mandelson in February following accusations that he shared classified government intelligence with Epstein during his government service in 2009.

During Tuesday’s hearing, McSweeney — a longtime Mandelson associate who previously served as Starmer’s chief of staff — will likely face tough questions about claims from former Foreign Office permanent secretary Olly Robbins. Robbins alleged that Starmer’s team inappropriately pressured civil servants to expedite Mandelson’s clearance to ensure he could begin work when President Donald Trump’s second term commenced.

Starmer has categorically rejected assertions that his administration applied undue influence on government bureaucrats.

The Prime Minister dismissed Robbins earlier this month following revelations that security officials had recommended against Mandelson’s appointment. Starmer described it as “staggering” that Foreign Office personnel failed to inform him about the vetting concerns.

Political opponents argue Starmer’s initial decision to nominate Mandelson demonstrates poor judgment from a leader who has stumbled repeatedly since guiding the Labour Party to an overwhelming electoral triumph in July 2024.

Starmer previously navigated a potential crisis in February when some Labour members of Parliament called for his resignation over the ambassador selection. He may encounter fresh difficulties if Labour performs poorly in upcoming May 7 local elections, which will serve as a referendum on his government’s performance.

Whether sufficient Labour lawmakers will join opposition members in referring Starmer to the Privileges Committee remains uncertain. The committee possesses authority to suspend parliamentarians, including prime ministers, for rule violations.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of repeatedly “misled the House of Commons” when claiming “full due process” guided Mandelson’s selection.

Starmer’s office dismissed Tuesday’s proceedings as “a desperate political stunt by the Conservative Party the week before the May elections.”

Committee censure also creates substantial moral pressure to step down. The panel’s examination of lockdown violations in government facilities during the COVID-19 crisis contributed to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s political downfall.

Johnson resigned from Parliament in 2023 after the committee determined he had consistently misled lawmakers regarding the “Partygate” controversy.

Rescue operations have concluded following a devastating train accident outside Indonesia’s capital that claimed 14 lives and left 84 others wounded, according to railway officials.

The fatal accident occurred Monday evening in Bekasi, located just beyond Jakarta’s borders, when a commuter train and a long-distance passenger train collided.

PT KAI, Indonesia’s government-owned railway company, confirmed through CEO Bobby Rasyidin that fatalities had reached 14 people.

Mohammad Syafii, who leads Indonesia’s search and rescue operations, announced Tuesday that all evacuation work had been finished. He described the rescue mission as requiring extreme care due to passengers being stuck inside severely damaged train cars.

“We needed to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” Syafii explained, noting that while no additional passengers remain missing, crews will continue searching the debris for any remains.

The crash primarily impacted a car designated exclusively for female passengers. According to Syafii, every victim was a woman, with most having been trapped beneath twisted metal debris.

Before separating the crashed trains, emergency responders used power tools to slice through metal compartment walls to reach those still alive inside.

Railway executive Bobby explained during a media briefing that the commuter train initially struck a taxi on the railway before being hit by the approaching long-distance train.

Green SM Indonesia, the taxi company involved, posted on Instagram acknowledging one of their vehicles was part of the incident. The company stated they provided information to investigators to help with their inquiry.

Green SM Indonesia operates as the local division of Vietnamese electric taxi company Green and Smart Mobility JSC, which is connected to Vingroup.

Following a hospital visit in Bekasi, President Prabowo Subianto announced plans to construct an overpass near the railway to address severe traffic problems in the area. He also ordered a full investigation into the crash and acknowledged that significant portions of the country’s rail system lack proper maintenance.

Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has launched its own investigation into the accident.

Family members and concerned residents gathered at the train station Tuesday, with some searching for missing relatives.

One passenger, Heriyati, shared that she had originally planned to board the women-only car but chose the one directly behind it instead. She was speaking with her husband by phone, arranging for him to collect her from the station, when the crash happened.

“I haven’t even finished with the call and the trains collided,” she recalled.

Jakarta’s commuter rail system serves one of the world’s most densely populated metropolitan areas. PT KAI announced Tuesday that several commuter routes were shortened due to the accident.

Transportation accidents involving ground vehicles occur frequently throughout Indonesia. A separate train crash in West Java province during 2024 resulted in four deaths and multiple injuries.

Mexican armed forces dealt a devastating blow to one of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations Monday with the arrest of a high-ranking commander from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in northwestern Mexico.

Military personnel apprehended Audias Flores Silva, nicknamed “El Jardinero” or The Gardener, as he attempted to hide in a roadside ditch near El Mirador in Nayarit state, according to Mexican government officials. The operation concluded without casualties or injuries.

The arrest carries significant weight as Flores Silva was considered a likely candidate to lead the criminal organization following the February death of longtime boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” The United States government had placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to Flores Silva’s capture.

Oseguera Cervantes was eliminated during a dramatic military assault in February, triggering widespread retaliation from cartel members. The violent response included attacks on civilian businesses, vehicle arsons, and highway blockades that resulted in over 70 deaths, including 25 National Guard personnel.

Nevertheless, Mexican officials viewed the elimination of “El Mencho” as a major triumph for President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, which has adopted more aggressive anti-cartel tactics than previous governments. This tougher stance comes amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened intervention measures.

Trump previously classified the Jalisco New Generation Cartel along with five other Mexican criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations last year.

The detention of Flores Silva represents another serious setback for the criminal empire, which has rapidly expanded to become one of the most influential in the Western Hemisphere. Mexican security sources identified him as Oseguera Cervantes’ former security chief, who also oversaw drug manufacturing and smuggling activities across Nayarit, Jalisco, Mexico State, and Zacatecas.

Following the arrest, local media outlets in Nayarit documented multiple incidents of vehicle and business fires, indicating cartel retaliation.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson commended the operation through social media, describing Flores Silva’s detention as an “important step” in fighting fentanyl trafficking networks.

“Actions like this strengthen security and help dismantle criminal networks that threaten our communities. Together, we achieve results that make our nations safer,” he added.

Flores Silva’s criminal history includes an early arrest in the United States, where he completed a five-year prison term for drug trafficking before returning to Mexico. Mexican authorities detained him in 2016 for allegedly participating in a police ambush in Jalisco, but he was freed three years afterward.

American authorities have sought his extradition since 2021 to face drug conspiracy and weapons charges.

Security expert David Saucedo characterized Flores Silva’s capture as a “significant blow” to the CJNG leadership structure, which was still reorganizing following their founder’s death on February 22.

However, Saucedo cautioned The Associated Press that criminal organizations “can quickly reinvent themselves despite the arrest of their leaders,” noting that even after major disruptions, “they can continue” their illegal operations.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has documented CJNG operations in 21 of Mexico’s 32 states, exceeding the reach of the Sinaloa Cartel, which operates in 19 states.

Some experts estimate the CJNG’s influence spans 25 states, with their primary base in Jalisco. The organization has expanded internationally to approximately 100 countries, including significant operations in the United States.

BEKASI, Indonesia — Emergency teams continued their delicate rescue operation Tuesday to free three individuals still stuck inside a severely damaged commuter train car following a fatal collision near Jakarta that claimed at least seven lives.

The deadly accident occurred Monday when a long-distance train slammed into the back of a stationary commuter train at Bekasi Timur Station, located outside Indonesia’s capital city. The damaged car was part of a women-only section, which Indonesian railways commonly provide to prevent harassment of female passengers.

Hospital officials reported treating 81 people for injuries sustained in the crash. Bobby Rasyidin, who leads the state railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, explained the challenging nature of the rescue operation to news media. “The evacuations are taking a long time … and we’re doing it very carefully,” Rasyidin stated.

Railway officials confirmed that all 240 passengers aboard the Argo Bromo Anggrek long-distance train escaped without injury.

Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri announced that investigators are examining what led to the collision.

According to Rasyidin, the incident may be connected to a separate crash involving a commuter train and a stalled taxi at a nearby crossing, which potentially caused disruptions to the rail system.

“As for the chronology of events, we are leaving it to the National Transportation Safety Committee to investigate the cause of tonight’s train accident in greater detail,” Rasyidin explained.

Train accidents occur frequently across Indonesia’s deteriorating railway infrastructure. Earlier this year in January, a collision between two trains in West Java province resulted in at least four fatalities.

WASHINGTON — Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla have launched a significant four-day diplomatic mission to America, marking the monarch’s inaugural state visit since ascending to the throne in 2022.

The royal delegation’s agenda centers on strengthening diplomatic bonds between Britain and America while commemorating the approaching 250th anniversary of American independence.

Monday’s itinerary included an official reception at the White House during the afternoon hours, with the day concluding at an elegant garden reception hosted at the British Embassy.

The visit represents a crucial diplomatic effort to reinforce the historic alliance between the two nations during Charles’s early reign as Britain’s sovereign.

President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s most recent peace offer aimed at ending the two-month-long conflict, according to a U.S. official, reducing prospects for resolving a war that has caused thousands of deaths, disrupted global energy markets, and contributed to rising inflation.

Tehran’s current proposal seeks to postpone negotiations about Iran’s nuclear activities until after the conflict concludes and maritime shipping disagreements in the Gulf region are settled.

Such an approach is expected to be unacceptable to Washington, which insists that nuclear matters must be addressed immediately. A U.S. official who was briefed on Trump’s Monday discussion with his advisers confirmed the president’s dissatisfaction with Iran’s offer, speaking anonymously.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated the U.S. “will not negotiate through the press” and has “been clear about our red lines” as the Trump administration seeks to conclude the war against Iran that began in February with Israeli participation.

In 2015, Iran and several other nations including the United States reached an agreement that significantly limited Iran’s nuclear activities, which Tehran has consistently claimed serve only peaceful, civilian objectives. However, that accord collapsed after Trump withdrew from it unilaterally during his previous presidency.

Expectations for renewed diplomatic efforts have diminished since the president canceled a planned weekend trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made multiple visits over the weekend.

Araqchi also traveled to Oman and on Monday visited Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and received supportive statements from a long-time Iranian ally.

OIL MARKETS SURGE AGAIN

As the opposing sides remain significantly divided, petroleum prices continued climbing, building on earlier gains during Tuesday’s early Asian trading session.

“For oil traders, it’s not the rhetoric that matters any more, but the actual physical flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that flow remains constrained,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.

Ship-tracking information revealed that at least six vessels carrying Iranian oil have been turned back to Iran by the U.S. naval blockade in recent days, highlighting the war’s effect on maritime traffic.

Iran’s foreign ministry criticized U.S. seizures of Iran-connected tankers as “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas” in a social media statement.

Prior to the war, between 125 and 140 vessels typically passed through the strait daily, but only seven have done so in the past day according to Kpler ship-tracking information and satellite data from SynMax, with none transporting oil destined for international markets.

Facing declining approval ratings, Trump confronts domestic pressure to conclude a war for which he has provided the American public with varying justifications.

Speaking to reporters in Russia, Araqchi claimed that Trump had sought negotiations because the U.S. has failed to accomplish any of its goals.

Senior Iranian officials, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the proposal Araqchi brought to Islamabad over the weekend outlined a phased negotiation process, with nuclear issues to be deferred initially.

The first phase would require ending the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran and securing guarantees preventing the U.S. from restarting hostilities. Subsequently, negotiators would address the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian maritime trade and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran seeks to reopen under its authority.

Only after these steps would discussions turn to other matters, including the ongoing disagreement over Iran’s nuclear program, with Iran continuing to seek some form of U.S. recognition of its uranium enrichment rights.

Emergency responders continue working around the clock to rescue survivors trapped in twisted metal following a devastating train collision near Jakarta, Indonesia that has now claimed seven lives and left 81 people injured.

The tragic accident occurred Monday evening in Bekasi, located on the outskirts of Indonesia’s capital, when a commuter train and long-distance passenger train collided. Mohammad Syafii, who leads Indonesia’s search and rescue operations, explained during a Tuesday morning news briefing that extracting survivors requires extreme precision due to the dangerous conditions.

“We needed to involve personnel with certain skills to perform a measured extrication,” Syafii stated. “There are some victims who are alive to this minute and we’re hoping to extricate them, but they’re still pinned by the train material.”

Emergency teams have been observed using specialized cutting tools, including angle grinders, to slice through the damaged train cars in their efforts to reach those still trapped inside.

Bobby Rasyidin, who serves as chief executive of the government-owned railway company PT KAI, confirmed the updated fatality count of seven during the press briefing. According to Rasyidin’s account, the sequence of events began when the commuter train struck a taxi that had somehow ended up on the railway tracks, followed by the long-distance train slamming into a women-only car of the commuter train.

The taxi company involved, Green SM Indonesia, acknowledged through social media that the vehicle belonged to their fleet. The company, which operates as the Indonesian division of Vietnamese electric vehicle service Green and Smart Mobility JSC under the Vingroup umbrella, announced they have provided information to investigators to help with the ongoing probe.

Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee has launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Railway accidents occur with concerning frequency throughout Indonesia. Just last year, another train collision in West Java province resulted in four deaths and dozens of injuries.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A former worker at a nightclub where 236 people died in a roof collapse one year ago told a court Monday that the establishment’s owners had been warned about the building’s dangerous condition.

Gregory Adames gave testimony against brother and sister Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who face charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary assault and battery in connection with the deadly incident at the well-known Jet Set club in Santo Domingo.

“They knew because I sent them photos, I sent them videos of all the problems that were there. That shouldn’t have happened; not a single person should have died there,” Adames said.

Legal representatives for the families of those killed requested that the court upgrade the charges against the siblings to voluntary manslaughter.

“We hope that happens,” Jean Carlos Martínez Segura, who represents nine families, told The Associated Press.

A conviction on voluntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while involuntary manslaughter has a maximum penalty of two years.

The court proceedings that began Monday are scheduled to resume Friday, with a judge ultimately determining whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial. Family members of the victims have expressed frustration with procedural delays and the pace of the legal process.

According to prosecutors, hundreds of pieces of evidence point to the siblings’ culpability. The pair were taken into custody last June.

Miguel Valerio, the Espaillats’ attorney, told reporters after their arrests: “Nobody wanted that to happen.”

Authorities have alleged that the Espaillats attempted to pressure or influence their workers. Antonio Espaillat is regarded as an influential business figure who operates high-end entertainment venues and owns numerous local radio stations.

The nightclub was packed with hundreds of patrons, including many prominent Dominican citizens, attending a concert on April 8, 2025, when the ceiling gave way. Among the fatalities were singer Rubby Pérez; Nelsy Cruz, the governor of Montecristi province and sister of Major League Baseball All-Star Nelson Cruz; and former MLB pitcher Octavio Dotel. The collapse left more than 100 people injured, and emergency responders worked continuously to rescue survivors from the debris.

Energy markets saw continued upward pressure Tuesday as diplomatic solutions to the U.S.-Iran conflict remain elusive, leaving the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping channel mostly blocked and preventing Middle Eastern oil supplies from reaching international markets.

According to a U.S. official speaking Monday, President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s most recent peace proposal. Iranian sources revealed Monday that Tehran’s offer deliberately sidestepped nuclear program discussions until fighting ends and Persian Gulf maritime disputes get resolved.

Trump’s rejection of Iran’s terms has created a diplomatic impasse, with Iran maintaining its closure of Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic—normally responsible for transporting approximately 20% of worldwide oil and natural gas consumption—while the U.S. continues its naval blockade of Iranian harbors.

June Brent crude contracts increased 45 cents, or 0.4%, reaching $108.68 per barrel by 0051 GMT, following Monday’s 2.8% surge to the highest closing price since April 7. The commodity has now posted gains for seven consecutive trading days.

June U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 58 cents, or 0.6%, to $96.96, after Monday’s 2.1% increase.

Previous diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran broke down last week when direct negotiations failed to produce results.

“For oil traders, it’s not the rhetoric that matters any more, but the actual physical flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that flow remains constrained,” said Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.

Razaqzada noted that even with a potential agreement, production shutdowns and supply chain complications could require months for full recovery.

Maritime tracking information confirmed major regional disruptions, showing six Iranian oil vessels were compelled to reverse course because of the American blockade.

Despite the restrictions, one liquefied natural gas vessel operated by the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz and appears to be approaching India, according to Monday’s ship-tracking data.

Before the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran commenced on February 28, daily vessel traffic through the strait typically ranged between 125 and 140 ships.

President Donald Trump has rejected a recent peace proposal from Iran, with a U.S. official citing concerns that the plan fails to address the nation’s nuclear activities, according to reports from Washington on Monday.

“He doesn’t love the proposal,” the U.S. official stated when describing Trump’s reaction to the Iranian initiative.

The president met with his senior national security team on Monday to review the proposal. Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran continue with no clear resolution in sight, as energy shipments from the Middle East remain disrupted.

According to Iranian sources who spoke earlier Monday, their proposal would postpone any nuclear program discussions until after the current conflict concludes and maritime shipping disputes in the Gulf region are settled. However, the United States maintains that nuclear matters must be addressed immediately as part of any agreement.

Pakistani mediators indicate that diplomatic efforts to narrow the divide between the two nations are still ongoing, sources report.

However, prospects for renewed peace negotiations have dimmed following Trump’s weekend decision to cancel a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

Tensions flared at the United Nations Security Council on Monday as China’s deputy ambassador harshly criticized statements from Japan and the European Union regarding maritime security in disputed Asian waters.

During the council’s maritime security discussion, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Ayano Kunimitsu expressed Tokyo’s deep worries about developments in both the East China Sea and South China Sea regions. She restated Japan’s stance against any forceful attempts to alter current territorial arrangements and interference with maritime and aviation freedoms.

European Union UN delegation chief Stavros Lambrinidis similarly addressed South China Sea disputes, noting how the conflicts disrupt vital commercial shipping routes and undermine international maritime law.

Both officials avoided directly naming China, despite Beijing’s extensive territorial claims throughout the South China Sea and ongoing disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

China’s deputy UN representative Sun Lei dismissed the Japanese statements as “unwarranted” and said they “completely confound black and white.” He criticized the EU official for making “unsubstantiated and irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue.”

“In reality, the situation in the East and South China Seas remains stable overall and the South China Sea stands as one of the freest shipping lanes in the world,” Sun stated.

Sun accused Japan of recently deploying naval vessels “to flex their muscles and deliberately provoke tensions in the Taiwan Strait,” claiming this action sent a “gravely erroneous signal” to Taiwan independence supporters. China considers Taiwan, which governs itself democratically, to be Chinese territory.

The Chinese diplomat also referenced controversial Taiwan comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in previous months, saying these statements “have dealt a severe blow to China-Japan relations.”

Relations between the two Asian powers deteriorated significantly after Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

Sun alleged that “right-wing forces are steering Japan’s security policy towards an offensive and expansionist posture” and warned that eight decades after World War Two, “a new militarism is resurging in Japan.”

He pointed to Japan’s loosened restrictions on weapons exports, deployment of strike missiles, and higher defense spending as evidence that Japan seeks “to pave the way for military expansion.”

Earlier this month, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi sailed through the Taiwan Strait, which China condemned as “a deliberate provocation.”

Meanwhile, China has significantly expanded its military capabilities in recent years, built installations on contested South China Sea islands, and conducted large-scale training exercises near Taiwan, raising alarm among regional neighbors and international partners.

A geopolitical expert specializing in Middle Eastern affairs says Iran’s current military strategy extends well beyond traditional combat zones, with the regime now targeting Iranian communities living overseas.

Ashkan Rostami, an Italian Persian analyst who studies Iran, Israel, and Middle Eastern regional politics as part of the Institute for a New Middle East, spoke with The Media Line about how Tehran is adapting its approach during the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel.

According to Rostami, while military operations continue, Iranian authorities are simultaneously reaching out to diaspora populations, particularly those residing in European nations, as part of their wartime strategy.

The analyst highlighted concerning developments including diplomatic efforts to raise funds and troubling indicators that the regime may once again be involving minors in its military operations.

Rostami emphasized that this expansion of Iran’s conflict strategy to include overseas communities represents a significant shift in how the regime operates when facing international pressure.

A newly published UNICEF study reveals that Afghanistan faces the potential loss of more than 25,000 women working in education and healthcare by 2030 unless current Taliban policies restricting female participation are reversed.

The report, made public on Monday, highlights how Taliban leadership has prohibited women from holding most government positions and restricted educational opportunities for girls to age 12 and younger.

According to the study, these policies have already impacted no fewer than 1 million girls, with projections showing this number could reach 2 million by 2030 without policy changes. UNICEF has urged Taliban authorities to reverse the prohibitions implemented following their return to control in 2021.

The research, titled “The Cost of Inaction on Girls’ Education and Women’s Labour Force Participation in Afghanistan,” documents a sharp drop in qualified women joining teaching and medical professions.

UNICEF projects that as many as 20,000 female educators and 5,400 healthcare professionals could be eliminated from the workforce by 2030, representing approximately 25% of Afghanistan’s 2021 professional workforce in these areas. An additional 9,600 medical workers could be lost by 2035, the study indicates.

“Afghanistan cannot afford to lose future teachers, nurses, doctors, midwives, and social workers, who sustain essential services,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “This will be the reality if girls continue to be excluded from education.”

The report emphasizes that women medical professionals are essential for treating female patients, while women educators are preferred for instructing girls in schools that separate students by gender.

UNICEF estimates this workforce reduction could cost Afghanistan’s economy at least AFN 5.3 billion ($84 million) annually, equivalent to approximately 0.5% of the nation’s total economic output.

The organization has called on Afghanistan’s current leadership to protect professional training opportunities and permit women’s participation in the workforce.

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 29 people were killed when Islamic State fighters launched a deadly assault on a village in northeastern Nigeria during overnight hours, officials confirmed Monday. The violence represents the latest bloodshed in Africa’s most populated nation as it continues wrestling with widespread security threats.

The deadly raid occurred late Sunday evening in Guyaku village, located within Gombi local government territory in Adamawa state, state leadership reported.

ISIS operatives took credit for the deadly assault through a statement posted on the Telegram platform.

During a Monday visit to the attacked community, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri called the violence tragic and completely unacceptable.

Nigeria continues confronting numerous security threats, particularly across northern regions where militant activity has persisted for more than twenty years. The United States deployed military advisors to the West African country in February to assist local forces in combating the security crisis.

Two primary ISIS-affiliated militant organizations operate within Nigeria, though officials have not yet determined which group carried out the Guyaki assault.

The Islamic State West Africa Province, known as ISWAP, maintains operations throughout northeastern areas including Adamawa state, while another ISIS-connected organization called Lakurawa typically targets communities in north-central Sokoto and Kebbi states.

The village attack coincided with a separate incident where armed raiders struck an orphanage in north-central Nigeria, kidnapping 23 students. Authorities later freed 15 children and reported that “intensive operations” continue to “secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators.”

Student abductions have become a defining characteristic of Nigeria’s security crisis, with security experts noting that criminal organizations view educational institutions and children as “strategic” targets for gaining public attention.

The orphanage raid occurred in an “isolated area” of Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State, according to state commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo. He noted that the targeted facility, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was functioning without proper authorization.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in a region experiencing rising numbers of ransom-motivated abductions. Officials did not specify the ages of the taken children, though the designation “pupil” in Nigeria typically refers to kindergarten through primary school students, generally ages 12 and under.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed men stormed a children’s facility in Nigeria’s north-central region and kidnapped 23 students, with officials confirming Monday that 15 have been successfully recovered.

The incident occurred in a remote section of Lokoja, the capital city of Kogi State, state commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo confirmed in an official statement. He noted that the targeted institution, Dahallukitab Group of Schools, was functioning without proper authorization.

While no organization has taken credit for the assault, the area has experienced a surge in ransom-driven abductions in recent months.

Officials did not specify the ages of the kidnapped children, though in Nigeria the designation “pupil” typically applies to elementary and kindergarten students, generally those 12 years old and younger.

“Intensive operations are ongoing to secure the safe return of the remaining eight victims and apprehend the perpetrators,” Fanwo said.

School-based abductions have become a defining characteristic of safety concerns across Africa’s largest country by population. Security experts note that criminal organizations view educational institutions and their students as “strategic” targets for maximum public impact.

The West African nation faces widespread security challenges, particularly across northern territories where militant activity has persisted for over ten years.

Key Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram along with its splinter group ISWAP. Additionally, the Islamic State-affiliated Lakurawa organization operates in northwestern border communities adjacent to Niger.

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister Reza Talaei-Nik engaged in diplomatic discussions with top defense officials from Russia and Belarus on Monday, according to state media reports from the region.

The Iranian official first met with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov in Kyrgyzstan, where the Russian minister emphasized Moscow’s established stance that Middle Eastern conflicts must be settled through diplomatic channels only. Belousov expressed confidence that Russia and Iran would maintain their mutual support, as reported by the state-run TASS news agency.

Talaei-Nik subsequently visited Belarus, a key Russian ally, for discussions with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin about the current Middle East crisis. According to Belarus’ Defense Ministry, as cited by the state BelTA news agency, both leaders reached consensus that the only path forward involves “a return to the sphere of a political-diplomatic settlement and the intensification of the process of negotiations.”

The Belarusian ministry’s statement indicated the talks “confirmed the mutual interest of Minsk and Tehran for a further deepening of their joint interaction.”

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a separate meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Putin commended the Iranian people for their efforts to maintain independence despite pressure from the United States and Israel, pledging that Moscow would provide all possible assistance to Tehran.

A heated diplomatic exchange erupted at the United Nations on Monday when Iran was chosen to serve as one of 34 vice presidents for a major nuclear non-proliferation conference, drawing sharp criticism from American officials.

The month-long gathering to examine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty began at UN headquarters in New York. Vietnam’s UN Ambassador Do Hung Viet, who chairs the conference, announced that Iran received its nomination from “the group of non-aligned and other states.”

Christopher Yeaw, who leads the US Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, strongly condemned Iran’s appointment during the proceedings.

“It is indisputable that Iran has long demonstrated its contempt for the non-proliferation commitments of the NPT,” Yeaw stated, adding that Tehran has refused to work with the UN nuclear watchdog to address concerns about its atomic activities.

Yeaw characterized Iran’s selection as “beyond shameful and an embarrassment to the credibility of this conference” and called it an “affront” to the treaty itself.

Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, fired back at the American criticism.

“It is indefensible that United States, as the only state ever to have used nuclear weapons, and the one that continues to expand and modernize its nuclear arsenal… seeks to position itself as an arbitrator of the compliance,” Najafi responded, dismissing the US statements as “baseless and politically motivated.”

The nuclear dispute remains central to the ongoing two-month conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. President Donald Trump emphasized again on Sunday that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Tehran has consistently maintained that it only wants to enrich uranium for peaceful energy purposes, while Western nations worry the material could be weaponized. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, though both the IAEA and US intelligence agencies have concluded that Tehran operated a nuclear weapons development program until shutting it down in 2003.

Iranian sources revealed on Monday that Tehran has proposed a new framework to resolve the current crisis, suggesting that nuclear program discussions be postponed until the war ends and Gulf shipping disputes are settled.

Following a Monday meeting with his national security team about the conflict, Trump’s administration made clear its position remains firm. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that “the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that she does not anticipate diplomatic tensions with the United States following the deaths of two CIA operatives in an accident within Chihuahua state — operatives who Mexico claims lacked proper authorization to conduct activities on Mexican territory.

Speaking at her regular morning press conference, Sheinbaum indicated her desire to put the incident behind both nations, though she emphasized her expectation that the U.S. will honor Mexico’s constitutional framework and national security regulations in future operations.

“Let us hope this is an exceptional case … and that a situation like this never happens again,” she said.

According to Mexico’s Ministry of Security, which released information Saturday, one American operative had crossed into Mexico with visitor status, while the second had used diplomatic credentials for entry. Officials stressed they had no knowledge of foreign intelligence personnel conducting operations within Mexican borders.

The CIA has refused to provide any statement regarding the matter.

Sources familiar with the intelligence operation confirmed to The Associated Press last week that the deceased Americans were indeed CIA personnel, though they requested anonymity given the classified nature of the circumstances.

The Trump administration and Mexican officials previously established a framework last year designed to facilitate coordination and information sharing on security matters while maintaining respect for both nations’ sovereignty.

Sheinbaum emphasized Monday that complete transparency regarding the Chihuahua operation remains necessary, calling on the Attorney General’s Office and other relevant agencies to pursue the matter following upcoming Senate discussions.

Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos, a leading opposition politician, has been summoned to appear in Mexico City Tuesday along with State Attorney César Jáuregui for testimony.

The presence of CIA and Drug Enforcement Administration personnel in Mexico has generated disputes for many years. These operations typically become public knowledge only when incidents occur — similar to a 2012 shooting involving a U.S. Embassy vehicle near Mexico City that left two CIA operatives injured.

BAGHDAD — A prominent Iraqi parliamentary coalition selected Ali al-Zaidi, a banking executive with no previous government experience, as their choice for the nation’s next prime minister on Monday.

The Coordination Framework, which represents a group of Shiite political parties with ties to Iran, made the announcement following discussions at the government palace. The decision concluded weeks of internal negotiations among coalition members as they sought to identify a consensus candidate to head Iraq’s upcoming administration.

Despite having support from the leading parliamentary group, the proposed government still faces uncertainty in securing the necessary legislative approval.

The coalition had initially indicated support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the U.S. government considers too closely aligned with Iran. President Donald Trump openly opposed al-Maliki’s potential appointment and warned of possible aid cuts to Iraq if he received the position.

Though al-Maliki maintained his stance following Trump’s public objection, the coalition ultimately chose to pursue a different candidate to break the impasse.

In their official statement naming al-Zaidi, the Coordination Framework expressed gratitude to both al-Maliki and current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for their “historic and responsible positions” in stepping aside to help resolve the political stalemate. Al-Sudani released his own statement offering congratulations to al-Zaidi.

Al-Zaidi, who serves as chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, gained prominence during the final rounds of candidate discussions due to his financial expertise and relationships within Iraq’s business and investment communities. He has never served in an elected or appointed government role.

After receiving the nomination, al-Zaidi pledged to work toward making Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally.”

“This appointment comes at a sensitive time that requires concerted efforts from all political and social forces,” he stated.

According to Iraq’s constitutional framework, the nominated prime minister must present a complete Cabinet proposal to parliament within 30 days, requiring approval from at least 167 lawmakers to gain official confirmation.

The incoming administration will need to address significant challenges stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has affected Iraqi territory, while disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz have impacted the oil revenue that forms the backbone of Iraq’s economy.

Additional obstacles facing the new government include addressing widespread corruption, managing armed groups operating outside official state control, and determining the role of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a collection of Shiite militia groups that technically fall under Iraqi military command but largely operate independently.

DAKAR, Senegal — A devastating series of coordinated strikes by extremist militants and separatist forces has rocked Mali in what security experts are calling the most extensive terrorist operation the West African nation has witnessed in more than ten years.

The weekend offensive presents a significant test for Russia’s expanding influence in the region, as Mali’s military leadership has increasingly relied on Moscow for security assistance while severing ties with traditional Western partners including France.

Security analysts described Monday how the scope of the weekend violence was extraordinary, both in terms of the number of simultaneous targets and their strategic importance, though government officials have yet to provide official casualty figures.

The coordinated strikes hit multiple locations simultaneously throughout Mali — targeting Bamako’s main airport, the military stronghold of Kati nearby, and several key cities in the country’s northern and central regions including Kidal and Sevare. A car bombing near the capital claimed the life of Mali’s defense minister at his residence.

According to the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, fighters have successfully seized control of Kidal, the strategically important northern city whose previous capture by similar rebel alliances more than a decade ago triggered the current security crisis.

Mali sits within the Sahel region, an expansive territory below the Sahara Desert that has emerged as the global epicenter for extremist violence in recent years.

Data from the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Terrorism Index shows this region now represents 51% of all violent extremism fatalities worldwide, a dramatic increase from just 1% two decades earlier. Since 2019, deaths from extremist attacks have surged nearly ten times over.

For more than a decade, Mali has struggled with militants connected to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside a persistent separatist insurgency in its northern territories.

This marks the second time Tuareg separatists and jihadist organizations have joined forces. Their previous collaboration in 2012 resulted in the capture of much of northern Mali, leading to governmental collapse and ultimately requiring French military intervention.

The al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM, known formally as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, has significantly expanded its operations recently, capturing extensive territory and implementing a fuel blockade around Mali’s capital. The group maintains active operations in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, while extending its reach into coastal nations including Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo.

JNIM approached the weekend offensive with substantial financial resources. The organization generates revenue through local taxation, cattle theft, and control over natural resources like gold mining operations, while using siege tactics, kidnappings and explosives to dominate transportation corridors.

According to Ulf Laessing, who heads the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the group possessed a “full war chest” before launching the attacks, reportedly after collecting at least $50 million in ransom payments for releasing an Emirati member of Dubai’s royal family and two business associates who were kidnapped near Bamako last year.

In Mali’s northern region, Tuareg-led separatist movements have maintained a long-running campaign to establish an independent nation called Azawad. These groups consolidated in 2024 to form the Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, which collaborated with JNIM during the weekend assault.

Despite fundamental ideological disagreements, JNIM and the FLA share common objectives in forcing Mali’s military from territories they control in the north and center, while also seeking to expel Russian fighters supporting Mali’s security operations, explained Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at Morocco’s Policy Center for the New South.

Military leaders who seized power through coups now govern Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, having promised citizens improved security while condemning previous democratic governments as corrupt and overly dependent on France.

Even with years of French military deployment and U.N. peacekeeping efforts, terrorist incidents had increased since 2014, government territorial control had eroded, and civilian casualties had mounted, creating the public frustration that enabled military takeovers.

These nations have pivoted toward Russia for security partnerships while expelling traditional allies including U.S. forces and U.N. peacekeeping missions, establishing their own regional security arrangement called the Alliance of Sahel States.

Mali’s primary security partner is now the Africa Corps, a newly established Russian military formation answering directly to Moscow’s defense ministry. Security analysts estimate approximately 2,000 Russian troops are currently deployed in the country.

However, the Sahel’s security situation has deteriorated since military governments assumed power beginning with Mali in 2020, with analysts reporting record numbers of attacks and civilian deaths from both Islamic militants and government forces.

Laessing noted that French forces and U.N. peacekeepers had effectively compensated for the largely absent state presence, especially in central and northern Mali. Their departure reduced employment opportunities for locals, making them more vulnerable to jihadist recruitment efforts.

Russian assistance has proven insufficient to address this gap, with their forces now retreating. On Monday, Africa Corps announced via Telegram that its fighters had withdrawn from Kidal, just two days after an FLA spokesperson declared their forces had assumed control.

Kidal remains central to Mali’s ongoing security crisis. In 2012, Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups captured the city along with most of northern Mali. When Malian government forces and Russian Wagner group mercenaries retook the city in 2023, it represented a major victory.

The FLA announced Saturday it had negotiated an agreement permitting Africa Corps forces and the Malian army to withdraw from Kidal, with a convoy departing under rebel protection from the former U.N. peacekeeping facility.

In recent months, JNIM has systematically targeted fuel tankers traveling from Senegal and Ivory Coast, creating a crisis in Bamako even before Middle East conflicts tightened global fuel markets.

Fuel shortages resulted in extensive lines at gas stations, while the Malian military began escorting some fuel convoys to the capital for limited relief.

A temporary ceasefire was established in late March but subsequently failed. Attacks on supply routes resumed before the weekend offensive.

Analysts believe JNIM’s strategy involves using the blockade to pressure businesses and residents to withdraw support from Mali’s military leadership, weakening the government’s credibility and control. However, experts suggest the militants do not appear interested in assuming power themselves.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Stage construction for Shakira’s highly anticipated weekend performance on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Copacabana Beach got back underway Monday, one day after work stopped following the tragic death of a construction worker at the site.

The Colombian superstar has remained silent regarding the workplace fatality that claimed the life of a crew member.

Police reports indicate that Gabriel de Jesus Firmino, age 28 and working as a locksmith, lost his life Sunday when two stage lift mechanisms crushed him after another employee accidentally triggered the machinery. Detective Ângelo Lages informed reporters that authorities are examining the Brazilian staging company for potential violations of worker safety protocols.

The Grammy-winning artist, who has been touring internationally for the first time since 2018 in what has become a record-breaking world tour, plans to perform without charge this Saturday evening at the renowned beach venue. The location previously hosted Lady Gaga’s free performance last year, which drew an estimated 2 million spectators in what became the pop star’s largest audience ever.

Beachgoers interviewed at the scene expressed sympathy for the deceased worker’s family while supporting the decision to continue with the planned show.

“It is a sad thing that this happened,” said Anita Costa, a 41-year-old singer, as she strolled near the stage on Monday morning. “But the concert should go on.”

Event promoters released a statement Monday offering their condolences and expressing solidarity with the construction company, its employees, and the family affected by what they called a tragic workplace incident.

The terrorist organization Islamic State announced Monday that it was behind a deadly assault in Nigeria’s Adamawa state that left a minimum of 29 people dead, according to a declaration the group made through the Telegram messaging platform.

The acknowledgment of responsibility came through an official statement released by ISIS on Monday, confirming their involvement in the violent incident that occurred in the northeastern Nigerian state.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Security fears are mounting in Colombia as rebel forces have unleashed a series of devastating attacks in the nation’s southwest, just weeks before voters head to the polls in a May presidential race where public safety tops the agenda.

Since Friday, insurgent organizations have carried out 26 strikes using explosives and unmanned aircraft, Colombia’s defense ministry reports. The deadliest incident occurred Saturday when a bomb detonated along a major highway connecting Cali and Popayan, claiming 21 lives by Monday’s count.

The southwestern territory has long been plagued by conflict, with criminal organizations battling for decades to dominate this strategic zone that serves their illegal enterprises — from unlawful mining operations to narcotics smuggling and coca plant cultivation used in cocaine production.

Officials have identified the FARC-EMC organization as responsible for the fatal highway bombing near a Pan-American Highway tunnel. This faction operates under Nestor Vera, better known as Iván Mordisco, a former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia fighter who rejected the government’s 2016 peace agreement.

Political risk expert Sergio Guzmán, based in Bogota, believes Mordisco’s organization may be showcasing its destructive capabilities while working to “establish its credibility” with Colombia’s incoming administration for potential future negotiations.

“Part of what they are doing is establishing leverage towards the future,” Guzmán said.

Current President Gustavo Petro, himself a former guerrilla fighter, has pursued dialogue with remaining insurgent factions through his “total peace” initiative.

His administration has extended ceasefire offers to multiple organizations hoping to advance peace discussions, though experts argue this approach has backfired by allowing these groups to reorganize, reequip, and tighten their community control.

Organizations such as the FARC-EMC impose taxes on residents in territories they occupy while forcing young people into their military ranks.

“The government’s peace policy has been naïve,” said Javier Garay, a political science professor at Colombia’s Externado University. “They thought that if they had a condescending attitude towards these groups they would receive a positive response.”

The FARC-EMC began peace discussions with Colombian officials in late 2023, but Mordisco’s wing withdrew from negotiations in April 2024 and has maintained armed resistance since.

International Crisis Group Colombia expert Elizabeth Dickinson notes that Mordisco’s forces maintain particular strength in Cauca and Valle del Cauca provinces, where they compete for control over drug smuggling corridors and illegal gold extraction sites.

For two years, Mordisco’s fighters have employed drone strikes and vehicle bombs to counter Colombian military operations in the Micay Canyon, an isolated coca-growing region under FARC-EMC influence.

According to Dickinson, these recent southwestern attacks demonstrate the group’s ability to maintain its “asymmetrical war” against government forces.

Colombia’s defense minister announced Sunday that rebel-imposed kidnappings and community lockdowns in Cauca have declined over the past year due to government interventions.

However, opposition politicians have criticized the total peace approach and hope to capitalize on security concerns by promising stricter anti-crime measures.

Constitutional term limits prevent Petro from seeking reelection, but his party’s nominee, Iván Cepeda, has pledged to continue rebel negotiations.

Cepeda condemned the recent southwestern violence on social media, calling for investigations into whether the attacks aim to disrupt the electoral process.

“It is worrying that these terrorist actions are happening in a region where there is ample support for our political project,” Cepeda said.

Colombian citizens will select from 14 presidential candidates on May 31, including Cepeda and conservative contenders Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia.

While Cepeda supports continuing Petro’s “total peace” strategy, his conservative opponents advocate confronting rebel groups with increased military force before resuming any peace negotiations.

Guzmán observed that this weekend’s violence “deepens the discomfort” with Colombia’s security climate — where a presidential candidate was murdered last year — but both political camps will attempt to benefit from the renewed conflict.

“Government supporters will use the attacks as an opportunity to say that that this is exactly why we need to reach urgent agreements with (rebel) groups,” Guzmán said. “Detractors will say this is why we need to more aggressively attack them.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed Israeli forces on Saturday to intensify military operations against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, sparking fears that the delicate ceasefire agreement may be on the verge of collapse just under two weeks since it began.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Prime Minister commanded the Israel Defense Forces to target Hezbollah with increased force throughout Lebanon. Military officials reported eliminating over 15 Hezbollah militants during weekend operations while destroying military facilities throughout Lebanon’s southern region. Israeli commanders stated they would continue responding to security threats based on directives from the nation’s political leaders.

The current truce represents a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Lebanon, though it has failed to completely stop Israeli military actions against Hezbollah. Israeli officials maintain their nation reserves the authority to respond to direct security threats and Hezbollah military operations near the border, while Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah consider ongoing Israeli airstrikes, demolition activities, and military presence in southern Lebanese territory as breaches of the ceasefire terms.

Reports from Lebanese news outlets described extensive Israeli military operations throughout the southern region, with attacks targeting Hadatha, Zebqine, Bazourieh, Al Sultaniyah, and the Dabsha area near Khirbet Selm. Casualties included one fatality and one injury from an Israeli airstrike in Hadatha on Saturday evening, following two earlier strikes on the same community during the day.

Israeli military forces also conducted a planned demolition operation in Khiam, while Lebanese sources reported that troops removed solar panel installations and caused damage to municipal equipment in Debel.

Israeli security personnel expressed concerns about potential ceasefire failure, according to reporting by Kan TV News. The report indicated Israel seeks American assistance in encouraging Lebanese military forces to take stronger action against Hezbollah in areas north of the Israeli-maintained security zone in southern Lebanon.

The ceasefire agreement took effect during the night of April 16-17 following extended combat operations connected to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the current 10-day pause in hostilities would continue for an additional three-week period.

Hezbollah, which receives support from Iran, represents Lebanon’s most powerful armed organization. Israeli officials have declared they will prevent the group from reestablishing military installations near Israel’s northern frontier.

US military officials announced Saturday that naval forces have turned away 37 vessels and seized control of a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea as part of President Trump’s ongoing maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports, escalating tensions following unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations in Pakistan.

According to US Central Command, the merchant ship Sevan was “complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort.” Military officials described the action as part of ongoing operations to implement US sanctions and maintain the blockade.

The naval restrictions were implemented by President Trump on April 12 following unsuccessful negotiations with Iranian officials in Islamabad. The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, serves as a critical pathway for global oil shipments, meaning any military conflict in the area could significantly impact worldwide energy supplies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a stern warning, stating that “any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade.”

Iran’s primary military command center, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated Saturday that Tehran would retaliate if Washington persisted with what officials characterized as “blockade, banditry and piracy” in the region.

The maritime confrontation intensified as diplomatic efforts appeared to collapse. President Trump announced Saturday that he had called off a scheduled visit by US officials to Islamabad for additional negotiations with Iran. This decision has undermined Pakistan’s mediation attempts and heightened pressure in an already volatile regional situation.

The American blockade represents the culmination of months of escalating tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities, sanctions implementation, and maritime traffic through the Gulf region. Tehran has historically viewed the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic asset, while Washington has worked to block Iranian oil sales and weapons shipments from reaching global markets.

A 19-year-old Israeli soldier lost his life Sunday when Hezbollah militants targeted troops with an explosive drone in southern Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Sgt. Idan Fooks from Petah Tikva died during military operations within what Israel considers a security zone. The attack also left six fellow soldiers injured, military officials confirmed.

Fooks was a member of the 77th Battalion within the 7th Armored Brigade and received a posthumous promotion from corporal to sergeant. Among the wounded were one officer and three soldiers listed in serious condition, with another soldier in moderate condition and one with minor injuries.

Military investigators report that Fooks’ unit was attempting to repair a disabled tank near the village of Taybeh when the explosive-laden drone detonated nearby. During the medical evacuation by Israeli Air Force helicopter, Hezbollah deployed two more drones – one was shot down while the second crashed without causing additional harm.

The militant group took credit for the assault, stating it was retaliation for what they described as Israeli ceasefire violations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by charging Hezbollah with “dismantling the ceasefire” and vowed that Israel would maintain its commitments to agreements made with the United States and Lebanon. Netanyahu declared that Israel would counter attacks, prevent immediate dangers, and address developing threats.

This violence occurred amid a tenuous Israel-Lebanon truce that began April 17 and received a three-week extension from President Donald Trump last week. Israel maintains it has authority under this agreement to respond to planned, imminent, or active threats.

Following the drone attack, Israeli forces conducted air raids and artillery bombardments targeting Hezbollah personnel and facilities throughout southern Lebanon, hitting rocket teams, an arms storage site, and structures operated by the organization. Fooks’ burial service is scheduled for Monday in Petah Tikva.

Palestinian voters made history Saturday as they participated in municipal elections that included Gaza for the first time in more than 22 years. The voting occurred exclusively in Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza city, while Hamas – the territory’s de facto ruler – chose not to participate directly.

Election officials set up 12 voting locations using fiberglass tents throughout Deir al-Balah on Saturday morning. The campaign period lasted 14 days, running from April 10 through April 24.

Officials selected Deir al-Balah for two key reasons. The city experienced less destruction during the ongoing conflict compared to Gaza City, Khan Yunis, or Rafah, making election logistics feasible. Additionally, the city remains under Hamas administration on the western side of the Yellow Line that divides Gaza, allowing the Palestinian Authority to establish presence in Hamas-controlled territory without challenging the approximately 53% of the Strip now under Israeli military control.

No voting occurred in areas under Israeli control.

The election carried significance beyond the city’s size. An entire generation of Gaza residents has reached adulthood without ever voting. Anyone younger than 39 has never experienced casting a ballot.

Hamas has directly appointed all mayors and council members across Gaza municipalities since 2007, treating local leadership as internal appointments rather than allowing residents to choose. Saturday marked the first time in 22 years that a Gaza community selected its own leaders through voting. Despite Hamas police continuing to patrol Deir al-Balah streets, the organization stepped aside during the election process. Hamas officers secured polling station perimeters, though election officials stated they had not coordinated directly with either Hamas or Israel beforehand.

Some observers criticized the election timing, arguing that stepping aside did not guarantee voter freedom. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Gaza-born senior resident fellow at the Atlantic Council who leads the council’s Realign for Palestine project, described the decision to conduct elections now as “extremely reckless and irresponsible.” In social media posts before the vote, Alkhatib stated that “Gazans are being arrested, jailed, tortured, shot, and killed daily for social media posts and anything they say that’s perceived as being critical of Hamas,” arguing elections should wait until after the Board of Peace enforces disarmament.

“I’m very happy to be voting in local elections for the first time in my life,” Ahmed al-Buhaisi, a Deir al-Balah resident, told The Media Line. “This is a moment we have been waiting for a long time, because every citizen has the right to have a voice in choosing who represents them. This right has been denied to us for more than two decades. Today, I feel I am exercising my natural role as a citizen. I hope this step marks a real beginning for change.”

The elections covered 183 West Bank councils plus Deir al-Balah. Approximately 522,000 of roughly 1.03 million eligible Palestinians voted, according to the Central Elections Commission. Another 197 councils had uncontested candidates, primarily from Fatah.

Commission Chair Rami Hamdallah announced final results Sunday. In Deir al-Balah, the “Deir al-Balah Renaissance” list, supported by Abbas’ Fatah movement, captured six of 15 council seats. The “Future of Deir al-Balah” list earned five seats. The “Peace and Building” list secured two seats. A fourth list, “Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together,” widely viewed by residents and analysts as Hamas-aligned, won two seats. The newly elected council will select the mayor from among its members.

For the Palestinian Authority, conducting simultaneous elections in the West Bank and Deir al-Balah demonstrated unified governance across both territories. The Fatah-led authority has lacked real influence in Gaza since Hamas expelled it in 2007. The PA used the occasion to assert its position as the sole Palestinian institution capable of organizing voting in both territories simultaneously.

Voter participation in Deir al-Balah reached 22.7%, with 15,962 of 70,449 eligible voters casting ballots – the lowest rate among Palestinian voting areas. Hamdallah attributed the low figure to an outdated civil registry that fails to account for thousands of residents killed in the war or entire families who fled the city. West Bank turnout hit 56%, slightly below the 58% recorded in the previous local elections in 2022, the most recent time West Bank Palestinians voted. Salfit Governorate recorded the highest turnout at 71%.

Polls closed at 5 p.m. in Deir al-Balah, two hours earlier than in the West Bank, allowing vote counting to complete before darkness in a city lacking reliable electricity. Gaza workers constructed approximately 100 wooden ballot boxes from locally available materials and printed ballots locally after Israeli authorities blocked standard election supplies at border crossings, the commission reported. Officials used blue ink remaining from last year’s polio vaccination campaign to mark voters’ fingers.

The election proceeded under new legislation that Abbas signed on November 19, 2025. Decree-Law No. 23 of 2025 reduced the candidacy age to 23 to increase youth participation, established four-year council terms, and required candidates to pledge commitment to the Palestine Liberation Organization program, which includes recognizing Israel and accepting previous PLO agreements.

Hamas, which did not field candidates, condemned the legislation in December as an attempt to exclude the movement and independents from local government. Twenty-eight Palestinian civil society organizations called the PLO-pledge requirement a restriction on political expression. Each of the four Deir al-Balah lists presented 15 candidates, with at least four women on each slate as required by the new law. Across the West Bank, 3,773 candidates competed for municipal seats and 1,358 for village councils. Women comprised about one-third of declared candidates and led eight lists. Women won 33% of contested council seats overall.

President Mahmoud Abbas, 90, voted at the al-Mustaqbal al-Saleh School in al-Bireh, the West Bank city adjacent to the Palestinian Authority’s Ramallah headquarters. “We are very pleased that we are able to practice democracy despite all the difficulties we face locally and internationally,” he told reporters at the polling station. He announced the local elections would be followed this year by Fatah movement elections and a Palestinian National Council vote, his first public commitment to a national-level electoral calendar in two decades. Abbas was last elected to a four-year term in 2005 and has not faced a presidential election since.

Yusuf al-Slaibi, who supervised the polling station at Anan Stadium in Deir al-Balah, told the Palestinian Authority’s official Wafa news agency that turnout was “satisfactory” considering the circumstances. Wafa reported heavier participation in the city’s western neighborhoods, including the refugee camp, central mosque area, and Nakhil Street, compared to eastern polling stations near Salah al-Din Street, which runs along the Strip’s main north-south corridor closer to the Yellow Line.

The election took place in a city that lost its previous mayor a year and a half ago. In December 2024, an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Deir al-Balah municipality building, killing Mayor Diab al-Jarou and staff members. The new council will govern a city of approximately 75,000 residents that now shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians from throughout the Strip.

The Media Line interviewed Faten Harb, a winning candidate on the Renaissance list, who described holding simultaneous elections in the West Bank and Gaza as “an important development and reflects Palestinian unity.” She highlighted urgent needs in the city, including basic services and humanitarian conditions.

“We face major challenges in Deir al-Balah, with urgent priorities such as securing water and electricity, improving sewage services, tackling the spread of rodents, and dealing with solid waste,” Harb said.

“In addition, the displacement crisis remains one of the most pressing challenges,” she added. “The city hosts more than 40,000 displaced people, which requires special attention to ensure they are accommodated and that their basic needs are met.”

The elections also renewed longstanding questions about political control in Gaza and Hamas’ role, as the organization has governed the Strip since its armed takeover in 2007.

Gaza’s previous local elections occurred in late 2004 and early 2005, before Hamas won the January 2006 legislative election. International donors refused to recognize the Hamas-led government, and in June 2007, the movement seized complete control of the Strip following armed conflicts with Fatah forces. The territories have conducted no national elections since then. The division between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority has repeatedly delayed or prevented municipal voting in Gaza over the years.

Despite boycotting the current election and not presenting official candidates, Hamas remained central to how many residents interpreted the vote. Two candidates on “Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together” had previously been photographed with Hamas officials or Hamas-run police members, according to the Center for Peace Communications.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem characterized the Deir al-Balah vote as “an important step” and advocated for broader elections at all levels to “rebuild Palestinian legitimacy” after more than two decades without national polls. He said the process should reflect “the will of the people” and emphasized coordination to ensure a “fair and transparent vote.”

Qassem’s democratic renewal call came from a movement that seized power in Gaza through force. After winning the January 2006 legislative election, Hamas refused to share governance with Fatah and, in June 2007, defeated Palestinian Authority security forces in six days of street fighting that killed more than 160 Palestinians. Fighters threw opponents from rooftops in Gaza City. In subsequent years, Hamas conducted no additional elections, imprisoned Fatah organizers, assaulted journalists covering internal dissent, and shot demonstrators during the 2019 “We Want To Live” protests against living costs. Alkhatib, of the Atlantic Council, stated this month that Gazans critical of the movement on social media continue to be “arrested, jailed, tortured, shot, and killed daily.” Qassem’s statement did not reference the movement’s December opposition to the underlying election law.

The statement came two days before Hamas negotiators were scheduled to resume Cairo talks on Monday with Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace’s Gaza envoy, regarding the group’s weapons.

Hamas officials have indicated they will surrender thousands of automatic rifles and other small arms carried by the police and internal security services of the Hamas government. Those weapons would transfer to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and to a new Palestinian police force operating under the Board of Peace. The same officials say they have already prepared to integrate former Hamas government employees into the new security structure.

Hamas has not offered the arsenal of its armed wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. Negotiators have made no commitment regarding the tunnel network, rockets, drones, and anti-tank missiles the wing still possesses, or the underground workshops producing heavy weapons. Israeli officials estimated this week that the Qassam Brigades have rebuilt their ranks to roughly 27,000 fighters during the ceasefire, while Hamas continues paying monthly salaries to about 49,000 administrators who manage the Strip’s daily governance across 13 municipalities, including ministries handling economy, education, health, and welfare.

The disarmament discussions follow two weeks of renewed tensions and mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. Israeli authorities reported multiple incidents involving Palestinian factions between April 8 and 16, while continuing targeted strikes in Gaza. Palestinian officials and residents say some strikes have hit populated areas, including an April 23 attack on a police vehicle in Khan Yunis that killed eight people, including three civilian bystanders.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 984 Palestinians have died since the October ceasefire began. Israeli authorities say attacks by Palestinian fighters during the same period have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Hamas is also confronting other Palestinian armed groups, including the Popular Forces, which Israel began arming in 2024 and which has remained active despite the December killing of the network’s original founder, Yasser Abu Shabab of the Tarabin tribe. Smaller groups led by former PA security officers Hussam al-Astal and Shawqi Abu Nasira operate in eastern Khan Yunis.

On April 20, Astal’s fighters crossed from Israeli-controlled territory into a Hamas-held area east of Khan Yunis and exchanged fire with Hamas, which struck the retreating armed group’s vehicle with an anti-tank grenade.

“It is unfortunate to see individuals known for supporting Hamas included on one of the lists,” Hala Saeed, a Deir al-Balah resident who chose not to vote, told The Media Line. “This raises doubts about attempts by Hamas to return to power through indirect means and increases the sense of concern and mistrust among residents.”

“I don’t believe these elections will change anything on the ground or improve people’s current conditions,” Saeed said, “especially with the war ongoing and casualties falling every day.”

Two former Israeli Prime Ministers have made a dramatic political move by combining their parties into one unified coalition ahead of the country’s next election.

On Sunday, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid revealed their decision to merge their respective political organizations into a single party called ‘Beyachad,’ which translates to ‘Together’ in Hebrew. Bennett will serve as the leader of this newly formed alliance, which brings together Lapid’s Yesh Atid party with Bennett 2026.

According to a joint statement issued by Bennett’s office, both former leaders characterized this political alliance as representing the initial phase in their mission to restore Israel. They emphasized that this merger would consolidate what they termed the ‘repair bloc’ while eliminating divisive infighting before the election takes place.

‘The move brings about the unification of the repair bloc, puts an end to internal fights, and allows all efforts to be invested in a decisive victory in the upcoming elections and in leading Israel toward the repair it needs,’ the statement said.

In his own communication, Lapid echoed these sentiments, describing the partnership as taking ‘a first step in the process of repairing the State of Israel’ by combining Yesh Atid and Bennett 2026 under Bennett’s guidance. He emphasized that this alliance would enable ‘all those who believe in leading Israel toward the necessary repair’ to concentrate their energy on achieving that objective.

When addressing Yesh Atid party members directly, Lapid characterized his choice as both emotionally driven and tactically sound. He described joining with Bennett as ‘a decision I made wholeheartedly,’ founded primarily on ‘trust and friendship,’ while also citing ‘a shared vision for the future of the state.’ Lapid informed party supporters that the leadership they would witness at the planned press conference represented ‘the future leadership of Israel.’

Lapid also acknowledged that his decision constituted a significant compromise by Israel’s centrist political faction in service of a larger electoral strategy. ‘In order to win the most important elections in Israel’s history, the Israeli center must this time stand behind Bennett,’ he said, describing Bennett as ‘a right-wing leader, but a liberal, decent, law-abiding right-wing leader.’

According to Israeli media sources, the partnership deal was completed just hours before the public announcement, with Bennett and Lapid scheduled to unveil their combined ticket later on Sunday. Both politicians are also working to broaden their coalition, including reaching out to Gadi Eisenkot, who expressed support for the initiative during discussions with Bennett and confirmed their mutual objective of electoral victory.

The new party’s initial marketing materials clearly position Bennett as the primary figure. Campaign graphics identify the coalition as ‘Beyachad, led by Bennett,’ incorporating blue and green color schemes along with clear visual messaging emphasizing unity behind the former prime minister.

As Israel prepares for its upcoming election, this new alliance significantly alters the opposition political environment. Lapid, who has headed Yesh Atid for over ten years, is relinquishing his leadership role to allow Bennett to guide the combined ticket, while Bennett benefits from accessing an established voter base and comprehensive campaign infrastructure.

The question of whether additional political personalities will become part of this framework remains unanswered. Both leaders have suggested they anticipate additional developments in the coming period.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Sunday that he will postpone any decision on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request, stating that negotiations for a plea agreement must be fully explored first in the prime minister’s ongoing corruption case.

According to Herzog’s office, the president views a negotiated settlement between Netanyahu’s legal team and prosecutors as the “proper and correct solution” and believes discussions should take place “outside the walls of the court” before any pardon consideration moves forward. This stance indicates that no clemency decision will come in the near future.

The Israeli Prime Minister, who faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, filed his pardon petition in November. Netanyahu maintains his innocence and claims the charges are politically motivated. His trial started in 2020, marking the first time in Israeli history that a sitting prime minister has faced trial while serving in office. Court proceedings are set to continue this week.

Herzog finds himself caught between intense political pressures from opposing sides. Netanyahu’s allies contend that concluding the trial would help heal national divisions and enable the prime minister to concentrate on Israel’s security challenges. Critics argue that any pardon should require Netanyahu to acknowledge guilt and step away from politics. The Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department has cautioned that stopping an active trial would represent an extraordinary and legally questionable action, particularly without a conviction, guilty plea, or expression of remorse.

US President Donald Trump has made multiple appeals to Herzog requesting Netanyahu’s pardon, including during the recent conflict with Iran when trial proceedings were temporarily suspended. Herzog has consistently stated that any decision must comply with Israeli law and remain free from external influence.

Herzog’s announcement now directs focus toward potential negotiations between Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Hadad, and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whose relationship with the government has become severely strained. The political timeline creates additional pressure, as Israel’s next scheduled election must occur by late October 2026.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called off the traditional mass gathering for Lag B’Omer at Mount Meron, replacing it with a limited symbolic ceremony due to persistent security threats from Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Following discussions with his security cabinet on Sunday evening, Netanyahu made the determination that the May 5th religious celebration could not safely accommodate the thousands of participants who typically attend. Law enforcement will bar public access to the location and establish security perimeters around the site.

Security officials pointed to several factors behind the decision, including persistent rocket attacks, the location’s close proximity to the Lebanese border, and difficulties in conducting mass evacuations should an emergency arise. While Israel and Lebanon have announced a ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah continues launching drone strikes against northern Israeli communities as Israeli forces conduct counter-operations targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon.

Organizers are planning substitute celebrations in safer areas, with a significant gathering planned for the historic site of Shiloh.

In related developments, Israel’s Home Front Command has implemented new restrictions on public assemblies, capping attendance at 1,500 individuals in border communities such as Meron, Bar Yochai, Or HaGanuz and Safsufa. These emergency measures went into effect Sunday evening at 10:30 p.m. and remained active through Monday at 8 p.m.

Community leaders in border areas announced immediate suspension of educational services and public transportation in high-risk zones, going beyond official Home Front Command directives, according to Ynet reporting. These officials stated they would independently implement enhanced “orange” security protocols starting Tuesday.

Saturday marked a historic day for Palestinian voters as they cast ballots in municipal elections throughout the West Bank and in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah community – the first time Gazans have participated in any election in twenty years.

The Palestinian Authority organized these local races in an effort to demonstrate its political credibility amid ongoing conflict, Israeli limitations, Hamas staying off the ballot, and widespread public dissatisfaction.

According to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission, West Bank polling concluded at 7 p.m. Saturday with 512,510 qualified voters participating – representing a 53.44% voter participation rate. Commission officials reported smooth operations with no significant irregularities documented. The commission planned to release initial outcomes Sunday afternoon from its Al-Bireh headquarters, the city next to Ramallah that houses part of the Palestinian Authority’s government operations. Vote tallies are typically processed at local sites before being consolidated and released by the central election authority.

On Sunday, Fatah – the political organization headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas – declared widespread success, announcing victories in most municipal councils, including Jenin, and establishing 197 city and village councils through agreements with other political groups.

In Gaza, the electoral process held greater symbolic meaning. Approximately 70,000 residents were qualified to participate in Deir al-Balah, with authorities characterizing the election as an experimental initiative to politically reunite Gaza with the West Bank. This location was selected because it represented one of the limited areas in Gaza where election logistics could be managed following the conflict. Election administrators reported being unable to transport regular voting supplies into Gaza, requiring makeshift solutions.

The voting occurred within a constrained political landscape. Hamas chose not to formally compete, while multiple Palestinian organizations opposed new candidate eligibility rules connected to the Palestine Liberation Organization’s platform. Opposition voices argued that numerous races lacked competition or were controlled by Fatah-supported candidates, reducing the electoral process’s competitive significance.

Despite these limitations, the elections maintained practical significance. Municipal councils manage essential community services including water systems, street maintenance, power infrastructure, garbage removal, and construction licensing – everyday administrative responsibilities that have faced increased pressure due to warfare, economic difficulties, and Israeli travel limitations.

Syria commenced a historic public trial Sunday in Damascus, prosecuting a top security official from the previous government in what many view as the start of a transitional justice process following years of civil conflict.

The courtroom proceedings carry symbolic significance as judges issued summonses for both Bashar Assad and his brother Maher Assad, even though they remain absent from the trial. This legal action targets individuals who were previously considered beyond the reach of justice.

The courtroom atmosphere demonstrated the dramatic transformation taking place across Syria. Citizens who had once been hunted by Assad’s security apparatus just years earlier now sat as observers, witnessing what many described as a long-awaited moment of legal reckoning.

This trial marks a significant milestone in Syria’s efforts to address past human rights violations and establish accountability for actions taken during the former regime’s rule.

An Israeli military vehicle accident on Monday left four soldiers wounded, with one in critical condition, according to Israel Defense Forces officials. The incident occurred when a military Humvee rolled over at a facility in southern Israel.

Military officials reported that among the four injured service members, one sustained critical injuries, another received moderate wounds, and two suffered minor injuries. The Israel Defense Forces characterized the event as an operational accident.

All wounded soldiers received immediate medical evacuation to hospital facilities, and military personnel contacted their family members, the IDF confirmed.

In a separate development on Sunday, Israeli forces announced they had located and begun destroying an underground tunnel network in Gaza spanning roughly 800 meters. Military officials said the subterranean passage contained sleeping areas, combat gear, and weaponry.

The IDF reported that soldiers were working to dismantle the tunnel complex, which housed equipment including tactical vests and rocket weaponry linked to the Islamic Jihad organization.

Israeli forces also reported eliminating Hamas operatives during Sunday’s mission in the region. Military officials stated that one of those killed had taken part in the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The IDF said other Hamas fighters eliminated in the operation were allegedly preparing strikes against Israeli troops.

JUBA, South Sudan — Fourteen people died Monday when a small Cessna aircraft went down near South Sudan’s capital city, according to the country’s civil aviation officials.

The flight was traveling from Yei town when it crashed approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Juba, killing all passengers and crew members on board, aviation authorities reported.

Initial investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions creating limited visibility may have contributed to the fatal accident, officials stated.

Among the victims were two individuals from Kenya, while the remaining passengers were citizens of South Sudan, the aviation authority confirmed.

Emergency response teams were sent to the crash location to investigate the scene.

Social media footage from the accident site revealed the aircraft’s wreckage engulfed in flames in what appeared to be a mountainous area shrouded in mist.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A deadly railway collision occurred Monday when a long-distance passenger train crashed into a stationary commuter train at a station near Indonesia’s capital, resulting in at least three fatalities.

“There are 29 victims who have been evacuated to three nearby hospitals,” Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri told reporters at the scene in the suburb of Bekasi.

According to officials, the investigation into the crash has begun. The Argo Bromo Anggrek long-distance service rear-ended a commuter train that had stopped at Bekasi Timur Station, causing significant destruction to the impacted car.

The damaged railway car had been reserved exclusively for female passengers, a safety measure commonly used to prevent harassment on public transportation.

Social media videos and local news broadcasts captured chaotic scenes as passengers fled the station platform. Emergency workers and local residents worked together to help evacuate people from the damaged train cars, while crowds of worried family members gathered at the station seeking information about loved ones.

Anne Purba, vice president for corporate communications at PT Kereta Api Indonesia, the government-owned railway operator, released a public apology to passengers.

“At this time, all efforts are focused on evacuating passengers and crew, as well as assisting victims at the scene, with safety as the top priority,” Purba said in a statement.

According to Purba, the incident has caused significant disruptions to commuter railway operations throughout the region.

This latest incident underscores persistent safety challenges facing Indonesia’s deteriorating rail infrastructure. Just last January, another train collision in West Java province claimed four lives.

Previous major accidents include a 2013 crash in West Java where a passenger train struck a minibus at an unprotected crossing, killing 13 people. In 2010, a Jakarta train collided with the back of another train stopped at a Central Java station, resulting in 36 deaths.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan authorities report that missile and mortar attacks launched from Pakistan on Monday targeted a university campus and residential neighborhoods in the country’s northeast, leaving seven dead and at least 85 injured. Pakistani officials have rejected claims they struck educational facilities.

Monday’s bombardment marks the initial major violence following Chinese-brokered peace negotiations between the neighboring nations in early April.

The two countries have been locked in deadly cross-border conflict for months, resulting in hundreds of casualties since late February when Afghanistan conducted retaliatory strikes against Pakistan following Pakistani air raids on Afghan territory. Pakistan had previously announced it was engaged in open warfare with Afghanistan, creating an escalation that concerned the global community.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting called Afghan media accounts and government claims about university attacks “a blatant lie.”

Pakistani leadership maintains that Afghanistan provides sanctuary to extremist groups conducting lethal operations within Pakistan, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, referred to as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. This organization operates independently from but maintains ties with the Afghan Taliban, which assumed control of Afghanistan in 2021 after the turbulent departure of U.S.-led forces. Afghan officials reject these allegations.

Representatives from both nations convened in Urumqi in western China during early April, reaching agreements to avoid further escalation and “explore a comprehensive solution,” according to Chinese government statements following the mediated discussions.

The Monday assault represents the first significant attack following those talks, demonstrating the fragile state of international peace mediation efforts. Beyond China, several other nations have participated in diplomatic efforts between the two countries at different times, including Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Combat activities had largely decreased in March after both sides announced a temporary ceasefire for the Muslim celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which concludes the holy month of Ramadan. This pause came after a devastating Pakistani air attack on March 17 targeting a drug rehabilitation center in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, which Afghan officials said resulted in more than 400 civilian deaths. Pakistan denied deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and contested the casualty figures.

However, intermittent border skirmishes persisted even during the diplomatic meetings in Urumqi.

Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported that Monday’s mortar and missile bombardment hit Asadabad, the provincial capital of Kunar Province, along with multiple locations in another district within the province during afternoon hours.

Kunar Information and Culture Director Najibullah Hanafi confirmed seven fatalities with 85 people injured.

Fitrat indicated that casualties included women, children and students from Sayed Jamaluddin Afghani University, characterizing the attacks as “an unforgivable war crime, barbarity, and provocative act.”

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education reported approximately 30 students and faculty members suffered injuries during the university strike, which caused significant structural damage to campus buildings and grounds.

Pakistan’s information ministry issued a statement declaring that “Pakistan’s targeting is precise and intelligence based. No strike has been carried out on Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University. The claims are frivolous and fake.”

On Saturday, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqi characterized the recent Chinese-mediated negotiations as “positive.”

“You are all aware of our recent problems with Pakistan. The latest negotiations were held in Urumqi under the mediation of China, and these negotiations were positive,” he stated during a graduation ceremony at the foreign ministry’s Diplomacy Institute.

He emphasized that issues between the nations “are very sensitive between neighbors and between two Islamic neighboring countries and should not be treated irresponsibly.”

The United Nations’ office for humanitarian affairs coordination in Afghanistan reported earlier this month that the ongoing conflict has forced 94,000 people from their homes.

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi established a specialized committee on Monday to reassess the nation’s military and security strategies amid growing regional tensions from China, North Korea, and Russia’s expanded military activities.

The initiative represents part of Takaichi’s broader effort since taking office in October to fast-track Japan’s defense expansion as a counter-measure to regional security concerns. The prime minister contends that Japan must elevate its defense priorities to enhance military capabilities for better self-protection and endurance during extended, modern forms of conflict.

Just last week, Takaichi’s administration eliminated limitations on exporting Japanese deadly weaponry, a decision praised by the United States and allied defense partners as progress toward deeper military and industrial collaboration.

The policy shift faced opposition from domestic peace advocates and China, who view it as abandoning Japan’s post-war principle of defense-only military operations.

“The international situation has completely changed,” Takaichi stated during a meeting at her office. “The relatively stable post-Cold War international order has become a thing of the past.”

Japan must “learn the lesson” from Russia’s Ukraine invasion and the continuing Middle East conflict while adjusting to modern warfare methods, including drone technology, and preparing for extended conflicts, Takaichi explained.

“As the world enters an era of turbulence and Japan faces many challenges, the upcoming revision … is a crucial effort that affects Japan’s fate,” she declared.

The expert committee, comprising 15 specialists in foreign relations, defense, and economics, will examine security and defense strategies considering potential crisis situations. They will also evaluate defense budgets and financing before presenting their recommended modifications in the upcoming months.

Under current policies established in December 2022, Japan plans to increase defense expenditures to 2% of its gross domestic product – approximately 43 trillion yen ($270 billion) – by 2027.

Takaichi’s administration has already achieved this spending goal, and the panel is anticipated to consider potential additional military budget increases.

Lithuanian law enforcement officials announced Monday they have filed attempted murder charges against 13 suspects from various nations, alleging the individuals were operating on behalf of Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.

According to Saulius Briginas, Lithuania’s criminal police chief, the investigation launched in early 2023 revealed that those behind the murder plots were working to advance GRU interests. The probe focused on two planned killings in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.

Ukrainian authorities issued a separate statement Monday identifying the same individuals as part of what they called a “Russian intelligence network” that also targeted Ukrainian journalists and an intelligence officer for assassination.

Russia’s defense ministry, which oversees military intelligence operations, has not yet responded to requests for comment. Russian officials have consistently rejected accusations of involvement in such activities or broader sabotage operations, including arson incidents targeting nations that support Ukraine.

Police officials said the accused plotted to murder two individuals: a Lithuanian citizen who actively raises funds for Ukraine, and a Russian exile who advocates for Bashkir minority rights and has received asylum in Lithuania. Several suspects were taken into custody in Lithuania during March.

“We are witnessing hybrid-style crimes against European Union countries, their national security, and persons who act in support of Ukraine,” Briginas stated during a press conference in Vilnius.

Authorities believe the same network was responsible for an arson attack targeting military equipment bound for Ukraine in Bulgaria, as well as conducting espionage operations against Greek military forces, according to Briginas.

Defense attorneys for the accused have not been publicly identified, and it remains unclear how the defendants plan to respond to the charges.

As a NATO and European Union member sharing a border with Russia, Lithuania has positioned itself as one of Ukraine’s most outspoken supporters while frequently criticizing Russian actions within both international organizations.

Lithuanian officials have previously attributed other incidents to GRU operations, including explosive devices hidden in parcels across Europe and attempted arson at an IKEA location and a facility that manufactures radio equipment for Ukrainian forces.

JAKARTA – A railway accident occurred Monday evening when two trains crashed at a station in Bekasi, a city adjacent to Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta, according to transportation officials.

The incident involved a commuter train and a long-distance passenger train that collided within Bekasi station, according to Karina Amanda, a spokesperson for the commuter rail operator who spoke with Reuters.

No injuries have been documented from the crash, Amanda reported, stating that “we are focusing in evacuating passengers and train crew.”

Officials have not yet determined what caused the accident, she noted.

Video from Indonesian news outlet Kompas TV captured emergency vehicles stationed at Bekasi station. Personnel from Indonesia’s national rescue service arrived on scene to assist with passenger evacuation efforts.

The crash has disrupted regular train service in the area as authorities respond to the incident.

A high-profile money laundering case involving the daughter of Uzbekistan’s former president opened Monday in Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court, marking the beginning of proceedings in a case that spans two decades.

Gulnara Karimova, whose father Islam Karimov ruled Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death, faces charges of accepting bribes and operating a criminal network called “The Office.” Prosecutors allege this organization funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into Swiss bank accounts from 2005 through 2013.

Also facing charges is Geneva’s Lombard Odier private bank, along with a former bank employee, who are accused of helping hide the profits from Karimova’s alleged illegal activities.

Currently imprisoned in Uzbekistan, Karimova and Lombard Odier both maintain their innocence in the matter.

In a public statement, Lombard Odier revealed that the investigation started after the bank itself contacted Swiss authorities in 2012 with suspicions about the transactions.

The bank explained that the allegations against them focus on supposed organizational failures in their anti-money laundering procedures.

Court officials have not provided a timeline for how long the proceedings will take or when a decision might be reached.

However, Lombard Odier expects the court sessions to run through the end of May, with a final ruling anticipated in the months that follow.

A Swiss federal court began proceedings Monday against the daughter of Uzbekistan’s late president in a major money laundering case involving hundreds of millions of dollars, though the defendant remains imprisoned in her home country.

Gulnara Karimova, whose father Islam Karimov ruled the Central Asian nation for more than 25 years until his death in 2016, is being prosecuted in the federal criminal court in Bellinzona for allegedly orchestrating an extensive bribery and money laundering operation.

According to Swiss authorities, the 53-year-old created and operated a criminal network called “The Office” that encompassed dozens of individuals and multiple business entities. Prosecutors allege she funneled massive amounts of illicitly obtained money into Swiss and international accounts while also securing safe deposit boxes to store cash, precious gems, and other valuable items gained through criminal means.

Defense attorney Grégoire Mangeat confirmed that his client cannot leave the “prison colony” where Uzbek authorities are holding her to participate in the trial. “We will seek the full and complete acquittal of Gulnara Karimova,” he said.

Local Uzbek media outlet Podrobno reported that Karimova’s appearance in the Swiss courthouse was “virtually impossible” given her current incarceration. The news source indicated she was recently transferred to a women’s correctional facility in the Zangiota area near Tashkent, the country’s capital, at the beginning of this year.

Swiss officials brought charges against Karimova three years ago alongside a former executive from the Uzbek branch of a Russian telecom corporation for alleged crimes spanning from 2005 to 2013. This timeframe coincides with her father’s presidency. Karimova had previously been stationed in Geneva for United Nations-related work and enjoyed diplomatic protection during that period.

The defendant has endured multiple legal proceedings following an initial conviction in Uzbekistan eight years ago and is currently completing a 13-year prison term for charges including criminal organization leadership, extortion, and embezzlement. The current Swiss trial is scheduled to continue through May 22.

In November 2024, Swiss prosecutors also filed charges against Swiss private banking institution Lombard Odier and one of its former staff members, alleging they played a “decisive role in concealing the proceeds of the criminal activities of ‘The Office.’”

Lombard Odier responded via email that prosecutors are not claiming the bank deliberately participated in money laundering, “but rather raises claims relating to alleged organizational shortcomings in prevention measures, which the bank firmly contests and will defend in court.”

A German court in Stuttgart began proceedings Monday against five activists accused of inflicting approximately $1.2 million in damages to an Israeli defense contractor’s facility, according to court officials.

The defendants, ranging in age from 25 to 40, allegedly broke into the company’s premises in Ulm and destroyed office equipment, measurement tools, and windows while chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, prosecutors stated.

Court documents indicate the accused individuals operated under the banner of “Palestine Action Germany,” an organization that subsequently released video footage taking credit for the destructive incident.

The group of defendants includes citizens from Ireland, Britain, Spain, and Germany, though their identities have not been disclosed by authorities.

Multiple German media sources, including Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper and SWR broadcasting, reported that the targeted facility belongs to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense electronics manufacturer.

Elbit Systems, which maintains operations in Ulm, has not yet provided a statement regarding the incident. While the court declined to specifically name Elbit as the victim in this case, officials noted that “Palestine Action” organizations had previously targeted the company during 2024.

Incidents targeting Jewish individuals and institutions have increased globally since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023, following Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the resulting Israeli military response.

Court officials confirmed that Monday’s proceedings were conducted under heightened security measures at the Stuttgart courthouse.

The court has previously announced that more than twelve additional hearings are planned for this case, extending through the end of July.

Tehran is examining President Donald Trump’s proposal for diplomatic talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced Monday through his official Telegram channel.

Speaking to media representatives while visiting Russia, Araqchi suggested that Trump reached out for discussions because American policies have fallen short of their intended goals.

The development comes after Trump canceled a planned trip to Pakistan by his representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were set to discuss ways to resolve ongoing conflicts. Trump indicated that Iran could initiate contact by phone if the country wishes to pursue negotiations.

BAMAKO – An Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization announced Monday that Mali’s military forces are retreating from Tessit, a town in the country’s northern region, according to reports from West Africa.

The terrorist group, which goes by the name Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin or JNIM, issued a statement claiming they are permitting Mali’s soldiers in Tessit to surrender their arms and leave the area without harm.

Neither Mali’s government officials nor military representatives have responded to requests for comment about the claims.

The announcement comes as insurgents continue a coordinated campaign that launched over the weekend with simultaneous strikes near Mali’s capital city and multiple other regions.

On the same day, Africa Corps – a Russian Defense Ministry-controlled paramilitary organization – announced its troops had pulled out of Kidal, another northern Mali town, following intense combat over the weekend.

Since seizing control through military coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali’s current military leadership under Assimi Goita has strengthened ties with Russia while distancing itself from Western allies.

Goita has remained out of public view and has issued no public comments since Saturday’s coordinated attacks began.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in St. Petersburg on Monday, expressing optimism that the Iranian nation would overcome what he characterized as challenging times and that regional peace would be restored soon.

Moscow has positioned itself as a potential mediator in efforts to restore stability to the Middle East after recent strikes involving the United States and Israel against Iran, actions that Russia has criticized. Additionally, Russia has made multiple proposals to house Iran’s enriched uranium as a method to reduce regional tensions, though the United States has declined these offers.

“For our part, we will do everything that serves your interests and the interests of all the peoples of the region to ensure that peace is achieved as quickly as possible,” Putin told Araqchi, according to Russian state media.

“Last week I received a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader. I would like to ask you to convey my most sincere thanks for this and to confirm that Russia, like Iran, intends to continue our strategic relationship,” Putin added.

The two nations established a comprehensive 20-year strategic partnership agreement last year. Currently, Russia is constructing two additional nuclear reactors at Bushehr, where Iran operates its sole nuclear power facility. Iran has also provided Russia with Shahed drones for military operations in Ukraine.

According to the state RIA news agency, Araqchi expressed that ties between Moscow and Tehran would continue growing stronger and expressed gratitude to Putin for Russia’s ongoing support.

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed Monday that his administration is establishing a state-controlled investment fund.

According to Carney, the fund will target significant Canadian industrial ventures across sectors including energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and technology. The initial funding will total 25 billion Canadian dollars, equivalent to approximately $18 billion USD.

The prime minister explained that federal resources will be combined with private sector investment. These combined funds will support major infrastructure initiatives that Carney’s administration prioritizes as Canada works to reduce economic reliance on the United States.

President Donald Trump has issued economic threats against Canada through proposed tariffs and has made provocative statements suggesting Canada could become “the 51st state.”

Carney previously served as central bank leader in both England and Canada and held the position of board chair at Bloomberg.

“We take a lesson other jurisdictions that had the foresight many decades ago to start sovereign wealth funds,” Carney stated. “In some cases they began with a domestic focus then outgrew the scale of the domestic focus.”

These government investment vehicles typically purchase assets including stocks, bonds and real estate properties. Such funds usually draw from national budget surpluses, though Canada currently operates with a deficit. The announcement precedes Tuesday’s scheduled release of the Carney government’s spring economic update.

More than 90 sovereign wealth funds operate globally, controlling over $8 trillion in combined assets, data from The International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds shows. This London-headquartered organization represents approximately 50 such entities.

Trump established a similar U.S. sovereign wealth fund last year. Within America, more than 20 state-level sovereign wealth funds currently operate, research from the Center for Global Development indicates. The Washington-based nonpartisan organization conducted this analysis.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s President Javier Milei has taken his hostility toward the press to new extremes, banning all credentialed journalists from the nation’s presidential palace while launching vicious social media tirades against reporters.

The libertarian leader recently prevented approximately 60 accredited journalists from accessing the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s equivalent to the White House. On social media, Milei unleashed a barrage of insults in capital letters, calling the nation’s press “filthy scum that claims to be journalists.” He even shared an artificial intelligence-created image depicting a local television reporter wearing an orange prison uniform.

This dramatic escalation represents the most severe restriction on press access since Argentina’s military dictatorship ended in 1983, according to media rights organizations and political leaders across party lines.

“It’s the culmination of the government’s contempt for journalism and its value in a democracy,” said Fernando Stanich, president of the Argentine Journalism Forum, a professional group.

The nation has historically celebrated its robust and independent news media, making Milei’s actions particularly shocking to democracy advocates.

“Argentina is still a democracy, but these are the actions of an autocrat,” said Cristina Zahar, Latin America coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, a watchdog group. “An autocrat who tries to curtail press freedoms, who tries to prevent journalists from reporting and keeping society informed about public interest matters.”

Government spokesperson Javier Lanari defended the press ban Thursday, describing it as “a preventative measure” following a local television station’s broadcast of footage captured with smart glasses inside the presidential palace, allegedly without proper authorization.

Casa Rosada security officials are pursuing legal action against the Todo Noticias network, with Lanari accusing the outlet of “illegal espionage.” He declined to provide additional details when contacted for comment.

However, Luciana Geuna, a Todo Noticias journalist involved in the incident, stated during her Sunday program that they had informed press officials about their filming intentions beforehand. Geuna explained the footage captured publicly accessible areas of the Casa Rosada that had been televised previously.

Milei’s confrontational approach and inflammatory rhetoric helped establish his outsider credentials during his 2023 campaign, drawing comparisons to Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The former television commentator rode this provocative style to victory on promises to dramatically reduce government spending.

Rather than tempering his hostile language after assuming office, Milei has intensified his media attacks over the past two years.

Analysis of Milei’s social media activity by the prominent Argentine newspaper La Nación revealed that between April 2 and 5, he published 86 posts mocking and attacking journalists while resharing 874 similar messages. Many of these posts included requests to classify the press as a terrorist organization and contained sexually suggestive content.

His typical posts about media outlets feature his trademark phrase, “We don’t hate journalists enough,” along with claims that 95% of journalists are criminals. He frequently targets specific reporters who criticize his administration, using derogatory terms ranging from “dirty operative” to “human garbage.”

While revoking press credentials from roughly 60 Casa Rosada reporters Thursday, Milei continued his online assault: “Disgusting scum, how about you try stopping the lies?” he wrote. “Oh I forgot, you lot are corrupt junkies hooked on advertising bucks and bribes.”

This approach mirrors Trump’s first-term strategy of labeling journalists as the “enemy of the people.”

Since becoming president, Milei has avoided holding any press conferences, preferring to communicate through slogans and AI-generated internet memes — another similarity with his American counterpart. While he rarely grants interviews to established news organizations, he frequently appears on programs hosted by right-wing influencers.

The president has elevated social media provocateurs to government roles and energized a new wave of digital supporters to attack traditional news outlets he claims have leftist bias.

“When he hires influencers to work at the presidency, it’s like saying, ‘You journalists don’t matter anymore,’” Zahar said. “Everyone suddenly feels empowered to use stigmatizing discourse against the press.”

Following Trump’s example of pursuing legal action against major news organizations including The Associated Press, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ABC and CBS News, Milei has filed defamation lawsuits against at least eight journalists within the past year while encouraging his supporters to do likewise.

“Milei’s followers are extremely fanatical. They’ve harassed me, doxxed me, dragged me into mediation,” said Alejandro Alfie, a media reporter for Clarin, Argentina’s largest newspaper, who has investigated networks of anonymous social media accounts promoting Milei. Alfie currently faces four defamation lawsuits from Milei’s close associates seeking millions in damages.

“People say, ‘Oh, it’s not real. It’s just social media.’ But when you have someone telling you on Instagram every day that they will kill your children, it is something else entirely.”

Milei has also amended transparency laws to restrict public access to government information and closed Argentina’s state news agency Telam in 2024, claiming it served as a propaganda tool for left-leaning opposition groups. The agency has since been converted into an advertising company. Similarly, Trump cut funding to PBS and NPR last year due to dissatisfaction with their coverage of conservatives.

Journalists emphasize that public ridicule and mockery of their profession creates genuine safety concerns — a dynamic also evident in the relationship between American media and Trump.

Reporters barred from the Casa Rosada Thursday said the action was predictable.

Last year, the government restricted media movement within the building, declaring certain sections off-limits and limiting attendance at news briefings.

Earlier this month, authorities prevented six accredited media organizations from accessing both the Casa Rosada and the lower congressional chamber, alleging the journalists participated in Russian-backed disinformation campaigns. The reporters denied any connections to the Russian government.

The lawsuit against the two journalists who recorded footage using Meta smart glasses followed shortly after.

“It was the perfect excuse to extend the punishment to the entire press corps,” said Jaime Rosemberg, a political correspondent for La Nación who was among 60 accredited journalists blocked from the Casa Rosada on Thursday.

Opposition response has been immediate, with one lawmaker filing suit against the government over the ban and a dozen legislators demanding urgent meetings with senior officials regarding what they termed an “institutional undermining of freedom of expression.”

The press ban arrives during a challenging period for Milei, whose approval ratings have dropped to their lowest point since taking office, according to AtlasIntel polling.

His campaign to eliminate Argentina’s persistent inflation has stagnated, unemployment has risen, and the economy has shrunk. Corruption investigations reminiscent of the scandals that affected the political establishment Milei promised to replace have compounded his difficulties, with his close ally and chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, now under investigation for misusing public funds.

Some journalists connect the government’s growing problems with its increasingly aggressive attacks on news media.

“It’s a very bad moment for the president,” Rosemberg said. “And often the easiest thing to do in that moment, what you have closest at hand, is to blame the press for everything.”