Category: World News

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.”

BEIRUT – Israeli military forces launched bombing operations in eastern Lebanon on Monday, widening their military campaign even as a ceasefire remains in effect that was supposed to reduce hostilities with the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah.

Monday’s attacks on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley represent the first bombardment of that region since a United States-mediated truce took effect on April 16, which has decreased the frequency of military exchanges but has not completely ended the fighting.

Israeli forces have maintained their bombing operations throughout southern Lebanon while their ground troops occupy portions of the country’s southern territory, demolishing buildings they claim serve as Hezbollah operational facilities. The Iranian-supported organization has responded by continuing drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli forces within Lebanon and locations in northern Israel.

An Israeli military representative announced they were initiating attacks on Hezbollah facilities in the Bekaa region along with ongoing operations in southern areas. Intelligence sources informed Reuters that bombing occurred near Nabi Chit, a town close to Lebanon’s eastern Syrian border, with no immediate casualty reports.

Lebanon’s official media outlet documented multiple strikes throughout the southern region that injured at least three individuals.

On Monday, Hezbollah reported conducting a drone attack against an Israeli armored vehicle in southern Lebanon. Israeli military officials confirmed that a Hezbollah-launched drone detonated near their personnel in southern Lebanon but caused no injuries.

The conflict has claimed more than 2,500 lives in Israeli bombardments across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah initiated attacks on Israel to support Iran and prompted Israel’s comprehensive ground and aerial military response that has devastated large areas of southern Lebanon.

The warfare has intensified divisions within Lebanese society, with citizens split over Hezbollah’s military capabilities and potential peace negotiations with Israel.

Lebanese and Israeli diplomatic representatives in the United States have conducted two meetings regarding the ceasefire, designed to establish groundwork for direct negotiations toward a comprehensive peace agreement between the long-standing adversaries.

Hezbollah strongly rejects direct diplomatic engagement, with leader Naim Qassem characterizing the discussions in a Monday written statement as a “humiliating and unnecessary concession.”

“Let it be clear, these direct negotiations and their outcomes are considered nonexistent to us and do not concern us at all. We will continue our defensive resistance for Lebanon and its people,” Qassem said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has supported his government’s decision to participate in direct diplomatic talks and on Monday criticized Hezbollah indirectly without specifically identifying the organization.

“What we are doing is not treason; rather, treason is committed by whoever takes his country to war to achieve external interests,” he said in a statement released by his office, an apparent reference to Hezbollah’s decision to enter the regional war last month.

“Some hold us accountable for deciding to go to negotiations on the pretext of the lack of national consensus, and I ask: When you went to war, did you first obtain national consensus?” Aoun said.

British lawmakers are set to vote Tuesday on launching a formal investigation into Prime Minister Keir Starmer over questions surrounding his selection of Peter Mandelson as former U.S. ambassador, according to The Times newspaper.

The potential probe could spell serious trouble for Starmer’s political future. While he has refused calls to step down over the Mandelson hiring controversy, a finding that he deliberately deceived Parliament could make his position impossible to maintain.

According to The Times, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle will greenlight a parliamentary debate and vote on whether the Committee of Privileges should examine the situation.

Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September after it emerged that the former ambassador had more extensive connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than initially revealed.

The controversy has called into question Starmer’s decision-making abilities, particularly after it came to light that security officials had concerns about Mandelson’s appointment and were inclined to deny his clearance. Foreign ministry staff ultimately overturned that recommendation without informing the prime minister.

Starmer’s Labour Party holds a parliamentary majority, potentially giving the government enough votes to block any investigation from moving forward.

Should lawmakers approve the inquiry, the cross-party committee would determine whether Starmer’s public comments about Mandelson constituted deliberate or accidental deception of the House of Commons.

Any investigation would likely center on Starmer’s claims that proper procedures were followed during Mandelson’s hiring process.

A massive luxury yacht tied to a sanctioned Russian billionaire successfully navigated through heavily restricted Middle Eastern waters over the weekend, according to maritime tracking information released Monday.

The vessel Nord, measuring 465 feet in length and valued at more than $500 million, is connected to steel industry magnate Alexey Mordashov. The superyacht departed from a Dubai harbor around 10 a.m. local time Friday, successfully crossed the contested Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning, and docked in Muscat by early Sunday, maritime tracking platform MarineTraffic reported.

The circumstances surrounding how the luxury vessel obtained authorization to traverse the restricted passage remain unclear. Iran has dramatically limited shipping traffic through the strategic waterway since late February, affecting a route that normally carries approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.

When contacted Monday, a spokesperson for Mordashov refused to provide any statement regarding the yacht’s journey.

Currently, only a handful of commercial ships manage to pass through the vital Gulf entrance daily, representing a tiny fraction of the typical 125 to 140 vessels that used the route before hostilities began on February 28. The United States has responded to Iranian actions by implementing its own blockade targeting Iranian harbors.

Russia and Iran maintain strong diplomatic ties that have strengthened in recent years, including through a 2025 agreement that enhanced intelligence sharing and security collaboration.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Russia for discussions with President Vladimir Putin on Monday, following weekend negotiations with intermediaries in Pakistan and Oman.

While Mordashov is not officially registered as Nord’s owner, maritime records and Russian business documents from 2025 indicate the yacht was registered to a Russian company controlled by his spouse in 2022. This company operates from Cherepovets, the same Russian city where Mordashov’s steel company Severstal maintains its headquarters.

Following Russia’s military action in Ukraine, the United States and European Union placed sanctions on Mordashov and other Russian business leaders due to their connections with Putin.

Nord ranks among the world’s largest private yachts, featuring 20 guest suites, a swimming pool, helicopter landing pad, and onboard submarine, according to industry publication Superyacht Times.

BRUSSELS – European Union leadership will sit down Wednesday with Hungary’s new administration to negotiate what changes are needed to unlock 17 billion euros in frozen EU funding that was withheld from the previous government over legal compliance issues.

Time is running short for some of these blocked funds – particularly 11 billion euros (approximately $13 billion) from the pandemic recovery program – which must be accessed by mid-August or will be permanently forfeited.

The discussions will include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungary’s new prime minister Peter Magyar, according to Commission officials.

This marks the third meeting between representatives from both sides following Magyar’s Tisza party’s decisive April 12 election win, which secured him a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority and the constitutional amendment power that comes with it.

EU representatives believe this supermajority position will enable Magyar to implement required legal reforms rapidly to access the urgent funding.

Commission spokesman Olof Gill explained the meeting’s purpose during Monday’s press briefing: “These meetings are fully focused on how to make progress on unblocking EU funds earmarked for Hungary.”

Gill further emphasized the urgency: “We want to engage in a structured and focused way with the incoming Hungarian government to make sure that at the earliest stage, every action that needs to be taken is taken so that the people of Hungary, for whose benefit those funds were intended, can benefit from them at the earliest stage.”

The European Commission suspended Hungary’s fund access after Viktor Orban’s former administration failed to meet EU rule-of-law requirements.

Beyond funding discussions, Wednesday’s talks may address Hungary’s potential return to the Erasmus student exchange program, which has been suspended since early 2023 due to academic freedom concerns within the country.

Additional topics could include ending the previous Hungarian government’s opposition to EU reimbursements for military aid that member nations have provided to Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s 2022 invasion, according to officials.

BENGALURU, April 27 – The Gulf Cooperation Council nations are confronting their most severe economic downturn since the COVID-19 pandemic, with multiple countries now projected to experience economic contractions this year due to fallout from the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran occurring in their region.

The conflict’s ripple effects have devastated energy markets – which serve as the economic backbone for Gulf nations – pushing oil prices dramatically upward and creating a supply disruption not seen since the 1970s crisis.

Economic analysts have dramatically reduced their 2026 growth projections in a poll conducted April 8-24, with some nations shifting from anticipated expansion to economic decline. A partial recovery is anticipated for the following year.

Historically, rising oil prices have provided economic benefits to regional economies that depend heavily on energy exports.

However, the nearly complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies, combined with infrastructure damage to refineries and gas facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, has severely hampered the region’s economic output.

Despite oil prices remaining approximately 40% above pre-conflict levels from nearly two months ago, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain’s economies are now projected to decline by 6.0%, 4.4% and 2.9% respectively this year. This represents a complete reversal from January projections showing growth of 4.9%, 3.4% and 2.9%.

The UAE’s growth is expected to remain flat, a stark contrast to the 5.0% expansion forecasted three months earlier.

“We do not expect a simple return to the pre-war growth path,” stated Ralf Wiegert, head of MENA economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“The GDP-level that will emerge after the war is clearly lower for the next several years, despite a relatively swift recovery…It will take the entire second half of 2026 to rebuild damaged assets and re-establish supply chains.”

Saudi Arabia, the globe’s top crude oil exporter, along with Oman are anticipated to handle the economic shock somewhat better. Their economies are projected to expand by 2.6% and 2.2% this year, based on responses from 18 economists surveyed. However, both figures fall significantly short of January predictions of 4.3% and 2.8%.

“The second layer of shock is the non-oil economy, especially important for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar,” explained Lluis Dalmau Taules, an economist at Allianz.

“The Middle East was the fastest-growing region in terms of tourism in the last few years, so that’s clearly going to take another shape, and that has impacts on retail and other areas.”

RAPID RECOVERY EXPECTED IN 2027

Economic experts anticipate a swift recovery next year, though this projection assumes the conflict concludes soon. Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait are predicted to achieve growth rates of 7.8%, 5.4% and 5.0% next year, respectively.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman are forecasted to expand by 4.5%, 4.3% and 2.8%.

These projections generally match the International Monetary Fund’s expectations that regional energy production and transportation will recover and stabilize in upcoming months.

“The prolonged delay in returning to full production capacity due to damage and shut-ins will have a significant but uneven impact on GCC economies and public finances,” Goldman Sachs economists observed.

“Longer-term, however, we expect the rebound in economic activity to be robust across the board, aided by high levels of public investment, financed by a recovery in hydrocarbon revenues…and high levels of government savings.”

Rising oil costs are driving inflation worldwide, and Gulf economies are experiencing similar effects.

Bahrain’s inflation is projected to average 2.4% in 2026, up from January’s forecast of 1.4%, according to poll results.

The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are expected to see inflation rates averaging 2.6%, 2.6%, 2.9% and 1.7%, respectively, compared to earlier predictions of 1.9%, 2.0%, 2.3% and 1.4% from three months ago. Saudi Arabia’s projection remained steady at 2.0%.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The Democratic Republic of Congo announced Monday the establishment of a specialized paramilitary unit designed to protect its extensive mining sector, supported by financial backing from the United States and United Arab Emirates as Washington seeks to secure access to essential minerals during ongoing peace efforts in the unstable eastern regions.

According to a statement from the central African nation’s General Inspectorate of Mines, the new security force will be rolled out in phases, with between 2,500 and 3,000 officers expected to begin operations by December after completing six months of military training and cooperation.

Officials project the paramilitary unit will expand to exceed 20,000 personnel spread across Congo’s 22 mining provinces by 2028’s conclusion, designed to enhance investor trust and strengthen government supervision of mineral extraction activities.

The initiative carries a $100 million price tag supported through collaborative agreements with the United States and United Arab Emirates, according to the official statement.

The Democratic Republic of Congo serves as a significant source of coltan, a metallic mineral containing tantalum, an essential element used in manufacturing smartphones, computers and aircraft engines.

The expansive nation has historically faced challenges with illegal mineral smuggling and persistent security threats, especially in eastern territories where conflicts between government troops and Rwanda-supported insurgents have claimed thousands of lives and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes.

The Congolese president seeks to “clean up the entire mining sector, by eliminating practices that run counter to good governance, transparency and the traceability of minerals,” stated Rafael Kabengele, the inspector general of mines.

This paramilitary unit will assume security responsibilities currently handled by traditional military units. Their duties will encompass protecting mining locations, providing security escorts for mineral transportation to processing centers and border checkpoints, and safeguarding international investments.

The United States is working to diminish China’s control over essential mineral supply networks. Congo and America established a minerals partnership agreement last year that resulted in American company Virtus Minerals acquiring copper-cobalt mining operation Chemaf. Additional Western corporations have shown interest, including facilities situated in rebel-controlled areas.

The Democratic Republic of Congo generated approximately 40% of global coltan production in 2023, based on U.S. Geological Survey data. Over 15% of worldwide tantalum supplies originate from the rebel-controlled Rubaya mining operations in the eastern region.

Eastern Congo has experienced recurring crises for decades, with numerous armed factions remaining active throughout the area.

In the previous year, Congo and Rwanda’s governments agreed to a peace accord facilitated by the United States, which simultaneously provided American government and business access to critical mineral resources.

Discussions between M23 insurgents and Congo continue, though combat persists across multiple eastern battlefronts.

BERLIN — German officials are pointing the finger at Russia for orchestrating sophisticated cyberattacks that breached the Signal messaging accounts of senior government officials, military leaders, and members of the press, according to a government representative.

Federal prosecutors began a preliminary probe in mid-February 2026 following reports of cyber intrusions targeting Signal users, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office confirmed Saturday.

The investigation centers on potential espionage activities, the spokesperson noted, though she declined to identify which nation might be responsible.

Berlin has not yet formally blamed Russia for the digital assault.

Since Russia launched its comprehensive military operation against Ukraine in February 2022, Germany and neighboring European nations have faced a surge in cyberattacks and hostile activities that Western intelligence agencies have traced back to Moscow.

Approximately 300 Signal accounts belonging to people in political circles were breached during the operation, according to German publication Der Spiegel, citing government insiders.

Officials have not publicly released the identities of those affected.

Der Spiegel reported that victims received deceptive messages from what appeared to be Signal’s security system, alerting them to unusual account activity and urging immediate response. When users complied with the instructions — which included providing PIN codes or scanning QR codes — their accounts became accessible to attackers through external devices.

The breach enabled hackers to access previous message exchanges, monitor current communications, and view contact lists along with other personal information.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency BfV and federal cybersecurity organization BSI issued public alerts in February about the phishing operation, describing it as “likely being carried out by a state-controlled cyber actor.” German news agency dpa reported that authorities also reached out directly to warn specific politicians about potential compromises.

Dutch intelligence and security agencies issued their own warning in March, stating that “Russian state hackers are engaged in a large-scale global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to dignitaries, military personnel and civil servants.”

The Dutch warning specified that government workers were among the targets, and noted that journalists may have also been compromised.

Russia’s diplomatic mission in Berlin declined to respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press. The Kremlin has consistently rejected accusations of conducting espionage operations against other nations.

On Monday morning, Russian officials summoned Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, Germany’s ambassador to Russia, regarding alleged connections between German political figures and terrorist groups, dpa reported. Authorities have not established any link between this diplomatic action and the recent Signal attack revelations.

“I will, of course, comply with the summons. I consider it unlikely that the Russian side will be able to substantiate its accusations,” Lambsdorff stated beforehand. Diplomatic relations between the two nations have remained strained for several years.

JERUSALEM – Two leading opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have declared their intention to form a unified political alliance aimed at removing his coalition from power in the next election, focusing primarily on internal matters including military service requirements for ultra-Orthodox citizens.

However, regarding matters involving Iran, Gaza and Lebanon, the combined party headed by right-wing politician Naftali Bennett and centrist leader Yair Lapid is anticipated to maintain a security approach comparable to Netanyahu’s current stance – who leads what many consider Israel’s most right-wing administration in history – suggesting the nation’s international relations would see little change.

The newly formed alliance, named “BeYachad” which translates to “together” in Hebrew, has yet to publish an official policy document. However, their positions on regional disputes can be understood through their recent public statements.

IRAN

Both Bennett, age 54, and Lapid, age 62, have strongly supported Netanyahu’s choice to coordinate attacks on Iran with the United States, mirroring widespread Israeli public approval for the military action.

When Israel began its air strikes against Iran, Lapid described the conflict to Reuters as a “just war against evil.”

Since then, both politicians have criticized the 76-year-old Netanyahu for what they characterize as failing to accomplish Israel’s primary war goals, including overthrowing Iran’s religious leadership.

Yet neither leader has advocated for renewed combat since the cessation of Israeli and U.S. strikes and Iranian missile attacks following an April 8 truce agreement.

An insider familiar with their new political movement characterized Bennett and Lapid as “hawkish” and “tough on Iran.”

The source, speaking anonymously about the party’s priorities, also noted they are “pragmatic and understand the need for diplomatic agreements and the work that happens after the military use of force to achieve strategic goals.”

LEBANON

Both leaders have strongly endorsed Israeli military actions in Lebanon while questioning an April 17 ceasefire that has not succeeded in stopping clashes between Israeli forces and Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters.

Before Israel’s military entered southern Lebanon in March, Lapid stated that Israel must take all necessary actions to safeguard its citizens.

Following the announcement of the Hezbollah ceasefire in April, Lapid declared that the only viable solution was permanently eliminating threats to northern Israel.

Bennett harshly condemned the ceasefire agreement, writing on Facebook on April 17: “One can already count backwards towards the next round. Hezbollah began this morning to rebuild southern Lebanon and is becoming stronger with missiles ahead of the next round.”

GAZA

Concerning the Gaza conflict, where Israel has maintained lethal strikes despite an October ceasefire, both Bennett and Lapid have faulted Netanyahu for failing to completely eliminate the Hamas militant organization following its October 7, 2023 assault on Israel.

In January, Lapid accused Netanyahu’s administration of achieving the “worst possible outcome” in Gaza, noting that Hamas still maintains tens of thousands of armed combatants. Under the ceasefire terms, Hamas kept control of a narrow coastal strip in Gaza.

In a recent Facebook statement, Bennett claimed Netanyahu’s policies – including permitting some humanitarian assistance into the territory after blocking all aid deliveries for three months in 2025 – had enabled Hamas to regain authority.

“This is with the help of hundreds of aid trucks that Netanyahu’s government brings them every day,” Bennett wrote.

Netanyahu has portrayed Israel’s extensive military campaign that devastated much of Gaza and resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths as successful. He has suggested the possibility of renewed full-scale warfare if Hamas refuses to surrender weapons through a U.S.-supported process, which the organization has so far declined.

PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD

Given polling data indicating most Israelis reject creating an independent Palestinian nation in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, a Bennett-Lapid administration would likely avoid major Palestinian policy changes.

Netanyahu rejects Palestinian statehood, and his administration has expedited settlement construction in the West Bank, which government officials describe as efforts to eliminate prospects for Palestinian independence.

In 2022, Lapid, who represents many in Israel’s political center and left who don’t completely oppose Palestinian self-governance, stated that a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute was morally correct.

During a 2024 ABC interview when questioned about his opposition to a two-state solution, Bennett expressed concern it would result in violence against Israelis.

“What we’ve learned over the past 30 years is that every time we gave the Palestinians a piece of land, instead of building it into a beautiful Singapore they turned it into a terror state and began killing Israelis,” Bennett explained.

Regarding the West Bank, Netanyahu, Bennett and Lapid have all spoken strongly against settler violence targeting Palestinians. Such incidents have increased under Netanyahu’s leadership, with critics claiming he permits settlers to freely attack Palestinian communities and residents. Netanyahu’s office disputes these allegations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered harsh criticism of Iran’s leadership on Monday, accusing Tehran of deliberately embarrassing the United States during failed diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Speaking to students in Marsberg, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Merz characterized Iran’s negotiation tactics as deliberately obstructive and designed to humiliate American officials.

“The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” Merz stated during his address.

The German leader went further, saying “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards. And so I hope that this ends as quickly as possible.”

Merz’s comments highlight growing tensions between Washington and its European NATO partners, which have been building over various international issues including Ukraine.

The German Chancellor expressed frustration that European allies were not consulted before the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran on February 28. He revealed he had personally shared his concerns with President Donald Trump following the attacks.

“If I had known that it would continue like this for five or six weeks and get progressively worse, I would have told him even more emphatically,” Merz remarked, drawing comparisons to previous American military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Trump has strongly criticized NATO members for failing to deploy naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz during the current crisis. The crucial waterway remains largely closed, creating significant market instability and severe disruptions to global energy supplies.

Diplomatic prospects appear increasingly dim after Trump canceled a planned visit by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled to Russia on Monday following unsuccessful negotiations in both Pakistan and Oman.

Addressing the strategic waterway crisis, Merz confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz appears to have been partially mined. He announced that Germany and other European nations have proposed sending German minesweeping vessels to help clear the passage.

The ongoing conflict is taking a significant economic toll on Germany, with Merz noting it is costing the country “a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers’ money and a lot of economic strength.”

Following an intensive weekend of international diplomatic activities, Iran’s top foreign affairs official made his way to Russia on Monday as the nation works to build political influence and secure international allies while peace negotiations with the United States continue to stall.

The diplomatic mission represents part of Iran’s broader strategy to strengthen relationships with key global partners during a period when direct dialogue with Washington has come to a standstill.

The foreign minister’s arrival in Russia caps off what sources describe as a particularly busy period of international outreach by Iranian officials, as the country navigates complex geopolitical challenges in the region.

A water access dispute between two families in eastern Chad turned deadly over the weekend, resulting in 42 fatalities and 10 injuries as violence spiraled out of control, according to the nation’s deputy prime minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Limane Mahamat visited the village of Igote in Wadi Fira province on Sunday, where the deadly confrontations took place on Saturday near Chad’s border with Sudan. The injured victims were transported to a regional medical facility for treatment.

According to Mahamat, the violence expanded across a considerable geographic area, forcing military units to step in. The deputy prime minister described the army’s “swift response” as effective in stopping the bloodshed, stating the situation is now “under control.”

Mahamat announced plans to begin a “customary mediation” initiative in the affected village while also launching legal proceedings to identify those criminally liable for the violence.

Resource-related conflicts between communities are frequently reported throughout the Central African nation. Similar violence erupted last year when disputes between agricultural workers and livestock herders in southwestern Chad resulted in 42 deaths and numerous destroyed residences.

The deputy prime minister pledged the government would implement “all necessary measures” to maintain stability in the border region where the deadly confrontations occurred.

Eastern Chad has been accommodating refugees escaping Sudan’s ongoing war for months, creating mounting strain on available resources and regional security. Since the Sudanese conflict started, hundreds of thousands of refugees have crossed into Chad seeking safety.

Chad sealed its border with Sudan in February “until further notice,” describing the closure as an effort to prevent conflict from spreading into Chadian territory following multiple incursions by fighters from opposing Sudanese military groups.

The Sudanese war has claimed over 40,000 lives based on United Nations data, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

The ongoing conflict has generated what experts call the world’s most severe humanitarian emergency, displacing more than 14 million people from their communities. The war has also triggered disease outbreaks and created famine conditions in portions of Sudan.

MILAN (AP) — The prestigious La Fenice opera house in Venice has severed its relationship with its controversial soon-to-be music director who has connections to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, following sustained opposition from theater workers.

The theater’s foundation announced Sunday that General Manager Nicola Colabianchi terminated future work with Beatrice Venezi due to her “repeated and serious public statements that were offensive and harmful” to both the venue and its musicians.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli expressed hope that this decision would “clear misunderstandings, tensions and manipulations” that had emerged around Venezi’s selection.

Theater employees, including performers, musicians and backstage crew, had strongly resisted her hiring, pointing to insufficient transparency in the process and questioning whether she possessed adequate experience to helm such a prestigious institution.

The opposition intensified over time, culminating in work stoppages that led to canceled shows and a demonstration through Venice’s streets that drew support from employees of other opera venues, highlighting worries about political meddling in cultural institutions.

When news of Venezi’s blocked appointment reached Sunday evening’s performance, both audience members and orchestra musicians broke into spontaneous applause, as captured in footage shared by Italian news outlets.

Colabianchi had originally announced Venezi’s appointment on September 22nd and stood by his choice, arguing that her energy and youth would help draw younger patrons to the historic theater. The culture minister had similarly endorsed the selection.

The 36-year-old conductor joined the culture ministry as an advisor following Meloni’s rise to power in 2022. Her background includes serving as principal conductor for the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti Young and guest conducting roles with Orchestra della Toscana, along with international engagements in countries including Armenia, Uruguay and Argentina.

BUCHAREST – Romania’s political landscape faces dramatic upheaval as the nation’s dominant parliamentary party, the Social Democrats, announced Monday they will join forces with the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians to remove the current pro-European government from power.

This unexpected partnership threatens to jeopardize Romania’s access to crucial European Union funding after Social Democratic ministers withdrew from Liberal Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s coalition government last week, stripping it of its parliamentary majority.

Despite losing support, reform-focused Bolojan has declined to step down, insisting his administration must complete essential reforms to secure more than 10 billion euros in pandemic recovery funding before the EU’s August cutoff date.

The current coalition formed ten months ago following December 2024 elections, with the primary goal of preventing far-right parties from gaining significant influence in Romanian politics.

However, tensions have mounted between Bolojan and the Social Democrats over proposed budget reductions designed to cut Romania’s deficit from more than 9% of economic output in 2024 – the highest in the EU – down to 6.2% this year.

While Social Democrats have indicated willingness to rejoin a pro-European alliance, they demand Bolojan’s removal as a condition. His Liberal party continues to support him, accusing the Social Democrats of violating cooperation agreements established ten months earlier and refusing to consider future partnerships with them.

Creating a pro-European parliamentary majority appears impossible without Social Democratic participation. The party had previously rejected any collaboration with the Alliance for Uniting Romanians, parliament’s second-largest faction, which currently leads opinion polls with approximately 35% public support.

Together, these two parties hold about 220 seats in the 464-member parliament. To successfully remove the government, they need 233 votes, which they could potentially achieve with support from smaller far-right groups. Meanwhile, Bolojan is working to strengthen his own backing.

Romania has never conducted early elections and isn’t scheduled to hold general elections again until 2028.

When questioned Monday about the possibility of governing alongside the Alliance for Uniting Romanians, former deputy prime minister Marian Neacsu of the Social Democrats remained cautious, stating only: “Every journey begins with the first step.”

Alliance for Uniting Romanians leader George Simion announced that the motion to dismiss Bolojan’s cabinet would be submitted once 233 lawmakers provide their signatures, with a potential vote scheduled for May 5. Simion indicated his party remains open to discussions with all political groups following the government’s removal.

A marathon livestream in Poland has set new fundraising records after collecting more than $69 million for children fighting cancer during a continuous nine-day broadcast that ended Sunday evening.

Social media influencer Piotr Hancke, who goes by the name Latwogang, orchestrated the event from his small Warsaw apartment, drawing support from high-profile figures including tennis champion Iga Swiatek and soccer star Robert Lewandowski.

The extraordinary fundraising effort brought in over 250 million zlotys for the Cancer Fighters Foundation, surpassing the previous livestream record of $19.5 million set in France last year by more than three times.

“We’re reaching for the stars, reaching for space, to help those who need it most, the innocent children who fight the hardest battles every day,” said Marek Kopysc, president of the Cancer Fighters Foundation, speaking to broadcaster RMF FM.

The livestream launched on April 17 via YouTube and concluded at 9:37 p.m. local time on Sunday. At its most popular moment, 1.4 million viewers watched simultaneously, setting new viewership records according to Poland’s state news agency PAP.

During one memorable portion of the broadcast, several celebrities cut off their hair in solidarity with cancer patients undergoing treatment.

The initiative was inspired by a song collaboration between rapper Bedoes and a young cancer patient. Hancke told his social media followers he would host a continuous charity stream with one second added for every ‘like’ the idea received on TikTok, according to PAP reports.

Ukrainian officials reported that 14 people were injured, including two children, when Russian drones struck the southern port city of Odesa during early morning hours on Monday. The assault marks another chapter in Moscow’s ongoing targeting of civilian areas throughout its invasion, which has now entered its fifth year.

According to city administration chief Serhii Lysak, the unmanned aircraft targeted residential districts and civilian infrastructure. Odesa has faced repeated attacks due to its strategic importance as Ukraine’s primary Black Sea shipping hub.

Regional military administration head Oleh Kiper confirmed that five victims required hospital treatment, with most suffering injuries from shrapnel fragments.

In a separate incident, Moscow-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo reported that a Ukrainian drone attack resulted in two fatalities in the Russian-controlled portion of Kherson region. The victims were identified as a man and woman, both in their seventies, who died in Dnipriany village.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Monday that Russian forces have launched roughly 1,900 attack drones, nearly 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and approximately 60 various missiles against Ukraine within the past seven days.

In a social media post, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s advanced military technology development has enabled the country to intercept more than 90% of incoming Russian drones. Despite this success, he emphasized Ukraine’s continued need for additional American-manufactured Patriot air defense systems capable of destroying ballistic missiles.

The Defense Ministry announced Monday that Norway has become the newest European nation to establish a joint drone production partnership with Kyiv. Additionally, Ukraine has been sharing expertise with Middle Eastern and Gulf nations facing Iranian drone attacks.

Zelenskyy highlighted several positive developments for Ukraine, including NATO allies’ financial contributions for purchasing American weapons systems, the European Union’s approval of a 90-billion-euro loan package, and planned additional EU sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine has been conducting its own offensive operations, targeting Russian oil facilities and refineries deep within Russian territory using long-range drones and missiles to damage Moscow’s economic infrastructure.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reported Sunday that verified evidence shows Ukrainian forces executed at least 10 attacks against Russian energy infrastructure over the previous two weeks.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Officials from India and New Zealand formalized a comprehensive free trade pact on Monday, designed to strengthen economic partnerships and broaden market opportunities as both nations confront increasing global commerce challenges.

The pact arrives as New Delhi seeks to expand its export destinations to counteract the effects of high tariffs from the United States and disruptions in shipping and energy corridors linked to conflicts involving Iran. Meanwhile, New Zealand views this agreement as part of its strategic effort to decrease dependence on China, which remains its primary trade partner.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand’s visiting Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay formalized the agreement in New Delhi during Monday’s ceremony.

Following nine months of discussions and finalization in December, the pact will reduce or remove tariffs on 95% of goods New Zealand ships to India, while ensuring all Indian products entering New Zealand face no duties. Additionally, Wellington has pledged to invest $20 billion in India during the coming 15 years.

McClay described the agreement as representing a “once-in-a-generation” chance to strengthen economic relationships during a period marked by escalating global trade conflicts and unpredictability. New Zealand ranks as India’s 12th-largest export destination, with trade between the nations totaling $2.15 billion during the year ending June 2025, based on government statistics.

Goyal characterized the agreement as a “defining milestone” and noted that India and New Zealand had “chosen each other” during a time “when the world economy is being recast.” He emphasized that the pact provides market opportunities across various industries while establishing frameworks for investment partnerships and regulatory collaboration.

Indian industries positioned to benefit from enhanced market opportunities include textiles and clothing, engineering products, leather goods and footwear, plus marine exports. New Zealand anticipates growth in shipments of horticultural products, timber, coal, wool and meat products.

India has kept dairy products and specific agricultural items outside the agreement to safeguard its domestic farming industry.

Indian exporters have faced challenges from elevated U.S. tariffs implemented since August of last year, especially affecting labor-heavy industries including textiles, automotive parts and metals, while New Delhi maintains separate discussions with Washington regarding a distinct bilateral trade arrangement.

Trade agreements from New Zealand typically receive support across party lines. The pact must now receive parliamentary approval and is anticipated to succeed following endorsement from the opposition New Zealand Labour Party, despite objections from coalition partner New Zealand First, a populist minor party.

A fatal drone strike at Ukraine’s largest nuclear facility has raised fresh concerns about the safety of atomic energy infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict. Russian-appointed administrators at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reported Monday that a Ukrainian drone attack killed one of their workers.

According to the facility’s management, the victim was a driver working in the plant’s transportation division when the Ukrainian military drone hit the area. The plant has been under Russian military control since early in the conflict.

“A driver was killed today when a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone struck the transport department at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” the post said.

International nuclear safety officials are responding to the deadly incident. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that inspectors stationed at the facility will investigate what happened and maintain their ongoing surveillance of conditions at the plant.

IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized the serious risks posed by military actions near atomic facilities. The Vienna-headquartered organization quoted Grossi as stating that attacks on or near nuclear power plants “can endanger nuclear safety and must not take place.”

Mali’s military leadership is confronting serious doubts about its ability to maintain control following coordinated insurgent strikes that occurred two days ago, which targeted the primary military installation near the capital and resulted in the death of the defense minister.

The weekend offensive demonstrated what experts and diplomatic sources characterized as extraordinary cooperation between al-Qaeda’s West African branch and a rebel organization led primarily by Tuareg fighters, casting further doubt on the government’s claims of restoring stability.

Here’s an overview of the primary militant organizations operating within this landlocked Sahel region country:

JAMA’AT NUSRAT AL-ISLAM WAL-MUSLIMIN (JNIM)

Born from a Tuareg ethnic rebellion that captured large portions of northern Mali in 2012, the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) was established in 2017 through the consolidation of multiple extremist organizations.

The organization is commanded by Iyad Ag Ghaly, a Tuareg leader who previously headed the Ansar Dine militant faction that captured Timbuktu in northern Mali during 2012 and established Islamic law there. His second-in-command is Amadou Koufa, a Fulani leader who directs the Macina Liberation Front.

JNIM militants have maintained operations within 50 kilometers (30 miles) of Bamako for almost a year, although experts believe the organization lacks sufficient military strength to actually capture the city and seems more focused on weakening government authority.

This destabilization strategy was evident in a fuel embargo that JNIM declared in September, made feasible after the group moved into southern Mali and expanded western operations. This represents part of JNIM’s broader strategy of surrounding urban areas.

JNIM had previously struck Bamako before Saturday’s joint offensive. In September 2024, the group attacked key locations including the airport and an elite police training facility, where numerous students lost their lives.

In 2022, the organization targeted the military installation in Kati, located 15 kilometers from the capital.

Intelligence estimates suggest the group commands approximately 6,000 fighters. It maintains operations in Burkina Faso and Niger, and took credit for an October attack that killed a soldier in central Nigeria, marking its first confirmed operation in Africa’s most populated nation.

According to analysts, JNIM seeks to establish Islamic rule throughout the Sahel region.

AZAWAD LIBERATION FRONT (FLA)

Mali has confronted ethnic Tuareg uprisings since shortly after achieving independence in 1960.

The nomadic Tuareg people, who inhabit areas across the Sahara including northern Mali, are pursuing an independent territory they call “Azawad.”

In 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) conquered the northern territories of Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu, but their movement was subsequently overtaken by Islamic extremist organizations.

Mali subsequently requested French intervention to combat the Islamic militant groups.

Mali negotiated a peace agreement with Tuareg separatists in 2015, but in 2024 the military government, which seized power through coups in 2020 and 2021, abandoned the accord. Relations with Tuareg separatists deteriorated after the government removed French troops and U.N. peacekeepers while partnering with the Russian mercenary group Wagner.

In July 2024, Tuareg forces ambushed a convoy carrying Malian troops and Wagner operatives in the north, asserting they eliminated 84 Russians and 47 Malian soldiers.

Ukraine suggested it had assisted the Tuareg rebels in executing the attack through intelligence sharing, prompting Mali to sever diplomatic relations with Kyiv. Ukraine subsequently denied media claims it was supplying drones to the Tuaregs, and an FLA representative informed Reuters the group had not received outside support for the attack.

The present form of the Tuareg coalition, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), was formally established in November 2024.

ISLAMIC STATE IN THE SAHEL PROVINCE (ISSP)

Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) operates as an Islamic State affiliate and, similar to JNIM, conducts operations in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. It separated from Al-Mourabitoun, one of the organizations that currently comprises JNIM, in 2015.

The organization gained global attention through the deaths of four American soldiers, alongside four Nigerien troops, in the Niger community of Tongo Tongo in October 2017.

That event brought examination of the relatively unknown U.S. military deployment in Niger during a period when many Americans questioned U.S. engagement in overseas conflicts and Nigeriens opposed the increasing foreign military presence in their country.

ISSP serves as JNIM’s primary competitor. Fighting between these two organizations starting in 2019 has caused over 2,000 fatalities.

ISSP’s commander, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, was eliminated in a French drone operation in August 2021 in northern Mali.

During the previous year, ISSP intensified attacks in western Niger, killing over 127 individuals in five separate operations and demonstrating authorities’ inability to safeguard civilians, according to Human Rights Watch’s September report.

The organization pursues the establishment of an Islamic caliphate across the Sahel and is viewed as less inclined to develop relationships with local populations compared to JNIM.

Maritime security companies report that armed pirates have seized a cargo ship in waters off Somalia and are directing the vessel toward the African nation’s shoreline.

The hijacking marks a continuation of renewed pirate activity in the region, where maritime criminals wreaked havoc along the Horn of Africa’s extensive coastline from 2008 to 2018 before a period of relative calm that ended in late 2023.

British security firm Vanguard reported Sunday evening that they had received information about armed pirates taking control of the cargo ship Sward near Godobjiran, Somalia. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the hijacking occurred approximately 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad.

According to Vanguard, the captured vessel carries a crew of 15 people, including two individuals from India and 13 from Syria.

“The vessel is currently assessed to be under pirate control and proceeding toward the Somali coastline. The Puntland Maritime Police Force has been notified,” Vanguard stated in their report.

Security company Ambrey provided additional details, noting that the ship was traveling from Suez, Egypt to Mombasa, Kenya when pirates boarded. At the time of the attack, most crew members were on the bridge while two mechanics were elsewhere on the vessel, according to Ambrey’s account.

Officials from Puntland’s semi-autonomous regional government and security forces were not immediately available to provide comment on the incident.

The latest hijacking follows an attack in November 2025 when armed individuals targeted a commercial tanker near Mogadishu, representing the first such incident since 2024.

BEIJING – Chinese government regulators have intervened to stop an overseas company from buying out a domestic artificial intelligence firm called Manus, according to an announcement Monday from the National Development and Reform Commission.

The state planning agency has directed all parties involved in the proposed deal to immediately terminate the acquisition process.

The move represents China’s continued efforts to maintain control over strategic technology companies within its borders, particularly in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence sector.

JAKARTA – Law enforcement officials in Indonesia deployed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators in Papua province on Monday after approximately 800 people gathered to demand the removal of military forces from their region, according to local police authorities.

The demonstrations were sparked by a military operation conducted earlier this month that reportedly killed 15 individuals, including women and children, according to police spokesperson Cahyo Sukarnito.

The military action targeted armed independence fighters who have been seeking to separate the resource-abundant Papua region from Indonesian control since 1969, when a United Nations-supervised referendum placed the territory under Indonesian authority after more than 60 years of Dutch colonial administration.

Indonesia’s human rights monitoring organization confirmed the fatalities last week and urged government officials to reassess military activities in the area. Military officials have not yet acknowledged the reported deaths.

Protesters assembled at three separate sites in Jayapura, the provincial capital, before converging in the downtown area, Sukarnito explained. The demonstrators demanded government withdrawal of military personnel from Papua’s six provinces and an end to decades of regional violence.

“The deaths during recent military operations had sparked local anger,” Sukarnito told Reuters, acknowledging the connection between the casualties and the protest movement.

Violence erupted when demonstrators hurled rocks at law enforcement officers, prompting authorities to use crowd control measures. Five police officers sustained injuries during the confrontation, though no protester injuries were reported, according to Sukarnito.

Video footage from Tribun Papua, a local news outlet, captured police officers wearing protective equipment and carrying batons as they advanced toward the crowd.

After the initial violence subsided, the demonstrations resumed without further incident. Several regional legislators arrived at the scene to engage with protesters and hear their concerns directly.

The Papua region houses Grasberg, the world’s second-largest gold and copper mining operation, which operates under joint ownership between the Indonesian government and American mining corporation Freeport.

Britain’s monarch King Charles III has arrived in the United States for a significant official state visit during a period of heightened diplomatic challenges between the two longtime allies.

The royal visit takes place as relationships across the Atlantic Ocean face strain due to escalating tensions surrounding the conflict with Iran and continuing repercussions from the Epstein affair that continue to impact diplomatic circles.

This marks a notable diplomatic moment as the British sovereign conducts formal state business in America while both nations navigate complex international issues that have tested their traditionally strong partnership.

Can a royal diplomatic mission help mend frayed ties between two of the world’s closest allies? That’s the question being explored as King Charles prepares for a high-profile meeting with the American president.

The potential for the monarch’s visit to ease diplomatic strains between the United States and Britain is being examined by foreign policy experts. NPR turned to veteran diplomat Philip Reeker for his analysis of whether this royal engagement could help smooth over recent tensions in the special relationship between the two nations.

The timing of the King’s diplomatic outreach comes as both countries navigate complex international challenges that have tested their traditional partnership.

NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party has bolstered its strength in India’s parliament after seven opposition legislators switched allegiances on Monday, according to official parliamentary records. The move could help the government advance its legislative agenda more smoothly.

The seven lawmakers who changed parties all belonged to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is headed by Arvind Kejriwal, one of Modi’s most vocal political opponents. AAP currently controls Punjab state and previously held power in Delhi, the nation’s capital territory.

Following these defections, AAP now holds only three seats in the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper legislative chamber. Meanwhile, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party has increased its membership to 113, putting it just 10 seats away from controlling a simple majority in the 245-seat body. The broader National Democratic Alliance, led by Modi, now commands approximately 140 seats in what is also called the Council of States.

Members of the Rajya Sabha serve six-year terms and are chosen by elected officials from state and territorial legislatures through a proportional representation voting system. Modi’s coalition currently governs 19 of India’s 28 states plus two of the three federal territories that have their own legislatures.

Among those who switched parties are former cricket star Harbhajan Singh and Raghav Chadha, who effectively led the group of defectors. Chadha had gained public recognition by advocating for middle-class issues, including challenging expensive food prices at airports.

Chadha criticized his former party, claiming it was controlled by “corrupt and compromised” individuals. In response, AAP officials accused the defectors of acting purely out of political opportunism.

Six of the seven former AAP legislators were originally elected from Punjab, where state elections are scheduled for next year and where Modi’s party has never secured an outright majority independently. Multiple AAP leaders, including Kejriwal himself, are currently facing legal proceedings related to corruption charges.

In February, a New Delhi court chose not to move forward with prosecution against Kejriwal and other party members in one corruption case, which AAP maintains is politically driven. The case has since been appealed to a higher court.

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla touched down in America on Monday for a historic four-day royal visit that has been overshadowed by recent violence and growing tensions between the longtime allies.

This state visit represents the most significant and high-stakes trip of Charles’s time as monarch, commemorating 250 years since America declared independence from Britain. It’s the first time a British royal has visited the United States in two decades.

The carefully planned itinerary includes a private audience with President Donald Trump, who has openly expressed his admiration for the royal family, along with a congressional address and an elegant White House state dinner.

However, the visit has been complicated by recent events, including a shooting incident at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. According to the acting U.S. attorney general, the president and his administration officials were believed to be the intended targets of the attack.

Additionally, diplomatic relations have been strained over disagreements regarding the U.S.-Israeli military action against Iran, with Trump expressing frustration over Britain’s reluctance to support the campaign.

Despite these challenges, Buckingham Palace confirmed the royal tour would proceed as scheduled after security consultations between British and American officials.

“The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow,” a palace spokesperson said on Sunday.

Upon arrival in Washington, the royal couple will enjoy private tea with Trump, who frequently refers to Charles as a “great man,” and First Lady Melania Trump.

The 77-year-old monarch, who continues receiving cancer treatment, will make history the following day by addressing Congress – only the second British sovereign ever to do so.

The royal tour will then move to New York City, where they’ll pay respects to victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary. Queen Camilla will also participate in celebrations marking 100 years of Winnie the Pooh children’s literature.

The visit concludes in Virginia, where King Charles will meet with environmental conservation groups, reflecting his decades-long commitment to environmental causes.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration hopes this royal visit will strengthen the “special relationship” between the nations, which has reached its lowest point since the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Britain’s U.S. Ambassador Christian Turner emphasized that the visit would highlight the shared heritage, sacrifices, and values connecting both countries, noting their approach would follow the traditional British motto: “Keep calm, carry on.”

While Trump has recently softened his criticism of Britain’s Iran policy stance, tensions persist after a leaked Pentagon document suggested America might reconsider its support for Britain’s Falkland Islands claims as retaliation for insufficient cooperation.

The Jeffrey Epstein controversy will not be addressed during this visit. Palace sources confirmed the royals cannot meet with Epstein victims who requested such meetings, citing concerns about interfering with ongoing criminal investigations.

King Charles’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, continues facing police scrutiny over his connections to the deceased American sex offender. The former Prince Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Brenda Obare remembers when cooking dinner meant simply turning a knob to ignite the blue flame on her gas stove before evening arrived.

Today, that stove sits unused while she hunkers down beside a charcoal burner outside her metal-roofed dwelling in Kibera, one of Africa’s most expansive informal communities in Kenya’s capital. She works to kindle a smoky blaze for her family’s meals. Cooking gas has become prohibitively costly and frequently unavailable, while charcoal remains accessible.

“We don’t have many options,” she said. “You use what you can afford.”

Her experience reflects a growing trend resulting from energy supply disruptions linked to the Iran war. While governments had encouraged adoption of cleaner fuels like LPG for health and environmental benefits, escalating prices are eroding those achievements.

The consequences extend far beyond fuel stations, reaching into homes, woodlands, and animal habitats. Throughout Africa and South Asia, officials have invested years attempting to transition households from burning charcoal and wood to cleaner alternatives like liquefied petroleum gas.

This initiative stemmed from health concerns regarding air pollution, which claimed 2.9 million lives in 2021 according to World Health Organization data. Environmental protection also motivated the effort, as firewood and charcoal consumption intensifies pressure on forests and wildlife areas. Harvesting trees more rapidly than natural regeneration occurs accelerates forest loss.

As increasing numbers venture into forests seeking fuel, human-wildlife encounters multiply. Simultaneously, economic strain can increase poaching and bushmeat harvesting, raising disease transmission risks from animals to humans. Declining tourism reduces conservation funding, while elevated fuel expenses hamper field team operations and rapid response when wild animals enter populated areas.

“The longer this debacle runs, the harder it is going to hit conservation,” said Mayukh Chatterjee, the International Union Conservation for Nature’s co-chair for its conflict and co-existence specialist group.

Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and CEO of Nairobi-based WildlifeDirect, explained that when LPG, kerosene or electricity become unaffordable or unreliable, many households switch to firewood and charcoal due to easier access in cash-strapped communities, despite environmental damage.

“The first conservation risk from an energy shock in Africa is not abstract. It is household fuel switching,” she said.

Growing biomass fuel demand also damages watersheds and wildlife habitats as people venture deeper into previously untouched regions, intensifying ecosystem pressure and threatening dependent species.

Specialists worry that climbing diesel costs and increased fertilizer expenses will also damage agricultural productivity, decreasing harvests and worsening food insecurity.

“The crisis is impacting more than forests,” Kahumbu said.

Charcoal, produced through slow wood burning in kilns, ranks among sub-Saharan Africa’s most common cooking fuels and represents a primary deforestation cause. Demand is increasing among customers in Nairobi’s low-income areas, reports charcoal vendor Munyao Kitheka.

India experiences a comparable transition as the world’s second-largest LNG importer, with approximately 60% of supplies originating from the Gulf region, according to S&P Global data.

Rama, a social worker using only one name, devoted years encouraging waste-collecting families in Bhalswa, an impoverished New Delhi suburb, to embrace LPG. However, with daily incomes under $3, many cannot afford expensive LPG cylinders and are returning to wood-burning stoves or relocating to villages where wood is more accessible.

“Things are very, very bad,” she said.

This transition burdens women and girls more heavily, as they spend hours daily searching for fuel, reducing time available for employment or education, explained Neha Saigal, a consultant with environmental and social justice startup Asar Social Impact Advisors.

“Years of work went into making LPG aspirational. But a global issue like this can reverse some of those gains,” she said.

Chester Zoo’s Chatterjee noted that decreasing habitat pressure through reduced fuelwood consumption has been fundamental to Asian conservation efforts. He referenced an elephant conservation program in India’s northeastern Assam state where restaurants had decreased wood usage, but cautioned these improvements could dissolve as households return from LPG, which derives from oil or natural gas refining.

“That all risks going back to square one,” he said.

Specialists caution that the Iran conflict and subsequent fuel disruptions could strain funding and interrupt field operations, impeding global conservation efforts.

Airlines are eliminating African routes, potentially affecting tourism as rising fuel prices increase travel expenses. Aviation route disruptions through Middle Eastern connections complicate access to certain destinations.

Even minor visitor decreases can significantly impact countries depending on wildlife tourism to finance protected areas.

Tourism generates approximately 14% of GDP in nations like Kenya and Tanzania, where it supports park management, anti-poaching operations, and community conservation programs.

“Less tourism means less income for conservation initiatives, fewer rangers and more opportunistic poaching,” Kahumbu said, noting that rising food and fuel costs could also drive more people toward bushmeat as affordable protein, increasing wildlife population pressure.

Additionally, conservation work in isolated areas requires extensive regular travel, often by motorcycle or other vehicles. Higher fuel prices can disrupt this mobility.

Chatterjee emphasized that during South Asian wildlife-human conflicts, rapid forest staff and conservation team deployment is essential for securing areas, managing crowds, and safely guiding or tranquilizing animals before situations worsen.

Delays heighten injury or death risks for both sides, and fuel shortages can extend response times.

African governments possess options to minimize impact, though action has frequently lagged. Kahumbu advocated protecting households from returning to polluting fuels through targeted subsidies, stronger local supply networks, and supporting local energy sources including biogas, solar, and geothermal power.

“Treat conservation as essential infrastructure during economic shocks,” she said.

OMDURMAN, Sudan — Dr. Jamal Eltaeb faced impossible decisions every day for three years. Which patients had the best chance of survival? Should he perform surgery without proper medication if it could save a life? How could he secure fuel to power the hospital generators?

While Sudan’s civil war erupted around his medical facility, the orthopedic surgeon made one unwavering choice: continue treating patients.

Eltaeb directed Al Nao hospital in Omdurman, located near Sudan’s capital Khartoum, as military forces and paramilitary groups battled for territorial control. When fighting intensified and wounded patients flooded the facility, many of his medical colleagues abandoned their posts out of fear.

The quiet-mannered surgeon remained at his post despite multiple bombing attacks on the hospital and dwindling medical resources.

“I weighed the options of staying here, and taking care of your patients and helping other people that need you as a skilled surgeon, rather than choose your own safety,” he explained during an Associated Press interview.

Eltaeb represents one of many Sudanese citizens who stepped up to assist their communities while international attention focused on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He witnessed firsthand the casualties behind estimates showing tens of thousands have perished, experiencing what it means when the United Nations declares the nation’s healthcare system approaching total failure.

Close to 40% of Sudan’s medical facilities have ceased operations. Armed groups have converted many hospitals into military bases or stripped them of equipment. Sudan’s military has regained control of the capital, leaving Al Nao among the few operational healthcare centers in the region.

During a tour of the medical complex, the 54-year-old physician pointed out to AP reporters evidence of the most challenging period of his career.

He indicated a damaged window where shrapnel killed a patient’s family member. In the courtyard stood the final remaining tent from dozens erected during intense fighting to handle mass casualties.

“We were working everywhere, in tents, outside, on the floor, doing everything to save patients’ lives,” Eltaeb recalled.

His dedication earned Eltaeb the $1 million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, recognizing people who endanger themselves to rescue others. He donated portions of the award to medical and humanitarian organizations worldwide.

Hospital staff described Al Nao before the conflict as a peaceful facility where nearly 100 beds often remained vacant. When violence erupted in Khartoum and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces seized large portions of the city, injured civilians rushed to the hospital.

Eltaeb’s original hospital closed soon after fighting began in April 2023, prompting his transfer to Al Nao. Most personnel had evacuated by July, leaving him as the facility’s leader.

He worked alongside a small group of employees and volunteers to maintain hospital operations. Power outages lasted weeks while the facility depended on military fuel deliveries for generators. Critical medications including antibiotics and pain relievers became unavailable.

The hospital suffered its first attack in August, one month after Eltaeb assumed leadership.

“From that moment, we knew that we are a target … And from that time, they didn’t stop targeting us,” he stated. The RSF subsequently bombed the hospital three additional times.

Normal life had collapsed. The father of three worked from his office, distributing candy to a continuous flow of patients and staff seeking his guidance.

Medical choices became agonizing. During one devastating day in late 2024, he and his team rushed to treat more than 100 wounded individuals after an explosion struck a local marketplace. Eight patients died.

“You choose … as if you can choose who is going to live and who is going to die,” he said.

The situation deteriorated further when Eltaeb had to determine whether to amputate children’s limbs without complete anesthesia because they were losing blood rapidly and couldn’t be moved to the operating room in time.

Using only local numbing medication, he amputated an arm and leg from a 9-year-old boy and removed his 11-year-old sister’s leg.

He keeps photographs of these procedures on his mobile phone, trying to help others understand horrors that few can comprehend.

The hospital depended on volunteers to maintain supply chains. They posted needs on social media platforms, and pharmacists provided keys to their shuttered stores, allowing volunteers to collect medicines and equipment without charge.

Volunteer Nazar Mohamed spent months traveling throughout Omdurman, frequently on bicycle, transporting supplies while explosions thundered nearby.

Additional donations arrived from international organizations and individuals. Sudanese physicians living overseas offered remote consultation on managing mass casualties and operating with limited antibiotics or anesthesia.

Remaining hospital workers improvised solutions, constructing beds and crutches from wood and using clothing instead of medical gauze for emergency splints.

Combat has moved away from the Khartoum region. Some financially strained organizations that previously supported Eltaeb’s hospital now direct aid to areas with greater needs.

He estimates current funding will cover salaries and generator operations until June, but the hospital requires approximately $40,000 monthly to maintain full functionality.

Although several nations have promised assistance for Sudan’s reconstruction efforts, concerns exist that conflict with Iran might redirect attention and resources, particularly from Gulf states that pledged recovery support.

Medical facilities that sustained heavier damage than Al Nao remain destroyed and require significantly more resources.

Across the city, Dr. Osman Ismail Osman, who directs Al Shaabi hospital, described the several hundred thousand dollars provided by the government as insufficient.

The RSF occupied his hospital during the war. Damaged medical equipment worth millions of dollars lies in dusty piles, surrounded by concrete debris and twisted metal bed frames.

Plans to reopen the severely damaged hospital for emergency referrals within weeks appear ambitious, but medical professionals like Eltaeb have developed skills for tackling seemingly impossible tasks.

“I believe I did my best as a doctor as a Sudanese,” the surgeon concluded.

Tehran has put forward a new diplomatic proposal to lift its restrictions on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor while requesting Washington end its economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic, according to two regional officials familiar with the negotiations who spoke anonymously Monday.

The Iranian offer, delivered through Pakistani intermediaries, notably sidesteps any commitments regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities – a key sticking point that makes the proposal unlikely to gain traction with President Trump’s administration, which has made dismantling Iran’s atomic capabilities a cornerstone of any comprehensive settlement.

“We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us,” Trump told Fox News Channel on Sunday.

The Axios news organization was first to report on Iran’s diplomatic overture.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in St. Petersburg Monday morning for scheduled discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. His recent diplomatic tour included stops in Pakistan and Oman, which controls the southern shore of the disputed waterway alongside Iran.

Araghchi’s Russian visit unfolds amid continued tensions between Tehran and Washington over the critical Strait of Hormuz, despite an existing ceasefire that has failed to resolve underlying disputes or stabilize global energy markets.

“It is a good opportunity for us to consult with our Russian friends about the developments that have occurred in relation to the war during this period and what is happening now,” Araghchi stated in a video interview released by IRNA.

Pakistani officials have been working to restart stalled diplomatic communications between Iran and the United States, with negotiations initially planned for Islamabad over the weekend. However, President Trump indicated the discussions might proceed via telephone rather than in-person meetings.

Araghchi attributed delays in the negotiation process to America’s stance, saying it was Washington’s approach that “caused the negotiations to be delayed.”

“The previous one, despite the progress that had been made, could not achieve its goals,” he stated, criticizing what he characterized as Washington’s “excessive demands.”

Trump has expressed uncertainty about Iran’s current leadership structure and suggested that internal confusion within the country’s theocratic government complicates reaching any meaningful agreement.

The White House announced last week it would send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad to build on previous face-to-face discussions held earlier this month. However, after Araghchi departed the Pakistani capital Saturday, Trump canceled the diplomatic mission citing insufficient progress with Iranian officials.

“If they want, we can talk but we’re not sending people,” Trump stated to Fox News on Sunday. He had posted earlier on social media: “All they have to do is call!!!”

Araghchi subsequently returned to Islamabad and also traveled to Oman’s capital Muscat before departing for Russia. He conducted phone conversations with officials from Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The ongoing standoff centers on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf passage through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas typically flows, as Iran has limited vessel movement while the U.S. maintains its embargo of Iranian ports.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark, traded around $107 per barrel Monday, a significant increase from $72 per barrel before the conflict erupted.

Energy prices have climbed consistently since hostilities began, with numerous oil tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely navigate through the strait to reach international markets.

The economic impact continues expanding two months into the conflict as worldwide shipments of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizers and other essential commodities face disruption from the near-total closure of this strategic waterway.

Iran is seeking Oman’s backing for a system to collect transit fees from ships using the strait, according to a regional official who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Oman’s position on this proposal remains unclear.

The official, who participates in mediation efforts, also indicated Iran demands the lifting of U.S. sanctions before engaging in fresh negotiations, while Pakistani mediators work to narrow substantial differences between both nations.

Trump last week extended indefinitely the ceasefire agreement reached between the U.S. and Iran on April 7, which has largely stopped combat that commenced with combined U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran February 28. However, a lasting resolution remains out of reach in the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted the global economy.

Prior to Saturday’s developments, Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated any discussions would be conducted indirectly through Pakistani representatives, demonstrating Tehran’s caution following previous rounds of indirect negotiations that concluded with military strikes by the U.S. and Israel.

Both nations continue issuing military warnings. Iran’s joint military command cautioned Saturday that “if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy” it will encounter a “strong response.”

Trump ordered military forces last week to “shoot and kill” small vessels potentially deploying mines in the shipping channel.

Trump informed reporters Saturday that within ten minutes of canceling Witkoff and Kushner’s Islamabad trip, Iran submitted a “much better” proposal.

He declined to provide specifics but emphasized that among his conditions is that Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon.” Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has remained central to ongoing tensions. Tehran currently possesses 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, requiring only a brief technical process to reach weapons-grade concentration, according to U.N. nuclear monitoring officials.

Since fighting commenced, casualties include at least 3,375 people in Iran and at least 2,509 in Lebanon, where Israel-Hezbollah combat resumed two days after the Iran conflict started. Additional fatalities include 23 in Israel and over a dozen in Gulf Arab nations. Military losses encompass 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region, and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

A separate ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-supported Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah has been extended for three weeks. Hezbollah has remained outside the Washington-facilitated diplomatic process.

LONDON – Authorities in Britain announced Monday that they have detained a 37-year-old individual as part of their ongoing investigation into multiple incidents targeting Jewish facilities across northwest London.

The arrest marks the latest development in a month-long investigation that has now resulted in 26 individuals being taken into custody. Counter-terrorism units have been leading the probe into various incidents including arson attacks and other criminal acts directed at Jewish-affiliated locations throughout the area.

“He was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts and has been taken to a London police station for questioning,” the police said in a statement.

Seasonal thunderstorms sweeping through Bangladesh have claimed the lives of at least 14 people due to lightning strikes, according to government officials who reported the casualties on Monday.

The fatalities occurred across multiple districts as sudden weather systems brought torrential rainfall and dangerous electrical activity to the region.

Agricultural workers laboring in open farmland and construction crews working in exposed locations made up the majority of those killed, according to local government representatives. Emergency responders transported several additional victims to area medical facilities, with some patients listed in serious condition.

The South Asian nation experiences hundreds of lightning-related deaths annually, prompting officials to officially classify these electrical storms as natural disasters in 2016. That designation came after May of that year saw over 200 lightning fatalities, including 82 deaths occurring within a 24-hour period.

Environmental specialists attribute the increasing number of deadly lightning incidents to widespread forest clearing, which has eliminated many towering trees that historically served as natural lightning rods, protecting people below.

These tragic electrical storm deaths typically spike during the pre-monsoon period from April through June, when climbing temperatures and moisture levels create volatile atmospheric conditions throughout the country.

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s senior citizens find themselves shouldering a disproportionate share of hardship as the nation’s economic troubles intensify, particularly following an oil embargo enacted by former U.S. President Donald Trump that has accelerated difficulties since early this year.

The island nation already possessed one of Latin America’s most aged demographics even before recent setbacks, the result of extended lifespans combined with declining birth rates.

Statistics from Cuba’s National Bureau reveal that by 2024’s conclusion, approximately 26% of the population had reached 60 years or beyond, nearly double the 14.2% regional average documented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Numerous seniors are former government employees surviving on inadequate retirement benefits, confronting reductions in historically subsidized necessities while experiencing growing isolation as Cuba’s youth continue departing the country. Migration has reduced the nation’s population by close to 1.5 million people over the last five years.

These elderly Cubans were in their youth when Fidel Castro marched into Havana. Today, during their golden years, they face another era of deprivation that challenges the limits of pension payments, government rations, and individual endurance. The effects appear throughout everyday existence: Senior citizens navigate streets in solitude, queue extensively for bread and rice, and rely more heavily on religious organizations and certain government facilities for basic nutrition.

The Church of the Holy Spirit in Old Havana exemplifies such support, welcoming approximately 50 elderly community members three times weekly for simple hot meals featuring ground meat, rice, red beans, and crackers with mayonnaise. For many attendees, these gatherings provide far more than sustenance, offering structure, comfort, and companionship during extended periods marked by shortages, power failures, and isolation.

Mercedes Lopez Rey, a retired engineer, regularly attended the church meals three times each week until her passing, as deteriorating circumstances made everyday survival increasingly challenging. Lopez also collected food portions for her friend Julia Barcelo, who battled breast cancer and couldn’t leave home.

Carmen Casado represents another frequent participant—an 84-year-old former chemical engineer who relies on these meals because her monthly pension of 2,000 Cuban pesos equals roughly $4 using the unofficial exchange rate many Cubans utilize. Without children or financial support from overseas relatives, she lives by herself in the upper levels of a crumbling 19th-century structure, typical of many Havana buildings showing signs of age and insufficient maintenance. Even facing poverty and isolation, she maintains confidence in her government while attributing the nation’s struggles to the United States.

HAVANA — At the Church of the Holy Spirit in Old Havana’s historic district, approximately 50 senior citizens recently gathered for their regular communal meal, sharing ground beef, rice, red beans and crackers with mayonnaise, followed by traditional Cuban coffee.

Before eating, the group recited together: “May the Lord bless from his height, the meal our belly will take with delight,” a prayer they repeat three times weekly in the church’s dining area.

Carmen Casado, an 84-year-old former chemical engineer, never misses these gatherings. Her government retirement check totals 2,000 Cuban pesos monthly — worth approximately $4 when exchanged at the unofficial rates locals rely on daily. Living by herself without children or family support from overseas, she depends heavily on these church dinners.

The meals provide crucial nutrition beyond the limited government rations of bread, rice and beans available at state-operated stores known as bodegas, according to Casado.

“This is a lifeline for us retirees with small pensions,” Casado explained quickly. “What we get from the bodegas alone is not enough.”

Cuba’s aging population faces particularly harsh consequences from the nation’s devastating economic downturn, which has intensified significantly this year after oil restrictions implemented under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

The majority of these seniors worked in government positions — educators, medical professionals, nurses, technicians, maintenance workers, attorneys — and now receive monthly pensions typically under $10. They must cope with reduced subsidized goods that sustained them for decades, plus isolation as younger generations leave the country.

These individuals witnessed Fidel Castro’s arrival in Havana during their youth and experienced every major historical moment on the island, from the Bay of Pigs attack to the historic 2016 handshake between U.S. President Barack Obama and Raúl Castro.

Today, their dedication to the revolution faces its greatest challenge yet, compelling them to hawk tobacco products on sidewalks, wait in lengthy bread lines, and depend on free food from religious organizations and government facilities.

Following her meal, Casado made the four-block journey to her residence, where she continues managing daily tasks independently. She occupies the upper two levels of a deteriorating 19th-century structure typical of many crumbling buildings throughout the capital city.

Born in 1942, Casado came of age during Castro’s revolutionary victory. Her lifetime encompasses the island’s most pivotal events, including the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the economic hardship known as the Special Period after Soviet support ended. She also experienced the prosperous 1970s and 1980s when Soviet assistance funded the economy and Cuba’s socialist system appeared promising.

“This is our life; we were born and raised here,” she reflected.

Before the current economic collapse intensified and recent emigration waves began five years ago, Cuba already ranked among Latin America’s nations with the most elderly residents, driven by extended lifespans and declining birth rates.

Data from Cuba’s National Bureau of Statistics shows nearly 26% of the population reached age 60 or above by late 2024. This figure represents almost double the regional average of 14.2% for the same period, based on information from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CEPAL).

Over the past five years, Cuba’s population has decreased by nearly 1.5 million people, mainly through emigration. The island’s resident population has dropped from 11.1 million to just 9.7 million currently.

The crisis’s effects and youth exodus are immediately apparent throughout the streets. Elderly residents walk alone — some searching through garbage, others queuing extensively for bread and rice distributed through ration books, the basic subsidized food system the government provides to all Cubans.

The elderly population’s situation has become so dire that authorities recently permitted private business owners to establish elder care services and residential homes, representing a major shift from the island’s traditional complete state oversight model.

Casado maintains she remains fortunate compared to others. She stays mentally alert without physical limitations — not even requiring a walking stick — and handles all personal needs independently. Her sole medication consists of half a blood pressure pill, which remains accessible at government pharmacies “so far.”

Despite experiencing poverty and isolation, she maintains confidence in the government and attributes the nation’s problems to the United States.

“We’re doing everything we can here to move the country forward,” she stated. “But the thing is, we have a very powerful enemy, and he’s right there, right on our doorstep.”

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Captain Rahul Dhar and his maritime crew have spent roughly two months trapped aboard their oil tanker in the Persian Gulf waters, witnessing drone strikes and missile explosions as the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping passage remains blocked due to the continuing Iran conflict.

While the crew maintains their daily operations, Dhar reports that psychological stress is becoming evident among his team members.

Although a fragile truce between America and Iran has provided “a careful sense of hope” for those aboard, no definitive conclusion to the hostilities appears imminent. “Day to day, we try to keep things normal with open conversations and small team activities that help lift everyone’s spirits,” Dhar explained.

During their maritime watches, the crew witnessed multiple drone flights and missile defense actions both in their immediate vicinity and across the water’s horizon. “Those moments were difficult and created real tension for the crew,” Dhar shared with The Associated Press.

“None of us expected the warlike situation,” he explained, emphasizing how dependable internet access has enabled communication with their families back home. “Those calls and messages really keep us grounded and give us strength.”

Approximately 20,000 maritime workers across hundreds of commercial vessels, including petroleum tankers and freight ships, remain trapped in Gulf waters, prevented from navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. Under normal circumstances, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through this critical waterway.

Maritime tracking data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows approximately 80 ships successfully crossed the strait during the April 13-19 period, a dramatic decrease from the typical 130 or more daily crossings before hostilities began. Multiple vessels have suffered attacks since the conflict started, with United Nations reports confirming at least 10 seafarer deaths.

Despite President Donald Trump’s recent decision to extend the ceasefire without time limits, American forces continue blocking Iranian ports. Iran responded by attacking ships in the strait and capturing two vessels.

“Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, yet we are often the most affected by regional geopolitical conflicts,” stated Captain ArunKumar Rajendran, who has also remained stranded with his tanker crew for approximately eight weeks.

Manoj Kumar Yadav from the Forward Seamen’s Union of India reported thousands of Indian sailors aboard the trapped vessels, experiencing prolonged periods of terror and isolation while anchored near Iranian harbors including Bandar Abbas and Khorramshahr. Explosive incidents sometimes occurred within mere hundreds of meters of their positions.

“They were watching blasts from their decks,” he reported, noting his organization receives constant emergency calls from crews and their relatives. “Many of them were on board a ship for the first time, and you can imagine what mental state they have gone through.”

As one of the world’s primary sources of maritime workers, India has over 20,000 citizens employed on international vessels throughout the region, with many beyond the scope of organized rescue operations. India’s shipping ministry announced last week that no fewer than 2,680 sailors had been evacuated since fighting commenced.

Yadav described how numerous sailors faced severe shortages of food and fresh water, with certain ships implementing strict rationing protocols. Family communication from India remained intermittent due to internet interruptions and signal interference. When connections were available, sailors frequently paid expensive roaming fees for brief conversations, he noted.

Families of the stranded sailors express mounting concern, demanding their relatives’ safe evacuation.

Mohamed Arrachedi, the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s Middle East network coordinator, reported receiving hundreds of assistance requests earlier this month, including food supply needs from maritime workers.

Reza Muhammad Saleh, an Indonesian chief officer on a Greek-owned cargo vessel stranded off Oman for over a month, described a drone explosion near the port shortly after their March 3 arrival. At least two additional incidents followed, requiring multiple crew evacuations to protective shelters, though no injuries occurred.

“The biggest problem is the uncertainty. We don’t know when Hormuz will be open again,” Saleh informed the AP.

The ship carrying 24 crew members from Indonesia, Arab nations, India and Ethiopia normally hauls iron ore between Gulf states, crossing Hormuz one or two times monthly. Current operations require written Iranian authorization. “No company wants to take the risk without it,” he explained.

Despite experience in conflict areas, the crew has been shaken by missile attacks and GPS interference that forced manual navigation methods, he said.

“Sometimes we think it’s safe, then suddenly it’s not. Today we’re safe. Tomorrow, nobody knows,” he stated.

Fleet Management Limited maintains regular communication multiple times daily with dozens of stranded ships carrying more than 400 maritime workers, according to CEO Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam.

Regular inventory monitoring ensures food supply management, with pickup arrangements organized to guarantee availability by relocating vessels to accessible points for obtaining fresh and preserved provisions, he explained.

Limited crew rotations continue, though in reduced numbers. “Who wants to go on the ship?” Subramaniam questioned. “The inbound crew has the right to refuse and we respect (that).”

Most trapped mariners have remained in Gulf waters since hostilities began. “(For) mariners who did not sign up to be in warlike area, they also (need) to be respected so that they do not become the unintended collateral,” he stated.

Among vessels attempting Strait of Hormuz crossings during the ceasefire, several faced gunfire while others retreated. Ships under Fleet Management supervision avoided crossing attempts, Subramaniam confirmed.

Hapag-Lloyd, Germany’s largest shipping corporation, has approximately 150 sailors stranded near the strait aboard six vessels. “These are difficult days and weeks,” company spokesman Nils Haupt told the AP earlier this month. He confirmed Hapag-Lloyd maintains daily contact with captains and crews.

“We’ve been able to rotate some of them (crew) in the meantime, but you can easily imagine that after such a long time, monotony naturally sets in on board,” he noted.

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ shipping authority, along with other organizations have requested a protected passage for commercial vessels through the strait. Most ships remain unable to transit, despite Iran’s claims that the strait was accessible to vessels it considered non-threatening and its demands to collect transit fees.

Reports indicate Iran deployed mines throughout the waterway, prompting Trump to announce last week that American forces were removing Iranian mines and would “shoot and kill” boats placing mines in the region. Given increased mine and attack risks, “there is no safe transit anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz,” declared IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

Recent years have seen multiple crises leaving many seafarers stranded at sea, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s Ukraine invasion and Houthi rebel attacks on Red Sea shipping. Subramaniam expressed concern that even after the Iran conflict ends, fewer individuals will accept maritime positions during an existing shortage of experienced seafarers.

WASHINGTON — More than 250 years after American colonists broke away from British rule under King George III, his royal successor King Charles III arrives in the nation’s capital Monday facing diplomatic challenges and heightened security concerns.

A weekend shooting incident at a Washington event where President Donald Trump was present prompted last-minute security adjustments for the monarch’s four-day official visit, designed to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th birthday and strengthen the historic U.S.-UK alliance.

Royal officials at Buckingham Palace expressed that the king “is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed.” Following security assessments, palace representatives confirmed the diplomatic mission “will proceed as planned.”

Political tensions between the British government and the Trump administration over Middle East policy had already complicated the royal visit before the security concerns arose.

Trump has recently criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to support American military operations against Iran, telling reporters the British leader is “not Winston Churchill” — referencing the wartime prime minister who first described the U.S.-UK bond as a “special relationship.”

These disagreements reflect broader friction between Trump and NATO partners, whom he has labeled “cowards” and “useless” for declining to participate in Iranian military action. Leaked Pentagon communications have suggested America might reconsider backing Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, territories that sparked a 1982 conflict between Britain and Argentina.

Despite political differences, Trump maintains the diplomatic disputes won’t impact the royal visit. Charles “has nothing to do with that,” Trump stated in March, referring to NATO matters.

The president has consistently praised Charles in personal terms, calling the monarch his “friend” and describing him as a “great guy.”

Trump also frequently highlights his “amazing” September visit to Britain with first lady Melania Trump for an unprecedented second state visit. Starmer personally delivered the king’s invitation during an Oval Office meeting just five weeks after the Republican president resumed office, in a clear diplomatic outreach effort.

During the Trumps’ British visit, the royal family organized elaborate ceremonies featuring red-uniformed guards, military bands, and an elegant banquet 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 told The Associated Press. “The president looks forward to a special visit by Their Majesties, which will include a beautiful state dinner and multiple events throughout the week.”

When asked by the BBC whether the king’s visit could help restore trans-Atlantic relations, Trump responded positively.

“He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes,” the president declared.

Kristofer Allerfeldt, a University of Exeter professor who studies American history, believes both governments have distinct goals for this diplomatic encounter.

According to Allerfeldt, Charles aims at “reinforcing long-term ties, showcasing the monarchy’s soft power and reminding the world that Britain still carries diplomatic weight.”

Trump’s focus centers more on “a media event,” emphasizing the visual impact of what resembles a meeting between “two gilded monarchs.”

British politicians express concern about potential embarrassing moments during the visit. Trump’s recent public criticism of Pope Leo XIV has intensified these worries.

Ed Davey, who leads the centrist Liberal Democrats opposition party, described Trump as “a dangerous and corrupt gangster” earlier this month and urged the government to cancel the royal trip.

“I really fear for what Trump might say or do while our king is forced to stand by his side,” Davey told the House of Commons. “We cannot put His Majesty in that position.”

Starmer defended the diplomatic mission, arguing “the monarchy, through the bonds that it builds, is often able to reach through the decades” and strengthen vital relationships.

Adding complexity to the visit is ongoing controversy surrounding the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who lost his Prince Andrew title and public duties while facing police investigation regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. He maintains his innocence of any wrongdoing.

Epstein survivors have requested meetings with the king and other sexual abuse victims, though such encounters appear unlikely.

While Charles has traveled to America 19 times previously, this marks his inaugural state visit as monarch since ascending the throne in 2022. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, completed four official state visits to America.

The 77-year-old king, who received an undisclosed cancer diagnosis in early 2024, will spend four days in America alongside Queen Camilla.

Washington activities include private tea with the Trumps, a garden reception, and a formal White House state dinner. The president and king will also hold private discussions.

The royal couple plans to visit New York’s September 11 memorial and participate in Virginia’s 250th anniversary “block party,” where Charles will meet with Indigenous leaders working on environmental conservation — a cause particularly important to the environmentally-focused monarch.

Three hundred years after British monarchs relinquished actual governing authority, royalty continues serving as diplomatic symbols, used by elected officials to enhance international relationships and communicate national priorities.

A significant moment will occur when the king addresses the U.S. Congress on Tuesday. This represents only the second occasion, following Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, that a British monarch has spoken to both legislative chambers.

Elizabeth promoted democratic values during her congressional address, spoke against the concept that “power grows from the barrel of a gun” and celebrated the “rich ethnic and cultural diversity of both our societies.”

The king’s preferred issues, including environmental protection and interfaith cooperation, contrast with Trump’s positions. While unlikely to emphasize disagreements, Allerfeldt suggested the monarch might subtly convey messages through his congressional remarks.

“He does have an unorthodox way of looking at the world, and I think maybe he can actually have something valid to say when he addresses Congress,” Allerfeldt observed.

Energy markets saw gains Monday as tensions persisted between the United States and Iran in the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway, even with a ceasefire in place. Pakistani officials are attempting to restart diplomatic discussions between the two nations.

Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi traveled to Russia Monday for discussions with President Vladimir Putin, continuing a diplomatic tour that has included two visits to Pakistan and a stop in Oman, which borders the strait alongside Iran.

According to a regional official familiar with the mediation process, Pakistani-led negotiators are attempting to resolve major disagreements between Washington and Tehran. The official requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak publicly about the diplomatic efforts.

President Donald Trump called off plans to send senior officials to Islamabad over the weekend for planned negotiations after Iran demanded the United States lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports as a precondition for renewed discussions.

The U.S. military’s Central Command reported Monday morning that 38 vessels have been redirected during the ongoing blockade operations.

The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 3,375 fatalities in Iran and a minimum of 2,509 deaths in Lebanon, where Israel-Hezbollah hostilities resumed shortly after the Iran conflict began.

Additional casualties include 23 deaths in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab nations. Military losses include 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 American service members in the region, and six United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

During his Moscow visit, Foreign Minister Araghchi described the trip as a chance to align strategies with Russian leadership following the conflicts with Israel and the United States.

Speaking in a recorded interview released by Iran’s state-operated IRNA news agency, Araghchi commented: “It is a good opportunity for us to consult with our Russian friends about the developments that have occurred in relation to the war during this period and what is happening now.”

The Iranian foreign minister attributed the delay in Islamabad negotiations to America’s stance, stating it was America’s approach that “caused the negotiations to be delayed.”

“The previous one, despite the progress that had been made, could not achieve its goals,” Araghchi said, criticizing what he termed Washington’s “excessive demands.”

Trump has raised questions about Iran’s current leadership structure, suggesting that internal confusion within the country’s religious government system complicates reaching any agreement.

The Iranian diplomat touched down in St. Petersburg Monday for his scheduled meeting with Russian President Putin, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency.

Araghchi’s current diplomatic mission has included two separate visits to Islamabad and a stop in Muscat, Oman, as negotiations with the United States remain at an impasse over the Iran conflict.

ANKARA, April 27 – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone following a shooting incident that occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, according to an announcement from the Turkish presidency late Sunday.

The Turkish presidency released a statement on X saying that “Erdogan said he saw the incident as a heinous act against democracy and press freedom.”

Before the phone conversation took place, Erdogan had already issued a public condemnation of the shooting through a post on X, where he expressed relief that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump remained safe and uninjured during the incident.

A volunteer firefighter whose family home was destroyed in Japan’s catastrophic 2011 tsunami now finds himself defending that same community against a raging wildfire that has burned for six consecutive days.

Ryota Haga, currently 31 years old with a wife and young child, was a high school student when Japan’s most powerful earthquake on record generated a devastating tsunami that demolished his family’s residence in the peaceful northeastern community of Otsuchi in March 2011.

The massive wildfire has consumed more than 1,600 hectares of forestland as of Monday morning, prompting deployment of approximately 1,400 firefighters and multiple Self-Defense Force units to combat the flames.

“It’s been 15 years since the (Great East Japan) Earthquake, and our lives were finally beginning to settle down,” Haga said at the end of another draining day battling the blaze on Sunday.

“We can’t let people lose what is precious to them all over again. The fire is spreading and our exhaustion is at a limit, but it’s our hometown. We will protect it at all costs, even if it feels like we’re running on empty.”

The coastal community of Otsuchi suffered among the worst devastation during the 2011 disaster, when tsunami waves reaching approximately 10 meters in height crashed through the small fishing village. The catastrophe claimed nearly 1,300 local residents—roughly one-tenth of the town’s entire population—including the mayor.

According to Haga, the current fire represents the largest blaze he has ever encountered. Despite scattered rainfall predicted for Monday, officials have not yet gained control over the wildfire.

Although Japan experiences fewer major wildfires compared to other global regions, climate change has led to more frequent blazes, particularly during early spring months preceding the humid rainy season when conditions remain hot, dry, and windy. On Sunday, another wildfire ignited in Fukushima, also located in Japan’s northeastern territory.

Beyond the immediate crisis, Haga expresses concern about the severe shortage of firefighters as Japan’s population continues declining and aging. His fire brigade currently operates below official staffing requirements established by authorities.

“If a forest fire breaks out when I’m in my 50s or 60s, and I’m the one gasping for breath while trying to fight it, I don’t think we’ll be able to stop it,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Haga maintains optimism that the firefighters’ unwavering commitment to protecting their community will inspire others.

“The next generation might be inspired to join the volunteer fire brigade.”

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has abandoned his legal challenge seeking to complete his prison sentence from home, according to Malaysian media outlet The Edge, which cited court documents on Monday.

The former leader was convicted on multiple corruption charges stemming from his involvement in the massive 1MDB financial scandal that cost the country billions.

Najib has been incarcerated since August 2022, serving a six-year term after being found guilty of corruption and money laundering charges. This represents just one of multiple criminal cases tied to allegations that billions were siphoned from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a government investment fund he created in 2009 during his time as prime minister.

The former prime minister pursued home confinement after Malaysia’s pardons board, led by the country’s previous monarch, reduced his sentence by half in 2024.

Najib maintains that the pardons board’s ruling included a supplementary directive from the king permitting him to complete his sentence under house arrest, which he claims government officials have disregarded.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected Najib’s house arrest request on December 22, prompting him to file an appeal.

Court documents show Najib has now dropped that appeal without the option to submit a new one, with the Court of Appeal confirming the withdrawal, The Edge reported Monday. The withdrawal was documented in correspondence from Najib’s legal team and the court dated April 3 and April 6.

Neither Najib’s attorneys nor the Attorney General’s office responded to requests for comment from Reuters.

This latest legal defeat compounds Najib’s troubles following his December conviction on additional charges that resulted in a 15-year prison term and a $2.8 billion fine for abuse of power and money laundering in the largest 1MDB-related trial to date.

Investigators from Malaysia and the United States determined that criminals stole at least $4.5 billion from the 1MDB government fund, with over $1 billion allegedly flowing into accounts connected to Najib.

Throughout the proceedings, Najib has maintained his innocence while expressing regret for his mismanagement of the scandal.

North Korea has established a memorial museum in Pyongyang dedicated to its soldiers who perished while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict, as leaders from both nations pledge to deepen their military partnership.

The ceremonial opening took place Sunday in the North Korean capital, commemorating the first anniversary of concluded operations in Russia’s Kursk border area. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un participated in the dedication alongside prominent Russian delegates, including State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and Defense Minister Andrei Beloussov, according to the Korean Central News Agency’s Monday report.

Back in April 2025, both nations confirmed their forces had collaborated to counter Ukrainian military advances into the Kursk region. While neither country has revealed exact deployment numbers, South Korean intelligence agencies believe approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers were sent, with roughly 2,000 casualties.

The ceremony featured Kim personally placing soil over one fallen soldier’s remains and presenting floral tributes to others already interred in the facility. All three leaders signed the museum’s guest registry following the memorial service.

In his address, Kim declared that the fallen North Korean troops would forever represent “a symbol of the North Korean people’s heroism” and continue supporting “a victorious march by the Korean and Russian people.” He commended both militaries for defeating what he characterized as Western “hegemonic plot and military adventurism” led by the United States in the Russian-Ukraine theater.

During a private meeting with Beloussov, Kim pledged North Korea’s complete backing of Russian efforts to protect its national sovereignty and security priorities. Russian state media Tass reported that Beloussov informed Kim of Russia’s readiness to finalize a bilateral military cooperation agreement covering 2027-2031.

Russian President Vladimir Putin contributed a letter read aloud by Volodin during the ceremony, stating the museum “will undoubtedly be a clear symbol of the friendship and solidarity” between both nations. Putin expressed confidence that the countries would continue strengthening their comprehensive strategic alliance, KCNA reported.

Following Russia’s Ukraine invasion, Kim has prioritized Moscow relationships by providing military personnel and conventional weaponry. North Korea reportedly received economic and additional support in exchange. South Korean, American, and allied officials express concern that Russia might share advanced technologies that could boost North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

Military analysts note that North Korean forces initially became vulnerable targets for drone and artillery strikes due to limited combat experience and unfamiliarity with local geography. However, Ukrainian military and intelligence assessments indicate the North Koreans gained valuable battlefield knowledge and played crucial roles in Russia’s strategy of deploying massive troop numbers in the Kursk campaign.

Taiwan’s defense chief dismissed concerns Monday about Beijing’s latest economic penalties targeting European defense contractors, stating the sanctions won’t interfere with the island’s weapons acquisition efforts.

On Friday, China’s Commerce Ministry prohibited exports of dual-use materials to seven European firms that have sold military equipment to Taiwan, adding these companies to Beijing’s export restriction registry. This represents an uncommon instance of China imposing Taiwan-related penalties specifically on European businesses.

The self-governing island, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, primarily obtains its military hardware from the United States. European nations have avoided selling major defense systems like combat aircraft to Taiwan for approximately thirty years, concerned about provoking Beijing’s anger.

During parliamentary questioning, Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo noted that China has implemented similar measures previously.

“However, I think such an action, as I understand it, does not affect our ability to continue sourcing goods through relevant diversified channels,” he stated, declining to provide additional details.

Although numerous nations, particularly in Europe, remain cautious about defense partnerships with Taiwan due to potential Chinese retaliation, Taipei has gained increased support from certain Central and Eastern European regions, especially following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Czech companies comprise four of the seven businesses included on China’s new sanctions roster.

Beijing has consistently imposed penalties on prominent American defense contractors for Taiwan weapons sales, most recently in December after the U.S. announced an $11 billion arms package for the island.

Regarding potential Japanese weapons purchases after Tokyo recently eliminated restrictions on international arms exports, Koo explained that weapon recipients must be nations with signed defense equipment and technology transfer agreements with Japan, which Taiwan lacks.

When questioned about future possibilities, Koo replied: “In the future, no possibility can be ruled out. I think I can only say that at present, no transfer agreement exists.”

While nations like the Philippines praised Japan’s policy change, China expressed significant concerns.

Japanese-Chinese relations have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in November that a Chinese assault on Taiwan threatening Japan’s security could prompt military action.

The United States dollar strengthened during Monday morning trading as diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing Middle East conflict encountered significant obstacles, dampening investor sentiment and pushing the Japanese yen close to a critical threshold ahead of this week’s Bank of Japan policy announcement.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump called off a planned diplomatic mission to Islamabad, stating that Iran must initiate contact if it wishes to pursue negotiations to conclude their conflict that has now stretched into its second month. This development has left the strategically important Strait of Hormuz shipping channel effectively blocked.

Energy markets responded immediately to the news, with Brent crude oil futures climbing approximately 2% to reach $107.49 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose $1.77 to $96.17 per barrel during early Monday trading.

Currency markets reflected the heightened uncertainty, with the euro declining 0.14% to $1.1706 and the British pound falling 0.12% to $1.35155. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback’s performance against six major currencies, reached 98.623.

During March, the dollar initially surged due to safe-haven demand when hostilities began, but subsequently lost most of those gains as peace negotiations appeared promising earlier this month. The currency has stabilized recently as US-Iran diplomatic efforts have stalled.

Kyle Rodda, a senior financial analyst at Capital.com, expressed skepticism about market optimism. “I have been surprised that the markets are so confident, perhaps even blase, about progress in talks and the prospect of a peace deal,” Rodda observed, emphasizing that markets are currently positioned for peaceful resolution.

“The peace might not hold and if it doesn’t the markets will have to re-price quite violently,” he warned.

While a temporary ceasefire has halted major combat operations in the conflict that commenced with US-Israeli military action against Iran on February 28, negotiators have yet to establish terms for a permanent resolution, maintaining investor anxiety.

The ongoing conflict has driven energy costs higher, intensified inflationary pressures, and created uncertainty around global economic growth projections. The Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles one-fifth of worldwide oil and gas transportation, remains a critical concern, with analysts warning that prolonged closure increases risks to the global economy.

Shane Oliver, chief economist and head of investment strategy at AMP in Sydney, cautioned about broader economic implications. “While a bout of mild stagflation is baked in, the clock is now ticking on whether this turns into a more severe bout like that seen in the 1970s,” Oliver stated.

This week brings multiple central bank policy meetings as investors seek guidance on how the conflict affects inflation expectations and interest rate policies. The Bank of Japan is anticipated to maintain current interest rates during Tuesday’s meeting while potentially indicating readiness to increase rates as early as June.

Sources familiar with BOJ deliberations told Reuters that unlike previous instances when elevated US tariffs prompted a pause in rate increases, the central bank plans to emphasize its commitment to continued rate hikes as energy price shocks threaten to trigger widespread inflation.

The Japanese yen weakened to 159.51 against the US dollar, approaching the significant 160 threshold that market participants believe could trigger currency market intervention by Japanese authorities.

Since early March, the yen has remained within the 159 range as investors evaluate how oil price volatility affects energy-dependent Japan and the Bank of Japan’s monetary tightening plans.

Gregor Hirt, global chief investment officer for multi-asset strategies at Allianz Global Investors, suggested that resuming rate increases depends on geopolitical stability. He noted that if tensions diminish and Strait of Hormuz navigation resumes, rate hikes will likely return by summer.

“However, investors should not expect aggressive signalling at the April meeting. Instead, the BOJ will likely favour a strategy of incremental guidance to preserve optionality under uncertainty,” Hirt explained.

The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of England are all expected to maintain current interest rates this week, with financial markets focused on policymakers’ assessments of the conflict’s economic consequences and future monetary policy direction.

RIO DE JANEIRO – A construction worker lost his life Sunday while preparing the stage for Colombian superstar Shakira’s upcoming free concert in Rio de Janeiro, according to local fire department officials.

The worker became caught in lifting equipment during the stage construction process and sustained fatal crushing injuries to his legs, fire department officials reported based on eyewitness statements.

The pop star is scheduled to take the stage Saturday in what has become one of Rio’s signature entertainment events, drawing millions of visitors to witness world-renowned artists perform complimentary shows on the famous Copacabana beach.

BEIJING – Following President Donald Trump’s October meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which Trump described as a “12 out of 10” success, the White House announced that China would “effectively eliminate” restrictions on rare earth exports and stop retaliating against American businesses.

However, while Beijing has avoided openly criticizing Trump regarding the Iran conflict and expressed interest in positive diplomatic relations, Chinese officials have quietly developed an expanded arsenal of economic pressure tactics directed at Washington.

Following the October summit, China has implemented legislation targeting foreign companies that relocate their supply chains from China, strengthened rare earth licensing requirements, prohibited foreign artificial intelligence chips in government-funded data centers, blocked American and Israeli cybersecurity software from Chinese businesses, and is considering restrictions on solar manufacturing equipment exports to America.

According to experts, this strategy represents more than simple retaliation, with China leveraging the trade ceasefire to develop economic influence mechanisms that were previously Washington’s exclusive territory, ahead of a planned Xi-Trump summit scheduled for mid-May.

“The hope on the Chinese side is for a longer lasting, more broadly rooted truce, but it’s very much that ‘if you want peace, prepare for war’ logic,” stated Joe Mazur, a geopolitics analyst at Beijing-based consultancy Trivium China.

The current truce, which expires in November 2026, emerged partly from Beijing’s threats to limit rare earth exports to America last year. These restrictions created shortages throughout American automotive supply chains within weeks, analysts noted, helping bring Trump to negotiations with Xi in Busan, South Korea.

Rather than remaining passive since then, China has established multiple potential retaliatory options that could counter efforts to move production offshore or impose restrictions on its raw material imports, measures Beijing considers essential for protecting its interests.

This April, Premier Li Qiang approved two unprecedented regulations providing authorities extensive new authority to investigate foreign companies, governments, and individuals accused of discriminating against China’s industrial and supply chains, while enforcing what Beijing terms “unjustified extraterritorial jurisdiction” against Chinese organizations. Officials may refuse entry, expel, and confiscate assets of violators.

The Iranian conflict intensified China’s emphasis on new economic measures, particularly after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened sanctions in mid-April against purchasers of Iranian oil exports, with China buying 80% of such exports.

Yuyuan Tantian, a social media platform connected to state broadcaster CCTV, characterized the new regulations explicitly as legal countermeasures, posting two days following Bessent’s warning: “In the past, our countermeasures were largely concentrated in the trade domain. But today’s international friction is comprehensive, and those tools are no longer sufficient.”

The supply chain and extraterritorial interference regulations became effective immediately without opportunity for business input, according to Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

“Companies now face an asymmetry: China can reduce purchases from foreign firms with little consequence, while a foreign company that cuts its dependence on China risks investigation,” Hart explained.

China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond immediately to comment requests.

Washington has implemented its own pressure tactics, initiating trade investigations into excessive industrial capacity and forced labor usage in China during March, alongside export restrictions on semiconductors and chipmaking equipment that have hindered China’s advanced chip production capabilities.

“It’s because of export controls that China doesn’t have access to some of the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment in the world,” noted Chim Lee, industrial policy analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

This leverage competition has also affected negotiations for China to purchase tens of billions of dollars in Boeing aircraft. Beijing seeks the planes and spare parts, while Washington requires Chinese shipments of the rare earth yttrium for jet engine manufacturing, according to U.S. government and company officials familiar with the discussions.

Beijing has countered American actions with increasing regulatory measures. Since late 2025, it has mandated chipmakers use minimum 50% domestically produced equipment when expanding capacity, prohibited specific American and Israeli cybersecurity software, and required state-funded data centers to replace foreign AI chips – promoting domestic alternatives while excluding American suppliers from the Chinese market.

China’s implementation of extraterritorial export controls could “disrupt global supply chains on an unprecedented scale, leading to both economic and non-economic damage,” the European Chamber in China stated in an April report on China’s export controls.

As America works to decrease dependence on Chinese critical minerals, China is rapidly identifying new pressure points. Officials have conducted preliminary discussions with solar panel equipment manufacturers regarding limiting exports of advanced technology to America.

“There’s going to be more effort on the Chinese side to identify where those choke points are,” Trivium China’s Mazur said. “They’re going to keep throwing things at the wall to see what sticks.”

During its ongoing trade ceasefire with Washington, Beijing has systematically strengthened its economic defense mechanisms and expanded its ability to impose retaliatory measures, according to a detailed timeline of policy changes.

The temporary trade agreement between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump was established in Busan, South Korea, last October to reduce tensions in the ongoing trade conflict. This delicate arrangement is scheduled to end in November 2026.

Since the ceasefire began, China has implemented numerous strategic policy changes:

On April 15, 2026, Chinese government representatives initiated discussions with solar panel equipment manufacturers about potentially restricting exports of cutting-edge technology to America. Beijing controls production of over 80% of global solar panel components.

April 13 saw China’s State Council introduce fresh regulations that authorize response measures against foreign nations engaging in what it terms “unlawful extraterritorial jurisdiction.”

According to state-controlled Xinhua news agency, these new rules could target nations that impose secondary sanctions or enforce export controls with extraterritorial effects, such as de minimis threshold enforcement.

On April 7, the State Council rolled out additional regulations focused on industrial and supply chain protection, giving authorities power to investigate and respond to foreign governments, corporations, or international bodies that “adopt discriminatory measures” against Chinese industrial and supply networks.

February 24 marked an escalation in Beijing’s dispute with Tokyo, as China’s commerce ministry banned exports of dual-use materials to 20 Japanese organizations accused of supporting Japan’s military operations, including essential rare earth elements used in automotive, electronics, and weapons manufacturing.

Chinese officials instructed domestic businesses on January 14 to discontinue using cybersecurity products from more than twelve American and Israeli companies, citing national security risks.

Beginning January 9, China implemented export limitations on “heavy” rare earth elements and high-strength magnets containing these materials destined for Japanese firms.

On December 30, 2025, Beijing mandated that semiconductor manufacturers utilize a minimum of 50% domestically produced equipment when expanding production capacity, supporting the government’s goal of creating an independent chip manufacturing supply chain.

November 8 saw the implementation of Beijing’s export restrictions on advanced lithium-ion batteries, cathode materials, graphite anode components, and related technical expertise.

China issued requirements on November 5 mandating that new data center developments receiving government funding exclusively use domestically manufactured artificial intelligence processors.

The original trade agreement was finalized on October 30 when Xi and Trump met in Busan, South Korea. Trump committed to reducing Chinese tariffs in return for Beijing’s promise to combat illegal fentanyl trafficking, restart American soybean imports, and maintain rare earth exports.

Prior to the leadership talks on October 9, China significantly broadened its rare earth export controls by including five additional elements: holmium, erbium, thulium, europium, and ytterbium, along with enhanced semiconductor oversight.

As the world’s dominant rare earth producer, China also expanded its control list to include dozens of refining technologies and established compliance requirements for international rare earth companies utilizing Chinese materials.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has pledged his nation’s ongoing backing of Russian policies following conversations with Moscow’s defense minister about global political developments, according to state-controlled media reports released Monday.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov led a delegation that participated in a dedication ceremony for a monument commemorating North Korean troops who lost their lives during combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

The meeting underscores the deepening military and political ties between the two nations as both countries face international isolation and sanctions.

Energy markets experienced significant volatility Monday morning as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran came to a standstill, creating ripple effects across global financial markets.

Crude oil prices surged more than 2% during early Asian trading, with Brent crude reaching $107.97 per barrel – the highest level seen in three weeks. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures declined by 0.3%, despite American markets closing at record highs last Friday.

The dollar strengthened against major international currencies, though the gains remained modest. The euro dropped 0.15% to $1.1706, while the Japanese yen weakened slightly to 159.53 against the dollar.

While a temporary ceasefire has halted major combat operations in the conflict that began two months ago following U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iran, negotiators have failed to reach terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The critical waterway remains largely inaccessible, causing energy prices to climb sharply.

President Donald Trump called off a planned weekend diplomatic mission to Islamabad, where two American envoys were scheduled to participate in discussions. Iran’s foreign minister has continued traveling between nations attempting to broker an agreement.

Speaking on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing,” Trump outlined his administration’s position on future negotiations. “If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines,” the president stated.

Trump emphasized his administration’s non-negotiable stance regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “They know what has to be in the agreement. It’s very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there’s no reason to meet,” he declared.

Defense expenditures worldwide increased by 2.9% in 2025, reaching a record $2.89 trillion, according to new research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released Monday.

The growth marks the eleventh year in a row that global military budgets have expanded, pushing defense spending to 2.5% of worldwide economic output – the largest percentage since 2009. This occurred even as the United States reduced its military expenditures by 7.5% after President Donald Trump stopped approving new financial assistance for Ukraine’s military efforts.

The research institute projects continued expansion in the coming years, stating: “Given the range of current crises, as well as many states’ long-term military spending targets, this growth will probably continue through 2026 and beyond.”

Three nations – the United States, China, and Russia – dominated global spending, combining for $1.48 trillion, which represents just over half of all military expenditures worldwide.

American defense spending dropped to $954 billion in 2025, primarily due to the absence of new Ukraine military aid approvals. Over the prior three years, the U.S. had provided $127 billion in military support to Ukraine.

However, researchers expect the American spending decline to be temporary. “The decline in U.S. military expenditure in 2025 is likely to be short-lived,” the institute noted. “Spending approved by the U.S. Congress for 2026 has risen to over $1 trillion, a substantial increase from 2025, and could rise further to $1.5 trillion in 2027.”

European nations drove much of the global increase, with their combined military budgets rising 14% to reach $864 billion.

Both Russia and Ukraine maintained their upward spending trajectory in the fourth year of their ongoing conflict. NATO countries in Central and Western Europe posted their largest annual budget increases since the Cold War concluded.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military spending decreased 4.9% to $48.3 billion as fighting in Gaza diminished throughout 2025. Iran also reduced its defense budget for the second consecutive year, cutting expenditures by 5.6% to $7.4 billion.

Palestinian officials announced Sunday that weekend local elections held in one Gaza community and across the Israeli-occupied West Bank were successful, describing the voting as progress toward long-awaited presidential elections and future statehood goals.

Saturday’s local election in Deir al-Balah, located in central Gaza, was characterized by the Palestinian Authority as primarily a symbolic test run as officials work to politically unite the territories. The Palestinian Authority oversees semi-autonomous West Bank regions but remains excluded from the U.S.-developed Gaza ceasefire framework.

The voting marked the first election conducted in Hamas-controlled Gaza in more than twenty years. While Deir al-Balah has suffered extensive war damage over the past two years like much of Gaza, it avoided direct Israeli ground operations. Election participation reached 23%, though officials noted obstacles including widespread population displacement and outdated voter registration systems.

Hamas, which maintains control over the Gaza territory that Israel evacuated last year under current ceasefire terms, chose not to present candidates or interfere with the electoral process.

West Bank voter participation hit 56%, representing more than half a million residents, similar to recent election cycles in that region. Final vote tallies were anticipated later Sunday.

“Everyone is aware of the political, security and economic conditions, the fragmentation of Palestinian territory, the war on Gaza, and the regional conflict in Iran,” said Rami Hamdallah, who chairs the Ramallah-based Central Election Commission and previously served as prime minister.

“Simply holding the elections in Deir al-Balah is a significant achievement, and we hope to hold elections in other bodies across the Gaza Strip in the near future,” Hamdallah stated.

Gaza residents expressed determination to vote despite virtually nonexistent public services. Both territories held elections to select local council members responsible for managing water systems, roadways, and electrical infrastructure.

These elections represented the first voting since reform implementation following international pressure. The new system permits individual candidate voting rather than party slate selection. Given declining political party confidence, family and clan affiliations carried more campaign influence.

Hamdallah described the voting as demonstrating national solidarity, expressing hope that “presidential and legislative elections will follow.”

However, the Palestinian Authority has not conducted presidential elections in 21 years, with support for both the authority and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declining amid corruption concerns and frustration over aggressive Jewish settler expansion in West Bank areas.

The Palestinian Authority maintains international recognition as the Palestinian people’s official representative. Hamas expelled the authority from Gaza after winning 2006 parliamentary elections and seizing violent control. Abbas, now 90, won what was intended as a four-year term in 2005. No presidential or legislative elections have occurred since 2006.

Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa characterized Saturday’s elections as “another step on the path to full independence.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, however, remains opposed to Palestinian statehood.

Many Palestinians desire more extensive voting opportunities as they pursue greater influence over their future.

“Municipal elections are an important step, but they are not enough … We want general elections,” stated Bashar Masri, a notable Palestinian-American business leader, via social media.

LONDON, April 26 – Royal officials announced Sunday that King Charles and Queen Camilla will move forward with their planned four-day state visit to America, despite a shooting incident that occurred at a dinner event with President Donald Trump.

A representative from Buckingham Palace confirmed that after extensive consultations between British and American officials throughout the day, and based on government recommendations, the royal couple’s visit will continue as scheduled.

“Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the state visit by their majesties will proceed as planned,” a palace spokesperson said.

The palace representative added that the monarchs expressed appreciation for the swift coordination that allowed the visit to continue.

“The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow,” the spokesperson stated.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Officials confirmed Sunday that fatalities from an explosive attack on a passenger bus in Colombia’s turbulent southwest region have climbed to 20 victims.

The deadly incident occurred Saturday when a bomb exploded aboard a bus traveling the Pan-American Highway in Cajibio municipality. Regional Governor Octavio Guzmán reported that the casualties include 15 women and five men.

In a post on X, Guzmán stated that 36 additional people suffered injuries in the blast, with three currently receiving intensive care treatment. The governor also mentioned that five injured children are anticipated to make full recoveries.

Specialists from Colombia’s Institute of Legal Medicine, including dental experts, anthropologists and forensic physicians, are working to identify those killed in the explosion.

This devastating attack represents just the most recent incident of violence plaguing the area, where authorities have documented more than 24 separate attacks over the past 72 hours across southwestern Colombia. The territory serves as a battleground for illegal militant organizations fighting for dominance over coca cultivation zones and strategic waterway passages used for narcotics smuggling to Central America and Europe.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Hugo López characterized the bombing as a “terrorist act” and attributed responsibility to the criminal network led by “Iván Mordisco” — among Colombia’s most sought fugitives — along with the Jaime Martínez faction. Both organizations represent splinter groups from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia operating throughout the region.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement condemning the violence targeting civilians and urged government officials to conduct thorough investigations while ensuring “justice for the victims.”

Governor Guzmán announced Sunday that the region would observe three days of official mourning to honor those who perished in the attack.

Tehran’s leadership remains intact. Hamas and Hezbollah continue to operate despite significant losses. President Donald Trump’s priorities may no longer align perfectly with Israel’s strategic interests.

The military campaigns against Iran and its allied groups have not proceeded as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anticipated, potentially creating electoral challenges for Israel’s most tenured leader as voting approaches later this year. Recent polling data indicates widespread Israeli discontent with how the Netanyahu administration has conducted wartime operations.

When the U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran began in late February, Netanyahu outlined ambitious objectives: weakening the Islamic Republic’s armed forces, eliminating its nuclear and missile capabilities, and establishing conditions for regime change. Though Iran’s military capacity has suffered substantial damage, it continues threatening neighboring countries and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — while Netanyahu’s broader objectives remained unmet when ceasefire terms were announced this month.

The conflict with Lebanon’s Hezbollah has similarly ended without resolution. Netanyahu stated he accepted the truce following Trump’s request but emphasized Israel was “not finished yet” with the Iranian-supported organization; Israeli military units continue controlling a 10-kilometer zone in southern Lebanon.

The polling showing public dissatisfaction compounds the ongoing Gaza situation — another case where Trump urged Netanyahu to reduce military activity. More than two years following Hamas’ October 2023 assault on Israel that sparked the conflict, the Iranian-backed organization remains operational despite significant weakening.

“After 925 days of fighting since October 7, Israel has failed to achieve decisive victory on any front,” military affairs analyst Yoav Limor observed. “At the end of yet another war, it is perceived as a country whose decisions are not made in Jerusalem, but in Washington.”

Netanyahu has characterized the Iranian campaign as successful, describing it as preventive action against an “existential” danger. “We crushed the Iranian regime’s destruction machine in advance,” he stated recently.

Public confidence in Netanyahu’s administration plummeted following the devastating 2023 Hamas assault. He subsequently pursued an intensive retaliatory operation against Hamas and associated groups while securing the freedom of numerous hostages from Gaza through ceasefire negotiations.

Israel has achieved notable military victories against Iran and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. However, these accomplishments have not translated into personal political gains for Netanyahu. Despite broad public backing for the recent Iranian and Hezbollah operations, their indecisive conclusions have left many Israelis weary and frustrated.

“People were disappointed because it hadn’t achieved the goals,” explained Dahlia Scheindlin, a Tel Aviv political expert.

Research conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based centrist organization, during the Iranian campaign’s opening week showed 64% of participants trusted Netanyahu’s leadership. However, follow-up polling after the April 8 ceasefire revealed Israelis evaluated the government’s war management — beyond just Netanyahu — more critically than favorably.

The survey, completed before U.S. mediation extended the Lebanese ceasefire, also revealed majority support for continuing military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Following the Iranian and Hezbollah ceasefires, Israelis have started questioning the strength of Netanyahu-Trump relations and broader U.S.-Israeli ties compared to pre-war levels.

While Trump’s objectives have occasionally differed from Netanyahu’s, the American president continues expressing public support for Israel. He recently posted on Truth Social that “whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America.”

Trump announced Thursday his intention to welcome both Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House in the “near future” for truce discussions, calling it an honor.

Israeli sentiment remains skeptical.

The Israel Democracy Institute’s research found most Israelis believed there was “fairly” or “very” low probability that U.S.-Iran agreements would adequately consider Israel’s security requirements.

When questioned about the leaders’ relationship, Netanyahu’s office provided no response. An Israeli official speaking anonymously about private discussions confirmed Trump and Netanyahu maintain daily communication.

Netanyahu announced last year his decision to present Trump with the Israel Prize, among the nation’s highest recognitions, making him the first international leader to receive this distinction. Israel extended an invitation for Trump to accept the honor in Jerusalem on April 22, during the country’s 78th independence celebration.

That date passed without a Trump appearance.

The Lebanese ceasefire has generated significant frustration in Israeli border communities that endured six weeks of Hezbollah rocket attacks.

“I live 100 meters from the border,” said Asaf Oakil, a Kiryat Shmona resident. “The ceasefire? It’s a mistake.”

Local businesses remain shuttered while recent protests have erupted, with considerable anger targeting Netanyahu.

“I really hope that the residents of the north will learn from this and vote for someone who can help us here, not someone who brings us down and buries us,” stated Shosh Tsaoula, another Kiryat Shmona resident.

Netanyahu’s administration is approaching the conclusion of its four-year mandate and must conduct elections before October ends.

Opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid declared Sunday their intention to collaborate in upcoming elections. Former military commander Gadi Eisenkot, another prominent opposition figure, is anticipated to join their alliance.

Israeli Yediot Ahronoth newspaper commentator Nadav Eyal suggested Netanyahu faces “big trouble” unless he can demonstrate that conflicts with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas have produced enduring security benefits.

“With unstable ceasefires that can lapse at any given point, voters will be not happy about it.”

LIMA – A recent survey reveals that Peru’s presidential race has become a statistical tie between right-wing contender Keiko Fujimori and leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez as the country continues tallying votes from its April 12 primary election.

According to polling company Ipsos Peru, both Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, and Sanchez would each capture 38% support in the scheduled June 7 runoff election. This marks the first polling data released since the initial voting round took place.

The extended vote counting process has prompted accusations of electoral misconduct from ultra-conservative candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga, who currently sits approximately 24,000 votes behind Sanchez in the competition for the second runoff position. This margin has continued to expand over recent days.

Lopez Aliaga has called for the cancellation of thousands of ballots, claiming they represent fraudulent votes. However, European Union election monitors have stated they discovered no supporting evidence for these allegations.

Current tallies with 95.8% of ballots processed show Fujimori maintaining the lead at 17%, followed by Sanchez at 12% and Lopez Aliaga at 11.9%.

The same poll indicates that should Fujimori face Lopez Aliaga in the runoff instead of Sanchez, she would trail by a margin of 31% to 34%.

On Friday, the Organization of American States endorsed the electoral board’s decision to reject calls for additional elections, urging “unrestricted respect for the popular will.”

Sanchez previously held a ministerial position under former President Pedro Castillo, who is currently imprisoned.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A pair of former Israeli leaders announced Sunday their intention to combine their political organizations for the upcoming election cycle, aiming to remove Benjamin Netanyahu from his current position as Prime Minister.

Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who previously shared leadership duties through a rotating arrangement in a coalition they established in 2021, have decided to consolidate their parties under a unified faction with Bennett at the helm.

“The move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections,” Lapid’s Yesh Atid party said in a statement.

The former prime ministers planned to hold a joint press conference later Sunday.

Their 2021 coalition arrangement brought Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure to a halt. Bennett occupied the prime minister’s office during the initial year before their alliance collapsed. Lapid subsequently assumed the role as interim prime minister for six months until fresh elections returned Netanyahu to office.

Since Netanyahu’s return, Lapid has functioned as Israel’s opposition leader, while Bennett stepped away from the political arena.

Despite having contrasting political philosophies — Bennett maintains Orthodox Jewish beliefs and takes a hardline stance on Palestinian issues, while Lapid follows a secular path and holds more centrist positions — the two leaders maintained an effective partnership during their brief coalition period.

This new partnership seeks to bring together a scattered opposition movement that shares little common ground except for their mutual opposition to Netanyahu’s leadership.

Two former Israeli prime ministers announced Sunday they are combining their political parties in an effort to defeat Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government in elections anticipated later this year.

Ex-prime ministers Naftali Bennett, representing the right wing, and centrist Yair Lapid released statements confirming the consolidation of Bennett’s “Bennett 2026” party with Lapid’s “There is a Future” party.

“This move is intended to unite the bloc, put an end to internal divisions, and focus all efforts on winning the critical upcoming elections – and leading Israel forward into the future,” opposition leader Lapid said.

According to Bennett’s office, the merged organization will operate under the name “Together,” with Bennett serving as party leader.

This political partnership marks another collaboration between Bennett and Lapid, who previously worked together to end Netanyahu’s continuous 12-year leadership following a 2021 election. Their coalition government lasted just 18 months before collapsing.

Earlier, in 2013, the duo successfully secured positions in Netanyahu’s coalition government, effectively excluding his customary ultra-Orthodox partners from power.

Netanyahu, who holds the record as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, returned to office after winning the November 2022 election and establishing what many consider Israel’s most right-wing government ever.

However, Hamas’s 2023 assault on southern Israel sparked regional chaos and forced Israel into conflicts on several fronts, severely damaging Netanyahu’s reputation for security leadership. Subsequent polling consistently indicates he faces defeat in the next election, scheduled by late October.

Despite his controversial status domestically and internationally, Netanyahu remains his generation’s most influential Israeli politician and has demonstrated exceptional political resilience throughout his career.

Recent polling data from Israel’s N12 News on April 23 showed Bennett potentially winning 21 seats in the 120-member Knesset, compared to 25 seats for Netanyahu’s Likud party. The 54-year-old Bennett, a former military commando who became a technology entrepreneur, has been gaining ground against Netanyahu in voter surveys.

The same poll projected Lapid’s party earning just seven seats, a significant drop from their current 24 seats. However, Netanyahu’s alliance of right-wing and religious parties would control only 50 seats, while Bennett and Lapid’s probable coalition with smaller groups could secure at least 60 seats.

These results align with other surveys from academic institutions and Israeli media outlets, which position Bennett as Netanyahu’s primary challenger, though political dynamics remain fluid.

Lapid, 62, is a charismatic former television news presenter who also writes popular music and novels. He represents Israel’s secular middle class, which has grown increasingly frustrated with what they view as unfair taxation and military service obligations.

Netanyahu’s ultra-religious coalition partners have been pushing for military service exemptions for their communities, who typically have low employment rates and receive substantial government assistance.

This contentious issue has gained urgency as military officials warn of being overstretched, with the past two years producing the highest military casualties in decades.

Both Lapid and Bennett have made military service equality a cornerstone of their campaign messaging. They have also attacked Netanyahu for his inability to convert military successes into strategic victories against Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

Supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas secured decisive victories in municipal elections held across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, election officials announced Sunday following Saturday’s voting.

The elections represented a historic moment as they included participation from Gaza for the first time in almost 20 years. Saturday’s balloting also marked the initial Palestinian elections of any type since the conflict with Israel began over two years ago following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel.

Officials from Abbas’ West Bank-based Palestinian Authority explained that incorporating the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah into the electoral process demonstrated Gaza’s integral role in any future Palestinian state. The city experienced less destruction compared to other areas of the coastal region during the ongoing conflict.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa acknowledged the challenging timing of the elections during Sunday’s results announcement. The voting occurred “at a highly sensitive moment amid complex challenges and exceptional circumstances,” Mustafa stated.

However, he characterized the elections as “an important first step in a broader national process aimed at strengthening democratic life … and ultimately achieving the unity of the homeland.”

Hamas, which took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007, chose not to officially field candidates in Gaza and boycotted West Bank races where Fatah’s success was anticipated.

Despite Hamas’ official absence, some candidates in Deir al-Balah were perceived by local residents and political observers as sympathetic to the organization, potentially serving as a gauge of Hamas support levels.

Initial vote counts revealed that the “Deir al-Balah Brings Us Together” slate, viewed as Hamas-aligned, captured only two of 15 available seats in Gaza. The “Nahdat Deir al-Balah” list, supported by Abbas’ Fatah party and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, obtained six seats. Independent Gaza-based groups “Future of Deir al-Balah” and “Peace and Building” claimed the remaining positions.

Abbas supporters dominated West Bank contests, with many candidates running without opposition.

Fatah representative Abdul Fattah Dawla observed that participation levels matched those from the previous West Bank municipal elections in 2022, commending voters for engaging despite continued Israeli military actions.

“By electing figures linked to Fatah, voters appear to be seeking unrestricted international support for municipal governance and a gradual political shift that could extend beyond the local level,” explained Palestinian political analyst Reham Ouda.

The recent warfare has devastated much of Gaza, leaving numerous residents homeless and struggling for basic survival. Israeli military operations have persisted despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October.

Central Elections Commission Chairman Rami al-Hamdallah reported voter participation reached only 23% in Gaza compared to 56% in the West Bank.

Al-Hamdallah noted that Israeli security measures prevented some voting materials and equipment from entering Gaza, though these obstacles were eventually resolved.

Hamas Gaza representative Hazem Qassem minimized the election outcomes’ importance, stating they bore no influence on broader national political matters.

LONDON – A Sunday phone conversation between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump centered on reopening a critical Middle Eastern shipping corridor that has been disrupted, according to a statement from the British leader’s office.

A spokesperson for Starmer’s administration said the two leaders focused on the immediate necessity of resuming commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, citing major economic ramifications and rising costs affecting British citizens and people worldwide.

“The leaders discussed the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” the Downing Street spokesperson stated.

During their discussion, Starmer briefed Trump on recent developments in his collaborative effort with French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at ensuring safe passage for maritime traffic in the region.

“The prime minister shared the latest progress on his joint initiative with President (Emmanuel) Macron to restore freedom of navigation,” the spokesperson added.

The Defense Minister of Mali, Sadio Camara, lost his life during a terrorist assault at his home on a military installation near the nation’s capital on Saturday, according to reports from French radio station RFI released Sunday.

The deadly incident occurred at the Kati military compound located outside Bamako, where the extremist organization JNIM, which maintains connections to al Qaeda, carried out the fatal attack on Camara’s residence.

KYIV, Ukraine — Multiple attacks across Ukraine, Russian-controlled areas, and Russia have resulted in at least 16 fatalities, officials reported, while the four-decade anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe has sparked renewed concerns about nuclear safety risks during Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Regional leader Oleksandr Hanzha confirmed Sunday that casualties from Russian drone and missile attacks on Dnipro had climbed to nine people.

Moscow-appointed officials reported that a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person in the port city of Sevastopol, located in Russian-controlled Crimea. Russia seized the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 in an action widely condemned as illegal internationally, and has utilized it as a logistical hub throughout the current conflict.

In Ukraine’s Luhansk region, which Russia claims to fully control despite Ukrainian denials, Moscow-installed governor Leonid Pasechnik reported three deaths from an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on a village. This followed two additional fatalities reported in the early morning hours of Saturday.

Ukraine has not responded to either incident, and The Associated Press could not independently confirm these reports.

These recent attacks followed the death of a woman in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Belgorod border area, according to regional authorities.

Ukraine’s General Staff announced Sunday that Ukrainian forces had targeted an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, located deep within Russian territory. The attack ignited fires at the facility, which annually processes 15 million tons of oil and manufactures gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for Russian military use. Russian officials have not yet responded to this incident.

Ukraine has created its own long-distance drone technology capable of striking targets up to 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) inside Russia. Recent attacks have focused on Russian oil infrastructure as Moscow seeks to increase exports following temporary sanctions relief from the Trump administration to address supply shortages. Ukrainian officials express concern that Russia will use additional oil revenues to purchase new weapons for intensified attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the Chernobyl disaster anniversary to caution that Russian attacks could trigger a repeat of the historic catastrophe.

“Through its war, Russia is once again bringing the world to the brink of a man-made disaster — Russian-Iranian Shaheds regularly fly over the plant, and one of them struck the confinement last year,” he wrote on Facebook.

“The world must not allow this nuclear terrorism to continue, and the best way is to force Russia to stop its reckless attacks,” he said.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi shared similar concerns during his Kyiv visit, emphasizing that repairs to the plant’s damaged outer protective barrier must commence immediately. IAEA evaluations indicate that damage from last year’s strike has already undermined a critical safety feature of the structure, he explained, cautioning that prolonged delays could increase risks to the original containment structure below. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development estimates repairs would cost at least 500 million euros ($586 million).

Ukrainian authorities report that a Russian drone damaged the outer shell of the plant’s New Safe Confinement structure in February 2025 — a $2.1 billion arch-shaped covering completed in 2019 over the remnants of Reactor No. 4. Moscow has denied deliberately targeting the facility, instead claiming Ukraine orchestrated the attack.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Sunday that he will delay any decision on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon petition until all possibilities for a negotiated plea agreement have been explored first.

The corruption case against Netanyahu has deeply divided Israeli society and caused significant political upheaval, leading to five separate elections from 2019 through 2022. The prime minister’s legal issues stem from investigations that started approximately ten years ago, with the next scheduled election set for October 2026.

Netanyahu has consistently rejected all allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Herzog stated Sunday that negotiating an agreement would represent the optimal outcome for Netanyahu’s situation.

“The President therefore believes that before addressing the pardon request itself, efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties, outside the courtroom,” Herzog said in a statement.

The president’s office released this statement following a New York Times report indicating Herzog planned to facilitate mediation toward a plea agreement, postponing any pardon consideration.

When questioned about whether plea negotiations were currently in progress, a Herzog spokesperson refused to elaborate beyond the official statement. Netanyahu’s representatives did not provide a response to requests for comment.

The pardon petition was filed by Netanyahu in November. Israeli law grants the president pardoning authority for convicted individuals, though no historical precedent exists for pardoning someone during an ongoing trial.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Herzog to issue a pardon for Netanyahu, including appeals made in March during the Iran conflict when court proceedings were temporarily suspended.

Netanyahu is scheduled to return to court this week as his trial, which commenced in 2020, continues. He holds the distinction of being Israel’s first serving prime minister to face criminal charges.

Iran’s top diplomat traveled to Oman on Sunday for high-level discussions about regional stability and ongoing tensions with the United States, according to statements from Iran’s foreign ministry.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in Muscat to address security concerns in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and surrounding Gulf waters, while also exploring diplomatic solutions to the Iran-U.S. standoff.

During the meeting, Araqchi argued that American military forces stationed throughout the Middle East were contributing to regional instability and creating divisions. He advocated for establishing a security arrangement for the region that would operate without external involvement from foreign powers.

BELFAST – Law enforcement officials in Northern Ireland have initiated an attempted murder probe following a vehicle blast that took place Saturday evening outside a police facility located south of Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland announced Sunday that their specialized terrorism investigators would be leading the case.

“We have commenced an attempted murder investigation which will be led by our Terrorism Investigation Unit,” authorities stated in an official release.

The incident occurred on Saturday night at the police station south of the Northern Ireland capital.

Australia’s top diplomat announced plans Sunday for a crucial diplomatic mission across Asia this week, focusing on energy stability concerns stemming from ongoing Middle East tensions.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed her upcoming travel schedule will include stops in Japan, China, and South Korea for high-level discussions with government officials. Wong emphasized in her announcement that these diplomatic meetings will “help ensure we are coordinating effectively” as global energy markets face continued volatility.

The Australian official’s first destination will be Tokyo, where she plans to meet with Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegito. Their agenda will cover energy and fuel security matters alongside discussions about the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Wong’s second stop takes her to Beijing for the eighth Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue alongside China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to Wong, these talks aim to “progress the full range of our interests and manage our differences” between the two nations.

The diplomatic tour concludes in Seoul with meetings involving South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. Wong highlighted South Korea’s significance, calling it “one of Australia’s most important sources of refined fuels.”

The timing of these meetings reflects growing concerns over fuel availability, as Australia relies heavily on imports for most of its energy needs. The country has encountered supply shortages in certain areas since the Middle East conflict erupted in February, prompting these urgent diplomatic efforts.

BAMAKO – Continuous gunfire echoed through a military garrison town close to Mali’s capital on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness, following one of the most significant coordinated assaults by al Qaeda affiliates and Tuareg rebel forces in recent years.

The ongoing shooting in Kati indicated that combat had extended into a second day, even though military officials claimed they had regained control of the area.

Following Saturday’s large-scale attacks, the United Nations has called for international intervention to address violence and terrorism throughout the West African Sahel region.

“The Secretary‑General is deeply concerned by reports of attacks in several locations across Mali. He strongly condemns these acts of violence,” a U.N. spokesperson posted on X.

COORDINATED ASSAULT WAVE

Both an al Qaeda affiliate and Tuareg rebel forces took credit for the synchronized strikes near Bamako, the capital, as well as in gold-mining regions and other locations throughout Mali. This represents one of the most daring operations insurgents have executed in their ongoing campaign against the military-controlled government.

By Sunday, the complete count of casualties remained unknown, as did the status of the disputed city of Kidal, which insurgents claimed they had retaken from government troops during the offensive.

Government spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly reported that 16 individuals had sustained injuries and stated that authorities had complete control over all targeted locations. Officials have also imposed a three-day overnight curfew.

RUSSIAN FORCES INVOLVED IN CONFLICT

However, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-led rebel organization that has participated in multiple government uprisings over several decades, announced Sunday that it had regained control of Kidal.

A spokesperson for the FLA stated on X that an agreement had been reached allowing Russian mercenaries to evacuate from a surrounded camp outside the city where Malian military forces remained positioned.

Taking responsibility on Saturday, the FLA announced it had conducted the extensive operation in partnership with al Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

JNIM also released a statement on Saturday, distributed by SITE Intelligence Group, claiming responsibility for strikes in Kati, at Bamako’s airport, and in northern regions including Mopti, Sevare, and Gao.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the claims made by JNIM and FLA.

Saturday’s offensive represents the most recent indication that Mali’s government, which assumed power following military coups in 2020 and 2021, is having difficulty providing improved security after expelling Western forces and seeking Russian assistance instead.

In September 2024, JNIM attacked a police training facility near Bamako airport, resulting in approximately 70 deaths. More recently, the group implemented an effective blockade on fuel imports that has deprived the capital’s residents and businesses of power and essential supplies.

The administration led by Assimi Goita has recently pursued stronger relationships with Washington, which has attempted to rebuild security cooperation and investigate mining possibilities.

Mali’s foreign minister informed Reuters on Monday that neighboring nations and foreign powers were providing support to terrorist organizations, but refused to identify specific countries.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian courts began their inaugural public prosecution of former Assad administration officials on Sunday in the nation’s capital.

Former army brigadier general Atef Najib, who directed the Political Security Branch in Daraa province during Assad’s reign and is related to the ousted leader, stood before judges to answer accusations concerning “crimes against the Syrian people,” according to the state news service SANA.

During his 2011 tenure, Najib oversaw operations when young people who spray-painted anti-regime messages on school property in Daraa were detained and subjected to torture. This incident sparked widespread demonstrations against Assad’s oppressive security apparatus.

Government forces responded with severe violence to the demonstrations, escalating into a devastating 14-year conflict that concluded when rebels removed Assad from power in December 2024 through a rapid military campaign. Assad escaped to Russia while most of his leadership also fled the country.

Court officials filed charges against Assad and his brother Maher, who previously led the Syrian military’s 4th Armored Division — a unit opposition groups claim committed murders, torture, extortion and narcotics operations while operating private detention facilities — though both remain absent from Syria along with other senior security commanders.

Among all the accused, only Najib was detained and physically present for Sunday’s preliminary court session, with proceedings scheduled to resume next month.

Citizens assembled outside the judicial building in celebration.

Interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa’s administration has received criticism for postponing the implementation of promised transitional justice measures. The nation continues working toward recovery following 14 years of warfare that resulted in approximately 500,000 deaths, displaced millions of residents, and left the country devastated and fragmented.

Officials now seem committed to more actively pursuing former Assad loyalists.

Syrian law enforcement detained Amjad Yousef on Friday, a former intelligence operative featured in footage released four years earlier that allegedly documented him and associates killing numerous bound and blindfolded detainees in Tadamon, a Damascus area, during the nation’s conflict.

The Swiss government has sparked diplomatic tensions by demanding Italy pay medical expenses for treating its citizens who were injured in a deadly New Year’s Eve fire at the Crans-Montana ski resort that resulted in 41 fatalities.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the billing request on Friday, calling it “disgraceful” after learning that victim families had received medical invoices.

Switzerland’s Federal Social Insurance Office confirmed Saturday evening to Reuters that the country intends to recover hospital treatment costs, though they clarified the bills would not be sent directly to victim families. According to existing agreements between European Union nations and Switzerland, patients receive invoices solely for verification while charges are sent “to the relevant foreign health insurer.”

A government representative later specified that Italy’s health ministry would handle payment in this situation.

In a Facebook statement Friday night, Meloni declared: “Should this disgraceful request be made formally, I hereby announce that Italy will reject it outright and will not act upon it in any way.”

“I have faith in the Swiss authorities’ sense of responsibility and hope that the report will prove to be entirely unfounded,” she continued.

Italy’s ambassador to Switzerland, Gian Lorenzo Cornado, told news agency ANSA on Saturday that Swiss officials are requesting over 100,000 Swiss francs (approximately $127,000) to cover treatment costs for four Italian citizens who received just one day of care at Sion hospital following the fire.

Cornado pointed out that Swiss patients injured in the same Crans-Montana incident have received months of treatment at Milan’s Niguarda hospital in northern Italy, and that Italian authorities deployed a civil protection helicopter for rescue assistance without requesting any compensation.

Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced Sunday he will head to Brussels this Wednesday for unofficial discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the release of billions in EU funding that was suspended during conflicts with the previous administration.

“There is no time to waste,” Magyar stated, following his decisive electoral win on April 12 that brought an end to nationalist leader Viktor Orban’s 16-year tenure in office.

Magyar has previously identified four priority areas where his administration could act quickly to prevent losing approximately 10 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in EU pandemic recovery assistance by the late August cutoff date. These priorities include anti-corruption initiatives and the restoration of media and academic independence.

Following his election victory, Magyar expressed optimism about reaching a political settlement during his inaugural Brussels visit.

Orban, who maintained close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, frequently found himself at odds with the EU regarding rule of law and human rights issues, leading to the suspension of billions in European funding.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured a supermajority in the April voting, providing the authority to modify judicial, public procurement, and media oversight legislation that became central points of contention between Orban’s administration and Brussels.

For the past three years, Hungary’s economic growth has remained essentially flat.

Financial markets have responded positively and the forint has strengthened following Magyar’s electoral success, as investors anticipate the EU will release the frozen funds.

The Israeli Defense Forces announced on April 26 that they have ordered civilians to leave seven communities in Lebanon situated north of the Litani river.

Military officials stated they plan to take aggressive action against Hezbollah forces, citing breaches of the existing ceasefire arrangement between the two sides.

The evacuation directive affects multiple towns in the region as tensions continue to escalate along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

DAKAR, Senegal — Independence fighters in northern Mali have acknowledged partnering with Islamic extremists in what officials describe as one of the most significant coordinated strikes against government forces in the nation’s capital and multiple other locations, resulting in at least 16 injuries.

This marks the first occasion that the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) has publicly acknowledged working together with JNIM, an organization linked to al-Qaeda that also took credit for Saturday’s assaults targeting Bamako’s international airport and four additional cities across Mali’s central and northern regions.

“This operation is being carried out in partnership with the JNIM, which is also committed to defending the people against the military regime in Bamako,” FLA spokesperson Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadan said in a statement Saturday.

Government spokesperson Gen. Issa Ousmane Coulibaly reported on national television Saturday evening that 16 individuals sustained injuries, including both civilians and service members, while multiple attackers were eliminated. He declined to specify casualty numbers.

Bamako district governor Abdoulaye Coulibaly implemented a three-day nighttime curfew running from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The independence movement also urged Russia to “reconsider its support for the military junta in Bamako, whose actions have contributed to the suffering of the civilian population.”

After experiencing military takeovers, the governing authorities in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso shifted away from Western partnerships toward Russian assistance in their fight against Islamic extremists. However, security conditions have deteriorated recently, with militant attacks reaching unprecedented levels. Military forces have faced accusations of killing civilians suspected of working with extremist groups.

During 2024, an al-Qaeda-affiliated organization took responsibility for strikes on Bamako’s airport and a military training facility in the capital, resulting in numerous deaths.

Ramadane announced Saturday on Facebook that separatist forces had seized the northern community of Kidal along with portions of Gao, another northeastern urban center.

The Azawad independence movement has waged a multi-year campaign to establish a sovereign nation in northern Mali. Kidal had previously functioned as a separatist stronghold until government troops and Russian contractors captured it in 2023. Taking control of the city represented an important symbolic achievement for the military leadership and their Russian partners.

Authorities in Northern Ireland issued a security alert Sunday following reports of a car bomb detonation outside a police station in Dunmurry, a community near Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that nearby residents have been moved from their homes as a safety measure, and officials are urging the public to stay away from the affected area.

“It is distressing and disturbing to wake up to the news that a car bomb exploded outside Dunmurry police station last night,” said Sorcha Eastwood, a member of the U.K. Parliament who represents the Langan Valley, southwest of Belfast.

“A busy area, a car bomb left outside residential housing, small businesses and any number of people out and about on a Saturday night working or socialising,” she said. “It is only through the grace of God that there are no casualties.”

Authorities have not disclosed any details regarding the motivation behind the bombing.

The incident follows a similar attack last month when law enforcement reported that a “crude but viable” homemade explosive device was used in an attempted strike against another PSNI facility in Lurgan, approximately 20 miles southwest of Dunmurry.

In that case, two individuals wearing masks intercepted a delivery driver, placed the explosive in his vehicle’s trunk, and threatened him with a weapon to transport the device to the police facility, officials reported. Authorities conducted a controlled detonation after evacuating roughly 100 residences.

Law enforcement characterized the Lurgan incident as likely the work of dissident Republican factions in what they called a “pathetic attempt to remain relevant and provoke fear.”

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brought an end to most of the violence that had persisted for decades between Republican factions opposing British control and those supporting Northern Ireland’s connection to the United Kingdom. However, extremist groups that reject the peace agreement continue to conduct occasional attacks.

British officials confirmed Sunday they are maintaining close coordination with American security agencies as King Charles prepares for his upcoming visit to the United States, following a violent incident at Saturday’s White House correspondents’ dinner in Washington.

The shooting occurred when an individual fired at security personnel near the event, prompting Secret Service agents to quickly evacuate President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump from the dinner.

During an interview on Sky News, Darren Jones, who serves as chief secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, emphasized that both the British government and Buckingham Palace consider the monarch’s safety “very seriously.” He noted that extensive security discussions are already taking place and will continue in the days ahead.

“In respect of His Majesty’s visit to the United States next week … our security services obviously remain in close cooperation in advance of that,” Jones stated.

The royal couple, King Charles and Queen Camilla, are scheduled to begin their four-day American visit on Monday. Their itinerary includes a private meeting with President Trump and an appearance before Congress, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s declaration of independence from Britain.

Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has touched down in North Korea, according to an announcement from Moscow’s defense ministry on Sunday. This marks the second high-ranking Russian official to make the journey to Pyongyang within just a few days.

North Korea’s official news agency KCNA had previously reported that Vyacheslav Volodin, who leads Russia’s State Duma, also traveled to the North Korean capital. Volodin is scheduled to participate in the dedication ceremony for a recently constructed monument honoring North Korean soldiers who lost their lives during combat in the Ukraine conflict.

According to Russia’s defense ministry, Belousov’s agenda includes meetings with North Korea’s highest-ranking leadership and military commanders, along with participation in “ceremonial and commemorative events.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message via telegram to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in recognition of the memorial’s unveiling, the Kremlin announced.

In his communication, Putin expressed gratitude to Kim and North Korean forces for their assistance in pushing back a significant Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. Putin also conveyed his belief that both nations would continue building upon their strategic alliance.

The two leaders held a summit in June 2024, resulting in the signing of an extensive strategic agreement that features a mutual defense clause. Since 2023, both countries have accelerated the development of their diplomatic and military cooperation.

MOSCOW, April 26 – Ukrainian forces struck a major fertilizer manufacturing facility in Russia’s Vologda region during a weekend drone assault, according to regional officials.

Regional Governor Georgy Filimonov reported that the attack in Cherepovets damaged a high-pressure pipeline carrying sulphuric acid at an Apatit facility, which operates under PhosAgro, a global leader in phosphate fertilizer production.

“The leak has been contained and there were no releases of hazardous chemicals,” Filimonov stated, while confirming that five individuals sustained injuries in the incident.

The targeted Apatit complex represents Europe’s largest manufacturer of phosphate fertilizers and produces both phosphoric and sulphuric acids, according to parent company PhosAgro.

Russian military officials described the weekend assault as a massive coordinated attack, reporting that air defense systems destroyed more than 250 Ukrainian drones across over a dozen regions between Saturday evening at 2000 Moscow time and Sunday morning at 0900.

The port city of Sevastopol experienced what officials called one of its most intense bombardments, with 71 drones eliminated by defense systems, according to Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev.

That attack resulted in one fatality and four additional injuries, while causing damage to homes, retail establishments, and vehicles. Debris from destroyed drones also fell across railway lines.

Meanwhile, in the Yaroslavl region – an area where Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted petroleum refineries – Governor Mikhail Yevrayev confirmed that defense forces repelled another large-scale drone offensive, though he provided no additional specifics about the assault.

Health authorities in Gaza reported Sunday that four Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli military operations across the territory.

According to medical personnel, Israeli forces conducted an aerial bombardment that claimed one life near the central community of Al-Mughraqa. Additionally, two individuals were killed by Israeli gunfire and artillery near Gaza City.

A third incident involved the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old woman by Israeli forces in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the territory, medical officials confirmed.

Israeli military officials stated they were investigating the reported incidents. The military also announced it had eliminated multiple Hamas fighters in Gaza operations since Friday.

The bloodshed continues even after a ceasefire agreement went into effect in October 2025, with Israeli forces conducting nearly continuous operations against Palestinians in the region.

Medical sources report that approximately 800 Palestinians have died since the truce began, while Israeli officials say four of their soldiers have been killed by militants during the same timeframe.

Both Israeli and Hamas leadership have accused the other side of breaking the ceasefire terms.

Gaza health officials say more than 72,500 Palestinians have died since fighting began in October 2023, with the majority being non-combatants.

Israeli casualty figures show that Hamas’ initial assault on October 7, 2023, resulted in 1,200 deaths.

SLAVUTYCH, Ukraine — Hundreds of residents filled the main plaza of Slavutych early Sunday morning, lighting candles arranged in the shape of a nuclear warning symbol to mark four decades since the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear accident and honor those who died containing its deadly aftermath.

The annual memorial continues each year even as residents face wartime restrictions and official advisories against mass gatherings amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The catastrophic event on April 26, 1986 exposed serious safety failures and government cover-ups within the former Soviet Union. Soviet officials concealed the explosion for 48 hours until radioactive material had drifted across Europe and Swedish scientists publicly raised alarms.

Approximately 600,000 individuals, known as Chernobyl “liquidators,” were deployed to extinguish the reactor fire and remove the most hazardous contamination. Thirty plant workers perished within months from either the blast itself or severe radiation poisoning. The catastrophe subjected millions throughout the area to harmful radiation levels and triggered massive permanent relocations of hundreds of communities across Ukraine and Belarus.

Slavutych, located roughly 50 kilometers (32 miles) from the destroyed reactor, was constructed during this era. While most displaced families were relocated to surrounding areas in the Kyiv region, Soviet officials started constructing this new city in late 1986 to accommodate Chernobyl plant employees and their families. The initial inhabitants arrived around 1988.

The community has weathered a temporary Russian takeover during Moscow’s unsuccessful attempt to capture Ukraine’s capital in the war’s early stages, along with brutal winters — particularly the most recent one, when power outages forced some locals to prepare food over open flames in the streets.

Attendees of various ages filled the square, with some families bringing spring tulips and daffodils. They assembled in the wide courtyard surrounded by Soviet-style residential buildings, where a monument sits alongside displays honoring local citizens killed in the current conflict.

Liudmyla Liubyva, 71, attended the service with a companion. She previously came with her spouse, who was employed at the Chernobyl facility but later developed mobility issues connected to radiation exposure and became unable to walk, she explained.

Liubyva emphasized the importance of recognizing those who sacrificed their well-being following the disaster, though Russia’s invasion has rekindled concerns that the threat was never completely eliminated.

“When the drone struck the arch, it felt like the world could return to 1986,” she said, referencing a Russian drone attack in 2025 that damaged the New Safe Confinement structure, the enormous dome constructed to contain radiation from the destroyed reactor. “We all — young and old alike — must protect our land, because it is so vulnerable.”

Gentle music filled the air while poetry about the tragedy played through speakers. “Years pass, generations change, but the pain of Chernobyl does not fade,” a woman’s voice recited. As the words resonated throughout the plaza, individuals wearing white hazmat suits and masks, representing the liquidators, stood quietly holding candles.

Larysa Panova, 67, frequently remembers the day of the accident that compelled her to abandon her birthplace of Chernobyl and start over in Slavutych. Although the new community has become her home, she continues to think about the woodlands and natural beauty of the area she left behind.

Prior to Russia’s comprehensive invasion, she routinely returned to see family members who stayed or simply to spend time in her childhood region. However, the war has made the exclusion zone largely inaccessible.

“I never stop thinking of Chernobyl as my homeland,” she said. “You remember your school, your childhood, your youth — everything happened there, in Chernobyl.”

BELGRADE, Serbia — What began as a small musical gathering in a Serbian town has blossomed into a nationwide movement bringing together thousands of amateur singers. The Pop Hor initiative operates on a simple principle: every person has the ability to sing.

Community singing groups remain uncommon throughout Serbia, making this relaxed and welcoming approach particularly appealing. The movement has drawn hundreds of participants, with women of various ages making up the majority of members.

Drawing inspiration from international programs, the organization welcomes participants ranging from young children to elderly adults, promoting singing as a source of happiness and tension relief.

Pop Hor launched in the central Serbian community of Gornji Milanovac four years ago and has since expanded to ten municipalities nationwide, with plans for continued growth. The program requires no tryouts, vocal assessments, or musical literacy from participants.

“Participants arrive as complete beginners, with many claiming they lack any singing knowledge,” explained Nenad Azanjac, a trained music educator who established Pop Hor alongside his spouse.

Nevenka Bila, age 72, described how the choir offers welcome relief from the ongoing political unrest and democratic demonstrations affecting the region.

“In this madness that we are living, where I spend half of my free time in the streets fighting for basic human rights, I found something that feels so good for me,” Bila said. “I discovered a new world.”

The ensemble regularly fills performance spaces throughout Serbia, performing contemporary songs primarily in Serbian, along with selections from Croatian and Bosnian artists. Despite their amateur status, the choir frequently appears at festivals and cultural events both domestically and internationally.

“I never miss a class,” stated Radmila Kozarac, a 62-year-old economist. She credits the choir with transforming her life positively, noting the meaningful friendships formed and anticipation for post-rehearsal socializing over coffee.

The choir has had “a very positive effect on me, psychologically,” she said. “It is joyful, it reduces stress.”

Musical participation offers documented neurobiological and psychological benefits, according to psychologist and Singidunum University professor Aleksandra Djuric. Group singing allows people to “release the energy together, cortisol (levels) come down and positive hormones rise out of union and happiness.”

“I keep telling my students that we can’t be exposed on a daily basis to information, to be bombarded by information and follow everything all the time,” Djuric said. “We need to find a space to calm down, relax and connect.”

Serbia experienced devastating conflicts, international isolation, and financial hardship throughout the 1990s. Political divisions and economic challenges persist today. Student-led demonstrations against populist President Aleksandar Vucic emerged in 2024 following a railway station disaster attributed to widespread corruption and negligence in government infrastructure projects.

Azanjac noted that numerous participants joined after mental health professionals suggested singing for stress management. Members “find a sense of belonging here, they enjoy it,” he explained, describing a “feeling of togetherness.”

“Singing comes second, socializing comes first,” Azanjac said.

Approximately 2,000 individuals have participated in Pop Hor since its 2022 inception in Gornji Milanovac. Azanjac envisions continued expansion beyond current boundaries.

The goal is “to have the whole region sing,” he said.

President Donald Trump has canceled plans to send his senior diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for negotiations with Iran, announcing on Fox News that “they can call us any time they want.”

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared his nation will not enter negotiations while facing a U.S. blockade of its ports. During a Saturday evening phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian stated the United States “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade” before new talks can begin, Iranian news outlets ISNA and Tasnim reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Pakistan on Saturday night, according to two Pakistani officials who spoke with The Associated Press. Iran’s official IRNA news agency indicated Araghchi plans to return to Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad on Sunday.

In related developments, Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire with Hezbollah for an additional three weeks following White House discussions. This marks the second major diplomatic session between the nations this month, with the original 10-day truce set to end Monday.

The Trump administration announced Friday it will impose economic penalties on a significant Chinese oil refinery and approximately 40 shipping firms and vessels that transport Iranian petroleum. This action represents part of the administration’s strategy to implement secondary sanctions against businesses working with Iran to eliminate the country’s oil exports, a crucial revenue source.

Global airlines have started canceling flights as Middle Eastern conflicts disrupt jet fuel availability and drive up costs. Aviation experts are providing guidance to passengers on handling flight cancellations.

In Iran on Sunday, authorities executed a man convicted of terrorist activities in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, state media confirmed.

Amer Ramesh was executed after Iran’s Supreme Court confirmed a death sentence from a lower court, the judiciary news source Mizanonline reported.

The report did not specify the execution location or details about his arrest. Mizanonline stated Ramesh underwent training in another regional nation and belonged to the militant organization Jaish al-Adl, which seeks expanded rights for the Baloch ethnic community.

Iran has carried out similar executions for comparable charges and has executed more than a dozen individuals accused of terrorist activities in recent weeks.

During his Saturday night call with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Pezeshkian reiterated his country’s position on negotiations while under U.S. port restrictions. The Pakistani leader characterized their conversation as a “warm and constructive discussion.”

Foreign Minister Araghchi completed a one-day visit to Islamabad on Saturday after meetings with Pakistani military and government leaders. The visit failed to achieve progress in efforts to restart negotiations following Trump’s decision to cancel his envoys’ planned Islamabad trip.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Araghchi will return to Pakistan following his current visit to Oman and before traveling to Russia. The report indicated he was scheduled to arrive back in Islamabad on Sunday to rejoin other delegation members who had returned to Tehran for consultations and “instructions on the topics related to the end of the war.”

A large group wedding ceremony took place Friday in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah area, where multiple Palestinian couples exchanged vows in a collective celebration.

The brides wore customary Palestinian patterned dresses while their grooms donned formal suits accessorized with traditional keffiyeh scarves draped around their shoulders. The newly married couples strolled together through the festivities as drummers provided musical accompaniment and attendees displayed Palestinian flags throughout the ceremony.

The communal wedding event showcased cultural traditions and brought together numerous families for the joyous occasion in the central Gaza region.

Emergency crews in northern Japan are working around the clock as massive mountain fires enter their fifth consecutive day, prompting authorities to mobilize 1,400 firefighters and 100 military personnel to contain the spreading blazes.

The wildfires have consumed approximately 3,393 acres as of Sunday morning, marking a 7% increase from the previous day’s measurements.

The flames pose a serious risk to residential neighborhoods in Otsuchi, a scenic Pacific Coast community that suffered tremendous losses during the catastrophic March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which claimed nearly ten percent of the town’s population.

Local officials have issued mandatory evacuation notices affecting 1,541 households, displacing approximately 3,233 people — roughly one-third of Otsuchi’s entire population.

“Although the Self-Defence Forces are fighting the fires from the sky (with helicopters), the dry weather and winds are helping the fires expand,” Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano told a press conference.

The emergency has sparked deep concerns among local residents who fear the potential devastation. “A fire burns everything down. With a tsunami, you might have something left after the destruction,” said 74-year-old Yoshinori Komatsu while observing military helicopters conducting water drops on the distant flames.

According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, only one minor injury has been reported so far — a person who fell while at an evacuation facility.

Weather forecasters with the Japan Meteorological Agency predict continued dry conditions through Monday, with the possibility of light precipitation arriving Tuesday.

Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the fires.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire between the United States and Iran have collapsed after Iran’s foreign minister departed Pakistan and President Donald Trump canceled his envoys’ planned trip to Islamabad.

Trump suggested Iran must now make the next move in potential negotiations.

“If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!!” Trump posted on social media.

The planned discussions were intended to build upon groundbreaking direct meetings held earlier this month, where Vice President JD Vance represented the U.S. and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf spoke for Iran.

However, Iranian leadership has expressed doubt about America’s trustworthiness following the U.S. military’s decision to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports in response to Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Two Pakistani government sources, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, confirmed to The Associated Press that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi departed Pakistan’s capital Saturday evening.

Following his departure from Pakistan, Araghchi traveled to Oman, located across the Strait of Hormuz and known for its previous role in mediating peace negotiations. Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported he planned to return to Pakistan briefly on Sunday before continuing to Russia.

“Shared Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy,” Araghchi wrote on social media regarding his Pakistan discussions about what he described as Iran’s non-negotiable demands.

Separately, another ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Iranian-supported Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah faced disruption Saturday as both parties exchanged fire, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to direct his military to “vigorously attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.”

Trump announced an open-ended extension of the Iran ceasefire last week. While this has reduced most combat operations, economic consequences continue mounting two months into the conflict as global transportation of oil, liquefied natural gas, fertilizer and other essential goods faces disruption from the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Military posturing persists from both nations. Iran’s unified military leadership issued a warning Saturday stating that “if the U.S. continues its aggressive military actions, including naval blockades, banditry, and piracy” it will encounter a “strong response.”

Prior to Saturday’s events, Iran’s foreign ministry had already indicated that any discussions would occur indirectly, with Pakistani representatives serving as intermediaries.

Trump later informed reporters that Iran submitted a “much better” proposal within ten minutes of his decision to cancel the Pakistan trip for his representatives — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. While he declined to provide specifics, he emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a key requirement.

Additional disputed issues in potential negotiations encompass Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, concerns regarding Iran’s missile capabilities, and its backing of regional armed groups.

Tehran has pointed out that previous indirect negotiations with Washington last year and early this year regarding its nuclear program — historically the primary source of tensions — concluded with Iran facing attacks from both the U.S. and Israel, heightening its suspicions.

Brent crude oil prices, the global benchmark, have surged nearly 50% since the conflict began due to Iran’s stranglehold on the strait, which typically handles one-fifth of worldwide oil shipments during peaceful periods.

Iran launched attacks on three vessels last week, while the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports. Trump has authorized military forces to “shoot and kill” small boats potentially deploying mines.

Also on Saturday, Iran restarted commercial aviation from Tehran’s international airport for the first time since the conflict began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28. State television reported scheduled departures to Istanbul, Oman’s capital Muscat, and the Saudi Arabian city of Medina.

Since hostilities commenced, casualty figures show at least 3,375 deaths in Iran and at least 2,496 in Lebanon, where Israel-Hezbollah combat resumed two days after the Iran war started. Additional fatalities include 23 in Israel, more than a dozen in Gulf Arab nations, 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. military personnel in the region, and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.

Trump announced Thursday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a three-week extension of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Hezbollah has remained absent from the Washington-facilitated diplomatic process.

Despite the agreement, Israel conducted strikes in southern Lebanon Saturday, killing at least six individuals it identified as Hezbollah fighters, while multiple rockets and drones were fired at Israel from Lebanese territory.

Iranian officials carried out the death sentence of a convicted militant who authorities say was involved in deadly attacks against the nation’s security forces, according to reports from the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Sunday.

The executed individual was named as Amer Ramesh, who had been taken into custody during an anti-terrorism operation conducted in Iran’s southeastern territories. Officials charged him with armed insurrection, which included participation in explosive attacks and surprise assaults directed at military targets.

Ramesh was found guilty of belonging to Jaish al-Adl, a radical Sunni Muslim organization that operates within Iran’s most economically disadvantaged province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

Travelers with disabilities face numerous obstacles when visiting cultural attractions, ranging from obvious challenges like broken elevators to less apparent issues such as overly lengthy excursions or excessively noisy environments.

With the baby boomer population growing older, the tourism sector is increasingly focusing on serving senior travelers who possess both the resources and time for international travel, yet may require extra support. However, genuine inclusive accessibility extends far beyond this demographic, encompassing visitors with physical limitations as well as individuals with autism or dementia.

Cultural venues and museums around the world have introduced specialized guides and accessible programming to better accommodate guests with various visible or hidden disabilities. Technological advances have made many of these initiatives possible.

These programs encompass sign-language interpretation for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, tactile experiences for those with visual impairments, and specially designed activities for people on the autism spectrum. Additionally, travel companies focused exclusively on serving disabled tourists have emerged.

According to Ashley Grady, an accessibility program specialist at the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Visitor Accessibility in Washington, providing accessible tours demonstrates that people with disabilities are valued in cultural environments.

These programs communicate that “we’ve thought of you,” Grady explained. “We want you to come to our museums. We want you to see yourselves reflected in our staff and our collections. And we want to make these programs as accessible as possible for you, your family, your loved ones, your friends.”

However, significant gaps persist. Ivor Ambrose, managing director of the European Network for Accessible Tourism nonprofit, noted an ongoing lack of understanding regarding the varying accessibility requirements that travelers have.

“This is actually a really big market and an opportunity, which is still not fulfilled by the operators in all these different areas of tourism,” he stated.

Multiple experts have shared recommendations for maximizing barrier-free travel opportunities for yourself or others.

Josh Grisdale, who founded Accessible Japan—a website featuring databases, resources and navigation guides for people with disabilities—has cerebral palsy and relies on a power wheelchair. When planning trips to unfamiliar destinations, he researches Reddit forums, views YouTube travel content regardless of whether the creators needed accommodations, and examines Google Street View to identify stairs or other wheelchair-incompatible features.

While Facebook can provide useful information, Grisdale noted that helpful tips are often hidden within private, unsearchable groups. He suggests working with hotel concierges when available and contacting venues directly to inquire about proper accessibility features. Most museums and cultural sites maintain online written guides detailing their accessible offerings.

Grisdale also developed tabifolk, an online platform that gathers crowdsourced accessible travel information from worldwide contributors. Since inadequate information can increase trip planning stress, he wanted to create a space where people could share their real-world experiences to help others.

“Even though I’m in a wheelchair and I’ve had a disability my whole life, there’s things that I don’t know about other disabilities,” he said.

Joanne Ndirangu, founder and director of Scout Group Agency accessible tourism company, emphasizes that thorough advance planning is essential for people with disabilities to fully experience Africa’s offerings, including safaris or Mount Kilimanjaro climbs.

Ndirangu advocates for expanding accessible tourism throughout Africa, particularly in Kenya. She encourages visitors to collaborate with local travel professionals or trained specialists who understand the region and available accessible options. These experts may have personally worked to convince hotels or restaurants to install ramps or train staff on assisting neurodivergent individuals.

“Let’s say you want to see giraffes somewhere,” Ndirangu explained. “I can now advise you, ‘That place is not viable if you’re on a wheelchair or on crutches because of the hills and the valleys.’ So I can give you an alternative — and you get to see the giraffes.”

Standard public tours frequently prove unsuitable for people with disabilities, whether due to exhibits positioned too high for wheelchair users to view or environments too loud for those with sensory sensitivities.

The Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex, offers the sensory-friendly “Morning at the Museum” program, allowing neurodivergent participants and their families to visit Washington Smithsonian museums monthly before public opening. Visitors can participate in hands-on, multi-sensory activities or explore independently at their preferred pace.

“We can control the environment, we can reduce the crowds,” Grady said. “It’s a completely judgment-free environment and one that’s really meant to hopefully be that full bridge to inclusion, where they are able to come to a museum, have a great experience, and then maybe come back when we’re open to the public.”

In Berlin, Catholic aid organization Malteser Deutschland recognized that people with dementia were frequently overlooked as museum visitors. The organization created accessible tours specifically for this population at Berlin Zoo, the Museum of Natural History, Britzer Garden and Charlottenburg Palace, with plans for additional locations.

The Berlin Zoo tour accommodates only a small group and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Rather than covering the zoo’s extensive animal collection, the program concentrates on select habitats to prevent participant fatigue or overstimulation.

Ndirangu explained that her team receives training to immediately ask visitors whether they or family members need disability accommodations, enabling them to recommend optimal options. She noted it’s not always feasible to address unknown needs in advance. Most Kenyan hotels feature only one or two accessible rooms, which may already be occupied when guests requiring them arrive.

“Give us that opportunity to give you solutions,” she said. “We’ve had guests who don’t mention anything.”

The European Network for Accessible Tourism recommends that travel companies incorporate barrier-free service costs into their overall programming, distributing expenses among all participants rather than only those requiring accommodations. Many museums offer discounted admission for people with disabilities or complimentary or reduced-price companion tickets.

Smithsonian’s Grady said the institution modified its programs based on participant feedback and advisory group input. Recommendations have included adjusting app colors for low-vision users and collaborating with curators to ensure upcoming exhibitions remain fully accessible.

“They’re not asking for anything out of the ordinary,” she said. “They’re literally just trying to experience a visit just like anyone else.”

NEW YORK — Four international leaders endured intensive questioning sessions at United Nations headquarters this week as they compete for what officials described as one of the world’s most challenging job interviews.

The candidates seeking to replace Secretary-General António Guterres when his term ends January 1 include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall. None emerged as a clear frontrunner following their appearances before UN ambassadors.

Additional contenders may still enter the competition after these initial presentations conclude.

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, who oversaw the questioning sessions, emphasized the position’s significance. “The secretary-general is not only the head of the U.N. and the world’s top diplomat — she or he also represents all 8 billion of us, defending the U.N. Charter and leading on peace, development, human rights,” Baerbock stated.

Each candidate committed to strengthening the UN’s core mission areas, particularly its post-World War II mandate to maintain international peace and security — a goal that has proven elusive amid ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere due to deep international divisions. All four also promised institutional reforms for the organization.

Bachelet, 74, who previously served twice as Chile’s president and led the UN human rights office, emphasized crisis prevention and leadership skills during her presentation. “I stand before you to reclaim the urgent need for dialogue,” she declared, arguing the UN must anticipate, prevent and unite. She also stressed that the next leader should maintain “physical presence in the field” when addressing global challenges.

Grossi, 65, currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency after a career in Argentine diplomacy. He acknowledged widespread skepticism about the UN’s effectiveness in today’s polarized world. “There are enormous, huge doubts about our institution” in solving global problems, he noted. Without strong leadership and universal support, the organization cannot “regain a key place at the table,” he argued, also advocating for direct engagement in crisis zones.

Grynspan, 65, leads the UN trade and development agency and previously served as Costa Rica’s vice president. She highlighted her ability to maintain principles under pressure and promised to “continue to be the moral voice and the impartial voice that the secretary-general has to be.” She criticized the UN as having become “a risk-conservative organization,” declaring: “We need to take more risks — and I am ready to fail and try again.”

Sall, 64, completed 12 years as Senegal’s president and called for the UN to “regain its place at the global table.” He positioned himself as “a bridge-builder” whose primary goal would be “to contribute to restoring trust, to calm tensions, reduce fragmentation and breathe renewed hope into our collective action.”

Bachelet, a physician by training, addressed criticism from 28 Republican US lawmakers who labeled her a “pro-abortion zealot” and urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to oppose her candidacy. She acknowledged the controversy while defending women’s reproductive rights and pledged to advance existing UN member agreements, including gender equality initiatives.

Regional rotation traditionally influences secretary-general selection, with Latin America expected to provide the next leader. Sall, the sole non-Latin American candidate, argued the UN Charter permits any candidacy and noted that following a leader from the global north — Guterres is Portuguese — the position should shift to the global south. His candidacy sparked both supportive and opposing demonstrations outside UN headquarters, and he has faced corruption allegations, which he denies.

Daniel Forti from the International Crisis Group observed that the candidates “tried to walk a political tightrope.” He noted: “It is not immediately obvious whether any candidate did enough to propel themselves ahead of the others, or to ward off potential challengers who might emerge later.”

The 15-member UN Security Council will make the selection, with particular influence from the five permanent members holding veto power — the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France — who have remained silent about their preferences. The 193-member General Assembly must provide final approval.

Minh-Thu Pham, who advised former UN chief Kofi Annan and now leads the Starling Institute, identified widespread desire for a secretary-general willing to take risks and actively promote peace. The UN lacks influence in major crises “because it hasn’t had the courage to take risks,” she explained.

Susana Malcorra, Argentina’s former foreign minister and a 2016 secretary-general candidate, emphasized that the United Nations “more than ever” requires fresh leadership and energy. Her organization, GWL Voices, advocates for selecting a woman as the next UN chief.

Half a dozen travelers required medical treatment following an emergency evacuation at Delhi’s main airport early Sunday morning, according to reports from the Economic Times.

The Swiss Air aircraft, which was scheduled to fly from India’s capital to Zurich, experienced a catastrophic engine malfunction during its takeoff attempt at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The engine failure resulted in a fire, forcing flight crew to immediately halt the departure and order passengers to evacuate the plane while still on the runway.

All six injured passengers were taken to local hospitals for treatment following the emergency response on April 26th.

The United States military announced on April 25th that naval forces successfully stopped a merchant ship attempting to evade Iranian sanctions while operating in the Arabian Sea.

Military officials identified the intercepted vessel as the Sevan, which they say belongs to a network of 19 ships known as a “shadow fleet” that helps transport Iranian petroleum and natural gas products to international buyers.

According to U.S. Central Command, Navy personnel from a helicopter launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney carried out the interception operation. The military stated the vessel is “currently complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort.”

Central Command explained that Treasury Department sanctions target this shadow fleet because of their role in moving billions of dollars worth of Iranian energy exports, including oil, gas, propane and butane to overseas markets.

Military officials report that enforcement operations have successfully “redirected” a total of 37 vessels since the sanctions blockade operations began.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following the catastrophic explosion and blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear facility on April 26, 1986, obtaining reliable details about the disaster’s true extent proved nearly impossible, with only brief official statements coming from Soviet leadership.

Following a phone tip, Associated Press Moscow bureau chief Carol J. Williams and a fellow Western reporter traveled to a burial ground in Moscow’s northwestern district, where they uncovered modest burial sites of disaster casualties. Police temporarily held the reporters at the location on trespassing charges, but they witnessed cemetery staff preparing burial plots for additional victims.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe, AP is re-releasing Williams’ original report from June 24, 1986:

By CAROL J. WILLIAMS

MOSCOW (AP) — Twenty-three newly dug burial sites positioned near the primary gate of Mitinskoye Cemetery share identical characteristics. No markers identify the deceased as casualties from the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe.

Fresh flower arrangements rest atop each earthen mound, surrounded by concrete borders. Construction crews install matching marble monuments. Ominously vacant plots suggest additional fatalities are anticipated.

Half a dozen headstones display names of firefighters whom Soviet media identified as radiation casualties from Chernobyl, while a cemetery administrator confirmed Tuesday that this section was designated for nuclear accident fatalities.

At this burial ground on Moscow’s northwestern edge, laborers worked through persistent rain installing marble monuments engraved with victims’ identities, birth years, and death dates in golden lettering. Every death date occurred following the April 26 nuclear plant disaster.

Several burial sites displayed temporary, handwritten markers showing names and dates.

A cemetery administrator who refused identification when speaking with two Western journalists visiting Mitinskoye indicated that a memorial would eventually honor the deceased.

“They will all be brought here,” the official said, declining to say how many deaths have occurred as a result of the Chernobyl accident.

The most recent official casualty count from the Ukrainian facility was announced June 5, when Soviet authorities reported 26 fatalities, including two who perished during the original explosion and fire.

Among the casualties, plant employee Valery Khodemchuk will remain sealed within the destroyed reactor No. 4 since his remains were never found, according to Communist Party publication Pravda’s May 23 report.

The publication stated that another victim, Vladimir Shashenok, died immediately and was interred at a community close to the power facility.

American bone marrow expert Dr. Robert Gale, who assisted Soviet physicians treating radiation poisoning patients, predicted additional deaths among the 55 to 60 individuals still critically ill.

Radiation poisoning victims were transported to a Moscow medical facility where the deaths likely took place.

At Mitinskoye Cemetery, preparations suggest more fatalities are expected. Fifteen burial plots create a line at the rear of the Chernobyl section. A second line contains eight sites, with three plots positioned right and five left of a space that could hold seven additional graves.

The monuments of firefighters Viktor Kibenok, Vladimir Pravik, Nikolai Vashchuk, Vasily Ignatenko, Vladimir Tishchura and Nikolai Titenok feature carved golden stars and military fire service rankings of those who initially responded to the emergency.

Cemetery employees refused to reveal when the burials occurred or whether ceremonies were conducted individually or collectively for the group.

Flower arrangements in red and pink left by family members were carefully arranged on the raised soil of each grave.

“It’s very sad, they were so young,” commented an elderly woman visiting another area of the cemetery. “They were brought here to be treated at hospitals, but they couldn’t be sent home to be buried.”

An exclusion zone has been established surrounding the nuclear facility and all area residents have been relocated.

Cemetery administrators seized the reporters’ notes and camera film, stating that journalists required authorization to visit the burial ground.

A police officer posted at the cemetery explained it was restricted to family members only and special clearance from local officials was required to record headstone names or photograph the site.

The administrator subsequently guided the two reporters to the graves under the condition they neither take notes nor capture images.

Syria’s Interior Ministry revealed Friday that authorities have captured a man identified as Amjad Youssef, accused of participating in severe human rights violations that were recorded on video during Syria’s civil war, including events connected to mass executions in a Damascus suburb during 2013.

Ministry officials stated that Youssef was captured during a security mission conducted in the al-Ghab Plain region within rural Hama province, after multiple days of intelligence surveillance. The government indicated this operation represents part of continuing initiatives to track down individuals sought for crimes related to the armed conflict that began in Syria in 2011.

Officials have not revealed specific legal charges against the suspect beyond connections to what is called the ‘Tadamon Massacre,’ referencing the Damascus district where the killings took place. Authorities have not clarified if he has been officially transferred to judicial proceedings, though they confirmed he remains under investigation for incidents that happened during the conflict.

Youssef’s identity has surfaced in news coverage and human rights documentation over recent years, with reports connecting him to events in the Tadamon neighborhood of southern Damascus in 2013. The situation drew significant global attention after video evidence was released in 2022 showing the execution of civilians in open areas.

Based on investigative reporting and human rights documentation, Youssef allegedly belonged to an armed unit that took part in detaining civilians during security sweeps in the region before moving some to remote sites within Tadamon, where unlawful killings occurred and victims were subsequently placed in mass burial sites nearby.

These accounts characterize the incidents as connected to military campaigns during the war. The former Assad administration never provided independent legal verification about the specifics of these events or the identities of participants.

The video material, which circulated extensively following its release, generated widespread criticism from human rights groups, who characterized the actions as potentially constituting war crimes and demanded independent investigations and prosecution of those responsible.

The Assad government never officially confirmed the authenticity or details of the recordings.

US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack praised the announcement of Youssef’s capture, referring to him as known by the title ‘Butcher of Tadamon’ for crimes against Syrian citizens. He characterized the action as representing a ‘new model of justice’ in Syria following Assad’s removal, founded on legal principles and national healing.

In a social media post on X, Barrack stated the detention represents a ‘strong step away from impunity toward accountability,’ emphasizing that America supports the Syrian people in seeking justice. He noted that US President Donald Trump backs these initiatives designed to strengthen legal institutions and assist the nation’s recovery.

Youssef is thought to have previously served as an official within Syrian security agencies under Bashar Assad’s leadership, with his identity connected to grave violations in the Tadamon region, including torture, murder and unlawful imprisonment. The moniker ‘Butcher of Tadamon’ stems from survivor accounts documenting these crimes.

The disclosure of Youssef’s detention occurs while accountability for violations during Syria’s conflict remains among the most challenging matters, given continuing political disagreements and difficulties establishing functional international justice systems within the nation. Current Syrian leadership describes the action as efforts to implement ‘transitional justice’ and prosecute former government officials.

Human rights groups have generally supported the arrest, viewing it as a possible step toward addressing historical violations, while emphasizing that true significance depends on ensuring open and equitable trials meeting international standards, separate from political or biased motivations.

The Syrian conflict, which started in 2011, has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, along with extensive records of serious violations by multiple conflict participants, particularly the Assad government and Islamic State organization.

Authorities have not yet revealed when the suspect will appear in court or provided additional information about anticipated legal actions against him. Observers await further case developments and whether this will result in public prosecution. Millions of Syrians reportedly celebrated the arrest, with public gatherings occurring in certain Damascus areas, especially in Tadamon where the massacre allegedly happened.

The Media Line reports having video evidence and confessions from Youssef acknowledging civilian killings, but has chosen not to publish them because of their extremely disturbing content. Additional footage reportedly shows Youssef directing civilians to execution and burning without legal proceedings.

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Thirteen passengers died and 38 others were wounded when an explosive went off aboard a bus traveling through southwestern Colombia on Saturday, marking the deadliest incident in a recent surge of violence tied to narcotics trafficking.

The blast occurred as the vehicle moved along the Panamerican Highway in Cajibio municipality, according to Cauca region Governor Octavio Guzmán, who announced the attack on social media. Among those hurt were five children, Cauca Health Secretary Carolina Camargo reported to Noticias Caracol television.

Colombia’s Armed Forces Commander Gen. Hugo López characterized the incident as a “terrorist act” during a press briefing, pointing to criminal networks led by “Iván Mordisco” — a high-priority fugitive — along with the Jaime Martínez faction. These groups are breakaway elements from the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia operating in the area.

Both organizations rejected the 2016 peace accord signed between the government and the main rebel group.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced the bombing on social media platform X.

“Those who carried out the attack and killed seven civilians — and wounded 17 others — in Cajibío — many of them Indigenous people — are terrorists, fascists, and drug traffickers,” he wrote.

The bus attack represents just one incident in a wave of at least 26 explosive attacks targeting public facilities across southwestern Colombia over the past 48 hours, all of which have harmed civilians rather than military targets, López stated.

Other recent incidents included gunfire directed at a police facility in rural Jamundi and an assault on a Civil Aviation radar installation in El Tambo, where officials intercepted three bomb-carrying drones on Saturday. Those attacks caused no casualties.

On Friday, explosive-rigged vehicles detonated near military installations in Cali and Palmira, resulting in property damage.

The spike in regional violence — occurring in territory where illegal armed organizations compete for drug trafficking control — triggered the deployment of senior government officials to the area Saturday. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez led a delegation including regional governors and local officials meeting in Palmira when the fatal bus explosion happened.

“These criminals seek to instill fear, but we will respond with firmness,” Sánchez posted on X.

Valle del Cauca Governor Francisca Toro has requested “immediate support” from national authorities. In her social media message, Toro demanded strengthened security forces, improved intelligence work and “decisive actions” against criminal activity amid what she termed a “terrorist-level escalation.”

Government sources indicate that Cauca and Valle del Cauca regions function as crucial operational centers for illegal groups competing to control maritime and river pathways to Buenaventura port — a major shipping hub for narcotics bound for Central America and Europe.

Authorities have posted a reward exceeding $1 million for information leading to the arrest of “Marlon,” identified as the regional dissident leader. Local officials on Friday announced a $14,000 bounty for details helping identify and locate those responsible for the Cali and Palmira attacks.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung successfully reached the African nation of Eswatini over the weekend, declaring that Taiwan would not be deterred by “authoritarian forces” following allegations that China pressured multiple countries to deny flight access to President Lai Ching-te’s planned diplomatic mission.

The diplomatic controversy began last week when three African nations – the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar – withdrew previously granted overflight permissions for Taiwan’s presidential aircraft heading to Eswatini, which remains one of Taiwan’s dozen remaining diplomatic partners worldwide.

This incident represents an unprecedented situation where a Taiwanese president was forced to cancel an entire international visit due to denied airspace access, suggesting Beijing may be employing new tactics to restrict Taiwan’s global diplomatic activities.

Sharing his arrival on social media late Saturday, Lin posted an image of himself disembarking from a private aircraft in the small southern African nation, previously called Swaziland.

“In that moment, I felt the deep friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini that transcends distance, and I became even more convinced that Taiwan will not be held back by authoritarian forces,” he wrote. “We will certainly step out onto the world stage.”

While Beijing has denied applying pressure on the three African countries, Chinese officials nonetheless commended their decision to block the flight permissions.

Lin provided limited information about his journey, stating only that his team “overcame all obstacles” to reach Eswatini as President Lai’s special representative for King Mswati III’s 40th anniversary celebration of his rise to power.

Beijing maintains that Taiwan, despite its democratic governance, constitutes a Chinese province without legitimate claims to sovereign status. Taiwan’s leadership disputes these assertions and maintains its right to conduct international relations.

The situation has drawn criticism from Washington, while the European Union, along with Britain, France, and Germany, have also voiced their concerns about the incident.

Israel’s High Court of Justice faced a critical decision Thursday that has been mounting for over two years: whether the government can continue postponing a comprehensive investigation into the October 7, 2023 failures, or if the court must step in and mandate one.

Ruby Chen, whose son Itay Chen was an American Israeli soldier killed during the October 7 attack and whose remains weren’t recovered until November 2025, expressed frustration with suggestions that voters could decide the matter in upcoming elections. “That’s the easy way out,” Chen told The Media Line. “We need to make a decision, not just for this time, but maybe for other times as well.”

When asked if he believed the justices grasped the families’ perspective, Chen replied, “I think they understand, but they understand it’s a hot potato.”

Tensions from outside the courtroom spilled inside during the proceedings. Court sessions were temporarily suspended when demonstrators tried to force entry, while grieving families clashed outside over what type of investigation Israel should conduct.

Chen noted how serious the situation has become. “If something similar would have happened in the US Supreme Court, you would see the FBI and people handcuffed,” he observed. After a pause, he added, “We are living in a different place.”

The case centers on a petition demanding the court compel the government to create a state commission of inquiry under current law. Stav Livne Lahav from the Movement for Quality Government in Israel’s legal team explained that while the request appears simple, its consequences are complex.

“We asked the court to order the government to use the authority it already has and establish a state commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7,” she stated.

Livne Lahav outlined the legal framework as organized and systematic. “In Israel, this kind of proceeding is a two-stage process,” she noted. “First, we have to show there is a real legal basis. If the court agrees, it issues an order requiring the government to explain why it is not acting. At this stage, the burden is on the government.”

She confirmed that initial phase has been completed. “The court issued a conditional order. That means the government now has to justify why it is not establishing a commission, under a law that clearly exists for this purpose.”

According to Livne Lahav, the core question isn’t about governmental authority, but how that power is being exercised. “No one disputes that the authority is with the government,” she said. “But authority in a democracy is not unlimited. It must be exercised reasonably, without improper considerations, and without conflicts of interest.”

She contended that the extended postponement has gained legal importance. “You cannot wait two-and-a-half years after the biggest failure in the country’s history and claim that nothing has been decided,” she argued. “At some point, inaction becomes a decision.”

The government has proposed an alternative: a politically appointed investigation body. Livne Lahav completely rejected this approach.

“First of all, this is not even law,” she explained. “It has not passed the legislative process. You cannot ask a court to rely on something that does not exist.”

She also questioned the proposed structure’s effectiveness. “A state commission of inquiry is designed to reach the truth,” she said. “It is headed by someone with judicial experience, usually a retired judge, with the tools and the independence to investigate complex events.”

In contrast, she cautioned that the government’s approach could politicize the investigation. “What they are proposing creates a situation where there will be negotiations over the truth,” she warned. “Instead of finding out what actually happened, you will have competing versions, shaped by political positions.”

Livne Lahav emphasized the broader implications beyond legal considerations. “The public should go to elections knowing what happened,” she said. “If we prevent the establishment of a body that can examine this, we are blocking the public’s ability to know.”

Chen echoed this sentiment directly. “Who knew? What did they do? What did they not do?” he questioned.

Chen also highlighted what he sees as inconsistent explanations from officials. “At the beginning, it wasn’t time because we were at war,” he said. “Now they say the court is not authorized. So, what is it? You can’t change each time and give a different excuse.”

For Chen, the postponement carries personal weight affecting how families cope with their losses. “We are still waiting,” he said. “How can you move forward without answers? We’re here at the cemetery now.”

On the opposing side, Likud legislator Tally Gotliv, who was ejected from the courtroom during the session following repeated disruptions, presented a completely different perspective. After her removal, she accused the court of overstepping boundaries and worsening the divisions it claims to address.

“The Supreme Court cannot look bereaved families in the eye,” she declared. “It cannot bear their pain, their criticism, the accusations people feel toward it.”

Gotliv claimed the justices were deliberately silencing certain voices. “The court distances and removes bereaved families from the hall,” she said. “And what is worse, it creates division between them.”

She argued this division was intentional. “There are families who want a state commission and families who do not,” she noted. “And the court is fueling that conflict.”

She went further, alleging political manipulation of the situation. “Left-wing organizations are using this pain, using this division, to advance political interests,” she claimed.

Gotliv characterized her ejection as part of this pattern. “Expelling me is a violation of parliamentary immunity,” she said. “The law is clear. You cannot remove a member of Knesset like that.”

For Gotliv, the matter extends beyond procedure to symbolism. “When they remove me, they remove the people,” she said. “This is part of the contempt the court shows toward the government and the coalition.”

She challenged the entire premise of the hearing. “The court should not be dealing with this issue at all,” she stated. “This is not a question of whether it has authority or not. It simply should not be discussing it.”

Instead, Gotliv advocated for institutional changes. “This is exactly why the power of the court needs to be restrained through legislation,” she said. “There needs to be clear limits on what it can and cannot do.”

Gotliv also disputed claims that the government was avoiding responsibility. “The government has already agreed to establish a mechanism,” she said, referring to the proposed political inquiry. “The question is not whether there will be an investigation, but what kind.”

She maintained the decision shouldn’t come from judges. “This is a decision for the elected government,” she insisted. “Not for the court.”

The divide between these viewpoints is stark. Petitioners like Livne Lahav see the lack of a state commission as governmental failure requiring court intervention. Legislators like Gotliv view judicial involvement as a violation of democratic separation of powers.

Between these opposing positions stands a public still grappling with October 7 and increasingly split over how the events before, during, and after the massacre should be examined.

The court hasn’t issued its decision yet. However, Thursday’s session demonstrated that the question has expanded beyond how October 7 should be investigated. It now encompasses whether Israel’s institutions and society still agree on who holds the authority to establish truth and when such inquiry must commence.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Friday through social media that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in its early stages and has completed successful treatment in Jerusalem, stating that he has made a full recovery and remains in good health.

The 76-year-old prime minister explained that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor smaller than 1 centimeter during routine follow-up appointments after he underwent a procedure in December 2024 to address a non-cancerous enlarged prostate. Medical professionals characterized the discovery as an extremely early-stage malignancy that had not spread to other parts of his body.

Netanyahu completed a course of focused radiation treatment at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. His therapy finished approximately two and a half months prior to making the announcement public in April 2026. Medical professionals report that follow-up scans and laboratory work show no remaining signs of the disease.

In his public statement, Netanyahu described his current physical state as being in “excellent physical condition.”

During his treatment period, Netanyahu asked for his yearly medical report to be postponed to avoid releasing it “at the height of the war, to prevent the Iranian terror regime from spreading further false propaganda against Israel.”

This health revelation follows several other medical interventions in recent years. Netanyahu had surgery in December 2024 for his enlarged prostate condition. Previously, in March 2024, he underwent an operation to repair a hernia. In July 2023, doctors implanted a pacemaker after he experienced what medical staff called a “transient heart block” and “fainting episode.”

Even with this medical background, Netanyahu emphasized that his cancer was detected in its earliest phase and has been effectively eliminated through treatment.

America’s departure from Syrian military installations represents a crucial turning point in a conflict spanning over ten years. This military shift goes beyond tactical changes, sparking wider discussions about foreign military footprints in Syria and their sustainability as regional and global dynamics rapidly evolve.

As Washington exits the conflict zone, discussions have grown more intense about whether Syria faces a comprehensive reshuffling of international influence or if this represents solely an American departure that won’t affect other nations, particularly Russia.

America’s exit, concluding a military presence that started in 2014 during the fight against ISIS, is viewed by strategic experts as reflecting Washington’s broader policy change—minimizing direct military engagement in global conflicts while depending on more cost-effective political and military approaches.

Military expert Hossam Darwish explained to The Media Line that “the United States no longer sees long-term military presence as an effective means to achieve its objectives, which is reflected in similar decisions across multiple theaters.” He emphasized that this change puts foreign military installations in Syria under genuine examination within a complicated environment influenced by intersecting regional and global interests.

America began operations in Syria during 2014 with aerial attacks on ISIS locations in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and surrounding regions, operating without direct coordination with Syria’s previous government after the militant organization expanded and seized control of significant portions of northern and eastern Syria. Subsequently, American involvement grew to include limited special operations forces providing ground support, advisory services, and coordination with local allies, primarily the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Washington constructed small installations and outposts in northeastern Syria to facilitate air and ground missions, implementing a strategy combining aerial power with local partnerships rather than massive ground forces. Although successful in destroying ISIS’s “territorial caliphate,” the organization wasn’t completely eliminated, continuing operations through dormant cells and conducting occasional attacks in Syria and Iraq, sustaining low-level activities today.

Russia maintains a significant role in Syria through substantial military installations. Moscow joined the conflict on September 30, 2015, responding to the Syrian government’s request under Bashar Assad as violence intensified and the state lost territorial control to opposition groups.

Russian involvement focused mainly on aerial power, conducting extensive bombing operations from Khmeimim Air Base while deploying military advisors, limited special operations units, and sophisticated air defense equipment.

Unofficial assessments indicate Russian personnel in Syria numbered between 4,000 to 7,000 at different times, emphasizing specialized roles rather than massive ground deployment.

Russia also utilized Wagner Group elements, which aren’t classified as regular military forces. This intervention helped shift military advantages toward the Syrian government by supporting the recapture of important cities and strategic territories, while enhancing Moscow’s regional influence before the Syrian regime’s collapse at 2024’s end.

Following that period, Russia has maintained a restricted but strategically important network of military facilities concentrated mainly along Syria’s coastline. The primary installation is Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia, functioning as the central hub for aerial operations where fighter aircraft and bombers conducted most strikes, housing sophisticated air defense systems plus command and logistical support infrastructure.

Tartus naval facility represents the second foundation of Russia’s presence. This location serves as Moscow’s sole Mediterranean naval installation, offering resupply and maintenance capabilities while providing Russia permanent maritime access beyond its territory.

Additionally, Russia maintained less stable operations at military airfields including Shayrat and T4 (Tiyas), plus limited deployments in regions like Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor, before gradually withdrawing from most positions following the regime’s collapse.

Recent months have shown signs of Russia reducing its interior presence while strengthening coastal deployment, indicating tactical repositioning designed to lower expenses while maintaining strategic objectives.

Syrian political expert and Russia specialist Muhammad Hamza told The Media Line that “Russia is moving toward reducing its broad deployment in favor of a more concentrated model in key strategic locations.” He added that “the coastal bases will remain a red line because they are Moscow’s gateway to the Mediterranean, but its inland presence may be reconsidered.”

Researcher Amjad Saeed observes that this deployment’s future depends on “the trajectory of the war in Ukraine, the level of international pressure and the future nature of relations with Damascus.”

Within Syria domestically, foreign military installations remain among the most delicate matters, directly connected to sovereignty questions.

Syrian political activist Kinana al-Kurdi believes Syrian leadership might pursue “restructuring its military relations in a way that allows for a gradual reduction of foreign presence without direct confrontation with partners.” She noted that “the issue cannot be resolved by unilateral decisions but through complex understandings.”

An anonymous diplomatic source suggests further that “Damascus may use the issue of military bases as a bargaining chip to obtain economic or political support, particularly during the reconstruction phase.”

From a legal perspective, expert Mahmoud Hammam clarifies that military agreements with Russia “are not rigid and can be renegotiated if political circumstances change.” This creates possibilities for various outcomes, including modifications, partial reductions, or complete termination.

Within the larger framework, foreign installations’ future in Syria cannot be separated from broader international developments. Ukraine’s ongoing war continues depleting Russian resources, while Western nations seek to restrict Moscow’s Middle Eastern influence. Simultaneously, Turkey and other regional countries closely observe developments due to direct security consequences.

Since Syria’s major political transformations in 2024, including power transitions and certain power centers’ decline, Moscow has shifted toward reducing interior presence and concentrating on coastal installations, appearing to move toward a more restricted role focused on logistical and training support rather than extensive military deployment.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government issued a statement Saturday encouraging Afghan nationals currently housed at a U.S.-operated transit facility in Qatar to come back to their homeland, asserting that safety conditions have improved significantly.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi declared that Afghan citizens living overseas should have confidence in returning to their country. Balkhi emphasized that no security dangers currently exist for anyone within Afghanistan’s borders and stated that residents are not being forced to flee due to safety concerns.

This announcement follows reports from multiple American news organizations that the Trump administration is exploring the possibility of sending former Afghan allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation widely considered among the world’s most war-torn regions.

The New York Times reported that “After halting a US resettlement program for Afghans who helped the American war effort, President Trump is in talks to send as many as 1,100 of them to the Democratic Republic of Congo, an aid worker briefed on the plan said Tuesday.”

Over 1,100 Afghan evacuees who fled to Qatar following Kabul’s collapse in 2021 are preparing for the closure of Camp As-Sayliyah in Doha, as the American-operated facility was scheduled to close on March 31.

The facility has provided temporary shelter for former Afghan military personnel, translators, and relatives of U.S. military members, many of whom were evacuated during the turbulent withdrawal when the Taliban regained control.

The majority of camp residents have completed thorough security screenings and received approval for U.S. resettlement, including more than 400 minors.

U.S. senators have voiced strong opposition to the reported plan to transfer Afghan allies from Qatar to Congo.

Senator Alex Padilla wrote on his X account, “Unbelievable. When we betray our allies, we signal to every future partner that the US isn’t worthy of their trust.” Senator Jeff Merkley characterized the proposal as “evil and wrong.”

Additional senators, including Tammy Duckworth, Tim Kaine, and Ed Markey, have condemned the reported transfer plan, demanding its immediate suspension and enhanced protections for Afghan partners.

Nadir Khalili, a former Afghan special forces member, expressed his despair to The Media Line, saying “It would have been better for us to have been killed in the war than to be transferred to a country like Congo.”

Khalili added, “At the time, US officials clearly told us that, morally, the responsibility for our protection now rested with the United States, which is why we brought our children with us. But hearing this now has only deepened our anxiety.”

Humanitarian organizations and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have consistently called for accelerated international solutions for Afghan refugees, cautioning that resettlement delays heighten vulnerability and create instability.

BOGOTA – A devastating bombing in western Colombia has resulted in 13 fatalities and injured 17 additional victims, according to a police official who spoke with Reuters on Saturday.

The deadly explosive incident took place in Colombia’s western region, though authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the attack or the identities of those responsible.

The casualty count was confirmed by law enforcement sources as investigations into the bombing continue.

KYIV, April 26 – Ukraine observed the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear catastrophe on Sunday while grappling with concerns that Russia’s ongoing military campaign could trigger another nuclear emergency at the world’s most infamous atomic disaster site.

Ukrainian officials report that Moscow has consistently launched missiles and unmanned aircraft along flight routes that pass dangerously close to the nuclear facility when targeting Ukrainian population centers. Last year, one such attack caused damage to an essential protective barrier at the site.

The annual remembrance of the catastrophe – which released radioactive contamination across vast portions of Europe despite Soviet officials’ attempts to conceal its magnitude – has gained heightened significance during Russia’s military operation against its neighboring country.

“The Chornobyl disaster was the result of a reactor experiment ordered by Moscow, in violation of safety protocols, and followed by lies and cover-ups,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said in a statement this week.

“To this day, the world has to face consequences brought by a totalitarian system that subordinated truth and science to ideology and political power.”

The catastrophic explosion and subsequent reactor meltdown at the Soviet-constructed facility’s fourth unit during the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, exposed millions to dangerous radiation levels, displaced hundreds of thousands from their homes, and rendered enormous areas uninhabitable due to contamination.

Thousands of people have died from radiation-induced diseases including cancer in the decades since, though experts continue to debate the complete casualty count and lasting health impacts.

International cooperation led to the construction of a enormous steel and concrete containment structure in 2016, designed to protect the hastily-built concrete shelter that was erected in 1986 to encase massive amounts of radioactive wreckage.

But a Russian drone attack in February 2025 breached the airtight seal of this protective barrier, according to officials. While no radiation leaks were found, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development estimates repairs will cost at least 500 million euros to prevent lasting harm.

Ukraine’s chief prosecutor revealed to Reuters earlier this week that radar systems had tracked a minimum of 92 Russian drones flying within a five-kilometer radius of the protective structure since June 2024.

For security reasons, Ukrainian authorities typically do not announce details of official memorial events during wartime.

Located approximately 100 kilometers north of Kyiv and surrounded by a 2,600-square-kilometer restricted area, the facility – which Reuters journalists visited Wednesday – sits in an unsettling quietude that extends throughout the surrounding forests.

National Guard troops monitor the site, where roughly 2,250 workers operate in extended shifts to oversee the facility’s gradual dismantling process. Operations at the plant’s final reactor ceased in 2000.

The command center for the destroyed fourth reactor now stands as a darkened chamber filled with damaged and corroded Soviet-era machinery.

Wildlife including moose and feral horses now inhabit the area surrounding the plant and the deserted city of Prypiat, demonstrating how the natural world has reclaimed territory left vacant by human evacuation.

Moldova’s parliament speaker is urging investigators to expand their probe into a massive banking scandal after a court handed down a 19-year prison sentence to one of the country’s wealthiest businessmen.

Vladimir Plahotniuc was convicted this week in connection with what authorities are calling the “theft of the century” – a scheme that drained $1 billion from Moldovan banks more than ten years ago. The stolen amount represented 12% of Moldova’s entire economic output at that time, with the funds disappearing through questionable loans, asset exchanges, and shareholder agreements.

Prosecutors alleged Plahotniuc personally pocketed $39 million and 3.5 million euros ($4.1 million) from three different banks. The prosecution had originally requested a 25-year prison term.

Igor Grosu, who holds the second-highest position in Moldova’s government structure, emphasized on Saturday that additional investigation remains essential to uncover the complete truth about this widespread fraud. He stressed that Plahotniuc couldn’t have orchestrated such an elaborate scheme without assistance.

“The scale of the investigation shows that Plahotniuc could not have acted alone. He could not have organised, on his own, all the actions, operations and transactions,” Grosu stated.

“This is all quite sophisticated, all the more so as one of the accusations against him was organising a criminal group. I don’t know what other action is being taken by prosecutors, but I believe it is logical to look into episodes involving other persons, including those who insisted he was innocent,” he continued.

Plahotniuc maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings. His attorney, Lucian Rogac, criticized the case as a violation of proper legal procedures and claimed the decision was influenced by public pressure and political motivations.

Anti-corruption officials are currently pursuing three additional cases against Plahotniuc, including charges related to criminal organization involvement, bribery allegations, and creating monopolistic conditions in metal exports.

The 60-year-old Plahotniuc led Moldova’s Democratic Party between 2016 and 2019 while it was part of the ruling coalition, and also held the position of deputy parliament speaker. During his tenure in government, he exercised significant control over law enforcement agencies, the judicial system, and the courts.

Mexican authorities announced Saturday that two CIA operatives who perished in a fatal vehicle accident in the nation’s northern territory lacked proper authorization to conduct activities within Mexico’s borders.

The circumstances surrounding the two intelligence officers, who had been traveling back from dismantling an illegal narcotics laboratory in Chihuahua state, continue to raise questions about their mission.

According to regional officials, the agents were traveling in a convoy last weekend when their automobile plunged into a ravine and burst into flames. The incident also claimed the lives of two Mexican law enforcement personnel.

The Associated Press verified earlier this week through a U.S. official and two additional sources with knowledge of the situation that the deceased Americans worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. These individuals requested anonymity when discussing classified intelligence operations.

CIA representatives have refused to provide any statement regarding the incident.

Mexico’s Ministry of Security released information indicating that one American operative had entered the country using visitor status, while the second possessed diplomatic credentials.

The ministry further declared that Mexican leadership had no advance notice of international agents conducting or preparing to execute missions within their sovereign territory.

According to the ministry, officials are examining the situation alongside local law enforcement and the U.S. Embassy located in Mexico.

“Mexican law is clear: it does not permit the participation of foreign agents in operations within the national territory,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement continued: “The Government of Mexico reiterates its willingness to maintain a close, serious, and respectful relationship with the Government of the United States for the benefit of the security of both countries.”

Representatives from both nations have provided conflicting information about the incident, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledging Wednesday that federal personnel were participating after Mexico’s administration initially claimed no awareness of any mission or American involvement.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Saturday through a social media video that he will skip taking his parliament seat after suffering a crushing defeat in this month’s election, choosing instead to concentrate on restructuring his nationalist political movement.

The April 12 election marked the conclusion of Orbán’s 16-year tenure when Hungarian citizens voted decisively for a center-right opponent who campaigned on promises to combat widespread corruption and restore the country’s democratic systems that had weakened during Orbán’s administration.

The victorious challenger, Péter Magyar of the Tisza party who will become Hungary’s new Prime Minister, secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority that will enable his government to reverse numerous policies implemented by Orbán.

Questions about the former prime minister’s political future and potential government involvement had remained unanswered since the election results.

However, in his Facebook video announcement, Orbán declared that his party’s parliamentary delegation would undergo “radical transformation” following the electoral defeat, and confirmed he would forgo his legislative seat.

“Our task now is not in parliament,” Orbán stated, but rather in the “reorganization” of his political faction that he refers to as the “national side.”

“I have led our community for nearly four decades,” Orbán commented. “This camp has always been the most united and cohesive political community in Hungary.”

Magyar has promised to rebuild democratic institutions and legal frameworks that deteriorated during Orbán’s leadership, while also pursuing accountability for individuals he claims oversaw and profited from extensive government corruption.

When Hungary’s new parliament convenes on May 9, it will mark the first occasion since the country’s 1990 transition from state socialism that Orbán will not hold a legislative position.

In his announcement, Orbán indicated he plans to continue as Fidesz party president following the party’s June leadership election.

Magyar’s party captured 141 of 199 parliamentary seats, representing the largest majority in Hungary’s post-Communist era. Orbán’s far-right, eurosceptic Fidesz party will hold 52 seats, a significant drop from their previous 135 seats.