Category: World News

China’s President Xi Jinping praised what he called a “fresh framework” for US-China relations on Thursday, emphasizing cooperation alongside controlled competition following his summit meeting with President Donald Trump.

According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry, Xi indicated that both leaders reached agreement on establishing a constructive and strategically stable relationship to guide their nations’ interactions over the next three years and into the future.

The Chinese leader characterized this approach as fundamentally rooted in cooperation while incorporating controlled competition to achieve “a normal stability in which differences are controllable, and a lasting stability in which peace can be expected,” the ministry statement revealed.

Xi advocated for expanded exchanges and cooperation between the two nations across multiple sectors including trade, health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people connections, and law enforcement activities.

While promoting cooperation, Xi emphasized the need for “utmost caution” from the United States regarding Taiwan, the democratically governed island that China claims as its territory, though Taiwan disputes this claim.

“If handled poorly, the two countries could collide or even enter into conflict, pushing the entire China-U.S. relationship into an extremely dangerous situation,” the Chinese leader warned.

French President Emmanuel Macron confronts a significant challenge next week as parliamentary committees prepare to vote on his selection of a former chief of staff to lead the nation’s central bank, with critics suggesting the move aims to shield important institutions from potential far-right control following the 2027 election.

Should lawmakers reject Emmanuel Moulin’s nomination, it would deliver a humiliating blow to the unpopular president, highlighting his weakened position with less than a year remaining in his second term.

However, if approved, the decision would likely strengthen opponents’ claims that Macron is positioning trusted allies in influential roles to preserve his legacy and guard against a potential National Rally victory in the upcoming presidential race.

“The president is right to propose (Moulin’s) appointment, as it is technically justified, but he is taking a political risk should the proposal be rejected by parliament, given that he no longer has a majority,” said political analyst William Thay of think tank Le Millenaire.

Parliamentary opponents serving on finance committees in both chambers could prevent Moulin’s confirmation on Wednesday if three-fifths vote in opposition. The tallies from both houses will be combined, and Moulin gains approval if opposition votes fall short of 60% of the total.

Committee membership, featuring 72 members in the lower house and 49 in the Senate, reflects the composition of both chambers. Macron and his supporters lack majorities in either house.

While resistance appears likely in the divided lower house committee, the Senate committee – controlled by the conservative Republicains – holds the deciding power. Several lawmakers caution the outcome could be close, with possible defections among Republicains whose backing Moulin requires.

Moulin’s qualifications as among France’s most seasoned economic policymakers face little challenge.

However, Macron’s advocacy has intensified examination of his independence, a crucial concern for a central bank position designed to remain separate from political influence.

“Have you seen an Elysee chief of staff named to head the Bank of France before? That’s never happened,” said Eric Coquerel, the hard-left head of the finance committee in the lower house.

Coquerel indicated most left-wing parties in the lower chamber would resist Moulin, though the Socialists remain undecided, while non-Macron centrists might divide.

A similar appointment has occurred previously. Macron’s predecessor Francois Hollande appointed his chief of staff Pierre-Rene Lemas in 2014 to run public lender Caisse des Depots, among France’s largest financial institutions.

Moulin will participate in question sessions in both houses on Wednesday before committee voting begins. The Senate meeting will exclude press coverage, while the lower house has not announced whether its session will be public.

Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun reported that Moulin agreed to discuss priorities including bank oversight, inflation control, and his independence with colleagues.

In a questionnaire delivered Friday to Moulin, Brun inquired: “How can the independence of the Bank of France … be guaranteed, given your very recent political roles within the government?”

When contacted by Reuters, Moulin indicated he would save his responses for lawmakers. Brun did not immediately respond regarding his Wednesday meeting with Moulin.

As head of the 226-year-old Bank of France, Moulin would join the European Central Bank’s rate-setting governing council and oversee French bank regulation.

Even before proposing Moulin, Macron’s opponents criticized his placement of allies including Richard Ferrand to lead the constitutional court that reviews legislation and Amelie de Montchalin to direct the audit office that validates public accounts.

RN lawmakers claim these nominations seek to install anti-RN allies should they gain power in next year’s presidential contest.

“After Ferrand and Montchalin, we’re going to say enough is enough,” said RN lawmaker Philippe Ballard.

Polling data suggests next year’s presidential election second round will almost certainly include the anti-immigrant RN, which has promised to dismantle much of Macron’s social and economic policies.

Ferrand received approval by one vote last year in law committees of both houses, with RN lawmakers abstaining, while Montchalin’s selection required no parliamentary confirmation.

The Senate will prove crucial for Moulin, who has worked under both conservative and Macron administrations, with uncertainty over whether some Republicains will break away to oppose his nomination.

“It’s a safe bet that Republicains MPs will be split between those who believe it’s better to maintain a respectable profile on the right and those who want to punish the betrayal of one of their own who left them in 2017 to serve Macron’s camp,” Thay said.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Top diplomats from BRICS member nations launched two days of discussions in New Delhi on Thursday as the growing economic alliance confronts internal disagreements regarding Middle East warfare, escalating fuel costs and mounting worldwide financial instability.

The gathering unites representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa alongside diplomats from recently admitted nations. The conference occurs while Iranian conflict has interrupted worldwide energy distribution and pushed up petroleum costs, happening simultaneously with U.S. President Donald Trump’s discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and Russia’s chief diplomat Sergey Lavrov are participating. China has sent Ambassador Xu Feihong as its representative while Foreign Minister Wang Yi stays in the Chinese capital during Trump’s diplomatic visit.

India Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar indicated the discussions would concentrate on worldwide and regional obstacles and methods to strengthen collaboration between member states.

During his opening statements, Jaishankar explained that BRICS could assist developing nations in better addressing health and financial difficulties they encounter along with elevated costs for energy, food and fertilizer.

“We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations,” he said, adding that emerging and developing countries increasingly expect BRICS to play a “constructive and stabilizing role.”

Established by Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS developed as an alliance of significant emerging economies viewed as a balance to Western-controlled organizations like the G7. South Africa became a member in 2010 and the alliance grew additional in 2024 through the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia achieved full membership status in 2025.

The organization has attempted to broaden its reach by advocating for increased participation in a worldwide system historically controlled by the United States and its Western partners. It has received backing throughout portions of the Global South, where numerous nations have criticized Western-controlled financial organizations.

However, BRICS countries stay split on major matters.

India and China persist in competing for regional dominance, while member nations frequently vary in their connections with the West. Russia’s conflict in Ukraine has additionally revealed those disagreements.

The alliance’s growth has also created additional pressures. Conflicting regional priorities have heightened the challenge of displaying a coordinated stance.

Disagreements have intensified during the escalating Middle East crisis. Iran and the UAE hold BRICS membership while following conflicting regional objectives.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister stated Wednesday that internal BRICS disagreements regarding the conflict had blocked the alliance from achieving a coordinated position.

Kazem Gharibabadi informed news agency Press Trust of India that “one member country” had advocated for statements criticizing Iran, making consensus-building within the organization more difficult.

“We want India’s BRICS chairship to be successful. It is not a good approach to send a signal to the world that the BRICS is divided. One country is insisting on condemning Iran,” Gharibabadi said.

Officials in the Philippines worked Thursday to verify whether a senator facing International Criminal Court charges had escaped following a violent incident at the nation’s Senate building the previous evening.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who previously served as the country’s top police official and helped lead former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly anti-drug campaign, had been staying at the Senate to avoid arrest on charges of crimes against humanity – the same accusations facing Duterte.

“Several sources confirmed that the Senator, Senator Bato, is no longer in the Senate premises. But we are still getting confirmation,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a news briefing.

Late Wednesday evening, gunfire erupted inside the Senate building, sending people diving for safety. This occurred hours after the 64-year-old dela Rosa had posted on social media asking his supporters to rally, claiming law enforcement was preparing to take him into custody.

The violent episode created pandemonium, with heavy police and armed security presence surrounding the Senate, demonstrations forming outside, and more than twelve shots fired shortly after marines arrived to strengthen security measures.

On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr held discussions with security leaders, and police reported one individual had been taken into custody. Investigators are working to identify people who attempted to enter the Senate, recovering bullet shells and magazines from assault weapons.

“The person has provided names, but these still need confirmation,” police spokesperson Randulf Tuano said in a radio interview.

Questions remained about who discharged the weapons and whether dela Rosa remained in the Senate Thursday, with widespread speculation suggesting he may have left during the night.

The international court in The Hague made public an arrest warrant Monday that had been issued in November, while dela Rosa has submitted an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court, contending the ICC lacks authority in the Philippines following the country’s 2019 departure from the international body.

Thursday morning, as he entered the heavily secured Senate, dela Rosa’s attorney Jimmy Bondoc said he had spoken with his client overnight and believed he remained inside.

“I asked him if you have plans to leave, he said none,” Bondoc told media representatives.

The outspoken dela Rosa gained widespread recognition as Duterte’s chief aide, directing an aggressive enforcement effort that resulted in thousands of suspected drug dealers being killed, with human rights organizations accusing police of organized killings and concealment efforts.

Law enforcement officials dispute these claims, stating that the more than 6,000 deaths in Project Double Barrel involved armed individuals who fought against arrest.

Human rights advocates say the actual number of deaths may remain unknown, with drug users and sellers shot daily in unexplained neighborhood killings that police attributed to vigilante groups and territorial disputes.

Marcos has attempted to separate his administration from the Senate crisis and stated no directive was issued to capture dela Rosa, who had asked the president Tuesday not to arrest him.

National Bureau of Investigation chief Melvin Matibag acknowledged that intelligence personnel from his agency were present at a structure near the Senate Wednesday, but said they carried no weapons.

He added that investigators are also examining whether the incident might have been orchestrated.

In a radio interview broadcast early Thursday, dela Rosa stated he would “exhaust all available remedies” to prevent his transfer to the ICC, and after learning about Duterte’s detention circumstances, he no longer wanted to defend his case in The Hague.

The timing of that interview remained unclear. Dela Rosa has rejected claims of participation in unlawful killings.

The Senate crisis represents a significant test of Marcos’ leadership, as he had depended on the powerful Duterte family’s backing to secure victory in the 2022 election before a bitter split that resulted in him turning over his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC.

The 81-year-old Duterte is expected to become the first former Asian leader to face trial at the ICC. He denies encouraging police to commit murder.

Political tensions have escalated recently regarding dela Rosa and Monday’s impeachment of the former president’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who was previously Marcos’ ally and campaign partner.

Sara Duterte, currently in The Hague visiting her father, is battling for her political future, confronting an impeachment trial in the Senate that could damage her potential presidential campaign in 2028.

“What we are seeing now is the administration using all government resources to demolish political opposition,” she said in statements released by her office.

She claimed dela Rosa would face extraordinary rendition, comparing it to what she described as her father’s unlawful kidnapping.

“That is how the world saw it then. And that is also what they are trying to do now,” she said.

A devastating storm swept through India’s most populous state on Wednesday, killing 89 people and leaving destruction in its wake, according to state disaster management officials who released the death toll on Thursday.

The severe weather struck Uttar Pradesh with powerful winds, heavy rainfall, and hailstones during what officials described as “adverse weather conditions” on Wednesday, the state’s relief commissioner announced in a social media post.

Beyond the tragic loss of life, the storm left 53 people with injuries, destroyed 87 homes, and killed 114 farm animals throughout the region, authorities reported.

News footage captured the storm’s destructive power as strong winds toppled large trees and advertising signs, with debris crashing into vehicles while dust clouds engulfed the area and scattered wooden furniture from street vendors.

A state relief official confirmed to news agencies that many of the deaths resulted from trees falling on victims and residential walls collapsing under the storm’s force.

These types of severe storms typically occur in the northern Indian state during the hot months spanning March through June, before monsoon season arrives to provide relief from the intense heat.

The state’s chief minister, whose administration operates under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, has ordered government officials to provide immediate assistance to storm survivors and distribute emergency financial support within one day, according to state authorities.

PUNTLAND, Somalia — Abdi Ahmed Farah has watched most of his hundreds of goats perish. The 70-year-old herder never imagined his region of Somalia could go three years without consistent rainfall.

Water purchases have left him drowning in debt. The water reservoir beside his tent sits nearly dry. His family survives on just one daily meal of rice mixed with sugar and oil. His newborn, the youngest of 22 children born just three weeks ago, receives only sporadic drops of breast milk from his wife.

“I have considered abandoning my family because I cannot provide for them,” Farah stated, positioned protectively near his dwindling food reserves.

Another devastating drought has struck millions across Somalia, a nation ranked among the globe’s most susceptible to climate disasters. Rivers have run dry while harvests have failed. Climate experts believe this drought may rank as the most severe in the country’s recorded history.

The emergency has worsened due to reduced aid contributions, particularly steep cuts from the Trump administration, alongside escalating costs from the Iran war. Somalia imports the majority of its fuel from Middle Eastern nations and relies on foreign sources for 70% of its food supply.

Maize and sorghum production during the October-December rainy period hit record lows in Somalia, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reported.

Nutrition specialists caution that close to half a million children could experience severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form. This figure would exceed the number of children needing treatment during the 2011 and 2022 droughts, UNICEF data shows.

“2026 is the worst year on record for Somalia in terms of drought,” stated Hameed Nuru, the U.N. World Food Program director for Somalia. “Children have started dying.”

Government officials and United Nations representatives calculate that 6.5 million residents confront emergency hunger levels, accounting for one-third of the nation’s population and marking a 25% jump since January.

Relief organizations work to stretch available resources while the Somali diaspora sends financial assistance home, though humanitarian officials caution these efforts fall short of meeting needs.

“This drought is not just another cycle of dry season. It’s a repeated climate shock with shrinking humanitarian support,” explained Mohamed Assair, a manager with Save the Children in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region.

Farah’s herd once numbered 680 goats, but inadequate food and water combined with drought-related diseases have killed all except 110 animals, which barely survive.

“There is no market for my goats because they are so thin. Previously we would trade them for rice, but now we can’t,” he explained. Farah’s family established camp near Usgure village ten days earlier. Nearly a dozen goat carcasses scatter the surrounding area.

In Usgure, housing 700 families, community leader Abshir Hirsi Ali described the local economy’s collapse due to dependence on herders like Farah. Businesses have shuttered while food supplies have diminished.

A brief recent rainfall created puddles of contaminated water. “Some families were so desperate they drank it … now there is a high number of people with fever,” Ali reported.

Save the Children occasionally delivers free water to Usgure, though commercial water delivery services have increased prices fourfold and a 50-kilogram bag of flour now costs $40, representing a one-third price increase.

“I’m not only afraid for my family but the future of the whole village,” said Muhubo Tahir Omar, a 47-year-old mother of 11 children.

Omar, like other parents, sold her livestock to cover educational expenses, “but when we didn’t pay, the teachers left.” Her remaining goat has fallen ill.

Decades of warfare in Somalia have forced millions from their homes. The current drought has displaced an additional 200,000 people this year, U.N. estimates indicate.

Families traverse difficult terrain carrying minimal provisions.

“People are on the move … and when people move, people die,” noted Kevin Mackey, the Somalia director for humanitarian group World Vision. He recently encountered people who traveled nine days on foot to reach assistance in southern Dollow.

Approximately 80 families reside in a displacement camp near Shahda village in Puntland.

Shukri, a 20-year-old mother of four, typically manages one daily meal from charitable donations. Currently no food remains available and clean water access is restricted.

“The children got diarrhea (from dirty water) and malnourishment worsened,” said Shukri, who provided only her first name. “I know a few people who have died.”

Many migrate to Mogadishu, the capital, where food remains scarce.

Fadumo, a 45-year-old mother of seven, relocated there from Lower Shabelle, where al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants already threatened livelihoods.

“The water sources we depended on for farming, including the river, dried up,” Fadumo said. “Conflict made our situation even worse, forcing us to flee.”

Drought devastated Somalia in 2022 with an estimated 36,000 deaths, the U.N. reported. Now the emergency assistance previously mobilized for such crises has diminished.

“Unless there is a sudden and substantial response from donors, the outlook is deeply concerning. A drought of similar severity in 2022 received a response five times greater than what we are seeing,” said Antoine Grand, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Somalia.

Aid funding to Somalia declined to $531 million in 2025 primarily due to reduced contributions from the United States, which previously served as Somalia’s largest donor. In 2022, aid funding totaled nearly five times more at $2.38 billion.

WFP planned to assist 2 million people with food aid this year but has reached only 300,000 due to funding shortfalls.

A treatment center at the hospital in Qardho, Puntland, cares for children with severe acute malnutrition. However, therapeutic milk supplies have become scarce, forcing nurses to use homemade substitutes like cow’s milk, director Shamis Abdirahman explained.

The facility receives approximately 15 children monthly, though staff anticipate increases as displaced populations arrive.

Four-year-old Farhia weighs only 7.5 kilograms. Her eyes appear sunken while her bones show prominently beneath her skin.

Her family fled to Qardho after all their goats died, her mother Najma explained.

“I don’t know what to hope for, or see how we can get back to what we had,” she said.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — While Israeli drones fly overhead and emergency vehicle sirens echo in the distance, Tarik Zaeem remains focused on his computer, developing code for a valet parking application based in Saudi Arabia and fixing issues with its barcode scanning feature.

During the week, the programmer navigates through Gaza City’s bomb-damaged streets to reach a shared workspace where independent contractors can power their equipment and connect to reliable internet service. This remote employment offers crucial financial support and mental relief from life in the impoverished and heavily damaged Gaza Strip.

“When I work, I forget everything and focus on the coding. I stop thinking about my family’s basic needs,” said the 44-year-old developer, referring to his spouse and three children who escaped to Egypt when the conflict began. “I stop thinking about airstrikes or searching for drinking water. When I’m on my laptop, I shut everything else out.”

Zaeem belongs to a network of independent contractors who create code, develop designs, and build programs for overseas customers. Online platforms that link them with clients — such as Freelancer.com, Upwork and Mostaql — have registered thousands of Palestinian workers from Gaza.

Similar to other Gaza residents, these workers have sometimes faced difficulties obtaining food, water and housing, lost friends and family members, and watched their homes and communities destroyed by Israeli bombing campaigns. While many ceased working, others continued their projects, creating brand logos for Canadian pizza restaurants, developing reservation systems for Palestinian barbershops, and building websites for companies in Kuwait and Turkey.

Following two challenging years of intense warfare, their employment situation is becoming more stable, though broader recovery and rebuilding initiatives remain stalled seven months after an unstable ceasefire began in October.

Online freelance work gained popularity over ten years ago in Gaza. Conventional industries declined after Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, as Israel’s strengthened blockade severely damaged farming, manufacturing and other economic sectors.

Widespread joblessness and improved internet access — over 90% of Gaza households had online connectivity before the war — drove thousands of tech-savvy university graduates to pursue work opportunities overseas.

International donors and non-governmental organizations recognized this trend, funding coding competitions, business incubators and programming schools. The United Nations Development Program stated in 2018 that “freelancing and online jobs are considered to be among the best temporary solutions to the unemployment problem.”

Prior to the conflict, the U.S.-based organization Mercy Corps operated Gaza Sky Geeks, which managed active coworking facilities featuring glass walls and graffiti artwork displaying the word “entrepreneur” in Arabic. According to senior program manager Rand Safi, enthusiasm grew dramatically when it became evident that remote workers from Gaza could successfully compete in international markets.

Most of this progress disappeared during the war that began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, when Hamas-led fighters killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Israel’s counterattack resulted in more than 72,700 deaths, according to local authorities, and forced most of Gaza’s 2 million residents to relocate — frequently several times. Hundreds of thousands found refuge in overcrowded tent settlements, while electrical and internet service interruptions became common.

Gaza Sky Geeks reported that two of its three facilities were destroyed in bombing raids. Business owners, program participants and teachers have been killed or lost touch. Currently, the organization is among those working to revive the industry, supporting operations at five independent shared workspaces where digital freelancers can resume their activities.

“They want the vibes, and I think they want a piece of their past,” Safi explained. “There is a sense among people of not wanting to be dependent on humanitarian aid. They want an income.”

More than three-quarters of Gaza’s communication infrastructure sustained damage during the war, and electrical outages frequently made completing contracts difficult.

“When we first started, the main problem was electricity and internet access. Now that’s less of an issue because workspaces have opened across Gaza,” said software engineer Sharif Naim.

During the conflict, Naim established Taqat Gaza, a shared workspace running on solar power systems, providing remote workers the chance to work in three-hour time slots. Currently, it serves over 500 freelancers, providing full-day internet connectivity and professional networking opportunities that Naim described as equally valuable.

“The focus (today) is creating a proper work environment, training and helping freelancers rebuild skills lost during the war so they can compete in the global market again,” he explained.

Some of these efforts have targeted women, many of whom became primary earners or needed additional income during the war.

Reem Alkhateeb, a mother and graphic designer, explained that she attempts to find time for online work while handling daily survival challenges, including standing in lines for food and water. Costs have increased dramatically and her husband lost his employment, transforming her freelance work from extra income into the family’s primary financial support.

“Our dreams are no longer about luxury or big ambitions. We dream about the simplest things that should already be basic human rights: having electricity, having internet access, being able to live and work normally,” she stated.

With banking services frequently unavailable in Gaza and payment systems like PayPal blocked for users with Palestinian addresses, freelancers have needed to discover alternative payment methods. Some direct payments through family members living abroad who can receive transfers for them, while others use cash intermediaries who accept electronic payments for high fees.

Several programs have emerged to assist freelancers in managing complex payment obstacles. Following the deaths of her husband and daughter in 2024, Salsabil Bardawi created “Gaza Talents” as a service to connect Gaza freelancers with international customers and support their career development. The platform has generated over $600,000 in earnings for workers, collaborating with the Bank of Palestine and the digital payment system “PalPay.”

“A lot of people can work, all they need is a laptop, internet, electricity and clients,” she said.

VIENNA (AP) — The renowned coffee shops of Vienna have welcomed the Eurovision Song Contest with open arms. However, they’ve also felt the impact of controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in the glittering pop music event.

Officials initially excluded Israel when they announced their list of “Eurofan Cafes” — Vienna establishments serving dishes and music from participating nations.

MQ Kantine, a contemporary café located in the city’s artistic museum district, volunteered to fill the gap. The establishment now features falafel, bagels with lox and kosher wine on its menu, small Israeli flags strung across the ceiling — and a police officer stationed at the entrance.

Heavy security measures are in place throughout Vienna during the international music competition, whose “United by Music” theme feels somewhat empty this year. Five nations are refusing to participate due to Israel’s involvement. Pro-Palestinian activists have organized a protest concert — among multiple Eurovision alternative events happening across Europe — and plan an anti-Israel demonstration before Saturday’s grand finale.

At MQ Kantine, volunteers rotate shifts watching for possible problems. However, the atmosphere has remained welcoming so far, according to Daniel Kapp, a PR consultant and pro-Israel advocate.

“It’s beautiful,” he said, watching patrons enjoy coffee and beer on the café’s outdoor seating area in the warm spring weather, though he acknowledged that the police presence indicates things are “not entirely normal.”

“My feeling is that Austria to a certain degree has learned from its history,” Kapp said, referencing the lethal antisemitism during Nazi rule before and throughout World War II. “Which is why the support for Israel is a lot more normal than it is in other countries.”

Israel has participated in Eurovision for over five decades, claiming victory four times. However, its involvement has faced opposition since launching military action in Gaza following the Hamas-led cross-border assault on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people. Over 73,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict started, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which functions under Hamas control and maintains detailed records generally considered reliable by the international community.

Israel’s government has consistently justified its military campaign as retaliation for the Oct. 7 assault. However, several experts, including those appointed by a United Nations organization, have characterized Israel’s Gaza offensive as genocide. Israel, which is home to numerous Holocaust survivors and their families, has strongly rejected this accusation.

Recent Israel-Hezbollah conflicts in Lebanon and the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran have escalated tensions further.

The 2024 Eurovision event in Malmo, Sweden, and the previous year’s competition in Basel, Switzerland, witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrations demanding Israel’s exclusion. Five nations — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain — withdrew from the 2026 contest after organizers permitted Israel to participate.

These conflicts have created a divided Eurovision experience. A celebratory party environment exists within the Wiener Stadthalle arena and the separate Eurovision Village fan area. However, entry requires navigating extensive security, including searches, scanners and a complete bag prohibition inside the venue. Armed officers maintain a highly visible street presence.

Concern about potential terrorist threats remains elevated in the city following a 21-year-old Austrian man’s guilty plea for planning to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024, after allegedly swearing loyalty to the Islamic State group.

Israeli performer Noam Bettan informed Israeli media that, similar to last year’s Israeli representative Yuval Raphael, he rehearsed performing while facing hostile crowds. Occasional shouts mixed with applause when he performed during Tuesday’s first Eurovision semifinal. He earned a place in Saturday’s finale by ranking among the top 10 in combined viewer and national jury voting.

Contest organizers reported removing four individuals from the 10,000-person audience for disruptive conduct.

Austrian Eurovision enthusiast Ivo Herzl, who attended the semifinal, described “the vibe was incredibly positive.” He demonstrates Israel support by creating and selling Mazel Lov T-shirts — a wordplay on “mazel tov,” a Hebrew and Yiddish congratulatory expression.

“Vienna has always been a city of tolerance,” Herzl said. “It’s the city of music and we’ll always do everything possible for everyone to enjoy a musical event.”

Some Israeli supporters expressed comfort with the extensive security measures. Oz Yona, experiencing his first Eurovision, reported encountering “no hate” and felt Austria addresses antisemitism seriously.

He attended with friends to support Israel, though he remained pessimistic about Bettan’s prospects — for artistic rather than political considerations.

“I don’t think he will win,” Yona said. “Finland is better this year. Greece is better this year. We have a good song, but not a winning song.”

Birgitta Peterson and Kristina Nilsson, wearing coordinated pink bomber jackets and calling themselves The Swedish Ladies, enjoy discovering new cities and reuniting annually with their “Eurovision family” of fellow supporters. They intend to display Israeli flags during Saturday’s finale, after Swedish participant Felicia stated earlier this year that she questioned Israel’s contest participation.

They describe how Israel-related tensions have split a fan community historically recognized for its welcoming nature and celebration of diversity.

“The wounds are very deep at the moment,” Nilsson said.

“This event should really be about ‘united by music’ and happiness,” she added. “That’s what Eurovision is all about.”

A prominent human rights organization has released findings detailing severe violations committed during the occupation of a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a Thursday report.

Human Rights Watch documented serious crimes during M23 rebels and Rwandan military forces’ control of Uvira, which lasted approximately one month spanning late 2025 into early 2026.

The organization’s investigation recorded 53 summary executions, eight sexual assaults, and 12 enforced disappearances that occurred while the armed groups controlled the city.

According to the findings, combatants opened fire on civilians attempting to flee and conducted house-to-house searches specifically targeting males they suspected of connections to government-supported local armed groups.

The rebel forces initially seized control of Uvira in December but later retreated following diplomatic pressure from the United States.

Neither the government of Rwanda nor representatives for the rebel organization provided immediate responses to requests for comment. Both parties have previously rejected similar accusations of rights violations and have instead pointed to alleged attacks against Tutsi community members by Congolese military forces and their militia allies.

Despite ongoing international mediation attempts, including efforts by the United States, violence has persisted throughout eastern Congo.

In March, Washington implemented sanctions targeting the Rwandan Defence Force and high-ranking military leaders due to their purported backing of M23, allegations that Rwanda continues to reject.

Most recently, the rebel forces pulled back from multiple positions in South Kivu province, where Uvira is situated, moving approximately 30 kilometers northward.

President Trump arrived in Beijing Thursday seeking Chinese assistance to resolve the ongoing conflict with Iran, as diplomatic efforts to end the war remain at a standstill and global economic impacts continue mounting.

The Iran conflict is dominating Trump’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first presidential visit to China since 2017, though experts doubt he will receive the backing he’s seeking from Beijing.

More than a month has passed since a fragile ceasefire was implemented, yet diplomatic initiatives have failed to advance toward ending a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives, altered Middle Eastern partnerships, and increased prices for oil and other essential commodities worldwide.

The United States is demanding that Tehran abandon its nuclear program and release its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that handled approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transport before hostilities commenced on February 28.

Tehran is seeking war damage payments, an end to the American blockade of Iranian ports, and cessation of combat on all battlefronts, including Lebanon where Israel is fighting Iran-supported Hezbollah. Trump has called Tehran’s demands “garbage.”

Trump’s China trip, taking place while Beijing maintains strong relations with Tehran and purchases significant amounts of Iranian oil, occurs as the war drives up domestic inflation and creates political risks for Trump’s Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm elections.

America hopes to persuade China “to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Fox News’ “Hannity” program in footage released Wednesday.

“We’ve made clear to them that any support for Iran would obviously be detrimental for our relationship. That obviously is going to come up in this conversation on trade,” Rubio added during the Air Force One interview while traveling to China.

The administration announced Tuesday that senior American and Chinese officials agreed last month that no nation should impose fees on regional traffic, as Iran has threatened. China has not challenged this statement.

Ship-tracking information revealed Wednesday that a Chinese supertanker loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude passed through the Strait of Hormuz, representing the third confirmed Chinese oil tanker transit since the war started.

Additional nations are considering shipping agreements similar to Tehran’s arrangements with Iraq and Pakistan, sources indicated, potentially solidifying Tehran’s dominance over the waterway that typically carries fertilizers, petrochemicals, and other bulk materials essential to global supply networks.

Tracking data from LSEG showed Thursday that a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker operated by Japanese refining company Eneos has navigated the Strait of Hormuz, marking the second known Japan-connected vessel to cross the strait.

Japan depended on the Gulf region for roughly 95% of its oil imports before the conflict began.

Wednesday reports demonstrated how the Iran war has accelerated political realignment throughout the region.

Israel announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret March journey to the UAE for discussions with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, which Israel described as producing a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations.

The nations restored diplomatic ties in 2020 through the Trump-supported Abraham Accords, and their partnership has grown stronger since the UAE faced Iranian attacks.

However, the UAE’s foreign ministry rejected claims about the visit, stating “any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded.”

Iran, which has targeted the UAE more heavily than other Gulf states in response to American-Israeli strikes, cautioned the Emiratis against becoming adversaries.

“Enmity with the Great People of Iran is a foolish gamble. Collusion with Israel in doing so: unforgivable. Those colluding with Israel to sow division will be held to account,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X.

Reuters also reported that Saudi military aircraft attacked Iran-backed militias in Iraq, part of a wider pattern of Gulf nation military responses during the war that have stayed concealed. Sources said retaliatory attacks were also conducted from Kuwait into Iraq.

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday he believes advancement is occurring in talks to conclude the war.

“The fundamental question is, do we make enough progress that we satisfy the president’s red line?” Vance told White House reporters. “And the red line is very simple. He needs to feel confident that we put a number of protections in place such that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons.

A South Korean government official says Iran was most likely responsible for an attack on one of their country’s cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from Yonhap news agency on Thursday.

The senior foreign ministry official told reporters that Seoul is reviewing intelligence information provided by the United States regarding the May 4 incident involving HMM’s Namu vessel. The attack sparked a fire and caused damage to the ship’s lower stern hull.

“Once we go through the investigation and present the evidence, I trust that the Iranian side will respond in an appropriate way,” the official said.

The foreign ministry has not yet verified the official’s statements made to reporters.

Investigation teams from South Korea have traveled to Dubai, where the damaged Namu is currently docked for inspection before repairs begin. The experts are conducting detailed forensic analysis of the vessel’s damage.

Iranian officials have previously rejected claims they were involved in the attack, which involved a powerful strike to the ship’s side. Iran has not issued further statements while Seoul continues its investigation.

Shortly after the incident occurred, the U.S. President said Iran had attacked the South Korean ship and called on Seoul to participate in American-led initiatives to protect maritime traffic in the strait.

Demonstrations erupted across several areas of Cuba’s capital city on Wednesday night as residents expressed their anger over recurring electrical blackouts by banging pots and pans in the streets, a Reuters witness reported.

The protests took place in various neighborhoods throughout Havana despite a heavy police presence in the area. Hundreds of people participated in the demonstrations, voicing their frustration with the ongoing power outages that have been affecting the city.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian officials report that Russian forces unleashed a devastating aerial bombardment on the nation’s capital during the early hours of Thursday, wounding a minimum of four civilians.

The head of Kyiv’s Military Administration Tymur Tkachenko confirmed that destruction occurred throughout six separate districts of the city. Tkachenko stated that Russian forces were launching both ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft against the capital, causing harm to homes and essential infrastructure.

The Darnytsia district experienced severe devastation when a multi-level apartment complex suffered a partial collapse, creating a split through the middle of the structure and trapping residents beneath debris. Ukraine’s Emergency Service reported successfully pulling at least 10 individuals from the wreckage.

Rescue teams worked at the location to locate additional survivors while smoke from the bombardment continued rising from the debris pile.

Tkachenko reported that in the Dnieper district, an unmanned aircraft struck the top of a five-floor apartment building. Additional structural damage occurred to another building located in the Dniprovskyi district.

Residents throughout the capital heard multiple explosions during the early morning hours of Thursday.

This assault occurred just hours following an unusual midday strike on Kyiv that resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy stated that the previous attack utilized no fewer than 800 drones. He described the multi-hour bombardment as designed to inflict maximum “pain and grief” on the population.

Visual documentation has surfaced showing diplomatic discussions between former President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to China.

The images capture moments from high-level conversations between the two world leaders, providing a glimpse into international diplomatic proceedings.

The photographs document the meeting between the American and Chinese officials during the official visit.

Cuba’s energy minister announced Wednesday that the Caribbean nation has completely depleted its diesel and fuel oil supplies, leaving the capital experiencing the most severe power outages in decades as U.S. sanctions continue to restrict fuel imports to the island.

“We have absolutely no fuel (oil), and absolutely no diesel,” Energy Minister Vicente de la O stated during a government media appearance, describing the national power system as being in a “critical” condition. “We have no reserves.”

The minister reported that power outages have intensified significantly over recent weeks throughout Havana, with numerous districts experiencing darkness for 20 to 22 hours each day. This development adds to the mounting difficulties facing residents who are already dealing with severe shortages of food, fuel and medical supplies.

According to de la O, the country’s electrical system is now running exclusively on domestic crude oil, natural gas and renewable energy sources.

While Cuba has added 1,300 megawatts of solar energy capacity during the previous two years, much of this power generation is being lost due to electrical grid instability caused by the fuel crisis, the minister explained, which diminishes both efficiency and total power output.

The nation’s leading energy official indicated that Cuba is continuing efforts to secure fuel imports despite the sanctions, though he noted that increasing worldwide oil costs and shipping expenses related to the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran are creating additional complications for these procurement efforts.

“Cuba is open to anyone that wants to sell us fuel,” the minister stated.

Both Mexico and Venezuela, which previously served as major oil suppliers to Cuba, have halted fuel shipments to the island following an executive order issued in January 2026 that threatens tariffs against any nation providing fuel to the communist-governed country.

Since December, only one major oil vessel, the Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin, has successfully delivered crude oil to Cuba, offering brief assistance to the island during April.

These latest power disruptions in Havana and other areas occur as the U.S. fuel embargo against Cuba reaches its fourth month, severely impacting public services throughout the Caribbean island home to nearly 10 million residents.

The United Nations recently condemned the fuel blockade as illegal, stating it has hindered the “Cuban people’s right to development while undermining their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation.”

The leaders of the United States and China began their highly anticipated summit Thursday in Beijing, with observers predicting limited progress on major disputes involving Iran conflict, commercial relations, technology issues and Taiwan.

Trump hopes to focus talks on trade and deals for China to buy more agricultural products and passenger planes, setting up a board to address their differences and avoid a repeat of the trade war ignited last year after Trump’s tariff hikes.

Xi will likely bring up America’s decision to sell weapons to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory. Trump in December authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan, but has not yet moved forward with delivery.

The primary objective for the two-day diplomatic gathering centers on maintaining stability between the nations. Trump plans to depart Friday afternoon following a final private session with Xi.

The ongoing Iran conflict will probably feature prominently in discussions. Before the meetings began, Trump had hoped China would leverage its significant influence to pressure Iran into accepting American conditions to end the two-month conflict or reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, though he has moderated those expectations before the summit.

Trump touched down in Beijing Wednesday evening, with formal summit activities commencing Thursday.

China’s leader will formally receive Trump in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People, followed by official discussions between the two nations.

Cultural activities are also planned, including a stop at the Temple of Heaven, before concluding the day with a formal state dinner.

While the visit promises elaborate ceremony and symbolic gestures, neither country has revealed specific outcomes Trump might achieve from the meetings.

BEIJING (AP) — President Donald Trump began Thursday’s activities marking the most intensive phase of his China visit, engaging in a summit anticipated to showcase elaborate ceremonies and symbolic gestures while offering limited prospects for significant advances on critical matters including trade disputes, U.S.-Taiwan relations, or the conflict in Iran.

Trump’s arrival Wednesday evening featured an ornate welcoming ceremony, with his convoy passing beneath numerous American and Chinese flags while skyscrapers displayed illuminated Chinese text proclaiming “Beijing Welcome.” Following the reception, the Republican leader proceeded to his accommodations without scheduled public appearances.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping was scheduled to conduct meetings with Trump Thursday at the Great Hall of the People, which serves as a legislative headquarters for the communist administration and hosts significant cultural and social gatherings on Tiananmen Square’s western edge.

Their bilateral discussions will precede Trump’s visit to the Temple of Heaven — a 15th-century religious site representing the connection between celestial and earthly realms. Both leaders will participate in a formal state dinner.

Friday’s agenda includes planned working sessions over tea and lunch between Trump and Xi.

White House representatives have maintained that Trump’s journey aims to achieve tangible outcomes, indicating potential announcements regarding trade matters, possibly including Chinese agreements to purchase American soybeans, beef, and aircraft. Administration officials also seek to establish a Board of Trade with China for addressing commercial disputes between the nations.

However, both governments have not provided specific details about potential outcomes from the three-day diplomatic mission, particularly as Beijing’s strong economic connections to Iran may create complications.

The president’s Beijing visit occurs while Iran continues influencing his domestic priorities and raising concerns about potential U.S. economic weakness during the election period preceding November’s midterm elections — where Republicans aim to retain Congressional control.

The U.S. and Israel’s conflict with Iran has resulted in the practical shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving oil and natural gas vessels stranded and causing energy costs to surge, threatening worldwide economic stability.

Extended time with Xi — particularly amid spectacular settings — will provide substantial opportunity for Trump to address multiple challenging subjects. These encompass Iran and trade issues, along with Taiwan and potential three-nation nuclear weapons agreements involving Washington, Beijing, and Russia.

Nevertheless, advancement beyond diplomatic courtesies — and extensive mutual praise between Trump and Xi, who have publicly exchanged effusive compliments for years — may prove difficult to achieve.

“Neither side will make much progress on the two major foreign policy issues,” predicted Jim Lewis, a tech policy fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. “Trump will press the Chinese to help him on Iran. They’ll be unwilling. The Chinese will press Trump to make concessions on Taiwan. We’ll see what we get out of that.”

In Washington, war politics became more complex Wednesday when Senate Republicans again prevented Democratic legislation aimed at ending Iranian hostilities — though Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski opposed her party, becoming the third Republican senator voting against continuing the conflict.

China purchases the most Iranian oil globally, yet Trump has minimized suggestions that he will pressure Xi to increase efforts against Iran regarding strait reopening — despite White House officials indicating he will privately advocate this position to China’s leader.

The president also states that U.S. economic pressures will not weaken American negotiating positions with Iran during the current fragile ceasefire. When asked while departing the White House whether ordinary Americans’ financial stability influences Iranian negotiations, Trump replied, “Not even a little bit.”

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump stated, suggesting that “every American understands” this stance.

The administration has struggled maintaining consistent messaging regarding inflation and warfare.

Vice President JD Vance emphasized at Wednesday’s news conference that Trump remained “laser focused” on inflation while disputing Trump’s statements that U.S. economic concerns were irrelevant to war resolution.

“Well, I don’t think the president said that,” Vance responded when questioned about the remarks. “I think that’s a misrepresentation of what the president said.”

Taiwan’s situation remains prominent, given China’s displeasure with U.S. weapons sales to the self-governing island that Chinese authorities consider part of their territory.

The Trump administration approved an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan while delaying delivery. Trump has also shown increased uncertainty regarding Taiwan — raising questions about potential reduced support for the island democracy.

Taiwan leads global chip manufacturing, creating components vital for artificial intelligence development. Trump has pursued trade agreements with Taiwan to encourage domestic chip production.

Trump personally contacted Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, inviting him aboard Air Force One during an Alaska refueling stop en route to Beijing — joining numerous CEOs from technology, defense, finance, and agriculture sectors in the delegation. Additional officials include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with Trump’s son Eric and daughter-in-law Lara Trump.

Elon Musk, the SpaceX leader who previously directed Trump’s federal workforce reduction efforts, also traveled to China.

The U.S. and China established a trade agreement last year that reduced mutual tariff threats. White House sources report ongoing discussions and shared interest in extending this arrangement, though announcement timing during Trump’s visit remains uncertain.

Trump indicated he will request Xi provide American companies increased Chinese market access, encouraging his counterpart to “‘open up’ China so that these brilliant people can work their magic.” He also seeks extending agreements allowing continued Chinese rare earth mineral exports to the U.S., encouraging China to avoid limiting global supplies in response to Trump’s threatened tariffs.

Senior American officials have stated Trump will propose U.S., China, and Russia signing agreements limiting each nation’s nuclear weapon stockpiles — a concept Beijing has previously questioned.

Political opposition leaders in the Dominican Republic voiced strong criticism Wednesday regarding a newly signed pact with the United States that would allow the Caribbean nation to temporarily house deportees from other countries, arguing the arrangement compromises national sovereignty and lacks sufficient transparency.

The Dominican Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that the non-binding memorandum of understanding would permit the country to temporarily accept a restricted number of third-country nationals who have clean criminal backgrounds before they are sent back to their nations of origin.

This arrangement represents the most recent in a series of similar pacts between the Trump administration and various nations across Latin America and Africa, which have faced widespread criticism. These third-country deportation programs, requiring millions in funding, form part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy that involves sending migrants to nations other than their countries of origin.

“This agreement represents a surrender of our national sovereignty,” Manolo Pichardo, from the opposition Fuerza del Pueblo party, told The Associated Press.

“It subordinates Dominican interests to the geopolitical priorities of major Western powers and their strategic allies,” Pichardo added.

Former Dominican Foreign Minister Andrés Navarro raised concerns about the apparent secrecy surrounding the pact and urged the government to release the complete memorandum so citizens can fully comprehend its implications.

“What has been published says practically nothing,” Navarro said Tuesday.

Navarro explained that although he backs maintaining and enhancing ties with the U.S., he seeks assurance that the pact won’t compromise Dominican sovereignty.

The Dominican Foreign Ministry maintained the pact “will be carried out in accordance with national law and the country’s international obligations, without altering Dominican immigration policy or current border control and management procedures.”

The ministry stressed that the arrangement excludes children and nationals from neighboring Haiti, which occupies the same Caribbean island of Hispaniola alongside the Dominican Republic.

The U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Campos, stated on Instagram that “this short-term memorandum of understanding allows the United States to remove and repatriate third-country nationals more quickly, while respecting Dominican law, the country’s sovereignty, and current border procedures.”

She highlighted that the U.S. is working alongside the Dominican Republic to address transnational crime and drug trafficking, combat terrorism, and advance regional stability and prosperity.

Search teams from Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces working alongside U.S. military personnel have recovered the remains of a second American service member who disappeared during joint training exercises in southern Morocco, officials announced Thursday.

According to a social media statement from Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces, the servicewoman’s body was discovered on May 12 at a rocky cliff location in the Cap Draa region after extensive search and rescue operations.

Both American military personnel had been participating in the African Lion joint training exercises when they were reported missing near Tan Tan in Morocco’s southern region on May 2, according to U.S. and Moroccan military officials. The first soldier’s remains were found and recovered near a cliff in the Cap Draa area on Sunday, the U.S. Army confirmed.

President Donald Trump is conducting high-stakes discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing this Thursday, working to achieve economic victories, preserve a delicate trade agreement, and address complex challenges including the Iran conflict and weapons sales to Taiwan.

The president’s highly watched journey to China – his first presidential visit to America’s primary strategic competitor since 2017 – carries heightened importance as his public approval numbers have suffered due to the Iranian conflict.

Trump’s delegation includes business leaders such as Elon Musk and Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang, who joined the presidential aircraft during a fuel stop in Alaska at Trump’s invitation.

Several of these business executives, including Huang and Musk, hope to address their concerns with China, and Trump has indicated he will press Xi to make China more accessible to American companies.

However, the balance of influence has changed since Trump’s 2017 visit when China made extraordinary efforts to impress Trump and purchase American products worth billions, according to Ali Wyne, senior advisor for U.S.-China relations at International Crisis Group.

During that earlier period “China was trying to persuade the United States of its growing status… This time around it’s the United States, unprompted, of its own volition, that is acknowledging that status,” Wyne explained, noting that Trump brought back the term ‘G2’, describing a superpower partnership, during his October meeting with Xi at an APEC gathering in South Korea.

The leaders’ agenda includes extensive interaction time: discussions at The Great Hall of the People, a visit to the UNESCO heritage site Temple of Heaven, and a formal state dinner on Thursday, followed by tea and lunch on Friday, the White House announced.

However, Trump approaches these negotiations from a position of reduced strength.

American judicial decisions have limited his authority to impose tariffs freely on Chinese and other foreign exports. The Iran conflict has also increased domestic inflation and raised the possibility that Trump’s Republican Party could lose control of one or both congressional chambers in November’s midterm voting.

While China’s economy has struggled, Xi doesn’t confront similar economic or political challenges.

Despite these tensions, both nations want to preserve the trade agreement reached last October, where Trump postponed massive tariffs on Chinese products and Xi stepped back from restricting global rare earth supplies, which are essential for manufacturing everything from electric vehicles to military equipment.

The leaders are also anticipated to explore mechanisms for supporting bilateral trade and investment, plus discussions on artificial intelligence matters.

The United States hopes to export Boeing aircraft, agricultural products, and energy resources to China to reduce a trade imbalance that has long frustrated Trump, while China seeks American relaxation of restrictions on chipmaking technology and sophisticated semiconductors, according to planning officials.

Beyond trade issues, Trump is expected to ask China to persuade Tehran to negotiate with Washington to resolve the conflict. However, experts question whether Xi will pressure Tehran significantly or withdraw support for its military, considering Iran’s importance to Beijing as a strategic balance against American influence.

For Xi, American weapon sales to Taiwan, the democratically governed territory that China claims, represents a primary concern.

China restated its firm opposition to these sales on Wednesday, with the fate of a $14-billion package pending Trump’s decision remaining uncertain. American law requires providing Taiwan with defensive capabilities, despite the absence of official diplomatic relations.

“Trump doesn’t really have that many of the cards to play. But I don’t think that Trump actually sees the situation that way,” said Ronan Fu, an assistant research fellow at Taiwan’s top government think tank Academia Sinica.

“I don’t think that Trump is going to just let Beijing basically ask for whatever they want and then the US will make any concession that Beijing requests.”

Xi has a return visit provisionally scheduled for later this year, which would mark his first trip to the United States since Trump returned to office in 2025.

Violent confrontations in a region of southern Sudan have claimed the lives of more than 61 individuals, including nine children, according to a local medical organization that reported the casualties Wednesday. The deadly fighting represents another chapter in the broader civil war that has devastated the African nation since 2023.

The Sudan Doctors Network, an organization that tracks casualties from the ongoing conflict, reported that the violence began earlier this month in Kauda, located in South Kordofan. The battles have pitted forces associated with the rebel organization Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North against members of the Otoro tribe.

The leader of the SPLM-N, Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has formed an alliance with the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which is currently engaged in combat against Sudan’s military forces.

The nation’s conflict, now entering its fourth year, has resulted in military control over northern, eastern and central territories, including the country’s Red Sea ports and oil infrastructure. The RSF paramilitary forces and their allies maintain control over the western Darfur area and portions of the Kordofan region near the South Sudan border, both areas containing valuable oil deposits and gold mining operations.

The SPLM-N under al-Hilu’s leadership has maintained operations in South Kordofan and has participated in a regional government established by the RSF paramilitaries.

The SPLM-N represents a splinter group from the SPLM, which serves as the governing party in neighboring South Sudan. The Otoro tribe represents a minority community within the Nuba Mountains area of South Kordofan.

Sudan’s civil war began in April 2023 following escalating tensions between military and RSF forces that exploded into full-scale warfare. The fighting has resulted in at least 59,000 deaths, forced approximately 13 million people from their homes, and created famine conditions across large areas. More than 30 million citizens require humanitarian aid.

The medical organization’s report indicated that survivor accounts collected by their South Kordofan team revealed that five women and nine children were among the fatalities during the two-week period.

Mohamed Elsheikh, the group’s spokesperson, told The Associated Press that poor communication has made it difficult to verify the full toll, which is likely higher as the clashes continue.

The medical group additionally reported that SPLM-N combatants destroyed residential buildings and commercial establishments while stealing property. Survivors allegedly informed the organization that civilians were “indiscriminately targeted.”

The organization also issued warnings about “systematic burning” and civilian attacks in areas surrounding Kauda, noting the absence of safe evacuation routes for injured people or aid delivery.

The SPLM-N did not immediately respond to request for comments.

In Dilling, another town in South Kordofan, artillery shelling by the RSF on Tuesday killed seven people and wounded 17, according to a local hospital. Umm Bakhita Hospital director Omran Teia in Dilling told the AP that civilians were targeted by the paramilitary and SPLM-N.

Both opposing forces in Sudan’s conflict have faced accusations from the United Nations and human rights organizations of committing serious crimes, including ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial killings and sexual violence against civilians. Humanitarian organizations indicate the actual casualty count could be significantly higher due to restricted access to combat zones throughout the expansive country.

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian senator running for president has dismissed accusations of impropriety following reports that he sought millions in funding from an incarcerated banker at the heart of a corruption investigation, a development that may damage his anticipated October campaign against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Intercept Brazil released audio recordings on Wednesday showing Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro requesting 61 million reais ($12 million) from Daniel Vorcaro for financing “The Dark Horse,” a film project about his imprisoned father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Vorcaro previously led the now-closed Banco Master and faces allegations in a widespread fraud investigation that has implicated numerous high-level Brazilian officials this year. Authorities accuse him of swindling bank customers out of millions through fraudulent investment schemes. Federal police and the Supreme Court continue investigating the matter.

The senator stood by his actions in response to the revelations.

“Our case is of a son seeking PRIVATE sponsorship for a PRIVATE film about his father’s story. No public money,” Flávio Bolsonaro said in a statement. “I did not offer any (illegal) advantages in exchange. I did not have private encounters. I did not intermediate business with the government. I did not receive money.”

Political analyst Thomas Traumann warned the disclosure could damage Bolsonaro’s campaign as his Liberal Party prepares for its nominating convention.

“As Flávio Bolsonaro is an unknown politician whose biggest asset is being son of the former president, a scandal like this could have a devastating impact,” Traumann said. “(Flávio Bolsonaro’s) asking for money and showing intimacy with a banker who is under police investigation for fraud could force Brazil’s opposition of changing its candidate to keep its chances.”

According to The Intercept Brazil’s report, Bolsonaro contacted Vorcaro in October. The banker was taken into custody in March and has attempted to negotiate a cooperation agreement with prosecutors.

Brazilian banking regulators closed Banco Master, which held assets exceeding $16 billion, in November.

Following the scandal’s emergence, Flávio Bolsonaro and his supporters have claimed without proof that Lula should be blamed for the situation; federal investigators have found no connections between Vorcaro and the current government. This week, Sen. Ciro Nogueira, a former chief-of-staff for Jair Bolsonaro, disputed news reports claiming he regularly received payments from Vorcaro for his support.

WASHINGTON, May 13 – America is working to persuade China to take a more significant role in encouraging Iran to abandon its current activities in the Gulf region, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a television appearance Wednesday.

Rubio shared these remarks while speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity in a broadcast interview.

Deportations from the United States to El Salvador have surged dramatically in early 2026, with official data showing removals have nearly doubled compared to the previous year, as the Central American nation’s leader has emerged as a willing partner in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement priorities.

According to migration authority statistics obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, 5,033 Salvadorans were removed to their homeland during the first quarter of 2026, a stark jump from the 2,547 individuals deported in the corresponding timeframe of 2025.

This represents an almost 98% spike coinciding with the Trump administration’s expansion of removal flights worldwide. International deportation operations from the United States increased by approximately 61% from 2024 to 2025, based on information gathered by the Asociación Agenda Migrante El Salvador, known as AAMES, along with other advocacy groups.

Since the United States has ceased routine publication of deportation statistics, researchers are now depending on alternative data sources from receiving nations such as El Salvador, flight tracking information, and other metrics.

“This confirms a real hardening of the U.S. immigration system toward the region,” stated César Ríos of AAMES regarding the dramatic rise in removals.

The escalation occurs as the tough-on-crime leader has worked to position himself alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, while the American government has secured partnerships throughout Latin America to advance its immigration agenda. Although Mexico and fellow Central American countries have quietly received deportees from third nations, the Salvadoran president has openly championed Trump’s regional initiatives.

Most prominently in March 2025, the leader accepted 238 Venezuelan deportees allegedly linked to the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, confining them in a massive detention facility constructed for suspected gang affiliates as part of his comprehensive anti-gang campaign. This action sparked extensive human rights violation allegations.

The international controversy emerged following an arrangement between Trump’s administration and the Salvadoran government to accept what officials characterized as the transfer and detention of foreign criminals to El Salvador. The agreement provided El Salvador with $6 million from the United States.

In April, the Trump administration erroneously deported Maryland resident and Salvadoran citizen Kilmar Abrego García, who held protected status in the United States, creating another legal and political controversy. The Salvadoran leader initially declined to return Abrego García and rejected accusations of physical abuse and torture — practices that human rights organizations have extensively documented in Salvadoran detention facilities.

Abrego García was subsequently returned to the United States in June to confront charges alleging he facilitated illegal immigration, accusations his legal team describes as “baseless.” He has entered a not guilty plea and requested case dismissal while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced intentions to deport him to Liberia.

More recently, the Salvadoran president joined other conservative Trump supporters in an alliance Trump named the Shield of the Americas, ostensibly designed to combat criminal organizations across Latin America, despite the absence of two crucial nations in such efforts — Mexico and Colombia — who declined participation.

Simultaneously, numerous migrants in the United States are monitoring U.S. Supreme Court proceedings as Trump attempts to eliminate protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants from Haiti and Syria, a development concerning the more than 200,000 Salvadoran migrants with temporary protected status who fear similar consequences.

The Salvadoran leader has assisted U.S. immigration objectives even prior to Trump taking office.

In 2023, El Salvador’s administration implemented a $1,130 charge on travelers from dozens of nations transiting through the country’s primary airport, responding to Biden administration pressure to help limit migrant movement toward the United States’ southern border. Concurrently, emigration from El Salvador, driven by gang violence and economic hardship, decreased following the controversial anti-gang offensive.

Policy experts noted that the government leveraged reduced migration numbers as negotiating leverage to counter U.S. human rights criticisms.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis claimed victory for his Progressive Liberal Party on Tuesday evening, earning a second consecutive term in a snap parliamentary election.

Speaking to supporters at a celebration event in Nassau late Tuesday night, Davis emphasized that the electoral success represented more than just a political win for his party, but a triumph for the nation as a whole.

“To Bahamians who voted today, but did not vote for us, I want you to know I’ve listened to you, I’ve heard you and I want you to know that I will continue to work hard for all Bahamians,” Davis told the crowd, standing alongside his wife, Ann Marie, and top party leadership.

Local news outlets reported the PLP appeared positioned to capture over 30 seats out of the 41 available in parliament during Tuesday’s voting. Complete official tallies had not yet been made public.

The outcome represents the first instance of a political party achieving consecutive general election victories in the island nation since 1997.

Davis had already received a concession call from Michael Pintard, the leader of the opposing Free National Movement, before making his victory speech.

Speaking to FNM supporters at party headquarters on election evening, Pintard acknowledged the electoral outcome and said his party respected the voters’ decision.

“The Bahamian people made their choice, in a democracy that is the only voice that ultimately matters,” Pintard stated.

Several Caribbean leaders offered congratulations to Davis following his reelection, including Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, both of whom recently won new terms in their own countries within the past year. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended congratulations on the victory.

This election cycle featured the inaugural voting for representatives from two newly established constituencies: St. James and Bimini and the Berry Islands. The addition of these districts expanded the total parliamentary representation from 39 to 41 seats.

During the prior general election in September 2021, the PLP secured 32 of the available 39 seats, while the FNM claimed the remaining seven positions.

Campaign discussions in the weeks before the election centered on several major concerns, including healthcare system conditions, public safety and crime levels, rising living expenses, and immigration policy matters.

Multiple international organizations deployed election monitoring teams to observe the voting process. The Commonwealth, Organization of American States, U.S. government, and regional partnership CARICOM all sent official observers to oversee the election.

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition introduced legislation Wednesday to dissolve parliament, marking the initial formal move toward calling new elections this year.

The legislation paves the way for an official parliamentary vote to dissolve the body and set a date for new elections. Reports from Israeli media outlets indicate the preliminary vote could take place as early as next week.

Netanyahu’s governing coalition is approaching the conclusion of its four-year mandate and is required to conduct new elections no later than the end of October. However, several of Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox coalition partners have pressed him to move the election date earlier to the beginning of September.

The legislation specifies that elections must occur “no less than 90 days” following its passage, providing Netanyahu with the ability to select a timing that maximizes his chances of electoral success.

The current coalition has governed during a particularly challenging period that encompassed the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and subsequent military conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Recent polling data suggests the coalition, which consists of religious and nationalist parties, may face difficulties securing reelection.

QUETTA, Pakistan — Deadly confrontations between security forces and insurgents in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province claimed the lives of five military personnel, including an army major, officials announced Wednesday. A banned separatist organization took credit for initiating the attack on government troops.

Military officials reported that security forces had begun operations in Barkhan district to eliminate insurgent fighters that the government in Islamabad alleges receive support from India. The prohibited separatist group known as the Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, released a statement claiming its members had launched an assault on the troops, which led to intense gunfire.

The military confirmed that an army major was among those killed in action, while also reporting that seven militants died during the confrontation.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s most expansive yet sparsely populated province, is rich in natural resources but has endured ongoing violence from separatist movements and assaults by the Pakistani Taliban. The BLA, which received a terrorist designation from the United States in 2019, has conducted multiple strikes against both security personnel and civilians throughout the region in recent years.

Military officials referred to the deceased militants as participants in “Fitna al-Hindustan,” terminology that Pakistani officials apply to insurgents they claim receive Indian backing.

India has consistently rejected accusations that it provides assistance to militant organizations operating within Pakistan.

Security officials reported Wednesday that an unmanned aircraft attacked a facility housing Iranian opposition members located north of Erbil in Iraq.

According to the sources, the strike specifically targeted a weapons storage facility within the compound.

Officials indicated there were no reported deaths from the attack.

Iranian officials carried out the execution Wednesday of a man who had been found guilty of fatally stabbing a police officer with multiple wounds during countrywide demonstrations that took place in early 2026, according to reports from the semi-official Fars news agency.

The rights organization HRANA stated in their report that a legal representative claimed officials prevented independent attorneys from representing the defendant in his case.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his African tour on Wednesday with discussions in Ethiopia focusing on the long-debated issue of giving Africa a voice on the U.N. Security Council.

The French leader met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed before sitting down with African Union Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to talk about making international governance more inclusive.

According to a meeting summary, the officials “recognized the need for African representation.”

Macron’s African journey took him through Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia, where he advocated for greater African participation in global institutions like the U.N. Security Council.

Speaking at the Africa Forward Summit, which France and Kenya jointly organized and marked the first time the event was held in an English-speaking nation, Macron acknowledged Africa’s need for permanent council positions.

The summit concluded with a peace and security statement that emphasized “the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the U.N. Security Council to make it more effective and representative.”

African nations have long pushed for permanent membership based on current global demographics, with continental organizations pointing out that a continent with over 1.4 billion residents lacks permanent decision-making authority.

Guterres stated Wednesday that global affairs would improve with a more inclusive U.N. Security Council.

“A Security Council that today does not represent geographically the realities of the world. We have three European permanent members, one North American and one Asian. No Latin American, no African is obviously a Security Council that has a problem of legitimacy, and that brings with it a problem of effectiveness,” he said.

Following Macron’s meeting with Abiy, officials revealed a new $63.9 million loan agreement to support Ethiopia’s renewable energy initiatives and digital transformation efforts.

At the Africa Forward Summit, Macron announced that French government and private investors would commit $27 billion in funding to promote sustainable development throughout the continent.

LONDON – A ceremonial elephant wasn’t part of Wednesday’s State Opening of Parliament in Britain, but a metaphorical one dominated the proceedings as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced an escalating leadership crisis.

The traditional parliamentary ceremony unfolded against the backdrop of mounting pressure on Starmer to step down, with speculation swirling that a leadership challenge could remove him from office before summer arrives and derail his newly established governmental agenda.

Following significant defeats for his Labour Party in recent local and regional voting, Starmer had endured increasing demands for his resignation and hoped the ceremonial event featuring King Charles would help him regain control and “get on with the job of changing our country for the better.”

CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE PM

An already demanding day – requiring Starmer to interact publicly with political adversaries who had been celebrating his difficulties – became more complicated around 1000 GMT when troubling news emerged.

Reports from The Times indicated that Wes Streeting, Starmer’s health minister and considered his most formidable potential challenger, was preparing to step down and initiate a leadership battle.

This development occurred as King Charles, wearing full ceremonial military attire alongside Queen Camilla, was still traveling to parliament in the royal carriage.

Representatives for Streeting declined immediate comment, though they had previously stated he preferred not to overshadow the King’s Speech.

CEREMONY CONTINUES DESPITE TURMOIL

Shortly afterward, Starmer guided a group of legislators from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, participating in the elaborate, time-honored tradition of parliamentary reopening that occurs annually.

During the formal door-knocking portion of the ceremony, one legislator quipped “Not now, Andy,” referencing Andy Burnham, another potential leadership contender who serves as mayor of Greater Manchester and therefore couldn’t participate in the proceedings.

Camera coverage captured the prime minister engaging in awkward conversation with Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party’s opposition leader, who had recently suggested on social media that Starmer would be fortunate to remain in office for two weeks, much less two years.

Members of his own party – nearly 25 percent of whom reportedly want his resignation – walked behind him during the procession.

King Charles subsequently delivered remarks prepared by Starmer’s administration, outlining their objectives for the coming year.

The monarch concluded his address by saying: “I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that the leader conducted a covert trip to the United Arab Emirates while the Iran conflict was underway.

During his time there, Netanyahu held discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to a statement from the Israeli leader’s office. The statement indicated that the trip “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”

This disclosure follows Tuesday’s revelation by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee that Israel had provided Iron Dome air-defense systems to the UAE, complete with Israeli personnel to manage their operation.

UAE officials have not issued any statement regarding the alleged visit from the Israeli Prime Minister.

Mexico’s national oil company Pemex announced Wednesday that an employee who was hurt in a refinery blast has died from his injuries. The worker passed away Tuesday night while being transported to receive medical treatment, according to a company statement.

According to Mexican publication Milenio, the Pemex employee Victor Hugo Lopez Matus sustained severe third-degree burns across 80% of his body when an explosion occurred in the cooling tower at the Hidros II facility, based on medical documentation.

The oil company’s official statement did not verify the worker’s name. Pemex has not yet responded to requests for additional information.

On Monday night, Pemex acknowledged that flames erupted in a cooling tower within the 325,000-barrel-per-day facility located at the Port of Salina Cruz in Oaxaca, stating the blaze had been completely put out.

The corporation reported that six individuals sustained injuries and were transported for hospital care.

Mexico’s state-owned oil enterprise was compelled to temporarily halt operations at the refinery following Monday’s fire incident, based on information from a knowledgeable source and industry tracking service IIR Energy.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected media reports on Wednesday suggesting the CIA conducted lethal operations within Mexico, claiming the U.S. news outlet was trying to “hurt the government and the people of Mexico.”

The controversy began when CNN published a story Tuesday alleging the CIA helped orchestrate a targeted killing of a Sinaloa cartel member on a highway near Mexico City, sparking intense debate in Mexico. The New York Times subsequently reported that Mexican security forces executed the operation while the CIA offered planning assistance and support.

Sheinbaum dismissed the CNN story as a “lie.” When questioned about The New York Times account during her daily morning briefing, she described it as “a fiction the size of the universe.”

CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons also criticized the CNN coverage, writing on X that “this is false and salacious reporting that serves as nothing more than a PR campaign for the cartels and puts American lives at risk.”

CNN has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Unlike her political mentor and former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently targeted journalists during his morning briefings and even publicly exposed personal information of critical reporters, Sheinbaum has adopted a more restrained approach when facing media criticism.

However, the current president has faced multiple controversies involving the United States recently as she works to balance maintaining positive relations with Washington while renegotiating trade agreements and responding to President Donald Trump’s threats regarding cartel enforcement.

Sheinbaum has emphasized Mexico’s independence, though this position faces growing scrutiny.

In the previous month, two CIA operatives died in a vehicle accident alongside Mexican investigators while returning from a counter-narcotics mission in Chihuahua, a northern state. Sheinbaum stated she was unaware of the operation, and both Mexican and U.S. officials provided conflicting information for several days.

One week following that incident, a New York court filed charges against Sinaloa’s governor – a senior member of Sheinbaum’s political party and Lopez Obrador supporter – for drug trafficking and weapons violations, alleging involvement in large-scale illegal drug smuggling into the United States.

Syria and the United Arab Emirates unveiled an ambitious $50 billion economic partnership on Monday, May 11, marking what officials called a pivotal moment in Syria’s rebuilding process and a new era of Arab-led investment in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The massive investment plan was revealed during the inaugural Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum held in Damascus, featuring a high-ranking UAE delegation headed by Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and prominent business leaders, including Eagle Hills founder Mohamed Alabbar.

During the forum’s opening session, Al Zeyoudi detailed the UAE’s strategic vision, stating the initiative seeks to “advance bilateral relations across investment and trade sectors in a manner that serves the shared interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples.” He emphasized to Syrian officials and business leaders that the UAE views “economic integration and direct dialogue remain the optimal path toward sustainable growth.”

Syrian officials welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm. Dr. Mohammad Nidal al-Shaar, Syria’s Minister of Economy and Industry, characterized the forum as “a restoration of trust and natural communication between brothers.” He praised the UAE’s development approach, telling attendees: “What we see in the UAE is the result of genuine effort and vision. We seek to benefit from an experience that turns the impossible into reality.”

Al-Shaar also pledged government backing for the initiative, promising full support for UAE projects and describing modern Syria as “a major investment opportunity and a platform for launching toward the future.”

Alabbar captured significant attention when he revealed Eagle Hills’ plans for extensive urban development and logistics projects worth $50 billion. He told forum participants the region is “undergoing a very major political transformation,” explaining this shift has given investors confidence to commit substantial funding that matches Syria’s historical importance and its people’s hopes.

The comprehensive investment strategy encompasses building modern smart cities in Damascus and Latakia, delivering over 100,000 housing units, plus renovating critical infrastructure including airports in Latakia, Qamishli, and Deir ez-Zor. The overarching objective involves establishing Syria as a logistics center connecting the Arabian Gulf with the Mediterranean Sea.

This forum represents the culmination of Abu Dhabi’s gradual diplomatic approach spanning several years. Political observers highlight Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s April visit to the UAE as the crucial political endorsement that enabled major Emirati corporations to move forward with implementation.

The UAE’s Syrian community, numbering approximately 250,000 residents, is playing a vital role as a conduit for expertise and capital transfer. Mahmoud al-Dharawi, deputy head of the Syrian Economic Forum for Development, declared that Syria has become “a major investment opportunity” with the potential to attract long-term strategic partners.

While challenges persist regarding international financing systems and ongoing sanctions impacts, the substantial Emirati presence in Damascus delivers what experts call a clear message: economic considerations may ultimately prevail over political reluctance.

Success of this multi-billion dollar collaboration would extend beyond reconstructing Syria’s physical infrastructure. It could transform the power dynamics throughout the eastern Arab world by positioning economics as the sole reliable foundation for regional stability, proving that development and mutual economic benefits might achieve what years of warfare could not.

As the forum wrapped up, it became evident that Damascus and Abu Dhabi aim to create a new chapter in regional history—one based on the principle that lasting partnerships are built through economic integration and development, potentially restoring Syria’s traditional position as a commercial and investment hub in the Arab world.

The relationship between Syria and the UAE has evolved through multiple significant phases. Dating back to Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s leadership, the UAE has supported Syrian development initiatives, while Dubai and Sharjah became important centers for Syrian business communities starting in the 1990s.

Although diplomatic relations cooled following the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Abu Dhabi maintained relatively positive ties with Damascus before beginning what observers termed “active engagement” in 2018. This trajectory gained momentum after the catastrophic February 2023 earthquake, when UAE humanitarian assistance became a diplomatic bridge that facilitated Syria’s reintegration—under former President Bashar Assad—into the Arab League.

Current bilateral goals extend well beyond real estate development into strategic logistics cooperation. Forum discussions explored opportunities for investing in and managing airports in Latakia, Qamishli, and Deir ez-Zor, as part of broader efforts to reconnect Syria with international trade networks.

Given the substantial Syrian expatriate community in the UAE, representing approximately 68% of Syria’s educated workforce living abroad according to economic analysts, many experts anticipate this partnership will establish a “human bridge” that could accelerate the return of Syrian knowledge and investment capital.

Supporters of this initiative maintain the project transcends simple reconstruction. They view it as an effort to reshape the political and economic framework of the Arab East through investment-driven stability, providing a model where development and regional collaboration replace conflict as the primary language of the future.

Israeli police fatally shot a Palestinian father of four who was trying to scale the concrete wall dividing the West Bank from Jerusalem in search of employment opportunities, Palestinian officials reported.

Palestinian health officials and the Red Crescent named the victim as 44-year-old Zakaria Qatusa from Deir Qadis, located approximately 13 miles northwest of where Tuesday night’s fatal shooting occurred in Al-Ram, a West Bank community adjacent to the barrier.

Israeli police have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the deadly incident. Qatusa’s funeral took place Wednesday.

According to his brother Khalid Qatusa, the deceased man was attempting to cross into Israel to find work to support his family. “He was forced to resort to this method as there was no other opportunity to meet the needs of his household and live a dignified life. This was the only way,” Khalid Qatusa explained. “He was neither an aggressor nor a threat.”

Growing numbers of West Bank Palestinians have been attempting unauthorized border crossings to seek employment in Israel in recent years. Prior to the current Israel-Hamas conflict, thousands of Palestinians possessed legal work permits for Israel, but these authorizations were severely curtailed following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The restrictions have led to skyrocketing joblessness and economic hardship throughout the West Bank, where employment opportunities have become scarce. Similar fatal shootings have occurred at this same barrier location where Al-Ram meets Beit Hanina, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

United Nations humanitarian coordination officials report that Israeli forces or settlers have killed at least 47 Palestinians as of May 11.

Medical specialists examining Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi have determined she requires extensive medical treatment following her collapse inside an Iranian detention facility more than a week ago, according to her foundation’s announcement Wednesday.

Recent angiography testing revealed severe blockages in two major arteries, with her vascular condition showing marked deterioration compared to similar testing conducted in 2024, the foundation reported.

The 53-year-old activist lost consciousness and was rushed from the prison facility to a hospital in northwestern Iran on May 1. Following her release on bail approximately 10 days afterward, she was moved to a Tehran medical facility where her regular physicians conducted thorough examinations.

Medical staff noted that her blood pressure remains unstable, partially attributed to injury affecting the brain region that controls such bodily functions.

Healthcare providers have prescribed an eight-month treatment regimen in a setting “free from external stressors, where she can receive permanent care and long-term treatment.”

Both her foundation and numerous Nobel Prize recipients worldwide have demanded Mohammadi’s complete and immediate release. The prominent human rights and women’s rights activist received the Nobel Prize in 2023 while incarcerated and has faced multiple imprisonments during her advocacy work.

Her current detention started in December following her arrest in Mashhad, located in northeastern Iran.

Family members report her physical condition had been declining while imprisoned, worsened by severe physical assault during her arrest. She experienced cardiac arrest in March and continues managing a pulmonary blood clot that predates her imprisonment, requiring blood-thinning medication and constant medical supervision.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former top aide finds himself at the center of a significant corruption investigation, as anti-corruption agencies have officially designated Andrii Yermak as a suspect in a massive financial scheme.

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have formally accused Yermak of participating in a money-laundering operation worth 460 million hryvnia, equivalent to approximately $10.5 million.

Officials clarified that President Zelenskyy himself is not considered a suspect in this investigation.

This development falls just short of filing formal charges against Yermak, who stepped down from his position in November. During his tenure, he served as Ukraine’s primary representative in negotiations with the United States and departed amid a scandal that posed the most serious challenge to Zelenskyy’s administration since Russia’s military offensive began.

Yermak has maintained a polarizing presence in Ukrainian politics. While leading Zelenskyy’s presidential office, he held significant authority within the administration, overseeing diplomatic relations with America and other Western nations, and even exploring potential cease-fire arrangements with Russia.

His formal involvement in this investigation draws the probe nearer to Zelenskyy himself, raising questions about the president’s knowledge and possible participation. A Ukrainian court conducted the initial hearing on Tuesday, with proceedings continuing throughout the week.

The relationship between Yermak and Zelenskyy dates back more than 15 years, when Yermak worked as an attorney expanding into television production while Zelenskyy gained fame as a Ukrainian entertainer and performer.

Initially handling international relations for Zelenskyy’s first presidential team, Yermak received a promotion to chief of staff in February 2020. This role positioned him as the nation’s second-most powerful official, often serving as the president’s primary advisor and gatekeeper. Political observers widely credit him with selecting key government officials, including prime ministers and cabinet members.

Zelenskyy placed considerable confidence in Yermak, bringing him along on all international travels following Russia’s February 2022 invasion. When the corruption allegations surfaced in late 2025, Zelenskyy initially withstood significant public demands to remove Yermak from his position.

The allegations against Yermak involve money laundering connected to an upscale construction development near Kyiv. His legal representative has dismissed the suspicion notice as baseless and rejected claims of Yermak’s participation in any illegal activities.

Anti-corruption investigators contend that the development served as a vehicle for laundering funds through multiple shell companies. They assert that Yermak and his associates intended to build four private estates along with additional luxury amenities.

At Tuesday’s initial court appearance, Yermak maintained his innocence regarding the accusations and stated that his possessions consist of “only one apartment and one car.”

This case represents one component of a larger investigation that anti-corruption agencies disclosed last year.

The broader $100 million bribery operation involved officials and associates within Zelenskyy’s circle and became public knowledge in November, triggering Yermak’s exit from the presidential administration.

The investigation revealed high-level officials demanding contractors pay kickbacks of up to 15% in return for construction contracts with Energoatom, the government-owned nuclear power company. The probe included more than 1,000 hours of recorded conversations featuring individuals using coded language.

Following the scheme’s public exposure, Ukraine’s parliament supported Zelenskyy’s decision to remove the energy and justice ministers. His administration imposed sanctions on close associates allegedly connected to the operation, including Tymur Mindich, a business partner in a media production company that Zelenskyy partially owned before assuming the presidency. Reports indicate Mindich has left the country.

Prosecutors have yet to determine whether any funds Yermak allegedly laundered originated from the Energoatom operation.

While not directly connected to the investigation, the probe and the involvement of a trusted ally and former chief of staff could potentially damage Zelenskyy’s reputation.

Widespread corruption remains a significant barrier preventing Ukraine’s European Union membership, which Zelenskyy actively pursues alongside continued Western assistance in countering Russia’s invasion.

The investigation has also affected current officials participating in peace discussions with the United States. Rustem Umerov, who leads Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council and plays a crucial role in American-led diplomatic initiatives, has faced questioning as part of the probe.

Zelenskyy’s presidential term technically concluded in May 2024, but he has remained in office without conducting elections, arguing they cannot occur while Russia controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.

His opponents argue that strengthening credibility with Ukraine’s Western partners is equally crucial, as their assistance remains essential for the military campaign and future conflict resolution negotiations.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A dramatic confrontation unfolded Wednesday at the Philippine Senate building, complete with gunshots and a tense standoff, as authorities attempted to arrest a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court on murder charges related to crimes against humanity.

The chaotic scenes in Manila occurred just two days after the Netherlands-based court made public an arrest warrant targeting Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, who previously headed the national police under ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and played a key role in implementing the controversial anti-drug operations that resulted in thousands of deaths among suspected low-level offenders.

The November-issued warrant accuses dela Rosa of committing murder as a crime against humanity, specifically alleging he was responsible for killing at least 32 individuals during his tenure as police commander from July 2016 through late April 2018.

The 64-year-old dela Rosa has declared his intention to challenge the ICC arrest warrant and indicated he plans to pursue every available legal option to fight the charges.

Officials from the ICC have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the Manila incident.

The Philippines withdrew from the international court in 2019 following a United Nations notification, a move that came after former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced her decision to launch a preliminary investigation into claims of extrajudicial executions during Duterte’s drug war.

Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022 after Duterte, the Philippines has not returned to ICC membership. However, the current administration has indicated it would provide assistance if the ICC requested international law enforcement to apprehend Duterte through what’s known as a red notice — essentially a global alert asking police agencies worldwide to find and provisionally detain a suspect. Officials have not confirmed whether such a notice has been issued for dela Rosa.

Duterte himself was taken into custody last year and transported to The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges connected to the lethal drug enforcement campaign. He continues to be held there while awaiting his trial proceedings.

Court judges previously dismissed an attempt by Duterte’s attorneys to have the case dismissed based on claims that the court lacked authority since the Philippines had left the organization. The court determined that nations cannot “misuse” their withdrawal rights from the Rome Statute “to protect individuals from accountability for alleged crimes already being examined,” according to the judicial decision.

Established in 2002, the international court’s mission focuses on prosecuting leaders and high-ranking officials for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. While 125 nations participate as members, three significant world powers — the United States, Russia, and China — remain outside the organization. Ukraine became an official member in January 2025.

The court employs over 900 personnel and operates on an annual budget exceeding 196 million euros, equivalent to approximately $229 million.

The ICC functions as a final judicial option, intervening only when national court systems prove incapable or unwilling to pursue legal action against suspects.

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on chief prosecutor Karim Khan, several ICC judges, and Khan’s two assistant prosecutors. Trump has criticized the court for what he calls “illegitimate and baseless actions” directed at America and Israel.

During his previous presidency, Trump also sanctioned Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda. The Biden administration later removed those sanctions.

Russia similarly rejects the court’s jurisdiction and has issued arrest warrants for Khan and the ICC judge who authorized President Vladimir Putin’s warrant.

Since his 2023 arrest warrant was issued, Putin has continued international travel, including visits to ICC member nation Mongolia, as well as trips to China and North Korea, neither of which belongs to the court.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A senior European Union energy official cautioned Wednesday that although aviation fuel supplies face no immediate danger, extended shortages remain a possibility that cannot be dismissed.

Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen informed the media that potential fuel shortages will hinge on developments in the Iran conflict and conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, along with airline industry responses after carriers such as Lufthansa’s German parent company grounded substantial numbers of flights.

Conflicts near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments travel, have interrupted supply chains and triggered worldwide fuel price increases.

Though Jørgensen stated “we’re not there yet” regarding aviation fuel shortages, he indicated that the EU’s executive branch will begin discussions with member nations “on how best to address the situation,” while declining to provide specific details.

The Iran conflict has driven jet fuel costs to more than twice their previous levels in certain markets since late February, creating particular vulnerability for airlines since fuel expenses represent a substantial portion of their operational budgets.

The commissioner noted that the bloc’s payment of an additional 35 billion euros ($41 billion) for identical fuel quantities since the Iran war began highlights the urgent need to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuel dependence.

“Really, this is not an energy crisis. This is a fossil fuel crisis,” Jørgensen stated, emphasizing that despite the EU’s energy supply diversification, improved efficiency, and increased renewable energy adoption following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion, challenges persist.

Cyprus Energy Minister Michael Damianos, representing the country that currently leads the EU’s rotating presidency, indicated that fossil fuels including natural gas will continue as part of the bloc’s energy portfolio for the near future, even while maintaining the firm objective of achieving a 90% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2040. He noted that natural gas from newly discovered deposits off Cyprus’ southern coastline could reach European markets between late next year and early 2028.

Jørgensen emphasized the EU’s continued strong commitment to rapid greenhouse gas emission reductions, stating that “the climate crisis will not go away.”

Looking ahead, the EU commissioner revealed ongoing discussions with Gulf region countries aimed at restoring energy flows from that area once a negotiated peace agreement with Iran is established.

Last month, EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the bloc’s readiness to collaborate with Persian Gulf nations on new energy transport projects that would not be vulnerable to warfare or geopolitical conflicts.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Government prosecutors in Indonesia announced Wednesday they are pursuing an 18-year prison term for Nadiem Anwar Makarim, who helped establish the ride-hailing and payment service Gojek, in connection with corruption charges related to a school laptop purchasing program implemented during the coronavirus pandemic.

During court proceedings at Jakarta’s Corruption Court, prosecutors additionally requested a financial penalty of 1 billion rupiah (approximately $57,180) and demanded the confiscation of Makarim’s property should he fail to return 809 billion rupiah (roughly $48.2 million) connected to the educational program, plus 4.8 trillion rupiah (around $275.4 million) in what they termed unexplained assets.

According to the prosecution’s proposal, Makarim would serve an extra nine years behind bars if he doesn’t meet these requirements within 30 days following a final judicial decision.

Authorities took Makarim into custody in September following an inquiry into the procurement process, which prosecutors claim resulted in approximately $125 million in government losses. This week, court officials granted a modification to his detention conditions, allowing house arrest after he underwent medical surgery.

The legal proceedings have captured widespread public interest, with hundreds of “ojek” motorcycle taxi operators frequently attending court sessions to demonstrate support for the individual who transformed Indonesia’s gig-based economy.

The charges focus on claims that Makarim, who held the education ministry position from 2019 through 2024, “enriched himself” via the government’s Chromebook acquisition initiative spanning 2020-2022. Prosecutors informed the three-member judicial panel that he misused his official authority to sway policy choices and business transactions.

They claimed Makarim coerced Google into investing in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), Gojek’s parent organization, which subsequently merged into the GoTo Group.

Throughout the hearings, prosecutors dismissed statements from three former Google leadership figures who testified that Google’s GoTo investment had no connection to the Indonesian government’s choice to purchase Chromebooks for educational institutions.

“Google’s investment in GoTo is considered a mutually beneficial relationship that may have influenced Chromebook procurement policy,” prosecutors declared to the court, maintaining that the Chromebook acquisition and Google’s investment — valued at roughly $787 million through Google Asia Pacific — were linked.

The judicial panel is anticipated to announce a decision within the next few weeks. Should Makarim be found guilty, he would receive one of the most severe corruption penalties in Indonesia’s recent legal history.

In response to the sentencing request, Makarim rejected any misconduct and condemned what he characterized as disproportionate punishment.

“These are lawful earnings from building a company and creating jobs,” he stated to media representatives following the court session, referencing his ownership in Gojek. “I am effectively being charged with 27 or 28 years in prison, far more than many violent criminals.”

He maintained there was “no administrative violation and no element of corruption” in his conduct, noting that the financial restitution demanded by prosecutors greatly surpassed his genuine wealth.

The Chromebook initiative began during the health crisis to facilitate distance learning. Prosecutors stated Makarim promoted Chromebooks despite warnings they were inefficient in regions with poor internet connectivity.

Makarim has insisted that purchasing choices were handled by technical staff members, not himself. His legal representatives contend he sold his PT AKAB holdings when assuming office and that his financial worth decreased during his government service.

Russian authorities have added former British Defense Minister Ben Wallace to their criminal wanted database as part of an unnamed investigation, according to state media reports citing the Russian Interior Ministry on Wednesday.

Wallace held the position of Britain’s defense chief from before Moscow’s full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022 through August 2023. Following his departure from office, he has remained an outspoken supporter of increased military assistance to Ukraine while criticizing Russian military actions.

State media outlets provided no additional information about the investigation, and Wallace has not responded to requests for comment regarding the development.

The move appears connected to statements Wallace made at last year’s Warsaw Security Forum regarding Crimea, the Ukrainian territory Russia seized in 2014. A Russian regional legislator had previously demanded in October that Wallace be added to Moscow’s international wanted database over those remarks.

During his September appearance at the security conference, Wallace advocated for assisting Ukraine in conducting military operations against the bridge connecting southern Russia to Crimea.

“We have to help Ukraine have the long-range capabilities to make Crimea unviable. We need to choke the life out of Crimea. And if we do that, I think Putin will realise he’s got something to lose,” he said. “We need to smash the cursed bridge.”

The total number of foreign officials and public figures listed in Russia’s Interior Ministry wanted database remains unclear. However, independent news organization Mediazona reported in 2024 that dozens of European politicians and officials appear on the list.

JERUSALEM (AP) — The international diplomat responsible for monitoring the Gaza ceasefire agreement admitted Tuesday that the deal has fallen short of what both sides anticipated.

Nickolay Mladenov, who serves as the chief representative for the International Board of Peace monitoring the Israel-Hamas truce, said the situation remains disappointing for all parties involved.

“Seven months since the ceasefire, the door to the future of Gaza is still closed. It is not what the Palestinians were promised and it is not what they deserve. And it is not giving Israel the security to move forward, as the Israeli people also want,” he said.

The diplomat was visiting Jerusalem Wednesday in an attempt to revive momentum for the ceasefire agreement that Israel and Hamas reached more than seven months ago.

Since the International Board of Peace started meeting last year, minimal advancement has occurred on crucial elements of the step-by-step ceasefire plan, such as removing weapons from Hamas and other armed factions and beginning reconstruction efforts in the heavily damaged territory following two years of conflict.

The original agreement called for Hamas to surrender its arsenal, Israeli military forces to pull back, and massive rebuilding projects to begin in devastated areas of the coastal territory after more than two years of warfare.

However, the months following the ceasefire have been marked by both Israel and Hamas pointing fingers at each other for breaking the agreement. Relief organizations report that Israel has blocked the full amount of humanitarian supplies that were supposed to enter Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas continues to maintain its weapons and controls approximately half of the territory.

Israeli military operations in Gaza have intensified recently following the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, raising Palestinian concerns that widespread bombing campaigns and full-scale conflict could resume soon.

Mladenov brings extensive diplomatic experience as a former United Nations representative and advisor who previously held ministerial positions in Bulgaria. He was appointed last year to lead Gaza oversight efforts for the International Board of Peace, established under President Donald Trump to manage post-conflict planning for the region.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted when Hamas-led fighters launched an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has resulted in more than 72,724 Palestinian deaths, including at least 846 fatalities since the ceasefire began last October.

These casualty figures come from the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and military deaths but indicates that roughly half of those killed were women and children. United Nations agencies and independent analysts generally consider the ministry’s data, despite being part of the Hamas-controlled government, to be credible.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leadership announced Wednesday plans to urge member countries to prohibit so-called ‘conversion therapy’ targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, responding to widespread public pressure and timing the announcement ahead of this weekend’s Brussels Pride celebration.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Wednesday that such “conversion practices” have “no place in our Union.” Enhanced protections for LGBTQ+ residents have remained a key pledge of EU leadership since von der Leyen assumed her role in 2019.

Research from the EU’s Agency for Fundamental Rights revealed in 2024 that 25% of surveyed LGBTQ+ individuals had experienced the scientifically debunked practice designed to alter their sexual orientation or gender identity. The highest rates were documented in Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Slovakia.

The commission’s action followed a petition drive that gathered signatures from more than one million EU residents calling for “a binding legal ban on conversion practices targeting LGBTQ+ citizens in the European Union.”

Currently, only 10 of the 27 EU member states have implemented complete or partial bans on conversion therapy, data from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – Europe shows.

Malta became the first EU country to prohibit attempts to alter gay individuals’ sexual orientation in 2016. France has since followed suit, establishing criminal penalties including imprisonment and monetary fines for those who employ such practices against LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Conversion practices are built on a lie, the lie that LGBTQ+ people need to be fixed, that there is something wrong with who they are. And there is, of course, nothing to fix, there is nothing to cure, and there is no one to change,” stated Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality. “You cannot torture away a person’s identity, and you cannot legislate it away. And yet these practices continue, unfortunately.”

Brussels, serving as the EU’s institutional center, expects tens of thousands of participants for Saturday’s march as the city commemorates three decades of its annual LGBTQ+ rights and cultural parade.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian military forces have once again caused massive civilian casualties in an airstrike intended to target militant fighters, marking another deadly error in a troubling pattern that has emerged over recent years and calls into question the effectiveness of a key U.S. security ally.

Sunday’s devastating attack claimed the lives of at least 100 innocent people, including young children, according to Amnesty International’s Nigerian branch. The strike hit a marketplace in Tumfa, located in the northwestern region of Zamfara state. A local Red Cross representative verified the aerial bombardment to The Associated Press, confirming that “multiple civilians” lost their lives.

Nigerian military leadership, however, disputes claims of civilian deaths. Major General Michael Onoja acknowledged that forces did conduct an airstrike on the market area but insisted there was “no verifiable evidence of civilian casualties.” He stated that military operations in the region are ongoing.

These types of deadly incidents have become routine across Nigeria’s violence-plagued northern territories, where armed forces depend extensively on air attacks to strike at bases used by numerous militant organizations. Armed fighters typically travel in large motorcycle convoys through isolated forest areas and remote settlements that ground forces cannot easily access.

Research conducted by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based analytical organization that compiled reports and information from impacted communities, shows that military airstrikes have resulted in more than 500 civilian deaths since 2017.

The Trump administration has recently deployed military personnel and drone aircraft to provide intelligence gathering and logistical assistance to Nigerian forces. Whether American-supplied intelligence played a role in Sunday’s strike remains unclear.

On several previous occasions, Nigerian officials have acknowledged responsibility for civilian deaths from airstrikes, characterizing these incidents as unintentional. However, residents and security experts report that such occurrences are happening with increasing frequency.

Defense Minister Christopher Musa has stated that the military is working to enhance its human rights practices and ensure accountability among its personnel.

Numerous armed organizations operate throughout Nigeria beyond Boko Haram, the most notorious extremist faction that began its violent campaign in 2009 seeking to impose its radical Islamic ideology across the northeastern region.

Many of today’s fighters were previously cattle herders who became involved in disputes with agricultural communities over land and water resources. These groups have evolved from carrying traditional weapons to conducting assaults with firearms smuggled across borders, leading to thousands of annual fatalities.

Certain militant factions conduct large-scale killings and abduct victims for ransom money in northwestern and central areas. According to analysts, they also demand “tax” payments from local populations to fund their activities, supplementing income from kidnapping operations.

Assaults can continue for multiple days in villages that lack sufficient security protection. Fighters typically avoid staying in any single area for extended periods, constantly moving locations and mixing with civilian populations to avoid capture.

Nigerian government officials explain that preventing civilian casualties during airstrikes proves difficult because armed groups frequently use innocent people as protective shields.

“Bandits and terrorists, unlike professional soldiers, don’t respect the rules of engagement. They don’t care about killing their hostages if they come under attack,” former President Muhammadu Buhari previously stated.

According to Senator Iroegbu, a security expert based in Abuja, the repeated military errors that result in civilian fatalities can also be traced to gaps in intelligence collection and inadequate communication between ground units, aircraft crews, and other key participants.

Nigerian government and military leaders routinely pledge to examine airstrikes to prevent future mistakes. Security analysts note, however, that such reviews typically fail to produce meaningful changes.

In 2024, military authorities took the unusual step of pursuing legal action against two service members following an airstrike that killed more than 80 civilians in Kaduna state. Officials also committed to publishing their investigation findings but have yet to do so.

Oluwole Ojewale from the Institute for Security Studies, which focuses on African issues, emphasized that Nigeria requires better investment in pilot education and training programs, along with modernized aircraft and targeting technology.

He added that military forces must also work to establish trust and gain cooperation from local communities, whose knowledge of militant group movements is essential for accurate targeting and successful operations against these organizations.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — In a symbolic move toward better diplomatic relations, Turkey has lifted trade restrictions with Armenia on Wednesday, marking progress between the two nations that have been at odds for decades.

The neighboring countries have maintained no official diplomatic ties, with their shared border remaining sealed since the 1990s. Tensions have persisted due to historical disputes and Turkey’s close partnership with Azerbaijan.

Both nations committed in late 2021 to working toward better relations, naming special representatives to explore reconciliation options and border reopening possibilities. These diplomatic efforts have already led to restored direct air travel and relaxed visa requirements.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli announced on social media platform X Wednesday that technical and administrative efforts to reopen the shared border continue moving forward.

The new policy allows goods shipped between Turkey and Armenia through third-party countries to properly identify their actual origin or destination, removing previous labeling restrictions, according to Keceli.

“In the light of the historic opportunity seized to strengthen lasting peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus, Türkiye will continue to contribute to the development of economic relations in the region and to further advancing cooperation for the benefit of all countries and peoples of the region,” Keceli stated, using Turkey’s official spelling.

Armenian officials praised the development.

“We would like to emphasize that this is an important step toward the establishment of full and normalized relations between the two countries, which could logically continue through the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border and the establishment of diplomatic relations,” Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ani Badalyan responded on X.

Turkey closed its Armenian border in 1993 to support Azerbaijan during its territorial dispute with Armenia over the Karabakh region, also called Nagorno-Karabakh internationally.

During 2020, Turkey provided substantial military support to Azerbaijan in a six-week war against ethnic Armenian forces supported by Armenia over Karabakh territory. Azerbaijan reclaimed significant portions of the region and surrounding areas, utilizing Turkish military equipment including combat drones.

The two countries also share a painful historical legacy concerning the estimated 1.5 million Armenian deaths during massacres, deportations and forced relocations beginning in 1915 under Ottoman rule.

Most historians classify these events as genocide. Turkey strongly disputes this characterization, acknowledging casualties occurred during that period while arguing death counts are exaggerated and resulted from civil conflict.

BARCELONA, Spain — Spanish government records reveal that a Russian cargo vessel which went down in Mediterranean waters more than a year ago following engine room explosions was potentially transporting nuclear submarine reactor components.

The vessel Ursa Major went down on December 23, 2024, in waters between Spain and Algeria during what was reported as a voyage from St. Petersburg to Russia’s Pacific port of Vladivostok. Fourteen crew members were rescued by Spanish maritime teams, though two sailors were lost.

According to a written government response to parliamentary opposition members, the vessel’s commanding officer “confessed” the ship was transporting “components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines.”

The parliamentary document, dated February 23 and first disclosed by CNN on Tuesday, has been reviewed by The Associated Press.

When the vessel sank, Russian state shipping company Oboronlogistika claimed the Ursa Major was the victim of sabotage. The company reported three major explosions struck the vessel near the waterline in what they characterized as a “terrorist attack.”

Oboronlogistika operates under Russia’s defense ministry and faces sanctions from both the United States and European Union due to military connections.

Ship records indicated the vessel was transporting 129 containers, two large cranes, and “two well covers,” according to the government document.

When questioned by Harbor Master officials in Cartagena, Spain, following the rescue, the ship’s captain disclosed that the well covers were actually nuclear components. The captain clarified that no nuclear fuel was aboard the vessel.

Spanish officials explained they could not inspect the ship to verify this information during rescue operations, which prioritized crew safety and searching for missing personnel. The wreckage lies approximately 2,500 meters below the surface.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated during a Wednesday press briefing that he had not reviewed reports about the ship’s cargo, adding “there is nothing for us to comment on here.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian maritime authorities acknowledge they possess limited authority to prevent vessels linked to Iran from conducting oil transfers in waters off their coastline, a practice that enables Iran to circumvent international sanctions and has sparked increasing international condemnation.

According to United Against Nuclear Iran, a U.S.-based advocacy organization, satellite surveillance has documented 42 ship-to-ship oil transfers involving Iranian vessels in waters approximately 70 kilometers (45 miles) from Malaysia’s southern Johor state since February 28, following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran that initiated Middle East hostilities.

Shipping industry groups and UANI have condemned these transfer operations, with the advocacy group claiming Malaysia demonstrates insufficient enforcement measures.

Mohamad Rosli Abdullah, Director-General of Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency, explains that these transfers frequently occur in international waters beyond Malaysian authority, and these vessels, referred to as a “shadow fleet,” successfully avoid detection through various tactics including disabling tracking equipment, using fraudulent identities, conducting nighttime operations, and utilizing complicated ownership arrangements.

“The issues raised do not align with the actual situation on the ground and do not reflect the operational realities of maritime enforcement conducted by the MMEA,” Mohamad Rosli told The Associated Press.

American officials have previously indicated that Iranian petroleum exports depend significantly on service providers and ship-to-ship transfer operations conducted near Malaysian territorial waters.

This region, designated as the Eastern Outer Port Limits, or EOPL, within the South China Sea, sits along one of the planet’s most heavily trafficked maritime commercial routes and provides a midpoint between Iran and China, which purchases approximately 90% of Iranian petroleum.

Secret open-ocean transfers involving Iranian-connected tankers have continued for years, enabling Tehran to market its crude oil while providing purchasers with reasonable deniability regarding the petroleum’s origin.

Although not prohibited by law, Malaysia discourages unauthorized transfers conducted outside designated zones, where such activities can receive proper oversight since they significantly heighten spill risks, involve deteriorating vessels, and occur far from ports where accidents could receive better containment.

Representatives from both the Iranian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the U.S. State Department did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.

Even with a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports beginning in mid-April, UANI continues tracking Iranian-connected tankers still in operation, although the number successfully passing through remains unclear.

As of Tuesday, two dozen Iranian-linked vessels monitored by UANI were positioned or waiting near the EOPL transfer area off Johor, though determining how many departed before the blockade implementation remains uncertain.

“It’s business as usual,” senior UANI adviser Charlie Brown told the AP.

“Because of Malaysia’s inaction, it is facilitating this business model by Iran and China and dark fleet actors,” he said, warning Malaysia is becoming “a facilitator rather than merely a transit point” for illicit activity.

UANI argues that Malaysia could implement environmental regulations requiring advance notification for ship-to-ship transfers, prohibit Malaysian companies from supporting involved vessels, and mandate adequate insurance coverage for accidents and oil spills, among other measures.

However, Mohamad Rosli stated Malaysia has limited options since the “activities are typically conducted outside Malaysian territorial waters, particularly in areas located near maritime boundaries or international shipping routes.”

He emphasized that enforcement follows Malaysian law and applicable international agreements strictly, and authorities have “never compromised nor provided any special treatment or privileges to any country.”

While the transfer location is generally considered part of Malaysia’s broader economic zone, it borders the Riau Archipelago, which belongs to Indonesian territory.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry indicated authorities are examining the situation to assess the activity’s legality.

“Indonesia does not permit its territory or maritime zones to be used for unlawful activities,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang.

“At the same time, Indonesia continues to uphold legitimate navigational rights under UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), including the right of innocent passage, transit passage, and the right of passage through Indonesian maritime zones.”

Mohamad Rosli mentioned that Malaysia had previously seized two vessels this year, one without national registration and another flying a Cameroon flag, participating in transferring 2 million barrels of crude oil within Malaysian territorial waters.

Both vessels received later release on bond for conducting unauthorized oil transfers. Brown noted one vessel was observed earlier this month performing a ship-to-ship transfer of suspected Iranian petroleum in Johor waters.

Malaysian authorities “will continue to strengthen monitoring and enhance strategic cooperation with relevant agencies to ensure that the nation’s maritime domain’s safety and sovereignty are consistently safeguarded,” Mohamad Rosli said.

MANILA, Philippines — Shots were fired Wednesday evening at the Philippine Senate building where Senator Ronald dela Rosa has been taking refuge from law enforcement officials seeking his arrest on International Criminal Court charges, according to an Associated Press reporter and other witnesses present.

The cause of the shooting and whether anyone was wounded remained unclear. Dela Rosa has been under the protection of fellow senators inside the legislative building while Philippine officials attempt to apprehend him for potential transfer to the ICC.

Senate President Alan Cayetano made a brief statement to reporters, confirming that building security informed him of the gunfire before quickly departing without offering additional information.

“The emotions are high here,” Cayetano said. “This is the Senate of the Philippines and we are allegedly under attack.”

The ICC made public its arrest warrant for dela Rosa on Monday. The 64-year-old former national police commander oversaw President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug enforcement campaigns that resulted in the deaths of thousands of suspected low-level offenders.

The warrant, initially issued in November, accuses dela Rosa of murder as a crime against humanity involving “no less than 32 persons” during his tenure leading the national police from July 2016 through April 2018 under Duterte’s administration.

Dela Rosa has pledged to challenge the ICC warrant through all available legal channels. On Wednesday evening, he urged his supporters to come to the Senate complex to help block what he described as his imminent detention.

When National Bureau of Investigation officers attempted to take dela Rosa into custody Monday, he escaped to the Senate chamber and requested assistance from colleague senators. Cayetano announced at that time he would hold the government agents in contempt.

Health officials in southwestern France have temporarily barred passengers and crew members from leaving a cruise vessel docked in Bordeaux following reports of numerous gastroenteritis cases aboard the ship.

The Ambassador Cruise Line ship Ambition, carrying approximately 1,700 people, arrived from Belfast and Liverpool before being held at port as a safety precaution. French television reports indicate one passenger has died during the voyage.

Regional health authorities emphasized that this apparent stomach illness outbreak bears no connection to a separate hantavirus incident that occurred on the luxury vessel Hondius during its journey from Argentina to the Canary Islands.

Ambassador Cruise Line announced through social media that they have put stronger cleaning and safety measures in place on the Ambition. “Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark,” the company stated.

Officials described the passenger restriction as temporary while they await results from medical examinations.

Stomach-related illnesses frequently occur on cruise vessels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has already documented four separate outbreaks this year on cruise ships, including two cases of E.coli and two instances of norovirus.

Gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu, primarily causes nausea and loose bowel movements. While highly transmissible, the condition typically resolves without serious complications, though severe cases may result in fluid loss requiring medical attention.

This illness differs significantly from hantavirus, which carries a much higher death rate but rarely spreads between people except through prolonged direct contact.

Albrecht Weinberg, a centenarian who lived through the horrors of Nazi concentration camps and dedicated his later years to sharing his testimony, passed away Tuesday in Leer, Germany, at the age of 101, according to local officials.

The survivor had experienced unimaginable suffering during World War II, imprisoned in multiple concentration camps including Auschwitz, Mittelbau-Dora, and Bergen-Belsen, and forced to endure three death marches. Weinberg’s passing occurred just weeks following his 101st birthday celebration and the debut of a film documenting his experiences, titled “Es ist immer in meinem Kopf” (“It Is Always in My Head”), which attracted hundreds of viewers.

Weinberg entered the world on March 7, 1925, in Rhauderfehn, a community close to Leer. As a young man, he was taken into custody for forced labor and managed to survive some of the most infamous facilities in the Nazi camp system. The Holocaust claimed the lives of most of his relatives, including siblings Dieter and Friedel, based on records from the Claims Conference’s survivor testimony project.

According to Leer Mayor Claus-Peter Horst’s public statement, Weinberg devoted his remaining years to continuously sharing his survival story. “Since returning from New York to his East Frisian home 14 years ago, Albrecht recounted tirelessly and with incredible energy his terrible experiences during the Nazi era and warned again and again against forgetting,” Horst said.

During Germany’s struggle with both the declining population of living Holocaust witnesses and rising concerns about far-right political movements, Weinberg established himself as a regular presence in educational institutions and community events. Though he was honored with Germany’s Order of Merit in 2017, he made the decision in 2025 to return the award following a parliamentary migration vote that received backing from the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD). This legislative action shattered a decades-long postwar tradition of avoiding dependence on far-right support for parliamentary majorities.

Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, honored Weinberg’s memory, describing him as “a bridge—between past and present, between pain and hope, between the dead he could never forget and the young people whom he encouraged to seek the truth,” according to The Associated Press.

According to a Reuters investigation, Saudi Arabia conducted secret airstrikes on Iranian territory in late March, marking a retaliatory response to attacks the kingdom endured during recent regional hostilities, four sources told the news agency.

The military operations represent the first documented instance of Saudi forces striking targets within Iran’s borders.

A source familiar with the situation described the military action as “tit-for-tat strikes in response to attacks Saudi Arabia had suffered.”

The Reuters investigation revealed that these strikes exposed vulnerabilities in Saudi Arabia’s defensive capabilities, despite the nation’s strong military partnership with the United States and its longstanding dependence on American security guarantees. According to the report, hostile attacks during the conflict managed to breach the U.S. protective security framework safeguarding the Gulf nation.

Sources indicated that Saudi officials notified Iran following the completion of their military operations. Reuters documented that extensive diplomatic communications ensued, accompanied by Saudi threats of potential further military action. These diplomatic exchanges ultimately resulted in mutual agreements designed to lower tensions between the rival nations. This informal de-escalation pact reportedly became effective approximately one week prior to the April 7 ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.

The revelation of Saudi military action emerged one day following The Wall Street Journal’s disclosure that the United Arab Emirates had similarly conducted strikes within Iranian territory during the same conflict period. The publication reported that the UAE operation took place in early April, coinciding with President Trump’s ceasefire declaration, though the exact timing relative to the announcement remained unclear.

During the conflict, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates employed contrasting approaches, Reuters found. While Riyadh worked to prevent further escalation and kept diplomatic channels open with Iranian representatives, including Iran’s ambassador stationed in Riyadh, the UAE pursued a more aggressive stance focused on punishing Tehran.

Israeli Eurovision contestant Noam Bettan secured his place in Saturday’s grand final following Tuesday’s semifinal performance in Vienna, though his appearance sparked both enthusiastic support and vocal opposition from audience members.

Bettan performed his entry “Michelle” as the tenth act of the evening, ultimately earning enough votes to advance alongside nine other nations: Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland.

The performance was marked by disruptions, with venue security removing multiple spectators who engaged in anti-Israel demonstrations. Local authorities escorted out one protester who yelled “genocide” during Bettan’s time on stage.

Speaking to Israeli media afterward, Bettan acknowledged the hostile reception but remained focused. “The calls were really, really loud. But I focused on the performance,” Bettan explained following his stage exit. He continued, “I searched with my eyes for the Israeli flags in the crowd. That strengthened me.”

Upon learning of his advancement to the final round, Bettan expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating he was thankful “to all the people of Israel, to all the Jews in the world, and to everyone who voted for us.”

“Wow, I had an amazing performance, I enjoyed every moment, see you in the final. I truly felt like I was singing for the State of Israel. I was simply channeling the people and felt like I was a conduit,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eurovision organizers issued a warning to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster regarding an online promotional campaign supporting Bettan, citing updated competition regulations designed to restrict external promotional efforts.

Eurovision director Martin Green revealed that officials quickly contacted the Israeli delegation after discovering online videos featuring Bettan. “Within 20 minutes, we had contacted the KAN delegation to ask them to immediately stop any distribution of the videos and remove them from any platforms where they had been published. They immediately acted to do this,” Green stated.

When questioned by The Times of Israel, Kan responded that it “is following all of the rules of the competition.” A delegation insider noted that contestants from Malta and Romania had conducted similar promotional campaigns this year.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Palestinian musician Bashar Murad took the stage at an elegant Brussels venue Tuesday night, delivering an emotional rendition of Nina Simone’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” in both English and Arabic. The crowd responded with thunderous applause as the last notes echoed through the hall.

Murad’s performance was part of a growing movement of alternative concerts protesting Israel’s inclusion in this week’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna. Critics are voicing opposition to Israel’s participation amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza and surrounding regions.

This year’s Eurovision, celebrating its 70th anniversary with the theme “United by Music,” has seen five nations — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — refuse to participate. Despite the boycotts, 35 countries are still competing, with ten nations including Israel and frontrunner Finland securing spots in Tuesday’s semifinals.

The “United for Palestine” concert in Brussels brought together European performers with Palestinian musicians like Murad, who nearly represented Iceland in the 2024 competition.

“It’s always amazing to be in the same room with people who believe in the same things as you and people who believe that we can’t just let the show go on,” Murad explained.

Murad’s parents, including his father who helped found the prominent Palestinian band Sabreen, had previously tried without success to get Palestine admitted to Eurovision in 2007 through the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva.

Israel has been a Eurovision participant since 1973, claiming victory four times and maintaining strong cultural ties to the annual competition.

However, Israel’s continued involvement has generated increasing controversy as international anger mounts over casualties in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran. Mass demonstrations have swept from Rome to Madrid, with European Union officials considering additional sanctions.

“We have to create an alternative because the participation of Israel is problematic,” stated Katrien De Ruysscher, who leads activist organization SOS Gaza. Her group partnered with rights organization 11.11.11 to coordinate the Brussels gathering.

Previous Eurovision events in Malmo, Sweden in 2024 and Basel, Switzerland the year before witnessed significant pro-Palestinian demonstrations demanding Israel’s removal. Allegations also surfaced that Israel’s government violated competition guidelines to assist their representative.

Contest organizers have strengthened voting procedures this year following claims of ballot manipulation, though participants continue to be evaluated by national panels and global audiences.

The European Broadcasting Union rejected calls to exclude Israel, prompting the five-nation boycott.

Amnesty International’s secretary general Agnès Callamard argued Eurovision should remove Israel just as it did with Russia in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Songs and sequins must not be allowed to drown out or distract from Israel’s atrocities or Palestinian suffering,” Callamard declared.

Similar protest concerts are occurring across Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy and Spain, according to Brussels event organizers.

Spanish public television, which traditionally broadcasts Eurovision, will instead air an alternative program Saturday evening called “La Casa de la Música.” The special will honor the network’s 70-year history with performances by 20 established and emerging artists, including Benidorm Fest winners who would typically advance to Eurovision.

Despite these alternative events, none will match Eurovision’s massive reach — the contest attracted 166 million viewers in 2025 and maintains its devoted fanbase.

Murad expressed hope that counter-programming might encourage reflection on Eurovision’s founding principles of musical unity.

“The purpose of these alternative programs that are happening is to remind Eurovision what it’s actually about and to try to hopefully bring it back, to correct its course, and make it actually live up to the things that it claims to be about,” he said. “A lot of people in the world feel that the competition has lost its meaning.”

President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing Wednesday evening for critical discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a turbulent period marked by global concerns over warfare, trade disputes, and artificial intelligence developments.

Trump’s visit comes during a challenging period for his administration, with domestic approval ratings suffering due to the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran and subsequent inflationary pressures from that war. The president aims to secure victory through new agreements for China to purchase additional American agricultural products and aircraft, stating he plans to discuss trade matters with Xi “more than anything else.”

Upon Air Force One’s landing, Chinese officials rolled out a red carpet welcome for the American president.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Washington ambassador Xie Feng, executive foreign affairs vice minister Ma Zhaoxu, and U.S. Beijing envoy David Perdue were scheduled to receive Trump, the White House confirmed.

The elaborate welcome featured approximately 300 Chinese young people, along with a military honor guard and band performance.

The leaders will conduct bilateral discussions and attend a formal state dinner during the visit.

Trump’s team hopes to launch discussions for creating a bilateral Board of Trade with China to resolve ongoing disputes between the nations. This proposed board could help avoid future trade conflicts like the one sparked last year following Trump’s tariff increases, which China responded to by restricting rare earth mineral exports. Those tensions led to a temporary ceasefire agreement last October.

While Trump has no scheduled public appearances Wednesday following his arrival, he’s planned for multiple meetings with Xi Thursday and Friday.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent conducted what Chinese state television CCTV described as “candid, in-depth and constructive” discussions Wednesday regarding economic and trade concerns while exploring expanded cooperation opportunities.

The trade negotiations between the world’s largest economies took place in South Korea just hours before Trump’s Beijing arrival.

According to CCTV, the talks followed important agreements previously reached by both nations’ leaders and emphasized mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation principles.

The White House initially indicated Huang’s schedule prevented his participation, but later changes allowed him to join the delegation.

His last-minute inclusion sparked widespread online discussion and humorous content across Chinese social media platforms.

Users on Xiaohongshu and Weibo created and shared doctored photos showing Huang gripping Air Force One’s exterior with his hands.

A White House official confirmed these prominent American business leaders from technology and agriculture sectors received invitations to accompany Trump’s China trip:

1. Elon Musk – Tesla and SpaceX CEO
2. Tim Cook – Apple CEO
3. Kelly Ortberg – Former Rockwell Collins CEO
4. Jensen Huang – Nvidia President and CEO
5. Larry Fink – BlackRock Chairman and CEO
6. Stephen Schwarzman – Blackstone Chairman, CEO and co-founder
7. Brian Sikes – Cargill Chairman and CEO
8. Jane Fraser – Citi Chairman and CEO
9. Jim Anderson – Coherent CEO
10. H. Lawrence Culp – GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO
11. David Solomon – Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO
12. Jacob Thaysen – Illumina CEO
13. Michael Miebach – Mastercard CEO
14. Dina Powell McCormick – Meta President and Vice Chairman
15. Sanjay Mehrotra – Micron Chairman, President and CEO
16. Cristiano Amon – Qualcomm President and CEO
17. Ryan McInerney – Visa CEO

Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz continues strangling global energy distribution while causing worldwide economic hardship, though the Islamic Republic’s domestic economic struggles are challenging its capacity to sustain the conflict and resist Washington’s pressure.

Iranian citizens face skyrocketing costs for food, medical supplies, and other necessities. The nation has simultaneously experienced massive unemployment and business failures due to strike-related damage to critical industries and the government’s extended internet shutdown.

“The economic cost of the war and the U.S. naval blockade has been very substantial and unprecedented for Iran,” explained Hadi Kahalzadeh, an Iranian economist and Brandeis University research fellow.

However, Kahalzadeh noted that Iran has survived decades of economic pressure and sanctions, and its adaptive capabilities remain intact.

The International Monetary Fund projects Iran’s economy will contract by approximately 6 percentage points over the coming year.

Ukrainian armed forces announced Wednesday they had successfully targeted multiple Russian energy facilities, including an oil terminal, refinery, and gas processing facility, as the country resumes its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure following a brief pause in operations.

According to Ukraine’s General Staff and drone forces commander Robert Brovdi, who posted updates on Telegram, the attacks targeted the Tamanneftegas terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region and a gas processing facility in Astrakhan, both located in southern Russia.

The operations resulted in fires breaking out at fuel storage reservoirs, military officials reported.

Ukrainian forces also targeted a refinery facility in Yaroslavl, situated northeast of Moscow, with strikes hitting primary oil processing units, according to military statements.

These attacks are part of Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to target Russian petroleum facilities, as Moscow relies on income from its substantial oil and gas resources to fund its military operations in the conflict that has now entered its fifth year.

BEIRUT (AP) — Eight people died Wednesday when Israeli drones targeted three vehicles traveling on a major highway south of Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. Among the victims were a mother and her two young children.

Israel’s military confirmed it had targeted Hezbollah facilities across multiple locations in southern Lebanon, coming just hours after ordering residents in six southern villages to leave their homes.

The deadly strikes come as Lebanon and Israel prepare for another session of direct negotiations in Washington on Thursday, with the Trump administration working to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough between the two nations that have remained in a state of conflict since Israel’s establishment in 1948.

Health Ministry officials verified the three separate attacks in an official statement but did not specify how many people were in each targeted vehicle.

Two of the Wednesday drone attacks occurred on the highway connecting Beirut to the southern port city of Sidon, while Lebanon’s state-run National news agency reported a third strike in the town of Saadiyat, located near the busy roadway. State media also reported a fourth attack during the early afternoon at Sidon’s northern entrance, where a car was hit.

An Associated Press photographer witnessed the remains of three victims from two of the strikes that occurred near the coastal communities of Barja and Jiyeh.

Throughout southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes continued to be reported across various towns and villages, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for additional attacks against Israel. Both sides have maintained their exchange of fire despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that took effect on April 17.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2, when the Lebanese militant organization launched rockets into northern Israel, occurring two days following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine informed reporters on Tuesday that 380 people have lost their lives and 1,122 have been injured since the ceasefire began. These figures bring the total casualties since the war’s start to 2,882 deaths and 8,786 wounded.

The United Nations has initiated the process to select its next secretary general, with the appointment scheduled to be finalized before year’s end. Among the top contenders for the position is Michele Bachelet, who previously served as Chile’s president and currently holds the role of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Bachelet has drawn attention for her controversial stance on reproductive rights, advocating for unrestricted abortion access through all stages of pregnancy and supporting government-funded abortion services worldwide. Additionally, she has endorsed transgender rights initiatives, including medical transition procedures for minors.

The selection process for the UN’s top leadership position will continue throughout the coming months as member nations evaluate potential candidates.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that more than 100 Russian drones struck Ukrainian territory on Wednesday, following earlier attacks that claimed at least eight civilian lives.

“Russia continues its strikes and is doing so brazenly — deliberately targeting our railway infrastructure and civilian sites in our cities,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

The nighttime assault hit residential areas and rail systems in the Dnipro and Kharkiv regions, port facilities in Odesa, and power plants in Poltava, according to the Ukrainian president. He noted that 14 regions faced bombardment throughout Tuesday alone.

“It is important to support Ukraine and not remain silent about Russia’s war. Every time the war disappears from the top of the news, it encourages Russia to become even more savage,” Zelenskyy stated, seemingly referencing global attention shifting to conflicts in Iran.

Russia’s relentless assault continues despite Ukraine’s growing confidence from recent battlefield successes and claims from both President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that the conflict might be ending soon, though neither has offered supporting evidence.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a Beijing summit, Trump expressed optimism about negotiations between the warring nations.

“The end of the war in Ukraine I really think is getting very close,” Trump declared Tuesday. “Believe it or not, it’s getting closer.”

During a weekend address, Putin suggested his invasion of Ukraine might be “coming to an end.”

Both leaders failed to explain their reasoning behind potential peace prospects in Europe’s most prolonged military conflict since World War II. Previous U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives have stalled over fundamental disagreements about territorial concessions to Russia and future security guarantees for Ukraine.

European nations are now weighing whether to engage Putin directly in negotiations. For years, Europe has sought to diplomatically isolate the Russian president while imposing economic sanctions on his country.

The battlefield dynamics have evolved significantly in recent months. Ukraine has transformed from desperately seeking international military aid to sharing its advanced drone expertise with other nations facing similar threats.

Ukrainian forces have successfully struck energy infrastructure and manufacturing facilities deep within Russian territory using long-range drones and missiles, with three Russian regions reporting attacks Wednesday. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defense systems destroyed 286 Ukrainian drones across Russian territories, occupied Crimea, and the Azov and Black Sea regions.

Along the 780-mile battle line, Russia’s larger and better-equipped military has seen its advance slow consistently since October, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Russia’s spring military campaign has struggled, with Russian forces experiencing their first net territorial loss since 2024 began, the Washington-based research organization reported.

“Not only are Ukrainian defensive lines holding, but Ukrainian forces have managed to contest the tactical initiative in several areas of the front line even as Russia continues to lose disproportionate amounts of manpower to achieve minimal gains,” the ISW stated Tuesday.

Chinese leadership is mounting fierce opposition to pending American legislation designed to limit Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, escalating tensions just days before crucial diplomatic meetings between the world’s two largest economies.

The controversial legislation, dubbed the MATCH Act, is anticipated to feature prominently in this week’s high-profile discussions in Beijing, where President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for the first time since their nations established a delicate trade agreement in South Korea last year.

While the Trump administration has refrained from implementing fresh technology export restrictions on China despite ongoing national security worries, lawmakers on Capitol Hill have taken initiative to address this void. Both chambers of Congress introduced bills last month designed to hamper Chinese semiconductor manufacturers’ ability to create AI chips, partly through mechanisms that would pressure allied nations to restrict equipment sales to China.

Beijing’s response has been swift and pointed. Chinese authorities have openly condemned the proposed law, developed retaliatory strategies should it pass, and according to sources familiar with the situation, called in American embassy personnel in China to voice their objections to the potential legislation.

Additionally, China’s Ministry of Commerce arranged a meeting in April at its Washington embassy with US semiconductor industry leaders to discuss chip-related matters, including the MATCH Act, though the specific companies involved were not disclosed.

“Congress understands how important it is for the United States to win the AI race with China — and Beijing understands its chipmaking industry is extremely vulnerable to American export control,” explained Ryan Fedasiuk, a former State Department adviser on US-China relations who anticipates the bill will surface during this week’s Beijing discussions.

Sources indicate that while other issues will dominate the summit agenda, Chinese representatives have already brought up the legislation during preliminary meetings leading up to the main talks.

The White House has remained neutral on the proposed law. When asked Friday about the bill and whether it might be discussed in Beijing, a White House representative declined to comment, stating: “We don’t get ahead of the President on pending legislation.”

Chinese embassy representatives in Washington also refused to comment on whether the bill has been raised in diplomatic conversations or discuss the embassy industry meeting or the summoning of US diplomatic staff in China.

However, Chinese officials have been vocal in their criticism since the bill’s introduction last month, and the government has announced potential countermeasures it could deploy if the legislation becomes law.

“The U.S. is using all sorts of pretexts to coerce other countries into joining its technological blockade against China,” stated Liu Pengyu, the Chinese embassy spokesperson, when asked about the MATCH Act by Reuters last month.

Following a House Foreign Affairs committee vote on April 22 that advanced the proposed legislation alongside other AI and semiconductor-related bills, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued its own statement.

“Should the relevant bills be enacted into law, they would severely undermine the international economic and trade order,” a MOFCOM spokesperson declared. China will “decisively take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

On April 13, China announced a new decree it could deploy against US regulations like the MATCH Act, including placing those who support or enforce inappropriate foreign extraterritorial actions on a “Malicious Entity List.” The measure also creates opportunities for legal challenges.

The MATCH Act seeks to eliminate loopholes in chipmaking equipment sales to China by focusing on essential technology from the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands — the three nations that control the market. Should foreign countries fail to restrict these exports within months of the law taking effect, the proposed legislation establishes a framework for the US to impose its own controls. The bill also mandates licensing for equipment maintenance services.

Netherlands-based ASML, the global leader in deep ultraviolet immersion lithography equipment, is considered a primary target of the legislation and could face new limitations in the Chinese market. Japanese equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron is also seen as potentially affected. ASML declined to provide comment, while Tokyo Electron did not respond to requests for comment.

The MATCH Act passed the House Foreign Affairs committee with a 36-8 vote last month, after the draft legislation underwent multiple revisions following lobbying efforts. Micron, America’s largest memory chip manufacturer, was a key supporter behind the bill, as Reuters previously reported.

Britain’s communications watchdog has imposed a record-breaking penalty of 950,000 pounds ($1.28 million) against an online platform that hosts suicide-related discussions, marking the most substantial financial punishment issued under the nation’s digital safety legislation.

Ofcom announced Wednesday that it would not disclose the identity of either the forum or its operator due to the sensitive nature of the material involved. The regulatory agency revealed that the platform has been connected to more than 130 fatalities across Britain and has been referenced in multiple coroner investigations.

According to the oversight body, the website contained material that promotes or facilitates suicide—which constitutes a criminal violation in Britain—including step-by-step guidance on harmful methods and conversations that might influence at-risk individuals.

“This is a significant fine on a suicide forum known for exploiting the most vulnerable in society,” stated Suzanne Cater, Ofcom’s director of enforcement.

Cater indicated that modifications implemented by the operator to limit British access proved inadequate. The regulator noted that the website remained accessible without virtual private network technology and that access limitations were not uniformly enforced.

The Online Safety Act, considered among the globe’s most comprehensive digital safety frameworks, requires platforms featuring user-created material to evaluate and reduce risks of users encountering prohibited content while ensuring swift removal.

The regulator’s probe, conducted from March 2025 through April 2026, discovered that harmful suicide-related material remained consistently available, including posts highlighted or reshared by the platform’s own administrators.

Officials determined that the operator had neglected to conduct proper risk evaluations, establish adequate systems to prevent exposure to prohibited material, or ensure rapid content removal.

The foreign-based operator has been given 10 business days to meet Ofcom’s demands. The agency stated it is working toward obtaining a judicial directive that would compel internet providers to restrict British access to the forum should violations persist.

International human rights organizations are calling on Poland to end its cooperation with United States deportation operations that send Ukrainian nationals back to their war-torn homeland through Polish airports.

Amnesty International and Human Rights First issued a joint appeal Wednesday, claiming these deportation practices could violate international legal standards by forcing people into dangerous conditions.

The organizations report that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted at least two deportation operations through Poland in November 2025 and March 2026, sending more than 50 individuals back to Ukraine.

“Forcibly transferring Ukrainians into an active war zone, where missiles strike nationwide, shocks the conscience and violates international law,” stated Uzra Zeya, CEO and president of Human Rights First.

Zeya continued, “Poland, which has offered generous safe haven to so many Ukrainian refugees, should refuse to facilitate the Trump administration’s forced transfers that send Ukrainians back to life-threatening circumstances.”

The advocacy groups revealed they contacted Polish officials on April 17 expressing their concerns about flights departing Phoenix, Arizona and landing at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland. After receiving no reply, they chose to make their correspondence public.

Polish Interior Ministry Spokesperson Karolina Galecka responded that her country has no formal deportation agreement with the United States, calling it “an internal matter between two countries — Ukraine and the United States.”

Galecka explained Poland serves merely as a transit location without direct involvement, with Border Guard personnel only conducting standard clearance procedures.

“Perhaps a Ukrainian citizen who is to be deported from the United States to Ukraine has no right to enter Poland. And here, a simple check is being carried out within the framework of statutory authority,” Galecka explained.

Bartosz Gorski, vice president of Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, refused to discuss the deportation flights and avoided questions about Polish government participation.

The US Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Records show another flight carrying Ukrainian deportees arrived at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport on April 30, though passenger numbers remain unknown.

President Donald Trump has intensified immigration enforcement since returning to office, with ICE expanding detention and removal operations. The administration defends these policies as necessary for border security and reducing illegal immigration, while critics argue they violate constitutional protections and civil liberties.

The human rights groups maintain that current conditions in Ukraine make deportations unsafe, noting that international law prohibits Poland from sending individuals to locations where they face threats to life or freedom.

“Polish authorities must investigate these incidents, establish the whereabouts of those affected and ensure they are protected from refoulement, treated with dignity, and provided with an effective remedy,” said Anna Błaszczak-Banasiak, director of Amnesty International Poland.

In a significant diplomatic development, Turkey has eliminated several customs barriers with Armenia, creating opportunities for indirect commercial exchange between the two nations after more than three decades of tense relations.

While Turkey was among the initial nations to acknowledge Armenia’s independence when it broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991, relations soured quickly. Turkey sealed its border with Armenia and suspended all direct commerce in 1993 to support Azerbaijan, its close ally, during the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

The countries have maintained no official diplomatic ties since that time, with their relationship complicated by deep historical animosity rooted in the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman military forces during World War One – events Armenia and numerous other nations classify as genocide.

According to Wednesday’s announcement from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, the updated trade rules now permit merchandise traveling from Turkey through a third nation to Armenia, or in the opposite direction, to be officially labeled with either “Armenia” or “Turkey” as the final destination or origin point.

Armenia’s economy, which represents only a small portion of Turkey’s economic size and relies heavily on energy imports from Russia and Iran, responded positively to the development.

“This decision is significant for expanding trade and business ties between the two countries, promoting economic connectivity in the region, and ensuring peace and prosperity,” stated Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan, as reported by the Armenpress state news agency.

Currently, both Yerevan and Ankara are engaged in discussions about reopening their 311-kilometer (193-mile) shared border.

Turkey has expressed willingness to reopen this eastern boundary, but only under the condition that Armenia finalizes a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, a nation sharing cultural and linguistic connections with Turkey. Armenia has also shown interest in border reopening.

Last August, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a peace framework brokered by the United States to end nearly four decades of hostilities, though they have not yet formalized a comprehensive peace treaty.

A complete peace agreement could dramatically reshape the South Caucasus region, an energy-rich area bordering Russia, Europe, and Iran that serves as a corridor for oil and gas pipelines but remains divided by closed borders and persistent ethnic disputes.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli confirmed Wednesday that efforts to reopen border crossings between the two countries remain ongoing.

Earlier this month, both nations signed an agreement to restore the historic Ani Bridge, a 10th-century structure that crosses a river along their mutual frontier.

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is battling to save his political career as King Charles III prepares to deliver the government’s legislative agenda to Parliament on Wednesday. The embattled Labour leader is facing mounting pressure to resign following devastating electoral defeats last week that have thrown his leadership into question.

On Tuesday, Starmer held a crucial meeting at Downing Street with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who many view as a potential successor. The meeting comes as speculation grows about a possible leadership challenge within the Labour Party.

The King’s Speech ceremony follows centuries-old traditions, with the monarch traveling by horse-drawn carriage from Buckingham Palace to Parliament. After donning the Imperial State Crown, King Charles will lead a formal procession to the House of Lords chamber.

In a symbolic display of parliamentary independence, an official known as Black Rod will summon members of the House of Commons, but the chamber doors will be slammed shut and only opened after three ceremonial strikes. The king will then read the government’s legislative program before lawmakers begin days of debate.

During Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Starmer acknowledged responsibility for the electoral failures but vowed to continue leading. “I took responsibility for the losses in last week’s elections but would fight on,” he stated.

Several Cabinet members publicly backed the prime minister as they departed Downing Street. Works and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden noted that no one directly confronted Starmer during the meeting, while Business Secretary Peter Kyle praised the prime minister’s “really steadfast leadership.”

Deputy leader David Lammy cautioned Labour members that internal divisions only benefit populist right-wing forces, particularly Reform UK’s Nigel Farage. “He has my full support, and what I say to colleagues is, look, let’s just step back,” Lammy said. “Take a breath.”

However, multiple junior ministers resigned Tuesday, including several first-time lawmakers elected during Labour’s overwhelming victory in July 2024. Housing Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh became the first to quit, calling on Starmer “to do the right thing for the country.”

Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, a prominent Labour figure, also stepped down. In her resignation letter, she called Starmer “a good man fundamentally” but criticized his inability to implement significant reforms.

Labour’s popularity has collapsed despite removing the Conservative Party from power after 14 years of rule. Critics point to policy failures, economic struggles, and questions about Starmer’s judgment, including his controversial selection of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States despite Mandelson’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Political observers are closely watching Health Secretary Streeting, who enjoys strong support among Labour lawmakers. Some speculate he may pressure Starmer to step aside, potentially triggering a cascade of resignations similar to the 2022 downfall of Boris Johnson.

The King’s Speech will outline several key initiatives, including measures to combat the cost of living crisis, establish a national wealth fund for infrastructure investment, and strengthen asylum regulations. Controversial proposals may include eliminating jury trials for certain cases, lowering the voting age to 16, and requiring public officials to cooperate fully with investigations.

With the next general election required by 2029, Labour faces the possibility of losing power if current polling trends continue following last week’s historic local election defeats.

Nigerian military officials are pushing back against reports of massive civilian casualties following an airstrike earlier this month in the country’s northwest region.

Defense officials stated Wednesday they have found no confirmed evidence that non-combatants were killed during the May 10 aerial operation in Zamfara state, dismissing casualty reports as unconfirmed and inaccurate.

The human rights organization Amnesty International claimed earlier this week that the airstrike killed at least 100 civilians when it hit a busy marketplace in Tumfa village. The group called for authorities to launch an immediate inquiry into the incident.

According to Amnesty International, eyewitnesses reported that many victims were women and children. Similar casualty figures have appeared in local news reports.

“No credible, substantiated evidence of civilian casualties has been established through any official assessment or independent verification,” stated Major-General Michael Onoja, the spokesperson for Defense Headquarters.

Onoja explained that the military operation followed international humanitarian guidelines and was aimed at a “confirmed high-level gathering” of militant commanders in the village, based on intelligence from multiple sources.

The defense spokesperson acknowledged that verifying casualties immediately after such operations is challenging, but said follow-up assessments confirmed that “several terrorists were neutralised.”

Nigerian forces have been engaged in ongoing conflicts with criminal groups in the northwest region, typically referring to these armed groups as terrorists. The military is simultaneously fighting a 17-year-old Islamist insurgency in the country’s northeastern areas.

NEW DELHI, May 13 – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has substantially downsized his official motorcade in an effort to conserve fuel, according to a government source who spoke Wednesday. The decision comes just days after Modi called on Indian citizens to implement cost-cutting measures as energy prices climb due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

On Sunday, Modi made a public appeal encouraging people to embrace frugal spending habits, which included limiting non-essential international trips, utilizing public transportation, decreasing gold buying, and reducing cooking oil consumption. The prime minister cited mounting global energy costs that are straining India’s foreign currency reserves.

After Modi’s public statement, social media users began criticizing the extensive motorcades used by top Indian officials, along with Modi’s domestic air travel and his planned European trip aboard the official government plane.

The government source explained that Modi’s motorcade vehicle count was decreased while maintaining necessary security elements, following guidelines from the Special Protection Group responsible for protecting the prime minister. The source did not reveal specific numbers regarding the motorcade’s current size.

Modi receives the nation’s top level of personal protection, and his motorcade previously included approximately twelve vehicles before the recent reduction.

The prime minister implemented smaller motorcades during this week’s trips to Gujarat, his home state, and Assam in northeastern India, according to the source. Modi has also requested the addition of electric vehicles to his motorcade when practical, but without purchasing new ones.

The source requested anonymity since they lacked authorization to discuss the matter with reporters.

The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

India ranks as the globe’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, depending significantly on supplies from the Strait of Hormuz for crude oil, liquefied natural gas, and cooking gas. The waterway has been affected by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Rising oil costs pose risks of expanding India’s current account deficit, damaging economic growth, and increasing inflation as Washington and Tehran work toward ending hostilities, over a month after a fragile ceasefire temporarily halted fighting.

While India has not yet increased petrol and diesel prices, an uptick is expected soon due to Middle Eastern developments.

The Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan announced Wednesday that legislator Puma Shen will represent them in the upcoming Taipei mayoral race, despite Beijing having imposed sanctions on him for activities China labels as promoting “separatism.”

The November elections for mayors and county leaders across Taiwan will serve as an important indicator of political sentiment before the island’s next presidential election scheduled for early 2028. China considers Taiwan part of its territory.

Shen faces an uphill battle against incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an from the opposition Kuomintang party, as polling data suggests Chiang maintains strong support for reelection.

During a press conference introducing Shen, President Lai Ching-te, who also leads the DPP, praised the candidate as “first rate talent” with deep appreciation for Taiwan’s democratic transformation from authoritarian governance.

“He also understands that the greatest threat to democracy and human rights still comes from China, and so he has actively engaged in efforts to counter cognitive warfare and disinformation, building Taiwan’s social defence resilience,” Lai added.

Beijing imposed sanctions on Shen in 2024, targeting both him and the Kuma Academy he helped establish. This organization conducts civilian defense training to help residents prepare for potential military action from China.

The sanctions prevent Shen from entering China and block the academy from conducting operations there, though these restrictions carry minimal real-world impact since DPP leadership rarely visits China and would be prohibited from running such programs regardless.

Taiwan’s government, led by the DPP, maintains that Beijing lacks legal authority over the island and insists that only Taiwan’s citizens can determine their political future.

Shen earned his doctorate in criminology and law from the University of California, Irvine. Both he and Chiang speak fluent English and frequently interact with international visitors.

The DPP has achieved victory in Taipei’s mayoral race just once, when Chen Shui-bian governed the city from 1994 to 1998 before becoming Taiwan’s first DPP president.

In the 2022 local elections, the DPP secured control of five cities and counties compared to the KMT’s 14 victories.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued alerts Wednesday about potential Russian drone assaults throughout the day, reporting that over 100 drones had entered Ukrainian airspace as Moscow shifts its attack strategy to daytime operations.

“Russia continues its strikes and is doing so brazenly – deliberately targeting our railway infrastructure and civilian sites in our cities,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

Moscow has traditionally conducted major drone and missile assaults under cover of darkness since the conflict began more than four years ago. However, recent weeks have seen Russia repeatedly launching hundreds of drones and missiles during daylight hours.

The military set a new record for weapons deployed in a single assault on March 24. Daytime strikes cause greater disruption to everyday civilian activities.

“It is important to repel every attack with resilience. It is important to support Ukraine and not remain silent about Russia’s war,” Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian air defense forces confirmed that Russia launched 139 drones against the nation starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday (1500 GMT), with 111 successfully intercepted or disabled.

While Moscow claims it does not deliberately target civilians, thousands have died during the conflict. Russian officials justify strikes on civilian infrastructure as legitimate military targets that weaken Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Ukraine has recently escalated its own long-distance attacks on Russian energy facilities, though on a more limited scale.

Ukrainian forces launched renewed drone strikes against Russian energy facilities Wednesday, marking the first major attacks since a temporary ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump concluded two days earlier.

The coordinated assault targeted oil refineries and port facilities across Russia as Ukraine continues its strategy of disrupting Moscow’s energy revenues to weaken its war capabilities in the ongoing four-year conflict.

Russian defense officials reported intercepting and destroying 286 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions during overnight operations Wednesday.

In Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, falling drone debris sparked a blaze near an industrial complex in Volna village, close to the Taman port where oil and other energy products are processed, according to regional officials.

Another Ukrainian drone strike caused a fire at a gas processing and fuel production facility in Russia’s Astrakhan region, local authorities confirmed.

Regional Governor Igor Babushkin posted on Telegram that “All enemy aircraft were either shot down or neutralised by electronic warfare systems. The debris caused a fire.”

Babushkin reported no injuries or fatalities from the incident and said firefighters expected to contain the blaze within hours.

The targeted facility sits near the Caspian Sea, approximately 1,040 miles from Ukraine’s border.

President Donald Trump plans to make artificial intelligence a central topic during his upcoming discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, marking the first time AI has taken such prominence in high-level diplomatic talks, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the planning.

The meeting comes at a time when competition between America and China in artificial intelligence has escalated into what some experts describe as resembling a nuclear arms race from the Cold War era. The urgency for dialogue has increased following Anthropic’s release of its advanced Mythos AI model, which has raised concerns on both sides, analysts report.

Chinese officials were denied early access to preview the Mythos system, sparking worries that the technology might be used maliciously to infiltrate Chinese software infrastructure and banking networks.

The inclusion of NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang and senior White House technology policy adviser Michael Kratsios in Trump’s diplomatic team indicates that serious discussions about AI and NVIDIA’s advanced H200 processors may feature prominently in the summit talks.

Beijing has proposed establishing a formal AI communication framework headed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese deputy finance minister Liao Min, according to a source with knowledge of China’s diplomatic outreach. This proposed dialogue was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Expectations remain modest, however, since neither agency specializes in artificial intelligence matters, and the Trump administration has only recently begun pursuing safety reviews for cutting-edge AI systems.

White House representatives have recognized that sophisticated AI technologies like Mythos necessitate establishing a “channel of communication” with China to prevent conflicts from emerging during their implementation.

Research firm IDC China cautions that excluding Chinese companies from Mythos access could widen a “generational gap” in AI defense capabilities between China and Western nations.

Anthropic announced last month that Mythos discovered “thousands” of significant security flaws in operating systems and software, prompting banks and governments worldwide to urgently strengthen their cybersecurity protections.

The United States has previously established technology safeguards with Beijing, particularly regarding nuclear proliferation, and in 2024 both countries agreed that human oversight, not AI systems, must govern nuclear weapon decisions.

Researchers now warn that the risks are escalating: sophisticated AI could speed up biological weapons development, cause financial market disruptions, enhance cyber attacks and misinformation efforts, and potentially operate beyond human oversight as “rogue” systems acting independently.

Both nations could establish a blame-free communication line to report suspected AI-related incidents, suggested Kwan Yee Ng, who leads international AI governance at Beijing-based AI safety firm Concordia AI.

“Getting senior Western figures to engage directly with China (on AI) has become increasingly difficult, though a positive signal from the Xi-Trump summit could change that,” Ng stated.

While a military communication line exists, U.S. officials have criticized China for frequently failing to respond to calls.

Additional experts recommend creating safety measures for advanced AI models or pledging to decrease AI-powered malicious activities, similar to the 2015 U.S.-China Cybersecurity Agreement.

“China likely hopes the U.S. will appropriately distinguish between AI governance and technological containment,” said Sun Chenghao from Tsinghua University, who has taken part in unofficial U.S.-China Track II AI discussions.

As AI competition intensifies, U.S. legislators are advocating for extensive new restrictions on China’s semiconductor supply chain access, while the Trump administration simultaneously relaxes certain limits on advanced chip exports to China.

The MATCH Act has prompted objections from Beijing and may be discussed during summit meetings, alongside current U.S. chip export restrictions, according to three sources knowledgeable about the situation.

“This is a really crucial window for Beijing to act and try to get the U.S. to commit to shutting it down,” said Reva Goujon, a geopolitical strategist at Rhodium Group.

Although Chinese AI companies like DeepSeek increasingly emphasize their dependence on domestic processors, U.S. restrictions on chip manufacturing equipment continue to hinder Beijing’s self-reliance efforts as domestic factories struggle to increase production. Power computing shortages have compelled numerous Chinese AI systems to limit user access in recent months.

Conflicts are also intensifying on another issue: the White House has charged China with large-scale theft of American AI laboratories’ intellectual property.

In a sharp editorial last week, the Communist Party’s primary publication cautioned that Western AI policies have evolved beyond focused restrictions to what it termed a “systematic ecosystem blockade” against China.

“When one side sees AI as a proliferation risk to be contained and the other sees containment as an attack on a general-purpose technology, that makes it really difficult to find common ground,” Ng explained.

Tensions from the Middle East conflict are expected to complicate a gathering of foreign ministers from BRICS nations beginning Thursday in New Delhi, potentially hampering the economic bloc’s efforts to issue a unified statement.

The alliance, which started with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has grown to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates in recent years.

Tehran has pressed India, which holds the BRICS chairmanship for 2026, to leverage the organization’s platform in building support for condemnation of U.S. and Israeli military actions in the Gulf region.

The most significant disagreements have surfaced between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, nations positioned on opposite sides of a conflict that began February 28 with U.S. and Israeli military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi plans to arrive Wednesday evening for the two-day conference running through May 15, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also scheduled to participate.

UAE representation at the gathering remains unclear. Recent tensions have escalated following reports of military strikes by UAE and Saudi Arabian forces against Iran in response to Iranian attacks.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted in March that direct involvement of certain BRICS members in the conflict had made it “difficult for us to forge a consensus.”

A separate ministry official expressed optimism to Reuters about achieving a joint declaration following the ministerial discussions.

“Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming. This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south,” commented former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri.

“Of course political solutions are difficult but the fact that they are meeting is positive and hopefully it will lead to a way forward.”

Rising energy costs from the conflict have forced several BRICS countries, including India, to implement emergency economic protection measures for their markets and citizens.

Beijing has maintained a relatively neutral position thus far, reflecting its strong relationships with both Iran and Arab nations with Sunni majorities.

Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong will attend in place of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who cannot travel due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing this week.

A fire erupted at a Russian gas processing facility Wednesday following a Ukrainian drone strike in the southern Astrakhan region, according to local officials.

Regional Governor Igor Babushkin reported on Telegram that Ukrainian aircraft targeted the area but were intercepted. “All enemy aircraft were either shot down or neutralised by electronic warfare systems,” Babushkin wrote on Telegram. “The debris caused a fire.”

The governor confirmed no one was hurt in the incident and said crews expected to put out the flames within several hours.

The affected facility sits near the Caspian Sea, approximately 1,040 miles away from Ukraine’s border.

MOSCOW, May 13 – Russia’s top diplomat expressed frustration Wednesday over the lack of concrete progress in US-Russia relations, despite optimistic statements about cooperation possibilities.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged that while there has been encouraging talk about the vast potential for US-Russia partnerships, actual developments have been absent.

Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential race, the new administration opened communication channels with Russian President Vladimir Putin and made multiple pledges to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end, though a peaceful resolution remains out of reach.

Speaking to RT India in English, Lavrov noted that promising statements regarding collaboration in technology, energy, and various other sectors have failed to materialize into tangible results. He did express Moscow’s gratitude for Trump’s efforts to begin conversations with Russian leadership.

“However, nothing is happening in real life,” stated Lavrov, who has held the foreign minister position since 2004, according to a transcript released by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

The veteran diplomat observed that current discussions with Moscow mirror those that took place during Joe Biden’s presidency. “Aside from this regular dialogue — which is normal in relations between people and countries — everything else follows the pattern initiated by President Biden,” Lavrov explained.

“The sanctions imposed under him have remained in force. Moreover, the Trump administration has adopted its own initiatives in order to punish Russia’s economy.”

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Rising fuel prices triggered by the Iran conflict are pushing desperate consumers across Asia to embrace rooftop solar energy systems, creating a potential financial boon for China as the globe’s dominant solar technology supplier.

The Philippines, currently facing a national energy crisis, conducted a survey of 20 regional solar companies that revealed weekly installations jumped 70% with customer inquiries increasing six-fold since hostilities commenced.

“This crisis is a driving force for solar,” said Brenda Valerio of the nonprofit New Energy Nexus, which conducted the survey. “People want solar and people want solar now.”

China appears positioned to capitalize on war-driven demand. Chinese clean technology equipment exports reached record levels in March, according to energy think tank Ember, while global solar interest continues climbing.

“China really is, by far, leading this race,” said Li Shuo, director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Climate Hub, who described the renewable industry as “a one-man show.”

The Philippines, heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude oil and liquefied natural gas, ranks among Southeast Asian nations most severely affected by Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

Domestic airlines are considering fuel rationing measures. Public transportation workers are receiving emergency cash assistance. Gasoline and diesel costs have surged dramatically. Government offices have adopted four-day work schedules and must maintain air conditioning temperatures at 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher to preserve energy.

Climate nonprofit 350.org estimates that oil and gas price increases during the Iran war’s initial 60 days have cost Filipino consumers, businesses and public institutions over $600 million.

“When we got our energy bill after the Iran war broke out, we were very shocked. It was wow. It was a significant increase,” said Jaime Quemado, who recently purchased a rooftop solar system in Manila.

Quemado also expressed growing worries about possible power outages, prompting his search for alternative energy sources like “solar, which is very abundant here in the Philippines.”

Consumer interest in rooftop solar systems skyrocketed from approximately 115 inquiries in February, before the Iran war started on Feb. 28, to over 450 by mid-April, the New Energy Nexus survey showed.

Solar organizations must “ride this wave and take advantage of this momentum,” Valerio said.

During two scorching days in Manila, EcoSolutions technicians endured extreme heat while installing an 18-kilowatt rooftop solar array featuring 28 panels from major Chinese manufacturer LONGi and four batteries from Suzhou-based battery company Dyness.

The conflict has “helped the solar industry really get its footing,” EcoSolutions president Richmond Reyes said.

Joel Remegio of the Association of Solar Installers of the Philippines called the energy crisis a “game changer” for the country’s emerging solar sector.

Clean technology like rooftop solar can be rapidly deployed because it is “accessible to all of us,” according to Marissa Cerezo of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau.

This “gives us the power to choose them,” she said.

Solar adoption is spreading throughout Southeast Asia.

Indonesia established an aggressive goal to deploy 100 gigawatts of rooftop solar by 2034, a dramatic increase from its current 1.3 gigawatts. Vietnam aims to install rooftop solar on at least 10% of government buildings and residences nationwide by 2030. Thailand is evaluating new policies to enhance rooftop solar benefits by expanding the amount of excess energy the national grid can purchase.

The energy crisis is motivating these decisions, according to Yu Sun Chin of the research group Zero Carbon Analytics.

“It totally makes sense for policymakers to take another look at rooftop solar and see ways that they can save costs,” she said.

Online marketplaces and utility companies throughout the United States and Europe have also documented increases in solar sales and inquiries since the Iran war started.

“Solar is definitely one of the easiest things people can do” to reduce monthly electricity costs, said Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy and climate policy at Oxford University.

The accessibility and cost-effectiveness of rooftop solar make it the most practical clean technology option given the higher expenses for purchasing electric vehicles or installing heat pumps, Rosenow said.

Ember, the energy think tank, reported China exported 68 gigawatts worth of clean technology products in March, matching Spain’s total solar capacity and doubling its February production. The Iran war is accelerating global energy transformation, Ember determined.

Exports to Africa reached 10 gigawatts, a 176% increase from February, with substantial growth in Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia. Exports to other Asian countries doubled to 39 gigawatts, including significant increases to India, Malaysia and Laos.

Ramnath Iyer of the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis said the transition’s pace depends on whether world leaders “decide to go ahead with electrification and move away from fossil fuels.”

Li of the China Climate Hub noted Chinese companies maintained excess inventory of solar panels and other equipment before the war, positioning them perfectly to exploit current demand.

“When it comes to the clean tech sector, China at this point in time is already so far ahead,” Li said. “The current situation in Iran will help China cement its dominance.”

Spain’s government is moving forward with comprehensive technology regulations designed to make social media platforms and artificial intelligence systems safer, even as major tech companies intensify their lobbying efforts to stop the proposed rules.

Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez told Reuters that corporate interests won’t derail the country’s regulatory plans. “The profit of four tech companies cannot come at the expense of the rights of millions,” Lopez stated, noting that “powerful voices” are working to oppose measures that would restrict dangerous AI applications and require companies to reveal how their social media recommendation systems operate.

Lopez’s statements align with recent remarks from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who announced Tuesday that the Commission plans to target harmful and addictive features used by social media companies through its forthcoming Digital Fairness Act.

Spain joins a growing international movement, alongside Australia, France and Greece, in pursuing stricter tech oversight. In February, Spanish lawmakers introduced legislation to prohibit social media access for teenagers, with the bill currently advancing through parliament. Additional proposed rules would make platform executives personally liable for hate speech content appearing on their services.

The regulatory push drew harsh criticism from X owner Elon Musk, who labeled Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez both a tyrant and totalitarian figure.

According to Lopez, Spain prefers coordinating with other European Union nations rather than acting alone, since unified rules across the 400-million-person bloc would be more effective than individual country approaches. He cautioned that supporters of unrestricted tech policies will eventually regret championing “the law of the jungle.”

The minister connected Spain’s regulatory drive to mounting concerns about online harassment, cyberbullying, and artificially generated explicit images targeting minors, particularly young girls. Lopez characterized the psychological effects on children as reaching pandemic levels.

Spain has emerged as a leading European voice promoting what Lopez termed “trustworthy AI” – technology frameworks that prioritize privacy protection, democratic values, child safety and public welfare over rapid deployment and maximum profits.

When asked about identifying anonymous users who commit online crimes, Lopez emphasized that digital anonymity shouldn’t provide legal immunity. “What isn’t legal in the real world cannot be legal in the virtual world. Full stop,” he declared.

The leader of Cyprus believes the United Nations could present a new peace proposal to heal the island’s long-standing division before UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his current term in December.

President Nikos Christodoulides, speaking for the Greek Cypriot community in ongoing discussions with Turkish Cypriots, shared these remarks during a Tuesday evening television interview with Alpha TV Cyprus.

According to Christodoulides, he received word that Guterres felt optimistic following conversations with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during March meetings.

“We might be close to developments, which may lead to a peace plan,” Christodoulides stated during the broadcast.

The Mediterranean island nation has remained partitioned since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the northern territory following a military coup backed by Greece.

The roots of the conflict trace back to shortly after Cyprus gained independence from British rule in 1960, when a joint governing arrangement between the two ethnic communities broke down amid violent clashes.

Today, Greek Cypriots operate the internationally recognized government in the southern portion, while Turkish Cypriots manage the northern region, with a United Nations-monitored neutral zone separating the two areas.

Previous substantial peace talks fell apart in 2017 due to disputes over Turkey’s potential involvement in a proposed federal system that would have created two autonomous regions under a unified central authority.

Back in 2004, Greek Cypriots voted down a UN reunification proposal, citing inadequate provisions for security guarantees, questions about the sustainability of the merged nation, and unresolved property claims for thousands of displaced residents.

Turkish Cypriots, whose northern territory receives recognition only from Turkey, had supported that earlier proposal.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Wednesday that his country is exploring ways to gradually support maritime security operations in the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level discussions with American defense officials.

During a press briefing with South Korean journalists in Washington, Ahn revealed details of his Monday meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, where Seoul outlined its position on potential involvement in the strategic waterway.

“We said at about this level that, fundamentally, we will participate as a responsible member of the international community and that we will review ways to contribute in a phased manner,” Ahn stated, according to confirmation from Seoul’s defense ministry.

The minister outlined several potential forms of graduated assistance, including diplomatic backing, personnel deployment, intelligence sharing, and providing military equipment. However, he emphasized that detailed conversations about expanding South Korean military presence had not occurred.

“There was no deep discussion on something like specifically expanding our military’s participation,” he explained, noting that any future commitments would require approval through South Korea’s domestic legal processes.

Wi Sung-lac, who serves as South Korea’s presidential national security adviser, told reporters during a Wednesday roundtable that the government is examining whether to join America’s Maritime Freedom Construct, designed to protect shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The defense talks occurred one day after Seoul condemned an assault on a South Korean-flagged cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz the previous week. South Korea’s presidential administration issued strong criticism of the incident while maintaining that investigations into who was responsible remain ongoing.

Ahn confirmed he addressed the ship attack with American officials, stating that Seoul would determine its response only after completing its investigation.

During Monday’s meeting, Hegseth emphasized Washington’s expectation for allies to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” against increasing global security challenges, referencing President Donald Trump’s authorization of Operation Epic Fury as demonstration of the administration’s commitment.

The U.S. Defense Secretary commended Seoul’s plans to boost military spending and take on greater security responsibilities for the Korean Peninsula, describing it as effective alliance burden-sharing.

Ahn reported that Hegseth showed understanding regarding South Korea’s stance on a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from American forces, along with Seoul’s objective to complete this transition quickly.

However, the minister noted that Washington maintained a “slightly different view” on the OPCON transfer timeline, adding that South Korea would continue working to align American perspectives with their position.

President Lee Jae Myung’s government has indicated its intention to finalize the operational control process during his presidency, which extends through 2030, once the country satisfies military capability requirements previously agreed upon with Washington.

The defense leaders also discussed other partnership matters, including South Korea’s plans for developing nuclear-powered submarines.

Ahn clarified that their discussions did not address potential reductions in U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea or changes to the strategic flexibility of American troops deployed in the country.

French President Emmanuel Macron is under fire following a controversial moment at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya where he took over the stage to silence what he deemed disruptive audience members.

The French leader left his seat and approached the stage during a presentation featuring artists and young entrepreneurs, taking the microphone to address what he characterized as a “total lack of respect” from attendees who were talking during the session. Speaking in English, Macron told the crowd he would “restore order” after becoming visibly agitated by the noise level in the room.

The Monday incident quickly gained traction on social media platforms, generating mixed reactions ranging from support to sharp criticism and ridicule.

The summit represents France’s attempt to redefine its relationship with African nations, moving away from its historical role as a dominant colonial force toward what French officials characterize as an equal partnership. During Tuesday’s proceedings, Macron unveiled a $27 billion investment package targeting multiple African sectors including energy, artificial intelligence, and agriculture.

While some attendees supported Macron’s intervention, others viewed it as inappropriate and reminiscent of colonial-era attitudes.

“Just imagine what would happen if an African leader did the same thing in America or Europe,” commented Thierno Mbaye, a history student at a Dakar university. “He acted like a schoolteacher scolding children,” Mbaye explained to The Associated Press.

The criticism extended to France itself, where lawmakers questioned Macron’s approach.

“It’s stronger than him: as soon as he sets foot on the African continent, he can’t help but behave like a colonizer,” wrote Danièle Obono, a representative from the hard-left France Unbowed party, in a social media post.

The 30-nation summit, scheduled to conclude Tuesday with a signed declaration from all participating heads of state, occurs during a period of strained relations between France and several of its former West African colonies.

For decades, France maintained what critics called “Françafrique” – a system of economic, political, and military influence that included deploying thousands of troops throughout regions under its former control.

Following sustained criticism from African leaders and opposition groups who described France’s approach as condescending and heavy-handed, the country has pulled most of its military presence from the region. The troop withdrawal from Senegal was completed in July.

Macron had already generated controversy before the summit began when he declared during a Sunday press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto that “we are the true Pan-Africanists.”

“We believe that Africa is a continent, and that this continent has an enormous amount to build,” Macron stated.

The Pan-Africanist movement historically focuses on African unity and the elimination of colonial influence, making Macron’s claim particularly provocative given France’s extensive colonial history across the continent.

“Pan Africanism is not a brand, Mr. Macron, neither is it a diplomatic posture,” Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema wrote in a Monday open letter. “It is a political philosophy that said no to everything France spent three centuries saying yes to: slavery, colonialism and neocolonialism.”

Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst with geopolitical risk consultancy Control Risks, suggested Macron is attempting to recover from France’s diplomatic and military failures in West Africa by focusing on eastern African nations where France maintains better relationships.

Ochieng noted that Macron’s statements raise questions about whether France’s renewed African engagement represents genuine equal partnership or simply strategic rhetoric.

French government officials from both the presidency and Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

On Tuesday, Macron emphasized that Paris would respect African nations’ independence, stating that “sovereignty and autonomy is shared, and your success is our success.”

Alioune Tine, who founded the Afrikajom Center think tank, interpreted Macron’s Pan-Africanist claim as potentially targeting Russia, which has emerged as France’s replacement as a security partner in several West African countries.

“When Macron describes himself as the ‘true’ pan-Africanist, it is also a subtle response to the pro-Russian pan-Africanist voices online, which French officials tend to view as inauthentic or politically manipulated,” Tine explained.

Tine acknowledged that Western powers, including France, typically maintain paternalistic relationships with African states, but credited Macron with attempting to move away from colonial practices through a more informal diplomatic approach designed to rebuild trust.

An Ipsos poll commissioned by the French Foreign Ministry and conducted in nine African countries prior to the summit found that 74% of respondents maintain a positive view of France. The highest approval ratings came from English-speaking nations and respondents under 35 years old.

Macron, who became the first French president born after the colonial period, promised following his 2017 election victory to fundamentally restructure France’s relationship with African nations.

LONDON — Britain’s King Charles III will present his government’s legislative priorities to Parliament members Wednesday during the traditional ceremonial opening, complete with the historic pageantry that marks this significant political event.

The central question remains whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer will survive politically to execute these plans, and if he does weather the current governmental turmoil, whether he’ll possess sufficient political capital to advance his agenda through Parliament.

This King’s Speech represents Starmer’s second effort to rescue his leadership position following devastating defeats for his Labour Party in recent local and regional voting. These electoral setbacks have further undermined his already fragile hold on authority and intensified demands from Labour Party colleagues for his resignation, as they argue Starmer has failed to aggressively address escalating living costs, economic disparity, and deteriorating public infrastructure.

Starmer’s troubles deepened following his Monday address to party members, which was promoted as the beginning of his political comeback. Critics dismissed the speech as “tone deaf” and lacking the decisive policy measures necessary to address Britain’s challenges. Cabinet member Jess Phillips, who served as Safeguarding Minister, stepped down Tuesday, stating the administration needed to “have a row, push back, make arguments, bring people along.”

Wednesday’s King’s Speech will highlight the contrast between Britain’s ceremonial grandeur and its contemporary challenges as a medium-sized nation facing military budget constraints, mounting debt, and diminished global standing. The country continues wrestling with immigration control and funding essential services including healthcare and education.

The royal address forms part of Parliament’s state opening ceremony, a cornerstone political tradition featuring elaborate ceremonial displays that demonstrate Britain’s transformation from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy, where true authority rests with the elected House of Commons.

Political observers will scrutinize this year’s proceedings particularly closely given Starmer’s vulnerable political standing.

Expected legislative proposals include measures targeting the cost-of-living emergency, establishing a national wealth fund to encourage private infrastructure investment, and strengthening asylum seeker regulations. Additional possibilities include the administration’s disputed plan to eliminate jury trials for certain cases in England and Wales, reducing the voting age to 16, and implementing a “duty of candor” requiring public officials to provide truthful testimony and cooperate with investigations.

Starmer’s challenge lies in the fact that many anticipated proposals have already been publicly announced, raising doubts about his ability to satisfy skeptical party members.

Nevertheless, the speech anchors a day steeped in ceremony and tradition maintained since 1852, incorporating customs dating to the 1500s.

The monarch customarily journeys from Buckingham Palace to Parliament, covering less than one mile in a horse-drawn carriage. Upon arrival, he assumes the Imperial State Crown and ceremonial robes before leading a formal procession into the House of Lords chamber.

An official known as Black Rod, named for the ceremonial ebony staff carried, proceeds to the House of Commons to invite members to the joint parliamentary session. Commons chamber doors are ceremonially shut in Black Rod’s presence to demonstrate the chamber’s independence from royal authority, reopening only after Black Rod strikes the doors three times.

Following the Commons members’ entry into the Lords chamber, the monarch reads a government-authored speech outlining the legislative agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session.

After the address concludes and the king departs, both parliamentary houses commence several days of debate regarding the speech’s contents.

LONDON — The Princess of Wales is planning her first international journey since revealing her cancer has gone into remission, with a scheduled visit to Italy dedicated to studying early childhood education methods.

Catherine, widely known as Kate, will visit the northern Italian city of Reggio Emilia to examine their innovative child-focused educational philosophy, which has gained international recognition among educators worldwide. Her office describes the journey as an international research mission to investigate various methods of supporting young children and their caregivers.

The destination selection for Kate’s initial foreign travel following her 2024 cancer battle was deliberate, as early childhood development represents the primary charitable focus for the future queen and mother of three children.

“She wants to make a point that she is going to keep making this her cause,” explained Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine.

The educational philosophy practiced in Reggio Emilia centers on recognizing that children possess multiple ways of thinking, learning and communicating, requiring educators to collaborate with students in their learning journey.

According to Kensington Palace officials, the visit will emphasize how environmental factors and human connections surrounding children are essential for building foundations for resilient and healthy development.

“The Reggio Emilia approach clearly suits the narrative at the start of international operations,” Little noted.

This trip supports her leadership of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, established in 2021 to raise awareness about the critical importance of supporting children during their first five years.

The 44-year-old princess, among Britain’s most beloved royal family members, has demonstrated exceptional ability to draw public attention to causes she champions.

When Catherine revealed her completed chemotherapy treatment through a professionally produced social media video, she entered territory previously unexplored by royal family members, who historically avoided discussing personal health matters publicly.

Her approach utilized modern communication methods, sharing through social platforms how cancer disrupted her privileged life, creating connection with countless others facing similar battles.

Subsequently, when announcing her remission status, she dedicated time to supporting fellow cancer patients at the medical facility where she received her own care.

Through social media, she expressed gratitude to everyone who supported her and Prince William throughout the challenging treatment and recovery period. During her visit to London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, she embraced patients and praised her own medical care as outstanding.

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,” the princess wrote in a message signed with her initial, C. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”

Her current normal includes serving as the primary advocate for early childhood education, encompassing learning and development for children from birth through age five.

Significant work remains in Britain, where advocates report insufficient available spaces and inadequately trained educators.

Edoardo Masset, associate research director at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, emphasized the importance of Kate’s early childhood development focus for bringing attention to issues significantly impacting children.

“This relationship between early years education and success later in life is supported not only by strong theoretical arguments, but also by a large body of evidence on the effectiveness of programs for preschool children,” Masset wrote in a blog post.

SYDNEY, May 13 — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has implemented significant changes to property investment tax incentives, sparking praise from prospective homebuyers while drawing sharp criticism from real estate investors in what analysts view as a pivotal policy decision for his second term.

The Labor administration reduced tax write-offs for property investors and modified the capital gains tax structure in Tuesday’s budget announcement, abandoning the previous flat 50% discount for assets owned longer than one year in favor of an inflation-adjusted system. This represents a reversal of campaign commitments made during last year’s election cycle.

The policy changes carry exceptional significance in Australia, where real estate investment dominates national financial planning and wealth-building strategies, despite housing costs ranking among the globe’s least affordable markets.

Government officials prepared for the announcement by emphasizing generational equity concerns, a messaging strategy political experts believe targets younger demographics. Early responses revealed a clear divide, with many young Australians supporting the reforms while current investors expressed doubts about their impact.

“I think for too long, the way that tax has been set up in this country massively benefits those who already have wealth, those who already have assets, those who already own homes, those who are already investing,” said Sharath Mahendran, a 24-year-old student in Sydney who does not own a home and supports the changes.

However, Jack Henderson, a 29-year-old investor who owns 17 properties, argued the modifications would unfairly burden smaller-scale investors lacking sophisticated tax planning resources.

“Your normal mum-and-dad investor who is literally just trying to get ahead by buying one or two investment properties, which is over 80% of property investors in Australia, that’s who it’s going to affect, which is sad,” he said. “They’re not going to know what to do.”

The capital gains tax discount, established in 1999 under a conservative coalition administration, combined with years of declining interest rates and substantial immigration, has pushed housing costs beyond reach for typical Australians without family wealth.

During his budget presentation, Treasurer Jim Chalmers highlighted that residential property values have increased more than 400% since 1999, outpacing average wage growth by a factor of two.

Currently, Australia claims five positions among the 15 least affordable cities globally based on price-to-income ratios, with only Hong Kong’s densely populated market exceeding Sydney’s costs, according to Demographia research.

Labor previously suffered electoral defeat in 2019 while campaigning on similar reform proposals. The party gained confidence after securing power in 2022 and significantly expanding its parliamentary majority in last year’s election, though observers still anticipated the capital gains and negative gearing policies would remain untouched.

Chalmers acknowledged Wednesday that the policy shift would prove “very politically contentious,” while conservative opposition leaders condemned the administration for violating election promises and pledged to resist the changes.

Political analysts characterized the move as surprisingly aggressive for the typically cautious Albanese.

“Once they won with such a massive majority, what really came out of that was not so much of a vindication of their election strategy, but pressure from voters to say, ‘hey, you don’t have any excuses anymore’,” said Greg Jericho, chief economist at the Australia Institute think tank.

Last year’s election marked the first time Millennial and Generation Z voters exceeded Baby Boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — who have predominantly benefited from existing tax advantages.

Chalmers projected that 75,000 prospective homebuyers previously excluded from the housing market would gain purchasing power through these policy adjustments.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear and increasingly unacceptable to see so many young Australians, and Australians more broadly, locked out of the dream of owning their first home,” Chalmers said in a television interview on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to land in Beijing today for crucial diplomatic meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts continue without resolution.

The president’s delegation includes several prominent business leaders, with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang being a recent addition to the traveling party. Trump has stated his goal is to “open up China” through these discussions.

Prior to the scheduled talks, Chinese officials have emphasized their position on Taiwan, declaring their opposition to Taiwanese independence is “as firm as a rock” and their ability to “crush” separatist movements remains “unbreakable.”

However, there are indications of possible cooperation between the two nations. Both countries are exploring the possibility of extending an agreement regarding Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports, though customs records indicate Beijing continues to limit shipments of these materials essential for defense and manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, the economic impact of Middle Eastern tensions has begun affecting financial markets, particularly following Tuesday’s inflation report that exceeded expectations.

Market analysts have essentially eliminated the possibility of Federal Reserve interest rate reductions this year, with many now considering rate increases more probable. The likelihood of at least a 25 basis point increase at December’s Federal Reserve meeting has jumped from under 22% to over 35% this week, based on CME’s FedWatch Tool data.

These prospects initially caused market declines on Wednesday, though regional stocks later recovered. S&P 500 e-mini futures gained 0.1% while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan also rose 0.1% after earlier losses.

South Korean markets experienced significant volatility, dropping as much as 3.2% before rebounding to gain 2.4%. Samsung Electronics saw dramatic swings, falling 6.1% before recovering to trade 1.8% higher, following failed wage negotiations with its South Korean workers union on Wednesday.

This labor dispute could lead more than 50,000 employees to proceed with a comprehensive strike that may disrupt production of artificial intelligence and other semiconductor chips.

European markets showed positive momentum in early trading, with pan-regional futures climbing 0.6%, German DAX futures advancing 0.4%, and FTSE futures gaining 0.5%.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — While Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt global energy markets and cause worldwide economic strain, the nation’s domestic financial crisis is putting severe pressure on its ability to endure ongoing conflict and resist pressure from Washington.

Citizens across Iran are grappling with skyrocketing costs for essential items including food and medical supplies. The nation has simultaneously experienced widespread unemployment and business failures due to strike-related damage to crucial industries and extended government-imposed internet blackouts.

The financial impact of ongoing hostilities and America’s maritime blockade “has been very substantial and unprecedented for Iran,” according to Hadi Kahalzadeh, an Iranian economist and research fellow at Brandeis University.

However, Iran has endured multiple decades of financial pressure and sanctions, and its ability to adjust remains intact, Kahalzadeh noted.

“Iran can probably avoid a complete economic collapse or total shortage of essential goods, but at a very high cost,” he explained. “The main cost will be passed to ordinary Iranians through higher inflation, more poverty, weaker services and a much harder daily life.”

The International Monetary Fund forecasts Iran’s economy will contract by approximately 6 percentage points over the coming year. Government statistics released in mid-April showed yearly inflation reached 53.7%, while food price inflation exceeded 115% compared to the previous year’s figures.

Iran’s rial has simultaneously plummeted, losing more than half its worth over the past twelve months and hitting a historic low of 1.9 million per dollar at the end of last month. These economic hardships contributed to widespread demonstrations that swept the nation in January.

Sitting under an overpass in downtown Tehran, 56-year-old Hossein Farmani waited with fellow taxi drivers for potential passengers. Opening his car’s trunk to retrieve a kettle for tea, he contemplated the dramatic price surges over recent months. Tea prices, like milk and other staples, have increased more than 50% since hostilities began.

“If things keep heading in this direction, we’re going to suffer a lot more,” Farmani said.

While costs had been climbing gradually over two years, an Associated Press survey of Tehran grocery stores revealed dramatic increases since February, before the conflict started: poultry and lamb prices rose 45%, rice climbed 31%, and eggs jumped 60%.

Government officials have announced assistance programs to help citizens cope with crushing expenses. However, many policies — including a 60% minimum wage increase and voucher systems for basic goods — are actually fueling inflation, according to Taymur Rahmani, a University of Tehran economist, writing in the prominent business publication Dunya-ye Eqtesad.

Free public transportation introduced since the conflict began has also hurt the capital’s already struggling taxi operators.

Mohammad Deljoo, a 73-year-old driver waiting nearby, explained he supports his two children on just $4 daily income. While store shelves remain stocked, he attributes problems to “price gouging.”

“We only buy what’s absolutely necessary, things like bread and potatoes. Even eggs have become too expensive for us,” Deljoo said. Vehicle tire and parts costs have increased fivefold within a year.

“One price today, another tomorrow. How is that possible?” he questioned.

Facing widespread layoffs, many citizens are desperately seeking alternative income sources. Ali Asghar Nahardani, 32, said his ride-sharing company hasn’t paid him in over a month, forcing him into street vending to cover basic expenses.

“We’re just living day by day, trying to get through this situation while the war conditions continue,” he explained.

The strait’s closure has driven up global energy costs. Within Iran, however, the conflict represents another blow to a once-thriving middle class already devastated by decades of sanctions.

By 2019, Iran’s middle class had already contracted to approximately 55% of the population, according to Mohammad Farzanegan, a Middle Eastern economics professor at the University of Marburg. Additional sanctions, conflicts, corruption, and poor economic management have further reduced that figure, he said.

The current conflict will likely force millions more Iranians into poverty, based on a United Nations development agency report from late March.

A fitness instructor living in central Tehran characterized the economic emergency as a mental health crisis affecting Iranian society. Many clients can no longer afford her services, and remaining customers increasingly discuss managing depression symptoms.

“The system is just collapsing. The layoffs are in factories, in companies, in startups, in whatever your work is,” she said via Telegram voice message, requesting anonymity due to safety concerns.

The trainer has dramatically reduced grocery purchases.

“The last time I bought meat was about two months ago.” She’s also discontinued therapy sessions started after her divorce last year. “I am pursuing a master’s in psychology so it’s given me the tools to handle my anxieties,” she said.

A Karaj resident near the capital reported his insurance company experiencing plummeting vehicle and property policy sales. Families are sliding into poverty, he said, also speaking anonymously fearing retaliation.

The Karaj resident, who participated in January’s anti-government demonstrations, attributed the prolonged decline to “severe systemic corruption” and the Islamic Republic’s expensive backing of militant organizations in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.

“Most people blame the government and its ambitions,” he wrote via WhatsApp.

Iranian leadership has attempted to maintain domestic support by expressing sympathy while encouraging citizens to endure economic hardship for the war’s sake.

In Friday messages on his official Telegram channel, new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei called the current conflict phase an “economic battlefield” and urged employers to “avoid layoffs as much as possible.” Khamenei, believed injured early in the war by Israeli attacks, has not appeared publicly since.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf — who has become a central figure in both war efforts and U.S. negotiations — encouraged Iranians to “be frugal” with spending. He stated on his official Telegram account that government officials and citizens “have a duty to help each other” to minimize economic impacts.

America’s blockade has severely limited Iran’s vital Gulf commerce. More than 90% of Iranian trade, especially oil exports generating billions in revenue, moves through southern ports, Farzanegan estimated.

Farmani, the taxi driver, said he opposes accepting what he called a “humiliating” peace with America and Israel.

“A country that has sacrificed so many martyrs and has so many people willing to give their lives cannot simply let others from across the world dictate terms to us.”

Leaders from the United States and China are expected to discuss prolonging an agreement regarding Chinese restrictions on rare earth mineral exports during their upcoming summit meeting this week. Despite these diplomatic talks, new data from Chinese customs officials reveals that Beijing continues to limit shipments of these essential materials that are crucial for defense systems and manufacturing operations.

The ongoing supply constraints and elevated costs globally highlight how restrictions implemented as a response to President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs have remained a significant consequence of that policy, even after most of those duties were reduced.

China maintains the strictest controls over several specialized rare earth elements that are produced at large scale only within Chinese borders. These materials are essential for aerospace applications, defense systems, semiconductor production, and powerful magnets used in electronics and manufactured products, including electric vehicles.

Shipments of the heavy rare earth elements yttrium, dysprosium and terbium remain approximately 50% below previous levels since restrictions began in April 2025 compared to the preceding 12-month period, according to Chinese customs records.

The quantities involved are typically measured in tens of tons, and their reduction has been masked by an almost complete recovery in overall rare earth export numbers during the past year.

Ilya Epikhin, senior principal at consultancy Arthur D. Little, explained that “Headline export volumes can be misleading.”

Epikhin added, “China appears to be selectively licensing exports while preserving leverage over supply chains considered strategically sensitive, particularly where defense or advanced technology applications are involved.”

These supply shortages seem to contradict what the White House reports China committed to during a summit in South Korea last October, which was to “effectively eliminate China’s current and proposed controls on rare earth elements.”

Following that summit, China removed a broader range of restrictions but maintained its April 2025 controls. Beijing has consistently justified these measures and states it approves qualifying applications. China’s Ministry of Commerce did not provide responses to Reuters’ inquiries.

The difference between these positions and a potential extension of the October agreement will be discussed when the leaders convene again this week, along with possible Chinese purchases of Boeing aircraft and U.S. agricultural and energy products.

A senior U.S. official informed reporters on Sunday that discussions with Beijing regarding rare earths are ongoing, and both nations seek stability, though it remains uncertain whether the agreement will be extended during or following Trump’s visit.

Additionally, a second U.S. official speaking anonymously told Reuters that supply shortages remain problematic.

The White House recently had to intervene with Beijing to obtain approvals for a major U.S. company with defense and civilian divisions that was losing hundreds of millions in monthly revenue because it could not secure an export license, according to a third U.S. official who declined identification due to lack of authorization to speak publicly.

Reuters previously reported in February that certain U.S. aerospace companies had temporarily halted production due to shortages of yttrium, which is used to shield turbine blades from extreme heat.

A White House official responded to Reuters’ questions by stating, “The President’s team is engaging continuously with China to ensure the flow of rare earths while building out trusted and resilient supply chains.”

While the controls were established in response to Trump’s tariffs, their effects are impacting U.S. allies just as severely as Washington.

Costs outside China since April 2025 have increased between four and five times for dysprosium and terbium and approximately 140 times for yttrium, with prices continuing to rise, according to consultancy Argus data.

This demonstrates how major consumers of Chinese rare earths including Japan and Germany are also experiencing supply cuts that are, in some instances, more severe than those affecting the U.S., Chinese customs data revealed.

Dysprosium is frequently added to magnets to enhance their strength, and since April 2025, Japan, the largest rare earth magnet producer outside China, has received only 4% of the dysprosium it imported during the previous 12 months. Germany has received zero shipments.

Manufacturers are currently paying between 1.5 and 3 times more for magnets than before the controls were implemented, according to Neha Mukherjee, rare earth research manager at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

Germany, Japan, the U.S., and other nations are funding projects to reduce dependence on China, including a recent G7 initiative focused on alternative supply chains.

Nevertheless, completely replacing China remains years away, according to David Merriman, research director at consultancy Project Blue.

Merriman stated, “The situation looks set to get worse before getting any better.”

BEIJING — While President Donald Trump prepares for his Wednesday arrival in China’s capital, residents of Beijing are carrying on with their normal routines despite the upcoming high-profile diplomatic meeting.

The president’s visit will include meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping that are planned to continue through Friday. During their discussions, the two world leaders plan to address multiple topics including trade relations, Taiwan, and the conflict in Iran, with the United States hoping China will leverage its relationship with Tehran.

The Associated Press has compiled a collection of photographs showing everyday scenes from Beijing as the city prepares for the significant diplomatic visit.

BEIJING, May 13 – Chinese officials delivered stern warnings about Taiwan’s independence movements on Wednesday as President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for high-level diplomatic talks.

During a weekly press conference, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declared the nation’s determination to prevent Taiwan’s independence remains unwavering, with capabilities to defeat separatist movements described as steadfast.

The status of Taiwan, a democratically-run island that Beijing considers part of its territory, will likely feature prominently in discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their two-day meeting schedule.

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te pushed back against Beijing’s claims during remarks at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit on Tuesday, describing the island as a free and independent democracy that refuses to yield to external threats.

Chinese officials rejected these assertions outright. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han dismissed President Lai’s statements during the Beijing briefing.

“No matter how many times Lai Ching-te repeats his lies, even a thousand times, they remain lies, and they will never become the truth,” Zhang Han stated.

“Our resolve to oppose Taiwan independence is as firm as a rock, and our capability to crush Taiwan independence is unbreakable.”

While Beijing maintains it prefers what it calls “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan, Chinese leadership has consistently refused to rule out military action to achieve its territorial goals.

The United States serves as Taiwan’s primary international ally and weapons provider, even without official diplomatic recognition. Trump’s administration recently approved an unprecedented $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December.

Philip Davis achieved a milestone in Bahamian politics Tuesday, securing victory for his Progressive Liberal Party and becoming the first prime minister to win back-to-back terms in almost three decades.

Speaking to Reuters following the election results, Davis expressed his appreciation for the voters’ decision. “The Bahamian people have spoken, and I receive their verdict with humility and gratitude,” he stated.

The re-elected leader described the outcome as a clear directive from citizens to continue his administration’s work. “This victory is a mandate to keep moving The Bahamas forward, to expand opportunity, strengthen security, ease the pressure on families, and deliver progress across our islands,” Davis explained.

The election results mark a significant political achievement in the Caribbean nation, where leadership changes have been more frequent in recent decades.

Worker compensation in Australia experienced a deceleration during the opening months of 2024, with private companies leading the slowdown in pay increases, according to government statistics released Wednesday from Sydney.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that its wage price index climbed 0.8% during the January-March period, matching the prior quarter’s performance and meeting economist expectations. Year-over-year compensation growth decreased to 3.3% from the previous 3.4%.

Private sector wage increases fell to 3.2% annually, marking the weakest performance since the end of 2022. Government employee pay growth also declined, dropping from 4.0% to 3.3%. The healthcare and social assistance sectors provided the biggest boost to overall wage increases during the quarter.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump touches down in Beijing this Wednesday, observers will closely monitor the ceremonial reception China provides, including which officials welcome him, the musical selections, and whether local children participate with flowers and flags.

Within China’s strictly structured diplomatic hierarchy, ceremonial events and formal protocols hold significant meaning. Trump’s welcome appears designed to be cordial and appealing to a U.S. president who appreciates grand displays, though it’s expected to fall short of the elaborate “state visit plus” treatment President Xi Jinping provided Trump in 2017.

“That reflects greater Chinese confidence in their position, greater skepticism of Trump, and the awkwardness of the current relationship,” said Rush Doshi, C.V. Starr senior fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and an assistant professor of security studies at Georgetown University.

Over the past nine years, relations between China and the United States have transformed from cooperative engagement to strategic rivalry, reaching particularly low points during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing trade disputes.

According to experts, China’s growing economic influence and its control over global supply chains have strengthened Beijing’s negotiating position, leading to more practical approaches from the Trump administration. The current conflict with Iran, which has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and destabilized global markets, has further enhanced Xi’s advantageous position entering these talks.

The Iranian conflict, which started with American and Israeli military actions on February 28, forced a postponement of Trump’s originally planned late-March visit. This trip to Beijing will be considerably shorter than his 2017 journey, and first lady Melania Trump will not accompany him.

“The context for this visit is wholly different,” said Danny Russel, a former senior U.S. diplomat, who does not expect Beijing to outdo itself this time in receiving Trump. “The schedule has been compressed to basically one day and stripped down to the basics.”

However, America maintains unique importance in China’s international relationships, and Chinese leaders will still provide Trump with substantial ceremonial grandeur because they view it as an effective diplomatic strategy, Russel explained.

Based on the 2017 visit, Trump can anticipate descending from Air Force One onto a red carpet with gold trim while being welcomed by an enthusiastic gathering.

During the formal welcoming ceremony the following day, Xi and other Chinese leaders will greet him, with their positions potentially revealing diplomatic significance. Trump will then review military honor guards, arranged precisely by height, whose attention will follow both leaders as they proceed along the red carpet. A 21-gun salute will likely conclude the formal reception.

“It’s no secret to any government that President Trump responds positively to flattery and spectacle,” Russel said. “The pomp and pageantry is designed both to flatter Trump and to pacify him, making him more amenable to Chinese asks and reducing the risk of an embarrassing public confrontation.”

Xi will also provide unique experiences, as he has during previous American presidential visits. In 2014, he took former President Barack Obama on an evening walk through the Zhongnanhai leadership compound. During 2017, he arranged a private dinner for Trump at the Palace Museum within the former imperial palace grounds.

For this visit, the special connection between the Chinese and American leaders will unfold at the Temple of Heaven, a historic imperial location, near the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a distinctive blue-tiled structure famous for its circular architecture and triple-layered roof. The White House confirms Xi will personally guide Trump through this World Heritage location, where Chinese emperors historically prayed for abundant crops.

Park officials have closed the entire complex Wednesday and Thursday, while main features including the hall and Echo Wall were shuttered Tuesday for “the maintenance of ancient architecture,” according to park administrators.

Such closures are uncommon. The facility remained open when British and Spanish prime ministers toured the Palace Museum and Summer Palace in Beijing during their visits this year. Additionally, Xi did not personally escort those leaders.

Beijing designated Trump’s initial presidential visit as a “state visit plus,” the only such designation China has granted any foreign leader. That trip featured extraordinary arrangements never before offered.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, personally toured the Palace Museum with Trump and the first lady, sharing afternoon tea and watching traditional opera in a royal theater that hadn’t hosted performances for a century. They also shared dinner there — an unprecedented honor for any foreign leader.

At the subsequent formal ceremony, “The Stars and Stripes Forever” played while both presidents reviewed Chinese military units, an uncommon selection chosen specifically to impress Trump.

Trump, who frequently mentions his positive relationship with Xi, continues referencing that nearly nine-year-old visit.

“You know, last time I went to China, President Xi, he treated me so well, he gave me a display,” Trump said in February. “I never saw so many soldiers, all the same height, exactly the same height within a quarter of an inch.”

China’s treatment of Trump during this visit will provide insights into current relationship dynamics, according to Doshi, who worked on former President Joe Biden’s National Security Council and assisted with planning Biden’s 2022 and 2023 summits with Xi.

“China uses diplomatic protocol as a method of signaling favor or disfavor. That is why we should pay close attention to how President Trump is received,” Doshi said.

Vietnam’s state-owned oil trading company has made an urgent appeal to the U.S. Navy, requesting permission for an oil tanker carrying Iraqi crude to navigate through American naval blockade operations in the Persian Gulf region.

The request comes as the Maltese-flagged supertanker Agio Fanourios I, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude oil, was forced to reverse course after exiting the Strait of Hormuz on May 10. Maritime tracking systems indicate the vessel changed direction on May 11 while traveling through the Gulf of Oman.

“U.S. forces redirected the vessel as part of ongoing enforcement of the blockade against Iran,” U.S. Central Command confirmed when asked about the incident by Reuters.

The American military has broadened its maritime blockade targeting Iran to encompass cargo considered contraband, though officials maintain that other oil shipments from the Gulf region remain free to transit.

According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, the tanker had successfully navigated through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday using shipping lanes designated by Iranian authorities.

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has resulted in the closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, leaving hundreds of vessels stranded and creating significant disruptions to global energy markets. This critical shipping channel handles approximately 20% of worldwide energy supplies.

In a formal letter dated May 12 and addressed to U.S. military and diplomatic officials, Petrovietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL) Vice President Hoang Dinh Tung emphasized the critical nature of the cargo.

“This cargo is of extreme importance to Nghi Son Refinery (NSRP), to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and to the Vietnamese people,” Tung wrote in the correspondence reviewed by Reuters.

“NSRP’s feedstock inventories are critically low; any further delay risks halting refinery throughput, with cascading consequences for millions of Vietnamese consumers, businesses, public services and industries.”

PVOIL provided definitive confirmation that the vessel was loaded with Iraqi Basra crude oil purchased from Iraq’s state oil marketing organization SOMO. The loading process took place between April 10 and 14.

U.S. military officials have not indicated whether they will grant Vietnam’s request to allow the tanker to continue its journey.

BEIJING (AP) — For almost five decades, American presidents have navigated a delicate diplomatic balancing act regarding Taiwan and China, where even minor verbal mistakes can spark international tensions.

The United States maintains a “One China” policy that acknowledges Beijing’s stance that Taiwan belongs to China, while simultaneously maintaining unofficial relationships with the self-governing island.

This approach deliberately maintains vagueness through what experts call strategic ambiguity. The U.S. commits to providing Taiwan with defensive capabilities against potential Chinese aggression, but stops short of specifying exactly what military response it would provide against Beijing.

As former assistant defense secretary Joseph Nye told Chinese officials in 1995 when they questioned America’s response to a Taiwan crisis: “We don’t know, and you don’t know.”

“The idea was, stick to the very careful language that’s been crafted and don’t vary,” explained Mike McCurry, who served as White House press secretary during Bill Clinton’s presidency. “Because there are too many people listening and paying attention.”

This carefully constructed policy aims to safeguard Taiwan’s security and independence without making excessive commitments or antagonizing Beijing. The policy may face renewed scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s current visit to China. Historical examples show how U.S. officials have previously stumbled over this delicate language, necessitating rapid diplomatic damage control.

“It’s the precision of the words,” noted John Kirby, who worked as a spokesman across multiple Democratic administrations at the State Department, Pentagon, and President Joe Biden’s White House. “They just have to be so extraordinarily precise when you’re talking about Taiwan because, quite frankly, the stakes are enormously high.”

A review of presidential missteps regarding Taiwan policy reveals a pattern of verbal confusion:

Biden made four separate suggestions that America would provide military intervention if China invaded Taiwan, prompting White House staff to repeatedly clarify that he wasn’t abandoning decades of established precedent.

In an August 2021 ABC News interview, Biden discussed America’s military commitment to NATO allies under attack and included, “Same with Taiwan.” The White House subsequently stated that Taiwan policy remained unchanged.

During a CNN forum that October, Biden declared America was committed to Taiwan’s defense against Chinese attack, leading to similar White House corrections.

At a May 2022 Tokyo press conference, Biden answered “yes” when questioned about using military force to protect Taiwan. “That’s the commitment we made,” he stated, forcing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to reconfirm America’s “One China” policy adherence.

Biden made similar implications during a September 2022 “60 Minutes” CBS interview, triggering additional White House clarifications.

Trump, as president-elect in 2016, accepted a phone call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen — potentially the first president to do so since America ended diplomatic relations with the island in 1979. He later dismissed the controversy, posting: “Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”

The following year, Trump’s White House released a statement about a Germany meeting between Xi and Trump that incorrectly identified Xi as president of the Republic of China — Taiwan’s official name — rather than the correct People’s Republic of China. Officials later corrected the transcript.

“There is a lot of difficulty to navigate a lot of these concepts. However, the reason why that is the case — a lot of misunderstanding and misspeaking — is because those concepts are conceptual traps set up by China,” said Miles Yu, who served as principal China policy adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during Trump’s first term. “You cannot explain something that’s unexplainable.”

Yu, currently a senior fellow and China Center director at the Hudson Institute, supports more definitive statements regarding America’s Taiwan defense commitment. He described the “One China” policy concept, or Beijing’s “One China” principle claiming Taiwan as an inseparable Chinese territory, as “completely of Chinese making.”

“No one inside the Chinese high command has ever believed there is any ambiguity as to America’s resolve to defend Taiwan,” Yu stated.

He argued that America has consistently maintained Taiwan defense plans proportional to Chinese threats, demonstrated by Washington’s repeated force deployments to the Taiwan Strait during periods of heightened tension.

Currently, Trump’s White House maintains no policy changes have occurred but dismisses the need for careful verbal maneuvering, pointing to Trump’s approval of significant Taiwan arms sales.

Following the 1949 Chinese civil war conclusion, Washington recognized Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists as China’s legitimate government, even after that administration relocated from Beijing to Taiwan. However, through an agreement with Beijing starting in 1979 under Jimmy Carter, America began following the “One China” policy.

Carter’s administration conducted months of secret negotiations with China to establish this agreement. Yet Carter later stated it “does nothing to prevent” future presidents or Congress from “even going to war” to defend Taiwan.

During a 1998 Shanghai roundtable, Bill Clinton endorsed the “three no’s”: America not supporting Taiwan independence; rejecting the “two Chinas” concept of separate China and Taiwan; and opposing Taiwan’s membership in international organizations.

However, the following year, Clinton stated, “You know what I’ve done in the past,” appearing to reference previous U.S. military interventions and suggesting similar action regarding Taiwan.

In a 2001 Associated Press interview, George W. Bush was questioned whether America might use military force against a Chinese Taiwan attack and responded, “It’s certainly an option.” Bush later told CNN this didn’t indicate a tougher stance, saying, “I have said that I will do what it takes to help Taiwan defend itself.”

Five years later, during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s Washington state visit, Bush’s White House announcer mistakenly announced the Republic of China national anthem would play, instead of the People’s Republic of China. The correct anthem was eventually played.

In 1989, George H.W. Bush said during a China banquet that while America follows “the bedrock principle that there is but one China, we have found ways to address Taiwan constructively without rancor.”

During a 2014 Beijing joint press conference with Xi, Barack Obama stated, “We encourage further progress by both sides of the Taiwan Strait towards building ties, reducing tensions and promoting stability on the basis of dignity and respect.”

Nevertheless, maintaining accuracy remains challenging.

“Anybody who has been at the State Department, the Pentagon or even the White House podium can tell you: When the issue of Taiwan came up, you went to your notes,” Kirby explained. “You didn’t freelance it.”

Kirby remembered that he “got cocky once and didn’t,” misrepresenting the policy and creating “a little kerfuffle.”

Major errors typically first prompt complaints from U.S. policy officials, Kirby said, who express their dissatisfaction clearly: “You’ll be highly encouraged to make a statement correcting it right away.”

MEXICO CITY – A Mexican state investigator has disclosed new details about U.S. officials who died in a vehicle accident in northern Mexico last month, revealing that one of the victims had been observed with a firearm just days before the fatal crash.

Wendy Chavez, who leads a specialized investigative unit within the Chihuahua attorney general’s office examining the incident, stated that one of the deceased Americans had been spotted carrying a weapon at a local security facility prior to the accident. Intelligence sources have indicated the victims were CIA personnel.

Mexican law typically prohibits U.S. government officials from carrying weapons while operating within the country’s borders.

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Wednesday that his country is exploring gradual ways to support international maritime security efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level discussions with American defense officials.

Speaking to South Korean reporters during a Washington press conference, Ahn indicated Seoul would consider non-military forms of assistance rather than direct military engagement in the strategic waterway.

“We said at about this level that, fundamentally, we will participate as a responsible member of the international community and that we will review ways to contribute in a phased manner,” Ahn stated, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The defense minister outlined several potential support options Seoul might consider, including diplomatic backing, personnel assignments, intelligence sharing, and providing military equipment. However, he emphasized that detailed conversations about expanding South Korean military involvement had not occurred.

“There was no deep discussion on something like specifically expanding our military’s participation,” Ahn explained, noting that any final decisions would require following South Korea’s domestic legal processes.

These discussions between American and South Korean defense leaders occurred just one day after Seoul condemned an assault on a South Korean-flagged ship near the Strait of Hormuz the previous week.

South Korea’s presidential administration issued strong criticism of the incident while stating that investigations into who was responsible for the attack were ongoing.

During their meeting, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told his South Korean counterpart that Washington anticipates allies will “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” as global security challenges increase. Hegseth referenced President Donald Trump’s authorization of what he termed Operation Epic Fury as demonstration of the current administration’s commitment.

The American defense chief commended Seoul’s plans to boost military spending and take on greater security responsibilities for the Korean Peninsula, describing these efforts as exemplifying how alliance partners should share defense burdens.

In separate discussions, Ahn reported that Hegseth showed understanding regarding South Korea’s stance on transferring wartime operational control from American to South Korean forces based on meeting specific conditions, with both nations aiming to complete this transition quickly.

The defense ministers also discussed other partnership matters, including South Korea’s plans for developing nuclear-powered submarines, according to Yonhap’s reporting.

Ahn noted that their conversations did not address potential reductions in American military personnel stationed in South Korea or changes to the strategic flexibility of those forces.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Massive demonstrations swept through Argentina’s major cities Tuesday as citizens rallied against President Javier Milei’s severe budget reductions targeting the nation’s public university system, a beloved institution that serves as a source of national pride in the economically troubled South American country.

Large crowds gathered in central Buenos Aires and marched toward government buildings to condemn the financial shortfalls threatening the foundation of Argentina’s higher education network. The country’s public universities have operated without tuition since 1949 and serve as a pillar of its educated middle class, having graduated five Nobel Prize winners over the decades.

Lawmakers approved legislation last year designed to cover universities’ operating expenses and increase faculty pay to match soaring inflation rates. However, Milei’s administration has refused to enact the measure while mounting a legal challenge against it in court.

Similar to his supporter and ally former U.S. President Donald Trump, Milei frequently condemns university environments as centers of “woke” ideology. The libertarian leader has dramatically reduced public education spending as part of his broader strategy to drastically cut government expenditures, marking a stark departure from what he calls decades of irresponsible financial management that bred corruption under previous left-wing administrations.

Tuesday’s demonstrations drew participants from diverse age groups and political backgrounds as Milei confronts dropping public support amid economic decline, reduced wages, and rising joblessness. Recent corruption allegations have also damaged his standing, particularly an ongoing probe into excessive spending by close associate and Cabinet chief Manuel Adorni that seems incompatible with his government salary and reported wealth.

“How much does Adorni cost us?” read one of several student protest signs alluding to the alleged misuse of public funds.

Alejandro Álvarez, Milei’s undersecretary for university policies, dismissed Tuesday’s demonstration as “completely political” and claimed the administration had provided universities with compensation for increased operational expenses — minimal adjustments that labor groups have denounced as inadequate.

In their effort to overturn the university funding law, Milei’s team contends the legislation lacks details on how the government will provide the required financial increases during a period of strict budget constraints. The dispute is anticipated to reach the Supreme Court, with student demonstrators Tuesday urging the nation’s top judicial body to “listen to the outcry throughout the country’s public squares.”

Faculty salaries at universities have dropped approximately 33% in real terms since Milei assumed office in late 2023, accounting for persistent inflation, according to the primary teachers’ union.

Ricardo Gelpi, who leads the renowned University of Buenos Aires, reported that declining purchasing power has prompted at least 580 research faculty members in engineering and science fields to abandon the public system for private institutions or higher-paying positions elsewhere.

“It’s very clear this government is determined to defund public education,” said Sol Muñíz, 24, a law student at the University of Buenos Aires at the march. “University is a source of pride for us. It is the best thing we have.”

MEXICO CITY, May 12 – Mexican government officials strongly disputed a CNN report on Tuesday that alleged the Central Intelligence Agency orchestrated a deadly security operation targeting a cartel member near the nation’s capital.

Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch took to social media platform X to firmly deny the claims, stating that Mexico “categorically rejects any (allegations that attempt) to normalize, justify or suggest the existence of lethal, covert or unilateral operations by foreign agencies on Mexican soil.”

The CNN report had claimed earlier Tuesday that a CIA operation resulted in the death of a cartel member in an explosion that occurred outside Mexico City, but Mexican authorities moved quickly to refute these allegations.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Dozens of people gathered at a major intersection in Haiti’s capital city Tuesday, holding tree branches and calling for police intervention after deadly gang warfare over the weekend drove hundreds of families from their homes in the Cite Soleil district.

Among the demonstrators was 67-year-old Roselaine Jean-Pierre, who joined about two dozen others demanding government action even as gunfire echoed through nearby streets.

“I did not do anything to deserve this,” said Jean-Pierre, who abandoned her residence Sunday and has been sleeping on Port-au-Prince’s streets since then.

Several demonstrators reported witnessing killings during the weekend violence in Cite Soleil, where charred vehicles and dead livestock littered the area. Government officials have not provided casualty figures.

“I know of seven people that have been killed and also people that have been shot,” said Michel-Ange Toussaint, who had briefly returned to her Cite Soleil residence to collect clothing.

According to Toussaint, the civilian attacks started Sunday evening around 6 p.m., causing many residents to escape the neighborhood seeking refuge. “It is our good feet that saved us,” Toussaint said.

Criminal organizations have seized control of more than 90% of Port-au-Prince following President Jovenal Moïse’s assassination at his residence in July 2021. Law enforcement reports these groups have extended their criminal operations — including theft, abductions, sexual violence and rape — beyond the city into rural areas. The country has remained without a president since the killing.

The medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders issued a Monday statement announcing they had evacuated their Cite Soleil medical facility due to Sunday’s violent confrontations.

International peacekeeping forces connected to a United Nations mission began arriving in Haiti in April to help combat the persistent violence.

The U.N. Security Council authorized a 5,550-member peacekeeping force in late September, though the full deployment to the Caribbean nation remains incomplete. An undisclosed number of soldiers from Chad have been stationed there so far.

Research published this year by the International Organization for Migration revealed that criminal gang activity has forced more than 1.4 million Haitians from their homes, with roughly 200,000 now residing in overcrowded and inadequately funded shelter locations throughout the capital city.

Brazilian officials announced Tuesday that the European Union will halt imports of the country’s animal products starting in September, a surprising development that follows closely behind the implementation of a historic trade agreement worth an estimated $22 trillion.

The massive EU-Mercosur trade deal became effective in May, creating a vast trans-Atlantic marketplace. However, the agreement currently faces legal challenges at the European Court of Justice, with European agricultural interests and environmental advocates expressing concerns about competitive disadvantages, economic impacts, pricing issues, and environmental protections.

Brazil’s agriculture ministry expressed shock at the European decision, stating they received the news “with surprise” and confirming their intention to challenge the ruling. Reports from Brazilian news outlets indicate the EU cited insufficient documentation proving that animal products from Brazil and neighboring countries are free from growth-promoting antimicrobial additives.

Brazilian diplomatic representatives plan to meet with EU animal product officials on Wednesday “to seek explanations about the decision,” according to the ministry’s statement.

Data from Brazil’s animal products trade association shows that European Union nations ranked as the third-largest market for Brazilian beef exports in 2025, trailing only the United States and China in volume.

The EU-Mercosur free trade pact officially launched on May 1, following its signing on January 17 during a summit of the South American trading bloc that encompasses Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen implemented the agreement on a provisional basis, effectively bypassing the EU Parliament where legislators are now mounting a legal challenge through the bloc’s court system. Should the European judicial body rule against the agreement, it will be terminated.

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism Tuesday that the ongoing Ukraine conflict is nearing its conclusion, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly disagreed with this assessment.

Putin told reporters over the weekend that “I think that the matter is coming to an end.”

When asked about Putin’s comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Tuesday that significant three-way diplomatic efforts involving Ukraine and the United States have been underway to bring the conflict to a close, now entering its fifth year.

“This accumulated groundwork in terms of the peace process allows us to say that the completion is indeed approaching,” Peskov stated to reporters, while noting he could not provide specific details at this time.

Before beginning a state visit to China on Tuesday, Trump echoed similar sentiments about an approaching resolution between the two nations, though he also declined to provide specifics.

“The end of the war in Ukraine I really think it’s getting very close,” Trump commented as he departed the White House.

Zelenskyy, however, expressed a markedly different view. Speaking on Monday, he stated: “Russia has no intention of ending this war. And we are, unfortunately, preparing for new attacks.”

Trump has organized several rounds of negotiations with both sides in an attempt to resolve the conflict, though no peace agreement has materialized. Russia, which currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, is demanding that Kyiv surrender additional land. Ukraine insists that Russian forces must completely withdraw.

Peskov indicated Russia would support continued U.S. mediation and that Putin is willing to meet with Zelenskyy face-to-face once peace negotiations are completed.

“And for that finalisation, in order to put a full stop to it, a great deal of preparatory work still needs to be done,” he explained, suggesting the conflict could conclude as soon as Kyiv and Zelenskyy “take the necessary decision.”

The opposing forces recently agreed to a brief U.S.-brokered ceasefire from May 9-11, timed to coincide with the anniversary commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

While neither side reported major air strikes during the temporary truce, both continued to report ongoing combat along the front lines and made mutual accusations of drone and artillery strikes.

CANNES, France — Tuesday marked the beginning of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, launching nearly two weeks of continuous movie premieres that will conclude May 23 when the coveted Palme d’Or is awarded.

The prestigious French Riviera event opened with an homage to Peter Jackson, presenting the “Lord of the Rings” director with an honorary Palme d’Or. Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s trilogy, made the introduction.

“I’ve never figured out why I’m getting a Palme d’Or. I’m not a Palme d’Or sorta guy,” the disheveled New Zealand director remarked.

Jackson received a musical tribute featuring the Beatles’ “Get Back,” referencing his acclaimed 2021 documentary. The filmmaker was spotted lip-syncing from his seat on stage.

The honor of officially launching the festival went to 88-year-old Jane Fonda and Chinese-Singaporean performer Gong Li.

“Cinema has always been an act of resistance,” Fonda declared.

During the presentation of the jury responsible for selecting the Palme d’Or winner, panel members delivered frank commentary about conducting a film festival amid global political turmoil.

Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, recognized for his collaborations with director Ken Loach, referenced this year’s festival poster featuring “Thelma and Louise” while addressing attendance at Cannes during what he termed “genocide in Gaza.”

Drawing from “King Lear,” Laverty stated: “Madmen lead the blind.”

“Cannes has a wonderful poster,” Laverty continued. “Isn’t it fascinating to see some of them like Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem and Mark Ruffalo blacklisted because of their views in opposing the murder of women and children in Gaza? Shame on Hollywood people who do that.”

South Korean director Park Chan-wook, known for “Oldboy” and “No Other Choice,” leads the nine-person jury. He emphasized the connection between politics and filmmaking.

“Art and politics are not concepts that are in conflict with each other,” Park explained. “One cannot disqualify a film on the pretext that it has a political message. Just as one cannot reject a film because it would not be political enough.”

Additional jury members include Chloé Zhao, Stellan Skarsgård, Ruth Negga and Demi Moore, who gained Cannes recognition two years prior for her return performance in “The Substance.”

The festival has occasionally welcomed figures who receive cooler receptions in Hollywood. Three years prior, Cannes notably opened with Johnny Depp’s “Jeanne du Barry.”

James Franco made a surprise appearance at Tuesday’s opening ceremony. The 48-year-old actor previously attended Cannes in 2024.

In 2021, Franco and fellow defendants paid $2.2 million to resolve litigation claiming he coerced acting school students he taught into inappropriate and exploitative sexual scenarios.

Two decades after Guillermo del Toro debuted his celebrated fairy tale “Pan’s Labyrinth,” the filmmaker returned to Cannes Tuesday for a 4K restoration screening. Del Toro noted the film’s continued relevance, which follows a young girl and fascist officer in 1940s Spain.

“We are, unfortunately, in times that make this movie more pertinent than ever because they tell us everything is useless to resist, that art can be done with a —-ing app,” del Toro commented.

TEL AVIV, Israel — A comprehensive investigation has concluded that sexual violence served as a calculated and pervasive component of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 assault and its consequences, according to findings released by an Israeli research organization.

The Civil Commission, an independent entity focused on documenting gender-based violence following Hamas’ 2023 assault on Israel that triggered the Gaza conflict, published their findings Tuesday in a document called “Silenced No More.”

Researchers conducted a two-year examination that incorporated over 400 witness accounts and nearly 2,000 hours of video evidence, identifying 13 distinct patterns of abuse including gang rape, sexual torture and forced nudity.

“Our findings demonstrate that it was a deliberate tactic within the broader architecture of the terror inflicted on victims and hostages,” stated Cochav Elkayam-Levy, who founded and chairs the commission while serving as the report’s primary author.

Since the Gaza war commenced, sexual violence allegations have become highly politicized, with both sides attempting to undermine each other’s claims.

Israeli officials have referenced incidents from the October 7 assault and hostage treatment to underscore what they characterize as Hamas brutality and support their military objective of eliminating future Gaza-based threats. Israel’s government has criticized the global community for allegedly dismissing or minimizing sexual violence evidence, claiming anti-Israel prejudice.

The Associated Press could not independently confirm the report’s conclusions, and some observers have questioned Elkayam-Levy’s earlier research. However, notable figures including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rahm Emanuel and Facebook pioneer Sheryl Sandberg have supported her efforts.

United Nations officials state they have discovered “reasonable grounds” to believe Hamas fighters perpetrated rape and additional sexual violence during their offensive. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan has indicated he believes three senior Hamas officials bear responsibility for “rape and other acts of sexual violence as crimes against humanity.”

Human rights organizations and Palestinians detained by Israel following the attacks have also provided extensive accounts of sexual violence and torture within Israeli detention facilities.

In March, Israel dismissed charges against five soldiers previously accused of beating and sodomizing a Palestinian prisoner in an incident allegedly partially recorded on video. Hard-line political figures, who had vigorously opposed the charges, celebrated the decision to drop them, while human rights advocates said it demonstrated Israel’s reluctance to probe misconduct.

Neither Israel’s government nor Hamas immediately responded to AP requests for comment.

The commission — consisting of researchers, legal experts and trauma specialists — gathered digital evidence, conducted interviews and recorded testimonies. Officials said they also verified information using independent data sources.

According to the report, Hamas and its allies primarily focused on women and hostages, though children also experienced violence and abuse.

One instance described two young hostages who returned being compelled to perform “sexual acts on one another,” including removing clothing while captors touched their private areas.

The document stated sexual torture aimed to intensify pain and suffering, with survivors experiencing burning, mutilation and forced object insertion. Some victims were discovered handcuffed or restrained. Armed groups also filmed acts of abuse and killings, distributing footage via social media, the report indicated.

The investigation recorded attacks at various locations, including the Nova Music festival, where hundreds died and others were kidnapped. The AP previously discovered evidence that sexual assault occurred during Hamas’ October 7 rampage, including testimony from a festival attendee who said he heard a woman screaming for help and shouting, “They’re raping me, they’re raping me!”

Hostages also faced sexual harassment and assault, some lasting months, the report stated.

Several freed hostages have publicly discussed sexual assault during captivity. In Israeli media interviews, Romi Gonen described repeated sexual assault and harassment by three men.

Another former hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told the New York Times he experienced sexual abuse from a captor and received death threats for speaking about it.