Category: World News

Palestinian business owners in the West Bank received orders Monday to demolish 15 shops, coming just one day after top Israeli government officials gathered to mark the revival of a nearby settlement.

The demolition notices were issued to Al-Fandaqumiya village, according to a local leader, following Sunday’s ceremony where Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar marked the reestablishment of the Sa-Nur settlement.

Sa-Nur, located in the northern West Bank, was among 19 settlements removed in 2005 as part of Israel’s disengagement plan that also withdrew settlers from Gaza – a decision that continues to anger Israel’s political right.

The current far-right Israeli government has pushed for aggressive settlement growth, with Palestinians receiving thousands of demolition notices since the administration came to power, United Nations records show.

International law considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank illegal, though Israel contests this position. The territory remains central to Palestinian hopes for a future state, but expanding settlements have divided the land into fragments.

Under the present government, Israel has authorized 102 additional settlements, nearly doubling the 127 that existed when officials took office, according to Israeli advocacy group Peace Now.

Refaat Qaruriya, who leads Al-Fandaqumiya’s village council, said store owners received 30 days’ notice for the demolitions. He expressed concern that the Sa-Nur settlement would prevent villagers from reaching their agricultural land.

Israeli military officials stated the shop demolitions were ordered because the structures lacked proper building permits, insisting the timing had no connection to Sa-Nur’s reestablishment.

Palestinians maintain that obtaining such construction permits is nearly impossible under current policies.

“This development (in Sa-Nur) raises serious concerns regarding further escalation, restrictions on Palestinian access to land, and the deepening of a de facto annexation reality,” Palestinian Authority official Amir Daoud told Reuters.

Smotrich has openly advocated for West Bank annexation, stating his goal of achieving “maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population” under Israeli control.

During Sunday’s ceremony, Smotrich also urged Israeli settlement of “all of Gaza” along with territories Israel occupies in Lebanon and Syria.

With Israeli elections scheduled by late October, both Katz’s Likud party and Smotrich’s Religious Zionism group have seen declining poll numbers. Both parties rely heavily on settler support.

“It’s clear that the whole land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel, period. About what to do with the Arabs, I don’t have an answer to what to do with them – the land belongs to us,” said Meir Goldmintz, a settler moving to Sa-Nur.

United Nations data shows at least 580 settler attacks on Palestinians since early 2026, forcing approximately 1,800 people from their homes due to violence and access limitations.

Human Rights Watch has characterized the increasing violence and Palestinian displacement in the West Bank as ethnic cleansing supported by Israeli authorities – an accusation Israel denies.

Israeli prosecutions of settler violence remain uncommon, according to Israeli rights organization Yesh Din.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced Monday that his administration will implement stricter firearm regulations following two tragic school shootings that occurred last week.

The deadly incidents, carried out by students, culminated in a devastating attack in Turkey’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province that claimed the lives of eight students and one teacher. These types of school violence incidents are extremely uncommon in Turkey, leaving the nation in shock.

Under the new measures, Turkey plans to strengthen regulations around gun ownership and impose harsher penalties on firearm owners when minors gain access to their weapons. Additionally, Erdogan stated that authorities will implement enhanced internet monitoring as part of the government’s comprehensive response to these tragic events.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Following his party’s overwhelming electoral victory, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar revealed his initial Cabinet selections on Monday after conducting the first meeting with his parliamentary group members.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party crushed longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Hungary’s April 12 election, capturing a commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority that will enable them to reverse numerous policies established during Orbán’s 16-year tenure.

The incoming leader has pledged to rebuild Hungary’s democratic foundations and legal framework, which deteriorated during Orbán’s administration, while pursuing accountability for those he claims oversaw and profited from extensive government corruption.

Tisza secured an unprecedented 141 parliamentary seats from the total 199 available — marking the most substantial majority since Hungary transitioned from Communist rule. Orbán’s far-right, anti-European Union Fidesz party saw their representation plummet from 135 seats to just 52.

During Monday’s Budapest press conference, Magyar — who will replace Orbán as prime minister — announced plans to expand the government structure from 12 to 16 ministries.

Among his disclosed Cabinet nominees were Anita Orbán (no family connection to the current prime minister) for foreign affairs minister, István Kapitány for economy and energy minister, and András Kármán for finance minister.

Magyar stated his party would establish a government “that will be worthy of the Hungarian people’s trust.”

The incoming prime minister has committed to extensively restructuring Hungary’s governmental framework, including establishing independent ministries for health, environmental protection, and education — departments that were eliminated under Orbán’s leadership.

According to Magyar, the new parliament will convene for its opening session on May 9 or 10, followed immediately by the prime ministerial election. Cabinet confirmations will proceed in subsequent days, he explained.

BRUSSELS — The European Union is threatening to withhold approximately $1.8 billion in funding from Serbia unless the country addresses growing concerns about its democratic institutions, according to a warning issued Monday by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.

The threat comes after international observers reported witnessing violent incidents and voting irregularities during local elections held last month across 10 Serbian municipalities.

Speaking to European Union lawmakers, Kos expressed mounting alarm about Serbia’s trajectory. “We are increasingly worried about what is happening in Serbia,” she stated, adding that the European Commission is currently “assessing whether the country still fulfills the conditions for payments under the EU’s financial instruments.”

The commissioner outlined a range of troubling developments that have prompted EU scrutiny, including “laws that undermine the independence of the judiciary, to crackdowns on protesters and recurrent meddling in independent media.”

Serbia currently has access to substantial EU funding designed to support growth in nations seeking membership, contingent on implementing democratic reforms. While Belgrade has already received $130 million from these programs, Kos noted that this “leaves around 1.5 billion under a question mark.”

The European Union has intensified its efforts to bring Western Balkan countries into the fold since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, amid concerns that Moscow might attempt to destabilize a region still recovering from conflicts during the 1990s.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist leader, publicly states his intention to guide Serbia toward EU membership while simultaneously maintaining strong ties with Russia. Last year, he ignored EU objections and participated in Russia’s Victory Day parade alongside President Vladimir Putin.

Democracy experts from the Venice Commission, Europe’s primary constitutional affairs organization, conducted a fact-finding mission to Serbia last month. They met with political figures and senior judicial officials to evaluate concerns brought forward by Serbia’s parliamentary president.

The commission plans to issue an “urgent opinion” based on their investigation in the coming weeks. Kos emphasized that Brussels expects Serbia “to fully align its judicial laws with the Venice Commission’s recommendations and to restore the independence of its media.”

“Serbia has to deliver,” she concluded.

Eight individuals have received prison sentences from a Turkish court following a fatal cable car incident at a popular Mediterranean resort that claimed one life and injured seven others.

A court in southern Turkey handed down the sentences Monday, with four defendants receiving seven-and-a-half year terms after being found guilty of causing death and injury through negligence, according to state-run Anadolu news agency. The remaining four defendants received sentences ranging from three years and four months to five years for identical charges.

The tragic incident occurred on April 12, 2024, when a cable car gondola struck a support pole and broke apart, causing passengers inside to fall onto the rocky terrain below. Following the collision, the entire cable car system was forced to shut down, trapping 174 tourists in their gondolas suspended high above the ground. Some passengers remained stranded for almost 23 hours before rescue operations could safely evacuate them.

The cable car system transports visitors from Konyaalti Beach up to a dining establishment and observation deck located at the top of Tunektepe peak, which rises 618 meters (2,010 feet) above sea level. The accident took place during the Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

The majority of those convicted in the case worked for ANET, a company owned by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality that manages the cable car operations in this Mediterranean coastal city.

Venezuelan officials announced Monday that 51 individuals have been transferred from traditional imprisonment to alternative custody arrangements, marking the latest development in the government’s stated commitment to fostering national reconciliation.

While authorities declined to identify the specific individuals or detail their cases, legal representatives and family members of numerous people detained in connection with alleged corruption at the state petroleum company PDVSA confirmed Thursday that several of their clients had been freed. Many relatives maintain their loved ones’ innocence. A planned Monday news conference by the group representing these detainees was delayed, with organizers citing ongoing legal proceedings for many cases.

In an official statement, the government explained it had petitioned for “the granting of alternative measures to deprivation of liberty for a group of individuals who were being held in detention, for their alleged or proven involvement in the commission of crimes provided for under the Venezuelan legal framework” and confirmed the request was approved last week.

Officials did not detail the specific alternative arrangements, though such measures typically involve electronic surveillance, mandatory court appearances, or travel restrictions preventing departure from the country.

While Venezuelan leadership consistently rejects claims of holding political detainees and maintains all imprisoned individuals have committed legitimate offenses, acting President Delcy Rodriguez has facilitated the release of hundreds since January. This includes releases under a limited amnesty statute enacted by the legislature. These initiatives form part of broader agreements aimed at restoring diplomatic ties with the United States following President Nicolas Maduro’s capture in January.

The legal advocacy organization Foro Penal reported this month that 485 political detainees remain incarcerated, while government officials claim thousands have either been freed or had legal restrictions lifted since the amnesty took effect.

Foro Penal, alongside other human rights organizations and opposition representatives, has criticized the amnesty’s implementation, arguing the process moves too slowly and excludes many qualified candidates.

MADRID (AP) — Undocumented immigrants across Spain started submitting applications Monday for a groundbreaking amnesty initiative that could provide legal status to hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals currently living and working in the country without proper documentation.

The Spanish government’s strategy stands in stark contrast to policies adopted by other European nations, where officials have increasingly focused on restricting immigration and increasing removal operations. Spanish leaders justify this initiative as an economic necessity that has gained backing from both business leaders and labor organizations.

Facing demographic challenges with an aging workforce, Spanish officials say the country requires additional workers to sustain economic growth, generate tax revenue, and support the social security system.

The legalization initiative was first unveiled in January and received final approval this month. Under the program, immigrants lacking legal documentation can obtain a one-year renewable residency permit by demonstrating they have resided in Spain for at least five months and maintained a clean criminal background. The application deadline extends through the end of June.

Concerns have emerged regarding the compressed timeframe for processing applications, with the Spanish government estimating potential participation at 500,000 migrants, while research organization Funcas projects the number could reach approximately 840,000 individuals.

More than 370 postal facilities began accepting applications, while officials announced that 60 social security locations and several immigration offices would also process submissions. Digital applications became available Friday.

Those seeking assistance at postal locations in Madrid and Barcelona reported smooth operations overall, though some expressed frustration with extended waiting periods despite scheduled appointments.

“The process is quite straightforward since I scheduled my appointment online and received one for this morning,” explained Nubia Rivas, a 47-year-old Venezuelan immigrant who submitted her paperwork at a Madrid post office. “The procedure moves somewhat slowly here, but it flows steadily.”

Venezuelan immigrant Johana Moreno arrived at a central Madrid postal facility alongside her spouse. She explained that while she worked as an archivist in Venezuela, she currently earns income through house cleaning services.

“This is exactly what we desire,” Moreno stated regarding the opportunity to obtain legal status. “To live properly, to work, to contribute meaningfully. To fulfill our tax obligations. We understand that legal status brings rights, but it also comes with responsibilities.”

Spain’s population has expanded significantly in recent years to include approximately 10 million foreign-born residents, representing one in every five people living in the country. Large numbers originate from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco, having departed their home countries due to economic hardship, violence, or political turmoil.

Numerous immigrants from Latin American and African nations provide essential labor in critical sectors of Spain’s economy, including agricultural production, tourism, and service industries.

Election officials in Peru started examining thousands of challenged ballots Monday, creating significant delays in determining the final outcome of the April 12 general election as the race for second place in the presidential runoff remains extremely close.

More than one million votes from approximately 6% of polling locations across the country are under review due to incomplete information or mistakes on vote tallying forms, according to Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE).

The National Jury of Elections (JNE), Peru’s highest election authority, announced it has begun conducting public hearings to examine each disputed polling station before including those results in the official count, a procedure that may require several weeks to complete.

“We expect that by mid-May we will have, at the very least, the presidential results, which are what we need to determine the runoff,” JNE Secretary General Yessica Clavijo told local radio station RPP.

The official vote tallying has remained virtually unchanged since Friday. Based on nearly 94% of counted ballots, conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori maintains approximately 17% of votes, while left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez and ultra-conservative Rafael Lopez Aliaga continue battling for the second runoff position with 12.0% and 11.9% respectively – separated by roughly 13,000 votes.

During recent days, Sanchez has slowly gained ground over former Lima mayor Lopez Aliaga, continuing a trend that has benefited the leftist legislator who serves as an ally to imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo. Castillo secured the presidency in 2021 through substantial backing from rural and inland areas of Peru.

The majority of contested polling stations are situated beyond Lima, the capital city, and their geographical distribution will serve as the “determining factor for the second round,” JPMorgan noted in a client analysis.

“The fact that the gap has widened again, even as urban and overseas votes continue to be counted, suggests that Sanchez’s rural base is generating enough votes to offset opposing pressure,” the bank added.

The counting delays have sparked fraud accusations from Lopez Aliaga and demands for ONPE chief Piero Corvetto’s resignation from business leaders and legislators representing multiple political parties.

The JNE submitted a criminal complaint to prosecutors against Corvetto, citing alleged violations including breaches of voting rights.

While Corvetto has admitted to logistical setbacks, he has rejected claims that any voting irregularities occurred. Corvetto did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

European Union election observers reported last week that they discovered no evidence of fraudulent activity.

A prominent military leader within Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces has abandoned the paramilitary organization to join the nation’s regular army, marking a significant development as the country’s brutal civil conflict continues into its fourth year.

Army leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan publicly welcomed Maj. Gen. al-Nour Ahmed Adam, also called al-Qubba, who switched allegiances earlier this month. The sovereign council shared footage on social platforms of Burhan meeting with Adam in Sudan’s Northern province near the Egyptian border.

“Doors are open to all those who lay down arms and join the path of national reconstruction,” stated Burhan, who leads the sovereign council.

The Rapid Support Forces have remained silent regarding Adam’s departure.

According to regional news sources, Adam escaped from RSF-controlled territory in Darfur this month, bringing with him dozens of fighters and military equipment when he joined government forces.

The Sudan Tribune reported that Adam’s departure followed disagreements with RSF leadership, particularly their decision not to name him military commander of North Darfur province after the group captured el-Fasher city in October, which had been the army’s final stronghold in Darfur.

Adam represents one of the highest-ranking officials to abandon the paramilitaries since fighting began. Last year, Abu Aqla Kaikel, commander of the Sudan Shield Forces, also left the RSF when government troops recaptured the strategically important Gezira province.

Sudan’s conflict erupted in April 2023 when tensions between military leaders and the RSF escalated into armed combat throughout Khartoum and other regions of the vast nation.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project estimates the fighting has claimed at least 59,000 lives, though the U.S.-based monitoring organization acknowledges this figure likely underrepresents the actual death toll due to reporting challenges.

American military forces have taken control of an Iranian cargo vessel suspected of transporting materials that could serve military purposes, according to maritime intelligence officials who spoke Monday.

The container ship Touska, operating under Iran’s flag, was intercepted by U.S. forces on Sunday near Iran’s Chabahar port in the Gulf of Oman. The vessel belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), a company targeted by American economic sanctions.

According to U.S. Central Command, the ship’s crew ignored repeated commands over a six-hour span and violated an American naval blockade. Ship tracking systems show the vessel last transmitted its location at 1308 GMT on Sunday.

Intelligence officials, speaking anonymously, indicated their preliminary analysis suggests the ship was transporting dual-purpose materials following its journey from Asia. While they didn’t specify exact items, U.S. Central Command has previously identified metals, piping, and electronic parts as examples of goods that serve both civilian and military functions.

Iran’s military leadership characterized the seizure as “armed piracy” and described it as “blatant aggression,” according to state-controlled media reports Monday. Iranian officials said the vessel had departed from China and that they were prepared to challenge U.S. forces but were limited by the presence of crew members’ relatives aboard the ship.

The United States sanctioned IRISL in late 2019, labeling it as “the preferred shipping line for Iranian proliferators and procurement agents” involved in moving materials for Iran’s ballistic missile development.

Sources indicate the Touska operates with an Iranian captain and crew, though it remains unclear if all personnel are Iranian citizens. IRISL vessels typically fall under Revolutionary Guards oversight and employ primarily Iranian sailors, sometimes supplemented by Pakistani maritime workers, according to additional sources.

Satellite tracking data from SynMax analytics shows the ship docked at China’s Taicang port near Shanghai on March 25, then proceeded to Gaolan port in southern China between March 29-30. The vessel loaded cargo containers at Gaolan before making an additional stop at Port Klang anchorage in Malaysia on April 11-12 to take on more containers.

Chinese foreign ministry representatives expressed concern Monday about what they termed the “forced interception” of the Iranian cargo ship, calling on all parties to act responsibly regarding ceasefire agreements.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday that the Touska faced U.S. sanctions due to its “prior history of illegal activity,” stating that American forces were “seeing what’s on board.”

The U.S. Navy expanded its Iranian shipping blockade Thursday to encompass cargo classified as contraband, announcing that vessels suspected of heading toward Iranian territory would be “subject to belligerent right to visit and search.” The contraband classification includes weapons and ammunition.

Iran’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Diplomatic representatives from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. this Thursday, according to an anonymous Israeli official who spoke with Reuters on Monday.

Israel’s delegation will include Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, the source confirmed.

The upcoming meeting represents the initial diplomatic engagement between the two nations following the implementation of a 10-day ceasefire that began last Thursday.

A British court has rejected a lawsuit brought by the father of deceased singer Amy Winehouse against two friends who made over $1.2 million selling the performer’s personal belongings at auction.

Mitch Winehouse, serving as his daughter’s estate administrator, took legal action against Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay in London’s High Court, claiming the pair had no legal authority to sell items worth approximately 890,000 pounds.

The Grammy-winning artist passed away at age 27 in 2011 due to alcohol poisoning at her London residence.

Both women defended their actions, with Parry, who worked as Winehouse’s stylist, and Gourlay maintaining they legitimately owned or were gifted the collection of 150 pieces, which featured clothing, accessories, jewelry and handbags.

Court records show Parry collected $878,000 from 56 items sold through Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles during 2021, with the silk minidress from Winehouse’s final Belgrade, Serbia concert alone bringing in $243,200. Gourlay received $344,000 for her 85 items.

Following Deputy Judge Sarah Clarke’s decision to throw out Mitch Winehouse’s claims that the duo lacked permission to conduct the sales, Parry celebrated the ruling.

“The High Court has cleared my name, unequivocally and in full, after years of deeply damaging and unfounded allegations brought by Mitch Winehouse,” Parry stated. “This was not a partial outcome or a matter of nuance. The claim has failed entirely. It should never have been brought.”

SRINAGAR, India — A devastating transportation accident claimed 21 lives Monday when a passenger bus plummeted off a mountainous highway in Indian-controlled Kashmir, according to local authorities.

The vehicle, designed to hold 42 passengers but carrying more than 60 people, was traveling from Ramnagar town toward Udhampur city when disaster struck. Civil administrator Prem Singh reported that the bus collided with an auto-rickshaw while navigating a sharp turn in the treacherous mountain terrain.

Following the collision, the bus careened off the highway and tumbled approximately 100 feet down a rocky embankment before landing on a roadway below, Singh explained. The occupants of the three-wheeled vehicle were also hurt in the incident.

Emergency responders and local residents quickly mobilized to the crash site to begin rescue efforts. Singh confirmed that 19 victims perished immediately at the scene, while two additional passengers succumbed to their injuries after being transported to medical facilities. Approximately 45 injured survivors are receiving treatment at multiple healthcare facilities, with several listed in critical condition.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement expressing his condolences regarding the tragedy and pledged financial assistance for the families of those killed.

The accident highlights India’s ongoing struggle with traffic safety, as the nation records among the world’s highest rates of roadway fatalities. Annual statistics show hundreds of thousands of people are killed or injured in crashes typically attributed to dangerous driving practices, inadequate road maintenance, and deteriorating vehicle conditions.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Three former Google executives appeared virtually in an Indonesian corruption court Monday, rejecting allegations that the tech giant participated in a fraudulent laptop procurement scheme that cost the government $125 million.

The case centers on Nadiem Anwar Makarim, 41, who co-founded Indonesia’s major ride-sharing service Gojek before serving as the nation’s education minister. Authorities arrested him in September following investigations into suspected corruption involving Chromebook laptop purchases.

Testifying through Zoom at Jakarta’s Corruption Court were Scott Beaumont, who led Google Asia Pacific from 2014 to 2019, Caesar Sengupta, who served as general manager and vice president between 2018 and 2021, and former executive William Florence.

The laptop acquisition was designed to advance the government’s initiative to digitize educational institutions across the country.

During his tenure as education minister from 2019 to 2024, Makarim allegedly pushed for Google’s Chromebook selection even after ministry researchers declined to endorse the devices, citing poor performance in areas with limited internet connectivity.

Prosecutors claim Makarim misused his position by directing the 2020-2021 national procurement process “entirely for personal business interests.” They allege he pressured Google to invest in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), Gojek’s parent corporation.

The acquisition of over 1.2 million Chromebooks aimed to expand Google’s market control in Indonesia’s education system, according to lead prosecutor Muhammad Fadli Paramajeng. He connected the program to Google’s approximately $787 million investment in PT AKAB through its Asia Pacific division.

Prosecutors claim Makarim obtained roughly 809 billion rupiah ($48.2 million) through his involvement in the scheme.

Beaumont rejected these accusations during his testimony. “There was no connection at all between Google’s investment in GoTo and any of the conversations with the Ministry of Education,” he stated to the three-judge panel. Makarim’s Gojek company combined with Indonesia’s largest online retailer Tokopedia in 2021 to create the GoTo Group.

Sengupta similarly disputed the allegations against him.

Google has maintained that Chromebooks are built for classroom environments, including remote locations. The company emphasized that while the devices work best with cloud connectivity, they function offline without internet access. Google also clarified that it provides software licensing but doesn’t control Chromebook pricing.

The Harvard-educated Makarim established Gojek in 2009 and led the company until 2019, when its valuation exceeded $10 billion. He left to join former Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s administration.

Prosecutors argue his departure from PT AKAB and Gojek represented “strategic concealment” to hide conflicts of interest. They claim Makarim installed trusted allies as directors and “beneficial owners,” enabling him to secretly influence company operations.

The former minister could face life imprisonment if convicted.

Makarim has consistently maintained his innocence, stating he never personally benefited from Chromebook contracts or associated services.

His legal team contends he properly separated from PT AKAB when assuming office, experienced a wealth decrease of more than 50% during his ministerial term, and that procurement choices were handled by technical staff and officials rather than the minister directly.

A verdict may be delivered within the month. The case also involves charges against two former Education Ministry officials and a previous technology consultant, while another staff member remains a fugitive.

BUDAPEST – Peter Magyar, who won recent Hungarian elections, issued a renewed demand Monday for the country’s president and senior judicial officials to step down within weeks or face forced removal from their positions.

Magyar specifically targeted President Tamas Sulyok, who has the support of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, along with the nation’s highest-ranking judges. He set a firm deadline of May 31 for their voluntary departure.

Speaking at a Monday press conference, Magyar delivered a sharp message about his expectations. “We expect the resignation of Orban’s puppets,” he declared. “May 31 is the deadline until when they can submit their resignation. After then, we will live with our mandate and legal possibilities to remove them from office.”

The ultimatum represents an escalation in the political confrontation between Magyar’s opposition movement and the established government structure that has been in place under Orban’s leadership.

Multiple nations throughout Central Europe removed infant formula from store shelves this week following the discovery of rodenticide contamination in HiPP brand baby food containers over the weekend.

Austria’s top health official urged parents and childcare facilities to exercise extreme care when giving children HiPP products. The manufacturer issued a recall for certain infant food containers after laboratory tests in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic confirmed the presence of rodenticide.

Officials suspect deliberate contamination occurred in 190-gram containers of carrot and potato baby food designed for 5-month-old infants that were distributed through SPAR grocery chains in Austria. Initial testing revealed contamination on Saturday.

Austrian investigators announced Monday they are searching for an additional contaminated container that may have been purchased at a Spar location in Eisenstadt, an eastern Austrian community, according to the APA news service.

“It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal motives,” Health Minister Korinna Schumann told APA.

Czech authorities discovered two contaminated HiPP containers at a retail location in Brno. State prosecutors in Brno acknowledged the discovery but declined to provide additional information due to an ongoing police investigation.

The German-headquartered HiPP company confirmed that tainted containers were also located in Slovakia beyond those found in the Czech Republic. The manufacturer stated that “retail partners in both countries have already removed all jars of HiPP baby food from sale as a precaution.”

Slovak law enforcement officials said they are examining questionable containers from a store in Dunajska Streda.

Slovenia took preventative action by removing all HiPP products from Spar and other grocery stores, according to its health inspection agency.

Austrian officials also contacted Hungarian authorities, warning that a contaminated container might have been bought by residents living near the border area around Eisenstadt.

Burgenland Police in Austria indicated the suspect products likely display a white label with a red circle on the container bottom. Additional warning indicators include damaged or previously opened lids and unusual or rotten odors. The containers might not produce the typical popping sound when first opened.

The Burgenland prosecutor’s office is treating the case as “intentional endangerment of the public.”

HiPP stated last week that the recall “is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition.”

As a safety measure, HiPP announced it was recalling all infant food containers sold at Austria’s SPAR grocery chains — including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt locations — throughout Austria.

Rodenticide commonly contains bromadiolone, which interferes with blood clotting mechanisms, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety. Consuming rodenticide can cause bleeding gums and nosebleeds along with bruising and bloody stools.

The agency noted that symptoms may emerge two to five days following consumption.

Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has achieved a stunning electoral triumph, capturing the most decisive parliamentary victory the country has witnessed in decades. The 62-year-old ex-fighter pilot left his ceremonial presidential position in January to pursue Sunday’s legislative contest, where he campaigned on eliminating what he called the “corrupt officials, conspirators and extremists” controlling the nation.

Bulgarian citizens delivered an overwhelming mandate to Radev, enabling him to establish the country’s first single-party administration in almost three decades. This decisive outcome promises to bring political stability after the nation endured eight separate elections over five years.

“This represents a victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear,” Radev declared following the results.

The timing proved crucial for Radev, who had occupied Bulgaria’s largely ceremonial presidential office for nine years. During a political breakdown that began in 2020, he remained positioned above the parliamentary turmoil, selecting interim administrations when necessary and steadily building his political influence while established parties struggled with unstable coalition arrangements.

Throughout his campaign, Radev embraced positions favorable to Moscow, rejecting military assistance for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and condemning Bulgaria’s euro adoption in January. He had been preparing for this political opportunity for years.

His transition to parliamentary politics coincided with mounting public anger toward traditional parties. Mass demonstrations that toppled the previous short-term administration in December reflected widespread demand for governmental reform.

Established political forces suffered significant defeats in Sunday’s voting, including the pro-European GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms controlled by businessman Delyan Peevski, who faces U.S. and UK sanctions for corruption allegations.

“Radev’s success stemmed from widespread frustration following years of unsuccessful anti-corruption campaigns, anxiety about increasing costs, and significant pro-Russian attitudes,” explained Atanas Rusev, who directs the security program at Sofia’s Centre for the Study of Democracy. “Radev skillfully exploited these concerns.”

Radev initially assumed the presidency in January 2017 following his military service and American training. During his first term, he emerged as an opponent of then-Prime Minister Borissov, who confronted corruption accusations.

When authorities searched Radev’s offices in 2020, Bulgarians viewed the action as politically motivated, sparking the largest public protests since Bulgaria entered the European Union in 2007. These demonstrations contributed to Borissov’s downfall, while Radev secured reelection for a second presidential term in 2021.

A subsequent period of political instability followed, characterized by fragile coalitions that quickly collapsed. Additional protests erupted last year over a proposed budget featuring substantial tax increases.

Following the government’s resignation, Radev announced his decision to abandon the presidency and seek parliamentary office.

Critics have questioned his unclear campaign platform, and many voters describe him as lacking personal magnetism, noting his stern appearance in campaign advertisements wearing a white shirt and burgundy tie.

However, he has successfully conveyed strength through social media videos showing him piloting military aircraft.

Political observers, voters, and diplomatic officials are monitoring how closely a Radev administration will align with Russian interests. During his final campaign event last week, he projected large-screen images of himself meeting world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Radev’s campaign messaging resembled that of Hungary’s pro-Moscow former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, particularly when discussing restoration of Russian oil and gas imports to Europe.

“I’m deeply concerned because if he maintains such pro-Russian positions, this could create serious problems,” said Tsvetan Hristov, a 36-year-old information technology worker.

Nevertheless, no evidence suggests he would block Ukrainian aid or attempt withdrawing from the eurozone, and experts doubt he would risk essential EU funding designated for Bulgaria.

His primary challenges exist domestically in one of the European Union’s most impoverished and corruption-plagued member states, where prosecutors claim hundreds of millions of euros in European assistance have been illegally diverted to businesspeople and government officials, public contracts have been manipulated, and electoral fraud occurs regularly.

“Following his overwhelming domestic victory, he will likely pursue international credibility by developing relationships with other European leaders,” said Maria Simeonova, who leads the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Military forces from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo successfully liberated more than 200 civilians during a joint operation targeting an extremist camp in eastern Congo, according to statements released Monday by Uganda’s military leadership.

The rescue mission, which took place last week, targeted a facility operated by the Allied Democratic Forces, an extremist organization with Ugandan origins that has been active in eastern Congo. This militant group declared its loyalty to the Islamic State organization approximately ten years ago.

The joint military operation represents ongoing efforts by regional forces to combat extremist activities in the volatile eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where various armed groups have operated for years.

Multiple Central European countries initiated emergency removals of infant food products from retail stores this Monday following the discovery of rat poison contamination in HiPP brand baby food containers during weekend testing.

Austria’s health ministry issued urgent warnings to parents, childcare facilities, and nurseries to exercise extreme vigilance when feeding infants with HiPP products. The German-based manufacturer initiated a recall after laboratory testing in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic revealed the presence of rat poison in product samples.

Officials suspect criminal interference with 190-gram containers of carrot and potato baby food formulated for 5-month-old infants, which were distributed through SPAR grocery chains in Austria. Initial contamination was detected through Saturday testing.

Austrian investigators announced Monday they are actively searching for a second potentially contaminated container that may have been purchased at a Spar location in Eisenstadt, an eastern Austrian municipality, according to the Austrian news agency APA.

“It is deeply disturbing that someone is apparently willing to endanger the health of babies for criminal motives,” Health Minister Korinna Schumann told APA.

Czech authorities discovered two contaminated HiPP containers at a retail location in Brno. State prosecutors in Brno verified the discovery but declined to provide additional information due to the ongoing criminal investigation.

The Germany-headquartered HiPP corporation confirmed that contaminated containers were identified in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The company stated that “retail partners in both countries have already removed all jars of HiPP baby food from sale as a precaution.”

Slovak law enforcement officials confirmed they are examining suspicious containers recovered from a store in Dunajska Streda.

Slovenia’s health inspectorate announced the preventative removal of all HiPP products from Spar and additional supermarket chains throughout the country.

Austrian officials also contacted Hungarian authorities, warning that contaminated products may have been purchased by residents living near the border area surrounding Eisenstadt.

Burgenland Police in Austria indicated that suspicious products likely display a white label with a red circle on the container bottom. Additional warning indicators include compromised or previously opened lids, unusual or rotten odors, and the absence of the typical popping sound when initially opening the jar.

The Burgenland prosecutor’s office is pursuing the investigation under charges of “intentional endangerment of the public.”

HiPP issued a statement last week clarifying that the recall “is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition.”

As a safety measure, HiPP announced the recall of all baby food containers sold through Austria’s SPAR retail network, including SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt locations.

According to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, rat poison commonly contains bromadiolone, a substance that inhibits blood coagulation. Consumption of rat poison may cause bleeding gums, nosebleeds, bruising, and blood in bowel movements.

The agency warned that symptoms may manifest two to five days following ingestion.

PARIS, April 20 – Elon Musk has been called to appear before French prosecutors in Paris as authorities expand their investigation into his social media platform X, examining allegations connected to the site’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok, algorithmic manipulation, and unauthorized data harvesting.

The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office is spearheading the investigation.

Reuters was unable to contact Musk’s representatives regarding the summons. When initial allegations surfaced in July, Musk rejected the claims and characterized the investigation as “politically motivated.”

The investigation began on January 12, 2025, when Paris prosecutors launched a probe following two formal complaints, one submitted by a French legislator, regarding allegedly biased algorithms.

Initially, the case focused on unauthorized data harvesting and algorithmic manipulation charges before being transferred to police on July 9, 2025.

Authorities broadened their investigation in November 2025 after discovering new evidence, adding charges related to involvement in possessing and distributing child exploitation imagery and denying crimes against humanity.

By January 2026, investigators added another charge concerning the distribution of sexual content using someone’s likeness without permission, following the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images through X’s Grok system.

According to prosecutors, X transitioned in 2025 from using the SAFER child protection system to developing their own internal monitoring system. Officials documented an 81.4% decrease in reports X submitted to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding France between June and October 2025.

Prosecutors further claim that Grok allowed users to generate sexualized content, including images of minors and victims of the Crans-Montana fire, while also producing hate speech and material that glorified crimes against humanity.

Consulted experts told prosecutors that proper safeguards could have prevented these issues.

Investigators also point to X’s failure to supply basic user information in multiple hate speech and antisemitism investigations, which has obstructed their inquiries.

The Paris prosecutor’s office announced the summons following a February police raid on X’s Paris headquarters, conducted with Europol assistance. Officials stated they are coordinating with prosecutors in other nations.

Musk has been called for an “audition libre,” a voluntary questioning session where authorities can interview someone without making an arrest. The individual can leave at any time and choose not to speak, though any statements made are officially documented and may have legal implications.

The investigation can proceed regardless of whether Musk provides testimony. Legal professionals suggest it’s advisable to explain any refusal to appear to avoid the impression of obstructing the investigation.

The potential criminal charges being examined include:

• Involvement in possessing pornographic images of minors

• Involvement in organized distribution or provision of pornographic images of minors

• Violation of personal image rights (sexual deepfakes)

• Denial of crimes against humanity (Holocaust denial)

• Unauthorized data extraction from automated systems by organized groups

• Tampering with automated system operations by organized groups

• Operating an illegal online platform through organized groups

Diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions between the United States and Iran hit a potential roadblock following the American seizure of an Iranian cargo vessel in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump announced that American negotiators would travel to Pakistan to continue discussions aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Iran. However, Iranian officials have expressed hesitation about proceeding with the diplomatic process in light of the recent ship seizure.

The incident occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for international shipping and oil transport. The timing of the seizure has complicated efforts to advance peace negotiations between the two nations.

The planned talks in Pakistan were intended to build on previous diplomatic efforts, but Tehran’s reluctance following the maritime incident has cast doubt on whether the negotiations will proceed as scheduled.

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s center-left coalition has secured a decisive victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, bringing an end to five years of political instability, election officials announced Monday.

Election results with 96% of votes tallied showed Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria coalition capturing 44.7% of the vote by early Monday. The commanding lead put them more than 20 points ahead of their closest competitors – veteran politician Boyko Borissov’s center-right GERB party and the reform-minded We Continue the Change party, which finished in a virtual tie at 13.4% and 12.9% respectively.

Two additional parties are expected to claim seats in Bulgaria’s 240-member parliament based on preliminary tallies.

Borissov acknowledged his defeat and offered congratulations to the winning coalition.

Speaking to reporters, Radev characterized his coalition’s success as “unequivocal,” calling it a “victory of hope over distrust, a victory of freedom over fear.” He pledged that Bulgaria would “make every effort to continue on its European path.”

“But believe me, a strong Bulgaria and a strong Europe need critical thinking and pragmatism. Europe has fallen victim to its own ambition to be a moral leader in a world without rules,” Radev stated.

Throughout his presidential tenure, Radev developed a reputation for pro-Russian sympathies. He consistently challenged European Union initiatives to provide military assistance to Ukraine in its conflict against Russia’s invasion. Radev has maintained that backing Ukraine could drag Bulgaria into the war and has advocated for renewed diplomatic engagement with Russia to resolve the crisis.

The 62-year-old former military pilot stepped down from his largely ceremonial presidential role in January, several months before his second term expired, to pursue the more influential position of prime minister.

Radev, who completed a Master of Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air War College in 2003 before becoming Bulgaria’s air force commander, draws support from two distinct groups: those seeking an end to oligarchic corruption and those attracted to his Euroskeptic and Russia-aligned positions.

The nation’s previous conservative administration fell in December following massive anti-corruption demonstrations that brought hundreds of thousands of protesters, primarily young people, into the streets.

Radev’s public standing rose as he positioned himself against established criminal networks and their connections to senior political figures. During campaign events, he promised to “remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power.”

Bulgaria, a member of both NATO and the European Union, has faced ongoing criticism for failing to address corruption and weaknesses in its legal system.

The country of 6.5 million people has endured divided parliaments since 2021, creating unstable governments that have lasted less than a year before falling to street demonstrations or legislative maneuvering.

Weary of constant electoral cycles, Bulgarian citizens expressed cautious reactions to the election outcome.

“Above all, we expect a more stable judicial system, and for trust in institutions to truly be restored. Until now, they have been heavily influenced by various figures, many of whom, as we can see from the current results, have now left the government,” said Nikoleta Dimitrova, a 37-year-old shop assistant from Sofia.

Accountant Cveta Gerogieva, 55, remained skeptical: “I hope that we will really live a better life, but I am not sure that there will be stability for a long period. Probably we will vote again.”

TOKYO — Japanese officials Monday warned residents along northern coastlines about heightened possibilities of a catastrophic earthquake after a powerful 7.5-magnitude tremor struck earlier in the day.

Government meteorological experts and Cabinet officials announced there’s approximately a 1% probability that a mega-quake could hit Japan’s northern shores within the coming week following Monday’s significant seismic event near the Chishima trough.

Authorities emphasized their warning does not constitute an earthquake forecast, but they encouraged citizens to enhance emergency preparations, including stockpiling food supplies and readying evacuation kits, while maintaining normal routines.

This marks the second such regional warning issued within recent months. A similar alert was announced after a major December earthquake, though no subsequent large quake materialized.

Monday’s powerful tremor occurred off the Sanriku coast in northern Japan at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time (0753 GMT), striking at a shallow depth of roughly 10 kilometers (6 miles), meteorological officials reported.

The earthquake triggered tsunami waves, with authorities detecting an 80-centimeter (2.6-foot) surge at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture within an hour of the initial quake. A smaller 40-centimeter (1.3-foot) wave was recorded at another port within the same prefecture.

Tsunami warnings remained active across Japan, with officials cautioning about potential waves reaching 3 meters (10 feet) in height. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in the United States declared the tsunami danger had subsided.

Japanese meteorological agencies instructed coastal residents to immediately evacuate shoreline and riverside areas, seeking higher elevation shelter. Officials also warned communities to prepare for possible aftershocks lasting approximately one week.

Television broadcasts on NHK showed numerous residents driving to elevated parks and facilities. In Hokkaido’s Tomakomai town, one resident brought his child to a hilltop park after collecting them from tutoring school, planning to remain until authorities lifted the alert.

Emergency management officials said Iwate and three additional northern prefectures issued voluntary evacuation recommendations affecting more than 128,000 residents.

Fire and disaster management authorities reported they continue monitoring conditions, but no casualties or structural damage have been confirmed, including at power facilities and other critical infrastructure.

Nuclear safety regulators confirmed all atomic power plants and associated facilities in the affected region remained undamaged with no irregularities detected.

A similar 7.5-magnitude earthquake in December resulted in dozens of injuries.

Monday’s event occurred 15 years after the devastating March 11, 2011, magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northern Japan, killing over 22,000 people and displacing nearly half a million residents, primarily due to tsunami destruction.

Approximately 160,000 Fukushima residents evacuated their homes due to radioactive contamination from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. About 26,000 of those evacuees have not returned, having relocated permanently, living in areas that remain restricted, or harboring ongoing radiation concerns.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A critical two-week ceasefire in the Iran conflict is set to expire Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with Pakistan’s capital city making preparations for potential renewed diplomatic discussions between Iran and the United States.

The temporary truce, which involves Iran, Israel and the United States, was established following several ultimatums issued by President Donald Trump that at one point threatened Iran’s entire “civilization.” Given the pattern of previous deadline extensions and last-minute developments, additional delays or unexpected shifts are anticipated before the Wednesday cutoff.

Potential negotiations in Islamabad face significant obstacles as the ceasefire deadline approaches, with discussions expected to focus on the Strait of Hormuz situation, Iran’s nuclear activities and related matters. The fragile nature of the truce became evident over the weekend when Iran launched attacks on vessels in the strait, while U.S. forces intercepted and seized an Iranian ship attempting to evade the American naval blockade, demonstrating that renewed warfare remains a possibility.

The temporary halt in hostilities commenced on April 8, although Iranian forces continued targeting Gulf Arab nations and Israel even after the ceasefire took effect. A puzzling assault on an Iranian petroleum facility located on an island also occurred that same day. Despite these incidents, the ceasefire has generally remained intact. Without an agreed-upon extension from all parties – either through public statements or by allowing the deadline to pass without resuming combat operations – the two-week agreement will lapse on April 22. The absence of any diplomatic breakthrough significantly increases the risk of renewed conflict.

Pakistan previously hosted negotiations between Iranian and American representatives from April 11 through the early hours of April 12. These discussions marked the most senior-level diplomatic contact between the two nations since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance participating, though no agreement was reached. Recent preparations by Pakistani officials mirror those made for the initial talks, indicating another round of negotiations may be planned, though neither Iran nor the United States has yet dispatched diplomatic teams to Pakistan.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway at the Persian Gulf’s entrance through which one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments travel, remains essentially blocked due to Iranian military actions in the area, including attacks that occurred on Saturday. Additional concerns exist that Iran may have placed explosive mines in shipping lanes typically used during peacetime. Reports indicate Iran has been demanding up to $2 million per vessel for safe passage through the strait since the conflict began. Reopening this vital shipping route represents a primary objective in ongoing negotiations and serves as Tehran’s most significant bargaining chip against Washington, especially as nations worldwide implement energy rationing and face potential jet fuel shortages. This weekend, U.S. Navy forces targeted an Iranian cargo vessel that attempted to breach the American blockade, with Marines boarding the ship via helicopter.

Iran’s stockpile of weapons-grade uranium remains within the country’s borders, presumably buried at enrichment facilities that were bombed during a 12-day conflict last June. Iran has not conducted uranium enrichment since that time but continues to assert its right to do so for civilian purposes while denying any intention to develop nuclear weapons. Both Trump and Israeli officials have demanded that Iran completely eliminate its nuclear program and surrender its existing uranium stockpile. Iran refused these terms in a 10-point proposal it submitted for ending the war.

HAGATNA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard has verified that a capsized vessel discovered in waters near Saipan is indeed the cargo ship that vanished during a devastating typhoon, leaving six crew members unaccounted for.

Coast Guard officials announced Monday that they continue their search for the missing crew members. The upturned vessel was initially discovered on Saturday in the waters surrounding the U.S. territory.

A crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from the U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron positively identified the capsized boat as the cargo ship Mariana on Sunday evening, according to a Coast Guard statement.

The 145-foot American-registered dry cargo vessel experienced mechanical problems on Wednesday when its starboard engine failed just as a powerful typhoon approached Saipan and surrounding islands, bringing devastating winds and heavy rainfall.

Following the crew’s distress call reporting the engine failure and requesting help, Coast Guard personnel established regular hourly communication with the struggling vessel.

However, all communication ceased on Thursday. A search aircraft was dispatched that morning but was forced to return to Guam due to dangerous wind conditions from the storm.

HANOVER, Germany – During a meeting at Germany’s premier industrial trade fair on Monday, Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Brazil’s capacity to significantly increase production of essential metals while offering German technological assistance.

Speaking at the Hanover industrial exhibition alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Merz highlighted promising opportunities. “There are significant opportunities in the cost-effective extraction of certain metals required for e-mobility and wind turbines,” the German leader stated.

Merz emphasized his country’s readiness to collaborate, saying “Germany is prepared to support Brazil with technological know-how and expertise in order to further expand these relations.”

Through a translator, President Lula acknowledged Brazil’s growing investments in essential minerals and rare earth elements, but set clear conditions for future partnerships. “We will not accept any models that reduce our country to mere resource extraction, serving only to meet demand from abroad,” Lula declared.

The Brazilian president also expressed interest in strengthening military ties with Germany. “We are engaged in dialogue regarding strategic areas such as tanks, air defence and drones, as well as joint projects,” he explained.

Officials from both countries were scheduled to hold formal government consultations later Monday to discuss these partnerships further.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to New Delhi on Monday, where the two leaders announced ambitious plans to significantly expand economic cooperation between their nations.

The leaders outlined a goal to boost bilateral trade from its current level of approximately $27 billion to $50 billion by 2030, focusing on enhanced supply chain partnerships, better market accessibility, and increased investment opportunities.

“India and South Korea are going to transform their trusted ties into a futuristic partnership,” Modi stated during the meeting.

The discussions between Modi and Lee occur as both nations seek to bolster their relationship while navigating global economic challenges and supply chain interruptions caused by the Iran conflict.

Lee announced that the countries have committed to substantially enhancing economic partnerships, with particular emphasis on shipbuilding, defense technology, and artificial intelligence sectors. He noted that both nations will also broaden industrial cooperation and increase trade and investment in advanced manufacturing, along with sensitive sectors including critical minerals and nuclear energy.

To strengthen supply chain resilience, Lee revealed that South Korea intends to boost imports of naphtha, a petroleum-based product, from India to help mitigate potential supply disruptions related to Middle Eastern tensions. India represented approximately 8% of South Korea’s naphtha imports in the previous year.

Following his Indian visit, Lee is set to continue his diplomatic tour with a trip to Vietnam.

Israeli military commanders on Monday instructed Lebanese civilians to avoid returning to a wide swath of southern Lebanon territory along the border, strengthening their control over the region even after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began last Thursday.

The 10-day truce, negotiated through American diplomatic channels, has largely stopped active fighting between Israeli forces and the Iran-supported Hezbollah militia that emerged from broader regional tensions between Washington and Tehran.

However, the peace agreement remains unstable, with Israeli military units maintaining positions far into southern Lebanese territory to establish a protective barrier against potential Hezbollah attacks on northern Israeli communities, while the militant organization claims it retains the “right to resist” Israeli military presence.

Israeli defense officials released a map through social media platforms showing a red boundary line across 21 southern villages, instructing residents to avoid entering the zone between that line and the international border. Military spokespeople said their forces were holding positions in the south “in the face of ongoing terrorist activities” conducted by the Iranian-backed organization.

The published map identified more than 50 additional southern communities where residents should not attempt to return. Military officials also declared the Litani River area off-limits to civilians, though the waterway flows primarily north of the main restricted zone.

On Sunday, Israeli defense forces had published a similar territorial map, revealing for the first time their new positioning inside Lebanon. The deployment line extends from east to west, penetrating 5-10 kilometers beyond the border into Lebanese soil, covering regions where Israeli forces have been demolishing villages.

Senior Hezbollah leader Mahmoud Qmati warned residents of the organization’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern districts on Saturday against returning to their residences due to continued risks of Israeli military strikes.

Municipal authorities throughout the south have similarly advised civilians against coming home, stating that conditions remain unsafe.

In a Monday statement, Hezbollah claimed that explosive devices previously positioned by their fighters had detonated while Israeli military vehicles moved through a southern area on Sunday, reportedly destroying four armored tanks.

Israeli military representatives did not immediately provide a response when asked to comment on these allegations.

Israeli defense officials confirmed on Sunday that one soldier had died and nine others sustained injuries during operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon became involved in the broader regional conflict on March 2, when Hezbollah launched attacks in support of Tehran, triggering an Israeli military campaign that has resulted in over 2,300 deaths, including 177 children, and displaced more than 1.2 million people, according to Lebanese government officials.

Hezbollah has not released its own casualty numbers. Sources familiar with the group indicate that at least 400 of its fighters had been killed by the end of March.

The militant organization has launched hundreds of rockets and drone attacks against Israel. These assaults have killed two Israeli civilians while 15 Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon since March 2, according to Israeli authorities.

Israeli officials issued formal apologies Monday after photographs surfaced showing one of their soldiers destroying a Christian crucifix with an axe in a Lebanese village.

The disturbing images, which circulated on social media over the weekend, captured an Israeli soldier using the blunt end of an axe to strike a fallen Jesus sculpture at a religious shrine. The photographs were shared by Younis Tirawi, who identifies as a Palestinian journalist and has previously published images allegedly showing Israeli military misconduct in Gaza.

News organizations confirmed the incident took place in Debel, a southern Lebanese village that remains one of the few communities where civilians have stayed during Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah, which started March 2nd following rocket attacks by the Iran-supported group.

The destroyed crucifix belonged to a small family shrine located in a residential garden on the village outskirts, according to local priest Fadi Falfel.

“One of the Israeli soldiers broke the cross and did this horrible thing, this desecration of our holy symbols,” he said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the soldier’s behavior disgraceful and shameful, posting an apology on social media platform X. “We apologize for this incident and to every Christian whose feelings were hurt,” Saar said.

Military officials announced they are launching an investigation into the matter.

“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) views the incident with great severity and emphasises that the soldier’s conduct is wholly inconsistent with the values expected of its troops,” the military said. “The IDF is working to assist the community in restoring the statue to its place.”

Debel sits among numerous southern Lebanese communities currently under Israeli military control. Last Thursday, Israel and Lebanon implemented a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement designed to end hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

“We have every kind of crisis,” Falfel said.

“We thought the ceasefire would bring us some relief but we’re still surrounded, unable to travel to and from the town. There are some houses on the edge of town that we’re barred from accessing.”

Israeli military representatives state they are coordinating with humanitarian organizations to address the basic needs of residents in Debel and surrounding communities.

BRUSSELS — Representatives from over 60 countries convened in Brussels Monday to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa regarding stability, security, and sustainable peace efforts in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. The international gathering takes place while global focus remains concentrated on ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts involving Iran and Lebanon.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who co-hosted the conference alongside EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas, expressed concerns that continued violence in the West Bank and ongoing destruction in Gaza are making prospects for a two-state solution increasingly challenging.

“We observe without naivety that the two-state solution is being made more difficult by the day,” Prévot stated. “But Belgium and many European and Arab partners continue to believe that this remains the only realistic path to a lasting peace, for Israelis, for Palestinians and for the stability of the entire region.”

The European Union serves as the primary financial supporter of the Palestinian Authority, led by 90-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas, who has governed from Ramallah for the past twenty years. While the EU has chosen not to participate directly in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, favoring UN multilateral approaches and international legal frameworks, the organization seeks to maintain its diplomatic influence in the strategically important Mediterranean region.

European anger over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has prompted numerous EU officials to criticize Israel’s military actions and apply pressure to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration. Following the recent removal of Hungary’s long-serving Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a Netanyahu ally, the bloc may now have sufficient political backing for stronger measures such as targeted sanctions against Israeli settlers or partial suspension of Israeli relations.

West Bank Palestinians report that Israel has exploited the Iran conflict to strengthen its territorial control, with increased settler violence and additional military movement restrictions imposed under security justifications.

Regarding Gaza’s future, Mustafa emphasized the need for unified governance, stating: “Gaza requires ‘one state, one government, one law and one goal.’”

“Our common objective of achieving one security structure under the legitimate authority should guide the effective coordination between the International Stabilization Force, the Palestinian Authority, security institutions and other international actors. Security must not be fragmented,” he explained.

Mustafa also advocated for “the gradual and responsible collection of arms from all armed groups and also the full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.”

Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado announced her intention to return to her homeland before 2026 concludes, while pressing the United States to expedite electoral preparations in the South American nation.

In a recent Reuters interview conducted Sunday evening, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient stated she “absolutely” anticipated being back in Venezuela in the near future. She cautioned that postponing elections could increase the likelihood of domestic turmoil.

“We believe that in order to (manage) the anxiety and expectations and the urgency of the Venezuelan people in an orderly, civic way, it is very important to start taking steps towards what the whole country requires and demands, which is free and fair elections,” she said.

Following President Nicolas Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces in January, some opposition members hoped Machado, age 58, would assume a leadership position in governing Venezuela. However, President Donald Trump appointed Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former deputy, to lead instead, citing Machado’s insufficient support for immediate governance.

Machado departed Venezuela in December, breaking a decade-old travel restriction to accept her Nobel Prize, after spending over a year primarily in concealment following the controversial 2024 elections.

Those elections saw Maduro declared victorious over opposition contender Edmundo Gonzalez, sparking nationwide demonstrations. Machado, who has an industrial engineering background, was prohibited from seeking office.

While Rodriguez has earned commendation from the U.S. administration for her work, Machado dismissed this as evidence of Trump’s long-term support for Rodriguez.

“What I heard was President Trump praising how she follows his instructions,” she said.

“They (the Rodriguez government) have never been as weak as they are right now… they are starting to realize that things have changed and this is a totally different moment.”

Machado emphasized that Venezuelans anticipate significant governmental and economic reforms following Maduro’s detention, and these expectations must be addressed quickly to avoid potential “anarchy.”

“It’s like a huge dam that’s been (gathering) more and more and more energy, frustration, and courage, and expectations,” she said.

“My challenge, our challenge, is to channel those energies peacefully, civically, with one objective, which is an electoral process. If people feel that this is not the purpose of all that’s going on, these forces could get out of hand.”

She indicated that voter registration systems require updating to include previously disenfranchised citizens and new electoral council members must be chosen, processes that could be completed “in eight or nine months.”

Machado avoided directly criticizing Trump’s pace, noting she had presented him with her Nobel Prize medal.

“We wouldn’t be where we are right now, moving ahead, if it wasn’t for the U.S. administration and President Trump’s decision to bring Nicolas Maduro to justice.”

“But certainly I understand the urgency and demands of my people and I think we should move ahead in the democratic and electoral process.”

During her Madrid visit, Machado organized a Saturday gathering for Venezuelan exiles, attracting thousands to a plaza in Spain’s capital where she promised their eventual homecoming.

Approximately 25% of Venezuela’s population has dispersed throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and the United States since 2014, escaping an oil-reliant economy damaged by poor governance.

While meeting with Spain’s conservative opposition politicians, she refused to see Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, criticizing the Spanish government’s inadequate response to the Maduro administration.

“We expected Spain to be perhaps the main voice in highlighting the horrible situation of our country, the crimes against humanity that have been committed, the terrorism of state that has been deployed. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”

“Fortunately there are other voices – and I’ve met with some of them this week – and we certainly feel that we do have in Europe an ally to Western values and to build back in Venezuela institutions that will last for centuries.”

Since her Venezuelan departure, Machado has primarily resided in the United States and expressed joy at reconnecting with her three grown children.

“As a mom I’ve always felt very guilty in terms of the consequences my family, especially my children, have suffered because of my decisions,” she said.

“I tell myself every day that I do it for them, for every single young Venezuelan and those that have not been born yet, that they will have a country that they feel proud about and they can live as free citizens.”

For security purposes, Machado had requested her children relocate abroad after she became a legislator.

She has also appreciated discovering technological advances from the past two decades that hadn’t reached Venezuela, particularly finding Uber transportation services remarkable.

“On the other hand, I am used to my country. I feel I should be back with my people and I’m counting the days.”

TOKYO, April 20 – A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan’s northeastern coastline Monday, prompting officials to warn of potentially dangerous tsunami waves reaching heights of up to 10 feet along vulnerable shorelines.

According to Japan’s Meteorological Agency, the seismic event originated beneath the Pacific Ocean at a depth of approximately 6 miles. Officials indicated that the most significant wave activity was anticipated to impact the Iwate, Aomori, and Hokkaido regions.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the media, confirming that an emergency response team had been activated while calling on people in threatened zones to seek immediate shelter. “The government had set up an emergency task force and urged citizens in the affected areas to evacuate to safety,” Takaichi told reporters.

Television coverage from broadcaster NHK captured vessels departing Hachinohe port in Hokkaido as crews prepared for incoming waves, while emergency alerts reading “Tsunami! Evacuate!” appeared on television screens throughout the region.

Transportation networks experienced immediate disruptions, with high-speed rail operations in Aomori – situated at Honshu island’s northern edge – suspended following the tremors, according to Kyodo news reports.

The seismic activity registered as an ‘upper 5’ on Japan’s intensity measurement system, indicating ground motion severe enough to impair mobility and potentially cause structural damage to unreinforced masonry walls.

As one of the globe’s most seismically active nations, Japan experiences tremors approximately every five minutes. Positioned within the Pacific Basin’s “Ring of Fire” – a zone of volcanic activity and oceanic trenches – the country experiences roughly 20% of all worldwide earthquakes measuring magnitude 6.0 or greater.

While no active nuclear facilities currently operate in the Hokkaido and Tohoku areas, both Hokkaido Electric Power Co and Tohoku Electric Power Co maintain several decommissioned nuclear installations in these regions. Tohoku Electric reported it was assessing potential impacts on its Onagawa nuclear facility.

LONDON — Authorities in London have taken two teenagers into custody following a weekend firebombing at a synagogue, as Jewish community leaders voice growing alarm over a series of recent attacks targeting their institutions.

London Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes announced Monday that officers apprehended the suspects, ages 19 and 17, during overnight operations related to the attack on Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. According to Jukes, who spoke with the BBC, police have now made 15 arrests connected to six separate attacks on Jewish facilities and one Persian-language media outlet that have occurred in recent weeks.

Investigators are pursuing what Jukes described as a “serious line of inquiry” suggesting Iran may be paying local criminals to execute these attacks as Middle East tensions escalate, including the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with the Islamic Republic.

“We’ve seen a pattern with other actors of thugs for hire, people taking cash that looks like quick and easy money,” Jukes stated.

“This is part of the modern hybrid war fought by proxies,” he continued.

The latest attack occurred Saturday evening when someone hurled a bottle filled with flammable liquid through a window at the Harrow synagogue, resulting in smoke damage throughout the building, according to police reports.

BEIJING, April 20 – Chinese officials voiced opposition Monday to ongoing joint military training exercises involving the United States, Philippines, and Japan, arguing such partnerships threaten stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

During a routine press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that military alliances between nations should not damage relationships and confidence among countries in the region.

“What the Asia-Pacific region most needs is peace and tranquility, and what it least needs is the introduction of external forces to create division and confrontation,” Guo stated during the briefing.

The Chinese official issued a stern warning to the participating nations about their security cooperation efforts.

“We would like to remind the relevant countries that persisting in tying themselves together on security will only lead to setting themselves on fire and backfiring,” Guo said.

The comments came in response to questions about the yearly joint military training exercises organized by the Philippines and the United States, which now include participation from Japanese military forces.

SOFIA, April 20 – The political party linked to Bulgaria’s former President Rumen Radev, who maintains pro-Russian positions, has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the nation’s parliamentary elections held on Sunday.

Official election data reveals that Progressive Bulgaria captured 44.7% of the vote share after election officials finished counting 91.68% of all ballots cast across the country.

The substantial margin suggests Radev’s political movement has gained significant traction among Bulgarian voters in the latest legislative contest.

MOSCOW – Russian authorities announced Monday they have arrested a 57-year-old German woman on allegations of planning an explosive attack targeting law enforcement officials.

According to Russia’s state-run RIA news agency, the Federal Security Service reported the woman was taken into custody in Pyatigorsk, located in the Stavropol region of southern Russia. Officials claim she was carrying explosive materials in a backpack at the time of her arrest.

Russian security services allege the explosive device was intended to be set off by “an Islamist from Central Asia,” according to the media reports.

The details surrounding the arrest and the specific allegations could not be independently confirmed by news organizations outside of Russia.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian authorities released new casualty figures Monday from their ongoing military conflict with Israel and the United States, revealing that fatalities have reached at least 3,375 people.

Abbas Masjedi, who leads Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization, provided the updated death count to Iranian media outlets.

According to Masjedi’s statement to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency and other media sources on Monday, nearly all victims have been identified, with just four bodies remaining unidentified.

The forensic official’s report did not distinguish between civilian deaths and military personnel casualties, but provided demographic breakdowns showing 2,875 male victims and 496 female victims.

Among the most concerning statistics, Masjedi reported that 383 of those killed were minors aged 18 and younger.

The casualty figures have sparked uncertainty about whether military personnel are included in the count, especially considering the extensive aerial bombardments that have struck military installations and weapons facilities throughout Iran.

A U.S. Navy operation that forcibly captured an Iranian cargo vessel has created uncertainty around planned diplomatic meetings between Iranian and American negotiators in Pakistan this week.

President Donald Trump revealed Sunday that American diplomats would travel to Pakistan on Monday for continued discussions with Iranian representatives. Trump’s statement had sparked optimism about potentially extending a temporary ceasefire agreement that expires Wednesday, though Iranian officials have yet to confirm their participation.

During the same announcement, Trump disclosed that American forces had intercepted the Iranian cargo vessel attempting to bypass a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. This marked the first such capture since the blockade of Iranian shipping lanes commenced last week.

Trump explained that a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer operating in the Gulf of Oman “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom” and that U.S. Marines now control the ship, called Touska, while they examine “what’s on board!”

Iranian military leadership responded by condemning the vessel capture as maritime piracy and promised a swift response from Tehran.

The growing tensions threaten to worsen an energy crisis affecting worldwide markets and could push both nations back toward active hostilities that have already claimed over 3,000 Iranian lives, nearly 2,300 Lebanese casualties, 23 Israeli civilians and 15 Israeli soldiers, plus more than a dozen deaths across Gulf Arab nations. Thirteen American military personnel have also perished in the conflict.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi conducted a meeting with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker at the American Embassy in Islamabad on Monday.

The discussion centered on enhancing Pakistani-American diplomatic ties and organizing the second round of negotiations scheduled for Islamabad this week, according to Naqvi’s office.

Officials did not provide a specific timeline for when the discussions would commence.

Naqvi updated Baker on protective protocols, explaining that extraordinary precautions have been implemented to safeguard visiting diplomatic teams.

“We have made comprehensive security arrangements for our distinguished guests,” Naqvi stated.

Baker expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s contributions to reducing regional conflicts and supporting diplomatic dialogue.

Pakistani officials worked Monday to organize the second round of Iranian-American negotiations, even as uncertainty remains about whether the meetings will actually occur.

Pakistan has increased diplomatic communications since Sunday with both Washington and Tehran to guarantee the talks begin as early as Tuesday, according to unnamed officials who lacked authorization to speak publicly.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conducted a telephone conversation late Sunday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, though Sharif’s office issued a statement that made no reference to the upcoming negotiations.

Officials began blocking major roadways and enhancing security throughout Islamabad over the weekend, especially around an upscale hotel where the diplomatic teams are expected to convene.

Security forces established military checkpoints, shuttered tourist attractions, and directed prominent hotels to restrict reservations to maintain room availability.

Iran released updated casualty figures Monday for its conflict with Israel and the United States, with the country’s forensic leader reporting at least 3,375 deaths from the fighting.

Abbas Masjedi, who heads Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization, provided the statistics.

Masjedi, speaking to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency and other media outlets Monday, noted that only four victims remain unidentified.

His statement did not distinguish between civilian and military casualties, reporting instead that 2,875 victims were male and 496 were female.

According to Masjedi, 383 of those killed were minors aged 18 or younger.

Questions arose about whether Masjedi’s numbers included military personnel, particularly considering the extensive bombing campaigns targeting defense installations and weapons storage facilities throughout Iran.

Iranian authorities announced Monday the execution of two men accused of arson attacks conducted for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.

An Iranian opposition group in exile previously identified the men as their members and claimed the accusations related to events occurring after their initial arrest.

Iran’s judiciary news service Mizan named the executed men as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi.

The opposition Mujahedeen-e-Khalq organization identified Shahi as Nima Shahi.

The MEK stated both men endured “interrogation and torture” and received convictions for an incident that occurred prior to their detention.

These executions bring the total number of MEK members killed since the war began to eight.

Human rights organizations say Iran regularly conducts secret trials where defendants cannot contest the charges against them.

Hezbollah reported detonating explosive devices Sunday afternoon during an assault on Israeli military units in southern Lebanon.

The organization announced Monday that bombs placed by Hezbollah operatives exploded and eliminated four tanks from an eight-tank convoy traveling past Deir Siryan village.

This represents the first attack claim by Hezbollah since a 10-day ceasefire took effect at midnight Thursday.

Israeli military officials have not yet responded to the allegations.

Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Reza Aref, argues that global fuel prices can only stabilize if economic and military pressure on Iranian oil shipments ceases.

“One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” Aref posted on X. “The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”

MANILA, Philippines — Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the United States and Philippines launched one of their most extensive annual military exercises Monday, demonstrating allied strength designed to discourage regional aggression in Asia.

This year’s large-scale military training will involve additional international forces from Japan, France and Canada, all of which have established visiting forces agreements with Manila, according to Philippine military officials.

Over 17,000 American and Filipino service members will take part in the Balikatan exercise — meaning “shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog. The nearly three-week operation will feature simulated combat scenarios and live ammunition exercises across multiple locations, including Philippine territories overlooking the contested South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Approximately 10,000 U.S. military personnel will join the training exercises, representing a significant deployment that American military leaders say demonstrates Washington’s dedication to the Asia-Pacific theater despite Middle Eastern conflicts.

“Regardless of the challenges elsewhere in the world, the United States focus on the Indo-Pacific and our ironclad commitment to the Philippines remains unwavering,” Marine Lt. Gen. Christian Wortman stated during opening ceremonies.

Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner explained that these multinational military exercises strengthen deterrence capabilities and regional resilience against hostile actions. While avoiding naming specific nations in his remarks, Brawner has previously condemned China’s escalating aggressive behavior toward Philippine naval and coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

Multiple nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan maintain competing territorial claims over these waters, which serve as a crucial international shipping corridor. However, confrontations between Chinese and Filipino forces have intensified significantly in recent years.

Beijing has criticized the U.S.-Philippine military exercises, claiming they’re designed to limit China’s expanding global influence. Philippine military officials counter that the training doesn’t target any particular nation and helps prepare allied forces for natural disaster response.

The United States has consistently stated its treaty obligation to defend the Philippines, America’s longest-standing alliance partner in Asia, should Filipino forces face armed attacks in disputed maritime areas.

“We remain guided by a shared commitment to uphold international law, to respect sovereignty and to contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific where nations can thrive without coercion,” Brawner declared.

Exercise activities will include Japanese forces launching missiles from coastal positions in northwestern Ilocos Norte province to target a simulated enemy vessel approximately 40 kilometers offshore in South China Sea waters, Philippine Marine Col. Dennis Hernandez revealed to reporters.

American forces will deploy explosive-equipped marine drones to continue attacking the mock enemy ship, Hernandez added.

During a Manila visit last year, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised Philippine leaders that the Trump administration would collaborate with allies to strengthen deterrence against global threats, including Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

“Friends need to stand shoulder to shoulder to deter conflict, to ensure that there is free navigation whether you call it the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea,” Hegseth told Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Indonesian naval officials confirmed Monday that an American military vessel traveled through the Malacca Strait during the weekend, noting the ship’s passage complied with established international maritime regulations.

The warship made its journey through the strategic waterway on Saturday, April 18, according to First Admiral Tunggul, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s Navy, who spoke with Reuters.

U.S. military officials at Indo-Pacific Command identified the vessel as the USS Miguel Keith, stationed in Japan. Navy Commander Matthew Comer described the ship’s activities as “conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet.”

While Comer declined to reveal the warship’s intended destination, citing standard Navy security protocols regarding future vessel movements, he noted the ship had completed maintenance work in South Korea during early April.

According to U.S. Navy specifications, the USS Miguel Keith measures 240 meters in length and serves as an adaptable floating headquarters capable of deploying helicopters and smaller watercraft, housing military personnel, and providing command operations support.

The Malacca Strait spans 900 kilometers and serves as a vital commercial corridor connecting Asian markets with Middle Eastern and European trading partners, handling approximately 25% of global trade shipments.

“Any vessel including warships transiting in the waters has rights of transit passage which can be exercised in a strait used for international navigation or international shipment,” Indonesia’s Navy spokesman said.

Indonesian naval authorities emphasized that while all ships have transit rights through the waterway, they must honor Indonesia’s status as a coastal nation and follow International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, Tunggul stated.

MOSCOW – Ukrainian forces conducted an extensive drone assault on the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse on Monday, resulting in one death and triggering fires at the strategic facility, according to Russian authorities. The strike occurred just days after firefighters extinguished blazes from a previous drone attack on April 16.

The targeted port serves as a crucial oil export terminal for Russia and handles various cargo including coal and fertilizers. The facility also houses a significant oil refinery operated by Rosneft.

Krasnodar region Governor Veniamin Kondratiev announced on Telegram that “Tuapse was subjected to another massive drone attack” and confirmed that “a fire occurred at the seaport.”

According to Kondratiev, the assault claimed the life of one man at the port facility while injuring another worker. Falling drone debris caused damage throughout the city, striking a kindergarten, elementary school, church, and apartment buildings.

Russian defense officials reported intercepting and destroying 112 Ukrainian drones during the overnight operation.

JAKARTA, April 20 – Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission delivered sharp criticism of the country’s military Monday while launching an investigation into the deaths of 12 civilians during last week’s anti-rebel operations in Papua province.

Military officials claimed they had no knowledge of civilian casualties, but the government-backed rights commission reported over the weekend that a dozen people, including women and children, were fatally shot during April 14 operations targeting separatists in central Papua. The commission noted that dozens more suffered severe injuries.

Investigators are now examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Officials have not yet determined whether Indonesian forces, rebel fighters, or both were responsible for the civilian fatalities.

“We condemn the enforcement operation against Papuan rebels that resulted in civilian casualties,” commission chief Anis Hidayah said in a statement.

“All forms of attacks against civilians, whether in situations of war or otherwise, carried out by state or non-state actors, constitute violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law,” she added.

Hidayah also called on Indonesia’s armed forces to reconsider their approach to operations targeting Papuan separatists.

The mineral-rich Papua region, which houses the globe’s second-largest copper and gold mining operation, has experienced ongoing separatist tensions since Indonesia assumed control following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969.

A military spokesman for Papua operations told Reuters no information had reached him about civilian deaths in the region during the previous week. Papuan rebel representatives confirmed that 12 non-combatants died as a result of military actions.

According to taskforce spokesperson Wirya Arthadiguna, the military’s Habema unit launched the April 14 operation in the Puncak area after local residents reported rebel activity in their community.

The operation in Kembru village resulted in four rebel deaths, Wirya explained. He acknowledged reports of a child’s death by gunfire in a separate incident at a neighboring village.

“No military personnel were present at that village at the time of the shooting of the child, and the two incidents took place at different locations and times and are not connected,” he said.

An Iraqi sea captain is refusing to abandon his dangerous maritime route despite escalating threats from regional warfare that has turned vital shipping lanes into potential battlegrounds.

Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri commands an oil tanker navigating the perilous waters connecting the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, where ongoing conflicts between the United States, Israel and Iran have created chaos for international shipping and left maritime crews vulnerable to military strikes.

The seasoned mariner, who has spent nearly four decades at sea since beginning his career in 1984, has weathered multiple conflicts including the Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War of 1991. Now he faces fresh dangers as random military attacks target ships attempting passage through critical waterways including Bab el-Mandeb and Persian Gulf routes.

“Work has become a real risk; we don’t know when we might be bombed. We’re sailing over a ball of fire,” he said.

Al-Jubouri has spent the past four months aboard the Sea Moon, a vessel flying under Palau’s flag. His current mission involves transporting oil from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman for delivery at Yemen’s Ras Isa port. He provided details during a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Commercial shipping has become caught in the middle of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple tankers have suffered attacks launched by Iranian military units and their regional allies. Repeated threats to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a crucial passage for worldwide oil transportation, have caused significant delays, route changes and vessels becoming trapped in Gulf waters.

This past Sunday marked a significant escalation when American naval forces intercepted and seized an Iranian cargo vessel attempting to bypass a maritime blockade near the strait, representing the first such action since port restrictions began the previous week.

The constant threat level has prompted Al-Jubouri to implement frequent emergency preparedness training for his crew members. “We’ve trained them on how to respond if the ship comes under fire, God forbid,” he said.

During the previous year, his tanker experienced direct combat while moored at a Yemeni facility. “I immediately cut the ropes, prepared the engines, and left the port at my own risk to protect the crew and the ship,” he said.

Metal fragments struck the vessel during their emergency departure, resulting in minimal structural damage while all crew members avoided injury. The tanker eventually resumed normal port activities and continued following its scheduled shipping route despite the incident.

However, not every crew member can handle the extreme stress of their assignments. Al-Jubouri revealed his team has shrunk from 27 sailors down to just 17 members, with fear driving the departures.

Extended periods away from home add emotional strain to the physical dangers. Al-Jubouri has been separated from his family for four months straight, creating the homesickness common among long-distance sailors.

“We suffer from being away from our families and our homelands,” he said. Although onboard internet connections help maintain family contact, the separation feels particularly difficult during wartime conditions.

Essential provisions continue flowing regularly, with food and drinking water supplies maintained through port visits without significant shortages occurring.

Al-Jubouri credits his extensive maritime experience spanning four decades with helping him maintain effectiveness under extreme pressure.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces questioning by French authorities in Paris this Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into serious allegations surrounding his social media platform X.

Prosecutors in Paris have called both Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino for what they term “voluntary interviews” regarding claims that the platform failed to prevent the distribution of child sexual abuse material and explicit deepfake images. Additional X employees are set to provide witness testimony throughout the week, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.

Whether the billionaire entrepreneur and Yaccarino will actually appear in Paris remains uncertain. Representatives for X have not responded to media inquiries, and Yaccarino’s current employer, eMed, has also remained silent on the matter.

The summons follows a February search of X’s French offices, part of a cybercrime investigation launched in January 2025. Both Musk and Yaccarino are being questioned in their roles as X executives during the timeframe under investigation. Yaccarino served as the platform’s CEO from May 2023 through July 2025.

“These voluntary interviews with the executives are intended to allow them to present their position regarding the facts and, where appropriate, the compliance measures they plan to implement,” prosecutors explained. “At this stage, the conduct of this investigation is part of a constructive approach, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that platform X complies with French law, insofar as it operates within the national territory.”

When asked about potential consequences if Musk fails to appear, the Paris prosecutor’s office declined to provide details.

The investigation began after a French legislator reported concerns that X’s algorithms may have improperly manipulated automated systems. The probe expanded when the platform’s artificial intelligence system, Grok, allegedly produced content denying the Holocaust—a criminal offense under French law—and created sexually explicit deepfake images.

Investigators are examining potential “complicity” in possessing and distributing pornographic images of minors, creating sexually explicit deepfakes, denying crimes against humanity, and manipulating automated data systems as part of an organized operation, among other potential violations.

Grok, developed by xAI and integrated into X, drew international criticism this year after producing numerous sexualized deepfake images without consent when requested by platform users.

The AI system also generated a widely circulated French-language post claiming that gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were intended for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus” rather than mass murder—language commonly used by Holocaust deniers.

The chatbot later corrected itself in subsequent X posts, acknowledging its error, stating the original response had been removed, and citing historical evidence that Zyklon B was used to murder more than 1 million people in Auschwitz gas chambers.

In March, Paris prosecutors contacted both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, suggesting “that the controversy surrounding sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok may have been deliberately orchestrated to artificially boost the value of the companies X and xAI — potentially constituting criminal offenses.”

The prosecutor’s office indicated this alleged manipulation could have occurred “ahead of the planned June 2026 stock market listing of the new entity formed by the merger of Space X and xAI, at a time when company X was clearly losing momentum.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department has refused to assist French law enforcement in their investigation of Musk’s platform. According to the newspaper, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs sent a two-page letter last week accusing France of improperly using its legal system to interfere with American business operations.

“This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the letter stated, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.

The correspondence also characterized France’s requests for U.S. assistance as “an effort to entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding aimed at wrongfully regulating through prosecution the business activities of a social media platform.”

French judicial officials have not responded to requests for comment on these developments.

Separately, Reporters Without Borders has filed an additional complaint against X with Paris cybercrime prosecutors. The organization “targets the platform’s policies that allow disinformation to flourish,” accusing Musk’s company of repeatedly violating the public’s right to accurate information.

“Disinformation campaigns are flooding X, some of which have accumulated several hundred thousand views. Although the staff at Elon Musk’s platform are well aware of the situation, this has not stopped them from responding to RSF’s repeated alerts with automated refusals to remove the content in question,” the organization stated. “This is a deliberate policy instated by X, and it is incompatible with the public’s right to reliable information.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than 9,000 residents were forced to evacuate after a devastating blaze swept through a waterfront settlement in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo Island, wiping out approximately 1,000 homes, local authorities reported.

The devastating blaze began in the early morning hours on Sunday within the Sandakan district, quickly engulfing multiple rows of wooden stilt houses that were built above the ocean waters, fire and rescue officials confirmed.

Emergency responders faced significant challenges containing the inferno due to powerful wind conditions and the tightly packed nature of the dwellings, authorities explained. Narrow pathways for emergency vehicle access combined with low tide levels further complicated firefighting operations and delayed crews from reaching the most severely affected zones.

While no fatalities have been confirmed, thousands of displaced residents have been relocated to emergency shelters as relief operations continue.

These waterfront communities, known locally as water villages, represent informal housing developments that extend across much of Sabah’s shoreline, which ranks among Malaysia’s most economically disadvantaged regions. The densely constructed dwellings are primarily built from timber and other flammable materials, frequently lacking essential utilities and safety infrastructure. These communities predominantly house low-income families and marginalized populations, including native communities and individuals lacking official citizenship documentation.

According to reporting by Sabah’s Daily Express newspaper, village leader Sharif Hashim Sharif Iting indicated that an uncontrolled cooking fire may have sparked the disaster. However, fire investigators have not yet determined the official cause, and the investigation continues.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that both federal and regional government agencies are working together to coordinate emergency response efforts, with priority given to providing immediate support for displaced families.

Similar fire incidents have repeatedly affected Sabah’s waterfront communities throughout recent years. State officials have consistently recognized the extreme fire vulnerability of these settlements, though implementing comprehensive safety improvements across such communities continues to present significant logistical challenges.

Iranian authorities carried out death sentences on Sunday against two men who were found guilty of working with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to reports from the country’s judicial news service Mizan.

The executed individuals were named as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi, who officials claimed were part of an espionage operation connected to Israeli intelligence. According to Mizan, both men had undergone training in foreign locations, including Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

The pair faced multiple charges, including “enmity against God” and collaborating with enemy organizations. Iran’s Supreme Court confirmed their death sentences before the executions were performed, Mizan stated.

A leading Taiwan business executive called Monday for both Chinese and Taiwanese governments to separate political considerations from economic cooperation, following Beijing’s recent announcement of new trade incentives for the island nation.

Paul Hsu, who leads Taiwan’s General Chamber of Commerce, made the appeal after China revealed new measures this month that would relax restrictions on tourism and food imports. However, Beijing tied these incentives to Taiwan “opposing Taiwan independence.”

China considers Taiwan, which operates as a democracy, to be part of its territory and has refused diplomatic engagement with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist.” In recent years, Beijing has intensified political and economic pressure through tourism restrictions, food import bans, and regular military exercises.

“As soon as there is an opening up, it should be as much as possible be systematic and normalised to maintain the long-term stability of business and trade exchanges,” Hsu stated during a press conference in Taipei.

Speaking alongside representatives from tourism and food industries, Hsu called on China to provide consistent trade relationships instead of abrupt policy changes. He also advocated for equal treatment regardless of which political party controls Taiwan’s cities or counties, particularly in southern Taiwan where Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party maintains strong support.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has not yet responded to requests for comment on Hsu’s statements.

Beijing’s latest policy announcements followed a visit to China by Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, who characterized her trip as a “journey of peace” and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hsu’s organization, which represents over one million companies, issued a statement urging Taiwan’s government to “proactively face” China’s opening offers.

The business leader emphasized that his group’s political support would go to candidates who benefit Taiwan’s industries, stressing he represents non-partisan business interests.

“As long as you put forth good policies, we will offer support. But if you stand against us, I’m sorry, I can’t support you. We have a vote — we are a democratic society,” Hsu declared.

Taiwan is preparing for significant local elections in November, with the next presidential election scheduled for early 2028.

On Sunday, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles China policy, promised to address industry’s “reasonable demands” while cautioning businesses against becoming “tools manipulated and exploited by the Chinese communists.”

PAPHOS, Cyprus — American taxpayer dollars are financing significant improvements to Cyprus military facilities as the Mediterranean island nation expands its capacity to serve as a regional evacuation center and humanitarian staging area for Middle East crises.

The island’s primary naval installation, Evangelos Florakis base, sits just 142 miles from Lebanon’s shoreline and will receive a new heliport funded by U.S. European Command. The facility will handle large Chinook-style transport helicopters used for evacuating people from war zones.

Meanwhile, the Andreas Papandreou air base in southwestern Cyprus will gain an expanded apron area where dozens of heavy-lift military cargo planes can quickly refuel and receive maintenance during humanitarian operations, according to Lt. Col. Paris Samoutis, National Guard spokesperson. The Associated Press received rare access to these restricted military sites.

Both enhancement projects fall under a broader upgrade initiative funded by Washington to help Cyprus handle large-scale humanitarian responses. Construction is scheduled to begin next year.

While final project costs remain under assessment, Samoutis revealed the U.S. has provided 500,000 euros ($588,000) for development planning to determine total expansion expenses for the air base apron.

This American assistance would have been unimaginable a decade ago, before Cyprus abandoned its historically neutral diplomatic stance and aligned with Western nations.

Cyprus has strengthened ties with Washington under American-educated President Nikos Christodoulides, who ended a longstanding U.S. arms embargo and opened new commercial opportunities.

Since winning election in 2023, Christodoulides has promoted Cyprus’ strategic location to European Union colleagues and American officials, positioning the nation as the West’s diplomatic, economic and humanitarian gateway to the volatile Middle East.

“As a conscientious and responsible partner, Cyprus remains a credible and safe harbor,” Christodoulides stated in December.

Previously, American forces depended on two British military installations that the United Kingdom maintained after Cyprus gained independence in 1960. A drone attack on March 2 damaged an aircraft hangar at RAF Akrotiri base, with Cypriot authorities saying the Shahed drone originated from Lebanon.

Upgrading Cyprus’ national military infrastructure provides alternative options for Washington and EU allies with regional interests, including France.

Cyprus served as an evacuation transit hub for foreign nationals fleeing Sudan in April 2023. When U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, the island again facilitated departures from Israel and helped stranded Israelis return home.

During 2024, Cyprus established the Amalthea maritime corridor to deliver thousands of tons of humanitarian supplies to Gaza, initially through direct shipments and later via Israel’s Ashdod port.

Multiple EU nations and other countries have stationed civilian personnel, military troops, helicopters and aircraft in Cyprus to support potential citizen evacuations. The United States deployed Marines and V-22 Osprey aircraft at Paphos air base in 2024 to assist Lebanese evacuations.

Christodoulides has emphasized that Cyprus military facilities will only support humanitarian missions, not offensive military operations.

Beyond the new heliport, the naval base will receive upgraded port infrastructure capable of hosting larger warships like frigates, which exceed the size of Cyprus’ current lighter vessel fleet, Samoutis explained. These larger ships provide essential air defense capabilities through radar and missile systems protecting incoming and outgoing transport helicopters.

The air base will also house a newly established regional firefighting coordination center designed to help neighboring Middle Eastern nations combat major wildfires. The center’s inauguration is planned for next month.

“Cyprus remains part of the solution, not the problem,” Samoutis said, repeating a phrase frequently used by Christodoulides.

LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronts mounting pressure Monday as he attempts to contain a political firestorm that threatens his leadership.

The embattled leader will endure intense questioning in Parliament as he defends his decision to name Peter Mandelson as Britain’s top diplomat to Washington, even though the controversial politician failed to pass security clearance and had connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The scandal has prompted opposition leaders to demand Starmer’s resignation while creating unease among his own supporters who question what other critical information may have escaped the prime minister’s attention.

Initially, Starmer insisted that proper procedures were followed in selecting Mandelson for the diplomatic post. However, he now claims to be “furious” that nobody informed him when an extensive background investigation recommended against granting Mandelson security clearance. The Foreign Office ultimately approved the appointment despite these concerns.

Following last week’s disclosure by The Guardian newspaper, Starmer quickly dismissed the department’s senior civil servant, Olly Robbins. However, sources close to Robbins maintain he lacked authority to share confidential vetting details with the prime minister.

Robbins plans to present his account of the situation to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

Opposition parties across the political spectrum have united in demanding Starmer’s departure. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch wrote in the Mail on Sunday that he had “misled Parliament over Mandelson, misled the country and is taking the public for fools.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused Starmer of displaying “catastrophic misjudgment.”

Top government officials have rallied to support the prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stated that had Starmer been aware of the security concerns, “he would never, ever have appointed him ambassador.”

Nevertheless, members of Starmer’s Labour Party, already concerned about declining approval ratings, are growing restless. The prime minister previously weathered a similar challenge in February when some Labour legislators pushed for his resignation over the Mandelson selection.

Another test looms with the May 7 local and regional elections, where voters will deliver their midterm assessment of the government’s performance, and Labour faces potential significant losses.

Political observers view the Mandelson controversy as further evidence of poor decision-making by a prime minister who has encountered numerous setbacks since leading Labour to an overwhelming electoral triumph in July 2024. Starmer has struggled to fulfill promises of economic expansion, improve deteriorating public services, and address living costs, resulting in multiple policy reversals.

Despite staff warnings about the “reputational risk” posed by Mandelson’s association with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019, Starmer selected him for one of Britain’s most crucial diplomatic positions.

Concerns also arose regarding Mandelson’s business connections to Russia and China. However, his experience as a former European Union trade commissioner and relationships with international leaders were viewed as valuable assets for managing relations with President Donald Trump’s administration.

Mandelson’s tenure lasted fewer than nine months. Starmer terminated his appointment in September 2025 after discovering that Mandelson had misrepresented the scope of his Epstein connections.

Documents related to Epstein that the U.S. Department of Justice released in January contained correspondence indicating Mandelson may have shared confidential government information with Epstein in 2009 during the global financial crisis, details that could have influenced financial markets.

British authorities initiated a criminal investigation and took Mandelson into custody in February on charges of misconduct in public office. While Mandelson has previously denied any wrongdoing and has not been formally charged, he faces no allegations of sexual impropriety.

NEW YORK — The United Nations will host auditions this week for its next leader, with only four candidates seeking the secretary-general position — a dramatic decline from the 13 hopefuls who competed a decade ago when António Guterres secured the role.

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will kick off the selection process Tuesday, facing a three-hour grilling from representatives of the UN’s 193 member countries. She’s joined by Argentina’s Rafael Mariano Grossi, who currently heads the UN’s nuclear agency.

Wednesday will feature UN trade leader Rebeca Grynspan, followed by former Senegalese President Macky Sall.

The significantly smaller candidate pool reflects dramatic changes in global politics since 2016, when the world was more stable and peaceful — the same year Donald Trump first won the presidency.

The UN itself has lost considerable influence over the past decade. While the organization celebrated major achievements in 2016, including the Paris climate accord and ambitious development goals, today’s deeply divided world powers have left the UN unable to address its core mission of maintaining international peace.

Major conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran have paralyzed the Security Council, pushing the UN to the margins of critical global crises.

Richard Gowan, who monitors UN affairs for the International Crisis Group, explained how current tensions have shaped this leadership race differently than Guterres’ selection process.

A decade ago, many long-shot candidates joined the competition simply to boost their public profiles, Gowan noted.

“There was no real cost associated with losing,” Gowan said. “This time around, potential candidates and the governments who sponsor them are much more cautious. There is a feeling that if a candidate puts a foot wrong and offends Washington or Beijing, it could cause real diplomatic damage.”

The 2016 race generated significant momentum for selecting the first female UN leader, with women comprising seven of the 13 candidates. However, Guterres ultimately prevailed after delivering the strongest performance in member nation questioning sessions.

The UN Charter provides minimal guidance on selecting its top official, stating only that the General Assembly should choose based on Security Council recommendations. This arrangement gives the five permanent Security Council members — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France — decisive authority and veto power.

Traditionally, the secretary-general position rotates among global regions. Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister and refugee agency chief representing Europe, succeeded South Korea’s Ban Ki-moon from Asia, who followed Ghana’s Kofi Annan from Africa.

Latin America should claim the position next, though Eastern Europe has never held the role despite losing out in 2016.

Member nations must nominate candidates under UN procedures, though countries need not nominate their own citizens. While nominations remain open indefinitely, the Security Council typically begins informal polling in late July, effectively establishing a deadline.

This week’s candidates will likely address their leadership vision, global crisis management, and the UN’s future direction, though questioning can cover any topic.

The 74-year-old Bachelet previously served as UN human rights chief after two separate terms leading Chile. Initially backed by Chile, Brazil, and Mexico, she lost Chilean support when far-right leader José Antonio Kast assumed the presidency in March and withdrew backing for the leftist former president. Brazil and Mexico continue supporting her candidacy.

Grossi, 65, has directed the International Atomic Energy Agency since 2019 following his diplomatic career and received nomination from Argentina.

The 70-year-old Grynspan, Costa Rica’s former vice president, has led the UN Trade and Development agency since 2021 and earned her home country’s nomination.

Sall, 64, received nomination from Burundi, though his native Senegal declined to endorse him, as did the fractured 55-member African Union.

A fifth candidate, Argentine diplomat Virginia Gamba, who previously represented the UN on children in warfare, was nominated by the Maldives but withdrawn in late March without explanation.

Despite having only two female candidates, pressure continues for selecting the first woman secretary-general, including from Guterres, who has prioritized gender equality in his administration. Britain and France have also expressed support for female leadership.

The advocacy groups 1 for 8 Billion and GWL Voices, representing nearly 80 global female leaders, are campaigning for a woman candidate. GWL’s president Susana Malcorra, a former Argentine foreign minister and senior UN official, competed for secretary-general in 2016.

Twenty-eight Republican lawmakers sent a March 25 letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the United States to block Bachelet’s candidacy, describing her as “a pro-abortion zealot intent on using political authority to override state sovereignty in favor of extreme agendas.”

During a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz was questioned about Bachelet by Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, who signed the opposition letter. While Waltz avoided stating whether America would support or oppose her candidacy, he acknowledged sharing Ricketts’ concerns.

Gowan observed that prospects for female leadership shifted significantly with Trump’s return to office.

“Before that, there was a feeling that this time a woman had to win, but now a lot of diplomats assume that Washington will insist on a male secretary-general on principle,” he said. “I am not sure that is necessarily correct.”

Survivors of Hong Kong’s most devastating fire in recent history started returning to their burned-out apartments Monday, marking their first opportunity since the November tragedy to search for personal belongings that may have survived the flames.

The devastating blaze consumed seven 31-story residential buildings in Tai Po’s northern district, claiming 168 lives and requiring nearly 48 hours for firefighters to fully extinguish. The catastrophe surpassed the severity of London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower fire.

Among those returning was 50-year-old Chung, who came prepared with canvas bags and tools, hoping to recover precious memories. “I want to get back my computer most, as some photographs of my son are stored inside,” Chung explained. “(I am) not sure if I will have enough time, once I get upstairs.”

Former residents of the Wang Fuk Court complex can make supervised visits lasting three hours each through May 4th. Safety protocols require all visitors to wear protective face masks, helmets, and gloves during their searches.

Approximately 1,000 staff members, including firefighters, have been assigned to help an estimated 6,000 expected visitors. Officials escort each group to ensure recovered items remain secure throughout the process.

Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk addressed reporters outside the complex, which remains surrounded by orange barriers and patrolled by security personnel. “I hope everyone will abide by the three-hour rule,” Cheuk stated.

Entry rules allow up to four people per apartment, though severely damaged units are restricted to single visitors. Government data analysis by Midland Realty reveals that many displaced residents are seniors, with over one-third being 65 or older.

Months following the disaster, Hong Kong residents continue seeking explanations for the fire’s origin while demanding those responsible be held accountable.

An independent investigative committee launched hearings in March to determine the fire’s causes and examine government allegations of construction company bid-rigging in building projects. The panel’s chief attorney attributed the failure of most fire safety systems to human error.

Government officials have warned of strict penalties for anyone attempting to “politicise” the tragedy.

The Housing Bureau rejected redevelopment plans for the site in April, citing lengthy timelines and various uncertainties. Earlier in February, officials announced plans to allocate approximately HK$4 billion ($512 million) to purchase properties from affected owners.

Maritime traffic through a crucial Middle Eastern shipping route reached its highest level in nearly two months this weekend, according to new data from shipping analytics company Kpler.

The Strait of Hormuz saw over 20 ships pass through on Saturday, representing the busiest single day for vessel movement through the strategic waterway since March 1st.

The diverse fleet included several ships that had previously loaded cargo from Iranian ports, carrying everything from petroleum products to metal goods. Among these were three vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas, with destinations including China and India.

Notable ships in Saturday’s convoy included the Panama-registered tanker Crave, which picked up LPG from the United Arab Emirates and is bound for Indonesia. Two additional tankers, the Akti A and Athina, transported refined petroleum products from Bahrain to Mozambique and Thailand.

Several major oil shipments also made the passage. The Liberian-registered Navig8 Macallister carried approximately 500,000 barrels of UAE naphtha toward South Korea’s Ulsan port. Another Liberian-flagged vessel, the Very Large Crude Carrier Fpmc C Lord, transported roughly 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil to Taiwan’s Mailiao port.

The Indian-flagged Desh Garima moved about 780,000 barrels of UAE Das crude toward Sri Lanka, while other vessels carried diverse cargo including Qatari fertilizer bound for the UAE and petroleum coke from Saudi Arabia headed to Italy’s Ravenna port.

International stability hangs in the balance Monday following the U.S. military’s capture of an Iranian cargo vessel that attempted to breach an American naval blockade, with Tehran threatening swift retaliation for what it calls “armed piracy.”

The incident has cast serious doubt over whether a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Iran will survive past its Tuesday expiration date. Diplomatic efforts toward lasting regional stability have also suffered a major setback, as Iranian officials announced they will boycott a second round of peace negotiations the United States had planned to launch before the truce ends.

American forces currently enforce a naval blockade around Iranian ports, while Iran has repeatedly imposed and lifted restrictions on shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments.

According to U.S. military officials, American forces opened fire Sunday on the Iranian-flagged vessel as it approached Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. “We have full custody of their ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” President Trump posted on social media platforms.

Iranian military sources confirmed the cargo ship had been traveling from China when intercepted. “We warn that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the U.S. military,” a military spokesperson declared through state-controlled media outlets.

Global markets reacted sharply to the escalating crisis, with oil prices surging and stock exchanges showing volatility as investors considered the possibility of continued minimal Gulf shipping activity.

TEHRAN ABANDONS DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

Iranian state television reported that government officials had declined to participate in renewed peace negotiations, pointing to the continuing naval blockade, aggressive language from Washington, and what they described as America’s inconsistent positions and “excessive demands.”

“One cannot restrict Iran’s oil exports while expecting free security for others,” Iran’s First Vice President Mohammadreza Aref posted on social media. “The choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone.”

President Trump has escalated his rhetoric toward Iran, warning that American forces would target every bridge and power facility in the country should Tehran reject his proposed terms, following a recent pattern of such aggressive statements.

Iranian leadership has responded that any American assault on civilian infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against power facilities and water treatment plants belonging to Gulf Arab nations allied with the United States.

DIPLOMATIC MISSION PROCEEDS DESPITE UNCERTAINTY

Trump announced that his diplomatic team would reach Islamabad Monday night, just 24 hours before the two-week ceasefire concludes.

A White House source confirmed to Reuters that Vice President JD Vance would lead the American delegation, having previously overseen initial peace discussions one week earlier. The team would also include Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. However, Trump later told ABC News and MS Now that Vance would not make the trip.

Pakistan, serving as the primary intermediary between the warring parties, appeared to be making preparations for the diplomatic meetings. Two massive U.S. C-17 transport aircraft touched down at a Pakistani air base Sunday afternoon, delivering security equipment and armored vehicles ahead of the American delegation’s expected arrival, according to two Pakistani security officials.

Islamabad city officials suspended public transportation and commercial truck traffic throughout the capital. Workers installed razor wire barriers near the Serena Hotel, the venue for last week’s negotiations. Hotel management ordered all current guests to vacate the premises.

The conflict has now entered its eighth week, creating what experts describe as the most devastating disruption to worldwide energy supplies in recorded history. Oil prices have skyrocketed due to the effective shutdown of the strait.

Casualty figures have reached into the thousands from combined U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran and an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon that began simultaneously when hostilities erupted on February 28. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and neighboring Arab nations that provide bases for American military forces.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker who has represented Tehran in the negotiations, previously indicated that both sides had achieved some progress but remained significantly divided on nuclear weapons issues and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

European allies, who have faced repeated criticism from Trump for their limited participation in the military campaign, express concern that Washington’s negotiating approach prioritizes a rapid but superficial agreement that would necessitate months or years of complex technical discussions to implement.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday, with plans to significantly strengthen economic partnerships between the two nations, particularly in the shipbuilding sector.

This marks the first time a South Korean president has made a state visit to India in eight years.

Speaking at a dinner with Korean community members in New Delhi on Sunday, Lee acknowledged current limitations in their economic relationship. “The level of economic cooperation between South Korea and India is still very low,” the president stated. “Going forward, we will expand that space and make the relationship between South Korea and India completely different from what it is now.”

Both nations are working to enhance their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with goals to nearly double trade volume to $50 billion by 2030, up from last year’s $25.7 billion, according to presidential adviser Wi Sung-lac.

Lee’s visit will include business meetings with corporate executives, exploring collaboration opportunities in finance, artificial intelligence, and defense sectors, Wi noted.

The South Korean leader emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership on Sunday, stating that supply chain disruptions and global economic pressures from the Iran conflict will make the countries “the most important strategic partners” for each other. He characterized India not merely as a consumer market, but as a crucial player in worldwide production and supply networks.

Last month, South Korea made urgent requests for India to increase naphtha supplies to help mitigate potential disruptions from Middle Eastern tensions.

India supplied approximately 8% of South Korea’s naphtha imports in the previous year. South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo suggested that increased imports could help address trade imbalances between the nations.

Trade data from the Korea International Trade Association shows South Korea maintained a $12.8 billion trade surplus last year, with $19.2 billion in exports compared to $6.4 billion in imports.

During a policy discussion at South Korea’s parliament last week, Seoul National University Asia Center research fellow Maeng Hyun-chul highlighted India’s ongoing concerns about its growing trade deficit with South Korea. He noted that political relationships have lagged behind commercial connections.

Maeng suggested shipbuilding could become a major area for enhanced cooperation, aligning with India’s employment creation goals while leveraging South Korea’s industrial expertise. He also identified food and consumer products tied to Korean cultural popularity as potential growth sectors.

Following his India visit, Lee is scheduled to travel to Vietnam.

North Korea announced Monday that it conducted another ballistic missile test featuring cluster bomb warheads, marking the second such weapons trial this month as the isolated nation works to strengthen its ability to overcome American and South Korean defense systems.

The announcement from North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency appears connected to the multiple missile launches that South Korea, Japan, and the United States tracked Sunday from North Korea’s eastern coastline.

State media photographs depicted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un alongside his teenage daughter, both dressed in black leather jackets, observing from a shoreline vantage point as a missile flew across the water with gray smoke trailing behind it. Intelligence officials from South Korea recently suggested that the daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, may be positioned as Kim’s potential successor.

According to KCNA, Kim supervised the firing of five enhanced Hwasong-11 Ra surface-to-surface ballistic missiles equipped with cluster bomb warheads and fragmentation mine warheads.

The weapons successfully struck their island target, with Kim expressing approval of the test results. “It is of weighty significance in military actions to boost the high-density striking capability,” Kim stated, as reported by KCNA.

Earlier this month, North Korea conducted trials of Hwasong-11 Ka surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with cluster bomb capabilities that officials claimed “can reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5-7 hectares (16 to 17.2 acres).”

While North Korea has previously experimented with cluster bomb warheads, analysts suggest the ongoing Iran conflict may have motivated North Korea to showcase its cluster munitions capabilities and speed up development of more advanced versions.

The devastating potential of cluster munitions has been demonstrated in current conflicts, with Israel alleging that Iran has deployed such weapons to overwhelm the nation’s strained air defense systems. These warheads explode at high elevations, releasing numerous smaller explosive devices across extensive areas that prove challenging to intercept.

Although more than 120 nations have agreed to an international agreement prohibiting cluster munitions, North Korea, Iran, Israel, and the United States have not joined this treaty.

Since Kim’s nuclear negotiations with former U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019, North Korea has been working to grow its nuclear weapons stockpile and develop sophisticated military technology. This includes multi-warhead nuclear missiles, hypersonic weapons, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which would significantly improve North Korea’s chances of overcoming U.S. and South Korean missile defense systems.

Trump has repeatedly indicated his interest in resuming diplomatic talks with Kim, while the North Korean leader has recently suggested openness to dialogue with Trump but called on Washington to abandon demands for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament as a condition for negotiations.

Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing for a rescheduled meeting with Xi Jinping in May. Some experts believe North Korea’s recent weapons testing may be designed to strengthen its bargaining position in potential future negotiations with the U.S., as the Trump-Xi summit could create diplomatic opportunities with Pyongyang.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Each Monday evening in Uruguay’s capital city, crowds of people circle around musicians in a public plaza, captivated by the rhythmic beats of drums, guitars and vocals that echo a musical tradition spanning centuries.

What began as friends getting together to play music has transformed La Rueda de Candombe into one of Uruguay’s most celebrated musical phenomena, taking the group from neighborhood street performances all the way to France’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

“What started as something among friends became visible without us intending it,” explained Uruguayan producer Caleb Amado, who helped establish La Rueda de Candombe.

This past Sunday marked the season finale for Rueda de Candombe at Montevideo’s Plaza de España, where six musicians came together to celebrate candombe — an energetic musical style that defines this South American nation’s cultural identity and has earned recognition from UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During autumn 2024, Amado and his companion Rolo Fernández journeyed to Rio de Janeiro, exchanging Montevideo’s cooler weather for balmy evenings at some of Brazil’s most famous nightspots. During their visit, they experienced “rodas” — spontaneous musical gatherings where artists form circles around tables to perform while audiences stand and watch.

Drawing inspiration from these Brazilian sessions, the duo returned to Uruguay and created La Rueda de Candombe alongside four additional musicians.

Similar to their Brazilian counterparts, the ensemble performs seated around a table. However, their musical style remains uniquely Uruguayan: percussion, guitar and accordion create the distinctive rhythms of candombe, a genre with roots in African customs introduced to the area during the 1700s that now forms the core of Uruguay’s cultural identity. UNESCO has designated candombe as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Initially, close to one hundred people crowded into Santa Catalina, a compact bar located on a peaceful Montevideo street corner, to listen to their performances. Over several months, expanding audiences forced the shows to move to the adjacent Plaza España. As their fame spread, tourist buses started appearing regularly.

Even though Montevideo offers numerous public venues, including a 14-mile waterfront walkway, street performances occur much less frequently than in metropolitan areas such as Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro.

Online platforms helped spread their reputation, attracting well-known performers. The ensemble has shared the stage with Uruguayan musician Jorge Drexler at Montevideo’s famous Centenario Stadium and produced a recording. In 2025, they received an invitation to showcase Uruguay at the Cannes Film Festival, which features cultural presentations alongside its cinema programming.

From the 1700s onward, candombe has served as a cornerstone of Uruguayan culture. The genre originated at Plaza España — the historical port where enslaved Africans used drumbeats to preserve their spiritual practices.

The musical form centers on three drum varieties — chico, repique and piano — and achieves its most spectacular expression during February’s carnival season, when numerous musical groups known as comparsas march through city streets.

During the mid-1900s, candombe transformed by incorporating elements of jazz and contemporary music in a fusion called “candombe canción.” It became standard at social events — similar to current Rueda gatherings — while also functioning as a vehicle for cultural and political commentary throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

With winter approaching, Amado and Fernández intend to remain in Montevideo. The Rueda continues to grow, they report, while developing new initiatives, including performances at additional public plazas throughout the city.

The anticipation weighs heavily on his heart, but Keung Mak knows he must face what awaits him.

On Monday, the 78-year-old will enter his apartment for the first time since November’s devastating fire — Hong Kong’s most fatal blaze in decades — destroyed his building. Mak already knows to expect the worst after his social worker shared a photograph revealing the extensive damage.

The home where Mak and his wife spent more than four decades raising their family now shows exposed steel reinforcement bars through the burned ceiling. Broken tile pieces cover the floors, while sections of the structure require additional support to prevent complete collapse.

“My heart is heavy, I’m very disappointed. I didn’t expect the first floor would be burned like this,” Mak said before his planned return.

The November fire rapidly consumed seven out of eight buildings within the Tai Po district apartment complex, claiming 168 lives. Beginning this Monday, thousands of displaced residents will start visiting their former homes to collect whatever belongings survived. Officials expect this process to extend through early May.

Residents continue awaiting findings from the ongoing investigation into the fire’s origin. During this period, they’ve been managing temporary living situations throughout the city, with many staying in provisional housing while seeking permanent relocation options.

Burn marks still darken the exteriors of several buildings, serving as visible reminders of the catastrophe.

The homecoming process will prove especially challenging for the complex’s senior residents, who comprised more than one-third of the approximately 4,600 people living there before the disaster.

Since the elevators remain inoperable, some elderly residents have been participating in fitness programs to prepare for climbing stairs in the 31-story structures.

According to Radio Television Hong Kong, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk reported that more than 1,400 registered returnees are age 65 or older.

Mak’s family treasures numerous items they hope to recover from their apartment: a fishing rod their son gave as a present, wedding photographs from fifty years ago, and correspondence from their son spanning many years. The family believes nearly everything has been destroyed.

“A lot of things with commemorative value are all gone,” said Mak’s 74-year-old wife, Kit Chan. “Not even a single piece of paper will be left.”

Most residents will receive up to three hours inside their apartments, with a maximum of four people permitted entry. In severely compromised units, only one person may enter safely.

Due to their apartment’s poor condition, only Mak and his son will be allowed inside, though Chan hopes officials might permit her a brief look as well.

Thirty-nine-year-old Cyrus Ng previously lived with his parents on the tenth floor of the Wang Fuk Court complex for more than ten years before relocating.

Following the fire’s immediate aftermath, Ng experienced sleeplessness, anger, sadness, and concern for his elderly parents. Nearly five months later, while more emotionally stable, he hasn’t completely processed the events.

“We know there are suspicious issues behind this,” he said. “I hope we can really find the truth.”

According to a lawyer representing an independent committee investigating the fire’s cause, nearly all fire safety equipment within the apartment buildings malfunctioned on the day of the blaze due to human mistakes.

Ng feels conflicted about returning next week to their apartment, which avoided the most severe damage. While concerned about the emotional toll on his parents, he anticipates retrieving their property deed, old photographs, clothing, and other precious belongings.

He also expressed concerns about potential theft following months of vacancy. In March, police detained three individuals suspected of stealing from the estate.

Government officials previously stated that cost-effective repairs to the damaged buildings would prove challenging. Authorities lean toward demolishing the seven fire-damaged structures and have proposed purchasing homeownership rights from affected residents.

They referenced resident survey results, disappointing those hoping to rebuild their homes at the original location.

Some residents have challenged this position. Fire inquiry data revealed that only half of approximately 1,700 apartments across the seven buildings sustained various levels of damage.

Ng questioned whether some buildings could be repaired to allow certain residents to return, though his parents were already considering the government’s alternative apartment offer. He plans to photograph his apartment during the visit to document its condition and demonstrate that some homes remain unaffected.

Other residents from the single building that escaped the fire must cope with traumatic memories while living at the same location.

Stephanie Leung, a resident of the undamaged building, feels hesitant about returning to the same apartment. She explained that her family would experience significant psychological distress whenever they viewed the seven other buildings where former classmates and friends perished.

She hopes the government will include her building in the same plan as the damaged structures while allowing those who wish to stay the option to remain.

“Whenever I go back, I want to cry,” she said.

Energy markets experienced sharp increases during Sunday morning trading as ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States blocked access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel for global oil supplies.

U.S. crude futures jumped 6.4% to reach $87.88 per barrel when trading reopened on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Meanwhile, Brent crude, which serves as the international benchmark, surged 6.5% to $96.25 per barrel.

The market volatility stems from more than two days of uncertainty surrounding the strategic waterway. On Friday, Iran announced it would completely reopen the passage along its coastline for commercial shipping, causing crude prices to drop over 9%. However, Tehran changed course on Saturday after President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Navy restrictions on Iranian ports would continue. During the weekend, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard opened fire on multiple ships, while Trump confirmed the forced capture of an Iranian cargo vessel attempting to bypass the naval blockade.

The military conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran has now entered its eighth week, triggering one of the most severe global energy emergencies in recent decades. Nations across Asia and Europe that depend heavily on Middle Eastern oil imports have experienced the greatest disruption from supply interruptions and production reductions, though surging costs for gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel are impacting consumers and businesses globally.

When questioned about when American drivers might see average gas prices drop below $3 per gallon again, Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated relief may not come until next year. “But prices have likely peaked, and they’ll start going down,” Wright told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

Crude oil costs — the primary component in gasoline pricing — have experienced dramatic swings since the U.S. and Israel launched their attack on Iran on Feb. 28, followed by Iranian retaliatory strikes against other Gulf nations. Before the conflict began, crude was trading around $70 per barrel, then spiked above $119 at various points, before closing Friday at $82.59 for U.S. oil and $90.38 for Brent.

Energy experts have consistently cautioned that extended closure of the strait could lead to significantly worse price increases.

A delicate two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran is scheduled to end Wednesday, while rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt on future negotiations to resolve the conflict.

Even if a permanent agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is reached, industry analysts predict it could require months for oil shipments to normalize and fuel costs to decline. Contributing factors include backed-up tanker traffic, shipping companies worried about renewed escalation, and energy infrastructure damaged during the war, all of which could prevent production and shipping volumes from returning to pre-conflict levels.

According to AAA motor club data, regular gasoline averaged nearly $4.05 per gallon across the U.S. on Sunday. While this represents a decrease of about 8 cents from the previous week, it remains significantly higher than the $2.98 average before the war began.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to speak before Parliament on Monday as opposition leaders demand his resignation over the controversial selection of Peter Mandelson for U.S. ambassador, following revelations that Mandelson failed security clearance checks.

The 72-year-old Mandelson, a prominent Labour Party figure, was removed from the ambassadorial role last September after his connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public knowledge. Starmer issued an apology at that time for the initial appointment.

New details surfaced Thursday revealing that Mandelson had actually failed security screening procedures before being named to the position, intensifying criticism of the prime minister whose approval ratings have declined since Labour’s decisive electoral victory in 2024.

Starmer previously assured Parliament that proper procedures had been observed regarding Mandelson’s appointment. The PM now claims it was inexcusable that he wasn’t informed about the vetting failure until the previous week. Foreign Office senior official Olly Robbins was dismissed as a result.

The prime minister announced he would “set out the relevant facts” to legislators Monday, while Robbins is expected to testify before a parliamentary committee Tuesday.

Political rivals have characterized Starmer’s actions as dishonest and incompetent, arguing his position has become untenable.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticized what he called “catastrophic misjudgement,” while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described his conduct as recklessly negligent at minimum.

“This has been a tawdry and shaming affair for you and your party, and for this country,” Badenoch wrote in a Sunday letter to the prime minister.

“Not only have you damaged our relationship with the United States and insulted the victims of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, but you have also undermined our national security by giving the highest diplomatic post to an individual that the security services found to be of ‘high concern’,” she added.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated Sunday that had Starmer been aware of Mandelson’s vetting failure, the appointment would never have proceeded despite Mandelson already being selected for the ambassadorial role.

“There is no way that he would have proceeded with that whatever the so-called embarrassment, he would have thought that was wrong, and he would not have done it,” Kendall told Sky News.

WELLINGTON – Fresh polling data released over the weekend indicates declining public confidence in New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his National Party, amid growing speculation about his political future within party ranks.

Recent days have brought increased scrutiny regarding whether Luxon maintains sufficient party backing to continue in his leadership role. According to Friday reporting by The New Zealand Herald, National Party members are expected to take action against him during the current week, though initial moves are not anticipated to include a formal leadership challenge or confidence motion.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand on Monday, Luxon stated he maintains complete backing from National’s parliamentary members and intends to continue serving as prime minister.

The 1News Verian survey, made public late Sunday evening, showed National Party approval declining by 4 percentage points to reach 30%. The results suggest the existing coalition government would lack adequate parliamentary seats to continue governing if voters went to the polls currently.

Personal approval ratings for Luxon as the public’s preferred prime minister also dropped 4 points to 16%. Meanwhile, Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins saw his support decrease by 1 point to 19%.

New Zealand’s upcoming general election is set for November 7.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un personally supervised the launch of five enhanced short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, the country’s state-run media announced Monday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the weapons testing featured upgraded Hwasong-11LA tactical ballistic missiles equipped with newly developed warheads, including cluster and fragmentation varieties designed for ground-to-ground strikes.

The missiles were launched toward an island target approximately 85 miles away, successfully hitting a concentrated area spanning roughly 31 to 32 acres with what officials described as exceptional precision, showcasing the weapon system’s ability to deliver devastating concentrated attacks.

South Korean military officials confirmed their northern neighbor conducted the missile launches around 6:10 a.m. Sunday from the vicinity of Sinpo on North Korea’s eastern coastline, with the projectiles traveling roughly 90 miles before impact.

State media quoted Kim as stating that developing warheads for various military operations would enable his forces to “meet operational needs more effectively, combining precision strike capabilities with increased firepower against designated areas.”

The North Korean leader reportedly praised the test outcomes, describing them as validation that “years of work by a specialised missile warhead research group had not been in vain,” and encouraged defense researchers to keep developing technologies to enhance military preparedness.

Multiple high-ranking military commanders joined Kim during the weapons demonstration, state media reported.

This latest missile activity marks North Korea’s fourth ballistic weapons test in April and the seventh conducted this year.

South Korean officials at the presidential Blue House condemned the launches Sunday, characterizing them as “provocations” that breach United Nations Security Council resolutions, according to news reports.

Three Middle Eastern countries have joined forces to create an ambitious transportation project that could reshape regional trade routes. Turkey, Syria, and Jordan have formed a partnership to establish a railway corridor connecting European markets with Gulf nations, representing one of the most ambitious overland transportation initiatives proposed in the region in recent decades.

The collaborative effort capitalizes on the strategic location of these three nations, which sit at the intersection of major trade pathways between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The planned railway system would modernize and connect current rail infrastructure to form an uninterrupted route beginning in Europe, traveling through Turkey’s territory that naturally bridges European and Asian continents, then moving through Syria’s central position in the Levant region, and finally extending south through Jordan to reach the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf nations.

This strategic positioning isn’t coincidental but represents an intentional effort to restore ancient overland trading pathways that historically enabled commerce and travel throughout the region. The corridor’s importance stems from its ability to establish a direct overland connection between Mediterranean ports and Gulf destinations, potentially cutting travel time and expenses when compared to conventional ocean shipping routes.

The railway would also provide an option to bypass crowded or vulnerable maritime passages, including routes through the Suez Canal or those requiring lengthy journeys around entire continents. From a construction standpoint, the diverse landscape along the proposed route—spanning from mountainous regions to flat interior areas—supports the creation of a contemporary, connected rail network, especially considering existing older infrastructure that could be restored and upgraded.

The project’s conceptual framework references the historic Hejaz Railway, which during the early 1900s linked significant portions of the Levant region to the Arabian Peninsula through Jordan. This historical example supports the geographical reasoning behind the current proposal, demonstrating how the area previously operated as a unified overland passage before contemporary political divisions and conflicts interrupted such connectivity.

Syria’s central location holds particular strategic value, serving as an essential connection point between Turkey to the north and Jordan to the south. Any practical overland route in this region must traverse Syrian territory. Turkey functions as the entry point to European commerce, while Jordan serves as the southern pathway toward Gulf markets, particularly through its border connections with Saudi Arabia.

While these geographical benefits exist, the initiative confronts substantial obstacles, including requirements for major infrastructure restoration in some areas, along with political and security factors that could impact the corridor’s long-term viability. However, supporters maintain that geography remains the project’s greatest strength, providing a fundamental advantage that could propel the initiative forward with adequate political commitment and financial backing.

The proposed railway corridor must be viewed within the context of its geographical significance. Its primary advantage lies in revitalizing a natural transportation route that connects multiple regions and markets—one that has historically established the Middle East as a crucial center in international trade networks.

Iran has refused to join proposed diplomatic discussions in Pakistan after President Trump announced Sunday that negotiations between the two nations would restart in Islamabad. Iranian leadership cited what they called unreasonable American demands and continued military threats as reasons for their refusal.

During a Fox News interview with Trey Yingst, Trump revealed that special envoy Steve Witkoff and chief advisor Jared Kushner would serve as America’s representatives in the planned discussions. However, Iran’s state-controlled Islamic Republic News Agency swiftly announced Tehran’s decision not to take part.

Pakistani mediators are working urgently to extend the current ceasefire agreement, which is scheduled to end this Wednesday, April 22.

Trump issued stark warnings during his television appearance, stating, “We are going to hit them harder than any country has been hit before,” while emphasizing that Iran must not be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons. He further threatened that Tehran would be “blown up” if it refuses to accept a new proposal.

Iran has indicated it will maintain its strategy of blocking the Strait of Hormuz as a response to America’s naval blockade, creating additional regional tensions.

Tehran pointed to what officials described as America’s inconsistent diplomatic positions and ongoing regional military activities as justification for avoiding the negotiations.

According to IRNA, “Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire.”

The situation has worsened following alleged incidents in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has accused Iran of breaking ceasefire terms by attacking vessels in the crucial shipping lane and has promised serious repercussions if no new deal is reached.

IRNA also claimed the United States was engaging in a “blame game” and spreading misleading information about Iran’s willingness to participate in discussions as a way to pressure Tehran.

The diplomatic standoff underscores the deep disagreements between Washington and Tehran on both negotiation and military matters, with no clear path forward for renewed talks.

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Sunday that American naval forces captured an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Oman following the vessel’s attempt to break through a US maritime blockade. Trump characterized the seizure as necessary action after the ship’s crew refused to comply with naval instructions.

The confrontation occurred amid escalating tensions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attempted to gain control of the waterway despite an existing two-week ceasefire agreement. This critical shipping lane continues to be a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict, with potential consequences for regional stability and worldwide oil markets.

Trump identified the captured vessel as the TOUSKA, explaining that it was halted after ignoring commands from the USS SPRUANCE, a guided missile destroyer. American forces reportedly damaged the ship’s propulsion system during the operation. “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom,” Trump stated.

US Marines have now assumed control of the vessel, which Trump noted falls under US Treasury sanctions because of what he termed a record of unlawful operations. Officials are currently conducting an inspection of the ship’s cargo. “We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” Trump posted.

The President characterized the intercepted vessel as measuring “an early 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier” and confirmed it was attempting to navigate through the blockade when American forces intervened.

This maritime confrontation comes as diplomatic efforts remain stalled. While Trump announced Sunday evening that discussions with Iran would occur in Islamabad, Iranian representatives disputed this claim, stating that American “excessive demands” continue to prevent meaningful negotiations from moving forward.

Federal authorities took a 44-year-old Los Angeles resident into custody Saturday evening at Los Angeles International Airport, accusing her of facilitating weapons trafficking between Iran and Sudan during that nation’s ongoing civil conflict.

Shamim Mafi faces allegations of arranging sales of “drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition” connecting Iranian suppliers with the Sudanese Armed Forces, according to First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who announced the charges Sunday via social media.

Attempts to reach Mafi for comment were unsuccessful Sunday, and no legal representation has been identified for her case.

Essayli shared an image showing an FBI agent leading a woman toward a vehicle outside an LAX terminal.

According to Essayli, Mafi holds Iranian citizenship and obtained lawful permanent U.S. residency status in 2016.

Court documents filed March 12 claim Mafi worked with an unidentified accomplice to run Atlas International Business, an Oman-based enterprise allegedly used for weapons and ammunition trafficking. The business reportedly collected more than $7 million in payments during 2025.

The pair also allegedly facilitated a separate deal involving 55,000 bomb fuses destined for Sudan’s Defense Ministry, court records indicate.

“In connection with the transaction, Mafi submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”) to purchase the bomb fuses for Sudan,” the complaint said.

Mafi’s initial court appearance is set for Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. A conviction could result in up to 20 years imprisonment.

Sudan’s civil conflict, now in its fourth year, has sparked a severe humanitarian emergency across the North African nation, with food shortages intensifying and millions displaced from their communities.

A tragic vehicle crash in northern Mexico has claimed the lives of two American officials who were working alongside Mexican authorities to fight drug cartel activities, according to a statement from the U.S. embassy released Sunday.

The fatal accident occurred in Chihuahua state, where the American personnel were providing assistance to local law enforcement in their ongoing battle against organized crime operations.

Mexican state officials confirmed that two of their own personnel also lost their lives in the same crash.

The incident highlights the dangerous conditions faced by both American and Mexican officials working together to combat the influence of powerful drug cartels operating along the border region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday that European nations must develop their own ballistic missile defense network, revealing that his administration has already begun discussions with multiple countries about establishing such a system.

Speaking on Ukraine’s national television channel Marathon, Zelenskyy emphasized the critical need for enhanced missile defense capabilities as his country continues to face Russian ballistic missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure and power systems.

“I believe, and my idea is that we should have a European anti-ballistic missile defense system. We are in talks with several countries and are working in this direction,” Zelenskyy stated during the televised interview.

The Ukrainian leader set an ambitious timeline for the project, declaring: “We need to build our own anti-ballistic missile defense system within a year.”

Zelenskyy acknowledged the enormous scope of the undertaking while expressing confidence in its feasibility, noting that he has already engaged in conversations with major European nations about the initiative, though he declined to identify which countries are involved.

Currently, Ukraine faces significant limitations in defending against Russian ballistic weapons, as only specific missile types deployed by the U.S.-made Patriot defense system can effectively intercept these threats. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s electrical grid and thermal power facilities with ballistic missile attacks.

The push for a European-made defense system comes as Patriot missiles become increasingly scarce due to their widespread use in Gulf region operations against Iranian strikes. Additionally, Europe’s sole existing anti-ballistic system, the Italian-French SAMP/T, has limited production capacity.

Supporting this defense initiative, Fire Point, the Ukrainian company behind the Flamingo cruise missile, revealed earlier this month that it is negotiating with European firms to introduce a new air defense platform by next year, potentially offering a more affordable alternative to the costly and increasingly unavailable Patriot systems.

HANOVER, Germany – At the launch of Germany’s premier industrial trade exhibition on Sunday, leaders from Germany and Brazil emphasized the importance of strengthening economic partnerships between Europe and South America.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in promoting enhanced collaboration between the European Union and Brazil, the continent’s economic powerhouse, during the Hanover industrial fair’s opening ceremony.

The two leaders expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming EU-Mercosur trade pact, which becomes effective on May 1st.

“This shows that we are sticking to the multilateral order, that we want a rules-based economic system, and that we want this cooperation with as few tariffs as possible – ideally none at all,” Merz stated.

Lula positioned Brazil as a dependable and crucial ally, particularly for raw material supply chains, as his country serves as the featured partner nation at this year’s global industrial trade exposition in Hanover.

The Brazilian leader highlighted his nation’s vast untapped mineral wealth, noting that despite only mapping roughly 30% of Brazil’s mineral resources, the country currently holds the world’s top niobium reserves, ranks second globally in graphite and rare earth deposits, and maintains the third-largest nickel reserves worldwide.

“These raw materials must serve as a driver of economic and social development,” Lula emphasized, advocating for increased technology sharing and expanded processing facilities within Brazilian borders.

Lula expressed interest in comprehensive economic partnership discussions with Merz, covering areas including artificial intelligence development, strategic mineral resources, and data center infrastructure.

Official government discussions between German and Brazilian representatives are scheduled for Monday.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — In a video message made public Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that his nation’s historically close economic relationship with the United States has transformed from an asset into a liability requiring immediate attention.

The 10-minute recorded statement outlined Carney’s administration’s plans to bolster Canada’s economy through diversified investment opportunities and expanded trade partnerships with nations beyond the U.S.

“The world is more dangerous and divided,” Carney stated. “The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.

“Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”

According to Carney, trade restrictions implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump have negatively impacted Canadian workers in automotive and steel manufacturing sectors. He noted that Canadian companies are delaying investment decisions due to “the pall of uncertainty that’s hanging over all of us.”

Trump’s recent suggestions that Canada should join the United States as its 51st state have also frustrated many Canadian citizens.

Carney promised to provide regular communications to Canadians regarding his administration’s strategy to reduce economic dependence on the U.S.

“Security can’t be achieved by ignoring the obvious or downplaying the very real threats that we Canadians face,” he stated. “I promise you I will never sugarcoat our challenges.”

This isn’t Carney’s first discussion of shifting global power dynamics. The former central banking leader, who previously headed both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, gained international recognition in January during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he criticized economic intimidation tactics used by powerful nations against smaller countries.

Those comments prompted a sharp response from Trump.

“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump responded following the speech. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”

Carney’s latest remarks follow recent special election victories that secured his party a majority government, while opposition Conservative members pressure him to negotiate a new U.S. trade agreement—a key campaign promise from last year’s election.

The current North American Free Trade Agreement involving Canada, the U.S., and Mexico faces scheduled review in July.

In his video address, Carney detailed plans to bring new investments to Canada, expand clean energy infrastructure by 100%, and eliminate internal trade obstacles. He also highlighted increased defense expenditures, tax reductions, and housing affordability initiatives.

“We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner,” he explained. “We can’t control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can’t control our future on the hope it will suddenly stop.

“We can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from aboard.”

Carney dismissed the idea that waiting for the “United States will return to normal” represents a viable approach.

“Hope isn’t a plan and nostalgia is not a strategy,” he declared.

Carney emphasized Canada’s history as “a great neighbor” who supported the U.S. during conflicts including Afghanistan and both World Wars.

“The U.S. has changed and we must respond,” he concluded. “It’s about taking back control of our security, our borders and our future.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Sunday that he held discussions with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian regarding ongoing tensions in the Gulf region.

According to Sharif’s social media post, he updated Pezeshkian on diplomatic conversations he recently held with government leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

“I appreciated Iran’s engagement, including its high-level delegation to Islamabad for the historic talks, and recent discussions with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Tehran,” Sharif stated.

The Pakistani leader told Pezeshkian that his country continues to be dedicated to serving as a mediator for peace and maintaining stability throughout the region.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Sunday his intention to advocate for reduced artificial intelligence regulations across the European Union, particularly targeting industrial applications of the technology.

Speaking at the Hannover Messe industrial trade show, Merz outlined his vision for regulatory reform. “I will push to ease the regulatory burden in the EU on AI and, where possible, to exempt industrial AI from the current regulatory straightjacket that is too tight for AI within the European Union,” he declared during his address.

The German leader emphasized the economic benefits of loosening these restrictions. “AI will contribute to greater efficiency and productivity, optimised use of resources and, above all, reduced costs,” Merz explained to attendees at the annual trade fair.

Merz’s proposal distinguishes between industrial AI applications and consumer-focused artificial intelligence, suggesting that manufacturing and business uses should face fewer regulatory constraints than technologies directly affecting everyday consumers.

This push comes as Germany works to close the gap with leading AI powers like the United States and China in what has become a worldwide competition for technological supremacy and high-paying tech employment opportunities.

Just last month, German officials announced ambitious investment initiatives designed to expand the country’s AI data processing capabilities by at least four times their current capacity before 2030 arrives.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a stark assessment of his country’s relationship with America on Sunday, declaring that what was once considered a strategic advantage has transformed into a liability.

During a video message to the Canadian public, Carney displayed a miniature figurine representing General Isaac Brock, a British commander who perished while defending Canadian territory against American forces during the War of 1812. The Prime Minister emphasized that Canada cannot manage the instability emanating from its southern neighbor and should not gamble its future on hopes that such disruption will cease.

“The situation today feels unique, but we’ve faced down threats like this before,” Carney stated, while highlighting Brock and other historical Canadian figures, including Chief Tecumseh, who rallied Indigenous Nations throughout the Great Lakes region to oppose American territorial expansion in 1812.

Following his recent parliamentary majority victory for the Liberal Party, Carney has indicated that this electoral success will strengthen his position in addressing the trade conflict initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Last week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized Canada as a challenging trade partner.

With nearly 70% of Canadian exports destined for American markets, Canada faces an upcoming review of the three-nation U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement this year. American officials have indicated their desire for substantial modifications to the existing arrangement.

Beyond implementing tariffs on Canadian products including steel, aluminum, and automobiles, Trump has frequently speculated about incorporating Canada as America’s 51st state.

Carney’s representatives have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the timing of the video release or his decision to honor figures who opposed American expansion.

The Prime Minister announced plans for regular public communications in the coming weeks and months to inform Canadians about his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and protect national sovereignty.

“It’s our country, it’s our future, we are taking back control,” he said.

SOFIA – Exit polling data from Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Bulgaria indicates that Progressive Bulgaria, the political party linked to former president Rumen Radev, secured a commanding position with 37.5% of voter support, according to Alpha Research’s preliminary results.

Radev, who previously served as Bulgaria’s president and has been known for his pro-Russian political stance, appears to have achieved a substantial electoral advantage through his party’s performance in the weekend voting.

The exit poll results suggest a decisive outcome for Progressive Bulgaria as the country’s voters made their choices for parliamentary representation on April 19.

Israel’s military has unveiled a map for the first time showing its deployment positions within Lebanese territory on Sunday, placing numerous largely deserted Lebanese communities under Israeli control following the implementation of a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials and the Iran-supported Hezbollah organization have not yet responded to the map’s release. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, which had U.S. backing, was finalized on Thursday to halt hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The agreement resulted from the first face-to-face negotiations in decades between the two nations on April 14, designed to facilitate wider diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran while allowing Israeli troops to maintain their positions within southern Lebanese territory.

The deployment boundary shown on the map extends from east to west, penetrating 5-10 kilometers into Lebanese land from the border, where Israeli officials have indicated plans to establish what they term a buffer zone.

Israeli troops have demolished Lebanese communities in this region, stating their objective is safeguarding northern Israeli settlements from Hezbollah assaults. Similar buffer zones have been created by Israel in Syria and Gaza, where it maintains control over more than half of that territory.

“Five divisions, alongside Israeli Navy forces, are operating simultaneously south of the forward defence line in southern Lebanon in order to dismantle Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites and to prevent direct threats to communities in northern Israel,” the military said in a statement accompanying the map.

When questioned about whether displaced residents who fled Israeli bombardments would be permitted to return home, military officials refused to provide comment.

Some Lebanese civilians have gained access to certain villages located on or beyond Israel’s established boundary, though Israeli forces continue blocking most people from reaching areas south of that line, according to a Lebanese security official.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Sunday that border residences used by Hezbollah would face demolition and that “any structure threatening our soldiers and any road suspected of (being planted with) explosives must be immediately destroyed”.

Lebanon became involved in the conflict on March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks supporting Tehran, triggering an Israeli military campaign that Lebanese officials report has resulted in over 2,100 deaths, including 177 children, while displacing more than 1.2 million people.

Hezbollah has not released its casualty numbers. Sources connected to the organization indicate at least 400 of its fighters had been killed by late March.

The group has launched hundreds of rockets and drones toward Israel. These attacks resulted in two Israeli civilian deaths while 15 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, according to Israeli reports.

European baby food manufacturer HiPP has issued an urgent recall after testing revealed rat poison contamination in infant food jars distributed across three countries, according to officials who announced the findings on Sunday.

The contamination was discovered in 190-gram jars containing carrot and potato puree designed for 5-month-old infants, which were distributed through SPAR supermarket chains throughout Austria. Laboratory testing first confirmed the presence of rat poison on Saturday.

“This recall is not due to any product or quality defect on our part. The jars left our HiPP facility in perfect condition,” the company stated. “The recall is related to a criminal act currently under investigation by the authorities.”

Austrian Burgenland Police report that contaminated products can be identified by white stickers bearing red circles affixed to jar bottoms. Additional warning indicators include compromised or previously opened lids, abnormal odors, and the absence of the typical popping sound when jars are first opened.

As a safety measure, HiPP has expanded its recall to include all baby food products sold through SPAR retail locations in Austria, encompassing SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR and Maximarkt outlets. The company is offering complete refunds without requiring purchase receipts. Meanwhile, retailers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic have pulled all HiPP baby food from their shelves.

The contamination came to light when a customer alerted authorities about apparent product tampering, though police confirm no one actually consumed the affected baby food.

According to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, rat poison commonly contains bromadiolone, a blood-thinning compound that blocks normal clotting functions. Consumption could trigger symptoms including gum bleeding, nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, and blood in bowel movements.

Health officials warn that poisoning symptoms may not manifest until two to five days following ingestion.

More than 6,000 progressive political leaders from over 40 nations convened in Barcelona this weekend to develop strategies for countering the global rise of far-right movements and winning back voters who have shifted toward conservative positions.

The international summit, organized by Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, addressed topics ranging from United Nations Security Council reforms to implementing wealth taxes on billionaires. The gathering comes at a time when nationalist and far-right political forces have expanded their influence worldwide, successfully connecting economic hardships to immigration and institutional failures.

Sanchez, who has gained international recognition for his criticism of U.S. foreign policy under President Trump, led the conference amid growing optimism that far-right momentum may be slowing. Recent developments include declining poll numbers for Trump, the removal of Hungary’s Victor Orban after 16 years in power, and weaker-than-expected performance by France’s far-right in recent municipal elections.

High-profile attendees included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who addressed supporters waving red banners and wearing ‘Make Science Great Again’ hats while calling for international institutional reforms and new progressive partnerships.

“To be progressive is to defend a reformed multilateralism, where the rules work for everyone,” Lula da Silva told the enthusiastic crowd during the summit’s final session, as participants periodically sang Spanish anti-fascist songs.

Political strategist Marcus Roberts from Mandate Research emphasized that progressive parties must focus on everyday economic concerns to regain support. He pointed to a recent 30-nation Ipsos poll showing voters prioritize unemployment, inflation, poverty and inequality over concerns about extremism or moral issues.

Rising fuel costs linked to Middle Eastern conflicts have damaged Trump’s approval ratings, creating what Democratic strategists view as an opportunity to make compelling economic arguments before November’s midterm elections.

French economist Gabriel Zucman spoke at the event advocating for increased taxes on wealthy individuals, a proposal that polls show has broad support across Europe and America but was rejected by French legislators in his home country.

“It’s hard for people who can’t afford eggs to be concerned about democracy,” said Neera Tanden, former advisor to Presidents Biden, Clinton and Obama, and current director of the Center for American Progress think tank.

Isabel Allende, Chile’s former Senate president and daughter of Salvador Allende, Latin America’s first Marxist leader who was removed in a 1973 U.S.-supported military coup, cautioned that progressive movements have lost touch with ordinary citizens’ daily struggles.

“It’s unimaginable to fight against the right if we can’t get closer to ordinary people,” she stated.

Participants who had recently attended International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings noted that Barcelona discussions reflected similar concerns about restructuring power dynamics within global institutions, though concrete next steps remained undefined.

Economics professor Mariana Mazzucato, who advises governments on using public investment for economic growth, observed that while institutions remain intact, their internal logic is evolving.

“Trump is accelerating the crisis of the old order… but if progressives do not offer a credible alternative framework, someone else will fill that vacuum,” she warned.

Research from Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World” index documents increasing numbers of authoritarian governments over the past twenty years, coinciding with rising conflicts, military coups, and freedom restrictions as wealthy democracies reduce foreign aid programs while their citizens face domestic economic pressures.

Although organizers insisted the event wasn’t specifically anti-Trump, they acknowledged that progressive movements cannot simply wait for new U.S. leadership, with many supporting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposal for “middle powers” to unite.

“Trump has become a symbol for the extreme right. But this is about social democrats coming together. The fact that U.S. Democrats are so well represented is a first and shows that this movement is growing,” German Social Democrat leader and vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil told reporters.

American progressive voices featured prominently in the two-day event’s closing ceremony, with former vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz encouraging attendees not to abandon Democratic efforts, while figures from Bernie Sanders to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Hillary Clinton sent supportive video messages.

“The reality is that the tools that the right wing are using to try to destroy our democracy are similar from country to country,” U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a Foreign Relations Committee member, said in a Reuters interview.

“We need to share experiences to understand how we can fight back,” Murphy added.

Iranian authorities have opted not to dispatch diplomatic representatives to Pakistan for negotiations, according to a Sunday report from Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

The decision to withhold sending a negotiating team will remain in effect “as long as there is a naval blockade,” the news outlet stated, referencing information from their correspondent.

The development highlights ongoing tensions affecting diplomatic relations between the two nations, with maritime restrictions serving as a key obstacle to potential talks.

KYIV, Ukraine — Sunday brought fresh casualties from the ongoing conflict as Russian drone strikes claimed at least two Ukrainian lives, while Ukrainian forces responded by targeting a Russian unmanned aircraft production facility.

The youngest victim was a 16-year-old boy who perished during what officials described as an extensive overnight drone assault on Chernihiv in Ukraine’s northern region. Emergency crews discovered the teenager’s remains while removing debris from the attack site, city military administrator Dmytro Bryzhynskyi announced via Telegram Sunday morning.

“The drone strike also injured three women and one man. Several houses were set on fire,” Bryzhynskyi reported.

The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson faced its own drone bombardment Sunday morning, resulting in a second fatality. Regional administrator Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed that a man succumbed to injuries after a drone struck his van as he traveled through downtown Kherson. Another man required hospitalization for blast-related trauma, regional officials stated.

Ukraine’s air defense forces worked through the night to counter a massive aerial assault, with the country’s air force documenting 236 Russian drones entering Ukrainian airspace. Defense systems successfully intercepted 203 of these aircraft, though 32 managed to strike targets across 18 different areas.

Ukrainian forces launched their own counteroffensive, targeting the Atlant Aero facility located in Taganrog, approximately 55 kilometers east of Russian-controlled eastern Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that their drones ignited fires at this southwestern Russian factory.

The targeted facility specializes in creating strike and surveillance drones, along with parts for larger unmanned vehicles capable of carrying guided explosives weighing up to 250 kilograms, according to military sources.

Russian regional governor Yuri Slyusar acknowledged that three individuals sustained injuries during the nighttime assault on commercial infrastructure in Taganrog. While he declined to identify the specific target, Slyusar confirmed that warehouses caught fire following the attack.

Taganrog Mayor Svetlana Kambulova reported damage to local businesses, a technical training school, and numerous vehicles from the strike.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces intercepted 274 Ukrainian drones overnight, along with guided aerial bombs and a Ukrainian-manufactured Neptune missile, though they provided no information about successful strikes on Russian targets.

Eight victims of a deadly shooting rampage in Ukraine’s capital are still receiving hospital treatment, including a child who lost both parents in the attack, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The violence erupted Saturday when a gunman of Russian origin used an automatic weapon to fire on pedestrians before taking refuge in a grocery store with hostages. Law enforcement officers killed the shooter after a 40-minute standoff failed to produce a peaceful resolution.

Among those still hospitalized, the orphaned child is listed in moderate condition while one adult victim remains in critical condition, Klitschko reported. The mayor confirmed that six people died in the attack, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said wounded a total of 14 individuals.

“They are all receiving all necessary medical care,” the mayor said on Telegram.

The grocery store where the standoff occurred remains shuttered and surrounded by police barriers. Bullet damage is clearly visible in the store’s windows, while bloodstains mark the surrounding sidewalks and street surfaces.

Memorial flowers have been placed near an apartment building several hundred yards from the store, marking the location where the gunman’s shooting spree began.

Local resident Daryna, 31, witnessed the chaos as it unfolded. “I saw how people grabbed children from the playground and ran away. They screamed: ‘run away, hide.’ People didn’t understand what was going on. They said that there was a man there, a man was shooting with a machine gun,” she told Reuters.

A 73-year-old neighborhood resident who observed the gunman described his appearance as deceptively normal. “I don’t want to clear him of blame or anything like that… but he didn’t look like a killer,” the pensioner said, adding that the shooter “looked kind of smart.”

Such mass shooting incidents are virtually unheard of in Ukraine, prompting the country’s security services to classify the case as an act of terrorism. Investigators have not yet determined what motivated the deadly attack.

LONDON — Britain’s highest-ranking rabbi issued a stark warning Sunday about escalating threats against Jewish communities following weekend arson attempts targeting a London synagogue, marking the newest incident in an ongoing series of similar attacks.

Saturday evening’s fire attempt caused limited damage to Kenton United Synagogue and represents part of a troubling pattern of blazes at Jewish-connected facilities and an Iranian opposition media outlet currently under counterterrorism investigation.

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the nation’s chief rabbi, posted on X that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.”

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed being “appalled” by the incidents and promised that “those responsible will be found and brought to justice.”

London’s Metropolitan Police has deployed additional uniformed and undercover officers throughout northwest London following last month’s attacks targeting synagogues, Jewish charity emergency vehicles, and a Persian-language news organization that criticizes Iran’s regime.

The Kenton synagogue incident occurred just one day after someone attempted to set fire to bottles containing flammable liquid outside a former Jewish charity building Friday evening.

All incidents have resulted in zero injuries. Authorities have arrested and filed charges against multiple suspects whose ages span from teenagers to individuals in their forties.

While police have not officially connected these incidents, Counter Terrorism Policing London is spearheading all investigations due to “similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility.”

Internet posts have attributed responsibility to Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia. Israeli officials characterize this organization, whose name translates to the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right, as a newly established group with suspected ties to “an Iranian proxy” that has also taken credit for synagogue attacks across Belgium and the Netherlands.

The organization additionally released a video threatening Israel’s London embassy with drone attacks using hazardous materials. Though no embassy attack occurred, authorities closed nearby Kensington Gardens park Friday while officers investigated abandoned items including two containers holding powder. Police determined the materials posed no danger.

Britain has accused Iran of employing criminal networks to execute attacks across European territory, specifically targeting opposition media and Jewish communities. The UK’s MI5 domestic intelligence agency reports disrupting over 20 “potentially lethal” Iran-supported plots during the year ending in October.

Security analysts suggest Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia may represent a convenience label rather than an organized entity, cautioning that their statements require careful scrutiny.

Iranian authorities have detained four people, including two individuals from other countries, in the nation’s northwestern region on allegations of participating in what officials describe as a spy network connected to the United States and Israel, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency’s Sunday report.

The detained foreign nationals, whose home countries were not revealed, face charges of illegally bringing in satellite internet devices including Starlink equipment, which violates Iranian law. This arrest comes as the nation continues to experience a widespread internet shutdown that has lasted seven weeks.

Since the beginning of the conflict between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran, Iranian officials have detained hundreds of citizens on accusations of collaborating with hostile nations.

ATHENS – Greek government sources announced Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Greece next week to extend their bilateral defense partnership amid ongoing tensions in Iran.

The two NATO member nations originally established their security and defense partnership in 2021, creating mutual aid obligations in case of attack and facilitating Athens’ acquisition of three French frigates and approximately 24 Rafale fighter aircraft manufactured by Dassault.

According to an unnamed government official, Macron’s April 24-25 trip to Greece will extend their defense cooperation for an additional five-year period, with provisions for automatic extensions going forward.

The French president and Greek leadership are also expected to address maritime security concerns and developments in the Strait of Hormuz during their discussions, the source indicated.

Naval traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a halt Sunday following Iran’s renewed assertion of authority over the critical shipping route, occurring just before a tenuous ceasefire agreement with the United States is scheduled to end.

While Greece commands the European Union’s Red Sea naval protection mission for commercial vessels, Athens has maintained its opposition to participating in any military actions within the Strait of Hormuz region.

European diplomats are raising red flags about what they see as the Trump administration’s hasty approach to nuclear negotiations with Iran, warning that an inexperienced American team could secure a shallow agreement that creates lasting complications.

Eight current and former diplomats with Iran nuclear experience told Reuters they’re concerned Washington’s desire for a quick diplomatic victory for President Trump could result in a framework deal that looks good initially but falls apart during detailed follow-up discussions.

“The concern isn’t that there won’t be an agreement,” a senior European diplomat explained. “It’s that there will be a bad initial agreement that creates endless downstream problems.”

The White House pushed back against these criticisms when contacted by Reuters. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated: “President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first.”

BACKGROUND ON PREVIOUS NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

Representatives from France, Britain and Germany, who started Iran negotiations in 2003, report feeling excluded from current discussions.

These three nations collaborated with the United States between 2013 and 2015 to establish an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear activities in return for lifting sanctions, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

During his first presidency in 2018, Trump pulled America out of this landmark foreign policy achievement from Barack Obama’s administration, describing it as “horribly one-sided.”

Following 40 days of military strikes, American and Iranian representatives began new discussions in Islamabad this month, once again centered on the standard exchange of nuclear limitations for economic benefits. Recent activity in Pakistan’s capital suggests preparations for renewed direct negotiations may be underway.

Diplomatic sources indicate that deep suspicion and vastly different negotiating approaches increase the likelihood of creating a weak framework that neither country can politically maintain.

Federica Mogherini, who oversaw the 2013-2015 negotiations, emphasized the complexity involved: “It took us 12 years and immense technical work. Does anyone seriously think this can be done in 21 hours?”

CONCERNS ABOUT SUPERFICIAL AGREEMENTS

Diplomatic sources suggest a basic agreement covering nuclear and economic elements might be possible, though they emphasize the nuclear aspects remain the most challenging.

“The Americans think you agree on three or four points in a five-page document and that’s it, but on the nuclear file, every clause opens the door to a dozen more disputes,” another European diplomat noted.

Current discussions center on Iran’s stockpile of approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity, material that could potentially be used for nuclear weapons with additional processing.

The preferred solution involves “downblending” this material within Iran under International Atomic Energy Agency oversight. An alternative approach would involve shipping some material to other countries.

Turkey and France have been suggested as potential receiving nations. Moving material to the United States would be politically challenging for Iran, while Russia presents difficulties for Washington, according to diplomatic sources.

Even these alternatives would require extensive negotiations regarding material recovery from areas possibly damaged by airstrikes, quantity verification, and secure transportation methods.

Iran has also proposed storing material in foreign countries temporarily.

“Whatever happens now is only a starting point,” explained a Western diplomat with previous nuclear negotiation experience. “That’s why the 2015 JCPOA ran to 160 pages.”

Beyond stockpile issues lies the fundamental disagreement over Iran’s uranium enrichment rights. Trump has publicly advocated for complete elimination of enrichment, while Iran maintains its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies pursuing weapons.

A potential middle ground might involve a temporary halt followed by resumption at minimal levels under strict oversight.

European officials stress that central IAEA involvement, including thorough verification and unlimited access, remains crucial.

Gérard Araud, France’s lead negotiator from 2006 to 2009, cautioned: “A negotiation with Iran is meticulous and subtle: every word matters. That’s not something you rush.”

ECONOMIC RELIEF AND POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The economic component focuses on removing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian funds.

Iran immediately wants access to limited overseas frozen assets. Broader sanctions removal would occur later and requires European cooperation, diplomatic sources said, since Iranian leadership views European commerce as essential long-term.

Officials indicate Washington is again separating preliminary agreements from detailed implementation, an approach they believe misunderstands Iranian political dynamics.

“These talks aren’t a real-estate deal settled with a handshake,” said a senior regional diplomat briefed by Tehran, referencing Trump’s primary negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s business backgrounds. “They involve sequencing, sanctions relief and reciprocal nuclear steps.”

The recent conflict has strengthened Iran’s negotiating position, diplomats noted, demonstrating its ability to withstand pressure while still seeking economic relief.

Tehran’s primary requirement is a non-aggression commitment after experiencing attacks from the U.S. and Israel during previous diplomatic initiatives.

This worry extends to U.S. partners. Gulf nations want Iran’s missile programs and proxy operations addressed, while Israel advocates for maximum restrictions.

Iran, however, views its remaining missile capabilities as essential protection after the war weakened its military forces.

Diplomatic sources say demanding complete missile abandonment would be unrealistic without comprehensive security assurances.

A senior Trump administration official outlined Washington’s non-negotiable demands: stopping uranium enrichment, dismantling major enrichment facilities, recovering highly enriched uranium, and accepting a broader regional de-escalation agreement involving allied nations.

EUROPEAN ROLE REMAINS IMPORTANT DESPITE SIDELINING

European officials admit they partially marginalized themselves by advocating for renewed U.N. sanctions last year and designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.

However, they note that their choice to avoid the conflict has been recognized in Tehran.

“There’s simply not enough expertise in this U.S. team,” stated one European official, pointing out that approximately 200 diplomats, financial specialists and nuclear experts participated in the 2015 negotiations. “We’ve worked on this file for two decades.”

A White House official confirmed that representatives from the National Security Council, State Department and Defense Department participated in Islamabad meetings and continue their involvement.

A senior Iranian military official claims the country is now rebuilding its weapons systems more rapidly than before recent hostilities with the United States and Israel.

According to reports from Nournews on Sunday, Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force commander Majid Mousavi stated that Iran is currently updating and restocking its missile and drone launch systems at an accelerated pace compared to pre-conflict levels.

The February 28 strikes by Israeli and American forces specifically targeted Iran’s missile capabilities as one of their primary objectives.

Mousavi’s remarks were accompanied by edited video footage showing him touring what appeared to be an underground weapons facility. The footage displayed various drones, missiles, and launching equipment housed in subterranean locations, along with scenes of ground-based missile tests.

The authenticity of the video material could not be independently confirmed by Reuters.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronts a political crisis as top Cabinet officials defend his leadership amid growing calls for his resignation over a controversial diplomatic appointment.

The embattled leader faces Parliament Monday following damaging revelations about his selection of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, despite security vetting failures tied to Mandelson’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to reports, Starmer expressed anger over not being informed that January 2025 security screenings had flagged concerns about Mandelson’s clearance. The Foreign Office proceeded with the appointment regardless of the vetting recommendations.

“He would never, ever have appointed him ambassador,” Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy stated, referring to what Starmer would have done with prior knowledge of the security issues.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall reinforced this position during a Sunday Sky News interview, saying Starmer “is a man of integrity and there is no way he would have proceeded” if he had been aware of the vetting problems.

The controversy forced Foreign Office chief civil servant Olly Robbins to step down Thursday, though supporters argue he became an unfair scapegoat for following standard procedures. Robbins plans to present his account to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Tuesday.

Former Foreign Office permanent secretary Simon McDonald criticized Robbins’ treatment, telling the BBC he was “thrown under the bus.” McDonald explained that sensitive vetting details are typically never disclosed to prime ministers or their staff.

Opposition leaders across the political spectrum have demanded Starmer’s resignation. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch declared the prime minister’s situation “untenable,” while Liberal Democrat chief Ed Davey said Sunday the government remains “in perpetual crisis” and needs new leadership.

Despite holding a substantial parliamentary majority, Starmer’s Labour Party faces internal discontent over poor polling numbers, giving his own lawmakers potential power to remove him from office.

The prime minister previously weathered February criticism over the Mandelson selection but could encounter leadership challenges following May 7 local elections, where Labour anticipates poor results.

Some Labour members believe leadership changes would prove harmful during current global tensions, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, with three years remaining before mandatory national elections.

However, others express frustration with Starmer’s pattern of missteps since Labour’s overwhelming July 2024 election triumph. His administration has struggled with economic growth promises, public service improvements, and cost-of-living relief while making several policy reversals.

Government documents released in March after parliamentary pressure revealed staff warnings to Starmer about “reputational risk” from Mandelson’s Epstein connections. The convicted financier died in custody in 2019.

Officials viewed Mandelson’s experience as former EU trade commissioner and elite connections as valuable assets for engaging President Donald Trump’s administration.

Mandelson’s tenure lasted under nine months before Starmer dismissed him in September 2025 following evidence of dishonesty regarding his Epstein ties.

January’s release of extensive Epstein-related Justice Department documents revealed Mandelson maintained contact with the financier even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sexual offenses involving minors.

Email evidence suggested Mandelson shared sensitive government information with potential market implications to Epstein during the 2009 financial crisis aftermath.

British authorities opened a criminal investigation and arrested Mandelson February 23 on public office misconduct suspicions.

He remains free without bail conditions as the investigation proceeds. Mandelson previously denied wrongdoing and faces no charges or sexual misconduct allegations.

WASHINGTON – International finance officials gathered in the nation’s capital this week found themselves confronting a harsh reality: their capacity to shield the global economy from mounting geopolitical crises remains severely constrained.

During the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings, delegates experienced dramatic mood swings as Middle East conflict developments alternately darkened and brightened economic prospects. Initial pessimism about worsening global conditions due to energy supply disruptions gave way to cautious hope when Iran appeared ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commodity shipments. However, fresh shipping attacks by Saturday had already dampened that brief optimism.

The financial institutions announced a joint commitment of up to $150 billion in new assistance for developing nations most severely affected by energy price volatility. They also marked their return to engagement with Venezuela’s acting administration following a seven-year hiatus.

Officials urged nations against stockpiling oil reserves and implementing costly, broad fuel subsidies. Yet ultimately, their influence proved limited as they monitored diplomatic exchanges between Tehran and Washington.

Josh Lipsky, who chairs international economics at the Atlantic Council, observed the constraints facing these institutions. “Actually some of the most important decisions on the global economy are not happening here,” Lipsky noted regarding the IMF and World Bank headquarters.

“The single most important development in the global economy happened between the U.S. and Iran,” he continued. “We hope it’s good news, and we’ll wait and see.”

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan captured widespread official sentiment despite rising stock markets and declining oil futures Friday. He emphasized his reluctance to forecast improvement until commercial vessels resume normal transit through the strait with affordable insurance coverage and energy costs decline.

“If the clear waters are open,” Al-Jadaan stated during a press briefing, “I think that’s what would trigger, for me, a change in the scenario.”

The IMF’s modest reduction of global growth projections to 3.1% for 2026 under its most favorable scenario quickly became obsolete, with the organization indicating the economy was trending toward a more pessimistic 2.5% growth rate. Their latest World Economic Outlook warned that extended conflict could drive the global economy into recession.

The current crisis emerged as the world economy was still recovering from previous disruptions, including President Donald Trump’s significant tariff increases on international trading partners implemented late last year.

Trade dispute discussions received less attention at this year’s gatherings, as did Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, though G7 finance ministers committed to maintaining pressure on Moscow.

The continuous series of economic disruptions beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Russia’s Ukraine invasion in 2022 has demonstrated that the United States no longer serves as “the general” of international order and may not provide crisis solutions, according to Lipsky.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday a new initiative encouraging G20 nations, the IMF, and World Bank to coordinate ensuring fertilizer access amid Gulf supply interruptions. However, seven weeks into the conflict, this effort offers little relief for farmers currently planting spring crops across the Northern Hemisphere facing shortages and elevated prices.

African Development Bank Chief Economist Kevin Chika Urama said the Middle East crisis reinforced the need for African nations to strengthen regional commerce and economic connections, develop alternative energy sources, expand domestic revenue collection, and utilize substantial natural gas deposits.

“Geopolitical tensions are the new normal and uncertainty in policymaking has become certain,” he told a panel of multilateral institution economists.

Finance ministers, central bankers, and other attendees expressed frustration at being drawn into another economic crisis by Trump’s decisions.

In private discussions, officials, particularly Europeans, clearly communicated to the U.S. that Washington must act to reopen the strait, according to a senior finance official present at the meetings. Public statements remained more diplomatic with reduced blame assignment.

“The knot of this conflict is the Strait of Hormuz. We need this to open, but not at any price,” French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told media representatives. “I don’t want to pay a dollar to go through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Consecutive crises, including the current war, have disrupted developing economy planning “and you hardly have time to breathe,” said Retselisitsoe Adelaide Matlanyane, Lesotho’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, during an African ministers’ panel.

“For small, open, and vulnerable economies like Lesotho, these shocks have presented extraordinary pressures on the fiscals, on prices and on everything.”

Matlanyane explained that debt management has become increasingly complex and tensions have “brought on a sense that we have to rethink policy and we have to think differently.”

“It’s frustrating dealing with this,” she told reporters.

For Thailand, an energy-importing nation scheduled to host October’s IMF and World Bank annual meetings, lasting effects from damaged Gulf energy infrastructure will maintain elevated prices long-term, said Deputy Prime Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

However, he viewed the crisis as an opportunity for Thailand to decrease fossil fuel dependence and expand renewable energy, including solar installations – contrasting with Trump’s energy policies.

“We need to commit to transform…to help people transform to face the new fragmented world and high oil prices,” Nitithanprapas stated.

CAIRO (AP) — Iran has reinforced its commitment to blocking maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz while American sanctions continue against Iranian ports, as diplomatic efforts intensify to arrange additional negotiations before the current ceasefire ends this week.

These competing maritime restrictions have hindered Pakistani-led diplomatic efforts and created uncertainty about whether the temporary truce can be prolonged past its Wednesday expiration date.

“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf said in a televised interview late Saturday.

Qalibaf, serving as Iran’s primary negotiator in discussions with Washington, stated that Tehran would maintain its restrictions on commercial shipping through the vital waterway, following Iranian naval forces opening fire on vessels trying to transit on Saturday.

Iran had declared the strait would reopen following a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization in Lebanon that began Friday. However, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the American blockade of Iranian ports “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches an agreement with Washington, Iran stated it would maintain its strait restrictions.

Following a temporary increase in shipping attempts Saturday, vessels in the Persian Gulf remained stationary after two India-flagged ships came under fire during transit and were compelled to retreat. This development returned the strait, which typically handles approximately one-fifth of global oil commerce, to its previous blocked condition, potentially worsening the worldwide energy shortage and pushing both sides closer to renewed warfare as the conflict enters its eighth week.

With only days remaining before the temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran concludes, Iran announced Saturday it had received fresh proposals from the United States, while Pakistani mediators worked to organize another round of direct talks.

For Iran, blocking the strait — implemented after the U.S. and Israel initiated the conflict on Feb. 28 during nuclear program discussions — represents perhaps its strongest leverage, threatening global economic stability and creating political pressure on Trump. For Washington, the blockade pressures Iran’s struggling economy and its leadership by cutting off crucial revenue streams.

While the ceasefire continues, the maritime standoff risks returning the region to warfare that has claimed at least 3,000 Iranian lives, over 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen across Gulf Arab nations. Thirteen American military personnel have died.

Revolutionary Guard patrol boats fired upon a tanker and struck a container ship with a projectile, damaging cargo containers, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. India’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador regarding the “serious incident” involving gunfire directed at two Indian-flagged commercial vessels, particularly after Iran had previously allowed several India-bound ships to pass.

“Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told The Associated Press, adding that the U.S. is “risking the whole ceasefire package.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council released a statement declaring the blockade violated the ceasefire and announced Iran would stop “any conditional and limited reopening” of the strait. The council has recently functioned as Iran’s primary decision-making authority.

Because most military supplies for American bases in the Gulf region transit through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends,” the council stated. This requires Iran-approved shipping lanes, fee payments and transit permit acquisition.

The renewed maritime dispute occurred hours after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced his nation was working to “bridge” disagreements between Washington and Tehran. Pakistan is anticipated to host a second negotiation round early next week.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said “new proposals” from Washington had been presented during a visit by Pakistan’s military chief and were under consideration.

However, Khatibzadeh indicated Iranians were not prepared for additional face-to-face negotiations because Americans “have not abandoned their maximalist position.”

He also stated Iran will not transfer its stockpile of 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium to the United States, describing the concept as “a nonstarter.” Khatibzadeh did not discuss alternative proposals for the enriched uranium, saying only that “we are ready to address any concerns.”

Trump said Saturday that Iran “got a little cute” but that “very good” conversations were occurring, with more information expected by day’s end. “They can’t blackmail us,” he added.

Austrian authorities have confirmed the discovery of rat poison inside a container of HiPP infant food, leading to an extensive product withdrawal from more than 1,000 SPAR grocery stores throughout the nation due to safety concerns.

Law enforcement officials in Burgenland, Austria, announced in a Saturday evening statement that laboratory analysis of a 190-gram container of “Carrots and Potatoes” baby food, which was reported by a concerned customer, confirmed the presence of rat poison.

HiPP acknowledged on Saturday that the possibility of a hazardous material being deliberately added to their HiPP Vegetable Carrot with Potato products could not be dismissed, suggesting potential product tampering had occurred.

The company warned that ingesting the jar contents could result in fatal consequences.

According to the police announcement, compromised containers displayed specific warning signs: a sticker featuring a red circle on the jar’s bottom, lids that appeared previously opened or damaged, missing safety seals, or containers emitting strange odors.

Authorities noted that preliminary laboratory analysis of comparable jars confiscated by law enforcement in the Czech Republic and Slovakia also revealed toxic substance presence, though additional specifics were not disclosed.

Police indicated that Austrian officials received alerts about potential dangers following investigative work conducted in Germany, but declined to elaborate further.

HiPP stated on Saturday: “According to our current knowledge, this critical situation involves an external criminal interference that affects the SPAR Austria distribution channel.”

Company representatives were unavailable for additional comment on Sunday.

A SPAR representative informed Reuters on Saturday that the product withdrawal represented a safety precaution affecting 1,500 Austrian locations, with no consequences for stores in other countries.

Both SPAR and HiPP urged consumers to avoid eating contents from jars purchased at SPAR Austria locations, promising complete refunds for returned merchandise.

Law enforcement recommended that anyone who handled the containers should thoroughly cleanse their hands afterward.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has expressed openness to holding discussions with President Donald Trump, contingent upon the completion of a comprehensive agreement between their respective nations.

Speaking during a television interview with Russian network RT, portions of which were made public on Sunday, Lukashenko stated: “We are ready for a deal, but it needs to be prepared in a way that reflects the interests of both the United States and Belarus.”

The Belarusian leader maintains strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has provided backing for Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, though he has not deployed Belarusian forces in the conflict.

Last month, Trump representative John Coale indicated that Lukashenko might travel to the United States in the near future. Such a visit would represent a significant diplomatic shift for the long-serving authoritarian ruler, who has faced international isolation due to human rights violations and his support for Putin’s military campaign.

During his RT interview, Lukashenko noted that his country has adjusted to Western economic penalties and emphasized that any prospective agreement with Washington should encompass more than simply lifting sanctions.

“We have far more issues to resolve, and that’s the subject of a big deal,” he stated, though he did not elaborate on the specific matters. “Once we finalise this at a lower level, we’re ready to meet with Donald and sign the agreement.”

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian challenged Donald Trump’s authority to limit his country’s nuclear capabilities, according to statements reported by the Iranian Student News Agency on Sunday. The comments come amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran regarding nuclear policy matters.

Pezeshkian questioned the basis for such restrictions, stating: “Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn’t say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?”

The president’s remarks underscore the persistent disagreements between Washington and Tehran on nuclear-related issues, with both nations maintaining opposing positions on Iran’s nuclear program development.

HAVANA — The bustling streets of Cuba’s capital city fall silent after dark these days. Entertainment venues have shuttered their doors, restaurants have drawn their curtains, and the vibrant nighttime economy that once defined Havana has virtually vanished.

Cuba is experiencing its worst economic downturn in generations, worsened by fuel embargos implemented during President Donald Trump’s second term and the severing of oil supplies from Venezuela, the island nation’s former primary energy source.

“I feel empty inside when I see my streets empty,” said Yusleydi Blanco, a 41-year-old accountant. “I can’t be happy when my country is sad.”

The transformation represents a dramatic reversal from just a few years ago. After Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro reached an agreement in 2016 to relax American travel restrictions to Cuba, tourist dollars poured onto the island. Private entrepreneurs launched new businesses while modern imported cars began sharing roads with vintage 1950s automobiles.

Tourist arrivals peaked at 4.7 million visitors in 2018. Hotels became so overcrowded that some travelers without reservations were spotted camping in parks in Viñales, a western Cuban destination known for its dramatic limestone formations that attract hikers and climbers.

The current reality paints a starkly different picture. Vehicle owners face fuel rationing of just 20 liters (5 gallons) and may wait months between fill-ups. Public transportation shuts down at 6 p.m., and major international carriers like Air France, Air Canada and Iberia have suspended Havana flights due to refueling difficulties. In the upscale El Vedado district, automobile noise has been replaced by the sounds of singing birds.

February tourism numbers plummeted to 77,600 visitors, compared to 178,000 during the same period the previous year, according to Cuban government statistics.

“This is worse than the Special Period,” said 65-year-old parking attendant Dolores de la Caridad Méndez about the years of economic devastation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s Cold War patron, in the 1990s.

Unlike his Democratic predecessors, President Trump has intensified economic pressure on Cuba, calling for an end to political oppression, the release of detained dissidents, and market reforms to Cuba’s struggling economy.

The escalating crisis has brought rolling power outages, reductions in government food distributions, and critical shortages of water and medical supplies that have made everyday survival a challenge for the island’s 10 million residents. From 2021 through 2024, roughly 1.4 million Cubans departed their homeland — predominantly younger citizens along with talented musicians, performers, dancers and other artists who had powered Havana’s entertainment industry.

This past January, U.S. forces apprehended Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro, cutting off Cuba’s main petroleum lifeline. The Trump administration blocked that supply route and warned of potential tariffs against other nations selling oil to Cuba, leaving the island without fuel deliveries until a Russian vessel arrived in March.

Business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Cuba now face enormous challenges as visitor numbers collapse and their dreams of serving affordable products to local customers crash against harsh economic realities.

“You wake up and you’re ready to conquer the world, saying, ‘Today I’ll sell more than ever,’” said Yeni Pérez, owner of the Old Havana cafe Entre Nos. “Then not a single client comes in and you go home devastated.”

“The next day,” she said, “You say, ‘Let’s give it another chance.’ It’s a time that’s testing everyone’s stamina.”

BRUGES, Belgium (AP) — The sounds of rolling luggage on stone streets, motor boats navigating waterways, and tourists speaking multiple languages create the typical atmosphere of one of Belgium’s most visited destinations.

However, approximately two dozen women have discovered a peaceful retreat from the city’s chaos just beyond a small bridge, beneath a decorative archway bearing the Latin inscription “sauvegarde,” meaning “safe place.”

Surrounded by bright yellow daffodils sits a peaceful haven established in 1245: the Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde of Bruges.

Trees Dewever has made this beguinage her residence for 22 years. She describes it as providing “an overwhelming feeling of calm and I think we need that in this world.”

Jo Verplaetsen, who has lived in the beguinage for 23 years, describes the medieval refuge’s atmosphere as both peaceful and welcoming.

“Each day you are thankful to be here,” she said.

Despite their current peaceful nature, beguinages originated after the 12th century as a response to tragedy.

Medieval warfare decimated men, leaving numerous widows and unmarried women seeking stability. Many preferred the flexible lifestyle of beguinages over the rigid requirements of convents, explained Michel Vanholder, a volunteer at the Grand Beguinage Church of Mechelen.

“They didn’t want to go become nuns but nevertheless they wanted to live together without men because there were not enough men to marry,” he said.

Residents known as beguines couldn’t marry while living in these communities, but maintained freedom to leave, could possess personal property, and weren’t bound by religious vows of celibacy and poverty required of nuns in nearby convents.

“Women who didn’t want to become real nuns or religious could have an in-between form, becoming a beguine,” said Brigitte Beernaert, who relocated to the Bruges beguinage over two decades ago.

Beguinage residents typically worked tending to ill and impoverished people, while also generating income through needlework and lace creation. Some residents invested their earnings back into their communities.

The Vatican’s relationship with beguinages fluctuated between acceptance and persecution throughout history. Marguerite Porete, a notable French Christian mystic and beguine, was declared a heretic and executed by burning in 1310.

Authors Ken Follett, Charlotte Brönte and Umberto Eco have featured beguines and their male equivalents, beghards, in their literary works.

Structurally, beguinages were created to house like-minded women in comfortable, peaceful, and secure environments, featuring small gardens within accessible pathways or surrounding central squares with homes overlooking shared courtyards. A chapel or church typically served as each community’s focal point.

Currently, UNESCO designates 13 beguinages in Flanders, Belgium’s Dutch-speaking northern region, as world heritage locations.

Biata Weissbaeker, a German visitor touring Bruges with her spouse Achim, emphasized the continued importance of such spaces.

“Women need a place like this: a safe place that gives them the possibility to go inside themselves.”

Although Belgium’s final beguine, Marcella Pattijn, passed away in 2013 at age 92, the fundamental principles of beguinage communities have endured for eight centuries.

“Once you are in here, you are safe — that was of course literal in the Middle Ages, once you lived here, the law couldn’t take you away,” she said. “Today it’s more like a safe place for women alone.”

The Bruges beguinage continues its women-only policy today, though the city now owns and maintains the property, with residents paying rent to municipal authorities.

Belgian beguinages host public events designed to build internal community through gardening activities and external connections via open house events.

Several Bruges residents recently installed raspberry plants along the canal wall and maintain beehives for honey production. “The world is terrible for the moment, and this gives us the impression that it’s still safe here,” said Beernaert. “This gives Bruges already a little bit of a small paradise, if you want. And living inside that paradise feels unbelievable.”

Iranian officials have backtracked on their previous commitment to allow ships through the Strait of Hormuz, announcing a complete shutdown of the vital waterway until American forces end their blockade of Iranian shipping facilities.

This growing confrontation over the strategically important passage raises concerns about worsening global energy shortages and potential military conflict between the nations, despite diplomatic efforts suggesting progress toward a resolution.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval forces declared Saturday evening that the waterway would remain shut as long as US restrictions on Iranian ports continue. Earlier that day, Iranian patrol boats fired upon an oil tanker navigating the strait, according to Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, though the vessel and its crew remained unharmed.

About 20% of global petroleum shipments travel through this narrow passage, and additional supply restrictions could further strain already limited oil availability, potentially driving fuel costs even higher. Iran’s Friday statement regarding the waterway’s accessibility coincided with an ongoing 10-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization in Lebanon.

The regional conflict has resulted in approximately 3,000 Iranian casualties, nearly 2,300 Lebanese deaths, 23 Israeli fatalities, and over a dozen deaths in Gulf Arab nations. Thirteen American military personnel have also lost their lives.

Israeli defense forces reported another combat death in southern Lebanon, marking the second military fatality announced within 12 hours and bringing total Israeli losses in Lebanon to 15 soldiers, with two deaths occurring since the ceasefire began.

Military officials said the same incident left one soldier critically injured, four with moderate wounds, and four others with minor injuries.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard naval command announced it was expanding the closure beyond the previously designated safe corridor for vessel passage and implementing a total blockade until American restrictions on Iranian ports and shipping are removed.

On Friday, Iranian authorities had indicated ships could transit the strait under Iranian coordination and upon paying required fees.

However, in a Saturday evening statement broadcast on Iranian state television, naval officials warned that any ships violating the closure would face attack.

Iranian leadership views the American blockade as a breach of the ceasefire agreement between the nations. Two commercial vessels came under attack Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz and near Oman’s coastline, with at least one assault carried out by Iranian gunboats.

SYDNEY, April 19 – A highly decorated Australian military veteran has publicly rejected war crime accusations stemming from his service in Afghanistan over ten years ago, stating Sunday that he remains proud of his military record.

Ben Roberts-Smith, age 47, who was released on bail this week, faces five war crime charges connected to the alleged killings of five unarmed Afghan civilians during the period from 2009 to 2012. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment on each count.

The ex-Special Air Service (SAS) corporal has maintained his innocence regarding the accusations, which were initially brought to light through a series of reports published by Nine Entertainment newspapers beginning in 2018.

During a media appearance on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Roberts-Smith emphasized that his actions in Afghanistan always followed proper military protocols.

“I categorically deny all of these allegations, and while I would have preferred these charges not be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name,” he stated. “I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan.”

Roberts-Smith received bail approval following more than a week in detention, with a judge noting that his case would likely require years before reaching trial. Prosecution attorneys had argued against bail, expressing concerns that Roberts-Smith might attempt to influence potential witnesses.

Law enforcement officials have indicated they plan to argue that Roberts-Smith’s alleged victims were not engaged in combat activities when they died and were being held as unarmed detainees under Australian military supervision at the time of their deaths.

Previously, in 2023, Roberts-Smith was unsuccessful in a defamation lawsuit regarding the media reports and was determined by the court to have likely participated in the deaths of four Afghan civilians.

A devastating blaze swept through a waterfront community in Malaysia’s Sabah state early Sunday, leaving hundreds of residents homeless after approximately 200 houses were consumed by flames.

Emergency responders received the initial alert about the fire in Sandakan district at approximately 1:32 a.m. local time (1732 GMT), according to district fire and rescue chief Jimmy Lagung, as reported by Malaysia’s state news service Bernama.

“Strong winds and the close proximity of the houses caused the fire to spread rapidly, while low tide conditions also made it difficult to obtain an open water source,” Lagung explained to Bernama.

The devastating incident occurred in one of Sabah’s traditional water villages, where wooden structures are constructed on stilts above the water. These communities typically house some of Malaysia’s most economically disadvantaged residents, including indigenous populations and people without official citizenship status.

Preliminary counts show that approximately 445 individuals have been forced from their homes, based on registration numbers at a temporary emergency shelter established in Sandakan, according to Bernama’s reporting.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that federal officials are working alongside Sabah regional authorities to deliver essential aid and temporary housing solutions for displaced families.

“The priority now is the safety of the victims and immediate assistance on the ground,” Ibrahim wrote in a social media post on Facebook.

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Citizens across Bulgaria cast their votes Sunday in what marks the nation’s eighth parliamentary election within a five-year span, as the country seeks to break free from persistent political gridlock that has paralyzed this southeastern European nation.

The emergency election comes after a conservative government stepped down last December following massive demonstrations that brought hundreds of thousands of protesters, particularly young citizens, into the streets demanding judicial independence to combat rampant corruption.

The country of 6.5 million residents has endured a series of fractured legislative bodies since 2021, resulting in unstable administrations that have each collapsed within twelve months due to public demonstrations or legislative maneuvering.

This constant governmental turnover has created deep public skepticism, electoral disengagement, and declining participation rates in democratic processes.

Sunday’s election carries particular weight as it may elevate a leftist, Moscow-friendly former head of state to power — occurring just after Hungarian citizens rejected Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian agenda and far-right ideology, despite his close relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Leading the race is Bulgaria’s ex-President Rumen Radev, who heads the recently established center-left Progressive Bulgaria alliance. The former president stepped down from his largely symbolic role in January, several months ahead of completing his second term, to pursue the prime minister position.

The 62-year-old former military aviator and air force leader enjoys widespread popularity and has pledged to deliver national renewal. His base includes both those seeking an end to oligarchic corruption and supporters drawn to his EU-skeptical and Russia-friendly positions.

Voting began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 8 p.m., with initial exit polling released immediately afterward. Official preliminary tallies are anticipated Monday.

Bulgaria maintains membership in both the European Union and NATO, adopted the euro currency on January 1st, and recently gained access to the Schengen borderless zone. Despite these achievements, political chaos has persisted since 2021, when three-term conservative leader Boyko Borissov stepped down amid massive demonstrations driven by public fury over systemic corruption and judicial failures.

Radev has positioned himself against the nation’s established criminal networks and their connections to senior political figures. During campaign events, he pledged to “eliminate the corrupt, oligarchic system of leadership from political authority.”

While Radev has formally condemned Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, he has consistently opposed providing weapons to Kyiv and supports renewed diplomatic engagement with Moscow to resolve the war.

Polling data suggests Radev’s alliance may capture over 30% of votes, placing him roughly 10 percentage points ahead of his primary competitor — Borissov’s center-right GERB organization. Survey margins of error range between 3 and 3.5%.

Citizens of Bulgaria head to the polls this Sunday for the nation’s eighth parliamentary election in just five years, with former president Rumen Radev holding a commanding lead as he pledges to bring stability and eliminate corruption.

Radev, a former fighter pilot with eurosceptic views who opposes sending military aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, resigned from the presidency in January to enter the parliamentary race. The election follows massive demonstrations that toppled the previous administration in December.

The candidate’s polished social media presence, substantial financial resources, and promises of governmental stability have strengthened his position in the Balkan nation of approximately 6.5 million residents, where citizens have grown tired of constant elections and longtime politicians widely viewed as corrupt.

Economic concerns have also emerged as a major factor since Bulgaria adopted the euro currency in January. The former administration collapsed following demonstrations against a proposed budget that included tax increases and higher social security payments.

These domestic economic worries appear to outweigh voter concerns about Radev’s desire to strengthen ties with Moscow or restart Russian energy imports to Europe.

“I will put my trust in the new general in politics,” said Georgi Bozhkov, a 37-year-old civil servant worried about rising bills. “When there is something new, we should try the new thing.”

Recent polling data from Friday indicates Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria party commands approximately 35% support, an increase from the previous month. While this would represent one of the strongest single-party performances in recent years, it falls short of securing a parliamentary majority.

Public engagement appears to be increasing, with Sofia-based Alpha Research projecting voter turnout around 60%, nearly doubling the 34% participation rate from June 2024.

These numbers reflect growing dissatisfaction with the extended control of the GERB party under former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, currently polling second at roughly 18%, and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, led by Delyan Peevski, who faces U.S. and UK sanctions for corruption.

A potential governing partner could be the pro-European We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) alliance, which similarly advocates for reform measures.

Detractors point to Radev’s role in questionable actions by temporary governments he selected during his 2016-2024 presidency, including a 2023 energy agreement between Turkey’s Botas and Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz that resulted in financial losses and sparked an investigation.

“Any coalition that is formed is likely to suffer from government instability and face significant scrutiny from civil society and the opposition. Another snap election in 2026 is less likely now, but remains a significant possibility,” said Mario Bikarski, an analyst at risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.

Bulgaria has experienced significant development since communism ended in 1989 and became an EU member in 2007. The country has seen improved life expectancy, the European Union’s lowest unemployment rate, and enhanced economic protections since joining the eurozone.

However, corruption continues to be widespread, including during elections where vote purchasing is common. Bulgaria ranks 84th on Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, sharing the EU’s lowest position with Hungary.

“We really, really hope that something will change, and that these corrupt rulers of ours will be replaced,” said 82-year-old pensioner Temenuzhka Vaseva.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea conducted another series of ballistic missile tests on Sunday morning, firing multiple projectiles into ocean waters, according to reports from neighboring countries.

Military officials in South Korea confirmed the weapons were launched from North Korea’s eastern Sinpo region during morning hours on Sunday. In response, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced they have increased surveillance measures and are maintaining close communication with American and Japanese authorities.

An emergency session of South Korea’s National Security Council has been scheduled to address the missile activity, according to the presidential office.

Japanese defense officials also confirmed detecting the weapon launches, reporting that the missiles appeared to splash down in waters along North Korea’s eastern shoreline. Tokyo issued a strong condemnation to Pyongyang, stating that Sunday’s missile activity poses a threat to both regional stability and global peace while breaking United Nations Security Council prohibitions against North Korean ballistic weapons programs.

The weekend testing follows recent reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw missile trials conducted from a naval destroyer. Following those tests, Kim announced his administration’s continued commitment to the “limitless expansion” of nuclear capabilities and assigned new objectives to enhance the nation’s nuclear strike and rapid-response systems.

Rafael Grossi, who leads the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported last week that his organization has documented “a rapid increase” in operations at North Korean nuclear installations.

Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran have shown advancement, though significant disagreements persist regarding nuclear policies and control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to statements from both nations on Saturday.

Iran’s lead negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf acknowledged advancement in recent discussions while emphasizing remaining challenges. “We have had progress but there is still a big distance between us,” Qalibaf stated to government media outlets, referencing negotiations held the previous weekend. “There are some issues on which we insist … They also have red lines. But these issues could be just one or two.”

President Trump confirmed positive diplomatic engagement, describing “very good conversations” with Iranian officials, though he provided no additional specifics about the discussions.

The ongoing conflict, which entered its eighth week, has resulted in thousands of casualties and expanded into Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Oil markets have experienced significant volatility due to the effective shutdown of the strait, a waterway that previously handled twenty percent of global petroleum shipments.

**IRAN REASSERTS WATERWAY CONTROL**

Tehran made a strategic shift on Saturday, once again asserting authority over the crucial shipping channel and introducing new uncertainties to the conflict that began February 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces launched their campaign.

Iranian officials justified their actions as a response to continued American port blockades, characterizing these measures as ceasefire violations. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei declared Iran’s naval forces prepared to deliver “new bitter defeats” against adversaries. Trump characterized Iran’s waterway closure as “blackmail” while simultaneously expressing optimism about ongoing negotiations.

Just one day earlier, Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a separate U.S.-mediated ten-day ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon established Thursday.

Trump defended American blockade policies and issued warnings “to start dropping bombs again” should the nations fail to achieve a comprehensive agreement before Wednesday’s ceasefire expiration.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that Tehran’s waterway oversight would include requiring payments for security, safety, and environmental protection services, according to state media reports.

**SHIPPING VESSELS REPORT ATTACKS**

Maritime security concerns intensified after multiple vessels reported coming under attack Saturday while attempting passage through the waterway. Indian government officials summoned Iran’s ambassador in New Delhi, expressing serious concerns that two Indian-flagged ships had been fired upon in the strait.

U.S. Central Command confirmed American forces were maintaining a maritime blockade against Iran but declined to address Iran’s latest waterway actions.

Iran’s policy reversal increased risks that petroleum and natural gas shipments through the strait could face continued disruptions as Trump considers whether to extend the current ceasefire.

During last weekend’s negotiations in Islamabad, American representatives proposed a twenty-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activities, while Iran countered with a three-to-five-year halt, according to sources familiar with the proposals.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh indicated no schedule had been established for additional negotiation rounds, stating that a framework agreement must be reached initially.

Trump had indicated Friday that weekend discussions were possible and suggested the parties were “very close to making a deal.”

Saturday showed no evidence of preparation for renewed talks in Pakistan’s capital, where the most senior U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution concluded without agreement the previous weekend.

Senior national security advisors convened at the White House Saturday morning. Trump subsequently visited Trump National Golf Club with chief envoy Steve Witkoff, one of his Iran negotiation team members.

Political pressure for conflict resolution has intensified as Trump’s Republican colleagues defend slim Congressional majorities in November’s midterm elections amid elevated U.S. gasoline costs, increasing inflation, and declining presidential approval ratings.

Petroleum prices dropped approximately ten percent and global financial markets surged Friday on prospects of resumed marine traffic through the strait. However, hundreds of vessels and roughly 20,000 maritime workers remain stranded in the Gulf awaiting waterway passage, shipping industry sources reported.