Category: World News

Military officials from China and the United States conducted discussions in Hawaii late last month, with both sides describing the talks as productive and straightforward, according to a statement released Monday by the Chinese navy.

The Military Maritime Consultative Agreement working group convened from May 28 through May 29, focusing on air and sea safety protocols and exploring ways to strengthen military maritime security cooperation. Both delegations concluded that enhanced communication between their forces could help prevent misunderstandings and promote greater professionalism in military operations.

In its official statement, China’s navy also outlined its position on regional security matters. “China firmly opposes any action to undermine China’s sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation and overflight, (and) opposes any infringement, provocation and close-in reconnaissance and harassment targeting China,” the statement added.

British immigration officials announced Monday they have prevented two political commentators from entering the United Kingdom for planned speaking engagements.

The commentators affected are Hasan Piker, a Turkish American who streams political content online, and Cenk Uygur, who runs the “Young Turks” internet political program and is said to be Piker’s uncle. Piker, who regularly criticizes U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel and the Gaza conflict, has built a following of 2.8 million on the Twitch platform.

Immigration authorities revoked the electronic travel permits for both men, stating their entry “may not be conducive to the public good,” according to the Home Office.

“Decisions to refuse or cancel an ETA on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to U.K. society,” the Home Office explained.

Both men had been scheduled to appear at SXSW London, a festival celebrating culture, technology and creativity, happening this month. Uygur was additionally set to address the Oxford Union, the well-known student debate organization.

Responding on his YouTube channel, Piker stated: “A sad state of affairs where obviously the interests of Israel take the highest priority.”

On the social media platform X, Uygur wrote he had been prohibited “for criticizing Israel. Are we free any more?”

Piker has drawn controversy for certain statements, including expressing support for the Hamas militant organization, which both the U.K. and U.S. classify as a terrorist group.

Hamas-led fighters launched an assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 people taken captive, sparking the current Gaza war.

A Labour lawmaker named David Taylor, who had advocated for blocking Piker’s entry, stated that “there is no reason we should open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially someone who’s supported a proscribed terror group.”

However, Green Party leader Zack Polanski argued the government was “doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli government.”

This action follows a similar decision in April when British authorities prevented rapper Ye, previously called Kanye West, from entering the country for a scheduled London festival performance following controversy over his antisemitic statements.

At that time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared his administration “stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”

Iran announced Monday it is ending diplomatic message exchanges with the United States conducted through third-party mediators, according to the Tasnim news agency. The decision comes as Tehran objects to ongoing attacks in Lebanon during the continuing three-month conflict.

According to the news agency, Iran and the Resistance Front—which encompasses its Shiite allies across Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq—have developed plans to fully obstruct the Strait of Hormuz and engage other strategic locations, including the Bab El Mandeb Strait, as a means to “punish” Israel and its supporters.

Should the Houthis, who are Iran’s partners in Yemen, establish a new battlefront, they would likely target the Bab El Mandeb Strait located near Yemen’s coastline. This narrow waterway serves as a crucial shipping corridor that regulates maritime traffic flowing toward the Suez Canal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X Monday: “Violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The U.S. and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” addressing Israeli military actions in Lebanon.

The conflict initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28 has resulted in thousands of casualties, predominantly in Iran and Lebanon. The war has also triggered worldwide economic disruption by elevating energy costs, as Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international corridor for oil and liquefied natural gas transport.

Tasnim further reported: “The immediate cessation of the Zionist regime’s aggressive and brutal army operations in Gaza and Lebanon and the necessity of the regime’s complete withdrawal from the occupied areas in Lebanon have been emphasized by Iranian officials and negotiators, and there will be no talks until Iran and the resistance’s views on this matter are met.”

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Hundreds of women marched through Kenya’s capital city on Monday, demanding immediate government action to address escalating gender-based violence and femicide cases.

Demonstrators carried signs reading “Stop Killing Women” as they walked through Nairobi’s streets, accompanied by police escorts. The protesters also brought a coffin and raised awareness about recent local reports of missing and murdered children.

Advocacy organizations for women’s rights have sounded alarms about increasing gender-based violence incidents and are pushing for the government to officially recognize it as a national emergency.

The demonstration follows a tragic incident where a local singer was burned alive after being doused with gasoline, later dying from her injuries.

Police announced on May 23 that they had established a special investigation team, combining criminal intelligence analysts, forensic specialists, homicide detectives and other experts.

According to police findings, most gender-based violence incidents stem from household disputes, partner violence, sexual crimes, physical attacks and unresolved family issues.

The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya reports handling approximately 70 gender-based violence cases weekly through their offices in Nairobi, the coastal city of Mombasa and lakeside Kisumu.

Advocacy organizations delivered a 40-day deadline to the government on May 21, threatening nationwide demonstrations if no action is taken. However, protests have begun ahead of schedule.

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — A flamboyant attorney who supports former President Trump has emerged as the frontrunner in Colombia’s presidential contest following first-round voting over the weekend, tapping into widespread demand for tough action against criminal organizations throughout Latin America.

However, the runner-up, progressive senator Iván Cepeda, along with his political partner President Gustavo Petro, challenged Sunday night’s election outcomes without offering proof.

Aberaldo de la Espriella quickly built momentum before Sunday’s voting, securing almost 44% of ballots cast, overtaking progressive senator Iván Cepeda, who had maintained polling leads during the campaign but received less than 41% of votes.

Both candidates will advance to a runoff contest scheduled for June 21, where de la Espriella is anticipated to gain additional support from Colombians who backed other conservative contenders in the initial round.

Cepeda faces significant challenges in the upcoming runoff, according to Colombian political analyst Sergio Guzmán. “Abelardo de la Espriella won the first round. In other words, that’s a shift in public opinion that is very difficult to overcome. So now Abelardo is emerging as the likely favorite to win.”

De la Espriella, nicknamed “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” has no previous governmental experience in Colombia and boasted about his lavish lifestyle in Italy before choosing to seek the presidency. He marketed himself as a political outsider who would align with President Donald Trump and adopt El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang strategy, which has reduced murder rates while sparking human rights violation allegations.

“I will wipe out narcoterrorism and those who I’ve declared a military target like cockroaches, like rats. I will unleash upon them the wrath of God never seen before,” De la Espriella said in an interview with The Associated Press in the final stretch of the campaign, where he promised to open 10 mega-prisons to fight crime.

He represents a growing trend of leaders throughout Latin America – from Chile to Honduras – attempting to embrace the “Bukele model” as voters across the region increasingly reject leaders who promoted progressive policies designed to tackle underlying conflict causes, including limited youth opportunities and corruption.

De la Espriella’s backers represent diverse demographics. Yolanda Peréz, a 64-year-old woman serving coffee in downtown Bogotá who smoked a cigarette, said with a wink the day before the election: “I’m thinking of voting for El Tigre.”

Miguel Maheca, a 20-year-old first-time voter, displayed a paper proving he voted to his mother while leaving the polling location on Sunday, saying with a smile, “Love isn’t what’s going to make us safe in Colombia.”

However, analysts argue El Salvador’s security achievements will be virtually impossible to duplicate in a nation like Colombia, which is more than 50 times larger than the Central American country and contains many more armed factions fighting for control.

The divided election occurs as the Trump administration takes a more assertive stance in Latin America than any U.S. government in recent decades, applying increased pressure on nations including Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador to combat crime.

De la Espriella, 47, built his reputation as an attorney representing prominent clients including former President Álvaro Uribe (2002–2010), along with controversial individuals like Alex Saab, a close associate of Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro who faces legal troubles in the U.S. and whom he ceased representing approximately seven years ago.

De la Espriella’s emergence as a presidential contender creates difficulties for progressive Cepeda, who maintained polling advantages before Sunday’s election, although his opponent rapidly gained momentum in the weeks preceding the vote.

Cepeda is a progressive senator who has pledged to continue his ally Petro’s troubled strategy to achieve “total peace” through negotiating peace agreements with guerrillas and criminal gangs.

Their political movement emerged from strong opposition by many Colombians to a militarized campaign by Uribe in previous decades used to defeat the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrillas, which resulted in thousands of civilian deaths by Colombian forces in a scandal called “false positives.”

Mr. De la Espriella “represents a return to the paramilitary politics and drug-trafficking, – a mafia-run, plutocratic, and corrupt past that the country experienced during Álvaro Uribe’s two administrations,” Cepeda said on Sunday.

Petro, a former rebel, captured Colombia’s presidency in 2022 in a landmark election that concluded decades of right-wing control by leaders from Uribe’s political faction. He received enormous support from rural, indigenous and lower-income Colombians who believed they had never been directly addressed by Colombian leaders.

Currently, that movement finds itself in a defensive position.

“This is De la Espriella’s election to lose,” wrote Renata Segura, director of International Crisis Group’s Latin America and the Caribbean Program. “Cepeda thought he could win appealing squarely to the left, and that proved to be a massive mistake. How he pivots in the next month will determine if he has any chance to win.”

KHUJAND, Tajikistan (AP) — Dawn breaks at 5:30 a.m. as activity kicks into high gear at the Panjshanbe Bazaar, among the nation’s most expansive marketplaces. Merchants empty trucks filled with fresh cabbage while pigeons gather near the adjacent mosque, all under the watchful gaze of a towering image of President Emomali Rahmon.

Since taking office in 1992, Rahmon has led this Central Asian nation through decades of change following its break from the crumbling Soviet Union. The landlocked, mountainous territory ranks as the most economically disadvantaged among the 15 nations that gained independence, enduring a brutal five-year conflict between Moscow-supported government troops and opposition groups made up primarily of democracy advocates and Islamic forces. The Khujand region served as a stronghold for government supporters during this period.

Now, with the nation approaching its 35th independence milestone, the area enjoys stability and relies heavily on money sent home by workers employed in Russia. Images of Rahmon are displayed throughout educational institutions, lodging facilities, dining establishments and cultural sites. His stern expression and prominent eyebrows even watch over patrons at the community swimming facility, surrounded by Soviet-inspired artwork.

Similar to other areas across the country, Khujand’s marketplace retains elements from the Soviet period, including aging infrastructure and Cyrillic lettering mixed with Islamic designs. Though Panjshanbe means Thursday in the local language, Sunday brings the weekly livestock market to life. Colorful parakeets, rabbits and hedgehogs are available for purchase while youngsters and their fathers observe cockfighting matches in the parking area.

Despite the ever-present reminders of its Soviet heritage, Tajikistan has joined other Central Asian nations in developing its distinct cultural identity. In Khujand, previously known as Leninabad, a monument honoring Soviet Union creator Vladimir Lenin once stood prominently in the city center. Authorities relocated it in 2011 to the city’s edge, where it now sits between a muddy lot and a gravel pathway.

Government statistics show Tajikistan welcomed 1.8 million visitors in 2025, with more than 91.5% arriving from other former Soviet territories. Though tourist numbers continue growing annually, travelers from English-speaking nations remain uncommon. Local bread makers, surprised to encounter an American visitor, eagerly displayed their 3-somoni ($0.32) non, or lepyoshka, bread.

At an educational facility, uniformed female students prepared for an inspection by a regional administrator by cleaning the building’s front, which displayed a banner commemorating Tajikistan’s 34th independence year and featured words from poet Rudaki, whom the government honors as a national icon: “Whoever has not learned from the passing of time will also not learn from any teacher.”

NEW DELHI (AP) — India announced it will maintain diplomatic relations with Myanmar following Monday’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the head of Myanmar’s military-backed administration, even as Western countries continue sanctions after the military takeover in 2021.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained that India’s approach is “not intended to be a commentary on the internal political arrangements” in Myanmar, with New Delhi viewing continued engagement as the most effective path forward.

Countries in the West have attempted to isolate Myanmar’s military leadership since they removed the democratically elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi through a 2021 coup that sparked widespread repression and created a nationwide conflict and humanitarian emergency. Some observers and human rights organizations argue that Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to India could provide credibility to the military-controlled government.

“We have always proceeded on the principle that sustained dialogue is what is important,” Misri stated, emphasizing that cutting off Myanmar would prove ineffective.

“History has shown that disengagement doesn’t give us any results that are better than engagement,” he explained.

This marks Min Aung Hlaing’s initial trip to India since taking office as president in April after an election that opponents claim was structured to solidify military control. His previous Indian visit occurred in 2019 while serving as Myanmar’s top military commander.

India and Myanmar share a 1,643-kilometer (1,020-mile) land border plus a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. India currently shelters thousands of Myanmar refugees, including many who escaped violence in northwestern Chin state and other war-torn regions.

Myanmar holds strategic significance for India’s security concerns. Both nations have coordinated on border protection and intelligence operations to counter insurgent organizations active along their shared frontier.

Following their discussion, Modi and Min Aung Hlaing did not speak publicly, breaking from the typical protocol for bilateral meetings with visiting foreign leaders in New Delhi.

However, Misri revealed that the leaders covered trade, defense and security partnerships, border oversight, and regional matters, with conversations also emphasizing expanded economic and technological relationships. He noted both parties committed to strengthening cooperation in multiple areas including commerce, energy and essential minerals, while accelerating major infrastructure projects.

The officials also addressed joint efforts against cybercrime and human trafficking, problems that have impacted thousands of Indians deceived into working at fraudulent operations throughout the region. Misri reported that India and Myanmar have collaborated to rescue over 2,400 Indian citizens during the past 18 months.

Throughout his stay, Min Aung Hlaing also conducted meetings with Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The European Union is developing new regulations that could prevent major American technology companies from securing critical government cloud computing contracts, according to internal documents obtained by Reuters.

The restrictions would target Amazon, Microsoft and Google through stringent requirements for highly sensitive state procurement projects. These proposed rules form part of the European Commission’s Cloud and AI Development Act, which the EU’s technology leader Henna Virkkunen plans to unveil on Wednesday.

The announcement will be included in a broader set of initiatives designed to decrease Europe’s reliance on American technology firms. The draft proposal, which has not been previously disclosed and may still undergo modifications, would establish mandatory evaluation standards beyond pricing considerations.

These new standards would include stipulations that software and hardware be created within EU borders, a requirement that would put American technology giants at a significant disadvantage in the bidding process.

When asked for comment, the European Commission refused to discuss specific details of the upcoming proposal. However, officials stated that the technology independence package represents something that is “crucial for strengthening Europe’s own technological capacities, for Europe’s competitiveness and security.”

NAIROBI, Kenya — Large crowds of young demonstrators gathered Monday in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki to voice opposition to plans for establishing an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens at the Laikipia Air Base.

The demonstrations occurred just two days following a Kenya High Court decision to temporarily halt the facility’s creation and block any incoming foreign patients while reviewing a legal challenge brought by the Law Society of Kenya and a constitutional watchdog organization.

Both groups pointed to Kenya’s vulnerable healthcare infrastructure as justification for why foreign Ebola patients should not receive quarantine treatment within the country’s borders.

American officials announced Thursday their intention to transport Americans who have been exposed to Ebola overseas to this new Kenyan facility rather than bringing them back to the United States. Speaking anonymously about the administration’s strategy, these officials indicated the Laikipia Air Base location would become operational by Friday with capacity for 50 quarantine patients.

During Monday’s demonstration, large numbers of young people gathered at the air base entrance, shouting slogans opposing Ebola-related activities.

Health Minister Aden Duale stated Sunday that the quarantine facility was designed for “everyone” rather than being limited to U.S. citizens exclusively.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement that the U.S. government plans to provide $13.5 million to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness initiatives.

Regional officials, including Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, have expressed their opposition to creating an Ebola quarantine center to media representatives.

“This will expose our people to Ebola,” he stated, noting that numerous local residents are employed at the air base and face potential exposure risks.

While Kenya has recorded no Ebola infections, nearby Uganda has documented nine cases and shut down its border with Congo.

Congo has reported a minimum of 282 confirmed infections along with more than 1,000 suspected instances of the Bundibugyo virus, the current Ebola strain, for which no authorized treatment or vaccination exists.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — International arbitrators have dismissed Rwanda’s $134 million legal challenge against the United Kingdom over a terminated refugee resettlement program that Prime Minister Keir Starmer cancelled upon assuming office in 2024.

The agreement, established in 2022 under Starmer’s predecessor, Rishi Sunak, called for relocating asylum seekers who reached the U.K. by boat or as stowaways to the East African nation. The arrangement included financial provisions to Rwanda for associated expenses. When Starmer terminated the program, his home secretary at the time, Yvette Cooper, described it as “the most shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen.”

The Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissed two separate Rwandan demands, each worth 50 million pounds ($67 million), related to financing for the cancelled program. While the ruling was dated May 15, the Hague-based tribunal officially released it on Monday. The panel also turned down two additional Rwandan complaints concerning alleged U.K. violations of the agreement.

In their 76-page decision, arbitrators determined that formal diplomatic correspondence between both nations following Starmer’s cancellation constituted a mutual understanding that the U.K. would not provide the two 50 million-pound installments scheduled for April 2025 and 2026 to fund migrant relocations.

The original plan called for transferring migrants to Rwanda, where asylum applications would be reviewed and approved applicants would remain permanently. Britain’s Supreme Court declared the policy illegal, ruling that Rwanda could not be considered a safe destination for relocated migrants.

The British government issued a statement saying: “The U.K. robustly defended its position, and the tribunal has now ruled in favor of the U.K. on all grounds.”

The statement continued that Starmer’s government is “now focused on delivering vital reforms to restore order and control to our borders, including removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain and scaling up removals of those with no right to be here.”

Rwanda has not yet provided a response to the ruling.

BEDZIN, Poland — Researchers have made extraordinary discoveries in a southern Polish house that once sheltered Jewish resistance fighters during World War II, uncovering hidden bunkers, underground passages, and artifacts that tell a powerful story of survival and defiance.

Among the most moving finds was an armband displaying the Star of David, discovered by the Cukerman’s Gate Foundation during their methodical search of the property.

“This armband is a witness, it’s like directly touching that evil which people created for other people,” Karolina Jakoweńko from the Cukerman’s Gate Foundation, which organized the search, told The Associated Press. Seeing it felt like a “jolt,” she said.

The two-story red brick structure sits in what was once the Jewish ghetto during the war. Young people from left-wing Zionist groups established a “kibbutz” there — essentially a support network designed to help members survive and fight back against Nazi forces.

During recent preparation work for renovations, Jakoweńko and her team methodically searched the attic, removing floorboards piece by piece and sifting through debris collected in buckets. Their careful examination revealed items from multiple time periods, including a Jewish prayer book from 1934 and the significant armband.

The foundation made even more dramatic discoveries last year when they found a bunker and underground passage on the property, guided by survivor accounts and oral histories they had gathered. Research indicates three separate bunkers existed around the building.

“The entry to the bunker was through the kitchen oven,” Piotr Jakoweńko said, pointing to a second bunker located under the kitchen, where bricks were arranged differently. “We are not aware any of the people here survived when the Nazis discovered this place. Perhaps as many as 60 were hiding here.”

Finding these hiding places required painstaking examination of every section of the property, with archaeological experts providing guidance throughout the process.

Wojciech Mazan, one of the volunteers who helped with the search, said their work was grueling but it mirrored what the Jewish youth was doing to dig out the tunnel and bunkers. “We feel some closeness to them in this energy. The house is speaking to us.”

Before the war began, approximately 27,000 Jewish residents called Bedzin home, making up half the town’s population. Additional Jewish families lived in surrounding communities in this coal-mining region near Germany, creating one of Poland’s most diverse and economically thriving Jewish populations. Nazi authorities officially established ghettos for Jewish residents in 1942.

The building now being preserved represents a crucial location in the history of Jewish resistance throughout Nazi-occupied Poland. While the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943 remains the most widely known example of Jewish resistance, numerous other resistance efforts occurred throughout the country.

According to Joanna Król-Komła from the POLIN Museum of the History of the Polish Jews in Warsaw, this site could become an important destination for Holocaust education across Europe.

“There are only a few authentic places in Europe where Jews hid that have been preserved,” she said. “But in those cases, the story is usually told from the perspective of the righteous — those who saved Jews.” In Bedzin, by contrast, the preserved hiding place was organized by Jews themselves.

When Nazi forces began dismantling the Bedzin ghetto during summer 1943, Jewish residents had successfully obtained approximately 20 firearms from outside the ghetto walls. They understood that the Warsaw Ghetto, which had a larger and better-equipped resistance movement, had been destroyed in May.

The Jews in Bedzin knew well they stood no chance to survive and some chose to die weapons in hand, shooting at the Nazis who found them, Król-Komła said.

Frumka Płotnicka, a female fighter and courier from the Warsaw resistance movement who was sent to Bedzin to help organize local Jews, died in a third bunker that hasn’t been found yet, according to Karolina Jakoweńko.

She said the acts of resistance in the community went beyond shooting back at the Nazis. “Whether building bunkers or trying to hide a child or an aging parent, this is all resistance. It doesn’t always have to be a fight with weapons in hand. The fact that they wanted to survive was a form of resistance.”

Prior to World War II, Poland housed Europe’s largest Jewish community, with approximately 3.3 million residents. Although Nazi Germany, which controlled Poland during the conflict, bears responsibility for the Holocaust, Poland continues to grapple with historical instances where Polish neighbors participated in local attacks against Jewish communities.

In Bedzin, however, the local community is actively working to revive its Jewish history. Karolina Jakoweńko, who is originally from Bedzin, said “this Jewish history, for me, gave meaning to this town.”

She also recognized the Polish family who constructed the red brick house between the wars, Maria and Józef Polak, who lived alongside Jewish residents throughout the conflict, with children playing together, as allowed under Bedzin ghetto regulations. Family accounts shared with Jakoweńko describe how the woman saw the courtyard filled with bodies after Nazi forces killed the Jewish people who had been hiding.

Following the war’s end, the Polish family and their descendants decided against fencing the property, welcoming Jewish visitors and others. Recently, they agreed to transfer ownership to the Cukerman’s Gate Foundation, which intends to establish a museum called “the Bedzin Ghetto Fighters’ House.”

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confronts another political crisis Monday as hundreds of pages of government documents about former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson are set to become public, highlighting the diplomat’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The government plans to meet parliamentary demands to disclose records concerning Mandelson’s selection for and performance in Britain’s top diplomatic position.

After serving just nine months, Mandelson was dismissed, and the controversy surrounding his problematic appointment has put Starmer’s leadership in jeopardy.

An initial batch of documents released in March showed that government officials had been cautioned that Mandelson’s association with Epstein could create “reputational risk” for the administration.

Subsequently, it emerged that Mandelson received approval for the ambassadorial position despite not passing security clearance requirements, leading to heated finger-pointing between Starmer and top civil service officials responsible for security screening.

Monday’s document release may contain over 1,000 pages, including correspondence such as emails and text messages exchanged between Mandelson and government officials and advisers.

Law enforcement has requested that certain documents remain confidential as they are part of an ongoing criminal probe into Mandelson for suspected misconduct in public office. The 72-year-old Mandelson was temporarily detained in February by investigators looking into claims he shared classified government intelligence with Epstein during his ministerial tenure fifteen years earlier.

He remains free with no bail restrictions while the police inquiry proceeds.

Health Secretary James Murray stated Monday that the document disclosure represents an “unprecedented” degree of government openness.

“It’s right we do that. We have been very clear that the appointment of Mandelson was wrong,” he told Sky News.

Conservative lawmaker Alex Burghart warned that any effort to suppress or heavily edit documents beyond those requested by police “will be viewed by the House as a contempt of Parliament, and as a cover-up by the British public.”

Starmer terminated Mandelson’s position in September 2025 following an earlier document release that demonstrated he had continued communication with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sexual crimes involving a minor.

Opposition figures argue that Starmer’s choice to name Mandelson demonstrates poor decision-making by a prime minister who has committed numerous errors since leading the center-left Labour Party to an overwhelming electoral win in July 2024.

Information about Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein, exposed in extensive files released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January, generated fresh concerns about Starmer’s leadership abilities, prompting adversaries and some Labour members of parliament to demand the prime minister step down.

These demands grew stronger after Labour experienced significant defeats in local elections in May. A senior Cabinet minister, Wes Streeting, stepped down with plans to contest Starmer for Labour leadership. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a parliamentary seat in a June 18 special election and is also anticipated to challenge Starmer if successful.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Hungarian government plans to modify the nation’s constitution in order to oust the current president, as part of new Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s campaign to eliminate officials installed during former populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s tenure.

Magyar’s Tizsa party secured a decisive electoral win in April, gaining a two-thirds parliamentary majority that enables them to implement major reforms to the authoritarian system Orbán established during his 16-year leadership.

Following his electoral success, Magyar has consistently demanded that President Tamás Sulyok, who was selected by Orbán’s party, step down or face constitutional removal. Magyar had set a May 31 deadline for Sulyok’s departure, frequently describing him as “Orbán’s puppet.”

Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, Hungary’s president holds responsibility for approving legislation and possesses authority to refer parliamentary bills to the constitutional court for examination, creating worries among the new administration’s allies that he might use this power to block their agenda.

Magyar met with Sulyok at the presidential Sándor Palace on Monday morning. During a subsequent press briefing, Magyar announced that the president had declined to step down. He stated he would direct his party’s legislators to immediately initiate the “necessary procedures” for presidential removal, estimating the process would require approximately one month.

“Hungary does not belong to Tamás Sulyok, nor to Viktor Orbán. It doesn’t belong to a single party or political system,” Magyar said. “The constitution states quite clearly that the president showcases the unity of the nation and guards the democratic functioning of the state.”

The prime minister did not provide details about which type of constitutional modification would be employed to remove Sulyok.

Magyar also criticized Sulyok for neglecting his responsibilities on various matters, including remaining silent when Orbán made dehumanizing remarks about political adversaries and critics, and when the former government enacted laws prohibiting the LGBTQ+ Pride event.

“It is in Hungary’s interest that this institution — the office of the president — regain the prestige that has been eroded by its silence and inaction,” Magyar said.

Last Friday, Sulyok’s office issued a statement declaring that Magyar’s resignation demands “adversely affect both the constitutional functioning and the authority of the institution of the President of the Republic.”

The statement also noted that Sulyok had sought a legal evaluation of the dispute from the Venice Commission, a panel of legal experts affiliated with Europe’s leading human rights organization, the Council of Europe.

Manufacturing facilities worldwide are experiencing major economic impacts from the Middle East conflict, with European producers reporting decreased demand and the steepest increase in raw material expenses in four years, while their Asian counterparts have expanded operations through stockpiling efforts, according to recent industry surveys released Monday.

The conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran that started in late February has disrupted global commerce, created instability in financial markets and sparked worries about worldwide energy availability, especially regarding shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical pathway for oil and natural gas transport.

The survey results were released following warnings from leadership at the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization about the conflict’s impact on global energy availability.

The S&P Global Eurozone Manufacturing PMI dropped to 51.6 in May, down from April’s nearly four-year peak of 52.2, though it exceeded the preliminary projection of 51.4. Any measurement over 50.0 signals expansion.

“Although euro area manufacturers reported an expansion for a fourth successive month in May, the sector is showing signs of struggling under the weight of rising prices and supply disruptions emanating from the war in the Middle East,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Manufacturing in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, came to a standstill while French production facilities experienced their first decline since November.

A majority of economists surveyed by Reuters in May expect the European Central Bank to raise its deposit rate this month and at least one additional time this year to prevent higher energy costs from affecting core inflation.

Government data expected Tuesday is projected to reveal that inflation climbed further beyond the ECB’s 2% goal last month.

Manufacturing facilities in Britain increased their prices at the quickest pace since June 2022 last month in reaction to substantial cost increases.

Despite these challenges, production activity grew across most Asian markets.

China’s private sector measurement expanded for six consecutive months while South Korea reached its fastest growth in five years, demonstrating a regional effort to create reserves against possible conflict-related disruptions.

The RatingDog China General Manufacturing PMI, produced by S&P Global, declined to 51.8 in May from April’s 52.2, but performed slightly better than analysts’ prediction of 51.6.

This result differed from an official survey indicating that factory activity in the world’s second-largest economy stagnated last month as new orders declined and input expenses continued rising.

Japan’s manufacturing activity also grew with the PMI reaching 54.5 in May, down from April’s more than four-year peak of 55.1, though companies there experienced the steepest increase in input costs since September 2022 due to higher raw material prices.

South Korea’s PMI climbed to its highest level since March 2021 at 54.8 in May, up from 53.6, again demonstrating companies’ efforts to secure supplies.

In Vietnam, the factory PMI measurement increased to 52.8 from 50.5, while Taiwan’s rose to 56.1 from 55.3, surveys indicated. The Philippines’ index jumped to 50.8 from 48.3.

Emergency teams in northwestern Italy successfully rescued a cave explorer Monday after his leg became pinned beneath a rock approximately 120 meters (394 feet) below ground, according to emergency services officials who reported the operation required 53 rescue personnel.

The nighttime rescue unfolded at the Grotta dei Cinghiali Volanti (Cave of the Flying Wild Boars), located in Cuneo province roughly 120 kilometers south of Turin, an area known as one of Italy’s premier caving destinations.

Rescue teams initially provided medical care to the trapped explorer at a temporary treatment station established within the cave before moving him to the surface for ambulance transport to a medical facility, according to a statement from the Alpine and Speleological Rescue Service.

Officials determined the man’s condition was stable enough that he did not need to be carried out on a stretcher, the rescue service noted, while emphasizing that response teams traveled from multiple regions across Italy to assist.

Authorities identified the rescued individual as an Italian citizen. News outlets reported his age as 20.

Following a Monday meeting with President Tamas Sulyok, Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced his government would pursue legal action to force the president from office if he refuses to step down voluntarily.

Magyar’s centre-right Tisza party scored a decisive electoral win in April, defeating Prime Minister Viktor Orban and vowing to oust numerous officials that Orban had placed in important government roles during his 16-year tenure.

The new prime minister has demanded Sulyok’s resignation, claiming the president has failed to promote national unity on critical matters and has instead worked to advance Orban’s interests and those of his former administration. Sulyok has declined to step down from his position.

“I have told the President that if he maintains his stance and does not resign, I will inform …the lawmakers of Tisza about our legislative proposals today and we will immediately start the necessary procedures,” Magyar stated.

According to Magyar, the legislative effort would span approximately one month and would focus on “removing all the puppets” who participated in “dismantling the rule of law and democracy.”

Orban’s Fidesz party responded by characterizing Magyar’s demands as an “unlawful ultimatum,” asserting that Sulyok is properly executing his legitimate mandate, which extends through 2029, and cannot be forced from his position.

Before becoming president, Sulyok led Hungary’s highest court, a role he obtained through Fidesz selection in 2016. Lawmakers from Orban’s party chose him for the presidency in early 2024.

While Hungary’s presidential role is primarily symbolic, Sulyok retains authority to send legislation back to parliament for additional review or refer measures to the Constitutional Court, actions that could delay or obstruct Magyar’s planned reforms.

Magyar has indicated he plans to leverage his party’s two-thirds legislative majority to modify constitutional provisions and other laws as necessary to compel Sulyok’s departure from office.

MANILA, June 1 – A Filipino lawmaker whose father once held the country’s highest office voluntarily turned himself in to authorities Monday after a judicial order for his detention on corruption allegations tied to an infrastructure controversy that triggered citizen demonstrations last year.

The corruption court issued an arrest warrant for Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada on plunder charges, which carry no bail option under the country’s legal system. Anti-corruption officials filed charges last week against Estrada for breaking graft laws by accepting “kickbacks” totaling 573 million pesos ($9.3 million).

“I will not seek Senate custody,” Estrada stated to media at the Senate building, addressing the possibility of seeking protection within the legislative chamber rather than surrendering to law enforcement.

“I am ready to defend myself before the court and I will not hide behind the institution to evade the process,” he continued.

Estrada has maintained his innocence and claimed the accusations are motivated by politics. He secured bail last week for a different charge.

The graft controversy, which has focused on dangerously defective flood-prevention infrastructure throughout the Philippines, has disturbed the corruption-weary country and hampered economic expansion in recent months.

($1 = 61.7010 Philippine pesos)

Israeli forces launched military strikes against Beirut’s southern suburbs Monday, marking a significant escalation one day after ground troops penetrated deeper into Lebanon than they have in over two decades, while Hezbollah militants launched rockets targeting northern Israeli territory, including areas near the coastal city of Haifa.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz released a joint statement explaining their decision to authorize military action against targets in the southern Beirut area known as Dahiyeh. They cited what they described as ongoing ceasefire violations by Hezbollah and “attacks against our cities and citizens” as justification for the strikes.

The militant group had committed to ending attacks against Israel when both sides agreed to a ceasefire in mid-April, but fighting resumed after Israeli military operations in Lebanon that Israel described as defensive measures.

Following Monday’s strike warning, residents of Dahiyeh began evacuating in large numbers, creating traffic congestion on roads leading away from the area where Hezbollah maintains strong community backing.

Overnight Israeli air operations in southern Lebanon resulted in six fatalities, including one Syrian national in a community near Nabatiyeh, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Israeli military officials reported that their Air Force successfully intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanese territory toward Israel, along with a suspicious aircraft in the region where Israeli troops are conducting operations in southern Lebanon. Military sources indicated no casualties occurred from these incidents.

Hezbollah confirmed conducting rocket and missile operations against northern Israeli targets on Sunday.

This recent violence occurred despite an existing ceasefire arrangement that has been active since April 17, and just before Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to participate in another round of direct negotiations in Washington beginning Tuesday. Hezbollah has declined to participate in direct discussions, relying instead on pressure from Iran, which has called for an end to the Lebanese conflict in its own discussions with Washington.

The Washington negotiations between high-ranking Israeli and Lebanese officials, which started in April, represent the first such direct discussions between the nations in more than thirty years, as they maintain no official diplomatic ties.

The Lebanese capital has largely avoided airstrikes since the ceasefire took effect, with the exception of two specific attacks on the city’s southern areas in May.

A U.S. official revealed late Sunday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had contacted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suggest a new approach for continuing current negotiations, while President Donald Trump considers a potential ceasefire extension involving Iran.

The proposal calls for Hezbollah to cease all attacks on Israel while Israel would avoid escalating military actions in Beirut, according to the official who requested anonymity when discussing confidential diplomatic communications.

The official indicated that Aoun showed interest in the proposal, but Lebanese parliament chief Nabih Berri responded by insisting that Israel must first cease all military activities.

The official noted that the Trump administration does not anticipate Israel abandoning its right to respond to Hezbollah attacks on its territory.

Berri, who maintains close ties with Hezbollah, issued a statement Sunday saying he could ensure the militant organization’s “full, comprehensive and immediate commitment to a ceasefire.” Berri questioned “but who will force Israel to stop its aggression?”

Aoun stated Monday in remarks issued by his office that “Lebanon is facing a fierce and condemned Israeli aggression.” He added that his administration continues working to end “the suffering of the Lebanese in general and the southerners in particular.”

The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in 3,412 deaths in Lebanon and forced more than 1 million people from their homes.

Israeli military sources confirmed that one soldier died in southern Lebanon overnight during a drone attack conducted by Hezbollah. The militant group’s deployment of difficult-to-detect fiber optic drones has proven particularly lethal for Israeli forces, who are having difficulty countering these weapons.

Netanyahu’s office reports that at least 26 Israeli soldiers and one defense contractor have died in or around southern Lebanon. Additionally, two civilians have been killed in northern Israel.

Malaysia has implemented new restrictions preventing children under 16 from creating accounts on social media platforms, according to an announcement Monday from the country’s communications regulator. The policy represents part of broader efforts to shield young people from dangerous online material.

This Southeast Asian country becomes part of a growing international movement to control access to digital platforms, as worries increase about social media’s effects on young people’s wellbeing and security.

Starting Monday, major social media companies like Meta Platforms’ Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and Alphabet’s YouTube must verify users’ ages using official government documentation, according to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

Platforms that don’t follow these new requirements could face penalties reaching 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million).

“The measure is not intended to prohibit child users from the internet or to deny them access to technology,” the commission stated, explaining that the goal is to increase accountability among social media companies, parents and guardians when it comes to safeguarding minors on the internet.

Social media companies have six months to implement age verification processes for users who already have accounts.

Malaysia has increased oversight of social media corporations following discoveries of significantly more harmful digital content in recent years, and is taking action against material designed to inflame racial or religious conflicts, or attack the monarchy.

The International Labour Organization kicked off its concluding discussions Monday in Geneva regarding the first binding employment standards for digital platforms that provide ride-sharing, food delivery, and online commerce services.

The primary disagreement revolves around whether benefits like minimum wage and protections including healthcare, sick leave, and social security should extend to every platform worker, or if coverage should depend on their classification as employees versus independent contractors.

The discussions will also tackle transparency in automated management systems, including how algorithmic technology determines compensation, distributes work assignments, and evaluates worker performance.

ILO members, who initiated preliminary discussions about platform worker employment last year, aim to finalize binding regulations and recommendations before next week concludes.

Any agreement from the U.N. agency, which advocates for international labor rights, requires consensus among governments, employers, and workers within the ILO framework.

The negotiations are anticipated to be challenging, with some members potentially seeking to dilute the language.

The U.S., China, Argentina and India prefer a more flexible approach, while the European Union, Brazil and Mexico advocate for enhanced protections, according to Lena Simet, senior advisor on economic justice at Human Rights Watch.

Labor advocacy groups and trade unions argue that the common practice of classifying workers as independent contractors enables companies to avoid minimum wage obligations and responsibilities like healthcare, sick leave and social security contributions.

“There is a serious problem with transparency and accountability around how algorithms are used to determine pay and performance,” said Simet.

The International Organisation of Employers, representing approximately 50 million companies globally, has stated that any framework should maintain flexibility, permitting countries to modify regulations according to their national situations.

Ride-hailing company Uber supported this position.

“It should enable countries to provide meaningful protections while preserving the flexibility, choice, and independence that many workers value,” an Uber spokesperson said.

The International Trade Union Confederation, the primary global organization representing workers, is advocating for a robust, binding convention. “Technological innovation cannot be used as an excuse to weaken democratic labour rights,” its General Secretary Luc Triangle told Reuters.

Chinese authorities announced Monday they will deploy medical experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help combat the current Ebola outbreak affecting the region.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed the decision during Monday’s briefing, stating that China has committed to providing humanitarian aid to Congo and will continue offering support “to the best of its ability.”

For nearly three decades, Venezuela’s socialist government has rallied behind a simple battle cry that symbolized Hugo Chávez’s nationalist movement: “United, we will win!”

This rallying call has echoed through government gatherings, street protests, and state media broadcasts, with supporters of all ages raising their fists to demonstrate allegiance to the anti-American socialist administration. The diverse alliance of military officials, ideological believers, and political opportunists has traditionally presented a unified front, even when facing overwhelming challenges.

However, that solidarity is showing signs of strain following the dramatic U.S. military action that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro this past January. Devoted supporters are now openly challenging acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s administration and publicly speculating that internal betrayal enabled the American operation against Maduro.

Rodríguez has abandoned several of Chávez’s signature policies, accommodated American requests, and restructured the government according to her preferences, dismissing cabinet members, advancing National Assembly legislation to transform the country’s petroleum sector, and freeing imprisoned opposition figures.

Chavismo adherents are expressing their dissatisfaction openly. Numerous supporters condemn the improved relations between Rodríguez’s administration and Washington, which the movement has traditionally viewed as its primary enemy regardless of which political party controls the White House.

The May deportation of a former cabinet official to face U.S. criminal charges and Rodríguez’s recent permission for American forces to conduct military training in Venezuela’s capital have exposed deep internal rifts.

Mario Silva, who spent years promoting government messaging as host of a state television program before being taken off air after Maduro’s detention, challenged the constitutional validity of deporting Alex Saab, a close Maduro associate, claiming it violated constitutional prohibitions.

Silva argued that Rodríguez lacks true governing independence, suggesting certain choices “are being made in the U.S. Embassy.”

“The imperialists don’t negotiate. They conquer, test and probe — until our country shatters,” Silva said in a livestream. “Nobody is safe right now. And that is a concrete, terribly dangerous fact.”

On May 23, several dozen demonstrators in Caracas protested the military training that brought two Marine Corps Osprey aircraft to the U.S. Embassy grounds. Protesters displayed a Venezuelan flag bearing the words “No to the Yankee drill.” The small turnout was notable in a capital accustomed to mass demonstrations involving thousands of participants.

Elías Jaua, who served as Chávez’s vice president and in Maduro’s cabinet in his first years in office, repudiated the exercise on social media. He later told The Associated Press he was speaking up to raise awareness among Venezuelans of the “humiliating” situation facing the country.

“At this stage, the most important thing is to prevent this occupation and this colonial administration to which a nation like Venezuela is being subjected from becoming normalized,” Jaua said.

Chávez and Maduro — as well as Rodríguez, in her previous roles as vice president and communications and foreign affairs minister — had long prophesied that the U.S. would use force to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry, which has opened up to private capital after Maduro’s capture. The Trump administration oversees oil sales and administers revenues as part of its phased plan to turn the troubled South American country around.

The social, political and economic crisis that took hold when Maduro became president in 2013 drove more than 7.7 million people to leave Venezuela and pushed millions of others into poverty. It also led to rounds of anti-government protests and U.S. economic sanctions, both of which the ruling party survived.

Party stalwarts celebrated a Maduro victory in a 2024 election despite overwhelming evidence showing he had lost. They also echoed the party leadership’s denial of a surge of migration. Their loyalty was often rewarded, be it with food and basic goods for the poor or multimillion-dollar contracts and bodyguards for the better-off.

Andrés Izarra, a communications minister under Chávez and tourism minister under Maduro, said the fractures are not based in ideology or a defense of Chavismo, which he believes ended when its founder died in 2013. Maduro’s interest, he said, was in enriching himself and remaining in power at all costs.

Self-interest, he said, is creating division.

“Since there is no ideological foundation, it is simply a struggle for power, money, positions, and survival. Do you think (he) would be protesting if he’d kept his bodyguards, or if they’d kept his little salary, or his share of power?” Izarra, who lives in exile since becoming a government target last decade, said of one critic of change under Delcy. “If they had an ideological interest, they would have spoken much earlier.”

Criticism even aired on state television last month, when a Colombian leftist leader sitting in the audience of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello’s show stood up and questioned Venezuela’s efforts to free Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores from U.S. custody.

“We’ve seen a very weak campaign for Cilia and Nicolás’s freedom,” Manuel Caicedo said before a visibly stunned Cabello.

Another devout Chavista, lawmaker Iris Varela, told a podcaster she believed a government insider had helped the U.S. oust Maduro. The idea has widely rumored since President Donald Trump announced that the authoritarian leader had been captured on Jan. 3, but no evidence has emerged.

“Of course there’s a betrayal,” Varela said. “I say that every Christ has a Judas. If our Lord Jesus Christ knew he was going to be betrayed and yet he let Judas kiss him on the cheek, … won’t a traitor emerge for Maduro?”

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino lawmaker announced Monday he plans to turn himself in to authorities following a court-issued arrest warrant on plunder charges connected to alleged kickbacks from a major flood control project.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada had already been arrested Friday on an initial graft charge that allowed for bail by the specialized Sandiganbayan anti-corruption court. After posting bail and securing his release, he once more proclaimed his innocence of any criminal conduct.

The 63-year-old Estrada has vehemently rejected accusations primarily brought forward by a former government public works engineer claiming he accepted over 570 million pesos ($9.3 million) in illegal payments connected to flood control construction projects.

BRUSSELS, June 1 – A coalition of 13 European cloud computing companies has joined with EU legislators and advocacy organizations to support the European Commission’s initiative to reduce Europe’s dependence on American technology while strengthening domestic businesses.

The Commission plans to unveil new measures Wednesday designed to prioritize European companies over American competitors for cloud streaming services in sensitive government contracts, while simultaneously increasing production of European-manufactured semiconductors.

This initiative stems partially from strained relations with both the United States and China, along with broader efforts to compete with these nations in critical technologies.

“Technological sovereignty means that Europe has the capacity to freely design, understand, choose from different home-grown sources, build, operate and effectively regulate the digital systems on which its society and economy rely,” the coalition stated in a joint open letter obtained by Reuters.

Companies signing the letter include French cloud vendor OVHcloud, Germany’s Nextcloud, social networks Mastodon and Monnett Social, Swiss privacy software company Proton, browser company Ecosia and Dutch quantum chip maker QuantWare.

European Parliament members from the Greens group and six advocacy organizations including Defend Democracy and Save Social also endorsed the letter.

“Our message is simple: Build European, buy European, protect European,” stated lawmaker Alexandra Geese.

A prominent Taiwanese opposition figure has expressed strong interest in meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during her planned visit to America this month.

Cheng Li-wun, who leads the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan’s primary opposition party, announced her openness to such a meeting while speaking with media representatives in Taipei on Monday. She departed later that day for a two-week journey across the United States, which follows her April trip to China where she held discussions with President Xi Jinping.

During her press conference in Taipei, Cheng noted that no Taiwanese leader has held a meeting with a serving U.S. president since diplomatic ties between Taipei and Washington ended in 1979, though she emphasized her role is specifically as KMT chairwoman.

When reporters questioned whether she would be open to meeting Trump, Cheng responded: “I am of course very willing.”

She explained her readiness to engage with any individual who promotes peace and holds significant leadership authority, similar to her approach with Xi.

“The same applies to President Trump. Anything that is helpful to peace, I am willing to do; anyone who is helpful to peace, I am willing to meet – let alone the most critical decision-maker and leader, which is the president of the United States,” Cheng stated.

The White House has not yet provided a response to requests for comment made after regular business hours.

Beijing, which maintains territorial claims over Taiwan, has refused diplomatic engagement with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist” and dismissing his multiple overtures for dialogue. Lai has consistently rejected Beijing’s territorial assertions, maintaining that Taiwan’s citizens alone should determine their island’s destiny.

Cheng expressed satisfaction with the improving trajectory of China-U.S. relations following Trump and Xi’s meeting in Beijing last month.

She confirmed plans to meet with congressional members and U.S. government officials during her trip, which includes a stop in Washington, though she declined to specify participants due to confidentiality considerations.

Despite Cheng’s KMT and its coalition partner, the Taiwan People’s Party, holding parliamentary control and supporting defense expenditures, they recently reduced government proposals for an additional $40 billion in military spending by one-third last month.

The United States has endorsed Taiwan’s increased defense budget, particularly the portions that the opposition reduced, which included funding for drones and other domestically-produced military equipment.

According to Cheng, Taiwan’s defensive capabilities depend not solely on enhanced military equipment, but also require diplomatic engagement with China to “thoroughly eliminate any possibility of military conflict or war.”

Emergency teams in Laos continued their efforts Monday to locate a different way into a water-filled cave system where two individuals have been missing for almost two weeks following severe storms that flooded the primary entrance and blocked access.

The pair has been unaccounted for since rescue efforts started last month in the mountainous terrain of Xaisomboun province, located roughly 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the nation’s capital. Emergency workers have successfully brought out five of the original seven people who became stuck in the underground chamber.

Lee Kian Lie, a Malaysian diver participating in the rescue mission, explained that crews are working to remove water from the cave system.

“We will go into the suspected area to continue the search if the water level is lowered,” he told The Associated Press.

A separate rescue group is examining the opposite side of the cave structure, hoping to discover a dry pathway that might allow entry to where the missing individuals are thought to be located, he explained.

Emergency response teams from Laos and nearby Thailand have been collaborating for over a week. International divers from Finland, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, France and Australia have joined the effort.

Multiple members of the rescue operation previously participated in the complex 2018 cave emergency in northern Thailand that successfully freed 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach from a water-filled cave.

The Laos Rescue Volunteer for People group announced on its Facebook page that intense rainfall brought “massive amounts of water” flowing into the region, forcing teams to halt their work Sunday evening.

Kengkaj Bongkawong, who leads the Thai group Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, explained that crews are also searching for air shafts from the surface that could offer another way into the cave.

Emergency workers suspect the two missing individuals are stuck in a deeper section of the cave than where the five survivors were initially located on Wednesday. However, the route to that location is described as extremely narrow and severely flooded.

The local residents reportedly went into the cave almost two weeks ago searching for precious minerals including gold when they became trapped by sudden flooding that cut off their exit route. Another villager managed to escape and notified authorities.

The first person was safely brought out on Friday, led through a tight flooded tunnel by a skilled diver. The other four emerged from the cave on Saturday after water levels dropped sufficiently for them to exit without assistance, rescue officials reported.

SEOUL, South Korea — A fatal blast rocked a defense contractor’s facility in South Korea on Monday, claiming five lives and leaving two people wounded, according to authorities.

The tragic incident took place at a Hanwha Aerospace worksite located in the South Korean city of Daejeon.

Authorities have not yet released additional information, including what triggered the blast.

Emergency official Yoon Seong-su noted that the location is classified as a government-designated security facility.

Local medical official Kim Ju-yeon reported that one of the two wounded individuals remains in critical condition. She added that authorities have not yet determined the identities of those who died.

According to Yonhap news agency, the facility serves as one of Hanwha Aerospace’s primary locations for developing large-sized propellants and surface-to-surface weapons systems.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed his nation’s military forces on Monday to strike targets located in the southern suburban areas of Beirut, Lebanon, specifically targeting a region known as a Hezbollah stronghold called Dahiyeh.

A statement released by Netanyahu’s office explained the reasoning behind the military action: “Following repeated violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon by the terrorist group Hezbollah and the attacks against our cities and citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to attack terrorist targets in the Dahiyeh district in Beirut.”

Despite a ceasefire agreement reached in mid-April, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have maintained ongoing exchanges of fire. Hezbollah has increasingly deployed inexpensive, easily-constructed kamikaze drones that present significant challenges for air defense systems to intercept, resulting in the deaths of multiple Israeli soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon.

The conflict in Lebanon represents the most significant expansion of the Iran war, forcing over 1.2 million Lebanese residents from their homes due to Israeli military strikes and evacuation directives since March 2, when Hezbollah initiated rocket and drone attacks against Israel in support of its Iranian ally.

According to Lebanese government figures, the military operations have resulted in more than 3,370 fatalities. Israeli officials report that 24 soldiers and four civilians have lost their lives during the same timeframe. Additionally, tens of thousands of Israeli residents in northern regions have been forced to evacuate due to Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.

The Dutch carrier KLM announced Friday evening it has suspended service to Uganda’s Entebbe airport, located near Kampala, because of restrictions related to an Ebola outbreak affecting Central Africa.

According to the airline, although the region is not presently considered an active danger zone, operations to the planned destinations are no longer feasible due to travel and entry protocols that various nations have implemented for individuals who have recently visited Entebbe, affecting both passengers and airline personnel.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates that two scheduled routes connecting Amsterdam and Entebbe, with a stop in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, set for Saturday and Monday have been scrapped.

“We’re continuing to monitor the situation and looking into what’s possible,” KLM stated in a travel advisory.

The World Health Organization has classified the Ebola outbreak, caused by the uncommon Bundibugyo strain of the virus affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as a public health emergency of international concern, though it falls short of pandemic emergency status.

In May, the United States implemented heightened travel screening, entry limitations and public health protocols to help prevent the disease’s transmission.

Multiple news sources reported that on May 20, an Air France aircraft traveling from Paris to Detroit was rerouted to Montreal after a traveler from the Democratic Republic of Congo boarded “in error.”

Emirates advised Thursday that passengers should verify destination entry requirements prior to travel, referencing Ebola-related restrictions in multiple countries.

An accidental blast involving explosives stockpiled by Myanmar’s rebel forces has claimed no fewer than 55 lives, with rescue teams still searching through the wreckage for survivors, according to eyewitness accounts released Monday.

The devastating incident occurred at approximately midday Sunday (0530 GMT) in Kaung Tat village, according to a statement from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which acknowledged multiple fatalities but did not specify an exact number.

Local residents and news outlets have confirmed the death toll at a minimum of 55 people, while search and rescue efforts continue at the explosion site. The TNLA has not responded to requests for additional information on Monday.

“Everything was completely destroyed beyond recognition,” resident Moe Z told Reuters. He was traveling on a roadway approximately 1-1/2 miles (2.4 km) from the scene when the blast occurred, describing how a mushroom cloud of smoke rose into the air.

The TNLA, which maintains control over the border village near China and operates under a ceasefire agreement with Myanmar’s military forces, stated that the detonated materials had been stockpiled “for use in mining operations.”

The nation’s mineral wealth, including rare earth elements, has emerged as a crucial funding source for both the military government and opposition forces engaged in the country’s ongoing civil conflict.

The current warfare started in 2021 following a military takeover that removed the democratically chosen civilian administration headed by Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.

Moe Z explained that initially his group suspected the explosion might have been an aerial attack, but the lack of subsequent blasts led them to consider whether a large unexploded ordnance had gone off.

“Based on the explosive force and the sound we witnessed, this was no small explosion, it wasn’t the scale of a drone-drop bomb,” he said, referencing a strategy commonly employed in Myanmar’s civil war.

Moe Z reported that his team reached the location roughly one hour following the blast, finding human casualties scattered throughout the area while people concentrated on locating any survivors. He described finding body parts and victims spread across the zone, with an enormous crater marking where the explosives had been kept.

“It’s as if the entire village has just vanished,” he said.

A regional reporter informed Reuters that the blast was so powerful that some casualties were trapped beneath massive amounts of rubble and wreckage, requiring heavy machinery for the search operation.

“Over half of the village’s houses have been destroyed. The houses near the centre of the blast were blown completely to pieces, to the point where not even the house posts remain,” the journalist said.

In Sunday’s official statement, the TNLA pledged to conduct a full investigation into the incident and ensure accountability for those at fault. The organization also committed to providing emergency assistance, medical care, and reconstruction support for affected residents.

“The explosion caused the loss of life and injury to many people in Kaung Tat village, and the destruction of many homes,” the TNLA said.

French naval forces intercepted a Russian-connected oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, according to French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement on social media.

The vessel, identified as the Tagor, was operating under international sanctions when French forces boarded it on the open ocean.

“This operation took place in the Atlantic Ocean, on the high seas, with the support of several partners, including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea,” Macron stated.

The French leader condemned vessels that attempt to evade international restrictions, saying: “It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and finance the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.”

The boarding operation was carried out with assistance from multiple allied nations, including British forces, according to the president’s statement.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — American military forces conducted airstrikes against Iranian radar installations and drone command centers following Tehran’s destruction of a US MQ-1 Predator drone over the weekend, military officials announced Monday. Iranian forces confirmed they launched counter-attacks, while Kuwait reported defending against incoming drone and missile strikes.

These competing military actions highlight how tenuous the multi-week ceasefire remains in the Iran conflict, with continued hostilities occurring despite ongoing diplomatic efforts between American and Iranian representatives to extend the truce. Tehran continues controlling the Strait of Hormuz during this period, creating disruptions to worldwide energy markets since one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments previously traveled through this critical Persian Gulf passage.

At the same time, combat operations are intensifying as Israel expands its military presence in Lebanon past the Litani River while Hezbollah militants persist in sending drones toward Israeli territory.

Central Command announced its military operations took place Saturday and Sunday in areas surrounding Geruk city and on Qeshm Island.

“The measured and deliberate strikes occurred … in response to aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters,” Central Command said.

“U.S. fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters.”

While the Air Force has discontinued Predator operations in favor of the MQ-9 Reaper, the Army continues operating Predator aircraft. Military officials reported no American personnel sustained injuries during these operations.

Kuwait’s defense systems engaged early Monday to counter approaching drone and missile attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces issued a statement through the state-controlled IRNA news agency claiming American forces had struck a communications tower on an island location.

The Guard confirmed conducting a retaliatory operation without specifying the target location, presumably referencing the Kuwait incident. Kuwait hosts U.S. Army Central, serving as the regional Army command headquarters for Middle East operations.

These military exchanges mark the most recent escalation between Washington and Tehran, even as both nations claim ongoing diplomatic discussions, particularly regarding Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves. During the weekend, American forces fired a missile into a Gambia-flagged cargo vessel’s engine compartment as it attempted to breach the Iranian port blockade.

Limited shipping traffic has managed to exit the strait, though global energy markets remain under strain, along with chemical fertilizer supplies that have raised concerns about potential food shortages. The Gulf area accounts for 30% of international chemical fertilizer trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump conducted meetings with advisers Friday but has not yet determined whether to proceed with an agreement extending the ceasefire and reopening the strait. Iranian officials have stated no final deal has been reached.

Trump shared optimistic views about negotiations in an early Monday post on his Truth Social platform, dismissing critics while avoiding discussion of the current military exchanges.

“Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us,” he wrote. “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end — It always does!”

A devastating industrial accident at a South Korean aerospace manufacturing facility has resulted in five fatalities and two injuries, officials confirmed Monday.

The deadly incident occurred at a Hanwha Aerospace plant located in Daejeon, where workers produce large rocket propulsion systems and work with explosive rocket fuel materials.

Two workers managed to flee the facility on their own, with one suffering severe burns, according to fire department officials who spoke at a news conference.

“Authorities have yet to identify the victims because their bodies were severely damaged,” a health official told the same briefing.

Fire department representatives revealed that the deadly blaze began after an explosion, though investigators are still working to determine what caused the initial blast.

The aerospace company specializes in defense and space technology, with the Daejeon facility specifically focused on manufacturing rocket propulsion systems and handling volatile rocket fuels.

Emergency responders faced additional challenges because they could not access building blueprints, as the facility’s layout information is classified under the country’s national security regulations, officials explained during the briefing.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the deployment of all available emergency resources to handle the situation and has demanded a thorough investigation into the tragedy, according to a statement from his office sent to news media.

A company representative from Hanwha Aerospace confirmed that the organization is conducting its own internal investigation into the incident.

Voting commenced Monday morning in Ethiopia’s national election, with widespread expectations that the current governing party will maintain its hold on power.

Military forces were prominently stationed throughout the capital city of Addis Ababa, while international observers urged calm during the electoral process in Africa’s second-largest nation by population, which serves as home to the African Union’s main offices.

Citizens formed lengthy lines ahead of the 6 a.m. start time, demonstrating enthusiasm to participate in the democratic process and express their political preferences.

The election will determine more than 500 representatives for the House of Representatives, who will then cast votes to choose the nation’s prime minister.

The Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is anticipated to win a majority of legislative seats, which would allow him to continue serving in his current role for an additional term.

Registration records show approximately 50 million citizens are eligible to participate in the voting process, representing roughly 38% of Ethiopia’s total population of 130 million. Citizens are simultaneously selecting representatives for regional government bodies. Election outcomes are anticipated to be announced later Monday.

Political opposition groups have expressed worries about what they characterize as diminishing opportunities for political participation, claiming they faced obstacles in conducting campaign activities and reaching potential supporters. The nation has also encountered international scrutiny regarding alleged violations of human rights against government opponents and members of the media.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A 34-year-old Australian woman facing terrorism charges appeared in court Monday as prosecutors detailed allegations that she supported violent extremism, tried to radicalize her children, and encouraged others to join her in Syria.

Defense attorney Peter Morrissey told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that his client, Rayann El Houli, has completely changed her stance on terrorism.

“She renounces ISIS and violent jihad,” Morrissey said, using an acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “She wants nothing to do with it: not now directly or indirectly. Not in the future. Not for herself. Not for the people she loves and specifically not for the children.”

El Houli is seeking bail while facing charges for allegedly joining a terrorist organization and traveling to Raqqa, Syria, which served as the Islamic State’s headquarters more than ten years ago.

Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan described the prosecution’s allegations during the hearing, stating that El Houli journeyed to Syria sometime between 2013 and 2014 with plans to join IS militants.

“The accused expressed radicalized views while in Syria, including support for terrorist acts. She supported acts of martyrdom whilst in Syria. She repeatedly expressed views that supported the killing or serious injury of non-believers,” Hannan said.

According to the magistrate, El Houli attempted to radicalize her children and encouraged Australians to travel to Syria to embrace extremist beliefs and lifestyle choices.

The magistrate noted that El Houli departed Raqqa in 2019 “when the caliphate was defeated and not as a result of her changing views.”

The court postponed the bail hearing to a future date yet to be determined.

Both charges carry maximum penalties of ten years imprisonment. Australian law requires exceptional circumstances for individuals facing terrorism allegations to receive bail.

Hannan indicated she wants more information about how El Houli fled from the al-Hol displacement camp in eastern Syria and was transported illegally to Lebanon.

El Houli returned to Australia from Lebanon in the previous year and was taken into custody in Melbourne last week.

Three additional women connected to IS who recently returned to Australia have been charged with slavery and terrorism violations upon arrival and are currently detained, while others remain under police investigation.

Malaysia launched new restrictions Monday that block millions of children under 16 from having social media accounts, becoming part of a worldwide movement to strengthen digital safety measures for young internet users.

The new regulations mandate that social media companies install age-verification technology and prevent users younger than 16 from setting up accounts. The restrictions target platforms with a minimum of 8 million users, covering Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Social media companies that don’t follow the new rules face financial penalties reaching 10 million ringgit ($2.5 million). However, parents won’t face punishment if their children find ways around the restrictions.

Officials stated the new policies aim to shield children from dangerous content, cyberbullying and platform designs that promote addictive usage patterns.

Several nations including Australia, Brazil and Indonesia have either launched or announced age-related limitations for children’s social media access. Additional countries such as Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are researching or creating comparable strategies.

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission explained the regulations don’t seek to block children’s internet or digital technology access. The agency instead established standards for service providers to tackle online dangers and implement appropriate safety measures for different age groups.

“These measures help strengthen the protection of children in the online environment, while providing added reassurance to parents in navigating increasingly complex digital risks,” the regulator said in a statement last month.

Social media companies must introduce safety-focused design elements, including safeguards against manipulative features that promote compulsive behavior, and take steps to remove underage accounts and harmful material.

Technology firms haven’t yet explained their plans for meeting Malaysia’s new standards.

The regulatory agency announced it will provide a transition period for platforms to finish installing age-verification technology.

Clara Koh, Meta’s director of public policy for Southeast Asia, had cautioned in April that Malaysia’s blanket under-16 ban could backfire by driving teenagers away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.

She said Meta has launched “teen accounts” for those under 18 that limits contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.

Malaysia’s new restrictions emerge as governments worldwide face mounting pressure to tackle worries about social media’s effects on children’s mental health and digital safety.

In March, a U.S. jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case alleging that platform design features contributed to harm suffered by a young user.

While many parents support the move, Malaysia’s decision has sparked concerns about data privacy protection.

“It is very much following the trend but in a way that is raising alarms due to requiring a government ID for age verification,” said Benjamin Loh, social science lecturer at Monash University in Malaysia.

Loh said experiences elsewhere suggest age-based restrictions have yet to prove consistently effective. Without parent penalties, he said families can easily bypass the law by creating accounts for their children.

“This is a major gap that unless regulators are willing to fix, will result in the law having little effect in stopping children from using social media,” he added.

American military forces launched what they described as defensive strikes against Iranian radar and unmanned aircraft facilities over the weekend, according to officials who characterized the action as a response to hostile Iranian behavior.

Military commanders announced on social media Sunday that Iran had destroyed an American MQ-1 unmanned aircraft that was flying over international waters.

According to CENTCOM, American fighter jets retaliated by destroying Iranian air defense systems, a ground control facility, and two one-way attack drones.

Officials confirmed that no American service members were injured in the operations.

The military action represents the latest exchange between the two nations, following similar confrontations the previous week when Iran attacked an American air installation after U.S. forces conducted operations against what a Washington official described as Iranian drone activities near the Strait of Hormuz.

For the first time since its founding, Australia’s populist One Nation party has claimed the top position in national polling, surpassing the current Labor government amid widespread public dissatisfaction with recent fiscal policy changes.

The Redbridge Group and Accent Research polling data shows One Nation’s primary support climbing four percentage points to reach 31% compared to the previous month’s results. Meanwhile, the governing center-left Labor party saw its support decline by three points to 28%.

The conservative coalition opposition also experienced losses, dropping two percentage points to 20% support.

These polling shifts follow the government’s May 12 budget announcement, which introduced sweeping property tax reforms described as the most significant changes to property taxation in decades. The measures were designed to address intergenerational inequity issues.

However, the proposed changes appear to have failed in winning public approval, particularly among Gen X and Baby Boomer demographics who showed strong opposition to the reforms.

Surprisingly, even younger demographics that the budget aimed to help expressed skepticism about the measures. Only 26% of Millennials and a mere 13% of Gen-Z respondents indicated they believed the budget would benefit them personally.

When factoring in Australia’s ranked-choice voting preferences, Labor maintains a narrow advantage over One Nation with 51% compared to 49% in a two-party scenario.

The survey included 1,005 participants and was conducted between May 25 and May 28, carrying a margin of error of 3.4%.

One Nation, established in 1997 under Pauline Hanson’s leadership, has historically maintained limited representation in Australia’s federal parliament. However, the party’s current surge reflects its successful appeal to voters concerned about rising living expenses, economic instability, and immigration policies.

Half a dozen workers sustained injuries when dangerous hydrogen fluoride gas escaped at an SK Hynix semiconductor manufacturing plant located in Cheongju, South Korea, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency citing local fire department officials.

The hazardous chemical release occurred after flames erupted at the facility, fire department officials stated, noting that emergency crews have successfully extinguished the blaze.

Attempts to reach an SK Hynix company representative for additional details were unsuccessful at the time of this report.

Chinese maritime authorities deployed patrol vessels in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, responding to recent announcements that Japan and the Philippines would initiate formal discussions about their maritime boundaries.

The two nations announced last week their intention to begin official negotiations regarding the maritime boundary of their exclusive economic zone and continental shelf areas, stating they would proceed “in accordance with international law.”

Beijing’s foreign ministry criticized the planned discussions on Friday, stating the area includes waters east of Taiwan, which China considers its own territory. Officials declared such negotiations “completely illegal, null and void.”

Maritime patrol vessels carried out operations east of Taiwan following legal protocols, according to a statement from China’s Coast Guard, though specific locations were not disclosed.

“This is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of maritime boundary delimitation negotiations in the waters east of China’s Taiwan island,” the statement read.

“We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease all illegal actions that infringe upon China’s sovereign rights and interests.”

Taiwan’s coast guard officials had no immediate response to the patrol activities. Representatives from Philippine and Japanese diplomatic missions in Beijing did not respond to requests for comment.

On Sunday evening, Taiwan’s foreign ministry criticized Beijing’s position on the matter.

“China has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights over its relevant maritime areas,” officials stated.

Chinese military vessels and aircraft operate near Taiwan on an almost daily basis, with coast guard ships sometimes accompanying these activities.

Last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel moved close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern South China Sea before departing following a confrontation with Taiwan’s coast guard.

Beijing asserts territorial claims over Taiwan and nearly all of the South China Sea through a “nine-dash line” marked on official maps, which extends into exclusive economic zones belonging to the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Taiwan’s government disputes Beijing’s territorial assertions.

Emergency crews responded Monday to reports of a blast at a South Korean aerospace manufacturing facility, according to fire department officials.

The incident occurred at a Hanwha Aerospace plant located in Daejeon, with fire department personnel sent to the scene to address the situation.

Company representatives confirmed they are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the reported explosion at their facility.

The United States has introduced a new diplomatic initiative designed to reduce escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, according to a government official who spoke on Sunday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding ongoing diplomatic talks between the two nations, presenting a framework for “gradual de-escalation,” the official revealed.

Under the American proposal, the initial phase would require the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant organization to cease all attacks against Israel, while Israel would commit to avoiding escalatory actions in Beirut, the official explained.

“This would create space for gradual de-escalation and an effective cessation of hostilities,” the official stated.

The official noted that Aoun worked to promote the proposal and achieve an agreement. Nevertheless, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who asserted he could “guarantee” Hezbollah’s adherence to a ceasefire, insisted that Israel must stop “shooting first.”

On Sunday, Netanyahu announced he had directed military forces to advance deeper into Lebanon in operations against Hezbollah, despite a ceasefire that was declared more than six weeks earlier.

In their most recent military action, Israeli forces captured the historic 900-year-old Beaufort Castle along with a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, military officials reported Sunday. This came after one of the most intense periods of Hezbollah attacks targeting northern Israel since the April ceasefire, leading to school shutdowns and movement restrictions.

The American official emphasized that the United States does not anticipate Israel will continue tolerating persistent attacks against its citizens from Hezbollah.

BEIJING, June 1 – Chinese authorities unveiled comprehensive new regulations on Monday that significantly expand government oversight of foreign investment activities by Chinese companies, particularly those involving technology transfers, data sharing, and matters of national security importance.

The new framework, announced by the State Council, China’s primary governing body, becomes effective July 1. A key provision mandates that companies must obtain government approval before exporting any restricted Chinese goods, technologies, services, or associated data to foreign entities.

The regulations also prohibit indirect technology transfers accomplished through sending technical personnel across borders, as well as blocking transfers through training programs, advisory services, or similar arrangements.

The announcement comes one month after Chinese regulators forced the cancellation of Meta’s planned acquisition of artificial intelligence company Manus.

The Philippines and Vietnam have strengthened their diplomatic relationship to an enhanced strategic partnership, announced President Ferdinand Marcos during a state visit by Vietnam’s top leader To Lam to Manila on Monday.

According to Marcos, both nations share common goals in preserving peace, stability and a rules-based order throughout their region. He emphasized that this partnership has grown in significance as the area faces a changing and unpredictable global landscape.

The enhanced relationship will be “defined by wider pathways for cooperation, stronger political and defence cooperation, and closer linkages between the Filipino and Vietnamese people,” Marcos stated.

Within the ASEAN region, Vietnam stands as the Philippines’ only strategic partner, having upgraded their relationship a decade ago in a demonstration of solidarity against China.

To Lam described the Philippines as an “important regional partner of Vietnam,” pointing to shared vision and strategic interests, along with strong commitments for peace and stability. “We always want to bring the strategic partnership with the Philippines to a new high,” he said.

Earlier this year, the coast guards of both countries conducted their inaugural joint exercises, even though both nations have competing territorial claims to certain South China Sea areas.

Parliamentary and regional elections scheduled for Monday in Ethiopia are predicted to deliver an overwhelming victory for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s political party, according to analysts, even as large portions of the nation experience ongoing violence and instability.

Over 50 million Ethiopian citizens have registered to participate in the voting process, though ballots will not be cast in the northern Tigray region. Election officials have pointed to “unfavourable conditions” in that area following a civil conflict that lasted from 2020 to 2022 and persistent political upheaval.

The 49-year-old Abiy seeks to strengthen his control over the country’s political landscape. He assumed power in 2018 after widespread demonstrations against the EPRDF coalition that had governed for years, and his recently established Prosperity Party secured 410 of 484 parliamentary positions during 2021 voting.

Campaign efforts by Prosperity Party representatives have focused on the administration’s economic achievements, highlighting enhanced food security and economic expansion in this African nation with the continent’s second-largest population. Government officials forecast economic growth will exceed 10% by 2026, representing one of Africa’s most rapid growth rates.

The country’s 135 million residents include nearly half who are younger than 18 years old.

However, Abiy confronts armed rebellions in Ethiopia’s two largest regions, stemming from complaints by various ethnic communities about perceived discrimination within the nation’s federal structure.

In Oromiya, the region where Abiy was born in the southern part of the country, clashes between government troops and the separatist Oromo Liberation Army have resulted in hundreds of casualties over recent years.

In the adjacent Amhara region, a militia group called Fano has taken control of large rural areas since 2023. Consequently, voting will be suspended in no fewer than eight of Amhara’s 138 electoral districts.

While a 2022 peace agreement brought an end to the Tigray civil war, which studies indicate led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, recent actions by the region’s primary political organization to regain administrative control have prompted Ethiopian authorities and experts to caution about potential renewed violence.

Despite these challenges, the Prosperity Party is projected to overwhelmingly win against a divided opposition weakened by internal disputes. Election outcomes are anticipated by June 11.

Opposition groups claim the federal administration has undermined their efforts through leader arrests and legal barriers to their political operations, allegations the government rejects.

Reuters has been unable to conduct reporting from within Ethiopia since mid-February, when the Ethiopian Media Authority chose not to extend credentials for its three journalists based in Addis Ababa.

When Abiy took office in 2018, he initiated efforts to open up Ethiopia’s strictly regulated economy and released journalists, activists and other political detainees. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for resolving conflicts with neighboring Eritrea.

Critics and human rights advocates claim his administration has rolled back those improvements in recent years through journalist detentions, civil society organization shutdowns, and military operations characterized by human rights violations.

The government has rejected claims of systematic human rights abuses and stated its measures are required for national security protection.

The improved relationship with Eritrea has deteriorated into renewed tensions over recent years, partly due to Abiy’s repeated statements that landlocked Ethiopia deserves access to the sea.

Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has interpreted these remarks as an implicit threat of military action. Abiy has stated that while sea access represents an “existential” issue for Ethiopia, he plans to pursue it through negotiations.

Citizens throughout Colombia participated in Sunday’s presidential election to choose who will replace President Gustavo Petro. Among those casting ballots were candidates Iván Cepeda, Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, while security forces and law enforcement maintained vigilant oversight throughout the voting process.

The election drew voters from communities nationwide as the country selected its next leader under heightened security measures.

During Paraguay’s 215th Independence Day celebration at its Jerusalem embassy, Ambassador Alejandro Rubin Cymerman delivered a powerful message about his nation’s unwavering support for Israel. The diplomatic gathering featured Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Knesset members Boaz Toporovsky and Evgeny Sova, along with various diplomats and community leaders.

The ceremony included traditional diplomatic elements – flags, speeches, wine, and formal greetings. However, the most memorable moment came when Rubin explained Paraguay’s decision to locate its embassy in Jerusalem rather than following typical diplomatic protocol.

“Paraguay is in Jerusalem because it believes in Israel,” Rubin declared during his address. “Paraguay is in Jerusalem because it honors its word. Paraguay is in Jerusalem because it understands that true friendship is shown with actions.”

Rubin drew connections between the two nations’ independence stories. Paraguay gained independence on the evening of May 14, 1811, completing the process in the early morning hours of May 15. Similarly, Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, just before the British Mandate ended at midnight. The ambassador noted that this year’s celebration also aligned with Jerusalem Day.

“Some coincidences are not invented. They simply exist,” Rubin observed. “They wait to be seen with attention. And they invite us to think.” He characterized Jerusalem as representing memory, faith, history, identity, and future – not merely a capital city.

The ambassador emphasized that Paraguay’s Jerusalem presence wasn’t directed against any other nation, but rather supported what his government views as historical truth and genuine friendship. “Peace is not built by asking a people to hide its history, to hide its identity, or to put aside what is essential to its national soul,” he stated. “Peace is built when people truly recognize each other.”

In a later interview with The Media Line, Rubin explained that Paraguay’s Israel relationship extends beyond government policy into Paraguayan society itself. He mentioned that President Santiago Peña has shared how ordinary citizens urged him to support Israel during his campaign. According to Rubin, Paraguay’s foreign policy centers on three main pillars: the United States, Taiwan, and Israel.

The ambassador connected Paraguay’s support for Israel to his country’s historical trauma, particularly the devastating War of the Triple Alliance in the 19th century, which claimed a catastrophic portion of Paraguay’s male population. This experience, he suggested, created an emotional bond with Jewish history and Holocaust memory.

“It stayed in the genes of the Paraguayan,” Rubin said, explaining why Israel support resonates widely in Paraguay compared to other Latin American countries. He compared this stance to Paraguay’s continued Taiwan recognition despite potential economic advantages from China relations.

“Paraguay does not move by convenience,” Rubin emphasized. “Paraguay moves by values.” He noted that when he arrived in Israel in January 2024, many Israelis knew little about Paraguay or confused it with Uruguay. Now, he said, the response is markedly different: “Today I say Paraguay, and the Israeli tells me: Thank you.”

Sa’ar praised Paraguay as a “stable friend” of Israel during his remarks, distinguishing it from countries whose friendliness fluctuates with political changes. He highlighted how such stability benefits not only governments but also business investors considering long-term commitments.

“With Paraguay, Ambassador, it’s not only that you really enjoy political stability and economic stability,” Sa’ar noted. “It’s a stable friend of the State of Israel. Its friendship is stable.” He recalled his Paraguay visit approximately six months earlier and joked that the Jerusalem embassy location made his schedule easier by being close to his office. “That’s a hint for other embassies,” he added.

Sa’ar outlined Israel’s straightforward foreign policy approach: investing in friendships with supportive nations. “We want to be friendly with those who are friendly to us,” he said. “It is very simple.” He mentioned that Fiji had also opened a Jerusalem embassy, with Somaliland expected to follow suit.

The economic dimension of the relationship has shown dramatic growth. Rubin reported that Paraguay’s annual beef sales to Israel, previously around $110 million, nearly doubled last year and could exceed $300 million this year if current trends continue, following more than $80 million in first-quarter sales.

However, Rubin stressed that Paraguay seeks recognition beyond meat exports. He described his country as offering food, energy, water, agro-industry, applied technology, logistics, services, maquila, and investment opportunities. As a Mercosur member, Paraguay provides access to both its domestic market of approximately 7.5 million people and a regional market of hundreds of millions.

“Israeli businesspeople are starting to discover that big things can be done from Paraguay,” he said. He also expressed interest in attracting Israeli backpackers, describing Paraguay as beautiful, affordable, fun, and safe for Israeli visitors.

Toporovsky, who attended shortly after resigning from the Knesset, told The Media Line about his close friendship with Rubin and how Israeli officials value Paraguay’s clear support. He identified opportunities for expanded cooperation in business, economics, diplomacy, politics, education, and research.

Sova, deputy speaker of the Knesset from the Yisrael Beitenu party, described visiting Paraguay two years ago as a Knesset member and maintaining regular contact with Paraguayan lawmakers and parliament speaker Raúl Latorre. He called Paraguay’s leaders “true friends” and emphasized the importance of their Latin American support.

“It is important to preserve the relationship, and it is important to support our friends,” Sova stated. “Regardless of the identity of the government in Israel, our relations with Paraguay will only grow stronger.”

The cross-party attendance reinforced Paraguay’s positioning as a long-term partner rather than merely a supporter of the current Israeli administration. During a period when Israel’s international relations often focus on war, diplomatic pressure, and isolation, Paraguay’s Independence Day celebration presented a different narrative: a Latin American embassy in Jerusalem openly celebrating sovereignty while declaring itself among Israel’s most devoted allies.

Rubin concluded by connecting symbols with action, arguing that diplomacy should extend beyond ceremonies and documents to “help bring good closer” and organize realities. His comments underscored that Paraguay’s Jerusalem embassy represents more than symbolic gesture – it constitutes a public alignment statement with Israel and a deliberate effort to make that friendship visible.

Colombia’s presidential election is moving to a runoff after initial voting results showed no candidate achieved the necessary majority to win outright, according to data released Sunday by the nation’s electoral registry.

Conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espreilla and leftist senator Ivan Cepeda are set to face each other in the second round, with vote tallies showing a tight race between the two candidates.

The right wing lawyer secured 44.2% of voter support, while the veteran senator and activist garnered 41% of the vote. Since neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff, Colombian voters will return to the polls for a decisive second round.

The results were announced with the majority of ballots counted across the South American nation.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has allegedly delivered a resignation letter to the Office of the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, complaining that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has seized control of government operations while pushing him out of important decision-making, Iran International reports.

According to the outlet, Pezeshkian asked to leave office right away, claiming he can no longer properly run the government or meet his constitutional duties since crucial decisions are happening without his input.

Iranian officials and major global news agencies have not verified these allegations, and there’s no clear sign the resignation has been approved.

Iran International stated that Pezeshkian indicated the IRGC had taken charge of essential government functions while pushing aside civilian leadership. The news source said this power shift has prevented the president’s team from pursuing diplomatic talks or making planned cabinet adjustments.

The same outlet had earlier documented how the IRGC has slowly reduced presidential authority and seized oversight of important government sectors. Sources familiar with the situation described a governmental standstill that has hampered the administration’s ability to execute policy goals.

The reporting also indicated that control over major decisions has moved from civilian officials to top IRGC commanders and the Supreme Leader, creating obstacles for executive actions and sidelining diplomatic initiatives.

The Jerusalem Post states that the IRGC manages between 20% and 40% of Iran’s economic activity. The publication noted that the group evades international penalties using concealed oil tanker operations and illegal trade routes while overseeing most of the nation’s petroleum sales, funneling profits into its defense manufacturing operations.

The Council on Foreign Relations has documented that the IRGC runs a domestic surveillance and intelligence system that incorporates the Basij militia. The organization reports that this force tracks opposition activities and helps guarantee that only IRGC-friendly candidates can obtain major political positions.

Whether Mojtaba Khamenei will approve Pezeshkian’s alleged resignation request remains unknown.

Israeli officials report that a Palestinian assailant drove his vehicle into two teenage girls at the Gush Etzion Junction Sunday evening, sparking a widespread security response throughout the region.

The incident took place in the southern section of the Gush Etzion Junction. Medical personnel treated a 17-year-old who received severe limb injuries and a 15-year-old who sustained facial trauma and was reported in stable condition. A 25-year-old received treatment for anxiety symptoms. Medical teams transported all three individuals to Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

Military personnel from the 90th Battalion of the Kfir Brigade fatally shot the assailant, a 30-year-old man from Hebron.

Law enforcement officials stated that officers from nearby stations responded to the location, securing the perimeter and conducting searches to verify no additional suspects were present. Extensive military and police units initiated area-wide searches, while operations took place in Hebron, the attacker’s home city.

Initial investigations revealed the assailant executed a U-turn at the junction prior to launching the assault. Security personnel maintained their presence in the vicinity after the incident occurred.

Speaking from the location, Gush Etzion Regional Council head Yaron Rosenthal stated, “This was a severe attack at the Gush Etzion Junction. A terrorist attempted to run over a group of boys and girls, and we have several injured victims. The terrorist was eliminated very quickly by army forces.”

The assault resulted in two teenagers requiring hospitalization and prompted a comprehensive security operation by Israeli forces throughout the Gush Etzion region. Officials maintained search and investigation efforts following the attacker’s death.

A tragic vehicle accident in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of 22 people and left 36 others wounded after a truck transporting Afghan refugees crashed into a ravine on Saturday in the eastern Laghman province.

Abdul Malik Niazi, a Taliban official, spoke with The Media Line about the incident, explaining that “the accident occurred on the main highway linking Kabul with Nangarhar province.”

Officials confirmed that among those who died were 10 children and five women. The 36 people who sustained injuries have been taken to multiple medical facilities for care.

According to the Taliban official, all those involved in the crash were Afghan migrants who had recently come back from Pakistan. The group had been staying temporarily in Kunar province and were traveling to Kabul when their vehicle crashed.

Amanullah Sharif, who leads the provincial health department, verified the casualty numbers and reported that early investigations suggest the crash happened because the driver had fallen asleep.

The victims were part of a larger group of thousands of Afghan refugees who have made their way back to Afghanistan from Pakistan over recent months.

In 2023, Pakistan began a major enforcement operation targeting undocumented migrants, resulting in many Afghan nationals being compelled to leave or facing deportation.

During this same timeframe, Iran also increased its efforts to remove Afghan refugees from its territory.

This tragedy occurs as Afghanistan continues to handle significant numbers of people returning from surrounding nations, especially Pakistan, which has ramped up its deportation activities for undocumented Afghan migrants.

Data from the Taliban commission for refugees shows that during the past week, approximately 4,000 migrants have been sent back from Pakistan each day.

International humanitarian organizations have consistently cautioned that the massive influx of returning migrants is creating additional pressure on transportation systems and government services, particularly in eastern provinces that function as major border crossing areas.

With thousands of returnees entering Afghanistan daily under challenging circumstances and disorganized schedules, local infrastructure and services in already vulnerable areas are facing increasing stress. Transportation pathways are becoming more dangerous, and communities are having difficulty managing the sudden arrival of large numbers of people.

Without improved regional cooperation and better support systems for those returning, the situation threatens to develop into a broader humanitarian crisis characterized by avoidable fatalities, recurring accidents, and serious humanitarian dangers throughout the affected provinces.

The Israel Defense Forces has taken control of Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, hoisting Israeli and Golani Brigade flags over the historic fortress following military operations designed to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the region, military officials announced.

The mission brought Israeli soldiers to one of southern Lebanon’s most strategically important locations. Military officials reported that forces moved past the Litani River near Metula to reach the castle, which offers commanding views of northern Israel and the Nabatieh region.

The Israel Defense Forces stated that the territory around Beaufort and Wadi Saluki had functioned as a key Hezbollah command center. Military officials reported that the militant organization had built extensive infrastructure in the location with Iranian support and utilized the site to plan attacks and fire hundreds of rockets toward Israel and Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon.

Military officials indicated that forces continue operations near Nabatieh and stand ready to expand their mission.

“The IDF is operating near Nabatieh, a significant Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, and is prepared to expand the offensive as required,” the military said, “to destroy [Hezbollah] infrastructure and eliminate terrorists, as part of strengthening operational control in southern Lebanon and removing the direct threat to the Galilee Panhandle and Metula,” as well as to “expand the forward defense line.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that regaining control of Beaufort held special meaning due to the location’s role in Israel’s previous military operations in Lebanon.

“Forty-four years after the heroic Battle of the Beaufort, and on the memorial day for the Peace for the Galilee War, including the Golani soldiers who fell in the Battle of the Beaufort, IDF soldiers, led by the Golani Brigade, returned to the summit of Beaufort and once again raised the Israeli flag and the Golani flag there,” Katz said.

The medieval fortress, originally constructed during the Crusades, was initially taken by Israeli forces during the early phases of the First Lebanon War in 1982. In that conflict, Golani Brigade troops battled Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) forces at the location. Dozens of PLO fighters were killed, while six Israeli soldiers lost their lives. Israeli forces maintained control of the position until withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000.

May 31 – An official appointed by Russia reported that a Ukrainian drone attack targeted a residential building in territory controlled by Russian forces in the southern Kherson region, resulting in the death of one child and wounding eleven others.

Vladimir Saldo, the Russia-appointed governor overseeing Russian-controlled areas of the Kherson region, posted on Telegram that the attack took place in Henichesk, a city located along the Sea of Azov coastline.

PRAGUE, May 31 – Beijing has sharply denounced a visit to Taiwan by Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil this week, declaring on Sunday that the journey ignored his country’s official government stance and meddled in China’s domestic matters.

Vystrcil, who represents the opposition centre-right ODS party, is heading a business delegation during the Taiwan visit. His itinerary includes meetings with President Lai Ching-te and other government officials and business leaders – a move that has angered China.

“The Chinese side urges the Czech side to strictly abide by the one-China principle, immediately take effective measures to eliminate the adverse consequences of this wrongdoing, and safeguard the overall framework for the development of China-Czech relations through its concrete actions,” the Chinese embassy in Prague said on its website.

Beijing has consistently opposed connections between Prague and Taipei. China maintains that the island lacks authority for diplomatic relationships between nations, a position that Taiwan’s government firmly disputes.

While the Czech Republic officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei like most nations worldwide, Prague has strengthened ties with Taiwan in recent years. The island nation serves as a major player in semiconductor manufacturing and has increased its investments in the Czech Republic. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung traveled to Prague in early May and participated in a city forum.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, whose ANO party heads a coalition with right-wing and far-right parties, has opposed the trip and declined to provide Vystrcil with government aircraft for the journey.

A prominent Indigenous rights advocate from Nicaragua has died while in government custody, sparking international condemnation from human rights organizations.

Brooklyn Rivera, who had been detained by Nicaraguan authorities since September 2023, passed away under circumstances that have drawn sharp criticism from activists worldwide. Government officials released a statement on Sunday claiming Rivera’s death resulted from bacterial complications connected to COVID-19 that caused both physical and neurological decline.

International human rights advocates have strongly criticized both Rivera’s death and a government statement issued Saturday that referred to the detained leader as “Brother” while claiming officials were offering prayers for him.

“They took him alive, and after refusing to tell his family, his lawyer, the world anything about his fate, then they call him brother,” said Reed Brody, an American human rights lawyer and member of a group of U.N. experts on Nicaragua. “Unconscionable cynicism on the part of the government to make it seem like they were trying to help him.”

Rivera served as a leader for the Miskito people, an Indigenous community residing along Nicaragua’s northeastern coastline that has maintained a long struggle to preserve their ancestral territories.

Throughout his decades of activism, Rivera opposed the ruling Sandinista government while working to secure autonomous status for the northeastern coastal region. This territory contains valuable deposits of gold, silver and other natural resources, making it a priority area for the administration of co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo as they seek to draw foreign investment.

Emergency responders report that a devastating explosion at a Myanmar facility housing mining explosives has resulted in the deaths of more than 45 individuals, with dozens more suffering injuries.

The deadly blast occurred around midday Sunday in Kaungtup village, located in Namhkam township, leaving approximately 70 people wounded.

The village sits roughly 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Myanmar’s border with China, in territory controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic military organization that has periodically clashed with Myanmar’s national government.

An emergency responder who arrived at the explosion site informed The Associated Press that 46 fatalities, including six children, had been retrieved by Sunday night and prepared for cremation.

Speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, the responder reported that 74 wounded individuals had been transported to the township medical facility, with rescue efforts still ongoing.

A second rescue worker in Namhkam, also requesting anonymity, confirmed approximately 40 deaths and reported that more than 100 residences surrounding the blast location sustained damage.

News organizations in Myanmar, including Shan State’s online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, documented fatality counts between 50 and 55. They released photographs and video footage displaying smoke from the blast and the resulting structural damage and wreckage.

China’s state-run CCTV network confirmed the explosion resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, with numerous homes suffering significant damage, though specific numbers were not provided.

According to initial findings reported by the broadcaster, the explosion happened at a location where substantial amounts of mining explosives were kept in storage.

The report stated that local officials are currently delivering emergency aid, medical treatment, and relocation support to impacted community members.

In a statement posted to its Telegram channel, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, confirmed that gelignite had been kept by the organization’s economic division for mining and quarrying operations, adding that they are investigating what caused the explosion.

While gelignite serves common purposes in mining and rock demolition, it can develop dangerous instability as it ages or when stored improperly.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, belongs to the insurgent Three Brotherhood Alliance and has maintained control over the Namhkam region since the alliance and its partners initiated a significant military campaign against Myanmar’s armed forces in northeastern areas during late 2023. Alliance participants and other ethnic military organizations have historically fought for greater self-governance.

Following China-facilitated negotiations in October of last year, the TNLA agreed to a ceasefire with Myanmar’s military, though tensions continue.

Myanmar has experienced chaos since military forces overthrew the democratically elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, sparking extensive public resistance. When peaceful protests were violently suppressed, many military opponents armed themselves, and substantial portions of the nation are now experiencing armed conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced during a television interview aired Sunday that he aims to advance peace negotiations with Russia before winter arrives, capitalizing on what he describes as Ukraine’s enhanced strategic standing.

Peace discussions facilitated by the United States have reached an impasse as Washington has shifted attention to the conflict in Iran.

According to Zelenskiy and other Ukrainian leadership, Russian military advancement has decelerated while Ukraine has escalated medium and long-range attacks within Russian territory, primarily focusing on Russia’s petroleum sector.

“It began in December 2025, Russia began to lose the initiative on the battlefield,” Zelenskiy stated during his appearance on CBS Television’s ‘Face the Nation’.

“So now we have this period of time before the winter… before the winter we need to find a way, diplomatic way, to sit and to speak,” Zelenskiy explained, noting that success depends on mounting pressure against Russian President Vladimir Putin, “the pressure in his society, and I think that is increasing, the pressure by sanctions — not to lift them, to put more.”

The Ukrainian leader mentioned potential negotiations facilitated by European nations or direct discussions with Russia, while reiterating his demand for stricter sanctions against Russia.

A high-ranking Ukrainian military official informed Reuters during an interview the previous week that Ukraine possesses a six-month opportunity to capture battlefield momentum and improve its position for future peace negotiations.

Brigadier General Andriy Biletsky, leading Ukraine’s Third Army Corps, expressed his assessment that Russia’s military forces are depleted and unable to achieve significant advances.

During his CBS interview, Zelenskiy also emphasized Ukraine’s need for American assistance with air defense missiles while European anti-missile defense systems remain unavailable.

“Until the moment we will produce our European anti-ballistic system, until this moment, we need support from the United States,” he stated.

Ukraine anticipates securing an agreement with the United States regarding collaborative drone technology, with Kyiv offering knowledge gained from five years of intercepting Russian drones and missiles.

“We have already drone deals with some Middle East countries and we have already drone deals with some European countries,” he said. “Now we’re preparing the big drone deal with the European Union and I hope that we will have such decisions with American partners. I count on it.”

Health officials report that two Palestinians were killed and 12 others injured Sunday when an Israeli airstrike hit a Gaza cafe filled with people celebrating public holidays.

Israeli officials have not yet responded to requests for comment about the incident.

A ceasefire agreement negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump in October has not stopped Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas remain at an impasse in indirect negotiations regarding the implementation of the second phase of the agreement, which would involve the group’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Under the current ceasefire terms, Israel maintains control over more than half of Gaza’s territory, while Hamas governs a narrow strip along the coast. Sunday’s targeted cafe was located at Gaza’s emergency seaport, which consists of a temporary floating dock positioned offshore.

Gaza health officials report that approximately 900 Palestinians have died in Israeli military operations since the truce took effect, though these figures do not separate military combatants from civilians.

During this same timeframe, the country’s military reports that four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants.

A devastating blast in Myanmar has claimed the lives of at least 55 individuals and left dozens injured in a rural village, according to a BBC report released Sunday.

The deadly incident took place in Kaung Tat village, situated in Namkham Township within Shan State, where the explosion resulted in the deaths of 25 women and 30 men.

Reuters has not been able to independently confirm the details of this report at this time.

Israeli forces fatally shot a Palestinian worker at a checkpoint barrier near Jerusalem on Sunday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Officials identified the victim as 26-year-old Imad Haroun Ishtayeh, a resident of Salim town located east of Nablus. The ministry reported that Israeli forces wounded him with gunfire to his thigh in al-Ram town, and medical personnel later declared him dead at the Palestinian Medical Complex in Ramallah.

Video footage shared on social media depicted people carrying his body and descending a ladder positioned against the wire-topped checkpoint while vehicles passed nearby and horns sounded.

Israeli police have not yet provided a statement regarding the fatal shooting.

Ishtayeh was reportedly trying to cross illegally from the West Bank into Israel. Multiple individuals have been shot while attempting to breach the checkpoint, including a 44-year-old father who died in a similar incident earlier this month.

Growing numbers of Palestinians from the West Bank have attempted unauthorized entry into Israel for employment opportunities in recent years. While tens of thousands of Palestinians previously held valid Israeli work permits, access became severely limited following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza conflict.

Following that date, joblessness in the West Bank has climbed dramatically during an economic downturn. Approximately 50 workers have died from Israeli gunfire, with more than 38,000 detained although many were subsequently freed, the Palestinian official WAFA news agency reported Sunday, referencing data from the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions.

PARIS – Street violence following Paris Saint-Germain’s back-to-back Champions League championship has left more than 200 people wounded and resulted in one fatality, French interior ministry officials reported Sunday, sparking renewed discussion about France’s ongoing struggles with public disorder.

PSG secured their second straight European football title Saturday after defeating Arsenal in a tense penalty shootout held in Budapest. While fans gathered at the Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower Sunday afternoon to celebrate the team’s victory parade, the festivities were marred by significant overnight violence similar to last year’s incidents.

The overnight disturbances resulted in injuries to 57 law enforcement officers throughout Paris, with authorities detaining more than 400 individuals, including some arrests made outside the capital city, officials confirmed.

Rioters caused extensive damage to Paris storefronts and set fire to vehicles and bicycle rental stations, according to police reports.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that vandalism also occurred in smaller cities including Orleans.

While law enforcement wasn’t the primary target in most locations, one central Paris police facility experienced brief confrontations Saturday evening, Paris police stated.

A young man lost his life in a motorcycle crash during the chaos, the Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed.

Nunez, who previously served as Paris police chief, coordinated a massive security deployment involving more than 20,000 officers. He stated that authorities handled the violence systematically, saying: “The situation was, overall, under control.”

Far-right National Rally politicians, currently polling ahead of next year’s presidential race, used the incident to push for stricter law enforcement measures.

“Only in France does a victory of a football club trigger riots,” stated Marine Le Pen, the movement’s leader.

However, other political figures pointed to underlying social tensions as the root cause of recurring violence and disorder, arguing that the worst troublemakers don’t represent genuine football supporters.

“France is living under strain. Society is becoming increasingly brutal. We are a pressure cooker ready to explode anytime,” commented Raphael Glucksmann, who is considering a centre-left presidential campaign.

Similar chaotic celebrations after PSG’s inaugural Champions League victory last year resulted in two fatalities.

Israeli military forces have captured a strategically important fortress in southern Lebanon, advancing deeper into the country than they have in more than 25 years, even as diplomatic efforts continue to broker peace between the neighboring nations.

The Israeli army took control of Beaufort castle on Sunday, a historic stronghold positioned more than 700 meters above sea level that provides sweeping views of both Lebanon and northern Israel. The fortress has served military purposes for nearly 1,000 years.

Israeli officials state they are conducting operations against Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported militant organization that maintains significant political influence in southern Lebanon and has fired thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli forces and communities in northern Israel.

Israeli authorities have urged Lebanese residents throughout the southern region to leave their homes or face potential danger from military operations. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Israel on Saturday, claiming the nation is “implementing a policy of total destruction of cities and towns.”

More than 3,300 individuals, including numerous children, have lost their lives in Lebanon since hostilities resumed on March 2, just two days following the start of the Iran conflict. Approximately 1 million people have been forced from their homes. Israeli casualties include at least 25 soldiers and one defense contractor killed in Lebanon or northern Israel, plus two civilians in northern Israel.

The captured fortress, alternatively known as Al-Shaqif, originated as a Crusader stronghold during the 12th century. Throughout history, it has been occupied by Saladin’s forces, Mamluks, Ottomans, French mandate authorities, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and Israeli forces until 2000, when it underwent partial restoration and welcomed tourists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu observed on Sunday that Beaufort represents “a symbol of a heroic battle for our fighters, but was also a symbol of deep division between us.”

The military’s return to the site creates a sense of repetition, according to Orna Mizrahi, who previously served as deputy director in the government’s National Security Council. “There’s a feeling of, ‘For what?’” she stated.

Mizrahi, currently a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, explained that “Beaufort” evokes both triumph for the Israeli forces who captured it in 1982 and the costly efforts to defend it before its transfer in 2000.

She anticipates Israel will ultimately surrender control of the fortress, despite Defense Minister Israel Katz’s pledge to incorporate it into Israel’s permanent security zone in southern Lebanon.

Maintaining a military presence there will not resolve the Hezbollah situation, Mizrahi noted: “Yes, we are damaging them in the operations, but in parallel we need to pursue a political and diplomatic solution.”

Israel has consistently viewed Hezbollah as a security threat. The Shiite Muslim armed organization formed in 1982 following an Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has attacked northern Israeli communities and entered the Gaza conflict in 2023 to support Palestinians.

Israeli operations significantly weakened Hezbollah during months of warfare. Combat ceased with a U.S.-mediated ceasefire in late 2024 following indirect negotiations, and Israeli troops pulled back except from five strategic elevated positions near the border.

Lebanon’s new administration assumed power promising to disarm organizations like Hezbollah, but the militants refused. Israel subsequently alleged that Hezbollah was rearming and rebuilding its capabilities.

Hezbollah resumed attacks on Israel on March 2, leading Israel to launch an invasion of southern Lebanon. Recently, Israel has reported efforts to prevent Hezbollah from harming its personnel and civilians using an advanced fiber-optic drone technology that has seen extensive use in the Ukraine conflict.

A U.S.-mediated ceasefire took effect in mid-April. However, unlike the agreement in the Iran conflict, this truce has failed to maintain stability.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have evacuated southern Lebanon as Israeli forces conducted aerial bombardments and ground troops advanced into the territory. Many displaced people have sought refuge in Beirut, the capital, where hundreds have died, including during an intensive bombardment lasting several minutes in April.

Israeli forces currently occupy substantial portions of southern Lebanon and have destroyed residential buildings and historical landmarks. Lebanon’s prime minister, Salam, stated Saturday that Israel is attempting to “uproot Lebanon’s memory and erase the people’s history.”

Groundbreaking discussions between high-ranking Israeli and Lebanese officials commenced in April in Washington, representing the first such meetings in over three decades between the nations that lack formal diplomatic ties.

The first direct military discussions in decades took place on Friday.

Outstanding matters include Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, positioning of Lebanese forces in the region, and Hezbollah’s disarmament, which the group has rejected while Israeli forces remain in the country.

Negotiations will resume this week. Hezbollah is not participating and has declared it will not recognize any outcomes. The organization favors discussions that utilize Iran’s influence and considers the Lebanese government ineffective, a view echoed by some others in the country.

Lebanese citizens remain divided regarding the talks, which sparked protests when announced. Many Lebanese express anger toward Hezbollah for the devastation it has brought to their country, while also maintaining suspicion of Israel.

Lebanon’s prime minister described the direct negotiations on Saturday as “currently the least costly option,” emphasizing they do not constitute surrender and acknowledging no guarantee of success.

An indigenous rights advocate from Nicaragua has passed away after spending three years behind bars, according to reports from a Central American news organization.

Brooklyn Rivera, who served as a leader for indigenous communities, died while in custody, as reported by 100% Noticias, a media outlet that covers developments in Nicaragua.

Rivera had been imprisoned for three years prior to his death. The circumstances surrounding both his incarceration and passing were reported from Buenos Aires on May 31.

Taiwan’s presidential office issued strong criticism of China on Sunday following reports that a New York Times journalist was forced out of the country after her publication interviewed Taiwan’s leader.

Beijing considers the democratically-run island nation to be part of its territory and labels President Lai Ching-te a “separatist.” Lai disputes Beijing’s claims of control and maintains that only Taiwan’s citizens should determine the island’s destiny.

The newspaper reported Friday that journalist Vivian Wang was forced to leave China in February.

According to the publication, Chinese authorities explained the action as retaliation for the newspaper’s December video interview with Lai during its DealBook summit, though Wang was not involved in that interview.

Presidential office spokesperson Karen Kuo stated that conducting interviews and sharing the administration’s positions globally is routine for Lai.

“China’s use of groundless pretexts and crude methods to threaten the media and interfere with press freedom not only fails to improve its international image, but also highlights that today’s China is indeed a source of instability,” she said in a statement.

Both China’s foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department did not immediately provide responses when contacted for comment.

Wang had been stationed in China, where her reporting covered topics such as censorship and Beijing’s handling of COVID. She also did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Kuo declared that Taiwan “will not be silenced by oppression” and will continue sharing its positions with the global community in a “steady and responsible manner”.

Taiwan has accused China of escalating what the island calls “transnational repression,” including imposing penalties on Taiwanese officials and legislators despite Chinese law having no authority over the island.

International correspondents in China typically receive only one-year visas that require annual renewal and can be canceled without notice.

China forced out more than a dozen international journalists working for U.S. news organizations in 2020, during a period of retaliatory measures between the two nations. Washington also reduced the number of journalists allowed to work in the United States for four major Chinese state-controlled media companies.

Scotland’s former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon firmly denied any responsibility Sunday for her estranged husband’s theft of political party funds, stating she would not offer apologies for his criminal actions.

During a BBC interview, Sturgeon expressed feeling betrayed by Peter Murrell’s conduct after he admitted guilt last week to embezzling more than 400,000 pounds ($540,000) from Scottish National Party coffers while serving as the organization’s chief executive. The stolen money reportedly supported an extravagant lifestyle. Sturgeon maintained she had no awareness of his illegal activities.

“I am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed,” she told the BBC. “I’m not going to apologize for somebody else’s crimes.”

The former leader’s remarks addressed mounting skepticism regarding her earlier claims of ignorance about Murrell’s criminal behavior. This situation has amplified worries about political accountability across the United Kingdom following multiple scandals that have damaged public confidence in governmental institutions.

Critics have questioned the decision to keep Murrell in his executive role after Sturgeon assumed party leadership in 2014. She admitted this choice was an error.

“Of course, with hindsight, I wish that I could go back and take a different decision,” she said.

Murrell’s guilty plea concluded a five-year law enforcement investigation into the SNP, the party that has controlled Scotland’s semiautonomous government for nearly twenty years while advocating for independence from the United Kingdom.

Internal party chaos erupted in 2023 amid growing questions about financial management and declining membership rolls.

Sturgeon headed the Scottish government for nearly ten years before suddenly stepping down as first minister in February 2023. Her explanation at the time puzzled political observers when she stated she knew in her “head and in my heart” that departure was appropriate.

The next month, Murrell resigned from his two-decade tenure as SNP chief executive, accepting responsibility for providing false information to media outlets about membership losses. Police took him into custody at the couple’s Glasgow residence in April.

Authorities arrested Sturgeon in June 2023 but later cleared her of wrongdoing.

Five workers died and one was injured when a mine shaft collapsed during unauthorized mining activities in China’s Yunnan province early Sunday morning, according to state media reports.

The deadly incident took place at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning in Huize County, as reported by state news agency Xinhua, which cited local government officials. The type of mineral being extracted at the site was not disclosed in the report.

Emergency responders pulled six individuals from the collapsed site and transported them to a medical facility, but only one person survived the incident, Xinhua stated. The surviving worker remains in stable condition at the hospital.

Local officials have initiated an investigation to determine what caused the collapse. This latest tragedy follows the devastating May 22 gas explosion at a coal mining facility in northern Shanxi province that resulted in 82 fatalities, left two people unaccounted for, and injured 128 workers.

Government officials have promised a comprehensive investigation into the Shanxi incident after initial findings revealed unauthorized tunnel construction, absent tracking equipment, and fraudulent entrance barriers at the mining location.

War crimes investigators working to document alleged Russian atrocities in Ukraine are struggling to continue their work after losing millions in American funding, hampering efforts to seek justice for victims of the conflict.

Roksolana Makar, who investigates war crimes for a Ukrainian nonprofit, recently traveled dangerous roads under threat of drone strikes to interview a 55-year-old woman named Alla in the town of Izium. The woman described being held for 10 days at a battery plant during the 2022 Russian occupation, where she said soldiers beat her, used electrical shocks, suffocated her with a gas mask and sexually assaulted her.

“I asked them to kill me because I couldn’t take it anymore,” Alla told Makar, requesting to be identified only by her first name.

Makar’s organization, Truth Hounds, is among dozens that have lost American financial support after the current administration cut tens of millions of dollars in overseas development aid to advance an “America first” agenda. Ukraine received the largest share of these cuts, according to government officials.

“There’s less hope” for accountability, Makar said following her interview with Alla in January.

The cuts represent a significant shift from America’s historical role in supporting international justice efforts dating back to the Nuremberg trials. Reuters could not independently verify Alla’s account, and Russian officials have repeatedly denied war crime allegations, calling them Western propaganda.

Ukrainian prosecutors have opened more than 230,000 war crimes cases since Russia’s 2022 invasion, including allegations of targeting civilians, abducting children, torture and sexual violence.

Beth Van Schaack, who served as ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice under the previous administration, warned the funding reductions “could lead to a lot of victims being denied justice.”

The State Department said America is shifting financial responsibility to Europe and other “willing partners” while still providing substantial assistance to Ukraine, including programs for “war crimes, justice and accountability for atrocities.”

Reuters interviewed more than 40 people involved in the American-supported network investigating Ukraine war crimes. Nearly all reported their efforts have been curtailed due to funding cuts.

Truth Hounds was forced to lay off staff, suspend an evidence archiving project and postpone international law training for judges and prosecutors. Dozens of foreign experts who helped collect and analyze battlefield evidence can no longer travel to Ukraine after reduced State Department support, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Plans to rebuild a war-damaged courthouse were halted after the administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and terminated a $62-million program to strengthen Ukraine’s justice system.

Even at peak funding levels under the previous administration, Ukrainian prosecutors were overwhelmed by the caseload. They had secured 252 war crimes convictions as of April 1, while identifying 1,175 suspects and indicting 842.

High-ranking suspects could face trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which has sought the arrest of President Vladimir Putin. Cases are also being pursued in American and European courts.

Reuters tracked more than $283 million in American funding earmarked for Ukraine war crimes initiatives since 2022. The news organization found that programs accounting for at least 40% of this spending were terminated or allowed to expire.

A senior Ukrainian source said the cuts affect approximately half the country’s American-funded projects promoting war crimes accountability and rule of law.

The administration has launched one new program, announcing up to $25 million in March to support the return of missing Ukrainian children, a cause championed by first lady Melania Trump. Recipients have not yet been announced.

This new grant followed cuts to other programs serving the same purpose, including a Yale University initiative that has tracked thousands of missing Ukrainian children to sites in Russia and Russian-occupied territory.

The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab will exhaust its funding in August after the State Department withheld about $8 million, executive director Nathaniel Raymond told Reuters.

Truth Hounds has been tracking war crimes suspects since 2014, when Russian forces seized Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. The organization has documented approximately 17,000 war crimes allegations across Ukraine, according to co-executive director Dmytro Koval.

“Some important lines of inquiry will not be opened at all,” Koval said after losing American funding that covered one-third of the organization’s budget since 2023.

The cuts reflect a broader American withdrawal from human rights work. The current administration closed a State Department office that had coordinated global responses to mass atrocities since 1997, disbanded a Justice Department team helping Ukraine prosecute war crimes, and withdrew from a multinational group building cases against Russian leaders.

The administration also imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court officials over attempts to investigate alleged crimes by Israeli leaders in Gaza and American soldiers in Afghanistan.

Other major donors, including the European Union and Britain, say they remain committed to delivering justice for Ukraine. But the lost American aid won’t be easily replaced, said Wayne Jordash, deputy lead of an Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group established by the U.S., EU and Britain to support Ukraine’s prosecutor’s office.

The State Department stopped funding two out of three core organizations in the initiative last year, including Jordash’s international law foundation, Global Rights Compliance, according to a recent department audit.

For Yuliia Usenko, Ukraine’s lead prosecutor for crimes against children, Yale’s digital investigations have been “invaluable.” Most alleged crime scenes are in Russian-occupied territory or Russia, where Ukrainian investigators cannot access.

Yale researchers use satellite imagery, Russian social media posts and other open sources to track children taken to more than 200 sites they say are part of a vast Russian reeducation and militarization network. Some were later placed in Russian foster care or adopted.

“We want to show Russia’s true intent is not just to seize a piece of Ukraine’s territory, but much more: to destroy our nation and assimilate it into Russian society,” Usenko said.

Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of more than 20,500 child deportations or forced transfers and say just over 2,000 children have been returned. Yale researchers estimate 35,000 may have been taken.

Russia denies abducting Ukrainian children, saying it evacuated them from conflict zones for their safety. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Reuters that in June 2025, Kyiv provided Moscow with a list of 339 children it said ended up in Russia.

Aid groups like the Emile Foundation use Yale’s findings to help reunite children with their families. “Without it, we are talking about many years of setbacks,” said Mariam Lambert, co-founder of the Netherlands-based foundation.

Hanna Zamyshliaieva last saw her son, Anton Volkovych, on January 14, 2022, when she visited him at a boarding school for children with special needs in Oleshky. The 19-year-old required constant care due to a neurological disorder.

When Russian forces occupied the town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region that February, Zamyshliaieva kept in touch with the school by phone. But over the following months, students and some staff were transferred to locations deeper inside Russian-occupied territory, where she could not reach them.

Of the 87 pupils at Oleshky before the occupation, 13 have returned, Lambert said. Her foundation received a tip about Volkovych’s whereabouts in March, but there has been no confirmation from Russia.

“I just want to hold him,” Zamyshliaieva said, grappling with uncertainty over whether her son has survived without the intensive care he received at school.

Tetiana Popovych spent years searching for her son, Vladyslav, who was 29 when he disappeared during Russia’s occupation of Bucha, near Kyiv, early in the war. She retraced his steps with help from neighbors and returning prisoners of war.

Witnesses told her they saw Vladyslav hiding in her walnut orchard during an artillery barrage, and that someone bandaged his gunshot wounds before Russian forces captured and beat them. A released prisoner told her they shared a detention cell in the Russian town of Vyazma, where she believes he remains.

“For me it is important that everyone is punished, that everyone is found, no matter how many years have passed,” Popovych said. “I will fight for this until the end.”

Israeli military forces have seized control of a historic mountaintop fortress in southern Lebanon, representing their most significant penetration into the nation in more than 26 years, according to military officials who announced the development Sunday.

The takeover of Beaufort castle, located close to Nabatiyeh city, followed several days of aerial bombardments and fierce combat in surrounding communities where Israeli forces engaged Hezbollah fighters across the challenging terrain.

This fortress seizure represents a significant milestone in the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which started March 2 when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel just two days following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, Hezbollah’s primary supporter.

Since then, Israel has initiated ground operations, taking control of numerous Lebanese communities and settlements near the border. Hezbollah has responded by firing thousands of rockets and unmanned aircraft at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

The Israeli advance occurred even with a temporary ceasefire established since April 17 and just before upcoming direct negotiations scheduled for June 2 and 3 at the State Department between Lebanon and Israel.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson, shared an image on X displaying Israeli soldiers walking near the fortress, while Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on X that forces had planted an Israeli flag above the castle. Israeli forces previously took the castle in 1982 and maintained control until their Lebanon withdrawal in 2000.

The Beaufort stronghold, positioned high above Lebanon’s verdant hills and commanding views of the Litani River, has served as a crucial military position for numerous forces across nearly 1,000 years.

Constructed as a Crusader fortress around the 12th century atop earlier defensive structures, it has housed the Crusaders, Saladin’s Jerusalem army, Mamlukes, Ottomans, the French mandate, the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Israeli military until 2000, when it underwent partial restoration and welcomed tourists. The Crusaders called it Beaufort, meaning “beautiful fortress” in Old French.

The 1982 seizure of the castle from the Palestine Liberation Organization represented a significant triumph for the Israeli military under Defense Minister Ariel Sharon’s leadership, who subsequently became the nation’s prime minister. During that period, the Israeli army advanced northward and took control of Beirut.

Throughout the earlier Israel-Hezbollah conflict in 2024, UNESCO provided enhanced protection to 34 cultural locations in Lebanon, including Beaufort Castle, to protect it from harm.

The fortress sits several kilometers north of the Israel border and provides commanding views of extensive areas of southern Lebanon and northern Israel. In Arabic, it’s known as Al-Shaqif castle, derived from an ancient Syriac term describing the imposing rocky terrain.

Israeli military officials stated they began an operation several days earlier in the Beaufort Ridge and Suluki valley areas to the south, aiming to eliminate Hezbollah infrastructure and remove immediate threats to Israeli citizens.

The military announcement indicated forces are prepared “to expand the operation if needed.”

Beaufort holds symbolic significance throughout the region, particularly in Israel, where it became one of the most recognized locations under Israeli control during the 18-year occupation. A prominent Israeli war film titled “Beaufort” examines moral dilemmas and the pointlessness of conflict during the final period before military withdrawal.

Recently, Israel has broadened its Lebanese operations, deploying forces beyond the Litani River, which previously functioned as an unofficial border, while ordering residents to evacuate large portions of southern Lebanon.

Israel has declared the region from the Litani to the Zahrani River a military combat zone. While some inhabitants have departed due to recent intensive strikes, many people continue living in area towns.

Israeli forces have been moving forward for days through villages surrounding Beaufort castle. They now stand approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Nabatiyeh city, a significant southern Lebanon hub, and have ordered all residents to evacuate, along with inhabitants of the coastal city of Tyre, the nation’s fourth-largest city, and nearby areas.

Neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese government provided immediate responses regarding the Israeli advancement.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two overnight attacks against Israeli forces and a Merkava tank in Bayada, a southwestern border town. Recently, the organization has reported fighting Israeli troops in multiple towns north of the river near Nabatiyeh and the strategic fortress.

Lebanon’s state-operated National News Agency documented airstrikes across various southern Lebanese villages, reporting casualties without providing detailed numbers. On Saturday, Hezbollah launched multiple rocket volleys into northern Israel, targeting Kiryat Shmona, the region’s largest city.

Hezbollah’s deployment of difficult-to-detect fiber optic drones has proven lethal against Israeli military forces, who face challenges responding effectively. Israeli military data shows nearly 200 civilian alerts across northern Israel warning of drones and missiles within the last 24 hours.

The current fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has resulted in 3,350 Lebanese deaths and displaced over 1 million people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reports at least 25 Israeli soldiers and one defense contractor have died in or near southern Lebanon, including one fatality on Saturday. Two civilians have also been killed in northern Israel.

Ukrainian forces carried out overnight attacks against Russian energy infrastructure into Sunday, according to Russian officials and media outlets, while Ukraine rejected Moscow’s accusations that Ukrainian forces targeted a nuclear facility under Russian control.

Fallen drone wreckage ignited a blaze at a fuel storage site in Russia’s southwestern Rostov region, according to Gov. Yuriy Slyusar’s Sunday announcement on Telegram. Local residents living near the facility were moved to safety, he reported.

The aerial attacks also caused harm to civilian infrastructure in Saratov province, located in southwestern Russia, Gov. Roman Busargin stated. An independent Russian media outlet, Astra, reported that an oil refinery was burning in Saratov, the region’s main city.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russia’s petroleum and natural gas infrastructure, contending that the energy industry provides both financial support and literal fuel for Moscow’s invasion that has lasted more than four years.

At the same time, Kyiv rejected Russia’s accusations that Ukrainian forces attacked the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility, which stands as the largest nuclear installation in both Ukraine and Europe.

Russian military units seized control of the facility during the conflict’s initial weeks, and it continues to sit near active combat zones in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, one of four territories Russia has officially claimed while lacking complete military dominance or global acceptance of its seizure.

Rosatom, Russia’s government nuclear energy corporation, announced Saturday that the drone detonated after creating an opening in a turbine hall wall. Rosatom’s chief executive Alexei Likhachev blamed Ukraine for an intentional assault.

“This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone struck the turbine hall building of Power Unit No. 6, resulting in a detonation,” Likhachev stated. He noted that primary equipment sustained no harm.

Ukraine’s armed forces dismissed Russia’s “yet another propaganda ploy,” declaring they neither attacked nor aimed at the facility. Military officials stated in their response that they follow international humanitarian law and understand the “consequences of any actions targeting nuclear facilities.”

“Along the relevant section of the front line, there was no active fighting at the time of the incident, and no weapons were used,” the statement read.

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, expressed “serious concern” about the incident in a social media post on X.

Ukraine’s national nuclear oversight body said the alleged damage reported by Russia requires confirmation by IAEA specialists stationed at the Zaporizhzhia facility as part of an ongoing monitoring operation.

The Zaporizhzhia installation has faced repeated bombardment since Russia’s comprehensive invasion began in February 2022, creating anxiety about potential nuclear disasters. Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of deliberately targeting the plant.

In other developments, Ukraine’s air defense reported Sunday that it intercepted 212 out of 299 drones Russia deployed overnight. Officials said 14 drones successfully hit their intended targets, while drone fragments landed in five separate areas.

Russian drones hit the city of Dnipro and an oil processing facility in Ukraine’s Rivne region, sparking fires, local authorities reported.

Oleksandr Koval, who leads Rivne’s regional government, confirmed no casualties occurred at the refinery and that emergency responders were on scene.

Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive electoral victory for his Labour Party on Sunday, marking a historic achievement in the Mediterranean nation’s political landscape.

Speaking to the media following the results, Abela declared: “This is a victory of all the people based on the programme we presented for all the people.” He emphasized that the outcome demonstrated his party had “won a strong mandate” from voters.

“Let us maintain the spirit of national unity and move the country forward together,” he added.

Media outlets tracking the ballot counting reported that Labour secured a solid parliamentary majority, though the victory margin seemed reduced compared to their 2022 performance when they captured 55% of all votes.

The opposition Nationalist Party’s general secretary, Charles Bonello, acknowledged defeat in statements to TVM, the state broadcaster, while noting his party successfully reduced Labour’s majority.

Saturday’s election drew 87.4% voter participation, representing a slight increase from the 2022 general election turnout.

Labour’s campaign emphasized economic strength, governmental experience, and administrative credibility. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party contended that citizens’ living standards had declined despite economic growth in the European Union’s smallest member state.

Abela, who took over Labour Party leadership from Joseph Muscat in 2020, is scheduled for swearing-in ceremonies Monday morning.

The United States delivered sharp criticism toward European NATO members during a weekend security conference in Singapore, though Western European representatives maintained that the alliance remains strong.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commended Asian allies for increasing their defense budgets and working closely with Washington amid rising tensions with China.

“When our interests align, we act together with focused resolve,” he said. “When our interests diverge, we adjust pragmatically without the drama or the moralising. I think Western Europe might take note.”

“Europe and NATO have some big decisions to make,” he said.

The Trump administration has consistently criticized European nations for insufficient military spending and excessive dependence on American security guarantees, while pushing both European and Asian partners to increase defense expenditures to 3.5% of GDP.

In May, Washington revealed intentions to withdraw 5,000 military personnel from Germany, and Trump has made threats about leaving NATO entirely.

A high-ranking NATO representative minimized the significance of the American troop reduction, explaining it had been previously scheduled and would not impact alliance unity.

“In a mature alliance, if one ally which in this case is the principal stakeholder needs to redirect some power somewhere else, he can do so, and the others must be able to step in,” said Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee.

Nils Hilmer, state secretary at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence, indicated Berlin would continue increasing military spending independent of future U.S. force deployments.

“What we know for sure… is that there’s going to be shifts in that field,” he said. “That’s why we are about to take the security in our own hands.”

European officials also utilized the conference to assure Asian counterparts that NATO maintained effectiveness beyond its traditional region.

“Our credibility in Asia also depends on our robustness in Europe, defending Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression,” said French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin in a speech to delegates.

Additional European defense leaders contended that global security regions are becoming more connected.

“The European Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific theatres are becoming inseparable,” said Tore Sandvik, Norway’s minister of defence, noting that North Korean troops were fighting in Ukraine.

“The U.S. will be occupied in more theatres,” he said.

Despite Pentagon criticism, multiple U.S. Senators and House Representatives emphasized their efforts to reassure both European and Asian partners of continued bipartisan Congressional support.

“I’ve heard the same anxiety from everyone, not just in the region,” said U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. “I’ve actually got NATO allies worried about America’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.”

However, doubt persists among conference participants regarding Europe’s progress in improving collective security investments.

“Europe has to learn how to become a player,” said Pavlo Klimkin, non-resident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment and a former Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs. “There is no way around it. But it could be extremely beneficial for their partnership with the United States, because the States would respect such European drive.”

Israeli military forces have taken control of the historic Beaufort Castle and surrounding strategic territory in southern Lebanon, marking a significant advancement in operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization, military officials announced Sunday.

The military action took place more than six weeks following the declaration of a ceasefire in April, and came after Saturday witnessed some of the most intense Hezbollah attacks directed at northern Israel since the truce began, leading to school shutdowns and movement limitations.

Military officials stated the mission centered on gaining control over the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki region, while working to weaken Hezbollah forces and the infrastructure they built on the ridge under Iranian guidance.

The military confirmed that one Israeli soldier lost his life during the operation.

Neither Lebanese officials nor Hezbollah representatives provided immediate responses to the developments.

The seizure of the centuries-old fortress and ridge expands Israel’s presence in Lebanese territory as military confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah continue despite an ongoing ceasefire in the broader conflict with Iran.

Hezbollah joined the U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran by launching rocket and drone attacks against Israel on March 2, shortly after the Iran conflict commenced. Israel subsequently began efforts to push the Iran-supported organization away from its northern border.

The takeover of Beaufort Castle provides Israeli forces with a commanding view across much of southern Lebanon and northern Israel, an area from which attacks have been directed toward Israeli communities.

According to military statements, Hezbollah “carried out numerous attacks” from the Ridge location, and Israeli forces are now working against launching facilities in the region, which served as the origin point for “hundreds of projectiles” fired “toward Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.”

The military also reported that Israeli forces are conducting operations near Nabatieh, described as a significant Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon.

ROME, May 31 – An unauthorized fireworks display by a traffic officer during a nighttime practice session for Italy’s Republic Day parade caused dozens of ceremonial horses to panic and stampede through Rome’s streets, according to police reports.

The sudden explosions occurred just before 11:30 p.m. on Friday, frightening the horses during their rehearsal. Some animals carried mounted riders while others were being guided on foot when the chaos erupted.

Approximately 35 horses escaped onto the heavily traveled Via Cristoforo Colombo, where motorists captured video footage of the animals racing down the roadway. Recovery efforts continued through the night, with the final horse located at sunrise roughly 14 kilometers (9 miles) away from where the incident began.

Multiple riders were thrown from their mounts during the stampede. A 22-year-old soldier sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung but remains in stable condition. About 15 horses suffered injuries, though none required euthanization.

Mario De Sclavis, commander of Rome’s police force, expressed his concerns to Sunday’s Corriere della Sera newspaper, stating that the incident “discredits the image of the Corps and its officers.”

The unauthorized pyrotechnics were ignited close to the historic Baths of Caracalla, where mounted cavalry from the army, Carabinieri paramilitary force and police were practicing for the annual June 2 parade.

Authorities confirmed that a municipal policeman from the traffic emergency unit had detonated a battery of fireworks approximately 200 meters (yards) away from the horses.

Nations throughout the Indo-Pacific are rapidly strengthening their military capabilities and forging new defense partnerships as they navigate between China’s expanding military presence and uncertainties about America’s long-term regional commitment.

During Asia’s leading defense conference held Saturday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged regional allies to take on greater security responsibilities. However, he encountered ongoing worries that American attention might be shifting away from the region due to conflicts in Iran demanding focus.

“We can do two things at one time,” Hegseth stated at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an open forum bringing together defense leaders, military commanders, and intelligence officials from around the globe.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed his belief that America’s dedication remained “unwavering,” though he recognized that certain nations might still question its determination.

During conversations with Reuters conducted alongside the yearly conference, defense ministers and military leaders from the region emphasized their drive to strengthen cooperation beyond America’s traditional security framework.

“All the defence secretaries here present are unanimous in the need to make agile and speedy upscaling of their own individual defence capabilities,” Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro shared with Reuters.

Teodoro characterized this effort as “buttressing” America’s conventional role, with Manila expanding defense relationships with nations including Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

“The commitment of the United States becomes more solid when more actors, at least in the deterrence phase, come in, because there is a common threat,” he explained.

Japan is establishing itself as a central point for this expanding network of partnerships.

Koizumi indicated that Tokyo seeks to serve as a “connecting point” for enhanced regional collaboration beyond China’s influence.

This past April, Japan announced its most significant revision of defense export policies in decades, eliminating barriers to international arms sales and creating opportunities for exporting naval vessels, missiles and additional military equipment.

“Japan will be even more proactive in defence equipment cooperation,” Koizumi announced at the conference. “Our aim is to ensure that each country has the capabilities it needs and to make them available when needed.”

Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan reported that her military forces were increasing their regional involvement, working with Japan and the Philippines on cybersecurity initiatives and naval training while providing English language instruction to Indonesian military personnel.

“There is a lot of work to do in the Indo-Pacific region. And I think this is why we are seeing probably an increase of partnership across the board,” Carignan informed Reuters.

New Zealand is also evaluating stronger relationships and new military equipment. Defence Minister Chris Penk verified that Wellington is seriously examining Japanese and British ships to substitute for its aging ANZAC-class frigates.

Penk met with counterparts from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and Britain during the conference to discuss expanding cooperation under their 54-year-old Five-Powered Defence Arrangement.

Penk, who assumed his position in April, noted opportunities for advancing the agreement “at a more intense level.”

“And so if we can find new ways to interact with others as well as maintaining those existing connections, then we’ll look to do that at the same time,” Penk stated during an interview.

While regional countries were strengthening mutual relationships, Asian leaders maintained that American dedication to the Indo-Pacific remains strong despite Middle Eastern conflicts or President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach.

“Our confidence is not swayed by reason of the involvement of the United States in Iran, for example, and in other areas,” the Philippines’ Teodoro remarked.

For Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles characterized relations with Washington as “absolutely fundamental to our national security.”

“For both of us, the Trump administration and the Albanese government in Australia, we see ourselves as stewards of a relationship which goes well beyond us,” Marles told Reuters.

MOSCOW, May 31 – Ukrainian forces launched a series of overnight drone attacks targeting energy and industrial facilities across multiple Russian regions, according to Russian officials who reported the strikes on Sunday as part of Ukraine’s growing campaign against infrastructure targets.

The governor of Saratov, a Volga River region home to multiple oil refineries that has faced repeated Ukrainian strikes in recent years, Roman Busargin announced on Telegram that “civil infrastructure” sustained damage from the attacks.

Alexander Sokolov, governor of the Kirov region located northeast of Moscow and approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from territory held by Ukraine, confirmed that drones struck a facility within the Urzhumsky district.

Regional leaders from Rostov, Voronezh and Belgorod – all territories sharing borders with Ukraine – also confirmed attacks occurred in their areas, with authorities reporting three civilian injuries in Belgorod.

Meanwhile, on the Russian-controlled Crimean peninsula, Moscow-backed governor Sergei Aksyonov announced new limitations on gasoline sales would be implemented.

While Aksyonov did not provide reasoning for the fuel restrictions, Ukraine has maintained a months-long campaign targeting fuel infrastructure throughout southwestern Russia near the Crimean peninsula.

BANGKOK (AP) — Continuing rainfall may postpone rescue efforts for two individuals still missing in a water-filled cave system in Laos, following the successful evacuation of five others who spent more than seven days trapped below ground.

Finnish rescue diver Mikko Paasi, among the initial international responders at the location, informed The Associated Press that ongoing precipitation has caused water levels to rise to the cave’s second chamber, blocking diver access until pumping equipment can reduce the flooding.

According to reports, the seven local residents went into the cave system last week searching for precious minerals when a sudden flood trapped them inside. An eighth villager managed to get out and notified emergency services.

International rescue operations involving teams from Laos and Thailand have been ongoing for the past week at the remote location in Xaisomboun province, situated approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the nation’s capital. Diving specialists from Finland, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, France and Australia have joined the effort.

Multiple members of the rescue team participated in the challenging 2018 cave emergency in northern Thailand that successfully freed 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach from a flooded underground system.

Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie, participating in the current operation, told the AP on Sunday that the evacuated individuals are receiving medical care at a nearby hospital and recovering well.

“We interviewed them about how the deeper part of the cave looks like. We will continue to search based on the information we have, and perhaps we will be able to get to the other two,” he said.

Rescue personnel report they have explored over 200 meters into the underground system and located five chambers within the cave network. The five individuals brought to safety were discovered in the fifth chamber.

Paasi explained to the AP that the survivors described a small opening in the fifth chamber that might lead to deeper sections of the cave system.

“This was the only place that we haven’t checked in the mine, where the two lost miners could still be,” he said during a video interview.

“Now there’s a theory that, through that small crack, it still continues, and there’s a sixth chamber, which gives us hope now that, if we could penetrate that small restriction, we might be able to reach the sixth chamber and then see what is there.”

The five rescued individuals were initially located on Wednesday and identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing and Laen.

The first person was brought to safety on Friday with assistance from an expert diver through a narrow flooded tunnel. The other four exited the cave on Saturday when water levels dropped sufficiently for them to walk out independently, according to rescue officials.

Online footage from Saturday posted by rescue personnel captured emotional scenes as each person emerged from the cave. Some fell to the ground at the cave opening and were embraced by workers who wept with relief. Additional scenes showed them on stretchers, covered with emergency blankets and receiving oxygen before being transported from the site.

Chinese naval forces and coast guard vessels conducted surveillance operations near a disputed South China Sea location on Sunday, following statements from Philippine officials warning that Manila continues to face threats from Beijing despite recent improvements in U.S.-China relations.

The operations took place around Scarborough Shoal, which ranks among Asia’s most disputed maritime territories and has repeatedly sparked tensions between China and the Philippines regarding territorial claims and fishing access.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command announced through a WeChat statement that its maritime and aviation forces executed combat readiness surveillance in what it called the “territorial sea and airspace” of the formation and nearby waters.

“Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights violation and provocative acts,” the command said.

Chinese coast guard officials issued a separate announcement describing law enforcement surveillance activities near Scarborough Shoal, noting they had addressed vessels conducting “illegal rights-violation activities in accordance with laws and regulations” during the current month, though they provided no additional details.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The surveillance activities occurred while defense officials, military leaders and policy experts from across the Asia-Pacific region convened in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading defense conference.

During an interview with Reuters at the conference, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that the Philippines continues facing a “severe threat” from China regarding both territorial and political matters, despite recent improvements in U.S.-China relations following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping earlier this month.

“We have no choice but really to be resilient and to stand up against Chinese aggression,” he said.

The Philippines and China have experienced numerous maritime confrontations in the South China Sea over recent years, sometimes leading to vessel collisions and crew injuries.

China asserts territorial control over nearly the complete South China Sea through a “nine-dash line” marked on its official maps that extends into the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Conflicts over numerous islands and formations have persisted for decades. Taiwan maintains territorial claims in the South China Sea that largely mirror China’s positions.

During 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague determined that China’s territorial assertions lacked support under international law, though Beijing dismisses this ruling.

Defense officials from South Korea and Japan explored the possibility of establishing a military logistics sharing agreement during talks in Singapore, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency on Sunday.

Following discussions with his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi at the Shangri-La Dialogue regional defense summit in Singapore, South Korea’s Ahn Gyu-back addressed reporters about the potential arrangement.

“It requires the understanding and persuasion of the citizens of both nations, and I believe we should still proceed with caution,” Ahn stated when asked about the discussions.

The defense minister was speaking about a possible acquisition and cross-servicing agreement that would enable the two neighboring U.S. allies to exchange and jointly obtain military supplies including fuel, food and ammunition.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hugo Rosas intentionally incorporates Mexico’s most recognizable cultural elements into his soccer jersey creations for the World Cup. His designs merge football culture with Mexican heritage to display his nation’s traditions on an international stage.

Rosas calls his newest line “Calados del Alma” or “Cutouts of the Soul.” The collection takes cues from traditional Mexican spiritual practices and papel picado, the intricate paper decorations featured at community festivals and special occasions.

“We try to create concepts that resonate with us and convey traditions that make Mexicans feel proud,” said Rosas, who has run a workshop with his brother Andrés near Mexico City since 2022. “The country’s best is reflected in papel picado, colors and town celebrations.”

The brothers’ initial jersey design featured Quetzalcoatl, the winged serpent god honored by multiple pre-Hispanic cultures. That piece continues to be Andrés’ top choice among their creations.

“Quetzalcoatl represents a balance that sees the world as a system, not as something extractive that human beings can simply benefit from,” said Andrés, who oversees the brand’s marketing. “I connect with that pre-Hispanic worldview, which is why most of our products are deeply rooted in that vision.”

Hugo’s World Cup series expands upon a previous collection he named “Ofrenda Viva,” or “Live Offering.”

The design philosophy stems from Mexico’s Day of the Dead tradition — where families celebrate and remember deceased loved ones with joy rather than mourning.

“It’s a garment resembling papel picado so that a person can offer their actions, thoughts and passions as an homage to those who are already gone,” Rosas said.

The uniforms use polyester material, allowing the fabric to be carved like papel picado while remaining durable against damage. Rosas and his crew previously tested organic materials, but found they couldn’t support the weight and design needed after manufacturing.

Creating each uniform takes up to three weeks, with the cutting and stitching process requiring eight to 10 hours of labor.

Rosas begins by selecting which cultural symbols to feature. He then calculates the dimensions and form of each element to ensure the needlework matches his creative vision. After finalizing a pattern, the workshop’s seamstresses carefully carve and stitch every garment.

The Rosas brothers maintain a small-scale operation and take pride in this method. They prioritize the attention and effort given to each piece, preserving the handmade nature of their work.

Their Mexclart brand has produced approximately 30 uniforms since the World Cup items became available in April. Hugo Rosas anticipates sales will grow as the tournament’s start date draws closer.

His other lines include one dedicated to pre-Hispanic deities. His preferred design shows Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the underworld, typically shown as a skeleton figure.

“Putting on a garment like this is like wearing a modern armor through which we can carry that pride and passion for our roots and show it to the world,” Rosas said.

He occasionally consults historical texts about Mexico while creating his patterns. But his preferred source of creativity comes from visiting Indigenous settlements where traditional rituals and practices continue today.

“If it were up to me, I’d use gold or another material that could accurately represent our gods the way our ancestors did,” he said. “All the garments we create are meant to give Mexicans the chance to bring those deities into the present.”

The Czech Republic’s Prime Minister has acknowledged his country will likely fall short of NATO’s military spending benchmark this year, according to a weekend interview with a major financial publication.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated his nation will “probably” not achieve the alliance’s goal of dedicating 2% of gross domestic product to defense spending in 2024. “We will do our best” to reach the commitment, Babis explained to the Financial Times, while pointing to budget difficulties stemming from excessive spending by the previous pro-European Union administration.

The admission highlights ongoing tensions between Babis and Czech President Petr Pavel regarding military funding. Pavel has criticized the populist leader’s administration for proposing defense spending reductions in the 2026 budget. When Pavel approved the budget in March, he expressed concerns that military expenditures were inadequate given rising security challenges and NATO obligations.

Despite the current shortfall, Babis assured that Prague remains dedicated to achieving NATO’s updated goal of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035. However, he suggested alliance members should prioritize enhancing military capabilities rather than fixating on spending benchmarks, which he argued could be easily manipulated.

This development comes as the United States signals plans to reduce American military support available to European NATO partners during major crises, according to recent reports. President Donald Trump has consistently urged NATO members to increase their defense investments, a priority that has gained urgency during the ongoing four-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

At a recent Asian security summit, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth emphasized this shift in American policy, telling defense officials: “The era of the United States subsidising the defence of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates.”

SINGAPORE (AP) — Defense leaders from allied nations emphasized the critical importance of international cooperation during a major security conference on Sunday, warning that growing global threats require unified responses even as tensions rise among traditional partners.

The discussions at the Shangri-La conference occurred one day after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized Western European nations at the same forum for insufficient defense spending commitments.

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi commended Hegseth’s dedication to the Indo-Pacific region while emphasizing the ongoing necessity for robust international partnerships.

“Division weakens deterrence, unity strengthens deterrence,” he stated during the conference organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“If gaps emerge among the United States, Europe, and allies and like-minded countries, forces which take it as an opportunity will surely come in,” he continued. “We must prevent such as situation. We must keep our cooperation going on. Now is the time to make our cooperation even stronger.”

Japan has been transforming its defense strategy as China continues rapid military expansion and modernization. Last month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet eliminated restrictions on lethal weapons exports, marking a significant shift from its postwar pacifist stance.

China condemned this policy change, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating China would “resolutely resist Japan’s reckless moves toward a new type of militarism.”

Koizumi dismissed that criticism as contradictory, given China’s own military capabilities.

“Think about it, there is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers,” he remarked in English. “Japan has neither of such weapons, and yet Japan is labeled new militarism. Isn’t it strange?”

He noted that openness requires “discussion and dialogue” and expressed disappointment that China’s defense minister did not attend the conference.

During Saturday’s address, Hegseth praised several Asian partners for increasing defense expenditures while maintaining his critique of European allies, whom he accused of being “distracted by empty globalist rhetoric about the rules-based international order, while European capitals threw open their borders and hollowed out their militaries.”

“You can have all the rules you want and rules are great,” Hegseth stated. “But if you can’t back them up with hard power, the rules are not worth the paper they are written on.”

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters during the conference that while he supported Hegseth’s view that “the rules based order needs to be underpinned by power,” he also believed strong regulations were “more important today than they have ever been.”

“We are all committed to a rules based system, because that is actually what gives, middle powers like Australia or smaller countries agency,” he explained.

He stressed that partnerships continue to be essential for regional security.

“This is a collective challenge and it demands a collective response, which is actually what the rules based order is all about,” he said.

Netherlands Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius argued that today’s conflicts have worldwide consequences requiring coordinated responses.

“A war in Europe involves drones from Iran, soldiers and ammunition from North Korea and various types of support from China,” she observed. “The lesson is clear: regional tensions are no longer regional. Our security is interconnected.”

She warned that without cooperation, middle powers risk becoming observers or the “subject of conversations,” but through alliances they can help maintain stability.

“The fact that international rules are being violated does not mean we should abandon them,” she stated.

“On the contrary, it means we must defend them more constantly and more courageously. International law may be imperfect, but history teaches us that the alternative is far worse.”

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — Ethiopian citizens will cast ballots Monday in a national election where the governing party is anticipated to achieve an overwhelming victory amid a divided and weakened opposition landscape.

The Prosperity Party of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed presently controls over 500 positions in the House of Representatives and is projected to secure a majority in Monday’s voting, guaranteeing him an additional five-year tenure.

Approximately 50 million citizens from Ethiopia’s total population of 130 million are anticipated to participate in selecting House of Representatives members, though safety concerns in heavily populated areas like Amhara and Oromia may impact voter participation.

Under Ethiopia’s electoral framework, citizens choose their representatives, who subsequently select the prime minister. Voters will additionally choose members for their regional government councils.

Key campaign issues this year center on national unity following conflicts in areas including Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara, alongside development promises as officials commit to implementing significant infrastructure initiatives.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who previously mediated Tigray peace negotiations, is directing 73 African Union election monitors.

Upon his Saturday arrival in Ethiopia, Kenyatta stressed the continental significance of Ethiopia’s electoral process, given the nation serves as home to African Union headquarters. “Ours is to call for peaceful situation as Ethiopians are known for,” he said.

Critics have charged Abiy’s government with human rights abuses targeting opposition voices and media professionals, contradicting his 2020 commitments to democratic governance and peace.

His leadership period has included the northern Tigray conflict, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths when federal military forces battled regional troops. Peace accords were finalized in November 2022.

Abiy received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for resolving Ethiopia’s prolonged dispute with neighboring Eritrea, though relations between the nations have deteriorated, with Addis Ababa claiming Asmara backs insurgent organizations seeking to undermine stability.

Concerns exist that tensions could intensify and pull the unstable Tigray area into a surrogate conflict, while humanitarian organizations highlight critical conditions in the region.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front — the leading political organization in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray territory — has been banned while maintaining regional authority and threatening to abandon the 2022 peace deal, which federal officials view as an effort to restart hostilities.

For a second consecutive election cycle, the territory will remain absent from national voting, eliminating its federal representation in Ethiopia’s 547-member parliament and further marginalizing the region amid worsening hunger and violence, plus alleged resource restrictions by central authorities.

Tigray has lacked federal parliamentary representation for six years running.

Political analyst Bayu Samuel, based in Addis Ababa, believes this election will likely be conducted fairly due to “technological advancements in the electoral process” and heightened public engagement.

Nevertheless, several opposition groups have criticized the governing party’s unfair electoral benefits.

Mistresilasie Tamerat, the youngest candidate and leader of the opposition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, describes the electoral process as “far from genuine and democratic.”

“The system favors the ruling party, and we can’t even freely operate (or) meet with our constituents,” she said.

Eyoel Solomon, a spokesperson for the main opposition Ezema party, stated his organization aims to eliminate identity-based political divisions.

“We have seen citizens being attacked because of their identity. We have seen them being persecuted simply for living in areas deemed by others not to be ‘theirs’,” he said.

While most campaign activities occurred in Addis Ababa, the capital has experienced significant military deployment in recent days.

Electoral discussions have dominated local discourse throughout the city, despite unusually subdued campaigning featuring fewer public gatherings and minimal community outreach efforts.

Election officials have designated Monday as a national holiday, shutting government facilities to promote voter participation.

More than four years after Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko permitted his longtime partner Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from Belarusian soil, officials in Kyiv are sounding the alarm that Lukashenko might once again open his country’s borders for additional Kremlin assaults.

Though Belarus hasn’t sent its own soldiers into combat, Lukashenko has supported President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign by allowing Russia to station nuclear weapons and military facilities on his territory, while also manufacturing components for Moscow’s defense industry. This month, both nations conducted joint nuclear exercises featuring Russian weapons positioned in Belarus.

Lukashenko, who has maintained power for more than thirty years, has governed the country of 9.5 million people through authoritarian rule, systematically suppressing opposition while depending on strong Russian relationships and Moscow’s financial support to weather ongoing Western sanctions.

The growing military partnership between Moscow and Minsk is causing alarm among Ukraine’s international supporters.

During Putin’s large-scale assault on Ukraine beginning Feb. 24, 2022, Russian forces assembled in Belarus under the pretense of military exercises before racing toward Kyiv, located just 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the border.

Putin’s strategy to rapidly seize Kyiv was defeated by determined Ukrainian defense, leaving Russian tank columns stretched along narrow roadways vulnerable to attack.

Slightly more than one month into the invasion, Russian forces that experienced significant casualties and supply chain difficulties retreated from Kyiv and other captured areas in northeastern Ukraine in what the Kremlin described as a “goodwill gesture.”

During Moscow’s attempts to negotiate a swift resolution to the fighting in the early weeks, Belarus provided the venue for initial discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. These negotiations later shifted to Istanbul but ultimately failed to reach an agreement.

As the fighting evolved into a prolonged conflict, Belarus has maintained a crucial role in backing Moscow’s military operations. Belarusian factories have manufactured vital components, including microchips and electronics, optical targeting systems, artillery shells, and heavy vehicles that transport Russian ballistic missiles.

Ukraine’s presidential envoy on sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, reported that debris from an Oreshnik ballistic missile that Russia launched at Ukraine on May 24 included microchips manufactured in Belarus. He called on Western partners to strengthen sanctions enforcement against Belarus.

Belarus has also supplied training facilities for Moscow’s forces, conducted joint military exercises, and offered its medical facilities to care for injured Russian personnel.

BELPOL, an organization of former military and law enforcement officials opposing Lukashenko, reported that Belarusian industries have become part of the Kremlin’s military apparatus. The group states that more than 500 Belarusian industrial facilities participate in weapons and ammunition production, military equipment repair, and logistical support.

“Lukashenko’s regime is quite seriously involved in the war,” BELPOL head Uladzimir Zhyhar told The Associated Press. “Lukashenko is helping Russia in every way he can.”

In the Gomel region bordering Ukraine, construction has started on a large firing range and barracks designed for substantial troop numbers, Zhyhar reported. Ukraine has been required to station many forces along the Belarus border, he noted, preventing them from engaging Russian troops along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) battle line.

Belarus, which also shares borders with NATO members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, has accommodated some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons. In December, Russia announced that its newest intermediate range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system became operational in Belarus.

Russia has deployed a conventionally armed variant of the Oreshnik to attack Ukrainian targets three times — in November 2024 and again in January and earlier this month.

In 2024, the Kremlin updated its nuclear policy, extending the Russian nuclear shield to cover Belarus. Putin has stated that Moscow will maintain command of its nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus but would permit its partner to choose targets during a conflict.

Earlier this month, Russia and Belarus conducted extensive exercises that included delivering nuclear warheads to missile units and preparing for launches. During the exercise, a Belarusian missile team test-launched a nuclear-capable Iskander missile from a facility in southern Russia.

“Belarus lacks military sovereignty, and as soon as Moscow sees it as necessary for its strategy, Moscow will naturally use Belarus as a launchpad for a new invasion of Ukraine or some kind of armed conflict with NATO countries,” Zhyhar said, noting that Belarus offers a “very convenient springboard” for such an invasion.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that his intelligence agencies had discovered Moscow recently intensified efforts to “draw Belarus much deeper into the war and launch additional aggressive operations precisely from Belarusian territory.” He indicated the target could be along the Chernihiv-Kyiv area or against a NATO country bordering Belarus.

Zelenskyy announced he directed the military and security agencies to prepare a response and reinforce northern defenses.

Lukashenko has rejected any aggressive intentions, stating Belarus will not join the conflict unless attacked.

Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s former defense minister and now secretary of its Security Council, also dismissed Zelenskyy’s assertion, characterizing it as a fear tactic to secure additional Western assistance for Kyiv.

However, indicating growing Western worry, French President Emmanuel Macron contacted Lukashenko on May 24 to highlight the dangers for Belarus of being pulled into the war, their first conversation since the invasion started. Lukashenko announced that next week he will receive a French representative for discussions on European security and possibilities of reducing EU sanctions.

Andrii Demchenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Border Guard Service, reported last week that while intelligence information suggests Russia has increasingly pressured Belarus to directly join the war, Ukrainian forces haven’t yet observed any accumulation of troops and weapons near the border.

Belarus’ opposition leader-in-exile, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, visited Kyiv last week and stressed that “Belarus must never again become a springboard for aggression.”

“Russian tanks must never again march through Belarus to Chernihiv, Zhitomir, Rivne, or Kyiv,” Tsikhanouskaya told AP. “Ukraine is fighting for itself and for all the peoples who have lived in the shadow of empire for too long. It is fighting for the right to live in peace. And the fate of my country, Belarus, also depends on Ukraine’s success.”

According to official information, Belarus’ military forces include 48,600 personnel, a small force compared with Russia’s 1.5 million. During wartime, Belarus is prepared to mobilize 290,000, but they would require weapons and training to become battle-ready.

“The Belarusian army is unfit for offensive action,” said Alexander Alesin, a Minsk-based military analyst. “An attack from Belarus would require … mobilizing up to 500,000 troops.”

That would mean removing all the men from the national economy and then finding arms for them, he said, adding: “I consider this option unlikely.”

Ukraine has constructed heavy fortifications along the border with Belarus and deployed mines that would easily halt any attempted invasion, he said.

“Even with a small force, the Ukrainians can easily defend themselves and inflict heavy losses on the Belarusian army,” Alesin said. “From a military perspective, it’s impossible to launch an attack from Belarusian territory without suffering heavy losses.”

Lukashenko is satisfied with Belarus’ role as a major supplier of military equipment and would strongly resist direct participation in the war, he added.

“The last thing Lukashenko wants is to fight, and he’ll cling to his current position at any cost, so he can avoid fighting while profiting handsomely from the war,” Alesin said.

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Citizens across Colombia headed to polling stations Sunday for the opening round of the nation’s presidential race, selecting from candidates offering sharply contrasting approaches to achieving peace in a country scarred by generations of violent conflict.

The election serves as a judgment on the policies of departing President Gustavo Petro, taking place a decade after the country reached a landmark peace agreement with fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC.

The accord had raised expectations of ending the nation’s destructive pattern of warfare between insurgent organizations and government forces, but bloodshed has surged again recently, escalating during the campaign period. Criminal organizations have stepped up drone attacks, violent incidents have disrupted the electoral process, and in June, Miguel Uribe Turbay, a 39-year-old politician seeking the presidency, was killed by gunfire during a campaign event.

In a nation where pursuing peace has traditionally shaped political discourse, strategies for managing the ongoing conflict are again creating deep divisions among voters.

Although 14 names appear on the ballot, the contest has essentially narrowed to three major contenders.

Senator and peace advocate Ivan Cepeda — an ally of Petro — has maintained a polling advantage and pledges to continue Petro’s “total peace” strategy of engaging in talks with surviving insurgent factions and establishing peace deals to address the ongoing crisis.

Despite the peace strategy’s limited success as criminal elements have exploited government ceasefires, Cepeda and Petro retain significant backing from supporters who appreciate progressive measures implemented during Petro’s administration, including increases to the minimum wage.

Challenging Cepeda are Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, both promising more aggressive military action against armed organizations.

De la Espriella — a flamboyant attorney nicknamed “The Tiger” — has gained momentum with voters recently by presenting himself as a political outsider eager to adopt the forceful anti-gang strategies employed in El Salvador, which dramatically decreased gang activity while drawing criticism over human rights violations.

Valencia is viewed as the political successor to Colombia’s former president and authoritarian leader Álvaro Uribe, who led the country from 2002 to 2010 with substantial backing from the United States and whose administration launched a counteroffensive against FARC insurgents that resulted in significant civilian casualties.

Both de la Espriella and Valencia have emphasized their support for U.S. President Donald Trump, despite his increasingly confrontational approach toward Latin America compared to previous U.S. leaders and his demands that countries including Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico intensify their campaigns against criminal organizations.

Should no candidate secure at least 50% of votes — an extremely uncommon occurrence in Colombia — the leading two vote recipients will compete in a runoff election in June.

Maria Eugenia, a 57-year-old seamstress who was working on a pair of jeans Friday in central Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, expressed support for an aggressive campaign against the growing number of criminal organizations, despite potential human consequences.

Though she appreciated Petro’s efforts to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system, she indicated plans to vote for de la Espriella due to escalating violence in the country’s rural regions.

“Of course, whenever you come down with a heavy hand, there’s always going to be debate,” she said. “But some people are going to have to fall to clean up what needs to be cleaned.”

Others, including 26-year-old Cristian Morales, who walked past her business, disagreed with that approach.

Though Petro’s peace initiative has fallen short in numerous areas, he explained, modifying a strategy designed to end the country’s cycles of violence was preferable to adopting another extreme position.

He indicated his intention to support Cepeda, prioritizing the candidate’s commitment to preserving Colombia’s natural environment and expanding educational opportunities over dramatic promises to eliminate the nation’s deeply rooted conflict. Morales described such a goal as something he considers “impossible” to accomplish within a single four-year presidential administration.

“The solution to this conflict isn’t aggressive confrontations. It will only end in more bloodshed,” he said. “It’s so difficult because it’s either dialogue or arms, and an internal conflict isn’t good for anyone.”

Manufacturing activity in China barely expanded during May, with new government statistics highlighting concerns about the world’s second-largest economy’s ability to maintain momentum amid international pressures.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed the official manufacturing purchasing managers index declined to 50 from April’s reading of 50.3. The index operates on a 0-100 scale where numbers above 50 signal growth and figures below 50 indicate shrinkage.

Several key indicators within the report showed weakening trends. New orders fell to 49.9 from the previous month’s 50.6, while production slightly decreased to 51.2 from 51.5 in April. Raw material inventory levels also dropped to 48.6 from April’s 49.3.

Despite global energy market disruptions stemming from the Iran war, China has experienced fewer negative impacts compared to other nations dealing with rising inflation as oil costs have climbed following the Strait of Hormuz closure, a critical shipping route for one-fifth of global oil during normal times.

Economic experts note that China’s substantial oil stockpiles and varied energy supply sources have allowed the nation to largely avoid serious consequences from the conflict.

“Though the energy crisis remains the dominant headwind for Asia, China is relatively more shielded given its robust energy security set-up,” Frederic Neumann, Chief Asia Economist at HSBC bank, wrote in a research note last week.

Export markets continue playing a crucial role in China’s economic performance, according to HSBC analysis.

Although Chinese shipments to America have declined compared to the same periods last year during most recent months, international exports have shown strength, especially to European and Southeast Asian markets.

Optimism for improved U.S. trade relations has grown following President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing during mid-May, when both nations agreed to establish separate trade and investment boards.

Vehicle, technology and artificial intelligence-related exports have supported growth, though some economists express broader economic concerns. Internal consumer demand continues struggling following an extended real estate sector decline that has damaged consumer confidence and investment activity.

“Domestic demand is lagging, but high-end manufacturing and exports are holding the line,” Robin Xing, Chief China Economist at Morgan Stanley, wrote in a research note last week.

Government officials have established an annual economic growth goal of 4.5% to 5% for this year. This represents the most modest target since 1991, though only marginally below the “around 5%” objective established in 2025.

Morgan Stanley analysts believe China will probably achieve its 2026 target, but oil pricing and reduced uncertainty surrounding global petroleum supplies will be critical factors influencing future economic direction.

BANGKOK (AP) — As the summer travel season approaches, escalating costs and disruptions from the conflict with Iran are putting severe pressure on Southeast Asian nations that depend heavily on tourism revenue, particularly Thailand and Vietnam.

The region’s busiest tourist period faces significant challenges as rising jet fuel expenses and uncertainty about ceasefires lead to flight cancellations and more expensive airfare.

Asian tourism hasn’t completely bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic yet. Currently, numerous nations are dealing with how the conflict affects worldwide energy supplies and pricing, which impacts Asia most severely and earliest. Some households are reducing travel plans as expenses at gas pumps and supermarkets climb globally. Tourist crowds have decreased at destinations once famous for heavy visitation.

“With gasoline prices rising and tourism declining, how can we make money?” asked Siv Pech, a 58-year-old tuk-tuk driver in Siem Reap, home to Cambodia’s centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex.

Tourism serves as a crucial economic foundation for numerous developing countries. It represents almost 13% of gross domestic product in Thailand and close to 9% in Vietnam, while supporting millions of jobs in Cambodia. International visitors provide essential foreign currency for import-reliant economies like the Philippines and Nepal.

These tourism revenues are more vital than ever as conflict-related oil price increases raise fuel import expenses, particularly for regions that depended on the Strait of Hormuz near Iran’s coastline as a pathway for much of their oil and gas.

The conflict will decide which tourism enterprises can endure long enough to gain from travelers’ eventual return, said Jitsai Santaputra of The Lantau Group, an energy industry consulting firm. “This, happening within five years of each other, first the pandemic and now the war, is horrible for the tourism industry,” she said.

Jet fuel shortages and climbing costs have caused Vietnam Airlines, the Malaysia-based AirAsia group, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific and other carriers to cut flights or re-adjust schedules.

European carriers face a squeeze from similar issues.

Airspace closures across the Persian Gulf early in the war and the intermittent closures of certain Gulf airports cut off key layover locations for Asia-bound flights or forced commercial airplanes to take longer, costlier routes.

Flight prices have increased dramatically, with airlines like Air India and Cathay Pacific implementing sharp increases in fuel surcharges.

Cathay Pacific’s fuel surcharge for medium-haul flights has jumped to 633 Hong Kong dollars ($80) from 264 Hong Kong dollars ($34) before the war. For long-haul flights, it increased to 1,362 Hong Kong dollars ($174) from 569 Hong Kong dollars ($73).

“Jet fuel prices remain at highly elevated levels” and have increased cost pressures, said Lavinia Lau, Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer. Travelers are booking closer to their departure dates, she said, indicating growing unease.

Sandra Awodele, a freelance travel writer in the Washington area, often plans year-round international trips and hoped this summer would finally be the one she crossed Asia off her bucket list.

In March, she began planning a long-awaited vacation to Thailand, envisioning one to two weeks of exploring. Her plans hit a wall when she checked airfares.

“I looked at flight options and that’s where it ended,” Awodele said.

On the ground, rising fuel costs in tourism-dependent Southeast Asia are squeezing taxi and ride-hailing app drivers.

Pech, the Cambodian tuk-tuk driver, said he used to earn up to $20 a day toting tourists around Siem Reap. That’s plummeted to about $5 a day.

His gas bill eats half of that. The rest goes to food. “Some days, I don’t earn even a cent,” he said.

Tourism is vital for many regional economies, accounting for nearly 11% of economic activity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2019, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

An analysis by Moody’s Analytics estimated effects from the war would likely reduce economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region by 0.1 to 0.4 percentage points in 2026.

“The conflict will weigh on growth mainly through higher production costs and consumer prices, along with weaker external demand from trade and tourism,” said Albert Park, chief economist at the Asia Development Bank.

Higher airfares and weaker travel confidence can quickly spill over into household livelihoods and public revenues in economies where visitor arrivals are a major source of jobs, income and foreign exchange, according to a recent report by the United Nations Development Program.

Travel is often the first expense people cut when the economy worsens, said Le Tuyet Lan, who runs bed-and-breakfast properties in Vietnam’s Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In times of crisis luxury travelers tend to shift toward midrange options, midrange travelers move toward budget hotels, and the cheapest tier of the market becomes the most vulnerable.

“This will disrupt the whole industry,” she said.

Tourism in Thailand is “a big industry and we are feeling it,” said Santaputra with The Lantau Group in Bangkok, one of Southeast Asia’s most visited cities.

The number of visitors to Thailand fell 7% year-on-year in April, while European arrivals fell almost 16% and Middle Eastern arrivals sank 57%, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

In neighboring Cambodia, Sokha Sambo, owner of the popular Sambo Khmer & Thai Restaurant in Siem Reap, said the rising price of liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking has strained her budget, hindering her ability to dish out her signature green curries.

“I’m worried about gas and goods inflation. It makes the business less profitable and difficult to cover employees’ salaries,” said Sambo, who has 14 staff members.

In the first four months of 2026, the number of recorded international and domestic visitors to Siem Reap dropped by 37.5% compared to the same period last year, according to the province’s tourism department.

“This has greatly affected all of us,” Sambo said.

Chen Jiao works in an unusual profession: she helps tourists transform themselves into ancient Chinese royalty as part of a growing cultural revival among young people.

She’s among hundreds of styling professionals operating near Beijing’s Forbidden City, the former palace complex that housed rulers from China’s final two imperial dynasties, the Ming and Qing periods.

Daily, customers visit to don elaborate robes featuring phoenix embroidery and accessorize with jade jewelry, pearl ornaments, and golden nail protectors reminiscent of imperial court fashion. Artists carefully apply period makeup while arranging hair with decorative pins and tassels.

Typical sessions cost 300 yuan ($45), while premium packages can reach over 1,000 yuan (exceeding $150).

After their makeovers, clients head to the ancient fortress walls and surrounding waterways for photo shoots, sharing images across social platforms. The experience blends historical elements with contemporary touches, as some participants wear athletic shoes and designer eyewear while sipping modern beverages.

“Peak periods bring tremendous crowds, particularly during national holidays and weekend days,” Chen said.

During a recent busy period, she started her workday at 6 a.m. and completed styling for approximately 24 young women. The industry experiences steady demand year-round, with only brief slowdowns when the historic site closes, she explained.

This immersive historical fashion experience has gained momentum among youth in recent years, with Beijing’s offerings drawing primarily from the nation’s two most recent dynasties.

The Ming period lasted over 270 years before ending in 1644, during which the Forbidden City was constructed and the Great Wall was strengthened. The subsequent Qing dynasty, led by Manchu rulers, fell in 1912, concluding over 2,000 years of imperial governance.

Chen Xiao represents the tourists now flocking to Beijing’s heritage locations for these styling experiences. The university student journeyed overnight from Shandong province in eastern China during the recent Qingming festival period.

“I believe when visiting a particular place, your attire should complement the environment,” Chen said while wearing rose-colored garments typical of a “Gege,” representing a Qing dynasty princess.

The facility housing Chen Jiao’s business demonstrates this industry’s explosive expansion. Approximately four years ago, only several costume studios operated in the building. Current estimates suggest more than 100 now function there, according to regional news sources.

“Young Chinese citizens are recognizing the beauty of ancestral dress while discovering their nation’s deep cultural legacy,” said Cai Zehong, who established Hanfu Beijing, among the first organizations created by enthusiasts to celebrate Han ethnic traditions and customs.

China’s enduring fascination with period television dramas has fueled this movement.

“I’ve viewed numerous historical television series,” Chen Xiao said. “Those programs have certainly shaped my interests. Recently, I’ve become particularly fascinated with Qing dynasty history.

Liu Ruitong, a college student visiting from Hebei province, selected dark-colored Ming-era clothing.

“This style appears very refined and stately, particularly in its color scheme. I selected black because it complements the Forbidden City beautifully and harmonizes with traditional Chinese landscapes overall,” Liu said.

SINGAPORE – Japan’s defense minister Koizumi Shinjirō rejected claims of “new militarism” during remarks at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s top gathering for defense officials and military leaders.

Speaking on Sunday, Koizumi challenged the accusations with pointed comments directed at China. “Think about it. There’s a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers. Japan has neither of such weapons, and yet Japan is labelled ‘new militarism’?,” he stated.

The defense minister emphasized Japan’s commitment to international cooperation, saying “Since the end of the Second World war, Japan has consistently respected international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and has made sincere efforts tomaintain and strengthen a free and open international order.”

The comments come after China’s foreign ministry urged Asia-Pacific nations in May to remain alert and “jointly resist the reckless actions of Japan’s neo-militarism.”

Koizumi expressed disappointment about missing opportunities for dialogue, noting he felt “sad” about not being able to meet his Chinese counterparts at the conference.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun has now skipped the Singapore security forum for two consecutive years, avoiding face-to-face meetings with international defense officials.

Manufacturing activity in China remained stagnant during May, according to official data released Sunday, as the sector faced challenges from declining domestic demand and increased production expenses.

The government’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) fell to 50 from April’s 50.3, hovering at the threshold that divides expansion from decline, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported. Financial analysts surveyed by Reuters had predicted the reading would hold at 50.

While production capacity increased, orders declined, with manufacturing PMI sub-categories showing production at 51.2 and new orders at 49.9. Raw material inventory levels registered 48.6 in the survey.

These PMI findings contribute to worries about economic deceleration, following information released earlier this month indicating growth pace slowed in April even as exports bounced back.

Ongoing challenges in real estate markets, job creation and household spending continue to hinder expansion, making China dependent on international demand to purchase goods from its manufacturing industries.

The Chinese government has pledged to tackle the supply-demand imbalance and established a more modest GDP growth objective for 2026, providing additional space for policy changes.

Military conflict in the Middle East, which began in late February and resulted in the practical shutdown of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, has driven energy costs higher, posing risks to manufacturer profitability as expenses climb.

A meeting between Chinese and U.S. leaders in Beijing during mid-May failed to produce an extension of the trade agreement the two nations negotiated late last year, though both countries committed to investigating opportunities for duty reductions on approximately $30 billion worth of products from each side.

External influences have affected Chinese manufacturers unevenly. Petrochemical companies and other primary industries have suffered most from rising imported material costs, while inventory building by purchasers worried about additional price increases and worldwide appetite for semiconductors and related artificial intelligence products have supported advanced manufacturing.

Technology and equipment manufacturing exceeded overall sector performance in May, recording PMI scores of 52.9 and 52.1, NBS information indicated. Operations in energy-intensive industries, however, declined.

The non-manufacturing PMI, covering services and construction sectors, increased to 50.1 from April’s 49.4, NBS data revealed.

WASHINGTON — American military forces launched a missile strike against a commercial vessel attempting to violate the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, hitting the ship’s engine room, according to U.S. Central Command officials on Saturday.

The cargo vessel Lian Star, flying under the Gambian flag, disregarded more than 20 warnings from American forces during overnight hours while attempting to reach an Iranian port, military officials reported. The vessel now sits disabled in the Gulf of Oman waters, and American forces have not yet boarded the ship, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation who spoke anonymously about military activities.

This latest incident brings to six the total number of vessels that U.S. military forces have intercepted while attempting to violate the blockade. Military officials noted that one ship was permitted to continue its journey, while another 116 vessels have been turned away.

The blockade began on April 17 as America’s response to Iran effectively shutting down the strait following the outbreak of Middle Eastern conflict that started with American and Israeli military strikes on February 28. A tenuous ceasefire has remained in place since April 7, with the region now waiting to learn whether an agreement can be struck to extend the truce for 60 days while negotiations proceed regarding Iran’s controversial nuclear program.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial shipping channel between Iran and Oman, has created significant disruptions to the worldwide economy. Large quantities of oil, natural gas, and related products including fertilizer remain stuck in transit, adding pressure on both consumers and agricultural producers.

America’s blockade aims to restrict Iran’s shipping capabilities and further limit the country’s revenue streams, adding additional economic pressure to its already struggling economy.

President Donald Trump held meetings with his advisers on Friday but has not yet made a decision about proceeding with an agreement to extend the ceasefire and reopen the waterway. Iranian officials have stated that no deal has been completed.

Despite Iran’s claims that it must authorize all passage through the strait, commercial shipping has continued moving through the waterway, though at significantly reduced levels compared to pre-conflict volumes.

“Any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk,” Iran’s joint military command warned in a Saturday statement broadcast on state television, threatening to target any military ships that attempt to interfere.

Iran has imposed transit fees as high as $2 million, which maritime experts describe as a breach of fundamental international shipping law regarding free peaceful navigation.

Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, stated Saturday that his Gulf nation opposes charging transit fees, “but for certain times when they say they are going to use it for mine clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable, and it could be something that will help the transit of the Strait of Hormuz to be back to normal stage.”

A U.S. official had previously informed The Associated Press that American forces have not located or eliminated any mines in the strait.

The head of Myanmar’s military-backed administration arrived in India on Saturday for official diplomatic discussions with key regional partners, according to state media reports.

Min Aung Hlaing’s journey marks his inaugural official trip to India since taking the presidential oath in April after elections that opposition voices claim were designed to preserve military control. His previous visit to India occurred in 2019 while serving as military commander.

Despite Western sanctions following the military’s 2021 overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected administration and subsequent nationwide conflict, India has continued diplomatic relations with Myanmar’s military leadership.

According to state-controlled MRTV television, Min Aung Hlaing flew from Naypyitaw on Saturday morning, touching down at Gaya International Airport in Bihar state, close to the Buddhist pilgrimage destination of Bodh Gaya.

The broadcast indicated he would conduct discussions with India’s President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with government ministers and business community leaders, focusing on enhancing partnerships across economic, religious, cultural and social areas.

Cabinet members are traveling with the president, who will also tour significant infrastructure projects during his stay, MRTV reported.

The two nations share a 1,643-kilometer border and maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal. India currently shelters thousands of Myanmar refugees who escaped violence in Chin state and other conflict zones.

Myanmar holds strategic value for India’s security concerns, with both countries collaborating on border protection and intelligence operations against insurgent organizations in frontier areas.

Opposition voices have denounced the visit as providing unwarranted credibility to Myanmar’s military administration.

“We condemn India’s decision to host Min Aung Hlaing, who is a war criminal waging a campaign of terror against the Myanmar people,” said Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson for the Justice For Myanmar activist group, in an emailed statement on Friday.

She said India has long supported Myanmar’s military through military training programs and business ties.

“India must change course, stop awarding false legitimacy to the junta, stop profiting from the military’s campaign of terror against the people, and instead support the Myanmar people who are struggling and sacrificing daily for federal democracy,” said Yadanar Maung.

Northern Israel faced a barrage of rocket fire on Saturday as Hezbollah launched multiple attacks, forcing authorities to implement emergency measures including hospital relocations and educational facility shutdowns.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that rockets launched from Lebanon targeting the Kiryat Shmona region were successfully intercepted. Military officials later announced that another wave of rockets directed at Karmiel was also stopped, with no casualties reported from either incident.

Defense forces intercepted additional projectiles heading toward Safed and surrounding northern towns. Video footage from Nahariya captured rockets splashing into the Mediterranean Sea close to the coastline as people on the beach scrambled for cover.

Following the attacks, the IDF Home Front Command enacted enhanced security protocols throughout northern Israel. Educational institutions near the Lebanon border were shuttered, while schools in other northern areas were limited to operating only where protective shelters could be accessed quickly. Work facilities may remain open under identical shelter accessibility requirements. Outdoor public events are capped at 50 attendees, indoor gatherings at 200, and coastal areas have been shut down.

The Health Ministry declared that the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya would transfer its operations to a fortified underground complex in response to the heightened security guidelines and ongoing rocket and drone strikes from Hezbollah.

Military sources also disclosed that forces targeted a Hezbollah artillery command facility in the Burj al-Shamali region of southern Lebanon on Friday. The IDF stated the location was occupied during the strike, with subsequent secondary explosions suggesting weapons stockpiles were housed within the building.

As Hezbollah intensified its attacks, opposition leaders Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot voiced sharp criticism of the government’s response.

“The government is returning us to the contemptible policy of containment and normalizing an intolerable and unacceptable situation,” Bennett wrote. “Over the weekend, sirens were heard every 20 minutes across the north and people were forced to seek shelter. This is not victory.”

The escalation occurred as Israeli and Lebanese military representatives began Pentagon-facilitated discussions in Washington on Friday, part of a new American-supported security coordination framework designed to prevent further escalation and strengthen the ceasefire established in mid-April.

A State Department official told Fox News Digital: “As we have continuously stated, the only path to lasting peace is through direct negotiations between the two sovereign governments.”

Britain’s foreign minister Yvette Cooper is scheduled to begin a diplomatic mission to Asia on Monday, with stops planned in both China and India to address pressing worldwide concerns ranging from regional conflicts to recent disease outbreaks.

During her visit to China, Cooper is set to hold meetings with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on June 2. Following these discussions, she will head to the southern tech hub of Shenzhen for a science and technology-focused program scheduled for the following day, according to government officials.

The announcement came Sunday, following earlier reports about the planned diplomatic visit that cited multiple sources last month.

The trip builds on recent diplomatic progress between the two nations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese leader Xi Jinping celebrated improved relations during the British leader’s January visit to China, committing to enhanced cooperation in trade, investment and technology sectors for shared benefits.

Cooper’s diplomatic tour to China and India — representing the world’s second-largest and sixth-largest economies respectively — takes place amid rising global tensions, increasing oil costs following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and Britain’s ongoing economic challenges with slow growth.

The foreign minister is scheduled to arrive in India on June 4, where meetings are planned with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar along with business leaders, academic figures and government officials working on the UK-India Vision 2035 program.

Both nations established a free trade agreement last year designed to increase bilateral commerce and enhance market opportunities across various industries. However, India’s trade secretary Rajesh Agrawal noted last month that progress has faced obstacles due to London’s recent restrictions on steel imports.

According to British government officials, Cooper’s meetings “with these two major powers are expected to be focused on tackling the most significant global challenges.”

Starmer, who has faced significant approval rating challenges domestically, became the first British prime minister to visit China in eight years. His centre-left Labour government has prioritized rebuilding relationships with China as part of its foreign policy agenda.

Following a lengthy two-hour discussion in the Situation Room, President Donald Trump has not given his approval to a proposed agreement that would extend a ceasefire with Iran and begin fresh nuclear negotiations, keeping the future of any potential deal uncertain.

Despite the president’s earlier statement that he would reach a “final determination” on the proposal, the White House has made no announcement regarding a completed agreement or approved draft after the meeting concluded. Any deal being considered would need sign-off from both the U.S. president and Iran’s top leadership.

On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance announced that Washington and Tehran had developed a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, awaiting Trump’s approval. The plan includes extending the ceasefire for 60 days and beginning fresh discussions about Iran’s nuclear program.

According to administration officials, President Trump brought together his advisers in the Situation Room to determine the terms he views as crucial for any agreement. Key among these demands are removing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump posted on Truth Social: “Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions.”

Though administration officials suggest a deal could be possible, multiple matters remain unresolved. Remaining disagreements reportedly involve releasing Iranian assets and questions about managing and transferring nuclear materials.

Tom Barrack is departing his position as US Special Envoy for Syria as the Trump administration transitions toward establishing complete diplomatic ties with Damascus.

The Lebanese-American real estate billionaire received his appointment in May 2025 following Washington’s announcement to remove major sanctions against Damascus, maintaining his dual role as US ambassador to Turkey throughout his envoy tenure.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that congressional members received notification about the State Department’s plans to “implement a phased approach to potentially resume embassy operations in Syria,” suggesting Barrack’s departure could pave the way for reopening the closed Damascus embassy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that Barrack’s special envoy term was concluding and hinted the position would not continue.

“Ambassador Tom Barrak has played an invaluable role as our Special Envoy to Syria,” Rubio stated.

“While that title is expiring, he will continue to play a leading role for the Trump Administration in both Syria and Iraq, where his expertise, relationships, and understanding of the America First agenda will continue to deliver wins on behalf of our great country,” Rubio added.

A close associate of President Trump for many years, Barrack led Trump’s 2017 inauguration committee prior to accepting diplomatic duties.

Throughout his special envoy tenure, Barrack participated in crucial elements of US strategy regarding Syria after Bashar Assad’s removal from power. His responsibilities encompassed managing sanctions relief efforts, reconstruction projects involving Turkey and Gulf nations, and collaboration against the Islamic State terrorist organization. He additionally facilitated negotiations between Syria’s government and Kurdish-led groups while supporting measures to strengthen Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration and expand US diplomatic relations with Damascus.

Following his 17 May meeting with al-Sharaa in Damascus, Barrack characterized Syria as “a laboratory for a new regional alliance based on diplomacy, integration and hope for the entire region”.

His service also faced opposition. In Lebanon, his comments encouraging journalists to conduct themselves in a “civilized” rather than “animalistic” fashion during a press briefing generated controversy. Syrian-Kurdish leadership also criticized him for adopting an overly “pro-Damascus” stance and applying pressure on Kurdish organizations to accept conditions promoted by al-Sharaa.

Barrack represents the fourth US special envoy to Syria over the previous 12 years. The United States has not designated an ambassador to Syria since Stephen Ford, whose service lasted from December 2011 through February 2014.

A judicial ruling in the Turks and Caicos Islands has resulted in a prison term of four years and 26 days for Michael Misick, the territory’s former premier, following his conviction in a major corruption case that spanned several years.

Authorities took Misick into custody in Brazil during December 2012 after Brazilian officials denied his request for political asylum. The charges against him included corruption, misappropriating public funds, and gaining personal profit from selling government property to development companies.

Friday’s sentencing decision imposed the four-year, 26-day prison term on Misick. Earlier in February, a court found him guilty on three bribery charges. Misick has maintained that the accusations were politically motivated.

The same court proceeding on Friday also resulted in prison sentences for former Cabinet minister McAllister Hanchell and attorney Thomas Misick, who is Michael Misick’s brother. Hanchell received a three-year sentence while Thomas Misick was given four years. Authorities placed all three men in custody, and they plan to challenge their sentences through appeals.

Michael Misick resigned from his premier position in 2009, not long after British authorities assumed temporary control of the territory’s administration and halted its constitution due to widespread corruption allegations. Direct British oversight concluded in November 2012 when the territory conducted new elections.

Venezuela’s former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González issued a call Saturday for new presidential elections as interim President Delcy Rodríguez nears the five-month milestone of her administration following a U.S. military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power in early January.

The 76-year-old former diplomat received international recognition as the rightful victor of July 2024’s contested elections during a period marked by post-election turmoil and street demonstrations, with opposition groups claiming electoral fraud had occurred.

International observers validated electoral documentation demonstrating González had defeated Maduro in the voting.

Through a social media post, González declared the time has come to “build the conditions for holding presidential elections that serve as citizen instruments for change” while helping to restore institutional order and establish groundwork for governmental stability.

González’s statement arrives nearly five months after Rodríguez took control on January 5, subsequent to Maduro’s detention along with his spouse, both now facing legal proceedings in the United States.

Rodríguez, previously an associate of Maduro, received official recognition from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, leading to bilateral advancement on multiple agreements encompassing sanction removals, oil and energy sector discussions, and diplomatic relationship restoration.

Both Caracas and Washington have provided no signals that Venezuelan elections are approaching in the near future. U.S. recognition of Rodríguez as Venezuela’s exclusive leader has enabled her to restore connections with Western financial institutions and collaborate more openly with American business interests.

González emphasized that any electoral process must include “independent referees,” domestic and international monitoring, and political diversity among other requirements, while demanding political prisoner releases and “an end to the persecution” as essential conditions.

The opposition figure declared himself the “guardian” of his supporters’ mandate, who selected “freedom” for Venezuela during the 2024 election. González has remained in Spanish exile since September following arrest warrant issuance by Maduro’s government on conspiracy, usurpation and document falsification allegations — accusations he has strongly rejected.

González rose to prominence after being selected as replacement candidate for opposition leader María Corina Machado, who faced electoral participation restrictions.

Corina Machado held recent discussions with opposition figures in Panama, promoting democratic transition in Venezuela. She declared her intention to return by year’s end to seek the presidency.

American forces struck a ship with a missile Friday after the vessel attempted to break through the military blockade surrounding Iran, according to military officials.

U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that it launched a Hellfire missile targeting the engine compartment of the Lian Star, which flies under Gambia’s flag. The ship was traveling through international waters en route to an Iranian port located on the Gulf of Oman when the strike occurred.

Military personnel had previously issued “more than 20 warnings” to the vessel’s crew, alerting them that their journey violated the established U.S. blockade, Centcom officials stated.

Following the missile strike, Centcom confirmed the ship was “no longer transiting to Iran” but offered no additional information about the vessel’s current status.

The military blockade, which began on April 13, has successfully “redirected” a minimum of 115 vessels, according to Friday’s announcement from Centcom.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated Saturday that American military forces remain prepared to launch additional attacks against Iran should diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between the two nations fail.

The continuing hostilities have driven up energy costs worldwide, particularly as Iran has largely shut down operations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Colombia’s administration on Saturday condemned Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa for what it called intentional meddling in the country’s election after he pledged to remove trade tariffs following discussions with a Colombian presidential hopeful.

On Friday, Noboa announced after meeting with Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella that he planned to work together against narcoterrorism and would drop a security tax beginning June 1.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry fired back Saturday, stating that Ecuador’s decision to lift tariffs on trade between the two nations comes from a mandate by the Andean Community of Nations and dismissed characterizing it as “a goodwill gesture by the Ecuadorian leader.”

The ministry further condemned Noboa’s statements as “deliberate interference in the electoral process” and called it “intrusion by a foreign leader” that represents a “flagrant violation of the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs.”

Colombian voters head to polling stations Sunday to choose who will replace President Gustavo Petro.

De la Espriella, representing the political movement Defenders of the Homeland, ranks among the leading contenders in polling.

Noboa has not specified whether he would stick with his plan if the ruling party candidate, Iván Cepeda, emerges victorious.

The commercial dispute between the two nations started in January when Ecuador’s president implemented what he called a security tax on Colombian goods, citing inadequate border oversight and pointing to a trade imbalance of at least $1 billion.

The levy started at 30%, slowly climbed to 50%, and eventually hit 100%. Only days before his recent statement, Noboa had announced it would drop to 75% beginning June 1st.

The Petro government, which has rejected claims of border neglect, struck back with matching actions: implementing tariffs as high as 75% on Ecuador’s products and banning energy exports to Ecuador.

The escalating conflict resulted in both nations recalling their ambassadors.

Earlier this month, the Andean Community of Nations determined that the mutual tariffs must be removed because they obstruct free commerce and set a deadline for both countries to comply. The organization is currently examining appeals challenging the decision.

American military forces have intercepted and disabled another commercial vessel attempting to violate the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation who spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday.

The bulk carrier Lian Star, flying under Gambia’s flag, disregarded repeated warnings from American forces during overnight hours while attempting to access an Iranian port, according to the official, who requested anonymity when discussing military operations. U.S. aircraft rendered the vessel inoperable in the Gulf of Oman, where it continues to drift, though American forces have not boarded the ship, the official stated.

This latest incident brings the total number of vessels stopped by U.S. military forces to six since the blockade’s implementation. One ship was permitted to continue its journey.

The American blockade commenced on April 17 following Iran’s effective closure of the strait after hostilities erupted with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28. A tentative ceasefire has remained in place since April 7. The region and international community now wait for developments regarding a potential agreement to extend the ceasefire for 60 days while conducting fresh negotiations on Iran’s contested nuclear program.

Developments in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman have disrupted the global economy, with substantial quantities of oil, natural gas and related products like fertilizer effectively blocked from transport, intensifying pressure on consumers and agricultural producers.

The American blockade aims to restrict Iran’s shipping capabilities and further limit its revenue streams, adding pressure to its already struggling economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump conducted meetings with advisers on Friday but has not yet made a decision regarding proceeding with an agreement to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait. Iran has indicated the deal remains incomplete.

Maritime commerce has continued moving through the strait at reduced levels compared to pre-conflict volumes, despite Iran’s claims that it must authorize all passages.

“Any violation of these regulations will place the security of their passage at serious risk,” Iran’s joint military command stated Saturday in a declaration broadcast on state television, cautioning that military vessels attempting to interfere would face targeting.

Iran has imposed transit fees reaching as high as $2 million, which maritime experts consider a breach of international maritime commerce principles regarding freedom of peaceful navigation.

Qatar’s deputy prime minister, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, said Saturday the Gulf nation objects to charging transit fees, “but for certain times when they say they are going to use it for mine clearing or some usage of the fees for a temporary time, this is something that is negotiable, and it could be something that will help the transit of the Strait of Hormuz to be back to normal stage.”

The U.S. official previously informed the AP that American forces have not located or eliminated any mines in the strait.