Category: World News

Ukrainian forces conducted overnight drone attacks on industrial facilities located in two Russian cities situated along the Volga River, according to regional officials on Saturday.

Samara region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorischev confirmed that the aerial strikes targeted industrial sites in Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk, stating that the assault was still ongoing as of his announcement.

While the governor did not specify which particular facilities were hit during the attack, both municipalities are home to petroleum refining operations that have faced repeated targeting throughout the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Ukrainian officials reported extensive damage from a massive Russian drone assault that occurred during overnight hours on April 18, affecting critical infrastructure across multiple regions.

The southern Odesa region bore the brunt of strikes targeting port facilities, with regional governor Oleh Kiper reporting via Telegram that unmanned aircraft struck agricultural storage facilities, supply depots, and government buildings. Kiper confirmed no injuries resulted from the bombardment.

In northern Ukraine’s Chernihiv region, Russian forces struck an electrical generation facility, according to the area’s power distribution company posting on Telegram. The attack left approximately 380,000 people without electricity.

Ukrainian air defense forces tracked a total of 219 long-range unmanned aircraft launched by Russia during the nighttime offensive, military officials announced.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A doorway that previously opened into a family living space now leads to empty air. The flooring has been removed, along with the walls and ceiling.

This was once the residence of Syed Murtaza Sadar in Afghanistan’s capital, situated above the barbershop and bathhouse that served as his family’s livelihood. These structures have also been almost entirely eliminated, reduced to debris and broken masonry. Sadar and his relatives were compelled to dismantle most of the structure by themselves.

“This was our house and now I am destroying it with my own hands,” the 25-year-old explained while taking a moment’s rest from tearing down a brick barrier. “It will be very difficult for us.”

Two months prior, city officials visited this neighborhood and informed property and business owners that their buildings would be seized to create space for a broader roadway, as part of initiatives to upgrade the Afghan capital’s severely congested transportation network.

Initially, no one took them seriously, Sadar explained. However, demolition teams subsequently appeared.

Residences, commercial establishments, and even burial grounds are being destroyed throughout Kabul to accommodate street construction. Expanded roadways, overpasses and underground passages are quickly replacing narrow and frequently pothole-riddled streets.

Much of the blueprint was developed years earlier, during Afghanistan’s period under a U.S.-supported administration. However, most construction never began, becoming entangled in bureaucratic delays, corruption, and security threats from the Taliban resistance.

Soon after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, following the disorderly departure of U.S.-led forces, Kabul’s new city leadership began restarting these initiatives.

Over the past four and a half years, approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) of streets have been constructed in the capital, according to Naimatullah Barakzai, Kabul municipality’s cultural affairs representative, during a recent press briefing. Throughout this period, 11,278 properties were seized.

An additional 233 projects are scheduled for this year, with more than 1.9 billion afghanis ($29 million) designated, according to Mohammad Qasim Afghan, the municipality’s planning director.

The street construction initiatives are funded completely through municipal resources, Barakzai stated, mentioning that over the previous 4½ years, Kabul municipality had generated more than 28 billion afghanis (approximately $434 million).

Property holders receive roughly three months’ warning and receive payment at rates determined by the municipality. In the previous year, more than 1.2 billion afghanis ($18.6 million) were distributed as compensation, Barakzai reported.

Opposition is not truly possible.

Sadar, the building owner, explained that demolition teams destroyed the front portions of structures on his street. Subsequently, officials informed owners they must complete the destruction themselves.

His enterprise provided employment for approximately 25 individuals, Sadar noted. It supported his extended family — five households total, each containing three or four children.

“If the government gives us money (in compensation) then God willing, I will be able to go back to work and I will be able to buy a house or build a house for myself,” he stated. Currently, they are residing in rental housing, depleting their savings.

Nevertheless, Sadar expressed satisfaction about the road expansion. The current street, with only one lane in each direction, becomes so packed with vehicles that traveling anywhere requires spending an hour in traffic, he observed.

At a different construction location in the city, project supervisor and engineer Obaidullah Elham reported that crews operate continuously, seven days weekly, to construct a Turkish-designed 1.5 billion afghani ($23 million) overpass and tunnel to replace the heavily congested Baraki intersection.

Five hundred employees, both trained and untrained, are working on the project, Elham stated, creating essential employment in a nation experiencing widespread poverty.

Construction on the 470-meter (1,540-foot) long tunnel started last July and is 80% finished, the project supervisor said, while an excavator worked the soil nearby. Building of the overpass commenced earlier this year. It will become only the second such structure in Kabul.

In Kabul’s Qala-e-Khater district, portions of a cemetery that has contained residents’ remains for approximately 200 years must also be cleared for a new street that will cut through the community.

Burial sites sit vacant, with large rectangular openings where the deceased have been removed. Their remains have been relocated to another section of the cemetery across the street.

Abdul Wadood Alokozay said his grandfather’s body was among those moved.

Alokozay’s extended family possessed three properties in the vicinity. One housed a girls’ madrassa, or religious school. The remaining two were family residences. All were seized and demolished completely. Only a faint outline in the muddy soil remains.

“At first our family (were) all sad for this, that we lost our house,” the 21-year-old said. Even more difficult was destroying it themselves, after residing there for over twenty years.

As payment, they received more than $13,000 for all three structures and have been promised additional compensation for the land. The family has constructed a new, three-story residence on other property they owned, overlooking the former location.

Blueprints for this roadway have existed for decades, stated 30-year-old community representative Shah Faisal Alokozay, Abdul Wadood’s cousin.

“It’s a very important road, connecting east and north Kabul,” he explained. “So it is very important for the community.”

New Zealand officials are pushing back against Chinese accusations that one of their military aircraft violated security protocols during a patrol mission in waters near China on Saturday.

Beijing’s foreign ministry announced Friday that a New Zealand P-8A patrol plane had “conducted continuous close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace and waters of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.”

Chinese spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that “The action undermined China’s security interests, increased risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and gravely disrupted the order of civil aviation,” according to official government records.

New Zealand’s Defence Force countered the allegations, explaining that a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft “has been undertaking activities that monitor North Korean sanctions evasions at sea in North Asia under UN Security Council resolutions.”

Defence officials emphasized that “The New Zealand Defence Force crew operated professionally and in accordance with international law and civil aviation procedures for the region.” They added in their official response: “We have made it clear that this is a longstanding deployment enforcing UN-mandated sanctions on North Korea.”

Tensions between New Zealand and China have been elevated since February of last year when Chinese naval forces held live-fire military drills in the Tasman Sea near New Zealand’s coastline. The two nations’ leadership attempted to repair diplomatic relations during a June meeting in New Zealand, focusing on trade partnerships as a way to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Finance manager Mahnaz Ataei faces a daily juggling act at her Tehran workplace, supervising her 7-year-old son’s virtual lessons while attempting to complete her professional responsibilities.

Educational institutions throughout Iran remain shuttered following the conflict that began February 28 when the United States and Israel initiated military action, with officials providing no timeline for returning to classroom instruction. While concerns about aerial bombardments have diminished since a temporary ceasefire took hold, normalcy remains elusive.

Similar to the pandemic-related shutdowns from six years prior, working mothers and fathers with young children face particular hardships.

“My productivity drops when I have to pay attention to both my child and my work at the same time,” Ataei said. “The hardest part is trying to create balance between work and online classes, and always stressing over whether he is really learning his lessons properly.”

The conflict claimed no fewer than 3,000 Iranian lives, including over 165 fatalities from an attack on a primary school. The temporary truce is scheduled to end early next week, with Washington and Tehran remaining at odds over critical matters including Iran’s uranium enrichment program. A potential U.S. maritime embargo threatens to further devastate Iran’s already weakened economic situation.

Numerous families evacuated the capital with their children once the bombing campaign commenced. However, the increased security came with consequences including disrupted daily schedules, overcrowded housing situations, and economic strain. These families now face the challenge of rebuilding their normal lives without knowing what lies ahead.

“I feel like I’m suspended — neither in the air nor on the ground,” said Roya Amiri, a housewife who recently returned to Tehran after fleeing with her two sons, ages 10 and 18, days after the start of the war.

Amiri’s household joined hundreds of thousands of Iranians who abandoned the capital and other urban centers, seeking refuge in countryside locations or the relatively untouched northern regions. They found shelter with family members, creating a living situation with 15 individuals under a single roof.

Conflicts arose among the young people as they were crammed into tight spaces while their normal schedules and sleep patterns suffered disruption. Her younger son suffers from a breathing condition, and locating his required medicine proved challenging.

Educational facilities closed following the initial attacks, temporarily reopening with virtual instruction for one week in March before the Nowruz celebration. Distance learning recommenced on April 4.

Despite the possibility of renewed fighting looming over the capital, Amiri expressed confidence that returning to Tehran was the correct choice. Should warfare resume, she intends to remain in her own residence.

“I was tired of living collectively. I wanted to return to my own home and routine,” Amiri said. “I missed Tehran.”

Reza Jafari and his spouse relocated their children to stay with her relatives — another household that quickly accommodated more than twelve family members and extended relatives.

“Because the sound of explosions was distressing and my children were terrified, I left Tehran for their peace of mind,” he said. “I was happy to be with relatives. It felt like a forced but valuable opportunity to reconnect.”

According to Jafari, the youngsters appeared to adjust more quickly, surrounded by grandparents, cousins and continuous activities. The grown-ups struggled more with disrupted rest, lack of personal space, monetary stress and the fatigue that accompanies extended stays as houseguests, regardless of how welcoming the hosts.

Architect Padideh Teymourian and her spouse Amir Ramezani, who operates a jewelry business, have restructured their daily lives around their 6-year-old daughter’s virtual preschool program.

Teymourian’s workplace reopened following the holiday period and prohibited remote work arrangements, she explained. Staff members who didn’t report for duty were instructed to request unpaid time off.

Their mornings start with hurried preparations to establish a temporary learning space at home. One parent must remain beside their daughter during her entire class session, making sure she has the correct materials and stays engaged.

Ramezani adjusted his work hours to stay home during daytime hours. Teymourian assumes responsibility in the afternoon, using accumulated leave time to bridge the gap. “My husband’s work schedule has been completely disrupted, and I also take about an hour and a half of hourly leave every day,” she said.

Ramezani frequently arrives home well after midnight, once their daughter has already fallen asleep. Shared family meals have become uncommon.

“It has put economic and emotional pressure on both of us,” he said. “Life is moving on fast forward … You don’t even notice how the day becomes night. We’re just getting through time until things go back to the way they were.”

TORONTO — A Toronto-area resident originally facing murder accusations for allegedly distributing deadly chemicals through online sales will instead admit guilt to charges of assisting suicide, according to his legal representative who spoke with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. on Friday.

Defense attorney Matthew Gourlay informed CBC News that Canadian prosecutors have agreed to drop all 14 murder accusations against Kenneth Law in exchange for the guilty plea.

The case is set to appear before a Newmarket, Ontario court Monday afternoon.

Neither Gourlay’s law firm nor Ontario’s Attorney General’s office responded to requests for comment.

Authorities say Law operated multiple online platforms to advertise and distribute sodium nitrite, a chemical typically used in meat processing that becomes lethal when consumed.

Investigators believe Law shipped no fewer than 1,200 packages to customers across more than 40 nations worldwide. Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Britain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand have opened their own investigations.

Canadian law prohibits encouraging suicide, though physician-assisted death became legal in 2016 for individuals 18 and older. Adults suffering from serious medical conditions, illnesses or disabilities may request medical assistance in dying, but must seek help through a licensed doctor.

Law remains behind bars following his arrest at his Mississauga, Ontario residence in May 2023.

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, assisting suicide carries a potential 14-year prison term. Murder convictions result in automatic life sentences with no possibility of parole for a minimum of 25 years.

President Donald Trump warned Friday that military operations against Iran may restart if diplomatic negotiations collapse when the current ceasefire concludes next week, while maintaining that U.S. blockade measures in the region will continue regardless.

When questioned Friday evening about his plans should talks fail after the truce expires, Trump stated, “I don’t know. Maybe I won’t extend it, but the blockade is going to remain. But maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.”

Despite the warning, Trump expressed optimism while speaking to journalists on Air Force One en route to Washington, saying “I think it’s going to happen,” when discussing the possibility of reaching an agreement.

Uncertainty continued Saturday regarding actual shipping access through the strategic waterway, as Tehran maintained control over the strait while determining which vessels could pass, and continued threatening closure if American blockade measures against Iranian vessels and ports persist.

Tehran’s Friday declaration regarding the reopening of the vital shipping channel, which handles 20% of global oil transport, occurred while a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Iran-supported Hezbollah forces in Lebanon remained intact.

The conflict has resulted in casualties totaling at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, approximately 2,300 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and over a dozen across Gulf Arab nations. Additionally, thirteen American military personnel have lost their lives.

When asked about potential Iranian-managed restrictions or fees for Strait of Hormuz passage, President Trump firmly dismissed the concept.

“Nope. No way. No. Nope,” Trump responded. He emphasized that tolls combined with restrictions would be unacceptable. “No, they’re not going to be tolls.”

President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism about diplomatic efforts with Iran during his Friday flight back to Washington, though he warned that current ceasefire arrangements could collapse by Wednesday without a lasting agreement.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from Phoenix, Trump indicated positive developments were occurring but refused to provide specifics about the encouraging news.

“It seems to be going very well in the Middle East with Iran,” Trump stated. “We’re negotiating over the weekend. I expect things to go well. Many of these things have been negotiated and agreed to.”

However, the president struck a more serious tone when discussing the Wednesday deadline, emphasizing that he might terminate the current ceasefire with Iran if negotiators fail to reach a comprehensive peace agreement before the deadline expires. Trump also confirmed that American naval blockades of Iranian ports would remain in effect.

The conflict, which erupted on February 28 with coordinated U.S.-Israeli military action, has resulted in thousands of casualties and caused global oil prices to spike due to the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that previously handled approximately one-fifth of worldwide petroleum shipments.

Earlier Friday, Iran announced the temporary reopening of the strategically vital strait following a separate ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon. This development came after Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s entry into the conflict on Iran’s side.

Despite announcements about the waterway’s reopening, conflicting statements from various officials have created confusion about when normal shipping operations might resume through this crucial global oil transit point.

Trump mentioned to Reuters that additional direct diplomatic meetings between Iranian and American representatives would likely occur over the weekend. However, diplomatic sources expressed skepticism about the feasibility of organizing such high-level talks in Islamabad, the expected venue for negotiations.

No visible preparations for weekend discussions were apparent Saturday morning in Pakistan’s capital, where the most significant U.S.-Iran diplomatic engagement since the 1979 Islamic Revolution concluded without agreement the previous weekend.

Pakistan’s chief military officer, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been serving as a key intermediary, has been conducting discussions in Tehran since Wednesday.

According to a Pakistani source familiar with the mediation process, potential meetings between Iran and the United States could yield an initial framework agreement, potentially followed by a complete peace settlement within 60 days.

The situation remains complicated by statements from Iranian officials. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who also serves as a senior negotiator, warned on social media that the Strait of Hormuz “will not remain open” if American blockade operations continue.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced through social media that the strait would accommodate all commercial shipping for the duration of the 10-day truce established Thursday between Israel and Lebanon.

Maritime tracking data revealed that approximately 20 vessels, including container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers, began moving toward the Strait of Hormuz Friday evening. However, most of these ships ultimately reversed course for unclear reasons. The flotilla included three container vessels operated by French shipping company CMA CGM, which declined to provide comment.

One exception was the cruise ship Celestyal Discovery, previously stranded in Dubai, which successfully crossed the strait Saturday morning and was heading toward Oman, according to Marine Traffic monitoring systems.

Iran has implemented new requirements mandating that all vessels coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before transit, a procedure that wasn’t necessary before the conflict began. The Defense Ministry issued a statement through state television clarifying that military ships and vessels connected to “hostile forces” – specifically the United States and Israel – remain prohibited from passage.

Shipping companies have indicated they need additional clarification, particularly regarding potential mine hazards, before resuming normal operations through the Gulf entrance.

The U.S. Navy has issued warnings to maritime operators that the extent of mine threats in portions of the waterway remains unclear, recommending that vessels consider avoiding the area entirely.

Significant questions persist regarding how Iran and the United States will address Tehran’s nuclear program, which has emerged as a major obstacle in peace discussions. Iran maintains its right to what it characterizes as a civilian nuclear energy initiative.

Trump told Reuters that America would remove Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium, while Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei informed state television that the material would not be transferred elsewhere.

A senior Iranian official separately expressed hope that a preliminary agreement could be achieved in the coming days.

Global markets responded positively to prospects of resumed maritime traffic, with oil prices dropping approximately 10% and international stock markets surging Friday.

Following a Friday video conference, more than a dozen nations indicated willingness to participate in an international maritime protection mission in the strait when circumstances allow, according to British officials.

A high-ranking Iranian official told Reuters that negotiators had agreed to unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets as part of any accord, though no timeline was specified. Later Friday, Trump, who frequently describes peace negotiations as a “deal” or “transaction,” told an Arizona rally that “no money will exchange hands in any way, shape or form.”

During last weekend’s negotiations, American representatives proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activities, while Iran suggested a three-to-five-year halt, according to individuals familiar with the proposals.

Two Iranian sources indicated signs of a potential compromise that could involve removing portions of the uranium stockpile.

Trump suggested to Reuters that the United States might proceed deliberately rather than hastily. “We’re going to go in with Iran, at a nice leisurely pace, and go down and start excavating with big machinery,” he explained during a phone interview. “We’ll bring it back to the United States.”

Despite Trump’s positive outlook, Iranian sources told Reuters that “gaps remained to be resolved” before reaching a preliminary agreement, while senior religious leaders adopted a defiant stance during Friday prayers.

“Our people do not negotiate while being humiliated,” declared cleric Ahmad Khatami.

Defense officials from Australia and Japan have formalized contracts to move forward with a massive A$10 billion ($7 billion) naval vessel agreement, marking Tokyo’s largest military equipment sale since it lifted restrictions on weapons exports in 2014.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi put their signatures on a memorandum that confirms both nations’ dedication to successfully completing the warship project, according to Marles’ official statement.

The agreement, which was initially reached last August, represents Japan’s strategic shift from its post-World War II pacifist stance as it builds defense partnerships beyond its traditional U.S. alliance to address China’s growing influence.

Under the terms, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will deliver three enhanced Mogami-class multi-purpose frigates to Australia’s Royal Navy, with construction taking place in Japan beginning in 2029. An additional eight vessels will be manufactured on Australian soil.

Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on social media platform X that both ministers celebrated the contract signing and pledged to deepen their countries’ defense cooperation during the ceremony held in Melbourne.

The initial trio of frigates will be constructed in Japan before production shifts to Australia’s Henderson shipbuilding facility located near Perth in Western Australia, Marles explained.

These new vessels are engineered for multiple combat roles, including submarine tracking, surface vessel engagement, and aerial defense operations. Australia intends to use them for protecting vital shipping lanes and securing its northern waters in the Indian and Pacific regions, areas where China has been expanding its military presence.

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer finds himself in the political fight of his life, with mounting calls for his resignation over a diplomatic appointment gone horribly wrong.

The crisis centers around Starmer’s controversial choice of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States — a man who openly described himself as Jeffrey Epstein’s “best pal” despite the convicted sex offender’s criminal history.

What began as questionable judgment has escalated into accusations that Starmer deliberately misled Parliament about the appointment process. The revelation could spell the end of his tenure as Prime Minister, particularly damaging given his campaign promise to restore integrity to British politics after years of Conservative scandals.

“Starmer set himself up as the guy who always followed the rules, in stark contrast to, say, Boris Johnson, and he came to power effectively promising to ‘drain the swamp’,” explained Tim Bale, a political science professor at Queen Mary University of London.

“Because of that, the latest revelations in the unholy mess created by his ill-judged appointment of Peter Mandelson mean that many voters now see him not only as a liar but as a hypocrite — and hypocrisy is one of the worst sins that any British politician can possibly commit,” Bale continued.

The latest bombshell dropped Thursday when The Guardian published reports showing Mandelson initially failed security clearance requirements for the ambassadorial position he would later be dismissed from after nine months. This directly contradicts Starmer’s parliamentary testimony that “full due process” had been followed throughout the appointment.

Government officials maintain that Starmer and his cabinet only learned this week that the Foreign Office had reached a different conclusion during its initial evaluation. The controversy has already claimed one casualty — Foreign Office chief civil servant Olly Robbins submitted his resignation.

Starmer now must defend himself against questions about his knowledge of the screening procedures, which examined Mandelson’s financial dealings, personal associations including his Epstein connection, and overall character assessment.

Additional allegations suggest Starmer may have pressured officials to overlook red flags concerning the 72-year-old Mandelson during the vetting process.

The Prime Minister expressed being “absolutely furious” about being kept uninformed, describing the situation as “staggering” and “unforgivable.” He plans to address Parliament directly on Monday.

Despite Starmer’s poor approval ratings and expected Labour losses in upcoming May elections, leadership challenges had recently quieted down. His decision to avoid direct UK military involvement in the Iran conflict had resonated positively with voters.

Mandelson represented a calculated gamble from the start, given his history of resigning twice from previous Labour administrations over financial and ethical violations around 2000, plus his well-documented relationship with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019.

Starmer’s strategy seemed clear: leverage Mandelson’s negotiating experience and trade knowledge to help shield Britain from the harshest Trump administration tariffs.

Initially, this approach appeared successful, but the situation deteriorated by September 2025 when leaked emails revealed Mandelson had continued supporting Epstein even while the financier faced imprisonment for sex crimes. Though politically damaging, Starmer hoped firing Mandelson would end the controversy.

Those hopes were crushed in January when the U.S. Justice Department released extensive Epstein-related documents. The so-called Epstein Files contained emails suggesting that during Mandelson’s government service from 2009-2010, he had shared confidential and potentially market-sensitive government intelligence with the disgraced financier.

Starmer has issued multiple public apologies to British citizens and Epstein’s trafficking victims for trusting what he now calls “Mandelson’s lies.”

British authorities have since opened a criminal investigation, conducting searches of Mandelson’s London and western England residences. Police arrested Mandelson on February 23rd on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Following more than nine hours of interrogation, he was released on bail the next morning. Mandelson maintains his innocence and faces no sexual misconduct allegations.

Starmer likely hoped his measured response to the Iran crisis would suppress leadership speculation, even with Labour’s anticipated poor showing in May’s elections — Britain’s equivalent to American midterm contests.

Such optimism appears misplaced.

“This scandal is not ending,” declared Kemi Badenoch, who leads the opposition Conservative Party. “He has run out of people to sack, he has run out of places to hide, he has run out of authority. The buck stops with him. His position is untenable and he must go.”

The crucial factor will be Labour parliamentarians’ reactions.

Monday’s parliamentary statement will provide Starmer with a key opportunity to assess party support. While few Labour members have publicly called for his departure, any additional defections following weekend campaigning in their home districts could signal serious trouble.

Political leadership can collapse rapidly, as demonstrated by Boris Johnson’s trajectory from commanding a substantial 2019 electoral victory to resigning as both Prime Minister and Member of Parliament just three years later amid a cascade of scandals.

SYDNEY – Australia’s Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced Saturday that the country will continue relaxed fuel quality regulations through September as supply chain disruptions create challenges for the nation’s fuel availability.

“I’ve decided to extend the period of higher sulphur for petrol in Australia,” Bowen stated during a televised announcement.

The temporary measure, first implemented in March, allows sulfur levels in gasoline to reach 50 parts per million, a significant increase from the standard 10 parts per million limit.

The country, which relies on imports for the majority of its fuel needs, has seen scattered supply shortages as ongoing international conflicts have created disruptions in global fuel distribution networks. The conflict referenced has now entered its eighth week.

Meanwhile, operations at a Viva Energy oil refinery in Victoria state continue at reduced capacity following a recent fire incident. Bowen reported that production levels remain stable from the previous day.

“The Geelong refinery is working at 80% capacity for diesel and jet fuel and 60% capacity for petrol — that is still the case,” the Energy Minister explained.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated Friday that the refinery incident would not necessitate fuel rationing measures across the country.

Additionally, Albanese recently finalized an agreement with Malaysia’s state-owned Petronas energy company to provide supplemental fuel supplies to Australia. The deal was secured following diplomatic visits to Singapore and Brunei focused on strengthening the nation’s energy security.

WASHINGTON — A delegation of American officials recently traveled to Cuba for diplomatic meetings with government representatives, representing a fresh attempt at engagement despite escalating tensions between the two nations.

According to a State Department source who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, a high-ranking U.S. official met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, during the visit last week. The elder Castro continues to wield significant influence within Cuba’s government structure despite no longer holding an official position.

The anonymous official declined to identify which American representatives participated in the meeting with Rodríguez Castro. However, a separate government source confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was not among the delegation members who visited Havana. Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba and who has long opposed the Cuban government, previously met with the younger Castro in St. Kitts and Nevis during February.

During these significant diplomatic exchanges, first reported by Axios, American representatives pressed Cuban officials to implement substantial reforms to their economic system and governance structure, warning that the United States would not tolerate Cuba becoming a regional security risk, the State Department source revealed.

This mission represented the first time a U.S. government aircraft had touched down in Cuba outside of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base since 2016.

Cuba faces mounting challenges following an American energy embargo, while the Trump administration has characterized the Cuban government as both ineffective and oppressive. American conditions for sanctions relief have encompassed ending political persecution, freeing political detainees, and opening up the nation’s struggling economy.

Beyond these familiar issues, the delegations also explored an American offer to establish free and dependable internet access across the island using Starlink satellite technology, according to the State Department source.

These discussions came to light following Trump’s earlier statements this week suggesting his administration might turn its attention to Cuba once the conflict with Iran concludes.

“We may stop by Cuba after we finish with this,” Trump stated. He characterized the island as a “failing nation” and claimed it has “been a terribly run country for a long time.”

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded by asserting that the United States lacks justification for military action against Cuba or attempts to remove him from power, while emphasizing his nation’s readiness to resist if necessary.

“The moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if it becomes inevitable, to defeat it,” Díaz-Canel declared.

The Cuban leader made these remarks during a gathering of hundreds of supporters commemorating the 65th anniversary of when the Cuban Revolution declared its socialist principles.

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding last week’s diplomatic discussions.

Two water delivery drivers working for the United Nations were fatally shot by Israeli forces while transporting clean water to Palestinian families, according to UNICEF officials who expressed outrage over the Friday incident.

The deadly shooting happened during a standard water delivery operation at the Mansoura water distribution facility in northern Gaza, which serves Gaza City residents. Two additional workers sustained injuries during the same attack, the UN children’s agency reported.

Following the fatal incident, UNICEF announced it has halted all operations at the water site and is demanding Israeli officials conduct a thorough investigation. The agency emphasized that international humanitarian law requires protection for aid workers, civilians, and essential water infrastructure.

Israeli embassy officials in Washington have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the incident.

The shooting comes months after an October ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended two years of intensive warfare, though Israeli military forces maintain control over more than half of Gaza’s territory while Hamas governs the remaining coastal area.

Since the ceasefire took effect, Palestinian medical officials report over 750 Palestinians have died, while militant attacks have claimed the lives of four Israeli soldiers. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce agreement.

Sarah’s voice carries the weight of memory as she shares her family’s Holocaust survival story with deliberate care, each recollection filtered through decades of experience. On the other end of their phone conversation, her grandson Captain N of the Israel Defense Forces’ 214th Artillery Brigade listens from his deployment along Israel’s northern frontier to a narrative he knows well, yet continues to discover anew.

Their dialogue bridges two generations separated by vastly different circumstances but united by shared history. For Sarah, the Holocaust remains a lived reality that shaped every aspect of her life’s trajectory. For her military officer grandson, it represents the cornerstone of the duty he now fulfills in uniform.

Sarah emphasizes that sharing her story is an obligation, not a choice. “It’s so very important that people should know,” she told The Media Line during their interview. “And not make the same mistakes over and over again.”

She identifies herself as “a true Nitzolah,” using the Hebrew term for survivor, though her survival came not from enduring concentration camps but from her family’s prescient decision to flee before the full horror unfolded.

Sarah was born in Belgium and had reached ten years old when World War II erupted. Her father, despite lacking formal schooling, possessed remarkable intuition about the gathering storm across Europe. “Whatever he knew, he taught himself,” she explains, repeatedly returning to describe his character. “He was very curious. Very thirsty for learning.” Though he never attended school, “Whatever he knew, he taught himself,” she emphasizes again.

Having emigrated from Poland, where Jewish life was perpetually precarious, her father understood hardship intimately. After moving westward, he methodically built his livelihood, first mastering diamond work and trading, then expanding into an entirely different field. “He also decided to learn chocolate making,” Sarah mentions almost casually.

Rather than following a predetermined plan, Sarah explains, her father adapted and learned whatever skills circumstances demanded. Most crucially, he possessed an ability to read the political climate while others remained uncertain about their future.

He monitored developments in Germany closely and grasped their potential implications. When he reached his decision, it came decisively rather than gradually – they would not remain to witness what might unfold.

When he informed the family of their departure, he framed it as a simple visit. “We’re going to England,” Sarah remembers him announcing, ostensibly to see their daughter.

Only later did his true intentions become apparent – he had no plans to return. England itself was merely a waystation. “When the time comes, we’ll go on to Palestine,” she recalls him declaring.

For young Sarah, the transition felt entirely different. As a child, she couldn’t comprehend the larger forces reshaping their world. Her initial memories of Sussex center on sensory details rather than ideology. “The smell of kippers … it was a terrible smell,” she says, referring to the smoked fish common in Britain then. She also recalls encountering elderly people living in conditions that made a lasting impression, though she couldn’t fully understand why at the time.

Despite the upheaval, Sarah felt cared for during their stay. “They spoiled me,” she remembers. Local people gave her small tasks like shoe polishing and compensated her for the work. “This was earned money,” she adds, still expressing pride in those early wages.

Their time in that location proved brief. The atmosphere shifted as suspicion grew toward foreign refugees, including European Jews. “There was a fear that they might be spies,” Sarah explains. Her family, like others, had to adapt once more.

By the time she discusses London, the war was fully underway. “I was just ten,” she repeats multiple times, emphasizing her youth during these traumatic events.

She vividly recalls the night a bomb struck their neighbors’ air raid shelter, separated from their own home by only a fence. The neighboring family was Jewish with children near her age. “They didn’t survive it at all,” she states simply.

Another incident remains particularly vivid in her memory. Following a nearby explosion, authorities ordered everyone to evacuate their shelter immediately. “They said, ignore it … just run for your lives,” she remembers. Officials feared another unexploded bomb remained in the vicinity.

When they emerged, broken glass covered the street completely. “There were splinters everywhere,” Sarah describes. She had no shoes and initially ran barefoot across the debris. Her father soon realized what she was stepping on. “He lifted me on his shoulders,” she recalls.

What amazed her most was what happened afterward. Upon reaching safety, “not a glass splinter stayed on the sole of my foot,” she says, still sounding astonished. Her father’s shoes were similarly unscathed. “We called it miraculous,” she reflects.

The war’s end didn’t conclude their family’s relocations. They moved from London to Manchester, believing it offered greater safety. The Jewish community there welcomed them as refugees with warmth and attention, though uncertainty never completely disappeared.

Family members who remained in Poland perished in the Holocaust. Sarah’s future husband Itzhak, whom she would meet in Israel, survived the Holocaust directly in Europe. For years, he couldn’t discuss his experiences. “It was too terrible to talk about,” she remembers. When trauma did surface, it wasn’t through conversation. “He used to scream in the night,” she says.

Despite these painful memories, Sarah doesn’t characterize their later life in terms of suffering. “We managed to keep it a very happy house,” she explains. “A house where there was a lot of singing and dancing and jokes.” She mentions the jokes again, noting her husband loved telling them, even though “he was not all that good at it.”

When discussing their eventual life in Israel, Sarah struggles to find adequate words. “I don’t think I can express it,” she begins, then attempts again. “It’s indescribable, really … that feeling, I find it indescribable.”

“It’s really like it says in one of the psalms,” she adds. “From the depths of sorrow to the heights of freedom.”

Though her grandson never witnessed this transformation personally, he inherited its significance. Speaking from his current position in northern Israel, he acknowledges that hearing the story affects him differently each time. “Listening to this story every time is very emotional,” he explains. Despite growing up with these accounts, full comprehension came gradually. “Just around 16, I realized the full story,” he says, referring to both grandparents’ experiences.

Unfortunately, his grandfather had already passed away by then. “Sadly, I couldn’t ask him the questions I have,” he adds with regret.

When describing what most impressed him about his grandfather, Captain N focuses not on the traumatic events themselves but on something else entirely. “He never let those events define him,” he observes. He characterizes both grandparents as profoundly optimistic, a trait that became integral to their family’s identity.

This inheritance shapes his own sense of military duty. “We can’t let those things go back in time and happen to the Jewish community again,” he declares. For him, IDF service addresses not only current threats but prevents the return of a past that remains very immediate in his family’s experience.

He views Israel not merely as a state but as a remarkable transformation – a small people becoming an independent nation with a powerful military in less than a century. For him, this represents “something beautiful,” the product of values forged during the darkest chapters of Jewish history.

When asked about Israeli identity, he responds in terms of historical continuity – living the Zionist dream, building a homeland, serving the community, and reconnecting a people after 2,000 years of diaspora. His military service, he believes, contributes to this mission.

Sarah agrees with her grandson’s perspective but adds another dimension. She acknowledges that she has changed since October 7th. The attack deeply unsettled her, revealing vulnerabilities she hadn’t fully anticipated.

However, her conclusion doesn’t involve questioning Israel’s necessity but rather the opposite. “Now I feel that I need Israel even more, more than ever,” she declares. She speaks of community, protection, and everything the state provides that cannot be taken for granted.

The physical distance between them – she speaking from a home built after the war, he from a military position on an active border – doesn’t separate their perspectives but rather connects them.

Sarah’s early life unfolded in a Europe where Jewish survival depended on correctly reading danger signals and departing in time. Her grandson’s life takes place in a state where Jews bear responsibility for their own defense. The transition between these realities isn’t theoretical – this family lives it across generations.

Their conversation never becomes a political statement but remains rooted in lived experience. A father who understood history. A child who sensed fear without fully grasping it. A family that relocated, survived, and rebuilt. A husband who carried trauma into a life that still made space for happiness. And a grandson who now stands in uniform on a border his great-grandparents could never have envisioned.

Sarah repeatedly states that some experiences cannot be expressed in words, that they are felt “here in the heart.” Yet throughout their conversation, something becomes evident.

For her family, survival didn’t end with staying alive. It continued through the decision to build, raise children, create a home, and transmit not only memory but a sense of responsibility.

On Israel’s northern border, that responsibility has taken a new form. It no longer involves escape but defense. This distinction, Sarah emphasizes, makes all the difference.

A temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon commenced at midnight Israel time on April 16, 2026, following intensive diplomatic efforts by the United States to broker a ten-day pause in hostilities between the neighboring countries.

The U.S. State Department outlined key provisions of the agreement, which allows Israel to maintain its defensive capabilities while stationed in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces can continue responding to what officials describe as “planned, imminent, or ongoing threats” without violating the ceasefire terms. However, Israel has committed to halting offensive operations targeting Lebanese civilian, military, or government facilities by land, air, or sea.

Under the framework, Lebanon’s government must work with international partners to stop Hezbollah and other militant organizations from launching attacks or conducting hostile actions against Israeli positions. The deal emphasizes that Lebanese security forces hold exclusive responsibility for maintaining the nation’s sovereignty and security without outside guarantees.

Both countries have asked Washington to continue mediating unresolved matters, particularly establishing clear international border boundaries, with hopes of achieving what negotiators call “lasting stability and peace between the two countries.”

Fighting persisted right up until the ceasefire deadline, with both Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants trading strikes near the border region. Lebanese military officials reported shelling incidents early Friday morning that they claimed breached the newly established truce.

President Donald Trump celebrated the diplomatic breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “historic” development for Lebanon and posting “Good things are happening!!!” The President also expressed hope that “Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time.”

President Trump expressed optimism that the ongoing conflict with Iran might reach a conclusion in the near future, even after negotiations stalled over the weekend, while also indicating his willingness to participate in potential discussions in Islamabad.

During remarks to the press outside the White House, Trump suggested that additional US-Iran negotiations could occur this weekend and mentioned the possibility of extending a current two-week ceasefire, though he noted this extension might be unnecessary given Tehran’s apparent desire for an agreement.

“We’re going to see what happens. But I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran,” Trump stated, noting that he might participate if final negotiations and signing ceremonies take place in Islamabad.

Later that day while in Las Vegas, the President expressed even greater confidence, stating the conflict “should be ending pretty soon.”

The military action, which commenced on February 28, has faced domestic opposition, with political analysts suggesting that public disapproval of the conflict might create electoral challenges for Republican candidates in the approaching midterm Congressional races.

Tehran’s decision to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz has led to some of the most dramatic oil price spikes seen in recent years, sparking worries about potential wider economic consequences.

Nevertheless, Trump characterized the military operation favorably, describing it as proceeding “swimmingly.” He elaborated: “It was perfect. It’s perfect. It was the power we have,” and emphasized, “We had the most powerful military anywhere in the world.”

The World Bank announced a fresh approach on Friday designed to assist small island nations and compact countries in overcoming their distinctive economic obstacles by prioritizing employment opportunities.

World Bank President Ajay Banga presented the plan during a private meeting with finance ministers and central bank leaders from 50 smaller nations, held as part of the spring conferences for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington.

Banga explained that the initiative aims to employ specialized tools to help these nations draw more private sector investment, implement policy changes that make business operations easier, and ultimately generate additional employment opportunities.

The strategy will concentrate on sectors including healthcare, cost-effective energy solutions, durable infrastructure, and small enterprises where Bank leadership believes there are significant opportunities to stimulate economic growth and create quality employment.

Last year, the World Bank Group committed a record-breaking $3.3 billion in new funding and guarantees for smaller nations, which encounter distinct economic difficulties and suffer disproportionately from external disruptions, as demonstrated during the conflict in the Middle East.

“For small businesses, a single hurricane, a sudden surge in imported fuel prices, or a downturn in tourism can undo months of investment and income in a matter of days,” the bank stated in a blog post accompanying the new strategy.

According to Banga, the Bank will adopt a customized approach when developing regional initiatives in these countries, with partnerships playing a central role.

“This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Small states are diverse, and our support will reflect that,” Banga informed the financial officials. “We also know the economics are different.”

He pointed out that operating in smaller nations can cost up to four times more than in larger countries, prompting the Bank to plan for more efficient service delivery, flexible financing options, and scalable solutions to maximize the impact of every dollar spent.

Several initiatives are already in progress.

In Tonga, the bank will jointly fund an urban resilience initiative with the Asian Development Bank through a groundbreaking mutual reliance framework agreement between multilateral development institutions.

Banga indicated that additional similar agreements are being planned, including one with the Inter-American Development Bank to extend this approach to Caribbean nations. He also mentioned that the World Bank is expanding the range of tools available to countries.

Enhanced analysis is also crucial, according to the bank. Comprehensive studies examining barriers to private sector employment are currently underway for Barbados, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mauritius, Samoa, and Seychelles.

The World Bank can also use its influence to help drive investments, the blog explained. For example, the International Finance Corp, the bank’s investment division, supported funding for Botswana’s first utility-scale solar facility, while the World Bank worked on a related battery storage project to enable solar integration into the electrical grid.

“The result is not only a solar plant, but a replicable model for how unlocking private finance can open markets and create jobs,” the bank stated in its blog.

The European Union is developing new guidance encouraging member nations to reduce reliance on Middle Eastern aviation fuel and explore boosting imports from the United States, according to a source familiar with the matter, as ongoing conflict with Iran creates supply chain disruptions.

These previously undisclosed plans, still undergoing final revisions, will emphasize greater energy independence and resilience through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and synthetic alternatives.

Aviation companies across Europe have issued warnings about possible jet fuel shortages arriving in the coming weeks due to the Iran conflict, potentially affecting busy summer travel periods. The continent faces particular vulnerability since it relies on imports for 30% to 40% of its jet fuel needs, with at least half originating from Middle Eastern sources.

The European Union’s advisory recommendations will highlight the region’s constraints in boosting domestic jet fuel production while offering guidance for managing potential supply shortfalls, according to the source.

The individual requested anonymity since negotiations continue and the draft remains incomplete. A European Commission representative confirmed plans to unveil crisis response measures next week, including aviation fuel initiatives.

Supply availability “remains the primary concern,” the Commission representative stated, noting that continued disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger coordinated jet fuel stock releases across the EU.

Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a crucial passage for Gulf energy shipments, following a Lebanese ceasefire agreement, though U.S. President Donald Trump indicated naval restrictions continue pending a Tehran agreement.

The EU representative expressed hope for sustained safe transit through the Strait while acknowledging ongoing uncertainty, stating: “Let’s see.”

European flight cancellations could begin by late May due to fuel shortages, according to Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, who spoke Friday. Carriers are already reducing flight schedules and grounding aircraft.

The source described how the EU document will outline airline guidance for fuel shortage scenarios, including airport slot losses from cancellations and the anti-tankering regulation that prevents aircraft from carrying excess fuel from cheaper locations.

The guidance will determine whether fuel shortages qualify as exceptional circumstances allowing airlines to avoid passenger compensation for cancellations. The source noted the EU rejected airline requests to modify or suspend Emissions Trading System requirements and SAF mandates.

European Commission officials also plan continent-wide mapping of oil product refining capabilities and measures “to ensure that existing refining capacity is fully utilised and maintained,” according to a draft proposal previously obtained by Reuters.

Officials will examine distribution logistics for increased use of U.S. Jet A fuel, rarely utilized in Europe due to its higher freezing temperature compared to European standards. Europe’s Jet A-1 performs better in long-distance, high-altitude, and cold-weather conditions and receives military preference. April saw significant increases in jet fuel imports from both the United States and Nigeria.

Several major European aviation centers in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany depend on the NATO-operated CEPS pipeline for European-grade jet fuel supplies. NATO representatives did not immediately respond to pipeline logistics inquiries.

Airlines are bracing for potential supply constraints, with the International Energy Agency predicting June fuel shortages if the region can only secure half its typical Middle Eastern supplies.

Airport authorities have issued warnings about shortages within three weeks if Strait of Hormuz fuel shipments remain blocked. The European Commission expects to caution that jet fuel supplies may stay constrained even after Strait of Hormuz reopening.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed representatives from 50 nations on Friday, advocating for collaborative action to establish an effective security operation in the Strait of Hormuz, while suggesting that Ukraine’s Black Sea wartime expertise could prove valuable.

Speaking during a video conference led by France and Britain, Zelenskyy warned that “Decisions made regarding Hormuz now will determine how other aggressive actors perceive the possibility of creating problems in other straits and on other fronts.”

The Ukrainian leader stressed the importance of taking decisive action, stating: “We need to be as specific and clear as possible so that in six months we don’t find ourselves in the same situation as in Gaza, where much still needs to be done.”

Zelenskyy noted that maritime security challenges in the Hormuz region require more than diplomatic solutions, explaining that “In Hormuz, there are security challenges that cannot be addressed by political decisions alone,” though he did not provide additional details.

Drawing on Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, Zelenskyy highlighted his country’s relevant experience, noting that over four years of warfare, Ukraine had “already carried out a very similar mission in the Black Sea.”

He explained Ukraine’s maritime defense capabilities, saying: “Russia also attempted to blockade our sea and we have experience in escorting merchant vessels, demining, defending against air attacks and the overall coordination of such operations.”

The president revealed that Ukraine has deployed military experts across Middle Eastern countries to share knowledge about countering Russian-made drones, many of which originated from Iranian designs.

“We can also contribute to maritime security,” Zelenskyy declared during his remarks, which were published on the Telegram messaging platform.

Ukraine has already established defense cooperation partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, while currently negotiating similar agreements with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

BEIRUT (AP) — A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group began Friday, bringing much-needed calm to both nations and potentially creating an opportunity for Iran and the United States to negotiate an end to the broader regional conflict.

The cessation of hostilities appears to have prompted Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, helping to alleviate the worldwide energy crisis. However, significant hurdles persist, as Hezbollah has not officially endorsed the ceasefire and is demanding Israeli withdrawal. Meanwhile, Israel maintains it has not completed its mission to dismantle the Iranian-supported militant organization and has declared intentions to control portions of southern Lebanon.

The temporary 10-day halt in fighting seemed largely stable during its initial day, with thousands of Lebanese citizens returning to their southern homes. Hezbollah had fired rockets at Israel in early March, just two days following the commencement of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Israel responded with intensive bombing campaigns and ground forces.

Here’s an examination of the ceasefire agreement.

President Donald Trump revealed the ceasefire Thursday, characterizing it as an arrangement between Israel and Lebanon, whose government had been mostly excluded from the conflict. Israel has consistently criticized Lebanon for not disarming Hezbollah according to prior agreements and the government’s own strategy.

The State Department released the agreement’s text and called it an Israeli gesture “to enable good-faith negotiations” toward lasting peace with Lebanon. Officials said the 10-day pause could be extended through mutual consent if discussions advance and “Lebanon effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty.”

The deal requires the Lebanese government to stop Hezbollah and other armed factions from launching attacks on Israel, similar to the ceasefire that ended the previous Israel-Hezbollah conflict in November 2024.

The 2024 deal specified that both nations would retain “self defense” rights, without providing details. Israel continued frequent strikes against what it claimed were militant positions, often resulting in civilian casualties, while Hezbollah refrained from retaliation until last month.

According to U.S. officials, the current agreement grants Israel the “right to take all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.” No comparable rights are specified for Lebanon or Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel accepted the ceasefire following Trump’s request but emphasized being “not finished yet” with Hezbollah. Israeli officials announced plans to control a 10-kilometer (6-mile) buffer zone in southern Lebanon and prevent civilian returns until eliminating all threats.

Facing elections this year, Netanyahu confronts increasing pressure to demonstrate victory over Israel’s adversaries in conflicts triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, Gaza attack — which occurred during his leadership.

Israel and the United States seek Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah, using force if required. While Beirut had made substantial progress asserting control over southern Lebanon before the war, officials remain reluctant to risk civil war by fully confronting the heavily armed group.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated his goal is to “secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied southern territories” and establish Lebanese army control over border regions.

Hezbollah announced it would respect the ceasefire provided it remains “comprehensive across all Lebanese territories, including border areas, and includes a full halt to hostilities and restrictions on the enemy’s freedom of movement, serving as a prelude to Israeli withdrawal.”

The statement suggested Hezbollah might resume rocket attacks if Israel continues targeting it and maintains presence in southern Lebanon.

On Truth Social, Trump declared Israel is now “PROHIBITED” by the U.S. from bombing Lebanon, representing an unusually direct assertion of American authority over an ally. The U.S. has described the truce as resulting from direct Israeli-Lebanese negotiations in Washington — the first such talks in decades.

Iran and Hezbollah claim the agreement actually stems from broader Tehran-Washington negotiations and resulted from Iranian pressure.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, posted on X that “while the Lebanese government and Trump are attempting to claim this ceasefire as their own initiative,” it was “the resistance of Hezbollah’s fighters and Iran’s multifaceted pressures” that created the truce.

Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah parliamentary bloc member, told reporters Friday that Iran had notified Hezbollah leadership about the ceasefire agreement early Thursday, well before Trump’s announcement.

Iran and mediator Pakistan had claimed Lebanon was included in broader ceasefire negotiations with the U.S. earlier this month. Both the U.S. and Israel denied this, with Israel launching massive Beirut bombardments after those talks concluded.

Two Pakistani officials confirmed to The Associated Press Friday that Pakistan helped secure the Lebanese ceasefire. They requested anonymity to discuss private negotiations.

Lebanon’s government opposed the war from its start and sought to end it but lacked influence over Hezbollah. Instead, Iran took the lead, which many Lebanese view as another violation of their sovereignty.

During Friday remarks, Aoun thanked the U.S. and Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, for ceasefire efforts. He did not acknowledge Iran.

Tehran apparently leveraged its Strait of Hormuz control and Trump’s desire to end an increasingly unpopular and economically damaging war to stop Israel’s campaign against its proxy.

As the Lebanese ceasefire began, both Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the strait’s reopening, something the U.S. couldn’t achieve through weeks of intensive bombing and destroying much of Iran’s naval fleet.

Araghchi explicitly connected the development to the Lebanese ceasefire.

JOHANNESBURG — The son of Zimbabwe’s former President Robert Mugabe successfully negotiated a plea agreement Friday that allowed him to dodge attempted murder charges in connection with a shooting incident in South Africa.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and co-defendant Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze have remained in custody since mid-February after being charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Sipho Mahlangu, identified by authorities as a household employee. Mahlangu required hospital treatment for his wounds.

The 28-year-old Mugabe, youngest child of the deceased Zimbabwean leader and his second spouse Grace Mugabe, entered guilty pleas to charges of brandishing what appeared to be a weapon in an unrelated matter and violating South African immigration statutes. Robert Mugabe passed away in 2019.

Matonhodze admitted guilt to five separate charges, including attempted murder, illegal firearm and ammunition possession, obstructing justice, and immigration violations.

Attorney Sinenhlanhla Mnguni, representing both defendants, explained to media gathered outside the courthouse that prosecutors and defense teams had reached a Section 112 plea agreement following the breakdown of earlier negotiations. This type of arrangement under South African criminal law eliminates the need for a complete trial.

Defense counsel Advocate Laurence Hodes requested leniency during sentencing, emphasizing that both cousins had clean criminal records, provided financial compensation to their victim, and possessed the means to pay court-imposed penalties.

A police investigator testifying as a witness revealed that law enforcement continues searching for the weapon used in the shooting and that the defendants, who “were there at that time when the firearm was fired and injured the victim,” have refused to cooperate with the investigation.

“The accused shows no remorse in assisting the police in any way to point out the firearm. They know where the firearm is,” Lt. Col. Raj Ramchunder testified before the court.

The judge accepted both guilty pleas and scheduled sentencing for April 24.

This case recalls a 2017 incident involving Grace Mugabe, who allegedly assaulted model Gabriella Engels with an extension cord at a Johannesburg hotel, causing a forehead laceration. The South African government granted her diplomatic immunity, sparking fierce criticism from opposition politicians and human rights advocates, enabling her departure despite prosecution demands.

A conflict involving Iran that has stretched nearly seven weeks has eliminated more than $50 billion worth of crude oil from global markets, creating what analysts describe as the largest energy supply disruption in modern times.

Since the crisis erupted in late February, approximately 500 million barrels of crude oil and condensate have been removed from worldwide production, according to data from Kpler. The economic impact of this massive supply shortage is expected to continue affecting global markets for months and potentially years ahead.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced Friday that the Strait of Hormuz remained operational following a ceasefire agreement reached in Lebanon. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that a resolution to end the Iran conflict would arrive “soon,” though he provided no specific timeline.

To put the scale of this oil shortage into perspective, the 500 million missing barrels would be equivalent to several dramatic scenarios. According to Iain Mowat, a principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie, this amount could power global aviation for 10 weeks, fuel all road vehicles worldwide for 11 days, or supply the entire global economy for five full days.

The shortage also represents nearly one month of total oil consumption in the United States, or more than a month’s worth of fuel for all of Europe combined. It equals approximately six years of fuel usage by the U.S. military, based on their annual consumption of roughly 80 million barrels. The missing oil could also power the world’s entire international shipping fleet for about four months.

Gulf Arab nations experienced devastating production losses during March, with crude output dropping by approximately 8 million barrels daily. This decline nearly matches the combined production capacity of energy giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron.

Aviation fuel exports from major Middle Eastern producers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman plummeted dramatically. These countries exported about 19.6 million barrels of jet fuel in February, but that number collapsed to just 4.1 million barrels for March and April combined. The lost jet fuel would have been sufficient for approximately 20,000 round-trip flights between New York’s JFK airport and London Heathrow.

With crude oil prices averaging around $100 per barrel since the conflict began, the missing production represents roughly $50 billion in lost revenue, according to Johannes Rauball, a senior crude analyst at Kpler. This financial loss equals about 1% of Germany’s entire annual economic output, or roughly matches the complete gross domestic product of smaller nations like Latvia or Estonia.

Despite Araqchi’s statement that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, experts predict that restoring full production and supply flows will be a lengthy process. Global onshore crude oil stockpiles have already declined by approximately 45 million barrels during April alone. Since late March, production outages have reached roughly 12 million barrels per day.

Recovery timelines vary significantly depending on the type of oil infrastructure affected. Heavier crude fields in Kuwait and Iraq may require four to five months to return to normal production levels, which would extend inventory shortages throughout the summer months. More concerning for long-term recovery, damage to refining facilities and Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex means complete restoration of the region’s energy infrastructure could take several years to accomplish.

Iran’s foreign minister announced that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and gas shipments, is now accessible to all commercial traffic after a ceasefire agreement was reached in Lebanon.

The declaration has prompted responses from major shipping companies and international leaders worldwide.

SHIPPING COMPANY RESPONSES:

HAPAG-LLOYD

The German shipping giant stated: “If all open issues are cleared (i.e. insurance coverage, clear orders of Iranian government/military about the exact sea corridor to be used and the sequence of ships leaving) we would prefer to pass the strait as soon as possible.”

Company officials added: “Our crisis committee is in session and will try to resolve all open items with the relevant parties within the next 24-36 hours.”

MAERSK

The Danish shipping leader noted: “We have noted the announcement. The safety of our crew, vessels and customers’ cargo remains our priority. Since the outbreak of the conflict, we have followed the guidance of our security partners in the region, and the recommendation so far has been to avoid transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

Maersk continued: “Any decision to transit the strait will be based on risk assessments and close monitoring of the security situation, with the latest developments also included in the ongoing assessments.”

KNUT ARILD HAREIDE, CEO OF THE NORWEGIAN SHIPOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

Hareide commented: “If this represents a step towards an opening, it is a welcome development. However, the situation remains unresolved, with a number of outstanding uncertainties, including questions related to the presence of sea mines, applicable Iranian conditions, and practical implementation. These aspects will need to be clarified before any transit can be assessed.”

ARSENIO DOMINGUEZ, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

Dominguez stated: “We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage.”

INTERNATIONAL LEADERS’ STATEMENTS:

ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL

Guterres expressed support, saying: “I welcome Iran’s announcements that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. This a step in the right direction.”

He emphasized: “The UN position remains clear: we need the full restoration of international navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz, respected by everyone.”

U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

Trump posted on Truth Social: “The Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business and full passage, but the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.”

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

Macron described the development as moving “in the right direction.”

He added: “We all oppose any restrictions or system of agreements that would, in effect, amount to an attempt to privatize the strait—and, of course, any toll system.”

CEVDET YILMAZ, TURKISH VICE PRESIDENT

Yilmaz welcomed the news, stating: “We welcome Iran’s announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has been reopened to all ships until the end of the ceasefire period, viewing it as an important step towards deescalation of tension.”

He noted: “Preventing similar crises, conflicts, and developments that disrupt maritime transport in our region is only possible through dialogue, restraint, and strengthening multilateral cooperation.”

FINNISH PRESIDENT ALEXANDER STUBB

Stubb declared: “Finland stands ready to work on a solution that brings stability to the region and respects international law.”

QASMIYEH, Lebanon – Children waved victory signs from car windows Friday as families traveled across a hastily-built temporary crossing over the Litani River, returning home after a ceasefire agreement with Israel brought an end to six weeks of intense conflict.

The journey home revealed the devastating toll of war, with approximately 25% of Lebanon’s population having been displaced from southern regions and other areas with large Shiite Muslim communities. Israeli forces had ordered evacuations while conducting military operations that destroyed entire neighborhoods and villages.

Israeli officials maintain their military actions targeted only combatants in what they called essential operations to defend Israeli citizens from attacks by Hezbollah, the Iran-supported Shiite organization based in Lebanon.

Thursday’s announcement of a 10-day pause in hostilities has provided hope for families eager to assess damage to their properties, though many are praying the temporary truce will become permanent.

However, thousands of residents face the reality that they cannot return home – either because their houses no longer exist or because Israeli forces continue to occupy their areas.

Among the returning families, the Halabis navigated crowded coastal highways to cross the Litani River, where Israeli forces had destroyed the final bridge connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country just one day earlier.

Construction crews worked throughout the night using heavy machinery and floodlights to create an earthen crossing where the destroyed bridge once stood, its mangled steel remains visible nearby.

What normally would have been a one-hour drive stretched to 10 hours as the family made their way through massive debris piles into Tyre, an ancient Lebanese coastal city, seeking to reunite with relatives.

‘These are the first two children to arrive – my son’s children,’ said Sobhi Halabi, 80, embracing his grandchildren as they entered his apartment, which displayed family photos alongside images of Hezbollah leadership.

Many returning residents encountered heartbreaking scenes of destruction. Collapsed buildings left streets unrecognizable, while memorial posters honoring local fighters killed in combat with Israeli forces covered remaining walls.

The most shocking evidence of warfare appeared early in many families’ journeys as they passed through Beirut’s southern districts.

Destroyed and burned vehicles filled roadways alongside wreckage from targeted structures. Some buildings had their facades completely blown away by airstrikes, exposing interior rooms like oversized dollhouses.

In Nabatieh, among Lebanon’s most severely damaged towns, resident Fadel Badreddine struggled to comprehend the extensive destruction surrounding him. While other families drove past carrying mattresses and personal belongings, he concluded that he, his wife, and young child could not remain.

‘We’re gathering our belongings and departing once more,’ he explained. ‘May God provide us comfort and bring this situation to a complete conclusion – not just temporarily – so we can truly come home.’

Lebanese officials report that more than 7,000 residential units in Nabatieh alone have suffered destruction or significant damage.

Some displaced families have chosen not to attempt returning home yet. Kodor Mouzannar, 62, originally from the southern village of Souaneh, has spent the conflict living in a blue tarp shelter at Beirut’s Camille Chamoun Stadium.

‘The village represents my home, where I was born, and holds tremendous meaning for me. It contains my childhood, my existence, my grandparents, my family, and my community. I long for all of them. We share deep bonds,’ he shared.

Despite his desire to return, Mouzannar doubts Israel will honor the ceasefire agreement and cease bombing operations. Following a previous truce in 2024, Israeli air attacks resumed in southern areas as both sides accused the other of violating the agreement.

He also recalls the challenges his family faced finding accommodation in Beirut when the conflict began. They spent two nights sleeping in their vehicle while waiting for shelter space and worry about experiencing similar hardships if they return home to find it destroyed and must flee again.

‘I wish for the ceasefire to hold and for conditions to stabilize so people can return to their homes. But only under the condition that they can actually live in their homes – without facing the daily risk of someone going to work and being killed,’ he stated.

Maritime companies worldwide are expressing cautious optimism about Iran’s declaration that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened, but industry leaders say they need additional details before resuming vessel traffic through the vital Gulf entrance.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced Friday that commercial ships can navigate the strait during a 10-day ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. The announcement triggered declining oil and commodity prices while boosting stock market performance.

Arsenio Dominguez, who leads the International Maritime Organization under the United Nations, addressed the development with measured words. “We are currently verifying the recent announcement related to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of its compliance with freedom of navigation for all merchant vessels and secure passage,” Dominguez stated.

Norway’s shipowner trade group outlined multiple concerns requiring resolution before vessels can safely transit the waterway. The organization cited questions about explosive mines, Iranian requirements, and operational procedures that need clarification.

“If this represents a step towards an opening, it is a welcome development,” commented Knut Arild Hareide, who heads the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association representing 130 firms operating approximately 1,500 ships.

German maritime corporation Hapag-Lloyd indicated they are assessing conditions and “probably we will pass soon,” according to a company representative.

Major shipping companies Maersk from Denmark and France’s CMA CGM could not be reached for immediate response. Norwegian petroleum tanker operator Frontline chose not to provide commentary.

According to a high-ranking Iranian source speaking with Reuters, all merchant vessels including American ships may traverse the strait, though coordination with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains mandatory.

The Iranian official explained that passage would be limited to routes Iran considers secure, while military ships remain banned from the area.

President Donald Trump stated Friday that Iran committed to keeping the strait permanently open and is removing underwater explosives from the waterway.

However, a U.S. Navy bulletin obtained by Reuters warned Friday that mine dangers in certain strait areas remain unclear, suggesting ships should consider avoiding those zones.

The strait represents one of the planet’s most crucial maritime passages, and its disruption has forced shipping corporations to halt voyages, redirect cargo routes, and implement expensive alternative methods to maintain Gulf trade flows.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Friday that more than a dozen nations have volunteered military resources for a defensive operation designed to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came during a Paris gathering where France and Britain hosted representatives from 49 countries to plan a potential multinational effort to safeguard commercial vessels navigating the critical waterway.

“We will take this forward with a military plan conference in London next week where we will announce more detail on the composition of the mission, and over a dozen countries have already offered to contribute assets,” Starmer told the media while standing with leaders from France, Germany and Italy.

The British leader emphasized the global importance of the shipping corridor, stating: “Reopening the strait is a global necessity and a global responsibility.”

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s lower house of Parliament rejected legislation Friday that would have set aside one-third of legislative seats for women, alongside a connected proposal to restructure the nation’s electoral districts and expand the size of the legislature.

The proposed changes represented what many considered the most sweeping transformation of India’s political framework since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. After two days of parliamentary discussion involving both ruling party and opposition members, the measure failed to secure enough votes. The legislation aimed to guarantee 33% female representation in both national Parliament and state assemblies, addressing long-standing gender imbalances in Indian politics.

The women’s representation measure became controversial because it was connected to plans for electoral redistricting throughout India, which emerged as the primary obstacle to passage. Although lawmakers from multiple parties expressed support for boosting women’s political participation, opposition members raised alarms that restructuring electoral boundaries and enlarging Parliament might give Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party an unfair advantage.

Modi’s administration presented both pieces of legislation during a special three-day parliamentary session that started Thursday, with passage requiring support from two-thirds of legislators. When the women’s quota bill failed to reach that benchmark, officials pulled the redistricting measure from consideration.

Had the redistricting plan succeeded, it would have grown the lower house from its current 543 members to approximately 850 by the 2029 parliamentary elections.

Leading opposition factions fought against the proposal, expressing concern that using 2011 census figures to determine new districts would transfer political influence to rapidly expanding northern states while diminishing the voice of southern areas. They contended these modifications would particularly help Modi’s party, which maintains strong backing in northern India.

Government officials dismissed these objections, stating their plan included uniform 50% seat increases across all states to maintain balanced representation nationally. Opposition critics pointed out, however, that the proposed legislation lacked explicit guarantees for this approach.

Shortly before the scheduled vote, Modi posted on X that his government had responded to all worries and “misconceptions surrounding the legislation with facts and logic.”

Opposition leadership remained skeptical. Congress party member Rahul Gandhi characterized the initiative as “an attempt to change the electoral map of India.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — During Friday’s commemoration marking eight decades of the World Court’s existence, the United Nations Secretary-General delivered a sobering message about the deteriorating state of international law across the globe.

Speaking to assembled officials in the elaborate Great Hall of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, António Guterres declared that “The force of law must always prevail over the law of force.”

The milestone celebration highlighted the growing pressure facing the global legal system. Recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power facilities, represent actions that military law specialists suggest could amount to war crimes. Meanwhile, Sudan has entered its fourth year of conflict between military and paramilitary groups, and Russia persists in its Ukrainian offensive despite ICJ directives to cease.

Oxford University international law scholar Janina Dill explained to The Associated Press that “Powerful states have thrown out the rule book and perform disdain for international law.”

Currently experiencing its most active period in history, the tribunal is handling complex matters including the Gaza situation, Ukraine conflict, and environmental issues.

During Friday’s ceremony, Chief Justice Yuji Iwasawa stated that the court meets these obstacles by fulfilling its role of “interpreting and applying international law rigorously and in good faith.”

Established following World War II’s conclusion, the ICJ serves as an arbitrator for international disagreements. The court’s panel of 15 justices can also provide legal guidance to specific U.N. organizations, including the General Assembly.

While all 193 U.N. nations hold ICJ membership, not every country automatically accepts its authority.

The court’s first session in 1946 included just 51 member nations, with Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in attendance. Her descendant, King Willem-Alexander, participated in Friday’s anniversary event.

The tribunal’s inaugural case came in 1947 when Britain filed complaints against Albania regarding naval vessel damage in the Corfu Channel.

Current proceedings include genocide accusations against Myanmar concerning Rohingya minority persecution and against Israel regarding Gaza military operations. Both nations reject these claims.

Some disputes predate the court’s establishment, including Guyana’s request for resolution of its Venezuelan border disagreement, a conflict ongoing since 1899.

The Indian government has abandoned its plan to require smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the nation’s biometric identification application on all devices, following strong opposition from major technology companies, according to a government agency announcement Friday.

The proposal would have forced companies including Apple, Samsung, and Google to include the Aadhaar app on every smartphone sold in India. The application connects to a 12-digit identification number linked to individuals’ fingerprints and iris scans, serving nearly 1.34 billion residents who use it for banking, telecommunications, and airport security verification.

UIDAI, the government agency overseeing the Aadhaar system, confirmed that India’s IT ministry examined the proposal but “is not in favour of mandating the pre-installation of the Aadhaar App on smartphones.” The agency provided no explanation for the reversal, and the IT ministry declined to comment.

According to UIDAI’s statement, the IT ministry conducted a “consultation with stakeholders from the electronics industry” before deciding to scrap the mandatory installation requirement.

This marks the sixth unsuccessful attempt in two years by the Indian government to mandate pre-installed state applications on smartphones, with the technology industry opposing each proposal.

Manufacturing companies expressed concerns about device security and compatibility issues when presented with the Aadhaar installation requirement. They also highlighted increased production expenses, as they would need to operate separate assembly lines for Indian domestic sales versus international exports.

Apple and Samsung specifically voiced objections regarding safety and security implications, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The government’s retreat demonstrates the limitations facing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s technology initiatives as India seeks to attract companies like Apple to expand the country’s position as a global smartphone manufacturing center. Last December, India faced backlash over requirements for smartphone companies to pre-install a telecommunications security application, leading to a policy reversal within days.

A senior Indian government official, speaking anonymously, stated that the IT ministry opposes any application pre-loading requirements “unless it is considered very essential.”

Despite government assurances about Aadhaar’s safety and security, the application has drawn ongoing criticism from privacy advocates, particularly following data breaches that exposed personal information of millions of users on the dark web.

Apar Gupta, who founded the Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights organization based in New Delhi, praised the government’s decision to withdraw the Aadhaar pre-installation requirement. He argued that similar proposals should be rejected as they lack legal justification and serve no clear public policy purpose.

“Hopefully it is a welcome exercise of regulatory restraint that recognises that citizens carry their phones as extensions of their autonomy, not as vessels for government order,” Gupta said.

WASHINGTON, April 17 – America is spearheading a coordinated effort among the world’s largest economies to protect global fertilizer supplies and prevent food supply chain disruptions, according to two anonymous sources with knowledge of the initiative.

As the current leader of the Group of 20 major economies, the United States is pushing fellow G20 nations along with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to work together on safeguarding fertilizer availability, the sources revealed Friday.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has made agricultural and fertilizer supply chains a top priority, actively promoting cooperation between G20 countries and major international financial organizations, according to the sources who requested anonymity when discussing the matter.

LONDON (AP) — Metropolitan Police authorities announced Friday they were examining a security incident in the vicinity of Israel’s embassy involving several abandoned objects of unknown origin.

Law enforcement officials confirmed the diplomatic facility itself was not subjected to any assault, but officers equipped with specialized protective gear conducted a thorough search of the upscale Kensington Gardens district.

Authorities established a security perimeter and limited public access to both the gardens and adjacent areas. Emergency response vehicles and a white investigation tent were visible at the location.

Law enforcement officials revealed that investigators are examining potential connections between the mysterious objects discovered near the diplomatic compound and an internet video that allegedly threatened to target the embassy using unmanned aircraft carrying hazardous materials. Officials confirmed that Counter Terrorism Policing London has been made aware of the online content.

“We do not believe there to be any increased public safety risk at this stage, but we would urge people to avoid the area while officers carry out their work,” a police spokesperson said.

MANILA, Philippines — Ten suspected Muslim militants died Friday during a fierce gun battle with Philippine security forces in what marks this year’s most deadly confrontation in the nation’s troubled southern region, according to government officials.

The violent encounter began when members of the separatist organization Dawlah Islamiya-Maute fired upon police and military personnel who were attempting to execute arrest warrants for their leader on charges including murder in a Lanao del Sur province village, stated police Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico.

Military authorities identified the target as Amerol Mangoranca, whose fighters had previously declared allegiance to the Islamic State organization and were suspected of conducting recent guerrilla operations, including a January ambush in neighboring Lanao del Norte province that claimed four soldiers’ lives.

The hour-long firefight in Marantao village resulted in the deaths of Mangoranca and nine additional suspected insurgents, including four female fighters, while government forces suffered no casualties, according to Morico and military spokesmen.

“Our forces have struck a decisive blow and we will continue forward until enduring peace is fully secured,” declared army 1st Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr. “It is justice served for every fallen soldier, every grieving family and every community that suffered under terror.”

Security forces recovered four rifles, one pistol, a grenade and explosive device components during the operation, military and police sources reported.

An infant discovered at the combat site received medical care, though military statements provided no additional details about the child’s condition.

Violence in the predominantly Muslim southern region has significantly decreased since 2014, when the largest rebel organization, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, reached an autonomy agreement with Manila after commanding thousands of armed fighters for decades.

However, several smaller militant factions that rejected participation in peace negotiations have maintained intermittent attacks in pursuit of an independent Muslim nation.

The historic peace accord substantially reduced years of intermittent warfare that resulted in tens of thousands of military and civilian deaths, forced countless rural residents from their homes, and hindered economic progress in a resource-abundant area containing some of the Philippines’ most impoverished communities.

Philippine armed forces continue battling a separate communist rebellion that has also been significantly diminished through military defeats, internal conflicts and defections.

A group of migrants became the first to be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo under a new deportation agreement with the United States, arriving in the African nation’s capital early Friday morning.

The aircraft touched down in Kinshasa around 1 a.m. local time, carrying individuals from Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, according to flight tracking information and sources at the airport.

A Colombian woman who was part of the group told Reuters there were 16 migrants total – nine men and seven women. However, an airport official counted 15 arrivals.

Officials from Congo’s interior ministry and presidential office have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Earlier this week, reports indicated that more than 30 migrants were scheduled for deportation to Congo. The smaller number who actually arrived may be the result of last-minute legal interventions, according to Alma David, a US-based attorney representing one of the migrants. David said she knew of at least three instances where federal judges stopped the removals.

The total number of people who may eventually be deported under the Washington-Kinshasa agreement, which was announced April 5, remains unknown.

The Colombian migrant, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, described her experience: “The flight was very calm. They treated us well and gave us enough food.”

She added: “It was very long, around 26 or 27 hours.”

Flight data revealed the aircraft departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, with stops in Dakar, Senegal, and Accra, Ghana, before reaching its final destination.

This marks the first time so-called third-country deportees have been sent to Congo, a nation struggling with widespread violence, internal displacement, and a weak asylum infrastructure.

The deportation deal comes as the Trump administration works to implement a US-mediated peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda. The accord aims to end conflict involving Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Congo, fighting that has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

The agreement also follows the establishment of a strategic partnership that gives the United States priority access to Congo’s essential minerals.

Upon arrival in Congo, the deportees received seven-day visas that allow free movement throughout the country, with possible extensions up to three months, the Colombian migrant reported.

The group was also told they could seek asylum in Congo, though officials advised against it, warning that the country posed safety risks, according to the migrant.

MOSCOW – Russian government officials are disputing claims that President Vladimir Putin remains unaware of his country’s domestic challenges, following explosive allegations from a prominent social media personality that went viral this week.

Viktoria Bonya, a reality television star and social media influencer with a massive following in Russia, posted a video earlier this week expressing her support for Putin while outlining five significant issues she believes government officials are concealing from the Russian leader. The video exploded across social media, garnering more than 20 million views, accumulating over 1.4 million likes, and generating more than 75,000 comments on Instagram.

When questioned Friday about Bonya’s claims that Putin – who has maintained control over Russia since 1999 in various leadership roles – receives incomplete information about domestic issues, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations.

“No. It is not so,” Peskov stated. “Putin is the head of state, and his powers means he deals with the widest range of issues on the agenda.”

In an uncommon move Thursday, the Kremlin publicly responded to Bonya’s sharp criticisms, announcing that efforts were already underway to tackle the various issues she had highlighted.

Following the government’s acknowledgment, Bonya posted a follow-up video showing her emotional reaction. Breaking down in tears of happiness, she expressed gratitude to the Kremlin for paying attention to her concerns and declared her solidarity with the Russian people.

MOSCOW, April 17 – Russian officials on Friday accused European nations of escalating their participation in the Ukraine conflict, citing concerns over drone manufacturing support provided to Ukrainian forces.

Russia’s Defense Ministry issued warnings this week regarding European plans to increase drone deliveries to Ukraine, releasing an inventory of manufacturing facilities and companies allegedly producing unmanned aircraft or related components.

The ministry identified locations across Britain, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Israel and Turkey as part of the drone supply network.

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president who currently serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, posted on X that the inventory essentially represents a target list for Russian military forces. “When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next. Sleep well, European partners!” Medvedev stated.

When questioned about whether the Defense Ministry’s publication and Medvedev’s statements indicated Russia was seriously contemplating attacks on European targets, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov avoided giving a direct response.

“These countries are becoming increasingly directly involved in the conflict, in the war surrounding Ukraine,” Peskov commented. “The details are set out in the Defence Ministry’s statement.”

Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and the ministry’s top administrator submitted their resignations Friday amid mounting pressure over controversial coal purchasing decisions that have disrupted the nation’s electricity supply.

The departures of Jayakody and ministry secretary Udayanga Hemapala came after widespread criticism regarding the procurement of substandard coal for the country’s sole coal-burning electricity facility. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake accepted both resignations Friday morning, according to his office.

The minister’s departure allows for an unimpeded probe into accusations surrounding poor-quality coal purchases that have affected operations at the government-operated Lakvijaya Power Plant, presidential officials stated.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath defended the energy minister’s conduct while announcing the resignation, telling media representatives: “We are not trying to hide anything. Proper procurement guidelines and procedures were followed. There was no fraud or corruption with the direct involvement of the energy minister.”

Herath indicated the probe should conclude within six months and aims to enhance government openness while restoring citizen trust in public institutions.

This marks the first time a senior cabinet official has stepped aside due to graft accusations under the current administration. Jayakody’s departure follows his survival of a parliamentary confidence vote just last week.

President Dissanayake has authorized a comprehensive review of all coal purchasing agreements for electricity production stretching back to 2009. He previously confirmed that inferior coal deliveries have significantly reduced power output at the Lakvijaya facility.

The power station requires approximately 2.25 million metric tons of coal each year to generate roughly 40% of the island nation’s electrical needs, based on a recent government audit released this month.

Reduced electricity production forced authorities to purchase 300,000 metric tons of emergency coal last month while increasing reliance on diesel and furnace oil to compensate for the power deficit.

The island nation, still recovering from a devastating economic collapse that reached its worst point four years ago, must import all petroleum products. Since regional conflicts began affecting Middle Eastern supplies, Sri Lankan officials have implemented fuel rationing measures and designated Wednesdays as national holidays to conserve energy reserves.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced Friday his plans to visit Venezuela’s capital on April 24, as he continues efforts to arrange a meeting with Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez.

Speaking during an interview with Spanish public television network RTVE, Petro revealed that after a proposed border meeting between the two nations fell through, he would instead travel directly to Caracas later this month.

The two leaders had originally scheduled their first face-to-face presidential meeting for mid-March in a Colombian border town, but both governments called off the encounter citing “force majeure” circumstances, though neither provided specific explanations at that time.

“The meeting at the border fell through because of certain precautions, she said there were security issues,” Petro stated in Friday’s television appearance.

Petro made these comments while participating in Barcelona’s “Global Progressive Mobilisation,” a two-day conference bringing together leftist political leaders from around the world. The event, organized by Spain and progressive political organizations, focuses on building opposition to far-right political movements globally.

Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced Friday that he has begun preliminary discussions with European Union representatives in Budapest, working urgently to restore funding that was suspended during conflicts with his predecessor’s administration.

Magyar, who achieved a decisive win in the April 12 election that will conclude nationalist leader Viktor Orban’s 16-year tenure, stated he plans to begin negotiations by identifying areas where he and EU officials are already in agreement.

“I expect a constructive negotiation. It will not be easy because we have very little time,” he stated during a press briefing.

The incoming leader announced that the chief of staff to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was scheduled to arrive around 5 p.m. local time as part of a senior-level diplomatic team.

“The aim is… to map out before the new government is formed what we agree on and what are the conditions that the next parliament can pass as a law and comply with European conditions,” Magyar explained.

Magyar plans to assume the prime minister role on May 9 or 10, with the exact date depending on when the president schedules parliament’s opening session after the election.

His center-right Tisza party secured a supermajority, providing the authority to modify judicial, public procurement, and media oversight legislation that became central issues in the disputes between Orban’s administration and Brussels.

During Friday’s media briefing, he expressed optimism for reaching a political agreement during his initial trip to Brussels.

Financial markets have responded positively to Magyar’s electoral success, with investors anticipating that the EU will release billions of euros in suspended funds and provide assistance to Hungary’s nearly stagnant economy.

Magyar has previously identified four priority areas where his administration could act quickly to prevent losing approximately 10 billion euros in EU pandemic recovery assistance by the end-August deadline, including anti-corruption initiatives and restoring media and academic independence.

Von der Leyen remarked this week following her conversation with Magyar that urgent work lies ahead.

BUDAPEST – Peter Magyar, the victor in Hungary’s recent election, announced Friday that he anticipates being sworn in as the country’s prime minister either May 9 or May 10, with the exact date contingent upon the president’s scheduling of parliament’s inaugural session.

Magyar indicated he plans to depart from traditional protocol by taking his oath of office on the very same day that parliament convenes for the first time.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Armed attackers ambushed a passenger bus in Nigeria’s Benue state Thursday, kidnapping students who were traveling to take university examinations, according to state officials.

The kidnapping occurred on the Otukpo-Makurdi highway, where students and other bus passengers were taken captive, Governor Hyacinth Alia announced in a Thursday evening statement.

While the governor did not reveal the exact number of people kidnapped, local news outlets reported that 14 passengers were aboard the bus during the attack.

“The targeting of innocent citizens, particularly students on their way to sit for examinations, is unacceptable and stands against every norm of humanity and civil order,” Alia said.

According to the governor, authorities have launched search and rescue missions throughout the north-central state to secure the safe release of all kidnapped individuals.

So far, no organization has taken credit for Thursday’s kidnapping incident. The Benue region has become a center for armed attacks in Nigeria’s northern areas, where criminal groups frequently assault isolated communities and highway travelers through deadly raids and abductions for money.

Kidnapping of students has become a hallmark of the security crisis plaguing Africa’s largest nation by population, with experts noting that criminal organizations view educational institutions and students as “strategic” victims to generate maximum public attention.

The governor called on local residents to stay composed and continue working with law enforcement during rescue missions and other security activities.

“We will continue to take decisive actions to protect lives and property,” he added.

WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused a cryptocurrency company with alleged Russian ties of financially backing Polish politicians and supporting nationalist presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki through political events.

During Friday’s parliamentary session, Tusk made these allegations before lawmakers voted to override Nawrocki’s rejection of proposed cryptocurrency market regulations. The presidential candidate has blocked two separate government attempts to regulate the crypto industry over the past six months.

According to Tusk, the resistance to regulatory measures by certain Polish officials suggests they are working on behalf of Zondacrypto, a company that previously provided them financial backing and maintains connections to Russia.

“The source of this company’s financial success is not only Russian money linked to the so-called Bratva, one of the most important mafia groups in Russia, but also to Russian secret services,” Tusk stated during his parliamentary address.

Tusk further alleged that Zondacrypto simultaneously “sponsors political and social events in Poland and promotes very specific political forces,” including funding politicians from the previously ruling Law and Justice party and the far-right Confederation.

The Prime Minister also revealed that Zondacrypto served as a major sponsor for a Conservative Political Action Conference gathering held in Rzeszow, eastern Poland, during March 2025. This event occurred just five days prior to Poland’s presidential election, which featured a close race between Tusk’s liberal coalition candidate and Nawrocki, who had Law and Justice backing.

At that conference, former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized the liberal candidate as “an absolute train wreck of a leader” while praising Nawrocki, who attended the event, as someone who would govern Poland with a Trump-like approach.

“We need you to elect the right leader,” stated Noem, a notable Trump supporter, during her conference speech. “You will be the leaders that will turn Europe back to conservative values.”

Tusk also asserted that Nawrocki possessed complete knowledge about Zondacrypto’s background when he decided to veto the cryptocurrency regulations.

Responding to these allegations, Zbigniew Bogucki, who heads the president’s office, clarified that Nawrocki supports cryptocurrency market regulation but opposes the government’s proposed “flawed regulatory model.”

Confederation leader Slawomir Menzen defended the veto, arguing the proposed legislation would have “destroyed the Polish cryptocurrency market.”

Government officials maintain that the new regulatory framework aims to align Poland with European Union cryptocurrency standards.

The name ‘Amada’ means ‘beloved’ in Spanish.

“We chose to name her ‘Amada’ because she entered our family to be treasured,” explained Lorena Bonilla, whose transgender daughter recently gained approval to update her legal identity papers following an Ecuador Constitutional Court decision.

This case — combined with a second ruling issued in March — has created new opportunities for Ecuadorian teenagers who want to update their names and gender markers on government documents. Adult citizens obtained this same right following years of activism that resulted in legislative changes in 2024.

LGBTQ+ advocates throughout the region celebrated the court decisions, particularly as conservative political movements have strengthened their influence in recent months. However, these supporters also caution about ongoing legal and societal obstacles that transgender individuals must navigate.

“Political, religious and social groups in Ecuador continue to frame gender recognition for minors as dangerous,” stated Cristian González Cabrera, who researches LGBTQ+ issues for Human Rights Watch. “This atmosphere can lead to institutional resistance, bureaucratic delays and unreasonable rejections.”

Bonilla and her 17-year-old daughter encountered these challenges directly in 2018. Their court fight started when Amada was just 9 years old and educational institutions denied her enrollment because her official paperwork didn’t align with her gender identity.

“Fourteen schools turned us away and wouldn’t accept her,” Bonilla recalled. “That’s when we realized we had to pursue changing her name.”

Initially, a court approved Amada’s request to update her identity papers. However, the civil registry challenged this ruling and an appeals court subsequently decided that her passport and identification should display her birth name and assigned gender.

“Our rights took a major setback,” Bonilla stated.

Court decisions rather than legislative action or executive leadership have primarily driven LGBTQ+ progress in Ecuador. This pattern has emerged in neighboring Andean nations including Colombia and Peru as well.

“Legislative and executive officials represent the general population’s views, but LGBTQ individuals are frequently ignored,” explained Christian Paula, who leads the Pakta Foundation that offers legal assistance in cases similar to Amada’s. “Relying on judicial intervention demonstrates how closed-minded and insensitive our institutions remain.”

Three major LGBTQ+ milestones in Ecuador have resulted from court action. These include ending criminal penalties for homosexuality in 1997, a 2009 decision permitting an Ecuadorian transgender woman to legally change her name, and marriage equality recognition in 2019.

These judicial victories triggered opposition from conservative and faith-based organizations.

Following the Constitutional Court’s rulings, André Santos, who heads a prominent conservative advocacy group in Ecuador, posted on X that the court had exceeded its constitutional role. He has also criticized school policies that let students choose uniforms and restrooms matching their gender identity.

Ecuador’s Catholic bishops conference similarly voiced opposition to the court’s action. “Permitting adolescents to make such significant decisions creates substantial risks for their complete development,” the organization stated.

While President Daniel Noboa hasn’t been as vocal against transgender issues as certain other conservative Latin American leaders, his government has demonstrated minimal backing for LGBTQ+ causes.

During his campaign, he promised to protect traditional family structures. Since assuming office, security concerns and economic challenges have taken priority over gender and diversity matters in his policy focus.

“His cabinet members concern us most,” said Diane Rodríguez, an attorney and leader of Silueta X, an Ecuadorian LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Rodríguez, who is transgender, highlighted Education Ministry officials, including current minister Gilda Alcívar, who has opposed incorporating what she terms “gender ideology” into curricula. This environment, Rodríguez noted, affects her personal experiences.

Living in Guayaquil where she and her partner, a transgender man, are raising their 4-year-old daughter, Rodríguez has encountered school enrollment obstacles.

“Registration became difficult because people look at me and think I’ll influence children to become transgender based on my appearance,” Rodríguez explained.

Her professional work includes providing legal assistance to those experiencing gender-based discrimination and supporting hormone therapy programs for transgender individuals. She also focuses on educating communities about violence targeting her community.

Silueta X releases yearly data on LGBTQ+ homicides. Their initial 2013 report documented two deaths, with numbers increasing annually. The 2025 publication recorded 30 fatalities, including 21 transgender women.

Amada expressed her female identity to her parents when she turned 3 years old. She requested a princess-themed birthday celebration. However, Bonilla and her husband — both with Catholic upbringings — believed she was mistaken and organized a prince-themed party instead.

Several years passed before they fully accepted their daughter and stopped consulting psychologists who claimed she had problems or that they had failed as parents.

“People make cruel remarks and don’t comprehend what families like ours endure,” said Mauricio Caviedes, Amada’s father. “I hope better education on this topic will help people develop understanding.”

As they gained knowledge about the transgender community, their effort to modify Amada’s documents expanded into broader advocacy. Bonilla and Caviedes became activists, bringing their children to demonstrations and educational events. They championed other LGBTQ+ issues like marriage equality and established a support network for families with transgender children.

“This became our only strategy to challenge the government,” Bonilla said. “We represented 25 families with transgender children of various ages, with the oldest being 12.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, her family relocated to Canada. Although she values how accepting their new country has been toward her daughter, she continues advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in Ecuador.

Amada, now an excellent student who aspires to become a nurse, was influenced by years of observing her parents assist transgender friends and community members seeking discrimination-free healthcare access. While she has never appeared in public media interviews, her case’s visibility represents a lasting impact for Bonilla.

“Society believes transgender people are destined to work in sex industries or remain hidden,” Bonilla said. “But we want all parents to understand that someday their child can achieve any goal they set.”

A new United Nations report shows that women and girls in Gaza faced unprecedented casualties during the recent conflict, with fatalities continuing even after a ceasefire agreement.

UN Women released data Friday indicating that more than 38,000 women and girls lost their lives in Gaza from October 2023 through December 2025, averaging at least 47 deaths per day throughout the conflict period.

Sofia Calltorp, who leads humanitarian action for the gender equality-focused agency, spoke to reporters in Geneva about the alarming statistics.

“Women and girls accounted for a proportion of deaths far higher than those observed in previous conflicts in Gaza,” Calltorp stated.

“They were individuals with lives and with dreams,” she added.

The organization expressed alarm that women and girls continue to die following October’s ceasefire agreement, though exact numbers remain unclear due to insufficient gender-specific data collection.

The October ceasefire brought an end to two years of intensive warfare but resulted in Israeli forces maintaining control over a largely evacuated area comprising more than half of Gaza. Hamas continues to govern the remaining narrow coastal territory.

Medical officials in the area report that over 750 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began, while militant groups have killed four Israeli soldiers. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaking ceasefire terms.

Israeli officials state their operations target potential attacks from Hamas and other armed groups.

UNICEF also issued a statement Friday highlighting that children continue facing deadly violence in Gaza at disturbing levels, with at least 214 child deaths documented over the past six months.

The displacement crisis affects approximately one million women and girls currently living in Gaza, according to UN Women’s findings.

“Extensive damage to infrastructure has made it almost impossible for women and girls in Gaza to access their basic needs like healthcare,” Calltorp explained.

World Health Organization data indicates that more than 500,000 women cannot access critical medical services, including prenatal care, postnatal support, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

KINSHASA, Congo — Fifteen migrants from Latin America touched down in Congo’s capital city of Kinshasa early Friday morning after being deported from the United States, according to their legal representative.

The arrival marks another instance of the Trump administration utilizing partnerships with African nations to speed up the removal of migrants from U.S. soil.

U.S. attorney Alma David told The Associated Press that all of the deportees originated from Latin American countries and that Congo’s government intends to house them temporarily within its borders.

A representative from Congo’s migration agency verified that the group had arrived but declined to share additional information.

David explained that each of the deportees had previously been granted legal protections by U.S. judges that were meant to prevent their forced return to their countries of origin. The group is currently being accommodated at a hotel in Kinshasa, she noted.

The International Organization for Migration, which operates under United Nations affiliation, will participate in providing what David described as “assisted voluntary return” services.

“The fact that the focus is on offering them ‘voluntary’ return to their home country when they spent months in immigration detention in the U.S. fighting hard to not have to go home is very alarming,” she said.

The IOM has not yet responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press.

Earlier this month, Congo’s Ministry of Communications issued a statement announcing the country would accept certain migrants through a new agreement established under the Trump administration’s third-country program.

The ministry characterized the arrangement as “temporary” and said it demonstrates Congo’s “commitment to human dignity and international solidarity.” Officials stated the agreement would not burden the government financially, as the United States would handle all necessary logistics and expenses.

The statement emphasized that deportees would not be automatically transferred elsewhere, noting: “Each situation will be subject to individual review in accordance with the laws of the Republic and national security requirements.”

The United States has established similar third-country deportation agreements with at least seven additional African nations, many of which have been significantly impacted by Trump administration policies that have limited trade, aid and migration opportunities.

According to a recent report from the Democratic staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Trump administration has allocated at least $40 million toward deporting approximately 300 migrants to nations other than their countries of origin.

Legal advocates and activists have questioned the nature of these agreements with African and other nations. Multiple African countries that have entered into such deals maintain governments known for repressive practices and poor human rights records, including Eswatini, South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea.

MEXICO CITY – A controversial conference focused on masculinity will take place as scheduled this Friday in Mexico’s Jalisco state, despite significant backlash over reports that taxpayer funds were used to support the for-profit gathering.

The event, titled “Fearless Masculinity,” features divisive speakers including author Jordan Peterson and is being held in one of Mexico’s most dangerous regions for women. Local media reports indicated that a municipal committee had allocated 400,000 pesos (approximately $23,170) to cover speaker payments, accommodations, and promotional costs for the conference, which charges attendees up to $430 per ticket.

Government agency logos that initially appeared on the event’s sponsorship materials were later removed, with officials subsequently denying any financial involvement in the conference, which promotes Catholic values. Mexico operates as a secular nation, and its constitution prohibits government sponsorship of religious gatherings. President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the controversy during a recent press briefing, stating that the state’s governor owes the public an explanation.

The timing and location of the event have drawn particular criticism given Mexico’s ongoing battle with gender-based violence. Government statistics reveal that 756 women died violently during the first two months of this year alone, with most cases classified as accidents. Additionally, authorities recorded 2,812 rapes and received more than 162,000 emergency calls related to domestic and gender-based violence during the same period.

Luz Leon, speaking on behalf of the advocacy organization Balance, confirmed to reporters that her group along with 35 other associations have submitted an official complaint demanding transparency about the funding situation and calling for an investigation into the officials involved.

“Authorities frequently claim there’s insufficient funding to help victims in Guadalajara and throughout Jalisco, a region plagued by extreme violence and numerous disappearances of young people,” Leon stated. “It’s extremely troubling that rather than allocating resources to tackle these critical problems, they’re being diverted for this purpose.”

Leon further criticized the event’s messaging, explaining, “They are encouraging gender-based violence and promoting narratives that reinforce discrimination through prejudice and harmful stereotypes.” She referenced the conference’s self-promotion as a response to what organizers call “the assault on masculinity.”

The speaker lineup includes Peterson and Mexican entertainer Eduardo Verastegui, a conservative activist, both known for advocating traditional gender expectations for women. The roster also features former Barcelona soccer team captain Carles Puyol and ex-Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Kaka, though their participation remains unconfirmed, alongside several Catholic clergy members.

Documentation from Balance shows that as of April 8, the conference’s sponsor list displayed logos from Jalisco, Guadalajara, and Zapopan local governments, as well as the prominent Catholic Anahuac University Network and Tajin, the company behind Mexico’s widely popular chile-lime seasoning. By the following week, all these logos had been removed from promotional materials.

Neither the event organizers nor the previously listed sponsors provided responses to media inquiries. Local news outlets quoted the conference director as claiming the gathering aims to benefit society rather than harm others.

The three-day conference is taking place in Guadalajara, which is scheduled to host multiple World Cup soccer matches in June. Organizers are marketing it as Latin America’s most significant masculinity conference.

Standing on a sandy stretch of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs coastline, 90-year-old Orestes Chamizo gestures toward the exact location where U.S.-backed Cuban exiles stormed ashore on April 17, 1961.

“The mercenaries came in right there,” Chamizo explains, remembering the failed invasion and his participation in hunting down fleeing survivors who escaped into the surrounding marshland.

With President Donald Trump making repeated threats against Cuba and enforcing what amounts to an oil embargo on the island nation, Chamizo warns that any future American invasion would meet the same fate as the first attempt.

“I’m 90 years old but if I have to pick up a gun again, I’ll do it without fear,” the energetic veteran told reporters. “The last invasion failed … and the next one will too.”

The idea that communist Cuba could successfully repel an attack from the world’s dominant military power seems just as unlikely now as it did six and a half decades ago.

Conversations with more than 20 Bay of Pigs area residents of various ages reveal a stark contrast between the passionate defiance of those who experienced the revolution firsthand and the despair of younger Cubans struggling under the weight of a failing government-controlled economy and American economic sanctions.

“Young people here don’t have the same spirit they used to,” explains Miguel Piloto Garcia, a 22-year-old barber speaking from his front porch near the 1961 invasion site. “We want to improve our lives, but right now there’s no future for us.”

Both nations, despite being separated by only 90 miles of ocean, have confirmed they are engaged in diplomatic discussions. However, Trump has repeatedly suggested military action against Cuba might be possible, telling journalists as late as March that he could be “taking” the Caribbean island.

“I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it,” Trump stated.

Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel recently informed NBC that his country has no desire for armed conflict. Nevertheless, he cautioned that Cuba would resist any attack through “irregular warfare” that would render any American military operation “untenable.”

The island’s legal framework mandates military service for all young citizens, beginning at age 18. This typically one-to-two-year commitment includes weapons instruction as part of Cuba’s comprehensive “War of All the People” strategy, which is codified in the National Defense Law and promoted by Diaz-Canel during his recent television appearance.

“Every Cuban man or woman has a mission, a purpose, a place to defend, and they will have their own place to take in the defense,” Diaz-Canel explained. “So this is all based on people’s participation, voluntary participation.”

Since the United States invaded Venezuela in early January and removed former president Nicolas Maduro from power, Cuba has conducted weekly military exercises every Friday, dubbed “National Defense Days.”

These training sessions, frequently broadcast on Cuban state television news, feature citizens in both city and countryside settings practicing with rifles, operating aging Soviet tanks, piloting drones, and throwing explosive devices.

Although these military preparations receive increasing media attention, Cuba’s defense capabilities remain largely mysterious to international observers, with no public information available regarding troop readiness, budget allocation, equipment inventory, or overall strength.

Without access to public polling data, determining popular support for the military remains challenging in Cuba.

The heated exchanges between Washington and Havana take considerable time to reach the remote Bay of Pigs region, an isolated area within the Zapata Swamp that currently endures 22-hour daily power outages. Local residents have adapted to life with minimal public transportation and limited access to modern technology like cellular service and internet connectivity.

Thirty-year-old Yudel Ramos, who makes his living fishing and catching crabs, finds himself too preoccupied with survival to focus much attention on potential warfare. His wages don’t cover basic necessities like purchasing charcoal, forcing him to spend his time searching for burning materials.

“If the time came to give my life for Cuba, I would, but sometimes I don’t know what to think,” he shared outside his residence in Palpite. “We are going through a very difficult time.”

Mass emigration has also reduced the pool of potential military personnel.

From 2020 through 2024, Cuba experienced a population decrease exceeding 1.4 million residents, representing more than 10% of the total population, primarily due to emigration heavily concentrated among people aged 18 to 30, based on recent statistics from Cuba’s ONEI data collection agency.

This demographic transformation deeply troubles Jesus Bernardino Alonso, an 87-year-old Bay of Pigs veteran among the few still residing in Palpite, a community whose entrance features a monument commemorating the victory over American-trained attackers.

Alonso remembers how the entire community mobilized to respond to the invasion 65 years earlier.

“It’s true times have changed, and young people today … some don’t share the same ideals,” Alonso reflected. “But there are still many of us who defend this, even though we know we are facing a superpower.”

Documentary filmmaker Stephen Shaw, creator of “Birthgap,” is sounding the alarm about a demographic crisis he believes world leaders and experts are failing to address adequately. Shaw points to dramatically declining fertility rates across the globe as a looming threat that demands immediate attention.

According to Shaw, wealthy nations around the world — the United States included — are experiencing birth rates that fall short of replacement levels. This means women in these countries are not having sufficient children to offset the number of deaths occurring in their populations.

The filmmaker argues that modern societies have systematically made parenthood a lower priority, a shift he warns could lead to serious repercussions in the coming years.

BEIRUT (AP) — An uneasy peace descended across Lebanon Friday as a 10-day ceasefire negotiated by the United States went into effect between Israel and Hezbollah, leading thousands of displaced residents to start returning home despite ongoing uncertainty, widespread devastation, and Israeli advisories warning against traveling to certain areas of southern Lebanon.

Early Friday morning, traffic stretched for miles along the southern route toward the damaged Qasmiyeh bridge spanning the Litani River, an important crossing that connects the southern coastal city of Tyre with northern regions. Cars loaded with mattresses, luggage, and rescued possessions moved slowly through a single reopened lane that had been quickly fixed following an Israeli airstrike just one day before.

The recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah forced over one million people from their homes. Although Lebanese authorities advised against immediate returns, many residents began traveling toward southern Lebanon within hours of the ceasefire announcement. The truce seemed to hold steady through the night.

In southern communities such as Jibsheet, small numbers of residents came back to destroyed apartment buildings and roads covered with concrete debris, bent aluminum window coverings, and hanging power lines.

“I feel free being back,” said Zainab Fahas, 23. “But look they destroyed everything — the square, the houses, the shops, everything.”

Many residents remained skeptical that their suffering had truly ended.

“Israel doesn’t want peace,” said Ali Wahdan, 27, a medic walking on crutches over the rubble of the emergency services’ headquarters in Jibsheet. He was badly wounded in an Israeli airstrike that hit the building without warning during the first week of the war.

“I wish it were different,” he said. “But this war will continue.”

In Beirut’s southern suburb neighborhood of Haret Hreik, complete buildings had been turned to debris following weeks of heavy Israeli bombardment. Ahmad Lahham, 48, held up the yellow Hezbollah flag while standing on a pile of wreckage that had once been his apartment building, which also contained a branch of Hezbollah’s financial division, Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

“We are at the service of the fighters,” said Lahham, expressing his dedication to the organization.

He credited Iran and claimed its influence in discussions with the U.S. brought about the ceasefire, while criticizing Lebanon’s direct negotiations with Israel.

“Only the Iranians stood with us, no one else,” he said, referring to Lebanon’s leaders as “the leadership of shame.”

A municipal official in Haret Hreik reported that Israel attacked the area 62 times during the past six weeks.

“We’ve been able to clear up the rubble of the partially damaged buildings, but for those destroyed, we will need special equipment,” Sadek Slim, the neighborhood’s deputy mayor, told a press briefing.

The district was jammed with vehicles as people returned to inspect their properties and Hezbollah supporters rode through on motorcycles, displaying the group’s banner.

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The Parliament of Kosovo plans to vote Friday on deploying several dozen security personnel to an international peacekeeping mission in Gaza, marking the nation’s transition from receiving military assistance to providing it.

Lawmakers are expected to give formal approval to a government proposal sending troops to the International Stabilization Force, a U.S.-supported program established after last year’s ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The ISF has not yet been deployed but will work to maintain stability and support reconstruction efforts in Gaza as part of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, which Kosovo has agreed to join. Other participating nations include Indonesia, Albania and Kazakhstan.

For Kosovo, joining the international mission represents significant progress since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 — a decision Belgrade continues to reject.

Serbia’s violent suppression of Kosovo’s independence movement led to NATO’s 1999 military intervention, which expelled Serbian forces from the region and established the ongoing KFOR peacekeeping presence.

“Our country has been a security consumer, meaning NATO countries have contributed to the security of the Republic of Kosovo,” Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci told The Associated Press. “Today we are entering a phase where we are becoming a provider, or exporter, of security.”

According to Maqedonci, Kosovo will deploy several dozen officers, including explosive ordnance disposal specialists. Their responsibilities will include humanitarian assistance, security support and additional duties outlined in the Gaza force’s operational guidelines.

“We are currently in the final preparations phase,” Maqedonci said. He noted that American officials have assisted with preparations, including troop vaccinations, visa processing and other logistical arrangements.

Kosovo maintains approximately 4,000 security personnel who are training to form a small, professional military force compatible with NATO standards.

Local resident Milot Hoxha, a 43-year-old musician, expressed support for the Gaza deployment.

“We ourselves have gone through such a transition and every small help for us has been very significant,” he said. “I believe it will be the same for them, that any kind of help will be positive. I strongly support this decision.”

Relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain strained since the war ended, with periodic violent episodes. European Union officials have attempted to mediate discussions between Belgrade and Pristina to normalize diplomatic ties, but these efforts have recently stalled.

While the United States and most European Union members recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty, Russia and China continue supporting Serbia’s territorial claims.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Officials announced Friday that Sri Lanka has completed the repatriation of 238 Iranian naval personnel, including 32 survivors from a vessel destroyed by an American submarine attack in the Indian Ocean.

The Iranian warship IRIS Dena was destroyed by a U.S. submarine on March 4 as it was traveling back to Iran following participation in naval exercises hosted by India. Sri Lankan naval forces retrieved 87 bodies from the incident and provided medical care to 32 survivors. An additional Iranian vessel arrived at a Sri Lankan port in the south after its crew encountered mechanical difficulties.

According to Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Franklin Joseph, nearly all personnel were sent back to Iran earlier this week, with only a small number of crew members from the second vessel remaining.

The Iranian vessel continues to be stationed at Trincomalee port on the eastern coast, with authorities yet to determine its future status.

“I think it (Sri Lanka) has proven its policy posture not only in words but also in deeds,” said H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, a retired former foreign secretary who also served as Sri Lanka’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

Palihakkara emphasized that the island nation maintained neutrality while following principles of legality, humanitarian concern, and international law. “All parties to the conflict have acknowledged that. It has enhanced Sri Lanka’s government’s credibility,” he said.

The former diplomat noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake faced a challenging situation when he rejected two simultaneous requests on the same day — declining both American requests to use Sri Lankan territory for military aircraft operations and Iranian requests to bring warships to shore.

The situation comes as Sri Lanka works to recover from a severe economic downturn, with both America and Iran serving as important trade relationships. The United States has been instrumental in supporting an International Monetary Fund rescue package and providing agricultural assistance to prevent food shortages.

Advocacy organizations focused on human rights are sounding the alarm about the troubling circumstances facing Salvadorans who have been sent back from the United States to their home country.

According to these groups, individuals who are deported from America frequently vanish into El Salvador’s correctional facilities immediately upon their return or within days of arriving back in the Central American nation. Numerous deportees lose all contact with their relatives and legal representatives for extended periods, sometimes lasting several years.

The situation has been exacerbated by policies implemented by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele over the past four years. Bukele has continuously renewed emergency measures that suspend constitutional rights for 30-day periods, essentially establishing a police state environment that traps returning deportees within the country’s prison system, which has gained notoriety for harsh conditions.

These emergency powers have created a cycle where deportees find themselves unable to communicate with the outside world once they enter El Salvador’s correctional facilities, leaving families in the United States and elsewhere without information about their loved ones’ whereabouts or wellbeing.

Beijing’s defense ministry issued an uncommon public statement Friday defending its ongoing military operations near Taiwan, calling them completely justified while blaming Taipei’s government for escalating regional tensions.

The Chinese military routinely deploys naval vessels and aircraft in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan nearly every day, drawing sharp criticism from Taiwan’s leadership. Beijing considers the democratically-run island to be part of Chinese territory.

Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang declared to media that Taiwan represents an “inalienable part of Chinese territory.”

“The People’s Liberation Army organises training and exercise activities in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan island to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is entirely justified, reasonable, and a matter of course,” Zhang stated.

The spokesman accused Taiwan’s governing Democratic Progressive Party of misrepresenting Chinese military operations, “peddling war anxiety, intimidating the people on the island, and stoking confrontation and antagonism across the Taiwan Strait.”

Beijing refuses diplomatic engagement with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, labeling him a “separatist.” Lai maintains that only Taiwan’s citizens should determine the island’s destiny.

During an appearance at a military facility in southern Taiwan Friday morning, Lai emphasized that while peace remains everyone’s goal, genuine security requires military strength. He renewed his appeal for the opposition-controlled legislature to approve his stalled $40 billion defense spending package.

“Only through continuous preparedness can we deter threats – by being ready to fight in order to avoid fighting, and by being capable of fighting in order to stop war,” Lai declared.

Washington, which serves as Taiwan’s primary weapons supplier, has endorsed Lai’s military spending initiative.

China has consistently demanded that the United States cease arms sales to Taiwan.

Zhang accused Lai of using Taiwanese taxpayer funds to “pledge loyalty to and curry favour with the United States.”

“What they truly care about is whether they can make more money, and they are not above profiting from war,” he added, referring to American officials.

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgarian voters will head to the polls Sunday in another snap election that could elevate a leftist former president to power, coming just days after Hungarian citizens turned away from Viktor Orbán’s authoritarian agenda and the global far-right movement.

Former President Rumen Radev’s newly formed coalition appears positioned to capture the most votes in the April 19 election, drawing support from citizens who believe he can eliminate entrenched oligarchy and corruption, while others rally behind his European Union-skeptical and Russia-friendly positions.

In January, the 62-year-old stepped down from his largely symbolic presidential role several months ahead of his second term’s completion to pursue the prime minister position and lead the government directly.

The ex-fighter pilot and former air force commander enjoys the highest popularity ratings among Bulgarian politicians and has pledged to provide the nation with a new beginning should his center-left Progressive Bulgaria coalition prevail in the upcoming vote.

This weekend’s emergency election stems from the collapse of a conservative government following massive anti-corruption demonstrations in December 2025 that brought hundreds of thousands of predominantly young protesters into the streets nationwide.

The Balkan nation of 6.5 million people holds membership in both the European Union and NATO, recently adopted the euro currency on January 1, and gained entry to the Schengen border-free zone. However, political chaos has gripped the country since 2021, when longtime conservative leader Boyko Borissov stepped down as prime minister for the third time amid widespread demonstrations against systemic corruption and inequality.

No administration has lasted longer than 12 months since then, with each falling to either mass street demonstrations or parliamentary maneuvering, creating seven failed early elections across five years. This pattern has fostered deep institutional distrust, voter disengagement, and declining election participation.

Bulgarian officials recently sought help from EU diplomatic services to combat Russian interference operations targeting public opinion through social media platforms and propaganda websites. This request followed expert assessments identifying active Russian influence networks designed to create social divisions.

Polling data suggests Sunday’s voter turnout could rise from the recent average of 35% to more than 50%, driven partly by a fresh political contender entering the competition and the interim government’s efforts to restore electoral confidence through nationwide police operations, arrests, and legal proceedings targeting vote purchasing.

Survey results indicate Radev’s coalition may secure over 30% of votes, establishing a nearly 10-point advantage over his primary challenger — Borissov, the experienced GERB party leader whose latest prime ministerial tenure ended with the December 2025 protests. Polling margins of error range from 3 to 3.5%.

Radev has positioned himself as an adversary of the nation’s embedded criminal networks and their connections to senior political figures. During his final campaign event Wednesday, he promised to “remove the corrupt, oligarchic model of governance from political power.”

While surveys suggest Radev will likely finish first, he will require coalition partners to establish stable governance. He has rejected potential alliances with Borissov’s GERB party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, whose leader Delyan Peevski faces corruption sanctions from both the United States and Britain.

The pro-Western “We Continue the Change” bloc could serve as a domestic reform partner, with predictions placing them third at 12%-14% of votes.

Nevertheless, substantial foreign policy disagreements may hinder such cooperation, particularly regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although Radev officially condemns Moscow’s aggression, he has consistently opposed military assistance to Kyiv and supports renewed negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict.

Research center Trend analyst Evelina Slavkova believes Radev is unlikely to pursue a serious reorientation of Bulgaria toward Russia.

“Our country has succeeded, despite all the obstacles, despite disagreements among some politicians, in building a very important set of tools that keeps Bulgaria on the right track,” she told the Associated Press.

Slavkova emphasized that Bulgaria’s NATO and EU memberships, along with eurozone and Schengen participation, serve as “tools that allow us to be much more at ease.”

She observed that Radev avoided providing definitive positions during campaigning, attempting to balance competing viewpoints.

“This might be acceptable during a campaign, but when you’re running the country, you’ll certainly have to provide clear, definitive answers,” Slavkova explained.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Representatives from the European Union gathered Friday in Hungary’s capital to meet with advisors from incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s administration. The discussions center on urgent matters including financial assistance for Ukraine and releasing approximately 17 billion euros ($20 billion) in aid that was frozen during Viktor Orbán’s administration.

While Magyar won’t assume office until May, EU leadership wants to begin discussions early to accelerate cooperation with Hungary’s new administration, according to European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho, who spoke from Brussels Thursday.

“The clock is ticking for a number of topics,” Pinho stated. These advance discussions happening before Magyar’s inauguration aim to “make sure that once the government is in place action can be taken, if appropriate, and that we do not waste any time.”

The European Union suspended billions in financial support to Hungary due to corruption allegations and concerns about democratic deterioration during Orbán’s 16-year leadership. Now both EU leadership and Hungary’s new administration are working to release these funds quickly to provide crucial financial support for Hungary’s struggling economy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X Tuesday that “there is swift work to be done to restore, realign and reform” Hungary’s policies to release the blocked funding.

“Restore the rule of law. Realign with our shared European values. And reform, to unlock the opportunities offered by European investments,” wrote von der Leyen, who faced frequent criticism from Orbán throughout his campaign.

Magyar’s Tisza party secured a parliamentary supermajority that will allow for comprehensive and rapid policy changes. He has indicated his administration will focus on judicial independence, academic and press freedom, and anti-corruption measures to access the withheld funds.

During his initial press briefing following his decisive April 12 victory, Magyar stated Monday that Hungary “is in a very difficult financial situation,” and his new administration’s mission will be “to bring home the money that is hers.”

Magyar also committed to honoring a December agreement providing Ukraine with a critical 90-billion-euro loan, unlike Orbán who blocked the legislation after initially supporting it, causing frustration among EU officials and leaders across the 27-member union.

The withheld money includes 10 billion euros from COVID recovery programs and 6.3 billion euros from cohesion funds intended to support struggling EU economies.

Brussels and Budapest are working urgently to release the COVID funds first, as they expire in August.

Hungary, which receives substantial EU funding, faced growing criticism for abandoning democratic principles. For over ten years, the Commission accused Orbán of weakening democratic institutions, controlling media outlets, and violating minority rights. Orbán denied these claims and called them violations of Hungary’s independence.

In 2022, the Commission froze Budapest’s funding citing democratic regression by Hungary’s right-wing populist leadership and inadequate efforts to address corruption and ensure judicial independence. The following year, the Commission determined that sufficient reforms had been implemented to release approximately 10.2 billion euros ($12.1 billion).

According to Zsolt Darvas, a researcher at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, Magyar can quickly implement reforms needed to unlock the funds.

“All the legislative work can be done in a single day if there is a will from the Tisza party to do it,” he explained. “That’s relatively straight forward and not technically difficult.”

This would require modifying judicial selection processes and their authority.

Darvas noted that Magyar can address the August COVID funds deadline by following Poland and Portugal’s approach of placing funds in a national development bank for future distribution.

However, Darvas warned that Hungary has already forfeited about 2 billion euros from the 16 billion total due to the two-year suspension, and has been paying 1 million euros daily since June 13, 2024, plus a 200 million-euro penalty for Orbán’s refusal to align Hungary’s asylum procedures with EU standards.

Darvas suggested Hungary could follow Poland’s model by maintaining restrictive migration policies while still complying with EU law to end these penalties.

While these funds alone won’t resolve Hungary’s economic difficulties, Darvas explained that EU compliance will demonstrate the country is a reliable investment destination.

Hungary could also access significant funding by joining the EU’s 150 billion-euro Security Action for Europe initiative (SAFE), designed to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities as the United States reduces its security role on the continent.

Currently, 18 of 27 EU nations have received low-interest defense loans, and Hungary qualifies for 16 billion euros through this program. Combined with other funding sources, these resources would equal roughly 15% of Hungary’s GDP, according to analysis by Jeremy Cliffe at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is refusing to step down following explosive revelations that his controversial choice for U.K. ambassador to the United States received the position even after security officials advised against the appointment, government sources confirmed Friday.

According to Starmer, he had no knowledge that the Foreign Office had overridden security experts’ recommendation in early 2025 to reject Peter Mandelson for the role. Mandelson’s selection was viewed as problematic due to his previous connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.

Olly Robbins, the senior Foreign Office civil servant, accepted responsibility for the controversial decision and stepped down Thursday evening. Starmer is scheduled to address Parliament regarding this matter on Monday.

However, this development may not resolve the threat facing the prime minister following his decision to select Mandelson, a trade specialist and veteran Labour Party figure, as Britain’s representative to the Trump administration. The calculated gamble has failed dramatically and could potentially force Starmer from office.

Political opponents have expressed skepticism that Starmer remained uninformed about Mandelson’s security clearance failure. According to Starmer’s office, he only learned of this information earlier this week.

Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, stated Friday that “the recommendation was to not appoint Peter Mandelson to the role,” adding that the Foreign Office disregarded this advice. While calling the decision “astonishing,” he maintained it fell within established protocols.

Jones emphasized that no government minister received notification of the security evaluation.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch dismissed claims about the prime minister’s ignorance as “completely preposterous.”

“This story does not stack up. The prime minister is taking us for fools,” she stated during a BBC interview. “All roads lead to a resignation.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey declared that Starmer “must go” if he deceived Parliament and misled the British people.

The prime minister has consistently maintained that proper procedures were observed during the appointment process, which was publicly announced in December 2024. Mandelson assumed his Washington duties in February 2025 following security screening.

However, government documents released in March under parliamentary pressure revealed that Starmer overlooked warning signs from his advisors. Staff members cautioned him that Mandelson’s association with Epstein, who died in custody in 2019, created potential “reputational risk” for the government.

Starmer dismissed Mandelson in September 2025 when evidence surfaced showing he had been dishonest about the depth of his Epstein connections.

The prime minister’s leadership encountered its most serious challenge in February following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of extensive Epstein-related documentation, which revealed the intimate nature of Mandelson’s relationship with the financier, continuing even after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sexual crimes involving a minor.

Email correspondence between the two men indicated that Mandelson may have shared confidential government intelligence with the discredited financier in 2009 while serving in Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s administration — information that could have influenced financial markets.

British authorities subsequently opened a criminal investigation and conducted searches of Mandelson’s residences in London and western England. Police arrested Mandelson on February 23 on charges of suspected misconduct in public office.

He remains free without bail conditions while the police investigation proceeds. Mandelson has consistently maintained his innocence and faces no charges at this time. No allegations of sexual impropriety have been made against him.

Starmer has issued public apologies to British citizens and Epstein’s victims for trusting what he now calls “Mandelson’s lies.”

The European Union is moving forward with plans to rebuild diplomatic relationships with Syria and enhance economic cooperation, according to internal documents obtained by Reuters. This represents a significant shift in policy after years of severed relations between the bloc and the Middle Eastern nation.

A background document from the EU’s diplomatic service, distributed to member nations this week, reveals the bloc will reactivate its 1978 cooperation agreement with Syria. Additionally, formal structured discussions called a High-Level Political Dialogue will commence with Syria’s interim government on May 11.

In a significant policy change, the European Union announced it will “reframe and adapt” its sanctions framework to maintain influence while engaging with Syrian leadership and targeting those who oppose the country’s political transition, the document states.

Syria is working toward greater international integration under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led an Islamist rebel coalition that removed former leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, ending a catastrophic 14-year conflict. Most Western sanctions against the country were lifted at the end of last year.

The document details plans for increased economic cooperation, including establishing trade and investment frameworks, mobilizing private sector funding, and supporting business environment improvements through a new technical assistance center.

The EU also stated it would collaborate with Syrian authorities to facilitate the “safe, voluntary and dignified return” of refugees and displaced individuals.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees and asylum seekers currently reside in Europe, with approximately half living in Germany. Their potential return has dominated discussions between European governments and Damascus since Assad’s removal in late 2024.

The document reveals ambitions to incorporate Syria into regional connectivity initiatives, including the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, establishing the nation as a central point for transportation, energy, and digital connections.

Syria is becoming an increasingly important transit location, especially during the energy crisis caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure during the Iran conflict. On Thursday, the first tanker carrying Iraqi oil transported overland departed from Syria’s Baniyas port.

Turkey, Syria, and Jordan have also reached an agreement to enhance their railway systems, creating a corridor connecting southern Europe to the Gulf region, Turkish transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced to Bloomberg on Wednesday.

Regarding security matters, the document indicated the EU could provide training for Syrian police forces and institutional development within the interior ministry, along with cooperation on counterterrorism efforts and combating drug trafficking and organized crime.

The document also emphasizes EU support for implementing a January agreement between Damascus and Kurdish-led authorities in northeastern Syria, which involves incorporating local institutions into the state structure and expanding rights for Syrian Kurds during the broader political transition.

As a significant step in executing that agreement, Syria named the commander of the prominent YPG Kurdish forces as deputy defense minister for eastern territories in March, where U.S. forces transferred their final military base to the Syrian army this week.

The European Commission announced Friday it has selected four European technology firms to handle a massive $212 million cloud computing contract spanning six years, marking a significant step in Europe’s effort to break free from reliance on foreign tech companies.

The contract, initially put out for bid in October 2025, went to Post Telecom from Luxembourg, Germany-based StackIT, France’s Scaleway (owned by Iliad), and Belgium’s Proximus.

According to a statement from the EU’s executive branch, “This tender supports the Commission’s broader efforts to enhance its own sovereignty, reinforcing strategic control across key technologies and infrastructure.”

The winning companies were chosen because they met the Commission’s Cloud Sovereignty Framework requirements, which mandates that organizations outside the EU cannot have significant influence over the technologies or services being provided, officials explained.

EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the importance of the decision on social media, stating: “Scaling the use of EU cloud is key to strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty.”

The contracts involve partnerships between the selected companies and other tech firms. Post Telecom has teamed up with OVHcloud and CleverCloud, while Proximus is heading a group that includes Mistral AI, Clarence, Thales, and S3NS, which is a joint venture between Google Cloud and data center operations.

OVHcloud’s founder and CEO Octave Klaba celebrated the win on social media, noting that the Post Telecom partnership will serve more than 40 European Commission agencies and will help “prove there are credible alternatives in Europe.”

BARCELONA, Spain — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began a two-day diplomatic visit to Spain on Friday, where he and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will convene with fellow world leaders from predominantly smaller nations who share concerns about threats to democratic governance and the growing influence of far-right populist movements.

Both Lula and Sánchez have been vocal critics of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has issued threats of punitive tariffs against their nations. The two leaders are viewed as champions of progressive political movements in their regions, where conservative populist parties have gained momentum in recent years.

The Brazilian and Spanish leaders, accompanied by cabinet officials, gathered at a historic former royal palace in Barcelona on Friday to formalize agreements covering economic cooperation, technological partnerships, and social policy initiatives.

Friday’s bilateral discussions will set the stage for Saturday’s dual conferences at a major convention facility in Spain’s second-largest city, where Lula and Sánchez will host additional world leaders.

Saturday’s opening event marks the fourth Meeting in Defense of Democracy, an initiative established by Brazil and Spain in 2024 to create a platform for sharing strategies to counter what organizers describe as “extremism, polarization and misinformation” that weakens democratic participation. The forum’s initial sessions took place at United Nations headquarters, with last year’s gathering held in Santiago, Chile.

Despite both leaders’ public opposition to various Trump administration positions and policies, including military actions against Iran alongside Israel, Lula emphasized that the multilateral summit should not be viewed as anti-American.

“This is not going to going to be an anti-Trump meeting,” Lula stated in an interview with Spanish publication El País on Thursday. “We are going to discuss the state of democracy, to see what went wrong and what we have to do to repair it.”

This year’s democracy summit will feature European Council President Antonio Costa, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and additional heads of state from nations including Uruguay, Lithuania, Ghana, and Albania.

Sheinbaum’s attendance follows the resolution of a diplomatic tension between Spain and Mexico after King Felipe VI recently recognized that Spain’s colonial conquest of the Americas resulted in “abuse” of indigenous populations.

As Latin America experiences a conservative political shift and increased pressure from the Trump administration, Sheinbaum has emerged as a prominent leftist leader in the region. She maintains high approval ratings in Mexico while successfully balancing diplomatic relations with Trump and defending Latin American independence on critical issues.

Many participants from the democracy meeting will remain for the first-ever Global Progressive Mobilization, taking place at the same location later Saturday. This gathering of left-leaning politicians and policy experts originated from discussions between Sánchez and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, now head of the Party of European Socialists, during a European Socialist meeting last year.

Both Sánchez and Lula will deliver keynote addresses at the progressive mobilization, which anticipates 3,000 participants, including U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy. The program will include panel discussions on topics ranging from income inequality to strategies for improving electoral outcomes for progressive candidates.

The Barcelona meetings occur during an eventful period for Sánchez, who recently returned from his fourth visit to Beijing in three years for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Sánchez’s administration has prohibited U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran conflict from using Spanish airspace and blocked American access to jointly operated military installations in southern Spain for Iran-related operations.

Earlier this week, Lula issued a video statement expressing “deep solidarity” with Pope Leo XIV after Trump publicly criticized the pontiff for condemning the Iran war.

Pol Morillas, who directs the Barcelona-based international affairs research institute CIDOB, explained that these gatherings represent an effort by established democratic leaders to demonstrate strength in response to the far-right populist movement’s successful promotion of anti-immigration and economic nationalist messages through international forums.

Morillas also connects the meetings to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s influential January speech at the Davos economic forum, which emphasized the need for “middle powers” to develop new approaches for navigating a world dominated by aggressive superpowers.

Lula, Sánchez, and other attending leaders “share the understanding that the world is not just for the great powers,” Morillas explained to The Associated Press.

Displaced residents of Lebanon started making their way back to their communities Friday, surveying the damage to see if their homes survived the conflict, although many hesitated to stay permanently due to concerns the newly established 10-day truce between Hezbollah and Israel might not endure.

Massive piles of debris now occupy spaces where apartment buildings previously existed in Beirut’s southern districts under Hezbollah control, areas that suffered intense Israeli bombardment during more than six weeks of fighting that emerged from the broader conflict between the United States and Iran.

In the southern Lebanese town of Qasmiyeh, vehicles navigated a temporary bridge spanning the Litani River, quickly constructed after the truce took effect at midnight local time (2100 GMT). Israeli forces had demolished all river crossings during the hostilities, destroying the Qasmiyeh bridge just one day earlier.

“I inspected my home and praise God the building is still standing,” said Ali Hamza, who had just visited his house in the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh.

However, he explained that “people are scared to come and live, and it is impossible to live in these circumstances, and with these smells. A full return is difficult now, despite the hardship of displacement.”

President Donald Trump revealed the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel’s governments on Thursday. Lebanon’s leadership has maintained strong disagreements with Hezbollah regarding its war participation and has pursued the group’s peaceful disarmament for the past year.

Lebanon’s military documented ceasefire breaches by Israeli forces, including sporadic bombardment of multiple southern Lebanese communities, and urged civilians to delay returning to southern areas.

Israeli military officials did not provide immediate response to the allegations.

In Nabatieh, a heavily damaged southern city, some returning inhabitants declared their intention to remain permanently. Others concluded there was nothing left worth returning to.

“There’s destruction and it’s unliveable. Unliveable. We’re taking our things and leaving again,” said Fadel Badreddine, who arrived with his wife and young son. “May God grant us relief and end this whole thing permanently – not temporarily – so we can return to our homes and lands.”

The Iranian-backed Shiite organization Hezbollah, established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, began attacking in support of Tehran on March 2.

Lebanese officials report the conflict claimed over 2,100 lives in Lebanon and displaced approximately 1.2 million people, with most evacuees belonging to the Shiite community that also suffered heavily during a 2024 war.

Israeli authorities state that Hezbollah attacks resulted in two civilian deaths, while 13 Israeli soldiers died in Lebanon since March 2. The militant group launched hundreds of rockets and drones toward Israel throughout the conflict.

Israel’s military operations in Lebanon had become a significant barrier to achieving the peace agreement Trump sought to conclude the war with Iran.

Following the ceasefire announcement, Trump informed reporters that Lebanon and Israel would pursue a more permanent agreement, noting Lebanon had committed to “take care of Hezbollah.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he had rejected Hezbollah’s requirement to remove forces that entered southern Lebanon, and would continue maintaining a comprehensive “security zone” extending to Syria’s border.

Netanyahu emphasized that Israel’s primary objective remained Hezbollah’s complete dismantlement.

Hezbollah declared that any ceasefire must prevent Israeli forces from operating freely within Lebanese territory. The organization issued a statement asserting that Israeli military presence on Lebanese soil provided Lebanon and its citizens the “right to resist.”

Israeli military units have occupied portions of southern Lebanon and had pledged to retain control over territory reaching the Litani River, which flows into the Mediterranean approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Israel’s border. During the war, Israel commanded residents to evacuate the area south of the Litani.

Israeli forces demolished Lebanese communities in the region, stating their objective was establishing a “buffer zone” to shield northern Israeli towns from Hezbollah assaults.

Trump announced plans to invite Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for “meaningful talks” between the two nations, which have technically remained at war since Israel’s establishment in 1948.

The United States Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, expressed optimism Friday that America and Turkey will quickly resolve their ongoing dispute regarding US sanctions imposed over Turkey’s acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.

Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Barrack stated, “I think you are going to see the S-400 situation solved soon. From my boss’s point of view, acceptance into an F-35 programme is fine.”

The sanctions were implemented by the United States in 2020 against Turkey, despite both nations being NATO allies, following Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian defense system. As part of the penalties, Turkey was also excluded from the F-35 fighter aircraft procurement and manufacturing program.

LONDON – British authorities announced Friday that three individuals have been formally charged in connection with a failed firebombing attempt targeting the offices of Iran International television station in northwest London earlier this week.

The suspects – two adult males and one teenager, all British citizens – face charges of arson with intent to endanger life following Wednesday evening’s incident. According to police, the group threw a burning container toward the building housing Volant Media, Iran International’s parent company, but the device landed in a parking area where the flames quickly extinguished themselves.

No injuries occurred and no property damage resulted from the attack.

Iran International, which operates from London and frequently criticizes Iran’s government, reported that security personnel had refused entry to a suspicious vehicle at their facility shortly before the incendiary devices were hurled at the building.

The charged individuals are Oisin McGuinness, 21, Nathan Dunn, 19, and a 16-year-old whose identity remains protected under legal guidelines. All three are scheduled for court appearances at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday. McGuinness faces an additional charge of dangerous driving.

Law enforcement officials said the suspects’ vehicle sped away from the scene but crashed during a high-speed chase involving an armed police response team that happened to be operating in the vicinity.

This attack occurred just one day after police apprehended two individuals suspected of attempting to set fire to a synagogue, also located in north London.

Additionally, last month several ambulances owned by Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer emergency medical service, were deliberately set ablaze while parked near a synagogue in the Golders Green neighborhood of north London.

While investigators have not established connections between these separate incidents, Matt Jukes, deputy commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, acknowledged public concerns about escalating tensions.

“London’s Jewish communities and the Iranian diaspora in London have, in recent years, been increasingly targeted by individuals, groups and hostile states intent on spreading fear, hate and harm,” Jukes stated, adding that he recognized why overseas conflicts and rising domestic tensions would be “deeply worrying” to residents.

Lebanese families who fled their homes during the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah are now making their way back to their villages after a ceasefire agreement took effect on Friday.

The truce has enabled thousands of displaced residents to begin returning to their communities after being forced to leave due to the fighting between the militant group and Israeli forces.

The Associated Press has compiled photographs documenting the homecoming of these families as they travel back to their villages across Lebanon.

Armed attackers seized high school students and fellow travelers in Nigeria’s Benue state on Thursday as the students were en route to take university entrance examinations, marking the first reported student kidnapping of the year in the West African nation.

Criminal gangs and extremist groups routinely attack travelers, school children and farming communities throughout Nigeria. Officials have not identified which group they suspect carried out Thursday’s kidnapping.

The assault took place on the Makurdi-Otukpo highway, according to Governor Hyacinth Alia, who condemned the incident as a “cowardly act.” While the governor did not specify the number of victims, news outlets in the region reported that 17 students remain unaccounted for.

“The targeting of innocent citizens, particularly students on their way to sit for examinations, is unacceptable and stands against every norm of humanity and civil order,” Alia said in a statement.

Law enforcement and military units have begun search and rescue missions, with the governor ordering that “no effort be spared” to find the missing individuals.

These large-scale abductions persist despite ongoing government promises to stop such attacks, continuing to interfere with schooling, business operations, and transportation while leaving angry citizens questioning whether officials can effectively combat the security crisis.

President Donald Trump has pointed to Nigeria’s security problems as justification for potential military intervention, claiming Christians face persecution in the country. Nigerian leadership, which includes both Christian and Muslim officials, maintains that the violence impacts followers of both faiths equally.

Syrian officials have announced the discovery of an underground passage used for illegal weapons trafficking along the country’s border with Lebanon, marking another security challenge in the historically troubled region.

According to Syria’s Interior Ministry, authorities found the tunnel connecting rural areas south of Homs to Lebanese territory. Officials say weapons and ammunition were recovered from the tunnel and surrounding areas, suggesting an organized criminal operation was behind its construction and use.

The find represents part of increased security efforts to stop illegal border activities, which encompass not just arms trafficking but also the smuggling of fuel, food items, and people across the frontier.

The Syria-Lebanon border has long presented control challenges due to its mountainous, rural landscape that makes comprehensive monitoring difficult, creating opportunities for illegal crossings.

These smuggling activities grew significantly during Syria’s years of conflict, when government control weakened in certain regions while demand for weapons rose and underground economic networks expanded.

Years of regional instability have directly affected border security between the neighboring countries. Smuggling operations are now considered part of an alternative economic system that benefits from chaos and limited oversight, often connected to organized groups with the resources and planning capabilities to fund and execute such operations.

From a security standpoint, finding a tunnel of this magnitude indicates smuggling methods are becoming more advanced, moving beyond traditional routes to more complex and hidden approaches. Building tunnels demands significant human resources, technical expertise, and detailed knowledge of local terrain and border pathways, suggesting professional criminal networks are involved.

This development could create new opportunities for Syria and Lebanon to discuss strengthening security cooperation and implementing stricter border controls. While the countries have worked together on these issues before, ongoing smuggling suggests gaps remain in surveillance and intelligence sharing.

These illegal operations serve a double purpose: they generate unlawful income for individuals and groups while damaging both countries’ legitimate economies by draining resources and creating black markets that disrupt pricing and financial stability. With both nations facing economic difficulties, stopping these activities becomes more critical.

The current border situation raises questions about whether security measures alone can solve the problem. Experts suggest addressing underlying causes of smuggling, including poverty, joblessness, and limited economic opportunities in border communities. Without real and comprehensive development efforts, these activities may continue in different ways despite stronger security enforcement.

The tunnel discovery between Syria and Lebanon demonstrates the scope of challenges governments face in securing borders amid complex regional circumstances. While this represents an important victory against smuggling, it also shows the need for a complete strategy combining security, development, and regional partnership to achieve lasting results.

US Central Command has disclosed significant American military casualties from the ongoing conflict with Iran, revealing that 399 service members have sustained injuries while 13 have lost their lives in combat operations.

According to CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins, as reported by the Associated Press, 354 of the injured troops have been cleared to return to active duty following their treatment.

Peace negotiations continue to face obstacles despite recent diplomatic initiatives. Officials from the United States and Iran conducted multiple discussion sessions in Islamabad, Pakistan on April 11, though both nations acknowledged the talks did not yield a sustainable peace framework. The Associated Press indicates additional negotiations could occur on April 16.

On April 7, Washington declared a “double-sided” 14-day ceasefire agreement with Iran, characterizing the arrangement as a temporary halt to military actions.

The military confrontation commenced on February 28 when American and Israeli forces initiated coordinated strikes against Iranian targets. Tehran retaliated by blocking maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for ships linked to the United States, Israel, and nations supporting the military campaign.

Iranian Emergency Medical Services has reported that 3,375 civilians died during US-Israeli bombing campaigns throughout 40 days of warfare.

President Donald Trump secured a temporary halt to fighting between Israel and Lebanon on Thursday, announcing a 10-day ceasefire that will begin at midnight Friday Israel time as part of broader diplomatic efforts between the two nations.

The president revealed he had productive conversations with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the discussions as “excellent talks.” Trump characterized the temporary truce as progress toward lasting peace and announced plans to bring both leaders together for “the first meaningful talks since 1983.”

While Trump indicated earlier Thursday that Netanyahu and Aoun were prepared for direct discussions, two Lebanese officials later clarified that Aoun would refuse to meet with Netanyahu face-to-face unless Israel first committed to ending hostilities.

According to Israel’s U.S. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, “Lebanon has expressed willingness to disarm Hezbollah.”

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu informed his security cabinet he accepted the ceasefire because Trump requested it. “Trump asked, and I agreed,” Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers. The Israeli leader also indicated his country would maintain oversight of “strategic points” throughout the 10-day period.

The security cabinet did not formally vote on the ceasefire agreement, and several ministers reportedly voiced displeasure after learning about the decision through news coverage. Netanyahu promised to convene a security cabinet meeting to discuss the matter at a future date.

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the move, stating: “Not for the first time, all the promises of this government collapse in the face of reality.” He continued: “The confrontation in Lebanon can end in only one way—the permanent removal of the threat to the northern communities. With this government, that won’t happen. We’ll do it under the next government.”

Hezbollah representative Ibrahim Moussawi indicated his organization would respect the ceasefire provided Israeli military actions cease completely. “We in Hezbollah will cautiously adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that it is a comprehensive halt to hostilities against us and that Israel not use it to carry out any assassinations,” he stated.

Moussawi also acknowledged Iran’s role, saying: “We express thanks to Iran for having applied pressure in Lebanon’s favor,” and noted that “the ceasefire would not have happened without Iran considering the ceasefire as equal to closing the Strait of Hormuz.”

International Conflict Exposes Growing Divisions Among Western Allies

The escalating situation with Iran has become more than just a military crisis—it’s now revealing deep fractures within Western partnerships that threaten long-standing diplomatic relationships. Recent developments show mounting friction between the United States and its European partners, with disagreements surfacing over military support, diplomatic strategies, and fundamental approaches to international conflict.

These tensions have manifested across multiple fronts simultaneously: Washington has publicly criticized European nations for insufficient backing, Italy has adjusted its relationship with Israel following incidents in Lebanon, and an unprecedented public dispute has emerged between the White House and Vatican leadership, involving key European political figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has characterized Europe’s position as more than mere strategic disagreement, describing it during Holocaust Remembrance Day as evidence of declining moral strength and weakening commitment to defending civilization.

The current developments represent interconnected episodes where military actions, diplomatic communications, and public political statements have begun influencing and amplifying each other, creating a complex web of international tensions.

Italian-Israeli Relations Cool Following Lebanon Incidents

The breakdown in Italian-Israeli diplomatic relations developed gradually rather than through a single decisive moment. The situation began deteriorating when Italian forces serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) encountered problems in southern Lebanon, where they work to maintain border stability.

An incident involving Israeli warning shots that struck an Italian UNIFIL vehicle immediately transformed from an operational concern into a diplomatic crisis. Italy, which contributes significantly to the peacekeeping mission, could not dismiss the episode as routine. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s reaction—calling the incident “completely unacceptable”—marked a clear shift from careful diplomacy to direct criticism. Her additional statement demanding that “Israel’s continued attacks in Lebanon … must cease immediately” expanded her critique beyond the specific incident to encompass Israel’s broader military operations in the region.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani escalated matters further by publicly condemning Israeli bombardments affecting Lebanese civilians as “unacceptable,” demonstrating that Rome’s concerns now extended beyond protecting its own forces to include broader humanitarian and legal issues. Israel responded by summoning Italy’s ambassador, mirroring Italy’s earlier decision to summon the Israeli ambassador, establishing a pattern of reciprocal diplomatic protests that signaled a transition into open disagreement.

Following this sequence of events, Italy chose not to automatically renew its bilateral defense cooperation memorandum with Israel. The agreement, originally signed in 2003 and active since 2006, primarily serves as a framework for military collaboration including equipment procurement, joint operations, and defense industry partnerships. Its renewal process is typically administrative rather than political, usually occurring automatically every five years. In practical terms, suspending the agreement immediately doesn’t substantially change existing cooperation levels. Israeli officials attempted to downplay the impact, stating it would have “no practical effect.”

However, the limited operational impact actually enhances the decision’s political significance. By halting a largely ceremonial agreement, Italy is communicating a shift in political positioning rather than dismantling concrete military structures.

Leo Goretti, who leads the Foreign Policy Program at the Istituto Affari Internazionali, explained to The Media Line that the action was primarily political. “In reality, I don’t even have direct knowledge of the merits of the agreement. My impression is similar to what you have expressed, that in this case, it is a bit like Sigonella’s speech a while ago, that is, these positions are above all positions that want to send a signal to public opinion.”

Goretti noted: “This is in line with what we said before, that is, the awareness that a change of pace is necessary on the side of the Italian position at the international level. However, it will not be easy, in the sense that we are so out of time in taking a stance, compared to other European countries.”

From an Israeli analytical viewpoint, the move reflects longer-term trends rooted in domestic political dynamics within Italy and across Europe.

Dr. Esther Lopatin, who directs the Center for European Studies at Reichman University, told The Media Line: “The decision by Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, to suspend the defense agreement with Israel is not surprising at all. Over the last few years, Meloni has become increasingly critical of Israel. While in the past she claimed that the Likud party inspired her, in reality, criticism of Israel and of Benjamin Netanyahu has grown steadily over time, in line with the rising criticism within Italy itself.”

She referenced polling data from May 2025 indicating approximately 70% of Italians hold highly critical views of Israel, with only 18% maintaining positive opinions and just 9% supporting Israel’s Gaza policies. The widening gap between public sentiment and government policy has weakened Italian support for Israel.

Lopatin added, “Meloni wants to be liked and admired by her public, and one way to achieve this is by expressing criticism of Israel. For example, after October 7, 2023, Italy decided to impose an arms embargo on Israel due to the war in Gaza. It is politically more convenient to be critical of Israel, as this also earns her support from the left—or at least reduces criticism from the left.”

US-Europe Divide Reflects Deep Strategic Differences

The disagreement between Washington and European capitals regarding Iran stems from fundamental differences in strategic thinking, threat assessment, and political capabilities that the current conflict has highlighted rather than created.

European governments have generally maintained preferences for diplomatic engagement despite escalating Iranian tensions. This approach combines normative commitments with structural limitations rather than simply representing “soft power” preferences.

Lopatin explained that Europe’s diplomatic focus reflects both strategy and constraints. “Europe—and especially the European Union—has long believed that the best way to manage international conflicts is through diplomatic means—what is often referred to as soft power,” she said.

“In contrast to the Americans, Europeans have traditionally argued that they do not believe in relying primarily on military force, and that the best way to handle conflicts is through negotiations and diplomacy.”

This approach has historical foundations in EU engagement with Iran during the 1990s, when economic relationships were maintained alongside efforts to influence Tehran’s domestic policies.

“In the case of Iran, for many years—especially during the 1990s—they promoted what was called a ‘critical dialogue’: continuing trade with Iran while at the same time trying to encourage it to respect human rights, including the rights of women and the LGBTQ,” Lopatin said.

“In practice, this approach did not fully succeed, but many Europeans still believe we should not abandon the diplomatic track.”

Simultaneously, Europe’s position is shaped by practical limitations. “Most EU countries are relatively small, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—countries that do not have the military capacity to fight a country like Iran. Even those that do have significant military capabilities, such as Germany, France, and Italy, lack the desire to engage in a war with Iran,” she said.

“The average German or Italian is not willing to die so that Iran becomes a democracy. After all, this is not an existential war for Europe.”

Trade between the European Union and Iran remains limited compared to pre-sanctions periods but continues to exist, with European governments weighing economic consequences of escalation. Lopatin cited approximate annual EU-Iran trade at around €5 billion, with Germany and Italy among the primary European commercial participants. Germany earns approximately €1.2 billion from Iranian exports and imports roughly €200 million in Iranian goods, while Italy exports around €700 million to Iran and imports about €170 million.

“These figures show that economic considerations play a role—Europe benefits economically from its relations with Iran. In conclusion, unlike Israel, this is not an existential war for Europe,” Lopatin said.

“Iran seeks to destroy Israel, not Italy or Germany. Looking at the economic benefits of trade with Iran, it is easier to understand the European approach.”

NATO Faces Unprecedented Strain Over Alliance Expectations

From Washington’s viewpoint, European restraint represents failure to meet alliance obligations rather than strategic caution. The Trump administration has characterized the issue in terms of burden-sharing, arguing that European allies have benefited from American security guarantees while refusing to support US-led efforts in the current conflict.

A White House official, speaking anonymously, told The Media Line: “The president speaks candidly to world leaders when he disagrees with them. This is nothing new.”

More formal communications have made underlying frustrations explicit. Anna Kelly, principal deputy press secretary at the White House Press Office, told The Media Line: “President Trump has made his disappointment with NATO and other allies clear. The United States has thousands of troops stationed in Europe—yet requests to use military bases in order to defend American interests were denied. The president has effectively restored America’s standing on the world stage and strengthened relationships abroad—but he simultaneously will never allow the United States to be treated unfairly and taken advantage of by so-called ‘allies.’”

Olivia Wales, White House assistant press secretary, was more direct. “NATO was tested, and they failed. The United States doesn’t need help from any other country—the blockade is working perfectly, implemented by the greatest Navy in the world, while Iran’s navy is at the bottom of the ocean,” she told The Media Line.

Lopatin said this perception shapes President Trump’s expectations. “Trump really expected Europe to assist him in the conflict with Iran, especially given that the United States has contributed to Europe’s security since the establishment of NATO in 1949, so there is a clear possibility that NATO could weaken or even begin to fall apart,” she said.

Trump-Meloni-Vatican Triangle Creates Unprecedented Diplomatic Crisis

The tensions reached their most public point in an interconnected confrontation involving President Trump, Meloni, and Pope Leo XIV. What might have remained a policy disagreement expanded into symbolic and ideological conflict. The crisis intensified when the president directed criticism not only at Europe generally, but specifically at Meloni and Pope Leo XIV. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, President Trump responded to Meloni’s condemnation of his papal comments by saying: “She’s unacceptable. She’s unacceptable because she doesn’t mind that Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if they had the chance.”

His statements about Pope Leo were equally direct. The Washington Post reported that President Trump called the pope “WEAK on crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” and said he was “not a fan of Pope Leo.” It also reported that the US president posted an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Jesus-like pose alongside the American flag. Reuters and AP both reported that the clash intensified after Pope Leo condemned the president’s threat against Iran as “truly unacceptable” and continued to insist on a message of peace and dialogue.

Vice President JD Vance then added another dimension to the dispute. Speaking on Fox News and at a Turning Point USA event, he said it would be “best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality” and “let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.” He also said it was “very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology.” AP separately reported that Leo, while avoiding direct confrontation, continued speaking about peace, dialogue, and unity across religious and political differences.

Meloni’s response to the US president was politically significant because it marked a rare public break with President Trump, saying that Italy will always be a partner of the US but not its “subject,” also siding firmly with the pope. This mattered not only because Italy hosts the Vatican, but because Meloni had been treated as one of President Trump’s closest ideological partners in Europe. She was the only EU leader invited to the president’s second inauguration and had been widely regarded as his key European ally.

Goretti said the rupture was predictable. “The only gluing element between the right-wing and European nationalists like Meloni is an ideological glue, but if you look at the concrete interests, they are divergent, so in any case, this relationship would have been tested in the long run,” he said.

He added: “Returning to the theme of the Trump attacks on the pope, the first response of Giorgia Meloni was a very generic response to the limits of ambiguity, not to have a direct confrontation with Trump, but after a few hours she had to address this again and condemn what had been said.”

Netanyahu Frames European Position as Moral Failure

Benjamin Netanyahu’s Holocaust Remembrance Day speech connects to this broader narrative because it demonstrates how Israeli leadership now characterizes European hesitation as moral decline rather than prudent strategy. In his address at the official opening ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day, Netanyahu said Europe today was suffering from “deep moral weakness” and was “losing control over its identity, its values and its commitment to protect civilization from barbarism.” He said Europe had “forgotten so much since the Holocaust” and that Israel, alongside the United States and other allies, was defending not only itself but “the entire world.”

These comments are not casual rhetoric. They represent an attempt to place current European criticism of Israel—whether regarding Lebanon, Gaza, or the Iran conflict—within a much broader historical condemnation. In Netanyahu’s framework, Europe has not simply chosen different strategy; it has failed a civilizational test.

This framing reflects fundamental divergence in conflict perception. Lopatin said that was the core meaning of Netanyahu’s speech. “Iran seeks to destroy Israel, not Europe; this is the meaning behind the speech of Netanyahu,” she said.

Vatican’s Unique Role in International Politics Under Pressure

The dispute with the Vatican extends beyond typical Trump controversies. It matters because the Holy See maintains a distinctive position in international politics: it remains one of the few actors that can speak in explicitly moral terms while maintaining diplomatic channels across ideological divisions and conflict lines.

Massimo Faggioli, a professor of theology and religious studies at Trinity College Dublin, told The Media Line that President Trump’s approach reflected political self-legitimization. “It is the picture of a presidency that sees itself with a religious function … it is covered with a messianic cloak. Trump believes he is the savior of America, the savior of the Middle East, the savior of the world.”

He added: “It is a salvific vision of himself and therefore does not recognize the moral authority of anyone else who can act on what is being done in the United States.”

By contrast, Faggioli said the Vatican’s role is stabilizing. “The pope is not interested in humiliating the United States or Trump, but in having a more stable and responsible America in its international policy and in respecting democracy and peace,” he said.

Goretti added a geopolitical perspective. “The Vatican … is also an important diplomatic actor … which tends to try to bring conflicts to some kind of business resolution and thus to peace. If you politicize it, … you also burn bridges to those third actors who could help you to find a path to get out of this situation,” he said.

Collectively, these developments indicate broader transformation rather than temporary disruption.

Goretti said the shift is structural. “The US strategic interest … is progressively moving toward the so-called Asia-Pacific. … This means that NATO loses importance. You can have the maximum of values, visions, everything we want, but if the interests are divergent, notoriously, nationalists of different signs tend to clash,” he said.

He added: “In the contemporary world, the transatlantic relationship … is destined to be resized.”

At the same time, he cautioned against viewing the current moment as definitive. “If the day after tomorrow there are again talks in Pakistan and there is some kind of agreement, Trump will go around saying that he defeated Iran and made the most beautiful peace in the world and returns to be on good terms with Meloni as if nothing had happened. So let’s not believe word-for-word what he states in these circumstances,” he said.

The alliances remain formally intact. But their internal balance—between strategy, politics, and legitimacy—is increasingly unstable. The Iran conflict did not create this shift. It exposed it.

President Donald Trump has revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun are scheduled to hold discussions Thursday, marking what would be the first direct communication between the two nations’ leaders in more than three decades.

Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, stating: “Trying to achieve a small breathing space between Israel and Lebanon. It’s been a long time since the two leaders spoke, something like 34 years. It will happen tomorrow.”

The development comes after a series of diplomatic meetings in Washington, where US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa held discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This follows earlier meetings this week between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors as both nations appear open to dialogue, despite ongoing disagreements about negotiation terms.

A correspondent from Saudi television network Al-Arabiya confirmed Netanyahu’s expected participation in Thursday’s conversation with Aoun. However, official Lebanese sources speaking to Kan News indicated they had no knowledge of such a scheduled meeting.

The diplomatic efforts face significant challenges, as Lebanese leadership seeks a ceasefire before beginning formal negotiations, while Israel maintains it will not suspend military activities as a prerequisite for talks. Adding complexity to the situation, Al-Akhbar newspaper, which has ties to Hezbollah, reported that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri opposes any direct dialogue with Israel, whether or not a ceasefire exists.

“They came to the United States to achieve a ceasefire but returned to fight Hezbollah,” Berri stated, according to the newspaper’s reporting.

Netanyahu convened his security cabinet Wednesday to examine potential negotiations with Lebanon, according to reports from Walla, which noted that several ministers voiced opposition to ceasefire arrangements.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking Iranian official told Lebanese media that a preliminary agreement had emerged due to Iranian influence and would align with a ceasefire involving Tehran. These reports suggest the initiative aims to provide Iran with diplomatic gains before additional negotiations, though Jerusalem officials dismissed suggestions that an agreement was close to completion.

Several major journalism organizations are pressing Israel’s highest court to accelerate its decision regarding foreign reporter access to Gaza, claiming that ongoing restrictions on independent international news coverage can no longer be defended.

The Foreign Press Association, along with the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the Union of Journalists in Israel, announced Tuesday they had submitted an urgent request to Israel’s Supreme Court. The coalition filed their emergency motion on April 13, following the court’s acceptance of the Israeli government’s most recent petition to postpone proceedings until May 24.

According to a collaborative statement released April 15, international journalists operating independently have been barred from Gaza since October 7, 2023. The organizations characterized this 2.5-year prohibition as extraordinary and cautioned it might establish a concerning precedent for other war zones. They noted that authorities have consistently sought postponements since the FPA submitted its current legal challenge on September 10, 2024.

Following a US-mediated ceasefire in October, the court provided the state 30 days to outline its stance on permitting journalists to enter Gaza. However, officials responded by requesting additional extensions, the statement indicated.

While a hearing eventually occurred in January, the organizations contended that progress has since been hindered after the government received permission to file confidential documents not disclosed to the FPA. The groups dismissed justifications for ongoing delays, noting that hostages are no longer present in Gaza, a stable ceasefire exists, and no credible or specific dangers to journalists have been documented. The statement further criticized the government’s latest rationale involving conflict with Iran as irrelevant.

The coalition highlighted that Palestinian reporters have maintained coverage from within Gaza throughout the conflict despite facing extreme hardships including starvation, forced relocation, unlawful detention, family losses, and attacks by Israeli forces. CPJ and RSF reported that over 220 Palestinian journalists have died during the war, with at least 70 allegedly targeted by Israeli military forces due to their professional activities. Additionally, two Palestinian journalists from Gaza have been unaccounted for since October 7, 2023.

FPA chairperson Tania Kraemer stated: “This indefinite ban must end. The never-ending delays have made a mockery of the legal process. It is time for the justices to put an end to this once and for all. Let us into Gaza independently and immediately and work there alongside our Palestinian colleagues.”

CPJ chief executive Jodie Ginsberg noted that Israel has blocked independent media access to Gaza for over 900 days and criticized the court for failing to protect press freedoms. RSF Director General Thibaut Bruttin and Anat Saragusti, who leads press freedom efforts at the UJI, also demanded a decision that would permit foreign correspondents to enter Gaza and conduct independent reporting.

The four organizations emphasized that Palestinian journalists should not bear sole responsibility for Gaza coverage and maintained that, six months into a ceasefire, foreign reporters should no longer face exclusion.

The temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon remained intact on Friday morning, marking the first successful day of a 10-day pause in hostilities announced by President Donald Trump and accepted by both nations. This development may strengthen ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a broader ceasefire involving Iran and the United States.

While uncertainty remains about whether negotiators can reach a permanent agreement before the temporary truce expires, the halt in combat between Israeli forces and Hezbollah suggests some diplomatic headway has been achieved.

Iranian representatives had insisted that stopping Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah was essential to any broader peace deal. The fighting has been between Israeli military units and the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization operating within Lebanese borders, rather than with Lebanon’s government directly. Hezbollah released a statement declaring that “any ceasefire must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he supported the ceasefire “to advance” diplomatic initiatives with Lebanon, though he emphasized that Israeli military personnel would remain in position.

International diplomatic activity continued Thursday when Pakistan’s military leadership met with Iran’s parliamentary leadership, part of worldwide efforts to extend the temporary halt to nearly seven weeks of warfare.

Peace negotiators are working to resolve three major disagreements: Iran’s atomic weapons program, control of the Strait of Hormuz waterway, and financial reparations for war-related destruction, according to a regional diplomat participating in the mediation process.

Restoring navigation through the strait has become a top priority for American officials and the global community as an energy shortage intensifies due to the blockade of this vital petroleum shipping lane. French and British officials will convene representatives from numerous nations Friday to advance proposals for reopening the waterway, though American representatives will not participate.

The conflict has resulted in at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, over 2,100 fatalities in Lebanon, 23 deaths in Israel, and more than a dozen casualties in Persian Gulf nations. Thirteen American military personnel have also lost their lives.

In related developments, a South Korean oil tanker successfully navigated through the Red Sea carrying petroleum from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu facility, marking the nation’s first such shipment since seeking alternate energy transportation routes while Iran maintains its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung described the successful passage Friday as a “valuable accomplishment” in government efforts to address war-related challenges. The Maritime Ministry has not disclosed how many additional tankers will attempt the Red Sea route or the arrival timeline for the vessel that completed the journey. Twenty-six South Korean ships remain trapped in the strait.

President Trump posted on social media Thursday evening that the day “could have been a historic day for Lebanon.” In a follow-up Truth Social message after the Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire began, Trump expressed hope that Hezbollah “acts nicely and well,” adding “It will be an GREAT moment for them if they do.”

Meanwhile, BP became the fifth corporation to secure an agreement with Australia’s government to guarantee fuel imports at elevated prices caused by the Iranian conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the BP arrangement Friday at Viva Energy’s Geelong facility near Melbourne, which suffered fire damage Wednesday evening but continues operating at reduced capacity.

Viva secured government backing Thursday for 570,000 barrels of diesel from Brunei and South Korea at prices that might otherwise be financially unfeasible. Australia has adequate fuel reserves contracted through May, though officials worry about potential shortages in coming months.

BEIRUT (AP) — A temporary 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect early Friday morning in Lebanon, offering the first break in weeks of intense fighting and potentially opening the door for broader peace negotiations involving Iran and the United States.

Questions remain about whether Israel will fully halt its military operations against Hezbollah and if the militant organization will honor an agreement it had no role in creating, especially with Israeli forces maintaining control over parts of southern Lebanon.

Celebratory gunfire echoed throughout Beirut shortly after midnight as Lebanese residents marked the start of the ceasefire, while displaced families immediately began traveling back to southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods, ignoring government advisories to wait until the truce proves stable.

President Donald Trump called the agreement a “historic day for Lebanon” during remarks in Las Vegas, while also expressing optimism about ending the broader conflict with Iran.

“I will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly,” Trump stated. “It should be ending pretty soon.”

Iranian negotiators had previously insisted on ending Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah as a central requirement, having accused Israel of violating earlier ceasefire agreements through continued strikes on Lebanon. Israeli officials maintained those previous deals did not apply to Lebanese territory.

International diplomatic efforts continued Thursday with Pakistan’s military leader meeting Iran’s parliamentary speaker to advocate for extending the ceasefire beyond the initial 10-day period.

Global oil markets responded positively to peace prospects, though the International Energy Agency’s director warned of worsening energy shortages if Iran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz quickly. Iran shuttered this critical shipping route, which typically handles one-fifth of global oil transport, when the conflict began. Europe faces approximately six weeks of remaining jet fuel supplies, with broader economic impacts mounting as the closure continues, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol explained to The Associated Press Thursday.

France and the United Kingdom plan to convene dozens of nations Friday to develop strategies for reopening the strait, though the United States will not participate in these discussions.

The regional conflict has claimed at least 3,000 lives in Iran, over 2,100 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen across Gulf Arab nations. Thirteen American military personnel have also died in the fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he accepted the ceasefire “to advance” Lebanese peace initiatives, while emphasizing that Israeli military forces would remain in place.

Israeli troops have conducted intense combat operations with Hezbollah along the border region while establishing what officials describe as a “security zone” extending 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanese territory.

“That is where we are, and we are not leaving,” Netanyahu declared in his video statement.

Hezbollah responded by asserting Lebanese citizens maintain “the right to resist” Israeli occupation forces and that their future actions “will be determined based on how developments unfold.”

According to the State Department, the agreement permits Israel to maintain self-defense rights “at any time, against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.” However, Israel “will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state targets.”

While Trump characterized the deal as a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a Hezbollah representative speaking anonymously said the agreement resulted from direct negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in multiple conflicts and sporadic fighting since the Gaza war began. Although Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement to end that conflict in November 2024, Israel continued nearly daily strikes claiming they were necessary to prevent the Iran-supported militant group from rebuilding strength. The situation escalated into renewed invasion after Hezbollah resumed missile attacks on Israel in response to its war with Iran.

The ceasefire emerged following a Washington meeting between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors and subsequent phone conversations involving Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to White House sources.

These represented the first direct diplomatic communications between the two nations in decades, with Hezbollah having previously blocked direct Israel-Lebanon negotiations.

Trump contacted Netanyahu Wednesday evening, securing the Israeli leader’s agreement to a ceasefire under specific conditions, according to an official speaking anonymously. Rubio then reached Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who endorsed the proposal. Trump subsequently spoke with Aoun directly before having another conversation with Netanyahu.

The State Department collaborated with both governments to draft a formal memorandum outlining the truce terms.

Pakistan’s army commander met Thursday with Iran’s parliamentary speaker as part of ongoing efforts to extend a ceasefire that has temporarily halted nearly seven weeks of warfare between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

Despite tensions from the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and renewed Iranian threats challenging the ceasefire, regional officials reported diplomatic progress, telling AP that the United States and Iran had reached an “in-principle agreement” to extend the truce for additional negotiations. These sources spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of ongoing talks.

Mediators are working toward compromises on three primary issues: Iran’s nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz situation, and compensation for war damages, according to a regional official involved in mediation efforts.

Trump indicated willingness to extend the ceasefire if necessary.

“If we’re close to a deal, would I extend?” Trump responded to reporters. “Yeah, I would do that.”

TAIPEI – While Chinese military forces conducted large-scale exercises around Taiwan last December, another form of warfare was simultaneously playing out across digital platforms.

A 51-second clip appeared on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, showing Taiwan opposition figure Cheng Li-wun criticizing President Lai Ching-te for provoking Chinese hostility. In the video, Cheng claimed Lai was leading “all 23 million of us” in Taiwan down a “dead end, a road to death” through independence pursuits. The footage quickly spread to Facebook, YouTube and other social networks widely used in Taiwan.

Beijing’s state-controlled media organizations are systematically highlighting Taiwan critics of the island’s governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including social media personalities and politicians connected to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwan security officials and research data from IORG, a Taipei-based analysis group, shared with Reuters.

Chinese authorities collect public remarks from prominent KMT leaders and other opposition voices that attack Taiwan’s government, then distribute them through extensive anti-DPP messaging campaigns via state media and Chinese social platforms, the data and sources indicate. These clips subsequently get redistributed and frequently repackaged for audiences on Taiwan-popular platforms like Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, plus Douyin, sometimes enhanced or presented to hide Beijing’s involvement.

Though Beijing has previously utilized Taiwanese personalities in its propaganda efforts, it has significantly intensified this information warfare approach, Taiwan security officials noted: Recognizable voices and dialects can appear more trustworthy.

The objective involves discrediting a government that Beijing claims seeks independence, officials explained. Additionally, as the DPP pursues $40 billion in additional defense spending, the campaign seems designed to persuade Taiwanese citizens that China’s military superiority is so vast that Taiwan’s heavy investment in American weaponry is pointless, according to IORG and three security officials.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office and defense ministry did not respond to inquiries regarding Beijing’s information warfare activities.

Taiwan’s defense ministry informed Reuters it is addressing a significant surge in Chinese “cognitive warfare” by enhancing military personnel’s media literacy capabilities and psychological strength. President Lai’s office stated that cross-strait stability must be “built on strength, not on concessions to authoritarian pressure.”

Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, all prohibited in China, failed to respond to questions about Chinese information warfare. Douyin similarly did not reply to comment requests.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of Chinese territory and has not eliminated the possibility of military action to control it. Taiwan’s leadership rejects China’s territorial claims, asserting it already functions as an independent nation called the Republic of China, its official designation. Beijing refuses communication with the DPP government and labels Lai a “separatist.”

As Chinese military preparations against Taiwan advance, information warfare represents part of Beijing’s approach to weaken Taiwan without armed conflict. The opposition KMT offers Beijing a significant opportunity: The party has moved toward closer Beijing relationships, hoping to prevent what it describes as a crisis worsened by DPP government provocations of China.

Cheng, the KMT leader, met Chinese President Xi Jinping this month in Beijing, where Xi told her the KMT and Communist Party must “consolidate political mutual trust” and “join hands to create a bright future of the motherland’s reunification.”

In a Reuters statement, the KMT said Cheng’s Beijing visit fulfilled a campaign promise and continued an established tradition of high-level KMT-Communist Party meetings. While the parties have many disagreements, both believe disputes should be settled through dialogue, it added.

Research data provided to Reuters by IORG, also called the Taiwan Information Environment Research Center, reveals the Chinese campaign’s mechanics. The nonpartisan organization of social scientists and data experts receives partial funding from U.S. and European governments, plus Taiwan academic institutions.

Approximately 560,000 videos were uploaded to Douyin by 1,076 accounts operated by official Communist Party media organizations during the fourth quarter of 2025. Roughly 18,000 videos addressed Taiwan. IORG employed facial-recognition technology to identify 57 Taiwanese individuals in 2,730 clips, with findings confirmed by IORG researchers and examined by Reuters.

Videos featuring Taiwanese voices more than doubled from the previous year during October and November, while monthly broadcast time increased 164% to 369 minutes.

Notably, among the top 25 Taiwanese personalities in Chinese videos, 13 have KMT affiliations, ranging from current legislators and party officials to former administrators under previous KMT-led governments. Two others are senior officials in a small pro-unification party, while 10 are influencers known for DPP criticism.

Cheng, the KMT leader, ranked as the most featured Taiwanese personality in Chinese clips, appearing in 460 videos across 68 Douyin accounts and generating over five million interactions, including likes, comments and shares. The videos promoted her “peace” appeals with China, her criticism of President Lai as an “pawn” of outside forces, and her characterization of the DPP’s Taiwan independence position as destructive. After broadcasting on Chinese state media and social platforms, some clips were repackaged and posted on Taiwan-popular platforms.

In its statement, the KMT said Cheng’s remarks reflected mainstream Taiwanese desires for peace. “Even if mainland state media tend to incorporate more Taiwanese voices, this is based on the diversity of public opinion that already exists in Taiwan,” it added.

Multiple influencers also received heavy coverage from Chinese outlets. These included Holger Chen Chih-han, a bodybuilder popular with younger demographics, and five retired senior military officials known for criticizing the DPP and Taiwan’s defenses.

“Happy birthday, motherland,” Chen declared on a YouTube livestream in late September, before China’s National Day. Brief segments of the broadcast, where he also stated Taiwan and China people were “one family,” were subsequently distributed by Chinese state media outlets, including China News Service.

Chen did not respond to comment requests.

In one China News Service video, former Taiwan Army Colonel Lai Yueh-chien alleged Chinese drones had “entered” Taiwan undetected during December military exercises. Lai also suggested China might execute a decapitation attack against “pro-independence leaders” while they slept. The video soon appeared on Facebook and YouTube.

The claim about Chinese drones approaching Taiwan originally appeared in a video posted on a Chinese military-operated social media account, according to IORG. Taiwan’s defense ministry rejected the drone allegation.

China News Service did not respond to Reuters inquiries. Lai Yueh-chien declined to discuss his presence in Chinese state media.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council told Reuters the government hoped retired military officers “will be mindful of public perception” and should not repeat Beijing’s messaging. Furthermore, it added, they “must not forget the oath they once swore to be loyal” to Taiwan.

Support in Taiwan for indefinitely maintaining current conditions has increased eight points to 33.5% since 2020, while support for maintaining current conditions but moving toward independence has decreased almost four points to 21.9%, according to a continuing annual survey series released in January by the Election Study Center at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University. The combined percentage wanting immediate unification with China or maintaining current conditions while moving toward unification has remained relatively stable around 7%.

Whether China’s intensified information warfare is creating impact remains unclear. No noticeable change in Taiwanese attitudes toward independence or unification has occurred since 2024, according to annual survey data. This timeframe roughly matches the period of escalated information warfare studied by IORG. The DPP, China’s main political opponent in Taiwan, lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 but has captured the last three presidential elections.

Nevertheless, the messaging bombardment “creates an environment in which China can more easily win support, because its strategy really is to lower morale, instill a sense of psychological despair, convince people they have no future in being autonomous and their best option is to join up with China,” said Bonnie Glaser, head of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a think tank receiving funding from U.S. and European governments and companies including technology and defense firms.

Taiwan’s intelligence officials documented over 45,000 sets of fake social media accounts and 2.3 million pieces of disinformation on China-Taiwan issues last year, a January report by Taiwan’s National Security Bureau stated. It described Beijing’s information warfare goals: to worsen divisions within Taiwan; weaken Taiwanese people’s resistance will; and gain support for China’s position.

“They want you to doubt the military and doubt Taiwan, to make you feel that no one will come to help you if war breaks out,” one Taiwanese security official said regarding China’s state media.

A civil defense manual that Taiwan’s government distributed to households last year went as far as stating preemptively that during heightened China tensions, any claims of Taiwan’s surrender must be considered false – acknowledging that the information battle is escalating, even without military engagement.

Myanmar’s military authorities have shortened the prison term of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to her legal representative who spoke with Reuters on Friday, April 17.

The 80-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner had been imprisoned under a 27-year term following convictions on multiple charges that her supporters describe as politically driven efforts to silence her opposition. These charges encompassed a wide range of accusations including incitement, corruption, election fraud, and breaching state secrets legislation.

According to her attorney, Myanmar’s government has reduced her prison term by one-sixth of the original sentence.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Energy disruptions stemming from the conflict in Iran are prompting countries across Asia and Africa to expand their nuclear power capabilities, with some nations accelerating existing atomic energy programs while others rush to develop new ones.

Asian countries, which rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil and natural gas imports, experienced the most severe initial impact from shipping disruptions carrying these essential fuels. African nations quickly followed, while the United States and Europe are also experiencing increased energy costs due to the ongoing conflict.

Countries in both Africa and Asia that already operate nuclear facilities are ramping up production as they seek immediate energy alternatives, while nations without atomic power are fast-tracking nuclear development plans to protect against future fossil fuel supply disruptions.

Atomic energy won’t provide an immediate solution to the current energy shortage. Building nuclear capabilities can span decades, particularly for countries new to the technology. However, nuclear commitments made today will likely become permanent fixtures in nations’ energy portfolios, according to Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations.

Across Asia, the Iranian conflict is motivating South Korea to boost nuclear electricity production, while Taiwan debates bringing shuttered reactors back online. African nations including Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa are reinforcing their commitment to future reactor construction projects with renewed urgency.

Atomic power harnesses energy released when an atom’s nucleus, typically uranium, breaks apart through fission. This process generates electricity without producing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. However, it creates radioactive waste that poses potential hazards, making many nations hesitant about nuclear development.

The conflict has accelerated a worldwide “nuclear renaissance,” according to Rachel Bronson from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, as nations seek alternatives to volatile fossil fuel markets.

Currently, 31 nations utilize nuclear energy, which generates approximately 10% of worldwide electricity, reports the International Atomic Energy Agency. The organization notes that 40 additional countries are either evaluating the technology or preparing reactor construction.

Throughout Asia, where emergency energy measures include increased coal consumption and Russian oil purchases, countries with nuclear plants are working to maximize output from current reactors.

South Korea is boosting generation at operational nuclear facilities while expediting maintenance on five offline reactors, planning May restarts.

Taiwan and Japan are reversing policies that closed nuclear facilities following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which occurred when an earthquake and tsunami knocked out reactor cooling systems.

Taiwan is evaluating the multi-year process of reactivating two reactors due to the current emergency, requiring thorough inspections, safety evaluations and control system confirmations.

Since the war began, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has finalized a $40 billion reactor agreement with the United States, established a nuclear fuel recycling partnership with France, and pledged nuclear cooperation with Indonesia. Japan reactivated the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility, the world’s largest nuclear plant, in January.

Renewable sources like solar and wind offer better solutions for energy affordability and security, says Michiyo Miyamoto from the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Although the Iranian conflict is also increasing consumer and government interest in renewable energy worldwide and in Japan, record-high electricity prices combined with the current emergency are shifting Japanese public sentiment toward nuclear acceptance, she noted.

In South Asia, Bangladesh is hurrying to activate new reactors constructed by Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom. Officials in Dhaka expect these facilities to contribute 300 megawatts to the national power grid this summer, easing current natural gas shortages.

Vietnam signed an agreement with Moscow in March for two Russian-designed reactors.

The Philippines, which recently announced a national energy emergency, is also considering activating a nuclear facility constructed after the 1973 oil crisis but never operated.

“I hope we learned our lesson,” said Alvie Asuncion-Astronomo from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. The Iranian conflict is “providing a needed push for nuclear.”

Rising energy costs and power shortages across Africa, triggered by the Iranian war, are generating public demands for nuclear cooperation and renewed interest in long-term atomic energy strategies, currently underway in over 20 of the continent’s 54 nations.

With Africa viewed as a growing atomic energy market, nuclear-capable countries including the United States, Russia, China, France and South Korea are promoting advanced technologies like small modular reactors (SMRs) as solutions to energy deficits.

These compact reactors offer a less expensive, smaller alternative to full-scale plants.

Supporters promote them as faster options, though projects still require years to complete. Kenya, for example, plans to bring a small modular reactor online in 2034 after beginning the initial phase in 2009.

Last month, Justus Wabuyabo from Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency stated that “nuclear energy is no longer a distant aspiration for African countries; it is a strategic necessity.”

At a March summit organized by the U.N.’s nuclear oversight agency, Rwandan President Paul Kagame predicted Africa will become “one of the most important global markets” for smaller reactors in coming years.

Compact reactors, which can provide scalable, low-emission baseline power, are viewed as solutions to Africa’s growing electricity needs, fragile power grids and excessive dependence on imported diesel fuel.

Likewise, Loyiso Tyabashe from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation said SMRs could “fulfill our strategic objective of positioning South Africa at the forefront of advanced nuclear technologies.”

South Africa, home to the continent’s only operational nuclear plants, wants atomic energy to increase from approximately 5% of its current energy portfolio to 16% by 2040.

These energy disruptions occur amid intensifying competition for African influence between Washington and Moscow.

Russia’s Rosatom is constructing Egypt’s first reactor and maintains cooperation agreements with Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Tanzania and Niger, covering major projects, research facilities, uranium processing plants and training initiatives.

While only Kenya and Ghana have joined an American-led modular reactor program, Washington is attempting to close the gap.

The United States and South Korea hosted a nuclear conference in Nairobi last month. Ryan Taugher from the U.S. State Department said Washington is collaborating with African nations to quickly develop secure and safe civilian nuclear reactors.

Ghana, which aims to start nuclear plant construction in 2027, is seeking international suppliers.

Dangers including meltdowns and improper waste management persist despite growing interest. Nuclear energy development could also provide pathways to nuclear weapons production.

Ayumi Fukakusa from the advocacy organization Friends of the Earth Japan warned that “nuclear is very risky” and will maintain countries’ dependence on imported materials like enriched uranium.

Since nuclear programs require years to establish, governments should concentrate on expanding renewable energy for long-term security, said Rex Amancio from the Global Renewables Alliance.

Bronson from the atomic scientists organization also noted that nuclear facilities become vulnerable during conflicts, pointing to recent cases where reactors were deliberately targeted during the Iranian war and Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“All of this comes into the mix of how we think about energy security,” she explained. “Countries are now weighing those kinds of risks against the other risks, which Asia and Africa are seeing first and foremost, about what happens when gas and oil stops.”

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Eight people died when their helicopter went down in the dense jungles of Indonesia’s Borneo Island while traveling between commercial palm oil operations, authorities confirmed Friday.

The Airbus H130 aircraft, operated by PT Matthew Air Nusantara, disappeared from communication systems Thursday just five minutes following its departure from Melawi district in West Kalimantan province. The flight was headed to a palm oil facility located in Kubu Raya district.

Recovery teams discovered the aircraft wreckage and retrieved the remains of all eight victims — including two pilots and six passengers — from the heavily forested terrain in Sekadau district, the National Search and Rescue Agency and Transportation Ministry reported.

Among the fatalities was one individual from Malaysia.

The Southeast Asian nation, home to approximately 270 million residents across thousands of islands, continues to struggle with recurring transportation disasters involving aircraft, helicopters, and maritime vessels.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A Sydney court approved bail Friday for Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most highly decorated living military veteran, following his detention on war crimes allegations connected to five deaths during his Afghanistan service.

Judge Greg Grogin determined that the 47-year-old former Special Air Service Regiment corporal demonstrated extraordinary circumstances warranting his release from jail. Government attorneys had fought against bail, expressing concerns that Roberts-Smith might attempt to leave the country or tamper with evidence and witnesses.

Authorities detained Roberts-Smith on April 7, filing five war crime murder charges linked to Afghan civilian deaths in Uruzgan province during 2009 and 2012.

Under Australian legal standards, war crime murder involves deliberately killing someone not actively participating in combat during armed conflict, including civilians, captured soldiers, or injured personnel.

Roberts-Smith received both the Victoria Cross and Medal of Gallantry for his Afghanistan service and represents just the second Australian Afghanistan veteran to face war crime prosecution.

These charges stem from a 2020 military investigation that uncovered evidence of elite SAS and commando units illegally killing 39 Afghan detainees, farmers, and other non-combatants. Approximately 40,000 Australian service members deployed to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, with 41 losing their lives.

Comparable accusations against Roberts-Smith gained credibility during a 2023 civil court proceeding where a judge dismissed his defamation lawsuit against news organizations.

During that trial, Roberts-Smith maintained he never killed any unarmed Afghans and rejected all war crime allegations. He insisted he became a target of vindictive colleagues’ false statements and others’ resentment over his military honors.

While the civil court determined the war crimes accusations were likely true based on probability standards, the criminal charges must meet the higher threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors allege Roberts-Smith personally executed two victims and directed subordinates to kill the remaining three.

Prosecutor Simon Buchen opposed bail, calling the charges against Roberts-Smith “among the most serious known to the criminal law.”

Buchen revealed that Roberts-Smith was “on the cusp of relocating overseas” without notifying authorities when he learned prosecutors were considering charges.

Roberts-Smith had developed “advanced plans to relocate overseas. Consideration was being given to moving to various destinations overseas,” Buchen informed the court.

Each conviction could result in a life sentence for Roberts-Smith, who has not yet entered formal pleas.

Defense attorney Slade Howell argued during the bail proceedings that Roberts-Smith’s situation “may properly be described as exceptional in the sense that it is out of the ordinary.”

“The use of domestic courts to prosecute alleged war crimes committed by a highly decorated Australian soldier deployed overseas repeatedly by the Australian government to fight a war on its behalf is unprecedented and is uncharted legal territory of the common law of this country,” Howell stated.

Howell also noted that Roberts-Smith’s “proceedings will be beset by a multitude of delays, many of which are peculiar to these proceeding.”

Potential delays might occur if prosecutors choose to charge additional veterans who served with Roberts-Smith, some of whom currently reside abroad, Howell explained.

Roberts-Smith participated in the bail hearing through video connection and only spoke when the judge requested confirmation that he could properly see and hear the proceedings.

SEOUL, South Korea — A two-year-old wolf that captivated South Korea during a dramatic nine-day escape has been safely returned to his zoo home, sparking nationwide celebration and relief.

The male wolf, called Neukgu, had tunneled his way out of his habitat at O-World zoo in Daejeon on April 8, launching an intensive search operation that gripped the entire country. Animal welfare advocates had expressed deep concerns about whether the young wolf could survive in the wild, and also feared he might be killed during capture efforts — a tragic outcome that befell a puma that fled the same facility in 2018.

The situation became so significant that President Lee Jae Myung felt compelled to publicly address the nation, assuring citizens that police, firefighters, and military personnel were working tirelessly to bring the wolf back alive.

Rescue teams came close to catching Neukgu earlier in the week when they located him on a mountainside near the zoo, but the clever animal managed to slip through their containment efforts. A motorist later filmed the wolf walking along a dark mountain roadway, illuminated by vehicle headlights.

Early Friday morning, searchers finally located and sedated Neukgu on a hillside close to an expressway, following an extensive overnight operation that deployed drones, law enforcement, emergency responders, and veterinary specialists, according to municipal and zoo authorities. Medical staff discovered the wolf was in good condition upon his return, though they did need to surgically extract a fishing hook from his digestive system. No other serious health concerns were identified.

City officials shared social media footage depicting rescue workers lifting the sedated animal from a drainage area and transporting him in a carrier, as well as scenes of his medical evaluation at the zoo facility.

Online platforms were flooded with joyful messages, featuring phrases such as “welcome back” and “Neukgu, it’s dangerous outside the house.” Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo posted on Facebook expressing his “deepest gratitude to citizens of Daejeon and also the entire nation for your support in ensuring Neukgu’s safe return.”

Neukgu was born at the facility in 2024 and represents the third generation of wolves descended from a pack imported from Russia in 2008. This breeding program aims to reestablish wolves similar to those that roamed Korea’s wilderness before becoming extinct in the 1960s.

O-World director Lee Kwan Jong explained that Neukgu will remain isolated from other animals while receiving specialized care until he has completely healed and readjusted.

The zoo’s administration, which has faced criticism for multiple animal escape incidents, shuttered the facility after Neukgu’s breakout and has not announced a reopening date.

Lee Kwan Jong stated that the zoo is conducting a comprehensive review of its safety protocols and will focus on Neukgu’s rehabilitation.

Officials expect the famous wolf will draw massive crowds when the zoo eventually reopens to visitors.

Myanmar’s military government has released over 4,500 inmates from prison as part of a customary new year clemency order issued by President Min Aung Hlaing, according to state media reports on Friday.

Officials have not disclosed the names of those set free. Family members and friends gathered outside Insein Prison’s main entrance in Yangon’s northern suburbs, waiting since early morning for their loved ones.

No indication has emerged that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be among those released, nor whether the clemency will extend to the thousands of political prisoners detained for resisting military authority.

This prisoner release follows Min Aung Hlaing’s swearing-in ceremony one week ago, after winning an election that opposition groups denounce as rigged and designed to maintain the military’s authoritarian control.

During his inaugural address, he pledged his administration would carry out pardons that promote social healing, fairness and stability while advancing the nation’s progress.

Government-controlled MRTV television announced that 4,335 inmates received pardons, while approximately 180 foreign nationals will also be freed and expelled from the country.

The release conditions stipulate that any former prisoners who commit new crimes must complete their original sentences plus any additional punishment. A separate announcement revealed that death penalties were changed to life terms, life sentences were shortened to 40 years, and prison terms under 40 years were reduced by one-sixth.

Based on that formula, Suu Kyi’s 27-year sentence would decrease by 4½ years.

Releasing prisoners during holidays and important events is a longstanding practice in Myanmar.

Following the military’s 2021 seizure of power, approximately 8,000 civilians have died and roughly 22,170 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, remain imprisoned, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights monitoring organization. Actual casualty figures from the continuing conflict are believed to be significantly higher.

Numerous political prisoners face incitement accusations, a statute frequently employed to detain government and military critics that carries up to three years imprisonment. Others have been charged under anti-terrorism legislation that allows the death penalty and has targeted political and armed opposition members, reporters and other dissidents.

The military coup sparked widespread peaceful protests, which have evolved into an ongoing civil conflict.

Estonia’s defense minister remains confident the United States will honor its commitment to protect NATO allies from Russian aggression, even as tensions within the alliance have escalated in recent weeks.

Speaking to Reuters during a Thursday visit to Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur dismissed concerns about NATO’s future stability despite recent diplomatic friction.

“Yes I trust the U.S. and yes I trust all our allies,” Pevkur stated when asked about American commitment to Baltic defense.

The minister’s comments come amid heightened uncertainty about NATO’s cohesion. President Donald Trump recently threatened American withdrawal from the alliance due to European nations’ reluctance to deploy naval forces for clearing the Strait of Hormuz near Iran. Trump’s plans regarding Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, have also created additional alliance tensions.

Pevkur argued that mutual dependence makes NATO dissolution unlikely, noting that America requires European military cooperation as much as Europe depends on U.S. protection.

“I don’t believe that NATO will collapse,” he emphasized, drawing parallels between current alliance challenges and marital difficulties.

“There are no 50 years of purely smooth sailing. You have differences and problems, and you need to work through them,” the Estonian official explained.

However, Pevkur acknowledged significant European military shortcomings, admitting the continent cannot currently mount an independent defense against Moscow.

“Are we there where we want to be? No,” he conceded. “All of us (in NATO) need to invest more into defence.”

Estonian intelligence agencies warned in February that Russia continues accumulating military supplies for future conflicts following the conclusion of fighting in Ukraine. Russian officials have dismissed European claims about potential NATO attacks as unfounded.

Most NATO countries have failed to meet Trump’s demand for defense spending equal to 5% of national economic output, according to Pevkur. Estonia plans to allocate 5.1% of its gross domestic product to military expenses this year, ranking among NATO’s highest spenders.

The defense minister suggested NATO should prioritize resolving Middle Eastern conflicts, arguing this approach could enable greater American focus on Ukrainian support.

“Once it’s resolved, there is a chance to bring more U.S. focus towards Ukraine,” Pevkur noted. “For our region, that remains the main problem.”

Progressive leaders from around the world are converging in Barcelona this weekend for two major conferences designed to strengthen left-wing movements and counter the rising influence of far-right politics globally.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are leading the charge in organizing these gatherings, which come as international relations face disruption from recent policy changes including cuts to humanitarian assistance and military interventions.

The first event, dubbed the “Global Progressive Mobilisation,” kicks off Friday and was conceived as a response to the significant gains made by far-right parties in the 2024 European Union elections. Organizers say the goal is to rally supporters of progressive policies and produce a joint statement outlining shared objectives, from protecting democratic institutions to advancing environmental initiatives.

Saturday’s conference, titled “In defence of democracy,” represents the fourth such summit initiated by Sanchez and Lula in 2024 and is being hosted by the Spanish government.

Both Spanish and Brazilian leaders have been outspoken opponents of recent U.S. policy shifts and are confronting growing far-right opposition in their own countries’ upcoming electoral contests.

The weekend events will also feature South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose attendance marks the first visit by a Mexican head of state to Spain since 2018, following years of diplomatic strain over historical colonial issues.

Speaking from Beijing during a diplomatic visit to China, Sanchez emphasized the importance of the Barcelona meetings. “I think it’s important that progressive parties and governments unite to convey to the public, especially in Spain, that we belong to something that goes beyond domestic politics,” he said.

The Spanish leader has pointed to recent electoral developments as evidence that far-right momentum can be halted, particularly referencing Hungary’s recent election results that saw nationalist leader Viktor Orban face defeat. “The wave can be stopped, and Hungary proves it,” Sanchez declared.

The larger of the two gatherings is expected to draw approximately 3,000 participants over two days, including current and former world leaders, roughly 400 mayors, labor union representatives, activists, and political party officials. Spain’s Socialist Party is hosting the event, with Sanchez and Lula scheduled to deliver closing remarks.

Giacomo Filibeck, who serves as Secretary-General of the Party of European Socialists representing 33 political parties across the continent, explained the urgency behind the initiative. “Radical forces are at play in our countries to sponsor extreme right-wing movements … we have to show there is an alternative,” he stated.

Chinese leadership has pledged comprehensive railway infrastructure support to Vietnam, offering financing options, technological expertise, workforce development, and industrial capacity building, according to a joint statement released Friday by China’s foreign ministry.

The commitment emerged from discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vietnamese President To Lam during their Wednesday meeting, with China promising to encourage its companies to engage in railway development projects within Vietnam.

The railway collaboration represents what both nations describe as a “new bright spot” in their strategic partnership, reinforcing the leaders’ push for enhanced transportation and logistics connections between the countries.

Vietnam participates in China’s major Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create transportation networks linking Asia and Europe through projects financed by Chinese state-backed institutions and investments.

During their talks, Xi emphasized to Lam the importance of maintaining strong strategic focus and placing political security as a top priority. Lam concluded his inaugural international visit as Vietnam’s newly elected president on Friday.

The leaders formalized their cooperation through 32 partnership agreements, including arrangements for railway project feasibility assessments and programs to develop skilled personnel in the sector, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.

Their expanded partnership will encompass additional sectors including aviation, security cooperation, technological development, renewable energy initiatives, and critical mineral resources.

In a related business development, Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet finalized a financing agreement this week with China’s SPDB Financial Leasing to acquire 10 C909 narrow-body aircraft manufactured by Shanghai-based COMAC.

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are bringing together representatives from dozens of nations Friday in an effort to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping corridor that has been blocked due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The gathering in Paris represents an effort by countries not directly involved in the warfare to address the economic fallout from a crisis they neither initiated nor joined. Since hostilities began on February 28, Iran has essentially closed the critical waterway that typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments.

Notably absent from the planning process is the United States, as the initiative has been dubbed the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative. Writing on X before Friday’s conference, Macron described the shipping security mission as “strictly defensive,” restricted to non-combatant nations and to be implemented “when security conditions allow.”

Both Macron and Starmer have been at the forefront of international campaigns to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure against Iran. Starmer has criticized Iran for “holding the world’s economy to ransom.” The situation has become more precarious following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a counter-blockade targeting Iranian ports.

“The unconditional and immediate reopening of the Strait is a global responsibility, and we need to act to get global energy and trade flowing freely again,” Starmer stated prior to the conference.

The French and British governments have also taken the lead in military coordination discussions, similar to the “coalition of the willing” concept developed for potential Ukraine security arrangements in case of a ceasefire in that conflict.

French military representative Col. Guillaume Vernet indicated Thursday that the operation remains “in construction.”

According to Macron’s administration, participating countries will contribute “each according to its capabilities,” emphasizing that options for ensuring safe transit through the strait will depend on security circumstances following a sustainable ceasefire.

“What matters is that ship operators have all the means at their disposal to be sure their vessels will not be hit if they pass through the strait. That may require intelligence, mine-clearing capabilities, military escorts, communication procedures with coastal states, etc.,” stated a French official who requested anonymity following standard presidential office protocol.

Sidharth Kaushal, who studies maritime power at the Royal United Services Institute, suggested that mine removal and establishing early warning systems for shipping dangers would be more realistic roles for the coalition than providing warship escorts for commercial vessels through the strait.

“You need huge numbers of vessels for that sort of thing, which nobody has,” he explained.

Iran specialist Ellie Geranmayeh, who serves as deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, indicated that mine clearance represents an area where European nations and their allies could contribute effectively.

“They would be a better party to do this than the United States, because once you have U.S. military doing this and lingering on Iranian shores, it creates a potential arena for Iran and the U.S. to have miscalculations and get back into a sort of military tension,” she noted.

Britain has explored deploying mine-detection drones from the vessel RFA Lyme Bay for operations in the Hormuz region.

The conflict has exposed the reduced capacity of Britain’s Royal Navy, which has positioned only one major vessel, the destroyer HMS Dragon, in the eastern Mediterranean. France, possessing the European Union’s strongest military force, has deployed its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the area along with a helicopter carrier and multiple frigates.

Over 40 countries have participated in diplomatic or military discussions coordinated by France and the United Kingdom in recent weeks, though fewer are expected to provide military assets.

Macron’s office announced that approximately 30 nations will participate in Friday’s discussions, including representatives from Middle Eastern and Asian countries. The complete participant list remains confidential. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are anticipated to attend personally, while others will join virtually.

The initiative serves partly as a response to Trump, who has criticized allies for not joining the conflict and declared that reopening the strait is not an American responsibility. The president has labeled allies “cowards,” claimed NATO “wasn’t there when we needed them” and told Britain: “You don’t even have a navy.”

“I imagine there’ll be some desire on the part of many European states, and potentially Canada, to demonstrate the ability to provide security in a way that’s distinct from if not completely separate from the U.S. and which also demonstrates a capacity for independent action,” Kaushal observed.

“How many states actually have spare capacity to offer to this is a pretty open question.”

During the week of April 10-16, 2026, several compelling moments were captured across Latin America and the Caribbean.

In Guadalajara, Mexico, an adorable infant monkey called Yuji captured widespread attention while being cared for alongside a plush toy dog serving as a maternal substitute.

Meanwhile, voters in Peru participated in presidential elections, choosing their country’s ninth leader within a single decade of political turnover.

In the Chilean town of Colina, mounted pilgrims participated in the traditional Quasimodo Feast celebration. This religious procession occurs on the Sunday after Easter, where participants accompany clergy members as they distribute communion to impoverished community members.

The photo collection was assembled by photo editor Jon Orbach, who works from Mexico City.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrapped up her Washington visit Thursday with renewed optimism about American support for her nation, following what she described as encouraging conversations with senior U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters during her trip for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, Svyrydenko emphasized her discussions with Bessent focused on maintaining strong sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine four years ago. She stressed these penalties should remain firm without any weakening or delays.

“I think Secretary Bessent stands with Ukraine and stands for Ukraine,” Svyrydenko stated during her sole media appearance while in the United States. “It was very friendly discussion, and he’s very supportive.”

The Prime Minister noted that American officials clearly recognize the importance of preventing sanctions evasion and strengthening existing measures to weaken Russia’s position. While Washington briefly eased some Russian oil sanctions during supply shortages from the Iran conflict, those restrictions have since been restored.

Despite recent diplomatic talks in Florida between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives about ending the conflict, prospects for a quick resolution appear limited. Ukraine continues demanding solid security assurances before accepting any peace agreement.

“I dream that this war will end, but it will end … with the proper security guarantees, the proper prosperity plan, with a proper plan for the reconstruction and the recovery,” Svyrydenko explained. “That would give the opportunity for Ukrainians to live the life that they deserve because they have been fighting so hard.”

The former economy minister highlighted strengthened U.S.-Ukraine relations through collaborative efforts on the U.S.-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund. This initiative approved its inaugural project last month and anticipates approving a second energy sector project this summer.

With over 200 applications submitted, Svyrydenko expressed hopes the fund could expand beyond its initial three-project annual target.

She also discussed advancement on an $8 billion IMF loan approved in February, noting an IMF staff mission will visit Kyiv in May. The international organization has shown understanding about Ukraine’s need for additional flexibility and willingness to provide support.

The IMF relaxed certain conditions in February after recognizing significantly worsened circumstances due to persistent Russian attacks that severely damaged Ukraine’s energy systems during winter months.

Following two days of continuous Washington meetings, Svyrydenko reported feeling reinvigorated support. “During this visit, I felt that everybody was very supportive,” she said, adding the atmosphere seemed more constructive than previous encounters.

Ukraine received additional encouragement from a Group of Seven finance ministers’ statement pledging continued assistance, including preparation for the upcoming winter season.

Svyrydenko expressed hope that recent Hungarian elections removing Prime Minister Viktor Orban could help advance a 20th European Union sanctions package against Russia and unlock a 90 billion euro EU loan that Hungary had previously blocked.

She believes these developments could also accelerate Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations. “All Ukrainians feel themselves like part of the EU family, and I think they deserve to be there. So now is the right time for us to move faster and to have the fast track for our EU integration,” Svyrydenko concluded.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada’s national postal service has launched efforts to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery across the country.

The government-owned mail carrier has started discussions with 13 communities to convert approximately 136,000 addresses from home delivery to community mailbox systems, where multiple households share a centralized pickup location. This marks the beginning of a five-year plan to eliminate home delivery for roughly 4 million addresses nationwide.

“It’s a process that can take six to nine months from beginning to end,” Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said in an interview. “Nothing will happen right away.”

According to Hamilton, the postal service will collaborate with municipal planners and local neighborhoods to identify optimal locations for the community mailbox installations.

Hamilton noted that among the 17.6 million addresses currently served by Canada Post, three-quarters already receive mail through some form of centralized delivery system. These residents either use community mailboxes, post office boxes, or live in apartment and condominium buildings.

The elimination of door-to-door service would generate annual savings of approximately CDN $400 million (US$291.96 million) for Canada Post, Hamilton explained.

The postal service has been experiencing severe financial difficulties. In November, Canada Post reported losses exceeding CDN $1 billion (US$73 million) for the first nine months of 2025.

Hamilton emphasized that the delivery modifications would not result in employee layoffs. “This will reduce the number of letter carriers. They will have work, but it will be elsewhere,” he stated.

Canada Post’s workforce currently includes approximately 60,000 employees.

The initiative to eliminate home delivery is moving forward following discussions with union representatives, according to a corporate statement.

Starting Monday, members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will vote on whether to approve new contract agreements with the national mail service.

Workers have operated without a new contract since November 2023, with the union conducting two nationwide strikes and additional disruptions throughout the contract negotiation period.

One resident from an affected community expressed support for the change.

“It won’t actually bother me at all,” said Liane Beadon, 44, who lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and works remotely from home. “I think it’s a smart move in order to preserve having mail delivery and keeping costs low for Canadians.”

The United States and Philippines have announced a partnership to construct a massive 4,000-acre manufacturing complex, marking Manila’s entry into a Washington-backed program designed to protect artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply networks, according to the U.S. State Department.

With this move, the Philippines joins 12 other nations participating in Pax Silica, an initiative focused on protecting the complete technology supply network, encompassing essential minerals, sophisticated manufacturing processes, computing systems and data infrastructure.

This program represents a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s economic diplomacy approach, designed to decrease reliance on competing nations while enhancing partnerships with allied countries. Nations already participating in the agreement include Australia, Finland, India, Qatar, South Korea and Singapore.

The planned manufacturing facility will be constructed within the Luzon Economic Corridor, a vital economic zone encompassing Manila and surrounding areas known for industrial and manufacturing operations. Under a three-way partnership agreement, the Philippines, Japan and the United States have pledged to increase infrastructure development in this corridor.

“It is intended to serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing,” the State Department said in a statement.

“The two Allies are committed to strengthening shared supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, electronics, and other goods,” it added.

The partnership between Manila and Washington has strengthened significantly during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has aligned more closely with American interests. The Philippines, a former U.S. territory, plays a crucial role in Washington’s strategy to address China’s growing influence in the South China Sea region.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry denied Friday having knowledge of any American complaints or intelligence restrictions following reports that Washington objected to public disclosure of a previously unconfirmed North Korean nuclear facility.

Ministry officials stated they had clarified to American counterparts that Minister Chung Dong-young’s public statements regarding a North Korean nuclear facility in Kusong were drawn from publicly accessible information, including international research studies, and believed their clarification was accepted.

According to the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, the United States expressed dissatisfaction to Seoul after Chung revealed during a March 6 parliamentary hearing that North Korea operated a uranium enrichment facility in Kusong, in addition to the known locations at Yongbyon and Kangson.

The publication, referencing sources from both South Korea and the United States, reported that Washington suggested it might partially limit North Korea-related intelligence sharing with Seoul, with Chung’s statements acting as a catalyst amid broader American frustration over various bilateral foreign policy and security disputes.

During a press conference, a ministry representative stated they had “sufficiently explained the background” of Chung’s comments following an inquiry from the American embassy in South Korea and believed “the U.S. side had accepted” their explanation.

The representative also indicated the ministry had no knowledge of any American protest or intelligence-sharing restrictions.

In additional statements to Reuters, the ministry noted that if any American measures existed, they did not consider them directly connected to the minister’s statements.

The American embassy in Seoul provided no immediate response.

Chung informed the parliamentary committee in March that North Korea had been producing weapons-grade uranium at Yongbyon, Kangson and Kusong, referencing statements by International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi during a board of governors meeting that month.

However, the IAEA transcript of Grossi’s opening remarks indicates he only mentioned facilities at Yongbyon and Kangson, without any reference to Kusong.

More than four months following a catastrophic apartment fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, survivors are finally getting the chance to return and salvage what’s left of their possessions.

Fanny Mok, age 59, is utilizing robotic exoskeleton technology to assist her journey up to her 13th-floor unit, where she had made her home for three decades before the devastating November fire claimed 168 lives and forced over 4,000 people from their residences.

“My knees hurt, I don’t have enough strength, and I get short of breath,” Mok explained. She’s currently residing temporarily in a cramped hostel room approximately 25 minutes away from her previous residence.

Mok has been training to navigate stairs with the mechanical leg supports in a building close to Wang Fuk Court, the site where flames destroyed seven towering residential structures.

Beginning April 20 through May 4, displaced residents will receive their first opportunity to access their former homes, with each family allocated a three-hour period to gather personal items.

Mok joins several dozen fire victims who are utilizing the exoskeleton technology and participating in instructional courses to master their operation.

“There’s a real need. If I were 30, I wouldn’t need it. But at 60, I genuinely do,” she stated.

The AidVengers Federation, a non-governmental organization, is facilitating the program and requires former residents to successfully complete an examination before operating the exoskeletons, which are manufactured by Shanghai-based robotics firm Hypershell. According to the NGO, 70% of participants have passed the required test.

Constructed during the 1980s, Wang Fuk Court housed 4,600 individuals, with over one-third of the population being seniors above 65 years old. The majority are currently residing in temporary housing throughout the city.

The residential towers reach 31 stories high, creating a challenging ascent for many older former tenants. Additionally, residents expressed difficulty in gathering all personal possessions within the limited timeframe.

Betty Ho, 61, who occupied a 15th-floor unit for 35 years, expressed her desire to recover money and family photograph collections documenting her life from childhood through adulthood.

“How can you take everything you’ve lived with for decades out in just three hours? It’s basically impossible. Letting go of things is really very difficult,” Ho said.

PARIS – European leaders are spearheading international talks this Friday to organize a multinational naval operation that would restore commercial shipping through a critical Middle Eastern waterway once the current conflict comes to an end.

The meeting, co-hosted by France and Britain with approximately 40 nations participating, aims to demonstrate to Washington that key allies stand ready to help reestablish safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz when circumstances permit.

Since U.S.-Israeli military operations began on February 28, Iran has effectively blocked the strategic waterway to all vessels except its own fleet. This week, the United States responded by establishing a naval blockade preventing ships from entering or exiting Iranian harbors.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged other nations to assist with enforcing the blockade while criticizing NATO partners for their reluctance to participate.

European officials maintain that joining the current blockade would constitute entering the war directly. However, they have expressed willingness to contribute to keeping the waterway operational once a durable ceasefire takes effect or hostilities cease entirely.

The proposed initiative excludes both the United States and Iran from current planning, though European diplomatic sources acknowledge any viable mission would eventually require coordination with both nations. American officials will receive briefings on the meeting’s outcomes.

According to invitation documents distributed to participating countries, the gathering seeks to reinforce complete diplomatic backing for unrestricted maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz while emphasizing adherence to international legal frameworks.

Discussions will also address economic hardships affecting the shipping sector and the welfare of more than 20,000 stranded crew members and trapped merchant vessels currently unable to move through the region.

The meeting will outline preliminary preparations for deploying a strictly defensive international military presence designed to guarantee navigation freedom once appropriate conditions exist.

A formal statement from meeting organizers is anticipated following the talks, providing clearer details about the potential mission’s scope, though specific national contributions are not expected to be announced.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Paris for the discussions. Representatives from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern nations will participate via video link.

China has received an invitation to join the talks, though its participation remains uncertain.

Multiple diplomatic sources suggested the proposed mission might never become necessary if normal conditions return to the Hormuz region naturally.

Other officials indicated that shipping corporations and insurance companies might request such a deployment during any transitional period to provide confidence in resumed operations.

“It can involve intelligence sharing, mine-clearance capabilities, military escorts, information procedures with neighbouring countries and more,” a senior French official briefing reporters said.

“The objective is clear, and the resources deployed will naturally depend on the situation.”

British officials confirmed that Friday’s discussions will directly inform a multinational military planning session scheduled for next week.

A tragic helicopter accident in Indonesia’s West Kalimantan province has claimed the lives of all eight individuals aboard the aircraft, according to rescue officials who are now working to recover bodies and aircraft debris from the remote crash site.

Mohammad Syafii, director of Indonesia’s national rescue agency, reported that the Airbus H130 aircraft vanished from communication systems Thursday morning just five minutes following its departure from a plantation site in the Melawi region.

“The location of the crash or loss of contact is in a densely forested area with steep hilly terrain,” Syafii explained, noting that recovery teams have located suspected helicopter tail debris roughly 3 kilometers west of the point where radio contact ended.

Officials have not yet determined what caused the fatal accident. Local rescue agency representatives confirmed that both crew members and all six passengers perished in the crash.

Recovery operations continued Friday as rescue teams, supported by military and police units, worked to access the crash location through overland routes. Syafii indicated that the plantation facility was operated by Indonesian palm oil corporation Citra Mahkota, while the aircraft was owned by Matthew Air Nusantara.

SEOUL, South Korea — Following a devastating stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed in 2012, South Korean pianist Lee Hun initially focused solely on whether he’d regain the ability to walk. The thought of returning to music seemed impossible.

His journey back to the piano began only when a former teacher informed him about the extensive collection of compositions written specifically for left-hand performance.

Through intensive training and determination, Lee made his return to performing as South Korea’s sole recognized professional pianist who plays exclusively with his left hand.

Now, the 54-year-old musician faces his biggest challenge yet: performing alongside an orchestra at an international music festival scheduled for next month.

“I’m so, so nervous I could die,” Lee shared with a smile during a recent interview with The Associated Press at his Seoul residence. “It’s just one concerto but working with an orchestra has its own difficulties.”

The medical emergency struck in August 2012 while Lee was pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of Cincinnati’s music program. He suddenly collapsed at his residence.

Emergency surgery saved his life, but the stroke affected approximately 60% of his brain’s left hemisphere. The damage left him unable to move his right arm and leg, and he temporarily lost his ability to speak.

Lee returned to South Korea requiring a wheelchair. His father, Lee Hae Chang, who achieved legendary status in South Korean baseball, revealed that his son couldn’t even recognize him when he arrived home.

“After the stroke, I didn’t even imagine paying the piano. I only thought about whether I could stand on my feet again,” Lee Hun explained.

The situation proved challenging for his entire family, who became his daily caregivers. His mother, Poong Ok Hee, remembered frequent conflicts with her son due to his emotional instability. He frequently rejected her guidance and help.

A turning point came during a 2013 dinner with his former instructor, Chun Yung Hae. Chun motivated him to return to piano performance, explaining that over 1,000 compositions exist for left-hand solo performance. This conversation reignited his musical passion, and Lee started practicing that very evening.

Lee’s official return as a single-handed pianist occurred in 2016 at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, the facility where he underwent treatment and recovery. Following his performance of Camille Saint-Saens’ “6 Etudes for the Left Hand Alone,” Lee joined Chun for “Amazing Grace,” with Lee playing left-hand parts while Chun handled the right-hand melody. The emotional performance moved at least one audience member to tears.

“He is a pianist so he must play the piano. He was completely hopeless and in despair, so I tried to give him some hope. But I didn’t expect him to play as well as this,” explained Chun, who previously served as dean of the College of Music at Seoul’s Kyung Hee University.

Since his comeback, Lee has maintained a regular performance schedule, made television appearances, and published his autobiography. He now moves independently and communicates effectively in Korean.

Korean media outlets have nicknamed him “Korea’s Paul Wittgenstein,” referencing the celebrated Austrian pianist who pioneered one-handed piano performance. Wittgenstein lost his right arm during World War I and commissioned left-hand compositions from renowned composers including Ravel, Strauss, Prokofiev, and Britten. His sibling was the famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Lee’s upcoming performance on May 2 at the annual Icheon Young-Artist International Music Festival in South Korea will feature him with the festival orchestra. Their program includes Ravel’s “Piano Concerto for the Left Hand,” another piece originally commissioned by Wittgenstein.

While acknowledging the composition’s extreme difficulty, Lee expressed his long-standing desire to perform this particular work.

Chung Eun-hyon, who heads Lee’s representation at Tool Music, noted that Lee has shared his dream of performing this concerto. Chung described feeling deeply moved while helping “make his dream come true.”

Lee’s artistic approach has evolved since becoming a one-handed performer. Previously, he concentrated on technical perfection to impress audiences. Currently, he focuses on communicating his emotional connection and musical interpretation to listeners.

“He plays a sort of music that truly touches the heart of people and it’s not about finger dexterity,” observed Lee Eungkwang, who directs the cultural foundation organizing the Icheon festival.

“I’m really curious what it was like when he played with both hands,” Lee added.

Lee Hun maintains hope for eventually returning to two-handed performance, noting that he managed to press a single piano key with his right hand during a November 2024 concert.

However, Dr. Koo Jaseong from St. Mary’s Hospital, who treats Lee, believes the medical outlook for regaining right-hand function and returning to two-handed performance remains unlikely.

“I still would like to give him a round of applause to his efforts. Though rare, there have been reports of miraculous recoveries too,” Koo stated.

PANAMA CITY, April 16 – Officials with the Panama Canal Authority are disputing claims that a liquefied petroleum gas tanker shelled out $4 million to cut in line for quicker passage through the vital waterway, as conflicts in the Middle East drive increased shipping traffic to the canal.

Canal administrators issued a statement Thursday characterizing the auction outcome as a reflection of shifting market dynamics rather than pricing established by the waterway itself, though they declined to verify the actual amount paid during the bidding process.

“The recent outcome of an auction awarded to an LPG vessel reflects temporary market shifts and is not the result of a rate set by the Panama Canal,” authority officials stated.

According to the canal administration, auction pricing depends on multiple variables such as shippers’ time constraints, business priorities, shipping costs, fuel expenses, and worldwide supply and demand patterns.

Officials emphasized that auctions represent just one of multiple options for obtaining passage slots and are primarily utilized by customers requiring immediate scheduling confirmation.

The canal authority’s response came after Bloomberg News reported Thursday that one ship had paid the substantial sum during a recent auction to guarantee expedited transit as bottlenecks along the waterway intensified.

Vessel movement through the canal has surged as ongoing conflicts involving Iran disrupt established trade routes and compel buyers to find alternative supply sources, increasing shipments from American ports to Asian markets and other destinations.

Canal administrators stated they continue maintaining dependable operations despite instability in international commerce and global political tensions.

The authority also clarified that published waiting time statistics may exaggerate actual delays since their tracking system includes vessels arriving ahead of their scheduled transit windows as waiting, even when they show up early.

Current data from Thursday showed 102 ships holding confirmed reservations for canal passage, while another 25 vessels were queued without secured time slots.

During the initial six months of fiscal year 2026, the waterway processed 6,288 ocean-going vessel transits, representing a 3.7% increase compared to the previous year’s figures. Daily transit averages hit 34 ships in January and 37 during March, with busiest days recording more than 40 crossings.

The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday that it has reestablished formal relations with Venezuela, ending a suspension that lasted more than six years due to disputes over government recognition.

Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s Managing Director, confirmed that the organization is now conducting business with Venezuela’s government under interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s leadership.

Last month, the fund indicated it was starting to reconnect with the South American country by gathering fundamental economic information and evaluating the nation’s financial situation following years without official contact.

Financial markets have made substantial investments in Venezuelan bonds, anticipating that the governmental transition could facilitate debt restructuring efforts. Such restructuring typically requires support from new IMF lending programs and accompanying data that helps determine sustainable debt levels for nations. The IMF hasn’t released a comprehensive economic evaluation of Venezuela since 2004.

This restoration of official ties follows the Trump administration’s January operation that removed President Nicolas Maduro from power through a raid in Caracas. Subsequently, Washington has been collaborating with Rodriguez while seeking to increase American involvement in Venezuela’s petroleum and mining industries.

A devastating food emergency continues to grip Haiti as new data shows 5.8 million residents will confront severe food shortages in the months ahead, highlighting how criminal gang activity, widespread displacement, and economic turmoil are intensifying the Caribbean nation’s humanitarian emergency.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification released findings Thursday revealing that more than half of Haiti’s population now experiences dangerous levels of food insecurity, with over 1.8 million citizens requiring immediate emergency food aid.

According to the assessment, escalating violence from armed groups, economic disruptions, and constant interference with agricultural activities and market operations have driven the catastrophe. Criminal organizations have seized greater territorial control while forcing more than 1.4 million residents from their homes, creating additional pressure on already limited food resources and pushing struggling families toward starvation.

The current projection represents a modest improvement from previous estimates of 5.91 million people experiencing acute hunger, with the emergency category also showing slight decreases. Relief organizations attribute these gains partially to food distribution programs, reduced inflation rates, and improved crop yields in certain regions.

The World Food Programme reported that continuous food aid programs helped approximately 200,000 Haitians escape emergency hunger levels since the previous year, though relief agencies caution that recent progress remains vulnerable.

“Fighting hunger is essential to restoring stability in Haiti. We cannot build peace if families cannot feed their children,” stated WFP Haiti Country Director Wanja Kaaria.

Relief organizations cautioned that circumstances could worsen again without increased international support, pointing to rising global fuel costs linked to conflicts in Iran that have elevated transportation expenses and agricultural production costs throughout the region.

A former Brazilian intelligence director who was detained by U.S. immigration authorities earlier this week has been freed and is crediting President Donald Trump for his release, despite offering no proof of the president’s involvement.

Alexandre Ramagem, who previously headed Brazil’s intelligence agency and served as a congressman, was released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after spending two days in custody. He had been sentenced to 16 years behind bars in Brazil last September for participating in the 2023 coup attempt orchestrated by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Rather than begin serving his prison term, Ramagem escaped from Brazil and has been seeking political asylum in the United States.

“I am here to thank the U.S. government, the highest ranking members of the Trump administration,” Ramagem stated through his social media accounts. He noted that his freedom “did not require any bail payment, which is common in migration cases” such as his own situation.

Immigration officials took Ramagem into custody on Monday while he was in Florida. That same day, Brazilian senator Jorge Seif contacted the U.S. embassy in Brazil’s capital, arguing that his political ally should be freed because he was facing persecution in his home country.

According to local news outlets, Ramagem was set free late Wednesday evening.

The former intelligence official had previously submitted an application for political asylum, but U.S. authorities have not yet made a determination on his request.

Records from ICE’s online detainee system confirmed Ramagem was in federal custody on Monday. The agency has not responded to media inquiries seeking comment about the circumstances surrounding his release.

In December, Brazil’s congress voted to remove Ramagem from his legislative seat as a direct result of his criminal conviction related to the attempted coup.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve a longstanding territorial dispute between Moldova and its breakaway Transdniestria region ended in failure Thursday, with negotiators unable to reach any agreements during talks held in the separatist territory.

The discussions took place in Tiraspol, the main city of the pro-Russian breakaway region, as Moldova pushes forward with plans to become a European Union member by 2030. Representatives from both sides pointed fingers at each other for the lack of progress.

Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Chiveri criticized Transdniestria officials for declining to approve a joint statement about restarting official settlement negotiations.

“We believe that this demonstrates just how serious Tiraspol views the process of a settlement,” he said.

However, Transdniestria’s Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev accused Moldovan representatives of undermining the diplomatic process. “We have seen no implementation from Moldova of a single issue on the agenda,” Ignatiev stated.

The unrecognized territory of Transdniestria has operated independently from Moldova for over thirty years, backed by Russia but lacking international legitimacy. The region separated from Moldova prior to the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, with only a short military confrontation in 1992 before relative peace was established.

Energy issues have complicated the situation recently, as Transdniestria lost access to heavily subsidized Russian natural gas when Ukraine stopped allowing transit through its borders last year.

Moldova escalated tensions Thursday by implementing new restrictions that prevent 1,500 Russian “peacekeeping” forces from entering the country. These troops have maintained the ceasefire between the two territories since the early 1990s.

Additional disputes center on Moldova’s proposals to apply uniform tax policies across all regions, including extending excise taxes and other fees to the separatist area.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who strongly opposes Russia and its war in Ukraine, stated last year that challenges with the separatist territory “do not mean we will put off European integration for 10 or 20 years.”

Ignatiev recently told Russian media that Moldova cannot successfully join the EU without resolving this conflict, “as the EU does not want to import a conflict.”

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A new international assessment released Thursday reveals that while Haiti’s hunger crisis may be stabilizing slightly, rising fuel costs tied to Middle Eastern conflicts could quickly undo any progress in the Caribbean nation.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading global authority on food crises, projects that more than 5.83 million Haitians will experience severe hunger between March and June — representing over half the nation’s population. This marks a modest decrease from the earlier projection of 5.91 million people.

The report also indicates that approximately 1.9 million individuals are anticipated to endure emergency-level food shortages, down slightly from the previously estimated 2 million.

The organization attributed the marginal improvement to several factors: inflation declining from 32% to 22%, generally favorable winter growing conditions, and better road accessibility in certain regions.

Despite these developments, the authority emphasized that these limited improvements are “insufficient” to counter the overall pattern of severe food insecurity plaguing the nation.

“The outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have caused a major disruption to the global food system with direct implications for Haiti,” the report said.

The assessment also pointed to armed groups as contributors to the food emergency, noting that “violence continues to suffocate the Haitian economy and limit the transportation of goods and the movement of people, with many of the most vulnerable people forced to join armed actors in order to feed their families.”

Food insecurity is anticipated to deteriorate further after Haiti’s administration raised fuel prices in early April — increasing kerosene costs by 40%, diesel by 37%, and gasoline by 29% due to the continuing conflict.

The analysis emphasized that elevated fuel costs would affect transportation across the board and contribute to higher food prices.

The majority of those experiencing emergency hunger levels reside in Haiti’s northwest areas, including Artibonite, where criminal organizations have conducted devastating attacks over recent years, destroying communities and agricultural land.

“Fighting hunger is essential to restoring stability in Haiti. We cannot build peace if families cannot feed their children,” said Wanja Kaaria, World Food Program’s country director and representative in Haiti, who stressed the need for emergency food assistance and the rebuilding of local food systems.

Emergency-level hunger is also prevalent in impoverished areas of Haiti’s capital, which authorities say gangs now control 72% of, down from an estimated 90%.

The worsening food situation stems from gang violence that has forced a record 1.4 million people from their homes throughout Haiti. The assessment found that 70% of those living in displacement camps face high levels of food insecurity.

At an overcrowded and unsanitary shelter that formerly served as a school, 25-year-old Feguens Jean explained he would have little to eat Thursday due to poor weather conditions.

Jean makes money selling secondhand shoes to support himself and send money to his mother and sister in rural areas “for them to survive.” However, rainy conditions kept him from working.

“If I don’t sell, I don’t eat, which means today, what I have is very little to eat,” said Jean, who was studying to be a carpenter at a technical school but was forced to become a street vendor to support himself and his family.

Antony Joassainte, 40, lives among the hundreds of people in the overcrowded shelter with Jean. Though trained as a mason and plumber, he explained that employment is extremely difficult to find currently.

“Nobody is building anything,” said Joassainte, the father of two children, ages 11 and 13. “I find myself having to feed a family with nothing.”

He explained they depend primarily on bread.

“It’s cheaper,” he said. “We have one strong meal if we can; that might be rice and beans.”

Bernadette Toussaint, a 37-year-old mother of two boys, also worries about providing food.

She operates a small business selling rice, beans and chicken sauce, but with rising oil prices, she’s been forced to reduce her family’s meals.

“I cannot provide what I used to for my kids,” she said. “I don’t have a husband, and I have to depend on my business.”

The United States Treasury Department announced new financial penalties Thursday targeting two sons of Nicaragua’s ruling couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, along with various officials and businesses connected to the nation’s gold mining sector for supporting what Washington describes as an oppressive regime.

These financial restrictions represent part of President Donald Trump’s intensified approach toward hostile Latin American nations, marking some of the strongest U.S. pressure on the region in decades. Though Washington has consistently criticized Nicaragua for authoritarian practices, the Central American country had previously avoided the severe sanctions imposed on nations like Cuba and Venezuela.

The Nicaraguan administration has conducted an extensive campaign against opposition voices following widespread civil unrest in 2018, which authorities suppressed through violent means.

Maurice Ortega and Daniel Edmundo Ortega, both offspring of the co-ruling pair and government employees, represented the most prominent individuals affected by Thursday’s penalties, which the Treasury Department attributed to their governmental positions.

Nicaraguan authorities have not yet issued a response regarding the newly imposed sanctions.

Veteran political figure Ortega formally designated Murillo — his spouse and former deputy leader — as co-president twelve months ago. Political analysts interpreted this decision as an effort to strengthen the family dynasty’s control over Nicaragua while establishing a succession plan for their offspring.

Treasury officials stated Thursday that the additional sanctioned entities and individuals exploited corrupt practices within the gold mining sector to enrich government accounts. The department noted that several of those penalized participated in last year’s seizure of a mining operation that included American investments.

“The United States will not allow the illicit confiscation of American-owned assets and will continue to target revenue streams that empower the corrupt Murillo-Ortega regime,” U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said in a statement.

United Nations specialists reported last month that Nicaragua’s administration employs corruption as a mechanism to fund widespread political suppression and maintain authority.

The Nicaraguan government has also detained political opponents, religious figures, media professionals and others, subsequently forcing them into exile while revoking hundreds of citizens’ nationality and property rights. Since 2018, authorities have closed over 5,000 organizations, predominantly religious institutions, and compelled thousands to leave the country.

Government officials frequently claim that critics and targeted organizations operate on behalf of the United States and other adversaries to weaken their authority.

NEW YORK — An emerging aviation fuel crisis in Europe and Asia, triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, threatens to severely disrupt international air travel in the coming weeks, potentially causing increased ticket prices and canceled flights just as summer vacation season begins.

During an exclusive interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Fatih Birol, who leads the International Energy Agency, warned that European nations have “maybe six weeks” of aviation fuel reserves remaining and described the situation as the world’s “largest energy crisis.”

Typically, various European nations maintain jet fuel stockpiles lasting several months, based on a recent IEA analysis.

Aviation fuel — a kerosene-derived petroleum product — represents airlines’ largest expense, accounting for approximately 30% of total operating costs, data from the International Air Transport Association shows. Since the conflict started, aviation fuel costs have approximately doubled, with potential shortages looming.

“Each day the Strait of Hormuz stays closed brings Europe nearer to fuel shortages,” explained Amaar Khan, who oversees European aviation fuel pricing at Argus Media. “This waterway handles roughly 40% of Europe’s jet fuel imports, yet no aviation fuel has transited the strait since hostilities began.”

Aviation industry leaders have responded cautiously, recognizing possible fuel challenges while attempting to calm passenger concerns. However, several carriers have already transferred expenses to travelers through increased baggage charges and other service fees, higher ticket costs, or additional fuel surcharges.

Some airlines have begun reducing flight schedules. Industry analysts predict other aspects of air service — including route flexibility and scheduling options — will likely face impacts.

Aviation fuel originates from crude oil processing at refineries that also produce gasoline and diesel fuel.

Airlines typically purchase jet fuel from refineries or fuel suppliers, comparable to motorists buying gas at stations, but on a vastly larger commercial scale. The fuel moves via tanker ships and pipeline systems before being stored by airlines at airport facilities.

Individual airlines handle their own fuel procurement. When regional supplies dwindle, this doesn’t automatically mean all flights will cease. Some carriers may maintain larger reserves than competitors.

However, available flights will likely carry premium pricing that reflects elevated fuel expenses.

Major airlines possess advantages during regional shortages due to their financial capacity to manage high costs, noted Jacques Rousseau, managing director at financial consultancy Clearview Energy Partners.

Currently, multiple European countries are operating with fewer than 20 days of fuel coverage, this week’s IEA analysis revealed. Reserve levels haven’t dropped below 29 days since 2020, the assessment noted.

Should supplies fall under 23 days, actual shortages may develop at certain airports, leading to flight cancellations and reduced travel demand, the report cautioned.

Asia-Pacific nations depend most heavily on Middle Eastern oil and jet fuel imports, with Europe ranking second, Rousseau stated.

While European refineries produce most of the continent’s jet fuel, approximately 20-25% of normal supply has vanished due to the war, Rousseau explained.

To address some shortfalls, America has dramatically boosted jet fuel exports to Europe, shipping roughly 150,000 barrels daily in April — six times typical volumes, Rousseau reported.

Jet fuel availability poses less concern in the United States, a significant oil producer, he noted.

“I tell my kids … we’re not so much going to run out of supply,” Rousseau stated. “It’s just going to cost more here, whereas in different parts of the world you could actually get to a point where there’s just no fuel.”

The global market is losing 10 million to 15 million oil barrels daily because of the Strait of Hormuz closure, said Pavel Molchanov, senior investment strategist at Raymond James & Associates.

“There are exactly the same refineries in exactly the same places in Asia and Europe, but if there is not enough oil for those refineries to operate, it’s going to lead to physical supply disruption,” he explained.

Despite the IEA releasing 400 million barrels from member nations’ emergency stockpiles, this won’t provide immediate relief, he added.

“It could take until the end of the year to get all of those barrels onto the market,” he said.

Christopher Anderson, who teaches operations, technology and information management at Cornell University, advised travelers to expect more than simply higher ticket prices.

“This is no longer just a fuel-price story. For airlines, it is now a network-planning story,” he explained. “Higher fuel costs matter, but so do longer routings, reduced scheduling flexibility and greater uncertainty about what demand will look like even a few weeks out.”

Passengers may encounter “a market with later booking patterns, more schedule volatility and fewer low-fare options if this disruption lasts into the core summer season,” he predicted.

Dutch carrier KLM and British budget airline easyJet informed AP they weren’t currently facing fuel shortages, declining further comment on the IEA’s alert.

Nevertheless, both carriers are among those experiencing increased costs impacting their finances.

Thursday, KLM announced plans to eliminate 160 flights next month — roughly 1% of its European route network. The carrier blamed “rising kerosene costs” and stated some flights are “no longer financially viable to operate.”

In Thursday’s financial update, EasyJet projected a pretax loss between 540 million and 560 million pounds (approximately $731 million to $758 million) for the first half of fiscal 2026. However, CEO Kenton Jarvis reported strong overall demand — highlighting that Easter travel marked easyJet’s busiest holiday period ever.

Lufthansa announced Thursday that labor conflicts and elevated fuel prices are compelling it to immediately close feeder airline CityLine ahead of schedule and retire its 27 older, less efficient aircraft. This decision accelerates a closure originally planned for next year.

American carrier Delta Air Lines — which operates frequent European routes — stated Thursday it was “aware of the potential jet fuel supply issue” on the continent and monitoring developments. Delta, which purchased a Philadelphia refinery in 2012 to control its largest expense, said it anticipates no “near-term impact to our operations.”

Additional airlines have raised concerns about climbing fuel costs, with some already transferring new expenses to travelers through ticket prices and additional fees.

American carriers Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have all raised checked baggage charges recently.

United CEO Scott Kirby warned staff in a recent communication that sustained high fuel prices could add $11 billion in yearly expenses. “For perspective,” Kirby noted, “in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B.”

Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific recently increased fuel surcharges by approximately 34% across all destinations, while Air India imposed up to $280 in additional fees on certain flights this month. Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM have similarly modified charges or fares to address price fluctuations.

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo — Denis Sassou N’Guesso officially began another five-year presidential term Thursday during an inauguration ceremony held at a crowded stadium in the Central African nation.

The swearing-in event occurred in Kintélé, located north of Brazzaville, the country’s capital.

The president secured reelection in March after capturing 94.8% of votes cast, continuing his four-decade leadership of the petroleum-wealthy nation. His competition included six lesser-known challengers.

During his inauguration address, Sassou N’Guesso pledged he would not “betray the people who mobilized to honor him and reaffirm their support.”

The nation faces significant economic challenges, including an extremely high debt-to-GDP ratio — a measurement comparing national debt to total economic production — along with rising unemployment among young people, according to World Bank data.

Among African leaders, Sassou N’Guesso holds the third-longest tenure in power, trailing only Paul Biya of Cameroon and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. Constitutional changes approved through a 2015 referendum eliminated both age restrictions and term limits for the presidency, enabling Sassou N’Guesso to continue seeking office.