Category: World News

The Pentagon is considering speeding up its planned military pullout from European installations and will share its strategy with alliance partners next month, according to a Saturday report from German publication Welt am Sonntag, which cited an unnamed Pentagon source.

The U.S. revealed plans in May to remove 5,000 military personnel from Germany, a decision many viewed as stemming from disagreements between President Donald Trump and European nations regarding the Iran war. Germany currently hosts approximately 35,000 active-duty American military members, representing the largest U.S. military presence in Europe.

When initially announced, Pentagon officials indicated the troop reduction would take between six and 12 months to complete.

The German newspaper’s report did not specify how significantly the timeline would be shortened or identify which military installations could be impacted. According to the publication, American officials plan to outline their strategy during next month’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Force Sourcing Conference.

Pentagon representatives did not immediately provide a response when asked for comment on the report.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — A member of Guyana’s military sustained injuries during an armed confrontation with Venezuelan gunmen near the countries’ shared border, officials reported.

According to a statement from the Guyana Defense Force, their patrol boat operating on the Cuyuni River encountered hostile fire on Friday evening.

This incident represents another violent episode in a series of border confrontations that have occurred in recent years amid ongoing territorial disagreements, with Venezuela asserting claims over two-thirds of Guyana’s land. A prior assault resulted in injuries to eight Guyanese military personnel.

Both nations recently presented their cases before the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding a disputed 62,000-square-mile (160,000-square-kilometer) area abundant in gold, diamonds, timber and additional natural resources. The contested region sits adjacent to significant offshore petroleum reserves that currently yield approximately 900,000 barrels daily.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez informed the court in The Hague that diplomatic discussions rather than legal decisions should settle this longstanding territorial disagreement.

Venezuela maintains its claim to Essequibo based on historical colonial boundaries that included the area. The country contends that a 1966 Geneva agreement involving Venezuela, Britain and the former British Guiana, which became Guyana, invalidated boundary lines established by international arbitrators in 1899.

Turkey’s former opposition chief Ozgur Ozel proved his political influence remains strong Saturday, attracting tens of thousands of supporters to a demonstration in Ankara following a court decision that stripped him of his leadership position and potentially strengthened President Tayyip Erdogan’s grip on power.

Following his speech to the massive crowd – with attendance figures reaching into the tens of thousands according to private Anka news agency and opposition-aligned media – Ozel guided supporters through Turkey’s capital in response to last week’s court decision removing him from his role leading the primary opposition CHP party.

The judicial ruling invalidated the CHP’s 2023 party convention, bringing back previous chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu – a controversial figure among party members who suffered defeat against Erdogan in that year’s presidential race.

This development may strengthen Erdogan’s prospects for continuing his leadership of more than twenty years in the NATO member nation and significant emerging economy.

Saturday saw Kilicdaroglu making his first appearance at CHP party headquarters since the May 21 court decision, where he promised to eliminate party corruption, referencing cases involving CHP-controlled municipal governments.

The removed leadership rejects these accusations, labeling them as having political motivations, which the government disputes.

While Kilicdaroglu addressed party members, Ozel spoke to a larger gathering outside the party’s Ankara regional headquarters.

“This is not an internal matter for the CHP,” Ozel declared. “This is a matter between Erdogan and the nation. On one side are the seized buildings; on the other, millions standing up for their party and their country.”

He argued the court’s decision failed to validate Kilicdaroglu’s authority and demanded an immediate party convention, while supporters shouted “Leader Ozgur!” and “Traitor Kemal!”

Ozel then guided a non-violent march to the memorial site of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who established modern Turkey and founded the CHP.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, viewed as a potential CHP presidential nominee alongside imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – who remains Erdogan’s most significant political opponent – participated in the demonstration and also demanded a party convention.

Kilicdaroglu indicated such a gathering would occur “as soon as possible,” though he provided no specific timeframe.

Thousands of Austrian residents brought traffic to a halt Saturday on the Brenner motorway, a crucial transportation route linking Germany and Italy through the Alps, demanding relief from constant truck and tourist congestion overwhelming their communities.

Karl Muehlsteiger, mayor of Gries am Brenner, spearheaded the demonstration in one of several towns affected by the major highway that winds through the narrow Wipp Valley on massive concrete supports.

Traffic volume and pollution concerns in the valley leading to the Brenner Pass have created ongoing friction between Austria and Germany for many years. Officials in Austria’s Tyrol region have implemented different strategies to reduce traffic flow, frequently drawing criticism from German authorities.

“You are making history!” Austrian news agency APA reported Muehlsteiger declared to approximately 3,000 demonstrators who assembled on the highway at 1 p.m. for a symbolic blockade, following police closure of both corridor entrances earlier that morning. Motorists encountering the barriers reversed course and departed.

The demonstration lasted eight hours beginning at 11 a.m. but avoided the widespread disruption many anticipated, as drivers mostly followed advisories to avoid the area despite school holidays in several German regions, including nearby Bavaria.

Local media noted that railway service along the parallel route experienced heavy passenger loads.

Officials also restricted the local road connecting communities alongside the motorway to resident and local traffic only.

Meanwhile in Italy, suspected arson targeting electrical infrastructure overnight caused railway disruptions between Peri and Dolce near Verona on the Verona Porta Nuova–Brenner rail line.

Authorities are examining potential connections to radical environmental or anarchist organizations.

Colombia’s foreign ministry has leveled accusations of “deliberate interference” against Ecuador regarding Colombia’s upcoming presidential election on Sunday, following Ecuador’s decision to eliminate tariffs after discussions with a Colombian candidate.

The controversy emerged after Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa announced Friday that his nation would eliminate bilateral tariffs beginning June 1, following an agreement reached with right-wing Colombian presidential hopeful Abelardo De La Espriella.

In a post on X, Noboa explained the tariff removal would occur after “confirming (De La Espreilla’s) willingness to promote a real and joint fight against narcoterrorism.” The Ecuadorean leader also mentioned they had reached an understanding regarding the transfer of Ecuadorean criminals currently in Colombia.

Colombia’s foreign ministry pushed back against what it called “the misleading presentation of the decision to remove the tariffs as a measure of good faith by the Ecuadorean government,” according to their official statement. However, the ministry indicated it would eliminate measures previously implemented to counter Ecuador’s tariffs.

Noboa’s office has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The neighboring nations have been locked in a trade dispute for several months, with Ecuador imposing tariffs due to Colombia’s alleged inability to address drug trafficking problems along their 586-kilometer (364-mile) shared border. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has disputed these claims.

De La Espriella, running as an independent candidate, will compete against Petro ally Ivan Cepeda and right-wing Senator Paloma Valencia, along with other candidates, in Sunday’s election.

Israeli military forces conducted airstrikes and artillery bombardments near a historic medieval fortress in southern Lebanon on Saturday, as combat continued in communities surrounding the southern city of Nabatieh.

The Israeli military issued evacuation orders for more than twelve communities in southern Lebanon, occurring one day after Lebanese and Israeli military representatives conducted their first face-to-face discussions in decades at the Pentagon.

Lebanon’s president and prime minister met Saturday to address the situation in southern Lebanon, later releasing a statement saying they would increase their diplomatic efforts to halt Israeli destruction and bulldozing of residences and historic locations, as well as the evacuation orders.

According to Lebanon’s state-operated National News Agency, Israeli aircraft and artillery targeted areas surrounding the medieval Beaufort fortress, located approximately 15 kilometers from the Israeli border with commanding views over much of southern Lebanon. Israeli forces occupied this strategic fortress for 18 years before withdrawing from Lebanon in May 2000.

For several days, Israeli ground forces have been moving through communities near the fortress, including Yohmor and Zawtar al-Sharqieh close to Nabatieh, after crossing the strategic Litani River, which Israeli military has treated as an informal border.

Extensive territories to the south remain under Israeli military occupation, despite a U.S.-mediated ceasefire agreement from April 17.

The National News Agency documented airstrikes across various sections of southern Lebanon, including the village of Ansar where three people were killed. A drone attack on a roadway connecting Ebba village with Nabatieh injured two Lebanese soldiers, according to an army statement.

Hezbollah reported that its fighters launched rockets at Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel’s largest city on the Lebanese border. The organization stated the attack was retaliation for airstrikes that killed civilians in Lebanon. Hezbollah subsequently announced it also fired rockets toward the northern city of Safed.

Among Friday’s casualties in southern Lebanon was a Syrian family — Qais al-Bakir, his pregnant wife and their six children — who perished in an Israeli airstrike on the coastal village of Adloun, north of Tyre.

The family, members of Syria’s minority Alawite sect, had escaped to Lebanon from the central province of Hama following Bashar Assad’s fall in Syria in December 2024. Some Alawite sect members have faced revenge attacks from Islamist groups that ousted the former president.

The family was residing at a sheep farm and received no advance warning of the village strike, according to Ali al-Bakir, brother of the deceased man. He said the family intends to transport the bodies for burial in their Syrian hometown.

“He worked in farming and all he cared about was to feed his children,” his brother said.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict began March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel two days following Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran.

The war has resulted in 3,350 deaths in Lebanon and displaced over 1 million people.

In the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian nurse died in an Israeli strike Saturday, hospital officials reported, marking the latest death from Israeli fire since an unstable ceasefire stopped major combat in the territory last year.

The late Saturday morning strike targeted a Hamas-operated police checkpoint in the central city of Deir al-Balah. At least three others sustained injuries, according to the city’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, which treated the victims.

Israeli military representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The deceased nurse was identified as Jamal Abu Aoun, who was employed at Yafa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. His funeral took place at noon in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital courtyard.

He represents the most recent Palestinian fatality in the coastal territory since a fragile October ceasefire agreement sought to end a more than two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Although major fighting has decreased, the unstable ceasefire has witnessed nearly daily Israeli fire. Israeli forces have conducted repeated airstrikes and regularly fire on Palestinians near military-controlled areas, killing at least 929 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The ministry, operating under the Hamas-led government, keeps detailed casualty documentation considered generally reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. However, it does not provide breakdowns between civilians and militants.

Militants have conducted shooting attacks on troops, and Israel claims its strikes respond to those and other violations. Four Israeli soldiers have died since the ceasefire.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Massive crowds of demonstrators filled Turkey’s capital city Saturday, rallying behind the ousted chief of the nation’s primary opposition political organization.

A court directive issued May 21 stripped Ozgur Ozel of his leadership position within the Republican People’s Party, known as CHP. Numerous observers view this judicial action as a politically driven effort to weaken opposition forces.

Demonstrators initially assembled at Guven Park in Turkey’s capital center to listen as Ozel delivered remarks criticizing his dismissal. The crowd then accompanied him on an unplanned procession to the memorial site of Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

“They are attempting to replace the CHP’s elected chairman and appoint a trustee,” Ozel told supporters. “Today is the day to restart our march to power. I wish this were an internal party matter. This is not an internal matter for the CHP. This is a matter between (President) Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the nation.”

The appellate court’s decision reversed a 2023 party convention ballot that installed Ozel as CHP chief. The judicial ruling reinstated his former colleague, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, generating anger among party loyalists.

The 51-year-old Ozel took over from the 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu following 13 years of largely unsuccessful resistance to Erdogan.

Ozel has characterized the legal proceedings, which focused on supposed voting violations during the convention, as the most recent judicial assault on the CHP. Legal proceedings nationwide, primarily alleging financial misconduct in CHP-controlled local governments, have resulted in hundreds of elected representatives and party activists being arrested.

Government officials maintain that Turkey’s judicial system operates without bias and functions free from political influence.

While demonstrators assembled at Guven Park, Kilicdaroglu conducted a competing event at CHP offices in Ankara, which law enforcement officers raided the previous Sunday to eject Ozel and his allies.

Speaking to a significantly smaller audience, Kilicdaroglu criticized the former party leadership for allowing extensive financial misconduct.

The CHP currently matches the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in recent polling data, and despite the next scheduled election occurring in 2028, many anticipate Erdogan will seek earlier voting.

Ozel inflicted significant damage on the AKP during 2024 local elections, consolidating the opposition’s control over major urban centers it had captured five years prior, including Istanbul and Ankara.

The CHP mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has become the most probable opponent to Erdogan, who has governed Turkey since 2003, in the upcoming presidential contest. However, he has been incarcerated since March of last year while confronting multiple criminal proceedings that could result in decades of imprisonment.

Lithuania’s capital city welcomed tens of thousands of visitors over the weekend for an extraordinary celebration dedicated to the nation’s beloved cold beet soup, transforming the entire city into a vibrant pink spectacle.

The three-day Vilnius Pink Soup Fest showcased šaltibarščiai, Lithuania’s traditional cold beet soup, with a massive coordinated “Pink Break” lunch where visitors from around the world gathered at extended tables to share the iconic dish. Event planners projected that attendees would consume over three metric tons (6,614 lbs) of kefir, a fermented milk product essential to the soup, throughout the celebration, with more than 100,000 people expected to participate.

This cooling soup serves as a summer staple for Lithuanians during the Baltic nation’s brief warm season. The traditional recipe combines beets and kefir with boiled potatoes, eggs, cucumbers and dill.

International visitors flocked to the unique celebration, including tourist Connor Holmes from the United Kingdom, who discovered the event online and believed “it was completely ridiculous in the best possible way.”

“Before I knew it, I was building a suit of pink knight armor, carrying a spoon instead of a sword, and decorating my shield with eggs, dill and potatoes,” he said. “At that point, coming to Vilnius and seeing all this craziness myself felt like the next logical step.”

The capital became an enormous pink entertainment zone as both visitors and residents donned pink attire. Additional participants celebrated wearing cucumber, egg and beet costumes while the city organized processions both on streets and along the Neris River.

Jolanta Žukienė, a teacher from Vilnius, attended the festival for the fourth consecutive year, bringing her three children and husband on Saturday.

“I can see how the number of attractions and visitors from abroad is growing, and Vilnius is becoming a real magnet for everyone who loves good food and unique experiences,” she said.

This celebration represents part of the city’s strategy to boost tourism to the Baltic nation.

“Looking at the crowds on the banks and the decorated boats, we joked that cold beet soup already dominates both land and water,” said Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, director of Go Vilnius, the city’s development agency. “Perhaps the air is next.”

Overnight drone operations by Ukrainian forces resulted in blazes at multiple Russian petroleum installations on Saturday, according to regional Russian authorities, marking another chapter in ongoing strikes against Moscow’s crucial energy sector.

Russian officials in the Rostov region reported that debris from downed drones ignited a blaze that harmed an oil storage facility and fuel tanker at Taganrog port, while administrators in the adjacent Krasnodar region documented a fire erupting at a petroleum depot in Armavir from similar causes. “Another facility of Russia’s oil industry has been reached — Armavir,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X Saturday of the attack in the Krasnodar region, noting that Armavir is “500 kilometers from our state border.” “We are rightfully bringing the war back to where it came from,” he wrote.

Ukrainian forces have broadened their medium and long-distance attack capabilities, utilizing drone and rocket systems developed within their borders to combat Russia’s 4-year-old invasion. Strikes against Russian petroleum infrastructure that serves as a crucial funding source for the invasion have become nearly routine events.

Meanwhile, Russia has employed its extended-range ballistic weapons to target Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure and bombard urban areas. The Ukrainian capital is preparing for additional intense bombardments following what the Russian Foreign Ministry described earlier this week as forthcoming “systemic strikes” on Kyiv. Zelenskyy said Thursday that he’s being “very persistent” in pressing the United States to provide his country with more Patriot air defense missiles that can counter devastating Russian ballistic missile attacks. The strikes on Russian petroleum infrastructure occurred one day after a Russian drone participating in an assault on Ukraine veered off course and hit an apartment complex in eastern Romania, wounding two individuals in the NATO member nation. The border violation heightened worries that the conflict might extend beyond the alliance’s boundaries and prompted widespread criticism throughout Europe.

Officials in the Georgian capital have opened a historic wine vault for the first time this week, revealing approximately 40,000 bottles that once belonged to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

The collection, now owned by the Georgian government, contains French and Georgian wine rarities stored in a repository where cobwebs hang from the ceiling and a sweet, musky aroma fills the dimly lit space.

Government officials intend to sell the collection at auction, with some bottles dating back to the early 1800s, and will direct proceeds toward establishing a wine education school within the country.

Irakli Gilauri, owner of Gilauri Wines who collaborated with the nation’s agriculture ministry on this initiative, stated the auction would help to “put Georgia on the collectors’ map.”

The South Caucasus nation promotes itself as wine’s birthplace, citing archaeological findings that show an unbroken winemaking heritage spanning 8,000 years.

Stalin, a Georgian native who ruled the Soviet Union from 1924 until 1953, had a passion for drinking and collecting wine.

His collection features bottles from Bordeaux’s premier estates that previously belonged to Russian Tsar Alexander III and his son Nicholas II. Following the 1917 Russian Revolution, Soviet forces confiscated the Imperial Romanov wine collection, with Stalin serving as its custodian while gradually incorporating his preferred Georgian wine varieties.

Wine collector Victor Chen, who made the journey from Dallas, Texas to view the collection, expressed enthusiasm while examining the dust-laden bottles containing amber-colored wine.

“I feel like you’re Indiana Jones opening up a cave: it could be nothing, it could be something,” Chen commented, making reference to the adventurous movie character.

“There’s not many things that are still historical moments at this point. And this could be one of them.”

ANHOLT, Denmark — Officials in Denmark have pulled the remains of a humpback whale onto shore after the animal’s body spent two weeks floating in shallow coastal waters following its death.

The marine mammal had become a media sensation across Germany, earning the affectionate names “Timmy” and “Hope” as news organizations provided continuous coverage of its condition after it was initially discovered near the German coastline on March 3.

Authorities discovered the whale’s body on May 14, washed up near the tiny island of Anholt in the Kattegat strait, which runs between Denmark and Sweden and links the Baltic Sea with the North Sea.

The animal’s death brought to a close several months of dramatic and sometimes controversial rescue attempts, which reached their peak on May 2 when crews loaded the whale onto a barge and attempted to transport it toward the North Sea, hoping to guide it back to its natural Atlantic Ocean environment.

Officials with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency say they plan to conduct an examination of the remains in the coming week to identify what caused the whale’s death.

On Saturday, the Danish media outlet “News5” broadcast live footage showing the carcass being pulled up onto the beach using cables connected to a truck positioned on shore.

Marine biologists remain uncertain about why the whale entered the Baltic Sea waters, which are located far from its typical living area and provide unsuitable conditions for the species. Some specialists have suggested the animal may have become disoriented while pursuing a school of herring or during its seasonal migration journey.

Recent changes to Canadian citizenship regulations have triggered a significant spike in applications from Americans seeking to obtain status through family heritage, according to new government statistics.

The revised regulations, which expanded eligibility beyond just first-generation descendants to include more distant family connections, have led to dramatic increases in monthly citizenship approvals. Government records show monthly approvals have climbed from just 275 when the updated law took effect in December 2025 to more than 1,000 additional cases each month this year.

Statistics reveal that approximately 48% of these new approvals through February came from applicants in the United States, highlighting the strong interest among Americans in securing Canadian status.

Legal experts attribute the high American participation to the longstanding connections between the neighboring nations, while also noting that many Americans view Canada as an appealing destination for living or education, particularly given recent political turbulence in the U.S.

William Hunnewell, a 41-year-old Seattle resident who submitted his application this year and anticipates a decision within nine to twelve months, explained his motivation. His great-grandfather homesteaded in Saskatchewan prior to World War One, and his grandfather was born in Canada.

“The biggest thing is it gives our family options,” Hunnewell explained. “If my kid wants to study or live in Canada, she can just go — there’s no visa, no deadlines.”

Immigration attorney Nick Berning, who practices in the United States, believes most newly approved citizens will continue residing abroad but want to maintain flexibility for the future.

“Current interest in Canadian citizenship is definitely influenced by U.S. politics,” Berning stated. “They want to stay in the U.S., but if things become untenable, they want a way out.”

Political divisions have intensified across America, with polling indicating growing dissatisfaction with the current administration. Relations between the two countries have also become strained following the imposition of heavy tariffs on Canadian products and discussions about annexing Canada as the 51st state.

Monthly approval figures from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada show steady growth: 1,140 approvals in January, 1,255 in February, and 1,405 in March under the new citizenship category.

The updated citizenship legislation came in response to a 2023 court decision that ruled restricting citizenship to only the first generation born outside Canada violated constitutional principles.

Individuals who have lived outside Canada for multiple generations can now qualify for citizenship by demonstrating ancestral connections. This expansion contrasts sharply with recent Canadian government initiatives to reduce immigration quotas.

However, Berning pointed out that new citizens who have never resided in Canada cannot automatically transfer citizenship rights to their children born in foreign countries.

A devastating highway accident in Afghanistan’s eastern region has claimed the lives of at least 22 people, including 10 children, when a transport vehicle carrying Afghan refugees overturned on Saturday. Approximately 36 others sustained injuries in the crash, with women and children comprising the majority of casualties, according to local authorities.

The fatal incident took place in Laghman province along the primary roadway connecting Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, to Nangarhar province, according to Abdul Malik Niazai, the spokesperson for the provincial governor.

Among those who perished were 10 children and five women, while the wounded victims were transported to medical facilities in Nangarhar for treatment, Niazai reported.

Aminullah Sharif, the provincial director of public health, confirmed the death toll of 22 individuals and stated that roughly 36 people were hurt in the incident. According to Sharif, the crash happened when the transport vehicle veered into a roadside ditch after its operator dozed off while driving.

The victims were part of the large population of Afghans who have recently come back from Pakistan, following that country’s enforcement campaign against migrants that began in 2023, resulting in deportations and pressure on many to depart. Iran similarly stepped up removal efforts for Afghan migrants during this period. Millions of Afghans have since returned from both nations, including numerous individuals who were born in Pakistan and had lived and worked there for many years.

In another incident in eastern Nuristan province, a vehicle plunged from the roadway into a river on Friday evening, injuring the operator and leaving four occupants unaccounted for, provincial officials announced Saturday. Search and rescue teams were actively looking for the four missing individuals, the governor’s office reported.

Such transportation incidents occur frequently throughout Afghanistan, where roadway infrastructure is in poor condition and motorists commonly disregard safety rules.

Moscow announced Saturday that it has withdrawn its diplomatic representative from Armenia for discussions, expressing displeasure over the nation’s growing relationship with the European Union with elections approaching on June 7.

The Caucasus country, home to approximately 3 million residents, maintains a formal alliance with Russia but has been strengthening connections with Western nations in recent years, even while remaining economically tied to Moscow.

“The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia, S.P. Kopyrkin, has been recalled to Moscow for consultations in connection with steps taken by the Armenian leadership toward rapprochement with the European Union,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated regarding diplomat Sergei Kopyrkin.

On Friday, a Moscow-led economic alliance of former Soviet states announced it would review potentially suspending Armenia for pursuing EU membership and urged the capital to conduct a public referendum on the matter.

Polling data for the upcoming June vote indicates that pro-Western Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s political party holds a lead over opposition groups favoring Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump has given his backing to Pashinyan, who rose to leadership following a 2018 popular uprising and secured re-election in 2021.

Armenian officials contend that Russia did not provide adequate security during military conflicts with neighboring Azerbaijan, particularly regarding disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh, a previously separatist territory with ethnic Armenian residents that Azerbaijan reclaimed in 2023.

Moscow maintains that Western nations are interfering in Armenian affairs to diminish Russian authority throughout the former Soviet territories.

Armenian officials have not yet responded publicly to the diplomatic recall announcement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Asian allies Saturday to increase their military expenditures in response to China’s expanding military capabilities, expressing concern about the nation’s rapid defense buildup during a major regional security conference.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s leading gathering for defense officials, military leaders and diplomats, Hegseth emphasized the need for a more robust and independent network of allies to discourage aggression and maintain regional stability.

“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.

“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” Hegseth said. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”

The Pentagon chief announced that the U.S. anticipates its Asian partners to raise defense expenditures to 3.5% of GDP while committing to a $1.5 trillion investment in American military capabilities.

“Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs,” Hegseth said, emphasizing that the region needed greater defense capability than conferences. Allies want stability, not escalation, he said.

“What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”

Despite his warnings about China’s military expansion, Hegseth adopted a moderate approach regarding U.S.-China relations, characterizing them as “better than they have been in many years,” with increased military-to-military communication helping to reduce tensions.

“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication.”

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of the Chinese delegation, described U.S.-China relations as “complicated.”

Nonetheless, he said Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last, attributing the shift to Trump’s visit to China.

“Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be,” Zhou said.

China, whose defense minister is skipping the dialogue for a second consecutive year, accused Hegseth last year of making “vilifying” remarks.

Hegseth reinforced President Donald Trump’s persistent call for allies to take on greater responsibility for their own defense expenses. Trump has specifically stated that European and NATO partners should decrease their dependence on Washington.

“The era of the United States subsidizing the defence of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth said. “We need partners, not protectorates,” he added. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”

Hegseth acknowledged contributions from allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and said Japan was taking concrete steps to bolster its defences.

Tokyo and Washington “must each pull our weight to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance,” he said.

Regarding Middle East tensions, Hegseth stated the United States remains prepared to resume military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful, as negotiators from Washington and Tehran work to resolve significant disagreements preventing an agreement.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary…we are more than capable,” Hegseth said. He added that Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “strong deal” to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Trump said on Friday he would convene advisers in a secure White House setting to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end the Iran war.

Hegseth also dismissed concerns that the Middle East conflict would divert attention from Asia-Pacific priorities.

“We can do two things at one time.”

During his address, Hegseth did not reference Taiwan, a sensitive issue in U.S.-China relations.

When questioned about weapons sales to the island afterward, Hegseth minimized worries that a multi-billion-dollar package might be impacted as the United States reduces its weapons stockpiles during the Middle East conflict. “We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” he said.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has been waiting for the U.S. to approve an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion.

Trump sowed uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this month, that he was undecided on whether to approve the package.

Any decision on future arms sales would rest with President Trump, Hegseth said, signalling no shift in Washington’s longstanding approach despite recent engagement with Beijing.

“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth said. “There’s been no change in our status.”

Three allied nations are joining forces to create unmanned underwater vehicles through their defense partnership, according to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Speaking to reporters in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth revealed that the United States, Britain and Australia are collaborating on this underwater drone technology as part of their AUKUS trilateral defense agreement.

The announcement highlights the ongoing military cooperation between the three countries under the AUKUS framework.

Emergency teams successfully extracted four additional individuals from a water-filled cave in Laos on Saturday, according to Thai rescue officials.

The Saturday rescue mission took place just hours following the Friday evening extraction of another person from the same flooded cavern.

All five individuals who have now been brought to safety were part of a seven-person group of Lao citizens who had ventured into the cave system located in Xaisomboun province while searching for gold. The group became stranded when floodwaters blocked their path out, leaving them stuck underground for over a week.

Vietnam’s highest-ranking official believes that strengthening relationships with neighboring China could enhance peace and stability throughout the region, despite ongoing territorial conflicts between the two nations.

Communist Party General Secretary and President To Lam shared this perspective during his inaugural interview with international media in his current position, speaking with Reuters on Friday.

“We do not pick sides,” Lam stated, emphasizing Vietnam’s balanced approach to foreign relations.

The Vietnamese leader explained that pursuing closer ties with China while working to resolve longstanding territorial disagreements in the South China Sea presents no conflict of interest.

“If we can maintain good relations and dialogue, then all disagreements can be resolved,” Lam explained through an interpreter.

“Having good relations with China, safeguarding our sovereignty and settlement of issues in the East Sea are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive,” he added, referencing Vietnam’s terminology for the South China Sea.

Lam restated Vietnam’s established stance of resolving territorial disputes through international law, specifically citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The territorial tensions between China and Vietnam are significant, with Vietnam claiming the Chinese-controlled Paracel islands and the complete Spratlys archipelago located further south. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have competing claims over this crucial shipping corridor, where military presence continues to expand, making it an increasingly volatile regional hotspot.

These comments come as Lam works quickly to elevate Vietnam’s international standing, seeking to strengthen relationships with China, the United States and other major nations while pursuing an aggressive economic growth strategy.

Lam characterized the rivalry between the United States and China as an “objective reality.”

“We do not approach our relations with major powers through the prism of security,” he noted, demonstrating Vietnam’s traditional flexible diplomatic approach known as “bamboo diplomacy.”

“We need good relations with major countries so that we can jointly address essential, important issues.”

Now serving in both the party leadership and presidential roles, Lam has become Vietnam’s most influential leader in recent decades, with his dual position enabling him to take a more active diplomatic role.

International diplomatic observers are carefully monitoring his leadership style as he develops a more assertive and adaptable stance for a country previously viewed as diplomatically reserved and careful due to its shared leadership structure.

Some experts have observed that concentrating power in a single individual could push the one-party system toward increased authoritarianism, while simultaneously allowing for quicker policy decisions.

Described as soft-spoken yet decisive, the 68-year-old Lam rose through Vietnam’s domestic security organization, an influential but discrete agency not typically associated with producing diplomatic leaders.

Lam’s Reuters interview occurred following his keynote address on Friday evening at Asia’s premier defense conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore — marking the first time a Vietnamese party leader has delivered such a speech.

Speaking to an audience of international defense officials, military personnel, intelligence officers and scholars, Lam identified global challenges including weakening international rules and law, developmental crises involving reduced growth and climate change, and deteriorating trust between nations.

“The three crises confronting our world today are not inevitable realities that we are bound to accept,” Lam declared.

He advocated for strengthening international law, establishing inclusive and sustainable economic drivers, and promoting dialogue and openness.

During the post-speech interview in a hotel meeting room, wearing casual attire with a burgundy tie, Lam acknowledged to Reuters that his administration’s growth objectives were “ambitious and highly challenging” but expressed determination to reach them.

Vietnam aims to achieve developed, high-income nation status by 2045, targeting 10% GDP growth this year and continued double-digit increases in coming years, powered by advances in science, technology and digital innovation.

When questioned about whether the Iran crisis and other global challenges might require adjusting these targets, Lam maintained the core goals remained “within reach.”

“Our answer is clear: we will not adjust this objective downward.

“We believe there is no alternative path. If we fail to achieve this target, we will fall short of the broader development aspirations we have set for our country,” he concluded.

Air operations came to a temporary standstill at Munich Airport in southern Germany on Saturday morning following reports of a suspected drone in the airspace, according to German news outlets Focus Online and Bild.

Focus Online later reported that flight operations had resumed at the facility. However, the airport’s departure information showed that multiple flights scheduled around 10 a.m. local time (0800 GMT) experienced delays or cancellations, though not all services were affected.

Neither airport officials nor local police provided immediate responses when contacted for comment about the incident.

Emergency crews in Laos continued their mission Saturday to safely extract four villagers discovered alive inside a water-filled cave, where they have been stranded for 10 days following the successful rescue of one survivor the previous day.

The rescue operation aims to bring out the remaining four men Saturday after determining they weren’t prepared for evacuation on Friday. Teams are working to pump additional water from the cave system while simultaneously searching for two individuals who remain unaccounted for.

“One person has made it out safely, and we will not stop until the remaining four make it home too,” Norrased Palasing, a Thai cave diver participating in the operation, wrote Saturday on his Facebook page.

The first evacuation on Friday required approximately 30 minutes, according to rescue personnel. Footage captured the moment the survivor surfaced alongside a rescue diver, gasping for air before struggling through a tight, water-filled corridor and rising unsteadily. As rescue workers assisted him from the tunnel, someone could be heard cautioning others about his injured hands. Emergency responders then covered him with a foil blanket and helped him sit down.

Additional footage showed the individual exiting the cave entrance wearing a headlamp, walking shakily with support from two people who transferred him to other team members as onlookers gathered.

The group had reportedly gone into the cave the previous week searching for precious minerals when sudden flooding trapped them inside. Another villager managed to escape in time and notified authorities about the seven people left behind.

Search teams located five survivors on Wednesday, identified by their first names as Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing and Laen. Officials have not disclosed which individual was brought to safety Friday.

The trapped men received supplies including water, soft food and thermal blankets for warmth, though video footage from inside the cave indicated their situation was worsening.

International rescue teams from Laos and Thailand have been joined by specialists from Japan and Malaysia. Additional experts from Indonesia, France and Australia have also arrived at the remote location in Xaisomboun province, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the capital.

Multiple team members had participated in the complex 2018 cave rescue operation in northern Thailand that saved 12 schoolchildren and their soccer coach.

In video recorded Friday, roughly one hour before the first evacuation commenced, Thai rescuer Kengkaj Bongkawong of the Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin explained the operational difficulties they face.

The rescue team has established a base inside a large cave chamber, reachable only by navigating over 200 meters of winding, narrow, flooded passages with sharp walls. From that point, divers must travel through a submerged tunnel spanning about 30 meters to reach the stranded individuals.

“To dive in a cave, there are issues with the temperature, narrow areas, control of movement, and managing the panic of the survivor, which will be difficult, but we have to do it,” Kengkaj said.

The operation carries substantial risk as rescue teams guide survivors with no diving experience through water with zero visibility.

Video showed Thai diver Norrased and Finnish diver Mikko Paasi instructing the men on diving equipment use, including underwater breathing methods.

“All the way, breathe through your mouth only. Do not ever breathe with your nose, do you understand?” Norrased said during the session.

Emergency teams are also preparing to look for the two villagers who remain missing.

Kengkaj indicated the team intends to explore a section further inside the cave, roughly 20 to 25 meters past where the survivors were discovered. He warned, however, that the area is extensively flooded.

“That area has a lot of water. The water goes there because it’s even deeper than this place,” he said.

Regional officials in southern Russia reported Saturday that Ukrainian drone attacks overnight targeted a tanker vessel and oil storage facility in two separate cities near the Ukrainian border.

According to Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar, who posted on Telegram, blazes at the tanker and throughout the port of Taganrog were put out without causing an oil spill. The governor reported two people sustained injuries in the port city, which is home to approximately 240,000 residents.

Mayor Svetlana Kambulova announced that a local emergency declaration, first implemented on May 27, would continue beyond its original timeframe.

In the adjacent Krasnodar region, officials from Armavir reported that a blaze at an oil storage facility within the city’s industrial area was successfully contained without any casualties. Armavir has approximately 185,000 inhabitants.

Governor Slyusar stated that regional air defenses intercepted nearly 50 drones throughout the area, with strike attempts documented across the province that shares a border with Ukraine’s Donbas region, where intense combat between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues.

Beyond the port city of Taganrog, the governor indicated that only minimal property damage occurred from the drone activity.

ATHENS, Greece — Soccer brought communities together on the streets of Greece’s capital as amateur teams prepared for their own version of World Cup competition.

Athletes competed and formed connections on neighborhood practice fields throughout Athens rather than in the massive venues hosting matches across Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The local tournament featured no premium seating or elaborate facilities — instead, migrant and Greek athletes played on municipal fields while spectators gathered along chain-link barriers as music echoed through surrounding neighborhoods.

Though teams representing Albania, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan won’t appear in the official World Cup, amateur athletes connected to these nations showcased their skills in Athens.

Numerous migrant athletes have been preparing for Europe’s tougher migration and asylum policies set to begin in June. However, the competition for migrant and refugee communities offered a welcome break — a festival of soccer and cultural pride.

One playing location sat near Plato’s Academy, where ancient Athenians once discussed citizenship concepts, with the Acropolis visible beyond the field. In the crowded Kypseli neighborhood, fans displayed Congolese and Ivory Coast banners while volunteers conducted drumming workshops nearby.

Squads played to African pop songs while coaches called out directions and fans applauded from the edges of the field.

Amelie Nguedia of Cameroon moved rhythmically onto the pitch before game time as teammates followed her lead, sharing laughter.

“Coming to play here is a real pleasure,” she said. “We aren’t professionals, but we love participating.”

Nguedia mentioned she would cheer for Ivory Coast during the World Cup, since Cameroon didn’t make the tournament.

Ivorian Moussa Sangare established the Kypseli Mundial tournament three years earlier, explaining he hoped to use soccer to address fear and suspicion directed at migrants in Greece.

The Mediterranean country serves as a primary entry point for migrants entering the European Union without authorization and experienced the 2015 refugee emergency. Though unauthorized border entries to Greece decreased over the past ten years, anti-migration feelings have intensified as the government implements tighter border security and promises more deportations.

“People are often afraid of migrants, but we wanted to change this narrative,” he said. “Interacting with migrants and second-generation migrants and doing things together: People change their minds through experience.”

Sangare remained constantly active during the event — organizing schedules, greeting teams, recording social media content and tidying up following games.

“For us, this tournament is like a mini–World Cup in Greece,” he said.

The scheduling of the Athens event held special meaning.

The five-week World Cup begins June 11. One day afterward, updated EU migration and asylum regulations become active, featuring stronger border enforcement and quicker deportations. Greece also plans to relocate migrant holding centers overseas to African nations.

Even with this context, Athens maintained a celebratory mood.

Games remained competitive without becoming aggressive. Rough plays prompted reactions from spectators. Coaches delivered instructions from tight sideline areas. Supporters exchanged friendly comments with opposing fans across the barriers.

Soon after, they would share moments of humor.

For most participants, the competition provided relief from everyday responsibilities. Many spend extended hours working behind the scenes in restaurant kitchens, hotels, construction projects and food delivery services throughout Athens.

“I am very proud to be playing in this tournament for the first time,” said Amissi, a midfielder from Mali, after completing a match. He is employed at a facility that builds water heaters.

Following competition among 21 teams, Nigeria’s squad captured the men’s championship, while Greek community club Fostiras earned the women’s trophy.

Head referee Chara Vogiatzidaki noted the tournament’s importance reached beyond field outcomes.

“There are so many countries and different cultures, and I think the main goal is to show respect for all communities,” she said.

“There are some teams that are technically very advanced, and others that are less so. But the important thing is that all the teams have the mindset of enjoying themselves,” Vogiatzidaki said. “That’s really beautiful.”

Delegates at Asia’s most important defense conference are asking one pressing question: “Where is China?”

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun has now missed the Shangri-La Dialogue for two consecutive years, choosing not to attend Singapore’s premier security gathering. His absence means missed chances to engage directly with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defense officials from Australia, France, Britain, Japan and numerous other countries.

Instead of sending high-ranking military leadership, Beijing opted to dispatch a modest group of People’s Liberation Army “experts and scholars” – a significant downgrade from their typical influential representation.

The annual conference traditionally features a major address from China’s defense minister or another senior official outlining Beijing’s military philosophy and perspective on international conflicts. However, this signature presentation has been removed from this year’s schedule, just as it was in 2025.

Hegseth acknowledged the notable absence during his Saturday keynote address.

“I wish my counterpart was here at this conference, but I look forward to other options when we can cross paths and communicate, talk about things where often actions at sea or actions in the air are perceived differently,” he stated.

Australia’s Richard Marles described the situation as a missed chance for nations to engage in direct, honest discussions about regional tension points.

Despite skipping the Singapore forum, Dong Jun did hold talks with Hegseth when U.S. President Donald Trump visited China earlier this month.

Zhou Bo, a former PLA senior colonel participating in China’s delegation, minimized the significance of the defense minister’s absence.

“This is not the first time the defence minister is not attending,” he explained. “And academic delegations have come before. But it is true that the level of the delegation is relatively low this time.”

Several experts suggest Beijing made a strategic decision to avoid difficult questioning about Taiwan-related tensions and how military corruption investigations might affect China’s battlefield capabilities.

“My feeling is that they are trying to avoid tough questions,” explained Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore.

“The question that comes up with the (Chinese) delegation, since it is so researcher heavy, is their representativeness and authoritativeness.”

Diplomatic sources indicate Beijing may have wanted to prevent a repeat of last year’s forum, when Hegseth characterized China as a regional threat and called on Asian partners to increase military expenditures.

At that time, Beijing accused the United States of unfairly demonizing China.

This year, Hegseth adopted a more moderate approach, though he warned that “no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”

He also noted that U.S.-China diplomatic ties were in better shape than they had been for several years.

China started participating in the 23-year-old conference with typically high-ranking delegations beginning in 2007. The country sent its defense minister in 2011 and 2019, then maintained this practice from 2022 through 2024. The forum was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bilahari Kausikan, an experienced Singapore diplomat, noted that the Shangri-La Dialogue’s main purpose has always been maintaining U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia and guaranteeing America’s defense secretary visits Singapore and the region annually.

“Whether China is represented by its defence minister is a secondary factor. It would be nice but not essential to have the Chinese defence minister here.”

The U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Asian partners to significantly increase their military expenditures during a major defense conference in Singapore on Saturday, citing concerns about China’s expanding military capabilities across the region.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading gathering for defense officials and military leaders, Hegseth emphasized the need for stronger, more independent allied networks to prevent regional dominance by any single power.

“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.

The Pentagon leader warned against allowing any nation to control the Pacific, stating: “A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power. No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”

Hegseth announced that the U.S. expects its Asian partners to raise defense spending to 3.5% of their GDP, while America commits $1.5 trillion to its own military investments.

The defense secretary emphasized that allies seek stability rather than conflict, explaining: “What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”

Despite his warnings about China’s military expansion, Hegseth adopted a more measured approach regarding U.S.-China relations, describing them as “better than they have been in many years,” with increased military-to-military communication helping manage tensions.

“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication,” he noted.

Zhou Bo, a senior fellow at Tsinghua University and retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel who was part of the Chinese delegation, described U.S.-China relations as “complicated.”

However, he said Hegseth struck “a much better tone” this year than last, attributing the shift to Trump’s visit to China.

“Both sides have open channels of communication, the situation is not as exaggerated as the outside world makes it out to be,” Zhou said.

China’s defense minister is absent from the dialogue for the second year running. Last year, China criticized Hegseth for making “vilifying” remarks.

Hegseth reinforced President Donald Trump’s ongoing position that allies must take greater responsibility for their own defense costs, stating that European and NATO partners should depend less on Washington.

“The era of the United States subsidizing the defence of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth declared. “We need partners, not protectorates. We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”

The defense secretary commended contributions from allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, noting that Japan was taking concrete steps to strengthen its defenses.

Regarding Japan specifically, he said Tokyo and Washington “must each pull our weight to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.”

Addressing Middle East tensions, Hegseth indicated the United States remains prepared to resume military action against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, as negotiators from both countries work to resolve significant disagreements preventing an agreement.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary…we are more than capable,” Hegseth stated. He added that Trump remains “patient” and is seeking a “strong deal” to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

Trump announced on Friday he would gather advisers in a secure White House setting to make a “final determination” on a proposal to end the Iran war.

Hegseth dismissed concerns that the Middle East conflict would divert attention from Asia-Pacific priorities, saying: “We can do two things at one time.”

When questioned about arms sales to Taiwan, Hegseth minimized worries that a multi-billion-dollar package could be impacted as the United States reduces its weapons stockpiles amid the Middle East conflict. “We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” he said.

Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, has been awaiting U.S. approval for an arms sale that Reuters reported could be worth up to $14 billion.

Trump created uncertainty in Taipei by saying, after meeting China’s President Xi Jinping this month, that he was undecided on whether to approve the package.

Any decision on future arms sales would rest with President Trump, Hegseth said, indicating no change in Washington’s established approach despite recent engagement with Beijing.

“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth said. “There’s been no change in our status.”

Parliamentary elections commenced Saturday in Malta, with polling data indicating the ruling Labour Party is positioned to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office.

Prime Minister Robert Abela initiated the early election four years into the current five-year term, referencing future challenges facing the Mediterranean nation due to international uncertainties.

The country’s economic performance ranks among the European Union’s strongest, with 4% growth recorded last year, minimal inflation, and virtually no unemployment. Energy and fuel costs have remained frozen for nearly a decade, resulting in Europe’s most affordable rates.

Nevertheless, officials worry that Middle Eastern conflicts could increase inflation in the EU’s smallest member nation, which depends heavily on imports, and could damage the tourism sector as aviation fuel costs climb.

Multiple polling surveys have repeatedly indicated his Labour Party is positioned to secure a substantial parliamentary majority, similar to victories achieved in 2013, 2017 and 2022.

Although six political organizations appear on the ballot, Labour and the opposition centrist Nationalist Party have been the sole parties to gain parliamentary representation since 1966, with minor parties receiving under 5% of votes.

Abela has focused his campaign on economic achievements, pledging competence and stability.

The Nationalist Party under new leader Alex Borg has argued that the robust economy has failed to improve living standards.

A significant increase in migrant workers during the past decade has also sparked concerns about rising housing costs, overcrowding and strain on infrastructure and healthcare systems.

Election outcomes are anticipated around midday Sunday.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli reservist watched as his fellow soldiers celebrated enthusiastically, cheering each other on. They had just attacked a Palestinian vehicle traveling near the Israeli-controlled section of the Gaza Strip, leaving all occupants dead.

The military member said such incidents had become routine following the implementation of a fragile ceasefire in October. During his weeks of deployment in Gaza, he witnessed troops eagerly pursuing those who violated — or nearly violated — the yellow boundary line separating Israeli-controlled zones from Palestinian territories.

“It was a jungle,” the soldier, who is in his twenties, told The Associated Press. “After the ceasefire, the order was: If someone crosses the line, you shoot them.”

While diplomatic attempts to reinforce the agreement have reached an impasse, three military personnel shared with AP their experience of disorder in the war-torn region, citing unclear guidelines for engagement near the yellow boundary. The soldiers reported that some commanding officers publicly supported the ceasefire while privately expressing hopes for continued warfare in Gaza. Occasionally, forces were positioned too distantly or responded too hastily to properly identify their targets, according to one soldier — a worry also raised by a veteran whistleblower organization.

These military accounts offer an uncommon look into events within Israeli-controlled Gaza since the agreement took effect seven months prior. The soldiers — reserve forces deployed across Gaza from October through January who have since returned home — requested anonymity due to concerns about potential social isolation for their statements. They explained their motivation for speaking publicly stemmed from anger and grief over their observations.

AP has recorded instances of Palestinian civilian shootings, including children at play, near the yellow boundary. The soldiers indicated that fatal incidents seemed continuous throughout the unstable agreement.

“To call it a ceasefire is a joke,” one soldier told AP.

Following the ceasefire implementation, Israel repositioned forces to a buffer area marked by a yellow boundary, securing control over slightly more than half the territory. The agreement requires Israeli forces to execute a more complete withdrawal, though no specific timeline exists. The diplomat backed by the U.S. who supervises the truce reports that advancement has stalled due to the primary obstacle of disarming Hamas, which affects all other matters — including Israeli pullbacks and rebuilding efforts.

During this period, Israel has extended its authority over additional Gaza territory. Each side has blamed the other for ceasefire violations.

The boundary’s precise position has remained unclear and sometimes unmarked. In certain areas, yellow blocks and barrels indicate its location; elsewhere, it has occasionally gone completely unmarked.

The Israeli military brought AP this week to observe a portion of the yellow boundary in central Gaza, close to the Maghazi refugee camp. The boundary was clearly visible there, marked by a broad dirt pathway and small yellow indicators. To the east lay an empty expanse of open ground extending to a heavily defended Israeli military position approximately 500 meters distant.

An Israeli military commander stated that Hamas operates on the opposite side of the boundary and regularly dispatches individuals — both fighters and civilians — toward and across the line to evaluate the army’s preparedness and reactions.

“There is no reason for anyone to come near the line,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity under military rules. “There’s nothing here.”

The army claims the complete boundary, spanning Gaza’s entire length, now has clear markings.

Since the ceasefire began, over 900 individuals have died in Gaza — dozens of them near or beyond the yellow boundary, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not specify how many were fighters, but unarmed men and children were among the casualties.

Israel’s military has stated that most individuals killed while crossing the boundary presented a danger to troops. However, soldiers who spoke with AP and Breaking the Silence — the whistleblower organization that has gathered troop testimonies during the war — report that soldiers sometimes acted from too great a distance, too rapidly, and under excessive pressure to make accurate determinations.

Israel’s army informed AP that the zone near the yellow boundary represents a “sensitive operational environment” with posted warnings against approaching. It stated the army does not target civilians merely for approaching the boundary and that engagement rules mandate warnings before force is used. In cases involving immediate danger, forces have authorization to respond, it explained.

This marked the combat soldier’s second deployment in Gaza when the ceasefire commenced. He reported being positioned several hundred meters from the yellow boundary and witnessing multiple individuals attempting to cross it being killed by soldiers.

Soldiers conducting shootings or requesting drone attacks do not always identify who is crossing the boundary, he explained. While soldiers must provide location coordinates and obtain superior approval before attacking, delivering precise information becomes difficult as people move, he noted. He described soldiers reporting coordinates based on assumptions or the last observed location of someone.

Breaking the Silence reports that general engagement rules are extremely lenient, particularly regarding boundary crossers, with instructions in many zones being “shoot to kill.” Executive director Nadav Weiman, a veteran who served in Gaza but not during this conflict, identified distance from targets and some overeager soldiers as problematic factors.

He stated that directives and policies from military leadership “have created a reality where countless civilians have and are being killed for crossing invisible lines.”

In one testimony to Breaking the Silence, documented in interview notes reviewed by AP, a soldier describes instructions for troops regarding anyone crossing the yellow boundary: “eliminate him no matter what.”

Another soldier deployed in Gaza for weeks following the ceasefire said commanders emphasized maintaining the boundary at any cost.

“There was a general feeling that human lives are not valuable,” he said.

Regarding yellow boundary marking, the soldier reported his superiors called it “too much work,” not their responsibility, and claimed Palestinians should know its location.

Gaza deployment created emotional strain, he explained.

While snipers sometimes fired warning shots at people approaching the boundary, he said, commanders instructed troops to take greater self-protective measures. The soldier interpreted this as authorization for more lethal shooting.

He and other soldiers who spoke with AP said troops generally believed, based on leadership and peer actions, that Israel planned a permanent Gaza presence rather than eventual withdrawal.

An internal report distributed among aid organizations last month and reviewed by AP indicated that throughout Gaza, Israel has grown “increasingly proactive” with its attacks.

Independent data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a nonprofit based in the U.S., showed April as Gaza’s deadliest month this year and reported that documented deaths near the yellow boundary or of people who crossed it rose over 25% from January to April, increasing from 58 to 73.

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel controls 60% of Gaza and indicated the next objective was advancing to 70% control.

The soldiers informed AP that conditions on the ground make the ceasefire seem nonexistent.

“We need to stop using this term,” one said regarding the word ceasefire. “It’s not serving people that want to stop the war.”

Three high-ranking European intelligence officials have revealed to The Associated Press that Russia’s spy operations are becoming increasingly bold in their attempts to obtain Western technology and military secrets, driven by economic pressure from international sanctions.

According to these officials, Moscow’s operatives are establishing fraudulent businesses, enlisting intermediaries, and using digital espionage specialists and hackers to collect intelligence that might also be weaponized against vital infrastructure.

International sanctions imposed over four years have restricted Moscow’s access to European machinery, technology, and research, while the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has strained critical industries and threatens to push the nation toward economic crisis.

Christoffer Wedelin, deputy head of operations at the Swedish Security Service, explained that Russian agents “really know what they need” and are investing “serious effort” into obtaining sophisticated machine tools, manufacturing equipment, research materials, and dual-use technology.

According to Wedelin, Russia is focusing on Sweden’s defense sector and cutting-edge research involving the nation’s most sophisticated weapons, including the Gripen fighter jet. Moscow is also attempting to acquire camera and laser technologies originally designed for civilian applications that could be incorporated into Russian military systems, he noted.

Juha Martelius, director of Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service, stated that Moscow is also attempting to acquire technology to maintain competitiveness or gain advantages over the West in coming decades.

“We’re talking about space technology, quantum … arctic technology, marine technology,” he explained, noting that space technology is something Russia requires “right now,” though he didn’t provide additional details. Nations utilize such technology for satellite imagery, communications, and navigation systems.

Martelius also mentioned that Russia requires sanctioned computer technology and software updates for machine tools.

On Wednesday, Anne Keast-Butler, director of the U.K’s signals intelligence agency, charged Russia with “relentlessly targeting” the U.K. and its European partners through technology theft and planning sabotage and assassination operations.

Swedish authorities arrested two individuals in May on charges of sanctions violations connected to a Turkish company that has shipped dozens of metalworking and metal-turning machine tools to Russia.

Wedelin warned that as these technology acquisition schemes become more sophisticated, businesses must recognize they could inadvertently become part of Russia’s military supply network.

“All of the security and intelligence services in Russia are helping out on the state’s efforts to get this,” he stated.

Moscow is also launching cyberattacks against European companies and critical infrastructure to collect intelligence, which it could use “when they get the chance and when it serves their purpose,” Wedelin explained. He referenced an attack on a Swedish power facility last year.

Russian-affiliated groups attempted to “destroy” the facility but were unsuccessful because security systems identified the breach, Wedelin said. He noted the attack was partially designed to weaken Western support for Ukraine.

Previously, Sweden’s security agencies had primarily observed reconnaissance for possible attacks, intelligence collection, or activities connected to cybercriminals. The attack represented a “switch” in Russia’s approach, Wedelin said.

“They’re no longer caring as much about potential attribution after their activities, so they are taking greater risks to achieve their goals,” he explained.

Russia’s escalating aggressive methods may indicate growing internal worries about its economy, which “is not doing well at all,” according to Kaupo Rosin, head of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Martelius reported that approximately one-third of Russia’s gross domestic product is currently allocated to the war effort. The conflict and resulting sanctions have reduced growth and sustained high inflation.

Russian leadership projected a budget shortfall of 3.7 trillion rubles ($52.1 billion) for all of 2026 and had already accumulated about 3.4 trillion rubles ($47.9 billion) by February’s end, Rosin reported.

The Iran war that began on Feb. 28 has provided relief by driving oil prices higher. The U.S. has issued sanctions exemptions for Russian oil sales and the U.K. reduced its sanctions to attempt lowering global fuel costs.

Higher revenues since then have probably enhanced Russia’s budget, but “it doesn’t save them,” Rosin said, adding that continued Western pressure could lead Moscow to face a financial crisis by year’s end.

Rosin said intelligence reviewed by his agency indicates a more pessimistic outlook among Russian officials over the past six months, with the narrative of “total victory” in Ukraine having disappeared. Keast-Butler, of British intelligence, reported nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine since the comprehensive invasion in 2022.

Russia and Ukraine have generally kept their battlefield casualty numbers confidential.

Stagnant battlefield progress and economic difficulties have many Russian officials privately questioning “what is this all for,” Rosin said, referencing intelligence reports.

Martelius, from Finland’s intelligence service, said that although some reports about the Ukraine war may have been “sanitized” before reaching President Vladimir Putin’s office, he believes the Russian leader understands the economic difficulties fairly well.

However, that doesn’t indicate political change will occur.

It is “very dangerous … to start analyzing Russia as if it is some country like ours,” Martelius said. “It is not.”

SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered reassurances to Pacific region partners during a Saturday address, confirming America’s ongoing dedication to the area while adopting a more moderate stance regarding China compared to his previous statements.

During his presentation to international leaders, diplomatic representatives and senior security personnel at Singapore’s Shangri-La defense summit, Hegseth emphasized that the Pacific region “has profound implications for U.S. security and prosperity.” He stated Washington’s objective was to “achieve a lasting and favorable balance of power in the Pacific.”

This marked Hegseth’s second appearance at the annual gathering. During his previous participation, he drew criticism from Beijing after delivering stark warnings about China’s escalating threats, especially regarding Taiwan. He had declared that China was no longer merely expanding its armed forces to capture Taiwan, but was “actively training for it, every day.”

However, this year’s conference occurred approximately two weeks following President Donald Trump’s visit to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. After that diplomatic encounter, Trump praised Xi as a “great leader” and expressed optimism about having a “fantastic future together.”

Hegseth, who accompanied Trump during the Beijing visit, revealed that both leaders had reached an understanding that China and the United States should “build a constructive relationship of strategic stability, based on fairness and reciprocity, reaffirming that while our nations will vigorously protect our respective interests, we can secure practical, mutually beneficial agreements where our interests align.”

Nevertheless, he maintained that preventing Chinese dominance over the Indo-Pacific remained a key American objective.

“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he stated.

“We share a clear-eyed assessment of that security environment and a mutual understanding that a Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and undermine the equilibrium we all seek to preserve,” he added.

Following the Xi-Trump discussions, the American president questioned Washington’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense, describing a pending $14 billion weapons package as “a very good negotiating chip for us” with China.

China maintains territorial claims over the democratically governed island, with Xi refusing to eliminate military action as an option for reunification. American law mandates providing Taiwan with defensive capabilities, though the U.S. maintains “strategic ambiguity” regarding potential military intervention if China attacks the island.

Hegseth informed attendees that there was “no change in our status” concerning Taiwan, but declined to discuss the weapons agreement.

“Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him,” he explained.

He emphasized the Trump administration’s demand that allies boost defense expenditures, declaring “we need partners, not protectorates.”

He praised multiple Asian nations for their contributions while criticizing unnamed European allies who he claimed became “distracted by empty globalist rhetoric about the rules-based international order.”

“Our partners in Asia have long understood that the bedrock of a durable partnership is not based on idealistic values but on the concrete alignment of national interests,” he stated.

“When our interests diverge, we adjust pragmatically, without the drama or the moralizing,” he continued. “I think Western Europe might take note — this is a mindset we fully embrace.”

Hegseth omitted references to the Ukraine conflict or Iran during his presentation. When questioned about Iran, he simply noted that Trump had assured him that upon completion of Tehran negotiations, “any deal will be a good deal.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared Saturday that the United States stands prepared to resume military operations against Iran should diplomatic negotiations fail to produce an agreement, as representatives from both nations continue working to overcome significant obstacles to a deal.

“Our ability to recommence if necessary…we are more than capable,” Hegseth stated while speaking in Singapore.

“Our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe, so we’re in a very good place,” he continued.

During his remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the region’s leading conference for defense officials, military leaders and diplomatic personnel, Hegseth emphasized that America remains committed to the Asia-Pacific area despite ongoing Iranian hostilities.

“We can do two things at one time. We’re super-charging our defence industrial base so that we’re building 2X, 3X, 4X the munitions very soon to ensure that all of our (operations) plans are properly funded throughout the world,” he explained.

The Defense Secretary characterized President Donald Trump as “patient” and seeking to negotiate a “great deal” that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

Trump announced Friday his intention to convene in a secure White House location to reach a “final determination” regarding a proposal to halt the Iranian conflict, which would extend a truce established in early April for an additional 60 days while negotiators work toward a lasting resolution.

The military campaign initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28 has resulted in thousands of casualties, predominantly in Iran and Lebanon, while creating worldwide economic disruption through elevated energy costs caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand’s defense minister announced Friday that the country plans to gradually increase military expenditure to reach a target of 2% of GDP over the next eight years, representing nearly double current spending levels.

Defense Minister Chris Penk outlined the strategy during remarks in Singapore before the start of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense conference. He emphasized the government’s goal of maintaining consistent growth in military funding.

“As much as possible, it’s our intention to have a smooth and steady upward trajectory to 2 percent,” Penk stated during his interview with Reuters.

Penk acknowledged that spending patterns may fluctuate during periods when the country purchases major military equipment and platforms, but stressed the overall objective remains doubling New Zealand’s defense budget to strengthen military capabilities.

The defense minister assumed his role in April, taking over from Judith Collins following her retirement after an extensive political career.

These remarks follow the government’s announcement last week of NZ$1.58 billion ($924.62 million) in additional defense allocations for the 2026 budget as part of military modernization efforts.

The planned investments include acquiring two new surveillance and intelligence drones designed for operations in the South-West Pacific region and polar environments. New Zealand is also seeking long-term replacements for its aging pair of Anzac-class frigates and the multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury.

Essential maintenance work for the surface fleet is also in preparation phases.

Speaking during a panel at Saturday’s dialogue, Penk revealed that Wellington continues assessing British and Japanese alternatives for the frigate replacement program.

The defense spending increases are part of a broader budget that includes enhanced funding for education and healthcare, despite Prime Minister Chris Luxon’s conservative government implementing an otherwise restrictive fiscal approach this week.

Government projections show a budget deficit of NZ$15.06 billion for the fiscal year concluding June 30, 2026, representing an improvement from the NZ$16.93 billion deficit forecast in December’s mid-year review.

As a treaty partner with Australian forces, New Zealand has been expanding its presence throughout East Asia alongside Western military forces and their allies in response to China’s expanding military capabilities.

“I think the word inter-operability is an important one for us, and I would add inter-changeability, certainly with regard to Australia, who’s our nearest neighbour, but also a formal ally,” Penk explained.

“I think it’s important that we are very visibly present…in the Asian region, and we do things in conjunction with the likes of Korea and Japan,” he continued, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and exercising navigation freedoms.

Myanmar’s newly appointed president will travel to India this Saturday for his inaugural foreign trip since assuming civilian leadership, marking a significant diplomatic milestone less than two months after his transition from military junta commander.

The five-day diplomatic mission will include meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and represents Myanmar’s gradual re-entry into regional diplomacy, five years after neighboring countries isolated the Southeast Asian nation’s military government following their seizure of power.

India views this visit as a chance to reduce China’s substantial sway over Myanmar while pursuing access to the nation’s valuable rare earth mineral reserves and strengthening security along India’s northeastern frontier, according to policy experts.

“After changing into civilian clothes as president, Min Aung Hlaing is looking to boost diplomatic engagement across the region,” said Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at Crisis Group.

“He expects more normal ties with ASEAN,” Horsey added, referring to the grouping of 11 southeast Asian countries, “with support from Thailand and some other member states. He is also likely to visit Beijing soon to meet Xi Jinping. India is Myanmar’s other key neighbour.”

A Myanmar presidential office representative contacted by phone refused to provide details about the upcoming visit.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told reporters on Friday: “All issues that form part of the gamut of relations between Myanmar and India will come up for discussion.”

The military takeover occurred at dawn on February 1, 2021, when Min Aung Hlaing removed the democratically elected civilian administration headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering widespread protests that evolved into a nationwide armed resistance against military rule.

The power grab generated international criticism, including from the ASEAN alliance that prohibited Myanmar’s military leaders from attending its conferences, leaving the new military government increasingly cut off from the international community.

A catastrophic earthquake last year offered a diplomatic opportunity for Min Aung Hlaing, who attended a regional conference in Bangkok, an opening he hopes to expand following a controversial election that led to his presidency.

“He is seeking more and more regional and international respectability post-election,” said Gautam Mukhopadhaya, a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar.

Despite Beijing’s historical support and extensive investments in Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing’s decision to make India his first international destination partly aims to offset China’s extensive influence, analysts explained.

“This has been part of Myanmar’s way of dealing with India and China, capitulating more to China and trying to sort of balance it with India,” said Mukhopadhaya.

The diplomatic trip occurs as Myanmar’s armed forces have initiated fresh military campaigns in border regions containing rare earth deposits and crucial trade corridors connecting to India and Thailand.

“Min Aung Hlaing will almost certainly seek India’s help in countering the Arakan Army and Chin armed groups,” Horsey said, referring to rebels fighting the military in Myanmar’s Chin state, which borders India, and nearby Rakhine state.

India has shown interest in accessing Myanmar’s natural resources, including efforts to obtain mineral samples with assistance from a powerful rebel group, Reuters has reported.

“The bottom line behind this visit from the Indian side is what they can get out of it in terms of raw materials, rare earths (and) business propositions,” Mukhopadhaya said.

“And that’s exactly what the Myanmar military wants, because it wants its military enterprises strengthened.”

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a stark warning to Asian partners on Saturday, calling for increased military investments to counter China’s expanding military capabilities and prevent regional dominance.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s leading defense and diplomatic gathering, Hegseth emphasized the need for stronger, more independent allied networks to discourage aggression and maintain regional stability.

“There is rightful alarm regarding China’s historic military buildup and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond,” he said.

Hegseth warned against any single power controlling the Pacific region. “A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” he stated. “No state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”

The Pentagon leader announced expectations for Asian allies and partners to boost defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, while the U.S. commits $1.5 trillion to military investments.

Hegseth emphasized that allies seek stability rather than conflict escalation. “What they want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership that is confident enough to speak and walk softly while carrying a big stick.”

Despite security concerns, Hegseth adopted a balanced approach regarding U.S.-China relations, describing them as “better than they have been in many years,” with increased military-to-military communications helping manage tensions.

“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts by maintaining open lines of military to military communication.”

“NO FREELOADING”

Hegseth reinforced President Donald Trump’s ongoing demands for allies to bear greater defense responsibilities, similar to expectations for European and NATO partners to reduce dependence on Washington.

“The era of the United States subsidizing the defence of wealthy nations is over,” Hegseth declared. “We need partners, not protectorates,” he continued. “We don’t have a strong alliance unless everyone has skin in the game. No freeloading.”

The Defense Secretary commended contributions from multiple allies including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, while noting Japan’s concrete measures to strengthen its defenses.

Regarding the U.S.-Japan partnership, he said both nations “must each pull our weight to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.”

ARMS SALES DECISION TO TAIWAN IS TRUMP’S CALL

When questioned about weapons sales to Taiwan, Hegseth dismissed concerns that a multi-billion-dollar package might be impacted by U.S. weapons stockpile reductions due to Middle East conflicts. “We feel very good about our stockpiles and how we use them,” he said.

Taiwan, which China considers its territory, awaits U.S. approval for an arms sale that Reuters reported could reach $14 billion.

Trump created uncertainty in Taipei by stating, following his meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping this month, that he remained undecided about approving the package.

Hegseth indicated that any future arms sales decisions would remain with President Trump, showing no departure from Washington’s established approach despite recent Beijing engagement.

“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth explained. “There’s been no change in our status.”

A devastating climbing accident on Alaska’s Mount McKinley has claimed the lives of three mountaineers from Latvia, while a fourth climber survived and was airlifted to safety, according to officials and a climbing organization from the victims’ homeland.

The tragedy unfolded Wednesday when four members of a seven-person climbing team plummeted near Denali Pass, positioned roughly 2,100 feet below the 20,310-foot peak of McKinley, which stands as North America’s highest mountain, the National Park Service reported.

Emergency crews rescued the surviving climber Thursday from a mountain basin situated at 17,200 feet elevation. The survivor was subsequently transported by air ambulance to receive medical treatment, park officials stated.

“Operations for the three remaining climbers have transitioned from a search and rescue mission to a recovery effort,” the Park Service said in an online statement, adding the agency “does not release information about fatality victims until 72 hours after next-of-kin notification.”

Park authorities provided limited additional information and did not identify the climbers’ country of origin in their official announcement.

However, the Latvian Mountaineering Association identified the three deceased mountaineers as Inese Puceka, Vija Olte, and Renars Kunigs-Salaks, based on a translation of the organization’s website statement from Latvian to English.

“This is an indescribably painful and irreversible loss for the entire Latvian climbing community,” the group said in its statement.

The mountaineering association also reported that the fourth climber who fell, Mārtiņš Bilzēns, remained in critical condition.

The expedition’s three other members, who were unharmed in the incident, safely returned to a mountain camp after assisting their injured teammates, park officials confirmed.

According to the Latvian Mountaineering Association, the three uninjured climbers intended to descend from their 17,000-foot camp with help from rescue personnel.

The mountain serves as the focal point of the surrounding park and is commonly known to area residents and Alaska Natives as Denali, which translates to “the high one” in the Athabascan indigenous language. The peak received its official designation in 1917 to honor William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president, who was killed by an assassin in 1901.

In 2015, President Barack Obama formally changed the mountain’s name back to Denali, observing that McKinley had never set foot on the mountain and had no meaningful historical ties to the peak or Alaska. The Trump administration later restored McKinley as the official designation.

The United States demanded Friday that Nicaragua immediately release Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera following the publication of hospital images showing him in critical condition.

Rivera, who leads the Miskito people and has faced decades of conflict with the ruling Sandinista government, has been held since September 29, 2023, during an extensive campaign targeting dissent. His relatives maintain his detention is politically motivated and assert authorities have not filed formal charges.

Several detainees have died while in Nicaraguan government custody in recent years as officials have jailed hundreds of media members, activists and political opponents.

Nicaraguan authorities announced in January they would free certain prisoners after facing pressure following the U.S. military action to apprehend Venezuela’s then-President Nicolás Maduro. However, the government has provided minimal transparency since making that statement.

“This repression, violence and inhumanity is abhorrent,” the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on social platform X Friday. “We reiterate our call for his and all political prisoners’ unconditional release NOW.”

On Wednesday, the administration led by co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo issued a health report about Rivera, describing his condition as “delicate” while connected to a mechanical ventilator with multiple organ failure. The released photographs depicted a severely weakened Rivera attached to numerous tubes in his hospital bed.

A coalition of Nicaraguan Indigenous organizations issued a Thursday statement condemning the government for Rivera’s arbitrary imprisonment and “distorting the narrative” by alleging he was already in poor health when taken into custody.

“We know that who is responsible for this very grave situation that he is in, for the violations of human rights, is the Sandinista Ortega-Murillo regime,” they said in the statement sent to The Associated Press.

Currently, at least 47 individuals remain imprisoned in Nicaragua for political reasons, according to the Mechanism for Recognition of Political Prisoners, an organization monitoring these cases. Hundreds have been detained following a 2018 uprising that triggered a violent government response killing hundreds.

What began as demonstrations against social security system changes grew into demands for Ortega’s resignation. Ortega has governed the nation for nearly twenty years after constitutional modifications permitted his continued reelection. The suppression escalated before 2021 presidential elections, during which all competitive candidates were jailed before Ortega claimed victory. The United States does not recognize Ortega’s presidency.

Over 200 political prisoners were freed and transported to the U.S. in 2023, describing solitary confinement and physical and psychological abuse. Many developed ongoing health issues from detention conditions and currently face uncertain immigration status under the Trump administration. An additional 135 political prisoners were released and sent to Guatemala in 2024.

The Miskito population has been a particularly prickly thorn in the side of the Ortega regime, according to Manuel Prado, vice president of the Miskitu American Organization.

Rivera was instrumental in opposing Ortega’s Sandinista government during the late 1970s and 1980s, joining the armed U.S.-backed Contra movement and helping establish the northern coastal area as an autonomous region.

The resource-rich Miskito territory, containing gold and silver deposits, is crucial for the Ortega-Murillo administration’s efforts to attract international investment, especially from China.

Prado demanded Rivera’s release and voiced concern about his current physical condition.

“We do feel like Ortega will allow him to die,” Prado said.

The highest-ranking U.S. military commander for Latin America conducted discussions with Cuban military leadership on Friday, focusing on operational security issues in the vicinity of the Guantanamo Bay naval facility. This meeting represents the most recent high-level contact with the island nation as President Donald Trump intensifies his administration’s pressure campaign against Cuban leadership.

Following the successful U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro during a January mission, Trump has indicated that Cuba “is next” on his list of targets. Recent months have seen the Trump administration implement an oil embargo against Cuba, deploy naval vessels to Caribbean waters, and bring federal criminal charges against a former Cuban official.

High-ranking Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA director John Ratcliffe, have conducted meetings with Cuban representatives to examine potential pathways for better diplomatic relations. However, American officials have expressed disappointment with the outcomes of these discussions, resulting in additional economic penalties against Cuba’s government.

During Friday’s activities, U.S. Gen. Francis L. Donovan not only engaged with Cuban military personnel but also evaluated security conditions at the naval installation and reviewed “safety of service members and their families, and operational readiness with base officials,” according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command posted on X.

Despite ongoing tensions with Cuba’s socialist government, which Trump seeks to remove from power, the United States continues operating its military facility at Guantanamo Bay after decades of diplomatic conflict.

Currently, the U.S. military maintains several Navy vessels in Caribbean waters, including at least one amphibious assault ship, though this represents a significantly reduced presence compared to the force levels during the Maduro operation.

The Pentagon announced Friday that a fresh deployment of 1,300 sailors and Marines will soon replace the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been stationed in the area since last summer.

WASHINGTON — The United States has canceled the visa of a Chinese journalist employed by state news agency Xinhua, marking a direct response to Beijing’s recent expulsion of a correspondent from The New York Times.

Sources familiar with the situation confirmed the visa cancellation, speaking anonymously due to privacy restrictions surrounding visa matters. A State Department official also verified plans to revoke the journalist’s credentials.

This retaliatory action follows Beijing’s removal of Vivian Wang, who has served as a China correspondent for The New York Times. Her expulsion reportedly stems from the Taiwanese leader’s participation in a DealBook event, despite Wang having no involvement in the interview. Such direct U.S. government retaliation against China’s journalist expulsions is uncommon.

The New York Times, which initially broke news of the reciprocal visa revocation, stated the publication does not request governments to cancel media credentials or interfere with journalistic work. On Friday, the newspaper released a statement demanding Wang’s reinstatement and calling on both nations to “reverse this deterioration in journalist access.”

“The Chinese government’s decision to expel Vivian Wang is wrong,” Joseph Kahn, the paper’s executive editor, said in a statement published on the Times’ corporate website. “Her expulsion will make it even harder for our global audience to get accurate, independent and in-depth reporting about the world’s second largest economy at a critical time.”

The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Wang’s departure occurs when American media presence in China has already diminished significantly following previous credential disputes, leaving many U.S. news organizations operating with minimal staff in their Chinese bureaus.

“The number of correspondents from American media outlets allowed to work in China has now fallen to an alarmingly low level, at a time when the need for people everywhere to understand China is greater than ever,” Kahn wrote.

Beijing initiated Wang’s expulsion after The New York Times’ DealBook Summit 2025 included a recorded interview with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, conducted by host Andrew Ross Sorkin. During the interview, Sorkin referred to Taiwan as a country, while Lai discussed Beijing’s aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait and pledged that “Taiwan will do everything necessary to protect itself.”

China maintains territorial claims over Taiwan, which separated from the mainland in 1949 following Mao Zedong’s communist victory in the civil war. During recent discussions with President Donald Trump in Beijing in mid-May, Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned that China and the U.S. could “collide or even clash” over Taiwan without proper handling of the issue.

The action against The New York Times has raised concerns among other Western media outlets that might interview Lai, potentially risking their ability to report from China in exchange for giving the self-governed island a platform.

China requires all foreign journalists to obtain accreditation from the country’s foreign ministry for reporting activities, and Beijing has consistently used accreditation and visa policies to remove or exclude foreign journalists whose coverage has displeased Chinese leadership or to express dissatisfaction with coverage deemed unfavorable or hostile.

In 2020, Chinese authorities expelled three Wall Street Journal correspondents following the financial newspaper’s publication of an opinion piece titled “China is the Real Sick Man of Asia” after the COVID-19 pandemic emerged.

As relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated, the U.S. State Department designated several major Chinese news organizations as “foreign missions” in 2020. Xinhua, for instance, operates under direction from the ruling Chinese Communist Party to function as the party’s and government’s official voice, including distributing their authorized news content.

In response, Beijing severely restricted visa availability for journalists employed by U.S. media organizations.

During the first half of 2020, at least 18 foreign journalists from The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal faced expulsion, according to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China. Many others received abbreviated visas lasting between one and three months, the organization’s annual survey indicated.

The two nations subsequently negotiated a limited agreement permitting U.S. media to deploy a small number of correspondents to mainland China. Wang was among those journalists.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered sharp criticism Friday against the United States’ move to classify two major Brazilian criminal organizations as terrorist groups, denouncing the action as improper meddling in his nation’s domestic matters.

“We will not accept being treated like children, we will not accept being treated as if we were a banana republic,” Lula declared during a public appearance Friday, mentioning “a certain Marco Rubio, who said that our criminals are terrorists and that Americans can intervene.”

The announcement came Thursday when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed a new policy targeting Brazil’s largest criminal organizations with terrorist designations, potentially allowing for more forceful interventions. This decision followed lobbying activities in Washington conducted by the sons of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazilian officials characterized the designation as harmful to productive relations and a challenge to national sovereignty, while legal analysts cautioned about potential consequences for companies doing business in Brazil.

The U.S. embassy in Brazil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The two major organizations affected by the U.S. action, Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), originated as drug trafficking operations but have broadened their activities into additional economic sectors, including extortion and controlling local supply networks in certain regions.

Legal analysts noted that due to this extensive reach, corporations might face indirect risks if they conduct operations in areas where these groups hold sway, even without direct connections.

Legal firms distributed advisories to business leaders Friday cautioning that the U.S. classification could heighten oversight of financial institutions and corporations working in sectors including agribusiness, energy, mining and telecommunications.

“Scrutiny on financial institutions is also expected to tighten. Recent examples in Mexico show how quickly the situation can escalate, with local banks cut off from the financial system,” one report by local attorneys said.

A separate analysis by international lawyers warned that companies that operate across Brazilian territory face an even steeper challenge, particularly those in agribusiness and the energy, mining, and telecommunications sectors, where exposure to the criminal factions’ economic orbit can be difficult to map and harder to avoid.

Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) are both set to be formally listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), effective June 5, 2026.

Financial markets displayed a subdued initial reaction, though several banking stocks declined Friday, with Brazil’s primary Ibovespa index closing down 0.7%.

During a Washington meeting with Trump this week, Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who is organizing a presidential campaign with his father’s support, ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, revealed he had requested the U.S. designate these organizations as terrorists.

His brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, who took part in the Washington discussions, stated that the decision had been under review in Washington but was postponed due to Lula’s policies.

Speaking with Reuters, Eduardo said he was not focused on whether such measures could sway votes in the Brazilian business community. “I am concerned with the interests of the Brazilian people. I want to destroy the Comando Vermelho, the PCC, so that Brazilians don’t go out to buy bread at the bakery and end up taking a bullet to the head.”

Lula’s administration had worked to prevent such classifications, worrying they might create pathways for future U.S. military involvement or penalties against financial institutions that unknowingly conduct business with organization members.

During his comments, Lula, who is seeking re-election in October, criticized Senator Bolsonaro for “betraying our homeland and going to the U.S. to ask for intervention in Brazil.”

Lula himself had also met with Trump at the White House to discuss ways to combat organized crime, but said at the time they did not discuss the possibility of Washington designating the CV and PCC gangs as terrorist organizations.

Friday, Lula described the U.S. decision as “disappointing” and promised to maintain focus on the domestic battle against both organizations, which control the drug trade across much of Brazil and have strengthened connections throughout Latin America.

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Lawmakers in Ghana have approved legislation Friday that would sentence individuals to as many as 10 years behind bars for promoting LGBTQ activities, bringing back legislation that religious organizations in the West African nation have long advocated for while human rights groups have denounced it.

The legislation, anticipated to receive President John Dramani Mahama’s signature, would also sentence individuals to three years in prison for participating in LGBTQ acts.

A previous iteration of this legislation was approved in 2024 but never received the signature of former President Nana Akufo-Addo to become law, though advocacy groups and religious organizations have persistently campaigned for a version of this bill and Mahama has signaled his willingness to support it.

Ghana becomes part of an expanding number of African nations implementing legislation that outlaws homosexuality. These laws receive widespread backing in many traditional African nations despite global criticism.

The new law prohibits “promoting, sponsoring or advocating” LGBTQ acts, along with financing LGBTQ organizations and activities. The legislation also establishes a five-year prison sentence for operating a brothel for prohibited sexual activity.

Those backing the legislation claim it safeguards what they characterize as Ghanaian family values and cultural traditions, while opponents argue it breaches constitutional rights and may promote discrimination and mistreatment of sexual minorities.

Human Rights Watch criticized the legislation and called on Ghana’s government to “uphold the international legal protections that guarantee every Ghanaian the rights to equality, nondiscrimination, freedom of expression, and privacy.”

Same-sex relationships are currently illegal in Ghana under existing colonial-era legislation that bans what it terms “unnatural carnal knowledge.” The new law, however, greatly broadens these limitations by making advocacy, support and related activities connected to LGBTQ acts illegal.

When the earlier version was approved in 2024, Ghana’s Finance Ministry cautioned that implementing it might threaten billions of dollars in international funding and assistance from development partners.

Over 30 of Africa’s 54 nations have legislation criminalizing same-sex relationships. Some laws include lengthy prison sentences exceeding 10 years, while countries such as Somalia, Uganda and Mauritania impose the death penalty.

Leaders from four major international organizations issued a warning Friday that ongoing warfare in the Middle East is placing significant pressure on worldwide energy markets and causing the greatest harm to developing nations.

The conflict between the U.S.-Israel alliance and Iran has caused disruptions to international commerce, created volatility in financial markets, and sparked worries about global energy security, especially regarding shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for petroleum and natural gas transport.

While the worldwide economy has shown strength, the fighting is having an outsized impact on less wealthy nations through rising costs for fuel and fertilizer, greater economic uncertainty, and employment risks, according to the international organizations.

Leaders from these groups convened Thursday to discuss their response to the economic consequences of the conflict, according to their joint announcement.

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he would make a decision Friday regarding a possible agreement with Iran to extend their current ceasefire, which would require reopening the shipping route and eliminating Tehran’s nuclear weapons development capabilities.

The organizations stated: “If shipping flows do not return to normal, continued rapid depletion of global oil inventories ahead of peak summer oil demand in the Northern Hemisphere would present increasing risks for fuel security, market conditions, and broader economic resilience.”

Syrian officials have taken 18 people into custody who are believed to have played key roles in the Assad government’s chemical weapons operations, as newly uncovered evidence may strengthen international war crimes prosecutions.

The arrests come alongside the discovery of chemical weapons materials and munitions that could help investigators build cases against those who oversaw the deadly program during Syria’s civil war.

Retired Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, a military affairs expert, explained to The Media Line that finding munitions matching those from the Ghouta and Al-Latamenah attacks represents a major breakthrough for international investigators. “Any technical match between the newly discovered materials and previously documented evidence could provide additional grounds for legal accountability and strengthen efforts to prosecute those responsible for the use of chemical weapons,” he stated.

A United Nations investigation from September 2013 found “clear and convincing evidence” that Sarin gas was used in the Ghouta area near Damascus, an assault that reportedly caused hundreds of deaths.

Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the investigation results “deeply disturbing.” The UN team concluded that “chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties in [Syria], also against civilians, including children, on a relatively large scale.”

The UN investigation revealed that 85% of blood samples collected from Ghouta locations showed positive results for Sarin, while most rocket debris also contained traces of the lethal nerve agent.

“This is a war crime,” Ki-moon declared to the UN Security Council in 2013 following the report’s release. “The international community has a responsibility to hold the perpetrators accountable and to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare.”

French courts have issued international arrest warrants for Bashar Assad regarding the 2013 Ghouta chemical attacks, determining that such crimes are not covered by head-of-state immunity. Additional legal actions in Germany and Sweden use universal jurisdiction principles, while the International Criminal Court cannot automatically intervene since Syria has not signed the Rome Statute.

Mohamed Katoub, Syria’s permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, revealed that officials detained 18 people suspected of running and operating the previous government’s chemical weapons operations. Katoub stated that those in custody include high-ranking military, political, and technical personnel, though their names and exact positions remain undisclosed.

These detentions mark the start of what may become an extended legal and security investigation, especially as international demands persist for accountability regarding banned weapons used against civilians throughout the conflict.

Syrian officials announced a major step forward in dismantling the chemical weapons infrastructure created under former President Bashar Assad, following reports from the OPCW and Syrian authorities about discovering munitions, chemical substances, and specialized equipment connected to the program. The discoveries also included documentation that may help explain the extent of activities that stayed hidden despite years of international oversight and disarmament work.

A source within Syria’s Ministry of Defense informed The Media Line that specialized government units found raw materials, munitions, and missiles linked to the chemical weapons program used during the Syrian conflict, including weapons similar to those used in poison gas attacks throughout the war.

Search operations resulted in recovering more than 70 missiles and bombs designed for the former government’s chemical weapons program, though the OPCW indicated the materials are still being analyzed technically, according to the anonymous source.

The OPCW verified that recent inspection missions discovered dozens of munitions, chemical materials, and associated equipment across multiple Syrian locations, along with thousands of documents connected to the former government’s chemical weapons program. OPCW experts are currently conducting technical analysis of the materials.

This discovery occurs as Syria’s new leadership attempts to resolve one of the war’s most sensitive and complicated issues, while facing continued international pressure to fully reveal the status of undeclared chemical weapons supplies and ensure accountability for their use.

In the first comprehensive official statement about the findings, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said national teams successfully located “munitions, precursor materials, as well as mixing and storage equipment,” noting that the materials were secured and moved to specialized facilities for destruction. He described the accomplishment as resulting from “months of national, intelligence, and technical work,” including gathering and analyzing information, accessing dangerous sites, and enabling OPCW inspection visits to dozens of locations connected to the former program.

Al-Shaibani also mentioned that Syrian authorities made progress in pursuing people involved in the former government’s chemical weapons program, describing these efforts as demonstrating cooperation between Damascus and the OPCW within what he termed a “new Syria” founded on transparency and international collaboration.

Syria’s mission to the OPCW reported that search operations identified sites connected to the former chemical weapons program and found munitions and materials linked to previous chemical attacks during the war. The mission stated that investigators discovered 54 aerial bombs similar to those used in the 2017 Al-Latamenah attacks and 25 ground-to-ground munitions resembling those used in the 2013 Eastern Ghouta attack, plus sarin precursor materials and equipment for mixing and storage.

Emphasizing growing international attention to the matter, US Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack called the discoveries “an important milestone” in building a new Syria and strengthening international security. Barrack said uncovering remnants of the chemical weapons program represented another step toward ending what he termed the “brutal legacy” of chemical weapons in Syria. He attributed the progress to cooperation between Syrian authorities and the OPCW, with support from the United States and international partners.

“A safer, more sovereign, and more accountable Syria is in the interest of the Syrian people and the world as a whole,” Barrack stated.

The chemical weapons matter remains among the most controversial and sensitive elements of the Syrian conflict, connected to multiple attacks that prompted widespread international criticism and became central to efforts holding the former government accountable. While Syria agreed in 2013 to eliminate its chemical weapons arsenal under international supervision, the OPCW has continued finding gaps, inconsistencies, and unresolved questions about Syria’s declarations.

Observers think the recent discoveries, combined with unprecedented cooperation between Syrian authorities and international organizations, may mark a crucial moment in international accountability efforts, especially if ongoing investigations confirm previously undeclared stockpiles, equipment, or operational networks outside earlier disarmament agreements. Such findings could begin a new phase in legal investigations into one of the Syrian war’s most disputed legacies.

Military representatives from Israel and Lebanon will participate in US-facilitated discussions at the Pentagon on Friday, concentrating on border security matters, Hezbollah’s disarmament, and establishing a schedule for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Washington is advancing these operational conversations through military channels.

The Friday session will address military matters such as border arrangements, security coordination, and the practical aspects of implementing future measures. Additional political conversations are planned to resume next week at the State Department.

These discussions occur while fighting continues and ceasefire violations persist along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Lebanese Armed Forces are emphasizing the need for a definitive ceasefire structure and a schedule for Israel’s pullback from southern Lebanon. Israel is insisting on measures to disarm Hezbollah and protect the mutual border, pointing to ongoing drone and rocket attacks.

These military-to-military conversations aim to advance the 45-day ceasefire extension that was agreed upon in mid-May.

On Thursday, Israel conducted a targeted attack in Beirut against Ali al-Husni, described as the missile commander in the Imam Hussein Division, a unit connected to Iran’s Quds Force. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has not confirmed whether al-Husni was eliminated.

The attack came after the IDF expanded military operations in Lebanon past the Yellow Line and represented a shift in Israeli tactics following earlier signals that Israel would refrain from military action in Beirut.

Israel’s military response came after multiple Hezbollah attacks in recent weeks that resulted in several IDF casualties, along with drone strikes into Israel.

Iranian naval forces discharged warning shots at four commercial vessels attempting unauthorized passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from an Iranian military-linked social media account, while diplomatic talks continue regarding a potential peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

According to the social media posting, the ships tried to navigate through the waterway “without prior coordination or authorization.” No identification of the vessels or further specifics about the confrontation were provided in the report.

The maritime confrontation happened while American and Iranian officials achieved initial agreements Thursday evening on a potential 60-day agreement aimed at prolonging the current ceasefire and initiating discussions about Iran’s nuclear program, CNN reported. The news outlet noted that President Donald Trump has not yet given his approval to the deal.

CNN reported the proposed agreement would temporarily maintain the ceasefire, restore unrestricted maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and create a framework for negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program.

Axios reported the plan would also feature an Iranian statement pledging not to develop nuclear weapons, with subsequent talks addressing sanctions removal and access to frozen Iranian funds.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency announced Friday that Iranian military forces fired missiles from southern Iran at “designated targets.” Fars reported the targets remained unidentified and offered no further information about the military action.

The connection between the missile strikes reported by Fars and the maritime incident described by the Iranian military-affiliated account remained uncertain.

These events unfolded during heightened focus on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated Thursday that the Treasury Department might take measures against Oman if that nation assisted Iran in collecting fees from ships using the waterway. Oman shares a border with the Strait of Hormuz.

Bessent’s statements came after President Trump’s Wednesday remarks cautioning Oman against disrupting shipping traffic through the strait.

“Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up,” President Trump said.

South Africa finds itself walking a diplomatic tightrope as it desperately seeks billions in Gulf investment to rescue its faltering economy while maintaining controversial ties with Iran that are making investors nervous.

The nation’s ministers spent this year traveling across the Middle East asking for financial help from oil-rich monarchies, even as South African naval forces conducted joint military exercises with Iranian ships.

The country is attempting to juggle relationships with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar while strengthening bonds with BRICS alliance members Russia and China. This balancing act includes pursuing a legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and defending its engagement with Iran under a policy of non-alignment.

“Our foreign policy of non-alignment is not anti-West or anti anyone,” International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said at a Pretoria foreign policy event on Monday, calling it a “sovereign choice grounded in the constitution and international law.”

As Africa’s most developed industrial nation, South Africa faces severe economic challenges. Manufacturing’s contribution to the economy has dropped dramatically from approximately 23% in the early 1980s to just over 11% today. Factory output declined again recently, with steel, machinery, and automotive plants reducing both production and workforce.

Rising oil prices have worsened the situation. While the International Monetary Fund predicted in February that inflation would decrease and growth would slowly return, conflicts affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Brent crude over $100 per barrel. The South African Reserve Bank now cautions that inflation could approach 5% later this year if oil costs stay high, with the rand becoming increasingly vulnerable to Gulf region developments.

The government’s debt burden has reached 77% of economic output and keeps growing. Unemployment exceeds 32%. Electrical outages and deteriorating rail and port infrastructure have forced factories to operate at roughly two-thirds capacity, hampering the export growth South Africa desperately needs.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson traveled through the Middle East earlier this year seeking investment from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE for infrastructure, logistics, and real estate projects. Government officials described the trip as part of efforts to attract external funding that the state can no longer secure independently.

Gulf nations have shown interest and possess substantial financial resources. The UAE has emerged as Africa’s biggest foreign investor, directing over $110 billion to the continent from 2019 to 2023 according to government figures. In South Africa specifically, Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding established a strategic partnership with the Public Investment Corporation covering mining, rail, logistics, and green energy sectors.

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has investigated multibillion-dollar hydrogen and renewable energy projects with South African companies. The UAE reports its investments in the country exceeded $1.3 billion in 2024 alone.

However, South Africa’s military cooperation with Iran has created complications. Early this year, the country hosted naval exercises called Will for Peace with China, Russia, and Iran off its eastern coastline, near Indian Ocean shipping routes connecting the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

These drills attracted significant attention in Washington, particularly since Iran participated while South Africa was simultaneously courting Gulf states that view Tehran as their primary regional adversary.

The exercises also revealed divisions within South Africa’s government. After the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in 2024, it now governs alongside the Democratic Alliance (DA), which supports stronger Western relationships. The DA’s defense spokesman, Chris Hattingh, argued that hosting and training with heavily sanctioned forces involved in active conflicts cannot be considered neutral. “It is a political choice, whether the government admits it or not,” he said.

Domestic and international critics have questioned whether South Africa remains truly non-aligned or is shifting toward an anti-Western stance. In January, the country abstained from a UN Human Rights Council resolution condemning Iran’s violent suppression of protesters, refusing to criticize a government it has historically supported.

“I don’t think anyone still regards South Africa as truly non-aligned,” Darren Olivier, director of the African Defence Review, told The Media Line. “It has virtually ceased military exercises with Western countries and now primarily conducts them with fellow BRICS states, while investing far more heavily in military relationships with Russia, Iran, Cuba, and China over the past decade.”

“At this point, it’s less of a complete realignment and more a case of testing the waters,” he added.

Olivier noted that consequences are already emerging. “South Africa’s closeness with Iran and Russia has already affected investment, international partnerships, and confidence in the country,” he said. “It frequently comes up in investor discussions, creates friction around trade relationships with Western countries, and has become an issue the current US administration increasingly uses against Pretoria.”

Tensions are most pronounced with Washington, South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China. South Africa primarily exports platinum-group metals, vehicles, steel, aluminum, and agricultural products like citrus and wine to the United States. Automotive and agricultural exports depend heavily on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to US markets; vehicles alone represented about two-thirds of South Africa’s AGOA exports last year.

This preferential access has deteriorated as the administration of President Donald Trump allowed AGOA to expire on September 30, renewing it only in February and only through the end of 2026. The month before expiration, Washington imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods, the highest rate on the continent. Vehicle shipments to the United States dropped by approximately three-quarters in 2025, though stronger mineral exports prevented overall totals from declining.

The US Supreme Court overturned the broad reciprocal tariffs in February, and the administration replaced them with a flat rate of roughly 10% to 15%, placing South Africa on equal footing with most other exporters but far below its previous duty-free status.

Despite political tensions, Trade Minister Parks Tau informed parliament on Tuesday that exports to the United States increased from 238 billion rand ($13 billion) in 2024 to 260 billion rand ($14 billion) in 2025.

President Trump boycotted the 2025 G20 summit South Africa hosted in Johannesburg, repeating unsubstantiated claims, rejected by Pretoria, that “white farmers are being killed” and their land seized.

In January, South Africa announced it would temporarily withdraw from the group as Washington assumed the presidency for 2026. At the same Johannesburg summit that the United States avoided, the UAE committed $1 billion to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa. The most widely referenced South African government land audit determined that whites—who comprise less than 8-10% of the population—still control roughly 72% of individually held agricultural and farmland. Black South Africans, who represent more than 80% of the population, own about 4% in that category.

Siphamandla Zondi, a politics professor at the University of Johannesburg, described the ANC’s approach as principled rather than opportunistic. “South Africa’s approach to BRICS and non-alignment is rooted in long-held traditions of South-South cooperation,” he said, tracing it to the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement.

The party frames its Israel case as both a legal matter concerning Gaza and an issue of national identity, with President Cyril Ramaphosa stating in March that South Africa “would keep defending international law under the Genocide Convention.” This position has enhanced its standing throughout the Arab world and much of the Global South, even as it concerns Western governments and investors focused on geopolitical risk.

Nigeria, Africa’s other major economy, demonstrates the limitations of a more accommodating approach. It maintained its embassy in Tel Aviv and full diplomatic relations with Israel throughout the Gaza conflict, filed no genocide case at the ICJ, and like South Africa, seeks Emirati investment; the UAE lifted a visa restriction on Nigerians in 2023 and promised billions in new investment.

However, this warmer relationship provided Abuja little benefit in Washington. The Trump administration designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over the killing of Christians, threatened military intervention, and had already imposed a 10% tariff.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are rapidly expanding across Africa in ports, logistics, renewable energy, food security, and critical minerals, seeking influence beyond oil and positioning in future supply chains. However, their largest recent commitments have gone elsewhere, with tens of billions allocated to projects in Egypt and Mauritania over two years, far exceeding what the UAE has invested in South Africa.

South Africa remains one of the continent’s largest economies. It produces more platinum than any nation and supplies much of the world’s manganese and chromium, minerals that both Gulf and Western supply chains require.

The greater risk for South Africa may be less the loss of Gulf funding than developing a reputation for unpredictability among risk-conscious investors. The country is attempting to maintain positions that don’t align easily: depending on Western markets, aligning with America’s adversaries, staying close to Russia and China, and courting Gulf states that fear Iran.

“Investors want certainty and long-term predictability,” said Darren Bergman, the DA’s former shadow minister for international relations. “There is still uncertainty about where South Africa actually stands internationally, and investors dislike uncertainty.”

“The danger is antagonizing major trade partners such as the United States and possibly the European Union,” Bergman said. “South Africa has to balance both sides carefully.”

During a historic diplomatic meeting in Ottawa on Friday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Canadian counterpart that the nation could potentially exceed its ambitious trade expansion goals with China by 2030.

Speaking with Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Wang Yi suggested that Canadian exports to China might grow by 100%, surpassing the country’s current objective of a 50% increase by the end of the decade. He pointed to growing momentum in bilateral relations as the foundation for this optimistic projection.

“Canada is focused on growing our economy and diversifying our trading relationships,” Anand stated during their discussions. “The Canada-China economic relationship is significant,” she added.

Wang Yi’s three-day diplomatic mission marks the first time a Chinese foreign minister has visited Canada in a decade, representing a significant step toward improving relations between the two nations. On Friday afternoon, he met privately with Prime Minister Mark Carney following a handshake ceremony.

The countries established an initial trade agreement in January that reduces tariffs on electric vehicles and canola products. This deal came during Carney’s groundbreaking trip to China, making him the first Canadian prime minister to visit the country since 2017.

As Canada’s second-largest trading partner, China plays a crucial role in Carney’s strategy to decrease his nation’s heavy dependence on the United States. Following tariff impositions by U.S. President Donald Trump on Canada, a traditional ally, Carney has pledged to double Canadian exports to alternative markets within the next ten years. His administration has negotiated over 20 economic and security agreements in the past year alone.

During a Thursday speech in New York, Carney advocated for a “new partnership” with the U.S., arguing that a stronger Canada would “help make America great again.”

The Chinese foreign minister’s Ottawa visit follows the Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown’s routine passage through the Taiwan Strait on May 23. China expressed strong opposition on Friday to any nation’s attempts to challenge its sovereignty and security “under the pretext of freedom of navigation.”

Earlier this month, Conservative lawmaker Michael Chong traveled to Taiwan for meetings with Taiwanese President Dr. Lai Ching-te and other high-ranking officials.

In his official statement, Chong explained that his visit aimed to “show solidarity with a democracy at the front lines of intimidation from the People’s Republic of China” and to defend Canada’s sovereignty. His trip came after the Chinese ambassador to Canada issued warnings regarding politicians visiting Taiwan.

VIENNA, May 29 – Tehran and Washington are engaged in talks about prolonging their current ceasefire to pave the way for negotiations covering Iran’s nuclear activities, with the United States demanding assurances that Iran cannot develop atomic weapons.

Although most of Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities were either demolished or severely compromised during Israeli and U.S. bombing campaigns in June, intelligence suggests a significant portion of the nation’s stockpiled highly enriched uranium remains intact. This surviving nuclear material represents Washington’s primary worry as nuclear discussions approach.

Trump stated on Friday through social media that Iran must consent to having enriched uranium that was buried following previous U.S. attacks be “unearthed” and eliminated under supervision from Iran and the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency.

UNDERSTANDING HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM

This material represents one of two substances, alongside plutonium, capable of forming a nuclear weapon’s core.

Unlike plutonium, which requires extraction from reactor spent fuel using large, easily detectable facilities, uranium enrichment can occur through centrifuges with considerably smaller physical presence.

Among Iran’s three known operating enrichment facilities during the June Israeli and U.S. strikes, two were located below ground. The surface facility suffered complete destruction.

Uranium reaches highly enriched status at 20% purity, becoming weapons-grade at approximately 90%.

Contemporary reactors typically utilize fuel enriched up to 5%, though some require higher enrichment levels. U.S. nuclear submarine reactors allegedly operate on fuel exceeding 90% enrichment.

IRAN’S CURRENT STOCKPILE

Iran has not updated the U.N. nuclear monitoring body regarding its enriched uranium status following the June strikes, nor permitted inspectors to return to storage locations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency calculated Iran possessed these quantities when Israeli bombing commenced on June 13:

– 440.9 kg enriched up to 60%

– 184.1 kg enriched up to 20%

– 6,024.4 kg enriched up to 5%

– 2,391.1 kg enriched up to 2%

Using IAEA calculations, the 60% stockpile could produce 10 nuclear weapons if further enriched. The 20% supply would yield one weapon, while the 5% material could create 12.

Survival rates remain uncertain. IAEA director Rafael Grossi indicated his organization believes “a bit more than 200 kg” of the 60% inventory sits within an Isfahan tunnel system that seemingly escaped major damage during June attacks. Additional material was housed at the Natanz nuclear facility, according to his statements.

REASONS FOR ALARM

U.S. officials focus primarily on the 60% material due to its potential for rapid weapons development. Washington seeks its complete elimination, while Iran maintains it has no weapons ambitions.

Higher uranium enrichment levels create exponentially easier pathways for further processing. Advancing from 60% to 90% proves simpler than progressing from natural uranium to 5%.

President Donald Trump withdrew America from a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers that previously maintained Tehran at much greater distance from bomb-making capability than currently exists. The 2018 U.S. exit triggered the deal’s collapse, prompting Iran to rapidly expand its atomic activities.

The 2015 agreement limited Iranian enrichment to 3.67%.

However, even 90% enriched uranium requires additional processing for weapons cores. Enriched uranium exists in gaseous form and must convert to metal for weaponization.

TRANSPORTATION POSSIBILITIES

Yes. Iran previously transferred enriched materials between facilities under IAEA supervision before June attacks.

During the 2015 deal and its predecessor, Iran’s uranium stocks enriched to 20% underwent dilution or conversion to reactor fuel plates before international shipment.

International transportation of nuclear materials like highly enriched uranium involves sensitive but standard procedures.

“It requires some precaution but it can be moved,” Grossi explained to PBS in March regarding the 60% material.

IRAN’S WILLINGNESS TO NEGOTIATE

Iran’s supreme leader has directed that the 60% material should remain within the country, according to two senior Iranian sources last week.

Iranian officials suggest Tehran might consider sending half the stockpile to a third nation in exchange for 5% enriched uranium, while diluting the remainder domestically.

Leaders from a Russian-dominated economic alliance issued a stern warning to Armenia on Friday, threatening potential suspension from the trade bloc due to the nation’s pursuit of European Union membership, as ongoing tensions between Moscow and Armenian officials continue to escalate.

During a summit held in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin joined with leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to express concerns that Armenia’s European Union membership pursuit poses “significant risks” to their economic security. The four officials directed their staff to compile a December report examining “possible consequences of suspending” Armenia from the alliance.

The leaders additionally called for Armenia to conduct a referendum allowing citizens to choose between pursuing EU membership or remaining within the Eurasian Economic Union, a trade partnership established in 2015 that facilitates unrestricted movement of goods, capital and workers. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously dismissed calls for such a vote.

This threat emerges just over one week prior to Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, where Pashinyan, who has held power since 2018, aims to maintain his position.

Following a U.S.-mediated agreement last year that concluded decades of conflict with Azerbaijan, Armenia has progressively worked to strengthen relationships with both the United States and European Union. Pashinyan has announced plans to pursue EU membership while his administration has halted the nation’s involvement in the Moscow-controlled security alliance known as the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Armenia’s pivot toward Western nations has frustrated the Kremlin. Putin has cautioned Pashinyan that his nation would experience severe economic harm if it continues pursuing EU membership. Recently, Moscow threatened to halt deliveries of discounted natural gas to Armenia and prohibited imports of Armenian brandy, fruits and vegetables, representing part of the Kremlin’s strategy to influence Armenia’s election results.

Putin has stated that Armenia cannot simultaneously belong to both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union. During Friday’s meeting, he cautioned that Armenia might lose as much as 14% of its Gross Domestic Product if it withdraws from the Moscow-controlled alliance.

Pashinyan has responded to Putin’s threats by maintaining that Armenia can currently balance its Eurasian Economic Union membership while building cooperation with the EU.

During Friday’s remarks, Putin also drew parallels between the current disagreements with Armenia and events in Ukraine, where attempts to establish an association agreement with the EU resulted in the removal of its pro-Moscow president, Russia’s takeover of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and Moscow’s backing of separatist forces in eastern Ukraine that began that same year. In February 2022, Putin launched military operations in Ukraine, initiating Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II.

A judicial ruling in Brazil’s northern Pará state has mandated that government authorities at both federal and municipal levels take action to restore and safeguard Fordlandia, an abandoned settlement that U.S. automotive pioneer Henry Ford created in the Amazon rainforest almost 100 years ago.

Legal officials announced Friday that this ruling represents a major achievement for cultural preservation efforts.

The ghost town of Fordlandia, which currently serves as a district within Aveiro city, was constructed in 1927 by Ford Motor Co. in Pará state as an ambitious rubber production center aimed at providing a reliable source of natural rubber for automobile tires.

The settlement was planned to mirror an ideal American suburban community and at its peak became the Amazon’s third-most populous area. But plant diseases destroyed the rubber tree farms, forcing residents to abandon the community. The Brazilian government took control of the property in 1945.

Brazil’s federal prosecution office in Pará filed suit in 2015 against the nation’s Iphan architectural heritage agency and Aveiro city officials for neglecting to maintain Fordlandia. The lawsuit also sought official protected designation for the settlement.

“Fordlandia is a landmark chapter in the history of Brazil and of global industry. The project was an American effort to challenge the British monopoly on rubber, bringing cutting-edge infrastructure—including a hospital, running water, electricity and a movie theater — to the heart of the Amazon in the 1920s,” the prosecutors’ office in Pará said in a statement.

Even though the business operation failed, authorities stressed that the district continues to hold importance in Brazil’s collective heritage and deserves protection for coming generations.

A Pará judge issued orders two weeks ago requiring federal and municipal governments to rehabilitate Fordlandia. This judgment followed more than ten years of court battles.

While the district lacks formal heritage site designation, the court determined it holds historical, cultural, and architectural value that Brazil’s Constitution requires the government to safeguard.

The court order also mandates that government officials create and execute a restoration strategy for the district, with possible monetary sanctions for failure to comply.

Ghana’s legislative body voted Friday to enact new legislation that makes promoting LGBTQ activities a criminal offense, marking another step in West Africa’s increasing restrictions on sexual minorities.

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, received approval through a voice vote following a unanimous endorsement from the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, according to first deputy speaker Bernard Ahiafor.

The legislation was brought forward last year after President John Dramani Mahama assumed office. Religious leaders and other advocates had pressed lawmakers from Mahama’s National Democratic Congress party to move forward with the vote, creating pressure for the president to approve the measure.

Parliament had previously passed a similar version of this legislation in 2024 during the administration of Mahama’s predecessor, President Nana Akufo-Addo, though legal challenges prevented Akufo-Addo from signing it into law.

Friday’s approved legislation keeps current penalties of up to three years imprisonment for same-sex intimate acts. The measure also prohibits “funding, sponsorship or promotion” of LGBTQ activities, carrying sentences from three to five years in prison. Additionally, it establishes a “duty to report” requirement for prohibited LGBTQ activities to law enforcement or other officials, with violations punishable by up to three years incarceration.

The legislation also modifies Ghana’s Extradition Act of 1960 to classify violations under the new law as extraditable crimes.

Multiple West African nations have enacted similar anti-LGBTQ measures in recent months.

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye approved legislation in March that doubles maximum prison sentences for same-sex intimate acts to 10 years while also criminalizing efforts to promote homosexuality.

Last September, Burkina Faso’s lawmakers voted to criminalize same-sex intimate acts for the first time and banned “behaviour likely to promote homosexual practices and similar practices.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Friday that his country’s intelligence agencies have detected preparations for a significant Russian offensive, according to his announcement on the Telegram messaging platform.

During his evening video briefing, Zelenskiy stated: “We have intelligence information about Russia preparing a new large-scale strike.”

“Our services are responding promptly and are prepared. The Air Force and other defenders of the sky will work 24/7, as they always do,” he added.

Earlier this week on Monday, Russian officials announced plans for “systematic strikes” targeting locations in Kyiv while advising foreign nationals and diplomatic personnel to evacuate the area.

Russian authorities justified this planned action as retaliation for a drone attack that occurred last week at a dormitory facility in Ukraine’s Russian-controlled Luhansk region, resulting in 21 fatalities. Ukrainian officials have rejected responsibility for that incident.

Previous Russian bombardments targeting Kyiv and surrounding Ukrainian territories last Sunday resulted in two deaths and injured multiple civilians.

Through his Telegram message, Zelenskiy urged the international community to impose additional sanctions against Russia and emphasized the urgent need to implement previously agreed-upon air defense partnerships without delay.

Federal authorities in Switzerland announced Friday they are investigating Thursday’s stabbing incident at a Winterthur railway station as a possible act of terrorism, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

The federal prosecutor has initiated criminal charges against the suspected attacker for alleged multiple attempted murder and potential involvement with or support of a terrorist organization.

The Thursday morning assault in Winterthur, located north of Zurich, left three Swiss men wounded. One victim sustained a leg wound, another suffered a neck injury, and the third was stabbed in the thigh. Medical teams transported all three to area hospitals, with one requiring emergency surgical treatment.

Law enforcement apprehended the alleged assailant, identified as a 31-year-old individual holding both Swiss and Turkish citizenship, at the station within minutes of receiving the initial emergency report.

Authorities are currently examining the attacker’s motivations through a comprehensive investigation of the suspect’s history.

Officials stated their “main hypothesis” centers on the incident being suspected terrorism.

Law enforcement revealed Thursday that the suspect had come to police attention in 2015 for allegedly distributing propaganda materials from the extremist organization Islamic State.

A Swiss publication, Blick, reported obtaining footage that appears to show an individual fleeing the station’s main area while shouting “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is greatest” in Arabic. Reuters has not confirmed the authenticity of this video.

Federal prosecutors emphasized Friday that the event demonstrates jihadist-inspired terrorism continues to pose a significant threat within Switzerland.

A Moscow-controlled economic alliance of former Soviet nations announced Friday it may suspend Armenia’s membership over the country’s efforts to join the European Union, demanding Yerevan hold a public vote on its future direction.

The Eurasian Economic Union made the threat following a summit meeting in Astana, where leaders from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan expressed concern that Armenia’s westward shift threatens the bloc’s financial stability.

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan skipped the gathering, citing his active campaigning for parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7. Pashinyan has been steering his nation toward closer relationships with Europe and America while publicly criticizing Moscow’s policies.

The four attending nations stated that Armenia’s western integration creates “significant risks to the economic security” of their union and announced plans to review the country’s membership status during their December meeting.

The economic bloc, established in 2015, also demanded Armenia conduct a nationwide referendum on EU membership that includes an option to remain within the Russian-led organization.

Moscow has been increasing economic pressure on Armenia in recent weeks, implementing temporary bans on agricultural products and threatening to cut off supplies of discounted oil and natural gas that the South Caucasus nation depends on heavily.

The upcoming election features Pashinyan, who advocates stronger EU and U.S. connections, competing against multiple opposition parties that generally favor Russian alignment. Polling data indicates Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party leads with approximately 30% voter support.

Russian officials have consistently maintained that EAEU membership cannot coexist with EU aspirations. Armenia enacted legislation last year formally beginning its European Union accession procedures.

Losing EAEU membership would create immediate economic disruption for Armenia’s 3 million residents. The nation’s per-capita economic output measured roughly half of Russia’s level in 2024, based on World Bank figures.

Trade statistics from Armenian government sources show Russia represented about 35% of the country’s international commerce last year, while EU nations accounted for approximately 11%. Armenia also imported 82% of its natural gas from Russia during the same period.

Military delegations from Lebanon and Israel conducted direct negotiations at the Pentagon on Friday, marking the first such discussions between the two nations in decades, even as combat operations continued in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces advanced into the southern Lebanese village of Dibbine, located near Marjayoun, while air operations resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals. According to state media reports, five people died in aerial attacks on the villages of Deir Qanoun al Nahr and Abbasiyeh, and a municipal police officer was killed in Ebba village.

The six-person Lebanese military team met with Israeli military representatives in Washington on Friday, with the Lebanese delegation headed by Brig. Gen. George Rizkallah, the army’s operations chief. A senior Lebanese military official told The Associated Press that the goal was to establish a comprehensive ceasefire, building on the nominal truce that took effect on April 17.

The Lebanese representatives plan to request the restoration of a monitoring committee that oversaw enforcement of a previous U.S.-mediated ceasefire which ended the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in late 2024, according to the official.

A second Lebanese official, who receives regular briefings on the Pentagon discussions, confirmed that the delegation would push for full ceasefire implementation and an end to current hostilities. This official noted that successful implementation would lead to future discussions about positioning Lebanese army forces along the border and removing Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

Both officials requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to discuss the ongoing Washington negotiations publicly.

President Joseph Aoun’s office announced he spoke by phone Friday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Lebanon’s situation and broader Middle Eastern developments. Aoun told Rubio that ceasefire implementation should be the primary focus, calling it “the essential entry point for transitioning to any other issues,” according to his office.

The current talks represent the first direct Lebanon-Israel discussions in Washington in over thirty years, following initial meetings held in April.

Israeli military forces issued multiple evacuation orders for southern Lebanon on Friday, compelling hundreds of families to relocate to safer northern areas.

Combat erupted between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in the villages of Yohmor and Zawtar al-Sahrqieh near Nabatieh city after Israeli forces crossed the strategic Litani River, which serves as an unofficial Israeli military boundary. Extensive southern territories remain under Israeli military authority despite the April ceasefire agreement.

Hezbollah, whose fighters have engaged Israeli forces in the region for several days, issued statements claiming their members attacked Israeli troops within Yohmor.

Both villages sit near the medieval Beaufort castle, positioned approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the Israeli border with commanding views of southern Lebanon. It remains unclear whether Israeli forces intend to seize the castle, located north of the Litani River.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the northern front Friday and addressed military personnel. “I must tell you that there are very impressive results here. Our forces have crossed the Litani; they have advanced to controlling positions,” he stated.

“We are operating in Beirut, in the Bekaa, across the entire width of the front, and we are dealing Hezbollah a crushing blow,” Netanyahu added, referencing Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and Beirut’s southern suburbs, which Israeli air forces targeted Thursday.

The southern Lebanon violence occurred as U.S. and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached a preliminary agreement Thursday to extend the ceasefire in the three-month conflict by 60 days and begin fresh discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the matter.

Iran has not yet confirmed any agreement. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Thursday evening that a tentative deal existed but expressed uncertainty about President Donald Trump’s approval.

Hezbollah legislator Hassan Fadlallah stated Friday that any U.S.-Iran agreement would halt Israel’s Lebanese offensive. Iranian officials, representing Hezbollah’s primary supporter, have maintained that any Washington deal must end the current Israel-Hezbollah war that began March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel two days after mutual attacks between Israel and Iran.

The ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict has resulted in 3,200 deaths in Lebanon and displaced over one million people.

Ukrainian weapons experts have discovered that a Russian Oreshnik missile launched at their country in January was actually manufactured nine years ago, challenging Moscow’s claims about the weapon being revolutionary new technology.

After analyzing debris from the strike, investigators determined the missile was built in 2017 using components that date back to 2016 or earlier, all originating from Russia or Belarus, officials announced Friday.

The Oreshnik represents a nuclear-capable weapon system with a striking distance exceeding 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the missile cannot be intercepted, though numerous Western defense analysts have disputed this characterization.

Fragments collected from the limited number of Oreshnik strikes during the ongoing conflict have provided Ukrainian officials with valuable intelligence about the weapon system while raising doubts about Moscow’s promotional claims.

Ukrainian defense assessments conclude the Oreshnik represents an updated variant of the earlier RS-26 Rubezh missile, which achieved its first successful test flight in 2012.

During Friday’s briefing showcasing electronic components retrieved from Russian weapons and unmanned aircraft, a Ukrainian missile analysis specialist expressed surprise at their findings.

“We were rather surprised, because they say that this is a very new missile, but if you look at the year of assembly, it says 2017,” stated the expert, who provided only his first name Petro citing security concerns.

Moscow has deployed the Oreshnik weapon system against Ukrainian targets on at least three occasions throughout the conflict, including an attack on a community near Kyiv during an intensive aerial bombardment on May 24.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who serves as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s sanctions adviser, confirmed the electronic components were salvaged from an Oreshnik strike on the western city of Lviv in January. Vlasiuk noted that debris analysis from this month’s most recent Oreshnik attack remains ongoing.

Vlasiuk also reported that Ukrainian forensic teams are documenting increased replacement of Western missile technology with Chinese alternatives, describing this substitution pattern as appearing “forced.”

Despite export restrictions imposed by Ukraine’s Western partners on electronics potentially useful in missile production, Western-manufactured chips obtained through illegal channels continue appearing in Russian weapons and drone systems.

Ukrainian officials have consistently urged Western nations to strengthen enforcement mechanisms preventing electronic component shipments to Moscow.

Israeli military forces have pushed beyond Lebanon’s Litani River in an expanded ground operation against Hezbollah fighters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday during a border visit.

The advancement occurs while American military officials facilitate discussions between Israeli and Lebanese defense officials in Washington, working to implement a U.S.-mediated peace framework aimed at ending hostilities and dismantling the Iran-supported Hezbollah organization.

These Pentagon meetings also seek to strengthen an April 16 truce agreement that has struggled to stop border violence, as Israeli aircraft continue striking southern and eastern Lebanon while Hezbollah launches drone and rocket attacks against Israel.

Military officials reported this week they had widened ground operations beyond a buffer zone their forces have controlled since April 16. During Friday’s border inspection, Netanyahu announced troops had advanced further, crossing the Litani River that runs east-west approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) into southern Lebanon.

“Our forces have crossed the Litani and advanced to controlling positions,” Netanyahu told military personnel, according to statements from his office.

“We are operating in Beirut, in the Bekaa (Valley), across the entire width of the front, and are dealing Hezbollah a crushing blow.”

Lebanese security officials reported Israeli troops crossed the Litani near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah village Thursday before withdrawing to the river’s southern side later that day. Forces crossed again Friday, though sources described it as a limited advance at an eastern Litani position near the Israeli border.

The Lebanese conflict represents the deadliest expansion of the Iran war, displacing over 1.2 million Lebanese civilians through Israeli airstrikes and evacuation directives since March 2, when Hezbollah began attacking Israel to support Tehran.

Israeli bombardments have devastated Lebanon’s south, east, and capital Beirut since then, resulting in more than 3,200 deaths according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israel reports 23 soldiers and four civilians killed during the same timeframe.

Initially, Israel commanded residents south of the Litani River to evacuate. Thursday brought new evacuation orders for people south of the Zahrani River — located roughly 10 kilometers north of the Litani — as the military designated that area a combat zone.

Israeli military commander Eyal Zamir told northern command troops Friday they would continue targeting Hezbollah “launch squads” and their operators and leadership at all levels.

“Wherever we identify a threat, we will strike it,” he stated, according to military-released remarks.

At the Pentagon, Israeli and Lebanese military representatives met to examine ceasefire implementation. The two nations agreed May 15 to extend the truce by 45 days, with talks scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. (1200 GMT).

An Israeli source familiar with the discussions said the countries were not expected to address Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold where Israel claims it has largely avoided attacks due to American pressure.

A U.S. official confirmed the Pentagon talks proceeded as planned, stating: “The only path to lasting peace is through direct negotiations between the two sovereign governments.”

Israel and Lebanon have divided their American-facilitated talks into diplomatic and security components. Diplomatic sessions are planned for next week at the State Department.

JOHANNESBURG — An appeals court in South Africa heard arguments Friday in a contentious dispute over the final resting place of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu, whose body has remained unburied for nearly a year following his death.

The former Zambian leader, who served his country from 2015 to 2021, passed away at age 68 on June 5, 2025, in a South African medical facility due to an illness that was not publicly disclosed.

The delay in burial stems from an ongoing conflict between Lungu’s relatives and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who had been political adversaries for years.

The current Zambian president seeks to have Lungu’s remains brought back to Zambia for an official state ceremony. His administration secured a victory in August when the Pretoria High Court ordered that the body be released to Zambian diplomatic officials for transport home.

But Lungu’s relatives opposed any funeral arrangements that would involve Hichilema due to their longstanding political rivalry, preferring instead to lay him to rest in South Africa. They challenged the court decision before South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal.

During Friday’s proceedings in Bloemfontein, the family’s legal representative Tembeka Ngcukaitobi contended that Zambia’s request for a state burial lacked justification because Lungu had his presidential privileges stripped before his passing. He maintained that the deceased’s widow should have the final say in burial matters.

Representing the Zambian government, attorney Ben Stoop countered that both parties had previously reached an understanding allowing Hichilema to participate in funeral proceedings and welcome international guests, but the family later abandoned this arrangement.

The panel of five justices hearing the case raised concerns about the lack of clear written evidence showing Lungu specifically wanted to be interred in South Africa, despite the possibility that he would have opposed having his political successor oversee his funeral.

The court has not announced when it will issue its decision.

Hamas issued sharp criticism on Friday following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement that his nation would increase its territorial control in Gaza, calling the move a dangerous escalation that has also alarmed Palestinian residents.

Netanyahu revealed plans to grow Israel’s controlled territory from the current 53% established under an October ceasefire agreement to an initial 70%, though he provided no specific details or timeline for the expansion.

The Palestinian militant organization, whose October 7, 2023, assault on Israel sparked two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, characterized Netanyahu’s remarks as a strategy for ethnic cleansing and the forced relocation of Palestinians.

MAJOR DISPUTES POSTPONED

Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, stated that “Any attempt to impose a new reality of occupation in Gaza is null and illegitimate,” emphasizing that Netanyahu’s announcement “represents a dangerous escalation.”

Despite more than eight months of ceasefire and while global focus has shifted to the conflict in Iran, Gaza’s fundamental issues persist without resolution, marked by ongoing Israeli military actions, minimal humanitarian aid delivery, and the potential for renewed major violence.

Israeli forces have already increased their controlled territory in Gaza beyond the original 53% marked by a “yellow line” in the ceasefire agreement to approximately 64%, establishing restricted zones shown in maps distributed to humanitarian organizations.

Any additional reduction of available space for Gaza’s more than 2 million residents, who are predominantly housed in temporary tent encampments throughout the small Palestinian territory, threatens to worsen the already catastrophic living conditions.

Mohammed al-Shagra, 72, from Khan Younis, expressed his frustration: “Where do we go? To the sea? There is no space.”

The agreement negotiated last year by U.S. President Donald Trump created a Board of Peace to supervise the staged ceasefire implementation and received United Nations Security Council approval.

Nevertheless, the most challenging disagreements, including Hamas disarmament, complete Israeli military withdrawal, and the structure of Gaza’s future government, were deferred to later phases of the process. Board of Peace mediators are currently engaged in discussions with both parties regarding disarmament matters.

Both Israel and Hamas have consistently blamed each other for ceasefire violations. Israeli military operations in Gaza have resulted in over 900 Palestinian deaths since the truce began, while Palestinian militant activities have killed four Israeli soldiers.

Neither Israel’s military nor the prime minister’s office provided immediate responses to Reuters’ requests for additional information and commentary regarding Netanyahu’s announcement.

A Board of Peace representative declined to comment on Netanyahu’s statement. Foreign ministries from permanent U.N. Security Council members Britain and France did not immediately respond to comment requests.

A spokesperson for Germany’s foreign ministry expressed concern about Israeli intentions to seize additional Gaza territory and opposed any permanent partition of the Palestinian region.

RISK OF FURTHER VIOLENCE

With elections approaching this year and facing criticism over Israel’s inability to achieve strategic objectives in conflicts with Iran and Lebanon, Netanyahu may be attempting to strengthen his position with voters.

Max Rodenbeck, Israel-Palestine Project Director at International Crisis Group, explained: “He’s determined to look tough in front of the electorate and he’s blamed by his opponents for having fought this seven-front war, but having won none of the wars.”

Rodenbeck warned: “Unless there’s some sort of pushback from the Trump administration it really does risk a return to something very bloody,” noting other ways Israel has intensified pressure on Hamas, including continued aid limitations on Gaza and targeted strikes against Hamas leadership.

For Gaza’s population, where virtually all residents were forced to evacuate their homes during the war and most remain in temporary tents or shelters, the possibility of increased Israeli military pressure is deeply concerning.

Mohammed al-Jundi, a displaced resident in Gaza City, questioned: “We see no ceasefire or anything and they keep advancing beyond the yellow line. For how long will the world stay silent?”

In Israel, security advocates view renewed military pressure as the sole method to compel Hamas disarmament and secure a lasting agreement.

Kobi Michael, a researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and former strategic affairs ministry official, stated: “It looks as if we are taking a step towards another collision. But I believe this time it will be much shorter and maybe would open the path towards a new future.”

Romanian officials announced Friday that two civilians were hurt when a drone struck a southeastern Romanian city during Russia’s nighttime assault on neighboring Ukraine, an event that threatens to escalate tensions along NATO’s eastern border.

International leaders responded swiftly with condemnation and pledges of support:

ROMANIAN PRESIDENT NICUSOR DAN

“Romania is a NATO member state and will not accept, under any circumstances, that the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine be transferred to its citizens.

“The unprecedented nature of the event demands a firm, coordinated and proportionate response – at national, allied and international level.”

He later stated: “I want to thank our partners for their solidarity, in the EU and NATO; this … proves there is Euroatlantic solidarity and unity.”

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE

“NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory. We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones.

“Russia’s reckless behaviour is a danger to us all. They continue to target civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine. And last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border.”

OUTGOING ROMANIAN PRIME MINISTER ILIE BOLOJAN

“This situation is unacceptable and represents a new violation of airspace, generated by the irresponsible and unjustified continuation of the war waged by Russia in Ukraine.”

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN

“Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line.

“A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians. On EU territory.

“We stand in full solidarity with Romania and its people.”

GERMAN CHANCELLOR FRIEDRICH MERZ

“Russia’s reckless drone incursion into Romania shows once again Russia’s willingness to escalate. Germany stands with our NATO Allies. The incident once again underscores the need for strong NATO posture on the Eastern flank. We are ready to defend every inch of Allied territory.”

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY

“We are ready to support Romania in whatever way is necessary under these circumstances. We count on the European Union’s new sanctions measures against Russia to be truly strong and to make Russia feel that its strikes mean significant losses for Russia itself.”

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO MATTHEW WHITAKER

“We stand with our NATO Ally Romania and condemn this reckless incursion on its territory. Our thoughts are with the injured in Galati. We will defend every inch of NATO territory.”

UK FOREIGN MINISTER YVETTE COOPER

“Russia’s violation of NATO airspace, hitting a residential building in Romania, is extremely dangerous and reckless.”

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY

“Another escalation in Russia’s unjust war of aggression against Ukraine. This incident is a serious violation of Romanian airspace and international law by Russia.”

EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF KAJA KALLAS

“Russia has long ago stopped respecting borders. Moscow cannot be allowed to breach European airspace with impunity.”

POLISH PRESIDENT KAROL NAWROCKI

“I stand in solidarity with President Nicusor Dan and the entire Romanian nation. What happened is another installment of the hybrid war in which NATO’s eastern flank countries are participating.”

FRENCH MINISTER FOR EUROPEAN AFFAIRS BENJAMIN HADDAD

“Russia has not only attacked Ukraine, but also threatened the European security architecture.”

MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT MAIA SANDU

“I strongly condemn Russian drones striking Romanians in their homes. This is grave.

“Russia is a danger to all and must be stopped.”

ESTONIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARGUS TSAHKNA

“It is clear that NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, especially air defence, must be strengthened.”

SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER ROBERT FICO

“I express my full solidarity with the Romanian government, call for restraint in making inflammatory statements, and once again urge the immediate opening of dialogue between the European Union and the Russian Federation.”

CZECH PRIME MINISTER ANDREJ BABIS

“The Czech Republic stands firmly with our alliance partners and equally condemns the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.”

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI

“This is a very serious act, demonstrating how this war of aggression spares no one, continuing to brutally target innocent civilians, ignoring every limit, and endangering European security.”

POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER RADOSLAW SIKORSKI

“Regardless of whether it was on purpose or the result of ineptitude, Russia is still dangerous and we must defend ourselves against it.”

BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MAXIME PREVOT

“A weapon of war hitting an apartment building in an EU member state and NATO ally is a dangerous escalation that concerns us all.”

HUNGARIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ANITA ORBAN

“Yesterday’s Russian drone attack once again underlines that Europe and NATO’s unity, strength and deterrence are more important than ever.”

The United Nations has included Israel and Russia on its official blacklist of nations suspected of sexual violence in conflict areas, according to a Friday announcement that sparked Israel’s foreign ministry to declare it would cut all connections with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The Secretary-General’s yearly report to the UN Security Council regarding conflict-related sexual violence advances beyond the previous year’s action, when Guterres warned Israel and Russia they might be included on the roster of parties “credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence.”

The current report takes that step and includes disturbing accounts of violations by Israeli and Russian military and security personnel.

Hamas, Israel’s primary adversary whose October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel sparked the Gaza conflict, was previously included on the blacklist. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon posted on X Thursday that placing Israel alongside the militant organization represented a “new low.”

“This is a political decision! Disconnected from the facts and reality!” Danon stated in another message from the Israeli UN mission, which noted he learned of the decision during a telephone conversation with Guterres.

Russia’s UN mission has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Inclusion on the roster does not automatically trigger specific penalties like sanctions, though public identification and condemnation can inflict considerable reputational harm on the nations involved. Countries repeatedly listed face exclusion from UN peacekeeping missions.

Danon stated Israel had provided comprehensive responses to every accusation and had extended invitations for UN officials to visit and assess the circumstances, but they declined to do so.

“Given that Antonio Guterres has chosen to violate every standard of honesty, integrity and professionalism, Israel has decided to sever all ties with the Secretary-General’s Office and will wait until a new UN Secretary-General is appointed,” the ministry announced on X.

A replacement UN secretary-general is scheduled to be selected later this year.

When questioned about Danon’s statements during a routine briefing Thursday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric responded: “I can tell you from the Secretary-General’s point of view, his door remains open to Israeli representatives, as to the other 192 member states and the two observer states.”

This year’s document stated that in 2025, “the United Nations verified multiple incidents of conflict-related sexual violence, including as a form of torture, inflicted against 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”

The report indicated 13 incidents happened in 2025, with 18 occurring in 2023 and 2024.

“Violations consisted of rape, including with objects, gang rape, attempted rape, physical violence to the genitals, instances of targeted shooting of the genitals, touching of breasts and genitals, strip and cavity searches conducted without apparent security justification, forced nudity and threats of rape,” the document detailed.

“Rape and gang rape, in some cases repeated, were perpetrated against nine victims, the majority from Gaza,” it continued, noting that perpetrators included Israeli military and security personnel and occurred mainly during detention and questioning across multiple locations, including military facilities, checkpoints, and during Israeli operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The report noted that victims included journalists and human rights advocates, and that some violations were recorded on video or in photographs, including one rape incident.

The document further stated that sexual violence against female prisoners primarily involved rape threats, forced nakedness, unwanted contact, and humiliating strip searches without justification, while men and boys experienced rape, attempted rape, and genital violence.

This led to five male victims experiencing severe rectal bleeding or swelling lasting days or weeks, according to the report.

Regarding Russia, the document stated the UN human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine had confirmed 310 instances of conflict-related sexual violence committed by Russian military and security forces.

These cases, involving rape, gang rape, genital mutilation, electric shocks, and genital beatings, affected 280 men, 26 women, and four girls, the report noted.

WASHINGTON — Doubts emerged Friday regarding a proposed agreement between the United States and Iran to prolong their current ceasefire arrangement, with questions remaining about presidential backing and Iranian officials emphasizing military power over diplomatic discussions.

Vice President JD Vance announced Thursday that the two nations had reached a preliminary understanding. However, he noted that negotiators were still working through “a couple of language points” and could not confirm whether President Trump would endorse the arrangement.

Speaking on X Friday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated his nation has “no trust in guarantees or words,” only actions, declaring “no step will be taken before the other side acts.”

“We do not gain concessions through talks, but through missiles. In negotiations, we only make them understand that,” Qalibaf posted, having participated in this week’s negotiations in Qatar. He continued: “The winner of any agreement is the one who is better prepared for war the day after it is signed.”

A U.S. official with knowledge of the discussions revealed the preliminary deal would extend the current ceasefire in the three-month conflict by 60 days while launching fresh discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

The official, speaking anonymously without authorization for public comment, said early negotiations during the 60-day extension would address Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The Islamic Republic currently possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency — just steps away from the 90% weapons-grade threshold.

Vance explained Thursday evening that negotiators were discussing “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment.” The vice president indicated talks aimed to establish broad principles regarding uranium in the preliminary agreement, with detailed terms to follow in subsequent negotiations.

While Trump’s administration initially stated preventing Iranian nuclear weapons development as a primary goal, Vance characterized the conflict’s achievements in more modest terms.

“We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term,” Vance stated. “That’s a very very good thing for the American people.”

Iran, which maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes, has not publicly agreed to surrender its uranium reserves. The stockpile is reportedly stored beneath three nuclear facilities severely damaged in U.S. bombing campaigns last year.

Nuclear experts suggest Iran might accept China or Russia, both Tehran allies, as potential third parties to secure the enriched uranium. However, Trump expressed Wednesday he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with such arrangements.

The draft agreement specifies Iran cannot levy fees on Strait of Hormuz passage and must clear all mines from the crucial shipping lane within 30 days, according to the anonymous official.

Throughout the conflict, Iran has essentially blocked the strait, previously handling roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas trade. This closure has driven worldwide energy prices dramatically higher.

Iran reports allowing limited commercial traffic — approximately two dozen vessels daily recently, compared to over 100 daily before hostilities began. The Islamic Republic has also imposed transit fees on certain ships and created an official oversight agency this month, prompting new U.S. sanctions this week.

The proposed agreement would see America gradually end its naval blockade of Iranian ports while easing sanctions to permit increased Iranian oil sales.

Despite deal discussions, the U.S. Treasury Department added fresh sanctions targeting the Iranian military’s petroleum sales division. These new measures, initially reported by The Associated Press, continue the Trump administration’s economic pressure strategy against the Islamic Republic.

Iran demands any agreement include cessation of Israel’s military actions in Lebanon against Iranian-supported Hezbollah forces. Lebanese tensions escalated Thursday as Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and the coastal city of Tyre, killing at least 14 people across southern regions.

Since the ceasefire implementation roughly seven weeks ago, both nations have exchanged attacks and mutual accusations of violations. However, they have avoided returning to full combat while maintaining diplomatic efforts.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar touched down in Washington Friday to hold discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding recent progress in Iran peace negotiations.

Initial peace discussions held in Pakistan ended without reaching a formal agreement, though Reuters reported Thursday that sources indicated Tehran and Washington had achieved a preliminary understanding to extend an April ceasefire and remove shipping limitations in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump has not yet given his approval to the arrangement, and Iran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed Friday that no final deal has been completed, noting recent modifications to the terms.

The State Department’s official schedule shows Dar will sit down with Rubio at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT). Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed Dar’s Washington arrival and indicated he plans to return home the same day.

Though Dar also serves as deputy prime minister, Pakistan’s mediation efforts to resolve the Iran conflict have been spearheaded by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and created worldwide economic hardship through rising energy costs.

Trump, who has commended Munir’s efforts, has consistently stated since mid-March that a war resolution appears imminent, despite limited visible progress between Washington and Tehran toward mutual understanding.

Iran continues demanding sanctions removal, asset unfreezing, and U.S. military withdrawal from the region, while the United States insists Iran must dismantle its nuclear program, which Tehran maintains serves peaceful objectives.

The most pressing concern involves reopening traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that previously handled one-fifth of worldwide oil and gas shipments before hostilities began.

MarineTraffic data showed no oil tankers passed through the strait during the previous 24 hours, though one Chinese-flagged vehicle carrier made the crossing. The data only tracks vessels actively transmitting their locations as of 1200 GMT Friday.

Multiple supertankers and liquefied natural gas carriers departed earlier this week.

Iranian state television reported 24 vessels navigated the strait within the past day, emphasizing that no ships may pass without authorization from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Pakistan previously announced that Dar’s Washington discussions with Rubio would center on bilateral relationships and “Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy.”

Vietnam’s highest-ranking official delivered a stark warning about worldwide instability during Friday’s opening of a major Asian defense conference in Singapore.

To Lam, who serves as Vietnam’s top leader, addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue by identifying three significant threats facing nations globally. According to Lam, these include the weakening of international rules and legal frameworks, developmental challenges such as reduced economic growth and environmental issues, and deteriorating trust between countries.

“The three crises confronting our world today are not inevitable realities that we are bound to accept,” Lam stated during his address. He advocated for strengthening international legal systems, establishing inclusive and sustainable economic growth mechanisms, and promoting dialogue and openness between nations.

The annual Singapore-based conference, which continues through Sunday, attracts defense officials, military leaders, intelligence directors, diplomatic personnel, policy experts, and defense industry representatives from across the globe.

Among those present were U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defense leaders from Australia, Britain, France, Japan, and additional countries. However, China’s defense minister was notably absent, marking the second consecutive year without Chinese ministerial participation.

Australia’s defense chief commented that China’s minimal representation at the gathering – sending only military academics and researchers rather than senior officials – represented a missed chance for meaningful international engagement.

This keynote address represents one of the most significant international appearances by a leader from the typically reserved Southeast Asian nation.

Having been appointed to the presidency last month while maintaining his position as head of the Communist Party, Lam now holds more authority than any Vietnamese leader in recent decades, positioning him for enhanced diplomatic engagement on the world stage.

American and Iranian officials worked out a preliminary agreement Thursday to prolong their current ceasefire by 60 days while launching fresh discussions about Iran’s nuclear program, a U.S. official with knowledge of the negotiations reported. Iranian officials have not yet verified any agreement. Vice President JD Vance confirmed Thursday night that negotiators had reached a preliminary deal, though he noted it remains uncertain whether President Donald Trump will give his approval.

In other developments, former Attorney General Pam Bondi will appear before House lawmakers examining Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse cases, a highly anticipated testimony that brings renewed attention to the administration’s mishandled release of Epstein case documents.

Here are the latest developments:

The former attorney general is making her appearance before House lawmakers as they examine how the federal government has managed the investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.

Bondi lost her position as attorney general last month, but in her earlier congressional testimony she has shown defiance when facing lawmakers’ inquiries about how the Department of Justice managed the release of Epstein case documents. She is also joined today by Department of Justice officials — a setup Democrats have condemned.

Multiple survivors of Epstein’s abuse also gathered outside the House office room where the interview is taking place in private. They urged the committee chair, Republican Rep. James Comer, to thoroughly question Bondi.

“We want justice for the survivors, we do,” Comer told them.

Democrats may find themselves in a more celebratory spirit than typical as they convene Friday in South Carolina, a state controlled almost completely by Republicans.

The party is organizing events just days after the GOP-controlled state Senate defeated an effort supported by President Donald Trump to redraw House district boundaries to benefit Republicans this fall. That initiative was designed to remove longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, the state’s only congressional Democrat and a party powerbroker who has served since 1993.

Friday’s events begin with the Blue Palmetto Dinner, an annual party fundraiser that usually highlights potential presidential candidates and the party’s national leaders. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will serve as the main speaker.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is appearing before House lawmakers examining Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse cases, a highly anticipated testimony that brings renewed attention to the administration’s mishandled release of Epstein case documents.

Bondi showed defiance in earlier public testimony when lawmakers confronted her about the Epstein investigation. It remains uncertain whether she will take the same stance Friday, given that she no longer leads the Justice Department. The meeting will occur in private.

The recorded interview will provide lawmakers an opportunity to seek information about the Trump administration’s management of the Epstein documents and other related issues, including the prison sentence of his former girlfriend and associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Justice Department transferred Maxwell to a prison camp in Texas last August.

“I think she absolutely could clear up many missing pieces if she wanted to,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. “Now it’s a question of whether or not she is willing to be transparent.”

A federal judge has refused to stop Trump’s executive order establishing a federal voter list and restricting mail voting, allowing for potential major changes in how American elections are conducted shortly before this year’s midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, late Wednesday dismissed the request by Democrats and civil rights groups that had contended Trump’s order would likely be ruled unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, hold the authority to establish election rules. Nichols sided with the Republican Trump administration’s argument that it was premature to block the order since it has not yet been put into effect.

Nichols’ decision keeps the door open for additional challenges when the Trump administration begins to implement the president’s directive. A separate lawsuit attempting to block the executive order is proceeding in Boston. Regardless of how quickly the administration acts, no voting changes are anticipated during primary elections, which continue into next month.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Thursday that his department has completed the design for a $250 bill featuring Trump, expecting the approval of stalled legislation in Congress to place the president on a new denomination of legal tender.

Bessent stated at the White House that authorizing the new currency will depend on lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but that “we’ve created the bill” because “we have to be prepared.”

The secretary minimized the notion that the administration is promoting the matter, despite Trump’s tendency for incorporating his name and image throughout the nation’s capital and into the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. However, he also maintained there is nothing improper about Trump’s image being part of the significant national celebration.

The chief federal prosecutor in Chicago rejected Thursday evening that his office had launched an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who has stated Trump sexually assaulted her 30 years ago, hours after several news organizations reported that the Justice Department was investigating whether she had lied during civil litigation against Trump.

The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing unnamed sources, reported that the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago had launched an investigation into Carroll.

But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, released a statement roughly 24 hours after the initial report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”

A person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, initially told the AP on Thursday morning that investigators were focused on Carroll but later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund her case.

American and Iranian officials worked out a preliminary agreement Thursday to prolong their current ceasefire in the 3-month-old war by 60 days while launching fresh discussions about Iran’s nuclear program, a U.S. official with knowledge of the negotiations reported.

Iranian officials have not yet verified any agreement. Vice President JD Vance confirmed Thursday night that negotiators had reached a preliminary deal, though he noted it remains uncertain whether Trump will give his approval.

“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign,” Vance told reporters.

He added: “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

The developing memorandum of understanding emerged as the fragile ceasefire in the war between the U.S. and Iran seemed to be weakening. The most recent escalation in fighting occurred less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.

Poland’s president announced Friday his intention to have a state advisory body consider removing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s highest Polish decoration following Ukraine’s controversial decision to honor nationalist fighters connected to wartime atrocities against Poles.

The diplomatic tension arose after Zelenskiy signed an order recognizing a Ukrainian special forces unit’s battlefield contributions against Russian forces by designating it with the name of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known as UPA.

While Poland has remained one of Ukraine’s strongest allies throughout Russia’s ongoing invasion, this particular move has sparked outrage due to the UPA’s dark historical legacy. The nationalist group participated in the Volhynia massacres between 1943 and 1945, during which Polish authorities say approximately 100,000 Polish civilians were killed by Ukrainian nationalists. The violence also resulted in thousands of Ukrainian deaths through retaliatory attacks.

“Glorifying the UPA has provided Russian propaganda with ample oxygen for disinformation,” Nawrocki told reporters in Warsaw on Friday.

The president emphasized that backing Ukraine against Russian aggression remains a crucial strategic objective for Poland. However, he announced that the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle, the advisory council responsible for overseeing Poland’s most prestigious and historic state award, will convene on June 8.

“I proposed that one of the items on the agenda be the revocation of President Zelenskiy’s Order of the White Eagle,” he stated, noting that “certain mechanisms” including a Chapter meeting were required before making any final determination.

Nawrocki, a conservative nationalist who has drawn inspiration from U.S. President Donald Trump, has appealed to growing fatigue among some Polish citizens regarding the substantial Ukrainian refugee population in their country. During his electoral campaign, he pledged to prioritize “Poles first.”

Poland’s foreign ministry expressed its disapproval on social media Friday, stating that redesignating the Ukrainian military unit after the UPA “wounds the memory of the victims of that organisation and strikes at the dialogue between our nations.”

When asked about Nawrocki’s statements, a representative for the Ukrainian presidency chose not to provide direct commentary.

“We’re just thankful to Poland for all the support and we hope that our independence, and Poland’s, will remain strong despite all the Russian attempts to kill it,” the spokesperson said.

For many Ukrainians, the UPA represents heroic resistance fighters who battled both Soviet and Nazi occupying forces, serving as symbols of their nation’s struggle for independence from Moscow’s control.

Zelenskiy was awarded the Order of the White Eagle in 2023 by former President Andrzej Duda in acknowledgment of his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, promote democracy, maintain peace and security across Europe, and demonstrate “steadfastness in defending inalienable human rights.”

A Russian unmanned aircraft involved in nighttime strikes against Ukraine struck an apartment complex in eastern Romania, wounding two civilians in the NATO alliance nation, according to Romanian officials who expressed growing alarm that the four-year conflict might expand beyond Ukraine’s boundaries.

Following the incident in Galati, Romanian authorities requested expedited delivery of anti-drone technology from the military alliance, with the Foreign Ministry describing the aircraft’s path as a grave breach of international law.

This event represents the most recent in a series of unmanned aircraft episodes involving both Russian and Ukrainian drones that have troubled NATO member nations and heightened alliance tensions, prompting sharp criticism from Romania’s partners.

Gen. Gheorghe Maxim, serving as interim commander for Romania’s military joint staff, stated during Friday’s news briefing that the occurrence “is not an attack from Russia against Romania,” while noting that “Romanians should understand that Russia is a threat to the security of the countries in the area.”

Emergency responders and law enforcement arrived at the location in Galati, which sits along the Danube River close to Ukraine and Moldova’s borders.

Ukraine’s air force reported destroying 217 unmanned aircraft during Friday’s overnight period. Russia launched a total assault using 232 drones plus one ballistic missile, with strikes documented across 14 regions, military officials stated.

Romanian Defense Ministry officials confirmed radar systems monitored the drone’s movement through national airspace before it struck a building rooftop in Galati. The collision sparked a blaze, causing minor wounds to two individuals while prompting evacuations of additional residents.

Romania Describes Most Severe Incident Yet

Though Romania has previously discovered drone debris within its borders on numerous occasions since fighting began in 2022, including earlier this year in Galati during April, no injuries had occurred in previous incidents where most aircraft landed in unpopulated regions.

Responding to this latest breach, Romanian President Nicusor Dan assembled the NATO member’s highest defense council for Friday discussions regarding what he termed “the worst incident to hit the national territory” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, placing blame directly on Russia.

“We will have proportional measures in relation to the Russian Federation. … There is no ambiguity about the author and the cause of this assault,” Dan posted on Facebook.

The president added his concern for wounded individuals, families and residents “who experienced terrible moments in their own homes.”

Romanian forces deployed two F-16 fighter aircraft and one helicopter with authorization to engage targets, while emergency notifications reached residents in affected zones.

Airspace breaches have grown so frequent in Romania that legislators passed laws last year permitting military forces to destroy incoming drones as a final option. However, Romania has maintained restraint in shooting down wayward aircraft due to risks posed to populated communities.

Russia continues employing long-distance ballistic weapons and drones to target Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure and attack urban areas, while Ukraine prepares for additional heavy bombardments.

This latest episode compounds recent drone-related challenges facing Europe. During recent months, Ukrainian drones have struck a power facility smokestack in Estonia, damaged empty fuel storage in Latvia and been destroyed by Romanian fighter jets operating from Lithuania. Ukrainian leaders apologized, explaining the aircraft targeted military installations inside Russia but were diverted by Russian electronic interference.

Since hostilities commenced in 2022, Poland, Croatia, Romania and non-NATO nation Moldova have documented airspace violations and recovered drone wreckage on their soil.

These repeated airspace intrusions have raised concerns about air defense readiness along NATO’s eastern border.

International Partners Condemn Violation

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed speaking with Romania’s president and conveying the organization’s “absolute solidarity” with its partner.

Writing on X, Rutte stated he “affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory. We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones.”

NATO partners are discussing the violation informally, though no formal session was scheduled for Friday. Romania may request official NATO consultations if it believes its territory or safety faces threats.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the incident as evidence that Russia “has crossed yet another line.” She indicated the EU would continue strengthening eastern border security while actively preparing additional sanctions against Russia, marking the 21st package to date.

“A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians,” von der Leyen posted on social media. “On EU territory.”

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attributed increased risk of such “serious incidents” to “Putin’s increasing nervousness, driven by military setbacks.”

Ukrainian Leader Seeks More Defense Systems

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated Thursday he was urging the United States to supply additional Patriot air defense systems capable of countering Russian strikes.

He cautioned that shipments to Ukraine are dangerously inadequate as the Iran war redirects and reduces U.S. inventory. “I believe (the U.S.) must act quicker. We are being very persistent,” Zelenskyy informed reporters while visiting Sweden.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned the U.N. Security Council that escalating and intensifying attacks threaten to spiral beyond control, creating “unknown and unintended consequences.” He noted more civilians died during this year’s first four months than during equivalent periods in the previous three years.

Guterres advocated for increased diplomacy, immediate de-escalation and “a full and unconditional ceasefire.”

Negotiators from America and Iran have struck a preliminary agreement to extend their current ceasefire by 60 days while launching fresh discussions about Iran’s nuclear program, a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation reported Thursday.

Iran has not yet publicly confirmed any agreement. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Thursday evening that negotiators had reached a preliminary deal, though he expressed uncertainty about whether President Donald Trump would give his approval.

“It’s hard to say exactly when or if the president’s going to sign,” Vance told reporters.

He added: “We’re going back and forth on a couple of language points.”

The developing memorandum of understanding emerged as the delicate ceasefire in the 3-month conflict between America and Iran showed signs of strain. Fighting escalated less than 24 hours earlier when Kuwait shot down missiles launched from Iran, U.S. Central Command reported.

The memorandum specifies that Iran cannot charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz and must clear all mines from the critical waterway within 30 days, the official said, speaking anonymously because they lacked authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Throughout the conflict, Iran has effectively blocked the strait, which previously carried approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas trade. The blockade has caused oil prices to surge worldwide. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Thursday during a news briefing that oil costs could “come down very quickly” after a deal is completed.

Iran claims it has permitted some commercial ships to pass — roughly two dozen daily in recent days, compared to over 100 daily before the conflict — but the Islamic Republic has also imposed fees on at least some vessels. The country established a formal oversight agency earlier this month, prompting fresh U.S. sanctions this week.

According to the preliminary agreement, America would slowly remove its naval blockade of Iranian ports and ease sanctions, permitting Iran to increase oil sales.

Even as news of the potential agreement surfaced, the U.S. Treasury Department announced additional sanctions targeting the Iranian military’s oil sales division. The new restrictions, initially reported by The Associated Press, continue the Trump administration’s economic pressure strategy against the Islamic Republic.

The news outlet Axios first reported details of the preliminary agreement.

A primary topic for negotiation during the 60-day ceasefire will be the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, the first official indicated. The Islamic Republic possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just one technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports.

Vance indicated Thursday evening that negotiators were working to establish broad terms regarding the highly enriched uranium in the preliminary agreement, with specific details to be resolved in subsequent talks.

Vance said the ongoing discussions involved “a couple of issues on the nuclear stuff, the highly enriched stockpile, and also the question of enrichment.”

Iran has not publicly agreed to surrender the stockpile. The material is reportedly stored beneath three nuclear facilities that sustained significant damage from U.S. airstrikes last year.

Nuclear experts suggest Iran might accept China or Russia, both maintaining close ties with Tehran, as potential third parties to secure the enriched uranium. However, Trump stated Wednesday that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with such an arrangement.

While Trump and his administration declared from the conflict’s beginning that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was a primary goal, Vance described the war’s achievements in more measured terms.

“We’re in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president but over the long term,” Vance said. “That’s a very very good thing for the American people.”

Iran, which has consistently claimed its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, has demanded that any agreement must include ending Israel’s military operations in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. Tensions escalated Thursday in Lebanon as Israel launched an airstrike on a southern Beirut suburb and conducted additional strikes in the southern coastal city of Tyre. At least 14 people died across the country’s southern region.

Kuwait announced that its air-defense systems shot down incoming missiles and drones Thursday, without specifying targets. Iran claimed it had responded to earlier strikes during the week by attacking a U.S. base in an unnamed Gulf state.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry denounced Iran for what it termed “blatant aggression,” while U.S. Central Command labeled the attack on one of America’s key Persian Gulf allies an “egregious ceasefire violation.” Kuwait faced repeated attacks from Iran and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq before the April ceasefire took effect.

This exchange occurred after U.S. officials reported late Wednesday that American forces conducted additional strikes against Iran, destroying four one-way attack drones that threatened the strait area and hitting an Iranian ground-control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch a fifth drone.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard confirmed the attack near Bandar Abbas International Airport and announced through the state-run IRNA news agency that it launched a retaliatory strike on the air base responsible for the assaults. The Revolutionary Guard did not identify whether the response targeted Kuwait, which hosts U.S. Army Central’s forward headquarters, air bases and a naval facility.

On Monday, America conducted what the Pentagon described as “self-defense” strikes against missile launch sites and minelaying boats in southern Iran.

Despite exchanging strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations, Washington and Tehran have avoided returning to full-scale warfare and continue negotiations.

Vance noted that “Ceasefires are always a little messy” but it’s “very much holding.”

Later Thursday, Iranian defenses destroyed “a hostile aircraft” near the southern city of Jam, the area’s governor, Masood Tangestani, told state broadcaster IRIB. Additional details were not immediately available.

The former leader of China’s renowned Shaolin Temple has been sentenced to nearly a quarter-century behind bars on corruption charges, according to Chinese state media reports released Friday.

Shi Yongxin, who is 60 years old, received the 24-year prison term after being convicted of embezzlement and bribery. He had been formally charged this past March following an investigation that began in July of last year.

The conviction came from a court located in Henan province in central China. Court officials determined that Shi had misused his position of authority to steal funds, misappropriate money, and engage in bribery schemes that totaled approximately 300 million yuan, which equals about $44.33 million in U.S. currency.

The criminal activity spanned almost thirty years, according to the court’s findings.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Eight female students have been taken into custody by Kenyan authorities on suspicion of deliberately setting a fatal dormitory fire, officials announced Friday. The Thursday morning blaze at Utumishi Girls School in central Kenya claimed the lives of 16 children and left 79 others with injuries.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, a division of Kenya’s national police force, the detained students are suspected of orchestrating and executing the arson attack at the boarding facility. Investigators are still working to uncover what motivated the deadly incident.

Law enforcement officials spent all of Thursday interviewing 30 students from the school. Parents were instructed to return home without their daughters and come back Friday morning. However, families found themselves waiting without clear answers about when the remaining students would be allowed to leave.

DCI spokesperson John Marete detailed the ongoing investigation in an official statement: “Investigators have conducted extensive interviews with students, teaching staff, and other witnesses, while forensic teams carry out a detailed review of available CCTV footage.”

Parents gathered at the school Friday morning expressed frustration over the lack of communication from authorities. One mother, speaking anonymously due to concerns about potential retaliation against her daughter, told The Associated Press: “We have not even been told about the eight that police have arrested. We are just here and no one is giving us any information.”

Officials have not yet revealed what may have prompted the suspected arson. Marete explained that the investigation continues: “Detectives continue to record statements and analyze all available evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events, establish the full circumstances of the incident, and determine the motive.”

The 16 victims were transported to a government hospital morgue Thursday, where DNA analysis is being conducted to confirm their identities.

School fires have become a significant safety concern for educational authorities across East Africa. Many facilities suffer from overcrowded classrooms and dormitories while lacking proper firefighting equipment. These incidents are often linked to electrical problems or students deliberately setting fires due to disciplinary conflicts.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar is scheduled to hold his inaugural meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday in Brussels, as he works to release billions of euros in EU funding that was suspended due to his predecessor’s undermining of democratic institutions.

Magyar’s stunning electoral victory in April brought an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure, with Magyar campaigning partly on promises to rebuild relationships with the European Union. Orbán had previously attacked von der Leyen and other EU officials while systematically weakening Hungary’s democratic safeguards.

The EU suspended billions in financial assistance to Budapest in 2022 due to Orbán’s actions and worries about government corruption and attacks on judicial independence. The commission determined a year later that Hungary had implemented adequate reforms to justify releasing approximately 10.2 billion euros ($12.1 billion).

Following Magyar’s Tisza party securing a super-majority in parliament that will allow for rapid and comprehensive reforms, officials in both Brussels and Budapest have made releasing the funds a top priority to help revive Hungary’s struggling economy.

The frozen money consists of 10 billion euros in COVID recovery assistance and 6.3 billion euros in cohesion funding meant to support weaker EU economies. Officials are focusing first on releasing the COVID funds since they expire in August.

Magyar has stated his administration is implementing essential reforms including restoring judicial independence, protecting academic and media freedoms, and launching comprehensive anti-corruption initiatives to regain access to the funding.

The Hungarian leader has expressed confidence about reaching a deal in Brussels. In a Friday social media message, he announced his upcoming meeting with von der Leyen, writing that “we will reach a political agreement on the hundreds of billions of (Hungarian) forints in EU funding allocated to our country.”

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine anti-corruption court issued an arrest warrant Friday for a sitting senator accused of accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks from a flood control project, marking another scandal affecting the nation’s Senate.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada turned himself in and posted bail at the Sandiganbayan court, which will allow him to stay out of custody as his case moves forward.

The court prohibited Estrada from traveling outside the country as he faces the first of two corruption charges related to irregularities in the flood control project.

A second arrest warrant for a non-bailable charge is anticipated to be issued soon, according to top anti-graft prosecutor Jesus Crispin Remulla, who spoke to The Associated Press.

The 63-year-old Estrada has vigorously rejected accusations primarily made by a former government public works engineer claiming he accepted over 570 million pesos ($9.3 million) in illegal payments.

“I intend to avail myself of every lawful means to defend myself and clear my name,” Estrada said.

The senator previously worked as an actor, following in the footsteps of his father, former President Joseph Estrada. Both men have faced detention on separate corruption-related charges in the past.

Multiple other senators and House of Representatives members have been connected to the flood control irregularities in the impoverished Asian island nation, which faces extreme vulnerability to fatal floods and typhoons.

A different senator, Ronald dela Rosa, has remained in hiding after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity.

Dela Rosa previously served as national police chief and implemented a harsh anti-drug campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte that resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily among minor suspects. The extraordinarily high death toll concerned Western nations.

Duterte, who left office in 2022 following his turbulent six-year presidency, was arrested last year on ICC orders and transported to the Netherlands, where he remains detained and will stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity beginning in November related to some of the killings.

Both Duterte and dela Rosa have rejected any wrongdoing, though Duterte had regularly threatened drug suspects with death.

Dela Rosa has been missing from the Senate since November due to arrest concerns. On May 11, he unexpectedly returned to assist an ally, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, in securing the Senate presidency with a narrow 13-vote majority in the 24-member body.

Dela Rosa rushed to the Senate floor after government agents attempted to apprehend him. He was placed under the Senate’s protective custody but escaped two days later when the chamber’s security chief and two assistants opened fire after spotting government agents in a nearby building.

The multiple gunshots caused no injuries but created pandemonium in the Senate that police investigators believe may have given dela Rosa an opportunity to flee.

Estrada, dela Rosa and Cayetano are supporters of Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives in an overwhelming May 11 vote over criminal accusations including unexplained wealth and threatening to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and a former House speaker.

The vice president, who has declared her intention to run for president in 2028, denies the charges but has not provided detailed responses.

Despite the ongoing Senate crises, the chamber has assembled as an impeachment court for the vice president’s trial, which may begin in July.

Colombian citizens will cast their ballots Sunday in a presidential election that reflects sharp divisions over the country’s direction on peace negotiations and economic policies.

The election pits those who want to continue the current leftist administration’s approach against voters seeking change focused on security improvements and economic expansion.

Ivan Cepeda, representing the leftist Historic Pact coalition, has maintained a polling advantage based on his promises to expand President Gustavo Petro’s social programs and continue peace negotiations with illegal armed groups to resolve the nation’s six-decade internal conflict. However, political observers expect he will face significant challenges in any potential runoff election.

The 63-year-old philosopher, who has served as a congressman since 2010, wants to implement tax reforms that would expand the tax base, impose wealth taxes and eliminate exemptions for large companies to pay for social spending. He has indicated willingness to consider constitutional rewrites proposed by the left.

Cepeda’s father, a communist leader, was murdered in a 1994 paramilitary attack. He now faces opposition from a fractured right wing led by independent businessman Abelardo De La Espriella and Senator Paloma Valencia, who has backing from former President Alvaro Uribe.

De La Espriella, a 47-year-old political newcomer whose followers refer to him as “The Tiger,” has built his campaign around security issues, reducing government size and economic revival. His platform calls for aggressive action against crime, drug trafficking and illegal armed groups, along with military strengthening and construction of mega-prisons. He wants to reduce taxes and revitalize the mining and oil industries.

Valencia, 48, works as a lawyer and represents the right-wing Democratic Center party. She has similarly focused on security and economic recovery themes. She promises to fight illegal armed groups, halt Petro’s peace negotiation efforts, reduce corporate taxes to increase employment and pursue healthcare, justice and pension reforms.

Centrist contenders, including former Antioquia Governor Sergio Fajardo and former Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez, have performed poorly in polling compared to past elections.

Polling data indicates no candidate will likely receive more than 50% of Sunday’s vote, which would send the top two vote-getters to a runoff election on June 21.

The eventual winner will confront significant obstacles, including stabilizing government finances in Latin America’s fourth-largest economy, reducing poverty levels, controlling violence related to the internal conflict, and meeting social needs.

Over 41 million Colombians can participate in voting that begins at 8 a.m. local time (1300 GMT) and ends eight hours later.

The ongoing conflict and widespread displacement in Gaza has triggered a significant surge in child marriages, with families in desperate circumstances arranging marriages for daughters as young as 13 years old, seeking to provide them with safety and economic stability.

The Associated Press conducted interviews with six young girls in Gaza, ages 13 to 16, who entered into marriages, along with their families. Among these girls, two reported experiencing repeated sexual assault and severe physical violence. Four had already given birth and described high-risk pregnancies, while three experienced at least one pregnancy loss.

Government statistics reveal an uptick in underage marriages, reversing a downward trend that had been occurring prior to the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the current conflict, which is now temporarily halted by an unstable ceasefire.

Every parent interviewed by the Associated Press stated that without the war’s circumstances, they would never have considered arranging such early marriages for their children.

The report highlights key findings from these interviews and data analysis.

One mother, identified only as Majda, was interviewed while residing in a deteriorated tent following the deaths of her spouse and oldest son in military strikes. The vast majority of Gaza’s residents have been forced to evacuate their homes, with hundreds of thousands now living in overcrowded, unsanitary temporary camps offering minimal security or privacy, depending on charitable organizations for sustenance.

Facing extreme poverty and overwhelmed by loss, Majda arranged marriages for her daughters, ages 13 and 14, to two brothers in their twenties.

“I thought I was protecting them,” she said. “Fear was slaughtering me.”

Both daughters reported that their spouses sexually assaulted them and that their new families physically abused them. The younger daughter experienced two pregnancy losses, both occurring after her husband physically attacked her during pregnancy.

The six girls and their families agreed to participate in interviews only under the condition that their complete identities remain confidential due to the extremely sensitive nature of the subject matter. The Associated Press maintains a policy of not identifying victims of sexual assault. Majda consented to being identified solely by her given name.

Majda’s older daughter delivered a baby boy. Several months afterward, she escaped, traveling 15 kilometers (9 miles) on foot while carrying her infant to reach her mother’s shelter. Shortly thereafter, her younger sister also returned to Majda while expecting another child.

Majda faced intense pressure from her father and her daughters’ in-laws, who argued she lacked the resources to support both daughters, her grandson, and the expected newborn.

Believing she had no alternative, she agreed to their demands. The daughters were sent back to their spouses in early May. Since that time, Majda has been unable to establish contact with either daughter.

“They did not want to return,” she said. “They were crying.”

Gaza’s legal framework permits exceptions to the 17-year minimum marriage age when parents provide consent and a judge grants authorization. Court administrators have received instructions to reject exception requests for individuals younger than 14 years and seven months, though some families create unofficial arrangements that bypass these regulations.

The United Nations and most humanitarian organizations classify marriages involving girls under 18 as early marriages.

The majority of girls interviewed by the Associated Press indicated their parents did not force them into marriage. However, they expressed feeling obligated to reduce their families’ financial strain.

Through marriage, they became eligible to receive aid as independent family units with their spouses, rather than being included in their parents’ assistance allocation. Multiple girls also noted that with educational institutions largely closed during the conflict, they perceived no opportunity to continue their studies.

“Marriage felt like the only sense of normalcy I could restore to my life,” said a girl who agreed to be married at 17.

Girls who marry at younger ages face increased risks of sexual violence and abuse, including mistreatment from their spouse’s family, explained Amal Siyam, director of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza. Given the high rate of divorce in early marriages, “the girl ends up returning home with one or two children,” she said.

Prior to the conflict, child marriage rates had been gradually decreasing in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. In 2022, the most recent data released by the bureau, 17.8% of all marriages included a bride under 18, representing a decline from over 22% in 2015.

This positive trend appears to have been reversed.

Following a request from the Associated Press, the Supreme Shariah Court in Gaza, which handles marriage registration, compiled information from court staff. Their data indicates that 20.6% of the 35,474 marriages documented in 2024 and 2025 involved brides under 18, including 627 marriages of girls younger than 15.

The actual percentage is likely significantly higher since many marriages have not been officially registered amid the wartime disruption, Siyam noted. The total count of marriage contracts processed by the Shariah court decreased by 35% in 2024, the first complete year of the conflict.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip – Facing complete destitution after losing her husband and oldest son to Israeli bombing raids, Majda found herself living in a deteriorating tent surrounded by sewage and rodents. Unable to provide for her remaining children and worried about her daughters’ safety in overcrowded displacement camps, she made a heartbreaking decision she continues to regret.

The desperate mother arranged marriages for her 13- and 14-year-old daughters to men who offered protection and financial support.

“I thought I was protecting them,” she said. “Fear was slaughtering me.”

The widespread destruction caused by Israel’s military operations in Gaza has contributed to a sharp rise in marriages involving underage girls, according to specialists and government statistics. With nearly all residents forced from their homes and most surviving in deplorable camp conditions while relying on humanitarian assistance, some families have turned to marrying off their teenage daughters as a way to secure economic stability.

These arrangements have robbed girls of their youth and prospects for the future, often resulting in hazardous pregnancies.

In Majda’s case, her daughters endured terrible physical violence.

Prior to the current conflict, child marriage rates had been gradually decreasing in Gaza, data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics shows. The bureau’s most recent figures from 2022 indicated that 17.8% of marriages included a bride younger than 18, a decline from over 22% recorded in 2015.

Gaza law sets the minimum marriage age at 17, though exceptions are permitted. The United Nations and most relief organizations classify marriages involving girls under 18 as premature unions.

This positive trend has now been reversed.

Following a request from the Associated Press, the Supreme Shariah Court in Gaza, which handles marriage registration, compiled statistics from court staff. Their data reveals that 20.6% of the 35,474 marriages documented in 2024 and 2025 involved girls under 18, including 627 unions with girls younger than 15.

The actual percentage may be significantly higher since many marriages went unrecorded amid wartime disruption, explained Amal Siyam, who heads the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza. Marriage contracts processed by the court fell by 35% in 2024, the first complete year following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that sparked the war.

The Associated Press interviewed six girls in Gaza who married between ages 13 and 16, along with their parents, all requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic. The AP maintains a policy of not identifying sexual assault victims. Majda consented to using only her first name.

Every parent stated they would never have considered arranging such early marriages for their daughters without the war’s circumstances.

Following the deaths of her husband and son in separate bombing incidents in April 2024, Majda fell into deep depression.

She pleaded with medical staff for sleeping medication, which left her unconscious for extended periods. She became unable to care for her daughters in their makeshift seaside shelter, which was constantly battered by harsh weather. Food distribution from charitable organizations, their primary sustenance source, was unreliable and infrequent.

“I was entirely shaken from the inside,” Majda said.

Two brothers in their twenties, from a family that had lived near them in Gaza City before displacement forced everyone to flee, requested permission to marry her daughters.

Despite having married at 14 herself, Majda wanted to spare her girls the same experience. However, her father sided with the brothers’ family, insisting this was their only option. They assured Majda that while marriage contracts would be signed, the girls could remain with her until after the war ended.

“I was not in my right mind. I am still not in my right mind,” Majda said. “I don’t know how I agreed to this.”

Majda’s older daughter, then 14, resisted the arrangement. “I felt lost,” the daughter recalled. “I thought if I got married, someone would be financially responsible for me … I truly regretted it.”

Most girls interviewed by the AP said their parents didn’t force them into marriage. However, they felt obligated to reduce their families’ financial strain.

Marriage allowed them to be classified as separate households with their husbands for aid distribution purposes, rather than remaining under their parents’ allocation. Several girls also mentioned that with schools mostly closed during the conflict, they saw no possibility of continuing their studies.

One girl described being displaced over 25 times with her parents and seven siblings during the war. Her father had strongly opposed early marriage and hoped she would attend university. But their desperate situation led him to accept a marriage proposal.

She also agreed to the arrangement at age 16.

“I couldn’t forgive myself for taking a share of the little food my family had,” she explained. She also feared that she and her siblings would be left without support if their parents died in airstrikes. Now 17, she was five months pregnant during her interview with the AP.

Another girl mentioned her family’s numerous relocations, each depleting their limited resources. While sheltering at a hospital in Khan Younis, a 25-year-old man there proposed to her. At 17, she accepted.

“Marriage felt like the only sense of normalcy I could restore to my life,” she said.

Gaza law permits exceptions to the 17-year minimum age with parental approval and judicial authorization. The Supreme Shariah Court has established guidelines preventing court officials from approving exceptions for girls under 14 years and seven months.

However, parents sometimes make informal arrangements without official registration. Two mothers interviewed by the AP chose this route, one after an official rejected her request because her daughter was only 14.

In the Israeli-controlled West Bank, Palestinian authorities established an 18-year minimum age in 2019, and early marriages have dropped dramatically to approximately 5%, according to government data.

Siyam noted that during periods of widespread displacement in conflicts with Israel, some Palestinians have viewed marriage as a way to provide stability for their daughters. “Wars and conflicts lead to a return to more conservative traditions,” she observed.

Girls who marry young face greater risks of sexual violence and abuse, including mistreatment from in-laws who burden them with household duties, Siyam explained. Given the high divorce rates in early marriages, “the girl ends up returning home with one or two children.”

Majda said the in-laws violated their agreement and soon demanded her older daughter join her 23-year-old husband, who was staying in his family’s tents in Deir al-Balah.

During the initial 10 days, the girl screamed whenever her husband came near her. “I kept screaming and he hit me,” the older daughter said.

Eventually, his mother “tied up my hands above my head,” the daughter recalled. Her husband then sexually assaulted her.

Subsequently, he repeatedly threatened to have his mother restrain her if she screamed, she said. She described multiple instances of sexual assault and mentioned being hospitalized once due to bleeding.

Several months later, the family came to collect her 13-year-old sister for her 21-year-old husband. The younger girl “kept screaming that she did not want to get married,” Majda remembered.

The younger sister told the AP that she was also restrained by her mother-in-law and sexually assaulted by her husband. She reported having two miscarriages, both following incidents where her husband kicked her while pregnant.

Majda’s older daughter gave birth to a son. Months later, in November, she escaped, carrying her infant for 15 kilometers (9 miles) to reach her mother’s tent.

Shortly afterward, the younger sister also fled back to Majda. They then learned she was expecting a child.

The maternity section of Awda Hospital in central Gaza experienced an increase in teenage pregnancies during the war, according to department head Yasser Shaaban. Many suffered serious health complications from becoming pregnant at such young ages, he reported.

Additionally, the vast majority were undernourished, as Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid repeatedly pushed Gaza’s population toward starvation.

Four girls interviewed by the AP had given birth, and all experienced dangerous pregnancies or deliveries. Three had suffered at least one miscarriage.

One nearly died during childbirth from severe bleeding, her mother reported. She was 16 and severely malnourished at the time.

“I was unconscious for many days (after birth), and I couldn’t hold my daughter for a while,” the girl said.

Back with their mother, Majda’s daughters were terrified by any mention of returning to their husbands. During an April interview with the AP, her youngest daughter said going back would be like “death.”

Majda described how her younger daughter had previously been chatty and playful. But since her marriage, “she does not talk to anyone, not to her husband and not to me,” she said.

The girls had resumed schooling, but the older daughter felt isolated and ashamed as the only married student with a baby. She described herself as a child raising a child.

“I am tired,” she said. “I want to die.”

Majda faced intense pressure from her father and in-laws, who argued she couldn’t afford to support her daughters, grandson, and expected baby.

While women can divorce their husbands in Gaza, the procedure is costly and complex. Divorce also carries social stigma, particularly for women, and would make future remarriage difficult for the girls.

The in-laws promised Majda that her daughters would receive proper treatment.

Believing she had no alternative, she gave in. The girls returned to their husbands in Gaza City in early May. Majda has been unable to reach her daughters since then.

“They did not want to return,” she said. “They were crying.”

A chance encounter between a benefits office employee and a world-famous artist has led to what could become one of the most expensive paintings ever sold.

Sue Tilley was employed at an unemployment benefits office when she first encountered artist Lucian Freud. The artwork he created featuring her during the 1990s has become some of the most recognized and valuable pieces in contemporary art.

The painting titled “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” considered among Freud’s finest works, will be offered at Sotheby’s auction house on June 24. Experts expect it to sell for between 25 million and 35 million pounds, equivalent to $33 million to $47 million.

Despite the enormous sums her portraits have commanded at various auctions, Tilley has never received any portion of those proceeds. However, she expresses no bitterness about the situation.

“It did change my life,” Tilley shared with The Associated Press while viewing the 7 ½-foot (2.3-meter) tall nude portrait of herself displayed in the auction house. “Who would have thought I’d be in Sotheby’s?”

Created in 1996, “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet” represents the final piece in Freud’s series of four large-scale portraits showing Tilley in various resting positions. A previous work from this series, “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping,” achieved a then-record price for a living artist when it sold for $33.6 million in 2008.

“I was thrilled I was in ‘The Guinness Book of Records,’” explained the 69-year-old Tilley, whose infectious laughter reflects her joy at life’s unexpected turns. “Unfortunately, it didn’t say my name. There was a picture and it said ‘Benefits Supervisor.’ But I was still thrilled that it was there.”

The artist, who was the grandson of renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, became celebrated for his raw depictions of nude subjects including friends, family members, and himself. His technique involved applying thick layers of oil paint to reveal the complex skin tones of his subjects, creating portraits that were simultaneously honest and affectionate. He even created a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, though she remained fully dressed. When he passed away at age 88 in 2011, he had earned recognition as Britain’s most distinguished portrait artist of the 20th century.

His artistic legacy has continued to flourish posthumously. Another Tilley portrait, “Benefits Supervisor Resting,” brought in $56.2 million at auction in 2015. In 2022, his work “Large Interior, W11” commanded $86 million.

Tilley’s introduction to Freud came through her friendship with Leigh Bowery, the deceased Australian performance artist who also served as one of the painter’s models. She remembers “trudging up the stairs” to reach Freud’s London workspace for sessions filled with tea and conversation, broken up by enjoyable meals. Each portrait required many months to complete.

Regarding “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” Tilley notes it “was the most comfortable one, because I was sitting up in a chair. Lying down on the sofa looks comfortable, but after a while it got a bit painful.”

Freud’s practice of painting friends, romantic partners, children, and professional associates resulted in artwork that was both daring and revealing. This approach has never troubled Tilley.

“I’m not really vain,” she explained. “Sometimes I get out of bed in the morning, and I look at my legs and go, ‘Oh, they look just like that painting.’”

She cherished the chaotic atmosphere of Freud’s workspace, where “he used to make you a drink and whisk it up with a dirty old paintbrush, and there was paint absolutely everywhere. I’d go home and there’d be bits of paint all over me.”

During the 1980s and 1990s, Tilley was connected to London’s artistic community, which included personalities like Bowery, who operated the experimental Taboo nightclub before his death in 1994 at age 33. She particularly appreciated Freud’s stories about his earlier bohemian experiences.

“I used to love hearing about when he was roaring around in a Rolls-Royce open top with Cecil Beaton and Marlene Dietrich and goodness knows (who), and when he met Judy Garland,” she recalled. “I used to love getting the stories of his youth and his misbehavior.”

The fact that her image will likely be purchased by extremely wealthy collectors doesn’t concern Tilley. “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping” was acquired in 2008 by Roman Abramovich, the former Chelsea Football Club owner who faced sanctions from the U.K. following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“Sleeping by the Lion Carpet” is featured in a June 24-25 auction showcasing pieces from British billionaire Joe Lewis’s collection, who holds majority ownership of Premier League soccer team Tottenham Hotspur. The sale will also include pieces by Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and other masters, with a combined estimated value exceeding 150 million pounds ($201 million).

The painting might establish a new auction record. Oliver Barker, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, calls it Freud’s “magnum opus.”

“This is a painting that during his lifetime was very much described by Lucian as being the apogee of everything that he was trying to achieve as a painter,” Barker explained. “The market knows, and it’s very savvy, it wants to go for the best of the best — and this is it.”

Now retired and residing on England’s south coast, Tilley recalls that Freud “gave me a couple of etchings, and then I sold them, because I’d rather have the money, and I went on holiday.”

She harbors no resentment that Freud didn’t bequeath her one of the major paintings. Her position in art history is firmly established.

“When I was younger, I used to read art books the whole time and read all about the pre-Raphaelites and the Impressionists, all the goings on, how they’re all friends and interconnected and all the models knew each other,” she reflected.

“And now, I’ve only just realized, I’m part of that. And that’s thrilling for me that I’ve achieved my ambition without really knowing it.”

A medical organization has accused fighters connected to Sudan’s paramilitary forces of deliberately attacking civilians during a significant Muslim religious celebration, resulting in 27 deaths including elderly victims.

The Sudan Doctors Network, which monitors violence throughout the nation, held forces tied to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces responsible for Thursday’s assaults on communities in the al-Murrah region, located west of Barah town in North Kordofan.

The organization stated that these assaults have intensified the already “catastrophic humanitarian conditions that citizens are enduring due to the ongoing war.”

A comprehensive conflict began in April 2023 following escalating disputes between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces. The Kordofan area has emerged as a primary battleground, with combat escalating across multiple areas, including through unmanned aircraft attacks.

The RSF paramilitary group and its supporters maintain control over the western Darfur area and portions of the Kordofan region along South Sudan’s border — territories abundant in petroleum reserves and gold deposits. The RSF has also engaged in repeated battles with military forces over Barah.

The Thursday incidents occurred during the second day of Eid al-Adha or “Feast of Sacrifice,” a religious observance celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide.

In their statement, the medical network declared that “targeting villages and civilian areas and liquidating citizens in this horrific manner constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

Earlier this month, fierce fighting in southern Sudan’s South Kordofan between forces connected to the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Otoro tribe resulted in more than 61 deaths, including nine children. Last week, an unmanned aircraft attack on a crowded marketplace in central Sudan claimed 28 lives and injured dozens more.

Sudan’s conflict began in April 2023 when simmering disputes between the military and RSF developed into comprehensive warfare. The fighting has claimed at least 59,000 lives, forced approximately 13 million people from their homes, and created famine conditions in numerous regions. Over 30 million individuals require humanitarian aid.

The United Nations and human rights organizations have accused both sides in Sudan’s conflict of committing serious crimes, including ethnic cleansing, unlawful executions and sexual violence against non-combatants. Relief organizations warn the actual casualty count may be significantly higher due to restricted access to combat zones across the expansive nation.

Communities in Indonesia’s East Java province gathered on Friday to commemorate two decades since a catastrophic mud volcano disaster that claimed at least 14 lives and buried entire neighborhoods under a sea of boiling sludge.

On May 29, 2006, the Lusi mud volcano began erupting in the Porong subdistrict of Sidoarjo, with scientific studies suggesting the catastrophe resulted from commercial gas exploration activities by a local drilling company. This finding contradicted claims by an Indonesian government minister at the time who maintained the event was a natural occurrence.

During Friday’s memorial, community members placed flowers, offered prayers, and honored victims at the edge of what is now a massive mud lake where their former villages once stood.

Despite years of expert efforts to contain the flowing sludge, including building containment dams, all attempts to halt the disaster have proven unsuccessful. The volcanic activity persists today, continuing to release mud from its underground source.

The fatalities occurred in two separate incidents: one worker died in August 2006 when his excavation equipment toppled from a levee, while 13 others perished in November 2006 during an explosion of an underground gas line beneath a containment structure.

The catastrophe forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, destroying not only their residences and livelihoods but also ancestral burial grounds that held generations of family history.

Among those affected was Sastro, a 55-year-old man who lost both his home and his employment at a factory that became submerged beneath the mud. The facility was among thousands of buildings consumed within the 572-hectare disaster zone.

Two decades later, Sastro now earns his living as a motorcycle taxi operator, transporting tourists who visit the site, which has evolved into an unusual attraction in East Java.

“As far as I can tell, things have been really tough ever since the Lapindo incident,” said Sastro, who like other Indonesians uses a single name.

PT Lapindo Brantas, the local mining company, was conducting gas exploration in the region when the disaster began in May 2006.

The country’s president at that time, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, directed the company to provide $420 million in compensation to displaced villagers and contribute to government emergency response funding.

While the government later stepped in with emergency financial support for affected residents, Lapindo Brantas contributed only a small portion of the total compensation needed.

Twenty years after the initial eruption, white smoke continues rising from the mud lake’s center, demonstrating that hot material is still emerging from the underground vent. Excavation equipment regularly works to dredge the mud pond’s bottom.

Overhead images reveal the vent as a tiny spot within the enormous mud lake expanse, marking the source of what became one of Indonesia’s most significant and enduring disasters.

The flowing mud has impacted more than 1,100 hectares as it consumed 19 villages spanning three subdistricts.

Survivors continue facing numerous challenges today, including environmental pollution, health complications, civil documentation issues, and ongoing uncertainty about their futures, according to Lucky Wahyu Wardana from the Indonesian Forum for Living Environment, or WALHI, in East Java.

“The Lapindo tragedy must serve as a lesson for the government to stop relying on extractive industries, as the costs of the impact far outweigh the benefits.

“Not only have lives been lost, but children who once lived in the affected areas have lost their future and face health consequences,” Wardana said. “In addition, many parents have lost their sense of history regarding their origins and hometowns.”

The UN children’s agency reports that during the past week, an average of 11 children have been killed or wounded daily in Lebanon, even as a ceasefire remains officially in effect.

Israeli military operations expanded throughout the country, with intense bombardments targeting communities and villages in Lebanon’s southern region during overnight hours from Wednesday into Thursday. Israeli forces designated a new portion of this area “a combat zone.”

Thursday saw an Israeli military strike target a structure in Beirut’s southern suburbs, occurring despite the ceasefire agreement that has proven unable to stop ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.

MADRID, May 29 (Reuters) – Spain’s governing Socialist Workers’ Party confronts multiple legal investigations involving corruption allegations, influence-peddling schemes, and other criminal charges that have ensnared members of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s close associates.

While Sanchez himself has not faced charges in any investigation, more than a dozen individuals are under scrutiny or facing trial, including his spouse and sibling, senior party leadership, and a former Socialist prime minister with significant influence.

The following details outline each investigation:

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SCANDAL

• Prosecutors in September 2023 brought charges against seven public officials, including Koldo Garcia, who advised former Transport Minister Jose Luis Abalos, with Abalos subsequently facing charges as well.

• Authorities alleged the defendants collected illegal payments from government contracts for purchasing medical masks and equipment in bulk during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Abalos, who maintains his innocence, was removed from the PSOE in 2024, having previously held the organization secretary position from 2017 to 2021.

• The Supreme Court conducted proceedings in April 2026, with a verdict still forthcoming.

• Legal officials are pursuing a 24-year imprisonment term for Abalos, who gained freedom prior to trial following months of incarceration. Both Abalos and Garcia maintained their innocence throughout the legal proceedings.

PRIME MINISTER’S SPOUSE

• A Madrid judge in April 2024 initiated an inquiry into whether Sanchez’s wife, Begoña Gomez, leveraged her status to obtain sponsors for a university master’s program under her direction, potentially circumventing required public bidding procedures.

• Sanchez contends the investigation stems from political motivations orchestrated by far-right adversaries.

• Far-right party Vox and additional organizations support the accusations and pursue imprisonment for Gomez.

• A preliminary hearing is set for June 9, after which the judge will determine whether to proceed with trial or dismiss the matter as requested by prosecutors. Gomez maintains her innocence.

PRIME MINISTER’S SIBLING

• In May 2024, a judge launched an inquiry into the premier’s brother, David Sanchez, for allegedly obtaining his government position in the Socialist-controlled provincial council of Badajoz through family connections. The accusations originated from far-right organization Manos Limpias.

• Legal proceedings began on May 28 and continue through at least June 4. Prosecutors seek dismissal due to insufficient evidence. His legal representative requested case closure, characterizing the allegations as completely false.

ILLEGAL PAYMENTS

• Santos Cerdan, a legislator who replaced Abalos as the party’s third-ranking official, was summoned in June 2025 to provide voluntary testimony regarding claims that senior PSOE members received illegal payments for public construction contracts. This investigation stemmed from the mask controversy. He resigned his legislative position and departed the Socialist Party.

• He confronts accusations of bribery, criminal organization membership, and influence-peddling.

• Cerdan was held in custody before trial but received conditional release in November 2025 and currently awaits proceedings. He denies any misconduct.

UNDISCLOSED FUNDS

• As an extension of the Cerdan investigation, the High Court examines whether the PSOE operated an unreported internal fund for making secret cash distributions to high-ranking party members, including Abalos.

• The PSOE has dismissed claims of illegal funding, though its internal review identified certain “surprising” expenditures attributed to the party by Abalos’ office.

• The inquiry continues with confidential details.

ZAPATERO/PLUS ULTRA

• In May 2026, a High Court judge initiated an investigation into former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for allegedly orchestrating an influence-peddling and money-laundering operation.

• The operation’s clients included Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which secured a pandemic recovery loan worth €53 million, according to the judge.

• Zapatero, a significant Sanchez supporter, rejected all accusations. Sanchez expressed confidence in his predecessor’s innocence.

• Zapatero received a summons to provide testimony on June 17 and 18.

JUDICIAL INTERFERENCE

• In May 2026, a Madrid judge revealed a separate investigation involving Cerdan, additional PSOE officials, legal professionals, a business owner, and a law enforcement officer.

• The judge stated the accused attempted to manipulate government administrative decisions and obstruct judicial processes or police investigations that threatened PSOE or government interests.

• The judge has demanded various documents and digital records from party headquarters. Cerdan has remained silent regarding these accusations.

Australia’s defense minister criticized China’s choice to dispatch only university researchers and military academics to Asia’s premier defense conference, calling it a wasted chance for meaningful dialogue during a period when regional nations seek greater clarity about Beijing’s military intentions.

Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister, made the comments before the start of the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore on Friday. He described the gathering as an exceptional forum for defense officials and policy experts worldwide to share perspectives and build diplomatic connections.

“We’ve seen China engage in the biggest conventional military buildup in the world since the end of the Second World War, and that has not happened with a strategic reassurance for other countries,” Marles told Reuters in an interview.

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun chose not to attend the conference for the second consecutive year. Beijing announced plans to send a team composed primarily of military scholars and academic experts from the People’s Liberation Army instead of senior government officials.

The conference will feature Marles alongside U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and defense leaders from France, Britain, Malaysia, the Philippines and additional countries.

“(China’s) presence is something that we welcomed in the past, and having opportunities to engage with China are important,” Marles said.

The Australian official explained that his country continues building defense partnerships throughout the Asia-Pacific region, while maintaining its strategic alliance with America as the foundation of Australia’s security framework.

Addressing concerns about potential American distraction from Asian affairs due to conflicts involving Iran, Marles stated: “We see that America remains very committed to the Indo-Pacific, and from our point of view, our alliance with the United States is absolutely fundamental to our national security.”

“The global rules-based order is under pressure in the Indo-Pacific,” he added, referring to the international system of shared laws, agreements, and institutions established after World War Two.

“This is a moment in time where we are looking to all the relationships that we have around the world, where we have common ground and where we can work together and where we can, we do.”

Marles, Hegseth and British defence minister John Healey have scheduled an announcement on Saturday regarding their AUKUS project, through which Australia will obtain nuclear-powered submarines.

While Marles refused to provide specifics, news outlets have reported the three nations are preparing to reveal substantial cooperation on unmanned underwater vehicles.

International diving experts are traveling to central Laos to assist in a complex rescue operation involving seven people who have been trapped underground for more than a week, according to a volunteer organization from Thailand announced Friday.

The group of Lao nationals had gone into the cave located in Xaisomboun province to search for gold when a landslide caused by severe rainfall blocked their way out. Volunteer rescue teams from Thailand began assisting with the operation on Sunday.

The additional rescue personnel include Robin Cuesta from France, Audita Harsono from Indonesia, Japan’s Yoshitaka Isaji, Naruchit Kiatmaneesri from Thailand and Australia’s Josh Richards, according to a social media announcement by the volunteer organization.

Kengkard Bongkawong, a cave diving expert from Thailand participating in the mission, reported Friday on social media that the trapped individuals’ physical condition is worsening while they wait for extraction.

“The rescue operation is extremely challenging, as it involves moving them through narrow passages stretching hundreds of metres and requiring underwater diving,” he said.

Video recorded Thursday by another volunteer from Thailand, Norrased Palasing, captured survivors positioned on a rock shelf far inside the cave, showing emotional reactions upon seeing rescuers. Norrased’s group successfully located five of the seven missing individuals. In the recording, he informed them that rescue teams would deliver supplies into the cave while working to remove the standing water.

One person who survived, giving his name as Lin, said, “Don’t worry about me, mum. The rescuers are here. I’m safe now. I miss you mum. I miss you mum and dad. In a few days I’ll be out.”

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced Friday that American military aircraft stationed in the NATO member nation will only be permitted to remain through the end of June, citing the United States’ failure to establish visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens.

“I fully understand the complexity of the regulatory procedures and the need for time, but we also have our priorities and procedures, and we cannot respond positively to the request for long stays of aircraft and tanks at the Sofia airport,” the Prime Minister stated, according to BTA news agency.

The announcement follows recent diplomatic efforts between the two countries regarding visa policy. Earlier this month, Radev held discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, requesting the elimination of visa requirements for Bulgarian nationals traveling to America.

According to the Prime Minister, he emphasized the urgent nature of this issue during their conversation but has yet to receive a favorable response from the United States.

Currently, Bulgaria allows American military aircraft to operate from its capital city Sofia under an arrangement that was set to expire at May’s end. Radev indicated that his government would approve a one-month extension on Friday, providing the aircraft permission to stay through June to allow the U.S. additional time to reconsider its position.

The Prime Minister recently secured a decisive victory in parliamentary elections held on April 19.

NAIROBI, May 29 – Eight students have been taken into custody by Kenyan law enforcement officials in connection with a deadly blaze at a girls’ boarding school that claimed 16 lives, according to an announcement made Friday by the police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The students face arson charges related to the tragic fire incident at the boarding facility.

French authorities have requested a criminal investigation into alleged mistreatment of French citizens who participated in a humanitarian flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza, according to statements made Friday by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

“Based on a report I requested from our Consul General in Turkey, who informed me of sexual violence, exposure to the cold, beatings, and repeated humiliation of French nationals, all of these acts are likely to constitute criminal offenses (and) I decided yesterday to refer the matter to the public prosecutor,” Barrot stated during an interview with France Inter radio.

The flotilla was stopped last week while attempting to transport humanitarian supplies to Gaza. According to organizers, participants faced serious abuse during their detention, resulting in multiple hospitalizations due to injuries and at least 15 reports of sexual assault, including rape. All detained activists have since been freed.

Legal representatives for the French flotilla participants announced plans to file their own formal complaint regarding the violence their clients endured, which they described as including humiliation, rape and torture.

However, these lawyers rejected an offer from Barrot’s office to meet and discuss the situation. In their response, they stated that “the buzz from the minister’s declarations will not make us forget that the French government has supported the state of Israel since the beginning of the genocide.”

Emergency teams battling flooding in a remote Laos cave announced Friday they are pumping water from the underground chambers in hopes of extracting five villagers who have been stuck inside for more than a week.

Recent overnight storms have made their mission more challenging, rescue officials reported. Teams are also continuing their search for two additional people who remain unaccounted for. The group had reportedly gone into the cave seeking valuable minerals.

International rescue specialists from Laos and Thailand have collaborated throughout the week, navigating winding, tight corridors with sharp rock formations and water-filled sections of the underground system. The cave sits in a mountainous region of central Xaisomboun province, roughly 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Vientiane.

The rescue team includes multiple divers who participated in the complex 2018 mission in northern Thailand that saved 12 schoolboys and their soccer coach after they spent more than two weeks trapped underground.

According to the Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People, a Malaysian diver is also participating in the operation. Kengkaj Bongkawong, who leads the Thai rescue group Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, reported that diving specialists from Indonesia, Japan and France were traveling to join the effort.

Wednesday’s confirmation that five trapped villagers had been located sparked celebration among rescue personnel. Officials confirmed they would press forward with the search for the remaining two missing individuals.

Footage captured by Thai cave diver Norrased Palasing documented the powerful moment when he and Finnish diving instructor Miiko Paasi surfaced and found the stranded men. The video shows the men with headlamps, seated on rocks while surrounded by floodwater.

The Lao rescue organization identified the five men by their first names: Khamla, Mued, Ee, Ing, and Laen. Reports indicate they were in stable condition but weakened by dehydration and hunger. Rescue divers have provided them with soft food and water.

The men could be heard crying out when they spotted their rescuers, and Norrased asked about their physical condition and circumstances.

The men introduced themselves on camera and sent reassuring messages to their loved ones.

“Don’t worry mom, dad. I’m still strong, I’m still healthy. Tomorrow I will be home. I love you mom and dad,” said the man who identified himself as Mued.

Lao authorities report the villagers typically gather resources from the mountainous, densely forested area to support themselves.

The villagers had reportedly gone into the cave searching for gold deposits. Bounphong Khammanyvong, a local official in Longcheng, the district containing the cave, explained they had spotted rocks or sand with distinctive colors inside the cave and entered hoping to extract them to determine their value.

In a Thursday interview with local media outlet Xaisomboun Province Television, Bounphong explained the villagers became trapped when heavy rainfall caused flooding that prevented their exit. An eighth member of the group who managed to escape notified authorities.

He stated the group entered on May 20, which differs from rescuers who reported the date as May 19.

Rescue Volunteer for People announced on its Facebook page that Friday’s mission included pumping water from the cave system to attempt evacuating the five villagers later that day, but heavy morning rainfall had hindered their progress.

“The front of the cave is in a low-lying area. When it rains, all water will flow down to this area and into the cave,” Bounphong explained during his interview.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan court has temporarily blocked American plans to build a quarantine facility in the East African nation for U.S. citizens who have been exposed to a dangerous strain of Ebola virus currently spreading in northeastern Congo. The decision came after significant opposition from healthcare professionals and advocacy groups.

An official from the U.S. administration revealed on Wednesday that America intended to transport exposed citizens to this proposed Kenyan facility rather than bringing them back to American soil. The official requested anonymity when discussing the administration’s strategy. Details remained unclear about the specific location within Kenya for the proposed facility and whether Kenyan officials had formally approved the arrangement.

Kenya’s government acknowledged ongoing discussions with the United States regarding Ebola preparedness support but avoided directly addressing the quarantine facility proposal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in a statement that the U.S. government plans to provide $13.5 million to support Kenya’s Ebola readiness initiatives.

The High Court in Nairobi issued an order on Friday halting any agreements related to the Ebola facility pending the resolution of legal challenges scheduled for Tuesday.

Two separate organizations filed petitions against the facility: the Katiba Institute, which works to protect Kenya’s Constitution, and the Kenya Law Society. The Kenya Law Society requested the court invalidate any existing agreements between the two nations regarding this project, pointing to public health dangers and insufficient public consultation.

The legal group also argued that Kenya does not possess “the high-containment infrastructure required to safely manage such a facility, exposing the public to serious health risks.”

A union representing Kenyan physicians issued a 48-hour strike warning on Thursday if the government moves forward with the agreement. The union stated that since the U.S. clearly refuses to allow Ebola on American territory, Kenya should not become another “dumping ground.”

“As the vanguard of Kenya’s healthcare system, we are utterly disgusted by the government’s apparent willingness to trade national biosecurity and the lives of its citizens for foreign aid,” the union’s chairperson, Davji Atellah, said in a statement.

In northeastern Congo, healthcare professionals working with limited resources are fighting to control an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus, an Ebola variant without any authorized treatment or vaccination.

Congolese officials have documented over 1,000 suspected infections, including at least 220 fatalities, since declaring the outbreak on May 15. However, the virus had been circulating undetected for weeks, and the WHO believes the actual scope exceeds reported numbers.

The outbreak has also crossed into neighboring Uganda, which has reported seven confirmed cases and one death.

The United Nations’ Human Rights Office issued a statement Friday demanding stronger government regulations and monitoring to protect children using digital platforms.

“Enhancing protection of children online is an urgent priority that we need to make sure not only gets done – but that it gets done right,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk said in a statement.

Tuerk also emphasized that technology companies must integrate child safety measures directly into their digital platforms.

BEIJING, May 29 – Beijing issued a sharp rebuke on Friday regarding Canada’s recent naval passage through the Taiwan Strait, declaring strong opposition to nations that threaten Chinese sovereignty and security while claiming to exercise navigation rights.

Reports from Canadian news outlets indicated that the frigate HMCS Charlottetown completed the passage last week, traveling solo without escort vessels from partner nations.

A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Mao Ning, stated that while China acknowledges all nations’ maritime navigation rights under international law, the country “firmly opposes any attempt by any country to undermine its sovereignty and security under the pretext of freedom of navigation.”

Western intelligence and government officials report that Russia has escalated secret operations aimed at sabotaging Armenia’s leader ahead of next month’s election, concerned that his success could cement the former Soviet nation’s shift toward Western allies.

According to interviews with five Western intelligence officials and documents reviewed by Reuters, Moscow’s strategy before the June 7 election includes spreading false information to benefit pro-Russian candidates and an ambitious plan to bring tens of thousands of Russian-Armenians to influence the outcome.

Armenia, a nation of 3 million people without ocean access, has largely stayed within Moscow’s sphere of influence since the Cold War ended and continues to house Russian military forces. However, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who leads in polling, has strengthened ties with Europe and NATO, becoming an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who endorsed Pashinyan’s re-election campaign on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Yerevan this week, finalizing a minerals agreement and a deal for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity – a planned transportation corridor through Armenia that could weaken Russian regional influence.

Armenia, which belongs to a Russian-led economic alliance, halted its involvement in Moscow’s regional security partnership in 2024. This month the country welcomed NATO’s leader at a European leaders summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has openly expressed his dissatisfaction with Pashinyan’s Western turn. Recently, Moscow has threatened that Armenia could lose access to affordable natural gas and has limited imports of Armenian goods including fruit, vegetables, flowers and brandy.

“What Pashinyan is trying to do is a threat to Russia,” said Thomas de Waal, senior fellow with Carnegie Europe. Diversification “means Russia loses the virtual monopoly it’s had in Armenia.”

Three Western officials identified Moscow’s favored candidate as Samvel Karapetyan, a billionaire facing trial for allegedly advocating government overthrow.

Karapetyan, who holds Armenian-Russian citizenship, rejects the accusations. His attorney, Robert Amsterdam, told Reuters his client was unaware of any Russian backing.

Europe has repeatedly charged Russia with election interference, including recent cases in Moldova and Hungary. Russia claims that the EU and United States meddle in neighboring countries to draw them into Western influence.

Russia’s foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment, but told reporters Thursday that allegations of Russian interference in Armenia’s domestic matters represented “spymania.”

Armenia’s government communications department refused to address the specific claims in this report, but described steps being implemented to combat false information and guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections.

In October, the Kremlin created a department called the Directorate for Strategic Cooperation and Partnership, which four sources say is directing influence operations in Armenia. The sources, like others in this report, requested anonymity.

Russian officials have discussed in recent months sending Russia-based Armenians to vote against Pashinyan, five sources reported.

Armenians form a substantial worldwide diaspora, including a Russian population that some estimates place above 2 million. Armenians cannot cast ballots in elections from overseas.

One source, a senior U.S. official, said the number of people Moscow could successfully transport remained debated within the intelligence community. However, the source noted, intelligence officials consider the concept seriously. Armenians regularly travel between the countries, with dozens of daily flights.

Russian authorities estimated approximately $50 million to transport 100,000 voters, three sources said. By mid-May, the Kremlin had assigned quotas of Armenians each region should send and asked administrators to report preparation updates, those officials added.

Reuters could not determine whether such a plan was active or if it would be sufficient to narrow the substantial gap between leading candidates.

A poll from earlier this month indicated Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party would place first with approximately 30% of votes.

The same poll showed Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia party at roughly 6%, placing second in a competitive field.

Pashinyan assumed office in 2018 when demonstrations removed his Moscow-friendly predecessor. Relations worsened after Russian peacekeepers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian separatist territory within neighboring Azerbaijan, could not prevent its capture by Azerbaijan in 2023.

In August, Pashinyan signed a U.S.-mediated peace agreement ending the decades-long dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested region. The agreement would establish the transport route through southern Armenia, enabling goods to move eastward toward Central Asia, while providing Azerbaijan direct access to its exclave of Nakhchivan and to Turkey. Moscow cautiously supported the agreement.

Washington has indicated U.S.-supported security personnel could supervise the narrow land strip, which would follow the Iranian border, a prospect intelligence officials say Russia considers unacceptable.

If Pashinyan loses power, major components of Trump’s peace initiative would likely collapse, two Western officials said.

In a video circulated online in May, masked individuals speaking an Armenian dialect threatened to kill Pashinyan. Reuters could not verify if the threat was genuine or identify those responsible. The matter is under investigation in Armenia.

Three sources, including a senior U.S. official, described serious and continuing concerns about the Armenian leader’s safety, without providing details.

Parts of the U.S. government, including the C.I.A., have recently provided covert assistance for Pashinyan’s personal security, according to a current U.S. official, a former U.S. official and a third person familiar with the arrangement. One source said the assistance included sharing information about potential threats.

The White House, State Department, U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Pashinyan’s office did not respond to requests for comment about the prime minister’s security situation. The CIA declined to comment.

Russian officials have intensified existing online false information campaigns to damage the Pashinyan government, officials said.

In one case, a Russian-supported online campaign falsely claimed a corrupt land transaction involving Pashinyan with Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, two U.S. senators who publicly raised concerns in April about Russian disinformation, the U.S. official said. Shaheen and Tillis did not respond to requests for comment.

One European official said the campaigns involve a Kremlin-connected bot network called “Storm-1516”, which participated in attempts to interfere with recent U.S. elections.

Three sources said the Kremlin had recruited Russian political consulting firms and think-tanks, including the Social Design Agency (SDA), sanctioned in the European Union and the United Kingdom for spreading disinformation to weaken support for Ukraine.

Reuters examined five Russian-language documents that sources said were created by SDA. The news organization could not independently confirm that SDA produced the documents.

One document suggested establishing a media outlet named Yerevan1 for Russia’s Armenian diaspora to foster a “negative attitude” toward Pashinyan with a “core narrative” that “Armenia can only prosper in a close alliance with Russia and under its protection.” Neither SDA nor Yerevan1 responded to comment requests.

The document concluded that Russian-Armenians could influence the election decisively if “high turnout among them can be ensured”.

Ukrainian officials announced Friday that Russian drone strikes targeted three international merchant ships as they traveled through Ukraine’s Black Sea shipping corridor late Thursday and into the early morning hours.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported via Telegram that the attacks sparked fires aboard all three vessels, though ship crews managed to extinguish the flames.

According to Ukraine’s seaports authority, the targeted ships operated under flags from Vanuatu, the Comoros and Panama.

Ukrainian naval forces provided additional details about one vessel, the Ant, describing it as a Turkish-owned freight ship flying the Vanuatu flag. The navy said the ship was en route to Turkey after departing from a port in the Odesa region.

The attack on the Ant resulted in a blaze and forced the evacuation of two crew members who sustained injuries, naval officials reported. The vessel was carrying cargo when the strike occurred.

This latest assault continues Russia’s pattern of targeting Ukraine’s maritime trade routes throughout the conflict, which has lasted more than four years since Russia’s invasion began. These attacks have focused on ports crucial to Ukraine’s international commerce and wartime economic stability.

A well-known Hong Kong journalist has begun serving a five-day jail term after his appeal was rejected in a case that has heightened worries about the territory’s shrinking press freedoms.

Ronson Chan, who previously served as chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, lost his appeal Friday and was immediately ordered to prison following his conviction for obstructing a police officer.

The territory was previously considered a stronghold for media freedom throughout Asia, but numerous news organizations have been shuttered, multiple journalists detained, and those continuing their work face increasingly restricted conditions since officials launched a crackdown on activist movements after the large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.

Chan was taken into custody in September 2022 while heading to cover a story. Authorities alleged he refused to present his identification card when requested by a plainclothes officer.

A trial court imposed the five-day sentence in 2023, determining that Chan had not produced his identity card promptly and continued questioning the officer in a “reckless” manner. He challenged the ruling and was released on bail pending appeal.

Deputy High Court Judge Lily Wong confirmed both Chan’s conviction and sentence Friday, directing that he be taken into custody immediately.

Before the court session, Chan, dressed in a black shirt bearing the phrase “Free Press,” spoke with reporters about feeling troubled and conflicted. He explained his decision to remain in Hong Kong to continue his journalism work, citing press freedom guarantees in the territory’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

“If I end up losing today, I feel it would be quite a big irony for me personally,” he said.

During the post-2019 protest crackdown, two outspoken Hong Kong news organizations — Apple Daily and Stand News — were compelled to cease operations in 2021.

Two former senior editors from Stand News were found guilty of conspiracy to publish and distribute seditious materials in 2024. One received a 21-month prison term.

In February, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was given a 20-year sentence after being convicted of conspiracy to collaborate with foreign entities and conspiring to publish seditious content. Six additional newspaper employees, also convicted under national security legislation like Lai, received sentences ranging from six years and nine months to 10 years.

Throughout other newsrooms, reporters encounter increasing restrictions and growing self-censorship. The decline in press freedom mirrors a wider reduction of Western-style civil rights in the former British territory, which was returned to Chinese control in 1997.

Hong Kong officials maintain that security legislation is essential for the territory’s stability.

The territory placed 140th among 180 nations and territories in the most recent World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders.

Market turbulence is strengthening arguments for Japan’s central bank to halt the reduction of its enormous bond portfolio in the upcoming fiscal year, potentially providing breathing room for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as investors grow increasingly worried about her fiscal policies.

Such a halt would represent a significant shift in the Bank of Japan’s quantitative tightening strategy, which has been underway since 2024 as part of Governor Kazuo Ueda’s campaign to reverse a decade of extensive economic stimulus measures.

During its June 15-16 session, the BOJ will examine its current bond reduction schedule that runs until March and establish a new framework for fiscal 2027.

While no modifications are anticipated for the existing reduction plan, financial markets are closely watching whether the BOJ will continue decreasing its monthly bond acquisitions in fiscal 2027 or keep the current purchasing level unchanged.

Though the BOJ has not reached internal agreement on the ultimate choice, halting the reduction is gaining favor as the preferred approach, with uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict keeping bond markets unstable, according to two sources with knowledge of the discussions.

“Markets remain volatile, so there’s no need to rush,” one source commented regarding the BOJ’s reduction plan, noting that many market participants seemed to support maintaining current purchasing levels.

Political factors may also encourage the BOJ to pause, as climbing bond yields could limit Takaichi’s spending initiatives.

“What the administration wants to avoid most is rises in bond yields,” stated one of the sources.

Recent central bank research revealed that some investors are now urging the BOJ to suspend its bond reduction strategy, underscoring the difficulties it encounters in decreasing its substantial Japanese government bond holdings.

Previous indicators suggested the BOJ might contemplate slowing its reduction plan given market uncertainty.

A more definitive signal regarding the BOJ’s bond strategy will emerge next week when the central bank publishes notes from its May 21-22 meeting with bond market participants.

“We’ve seen a pretty fast rise in bond yields, which makes it hard for investors to buy bonds. The finance ministry may be getting worried too,” explained former BOJ official Nobuyasu Atago.

“Given the political headwinds, I see no reason for the BOJ to keep tapering next fiscal year,” he added.

Worries about Japan’s deteriorating fiscal situation and increasing inflation drove the 10-year JGB yield to a three-decade peak of 2.8% last week, approaching the 3% projection the finance ministry used when preparing its fiscal 2026 budget. Exceeding 3% would increase debt servicing expenses and limit resources for additional spending.

The BOJ’s interest rate decision could also influence its reduction plan, with an increase in short-term rates to 1% from 0.75% viewed as highly likely at the June meeting.

Although the central bank has stated its reduction program carries no monetary policy consequences, the argument for slowing quantitative tightening grows stronger if it implements a rate increase, analysts note.

“With the bond market so unstable, it would be natural for the BOJ to play it safe and avoid causing undue market turbulence,” said Mari Iwashita, executive rates strategist at Nomura Securities, who anticipates a reduction pause in fiscal 2027.

“A combination of a taper pause and rate hike would be a good one,” she explained, as the former would reduce upward pressure on yields while the latter would address concerns that the BOJ is falling behind in managing inflation risks.

Increasing debt and unstable yields have intensified challenges for central banks unwinding balance sheets that expanded dramatically from years of extensive asset purchases designed to stimulate their economies.

In the United States, analysts question whether new Federal Reserve chief Kevin Warsh can advance his proposals for a smaller balance sheet as U.S. Treasuries lose appeal.

The BOJ has also proceeded carefully with its quantitative tightening program that started in 2024, gradually reducing purchases and currently cutting monthly buying by 200 billion yen each quarter.

Political obstacles for the BOJ’s quantitative tightening have increased under Takaichi, who has promised to reduce taxes and increase spending through debt-financed funding.

Regardless of reduction decisions, a decrease in the BOJ’s holdings, currently around 500 trillion yen, will continue steadily due to maturing JGBs rolling off, which has already reduced its balance sheet by 20% from its late 2023 peak.

This provides additional justification for the BOJ to maintain current purchasing levels, said former BOJ executive Akira Otani, currently managing director at Goldman Sachs Japan.

“When inflationary risks from the Middle East conflict and the government’s proactive fiscal policy are putting upward pressure on bond yields, proceeding with further tapering could cause political friction by pushing up yields,” he stated.

A court in Kenya has temporarily blocked plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility within the East African nation’s borders.

High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi issued the suspension order late Thursday, also prohibiting Kenya from accepting any individuals who have been exposed to or infected with Ebola under the proposed arrangement with the United States. The temporary ban will remain in place until a legal challenge to the agreement is resolved.

The White House announced Thursday that the United States planned to establish the Kenyan facility to isolate American citizens who had encountered Ebola exposure. Under the proposal, these individuals would not be returned to American soil if they showed symptoms, but would instead be transported to a third nation.

The Katiba Institute, a Kenyan rights organization, filed the legal challenge on Thursday to block the facility’s creation.

“The secretive, unilateral establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility raises grave constitutional concerns regarding the rights to life, health, fair administrative action, public participation, and parliamentary oversight,” the rights group said.

Judge Nyaundi scheduled the next court proceeding for June 2 to continue hearing arguments in the case.

Economic analysts predict China’s manufacturing sector likely stagnated during May after experiencing growth for the previous two months, with weakening consumer demand domestically and rising costs from the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran potentially impacting factory production.

Economists surveyed by Reuters anticipate the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index will decline to 50 from April’s reading of 50.3, reaching the critical mark that divides expansion from decline. The median prediction from 14 economic experts suggests this downturn.

The National Bureau of Statistics plans to publish the PMI data on Sunday, which should provide insight into how continued supply chain interruptions and price increases from the ongoing Middle East crisis affected Chinese manufacturers, particularly with the Strait of Hormuz oil transportation route staying mostly blocked.

Data released earlier in May showed conflicting signals about China’s economic performance in April, with overseas shipments jumping significantly while domestic retail activity and factory output growth weakened. Manufacturing costs climbed as producer prices increased sharply, though industrial company earnings posted their strongest gains since November 2023.

The economy faces challenges from continued sluggish domestic consumption and excess manufacturing capacity, leaving it vulnerable to external threats like fluctuating energy costs and protective trade policies from international partners. However, worldwide demand for artificial intelligence technology has boosted orders for Chinese-manufactured electronics, supporting growth in high-tech manufacturing and maintaining strong export performance.

While U.S. President Donald Trump’s May visit to Beijing produced limited major agreements, both governments committed after the meeting to pursue mutual tariff reductions on goods worth $30 billion or more. China’s Commerce Ministry expressed hopes that the U.S. would “honour its commitment” to keep tariff rates on Chinese products at or below levels established in last year’s trade agreement.

Strong export performance and China’s energy stockpiles have so far protected the economy from war-related impacts and lessened pressure for significant economic stimulus programs, particularly after officials established more modest growth objectives for this year.

However, if cost burdens continue increasing, government leaders may need to strengthen domestic consumer spending, stabilize employment conditions, and provide additional support for the troubled housing market to protect against international economic uncertainties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears poised to dramatically intensify his military campaign against Ukraine as his forces encounter battlefield setbacks and domestic support for the conflict begins to waver.

Military analysts suggest Putin is preparing to significantly increase aerial bombardments of Ukraine’s capital, hoping such actions will boost his declining popularity at home and convince a increasingly doubtful Russian public that Moscow is prevailing in the conflict, which has now entered its fifth year.

Moscow’s threat to conduct “consistent and systematic” missile attacks on Kyiv, coupled with demands that foreign diplomatic missions evacuate the capital, demonstrates Putin’s plan to expand Russia’s bombardment campaign despite significant costs and potential global condemnation.

Large-scale exercises of Russia’s nuclear arsenal earlier this month and aggressive rhetoric from Moscow warning Ukraine’s European partners about possible retaliation for what the Kremlin describes as their participation in Ukrainian drone operations have highlighted Putin’s determination to raise the stakes.

Following territorial gains last year, Russia’s progress along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) battle line has recently stalled, while Ukraine’s military has conducted effective counterattacks and regained territory.

“The character of the war is shifting in favor of Ukrainian forces, at least for now,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a recent analysis. “Russian forces’ rates of advances are stagnating while Ukrainian forces are employing novel tactics and operational concepts in efforts to break out of positional warfare.”

The military deadlock undermines Putin’s stated objective of rapidly seizing the eastern Donetsk region that remains under Ukrainian authority. Kyiv has refused his demands to retreat from the area as a precondition for ending hostilities.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has substantially increased its long-distance attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and weapons manufacturing facilities, causing growing destruction.

Putin reduced the scope of the annual May 9 Victory Day parade, concerned about Ukrainian drone attacks. Shortly afterward, a large drone assault on Moscow’s outskirts resulted in three deaths and demonstrated that even the heavily defended capital remains vulnerable to strikes, undermining Kremlin attempts to portray the war as a remote conflict that doesn’t impact regular Russians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks were “significantly changing the situation — and, more broadly, the world’s perception of Russia’s war.”

Recognizing the increasing danger of Ukraine’s deep-strike capabilities, Russian legislators this week passed legislation requiring the country’s financial institutions to fund the installation of drone-jamming equipment at their locations, rather than depending on military protection.

“From Russia’s perspective, these attacks are just going to get worse,” said Thomas Withington of the Royal United Services Institute in London. He added that Ukraine’s increasingly audacious drone attacks were “exacting not only a political but an economic cost in Russia.”

Russia’s economy has stalled as the initial stimulus from enormous military expenditures has diminished. The administration has increased taxes and expanded domestic borrowing to maintain budget balance. Despite windfall oil profits from the U.S. war in Iran, core economic problems persist.

Putin is anticipated to minimize these negative trends at next week’s international economic forum in St. Petersburg, an annual gathering designed to highlight Russia’s accomplishments.

Nigel Gould-Davies of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said in an analysis that “war-fueled high prices of capital, labor and goods, as well as rising taxes, have begun to depress the civilian sectors,” resulting in “a dual economy of overheated military output and civilian stagnation.”

Although Russia has depended on volunteer forces to conduct the war, providing them relatively generous compensation and additional benefits, Gould-Davies contended that “there are signs that this incentive may no longer be working effectively, and that Russia has begun to lose more troops than it can recruit.”

To maintain the war effort, the Kremlin must compel mobilization of human and material resources, requiring it to “curtail the last remaining post-Soviet market freedoms, labor freedom, and freedom of movement,” he said.

Indicating growing dissatisfaction, some social media personalities who previously supported the Kremlin have begun publicly criticizing government actions.

Government moves to limit mobile internet access and block widely-used messaging applications have disrupted daily life for millions, generating public complaints. Natalya Kasperskaya, a prominent IT entrepreneur and strong Kremlin ally, sharply condemned the shutdowns and efforts to block virtual private networks, warning they inflict massive harm on the technology industry.

Tatyana Stanovaya, a Russia expert who founded the R.Politik newsletter focused on Kremlin politics, noted the expanding Ukrainian drone attacks along with mobile internet shutdowns and increasing taxes have weakened Putin’s position. While he faces no immediate challenges to his authority, “the gradual fading of Putin’s credibility is real,” she said.

During early spring, Russian public opinion surveys, including one conducted by a government-operated polling organization, showed a decline in Putin’s approval numbers, though they increased slightly in May in the state-controlled poll after the organization modified its methodology to include in-person interviews. Many experts believe the figures may be exaggerated amid an extensive crackdown on opposition.

“Putin is losing his magic,” Alexander Baunov of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center wrote in a commentary. “Power remains undivided in his hands, but its spell is fading. Even loyalists complain about the mounting restrictions and repression, and once-upbeat businesspeople are now despondent.”

Following a May 22 Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine that Moscow claimed killed 21 people, Putin authorized a massive missile attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas. Sunday’s bombardment that included Russia’s new hypersonic Oreshnik missile resulted in two deaths, injured dozens, and destroyed or damaged numerous structures.

On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced Moscow will conduct “consistent and systematic” attacks on Kyiv to target drone manufacturing sites and “decision-making centers.” It called on foreign diplomats to evacuate the capital — a request Ukraine’s allies rejected.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov contacted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to alert him of the planned strikes and advocate for the evacuation of American diplomats.

“The danger in all of these wars as they continue and then they go on is that they always have the threat of escalation, of spreading into something new,” Rubio told reporters after the call.

The Iran war has essentially suspended U.S. diplomatic efforts in Ukraine and depleted American missile stockpiles, postponing the shipment of U.S.-manufactured Patriot missiles that Ukraine urgently requires to defend against Russian attacks.

Moscow-based military analyst Sergei Poletaev said Russia views the shortage of air defense systems in Kyiv as an advantage.

“Kyiv’s air defenses have been exhausted enough to make a massive attack efficient,” he said in a recent commentary.

Along with the announced offensive against Kyiv, Russia issued numerous threats directed at Ukraine’s European partners.

The Defense Ministry released a list of European facilities it claimed were participating in producing drones and components for Ukraine. Moscow’s Foreign Intelligence Service warned the Baltic nations that their NATO membership won’t shield them from Moscow’s retaliation if they permit Ukraine to conduct attacks from their territory. Those allies have rejected Moscow’s accusations.

“We are actually very, very close to direct military confrontation,” said Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are scheduled to participate in a commemorative summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia this June, according to the Philippines’ top diplomat on Friday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro announced on X that she had a phone conversation with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, regarding ASEAN’s upcoming gathering in the Russian city of Kazan.

According to the Russian Embassy in Manila, Lavrov and Lazaro discussed “the prospects of expanding Russia’s strategic partnership” with ASEAN in preparation for the June 17 to 18 summit.

ASEAN’s membership consists of the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.

While the majority of ASEAN member states supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia for its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine, the regional organization has continued its relationship with Moscow as a “dialogue partner” and participates in annual high-level meetings with Russian officials.

The diverse ASEAN membership includes states with varying international alignments. Some nations, such as Washington’s treaty ally the Philippines, which currently holds the association’s yearly rotating presidency, are viewed as aligned with the United States. Other members maintain significant trade and security relationships with China and Russia. Vietnam and Laos chose to abstain from the UN General Assembly resolution regarding the attack on Ukraine.

Multiple ASEAN members, including the Philippines Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, have either imported or shown interest in buying Russian crude oil following the spike in global fuel prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February.

A Philippine government official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will participate in the summit with Putin.

Singapore’s participation remains uncertain. The prosperous island nation has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and implemented sanctions against Moscow.

Myanmar’s leader, despite the country currently coordinating ASEAN’s relations with Russia, will probably be barred from attending. ASEAN has banned Myanmar’s leaders from participating in high-level meetings, including annual summits with Asian and Western nations, following Myanmar’s military forcibly removing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in 2021, which triggered a civil war. Lower-level career diplomats have been permitted to participate.

In 2021, ASEAN leaders put forward a five-point peace plan calling for an immediate cessation of fighting and hostilities, but Myanmar’s government has not succeeded in ending the violence or promoting dialogue.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces mounting political challenges as members abandon his party to join a rival organization established by a former ally, according to political observers and legislators.

Ibrahim assumed leadership in November 2022 following more than twenty years leading opposition efforts against government corruption.

Although his administration has brought political stability back to Malaysia, questions have emerged regarding his anti-corruption commitments, the pace of government reform efforts, and increasing discord within his governing coalition.

Rafizi Ramli, a former economic minister previously considered a possible successor to Ibrahim, declared earlier this month his intention to leave the prime minister’s People’s Justice Party (PKR), resign from parliament, and lead the relatively unknown Malaysia United Party, known as Bersama.

According to party officials, Bersama has attracted over 18,000 membership requests, with approximately one-third coming from previous PKR members.

Although most departing PKR members have been grassroots supporters or local officials rather than parliamentarians – who are legally prohibited from switching parties while serving – the scale of departures has sparked concerns about Ibrahim’s capacity to maintain power should internal coalition conflicts trigger early elections.

Hassan Abdul Karim, a PKR legislator and long-time Ibrahim ally, stated on social media Thursday that he had stopped attempting to prevent member departures because leadership ignored their grievances. Despite maintaining faith in PKR, he described the party as currently “hurt, wounded and critically injured.”

Hassan told Reuters separately that Bersama might attract substantial support from undecided voters, younger citizens, and those focused on economic issues.

“If more PKR members of parliament who support Rafizi leave the party, Anwar will lose legitimacy as prime minister,” he said.

Ibrahim’s office did not provide comment when contacted.

PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh, who also serves as a deputy minister, told Reuters there was “no noticeable exodus of members leaving PKR to join Bersama.”

Government spokesperson and PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil also minimized reports of mass departures this week, noting that 5,000 people had joined during the previous two months and total membership exceeded one million.

The resignations do not immediately threaten Ibrahim’s position as prime minister, since he retains parliamentary majority support.

However, University of Nottingham Asia political analyst Bridget Welsh said the PKR division would hurt the party’s electoral prospects and diminish Ibrahim’s chances for a second term as prime minister.

“Equally important, are perceptions of how Anwar is managing his own party, as problems within PKR do not reflect well,” she said.

While the next general election is scheduled for early 2028, Ibrahim indicated earlier this month he might call early voting if administrative divisions continue expanding.

Dissatisfaction has increased among the premier’s reform-minded supporters regarding the government’s handling of an anti-corruption agency scandal, while coalition partners have occasionally disagreed over approaches to ethnic and religious matters in the diverse, Muslim-majority nation.

Two legislators told Reuters in March that national elections might occur as early as July alongside several anticipated state elections.

“We believe that a political party must practise the values of reform and democracy that it proclaims to the people. Unfortunately, we no longer see these principles being practised consistently in PKR today,” 21 local PKR members stated in a joint Monday announcement of their immediate party departure.

Multiple regional PKR leaders have also resigned this month in similar circumstances, with one stating that Rafizi’s Bersama represents a continuation of PKR’s founding principles.

Australia’s opposition Liberal Party has chosen former Prime Minister Tony Abbott as its new president, marking a decisive shift toward conservative politics as the party struggles to recover from major electoral defeats.

The center-right Liberals, who once controlled Australian politics, have faced significant challenges following devastating losses in 2022 and 2025 elections. During those contests, they surrendered large portions of their traditional urban strongholds to centrist independent candidates and Labor opponents.

Current polling data indicates the party now trails behind an emerging populist right movement, spearheaded by the One Nation party.

Party leader Angus Taylor, who took over from a more moderate predecessor in February, has already committed to reducing immigration, lowering taxes, expanding mining and gas operations, and slowing emission reduction efforts – all positions that align with Abbott’s views.

In a recent blog entry, Abbott expressed his support for the new direction, stating: “The Taylor-led Coalition is resolved to be a clear alternative, keeping government within limits and unleashing the talents of the Australian people, via our proven ability to drill, dig, and grow our way to prosperity.” Abbott did not respond to requests for comment.

The former prime minister faced no opposition and received confirmation during Friday afternoon’s party meeting, according to a party spokesperson.

Zareh Ghazarian, an associate professor of politics at Monash University, characterized the situation bluntly: “This is a party really on the ropes.”

“It needs to do something to get out of this rut,” he explained. “Bringing in a high-profile national president would potentially be a way to do that, putting the party on a more attacking footing.”

Abbott’s new role operates outside parliamentary duties. He will oversee party operations and influence governance decisions, membership matters, fundraising efforts, and strategic planning.

Recent polling highlights the magnitude of the Liberal Party’s predicament. A survey conducted this week suggests that if elections were held today, the party would secure just 12 seats in the 150-member federal parliament – its worst showing ever – while completely eliminating its coalition partner, the Nationals.

Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, an anti-immigration movement experiencing renewed support, would capture 53 seats to become the nation’s primary right-wing faction and main opposition force, according to the Access Group and Redbridge poll.

Abbott addressed this challenge directly in his blog, writing: “It’s been the Liberal Party’s political timidity that’s driven the rise of One Nation, with conservative voters despairing of ever again having a champion to vote for.”

The 68-year-old Abbott brings a reputation as a conservative Catholic, devoted monarchist, and fitness enthusiast. Party members regard him as one of their most effective campaigners and the most recent Liberal leader to successfully win power from opposition status.

His 2013 electoral victory came through a landslide campaign built around memorable three-word messages targeting illegal immigration, carbon taxes, and government expenditures: ‘stop the boats’, ‘axe the tax’, and ‘stop the waste’. Despite this success, party colleagues removed him from leadership and the prime minister’s office after only two years through an internal vote.

When asked for response, a spokesperson for Taylor referenced a recent media appearance where he expressed enthusiasm for Abbott’s appointment. “He’s going to work with me and rebuild the party,” Taylor stated during the interview.

Sarah Cameron, who lectures in public policy at Griffith University, suggested that while Abbott might help the Liberal Party secure conservative backing, Australia’s mandatory voting system typically rewards parties that appeal to moderate voters.

Abbott himself lost his parliamentary seat seven years ago to centrist independent candidate Zali Steggall.

Steggall told reporters that voters “made a decisive choice in 2019 to reject the politics Mr Abbott represented: division, climate denial and culture wars.”

“Reinstalling one of the key architects of the Liberal Party’s decline suggests the party has learnt very little,” she concluded.

Satellite imagery has uncovered a massive military construction project in China’s remote desert regions, where security experts believe the country is building extensive infrastructure to safeguard its nuclear missile capabilities from potential first strikes.

The satellite photos examined by news organizations show China constructing an expansive network of launch platforms, protective bunkers and communication centers near the isolated nuclear missile sites housing the military’s most powerful long-range weapons.

According to three security analysts who reviewed the imagery, the photographs reveal more than 80 platforms that could accommodate China’s growing collection of mobile missile systems and air-defense equipment. The facilities may also support electronic warfare operations, satellite communications and command functions.

This previously unreported construction demonstrates a major expansion of reinforced infrastructure meant to protect and operate China’s ground-based nuclear capabilities. The network represents a substantial upgrade in the country’s efforts to maintain second-strike abilities, highlighting escalating nuclear rivalry with the United States amid growing tensions over Taiwan’s status.

“We can see this infrastructure is being built on a grand scale, covering thousands of square kilometers of desert beyond the silo fields,” said Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at Hawaii’s Pacific Forum think tank. Based on the potential capabilities, he noted, “we’re looking at a very considerable enhancement and diversification of China’s strategic nuclear deterrent.”

Protecting these desert installations is crucial to China’s declared objective of maintaining a minimal yet effective nuclear deterrent — a strategy based on the ability to strike back if attacked first. Although the People’s Liberation Army can launch nuclear weapons from submarines and aircraft, the missile sites in northwestern Xinjiang region and Gansu province form the foundation of its nuclear arsenal.

China’s nuclear expansion ranks among the most closely watched aspects of President Xi Jinping’s military modernization efforts, partly due to what some foreign diplomats characterize as insufficient transparency from the country and unsuccessful American attempts to engage Chinese leadership about their developing nuclear capabilities and goals.

A fundamental element of China’s approach is its “no first use” policy, indicating its forces would not begin a nuclear conflict. However, some senior Western diplomats and analysts suggest China might potentially use nuclear threats to discourage outside intervention in a Taiwan conflict.

Earlier this month, Xi cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump that poor management of their nations’ Taiwan disputes, which China considers its territory, could bring them to a “dangerous place.” Taiwan’s government disputes China’s territorial claims.

China’s defense ministry did not respond to inquiries about its nuclear program and the developments shown in the satellite images. The Pentagon declined to comment on intelligence-related issues.

The new desert facilities center on two octagon-shaped installations constructed over the past six years in eastern Xinjiang. Both are located southwest of the Hami nuclear missile sites — one approximately 140 kilometers away, the other roughly 230 kilometers distant.

Satellite images reveal the octagonal structures house personnel quarters and large military vehicles. They are surrounded by armored bunkers and fortified weapons storage areas, plus airfields and rail connections linking the octagons to the Hami installations.

Images show exercises involving large military vehicles took place around the northern octagon this month and in April. Recent photographs also display large tents and what two analysts identified as camouflaged launch sites carved into the desert, some equipped with air-defense missile systems.

While the octagons have been documented before, this is the first report detailing the scope of the launch-pad network connected to the octagons, recent military activity at one facility, and analysts’ evaluations that the pads could accommodate mobile missile launchers and electronic-warfare operations.

Five security scholars consulted agreed the infrastructure could broadly support China’s nuclear program and other military functions. However, they noted that crucial details remain unclear — including what weapons China might position at the launch pads and whether the octagon structures contain truck-mounted ballistic missiles or nuclear warhead assembly facilities.

The PLA showcased nuclear-capable weapons during a Beijing parade last September marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end. These included silo-based and truck-mounted intercontinental ballistic missiles.

U.S. officials and arms-control experts say China is expanding and upgrading its nuclear weapons capabilities more rapidly than any other country. The most recent Pentagon assessment of China’s military modernization indicates the nation’s warhead production has decelerated but remains on course to deploy 1,000 warheads by 2030. The December report estimated China likely has positioned 100 ICBMs across its three primary silo locations.

China has also been enhancing its early-warning capabilities, supported by its Huoyan-1 satellites, according to U.S. officials. The system can identify an approaching ICBM within 90 seconds of launch and notify a command center within three to four minutes, according to the Pentagon — enough time for China to launch its own silo-based weapons before impact.

Each octagon anchors a network of dirt roads and conduits extending deep into the desert. These pathways connect to concrete platforms positioned among rocky formations and dry creek beds.

Three security scholars said the platforms could deploy mobile air-defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment or, from some larger ones, road-mobile ICBM launchers.

Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project, said while determining how the various installations would be utilized was challenging, “it is hard to rule anything out” considering the infrastructure’s scale in such a harsh environment.

Kristensen and Neill suggested the conduits linking the pads to the octagon structures might house fiber-optic cables for communications.

At the northernmost octagon, three analysts identified a possible space or microwave communications facility under construction, pointing to satellite dishes and two large towers.

“Taken together, I think there is a real possibility that the octagonal structures and the strange towers are linked to C3 — command, control, and communications — as well as maintenance and storage activities related to China’s nuclear operations at the Hami ICBM silo site,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow in nuclear policy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

A third octagon-shaped facility south of the Lop Nur nuclear test sites is less advanced. It appears to function as a target range: Images reveal pock-marked terrain, damaged structures and what analysts at Vantor, a commercial satellite imagery provider, identified as replicas of Western jet fighters.

The scope of the defensive network surrounding its silos potentially distinguishes China from other major nuclear powers. The U.S. and Russia — whose warhead inventories and deployed weapons greatly surpass those of China — depend on a combination of large numbers of silos, their remote locations and reinforced construction to prevent a first strike, rather than extensive missile defense, Kristensen explained.

The magnitude of what is developing in China’s northwestern desert has surprised even experienced analysts.

“I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” Kristensen said. “It’s an extraordinary effort.”

TORONTO — A Toronto-area man facing charges for allegedly providing deadly substances to individuals who used them to take their own lives will enter a guilty plea this Friday to 14 counts of counseling or aiding suicide, according to his legal representative.

Kenneth Law is set to appear before a Newmarket, Ontario court to formally enter his plea, with sentencing proceedings anticipated to follow at a later date. In exchange for Law’s guilty plea, Canadian prosecutors have agreed to drop 14 murder charges, confirmed his attorney Matthew Gourlay.

Law’s case has triggered investigations spanning multiple continents, with law enforcement agencies worldwide examining more than 100 deaths potentially connected to his activities. The Canadian charges specifically involve 14 individuals throughout Ontario, ranging in age from 16 to 36 years old.

Investigators say Law operated multiple websites to advertise and distribute sodium nitrite, a chemical typically used in meat preservation that becomes lethal when consumed. Law allegedly distributed at least 1,200 packages across more than 40 nations, with approximately 160 shipments reportedly going to Canadian addresses, according to police reports.

Law has remained in custody since authorities arrested him at his Mississauga, Ontario residence in May 2023. Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Britain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand have also launched their own investigations into his alleged activities.

British authorities reported in 2023 that they were examining 88 deaths involving individuals who purchased items from Canada-based websites that allegedly provided lethal materials to vulnerable people considering self-harm.

Under Canadian law, those convicted of aiding suicide face potential sentences of up to 14 years in prison, while first-degree murder convictions carry mandatory life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 25 years.

A coroner in New Zealand determined that four suicide victims in that country had purchased materials online from a business connected to Law, though the coroner noted that Law’s actions fall outside New Zealand’s legal jurisdiction.

While recommending suicide remains illegal under Canadian law, medically assisted dying has been permitted since 2016 for individuals 18 and older. Adults suffering from serious illnesses, diseases or disabilities may request assistance in dying, but must obtain help from a licensed physician.

Financial markets face a weekend of uncertainty as they wait for U.S. President Donald Trump to make a crucial decision on a reported agreement with Iran, according to sources who spoke with Reuters.

The potential deal would extend the current ceasefire between the two nations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but Trump’s final approval remains the last hurdle before implementation.

Asian markets showed little movement early in the trading day. Currency values remained stable while bond markets maintained their weekly gains, as traders believe rising fuel costs may pressure Trump to approve the agreement.

The push for Middle Eastern stability is gaining momentum as global borrowing costs climb higher. Financial experts worry that increased interest rates could worsen economic pressures and hurt investment markets.

European nations will release new inflation data on Friday, and while economists predict only minor increases, the numbers will likely strengthen expectations for interest rate increases in June.

Japan’s inflation remained under the country’s 2% goal for the fourth consecutive month, according to Friday’s data from Tokyo. However, improving manufacturing production continues to support the possibility of a Japanese rate increase next month.

Currency traders are watching the yen carefully as it hovers near 160 per dollar, a threshold that has made investors cautious about challenging government intervention to protect the currency.

Technology stocks continued their artificial intelligence-driven rally. Dell’s stock price jumped 39% in extended trading after the company increased its AI server revenue projections. In Hong Kong, computer manufacturer Lenovo has seen dramatic gains, rising 18% and posting a weekly increase of nearly 50% – its biggest weekly jump since 1997.

Friday’s key market influences include inflation reports from Germany, France, and Italy, Canadian economic growth data, and continued developments in U.S.-Iran negotiations.