Category: World News

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s president moved Sunday to break a growing political deadlock, naming a former mayor as his new candidate for prime minister after his earlier choice failed to build enough support to move forward.

President Nicusor Dan put forward Adrian Vestea, a 53-year-old career politician from central Brasov County and a longtime member of the National Liberal Party, to attempt to form a new government. Vestea marks Dan’s second prime ministerial pick this month. His previous nominee, Eugen Tomac, was unable to present a cabinet to Parliament within the required 10-day window.

Speaking at the presidential Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, Dan announced the change directly. “Eugen Tomac withdrew his mandate this morning and … I nominate Adrian Vestea as prime minister,” he said. The nomination still requires approval from lawmakers before it can take effect.

Dan defended his choice by pointing to Vestea’s extensive background in public administration. He noted that Vestea had “gone through all the administrative stages” over the course of his career, having served as mayor of a small town and as county council president of Brasov, where he successfully brought in European funding.

“He was a successful mayor, he was a successful county council president, he was a successful minister,” Dan said. “He is a categorically pro-Western person … a person who has worked for a long time with budgets. So I am convinced that he will successfully fulfill this task.”

Vestea, who held the role of development minister from 2023 to 2024, addressed reporters at the palace and outlined his vision. He said he hopes to lead a “political government that will undertake real reforms and keep Romania on a pro-Western path.”

“We are the sixth largest country in Europe, and we need to put a major emphasis on development,” Vestea added. “Which I will do from day one.”

The back-to-back nominations this month follow a no-confidence vote in May that brought down Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. With the next general election not set until 2028, the country faces an extended period of political uncertainty.

Romania is currently dealing with one of the highest budget deficits among European Union member nations, along with widespread inflation and a technical recession. When the governing coalition took power in June 2025, reducing the budget deficit was listed as a top priority. Bolojan had been sworn in with the goal of resolving what was described as one of Romania’s most severe political crises since the end of communist rule, but he remained in office for less than a year.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s top intelligence agency announced Sunday that it is setting up a new online reporting channel designed to allow Chinese nationals to safely submit tips and sensitive information, as tensions between Beijing and the self-governed island continue to run high.

The National Security Bureau of Taiwan said the new webpage will serve as a protected avenue for Chinese citizens to pass along intelligence. Officials noted that a growing number of individuals have recently reached out to Taiwanese agencies expressing a desire to share various kinds of information.

In an official statement, the bureau pointed to conditions inside China as a driving factor. “In recent years, China’s economy has faced mounting difficulties, while political control has remained tight,” the statement read. “Coupled with a growing range of social and livelihood-related problems, these conditions have fueled public discontent.”

Taiwanese officials said the decision was inspired by approaches already in use by intelligence agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

The move echoes a similar effort by the CIA, which last year released Mandarin-language videos on social media encouraging unhappy Chinese government officials to make contact and share information.

China has also made its own moves on this front, previously launching an online platform aimed at gathering reports of what it calls “Taiwan independence” activities, with the stated goal of holding what it describes as “separatists” accountable.

The roots of the conflict stretch back to 1949, when China and Taiwan were divided following a civil war. Beijing has long viewed Taiwan as part of its own territory and has insisted the island must eventually come under its authority — by force if necessary.

The latest developments come after U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing in mid-May for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. During that meeting, Xi warned Trump that the two nations could come into conflict over Taiwan if the matter was not carefully managed.

Military tensions have also been visible in recent days. China has conducted large-scale military drills near Taiwan, while on Wednesday, Taiwan’s armed forces fired rockets toward China from mobile launch vehicles in a show of force intended to demonstrate how the island might defend itself against an attack.

NEW DELHI — An Indian citizen died from medical complications while aboard the tanker MT Celestial, which was docked at Duqm Port in Oman, according to a statement released late Saturday by the Indian embassy in Muscat.

The embassy announced on social media that steps are being taken to return the sailor’s remains to India as quickly as possible. “Necessary arrangements are being made for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India,” the embassy wrote.

India has a massive maritime workforce, with more than 300,000 seafarers serving on ships around the world, according to government figures. A shipping ministry official noted last week that more than 18,000 of those sailors are currently working in the Middle East.

The incident comes just days after three Indian seafarers lost their lives in a U.S. military strike on a tanker off the coast of Oman — a strike that occurred more than three months into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. That event drew sharp criticism from the Indian public and opposition political parties.

Opposition leaders have called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring up the matter directly with U.S. President Donald Trump when the two are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit later this week.

On Friday, India took the unusual step of filing a second formal protest with the United States over the strike. India’s foreign ministry said it summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires to express “its deep concern over the use of lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping.”

The sailor who died aboard the MT Celestial has been identified as 35-year-old Nishanth Uirthanathan. He passed away on June 11, and according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India, his body remained on the vessel for more than two days without proper refrigeration.

The union shared a video on social media that it said was taken aboard the tanker, describing a desperate situation. “Crew is using cold water bottles in a desperate attempt to slow decomposition — a horrifying and health-risking situation,” the union wrote.

WARSAW — Romania’s centrist president, Nicusor Dan, announced Sunday that he is nominating Adrian Vestea, a member of the liberal party, to serve as the country’s next prime minister. The announcement came after independent candidate Eugen Tomac stepped down from consideration earlier that morning.

Vestea, who is 52 years old, currently serves as the county council president of Brasov, a county in central Romania. Tomac had been attempting to form a government made up of technocrats — non-partisan policy experts — but was unable to secure enough backing from Romania’s parliamentary parties.

President Dan addressed the change directly on Sunday, stating, “Eugen Tomac withdrew his mandate this morning and as such I nominate Adrian Vestea as prime minister.” He added, “At the moment it is clear that a political (government) solution is the right one.”

Parties represented in Romania’s parliament had previously argued that a minority political government — one without a guaranteed majority — would be a preferable outcome compared to a technocrat-led administration.

The nomination is part of President Dan’s broader push to bring an end to a political standstill that has slowed government decision-making, put European Union funding at risk, and pushed Romania’s currency, the leu, to record low values. Once nominated, Vestea has a 10-day window to put together a cabinet and secure a parliamentary vote of confidence.

Romania’s next scheduled parliamentary election is not set to take place until 2028. The country has never held an early election, and political analysts suggest the chances of one occurring now are slim, particularly given that far-right opposition parties are currently leading in public opinion polls by a wide margin over pro-European political groups.

Four major banks in Iran had their services disrupted Sunday following a cyberattack, though officials say no customer information was put at risk, according to reports from state media.

Iran’s banking coordination council confirmed the attack hit a shared communications network connecting Bank Melli, Bank Tejarat, Bank Saderat, and the Export Development Bank of Iran. In response, technical teams moved quickly to put protective measures in place, which temporarily affected some banking services.

The council stressed that no customer data had been accessed without authorization and that nothing had been deleted. Officials added that recovery efforts are currently underway to bring services back to normal.

GENEVA — Swiss citizens cast their votes Sunday on a controversial measure that would place a hard ceiling on the country’s population at 10 million people, an effort led by the nation’s dominant right-wing political party.

The Swiss People’s Party, which holds more seats in parliament than any other party, has spent years stoking concerns about immigration — particularly the steady flow of workers arriving from neighboring European Union countries. The party is behind what it calls the “sustainability initiative,” arguing that population growth has put serious strain on Switzerland’s housing, infrastructure, social services, natural resources, and overall quality of life.

But opponents of the measure say it would do more harm than good. They argue that the wave of immigration over the past several decades has been a net positive, supplying skilled workers to key industries including healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, and technology. There are also concerns that passing the measure could damage Switzerland’s relationship with the EU, which is the country’s largest trading partner.

Switzerland’s federal government and parliament both stand in opposition to the initiative.

If voters approve the measure, the Swiss government would be required to take steps to keep the population below 10 million by the year 2050. Should the population hit 9.5 million before that deadline, the government would be compelled to tighten rules around asylum seekers, family reunification, and residency permits. It could also be forced to abandon Switzerland’s agreement with the EU allowing people to freely live and work across their shared borders.

A recent survey from polling agency gfs.bern indicated the vote was shaping up to be a tight race.

Switzerland operates under a direct democracy system that allows citizens to weigh in on policy decisions through referendums, which are typically held four times each year. The majority of votes are submitted by mail, with in-person polling closing at noon local time on Sunday.

According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 32% of Switzerland’s population was foreign-born as of 2024 — a share exceeded only by Luxembourg and Australia among the group’s 38 member nations.

Since Switzerland and the EU opened their borders to one another’s citizens in 2002, Switzerland’s population has climbed 23%, reaching 9.1 million by the close of last year. Over that same stretch, the country’s economic output grew by 24%, according to government figures.

Immigration has been a recurring flashpoint across Europe, where countries face the dual pressures of aging populations and rising anti-foreigner sentiment. In Switzerland’s case, however, most of the foreign-born residents are fellow Europeans — a distinction from other parts of the continent where concerns tend to focus on migrants from developing nations.

Swiss voters have confronted immigration-related questions at the ballot box many times over the past 50 years. Only one such vote has succeeded — a 2014 referendum titled “Against mass immigration” — which squeaked through after campaigners raised alarms about overpopulation and a growing Muslim presence in the country.

Experts in Switzerland note that while many countries place limits on who can immigrate, no nation has ever gone so far as to vote on capping its total population size.

British armed forces stopped a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker from passing through the English Channel on Sunday, June 14, in an operation personally ordered by the country’s prime minister.

The tanker, identified as the SMYRTOS, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos working alongside specially trained law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency, according to a statement released by Britain’s Ministry of Defence.

The vessel is being held and monitored off the southern coast of Britain while an investigation moves forward. Officials noted that the enforcement action took place within British territorial waters and was carried out in full compliance with both domestic and international law.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that he gave the order for the interception to take place.

“This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide,” Starmer wrote in a post on X.

GENEVA — Wooden panels now cover the windows and doors of countless shops and businesses in downtown Geneva, as owners brace for large-scale anti-G7 demonstrations planned for Sunday.

Both French and Swiss authorities have put sweeping security measures in place ahead of a G7 summit of leading industrialized nations that kicks off Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump and other world leaders are expected to attend, and officials fear the high-profile gathering could spark violent unrest.

The summit, scheduled for June 15 through 17, is being held in the French town of Evian-les-Bains along the shores of Lake Geneva. Discussions are expected to center on the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and global economic imbalances. A range of activist groups — including environmentalists, feminists, and opponents of capitalism — have called for a large rally Sunday.

On Saturday, roughly 20 boats sailed across Lake Geneva near Evian, flying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners. According to Swiss media, about 20 protesters were taken into custody Friday evening. Earlier, between 100 and 150 people took part in a protest bicycle ride through Geneva, slowing traffic while chanting anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian slogans, according to public broadcaster RTS.

Much of the anxiety stems from memories of the G8 summit in 2003, when Geneva saw widespread property destruction as protests turned violent. Local resident Robin Hedz described the current scene as a “mess” and said he was puzzled by the “wood-wall everywhere,” though he acknowledged the city’s painful history with summit-related unrest.

The Swiss government announced that approximately 4,000 military personnel will be deployed to assist police throughout the summit. Security operations will include restrictions on airspace and roadways, as well as patrols on Lake Geneva. Of 35 border road crossings, only seven will remain open. The city is also shutting down a major park that activists had intended to use as a gathering spot.

Across the border in France, more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers will be on duty in the summit zone. French border control staffing is surging from roughly 60 officers under normal conditions to more than 800. French gendarmes were already visible Saturday, patrolling by motorboat off the Evian coastline, with one officer seen carrying a large drone-interception device.

Protests at high-profile international summits are not unusual, but this time demonstrators say they have a long list of grievances. Activists are voicing frustration over Trump’s positions on tariffs, the war in Iran, and climate change, and some want to draw attention to his past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Francoise Nyffeler, a spokesperson for the NoG7 coalition organizing Sunday’s march, explained the motivation behind the protest. “We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr. Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place,” she said.

“The planet is in danger and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” Nyffeler added.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A shark attack off a popular Sydney beach has prompted authorities in New South Wales to push for a review of drone flight restrictions, after a woman was left critically injured on Saturday morning.

Emergency crews responded to Coogee Beach in eastern Sydney after reports that a 35-year-old woman had been bitten by a large shark roughly 30 metres — about 100 feet — from the shoreline.

As of Sunday, the woman remained in critical but stable condition at St Vincent’s Hospital, according to a spokesperson who spoke with Reuters. She suffered serious injuries to her lower left leg and both arms.

Coogee Beach and several other beaches in the city’s Randwick Council area were shut down for 24 hours in the wake of the attack. Drones were deployed under emergency provisions to scan the waters for sharks during that time.

New South Wales Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty addressed the growing concern over shark activity in the region. “It’s been a really tough summer of shark activity and shark attacks in Sydney and it’s something that the NSW government is taking really, really seriously,” she said.

Moriarty added that the government would explore new measures to protect swimmers, including expanded use of drones and other surveillance technology.

While Australian lifesavers routinely use drones to watch for sharks, Coogee Beach has long faced restrictions on commercial drone flights because it falls beneath the flight path of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Following Saturday’s attack, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority released a statement indicating the agency would look into modifying the existing rules.

A paddleboard champion and off-duty lifeguard, 25-year-old Charlie Verco, was credited with rescuing the woman and bringing her safely to shore. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Verco described the terrifying moment he spotted a three-to-four-metre shark near a group of swimmers.

“I just looked at the beach, tried to signal to the lifeguards, a big code X, to get them to understand how it was going on out there, clear the water if they could, and get the power craft out there,” Verco recalled.

He went on to describe the most harrowing part of the rescue: “She ended up getting taken underwater for a second. I couldn’t see where she was because it was all red. And luckily, she popped up and shark had let her go and I was able to get close enough to bring her into shore.”

Once on the beach, the woman was met by lifeguards, police, and medical personnel before being transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Saturday’s attack is part of a broader pattern of shark incidents across Australia this year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the country’s east and southeast coastline averages around 20 shark attacks annually, with that stretch of shoreline accounting for the majority of such incidents.

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s government took an unusual step Sunday, unveiling a new website designed to give Chinese citizens a secure way to pass along intelligence information — saying a growing number of people inside China are fed up and looking for change.

The two governments have a long history of spying on one another. China considers Taiwan its own territory, despite the island operating as a self-governed democracy. Taiwan has reported a rising number of Chinese espionage cases in recent years.

In explaining the new platform, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau pointed to worsening economic conditions on the mainland and what it described as continued tight political control. “Coupled with a growing range of social and livelihood-related problems, these conditions have fuelled public discontent,” the bureau said in a statement posted in both Chinese and English. “As a result, an increasing number of individuals have approached relevant agencies in Taiwan, wishing to provide various types of information.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not responded to a request for comment as of the time of this report.

When visitors open the website, they are greeted by a one-minute promotional video that the bureau said was created using artificial intelligence. The video depicts a Chinese civil servant watching as colleagues are investigated and removed from their positions one after another.

“Ah, yet another person has been taken away,” the unnamed civil servant says in the video, speaking in a northern Chinese accent. The dialogue appears with subtitles written in the simplified Chinese characters used in mainland China.

“The old comrades are inexplicably vanishing one by one,” a narrator adds.

The video concludes with the official purchasing a mobile phone and typing on it, accompanied by the words: “Now is the time to change.”

While the website is blocked within China, many Chinese citizens regularly use VPNs — tools that allow access to otherwise restricted sites such as Western social media platforms and search engines.

The bureau called on Chinese nationals both inside the country and living abroad to “actively provide information and make changes with courage.” Officials noted the approach mirrors tactics already used by intelligence agencies in countries including the United States, Britain, and Israel.

The platform is intended to allow Chinese nationals to share intelligence-related information in order to “expand the bureau’s diverse intelligence sources,” according to the bureau’s statement.

China has employed similar strategies in the past. In 2024, Beijing announced an email address where individuals could submit tips about alleged crimes committed by Taiwan “separatists.”

Taiwan’s government continues to reject China’s claims of sovereignty over the island, maintaining that only the Taiwanese people have the right to determine their own future.

Armed kidnappers in Haiti have seized one of the country’s top government and law enforcement figures in Port-au-Prince, in what is being described as the most high-profile abduction the nation has seen in years, according to media reports released Saturday.

James Boyard — who holds the dual roles of cabinet director at the Defense Ministry and inspector general of Haiti’s national police — was taken by force on Thursday from the Bourdon neighborhood of the capital. The Associated Press reported the details, citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

Boyard is considered one of Haiti’s foremost experts on security matters. His kidnapping represents a serious escalation in the targeting of high-ranking officials at a time when gang organizations have been steadily tightening their control over Port-au-Prince.

Abductions in Haiti have been on the rise as criminal networks continue to expand their reach, further eroding the government’s authority and deepening an already severe humanitarian and security crisis gripping the country.

As of Saturday, no official statement has been made by authorities regarding any efforts to secure Boyard’s release.

PARIS (AP) — When major economic powers first convened at a French chateau in 1975 to tackle a struggling global economy, China was never part of the conversation. That gathering — the first of what would become the annual G7 summit — brought together wealthy democratic nations to look out for their shared interests, and China simply didn’t fit the mold.

It wasn’t hard to understand why. The idea of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong sitting down with U.S. President Gerald Ford and other heads of state would have been absurd at the time.

China was in the middle of internal chaos and was nowhere near the economic powerhouse it has since become. Mao had also backed Ho Chi Minh’s communist forces — the same forces that defeated both France and the United States in Vietnam. That made him a highly unlikely guest at the inaugural Rambouillet summit, which started as a six-nation group before Canada joined the following year to form the G7.

Fast forward to today, and U.S. President Donald Trump is joining fellow G7 leaders in France for a Monday-through-Wednesday gathering — yet China’s continued absence from the club raises new questions, given how deeply Beijing now shapes the global economy.

The bottom line: Does the G7 still make sense without China at the table?

On raw economic terms alone, China has long since earned a spot. Since Mao’s death in 1976, decades of explosive growth have made China’s economy larger than those of Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Canada combined — with only the United States still ahead. Leaving China out, by this measure, is a bit like holding the soccer World Cup without Brazil, a five-time champion.

John Kirton, a G7 specialist at the University of Toronto, put it bluntly: From being “only a tiny, benign, panda bear” in 1975, “China has become a great global dragon.”

“So many understandably ask: Would the G7 and the global community be better off if China became a member of the G7 club? A plausible answer is ‘Yes,’” Kirton added.

Even Trump floated the idea a year ago, saying it “was not a bad idea” when a reporter raised the possibility of expanding the club to include China.

But there’s a longstanding, if unwritten, rule at the heart of the G7: membership is for democracies only.

The founding leaders made that clear in their 1975 Rambouillet declaration: “We are each responsible for the government of an open, democratic society, dedicated to individual liberty and social advancement.”

China fell far short of that standard under Mao, whose rule led to the deaths of tens of millions through famine and revolutionary violence. And under current leader President Xi Jinping, China still doesn’t clear the bar. Multiple global measures — including the annual Freedom in the World study, the World Press Freedom Index, and the Canadian Fraser Institute’s economic freedom rankings — place China well behind G7 nations when it comes to civil liberties.

Still, China’s influence is impossible to ignore. The country announced a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion in 2025, selling far more to the world than it buys. It holds tight control over vital rare minerals. Its military expansion and technological progress are rattling rivals. And it remains the single largest source of climate-warming pollution on Earth.

All of that makes China the proverbial elephant in the room at this week’s summit in the Alpine spa town of Evian-les-Bains.

French President Emmanuel Macron, serving as this year’s host, has set aside dedicated time for leaders to discuss how to rebalance trade with China, as a flood of Chinese-made cars and other goods threatens to undercut G7 industries.

Relations between Trump and his G7 counterparts have been strained lately — over the conflict with Iran and other points of disagreement — but China may actually be a rare area of common ground. Cédric Dupont, an international politics expert at the Geneva Graduate Institute, noted: “They agree on the same thing, you know: China is a problem.”

China’s government has previously criticized the G7 as an exclusive club that belongs to a Cold War era of ideological division. But in a statement to The Associated Press ahead of the Evian summit, China’s Foreign Ministry softened its tone somewhat, saying “the G7 should serve as a catalyst for solidarity and cooperation rather than an amplifier of division and confrontation.”

Beijing-based analyst Wang Zichen explained that “Beijing is wary of the G7 because it sees the group as structurally aligned with U.S.-led Western power, and increasingly as a venue where China is discussed as a challenge or threat.”

Even so, Chinese leaders pay close attention to what happens at these summits. As Wang put it: “China recognizes that the G7 still represents a very significant concentration of economic, technological, military and financial power.”

Experts warn that actually bringing China into the club could fracture it from within. Beijing’s authoritarian government, its positions on Russia and Iran, and its broader strategic interests clash fundamentally with those of the G7’s democratic members. Having China at the table could also strain long-standing alliances.

Kirton called the prospect a potential “Trojan horse.” With a Chinese leader present, he said, “individual members might be tempted to break G7 ranks to secure special favors from him on the economic, critical minerals, digital technology and other issues they address.”

Chris Alden, an international relations scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science, agreed, saying that admitting China “would make it very difficult for it to function.”

The G7’s last membership expansion offers a cautionary tale. Russia was welcomed into the group in 1998, but the experiment soured. When Russian President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the other members froze Russia out — a rupture that foreshadowed the full-scale war that has been raging since 2022.

Trump said last year that kicking Russia out “was a very big mistake.” But Kirton argued the episode taught other leaders a hard lesson — that they should “never take a chance on a less than fully democratic power becoming a full member of their fully democratic club again.”

Washington and Tehran are inching toward a framework peace agreement, though exactly when a deal might be formally signed remains an open question — even as fighting continues on multiple fronts.

President Donald Trump took to social media Saturday to announce that a deal with Iran was set to be signed the following day — which also happens to be his 80th birthday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed that optimism, saying both sides had agreed on the framework and that Pakistan was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical discussions in the days ahead.

Iran, however, did not confirm that timetable. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump’s post went up, urged caution about predicting a signing date. State media quoted him as saying, “It will not be tomorrow,” though he added it could happen “in the coming days.”

On the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that once a framework deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passageway for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked — would immediately be “open to all.”

A U.S. official spelled out the terms to reporters: “Iran is going to open up the Strait of Hormuz, that’s a requirement. It could be open with no tolls. As they do that, we will lift our blockade.” The official added, “It’s going to happen in conjunction, and part of the next step, the phase after that, is going to be the demining of the straits,” suggesting nations in the Group of Seven major powers could play a role in that process.

Multiple sources familiar with the draft terms told Reuters the U.S. would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lift sanctions on Iran’s oil exports in exchange for Iran reopening the strait. Baghaei, quoted by Iran’s Fars news agency, confirmed that recovering those frozen assets was a core part of the deal and that Iran would charge fees for use of the strait. He also said foreign military bases in the region would need to be shut down, though no further details were provided.

Iran’s nuclear program — which Trump has cited as a primary justification for the war — would not be addressed in the initial agreement. Instead, a 60-day period of follow-on talks would cover that issue. A U.S. official said the end goal would be the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium destroyed and removed.

The war between the U.S. and Iran began on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Tehran. Trump at that time called on the Iranian people to rise up and seize control of state institutions. U.S. strikes have severely weakened Iran’s military-industrial capacity, though analysts note that hardline Revolutionary Guard elements have actually grown more entrenched as a result of the conflict.

Opposition to any deal was visible inside Iran on Saturday. Videos circulating on social media and Iranian news websites showed crowds gathering in public squares and outside the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, directing their anger at Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Protesters were heard chanting, “Araqchi have some shame, let go of America!” Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the authenticity of those videos.

At pro-government rallies held across Iran on Saturday night, hardliners also made their opposition known. A resident in the northeastern city of Mashhad told Reuters that some in the crowd chanted: “Death to the compromiser” — an apparent dig at Araqchi — followed by “Compromiser, resign, resign.”

Despite the diplomatic activity, military clashes have not stopped. Early Saturday, U.S. forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones that were headed toward the strait. Israel, which has stated it is not a party to the U.S.-Iran deal, reported striking more than 70 locations in Lebanon over a 24-hour period, targeting Iranian ally Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been at odds with Trump over U.S. pressure on Israel to scale back operations in Lebanon so Washington can finalize a deal with Tehran.

On Friday, Araqchi said that while the agreement’s details could still change, the tentative deal demonstrated that Iran had come out of the conflict in a stronger position. Trump also spoke by phone with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about efforts to bring the Iran conflict to a close, according to a statement from Downing Street.

Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz served as the route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil shipments.

TOKYO — Japan is preparing to dispatch a delegation to Greenland sometime this summer to assess the potential for rare earth mineral extraction on the Arctic island, according to a report from the Nikkei newswire published Sunday.

The delegation is expected to include officials from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, representatives from trading companies, and members of the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security. While there, the group plans to meet with local government officials, Nikkei reported.

Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Danish kingdom, has attracted significant international attention in recent months. Earlier this year, in January, the White House indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump was exploring ways to acquire the island — a statement that triggered concern among NATO allies across Europe. Those discussions have since shifted onto a diplomatic track.

The island is considered strategically valuable both for its geographic position in the Arctic and for the potentially abundant rare earth reserves believed to lie beneath its surface.

Citizens of Switzerland cast ballots Sunday on a controversial constitutional amendment that would establish a legal ceiling on the nation’s population, in a referendum being compared to Britain’s Brexit decision due to its potential economic and diplomatic ramifications.

The Swiss People’s Party, a right-wing political organization, has championed the constitutional modification that would require the population to stay below 10 million residents by 2050. Government forecasts indicate the country is expected to reach that threshold in the early 2040s, driven by worries over immigration levels, strain on government services, and housing availability.

This novel approach to legally controlling population numbers reflects a broader European trend among conservative political movements seeking stricter immigration policies, fueled by public frustration over living costs, sluggish economic performance, and criminal activity.

“If it goes above 10 million, it will become tight, and immigration should be restricted,” said Helen Gulea, a 58-year-old seamstress and part-time kiosk worker in Zurich, originally from Kenya, who voted by post for the cap.

Vote tallies were anticipated to start arriving around midday local time (1000 GMT).

Approval of this initiative would mean that hitting the 10 million population threshold could force Switzerland to abandon its labor mobility pact with the European Union, which provides a significant portion of workers for the mountainous nation.

With an aging population already surpassing 9 million, polling data indicates public sentiment remains closely divided on the issue.

Recent survey results showed momentum shifting away from the proposal, though an earlier poll had indicated it might succeed.

Patrick Leisibach, a migration expert at think-tank Avenir Suisse, said concern was now widespread that overcrowding was stretching public infrastructure to the limit.

“There’s a traditional anti-immigration vote on the right wing, but these days even many on the left are feeling the pressure,” he said.

Switzerland’s direct democracy framework typically involves citizens voting on national ballot measures four times annually, with passage requiring majority support from both voters and the country’s cantons.

Government officials and parliamentary leaders have encouraged voters to defeat the SVP’s “sustainability initiative,” calling it misguided during a sensitive period for Switzerland’s export-dependent economy.

In the previous year, President Donald Trump imposed Europe’s steepest U.S. tariffs on Swiss products, and the possibility of population restrictions could complicate business planning.

However, SVP lawmaker Thomas Matter argued Swiss gains in prosperity had not kept pace with overall immigration and the country needed to step on the brakes.

Shortly before Trump’s return to office, Switzerland finalized an agreement with Brussels to strengthen economic ties with the EU.

This arrangement, along with other bilateral trade agreements, could face uncertainty if a population cap threatens labor mobility, which serves as a cornerstone of the EU single market.

While Swiss voters have historically rejected measures considered damaging to long-term economic interests, this pattern has become less reliable.

In 2014, voters surprised observers by narrowly approving an SVP-supported initiative to limit EU immigration, though its effects were subsequently weakened during the lawmaking process.

If the current measure passes, certain provisions, including the potential for Switzerland to end labor mobility with the EU, might face separate referendums, according to officials speaking privately.

Some SVP members indicate the proposal aims not to eliminate labor mobility but to sound an alarm.

“I don’t want freedom of movement ended,” said Heinz Taennler, an SVP politician and finance director of the canton of Zug. “Another million people can still immigrate to Switzerland, but the government needs to take action.”

Pakistan and President Donald Trump have both verified that an electronic ceremony to sign a US-Iran agreement will take place on Sunday, though Iranian officials are casting doubt on the proposed schedule while Israeli leaders voice security concerns.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday evening that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan about the matter.

The ministry’s statement said both officials welcomed the final stages of US-Iran negotiations, with the electronic signing ceremony set for Sunday, and shared hopes that this significant development would help bring lasting peace and stability to the region.

The Saudi Foreign Minister praised Pakistan’s consistent and ongoing efforts supporting mediation and dialogue during the process. The two sides also talked about the upcoming Regional Four (R-4) Foreign Ministers’ meeting planned for Egypt later this month.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously stated that the United States and Iran are nearer to a peace agreement than they have ever been, with the deal’s completion anticipated within the next 24 hours.

In a Saturday evening post on X, he said Pakistan was getting ready for the electronic signing of the agreement right after its completion, with technical-level discussions to follow next week.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment throughout the negotiations and thanked regional partners for their support.

Shehbaz Sharif said he felt confident that the “historic peace deal” would create a solid foundation for enduring peace.

The Prime Minister included tags for US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in his message.

US President Donald Trump then shared his X post on his Truth Social platform.

President Donald Trump verified that an agreement with Iran is set to be signed on Sunday and stated the Strait of Hormuz would reopen right after.

In a Truth Social message, President Trump wrote: “The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL.”

The president said Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and claimed the regime is no longer seeking one. He also discussed Iran’s enriched uranium supplies, suggesting they would not be removed right away.

“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains,” President Trump wrote.

CNN reported that Iran had reinforced areas around enriched uranium supplies with explosives to stop the material from being taken.

President Trump added: “We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!”

The president’s statements differed from comments by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, who indicated that no signing was anticipated Sunday.

“We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” Baghaei said.

The reported framework includes a suggested 60-day ceasefire on several fronts, including the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the end of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, talks on sanctions relief and the potential release of frozen Iranian assets depending on Iranian compliance. Additional negotiations would address Iran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium supplies.

Senior Israeli officials quoted by Channel 12 said the agreement seems to accept Tehran’s “main conditions” and could “endanger Israel’s security interests.”

According to the officials, Iran would gain substantial benefits before addressing core concerns. “The Iranians are not agreeing to this for nothing,” one official said.

The officials maintained that Tehran is essentially “paying on credit” and questioned what leverage Washington would keep if Iran fails to fulfill future commitments. They also criticized the reported handling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

“The uranium extraction has become uranium dilution and the missile system is not part of the agreement at all,” the officials said.

They further maintained that the framework does not require Iran to stop support for proxy organizations. “All the goals that Israel set are not immediately dealt with in the agreement,” the officials said, adding, “Not only is Iran not required to stop supporting proxies, it is reconnecting itself with Hezbollah through the agreement.”

Channel 12 reported that President Trump talked about the agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Thursday phone call. According to an American official, President Trump told Netanyahu: “This is the deal. It’s an excellent deal, and it’s to end this war.” The US official added: “Bibi didn’t say much in the call. Evidently, he understood that there’s going to be a deal, and that he can’t stop it.”

On Friday, Sharif said that the final text of a peace agreement between Iran and the United States had been settled during Pakistan’s intensive mediation efforts.

In a statement, he said that a coordinated disinformation campaign was currently happening to undermine the agreement. However, he added that Pakistan was moving forward, completely unaffected by the surrounding noise.

According to the Prime Minister, the final and mutually agreed text of the agreement has been completed, and Pakistan is working in close coordination with both parties to shape the next phases of the process.

According to a separate statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar spoke by telephone with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Saturday.

Both leaders welcomed progress toward understanding between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts would help promote peace and stability in the region. They also agreed to keep continued mutual contact.

Switzerland had previously offered to host the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.

This is a developing story

North Korea declared Sunday that nuclear disarmament has been permanently abandoned, while criticizing recent nuclear deterrence discussions between the United States and South Korea.

“The U.S. and its vassal forces’ meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK and cooperation in posing a nuclear threat to it can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state,” a spokesperson for North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state media KCNA, using the country’s official name.

“The ‘denuclearisation’ is an irreversibly finalised matter,” it said.

The declaration follows last week’s discussions between U.S. and South Korean officials in Seoul, where they worked to strengthen nuclear deterrence and preparedness against North Korea’s expanding weapons program through their Nuclear Consultative Group.

Law enforcement officials in southern Mexico have launched an investigation into the deadly shooting of a municipal leader in Oaxaca state, according to the state prosecutor’s office on Saturday. Security forces have begun operations to locate those responsible for the crime.

Jose Angel Bravo Martinez lost his life after being gunned down during an incident in the Mixteca region, according to officials who classified the case as a high-impact crime requiring formal investigation. This marks the second killing of an Oaxaca municipal leader within the past month.

Crime scene investigators and forensic specialists were sent to the location following the shooting to collect evidence and retrieve the victim’s remains, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office. The agency reported coordination efforts with federal security personnel.

Officials have not yet released additional information regarding potential reasons behind the killing of Bravo, who was affiliated with a coalition of opposition parties, including the PAN (National Action Party).

Attacks on municipal leaders continue to pose significant challenges across regions of Mexico, where criminal organizations frequently exercise control, especially in remote communities. Mario Hernandez Garcia, the mayor of another Oaxaca town, Santiago Amoltepec, was killed last month during an assault that claimed two additional lives.

Data compiled by the non-governmental organization Causa en Comun indicates that no fewer than 60 politicians or lawmakers were killed in deliberate attacks during the previous year.

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Thousands of advocates for LGBTQ+ rights filled the streets of Romania and Bulgaria’s capital cities Saturday during their yearly Pride celebrations, facing growing pushback from traditional groups in these Orthodox Christian nations.

Demonstrators paraded through Bucharest and Sofia, displaying rainbow banners and sounding horns while demanding equal treatment under the law.

Romania and Bulgaria both became European Union members in 2007. Before joining the bloc, each nation enacted human rights laws to satisfy EU requirements, though public polling frequently shows less acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community compared to other member nations.

According to ILGA-Europe’s 2025 Rainbow Map, which evaluates legal and policy conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals throughout Europe, Romania and Bulgaria placed at the bottom among all 27 EU member states.

“We still have a deeply conservative society, with very strong traditional values,” said Alina Purcaru, a writer who attended the Bucharest march. “We still live in a patriarchy, sometimes explicit … with a lot of prejudice and a lot of fear.”

Neither Romania nor Bulgaria permits same-sex marriage or civil unions, even though the EU forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“That is why we are taking to the streets today … to demand the legalization of civil partnerships,” Vlad Viski, president of the nongovernmental organization MozaiQ, told The Associated Press.

“We are talking about essential rights, such as the right to inheritance, hospital visits, medical decisions, survivor’s pension,” he added.

Simeon Vassilev, one of the organizers of Sofia Pride, told journalists on Saturday that in Bulgaria, “thousands of same-sex couples live together, build homes, raise children, and care for one another … without the right to legal protection or recognition of their relationships.”

According to advocacy organizations, animosity and hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ communities in these two Eastern European nations have increased in recent years. Counter-demonstrations opposing LGBTQ+ rights occurred in both cities Saturday.

In Sofia, a “March of the Family” gathering — organized by conservative and faith-based organizations since 2021 — promoted “Christian, patriotic and traditional values” during Saturday’s event. The traditional Orthodox Church, representing approximately 80% of Bulgarians, stated its “disagreement with the ideas and messages” and supported the “traditional family.” In Bucharest, a “March for Normality” was conducted by a nationalist organization.

This year’s Pride celebration in Sofia operated under a “Different Together” theme, with organizers seeking to challenge widespread negative messaging about the community.

Furthermore, the “Progressive Bulgaria” party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, which secured victory in an April general election, expressed backing for the “March of the Family” in Parliament, declaring it “a cornerstone of our national security, identity and future.”

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee condemned the statement for “placing one type of citizens as more valuable than others.”

ROME (AP) — Competing demonstrations brought tens of thousands of protesters to Rome’s streets Saturday, as opposing sides clashed over immigration policy following a controversial citizen petition that secured enough backing to reach Italy’s Parliament.

The citizen-led effort, called “Remigration and Reconquest,” collected the required 50,000 signatures to force legislative consideration, elevating the previously marginal “remigration” concept into mainstream political discourse. Parliamentary leaders have not yet set a voting schedule.

The initiative, championed by right-wing organizations, demands extensive actions against foreign nationals, including forced deportations, departure incentives, and broader policies that opponents warn could affect lawful residents.

The anti-migration rally drew several thousand participants from across Italy, who sang their national anthem during the event. Multiple times throughout the demonstration, many participants performed fascist salutes while chanting “Duce! Duce!”, referencing Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who controlled Italy from 1922 to 1943.

A counter-demonstration supporting migration rights brought tens of thousands to Rome’s streets Saturday evening in a separate location. Left-wing organizations and labor unions participated in this march, with some protesters displaying Palestinian flags.

Law enforcement deployed thousands of officers to keep the opposing groups separated. Authorities reported no violent incidents.

The migration discussion presents complex challenges for Premier Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition. The anti-migration League supports advancing the proposal, while Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and centrist partners have shown greater reluctance to embrace initiatives connected to extremist movements, citing legal concerns and potential internal conflicts.

Opposition politicians and legal scholars have condemned the proposal, claiming it would breach constitutional and international anti-discrimination standards by targeting individuals based on ethnic origin, including naturalized citizens and their families.

This debate unfolds as Meloni’s administration simultaneously pursues expanded legal immigration, having endorsed a multi-year strategy to welcome hundreds of thousands of non-EU workers to fill labor gaps in critical economic areas.

The Rome protests occurred one day after new European Union regulations took effect, establishing how the bloc’s 27 nations will handle irregular migration and asylum applications.

The European Migration and Asylum Pact represents the conclusion of extensive negotiations that reformed the previous framework, which was broadly viewed as ineffective and provided far-right movements with a powerful campaign issue.

Gunmen have abducted a high-ranking Haitian security official in what marks the most significant government kidnapping in the Caribbean nation in recent years, according to a source familiar with the situation.

James Boyard, who holds the position of cabinet director within the Defense Ministry and also functions as inspector general for Haiti’s police force, was taken by armed individuals, a person with knowledge of the incident confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday.

The abduction represents the capture of the most senior government figure in the gang-dominated country in recent memory.

According to local news outlets, the kidnapping occurred Thursday in the Bourdon neighborhood, an area of Port-au-Prince typically viewed as one of the safer districts. Criminal organizations control roughly 70% of the capital through a coalition called Viv Ansanm, which received designation as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in May of last year.

Boyard, who also holds credentials as a political scientist, has been working on efforts to reconstruct Haiti’s military forces and has participated in evaluating the National Police to implement necessary changes.

Authorities have not identified the kidnappers or confirmed whether ransom demands have been made.

“A person of this rank clearly has a fairly important security detail,” said Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

Da Rin suggested the capture of Boyard likely indicates extensive planning went into the kidnapping and may have required assistance from someone within his security protection team.

According to Da Rin, criminal groups are increasingly conducting abductions in Port-au-Prince areas previously thought secure, with gang members sometimes wearing police clothing and conducting fraudulent traffic stops.

He observed that criminal organizations have been targeting individuals holding dual citizenship and focusing on government officials. This strategy could indicate they are demanding larger ransom payments and potentially attempting to prevent authorities from launching attacks on gang-held territories where victims are detained, Da Rin explained.

Law enforcement has recently conducted operations against Village de Dieu, an area under control of the 5 Segond gang, whose leader Johnson Andre goes by “Izo” and ranks among Haiti’s most influential gang commanders.

Da Rin pointed out that criminal groups have been bringing kidnapping victims to Village de Dieu.

Recent high-profile abductions have included Haitian media personnel and foreign missionaries among their targets. Between December 2025 and February 2026, at least 267 individuals were reported kidnapped, with men comprising the majority of victims, according to United Nations data. The year 2025 saw 1,268 reported kidnappings, representing nearly a 40% decrease from the 2,058 cases documented in the preceding year, the report indicated.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation Saturday focused on ongoing efforts to resolve the Iran conflict, according to an announcement from Downing Street.

During the call, Starmer expressed appreciation for the advancement achieved to date and emphasized Britain’s readiness to assist in implementing any potential peace deal while collaborating with global partners to guarantee its effectiveness.

Both leaders reached consensus on the importance of restoring navigational freedoms to help reduce worldwide economic consequences.

Thousands of Belfast residents assembled on Saturday to speak out against anti-immigrant violence that swept through parts of Northern Ireland earlier this week following a stabbing incident involving an asylum seeker.

The peaceful counter-demonstration took place after several nights of destructive unrest triggered by the arrest of a 30-year-old Sudanese man facing attempted murder charges in connection with a knife attack that left a victim partially blinded.

Violence escalated when groups wearing masks targeted residences they suspected housed immigrants, setting multiple homes ablaze along with a public bus, while hurling bricks, bottles and explosive devices at law enforcement. The destructive rampage displaced more than 24 residents and wounded a dozen police officers in what authorities described as “thuggery.”

Speaking to the crowd assembled near Belfast City Hall, Elaine Crory stated: “All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled.”

Those participating in the peaceful counter-protest displayed messages reading “The problem is evil & violence not race,” “Your racism is not patriotism” and “Protect people not prejudice.”

A newly married couple, Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson, described it as fortunate timing to exit their wedding ceremony at City Hall and immediately join the peaceful gathering following the disturbing violence they had witnessed days earlier.

“It’s important to note that things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast,” Bell remarked, calling it “a week where you’ve seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast.”

Even with appeals for peace from authorities and the stabbing victim’s relatives, far-right and anti-immigrant activists were accused of inciting demonstrations across multiple locations throughout the United Kingdom during the week.

Violence in Glasgow, Scotland, focused on minority communities and forced mosque attendees into protective lockdown, according to police reports.

Saturday also saw an anti-racism organization mobilize thousands in Glasgow to take back city streets and “stand up to the far right.”

This large group encountered a significantly smaller group of predominantly male counter-protesters who appeared to perform Nazi salutes while shouting anti-Muslim slogans.

The anti-racism demonstrators responded by chanting, “Nazi scum off our streets.”

The White House and French government confirmed Saturday that President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron will share an evening meal at the historic Palace of Versailles following next week’s G7 summit of major industrialized nations in France.

According to senior administration officials who spoke anonymously under White House guidelines, Trump faces a packed agenda of individual meetings with international leaders alongside the main summit activities in the French lakeside community of Evian-les-Bains. The president is working to advance negotiations on completing an Iran war agreement in the near future.

French officials stated that Macron will welcome Trump for Wednesday evening’s dinner to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence at the Palace of Versailles, which they described as “a historic symbol of Franco-American friendship.”

The magnificent palace served as home to French monarchs spanning from Louis XIV through Louis XVI and continues to welcome world leaders and international dignitaries for official functions.

Macron previously welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the palace in 2021 for its 400th anniversary celebration, hosting them for dinner in the renowned Hall of Mirrors, among the palace’s 2,300 rooms.

The French leader also received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Versailles in 2017 when Macron had just taken office, before their relationship soured due to the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s schedule includes an initial meeting with Macron following his Monday afternoon arrival in France. The Republican president plans to leave Washington after marking his 80th birthday with a primetime mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn Sunday.

Administration officials revealed Saturday that Trump has scheduled individual discussions with leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and India, nations participating in the summit as Macron’s guests.

The G7 nations — consisting of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — will address topics including economic expansion and development, securing supply chains for essential minerals, unauthorized immigration and artificial intelligence developments.

The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran will feature prominently in discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the gathering, though officials indicated no formal Trump-Zelenskyy meeting is planned, although an informal encounter remains possible.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A deadly shooting in South Africa this week represents the most recent incident in a pattern of violence targeting the nation’s most impoverished communities, which specialists attribute to criminal organizations exploiting law enforcement weaknesses and absence.

Multiple gunmen attacked an informal settlement made up of temporary structures in Johannesburg, resulting in 12 fatalities and a minimum of 15 injuries, officials reported.

No suspects have been taken into custody.

Earlier this year, South Africa’s president authorized military deployment to streets in various crime hotspots to address organized criminal activity — an uncommon decision that critics viewed as acknowledgment that law enforcement in Africa’s most economically advanced nation was failing in those regions.

Additionally, South Africa’s law enforcement agency has faced accusations of corruption and cooperation with criminal organizations. These allegations have led to arrests of over a dozen high-ranking officers and the suspension of top leadership, including the police minister and the national police commissioner.

Recent large-scale shootings — including two incidents in December that claimed over 20 lives — have taken place in economically disadvantaged areas distant from urban centers where criminal organizations exploit circumstances such as inadequate security, insufficient lighting and delayed police response times, specialists indicate.

“Criminal syndicates explicitly capitalize on this to hide weapons, execute hits, and vanish into the shadows,” Jacob Mofokeng, a professor of criminology at the University of South Africa, told The Associated Press.

South Africa experiences extremely elevated rates of violent crime, with current annual data indicating an average exceeding 60 murders daily.

However, the overwhelming majority of homicides happen in impoverished townships or temporary settlements. South Africa maintains a lengthy record of severe inequality that manifests in its criminal activity: wealthy neighborhoods experience significantly lower violent crime statistics.

Unauthorized mining organizations have persistently troubled Johannesburg and surrounding areas, the nation’s largest metropolitan region, which contains some of the world’s most extensive gold deposits.

These organizations are infamous and called zama zamas — a term meaning approximately “hustlers” or “chance-takers” in the Zulu language. They create headquarters in poverty-stricken and inadequately patrolled locations and engage in territorial conflicts with rival groups or employ violence to maintain dominance in those territories.

Mining organizations frequently consist of migrants from adjacent nations who are present in South Africa without legal status, according to officials.

This situation complicates police efforts to locate suspects since they possess “no legal identification, no registered address, and no fingerprints or DNA profile,” said Mofokeng. “They are effectively a ghost.”

South Africa’s government reports losing over $3 billion annually to unauthorized mining. Zama zamas have posed challenges for decades and contributed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s authorization of a year-long military street deployment to combat organized crime in designated areas nationwide.

Community members in the Johannesburg area affected by this week’s mass shooting indicated that unauthorized mining organizations were known to function there. Law enforcement stated the shooting’s motivation remained unknown, but mining organizations were central to the investigation.

South Africa maintains stringent rules governing legal firearm possession, but approximately 2 million to 3 million unauthorized weapons circulate throughout the 62 million-person nation, according to independent research and civil society groups.

Firearms represent by far the most frequent cause of homicides.

Willem Els, an analyst at South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, said the circulation of unauthorized weapons and police shortcomings created perfect conditions for criminal activity.

“In South Africa, we actually managed to create conditions that are very conducive for violent crime and also for organized crime syndicates to operate with impunity,” he told the AP. “We’ve got a lot of unregistered firearms that are not being controlled by the police.”

Specialists indicate South African police lack adequate resources, but corruption accusations within the force have also severely damaged its reputation.

South Africa has experienced police corruption issues previously. A new accusation last year by a provincial police commander that senior officers and officials were collaborating with organized criminals prompted President Ramaphosa to announce a national investigation into police corruption. This has resulted in numerous arrests of high-ranking police officers.

Private investigator and security specialist Mike Bolhuis said police corruption affects street-level policing in areas impacted by violent crime as residents sometimes hesitate to provide information or assist authorities.

“The public doesn’t trust the police, they don’t trust the authorities, and they don’t trust each other,” Bolhuis said.

DUBLIN (AP) — Speaking in Ireland’s capital on Saturday, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined his vision for middle-power nations to band together rather than vie for American approval, as he continues building stronger ties with European allies before the G7 summit begins.

During his address, Carney highlighted that when combined, Canada and the European Union represent a population more than double that of the United States, featuring an economy of comparable size and collective defense spending that exceeds China’s by twofold.

The Canadian leader emphasized how smaller nations can amplify their influence through partnerships with countries sharing similar values.

“In a world of great power rivalry, middle powers have a choice — to compete for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact,” Carney declared during his speech at Trinity College in Dublin.

These remarks echo statements he delivered at January’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he proclaimed the end of the global rules-based order and criticized how major powers coerce smaller nations.

His Dublin audience responded with enthusiastic applause, and Trinity’s president praised his earlier Davos remarks.

Before his Dublin speech, Carney held discussions with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Saturday and met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, building momentum ahead of Monday’s Group of Seven summit in France.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to depart for the G7 gathering following Sunday’s UFC event at the White House celebrating his 80th birthday.

Carney characterized the Canada-Europe partnership as a “force for good — because we safeguard the values of human rights, dignity, and pluralism that our people hold dear.”

The prime minister noted that the combined EU-Canada relationship represents one of the world’s most significant economic, cultural, technological, financial, and military partnerships.

“The new world order will be built starting with Europe,” Carney stated during his joint press conference with Martin. “Canada is the most European of non-European countries. We are transforming our cooperation with Europe.”

Canada made history in February by becoming the first nation outside Europe to join the SAFE mechanism, the EU’s defense procurement program. During this ninth European visit since taking office 15 months ago, Carney highlighted Canada’s 56 partnerships in critical minerals across more than 10 countries, mostly European.

These statements come despite Carney’s acknowledgment that the U.S. shows little interest in major modifications to the free trade agreement involving Canada and Mexico.

“The U.S. has been clear. They don’t want to go to change the fundamental architecture,” Carney explained.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces its scheduled July 1 review, representing the current version of the North American trade pact that has connected these three economies since the early 1990s. Trump indicated this week he might not extend the agreement.

However, Carney pointed out that the Trump administration permits approximately 85% of Canadian exports to America to enter tariff-free under USMCA protection.

According to Carney, any fundamental changes to the agreement would require White House consultation with Congress, something the administration wants to avoid.

Following Trump’s repeated assertions this week that America doesn’t require Canadian goods, Carney has established an ambitious target to double Canada’s exports to non-U.S. markets within ten years, citing how Trump’s trade policies are dampening investment confidence.

Armed assailants fatally shot at least 17 farmers and wounded at least 13 others while they were working in agricultural fields in Nigeria’s northwestern region, according to local officials and residents.

The deadly assault took place Friday in Goron Namaye, located in Zamfara state’s Maradun area. While no organization has taken credit for the violence, attacks by criminal gangs have escalated in recent months across the region.

“The farmers were working on their lands when the bandits suddenly attacked and killed 17 of them,” Shehu Musa, a resident of Maradun, told The Associated Press on Saturday, adding that the wounded were being treated at a hospital.

According to Sanusi Dosara, chairman of the Maradun local government, the assault resulted from Zamfara state government’s unwillingness to enter negotiations with the armed groups. In a statement, Dosara urged government forces to eliminate the Bayan-Ruwa enclave in the Maradun forest, where the attackers have established their base.

The violence follows Thursday’s kidnapping of 39 individuals in Magamin Diddi, another Maradun community, where residents had gathered with relatives of a suspected criminal leader to discuss peace negotiations and address ongoing abductions.

The United Nations reports that an insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, combined with kidnapping for ransom schemes, has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people over recent years, despite repeated commitments by President Bola Tinubu to address the security crisis.

LONDON, June 13 – During a Saturday telephone conversation, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the United Kingdom will release its defense investment strategy before the alliance’s scheduled summit in Ankara, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

The two leaders discussed the need for alliance members to bolster collective defense capabilities and respond more rapidly to emerging and evolving security challenges during their conversation earlier that day.

“The prime minister updated on plans for the defence investment plan, underlining his commitment to publish it ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also noted that “The NATO Secretary General welcomed the UK’s increased investment in defence as an important contribution to the alliance and to meeting the threats we face.”

WASHINGTON, June 13 – Senior administration officials announced Saturday that President Trump has scheduled meetings with Middle Eastern leaders and plans to participate in a working session featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at next week’s G7 summit taking place in France.

The officials revealed these diplomatic plans as preparations continue for the international gathering of world leaders.

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban secured another year as head of the Fidesz party during Saturday’s leadership vote, even after his party suffered a significant electoral setback on April 12 when they lost control to the centre-right Tisza party.

The 62-year-old nationalist politician, who became a model for right-wing conservative movements throughout Europe and America through his self-described “illiberal” approach to democracy, faced questions about his political career following the electoral defeat.

For the first time since taking power in 2010, Orban encountered open criticism from former supporters who urged him to step away from political life after Fidesz lost its governing position.

During the party’s congress, 729 out of 737 delegates cast ballots in favor of keeping Orban as their leader, with no other candidates seeking the position, according to state news agency MTI.

“I do not give up, I never, never, never, never, never give up,” Orban declared to congress members during his pre-vote address, while acknowledging his complete accountability for the party’s electoral failure.

The former Prime Minister described Fidesz as having served as a “fantastic governing party” for 16 years, but emphasized the organization must transform itself into an effective opposition force capable of returning to power.

During April’s election, Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority, providing sufficient votes to overturn Orban’s previous constitutional modifications.

Public opinion surveys indicate Fidesz has continued losing ground since the election. The Publicus Institute’s May polling showed Tisza enjoying 55% public support, an increase from their 53% election result, while Fidesz dropped to 17% from their previous 39% showing.

Approximately 200 demonstrators destroyed metal barriers and razor wire fencing at a high-end development location along Albania’s Adriatic coastline on Saturday, reflecting mounting opposition to construction projects in ecologically fragile zones.

For several weeks, Albanian citizens have been demonstrating against a proposed upscale resort supported by a firm connected to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, close to Vlora, an area known for its flamingo population and turtle breeding grounds.

During Saturday’s action, residents of Rrjoll, situated in a region characterized by sandy coastlines and pine woodlands in northwestern Albania, demonstrated against a separate development, claiming construction was occurring on property taken from them.

Demonstrators carried Albanian flags and chanted “Revolution” while dismantling the barriers. Although minor confrontations with law enforcement occurred, officers did not prevent the fence removal.

“The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized,” said Zeke Nikolle Shullani, 56, one of the landowners who have been protesting for several months.

A domestic Albanian firm has been constructing a five-star luxury tourism facility at the location, with the Albanian government granting the project “special status investor” designation.

“What is happening in this country is madness,” said Nikolin Markpalaj, 60, another local landowner. “We asked the investors to come and consult with the people but they refused. They think they can take all this wealth without blood or anything else that might happen here?”

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has been successfully restored to the electrical grid after maintenance work conducted during a temporary ceasefire arranged by the International Atomic Energy Agency, officials announced Saturday.

The nuclear facility had been operating without external electrical power for almost three full days before technicians were able to complete the necessary repairs under the locally-negotiated pause in hostilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s statement released on June 13.

KYIV, Ukraine — One person died and three others sustained injuries when Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on Saturday, according to local authorities, marking another chapter in Ukraine’s ongoing campaign targeting military and energy facilities far inside Russian territory.

The drone wreckage ignited a blaze at a maritime terminal, according to local Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev. While he provided limited specifics, Russian media outlets indicated that a Black Sea export facility handling crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas in the village of Volna suffered damage.

Ukraine’s General Staff remained silent about the Krasnodar incident Saturday, though they confirmed their forces had successfully targeted an oil preparation and pumping facility during overnight operations in Russia’s Volgograd region, along with Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

This latest assault follows statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding his nation’s forces striking multiple military and energy infrastructure locations deep within Russia, including a defense facility that he claimed manufactured components for Russian drones and missiles.

Speaking Wednesday, he revealed that Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles had successfully struck the installation in Cheboksary, located in the Chuvashiya region, positioned more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) from active combat zones.

After more than four years since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, the extensive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) battle line has remained largely unchanged as drone swarms prevent significant territorial gains. Consequently, both nations have increasingly turned to long-distance strike operations.

Following Ukrainian attacks that ignited an oil facility in St. Petersburg and struck a nearby naval installation last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to enhance air defense systems, as these incidents overshadowed a prominent economic forum in his home city.

In other developments, Russian strikes wounded nine individuals in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, igniting a local marketplace, regional officials reported.

According to regional head Oleksandr Hanzha’s Saturday Telegram post, Russia launched more than 20 attacks using drones and aerial bombs across three districts in the region. He noted that six people required hospitalization, including one man in critical condition.

Iran’s government-controlled media announced Saturday that memorial services for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will take place in July, while diplomatic sources indicate a peace agreement to halt ongoing Middle East hostilities is approaching completion.

According to Iran’s state television network IRIB, the memorial ceremonies and burial rites for Khamenei are scheduled to occur from July 4 through July 9.

Khamenei died during the initial attacks of military action that the United States and Israel began against Iran in late February. His successor is his son Mojtaba, whom observers describe as taking a harder line than his predecessor.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that a diplomatic accord to halt the Middle Eastern conflict is nearer to completion than at any previous point and could reach finalization within the next day. Pakistani officials are making preparations for electronic signature of the deal, with technical discussions planned for the following week.

Writing on X, Sharif stated: “We would like to thank United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support”.

This diplomatic progress follows three days of military exchanges between Iran and both the United States and Israel this week, raising concerns about potential widespread regional conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Friday on X that a settlement “has never been closer”. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly indicated in recent weeks that the nations are approaching an agreement, reshared Araghchi’s message on his platform.

The military campaign initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28 has destabilized the Middle East region and nearly eliminated petroleum and natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf area. A temporary ceasefire has remained in effect since April 7.

Three regional government officials, speaking anonymously due to the delicate nature of ongoing talks, indicated they anticipate a formal signing event for the accord in upcoming days pending approval from officials in Washington and Tehran.

Trump declared Thursday that substantial advancement had occurred in diplomatic discussions, shortly after issuing warnings about intensifying military action and taking control of Iran’s petroleum sector.

Memorial events for Khamenei will commence in Tehran before proceeding to Qom, an important center for senior Shiite religious leaders, and concluding in Mashhad, his place of birth, where burial will occur at the Imam Reza Shrine, regarded as the most sacred site for Shiite believers.

Memorial services for Khamenei’s daughter and son-in-law, who died in the February military strike, are also planned for the same date.

Khamenei significantly transformed the Islamic Republic during his leadership following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989. Khomeini was the passionate, influential thinker who directed the removal of the shah and established governance by Shiite Muslim religious authorities dedicated to promoting religious devotion.

His tenure exceeded Khomeini’s duration in power. He substantially grew the Shiite religious leadership and developed the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into the primary organization supporting his authority. The Guard evolved into a military and commercial powerhouse, serving as the nation’s premier force and controller of its missile program, with influence throughout Iran’s economic areas.

Chinese authorities expressed strong disapproval Saturday regarding the Pentagon’s decision to designate several major Chinese corporations as military-linked entities, claiming the action contradicts agreements made during recent high-level diplomatic meetings between the two nations’ leaders.

Earlier this week, the Defense Department included multiple privately-owned Chinese corporations on its military company registry, among them automotive manufacturer BYD and technology corporations Alibaba and Baidu. This designation aims to identify Chinese businesses believed to maintain connections with China’s armed forces, which bars these companies from securing contracts with the U.S. military.

According to a statement released Saturday by a representative from China’s Ministry of Commerce, the inclusion of these companies on the list means “the U.S. side has ignored the consensus reached during the meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in Beijing.”

The ministry representative further stated that America has “disregarded the overall interests of bilateral economic and trade relations, continuously generalized the concept of national security, and abused state power to unjustifiably suppress Chinese enterprises.”

The affected companies BYD, Alibaba and Baidu previously stated there’s no basis to include them in the list.

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held a highly anticipated meeting in Beijing during mid-May. During their discussions, both leaders committed to strengthening economic cooperation between their nations, with agreements including increased Chinese purchases of American farm goods and Boeing aircraft, plus the establishment of separate trade and investment committees.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that America and Iran have reached a framework agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing Middle East crisis that has persisted for months.

According to Sharif, negotiators have completed the final language of the agreement. Pakistan is now making preparations for an electronic signing ceremony anticipated to occur within the coming day, followed by technical discussions scheduled for next week.

Reports from Tel Aviv indicate the United States and Iran may be nearing an agreement to conclude their conflict and restore access to the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that both nations have reached consensus on the language of a potential agreement designed to halt their Middle Eastern conflict, with mediators continuing efforts to complete the arrangement.

Past announcements of similar diplomatic breakthroughs have not come to fruition.

This potential diplomatic progress follows a three-day period of military exchanges between Iran, the U.S., and Israel earlier this week, raising concerns about regional escalation. U.S. Central Command reported Friday via social media that it successfully intercepted multiple Iranian attack drones targeting merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict, initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, has destabilized the Middle East and essentially halted petroleum and natural gas transport from the Persian Gulf. A temporary ceasefire has remained in effect since April 7.

Key details of the potential agreement:

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Friday that nuclear program arrangements would be completed within 60 days following the initial agreement’s signing, with possible extensions available.

Tehran’s nuclear capabilities remain a central dispute. American and Israeli officials worry about potential weapons development — a primary justification they provided for military action. Iran maintains its nuclear activities serve civilian purposes.

A senior U.S. administration official, speaking anonymously under White House briefing protocols, confirmed Friday that the proposed agreement would initiate procedures for eliminating or relocating Tehran’s weapons-grade uranium.

The official explained the 60-day post-signing period would address technical aspects of uranium removal. Details remain unclear regarding oversight of the removal process for materials reportedly stored beneath three nuclear facilities damaged in American attacks last year.

The U.S. official confirmed the proposed agreement contains provisions for strait reopening.

Araghchi indicated Iran seeks terms allowing Tehran to collect fees “for services rendered” from vessels using the Strait of Hormuz. Iran implemented a fee structure during the conflict that the U.S. and other countries consider internationally illegal.

Disrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, essential for global oil and gas transport, has constrained worldwide energy availability, increased fuel costs, and raised prices for food and essential goods far beyond the immediate region.

Three regional officials, speaking anonymously due to negotiation sensitivity, reported the developing agreement likely includes gradual sanctions relief for Iran and release of frozen Iranian funds.

These sources anticipate a formal signing ceremony within days pending approval from Washington and Tehran officials.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese military forces evacuated their position at a base in a southern village on Saturday as Israeli forces moved into the surrounding region, according to a military official.

The evacuation of the army facility in Kfar Tebnit occurred as Israeli forces issued orders for residents to leave approximately 20 areas, including the southern city of Nabatiyeh and surrounding communities.

Lebanon’s government-operated National News Agency documented air attacks on Saturday targeting various communities near Nabatiyeh, including a strike that resulted in two deaths in Deir al-Zahrani. The agency also reported that Nabatiyeh experienced artillery bombardment on Saturday.

A high-ranking Lebanese military official informed The Associated Press that Lebanese forces relocated from the Kfar Tebnit facility after Israeli troops entered the region. The official, who provided no additional details, requested anonymity according to standard procedures.

Israeli forces appeared to be attempting to seize the tactical Ali Taher hill located at Kfar Tebnit’s perimeter, which provides visibility over extensive areas of Nabatiyeh and several roadways connecting the city to neighboring communities.

Israeli forces maintained control of the Ali Taher hill for 18 years before departing Lebanon in May 2000.

During late May, Israeli troops seized a neighboring tactical mountain crowned by the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle in the most significant penetration into the nation since 2000.

The advance toward Kfar Tebnit’s border occurred one day after Pakistan’s prime minister announced that the United States and Iran have reached consensus on language for an accord designed to halt their Middle Eastern conflict, with negotiators assisting both parties to complete an agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed Iranian government television on Friday that both nations were pursuing the signing of a preliminary accord announcing the conflict’s conclusion “on all fronts, including Lebanon.”

Senior Hezbollah official Hussein Haj Hassan informed Al Jazeera TV that Iranian representatives have notified them that Lebanon would be included in a forthcoming ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran serves as Hezbollah’s primary supporter, providing the organization with various weapon types during the past four decades along with billions in funding.

Combat between Israel and Hezbollah has persisted despite a ceasefire implemented on April 17 that received multiple extensions but exists as a ceasefire only in title.

Israel maintains control over substantial portions of southern Lebanon while engaging Hezbollah militants, resulting in civilian deaths and infrastructure destruction. Hezbollah, which is excluded from the ceasefire accord between Israel and Lebanon, has conducted regular rocket and drone strikes.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict started on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel two days following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.

Over 3,700 individuals have died in Lebanon during the recent combat, based on Lebanese Health Ministry data. Additionally, 30 Israeli military personnel and one defense contractor have perished in or around southern Lebanon, while two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ community members and their allies gathered in Nepal’s capital city on Saturday for Pride Month festivities, taking part in a vibrant street demonstration.

The Himalayan nation has witnessed an expanding LGBTQ+ community and has achieved notable progress in advancing rights for sexual minorities over recent years.

Following March elections, the administration led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah established the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security, marking the first instance of a government department specifically created to address issues affecting women and sexual minorities.

The country achieved a milestone by becoming among the first Asian nations to permit marriages between same-sex couples. The nation’s 2015 constitution contains explicit language prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Following a 2007 judicial ruling that mandated government reforms benefiting LGBTQ+ individuals, citizens who don’t identify as male or female can now select “third gender” as an option on passports and additional official documentation.

Iranian officials have announced the schedule for memorial ceremonies honoring their deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports released Saturday.

The services will commence in the capital city of Tehran on July 4 and will end with Khamenei’s interment in Mashhad, located in the country’s northeast, on July 9.

Khamenei lost his life during combined Israeli and American military operations against Iran this past February. His passing brought to a close over 30 years of leadership within the Islamic Republic.

Ukrainian forces successfully struck an oil processing and pumping facility located near Kotovo in Russia’s Volgograd region, sparking a fire at the installation, according to Ukraine’s General Staff on Saturday.

The Ukrainian General Staff announced via the Telegram messaging platform that the targeted facility is responsible for oil processing, transportation, and pipeline pumping operations that supply Russian oil refineries and export infrastructure.

Chinese cybersecurity officials announced new measures Saturday designed to strengthen data classification requirements for financial information services, saying the move will enhance security management and provide better industry oversight.

The Cyberspace Administration of China outlined a four-tier system that will categorize data as core, important, sensitive general, or routine general, with classifications determined by how critical the information is, its sensitivity level, and what damage could result if the data were compromised.

Six additional government departments collaborated on the announcement, including the People’s Bank of China.

The nation has been building up its data protection laws in recent years, progressing from broad legislative measures to more targeted regulations for specific industries.

According to the new guidelines, “Financial information services are developing in an orderly manner, and the volume of data is expanding … which urgently requires standardised, classified and graded management.”

The regulations will not cover information related to state secrets or military matters.

MOSCOW – In a Moscow coffee shop known for reliable Wi-Fi, a 41-year-old interior designer named Irina demonstrates the digital gymnastics now required for Russian internet users. She activates a virtual private network to message international friends through WhatsApp, which authorities have blocked domestically.

Minutes later, she disables the VPN to purchase train tickets from the national railway website, which refuses service to users masking their locations. Then she reaches for a separate phone to check client messages on MAX, the government-approved messaging platform.

“Of course this is all a huge pain in the backside, but what else can we do?” Irina said, requesting identification by first name only due to the topic’s sensitivity. “You get used to it and spend your days turning VPNs on and off, toggling between different messengers and switching between different virtual countries or phones to use the apps and websites you need.”

This year’s intensified internet controls represent the most severe digital restrictions under the current administration, affecting everything from banking to transportation and online shopping. The disruptions have frustrated citizens ahead of September parliamentary elections, drawing criticism from opposition groups, business executives, and even typically apolitical social media personalities.

Public approval ratings have declined amid the digital restrictions, combined with inflation, increased taxes, and conflict fatigue. State polling shows support dropping from 75.1% in February to 65.6% in April – the lowest since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Current ratings hover near 67%.

Government officials promote domestically-developed alternatives to foreign applications as part of a “digital sovereignty” initiative. However, many users remain skeptical of MAX after warnings from opposition figures and Western technology companies about potential surveillance capabilities, which the app’s owner VK denies.

Keeping the government app isolated on a secondary device provides peace of mind, Irina explained.

Virtual private networks function by routing internet traffic through external servers outside the country. March alone saw 9.2 million downloads of the five leading VPN services from Google Play – fourteen times the previous year’s volume, according to Digital Budget, a Moscow consulting firm tracking online behavior, as reported by newspaper Kommersant.

“We’ve never seen this kind of take-up rate before,” said Sarkis Darbinyan, an internet freedom advocate operating from Lisbon. Moscow has labeled Darbinyan a “foreign agent,” a designation applied to individuals viewed as conducting anti-state activities.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly justified internet controls as necessary during what officials characterize as an existential confrontation with Western nations over Ukraine. However, the president instructed government agencies in April to adopt a gentler approach, telling legislators it was “counterproductive” to “focus solely on bans and restrictions.”

Government representatives did not respond to inquiries for this report.

Although many authoritarian nations impose strict internet limitations, Russian citizens had grown accustomed to considerable online freedom. While security agencies have historically targeted domestic critics, authorities seldom interfered with foreign app usage or Western media access before the Ukraine war.

Since last year, the FSB security service – the Soviet KGB’s successor – has directed telecommunications companies to disable mobile internet for extended periods across various regions, claiming Ukrainian attack drones utilize these networks for navigation assistance.

Officials have also blocked or slowed connections to an expanding list of applications and websites that state communications regulator Roskomnadzor claims host illegal and extremist material.

WhatsApp and Telegram have accused the government of attempting to compel citizens toward less secure, state-mandated applications.

Disruptions escalated in March with nearly three weeks of outages in Moscow, frustrating senior bureaucrats who depend on internet access and Telegram for coordinating votes for the ruling United Russia party, according to two sources with Kremlin connections and various analysts.

“The issue is not whether the regime will be able to secure the outcome it wants (it will), but whether the electoral process will be a smooth one,” Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, wrote in April.

Even loyal government employees download VPNs and maintain multiple phones to separate government-backed applications like MAX from their personal digital activities, sources informed Reuters.

Some officials also disable microphones and cameras on devices containing MAX installations in case the FSB can access them, one source revealed.

“Even if you’re not up to any mischief, nobody wants the FSB reading your messages,” the source explained.

The president’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, openly demonstrates VPN usage by posting regularly on X, which requires such tools for domestic access.

While VPN use remains legal, Roskomnadzor has blocked access to hundreds of these services, creating an ongoing battle with users who must continuously download new services to reach desired content.

In April, government offices, financial institutions, and major online retailers – following regulator instructions – began blocking access for VPN-enabled users. This coincided with a 10% traffic decrease for Wildberries, the country’s equivalent to Amazon, according to Digital Budget.

“As market participants note, many users do not switch off their VPN to access the site and simply lose interest in making a purchase if they cannot open the product page,” Digital Budget stated in a Telegram post.

The percentage of citizens acknowledging VPN use rose from 23% in 2022 to 36% this year, according to the Levada Center, an independent polling organization on Moscow’s foreign agent list.

Tech-savvy younger adults sometimes purchase VPN subscriptions for their parents or create custom-designed VPNs. However, many citizens prefer applications and websites functioning without such tools.

MAX, launched last year, reported over 85 million daily users as of May, according to its owner.

Reuters TV interviewed half a dozen office workers and pedestrians near Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, revealing divided public opinion. Half expressed frustration with the digital environment, while others reported successful adaptation without VPN usage.

“Most Russians simply do not see the need to go to any extra trouble – what is readily available is quite sufficient for them,” Levada director Denis Volkov wrote in April.

When navigation applications failed in Moscow during March, delivery drivers for Flowwow, an online flower and gift marketplace, used vendors’ Wi-Fi connections to download customer directions, said Yuri Semichastnov, the company’s logistics head.

Paper map sales more than doubled in the capital during the shutdown, according to Wildberries data.

As frustration mounted, officials have moderated their messaging recently, assuring the public that mobile internet shutdowns are temporary.

A plan requiring mobile providers to charge customers extra for using more than 15 gigabytes of foreign data monthly was delayed in May, Russian media reported, suggesting the VPN-targeting requirement would likely be implemented after the election.

The president has also requested government agencies and the FSB collaborate to ensure critical services like healthcare platforms and online payment systems remain operational.

Irina, the interior designer, doesn’t anticipate her digital life improving soon.

“In Russia, we have a saying: Nothing is more permanent than the temporary,” she said.

Militants connected to al-Qaeda operating in Mali have dramatically altered their approach in controlled territories, moving away from violent intimidation toward more administrative governance, according to local residents.

In the village of Poutchi, fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) now regularly gather community men at a mud-brick mosque to collect taxes on livestock and crops, then distribute food, medicine and animals to those in need.

This represents a stark change from five years ago, when the same militants threatened to kill anyone in Poutchi who challenged their religious interpretation, including the local imam, according to Amadou, a village herder.

“Now, they don’t talk like that,” Amadou explained, noting how the militants now emphasize spreading their religious teachings without using threats or violence. “The dynamic has really changed.”

JNIM pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda upon its formation in 2017 and has spent the past decade using fear and force to establish control across the Sahel region of West Africa, prohibiting music, smoking and wedding celebrations.

Originally limited to remote desert and mountain locations, JNIM has grown stronger since Malian military officers who took power in 2020 expelled approximately 15,000 French and U.N. troops and began relying on Russian mercenaries to combat insurgents.

The group displayed its increased capabilities through bold attacks across Mali in April, striking the airport in the capital Bamako, killing the defense minister and capturing multiple army bases in the north while coordinating with Tuareg-led separatists.

Mali’s government labels both organizations as terrorists responsible for violence and instability throughout the country. Moscow has committed to continuing its fight against insurgents in Mali.

However, the jihadist organization now occupies the center of an expanding network of militants allied with al-Qaeda and Islamic State that spans 3,000 km (1,900 miles) across West Africa. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned in November that these groups were connecting and posed an increasing global threat.

Beyond the prominent military victories, a transformation is occurring in regions where JNIM’s control is established, residents reported.

The group’s messaging has become less harsh. Militants are taking on administrative duties, settling long-standing land conflicts between herders and farmers, permitting aid organizations to operate and allowing some government workers to return to JNIM villages for holiday visits with family, according to seven people living under JNIM authority in central Mali who spoke to Reuters.

“The stronger they have become, the less brutal they have to be,” said Corinne Dufka, a Sahel expert who has studied jihadist expansion in Mali for over a decade.

Dufka noted that JNIM was successfully governing in its strongholds, but that residents’ compliance was also a survival tactic.

“There is a combination of coercion, fear and persuasion,” she explained. “For many villagers, including those who have lived, married, and grown up under the group, they have just accepted that this is the new reality.”

Due to concerns about retaliation, the residents spoke to Reuters anonymously or using only first names.

Neither Mali’s government nor the military’s spokesperson provided responses to requests for comment on this story.

The transformation demonstrates the development of the Islamist militant movement in Mali over the past 15 years.

Jihadist organizations initially captured large portions of Mali in 2012 after forming alliances with Tuareg separatists. The combination of local and foreign militants enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, conducting public executions, floggings and destroying centuries-old mausoleums in Timbuktu.

JNIM, created from four of those organizations, is increasingly attempting to demonstrate it can peacefully govern seized territories and thereby gain political legitimacy, according to Sahel experts and Tuareg-led separatists working with JNIM.

Bilal Ag Cherif, a veteran of the separatist movement that has maintained an intermittent alliance with the Islamist insurgents and partnered with JNIM in April, said he had observed “positive changes” within the group, including openness to local Islamic interpretations and calls for a more “inclusive” Mali.

“They were open to discussing peace and stability in this region, to discuss important factors for us about their view of the future, to talk with everyone, to have peace,” Cherif, leader of the separatists now called the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), told Reuters by phone from northern Mali.

He also said the FLA was encouraging JNIM fighters to sever ties with al-Qaeda and concentrate on local issues.

“JNIM is dealing with this point positively, and we consider that very, very important,” he said, adding that it was difficult to envision a solution to the northern Mali conflict without JNIM’s participation.

JNIM has stated its immediate objectives are to force Russian troops out of Mali and to remove the army officers who seized power after coups in 2020 and 2021.

After the April attacks, JNIM modified its messaging, releasing an uncommon French-language statement urging Malians to join them in removing the government and establishing a new Mali based on Islamic law. JNIM increasingly uses videos featuring a Malian fighter speaking Bambara, a language primarily used in southern Mali, far from the jihadi strongholds.

JNIM doesn’t control major cities and does not currently appear focused on capturing the capital, unlike the Islamist rebels once aligned with al-Qaeda who took power in Syria in 2024.

Another video filmed by fighters and shared on social media after the April attacks shows JNIM fighters processing captured Malian troops for release in Tessit. Following previous victories, Islamist militants have executed captured soldiers.

Analysts say JNIM seeks a role in discussions about Mali’s political future – something the military government refuses.

“The government does not intend to engage in dialogue with the lawless armed terrorist groups who bear responsibility for the tragic events that our people have been experiencing for years,” Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said in May, referring to JNIM and FLA.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters was unable to reach JNIM for comment.

The group has been accused of massacres and remains capable of brutal violence.

In January, JNIM fighters killed 12 people in an attack on a fuel convoy – some had their throats cut – and areas that resist face collective punishment. The insurgents attacked two villages in central Mali in May, killing about 50 people.

Nevertheless, the residents living under JNIM rule who spoke to Reuters described a form of governance that is often more predictable, less corrupt and less violent than Mali’s military and allied forces.

“Since JNIM has controlled the area, we are safe. Even though their rule is difficult to respect, we have gotten used to it,” said Aminata, from Birga-Peul village in the Mopti region, which JNIM took over in 2017. “We are not killed.”

“They aren’t violent like the foreigners who were there at the beginning,” she said, referring to jihadists who had come from outside Mali. She said the movement was now much more embedded in the community. “They are tolerant and turn a blind eye to many things, like football and Android phones.”

Where JNIM has not taken control, it sometimes enforces blockades. In the village of Diafarabe, also in the Mopti region, one resident said 13 children and 40 adults, including the elderly, had died from a lack of food and medicine after JNIM imposed a blockade a year ago.

“People can’t even go 500 metres from the village … so there’s no more fish, no more meat, no more firewood,” the person said.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the figures, nor reach JNIM for comment.

The restrictions on freedoms imposed by Islamist militants in Mali, such as banning wedding celebrations, are at odds with West Africa’s long history of Islam, where Islamic teaching was traditionally blended with local customs.

However, reformist movements have gained influence in recent decades, often by funding health and education in poor communities. Experts say this – coupled with the abuse of civilians by government troops, allied militias and Russian forces – has created opportunities for jihadists to exploit.

Hambarke, 57, who lives in a village in central Mali controlled by JNIM for seven years, recalled how they barred men from shaving and women from engaging in trade.

He said punishments were initially severe, including public whippings, but now the “radical rhetoric” had eased, with sermons focused on calls for unity and social cohesion and JNIM giving warnings before meting out punishments.

Mali’s military has been accused by the U.N. and human rights groups of executing civilians suspected of collaboration with JNIM and other insurgents.

Malian soldiers and their Russian partners have killed three to four times more civilians than jihadists have over the last two years, according to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a conflict monitoring group.

Mali’s government has denied accusations its forces have targeted civilians, saying they had killed terrorists.

Six of the residents who spoke to Reuters reported abuse of civilians by the army or allied militias, with most saying this had driven young men in their villages to join JNIM.

“People have more faith in them, and it’s a good relationship,” said Amadou, the herder in Poutchi.

An 81-year-old Albanian man says he was blocked by barbed wire and security guards from entering what he believes is his own property along the southern Albanian coast last month.

Kostaq Konomi discovered through media coverage that his land had become part of a high-end resort development involving international investors, including Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The scenic property features a hillside covered in blooming gorse that descends to an isolated bay where cattle wade in shallow waters. The state had previously confiscated this land during Albania’s communist era, and Konomi couldn’t stand watching it happen again.

“I was ready to get a rifle and start shooting,” the 81-year-old Konomi shared with Reuters. “I was a small boy when I put my feet in that water. Now I am an old man and they say I cannot.”

Konomi represents one of twelve Zvernec village residents who informed Reuters that their property was improperly sold for development beginning in 2024 by someone else claiming ownership. Multiple villagers presented Reuters with property documents and tax paperwork they believe validate their ownership claims. None received any payment.

Reuters discovered no evidence suggesting Kushner engaged in any misconduct, as he has no direct involvement in the villagers’ ownership dispute. The news organization could not establish which parties hold legitimate ownership of the various land parcels, which remain under legal contestation.

The villagers’ legal assertions add complexity to an already controversial multi-billion-euro development project on an island and pristine mainland area that encompasses protected wetlands where flamingos, seals and sea turtles migrate.

Large-scale demonstrations broke out this week in Albania’s capital city Tirana, with protesters demanding construction be stopped, while the European Union has voiced concerns regarding the project’s environmental impact.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, who promoted the agreement during a Reuters interview this week, maintains that the development follows legal requirements and will safeguard natural habitats.

Kushner failed to respond to comment requests made through his investment company, Affinity Partners.

Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, the firm handling the project development, declined to answer inquiries about the construction plans or the land ownership conflict. A company representative directed Reuters to a Friday statement posted on X by the firm’s chairman, Asher Abehsera.

“Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of,” Abehsera stated.

The representative indicated that Sazan’s partners, including Kushner, were making personal investments rather than investing through Affinity. Reuters could not verify this information independently.

Zvernec sits on a thin peninsula divided from the mainland by a lagoon where flamingos gather during summer months. The ocean-facing side features vacant beaches, olive tree groves and dramatic cliff formations.

This landscape captivated Kushner and his spouse, Ivanka Trump, when they viewed the area from a yacht several years ago.

Rama encountered them during that visit, and Kushner expressed investment interest when they met again at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to Rama’s account to Reuters.

“You are an American investor, and this country is open to every American investor,” Rama recalled saying to Kushner.

During 2024, Kushner revealed the development plans on social media, sharing an artist’s concept depicting the land transformed with a hotel, residential buildings, swimming pools and yacht docking facilities.

The group of villagers, all in their 70s and 80s, have different intentions. Their attorney, Kostandin Beko, announced they intend to file a court injunction to stop the project.

Their ownership assertions underscore the challenges of investing in Albania, where inadequate documentation, complicated historical background and local corruption make property disputes frequent, according to legal professionals and government officials.

Albania remained under Ottoman control for centuries until 1912, then became isolated from the global community for fifty years following World War Two under a communist regime that collapsed in the early 1990s.

Family properties handed down through generations were seized by the government during communist rule. Following democracy’s return, efforts were made to restore confiscated land, but ownership of plots was frequently contested.

Zvernec’s residents have engaged in ongoing legal proceedings with Artur Shehu, who sold the contested property. Shehu claims his family’s ownership rights extend back to Ottoman Empire times.

Reuters could not contact Shehu or his legal representative, but he stated on an Albanian television program last week that his land ownership claim was “undisputed.”

Shehu, who mentioned living in Miami for 26 years, told the program he sold the disputed property to investors through an unnamed intermediary and was unaware of the buyers’ identities.

Reuters could not verify Shehu’s statements regarding his property rights or the sale details.

The Zvernec residents maintain he lacked authority to sell. A 2013 Albanian court decision determined they owned the land. Shehu filed an appeal, and the case remains pending, according to the residents’ attorney Beko and legal documents he provided to Reuters.

During a Friday phone conversation with Reuters, Rama dismissed these concerns.

“Just because there is a court trial does not automatically mean that the property is frozen,” he explained.

The residents displayed what they described as property deeds from local authorities dated in the 1990s, when land was returned to residents following communism’s end.

The residents and their lawyer stated they were not informed before the land sale and received no compensation.

“We thought Rama would offer us money,” said 84-year-old Thoma Kola.

He and others argued the land should not have been sold while under legal dispute.

Demonstrations began when fencing was installed in May, cordoning off a substantial area surrounding Zvernec and limiting ocean access. Multiple individuals sustained injuries during confrontations with private security personnel, and video of the incident became widely shared.

The fencing has been removed and the bulldozers that carved a new road through the property last month have departed. The timeline for resuming construction remains uncertain.

Stavri Hysa operates a beachside business renting chairs and selling beer and food to visitors in the area. The temporary shoreline closure reminded him of communist times, when authorities would permit access for only a few months annually.

“When I found out that they had blocked access to the sea, I couldn’t sleep for 15 days,” he shared with Reuters while holding back tears. “I do not agree with giving away parts of the beach. This should be public.”

An unmanned aircraft attack by Ukrainian forces resulted in one fatality and ignited a blaze at a maritime terminal in Temryuk, a port city located in Russia’s Krasnodar region, according to governor Veniamin Kondratiev, who made the announcement via the Telegram messaging platform.

The ongoing conflict has seen Ukraine persistently targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure while diplomatic efforts to end the war remain at an impasse.

This marks the second time Temryuk has faced Ukrainian drone attacks, with the previous incident occurring in late May when Kyiv’s security service reported hitting a gas terminal at the same location.

Regional officials also reported another incident on Saturday, where a separate attack ignited a fire in an industrial zone within the Kotovo district of the Volgograd region, according to statements attributed to governor Andrei Bocharov.

Bocharov refrained from providing specifics about the extent of damage or naming which facilities were impacted.

Earlier this month, Reuters documented that the Lukoil-owned Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia halted its oil processing operations on May 29 after sustaining damage from a Ukrainian drone assault.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A swimmer is fighting for her life after being mauled by a shark at one of Sydney’s most frequented beaches on Saturday morning.

The victim, thought to be in her thirties, sustained severe injuries to her leg and arm during the attack that occurred at 11:15 a.m. near Coogee Beach, authorities reported.

Since mid-May, three individuals engaged in spearfishing have lost their lives to shark attacks along Australia’s coastline, pushing this year’s death toll to four.

Data from the Australian Shark Incident Database, a collaborative effort between the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales state government, shows the country typically experiences two to three deadly shark encounters annually since 2000.

According to police reports, the woman was swimming when the attack occurred on Saturday. Good Samaritans rescued her from the water and began emergency care on shore until medical personnel could respond.

Emergency crews transported the injured swimmer to a nearby rugby field, where a helicopter airlifted her to a medical facility. Authorities continue to list her condition as critical.

Just one week prior, Daniel Turpin, 35, lost his life to a 4.5-meter (15-foot) white shark while spearfishing with relatives near Michaelmas Island, close to the port city of Albany in Western Australia state.

On May 24, spearfishing enthusiast Michael Jensz, 39, died from severe head trauma following an attack at the Great Barrier Reef along Australia’s northeastern waters. Bull sharks had been spotted in the area.

Seven days before that incident, on May 16, Steve Mattabonni, 38, was killed by a four-meter (13-foot) white shark while spearfishing near Perth, Western Australia.

The country’s first shark fatality of the year happened in January, when a 12-year-old boy succumbed to injuries sustained from a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbor.

Australia documented five deadly shark attacks in the previous year. Such incidents have increased over recent decades as population growth coincides with rising participation in water activities like surfing and scuba diving.

Large crowds converged on South Korea’s capital Saturday for competing demonstrations, with an annual LGBTQ pride celebration taking place alongside a conservative Christian counter-protest, according to event organizers and local authorities.

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival has consistently attracted both advocates for LGBTQ rights and strong resistance from conservative religious organizations in South Korea, a nation where marriage between same-sex couples lacks legal recognition and comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation has faced repeated setbacks.

Event coordinators established a performance stage and approximately 70 vendor booths starting at 11 a.m. local time in downtown Seoul, with the main festivities launching later in the day.

The march, serving as the event’s highlight, was set to begin at 4 p.m. and cover approximately 3 kilometers, event planners and police confirmed.

Festival organizers informed police they anticipated 50,000 attendees, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

A conservative Christian organization staged their opposing demonstration beginning in the early afternoon, positioned roughly 700 meters away from the pride celebration location. This group projected attendance of 30,000 participants and also scheduled a march.

Previous years have seen no violent confrontations between the opposing gatherings.

By 2 p.m., approximately 15,000 people had assembled in the vicinity for both competing events, based on live urban population tracking data from Seoul’s city government.

A confidential internal investigation by Doctors Without Borders has revealed widespread sexual exploitation and abuse by staff members working with refugees along Chad’s border with Sudan, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The humanitarian organization’s investigation, which concluded in July and was first disclosed by the AP on Saturday, documented 59 accusations of misconduct and resulted in the termination of 18 employees who have been banned from future work with the group. The organization reported that some incidents involved minors and staff members exchanging food or employment opportunities for sexual favors with refugees. Some cases suggested organized “sexual trafficking,” according to the findings.

The medical aid group initiated the extensive investigation following AP coverage that exposed allegations from women who claimed staff members sexually exploited them at displacement facilities in Chad, where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge from Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, now entering its fourth year. The organization acknowledged the AP’s “fundamental role as an external whistleblower” in bringing these issues to light.

The results from Doctors Without Borders — among the largest employers and most significant aid providers in eastern Chad’s refugee settlements — suggest the abuse was more extensive than initially understood.

Humanitarian emergencies have repeatedly been marred by sexual exploitation scandals, despite ongoing efforts by relief organizations to eliminate such misconduct.

During AP’s 2024 investigation in Chad, women reported that individuals supposed to safeguard them — including aid workers and local security personnel — demanded sexual favors in return for money, improved access to services, and employment. This type of sexual exploitation violates Chadian law.

The Doctors Without Borders investigation highlighted that the Chad situation was particularly concerning because the organization had dedicated additional resources specifically to prevent and address abuse. The internal document also indicated the findings likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many women were reluctant to come forward.

When questioned about the internal document, Doctors Without Borders — known by its French initials MSF — described it as “a candid internal analysis” that identified systemic failures.

The 59 misconduct allegations encompassed sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse and “represent a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused,” MSF stated in its written reply.

MSF acknowledged that working in environments where people depend on humanitarian aid creates power disparities and abuse risks that require attention. The organization said its investigations aimed to proactively address the misconduct.

The group noted that identifying perpetrators proved impossible in some instances due to the emergency’s magnitude and population displacement.

Following the report’s completion, MSF has enhanced its hiring processes, background verification procedures, and complaint mechanisms, according to its statement to AP.

However, the organization admitted in its response that substantial work remains to achieve permanent reform.

MSF began its investigation in autumn 2024 and uncovered allegations involving exploitation and abuse of Chadian citizens, Sudanese refugees, and MSF personnel and contractors.

The document details investigations into multiple cases where female refugees were sexually exploited in exchange for basic necessities like food, water, and milk. Additional cases involved sex traded for employment opportunities and the prostitution of female refugees, including minors. The report describes an area within a refugee camp where staff members were observed seeking girls, prompting community leaders to establish a curfew to protect young girls from “visiting” MSF personnel.

One documented incident involved seven refugee girls, reportedly employed as day laborers, who were placed in an MSF vehicle under the pretense of going to water distribution and construction locations. Instead, the girls were transported elsewhere and “exposed to” sexual abuse and demands for sex, the investigation found.

The probe also revealed that some female Chadian employees faced job termination threats if they refused sexual advances from supervisors or coworkers.

During focus group sessions with investigators, women explained they frequently remained silent due to concerns about losing access to medical care. Some indicated they were unaware of their right to voice concerns or provide feedback, the report stated.

MSF personnel and community leaders informed investigators they feared reporting abuse due to potential loss of employment or aid. The document noted that six community leaders chose not to report incidents to MSF despite their daughters or sisters being victimized.

The investigation also found that some individuals who did report abuse received no assistance, with multiple alerts going unanswered.

The document criticized certain feedback systems, including complaint boxes, as largely ineffective.

MSF employs thousands of workers across numerous countries in roles spanning medical professionals like doctors, nurses, midwives, and epidemiologists to support staff in human resources, logistics, construction, and sanitation. The report did not identify which positions the accused individuals held. In its correspondence with AP, MSF declined to provide employment details citing privacy and safety considerations.

MSF’s response highlighted implementation of enhanced reporting procedures and integrated prevention and detection measures in current operations — including confidential reporting systems in its response to Congo’s Ebola outbreak.

According to the report, MSF was unaware of most abuse cases before AP’s coverage.

In 2023, the organization conducted extensive training sessions with staff and community leaders focused on prevention. However, these efforts failed to create lasting change and were weakened by high employee turnover, the report stated.

The document indicated that urgent staffing needs and lack of background checks resulted in hiring individuals with histories of misconduct or abuse.

Following the investigation, 18 staff members — including international, local, and contract workers — received or were scheduled to receive “Do Not Hire” classifications. However, the report revealed no system existed to share these flagged names, particularly for local staff, allowing them to potentially secure positions at other MSF locations.

The investigation produced several recommendations: clearly communicating behavioral expectations to staff, implementing “serious reference checks,” and establishing a comprehensive “Do Not Hire” database.

MSF acknowledged in the report having faced similar allegations previously — during the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Congo and reports of extensive exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers in multiple West African nations in 2002 — with minimal overall improvement.

“As a reminder, a rather similar diagnosis and recommendations were made in 2021,” the document stated. “Yet this led to no significant change.”

SYDNEY – A 30-year-old swimmer sustained severe injuries during a shark encounter at a Sydney beach Saturday morning, marking another incident in Australia’s recent wave of shark attacks, officials reported.

Authorities responded to Coogee Beach on Sydney’s eastern shore after receiving reports that the woman had been bitten, according to a police statement.

“The woman was pulled from the water by members of the public who commenced first aid,” police said, noting that the victim sustained severe injuries to her arm and leg.

Medical personnel transported her via helicopter to a medical facility, authorities confirmed.

Officials shut down Coogee Beach along with two adjacent beaches Saturday in response to the incident.

Seven days prior, a fatal shark encounter claimed the life of a fisherman off Western Australia’s coastline in another deadly attack.

In the previous month, a 39-year-old fisherman died following an attack near Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. Ten days before that incident, a 38-year-old person was killed in a fatal mauling near an island close to Perth in Western Australia.

Authorities closed numerous beaches spanning Australia’s eastern coastline, including Sydney locations, this past January following four shark encounters within a 48-hour period. Those attacks occurred after heavy rainfall created cloudy water conditions that draw sharks while limiting their ability to see clearly.

Australia’s eastern and southeastern coastal regions experience the majority of shark encounters, with the nation recording approximately 20 such incidents annually, data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows.

BEIJING, June 13 (Reuters) – Beijing has voiced strong opposition to Washington’s decision to place multiple major Chinese corporations on the Defense Department’s registry of companies allegedly supporting China’s armed forces, according to Saturday statements from the commerce ministry.

The foreign ministry has similarly raised objections to the Defense Department’s updated registry released Monday, which featured prominent technology corporations including online retail giant Alibaba, search engine company Baidu, and vehicle manufacturers BYD and NIO.

The Pentagon subsequently included two of the globe’s biggest solar panel manufacturers on the registry: Trina Solar and JA Solar Technology.

The registry encompasses numerous leading Chinese technology corporations that are crucial to enhancing Beijing’s defense capabilities and industrial strength, demonstrating Washington’s security worries during heightened strategic rivalry between the nations.

“China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposes this,” the commerce ministry stated. “China urges the U.S. to immediately stop its erroneous practices, immediately withdraw relevant measures and return to the correct track of building a constructive strategic and stable China-U.S. relationship.”

Should Chinese companies face unfair treatment, the ministry warned that Beijing will “inevitably retaliate resolutely and forcefully”.

The Pentagon’s revised registry replaces an earlier version from early 2025 and follows by one month the Beijing meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, where they preserved a fragile trade-war ceasefire.

The ministry’s statement claimed the Pentagon’s action “ignored the consensus” achieved by the two presidents.

According to U.S. legislation, the Defense Department cannot directly contract with listed companies and faces restrictions on purchasing their goods or services through intermediaries starting in 2027.

The United States and Iran moved closer to ending their military conflict on Friday, with a high-ranking U.S. administration official revealing that both nations have reached consensus on a peace agreement text and Washington anticipates finalizing an initial accord within days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi acknowledged that modifications to the agreement remain possible, but emphasized that the preliminary deal demonstrates his nation has gained strength through the confrontation.

“Iran is the winner of the war with the U.S.,” he declared during a state television broadcast.

Following those statements, American military forces intercepted several Iranian one-way attack drones approaching the Strait of Hormuz, according to a source with knowledge of the incident who requested anonymity. The source indicated these drones threatened commercial shipping. U.S. Central Command subsequently verified the military action and confirmed the waterway remains accessible for navigation.

Iranian media outlets reported hearing explosions near the strait at Iran’s Sirik port and Qeshm island, which local residents and officials said came from Iranian forces firing warning shots at vessels trying to pass through the waterway without Revolutionary Guards’ navy authorization.

The draft memorandum of understanding includes provisions for reopening the strait and ending the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, according to sources involved in the negotiations. Discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program — which U.S. President Donald Trump cited as his primary justification for initiating the conflict — would follow the initial agreement.

The unnamed U.S. official briefed reporters that the deal achieves Trump’s main goals and positions negotiations “in a very, very good place.”

Reports about the proposed terms from Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources suggest conditions that may benefit Iran, prompting criticism from Trump, who called these accounts false.

Despite minor variations in specifics, the proposals generally provide Tehran with much of what it has demanded, while Trump appears to gain little beyond strait reopening, which Iran had closed following U.S. and Israeli strikes in February.

Araqchi stated that Iran would maintain control over strait traffic alongside Oman, noting the waterway previously handled one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies before the conflict began.

“Our sword will always hang over the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

A Western source indicated the agreement could be finalized as early as Sunday, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, potentially signing in Geneva.

The U.S. administration official confirmed Europe has been considered as a signing location but no final decision has been reached.

Araqchi mentioned the deal would be signed remotely before public announcement.

Multiple sources familiar with the draft terms told Reuters the U.S. would begin unfreezing billions in Iranian assets and waiving oil export sanctions in exchange for Iran reopening the strait.

Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed during a 60-day negotiation period. The U.S. official said the final agreement would result in dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, destroying and removing its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and establishing long-term compliance inspections.

However, Araqchi told state television that Iran, which sources say has not agreed to nuclear program dismantling, wants to keep the uranium in diluted form.

“For Tehran, the only preferred solution for its highly enriched uranium stockpile is down-blending the material,” he stated.

The proposals include potential war reparations discussions for Tehran and abandoning longstanding U.S. demands for Iranian missile program restrictions, sources revealed. The U.S. official challenged this characterization.

“None of their money released until they perform. Strait of Hormuz will be open. No Iran funding of terrorist groups,” the official said anonymously. “This is what they have agreed to. This is a performance-based deal.”

Israel has remained outside the negotiations, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his country would not participate in the agreement.

Netanyahu has disagreed with Trump recently over U.S. requests that Israel limit military operations in Lebanon to facilitate Washington’s deal with Tehran.

Araqchi said the agreement would conclude the Lebanon conflict, suggesting Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.

Israel’s defense minister rejected withdrawal plans. A senior Israeli official said Israel expects to maintain freedom to respond to threats.

Global stock markets climbed and oil prices dropped on the agreement news. Brent crude prices fell more than 3% to nearly two-month lows.

The conflict has created political challenges for the White House, with increasing fuel costs and declining approval ratings for Trump.

Some Republicans fear the war’s unpopularity could threaten their Congressional control in November’s midterm elections. However, many of Trump’s Republican colleagues may struggle to support an agreement perceived as overly favorable to Iran.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that American military forces conducted an operation that eliminated Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known by the alias Niño Guerrero, who headed the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua.

“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Nino Guerrero the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet,” Trump wrote in a Friday evening Truth Social post.

“This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.”

The president did not provide details about the timing of the military operation.

Venezuela’s information ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the announcement.

The current administration has previously imposed sanctions on Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua leadership figures for their suspected roles in criminal enterprises including drug trafficking, human smuggling, and financial crimes.

The State Department has classified Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump has previously asserted that Tren de Aragua works in coordination with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government for its operations within the United States. The administration has used this purported relationship as justification for sending certain immigrants to a high-security detention facility in El Salvador.

The White House, Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command have not yet provided responses to requests for additional information.

American military forces intercepted and destroyed several Iranian unmanned attack aircraft that were flying toward the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to an anonymous source who spoke with Reuters.

The individual, who requested anonymity when discussing the incident, explained that the unmanned aircraft had created a danger for commercial vessels in the area.

This military action occurred on the same day that President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran about targeting ships in the strategic waterway. Trump told Tehran they “better get their act together, and FAST!” regarding any future drone attacks on vessels trying to pass through the Strait.

The incident represents another escalation in military tensions between the two nations, even as both Washington and Tehran have indicated they are making headway in diplomatic discussions aimed at reducing conflicts.

Electoral officials in Peru have begun the extensive process of examining disputed ballots following the completion of initial counting in the nation’s presidential runoff election.

The two candidates remain separated by an extremely narrow gap of approximately 18 million votes cast, making the ballot review process crucial and subject to intense monitoring from both political camps.

The examination is expected to determine Peru’s next leader through a detailed review that could extend for several weeks.

The contested ballots carry significant weight in determining the final outcome. Initial tallying concluded with the candidates divided by slightly more than 1,000 votes, while ballots from over 1,600 polling locations – accounting for roughly 400,000 votes – await examination and have not been included in current totals.

Conservative candidate Keiko Fujimori concluded the preliminary count with 9,036,046 votes, representing 50.004% of the total, while leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez received 9,034,743 votes, or 49.996%.

Many of the questioned ballots originate from Lima, where Fujimori performed well, along with overseas ballots that also supported her candidacy. This distribution has prompted both campaigns to concentrate heavily on the review proceedings.

Ballots enter the review process when polling stations complete result forms containing final vote counts for each candidate. Problems such as mathematical mistakes, unreadable handwriting, or other discrepancies trigger a review flag, sending the ballot to a specialized election panel.

Campaign election monitors may also dispute results at polling locations, contributing to the review process. Both campaigns stationed poll watchers throughout the country and internationally.

A three-person specialized electoral panel examines the tally documentation from disputed polling stations. When issues involve straightforward mathematical or transcription errors, the panel can address them directly, allowing the count to join the official tally.

For more complex cases, the panel may schedule a public hearing to investigate further. These sessions are open to the public, with appeals potentially advancing to the supreme electoral court for final resolution.

The complete review process may require several weeks to finish. Peru’s election officials indicated an official winner should be announced by July 15, though results might become apparent earlier if one candidate establishes a clear lead as reviewed votes join the count.

The contested ballot review differs from nullification requests. Beyond the more than 1,600 polling stations marked for review due to tally sheet problems, Sanchez’s party submitted four separate nullity petitions attempting to void results from approximately 2,400 polling stations.

One submission from Sanchez’s campaign aimed to invalidate results from about 1,750 polling stations primarily in Lima, while three additional filings targeted roughly 650 overseas polling stations, mainly in the United States.

An election panel rejected these requests on Friday due to Sanchez’s party failing to provide all necessary documentation.

The party cannot resubmit these requests or file new ones, as the deadline has expired, according to election authorities.

Russian officials reported Friday that a Ukrainian drone strike claimed one life in the border region of Bryansk, as Moscow’s Defense Ministry announced that air defense systems intercepted 185 Ukrainian drones during a 12-hour span.

The governor of Bryansk, Yegor Kovalchuk, confirmed that one person was killed in a border village, with another person sustaining injuries from the drone attack. Regional military headquarters told Russian media outlets that defense units successfully eliminated 62 drones, though they did not specify when this occurred.

In a Telegram post, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that 185 drones were shot down during the timeframe of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (0500-1700 GMT) across approximately twelve regions, with the majority occurring in central Russia.

Throughout Friday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted multiple updates on Telegram, detailing how drones targeting the Russian capital were intercepted and noting that experts were analyzing debris found on the ground.

Russian media outlets conducted an unofficial tally showing that 27 drones were eliminated during Friday’s operations.

Ukrainian forces have escalated their drone offensive targeting medium and long-distance objectives within Russian territory, primarily focusing on facilities connected to the petroleum sector.

Acclaimed actress Helen Mirren has been inducted into an exclusive circle of honorees recognized by King Charles III for their exceptional contributions to British society.

The 80-year-old performer received the title of Companion of Honour on Friday, placing her among just 65 individuals worldwide who hold this prestigious designation at any given time.

This distinguished group already includes notable figures such as environmentalist David Attenborough, author Margaret Atwood, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Mirren’s inclusion represents one of the most significant recognitions in Charles’ recent honors announcements.

The royal honors system celebrates individuals who have made meaningful impacts on British culture and society, with ceremonies held twice annually – during New Year’s and in June for the monarch’s birthday celebration.

Close to 1,200 individuals were recognized in the king’s 2026 birthday honors roster.

Mirren brings decades of distinguished work across theater, film, and television to her new role. Her career spans from early performances with the National Youth Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s to memorable film roles in productions like ‘The Long Good Friday,’ ‘Excalibur,’ and ‘The Madness of King George.’

Television audiences remember her compelling performance as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison throughout seven seasons of ‘Prime Suspect.’

Her portrayal of the monarch in ‘The Queen’ earned her the Academy Award for best actress in 2007, depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II during the period following Princess Diana’s death in 1997.

The Companion of Honour distinction, established in 1917 by King George V, honors those who have demonstrated ‘a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government’ over substantial periods.

Recipients maintain their status for life, with new appointments made only when positions become available. Following the recent passing of artist David Hockney on Thursday, another appointment is expected during the upcoming New Year’s honors.

Author Julia Donaldson also received recognition Friday, earning the title of dame for her literary achievements. The 77-year-old creator of beloved children’s books including ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘The Highway Rat’ has surpassed Harry Potter author JK Rowling in UK book sales, with over 50 million copies sold globally.

‘Receiving this honor has been a very happy surprise,’ Donaldson commented. ‘It’s really gratifying to have children’s books recognized in this way.’

Athletic achievements were celebrated as well, with Kevin Sinfield receiving knighthood for his rugby league accomplishments and charitable fundraising efforts. The 45-year-old has generated more than 11 million pounds ($15 million) for motor neuron disease research and family support, inspired by teammate Rob Burrow, who succumbed to the condition in 2024.

Golf captain Luke Donald was awarded the Order of the British Empire as he prepares to potentially become the first person to guide a Ryder Cup team to three straight victories against the United States in next year’s Ireland competition.

Soccer player Chloe Kelly, whose penalty kick secured England women’s Euro 2025 championship, became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire alongside six teammates.

Musical contributions were recognized through honors for Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, acknowledged for his service to music and charity nearly a year after bandmate Ozzy Osbourne’s death. Former Catatonia vocalist and broadcaster Cerys Matthews also received recognition for her musical contributions.

Selection committees comprised of civil servants evaluate nominations from government sources and public submissions. Award presentations typically occur at Windsor Castle, where Charles primarily resides, conducted by the king or senior royal representatives.

Recognition extends beyond public figures to include community advocates like Debbie Lewis, who established the COVID-19 Families U.K. bereavement support network after losing her father to coronavirus in 2020, just four months following her mother’s death.

Lewis initially reached out through Facebook seeking others experiencing similar losses, connecting with 40 people within a week. Her network has since grown to encompass more than 4,500 individuals over six years.

‘I’m still a little bit in shock,’ the 56-year-old shared regarding her Friday honor. ‘I know it’s a huge achievement and I’m just a little bit overwhelmed at the moment.’

The head of Taiwan’s opposition party wrapped up a Washington visit Friday by defending her approach to China relations, arguing that diplomatic engagement is essential to prevent conflict over the disputed island.

Cheng Li-wun, who leads the Kuomintang Party, told journalists that her organization remains dedicated to protecting the island nation while believing that peace can be achieved by removing permanent independence from consideration.

During her three-day stay in the capital, where she held discussions with U.S. legislators and academic experts, Cheng highlighted alignment with President Donald Trump’s position following his Beijing visit in May, when he stated he wasn’t seeking to have anyone “go independent” or engage in distant warfare.

“I think our basic stances are the same — that is peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and to avoid any unnecessary war,” Cheng stated.

While confirming meetings with Trump administration officials, Cheng declined to provide additional specifics about those discussions.

Her two-week American tour comes during heightened tensions in U.S.-Taiwan relationships. China’s leader Xi Jinping has issued warnings about potential military confrontation if Washington mishandles Taiwan policy, as Beijing continues threatening to use military force to claim what it considers reunification with the self-governing territory.

Congressional leaders have committed to strengthening Taiwan’s military capabilities, giving initial approval to a $14 billion weapons sale package that awaits Trump administration authorization.

Cheng, who held an April meeting with Xi in Beijing and whose party maintains that both territories belong to one Chinese nation, has been advocating for renewed communication with Beijing as crucial for regional peace, stability and economic growth.

Official dialogue between Beijing and Taiwan’s government has been suspended for ten years due to the ruling party’s rejection of the “One China” principle.

“To initiate the dialogue cross-strait with Xi Jinping doesn’t mean that we will give up the deterrence strength in Taiwan, and, of course, it doesn’t mean that we will compromise or give up our democracy and freedom,” Cheng explained, rejecting claims that she serves Beijing’s interests.

When questioned about her Xi meeting, Cheng characterized the Chinese leader as “very gentle and very nice and very real” and expressed belief that Xi prefers “peaceful means and avoid war” for resolving Taiwan issues.

However, Taiwan’s government has highlighted Beijing’s increasingly aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait, including routine military exercises near Taiwan over recent years.

Though the United States acknowledges Beijing’s claim that Taiwan belongs to China, it opposes forceful changes to current arrangements. American law also requires providing Taiwan adequate military equipment to prevent invasion. The Trump administration authorized an $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December.

Trump has suggested he might still communicate with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te despite Chinese public pressure against such contact.

Washington expressed frustration when Taiwan’s opposition-controlled legislature approved only $25 billion of Lai’s original $40 billion special defense spending proposal for major U.S. weapons acquisitions last month.

Cheng explained Friday that her party opposed the initial plan because it wouldn’t approve a “blank check” for an incomplete proposal but supported interim measures prioritizing U.S. weapon purchases.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, met with Cheng Thursday and posted on social media that Cheng’s party should collaborate with Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party to “finish the defense budget and support the Alaska LNG project.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who met her Wednesday, issued a statement expressing concern that the opposition party’s “resistance to a robust defense budget raises concerns for me that the party is drifting closer” to China’s ruling party and “weakening deterrence.”

Rep. John Rose, R-Tenn., who also met Cheng Wednesday, stated his willingness to engage leaders from all parties while affirming his dedication to “supporting Taiwan’s sovereignty and expanding the U.S.-Taiwan relations.”

President Trump has halted planned military operations against Iran while asserting that a peace agreement is within reach. The announcement represents another sudden shift in messaging regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

The decision to call off the strikes marks yet another abrupt change in direction as the administration continues to issue conflicting statements about the military situation involving the United States and Israel in their operations against Iran.

Four members of Palestine Action received lengthy prison terms Friday after a London court determined their attack on an Israeli defense facility constituted terrorism rather than simple property destruction.

The activists caused damage totaling 1.2 million pounds ($1.6 million) during their assault on the Elbit Systems facility, and their confrontation with security personnel and police resulted in a law enforcement officer suffering a fractured spine.

Justice Jeremy Johnson determined the incident exceeded typical property damage charges because the defendants sought to shut down the defense contractor’s operations or pressure the British government to halt production, creating what he termed a “terrorist connection.”

“Each defendant agreed to take part in high-level actions, and did so with the shared aim of shutting down Elbit and ending what they regarded as British complicity in Israeli war crimes,” Johnson said. “The action was designed to influence the U.K. government and also to intimidate a section of the public, and was for the purpose of advancing an ideological or political cause.”

Samuel Corner, 23, received seven years and eight months behind bars. Charlotte Head and Leona Kamio, both 30, were each sentenced to five years imprisonment, while Fatema Rajwani, 21, got four years and eight months.

The Bristol factory incident in 2024 contributed to the government’s decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organization last year, resulting in more than 1,600 arrests of supporters between July and September, based on Home Office statistics.

London’s High Court declared the group’s terrorist designation illegal, though the prohibition remains active while awaiting an appeals court decision scheduled for Monday.

During Friday’s sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court, authorities arrested over 100 Palestine Action demonstrators gathered outside the southeast London courthouse.

The four defendants received their criminal damage convictions in May.

Head drove a van through the Elbit Systems facility gates on Aug. 6, 2024, after which the four activists, wearing red jumpsuits, used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy equipment they believed would produce drones for killing people in the Middle East.

During the altercation with security and police, Corner struck police Sgt. Kate Evans twice in the back with a 7-pound (3.2 kilogram) sledgehammer, breaking her spine. He received a conviction for causing serious bodily harm.

Evans informed the court she continues recovering from her injuries and has been subjected to hostile emails claiming she serves “the Zionist occupation of Britain.”

“The emotional impact of this incident has been profound and ongoing,” she said. “I experience disturbed sleep, often waking in a panicked state or after distressing dreams.”

Johnson’s terrorism-related ruling requires each convicted person to complete at least two-thirds of their sentence and obtain Parole Board permission for release.

Amnesty International criticized treating property damage as terrorism, calling it a dangerous precedent.

“Today’s sentencing hearing risks marking a new low in the ongoing crackdown against protest across the U.K.,” Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty’s U.K. chief executive said in a statement. “It is completely disproportionate to do so because the offense occurred at a protest.”

These convictions followed an earlier trial where jurors cleared six defendants of aggravated burglary and violent disorder charges but couldn’t reach decisions on property damage accusations. Two other defendants were cleared during the second trial.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ambassadors from European Union member states gave their approval Friday to begin formal membership discussions with Ukraine starting next week, marking the official start of the process for the conflict-ravaged nation to potentially become part of the globe’s largest trade organization.

During a Brussels gathering, representatives from all 27 EU countries made the decision to formally commence negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova on Monday in Luxembourg. Russia has similarly attempted to pull Moldova back under its influence.

For Ukraine, joining the EU represents a crucial “security guarantee” for establishing a stable future after its war with Russia concludes.

While NATO membership would provide Ukraine’s strongest protection, the Trump administration maintains this cannot occur. Additional opposition exists to membership while active combat continues. Russia firmly opposes NATO expansion and has pointed to potential NATO membership as justification for its comprehensive invasion launched in 2022, though it has not raised objections to EU membership for Kyiv.

Nations seeking EU membership must successfully negotiate through 35 different policy areas, known as chapters, covering everything from farming to commerce—a lengthy process that typically spans multiple years.

Monday’s intergovernmental conference will formally open essential chapters, organized into “clusters,” focusing on the core values and principles that form the foundation of the union.

“This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges,” EU Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

The leaders characterized this decision as “a strategic choice” that bolsters “peace, security and prosperity across our continent.” They also called it “a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable.”

Ukraine submitted its formal EU membership application less than seven days following Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The EU commission has commended the nation for implementing reforms during wartime conditions, though significant worries about corruption and judicial system standards persist.

Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged his EU partners to consider offering “associate membership” to Ukraine and breathe new life into talks aimed at ending more than four years of war with Russia.

Other countries – France and the Netherlands among them – have suggested work arounds to bring Ukraine into the fold more quickly but without the rights of full membership.

It all comes as the EU weighs whether to try to launch its own negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with U.S. mediated talks bogged down while America’s attention focuses on the Iran war.

Under Merz’s proposals, Ukraine would take part in EU meetings, but without voting rights, and would also have non-voting “associate members” of the bloc’s powerful executive branch, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.

All 27 EU members must agree before each policy chapter can be opened, and then again for it to be closed. Hungary, notably, has blocked the opening of negotiations, but the arrival of a new government in Budapest has softened that stance.

Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed Friday his administration’s plans for economic restructuring designed to draw foreign investment, increase involvement of Cuban expatriates in the nation’s economy, and redistribute certain governmental functions.

While speaking to state media, the president offered no specific details regarding the measures or when they would take effect, but emphasized it is now “time to change” and that the country “simply cannot continue on its current course.”

“Every opportunity in the midst of a crisis must be seized as a moment for takeoff, as a moment for growth,” Díaz-Canel said, according to a statement from the presidency that was republished by state-run media. “We have established a group of priorities to confront this situation,” he added without offering specifics.

The declaration follows ongoing difficulties for Cuban citizens dealing with fuel shortages resulting from the U.S. oil blockade and food scarcity. In January, the United States strengthened restrictions on Cuba’s oil supplies in an effort to pressure the island’s government to change its political and economic model, worsening challenges that have continued for approximately five years.

Díaz-Canel indicated officials are reviewing measures concerning foreign trade, exports, supply chains and logistics. Without providing details, he indicated the government might remove required state intermediaries in import and export activities and provide tariff advantages to those who import raw materials into the country for manufacturing.

Earlier Friday, a vessel transporting almost 100 tons of food and essential supplies reached Cuba from Colombia as part of the humanitarian assistance that multiple countries have delivered to Cuba in recent months as a U.S. energy embargo continues.

The vessel, which left Cartagena in early June, entered the Havana Bay channel early in the morning displaying the Colombian flag and accompanied by a small Cuban auxiliary vessel, The Associated Press confirmed.

The Colombian Presidential Agency for International Cooperation reported that, on orders of President Gustavo Petro, the shipment contained nonperishable food, medicine, hospital supplies, electrical materials, solar panels and other items.

The vessel also transported seven tons of goods gathered by solidarity groups.

Last weekend, another ship transporting 1,700 tons of essential goods from Mexico and Belize reached Havana.

In late January, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The action has intensified a preexisting crisis caused by U.S. sanctions. Washington is urging the Cuban government to release political prisoners and advance toward political and economic liberalization in exchange for a lifting of sanctions.

Cuba generates only 40% of its oil, leaving the island semiparalyzed and subjected to severe power outages.

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced that the United States is nearing completion of an agreement with Iran to conclude their military conflict, stating that a memorandum of understanding will be finalized within days.

However, several critical goals that Trump established for the military engagement appear to remain only partially completed. While the Trump administration maintains its objectives have been consistent and clear, the list of aims has grown and changed as the president and his team have discussed the conflict since its February 28 beginning. Throughout this period, the military engagement has damaged the worldwide economy, strained international partnerships and created unresolved concerns about the conflict’s planning, rationale and consequences.

According to most assessments, American and Israeli military operations have substantially weakened Iran’s armed forces and eliminated numerous high-ranking officials. However, these battlefield victories don’t automatically mean all of the president’s broader strategic goals have been reached, despite administration claims Friday that they were achieving their stated purposes.

Here’s an examination of the goals Trump has outlined at different times since the conflict started and what is known about their current status:

A primary goal established by the administration was to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”

In late March, Trump stated that Iran’s missiles “are mostly decimated” and claimed 90% of their missiles and launchers had been eliminated.

By mid-May, this assessment became more cautious, with the president stating that 82% of Iran’s missile arsenal had been destroyed.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the senior U.S. military leader in the Middle East, informed Congress in mid-May that Iran retains a “very moderate if not small capability to continue strikes” throughout the region.

Iran demonstrated as recently as this week that it continues to possess missile launch capabilities when it struck three Gulf nations allied with the U.S.

During the conflict’s early stages, the president and his team sometimes identified this as an independent goal. At other times, it disappeared from their objectives list.

U.S. Central Command has stated that its strike targets in Iran have encompassed weapons manufacturing and missile and drone production facilities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Congress in early June that Iran has experienced “massive destruction” of its defense manufacturing infrastructure and “80 to 90% of attrition. It will take years for them to rebuild it.”

Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in an interview broadcast Sunday: “Most of the drone factories have been knocked out, most of the launching pads have been knocked out and most of the missile manufacturing areas have been knocked out. But they still have capacity.”

The U.S. and Israel rapidly gained control of Iranian airspace, where they operated with minimal opposition.

Rubio informed lawmakers that Iran retains drone capabilities but lacks the capacity to deploy drone swarms for attacks, as it did when the war commenced.

He also stated Iran lacks a traditional navy but operates small vessels equipped with machine guns that interfere with shipping and occasionally deploy underwater mines.

Iran has demonstrated continued regional attack capabilities, including a fatal June 3 drone and missile assault on Kuwait that temporarily shut down its primary airport. The U.S. and Bahrain also reported intercepting missiles and drones that Iran launched at the Gulf kingdom.

On Tuesday, Trump held Tehran responsible for bringing down a U.S. Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz after it struck an Iranian drone.

Trump significantly changed his position over the past year after announcing in June that the U.S. had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, only for his advisers to subsequently warn that Iran was merely weeks from developing a bomb to justify current military actions.

A critical unresolved issue involves approximately 970 pounds of enriched uranium that Tehran possesses which could potentially be weaponized. This material is reportedly buried beneath three nuclear facilities that the U.S. and Israel bombed last year. Trump stated in a May 29 social media message that it will be recovered by the U.S. “in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED.”

Iran has not indicated whether it would agree. Without Iranian consent, seizing the material would be extremely dangerous, according to experts, and would require deploying substantial U.S. forces into the country.

Trump informed reporters Thursday that there was a “conceptual” agreement regarding the uranium, but provided no specifics and Iran has not yet confirmed this.

A senior administration official, speaking anonymously to reporters Friday to update negotiations, stated that Iran has agreed the uranium will be destroyed and removed, but implementation details remain unresolved.

Trump added a fifth U.S. objective in a March social media post: “Protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”

The U.S. maintains thousands of military personnel at regional bases and installations, but Trump has not clarified how extensively he would act to defend Middle East allies from threats.

As Trump announced the U.S. was approaching an Iranian agreement recently, he suggested any deal should somehow require many Gulf allies to join the Abraham Accords, agreements from Trump’s first presidency aimed at normalizing relations with Israel. However, this appears highly unlikely since Israel’s Gaza Strip operations have increased tensions with Gulf Arab nations and the broader Muslim world.

During this week’s exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran, Tehran targeted Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, prompting American retaliation with additional strikes.

The Trump administration has begun considering whether to allow Gulf allies to use Iran’s frozen financial assets to cover war damages, but officials have not announced whether they will proceed with this approach.

The senior administration official stated Friday that the memorandum of understanding would ensure lasting regional peace, but provided no details about its structure or implementation.

Maintaining commercial shipping through this crucial waterway was not among the original war justifications, but after Iran effectively blocked strait traffic, it has become a major conflict issue.

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a passage for 20% of global oil and natural gas, and its effective closure since the war began has increased worldwide energy costs and other commodity prices. Iran had permitted vessels it considered friendly to transit while imposing substantial fees.

Trump has stated that a proposed Iranian agreement would include reopening the strait and ending the U.S. blockade of Tehran’s ports.

In March, Trump and his administration frequently cited weakening Iran’s proxy terrorist networks as a central operational goal.

Over time, administration officials have provided fewer updates about this objective, which the president described as ensuring “the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces” and “ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

The U.S. initially targeted Iranian-supported militia groups in Iraq. However, the primary concern has become Israel’s expanding Lebanese conflict against Hezbollah, which Iran supports. Iran has demanded that Lebanese fighting must cease as part of any U.S. agreement, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears determined to pursue his objective of eliminating the militant organization.

Israel announced Thursday that it was not participating in the agreement the U.S. had negotiated with Iran.

The administration official stated Friday that the U.S. was confident that comprehensive regional peace terms in the memorandum of understanding would encompass both Hezbollah and Israel. If Iran fulfills its commitments regarding Hezbollah restraint, Israel would not need to respond, the official explained.

JOHANNESBURG, June 12 – Court documents reveal that South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa submitted emergency legal papers on Friday in an attempt to halt parliamentary impeachment proceedings connected to his “Farmgate” controversy.

The president is asking the high court to first rule on a different legal challenge he filed to overturn an independent panel’s misconduct conclusions regarding the scandal, which involved bundles of cash being taken from a sofa at his farm in 2020.

According to the president’s account, $580,000 in cash was taken, and he claims the money came from buffalo sales. However, the incident has sparked concerns about why the funds were concealed in furniture and whether proper declarations were made. Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence.

Last month, South Africa’s constitutional court reinstated impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa, ruling that a parliamentary decision in 2022 to halt the process was not valid.

The high court is scheduled to consider his challenge to the misconduct conclusions from September 2 through 4.

The 73-year-old Ramaphosa has served as head of state since 2018, with his second presidential term scheduled to conclude in 2029.

The Farmgate controversy has created significant political difficulties for him, particularly since he assumed office promising to combat corruption and restore the reputation of his African National Congress (ANC) party.

However, political observers anticipate he will weather the storm if the impeachment matter proceeds to a parliamentary vote.

BUDAPEST, June 12 – The Tisza party in Hungary introduced comprehensive legislation Friday aimed at reforming the nation’s public broadcasting system, which opponents both domestically and internationally claim transformed into a propaganda tool during Viktor Orban’s previous administration.

Reforming state media represented a central campaign promise from Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party, which defeated Orban decisively in April’s electoral contest. The party’s constitutional majority provides the authority needed to reverse Orban’s changes that opponents argue weakened democratic institutions.

The proposed legislation outlines several major changes:

The primary objective focuses on reestablishing independent, transparent and responsible public broadcasting services.

The proposal would reorganize MTVA, the current holding company managing state media, by dividing it into separate entities for radio and television operations while reestablishing MTI as an independent national news service.

A new Independent Public Media Committee would be created to safeguard media independence, supervise operations and budgets, and participate in selecting leadership positions.

This committee would operate with balanced representation, including equal participation from governing and opposition parties along with independent media industry representatives.

A Public Media Council would oversee adherence to public service standards outlined in a Public Service Charter.

The legislation also targets the Media Council within the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, seeking more balanced composition and transparent decision-making while implementing stronger conflict of interest regulations.

Current public media executives would lose their positions under the reforms, with Culture Minister Zoltan Tarr assuming temporary oversight while new leadership is selected through open applications.

President Donald Trump challenged Iranian media reports about ceasefire conditions on Friday, labeling them as “fake news” and stating the published terms don’t align with the written accord negotiated between the United States and Iran.

Trump’s remarks followed less than a day after he called off scheduled U.S. military operations against Iran and revealed a peace initiative designed to resolve the ongoing tensions.

Using Truth Social, President Trump posted: “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing. What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth.”

Trump was addressing a 14-point framework that Mehr News agency released on Friday. The reported plan contained elements such as a $300 billion economic recovery and reconstruction package for Iran, complete removal of international military forces from regions near Iran, and lifting of energy-focused sanctions.

After President Trump’s Thursday evening statement, Iranian news outlets indicated “a high probability that the regime will approve that proposal.” However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry claimed the United States had altered certain aspects of the initial agreement.

President Trump also expressed doubt about successfully negotiating with Tehran.

“Very dishonorable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith. AMAZING!”

The president additionally stated: “Also, their totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together, and FAST!”

These statements emerged while military operations persisted despite the ceasefire declaration. Reuters indicated that a U.S. official confirmed American forces stopped two suicide drones aimed at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz during the night. Iranian news sources described explosions close to Sirik, while Fars reported Iranian military actions blocked a tanker from accessing the waterway without proper coordination.

NBC disclosed that U.S. military units were roughly three hours away from executing planned attacks when President Trump declared the suspension on Thursday. The network reported that naval forces had already readied weapons and modified air mission strategies. Kharg Island, which President Trump had earlier mentioned as a possible target, was excluded from the authorized strike plan.

Media organizations with ties to Iran’s diplomatic negotiating team have disclosed specifics of a comprehensive 14-point framework proposal that could shape future discussions between Washington and Tehran regarding sanctions relief, regional security matters, and nuclear concerns.

A significant aspect of this reported framework is that it contains no language regarding Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently communicated to the United States that any viable deal must encompass both Iran’s nuclear program and its missile development efforts.

The proposal also includes a request for $300 billion in economic reconstruction and development funding for Iran, even though Washington has consistently rejected providing any form of compensation payments to Tehran.

Additionally, a media source aligned with Hezbollah suggested that language regarding foreign military withdrawal from regions near Iran might be understood to include requirements for Israel to vacate its remaining strategic locations in Lebanon.

According to Mehr, Iranian officials are still examining the proposal and have not granted final authorization. The framework appears to blend immediate trust-building actions with extended negotiations designed to achieve a comprehensive nuclear accord.

The framework’s reported elements include:

1. Ceasefire across regional fronts
An immediate and lasting ceasefire would be implemented on various fronts, including Lebanon.

2. US commitment to respect Iranian sovereignty
Washington would promise to avoid meddling in Iran’s domestic matters.

3. Removal of naval restrictions
Maritime measures targeting Iran would be eliminated within 30 days.

4. Reduction of US military presence near Iran
American military personnel would be pulled back or decreased in regions Tehran views as strategically important.

5. Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
The shipping channel would return to standard operations within 30 days through agreements made with Iran.

6. Suspension of energy sanctions
Limitations on Iranian oil, petrochemical and associated exports would be eliminated.

7. Economic recovery package
The United States and partner nations would supply no less than $300 billion in reconstruction and development aid.

8. Sixty days of nuclear negotiations
A two-month discussion period would be created to achieve a final deal on Iran’s nuclear activities and the elimination of sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

9. Reaffirmation of non-proliferation commitments
Iran would officially reconfirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and declare again that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

10. No additional pressure during talks
The United States would avoid expanding military deployments in the area or adding new sanctions during ongoing discussions.

11. Release of frozen Iranian funds
A sum of $24 billion in Iranian resources held abroad would be freed, with half becoming accessible before final discussions commence.

12. Monitoring and verification mechanism
A framework would be created to supervise adherence to obligations accepted by both sides.

13. United Nations ratification
Any completed agreement would need endorsement through a United Nations Security Council resolution.

14. Conditions and scope of final negotiations
Final discussions would not commence until half of Iran’s held funds had been freed, energy sanctions had been suspended and maritime restrictions had been removed. The negotiations would concentrate on nuclear matters, sanctions and economic recovery, while Iran’s ballistic missile activities and backing for regional proxy organizations would stay beyond the negotiation parameters.

Pakistan’s finance minister unveiled the nation’s upcoming budget to parliament on Friday, featuring an 18% boost in military expenditures while reducing allocations for development initiatives and providing limited tax breaks for wage earners.

The budget proposal highlights the challenges facing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration as it grapples with sluggish economic expansion, elevated living expenses, and instability caused by regional conflicts and Middle Eastern warfare.

The country has positioned itself as an important intermediary in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States to address the current conflict. While negotiations have reached an impasse, a fragile ceasefire remains active.

Additionally, Pakistan finds itself in a dispute with adjacent Afghanistan, claiming that Kabul is providing refuge to Pakistani insurgents battling the Islamabad government — allegations that Kabul rejects. The renewed violence since February has resulted in hundreds of casualties.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb informed Parliament that the proposed budget sets total expenditures at 18.77 trillion rupees ($67.49 billion), representing a modest rise from the previous year.

The fiscal year 2026-27 for Pakistan commences July 1, with parliamentary voting on the proposal scheduled for later this month.

Aurangzeb stated the government targets 4% economic expansion and 8.2% inflation for the upcoming year, although cost pressures continue to burden families already affected by years of increasing expenses.

The budget aligns closely with requirements from Pakistan’s current $7 billion International Monetary Fund agreement, which demands increased revenue collection, expanded taxation, and structural changes to address persistent budget shortfalls.

Civil society organizations from Israel and Palestine gathered in France on Friday to make an urgent plea to world leaders, asking them not to give up on the possibility of a two-state solution as conflict continues to rage in the Middle East.

The Paris gathering brought together diplomatic officials and foreign ministers from numerous nations, working alongside advocacy groups from both sides of the conflict. The conference marked the one-year anniversary of the U.N.-supported New York Declaration, which outlined steps toward establishing Palestinian statehood and led approximately a dozen nations, including France, Britain and Canada, to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Speaking to 250 civil society representatives from both communities, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “We could find every reason in the world to give up. But you are here! Your testimonies alone are grounds for hope and action.”

“France refuses to let the side of war prevail over the side of peace,” Barrot added.

Participants concluded the conference by drafting an eight-point “Call for Action” that demands a lasting ceasefire, an end to settlement construction, reconstruction efforts in Gaza, governmental reforms, and increased international support for civil society organizations.

The action plan will be presented to G7 leaders when they convene in the French Alps beginning Monday.

“The region continues to fracture. Gaza is devastated, Israel remains under threat. Settler terrorism, settlement expansion, and de facto annexation and threats to the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state,” the action plan states.

“Israelis and Palestinians alike remain trapped in fear, insecurity, and trauma. We return because, as the G7 convenes in Evian, this conflict risks once again being set aside. The window for a solution remains open; but it is narrowing.”

The conference took place as violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has intensified, highlighting growing frustration among Western nations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which has continued expanding settlements.

According to diplomatic sources, this expansion strategy is designed to damage the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.

Of particular concern is Israel’s proposed construction project east of Jerusalem, called the E1 project, which would divide the West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, breaking up territory that Palestinians want for their future nation.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “The two-state solution remains the only viable path to bringing lasting peace to the Middle East. The situation in the West Bank is equally alarming. Illegal Israeli settlements continue to expand at an unprecedented pace, and settler violence is increasing without sufficient accountability.”

On Tuesday, Britain, Canada, France and Norway announced coordinated sanctions targeting Israeli networks that finance, enable and execute violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Both Israel and the United States chose not to participate in the Paris conference.

“The ambassador was invited but will not attend the conference, as it has nothing to do with promoting peace,” the Israeli embassy stated.

“France cannot act as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians. Regarding the two-state solution, the ambassador recalls that the Palestinians have rejected proposals to establish a Palestinian state on five occasions.”

A U.S. businessman who penned a book documenting his experience during Myanmar’s military takeover has been arrested upon his return to the country Thursday, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

Adam Castillo, who formerly served as head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar and currently operates a security company in Yangon, was apprehended at an airport after traveling back to the nation, one source revealed.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged being informed of reports regarding an American citizen’s detention in Myanmar but declined further comment, citing privacy considerations.

When contacted by Reuters, a representative for the military-controlled government stated they had not been briefed on the incident and offered no statement.

According to social media activity, Castillo had been traveling internationally to promote his publication, Finding Our Voice, which details his decision to remain in Myanmar after the 2021 military takeover that plunged the nation into chaos.

The armed forces’ seizure of power brought an end to a short-lived period of democratic governance under Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering ongoing civil conflict between military forces and a united front of pro-democracy resistance groups working alongside established ethnic minority organizations.

In early April, former military leader Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency following an extensively criticized, military-orchestrated election that barred major opposition factions, including Suu Kyi’s party, and took place amid active warfare.

The former U.S. Marine visited the White House last year, where he proposed to officials that America take on a mediating role to help secure access to rare earth minerals, as previously reported by Reuters.

His publication documents the military’s violent suppression of democracy advocates while also condemning Washington’s approach, including economic sanctions, as unsuccessful and calling for increased business involvement.

WASHINGTON – American and Iranian negotiators are nearing completion of an agreement to end their longstanding dispute, with a senior U.S. official indicating Friday that an initial accord could be finalized within days.

“The negotiating team has got us in a very good spot, but let’s see here, we’re not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close,” the U.S. official told reporters while requesting anonymity.

According to the official, the proposed agreement fulfills U.S. President Donald Trump’s primary goals and “gets it in a very, very good place at the end of it.”

The proposed memorandum of understanding would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz while the United States would end its blockade of Iranian ports, the official explained to reporters.

Under the agreement’s provisions, Iran would dismantle its nuclear capabilities, with highly enriched uranium being destroyed locally before removal from Iranian territory, according to the official. The deal also establishes monitoring procedures to guarantee long-term compliance.

Should Iran meet its commitments, the country would receive economic relief through asset releases and reduced sanctions, the official noted.

“The Iranians don’t get anything upon the signing of the MOU or upon the negotiation itself,” the official stated.

“They get rewarded economically for complying with their obligations under the deal. So if they turn over the nuclear material as promised, they’ll get something. If they dismantle their nuclear program or their nuclear facilities, they’ll get something else,” the official explained.

BRUSSELS, June 12 – Representatives from all 27 European Union member countries voted Friday to begin formal membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, with initial discussions scheduled to start Monday.

While Ukraine remains engaged in military conflict against Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has prioritized EU membership as a central strategic objective to secure his nation’s position within Europe’s political framework.

European Union leadership approved opening membership discussions with both Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023, however formal negotiations were delayed due to Hungary’s previous government blocking Ukraine’s membership application.

A newly formed government in Budapest recently reached a deal with Kyiv regarding Hungarian minority rights within Ukraine, allowing Hungary to remove its objection to beginning the initial phase of membership negotiations.

During Friday’s meeting in Brussels, the representatives authorized both nations to start discussions on the first group of policy areas requiring legal reforms to align with EU requirements.

The membership process involves candidate nations negotiating various policy sections organized into six themed groups, addressing topics such as fundamental rights, internal market operations, and external relations.

“Today, the European Union took a major step forward,” European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.

“At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process,” they said.

European Union membership negotiations typically require extended timeframes and involve years of reform implementation and meeting European requirements.

Costa and von der Leyen described Friday’s decision as “a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable”.

Violence broke out Friday in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital city, as opposition groups held a protest against proposed constitutional modifications that critics believe could enable President Félix Tshisekedi to run for a third term in office.

Law enforcement officers used tear gas to break up the gathering organized by opposition alliance C64 after confrontations erupted between demonstrators and government supporters near the Parliament building.

The nation faces numerous challenges, including an ongoing Ebola epidemic and intensifying violence from a long-running conflict involving Rwanda-supported M23 rebels, among more than 100 armed groups fighting for territory in eastern regions.

President Tshisekedi, age 62, assumed office in 2019 and is scheduled to finish his second five-year presidency in 2028. He has stated his openness to pursuing a third term if voters approve it through a referendum.

Current Congolese constitutional law prohibits any changes to presidential term restrictions. A proposed measure being reviewed by the National Assembly’s lower house would permit the president to modify these requirements during a “major dysfunction” that stops government operations from functioning, possibly after holding a referendum.

The nation’s primary opposition groups, which had been fragmented in previous years, united in May under C64, also known as Coalition Article 64, to fight what they characterize as Tshisekedi’s effort to extend his rule. The alliance has labeled the suggested modifications a “serious threat” to national stability.

Friday’s demonstration turned violent when opposition followers and pro-government activists fought before law enforcement stepped in.

Martin Fayulu, who finished second in the 2018 presidential race and ranks among Congo’s leading opposition politicians, was among those hurt. Footage shared on his official Facebook account displayed Fayulu with blood around his eyes and on his white shirt collar while supporters assisted him through the crowd.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — African airlines are grappling with mounting financial pressure as the ongoing conflict in Iran drives jet fuel costs higher and creates supply chain disruptions across the continent’s aviation sector.

According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the conflict has highlighted the continent’s overwhelming reliance on imported refined jet fuel, making carriers extremely susceptible to worldwide economic disruptions.

Even before the Iran conflict began, African airlines were already spending approximately 17% more on jet fuel compared to worldwide averages, AFRAA reports. The additional cost pressures are further squeezing profit margins that were already razor-thin throughout the industry.

“The impact is dire and a major shock for our members,” AFRAA Secretary-General Abderahmane Berthe told The Associated Press. “Fuel represents between 30% and 40% of airlines’ operating costs. Any increase directly affects their balance sheets.”

Industry observers are monitoring the Strait of Hormuz closely, a crucial international energy pathway that handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and fuel shipments before Iran essentially blocked shipping traffic there when the conflict started in February.

African airlines face magnified consequences due to structural challenges, such as elevated purchasing expenses and limited capacity to weather economic shocks.

According to Berthe, several airlines have implemented fuel surcharges, though most are unable to transfer the complete cost increase to travelers, forcing them to shoulder the financial burden.

“They cannot pass these costs to passengers as this will affect demand,” he said.

Supply interruptions have also created worries at key aviation centers like Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where reliable jet fuel access is essential for both regional and international flight operations, Berthe explained.

Several airlines have already started modifying their networks, reducing flight frequencies and reassessing routes to handle increasing expenses and fuel supply uncertainty, he noted.

The situation has sparked renewed demands for Africa to build up local refining capabilities and decrease dependence on imported jet fuel.

“We need African solutions,” Berthe said. “Many African countries produce oil, but we still depend on non-African suppliers for refined jet fuel.”

Focus is growing on initiatives like Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, which is anticipated to become increasingly important in providing refined fuel throughout the region, including to nations like Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa.

“We have seen hubs like Addis (Ababa) turning to Dangote for supply,” Berthe said. “This is expected to ease pressure on fuel supply chains during this period.”

Even with these challenges, air travel demand across Africa continues to be robust. AFRAA forecasts passenger increases of approximately 6% each year, surpassing many international markets.

However, Berthe cautioned that ongoing disruptions could seriously impact profitability and connectivity.

“If this continues, the impact on African airlines will be very severe,” he said. “If Africa wants a resilient aviation sector, it must secure its own fuel future.”

A healthcare worker employed by Doctors Without Borders was detained during Afghanistan’s recent enforcement campaign targeting alleged violations of women’s clothing regulations, the humanitarian organization announced Friday.

The paramedic was taken into custody for failing to wear a face covering during her commute to a medical facility in Herat, a western Afghan city, and remained in detention for two days, stated Sarah Champion, who manages the aid group’s Afghanistan operations.

In a Thursday statement, the organization, which operates under the French initials MSF, expressed being “outraged by the arrest and detention of one of its employees as part of the enforcement of dress code requirements in the city.”

“This incident is not isolated. Women in Afghanistan already face very severe restrictions on movement and access to public life, which have direct consequences on the access to care and delivery of healthcare services across the country,” the statement continued.

United Nations officials reported that no fewer than 30 women faced arrest in Herat during Saturday and Sunday for purported violations of Afghanistan’s harsh female dress requirements. These detentions triggered an uncommon demonstration in the city Monday, which Taliban authorities violently broke up.

The U.N. mission in Afghanistan reported that police response to the demonstration resulted in at least one death from gunshots and multiple injuries, including those caused by physical assault.

Such demonstrations occur infrequently in Afghanistan, where Taliban rule has been in place since 2021 following the disorderly departure of U.S.-led military forces. The current administration has established regulations based on a rigid understanding of Islamic law, or Shariah. Opposition is not permitted, and demonstrations challenging official policies are prohibited.

These regulations encompass severe limitations on women and girls, including prohibitions on schooling past elementary level and restrictions on numerous occupations. Women must have a male guardian present when leaving their homes, and rigid guidelines dictate women’s attire. Medical care remains among the limited fields where female employment continues.

The guidelines mandate that women may appear publicly only when dressed in complete hijab — including head covering and lengthy garment covering their entire body — plus a face covering that exposes only the eyes. These requirements are enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

The MSF employee was traveling to her hospital job with her husband when authorities at a checkpoint established by the vice and virtue ministry stopped them, Champion explained Friday.

Officials informed the woman that her lack of face covering constituted a dress code violation. Nevertheless, she wore her approved work clothing, which Afghanistan’s Health Ministry has sanctioned for female hospital personnel, Champion informed The Associated Press.

Following her explanation about her hospital employment, the employee departed the checkpoint. However, both she and her husband faced arrest upon reaching the medical facility and spent two days in custody, Champion reported.

The imprisonment “is completely disproportionate,” Champion stated. “You don’t go to jail for that. You don’t get arrested and detained for not covering your face.”

Prior to their release, both spouses were required to sign written pledges that the woman would wear a niqab — clothing that covers the complete body, including head and face, showing only the eyes. The agreement specified that failure to comply could result in one month of imprisonment, Champion noted.

The woman’s father, brother and brother-in-law were additionally required to sign the agreement, ensuring the woman’s husband would guarantee his wife’s adherence to clothing rules.

MSF operates seven initiatives throughout Afghanistan providing maternity, pediatric, trauma and tuberculosis treatment. The organization reported that women comprise 45% of its nursing staff and over half of its maternity project workforce.

Citizens of Iran find themselves caught between uncertainty and weariness as their nation’s economy suffers under the strain of warfare and mounting domestic challenges.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he halted planned military strikes against Iran, stating that a peace agreement appeared close at hand. Earlier this week’s exchange of attacks brought a fragile ceasefire dangerously close to breaking down completely, which would cause additional damage to Iran’s already struggling economy.

Previous attacks targeting steel plants, petrochemical facilities, and power infrastructure have triggered widespread business shutdowns and unemployment across Iran, leaving citizens unable to purchase basic food items amid skyrocketing grocery prices that have increased by triple digits.

The combination of economic collapse and the threat of warfare has left many citizens desperately wanting an end to the chaos while feeling deeply worried about what lies ahead. Huraz Ahmadi, a 19-year-old street vendor in the capital of Tehran, expressed concern about the possibility of fighting resuming.

“I don’t think they will reach an agreement, given the way things are going. But I hope they make a deal. An agreement is much better than war,” Ahmadi said. “In wars, innocent and good people die. I personally lost a relative.”

Over the past year, Iranians have endured two separate conflicts – beginning with Israel’s 12-day war in 2025 against Iran followed by a joint assault with the U.S. that began on Feb. 28. Both attacks were launched in the middle of talks about Iran’s nuclear program.

Monday’s renewed U.S. attacks created uncertainty in Iran’s capital after growing hope that Tehran and Washington were close to reaching an agreement. One Tehran resident in his late 20s described how the sound of explosions and air defenses in the capital caused “maybe a half hour of panic.” Extended lines appeared at gas stations, but citizens returned within hours to “living normally,” he said.

“War is also becoming normal. And that is very upsetting,” the resident said, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of security fears.

“Everybody is stressed out for a thousand reasons,” he added. “Our lives are constantly in this political game where we can’t plan anything or know what’s going to happen.”

A key requirement in negotiations for Iranian representatives is that the U.S. provide some form of sanctions or economic relief, in addition to removing a naval blockade that has severely restricted Iran’s oil exports as well as imports of raw materials and other goods.

Numerous business owners are fighting to keep their operations alive, according to a member of a council representing Iranian industrialists.

“The main concern of many industrialists and entrepreneurs is the survival of their businesses and production. The concern is about the disruption of the supply chain of raw materials, parts and machinery due to the cruel U.S. blockade,” Mehdi Bostanchi said.

Tehran-based Bostanchi, who owns a company that makes ventilation systems, is part of a trade group for factory owners across Iran. Its members include textile, food and metal producers and printing firms.

Bostanchi explained that the unclear status of any agreement to end the conflict is preventing businesses from making future plans and working toward recovery.

“Society is tired of instability and does not want a wider war to break out,” he added.

Iran’s rial currency has also lost over half its value in the past year. Exchange rates have crashed to around 1.8 million rials to the dollar, compared with 41,600 rials 10 years ago.

The worsening economic situation has sparked civil unrest in Iran. In January, security forces shot thousands of anti-government protesters in the streets. Arrests of protesters and those expressing support for them has continued through the war.

In addition to fearing their own government, Iranians who oppose the authorities also worry about a return to active warfare, according to a social media influencer and therapist who lives in central Tehran and has participated in past anti-government protests.

“The war isn’t anything but destruction for us. And in reality, the attacks that happened killed a number of ordinary people and destroyed a number of homes and residential buildings,” she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.

Residents contacted by The Associated Press also expressed concerns that renewed conflict would lead Iranian authorities to cut internet service again. Repeated blackouts since the January protests have crippled what was a strong digital economy and stoked job losses. A partial restoration has seen a limited uptick in connectivity.

A few hours after threatening to launch further attacks, Trump posted on social media that significant points in the negotiations “have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.” But a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said in a live phone call on state television that mediators were active and nothing had been finalized to end the conflict.

Iran’s ability to withstand U.S.-Israeli assaults and to close the globally strategic Strait of Hormuz has also rallied the Islamic Republic’s hard-liner base. Authorities have organized nightly rallies in past weeks as they try to project popular support for a tough stance in U.S. talks.

Hamid Reza Bani Ebrahimi, a 47-year-old merchant, said he opposed any agreement that would limit what he sees as Iran’s right to enrich uranium and develop nuclear technology. Israel and the U.S. have repeatedly struck sites and figures linked with the country’s atomic program.

“Our scientists worked so hard to acquire this technology, and then they came and martyred them,” Bani Ebrahimi said.

Abdullah Hosseini, a 45-year-old university professor in Tehran, said Iranian strikes on Gulf states and Jordan this past week were part of an effort to deter further attacks.

“I don’t like war. I am extremely worried about people and children being killed,” Hosseini said. “But sometimes war is necessary, and now is the time for Iran to stand against its enemy.”

But Tehran-based analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour said the back-and-forth strikes this week had deepened concerns in Iran that the conflict “could turn into a crisis without end and in reality make running the country more difficult” in the face of economic pressures.

“Both America and Iran are looking for a way out of this situation with honor and claiming victory so they can strengthen their own domestic situation,” he said.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — American and Iranian negotiators are reportedly nearing completion of a comprehensive agreement designed to halt their ongoing military conflict, according to three regional sources who spoke with The Associated Press on Friday. A high-ranking American official indicated the preliminary agreement contains provisions for eliminating and dismantling Iran’s nuclear materials.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X Friday that such an agreement “has never been closer.” He provided no additional information, noting that a completed deal remained under discussion.

This potential diplomatic breakthrough follows a three-day period of military exchanges between Iran and both America and Israel this week, raising concerns about a broader Middle Eastern conflict.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated in recent weeks that both nations were approaching a potential agreement. The military action initiated by America and Israel on February 28 has destabilized the Middle East and effectively halted petroleum and natural gas transport from the Persian Gulf region. A temporary ceasefire has remained in effect since April 7.

The regional sources indicated the developing agreement is anticipated to facilitate reopening the Strait of Hormuz, gradual removal of Iranian sanctions, and release of Tehran’s frozen financial assets. These sources requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of ongoing negotiations and refused to elaborate on additional specifics.

A high-ranking American official stated that crucial elements in the developing deal involve eliminating and destroying Iran’s nuclear materials and dismantling Tehran’s atomic program. The provisions also require Iran to cease funding terrorist organizations, according to the official.

The American official requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to discuss details of the confidential negotiations.

Highlighting the delicate nature of these discussions, Trump criticized Iranian leadership on social media Friday, declaring: “They better get their act together, and FAST!”

Iran’s atomic program has remained a central source of disagreement. American and Israeli leadership worry it could result in nuclear weapons development — a primary justification their officials have given for military action. Tehran has maintained its nuclear activities serve peaceful objectives.

Equally important is Iran’s effective blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for petroleum and natural gas transportation. Interrupted passage through this strait has reduced worldwide energy availability, increased fuel costs and raised prices for food and other necessities far beyond the regional area.

America has implemented a naval embargo of Iranian harbors since mid-April to restrict Iran’s petroleum exports.

The regional sources anticipate a formal signing event for the agreement within days once officials in Washington and Tehran provide approval.

“This deal has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace,” Vice President JD Vance posted on social media Friday, without providing specifics.

Trump claimed substantial negotiation progress Thursday, hours after threatening to intensify attacks and capture Iran’s petroleum sector. Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told state television that mediators remained engaged and the agreement text was “mostly finalized.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, which has spearheaded mediation efforts between America and Iran, provided no immediate response Friday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated Thursday that Pakistan continued participating in negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated Israel is not participating in the agreement under negotiation. He stated Friday that he and Trump maintained “full agreement” that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated separately that Israel also anticipates Trump will protect crucial Israeli interests, including weakening Iran’s missile capabilities and proxy networks.

Katz cautioned that Israel might still take independent action regarding Iran and would not withdraw from territories it occupies in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, nor would it leave the northern refugee camps of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Iran has demanded that any conflict-ending agreement must also halt fighting in Lebanon between its allied militia Hezbollah and Israel. Netanyahu appears determined to pursue his objective of eliminating the militant organization, creating complications for Iranian-American negotiations.

The agreement was primarily facilitated by Pakistan, directed by its army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to regional sources, with support from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar.

A British court sentenced a young man to more than six years behind bars Friday for pushing a vulnerable Louisiana resident to commit suicide during a live video conversation on the Discord messaging platform, according to prosecutors.

Dylan Phelan, 21, pleaded guilty to encouraging Travis Dyer to end his own life in October 2024 following months of communication through the Discord service, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced.

Dyer, a Louisiana resident, died while participating in a live video conversation with Phelan and two other individuals located in the United States, during which participants pressured him to hurt himself, including using a shotgun to take his own life.

“This was a deeply disturbing case involving the sustained exploitation of a vulnerable young man,” prosecutor Alex Johnson said.

“Dylan Phelan did not simply witness these events – he deliberately and persistently encouraged Travis Dyer to take his own life, intending that he would do so. His actions were calculated, cruel, and had devastating consequences.”

According to prosecutors, the encouragement represented ongoing conduct by participants in an internet group who had singled out Dyer while being aware of his mental health struggles. Phelan subsequently informed authorities he had become involved with troubling online communities and acknowledged his responsibility in the death.

At Leeds Crown Court, Phelan received a sentence of six years and four months in prison after also entering guilty pleas to charges involving inappropriate images of minors and possession of extreme pornographic material.

Johnson stated that individuals who promote self-harm through the internet would face consequences and that online anonymity would not protect perpetrators from legal action.

The sentencing occurs as Britain intensifies its response to internet-based dangers, especially those impacting minors and young adults, including increased pressure on tech corporations to better prevent harmful material and abusive conduct on their services.

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

BAKU, June 12 – An Azerbaijani court has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a well-known rights activist following his conviction on charges of hooliganism and fraud, in what his attorney characterizes as a politically driven prosecution.

Rufat Safarov, the activist in question, previously worked as a prosecutor and currently leads the advocacy organization Defense Line. His background includes a three-year imprisonment for bribery charges before receiving a presidential pardon from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2019.

Attorney Rovshana Rahimova, representing Safarov, informed Reuters of her disagreement with the court’s decision and confirmed plans to file an appeal.

The oil-rich nation has faced mounting Western condemnation regarding its treatment of human rights following multiple detentions of independent media figures and political opposition members in recent times.

Azerbaijani officials dismiss such criticism and characterize Western diplomatic demands for prisoner releases as unwarranted meddling in their country’s legal proceedings.

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — European Union officials will oversee any agreements establishing return centers in countries outside the EU to ensure rejected asylum seekers transferred there maintain their legal protections, the bloc’s migration commissioner announced Friday.

Magnus Brunner stated that international organizations including the International Organization for Migration and the U.N. refugee agency will review any such agreements to guarantee adherence to legal protections.

“Human rights standards and international law is non-negotiable,” Brunner stated during a press briefing at a gathering of EU migration ministers marking the launch of the bloc’s updated migration and asylum framework.

This return center concept represents one element of the new framework that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who worry these facilities might become permanent detention sites filled with unsuccessful asylum applicants trapped in prolonged legal uncertainty.

On Friday, Greece confirmed it joins four other EU nations — Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands — in discussions with African nations about establishing these return facilities within their borders.

The Greek Migration Ministry reports that these five European countries plan to finalize agreements with the unidentified third nations this year, allowing the return centers to begin operations in 2027.

Brunner declined to identify which third countries are under consideration for hosting the return facilities, instead referring questions to the five nations conducting the discussions.

“We created the rules, we create the basis, but it’s up to the member state to negotiate agreements if they want to,” the EU commissioner stated. He noted that EU policy changes are showing results, with irregular migrant arrivals dropping 90% along the Western Balkan route during the past three years, plus a 67% decrease from Turkey to Greece’s Aegean islands during the first four months of this year.

Cypriot Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides announced the Mediterranean island country plans to participate in return hub discussions after its six-month EU leadership period concludes July 1.

Ioannides dismissed concerns from human rights organizations regarding the bloc’s updated migration and asylum framework, which critics claim might prevent legitimate asylum seekers from obtaining protection through accelerated evaluations.

He stated these organizations “disagree with the gist of this project, with the whole architecture,” noting that the EU’s focus was implementing updated regulations to avoid being unprepared for another large-scale migrant influx similar to 2015.

Brunner defended the updated framework as offering protection “to actually those in need” through “clearer and more effective rules” that target illegal migration pathways and human traffickers.

Additionally on Friday, Cyprus revealed an agreement with Lithuania regarding the relocation of migrants who received international protection to the Baltic nation.

Iran’s control over the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway appears to be weakening as Gulf Arab nations find ways to transport oil to international markets despite ongoing conflicts.

The strategic passage at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, which formerly handled one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments, has been largely blocked by Iranian assaults on commercial vessels since February when hostilities began. Despite significant losses to its naval fleet, Iran’s mere threat of attack has made shipping companies and insurance providers reluctant to send vessels through the waterway. This energy shortage has contributed to worldwide inflation, including price increases in the United States.

However, the dynamics appear to be changing. Experts indicate that increasing amounts of crude from Gulf Arab nations are reaching global markets with assistance from American military forces. President Donald Trump claims a “secret mission” providing protection for vessels has enabled more than 100 million barrels of oil to be exported. Simultaneously, U.S. forces enforcing a blockade have repeatedly fired upon or intercepted vessels linked to Iran’s sanctioned petroleum trade, hampering the nation’s ability to obtain essential foreign currency.

Oil movement through the strait remains below the previous level of 15 million barrels daily. This won’t fully satisfy global energy demands, particularly as countries deplete their strategic reserves that have helped offset worldwide supply disruptions.

Nevertheless, if this flow can be maintained or increased, it could alter the crisis dynamics. Iran’s capacity to damage the global economy through its control of the strait has been its primary leverage, providing confidence it can outlast the United States despite war damage and the American blockade severely impacting its economy.

Iran is increasingly experiencing pressure. “We are currently under sanctions, and our routes have been blocked. We face a difficult test,” President Masoud Pezeshkian stated during a live television broadcast Wednesday. “Governing the country is not an easy task under the current circumstances, given the shortages we face, the unrest we have experienced and the problems that remain.”

Still, the conflict’s trajectory remains highly unpredictable. This week featured days of intense combat between Iran, Israel and the United States. Trump threatened Thursday to capture Kharg Island’s oil export facility and intensify bombing of the Islamic Republic, then abruptly retreated and again claimed progress in negotiations to end the war.

Reopening the strait and restoring oil flow has been a primary objective for Trump, though he has appeared to struggle at times finding effective approaches. After initially advising allied countries that the strait wasn’t America’s responsibility and to “go get your own oil,” Trump shifted to threatening everything up to destroying “a whole civilization” to restore tanker passage through the waterway.

Recent weeks appear to have seen increased confidence in U.S. military backing and growing supply needs convince shipping companies to risk transit through the strait using covert methods.

Most likely, vessels have passed through by going “dark,” disabling their tracking systems. TankerTrackers.com, a maritime oil trade monitoring website, reported observing ship-to-ship transfers by Gulf Arab states last weekend, attempting to conceal their crude’s origin and pass through the strait undetected by Iran. This likely occurs with American military support.

Kpler, a commodities market monitoring firm, has tracked approximately 96 million barrels of non-Iranian crude exports leaving the region since early May, either through the strait or via Gulf of Oman export alternatives, according to Kpler analyst Amena Bakr.

Including shipments still loading, she indicated it would likely surpass 100 million barrels, “broadly consistent with Trump’s claim.”

Trump provided the 100 million barrel figure in Wednesday online posts, stating more than 200 vessels had traveled through the strait thanks to “a secret mission” supporting tankers and other ships.

“This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran,” Trump wrote.

U.S. forces are conducting a “limited overwatch operation using autonomous vehicles, aircraft and drone escorts to help ships through the southern part of the strait near the coast of Oman,” said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at Lloyd’s List Intelligence maritime data company.

The U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter that crashed this week off Oman after allegedly being struck by an Iranian drone “was probably part of that operation,” he said during an online webinar Thursday.

Iran has declared the strait closed following this week’s exchanges involving two days of American airstrikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan — countries hosting American troops. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Wednesday the strait wasn’t an international waterway, despite global recognition as such.

While the U.S. assists Gulf Arab states’ tankers in exiting, it continues blocking Iranian vessels from entering or leaving the strait. This has included firing on ships to stop them, such as Wednesday’s attack that killed three Indian sailors.

Unable to export its oil, Iran is reaching maximum onshore storage capacity and using dozens of tankers near Kharg Island for crude storage. Iran also apparently has been forced to reduce or halt oil production at some wells, which experts warn can be dangerous since older wells like Iran’s may not restart after stopping.

Energy firm Wood Mackenzie estimates Iran’s output has declined by 800,000 barrels daily since the American blockade began. Meanwhile, onshore storage is estimated at 69 million barrels, the highest level since Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign in 2020.

“The mounting economic cost of falling output, restricted exports and tightening storage capacity is increasing pressure on Tehran to seek a diplomatic solution,” Wood Mackenzie’s Alexandre Araman said. “For Iran, even a temporary diplomatic breakthrough could provide immediate relief.”

Oil prices have remained below $100 per barrel, partly due to Trump’s deal promises and other countries using reserves while reducing oil consumption. China, historically a major Iranian sanctioned oil buyer, saw seaborne crude imports drop to 6.8 million barrels daily in May, the lowest since October 2016, according to Kpler.

This has provided Trump and the global economy additional time, but a resolution would likely need to be reached soon to prevent the energy crisis from becoming severe in coming months.

BRUSSELS, June 12 – Technical problems struck the European Union’s primary asylum database on Friday, marking a rocky start to the implementation of the bloc’s new migration and asylum framework, according to Dutch immigration officials.

The Eurodac system, which houses biometric information and serves as a cornerstone of the updated migration rules, experienced failures while undergoing a system upgrade. Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) officials revealed the database wasn’t operating at full capacity even before the breakdown occurred, with multiple EU nations experiencing disruptions.

At the EU’s regular press conference, spokesperson Marcus Lammert minimized concerns about the technical problems.

“Any first day of a new system will have technical glitches. This is normal,” he stated, further noting, “the information that I’m getting is that member states are gradually linking in and that it’s going rather well.”

Reports indicate numerous member nations remain ill-equipped to carry out the migration pact’s mandates. Various countries are missing necessary infrastructure for implementing new screening protocols, while others like the Netherlands face technical challenges with the updated Eurodac system.

The EU’s migration agreement establishes new screening protocols requiring migrants who enter through unofficial routes to complete a compulsory process lasting as long as seven days, enabling officials to enter their information into the modernized Eurodac database.

The system gathers biometric and personal information, encompassing fingerprints, photographs of faces, and duplicates of identification documents. Certain minors are incorporated as well.

Authorities will subsequently evaluate vulnerabilities, citizenship status, and asylum goals before directing people into suitable processes, including expedited border procedures for candidates considered unlikely to receive protection, including individuals from nations deemed secure.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared Friday he will battle to remain in power following the abrupt departure of his defense chief, which has further damaged his already fragile political standing.

The Labour Party leader has witnessed multiple junior and senior officials exit their posts in recent weeks amid growing rebellion from party members and plotting by political opponents, all frustrated by the administration’s persistent low approval ratings.

However, Defense Secretary John Healey’s unexpected resignation Thursday represents a particularly damaging setback. Healey stepped down while cautioning that the administration isn’t allocating sufficient funds to military forces to protect Britain’s security “at this time of rising threats.”

The resignation strikes Starmer where he has typically received praise: international affairs and foreign policy leadership.

Following his landslide electoral win in July 2024, Starmer has strengthened assistance for Ukraine, collaborating with French President Emmanuel Macron on an international “coalition of the willing” designed to help secure Ukraine’s safety should a ceasefire emerge.

The United Kingdom and France have also created a maritime security operation aimed at maintaining shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz when the Iran conflict concludes.

Additionally, Starmer has advocated forcefully that European countries must increase their defense funding in light of President Donald Trump’s criticism of America’s NATO partners.

“Starmer has been consistently staunch about warning of the security risk from Russia,” said Olivia O’Sullivan, head of the U.K. in the World program at the Chatham House think tank. “He’s been given quite a bit of credit by the public for having to deal with Trump and doing so with a level of steadiness and calm. And he has been, in line with previous U.K. governments, a close and consistent ally of Ukraine.”

The central dispute involves the administration’s anticipated Defense Investment Plan, which outlines Britain’s strategy to boost military expenditures to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. The British armed forces are working to overcome years of deterioration while facing an increasingly aggressive Russia, which launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and continues challenging European defenses through both open and hidden operations.

Healey demands defense expenditures reach 3% of GDP by 2030. He resigned in frustration when Treasury chief Rachel Reeves declined to modify a proposal that doesn’t meet that target.

He referenced a British intelligence evaluation indicating Russia might assault a NATO member nation by 2030 and stated that insufficient spending plans “could make the country less safe.”

Opposition voices contend that military expenditures can become endless drains on resources, noting that acquisition programs frequently exceed deadlines and budgets.

Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who also resigned Thursday hours following Healey’s departure, emphasized the issue extends beyond increased spending to smarter allocation. He described the investment proposal as insufficiently “transformative.”

“I want to see a higher percentage for uncrewed systems, AI, data — data is the new gunpowder — and we’ve got to move that forward if we are going to win the next war,” he told the BBC.

Healey joins other government officials who have departed. Last month, Starmer lost multiple junior ministers and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned to position himself for a potential party leadership campaign.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is anticipated to mount a leadership challenge against Starmer should he win election to Parliament in Thursday’s special election.

Yet Healey’s exit, given his reputation as a devoted minister without personal leadership aspirations, “suggests that Starmer’s credibility, even with his inner circle of ministers, is perhaps draining away,” O’Sullivan said.

Starmer maintained Friday he won’t step aside, describing his role as making “hard-edged decisions.”

He told the BBC that defense is “my number one priority. And I have taken the difficult decisions to make sure that we are safe as a country.”

“I’m not going to go away. I don’t think we should plunge the country into the chaos of a leadership election,” he said. “I don’t think it should happen, but if it does, then I will fight.”

BRUSSELS (AP) — The alliance’s supreme allied commander is developing backup defense strategies for Europe following Pentagon announcements that America will reduce the number of aircraft and naval vessels available during security emergencies.

The NATO Force Model serves as the primary blueprint for deploying forces from all 32 member countries during peacetime, crisis situations, or warfare. This framework outlines which military resources commanders can access during the initial six-month period of any potential conflict.

However, the Pentagon informed its alliance partners last month that it would reduce its European commitments to concentrate on other potential threats, particularly from China in the Indo-Pacific area.

Nations across Europe and Canada had been waiting for more than a year for the Trump administration to outline its strategy after warning that Europe would no longer be America’s primary security focus. While allies expected reductions, the scope, timeline, and nature of the cuts remained unclear.

U.S. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander, stated that “the United States is still committed to providing limited but critical capabilities to the alliance.”

“We need to focus on things that we can acquire quickly, that we can field quickly, and that we can scale rapidly and sustain over time, and that goes for long-range fires” as well as drones, Grynkewich said at the ILA Berlin Air Show on Thursday.

“Those sorts of things can help us mitigate the near-term risk should we find ourselves needing to deter and defend,” he added.

Following a June 2-3 meeting where allies evaluated shortfalls created by America’s decision, Grynkewich stated that European partners and Canada must address these gaps by providing both piloted and unmanned aircraft, plus naval ships. He emphasized this should occur “now and in the near term.”

While specific details about the reductions remain classified, German and American media outlets report that an aircraft carrier along with its accompanying warships and aircraft, plus a submarine, would be removed from European operations. Midair refueling aircraft and numerous fighter jets would also become unavailable.

Europe faces shortages in all these military assets, making rapid replacement challenging. Nevertheless, Washington seeks to understand how allies plan to compensate for these resources before President Donald Trump meets with NATO leaders at a summit in Turkey scheduled for July 7-8.

NATO military headquarters announced Friday that it will reduce its peacekeeping force in Kosovo by removing certain troops and equipment. KFOR initially deployed in 1999 to maintain peace between Kosovo and Serbia.

Originally consisting of 50,000 personnel, KFOR has undergone regular downsizing as regional tensions decreased, though 1,000 additional troops were sent in 2023 following renewed violence.

“The current conditions provide an opportunity to optimize KFOR’s size and posture further,” Grynkewich said. His staff refused to specify which forces might depart or whether Americans would be among those leaving.

“It’s not about numbers, it’s about optimization, and about ensuring the safety and security of all people living in Kosovo, and more broadly the region,” his spokesman said.

America currently maintains 590 troops with KFOR, ranking second among 31 contributing countries behind Italy’s 907 personnel. American Black Hawk helicopters operate from the extensive U.S. facility there, Camp Bondsteel.

Speaking in Berlin, Grynkewich noted that intelligence assessments and Russian military activity indicate “Russia is not looking for a conflict with NATO.” Russia remains heavily engaged in the Ukraine conflict while facing recruitment challenges.

European governments and intelligence agencies have cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be positioned to attack other parts of the continent within three to five years, particularly if he achieves victory in Ukraine.

The United States announced a fresh $4 billion military financing loan for Poland on Friday, as the Eastern European nation celebrated the first flight of its newly acquired F-35 fighter aircraft.

U.S. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno revealed the loan details to PAP news agency during Friday’s ceremonial flight. The financing comes through the Foreign Military Financing programme and increases Poland’s total available military funding to $20 billion.

The milestone flight marked Poland’s entry as the first nation on NATO’s eastern border to operate the advanced F-35 aircraft, as tensions with Russia continue to influence regional security concerns.

Poland committed to purchasing 32 of the advanced fifth-generation fighters in a $4.6 billion agreement signed in 2020. Three aircraft arrived last month, with the remaining deliveries expected to conclude by 2029.

According to Polish defense officials, the F-35 fleet will significantly enhance the nation’s military strength. The aircraft feature advanced stealth capabilities and sophisticated sensor systems that gather intelligence for pilots and coordinate with other military units.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, and DiNanno representing the U.S. government attended Friday’s ceremony.

“In the armed forces development programme, we have included two additional squadrons of 5th-generation F-35 aircraft to strengthen the military,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated during the event.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Friday that his country will boost military salaries and expand efforts to recruit international fighters as the nation’s armed forces struggle with personnel shortages following four years of conflict with Russia.

The announcement comes after Zelenskiy’s administration indicated in May it would examine potential strategies to strengthen military staffing levels following stalled negotiations regarding ending hostilities with Russia.

“We agreed on how to increase the financial resilience of our defence and further transformation of the Ukrainian army,” Zelenskiy stated during his nightly address following discussions with senior cabinet officials.

“The cabinet of ministers will approve a specific mechanism, and the government should start the first new payments as early as June,” he continued.

The salary increases are supported by a €90 billion European Union loan that enables Ukraine’s government to boost defense expenditures to an unprecedented 4.4 trillion hryvnias ($97 billion) for this year. These funds are expected to begin arriving this month.

Zelenskiy revealed Friday that officials will increase base military compensation by one-third, bringing it to 30,000 hryvnias ($700). Military analysts and economists note this adjustment aims to align with the nation’s average monthly earnings, which have consistently increased during wartime due to workforce shortages.

Frontline infantry personnel will see their average monthly compensation rise to 300,000 hryvnias (approximately $7,000), a significant jump from the current range of 100,000 to 150,000 hryvnias. These soldiers will also have access to new fixed-term service agreements lasting 10, 14, or 24 months for combat assignments.

Beyond salary improvements, Kyiv plans to expand international recruitment efforts.

“I have instructed to create significantly more opportunities to recruit foreign volunteers into the Ukrainian army, and there will be more recruitment channels in this regard,” Zelenskiy explained.

Ukrainian military publications estimate that approximately 10,000 international volunteers from over 70 nations have enlisted in Ukraine’s military since the conflict started.

A Spanish High Court judge has launched an additional investigation into former Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero following the discovery of jewelry during a search of his office, court officials announced Friday.

The former leader, who served as prime minister from 2004 to 2011, continues to hold significant influence within the main ruling Socialist Party. The corruption allegations, which he has rejected, have intensified pressure on the current government amid a string of corruption scandals.

Judge Jose Luis Calama stated that the jewelry pieces confiscated during the May 19 search, with a preliminary estimated value of approximately €1.3 million ($1.5 million), currently have no documented evidence of their source.

The judge explained that owning valuable assets without proper fiscal documentation could suggest potential tax evasion or smuggling violations, noting the lack of customs paperwork or proof that import taxes were satisfied.

The former prime minister’s legal representative did not respond immediately to requests for comment. However, his spokesperson, Luis Arroyo, posted on X earlier Friday that the former leader would discuss the jewelry issue with the judge.

The former prime minister is scheduled to provide testimony on June 17 and June 18 regarding the corruption case, which focuses on an alleged influence-peddling and money-laundering operation that he supposedly headed.

Authorities suspect the operation benefited from lobbying government officials for outside parties, particularly Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which obtained government financial assistance in 2021.

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — The ruling military government in Niger has implemented a new criminal code that makes homosexuality illegal, according to an adviser to the justice minister who spoke Friday.

The West African country becomes the most recent nation to outlaw homosexuality, joining similar actions taken by Senegal earlier this year.

Under the new criminal code, anyone who “commits or attempts to commit an immodest or unnatural act or practices lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, Queer, intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) acts” faces five to ten years behind bars plus financial penalties, based on the official text of the legislation.

“This same penalty is applicable to persons who officiated the marriage, to the witnesses of the alleged spouses, as well as to persons who have given their consent for the celebration of the marriage and to the organizers,” the new penal code said.

Hamidou Julien, an adviser to the justice minister, told The Associated Press on Friday that the legislation became effective Thursday.

While homosexuality had not been against the law in Niger before this change, it faced significant social stigma.

Anti-homosexuality legislation is widespread throughout Africa, with over 30 of the continent’s 54 nations making same-sex relationships illegal. Niger now stands alongside nations such as Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, where punishments can reach 10 years or longer in prison. In Somalia, Uganda and Mauritania, such offenses may result in execution.

The International Labour Organization reached a historic milestone on Friday by approving the world’s first legally binding employment standards targeting gig economy platforms that provide ride-sharing, food delivery and online commerce services.

The measure received strong support during voting in Geneva, with 406 members backing the proposal while only eight opposed it and 36 chose to abstain. The U.N. agency’s membership includes representatives from governments, employers and workers who work together to advance international labor rights.

The newly adopted ILO convention aims to expand fundamental workplace rights and protections to cover gig economy workers, encompassing areas such as compensation, workplace safety and social benefits.

The protections outlined in the agreement vary depending on how workers are classified, creating distinctions between individuals categorized as independent contractors versus those recognized as formal employees.

Under the new convention, digital platforms will be required to reveal how their automated systems impact workers and must ensure human oversight in critical decisions such as suspending worker accounts.

A senior Hezbollah politician stated Friday that the organization believes Iran will demand Lebanon’s inclusion in any potential agreement with the United States, as expectations build for a possible deal between Tehran and Washington.

The Iran-backed group, which was established by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, joined the regional confrontation supporting Tehran on March 2 by launching attacks against Israel, leading to Israeli military action that has resulted in thousands of Lebanese casualties.

Tehran’s officials have consistently demanded that any comprehensive agreement must include an end to hostilities in Lebanon.

“If the agreement happens, we have complete confidence in the Islamic Republic … we have confidence that it will insist on any agreement including the file of Lebanon,” Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah politician, said in an excerpt of a speech broadcast by the group’s al-Manar TV.

Israeli military forces have taken control of large areas in southern Lebanon, where Lebanon’s National News Agency documented additional Israeli air attacks across multiple towns and villages on Friday.

According to a Western source, a memorandum between the United States and Iran aimed at stopping the Gulf war could be executed as early as Sunday. The source indicated that final language details are still being worked out and Iran continues to maintain its stance that any deal must encompass ending the conflict in Lebanon.

Last week, Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Hezbollah had “made great sacrifices” in the war and that Lebanon “will be an inseparable part of any agreement and any ceasefire”, in comments reported by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Fighting in Lebanon has persisted despite multiple ceasefire declarations by the United States, which has served as an intermediary in discussions between Lebanese and Israeli officials.

Hezbollah is not participating in the negotiations and has called for the Lebanese government to withdraw from the diplomatic process.

Hezbollah turned down a U.S.-supported proposal announced last week that would require the organization to stop fighting and pull its forces back from southern Lebanon.

Kazakhstan’s dominant political organization Amanat declared Friday that it will combine with a political movement established this year by supporters of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, positioning for upcoming parliamentary voting scheduled for August.

During a party gathering in Astana, Amanat leadership announced their integration into the Adilet party, which translates to “Justice,” before the approaching elections. Amanat has consistently won commanding parliamentary control in all previous electoral contests.

This development occurs during Kazakhstan’s continuing restructuring of its strictly managed political system, as Tokayev plans to leave office at the conclusion of his current term in 2029.

The Central Asian region’s biggest economy and significant petroleum and natural gas producer ratified a revised constitution this past March, which some political observers interpret as groundwork for a future leadership transition.

Amanat has maintained governmental control since 1999, originally established under former President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s direction, who led Kazakhstan from 1991 through 2019.

The emerging Adilet party is viewed as having direct allegiance to Tokayev, whom Nazarbayev selected as his replacement in 2019, with senior presidential advisors holding key positions in its structure.

During 2022, Kazakhstan experienced widespread civil disorder that Tokayev and international analysts describe as an effort by Nazarbayev supporters to regain governmental authority.

The unrest caused hundreds of fatalities and led to deployment of a Russian-coordinated peacekeeping mission backing Tokayev’s administration.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Around 1,500 Indonesian students took to the streets of the nation’s capital on Friday, calling on President Prabowo Subianto to reduce expensive government programs while demanding relief from rising fuel and food costs amid growing economic challenges.

Following Friday prayers, demonstrators attempted to reach the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, a prominent city landmark, but authorities intercepted many participants and barricaded routes to the presidential palace, a common destination for protests. Over 6,000 police officers and military personnel were stationed in the area.

Many demonstrators donned yellow university jackets as they expressed anger over increasing living expenses, which have climbed due to elevated fuel costs following the U.S. war against Iran. Indonesia’s rupiah has faced significant pressure, reaching a record low of 18,000 rupiah per U.S. dollar earlier this month.

The demonstrators presented five primary demands, including reductions in what they termed unnecessary government expenditures, decreased prices for fuel and essential goods, and suspension of major government initiatives like a free nutritious meal program and rural revitalization efforts.

The complimentary meals initiative, with a price tag of approximately 268 trillion rupiah ($15 billion) for this year, aims to combat poverty and malnutrition, though Prabowo recently dismissed the program’s leader during a major corruption investigation.

Students also demanded an end to what they characterized as the military’s expanding influence in civilian governance, which they consider a danger to the nation’s developing democracy.

“The government is in denial about the current situation,” said Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, who chairs the student organization that organized the rally. “We urge Prabowo to have the courage to acknowledge his mistake and stop denying it.”

Friday’s protest represents one of the most significant student mobilizations since widespread demonstrations broke out last August, when thousands gathered in the streets and confrontations with security personnel resulted in at least 13 fatalities.

Comparable demonstrations also occurred in Bandung city in West Java and in Pontianak, located on Borneo island.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A solemn memorial service took place Friday in the central Kenyan town of Gilgil, where hundreds of people came together to remember 16 female students who lost their lives in a dormitory fire last month that law enforcement officials determined was deliberately set. Nine suspects are currently in custody.

The deceased girls from Utumishi Girls Academy were laid to rest in white caskets decorated with floral arrangements and topped with photographs of each victim. The caskets were arranged before their grieving families, fellow students, community members and area officials, all demanding accountability.

The nine students accused in the case, all from the same school, are being held by police. Investigators have determined that the May 28 fire was ignited by setting a mattress ablaze near the dormitory exit using matches and paraffin. Officials have not disclosed what motivated the attack.

At the memorial ceremony, hundreds of students from Utumishi Girls Academy performed a mournful hymn expressing hope that everything would be okay. One official conducting the service shared his experience as a survivor of Kenya’s most devastating school fire in 2001, which claimed 67 male students in a dormitory blaze in Machakos County in eastern Kenya.

Attendees demanded justice and accountability while dozens of educational institutions have shuttered recently due to student disturbances. The Kenya Red Cross reported responding to 37 school fires since January began.

Educational facility fires occur frequently throughout Kenya, with some resulting from deliberate acts by students opposing disciplinary actions or upcoming tests, while others stem from electrical problems.

Overcrowded sleeping quarters, inadequate emergency escape routes and limited firefighting resources have frequently led to fatalities and significant property destruction.

Last month, Kenya’s Education Ministry removed the principal of Utumishi Girls Academy for violating fire safety requirements. The ministry also announced it had shuttered more than 300 educational facilities after a 2024 fire incident that killed 21 male students in central Kenya.

At Friday’s memorial ceremony, which Kenyan first lady Rachel Ruto attended, the officiating bishop asked how much longer Kenyan children and families would endure such school fire tragedies.

The school captain, Abigael Wanjiku, remembered the deceased girls as “friends, study partners, teammates and companions.”

“The pain of losing them is one that we will carry for a long time,” she said.

A mother speaking for the parents became emotional and broke down during her remarks as she demanded accountability and justice, while assuring the surviving students that their safety remained the top concern.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — A deadly sequence of highway accidents in western Hungary claimed eight lives during the early morning hours on Friday, according to law enforcement officials.

The first incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when a truck crashed into construction equipment near Győr, resulting in one fatality and causing the truck to burst into flames. The accident created significant traffic delays on the roadway.

Approximately 30 minutes following the initial crash, a minibus bearing Moldovan license plates crashed into a truck that had come to a stop on the highway due to the earlier incident. This second collision resulted in seven deaths and left two people with severe injuries, authorities reported.

Officials shut down one lane of the M1 highway heading toward Austria following the accidents.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar offered his sympathies to the families affected by the tragic incidents.

New Canadian legislation aimed at controlling AI chatbots has sparked concern among technology experts who question whether the proposed rules can actually work.

The bill was introduced this week following widespread public anger over a February school shooting in British Columbia that claimed nine lives. Controversy erupted when OpenAI admitted it had failed to notify police about disturbing ChatGPT conversations involving the shooting suspect.

Under the proposed legislation, Canada would establish a new digital oversight agency and implement a social media prohibition for users under 16, similar to Australia’s recent approach. The regulatory body would mandate that chatbots minimize risks when users search for dangerous material and implement emergency response protocols for discussions involving suicide and self-harm.

However, the proposal has faced sharp criticism from academics and legal professionals who point to vague language, potential enforcement gaps, and an extended implementation timeline.

“If this is the preview of a law, I do not have high hopes for something that will be useful in a practical sense,” said Evan Light, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who focuses on technology and privacy.

Light expressed surprise at the bill’s lack of development, noting that internet restrictions could be easily bypassed using VPNs – virtual private networks that mask users’ internet addresses – or other methods.

The office of Canada’s Identity and Culture Minister Marc Miller did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the issue.

During Wednesday’s announcement, Miller acknowledged the challenge of balancing privacy rights with social media and AI chatbot oversight. He clarified that the proposed legislation would not cover private messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Signal, and noted that companies meeting specific regulatory standards could receive exemptions from the social media restrictions.

Miller referenced the Tumbler Ridge shooting in British Columbia, explaining that the 18-year-old suspect’s ChatGPT account had been internally flagged for violent content but authorities were never contacted.

Miller said the company “made an egregious human error” and the government was now taking steps to make social media and AI chatbots “safer by design.”

OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment. The company previously apologized for not alerting Canadian authorities.

Multiple governments worldwide, including those in Europe, Brazil, and several U.S. states, are advancing new age verification requirements for social networks, AI chatbots, and adult content providers.

A Meta spokesperson said in an email that social media bans are “counterproductive” and that the company is assessing the implications of the proposed bill.

A spokesperson for Google, which owns YouTube, said the company is committed to working with the government to establish higher safety standards, so parents can choose safer online experiences for their children. A TikTok spokesperson said the platform already has more than 50 safety and privacy settings and parents can use “Family Pairing” to manage their teens’ experience.

Government officials have said it could take a year for the bill to pass and 18 months to set up the digital regulator once it does.

Florian Martin-Bariteau, director of the Centre for Law, Technology and Society at the University of Ottawa, warned that children would likely be able to circumvent the social media ban and AI chatbot restrictions.

Since Australia’s social media ban took effect, the regulatory agency enforcing it reported that a substantial number of children under 16 still retain accounts.

“The proposed framework will move them to riskier, smaller platforms,” he said, adding that while rules for major platforms could likely be enforced, it would be virtually impossible for Canada to block smaller websites that don’t comply. “By trying to protect kids, we may actually put them at greater risk.”

Water service has been disrupted across multiple cities in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region of Ukraine following a Ukrainian military strike on Friday, according to reports from the Interfax news agency citing local utility officials.

The attack targeted energy infrastructure, causing power outages at a water treatment facility and leaving residents in Donetsk, Yasynuvata, and portions of Makiivka without running water.

The affected Donetsk region represents one of four Ukrainian territories that Russia annexed in 2022 during its ongoing military campaign in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russian military forces now occupy more than 85% of the region.

Water access issues in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories have emerged as an ongoing logistical problem for Moscow’s administration.

Emergency crews responded to a fire at New Zealand’s Wellington Airport on Friday, prompting evacuations and forcing incoming aircraft to be rerouted to other locations.

According to a spokesperson from Fire and Emergency New Zealand, firefighting teams worked alongside the airport’s internal fire department to combat the flames.

The spokesperson reported that five fire trucks, two ladder vehicles, and a command unit were deployed to handle the emergency, though officials declined to specify what materials were burning.

Airport officials confirmed in a public statement that both the main terminal facility and the southwest pier were cleared of people as a safety precaution, with no injuries documented from the incident.

“Flights into Wellington have been temporarily diverted and passengers are advised to check with their airlines for information on specific flights,” the airport stated.

A woman from Iran was aboard a deportation flight that arrived Friday in the Central African Republic, carrying approximately two dozen migrants removed from the United States, according to legal advocates familiar with the case.

The flight represents another instance of controversial arrangements between the U.S. and various African and Latin American countries to accept deportees who are not citizens of those nations, lawyers say.

The Central African Republic joins at least nine other African countries that have entered into agreements to receive third-country nationals being removed by American immigration authorities.

These arrangements, many of which remain confidential, are components of broader immigration enforcement efforts that have resulted in thousands of deportations to nearly two dozen nations where the deportees are not from, according to advocacy groups.

Immigration attorneys describe these third-country deportations as a strategy to circumvent legal protections and pressure asylum seekers to return to their countries of origin.

The exact number of migrants on the flight that departed Louisiana late Thursday bound for Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital, remained uncertain.

Ali Rahnama, who leads the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund and has maintained contact with some of the migrants, reported that Thursday’s deportees included individuals from Iran, Jordan, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia and Afghanistan.

Immigration attorney Sahar Jalili Pawelski revealed that three Iranian women were initially scheduled for deportation to the Central African Republic. However, two received emergency judicial orders temporarily halting their removal while courts examine the legality of the government’s actions.

According to both Jalili Pawelski and Rahnama, all three women had previously received court protection against deportation to Iran after judges determined they faced legitimate threats of persecution based on political or religious grounds.

An elderly man from Syria was also slated for deportation to the Central African Republic but obtained an emergency temporary order preventing his removal, according to his attorney Margaret Stock.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to discuss the specific case Thursday, stating it does not confirm upcoming removal operations for security purposes. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not provide immediate responses to comment requests.

The Central African Republic has endured years of violence between government-aligned forces and rebel groups and ranks among the world’s most impoverished nations. Despite significant gold deposits, one-third of the population survives on less than $2 daily.

The country also served as an early location for Wagner, a Russian mercenary organization active across Africa. This group has provided security for President Faustin-Archange Touadéra and engaged rebel forces in combat.

The nation maintains one of Russia’s strongest alliances in Africa, though recent friction has emerged between Touadéra and Russia following Moscow’s demands to replace Wagner with the government-operated Africa Corps.

Rahnama from the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund voiced alarm about sending an Iranian asylum seeker to the Central African Republic, citing Russia’s significant influence there and Moscow’s close security relationship with Iran.

DAKAR, June 12 – A terrorist organization linked to al Qaeda operating in Mali has announced substantial financial rewards for details about the location of the nation’s president and senior military leadership, calling the current government illegitimate.

The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) made the announcement Thursday, responding to similar bounty offers previously made by Mali’s government targeting JNIM’s leadership, including leader Iyad Ag Ghaly and other extremist commanders.

The SITE Intelligence Group, an organization that monitors jihadist communications globally, distributed the insurgents’ statement.

Recent al Qaeda-affiliated attacks in April resulted in the death of Mali’s defense minister, sparking widespread violence throughout the nation’s expansive northern desert regions and potentially allowing militant organizations to expand their territorial control.

The terrorist organization is offering €2 million for intelligence that leads to Assimi Goita, who heads the government from the capital city Bamako and assumed control through military takeovers in 2020 and 2021.

Additionally, the bounty announcement includes €1 million rewards each for details about Colonel Lassina Diallo and General Malik Dicko.

According to the statement, payments would be made to individuals providing location information or anyone taking direct steps to “neutralise” these officials.

Ukrainian officials are preparing to request $20 billion in additional military assistance from allied nations during a scheduled meeting next week, according to a Ukrainian defense source speaking from Kyiv on June 12.

The funding appeal will take place next Thursday during a gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of more than 50 nations also referred to as the Ramstein group, which coordinates financial and military support for Kyiv.

“We have a six- to nine-month window of opportunity on the battlefield that requires an urgent acceleration of funding,” the source said.

Russian military progress on the battlefield has decelerated significantly this year, coming to an effective standstill last month, as Ukrainian mid-range drone attacks have disrupted Russian supply lines and logistics operations supporting front-line forces. Additionally, Ukraine’s long-range drone operations are causing significant damage to Russia’s energy infrastructure.

Putin stated last week that Russian military units continue making daily advances on the battlefield and that Russia’s economy faces no threat, although he admitted that Ukrainian attacks are causing damage.

Individual allied nations will be requested to provide contributions ranging from $2 billion to $6 billion toward achieving the $20 billion goal, which could be structured as either direct aid or loans, according to the source. Politico initially reported this funding request.