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Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced Saturday that his nation is collaborating closely with Pakistan to develop a comprehensive framework designed to achieve enduring peace between the United States and Iran.

Speaking from Antalya, Abdelatty revealed that a coalition including Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is orchestrating an extensive regional diplomatic initiative. The effort focuses on averting future military escalations while establishing the foundation for post-conflict security arrangements.

The minister emphasized that the initiative prioritizes safeguarding Gulf nations while ensuring stability in global energy markets, international supply chains, and food security systems.

CAIRO (AP) — Tehran quickly backtracked on its decision to allow ships through the Strait of Hormuz, closing the vital shipping lane again Saturday following President Trump’s announcement that America would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Iranian military leadership announced Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state … under strict management and control of the armed forces.” Military officials warned they would maintain the closure as long as American forces continued blocking Iranian shipping routes.

The reversal happened just hours after President Trump declared that despite Iran’s Friday announcement about reopening the waterway, the US blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran negotiates an agreement with Washington, particularly regarding its nuclear activities.

The standoff over this crucial shipping route threatens to worsen the global energy emergency affecting the worldwide economy, especially after oil costs had started dropping Friday amid hopes for US-Iranian progress. About 20 percent of global oil shipments travel through this waterway, and additional restrictions could tighten already limited supplies, pushing fuel prices upward again.

Iran’s authority over this strategic passage has become its primary bargaining chip, leading Washington to position naval forces and establish a port blockade as part of efforts to pressure Tehran into accepting a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire ending nearly seven weeks of conflict involving Israel, America, and Iran.

Tehran had announced complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic following a 10-day ceasefire declaration between Israel and Iran-supported Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. Ending Israel’s Lebanese conflict was a central requirement from Iranian negotiators, who had previously blamed Israel for violating an earlier ceasefire through Lebanese airstrikes. Israeli officials had stated that previous agreement didn’t include Lebanon.

However, following Trump’s blockade continuation announcement, senior Iranian leaders claimed his statement broke last week’s ceasefire arrangement between Iran and the US, warning the strait would remain closed while American naval restrictions continued.

Maritime tracking company Kpler reported that vessel movement through the strait stayed limited to specific channels requiring Iranian permission.

US Central Command announced on social media that American naval forces have turned away 21 vessels bound for Iran since beginning the blockade Monday.

Even with rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistani diplomats indicate the United States and Iran continue making progress toward an agreement before the April 22 ceasefire expiration.

The Lebanese ceasefire might remove a significant barrier to reaching a deal. During a diplomatic conference in Antalya, Turkey, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the Lebanese ceasefire encouraging, explaining that Israel-Hezbollah fighting had been a major obstacle before Islamabad discussions concluded “very close” to an agreement last weekend.

Pakistani military leader Field Marshal Asim Munir traveled to Tehran, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Antalya, according to military and government sources. Pakistan plans to facilitate another round of US-Iran negotiations early next week.

Despite mediator optimism, questions remain about whether Hezbollah will honor a truce they didn’t help negotiate and which allows Israeli forces to maintain control over parts of southern Lebanon.

Trump posted separately that Israel is “prohibited” by the US from additional Lebanese strikes and declared “enough is enough” regarding the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The State Department clarified the restriction covers only aggressive attacks, not defensive responses.

Just before Trump’s statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel accepted the Lebanese ceasefire “at the request of my friend President Trump,” while emphasizing the Hezbollah campaign remains incomplete.

Netanyahu stated Israel had eliminated approximately 90% of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket arsenal and noted that Israeli forces “have not finished yet” with dismantling the organization.

In Beirut, displaced residents started returning to southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods despite official warnings against going home until the ceasefire’s stability becomes clear.

Lebanese military and UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon documented scattered artillery fire in some southern areas during the hours following the ceasefire implementation.

The conflict, which started with US and Israeli military action on February 28, has resulted in at least 3,000 Iranian deaths, over 2,290 Lebanese casualties, 23 Israeli fatalities, and more than twelve deaths in Gulf Arab nations. Thirteen American military personnel have also died.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has issued a stark warning that continued American pressure on Latin American leaders who oppose Washington could trigger a regional uprising against US influence, according to remarks published Saturday in Spanish newspaper El Pais.

The 65-year-old leader, who previously belonged to the leftist M-19 guerrilla movement, has repeatedly found himself at odds with President Donald Trump’s administration, which added him to a Treasury Department sanctions list over alleged connections to international drug trafficking.

Speaking from Barcelona where he attended a summit with leaders from Spain, Brazil and Mexico, Petro accused the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control of wielding sanctions as a political weapon to pressure leaders who hold opposing viewpoints.

“It’s a system like the one the Spanish king had a few centuries ago. And what was Latin America’s response? Rebellion. That’s what will happen now if the U.S. government isn’t capable of rethinking its ties to Latin America,” Petro stated during the interview.

The Colombian president cited the January US military operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas as an example of American actions that have created anxiety among regional leaders.

Despite these tensions, Petro described his direct relationship with Trump as positive, noting they had communicated twice in recent weeks and dispelled misconceptions about one another. He emphasized that he approached their meetings as an equal rather than coming to Washington to plead for favors.

Petro, who won election in 2022, will step down from office in August due to Colombia’s constitutional prohibition on consecutive presidential terms.

RAVE, India (AP) — Community members from the Agri-Koli tradition participated in an ancient ceremonial competition on Friday, working together to raise elaborately adorned bamboo structures in their village outside Mumbai, India.

The ritual takes place annually in the village of Rave and serves as a tribute to the goddess Raiba Devi, continuing a cultural practice that has been observed for hundreds of years.

This coverage features a collection of photographs selected by Associated Press photo editors documenting the traditional celebration.

BEIJING – Chinese officials announced Saturday their readiness to proceed with discussions aimed at enhancing the existing free trade agreement between China and Switzerland.

During bilateral trade discussions held in Bern, China’s Commerce Ministry released a statement indicating that an upgraded, high-quality free trade pact would provide fresh energy for commercial, investment, and innovation partnerships between the two nations.

The ministry emphasized that such an enhanced agreement would strengthen economic ties and create new opportunities for cooperation across multiple sectors.

Britain’s top diplomat is calling on Iran to completely restore international shipping access through a crucial Middle Eastern waterway following a recent ceasefire agreement.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke Saturday from a diplomatic conference in Antalya, Turkey, expressing concerns that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has not returned to standard levels even after hostilities paused in Iran’s ongoing conflict.

“We are at a critical diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place … but we don’t yet have normal passage through the strait,” Cooper explained to Reuters during the international diplomacy gathering.

The British official emphasized that the current truce must evolve into a permanent peace agreement. Cooper stressed the importance of quickly restoring full shipping operations through the strategic waterway, citing its essential role in supporting worldwide economic stability.

KYIV, Ukraine — Museum director Alina Dotsenko experienced devastating heartbreak when she entered her facility after Ukrainian troops reclaimed the southern city of Kherson from Russian occupation in late 2022. Thousands of precious artworks had disappeared.

“I walked in and saw empty storage rooms, empty shelves. My legs gave way, and I just sat down by the wall, like a child,” said Dotsenko, who heads the Kherson Art Museum.

The museum previously housed more than 14,000 pieces in a diverse collection “ranging from America to Japan” before Russia’s comprehensive invasion began in early 2022. As Russian troops withdrew, they transported much of the collection by truck to Russian-controlled Crimea, according to Dotsenko and footage captured by local residents.

Nearly 10,000 artworks remain unaccounted for.

Ukraine is renewing its protests about cultural theft as Russia attempts to rejoin international cultural events. The upcoming Venice Biennale intends to permit Russian participation for the first time since 2022. Ukrainian officials argue the event “must not become a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage.”

The Kherson situation is unique because Ukraine has precise documentation of what was stolen.

Prior to the conflict, Dotsenko had systematically photographed every piece in the museum’s collection, building a comprehensive digital database. When Russian forces captured Kherson, she concealed the hard drives containing this information. After Ukrainian soldiers returned, she recovered them.

This database now represents the most complete documentation of stolen cultural property during the conflict, enabling prosecutors to collaborate with Interpol in tracking missing pieces and pursuing accountability.

Throughout most of Ukraine, however, similar records don’t exist. Cultural theft cases can only be prosecuted in court when losses can be proven piece by piece.

The Russian Culture Ministry did not reply to Associated Press inquiries about the alleged theft from Ukrainian museums. Previously, Russian-appointed officials in occupied regions characterized the removals as protective actions.

Kirill Stremousov, the former Russia-appointed deputy administrator in Kherson who died shortly before Ukrainian forces freed the city, claimed removed statues would “definitely return” once hostilities ended.

Halyna Chumak, former head of the Donetsk Regional Art Museum, escaped Russian-controlled Donetsk in 2014, taking what she could manage: catalogs documenting a small portion of the museum’s approximately 15,000 artworks.

She spent twelve months moving the catalogs through military checkpoints into Ukrainian-held territory, abandoning most to avoid attracting attention from pro-Russian forces who inspected her at each crossing point.

Those catalogs covering slightly more than 1,000 pieces represent the only remaining evidence. More than ten years later, Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Velychko is converting them to digital format.

His team required more than three careful months to process roughly 400 works. When finished, the database will be provided to Ukrainian authorities, offering partial legal grounds to claim ownership of missing pieces.

Authorities indicate many situations across Ukraine mirror Donetsk rather than Kherson.

Anna Sosonska, deputy chief of a war crimes division at Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, said her department is managing 23 criminal cases involving cultural crimes, encompassing 174 instances of theft, damage and destruction.

The Kherson museum case ranks among top priorities, she noted, primarily due to Dotsenko’s digital records.

Sosonska explained that Russian forces frequently take inventory books and other documentation from museums, complicating efforts to establish what was stolen.

Prosecutors sometimes depend on open-source intelligence, following artworks through photographs, auction records and other online evidence — a time-consuming process that cannot rebuild complete collections.

Progress takes time, but Sosonska emphasized that cultural crimes fall under international law and face no time limits for prosecution.

Ukrainian authorities say the extent of theft greatly surpasses what can be documented.

Ukraine’s Culture Ministry reports that Russia had destroyed or damaged 1,707 cultural heritage sites and 2,503 cultural infrastructure facilities including event venues and galleries as of March, most notably the Mariupol Drama Theatre.

The ministry stated that over 2.1 million museum objects remain in Russian-occupied areas. From territories Ukraine has reclaimed since 2022, more than 35,000 museum items are confirmed stolen.

Substantial portions of Ukraine have remained under Russian control since 2014, and much original documentation has been lost, destroyed or taken.

Russia has moved to legally formalize control over captured collections. In 2023, it modified laws to incorporate 77 Ukrainian museums in the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions into its national registry, a move critics say effectively prevents the return of stolen works.

Named as Ukraine’s culture minister in October 2025, Tetiana Berezhna said digitization will be a central priority for her office to protect collections.

“If we had digitalized them beforehand, then we would know how many objects were stolen and what they look like,” she said.

A recent European case has highlighted the potential for accountability.

In March, a Polish court determined that Oleksandr Butiahin, a Russian citizen, can be sent to Ukraine over accusations he conducted unauthorized excavations in Crimea, removing artifacts from a site Ukraine considers its cultural heritage.

Butiahin was arrested in Poland last year following Ukraine’s request. The court’s ruling remains open to appeal.

Sosonska described the case as the first instance where a Russian citizen could face prosecution for crimes against Ukraine’s cultural heritage connected to occupied territory.

For museum professionals like Dotsenko, the matter remains intensely personal.

She spoke with The Associated Press at an exhibition in Kyiv displaying reproductions of the paintings stolen from the Kherson museum.

“While these works are still in captivity, we all hope the situation will be resolved in favor of the Kherson Art Museum. I didn’t dedicate 50 years of my life to this museum for nothing,” she said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opposition is not truly possible.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Such optimism appears misplaced.

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

The crucial factor will be Labour parliamentarians’ reactions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Several initiatives are already in progress.

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

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

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

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

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