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MILAN (AP) — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was once viewed as Europe’s strongest connection to U.S. President Donald Trump. That relationship now appears to be crumbling.

Following his controversial remarks about Pope Leo XIV, Trump has now targeted Meloni, previously among his most supportive European partners, after she denounced his papal comments as “unacceptable” and declined to support the ongoing U.S.-Israel military action against Iran.

“I thought she had courage,” Trump stated during an interview with Italy’s prominent newspaper Corriere della Sera. “I was wrong.”

While Meloni has not issued a direct response to Trump’s criticisms, political observers suggest the confrontation could work in her favor as she navigates recovery from a significant referendum loss last month and attempts to minimize backlash from the widely unpopular Iran conflict, which has contributed to rising energy costs.

“I actually think this is a godsend for her,” explained Nathalie Tocci, a Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe professor and director of the International Affairs Institute. “Trump has become completely toxic across Europe, across much of the world, including Italy.”

Trump escalated his criticism on Wednesday, acknowledging their relationship had deteriorated. “She’s been negative,” Trump informed Fox News. “Anybody that turned us down to helping with this Iran situation, we do not have the same relationship.”

As the sole European Union leader who received an invitation to Trump’s second inauguration, Meloni was positioned to capitalize on her strong connections with him following his return to power 15 months ago. The two leaders appeared naturally aligned, sharing nationalist philosophies and similarly tough positions on immigration issues.

However, Italy has not escaped the impact of Trump’s trade policies, and critics question what benefits she has gained from the relationship. When asked about recent communication between them, Trump informed Corriere, “No, not in a long time.”

Following an awkward Oval Office meeting a year ago where she sidestepped direct confrontation with Trump regarding tariffs, tensions have escalated over the Iran military campaign. Meloni has declared Italy will not join the conflict, and the nation recently denied U.S. military aircraft permission to utilize a crucial Sicilian air base.

Meloni’s recent statement describing Trump’s papal criticism as “unacceptable” represents her most direct public rebuke of the president to date.

“It’s been building up over time, not so much because she is moving away from him but because he has become increasingly unhinged,” Tocci observed.

Adolfo Urso, a cabinet minister from Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, insisted the dispute would not undermine U.S.-Italy relations.

“Italy and the United States are allied countries and maintain their relationship and alliance within international institutions, starting obviously with the Atlantic Alliance,” he stated on Radio 24, noting that religious moral guidance “cannot crack relationships consecrated in alliances signed a few decades ago.”

Mariangela Zappia, who leads the ISPI think tank and previously served as Italian ambassador to the United States, attributed Trump’s “hot-blooded” response to broader frustrations with Europe beyond just Italy. Apart from lacking support for the Iran campaign, Trump recently lost a key ally when Viktor Orbán suffered an electoral defeat in Hungary’s weekend elections.

Nevertheless, she emphasized that Trump’s personal attacks on Meloni should not be interpreted as undermining the broader alliance.

“Europe absolutely considers the United States its historic ally, but in some way wants to be involved in the decisions that are taken,” Zappia noted.

Trump, meanwhile, is discovering “this European Union is not easy to dismantle,” she added. “We are different, we react differently. Some are clearly anti-Trump, some are pro-Trump but in the end, destroying the European project, separating us on the things on which we see as our future, that is very difficult.”

Meloni has worked to rebuild support following her referendum defeat, which effectively became a test of her leadership capabilities. She conducted a rapid two-day visit to three Gulf nations to secure Italy’s energy supplies amid a deepening crisis, though she returned without concrete agreements.

On Tuesday, she announced Italy would not automatically extend a defense pact with Israel, following an incident where warning shots struck an Italian convoy participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon—a decision analysts view as politically motivated rather than strategically significant.

“The Gulf tour was a way to show public opinion that she was being proactive. The fact it didn’t actually lead to anything is beside the point,” Tocci explained. The Israel decision “substantively is rather meaningless because there is not much in this agreement but symbolically it helps because Israel has become just so unpopular in Italian public opinion.”

Despite her damage control efforts following the referendum loss, Roberto D’Alimonte, a professor at the LUISS school of government, anticipates a challenging final year and a half of her term before 2027 elections, primarily due to economic consequences from the Iran conflict.

“People want to see their gas bills go down, not just see Meloni talk about gas. What matters are the bills you get every month,” he concluded.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte voiced confidence Wednesday that the military alliance will secure defense funding for Ukraine by year’s end, despite ongoing challenges with member nations sharing the financial load equally.

Speaking to reporters after a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Berlin, Rutte acknowledged the uneven distribution of contributions among NATO members.

“I’m optimistic,” Rutte stated, while noting that “a limited number of countries are doing the heavy lifting — but we are seeing change for the better.”

The NATO chief emphasized the critical importance of maintaining Ukraine’s military capabilities, saying “We have to make sure Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight. So there is broad agreement on that on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Rutte’s comments came as NATO works to implement the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, designed to coordinate and fund defense assistance to Ukraine as it continues its conflict with Russia.

LIMA, Peru — Two candidates with connections to controversial former leaders have taken the top spots in Peru’s presidential election as vote counting stretched into its fourth consecutive day Wednesday.

Keiko Fujimori, whose father is a former president now in disgrace, holds the lead with conservative Roberto Sánchez, a nationalist legislator and ex-government minister, running second as election officials work through ballot tallies.

Voting had to be extended through Monday because ballots failed to reach polling locations on time.

Official tallies from 90% of ballots cast show Fujimori capturing 16.95% of votes, with Sánchez securing 11.99%. Ultra-conservative Rafael López Aliaga, Lima’s former mayor, follows closely behind in third with 11.94%.

Widespread logistical problems prevented thousands of citizens both domestically and internationally from casting their votes. Election authorities responded by permitting over 52,000 Lima residents to vote Monday. The voting extension, declared after Sunday evening’s count had already begun, also applied to Peruvian voters in Orlando, Florida, and Paterson, New Jersey.

Since no candidate can claim victory without securing more than half of all votes, the top two vote-getters will compete in a runoff scheduled for June 7.

The eventual victor will become Peru’s ninth leader in a decade, taking over from José María Balcázar, who assumed the interim presidency in February. Balcázar succeeded another temporary leader who was removed due to corruption charges after serving just four months.

Making her fourth attempt at the presidency, Fujimori has campaigned on reducing criminal activity while simultaneously supporting legislation that legal experts claim hampers criminal prosecutions. Her party has backed measures eliminating pre-trial detention in specific circumstances and increasing requirements for confiscating criminal proceeds.

Should she win, Fujimori plans to make criminal case judges anonymous and require inmates to work for their meals.

Sánchez previously served as foreign trade minister under Castillo and has vowed to use presidential pardoning authority to free his former boss if elected. Throughout his campaign, he has frequently donned a traditional wide-brimmed Andean hat given to him by Pedro Castillo, his political mentor who is currently imprisoned.

The delayed counting process echoes Peru’s 2021 presidential contest, which required five full days after polling ended to complete final vote tallies.

On April 15, Sudan marked a grim milestone as its devastating civil war entered its fourth year, creating what United Nations officials describe as the planet’s most severe humanitarian disaster, even as global attention remains focused elsewhere.

THE WARRING FACTIONS

The conflict involves Sudan’s national military, commanded by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, battling against the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary organization under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s leadership.

These two commanders previously collaborated in 2019 to remove longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir from power, with Burhan subsequently assuming leadership of the country. However, after executing a military takeover that disrupted Sudan’s struggling democratic transition, the generals became adversaries over disagreements regarding new transition plans and military integration.

When hostilities began on April 15, 2023, the conflict rapidly expanded to include numerous local militia groups supporting both sides, along with international actors.

According to UN investigators, US congressional members, and Sudan’s military, the United Arab Emirates has supplied crucial assistance to the RSF through neighboring countries, though the Gulf nation rejects these allegations.

Sudan’s army receives backing from various regional nations including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in different capacities.

CURRENT BATTLEFIELD SITUATION

The RSF established firm control over the expansive Darfur region last year, their traditional stronghold in Sudan’s western territory, and promptly began establishing an alternative government structure. The military retains authority over the country’s eastern regions.

Combat currently focuses on the central Kordofan region, along with a recently opened RSF offensive near Sudan’s southeastern border with Ethiopia.

Unmanned aircraft operations have replaced ground battles as the dominant warfare method, enabling the RSF to counter the army’s former aerial superiority. Similar to the artillery strikes and bombardments that characterized earlier conflict phases, drone attacks have increased civilian casualties, killing at least 700 non-combatants this year according to UN data.

CIVILIAN SUFFERING

The warfare has created catastrophic consequences for Sudan’s population, with UN estimates indicating nearly three-quarters require emergency assistance.

Starvation conditions or famine risks have been declared throughout battle zones nationwide, frequently worsened by supply blockades and administrative obstacles imposed by fighting factions.

Illnesses such as dengue fever have spread rapidly as Sudan’s medical infrastructure has collapsed across many regions.

During the war, the RSF has conducted systematic ethnic killings that UN investigators later characterized as displaying genocide characteristics, with recent incidents occurring in North Darfur’s al-Fashir.

Ongoing violence and insufficient funding have prevented accurate death toll calculations. Sudan’s health ministry reported to Reuters documenting 11,209 fatalities across most Sudanese states, though experts believe total excess deaths since fighting started number in the hundreds of thousands.

Despite enormous needs, the UN’s 2026 Sudan aid request has received only 17% of required funding, coinciding with reduced US foreign assistance, European donor budget cuts, and Gulf nations prioritizing direct bilateral aid.

Relief organizations report reducing services while Sudanese community support networks, including the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Emergency Response Rooms, attempt to address gaps.

However, Islamic Relief released research this week revealing over 40% of local community kitchens operated by these organizations have closed due to inadequate support.

PEACE EFFORTS

Although the conflict has gained attention from international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, few resolution attempts have demonstrated success, with competing regional interests hampering diplomatic efforts.

The United States has coordinated a partnership including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which presented initial ceasefire proposals to both parties last year.

As battlefield conditions have evolved, both the army and RSF have alternately accepted and rejected mediation attempts, with no reduction in fighting anticipated.

The United Nations human rights office has voiced serious alarm about the prosecution of Chinese artist Gao Zhen, who gained recognition for creating satirical sculptures depicting former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

According to the UN human rights office, Gao faced trial in late March on charges of “slandering national heroes and martyrs” under legislation that was enacted more than ten years after he produced his controversial satirical artwork.

“The case against him raises concerns with regard to retroactive application of criminal law and use of criminal sanctions to punish artistic expression, undermining the principle of legality,” the office said in a statement.

Chinese officials in Geneva have not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the matter.

Gao, who was arrested in 2024 while visiting from the United States, could receive up to three years behind bars, according to his spouse Zhao Yaliang and Shane Yi, who works as a researcher with the Chinese Human Rights Defenders organization based outside China.

The UN rights office has demanded Gao’s immediate freedom from custody, where he remains while awaiting a decision following his private trial that wrapped up on March 30. Officials cited worries about his declining health condition.

The single-day proceedings occurred at Sanhe City People’s Court in Hebei province, which borders the capital city of Beijing, and concluded without announcing a decision, Zhao and Yi reported to news outlets, based on information received from his legal representatives.

In cases like this, final decisions are typically made public several months after trial proceedings end.

Energy research company Rystad Energy released findings Monday showing that reconstruction of war-damaged energy infrastructure throughout the Middle East region may require as much as $58 billion in funding.

The Norwegian-based firm’s latest analysis represents a dramatic jump from their earlier $25 billion assessment released three weeks prior, indicating more extensive destruction than initially calculated following the April 8 ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Oil and gas installations are expected to account for approximately $50 billion of the total reconstruction bill, according to the research.

“Repair work does not create new capacity. It redirects existing capacity, and that redirection will be felt in project delays and into inflation far beyond the Middle East,” stated Karan Satwani, a senior analyst with Rystad.

Satwani emphasized the broader implications, noting: “The $58 billion bill is the headline, but the knock-on effects on energy investment timelines globally may prove just as significant.”

The energy consultancy predicts actual reconstruction spending will likely settle around $46 billion, with refining operations and petrochemical plants representing the largest portion due to their sophisticated nature and severity of destruction sustained.

Additional infrastructure including industrial facilities, electrical generation plants, and water desalination systems could contribute another $3 billion to $8 billion in repair expenses, the study indicated.

Recovery schedules are beginning to vary significantly between different facilities and nations, highlighting disparities in local rebuilding capabilities and supply chain accessibility, Rystad researchers noted.

Iran confronts the most extensive damage across its territory, with reconstruction expenses potentially totaling $19 billion for gas processing plants, refineries and export terminals.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s damage is more localized but presents greater technical challenges, especially at the Ras Laffan industrial complex, where repair efforts may interfere with existing liquefied natural gas expansion work.

Engineering services and construction activities will represent the majority of expenditures, though equipment procurement delays will likely determine how quickly facilities return to operation, according to the analysis.

The research firm identified obtaining necessary equipment and skilled workers as the primary obstacles facing reconstruction efforts.

WASHINGTON – Middle East warfare is placing additional pressure on an already strained worldwide financial landscape, as elevated interest rates and climbing energy costs prompt developing nations to seek economic assistance, according to a Wednesday report from the International Monetary Fund’s latest Fiscal Monitor.

Rodrigo Valdes, who recently took over as the IMF’s fiscal affairs director, advised nations to avoid implementing fuel subsidies to assist citizens with oil shortages and corresponding energy price increases. He recommended targeted, short-term direct cash payments that allow higher prices to remain visible and prevent artificially inflated demand.

“We don’t have oil. We don’t have energy. Energy needs to be more expensive for everybody, so that the adjustment happens and we consume less,” Valdes explained during a Reuters interview.

On Tuesday, the IMF reduced its economic growth projections due to conflict-related energy price jumps and supply chain interruptions, warning that the worldwide economy could face recession if hostilities expand and oil remains above $100 per barrel until 2027.

“You can pass through (higher energy prices) and then you can do other things to help,” Valdes explained. “It’s a global shock and if countries suppress the price signal, the global price will be higher … It’s very important to give price signals so demand can adjust.”

Era Dabla-Norris, serving as deputy fiscal affairs director, noted during a press briefing that governmental responses have shown more restraint compared to the energy price crisis following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.

“Countries are not necessarily coming out in full force with huge packages,” Dabla-Norris stated. “In an environment … where fiscal space is much more constrained and governments are facing many different trade-offs, not just in the near term, but also over the medium term, choosing a sort of more disciplined way of cushioning the impact is what we are advocating.”

Valdes explained that export restriction implementations, energy infrastructure damage levels, and other nations’ abilities to increase oil production will shape the conflict’s consequences and necessary policy responses.

After current pressures subside, he emphasized the importance of nations maintaining focus on longer-term fiscal challenges as public debt continues growing due to expanded permanent spending on social programs or decreased tax revenues, especially among major economies.

The IMF’s recommendation was straightforward: “Rebuild fiscal buffers once conditions stabilize and do so without delay.”

Worldwide government debt hit 93.9% of gross domestic product in 2025, climbing nearly two percentage points from the previous year’s 92%, and projections show it reaching 100% of GDP by 2029, one year sooner than previously anticipated, the IMF’s latest Fiscal Monitor revealed.

This would represent the heaviest government debt load since World War Two’s aftermath, the report indicated. Government debt is projected to continue rising and could reach 102.3% of GDP by 2031. Under the IMF’s worst-case economic scenario, it could hit 121% of GDP within three years, Valdes warned.

Interest payments have also climbed dramatically, reaching nearly 3% of GDP in 2025, compared to 2% four years earlier, the IMF reported.

Valdes highlighted emerging concerns, including debt market restructuring that expands roles for investors like hedge funds, whom he described as “less firm hands to hold debt for the long run.” Debt duration has also shortened, meaning short-term interest rates affect debt dynamics more rapidly.

Additional challenges include increased security expenses, energy and climate transition costs, and growing interest payments while revenues haven’t maintained pace, the IMF noted in an accompanying blog post.

Trade and financial fragmentation could further weaken growth and increase borrowing costs, while political instability may undermine reforms and tax collection. Sudden market changes, including artificial intelligence stock fluctuations, could rapidly tighten financial conditions.

Valdes stressed that countries must begin fiscal consolidation efforts once immediate crises are resolved.

“There are some countries that are taking this seriously but in many others we don’t see yet a plan that is spelled out,” he said, noting that even nations with existing plans require additional work.

“We’re not at a crisis point … but the more you delay the measures, the steeper will be the effort that you need, and the higher the risk of having a disorderly consolidation later.”

President Trump announced that direct negotiations between the United States and Iran may restart in Pakistan within the coming 48 hours, marking a potential second round of peace discussions between the two nations.

The announcement comes amid heightened tensions as the Trump administration has simultaneously implemented a comprehensive naval blockade targeting all of Iran’s ports.

The diplomatic development suggests ongoing efforts to resolve conflicts through dialogue even as military pressure continues to be applied in the region.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Opposition leader Péter Magyar announced Wednesday that Hungary’s president has confirmed his new administration could assume control during the opening week of May, marking a swift transition that would conclude Viktor Orbán’s 16-year tenure as Prime Minister.

After Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured an overwhelming two-thirds parliamentary majority in Sunday’s electoral contest, the opposition leader has advocated for an expedited power transfer. Hungarian legislation mandates that the new parliament’s opening session, which will select the next prime minister, must convene by May 12th.

After a closed-door discussion with President Tamás Sulyok on Wednesday, Magyar addressed media outside Budapest’s presidential palace, stating that Sulyok confirmed Magyar would receive the presidential nomination for prime minister, with the inaugural session likely scheduled for May 6th or 7th.

“(The president) thinks, and I think everyone thinks, that it’s in the interests of the Hungarian nation that after such an overwhelming mandate from the voters, a change in government and a change of regime should happen as quickly as possible,” Magyar said.

Magyar has pledged to implement sweeping reforms across Hungary’s governmental framework, including establishing independent ministries for health, environmental protection and education that were absent during Orbán’s administration.

During his first broadcast appearance on Hungary’s state television in nearly two years Wednesday morning, Magyar announced his incoming government would halt the network’s news operations — which has operated as Orbán’s Fidesz party propaganda outlet for years — until establishing “conditions are established that are independent, objective, and impartial.”

“One of the key elements of our program is that this factory of lies will come to end once the Tisza government is formed,” he told the host.

Magyar has urged Orbán’s administration to function solely in a caretaker capacity during its remaining weeks, avoiding decisions that might jeopardize Hungary’s national interests or obstruct the incoming government’s agenda.

He revealed asking the president, who was chosen by Orbán’s parliamentary majority, to step down following the new government’s formation, with Sulyok indicating he would “consider” the request.

“I repeated to him that he is unworthy of embodying the unity of the Hungarian nation, and unfit to be the guardian of the law,” Magyar said, adding that if Sulyok does not resign, his new government will make constitutional changes to remove him “along with all the other puppets that the Orbán system has installed.”

With Tisza achieving a supermajority controlling two-thirds of parliamentary seats, the incoming government will possess authority to modify the constitution and reverse numerous Orbán-era policies.

BEIRUT — For the first time in decades, Lebanon and Israel have commenced face-to-face diplomatic discussions this week, triggered by the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-supported militant organization based in Lebanon. The negotiations have generated both optimism and criticism from various quarters.

Government representatives have worked to manage public expectations regarding potential outcomes from these discussions, yet the mere occurrence of such talks marks a notable diplomatic development.

The relationship between these two nations has remained tense and frequently antagonistic since Israel’s establishment in 1948. Similar to most Arab nations, Lebanon maintains no official diplomatic ties with Israel, and Lebanese legislation from 1955 prohibits its citizens from engaging with Israelis, though enforcement of this statute varies.

The current diplomatic initiative stems from events that began March 2, when Hezbollah launched missiles across the Israeli border two days after the U.S. and Israel initiated military action against Iran. Israel retaliated with extensive aerial bombardments and a ground offensive.

Lebanon’s present administration, which assumed office in early 2025 with a reform agenda including the disarmament of non-governmental military groups, expressed frustration with Hezbollah’s decision to join the conflict. The government subsequently outlawed the organization’s armed activities, expelled Iran’s ambassador, and prohibited the Iranian Revolutionary Guard from operating in the country.

President Joseph Aoun proposed face-to-face negotiations with Israel in return for ending hostilities. Initially, neither Israel nor the United States responded to this offer. French President Emmanuel Macron supported Aoun’s initiative, but these appeals were also ignored.

The situation shifted following the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, facilitated by Pakistan.

Iran insisted that any permanent ceasefire must encompass Lebanon as well. While Pakistan indicated this was part of the arrangement, Israel rejected Lebanon’s inclusion in the ceasefire agreement, with Washington subsequently taking the same position.

The Lebanese government expressed concerns about being used as leverage in Iranian negotiations and sought to establish a separate diplomatic channel for addressing the Lebanese conflict.

Hezbollah and its allies argued that given Lebanon’s vulnerable position, Beirut should depend on Tehran’s negotiating power rather than engaging directly with Israel during active hostilities. The organization criticized the government for providing “free concessions” to an adversarial nation.

Following Israel’s execution of more than 100 airstrikes across Lebanon, including attacks in central Beirut’s most populated districts that resulted in over 350 deaths, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on April 8 his agreement to direct discussions with Lebanon.

The formal negotiations began Tuesday when Lebanon and Israel’s U.S. ambassadors conducted an in-person preparatory session in Washington.

Both nations are approaching these discussions with vastly different perspectives, leading many Lebanese to worry that Beirut lacks sufficient bargaining power.

Lebanon seeks to follow the Pakistan talks model, establishing a truce before pursuing permanent ceasefire negotiations. Israel has rejected any ceasefire proposal, although it has suspended attacks on Beirut since last Wednesday following Washington’s request.

Beyond seeking a ceasefire, Lebanon demands Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, release of Lebanese detainees in Israeli custody, return of displaced populations, and reconstruction assistance. Lebanon has also advocated for increased international military funding to enable deployment throughout the country and establish complete territorial sovereignty.

Israel has characterized these discussions as peace negotiations primarily centered on dismantling Hezbollah. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter praised what he described as shared views on eliminating Hezbollah’s influence from Lebanon, expressing encouragement from a “wonderful exchange.”

Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Mouawad described the meeting as “constructive” in a written press statement.

During Tuesday’s Washington meeting — a procedural session focused on logistics rather than substantive issues — the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors sat across from each other while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials positioned themselves between the parties. The session concluded without achieving a ceasefire. Both delegations confirmed that formal negotiations would continue without specifying a timeline.

“This is a process, not an event,” Rubio stated. “This is more than just one day. This will take time.”

Historical diplomatic efforts between these countries have frequently stalled or produced agreements that were never completely executed or subsequently canceled.

Indirect negotiations in 1949 produced a non-aggression agreement that lasted until 1967, when Israel withdrew from all previous armistice agreements following the six-day war with multiple Arab nations.

During Lebanon’s civil war in 1982, after Israel’s invasion targeting the Palestinian Liberation Organization, Lebanon’s government engaged in direct talks with Israel. The countries signed an agreement in May 1983 requiring Lebanese recognition of Israel, Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, and establishment of a southern Lebanon security zone.

Internal conflicts and civil war escalation caused the agreement to collapse, with the Lebanese government formally canceling it one year later.

In 1993, Lebanon joined several Arab countries in direct peace negotiations with Israel preceding the Oslo peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The Lebanese negotiations did not continue beyond that point.

Following U.S.-mediated indirect negotiations in 2022, Israel and Lebanon reached agreement on their disputed maritime boundary as a step toward resolving land border disputes. The agreement was promoted as reducing armed conflict risks.

However, after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel triggered the Gaza war, Hezbollah began cross-border missile attacks as a “support front” for Palestinians. The resulting low-intensity conflict escalated into full-scale war in September 2024.

Lebanon pursued indirect negotiations with Israel for a ceasefire in that conflict, again with Washington’s mediation. The resulting agreement, which included Hezbollah disarmament measures and Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, was never fully implemented. Lebanon now seeks to return to that agreement’s terms.

ANKARA, Turkey — A deadly shooting at a Turkish middle school has claimed four lives and left 20 people injured, marking an unprecedented second school attack in the nation within 48 hours.

The shooting occurred Wednesday when a student indiscriminately fired weapons in two separate classrooms at the school located in southeastern Turkey. Provincial Governor Mukerrem Unluer of Kahramanmaras confirmed that the shooter, who also died in the incident, had brought firearms that reportedly belonged to his father, a former police officer.

“The gunman was carrying five firearms and seven magazines,” Unluer stated. Among those killed were one teacher and three students, while at least four of the injured remain in critical condition. Investigators have not yet determined what motivated the deadly assault.

This tragedy follows Tuesday’s violence at a high school in the neighboring Sanliurfa province, where a former student wounded 16 people, primarily students, before taking his own life.

School shootings have been exceptionally uncommon in Turkey until this week’s back-to-back incidents.

Emergency responders, including police and medical teams, quickly arrived at the school in Kahramanmaras’ Onikisubat district after reports of gunfire. Television footage captured emergency personnel loading victims into ambulances while distraught parents gathered outside the school grounds.

According to NTV television, authorities established a security perimeter around the school as concerned families rushed to the scene following news of the armed assault.

A British healthcare worker has successfully won back her position with the National Health Service following a legal dispute over transgender patient care protocols. Jennifer Melly faced a 10-month suspension after declining to address a transgender woman using her preferred pronouns during treatment.

The healthcare professional pursued legal action against the NHS, ultimately reaching a settlement agreement that restores her employment. While the financial details and additional terms of the agreement have not been disclosed due to British privacy regulations, Melly expressed satisfaction with the resolution.

Speaking about the lengthy legal battle, Melly stated she feels “delighted with the outcome” and credited her faith for providing support “during the darkest days of my life.”

TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Military operations by Israeli forces continued throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in southern Lebanon, occurring just 24 hours after Lebanese and Israeli representatives participated in their first direct diplomatic meeting in Washington. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the coastal community of Tyre, demonstrating how precarious current peace negotiations remain.

While Israeli military operations in Beirut have decreased following last week’s devastating 10-minute assault that resulted in more than 350 deaths nationwide, communities throughout southern Lebanon continue experiencing regular bombardments.

Israeli military commanders have repeatedly issued evacuation orders for large portions of southern Lebanon, yet thousands of residents have chosen to remain, either due to reluctance to abandon their properties or lack of alternative shelter options.

Many displaced families previously considered Tyre a safer alternative to areas near the Israeli border where the heaviest combat occurs. However, local residents now report feeling unsafe throughout the region as Israel continues operations against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization.

Throughout the community, evidence of recent bombardments was apparent in damaged structures, piles of concrete debris, and streets covered with wreckage. Local residents moved carefully along roadways surrounded by destruction.

An Israeli unmanned aircraft targeted a vehicle during overnight hours just several hundred meters from Tyre’s downtown area. The intended target remained unclear, though eyewitnesses reported the attack resulted in the death of a young woman who had been seated outside her residence.

Community members gathered Wednesday for the burial of the victim, 19-year-old Ghadir Baalbaki, at a temporary burial ground established for war casualties. Many families cannot transport deceased relatives to their original communities located closer to active combat zones.

“We prayed maghrib (the Islamic evening prayer) and went and sat outside. We were sitting for 10 minutes before the strike hit us,” said Mariam Hamoud, Baalbaki’s aunt. “I hugged Ghadir because I thought she had fainted. I kept trying to wake her up.”

Her father, Mohammed Baalbaki, stood beside the grave in tears.

“We cannot adapt to life without her,” he said. “Since this tragedy took place yesterday we have been suffering.”

The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensified when Hezbollah launched multiple rockets toward northern Israel, occurring days after the United States and Israel began their military campaign against Iran. Israel responded with comprehensive aerial operations and ground forces deployment.

Lebanese health officials report that Israeli military operations have resulted in over 2,000 deaths, while more than one million Lebanese citizens have been forced from their homes.

Tuesday’s Washington discussions represented an unusual direct meeting between Lebanese and Israeli representatives. However, Hezbollah has expressed opposition to these negotiations, considering them a surrender to Israeli demands while bombardments of their country continue.

The Lebanese government, which has criticized Hezbollah for involving the nation in another conflict, maintains that diplomatic discussions offer the only path to ending the violence.

BARCELONA, Spain — A massive flotilla of more than 70 vessels departed from Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday, carrying activists and humanitarian supplies destined for Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla includes over 1,000 participants from nations worldwide, with organizers describing it as the largest civilian-led maritime mobilization of its type opposing Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territory.

Approximately 40 vessels launched from Barcelona’s port, while additional boats will merge with the convoy from various Mediterranean ports as the fleet travels eastward, according to Thiago Ávila, a flotilla leader who addressed media during a symbolic departure ceremony in Barcelona on Sunday. Weather conditions had forced organizers to postpone their original April 12 launch date.

With global focus shifting to conflicts involving Iran, activists are hoping their current mission will redirect international attention to the circumstances facing Palestinians in Gaza.

“We sail because governments have failed,” said Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian activist and member of the flotilla’s global steering committee.

“They want a society that feels helpless, that cannot act, that cannot mobilize,” Abukeshek stated on Sunday. “We refuse to be that society.”

Gaza recently observed six months since a ceasefire ended the most severe combat between Israeli military forces and Hamas-led fighters. However, Israeli military operations have resulted in more than 700 deaths in the six months following the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Significant ceasefire implementation tasks remain incomplete, including Hamas disarmament, ending their governance, establishing an international peacekeeping presence, and initiating extensive rebuilding efforts. Approximately 2 million Gaza inhabitants continue living amid destruction with inadequate food and medical supplies, receiving only restricted aid through one Israeli-monitored border crossing.

Both Israel and Egypt have maintained various levels of a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control from competing Palestinian factions in 2007. Israel maintains the blockade prevents Hamas from acquiring weapons, while opponents argue it constitutes collective punishment of Gaza’s Palestinian residents.

The Global Sumud Flotilla’s current initiative follows less than a year after Israeli authorities thwarted a previous attempt.

Last autumn, numerous vessels approached Gaza waters, with one actually breaching the 12-nautical-mile boundary separating international waters from Gaza’s territorial zone. However, all were eventually intercepted, confiscated, or forced to retreat.

Participants in last year’s mission, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, faced arrest, imprisonment, and deportation by Israel. They alleged mistreatment during detention, claims Israeli officials rejected.

Their maritime interception was transmitted live through onboard cameras, generating global demonstrations at the time. However, Gaza-focused attention has diminished as current Iran-related conflicts dominate Middle Eastern affairs and impact international markets.

Organizers aim for this mission to restore focus on Palestinian living conditions in the Gaza Strip, devastated by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Over 70,000 Palestinians have died since the war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages.

Greenpeace Spain and migrant rescue organization Open Arms, which have dedicated their two major ships to accompany the smaller flotilla vessels, are among the mission’s supporters.

“We sail because the people of Gaza have a right to exist and to breathe and to thrive on their land,” said Eva Saldaña, head of Greenpeace Spain.

A Seoul court handed down a six-month prison sentence Wednesday to an American content creator whose disruptive behavior and offensive acts sparked widespread anger throughout South Korea.

Ramsey Khalid Ismael, who goes by Johnny Somali online and calls himself an internet “troll,” was convicted by the Seoul Western District Court on several charges including business interference and creating fake explicit material.

The 25-year-old faced allegations of bothering workers and guests at an entertainment venue, creating chaos in a store by playing loud music and throwing noodles around, causing similar disruptions on public transportation, and sharing deepfake videos without permission. Prosecutors had originally requested a three-year sentence.

The judge stated that Ismael showed “severe” disregard for South Korean laws and offended numerous people through his livestreamed antics designed to earn YouTube money. Officials immediately took him into custody after the ruling, citing concerns he might flee the country.

Last October, Somali triggered nationwide fury when he posted footage of himself kissing and performing inappropriate dances on a memorial dedicated to women who suffered sexual enslavement by Japanese forces during World War II. He subsequently issued an apology, stating he didn’t understand what the monument represented.

Ismael, who had been prohibited from departing South Korea while awaiting trial, previously expressed remorse to local media and said he wanted to apologize to the South Korean people.

LIMA – Peruvian election officials entered their fourth consecutive day of ballot counting Wednesday as the race to determine who will challenge frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in a presidential runoff remains undecided, according to official data showing roughly 90% of votes tallied.

Three candidates are locked in an extremely close contest for the second runoff position. Left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez and right-wing former Lima mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga are both capturing approximately 12% of votes, while center-left candidate Jorge Nieto trails closely behind with around 11%, according to Peru’s national electoral authority ONPE.

The extended counting process highlights the razor-thin margins separating the candidates vying to advance to the final round against Fujimori, who has maintained her lead throughout the counting period.

A tragic school shooting in Turkey’s Kahramanmaras province Wednesday left four people dead and 20 others injured when a middle school student opened fire on campus, according to local officials.

Governor Mukerrem Unluer confirmed to media that among the victims was a teacher. The student gunman had brought his father’s firearms to school hidden inside a backpack before launching the deadly assault. The shooter also died during the incident, Unluer reported.

The attack took place in the southeastern region of Turkey on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the local community. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence at the middle school.

Vietnam’s newly elected president To Lam made a significant diplomatic statement this week by selecting China as the destination for his first international journey since taking office. During a Wednesday meeting in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of enhancing infrastructure connections between the two nations and expanding partnerships in cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology, according to China’s state television network.

Lam’s four-day visit, which started Tuesday, represents his inaugural foreign trip following his election just one week prior. This choice clearly demonstrates his administration’s foreign policy direction and the deepening relationship between these two Communist countries.

According to CCTV’s coverage, Xi emphasized that protecting the socialist framework and maintaining Communist Party leadership represents the most significant shared strategic interest between both nations during their discussions.

The Chinese leader also encouraged both countries to maintain unwavering confidence in their political systems and continue pursuing reforms while staying true to their established course, the broadcast indicated.

In response, Lam expressed that Vietnam considers strengthening ties with China as “its objective need, strategic choice and topic priority.” He further stated that his country is prepared to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, encompassing commerce, investment, railroad development, and additional infrastructure projects, as reported by CCTV.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — In a diplomatic move aimed at mending fractured relations with Washington, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has named seasoned politician Roelf Meyer to serve as his nation’s ambassador to the United States.

Meyer brings extensive experience from South Africa’s transition to democracy, having served as defense minister under the white minority National Party government led by F.W. De Klerk from 1991 to 1992. He played a pivotal role as a lead negotiator during talks that dismantled apartheid and paved the way for Nelson Mandela to become the nation’s first Black democratically-elected president in 1994. Following that historic election, Meyer continued his public service as constitutional development minister in Mandela’s administration through 1996.

The selection comes during a challenging period for U.S.-South Africa relations under President Donald Trump’s administration, which previously removed former Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after he publicly criticized Trump.

This diplomatic fallout created pressure on Ramaphosa to choose a representative who could work effectively with the Trump administration amid ongoing tensions.

Trump has taken a hostile stance toward South Africa, eliminating all financial aid while making unsubstantiated claims about a “white genocide” targeting the Afrikaner minority population. The administration has even established programs to provide migration opportunities and asylum for white Afrikaners who claim persecution in their homeland.

“I can confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Mr Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s Ambassador to the US,” presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya told The Associated Press.

Meyer’s selection as an Afrikaner representative follows Ramaphosa’s recent acceptance of Leo Brent Bozell III as the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa just one week prior.

Bozell, a conservative activist chosen by Trump, immediately created controversy when South Africa’s foreign ministry called him in for discussions in March. During a business leaders’ gathering, Bozell questioned the South African government’s relationship with Iran and criticized affirmative action policies that prioritize opportunities for Black citizens.

University of the Witwatersrand professor John Stremlau, who specializes in U.S.-Africa diplomatic relations, praised Meyer as “the right person, at the right time.”

“He is an excellent and experienced negotiator who not only negotiated in South Africa, but has brokered agreements elsewhere in various other places under very difficult circumstances,” Stremlau explained, noting that Meyer must “stabilize the relationship” between the nations.

“But it will be difficult for him because Trump’s executive orders last year laid out a racist agenda against South Africa’s Black majority, cutting all financial assistance to them and offering refugee status to Afrikaners,” Stremlau added.

Additional friction exists over South Africa’s pursuit of an International Court of Justice case alleging Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Trump declined to attend the G20 Leaders Summit that South Africa hosted in 2025 and has excluded South Africa from upcoming G20 meetings scheduled for Miami in December.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday that his nation is actively pursuing efforts to prolong a ceasefire between the United States and Iran while working to reduce regional tensions and keep diplomatic discussions moving forward.

As Iran’s neighbor, Turkey has maintained close communication with the U.S., Iran, and Pakistan, which has served as a mediator. Turkish officials have consistently advocated for ending what they describe as an unjustified conflict.

During remarks to parliament members, Erdogan expressed concern that Israeli military actions in Lebanon are undermining peace prospects. He emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the diplomatic opening created by the current ceasefire.

“Statements by the sides show that, while the negotiation table has not been toppled, they have reached a road bump on the nuclear issue,” Erdogan told lawmakers, noting that tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are escalating once again.

“We are conveying the necessary suggestions and carrying out initiatives to ease tensions, extend the ceasefire, and maintain talks. There can be no negotiating with clenched fists,” the Turkish leader stated.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that discussions with Iran might restart soon and potentially result in an agreement, following weekend negotiations in Pakistan that failed to produce significant progress. Trump also hinted at an “amazing two days” ahead for observers.

According to Turkish diplomatic sources, foreign ministers from Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are scheduled to convene during a diplomatic forum in Antalya, a southern Turkish province, this weekend. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is also expected to participate.

“There may be difficulties and complicated issues that will take a long time to solve, but when the focus is on the benefits of peace, and action is taken with a long-term perspective, the majority of these can be resolved,” Erdogan concluded.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that obtaining assistance from allied nations to purchase and manufacture additional air defense systems remains his country’s primary diplomatic objective, as Russia continues launching fatal strikes against civilian targets and critical infrastructure.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, Russian bombardments struck more than six Ukrainian regions away from active combat zones, resulting in the death of an 8-year-old child in the Cherkasy region and a woman at a bus stop kiosk in southern Zaporizhzhia, according to the president and regional authorities.

“Every day we need air defense missiles — every day Russia continues its strikes,” Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram social media account.

Without any announced plans for additional U.S.-facilitated negotiations with Russia, the Ukrainian leader embarked on a 48-hour tour of three European capitals, obtaining commitments for continued military and financial assistance from Germany and Norway before traveling to Italy on Wednesday.

Following more than four years of confronting Russia’s comprehensive military offensive, Ukraine has gained valuable experience intercepting enemy drones and created innovative air defense capabilities, yet the nation requires additional funding to expand manufacturing to levels that would maximize its strategic benefits.

The Ukrainian president explained he is requesting European nations to continue contributing to a financial mechanism that enables purchasing American-manufactured weapons from the United States for Ukraine, particularly the Patriot defense system capable of intercepting Russian cruise and ballistic missiles targeting civilian locations.

Zelenskyy is also advocating for collaborative weapons manufacturing partnerships, including drone and missile production, while urging the European Union to expedite delivery of a pledged 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) financial package.

Representatives from more than 50 partner countries who routinely coordinate to provide weapons assistance to Kyiv scheduled an online conference for Wednesday, led by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and British Defense Secretary John Healey. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte planned to participate.

Prior to the meeting, Britain revealed it would deliver 120,000 drones to Ukraine during the current year, marking its largest shipment of these weapons to date. The delivery encompasses long-distance attack drones, surveillance and reconnaissance units, supply drones and naval capabilities. Authorities did not specify delivery timelines.

Russian forces deployed 324 drones and three ballistic missiles against Ukraine during overnight hours, according to Ukrainian air force reports, representing the largest assault in nearly two weeks. Ukrainian defenses successfully intercepted 309 of the attacking drones.

Russia additionally launched a massive FAB-1500 glide bomb weighing 1.5 metric tons at central Sloviansk during early Wednesday morning hours, according to Vadym Liakh, head of the Sloviansk City Military Administration.

The explosion demolished a children’s athletic facility that served as a municipal landmark, Liakh reported.

During nighttime attacks on the southeastern city of Dnipro, Russian military forces targeted two universities, causing damage to academic structures, student housing and neighboring residences, according to Mayor Borys Filatov.

The explosion’s impact shattered over 1,000 windows in nearby buildings, Filatov noted, emphasizing that no military installations existed in the affected area.

Simultaneously, Ukraine continued conducting its long-distance drone operations against Russia, with the Russian Defense Ministry announcing Wednesday that its air defenses destroyed 85 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple Russian territories, the occupied Crimean peninsula and waters of the Black and Azov seas.

Ukrainian drones attacked an industrial complex in Sterlitamak, a Russian city located approximately 1,300 kilometers (roughly 800 miles) east of Ukraine’s border, according to local government officials.

Radiy Habirov, regional governor of Bashkortostan where Sterlitamak is situated, stated in a Wednesday online announcement that multiple drones were eliminated over Sterlitamak’s “industrial zone,” with debris landing on one facility and igniting a fire. He provided no additional information.

British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper declared Wednesday that the global community has let down Sudan’s population, speaking at a Berlin conference focused on the nation’s devastating conflict while demanding unified international action to halt weapons deliveries to the region.

During discussions on the margins of the Berlin gathering, Cooper acknowledged the shortcomings in addressing Sudan’s crisis. “Countries from across the world are coming together here in Berlin to discuss the way, frankly, the international community has failed the people of Sudan,” Cooper stated on Wednesday.

The British official stressed the importance of applying maximum pressure to end the violence. “We need to ensure that every possible pressure is put on those warring parties to reach the urgent ceasefire that we desperately need to see,” she declared, while also emphasizing the critical importance of providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict.