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TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A large-scale beachfront development project connected to Jared Kushner, who is married to U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter, is encountering mounting opposition from demonstrators in Albania.

Officials say the coastal development would dramatically transform the former communist country as it works to break into luxury tourism markets and pursues membership in the European Union.

However, the project — which covers an uninhabited island and adjacent waterfront property along Albania’s southern shoreline — has sparked backlash from environmental activists and opponents of longtime Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The high-end development consists of two parts: a beachfront project in the Narta Lagoon region, which serves as a protected wildlife area, and a smaller vacation complex on the nearby deserted island of Sazan, formerly a military installation during communist times.

The proposed construction of hotels, residential units, luxury homes and a boat harbor is connected to Kushner and Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump.

During a recent interview with U.S. podcaster David Senra, Ivanka Trump explained they stumbled upon the location unexpectedly.

“We were on a friend’s boat, and we stopped for a swim. Effectively, that’s how we found it,” she said. “We swam to the island. We went on a hike, barefoot all the way up to the top, and we were just captivated.”

An investment company connected to Kushner has received special investor designation from Albanian officials.

Albania possesses 450 kilometers (280 miles) of shoreline that stayed mostly untouched throughout decades of strict communist governance.

Demonstration groups worry that portions of this unspoiled coastline might be acquired by influential investors. Public outrage intensified after footage emerged showing an activist being pulled by private security personnel during a demonstration at the location.

The construction is scheduled within a protected natural area and one of Albania’s most important ecological regions, serving as a crucial rest stop for migrating birds traveling the Adriatic shoreline.

Demonstrators have displayed cardboard replicas of pink flamingos, representing one of the protected migrating bird types, during gatherings in the capital Tirana.

Beginning in late May, bulldozers and additional heavy equipment have moved into the region, creating entry paths, excavating sand, removing vegetation among pine forests and putting up barriers.

Environmental organizations from Albania and other European nations have denounced the activity, with one notable local organization alleging that historically protected ecosystems are being “irreversibly destroyed.”

Albania’s national anti-corruption office has verified it launched an inquiry regarding the project but has not revealed specifics.

Officials state the property designated for the project is under private ownership. However, conflicting claims have surfaced challenging the privatization process — a typical form of legal disagreement.

Rama has endorsed the project, stating it would support Albania’s goal to become a leading international tourism location.

“Albania should not be a country that fears an extraordinary project like this one, where exceptional partners have come together to invest 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion),” Rama said.

He added: “There is no chance for this investment to stop as long as I am here.”

Nevertheless, the collapse of a comparable project in Serbia provides a warning example. In November, Serbia’s Parliament approved special legislation to allow construction of a luxury development in the capital, Belgrade, to be funded by an investment firm connected to Kushner.

The next month, Serbia’s prosecutor for organized crime filed charges against four individuals, including a government minister, for misuse of authority and document falsification to help facilitate the development.

Kushner subsequently pulled out of the planned multi-million investment that would have replaced an extensive bombed military facility, a recognized heritage site whose legal protections were removed by the former officials now facing trial.

Intelligence agencies from the Five Eyes alliance, which encompasses the United States and Britain, released an alert Wednesday regarding Chinese intelligence operatives who are actively utilizing internet job sites to enlist individuals who have access to classified materials.

The advisory, titled “Safeguarding Our Secrets,” reveals that China’s military intelligence operations are employing numerous professional networking platforms and online hiring services to focus on government workers, military members, and anyone capable of accessing restricted data.

“Chinese military intelligence services ultimately seek to acquire privileged military, political and economic intelligence that can provide China with a strategic and tactical advantage over the Five Eyes,” stated the domestic security agencies from the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

While individual nations have previously issued comparable alerts, this collaborative advisory was characterized as having no precedent. Beijing has consistently denied such intelligence gathering accusations, labeling them “pure fabrication and malicious slander.”

According to the advisory, Chinese operatives are especially focusing on individuals who work in defense, foreign relations and intelligence sectors, along with military members, particularly those deployed in the Indo-Pacific area.

Additional targets include reporters, think tank staff members, and individuals with indirect access to government information.

The document stated that operatives employed “an aggressive online recruitment strategy” with those successfully recruited then coerced into supplying confidential materials “for unspecified clients who are associated with the Chinese government.”

Recruited individuals could receive compensation ranging from several hundred to multiple thousands of dollars for each report, with higher payments offered for increasingly classified materials, according to the advisory.

The United States has previously issued alerts regarding Chinese intelligence operations using deceptive tactics to target current and former government workers, while Britain’s MI5 security agency warned lawmakers last November about Chinese operatives attempting to conduct surveillance on parliament.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A horrific crime against a teenage girl has once again sparked nationwide outrage in Argentina, reviving debates over gender-based violence that first erupted more than a decade ago.

The brutal murder of 14-year-old Agostina Vega in the central city of Cordoba has triggered protests across the country, echoing the massive demonstrations that began in May 2015 following the death of pregnant 14-year-old Chiara Páez. That earlier case launched the “Ni Una Menos” (Not One Woman Less) movement that spread throughout Latin America, creating widespread awareness about femicide — the murder of women and girls based on their gender.

Agostina went to a family friend’s residence on the evening of May 23, planning to collect a present for her mother. According to preliminary autopsy findings, she was sexually attacked and strangled, with her body later cut apart using a kitchen knife.

Authorities discovered her remains in a drainage canal on Saturday, one week following her disappearance, while memorial gatherings in her home province turned violent with confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement.

The public fury has spread nationwide in advance of Wednesday’s yearly Ni Una Menos demonstration in central Buenos Aires, strengthening calls for governmental intervention and escalating criticism of President Javier Milei.

The libertarian leader, who is aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump, has described the feminist movement as “a ridiculous and unnatural fight,” advocated for removing femicide from criminal law, and eliminated funding for gender violence victim support programs as part of his cultural agenda and budget reduction efforts.

Attorneys from the Center for Legal and Social Studies, a prominent Argentine human rights organization, have documented 63 officially recognized femicides this year. However, these advocates and others report facing significant governmental resistance in securing such classifications. Some groups have assembled lists containing over 100 names of women killed this year, contending that many deaths are incorrectly categorized.

According to Supreme Court data, reported femicides in Argentina decreased by 12% to 200 cases last year compared with 2024. Victim advocates argue this reduction doesn’t indicate less gender-based violence but rather inadequate crime classification.

“To stop calling femicides by their name, to deny the existence of gender violence — it’s an attempt to rewind the past 20 years,” said Natalia Gherardi, director of the Latin American Team for Justice and Gender, a Buenos Aires-based rights group. “I hope this reaction generated by Agostina’s case, what we show in the streets, will be enough to counter the desire to move backward.”

Following Agostina’s death, demonstrators targeted local police, igniting tires in Cordoba’s streets. Her relatives filed a missing person report the morning following her disappearance, yet more than 80 hours elapsed before a child abduction alert was sent to phones throughout the province, according to family attorney Gustavo Vaca.

The day following her death, a taxi operator reported transporting Agostina to 33-year-old Claudio Barrelier’s residence, which surveillance video verified.

Agostina’s relatives have criticized security forces for being preoccupied with potential fan violence during a significant soccer match in Cordoba that same day. Police conducted a raid on Barrelier’s home three days afterward. Barrelier, who previously dated Agostina’s mother, is currently detained as the primary suspect and maintains his innocence.

Investigators reveal his criminal background includes an arrest for abducting a young woman one year prior, though he was freed on $3,500 bail after 20 days in custody.

When confronted with allegations of delayed action, chief prosecutor Raúl Garzón stated last week that authorities “are not engaging in any self-criticism.”

Pressure mounted to classify Agostina’s murder as a femicide. Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva has declined to make such a designation.

“A homicide, whatever its nature, is not solely defined by what happens during one hour, two hours, or three hours, where the act itself occurs,” Monteoliva told reporters Monday in her only public comments on the case.

Activists emphasize that employing the femicide classification — which mandates harsher punishments than other homicides, including mandatory life imprisonment in Argentina — is essential for successful prosecution and victim safety.

“If we don’t name the specific form of violence, if we don’t recognize it, then we can’t understand the problem in all its dimensions, and we can’t create policies to prevent and combat it,” said Lucila Galkin, director of the gender and diversity program for the Argentina chapter of Amnesty International.

Milei has conducted a cultural campaign against gender-focused policies — which he views as a harmful result of socialism.

Following Milei’s criticism of femicide laws as “legally making a woman’s life worth more than a man’s” at the Davos summit last year, his justice minister revealed intentions to eliminate the classification from legal statutes.

While that proposal stalled, his administration is currently developing legislation to increase penalties for women who file false gender-based violence reports. The measure awaits congressional consideration.

Over the past two and a half years, Milei has eliminated Argentina’s women’s ministry, closed its anti-discrimination agency, destroyed support programs for gender violence victims, prohibited gender-inclusive language in government documents, and removed funding for gender education in public schools and for government workers.

The terminated programs include Acompañar, which provided assistance equivalent to six months’ minimum wage to 350,000 women before losing funding. A 24-hour victim assistance hotline lost two-thirds of its budget and half its personnel last year. A government-funded program offering free legal aid to domestic violence and sexual abuse survivors has also been eliminated.

On Wednesday, demonstrators plan to assemble at Plaza Congreso, across from the National Congress building, continuing the annual tradition that began after Chiara Páez’s death in 2015.

Agostina’s family announced they will participate in a Cordoba demonstration that day, seeking justice for her murder under the movement that once established Argentina as a regional leader in social and legal progress on gender equality.

“I think this femicide, which caused so much pain, so much shock, also mobilized us, reminded us that this is a problem concerning all of society,” Galkin said of Agostina’s case.

“We are being forced to have conversations about issues we thought we had agreed on, a topic that we thought had been settled.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced a comprehensive education reform initiative on Tuesday, outlining his vision for a unified national curriculum that would serve all students across the country.

Bennett introduced his ‘From Tribes to a People’ initiative during remarks at the Israel Democracy Institute’s Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society, stating the plan would take effect if he leads a future administration.

Bennett currently heads Together, a political coalition he formed with Yair Lapid by combining his Bennett 2026 party with Lapid’s Yesh Atid movement in preparation for the upcoming election.

The next parliamentary election in Israel is set for October 27, 2026, though current efforts to dissolve the parliament could advance the voting date by several weeks.

The educational framework Bennett outlined would require all students to take core classes in Hebrew, English, mathematics, civics, Torah, and Jewish and Zionist tradition. Bennett noted that Muslim students would have the choice to study the Quran in place of Torah classes.

‘I am proud to unveil before you the most important plan that we will implement in my government: the ‘From Tribes to a People’ plan, to establish one state (public) education system for all the children of Israel,’ Bennett declared.

‘This will work according to a 60–40 method: 60 percent will be the shared subjects that everyone studies, and 40 percent — each community will be able to expand according to its wishes,’ Bennett explained.

Bennett outlined that individual schools and local governments would gain increased control over the curriculum portion not covered by the common core requirements, while the Education Ministry would shift its focus to policy development and supervision.

The former prime minister emphasized that his proposal extends beyond conventional debates about basic educational standards.

‘For all these years we said, ‘Let them study mathematics and English.’ No—that is not enough. They need to receive both the tools and the values to be part of a Jewish and democratic state,’ he stated.

Bennett described the plan as an effort to establish shared civic and cultural foundations throughout Israeli society.

‘The children of Israel will study both Einstein and Maimonides. All Israeli children and all Israeli citizens will have a shared story,’ Bennett said.

‘This will turn us from tribes into a people: one people, diverse, colorful, and wonderful, very opinionated, but a people that has a shared story. And this is how Israel will develop resilience for generations to come.’

A commercial flight operated by an Israeli airline was redirected to Croatia on Wednesday after Slovenian officials denied the aircraft permission to land, sparking a diplomatic controversy over alleged political interference with European Union aviation protocols.

The airline reported that flight 6H755 was mid-journey to Slovenia when officials forced the plane to alter its course. Travelers aboard the aircraft were notified while in flight that they would be landing in Croatia rather than their intended destination.

Uri Sirkis, the airline’s CEO, claimed Slovenian officials blocked the landing due to political reasons. “The Israir flight scheduled for Ljubljana had to land in Zagreb because the authorities in Ljubljana are refusing Israeli carriers to land, due to their firm political opposition to the route operated by the Israeli government. This is a blatant violation of EU air agreements,” he said.

Israeli government representatives viewed the situation as a significant violation of standard aviation protocols. Multiple Israeli agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority, worked to obtain clearance for the flight to proceed to its original destination, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

The controversy occurs amid a governmental transition in Slovenia. The departing administration had been highly critical of Israel, while the new government is anticipated to adopt a more cooperative stance. Officials have not indicated whether regular flights to the Slovenian capital will restart or when normal service might be restored.

This event further complicates Israeli-European aviation relationships during a period when political disagreements regarding Israel’s actions have increasingly affected sectors beyond traditional diplomacy. Slovenia acknowledged a Palestinian state in 2024 under Prime Minister Robert Golob’s government and, the following year, declared Israeli Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae.

For Israeli authorities, the implications extend beyond a single redirected flight. Government representatives worry that allowing political motivations to supersede aviation treaties could encourage other European nations to adopt similar policies, potentially creating widespread disruption for Israeli airlines and travelers throughout Europe.

Kuwaiti officials are promising a strong response following a deadly drone and missile assault on the nation’s main airport that left one person dead, multiple people wounded, and caused widespread destruction to airport infrastructure, according to government statements released Wednesday.

The country’s Foreign Ministry denounced what it characterized as attacks by Iran, stating that Kuwait “categorically rejects” these strikes and pointing to Tehran as a source of regional turmoil.

Ministry officials declared the strikes constitute a “flagrant violation” of international law, the UN Charter and UN Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026.

The ministry emphasized that Kuwait’s security, sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents remain a “red line that cannot be crossed,” stating that the ongoing attacks demonstrate a “systematic aggressive approach” that the nation “will neither accept nor tolerate.”

Defense Ministry officials reported that multiple drones hit Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport during what they termed Iranian aggression. The ministry confirmed the assault inflicted substantial structural damage to the terminal, left several people injured and claimed one life.

In response to the attack, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation implemented emergency protocols and shut down all airport operations. According to a statement distributed by the state Kuwait News Agency, officials grounded all incoming and outgoing flights while emergency protocols were put in place.

Air traffic was diverted to backup airports while officials evaluated the destruction and examined facility conditions. Officials announced that operations would stay suspended until all required protocols are finished and the airport is confirmed safe for reopening.

Airport personnel reported that Terminal 1, a major passenger facility, suffered extensive structural damage.

The assault occurred after reports of emergency warning sirens during overnight hours in both Bahrain and Kuwait, approximately one hour following a U.S. announcement that it had targeted an unoccupied oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz while the ship was heading to an Iranian port.

The Revolutionary Guards of Iran took responsibility for missile and drone strikes throughout the Gulf region, stating that American military installations were the primary targets. CNN characterized the exchange as the most significant series of attacks in recent weeks while diplomatic talks persist regarding conflict resolution.

Previously, American military officials reported that two Iranian missiles launched toward Kuwait either failed to reach their target or broke apart during flight. They also confirmed that three missiles directed at Bahrain were stopped by combined U.S. and Bahraini defensive forces.

The Revolutionary Guards stated the attacks were in response to an American strike on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. American officials have indicated that operation was a response to an Iranian attack.

Reuters had earlier documented explosions on Qeshm Island, though no subsequent reports verified whether any installations there were damaged.

All air travel at Kuwait International Airport came to a standstill Wednesday after unmanned aircraft and missiles targeted Terminal 1, leaving multiple people injured and causing extensive structural damage, officials reported.

Kuwait’s military released a social media statement explaining that “the Defense Ministry stated that several drones attacked Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport as part of the Iranian aggression. The attack caused significant material damage to the terminal and wounded several people, who received the necessary medical treatment.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation immediately put emergency protocols into action and shut down all airport activities. According to a statement distributed by the state Kuwait News Agency, officials suspended both incoming and outgoing flights while implementing crisis response measures.

Planes scheduled to land were rerouted to other airports while officials examined the extent of the destruction and reviewed safety conditions at the facility. Officials indicated that flight operations would stay grounded until all necessary safety protocols are finished and the airport receives clearance to restart regular services.

The assault inflicted major structural harm to Terminal 1, which serves as one of the airport’s main facilities for passenger traffic. Though multiple people sustained injuries, officials have not yet released specific numbers regarding casualties.

The terminal attack occurred following overnight alarm reports in Bahrain and Kuwait, roughly one hour after the United States disclosed it had targeted an unoccupied oil vessel in the Strait of Hormuz as the ship traveled toward an Iranian port.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards took credit for missile and drone strikes throughout the Gulf region, stating that American military installations were their primary objectives. CNN characterized the incident as the most extensive series of attacks in recent weeks while diplomatic talks continue regarding conflict resolution.

Previously, the US military reported that two Iranian missiles directed at Kuwait either failed to reach their destination or disintegrated mid-flight. Officials also noted that three missiles aimed at Bahrain were successfully stopped by US and Bahraini defense forces.

The Revolutionary Guards stated their attacks were a response to an American strike on Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. The United States has indicated that their strike was a reaction to an Iranian attack.

Reuters had earlier documented explosions on Qeshm Island, although no subsequent reports verified whether any specific locations were damaged.

During Tuesday testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that Iran has demonstrated increased willingness to address nuclear program components that were previously considered untouchable in negotiations with Washington.

Speaking to lawmakers, Rubio indicated that recent conversations with Iran have encompassed topics that were once completely off the table.

“They have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear program that just a month ago, just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention,” Rubio informed the committee, though he did not provide specific details about these discussions.

The secretary of state warned that advances in negotiations do not ensure a successful conclusion and noted that internal uncertainty among Iran’s leadership has made the diplomatic process more challenging.

“This is not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that’s acceptable,” Rubio stated.

Rubio suggested that a significant development might occur in the near future, explaining: “There is the prospect before us, which could happen today, it could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week.”

The top diplomat emphasized that any easing of sanctions requested by Tehran would continue to be linked to limitations on its nuclear operations.

“Right now, everything that’s been discussed with them is that … any sanctions relief is condition-based, which means it has to be in return for the reason why those sanctions were put in place in the first place, which is their nuclear program,” he informed Congress.

Rubio noted that Iran would also need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles 20% of global oil and gas transportation.

“They have to announce very clearly ‘The straits are now open, we’re not charging a toll.’ We will help remove the mines that they put in there, and they will not fire on ships,” Rubio explained.

“The more they give, the more they would get,” he continued, later adding, “They’re not going to get it as a signing bonus.”

Regarding Lebanon peace negotiations, Rubio identified Hezbollah as the principal barrier to achieving an agreement.

“This is one of the most ironic situations in the world. The government of Lebanon and the government of Israel could sign a peace agreement tomorrow,” he observed.

“The obstacle in Lebanon is the fact that Hezbollah has embedded itself within the state, and it is the reason for all the suffering taking place there now and over the years,” Rubio declared.

He further characterized Hezbollah as “a complete and total proxy of Iran,” maintaining that the organization’s military strength relies on Iranian backing.

Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR has positioned itself as a crucial intermediary in Israel’s natural gas operations, stepping in to provide alternative supplies when Israeli exports to Egypt and Jordan face interruptions, according to a new analysis.

Since October 2023, Israeli gas shipments to Egypt and Jordan have been halted and resumed three separate times. During these disruptions, SOCAR has expanded its presence across multiple layers of Israel’s energy sector simultaneously.

The Azerbaijani firm now operates the largest new exploration area in Israeli waters, owns 10% of the Tamar gas field, delivers approximately three liquefied natural gas shipments to Egypt monthly, and collaborates with a Qatari partner to restore power facilities in Syria using Azerbaijani gas transported through Turkey.

“It is our first East Mediterranean investment, and we are definitely interested in developing it further,” Vitaliy Baylarbayov, SOCAR’s deputy vice president for investments and marketing, told The Media Line at SOCAR headquarters on Monday, discussing the Tamar stake finalized in June 2025 for $510 million.

The strategic importance of these arrangements became evident during the 32-day shutdown of the Leviathan and Karish fields during the Hormuz war, marking the third significant interruption of Israeli gas exports since October 7, 2023.

Israeli energy security analyst Elai Rettig of the Begin-Sadat Center at Bar-Ilan University documented this pattern in research published May 6. Jordan, which relies on natural gas for roughly 68% of its electricity and receives more than half from Israeli pipelines, incurred an estimated $2.5 million daily in additional fuel expenses during the March-April shutdown.

Egypt’s imported LNG costs tripled in the first quarter of 2026, jumping from $560 million to $1.65 billion. While Leviathan resumed exports on April 2 and Karish followed a week later, the shift toward alternative suppliers appears permanent as Egypt and Jordan seek backup options for future disruptions.

SOCAR’s newest acquisition is Cluster I, a 660-square-mile exploration zone in northern Israeli waters, adjacent to the Leviathan gas field. Israel’s petroleum commissioner granted six exploration licenses there in October 2023, weeks after the Hamas attack froze the broader bidding process. SOCAR leads the project alongside BP and NewMed Energy, each holding roughly one-third stakes.

The Tamar field is operated by Chevron, the American oil company that also runs Leviathan. Chevron acquired both fields in 2020 through its purchase of Noble Energy and approved the Leviathan expansion in January. SOCAR’s 10% Tamar stake places the Azerbaijani state company within a Chevron-operated field.

Foreign ownership of Tamar now reaches 46%, divided among Chevron’s 25% operating share, Mubadala Energy of Abu Dhabi’s 11% stake purchased from Delek in 2021, and SOCAR’s 10% position.

Beyond exploration agreements, SOCAR’s trading division had been delivering LNG to Egypt for nine months before the contract with the Egyptian Petroleum Corporation was officially signed in Cairo on March 31. Three SOCAR shipments reached Egypt in March 2026 alone, valued at roughly $146.5 million.

Egyptian lawmaker Mohamed Fouad, who serves on the Economic Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives in Cairo, explained that SOCAR is intended to supplement Israeli pipeline gas, not replace it. Egypt’s December 2025 agreement with Israel for 130 billion cubic meters of pipeline gas over 15 years, worth roughly $35 billion, remains “structurally irreplaceable” in Cairo’s calculations, Fouad said.

What SOCAR provides instead is what Fouad calls “resilience engineering around Leviathan dependence.” SOCAR Trading increases shipments when Israeli production drops or summer demand peaks, and reduces them when Israeli supplies return to normal levels.

Egypt and ExxonMobil formalized a separate long-term arrangement at Egypt’s energy conference earlier this year. John Ardill, ExxonMobil’s vice president for global exploration, told The Media Line at the Baku Convention Center on Tuesday that the company signed a preliminary agreement with Egypt’s petroleum ministry to ship Cypriot gas through Egypt’s existing LNG terminals rather than construct new export facilities.

ExxonMobil has completed evaluation of its Glaucus gas discovery off Cyprus and is finishing assessment of Pegasus. The company recently confirmed that the gas is commercially viable. Ardill noted that moving from discovery to actual production typically requires five to 10 years.

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar delivered President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s opening message at the Baku Forum on Monday and outlined what he called “the electricity version of TANAP,” a power line running through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bulgaria to southeast Europe.

Bayraktar’s proposals include a 60-mile underwater pipeline announced in May between southern Turkey and northern Cyprus, scheduled to begin operation by 2028. The pipeline can transport gas in either direction, though the Republic of Cyprus learned about it through media reports.

The Azerbaijani state oil company serves as Turkey’s largest international investor, with $19.5 billion deployed since 2008 across the STAR refinery at Aliağa, the Petkim petrochemical complex, the SOCAR Terminal container port, and a majority stake in the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

In Syria, SOCAR has partnered with Qatari company UCC Holding and Turkey’s BOTAŞ to supply natural gas from the Caspian’s Shah Deniz field across Turkish territory to power plants in Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, restored under post-Assad reconstruction beginning in August 2025. “We are bringing light, if you wish,” Baylarbayov said.

That same gas corridor could potentially carry Israeli gas in the opposite direction, Rettig told The Media Line. SOCAR’s exploration zone inside Israeli waters creates a buffer that shields Israeli-produced gas from political friction between Jerusalem and Ankara. By marketing the gas as Azerbaijani, SOCAR can help it reach buyers who would refuse direct purchases from Israel.

Asked whether SOCAR’s investments harm Israel, Rettig said no. The East Mediterranean is a gas-hungry region, in his view, and having multiple suppliers benefits Israel as much as it protects against Israeli supply disruptions. “SOCAR is considered a supplement rather than a competitor,” he said.

A Nigerian federal court delivered death sentences Wednesday to four gunmen responsible for a deadly assault on a Catholic church that claimed the lives of at least 50 worshippers in 2022.

The violent attack took place at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, located in Ondo State in the country’s southwestern region, on June 5, 2022. The assault occurred as Sunday mass was concluding, with children numbered among the victims. The attack also left numerous people injured, creating an overwhelming situation for local medical facilities.

All four defendants received convictions on terrorism-related charges, while a fifth individual was cleared due to insufficient evidence.

According to prosecution evidence, the convicted men belonged to the al-Shabab militant organization and operated from a base in Kogi State in north-central Nigeria, located approximately 200 kilometers from the nation’s capital.

This sentencing follows Nigeria’s conviction of over 300 terrorism suspects in a large-scale trial conducted over four days in April.

The West African nation continues to grapple with widespread security challenges, particularly in northern regions where insurgent activity has persisted for more than ten years and where armed organizations regularly conduct kidnapping operations for financial gain.

Several prominent Islamic extremist organizations operate in the region, including Boko Haram and a splinter group connected to the Islamic State organization, known as Islamic State West Africa Province. Additionally, the IS-affiliated Lakurawa organization maintains operations in northwestern communities near the border with Niger Republic.

An Amsterdam judge on Wednesday turned down an emergency request from a Jewish organization seeking to prevent two scheduled performances by rapper Ye, the artist previously known as Kanye West, determining the shows pose no risk to public safety.

The performer has sparked significant backlash in recent years following multiple antisemitic statements, prompting Dutch officials to face increasing demands to shut down the planned June 6 and 8 performances.

The Central Jewish Council submitted the urgent legal petition on Tuesday, contending that Ye should be prohibited from entering the Netherlands due to his expressed praise for Adolf Hitler and his sale of clothing items displaying swastikas.

The Amsterdam District Court found insufficient justification to prevent Ye from taking the stage. “There are no indications that West’s presence in the coming days will lead to concrete public order dangers,” the court said in a statement.

The Central Jewish Council voiced frustration over the decision. “The feeling we are getting is that it is okay if you are antisemitic,” Chanan Hertzberger, the organization’s chair, told The Associated Press.

Dutch legislators backed a proposal to prevent Ye from entering the Netherlands, but the country’s immigration minister indicated there was insufficient legal justification for such action. While describing Ye’s statements as “reprehensible,” Bart van den Brink told journalists last week there was “no reason to bar him.”

The 48-year-old artist was scheduled to perform his first European concerts in over ten years. In April, he was denied entry to the U.K. due to his controversial remarks, triggering multiple event cancellations. Performances in Italy and Poland have also been called off.

Over 100,000 attendees gathered in Istanbul on Saturday night for Ye’s debut performance in Turkey.

Event promoters report that 70,000 tickets have been purchased for the two scheduled concerts at the Gelredome in the eastern Dutch city of Arnhem.

In January, Ye issued an apology through a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal, stating that his bipolar disorder led him to fall into “a four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behavior that destroyed my life.”

Two Eastern European allies have acknowledged they are engaged in preliminary talks regarding enhanced participation in NATO’s nuclear deterrence strategy, which relies on American nuclear assets stationed across Europe.

These early-stage conversations about broadening America’s nuclear deterrence capabilities in Europe could provide reassurance to continental partners about ongoing U.S. military commitment, particularly as President Donald Trump has pursued efforts to decrease his nation’s traditional defense presence in Europe.

“We are talking, in order to create better conditions for nuclear deterrence and for Poland to play an important role in that,” Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Polish Radio on Wednesday.

However, Poland has rejected any intentions to house nuclear weapons directly. Such an arrangement would be “an extremely serious matter, which is serious in terms of political consequences,” he stated.

“Discussions are indeed taking place. I do not want to go into details at this point as they are classified, but discussions are ongoing, and Lithuania is certainly not standing on the sidelines,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said Tuesday, according to press agency BNS.

Both defense officials responded after unnamed sources told the Financial Times on Tuesday that America had indicated willingness to position components of its nuclear arsenal in additional European nations, beyond the six currently believed to accommodate nuclear weapons.

The Financial Times reported that Poland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the NATO members situated nearest to Ukraine, showed interest in possibly accommodating bases for U.S. dual-capable aircraft, which can deploy either conventional or nuclear warheads.

The Pentagon refused to provide comment, though a Defense Department official noted the U.S. and NATO “continuously assess the security environment” and work to maintain effective deterrents. The official lacked authorization for public statements and spoke anonymously.

America has positioned nuclear weapons across multiple European nations for decades as part of its security commitments to NATO partners.

In recent years, Russia’s conflict against Ukraine and the wider threat Moscow presents to NATO have sparked conversations about possibly expanding U.S. nuclear cooperation with Europe.

“Work to assess and potentially adapt NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture has been ongoing for several years and is not linked to any decision taken by the U.S. to adjust its conventional posture in Europe,” an official responsible for NATO communications but not authorized for public identification told the AP.

NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement encompasses U.S. nuclear weapons positioned in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and Britain, along with dual-capable aircraft operated by both America and its partners. America retains complete authority over the nuclear weapons.

Poland has demonstrated readiness to join the U.S. nuclear deterrence initiative since Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with former president Andrzej Duda even endorsing the accommodation of nuclear weapons. The present administration headed by Donald Tusk has shown greater restraint, discussing only expanded involvement in nuclear deterrence.

America, though, has consistently suggested that positioning nuclear weapons in NATO’s eastern member countries would prove overly provocative toward Russia, Artur Kacprzyk, a nuclear deterrence analyst with the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw, told the AP.

“There might be a middle ground there, which could be called ‘nuclear sharing light’. You would have, for example, Polish planes, certified for carrying U.S. nuclear weapons, but the weapons won’t be deployed in Poland. This aircraft from the east could be a sort of backup if, let’s say, German or Dutch aircraft are destroyed before they can use those nuclear weapons.”

Earlier this year, Poland announced it would join several European countries in supporting France’s initiative of coordinating its nuclear deterrence activities with European allies. France has remained the sole nuclear power within the European Union since Britain’s departure from the organization in 2020.

The French-led cooperation is “complementary” to U.S. deterrence, Kacprzyk noted, but it possesses a different character.

Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and Norway also have expressed interest in the French initiative, which permits temporary deployment of France’s nuclear-armed aircraft to partner countries. It also enables partners to join France’s deterrence exercises and allows allies’ non-nuclear forces to participate in France’s nuclear operations.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz informed Polish broadcaster TVP on Tuesday that nuclear deterrence would be addressed during a NATO meeting in Brussels on June 18. He indicated both the French initiative and the U.S. program are components of those efforts.

Expanding nuclear cooperation in Europe might assist America in balancing conventional reductions but cannot completely replace the forward deployment of conventional forces, particularly in nations sharing borders with Russia, Kacprzyk stated.

“Communicating ‘I might risk nuclear war to defend an ally but I don’t want to send my soldiers into the fight’ is a conflicting signal,” he explained. “You need coherent signals at all levels of deterrence.”

Lebanon’s Currency Stays Steady While War Devastates Broader Economy

Exchange rate remains near 89,500 to the dollar, though reserves, banking sector, households, and public trust face severe pressure

Lebanon’s currency has maintained stability at approximately 89,500 to the dollar despite ongoing warfare that continues to deplete the nation’s reserves, destroy infrastructure, and drive an already battered economy further into turmoil.

Economic experts operating independently caution that this stability results from artificial management rather than authentic economic improvement. The central bank, Banque du Liban (BDL), has maintained strict control over Lebanese-pound availability, while government officials have implemented emergency budget restrictions. Meanwhile, financial institutions and currency exchange operations face intense regulatory oversight. These combined efforts have temporarily avoided another currency collapse, though they don’t indicate structural economic healing.

Prior to the 2019 financial meltdown, an official exchange rate of 1,507.5 pounds per dollar provided economic stability on paper. That era has ended. The current black market rate of approximately 89,500 pounds per dollar has become the practical exchange rate for everyday transactions, influencing tax calculations, import duties, government and private sector wages, business accounting, and routine cash exchanges. This rate’s consistency shouldn’t be mistaken for systemic improvement; it merely demonstrates that recent wartime fears have been managed while underlying problems persist unresolved.

Government Budget Position and Economic Reality

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber has stated publicly that Lebanon is in a stronger position to protect its currency because the government began this active military engagement with stricter budgetary controls and unprecedented cooperation between the Finance Ministry and central bank.

Based on official Finance Ministry budget records, the 2026 government budget was constructed around income and expenses of approximately $6 billion, up from roughly $5 billion in the 2025 budget legislation. Government data indicate this increase reflects improved tax collection, increased public fees, and higher customs income. This represents part of a governmental effort to restore public finances following years when extreme inflation rendered government accounting practically impossible.

Economic analysts provide an important warning: Much of this budget improvement comes from aggressively revaluing government operations following the collapse of the previous exchange rate system. Since taxes, fees, and duties now operate within a heavily dollarized monetary environment, the budget looks more logical on paper than during the crisis’s worst periods. However, independent economists stress that Lebanon hasn’t recovered genuine fiscal power or income-producing ability.

The extended military engagement threatens to quickly exhaust this limited budget buffer. In a Reuters statement from May, Jaber estimated that the ongoing conflict could reduce Lebanon’s actual gross domestic product (GDP) by 7% to 10% in 2026, creating direct and indirect economic harm reaching $20 billion. This escalating catastrophe occurs while Lebanon continues paying enormous costs from the 2024 hostilities. In a preliminary evaluation, the World Bank determined the 2024 fighting caused $3.4 billion in physical destruction and $5.1 billion in immediate economic losses, subsequently calculating total recovery and rebuilding requirements at $11 billion.

Rapid Reserve Depletion

The expense of sustaining this controlled exchange rate appears directly in the central bank’s financial records. Based on official BDL data reported by Lebanese financial institutions, foreign reserve holdings reached approximately $12.07 billion in mid-February. By that month’s conclusion, BDL records indicated they had decreased to $11.88 billion. By mid-March, official numbers revealed an additional decline to $11.66 billion, representing roughly $408 million lost within a single 30-day period. By April’s end, central bank records showed reserves had fallen further to about $11.43 billion.

While financial specialists note that using reserves during wartime represents standard procedure, Lebanon’s structural crisis makes this pattern extremely hazardous. The remaining buffer is minimal, politically controversial, and overshadowed by the legacy of a financial collapse that eliminated the banking system’s trustworthiness. Domestic banks remain severely damaged, account holders are prevented from accessing their life savings, and public faith in government institutions is virtually absent. Each dollar used to maintain short-term exchange stability today represents one less dollar available for future rebuilding or protection against an even more severe geopolitical crisis.

Harmful Effects of Liquidity Restrictions

The central bank’s primary method for exchange rate protection involves harsh limitations on Lebanese-pound availability. The basic economic principle is straightforward: To attack or short the pound, speculators require substantial amounts of local currency. By restricting local cash supply, BDL makes speculation extremely costly. Bank Audi’s recent Lebanon Economic Report verified that this approach maintained currency stability during 2026’s first quarter despite significant war losses, while cautioning about increasing pressure on available foreign-currency reserves.

Compliance and financial specialists question this policy’s long-term viability, observing that it functions like an economic tourniquet. Restricting local liquidity severely constrains the productive economy. Companies encounter serious credit shortages and payment delays, while regular households cannot access business loans or their own frozen savings.

The human and market impacts are devastating. While exchange rate displays appear stable, store owners must price items aggressively in foreign currency, employees receive payment in weakened pounds, and typical families struggle to afford rising costs for housing, healthcare, fuel, and education. Currency stability differs from economic wellness; the pound isn’t collapsing, but citizens are suffering. Account holders haven’t been compensated, destroyed neighborhoods aren’t being reconstructed, business credit has vanished, and widespread poverty continues worsening. Lebanon has frozen the visible symptoms of its crisis while underlying damage expands.

Ongoing Banking Crisis and Compliance Protections

International financial organizations have repeatedly warned Lebanese officials that temporary exchange rate management cannot replace comprehensive structural reform. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded thorough bank restructuring, a formal medium-term budget framework, a reliable national debt resolution plan, and a solid strategy to safeguard small depositors. In an official briefing, IMF mission chief Ernesto Ramirez Rigo declared that Lebanon’s continuing banking collapse completely blocks economic activity and credit distribution, warning that inadequate reform legislation would permanently trap the country.

The unsettled financial deficit within the banking sector represents the nation’s most serious economic injury. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s administration has tried to advance draft legislation addressing the catastrophic gap created by the 2019 crash. International news reports suggest this financial shortfall was estimated above $70 billion in 2022 and is now believed significantly higher. While Salam has defended the proposed plan as a reasonable attempt to restore confidence and distribute losses fairly, critics from all perspectives have attacked the strategy. Commercial banks oppose the capital requirements they must accept, depositors worry they’re being sacrificed again, and independent economists warn that incomplete measures will fail to restore credit markets.

During this deadlock, a crucial protective layer has developed through a strict transaction framework. The Compliance Shield—the collaboration among BDL, commercial banks, and the Salim Khalil Financial Company—represents a fundamental mechanism. By enforcing strict transparency and compliance requirements for foreign exchange transactions, it prevents illegal or untraceable capital from entering the official system. This compliance shield is credited with dramatically reducing the extreme, chaotic exchange rate variations experienced in earlier years.

International Sanctions Pressure

International sanctions directly connect to Lebanon’s economic survival and its fragile relationship with the global financial system.

Recent actions by the US Treasury Department targeted senior security officials accused of manipulating Lebanese government institutions to protect political and armed-group interests. These targets included Brig. Gen. Khattar Nassereddine, head of security analysis at the General Security Directorate, and Col. Samer Hamadeh of Lebanese Army Intelligence. Washington accused Nassereddine of sharing government intelligence with Hezbollah and blocking international disarmament efforts. In an official statement, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Hezbollah remains a designated terrorist organization that must be completely disarmed.

The political reaction in Beirut was swift and deeply divided. The Lebanese Army Command released a strong public statement emphasizing that its officers remain loyal exclusively to the state, noting that Washington provided no advance notice. Political groups aligned with Hezbollah strongly criticized the designations as obvious political pressure and foreign meddling.

Beyond the political controversy, financial compliance specialists warn that these sanctions’ real threat is systematic. Lebanon already faces increased scrutiny by the Financial Action Task Force, the international anti-money laundering monitor. This official grey-list classification places enormous pressure on the government to address serious structural weaknesses in combating terrorist financing and illegal capital movements.

For a nation heavily dependent on imports, cash transfers from overseas communities, and legitimate dollar transactions, this represents an existential threat. Lebanese commercial banks depend on foreign correspondent banks to process international payments and maintain legitimate trade. If international financial institutions determine that Lebanon’s compliance protections are failing and the jurisdiction poses too much risk, the legal financial system could be isolated. Money transfers would slow dramatically, compliance expenses would increase sharply, domestic companies would struggle to pay international suppliers, and families could be prevented from receiving essential funds from relatives overseas. This would push the government deeper into an unmonitored cash-based economy.

Jaber captured this troubling reality in an unusually frank ministerial statement earlier this year: “Lebanon has become a cash economy, and the real question is whether we want to stay on the grey list, or sleepwalk into a black list.”

This explains why the central bank and cabinet continue emphasizing public compliance messaging. They’re attempting to demonstrate to foreign correspondent banks and international regulators that legal exchange channels are protected against sanctioned actors, anonymous wealth, and illegal flows. The currency protection and the anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing compliance effort are essentially the same battle: an effort to keep Lebanon financially accessible.

Long-term Viability Assessment

For regular citizens, this managed exchange rate provides a false sense of security. The pound isn’t actively spiraling, government pensions are being distributed, and consumer prices aren’t experiencing the violent daily fluctuations witnessed during the economic collapse’s early phases. Nevertheless, the overall situation remains dire. The country is impoverished, heavily reliant on unstable remittances, lacking a functioning banking sector, and dangerously vulnerable to every military escalation.

The current exchange rate protection continues only because the central bank is depleting limited foreign reserves, restricting private-sector liquidity, implementing extremely restrictive compliance measures, and depending on temporary, repriced budget balances. Independent analysts determine that none of these protective tactics can replace comprehensive banking restructuring, actual GDP growth, legal debt resolution, or authentic political stability.

If the current military conflict escalates, if liquid reserves fall below critical levels, or if necessary structural reform legislation remains blocked in a divided parliament, this artificial stability will quickly collapse. Lebanon has succeeded in preventing its currency from becoming the immediate crisis point, but the government is running out of time while its banks, political system, and the war continue dragging the fundamental economy toward structural collapse.

UNITED NATIONS — In a closely watched election Wednesday, Portugal and Austria successfully secured positions on the influential yet fractured UN Security Council, beating out Germany in an intensely competitive campaign.

The council’s 10 non-permanent positions are allocated to different global regions, with the General Assembly selecting five nations annually through confidential voting to serve two-year terms. These countries join the council’s five permanent members who hold veto power: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

In another competitive contest, Kyrgyzstan emerged victorious over the Philippines following four voting rounds in the 193-nation General Assembly, winning 143-49 to earn its first-ever council membership.

Zimbabwe, representing Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean representative, faced no competition and each secured election with over 180 votes.

For the two Western nation slots, Portugal earned 134 votes while Austria captured 131 votes. Germany, Europe’s economic leader with six prior council terms, managed only 104 votes.

Austria’s foreign ministry described the victory as the culmination of a 15-year effort and called it a “strong international sign of confidence” in their nation.

The newly elected members will begin their terms January 1st, taking over from Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia.

While the UN Charter tasks the Security Council with maintaining global peace and security, it has struggled with three major ongoing conflicts due to vetoes — Russia’s regarding Ukraine and the United States, as Israel’s strongest ally, frequently concerning Gaza and Iran.

Reform efforts spanning decades have attempted to update the Security Council to mirror today’s geopolitical landscape rather than the post-World War II structure from 80 years ago when the UN formed. Despite repeated failures, another reform initiative is currently underway.

Acclaimed filmmaker Wim Wenders announced Wednesday that he is removing his 1975 film “The Wrong Move” from circulation due to nude scenes involving actress Nastassja Kinski, who was just 13 years old during production.

The actress, now 65, has requested that Wenders reedit the movie. In an interview last month with German publication Sueddeutsche Zeitung, she stated: “That was my first film, he was my first director and he didn’t protect me.”

The celebrated director, known for creating “Paris, Texas” and “Wings of Desire,” released a public apology directed at Kinski.

“I recognize that Nastassja Kinski should have been better protected back then,” Wenders stated. “For that, I apologize to you, Nastassja, unreservedly, no ifs and buts.”

“The Wrong Move” served as Kinski’s acting debut. The daughter of actor Klaus Kinski, she portrayed a seemingly silent teenage acrobat in the film, which follows Rüdiger Vogler’s character, an aspiring writer traveling across Germany. During one scene, Kinski appears topless.

According to Wenders, he is “withdrawing it from all current forms of distribution and exhibition,” which encompasses streaming platforms and television broadcasts. The Wim Wenders Foundation, his nonprofit organization, holds ownership rights to the film.

The movie will stay unavailable until both parties reach a mutual agreement, Wenders explained. He plans to initiate “a broad dialogue” involving Kinski, the German Film Academy, and additional cinema organizations.

“It is necessary for our society to find appropriate ways of dealing with controversial film works from the 20th Century and to face new learning processes and inclusive perspectives regarding cinema,” Wenders commented.

When contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday, representatives for Kinski did not provide an immediate response.

During last week’s German Film Awards ceremony, Wenders discussed his dilemma regarding the movie. Addressing the audience at Germany’s version of the Academy Awards, Wenders expressed concern that retroactively modifying the film “sets a precedent that affects you all, and then it becomes possible with all your films later on.”

Kinski later collaborated with Wenders again in his 1984 production “Paris, Texas,” though she has consistently expressed concerns about her early experiences in filmmaking. She also appeared without clothing in “To the Devil a Daughter” and “Stay As You Are” when she was 14 and 17 years old, respectively.

In a 1997 interview with W Magazine, Kinski reflected: “If I had had somebody to protect me or if I had felt more secure about myself, I would not have accepted certain things. Nudity things. And inside it was just tearing me apart.”

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Crowds have gathered at a memorial tent in Damascus to pay respects to a former national chess champion and her family, whose deaths have been confirmed more than a decade after they vanished during Syria’s civil conflict.

Family members of Rania al-Abbasi revealed Sunday that they had obtained proof she and her family were murdered by government-aligned forces soon after being taken into custody in 2013. They established a large memorial tent in the capital on Tuesday and Wednesday for mourners to offer their condolences.

“We had hope. We’ve been looking for them for 13 years in every way possible,” Rana’s brother Wael al-Abbasi said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Then we got the horrible news that they were killed the same day they were arrested.”

The disappearance of Rana al-Abbasi, who worked as a dentist and faced allegations of supporting opposition forces, gained significant attention throughout Syria. This week’s discoveries have dominated local news coverage, with family photographs circulating widely on social platforms. Many citizens are calling for capital punishment for those responsible.

Mohammad Shukri, Syrian minister of religious affairs, paid a visit to the memorial tent in the Rukneddine neighborhood on Tuesday, stating that the nation’s new leadership is ensuring those responsible face justice. “They must get their punishment,” he said.

Over 100,000 individuals disappeared in territories once under the control of forces supporting former President Bashar Assad, who was recently removed from power, with many believed to have perished under torture administered by the nation’s extensive security apparatus. The actual figure may be even greater, as numerous Syrians were too frightened to file complaints during Assad’s rule. Assad is now living in exile in Russia, and some people are finally stepping forward seeking information about their missing relatives.

Throughout the initial phase of Syria’s uprising, which began with democratic demonstrations before evolving into full-scale civil war, countless people lost their lives, with many fates remaining unknown. The prolonged conflict resulted in the deaths of nearly half a million people.

The truth about the al-Abassi family emerged after authorities captured a former intelligence operative allegedly connected to the murders, according to surviving relatives. Amjad Yousef had been featured in footage that surfaced four years earlier, apparently depicting him and associates executing dozens of individuals during the nation’s civil strife.

The al-Abbasi family was presented with additional video evidence, kept from public view, displaying the children’s bodies after what appeared to be strangulation or fatal beatings.

Wael al-Abbasi explained that his brother-in-law, Abdul-Rahman al-Yassin, was taken into custody on March 9, 2013, while his spouse and children were detained four days afterward.

“We were holding on to hope to find one or two of the kids (alive),” he said.

Yousef, the former intelligence operative, was apprehended by Syria’s new government in April in the central province of Hama, where he had been in hiding. He has remained under interrogation since his capture.

Wael al-Abbasi described viewing footage where Yousef was speaking and directing the camera toward the children in a dim space that appeared to be within a detention facility.

“He was filming the kids and naming each one of them. Those were our kids, there was no room for doubt that it’s them, they were even wearing the same clothes,” he said.

The children ranged in age from 1 1/2 to 14 years old. They were identified as Ahmad, Dema, Najah, Intisar, Alaa and Layan. He noted that several of them showed signs of facial injuries.

The brother expressed his desire for Yousef and other participants in the killings to face trial and execution. “They’re criminals and we have proof of that through videos. We want the whole chain, all the way up to Bashar Assad. We want them all to hanged.”

Following Assad’s removal from power, multiple senior officials from his administration and security forces have been arrested, with some facing legal proceedings.

Al-Abbasi’s cousin, Doa’a al-Abbasi, mentioned that the family had feared the children might have been sold into trafficking, but they now understand what truly happened.

“What is this brutality? What is this hatred? They waited for them to come home from school so he can kill them,” she said, referring to the children. “There are many people like Amjad Yousef and we hope they will all be held accountable.”

PODGORICA, Montenegro — Montenegrin officials turned away 87 Serbian nationals at the border Wednesday, determining they presented security risks before a scheduled European Union conference with Western Balkan leadership.

The group touched down in Tivat, a coastal community, aboard a chartered Air Serbia aircraft earlier Wednesday. Law enforcement officials said they targeted the flight as part of heightened security protocols before Friday’s conference bringing together senior EU officials and Balkan leadership.

“As part of the activities aimed at preserving a stable security environment, the security services identified persons of security interest,” Montenegro’s police and its National Security Agency said in a statement.

Security officials had “gathered operational data and intelligence that indicate without a doubt that the presence in Montenegro of the individuals in question would pose a risk for internal and national security,” according to the statement.

Police photographs showed the individuals possessed communications gear and signs displaying ‘Serbia wins,’ a campaign message associated with populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party. Vucic is scheduled to participate in the Tivat conference, taking place in the Adriatic Sea resort community.

News outlets in Montenegro and Serbia reported the group contained recognized pro-government supporters who have faced allegations of assaulting student protesters during more than a year of demonstrations against Vucic.

Montenegrin law enforcement stated several individuals had arrest histories and had participated in “numerous high-risk public gatherings.” Officials in Montenegro also seized two buses.

Serbia provided no immediate response.

Vucic has recently declined to participate in Montenegro events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the nation’s separation from Serbia and has publicly backed pro-Serbian political groups in Montenegro that opposed the country’s NATO membership and favored stronger Russian relationships.

The Tivat conference will examine membership possibilities for six Western Balkan nations seeking EU entry — Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. Each country sits at varying points in the EU admission process.

The EU has lately worked to promote reforms among candidate nations amid concerns about expanding Russian and Chinese influence.

AMSTERDAM — An Amsterdam court delivered an initial win for Greenpeace on Wednesday, declining to dismiss the environmental organization’s lawsuit against a US fossil fuel pipeline company.

The environmental group, which operates from the Netherlands, filed the legal action last year seeking to challenge a massive $345 million judgment related to demonstrations against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. A North Dakota jury had previously held Greenpeace responsible for substantial damages to the Texas-based Energy Transfer company.

Greenpeace responded by taking their fight to Amsterdam District Court, claiming the North Dakota legal action was improper and harmed the organization’s standing.

“Energy Transfer has been engaging in blatant attempts to silence free speech, erase Indigenous leadership of the Standing Rock movement, and punish solidarity with the ongoing, peaceful resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline,” stated Greenpeace’s executive director Mads Christensen on Wednesday.

Energy Transfer challenged the Amsterdam court’s authority to handle the matter, but judges determined that since Greenpeace operates its headquarters from the Dutch capital, the case could proceed.

A North Dakota judge announced in February that he would require Greenpeace to pay damages, an amount the environmental organization claims it cannot afford. Greenpeace has indicated it plans to challenge that ruling.

A Colombian attorney running for president has publicly thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for backing his campaign as the country prepares for a crucial runoff election that reflects the region’s political shift toward conservative leadership.

Abelardo de la Espriella, who received the highest number of votes in Colombia’s initial election round, responded Wednesday to Trump’s endorsement of his candidacy. The race is being watched closely as a measure of the area’s movement toward right-leaning politics.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump gave his “complete and total endorsement” to de la Espriella, describing him as an “intelligent, strong and tough leader” who faces off against a “radical leftist Marxist” in the June 21 runoff. Trump also posted on social platform X that he expects improved relations between the two nations if the conservative candidate defeats progressive Iván Cepeda.

“With my head held high and a heart full of patriotic gratitude, I receive your words and your steadfast support,” responded de la Espriella, nicknamed “El Tigre” or “The Tiger,” in a post on X. “Thank you, Mr. President!”

This marks another instance of Trump supporting foreign political candidates, a strategy that has faced pushback from critics who argue the United States should avoid interfering in other nations’ internal political processes. Trump previously endorsed Honduras’ National Party presidential candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura, who subsequently won his race. He also supported libertarian President Javier Milei in Argentina during legislative contests that were crucial for that leader’s political goals.

The endorsement highlights current friction between Washington and Bogota, as diplomatic ties have deteriorated during Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s tenure. The nations have clashed over immigration issues, Israel’s military operations in Gaza, and drug enforcement approaches, especially concerning the destruction of narcotics vessels in Caribbean waters.

Petro criticized Trump’s involvement in the Colombian race and called on voters to make independent choices to avoid becoming “anyone’s slaves or colony.”

“When a country intervenes in the decisions of another country, freedom dies,” Petro posted on X.

Despite Colombia remaining America’s top export destination and historically being Washington’s key regional partner, diplomatic relations have significantly deteriorated under the present Colombian leadership.

De la Espriella possesses both Colombian and American citizenship, supports Trump, and belongs to the Republican Party. Though lacking previous electoral experience, he captured 43.74% of votes in the first presidential round, while Sen. Cepeda — a Petro ally — received 40.90%, based on initial tallies.

The candidate states his positions match American policies, especially concerning narcotics enforcement. He has pledged to eliminate thousands of hectares of coca cultivation — cocaine’s primary ingredient — and stop drug trafficking destined for the United States.

NAIVASHA, Kenya — A court in Kenya has authorized law enforcement to detain nine female students for three weeks while investigators continue examining their alleged involvement in a deadly dormitory fire that claimed 16 young lives at a girls’ boarding school.

The judicial ruling in Naivasha determined that the students will remain at a children’s facility during the 21-day period, allowing authorities to finish their investigation before deciding on formal charges in this case that has captured nationwide attention in the East African country.

The deadly blaze occurred on May 28, sweeping through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls School that accommodated 202 students. Authorities determined that the school matron did not unlock an emergency exit, compelling all residents to flee through just one doorway.

The nine suspects had been held by police for six days before the court hearing. During questioning, investigators learned the fire began when someone ignited a mattress positioned near the dormitory’s exit using matches and paraffin. Officials have not disclosed any motivation behind the alleged attack.

Law enforcement made the arrests following interviews with students and examination of security camera recordings that allegedly capture some students starting the fire within the dormitory building.

Hezron Mogire, representing the nine accused students, argued before the court that investigators lacked “compelling reasons” to justify the 30-day detention period they had requested.

“Nonetheless, the court has taken a different view. We have already briefed our clients, and they are well informed,” he said.

Mbogo Macharia, the attorney representing families of the 16 victims, urged authorities to conduct a complete investigation during the three-week timeframe.

“During that time, it is expected by the courts, by the nation, and also by us as the victims that the investigations will have concluded, we will have gotten the answers that we very much want to hear, and we will have found a way forward in respect to finding justice for the victims,” he said.

DNA testing results to identify some remains that were severely burned are anticipated later Wednesday.

NATO’s top official issued a dire warning Wednesday to young Russians contemplating military service, telling them they face almost certain death if they enlist in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Speaking from Kyiv during a press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered his message directly to potential Russian recruits and their loved ones, stating “You are being sold a raw deal.”

Rutte painted a grim picture of what awaits Russian soldiers, explaining “Men like you who join the fight — you won’t be trained. Equipment they’ll provide you with is substandard. There is a very high chance you’ll die or be wounded while you’re out there.”

The NATO leader’s warning grew even more stark as he continued: “And odds are, that if you are wounded, you will be left to suffer in the mud and die.”

According to Rutte, Russia is suffering “absolutely staggering” casualties in the conflict, with over 30,000 Russian military personnel dying each month — statistics he has referenced previously.

To put these losses in perspective, the NATO chief explained “This means losing more men in one month than the Soviet Union did in 10 years in the 1980s in Afghanistan.”

Addressing potential recruits directly, Rutte emphasized the personal nature of these statistics: “That’s not abstract. That will probably be you.”

Russia continues to characterize the conflict as a “special military operation” and offers substantial compensation to those who enlist. Moscow has consistently maintained that NATO’s expansion eastward following the Cold War’s end — along with Ukraine’s potential alliance membership — represents a fundamental threat to Russian national security.

A horrific murder case in southern Italy has claimed the lives of four migrant workers, sparking renewed concerns about the exploitation of immigrant laborers in the country’s agricultural sector.

The victims were discovered Monday inside a charred van at a gas station in Amendolara, located in Italy’s southern Calabria region. Security footage captured two individuals igniting the vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Alessandro D’Alessio, the public prosecutor overseeing the case, described the unprecedented brutality to media on Wednesday. “In 30 years of work, I have never seen such cruelty,” he stated.

The lone survivor, Taj Mohammad Alamyar, recounted how the workers were being transported home by their two Pakistani supervisors following a day of strawberry harvesting. According to Alamyar, the supervisors stopped at the gas station but instead of filling up, they poured gasoline on the vehicle and ignited it after trapping the passengers inside. He managed to escape through the trunk.

“We started screaming, but they opened the back door and threw a lighter inside. In an instant, it was hell,” Alamyar told La Repubblica newspaper.

Roberto Occhiuto, who serves as Calabria’s regional president, emphasized that the incident should prompt serious reflection across Italy. “It is an appalling story, which shakes our consciences and raises profound questions about the tragedy of migration, the value of human dignity, and the responsibilities a civilised society must assume toward the most vulnerable,” he commented.

The exploitation of immigrant workers represents a persistent challenge throughout Italy, sometimes resulting in fatal outcomes. Data from the Placido Rizzotto Observatory think tank indicates that approximately 30% of agricultural workers operated without proper documentation in 2023.

In media appearances, the survivor appeared with bandaged hands and right arm. He identified three of the deceased as fellow Afghans, with the fourth victim being Pakistani.

Authorities from Castrovillari have taken two foreign nationals into custody on charges of multiple and aggravated murder. The suspects’ identities have not been released, and Reuters was unable to secure statements from them.

According to Alamyar, tensions arose between the fruit pickers and their supervisors over compensation disputes. The workers had been promised daily wages of €45 ($52) for eight-hour shifts but claimed they had not received any payment since April 20.

Israeli military forces successfully intercepted rockets launched by Hezbollah into Israeli territory on Wednesday, according to military officials, while Lebanese security sources reported an Israeli strike on a vehicle near Beirut, putting pressure on a U.S.-brokered agreement designed to reduce cross-border attacks.

In a statement, the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization confirmed it had launched multiple rockets targeting an Israeli military position in northern Israel, marking the first announced cross-border missile strike since Monday.

Lebanon has become a central focus of regional tensions this week, as the possibility of increased conflict threatens diplomatic efforts to establish an agreement between Iran and the United States. Tehran maintains that Israel must cease attacks on Lebanon as part of any deal.

Fighting has persisted in southern Lebanon following Monday’s announcement of the U.S.-brokered agreement, when President Donald Trump revealed he had requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu avoid conducting a major operation against Beirut, while Hezbollah, through intermediaries, committed to avoiding attacks on Israel.

On Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would target Hezbollah-controlled southern areas of Beirut if northern Israel came under attack.

Israeli military officials confirmed they had intercepted two rockets that entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon.

“Only the successful interception by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) prevented what could have been a deadly attack on civilians, including children,” stated Michael Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to Washington, in a social media post.

Leiter explained that Israel had agreed to avoid striking Beirut under the condition that Hezbollah cease its attacks on Israel, calling Wednesday’s rocket fire a “blatant violation of that understanding.”

Earlier in the day, Israeli forces reported intercepting a hostile aircraft entering Israeli territory, which a military spokesperson indicated was likely a drone launched by Hezbollah.

Lebanese security sources reported Israeli drone attacks on at least 10 vehicles throughout Wednesday, including one strike on a car traveling on the main coastal highway in the Khalde area, located several kilometers south of Beirut, which injured two individuals.

This represented the nearest attack to Beirut since Trump requested Israel refrain from targeting the Lebanese capital.

A separate Israeli strike on a road near the coastal city of Tyre resulted in six deaths, according to the Lebanese health ministry, which identified the victims as four Syrians and two Palestinians.

The health ministry also reported that an Israeli strike on an ambulance killed two medical workers in the town of Chehour.

The Lebanese army announced that an Israeli airstrike killed one of its soldiers while he was traveling on a road in the southern region.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries regarding these strikes.

Trump’s diplomatic initiatives on Monday were intended to prevent further escalation of the conflict that has continued since March 2, when Hezbollah began attacking in support of Iran, which was facing U.S.-Israeli military action.

Iran has insisted on a ceasefire in Lebanon as a component of any agreement with the U.S. to end the broader conflict, and has indicated in recent days that it might intervene directly to support Hezbollah if Israel maintains or increases its attacks in Lebanon.

On Monday, Iran’s military warned residents of northern Israel to evacuate if Israel attacked Beirut.

Israel conducted heavy bombardments of Beirut’s southern suburbs, called Dahiyeh, early in the conflict but has executed only two strikes there since Trump announced a Lebanon ceasefire in April.

Hezbollah reported conducting 13 operations against Israeli forces on Tuesday in southern Lebanon, where Israeli troops maintain a self-declared security zone.

Israeli military officials issued fresh evacuation warnings to residents of six villages and towns in southern Lebanon, instructing them to leave their homes due to planned operations against Hezbollah.

More than 3,500 people have died in Lebanon from Israeli attacks since March 2, including 711 women, children and medical personnel, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. The ministry’s statistics do not distinguish how many fighters are included in the death toll.

Israel reports that 26 of its soldiers and four civilians have been killed in Hezbollah attacks since March.

Representatives from the Lebanese and Israeli governments were scheduled to meet in Washington on Wednesday for a second straight day of discussions, marking their fourth direct meeting arranged by the U.S. since the conflict began.

The Lebanese government is participating despite opposition from Hezbollah.

BRUSSELS (AP) — Concerned about excessive dependence on American technology companies for artificial intelligence and cloud services, along with Asian nations for semiconductor production, European Union officials are taking action to reduce these dependencies.

On Wednesday, the 27-member union announced a comprehensive “tech sovereignty” initiative designed to cultivate domestic European alternatives to major technology corporations and their hardware.

These initiatives from Brussels have become increasingly urgent as officials express concern about reliance on foreign technology providers, warning such dependencies could be used as weapons against European interests. These concerns became more concrete when the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, resulting in Microsoft terminating his email access and raising alarm about potential “kill switches” embedded in American technology services.

“Europe wants to be in the position to make its own choices, avoiding risky dependencies on single dominant suppliers, one company or one third country,” European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, told reporters in Brussels.

“Because we live in a world where geopolitics and technology go hand in hand. Those who champion technological innovation will shape the future, and we must ensure that Europe plays a leading role in this.”

Central to this initiative is an extension of the EU’s 2023 Chips Act, designed to further enhance domestic semiconductor manufacturing by reducing bureaucratic barriers for chip manufacturing facilities and developing a comprehensive European semiconductor industry.

Europe’s susceptibility to the global semiconductor supply chain concentrated in East Asia became apparent last year during a corporate dispute at Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands.

The initiative also emphasizes supporting domestic cloud computing and artificial intelligence development, including plans to increase Europe’s data center capacity threefold within the next five to seven years. The EU aims to expand these facilities to meet growing demands from the artificial intelligence surge, which is increasing the need for cloud computing infrastructure.

The executive branch’s proposals must still undergo review and approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

LONDON, June 3 – The United Kingdom’s foreign ministry announced Wednesday that it has called in Russia’s ambassador following a Russian drone attack that struck a residential building in Romania, a NATO member nation, last week.

Foreign minister Yvette Cooper has denounced the incident, which took place during Russia’s assault on Ukraine and left two people wounded in the Romanian city of Galati. Cooper stated that Britain remains united with its allies in protecting NATO territory.

“Russia’s later brutal bombardment of civilians in Ukraine comes afters its violation of NATO airspace last week, hitting a residential building in Romania,” Britain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Injuring innocent civilians on NATO territory is unacceptable and a stark reminder of the threat that Ukrainian civilians are having to endure on a daily basis.”