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International development organizations have released a sobering assessment indicating that worldwide food insecurity will continue at alarming levels throughout 2026, as armed conflicts, climate-related droughts, and decreased international assistance create a perfect storm for hunger.

The latest edition of the Global Report on Food Crises, marking its tenth year of tracking worldwide hunger patterns, reveals that severe food shortages have increased twofold during the past ten years. For the first time since the report began, two regions – Gaza and Sudan – were officially classified as experiencing famine conditions in 2025.

The comprehensive study documented that 266 million individuals across 47 nations and territories experienced dangerous levels of food shortage during 2025, while 1.4 million people endured the most extreme hunger conditions in Haiti, Mali, Gaza, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen.

The crisis has particularly impacted children, with 35.5 million young people worldwide suffering from acute malnutrition in 2025 alone. Nearly 10 million of these children faced the most severe form of nutritional deficiency.

Examining current conditions, the assessment indicates that crisis-level hunger persists, with only Haiti showing signs of potential improvement from the most catastrophic category due to modest security gains and expanded humanitarian support.

Alvaro Lario, who leads the U.N. International Fund for Agricultural Development and contributes to the annual assessment, emphasized the evolving nature of the crisis. “We are no longer seeing just temporary shocks, but persistent shocks over time,” Lario stated.

He further explained to Reuters: “The main message is that food insecurity is not an isolated issue anymore, but is putting pressure on global stability.”

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has intensified concerns about food security, according to Lario. He cautioned that extended disruptions to energy and fertilizer markets could impact global food systems and intensify hunger in nations that rely heavily on food imports and are already experiencing crises.

“Even if the conflict in the Middle East were to end right now, we know that a lot of the food price shocks and inflation will happen in the next six months,” he explained.

Beyond Middle Eastern tensions, West African nations and the Sahel region face continued challenges from violence and ongoing price increases, with Nigeria, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso expected to experience particular difficulties.

Nigeria specifically is anticipated to witness one of the most significant rises in food insecurity during 2026, with projections showing 4.1 million additional people will face acute hunger.

In East Africa, insufficient rainfall throughout much of the Horn of Africa region is expected to intensify hardships in Somalia and Kenya, where drought conditions, security threats, elevated food costs and diminished humanitarian support are likely to create deteriorating circumstances.

The report also highlighted concerning trends in international funding, noting that humanitarian and development financing for food-related programs dropped significantly in 2025 and is expected to decline further.

Financial support for humanitarian food initiatives is estimated to have decreased by approximately 39% in the previous year compared to 2024 figures, while development aid contracted by no less than 15%.

Indonesia’s finance minister confirmed Friday that the nation has abandoned any consideration of charging fees to vessels navigating through the Malacca Strait, following international concern over earlier remarks about monetizing the crucial shipping corridor.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa reinforced a statement made Thursday by Indonesia’s foreign minister, emphasizing that the Southeast Asian nation will not implement any tariff system for the strategic waterway.

During a Friday press briefing, Purbaya stated that Indonesia remains committed to following the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes international guidelines for maritime passages used by global shipping.

The clarification came after Purbaya created international concern Wednesday when he publicly discussed potential methods for countries to charge vessel fees in the strait, though he had noted such arrangements would not be feasible.

The controversy emerged as Asian policymakers grapple with maritime security challenges following the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East, raising concerns about other critical shipping passages.

The Malacca Strait spans 900 kilometers (550 miles) and borders Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The U.S. Energy Administration has designated it as the world’s largest “oil transit chokepoint,” serving as the most direct maritime route connecting East Asia with the Middle East and Europe.

According to data from Malaysia’s Marine Department, more than 102,500 vessels—primarily commercial ships—passed through the Malacca Strait in 2025, representing an increase from approximately 94,300 ships in 2024.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have instructed their defense departments to move ahead with a troubled European fighter jet initiative worth $116 billion, according to government officials.

The ambitious military aviation program, which includes Spain as a partner, has faced serious obstacles due to public disagreements between France’s Dassault Aviation and Airbus over who should lead the massive undertaking.

When a journalist questioned whether the FCAS program had failed, Macron responded firmly. “No, not at all,” the French leader stated during an EU summit in Cyprus, where he had met with Merz to address the issue.

“We had a good discussion this morning with the chancellor, and we gave a mandate to our defence ministries to work precisely on several areas, on a range of different issues,” Macron explained. “Not just the future combat aircraft, but various levers of cooperation between our two countries.”

A representative from the German government verified that the two leaders had discussed the matter.

“The Chancellor and the President instructed their defence ministers to continue working on various areas of cooperation and to agree on the next steps. This work will be completed in the coming weeks,” the spokesperson confirmed.

Earlier this week, defense officials from both nations presented conflicting schedules for resolving the fighter jet program’s future, with some suggesting an immediate decision while others requested additional time for negotiations.

The central conflict revolves around which country will oversee the primary fighter aircraft component of a comprehensive system designed to connect manned aircraft with armed drones through advanced digital technology.

Industry experts have anticipated that Germany and France might scale back their joint fighter development while maintaining collaboration on drone technology and the digital infrastructure that would link various military assets including aircraft, unmanned vehicles, and ground-based radar systems. However, abandoning the original plan would create political difficulties for Macron.

European Union officials will develop a comprehensive plan for the bloc’s mutual defense agreement following concerns about America’s dedication to NATO, according to announcements made during a summit in Cyprus this week.

The decision comes as President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of NATO over the Iran conflict, combined with his earlier threats to take control of Greenland from Denmark, has prompted European leaders to strengthen their own security arrangements.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides announced that EU leaders reached consensus during Thursday evening’s summit to create detailed procedures for Article 42.7, the union’s mutual assistance provision.

“We agreed last night that the (European) Commission will prepare a blueprint on how we respond in case a member state triggers Article 42.7. There are a number of questions that we need to have an answer to,” Christodoulides said.

The EU’s mutual assistance agreement differs significantly from NATO’s Article 5 collective defense provision, which serves as Europe’s primary security foundation and includes detailed military planning and operational structures.

France remains the only nation to invoke the EU clause, doing so following the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks that claimed 130 lives. Member countries responded by contributing to EU and international military operations, allowing France to redeploy its forces.

Cyprus has particular interest in strengthening Article 42.7 after a drone attack targeted a British military installation on the island during last month’s Iran conflict. The nation, which currently leads the rotating EU Council presidency, does not belong to NATO.

However, several EU member states worry about appearing to distance themselves from NATO and its established Article 5 defense framework.

“For me it is an absolutely crucial thing that Article 5 is the key of our collective defence and collective security and it will remain so,” Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters on Thursday.

Article 42.7 of the Treaty on the European Union states that “if a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all means in their power.”

“Let’s say France triggers Article 42.7. Which countries are going to be the first to respond to the request of the French government, what are the needs of the government or the country that triggers Article 42.7? All those will be put in a blueprint,” Christodoulides said.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas provided leaders with updates on current efforts to develop Article 42.7 procedures during the summit, according to EU sources.

“NATO remains the bedrock of collective defence,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But the EU has tools available that are complementary to NATO – such as sanctions, financial assistance and humanitarian aid – which could come into play in an Article 42.7 situation.”

Kallas’ team is examining various scenarios including hybrid warfare, traditional military attacks, and situations where both Article 42.7 and NATO’s Article 5 might be activated simultaneously, the official added.

BEIJING – Chinese foreign ministry officials on Friday dismissed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that a recently seized Iranian cargo vessel contained materials provided by Beijing.

U.S. forces opened fire on and captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that attempted to bypass American enforcement of sanctions at Iranian ports. Iranian military officials confirmed the vessel had departed from China and promised to respond to what they characterized as “armed piracy by the U.S. military.”

During a Tuesday interview with CNBC, Trump suggested the intercepted ship “had some things on it, which wasn’t very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don’t know.”

Beijing’s foreign ministry dismissed those remarks during Friday’s briefing.

“China opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

“Normal international trade relations between countries should not be subject to interference and disruption,” he added.

The cargo vessel Touska was boarded and captured by American forces on Sunday. Maritime security experts indicated Monday that the ship likely carried what U.S. officials consider dual-use materials that could potentially serve military purposes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Floating naval mines threatening oil vessels in the Persian Gulf. Iranian patrol boats spraying ships with automatic weapons fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States caught in the crossfire.

These scenes aren’t from today’s tense standoff between Iran and America, currently on hold due to an unstable ceasefire. Rather, they describe the “Tanker War” of the 1980s, when Iran attacked commercial shipping during its conflict with Iraq, prompting American warships to provide protection for Kuwaiti oil vessels to maintain global crude supplies.

America might consider adopting a similar approach today and take more forceful action to safeguard vessels traveling through the waterway, which handles 20% of global oil and natural gas shipments during normal times. The military provided limited ship protection in the Red Sea recently for vessels under attack, and President Donald Trump announced this week he has directed American forces to “shoot and kill” Iranian small craft.

However, implementing escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz would present significant challenges. Military capabilities have evolved dramatically since the “Tanker War.” America lacks the same focused, specific objectives it maintained during the 1980s conflict. Additionally, international shipping companies might not trust American naval protection given the U.S. is now directly involved in combat.

The American Navy has extensive experience dealing with small vessel strategies employed by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has adapted to international economic restrictions limiting access to military ships by converting smaller civilian craft for warfare.

The Guard has spent years using boats comparable in size to small fishing vessels to track American aircraft carriers transiting the strait. Rather than carrying fishing equipment, these craft typically mount Soviet-era heavy machine guns on their front sections along with small rocket systems on top.

Iran captured two commercial ships this week using these small boats. Guard footage showed their personnel on patrol craft that appeared tiny next to the enormous container vessels. Guard members fired weapons at the cargo ships before boarding them while carrying automatic rifles.

Apart from their publicity impact, these captures demonstrated that nearly two months into hostilities with America and Israel, despite an American naval blockade of Iranian shores, the Guard can utilize minimal resources to effectively close the strait and threaten the global economy.

The “Tanker War” emerged from the brutal eight-year conflict between Iraq and Iran during the 1980s.

Iraq initially struck Iranian oil facilities and tankers in the Persian Gulf. Iran eventually launched its own systematic campaign against regional shipping, including deploying mines.

Iraq would ultimately strike more than 280 ships compared to Iran’s 168, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. However, Iran’s mine deployment created widespread chaos in the area.

America, which backed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein with intelligence, weapons and other support, initiated “Operation Earnest Will” and began protecting Kuwaiti oil tankers that were redesignated under American flags.

The mission carried significant risks. The Kuwaiti supertanker Bridgeton hit a mine while under American protection at the operation’s beginning. An Iraqi missile attack on the USS Stark resulted in 37 sailor deaths, while an Iranian mine strike injured 10 aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts. America also mistakenly identified a passenger aircraft as a military jet and destroyed it, killing all 290 passengers and crew on Iran Air flight 655.

Despite these difficulties, the “Tanker War” operation achieved success as Navy vessels escorted approximately 70 convoys through the region.

Repeating such success today would prove extremely challenging.

America would need to ensure it could establish a protective barrier that Iran couldn’t breach — a demanding task since even a single Iranian missile, drone or boat attack would restore the anxiety currently affecting the strait.

“I think even if you compare it with the ‘Tanker War,’ I think just in terms of the way military technology has evolved, especially on that asymmetrical side, it’s much more difficult to secure a waterway now than it was then,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst with risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

“Unless there is some sort of agreement or unless the U.S. can significantly curb Iran’s ability to launch fast boats, to launch drones, to launch short-range missiles, then this problem just remains unresolved.”

This explains why European nations, despite Trump administration pressure, have stated they won’t participate in ship escort missions until hostilities end.

The Reagan administration also maintained more limited, defined objectives in its Cold War operation, such as keeping the strait open, according to Tom Duffy, a former U.S. diplomat and naval officer.

“In contrast, the American goals (now) have been sort of a kaleidoscope of regime change to all sorts of very maximalist goals,” said Duffy, who recently published a book called “Tanker War in the Gulf.”

Recently, the American Navy provided limited protection for ships traveling through the Red Sea passage to shield them from attacks by Yemen’s Iranian-supported Houthi rebels. However, the Navy concentrated on American-flagged vessels or those transporting supplies for the U.S. government.

During those missions, the Navy encountered its most severe maritime combat since World War II. Using military force to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz could result in similarly fierce fighting.

Duffy observed that it remains unclear whether the Trump administration even desires such a confrontation.

“There’s a White House statement this week in which we said that the ceasefire is not in jeopardy because they aren’t attacking U.S. and Israeli ships. That’s a fundamental shift,” he said. “That goes past centuries of U.S. practice and statements about the needs for freedom of the sea.”

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Celebration erupted across Indonesia’s capital Friday as community members, municipal employees, and environmental activists pulled massive nets filled with invasive suckermouth catfish from a city reservoir during a major crackdown on the destructive species.

Officials aim to extract a minimum of 10 tons of these unwanted fish from Jakarta’s water systems, hoping the initiative will help restore ecological balance to the Ciliwung River while drawing public focus to water quality issues.

Throughout the contaminated waterway and along concrete barriers near downtown’s towering buildings, dark silhouettes of these fish attach themselves firmly to river walls. Upon closer inspection, they look almost ancient, featuring armored frames that shine a muted brown color under the cloudy water.

These suckermouth catfish, scientifically called Pterygoplichthys and known locally as ‘sapu-sapu,’ originated outside Indonesia. Brought in years ago for home aquariums due to their algae-eating capabilities, they eventually escaped into Jakarta’s heavily contaminated rivers where they flourished. These creatures can reach lengths of 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches) and survive 10-15 years.

Scientists have repeatedly cautioned that uncontrolled invasive species populations can upset freshwater environments, especially in crowded metropolitan regions like Jakarta.

Dian Rosleine, an environmental scientist from the Bandung Institute of Technology, explained that these fish demonstrate remarkable adaptability, thriving in polluted environments where native species cannot survive.

‘So, these fish are biological indicators that the water is in poor condition,’ she said.

The Ciliwung previously transported pristine water from West Java’s mountains into Jakarta. Currently, it winds through crowded residential areas, collecting untreated domestic sewage and factory discharge. Concrete barriers have replaced natural riverbanks. When dry seasons arrive, warmer and slower water creates ideal conditions for janitor fish while harming native species, according to Rosleine.

Jakarta officials have launched widespread removal efforts, focusing on these invasive fish throughout municipal waterways. The initiative started last week.

The removal campaign, directed by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, occurred simultaneously across all five administrative districts of the capital, involving hundreds of workers including firefighters, emergency personnel, and local volunteers. Teams have captured and disposed of more than seven tons of janitor fish citywide within one week.

Friday’s cleanup at a 6-meter-deep (19-foot-deep) water reservoir in East Jakarta’s Ciracas district attracted interested onlookers as municipal crews gathered approximately 320 kilograms (705 pounds) of the invasive species.

Stacks of squirming janitor fish filled red containers beside the reservoir — concrete evidence that meaningful action was finally underway.

‘The janitor fish populations have reproduced at a notable level while also feeding on native species,’ East Jakarta’s mayor, Munjirin, told reporters during Friday’s cleanup visit. ‘The impact extends beyond ecosystem destruction, contributing to structural damage to riverbank and embankment walls.’

Munjirin, who follows the Indonesian custom of using one name, stated that this coordinated effort begins a long-term strategy to manage the species, with regular surveillance and removal scheduled to prevent additional environmental harm.

Nevertheless, he promised to reassess the program’s approach after the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, expressed concerns about apparent cruelty, guaranteeing that all fish will be deceased before disposal.

While supporting the cleanup, MUI’s religious ruling commission cautioned that burying living janitor fish constitutes a breach of animal welfare principles established in Islamic teachings.

Officials remain careful about future steps. Although janitor fish provide food in certain nations, worries about heavy metal pollution mean they cannot be immediately cleared for human consumption in Jakarta. Instead, authorities are investigating options including converting the fish into livestock feed or soil enhancement products.

Anung stated that the disposal process will mandate killing the fish before burial at approved locations, with sanitary protocols implemented to prevent their return to waterways or commercial markets.

The Jakarta governor observed that buried janitor fish can function as organic fertilizer and recommended following Brazil’s approach, where the fish become charcoal to create greater economic value.

However, scientists warn that removal represents just the beginning. Without enhancing sewage treatment and decreasing contamination, the river may rapidly return to previous conditions.

‘The Ciliwung River requires rehabilitation, our major challenge that must be addressed,’ Rosleine said. ‘Addressing the symptoms without tackling the root causes will not provide a lasting solution.’

TOKYO (AP) — Celebrated Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami is breaking new ground with his upcoming release, which will be his first full-length work to spotlight a female lead character as she navigates her way through an extraordinary and puzzling reality.

Set for release on July 3 in both printed and electronic editions, “The Tale of KAHO” follows the journey of Kaho, a 26-year-old who creates children’s picture books.

This upcoming release represents Murakami’s return to novel-writing after a three-year hiatus. His last work, “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” told the story of a man’s quest through themes of romance, grief, and the blurred lines separating reality from the unconscious mind.

According to a Thursday announcement from Shinchosha Publishing Co., Kaho represents the first solitary female lead to anchor a complete novel in Murakami’s body of work.

The novel’s origins trace back to a brief story called “Kaho,” which Murakami performed during a literary event at Waseda University — where he studied — two years ago. He shared the stage with acclaimed female writer Mieko Kawakami, who is known to admire his writing. This initial story appeared in Shincho magazine’s June 2024 issue.

The protagonist Kaho possesses ordinary appearance and intellect but maintains an inquisitive nature. During a meal with a male companion, he delivers a shocking statement: “I’ve never seen one as ugly as you.” Rather than becoming angry, the puzzled and curious Kaho seeks to decode the meaning behind his words.

Following this encounter, strange occurrences begin infiltrating her daily existence.

A promotional preview from the publishing house declares: “I must find the way out of this world,” adding that “Murakami world is in full force.”

Since then, Murakami has continued the character’s story through three additional installments in Shincho magazine, with the most recent appearing in March. These pieces include “The Anteater of Musashi-sakai,” “Kaho and the Termite Queen,” and “Kaho and the Motorcycle Man, and Scarlett Johansson.”

Philip Gabriel provided the English translation of the initial story for The New Yorker magazine’s 2024 publication.

According to the publisher, Murakami has woven these four segments together and breathed fresh energy into them for this 352-page novel.

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Hundreds of mountaineers hoping to conquer Mount Everest find themselves stuck at base camp after a dangerous ice formation has blocked their path up the world’s tallest mountain, Nepalese officials announced Friday.

The unstable ice formation, known as a serac, sits between base camp and the first climbing camp and poses significant danger to anyone attempting to pass, according to Himal Gautam from Nepal’s Department of Mountaineering.

Government officials are collaborating with climbing teams and expedition leaders to evaluate the dangerous conditions while hundreds of mountaineers and their guides remain stranded, unable to continue their ascent.

The mountaineering department has granted climbing permits to 410 international adventurers seeking to reach Everest’s summit during this spring’s climbing window, which concludes at May’s end.

Specialized climbing guides known as “Icefall Doctors” typically complete the annual route preparation by mid-April, installing ropes and placing aluminum ladders across dangerous gaps in the ice.

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, responsible for deploying the route-setting team, intends to examine the ice formation from the air. “The risk of avalanche is high and they are waiting for the serac to melt down on its own to a safe level,” stated committee Chairman Lama Kazi Sherpa.

This ice formation belongs to the notorious Khumbu Icefall, a continuously moving glacier filled with deep cracks and enormous overhanging ice structures that can tower as high as ten-story buildings. Climbers regard this section as among the most challenging and dangerous parts of the entire Everest ascent.

A similar ice collapse in 2014 triggered a devastating avalanche that claimed the lives of 16 Sherpa guides who were transporting client equipment up the mountain, marking one of Mount Everest’s most tragic climbing disasters.

Next month, hundreds of international climbers along with approximately the same number of Nepalese guides and support staff plan to attempt the summit during brief periods of suitable weather conditions.

Since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay first successfully climbed the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak on May 29, 1953, thousands of people have reached Everest’s summit.

The crisis between the United States and Iran reached new heights Friday following President Donald Trump’s directive to American forces to fire upon Iranian small vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iranian officials rejected Trump’s assertions about internal political divisions within their country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded with nearly matching posts on social media, stating: “In Iran there are no ‘hardliners’ or ‘moderates’. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries.”

Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the initial military action on February 28, questions remain about which Iranian officials now hold ultimate power among the nation’s civilian leadership and military commanders who currently appear to be running the country.

Trump announced Thursday night that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah following discussions at the White House.

The ongoing conflict has brought oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz to a virtual halt, blocking a waterway that typically handles one-fifth of global oil trade during normal conditions, with no resolution appearing imminent.

European Union foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas warned Friday that current peace talks between Washington and Tehran could result in a less effective deal than agreements reached ten years ago.

Speaking from Cyprus, Kallas said: “If the talks are only about the nuclear (issue) and there are no nuclear experts around the table, then we will end up with an agreement that is weaker than the JCPoA was,” referencing the 2015 nuclear accord from the Obama era that Trump withdrew from in 2018.

Kallas emphasized that without addressing Iran’s “missile programs, their support to proxies, and also hybrid and cyber activities in Europe,” negotiators risk creating “a more dangerous Iran.”

Meanwhile, Turkish officials reported that a humanitarian supply convoy departed for Iran on Friday, according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news service.

Van Health Director Muhammed Tosun confirmed that six trucks left the eastern Turkish city of Van to cross at the Gurbulak border checkpoint.

“The materials include medicines and medical supplies,” Tosun explained.

“We previously sent three trucks. With today’s trucks, a total of nine trucks of aid materials will have been delivered to our Iranian colleagues to serve their citizens,” he added.

WARSAW, April 24 – Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has raised serious doubts about America’s willingness to stand by its NATO commitments should Russia launch an assault on European territory, according to statements he made to the Financial Times.

In remarks that highlight mounting concerns across Europe about President Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach to foreign policy and his criticisms of European allies, Tusk emphasized the urgent need for the European Union to transform into a “real alliance” capable of defending the continent.

During an interview published Friday in the British publication, Tusk described the uncertainty surrounding NATO’s readiness as the continent’s most pressing concern. “For the whole eastern flank, my neighbours… the question is if NATO is still an organisation ready, politically and also logistically, to react, for example against Russia if they try to attack,” he stated.

The Polish leader characterized the possibility of Russian aggression as “something really serious” and stressed the immediate nature of the threat.

“I’m talking about short-term perspectives, rather months than years… For us, it’s really important to know that everyone will treat the NATO obligations as seriously as Poland,” Tusk explained.

These comments came as Tusk participated in an unofficial European Union gathering in Cyprus, where leaders are also addressing Middle Eastern conflicts, energy policy responses, and the bloc’s upcoming long-term financial planning.

Looking toward potential changes in EU defense cooperation, Tusk mentioned the possibility of strengthening Article 42.7 of the EU treaty – the mutual defense provision – particularly following the eventual departure of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with Russia.

“What you need if you want to have, not only on paper, a real alliance, is true tools and real power when it comes to defence instruments and mobility of militaries from country to country etc. It’s a very practical problem for today,” he remarked.

Tusk outlined his broader vision for European security, stating: “This is why my obsession now and my mission is to reintegrate Europe. It means common defence… a common effort to protect our eastern borders.”

Federal investigators in India have placed a drone technology firm under scrutiny after arresting government aviation officials and executives from a major industrial conglomerate on bribery charges this week.

The Central Bureau of Investigation took action against personnel from India’s aviation regulatory body and Reliance Industries, claiming corrupt payments were made to fast-track approval processes for importing certain unmanned aircraft.

At the center of the controversy is Asteria Aerospace, an obscure subsidiary within billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s vast Reliance business network. Reliance has stated it neither authorized nor had knowledge of any such financial arrangements, while legal representation for the aviation official has challenged his detention.

India’s unmanned aircraft sector has experienced significant expansion following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration relaxing regulatory restrictions in 2021. The nation now operates approximately 39,000 authorized drones for agricultural monitoring, community mapping, and various government programs.

According to its corporate website, Asteria Aerospace markets itself as a drone technology enterprise delivering “actionable intelligence from aerial data.” The company assists clients in gathering precise information and performing artificial intelligence-driven analysis using geographic imagery collected by unmanned aircraft.

Through its fleet of more than 400 deployed drones, Asteria serves the farming, building, telecommunications, and energy industries. One example includes drone operations for Reliance BP Mobility, where the company studied road traffic patterns and calculated vehicle velocities to determine optimal locations for retail establishments.

Entrepreneurs Nihar Vartak and Neel Mehta established the business in 2011 within Bengaluru, India’s prominent technology center. Reliance purchased the company in 2019 through a $2.45 million transaction.

The acquisition aligned with Reliance’s strategy to invest in cutting-edge technologies, according to company statements. Current ownership data from March 2024 indicates that Reliance Jio Platforms, the conglomerate’s technology division, holds a 74% stake in Asteria.

Reliance Jio Platforms is also preparing for a public stock offering that analysts predict could become India’s largest initial public offering in history.

Financial records show Asteria’s income jumped dramatically from 11 million rupees ($117,000) in fiscal year 2020 to 400 million rupees ($4.24 million) by fiscal year 2024.

Current aviation regulations established in 2021 require all unmanned aircraft systems to obtain proper certification before operating within Indian airspace. Asteria claims to be the first domestic drone manufacturer achieving three distinct certifications from the country’s aviation safety authority.

The company highlighted that its domestically-produced AT-15 drone model was featured during the 77th Republic Day Parade held earlier this year.

Law enforcement officials report they initiated their investigation after receiving information suggesting a Reliance executive and government regulator had agreed upon a $16,000 payment to expedite processing of three import applications submitted by Asteria Aerospace.

SEOUL, South Korea — Legal authorities in South Korea have demanded a three-decade prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, claiming he intentionally heightened conflict with North Korea during 2024 through authorized drone missions over Pyongyang to justify implementing martial law domestically.

The ousted conservative leader faces charges of aiding an enemy nation and misusing presidential authority, part of extensive criminal allegations stemming from his brief martial law implementation in South Korea last December.

The sentencing recommendation emerged during final proceedings at Seoul Central District Court, where special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk’s investigative team argued that Yoon and senior military officials orchestrated alleged drone incursions into North Korean territory approximately two months prior to declaring martial law while characterizing liberal opposition as North Korean sympathizers and “anti-state” elements.

Defense attorneys for Yoon, who have consistently rejected these allegations, have not yet responded to the prosecution’s sentencing proposal.

Earlier this year in February, the court imposed a life sentence on Yoon after convicting him on the more severe rebellion charges. Both Yoon’s legal team and prosecutors, who had pursued capital punishment, have appealed that decision.

Cho’s prosecution team stated Friday that Yoon attempted to manufacture a conflict scenario between the two Koreas while orchestrating an authoritarian scheme to eliminate political rivals and “consolidate and prolong his authority.” Legal officials are also pursuing a 25-year sentence for former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, a close ally who assisted in organizing and deploying forces for the martial law announcement.

Pyongyang alleged that Seoul conducted three drone operations over its capital in October 2024, dropping propaganda materials. Kim initially offered an ambiguous denial, though Seoul’s Defense Ministry subsequently stated it could not verify the accuracy of these accusations. Korean Peninsula tensions escalated significantly during this period.

Yoon moved forward with his midnight martial law proclamation on December 3, 2024, broadcasting a televised statement condemning liberals on multiple fronts, particularly regarding their impeachment efforts against his administration officials and reductions to his government’s budget proposal.

The emergency order remained active for approximately six hours until sufficient legislators penetrated a barrier of heavily armed military personnel and law enforcement that Yoon had stationed at the National Assembly. Lawmakers subsequently voted to reverse the declaration, compelling his Cabinet to rescind the directive.

Legislative action suspended Yoon from his position on December 14, 2024, following impeachment by the liberal-controlled parliament, with the Constitutional Court officially removing him in April 2025. Authorities arrested him in July of that year, and he has faced multiple criminal proceedings since then.

Despite its brief duration, Yoon’s martial law order plunged the nation into significant political upheaval, disrupting governmental operations and international relations while destabilizing financial markets. The crisis subsided only after his liberal opponent Lee Jae Myung secured victory in an emergency presidential election last June.

Following his inauguration, Lee endorsed legislation establishing independent inquiries into Yoon’s martial law actions and additional criminal matters involving the former president, his spouse, and their associates.

BANGKOK — During a diplomatic meeting in Bangkok on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reached an agreement to boost their nations’ strategic alliance and broaden cooperative efforts.

According to Thai government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek, both leaders committed to enhancing joint efforts against international criminal activities and online fraud schemes, among other collaborative initiatives.

The spokesperson noted that Anutin expressed gratitude to China for its ongoing support of Thailand, while Wang offered congratulations to Anutin for maintaining his position following recent elections and voiced optimism about the future of Thailand-China diplomatic relations.

The meeting took place at Government House in Bangkok, where Anutin welcomed Wang with a handshake and photo opportunity before their formal discussions began.

Earlier in the day, Wang also held talks with Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, according to government officials.

Wang’s arrival in Thailand occurred Thursday, marking the start of a three-day diplomatic mission that followed his meetings with Cambodian government officials focused on strengthening political and security cooperation between their nations.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has announced that Myanmar will be Wang’s next destination on his regional tour.

Thailand and China share significant economic ties, with China serving as Thailand’s largest trading partner. The two nations marked the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship last year, and Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn made history in November with the first visit to China by a sitting Thai monarch.

Investment from Chinese companies in Thailand has grown substantially in recent years, driven largely by firms relocating production facilities to Southeast Asia to circumvent U.S. trade tariffs.

Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing announced emergency measures Friday placing 60 districts under direct military authority for 90 days, escalating government control in regions where armed conflict continues following the nation’s transition from junta rule.

The emergency declarations affect districts spanning Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan and Rakhine States, along with portions of Saging, Magway and Mandalay regions. These same areas have faced military restrictions and nighttime curfews since the armed forces seized power in 2021.

State media reported the government justified the 90-day emergency period as necessary to “end armed terrorism” and restore “the rule of law” in the affected territories.

Under the new orders, Myanmar’s military commander Ye Win Oo will assume complete executive and judicial control over the designated areas, according to an announcement in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar publication.

The emergency measures represent Min Aung Hlaing’s most significant effort to strengthen authority over battle-scarred regions since taking the presidency in early April, following controversial elections that brought a military-aligned party to power.

The Southeast Asian nation descended into widespread violence after military forces removed the democratically elected administration of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, triggering mass demonstrations that evolved into organized armed opposition to military rule.

After seizing control in 2021, Min Aung Hlaing’s military government declared nationwide emergency rule, repeatedly extending it until organizing December and January elections that international observers condemned as illegitimate.

MANILA – The Philippines called on Myanmar Friday to expand its prisoner releases to include more political detainees, specifically mentioning former leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was removed from power in a military coup.

As the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines issued a statement on April 24 praising Myanmar’s recent amnesty actions while pushing for additional releases to help foster nationwide political discussions.

“We reaffirm our commitment to assisting Myanmar, as an integral part of ASEAN, to achieve a peaceful and durable solution to the political crisis in the country,” the Philippines stated in the official ASEAN chair’s declaration.

The Filipino government characterized the recent prisoner amnesty as a constructive move toward creating opportunities for broader political engagement across Myanmar’s divided society.

ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE, Lithuania — French fighter pilots rushed to their aircraft with well-rehearsed precision when the NATO alert sounded, already dressed in flight gear to cut down response time.

The aviators raced in vehicles to aircraft shelters where their combat-ready Rafale fighters waited, climbed into their seats and started the engines, which roared and shrieked to life.

Just minutes after departing from Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base, they were flying above the Baltic Sea, first encountering a Russian Il-20 spy plane and then following high-speed Russian bombers with their fighter protection that came close to several NATO nations’ airspace.

During wartime, such encounters could rapidly escalate. However, at present, with Russia and the Western military bloc in disagreement about Ukraine but not engaged in direct combat, aviators from both nations simply observed and recorded each other — maintaining separation like cautious predators with weapons ready but unused, their armaments clearly visible yet not fired.

Part of this strategic display — occurring in airborne choreography that happens beyond public view hundreds of times annually — aims to prevent the tension between NATO and Moscow regarding Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine from escalating to direct military confrontation.

Military leaders and aviators conducting NATO air defense operations along the eastern border of the 32-member alliance state their objective is deterrence rather than aggression. They consider their deployment comforting to the Baltic nations — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — which share borders with Russia and its partner Belarus but lack their own air forces to repel potential Russian aggression.

“It’s a game of cat and mouse, or rather cat and cat,” said Lt. Col. Alexandre, commander of a French air force wing of four Rafales that is sharing the Lithuanian base with another fighter detachment from Romania. Citing security concerns, the French military withheld the commander’s surname.

“We watch each other, scrutinize each other and try to make sure that it doesn’t go any further,” he said.

Member nations rotate responsibility for monitoring Baltic airspace continuously, twenty-four hours daily throughout the week. The French took over the facility that currently houses their temporary command center from a Spanish unit. They will transfer it to Italian successors in August. Each rotating team adds commemorative patches and insignia to a display wall documenting their service.

NATO launches interceptor aircraft to verify identity and potentially take additional measures when Russian planes operate in Baltic airspace with disabled identification equipment and without submitting flight plans or maintaining radio contact with aviation authorities.

“There are plenty of times in which, on purpose or not, they’re not really respecting the ICAO — the International Civil Aviation Organization — rules, regarding flight plans and behavior,” said Col. Mihaita Marin, commanding the Romanian detachment of six F-16s.

“So obviously we are forced to take off and just make sure that they are who they say they are and their intention is peaceful,” he said.

Spring’s arrival, bringing improved weather for aviation operations, has kept French and Romanian pilots occupied since beginning their four-month NATO assignments in early April.

Marin said interceptions “are getting close to daily” and “that will definitely increase as the weather is getting better.”

French flight crews — observed by an Associated Press reporter covering activities at the base — experienced their most active day yet on Monday.

Launched under NATO direction, French Rafales encountered and monitored two Russian Tu-22M3 bombers carrying high-speed, anti-vessel missiles beneath their fuselages that Russia has also deployed in Ukraine, converting them for ground strikes, and which can be fitted with nuclear warheads.

The strategic bombers’ flight lasting more than four hours from a base near St. Petersburg, accompanied by Su-30 and Su-35 fighters, stayed in international airspace but passed the coastlines of NATO members Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, turning around when they neared Denmark.

The French unit reported the Russian aircraft operated without active transponders, filed flight plans or radio communication. Fighter aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Romania also launched to maintain surveillance, according to French sources. NATO didn’t respond to requests for comment.

French commander Lt. Col. Alexandre said the reasoning behind Russian pilots’ actions that could threaten other Baltic airspace users remains unclear.

“We don’t know if it’s lack of professionalism or just a means for them to test us,” he said.

“But what is sure is that we need to go every time,” he added. “We cannot say, ‘OK, that’s usual, this time we will just let them pass.’”

Japan’s Finance Minister announced Friday that the country will establish a specialized cybersecurity team to protect its banking sector from emerging threats related to artificial intelligence technology.

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama revealed the plan during a high-level meeting that included representatives from Japan’s Financial Services Agency, central bank, cybersecurity officials, the nation’s three largest banks, and the Japan Exchange Group.

“I told the meeting that this is a crisis that is already at hand, and similar concerns were also voiced by the financial industry,” Katayama stated to news media.

The urgency stems from revelations about Anthropic’s new Mythos AI system, which during testing reportedly discovered “thousands” of significant security weaknesses across all major computer operating systems and internet browsers. This discovery has sparked widespread alarm about existing cybersecurity protections.

Security specialists are particularly concerned because the AI technology can locate and take advantage of unknown security gaps more quickly than organizations can patch them. This speed advantage could dramatically increase cyber threats against banking institutions, which depend on complex, interconnected computer networks that often include older technology systems.

Banking regulators across Asia, Europe, and the United States have already issued advisories urging financial institutions to strengthen their security measures and emergency response plans. However, no actual security breaches connected to this AI model have been documented so far.

Minister Katayama emphasized that the financial sector’s highly connected nature and round-the-clock operations create unique vulnerabilities where problems can escalate more rapidly than in other industries.

“Because of this, a cyberattack can immediately spill over into market disruptions and undermine confidence,” she explained.

NEW DELHI – India’s government has strongly criticized President Donald Trump after he shared a radio show transcript containing derogatory comments about the country in relation to immigration policy.

The controversy stems from remarks made by conservative radio host Michael Savage during his program “The Savage Nation.” Trump posted the show’s transcript on his Truth Social platform Thursday without adding his own commentary.

In the radio segment, Savage discussed birthright citizenship, stating: “A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet.”

Savage also claimed: “That there’s almost no loyalty to this country amongst the immigrant class coming in today, which was not always the case. No, they’re not like the European Americans of today and their ancestors.”

India’s foreign ministry responded swiftly to the shared comments late Thursday evening.

“The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry.

“They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” Jaiswal added.

The U.S. embassy in New Delhi attempted to address the diplomatic tension, stating: “The president has said ‘India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top’.”

India’s primary opposition party, Congress, denounced the language as “extremely insulting and anti-India. It hurts every Indian.”

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take up this matter with the U.S. President and register a strong objection,” the party posted on social media platform X.

The comments come as Trump has issued directives aimed at limiting birthright citizenship in America, policies currently being contested before the U.S. Supreme Court. The president made an unprecedented appearance at a court hearing on the matter earlier this month.

According to Indian government statistics, approximately 5.5 million people of Indian heritage reside in the United States. Indian Americans and Chinese Americans represent the largest Asian-origin populations in the country.

The diplomatic relationship between Trump and Modi was notably positive during Trump’s previous presidency, though tensions emerged last year when India faced some of the steepest U.S. tariffs imposed on any nation. Many of those trade barriers have since been reduced, and both countries are currently negotiating a comprehensive trade agreement designed to prevent future tariff escalations while expanding bilateral commerce.

China’s foreign ministry has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the radio host’s remarks.

South Korea’s leading national security official dismissed concerns Thursday that the country’s crucial partnership with the United States faces a crisis, though he admitted recent disagreements need delicate handling.

Speaking to reporters, Wi Sung-lac acknowledged that diplomatic security discussions with Washington have encountered obstacles due to complications involving Coupang Inc, an e-commerce company traded on US markets. However, he emphasized that partnership matters should remain separate from legal proceedings.

The South Korean government has pushed for security agreement discussions with America to continue independently from investigations into Coupang’s data breach incident. Earlier media coverage suggested Washington had threatened to suspend negotiations unless legal protections were guaranteed for Coupang’s leader, Kim Bom.

“It is true that it is affecting South Korea-U.S. security consultations,” Wi stated during his visit to Hanoi, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. He explained Seoul’s stance that legal processes should proceed while security discussions move ahead on a separate track.

While confirming that security negotiations have experienced delays, Wi stressed through Yonhap that Seoul wants discussions to restart immediately.

“The South Korea-U.S. relationship is an alliance and a very close relationship, so various issues arise,” Wi explained.

“There can be differing views, and that is why they need to be carefully coordinated.”

Wi rejected suggestions that current difficulties stem from mounting problems within the partnership, calling such interpretations excessive.

“An alliance is a very close relationship, but like a garden, it must be carefully managed,” he told JoongAng Ilbo newspaper. “We are in that kind of process now.”

Addressing another contentious issue, Wi defended Unification Minister Chung Dong-young against allegations of revealing classified American intelligence when discussing North Korea’s suspected nuclear facility at Kusong, according to Newsis news agency.

Wi explained that while Washington apparently believed shared intelligence had been compromised, Seoul maintains a different position. Though information about the Kusong site represents classified material between both nations, Chung insisted he never received briefings on such sensitive data and instead used publicly available information – a position Seoul supports.

The US embassy has not yet provided comment on these developments.

Ukrainian authorities reported Friday that a Russian drone assault during overnight hours claimed the lives of an elderly husband and wife in the port city of Odesa, while injuring more than a dozen additional residents.

Emergency response teams described how the bombardment demolished two residential buildings with two floors each and struck another similar structure where the fatalities occurred. The assault also damaged apartment units within a three-floor building, sparking a blaze, according to emergency officials.

“A married couple, both aged 75, were killed in a night-time attack,” Serhiy Lysak, the head of the local military administration, said on Telegram.

While Lysak reported that 15 individuals sustained injuries during the bombardment, emergency response officials counted 14 wounded persons.

Medical facilities provided treatment for eight of the injured victims, Lysak noted.

Images shared by Lysak displayed one structure consumed by flames and another building showing significant structural damage with a large opening torn through its exterior wall, along with rescue personnel conducting operations inside the damaged areas.

CHERNOBYL, Ukraine (AP) — They came to tackle history’s most devastating nuclear disaster.

After the catastrophic explosion and blaze at the Chernobyl nuclear facility on April 26, 1986, military personnel, emergency responders, construction specialists, mining experts and healthcare workers were called from throughout the Soviet Union. These individuals became known as “liquidators” — a grim Soviet designation for personnel tasked with resolving critical emergencies.

Across a four-year period, 600,000 individuals participated in the hazardous remediation effort. Aircraft circled overhead the exposed radioactive reactor core, releasing sand and additional substances to extinguish the flames. Personnel removed radioactive particles from structures and streets, disposed of contaminated equipment, eliminated forests and even tracked wildlife to prevent radiation dispersal.

Most possessed minimal understanding of the hazards they encountered.

A delegation of these workers residing in Ukraine’s Poltava region made a journey before the disaster’s 40th commemoration for a single-day visit to Chernobyl, spelled “Chornobyl” in their native tongue.

They discussed their unwavering commitment to service, the losses they experienced, and a disaster that continues to affect Ukraine.

Prylipko arrived nine days following the explosion and operated a firefighting vehicle for one month, completing two-hour rotations to minimize radiation contact. He was initially unaware of the dangers but experienced a severe health emergency in 1990 and remained unable to work for twelve months.

Visiting for the first time since his assignment, he found the terrain confusing, with communities eliminated and the reactor encased in protective barriers.

“Back then, the whole place was packed: machinery, helicopters, they were everywhere,” he said. “The road to Kyiv was so crowded you couldn’t pass anyone.”

During summer 1986, Anatolii Krutik was assigned with an army unit to establish barriers around contaminated regions and create “exclusion zones.” He initially traveled to communities in present-day Belarus, which also experienced significant radioactive contamination, before proceeding to Chernobyl to sanitize areas surrounding operational reactors.

During that period, he explained, fear was largely absent.

“No one really thought about it. We didn’t know what it was — this invisible enemy,” he said, adding his comrades saw it simply as their duty after being mobilized.

However, safety measures were virtually nonexistent, Krutik explained, with personnel wearing their arrival clothing and departing in identical garments, without any decontamination protocols.

Vechirko was also dispatched to Chernobyl during summer 1986 to remove contaminated soil, sanitize structures and secure the remaining operational reactors at the location. He has experienced illness throughout much of his life, which he connects to his disaster site work, including persistent vertigo, fatigue and regular discomfort. Due to his declining health, he explained, he lost contact with former colleagues.

“Being back here now, the emotions are overwhelming,” he said. “It’s incredibly sad to compare what this place was to what it is now.”

Between May and September 1986, Harbyz, a medical professional and dental specialist, provided patient care while his unit conducted decontamination operations. He also served in Belarus, which exposed him to the human toll of the catastrophe.

Returning for the first time in decades, he remembered colleagues who have died and the connections established among survivors.

“This 40th anniversary represents both a deep tragedy and a vital chance to reunite with my brothers-in-arms,” he said. “So many of our colleagues have passed away over the years, but those of us remaining hold on. Being back here for the first time in 40 years is overwhelming. I feel a deep sense of pain, and it brings tears to my eyes. It is good that we can meet like this.”

Emergency responder Mykola Chudak worked for six months starting in November 1986, operating within 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the facility.

He emphasized not his personal contributions but the initial emergency personnel who responded immediately, stating they averted a much larger disaster, frequently sacrificing their lives. His assignment was prolonged due to insufficient replacements, and years afterward he was compelled into early retirement because of disability.

For him, Chernobyl holds both individual and patriotic importance.

“Ukraine must always be grateful to the heroes of Chernobyl,” he said. “Being back here, my first feeling is one of immense gratitude for the sacrifice made by my comrades. In many ways, the independence of Ukraine was born on April 26, 1986, in Chernobyl. Without their heroism, an independent Ukraine might not even exist today.”

Lebedynets worked in the armed forces from 1986 to 1991, constructing barriers in contaminated zones. He experienced chronic headaches for the remainder of his life. During his return visit, he paused at Pripyat, the adjacent city for Chernobyl’s employees that has remained vacant since the incident.

“It’s heartbreaking to see Pripyat now,” he said. “I remember those houses when they were full of life, and now everything is overgrown and in ruins. It was such a beautiful city.”

He made connections with Ukraine’s current Russian conflict. “Today’s war is different: You see bullets flying and shells exploding,” he said. “Back then, the enemy was invisible. It tore you up from the inside and shattered your health.”

Tolumnyi explained his firefighting experience from 1987 to 1988 influenced his life and remains fundamental to who he is. He participated in decontaminating structures and machinery in Pripyat. Upon his return, he described experiencing both anguish and appreciation.

For him, Chernobyl’s importance extends beyond the immediate context.

“Those who do not remember the past have no future. I am confident in our country — we have a future because people remember the past,” he said. “The memories are flooding back, but this is our history, and you can’t simply erase it. On the other hand, I also feel a sense of gratitude that I was able to see this place again in my lifetime.”

Buriak worked in a specialized Interior Ministry division in 1988, monitoring Pripyat and surrounding areas to prevent theft. His responsibilities included protecting vacant buildings.

He explained his return journey reconnected him with the sense of responsibility he experienced, while numerous liquidators continue seeking acknowledgment.

“Returning here after 40 years is a massive adrenaline rush for me. It brings back so many memories of my youth and what life was like during those times,” he said. “It was important for me to come back to remember those years and to show my son where I fulfilled my duty to my country.”

In 1989, Taranenko worked as a security specialist, protecting facilities and vacant residences. Assignments were brief due to radiation exposure, and commands were executed without questioning. He has visited multiple times since, despite the sorrow that comes with each trip.

“Back then, that was just how it was: If you were needed, you went,” he said.

He explained he continues receiving treatment for health issues at a veterans medical facility in Poltava and maintains his physical fitness.

“We are military people — once a soldier, always a soldier. That’s how I live my life. You have to hold yourself together,” he said. “You can’t just give up.”

Hluhovstov was deployed to Ukraine and Belarus, where extensive areas required barriers due to soil radiation and abandoned structures.

With grim humor, he laughs about his numerous health conditions. “As my wife says, I have a whole bouquet of ailments,” he says.

Following weeks of hospitalization this year, he recovered and expressed hope to witness Ukraine repel the Russian attack.

“The doctors didn’t know what to do with me, but thank God I survived,” he said. “Now I just hope to live long enough to see the end of this war — long enough to see victory.”

During the week of April 17-23, 2026, significant violent incidents occurred across Latin America that captured international attention.

In El Salvador, suspected gang members underwent judicial proceedings at the nation’s high-security Terrorist Confinement Center, known as CECOT, located in Tecoluca. The facility has become central to the country’s ongoing crackdown on gang violence.

Meanwhile, tragedy struck at one of Mexico’s most famous archaeological sites when an armed individual opened fire on visitors from atop the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids. The attack resulted in the death of a Canadian tourist, while several other people sustained injuries during the incident.

These events were documented in a photo collection assembled by photographer Dolores Ochoa, who operates from Quito, Ecuador.

Zoo Atlanta is preparing to welcome giant pandas once again as China moves forward with its signature diplomatic outreach program.

Beijing revealed Friday its decision to dispatch two giant pandas to the Georgia zoo, marking another chapter in the country’s panda diplomacy initiative amid strained U.S.-China relations. The announcement comes just weeks before President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to China in mid-May.

According to the China Wildlife Conservation Association, the male panda Ping Ping and female panda Fu Shuang will travel from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to begin a 10-year conservation partnership established through an agreement signed with the zoo last year.

While officials haven’t revealed when the pandas will depart China, the conservation association noted that American officials are actively working on facility improvements and other preparations to ensure the animals have optimal living conditions. Chinese specialists are providing technical assistance for these upgrades.

The timing coincides with Trump’s upcoming diplomatic trip to Beijing, where he plans to address various matters including trade relations with President Xi Jinping.

Zoo Atlanta expressed enthusiasm about the partnership in a Thursday statement, saying officials were thrilled to serve as caretakers for the pandas and collaborate with the Chinese association.

“We can’t wait to meet Ping Ping and Fu Shuang and to welcome our members, guests, city, and community back to the wonder and joy of giant pandas,” zoo president Raymond B. King stated.

The new arrangement follows a previous panda partnership between the zoo and China that ended in 2024. During that collaboration, pandas Lun Lun and Yang Yang produced seven cubs. Lun Lun, Yang Yang, and their two youngest babies returned to China in October 2024, joining their other offspring who already lived there.

Beijing’s giant panda lending program has historically served as an instrument of the nation’s diplomatic strategy, though conservation goals may be driving the renewed cooperation with American zoos despite current political friction.

The conservation association emphasized Friday that this new collaboration will advance joint achievements in multiple areas, from disease prevention and medical care to scientific knowledge sharing.

These beloved bears have represented U.S.-China friendship since 1972, when Beijing presented a panda pair to Washington’s National Zoo as a gift.

Both the National Zoo in Washington and San Diego Zoo welcomed pandas from China in 2024 as well.

Prosecutors in South Korea are demanding a 30-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to Yonhap news agency reports from Friday. The charges center on accusations that he directed a drone mission over Pyongyang as part of a scheme to justify his martial law declaration in December 2024.

The Seoul Central District Court will issue its verdict at a future date yet to be announced.

This criminal case represents just one of eight legal proceedings currently facing Yoon, who was removed from office last year after his shocking martial law announcement that stunned a nation widely regarded as among Asia’s strongest democracies.

According to prosecutors, the drone mission escalated tensions between the two Koreas militarily, and when one of the aircraft went down, it created the possibility that classified military intelligence about the operation and South Korean defense capabilities could be compromised.

Through his legal team, Yoon has rejected all accusations, maintaining that he never engaged in any conduct that might have sparked armed conflict with North Korea.

The former leader faced indictment in November on multiple charges, including providing assistance to an enemy nation – a charge that can be applied even without direct collaboration if South Korea’s military security is compromised or if an opponent receives aid.

In an unprecedented legal proceeding, 486 suspected gang members are facing trial simultaneously in El Salvador, with defendants watching court hearings on large screens from inside maximum-security facilities where they remain restrained with handcuffs and leg shackles.

The historic mass trial represents the largest of its kind under President Nayib Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang campaign. Since implementing emergency powers in April 2022, Bukele has suspended constitutional protections and authorized the detention of more than 91,000 individuals, mostly suspected members of MS-13 and Barrio 18 criminal organizations.

El Salvador became the only Latin American nation to permit mass trials after Bukele’s New Ideas party enacted legislation allowing such proceedings. The current defendants are housed across five different correctional facilities, including the high-security CECOT prison that opened in 2023 as a cornerstone of the president’s zero-tolerance approach.

At CECOT, inmates wear white uniforms and have shaved heads, with some displaying tattoos associated with MS-13. Armed security personnel maintain constant surveillance of the facility.

Legal authorities have charged the alleged gang members with involvement in more than 47,000 criminal acts spanning from 2012 to 2022, encompassing extortion schemes, weapons trafficking, and murder.

However, the mass trial defendants face charges solely for gang association and will receive sentences based on membership rather than specific crimes, according to Ana Maria Mendez, Central America director for the Washington Office on Latin America. Following standard practice for El Salvador’s criminal courts, the proceedings remain closed to public observation.

“There is no way to see and verify that the information the prosecutors present is true. Secrecy is now the norm in El Salvador,” Mendez stated.

Given the volume of detained individuals and extended pre-trial periods, mass trials will likely become standard practice in El Salvador, she predicted.

Salvadoran defense attorney Roxana Cardona criticized the process, saying “Mass trials are just formalities. They violate the right to defense, which allows lawyers to sit down with their accused clients and build a defense strategy. In mass trials, that is completely lost.”

Neither a Bukele representative nor the attorney general’s office responded to requests for comment.

Bukele has justified mass trials as essential tools in combating gangs that previously controlled large portions of the nation. His hardline crime policies have earned widespread approval from Salvadorans, establishing him as one of Latin America’s most popular political leaders.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued fresh concerns Tuesday regarding rights violations during El Salvador’s emergency period and urged authorities to discontinue using emergency measures for crime fighting.

Government officials attribute the gang crackdown conducted under emergency authority to reducing last year’s homicide rate to 1.3 per 100,000 residents, down from 7.8 in 2022.