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BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Muslims worldwide are preparing for Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, but celebrations in Mali’s capital carry a somber tone this year. An economic blockade imposed by armed militants connected to al-Qaida has caused sheep costs to skyrocket, making the holiday’s traditional practice of slaughtering an animal and distributing meat to those in need financially impossible for many households.

The supply crisis and inflated costs stem from a blockade targeting Bamako that was declared this month by members of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a group with al-Qaida ties. These fighters routinely assault truck convoys and vehicles bringing supplies to the capital, frequently burning them completely.

Mali, which has no coastline, relies extensively on fuel and merchandise transported by truck from neighboring coastal countries including Senegal and Ivory Coast. According to analysts, the militants’ economic siege aims to cripple the nation’s financial stability and weaken the military government’s authority.

The siege isn’t complete, since the armed factions avoid maintaining roadblocks for extended periods due to concerns about Malian military retaliation, allowing some supplies to continue reaching Bamako and preventing complete food scarcity for the time being.

However, the blockade has increased costs for certain products like meat and created fuel shortages, compelling citizens to wait in long lines at the limited gas stations still operating.

Since September 2025, the group had already enforced a stifling road blockade on oil imports.

Mountaga Touré, 38, a teacher, explained he searched multiple livestock markets before abandoning his plan to purchase a sheep for the celebration, noting that sheep costs have nearly doubled since the blockade began.

“The small sheep that used to cost $177 are now $266 or more,” Touré said.

In certain areas of Bamako, citizens have replaced the customary sheep with cattle, combining their resources to buy one animal so they can obtain meat for this significant Muslim observance in West Africa.

The blockade comes after extensive, synchronized attacks by separatist and extremist forces throughout Mali last month, representing the most significant assault in the nation in more than ten years.

Mali has endured insurgencies waged by extremists associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, along with a separatist uprising in the northern region, for more than a decade.

After a 2020 military takeover, the governing junta shifted away from Western partners toward Russia for assistance in fighting Islamic extremists. However, security conditions have deteriorated recently, analysts note, with a unprecedented number of militant attacks. Military forces and Russian mercenaries have also faced accusations of killing civilians they believe are working with militants.

The Malian military and its Russian Africa Corps mercenaries are working around the blockade by providing protection for truck convoys transporting goods and fuel to supply Bamako markets. The armed forces also frequently report striking positions controlled by armed groups.

However, residents report that the protective escorts and military strikes haven’t been sufficient to properly supply the capital.

“Usually, I bring up to 200 sheep to Bamako to sell during Tabaski,” said Amadou Cissé, 45, a livestock trader specializing in Eid sheep, using the West African word for the holiday. “But this year I barely brought 50 because there is not enough space in army-escorted trucks.”

Cissé explained that the sheep he requested remain in Diema, a community approximately 345 km (215 miles) west of Bamako, where many animals destined for the capital are sourced.

“I was told more escorted convoys would be organized, but so far none have left Diema, so I doubt the sheep will arrive before the holiday,” he said.

Drissa Traoré, who has sold sheep in Bamako for more than ten years, reported that available inventory has decreased substantially in recent times. “This year, we have barely half the number of sheep we usually have during Tabaski,” he said.

The dangerous conditions have also impacted travel arrangements for many people.

Sidi Diarra, who works at a prominent financial company in Bamako, mentioned he typically observes the holiday with his family in Segou, approximately 240 km (150 miles) from the capital.

“This year, I am afraid to go because of attacks by extremist groups. It is safer to stay in Bamako,” he said.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungarian lawmakers voted Wednesday to maintain their country’s membership in the International Criminal Court, overturning the prior administration’s plan to exit the global war crimes tribunal under Viktor Orbán.

Orbán’s administration had announced Hungary’s intention to leave the ICC last year, following a state visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit proceeded despite an outstanding ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

International organizations and the ICC had condemned Orbán’s administration for not arresting Netanyahu during his visit. Orbán responded by labeling the ICC a “political court.”

Hungary’s exit from the court was scheduled to become official on June 2.

Prime Minister Péter Magyar introduced the reversal legislation on Monday, arguing that maintaining international peace and defending human rights requires accountability for serious international crimes through “an international judicial forum.”

The legislation further states: “To this end, it is necessary to maintain Hungary’s participation in the Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

The measure passed primarily along party lines, with Magyar’s governing Tisza party providing 133 supporting votes, while 37 lawmakers opposed and five abstained.

The Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the ICC, praised Hungary’s decision to remain. The organization issued a statement Monday ahead of the parliamentary vote, saying it “congratulates the government of Hungary for this important decision.”

The ICC had previously determined that Hungary violated its legal duty to apprehend Netanyahu. In July, judicial panel members stated that the “failure to arrest suspects severely undermines the court’s ability to carry out its mandate.”

Hungary helped establish the ICC, with Orbán personally signing the Rome Statute that created the tribunal in 1999.

Had Hungary proceeded with withdrawal, it would have joined only the Philippines and Burundi as countries that left the ICC. Hungary also would have become the sole European Union member nation not participating in the court.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Mountaineering experts, climbers, and government officials convened in Nepal’s capital city Wednesday to address mounting concerns about Mount Everest expeditions amid rising temperatures and unprecedented crowding that’s creating serious environmental and safety issues.

The gathering, called the “Everest Summiteers Summit,” took place during what experts believe was the busiest climbing period ever recorded on the planet’s tallest mountain. In just several days this month, hundreds of adventurers along with their Sherpa guides made their way to the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit.

This climbing season saw Nepal authorize a unprecedented 494 permits for international climbers, with summit achievements estimated to exceed 900 people. This figure would mark the highest total ever recorded during spring climbing months, though official tallies won’t be released until later.

A sherpa guide who holds the record for most successful climbs — 32 ascents — expressed concerns about the overwhelming numbers creating dangerous conditions.

“Nepal should only allow no more than 250 climbers that are issued permit to climb from the Nepal side,” Kami Rita Sherpa said. “It will be good if the government was to limit the number.”

Recent photographs from the mountain reveal lengthy queues of climbers experiencing bottlenecks, secured to safety ropes while awaiting their turn to approach the peak.

During climbing season, which concludes this month, approximately 3,000 individuals including climbers, guides, and support staff establish temporary residence on Mount Everest. Removing all waste materials when camps are dismantled continues to pose significant difficulties.

Government regulations mandate that climbers must pack out their trash, yet substantial amounts remain abandoned on the mountain. Expedition members emphasize that environmental preservation must stay a top concern.

“We should take the rubbish from the mountain and we should protect our Himalayas,” said He Jing, a renowned Chinese climber.

Present regulations allow anyone to obtain climbing authorization by paying the government’s $15,000 permit fee.

However, Nepalese authorities are developing updated rules that would require climbers to demonstrate previous mountaineering experience.

Nathaniel Douglas, a climber from Seattle, told The Associated Press during the conference that he observes inexperienced individuals attempting Everest after viewing social media content, despite having no mountain climbing background.

“So they really don’t understand what mountaineering is, like what it actually takes to summit Mount Everest and get back down safely,” he said.

British mountaineer Adriana Brownlee, the youngest woman to climb all 14 highest peaks, said the weather on the mountains was getting warmer, increasing the risks for climbers.

“Every year the (Khumbu) Icefall seems more unstable because of global warming,” she said. adding that water underneath is melting faster, causing the seracs — blocks of ice — to fall much easier because of the movement underneath.

Last month, climbers were forced to postpone their ascents when a massive serac posed a dangerous threat to the climbing route directly above base camp.

Rescue teams in central Laos have successfully located five villagers who became trapped in a flooded cave more than a week ago, though search efforts continue for two others who remain unaccounted for, officials announced Wednesday.

The group of seven villagers had entered the cave located in Xaisomboun province on May 19 when sudden heavy rainfall caused flash flooding that sealed off their escape route, according to rescue teams from Laos and Thailand participating in the operation.

Bounkham Luanglath, representing the Lao organization Rescue Volunteer for People, which has been collaborating with local officials on the rescue mission, confirmed to The Associated Press that five individuals were discovered safe and alive, while efforts to locate the remaining two will persist.

“I’m still shaking. Our team made it happen,” he stated in a voice message.

Footage released by a Thai rescue organization appeared to capture the moment when divers surfaced and located the stranded villagers. The video shows the individuals, each equipped with headlamps, positioned on a rock formation surrounded by flood waters.

Additional footage depicted rescue personnel both inside and outside the cave celebrating with cheers, jumping, and embracing one another following the successful discovery.

International rescue specialists from Thailand joined the operation over the weekend, including divers who participated in the complex 2018 rescue operation in northern Thailand that successfully freed 12 schoolchildren and their soccer coach after they spent more than two weeks trapped underground.

The cave sits in a challenging, isolated location within Xaisomboun province’s Longcheng district, positioned approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of Vientiane, the capital city. Rescue personnel at the location have documented through social media the difficult mountainous conditions and persistent rainfall that have complicated their efforts.

Online footage shared by Thai rescue teams revealed that accessing the cave entrance demands a challenging uphill trek on foot covering roughly 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). The cave opening itself presents additional obstacles with its steep, rocky terrain and narrow width that permits only one person to pass through at a time.

While no official explanation has been provided regarding the villagers’ purpose for entering the cave, Bounkham indicated that local residents commonly visited the location in search of gold, despite repeated safety warnings from authorities advising against cave entry due to dangerous conditions.

Opposition figures in Argentina are moving to form a unified front against President Javier Milei as his public support continues to decline ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof, who leads the Peronist Justicialista party in his province, confirmed to Reuters that discussions are ongoing to create a Peronist alliance. The coalition could potentially bring together politicians from various parties who oppose Milei’s economic policies, despite his success in curbing severe inflation through widespread budget cuts.

The Peronist movement suffered a significant setback in October’s midterm elections, where voters endorsed Milei’s ambitious economic reform agenda. That loss highlighted deep divisions within the opposition and raised serious questions about its ability to mount an effective challenge going forward.

While Milei has indicated plans to seek re-election, the opposition has yet to name its standard-bearer. Potential candidates include Kicillof and Sergio Massa, a former economy minister with Peronist ties who lost the 2023 presidential race to Milei.

Recent survey data suggests Milei could face a difficult path to a second term. A May survey by Opina Argentina found Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party essentially tied with Peronist forces. Separate polling by Trespuntozero indicates 42% of voters would definitely or possibly support Kicillof, while only 34% expressed similar sentiment for Milei.

The Peronist movement remains closely linked to opposition figure Cristina Kirchner, the former president currently under house arrest in Buenos Aires while serving a six-year corruption sentence. During her administration, extensive government spending was cited as a driver of rising inflation, a problem that continued under President Alberto Fernández’s tenure when she served as vice president.

Current approval numbers show Milei at 39% positive ratings according to Opina Argentina, a sharp drop from 53% over a year ago. His standing has been damaged by government corruption controversies and declining purchasing power that hasn’t kept pace with inflation. Kicillof holds a slight edge at 43% approval, while Massa registers 33%.

Building a unified Peronist coalition may prove challenging given tensions between factions that span from center-left to center-right ideologies. However, the shared goal of defeating Milei could “act as an incentive for all actors to set aside some of their interests and come together in a coalition,” according to Facundo Nejamkis of Opina Argentina.

Campaign activities for the October 2027 presidential election are anticipated to begin in August, following the World Cup and local winter break period.

Banking employees across Russia could soon find themselves on the front lines of air defense under legislation passed by the nation’s lower parliamentary chamber.

The proposed law would require financial institutions to fund and install electronic interference equipment at their locations, while designated workers would be trained to destroy approaching unmanned aircraft, according to the measure that received final approval on Tuesday.

State news agency Interfax reported the legislation was initially introduced last August before being broadened in scope. The proposal now awaits consideration by the upper house Federation Council and must receive Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law.

The nation faces mounting challenges defending its vast territory against an increasing number of strikes from advanced Ukrainian long-distance unmanned vehicles. Military experts and Western officials note that smaller aircraft are also hampering Russian forces along the 1,250-kilometer front and disrupting supply operations for the invading military.

Financial institutions have not emerged as primary targets for Ukrainian aircraft during the four years of conflict since Moscow’s invasion began.

The legislation provides limited specifics, creating numerous uncertainties about implementation. Installing equipment nationwide and providing staff training would demand extensive organizational resources.

The initiative would include Russia’s central bank and major institutions, including majority state-owned Sberbank. Given the widespread presence of banking facilities in communities throughout the country, incorporating them into air defense networks could significantly expand protective coverage.

The move could undermine Putin’s attempts to insulate Russian civilians from the conflict by directly involving ordinary citizens in warfare and increasing visibility of the invasion’s impact.

The Duma-approved legislation authorizes bank workers to disrupt or intercept aircraft control transmissions and destroy threatening unmanned aerial, underwater, and ground vehicles at their facilities without awaiting security service coordination.

“Jamming will be used to make it more difficult for (the drones) to target and attack the relevant targets,” Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, told Russian media outlet RBK. “Plus, we’ll also use means to shoot down these drones, thereby protecting the relevant targets.”

Individual organizations will decide which staff members receive authorization to implement these defensive measures.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Law enforcement authorities conducted a search of Spain’s ruling Socialist Party headquarters on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct, according to the Civil Guard.

The operation at the Madrid office represents another setback for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s political organization, which has faced numerous corruption allegations in recent months.

Civil Guard officials informed The Associated Press that officers were executing court orders to collect evidence related to a National Court investigation examining corruption allegations against former party officials and other suspects.

Authorities stated the operation is specifically focused on an investigation overseen by National Court judge Santiago Pedraz examining potential misconduct by Socialist party member Leire Díez.

The investigation into Díez began in 2025 after audio recordings surfaced in Spanish media suggesting her involvement in efforts to undermine a Civil Guard anti-corruption unit member. Additional reports connected her to alleged attempts to interfere with state prosecutors’ work. The judge’s investigation aims to determine whether she received party payments to allegedly conduct these activities.

The Socialist party maintained she was operating independently. Díez, who has departed the party, has rejected any wrongdoing.

A court statement released Wednesday indicated that judge Pedraz directed the Civil Guard to “confiscate diverse documentation and electronic archives in an investigation of a ring designed to destabilize judicial processes that were affecting the ruling party.”

The judge indicated that beyond Díez, he is examining the suspected involvement of former Socialist heavyweight Santos Cerdán — already under scrutiny in another corruption matter — along with a former Andalusia regional government member, a police officer, a business owner and two attorneys. The judge is investigating them for suspected bribery, providing false testimony, document forgery, influence peddling, and corruption.

Last week another court announced it was examining former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero regarding a government airline bailout. He has rejected any misconduct allegations.

Sánchez’s wife and brother are under investigation for suspected influence peddling, which both have disputed.

Most significantly for the Socialists, Cerdán and a former minister under Sánchez are both facing investigation for allegedly participating in a kickback scheme that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they have contested.

Sánchez, who has served as prime minister since 2018, has characterized the cases involving his family as a “smear campaign.” However, the corruption investigation involving his former associates prompted him to request the nation’s “forgiveness” in 2025.

His minority administration relies on support from a junior coalition partner, which has maintained its backing despite the legal proceedings.

Sánchez, who has gained international attention for progressive positions that have drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, has not been directly connected to any of the scandals.

MANILA, Philippines — A new investigative commission was established Wednesday to examine the deadly drug enforcement campaign conducted under former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, with organizers seeking to compile witness testimonies and evidence for potential prosecutions.

The commission is being spearheaded by a Catholic bishop and includes a former judge from the international court system. Duterte concluded his turbulent six-year term in 2022 and was subsequently detained and transported to the Netherlands last year to face charges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity related to the killings.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a close supporter of Duterte who previously served as his top police official and initially implemented the violent enforcement efforts, faces ICC charges as an alleged accomplice in the numerous deaths that drew criticism from Western nations and human rights organizations.

Dela Rosa has disappeared from public view and is being pursued by Philippine law enforcement, which has committed to executing the ICC arrest warrant and delivering him to the international tribunal.

Both dela Rosa and the outspoken former president have rejected claims they approved unlawful executions, though Duterte frequently made public threats against suspected criminals during his presidency.

Thousands of police personnel who participated directly in the harsh enforcement operation that resulted in the deaths of numerous impoverished suspects have escaped thorough investigation, with very few facing criminal conviction, human rights organizations report.

“This is long overdue,” Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David stated during a press briefing. The independent “EJK Truth Commission” he helped establish will concentrate on assisting victims, their relatives and even remorseful law enforcement personnel in achieving resolution, David explained.

“This is an opportunity for a catharsis … so we can recover our dignity as a country,” David commented. “Ultimately, what we aspire for is healing not only for the victims but also our institutions.”

Raul Pangalangan, an esteemed Philippine attorney who previously served as an ICC judge for several years, explained that the commission he will lead “was created to ensure that the stories of victims, survivors and families are heard, verified and preserved.”

The commission intends to conduct open hearings.

“These things happened because everybody looked the other way,” Pangalangan stated. “It is almost a conspiracy of silence.”

Commission representatives indicated they will make their research available to government officials to assist in investigations, prosecutions and accountability efforts. They plan to submit regular reports to justice and human rights agencies, they announced.

David appealed to civic organizations, educational institutions, faith communities and other groups to support the commission’s work and mentioned that a major German charitable organization has provided financial backing.

Commission member Raquel Fortun, a forensic pathologist with the state-run University of the Philippines, told The Associated Press that determining facts years after the deaths occurred would be challenging. Some law enforcement personnel involved in the killings attempted to avoid responsibility, she noted.

Official death records for 13 drug suspects whose bodies were recovered after Duterte left office indicated they died from natural causes such as heart attack and pneumonia, she reported.

“When I examined the remains, I found that they were hit by gunfire,” Fortun revealed.

LONDON – A new defense and security agreement was finalized Wednesday between Britain and Poland as both nations work to address mounting threats from Russia’s increasingly hostile actions, according to officials from the British government.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer put their signatures on the treaty during a ceremony in London. The agreement will enhance border protection, combat organized criminal activities, and strengthen defense collaboration with the European Union, British officials announced.

This latest military partnership with an EU nation follows comparable pacts with France and Germany, highlighting Starmer’s campaign to mend relationships damaged by Brexit nearly a decade ago while responding to calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for European nations to shoulder greater responsibility for continental security.

Prior to departing Poland, Tusk stated that both countries view “Russia as a strategic threat,” and the two leaders were anticipated to address rising hybrid warfare, cyber attacks, and espionage activities.

“The challenges Europe now faces demands an even stronger partnership,” Starmer said in a statement.

“This treaty is the biggest step forward in our defence and security relationship with Poland in a generation, allowing us to confront modern security threats that may be less visible but no less dangerous,” he added.

British officials indicated the agreement will enable both countries to merge their expertise and industrial capabilities for developing and producing advanced next-generation weaponry, including enhanced air and missile defense capabilities.

Tusk emphasized that cybersecurity represents a major component of the treaty beyond traditional defense measures. Polish officials note their country’s position as a central point for military assistance to Ukraine has made it a primary target for Russian intelligence operations, cyber warfare, and propaganda campaigns.

This Polish agreement represents the most recent bilateral defense partnership Britain has pursued under Starmer’s leadership. The Prime Minister has achieved greater success in international relations than domestic politics, where political opponents are positioning themselves and could potentially force a leadership challenge.

Following demands from Trump’s administration for Europe to increase its self-defense capabilities, raising uncertainty about the NATO alliance’s future, both Britain and Poland have actively pursued defense agreements with other countries.

Britain and France reached an agreement last year to strengthen their defense partnership, including enhanced cooperation regarding their nuclear weapons programs, while Starmer also concluded a treaty to expand relations with Germany.

Poland finalized a defense agreement with France in 2025 to boost military cooperation and is currently developing a comparable treaty with Germany.

Three hundred citizens of Ghana lined up at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport early Wednesday morning to catch one of the initial flights back to their homeland following weeks of anti-foreigner demonstrations that raised security fears across South Africa.

The departing group consisted of women and children among the 300 individuals, with officials calling it a voluntary evacuation program for Ghanaian residents who reported feeling unsafe in the country.

Officials from South Africa have been collaborating with their Ghanaian counterparts to process a roster of approximately 800 individuals who have expressed interest in departing.

An unnamed South African immigration officer told the eNCA television network: “What we found is that of the 300, only 10 of them are legal in the country, so quite a number of them are in non-compliance to our immigration act.”

The evacuation came after weeks of anti-foreigner demonstrations, with protesters calling for stricter enforcement against what they termed illegal immigrants and blaming foreign residents for contributing to criminal activity and joblessness.

The demonstrations have been marked by violent incidents targeting migrants from various sub-Saharan African nations.

A Ghanaian citizen preparing for departure said continuous intimidation influenced his choice to leave.

“I’m happy that I’m going to my country … it’s not easy to be in someone else’s country and be disturbed all the time,” the man told reporters, choosing not to reveal his identity.

Organizations advocating for migrant rights argue that foreign nationals are being unfairly blamed by South Africans for the nation’s economic challenges, including joblessness rates exceeding 30% that particularly impact the Black community.

Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, explained that the departures were designed to reduce tensions while maintaining positive diplomatic relations between both nations.

“The demonstrators have said they want us to work together. We must ensure that those who are undocumented are returned home and that institutions are allowed to function,” Quashie stated, rejecting suggestions of strained diplomatic relations with South Africa.

South African officials have denounced attacks against foreign residents and promised to take action against xenophobic violence, stating such behavior contradicts the country’s democratic principles.

The restored leader of Turkey’s primary opposition political organization announced Wednesday that a party congress will be scheduled after legal requirements are fulfilled, following a judicial decision that removed prior leadership and sparked internal turmoil and financial market fluctuations last week.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu informed media representatives that he plans to work with the Republican People’s Party (CHP) legal advisors to determine when the congress should occur.

The reinstated chair stated a congress “will be held, there is no alternative,” emphasizing it must occur on proper legal grounds and follow established party procedures.

Kilicdaroglu indicated all choices would be made through group consensus, noting the party assembly will likely meet and that the organization would operate strictly according to legal guidelines and protocols.

He rejected rumors regarding member expulsions from the organization, stating any such actions must comply with existing regulations.

Kilicdaroglu also condemned the decision to lock the party headquarters in response to the judicial decision, calling it inappropriate to prevent public access or prevent legislators from entering the facility.

Former CHP leader Ozgur Ozel suggested Tuesday that a leadership election should involve the party’s 2 million members rather than party representatives.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday that investigators believe an Iranian anti-ship missile was responsible for striking a cargo vessel operated by local shipping company HMM in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.

Officials from the Iranian embassy in Seoul have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.

The ministry revealed their findings during a briefing where they disclosed results from a government investigation examining the May 4 strike on the bulk carrier. The incident resulted in a fire and damage to the vessel’s lower stern hull.

Investigators examined debris from unknown objects discovered inside the ship following the strike on the vessel.

The examination revealed that the ship, called Namu, was struck twice, with the first warhead failing to detonate while a second one exploded.

Materials found in the debris suggested the objects were manufactured in Iran, according to ministry officials.

“Their engines were similar to turbojet engines made in Iran,” stated First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo, who noted that one piece contained markings that seemed to be from an Iranian manufacturer.

The explosive devices were similar to those found in Iranian anti-ship missiles, specifically the Noor or Qader models, Park explained.

South Korea plans to call in the Iranian ambassador to present the investigation findings and lodge a formal complaint, he announced.

Seoul will also require Iran to implement responsible actions to ensure such incidents don’t happen again, Park stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump declared shortly after the incident that Iran had attacked the South Korean ship, and called on Seoul to participate in U.S.-led initiatives to protect shipping routes through the strait.

Tehran has previously rejected any involvement in the attack.

BUDAPEST, May 27 (Reuters) — Hungarian lawmakers voted Wednesday to maintain their nation’s participation in the International Criminal Court, overturning a 2025 decision by the previous administration under Viktor Orban to exit the organization.

The former government under Orban had chosen to leave the ICC, claiming the judicial body had become “political.” Current Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who defeated Orban in last month’s electoral contest, had promised to maintain Hungary’s ICC membership.

LONDON, May 27 – The Iran conflict has now stretched into its fourth month, creating a stark divide in global financial markets as elevated oil prices fuel fresh concerns about inflation among policymakers, and weakening currencies present challenges for several Asian nations.

However, the ongoing conflict has provided a boost to certain assets, particularly petroleum and the dollar’s status as a secure investment.

Here’s an examination of the notable gainers and those suffering losses.

PETROLEUM’S BROADER CONSEQUENCES

Crude oil’s approximately 40% surge has disrupted expectations for inflation and monetary policy. In physical trading, petroleum prices have climbed well beyond $100 per barrel and reached nearly twice their pre-conflict levels during early April.

A historic 400-million-barrel drawdown from major economies’ strategic stockpiles, combined with traders securing alternative supply sources, has helped offset the supply shortage. However, pressure on the worldwide energy infrastructure continues to mount.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SURGE SUPPORTS EQUITIES

International stock markets have managed to navigate the turbulence thus far, as renewed artificial intelligence enthusiasm and broader expectations for a peace agreement outweigh the conflict’s negative effects.

American equities have reached new peaks, as has South Korea’s Kospi index. European markets are approaching record territory.

SK Hynix achieved a $1 trillion market capitalization for the first time Wednesday, joining fellow memory chip companies Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology in reaching this benchmark during an AI-fueled surge.

However, not every sector is benefiting.

The S&P 500 passenger airlines index has declined more than 6% since hostilities commenced due to worldwide flight disruptions. A global luxury portfolio has dropped 10%, showing investor concerns that inflation might impact consumer spending.

HSBC Private Bank global CIO Willem Sels noted the firm maintains an underweight stance on consumer-related products and services.

“It provides us with a hedge in case the conflict accelerates,” he said. “Consumption has done reasonably okay, certainly in the U.S. where you have better-off households who still consume a lot and are benefiting from AI.”

DOLLAR MAINTAINS DOMINANCE

The dollar has emerged as another beneficiary, with investors turning to its safe-haven characteristics. It has risen 1.5% versus other major currencies since hostilities began, outpacing the Swiss franc and yen.

Climbing U.S. Treasury yields have enhanced the dollar’s attractiveness, though some observers note it continues facing U.S. policy uncertainty and will probably decline when the conflict concludes.

“We are currently neutral but still expect a weaker dollar in the medium term,” said Van Luu, global head of solutions strategy at Russell Investments.

ASIAN CURRENCIES EXPERIENCE PRESSURE

Asia had purchased approximately 80% of petroleum transported through the now-closed Strait of Hormuz, and remaining fuel supplies cost more than previously. This situation is damaging growth and making their currencies among the worst performers since the conflict began.

India’s rupee, Indonesia’s rupiah and the Philippine peso have reached record lows versus the dollar, prompting some nations to raise interest rates or utilize foreign exchange reserves to mitigate the impact.

Sri Lanka surprised markets Tuesday with a 100 basis point increase.

Among Asian currencies, only China’s yuan has maintained stability, supported by significant domestic energy supplies.

ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO WORLDWIDE ECONOMY

The petroleum price spike has also damaged the global economy, especially nations dependent on energy imports.

Within the euro zone, economic activity contracted at its steepest pace in over two-and-a-half years during May, according to S&P’s composite purchasing managers index.

The conflict’s effects are worsening Europe’s financial weaknesses, the European Central Bank cautioned in a Wednesday report.

British firms also reported declining activity alongside rising input costs due to increased energy expenses.

The U.S., which maintains oil and gas independence and where AI investment is climbing, has experienced less economic damage.

Nevertheless, the international nature of petroleum markets means U.S. gasoline prices have reached a four-year peak of $4.56 per gallon.

BONDS SUFFER LOSSES

Government bonds are also among the losing investments, as the petroleum price surge has led traders to consider the possibility of higher rates responding to energy-driven inflation.

Anticipation of increased fiscal and military expenditures has added pressure on longer-term securities.

The Federal Reserve may abandon its easing stance soon, and U.S. 30-year Treasury yields have climbed to their highest levels since 2007, trading above 5%.

German Bund yields have reached their highest point in more than 15 years as traders anticipate at least two ECB rate increases by year’s end.

Israeli military officials announced Wednesday they successfully targeted and eliminated the newly appointed commander of Hamas’ armed forces in Tuesday’s airstrikes on Gaza City, marking another high-profile killing less than two weeks after eliminating his predecessor.

Defense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli military sources confirmed the Tuesday operations resulted in the death of Mohammed Odeh, who they identified as the latest military chief of the organization.

Relatives of an individual named Mohammed Odeh verified his death in the bombing but did not verify his role as the military commander. Hamas leadership has remained silent on the matter.

Katz described him as “one of the architects” of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that sparked more than two years of conflict in Gaza and noted this marks the fourth occasion Israel has eliminated the commander of Hamas’ armed wing since that assault. The prior commander, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, was eliminated on May 16.

Tuesday’s bombing resulted in a minimum of three fatalities and 12 wounded individuals, occurring just before Eid al-Adha, an important Islamic celebration.

“We pledged to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre and this is what we will do: they are all bound to die, everywhere,” Katz posted on X Wednesday. “We pledged that Hamas will not hold civilian or military rule.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces upcoming fall elections, similarly vowed that Israel would pursue all participants in the Oct. 7, 2023, assault.

The bombing occurred while Muslims were making preparations for Eid al-Adha, typically a celebratory period marked by family reunions and festive meals.

The religious observance remains muted again this year throughout Gaza, where the overwhelming majority of residents continue living as refugees in makeshift accommodations following the destructive conflict. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s population exceeding 2 million has lost their residences, based on U.N. data, with most now housed in massive temporary encampments plagued by rodent problems and standing wastewater. Survival depends entirely on humanitarian assistance.

Eid al-Adha, known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” represents a significant Islamic observance celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide. The four-day celebration, which coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage, traditionally brings families together while children receive new clothing and presents.

“This is not Eid … we’re dead,” stated Mahmoud Saqer, a refugee from Khan Younis, describing residents as traumatized by the continuing human tragedy and violence throughout the region.

Throughout Khan Younis and Gaza City, surrounded by demolished structures including a destroyed mosque, residents assembled for Eid prayers with minimal festive atmosphere except for occasional balloon displays along one roadway. Tahrir al-Khatib observed that the happiness typically associated with Eid has been extinguished in Gaza.

“There’s no Eid. My children were killed. Eid is only for the people who lost no one,” expressed Ayda Al-Banna, a displaced woman from Gaza City, who attended Eid prayers alongside her granddaughter.

A truce established between Israel and Hamas last October continues to face challenges. Israeli military operations have resulted in over 880 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began. Israel maintains its operations respond to Hamas violations or dangers to its forces, though Palestinian medical authorities report numerous civilians among the casualties. Four Israeli military personnel have also died during this timeframe in Gaza.

Israel initiated its Gaza campaign following the Hamas assault in October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 individuals taken captive.

Gaza’s Palestinian Health Ministry reports more than 72,700 Palestinians have died from Israeli military action. The ministry, operating under Gaza’s Hamas administration, does not separate civilian and combatant casualties.

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities have taken into custody a Syrian man suspected of helping plan a violent attack at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial that left a Spanish visitor seriously injured earlier this year.

Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that the suspect, identified only as Khalaf A. according to German privacy laws, faces charges of being an accessory to attempted murder and causing bodily harm.

According to investigators, the man spent the day before the February 21, 2025 incident with Wassim Al M., the convicted attacker, and provided encouragement for the planned assault.

Wassim Al M., who is also Syrian, received a 13-year prison sentence in March after being found guilty on multiple charges, including attempted murder and seeking to join a foreign terrorist organization.

Court proceedings revealed that the attacker had traveled from Leipzig to Berlin specifically to conduct an assault on behalf of the Islamic State group.

During sentencing, presiding judge Doris Husch explained that the perpetrator selected the Holocaust Memorial as his target because “he believed he would find people of Jewish faith there.” The attack involved stabbing the Spanish visitor in the throat, followed by the attacker shouting “Allahu akbar,” meaning “God is great.”

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe consists of 2,700 gray concrete blocks situated near the Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, serving as a tribute to the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

The violent incident occurred just two days prior to Germany’s national election, during which immigration policy emerged as a major campaign topic following several fatal attacks involving immigrants in the preceding months.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Police in an Australian state are developing a heavily armed quick-response unit following a deadly December shooting that claimed 15 lives and injured three officers who carried only handguns during a Sydney Hanukkah event, officials revealed during a government investigation Wednesday.

During testimony at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is examining antisemitism’s growth in Australia before the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach incident, New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson outlined a significant weapons disparity.

The department has responded by creating plans for an Armed Response Command, outfitted with semiautomatic rifles, while also restarting a priority operation targeting antisemitic incidents and retaliatory attacks on Muslim communities, Hudson testified.

Previously, rifles in the department were mainly limited to two specialized paramilitary units, he explained.

Two men, identified as father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, allegedly used two shotguns and a hunting rifle to fire upon hundreds of Hanukkah celebrants in a beachside park. Just four officers were on scene, carrying Glock pistols that work effectively only at close range.

“On Dec. 14, our police officers were placed at significant risk being in a gunfight armed with 9 mm Glocks against long arms,” Hudson stated to the commission.

Eleven officers arrived within five minutes of the alleged shooting by the Akrams. Three of those responding officers were among the many people injured in the attack. Officers fatally shot the father and captured the wounded son in under eight minutes from the initial gunfire, Monday’s hearing revealed.

Following the incident, police also reactivated Operation Shelter, which had been created to address rising community tensions following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Hudson noted.

Hudson had created Operation Shelter as a “high visibility” proactive police initiative to prevent street violence escalation in Sydney. During its busiest period, 200 officers were deployed daily to the operation, which could pull additional personnel from other assignments when needed.

Operation Shelter was functioning “in name only” during the Bondi attack, Hudson said Wednesday, noting that officials quickly restarted the program after the shooting and upgraded it to an “active policing resource” that will continue until the armed response unit becomes fully operational within the next 18 months to two years.

Representatives from European Union member countries approved legislation Wednesday that would eliminate tariffs on numerous American products, according to an EU source familiar with the proceedings. The action is designed to prevent threatened higher U.S. tariffs on European automobiles and other exports.

The agreement originated from negotiations held at a Scottish golf resort owned by President Donald Trump last July. In that arrangement, European officials committed to eliminating tariffs on American industrial products and providing favorable treatment for U.S. agricultural and seafood exports, while accepting 15% American tariffs on most European goods.

Nearly ten months after reaching that initial agreement, European officials have not yet implemented their portion of the arrangement. This delay prompted Trump to warn he would impose “much higher” tariffs on European products if the EU fails to meet its obligations by July 4.

Diplomatic representatives from all 27 EU nations have now approved the legislation needed to implement the tariff reductions. This decision followed negotiations between EU government representatives and European Parliament members last week, which also established protective measures in case the Trump administration violates the trade agreement.

The European Parliament must still approve the legislation. The parliamentary trade committee plans to conduct a preliminary vote next Tuesday, with the full assembly expected to make a final decision in mid-June.

The protective provisions, advocated by EU legislators, include a clause terminating the trade agreement at the end of 2029 and language allowing the European Commission to halt portions of the deal if the United States fails to maintain 15% tariffs on washing machines, wind turbines and other products containing significant steel or aluminum. These items currently face 25% tariffs.

Latvia is bolstering its anti-drone capabilities along borders shared with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after unmanned aircraft have crossed into the NATO member nation, according to a military official.

Recent weeks have seen Ukrainian drones drift into Baltic NATO countries’ airspace, creating confusion and heightening tensions with Russia during a period when U.S. dedication to NATO’s mutual defense principles faces scrutiny.

Ukraine, which has been striking Russia’s Baltic oil loading facilities, has attributed the wayward drones to Russian interference with their aircraft’s navigation signals, causing them to deviate from intended flight paths.

On May 7, two such unmanned vehicles detonated at an unoccupied oil storage site in Latvia. Another crashed into a lake on Saturday after entering the country undetected, with a fisherman observing the incident.

An incoming drone prompted Lithuanian legislators in the capital Vilnius to seek underground protection on May 20, while a NATO fighter aircraft destroyed another unmanned vehicle over Estonia on May 19.

“We plan to deploy (drone) interceptor teams over the next two weeks”, Modris Kairiss, head of the Latvian Army Autonomous Systems Competence Centre, told Reuters at a side event of the Drone Summit conference in Latvia.

These units will include up to four soldiers operating from rugged terrain vehicles with killer drones capable of eliminating incoming military aircraft within a 10-km (6-mile) range, he explained.

The quantity of such units patrolling Latvia’s 400-km border with Russia and its ally Belarus remains classified information.

“We do need to increase the number of such teams, but we need to balance this against other army needs. If we put them on every kilometer of the border, we will quickly burn all army resources”, he said.

Speaking at a military testing facility where Latvia is evaluating cutting-edge drone technologies through a NATO program, Kairiss explained that neutralizing military drones during peacetime presents complications, as radar information in NATO nations is classified and distributing it to soldiers responsible for drone destruction proves cumbersome.

“It’s not enough to engage with anything you notice. We need to identify it first”, to avoid hitting a civilian airplane, Kairiss said.

An additional emerging challenge for Latvia’s military, and NATO overall, involves the increasing deployment of small drones, Kairiss noted.

“They are several steps ahead of the anti-drone systems… Detection and interception of the small targets is hard, and it’s the big challenge that soon we will all face,” he said.

MADRID, May 27 – Law enforcement officials conducted a search at the headquarters of Spain’s governing Socialist Party on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspected illegal payment schemes, according to Spanish media reports. The action comes amid multiple corruption investigations involving associates of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

A representative from the Guardia Civil confirmed to Reuters that officers had accessed the PSOE offices, though no additional information was provided due to the confidential nature of the proceedings.

The law enforcement action was conducted under a court order requesting specific information with advance notification, which differs from surprise raids designed to collect broader evidence without prior warning.

Party representative Montse Minguez spoke to Catalunya Radio, stating the organization remained composed and was providing complete cooperation with judicial authorities, emphasizing their commitment to providing any requested materials.

The Prime Minister’s party has faced numerous corruption allegations recently, with several investigations targeting close associates and relatives.

Last week, a court announced that former Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a close associate of Sanchez, was under investigation for allegedly orchestrating an influence-peddling and money-laundering operation, dealing another setback to the leftist administration. Zapatero has rejected any accusations of misconduct.

A leader of Tibet’s government-in-exile began his second consecutive term Wednesday after being inaugurated in Dharamshala, India, following his victory in elections earlier this year.

Penpa Tsering, age 58, has headed the exile administration located in Dharamshala since 2021. He won another five-year term during February voting among Tibetans residing in India and other countries. Tsering initially joined the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile in 1996 and held the speaker position from 2008 before advancing to the chief executive role.

Established in 1959, the Tibetan exile government, currently known as the Central Tibetan Administration, operates with executive, judicial and legislative divisions.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, Tsering declared that the Central Tibetan Administration “remains firmly committed to the ‘Middle Way Policy’ envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” explaining that this approach pursues resolution through nonviolence, dialogue and lasting mutual benefit.

“Until a resolution is achieved, we will continue the back-channel communications with caution and steadiness with the Chinese government,” he stated.

The inauguration ceremony occurred with the Dalai Lama present, who arrived at the location accompanied by red-robed monks while drums beat and prayers were chanted. Hundreds of monks and Tibetans watched as Chief Justice Commissioner Yeshi Wangmo of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission conducted the oath administration.

February’s election represented the fourth direct vote for Tibetan exile leadership since the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, officially stepped back from administrative governance in 2011.

China maintains Tibet has belonged to its territory since the mid-13th century and the Communist Party has controlled the Himalayan area since 1951. However, many Tibetans claim they maintained effective independence throughout most of their history and believe the Chinese government seeks to extract resources from the region while destroying its cultural heritage.

China refuses to acknowledge the Central Tibetan Administration and has avoided discussions with the Dalai Lama’s representatives since 2010. India regards Tibet as Chinese territory while providing sanctuary to the Tibetan exile government.

Beijing claims the Dalai Lama wants to split Tibet from China, which he rejects. Certain Tibetan organizations support independence for Tibet, given minimal advancement in negotiations with China.

Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, rejected the exile administration’s legitimacy on Sunday, declaring it was “not recognized by any sovereign country” and lacked authority to represent Tibetans or manage the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation process.

During his 90th birthday celebration last year, the Dalai Lama emphasized that Chinese officials would play no part in selecting his successor and the Dalai Lama institution would persist beyond his death.

Beijing has expressed its desire to restore diplomatic relations with the Czech Republic and rebuild what it calls their historical friendship, according to statements made by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to his Czech counterpart Petr Macinka, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday.

While the Czech Republic officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taiwan, which China considers its territory, Prague has developed stronger connections with the island nation in recent years and has received increased investment from Taiwan.

According to CCTV, Wang emphasized that both nations should “strengthen dialogue and cooperation, enhance political mutual trust and gradually expand practical cooperation in areas such as economy, trade and tourism” to guide their relationship in the proper direction.

Wang characterized Taiwan as a domestic matter for China and expressed hope that the Czech government would “practice the One-China principle … and promote China-Czech relations back on a healthy development track.”

Beijing has expressed disapproval of connections between Prague and Taipei, maintaining that the democratically-governed island lacks authority for diplomatic relationships between nations, a position that Taipei’s government firmly disputes.

Last week, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung traveled to Prague and participated in a forum there.

Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil plans to lead a business delegation to Taiwan next week, where he is scheduled to meet with President Lai Ching-te.

Tensions also escalated last year when Czech President Petr Pavel met with the Dalai Lama in India during July. Additionally, a delegation from the Czech parliament visited Dharamshala in December and held meetings with the Tibetan spiritual leader.

In March, China expressed strong opposition to the Czech Senate’s approval of a draft resolution regarding the Dalai Lama’s succession, claiming it “grossly interfered” with domestic matters.

Israeli military officials announced Wednesday that they eliminated Hamas’s recently named military commander in a Gaza operation, continuing their campaign against the organization’s leadership structure.

Military sources confirmed that Mohammad Odeh was killed during Tuesday’s operation in Gaza.

A family member verified Odeh’s death to news agencies and indicated funeral services would occur following midday prayers in Gaza City. While Hamas leadership has not released an official response, Odeh’s family stated he died alongside his wife and son in the attack.

Gaza medical authorities reported that six individuals, including at least one woman, lost their lives and more than 20 sustained injuries in the same Israeli airstrike that demolished the top floor of a residential building in Gaza City’s Rimal district. Emergency responders continued searching the area for additional victims.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday that Odeh had led Hamas’s intelligence operations during the October 7, 2023 cross-border assault on Israel that sparked the current Gaza conflict. According to Netanyahu, Odeh received his appointment roughly one week ago to succeed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the organization’s top military leader, who was eliminated by Israeli forces on May 15.

Hamas-affiliated sources would not verify Odeh’s designation as the new military commander but acknowledged he was considered a likely candidate to replace Haddad, given his role leading military intelligence and his status as potentially the final surviving member of the armed wing’s senior command structure.

Prior to the attack, Israel declared it had broadened ground operations in Lebanon, where it has engaged Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters since launching strikes against Iran alongside the United States in late February. Israeli forces are also escalating military actions in the West Bank.

Israel and Hamas remain at an impasse in indirect negotiations regarding the second phase of a ceasefire agreement, which would involve the group’s disarmament and Israeli military withdrawals.

The October ceasefire left Israeli forces controlling more than half of Gaza, while Hamas maintains authority over a narrow strip of coastal area.

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared in a statement that Hamas would lose both civilian and military authority over Gaza and that plans for what he termed “voluntary migration” from the territory would be executed “at the right time and in the right way.”

Approximately 900 Palestinians have died in Israeli attacks since the truce took effect, based on Gaza health ministry data that does not separate combatants from civilians.

Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same timeframe, according to military officials.

Israel has eliminated dozens of Hamas leaders and military personnel since the Gaza conflict began, pledging to kill or capture anyone involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Hamas does not release casualty figures for its fighters. Israel maintains its post-ceasefire strikes target those planning attacks or attempting to approach its armistice line with Hamas.

More than 72,000 Gazans have died since fighting commenced in October 2023, with most being civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Israel states it employs extraordinary measures to minimize civilian casualties.

Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths, based on Israeli records.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Wednesday that his country seeks to elevate its relationship with Britain to the highest level possible, with a primary focus on defense cooperation against Russian threats, as he prepared to depart for London.

The United Kingdom is set to formalize a new defense and security agreement with Poland on Wednesday aimed at bolstering military cooperation amid growing hostile activities throughout Europe, according to government officials. This pact follows comparable agreements Britain has already established with France and Germany.

Chinese officials have carried out the death sentence against a man who murdered a wealthy gaming executive using poison in a workplace revenge scheme, according to media reports from Taiwan.

The executed individual, Xu Yao, was found guilty of murdering Lin Qi, who established the Shanghai-based gaming company Yoozoo Games. Lin’s firm possessed the movie rights to a bestselling science fiction book series called “The Three-Body Problem.”

The science fiction novels, written by Chinese author Liu Cixin, have been published in over 40 languages and transformed into various entertainment formats, including the Netflix television series “3 Body Problem” that debuted in 2024.

According to media accounts, Xu previously led a division within Yoozoo Games and killed Lin in December 2020 after being marginalized by the company founder. This occurred shortly after Xu had assisted his boss in securing the Netflix agreement.

Court proceedings concluded with Xu’s conviction in 2024, and authorities executed him on May 21, media outlets reported.

The gaming company acknowledged the execution through a Tuesday announcement on the Weibo social media service.

“Recently, the case concerning Mr. Lin Qi, the founder of Three-Body Universe, has finally reached its conclusion, and justice has ultimately been served,” the statement read.

“All of us at the company are deeply grateful for the upholding of justice,” it continued.

Neither Yoozoo Games nor the Shanghai High People’s Court provided immediate responses to requests for additional information on Wednesday.

Media reports indicate that Xu purchased expensive toxic materials online, spending hundreds of thousands of yuan (equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars). These included alpha-amanitin, a deadly substance present in certain toxic mushrooms.

The perpetrator concealed these poisons within fake probiotic supplements and also placed them in coffee pods, drinking water, and whisky containers before distributing them to Lin and additional company workers.

Medical personnel hospitalized Lin in December 2020, where he passed away several days afterward at age 39.

Multiple other individuals became ill from the poisoning but survived, according to media accounts.

“The Three-Body Problem” book series has achieved widespread success in China and internationally. Its creator, Liu, made history as the first Chinese author to receive the Hugo Award, considered the most prestigious honor in science fiction.

Within China, these works have sparked expansion of the science fiction entertainment sector, encompassing films, computer games, publications, periodicals and exhibitions.

Off-course Ukrainian military drones have been crossing into the airspace of Baltic nations over recent weeks, creating confusion and heightening regional tensions with Russia during a period when questions persist about U.S. dedication to NATO’s mutual defense agreements.

These airspace violations have happened while Ukraine intensifies its drone campaign against Russian Baltic seaports that process roughly 40% of the country’s oil and gas exports, four years into Moscow’s comprehensive invasion.

In the majority of incidents, both Kyiv and Baltic officials have verified the wandering drones belong to Ukraine but point to Russia as responsible for forcing them off their intended routes through electronic warfare systems that interfere with or manipulate guidance signals.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces commonly deploy such electronic countermeasures to disrupt opposing drone and missile navigation systems.

Moscow has alleged the Baltic nations are cooperating to allow Ukraine access to their airspace for launching strikes against Russian facilities. Both the Baltic countries and Ukraine reject these accusations.

The three Baltic NATO members – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – strongly back Kyiv and claim Russia employs threatening rhetoric to intimidate them, hoping they will pressure Ukraine to halt its offensive operations.

“They’re desperately now using any kind of opportunity to divide the Western part of the world and … to put more pressure on Ukraine not to launch these attacks,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in a phone interview.

While most wayward drones have caused no harm, either crashing in empty areas or departing Baltic airspace, anxiety levels are rising.

A NATO fighter aircraft destroyed a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia on May 19, marking the first instance NATO’s Baltic air mission had “fired a missile in defence of the Alliance” since these nations joined in 2004, according to NATO officials speaking to Reuters.

On May 20, Lithuanian parliament members evacuated to underground shelters as a drone neared Vilnius. The next day, air raid warnings sounded across northern Lithuania.

“The threat level is growing. Drones are flying in. They are Ukrainian, but some are loaded with explosives and can hit civilian objects. We must protect people,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas told Reuters.

Asta Skaisgiryte, foreign policy adviser to Lithuania’s president, explained the Baltic region faces particularly intense challenges now due to Ukrainian advances in drone technology that enhance their long-distance strike capabilities.

She suggested Russia might be intentionally rerouting drones into neighboring countries’ airspace.

Multiple drones have penetrated Baltic airspace without detection, exposing weaknesses in air defense systems along NATO’s frontier with Russia and Belarus.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina stepped down after dismissing her defense minister, holding him accountable for inadequate air defense preparations.

Even while maintaining unwavering support for Ukraine, Estonian leaders have informed Kyiv that airspace breaches are unhelpful and expressed expectations for better drone control.

A Ukrainian military source described a “serious” investigation underway to understand how Russia manipulates Ukrainian drones to stray into Baltic airspace.

A senior Swedish military source suggested Ukraine deliberately flies drones near the Baltic-Russian border, using it as protection since Russia would avoid firing into NATO territory and risking direct conflict.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry rejected this claim, accusing Russia of jamming drones to intentionally redirect them toward the Baltics while stating Kyiv selects flight routes that minimize risks to Baltic partners.

“We have intelligence about Russia deliberately doing this, these are not just abstract claims on our side,” said Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.

Russian embassies in Vilnius and Stockholm did not respond to comment requests.

During a recent U.N. Security Council session, Russia’s ambassador claimed Moscow possessed information about Ukrainian plans to launch military drones from Latvia and other Baltic states, warning Russia would retaliate.

Though Latvia’s representative called his statements “pure fiction,” Russia’s foreign intelligence service SVR alleged Riga had approved the arrangement despite concerns about becoming “a victim of Moscow’s retaliatory strike.”

Tsahkna and Kaunas interpreted such declarations as evidence of Russian weakness amid struggles to counter Ukrainian drones or achieve significant battlefield progress.

Linas Kojala, director of the Vilnius-based Geopolitics and Security Studies Center, warned of miscalculation risks from “provocative” Russian actions.

“The tensions are high, there is a risk of an unintended escalation,” he told Reuters.

While European leaders consider Russia a significant threat, the United States – NATO’s primary military force with tens of thousands of European-based troops – has delivered conflicting messages about its continental defense commitment.

President Donald Trump has hinted the U.S. might withdraw from NATO, and Washington announced delays to a Polish troop deployment this month, though later revealed plans for an additional 5,000 personnel.

A Baltic security official, speaking anonymously, characterized Russian rhetoric as primarily aimed at domestic audiences to highlight “war-mongering Europeans.”

“They want to hide the fact that they are actually struggling in coping with the Ukrainian drone attacks,” the official said. “From our perspective, the security situation in the region has not changed.”

A Chinese farm owner never anticipated that his simple job posting for shepherd positions would become an internet phenomenon, attracting hundreds of desperate job seekers and highlighting the nation’s employment challenges.

Zuo Xiaoyong found himself overwhelmed when more than 700 people responded to his advertisement for just two shepherd roles. The applicants included office workers from major cities like Shanghai and Chongqing, factory employees from various regions, and recent college graduates.

The job listing, posted in late April, generated massive attention on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of X, accumulating 59 million views in just hours and sparking over 21,000 discussion threads.

“I didn’t expect it to go viral,” Zuo commented, noting that one-tenth of those who applied were recent university graduates, while others were struggling with debt, demanding factory jobs, or workplace stress.

“It seems ordinary people are having a hard time finding work,” he observed.

The massive response reflects deeper issues in China’s employment landscape. Despite official unemployment rates remaining slightly above 5%, underemployment continues to climb, and private sector wages have failed to keep pace with economic expansion for nearly ten years. Workers in both blue-collar and white-collar positions frequently criticize the demanding ‘996’ work schedule – laboring from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days weekly.

Economic experts predict worsening job market conditions in upcoming months due to rising factory costs from international conflicts, increasing artificial intelligence implementation, and a record-breaking 12.7 million university graduates entering the job hunt this summer.

Lynn Song, chief China economist at ING, described the reaction to Zuo’s advertisement as “symptomatic of what continues to be a highly competitive and often low-rewarding labour market.”

“Urban jobs are becoming less attractive and more rare,” Song added.

China’s 5% economic expansion depends significantly on booming exports, as manufacturers reduce profits to capture global market share, intensifying pressure on domestic workers.

Among the applicants was James Guo, who sought the position due to exhaustion from his container manufacturing job.

“You have no idea what it’s like to work more than 13 hours a day, fastening screws until your hands are swollen and covered in blisters, without even having time to go to the bathroom,” the 21-year-old explained. “The workload is too intense, I can’t take it anymore.”

Zuo’s job requirements involved managing 3,000 sheep across a 2,000-hectare pasture during summer months and handling demanding indoor feeding and cleaning tasks during harsh winters when temperatures plummet below minus 30 Celsius.

The compensation offered 8,000 yuan ($1,178) monthly per shepherd, exceeding the national urban private company average of approximately 6,000 yuan, plus provided housing and food.

Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group, noted that master’s degree holders from prestigious universities in Shanghai typically seek comparable salaries, but most earnings disappear on rent for cramped apartments and basic living costs.

Zuo, who also manages 200 cattle, emphasized that the generous pay reflects the job’s difficulties.

“The salary is high, but whether you can work long-term and get through the winter is what matters most,” Zuo stated. “This is not tourism.”

Half the applicants were born during the 1990s, representing an age group affected by what Chinese workers term the ‘curse of 35,’ as research indicates most employers, including government agencies, dismiss candidates exceeding that age.

“We are seeing the ‘curse of 35’ move from a tech-sector meme to a broader economic reality,” explained Christian Yao, senior lecturer in human resource management at Victoria University of Wellington.

Wu, a 28-year-old e-commerce employee who provided only her surname for privacy, earns 10,000 yuan monthly but found the shepherding opportunity appealing.

“I want to escape city life and stop dealing with all kinds of difficult people,” Wu shared. “I could enjoy a peaceful, secluded life away from the world.”

Ultimately, Zuo selected four shepherds – two married couples – all born in the 1980s with previous farming experience. While maintaining a waiting list of 40 additional couples, he refuses to consider unmarried individuals or young city dwellers.

“In our place, you might not see people for a whole year,” Zuo concluded. “Whether someone can endure such loneliness, I don’t know.”

Counterfeit merchandise continues to flow freely through Vietnamese markets despite ongoing government enforcement campaigns and looming U.S. trade penalties, according to recent observations by news reporters.

At Hanoi’s Ninh Hiep wholesale market, vendors openly acknowledge that enforcement efforts have minimal lasting impact on their operations. One merchant selling knockoff designer polo shirts explained the routine nature of police visits.

“Police come once a year with a TV crew. They film the seizure of a shop, and then it’s business as usual,” the vendor stated.

The Ninh Hiep market ranks among approximately 30 “notorious markets” globally that the U.S. Trade Representative has identified in its most recent annual assessment of counterfeiting and intellectual property theft.

U.S. officials have also highlighted streaming platforms like MyFlixerz, which they believe operate from Vietnam and attract hundreds of millions of monthly users worldwide by providing illegal access to movies and television programs. These sites remained active as of May 27, despite announced enforcement measures.

Neither the U.S. Trade Representative nor Vietnam’s foreign ministry provided responses to requests for comment.

The United States considers Vietnam’s intellectual property violations a significant threat to American economic interests. On April 30, Washington labeled the Southeast Asian country as the globe’s most serious intellectual property offender and indicated it could initiate an investigation by the end of May, potentially resulting in trade penalties.

This designation came as Vietnam’s exports to America surged, creating a U.S. trade deficit of $54.8 billion with Vietnam during the first quarter of this year – exceeding deficits with major trading partners China and Mexico, according to U.S. government statistics. The current administration has consistently emphasized its goal of reducing trade imbalances.

Following April’s classification as a “priority foreign country” for intellectual property violations – making Vietnam the first nation added to this worst-offender category in 13 years – the foreign ministry responded that Vietnam has made “strenuous efforts” to safeguard intellectual property rights and called on the United States to provide “an objective and balanced assessment of Vietnam’s efforts and achievements.”

In response to the U.S. announcement, Vietnamese authorities initiated an anti-counterfeiting and online piracy campaign running from May 7 through 30.

Similar enforcement action occurred last year following the previous administration’s implementation of 46% tariffs on Vietnamese imports, which have since been lowered to 10%. Vietnam has been pursuing trade agreement discussions with Washington, its primary export destination, for the past year.

News reporters made two visits to Ninh Hiep this month – once before the crackdown began and again on May 25 – interviewing approximately 10 market vendors. All described a pattern of routine government enforcement operations that produce limited long-term results. The vendors requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of their business.

One seller revealed that recent police activity had caused some shops to reduce their displays of branded counterfeit items, but noted, “Fakes are still available in our storage if ordered.”

Officials responsible for anti-counterfeiting enforcement did not respond to requests for comment.

Reporters observed numerous stalls selling counterfeit clothing featuring brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Gap and Alo Yoga. Many products included Chinese-language labels identifying their manufacturers. When questioned, shop workers acknowledged the items were fake, primarily imported from Guangzhou, China, with a smaller portion manufactured domestically in Vietnam.

Previous enforcement campaigns have shown limited effectiveness, with some merchants noting that enforcement pressure and new tax regulations have affected their business. Another “notorious market” in Ho Chi Minh City faced police raids last year but continues operating.

Motorcycle riders still navigate Ninh Hiep’s cramped pathways, seeking merchandise for resale in downtown Hanoi and other retail locations.

“As long as there is demand, there will be supply,” one vendor observed.

KRYVYI RIH, Ukraine — When a Russian missile strike cost Iryna Nakonechna her left leg and claimed her husband’s life last year, the Ukrainian woman made a drastic decision to eliminate all connections to her past existence.

She chopped off her flowing dark hair and cleared out furniture, clothing, keepsakes and photos from her residence. Only one memento from her earlier life stayed: a picture showing her with her husband, Serhii Nakonechnyi.

Abandoning her former identity became essential, she explained, to survive the difficult transformation needed to create a new existence with an artificial limb.

Now, Nakonechna displays sharp wit and bubbly energy, with sudden bursts of loud laughter. She sports a short pixie cut and striking red cat-eye glasses, and creates small knitted toy capybaras — creatures that have emerged as an unofficial emblem among Ukraine’s amputee community. However, behind the brightness in her gaze exists sorrow intertwined with the challenging journey of becoming a different person. This represents a frequently unmentioned truth behind the stories of strength surrounding Ukraine’s tens of thousands of limb-loss survivors from the conflict that started over four years ago with Russia’s comprehensive invasion.

“The most challenging aspect was learning to accept myself with these injuries, wounds that extend beyond the physical,” she explained. “Understanding how dramatically my existence has transformed has been extremely hard.”

Ukraine’s precise count of war amputees remains unclear, but the figure keeps climbing as explosive devices, artillery fire, and missile and drone attacks cause devastating injuries to military personnel and civilians alike. This growth has sparked an expansion of rehabilitation and prosthetic care, while simultaneously transforming Ukrainian society. Artificial limbs have become increasingly prominent and meaningful symbols of endurance and resistance.

Nakonechna, 50, continues walking with an uneven gait and relies on a walking stick while adapting to the prosthetic that extends to her upper thigh. The air attack also restricted movement in her arms, creating challenges when lifting heavy items.

The following phase in Nakonechna’s recovery involves mastering walking without assistance from a cane, according to her physical therapist, Anastasiia Stetsenko.

She needs to develop not just physical strength, but mental confidence as well. She must learn to trust herself during movements most individuals consider automatic: ascending stairs, bending down to retrieve objects, walking on uneven pavement, or keeping up with her 2-year-old grandson during playground visits.

Nakonechna’s weekly hour-long appointments with Stetsenko start by detaching her prosthetic and placing it against the wall.

Next, Stetsenko instructs Nakonechna to raise a plastic bar while sitting, coordinating the motion with her breathing pattern.

“You are a demon,” Nakonechna tells Stetsenko, when the workouts become challenging.

Subsequently, Stetsenko positions Nakonechna on her back to rotate her amputated limb in gentle circles, evaluating her movement capabilities.

“This feels like an extreme sport,” Nakonechna remarks.

Eventually, Stetsenko recommends she perform squats while holding a ballet barre, among the most difficult movements for her to master again.

“I will respond as my grandson would,” Nakonechna declares. “Just no.”

Both women burst into fits of laughter, resembling longtime companions rather than therapist and client.

The assault occurred on March 5, 2025. Following their evening meal, Nakonechna and her husband decided to take advantage of unusually mild spring temperatures with a nighttime walk.

They were positioned near a hotel entrance in downtown Kryvyi Rih when a Russian missile ripped through the structure, throwing them in different directions.

Her ears buzzed as her husband, now meters away, cried out in pain.

She lifted herself up and felt her left shoulder grinding. The bones had shattered. She reached toward her left leg but felt nothing.

The pair were transported to separate medical facilities. Her husband passed away the following day.

“I never got to say goodbye,” Nakonechna stated. “I wasn’t even at the funeral.”

During the following two months, time became a haze as Nakonechna endured twice-weekly surgical procedures.

By May of that year, she could finally sit upright once more.

She experienced relief, she noted, but it marked just the start.

The residence Nakonechna previously shared with her husband now appears completely different.

“I had to get rid of everything from the past,” she stated. “And focus on living my life, even if it was half the life I had before.”

Nakonechna asked her 77-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia, to come live with her. During lunch, her mother cautiously places a pot of borscht on the table. Nakonechna mentioned such activities are no longer simple for her.

She expresses sadness that she still cannot pick up her grandson, Tymofii. One day, the child attached a sticker showing a cartoon capybara with a prosthetic leg onto her own artificial limb. She kept it there.

A precise craftsperson, she subsequently started creating knitted toy capybaras through Superhumans, a contemporary war-trauma facility focused on prosthetics and rehabilitation. Throughout the conflict, veterans began placing these toys and stickers of the gentle, cheerful animals on their limbs to help strangers feel comfortable. The capybara has since become a symbol of strength and the drive to find happiness again after tragedy.

Nakonechna’s creations rapidly gained popularity, and she dedicates hours to knitting them. Her preferred moment comes when putting together the final pieces, transforming the creation into a complete toy.

“When I count the stitches, I think only about the stitches, not about the life that could have been and unfortunately is not,” Nakonechna explained.

Recently, she achieved a personal milestone: For the first time following her injury, she put on shorts.

This simple action represented a significant transformation.

“I accepted myself as I am,” she declared.

Taiwanese authorities are investigating allegations that three people illegally transported Nvidia computer chips to China by first routing the shipment through Japan, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday.

The report, which cited sources with knowledge of the investigation, claims prosecutors believe the individuals managed to successfully complete at least one such smuggling operation.

The news agency Reuters noted they were unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report’s details.

LONDON (AP) — The United Kingdom and its international partners face the possibility of defeat in digital warfare against enemies like Russia if citizens, businesses and government agencies don’t make cybersecurity a far more pressing priority, according to a top British intelligence official.

Anne Keast-Butler, who leads the communications intelligence agency GCHQ, plans to deliver a warning Wednesday that Moscow is “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust” throughout Britain and Europe. Speaking at a historic World War II codebreaking facility outside London, she will claim Russia is conducting technology theft while planning sabotage operations and assassination plots.

Keast-Butler intends to state that swift developments in artificial intelligence indicate “the ground beneath our feet is shifting” and there exists a “narrowing window for the U.K. and allies to stay ahead” of nations like China, which she describes as a science and technology “superpower.”

She will contend that efforts must be made “from boardrooms to living rooms” to make cybersecurity “10 times more urgent,” based on excerpts provided beforehand by GCHQ, which stands for Government Communications Headquarters.

This represents another in a series of alerts from Western intelligence officials and security specialists that Russia is escalating aggressive actions in what they call a “gray zone” that remains just short of actual warfare.

Over recent months, government officials in nations including Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Norway have claimed that computer hackers connected to Russia have attacked their essential infrastructure, including electrical facilities and water systems.

Richard Horne, who directs the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre, cautioned last month that antagonistic nations including Russia, China and Iran are responsible for the most dangerous cyber attacks facing the country. He indicated such assaults might escalate significantly if Britain enters an international military conflict.

Keast-Butler intends to emphasize how crucial international cooperation remains as U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign relations and dismissal of traditional allies creates tension between London and Washington.

Notably, she will present the annual GCHQ director’s address at Bletchley Park, an estate located 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of London where hundreds of mathematicians, code specialists, puzzle solvers, chess experts and other professionals labored to break Nazi Germany’s supposedly impenetrable secret communications.

Their efforts both reduced the length of the war and accelerated the development of contemporary computing technology.