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NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s health minister issued an order Tuesday to suspend construction of an Ebola quarantine facility designed to house Americans who contract the virus while abroad, one day after being held in contempt of court for allowing the project to continue.

Officials from the Trump administration had announced plans to send Americans exposed to Ebola in foreign countries to the new Kenyan facility rather than bringing them back to the United States.

Back in May, a high court had directed that construction be stopped while judges considered a legal challenge brought by the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute, a constitutional watchdog group. Those organizations argued that Kenya’s already strained health infrastructure could not safely manage a potential Ebola outbreak.

Despite that court order, construction pressed on. Residents in the area staged multiple protests over the project, and three people died during those demonstrations.

Health Minister Aden Duale was found in contempt on Monday and was required to appear at a sentencing hearing the following day. During that hearing, Duale offered an apology to the court, stating that it was never his intention to “disregard, undermine or act in defiance of the orders of the court.”

The court accepted the apology and chose not to impose any additional punishment on the minister.

Duale also pushed back against fears surrounding the facility, insisting that worries about it endangering nearby communities were not backed by science.

“The fear that the Laikipia facility could serve as a vehicle for Ebola importation into surrounding communities is scientifically unfounded,” Duale said.

The United States has pledged $13.5 million to support Kenya’s efforts to prepare for a potential Ebola outbreak.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China’s newest and most capable aircraft carrier passed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry announced, coming just one day after Taiwan launched a five-day military drill focused on responding to a potential Chinese military invasion.

The Fujian carrier had previously made a test run through the narrow waterway that separates China and Taiwan back in September of last year. It then made its first transit through the strait as a fully operational commissioned warship in December.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory, even though the island governs itself independently. China has not taken the option of military force off the table when it comes to bringing Taiwan under its control. In recent years, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has grown increasingly frequent, with naval vessels and warplanes now approaching the island on an almost daily basis.

Taiwan launched its own five-day military exercise on Monday, designed to test and strengthen its ability to respond in the event of a Chinese invasion attempt.

The United States Navy routinely sends warships through the Taiwan Strait, as do some allied nations, as a signal to Beijing that any forceful move to claim the island would not go unchallenged.

The Fujian was officially commissioned in November 2025. According to the U.S. Naval Institute, it holds the distinction of being the world’s largest non-nuclear-powered warship and is regarded as more technologically advanced than China’s two other carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning.

ROME — Italy’s Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti declared Tuesday that holding a national election in April is off the table, saying the government needs more time to push through legislation transferring greater authority to regional governments.

Giorgetti was responding to reports from Italian media outlets and Bloomberg suggesting that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni might call early elections in April — several months ahead of the autumn 2027 deadline for her term to end.

Speaking at a conference hosted by the newspaper La Verita’, Giorgetti was direct: “Let me give you a piece of news … in order to complete the parliamentary passage (of the regional devolution legislation) we cannot vote in April.”

Those who favor holding elections earlier have argued that waiting until September 2027 — the natural end of Meloni’s term — could leave Italy without a fully functioning government during October’s budget season, a critical window when new public finance goals are established.

In additional comments, Giorgetti addressed Italy’s standing with the European Union over its budget deficit, saying the country still has a shot at exiting an EU infringement procedure before the year is out.

Italy’s national statistics agency ISTAT reported in March that the 2025 deficit came in at 3.1% of gross domestic product, just above the EU’s 3% ceiling. That figure has kept Italy locked in a procedure that restricts its fiscal flexibility.

“The match isn’t over yet,” Giorgetti said, pointing out that the 2025 deficit figure could be revised downward at a scheduled review in September. He acknowledged he was doubtful that would happen, but said he hadn’t given up hope entirely.

Giorgetti also confirmed the government will not extend a reduction in excise taxes on fuel past the current July 3 cutoff date, citing recent declines in diesel and gasoline prices.

“It is no longer necessary in the current situation,” he said.

The fuel tax relief measure has been extended and gradually reduced multiple times since it was first put in place in March, following an energy price spike triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

A delegation of Taliban officials met with European Union representatives in Brussels on Tuesday, marking the first time such a meeting has taken place on EU soil — a development that drew immediate backlash from human rights organizations and European politicians.

The EU and its member nations have not formally recognized the Taliban government since the militant group seized control of Afghanistan five years ago, following two decades of conflict against a government supported by a U.S.-led NATO coalition.

Despite that lack of recognition, Brussels has defended its decision to engage in limited talks with what it calls Afghanistan’s “de facto authorities,” saying such dialogue is necessary to facilitate the removal of failed asylum seekers who have committed crimes or are considered a threat.

According to an EU European Commission spokesperson, officials from the Commission and 15 EU member states were present at the Brussels meeting, which served as a follow-up to an earlier gathering held in Kabul back in January.

“The Commission services and Sweden co-chaired a technical-level meeting today in Brussels with technical-level representatives of the de facto authorities of Afghanistan responsible for return and readmission,” the Commission spokesperson stated.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry offered a broader description of what was discussed. A spokesperson for the ministry, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said topics included the possibility of a consular presence within the EU, the resumption of consular services for Afghans living in Europe, and what he called “the need for trust-building measures.”

Balkhi added that the meeting raised “hope to build positive momentum to safeguard consular rights of Afghans residing abroad.”

However, a letter from the Commission addressed to Balkhi — reviewed by Reuters — indicated the talks were specifically focused “on the return and readmission of Afghan nationals without a right to stay in the EU.”

The visit sparked strong opposition from rights organizations and several European elected officials, who warned that engaging with the Taliban could endanger Afghans and contradict the EU’s foundational values.

“Every invitation, every visa and every official meeting sends a political signal. The Taliban are not seeking technical discussions, they are seeking legitimacy,” said Hannah Neumann, a European lawmaker from the Green Party, in a statement co-signed by German parliamentarians and former Afghan lawmakers.

Belgium’s Foreign Ministry took steps to limit the Taliban delegation’s access, issuing visas that permitted the Afghan representatives to enter the country for just one day and confined their movement to Belgian territory, preventing them from traveling freely through the EU’s broader Schengen zone.

Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have progressively rolled back civil rights in Afghanistan — restricting women’s ability to move freely, barring girls from attending school beyond the primary level, and enforcing strict morality laws that limit free expression and access to work.

The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new resolution designed to ensure those who attack UN peacekeepers face justice, as concerns mount over escalating violence and the failure to prosecute offenders.

The action comes in the wake of a string of deadly attacks on UN personnel, including an incident in early March when seven peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were killed following renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Denmark and Pakistan drafted the resolution, which received co-sponsorship from 152 countries before passing without a single dissenting vote.

The resolution calls on nations that host UN peacekeeping forces to take “all necessary measures” to investigate and bring charges against anyone responsible for targeting UN personnel.

The document acknowledges that prosecution rates have remained consistently low and stresses that holding perpetrators accountable is critical to deterring future attacks.

While the resolution reaffirms that host nations carry the primary responsibility for protecting UN personnel within their borders, it also urges all parties involved to cooperate fully with any investigations that take place.

The resolution requests that the UN secretary-general appoint “a senior focal point” within the organization to oversee and coordinate efforts aimed at improving accountability for crimes committed against peacekeepers.

Additionally, the resolution encourages countries that contribute troops and police to UN missions to send investigators — when requested by host nations — to help with inquiries. It also calls for an annual report from the UN detailing progress on investigations and prosecutions.

The Security Council noted that attacks on UN peacekeepers may rise to the level of war crimes and signaled its intention to explore further measures to strengthen accountability going forward.

A South African appeals court delivered a ruling Tuesday giving the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu the authority to decide where he will be laid to rest, reversing an earlier court order that had sided with the Zambian government’s push for a state funeral.

Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 until 2021 and passed away in South Africa roughly a year ago while undergoing medical treatment. His remains have stayed in South Africa ever since, as a dispute between his family and the Zambian government has dragged on over the proper burial location.

The Zambian government had sought to bring Lungu’s body back to the capital, Lusaka, for burial at a site designated for the country’s former presidents. His family, however, has preferred a private burial in South Africa.

At the heart of the family’s resistance is their belief that Lungu would not have wanted his current successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, present at the funeral. The two men were longstanding political adversaries.

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal concluded Tuesday that Zambia’s government had not demonstrated any legal standing under South African law to override the family’s preferences regarding the burial arrangements. The court also dismissed Zambia’s claim that a binding agreement had been reached with the family, finding instead that negotiations between the two sides were still ongoing at the time.

Zambia’s Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha told Reuters that while the government did not fully agree with the ruling, it would honor the court’s decision. “We will not exercise our right to appeal to the Constitutional Court. We will not take the matter any further,” Kabesha said.

South Africa’s government had previously stated it felt obligated to respect the family’s wishes, though it also expressed the view that a state burial in Zambia would be the most appropriate send-off for a former head of state.

During his time in office, Lungu oversaw a significant buildup of national debt. Zambia defaulted on its international debt obligations in 2020, a development widely seen as contributing to his defeat at the polls. President Hichilema is now preparing to seek a second five-year term at an election scheduled for August.

TBILISI — The leader of South Ossetia, a small breakaway region of Georgia supported by Russia, announced Tuesday that he is leaving his post to serve as an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a statement posted to a South Ossetian government website, Alan Gagloyev said his resignation takes effect immediately, and that he will be moving into a role within Russia’s presidential administration. He said his prime minister will take over as president in his place.

Gagloyev explained that his new role will focus on helping carry out a treaty signed between South Ossetia and Russia the previous year. He described the agreement as a step toward what he called a “cherished dream” — the full incorporation of the small territory into Russia.

South Ossetia is home to roughly 50,000 people. The region first separated from Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, achieving de facto independence with significant support from Moscow.

A brief but intense war between Russia and Georgia erupted in 2008 over the territory, ending with Georgian forces being pushed out of areas they had previously held within South Ossetia.

In the aftermath of that conflict, Russia and a small number of other nations formally recognized South Ossetia — along with Abkhazia, another Georgian breakaway region — as independent states.

Over the years, various South Ossetian leaders have expressed a desire for the territory to one day become part of Russia. However, neither local officials nor the Kremlin have moved forward with an official vote on annexation.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — A lengthy legal fight over the final resting place of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu may finally be coming to an end. South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal issued a ruling Tuesday in favor of Lungu’s family, rejecting the Zambian government’s attempt to take custody of his body and bring it home for burial.

The decision reverses an earlier South African court order that had required the family to turn over Lungu’s remains to Zambian authorities for repatriation.

Lungu passed away in South Africa on June 5, 2025, at the age of 68. The Zambian government had sought to have him buried at a national cemetery reserved for the country’s leaders, while his family chose to lay him to rest in South Africa instead.

The dispute carried with it the weight of a bitter political rivalry between Lungu and current Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema — a conflict that, remarkably, continued even after Lungu’s death. His body remained in a mortuary throughout the duration of the court proceedings.

Lungu’s family stated they were carrying out his final wishes, which included that Hichilema have no involvement with his body and not preside over any state funeral held in Zambia.

The conflict erupted last June when a funeral service organized by the family in South Africa was halted after the Zambian government filed an emergency court case. Authorities argued that national customs and protocols required Lungu to be interred at the national cemetery in his home country.

In a majority decision handed down Tuesday, the panel of judges on the Supreme Court of Appeal concluded that “the common law and constitutional rights of family prevail” over the Zambian government’s position.

The Supreme Court of Appeal ranks as South Africa’s second highest court. The Zambian government still has the option to escalate the matter to the Constitutional Court.

Lungu led Zambia as president from 2015 to 2021, defeating Hichilema in two separate elections during that period. While Lungu held power, Hichilema — then the opposition leader — was jailed for four months on treason charges that were eventually dropped.

Lungu ultimately lost the 2021 election to Hichilema and later claimed that he had been effectively placed under house arrest by officials acting under Hichilema’s direction.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Niger has officially departed from the International Criminal Court, with the country’s leadership accusing the tribunal of practicing selective justice.

The west African nation formally submitted a letter to the United Nations triggering its exit from the Rome Statute, which serves as the court’s foundational legal document.

The letter stated, “While the court had raised great hopes among peoples who cherish peace and justice, it has been misused and exploited.”

Niger joins Mali and Burkina Faso, all three of which announced their intentions to withdraw from the court last year. With this departure, Niger becomes only the third nation ever to exit the ICC, following the Philippines and Burundi.

A military coup removed Niger’s democratically elected government in 2023. Since that takeover, the ruling military junta has cut ties with longtime allies and forged new partnerships — including with Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin is himself the subject of an ICC arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine.

Mali and Burkina Faso have undergone comparable political shifts following their own military takeovers.

The ICC responded to Niger’s departure with disappointment. “We regret any decision to depart from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes,” the court said in an official statement.

Niger’s withdrawal will not take effect until 12 months after the United Nations received the letter. Importantly, any crimes that take place before the withdrawal is finalized will still fall under the court’s authority.

The departure comes amid ongoing violence in the region. Earlier this month, gunmen attacked the main airport in Niger’s capital city of Niamey, killing more than 30 people. It marked the second assault on the airport this year. The facility serves as a critical military hub, housing the ruling junta’s air force base along with the majority of its drones and aircraft. It also serves as headquarters for the regional military alliance uniting forces from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

The attack reflects a broader and troubling trend of armed groups increasingly setting their sights on cities and populated areas across Africa’s Sahel region.

In a related development, Hungary had also moved to leave the ICC last year, but reversed that decision after Viktor Orbán was removed from the presidency following elections held in April.

VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and her entire cabinet officially stepped down Tuesday, triggered by a realignment of the country’s ruling coalition. The shake-up sets the stage for the Baltic nation’s third prime minister in just two years and a new government that has signaled it wants to pursue a more practical relationship with China after a prolonged period of diplomatic tension.

The government’s fall came after the center-left Social Democrats broke off their coalition agreement earlier this month with the scandal-plagued populist Nemuno Aušra party. The split followed mounting controversy surrounding one of that party’s former leaders, who is facing accusations of antisemitic rhetoric.

That former leader, ex-lawmaker Remigijus Žemaitaitis, was ordered to pay a 5,000 euro fine — roughly $5,800 — by a Lithuanian court last year. The court determined he had incited hatred toward Jewish people, grossly minimized Nazi Germany’s atrocities, and made deeply offensive statements downplaying the Holocaust through social media posts and public remarks made in May and June of 2023. Prosecutors are now seeking a harsher penalty before an appeals court. Žemaitaitis maintains he is not guilty.

Ruginienė’s formal resignation will be delivered to President Gitanas Nausėda, who is widely expected to ask the departing administration to remain in a caretaker role while a new government is assembled.

Before stepping down, Ruginienė — a Social Democrat and former labor union leader — addressed her ministers with words of appreciation. “Despite all the difficulties, we have much to be proud of, and each of you has made a significant contribution to the welfare of our state and the improving lives of its people,” she told them Tuesday.

Under the Lithuanian constitution, the president has 15 days to put forward a prime ministerial candidate to parliament. Based on a coalition agreement signed last week by the new ruling majority, Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius is the anticipated nominee for the top government post.

The newly formed coalition, made up of the Social Democrats and two other center-left parties, took shape without the Nemuno Aušra party. Together, the new alliance holds 75 seats in the 141-member Lithuanian parliament, known as the Seimas. The coalition agreement calls for at least four ministerial positions to change hands, though the country’s broader policy directions are expected to stay largely intact.

On foreign policy, the coalition’s governing document indicates a desire to rebuild more stable ties with Beijing. The new partners say they back restoring diplomatic dialogue and growing economic cooperation where it benefits Lithuania, while continuing to honor the country’s obligations to the European Union, NATO, and its strategic partnership with Taiwan.

If the Seimas approves the prime minister-designate, that individual will have up to two weeks to present a new cabinet and governing program — developed in coordination with the president — for parliamentary review and approval.

Authorities in the Philippines announced Tuesday that they are temporarily blocking an online gaming app after discovering that one of two teenage suspects in a deadly school shooting was a frequent user of it. The move is intended to help officials determine whether the app had any influence on the attack.

The shooting took place Monday at San Jose National High School in the central city of Tacloban, where two students — ages 14 and 15, each armed with a handgun — opened fire on their classmates. Three students were killed and 20 others were injured in the attack.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center announced the decision to block the app known as Gorebox, citing an active police investigation that revealed one of the suspects was a heavy user of the platform. Officials said the temporary block would allow them to evaluate “whether the platform played any role in the actions of the suspects.”

The block took effect Tuesday, according to a statement from Undersecretary Aboy Paraiso of the cybercrime center.

“We cannot ignore possible online influences that may have contributed to this tragic incident,” Paraiso said, though he did not indicate how long the restriction would remain in place.

Gorebox, which launched in 2023, has been described in marketing materials as “a physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction,” according to the cybercrime center.

Paraiso did not address what steps might follow if a government review concludes that the app encourages violent behavior among players.

“Beyond this temporary ban, we are reinforcing our monitoring efforts to identify online spaces that may pose risks to young users and to ensure that appropriate interventions are made immediately,” Paraiso said. “Our priority is the safety and well-being of Filipino children exposed to the internet.”

While gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines — in part because of the widespread presence of unlicensed firearms — school shootings remain relatively uncommon in the country.

Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said the suspects told investigators they carried out the attack in retaliation for being bullied at school. However, Capoy and other police officials noted that a full investigation ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will examine all possibilities, including the potential influence of online groups that encourage rebellion and violent behavior among young people.

One of the suspects obtained a 9 mm pistol from an aunt who works as a police officer and is now under investigation. The other suspect had a .38 caliber revolver that came from a security agency employee. Police said the two were able to bring the weapons onto school grounds because security measures at the campus were insufficient for its 1,600 students.

Video footage of the shooting that was shared online captured students hiding beneath desks inside a locked classroom, crying and screaming as gunshots rang out nearby. Some of the students could be heard calling out for their mothers.

All of the victims — both those killed and those wounded — were students, police confirmed. Investigators recovered at least 40 shell casings from the scene.

Due to their ages, both suspects were expected to be transferred to government welfare officials following the investigation. Under a Philippine law enacted in 2006, the 14-year-old cannot face criminal prosecution. The law sets the minimum age of criminal liability at 15, and only when authorities determine the suspect fully understood the nature of the crime and its consequences.

BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai woman stood before a Myanmar court Tuesday as her trial moved forward on an immigration-related charge connected to accusations that she murdered her former husband, a U.S. diplomat, according to an attorney with knowledge of the case.

Pavinee Supasirivisan faces both an immigration code violation charge and a murder charge stemming from the diplomat’s death in May. However, she is currently being tried first on the immigration violation, which applies to any foreign national who commits a crime in Myanmar. The identity of the diplomat has not been made public.

During the hearing at Kamayut Township Court — the second session in her trial — three prosecution witnesses took the stand, including immigration officers. The attorney who provided this information spoke under the condition of anonymity, citing concerns about potential consequences from Myanmar’s military-controlled government.

The attorney noted that Pavinee had two legal representatives present in court, though further details were unavailable. It also remained unclear whether she had entered a formal plea. A conviction on the immigration charge could result in a sentence of anywhere between six months and five years behind bars.

An official from Kamayut township’s immigration and population department confirmed to The Associated Press that witnesses did testify at the proceeding but declined to elaborate. That official also spoke anonymously, as they were not authorized to speak with members of the press.

It remains unknown how long the current trial will take to conclude, or when proceedings on the murder charge will begin. A murder conviction in Myanmar carries a potential sentence ranging from 10 years in prison up to the death penalty.

Myanmar’s military took control of the country in 2021, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. That power grab triggered widespread protests that have since escalated into a full-scale civil war in the country, also known as Burma.

Authorities in Myanmar have largely refused to engage with the media on this case. Police, the prison where the suspect is believed to be held, and the court where she appeared have all declined to comment. Members of the press are barred from attending court proceedings.

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged providing consular assistance to the suspect but has not offered any additional details.

According to the attorney, the diplomat was discovered dead on May 11 at the Sakura Residence & Hotel, a property known to be frequented by diplomats, business travelers, and other international visitors. The hotel is situated approximately 1.5 kilometers — roughly one mile — from the U.S. Embassy. The victim had suffered stab wounds to the head and neck.

The U.S. State Department acknowledged the diplomat’s death but has declined to release further information, including the individual’s name.

AMSTERDAM — The Netherlands has officially signed on to the Pax Silica initiative, a U.S.-backed alliance of allied nations aimed at coordinating AI-related supply chains, according to the Dutch foreign ministry, which made the announcement Tuesday.

The Netherlands joining Pax Silica represents a significant achievement for U.S. technology diplomacy, even as tensions remain between Washington and Amsterdam over export restrictions tied to Dutch chip equipment manufacturer ASML.

The announcement comes as Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma traveled to Washington to push back against the proposed U.S. Match Act, a measure that would require allied nations to fall in line with American export controls targeting China.

Both the U.S. and the Netherlands have reached agreement on blocking ASML from shipping its most advanced chip-making tools to China — the kind used to produce circuitry for AI chips. However, the two governments remain divided on whether ASML should be permitted to sell and provide maintenance for certain older, less-advanced equipment to Chinese buyers.

Sjoerdsma and Jacob Helberg, the U.S. undersecretary of state for economic affairs who oversees the Pax Silica initiative, are expected to present the agreement as a step forward for both trade and economic security. The European Union is anticipated to formally join the alliance at some point in the future.

South Korea and Japan have already become members of Pax Silica. Taiwan, which is home to chipmaker TSMC, has expressed support for the group but has not signed on as a full member.

The European Commission is preparing to step up its investigation into Meta Platforms, with new allegations that the company intentionally designed its social media apps to hook children, according to a Bloomberg News report published Tuesday citing sources with knowledge of the situation.

Meta, which owns both Instagram and Facebook, has faced growing scrutiny over the effects its platforms have on the mental health and safety of younger users.

According to the Bloomberg report, European regulators are drafting preliminary findings that accuse Meta of using design tactics specifically intended to keep young people engaged and coming back to its platforms. No timeline has been set for when those findings will be officially released.

Neither Meta nor the European Commission responded to requests for comment from Reuters, which noted it was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report.

Regulators are also weighing restrictions on Meta similar to measures already put in place by the United Kingdom and other nations. Those potential curbs are expected to be considered after an expert panel delivers its recommendations next month.

The European Commission first launched its investigation into Meta in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act, citing concerns that the company had not done enough to protect children on its platforms. Then in April of this year, EU officials formally charged Meta with violating its technology regulations, demanding the company take stronger steps to prevent children under 13 from accessing its social networks.

In the United States, Meta has separately been lobbying Congress to grant the company legal immunity from lawsuits tied to harm caused to children. The company is currently facing thousands of legal claims from young users and their families, according to a Reuters report from last week.

Adding to Meta’s legal troubles, a jury in Los Angeles reached a significant verdict in March, finding both Meta and Alphabet’s Google negligent for building social media platforms that were harmful to young people.

FRANKFURT — The European Central Bank took a significant step forward Tuesday, winning key support from a major parliamentary committee for the creation of a digital euro — an electronic payment system designed to make the euro zone less dependent on U.S.-based credit card companies at a time when transatlantic relations are under strain.

The digital euro would function as an electronic wallet backed by the central bank but distributed through traditional banks or financial technology companies. It would give all euro zone residents the ability to make purchases both online and in person.

The project has been in development for six years, but it has taken on new urgency since Donald Trump returned to the White House, imposing tariffs on longtime trade partners including the European Union. The move has fueled concerns that the U.S. could eventually use its control over major payment networks like Visa and Mastercard as a political tool.

Tuesday’s approval of draft rules by the economic committee of the European Parliament follows three years of back-and-forth between the ECB and the banking industry. Banks had raised concerns about losing deposits and revenue, and pushed to scale back the project’s reach.

The proposed regulation states that the digital euro would “reduce overreliance on non-European providers by becoming a pan-European means of payment and would bring the single currency into the digital era by giving Union citizens the freedom to opt to pay with central bank money in their daily transactions.”

Not everyone was on board. Siegbert Frank Droese, representing the far-right Europe of Sovereign Nations group in the European Parliament, said his group voted against the measure — raising the possibility that an additional vote may be required when the full Parliament meets in plenary session.

If no objection arises there, lawmakers are expected to begin negotiations with EU governments and the European Commission next month, with the goal of reaching final approval before year’s end.

The ECB is planning a 12-month pilot program beginning in the second half of next year, ahead of a full launch scheduled for 2029.

KYIV — Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is set to lead her country’s delegation to a significant reconstruction conference taking place in Poland this week, even as tensions between the two neighboring nations have been growing over a dispute concerning the name of a Ukrainian military unit.

Svyrydenko outlined who would be traveling with her, stating: “The Ukrainian delegation at the conference will include representatives of Ukrainian business, heads of state-owned companies, representatives of our communities from across the country, and, of course, government officials and members of parliament.”

Authorities in both eastern and western Libya have significantly escalated their campaign against migrants and refugees over the past month, carrying out mass arrests, detentions, and forced removals, according to Amnesty International. The human rights group, in a statement released Tuesday, placed blame squarely on the European Union for enabling the abuse.

Libya has long served as a key transit point for people attempting to escape conflict and poverty in search of a better life in Europe. Since a NATO-backed revolt in 2011 that ousted Muammar Gaddafi, migrants have risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The country remains divided between competing factions controlling the west and east of the nation.

The EU and its member countries have provided funding and training to the Libyan coastguard for years. That coastguard intercepts migrants trying to cross the sea. Although the EU officially recognizes only the government based in Tripoli, it has also increased its dealings with the rival eastern authorities since last year.

Amnesty detailed the crackdown as including sweeping arrests across several cities, forced evictions, and the expulsion of hundreds of migrants — among them citizens of war-ravaged Sudan — who were given no opportunity to seek asylum or contest their removal.

Diana Elahawy, Amnesty International’s deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, had sharp words for the EU’s role. “The EU has long bankrolled migration control in Libya with its support to the Libyan Coast Guard, which has already made it complicit in horrific violations and abuses,” she said.

Elahawy went further, saying: “Extending this cooperation to eastern-based armed groups with records of committing war crimes and other abuses with impunity shows a shocking disregard, not only for international law, but also for human life and dignity.”

Neither the EU’s executive body, the European Commission, nor the Libyan government in Tripoli, nor the eastern administration responded to requests for comment. EU officials have previously argued that their cooperation with Libya is aimed at saving lives on the water and stopping illegal smuggling operations.

In a letter sent to EU leaders last week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote that “continued EU engagement with Libya remains indispensable,” pointing to a surge in irregular crossings toward Greece through the Eastern Mediterranean route.

“We are providing targeted financial and operational support to strengthen border management, search-and-rescue and anti-smuggling capacities, and reduce illegal departures and the loss of lives at sea,” von der Leyen wrote.

Last summer, EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner traveled to eastern Libya for meetings with officials there, but was expelled shortly after he arrived.

ABUJA, Nigeria — At least 20 people lost their lives when an armed group stormed a community in north-central Nigeria, according to police who announced the attack on Monday.

The assault took place Sunday in the Kawel community, situated in the Bokkos area of Plateau State, according to police spokesman Alfred Alabo, who released the information in an official statement.

Officers responded quickly and engaged in a gunfight with the attackers, eventually forcing them to flee the area, Alabo said. Despite the confrontation, no one was taken into custody.

No organization has stepped forward to claim responsibility for the deadly assault, which occurred in an area that has seen repeated episodes of violence over the years.

“The remains of the victims have since been released to their families for burial, as the families declined autopsy,” Alabo said.

Plateau State Gov. Caleb Mutfwang directed the government’s emergency management and humanitarian agencies to deliver immediate assistance and support to those affected, according to a statement from spokesperson Joyce Ramnap.

The United Nations has documented how an ongoing insurgency in northeastern Nigeria has claimed thousands of lives and forced millions of people from their homes over the years. Armed criminal groups continue to operate across the northwest and north-central regions of the country as well.

This latest bloodshed follows a nighttime attack in March that also claimed 20 lives, striking the Gari Ya Waye community in Plateau State.

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stood firm Tuesday, vowing to push forward a sweeping overhaul of the country’s strained pension system — one that would gradually raise the retirement age in step with increasing life expectancy. “Failure is not an option,” he declared.

Merz’s coalition, made up of center-right and center-left parties, has been in power for just over a year. The government came in promising to shake up and reinvigorate Germany’s sluggish economy — the largest in Europe — but has since fallen deeply out of favor with the public, largely due to a perception that the coalition has bickered without producing meaningful results.

After contracting for two consecutive years, Germany’s economy returned to modest growth last year. However, the government projects only 0.5% growth for this year, a figure dragged down by the economic fallout from the war in Iran.

The nation of 83.5 million people was already grappling with stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers, soaring energy costs following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade threats. Layered on top of those challenges are longer-standing structural issues: high production costs, sluggish private investment, and increasingly expensive healthcare and pension systems driven by an aging population.

On Tuesday, a panel of experts and politicians appointed by the government presented 33 recommendations designed to put the pension system on more stable footing. The goal is to prevent pension payouts from declining while also avoiding a major long-term hike in the contributions workers pay into the system. Right now, employees contribute 18.6% of their gross wages.

Germany has long wrestled with the reality that “fewer and fewer contributors have to finance pensions for more and more retirees,” Merz said. “Doing nothing is not an option.”

Among the panel’s key proposals is introducing market-based investments into individual pension insurance — modeled after a system used in Sweden — as a way to ease financial pressure on the overall program.

Two decades ago, Germany began phasing in an increase to the standard retirement age, moving it from 65 to 67. The commission is now recommending going further, tying the retirement age to life expectancy beginning in 2031. According to the national statistics office, life expectancy in Germany currently stands at 78.5 years for men and 83.2 years for women.

Commission co-chairperson Constanze Janda described the proposed retirement age adjustment as “moderate,” estimating it would rise by roughly six months over a decade if life expectancy continues on its current trajectory.

Since the mid-2010s, Germany has allowed workers with 45 years of pension contributions to retire at age 63 without a financial penalty. The panel is recommending that provision be eliminated and that the minimum retirement age be raised to 64.

The commission also proposed raising the age at which workers can begin scaling back their hours in preparation for retirement — from 55 to 58.

Merz said his coalition plans to “implement in full” the commission’s proposals, and to do so swiftly. Labor Minister Bärbel Bas, who also co-leads the center-left Social Democrats, echoed that commitment.

Still, the road ahead won’t be easy. The governing coalition holds a relatively slim majority in parliament, and the reform package has already drawn sharp criticism from labor unions. Despite the obstacles, Merz repeated his firm stance: “Failure is not an option.”

LONDON — Peter Murrell, the 61-year-old estranged husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was sentenced Tuesday to five years and three months behind bars after admitting he stole more than 400,000 pounds — roughly $540,000 — from the Scottish National Party while serving as its chief executive.

Murrell confessed to using party money to purchase an expensive motorhome, two vehicles including a Jaguar, luxury Bremont watches, and various household items — even two toilet seats. He received credit for time already served.

Judge James Young did not mince words during sentencing. “All told, this was a calculated crime of dishonesty,” the judge stated. “And let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I imposed today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organizations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did.”

Sturgeon has publicly separated herself from her estranged husband’s wrongdoing, maintaining that she had no knowledge of his criminal actions.

The sentencing brings to a close a turbulent stretch for the Scottish National Party — which advocates for Scotland’s independence from the United Kingdom — and for the prominent political couple that once led it together.

BRUSSELS (AP) — A Taliban delegation arrived in Brussels on Tuesday for private, closed-door discussions with European Union staff, with the talks expected to center on the deportation of Afghan migrants, according to a Taliban official.

Afghans represent one of the largest migrant groups applying for asylum within the EU. However, a growing number of governments across the 27-nation bloc are pushing to accelerate and expand deportations for those whose asylum claims are denied or who have been convicted of crimes in their host countries.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021 — following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S.-led military forces — Afghan authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on civil rights, with women and girls bearing the brunt of those measures.

Human rights organizations said Tuesday’s meeting weakens the EU’s obligations to uphold human rights and could put people at risk both in Europe and in Afghanistan.

“Any engagement with the Taliban needs to prioritize protecting human rights and accountability — not deporting people to danger there,” said Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher at Human Rights Watch. “EU countries are undermining their credibility by condemning Taliban abuses and pursuing accountability on one hand, while cooperating with the Taliban to forcibly return Afghans on the other.”

Not a single EU member state recognizes the Taliban as a legitimate government, making Tuesday’s meeting in Brussels a notable — if small — break from the group’s diplomatic isolation since it came to power five years ago.

The Taliban’s five-member delegation includes Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a New Zealand-born spokesperson for the Taliban’s foreign ministry, according to a Taliban official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that while Belgium does not recognize the Taliban, it would honor EU requests to issue the group visas.

“Belgium cannot confer legitimacy on a regime accused of serious human rights violations,” he said in a written statement, noting Belgium’s role as host to EU institutions. “Making a meeting possible in the framework of our host-state policy does not amount to recognition, does not amount to legitimacy, and does not constitute an invitation by the Belgian government.”

The Taliban delegation members received visas following security screening. Those visas carry limited territorial validity, allowing just 24 hours in Belgium with no access to other countries within the Schengen border-free travel area.

Because neither Belgium nor the EU officially recognizes the Taliban government, the meeting will not be held in any official EU or Belgian government building. The European Commission has repeatedly declined to provide further details about the gathering.

A European Commission spokesperson said Monday that the meeting was organized in response to pressure from a clear majority of EU member states — 20 of which signed a letter in October calling for stronger migration policies, including a significant increase in deportations.

“They had asked the Commission to coordinate such technical contacts on returns,” said spokesperson Markus Lammert. “Member states are looking into ways to return persons who have committed serious crimes and who are possibly a security threat.”

This is not the first such contact between the EU and the Taliban. An earlier meeting took place in Afghanistan in January, when the Commission sent a mission to Kabul. The Commission also maintains staff there.

The October letter was drafted in part by Belgian Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt, who said at the time that “we have sent a clear and powerful message to the European Commission: we can no longer afford a standstill. It is high time for a firm and joint approach, so that Europe can regain control over migration and security.”

Van Bossuyt noted that across the EU, only 2% of the 22,870 Afghans ordered to leave had actually done so.

A separate Commission spokesperson emphasized that the meeting “does not mean by any means recognition” of the Taliban government.

Afghanistan has also been managing the return of roughly 3 million Afghans from Pakistan and Iran over the past year alone — people who were largely forced back to their home country — adding further strain to a nation already grappling with food shortages, economic collapse, and international sanctions against the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate.

Taliban authorities have banned Afghan women and girls from attending school beyond the primary level and from working in nearly all professions, while also imposing strict rules on what women may wear in public.

“The desperate scenes of people — including EU staff — fleeing Afghanistan are a recent memory. It is unconscionable that the EU would now try and deport people to Afghanistan, which has only become more dangerous in the meantime,” said Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.

Facing mounting political pressure to crack down on migration across the bloc, the EU has recently enacted sweeping changes to its collective migration rules. Those reforms aim to increase deportations and include provisions for so-called “return hubs,” expanded domestic surveillance, tighter border controls, and engagement with the Taliban — a government the EU does not recognize due to human rights concerns.

With Afghanistan facing food insecurity and economic deterioration, the Taliban government is seeking humanitarian assistance and hoping to reduce its international isolation.

JERUSALEM — A former Israeli prime minister has openly confirmed that Israel smuggled Starlink satellite internet receivers into Iran in an effort to support protesters seeking to overthrow the Iranian government.

Naftali Bennett, who served as Israel’s prime minister from 2021 to 2022, made the admission Tuesday while speaking before an audience at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem. He said he personally launched “a process of acquiring and smuggling into Iran tens of thousands of Starlink receptors that would allow continuity of the internet and social networks.”

Starlink is a satellite-based internet service operated by SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk. Iran has previously pointed the finger at both Israel and the United States, accusing them of bringing the devices into the country to destabilize its government. While Starlink is not authorized to operate in Iran, Musk has previously stated that the service is functioning there.

According to Bennett, the goal of distributing the devices was to give protesters the tools to organize and ultimately bring down the Iranian government.

However, Bennett placed blame on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration for failing to continue the program. “Unfortunately, the current incompetent Israeli government stopped doing that,” Bennett said. “And when the protest happened, that infrastructure was not there.”

Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Bennett’s statements, and SpaceX was unavailable for comment outside of U.S. business hours.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly cut off public internet access during periods of civil unrest, including during deadly nationwide protests in January and throughout the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel that began in late February. Reuters has previously reported that some Iranians relied on Starlink during those internet shutdowns.

Bennett, who heads a right-wing political party and is among several opposition figures hoping to unseat Netanyahu ahead of an election scheduled by October, said that if he were to return to power, he would pursue efforts to destabilize and ultimately topple the Iranian government. He indicated those efforts could include economic and industrial sabotage rather than direct military action.

LONDON (AP) — Andy Burnham, Britain’s newest member of Parliament and the man most likely to become its next prime minister, spent Tuesday meeting with fellow Labour Party members as he gears up for a leadership race that could end before it even begins.

Burnham holds a commanding lead in the contest to succeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced Monday that he plans to step down within weeks. Starmer’s two years in office were clouded by a series of poor decisions and misjudgments that steadily damaged his standing with both the public and his own party.

A former Cabinet minister, Burnham served as mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until recently. He won a special parliamentary election last week specifically to position himself to challenge Starmer for the top job.

His path to the leadership became even clearer on Monday when former Health Secretary Wes Streeting — widely seen as Burnham’s chief rival — threw his support behind him instead of launching his own bid.

Under Britain’s parliamentary system, a governing party can swap out its leader — and by extension, the prime minister — without triggering a national election. The next scheduled general election is not required until 2029.

Labour’s leadership nomination window opens July 9 and closes one week later. Should Burnham be the sole candidate, he could be installed as prime minister as soon as July 17. If a competitive race does develop, a winner is expected to be in place by September 1, when Parliament resumes after its summer recess.

As Manchester’s mayor, Burnham earned a strong reputation, guiding the city through a period of significant growth and revitalization. He has promised to bring his distinctive governing philosophy — which he calls “Manchesterism” — to the national stage.

Many within Labour hope Burnham’s personality and ability to connect with everyday people will prove more effective than Starmer’s more reserved, bureaucratic style. However, his stances on many policy issues remain largely undefined and untested, prompting some Labour lawmakers to call for a full leadership contest that would force him to face public debate and scrutiny.

Burnham is expected to deliver a speech next week laying out elements of his economic agenda.

Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who resigned earlier this month over what he described as insufficient defense spending, said the country needs “a clear and concise discussion about what this country wants to be.” Carns has hinted he could enter the leadership race but told broadcaster ITV, “I’m not ready to make a decision on this in any way, shape or form.”

Some Labour members have floated the idea of Darren Jones, a senior Cabinet minister and close ally of Starmer, entering the contest, though Jones has not yet made any public statement on the matter.

Any candidate hoping to run must secure the backing of at least 81 Labour lawmakers — one-fifth of the parliamentary party — to qualify.

Many party members argue that a drawn-out leadership battle would only highlight Labour’s internal divisions and prolong political instability. “I think the transition should be swift and orderly,” Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told the BBC.

Starmer stepped down Monday following a weekend of reflection, acknowledging that the Labour Party no longer believes “I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.” He becomes the sixth prime minister in ten years to announce a departure from outside No. 10 Downing Street — a milestone that coincides with Britain marking a decade since its historic vote to leave the European Union, a decision that continues to shape the country’s economy and political landscape.

After weeks of publicly insisting he intended to fight for his position, Starmer ultimately yielded to mounting pressure to hand the reins to someone capable of turning around the government’s struggling fortunes. While he led Labour to a sweeping election victory in July 2024, his approval ratings and those of the party have fallen sharply since then.

Starmer faced persistent difficulties in delivering on promises of economic growth, fixing deteriorating public services, and reducing the cost of living. His tenure was also damaged by controversies, including his appointment of Peter Mandelson — a figure with a scandal-filled past and reported ties to Jeffrey Epstein — as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

Labour is currently being squeezed on two fronts: losing progressive voters to an expanding Green Party while simultaneously facing a surge from Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage that has consistently topped national opinion polls.

LONDON — The former chief executive of the Scottish National Party has been handed a prison sentence of just over five years after confessing to stealing hundreds of thousands of pounds from the political organization he once led.

Peter Murrell was sentenced to five years and three months at Edinburgh High Court on Tuesday, following his guilty plea last month to charges of embezzling £400,310.65 — roughly $540,000 — in SNP funds. The stolen money was spent on multiple vehicles, a motorhome, and high-end products from luxury brands including Estee Lauder and Harrods.

Presiding judge Andrew Young stated that the sentence was intended to send a clear message, saying it needed to serve as a deterrent to others.

Murrell is the former husband of Nicola Sturgeon, who served as the SNP’s longest-tenured leader before abruptly stepping down in 2023. Shortly after her resignation, Sturgeon was arrested as part of a broader investigation into the party’s finances. She was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing in March of last year.

Following Murrell’s guilty plea, Sturgeon publicly reaffirmed her innocence, stating that she had “no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes.”

The scandal — which involved the arrest of a former party leader and the conviction of her ex-husband — has raised deeply uncomfortable questions for the SNP, a party that has held a dominant position in Scottish politics for close to twenty years.

BERLIN — A pension commission appointed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz has put forward a plan to gradually increase Germany’s retirement age and establish a new fund similar to Sweden’s pension model, as the country works to address the challenges of an aging population.

The commission’s report, unveiled on Tuesday, recommended creating a fund based on the Swedish pension structure, where both workers and employers would be required to make contributions. Those funds would then be invested in financial markets to help cover future pension payments.

“The aim is to strengthen the state pension by introducing an additional, compulsory, individually allocated funded pension,” Merz said at a news conference held to present the findings. The report will now be taken up for debate by the coalition government.

Germany’s existing pension system relies on current workers’ contributions to pay the benefits of today’s retirees. That model has come under growing pressure as the population ages and the ratio of working-age people to retirees continues to shrink.

Merz said the proposed changes would help keep contribution levels affordable while also giving younger workers greater confidence that a reliable pension would be waiting for them in the future.

Among the other recommendations in the report: eliminating the current option that allows workers to retire at age 63 without any reduction in benefits, and gradually raising the retirement age in line with life expectancy — potentially reaching age 70 by the early 2090s. Under the current plan, the retirement age is already scheduled to reach 67 by the early 2030s.

The report arrives at a politically sensitive moment, as Merz’s coalition government faces pressure to finalize a package of tax and welfare reforms before parliament heads into its summer recess next month.

Calls to move Germany’s pension system away from its contribution-based model toward one that also draws on capital markets have grown louder for years as demographic trends have shifted. However, previous reform efforts have repeatedly stalled due to political disagreements and the difficult balance between the interests of current retirees and those of younger workers still paying into the system.

Security forces in Ankara, Turkey’s capital city, launched sweeping raids Tuesday, taking more than 200 people into custody who are suspected of ties to extremist organizations, including the Islamic State group — all in preparation for next month’s high-profile NATO summit.

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Ankara for the July 7-8 summit, joining fellow leaders from the 32-nation military alliance.

Turkish authorities are putting extensive security measures in place for the event. Plans include prohibiting public demonstrations, limiting access to roads near airports, and creating secure perimeters around the summit venue and hotels where visiting delegations will be staying.

The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made security a top priority, with law enforcement conducting raids on a regular basis. Just last month, a nationwide operation resulted in 324 arrests of individuals suspected of connections to the Islamic State group.

Turkish prosecutors issued detention orders for 241 suspects early Tuesday. By later in the day, police and gendarmerie units had taken 209 of those individuals into custody across the Ankara area, according to a statement from the chief prosecutor’s office. Efforts to detain the remaining suspects were still ongoing.

Of those arrested, 56 were identified as alleged Islamic State militants, while 35 were said to be members of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front — a far-left organization with a history of armed attacks and assassinations inside Turkey.

The Islamic State group has been responsible for a number of deadly attacks on Turkish soil, including a 2017 New Year’s Eve shooting at a nightclub in Istanbul that left 39 people dead.

An Australian man who works as a professional air conditioner cleaner and serves part-time as an honorary town crier has earned a spot in the record books as the world’s loudest person.

Guinness World Records officially recognized Joseph McGrail-Bateup, 58, of Canberra, Australia, last week for producing the loudest shout ever recorded by a single individual. His thunderous cry of the word “now” registered at 122.4 decibels.

That single syllable was enough to topple a record that had been held since 1994 by Northern Ireland schoolteacher Annalisa Flanagan, who had yelled the word “quiet” at 121.7 decibels. To put that volume in perspective, 122.4 decibels falls in the same noise range as a chain saw, a jet aircraft during takeoff, or an ambulance siren heard up close.

McGrail-Bateup said on Tuesday that there was simply no way to prepare for such a feat. “There’s no way that you can actually practice for it. You have to just keep it for the day, especially with the world record attempt,” he said.

The record did not come easily. “It took me seven attempts just for one word, which was the word ‘now,’ and my voice was shot for the next couple of days as well. It was husky. It was terrible. So no, you can’t really practice for it. But it’s a lot of fun when you’re doing it,” he added.

McGrail-Bateup was careful to note that he views himself as the world’s loudest man, not the loudest person overall — a distinction that allows Flanagan to retain her own place in history. “I’m pleased that she gets to keep her record. So she’s still the loudest woman in the world and I’m the loudest male in the world,” he said. There had been no previous Guinness record specifically for the loudest man.

His path to the record began when he searched the Guinness World Records database for achievements related to town crying and came across Flanagan’s entry instead. He had been appointed the official town crier of Canberra in 2017, a part-time honorary position created by the local government. He goes by the title Lord Joseph in that role and describes it as “a bit of fun.” His duties include making announcements at community gatherings, school fetes, and car shows.

Taking on that role also brought him membership in the Ancient and Honorable Guild of Australian Town Criers, a competitive organization dedicated to keeping alive the historic and ceremonial traditions of town crying. In a 2024 guild competition, he claimed top honors with the loudest “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez” at 98 decibels — the traditional call used to command silence and attention before a proclamation is made.

Before landing on “now” as his record-attempt word, McGrail-Bateup tested several other options. His shout was captured on May 2 inside a Canberra radio studio, with a professional acoustic engineer handling the recording and witnesses on hand to verify the attempt. The documentation was submitted to Guinness World Records, which announced the new record last Friday.

This is not McGrail-Bateup’s first time in the record books. Back in 2019, he broke a speed record for an archer firing 10 arrows, completing the feat in 60.03 seconds — shaving a fraction of a second off a record that had stood since 2015. That record lasted just nine months before a 7-year-old boy beat it by 11.4 seconds.

Despite that experience, McGrail-Bateup said he has no interest in chasing the archery record again and is equally unbothered about someone eventually topping his new shouting record. “If someone beats me, that’s fantastic,” he said. “Records are meant to be broken.”

Iran’s government announced Tuesday that no visit has been arranged for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to examine nuclear facilities that were struck by U.S. military forces.

The statement came from Esmail Baghaei, who addressed reporters during a news conference held in Tehran, Iran’s capital city.

Baghaei’s comments stand in direct contrast to statements made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who claimed that diplomatic talks held in Switzerland had produced an agreement allowing the IAEA to visit Iranian nuclear locations.

The IAEA has made multiple trips to Iran following Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran in 2025, but inspectors have not been permitted to enter the enrichment sites that were targeted and bombed by the United States during that war.

During the same news conference, Baghaei was asked whether Iran might purchase agricultural goods from the United States. He responded that Iran would base any import decisions on “prices and quality,” stopping short of directly responding to remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance on the subject.

Baghaei also offered a pointed critique of what he described as a shift in the stated purpose of the military campaign. “It is interesting that the philosophy and goal of the war, which was the destruction of the Iranian civilization and the collapse of Iran, has become enriching American farmers,” he said.

Nepal’s former finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel was taken into custody late Monday evening on money laundering charges, according to police, as the nation’s new Gen Z-backed government pushes forward with a sweeping crackdown on alleged corruption tied to past administrations.

Paudel, 66, is a senior leader within the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and was a prominent figure in the former government led by K.P. Sharma Oli. Police say he was apprehended at a hotel located in western Nepal.

Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that Paudel was being transported to Kathmandu, where he would be turned over to the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

The arrest follows the collapse of Oli’s government, which was brought down in the wake of violent anti-corruption protests. Those demonstrations resulted in the deaths of at least 76 people and left more than 2,500 others injured. Several government buildings were set on fire during the unrest, including the parliament building.

Oli himself, along with his home minister, was previously arrested for failing to stop the violence. Both men have since been released on bail.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah, a 36-year-old former rapper who transitioned into politics and assumed office in March following a landslide election victory built on an anti-corruption platform, has vowed to hold those responsible for past misconduct accountable.

Attempts to reach Paudel for comment were unsuccessful. A UML party official indicated that top party leaders planned to convene on Tuesday to address the situation. Paudel has served in a number of ministerial roles across multiple governments throughout his political career.

A Belgian investigating judge has issued a European arrest warrant for former Greek European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, according to a Greek government official who confirmed the development late Monday. Belgian and Greek media had previously reported the warrant.

The warrant is tied to a major corruption scandal that first came to light in 2022, in which a number of European Union officials are accused of accepting bribes from Qatar in exchange for influencing EU policymaking. The case, widely referred to as “Qatargate,” has become one of the most significant scandals in the history of the 27-member bloc.

During the original investigation, authorities conducted raids and seized approximately €1.5 million — roughly $1.6 million — in cash. Some of that money was found stuffed inside a large suitcase at a Brussels hotel.

In a statement released Monday, Avramopoulos firmly rejected any accusations against him. “There was no direct or indirect involvement of mine in anything reprehensible,” he said. He also stated that he would not invoke parliamentary immunity to shield himself from the process. “On the contrary, I will appeal to the Greek judiciary myself, requesting that the matter be fully investigated and a decision be made,” he added.

Avramopoulos currently holds a seat in the Greek Parliament as a member of the ruling conservative New Democracy party. He previously served as the European Commissioner for Migration, a role he held until 2019. After leaving that post, he became affiliated with Fight Impunity, a non-governmental organization that has been linked to the Qatargate investigation. Fight Impunity did not respond to requests for comment.

The Belgian prosecutor’s office also declined to comment on the warrant. Qatar has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the scandal.

Plastic sheets cover empty window frames and balconies hang crookedly at the partially built Ostafyevo housing complex on the outskirts of Moscow, where frustrated apartment buyers say they have taken the developer to court.

Russia set a record for housing construction in 2023, driven largely by government-subsidized mortgages. But the withdrawal of those subsidies, combined with steep borrowing costs and an ongoing economic slowdown tied to the war in Ukraine, has since hammered the construction industry.

Figures from Russia’s state statistics agency show that the amount of residential space completed in the first quarter dropped 28% compared to the same period the previous year. Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, warned that the entire construction sector had essentially stalled during that time.

Buyers at Ostafyevo say their expected move-in dates have been pushed back several times since March 2025. About 20 of them confronted the developer, Samolet, at a meeting held in May.

“Who is working there? Are they even working? Because … we have not seen any changes since January,” one buyer said at the meeting.

Another buyer showed Reuters footage filmed inside one of the half-finished units, revealing exposed breeze block walls with wiring dangling loose and a large water stain spreading across the ceiling.

In a written statement responding to media questions, Samolet said it understood the buyers’ frustration and was “making every possible effort” to speed up the move-in process. The company did not explain what caused the delays but noted that several contractors had been swapped out for what it called “reliable partners.”

The Ostafyevo development’s website promotes a large residential campus with landscaped grounds, schools, and shops — illustrated with a video of children playing on a sunny playground. Apartment prices begin at roughly 7.5 million rubles, or about $101,500.

Samolet said construction has wrapped up on three of the complex’s six phases, with residents already living there. Apartments in the fourth phase and some in the fifth are ready for occupancy, and the company said a gradual handover of remaining units would begin by September 30. “All obligations to clients will be fulfilled,” the company stated.

The financial strain on Samolet mirrors broader troubles across Russia’s real estate sector. After strong revenue gains in 2023 and 2024, the company reported a loss in 2025, partly due to high borrowing costs. Cut off from state subsidies, it restructured a portion of its debt in February. By the end of 2025, the company’s total debt exposure had reached 373 billion rubles, equivalent to roughly $5 billion.

The construction slowdown is adding further pressure to Russia’s economy, which shrank for the first time in roughly three years during the January-to-March period. Russia’s construction minister was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying that construction and related industries together made up 13% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2025.

Russia’s central bank noted in a June financial stability report that requests for loan restructuring from construction and real estate companies climbed 10% in the first quarter compared to the prior quarter. It described the difficulties facing some developers as “limited” and said they posed “no systemic risks.” The bank also pointed to a 37% year-over-year jump in new project launches during the first quarter as an encouraging sign, and said the number of delayed housing completions had declined after a moratorium — which had prevented buyers from seeking penalties for missed deadlines — expired in January.

Buyers at Ostafyevo said they moved quickly once they were able to take action. “Many have filed lawsuits, I have as well,” said Elena Skripnichenko, speaking alongside other buyers outside the Samolet office at the construction site.

She said some of the buyers had recently slipped past a fence to speak directly with workers on site, who told them they were not receiving their wages. At the May meeting, a Samolet representative acknowledged that workers were being paid, though “probably not the amount they want.” The company did not address questions about worker pay or the number of lawsuits filed in its written response.

A mid-May survey by Russia’s state housing agency found that nearly 75% of developers missed their first-quarter sales targets, and more than half expect conditions to get worse over the coming year — even as some report that severe labor shortages are beginning to ease slightly.

For some at Ostafyevo, hope is fading. Tatyana Lubentsova had planned to move her young family into their new apartment in March 2025. The family had left their hometown of Belgorod, a city near the Ukrainian border that has been repeatedly struck by drone and missile attacks. “Now we are in May 2026, and we still do not have any keys,” she said.

Pakistan’s successful role in helping negotiate a peace agreement in the Iran war has earned Islamabad widespread diplomatic praise — and with it, the possibility of economic rewards. But analysts are skeptical that such gains can address the country’s long-standing economic troubles.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir were present at talks between Iran and the United States held in the Swiss town of Buergenstock last weekend. The meeting marked the conclusion of months of behind-the-scenes diplomatic work by Pakistan in one of the world’s most significant international negotiations.

The warm reception Pakistan received was on full display when U.S. Vice President JD Vance spotted Munir at the resort location. “This guy. What’s up, man?” Vance said before embracing the army chief. Leaders from multiple countries have expressed gratitude to Islamabad for helping bring an end to a conflict that threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, disrupt global oil supplies, and destabilize the world economy.

The diplomatic achievement has elevated Pakistan’s standing on the world stage. Analysts say the nation of 250 million now has a window to turn that international goodwill into concrete economic gains. However, they caution that no amount of diplomatic prestige is likely to fix the country’s deeper problems — including economic inequality, a narrow tax base, and a pattern of repeated bailouts from the International Monetary Fund.

Pakistan is aiming for economic growth of 4.0% and inflation of 8.2% in the coming fiscal year, compared to projected growth of 3.7% in fiscal 2026, which ends in June, and an average inflation rate of 6.7% during the July through May period of the current year.

An adviser to Pakistan’s finance minister offered an optimistic take: “A nation that delivers stability at home and helps advance stability abroad becomes a more credible destination for investment,” said Khurran Schehzad. He added that “a growth-oriented economic agenda, coupled with a reputation as a force for peace and stability, places Pakistan in a uniquely favourable position to attract investment into its people, infrastructure, technology and future growth sectors.”

Many observers are anticipating some form of financial reward from the United States, though no concrete benefits have materialized yet.

Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow and director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said one significant opportunity for Pakistan is the “huge potential to be a more integrated part of the broader Middle East,” which could eventually lead to wider economic and defense partnerships in the region.

A former finance minister, Miftah Ismail, pointed to another possibility: if sanctions on Iran are lifted, it could open the door to “huge trade between Iran and Pakistan,” especially through the land border in Balochistan.

Analysts drew comparisons to what happened after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when Pakistan’s alignment with Washington led to debt relief from more than a dozen countries, renewed IMF support, and U.S. assistance. Despite those opportunities, Pakistan failed to capitalize on them due to structural weaknesses in its economy.

Economic commentator and journalist Khurram Husain said the current moment resembles the post-9/11 period, but with a key distinction: that earlier episode came “at the start of a long ruinous war in which Pakistan had to play a frontline role,” whereas today “Pakistan is playing the role of a peacemaker.” That difference means Pakistan’s leverage now comes from being valuable to multiple parties at once — including Washington, Tehran, Gulf states, Turkey, and China.

Former finance minister Ismail, however, struck a more cautious tone. While acknowledging that the diplomatic role has boosted Pakistan’s global image, he said it does nothing to address the high costs, weak exports, and debt repayments that keep the country reliant on the IMF. “Our house is in such disorder that foreigners can’t really help us unless we help ourselves,” he said. “Nothing here in this war changes that and we will be continually dependent on the IMF.”

Asim Ijaz Khawaja, a professor at Harvard University and director of the Harvard Center for International Development, urged Pakistan to resist accepting short-term financial concessions that don’t actually improve productivity. Instead, he recommended pursuing academic exchanges and scholarships, better market access for textiles and technology services, technology transfers, and green investment frameworks.

Britain’s minister for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, visited last week and thanked Islamabad for its peacekeeping efforts. He told Reuters the UK sees “huge scope for deepening trade links” with Pakistan and that a British trade minister is expected to visit in the coming months. Diplomats from two other Western nations also indicated their governments are exploring ways to strengthen economic ties with Pakistan following its peace efforts, though they asked not to be named.

Atif Mian, a professor of economics, public policy, and finance at Princeton University, said Pakistan should avoid using diplomacy simply as another way to secure deposits, debt rollovers, or IMF-style relief. The real opportunity, he argued, is what he called a “peace pivot” — both internationally and domestically — built on regional trade, energy connections with Iran, and stronger ties with the Gulf and Turkey through exports, technology transfer, and shared industries.

Despite the optimism in some quarters, analysts were united in warning that new economic opportunities won’t solve Pakistan’s deeper challenges. “If structural reforms are not implemented, the country is poised for an implosion in coming decades,” said Adeel Malik, associate professor of development economics at Oxford University. “There are deep-seated grievances among the young and the shrinking middle classes against Pakistan’s ruling elite. The prevailing system has given ruling elites an extended lease of life but has made the country socially and economically insecure.”

PARIS — French authorities confirmed Tuesday that roughly 20 people have drowned since the weekend, as residents across the country sought ways to cool off during a dangerous heatwave gripping large portions of Europe.

Weather forecaster MeteoFrance reported that much of France was expected to see temperatures climb to around 40 degrees Celsius — the equivalent of 104 degrees Fahrenheit — on Tuesday alone.

French sports minister Marina Ferrari spoke about the rising death toll during an appearance on France Inter radio. “There have been around 20 deaths since last weekend,” she said.

Ferrari also issued a direct warning to the public about the dangers of swimming outside of designated, supervised areas during such extreme conditions. “To go swimming in unauthorised areas, during a heatwave, is not something to take lightly,” she stressed.