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QUETTA, Pakistan — An explosive device detonated alongside railroad tracks in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday as a passenger train traveled through the area, injuring more than 30 people, according to local authorities.

Video footage posted online showed the blast’s impact caused two train cars to flip over and ignite, creating dense black smoke that billowed into the sky.

The bombing occurred in a location where security personnel are typically positioned, severely damaging multiple nearby structures and destroying over a dozen parked cars along the street, witnesses and social media images revealed.

Medical staff at area hospitals reported treating more than 30 injured victims, with several patients in critical condition.

Balochistan government official Babar Yousafzai confirmed that authorities were continuing their investigation into the explosion but declined to provide additional information.

Quetta serves as the provincial capital of Balochistan, a region plagued by ongoing insurgent activity.

The province, rich in oil and mineral resources, has experienced a prolonged low-intensity insurgency led by separatist organizations like the banned Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, which seeks independence from Pakistan’s federal government. These militant groups regularly attack security personnel, government facilities and civilians throughout the province and other parts of the nation.

While no organization has yet taken credit for Sunday’s bombing, investigators will likely examine the BLA’s involvement, as the group has accepted responsibility for comparable incidents previously.

Despite Pakistani officials’ claims of successfully suppressing the insurgency, attacks in Balochistan continue to occur.

Earlier in 2024, a suicide bombing at a Balochistan railway station claimed at least 26 lives, including military personnel.

Emergency teams in northern China continued their search for survivors Sunday following a catastrophic gas explosion that claimed at least 82 lives at a coal mining facility, marking the nation’s most devastating mining disaster in recent years.

The deadly incident occurred Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine situated in Qinyuan county within Changzhi city. An Associated Press journalist observed law enforcement and security personnel stationed at the mining site’s entrance while emergency response vehicles remained positioned throughout the area.

State media outlets reported that hundreds of emergency responders and medical staff were deployed to assist in the ongoing rescue operations.

Following the tragic gas explosion in Shanxi province, Chinese President Xi Jinping demanded a complete investigation and called for holding accountable all parties responsible for the disaster.

During a Saturday evening press briefing, local authorities confirmed that two individuals remain unaccounted for while numerous miners received hospital treatment. Officials revised the fatality count downward from an initial report of 90 deaths, citing confusion at the scene and incorrect information supplied by the mining company as reasons for the earlier discrepancy.

According to state media accounts, some hospitalized miners remembered observing smoke during the incident before losing consciousness.

Local authorities stated the coal mining operation had committed “serious” legal violations, though they declined to specify the exact nature of these infractions. China’s state broadcaster CCTV previously reported that facility blueprints submitted by the Liushenyu coal mine failed to accurately represent the actual underground structure, creating obstacles for rescue teams.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that individuals responsible for the company operating the mine had been “placed under control.”

In response to the tragedy, local government officials announced plans for a “comprehensive, blanket” examination of the coal mining industry, including evaluations of gas drainage systems, ventilation equipment, safety monitoring technology, and underground facility layouts.

Shanxi province, an inland region situated southwest of Beijing with approximately 34 million residents, serves as China’s primary coal-producing area where hundreds of thousands of workers are employed in mining operations.

An extensive review of coal mining operations could impact the province’s capacity to maintain its yearly output of roughly 1.3 billion tons of coal, representing nearly one-third of China’s total production.

Despite the country’s push toward renewable energy sources, coal continues to play a significant role in China’s energy portfolio due to its abundant supply and affordability. While mining incidents have historically been frequent, government officials have introduced various safety improvement measures in recent years.

An explosive device detonated close to railway tracks in Pakistan’s Quetta as a passenger train traveled through the area, injuring more than 30 people, according to a report from the Associated Press on Sunday that cited local officials.

Medical personnel reported that area hospitals treated over 30 injured individuals, with multiple victims in serious condition, according to the report.

Authorities in Australia report that a 39-year-old man lost his life following a shark encounter at the Great Barrier Reef on Sunday, marking the nation’s second deadly shark incident within the past month.

According to a Queensland Police Service spokesperson, the victim suffered bite injuries near Kennedy Shoal, a reef area located approximately 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Queensland’s coastline in northeastern Australia. Emergency responders transported the man to shore where medical personnel were waiting.

Despite immediate medical attention upon reaching land, the man succumbed to his injuries, officials confirmed. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity.

This tragedy comes just over a week after another fatal shark encounter that claimed the life of a 38-year-old individual near Perth in Western Australia on May 16.

While Australia experiences approximately 20 shark encounters annually, conservation data shows most incidents do not result in death. Beach drownings claim significantly more lives than shark attacks across the continent.

Earlier this year in January, authorities temporarily shut down numerous beaches along Australia’s eastern coastline, including those in Sydney, following four shark encounters within a 48-hour period. Officials attributed those incidents to heavy rainfall that created cloudy water conditions, which tend to draw sharks closer to shore while limiting their ability to see clearly.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted diplomatic discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday as both nations work to stabilize relations that have deteriorated to their worst state in more than twenty years.

The diplomatic mission occurs amid significant economic and political tensions between Washington and New Delhi, primarily caused by tariff measures implemented by President Donald Trump that increased import duties on numerous Indian products.

Rubio landed in India on Saturday for his inaugural official diplomatic visit to the country, scheduled ahead of Tuesday’s gathering with officials from India, Australia and Japan – the four nations comprising the Indo-Pacific coalition called the Quad.

“India is at the cornerstone of how the United States approaches the Indo-Pacific, and not just through the Quad, but bilaterally,” Rubio said in New Delhi.

The Secretary of State’s four-day diplomatic mission includes visits to multiple cities and attendance at a formal celebration in New Delhi commemorating America’s 250th independence anniversary.

“In the past one year, statements and rhetoric coming from Washington on some of India’s most sensitive security concerns and trade matters have not been helpful and have created a trust deficit,” said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India’s Foreign Ministry.

“Certain misgivings will remain,” Malik added, noting Rubio’s visit will be considered an achievement if the talks somewhat stabilize the relationship and check further deterioration.

Policy analysts note tensions between America’s worldwide strategic objectives and India’s goals as a developing regional power. With historical connections to Russia, India has consistently displayed reluctance as it develops closer American ties, demonstrating India’s persistent skepticism of U.S. motives based on cultural distinctions and Cold War-period attitudes.

Nevertheless, Indian-American relations gradually strengthened over twenty years into an extensive strategic alliance, increasingly influenced recently by mutual concerns regarding China’s expanding aggression in the Indo-Pacific region and expressed diplomatically through Quad discussions.

The Quad alliance has consistently criticized China for demonstrating military strength in the South China Sea and forcefully advancing its ocean territory demands. Beijing argues its military operations are entirely defensive to safeguard what it describes as China’s legitimate territorial rights and characterizes the Quad as efforts to limit its economic development and regional power.

Following the presidential inauguration in January 2025, Rubio’s initial formal overseas diplomatic activity involved conferences with Quad nation foreign ministers in group and individual meetings.

Nevertheless, multiple incidents since the previous year have pushed diplomatic relations to their current low point.

Despite strong connections and frequent perception as political partners, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi minimized Trump’s contribution in negotiating a ceasefire following brief India-Pakistan military hostilities sparked by the April 2025 attack on predominantly Hindu visitors in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistan actively pursued Trump’s support and even promoted him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Economic disputes emerged subsequently, with the Trump administration implementing tariffs against India regarding its reduced-price Russian oil purchases that further damaged relations between both countries.

“In India, there is some skepticism about U.S. policy and predictability,” said Malik, who heads the India chapter of The Asia Group advisory firm in the U.S. He said what has happened in the past year between India and the U.S. “can’t be forgotten or erased easily.”

When conflict erupted in Iran during February, America increased cooperation with Pakistan, which presented itself as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, heightening concerns in New Delhi. Trump’s recent prominent diplomatic visit to China has further increased India’s uneasiness.

Indian-American relations face challenges “due to a few structural tensions and Trump only brought them to the fore,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.

“New Delhi’s foreign policy, increasingly colored by its domestic politics, has become more black-and-white in the last decade, as evidenced by its deep discomfort with the U.S.’s ties with Pakistan and its moves toward detente with China,” Donthi said.

Policy experts suggest these developments demonstrate the increasing complexity of Indian-American relations founded on mutual strategic objectives, yet progressively influenced by conflicting priorities and an evolving global political environment.

“New Delhi is likely to exercise strategic patience and wait for Trump to leave office,” Donthi said. “India would hope that the bipartisan consensus on India in the U.S. survives his term and that it can start building on that again.”

Iranian officials carried out the execution of an individual accused of espionage activities involving the United States and Israel, according to reports from the country’s judicial authorities on Sunday.

The executed person, named as Mojtaba Kian, had been convicted of transmitting sensitive information about Iran’s military defense capabilities to what officials described as “the enemy,” the judiciary’s Mizan news agency stated.

The charges were connected to alleged intelligence sharing that occurred during wartime operations, Iranian judicial sources reported.

The United States and Iran are reportedly nearing completion of an agreement that would extend a ceasefire for two months while reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Saturday report from Axios citing a U.S. official.

The news outlet reports that under the proposed 60-day arrangement, the Strait of Hormuz would operate without tolls, and Iran would commit to removing mines it has placed in the waterway to ensure safe passage for vessels.

As part of the arrangement, the United States would end its blockade of Iranian ports and provide certain sanctions exemptions to permit Iran’s unrestricted oil sales, according to the report.

The potential agreement would also require Iran to pledge never to develop nuclear weapons and to enter discussions about halting its uranium enrichment activities while eliminating its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, Axios reported.

Two sources informed Axios that Iran has provided verbal assurances through intermediaries regarding the extent of concessions it would make concerning enrichment suspension and surrendering nuclear materials.

The United States would also commit to discussions about removing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets during the two-month timeframe, according to the Axios report.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters regarding the report.

Chinese authorities have revised downward the number of fatalities from a catastrophic coal mine explosion, announcing Saturday evening that 82 people died in what officials are calling the country’s most devastating mining incident in nearly two decades.

The deadly gas explosion occurred Friday night at the Liushenyu coal mine located in China’s northern Shanxi province. Early reports from government media outlets had indicated that at least 90 workers lost their lives in the blast.

Despite the reduced casualty count, this tragedy still stands as China’s most fatal mining incident since 2009, when 108 workers perished in a gas explosion at the Xinxing Mine in Heilongjiang province.

Authorities explained during Saturday’s press briefing that confusion following the disaster resulted in the original incorrect fatality count.

“After the incident the scene was chaotic, the company’s count of the number of workers was not clear, which led to the initial inaccurate number,” said Guo Xiaofang, the head of Shanxi’s Qinyuan county, where the mine is located.

At the time the explosion occurred, 247 workers were performing their duties below ground.

According to Guo, two individuals remain missing, while 128 workers sustained injuries requiring hospitalization and 35 escaped without harm.

The mining facility operates under the ownership of Shanxi Tongzhou Coal Coking Group, and authorities have shuttered all four of the company’s mining operations while detaining corporate leadership, officials announced during the news briefing.

A front-page editorial appeared Sunday morning in the state-controlled People’s Daily newspaper, demanding increased focus on workplace safety and urging officials to “completely reverse the tendency to prioritise development over safety.”

According to Xinhua news agency, President Xi Jinping issued orders Saturday for authorities to “spare no effort” in providing medical care to survivors and continuing search and rescue efforts. The president also mandated a full investigation into the disaster.

Officials revealed during the press conference that the mining operation has an annual coal production capacity of 1.2 million tons. China extracted 4.83 billion tons of coal last year, which serves as the foundation of the nation’s electrical power generation.

President Donald Trump came to the defense of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit earlier this month, according to a report from Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper published Sunday. The report cites unnamed government sources.

Relations between Japan and China have grown tense since Takaichi made comments last November suggesting that if China were to hypothetically attack Taiwan – the democratically ruled island that China considers its territory – Japan might respond militarily.

During the summit meeting in Beijing, Xi told Trump that both Takaichi and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te represent dangers to peace in the region and asked Trump not to back them, according to the Yomiuri’s reporting.

Trump reportedly replied that he believes Takaichi is not the type of leader who should face such criticism.

Representatives from the Japanese prime minister’s office, Japan’s foreign ministry, and the U.S. embassy in Tokyo were not available to provide comment outside of normal business hours.

Following his two-day China visit, Trump spoke by telephone with Takaichi. During that conversation, both leaders confirmed their “ironclad” partnership between their nations, according to Takaichi’s previous statements.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces faced a relentless overnight bombardment as Russian missiles and drones targeted the capital in a severe assault that rattled structures throughout the downtown area, striking near government facilities, homes, and educational institutions.

Local officials reported at least 10 wounded individuals based on initial counts. Warning sirens wailed throughout the evening hours while smoke clouds drifted over the city following the strikes. News correspondents on the ground documented thunderous blasts occurring close to the downtown core and government facilities.

The bombardment continued into Sunday morning, with additional missiles and drones anticipated to strike the capital.

Destruction was documented throughout no fewer than nine districts of the capital, including residential structures, according to Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko in a Telegram post.

Within Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, an educational facility sustained damage during the assault while civilians took shelter inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. City officials confirmed that grocery stores and storage facilities throughout the area also suffered damage.

Numerous neighborhoods experienced destruction across the broader Kyiv region, regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported.

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that Russia intended to deploy the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, based on intelligence from the U.S. and Western partners. Ukraine’s Air Force subsequently issued warnings about a potential Oreshnik launch.

Officials could not immediately confirm whether this missile system was deployed during the nighttime assault.

Russian forces initially deployed the multiple-warhead Oreshnik against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. The weapon was employed for a second time in January targeting the western Lviv region.

President Vladimir Putin described the Oreshnik, which translates to “hazelnut tree” in Russian, as traveling at 10 times sound speed, or Mach 10, with the capability to demolish underground bunkers “three, four or more floors down.”

The weapon moves “like a meteorite” and cannot be stopped by any missile defense system, Putin claimed, stating that multiple such missiles, even equipped with conventional warheads, could match the destruction of a nuclear attack.

ANGELES CITY, Philippines — A construction project spanning nine floors crumbled in the early morning hours of Sunday in Angeles City, located in Pampanga province north of the Philippine capital. Twenty-two workers successfully escaped the collapse while others remain unaccounted for, according to police reports.

The structure came down before sunrise amid a severe thunderstorm. More than 100 police officers and government officials are working frantically to locate and rescue individuals believed to be buried beneath the debris, stated police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez.

Speaking from the collapse site, Mendez reported no confirmed fatalities at this time, though he noted that several of the 22 workers who managed to flee the building sustained injuries.

The exact number of trapped workers remains unclear. However, Jay Pelayo, who heads Angeles City’s information office, estimated that approximately 30 workers could still be buried in the wreckage, based on information from a construction foreman who escaped as the building fell.

Angeles City previously housed one of the most significant U.S. Air Force installations outside American territory before its closure in the early 1990s. This military presence helped transform Angeles and surrounding communities into major entertainment and business centers within Luzon, the Philippines’ primary northern region.

The former military installation, now known as the Clark Freeport Zone, sits approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Metro Manila.

Emergency crews are working to locate survivors after a nine-story construction project collapsed in Angeles City, located north of Manila in the Philippines, according to a local government official who spoke Sunday.

Jay Pelayo, the Angeles City information officer, reported to DZBB radio that eight individuals in the surrounding area have been pulled to safety, while 11 others successfully escaped on their own, including the site foreman.

The site foreman provided information indicating that approximately 30 to 40 individuals remain unaccounted for, Pelayo told DZBB.

Rescue teams continue their efforts to locate survivors, Pelayo confirmed. The cause of the structural failure remains unknown at this time, though the city engineer is examining the project’s construction records, he noted.

The concrete construction of the collapsed structure presents significant challenges for rescue workers attempting to clear away debris, Pelayo explained.

Photos released by DZBB revealed the building had been reduced to rubble consisting of concrete chunks and bent steel, with green safety mesh visible throughout the wreckage.

“The assessment is not yet finished. The unified command system is still working on it, and it is too early to determine the cause of the collapse, which is still being evaluated,” Pelayo said.

“Power lines were hit and were now being secured. We are calling on residents in the area to cooperate with authorities so rescue operations for those trapped are not delayed, and no one else is put at risk,” he said.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran has been mostly finalized, stating the deal would restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian media sources are challenging his assertions.

The president shared on social media that the developing agreement would restore operations at the critical shipping corridor, whose blockade has disrupted worldwide energy markets since hostilities began in February following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. Trump did not elaborate on other components of the potential agreement.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

However, Fars reported early Sunday that the agreement would permit Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz and described Trump’s statements about the strait as “inconsistent with reality.”

Iran announced Saturday it was pursuing a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict following meetings between its senior officials and Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief.

Pakistan’s military described the negotiations as yielding “encouraging” developments. Two Pakistani officials familiar with the discussions characterized the potential deal as “fairly comprehensive to terminate the war.”

A message posted on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s X account commended Trump for his “extraordinary efforts to pursue peace.”

Reuters sources indicate the proposed framework would proceed through three phases: officially concluding the war, addressing the Strait of Hormuz situation, and establishing a 30-day negotiation period for a more extensive agreement, with possible extensions.

One Pakistani official noted that if the U.S. endorses the memorandum, additional discussions could occur following the conclusion of the Eid holiday on Friday.

The president, whose public support has suffered due to the war’s effect on domestic energy costs, said Friday he would skip his son’s wedding this weekend, citing Iran among his reasons for remaining in Washington.

Trump posted on Truth Social about Saturday phone conversations with officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan. Axios reported these leaders urged Trump to accept the developing framework.

A separate conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proceeded “very well,” Trump noted.

Pakistan has worked to bridge the gap between Iran and the U.S. following weeks of warfare that have kept the essential Hormuz passage closed to most maritime traffic despite an uneasy ceasefire.

Trump has consistently stated that U.S. military action against Iran aimed to prevent nuclear weapons development. Iran has rejected claims it seeks nuclear weapons and maintains its right to uranium enrichment for peaceful uses.

“The trend this week has been towards a reduction in disputes, but there are still issues that need to be discussed through mediators. We will have to wait and see where the situation ends in the next three or four days,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.

Iran has insisted on strait oversight, termination of the U.S. port blockade, and removal of sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

Baghaei indicated that while the U.S. shipping blockade issue matters, Iran’s main concerns are stopping potential new U.S. attacks and resolving the ongoing Lebanese conflict, where Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters are battling Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.

Pakistan’s army chief Munir departed Tehran Saturday after discussions with Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Qalibaf stated Iran’s military had restored its strength during the ceasefire and warned that if the U.S. “foolishly restarts the war,” the results would be “more forceful and bitter” than when the conflict began.

Throughout weeks of fighting, Iran has maintained its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium along with its missile, drone and proxy force capabilities.

British naval personnel aboard the RFA Lyme Bay, currently stationed near Gibraltar, are standing by for a potential mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, though the mission remains uncertain pending ongoing peace negotiations.

Following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump that allies haven’t contributed enough to America’s military efforts against Iran, which has effectively blocked the crucial shipping route and caused energy costs to spike globally, Trump challenged NATO partners in March to “go get your own oil” and secure the waterway independently.

From Gibraltar, a British territory at the southern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the Royal Navy is making preparations for exactly that mission — though deployment will only occur after a peace settlement is finalized. Trump announced Saturday that negotiations with Iran have been “largely negotiated” following discussions with Israel and regional partners, though final details remain outstanding.

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns brought a select group of journalists to tour the RFA Lyme Bay while it prepares for a potential multinational operation, spearheaded by Britain and France, to restore security to the strait. During Carns’ briefing, crews were loading the amphibious vessel with munitions and sonar-equipped underwater drones designed for mine detection.

The RFA Lyme Bay, carrying several hundred crew members, will eventually leave Gibraltar to rendezvous with the destroyer HMS Dragon and partner vessels for aerial support before transiting the Suez Canal toward the Persian Gulf.

“Which other country can pull together 40 nations and come up with a solution to deal with a complex problem that we couldn’t predict because we weren’t involved?” Carns responded when The Associated Press questioned what Trump expects from Britain as an ally.

Following the U.S.-Israeli military action that commenced February 28, Iran responded by essentially sealing off the strait, a vital passage for regional oil, natural gas and fertilizer exports, creating worldwide economic disruption. Britain has particularly faced Trump’s criticism, with the president calling the British fleet “toys” and comparing Prime Minister Keir Starmer unfavorably to “Winston Churchill.”

According to Carns, no fewer than 6,000 vessels have been prevented from transiting the strait since hostilities started.

Cmdr. Gemma Britton, who leads the Royal Navy’s Mine and Threat Exploitation Group, explained that Iran might have deployed a “huge” array of explosive devices throughout the waterway. These weapons could include rocket-powered mines, tethered explosives, or seabed devices activated by acoustic signals, motion, or illumination.

Journalists were shown unmanned systems capable of mapping the ocean floor and water column using sonar technology in roughly half the time required for manned vessels to survey and chart potential hazards. These robotic craft generate detailed images of underwater objects, from commercial fishing equipment to infrastructure pipelines. These visuals help identify explosive devices that can then be investigated using sophisticated sound-based detection and camera systems, Britton explained.

Several systems aboard the RFA Lyme Bay can be deployed on smaller craft that launch and operate independently from the main vessel, which serves as a command platform positioned safely away from suspected minefields, according to Britton. This approach minimizes personnel exposure to danger.

Traditional mine disposal involves divers manually attaching explosive charges to detected mines before retreating to trigger detonation. However, the RFA Lyme Bay is testing remote-controlled submersibles that can descend and position charges near mines before activating them from a safe distance, Britton noted.

The immediate objective will focus on establishing a clear transit corridor through the strait to enable approximately 700 stranded ships to depart. Subsequently, crews will open a reverse-direction lane for incoming vessels, though Britton cautioned that completely clearing the entire waterway could require months or even years.

Whether mines actually exist in the strait — or whether Britain and its partners will ultimately deploy to remove them — remains unclear.

When AP asked if the British preparations were primarily theatrical, intended to improve relations with America, Carns acknowledged that some mines may have already exploded or drifted away, but noted that such uncertainty fails to satisfy commercial insurance providers. These companies require “absolute certainty” before authorizing vessel passage through the strait again.

“That’s what this capability will provide,” he stated.

The multinational strait security mission would only proceed after fighting concludes.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump posted Saturday on social media, without specifying a timeline.

Recent weeks have seen multiple claims that an agreement was near completion.

“We don’t know when the Americans, Iranians and Israelis are going to come up with a suitable solution,” Carns acknowledged.

Until then, the RFA Lyme Bay and its personnel will remain on standby and will be “really, really ready,” Carns assured.

Ukraine’s capital city faced a large-scale assault involving missiles and drones during the early morning hours of Sunday, following warnings from Ukrainian air forces about a potential hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile launch by Russia.

The city experienced multiple explosions just after 1 a.m. local time, occurring shortly after military officials announced the possibility of an Oreshnik missile strike through their Telegram communications channel. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, reported via Telegram that no fewer than three individuals sustained injuries and multiple residential structures suffered damage throughout the capital. He also noted that burning debris was discovered on the grounds of a centrally-located school.

On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had issued a warning that Russia was planning to use the Oreshnik missile system against Ukraine, based on intelligence gathered from Ukrainian, American, and European sources. Ukrainian air force officials have not yet provided confirmation regarding whether an Oreshnik missile successfully struck any targets during the attack.

This marks the third time Russia has deployed the Oreshnik weapon system against Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has previously claimed this missile cannot be intercepted due to its reported speed exceeding ten times the velocity of sound.

The president’s earlier warning followed Putin’s directive to his armed forces to develop retaliatory options against Ukraine in response to a drone attack on student housing facilities in the Russian-occupied Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian military officials stated their forces had aimed at a Russian drone operations center during that strike.

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) — Venezuelan opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado declared Saturday her intention to seek the presidency once more and expects to return to Venezuela by the close of 2026.

Speaking during a gathering with other Venezuelan opposition figures in Panama, Machado’s announcement comes over four months following the White House’s surprising choice to distance itself from her and instead collaborate with a loyalist from Venezuela’s ruling party after the U.S. military detained former President Nicolás Maduro.

Machado has remained in exile since December, after surfacing from nearly a year of hiding within Venezuela and departing for Norway to receive the Nobel prize.

During her remarks to journalists in Panama City, she stated that she and fellow opposition leaders present continue their dedication to achieving a democratic transition “through free and fair presidential elections, where all Venezuelans inside and outside the country vote.”

However, the timing of Venezuela’s next presidential election remains uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump and top administration figures have commended acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who succeeded Maduro and has opened Venezuela’s petroleum sector to American investment during a period of rising oil costs linked to conflict in Iran.

The Trump administration has also reduced discussion of elections, despite Venezuela’s constitutional requirement for such contests within 30 days when a president becomes “permanently unavailable.”

According to Machado, organizing an election under democratic standards would require seven to nine months of preparation. Essential reforms include selecting impartial electoral officials, updating voter registration systems, and ensuring opposition candidates can campaign without government obstruction.

Machado emerged as Maduro’s most formidable challenger in recent years, though his administration prevented her candidacy in the 2024 presidential race, prompting her to select former ambassador Edmundo González Urrutia as her ballot representative.

Ruling party officials proclaimed Maduro victorious just hours after voting ended, yet Machado’s organized campaign gathered documentation demonstrating González had won against Maduro by more than a 2-to-1 ratio.

On Saturday, she informed reporters of her readiness to face any presidential contender in “an impeccable election.”

“I will be a candidate, but there may be others, of course,” she said. “I would love to compete with everyone, with anyone who wants to be a candidate.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent diplomatic tour across five nations from May 15 to 20 included stops in the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy, but his visit to Rome delivered the most significant strategic outcomes. The Italian leg of the journey demonstrated how New Delhi is expanding its global partnerships by integrating commerce, technology, defense, connectivity, and corridor development into a unified diplomatic strategy.

During the Rome meetings, India and Italy upgraded their relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership and signed a comprehensive joint declaration covering commerce, investment, supply chains, critical minerals, clean technologies, semiconductors, ports, maritime security, defense industrial cooperation, innovation, space, migration, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Both nations also confirmed their goal of increasing bilateral trade to €20 billion by 2029.

This enhancement positions Italy as more than just a ceremonial diplomatic partner in India’s European strategy. Italy represents a major EU economy, a Mediterranean nation, a NATO ally, and one of the Western governments demonstrating significant political commitment to IMEC. For India, Rome serves as a valuable European bridge and potential Mediterranean gateway that New Delhi seeks to develop as a strategic advantage.

The official India-Italy declaration contained remarkably detailed practical commitments. Both governments expressed their intention to establish resilient supply chains, expand industrial and technology partnerships, and enhance cooperation across multiple sectors including textiles, clean technologies, semiconductors, automotive, energy, tourism, pharmaceuticals and medical technologies, digital technologies, steel, ports, and infrastructure. They also advocated for stronger connections between stock exchanges, investment funds, banks, insurers, and other financial institutions.

The partnership is being institutionalized beyond mere public announcements. The leaders committed to annual meetings, including during multilateral events, and agreed to utilize the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 as their primary operational framework. This plan was initially adopted in 2024, but the Rome declaration provided renewed political momentum and positioned it as the centerpiece of bilateral follow-up efforts.

IMEC occupied a central position in the discussions. Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reconfirmed their dedication to the corridor, described its transformational possibilities, and urged the first IMEC ministerial meeting to take concrete actions in 2026. The declaration characterizes the project as a pathway not only for goods, but for broader commercial, digital, and strategic connections linking India, the Gulf, and Europe.

The maritime component proved equally significant. India and Italy endorsed a memorandum of understanding on maritime transport and ports and instructed their ministries to establish a joint working group for implementation. They also agreed to initiate a Maritime Security dialogue to enhance cooperation, coordination, information sharing, and best practices. The message was unmistakable: connectivity is being approached not as a separate technical matter, but as an integral part of a security framework.

The technology agenda followed similar patterns. The leaders announced the establishment of INNOVIT India, an innovation hub in India designed to strengthen both countries’ innovation ecosystems, support startup acceleration, improve market access and business matching, and deepen university collaboration and talent mobility. The declaration identifies fintech, healthcare, semiconductors, logistics and supply chains, agritech, energy, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence as priority areas.

They also emphasized cooperation in supercomputing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, the sustainable blue economy, and space. This breadth explains why the meeting held significance: it represented more than symbolic diplomacy. It constituted a practical effort to integrate industrial policy, advanced technology, and strategic geography into a unified relationship.

According to Rajat Ganguly, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, the Rome visit reflects a broader transformation in Indian foreign policy. “I see this as India’s growing confidence in what I call a polyalignment foreign policy,” he told The Media Line. “What this effectively means is that India does not want to get pushed into one particular corner or another. A lot of people are saying that India should be more strongly in favor of BRICS against the US. This is not India’s approach to foreign policy right now. India wants to be a good partner with multiple actors.”

BRICS represents a coalition of major emerging economies pursuing greater economic and diplomatic influence in an increasingly multipolar global system. It began with Brazil, Russia, India, and China holding their first formal leaders’ summit in 2009; South Africa joined in 2010, and the bloc expanded again in 2024 and 2025 to include countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

Ganguly explained the logic is apparent in India’s capacity to maintain separate relationships, even when they point in conflicting directions. “You could have India-US on one side, India-Russia on one side. … India is very close to Israel, but India is also very close to Iran,” he said. “From India’s point of view, that is probably the most useful thing: to have multiple partners, multiple friends, and not allow the difficulties between friends, let’s say, to affect their relationship with India. Iran and Israel are a classic example. India wants to have beneficial relations with both.”

This reasoning helps clarify why Italy holds importance for New Delhi. Ganguly characterized Italy as a significant trade partner and a pro-India advocate within the European Union. “Italy is a very important trade partner, and you may remember this new trade route from India to the Gulf, then on to Israel, then Greece and Italy into Europe,” he said. “If you look at it from that point of view, then obviously Italy is very, very important for India. Italy is also a voice within the European Union that is very pro-India.”

The personal rapport between Modi and Meloni also contributes, in Ganguly’s assessment. “I think Meloni’s position on many different things probably aligns quite well with Modi and his ideas,” he said. “As two prime ministers, they are probably quite aligned in terms of their political ideology, in terms of their outlook for the world, for Europe, and for India. From Modi’s point of view, Europe is very important as an alternative power center.”

He also contended that Meloni has attempted to demonstrate independence even from leaders she previously strongly supported. “Meloni used to be a very big Trump supporter,” Ganguly said. “But what she is also asserting is that she is autonomous. She supports Trump when it is good for Italy. But if she is required to criticize Trump because Trump is doing things that are not good for Italy, she will do that,” adding, “What it shows is that she has got a spine, that she is not going to bend backward for anybody.”

Leo Goretti, associate dean at Rome Business School, positions India in a somewhat different but complementary framework. He characterized the country as a “swing country” in the global system, positioned between the democratic West and a broader coalition of states seeking to reshape the international order from outside its traditional center.

He described India as “halfway between the link with the democratic and Western world and the positioning within a front of countries that somehow claim a reform of the multilateral system, of the international liberal order, starting from the outside, like the BRICS.” In his perspective, India represents a key nation, and maintaining dialogue, partnership relationships, if not friendship or even alliance with India, remains crucial for Western countries.

For Goretti, the India connection also provides Meloni an opportunity to position Italy as more than a reactive European middle power. “All this means that at this moment India can actually represent an interlocutor through which Meloni can try to relaunch the country’s foreign policy, which in recent months has seen Italy in a rather difficult situation, more reactive than proactive,” he told The Media Line.

He was cautious not to characterize this as a departure from the West. “In my opinion, this Italian government also contains different positions on this issue,” Goretti said. “I believe that the perspective of Prime Minister Meloni is a perspective that she has coherently carried out over time: the search for a united Western front. I consider it an extremely complicated perspective, if not impossible, with Trump actually translating it into concrete politics.”

Goretti added that Meloni’s approach remains connected to a Western framework even if Washington no longer appears fully committed to the same concept. “My impression is that Meloni’s position tends to be continuous in this effort to keep the Western front united,” he said, “while emphasizing the fact—and this is the paradox—that the main exponent of that front, the United States, does not seem at this moment to be interested in this type of politics, and hence all the frustrations and failures of the case.”

He also identified pressure points within the Italian right, where some smaller factions favor a more openly multipolar interpretation of world politics. “There are minority components, let’s say, in the area of the radical right, both inside and outside the government, that probably have a perspective much more linked to this ideal of a multipolar world, in which … one tries to navigate between the Russian power policy, the American one, potentially also the Chinese one, etc.,” he said. “But I believe that this is a component that, at this moment, is quite a minority, which, however, is destined to become more and more noisy before the next elections.”

The Rome meeting occurred during the same week that BRICS foreign ministers convened in New Delhi and failed to produce a joint statement due to disagreements over the Middle East. Reuters reported that rivals Iran and the UAE were among the countries unable to reach consensus on a common text, and India issued only a chair statement that referenced “differing views among some members” on West Asia and the Middle East.

This incident highlighted the limitations of viewing BRICS as a unified anti-Western alliance. “India, as one of the founding members, is the classical balancer,” Ganguly said, adding that “India is basically saying that BRICS should not be like a Cold War institution, where it is almost zero-sum politics: that BRICS is anti-America, anti-West, and therefore BRICS is in conflict with the West and with the US. We do not want that.”

He observed that the bloc’s internal disagreements are becoming more difficult to manage as membership expands. “Right now, there are 10 members, and it was not possible to get all 10 members to agree on a joint communique at the end of the meeting, particularly because the UAE and Iran did not see eye to eye,” he said. “Therein lies the problem: India’s perception of BRICS is very different from Russia’s and China’s. It is also very different from Iran’s and the UAE’s, for example.”

For Goretti, this broader uncertainty is encouraging both India and Europe to diversify their partnerships. He argued that the transatlantic relationship no longer appears as stable or automatic as it once did, which explains why countries such as Italy are examining India and other middle powers more closely. The solution, in his view, is not to abandon the West but to avoid overdependence on a single power axis.

This is where the India-EU relationship becomes relevant to the Italy narrative. The European Commission states that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) concluded on January 27, 2026, and that the agreement would eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 96% of EU goods exports while saving approximately €4 billion annually in duties. The commission also indicates the EU and India relaunched negotiations in 2022 for a separate Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications.

The Rome declaration incorporated this broader European track into the bilateral relationship by welcoming the conclusion of the FTA negotiations and the India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. It also supported the India-EU Trade and Technology Council as a platform for cooperation in trade, critical technologies, and economic security.

Despite all this ambition, IMEC remains the most challenging component of the arrangement. India and Italy both characterized the corridor as transformational, but the project relies on stability across the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean, where conflict and disruption remain active threats. The declaration expressed deep concern over the situation in West Asia and the Middle East, welcomed the ceasefire announced on April 8, 2026, and called for de-escalation, dialogue, diplomacy, freedom of navigation, and the resumption of global flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Goretti stated that if instability persists across Yemen, Hormuz, and Iran, the corridor will remain challenging to implement. “It is certain that if there is an arc of instability and war that involves Yemen, the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran, this represents a huge problem for such an ambitious project,” he said. He also noted that current disruptions already impact routes between India and Europe.

This represents the fundamental tension at the core of the Modi-Meloni meeting. The strategic direction is evident. The relationship is more comprehensive than previously. The institutional framework is more substantial than in earlier phases. However, the route on which much of the broader vision depends still passes through one of the most volatile regions globally. Italy can help provide political support for the project, but it cannot independently supply the stability necessary to make it function at full capacity.

Ganguly argued that India’s westward expansion will continue through a network of relationships rather than a single corridor. “India’s presence in the Middle East is going to grow through the UAE, through Israel, and through very, very good ties with Saudi Arabia now,” he said. “From the Middle East, there will be Cyprus and Greece, and then into Italy and into Europe.”

He stated the common element is that India does not view these relationships as mutually exclusive. “India would say, no, no, no, each relationship is completely independent,” he said. “What we use to judge each relationship is whether it is good for India. And only India will decide what is good for India.”

This explains why the Rome visit was notable. It was not simply a cordial meeting between two leaders with some political chemistry. It represented a practical step in a larger strategy of diversification, corridor-building, and strategic autonomy. India and Italy are attempting to connect trade, technology, defense, mobility, and maritime security within a single framework, while also fitting that framework into broader India-EU and Indo-Mediterranean politics.

What remains unclear is how much of this ambition can be realized in a geopolitically strained environment. The declaration is comprehensive. The objectives are specific. The cooperation is extensive. However, the stability required to support IMEC, facilitate smooth trade flows, and ensure sustained maritime access still depends on a region where conflict can rapidly spread across borders and disrupt plans.

For Europe, this represents part of a larger transformation. Goretti said the past year and a half has served as a wake-up call for those who believed the transatlantic relationship would remain the unquestioned foundation of foreign and security policy. He argued that Europe now needs to expand its portfolio of partners, including India, the Gulf states, Brazil, and other middle powers, to avoid being forced into a pure US-China rivalry.

This broader logic provides the real context for Modi’s tour. The Gulf remains important for energy and connectivity. The Netherlands remains significant for trade and technology. Sweden and Norway remain valuable for innovation and green transition. Italy matters because it connects all of these themes to the Mediterranean and to the question of how Europe and Asia will link in the coming years.

The meeting in Rome, therefore, was less about one friendship than about an emerging pattern. India and Italy are both attempting to hedge against uncertainty by deepening ties, expanding options, and building practical cooperation around supply chains, advanced technology, and connectivity. Whether this framework becomes a functioning alternative to older routes and older assumptions will depend less on diplomatic declarations than on the ability of the wider region to avoid another round of disruption.

The Israel Defense Forces announced that Staff Sgt. Noam Hamburger, a 23-year-old soldier from Atlit, died Friday when a drone operated by Hezbollah from Lebanon hit Israeli forces positioned near the northern border within Israeli territory.

The fallen soldier worked as a combat specialist focusing on technology and maintenance within the 9th Battalion of the 401st Brigade.

Military officials reported that the attack left one soldier with serious injuries and a noncommissioned officer with minor wounds. Medical teams transported both injured personnel for treatment while their families received notification.

The IDF stated that approximately 25 minutes following the initial strike, another explosive drone touched down in the identical location. This second incident resulted in no casualties.

In an interview with Ynet, Liat Hamburger, the victim’s mother, shared memories of her son: “Noam was pleasant and kind, he was simply a great gift to any mother. He always had a big smile, was an excellent student and loved to learn.”

The family had maintained contact with him just before the fatal incident occurred. “He managed to speak with us the day before the tragedy, he wished us a happy Shavuot holiday. We planned to come to him the next day with treats he loved, but then he didn’t answer us and it was very strange, we had a feeling that something happened,” she explained.

Liat Hamburger revealed that her son was looking forward to completing his military service and returning to civilian life. “He was about to be discharged soon with many plans. It’s simply incomprehensible that our Noam with his big heart, his heart of gold, won’t return anymore,” she stated.

American military forces carried out a training exercise above Venezuela’s capital city on Saturday, marking the first such operation in the South American country since U.S. forces launched an assault on Caracas and detained President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife Cilia Flores on January 3.

According to Venezuelan officials, that January assault resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 100 individuals.

Saturday’s training operation, which Venezuelan leadership said they had approved as preparation for potential medical crises or natural disasters, featured a pair of MV-22B Osprey aircraft that touched down close to the American embassy, along with naval vessels that moved into Venezuelan Caribbean waters.

Venezuela’s information ministry has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

In an official statement, the U.S. embassy expressed its continued dedication to “ensuring the implementation” of President Donald Trump’s three-part strategy, “particularly the stabilization of Venezuela.”

Embassy officials confirmed that Francis Donovan, who leads the U.S. Southern Command responsible for American military activities throughout the Americas, was present in Caracas during the exercise.

“This keeps us on guard,” said Evelyn Rebolledo, 57, an administrator living in the capital.

“A foreign country flying over the city itself, this is new to us and more so coming from the United States, given the current situation and all the turmoil in the country. It leaves us in a state of uncertainty.”

The Trump administration has endorsed the leadership of Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, and her government has enacted legislation allowing American companies access to Venezuela’s extensive petroleum and mineral resources.

An expert from a nonpartisan policy organization weighed in on the uncertain situation surrounding modifications to American military positioning across Europe, as Secretary Rubio engaged in discussions with NATO partners.

Kristine Berzina, who serves as a Senior Fellow at The German Marshall Fund think tank, addressed the unclear circumstances involving evolving strategies for U.S. military presence in European nations.

The discussions come at a time when questions have emerged about potential changes to how American forces are positioned throughout the region, creating uncertainty among alliance members about future military arrangements.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that a memorandum of understanding for a peace agreement with Iran has been mostly completed and would result in opening the Strait of Hormuz, with final details expected to be revealed in the near future.

“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote on Trump Social.

The president made his announcement following individual phone conversations with leaders from Muslim majority countries and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he believes there’s an equal likelihood the United States will either negotiate a diplomatic solution with Iran or launch renewed military operations, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security meetings over concerns about proposed agreement terms.

Speaking with Axios reporter Barak Ravid, President Trump described the odds as a “solid 50/50” chance of either achieving what he called a “good” deal or to “blow them to kingdom come.” Trump indicated the proposed deal should tackle uranium enrichment and Iran’s current stockpile, though Axios noted these matters likely wouldn’t be immediately resolved under the current memorandum being considered.

The president announced plans to meet with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, alongside Vice President JD Vance.

“I think one of two things will happen: either I hit them harder than they have ever been hit, or we are going to sign a deal that is good,” he said.

Trump also noted that some administration officials favor diplomatic solutions while others support renewed military operations. He rejected suggestions that Netanyahu was “worried,” but acknowledged the Israeli leader was “torn” about the proposed deal.

On Saturday, President Trump conducted a phone conference with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey to discuss the revised memorandum of understanding. Pakistan also joined the conversation, according to Reuters, while Israel did not participate.

Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that Netanyahu called together his security cabinet regarding what he considered a proposal that would disadvantage Israel.

An Israeli official quoted in the report stated that Witkoff was heavily promoting the agreement and “wants a deal at almost any price, and is placing immense pressure on Trump not to resume the war.”

The report indicated the proposed conditions would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for economic incentives, while talks about Iran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium reserves would occur at a later time. Iran’s ballistic missile program was reportedly excluded from the negotiations.

CANNES, France – Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu claimed the prestigious Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his latest work “Fjord.”

This marks Mungiu’s second victory at the festival’s highest honor, following his 2007 triumph with “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.”

The film features performances by Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve and explores the cultural tensions that arise when a devout family from Romania settles in a small Norwegian community.

Violent confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators broke out in Serbia’s capital Saturday as massive crowds gathered demanding immediate elections and calling for President Aleksandar Vucic to step down after more than ten years in power.

Tens of thousands of people packed Slavija Square, a major intersection in Belgrade, continuing a wave of unrest that began 18 months ago following a fatal building collapse that sparked a student-driven campaign against alleged government corruption and poor oversight.

Riot police surrounded Belgrade’s city hall, located about a kilometer from the demonstration site, before scattered confrontations erupted between demonstrators and officers near the presidential complex and outside a park where Vucic’s backers have maintained an encampment since March of last year.

Law enforcement deployed teargas and stun grenades while forcing protesters back down the street. Demonstrators responded by igniting trash-filled containers.

Numerous rally participants displayed pins featuring red handprints with the message “Your hands are bloody,” while carrying signs declaring “The students are winning.”

The anti-establishment demonstrations began following the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, a northern Serbian city, on November 1, 2024. Opposition figures, demonstrators, and civil rights organizations claim the incident reflects widespread governmental incompetence.

Vucic and his political allies reject claims of corruption and suppression of dissent, stating they have pursued accountability for those responsible for the building failure.

Speaking to the enthusiastic crowd before violence erupted Saturday, Mirjana Nikolic, who serves as rector at Belgrade’s University of Arts, declared: “This government is … afraid of those who are defending their dignity and their rights.”

Law enforcement officials estimated attendance at the square and nearby streets at 34,300 people. However, the Archive of Public Gatherings, an organization that tracks public demonstrations, calculated participation at approximately 100,000.

“I came here to show how many of us there are, how many unhappy citizens are and that it is a high time to organise election to make things better,” said Dragan Djuric, a 55-year-old farmer from the town of Sabac who attended the demonstration.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Activists from South Africa who were taken into custody after their vessels were stopped while attempting to break through Israel’s Gaza blockade claimed Saturday that Israeli forces beat and tortured them while in detention.

The Global Sumud Flotilla consisting of 50 ships was stopped Monday in international waters approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) from Israel’s coastline as participants attempted to break the blockade and bring humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. The detained individuals reported being confined for multiple days at Israel’s K’tziot prison, where several claimed they received electric shocks during questioning about their involvement in the flotilla operation.

Israeli officials have rejected claims of abuse against the detained flotilla participants, stating the allegations were “false and entirely without factual basis.” No immediate response was available regarding Saturday’s accusations.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and family members welcomed the activists as they returned to South Africa from Turkey on Saturday morning.

The activists reported experiencing particularly brutal treatment once Israeli forces discovered their South African nationality, given that South Africa has brought Israel before the International Court of Justice with genocide accusations regarding Gaza.

“Water was withheld from us for extended periods. The food they provided was unfit for human consumption. Bathroom access was denied for many hours, and when we began to object, rubber bullets were fired at us,” activist Faizel Moosa stated.

Moosa, who previously fought against apartheid during South Africa’s struggle against white minority governance, described the detention conditions as the most severe he had ever endured.

“Having been detained under the apartheid system during our liberation fight, this experience was significantly worse. This demonstrates the daily reality that Palestinians face,” Moosa explained.

Dr. Margaret Connolly, who participated with an Irish group in the flotilla, described never feeling such terror while detailing the dehumanizing detention conditions.

She reported witnessing people being struck with firearms. Prisoners who had their clothing removed and were refused blankets were forced to crowd together in cold temperatures to avoid hypothermia.

Connolly, the sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, was part of 15 Irish participants who received enthusiastic welcomes from supporters and relatives upon arriving in Dublin on Saturday.

She stated that Israeli personnel failed to supply adequate water or hygiene supplies, and her medical equipment was seized, preventing her from delivering appropriate medical treatment. She noted that bread packaging and clothing fabric used for bandages and arm supports were subsequently confiscated.

“Their intention was for us to endure suffering,” Connolly stated. “Many soldiers speaking with American accents yelled down: ‘You should have thought of this before you came.’”

Three Chilean citizens who were held by Israel during their attempt to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid also returned home Saturday, where they condemned the Chilean government for what they characterized as failure to act in securing their freedom.

Víctor Chanfreau, Claudio Caiozzi and Carolina Eltit participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla. A substantial crowd of supporters welcomed the three at Santiago’s airport with Palestinian flags, protest signs and cheering.

“The Chilean government performed terribly, which was expected,” Chanfreau informed reporters at the airport, describing the Chilean Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic response during their detention as “negligent.”

Eltit described being assaulted and confined “under terrible conditions, without toilet paper, one restroom for 190 individuals, lying in the sun, bound at hands and feet.”

Connolly criticized the Irish government for declining to impose sanctions on Israel.

Activist Qutb Hendricks urged the South African government to increase pressure on Israel by prohibiting coal sales and other supply exports to the nation.

A conservative presidential candidate in Colombia has experienced a significant boost in voter support during the final week before the country’s upcoming election, positioning him as the likely winner should a runoff become necessary.

According to the most recent AtlasIntel survey published Saturday – the final polling data before Colombia’s May 31 election – leftist candidate Ivan Cepeda maintains a narrow advantage with 38.7% support, while right-wing businessman Abelardo De La Espriella follows closely at 37.3%.

Despite trailing in the initial vote count, polling data suggests De La Espriella would prevail in a head-to-head runoff scenario, capturing 50% compared to Cepeda’s 41.3%.

The polling results come from 4,531 interviews conducted from May 18 through May 21. During the campaign’s final week, De La Espriella experienced a notable 4-point increase from the previous AtlasIntel survey, while Cepeda saw a modest 1-point rise.

Centro Democratico Party candidate Paloma Valencia, representing the right-wing faction, holds third place with 14.3% of voter preferences, dropping slightly more than 2 points. Polling indicates she would also defeat Cepeda in a runoff matchup, earning 44.6% versus his 41.5%.

Different Paths Forward for the Nation

Cepeda has committed to building upon the policies established by current President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, by expanding social programs aimed at addressing inequality and continuing diplomatic efforts with illegal armed organizations.

In contrast, De La Espriella has promised to halt such negotiations while adopting an aggressive approach toward criminal activity and narcotics trafficking, providing support for private investment and business development, and strengthening the nation’s mining and energy industries.

Valencia has outlined plans to increase military and police forces, initiate aggressive campaigns against criminal organizations and guerrilla groups, support business growth, and reduce taxation.

These opposition campaign platforms would represent a significant departure from Petro’s current administration. The former M19 rebel leader halted new petroleum and natural gas exploration permits as part of his initiative to transition the nation toward more environmentally sustainable energy alternatives.

Petro’s four-year presidency concludes in August. Should no candidate secure more than half of the valid ballots from the 41 million registered voters, a runoff election between the top two finishers will take place on June 21.

The Trump administration finds itself at a crossroads in its three-month standoff with Iran, alternating between threats of military action and attempts at diplomatic engagement. Both strategies have failed to produce a decisive outcome in the escalating tensions.

The administration’s approach has been marked by inconsistency, swinging between aggressive posturing and diplomatic outreach as officials search for an effective strategy to resolve the conflict.

BELGRADE, Serbia — Massive crowds converged on Serbia’s capital Saturday for a demonstration organized by protesting university students, despite the authoritarian government’s attempts to prevent large-scale gatherings that have challenged President Aleksandar Vucic’s strongman leadership over the past year.

Demonstrators flooded into Belgrade’s central square from multiple routes, with many displaying banners and wearing shirts bearing the youth movement’s “Students win” slogan. Earlier that day, vehicle convoys had arrived in Belgrade from towns across Serbia.

“Students managed to gather us here with their youth and wonderful energy; I really believe that we have right to live normally,” said demonstrator Maja Milas Markovic.

The student movement sparked a countrywide surge of anti-corruption street demonstrations seeking justice for a November 2024 railway station disaster in northern Serbia that claimed 16 lives. The protests resulted in the resignation of then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, though Vucic later launched a harsh crackdown on demonstrators.

In an apparent effort to limit attendance from other regions of the Balkan nation, Serbia’s state railway company suspended all train service to and from Belgrade on Saturday.

Vucic supporters, meanwhile, assembled at a park encampment outside the Serbian presidency building — a setup he established before a major anti-government demonstration last March to serve as a barrier against protesters. Loud folk music played from the fenced compound, which was surrounded by fully equipped riot police.

Student organizers emphasized their rally would remain peaceful. However, concerns about potential violence persist given Vucic’s supporters — who often wear hoods and masks — have previously assaulted student demonstrators.

The Serbian president has drawn international criticism for his harsh response to the protest movement. Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned Serbia’s government in a report this week and stated he “will monitor the situation closely” on Saturday.

While Serbia officially pursues European Union membership, it has maintained strong relationships with Russia and China. The EU’s chief enlargement official warned last month that the democratic deterioration under Vucic could result in Serbia losing approximately 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding.

Saturday’s demonstration took place at Belgrade’s Slavija Square, which hosted a massive anti-government protest in March 2025. That gathering ended abruptly amid what experts later claimed — though the government disputed — was the deployment of a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters.

Student leaders now indicate they intend to challenge Vucic in upcoming elections this year or next, hoping to remove the right-wing populist administration from power. Vucic announced this week that voting could occur between September and November this year.

Vucic, his administration, and pro-government media outlets have labeled opposition figures as terrorists and foreign operatives seeking to harm the nation — language that has intensified political divisions.

CARACAS, Venezuela — American military personnel carried out a rapid response training drill at the United States Embassy in Venezuela’s capital on Saturday, more than four months following the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro from office.

A pair of Marine Corps Osprey aircraft — dual-purpose vehicles that function as both helicopters and traditional airplanes — circled above the recently reopened American diplomatic facility in Caracas. The aircraft touched down in the embassy’s parking area, with powerful air currents from their rotors causing nearby tree limbs to sway as military personnel emerged from the vehicles.

“Ensuring the military’s rapid response capability is a key component of mission readiness, both here in Venezuela and around the world,” the embassy said on Instagram.

Venezuelan officials had previously disclosed plans for the training exercise earlier in the week. Foreign Minister Yván Gil explained that American forces would perform the drill as preparation “in the event of medical emergencies or catastrophic emergencies.”

The military exercise occurred nearly two months following the formal reopening of the American embassy in Caracas. The diplomatic facility’s restoration came after the United States reestablished complete diplomatic ties with the South American nation following Maduro’s removal in early January.

Several Caracas residents assembled near the embassy grounds on Saturday to observe the military aircraft, while dozens of others congregated in different parts of the city to demonstrate against the exercise. Those protesting displayed a Venezuelan flag bearing the words “No to the Yankee drill.”

American military aircraft previously appeared over Caracas on January 3, when specialized forces descended from helicopters on ropes and apprehended Maduro along with his wife. The pair were transported to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking. Both have entered not guilty pleas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Saturday that Russia is gearing up to launch an attack against Ukraine utilizing a hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, based on intelligence gathered from Ukraine, the United States, and European sources.

This alert follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s directive to his armed forces on Friday to develop retaliatory options against Ukraine following a drone attack that hit a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian military officials have rejected any involvement in that dormitory attack.

“We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike,” Zelenskiy wrote in a post on X, without referencing the drone incident.

Moscow has previously deployed the Oreshnik weapon against Ukraine on two occasions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed this missile cannot be intercepted due to its reported speed exceeding 10 times the velocity of sound.

Russia initially launched an Oreshnik at what it described as a Ukrainian military manufacturing facility in November 2024. Ukrainian officials reported that the weapon carried non-explosive dummy warheads during that strike, resulting in minimal destruction.

A second strike occurred in January 2026, with the missile hitting the Lviv region in Ukraine’s western territory.

“We are drawing the attention of our partners in the United States and in Europe to the fact that the use of such weapons and the prolongation of this war also sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors,” Zelenskiy stated.

In January, the leaders of Britain, France and Germany characterized Russia’s deployment of an Oreshnik ballistic missile in western Ukraine as “escalatory and unacceptable.”

Zelenskiy emphasized that Kyiv expects a global response and seeks “a response that is not post factum, but preventive.”

He added that international pressure must be applied to Moscow to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump indicated Saturday that American and Iranian negotiators are making significant progress toward reaching an agreement to end their ongoing conflict, based on his remarks to CBS News.

According to CBS, Trump stated that any final deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and guarantee that Iran’s enriched uranium materials are “satisfactorily handled.”

“I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want,” Trump stated in the interview.

Officials from Iran, the United States, and mediating nation Pakistan all confirmed Saturday that meaningful progress has occurred during negotiations aimed at ending nearly three months of warfare.

In a separate conversation with Axios, Trump indicated he plans to review the most recent Iranian proposal with his advisers Saturday and could decide by Sunday whether to return to military action.

“Either we reach a good deal or I’ll blow them to a thousand hells,” Trump told Axios.

The president has shifted between diplomatic engagement and threats of military force since a ceasefire began six weeks ago, allowing negotiators time to address Iran’s nuclear activities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping corridor currently under Tehran’s control.

Officials from Iran and the United States are reporting advancement in diplomatic discussions Saturday, with Pakistan’s top military commander facilitating additional meetings in Tehran while the Trump administration considers launching fresh strikes against Iran.

Speaking to reporters in India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed “there’s been some progress made” and indicated “there may be news later today.”

Following discussions with Field Marshal Asim Munir, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated that Iran has reconstructed its military capabilities following weeks of conflict and a tenuous ceasefire, according to state television coverage.

Qalibaf, who served as Iran’s primary representative during landmark direct discussions with American officials last month, warned that any resumption of attacks by President Donald Trump would result in consequences “more crushing and more bitter” than those seen at the conflict’s beginning.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported comments from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, who clarified that nuclear matters remain outside the scope of current discussions. Tehran prioritizes ending the ongoing conflict before addressing its nuclear activities, which have been central to international disputes.

According to Baghaei, negotiators are working to complete a memorandum of understanding, with both sides’ positions drawing closer in recent discussions.

“Over the past week, the trend has been toward narrowing differences,” he stated. “We will have to wait and see what happens over the next three or four days.”

Rubio emphasized ongoing diplomatic efforts, saying “even as I speak to you now there is some work being done. There is a chance that whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple days we may have something to say.”

The Secretary of State reiterated America’s position that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons, must surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpiles, and must ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains accessible to international shipping.

Trump previously announced he was postponing military action against Iran due to “serious negotiations” taking place and at the urging of regional allies. The president has established multiple deadlines for Tehran before retreating from those positions.

The conflict began when American and Israeli forces launched attacks on February 28, interrupting ongoing diplomatic discussions with Iran. Iran responded by essentially blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for regional oil, natural gas, and fertilizer shipments, creating worldwide economic disruption.

The United States subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. U.S. Central Command announced Saturday that American forces have redirected over 100 commercial ships and disabled four vessels since the blockade’s implementation on April 13.

Two officials in Islamabad described positive developments in discussions between Pakistan’s army chief and Iranian leadership, characterizing the talks as heading “in the right direction.” The officials requested anonymity as they lacked authorization for public statements.

Munir conducted meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and additional high-ranking officials, according to the two sources, who noted that Islamabad remains committed to facilitating another round of direct negotiations.

It remains unclear whether Pakistan’s army chief met with Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, who has emerged as an influential voice in shaping Iran’s hardline negotiating position.

Diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the United States showed meaningful advancement Saturday, with all parties including mediator Pakistan reporting significant headway toward ending nearly three months of warfare.

Iran’s foreign ministry announced its focus on completing a memorandum of understanding following meetings between Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir in Tehran.

Munir also conducted discussions with President Masoud Pezeshkian before departing the Iranian capital, according to Iranian state media. Pakistan’s military described the past day’s negotiations as producing “encouraging” advancement toward reaching a final agreement.

Speaking from India during his visit, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed diplomatic advancement and suggested Washington might issue statements on the matter soon.

“There’s been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say,” Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated: “The trend this week has been towards a reduction in disputes, but there are still issues that need to be discussed through mediators. We will have to wait and see where the situation ends in the next three or four days.”

BOTH NATIONS MAINTAIN CORE POSITIONS

Pakistan’s diplomatic intervention seeks to bridge gaps between Iran and America following weeks of warfare that resulted in the closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane to most vessels despite an unstable ceasefire, disrupting worldwide energy markets.

Negotiations reportedly focused on a 14-point proposal from Iran, which Tehran views as the primary framework for discussions, along with communications passed between both nations.

Baghaei emphasized that while America’s shipping blockade against Iran remained significant, Tehran’s main concerns were stopping potential new American military actions and resolving the continuing Lebanese conflict, where Iran-supported Hezbollah fighters are battling Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.

Rubio restated Trump administration requirements: “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The straits need to be open without tolls. They need to turn over their enriched uranium.”

Qalibaf declared Iran would continue defending its “legitimate rights” through both military and diplomatic means, while expressing distrust toward “a party that has no honesty at all,” repeating previous Iranian accusations.

He warned that Iran’s military had strengthened its capabilities during the ceasefire period and that if America “foolishly restarts the war,” the results would be “more forceful and bitter” than when fighting initially began.

U.S. President Donald Trump, facing political pressure due to war-related energy price increases affecting American consumers, announced Friday he would skip his son’s wedding this weekend, citing Iran among his reasons for remaining in Washington.

Throughout weeks of fighting, Iran has maintained its stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium along with missile, drone and proxy military capabilities that both America and Israel seek to eliminate.