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The creator of the worldwide Slow Food movement that champions sustainable agriculture and traditional cooking methods has died at age 76 in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, according to an announcement from the organization.

Carlo Petrini passed away Friday in his hometown, leaving behind a legacy as what Slow Food described as “a visionary leader and a public intellectual with a profound commitment to the common good, human relationships and the natural world.”

The movement began as Arcigola and emerged from resistance to fast food chains entering Italy. A 1986 demonstration at the Spanish Steps outside a newly opened McDonald’s in Rome marked the beginning of their campaign.

On December 9, 1989, Petrini became president when delegates from more than 20 nations gathered in Paris to sign the Slow Food Manifesto. He served in this role until 2022.

Built on the belief that food should be “good, clean and fair,” the organization expanded rapidly across Italy and eventually reached more than 160 countries. Establishments following these principles display Slow Food stickers featuring the distinctive snail logo, officially known as the Snail of Approval.

Among the movement’s major accomplishments was establishing Terra Madre in 2004, which brought together farmers, fishers, chefs and academics to advance their mission.

Petrini also established the University of Gastronomic Sciences, promoted as the first academic institution focused on comprehensive food and food culture studies. This approach gained official recognition when the Italian government created a Bachelor’s degree in gastronomic sciences in 2017.

The northern Italian university has educated approximately 4,000 food industry professionals from 100 nations, according to Slow Food.

In 2017, Petrini collaborated with the bishop of Verona, Monsignor Domenico Pompili, to create the Laudato Si’ Communities, implementing Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical through approximately 80 local groups.

Among Petrini’s written works are “Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good, Clean and Fair” and “Slow Food: The Case for Taste,” which features a foreword by Alice Waters, a leader in America’s farm-to-table movement.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A massive cooking vessel now dominates a small body of water in the heart of the Dutch capital.

The enormous pot, measuring 7 meters (23 feet) in height, floats in front of the renowned Mauritshuis museum, which houses the famous “Girl with a Pearl Earring” painting. This striking installation is one element of a month-long outdoor art showcase called the BlowUp Jubilee, which displays 24 inflatable sculptures throughout the Dutch city’s parks, building facades, and transportation hubs.

Curator Mary Hessing conceived this ambitious project. “What I really wanted to do is show the area and show arts to everybody,” she told The Associated Press.

The Dutch government launched an extensive restoration effort for the Binnenhof complex in 2021, encompassing both the Mauritshuis and the Parliament building. This historic location, with origins tracing back to the 13th century, became off-limits to visitors, prompting city officials to organize artistic programming during the closure period.

The inaugural BlowUp Art showcase in 2022 featured six artists’ creations positioned around the Binnenhof area. Following exhibitions also presented several inflatable pieces, but this 2026 jubilee version brings back all previous installations while introducing additional new works.

“For me it was important to show the real Curacao in this artwork, and that is our parties, our food, and our lifestyle,” artist Eugenie Boon told AP. The 21-year-old creator hails from the former Dutch Caribbean colony, and her piece, Koncha pa dilanti, named after an island board game, depicts imagery from regional daily life.

British artist Steve Messam has gained recognition for his oversized inflatable installations across the United Kingdom, China and The Hague. His creation called Crested, consisting of a cluster of crimson spikes, sits atop a parking structure entrance surrounded by century-old architecture along a tree-covered street.

“The idea was that this piece would hold its own amongst this wonderful architecture that we see around us,” he said.

The BlowUp Jubilee continues through June 21.

GOTEMBA, Japan — Fire erupted from a mobile launcher positioned in the peaceful foothills near Mount Fuji this week as U.S. Marines demonstrated a weapons system that’s becoming central to America’s evolving Pacific defense strategy.

The first missile launched from the truck-mounted system cut through the clear sky, its orange trail visible against the blue backdrop. Five additional rockets launched quickly after, followed by a second HIMARS vehicle that emerged from its hidden spot among the evergreen trees, fired six missiles of its own, then disappeared back into cover.

The brief training exercise at Camp Fuji’s east maneuver area represented more than routine military practice — it showcased American military capabilities to Pacific partners as the U.S. works to prevent potential Chinese military action against Taiwan, the independent democracy that Beijing considers its territory and has threatened to seize by force if necessary.

The demonstration also highlighted Washington’s tactical evolution in the Pacific region, changes driven by China’s rapid military advancement and modernization over recent years.

“The U.S. does not want China to invade Taiwan, but it would not be relying on the traditional aircraft carrier-based attack wings of the past,” said Euan Graham, a senior defense analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

“In Iran, with the U.S. conflict there, there were over 40 U.S. aircraft, manned and unmanned, either destroyed or damaged against a much less capable adversary, so in the case of conflict with China that vulnerability would be much greater,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeing the U.S. emphasizing … these smaller units.”

The Pentagon’s most recent annual congressional report states the objective is to “deny the ability of any country in the Indo-Pacific to dominate us or our allies.” The document emphasized strengthening deterrence “through strength, not confrontation.”

The HIMARS system’s purpose is clear from its complete designation: “High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.” This truck-based rocket launcher can remain concealed from aerial surveillance, move into position to launch its GPS-guided projectiles, then rapidly relocate using military tactics known as “shoot-and-scoot.”

“It depends on the crew, but it can get as fast as four minutes, (even) two minutes sometimes,” said Sgt. Kevin Alvarez, section chief of one of the two Fox Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division HIMARS involved in the Camp Fuji exercise.

While the HIMARS entered service approximately two decades ago and saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, it remained relatively obscure to civilians until Ukraine successfully employed it against Russian forces.

Recent conflicts, particularly the widespread use of battlefield drones that can rapidly locate stationary artillery, have highlighted the importance of mobility, according to Lt. Col. Ryan Anness, commander of the 3rd Battalion.

“They’re much quicker, much faster, and much easier to hide than, say, traditional cannon artillery, and obviously having the precision fire weapons and having the ability to hide easier is why so many countries, and why it’s important for us, to have the HIMARS,” he said.

The system can launch various missile types. Ukraine initially received only shorter-range ammunition before the U.S. approved the ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, which can strike targets approximately 300 kilometers (180 miles) away.

During the early stages of the war against Iran following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Feb. 28, HIMARS fired both ATACMS and the longer-range Precision Strike Missiles in their first combat use, destroying “multiple” Iranian naval vessels and a submarine in port, according to Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The PrSM can engage targets beyond 500 kilometers (310 miles), manufacturer Lockheed Martin reports.

Combined with the Army’s Typhon — another truck-mounted launcher that fires longer-range Tomahawk missiles but offers less mobility than HIMARS — these systems could effectively cover both the Taiwan Strait separating Taiwan and China, and the strategically vital Luzon Strait between the Philippines and Taiwan, if positioned on Taiwan and surrounding Philippine and Japanese islands, Graham explained.

Both waterways would play crucial roles in any Chinese invasion or blockade scenario.

“In advance of a conflict around Taiwan, there would likely be a large-scale outflux of U.S. assets within the envelope of China’s missile capabilities,” Graham said. “All that would be left is submarines, which are more survivable, and small units based on rugged survivability — mobile systems like the HIMARS.”

Wednesday’s Camp Fuji training employed practice rockets — concrete-filled tubes without explosives — and followed rigorous safety protocols while Japanese military officials observed. Local authorities closed a nearby road during the exercise as a precautionary measure in case any projectiles fell short of their targets.

Despite the safety measures that required conducting the live-fire drill more slowly than combat conditions would allow, Lt. Col. Anness emphasized its importance for both Marine training and allied relationships.

“Being able to have long-range precision-fire weapons provides deterrence here in the Pacific, and we train with our Japanese partners as much as we can to make sure we’re ready,” he said.

Political tensions escalated in Turkey on Friday as the country’s main opposition movement refused to accept a controversial court decision that removed its current leadership and reversed the results of its 2023 party convention.

An appeals court cited unidentified procedural violations in the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2023 congress and restored former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu to his previous position, replacing current leader Ozgur Ozel. Kilicdaroglu, a polarizing political figure, had previously been defeated by President Tayyip Erdogan in elections held earlier that year.

The opposition party denounced the court’s decision as a “judicial coup” and Ozel pledged to challenge the ruling through legal channels while personally staying “day and night” at the main opposition party’s headquarters in Ankara.

Political analysts view this situation as a crucial examination of Turkey’s fragile relationship between democratic governance and authoritarian control. The court’s action could potentially reignite anti-Erdogan demonstrations while also creating internal opposition conflicts that might benefit Erdogan’s efforts to maintain power in Turkey, an important NATO member nation and developing economy.

Financial markets responded negatively to the escalating political turmoil, with Turkish investments declining and the lira reaching a historic low. This prompted the central bank to deploy billions in foreign currency reserves to stabilize the situation.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz, addressing the situation from Istanbul on Friday, dismissed what he characterized as “daily developments” in financial markets, stating Turkey would maintain its commitment to implementing its economic strategy.

According to Berk Esen, a political scientist at Sabanci University, the court’s action “marks an unprecedented development in our administrative law and political history.” He added, “If upheld, it would open the door for courts to determine party leadership, with no comparable example in Turkey’s electoral system since 1946.”

Other opposition groups condemned the ruling as undemocratic, while Devlet Bahceli, a nationalist leader and important Erdogan supporter, indicated that the judicial system should avoid interfering in party internal affairs.

The CHP, established by modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, has also encountered an extraordinary legal offensive in which hundreds of party members and elected representatives have been arrested since 2024 on corruption and various other accusations that the party rejects.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is among those imprisoned. He serves as Erdogan’s primary political opponent and the CHP’s presidential nominee for an election scheduled for 2028, though recent court developments suggest it may occur sooner.

Erdogan confronts presidential term restrictions and can only seek reelection if an early election is scheduled or if constitutional changes are made. His administration rejects accusations of using courts against political opponents, maintaining that the judiciary operates independently.

The CHP, which polls show running approximately equal with Erdogan’s governing AK Party (AKP), declared the court ruling invalid and submitted an appeal to the Supreme Election Board (YSK), which they claim is the sole authority authorized to invalidate a party congress.

While the YSK supervises all elections and party conventions with final authority over its decisions, the court issued its ruling based on association laws – an unprecedented action in contemporary Turkey. The YSK met Friday to review the CHP’s appeal.

Spanish officials are rolling out an employment matching system as part of a comprehensive initiative to provide legal status to roughly 500,000 undocumented workers, aiming to boost the nation’s economic growth, according to the country’s leading immigration official.

The initiative, first revealed in January, has drawn criticism from far-right political figures both within Spain and throughout Europe. However, the Socialist-led coalition administration maintains that immigration will help Spain’s economy continue outperforming other European nations by developing a more youthful labor force as the overall population grows older.

Secretary of State for Migration Pilar Cancela revealed that government offices have processed more than 200,000 applications during the program’s initial month as of last week. She noted that many applicants received temporary employment permits after their submissions were accepted for review.

Cancela described the approach as an intelligent immigration strategy that would strengthen public services and pension systems. Official projections indicate Spain requires approximately 2.4 million additional social security contributors over the coming decade to maintain its welfare programs.

Government agencies, working alongside NGOs and specialized offices, have prepared to handle up to one million applications – double the anticipated volume – and have developed a strategy to assist migrants in securing legitimate employment, Cancela explained.

Research organization Funcas estimates roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently work in the informal economy, primarily individuals from Latin America.

The employment matching approach seeks to bring thousands of workers from the underground economy into legitimate positions to address labor shortages in critical industries.

“It’s a huge opportunity to harness the potential of all these people who are already helping to build the country alongside us, often working in precarious conditions,” Cancela stated, noting that “real integration” would occur once workers secure formal employment.

The Migration Ministry plans to conduct voluntary surveys of individuals receiving provisional work permits to assess their abilities and employment preferences.

Officials are collaborating with industry organizations in construction, tourism, transportation and care services to evaluate workforce needs and connect with legalized migrants seeking employment opportunities.

A study from Esade Business School cautioned that a similar migrant legalization effort in 2005 resulted in some employment losses within the informal sector. Researchers recommended enhanced labor inspections and support programs to facilitate the transition to legitimate work.

Cancela confirmed the ministry’s strategy will include expanded labor monitoring efforts.

“I think it’s also a major opportunity to bring certain situations to light, because when people come forward in the regularisation process, we will learn about their circumstances,” she explained.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Transport operators across Kenya have ended their countrywide work stoppage on Friday following a weeklong suspension that allowed for negotiations regarding escalating fuel costs.

The labor action earlier this week on Monday and Tuesday sparked demonstrations that turned deadly when law enforcement opened fire with live rounds on protesters, resulting in four deaths and injuries to more than 30 people.

Following a Friday meeting between the operators and President William Ruto, the group announced they would not restart their strike after the president committed to lowering diesel costs during June’s scheduled monthly fuel price adjustment.

The president turned down suggestions to cut fuel taxation, maintaining that dropping the VAT on fuel from 16% to 8% had already created substantial revenue shortfalls and that additional reductions would harm the government’s ability to provide services.

Earlier this week, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets, setting tires ablaze on main roadways and preventing private cars from traveling. Schools and businesses stayed shuttered as initial government negotiations with transport operators broke down.

The work stoppage was put on hold Tuesday to enable continued discussions between government officials and fuel industry representatives.

The president, who had been traveling abroad during the strike, came back Thursday and began negotiations that led to the agreement for reduced fuel costs in the next monthly assessment.

Fuel costs in Kenya continue to rank among East Africa’s most expensive, even though the nation functions as a major import center for multiple landlocked countries that depend on Mombasa Port and overland transportation systems.

Opposition leaders have attributed the elevated prices to corruption and what they characterized as unreasonable profit margins by business operators.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An experienced Mount Everest guide who achieved his 32nd successful summit this week, setting a new world record, called on officials Friday to impose restrictions on the number of climbers attempting the ascent.

Climbing numbers on the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) mountain from Nepal’s side have increased this season after China shut down access from Tibet. The world’s tallest peak can be approached from Nepal’s southern route or China’s northern path.

This past Wednesday saw 274 climbers successfully reach the top, marking the highest single-day total from Nepal’s approach. Nepal’s mountaineering officials have granted permits to 494 climbers, with an equal number of Sherpa guides supporting their expeditions.

“It was very crowded this year compared to last year because there was more clients,” Kami Rita Sherpa said to media at Kathmandu airport following his return flight from the mountain. “There is a need for authorities to control this number.”

Weather conditions suitable for summit attempts occur only during brief periods. When large groups wait in the fixed rope system that all climbers must use, the risk of dangerous bottlenecks increases while exposing everyone to prolonged exposure to severe conditions.

Kami Rita’s nearest rival, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, completed his 31st summit Friday, marking his second successful climb this week.

The 56-year-old Kami Rita made his initial Everest ascent in 1994 and has returned almost annually since then. He represents one of numerous Sherpa guides whose knowledge and abilities are essential for the safety and achievement of international climbers seeking to reach the mountain’s summit each year.

His father served as one of the earliest Sherpa guides. Beyond Everest, Kami Rita has conquered additional peaks ranking among the world’s tallest, including K2, Cho Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse.

A fatal blast at a petrochemical facility in eastern Hungary has claimed one life and left several workers with serious injuries, according to company officials who released details Friday.

The deadly incident took place at MOL’s industrial complex in Tiszaujvaros, where Hungarian oil and gas group MOL operates major chemical production operations.

Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced on Facebook that economy minister Istvan Kapitany and MOL’s executive chairman Zsolt Hernadi were traveling to the facility. Magyar shared an image displaying massive dark smoke pouring from the industrial site.

“An explosion occurred at MOL Petrochemicals’ site in Tiszaújváros during the restart of the Olefin 1 plant. The fire was localised by firefighters, and the intervention is still ongoing,” MOL said.

Company officials stated that investigators are examining what led to the deadly incident, though they declined to provide additional information about the circumstances.

Kapitany wrote on Facebook that preliminary reports indicate a compressor unit exploded while workers were bringing the Olefin 1 facility back online, and emergency crews were still working to extinguish the blaze.

The affected Olefin 1 facility operates as a steam cracker unit within MOL’s larger petrochemical complex in Tiszaujvaros. This particular plant can produce roughly 370,000 metric tons of ethylene annually. The Tiszaujvaros site houses two steam cracking facilities with combined ethylene production capacity of 660,000 metric tons yearly, based on MOL’s corporate website.

The company primarily uses its ethylene production for creating polyethylene plastics, which are then distributed to plastics and packaging manufacturers.

Russian authorities reported Friday that a nighttime drone strike by Ukrainian forces on a student residence hall in Russian-occupied Luhansk resulted in at least four deaths and injuries to 35 children.

Reuters could not independently confirm the incident, and Ukrainian officials had not immediately responded to the allegations. Ukraine continues its efforts to reclaim Luhansk, which Russia declared as its territory in 2022 in what Ukraine condemned as an unlawful seizure.

Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, stated that 86 students between the ages of 14 and 18 were asleep at the Starobilsk college of Luhansk Pedagogical University when the drone assault occurred.

“The Ukrainian armed forces carried out a targeted strike on sleeping children,” Lantratova said in a statement.

The top Russian-appointed administrator in Luhansk, Leonid Pasechnik, reported that two individuals had been rescued from the wreckage while emergency crews continued searching for children believed to be trapped under the debris.

Images and footage distributed by Russian officials depicted rescue teams carrying a man from the destruction on a stretcher, buildings with extensive damage including what appeared to be a partial collapse, and ongoing fires.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of mutual benefit within NATO partnerships during remarks made Friday before alliance discussions in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Speaking ahead of the NATO gathering, Rubio indicated the Swedish meeting would help establish the foundation for the upcoming NATO leaders summit planned for Ankara, Turkey later this year.

“Like any alliance, it has to be good for everyone who’s involved. There has to be a clear understanding of what the expectations are,” Rubio said.

The Secretary of State also addressed Middle East tensions, stating that any Iranian tolling system implemented in the Strait of Hormuz would not be acceptable.

The United States has imposed financial penalties on Tanzania’s top police official and blocked his ability to travel to America, accusing him of participating in human rights abuses by law enforcement.

The penalties were revealed Thursday in the aftermath of Tanzania’s October general election, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a complete term with 97% of votes following a campaign marked by suppression of political opposition. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated in December that America was reassessing its relationship with Tanzania due to oppression and electoral violence.

Rubio explained that the penalty designation targeting police Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele was founded on reliable evidence of his participation in rights abuses.

“One year ago, members of the (Tanzanian police) detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who were in Dar es Salaam to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu,” he said in the statement.

The activists from Uganda and Kenya were taken into custody and held in Tanzania last May. They claimed Mafwele subjected them to torture during their imprisonment before they were left stranded near the border between Kenya and Tanzania.

An investigative panel established by Hassan to examine post-election violence determined that 518 individuals lost their lives and thousands suffered injuries. Opposition groups maintain the death toll was significantly higher during the first major violent demonstrations in the East African country in many years.

The panel’s findings, published in April, called for additional scrutiny of police behavior during the demonstrations, when reports indicated unarmed citizens were shot inside their residences. Online connectivity in the nation was also interrupted for multiple days following the election, and footage of the shootings circulated on social platforms after internet service returned, despite police warnings against sharing such videos online.

NATO partners and military leaders voiced confusion Friday over President Donald Trump’s announcement to deploy 5,000 American troops to Poland, coming just weeks after he directed 5,000 soldiers to be withdrawn from Europe.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

American military officials also expressed puzzlement. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

Through a Truth Social post, Trump declared “I am pleased to announce that the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.” He attributed this decision to his strong relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

This reversal followed weeks of contradictory messages from Trump and his team regarding reducing rather than expanding America’s military presence across Europe.

Alliance members found themselves caught off guard, despite American promises to coordinate military deployments. “We’re going to stay well-synchronized with our allies moving forward,” NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, promised on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, The Trump administration has said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer deploying to Poland.

The initial withdrawal announcement followed Trump’s anger over comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the war.

Trump subsequently informed journalists that America would be “cutting a lot further than 5,000.” He simultaneously unveiled new tariffs on European automobiles. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Approximately 80,000 American service members are currently positioned across Europe. The Pentagon must maintain no fewer than 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

Removing 5,000 troops could potentially push numbers beneath that threshold.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed Trump’s decision, which ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

Carlo Petrini, the visionary behind Italy’s influential Slow Food movement that champions high-quality ingredients, authentic food preparation and locally-sourced products, has passed away at 76 years old.

Petrini died Thursday in his home city of Bra, located in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, according to a Friday statement from Slow Food. The organization did not specify what caused his death.

The movement’s former president, who stepped down from that role in 2022, had publicly shared in recent years that he was battling prostate cancer.

The Slow Food organization originated in 1986 as a response to McDonald’s establishment of its first Italian location in Rome’s historic downtown area.

According to the organization’s statement, Petrini “brought to life a global movement rooted in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all, connecting communities, farmers, food artisans, cooks, activists, and young people across the world.”

The movement grew from a small circle of companions in Italy’s rural areas during the 1980s into a worldwide network that now operates in over 160 nations, Slow Food noted.

Petrini developed a personal friendship with Britain’s King Charles through their shared commitment to sustainable farming practices, as both men championed organic agriculture methods.

BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) — Chinese authorities on Friday expanded their restrictions on chemical exports by placing three additional substances on the banned precursor list for shipments to the United States, Mexico and Canada, according to a commerce ministry announcement.

China’s National Narcotics Control Commission simultaneously released a notice identifying eight chemicals with potential use in synthetic drug manufacturing, directing businesses to “strictly comply with domestic and foreign laws and regulations when engaging in related business and export trade activities.”

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to travel to New York where he will lead a high-level UN Security Council session on May 26, according to an announcement from China’s foreign ministry on Friday.

During his time in New York, Wang is expected to hold discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and will meet with foreign ministers from “relevant countries,” the ministry stated in their official announcement.

Following his UN duties, Wang will make an official trip to Canada scheduled for May 28-30, accepting an invitation extended by his Canadian counterpart, the ministry confirmed.

HAVANA (AP) — The most recent public sighting of former Cuban President Raúl Castro occurred during a government-sponsored International Workers’ Day demonstration along Havana’s renowned waterfront, where he was surrounded by thousands of attendees.

The 94-year-old remained steady and composed beneath the intensifying sun on May 1, while others in his vicinity succumbed to the heat before the ceremony commenced. His security team, headed by his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, positioned themselves behind him.

Such public appearances have become uncommon for the final Castro brother from Cuba’s revolutionary period. Though he reportedly continues to hold considerable sway over governmental affairs, he keeps a minimal public presence despite his position as general of Cuba’s armed forces.

Castro returned to public attention Wednesday when federal prosecutors announced criminal charges against him related to directing the 1996 destruction of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based Cuban exiles. The accusations encompass murder and aircraft destruction charges. Castro held the defense minister position during that time.

The criminal charges and subsequent statements Thursday from U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked concerns about potential American military action against Cuba, similar to recent events in Venezuela during early January.

“We expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way,” acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the charges against the former Cuban president during a press conference in Miami.

Cuba’s socialist government condemned the indictment and prepared to hold a rally Friday to honor Castro, who turns 95 on Jan. 3. Protests were planned Friday morning in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

“The Cuban people reaffirm that neither threats, nor blockade, nor energy embargo, nor false accusations will be able to break the will of an entire people in defense of their Revolution,” read a statement published by state media.

It is not known if Castro will attend Friday’s event.

During July 1953, Castro faced arrest in Cuba on charges of armed insurrection after an unsuccessful attack on military installations. Though sentenced to 13 years imprisonment, he gained freedom after two years through political amnesty. Subsequently, he departed for Mexico to help coordinate revolutionary activities.

Castro wed guerrilla combatant Vilma Espín during the 1960s, and they became parents to four children. Details about Castro’s personal life remain limited: He maintains a reputation as devoted to family and officially lives in an area west of Havana.

Throughout his tenure as defense minister under his deceased brother Fidel Castro, and subsequently as president, his daily operations were notably private: avoiding scheduled appointments, formal events, or public and family celebrations.

Following his departure from office and transition of power to President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Raúl Castro has made few public appearances. He continues wearing his characteristic olive-green military attire when receiving foreign officials.

“He still has influence, and the leadership seeks his opinion on major decisions, but he is not running the government on a day-to-day basis,” said William LeoGrande, a political scientist at American University in Washington.

“If the U.S. were to abduct him, it would not change the operations of government, unlike what happened in Venezuela,” LeoGrande said.

The charges against Raúl Castro have intensified diplomatic friction between the U.S. and Cuba, which recently declared its petroleum supplies exhausted due to continuing American energy restrictions.

The nation’s difficulties have escalated following the Jan. 3 U.S. invasion of Venezuela, which stopped essential oil deliveries from that South American nation. Later in January, Trump issued threats of tariffs against any nation selling or supplying oil to Cuba.

Senior Trump administration officials — including Rubio, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and other prominent national security personnel — have conducted meetings with Cuban representatives in recent months to discuss relationship improvements. However, American officials have expressed dissatisfaction with these discussions, resulting in additional sanctions against Cuba’s government over the past week.

A 27-year-old Moroccan worker who has spent seven years as an undocumented migrant in Spain sees new possibilities ahead as the country’s leftist government rolls out a comprehensive amnesty program.

Abdelmoujoud Erra has survived on temporary jobs and lived in makeshift settlements, but now hopes the amnesty initiative could change his circumstances. “Without documents you work for five euros ($5.80) an hour. With documents, you work legally, with more money — maybe seven or eight euros an hour,” Erra explained from the southern Spanish province of Almería, where undocumented workers congregate at traffic circles seeking employment in the region’s vast greenhouse operations.

The amnesty program, which continues through June, represents a cornerstone of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s strategy to capitalize on migration’s economic advantages for Spain’s aging society, contrasting with border restrictions implemented by other nations.

However, the initiative has sparked fierce criticism from conservative opposition groups. The People’s Party argues it will overwhelm government services, while Vox has claimed the administration seeks to displace Spanish citizens.

For Erra, legal documentation would have opened doors to pursuing his boxing ambitions and visiting relatives in Morocco. “I’ve lost a lot of time. If only I had had papers earlier,” he reflected. Recently, a blaze destroyed the informal camp where he resided, though his amnesty paperwork survived because he had stored it at the local Red Cross facility.

Almería’s agricultural zone spans over 30,000 hectares (74,100 acres) of plastic-covered intensive farming, making it the European Union’s primary winter vegetable source. The region ships tomatoes, cucumbers and other produce valued at 3 billion euros each year while providing work for approximately 80,000 individuals, according to labor organizations and government officials.

Agricultural business associations and worker representatives express optimism that the amnesty will help solve staffing shortages. Andrés Góngora, coordinator of farmers’ union COAG, recognized that the industry relies on some undocumented workers and said the amnesty would create stability. Expanding the legal workforce could enable cultivation of more labor-demanding crops while promoting community harmony, he noted.

Advocacy organizations have consistently condemned living conditions in the Almería area, estimating approximately 10,000 migrants reside in inadequate housing and that at least 70% of agricultural workers lack legal status.

Spain’s population of 50 million has grown recently due to migration flows. Research organization Funcas calculates that roughly 840,000 undocumented migrants currently participate in the labor force.

Michael Aymaga, a 35-year-old from Ghana, represents another hopeful applicant. He lives in a migrant encampment near Nijar, where electrical service is sporadic and water availability is restricted. The amnesty opportunity fills him with excitement as he expresses his desire to give back to his adopted country. “I would definitely use all my skills and everything I have to help Spain (become) a better Spain,” he stated.

Pakistani officials are working to facilitate peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, with diplomatic meetings continuing in Tehran as both nations remain divided over key issues including uranium enrichment and maritime shipping controls.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi conducted another diplomatic session with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Friday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. This meeting occurred two days after Pakistani representatives delivered the most recent American proposal to Iranian officials.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed cautious optimism about the diplomatic progress on Thursday, telling reporters there had been “some good signs” in the negotiations. However, he emphasized that any resolution would be impossible if Iran continues to impose shipping fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed to commercial traffic since the conflict began on February 28.

“There’s some good signs,” Rubio stated. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic … So, let’s see what happens over the next few days.”

A senior Iranian source indicated to Reuters on Thursday that negotiators have made progress in narrowing differences, though uranium enrichment activities and Strait of Hormuz control remain significant obstacles.

The conflict has severely impacted global markets, with rising oil costs raising concerns about widespread inflation. Prior to the war, approximately one-fifth of worldwide oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Financial markets reflected the ongoing uncertainty Friday, with the U.S. dollar reaching near six-week highs and oil prices climbing as investors questioned whether diplomatic efforts would succeed.

“We’re coming to the end of week 12, we’re six weeks in the ceasefire, and I’m just not really that convinced we’re any closer to a resolution between the U.S. and Iran,” said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, regarding the Middle East conflict.

President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the United States would ultimately secure Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, which Washington claims is intended for weapons development despite Tehran’s assertions that it serves peaceful purposes.

“We will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Prior to Trump’s remarks, two senior Iranian sources informed Reuters that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered that the uranium must not leave the country.

The president also criticized Tehran’s plans to impose charges on vessels using the strait.

“We want it open, we want it free. We don’t want tolls,” Trump declared. “It’s an international waterway.”

Trump is facing political pressure domestically with November midterm elections approaching, as Americans express frustration over rising fuel costs and his approval ratings hover near their lowest point since his return to office last year.

Iran presented its most recent proposal to the United States earlier this week.

According to Tehran’s descriptions, the offer largely repeats conditions Trump has previously rejected, including demands for Strait of Hormuz control, war damage compensation, sanctions relief, asset unfreezing, and U.S. military withdrawal.

The International Energy Agency has characterized the conflict as creating the world’s most severe energy crisis.

The agency warned Thursday that peak summer fuel consumption combined with reduced Middle Eastern supply could push the market into the “red zone” during July and August.

Shipping traffic through the strait has dropped dramatically compared to the 125 to 140 daily transits recorded before the war began.

Iran has indicated it plans to reopen the strait to allied nations that comply with its conditions, which may include fee requirements.

“It would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue to pursue that. So it’s a threat to the world if they were trying to do that, and it’s completely illegal,” Rubio said.

Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated their military objectives include reducing Iran’s support for regional militant groups, eliminating its nuclear capabilities, destroying its missile arsenal, and facilitating regime change by Iranian citizens.

However, Iran has maintained its stockpile of weapons-grade enriched uranium and continues to possess the capability to threaten neighboring countries through missiles, drones, and proxy forces.

LONDON — Law enforcement officials in Britain issued a public appeal Friday for witnesses to come forward as part of their ongoing investigation into alleged criminal conduct by former Prince Andrew, with sexual misconduct among the potential charges being examined.

Thames Valley Police confirmed they have established communication with legal representatives of a woman who claims she was brought to a Windsor location in 2010 for sexual activities.

“Should she wish to report this to police it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy,” police said in a statement.

A Florida-based lawyer named Brad Edwards informed the BBC in January that his client had a sexual encounter with the former royal family member, who now goes by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, at his Windsor residence. Edwards stated his client was trafficked there by the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

The former prince has consistently rejected any claims of wrongdoing related to the accusations made against him.

Mystery enthusiasts worldwide observed International Sherlock Holmes Day on Friday, paying tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on his birthday and celebrating the enduring legacy of literature’s most famous detective.

The festivities stretched from the iconic 221B Baker Street in London’s heart to the dramatic Reichenbach Falls nestled in Switzerland’s mountainous landscape, where devoted fans gathered to honor both the author and his legendary creation.

Earlier this month, members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London made a special journey to Switzerland, donning Victorian-era clothing including traditional capes, deerstalker hats, and period dresses. Their mission: to recreate one of fiction’s most memorable death scenes at the Reichenbach Falls.

This dramatic confrontation between the brilliant detective and his arch-enemy Professor James Moriarty left readers stunned when “The Final Problem” was published, seemingly ending the career of one of literature’s most cherished characters.

Conan Doyle’s 1893 tale depicted Holmes vanishing over the waterfall’s edge alongside Moriarty, with only Dr. John Watson left behind to find a goodbye note near the rushing waters. The author, born May 22, 1859, had planned to eliminate Holmes permanently, believing the detective tales were preventing recognition of his more scholarly historical works.

Public reaction was immediate and intense. Magazine readers cancelled their subscriptions, donned black armbands as symbols of grief, and voiced strong opposition to their beloved detective’s demise. Ten years passed before Conan Doyle changed course, resurrecting Holmes in “The Adventure of the Empty House” with the revelation that the detective had faked his death and escaped the falls.

The Holmes chronicles established numerous foundations of contemporary detective literature. From 1887 through 1927, Conan Doyle produced four novels and 56 short stories featuring Holmes, pioneering methods like forensic reasoning, careful observation, and systematic analysis that became cornerstones of mystery writing.

These tales have inspired countless adaptations across theater, film, and comics globally, featuring performances by Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone, Christopher Lee, Robert Downey Jr., and Benedict Cumberbatch in various interpretations.

The newest adaptation features British actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Amazon Prime’s recent prequel series “Young Sherlock,” developed by Guy Ritchie and launched this year. Production on a second season is currently underway.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street has welcomed visitors since 1990, displaying fascinating artifacts like Holmes’ violin and chemistry equipment, plus a pistol concealed within a carved-out book.

According to the stories, Holmes resided in this Georgian townhouse from 1881 to 1904, sharing the space with Watson. However, 221B was fictional when Conan Doyle wrote his stories, as Baker Street’s numbering system didn’t extend that far during that period.

The museum, actually situated between numbers 237 and 241, required special authorization from Westminster City Council to display the famous fictional address.

“It has to be the most famous address in the world, I would say,” tour guide Paul Leharne said. “No matter what reincarnation Sherlock Holmes is going to take, he’s always going to be living at 221B Baker Street.”

On May 3, society members delivered dramatic performances at Reichenbach Falls, complete with theatrical gestures, elaborate acting, and dark cloaks flowing in the waterfall’s mist as they portrayed the Holmes-Moriarty battle.

Established in 1951, the society unites readers, collectors, scholars, and admirers of Conan Doyle’s writings. Their Swiss expedition followed portions of the path outlined in “The Final Problem,” with members traveling through Switzerland in classic buses before taking a steep cog railway to reach the waterfall.

Reichenbach Falls gained fame as one of detective fiction’s most significant locations following Conan Doyle’s 1893 visit to the region.

Philip Porter, an author and publisher who portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the society’s recreation, emphasized the location’s continuing importance to the stories’ enduring popularity.

“It’s a pilgrimage,” he said. “It’s a very dramatic setting: The sound, the backdrop, the music behind us of the cascading water.”

Peter Horrocks, who took on Moriarty’s role, described the challenge of returning to everyday life after several days embodying the villain. “It’s a strange feeling, getting out of these clothes,” he said. “You do start to inhabit the character that you’re playing after a while.”

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A sweeping transformation of Indonesia’s commodity trade policies has industry experts comparing the sudden shift to a corporate takeover of major sectors in the resource-abundant nation, with potential worldwide consequences.

The policy change, revealed to parliament Wednesday by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, requires a newly established state-owned company to manage all national exports of coal, palm oil and iron alloys starting in September.

Prabowo explained that boosting tax collections is a primary goal. This would help replenish depleted government coffers that have been drained by energy disruptions from the conflict in Iran. Given Indonesia’s position as a leading commodities supplier, these policy changes are expected to create waves throughout global supply networks.

The Southeast Asian country stands as the world’s top supplier of thermal coal used for power generation and palm oil, an essential component in products ranging from beauty items to alternative fuels. This nation of approximately 287 million residents also possesses the planet’s largest confirmed nickel deposits, a crucial material for electric car batteries and stainless steel production.

Industry analysts predict China, as Indonesia’s primary trading ally, will experience the most significant impact from this policy transformation.

China is monitoring Indonesia’s “initiative to nationalize” while evaluating “how it would impact China’s further cooperation,” according to Lie Xie from the UK-based think tank Third Generation Environmentalism. “The future path that Indonesia is taking is highly important for China.”

The rapid timeline for implementing these new regulations could disrupt China’s access to essential materials for its clean technology sectors, which depend on Indonesian resources to meet expanding renewable energy demands. Chinese corporations represent major stakeholders in numerous Indonesian sectors, including essential minerals.

“Indonesia has become vital to China” as it provides the materials that “underpin China’s dominance in electric vehicles, batteries, and industrial manufacturing,” explained Li Shuo from the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Climate Hub. “But the relationship is evolving.”

If executed properly, consolidating Indonesia’s trade operations could also create opportunities for increased American investment, experts noted, as the U.S. competes with China for critical resources.

“Such a move is a clear signal that U.S. investment is being attracted to come to Indonesia even more,” stated Bhima Yudhistira from the Jakarta-based Center of Economic and Law Studies. He characterized the new approach as a “hostile takeover” that will require reviewing every agreement in Chinese-controlled industries.

Prabowo informed legislators that Indonesia had forfeited up to $908 billion due to exporters misrepresenting their sales figures to evade taxes and additional charges.

“The primary objective of this policy is to strengthen oversight and monitoring — and to combat under-invoicing, transfer pricing and the diversion of export proceeds,” he stated.

The organization assuming control of Indonesia’s commodity exports — PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia — received official registration one day prior to Prabowo’s declaration. Danantara, the sovereign wealth fund established by the president last year, holds 99% ownership and will enhance government authority in commodity pricing decisions.

This “represents a governance reform, a step toward strengthening our credibility in managing strategic commodity trade in an orderly and accountable manner,” commented Yvonne Mewengkang from Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between June and August, private enterprises must transfer their import and export operations to Danantara, which should oversee all international trade transactions by September.

“There will be an explanation for investors later, so that stakeholders will be informed before June 1,” noted Airlangga Hartarto, the coordinating economic minister in Indonesia. “After all, in the initial phase, we are focusing on transparency in reporting.”

Trade specialists question whether the government can smoothly assume control of commerce across all these sectors in under four months.

China serves as Indonesia’s leading trade partner and represents one of its largest foreign investment sources.

Chinese companies control Indonesia’s nickel sector while China remains a top buyer of resources covered by the trade reorganization.

Additional significant buyers of Indonesian palm oil, coal and nickel include the U.S. and European Union. India, Japan, South Korea and regional neighbors Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines would also face effects.

Under Prabowo’s leadership, the administration has expanded oversight of strategically vital commodities, targeting illegal mining activities, assuming plantation control and promoting domestic refining capabilities for critical minerals.

Prior to Prabowo’s announcement, the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia delivered a five-page complaint letter last week expressing investor worries about Indonesia’s unpredictable business environment.

Chinese companies have recently encountered “excessively stringent regulation, over-enforcement, and even corruption and extortion by competent authorities,” the correspondence stated. This has “severely disrupted normal business operations” and “undermined long-term investment confidence.”

“Prabowo didn’t listen to the complaint from these Chinese companies and then did something very, very shocking with this new body to control the export,” Yudhistira observed.

Through establishing state oversight of key sectors, Indonesia aims to diversify its investor base, according to Yudhistira with CELIOS. Diminishing Chinese influence may generate interest from alternative partners, including the U.S.

This will only escalate the resource competition between the two superpowers, he cautioned.

Whether this new approach successfully draws fresh investors will hinge on implementation transparency, noted Syahdiva Moezbar from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

Private companies report remaining uninformed about specifics.

Danantara’s effects on small-scale trade, specialty product exports and processing industries require clarification, according to Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association.

“Exporters usually already have their own established markets; we must ensure we do not lose these markets if they are not managed properly,” he emphasized.

WARSAW, May 22 – Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki expressed appreciation to President Donald Trump following the US decision to deploy additional American military personnel to Poland.

Nawrocki’s thanks followed Trump’s Thursday announcement that the United States would deploy 5,000 additional troops, with Trump citing his relationship with the conservative nationalist leader as the motivation.

“Good alliances are those based on cooperation, mutual respect, and a commitment to our shared security,” Nawrocki wrote on X.

“I thank U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his friendship toward Poland and for the decisions whose practical dimension we see very clearly today,” Nawrocki added on Thursday night.

The move to deploy more soldiers to Poland demonstrates that Polish-American relations remain “very strong, and Poland is a model ally,” Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated, also posting on X.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance informed reporters that a planned US military deployment to Poland had faced delays, though he clarified it would be incorrect to characterize this as a withdrawal of troops from Europe.

Previously, Polish officials had expressed concern over reports suggesting the Pentagon had scrapped deployment plans for their country, but they later provided assurances to Polish citizens that such reports were inaccurate.

Trade officials from across the Asia-Pacific region have convened in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou for discussions focused on strengthening economic cooperation amid mounting global tensions.

The two-day conference, which began Friday, brings together representatives from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation nations – a bloc that handles nearly half of worldwide trade. Participants are addressing multilateral partnerships, trade imbalances, and how to build more resilient supply chains during times of international crisis, including the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

During Friday’s opening ceremony, Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative and vice commerce minister, emphasized the importance of collaboration during uncertain times. “The more turbulent the times, the more we must adhere to seeking common ground while reserving differences, working together to overcome difficulties, striving to reach more consensus, leading the Asia-Pacific economy through the crisis and injecting confidence into the global economy,” Li stated.

The Suzhou meetings serve as preparation for this year’s annual APEC leaders summit scheduled for Shenzhen. Attendees are also examining ways to advance regional free-trade agreements, enhance digital commerce, improve artificial intelligence capabilities, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Li outlined this year’s conference priorities as “optimising institutional arrangements, cultivating momentum in emerging fields, jointly expanding the Asia-Pacific economic pie and ensuring fair distribution of that pie to achieve inclusive, mutually beneficial, and win-win outcomes.”

The gathering occurs against a backdrop of significant trade tensions. China recently reported a record trade surplus approaching $1.2 trillion for the previous year. Meanwhile, Group of Seven finance ministers recently reached consensus on addressing current trade imbalances, describing the situation as unsustainable. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has advocated for increased protections against an influx of low-priced Chinese goods.

The conference follows recent high-profile diplomatic visits to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. All three nations hold APEC membership.

APEC Business Advisory Council chair Li Fanrong addressed the gathering Friday, highlighting the economic pressures facing the global marketplace. Speaking for the business community, he called for a moratorium on additional trade restrictions to avoid creating more uncertainty. “The stakes could not be higher for business confidence, jobs, living standards and long-term prosperity in our region,” he declared.

Notable participants representing APEC’s 21 member economies include Rick Switzer, the deputy U.S. trade representative; Don Farrell, Australia’s trade minister; Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN’s secretary general; and Taiwan’s top trade negotiator, Yang Jen-ni.

Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa’s attendance marks the highest-ranking Japanese official visit to China since diplomatic relations deteriorated in November. A potential meeting between Akazawa and senior Chinese officials would represent the most significant diplomatic contact since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sparked controversy by suggesting Japan might respond militarily to a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Following those remarks, Beijing implemented various retaliatory actions, including discouraging Chinese citizens from traveling to Japan and restricting exports of certain rare earth materials essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, weapons, and other products.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 – Starting June 1, Malaysia will implement fresh regulations designed to shield young people from dangerous online material, according to an announcement Friday from the country’s communications regulator.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced that these new regulations will mandate online service companies to establish protective measures that restrict account creation and ownership for individuals younger than 16, while also enforcing enhanced content oversight across their platforms.

According to the commission, these initiatives target providing suitable age-based protections and limitations for high-risk elements found on digital platforms.

The regulatory body stated that online platform companies must establish “effective reporting and response mechanisms, advertiser verification measures and the labelling of manipulated content where appropriate.”

While the commission mentioned that online platforms will receive a grace period to put these measures into effect, officials did not reveal how long this transition period will last.

In recent years, Malaysia has increased its oversight of social media corporations following discoveries of a significant increase in dangerous online material. Malaysian officials classify online gambling, fraudulent schemes, child pornography and grooming, cyberbullying, and material concerning race, religion, and royalty as harmful content.

The administration intends to implement age verification for users within this year, mirroring comparable actions worldwide aimed at restricting social media access for young people.

Turkish officials have permanently shut down Istanbul Bilgi University by canceling its operating permit, according to an announcement in the country’s Official Gazette on Friday. The closure comes after government authorities took control of the institution during a criminal investigation last year.

The private university, which opened its doors in 1996, was purchased by Can Holding in 2019. However, the holding company’s assets were confiscated by the government as part of an ongoing probe into money laundering, tax evasion, and organized crime activities last year.

Following the government seizure, officials placed the university under the management of a state-appointed trustee. The institution currently serves approximately 22,000 students, with about 3,400 new enrollments expected for 2025.

According to Turkish news outlets, affected students will transfer their studies to the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, which serves as Istanbul Bilgi University’s guarantor institution. Under Turkish law, all private foundation universities must designate a state university as their guarantor school.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gave final approval for the decision to cancel Istanbul Bilgi’s operating license, effectively ending the university’s nearly three-decade operation.

KHARTOUM, Sudan — A routine call from a husband became the last contact a Sudanese family would ever have. He had finished his duties and planned to visit the market on his way home. But this wasn’t an ordinary workday — he was coming back from battle.

Fahmy al-Fateh never returned home that day. His wife, Azaher Abdallah, began reaching out to friends, family members, and eventually his military unit colleagues. Witnesses last spotted her husband departing from a military facility in Khartoum on a motorcycle. That occurred more than 12 months ago.

Today, their young 3-year-old boy yells at every motorcycle that passes by, believing his father might be riding it, Abdallah explained.

“He was the most precious thing in my life,” she expressed through tears, covering her face with her palms. “I would feel more at peace if I knew something. It’s better than not knowing what happened to him, whether he’s alive or dead.”

Al-Fateh represents just one case among more than 8,000 individuals who have disappeared throughout Sudan’s three-year conflict, based on data from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The warfare has shattered families across the nation. Citizens have become separated during evacuation attempts, vanished amid combat operations, or been secretly imprisoned, leaving loved ones desperate for answers about their whereabouts.

Numerous missing persons from Khartoum state are believed to rest in unmarked burial sites where tens of thousands of remains have been discovered since Sudan’s army regained control of the capital from paramilitary forces last year.

During active fighting, burying bodies in traditional cemeteries proved extremely hazardous. Residents created graves wherever possible under the circumstances.

While traveling through the city last month, Associated Press journalists observed sports facilities and burial grounds filled beyond capacity with the deceased. Dirt piles next to an abandoned fuel station displayed improvised markers bearing names and dates, though many lacked any identification.

A military media representative accompanied the AP throughout the visit, including during interview sessions. The AP maintains complete editorial authority over its reporting.

The ICRC reported resolving more than 1,000 missing person cases but declined to specify how many individuals were found alive versus deceased.

Abdallah was asleep when her husband departed their home before dawn last January. Al-Fateh, a 38-year-old farmer and trader, had enlisted with Sudan’s army at the war’s onset. That morning, he was participating in efforts to reclaim Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Since his disappearance, the 30-year-old Abdallah has searched throughout the city, checked hospital morgues, and requested military assistance. His unit promised to attempt locating him. If no news emerged, they advised, she should assume he was missing.

At their residence on Khartoum’s outskirts, she reviews photographs of him wearing his uniform, maintaining hope for his eventual return.

“That is what my heart tells me,” she stated.

Mental health experts explain that uncertainty regarding missing family members can trigger years of severe emotional distress.

“Families of missing persons experience additional layers of vulnerabilities due to hostilities, displacement and ambiguous loss,” explained Nathalie Nyamukeba, a psychologist with the ICRC.

Several Sudanese families report that continuing the search remains their only coping mechanism.

Sulafa Mustafa’s son disappeared two years ago. The reserved 18-year-old Suleiman Abdalsid visited a friend’s residence near Khartoum and failed to return home.

His mother persistently traveled through neighborhoods, even while artillery sounds echoed nearby, conducting house-to-house inquiries. She has checked medical facilities and detention centers, showing his photograph to countless strangers.

She has even used a rented microphone to call out his name.

“I haven’t lost faith in finding you,” she declared, then covered her face with her hands.

Locating people dead or alive remains extremely difficult in Sudan, particularly as the conflict continues. Laboratories that could have conducted DNA analysis have been destroyed, and few forensic experts remain in the country.

In Khartoum state, officials have relocated nearly 30,000 bodies — from approximately 50,000 total — that had been quickly buried near residences, in athletic fields, or alongside roads when the RSF controlled the territory. Their efforts are ongoing.

Roughly 10% of relocated bodies remain unidentified.

Hisham Zienalabdien, director general of the forensic medicine department for Khartoum state, explained they are preserving DNA from unidentified remains with hopes of eventually matching it with family members.

For families who have located loved ones but cannot provide proper burials, a different type of anguish exists.

Abubakar Alswai waited over a year to transfer his 73-year-old brother, Mohamed, from where he had been interred in front of his residence to a public cemetery.

The RSF had killed Mohamed but waited three weeks before allowing a neighbor to bury his bullet-struck and decomposing body. According to Islamic customs, widely practiced in Sudan, funeral services should occur as rapidly as possible, preferably within 24 hours.

Alswai wiped tears from his face while watching grave diggers exhume his brother’s remains. At least Mohamed would now receive the respectful burial he deserved, he said, and his family could find some closure.

“What happened had left a mark on my heart,” he said.

BELGRADE, Serbia — University students across Serbia are preparing for their largest demonstration of 2025 this weekend, intensifying their campaign for sweeping political reform in the Balkan nation governed by authoritarian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Saturday’s rally in the capital city of Belgrade is expected to draw thousands of participants from across the country.

The student-led movement previously organized massive anti-corruption demonstrations that challenged Vucic’s authority throughout last year. Currently, the activists are focusing their efforts on upcoming elections scheduled for later this year or early next, which they believe could remove Vucic’s right-wing populist administration from power.

“We hope a lot of people will come and spend the day with us, and then continue to support the students because we are preparing for the elections,” youth representative Isidora Jovanovic told The Associated Press. “Serbia needs a change, and students will bring that change.”

Saturday’s demonstration will take place at Belgrade’s Slavija Square, where a massive anti-government gathering occurred last March. That previous rally concluded with an abrupt disturbance that analysts later claimed — though the government disputed — involved authorities deploying a sonic weapon against peaceful demonstrators.

Earlier this week at the square, law enforcement officers intervened to keep Vucic’s supporters separated from students who were creating their “Students win” banners. Several days before that incident, an elderly person sustained injuries when a motorist disrupted a traffic blockade in downtown Belgrade.

Multiple confrontations have occurred in recent months, including violent episodes that disrupted a local election in March.

Jovanovic stated that event organizers are taking every precaution to prevent any confrontations, particularly given the large number of attendees expected from throughout Serbia. The students “don’t want any of them (citizens) to leave with a bad feeling or injuries.”

The student activism began following a railway station disaster that claimed 16 lives in northern Serbia during November 2024. The movement maintained faculty blockades for months in 2025, ultimately forcing then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his administration to step down.

The demonstrators declared that outcome insufficient and have called for early elections, which Vucic has yet to schedule.

The demand for responsibility regarding the concrete canopy collapse at the Novi Sad station struck a chord with the general population, as many citizens attributed the disaster to widespread corruption and carelessness in government infrastructure developments.

Dusan Vucicevic, a professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, described how the youth movement has evolved into a significant political force with substantial public backing. He believes students can anticipate an “excellent result” in future voting.

“We finally have a political group that can challenge the (ruling) Serbian Progressive Party and Aleksandar Vucic,” Vucicevic told the AP.

Vucic has mounted an aggressive campaign against the demonstrators. Government-aligned media outlets have labeled his opponents as terrorists and foreign operatives seeking to harm the nation — language that has intensified political tensions.

The president’s supporters will probably occupy a park encampment near the presidency building on Saturday, which he established last March, seemingly as protection against protesters. Multiple assaults on demonstrators and media personnel have been documented near the camp previously.

Accounts of law enforcement using disproportionate force and making arbitrary arrests of protesters have drawn international attention. Serbia’s retreat from democratic principles could result in the loss of approximately 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding designated for membership candidate countries.

Branislav Vasic and Filip Novakovic, first-year students at Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, told the AP they plan to attend Saturday’s demonstration. The 19-year-olds described participating alongside their senior classmates in protests as essential.

“Everyone should go to the rally out of principle because of the situation,” Vasic said. He maintains that “there is the strength for change as long as people want it.”

Novakovic expressed his belief that “we are together in this, one step away from a better future.” He said this generation possesses a unique opportunity to achieve the transformations that earlier generations were unable to accomplish.

“I will keep trying as long as I live,” he said. “This struggle is a long one.”

British law enforcement officials announced Friday that their criminal investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will require considerable time and resources, following the royal family member’s arrest earlier this year on charges of misconduct in public office.

The younger sibling of King Charles was taken into custody at his Norfolk residence in February and questioned for several hours by investigators. His arrest came after the U.S. Department of Justice released millions of documents connected to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The detention of the 66-year-old royal, who holds eighth position in the line of succession, marked an extraordinary moment in contemporary British history. International media outlets featured photographs of the former prince departing the police facility.

Mountbatten-Windsor, the second child of the late Queen Elizabeth, has consistently rejected allegations of any improper conduct regarding Epstein, though he has acknowledged regretting their association. He has remained silent publicly since his arrest.

“The investigation is by necessity hugely thorough and will take time,” Oliver Wright, Assistant Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who are carrying out the inquiry, told reporters. “It’s not going to be a quick investigation by any means.”

Investigators are examining the former prince’s duties as special representative for trade and investment from 2001 to 2011, with correspondence from the DOJ indicating he may have disclosed sensitive information to Epstein.

The misconduct charge, which can result in life imprisonment, encompasses various forms of serious wrongdoing including information breaches, corruption, and sexual impropriety.

“There’s a number of aspects of alleged misconduct that the investigation is examining. So we’re speaking with a range of witnesses,” said Wright, who followed British protocol by not naming Mountbatten-Windsor directly, as is standard practice before formal charges are filed.

Wright reported that authorities have gathered “a significant amount of information” from citizens and various sources, emphasizing the investigation’s complexity.

Officers are also examining claims that a woman was brought to a Windsor location in 2010 for sexual purposes, after legal representation for the alleged victim informed the BBC that Epstein had arranged for her to travel to Britain for a sexual encounter with the former prince.

While investigators have interviewed the attorney, the woman herself has not yet filed a formal complaint. British authorities noted that some potential victims may hesitate to come forward due to intense media scrutiny.

“In terms of Epstein victims and survivors, we hope that anyone with relevant information will come forward and I really want to stress that our door is open whenever a victim survivor is ready to engage with us. We’re ready for you at whatever point that may be,” Wright said.

A specialized team of veteran officers is handling the case, which has been classified as a major crime equivalent to a homicide investigation. They are coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice but have not yet obtained the Epstein documents.

“That is ongoing, and it’s a fairly complex thing to do, but we’re working very hard on that,” Wright said.

On Thursday, the British government disclosed confidential records regarding Mountbatten-Windsor’s trade envoy appointment, revealing that the late queen had advocated for his selection to the position.

King Charles, who removed his brother’s titles and honors last October, expressed deep concern about the arrest and stated that authorities have the family’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”

Thames Valley is not the sole British police department investigating potential crimes related to the Epstein files.

Surrey police announced Tuesday that they are examining two allegations of child sexual abuse, one reportedly occurring in the 1980s and another from the mid-1990s to 2000. Officials provided no additional information about the individuals involved.

May 15-21, 2026

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in connection with civilian aircraft shot down in 1996 that were operated by Miami-based exiles, marking an escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s socialist government.

In Bolivia, demonstrations and roadblocks organized by mining workers and labor unions brought the country’s political capital to a standstill, intensifying pressure on President Rodrigo Paz merely six months after he took office.

Suspected members of Los Ardillos launched attacks on communities throughout Mexico’s Guerrero region using gunfire, fire-setting and explosive drones, compelling hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes.

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This gallery was assembled by photojournalist Eraldo Peres based in Brasilia, Brazil.

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AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography

AP News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

WASHINGTON — America’s top diplomat Marco Rubio is working to calm worried European partners about the Trump administration’s plans for NATO, attempting to present a more diplomatic approach amid confusion over U.S. military presence overseas.

On Friday, Rubio will participate in a NATO foreign ministers gathering in Sweden while Pentagon leadership simultaneously briefs the 32-member alliance on America’s military dedication to European security at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

This diplomatic meeting, which comes before a NATO leaders summit scheduled for Turkey in July, occurs during significant uncertainty about the Iran war’s trajectory and whether stalled American efforts to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict might restart. European frustration continues over President Donald Trump’s critiques of partner nations and his expressed desire to acquire Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark.

Rubio frequently serves as a more moderate voice from the Trump administration during international gatherings. He has been sent on multiple diplomatic missions this year, including the Munich Security Conference in February and a recent trip to Italy, where he engaged with Italian leadership and Pope Leo XIV following Trump’s criticism of the pontiff regarding his positions on crime and the Iran conflict.

Before departing for the meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio refused to address potential modifications to America’s military footprint in Europe, including possible reductions in troop numbers under the NATO Force Model, which serves as a backup plan for European security during serious threats.

The Trump administration had previously decided to halt the deployment of thousands of American troops to Poland and Germany, but the president then announced on social media Thursday that “the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.”

Uncertainty remains about whether this means the previously canceled brigade would resume its Poland deployment, if extra troops beyond the rotational assignment would be added, or if troop reductions would still occur in other European nations. Pentagon officials directed inquiries to the White House, which did not immediately provide clarification.

Previously, Rubio confirmed that Trump and other administration officials, including himself, are “very disappointed” with NATO, particularly regarding its Iran war response.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked to know that the United States, and the president in particular, is very disappointed at NATO right now,” he told reporters in Miami before boarding his plane.

While describing himself as a “strong supporter” of the transatlantic military partnership and calling it significant, Rubio echoed criticisms that certain NATO partners, particularly Spain, had blocked U.S. base access for Iran conflict operations. He noted others showed reluctance to join efforts to reopen and secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping passage that Iran has largely shut down.

“I know why NATO is good for Europe, but why is NATO good for America?” Rubio asked rhetorically, answering his own question by referring to bases that allow the U.S. and others to project power globally. “So, when that is the key rationale for why you’re in NATO, and then you have countries like Spain denying us the use of these bases, well, then, why are you in NATO?”

Rubio observed that virtually all NATO members oppose Iran developing nuclear capabilities, yet few responded when Trump announced he would act to prevent such development.

“He’s not asking them to commit troops. He’s not asking them to send their fighter jets in. But they refuse to do anything, and so I think the president looks at that and says, ‘Hold on a second,’” Rubio said. “I think we were very upset about that. The president has made that very clear.”

NATO leadership has minimized the significance of American troop level adjustments in Europe, claiming these changes were planned well in advance and are not unexpected.

However, these announcements have caught some partners off guard and occurred despite American commitments to coordinate military decisions to prevent security vulnerabilities. Trump’s apparent reversal on Poland also came as another surprise.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated Wednesday that American allies have been aware for a year that the Trump administration would withdraw some European troops, and the alliance expects “rightly, for Europe and Canada to take a bigger responsibility for the conventional defense of NATO and particularly, of course, the European part of NATO.”

Rutte indicated the U.S. “will stay involved” but might eventually redirect resources to other global regions. U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads both American and NATO forces in Europe, assured this week that European security would remain intact but cautioned that allies should anticipate additional reductions in coming years.

The Trump administration has indicated that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine’s protection, going forward.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his plans to hold a conversation with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, marking an extraordinary step for an American leader that could strain diplomatic ties with China and potentially trigger additional Chinese military exercises near the island.

This marks Trump’s second announcement in a week regarding his intention to contact Lai, eliminating earlier theories that his initial mention following last week’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was an accidental comment.

Taiwan expressed willingness for Lai and Trump to engage in dialogue, although neither Washington nor Taipei has confirmed specific timing for such a conversation.

Addressing the potential Trump-Lai discussion, China’s foreign ministry stated Thursday that the United States must “handle the Taiwan issue with extreme caution and stop sending wrong signals to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence.”

The following explains why Beijing might strongly oppose such communication.

CHINA’S STANCE ON TAIWAN

Beijing considers Taiwan its most crucial and delicate matter, involving Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity that outsiders should not question or meddle with.

China regards Taiwan as unfinished business from the Chinese civil war, during which the defeated Republic of China government escaped to the island in 1949 after losing to Mao Zedong’s communist forces, who established the People’s Republic.

Beijing declares Taiwan a Chinese province without legitimate claims to statehood and has not ruled out military action to achieve control, while stating preference for “peaceful reunification.”

China describes Taiwan as its “core of core interests” and an uncrossable red line, consistently condemning high-level interactions between foreign officials and Taipei as meddling in Chinese domestic matters.

Both Chinese and Taiwanese administrations do not officially acknowledge each other, and China declines to address Lai as “president.”

CHINA’S PREVIOUS RESPONSES TO U.S.-TAIWAN ENGAGEMENT

Beijing conducted significant military exercises around Taiwan in 2022 following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taipei visit, and has organized multiple other military drills responding to American engagement with Taiwan.

China’s most recent major military maneuvers near the island occurred in late December. Earlier that month, the Trump administration authorized an $11 billion weapons sales package to Taiwan, representing its largest ever.

TAIWAN’S PERSPECTIVE

Taiwan operates as a flourishing democracy whose leadership firmly dismisses Beijing’s sovereignty assertions. Taiwan maintains it is an independent nation named the Republic of China, the island’s official designation, with rights to international engagement and democratic self-determination.

Lai has consistently proposed discussions with China but faced rejection. Beijing labels him a “separatist.”

AMERICAN POSITION

America ended formal diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, choosing Beijing instead, but remains obligated under the Taiwan Relations Act to supply the island with defensive capabilities. America officially maintains neutrality on Taiwan’s sovereignty through Washington’s “One China” policy.

In 2022, the State Department incorporated language regarding the Six Assurances, referencing six Reagan-era security commitments to Taiwan that America declassified in 2020.

These assurances from 1982, previously kept confidential, include statements that America has not established a timeline for ending weapons sales to Taiwan, nor agreed to prior consultation with Beijing regarding such sales, or to modify the Taiwan Relations Act governing American policy toward the island.

China has consistently demanded America cease weapons sales to Taiwan.

TRUMP’S PREVIOUS TAIWAN CONTACT

In late 2016, President-elect Trump conducted a 10-minute conversation with then-President Tsai Ing-wen. China responded with measured criticism, filing a diplomatic protest and accusing Taiwan of pursuing a “petty action.”

A South Korean government minister announced his department will cease providing products from businesses that trivialize the nation’s democratic past, following widespread criticism of a Starbucks Korea promotional campaign that referenced a deadly 1980 military assault on democracy advocates.

The coffee company introduced its “Tank Day” promotion on the anniversary date of the May 18 Gwangju uprising, when military forces deployed troops and armored vehicles to crush mass demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.

“Conduct that makes light of that history or consumes it as commercial material is an issue that can never be taken lightly,” Yun Ho-jung wrote on X late on Thursday, expressing deep regret over what he called Starbucks Korea’s “anti-historical conduct” and saying the Ministry of the Interior and Safety would no longer offer products from companies that made light of the history and value of democracy or used it as commercial material.

This week, Shinsegae Group, which operates Starbucks locations in South Korea under license, terminated the coffee chain’s local chief executive due to the promotional campaign, stating it was unsuitable.

When contacted regarding the voucher decision, Shinsegae pointed to Tuesday’s public statement of remorse issued by Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.

According to Yun, government departments including the Interior Ministry typically distribute gift certificates such as coffee vouchers to individuals participating in surveys, competitions and civic engagement activities.

He called on other institutions and citizens to adopt his ministry’s approach.

The Interior Ministry handles government operations along with emergency and safety oversight.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oheul also criticized Starbucks in an X post late on Thursday, saying his ministry would strengthen monitoring to prevent the spread of false information related to the uprising.

Military forces under the dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan are believed to have killed or caused the disappearance of hundreds during the Gwangju protest suppression. Numerous aspects of the incident remain unclear, including the identity of who authorized troops to fire on demonstrators.

In his statement this week, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin recognized the suffering the promotional campaign had inflicted.

“I deeply bow in apology as the representative of the group,” Chung said. The marketing “deeply hurt the public, the bereaved families, and the victims of the May 18 demonstration.”

The controversy has sparked consumer boycott movements on social media and prompted police complaints against Chung, according to Seoul law enforcement.

Data from WISEAPP shows Starbucks holds the top position among food and beverage chains in South Korea based on estimated customer numbers during the six-month period ending in February.

A British mountaineer has established a new milestone for foreign climbers by successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest for the 20th time, according to hiking officials in Nepal.

Kenton Cool, age 52, conquered the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) summit in the early morning hours on Friday and was making his way down to lower camps, according to Ishwori Poudel from the expedition organizing company Himalayan Guides.

An expedition organizer who has climbed Everest four times described Cool as someone who is “quietly rewriting the record books.” Lukas Furtenbach of the Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures company praised the achievement.

“More Everest summits than any non-Sherpa ever… and still making it look like just another walk in the hills. Absolute legend,” Furtenbach told Reuters from the base camp. Cool climbed with one of Furtenbach’s teams.

Cool, whose initial Everest climb took place in 2004 and who has returned annually except during years when authorities shut down the mountain for various reasons, emphasized that reaching Everest’s peak is never routine.

“It never gets any easier or any less frightening. It’s the tallest mountain in the world and with it comes an incredible sense of majesty,” Cool said in a statement.

“I rely on every bit of experience I have to move safely in this environment. Standing on the summit for the twentieth time is incredibly special.”

A Nepali Sherpa, Kami Rita, holds the overall record for most Everest summits at 32.

More than 8,000 people have successfully climbed Everest, with many completing multiple ascents, since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first reached the top in 1953.

ANTIBES, France — Hollywood stars attending the film festival in the French Riviera traveled to a luxury charity event Thursday evening, where an exclusive auction generated substantial funds for AIDS research initiatives.

The elegant gathering took place at the Hotel Du Cap, Eden Roc, featuring dinner entertainment from notable performers including Robbie Williams, Zara Larsson and Lizzo. Actress Geena Davis served as the evening’s host, appearing prominently on this year’s festival promotional materials honoring the film “Thelma & Louise.”

Speaking to reporters before the event, Lizzo shared her enthusiasm for upcoming musical projects. “I’m just so excited. I’m trying to bring back good, clean fun. Like, I just want to have fun again, people need to dance, people need to laugh,” she said.

The guest list included prominent entertainment figures such as Rami Malek, who has a project competing at the current festival, along with Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, Sofia Carson, Natasha Poly and Bar Refaeli.

The auction featured an impressive collection of valuable items and exclusive opportunities.

Actor William Abadie offered a cameo appearance in the television series “Emily in Paris” while revealing that the sixth season would conclude the show. Following competitive bidding, organizers provided two such opportunities, each selling for 375,000 euros ($435,545).

High-value artwork dominated the evening’s sales, with a complete collection of Andy Warhol screen prints featuring Marylin Monroe commanding 2.8 million euros ($3,252,228).

Luxury accessories also drew significant interest. Festival sponsor Chopard contributed diamond earrings that brought 600,000 euros ($696,906), while an extremely rare Audemars Piguet timepiece — limited to just five pieces worldwide — sold for an impressive 1,450,000 euros ($1,684,160).

Williams delivered a compilation of his popular songs, concluding with “Angels” as a tribute to his daughter. Premium concert tickets became an unexpected auction item, with two bidders each paying 220,000 euros ($255,5278) for separate ticket packages.

Larsson concluded the dinner portion with an energetic set that drew attendees to dance near the performance area. Following the formal program, guests continued celebrating at a poolside reception.

The organization has accumulated nearly 841 million euros ($950 million) for AIDS research and related programs since its founding in 1985, distributing more than 3,800 grants during that period.

A Chinese industrial empire that grew from a failing textile factory into one of the world’s largest petrochemical companies now finds itself caught in an international sanctions battle between Washington and Beijing.

The Hengli Group’s petrochemical division, which operates a massive 400,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Dalian, was sanctioned by the United States last month over allegations of purchasing Iranian crude oil. The company has denied these accusations.

The sanctions targeted Hengli along with approximately 40 shipping companies and vessels as the US seeks to pressure China into helping broker a resolution to Middle East conflicts that began when America and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. This occurred as the presidents of both nations were preparing for diplomatic meetings.

Hengli represents the largest Chinese refining operation to face US sanctions to date.

China, which has consistently opposed such unilateral actions, quickly moved to protect the company by implementing for the first time a 2021 law designed to prevent businesses from complying with foreign sanctions.

In the past, Washington had primarily focused on smaller players, including independent Chinese refiners called “teapots” that were the primary buyers of Iranian crude since sanctions were reimposed in 2018.

“Hengli is no teapot refinery. It is a world-class, world-scale plant that is representative of the large integrated refining and petrochemical facilities in which Beijing increasingly wants to consolidate its refining capacity,” said Erica Downs, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.

“This is probably why Beijing felt compelled to use its anti-sanctions law for the first time,” she said.

The company’s billionaire co-founders, Chen Jianhua and his wife Fan Hongwei, have not responded to requests for comment.

SWIFT CONSEQUENCES

The financial penalties produced immediate results across Hengli’s international operations.

The company’s Singapore trading division, which had employed roughly 100 workers, is scheduled to close this month according to reports. Additionally, China’s Wanhua Chemical has halted a long-standing contract to purchase benzene from Hengli Petrochemical.

Industry experts suggest the sanctions could threaten a tentative 2024 agreement with Saudi Aramco for the oil giant to acquire a 10% ownership stake in Hengli Petrochemical. Aramco has declined to provide comment on the matter.

Despite these setbacks, Hengli’s primary focus on domestic markets and support from Beijing allows the company to maintain most operations. Management has stated they continue purchasing oil using Chinese yuan, avoiding the dollar-based settlement system.

A similar situation occurred last year when competitor Shandong Yulong Petrochemical faced British and European sanctions for Russian oil transactions, ultimately becoming even more dependent on Russian crude supplies.

Industry analysts expect Hengli will likewise increase its reliance on sanctioned oil sources while redirecting petrochemical sales to Chinese customers.

When asked during his Friday flight from Beijing about potentially removing sanctions on Chinese companies buying Iranian oil, the former president said he would consider the option.

“We talked about that and I’m going to make a decision over the next few days,” he said.

As of Thursday, no changes had been announced.

ANTICIPATING CHALLENGES

Nine days before the sanctions took effect, Fan, who leads Hengli’s publicly-traded Shanghai division, expressed caution in a letter to shareholders following Hengli Petrochemical’s 2025 earnings report showing profits of 7.07 billion yuan ($1.04 billion) on revenues of 201 billion yuan.

“Great-power competition continues to evolve and intertwine, and geopolitical turbulence has never ceased,” she wrote. “We are well aware that the road ahead may not be smooth.”

The company has overcome significant obstacles throughout its history.

Chen, now 55, grew up in Suzhou’s Wujiang district, an area where most families traditionally raised silkworms. He left school before age 14 and built his initial wealth through scrap silk trading.

During a speech to the National Young Entrepreneurs Conference last year, Chen Jianhua, whose name translates to “build China,” described purchasing a bankrupt textile facility with 27 workers when he was 23 years old.

This occurred in 1994 as China’s economic transformation was accelerating under Deng Xiaoping’s reforms.

To support China’s efforts to challenge foreign dominance in synthetic fiber manufacturing, Chen expanded Hengli’s operations upstream, eventually entering the state-controlled refining industry to create a fully integrated petrochemical operation.

Hengli established a model for a new generation of large, private petrochemical manufacturers producing materials for plastics and other products serving China’s rapidly expanding industrial sector.

In a bold move, Hengli constructed what became an $11 billion facility on the then-isolated Changxing island near Dalian, directly competing with state-owned China National Petroleum Corp’s nearby refinery.

“There was no electricity, no water, and no mobile signal – just a mountain, a stretch of sea and a small road. For a full four years, I lived and ate on the construction site,” Chen recalled.

CURRENT OPERATIONS

Hengli now holds the position as the world’s top producer of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), a key component in synthetic fiber manufacturing.

In 2022, responding to Beijing’s infrastructure investment initiatives aimed at stimulating the pandemic-affected economy, Hengli acquired an unused shipyard on Changxing island.

“At the start, all the shipowners didn’t trust us and wouldn’t place orders, so we placed our own orders,” building two 300,000-ton very large crude carriers and an 82,000-ton bulk carrier, he said.

Hengli Heavy Industry secured contracts for 115 ships valued at over 100 billion yuan last year, with customers including Greek, Norwegian and Japanese shipping companies.

In February 2025, Chen attended a private sector leadership meeting with Xi, who encouraged participants to support China’s technological independence and supply chain security objectives.

Chen remembered Xi’s message: “Show your talent, the time is now.”

($1 = 6.8012 Chinese yuan renminbi)

The State Department announced Thursday that it has given the green light for a potential $108.1 million equipment sale to Ukraine, according to officials.

The approved sale would provide Ukraine with equipment needed to maintain its Hawk Missile System operations, the department stated on May 21.

Russian air defense systems intercepted drone strikes targeting Moscow and the surrounding Yaroslavl region during the early morning hours on Friday, according to statements from local officials posted on the Telegram messaging platform.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported via Telegram that four drones approaching Moscow were successfully shot down, prompting the deployment of emergency response teams to the affected areas. The mayor did not elaborate on additional specifics regarding the incident.

Both Moscow and the Yaroslavl region, located northeast of Russia’s capital city, experienced similar drone strikes earlier in the week. The targeted areas contain significant energy infrastructure facilities.

Independent confirmation of the reported military incidents could not be obtained by Reuters.

A new group of Australian women and children connected to the ISIS terrorist organization have exited a detention facility in northeastern Syria and could be making their way back to Australia, according to Friday reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The news outlet stated that a bus transporting the group departed the Al-Roj facility on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by Syrian government officials in a convoy. While the group is anticipated to arrive in Damascus, the timing of any potential journey to Australia remains uncertain, according to the report.

Australia’s home affairs ministry has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The Australian government has previously stated it would not offer direct help for bringing back Australian families connected to ISIS, though officials have recognized “very serious limits” in their ability to block citizens from returning to the country.

Earlier in May, four women and nine children with ISIS ties came back to Australia following seven years in detention facilities. When they arrived, Kawsar Ahmad, 54, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, faced slavery-related charges, while 32-year-old Janai Safar was charged with terrorism-related offenses.

The women’s return sparked controversy, with critics claiming Australia’s centre-left government failed to stop their repatriation.

From 2012 to 2016, several Australian women traveled to Syria to reunite with husbands who were reportedly ISIS members. After the caliphate fell in 2019, many ended up detained in camps, though some managed to return home.

In January, the United States started relocating detained ISIS members from Syria following the breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been overseeing multiple detention centers holding ISIS fighters and associated civilians, including foreign nationals.

Canada’s petroleum-wealthy Alberta province has announced plans for an October public vote regarding potential separation from Canada, though the province’s top official clarified Thursday that the ballot won’t directly address independence.

Danielle Smith explained that citizens would instead decide whether the time has come for a binding referendum on departing Canada.

“I want to be clear. I support Alberta remaining in Canada, and this is how I would vote on separation in a provincial referendum. It is also the position of my government,” Smith stated during broadcast comments.

The ballot measure will ask whether Alberta should continue as part of Canada or pursue constitutional legal measures toward conducting a binding independence referendum.

Even a “yes” result in such a binding vote would not automatically create independence. Federal government negotiations would be required. According to a 1998 Supreme Court decision, provinces lack authority to withdraw from Canada unilaterally.

Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, observed that Smith has publicly rejected independence, leading some to draw parallels with Britain’s former Prime Minister David Cameron before the Brexit referendum, which he supported as a method to handle a vocal party faction despite opposing U.K. departure from the European Union.

“Politically Smith seems committed to do so to appease supporters of her own party who want a referendum. If she doesn’t follow suit, she might face a potentially perilous mutiny within her partisan ranks,” Béland stated.

Thursday morning saw three United Conservative Party of Alberta caucus members approve a committee motion requesting Smith and her cabinet schedule the referendum for Oct. 19.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal Liberal government had not immediately responded to Smith’s declaration.

Carney has been collaborating with Smith on Pacific coast oil pipeline construction aimed at satisfying many Albertans.

“As part of his emphasis on economic development in the aftermath of the trade war between Canada and the U.S., Mark Carney is clearly more favorable to pipeline building and the energy industry than his predecessor Justin Trudeau,” Béland noted.

Béland predicted referendum failure.

“Support for Alberta independence is slightly below 30% and the percentage of people truly committed to the cause is below 20% according to polling data so the odds of a ‘yes’ vote appear to be very low right now but campaigns matter,” he explained.

Opposition Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre previously stated that he and all Conservative Parliament members would advocate for Alberta’s continued Canadian membership during any referendum campaign.

Four major nations are preparing to hold a high-level diplomatic summit in India’s capital next week, according to an announcement from Japan’s foreign ministry on Friday.

The foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, Australia and India are scheduled to gather in New Delhi on May 26 for what’s known as a ‘Quad’ meeting between the four countries.

Japan’s foreign ministry confirmed that the nation’s chief diplomat, Toshimitsu Motegi, will make a three-day trip to India beginning Monday to participate in the diplomatic session.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in India on Saturday, following his attendance at NATO foreign ministers’ discussions in Sweden, according to the U.S. State Department.

The United Nations issued sharp criticism Thursday regarding a recently enacted Afghan Taliban regulation concerning marital separation that contains allowances for child marriage, stating the measure deepens bias against women and girls.

Taliban officials dismissed these criticisms, asserting the regulation adheres to Islamic principles and maintaining that forced marriages of girls are already prohibited in the country.

Afghanistan’s justice ministry released Decree No. 18 “on judicial separation of spouses” last week, establishing guidelines for married couples seeking separation.

The regulation’s most disputed elements include language stating that when a girl who has reached puberty remains silent, this can be viewed as marriage approval. The decree also contains sections addressing separation for girls who have reached puberty and are wed, which “implies that child marriage is permitted,” according to a statement from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

“This undermines the principle of free and full consent and failing to safeguard the best interests of the child,” it said.

The regulation specifies that marriages may be declared void “if a father or grandfather has given a minor girl or boy without any dowry, not enough dowry or obscene embezzlement.” Additionally, it states that a girl married off by her father or grandfather to a man who “has not treated her with kindness or is well-known for his bad choices…has the right to approach the court to cancel the marriage contract upon reaching puberty.”

Yet when a woman requests divorce from her spouse and he refuses, “then in this case, there are no witnesses with the girl, the husband’s word is valid,” according to the new regulation. Witnesses are unnecessary if she presents her request directly to a judge.

Afghan women and girls currently endure extensive discrimination, with regulations controlling their dress and conduct. Educational opportunities beyond elementary school are forbidden, along with most employment and nearly all recreational pursuits, including fitness centers, beauty establishments, and public recreational areas.

“Decree No. 18 is part of a broader and deeply concerning trajectory in which the rights of Afghan women and girls are being eroded,” said Georgette Gagnon, the U.N.’s Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and officer in charge of UNAMA.

Although the regulation permits women to leave their spouses, the process is significantly more difficult for women than men.

The measure “operates in a deeply unequal framework: while men retain the unilateral right to divorce, women must pursue complex and restrictive judicial avenues to separate from a spouse,” UNAMA said. “This situation reinforces structural discrimination and limits women’s autonomy in matters fundamental to their dignity, safety, and well-being.”

Following their takeover of Afghanistan after the disorderly departure of U.S.-supported forces in 2021, the Taliban declared certain limited women’s rights, releasing a decree that granted women inheritance rights and marriage refusal options. Nevertheless, “successive decrees have undermined these protections,” UNAMA stated.

The numerous limitations established by the government “have deprived millions of Afghan women and girls of their right to education, weakened economic participation, and deepened poverty, with long-term consequences for Afghanistan’s development,” it continued.

“The objections from those who contradict the religion of Islam are not new and we should not pay attention to them,” Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan government, told the RTA state broadcaster in an interview.

Mujahid observed that Afghanistan’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has previously issued a decree prohibiting forced marriage of girls. Afghan judicial systems and the nation’s ministry of vice and virtue have examined thousands of such instances within the past year, he stated, “which shows the Islamic Emirate’s concern for women’s rights.”

WASHINGTON – The United States imposed financial sanctions Thursday on nine officials accused of blocking peace efforts in Lebanon and preventing the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah organization.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control stated these officials operate throughout Lebanon’s legislative, military, and security agencies, working to maintain Hezbollah’s control over important Lebanese government institutions.

“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be fully disarmed,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated. The group, established in 1982 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia.

American officials blame the organization for suicide attacks in 1983 that resulted in 241 U.S. military deaths and demolished the U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut, as well as a French military compound, killing 58 French paratroopers. The U.S. also attributes a 1983 suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to Hezbollah.

AMERICA FOCUSES ON HEZBOLLAH’S FUNDING

Last week, Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire agreement by 45 days, continuing to reduce tensions from a conflict in southern Lebanon that escalated months ago following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced the department will offer up to $10 million for intelligence that helps disrupt the militant organization’s financial operations.

“This is only the beginning. Anyone still shielding or collaborating with this terrorist organization, or otherwise undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty, should understand that they will be held accountable,” Pigott stated.

“A stable, secure, and independent Lebanon requires the full disarmament of Hezbollah and the restoration of the Lebanese government’s exclusive authority over security matters throughout the country.”

The Treasury Department identified the following individuals as targets of Thursday’s sanctions:

– Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Fanich, who directs Hezbollah’s executive council.

– Hassan Nizammeddine Fadlallah, a parliamentary member representing Hezbollah since 2005, who collaborated with Al Nour Radio and Al Manar TV, both previously sanctioned by the U.S.

– Ibrahim al-Moussawi, who directs Hezbollah’s media operations and serves as the group’s parliamentary representative.

– Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan, who has served as Hezbollah’s parliamentary representative since 1996.

– Mohammad Reza Sheibani, Iran’s ambassador designate to Lebanon, whom Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry declared persona non grata after withdrawing approval of his appointment and ordering his departure from Beirut.

– Ahmad Asaad Baalbaki and Ali Ahmad Safawi, both security leaders within the Amal Movement, a political partner and security collaborator of Hezbollah. Safawi commands the Lebanese Amal militia in southern Lebanon and directed its forces in combined Hizballah-Amal military operations against Israel.

– Brigadier General Khattar Nasser Eldin, director of the Lebanese General Directorate for General Security, for sharing intelligence with Hezbollah.

– Colonel Samir Hamadi, a high-ranking Lebanese intelligence officer.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi on Thursday, expressing that Beijing values its relationship with the Eastern European nation and wants to strengthen their partnership, according to a Friday statement from China’s foreign ministry.

The diplomatic meeting took place shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin completed a ceremonial 24-hour state visit to Beijing, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping. During Putin’s visit, the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation and provide greater mutual support.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry’s official summary of Thursday’s discussions, the representatives from both nations also discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This marks the first time a Moldovan foreign minister has visited China in nearly eight years.

China has refrained from criticizing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and avoids using the term “invasion” when referring to the conflict. Instead, Beijing advocates for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, a stance Wang repeated during his conversation with Popsoi, the statement indicated.

Moldova shares a border with Ukraine and has publicly denounced Russia’s military offensive. The country has experienced long-standing tensions with Moscow regarding the breakaway region of Transdniestria, which declared independence while Moldova was still part of the Soviet Union and maintains pro-Russian leadership.

Approximately 1,500 Russian military personnel remain stationed in the disputed territory, with Moscow characterizing their role as peacekeeping forces. The region continues to receive significant financial and political support from Russia.

Moldova’s current administration, which has set a goal of joining the European Union by 2030, views both the separatist region and the Russian military deployment as tools Moscow uses to influence the country’s domestic policies.

“Wang said China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries, and stands ready to work with Moldova to further cement mutual trust,” according to the ministry’s official statement.