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A Cuban military-controlled business empire has become the focal point of escalating tensions between Washington and Havana, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio placing blame squarely on the conglomerate for the island nation’s struggling economy.

The organization in question is GAESA, a military-run business network that Rubio, a Cuban American politician, accuses of being the true power behind Cuba’s economic troubles.

“Cuba is controlled by GAESA,” Rubio declared Wednesday in a Spanish-language video directed at Cuban citizens. “A ‘state within the state’ that is accountable to no one and hoards the profits from its businesses for the benefit of a small elite.”

Cuban leadership seldom discusses GAESA in public forums. Officials have consistently maintained that such privacy is essential when operating under a U.S. trade and financial embargo that significantly hampers the nation’s international business relationships.

Understanding GAESA’s Structure

The acronym represents Grupo de Administración Empresarial, which translates to ‘business administration group.’ This extensive network of military-operated enterprises is widely regarded as the most profitable and well-run business entity on the island.

The organization oversees numerous luxury hotels throughout the Caribbean nation, operates the major Mariel port facility, runs the primary commercial banking institution, and manages extensive networks of grocery stores, fuel stations and money transfer services.

This closely monitored umbrella organization came into existence during the 1990s under then defense minister Raúl Castro’s direction and remains under the authority of the island’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Until his passing in 2022, Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, who was formerly Raúl Castro’s son-in-law, served as GAESA’s leader. His replacement, Brigadier General Ania Guillermina Lastres, recently faced U.S. sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration earlier this month.

The organization’s influence is perhaps most dramatically illustrated by Torre K, a 42-floor structure housing the luxury Iberostar Selection La Habana hotel, which stands as the island’s tallest building. This GAESA-connected construction project was finished in 2025 during a period of declining tourism, and the tower and hotel currently remain unoccupied.

Washington’s Position on GAESA

During his five-minute address to Cuban citizens, Rubio referenced GAESA eight separate times.

The Trump administration claims GAESA accumulates earnings from the nation’s most lucrative sectors and channels these resources to benefit military leadership and Cuban elites.

“The real reason you don’t have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people,” Rubio stated.

Washington has consistently targeted GAESA enterprises with sanctions, which effectively bars American tourists from staying at GAESA-operated accommodations.

Cuba’s Response Regarding GAESA

Cuban officials reject claims that GAESA corruption or profit-hoarding has caused the current economic difficulties, instead highlighting recent United Nations expert statements that Trump administration fuel restrictions have created “energy starvation” with serious implications for human rights and development.

Beyond this defense, the government provides minimal information about the business group. A review of the leading Communist Party publication Granma revealed only seven mentions of “GAESA” across two decades, with these references containing little substantive detail.

Cuban government representatives rarely make public statements about GAESA, and the organization’s financial information does not appear in the communist government’s official budget documents.

Multiple government officials have indicated over time that maintaining secrecy is crucial for operating strategic enterprises that generate foreign currency while facing extensive U.S. sanctions.

In 2024, Gladys Bejerano, who served as Cuba’s comptroller general and chief auditor, informed Spanish news agency EFE that GAESA fell outside her oversight responsibilities and characterized the military-led enterprise as having “superior discipline and organization.”

GAESA’s Economic Impact

No official data exists regarding what portion of Cuba’s economy falls under GAESA’s control. External analysts estimate the figure ranges between 40% and 70%.

Rubio claimed GAESA generates income that exceeds Cuba’s national budget by three times.

“Today, while you suffer, these businessmen have $18 billion dollars in assets and control 70% of Cuba’s economy,” he stated.

Recently, Cuba’s embassy in the UK responded on X to a Miami Herald article citing the $18 billion amount, asserting the report had exaggerated GAESA’s wealth by 24 times.

“Basic accounting dismantles this ‘bombshell,’” the embassy posted. “Why the deception? Inventing a secret $18 billion hoard provides a convenient political excuse to tighten the very illegal sanctions that suffocate the Cuban population.”

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish appeals court delivered a significant blow to the nation’s primary opposition movement Thursday by invalidating the 2023 party election that brought its current leader to power.

The decision strikes another damaging blow against the Republican People’s Party, known as CHP, which has been battling numerous legal challenges aimed at its leadership and elected representatives.

The appeals court in Turkey’s capital Ankara invalidated the CHP leadership election that installed Ozgur Ozel as party chairman, mandating his replacement with former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

While a lower court previously rejected allegations of voting irregularities and improper conduct in Ozel’s election last year, Thursday’s appellate ruling reversed that earlier decision.

The court order triggered urgent discussions at CHP headquarters in Ankara, creating additional obstacles for opposition efforts to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than 20-year grip on power. Substantial crowds assembled outside the building while law enforcement set up protective barriers.

Turkey’s next presidential contest is scheduled for 2028, though Erdogan retains the authority to schedule an earlier election. His primary political rival, Istanbul’s CHP mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, has been behind bars since March of last year while facing trial on corruption accusations.

The appellate court’s ruling temporarily removes Ozel and the party’s executive leadership from their positions. Kilicdaroglu and officials who served before the November 2023 party congress will assume their roles on an interim basis.

Speaking to broadcaster TV100, Kilicdaroglu urged party supporters to stay composed. “Our party is a very large party and it will solve its own problems internally,” he said. The 77-year-old leader was ousted after leading the party for 13 years without securing victory in any nationwide elections.

Ozel, for his part, worked to energize his base of support.

“I am not promising you a path to power through a rose garden,” he posted on X following the ruling. “I am promising you the ability to endure suffering but never surrender. I am promising you honor, dignity, courage and struggle!”

The CHP plans to contest Thursday’s decision before the Supreme Court in the near future.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who previously handled multiple CHP cases as Istanbul’s top prosecutor, characterized the court’s decision as one that “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy.”

Numerous political analysts have argued that the legal actions targeting the CHP — primarily focused on corruption accusations — are politically driven attempts to weaken the party before upcoming elections. Government officials, however, maintain that Turkey’s judicial system operates independently without political interference.

Erdogan has governed Turkey since 2003, initially as prime minister before assuming the presidency. His winning streak faced a significant setback in 2019 when CHP candidates captured control of multiple major municipalities during local voting. In Istanbul, Imamoglu became a compelling and charismatic leader whom many believed capable of defeating Erdogan.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A controversial video showing Israel’s national security minister mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists has put a spotlight on Itamar Ben-Gvir’s lengthy record of provocative behavior and extreme political positions.

The far-right politician, who was rejected from mandatory military service as a young man due to his radical beliefs, has spent decades working his way from the political margins to become one of Israel’s most influential leaders.

Ben-Gvir faced widespread criticism this week after footage emerged showing his treatment of approximately 430 people detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla. Even coalition partner Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned his actions.

The video clips show Ben-Gvir displaying a large Israeli flag above hunched detainees with bound hands. In another scene, he shouts “Am Israel Chai” — meaning “The nation of Israel lives” in Hebrew — at a kneeling person whose wrists are restrained with zip ties. Additional footage shows detainees with their faces pressed to the ground in an outdoor enclosure while the Israeli national anthem plays and armed officers surround them.

The 50-year-old heads an ultranationalist movement promoting West Bank settlements and has successfully reinvented himself from a political outsider to a major power broker in Israeli politics over several decades.

Ben-Gvir’s criminal record includes eight convictions for charges such as racism and backing a terrorist organization.

Military officials refused to allow him to serve when he reached conscription age, determining his political views were too radical.

As a young man, Ben-Gvir became known as a supporter of deceased extremist rabbi Meir Kahane. He first gained national attention in 1995 when he damaged the hood ornament on then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s vehicle.

“We got to his car, and we’ll get to him too,” he declared at the time, making the statement just weeks before a Jewish extremist assassinated Rabin over his Palestinian peace initiatives.

In 1997, Ben-Gvir admitted to organizing protest campaigns, including death threats, that forced Irish performer Sinead O’Connor to cancel a Jerusalem peace concert.

Ben-Gvir’s ascent to political prominence represents years of calculated efforts by the media-savvy politician to achieve mainstream acceptance. His success also mirrors a broader conservative shift among Israeli voters that has elevated his religious, ultranationalist beliefs while reducing prospects for Palestinian statehood.

Professionally trained in law, Ben-Gvir built his reputation defending extremist Jews charged with attacking Palestinians.

His sharp humor and upbeat personality made him a regular media presence, helping launch his political career. He first won a parliamentary seat in 2021.

Ben-Gvir has advocated for exiling his political rivals. In 2022, he displayed a handgun and urged police to shoot Palestinian stone-throwers in a volatile Jerusalem area.

Through his Cabinet position, Ben-Gvir controls the nation’s police forces. He has used this authority to push Netanyahu to continue the Gaza conflict and recently claimed credit for preventing previous ceasefire agreements.

In his role as national security minister, he has directed police to take aggressive action against government critics.

Ben-Gvir, a resident of the West Bank settlement Kiryat Arba, obtained his Cabinet position following 2022 elections that brought Netanyahu and his far-right allies, including Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, to power.

“Over the last year I’ve been on a mission to save Israel,” Ben-Gvir stated to journalists before that election. “Millions of citizens are waiting for a real right-wing government. The time has come to give them one.”

Throughout his time in office, Ben-Gvir has generated constant controversy — promoting widespread gun distribution to Jewish civilians, supporting Netanyahu’s disputed judicial reform plans, and regularly criticizing U.S. officials for perceived anti-Israel positions.

His responsibilities include overseeing the police force, prison system, and border security units operating in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the Gaza war, Ben-Gvir consistently opposed allowing humanitarian supplies into the territory, despite expert warnings about potential famine conditions.

In July 2025, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir and one other Israeli minister for allegedly “inciting extremist violence” against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Netherlands has prohibited Ben-Gvir from entering the country.

He recently expressed satisfaction in Israel’s parliament after lawmakers passed legislation he championed authorizing capital punishment for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.

Ben-Gvir stepped down from Netanyahu’s Cabinet temporarily last year to protest the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire lasted from January 19 to March 1. While Ben-Gvir’s departure didn’t prevent the ceasefire, it did undermine Netanyahu’s governing alliance.

Ben-Gvir returned to the Cabinet when Israel terminated the ceasefire and resumed military operations in Gaza in March 2025. He has maintained his Cabinet position throughout the current Gaza ceasefire.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has instructed members of her ruling Morena party to step down from their positions if they have connections to corrupt activities, two party sources revealed to Reuters.

The directive was communicated during a gathering with Morena governors at the National Palace last Thursday, the sources indicated. One week earlier on May 7, she conveyed the same message to party lawmakers during a separate meeting.

Both the presidency and Morena declined to respond to requests for comment.

“The ultimatum was that if they are involved in anything shady, they must resign and face the consequences,” said one of the Morena sources, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. Sheinbaum did not mention names nor say what action would be taken if officials did not step down, the sources said.

This previously unreported communication to party members represents the most recent development following the significant U.S. indictment announced last month. The charges named Sinaloa State Governor Ruben Rocha and additional current and former officials for their suspected connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Publicly, Sheinbaum has denounced the U.S. extradition requests that came with the indictment, claiming they contained inadequate evidence for Mexico to authorize arrest warrants. She has demanded “clear” proof from the U.S. and stated that without it, the accusations seem politically driven.

However, the confidential discussions with Morena indicate Sheinbaum is pursuing a different approach within her own political organization.

Rocha holds significant influence within Morena and maintains close ties to former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who served as Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor. Rocha, who maintains his innocence, has temporarily withdrawn from his duties while a local investigation moves forward.

Reuters had previously documented that the U.S. indictment created divisions within Morena as different groups debate their response strategy. Some factions support shielding Rocha and others from U.S. interference, while another segment pushes for addressing corruption within the party’s membership.

The two party sources indicated growing worry within Morena that the U.S. might employ anti-terrorism legislation to target officials and that Morena could face implications similar to those imposed on various Mexican cartels.

During a routine press conference when questioned about this possibility, Sheinbaum dismissed the concern, stating she perceived “no risk” of Morena receiving designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

However, in private discussions, the sources revealed Sheinbaum has conveyed a different tone, cautioning party officials about potential dangers to Morena and its supporters if corruption accusations persist.

“We must guarantee the future of Morena,” she told her party members.

Sheinbaum is scheduled to meet with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Thursday as diplomatic tensions between the two nations continue rising.

The death of two U.S. officials in a vehicle accident in northern Mexico last month created a diplomatic dispute regarding their presence while traveling with a Mexican security convoy returning from a drug laboratory raid. Sources informed Reuters the U.S. officials were CIA officers.

The involvement of U.S. personnel in anti-cartel activities remains an extremely sensitive issue in Mexico. Sheinbaum has consistently stated her support for intelligence cooperation and security collaboration but refuses to permit U.S. agents or military forces to participate in operations within Mexican borders.

In comparison, U.S. President Donald Trump has consistently advocated for expanded use of U.S. military resources against Mexican cartels and has warned that the U.S. might act independently if Washington determines Mexico’s efforts are insufficient.

As tensions continue, a U.S. Department of State official announced the government has begun reviewing the more than 50 Mexican consulates operating in the United States, a process that could lead to closing some diplomatic facilities.

A Brazilian senator running for president is working to arrange a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, as his campaign struggles with fallout from a banking scandal.

Sources indicate that Senator Flavio Bolsonaro may travel to the United States on Monday for a White House meeting with Trump next week. While one source confirmed an invitation from the White House, the exact timing remains unclear.

The right-wing senator, who is the oldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has not responded through his spokesperson regarding the potential visit.

The Washington trip is being planned while the senator’s presidential campaign deals with a major controversy that has hurt his standing in polls against the current leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with October elections approaching.

Earlier this month, the senator became connected to a major bank fraud case after acknowledging he had arranged millions in financing for a documentary about his father from Daniel Vorcaro, a banker currently imprisoned on charges of bribing government officials and cheating investors.

The senator has maintained that his discussions with the banker involved only a legitimate private investment deal without any wrongdoing or special treatment. He had earlier stated he had no dealings with the banker.

During this week, the senator visited Sao Paulo to meet with business executives who are becoming more concerned about his ability to defeat Lula in the upcoming election.

He also conducted meetings with top campaign staff members and made changes to his communications leadership.

A court ruling in Turkey’s capital has invalidated the 2023 leadership election of the Republican People’s Party, the nation’s primary opposition group, potentially delivering a significant setback to those challenging President Tayyip Erdogan politically.

The court decision on Thursday declared that former chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu should take back leadership from current chairman Ozgur Ozel, who was chosen during the now-nullified 2023 party congress.

MOSCOW, May 21 — A drone strike carried out by Ukrainian forces resulted in the deaths of three individuals when it hit a train locomotive in Russia’s Bryansk region on Thursday, according to state company Russian Railways.

The fatalities were all employees of Russian Railways who were struck during the attack at a railway station located in the town of Unecha.

The region’s acting governor, Yegor Kovalchuk, had previously confirmed that Unecha had been subjected to an assault.

The Bryansk region shares a border with Ukraine and has repeatedly been the target of Ukrainian military operations.

International criticism intensified Thursday following the release of a video showing Israel’s far-right security minister mocking activists from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla who were being held on the ground by authorities.

The handling of the activists by law enforcement under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s oversight prompted criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States, Israel’s closest ally.

The aid workers, whose ship was stopped Wednesday in international waters by Israeli naval units while attempting to transport humanitarian supplies to Gaza, were all expelled from Israel Thursday, according to the Israeli foreign ministry.

European nations called in Israeli diplomatic representatives to express disapproval of the video. Italy requested an official apology, Spain declared it would not accept mistreatment of its nationals, and France called for the immediate release of all those detained.

Britain’s foreign ministry stated the video “violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people”, while Poland’s foreign minister requested that Ben-Gvir be prohibited from entering the country.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Ben-Gvir had “betrayed (the) dignity of his nation”.

The widespread condemnation follows the release of campaign-style footage by Ben-Gvir and at least one other minister in Netanyahu’s administration, transport chief Miri Regev, showing them at the port criticizing the demonstrators, publicity-seeking behavior ahead of a possible early election in Israel.

Thameen al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated the activists’ detention at sea appeared unlawful, and that any mistreatment should be examined with those responsible held accountable.

“It is not a crime to show solidarity and bring humanitarian assistance to the people who are in dire need of it in Gaza,” he told Reuters.

Italian journalist Alessandro Mantovani, among several activists separated from others and transported home earlier, claimed he was attacked upon arrival at Israeli detention in what he described as a container, calling it a “place of terror”.

“‘Beat you up’ means they kicked me in the legs and punched me in the face. These are people who know what they are doing, so I don’t have any major visible marks … They would beat you up and would tell you ‘Welcome to Israel’,” he told reporters upon arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

Another Italian activist, Dario Carotenuto, a lawmaker from the 5-Star Movement, reported being punched in the eye and kicked during detention.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the activists’ claims. Participants in previous flotillas intercepted by Israel also reported abuse by Israeli forces, which Israel denied.

Flotilla organizers state they sought to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, which charitable organizations say remains insufficient despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas effective since October 2025 that includes promises of increased assistance.

The flotilla left southern Turkey this week before being intercepted Wednesday. Previous flotillas — including one carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg — were also stopped by Israel, with participants subsequently deported.

Israeli rights organization Adalah reported the estimated 430 activists had been freed from prison in southern Israel.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced his country was organizing special flights to transport Turkish citizens as well as third-country participants to Turkey. Those aboard the flotilla included citizens of Spain, South Korea and Ireland.

“We will continue to uphold the rights of our citizens and fulfil our humanitarian responsibility toward civilians in Gaza,” Fidan stated.

Ben-Gvir’s video depicts officers pushing an activist to the ground after she chants “Free, free Palestine”.

The footage also displays dozens of detained activists kneeling in lines with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, in what appears to be an outdoor Israeli port facility. In the background, soldiers armed with long guns can be seen patrolling the area from aboard a military vessel.

During Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, Israeli forces frequently positioned detained Palestinians on the ground with their hands restrained.

“Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything,” Ben-Gvir says in the video as he walks past the activists while carrying a large Israeli flag.

Netanyahu declared Ben-Gvir’s behavior was “not in line with Israel’s values and norms”.

Ben-Gvir’s political support includes some of Israel’s most nationalist voters, a group that Netanyahu’s Likud party has previously attempted to attract before national elections, the next of which is scheduled by October 27.

This week, Israel moved closer to a snap election after lawmakers gave initial approval to dissolve parliament.

Canada and Spain are among countries that have imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, citing allegations that they incited violence against Palestinians.

BEIRUT (AP) — Several months after being forced from her home by conflict, Soubhiye Zeiter begins each day with the same ritual: brewing a large cup of coffee and enjoying a few peaceful minutes at a flower-adorned small table outside her tent in Beirut.

However, the tranquility ends quickly once her coffee is ready.

Before the morning progresses far, dozens of people have already formed lines outside Zeiter’s modest bakery operation in a tent camp located in Lebanon’s capital city, eager for her mana’eesh — the beloved Lebanese flatbread served for breakfast with toppings of cheese, meat or za’atar, a seasoning made from thyme and herbs. Kids dart between waiting customers, volunteers hurry trays of dough to and from ovens, and the 63-year-old Zeiter acknowledges almost every passerby, frequently inviting them to sit and share coffee.

Called Om Mohammed by many — an Arabic term meaning Mohammed’s mother — this grandmother evacuated her residence in Beirut’s southern suburbs along with 15 family members when the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began. She had been residing just south of the capital when Israeli forces issued evacuation orders for the extensive neighborhoods before launching intensive air attacks.

The continuing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant organization has forced more than one million residents to leave their homes in this small nation during months of border clashes. Numerous families abandoned villages in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern neighborhoods, finding refuge in schools, government buildings and tent camps throughout Beirut and the wider country.

Upon arriving at the tent camp situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the capital’s upscale downtown area, Zeiter initially visited a nearby location where relief supplies were being given out. However, after learning she would need to wait in line for hours and still might receive nothing, she chose instead to prepare meals for her family and others requiring assistance.

She started using her personal saj — a traditional circular metal cooking surface common throughout Lebanon — preparing approximately 200 mana’eesh daily and distributing them at no cost. As news of her efforts spread, more individuals arrived each morning, with some contributing ingredients. Eventually the waiting lines grew beyond what she could handle by herself.

Today, her small section of the camp resembles a community bakery. Individuals who learned about her work contributed a larger gas-operated oven that operates from early morning through late evening. Dough passes through a rolling machine. Volunteers wrap bread as fast as it emerges hot from ovens. The aroma of thyme and baking dough floats through rows of blue tents.

“We can’t keep up,” Zeiter said, laughing as people continued arriving at the stand. “We bake 3,000 to 3,500 mana’eesh daily and people still come and ask for more.”

What began as one woman preparing food for displaced children has evolved into a community project sustained almost completely by donations. She has gained recognition as somewhat of a local celebrity in her community, with the Beirut governor even stopping by to share coffee with her during an afternoon visit to tour the location.

“People started donating gas, some donated flour or za’atar, some brought oil, cheese, sometimes people brought meat, some brought yeast,” she said. “Whatever I need for this bakery, people are helping me out.”

For Zeiter, the bakery represents more than just providing food. She explains that she wants the tent camp to feel less like a place of grief and more like the communities people were compelled to abandon. During the day, she beckons to people walking by, encourages them to sit together, and attempts to recreate the type of environment she recalls from home.

“We’re all displaced. If I lost my home or got displaced that doesn’t mean that I have to lose my morale,” she said, wishing people even when scarred by war to love and care for each other. “Displacement shouldn’t change us.”

Despite the success of her community project, the sounds of drones flying overhead in the capital and reports of continuing Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon serve as stark reminders that life has been altered. She attempts to engage in activities from happier times, such as playing with her grandchildren and her small white dog, Bella.

Most significantly, she makes sure to prepare an additional pot of coffee — because she dislikes drinking coffee by herself — so she can welcome anyone passing her tent who wants to sit briefly. The flowers are important as well.

“What I love the most, in order to bring back memories, is to have flowers on the table or next to me when I drink coffee,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I feel like it makes up for things a little.”

German federal prosecutors announced Thursday they have filed charges against two individuals accused of conducting espionage operations for Iranian intelligence services, with plans to target prominent Jewish figures in Germany.

The primary defendant, identified as Ali S. under German privacy protocols, holds Danish citizenship and was taken into custody in Denmark last June. A second suspect, Afghan national Tawab M., was also apprehended in Denmark during November. Court documents show prosecutors submitted their case against both men to Hamburg state court on May 7.

According to the charges, Ali S. faces multiple counts including intelligence service collaboration, covert sabotage activities, and attempted involvement in murder and arson schemes. Tawab M. has been charged with attempted participation in murder.

Investigators claim Ali S. operated under the direction of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard intelligence division and maintained regular communication with the Guard’s expeditionary Quds Force.

The prosecution alleges that early in 2025, Ali S. received orders to collect detailed information about Josef Schuster, who leads Germany’s Central Council of Jews, and Volker Beck, a notable former German lawmaker who heads the German-Israeli Society. Additionally, he was tasked with surveilling two unidentified Jewish grocery store owners in Berlin.

“All this served for the preparation of assassination and arson attacks in Germany,” prosecutors stated in their official announcement.

Court filings indicate Ali S. conducted reconnaissance missions at multiple Berlin locations throughout last year while actively recruiting potential accomplices for the planned operations. By May 2025, he had established contact with Tawab M., who prosecutors say expressed willingness to obtain weapons for an unnamed third party and coordinate an assassination attempt against Beck.

Following Ali S.’s arrest last year, German Foreign Ministry officials summoned Iran’s ambassador for questioning. The Iranian Embassy responded by dismissing what they characterized as “unfounded and dangerous allegations” regarding any suspected plot against Jewish institutions.

MOSCOW (AP) — Military vehicles transporting long-range ballistic missiles moved through wooded terrain, nuclear submarines departed from northern and Pacific naval bases, and flight crews launched aircraft as Russia and Belarus completed their joint nuclear military exercises on Thursday.

The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, examined Russian nuclear-capable Iskander short-range missiles at a military facility participating in the exercises, stating: “I dreamed about this machine a long time ago.”

The exercises, which lasted three days starting Tuesday, occurred during increased Ukrainian aerial attacks, including strikes on Moscow’s outskirts that resulted in three deaths and caused damage to multiple structures and industrial sites. These attacks have made it more challenging for Kremlin leadership to portray the Ukrainian conflict — now in its fifth year — as a remote situation that doesn’t impact ordinary Russian citizens’ daily lives.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the military exercise included 64,000 personnel, more than 200 missile systems, over 140 aircraft, 73 naval vessels, and 13 submarines, with eight submarines equipped with nuclear warheads. The ministry stated the exercises would concentrate on “preparation and use of nuclear forces under the threat of aggression.”

The military exercises also rehearse coordination with Belarus, a partner nation that accommodates Russian nuclear armaments. Russian weapons stationed in Belarus include the newest intermediate-range nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile platform.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has consistently highlighted Moscow’s nuclear capabilities since deploying military forces to Ukraine in February 2022, seeking to prevent Western nations from increasing assistance to Kyiv.

During 2024, Putin approved an updated nuclear policy, stating that any conventional military action against Russia backed by a nuclear-armed nation would be viewed as a coordinated assault on his country. This warning was clearly designed to discourage Western powers from permitting Ukraine to attack Russia with extended-range weaponry and seems to substantially reduce the conditions for potentially deploying Moscow’s nuclear weapons.

The updated policy brought Belarus under Russian nuclear protection. Putin has indicated that Moscow will maintain authority over its nuclear weapons positioned in Belarus while permitting its partner to choose targets during potential conflicts.

LONDON — British officials unveiled a series of tax breaks on everyday items and family entertainment as the government works to address escalating household expenses and regain public support.

On Thursday, Treasury chief Rachel Reeves revealed modest relief measures aimed at countering increased costs linked to the Iran war, including lower import duties on cookies, chocolate and approximately 100 additional grocery store items.

British inflation dropped to 2.8% in April from March’s 3.3% rate, though economists anticipate another surge driven by climbing fuel, heating gas and electricity costs.

In response to these pressures, officials delayed a scheduled fuel duty hike and granted truckers a one-year exemption from road taxes to help counter skyrocketing gasoline prices caused by the practical shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping corridor.

However, Reeves stopped short of promising expanded assistance for home heating expenses.

The Treasury chief outlined initiatives aimed at stimulating summer economic activity, including complimentary bus transportation for children during August. Throughout the summer season, admission taxes for attractions such as zoos, theme parks and museums will drop from 20% to 5%.

Reeves explained the cost-of-living relief would be funded through eliminating tax advantages for oil and gas corporations operating internationally.

“This summer I want every family to be able to enjoy themselves,” Reeves said. “As the war in Iran pushes prices up at home, my economic plan is the right one. I will continue to make the right choices, to protect households and businesses, and build a stronger and more secure Britain.”

These policy announcements arrived as Prime Minister Keir Starmer attempts to maintain stability while facing pressure from Labour Party colleagues seeking his removal following poor local election outcomes.

The past two weeks have proven particularly challenging for Starmer, who guided the party to overwhelming victory fewer than two years earlier. Numerous Labour legislators have demanded his resignation, and political observers widely anticipate a leadership contest. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham plans to secure a Parliamentary seat in a June 18 special election before potentially challenging Starmer for the top position.

Starmer maintains he will not step down and intends to defend his leadership role. According to British political procedures, any successor to Starmer as party leader would automatically assume the prime minister position without requiring a nationwide vote.

NEW DELHI (AP) — What started as a satirical internet project has transformed into a massive digital movement attracting millions of frustrated young Indians seeking an outlet for their discontent.

The Cockroach Janta Party, a mock political organization using the resilient insect as its emblem, has taken Indian social media by storm through absurdist comedy turned into political protest. Social platforms have been flooded with satirical content and brief videos ridiculing government corruption, unemployment, and political failures, with millions of users adopting the cockroach — celebrated for surviving in tough environments — as a humorous symbol of persistence.

The digital campaign’s growth has been remarkably swift. The Cockroach Janta Party, known as CJP, launched its website and social media presence on Saturday. By Thursday, its Instagram account had gathered over 15 million followers, dramatically exceeding the 8.8 million followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party on the same platform.

“Nothing of this was intentional,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told The Associated Press, explaining that the movement’s surge demonstrated growing discontent among India’s youth.

“It is the younger people who were actually very frustrated. They didn’t have any outlet. They were really angry at the government,” said Dipke, a political communications strategist and Boston University student.

The CJP appeared online following comments by Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant that sparked outrage among young Indians frustrated by joblessness, increasing living expenses, and recent government exam paper leaks that have disrupted hiring processes.

During a court session last week, Kant condemned what he called “parasites” undermining institutions and likened some jobless young people and activists to cockroaches.

“There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession,” Kant said. He noted that some turned to social media activism, journalism or public interest campaigns and “start attacking everyone.”

The statements rapidly circulated online, where numerous users interpreted them as condescending. Kant subsequently explained that his comments targeted people with fraudulent credentials and stated he didn’t mean to offend India’s youth.

However, the backlash soon resulted in the satirical CJP Instagram account, which embraced the cockroach as its political emblem and started sharing humorous content, fake campaign messages, and satirical criticism of Modi’s administration.

In a matter of days, it attracted tens of thousands of online supporters through Google form submissions, along with backing from some opposition politicians.

“We have to understand that five years ago nobody was ready to speak up against Modi or the government. The times are changing,” said Dipke, who previously collaborated with the Aam Aadmi Party, which grew from India’s anti-corruption movement in 2012.

Dipke emphasized that the CPJ operates independently from any actual political organization. However, its emergence reflects a wider pattern across South Asia, where young people have been central to anti-government protests recently, including revolts in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and disturbances in Nepal.

“The youth are really frustrated and the government is not acknowledging their concerns,” Dipke said.

These challenges are particularly intense in India, where young people comprise more than a quarter of the population, yet many encounter limited employment prospects, ongoing joblessness, and increasing dissatisfaction with established political parties.

Many young voters also express anger toward Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party regarding issues such as increasing religious division, expanding inequality, and economic hardships.

The CJP heavily embraces self-deprecating humor.

Its satirical membership requirements include being jobless, lazy, constantly online, and skilled at professional complaining. Its platform uses comedy to tackle various controversial topics in Indian politics, including opposition claims of election fraud, criticism of connections between corporate media and government, and the naming of former judges to government positions.

Some critics, many supporting Modi, have rejected it as an online political stunt connected to the opposition, pointing to Dipke’s previous work with the Aam Aadmi Party. They also suggest the popularity boom will disappear as rapidly as it appeared, claiming it’s a digital campaign rather than a genuine grassroots effort.

But Dipke argued what started online would likely expand beyond social media.

“This is the movement that has arrived in India … it will change the political discourse,” he said. “It will continue online, and if required it will also come on the ground.”

The campaign has already started gradually moving offline, with some young supporters showing up at demonstrations wearing cockroach costumes.

So has the evident resistance.

On Thursday, Dipke posted on X that the CJP’s account on the platform, which had approximately 200,000 followers, had been blocked in India, representing one of the first clear restrictions on the rapidly expanding satirical movement. The explanation wasn’t immediately available.

Shortly after, Dipke revealed a new account for the organization, accompanied by a graphic stating “Cockroach is back.”

The message concluded: “You thought you can get rid of us? Lol.”

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine authorities received orders Thursday from the nation’s top justice official to carry out an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting a senator accused of crimes against humanity. Officials warned that anyone assisting the senator in avoiding the nationwide manhunt will face criminal prosecution.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida declared during a press briefing that Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa “is a fugitive from justice.” Vida stated, “He should be brought to the ICC to face the charges.”

The senator previously served as the country’s top police official and implemented former President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent anti-drug campaign that resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily among low-level suspects. These killings drew condemnation from Western nations and human rights organizations.

Former President Duterte, who held office from 2016 to 2022, was taken into custody last year and transported to The Hague, where he currently faces trial at the ICC on crimes against humanity charges.

The senator had asked the Philippines Supreme Court to invalidate his ICC warrant, claiming the nation is no longer a member of the international tribunal. However, the court rejected his request.

During his press conference, Vida indicated that law enforcement has information about dela Rosa’s location but declined to provide specifics. He emphasized that anyone found helping the senator avoid arrest would face criminal charges.

An ICC warrant made public on May 11 accuses dela Rosa of the crime against humanity of murder involving “no less than 32 persons” during the period from July 2016 through late April 2018, while he commanded the national police under Duterte and carried out the former president’s harsh enforcement policies.

Vida noted, “There were thousands, including minors and toddlers, who were killed.” He added, “It’s the government’s obligation to support and help them achieve justice.”

The senator had stayed away from the Senate for several months due to arrest concerns. Nevertheless, he unexpectedly appeared on May 11 to assist Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in securing a narrow majority and winning control of the 24-member Senate’s leadership.

Cayetano transported dela Rosa to the Senate in his vehicle. National Bureau of Investigation officers attempted to execute the ICC arrest warrant at that time, but dela Rosa rushed into the Senate chamber and requested protection from Cayetano and supporting senators, who provided him sanctuary.

On May 13, two days afterward, dela Rosa escaped from the Senate following multiple gunshots fired by the building’s security team. Their supervisor explained these were warning shots after spotting armed government officers positioned in a nearby building, according to police sources.

The gunfire created panic among senators, staff members and reporters, including two from The Associated Press, who were inside the Senate facility.

Authorities stated they are examining whether the disturbance was intentionally created to enable dela Rosa’s getaway in an SUV operated by another supportive senator, Robinhood Padilla.

The senator’s legal troubles have emerged amid growing political tensions between the Duterte family and current leadership. Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, has accused current officials of orchestrating what she called the “kidnapping” of her father and his transfer to the ICC.

The vice president, who has declared her intention to run for president in 2028, faced impeachment last week in a decisive vote by the House of Representatives, which is controlled by allies of the current administration.

Her Senate trial on criminal accusations including unexplained wealth, misappropriation of government funds and a public threat to assassinate the president is scheduled to begin in July. While she has denied the charges, she has declined to provide detailed responses to them.

Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his involvement in shooting down civilian aircraft in 1996, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s government.

At the same time, Senate Republicans are poised to drop their proposal for $1 billion in security funding for the White House complex and Trump’s ballroom on Thursday. Additionally, Trump’s proposal to construct a triumphal arch in Washington is receiving renewed scrutiny from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal body that recommended modifications before approving the plan last month.

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Trump has intensified discussions about regime change in Cuba following his deployment of U.S. military forces to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. A federal indictment against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro now sparks speculation about whether Trump might pursue similar action in Havana.

Below is a chronology of U.S. relations with the communist-controlled island, including multiple encounters with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Castro’s grandson referred to as “Raúlito.”

“China always firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and have no authorization from the United Nations Security Council and the abuse of judicial measures, and we also oppose external forces exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiankun said Thursday.

The U.S. should “stop wielding the stick of sanctions and judicial measures” against the country, Guo added. “China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference.”

Trump’s proposal to construct a triumphal arch in Washington is receiving renewed examination from a federal body that recommended modifications before approving the plan last month.

The planned 250-foot (76 meter) arch represents one of multiple projects the Republican president is advancing along with a White House ballroom to establish his legacy in Washington. Project opponents, including a vast majority of individuals who provided public feedback in April, argued the arch would exceed the height of every other monument in the capital and overwhelm the skyline.

He has indicated some of his additional projects, including applying a blue coating to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s interior, will enhance the city’s appearance ahead of July 4 celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members received Trump appointments, endorsed the arch concept during its April monthly session. Commissioners plan to review and potentially vote on revised proposals during Thursday’s meeting.

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More than a dozen young Republicans who assembled with beers and colorful cocktails at a Kentucky establishment called dEcORa this week were critiquing the presidential administration they had welcomed enthusiastically last year.

Their initial excitement for Trump had transformed into disappointment. What emerged at the bar was frustration that the Republican establishment — which they originally praised Trump for challenging, but which some now believe he perpetuates — had abandoned them.

This growing resentment has expanded a generational divide between younger and older conservatives as the party gradually contemplates a post-Trump future.

The Republican primary loss of Rep. Thomas Massie — who had cultivated younger and anti-establishment support while clashing with Trump — eliminated one of their most powerful congressional advocates.

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Senate Republican leadership plans to withdraw their proposal for $1 billion in security funding for the White House complex and Trump’s ballroom on Thursday following criticism from party members regarding the timing and insufficient details in the Secret Service request.

Under White House pressure, Republicans attempted to incorporate the funding into an approximately $70 billion measure restoring money to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. However, the security proposal faced opposition from some GOP legislators questioning the expense and taxpayer fund allocation.

While the bill’s language remains unpublished, the Senate aims to approve it this week and forward it to the House before departing for a weeklong Memorial Day break.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said the effort to add the security package to the bill was a “bad idea” and he does not think there is enough backing to pass it, even if the cost were reduced.

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Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that they have filed criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro regarding the 1996 shootdown of civilian aircraft operated by Miami-based exile groups, as the Trump administration intensified pressure on the island’s socialist government.

The indictment alleges Castro directed the attack on two small aircraft operated by the exile organization Brothers to the Rescue. Castro, who will turn 95 next month, served as Cuba’s defense minister during the incident. The charges, secretly filed by a grand jury in April, include murder and aircraft destruction. Five Cuban military pilots also face charges.

When questioned about the extent American authorities would pursue to bring Castro before U.S. courts, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: “There was a warrant issued for his arrest. So we expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way.”

The charges represent a genuine threat, analysts noted, following the January capture by U.S. forces of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to face drug charges in New York.

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BRUSSELS (AP) — The leader of Germany is pushing the European Union to grant Ukraine a special ‘associate membership’ status while working to restart diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Russia that has stretched beyond four years, according to correspondence obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.

The proposal from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, addressed to top EU leadership, arrives as the 27-member union debates whether to pursue independent negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, given that U.S.-facilitated discussions have stalled amid America’s focus on the Iran conflict.

Merz’s plan would allow Ukraine to participate in EU proceedings without the ability to vote, while also providing non-voting representation within the European Commission and European Parliament.

The German chancellor emphasized this approach “would not be a membership light,” and would “go far beyond” the current Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine. His proposal includes a “snap-back mechanism” should Ukraine fail to maintain democratic standards.

Last month, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen restated their position that formal membership discussions with Ukraine should begin “without delay,” a timeline Merz also supports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed optimism Wednesday about potential advancement in membership talks, stating in remarks that it is “very important for us. Ukraine has fulfilled everything necessary for this progress.”

Nations seeking EU membership must align their legislation across 35 policy areas, from judicial standards to agricultural and maritime regulations. Unanimous approval from all 27 EU members is required to open and close each policy area.

Hungary has previously prevented negotiations from starting, though the recent government change in Budapest this month could shift that position.

However, Merz’s proposal may face resistance from European officials who maintain that EU membership should follow a merit-based process completed only after meeting all requirements.

The German leader suggested extending his approach to other aspiring member nations, particularly those in the Western Balkans, where EU leaders plan to convene for a summit next month.

Regarding the ongoing conflict, Merz stated his proposal “will help facilitate the ongoing peace talks as part of a negotiated peace solution. This is essential not only for Ukraine’s but for the entire continent’s security.”

Ukraine views EU membership as a crucial “security guarantee” for post-war stability. While NATO membership would provide the strongest protection, the Trump administration opposes this option, and others hesitate to admit a nation currently at war.

With U.S.-led mediation efforts struggling, EU countries are exploring whether to establish separate negotiation channels and identify potential mediators should Putin agree to discussions.

Costa stated earlier this month that “we need, in the right moment, to have talks with Russia to address our common issues on security.” He emphasized this shouldn’t “disturb” U.S.-led efforts but acknowledged Europe’s need to address its security interests.

European media has speculated about possible EU negotiators, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who speaks Russian and has extensive experience with Putin, and former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi.

Putin has indicated openness to discussions with Gerhard Schröder, another former German chancellor. However, officials have rejected this possibility, even in Germany, where Schröder’s connections to Russian energy companies and Putin relationship harmed his reputation following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it unwise to let Putin select a negotiator, especially a “high-level lobbyist for Russian state-owned companies.”

Zelenskyy has endorsed European involvement, saying Sunday that “Europe must be involved in the negotiations. It is important for Europe to have a strong voice and presence in this process, and it is worth determining who will represent Europe specifically.”

Malaysian authorities announced Thursday they have issued a formal demand to TikTok regarding the social media company’s inadequate response to removing harmful fake content directed at the nation’s monarchy.

The Communications and Multimedia Commission stated this action came after the spread of content described as “grossly offensive, false, menacing and insulting,” which featured artificially generated videos and doctored images connected to an account that falsely claimed ties to king Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.

These issues touch on the delicate topics of race, religion and royalty “which are highly sensitive and may undermine public order, national harmony and respect for constitutional institutions,” the regulatory body explained in its announcement.

Even after previous notifications and discussions, the commission noted TikTok’s content oversight response was inadequate, particularly regarding swift content removal and preventing additional spread of such material.

The regulator revealed that TikTok — which has remained silent publicly about this situation — received a formal legal notice requiring the company to account for its oversight shortcomings and implement immediate corrective actions, including enhanced content monitoring systems and better enforcement against material violating Malaysian regulations and community guidelines.

The commission emphasized that social media companies operating within Malaysia must demonstrate increased accountability in stopping illegal and damaging activities on their platforms.

Officials cautioned they will persist in taking “firm and proportionate action” to guarantee digital platforms fulfill their obligations in creating a secure and respectful online space.

This development occurs as Malaysia intensifies its efforts to strengthen supervision of digital platforms, with government agencies recently increasing enforcement actions against social media corporations regarding dangerous content, fraudulent schemes, online betting and material considered offensive or threatening to public safety.

TikTok has not provided a response to The Associated Press’ request for commentary.