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Malaysia’s defense minister announced Tuesday that officials have formally notified Norway of their intent to pursue compensation exceeding 1 billion ringgit ($251.76 million) following Oslo’s unexpected cancellation of export permits for naval strike missile systems designated for Malaysian warships.

Norwegian officials stated that specific export licenses for certain defense technology to Malaysia were withdrawn due to changes in Oslo’s export control policies. The unexpected decision surprised Malaysian officials and ignited a diplomatic dispute, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim describing the action as “unilateral and unacceptable.”

Defense Minister Mohamad Khaled Nordin explained that the government plans to pursue reimbursement for both direct and indirect expenses, noting that Malaysia had already remitted approximately 126 million euros ($146.66 million), representing 95% of the contract’s total value, for the missile systems.

Malaysia will also pursue additional compensation to address costs associated with removing and replacing equipment on vessels designed to house the Norwegian-manufactured missiles, along with expenses for retraining military personnel, he informed reporters.

Mohamed Khaled stated that Norway’s action creates concerns about the reliability of international defense partnerships, especially those involving Western or NATO member nations.

“What has happened to us was not just a defence procurement issue. It reflects a larger problem, namely, the erosion of trust among countries in international relations,” he said.

The Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Malaysia’s compensation demand.

The defense division of Norwegian company Kongsberg announced in 2018 that it had secured a 124 million euro agreement with the Royal Malaysian Navy to provide NSM missiles for six littoral combat ships. Mohamed Khaled revealed last week that a second contract existed to deliver the system to two additional naval vessels.

BRUSSELS – European Union officials were set to reach an agreement Tuesday on eliminating import tariffs on American products, working to honor a trade agreement made with the United States last year while avoiding threatened tariff increases from former President Trump.

The agreement, negotiated at Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last July, requires the EU to eliminate import tariffs on American industrial products and provide better access for US agricultural and seafood items. The United States would maintain 15% tariffs on most European Union goods in return.

Despite the deal being nearly 10 months old, both the European Parliament and the Council representing EU member nations must still approve legislative language before the tariff reductions can take effect. The primary disagreements center on protective measures in case Trump abandons the agreement.

Parliamentary and council negotiators were scheduled to convene for what sources expected to be final discussions beginning at 9 p.m. local time. EU legislators participating in the negotiations expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.

Trump has established a July 4th deadline for the European Union to fulfill its trade commitments, warning he would impose substantially higher tariffs on EU products including automobiles if the bloc fails to act. He previously threatened to increase tariffs on European car imports from the current 15% to 25%.

European lawmakers have twice delayed the necessary legislation following Trump’s threats to impose additional tariffs on European partners who didn’t support his proposed Greenland acquisition and after the Supreme Court overturned his global tariffs.

If negotiators reach an agreement, the bloc should satisfy Trump’s July 4th timeline, with the European Parliament expected to hold a final approval vote in mid-June.

Parliamentary representatives are pushing for stronger protective measures, including a provision requiring the United States to fulfill its obligations before the EU reduces duties, the ability to halt the agreement if America violates the terms, and an expiration date of March 31, 2028 for EU tariff concessions.

EU member governments have shown less enthusiasm for including such provisions, worried they might anger the Trump administration and create business uncertainty for European companies.

MALE, Maldives — Specialized diving experts from Finland began efforts Tuesday to retrieve the remains of four Italian divers who perished in a deep underwater cave system in the Maldives, nearly a week after they disappeared during an exploration dive.

The victims’ bodies were discovered Monday when search operations resumed following a tragic setback — a local military diver lost his life during the dangerous rescue attempt. The Italian diving group was first reported missing Thursday.

According to Maldives government spokesman Ahmed Shaam, the three-person Finnish team will work to bring up the remains from approximately 60 meters (200 feet) below the surface, at which point they’ll transfer responsibility to coast guard personnel who will transport the bodies closer to shore for police custody.

Recreational diving regulations in the Maldives limit depths to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet).

Officials from the Indian Ocean nation announced Monday that the Finnish diving specialists, working alongside local police and military personnel, located the bodies in the deepest section of the cave system.

“As was previously thought, the four bodies were found inside the cave, not only inside the cave, but well inside the cave into the third segment of the cave, which is the largest part,” Shaam said.

He described finding the four victims “pretty much together,” with plans to recover two bodies Tuesday and the remaining two Wednesday.

The Divers’ Alert Network Europe, which sent the Finnish team, described them on its website as technical and cave diving specialists with international expertise in search and recovery operations, including work in “deep overhead environments, confined spaces and high-risk scenarios.”

The recovery team utilized sophisticated technical equipment, including closed-circuit rebreathers — systems that recycle exhaled air and eliminate carbon dioxide through chemical scrubbing, enabling “significantly longer dives,” according to the organization.

A fifth Italian diver — identified as a diving instructor — was recovered outside the cave entrance on the same day the group was reported missing. According to Italy’s Foreign Ministry, the five-person team had been exploring a cave system approximately 50 meters (160 feet) down in Vaavu Atoll Thursday.

Earlier search teams had already descended to locate and mark the entrance to the cave system where the Italian divers vanished.

New Zealand’s Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced Tuesday that the government will eliminate approximately 9,000 public sector positions by mid-2029, representing 14% of all government jobs, as part of an effort to reduce spending by billions of dollars.

Speaking to a business gathering in Auckland, the country’s largest city, Willis outlined plans that include three straight years of budget reductions for most government agencies, a substantial decrease in the number of departments, and accelerated implementation of artificial intelligence technology throughout the public sector. These changes are projected to save 2.4 billion New Zealand dollars ($1.4 billion) over the specified timeframe.

The workforce reductions will primarily affect Wellington, the capital city where most government employees are based. Public servant numbers would drop to 55,000, down 8,700 positions from December 2025 levels, according to Willis.

This reduction would bring public servants to 1% of New Zealand’s 5.3 million residents, compared to the current 1.2%.

“That’s unsustainable, it’s unaffordable and it’s out of step with international trends,” Willis stated during her Tuesday address. Military personnel, educators, and medical professionals would be protected from the job eliminations, she noted.

The reforms would also consolidate the current 39 government departments and agencies into a smaller, unspecified number.

The job cuts won’t begin immediately, and Willis provided no specifics about how decisions would be made regarding which positions to eliminate. Her center-right administration, in office since 2023 after campaigning on reducing government size, must face voters again in November.

Labor organizations and opposition politicians strongly criticized Tuesday’s announcement.

“There is no way you can reduce that many people working for our public service without reducing front-line services,” said Labour Party and opposition leader Chris Hipkins. Duane Leo, spokesperson for the union representing thousands of public servants, said the measures were “an act of willful destruction.”

The National Party-led government attributes what it characterizes as financial irresponsibility by the previous center-left Labour administration for expanding public servant employment from 48,000 to 63,000 during Labour’s tenure. In 2018, Labour had eliminated a public sector hiring cap established by the previous National government, arguing that restriction had led to increased spending on contractors and consultants as agencies avoided hiring permanent staff.

Most government departments will see their funding reduced by 2% in the budget scheduled for late May, Willis explained. Additional 5% annual cuts would follow for the subsequent two years if the government wins reelection.

The public sector “hasn’t been keeping pace” with developments in AI and digital technology and must adopt these innovations, Willis emphasized.

These public sector reduction promises come as New Zealand’s economic growth remains weak and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who positioned himself as a superior fiscal steward compared to his political rivals, attempts to demonstrate economic improvement before November’s election. Luxon described Tuesday the possibility of a more streamlined public sector as “exciting.”

“The public service is not a make-work function,” he stated.

Ukrainian military forces are dealing significant setbacks to Russia’s war operations through an expanded strategy of medium-range drone strikes that target enemy positions dozens of kilometers from the front lines.

Military commanders and defense experts report that Ukraine has dramatically increased its “middle strikes” capability in recent months, focusing on targets positioned 30 to 180 kilometers behind enemy lines. These operations are disrupting Russian battlefield progress and creating openings for extended-range attacks on oil and military installations.

The enhanced drone operations have allowed Ukrainian forces to hit Russian radar systems, air defense networks, communication infrastructure, supply chains, and heavy military equipment at what military experts call “operational depth,” according to two Ukrainian commanders, drone specialists, and military analysts.

Robert Brovdi, who leads Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, explained that long-range attack drones can now penetrate Russian defenses more effectively to strike oil installations far from the fighting zones.

“The role of middle strikes is currently decisive,” Brovdi stated in a voice message to Reuters, discussing operations reaching up to 2,000 kilometers.

Defense experts acknowledge that while these attacks cannot single-handedly reverse the war’s trajectory, they are creating substantial impact and potentially altering the conflict’s momentum.

Over recent months, Ukrainian long-distance drone operations have inflicted the most severe damage to Russian oil infrastructure since Moscow launched its 2022 invasion. Last month, Russia decreased oil production due to drone strikes on ports and refineries, and crude oil deliveries through Russia’s sole remaining European pipeline were stopped.

These attacks have boosted Ukrainian morale following a winter of Russian strikes on power infrastructure, while Russia’s territorial advancement rate has dropped to its lowest level since 2023.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced this month that Ukrainian “middle strikes” had doubled compared to March and increased fourfold since February.

A field commander identified as “Kusto” from the 7th battalion of Brovdi’s 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade reported significant growth in Ukraine’s medium-strike capabilities since autumn.

“We have scaled up, increased the number of crews, and expanded the number of systems in use. There is also greater diversity in the available platforms,” he explained in written statements.

Kusto’s unit primarily focuses on objectives within 100 kilometers of the contact line, with Russian radar installations and air-defense systems including Buk, Tor and Pantsir representing the most valuable targets. Additional priority targets include large vehicles and logistics operations.

“The aircraft (drone) itself typically flies about 150 kilometres from the launch point and then begins searching for targets in the designated area,” he described.

The unit most frequently employs domestically manufactured Chaklun V drones for middle-strike operations, followed by the B-2 model.

Brovdi noted that manual control provides superior precision compared to coordinate-based guidance, with typically no more than three drones required to confirm target destruction.

His forces have eliminated at least 129 air-defense systems this year in Russian-controlled territories, though Reuters could not independently confirm this number.

Ukraine has conducted multiple attacks on oil facilities in the Russian Black Sea port city of Tuapse, and Brovdi announced Friday that his forces had struck the Ryazan oil refinery, among Russia’s largest. Ukrainian operations have also forced operational suspensions at NORSI, Russia’s fourth-largest refinery, and facilities in Perm, approximately 1,500 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine border.

The extended-range strikes have facilitated more medium-range attacks by compelling Russia to spread air defenses away from front-line positions, explained Justin Bronk, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London.

This allows Ukrainian forces to target assets beyond artillery or remotely operated First-Person View drone range, including ammunition and fuel storage, command centers, supply vehicles and other medium-range drone teams.

In April, Ukrainian forces executed over 160 middle strikes at distances of 120-150 kilometers, according to the Defence Ministry.

Such operations hinder Russian battlefield activities by extending the gap between front-line troops and their support forces, said Illia Mashyna, commander of Ukraine’s 431st Separate Unmanned Aircraft Systems Battalion “Brodiahy.”

“The farther you pull back, the more you complicate logistics,” Mashyna emphasized, highlighting the importance of thorough planning and consistent coordination for operational effectiveness.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia’s battlefield progress has decelerated since October, partially due to medium-range strikes but also because of local fortifications and terrain challenges, particularly in the Donbas region.

Russian forces have also encountered communication difficulties since tech billionaire Elon Musk restricted their access to the Starlink satellite internet service.

RUSI’s Bronk explained that Kyiv’s rapid medium-range capability development addressed a critical gap, as Russia pressured Ukraine’s outnumbered and outgunned forces while also effectively employing middle strikes.

Continuous battlefield deployment has accelerated innovation as Ukraine works to strengthen domestic defense production and reduce dependence on foreign supplies.

Direct communication between manufacturers and front-line operators means user feedback gets incorporated into drone systems within days, Kusto reported.

A technical engineer in Kusto’s unit, using the call sign “Symbol,” said some manufacturers now provide platforms that arrive nearly combat-ready, requiring minimal additional programming.

“Previously, middle strike was more of a one-off capability,” he noted in written comments. “Now it’s a systematic part of operations.”

Emil Kastehelmi from the Finland-based Black Bird conflict analysis group said medium-range attacks may not reverse the tide against Russia but present a challenge requiring Russian force adaptation.

“And I don’t think we’ve seen the pinnacle of it yet,” he concluded.

Devastating floods swept through multiple provinces in southern and central China on Tuesday, claiming at least 10 lives as intense rainfall caused widespread disruption to daily life, according to authorities.

Weather officials warned that provinces including Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan were experiencing elevated risks for weather-related catastrophes, such as mudslides, sudden flooding, and severe urban water accumulation.

Emergency response protocols have been activated across multiple impacted regions, officials confirmed.

Residents in Jingzhou, located in central Hubei province, found themselves wading through knee-high floodwaters where fish could be seen swimming through city streets, based on footage shared on the Chinese social media platform Douyin. Vehicles became almost entirely submerged on roadways flanked by homes and businesses.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that six fatalities occurred when a pickup truck transporting 15 people plunged into a flood-swollen river in the southwestern Guangxi region during the heavy downpour on Tuesday.

Additional casualties included three deaths from flash flooding in a low-elevation Hubei village, while one more person perished in southern Hunan province, CCTV stated.

Educational institutions, commercial establishments and transportation networks have been shut down, with officials evacuating residents from certain areas of Hubei and Hunan provinces, state media outlets reported.

The exceptionally broad zone of intense precipitation – covering more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) – resulted from moisture streams converging from the Bay of Bengal, South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Chinese weather experts noted that the weather pattern’s slow movement contributed to the substantial rainfall accumulation.

The National Meteorological Centre indicated that harsh weather conditions would progressively shift eastward and southward over the coming 48 hours. Beginning Wednesday, the most severe rainfall is anticipated along the middle and lower sections of the Yangtze River.

Hainan island in southern China issued geological hazard alerts on Tuesday following a mountainside collapse that blocked a highway in Lingshui, leading authorities to shut down multiple main roads in that section of the island.

Meanwhile, Guangxi officials established temporary housing at 99 locations for over 4,000 residents and moved 7,000 people following a 5.2 magnitude earthquake on Monday that caused tremors throughout several cities in the area.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — For generations, the United Arab Emirates has promoted itself as a secure destination for global commerce amid the turbulent Middle East. Now, conflict has reached this nation’s doorstep, challenging its business-friendly reputation in unprecedented ways.

The UAE, which maintains strong ties with both the United States and Israel, has endured more missile and drone strikes from Iran throughout this conflict than any other nation. These assaults — combined with Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz — have slashed the Emirates’ oil and natural gas exports by more than half. The nation’s tourism and convention industries have also taken significant hits.

Located directly across the Persian Gulf from Iran, the country has projected an image of resilience while implementing major strategic shifts. Officials recently unveiled plans for a new pipeline to decrease dependence on the strait, and the nation withdrew from the OPEC oil cartel to enable long-term increases in energy production — a move that had been considered before the war began.

Though the U.S. and Israel initiated the conflict, the UAE finds itself deeply involved. A drone strike on Sunday targeting its Barakah nuclear power plant highlights ongoing dangers — even with a fragile ceasefire in place.

Thanks to the Emirates’ substantial cash reserves, the war’s economic impact has not yet triggered widespread unemployment or a mass departure of international businesses. However, the longer this standoff continues and disrupts normal operations, the greater the threat to the reputation that has been crucial for attracting global business and investment.

Emirati leadership increasingly labels Iran’s actions as piracy and terrorism, while issuing warnings of potential military response.

The UAE “will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances,” its Foreign Ministry declared Sunday evening. “It reserves its full, sovereign, legitimate, diplomatic, and military rights to respond to any threats, allegations or hostilities.”

The Emirates’ response to the Barakah incident remains unclear. The attack produced no radioactive contamination and has not interrupted operations at the nuclear facility located in Abu Dhabi’s remote western desert.

The UAE consists of seven autocratic sheikhdoms, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. While the Federal Supreme Council, made up of hereditary leaders from all seven emirates, serves as the top governing body, Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family control most major decisions.

According to analysts, the ruling family has pursued increasingly assertive foreign policies in recent decades, including military involvement in Yemen’s conflict against Iranian-supported Houthi rebels. The UAE supported Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, and faces allegations of arms shipments to factions in Sudan and Libya’s civil conflicts, which it disputes.

Sheikh Mohammed, who seldom makes public statements, offered his only brief comments about the war to state media during a March hospital visit with Iranian attack victims.

“The UAE is attractive, the UAE is beautiful, the UAE is a model. But I say to them: do not be misled by the UAE’s appearance,” the sheikh cautioned then. “The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh; we are no easy prey.”

However, the nation has certainly experienced significant hardship.

The Strait of Hormuz blockade has severely limited the UAE’s crude oil and natural gas sales, though some tankers have successfully departed. The country can ship roughly 1.8 million barrels of crude daily via a pipeline to Fujairah, a coastal city with an oil terminal on the Gulf of Oman beyond the strait. The Emirates is accelerating construction of a second pipeline to double this capacity.

The UAE’s tourism and conference sector — representing over 12% of economic output — has suffered severe damage.

Since hostilities began February 28, more than 70 planned events in the UAE have been delayed, cancelled, or otherwise impacted, according to Northbourne Advisory, a Qatar-based communications company monitoring war effects. While the Emirati government imposed no blanket event prohibition, organizers likely altered plans due to “insurance withdrawal and liability exposure,” the firm noted.

On May 4, the national carrier Emirates announced it had restored nearly its complete flight schedule from Dubai International Airport, which has ranked as the world’s busiest for international travel for years. That same day, however, Iran launched multiple drone and missile attacks, triggering mobile phone alerts and frustrating the Emirates’ business community, which seeks a return to normalcy.

The airport appears to be constructing protective barriers around its jet fuel storage, though officials there refused to comment.

Hotels, including Dubai’s distinctive sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, have shut down for renovations as occupancy has dropped to approximately 20%. Moody’s Analytics projects that figure will decline to 10% in the June quarter, compared to 80% before the conflict.

Moody’s cautioned that occupancy levels will likely remain depressed through 2026, as travelers may stay away even after fighting ends.

In a Monday analysis, the Institute of International Finance observed: “Dubai’s openness makes it vulnerable to shocks in travel, logistics, and confidence, while Abu Dhabi’s balance sheet and energy assets give the federation the capacity to absorb the blow.”

Dubai has made particular efforts to demonstrate continued accessibility.

Over the weekend, Dubai held a condensed version of its yearly Art Dubai exhibition. The war’s proximity was evident not only because the show’s preview coincided with Iran’s seizure of a vessel near Fujairah.

One artwork featured a coin-operated black fighter aircraft decorated with pairs of black Nike sneakers.

Spanish artist Solimán López presented a piece exploring his claimed ownership of a metal-rich asteroid targeted by a NASA mission. The work examines how nations and corporations extract oil and other resources.

The conflict complicated his attendance with the artwork, he explained. “But I said I have to do my best, because I do believe that it’s the perfect context to talk about this in the region,” he stated.

Beirut artist Alfred Tarazi mentioned his grandparents survived two world wars.

“Life doesn’t stop in a world war,” he observed. “We can only counter a narrative of violence with culture.”

A violent shooting incident in El Ejido, a city in southern Spain, claimed two lives and left four people wounded during overnight hours, according to police reports released Tuesday.

Authorities have apprehended a suspect in connection with the deadly attack. A Civil Guard police spokesperson confirmed that the two fatalities were family members of the individual believed to be responsible for the shooting, though officials declined to provide additional details about the relationship.

Among those wounded in the incident, two victims are minors under the age of 18, according to El Pais newspaper.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar launched his first international diplomatic mission Tuesday with a two-day journey to Poland, marking a significant step in his campaign to restore his country’s standing within European circles.

The Hungarian leader is scheduled to meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday. Tusk successfully guided a Europe-friendly coalition into power in Poland during 2023, repairing damaged relationships with Brussels and releasing billions in previously withheld funding that had been suspended due to rule of law issues.

Magyar hopes to achieve similar success following his decisive electoral triumph over nationalist Viktor Orban in April. Tusk characterized Magyar’s victory as a defeat for authoritarian governance and evidence of Central European politics moving away from anti-European nationalism.

The relationship between Warsaw and Budapest had soured significantly as Tusk and Orban feuded over Hungary’s confrontational stance regarding Ukraine and its friendly ties with Russia.

According to a Polish government official, this visit serves primarily as a symbolic fresh start following a period of essentially halted communication, designed to restart conversations about European matters and Ukraine.

“It is very clear that they want to restore relations with Poland to a very good level,” the official added. “These are, I would say, gestures showing a return to the best traditions of strong bilateral ties.”

Magyar’s itinerary will span Poland from Krakow in the southern region to the capital Warsaw, concluding in the Baltic coastal city of Gdansk.

On Monday, Magyar announced his intention to travel by rail to Warsaw Tuesday evening using “a high-speed rail line built with EU funding – by the ‘evil Brussels’,” referencing Orban’s anti-EU rhetoric.

He explained that his choice to experience Poland’s railway system reflects his goal of eventually establishing a high-speed connection between Warsaw and Budapest.

Magyar’s delegation includes several key ministers: Foreign Minister Anita Orban, Economy and Energy Minister Istvan Kapitany, Transport and Investment Minister David Vitezy, and Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi.

“The areas of responsibility of the participating ministers naturally shape the direction of the talks,” Magyar said.

Energy cooperation will feature prominently in the discussions, as Magyar has committed to eliminating Hungary’s reliance on Russian energy sources by 2035.

“This is a priority issue for both countries, with the oil crisis being a major challenge,” Magyar said.

Warsaw intends to propose that Budapest gain access to American LNG through a new Gdansk facility scheduled to begin operations in 2028, according to a knowledgeable source. Orlen has previously supplied American LNG to Ukraine.

Polish officials indicated that discussions will also cover Ukraine support and the future structure of cooperation within the Visegrad group of central European countries.

Hungary’s administration seeks Poland’s support in negotiations to release frozen EU funding, given both nations faced comparable rule-of-law disagreements.

“The decision has not yet been taken and will clearly be political as well as procedural, which is why this backing is crucial for Budapest,” said Wojciech Przybylski of the Visegrad Insight think-tank.

Hungary’s newly elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar embarked Tuesday on his inaugural international journey to Poland, seeking insights from a longtime partner nation whose recent democratic transition offers valuable guidance for reversing years of authoritarian governance.

Magyar, leading the center-right Tisza party that toppled far-right leader Viktor Orbán and his nationalist-populist Fidesz movement in last month’s stunning electoral upset, has promised to tear down the autocratic framework his predecessor constructed over 16 years in office.

This development has sparked optimism throughout Europe and invited parallels to Poland’s 2023 electoral outcome, where Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s center-right alliance ousted the national-conservative Law and Justice party following eight years of rule.

Similar to Magyar’s approach, Tusk acted swiftly to rebuild democratic structures weakened under the former administration, focusing on judicial reform and public broadcasting while pursuing accountability for officials accused of power misuse.

Magyar’s itinerary includes a flight to Krakow in southern Poland on Tuesday, followed by rail travel to Warsaw and then to the Baltic coastal city of Gdansk.

Following his May 9 inauguration, Magyar publicly demanded the resignation or removal of numerous Orbán appointees through constitutional amendment — authority he possesses after Tisza secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

Magyar has specifically challenged Hungary’s President Tamás Sulyok, despite the position being largely ceremonial with limited constitutional authority, along with the nation’s attorney general and leaders of both constitutional and supreme courts — officials he has condemned as “Orbán’s puppets.”

Andrzej Sadecki, a researcher with the Center for Eastern Studies in Warsaw, explained to The Associated Press that Magyar’s primary obstacle remains that “some key state institutions are still in the hands of people nominated by Fidesz.”

However, unlike Poland’s situation, “the situation is much easier for Magyar because he has a constitutional majority. This makes it much easier for him to introduce deep changes,” Sadecki noted.

While Tusk assumed leadership through coalition-building in Poland’s 2023 contest, Magyar’s Tisza captured 53% of votes, achieving greater electoral support and parliamentary representation than any party in Hungary’s post-Communist era.

“It’s not just a change of government, it’s a watershed moment,” Sadecki observed.

Orbán’s administration featured an extensive media network that functioned as a devoted propaganda arm for Fidesz while attacking, undermining and harassing political adversaries.

Following his electoral triumph, Magyar condemned public broadcasting under Orbán as “a factory of lies,” announcing his administration would halt their news operations until “the conditions for objectivity are restored.”

This strategy echoes actions by Tusk’s administration, which overhauled state television’s evening programming within a month of assuming power. Poland’s new leadership justified replacing state media executives based on government ownership of public broadcasting.

The process attracted criticism from some liberal organizations, with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Warsaw stating that “the manner of initiating changes in public media raises serious legal doubts.”

Nevertheless, József Péter Martin, executive director of Transparency International Hungary, argued that the extent of Hungary’s public media failures means “it should be rebuilt, and it can be done within the framework of the rule of law.”

Throughout its tenure, Poland’s Law and Justice party strengthened judicial control by placing loyalist judges in senior positions and disciplining critics through punitive measures.

The party also positioned enough sympathetic justices on the Constitutional Tribunal to obstruct unfavorable legislation through constitutional challenges. Tusk administration attempts to reverse these changes have faced repeated opposition from two consecutive Law and Justice-aligned Polish presidents.

While some progress occurred in certain areas, Poland has not fully restored judicial independence, and Magyar’s government may encounter similar obstacles.

Despite Magyar’s resignation demands, President Tamás Sulyok — an Orbán supporter whose term continues until 2029 — has signaled no intention to leave office.

Additionally, Hungary’s Constitutional Court chief, Péter Polt, widely considered a Fidesz loyalist, will serve until 2037.

Although many Hungarian judges and prosecutors perform their responsibilities properly, judicial leadership — including constitutional and supreme court heads — requires replacement to restore public confidence and neutrality, Martin of Transparency International Hungary stated.

And “not with (Magyar’s) Tisza loyalists, because then we would go from one problem to the other, but with someone who has full integrity and devotion to the Hungarian constitution and to the public interest, and not to the interest of the former autocratic regime,” Martin emphasized.

Even without completely restoring judicial independence, Polish prosecutors have launched investigations and pursued cases against former Law and Justice officials accused of exploiting their positions for political advantage.

In October, Polish prosecutors announced intentions to charge former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro with redirecting funds from a Justice Ministry program for violence victims toward personal and political purposes.

Ziobro’s prosecution stalled when he declared in January that Orbán’s Hungary had granted him asylum. Since Magyar’s electoral victory, Ziobro has relocated to the United States, with Polish officials working to secure his return.

Many of the nearly 3.4 million Hungarians who supported Tisza anticipate the new administration will pursue accountability for Orbán and his political and business associates.

Magyar has committed to establishing the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, an agency responsible for investigating and recovering public funds allegedly misappropriated during Orbán’s leadership.

According to Martin, rebuilding rule of law and judicial independence would represent “the initial and most essential step” toward ensuring prosecution of past misconduct.

Hungary’s participation in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which Magyar has pledged to pursue, would advance this goal, he added.

“If all this is done, then I think there is a good chance that the corrupt perpetrators of the former regime, under an independent judiciary, can be held accountable,” he concluded.

SEOUL, South Korea — Two Asian leaders are making history Tuesday as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to his hometown for an unprecedented diplomatic gathering between the neighboring nations.

The meeting in Andong, a city in southeastern South Korea known for its ancient folk village recognized by UNESCO, represents the fourth encounter between Lee and Takaichi in approximately half a year. This follows their January meeting in Takaichi’s home city of Nara, marking the first occasions where sitting leaders from both countries have conducted official visits to each other’s birthplaces.

Officials from South Korea’s presidential office have indicated their hopes that Tuesday’s discussions will build stronger mutual confidence between the two leaders. Speaking to media Tuesday morning, Takaichi expressed her desire for the conversations to enhance collaboration “under the severe geopolitical conditions such as situations in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.”

The formal discussion topics will cover economic partnerships, energy collaboration, the Iran war, and advancing their bilateral relationship, which currently faces no major obstacles. Political analysts predict the session will proceed without significant friction and that positive momentum between the nations will continue.

“The two countries put more emphasis on agenda for cooperation than contentious issues,” explained Choi Eunmi, a Japan expert at the Seoul-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies. “They would now think scenes of constantly fluctuating relationship or eventually negative bilateral ties won’t be helpful to anyone now.”

While both South Korea and Japan serve as important U.S. partners with strong democratic systems, their diplomatic history has been marked by significant tensions rooted in Japan’s 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula that ended with World War II.

A turning point came in 2023 when the previous leaders from both nations decided to move past historical disagreements and focus on shared concerns including U.S.-China tensions, supply chain issues, and North Korea’s growing nuclear capabilities.

When Lee and Takaichi assumed their leadership roles last year, some experts expressed concern about Takaichi’s conservative security stance and expectations that Lee, known for his liberal politics, might favor closer ties with North Korea and China over relationships with the U.S. and Japan. However, both leaders have sustained their cooperative approach in remarkable ways.

In August, before Takaichi officially took office, Lee made Japan his first choice for a bilateral summit destination, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so. Their January meeting concluded with an unusual moment where both leaders played drums to popular Korean music including BTS’ “Dynamite,” an activity suggested by Takaichi, who played drums during her university years and enjoys heavy metal music.

Lee has stated that he and Takaichi both believe national leaders should conduct themselves differently than typical politicians. Many observers suggest the leaders also recognize the importance of closer cooperation given more serious global challenges than their predecessors faced, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s America-first policies and worldwide economic impacts from the Iran war.

Both countries have committed substantial investments in U.S. business ventures totaling hundreds of billions of dollars. Trump’s trade policies and his business-focused approach to security arrangements have created uncertainty about American reliability among citizens in both South Korea and Japan.

The Seoul-Tokyo relationship remains fragile and could face unexpected difficulties if leaders fail to develop strategies for sensitive historical matters including Japan’s wartime use of Koreans as forced workers and sex slaves, according to experts who note that disputes over these topics have diminished as both governments avoid public debates.

“Both countries aren’t talking about how to resolve and prevent recurrences of conflicts over those issues and we don’t know when they could occur again,” Choi said.

WASHINGTON — Following military operations in Venezuela earlier this year that resulted in President Nicolás Maduro’s detention, the United States has intensified its pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist government.

Federal prosecutors are moving forward with plans to pursue criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Such an indictment would require grand jury approval and could significantly worsen relations with Havana.

This development occurs during a period of escalating friction between President Donald Trump’s administration and Cuban officials this year. Simultaneously, the United States maintains an unstable ceasefire in its conflict with Iran.

The following details chronicle the year’s key events between the two nations:

Following the Venezuelan operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Cuba’s government was “in a lot of trouble,” while the president renewed his push for American control of Greenland, the Danish territory.

Trump issued a stern warning to Cuban leadership as Venezuela’s close partner prepared for possible domestic upheaval following Maduro’s removal. Trump urged the Cuban government “to make a deal BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel fired back, stating, “Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba in any way, absolutely in any way.”

Trump enacted an executive order establishing tariffs on goods from nations that sell or supply oil to Cuba, a measure that could further devastate the island’s economy.

One day prior to the Iranian conflict’s start, Trump revealed the United States was engaged in discussions with Havana and mentioned the potential for a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” without providing specifics.

Trump indicated Rubio was conducting negotiations with Cuban officials “at a very high level.”

While Trump did not elaborate on his statements, he appeared to suggest that relations with Cuba, one of Washington’s most enduring foes for generations, had reached a pivotal moment.

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Castro’s grandson nicknamed “Raúlito,” conducted a private meeting with Rubio during a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February.

Díaz-Canel acknowledged that Cuba and the United States conducted negotiations, representing the first official confirmation from the Caribbean nation regarding widely reported discussions with the Trump administration during an energy shortage.

He explained the negotiations “were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations. International factors facilitated these exchanges.”

A sanctioned Russian petroleum vessel reached Cuba, marking the first fuel delivery to the island in three months.

Díaz-Canel declared he would not resign from office.

During an interview, Díaz-Canel stated he would not step down and argued the United States lacks justification for military action against the island or attempts to remove him from power.

In his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the president warned that a Cuban invasion would be expensive and threaten regional stability.

Díaz-Canel addressed a gathering of hundreds during a commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution’s socialist declaration.

“The moment is extremely challenging and calls upon us once again, as on April 16, 1961, to be ready to confront serious threats, including military aggression. We do not want it, but it is our duty to prepare to avoid it and, if it becomes inevitable, to defeat it,” Díaz-Canel declared.

Reports surfaced that an American delegation recently conducted meetings with Cuban government representatives, signaling renewed diplomatic efforts. This represented at least the third encounter with Rodríguez Castro.

A high-ranking State Department representative met with Rodríguez Castro earlier that month, according to a department official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

The official declined to identify which American representatives met with Rodríguez Castro, whose grandfather reportedly maintains significant influence in Cuban governance despite lacking an official position. A second U.S. official confirmed Rubio was not among the delegation that traveled to Havana.

A Cuban representative speaking at the United Nations declared Havana would not comply with American “ultimatums” to free political prisoners during new negotiations.

In an Associated Press interview, Cuban U.N. Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán stated that domestic matters concerning detainees “are not on the negotiating table.” Prisoner releases represented a primary U.S. condition as the long-standing rivals conducted their first discussions in Cuba in ten years.

Senate Republicans blocked Democratic legislation that would have mandated Trump end the U.S. energy embargo on Cuba without Congressional authorization.

The war powers resolution vote demonstrated continued Republican support for Trump as he unilaterally exercises American military power across multiple global conflicts, including Venezuela, Iran and Cuba — among America’s nearest neighbors.

U.S. officials indicate the United States was not considering immediate military intervention against Havana despite Trump’s repeated warnings that “Cuba is next” and suggestions that American naval forces deployed in the Middle East for the Iranian conflict might return via the island.

Officials participating in initial discussions with Cuban authorities also informed the AP they remain pessimistic about the communist government accepting an offer including tens of millions in humanitarian assistance, two years of complimentary Starlink internet service for all Cubans, agricultural aid and infrastructure support.

However, they note Cuba has not definitively rejected the proposal, which includes conditions the government has historically opposed, even after the Trump administration implemented additional sanctions on Havana.

Both U.S. and Cuban officials confirmed CIA Director John Ratcliffe conducted meetings with Cuban representatives including Raúl Castro’s grandson during a significant visit to the island.

Ratcliffe met with Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and Cuba’s intelligence chief, discussing intelligence collaboration, economic stability and security matters. A CIA official verified the meetings to the AP.

The Justice Department is moving to pursue an indictment against Castro, three sources familiar with the situation informed the AP.

One source indicated the potential charges relate to Castro’s suspected involvement in the 1996 downing of four aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile organization Brothers to the Rescue. Castro served as defense minister during that period.

All three sources requested anonymity because they lacked authorization to discuss an active investigation. Cuban government officials did not respond to requests for comment regarding the potential indictment, which CBS previously reported.

Taiwan’s top government official has accused China of destabilizing the region through its continuous military operations, as Beijing announced the deployment of naval forces to the Western Pacific for training exercises.

Premier Cho Jung-tai made the remarks Tuesday during a media briefing in Taipei, pointing to China’s persistent military activities as a major threat to regional stability. China considers the democratically-run island nation to be part of its territory and has increased both military and diplomatic pressure while refusing dialogue requests from President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing calls a “separatist.”

The Premier’s comments came one day before the second anniversary of Lai’s inauguration. Cho highlighted his concerns about Beijing’s military posture in the region.

“The People’s Republic of China continues to conduct military exercises of various scales and types in the Taiwan Strait region, the Indo-Pacific region, the South China Sea, and even around Japan, affecting navigational safety,” he said.

“This is the greatest source of regional unease and instability.”

Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not provided a response to requests for comment regarding Cho’s statements.

On the same day, China’s military announced that a naval carrier group headed by the Liaoning had been dispatched to unspecified “relevant waters” in the Western Pacific region. Chinese forces conduct operations near Taiwan on an almost daily basis.

According to a military statement, the vessels will conduct live ammunition exercises and additional training maneuvers designed to “test and enhance the realistic combat training capabilities of the forces.”

“This is a routine training organised in accordance with the annual plan, which aims to enhance the military’s capability to fulfil its missions, and is fully in compliance with international law and practice.”

The Premier restated Taiwan’s position as a “sovereign and independent country” using its official designation, the Republic of China, while renewing appeals for diplomatic engagement.

“We still hope for healthy and orderly exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and for dialogue based on equality and dignity. This has been our consistent principle.”

President Lai is scheduled to conduct a press conference Wednesday morning to commemorate his second year in office. According to his administration, the President will present his “future national vision and policy direction” during the anniversary event.

Domestically, Lai confronts significant obstacles as opposition parties control the majority of parliamentary seats, using their advantage to block government initiatives, particularly defense funding, while advancing their own legislative agenda.

Parliamentary opposition members attempted to impeach Lai on Tuesday, but the effort was unsuccessful. The vote was largely ceremonial since it required support from two-thirds of legislators, and the opposition lacks sufficient numbers to reach that threshold.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will welcome Vladimir Putin for a two-day visit this week, coming just days after Donald Trump’s high-profile trip to Beijing. The timing underscores China’s strategy to present itself as a reliable and steady force on the world stage amid global trade disputes, ongoing conflicts, and energy market disruptions.

Both China and Russia are characterizing Putin’s upcoming visit — marking his 25th trip to the country — as additional proof of their enduring partnership, despite Western nations calling on Beijing to use its influence to pressure Moscow regarding the Ukraine conflict.

China maintains it serves as a neutral mediator in the Ukraine situation, while Putin emphasizes that both nations back each other’s fundamental interests as he seeks new energy agreements with the world’s second-largest economy while facing Western sanctions.

“The Xi-Putin summit will telegraph to the world that the China-Russia strategic partnership remains the cornerstone of both countries’ foreign policies and that any attempt by the U.S. to drive a wedge between them is destined to fail,” said Ian Storey, principal fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

Putin’s arrival follows Trump’s recent visit, which produced positive imagery but yielded limited major commercial deals. Xi characterized U.S.-China relations as having “strategic stability,” contrasting with the “strategic competition” approach linked to former U.S. President Joe Biden.

Through these diplomatic meetings, China aims to bolster its reputation as a source of global stability, particularly as the U.S. faces challenges in resolving the Ukraine war and managing a separate conflict involving Iran that has affected worldwide energy supplies.

During such official visits, Beijing works to calm concerns among Western trade partners, including the U.S., regarding its growing economic and technological influence while minimizing perceived risks in these relationships.

The White House reported after Trump’s China visit that both sides reached agreement on matters that would improve “stability” for international businesses and consumers.

Meanwhile, China’s continued engagement with nations like Russia reinforces Beijing’s position that its foreign policy remains steady and uninfluenced by partner actions, regardless of Western pressure.

“It’s unrealistic to expect Xi to put pressure on Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Xi doesn’t wield that kind of influence over Putin and in any case the Chinese understand how a defeat for Russia in Ukraine would weaken Putin’s political standing,” said Storey.

“As such, Beijing will continue to provide Moscow with diplomatic cover at the U.N., economic assistance and dual-use technologies for Russia’s armed forces,” he said.

China maintains it has never supplied lethal weapons to either side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and strictly regulates exports of dual-use materials.

“During the visit, the two heads of state will exchange views on cooperation across all areas of bilateral relations, as well as on international and regional issues of mutual concern,” Guo Jiakun, spokesperson at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a regular news conference on Monday.

Energy cooperation remains a key focus, particularly regarding the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline that both countries agreed to develop during Putin’s September 2025 visit, though pricing terms remain unresolved.

Current energy supply disruptions related to the Iran conflict may strengthen Russia’s argument for the pipeline as a reliable long-term gas source. However, Beijing is expected to maintain its supply diversification approach by pursuing agreements with both Turkmenistan and Russia, according to a Beijing-based industry expert.

China might reach a general agreement with Russia covering annual supply amounts and terms like delivery flexibility and seasonal variations, while keeping pricing negotiations open-ended, said the source, who requested anonymity due to the topic’s sensitivity.

Pricing discussions could extend for years.

Xi announced plans in 2014 for a fourth pipeline connecting Turkmenistan’s massive Galkynysh gas field to northwest China, but the project remains incomplete due to pricing disagreements and complications involving Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, through which the pipeline would pass.

China continues as Russia’s top oil purchaser, buying both pipeline deliveries and seaborne shipments.

Despite Western sanctions targeting Russian oil exports, Chinese independent refiners maintain regular purchases, with payments processed primarily in Chinese yuan. State-owned oil refiners also recently restarted buying following a temporary U.S. sanction waiver.

Russia committed in 2025 to provide China with an extra 2.5 million metric tons of oil annually through Kazakhstan.

“In principle, we have reached a high degree of consensus regarding the taking of a serious — indeed, very substantial — step forward in our cooperation within the oil and gas sectors,” Putin told reporters on May 9.

“If we succeed in finalising them and bringing them to a conclusion during the visit, I will be very pleased.”

Early Tuesday morning brought fresh exchanges of aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow’s forces targeting a crucial Ukrainian port while Kyiv launched drone strikes toward the Russian capital.

Russian air strikes hit Izmail, Ukraine’s most significant port city along the Danube River, causing damage to harbor facilities in the predawn hours. This strategic location has been repeatedly targeted throughout the conflict.

Local Ukrainian authorities reported on Telegram that harbor infrastructure sustained damage during the assault. “Port infrastructure facilities in the city of Izmail were damaged,” officials stated, while noting that defense systems successfully intercepted nearly all incoming weapons. “Fortunately, there were no casualties or significant destruction.”

Images shared on social media platforms showed firefighters working to extinguish blazes at a structure with shattered windows from the attack’s impact.

In northeastern Ukraine, rescue operations continued in Kharkiv following a separate Russian drone strike. Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed via Telegram that emergency teams had pulled two individuals from debris, though one person remained potentially trapped beneath the rubble.

The conflict, which started with Russia’s 2022 invasion, continues with both nations trading accusations of strikes against military installations, civilian areas, and power facilities. Each country maintains it does not intentionally target non-combatants.

On the Russian side, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that air defense systems had intercepted four Ukrainian drones approaching the capital. He confirmed emergency response teams were deployed but offered no additional information about potential damage.

This latest drone activity follows intensive Ukrainian aerial operations against Moscow over the weekend, which prompted Russian retaliation strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Dnipro using both missiles and drones. Those attacks damaged apartment buildings and wounded numerous civilians.

Violence also erupted in Russia’s Kursk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Regional emergency coordination centers reported that a woman died and two others suffered injuries during a Ukrainian attack Monday evening.

Additional Russian territories faced drone threats, including the southern Rostov region and Yaroslavl, located northeast of Moscow. In Yaroslavl, where significant oil processing facilities operate, Governor Mikhail Yevrayev issued warnings to motorists traveling toward Moscow about ongoing drone attack risks.

Ukraine’s strategy appears focused on disrupting Russian energy income streams. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted on X during overnight hours that Russian oil processing capabilities had declined by 10% in recent months, with multiple drilling operations forced to cease production.

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has, of course, built a war chest – but certainly not enough to fight indefinitely,” Zelenskiy stated.

A powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 6 hit the Vanuatu islands on Tuesday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).

The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), GFZ reported.

A powerful earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked southern China’s Guangxi region in the early hours of Monday morning, claiming two lives and forcing mass evacuations, according to government media outlets.

The tremor left four additional people with injuries and prompted officials to evacuate more than 7,000 people from Liuzhou city as a safety precaution.

Rescue operations to locate missing residents concluded by noon on Monday when crews successfully recovered the final trapped individual, a 91-year-old man who was discovered in stable health, local officials reported.

Footage broadcast by the government television network CCTV depicted heavy machinery working to remove rubble from the disaster zone. The earthquake brought down no fewer than 13 structures and caused hillside collapses that cut off road access to the affected region, CCTV documented.

Railway operations in the Liuzhou area faced cancellations and scheduling disruptions due to the seismic activity.

While southern China experiences periodic seismic events, the most powerful tremors typically occur in the western mountain regions or eastern areas near Taiwan. The region’s most catastrophic recent earthquake registered 7.9 magnitude and devastated southwestern Sichuan province in 2008, resulting in over 87,000 casualties and disappearances.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country and China stand ready to provide mutual support across numerous issues, particularly regarding sovereignty protection and national unity, during a video message delivered before his scheduled visit to China beginning Tuesday.

Putin described the relationship between the two nations as having achieved an ‘unprecedented level’ of trust and mutual understanding as he prepares for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for Wednesday.

The two nations are prepared to work together based on principles of mutual benefit and equality and “to support each other on issues affecting the core interests of the two countries, including the protection of sovereignty and national unity,” Putin stated. He offered no additional specifics about these arrangements.

According to Putin, both countries are actively broadening their cooperation across economic, political and defense sectors, noting that the “close” and “strategic” partnership between Moscow and Beijing serves “a stabilizing role” in international affairs.

“We are not aligning against anyone, but working for the cause of peace and universal prosperity,” Putin declared.

Australia’s central bank officials are expressing concern that escalating energy expenses could rapidly drive consumer prices higher, given the current strained condition of the nation’s economy, potentially triggering a major change in how people view future inflation.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s assistant governor, Sarah Hunter, explained during prepared remarks on Tuesday that this concern contributed to the central bank’s decision to increase interest rates for the third time this year to 4.35% this month, completely undoing the policy easing implemented in 2025.

“The recent rise in oil prices is particularly challenging to navigate. Higher oil prices mean higher costs and higher consumer prices in the near term – that is a given,” Hunter stated during her address to the Bloomberg Forum for Investment Managers.

“But this shock has come against a backdrop of elevated capacity constraints and domestic cost pressures… our research suggests pass-through will be faster and more extensive, and the risk of inflation expectations drifting higher is elevated,” she continued.

Hunter observed that several companies have already implemented higher fuel surcharges while some construction firms are reconsidering pricing for upcoming contracts.

Major uncertainties persist, she noted. Oil prices might remain high for an extended period and the Iran war could result in broader and more lasting supply chain disruptions that would contribute to inflation. Brent crude futures reached two-week peaks on Monday, trading beyond $110 per barrel, while the Strait of Hormuz stayed closed.

Nevertheless, inflation could be reduced if consumers decrease spending and companies pull back on investments more dramatically than anticipated, she indicated.

CARACAS, Venezuela — College students and other protesters took to the streets of Venezuela’s capital Monday, mourning an elderly woman who passed away over the weekend shortly after discovering her son had died while in government detention nine months prior.

The group of several dozen demonstrators, primarily university students, temporarily shut down a major roadway in Caracas while holding Venezuela’s administration responsible for the deaths of both Víctor Hugo Quero, a detainee whose imprisonment was viewed as politically driven, and his mother Carmen Navas, age 82. The protesters displayed a large photograph of Navas while voicing their demands.

“What it stirs up in Venezuelans, in the Venezuelan youth, is rage, man,” student leader Miguel Ángel Suárez said of the deaths.

Navas passed away just 10 days after the country’s prison authorities released a public announcement revealing that Quero had died in July following hospitalization during his incarceration. Officials had concealed this information while Navas spent months searching detention facilities, legal offices and government buildings demanding evidence her son was alive, after his arrest in January 2025.

According to the official government report, the 51-year-old salesperson died from “acute respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary thromboembolism” 10 days following his hospital admission for digestive problems. Authorities claimed they never contacted his family members because he had not supplied emergency contact details.

Human rights advocates, opposition political figures and families of other political detainees immediately condemned the circumstances surrounding both deaths.

“They didn’t die; they were killed!” demonstrators chanted Monday. “Justice for Carmen!”

According to the Venezuelan prisoners’ rights organization Foro Penal, more than 400 individuals remain imprisoned throughout the nation on political grounds.

President Trump announced Monday that he has called off a scheduled military strike against Iran following appeals from Gulf region leaders who believe diplomatic negotiations can still succeed.

In a post on Truth Social, the president revealed that a military operation set for Tuesday has been postponed after leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE asked him to give talks more time.

“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond,” the president wrote.

“This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!” he added.

The president said he has directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and military leadership to cancel the strike while keeping forces ready if diplomatic efforts collapse.

“We will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” President Trump wrote.

Earlier Monday, Reuters reported that Pakistan delivered a new Iranian proposal to Washington. According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the proposal centered on ending the conflict and included American “confidence-building measures,” though it reportedly did not address US concerns about uranium enrichment and Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

A senior US official speaking to Israel’s Channel 12 News indicated that diplomatic progress has been minimal.

“We have not achieved much progress,” the official said, describing the situation as “very serious.”

“If that does not happen, we will conduct this discussion through bombs,” the official added.

Tehran has delivered an updated 14-point peace proposal to Washington through Pakistani intermediaries, according to reports from Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency on Monday. The development comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations as both the United States and Israel make preparations for potential renewed military action.

According to the news agency, Iranian officials modified their original proposal following receipt of a recent American counterproposal. The updated framework emphasizes negotiations to halt the conflict and includes measures aimed at building trust between Washington and Tehran.

A source with knowledge of Iran’s negotiating team told Tasnim that Washington’s most recent proposal includes an agreement to suspend oil sanctions against Iran during the negotiation phase. This represents a change from previous American proposals, though Tehran continues to demand the complete elimination of all sanctions as part of any final agreement.

President Trump issued a stern warning on Sunday, stating that time is running out for Tehran to reach an accord. “The clock is ticking,” he declared, adding “there won’t be anything left of them” if negotiations fail.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed Monday that the United States had transmitted updated terms and considerations to Tehran via Pakistan, despite publicly dismissing Iran’s initial proposal.

“After Iran sent its 14-point (proposed) plan (to the United States through Pakistan), the US side conveyed its considerations. We also presented our considerations in return,” Baghaei explained.

Speaking at his weekly news briefing, Baghaei noted the apparent contradiction in American diplomacy. “Although the American side publicly announced that this plan was rejected, we received from the Pakistani mediator a set of revised points and considerations from their (the Americans’) point of view,” he stated.

Baghaei emphasized that diplomatic talks continue while reaffirming Iran’s unwillingness to abandon what it characterizes as its sovereign right to enrich uranium.

President Trump has demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment activities and has stated that any final agreement must block Tehran’s path to nuclear weapons development.

Earlier draft agreements that President Trump reportedly declined would have permitted Iran to maintain its current stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium and continue enrichment operations. While Iran maintains it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, it continues enriching uranium to levels that serve no civilian purpose.

Baghaei also addressed maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran and Oman view themselves as responsible for maintaining safe passage through the strategic waterway. He further suggested that Iran would seek war damages from the United States, characterizing the conflict as “illegal and baseless.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Mohamed Hagi as Somaliland’s inaugural ambassador to Israel during a diplomatic ceremony held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on May 18, 2026.

The historic credential presentation coincided with the 35th anniversary of Somaliland’s declaration of independence from Somalia on May 18, 1991. Israel became the first nation to officially recognize Somaliland on December 26, 2025.

During the same ceremony, Herzog also accepted credentials from new ambassadors representing the Republic of Korea (Park Inho), the Holy See (Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Giorgio Lingua), Australia (Neil Hawkins), and Vietnam (Nguyen Ky Son).

Herzog characterized Hagi’s appointment as part of Israel’s broader initiative to enhance relationships with African countries and referenced his previous encounter with Somaliland’s president in Davos.

“It’s a great honor to receive the first ambassador of the Republic of Somaliland in Israel as we further pursue our warm and good relations with the nations of Africa. I especially want to welcome you after I met your President in Davos, where we had a wonderful meeting,” Herzog stated.

The Israeli president characterized Somaliland’s response to Israel’s recognition as emotionally powerful.

“The incredible joy of the people of Somaliland shown upon Israel’s recognition of your nation warmed our hearts. I think this is a unique opportunity to develop dialogue with … Muslim countries who are so important in the region.”

Herzog indicated Israel plans to provide support in areas including food security, energy, and science, stating: “Hopefully, we will go from strength to strength together.”

Hagi characterized the Israel-Somaliland partnership as extending beyond standard diplomatic relations, calling it strategic cooperation.

“It’s an honor to be here today. We have built a great relationship, which is a strategic one that will pave the way forward on many things in all domains, whether that is development, political cooperation, security cooperation, and, of course, the people-to-people relationship,” Hagi stated.

“The people of Somaliland very much appreciate that Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland,” he concluded.

Israeli military authorities have implemented a controversial law that establishes capital punishment as the standard sentence for Palestinians found guilty of terror-related murders targeting Israelis. The measure became official Sunday evening when Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, who leads the Israel Defense Forces Central Command, signed the necessary military directive.

The Knesset approved this legislation on March 30, 2026, establishing death sentences as the presumed punishment for Palestinians convicted of terrorism-motivated killings of Israelis. Judges may only substitute life imprisonment when they find exceptional circumstances warrant an alternative sentence.

The new rules allow military tribunals to order executions with just a simple majority rather than requiring complete agreement among judges. Additionally, the law eliminates any power to grant pardons or reduce sentences handed down by military courts.

Israeli citizens are exempt from this legislation’s provisions.

Since the Knesset’s approval, the law has faced substantial legal and global criticism. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel joined with additional human rights groups in filing Supreme Court petitions challenging the measure, contending it creates discriminatory practices.

Israel’s Supreme Court has directed government officials to provide responses to these legal challenges by May 24.

Those filing petitions highlighted specific language in the law requiring that attackers must have acted to “negate the existence of the State of Israel or the authority of the military commander in the area.” Opposition voices maintain this criterion would disproportionately target Palestinian perpetrators.

Some observers suggest that proving intent to “negate the existence of the State of Israel” or undermine military authority may prove challenging, potentially resulting in life sentences rather than executions for many accused individuals.

International bodies have also voiced strong opposition. The United Nations Human Rights Office along with multiple independent UN specialists have denounced the measure, stating it creates discriminatory death penalty practices and breaches international standards for fair legal proceedings.

National Security Minister Ben Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the law’s implementation.

“This is a clear and sharp change of policy after the October 7 [2023] massacre: A terrorist who murders Jews can no longer rely on [prisoner exchange] deals, [good prison] conditions, or the hope to be released in the future,” Defense Minister Israel Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in a joint statement.

“Whoever chooses murderous terrorism against Jews needs to know that the State of Israel will bring him to justice all the way.”

Katz added: “Terrorists who murder Jews will not sit in prison in pleasant conditions, will not wait for [prisoner exchange deals] and will not dream of release — they will pay the heaviest price.”