Blog

A 38-year-old man has died following a shark attack off Australia’s western coastline on Saturday, marking the nation’s second deadly shark encounter this year, according to law enforcement officials.

The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, suffered the attack Saturday morning at Horseshoe Reef near Rottnest Island, located approximately 31 kilometers (19.2 miles) west of Perth, authorities reported.

Emergency responders transported the injured man to shore, but medical personnel were unable to save his life, police confirmed. Officials stated that a coroner’s report will be compiled regarding the incident.

Local government officials have issued warnings urging beachgoers to exercise heightened vigilance while in waters around Rottnest Island, a well-known vacation spot.

Video captured by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from above showed law enforcement vessels, officers on scene, and an emergency helicopter equipped with medical stretcher equipment responding to the location.

This latest incident comes after a young boy lost his life in January when a shark attacked him in Sydney Harbour, following multiple shark encounters reported along Australia’s eastern coastline.

Data from Australia’s Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that the majority of shark attacks happen along the nation’s eastern and southeastern shores, with the country recording approximately 20 such incidents annually.

MADRID (AP) — Gone are the elaborate party spreads, festive decorations, and collective excitement over which performer’s extravagant act will claim victory.

For the first time in seven years, Silvia Díaz is skipping her traditional Eurovision Song Contest viewing party this Saturday evening. The annual celebration was canceled after the country’s public television network pulled out of the competition, objecting to Israel’s inclusion due to its military conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Díaz plans to stream it on YouTube instead, but only if her schedule permits.

“It’s not the same watching it alone at home as it is with friends. That’s the only thing that upsets me.”

The five-day musical competition attracted 166 million viewers last year — significantly exceeding Super Bowl audience numbers in the United States. While the country hasn’t claimed victory since 1969, the annual event typically generates months of media coverage, bringing families and friends together at homes and bars, with their representative’s performance making front-page news the following day. Citizens attending the event proudly display their national flag, dress in red attire, or occasionally sport bullfighter outfits.

The boycott was announced in December following the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to permit Israel’s participation, with Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland also joining the protest. Many fans support this principled stand despite the disappointment of missing their cherished tradition.

The public broadcaster has consistently voiced opposition to Israel’s involvement. During last year’s semifinals, RTVE’s commentators mentioned Israel’s performer while simultaneously referencing Palestinian casualties from the conflict. Prior to broadcasting the final show, the network displayed “Peace and justice for Palestine” on black screens across hundreds of thousands of television sets throughout the country.

While Eurovision finals proceed in Vienna, RTVE will broadcast a special celebrating the network’s musical heritage, featuring Tony Grox and Lucycalys, the artists originally selected to represent the nation at Eurovision.

Ireland’s public broadcaster will show a documentary about rural Irish life. Slovenian viewers will see an installment of a 10-part series about Palestinians. While audiences can still access Eurovision through the European Broadcasting Union’s YouTube channel, the absence of their own country’s performer or commentary significantly diminishes the passionate atmosphere.

Israel has participated for five decades and secured four victories. Citizens gather at bars to watch and show strong enthusiasm for their country’s involvement, viewing it as validation of international acceptance and normalcy. Each year’s representative becomes a household name, and strong performances — even without winning — generate national pride.

Eurovision enthusiasts are split on this year’s boycott decision.

For Rebeca Carril, who enjoys watching archived performances from the 1960s and 1970s before her birth, the breaking point came several years ago with increased Israeli sponsorship. She refused to support their promotional activities by watching.

“I have Palestinian friends and I began to understand a little better how things worked,” said Carril, a 42-year-old marketing executive in Madrid.

Others, like Guillermina Bastida, believe music and politics should remain separate. She traveled 3 1/2 days from northern regions in a van with her two daughters to attend last year’s competition in Basel, marking her third live attendance. This year, she’ll resort to YouTube viewing.

“It’s a song festival, period,” Bastida, a 47-year-old communications professional, said by phone from Asturias province. “I also have my own stance, which is critical, but not to the point of boycotting the festival.”

Eurovision operates under the slogan “United by Music,” with organizers attempting unsuccessfully in recent years to exclude political elements. Following Ukraine’s invasion in 2022, the European Broadcasting Union expelled Russia, which remains banned. Competition regulations prohibit explicitly political lyrics or symbols, with organizers emphasizing it’s a contest between national broadcasters, not governments.

As one of the “Big Five” nations providing the most financial support to Eurovision, this absence means lost broadcasting revenue and diminished publicity and credibility, according to Jose García, co-director of a competition news website whose social media platforms collectively reach nearly 100,000 followers.

However, complete viewer abandonment is unlikely, he noted.

“It has marked the television and personal history of many people, and fans will watch it via international channels or YouTube. But it’s one thing to be able to watch it and another to agree with what’s happening,” García said.

On Vienna’s streets, the absence of the typically vibrant delegation is apparent, observed Vicente Rico after attending the first semifinal night.

“We’re a group that, just like at other events, makes its presence felt — we’re among the happiest, the loudest and the most fun,” said Rico, 40, who operates a perfumery in Madrid.

This marks Rico’s 18th Eurovision attendance, and he felt conflicted before making his annual journey because he considers the boycott morally justified. Nevertheless, the situation troubles him.

“It bothers me that Eurovision is being used as a scapegoat,” he said, pointing to inaction by international organizations and lack of boycotts at other events like the FIFA World Cup, which begins in a month.

Without his home country competing, who will Rico support?

“I think Finland is going to win, but the support for Italy is crazy,” he said. Victories by Sweden, Serbia or Australia would satisfy him.

“This year, we’re rooting for everyone except Israel.”

JERUSALEM (AP) — The close partnership between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is usually conducted behind closed doors. However, this week the relationship was pushed into public view, revealing strains within the partnership as regional warfare involving Iran spreads across the Middle East.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee first drew attention to the growing cooperation between Israel and the UAE when he disclosed that Israel had deployed Iron Dome air-defense systems and operators to help shield the UAE from Iranian strikes.

Following this revelation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had secretly traveled to the UAE during the conflict, which prompted an immediate public rejection from the Gulf state.

While Netanyahu and the Trump administration promote their regional partnerships as part of efforts to strengthen anti-Iran coalitions, Gulf nations prefer to minimize public attention on these collaborations — demonstrating how open connections to Israel continue to create significant controversy across the region.

Here’s what you need to understand about the Israel-UAE partnership:

Netanyahu’s choice to disclose his wartime journey to Abu Dhabi created waves, especially following Huckabee’s confirmation of military collaboration between the nations. Speculation emerged that Israel’s security leadership had also made visits.

The UAE’s official WAM news agency published a statement rejecting “reports circulating” about the visit. The agency stated that the country’s relations with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.”

The statement also rejected claims that any Israeli military delegation was hosted in the UAE.

“It complicates Abu Dhabi’s wartime-frame posture by forcing it into the open — which is why the denial was issued so quickly and worded so carefully,” said Hesham Alghannam, a Saudi Arabia-based scholar at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.

Although the UAE established normalized relations with Israel in 2020, its leadership prefers to maintain the partnership with some discretion.

Hostility toward the Jewish state remains widespread in Arab and Muslim nations throughout the Middle East. These negative sentiments intensified due to the Gaza conflict, which started after Hamas, a militant organization supported by Iran, launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.

Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza devastated large portions of the territory and has resulted in more than 72,700 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties. The conflict expanded regionally, with Israel conducting deadly and destructive operations against Iran-backed militants in Lebanon and Yemen, and attacking militant positions in Qatar and Syria.

“We are the ugly duckling of the Middle East,” said Dan Diker, the president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, a conservative Israeli think tank.

Diker, who has conducted extensive discussions and built relationships with Abraham Accord nations in the region, noted that regional officials he frequently negotiated with consistently requested to maintain low profiles.

Israel and the UAE worked together militarily during the conflict with Iran. Israel benefited from establishing a defense presence in a nation geographically nearer to its primary adversary. The UAE, in return, obtained access to Israeli military technology, including the Iron Dome air-defense system.

The partnership has also provided economic advantages for both nations, with commerce between them growing consistently since 2020.

Israel, historically isolated in the Middle East, gains credibility through partnership with an Arab nation. The UAE gains influence in Washington.

The UAE became the third Arab nation, following Egypt and Jordan, to create complete diplomatic relations with Israel.

Netanyahu confronts strong domestic opposition as Israel approaches election season. He believes his standing improves when he can demonstrate to his supporters that he operates as a Middle East power broker.

The Iran conflict did not significantly boost the leader’s domestic approval. One factor that might improve it — while strengthening his strained relationship with President Donald Trump — would be additional regional powers following the UAE’s example. Israel is currently in discussions with Azerbaijan about joining the Abraham Accords.

However, if Netanyahu hoped that publicizing close Israel-UAE connections could serve as an example for other nations, he may need to moderate his expectations.

Saudi Arabia, a regional leader that has refused to join the Abraham Accords, has pursued a different strategy throughout the conflict. It has kept open communication channels with Tehran, and has backed Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the parties, said Alghannam, the Saudi Arabia-based scholar.

“The aim is not to take a posture on Israel, per se. It is to refuse entanglement in a war whose dynamics Riyadh did not set and cannot control,” he said.

“Riyadh discussing the full range of options openly, with partners, without locking into one track, is itself a strategic signal,” he said. “The regional security architecture will be designed regionally, not inherited from whatever Washington and Tehran negotiate bilaterally.”

CAIRO (AP) — Unmanned aircraft warfare has emerged as the most lethal danger facing civilians caught in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, with both government forces and the opposing paramilitary Rapid Support Forces receiving equipment from multiple nations across the Middle East and other regions, according to security analysts.

“Armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths,” accounting for more than 80% of conflict-related fatalities, United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk stated this week, urging action to halt their shipment to Sudan. These unmanned aircraft killed no fewer than 880 civilians from January through April.

Sudan’s conflict commenced in April 2023 and has resulted in no fewer than 59,000 deaths, forced approximately 13 million people from their homes and created famine conditions in portions of the nation.

During recent weeks, the RSF has conducted unmanned aircraft strikes against Khartoum International Airport and additional locations surrounding the capital, territory that government forces captured last year.

Security experts indicate that internationally-provided sophisticated drone capabilities allow the fighting factions to expand attacks on heavily populated regions, making peace negotiations more difficult and increasing concerns about a wider proxy war.

“On the battlefield, drones have emerged as a force multiplier, enabling ground offensives and weakening enemy defenses,” stated Jalale Getachew Birru, East Africa senior analyst at the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

Government forces and RSF both deploy unmanned aircraft to control disputed areas, interrupt mobilization activities and create instability in territories held by opponents, he explained.

No fewer than 2,670 individuals, including fighters and civilians, died in 2025, representing a 600% rise in drone-caused fatalities and an 81% jump in unmanned aircraft attacks from the prior year, ACLED determined.

Unmanned aircraft strikes conducted by the fighting groups have hit civilian facilities including medical centers, dams, educational institutions, marketplaces and refugee camps.

The majority of civilian fatalities from drone strikes have taken place in the Kordofan region of central Sudan, Türk reported.

On May 8, unmanned aircraft attacks in South Kordofan and close to the city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan allegedly resulted in 26 civilian deaths. Over 70 individuals died in drone strikes on crowded areas in Kordofan during the early months of this year, the Sudan Doctors Network reported.

On Tuesday, a Sudanese advocacy organization, the Emergency Lawyers, reported that nine unmanned aircraft attacks on civilian vehicles had resulted in no fewer than 36 deaths during the previous 10 days throughout seven provinces.

The organization held both government forces and RSF responsible and noted that some drones employ visual surveillance technology able to identify specific targets, creating worries that the strikes may not have been random.

The paramilitary RFS started using drones extensively only last year, according to Gabriella Tejeda, research associate at The Soufan Center.

Government forces and RSF are working to acquire new drone variants, especially from China, but the RSF is adapting drones and “increasingly competing to acquire newer, more sophisticated models, with the UAE likely supplying them,” Tejeda explained. The United Arab Emirates has rejected claims of providing drones to the RSF.

Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, indicated the RSF receives support from foreign technology, especially from the UAE, with satellite pictures revealing its deployment of Chinese-manufactured CH-95 and FH-95 drones that are approximately the size of small aircraft.

In locations like el-Fasher city in North Darfur, where no fewer than 6,000 individuals died during three days last year, RSF drones disable communications of civilians “crying for help” and attack them when a signal is identified, Raymond explained.

The RSF would not have been able to capture the city without these technologies, he noted.

“The sophistication of how they use drones in el-Fasher is unique because it’s the first time you’ve seen this layered, hunter-killer concept of operations to kill people, basically in a kill box or trapped inside a wall, in this case to prevent them from crying for help,” Raymond stated regarding the city, where U.N. specialists said the violence showed “hallmarks of genocide.”

Government forces’ drone technology has been blamed for attacking civilian facilities like Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, where no fewer than 64 individuals died. The military officially rejected responsibility. Two military officials at that time, however, indicated the planned target was a nearby police station.

Raymond reported there has been an “alarming increase” in government drone attacks on protected facilities like schools and markets during the previous four to six months. Government forces have insisted they do not attack civilian infrastructure.

Last month, ACLED indicated the military’s drone technology comes from Turkey, Russia, Iran and Egypt, while the RSF receives supplies through networks connected to the UAE via regional transfer locations including Ethiopia, Chad and Libya.

Earlier this month, the Sudanese government blamed neighboring Ethiopia for recent drone strikes on locations including the Khartoum airport. It accused the UAE of providing the drones. Both nations rejected the accusations.

“Ethiopia is a central partner to the UAE, so the allegations are not unfounded and reflects an attempt by the UAE to try to influence the outcome of the war,” Tejeda stated.

International drone operations may have contributed to increasing civilian casualties, but Birru and Raymond indicated that is challenging to verify.

“Both the warring parties’ battle tempo only increasing, and their backers actively still investing in the war, makes it clear that neither side is interested in a resolution,” Tejeda concluded.

President Donald Trump’s aggressive diplomatic approach that secured wins on trade and military issues during his second term has reached an impasse with Iran, potentially prolonging an 11-week crisis that continues to disrupt the world economy.

The same confrontational strategy featuring public ultimatums, harsh language and threats that yielded results elsewhere appears ineffective against Iranian leadership, raising concerns the current stalemate could continue indefinitely with repeated cycles of brinksmanship.

Trump has displayed mounting impatience with the prolonged crisis while maintaining his uncompromising stance toward Iran’s government, according to analysts.

This suggests little hope for rapid diplomatic resolution, stoking worries the standoff and its severe impact on global energy markets may persist with occasional escalations.

Experts point to Iranian leadership psychology as a key barrier, noting their need to maintain credibility domestically even after U.S.-Israeli military actions eliminated senior officials and significantly weakened the Islamic Republic’s armed forces.

Despite Iran maintaining effective control over the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, providing substantial negotiating power, Trump continues employing tactics marked by extreme demands, erratic behavior, contradictory messages and inflammatory rhetoric.

More critically, analysts note Trump’s determination to portray any resolution as complete American triumph regardless of actual circumstances, while demanding Iran accept total capitulation, which appears unlikely.

“That inevitably gets in the way of reaching a reasonable deal because no government, not just Iran’s, can afford to be viewed as having capitulated,” said Rob Malley, a former Iran negotiator in the Obama and Biden administrations.

The ongoing deadlock occurs as Trump confronts domestic challenges including elevated fuel costs and declining public approval following his decision to enter an unpopular conflict before November’s midterm elections. His Republican Party faces potential loss of congressional control.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales supported Trump’s negotiating methods, citing his “proven track record of achieving good deals” and claiming Iranian officials demonstrate growing “desperation” for agreement.

“President Trump is a master negotiator who always sets the right tone,” she said.

Trump’s most alarming statement occurred last month when he posted on social media threatening to eliminate Iran’s civilization without a deal – language administration officials told the Wall Street Journal was spontaneous and not reviewed as national security policy.

While Trump eventually agreed to a temporary ceasefire, he has maintained threatening language since his expletive-filled Easter Sunday warning about destroying Iranian infrastructure, repeating similar threats to reporters aboard Air Force One following his China visit Friday.

Last week, Trump told journalists they would recognize ceasefire collapse by seeing “one big glow coming out of Iran,” interpreted by some as nuclear weapon threats, though he insists he would never use such weapons.

Trump has directed particularly harsh language at Iranian leadership, labeling them “crazy bastards,” “lunatics” and “thugs,” while Tehran has responded with extensive mockery through graphic online content and social media campaigns.

He has consistently claimed Iran faces complete defeat despite contradictory evidence, stated they were “begging” for agreements only to have Iranians deny this, while alternating between demanding “unconditional surrender” and seeking negotiated solutions. Iranian officials have claimed victory simply by surviving military assault while demonstrating their ability to impose significant economic costs.

No internal White House efforts exist to encourage Trump toward more restrained Iran messaging, according to two knowledgeable sources speaking anonymously about internal discussions.

While polling indicates his MAGA movement largely supports him, some previous supporters have criticized the war and condemned his most extreme threats.

Many of Trump’s harshest statements, frequently posted on his Truth Social platform after midnight, have occurred during crucial moments, including last month when he suddenly announced Iranian port blockades, prompting retaliation that endangered the fragile ceasefire.

Monday, Trump rejected the newest Iranian peace proposal as a “piece of garbage.”

“The lack of strategic patience and inconsistency of the president’s rhetoric undercuts whatever message he wants to send,” said Dennis Ross, a former senior Middle East adviser in Democratic and Republican administrations.

During his Beijing trip, Trump largely avoided harsh Iran criticism while focused on important Chinese relations, given China’s role as Tehran’s ally and oil purchaser.

However, some analysts suggest Trump, who frequently speaks publicly and conducts spontaneous reporter interviews, should permanently moderate his language if seriously seeking conflict resolution.

“He talks too much,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters last month during a visit to Turkey.

Trump, a former New York real estate developer who promotes himself as an expert dealmaker, has long maintained that unpredictability serves as negotiating strategy to keep adversaries uncertain.

This method has produced concessions in certain situations when pursuing tariff deals with trading partners, though he often accepts less than initial demands. In some conflicts, including rapid U.S. military action against Venezuela resulting in leadership capture and last year’s negotiations securing Gaza war ceasefire, his pressure tactics have succeeded.

With Iran, Trump, who campaigned promising to avoid foreign wars, seeks to appear threatening to force concessions on nuclear programs and other matters, analysts explain.

However, former U.S. officials experienced in Iranian negotiations say this approach will likely fail, given the entrenched nature of clerical and military institutions and the nation’s historical pride.

Trump’s threats may actually strengthen Iran’s new leadership, considered more hardline than eliminated predecessors, who trust him even less following U.S. attacks during negotiations twice in the past year, analysts suggest.

“There’s been this false perception that if you just put enough pressure on Iran, they’ll capitulate, but that’s just not how it works with Iran,” said Nate Swanson, a former State Department official who served on the Iran negotiating team until July.

Barbara Leaf, former Middle East envoy under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, said beyond presidential rhetoric, his Iran campaign suffers from “a giddy assumption that Iran was a Venezuela-like problem for resolution (and) wholesale misunderstanding of the regime’s inherent resilience.”

Some experts believe Trump’s approach, which he says primarily aims to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons development, could produce opposite results.

U.S. military action combined with Trump’s coercive diplomacy might encourage Iran to accelerate rather than abandon eventual nuclear bomb development for protection similar to nuclear-armed North Korea, analysts warn. Iran has consistently maintained uranium enrichment rights while claiming purely peaceful purposes.

Adding complications, Trump and Iranian officials appear operating on different timelines – the impulsive president typically wants quick agreements to move forward, while Iranian delegations historically prolong negotiations.

Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, an academic in the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. Gulf ally, said the president could moderate his language but Iranian stubbornness bears more responsibility for current deadlock than Trump’s “threats and bombastic comments”.

Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft in Washington, said Tehran leadership may interpret Trump’s inconsistent approach as desperation and believe they can outlast him.

“In some ways, Trump plays right into their hands,” he said.

LONDON — Britain’s political leadership faces a crisis, with the individual many believe could resolve it currently lacking the necessary qualifications for the position.

At least not yet, though a pathway has emerged for Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester’s well-regarded mayor, to attempt challenging embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The situation remains uncertain, with significant obstacles ahead.

Burnham must first secure a return to Parliament before he could launch any leadership challenge against Starmer.

The prime minister, who has pledged to continue leading, finds himself under intense pressure amid declining public support and criticism of his decision-making abilities. The Labour Party suffered significant losses in recent nationwide local elections. A major Cabinet official has already stepped down, while more than 20% of the party’s House of Commons members are calling for his departure.

At 56 years old, Burnham represents Starmer’s most significant potential challenger, largely because many view him as more politically progressive than the current prime minister.

Known by the nickname ‘King of the North,’ Burnham’s Labour supporters hope this title will prove advantageous.

This reference to the beloved Jon Snow character from ‘Game of Thrones’ reflects the respect Burnham has earned through his strong advocacy for northern England’s working-class communities and traditions. The image suggests he operates outside London’s political inner circle, which resonates strongly with many northern voters.

Since 2017, Burnham has secured three substantial mayoral election victories, demonstrating his electoral appeal.

However, his track record includes setbacks. Burnham served in Gordon Brown’s Cabinet between 2007 and 2010 but suffered decisive defeats in two Labour Party leadership campaigns — in 2010 and again in 2015. During those earlier efforts, his presentation appeared rigid.

Departing from his 16-year parliamentary career allowed him to develop more natural speaking abilities and a more polished appearance. Formal business attire gave way to smart-casual clothing, frequently including sneakers.

While this might appear trivial, it helped him connect better with constituents.

More significantly, his mayoral experience transformed him into a more skilled political operator and arguably Labour’s most effective communicator.

His profile rose during the COVID-19 outbreak when he effectively represented northern England’s interests, repeatedly criticizing Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson for implementing ‘London-centric’ pandemic policies.

Burnham plans to resign his mayoral position if he succeeds in a special parliamentary election in Makerfield, located approximately 20 miles west of Manchester.

His path back to the House of Commons became available Thursday when Labour Party member Josh Simons announced his resignation to create an opening for Burnham. While Burnham was previously prevented from seeking another available seat earlier this year, Labour’s executive committee confirmed Friday that he could participate in the special election, anticipated within the next two months.

This contest will likely prove intense and could rank among the most significant special elections in British political history. Burnham recognized this reality.

‘I truly do not take a single vote for granted and will work hard to regain the trust of people in the Makerfield constituency, many of whom have long supported our party but lost faith in recent times,’ he stated when declaring his candidacy.

Simons won the seat by approximately 5,400 votes two years ago during Labour’s 2024 landslide that ended 14 years of Conservative rule.

Circumstances have shifted dramatically since then. Labour’s recent defeats came primarily from the rising anti-immigrant Reform UK party on the political right, with additional losses to the environmentally-focused Greens on the left. Reform captured all wards within the Makerfield constituency during local elections.

Reform’s leader, Nigel Farage, declared the party would ‘throw absolutely everything at it.’

Despite these results, Burnham can leverage his reputation for delivering results, according to Tim Bale, a politics professor at Queen Mary University of London.

‘Andy Burnham is a big name in the northwest. There will be a lot of people who would like to see him get back into Parliament, not least to take down Keir Starmer,’ Bale explained. ‘In some ways, it’s a useful test for Burnham because if he can’t beat Reform in that constituency, then quite frankly, he’s not much use to the Labour Party as leader.’

Labour has never removed a sitting leader during their time in government, though procedures exist for such action.

Should Burnham obtain a House of Commons seat, he would need to either initiate or join a leadership contest. This requires support from one-fifth — or 81 — of Labour’s 403 members. Starmer, who has committed to continuing his fight, would automatically enter to defend his leadership.

Wes Streeting was anticipated to announce his leadership bid Thursday after resigning as Starmer’s health secretary and criticizing his former superior for failing to provide effective solutions to Britain’s numerous challenges. However, he refrained from making such an announcement and, in what appeared to acknowledge Burnham’s potential candidacy, instead advocated for a ‘broad’ range of candidates to discuss the party’s direction.

On Friday, Streeting endorsed Burnham, posting on X that Labour requires its ‘best players on the pitch.’ He did not, however, explicitly state his desire to see Burnham become prime minister.

In any leadership competition, both Burnham and Streeting could seek the position. Others reportedly considering campaigns include former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, defense minister Al Carns, and former party leader Ed Miliband.

Currently, all scenarios depend on the Makerfield outcome, which could produce dramatic consequences.

‘Were Burnham to win the by-election, it’s unlikely that Keir Starmer will actually stand in that leadership contest,’ Bale observed. ‘If Burnham fails, then Starmer might feel he has a chance against Streeting and Rayner.’

VIENNA (AP) — Saturday brings the climactic finale of the Eurovision Song Contest, where heightened security measures and soggy conditions haven’t dampened fan excitement or silenced protesters demanding Israel’s removal from the competition.

Following a week of anticipation, performers representing 25 nations will compete on the Wiener Stadthalle stage for Europe’s most coveted musical prize. Global audiences numbering in the millions will evaluate diverse acts including a passionate Finnish violin player, a folk-rap artist from Moldova, and a heavy metal group from Serbia during this milestone 70th anniversary celebration.

This flamboyant, vibrant competition has drawn comparisons to soccer’s World Cup, substituting melodies for matches. Similar to international sporting events, political tensions frequently surface. For the third consecutive year, controversy surrounds demands to bar Israel due to Gaza-related conflicts and other disputes, prompting five regular participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — to withdraw in protest.

Those unfamiliar with Eurovision’s blend of entertainment and political undercurrents need only examine two crowd-pleasing acts that emerged during the week’s preliminary rounds before Saturday’s championship event.

Rapper Satoshi’s “Viva, Moldova” combines “a stunning high energy performance with a subtle pro-European political message,” from a country moving toward the European Union after decades in Moscow’s orbit, said Eurovision historian Dean Vuletic. Greek artist Akylas’ song “Ferto,” or “Bring It,” provides a playful take on conspicuous consumption in a country still scarred by the economic wounds of the 2008 financial crisis.

Television audiences will likely award both acts high scores, though professional judging panels, who typically favor technical skill, may respond differently. Victory depends on combined voting from both groups, converted through a point system that puzzles even devoted Eurovision followers. The highest-scoring performer claims victory, earning their nation hosting rights for next year’s contest.

Finland leads wagering predictions with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a passionate collaboration featuring pop vocalist Pete Parkkonen and classical violinist Linda Lampenius.

However, Eurovision frequently delivers unexpected outcomes.

“Eurovision has never really been a contest for big stars. It’s largely been a contest for underdogs,” Vuletic said. “People like to see the underdog on stage. They like to the artist-in-the-making on stage or an artist from a smaller, poorer country on stage.”

Australia presents an intriguing possibility, having participated since 2015 by sending established performer Delta Goodrem. Her polished moderate-tempo ballad “Eclipse” — featuring a dramatic performance where she’s lifted above a sparkling piano — has gained momentum in betting markets. Should she triumph, a European nation would likely serve as Australia’s proxy host next year.

Israeli representative Noam Bettan has received positive audience reactions inside the venue, despite four demonstrators being removed after attempting to disrupt his Tuesday semifinal appearance.

Public demonstrations condemning Israel’s participation due to its military actions against Hamas in Gaza have been more subdued in Vienna compared to the 2024 competition in Malmo, Sweden and last year’s event in Basel, Switzerland.

Organizers have scheduled a protest against Israel’s involvement before Saturday’s finale, while pro-Palestinian organizations held an outdoor performance Friday titled “No stage for genocide.”

“Inviting Israel on such a beautiful stage as the Eurovision Song Contest stage is an affront to all the people who believe in humanity, who believe in love and togetherness,” said Congolese-Austrian artist Patrick Bongola, one of the organizers. He said the concert aimed to “show the world that not all Austrians are happy with this decision.”

The five-country withdrawal represents a significant financial and audience setback for an event that organizers report attracted 166 million global viewers last year. This year’s 35-competitor lineup marks the smallest field since 2003.

Nevertheless, Eurovision plans continued growth, with a new Eurovision Song Contest Asia scheduled for Bangkok in November.

Vuletic notes that political disputes aren’t unprecedented. The inaugural Eurovision boycott occurred in 1969 — ironically by Austria, which declined to participate in Spain under dictator Francisco Franco.

“We’ve seen very politicized editions of the contest in the recent past,” Vuletic said, including the 2009 contest in Russia, Azerbaijan’s turn as host in 2012 and the 2024 competition in Sweden, marred by protests and the expulsion of a competitor for allegedly threatening a female camera operator.

“All of them were very much mired in political controversy, yet Eurovision continues,” he said.

President Trump announced Friday that a joint military operation between U.S. and Nigerian forces successfully eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who served as the global second-in-command for ISIS.

“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump wrote in a statement posted to Truth Social.

The president also expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s government for their cooperation in carrying out the mission.

This operation comes after previous tensions between Trump and Nigeria, as the president had previously claimed that Christians in the African nation were facing persecution – allegations that Nigeria’s government has disputed.

Last Christmas Day, U.S. forces conducted strikes against what officials described as Islamist strongholds in Nigeria’s northwest region, actions that followed Trump’s earlier criticisms of the country.

A high-ranking Taiwanese official on Saturday defended the importance of American weapon sales following President Donald Trump’s statement that he remains undecided about future arms deals with the island.

Taiwan Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told reporters in Taipei that weapon sales from America are established under the Taiwan Relations Act and serve as a foundation for peace and stability in the region.

“Taiwan-U.S. arms sales have always been a cornerstone of regional peace and stability,” he said.

The comments came after Trump indicated Friday following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing that he had not made a decision regarding a significant weapons sale, raising questions about America’s ongoing support for Taiwan.

While the United States lacks official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Washington serves as the island’s primary international supporter. The democratically governed territory faces territorial claims from China, and American law requires the provision of defensive weapons to Taiwan.

The Trump administration greenlit a historic $11 billion arms package for Taiwan in December. Reports indicate a second deal valued at approximately $14 billion remains pending Trump’s approval.

Chen refused to discuss specifics about the second package since it has not been publicly announced, stating that Taiwan would maintain dialogue with American officials to monitor developments.

During his post-summit remarks with Xi, Trump suggested he might discuss the proposed sale with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he needed to speak with “the person … that’s running Taiwan.”

When asked about this possibility, Chen said Taiwan needed to determine the “true intent” behind Trump’s statements.

Beijing has maintained the option of using military force to bring Taiwan under its authority and has rejected multiple dialogue offers from Lai, labeling him a “separatist.”

Chen described the Republic of China, Taiwan’s official designation, as a “sovereign and independent country.”

“And only the 23 million people of Taiwan can decide our own future through democratic means,” he stated.

LONDON, May 15 – The ruling Labour Party in Britain announced Friday that it has authorized Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to pursue a parliamentary position, opening the door for a potential leadership contest against Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The possibility of a challenge from Burnham, who leans left politically, has intensified difficulties for Starmer, whose party experienced significant defeats in recent local elections, while also causing concern among investors as Britain’s borrowing costs rose sharply Friday by the largest amount in more than a year.

A lawmaker stepped down from his position Thursday to create an opening for Burnham to run for parliament, which he must do to be eligible to challenge Starmer for party leadership and potentially become prime minister.

Burnham had requested approval from Labour’s National Executive Committee to participate in the special election.

According to a party spokesperson, the NEC had “today given permission to Andy Burnham to stand in the candidate selection process in the forthcoming by-election for the Makerfield constituency”.

While Burnham has expressed his desire to “change Labour for the better”, he has not directly stated he will mount a challenge against Starmer, although numerous lawmakers who recently called for Starmer to announce a resignation timeline support Burnham as his replacement.

Previously this year, the NEC prevented Burnham from seeking a different position in Greater Manchester, which party progressives criticized as an effort by Starmer and his supporters to eliminate competition.

Friday’s approval ensures Burnham will not face similar obstacles from Labour, though he has not yet received official confirmation as the party’s nominee. The special election is expected to be competitive against Nigel Farage’s populist right-wing Reform UK.

The United States revealed Friday its growing interest in Guyana’s vast bauxite deposits and other natural resources for commercial ventures, as the Trump administration intensifies its focus on Latin American energy and mineral assets.

This week, U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg conducted meetings with senior Guyanese leadership, including President Irfaan Ali, in the South American nation currently experiencing significant oil development.

Massive petroleum deposits found within the past ten years have elevated Guyana’s strategic significance, particularly during the worldwide energy shortage triggered by the Iran conflict. The nation’s bauxite deposits are essential for aluminum manufacturing.

The Trump administration has taken a more assertive approach toward Latin American resources, from encouraging expanded petroleum extraction in Venezuela after the U.S. military action in January, to seeking partnerships with Brazil regarding essential minerals.

In a region where energy output appeared to be dropping, Latin America is now witnessing a turnaround of this pattern, according to Benjamin Gedan, senior fellow and the director of the Stimson Center Latin America program.

“In times of global energy scarcity, there’s a great deal more focus on Latin America as an alternative stable source of supply,” said Gedan. “And Guyana is the leader of that story.”

The diplomatic visit occurs as U.S. officials express worry about the Chinese government and major corporations securing lucrative state agreements at the cost of American businesses.

Guyanese leaders have contended that American companies have shown less initiative compared to Chinese firms, which frequently provide funding and address workforce requirements for large-scale developments.

Helberg informed officials that bauxite deposits are already identified, making the U.S. interested in that industry. Presently, Chinese company Bosai Minerals holds the leading position in Guyana’s bauxite market.

“Generally speaking, we both understand that Guyana is a country with a lot of natural resources,” Helberg said of the bilateral talks.

He indicated that America could also help Guyana perform advanced geological studies to identify additional underground minerals for future extraction.

The U.S. aims to avoid repeating previous errors that allowed China to establish influence in the area, according to Jason Marczak, vice president and senior director for the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council.

Although Guyana likely seeks to broaden its commercial partnerships, including with China, the diplomatic mission demonstrates the nation continues as a reliable American ally in the region.

“President Ali in particular is very close to the United States and in general recognizes the importance of the U.S. as a key partner for Guyana,” Marczak said. “That’s reflected by Helberg’s visit to Guyana.”

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told The Associated Press on Friday that Guyana wants to draw U.S. investment to the mineral, oil and gas-abundant nation in upcoming months.

“The U.S. is our strategic partner and we made that clear to them but we would want value added to bauxite and other products. We are interested in processing and with improvements in energy generation,” he said.

Former President Donald Trump indicated Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping might be willing to free a jailed pastor but suggested that securing the release of imprisoned media mogul Jimmy Lai would prove more challenging.

Speaking with reporters while flying back to the United States from China on Friday, Trump expressed optimism about one case while acknowledging difficulties with the other.

“I think he’s giving very serious consideration to the pastor,” Trump stated during the Air Force One flight, though he noted Xi had indicated Lai’s situation presented different complications.

“He told me that would be a tough one,” Trump explained.

In a separate interview with Fox News Channel’s ‘Special Report,’ Trump confirmed he had raised Lai’s case during discussions but received a discouraging response.

“I would say the response to that was not positive,” Trump told the news program.

“He went through a whole thing and I said, ‘Well, we’d appreciate if you would release him. He’s gotten old, and he’s probably not feeling too well. It would be nice.’ And I did not feel optimistic. I have to be honest with you about that one,” Trump continued.

Lai received a 20-year prison sentence in February after being convicted on two conspiracy charges involving collusion with foreign forces and one charge related to publishing seditious content.

The media executive’s imprisonment has drawn international attention regarding Hong Kong’s national security enforcement, particularly given his role as the creator of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper. Various foreign governments and international human rights organizations have expressed criticism about how the security legislation has affected Hong Kong.

The religious leader in question is Pastor Jin Mingri, who established Zion Church and was taken into custody in November alongside approximately 30 other church pastors and employees in what represents the most significant action against Chinese Christians since 2018.

These arrests followed new regulations issued by China’s primary religious oversight agency that prohibited unauthorized internet-based preaching or religious instruction by clergy, along with banning “foreign collusion.”

The United Arab Emirates defended its military activities on Saturday, stating through its foreign ministry that any actions taken by the nation were part of protective measures designed to safeguard its sovereignty, citizens, and critical infrastructure.

The ministry’s declaration followed a Wall Street Journal report published Monday alleging that the UAE conducted military operations against Iran during the first part of April.

The UAE foreign ministry’s statement did not directly address or confirm the reported military strikes against Iran.

A former financial official from Mexico’s Sinaloa state has reportedly surrendered to United States authorities, according to a Mexican news publication.

Enrique Diaz, who previously served as the state’s finance minister, turned himself over to U.S. officials, the newspaper Reforma reported Friday. The publication cited official sources for the information.

The report has not been independently verified by other news organizations.

China’s United Nations representative expressed strong opposition Friday to a US-Bahraini proposal targeting Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, calling both the substance and timing inappropriate for advancing peace.

The proposed measure calls on Iran to stop attacks and mining operations in the strategic waterway, though diplomatic sources indicate Russia and China will likely block it through vetoes. Last month, both nations rejected a comparable US-supported proposal, claiming it unfairly targeted Iran.

In video footage shared by Pass Blue, a UN-focused news outlet, China’s UN envoy Fu Gong addressed the proposal during an unplanned interview, stating: “We don’t think the content is right, and the timing is not right.

“What we need is to urge both sides to engage in serious and good-faith negotiations that can resolve the issue. So passing a resolution at this stage, we don’t think is going to be helpful,” he explained.

Fu indicated that under China’s current leadership of the 15-nation UN Security Council, he would oppose bringing the resolution to a vote.

China’s UN delegation clarified that while the council presidency carries responsibility for scheduling votes when requested by resolution sponsors, no such request has been submitted.

The US mission to the United Nations has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Fu’s statements followed a two-day meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that concluded Friday. According to White House officials, both leaders agreed the strait should stay open, with Xi expressing China’s opposition to militarizing the waterway or imposing transit fees.

Xi offered no public remarks on the matter, though China’s foreign ministry expressed Beijing’s dissatisfaction with the Iran conflict, declaring: “This conflict, which should never have happened, has no reason to continue.”

Israeli military forces launched an airstrike Friday evening in Gaza targeting a high-ranking Hamas military commander, according to statements from Israeli leadership.

The strike was aimed at Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who leads Hamas’ Qassam brigades, though officials have not confirmed whether he was killed or wounded in the attack. Hamas has not issued any response regarding the strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed their military conducted the operation Friday evening specifically targeting al-Haddad.

Gaza City experienced at least two separate Israeli strikes that evening. One hit a residential structure while the other struck a vehicle. Medical personnel at Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Saraya Field Hospital and Shifa hospital reported seven fatalities and dozens of wounded individuals from the attacks.

According to Netanyahu and Katz, al-Haddad played a key role as “one of the architects” behind the Oct. 7 attack.

The territory continues experiencing almost daily Israeli military action even with a fragile ceasefire in place since October. Gaza Health Ministry data shows over 850 deaths have occurred since that agreement. The Health Ministry operates under Gaza’s Hamas-controlled government but employs medical professionals who keep comprehensive records that international observers generally consider credible.

Israeli leadership warned they will persist in pursuing anyone involved in the Oct. 7 assault, during which militants killed approximately 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages. Gaza’s death toll has exceeded 72,700 since Israel began its military response to Hamas’ 2023 attack.

“Sooner or later, Israel will reach you,” their statement declared.

Local residents reported additional airstrikes following the operation against al-Haddad, though the military’s targets in those subsequent attacks remained unclear.

Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations since the unstable agreement took effect. Israel has continued targeting Hamas operatives within the coastal territory, most recently killing the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya.

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department is reducing thousands of military personnel in Europe by stopping planned deployments to Poland and Germany rather than withdrawing forces currently stationed there, according to U.S. officials, as President Donald Trump has clashed with allies over the Iran war and demanded changes.

Multiple U.S. officials confirmed that 4,000 service members from the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division will no longer deploy to Poland this week as scheduled. The Trump administration had initially announced it was only reducing U.S. forces in Germany, leading to questions and backlash in both Warsaw and Washington.

Two officials told The Associated Press the Poland deployment was stopped after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a directive instructing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to remove a brigade combat team from Europe. One official said military leaders were given the authority to choose which unit would be affected.

In addition to the Army combat team stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, the directive also resulted in canceling an upcoming German deployment of a battalion specialized in firing long-range rockets and missiles, the two officials said, speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive military matters.

Three U.S. officials indicated the canceled deployments were designed to fulfill a presidential directive issued in early May to decrease European troop levels by roughly 5,000. The rationale appears poorly communicated, as others stationed in Europe said they were unaware whether the stopped Poland deployment was connected to the previously announced troop reduction.

Trump and the Pentagon have stated in recent weeks they were reducing at least 5,000 troops in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the war.

The reduction demonstrates a widening divide between the administration and traditional European allies, with the U.S. leader repeatedly criticizing fellow NATO members for insufficient support for the Iran conflict.

Polish officials on Friday maintained that the canceled U.S. deployment to Poland, which was first reported by The Military Times and other publications, was not specifically targeting their nation but resulted from Trump’s decision to decrease troop numbers in Germany.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he “received assurances” that the decision was logistical in nature and stated it does not directly affect deterrence capabilities and Poland’s security.

Joel Valdez, a Pentagon spokesman, said “the decision to withdraw troops follows a comprehensive, multilayered process” and argued it was “not an unexpected, last-minute decision.”

During a Congressional hearing Friday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s chief of staff, said discussions about the stopped Poland deployment occurred over the past two weeks but the actual decision was made in recent days.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he spoke with Polish officials Thursday and they were “blindsided.”

The action also left some U.S. military personnel in Europe uninformed about how the Trump administration was reducing forces. A U.S. official based in Europe said a meeting was scheduled with 20 minutes’ notice on Monday to discuss the Poland deployment cancellation.

At that point, troops had already been deployed to Poland and some still in the U.S. were informed shortly before departure not to travel to the airport, that official said. Another official said most of the Army unit’s equipment had already reached Europe and was waiting in ports.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers criticized the reductions as conveying the wrong message to both allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces this week launched one of the most devastating attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the 4-year-old war.

During the House Armed Services Committee hearing Friday, LaNeve said he collaborated with U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander in Europe of both American and NATO forces, after Grynkewich received instructions for the force reduction.

“I’ve worked with him in close consultation of what that force unit would be, and it made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater,” LaNeve said.

Bacon called the decision “reprehensible” and said it was “an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland.”

Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, who chairs the committee, said the military is required to consult with lawmakers and that did not happen.

“So we don’t know what’s going on here,” Rogers said. “But I can just tell you we’re not happy with what’s being talked about.”

A State Department official said Friday at a security conference in Tallinn, Estonia, that the U.S. reductions in Europe were “right there in black and white” but also noted that “the U.S. isn’t going anywhere.”

“We’ll continue to work with the Pentagon and work with our partners to make sure we get the right fit and right mix of what’s happening here on the ground,” said Thomas G. DiNanno, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

With the stopped deployments, the U.S. military presence in Europe will now return to pre-2022 levels, before Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one U.S. official said.

Europe has been preparing for a reduction since Trump returned to the White House, with the administration warning that Europe would need to handle its own security, including Ukraine’s, going forward.

A NATO official said the U.S. decision to cancel its rotational deployment to Poland would not affect NATO’s deterrence and defense plans. Canada and Germany have increased their presence on the alliance’s eastern flank, which contributes to NATO’s overall strength, the official said, requesting anonymity in line with NATO regulations.

Ben Hodges, former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, said the move “reinforces the perception that the United States just does things without consultation with allies,” which ultimately “damages cohesion inside the alliance.” The decision would eventually harm the U.S. defense industry as it reduces partner trust, he said.

Approximately 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland, the majority present in the country on a rotational basis. Only about 300 troops are permanently stationed in the country, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

Polish officials had hoped they would be exempt from any cuts as Poland spends the most in NATO on defense as a proportion of its economy — around 4.7% in 2025. Hegseth has called it a “model ally” in NATO for spending so much on defense.

When Poland’s conservative president, Karol Nawrocki, visited the White House in September, Trump said he didn’t intend to pull U.S. troops out of Poland. “We’ll put more there if they want,” Trump said at the time.

The United States may bring criminal charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro, age 94, in relation to Cuba’s fatal downing of aircraft belonging to the relief organization Brothers to the Rescue in 1996.

Castro stands as one of the founding architects of Cuba’s communist system and continues to serve as a unifying force for supporters of the 1959 revolution that transformed the island nation.

Early Revolutionary Role and Military Leadership

• Castro, born in 1931, played a crucial role with his elder brother Fidel during the 1959 insurgency that overthrew American-supported ruler Fulgencio Batista and initiated Cuba’s transformation to communism.

• For many years, Castro held the position of defense minister under his brother’s leadership, establishing strong connections throughout Cuba’s military and government apparatus.

• His responsibilities included helping repel the American-backed Bay of Pigs assault in 1961 and managing Cuba’s military operations abroad, especially throughout Africa.

Rise to Leadership

• Castro’s path to power began in 2006 when Fidel became seriously ill, first taking on interim presidential duties before officially assuming the presidency in 2008.

• When Fidel died in 2016, Castro continued as the nation’s primary political authority, defying predictions that his brother’s passing would weaken the communist system.

Continued Influence Behind the Scenes

• Castro held the presidency through 2018. Upon leaving office, he kept his ceremonial rank of “army general” and maintains considerable sway over Cuba’s Communist Party, military, and government structures.

• Present leader Miguel Diaz-Canel is generally viewed as depending on Castro’s counsel for important policy choices.

• This past December 2025, Castro recommended delaying the Communist Party gathering meant to select Diaz-Canel’s replacement, pointing to the nation’s severe financial troubles. Party leadership unanimously supported his suggestion.

• Castro made his most recent public appearance on May 1 during International Workers’ Day celebrations. Dressed in military attire, he walked with Diaz-Canel and other government figures but looked tired and unexpectedly needed to take a seat during the event.

A Moscow court has issued a ruling requiring Euroclear, a Brussels-based financial clearing house, to compensate Russia’s central bank for frozen assets, according to Russian media reports released Friday.

The legal action demanded 18.2 trillion rubles, equivalent to $249.7 billion, in compensation for damages Russia claims it suffered when prevented from accessing and controlling its funds and securities held by Euroclear.

Legal representatives for Euroclear, attorneys Maxim Kulkov and Sergei Savelyev, told Russian news organization RBC on Friday that Moscow’s Arbitration Court granted the central bank’s request completely during proceedings conducted without public access.

The defense team contended that Euroclear was denied proper legal proceedings, with Savelyev stating the company plans to challenge the verdict. A spokesperson for the central bank expressed approval of the court’s ruling to RBC.

European Union authorities immobilized Russian financial holdings valued at 210 billion euros ($244 billion) through sanctions implemented following Moscow’s military action in Ukraine beginning in February 2022. Euroclear maintains custody of approximately 193 billion euros from these frozen funds.

The central bank initiated this legal challenge in December 2025. Moscow’s Arbitration Court accepted jurisdiction over the matter despite the EU abandoning its original strategy to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine after Belgium refused guarantees of protection from Russian retaliation.

Instead, the European Union chose to secure 90 billion euros through capital market borrowing to extend an interest-free loan supporting Ukraine’s defense and economic requirements over a two-year period.

Russia’s central bank has denounced any utilization of the frozen assets for Ukrainian assistance as “illegal, contrary to international law,” claiming such actions breach “the principles of sovereign immunity of assets.”

HAVANA, May 15 – Washington’s intention to bring criminal charges against Cuba’s former leader Raul Castro regarding the destruction of civilian aircraft two decades ago has heightened anxieties across the Caribbean island nation on Friday, as Cuba grapples with its most severe economic crisis in recent memory while facing critical fuel supply problems.

Criminal charges against the 94-year-old revolutionary figure would represent a significant intensification of the pressure tactics employed against Cuba by the Trump administration, which has characterized the island’s communist leadership as both corrupt and incompetent while demanding political transformation.

Cuban officials have not yet issued a direct response to the indictment threat, though Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demonstrated resistance on Friday.

“Despite the (U.S.) embargo, sanctions and threats of the use of force, Cuba continues on a path of sovereignty towards its socialist development,” Rodriguez said in a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers.

Reuters spoke with Cuban citizens in Havana who believe criminal charges would only reverse progress in U.S.-Cuba relations, worsening the diplomatic standoff between the neighboring countries.

Sonia Torres, 59, a Havana schoolteacher, viewed potential prosecution of Raul Castro, who spent decades leading the nation’s armed forces before serving as president from 2008 to 2018, as an insult to Cuban national dignity during a period of hardship.

“Cubans must always keep moving forward,” she said. “If they try to process Raul, we’ll defend Cuba with sticks and rocks if we have to.”

Strained diplomatic ties between the two neighboring nations trace back to Fidel Castro’s 1959 communist revolution. Castro formed an alliance with the Soviet Union, then confiscated U.S.-citizen owned businesses and properties, fueling decades of tensions between the two nations.

The Trump administration has besieged Cuba since January, implementing a de facto fuel blockade, issuing threats of military action and intensifying sanctions that have compelled foreign businesses – including Canadian miner Sherritt International – to flee.

However, criminal charges against Castro would represent a pivotal moment, according to Peter Kornbluh, an author of a history of secret negotiations between Cuba and the United States, who said an indictment would likely represent “the diplomatic endpoint” to negotiations.

“This was an ultimatum: It’s do or die time,” Kornbluh said. “(The indictment) has created a fig leaf of legality for any military operations to seize or assassinate Raul Castro.”

The United States has previously used criminal cases against foreign political figures to justify military actions, and Trump has threatened that Cuba “is next” after his administration in January captured Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro.

His government called the military raid a “law enforcement operation” to bring Maduro to New York to face criminal charges.

The younger Castro remains considered the island’s most powerful living leader and emblem of the Cuban revolution, despite no longer maintaining an official government position.

BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE

A potential Castro indictment, the U.S. Department of Justice sources said, ties back to Cuba’s 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue.

Cuba at the time defended the attack as a legitimate defense of its airspace but the U.S. position was later backed up by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which concluded the shootdown took place over international waters.

Fidel Castro said Cuba’s military had acted on “standing orders” to down planes entering Cuban airspace. He said brother Raul, then defense minister, did not give a specific order to shoot the planes.

Havana resident Eliecer Diaz, 45, said then, as now, Cuba had to defend itself in the face of U.S. aggression.

“That’s an invasion … and you have to defend yourself,” said Havana resident Eliecer Diaz, 45. “If they are now thinking of prosecuting (Raul Castro), I think that is wrong.”

CANNES, France – Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, whose work earned the first Oscar for best foreign language film from his country, expressed profound anguish Friday regarding the thousands who died during January’s violent suppression of demonstrators and current military conflict involving Iran.

Speaking to media at the Cannes Film Festival following Thursday evening’s debut of his latest work “Parallel Tales,” the Academy Award winner shared his emotional state after a recent visit to his homeland.

“I was actually in Tehran last week, and I am still carrying the impact of these events with me,” Farhadi stated. “Both are deeply painful, and neither will ever be forgotten.”

January saw widespread anti-government demonstrations throughout Iran crushed in what became the most severe suppression in the Islamic Republic’s existence. By late February, military strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces initiated conflict with Iran that has expanded throughout the Middle East region.

The filmmaker, who has primarily resided outside Iran since 2023, expressed his distress at daily reports of civilian casualties.

Farhadi achieved historic recognition when “A Separation” captured the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2012, marking the first such honor for Iranian cinema.

Five years afterward, he claimed the same award for “The Salesman,” although he refused to attend the ceremony as a protest against travel restrictions imposed on multiple Muslim-majority nations during the initial presidency of Donald Trump.

His current project “Parallel Tales,” a French-language drama filmed in Paris starring Isabelle Huppert and Vincent Cassel, competes alongside 21 other entries for the festival’s highest honor.

Armed militants kidnapped multiple students from an elementary and middle school in Nigeria’s conflict-torn Borno state during Friday morning classes, according to local residents.

The attackers arrived on motorcycles around 9 a.m. local time and stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area while students were in class, said Ubaidallah Hasaan, a nearby resident.

A school teacher confirmed to Reuters that the armed assailants came on motorcycles.

“Despite some students escaping to the bushes, I can tell you many were taken away,” the teacher said.

While no organization has taken credit for the kidnapping, the incident shows characteristics typical of attacks by the Islamist militia Boko Haram.

The notorious group previously captured over 270 schoolgirls in Chibok within the same state in 2014, sparking international outrage. This marks the first school abduction in Borno state since that incident.

Neither Nigeria’s police nor military forces provided immediate comment when contacted.

The village of Mussa sits close to Sambisa Forest, which has served as a longtime base for Islamist fighters who have conducted violent operations across northeastern Nigeria for over ten years.

A local lawmaker, Midala Usman Balami, described the attack as “heartbreaking” and called on government officials to respond quickly.

Despite continued military campaigns, Borno and surrounding states continue experiencing regular attacks on schools and villages, highlighting security weaknesses in remote regions.

Armed group kidnappings have emerged as a significant security threat throughout Nigeria recently, with educational institutions frequently becoming targets, though such incidents occur less often in the northeast compared to northwestern regions.

In another Friday incident, armed men kidnapped students from Baptist Nursery and Primary School in southwestern Oyo state. Local authorities have closed area schools temporarily while police search for the kidnappers.