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WASHINGTON – Federal officials on Monday imposed financial penalties on a dozen individuals and businesses accused of facilitating Iran’s petroleum exports to China, the Treasury Department announced.

The sanctions target three individuals and nine companies operating across multiple countries, with four entities located in Hong Kong, four in the United Arab Emirates, and one in Oman.

Monday’s action follows similar penalties imposed Friday against people and organizations that helped Iran acquire weapons and components for manufacturing drones and ballistic missiles.

The timing comes just ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, where Trump plans to urge China’s cooperation in resolving tensions with Iran and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

According to Treasury officials, the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s latest designations focus on individuals and organizations that assisted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in selling and transporting Iranian petroleum to China through shell companies established in countries with lenient economic oversight.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the Trump administration plans to intensify economic pressure on Tehran to cut off funding streams that support Iran’s weapons programs, nuclear activities, and regional proxy groups.

“Treasury will continue to cut the Iranian regime off from the financial networks it uses to carry out terrorist acts and to destabilize the global economy,” Bessent said.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Military officials have sentenced two Israeli service members to prison time following an incident where they vandalized a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon, with one soldier inserting a cigarette into the statue’s mouth while another captured the act on camera.

The image, showing the service member with a cigarette hanging from his own lips, spread rapidly across social media platforms and generated significant international criticism. This incident represents another example of actions by Israeli military personnel that have been characterized as anti-Christian behavior in southern Lebanon, where Israel conducted ground operations this year targeting the Iranian-supported Hezbollah organization.

Military authorities announced that the soldier who posed for the photograph will serve 21 days behind bars, while his counterpart who took the picture faces a 14-day sentence.

According to military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ariella Mazor, who posted on X, the armed forces “views the incident with great severity and respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities.”

This controversy emerged just days following another incident where photographs showed an Israeli soldier attacking a fallen crucifix statue with an ax in the southern Lebanese community of Debel, drawing sharp criticism from international officials, religious authorities, and Israeli political figures. Military leadership also imposed prison sentences on personnel involved in that separate incident.

Israeli military units gained control over southern Lebanon during the recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict, which commenced on March 2 after the Iranian-backed Lebanese organization launched rockets across the border two days following the beginning of hostilities between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Israeli forces have maintained their presence despite an ongoing ceasefire agreement.

Military officials also reported Monday that a soldier serving as a driver was killed during operations near the border region, bringing the total number of Israeli military deaths in the area to 18 since the Iran conflict began.

According to Israeli military statements, their operations focus exclusively on structures that served as Hezbollah strongholds. However, the extensive damage has raised concerns among Lebanese government officials and civilians that many people forced from their homes during the recent fighting may have no place to return to if the current fragile ceasefire continues.

NETHERLANDS — Venezuela’s acting leader Delcy Rodríguez firmly dismissed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he might make Venezuela America’s 51st state, declaring her nation will remain independent.

Rodríguez made these statements Monday while speaking to reporters at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, where final arguments were being heard in Venezuela’s territorial dispute with Guyana over the resource-rich Essequibo region.

“We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,” Rodríguez stated. She emphasized that Venezuela is “not a colony, but a free country.”

The Venezuelan leader’s response came after Trump told Fox News he was “seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st US state,” according to a social media post by Fox News co-anchor John Roberts. The White House has not yet commented on Trump’s statement.

Trump has previously made similar remarks regarding Canada.

Despite rejecting the statehood comments, Rodríguez noted that Venezuelan and American officials have maintained contact and are pursuing “cooperation and understanding.”

During the court proceedings, Rodríguez argued that political negotiations, rather than judicial decisions, should settle the longstanding territorial conflict with Guyana over Essequibo.

The disputed territory spans 62,000 square miles and represents two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass. The region contains valuable deposits of gold, diamonds, and timber, plus sits adjacent to offshore oil fields producing approximately 900,000 barrels daily.

This oil production rivals Venezuela’s own output of roughly 1 million barrels per day and has elevated tiny Guyana into a major energy player in South America.

Venezuela’s territorial claims date back to Spanish colonial times when the jungle region fell within its borders. However, an 1899 arbitration decision by British, Russian, and American officials established the current boundary along the Essequibo River, largely favoring Guyana.

Venezuela maintains that a 1966 Geneva agreement to resolve the dispute invalidated the 19th-century arbitration. But in 2018, three years after ExxonMobil discovered significant oil reserves off Essequibo’s coast, Guyana asked the International Court of Justice to confirm the 1899 boundary decision.

Tensions escalated in 2023 when Rodríguez’s predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, threatened military annexation of the region following a referendum on incorporating Essequibo as a Venezuelan state. Maduro was captured January 3 during a U.S. military operation in Caracas and transported to New York to face drug trafficking charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

While avoiding mention of the referendum, Rodríguez told the court that the 1966 Geneva agreement was designed to facilitate bilateral negotiations between Venezuela and Guyana. She criticized Guyana’s government for making an “opportunistic” decision to seek judicial resolution.

“At a time when the mechanisms established in the Geneva agreement were still fully in force, Guyana unilaterally chose to shift the dispute from the negotiating arena to a judicial resolution,” she explained. “This change was not accidental; it coincided with the discovery in 2015 of the oil field that would become world-renowned.”

Last week’s opening statements featured Guyana’s foreign minister, Hugh Hilton Todd, telling international judges that the dispute “has been a blight on our existence as a sovereign state from the very beginning.” He noted that 70% of Guyana’s territory hangs in the balance.

The court will likely require several months to issue its final, legally binding decision.

Venezuela has cautioned that its participation in the proceedings does not constitute acceptance or acknowledgment of the court’s authority over the matter.

Hundreds of displaced Haitians found themselves sleeping on streets near the capital’s main airport Monday after weekend gang battles forced them from their homes in Port-au-Prince.

Among those seeking refuge along the highway was 56-year-old Monique Verdieux, who escaped after witnessing armed groups setting fire to homes in her community. Her family members fled in separate directions, leaving her uncertain of their whereabouts.

“I am now sleeping in the street,” Verdieux explained, emphasizing that returning home remained too dangerous.

The violent confrontations between rival gangs broke out during the weekend throughout multiple northern districts of Haiti’s capital, forcing displaced residents onto the roadway that connects to Toussaint Louverture International Airport.

Criminal organizations have seized control of over 90% of Port-au-Prince following President Jovenal Moïse’s murder at his residence in July 2021. Law enforcement officials report these groups have broadened their criminal operations beyond the capital, engaging in theft, abductions, and sexual violence throughout rural areas. The country has remained without a president since the killing occurred.

During the past two weeks, Haiti’s Barbancourt rum company along with two major beverage bottling firms have raised alarms about worsening security near the Port-au-Prince airport, where flight operations face significant limitations.

The businesses issued a joint declaration Sunday criticizing the government’s crisis response as “largely insufficient,” while highlighting how deteriorated road conditions around the airport hinder Haitian security personnel from effectively patrolling the vicinity.

“You cannot secure an airport if you allow the roads around it to degrade,” their statement declared.

Initial international military personnel connected to a United Nations anti-gang mission reached Haiti in April to assist in combating persistent violence.

The U.N. Security Council granted approval in late September for deploying a 5,550-member peacekeeping force, though the complete contingent has yet to arrive on the Caribbean island.

Research published this year by the International Organization for Migration revealed that gang-related violence has uprooted more than 1.4 million Haitians, with roughly 200,000 currently residing in overcrowded and underfunded displacement camps throughout the nation’s capital.

Medical facilities in Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil district cleared out patients on Monday while the international aid organization Doctors Without Borders suspended operations as armed gang violence that started two weeks ago worsened during the weekend.

The humanitarian group, known internationally as MSF, reported that hundreds of local residents fled to their medical facility for safety, where a security guard was wounded by gunfire that entered the hospital grounds. A separate medical facility reported moving newborn babies from their intensive care ward to safety.

During a comprehensive CBS 60 Minutes interview, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that Israel and the United States maintain their commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, suggesting military operations could restart if diplomatic approaches prove unsuccessful. He emphasized that the ongoing conflict has fundamentally altered Middle Eastern power dynamics.

When questioned about whether the conflict with Iran had concluded, Netanyahu responded: “I think it accomplished a great deal, but it’s not over because there’s still nuclear material, enriched uranium that has to be taken out of Iran.” He highlighted that uranium enrichment facilities require dismantling, Iran’s proxy network continues operating, and Tehran persists in ballistic missile development. “There are still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled. There are still proxies that Iran supports.”

The Israeli Prime Minister indicated that President Trump shares his position that Iran cannot be permitted to maintain nuclear weapons capabilities. Referencing discussions with President Trump during both 2016 and the 2024 campaign period, Netanyahu recalled the president consistently stating: “We cannot let Iran have nuclear weapons.”

According to Netanyahu, while sanctions and economic measures during Trump’s initial presidency temporarily slowed Iran’s nuclear advancement, they ultimately proved insufficient. “They went back to enrichment. They went back to full, their full efforts on nuclear, to develop a nuclear weapon,” he explained. Netanyahu claimed Iran was “very close” to acquiring nuclear weapons before Israeli and American operations struck their infrastructure.

When pressed about methods for removing enriched uranium from Iran, Netanyahu avoided detailing military strategies but mentioned President Trump’s belief that the material could be physically extracted through an agreement. “If you have an agreement and you go in and you take it out, why not?” he stated. He consistently declined to elaborate on potential military contingencies, noting only that both nations could “reengage them militarily” when necessary.

Netanyahu characterized Iran as experiencing its greatest weakness since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, citing economic damage, internal divisions, and public unrest that have destabilized the regime. “There are fissures in the regime,” he observed, noting that some officials worry about economic collapse and potential popular uprisings. He credited combined US-Israeli attacks on petrochemical facilities, steel plants, and missile infrastructure with substantially weakening Tehran.

However, Netanyahu avoided predicting regime change definitively. “Is it possible? Yes. Is it guaranteed? No,” he stated. Drawing parallels to the Soviet Union’s collapse and communist Romania’s fall, he noted that authoritarian governments often seem stable until experiencing sudden collapse.

The Prime Minister revealed that Israeli intelligence has extensively infiltrated Iran and conducted what he termed “surgical attacks” on scientists, commanders, and senior officials. Nevertheless, he dismissed suggestions that Israeli operations alone could spark a revolution. “One out of 100 Iranians is in the secret police,” he said, describing the regime as relying on terror and oppression.

Netanyahu also challenged New York Times reporting suggesting he privately assured President Trump that joint operations could guarantee regime change. He emphasized both leaders understood the risks and uncertainties involved. “There was danger in action,” he said, “but there’s greater danger in not taking action.”

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz situation, Netanyahu commended the United States’ blockade approach against Iran, describing it as “a brilliant move.” While acknowledging that Iran’s shipping threats created worldwide economic disruption, he said Tehran miscalculated the repercussions. “They should have understood that that would eventually cause … a reaction that was very powerful,” he commented.

Concerning Lebanon, Netanyahu claimed Israel had eliminated over 90% of Hezbollah’s missile and rocket arsenal, which he said previously totaled 150,000 projectiles targeted at Israeli cities. “Hezbollah is basically a proxy of Iran,” he stated, accusing the organization of controlling Lebanon. He reported Israel had created a security zone in southern Lebanon to prevent another large-scale infiltration similar to the October 7 Hamas attack.

Netanyahu dismissed the concept that any ceasefire with Iran should automatically include Hezbollah. “They want Hezbollah to stay there and continue to torture Lebanon,” he said regarding Tehran’s stance. When asked if he would accept such conditions even under President Trump’s pressure, Netanyahu answered: “No.”

The Israeli leader argued that weakening Iran would similarly weaken Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. “The whole scaffolding of the terrorist proxy network that Iran built collapses if the regime in Iran collapses,” he said, while acknowledging the process would take time.

Addressing Gaza, Netanyahu admitted Hamas had failed to fulfill previous commitments to disarm and demilitarize under earlier agreements. “Hamas promised to do it, and they violated the deal,” he said. While weapons production and smuggling operations had been significantly curtailed, Netanyahu stated: “The disarmament and the demilitarization of Hamas has not been done.”

He pledged Israel would ultimately ensure Hamas could no longer endanger Israeli civilians. “We are not going to let Hamas ever threaten Israel again,” he declared, adding that Israel preferred achieving this objective “the easy way” if possible.

Netanyahu firmly rejected allegations that Israel was conducting indiscriminate attacks in Gaza and Lebanon. “We’re as discriminating and surgical as any army has ever been in history,” he asserted, claiming Israel had taken exceptional steps to warn civilians through phone calls, leaflets, and text messages. He blamed Hamas and Hezbollah for intentionally positioning themselves among civilian populations.

The Prime Minister also contended that Israel was losing the “social media war,” particularly among younger Americans. He alleged foreign governments and coordinated “bot farms” were manipulating online conversations to undermine Israel support and damage US-Israel relations. “While we were fighting the physical military battle on seven battlefields … we were completely exposed on the eighth front, the media war,” he said.

Netanyahu expressed his desire for Israel to eventually eliminate American military aid completely and replace it with joint defense and technology partnerships. “I want to draw down the American support for Israel to zero,” he said, proposing collaborative projects involving missile defense, intelligence, and advanced technologies. “We’ve come of age,” he added, citing Israel’s technology economy and expanding regional relationships.

The Prime Minister also suggested several Arab nations were pursuing closer strategic cooperation with Israel following the Iran conflict. “Let’s strengthen our alliance with Israel,” he said some regional leaders were privately communicating. Netanyahu connected these developments to the Abraham Accords and expressed belief that new partnerships involving energy, artificial intelligence, and defense cooperation were achievable.

Regarding Chinese and Russian support for Iran, Netanyahu said China had provided “a certain amount of support on particular components of missile manufacturing,” while characterizing Russian assistance during the conflict as limited and inconsistent.

Near the interview’s conclusion, Netanyahu rejected claims that he pursued war for political gain. Before October 7, he noted, he was often criticized for being too militarily restrained. However, after Hamas’ attack, he determined Israel faced a coordinated effort by Iran and its proxies to eliminate the Jewish state. “It’s not going to happen. Not on my watch,” he concluded.

A well-known Arab Israeli activist is taking steps toward launching a political party for Israel’s next national elections, according to reports from The Jerusalem Post. Yoseph Haddad is reportedly discussing a potential collaboration with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who previously served as Jerusalem’s deputy mayor.

This development represents a potential transition from advocacy work to electoral politics for Haddad as Israel gears up for elections that must occur by October at the latest. Sources familiar with Haddad’s plans provided details to Israeli media outlets about the emerging political venture.

Haddad has become one of Israel’s most recognizable Arab voices in public diplomacy efforts. The Christian Arab hails from Nazareth and served with the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade, where he sustained severe injuries during the 2006 Second Lebanon War. Following his military service, he established Together Vouch for Each Other, a group dedicated to advancing Arab participation in Israeli society.

Recent months have brought growing speculation about whether Haddad might leverage his public recognition and substantial social media presence to secure parliamentary representation. Israel Hayom reported that Haddad has begun concrete preparations for political entry, including consultations with an attorney who specializes in establishing political parties. Associates of Haddad informed the publication that “Big things are coming.”

Polling data from the Midgam Institute, commissioned by Haddad supporters and published by Israel Hayom in February, suggested a Haddad-led party might secure four parliamentary seats – sufficient to meet Israel’s minimum threshold for representation. The survey indicated such a party could attract supporters from Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Bennett 2026 party, which is running alongside Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid on the Together list. Haddad’s entrance into the political arena could potentially shift the dynamics between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and opposition forces.

When the February polling results emerged, Haddad stated, “All options are on the table.”

Hassan-Nahoum, a British-born politician, held the position of Jerusalem deputy mayor from 2018 through 2023 and previously served on the Jerusalem City Council. She currently works as a special envoy for trade innovation within the Foreign Affairs Ministry and holds the role of secretary-general for Kol Israel, a World Zionist Congress faction.

A political alliance between Haddad and Hassan-Nahoum would presumably target voters interested in a Zionist, civic-minded agenda emphasizing Arab involvement in Israeli public service, national duty, and fostering a more encompassing Israeli national identity. The success of such a parliamentary campaign will ultimately hinge on organizational capacity, financial resources, strategic partnerships, and navigating Israel’s challenging electoral requirements.

Israeli parliament members are pushing forward with legislation to establish specialized courts for prosecuting those accused in the October 7 attacks, arguing that current anti-terrorism laws weren’t designed to handle such a massive and historically significant assault.

The proposed legislation, developed through rare cooperation between governing coalition and opposition members, would create dedicated court procedures for October 7 defendants. This includes specialized judicial panels, modified evidence rules, faster proceedings, public documentation, enhanced victim rights, and potential death penalties for the most serious offenses. The bill’s creators emphasize this is distinct from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s separate efforts to broaden death penalty applications for terrorists.

According to materials from the bill’s sponsors, the legislation centers on three primary objectives: swift, focused, and uncompromising legal proceedings; giving victims a voice; and ensuring permanent historical record. The sponsors position this proposal not just as legal machinery but as a moral and historical statement designed to transform the prosecution of alleged October 7 attackers into justice for future generations.

During a press conference, opposition parliament member Yulia Malinovsky from Yisrael Beitenu declared alongside Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin: “This is the modern Eichmann trial. Just as there was Nuremberg and later Eichmann, this is what this law creates.”

Israel has executed only two individuals in its history: IDF officer Meir Tobianski in 1948, who was convicted by military tribunal during the Independence War and later cleared posthumously in 1949, and Adolf Eichmann in 1962, a key Holocaust architect. By referencing Eichmann and Nuremberg, the bill’s supporters are positioning the October 7 trials as more than criminal cases—they’re framing them as national documentation and historical judgment.

Rothman characterized the legislation as an extraordinary moment of political cooperation around an incident he said couldn’t be handled as routine criminal proceedings.

“This is not a partisan event, and not a personal event,” Rothman stated. “It is a national event.”

He noted that legislators who “normally cannot agree on which side the sun rises and which side it sets” collaborated in “complete harmony” on this bill.

“The October 7 massacre was not an attack on a specific community or a specific individual,” Rothman explained. “It was an attack on the entire Jewish people standing against enemies who seek to destroy it.”

Parliament members presented the bill as addressing an assault they believe standard criminal procedures cannot properly manage. The proposed system aims to handle large defendant numbers, sensitive evidence, victim participation, public access, and long-term preservation of trial records.

The legislation would cover crimes committed by enemy attackers from October 7 through October 10, 2023, defining relevant offenses as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against the Jewish people.

Levin identified the primary challenge as preventing proceedings that would extend for years under standard criminal procedures. “If these proceedings were conducted at the normal pace of legal proceedings in Israel, it would take an extraordinarily long time before they reached a conclusion,” Levin said.

The justice minister explained that drafters worked to build a system that would operate faster while maintaining process credibility. “We invested enormous effort and thought into creating the optimal combination between the desire to work efficiently and the need to preserve the essential principles required for a fair trial,” he stated.

The proposed system would feature main trial panels with three judges, including at least one district-level judge. Appeals would go before three-judge panels led by retired Supreme Court justices alongside senior district-level judges.

The case scale represents one reason lawmakers cite for needing separate procedures. Levin said Israel faces “hundreds of defendants” and legal questions that standard trials aren’t equipped to handle.

“There are solutions here for very complex questions, including how to conduct a trial when there may be 20, 30, or 40 defendants in the same case,” Levin noted.

Rothman confirmed the exact suspect number remains classified but acknowledged the scope has expanded as investigations progressed.

“When we began this process, the numbers were in the dozens,” he said. “As time passed, more intelligence was uncovered, more investigations matured, and the numbers developed.”

The bill would permit courts to modify standard procedural and evidence rules when needed to uncover truth in exceptionally large cases while maintaining proceeding fairness. Sponsors cite examples including written testimony in limited situations, preliminary proceedings before single judges, and rules to help manage indictments with multiple defendants.

The proposed system also emphasizes public memory unusually strongly. Proceedings would be recorded, archived, and accessible through a dedicated digital platform, creating records for courts, Israeli society, and future generations.

“We wrote into the law that the trial will be filmed and broadcast,” Malinovsky said. “There will be a dedicated website and archives in order to preserve the memory.” Malinovsky suggested part of the purpose involves forcing renewed international focus on October 7.

“The world forgot October 7,” she stated. “The media forgot. People moved on to other issues. These trials will remind the world what happened.”

Levin opened the event by characterizing the legislation as a moral obligation to those killed, injured, kidnapped, and left behind.

“For the memory of the murdered, for their families, for the wounded, for the hostages, and for the entire people,” Levin said, “we must fulfill our highest moral obligation and bring the perpetrators of the massacre to justice.”

The legislation would expand protections and rights for victims and grieving families, including rights to receive proceeding information, privacy protection, separation from defendants when needed, and access to public broadcasts and trial documentation.

Malinovsky described the legislation as parliament’s response to a day when many Israelis felt helpless.

“We are not soldiers,” she said. “We are legislators. This is our battlefield.”

The proposal includes capital punishment provisions. Rothman said the law would allow courts to impose the harshest penalties available under Israeli law.

“The law says clearly that the harshest punishments in Israel’s legal system will apply, including the death penalty,” Rothman stated.

The system would require political-level determination before executing death sentences: The defense minister, after consulting the justice minister, would decide implementation timing and method. Implementation regulations would need approval from the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the Knesset.

Nevertheless, Malinovsky emphasized that decisions would remain with judges.

“In the end, these are decisions of Israeli judges,” she said. “The entire system is built so the process will be efficient and fast, but while preserving the principles of justice, including public proceedings and victims’ rights.”

That balance—speed, documentation, punishment, and due process—will likely be central to legal debates over the measure. Special evidence rules, accelerated proceedings, filmed trials, and capital punishment could draw examination from legal experts, civil liberties advocates, and international observers, even with broad political Knesset support.

The proposal includes an unusual legal representation provision. The state wouldn’t provide representation through Israel’s public defender system as standard practice. If defendants lack lawyers, courts could appoint private defense attorneys to ensure fair trials, with attorney fees paid from tax funds Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority rather than directly from Israeli taxpayers.

Another sensitive issue involves a proposed amendment preventing October 7 massacre participants from release in future prisoner or hostage deals.

“We believed it would not be appropriate for participants in the October 7 massacre ever to be released in any future agreement,” Malinovsky said. “This is also a very clear moral statement.”

Such provisions would carry political and diplomatic weight. Israel has repeatedly released convicted prisoners in past exchange deals, and legal restrictions on future releases could affect government flexibility in hostage negotiations or future agreements.

Rothman acknowledged the clause raised legal and political difficulties, including within coalition and opposition, but said he would support it.

“I know there are complexities surrounding this proposal for many reasons,” Rothman said. “But I will support it, and I will call on my colleagues in the coalition to support it as well.”

The legislation would also adjust detention periods to investigation and prosecution needs, modifying certain deadlines and mechanisms to reflect October 7 case scale and complexity.

The lawmakers defended the bill against expected legal challenges and international criticism. Levin said the framework was drafted considering how trials would be viewed internationally, especially in the United States and other Western nations.

“There are countries in the world that support terrorism and support Hamas regardless of what happens,” Levin said. “We certainly do not act according to their dictates.” Still, he argued most countries would understand the need to prosecute attackers. “I think that in other countries there is understanding and agreement that these terrorists must stand trial. Both for justice and for the future.”

“When people see how these proceedings are conducted, they will recognize them as fair trials,” he added.

Malinovsky said she doesn’t expect Israel’s High Court of Justice to strike down the law, arguing it was drafted with legal advisers and relevant state bodies.

“When you know how to legislate wisely, and you understand the limits of power, you reach the desired result,” she said. “This law is balanced.”

The proposal also outlines logistical and security frameworks around trials, including dedicated Israel Prison Service security units for military courts, detention facilities and budgets, information-sharing mechanisms among justice and security agencies, and centralized defendant and witness registries, subject to legal restrictions.

Rothman said the bill expects support from approximately 110 Knesset members, an unusually high number in Israel’s divided 120-member parliament.

“This is the Knesset at its best,” he said. “If I was elected for this law and for this moment, then I feel I fulfilled my mission.”

For the bill’s sponsors, the legislation represents a historic justice framework following the deadliest attack in Israeli history. For Israel’s legal system, it may become a test of whether exceptional procedures, public memory, victim rights, capital punishment, adapted evidence rules, security logistics, and fair-trial guarantees can coexist within one courtroom.

Israeli military authorities announced Monday the death of Staff Sgt. (Res.) Alexander Globenyov, age 47, from Petah Tikva, who died following a drone strike near the Lebanese border. The explosive devices, launched from Lebanese territory, detonated within Israeli boundaries in what military officials characterized as another ceasefire violation by Hezbollah.

The 47-year-old reservist worked as a primary vehicle operator within the 6924 Transporters Battalion. Military sources report that Globenyov lost his life when one of multiple unmanned aircraft exploded in the border region during the assault.

In a heartbreaking interview with Ynet studio, his mother Flora Globnyov remembered her son as “a very good person.”

“He was my only son, I have no one now. He had golden hands. He was an athlete. We came to Israel in 1996,” she told reporters. “They told us it happened at the border; he was at the base. We spoke two days ago for the last time. I was afraid. I was in touch with him, and he said everything was fine.”

The grieving mother revealed that Globenyov is survived by two children – an infant daughter just 8 months old and a teenage son of 15.

“What will I do now? My life is over,” she expressed in her grief.

President Trump firmly dismissed Iran’s counter-proposal to an American peace initiative on Monday, declaring their terms unacceptable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated: “I just read the response from Iran’s ‘representatives.’ I don’t like it – completely unacceptable!”

According to diplomatic sources speaking to Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen, Iran’s counter-proposal contained several key demands: termination of economic blockades, authority over the Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor, removal of U.S. economic sanctions, and access to frozen Iranian assets. The sources indicated Iran’s proposal also featured provisions regarding a Lebanese ceasefire, which they characterized as among Tehran’s non-negotiable conditions.

Meanwhile, America’s position has emphasized unrestricted navigation through maritime corridors and suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities.

The same diplomatic sources revealed that Iran suggested continuing future discussions through written correspondence via Pakistan. Iran’s reported framework also outlined a 30-day negotiation period following any halt in hostilities to resolve outstanding issues. Sources emphasized that Iran demanded any Washington agreement must trigger immediate warfare cessation upon announcement.

According to the source, Iran’s draft demanded “an immediate end to the war and a guarantee that it will not be attacked again.” The source additionally noted Iran sought prompt termination of maritime blockades once preliminary agreements are signed.

A high-ranking Iranian official speaking to Al Jazeera characterized Tehran’s response as “realistic and positive,” explaining it prioritized ending regional warfare, “especially in Lebanon,” while addressing disputes with Washington.

On Sunday evening, Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran “has been playing games with the United States and the rest of the world for 47 years (delay, delay, delay!).”

He continued: “For 47 years, the Iranians have been ‘squeezing’ us,” killing US citizens in roadside bombs, executing tens of thousands of their own citizens and “laughing at our country, which is now great again. They won’t be laughing anymore!”

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam indicated Sunday his nation would be willing to explore a peace deal with Israel, provided specific conditions are satisfied, though he emphasized the government’s top priority remains halting current combat and establishing a withdrawal schedule for Israeli military forces from Lebanese soil.

During a television interview with Al-Arabiya, Salam explained that ongoing discussions with Israel focus on Lebanon’s requirement for “a clear agenda for Israeli withdrawal.” He noted that Beirut’s stance continues to prioritize “stopping hostilities and ending the war.”

“The majority of Lebanese support negotiations to stop the war,” he stated.

The Prime Minister characterized Lebanon as having been unwillingly drawn into conflict, saying the country “did not choose the war, but was dragged into the confrontation between Iran and the United States.” His remarks came amid continued exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a US-brokered ceasefire announced in April, while Washington works to prevent the Lebanese conflict from expanding into a broader regional war involving Iran.

Salam described the devastation in southern Lebanon’s city of Bint Jbeil as having “become a copy of Gaza” due to extensive damage, and reported that 86 Lebanese villages remain under Israeli control. Israeli officials maintain their southern Lebanon operations target Hezbollah positions near the border to protect northern Israeli communities from future threats. Lebanese authorities insist complete Israeli military withdrawal must occur before any permanent agreement can be established.

The Lebanese administration has worked to position diplomatic efforts as a means to end warfare without characterizing it as normalization with Israel. Earlier this week, Salam stated Lebanon wants “peace, not normalization with Israel,” reiterating that a withdrawal timeline represents Beirut’s basic requirement. He also indicated Lebanon plans to consolidate weapons under government control, a stance that would directly confront Hezbollah’s autonomous military capabilities.

The two nations technically remain in a state of war with no formal diplomatic ties. Recent US-facilitated discussions in Washington have examined security frameworks, military pullbacks, and potential ceasefire structures, though Salam has indicated circumstances aren’t ready for senior-level political negotiations.

Costa Rica’s newly sworn-in President Laura Fernández Delgado has informed Israeli President Isaac Herzog of her intention to relocate Costa Rica’s Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv back to Jerusalem, sources from Herzog’s office confirmed Friday.

This diplomatic shift would undo a 2006 policy change implemented by former President Óscar Arias, who had moved the embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to align Costa Rican foreign policy with international standards and strengthen relationships with Arab nations.

The discussion took place during a meeting in San José following Fernández’s presidential inauguration ceremony, which Herzog attended as Israel’s official representative. According to Herzog’s office, this marked Fernández’s inaugural official presidential meeting.

For many years prior to 2006, Costa Rica had operated its Israeli embassy in Jerusalem. The relocation to Tel Aviv was part of broader international diplomatic practice, as most nations maintain their Israeli embassies there due to ongoing disputes over Jerusalem’s final status in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, while Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the future capital of their proposed state.

Fernández officially began her 2026-2030 presidential term on Friday, taking over from outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. Her administration is anticipated to maintain many of Chaves’ policy priorities, particularly emphasizing security matters and strengthening relationships with the United States. During the inauguration events, Herzog conducted meetings with multiple regional and international dignitaries.

Herzog’s diplomatic schedule included discussions with Spain’s King Felipe VI, Chilean President José Antonio Kast, Honduran President Nasry Asfura, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, and Dominican President Rodolfo Abinader Corona.

Reflecting on his Latin American visit, Herzog expressed his impressions before departing for Israel. “I was moved to see the depth of appreciation for Israel, the great interest in its capabilities, and the recognition of its unique contribution to humanity,” Herzog stated.

He further commented on regional diplomatic trends, saying, “In contrast to many voices on the international stage, a positive trend of change, tightening of ties, and deepening of cooperation with Israel is evident in Latin America.”

During his stay, Herzog also participated in Shabbat morning services at San José’s Centro Israelita Sionista de Costa Rica, where he performed the Haftarah reading and spoke to the assembled congregation.

Haiti’s Prime Minister announced Monday that deteriorating security conditions will prevent the Caribbean nation from conducting its scheduled August presidential election, as violent gangs continue to terrorize the country.

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime made the announcement during a radio interview, stating that safety concerns make it impossible to proceed with voting as planned. The Caribbean’s most populated country has been waiting nearly ten years for a presidential election.

“It is clear that the security conditions are not met at the level for us to have elections in August,” Fils-Aime told Le Nouvelliste newspaper’s editor-in-chief during the Magik9 radio broadcast.

The Prime Minister expressed hope for conducting elections before year’s end, adding: “I would like for elections to happen by the end of the year. On February 7, we would have an elected president.”

Fils-Aime assumed leadership from a transitional presidential council this past February 7, a date traditionally significant for Haiti’s power transitions, though leaders often ignore this timeline to extend their rule.

The electoral process has faced numerous postponements as armed criminal organizations have strengthened their grip on the capital city and expanded into Haiti’s rural and central regions. This violence has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced more than one million residents from their homes in recent years.

Haiti’s previous president, Jovenel Moise, was murdered in 2021 after postponing elections. His assassination created a leadership void that allowed already powerful gangs to gain control over nearly all of Port-au-Prince.

The deteriorating security situation has hampered election preparations, as criminal groups solidify partnerships and extend their reach throughout the country, making it nearly impossible for officials to ensure legitimate and fair voting procedures.

Meanwhile, both the United Nations and United States have linked their promises to assist Haiti’s security forces with the government’s commitment to conducting elections.

Voter registration was supposed to begin April 1, and the electoral council had set August 30 for the first round of voting, with a runoff scheduled for December. More than 280 political organizations received approval to participate.

“We are not going to hand an encyclopedia to the population to choose from,” Fils-Aime explained. “Choice is a good thing but too much choice is not necessarily what is needed. I would love for us to have elections with 10 to 15 presidential candidates.”

The Prime Minister indicated his administration is negotiating with political organizations regarding electoral regulations, though he remains unsatisfied with the council’s proposed election budget.

Business leaders have recently reported increased gang attacks nationwide. Delphine Gardere, who leads the 154-year-old Rhum Barbancourt distillery, confirmed that one of her workers was fatally shot overnight in the capital city.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South African lawmakers announced Monday they will form an impeachment committee to examine four-year-old accusations that President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged in serious misconduct by concealing the robbery of more than $580,000 in cash that was hidden in furniture at his wildlife ranch.

The announcement comes after the nation’s highest court ruled Friday that Parliament’s 2022 decision to halt impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa violated constitutional procedures.

During that earlier vote, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress held a parliamentary majority. Lawmakers voted to stop the proceedings despite an independent investigation that found evidence suggesting the president failed to properly notify police about the theft and attempted to secretly conduct his own recovery efforts.

Last week’s Constitutional Court decision stated that proper procedure required the 2022 independent investigation to be sent to an impeachment committee for additional review.

Removing the leader of Africa’s largest economy would need backing from at least two-thirds of the 400 Parliament members, as outlined in the Constitution.

The multi-party impeachment panel must complete its investigation before any impeachment vote can occur. Monday’s parliamentary announcement did not specify a timeline for this process.

Following a historic 2024 election, Ramaphosa’s ANC lost its parliamentary majority and now leads a coalition government comprising 10 parties. He could still survive impeachment if his party members support him.

The controversy severely tarnished the image of a president who assumed office in 2018 promising to fight corruption after ten years of government scandals under previous leader Jacob Zuma.

The accusations first surfaced when a former state security agency director visited a police station in 2022, alleging the president committed money laundering and other crimes related to the stolen funds. It later became known that the 2020 theft had been kept hidden.

Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence, explaining the U.S. currency came from legitimate buffalo sales at his ranch. Questions persisted about the money’s origin and why it was concealed in a sofa.

The 2022 independent investigation concluded there was “legitimate doubt” about the money’s source, with some evidence suggesting the amount exceeded Ramaphosa’s claimed $580,000. The report also found that Ramaphosa used his presidential security chief and others to “surreptitiously” pursue the theft suspects.

“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favor or prejudice,” his office stated Friday after the court ruling that revived the scandal.

A German humanitarian rescue vessel came under gunfire from Libyan coast guard ships on Monday after pulling approximately 90 migrants from a dangerously overcrowded wooden boat in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the aid organization operating the ship.

The German nonprofit Sea-Watch reported that its vessel, the Sea-Watch 5, was attacked following a rescue mission conducted around 8 a.m. GMT on Monday, roughly 27 miles off Libya’s coastline. According to the organization, the approaching ships “fired live ammunition, first a single shot and then a burst of 10 to 15 rounds, and ordered the ship to stop.”

Officials from Libya’s government in Tripoli have not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.

Libya’s coastline serves as a primary launching point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa in small vessels, with thousands perishing during these dangerous voyages.

According to Sea-Watch, approximately 30 crew members and the rescued individuals were on board during the attack and experienced genuine fear for their safety. The crew broadcast a mayday distress signal and notified both Italian and German officials, subsequently issuing a second emergency call when two additional Libyan coast guard vessels appeared in the vicinity.

An Italian coast guard representative confirmed they received notification of the incident. “This appears to be a security incident, for which the relevant bodies and authorities have been informed, including the vessel’s flag state (Germany),” stated spokesperson Roberto D’Arrigo, noting the ship was operating within the search-and-rescue zone under Libyan authority when the confrontation occurred.

The search-and-rescue zone represents the area where local authorities manage responses to maritime emergencies.

Italian coast guard officials later escorted the Sea-Watch 5 away from the area, with the vessel proceeding north toward the Italian port of Brindisi, which authorities designated as a safe harbor.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Julia Winkler expressed concern for passenger and crew safety, urging European governments to take action against what she characterized as an assault by forces “paid and legitimized by them.”

The European Union maintains an arrangement with Libya’s government aimed at decreasing migrant flows through the country. Since 2015, the EU has provided Libya with 700 million euros ($824 million), with much of this funding directed toward strengthening border control measures.

Sea-Watch confirmed that all individuals aboard the migrant vessel were successfully rescued.

The aid organization emphasized that hostile encounters have continued during rescue missions in this region, referencing comparable incidents from recent years.

In August of last year, humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee reported that Libya’s coast guard opened fire on their vessel, the Ocean Viking, while it searched for a migrant boat in distress in the Mediterranean.

Italy’s migration strategy in the central Mediterranean has historically depended on collaboration with Libya to prevent departures, including providing support, training and equipment to Libyan coast guard forces for intercepting migrant vessels.

Critics, particularly humanitarian organizations, argue this arrangement has intensified conflicts with rescue groups and subjected migrants to mistreatment when intercepted and returned to Libya, while also creating confrontations between Libyan patrol units and NGO ships.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Dutch authorities have formally charged a 37-year-old man with terrorism in connection with a bombing at the headquarters of the nation’s ruling political party, officials announced Monday during a court hearing that extended his detention for another two weeks.

The explosive device detonated on May 8 after being inserted through a mail slot at the D66 party offices, a centrist political organization. While no injuries occurred, the blast happened while approximately 30 young party members were conducting a meeting inside the building. Prime Minister Rob Jetten described the attendees as shaken but physically unharmed during his weekly press briefing.

Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity, following standard Dutch privacy laws, and he was taken into custody immediately following the incident. Officials report that the man has remained silent regarding his reasons for the attack.

“The man is suspected of causing an explosion with terrorist intent. An explosion targeting the headquarters of a political party instills fear in a part of the population. For this reason, the terrorist motive has been charged,” The Hague Public Prosecutor’s Office stated in their official announcement.

Speaking to media representatives on Friday, Jetten, who assumed office in February, dismissed the intimidation attempt. “It was pretty futile if you think you can intimidate politicians with these kinds of actions,” he said.

This marks the second assault on the same downtown Hague facility within twelve months. Last September, the building suffered damage during a violent right-wing protest that turned destructive, occurring just weeks before the country’s national elections.

The Eurovision Song Contest is implementing significant changes to its voting system after facing criticism over Israel’s ability to rally public support in last year’s competition, which was already marked by boycotts over the country’s participation.

The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the 70-year-old musical celebration, has established new guidelines for 2026 aimed at preventing “disproportionate promotion campaigns” following concerns raised by multiple national broadcasters about the previous year’s results.

Israel’s entry “New Day Will Rise” secured an exceptionally high 83% of its total points from public voting, ultimately finishing second in the overall competition. In contrast, Austria’s winning song “Wasted Love” received only 41% of its points from the public and depended heavily on jury votes to claim victory.

Social media activity from Israel’s foreign ministry X account during last year’s semi-final actively promoted voting for singer Yuval Raphael, specifically noting that “you can vote up to 20 times.”

Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green explained the reasoning behind the rule changes without directly addressing the Israeli posts. “We saw some activity last year which we could describe as disproportionate marketing and promotional activity that we felt was out of sync with the nature of the show, so we put some rules in about that,” Green stated in an interview with Reuters.

The updated regulations reduce the maximum number of votes per caller from 20 to 10, with voters identified through their payment methods to prevent abuse.

This past Saturday, Green issued a formal warning to Israel’s national broadcaster KAN regarding online videos posted by this year’s contestant Noam Bettan that instructed viewers to “vote 10 times for Israel.” Officials determined that directly soliciting the maximum number of votes violated both contest rules and the competition’s spirit.

KAN responded by stating it “follows all EBU rules” and characterized the videos as “an independent initiative carried out by the artist’s close personal team, without any prohibited financing, similar to activities conducted by other contestants as well.”

Israel has not provided a direct response to questions about its promotional strategies from the previous year, though the country has frequently claimed it faces unfair global criticism, particularly since the Gaza conflict began.

These developments highlight the ongoing challenges Eurovision faces in managing what the EBU describes as the world’s largest and most complicated television voting system.

Green emphasized that encouraging diaspora support is common practice among participating nations. “All countries ask their people, particularly their diasporas – because of course you can’t vote for your own country in your own country – to get behind (them). It’s a sport. We are the Olympics of music, so there’s nothing unusual about that,” he said during Friday’s interview.

The European Broadcasting Union is now encouraging viewers to distribute their votes among multiple songs while implementing additional fraud prevention measures.

Despite the new restrictions, determined voters can still potentially cast up to 30 votes by using all three available payment methods: online, text message, and phone calls.

Juan Moreno-Ternero, an economics professor at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, Spain, who authored a 2022 academic study on Eurovision voting patterns, acknowledged the inherent challenges in any voting system. “You can always find pros and cons for almost any protocol,” he noted. “All voting rules, no matter what, are subject to manipulation.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court made public Monday an arrest warrant targeting a high-ranking Philippine senator connected to the brutal anti-narcotics campaign conducted under former President Rodrigo Duterte, which reportedly resulted in the extrajudicial executions of drug suspects.

The court document, initially issued under seal in November, accuses Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, who previously headed the Philippine national police force and served as a Duterte confidant, with crimes against humanity involving the murder of “no less than 32 persons” during a period spanning July 2016 through late April 2018.

Duterte, dela Rosa, and additional law enforcement leaders have rejected claims they sanctioned the executions of drug suspects, maintaining these individuals were fatally shot after purportedly posing threats to officers. Throughout his presidency, Duterte publicly and consistently issued death threats against drug suspects.

According to the court filing, judges determined after reviewing prosecutorial evidence that dela Rosa “made essential contributions to committing the alleged crime” of murder and designated him as an “indirect co-perpetrator.”

Dela Rosa made a surprise appearance at the Philippines Senate Monday following a summons related to a fresh inquiry into the suspected extrajudicial executions. Officers from the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to pursue dela Rosa upon his Senate arrival but were unsuccessful in apprehending him as he rushed into the legislative chamber seeking sanctuary among his senatorial colleagues.

Former Philippines Senator Antonio Trillanes displayed the warrant to reporters in Manila Monday, with the ICC subsequently verifying its legitimacy.

Dela Rosa previously held the position of national police commander under Duterte and was the initial official to implement the violent anti-drug initiative that resulted in thousands of deaths, primarily among small-time suspects. Philippine law enforcement authorities have called upon dela Rosa to present himself for questioning regarding his involvement in the Duterte administration’s killings.

Duterte faced arrest in March of the previous year and remains in custody in the Netherlands on crimes against humanity charges. These accusations also relate to the lethal anti-drug operations he authorized during his tenure. While he contests the charges, judicial officials have determined sufficient evidence exists to proceed with his trial. No trial date has been established, and Duterte has been absent from multiple court proceedings citing health issues.

The mass killings of predominantly poor drug suspects occurred both during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao city in the southern Philippines and following his 2016 presidential inauguration. The deaths resulting from police operations drew concern from human rights organizations and Western nations, particularly the United States.

MADRID – A married couple with American and German citizenship received prison sentences of nearly three years each after a Spanish court found them guilty of confining their three children to their residence for more than three years following pandemic-related anxieties about the outside world.

Spanish authorities convicted both the father and mother on Monday of family abandonment and inflicting psychological damage on their children. However, the court dismissed more severe unlawful detention charges that prosecutors had pursued, which could have resulted in 25-year sentences.

The father holds German citizenship, while the mother possesses dual nationality from both Germany and the United States. Court officials have withheld their identities to safeguard their children – a pair of nine-year-old twins and one 11-year-old.

The court mandated that each parent compensate their children with 30,000 euros (approximately $32,000) per child and removed their parental rights for a minimum of three years and four months.

Authorities took the couple into custody in April 2025 after uncovering that the children had spent several years living in unsanitary conditions at a residence on the outskirts of Oviedo, a northern Spanish city. The children had not attended formal schooling during this period.

The mother’s attorney, Javier Muñoz, defended the family’s situation, stating the children received home-based education and maintained “a stable family life” while being properly nourished.

Muñoz indicated that his clients, who have remained in custody since their arrest, felt “moderately satisfied” with the court’s decision but are contemplating an appeal of the verdict.

A court in Bolivia issued a contempt ruling against former President Evo Morales on Monday when he did not show up for a scheduled hearing, according to local media reports from La Razon.

The former leader, who ran Bolivia from 2006 until 2019, was supposed to appear in court to face criminal charges involving the trafficking of a minor.

The contempt citation adds another legal complication for Morales, who has been dealing with various legal challenges since leaving office.

BRUSSELS — Foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member nations broke through years of political stalemate Monday, unanimously approving fresh sanctions targeting both Hamas leadership and Israeli settler groups operating in the West Bank.

Following the Brussels meeting, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on social media that violence and extremism must face repercussions. “It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery,” she stated.

While ministers stopped short of implementing more aggressive economic measures advocated by certain European nations and withheld immediate specifics about the new restrictions, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the decision encompasses sanctions against Hamas leaders plus key figures and organizations within Israel’s West Bank settler movement.

“The European Union is sanctioning today the main Israeli organizations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonization of the West Bank, as well as their leaders. These most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay,” Barrot wrote on social media Monday.

“It is sanctioning the main leaders of Hamas, responsible for the worst antisemitic massacre in our history since the Shoah during which 51 French people lost their lives, a terrorist movement that must imperatively be disarmed and excluded from any participation in the future of Palestine,” Barrot added.

International observers, Palestinian officials, and human rights organizations have increasingly sounded alarms about escalating violence throughout the West Bank, where young Palestinian men face mounting casualties amid widespread arson, property destruction, and forced displacement of agricultural communities near settlement areas in the occupied territory.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs data shows at least 40 Palestinians have died since January began, with a record 11 killed by settlers — exceeding the total settler-related deaths for all of 2025 by two.

The unified EU decision reflects new political dynamics following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s removal from office last month after governing Budapest for 16 years. Orbán, a vocal ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had consistently blocked previous attempts to sanction Israeli settlers for West Bank activities.

Orbán’s April electoral defeat to Péter Magyar enabled Monday’s sanctions approval, “validates the notion that Orbán was blocking them single-handedly,” according to Martin Konečný, who leads the Brussels-based European Middle East Project.

These sanctions may represent a pivotal shift in EU-Israel relations. Growing criticism of Netanyahu’s government regarding its operations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran had driven multiple European governments — particularly Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands — to pursue such penalties.

“You can’t just turn a blind eye,” Luxembourg Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel commented before the meeting.

Nevertheless, EU diplomats could not reach consensus on more forceful measures to pressure Israel, such as prohibiting West Bank settlement products or suspending crucial trade agreements.

“There’s so much that you can and should be doing, and so to get stuck in this question of adding a few more settlers is missing the big picture,” said Hugh Lovatt, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “The EU’s narrowed the scope of action now to individuals and to a few entities, and in doing that it’s ignoring the far more systemic issues at play.”

Claudio Francavilla, Human Rights Watch associate EU director, called the sanctions “a step in the right direction, but so many more needed for the EU to comply with international law.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani indicated before the Brussels gathering that his government required additional time to examine a French-Swedish proposal for cutting West Bank settlers off from EU markets, essentially withholding Italian backing for the initiative despite rising domestic political pressure.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen noted that individual countries could independently ban settlement products should the Brussels process remain stalled.

The EU’s upcoming Foreign Affairs Council meeting later in May will concentrate on trade matters.

“We have been talking about measures for too long,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno said in Brussels. “Let’s move on to a vote and stop saying that there is no qualified majority for it. Let’s see how many of us are in agreement and who is not.”

BOGOTA, Colombia — Native organizations throughout the Amazon basin and Latin America plan to deliver a message Monday to the United Nations, calling attention to how organized criminal activity is fueling violence and environmental harm in rainforest communities. The groups are asking governments to tackle illegal mining, drug trafficking, and logging operations without deploying heavy military presence in Indigenous territories.

The correspondence, directed to U.N. member nations and departments including the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime and the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, describes how criminal operations are spreading throughout Amazon regions and other Indigenous lands in Latin America, putting communities, natural ecosystems, and local leadership at risk.

Those signing the correspondence say criminal expansion is damaging Indigenous leadership structures and endangering communities that have historically protected some of Earth’s most biologically diverse ecosystems.

The request comes as Indigenous communities throughout the Amazon basin face increasing pressure from both growing criminal operations and government security responses. Over recent years, unlawful gold extraction, timber harvesting, and narcotics trafficking have penetrated further into isolated rainforest areas in nations like Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, introducing violence, mercury pollution, and forest destruction.

International human rights organizations and U.N. specialists have expressed alarm about increasing attacks on Indigenous leaders and environmental activists connected to conflicts over territory, natural resources, and criminal enterprises throughout the Amazon. Global Witness reports that no fewer than 2,253 land and environmental advocates have been murdered or vanished worldwide from 2012 to 2024, with Latin America representing the majority of incidents.

In Peru, five individuals face trial for the 2023 murder of Indigenous advocate Quinto Inuma Alvarado, who had consistently exposed illegal timber operations and drug trafficking in his territory. Human rights organizations say most comparable murders in the region remain unprosecuted.

Raphael Hoetmer, Western Amazon Program Director at Amazon Watch, an environmental and Indigenous rights advocacy organization, said the correspondence demonstrates increasing concern among Indigenous organizations as these dangers grow.

“More and more Indigenous Peoples are experiencing the violence and impacts of illicit economies in their territories, so it is higher on the agenda,” he told The Associated Press in written comments. “Even four years ago this was not a central topic for most of our partners, but now it is one of the central topics for the wide majority.”

Hoetmer said criminal expansion is increasingly influencing daily life throughout large Amazon areas.

“The expansion and control of organized crime and violent conflict is taking over more and more of the Amazon, becoming a risk to their ways of living and to the global climate,” he said.

The correspondence warns that these situations are not only causing environmental harm but also undermining Indigenous leadership and territorial authority.

Unlawful gold extraction specifically has emerged as a significant cause of forest loss and mercury pollution throughout Amazon regions, while armed organizations and trafficking operations have attempted to control important river passages and Indigenous territories.

“Drug trafficking in the Amazon often connects with illegal mining, logging and land grabbing — a criminal ecosystem where environmental degradation disproportionately impacts local populations and Indigenous people,” said United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Deputy Director of Operations Jeremy Douglas in written statements to AP.

“Pushing back requires territorial protection, prioritizing environmental crimes, and cooperation against transnational organized crime networks active across the Amazon,” he added.

When providing the statements, the U.N. agency noted it had not yet reviewed the Indigenous organizations’ correspondence and that the response should not be considered an endorsement of its contents. UNODC said its Latin American offices are collaborating with Indigenous communities and national authorities to strengthen territorial protection and fight environmental crimes connected to organized criminal operations.

The AP also reached out to the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

The document received signatures from major Indigenous organizations including the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin, known as COICA, Brazil’s Indigenous umbrella organization APIB, Peru’s AIDESEP and Ecuador’s CONAIE, along with dozens of regional Indigenous federations and international advocacy organizations.

Ercilia Castañeda, vice president of Ecuador’s largest Indigenous organization, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, or CONAIE, said governments have increasingly addressed organized crime and illegal mining through militarization that has failed to solve the crisis in many Indigenous territories.

“Militarization has not provided answers,” she said.

Rather, she said, some communities have experienced displacement, fear, and psychological damage.

“It has affected their relationship with the land, with the water, with sacred sites, with their spiritual life,” she said. “We are talking about a deterioration of the identity and life of Indigenous peoples.”

Herlín Odicio, vice president of Organización Regional AIDESEP Ucayali, or ORAU, an Indigenous organization representing communities in Peru’s Amazon region of Ucayali, said organized crime organizations have increasingly modified their operations in Indigenous territories.

“Organized crime in Indigenous territories has changed its strategies significantly,” he said in a call with AP. “They no longer make direct threats. Now they use other strategies.”

Odicio said criminal organizations are increasingly integrating themselves into local political frameworks and campaigns to maintain control and continue operations in Indigenous territories.

He said criminal expansion has severely impacted Indigenous communities, where poverty and lack of government services leave many susceptible to recruitment into illegal operations.

“They recruit young people to work as ‘mochileros,’” he said, referring to people used to transport drugs or supplies through remote areas. “Then, in the end, when they no longer want them or do not want to pay them, they kill them.”

Odicio also warned of increasing sexual exploitation of Indigenous girls in communities and border regions affected by criminal organizations, some as young as 13 and 14, he said.

In the correspondence, organizations say government responses focused mainly on military force risk worsening conditions for Indigenous communities if they fail to acknowledge Indigenous territorial rights and self-governance systems.

“In light of this situation, it is essential that responses to organized crime and illicit economies do not translate into new processes of militarization, criminalization, or the subordination of Indigenous governance systems,” the letter says.

The correspondence asks the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to conduct a dedicated study on organized crime and illicit economies in Indigenous territories and urged U.N. agencies to include Indigenous perspectives in anti-crime and anti-corruption policies.

“We are talking about a deterioration of the identity and life of Indigenous peoples,” Castañeda said.

LONDON – The United Kingdom announced sanctions Monday against a dozen individuals and organizations allegedly connected to Iran, claiming they participated in hostile activities including attack planning and financial operations aimed at destabilizing Britain and other nations.

The sanctions target suspected members and affiliates of what British officials have identified as the Zindashti criminal network, along with multiple currency exchange businesses and financial operators.

British authorities stated the network engaged in Iranian-supported hostile operations, including making threats, planning or carrying out attacks against individuals and property in the UK and internationally.

Iran has consistently rejected claims of involvement in attacks or conspiracies within the UK and other nations.

The sanctions notice indicates some individuals face penalties for direct participation in hostile actions, while others are accused of supplying financial services or additional material assistance to enable such activities.

The punitive actions, detailed in an official government sanctions announcement, encompass asset freezes, travel restrictions and orders barring individuals from serving as company directors.

British officials said the sanctioned financial organizations had delivered services to people and groups connected to destabilizing operations, enabling Iran-linked networks to transfer and obtain funding despite international sanctions.

In recent weeks, law enforcement announced investigations into potential Iranian connections to a string of arson incidents targeting Jewish facilities in London, which triggered counter-terrorism investigations and alerts about hostile actions by Tehran or affiliated groups.

The UK elevated its national terrorism threat assessment to “severe,” representing the second-highest level, as police and government officials cautioned about increased attack risks and mounting concerns regarding hostile activities tied to foreign governments, including Iran.

European Union foreign ministers on Monday firmly dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder could serve as Europe’s representative in potential future security negotiations with Moscow.

Putin had indicated over the weekend that he believed the conflict in Ukraine was nearing its conclusion and expressed willingness to discuss new European security frameworks, with Schroeder as his preferred negotiating partner.

However, EU foreign ministers gathering in Brussels for their scheduled meeting expressed serious doubts about Russia’s genuine commitment to ending the conflict and engaging in authentic peace discussions for Europe.

The ministers completely rejected any involvement from Schroeder, who has maintained employment with Russian state enterprises and developed a personal friendship with Putin over the years.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas explained the obvious conflict of interest to reporters: “It’s clear why Putin wants him to be the person – so that actually … he would be sitting on both sides of the table. If we give the right to Russia to appoint a negotiator on our behalf … that would not be very wise.”

Germany’s Europe minister, Gunther Krichbaum, stated that Schroeder, who led Germany from 1998 to 2005, lacks the qualifications to serve as an “honest broker.”

“He is, and certainly has been, heavily influenced by Mr Putin. Close friendships may be legitimate anywhere in the world, but they do not help one to be perceived as an impartial mediator,” Krichbaum explained.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union has maintained a strategy of diplomatically isolating Moscow through comprehensive sanctions and minimal high-level political engagement.

Despite this approach, some European officials have begun advocating for direct EU engagement with Russia as U.S.-led peace efforts show limited advancement, particularly as Washington shifts focus to the conflict involving Iran.

European Council President Antonio Costa revealed last week that he has been consulting with fellow EU leaders “to organise ourselves and to identify what we need” for eventual discussions with Russia when “the right moment” arrives.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested the EU could participate in negotiations that would be “complementary” to U.S.-led talks, though he provided no additional specifics.

“We could talk about (a) new role of Europe,” Sybiha told Brussels reporters. “We have mainstream peace talks under the leadership of the U.S.A. and we need this track … but Europe could play also its role.”

Kallas and several other ministers emphasized that the EU should first intensify pressure on Russia and establish clear negotiating objectives before considering any discussions or selecting representatives.

“It’s not about choosing someone,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys. “We should get to the basics and the basics is to get our tools ready to pressure Russia.”

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger supported greater EU involvement in Russian negotiations and appointing a negotiating team.

“But we will decide that – Russia won’t decide it,” she declared.

WASHINGTON — A pivotal diplomatic meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled for May 14th and 15th in Beijing, with discussions potentially determining the trajectory of relations between the world’s two economic superpowers amid escalating international tensions.

The diplomatic discussions will cover a broad range of contentious issues including commercial disagreements, technology and artificial intelligence policies, Taiwan’s security situation, Middle Eastern peace initiatives, and China’s alleged connections to Iran. Additional topics on the table include agricultural trade agreements, Boeing aircraft transactions, export restrictions, and collaborative efforts to combat fentanyl and other illegal drugs.

Political experts suggest the likelihood of significant diplomatic victories remains minimal, though both countries seem committed to preventing further deterioration of relations between the globe’s dominant economic powers.

The situation surrounding Taiwan is anticipated to emerge as one of the most delicate subjects during negotiations. Reports indicate Beijing wants the self-governing territory to feature prominently in the conversations. Some advocates for Taiwan express concern that President Trump might adopt a more business-oriented stance regarding American support for Taipei. Former Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery has voiced worries that Taiwan might become a bargaining chip in discussions between the two leaders.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently called on the United States to “make the right choices” regarding Taiwan to preserve bilateral stability. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains that American policy remains unchanged, cautioning that any forced alteration of Taiwan’s circumstances would create regional and global instability.

The White House emphasizes ongoing American military assistance to Taiwan, highlighting that the Trump administration has authorized billions in defense equipment sales and aircraft components for the island’s protection.

The situation of imprisoned Christian publisher and Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai is also expected to arise during the summit. The 78-year-old activist’s family members have expressed hope that President Trump might help secure his freedom from detention. Trump has indicated his intention to discuss Lai’s case directly with Xi Jinping during their meetings.

OSLO, Norway — A Norwegian court announced Monday it will issue its decision next month in the criminal case against the stepson of Norway’s future king, who faces serious charges including rape that have brought unwanted attention to the royal family.

The Oslo District Court scheduled June 15 as the date for announcing the verdict in the prosecution of Marius Borg Høiby.

Following six weeks of legal proceedings that concluded March 19, prosecutors have requested a prison term of seven years and seven months for Høiby, who maintains his innocence regarding the rape accusations.

The 29-year-old defendant is Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son from an earlier relationship and serves as stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, who stands in line to inherit Norway’s throne. Authorities have brought 40 criminal charges against him, including four separate rape counts spanning from 2018 through 2024.

Legal representatives for Høiby, who holds no royal status or ceremonial responsibilities, argued that prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to prove the rape allegations. The defendant has acknowledged guilt for various minor infractions, including possessing illegal drugs, transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana in 2020, violating traffic laws, and breaking court-ordered restrictions regarding a former romantic partner. He has also partially confessed to certain violent acts and making threats while challenging crucial elements of those accusations, particularly regarding his intentions.

Høiby’s legal team contends that an 18-month maximum sentence would be fitting for the offenses he has accepted responsibility for. They maintained that their client has endured exceptional media scrutiny because of his family ties to royalty, which they claim has influenced how the public views the case.

As this legal drama has unfolded, Mette-Marit has encountered separate criticism this year regarding her past associations with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These connections have prompted questions about her decision-making abilities, although she faces no allegations of criminal behavior.

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders announced new sanctions Monday targeting 16 officials and seven facilities they say have participated in Russia’s systematic removal of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children from their homes.

The sanctioned facilities are accused of indoctrinating the children or preparing them for military service with Russian forces or pro-Russian groups operating within Ukraine.

The latest round of penalties brings the total number of individuals and organizations facing EU sanctions related to these child abductions to more than 130.

European Union headquarters stated that the asset freezes and travel restrictions were implemented because these officials and institutions are considered “responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”

Estimates suggest that approximately 20,500 children have been illegally removed or forcibly relocated to Russia or Russian-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine since Moscow began its full-scale military assault in early 2022.

European officials report that many of these children have their Ukrainian heritage and culture systematically erased, receive Russian citizenship documents, and are placed in adoptive families. Others face forced enrollment in indoctrination programs or military training facilities.

“Russia is trying to erase their identity,” said Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže during Monday’s meeting with European counterparts in Brussels, where the sanctions received approval. “When you look at the Genocide Convention, it’s one of the features of the genocide crime. So, it’s very serious.”

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges, holding him personally accountable for these forced relocations.

While approximately 2,200 children have been returned to Ukraine, the identification process remains extremely challenging. Young children who were taken can become difficult to recognize after just a few years. The process of bringing them home is traumatic, and some children face difficulties readjusting upon their return.

On Monday, the EU joined Canada in hosting a gathering of the 47-nation International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, aimed at increasing diplomatic pressure on Russia and building support for efforts to locate and track those who have been taken.

“War has really many faces, but stealing the children is really one of the most horrific,” said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos before the meeting. “We should stop this, and Russia should pay.”

Monday’s sanctions target individuals including camp directors, government officials, and military personnel overseeing youth programs.

Among the 16 people named was Lilya Shvetsova, who runs the “Red Carnation” facility in occupied Crimea. The EU stated she oversees “activities aimed at shaping the political and ideological views of children present at the facility, including Ukrainian children.”

Like others facing sanctions, she was found to be “supporting and implementing actions and policies contributing to the deportation, forced transfer, forced assimilation, including indoctrination, or militarized education of Ukrainian minors.”

Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States hit another roadblock Monday as negotiations to end their ongoing conflict stalled, while a fragile ceasefire continues to deteriorate with both nations trading fire in recent confrontations.

The escalating tensions have also involved attacks on maritime vessels and Gulf region nations, along with renewed clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization.

President Trump dismissed Iran’s latest diplomatic response on Sunday, declaring it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”

The president is scheduled to visit Beijing later this week for a postponed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, China’s significant economic relationship with Iran, combined with ongoing trade disputes and tariff disagreements dating back to Trump’s previous presidency, may complicate the discussions, despite Trump’s history of publicly praising the Chinese leader.

The current volatility threatens to plunge the Middle East back into full-scale conflict and extend the global energy crisis triggered by the dispute. Iran maintains control over the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route while America continues its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump plans to use his upcoming China visit to encourage Xi Jinping to apply pressure on Iran for diplomatic concessions to break the current deadlock. China serves as Iran’s largest purchaser of sanctioned oil, providing Beijing with considerable influence over the situation.

The president’s rejection of Iran’s proposal centers on concerns that lifting the blockade before addressing Iran’s nuclear activities would remove a crucial bargaining chip from future negotiations.

Meanwhile, the ongoing standoff has created ripple effects in global markets, with oil prices climbing more than 2% following Trump’s announcement. World stock markets showed mixed results Monday after Wall Street achieved new record highs.

As Trump prepares for his Beijing summit, questions remain about various contentious issues on the agenda, including trade relations, the Iran situation, and Taiwan’s status. The president has indicated he may also raise the case of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai during his discussions with Xi.