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JERUSALEM – Israeli authorities freed two international activists from detention Saturday following their arrest during a humanitarian mission to Gaza last month, according to their legal representatives.

Spanish citizen Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian national Thiago Avila had been held since April 29 when Israeli forces stopped their vessel bound for the Gaza Strip.

The two men were participants in the second Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed Spain on April 12 with the goal of delivering humanitarian supplies to Gaza while challenging Israel’s naval blockade of the territory.

Israeli foreign ministry officials accused Abu Keshek of having ties to a terrorist organization and alleged Avila engaged in illegal activities. Both men have rejected these accusations.

The Spanish and Brazilian governments condemned the detentions as illegal, though Israel’s Ashkelon Magistrate’s Court had ordered the men held until May 10.

Adalah, a human rights organization providing legal support for the activists, also challenged the legality of their imprisonment. The group announced that Abu Keshek and Avila were notified Saturday of their release from detention and transfer to immigration custody pending deportation.

“Adalah is closely monitoring developments to make sure that the release from detention goes ahead, followed by their deportation from Israel in the coming days,” the organization stated. Israeli officials could not be reached immediately for response.

During their detention, Israeli authorities investigated the activists for potential charges including providing assistance to enemies and maintaining contact with terrorist organizations.

The Palestinian territory of Gaza remains under the control of Hamas, which Israel and many Western nations classify as a terrorist group.

Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 assault against Israel, triggering the current conflict in Gaza that has displaced most of the territory’s residents and created widespread dependence on humanitarian assistance that aid organizations report is arriving inadequately.

BUDAPEST – Peter Magyar officially took the oath of office as Hungary’s new prime minister on Saturday, marking a significant political transition for the European nation.

The centre-right politician’s rise to power comes after he campaigned on a reform agenda, promising to address the country’s prolonged period of economic difficulties and repair damaged relationships with important international allies that deteriorated during Viktor Orban’s time in leadership.

Magyar’s inauguration represents a notable shift in Hungarian politics as the nation seeks to move forward from recent challenges under the previous administration.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An unstable truce between the United States and Iran appeared to remain intact Saturday following American military action against Iranian oil vessels, while Bahrain announced the arrest of dozens allegedly tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Friday’s military actions raised questions about the delicate month-long ceasefire that Washington maintains remains valid. The United States continues to wait for Tehran’s response to its most recent peace proposal aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and scaling back Iran’s controversial nuclear activities.

American military officials reported Friday that their forces had incapacitated two Iranian oil tankers attempting to break through a U.S. naval blockade at Iranian ports. Earlier that day, the military announced it had prevented attacks on three Navy vessels and conducted strikes against Iranian military installations in the strategic waterway.

In Bahrain, the small Gulf nation’s Interior Ministry announced Saturday the detention of 41 individuals suspected of belonging to a cell connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Officials said investigations continue to identify additional members of the organization, though they declined to provide additional specifics.

The island kingdom operates under Sunni Muslim leadership while maintaining a predominantly Shiite population similar to Iran. Human rights organizations have accused Bahrain of exploiting the Iran-U.S. conflict, which involves the country hosting America’s Fifth Fleet, to justify suppressing domestic opposition.

Tehran has largely sealed off the vital shipping lane for global energy supplies since the United States and Israel initiated military action on February 28, triggering worldwide fuel price increases and destabilizing international markets. Washington has implemented its own naval blockade of Iranian shipping facilities.

American military officials released footage showing Friday’s strikes on the two Iranian tankers, with fighter jets targeting their smokestacks. Earlier this week, a U.S. military aircraft disabled a tanker’s steering system after officials said it attempted to violate the blockade.

An overnight American attack resulted in at least one sailor’s death and injured 10 others when a cargo ship caught fire, according to a news outlet linked to Iran’s judicial system. Officials have not confirmed whether this vessel was among the two tankers the U.S. acknowledged striking.

President Donald Trump has maintained that the ceasefire continues despite recent military actions. He has repeated warnings about resuming comprehensive bombing campaigns if Iran rejects an agreement to reopen the strait and curtail its nuclear development.

Iranian foreign ministry representative Esmail Baghaei stated Friday that his country was ignoring “deadlines” and continues examining the American proposal for ongoing talks, state-run IRNA reported.

A senior Iranian official also confirmed Friday that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains in “complete health” and will make public appearances in the future.

Mazaher Hosseini, connected to the former Supreme Leader’s office, made these statements at a government-supporting event. Hosseini explained that Mojtaba had experienced knee and back problems that have mostly resolved, leaving him in good physical condition.

Khamenei has not appeared publicly since hostilities began, and the ongoing lack of verified photographs, recordings, or video footage has sparked questions about his wellbeing. Statements like Hosseini’s are viewed by some as efforts to address speculation that he may have died.

International diplomatic activity has increased as tensions continue rising.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced Saturday that both Russia and Saudi Arabia are advocating for continued diplomatic work toward a “sustainable, long-term agreement” to conclude the conflict.

Top diplomats from Egypt and Qatar have also emphasized that diplomatic solutions represent the only viable path forward, according to details from a Saturday telephone conversation between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed his nation has maintained continuous contact with both the United States and Iran “day and night” working to extend the ceasefire and achieve a lasting peace agreement.

A temporary halt in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine began Saturday, offering war-weary civilians their first peaceful nights in months as part of a three-day truce negotiated by American officials.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that both nations had committed to the ceasefire running from May 9 through May 11, which also includes an exchange of prisoners. Trump expressed optimism for a “big extension” of the agreement.

The pause in fighting coincided with Russia’s World War Two victory commemoration in Moscow, which proceeded without incident despite earlier Russian threats of potential Ukrainian attacks that could have prompted massive retaliation against Kyiv.

Ukrainian air defense forces reported detecting some unmanned aircraft along the extensive 1,000-kilometer front line stretching across southeastern Ukraine during morning hours, though no missile alerts were issued overnight or into Saturday.

“On the one hand, this is very good because, honestly, the sleepless nights have gotten a bit tiresome,” said Kateryna Kizev, who evacuated from the frontline city of Kherson in the south and currently resides in Cherkasy in central Ukraine.

“At least for a few days we will be able to sleep in peace and without the attacks,” the 22-year-old told Reuters at Kyiv’s Independence Square during a weekend visit to the capital.

KREMLIN SAYS A UKRAINIAN SETTLEMENT IS COMPLICATED

Ever since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has bombarded power facilities and critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine using missiles and drones, while Kyiv has targeted Russia’s energy production and export sites.

Diplomatic efforts have reached an impasse, with Ukraine refusing Russia’s conditions that it relinquish territory it has successfully protected after forcing Russian troops away from the capital during the early stages of the conflict.

“It is understandable that the American side is in a hurry,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state television reporter Pavel Zarubin.

“But the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is far too complex, and reaching a peace agreement is a very long way with complex details,” Peskov said.

The temporary truce encompasses a halt to all “kinetic activity” and an arrangement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from both sides. Officials had not announced Saturday when the prisoner swap would occur.

“There were no strikes on the Red Square. Obviously, there was no massive retaliatory missile strike on Kyiv from us,” Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters.

Both Russia and Ukraine had previously declared individual ceasefires starting on different days this week, but each side rapidly accused the other of violations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy indicated the current truce resulted from ongoing U.S. diplomatic initiatives and emphasized that humanitarian concerns remain central to Kyiv’s priorities.

UKRAINE MARKS VICTORY DAY DIFFERENTLY

Ukraine, which remained part of the Soviet Union until 1991 and suffered millions of casualties during World War Two, shifted its remembrance ceremonies for the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany from May 9 to May 8 after Russia’s invasion began.

However, some Ukrainian citizens who lost family members during World War Two continue to place flowers at Soviet military monuments on May 9.

“This ceasefire – for a day, or two or three – these are temporary measures. We need peace. It is the fifth year already. It is enough,” Oleksandr Boiko told Reuters in Kharkiv.

“I have lost everything… We need peace.”

Another Kharkiv resident, Ramaz Tsytsyashvili, expressed hope that the ceasefire might create opportunities for additional discussions to conclude the war.

“And perhaps there will be a miracle and this temporary silence, this ceasefire, will hold up a bit and continue, and then step by step it will move to negotiations, and affairs will be solved in offices, not on the battlefield.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized Saturday that European nations remain committed to preserving NATO’s effectiveness, even as disagreements with the Trump administration over the Iran conflict have created new strains within the alliance.

Speaking during a press conference in Stockholm alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Merz addressed mounting concerns about NATO’s future amid escalating disputes between Washington and European partners.

Relations have deteriorated significantly after Germany and several other European nations declined to back the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran that started in late February. These tensions add to existing friction over defense spending requirements and immigration policies that Trump has previously criticized.

“We are really willing to keep this alliance alive for the future,” Merz stated during the joint appearance. He noted that both Sweden and Finland have bolstered NATO’s European component.

“We know that there are some differences. We know that we are seeing challenges, all of us, but our final goal is to bring this conflict to an end and to guarantee that Iran is not able to produce nuclear weapons,” the German leader explained.

“And this goal is a common goal between America and Europe,” he added.

The relationship between Germany and the U.S. has become particularly strained after Merz criticized Iran for “humiliating” America last month. In response, Trump ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 American troops and canceled plans to deploy long-range Tomahawk missiles.

Merz downplayed the significance of troop reductions, arguing that “unity of purpose” matters more than numbers. He maintained that having a robust European NATO presence serves American interests.

“We are remaining interested and highly interested in having the American army and the American military support on our side,” he said. “So this is something we are having in common and we are trying to achieve that currently.”

European nations, including Germany, are investing heavily in military modernization after years of reduced defense spending, responding to what Merz described earlier Saturday as an immediate Russian threat to Europe.

His comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin participated in Moscow’s annual parade commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Merz expressed disappointment that Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico had reportedly planned to attend the ceremony, saying he intended to discuss “this day in Moscow” with the Slovak leader.

However, while Fico did travel to Moscow, he ultimately chose not to participate in the parade itself.

MADRID – Five European nations have committed to dispatching aircraft to retrieve their citizens from a cruise vessel bound for Spain following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the ship, according to Spain’s interior minister who spoke in Madrid on Saturday.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced that Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have all confirmed their evacuation plans. Additionally, the European Union will provide two more aircraft for other European passengers, he stated.

The United States and United Kingdom have also arranged flights and backup plans for non-EU passengers whose home countries cannot provide air transportation, Grande-Marlaska explained.

Travelers will be permitted to bring only necessary personal items, while their remaining baggage and the body of a passenger who died aboard the vessel will stay with the ship as it travels to the Netherlands for disinfection procedures, Garcia noted.

Spanish nationals will be the first to leave the ship, with health officials determining the sequence for evacuating other passenger groups. Grande-Marlaska emphasized that no passengers will be permitted to leave the vessel until their designated evacuation aircraft is prepared for immediate departure.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia conducted its annual Victory Day commemoration on Saturday with a reduced military display in Moscow’s Red Square, surrounded by enhanced security protocols.

The Associated Press photo desk compiled a collection of images documenting the ceremony.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to rebuild his faltering administration Saturday as pressure mounted for his resignation following catastrophic local election defeats that saw his Labour Party lose ground across the United Kingdom.

Saturday’s final tallies revealed Labour’s loss of 1,000 council seats throughout England and the end of their 27-year reign in Wales. Meanwhile, the anti-immigration Reform UK party secured nearly 1,300 seats across England, finished runner-up in Wales, and expanded their presence in Scotland.

The outcomes delivered a harsh judgment from voters in contests many viewed as an unofficial vote of confidence in Starmer, whose approval ratings have collapsed since bringing his center-left party to power fewer than two years ago.

Despite the electoral devastation, Starmer declared he would not abandon his post “and plunge the country into chaos,” and no immediate leadership challenge materialized against him.

Cabinet members rallied around Starmer, while prominent Labour figures viewed as potential successors remained silent. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have avoided making any leadership moves.

However, an increasing number of Labour members of parliament called for the prime minister to establish a timeline for stepping down this year. Under British parliamentary rules, parties can replace their leader during a term without triggering new elections.

“There has to be a timetable,” legislator Clive Betts told the BBC. Fellow lawmaker Tony Vaughan advocated for an “orderly transition of leadership.”

In a bid to signal change Saturday, Starmer recalled two veteran Labour figures from previous administrations. He named former Prime Minister Gordon Brown as a special envoy for global finance and appointed ex-deputy leader Harriet Harman as an adviser on women and girls’ issues.

Starmer plans to deliver a major address Monday aimed at rebuilding momentum before the government outlines its legislative agenda Wednesday during King Charles III’s speech at Parliament’s State Opening ceremony.

The elections marked a major victory for Reform UK, the newest far-right movement under veteran nationalist leader Nigel Farage.

Campaigning on anti-establishment and anti-immigration platforms, the party captured hundreds of local council positions in working-class northern English communities like Sunderland that had been Labour strongholds for generations. Reform also seized territory from Conservatives in areas such as Essex county, located east of London.

Farage declared the outcomes represented a “historic change in British politics.” He expressed confidence that “voters who have come to us are not doing it as a short-term protest.”

Reform UK currently controls only eight of Parliament’s 650 seats, leaving questions about whether the party could replicate this success in nationwide elections.

The voting produced regional governments in Scotland and Wales controlled by independence-minded parties committed to dissolving the United Kingdom, though neither is actively pursuing that agenda.

The Scottish National Party, which has ruled from Edinburgh since 2007, secured another term but failed to achieve a majority, making an independence referendum unlikely. Labour and Reform finished tied for a distant second place.

Plaid Cymru (The Party of Wales) captured the most seats in Cardiff’s legislature, the Senedd. The party, which supports Welsh independence but lacks immediate plans for pursuing it, fell short of a majority but will likely form the new government. Reform finished second while Labour placed a distant third in one of their traditional strongholds, with outgoing First Minister Eluned Morgan losing her seat.

Economic struggles form the core of Labour’s difficulties, mirroring challenges facing incumbent governments worldwide.

After ending 14 years of Conservative leadership marked by austerity measures and the COVID-19 pandemic, Labour has failed to address cost-of-living concerns and revitalize a stagnant economy amid challenging conditions created by the Ukraine conflict and, recently, Iran. Starmer has also frustrated supporters through welfare spending cuts, some of which were reversed following internal Labour opposition.

Some Labour members argue the government’s accomplishments, including tenant protections and minimum wage increases, are being overlooked. Many blame Starmer, describing him as an uninspiring leader distracted by controversies including his controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson, a scandal-linked associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

However, Stephen Houghton, the departing leader of Barnsley council in northern England where Labour lost to Reform, suggested the issues “go deeper than the prime minister.”

“This has been coming for 30 years around the country, in post-industrial communities, coastal communities, that have been left behind,” he explained. “You can change prime ministers all day long. If you don’t change policy, it’s not going to charge.”

The results demonstrate the fragmentation of UK politics following decades of Labour and Conservative Party dominance, with both traditional parties suffering significant losses Thursday.

Voters had numerous options, including the centrist Liberal Democrats and nationalist movements in Scotland and Wales.

The major beneficiaries were populist newcomers Reform UK and the Green Party, which has broadened its focus from environmental issues to social justice and Palestinian advocacy under self-described “eco populist” leader Zack Polanski. The Greens captured hundreds of council seats from Labour in urban areas and university communities while gaining control of multiple local governments.

Tony Travers, a government professor at the London School of Economics, suggested the results indicate the next national election, scheduled by 2029, may not produce a majority for any single party.

“So then you’re in the world of, after the election, two or three big minority parties trying to work out how they would govern,” he explained — a scenario traditionally viewed as “very un-British.”

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Search teams recovered the remains of one woman Saturday following a deadly volcanic eruption at Mount Dukono on Indonesia’s remote Halmahera island, while operations continue to locate two missing Singaporean climbers, according to local officials.

Twenty hikers had attempted to climb the 4,445-foot volcano Friday despite existing safety prohibitions when Dukono suddenly erupted in the early morning hours, sending a massive ash plume approximately 6 miles skyward.

The recovered victim, identified only as Enjel and described as an experienced local climber, was discovered Saturday afternoon roughly 165 feet from the main crater’s edge, according to Iwan Ramdani, director of the local Search and Rescue Office. Two Singaporean climbers remain missing as rescue operations continue despite ongoing volcanic activity.

“The rescue efforts went through a situation that required careful calculation and a well-planned evacuation strategy,” Ramdani explained. “We took into account the potential escalation of volcanic activity as well as the safety of all personnel.”

Seventeen climbers were successfully rescued following the initial eruption, including seven Singapore nationals and two Indonesian climbers who later assisted rescue teams by providing crucial information about climbing paths used by the missing victims. Ten of those evacuated sustained minor burns.

More than 100 rescue personnel supported by drone technology resumed search efforts Saturday morning, concentrating on a 7,500-square-foot zone where evidence was discovered during initial operations, despite dangerous conditions and continued eruptions.

Ramdani emphasized that rescuer safety remains the top priority given Dukono’s elevated volcanic activity.

“The main challenge in this search effort is that we are racing against ongoing eruptions,” Ramdani stated in a video message. “When the authorities declare conditions safe, we move closer to the crater area, but when an eruption occurs, we must immediately secure all search personnel from potential danger.”

Indonesia’s volcanic monitoring agency documented several eruptions from early Saturday through late morning, with ash columns reaching heights of nearly 10,000 feet above the crater. Monitoring stations also recorded lava bursts throughout the overnight hours.

Mount Dukono has maintained the country’s second-highest alert classification since 2008. Officials established a 2.5-mile restricted zone around the active crater in December 2024.

Regional authorities officially prohibited all hiking access to Mount Dukono in April and strengthened the prohibition following Friday’s incident. The National Disaster Management Agency cautioned that violating restricted areas could lead to legal consequences.

The agency called on climbers and tour companies to follow safety guidelines, pointing out that similar restrictions are in effect for dozens of other active volcanoes nationwide that are currently at heightened alert status.

Indonesia, home to over 270 million residents, is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and contains more than 120 active volcanic peaks.

SYDNEY – A far-right political movement in Australia achieved a historic milestone over the weekend when Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party captured its first-ever seat in the nation’s House of Representatives during a special election, according to initial vote tallies.

This victory aligns with a global trend of increasing support for far-right populist movements. Earlier this week, Britain’s governing Labour party experienced significant losses in local council races across the country.

Former agribusiness executive David Farley secured the rural Farrer district for the anti-immigration political organization, earning a commanding 59.1% of votes and defeating the sitting centre-right Liberal Party candidate. The district is located approximately 340 miles south of Sydney and 200 miles north of Melbourne, according to Australian Broadcasting Corp. projections.

“It’s very clear, the next member for Farrer is David Farley,” stated Australian Broadcasting Corp election analyst Casey Briggs during a television broadcast. “It’s not a close result.”

This victory represents a major breakthrough for One Nation, marking their first lower-house parliamentary win since Hanson established the party three decades ago.

However, the outcome will not impact the governing Labor Party’s parliamentary control, as they maintain 94 seats out of 150 in the lower chamber.

The position became available after Liberals leader Sussan Ley stepped down in February.

Labor chose not to field a candidate for this seat, which has remained under conservative opposition control since its creation more than 50 years ago.

Indonesian law enforcement officials detained 321 foreign nationals during a Saturday operation targeting an illegal online gambling enterprise in Jakarta, according to police statements.

The arrests took place at an office complex in Central Jakarta as part of ongoing efforts to combat prohibited online gambling activities in Indonesia, which maintains strict prohibitions on gambling as the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

Wira Satya Triputra, who leads the Indonesian police force’s criminal investigation division, revealed the nationality breakdown during a news briefing. The detained individuals included 228 Vietnamese citizens, 57 Chinese nationals, 13 from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, five Thai citizens, and three Cambodian nationals.

According to Wira’s statements, the gambling operation had been active for approximately two months before the raid occurred.

Among the 321 individuals taken into custody, 275 face potential charges under Indonesia’s criminal statutes regarding gambling violations, which could result in prison sentences of up to nine years if convicted.

Wira indicated that the majority of the foreign suspects understood they had traveled to Indonesia specifically to operate online gambling services, and their operations primarily served customers outside Indonesia.

Untung Widyatmoko, representing Interpol Indonesia, addressed reporters about emerging patterns in regional criminal activity. He noted that online gambling operations appear to be relocating from Cambodian urban centers to Indonesian territory.

This enforcement action represents the second major arrest of foreign nationals within a 48-hour period. Indonesian immigration officials had previously apprehended 210 foreign individuals on Friday in connection with alleged online investment fraud schemes on Batam island, located approximately 20 kilometers from Singapore.

MOSCOW, May 9 – Russian officials stated Saturday that Washington is pushing too quickly for a peace agreement to resolve the Ukraine conflict, but achieving any meaningful resolution remains extremely distant due to the complexity of issues involved and suspended diplomatic talks.

The ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year, represents Europe’s most devastating war since World War II. Moscow’s military has yet to capture the entirety of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian defenders have retreated to heavily fortified urban positions.

President Donald Trump has pledged to bring the Ukraine war to an end, describing his inability to achieve this goal as among his greatest frustrations. However, on Friday he revealed a temporary halt in fighting from May 9 through May 11 that both nations have accepted.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov spoke with state media correspondent Pavel Zarubin, stating: “It is understandable that the American side is in a hurry.”

Peskov continued: “But the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is far too complex, and reaching a peace agreement is a very long way with complex details.”

Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine has now exceeded four years – a duration longer than the Soviet Union’s involvement in World War II, which Russians commemorate as the Great Patriotic War from 1941 to 1945.

According to Trump’s announcement on Truth Social, the temporary truce between Ukraine and Russia includes halting all “kinetic activity” and exchanging 1,000 prisoners from both countries.

When speaking to media Friday, Trump expressed hope for extending the pause, saying: “I’d like to see a big extension. It could be.”

Moscow confirmed the arrangement covers three days, while diplomatic discussions remain stalled.

Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov explained: “Negotiations will probably resume, but it is still unclear when. There was an agreement that the Victory Day ceasefire would last for three days: May 9, 10, and 11.”

A Chinese business leader’s recent journey to Brazil’s Amazon rainforest could signal a major shift in global commodity trading that might help preserve one of the world’s most critical ecosystems.

Xing Yanling, who heads the Tianjin Meat Industry Association representing importers handling roughly 40% of China’s Brazilian beef purchases, shared her Amazon experience with friends on WeChat in April, describing the overwhelming beauty of being surrounded by “tens of thousands of shades of green.”

Her organization has now pledged to purchase 50,000 metric tons of certified deforestation-free Brazilian beef before year’s end. This commitment represents 4.5% of Brazil’s expected beef exports to China this year and could indicate China’s willingness to invest in environmentally responsible supply chains.

This development contradicts the widespread belief among Brazilian cattle ranchers that Chinese buyers prioritize low prices above all other considerations. China stands as the world’s top importer of both beef and soybeans.

The commitment emerges as China’s government demonstrates increasing concern about trade’s environmental consequences while safeguarding domestic industries. In 2019, Chinese officials modified forest legislation to prohibit illegal timber trading. Two years ago, China and Brazil jointly agreed to combat illegal deforestation linked to trade. Additionally, China’s state-controlled trading company COFCO began working to remove deforestation from its supply operations last year.

According to Andre Vasconcelos, who leads global engagement for Trase, a platform monitoring supply chain environmental impacts, beef represents an ideal target for meaningful environmental action since it’s less essential to Chinese diets than commodities like soybeans.

“At the same time, there is awareness, supported by available information, that beef, especially Brazilian beef, is the commodity most associated with deforestation among all agricultural commodities imported by China,” he explained.

The Amazon, Earth’s largest and most biodiverse rainforest, loses hundreds of thousands of acres annually, with MapBiomas, a Brazilian land-use monitoring organization, reporting that 90% of cleared land immediately becomes cattle pasture.

Some Chinese consumers recognize this connection and are becoming more selective as their wealth increases, Xing noted.

“It’s not just ‘cheap is good,’” she stated. “This means deforestation‑free, green, safe and traceable beef will have a stronger market in the future.”

While most Chinese consumers facing rising food costs cannot afford to prioritize environmental factors over price, the traceability offered by this initiative also addresses food safety worries.

The beef will carry a Beef on Track label created by Brazilian nonprofit Imaflora, featuring four compliance levels based on supply chain tracing depth and ranchers’ ability to demonstrate legal land clearing.

Tianjin importers are prepared to pay 10% premiums for beef from processing facilities that can verify their supplier farms have no connections to legal or illegal deforestation or slave labor.

Should this trend expand, the effects could be substantial. Government statistics and beef export association ABIEC show China purchases more than 10% of Brazil’s beef production. ABIEC members include major companies JBS and MBRF.

However, Brazil’s weak traceability infrastructure could limit any positive impact. The current system relies on cattle transportation documents that prosecutors say bad actors can easily falsify to conceal supply chain violations, a practice known as “cattle laundering.” System improvements could require years to implement.

When Xing and her team visited the Carioca farm in Castanhal, located in the northern Amazon, rancher Altair Burlamaqui expected only productive discussions. After touring his cattle operations and the extensive rainforest reserve on his property, the delegation became so enthusiastic they asked if he dreamed of selling his beef in China as a product that supports Amazon protection. The possibility was both exciting and daunting.

“What I gathered from the conversation with them is that they want a product with more added value for a section of their population who is willing to pay for it,” he said. “But that section of their population may be bigger than the entire Brazilian population.”

The broader industry has responded less enthusiastically to Tianjin’s sustainability initiative. Two sources who recently spoke with ABIEC leadership told Reuters the beef export organization disapproves of Xing’s efforts.

One source explained their worry that sustainable beef requirements might create additional barriers in an already restricted market.

China implemented beef import quotas this year to protect domestic producers, and Brazil expects to reach its 1.1 million ton limit by next month’s end, when Tianjin plans to import its first sustainable-certified beef container.

ABIEC released a statement saying it “supports initiatives focused on certification but considers that any new labels should align with already established systems, avoiding overlaps and requirements that lack public infrastructure for implementation, which could create potential barriers to production.” The organization declined to respond to Reuters’ questions.

The quota system may delay Tianjin’s timeline since beef imports exceeding the limit face 55% Chinese tariffs. Beijing established these quotas during a year when global beef production is declining as ranchers in the United States and Brazil rebuild herds, driving up prices worldwide, including in China.

Chinese consumers already purchase traceable products regularly. During their Brazil visit, Xing’s team demonstrated how they attach QR codes to eggs, allowing consumers to trace them to originating farms.

Traceability helps regulators track disease outbreak sources and enables companies to eliminate suppliers involved in environmental violations. Consumers willingly pay double for those eggs, Xing reported.

The Beef on Track certification will be available for processing companies, retailers, and importers to implement by year-end. Its basic standard matches criteria used by Brazil’s federal prosecutors to monitor whether farms directly supplying the beef industry follow environmental and labor regulations.

That program has approved suppliers producing 2.7 million tons of beef annually – only one-fifth of Brazil’s total production but nearly double China’s imports last year. This year’s Tianjin beef imports will come from this approved output.

No Brazilian meat processing companies have yet announced adoption plans for the certification.

Imaflora contends their designed certification will generate opportunities rather than obstacles for producers, similar to what occurred with timber and coffee industries.

“The industry is still trying to understand how this certification can recognize and value Brazilian products, in a scenario of geopolitical tension,” said Marina Guyot, an Imaflora policy manager.

She added that the certification aims to acknowledge companies’ existing sustainability and traceability efforts.

“It’s a certification that creates the possibility of valuing this effort,” she concluded.

Bahrain’s interior ministry announced Saturday the detention of 41 individuals suspected of having connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, according to the country’s state news agency.

Security officials discovered a network with alleged ties to Iran’s IRGC, the ministry stated. Prosecutors conducting the investigation also examined cases involving individuals who expressed support for Iranian military strikes.

The arrests come after Iran launched strikes against targets in Bahrain and other Gulf Arab nations hosting U.S. military installations, following the start of military action by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.

LONDON – Authorities in Britain have filed criminal charges against two young men accused of creating antisemitic content for social media platforms in a Jewish neighborhood of north London.

According to a Saturday announcement from the Crown Prosecution Service, Adam Bedoui, 20, and Abdelkader Amir Bousloub, 21, face religiously aggravated harassment charges. Investigators allege the pair deliberately traveled to the Jewish community to record hateful videos for social media.

Both defendants are scheduled to make their court appearance at Thames Magistrates’ Court to face the charges stemming from their alleged actions.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — A new chapter began in Hungarian politics Saturday as Péter Magyar took the oath of office as prime minister, bringing Viktor Orbán’s lengthy 16-year tenure to a close.

Magyar made his way to the Parliament building Saturday morning alongside members of his center-right Tisza party, which delivered a historic upset victory over Orbán’s nationalist Fidesz party in last month’s elections. The electoral triumph marked the largest vote and seat count any party has achieved since Hungary transitioned from Communist rule.

The political shift positions Tisza to dismantle numerous policies that earned Orbán criticism as an authoritarian leader, tackle widespread corruption allegations, and reshape Hungary’s role in European Union politics, where the outgoing leader frequently blocked important bloc decisions.

Magyar’s party delegation included 140 representatives as they entered the impressive neo-Gothic parliament complex, securing control of 141 seats in the 199-member legislative body. Meanwhile, Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP alliance saw their representation plummet from 135 seats to just 52, with the far-right Mi Hazánk party claiming the remaining six positions.

Notably absent from Saturday’s inaugural ceremony was Orbán himself, marking his first absence since Hungary established its initial post-Communist Parliament in 1990. Following his electoral defeat, Orbán announced plans to concentrate on reconstructing his nationalist political movement.

The incoming leader, a 45-year-old attorney who established Tisza in 2024 following years working within Orbán’s inner circle, has pledged to eliminate government corruption that he claims has deprived Hungarian citizens of economic advancement opportunities.

Magyar invited citizens to join a daylong “regime-change” festival outside Parliament to commemorate his swearing-in ceremony and mark the conclusion of the Orbán period. Following his 3 p.m. oath-taking, the new prime minister planned to speak to supporters gathered outside.

The new administration has committed to mending Hungary’s strained relationship with the European Union, which deteriorated significantly under Orbán’s leadership, and to reestablish the country’s position among Western democratic nations. Hungary’s democratic credentials faced scrutiny as Orbán developed increasingly close ties with Russia.

A primary objective for Magyar involves securing approximately 17 billion euros ($20 billion) in EU funding that was suspended during Orbán’s administration due to rule-of-law violations and corruption issues. These funds are essential for revitalizing Hungary’s economy, which has remained stagnant over the past four years.

Demonstrating their pro-EU stance, Tisza representatives announced they will restore the European Union flag to Parliament’s exterior, which Orbán’s administration removed in 2014.

Budapest’s liberal mayor, Gergely Karácsony, extended a public invitation to a riverside celebration along the Danube Saturday evening to mark Orbán’s departure and welcome the new government.

In his social media announcement, Karácsony described the gathering as an opportunity to honor Hungarians who courageously opposed Orbán’s system over the years. “Teachers fired, civilians and journalists humiliated, small churches torn apart,” he wrote on Facebook.

“We can finally leave this era behind us — but first, let us remember the everyday heroes and express our gratitude with a farewell to the system,” Karácsony posted.

Chinese manufacturing exports experienced a dramatic acceleration in April as production facilities worked overtime to fulfill surging demand from artificial intelligence sectors and businesses stockpiling materials due to concerns that Middle East conflicts could drive global supply costs higher.

The robust export performance has expanded China’s trade surplus with the United States to $87.7 billion for the year, creating a key talking point for President Donald Trump’s upcoming Beijing visit next week for a leadership summit aimed at continuing last year’s trade ceasefire.

Although Chinese manufacturers have managed to navigate challenges from the Middle East crisis so far, economic experts caution that prolonged warfare and rising energy costs could eventually reduce international demand, leaving weak domestic spending unable to compensate for the shortfall.

Currently, economists are monitoring the speed of the artificial intelligence manufacturing surge and whether related equipment shipments can sustain China’s export momentum.

“The conflict in the Middle East pushed up demand for global manufacturing inventory replenishment, and under the upward cycle of semiconductors, imports and exports maintained a boom,” said Xing Zhaopeng, senior China strategist at ANZ.

“There is still room for expansion in this round of manufacturing cycle driven by AI, and it is expected that the annual export growth rate will be about 10%.”

Saturday’s customs data revealed exports jumped 14.1% compared to the previous year in dollar terms, significantly exceeding March’s 2.5% increase and surpassing economist predictions of 7.9% growth.

Separate manufacturing activity reports from last month indicated new export orders reached their peak level in two years during April.

Import activity also remained robust, increasing 25.3% compared to March’s 27.8% rise. Economic forecasters had anticipated 15.2% growth.

These figures pushed China’s monthly trade surplus to $84.8 billion in April, up from March’s $51.13 billion.

China’s broader economic performance showed strength in the opening quarter, with GDP expansion reaching 5% annually, matching the government’s yearly target ceiling and reducing pressure for immediate economic stimulus measures.

However, even China, frequently criticized by international partners for subsidy-supported low-cost production, faces challenges from reduced buyer spending power as fuel and shipping expenses climb.

Manufacturing data released last month indicated input costs stayed high, especially for processed goods and petroleum, coal, and chemical products.

Jobless rates also increased slightly while retail sales, measuring consumer spending, continued lagging behind industrial production.

Trump plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his May 14-15 Beijing trip, as both nations work to stabilize relations strained by disputes over trade, Taiwan, and the Iran conflict.

Trump will likely seek trade concessions from Beijing before November’s U.S. midterm elections, though business leaders and analysts don’t anticipate major agreements.

When confronted with U.S. tariffs that temporarily reached triple-digit levels, Chinese exporters pursued alternative markets including South America by reducing prices. China concluded 2025 with a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran showed little progress over the weekend as military confrontations intensified in the Persian Gulf, challenging a fragile ceasefire that began one month ago.

The latest escalation represents the most significant fighting near the Strait of Hormuz since the temporary truce took effect, with the United Arab Emirates facing fresh attacks on Friday.

The Biden administration continues to wait for Tehran’s answer to an American proposal designed to formally conclude hostilities before addressing more complex matters, particularly Iran’s nuclear activities. During remarks in Rome on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the United States anticipated receiving Iran’s decision that day, though Iranian foreign ministry officials stated they were still deliberating their response.

Military engagements persisted Friday between Iranian naval forces and American ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars news outlet. The Tasnim news service subsequently quoted an Iranian military official confirming the situation had stabilized while cautioning that additional confrontations remained possible.

American military officials reported striking two vessels with Iranian connections as they attempted to reach an Iranian harbor, with a U.S. fighter aircraft targeting their smokestacks and compelling them to retreat.

Since hostilities commenced with U.S.-Israeli air operations across Iran on February 28, Tehran has effectively prevented non-Iranian maritime traffic from using the strait. Previously, twenty percent of global oil shipments traveled through this critical waterway.

Last month, the United States established a blockade targeting Iranian ships. However, a CIA evaluation suggested Iran could endure economic pressure from American port blockades for approximately four additional months, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the assessment. This intelligence raises concerns about President Donald Trump’s negotiating position in a conflict that has drawn criticism from both voters and American allies.

A senior intelligence official dismissed as inaccurate the reports regarding the CIA analysis, which the Washington Post initially disclosed.

Combat operations spread beyond the waterway itself. UAE authorities reported their air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three unmanned aircraft from Iran on Friday, resulting in moderate injuries to three individuals.

Iran has consistently attacked the UAE and other Gulf nations that provide facilities for U.S. military operations. Following what the UAE described as a significant escalation, Iran intensified its assault campaign this week after Trump unveiled “Project Freedom” to provide naval escorts for ships in the strait, an initiative he suspended after two days.

On Thursday, Trump maintained the ceasefire declared April 7 remained intact despite recent flare-ups, while Iran accused the United States of violating the agreement.

“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated on Friday. Iran’s Mehr news service reported that one crew member died, ten suffered injuries, and six remained missing following a U.S. Navy assault on an Iranian merchant vessel late Thursday.

The United States has struggled to gain international backing for the conflict. Following discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rubio criticized Italy and other partners for failing to support Washington’s campaign to reopen the strait, cautioning about establishing a dangerous precedent by permitting Tehran to control an international shipping route.

While continuing diplomatic initiatives, the United States also increased economic sanctions to pressure Iran.

Prior to Trump’s upcoming visit to China for meetings with President Xi Jinping, the U.S. Treasury Department announced Friday new sanctions targeting ten individuals and entities, including several based in China and Hong Kong, for supporting Iran’s military acquisition of weapons and raw materials for manufacturing Tehran’s Shahed drones.

Treasury officials stated in their announcement they were prepared to take action against any foreign corporation supporting illegal Iranian trade and could implement secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions, including those connected to China’s independent oil refineries.

VÖLKLINGEN, Germany — A historic German ironworks facility recognized by UNESCO has become the canvas for an extraordinary international art exhibition featuring creators from around the globe.

The Urban Art Biennale 2026 has launched at the Völklingen Ironworks, where 50 artists representing 17 nations are displaying their work throughout the massive industrial complex. This marks the continuation of an event that has occurred every two years for the past decade and a half.

“This location is at the core of street art and graffiti art,” explained Ralf Beil, who serves as general director of the facility that now operates as a public museum. “It all began in industrial places like this.”

According to Beil, the creators “love this place and they do works for the Völklinger Hütte, in the Völklinger Hütte, with the Völklinger Hütte.”

Among the featured works is an installation by France-based artist Tomas Lacque, who assembled a small vehicle, tire stack, playthings and rubble all coated in paint. Positioned within a hall that once housed active furnaces, the piece seems to suggest fossil-fuel transportation being buried in ash reminiscent of Pompeii.

Spanish creator Ampparito painted the phrase “no hay nada de valor” (meaning “There is nothing of value here”) in enormous white lettering across the roof of one building. The artwork is most visible from an observation deck positioned 45 meters (148 feet) high.

Dutch artist Boris Tellegen, who goes by Delta, created an enormous green-and-black wooden structure that illuminates the ironworks’ interior. Meanwhile, French collective Vortex-X, known for repurposing salvaged materials, suspended white industrial fabric strips across a building hall in their piece called “Memory in transit.”

The industrial site encompasses 6 hectares (nearly 15 acres) and forms a complex network of smokestacks and furnaces where visitors still see threatening warning signs from the industrial period, including alerts about “danger of crushing.” The facility towers over Völklingen, a town situated close to Germany’s French border.

UNESCO added the site to its world heritage registry in 1994, acknowledging it as “the only intact example, in the whole of western Europe and North America, of an integrated ironworks that was built and equipped in the 19th and 20th centuries.”

Production ceased in 1986, leaving the furnaces dormant, and the location has remained unchanged since that time. However, its visual character dates much earlier, as no new equipment was installed after the mid-1930s.

“It’s so dusty and it’s so old, but it’s beautiful, you know, there’s beauty in decay,” commented British artist Remi Rough. “I think what I’ve done makes you kind of just perceive it in a bit of a different way.”

Rough created small paintings designed to be “very clean and clinical,” providing contrast to the surrounding environment.

Danish creator Anders Reventlov expressed feeling “humble to be able to do something here.”

“As somebody told me … it was hell to work here,” Reventlov noted. “Now it’s not hell. It’s like a nice place, people walking around, there are bees, there are beautiful flowers, but yeah, we still remember the history and that’s super important.”

Beil emphasized that organizers “want pieces which are really original for this space and this also is then prohibiting (them) from being commercial.”

“This is an installation for the space,” he stated. “This is pure art.”

The exhibition begins Saturday and continues through November 15.

VENICE, Italy — Political turmoil has disrupted the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition as the Venice Biennale opened Saturday without its coveted Golden Lion awards following the jury’s mass resignation over Israel and Russia’s involvement in the show.

The judging panel stepped down specifically to protest nations currently facing International Criminal Court investigations for human rights violations, though critics argue the United States should have faced similar scrutiny. British artist Anish Kapoor referenced “the politics of hate and war and all that that’s been going on now for too long.”

Instead of traditional jury selections, attendees at the Giardini and Arsenale locations will cast Eurovision-style votes to choose the top national pavilion among 100 entries and the best work from the main curated exhibition, “In Minor Keys.” Results will be revealed on the final day, November 22.

The centerpiece exhibition features a massive red-feathered sculpture adorned with beaded embroidery that welcomes guests. Drawing from New Orleans Black Masking traditions that trace back to enslaved African practices, this costume-inspired artwork establishes the show’s emphasis on marginalized voices.

Koyo Kouoh, who made history as the first African woman selected to oversee the main Biennale display, had gathered 110 artists and collectives before her passing last year. Five co-curators have continued her vision of highlighting overlooked perspectives.

“She was someone who thought about making spaces for everyone to shine and we see it in her exhibition, we see it with ourselves,” explained co-curator Marie Helene Pereira.

At the British Pavilion, Turner Prize recipient Lubaina Himid presents “Predicting History: Testing Translation,” examining the immigrant experience through vibrant paintings depicting couples navigating newcomer challenges.

One artwork shows two architects debating construction plans. “One of them is trying to decide, would we build a building here, that proves that we have contributed to the culture, and the other architect is saying ‘No, no, no, no, no. Let’s build something that we can escape in tomorrow,’” explained Himid, who was born in Zanzibar and has lived in Great Britain for over seven decades.

The Vatican offers a peaceful retreat from global conflicts through the Mystic Gardens of the Discalced Carmelite order, located near Venice’s central railway station.

Visitors stroll through vineyard paths, passing pomegranate trees and herb gardens while listening through headphones to compositions by 12th-century abbess, mystic and composer St. Hildegard of Bingen, reimagined by contemporary artists including Brian Eno and Patti Smith.

“Music also helps us delve into ourselves and understand, to use a phrase by Hildegard, the symphony that God has placed in our lives,” stated Rev. Ermanno Barucco, prior of the Carmelite order.

The Austrian Pavilion draws crowds with Florentina Holzinger’s provocative performance piece featuring a nude woman suspended as a human bell clapper. Inside, another naked performer circles on a Jet Ski within a tank, symbolizing Venice’s transformation into an overtouristed entertainment destination.

The installation “Seaworld Venice” includes a nude woman breathing through scuba gear in a large tank filled with treated wastewater from nearby restrooms that has undergone multiple filtration processes.

Romanian-born artist Belu-Simion Fainaru’s exhibit features water dripping from hanging tubes into a pool, pausing every 42 seconds to represent divine creative force in Jewish mystical tradition. Padlocks surrounding the pavilion, similar to those placed by couples on European bridges, bear Hebrew inscriptions of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” and the hopeful message “This too shall pass.”

“I am against boycott, I’m for dialogue, and that’s a political statement,” declared Fainaru, who condemned the jury’s exclusion of Israel as discriminatory.

Estonian artist Merike Estna will spend the entire Biennale creating a large-scale wall painting inside a community center gymnasium that previously served as a church. The building’s complex history reflects her technique of layering paint to create richly textured surfaces over time, representing women’s undervalued daily labor.

Curator Natalia Sielewicz compared the work to “the everyday feminism of sustaining life, of sustaining our planet.”

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — While Gaza remains gripped by a devastating humanitarian crisis and an unstable ceasefire, a small group of Palestinian surfers continues to seek solace and happiness in the Mediterranean waters along the territory’s coastline.

According to Tahseen Abu Assi, a Gaza City surfer, just three or four men continue to surf because of limited surfboards and lack of repair materials for damaged equipment.

Throughout the two-year conflict, Abu Assi transported his surfboard during each forced relocation because replacement would be impossible. “If something happened to it I won’t be able to get another one,” he explained, pointing out that surfboards haven’t been allowed into the Palestinian territory since 2007. Israel’s restrictions include surfboards among various sports equipment and other banned items.

This Tuesday, Abu Assi joined two other surfers in the waters near Gaza City’s port, including Khalil Abu Jiab, who celebrated while riding the large waves with his arms extended upward.

Following the conflict’s start, Israeli forces imposed severe limitations on maritime activities in Gaza, with UN reports documenting attacks on fishermen both on land and at sea, including those using small paddle craft.

In the previous year, Israel designated Gaza’s coastal waters as off-limits, prohibiting fishing, swimming, and ocean access, creating hazardous conditions for surfing.

Maritime activities remain forbidden and perilous in northern and southern Gaza waters. Even central Gaza’s waters, near Gaza City, pose risks due to Israeli naval patrols.

“There is fear of course, but we can’t leave this sport,” Abu Assi explained. “During the war, in the middle of the war, in the middle of the bombing and the planes above us, we used to go down and practice this sport.”

Since Gaza’s waves seldom reach suitable surfing heights, enthusiasts abandon all other activities when conditions improve, he noted.

Heavy combat throughout the region decreased following an unstable ceasefire that began October 10, though fatal Israeli attacks have persisted, with Hamas and Israel each blaming the other for truce violations.

The Israel-Hamas conflict started October 7, 2023, when militants launched an assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians, and capturing 251 hostages. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s military campaign has resulted in 72,628 Palestinian deaths and 172,520 injuries.

Gaza residents continue facing severe challenges obtaining food, clean water, healthcare, and housing following widespread destruction, collapsed medical infrastructure, and mass displacement of the population.

However, for the territory’s remaining surfers, the waves provide temporary relief from their circumstances.

“As soon as the sea gets high, you leave your work and leave your whole life,” Abu Assi said. “Work can be caught up on, as they say. We go practice this sport.”

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin will address a heavily fortified Victory Day ceremony in Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday, commemorating the end of World War II amid unprecedented security measures and ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

For the first time in almost twenty years, the annual military display will exclude tanks, missiles, and other heavy weaponry, featuring only the traditional aircraft flyover. Putin, who has held power for over 25 years, typically uses Russia’s most significant national holiday to display military strength and build support for the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, now in its fifth year.

Russian officials attributed the modified parade format to the “current operational situation” and cited potential threats from Ukrainian forces. Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov confirmed that authorities have implemented “additional security measures” for the event.

Both nations attempted ceasefires this week that ultimately failed. Russia announced a temporary halt to hostilities for Friday and Saturday, while Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared a truce beginning May 6, though both sides accused each other of continued attacks.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that both Russia and Ukraine agreed to his ceasefire proposal running Saturday through Monday, including a prisoner exchange, calling it potentially the “beginning of the end” of the conflict.

Zelenskyy, who earlier suggested Russian officials “fear drones may buzz over Red Square” on May 9, responded to Trump’s announcement by issuing a decree sarcastically allowing Russia to proceed with Victory Day celebrations while temporarily designating Red Square off-limits for Ukrainian attacks.

Peskov dismissed Zelenskyy’s decree as a “silly joke,” telling reporters, “We don’t need anyone’s permission to be proud of our Victory Day.”

While Russia’s larger military forces continue making gradual progress along the 1,000-kilometer front line, Ukraine has responded with increasingly effective long-range strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and military installations. Ukrainian forces have developed drone technology capable of reaching targets more than 1,000 kilometers inside Russian territory, far exceeding their pre-2022 capabilities.

Russian officials threatened a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv” if Ukraine attempts to interfere with Saturday’s celebrations. The Defense Ministry urged civilians and foreign diplomatic staff to “leave the city promptly,” though European Union representatives stated their diplomats would remain in the Ukrainian capital despite the warnings.

Putin has consistently utilized Victory Day ceremonies to promote national unity and emphasize Russia’s global influence. The Soviet Union suffered 27 million casualties during 1941-45 in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War, a massive loss that profoundly affected the national consciousness and remains one of the few unifying elements in the country’s complex Communist-era history.

Red Square Victory Day parades have featured extensive displays of military hardware — including armored vehicles and nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles — annually since 2008. Regional parades throughout the country have also been reduced or cancelled entirely due to security considerations.

As military units prepared for Saturday’s march, Moscow authorities restricted mobile internet and text messaging services throughout the capital, citing public safety requirements. The government has systematically increased internet restrictions and online monitoring, leading to growing public frustration and rare expressions of dissent.

International guests scheduled to attend the Moscow festivities include Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, representing a European Union member nation, planned to meet with Putin and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial near the Kremlin but intended to skip the Red Square parade.

The family of imprisoned Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai is pinning their hopes on President Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, believing diplomatic negotiations could be their last chance to secure his freedom.

Lai, who previously believed Trump might prevent China from implementing its controversial national security legislation, instead found himself sentenced to two decades behind bars under that very law.

The 78-year-old former newspaper publisher established a pro-democracy publication that authorities shuttered amid the government’s response to Hong Kong’s widespread 2019 demonstrations against Chinese rule.

Political analysts view Lai’s imprisonment as emblematic of eroding civil liberties that Beijing had guaranteed when Britain transferred Hong Kong’s sovereignty in 1997. His son Sebastien Lai expressed urgent concerns about his elderly father’s deteriorating situation in an Associated Press interview.

While Trump’s discussions with Xi are expected to cover trade relations, Middle East conflicts, and Taiwan tensions, the president has indicated plans to address Lai’s case. Speaking to radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump noted “there’s a little bitterness, I would say, with him and Jimmy Lai.”

The 31-year-old son believes his father’s situation could be resolved more easily than other complicated international disputes the two leaders will tackle.

“My father will die in prison if he’s not freed,” he stated, warning that such an outcome would devastate his family while creating a martyred figure. “It’s a lose-lose scenario for every single person.”

Trump has publicly expressed compassion for the elder Lai’s predicament. “I feel so badly,” the president told journalists in December following Lai’s conviction for conspiring with foreign entities and publishing seditious content. Trump had previously raised the activist’s case during his October meeting with Xi.

Mark Clifford, who leads the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation advocating for Lai’s release, said sources briefed on the October discussions indicated Xi and his team “noted” Trump’s comments without strong opposition. This response suggests willingness to engage in dialogue, Clifford explained.

According to Clifford’s sources, Trump directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to mention Lai’s release during June trade negotiations with China. Bessent reportedly raised Trump’s interest in freeing the activist during recent talks with Chinese officials, who acknowledged the request without significant pushback.

“It is positive that senior Chinese officials have stopped pushing back on the issue,” Clifford observed. The Treasury Department declined to comment on these claims.

However, Beijing maintains its hardline stance publicly. In March, Chinese foreign ministry representative Guo Jiakun labeled Lai as the orchestrator behind the 2019 civil unrest that disrupted Hong Kong.

When questioned Thursday about potentially releasing Lai, the foreign ministry avoided direct answers, stating that Hong Kong matters are domestic concerns where external interference isn’t permitted.

Hong Kong’s government previously dismissed connections between Lai’s case and press freedoms. Officials told the AP that Lai received conviction through transparent and equitable legal proceedings, emphasizing their commitment to law enforcement.

The White House hasn’t responded to inquiries about how aggressively Trump will advocate for Lai’s freedom.

More than 100 bipartisan congressional members sent a Thursday letter urging Trump to pursue Lai’s release during the Xi summit.

Despite escalating U.S.-China tensions, diplomatic efforts have achieved some prisoner releases. American pastor David Lin gained freedom in 2024 after nearly two decades in Chinese detention, while both nations exchanged several prisoners through diplomatic arrangements that year.

Activists note Beijing’s growing reluctance to release human rights challengers. Chinese Nobel winner Liu Xiaobo died in a northeastern Chinese hospital in 2017 despite international appeals for his medical release abroad.

Human rights attorney Jared Genser, Liu’s former representative, said a White House official confirmed Trump had contacted Xi requesting Liu’s medical release.

Under Xi’s predecessor Hu Jintao, China prioritized economic cooperation and international image concerns, explained Genser, who secured another activist’s freedom in 2007. Xi’s administration emphasizes national sovereignty and rejecting foreign intervention.

“China knows that by taking a very tough and unrelenting position that most countries in the world are not going to be willing to do more than privately raise a case,” Genser said. “That self-censorship to me is the biggest factor… in our inability to secure the release of political prisoners under Xi Jinping, as compared to Hu Jintao.”

John Kamm, who founded the prisoner advocacy organization Dui Hua Foundation, said China previously offered concessions when seeking specific goals, like Olympic hosting rights.

However, he attributed reduced success in freeing detained activists partly to American inattention. “I don’t know of anyone in this administration who cares about political prisoners in China,” Kamm stated, suggesting Secretary of State Marco Rubio might be an exception, though focused elsewhere.

Kamm noted Trump’s emphasis on trade, investment, and Middle East conflicts, but suggested China might release Lai in exchange for American concessions on Beijing’s priorities.

Thomas Kellogg from Georgetown Center for Asian Law believes both governments have motivations for reaching an agreement.

Freeing Lai would allow China to demonstrate readiness to progress beyond the nearly six-year period since implementing Hong Kong’s security legislation, while Trump’s team could claim a diplomatic victory after “a difficult couple of months,” Kellogg explained.

Such an achievement would generate praise even from administration critics, he added. “If the Trump administration is pushing very hard for Jimmy Lai’s release, then we could get a positive outcome.”

Wilson Chan, co-founder of the Pagoda Institute think tank, doubts diplomatic resolution prospects, believing Beijing wants to send a message through Lai’s case.

Chan suggested that continued international attention might make Beijing view Lai as an influential figure still representing security threats, while silence would eliminate pressure for action.

Lai, who holds British citizenship, chose not to appeal his conviction and sentence. The government, which considers him Chinese, seeks to seize his assets citing national security justifications.

Sebastien Lai described this action as another instance of his father “still being attacked.”

The elder Lai experiences health problems including irregular heartbeat and diabetes, according to his Hong Kong legal representatives in January. Prosecutors cited medical reports indicating his overall health remains stable. Officials claim his solitary confinement resulted from his own request.

The London-based son has maintained correspondence with his father throughout more than five years of detention. He believes his father would prefer quiet retirement if granted early release.

“The Chinese government would be complicit in killing him,” he warned.

Chinese officials announced Saturday that the nation’s overseas sales jumped 14.1% in April compared to the same month last year, surpassing expectations despite ongoing conflicts in Iran and continuing effects from elevated U.S. trade tariffs.

The trade figures were published just days before a scheduled summit next week in Beijing between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The April performance significantly exceeded economic forecasts and marked a substantial improvement over March’s modest 2.5% annual increase.

Meanwhile, Chinese purchases from other countries grew 25.3%, which represented a slight slowdown from March’s 27.8% rise but remained strong overall.

The upcoming Trump-Xi meeting occurs as the two nations face numerous challenges in their relationship, with diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian conflict taking precedence over traditional trade disputes.

“We’re expecting that overall external demand will remain a solid driver of growth this year,” said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at Dutch bank ING, likely led by China’s exports of semiconductors and autos.

Earlier this year, Chinese officials established an economic growth goal of 4.5% to 5% annually, marking a decrease from the previous year’s 5% target and representing the most modest objective since 1991. International sales are anticipated to continue supporting the broader economy, particularly as shipments to European, Southeast Asian, Latin American and African markets have increased in recent months.

Beyond discussions about ending the Iranian conflict, the Trump-Xi talks will likely address trade policies and export restrictions, including rare earth materials and American technology limitations affecting China. These conversations follow a year-long trade agreement between the nations that was established when the leaders previously met in South Korea.

While major policy changes regarding export controls seem unlikely, the forthcoming meeting may produce gradual improvements to address trade tensions, according to HSBC economists in a recent analysis.

“On balance, China looks to have more leverage,” wrote Leah Fahy, senior China economist of Capital Economics, in a note. “But higher tariffs haven’t stopped China’s exports from continuing to surge over the past year, and Beijing has showed that it is prepared to wait out U.S. pressure.”

For Chinese manufacturers, rising oil and fuel costs due to the Iranian conflict are increasing production and transportation expenses across the country’s industrial facilities, according to Wei Li, head of multi-asset investments at BNP Paribas Securities (China). Additionally, global inflation pressures could reduce consumer spending power in China’s international markets.

Despite these challenges, China’s economy has demonstrated greater stability than many other nations, benefiting from substantial oil reserves and a more varied energy portfolio.

NAIROBI, Kenya — Ethiopia is spearheading a dramatic shift toward electric vehicles across Africa as mounting fuel costs and supply disruptions drive nations to embrace cleaner, more affordable transportation options.

Data from China’s Commerce Ministry reveals Africa purchased 44,358 electric vehicles from China in 2025, representing a significant jump from 19,386 units the previous year. These shipments, worth more than $200 million, demonstrate surging demand particularly in Ethiopia following its 2024 prohibition on new gasoline and diesel vehicle imports.

Ethiopia now operates more than 115,000 electric vehicles on its roadways, representing approximately 8% of its total vehicle fleet. During 2025, the country acquired one-third of all African EV imports from China, outpacing major markets including South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria.

With the ongoing Iran conflict creating fuel supply disruptions throughout transportation networks and everyday life, Ethiopia’s push to reduce expensive oil and gas imports while bolstering energy independence has intensified. Yet this transition raises concerns about charging network development and vehicle costs.

Ethiopia allocates roughly $4.2 billion annually for fuel imports, putting pressure on its foreign currency reserves.

Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe stated the nation also spends up to $128 million monthly on fuel subsidies, while deliveries have fallen short by over 180,000 metric tons due to Iran’s effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping channel handling approximately one-fifth of Gulf region oil exports before the conflict began.

Officials have intensified their push for accelerated EV adoption, positioning it as essential protection against external supply disruptions.

“From a general perspective, it is sustainable,” commented Hiten Parmar, executive director of The Electric Mission, based in South Africa. “By replacing imported fuel with domestically generated electricity, Ethiopia is strengthening its energy security position.”

Ethiopia benefits from having over 90% of its electricity sourced from renewable energy, primarily hydroelectric and solar power. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Africa’s most significant hydroelectric development, is projected to double the country’s power production, although the project has sparked a decade-long water rights disagreement with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan.

“That scale of generation creates a foundation for electrified transport,” Parmar noted. “It allows EVs to be powered by locally produced clean energy, rather than costly imports.”

“By gradually adopting EVs, that intensive fuel import expenditure can be reduced and redirected into other critical development needs,” Parmar explained.

According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles worldwide eliminated more than 1 million barrels of daily oil consumption in 2024.

Egypt, South Africa and Morocco are also pursuing electric vehicle transitions through policy incentives, manufacturing investments and clean energy development.

“That transition is beginning to ease pressure on fuel demand,” explained Bob Wesonga, policy and investments lead at the Africa E-Mobility Alliance.

“That’s over 100,000 vehicle owners who are no longer directly exposed to pump price shocks,” he noted. “In the medium to long term, this creates a buffer against global oil volatility.”

Those who have made the switch report substantial cost reductions.

“A private EV owner now spends roughly $4 a month on charging compared to about $27 previously spent on fuel,” Wesonga said. “For public transport operators, the difference is even more striking.”

The electric vehicle transition confronts significant infrastructure obstacles, Parmar acknowledges.

“The technology is already mature, the challenge is building it out fast enough,” he stated.

Ethiopia is installing ultra-fast charging stations in its capital Addis Ababa, but expanding them countrywide requires substantial time and financial commitment.

“The biggest hurdle is the last-mile power distribution,” Wesonga explained. “While Ethiopia has a surplus of generation, getting that power reliably to where it’s needed, especially outside Addis Ababa, remains a challenge.”

Power outages and delays in connecting high-capacity charging facilities have hindered infrastructure development despite growing electric vehicle demand.

“Charging infrastructure is still heavily concentrated in the capital and along a few corridors,” Wesonga observed. “That limits e-mobility to specific areas and creates a bottleneck as adoption grows.”

Ethiopia joins several African nations working to establish domestic EV manufacturing. Government records indicate 17 electric vehicle assembly facilities are planned in Ethiopia, with goals to expand that figure to 60 by 2030 as part of a broader localization and cost-reduction strategy.

Vehicle affordability continues as a significant obstacle. While operational expenses are reduced, electric vehicle prices remain elevated compared to typical household incomes.

“The purchase price is still out of reach for many,” Wesonga said. “At the same time, restrictions on fossil fuel vehicles have pushed up the cost of used cars, creating additional barriers.”

This situation could produce unexpected social consequences without careful management.

“A national fleet transition is always gradual,” Parmar said. “Existing combustion vehicles will remain in use for some time, and the transition needs to account for livelihoods tied to that system.”

Despite challenges, both specialists believe the long-term direction is evident. Reduced operating and maintenance expenses for electric vehicles could lower transportation costs over time, decreasing goods prices and improving economic opportunity access.

Ethiopia is also studying approaches from nations like China and Norway, where government support, infrastructure investment and consumer incentives have accelerated adoption.

“This is not just about transport,” Wesonga concluded. “It’s about reshaping how the country uses energy, and who benefits from that shift.”

Rescue operations have restarted in Indonesia as authorities continue searching for three hikers who disappeared when Mount Dukono volcano erupted on Halmahera island, according to local officials.

The volcanic explosion occurred Friday morning at 7:41 a.m. local time in North Maluku province, launching ash clouds reaching heights of 6.2 miles above the mountain, Indonesia’s volcanology agency reported.

Search teams had to suspend operations Friday night due to ongoing volcanic activity but returned to the field Saturday morning.

More than 100 rescue workers, along with military and police units plus two thermal drones, have been mobilized to locate the missing individuals, according to Iwan Ramdani, who leads the local rescue organization.

The missing hikers include two people from Singapore and one Indonesian citizen, Ramdani confirmed.

“We are focusing the search around the crater, covering an area around 700 metres,” Iwan stated.

Emergency teams successfully evacuated 17 people on Friday, including seven Singaporeans and 10 Indonesians.

Local police chief Erlichson Pasaribu reported that survivors indicated three individuals, two of them Singaporean, perished in the eruption, though rescue officials have not yet verified these fatalities as of Saturday.

Continued volcanic eruptions are creating obstacles for Saturday’s search mission, Iwan noted.

Lana Saria, who heads the volcanology agency, confirmed in an official statement that at least four additional eruptions were documented Saturday morning.

Mount Dukono remains at the third-highest alert level, Saria explained.

Officials are warning residents and visitors to avoid all activities within a 2.5-mile radius of the volcanic crater, she advised.

No airline flight cancellations have been reported due to the eruption.

Indonesia is located within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for intense seismic activity where multiple tectonic plates meet.

Four Israeli military personnel sustained injuries on Friday during multiple drone strikes carried out by Hezbollah, according to Israeli Defense Forces reports. One soldier received serious injuries while three others suffered moderate wounds in the separate incidents.

The most recent attack occurred when an unmanned aircraft penetrated Israeli airspace after crossing the border from Lebanon, injuring three soldiers. Military officials transported the wounded for medical care and contacted their families. An IDF spokesperson characterized the incident as “another violation of the ceasefire understandings by the terrorist organization.”

In an earlier Friday assault, Hezbollah detonated multiple explosive drones near Israeli troops conducting operations in southern Lebanon. One soldier received moderate injuries in that strike and was taken to a medical facility for treatment, with his family receiving notification.

Authorities also dealt with a separate security concern when law enforcement discovered an unmanned aircraft on a school rooftop in Nahariya. Police officers and explosive ordnance disposal specialists responded to the location, cleared the educational facility of occupants, and worked to safely disable and remove the device. Officials reported no casualties from this incident.

Israeli military leadership announced Thursday the cancellation of multiple public gatherings in northern Israel after intelligence assessments suggested Hezbollah might launch rocket attacks in retaliation for the death of Ahmed Ghaleb Balout, a Radwan Force commander killed in Beirut one day earlier.

Following a military confrontation between American and Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, President Trump minimized the significance of the clash while expressing confidence that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran could materialize soon.

Speaking to the press during a visit to construction work at Washington, DC’s Reflecting Pool, Trump described the incident in casual terms. “Yeah, it is. They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” the president stated, calling the engagement both a “trifle” and a “love tap.”

Despite the military escalation, Trump maintained optimism about diplomatic prospects with Iran.

“A deal with Iran might not happen, but it could happen any day. I believe they want the deal more than I do,” he told reporters.

The confrontation involved three American naval vessels – the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason – which came under assault from Iranian unmanned aircraft, missiles, and speedboats during their passage through the strategic waterway, according to military officials.

US Central Command subsequently acknowledged conducting what they termed “self-defense strikes” targeting Iranian military installations, including facilities used to launch drones and missiles. American officials reported that Iranian vessels participating in the attack were eliminated.

Tehran’s official media outlets claimed Iranian military units engaged what they called “enemy units,” stating the action was a response to an American attack on an Iranian petroleum vessel.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions in the vicinity of Iran’s Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Abbas after the military exchange.

The United Arab Emirates activated its defensive systems to counter incoming Iranian projectiles and drones during the incident.

“UAE air defenses are currently engaging missile and drone attacks originating from Iran,” the UAE defense ministry announced on X, noting that sounds from intercepting weapons were audible “across various parts of the country.”

A Fox News correspondent reported that the American strikes on an Iranian coastal city and an island within the Strait of Hormuz came after the UAE and Saudi Arabia expressed frustration over previous Iranian attacks on the UAE that American officials had treated as minor incidents.

The military action occurred while diplomatic discussions about a potential ceasefire continue. The United Nations has documented that approximately 1,500 vessels remain stranded in the Gulf due to Iran’s ongoing closure of the strait, while petroleum markets experienced significant price increases following the renewed conflict.

The Islamic State has officially taken credit for a deadly car bombing that killed a high-ranking Shiite religious leader in Syria’s capital, marking a significant security breach in Damascus.

Sheikh Farhan Hassan al-Mansour, who served as the preacher and imam at the Sayyidah Zaynab shrine, died instantly when an explosive device detonated beneath his vehicle on May 1, 2026. The blast occurred near the Safir Al-Zahra Hotel in Damascus’s southern suburbs.

According to a Syrian security official who examined the bombing site, the explosive was placed under al-Mansour’s car and triggered from a distance. The attack also wounded multiple assistants traveling with the cleric and injured bystanders in the vicinity.

ISIS announced its role in the killing through official communication channels and its weekly publication, Al-Naba. The terrorist organization labeled al-Mansour as one of the “imams of the Rafida” – a slur extremists use against Shiites – and characterized the murder as an act of “revenge” in their ongoing campaign against religious leaders tied to Syria’s previous government and its supporters.

The target and location hold deep strategic meaning. The Sayyidah Zaynab shrine stands as one of Shiism’s holiest sites and previously symbolized Iranian and Hezbollah power in Syria before their influence waned after the Assad government’s collapse in December 2024.

The successful elimination of the shrine’s top religious figure at the center of his own territory demonstrates that ISIS dormant cells retain the capability to surveil, plan and execute operations within Damascus’s core areas.

Syrian officials responded by implementing increased security protocols throughout Damascus and surrounding regions. Multiple Syrian organizations, including the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, paid tribute to al-Mansour, calling him a “martyr of the pulpit” recognized for his moderate stance and unity advocacy.

Damascus media outlets subsequently reported that authorities broke up a three-person cell operating in the Sayyidah Zaynab vicinity, believed to have provided logistics and support for the operation.

The strike occurs during a crucial transition period for Syria, as ISIS appears to be taking advantage of security gaps created by military repositioning and security forces focused on wider political issues.

Security experts note the organization has moved away from its previous territorial control approach – which effectively ended in 2019 – toward a strategy of “qualitative attrition” using targeted killings and surprise attacks designed to erode public trust and highlight government failures to safeguard important figures.

Al-Mansour’s murder creates fresh challenges for Syrian security forces. Though ISIS remnants primarily hide in Syrian desert areas, the group has again proven its operational capabilities can penetrate crucial urban areas, sparking concerns about current anti-terrorism approaches and the possibility that sleeper cells could alter the security environment.

A new study reveals Vietnam has significantly increased its artificial island construction activities in the contested Spratly Islands, creating 534 acres of new land over the past twelve months, according to research published by a Washington-based policy institute.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies released findings Friday showing Vietnam’s continued development in the disputed South China Sea region. The recent construction brings Vietnam’s total artificial land creation in the Spratly archipelago to approximately 2,771 acres.

According to the research, Vietnam completed major landfill work at Barque Canada Reef during spring 2025, establishing what has become the country’s most extensive installation in the island chain. Following that project’s completion, Vietnamese forces initiated smaller development projects at multiple additional locations throughout the latter half of 2025.

The study documents significant infrastructure improvements, noting Vietnam has constructed three additional harbor facilities at Grierson Reef, Petley Reef, and South Reef. These additions increase Vietnam’s total harbor count in the archipelago to 15 facilities, with 11 of those built since 2021. Researchers also identified early construction phases of what appears to be another harbor project at Landsdowne Reef.

Environmental consequences have accompanied the expansion activities. The think tank calculated Vietnam’s reef destruction, encompassing areas buried under landfill and zones dredged for navigation channels and port facilities, now totals roughly 4,120 acres.

While Vietnam’s construction pace initially appeared to match China’s development rate in early 2025, recent Chinese activities at Antelope Reef have restored China’s lead in the region. Current estimates show China maintains approximately 5,460 acres of artificial land and has caused 6,224 acres of reef damage.

Vietnam’s embassy in Washington has not provided responses to requests for commentary on the construction activities. China previously expressed opposition to Vietnam’s development at Barque Canada Reef, asserting territorial claims over the area. Beijing maintains sovereignty claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, despite competing territorial assertions from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reinforced his nation’s alliance with Russia in a congratulatory message sent to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, marking the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War Two.

In his communication, Kim emphasized North Korea’s stance to “give top priority” to its relationship with Russia and pledged continued adherence to “the implementation of the obligations of the inter-state treaty,” state media KCNA reported.

The two nations established a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” in 2024 when Putin traveled to Pyongyang, with the agreement containing provisions for mutual defense cooperation.

North Korea has deployed approximately 14,000 soldiers to assist Russian military operations in the Kursk region amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Intelligence sources from South Korea, Ukraine, and Western nations report significant losses among these forces, with casualties exceeding 6,000 North Korean troops.

Russia conducted its most limited Victory Day military parade in recent years on Saturday, scaled down due to security concerns over potential Ukrainian attacks. Moscow’s campaign has faced challenges more than four years into what has become Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War Two.

Both Russia and Ukraine confirmed Friday their acceptance of a three-day ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled to last from May 9 through May 11.

HAVANA — Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood behind the Trump administration’s latest sanctions against Cuba on Friday, with the most significant penalties targeting GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.), a massive business empire controlled by Cuba’s military forces.

The penalties announced Thursday also hit Moa Nickel, a Cuban-Canadian partnership involving Sherritt International of Canada. The Canadian company responded immediately by announcing its complete withdrawal from Cuba, bringing to a close more than three decades of operations on the island.

According to Lee Schlenker, who researches at the Quincy Institute’s Global South program, the May 1 executive order and May 7 designations dramatically broaden Washington’s ability to impose penalties on foreign individuals and companies.

“Not only are they subject to having their assets frozen but their U.S. accounts as well as their travel to the U.S., that of their shareholders, investors or employees,” Schlenker explained. “This is bound to have an extremely significant impact of the presence of foreign companies” in Cuba.

Cuba specialist Pavel Vidal from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana described the new restrictions as “very concerning” for an economy that’s already “practically paralyzed.” Since January, Washington has prevented fuel deliveries to Cuba, worsening the nation’s prolonged economic troubles. Vidal predicted the sanctions would discourage GAESA’s existing business partners, noting that “very few will risk defying them.”

Vidal characterized the fresh measures as creating “total isolation,” powered by the fear they create among global financial institutions, insurance companies and multinational corporations.

Having examined GAESA’s internal records, Vidal emphasized that the organization’s extensive involvement across virtually all Cuban economic sectors makes any business relationship with the island potentially problematic under Washington’s new regulations.

Based on Vidal’s analysis of available data, GAESA controls approximately 40% of Cuba’s total economic output. By early 2024, the conglomerate possessed $14.5 billion in available cash, generating yearly income three times larger than Cuba’s entire government budget.

Created during the 1990s under military leadership, GAESA represented the Cuban Armed Forces’ calculated answer to the economic devastation following the Soviet collapse and intensified U.S. economic pressure during that period.

Though government-owned, GAESA operates without financial scrutiny from the Office of the Comptroller General. Former director Gladys Bejerano acknowledged this absence of oversight in a 2024 discussion before stepping down shortly afterward.

Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja ran GAESA for many years until his passing in July 2022. Married to former President Raúl Castro’s daughter, he represented a cornerstone of the ruling family — a position now carried forward by his son, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. Though officially working as his grandfather’s personal security chief, the younger Castro has recently become a key go-between in delicate negotiations with Washington.

This week’s sanctions also placed Ania Guillermina Lastres on the U.S. penalty list. Taking over from López-Calleja, she now leads GAESA as executive president, directing the organization’s extensive global financial operations.

From available information, GAESA controls numerous retail businesses selling products ranging from groceries and clothing to household goods, plus an extensive service network including vehicle rentals and tourism agencies. The conglomerate also runs Cuba’s banking sector, currency exchange operations, and manages the nation’s primary hotel properties.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Rubio emphasized the sanctions targeted the regime rather than ordinary Cubans, describing GAESA as an organization that “is taking anything that makes money in Cuba and illegally putting it into the pockets of a few regime insiders.”

Cuban officials argue the sanctions represent “collective punishment” intended to devastate the island’s economy, claiming the Trump administration’s approach prioritizes political gains over Cuban citizens’ well-being.

These latest penalties against Havana arrive amid an ongoing U.S. energy embargo that has triggered widespread electrical and water service disruptions plus acute fuel and water shortages.