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MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia and Canada have officially signed a $1.75 billion export agreement to construct an Australian-designed long-range radar system on Canadian soil.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Canadian Secretary of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr put their signatures on the first phase of the agreement Monday, which calls for deploying early warning radar coverage from the Canada-United States border northward into the Arctic.

Speaking to reporters at Australian Parliament House in the capital Canberra, Marles described the significance of the agreement. “What this really means is that Australia and Canada are now partners in terms of the future development of the Over-the-Horizon Radar,” he said, adding, “There is now a very strategic dimension to the relationship.”

Fuhr, speaking alongside Marles at a joint press conference, highlighted the longstanding bond between the two nations, both members of the British Commonwealth and the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance — which also counts the United States, Britain, and New Zealand as partners. “As the world adjusts to its new strategic and economic realities, I can’t think of a stronger partner to work with more than Australia,” Fuhr said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had announced his preference for the Australian radar technology over comparable American systems shortly after taking office last year. In March, Carney became the first Canadian prime minister to travel to Australia in 12 years. During that visit, Carney and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to expand cooperation in defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.

BAE Systems Australia released a statement confirming it will assist both governments in developing the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar. The Australian system, which took more than four decades to develop, operates by bouncing high-frequency electromagnetic waves off the ionosphere, allowing it to detect objects far beyond the reach of standard radar systems — objects that would otherwise be hidden by the natural curvature of the Earth.

The agreement represents Australia’s single largest defense export in the country’s history. The previous record was a $700 million deal finalized in 2024 to supply Germany with 100 Australian-manufactured Boxer heavy weapon carrier vehicles.

MANILA, Philippines — Two teenage students opened fire inside a high school in the central Philippines on Monday morning, killing three of their fellow students and injuring seven others, according to police.

The two suspects, ages 14 and 15, each carried a pistol during the attack. Both were taken into custody. Regional police chief Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy confirmed that the suspects and all of their victims were enrolled at San Jose National High School in Tacloban city, where the shooting occurred mid-morning.

Authorities launched an investigation to determine what motivated the attack at the government-run school, which serves more than 1,500 students. Capoy said the two suspects, who were reportedly close friends, told investigators during initial questioning that they had been bullied at school. He did not provide additional details.

Neither suspect had a prior criminal record, and it remains unclear how they obtained the weapons. Capoy noted that the guns were brought onto campus because only a single security guard was on duty across multiple entry and exit points.

“The suspects barged into two rooms because after the shooting in the first, the children scampered and the suspects apparently ran after some victims into another room,” Capoy told reporters.

Capoy added that the majority of those killed and wounded were female students.

One of the suspects was apprehended at the school shortly after the attack. The second fled and took refuge in a nearby home, where he was located after residents alerted police to his whereabouts.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and called on law enforcement to strengthen security measures at schools, workplaces, and public spaces throughout the country, according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.

“The president was saddened by this incident. Anybody, especially the parents of the victims, will feel sad and terrified,” Castro said.

National police urged the public to stay calm and assist investigators by sharing any relevant information tied to the case.

While gun-related crimes are common in the Philippines — largely due to the widespread presence of unlicensed firearms — shootings inside schools remain relatively uncommon.

BUCHAREST — Romania’s prime minister-designate Adrian Vestea formally requested a parliamentary confidence vote late Sunday, counting on support from the country’s largest party. However, political analysts say his cabinet stands little chance of passing without votes from far-right opposition lawmakers.

Centrist President Nicusor Dan nominated Vestea, a member of the Liberal Party, earlier this week — a move made without consulting the party itself. Observers described it as a bold attempt to restore a pro-European government capable of pursuing economic reforms and reducing Romania’s budget deficit, the largest in the European Union.

The backdrop to this political standoff is the collapse of the previous pro-European coalition government in early May. That administration, led by Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Ilie Bolojan, fell apart when the leftist Social Democrats broke from the coalition and joined with far-right opposition parties in a successful no-confidence vote.

On Sunday, the Liberal Party made clear it would not support Vestea, voting to expel him from the party and threatening to remove any member who backs or joins his proposed government. The Liberals also announced they would no longer govern alongside the Social Democrats.

Despite that, the Social Democrats announced Sunday they would support Vestea’s cabinet, which includes nine Social Democrat ministers and the government’s secretary general. The Social Democrats had previously indicated they were open to rejoining a pro-European coalition — provided the prime minister was someone other than Bolojan.

The Liberals’ refusal to back Vestea was echoed by their former junior coalition partners — the centre-right Save Romania Union and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR party — making it extremely difficult for Vestea’s government to win a parliamentary majority without defectors, independents, or far-right support.

The hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians, known as AUR, is currently parliament’s largest party and leads all other parties by a wide margin in public opinion polls.

AUR vice president and senator Petrisor Peiu took to Facebook on Monday to weigh in, saying, “Nicusor Dan and PSD have placed themselves in the difficult situation of proposing a government that cannot pass through parliament.” He added that the best path forward for Romania would be holding an early election, asking pointedly, “Why would AUR self-destruct to save PSD?”

The prolonged political instability puts at risk Romania’s ability to access billions of euros in European Union funds and maintain its sovereign credit rating at investment grade. Romania’s next regularly scheduled parliamentary election is not set to occur until 2028, and the country has never held an early election in its history.

TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — Dust still lingers over the ancient Mediterranean city of Tyre following weeks of relentless Israeli airstrikes that have left the Lebanese coastal city deeply scarred.

Though a fragile quiet has descended on the area, daily life has come to a near-complete standstill.

A fresh ceasefire between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah is now in effect, but residents remain anxious — previous ceasefires have collapsed before. Fear and uncertainty continue to grip the population, even as the United States and Iran hold talks in Switzerland that Lebanese residents are hoping will finally bring stability to their country.

More than 4,000 people in Lebanon have lost their lives in Israeli strikes since the current Israel-Hezbollah conflict erupted in March, two days after the Iran war began, when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel. The militant group has also engaged in fighting with Israeli forces who have pushed deeper into southern Lebanon than at any point in more than 25 years.

Vast portions of southern Lebanon now lie in ruins — and Tyre is no exception.

In the summer months, Tyre — Lebanon’s fourth largest city — typically draws crowds of tourists who come to relax on its beaches, explore its Roman ruins, dine on fresh seafood at charming waterfront restaurants, and take in the scenery from boat tours.

Today, the scene is starkly different. The few restaurants that remain open sit with empty tables. Parking areas that once overflowed with beachgoers’ cars now serve as makeshift camps, with displaced families living in tents. Fishermen say they are afraid to venture far from the harbor, fearing they could be targeted.

LONDON (AP) — Simon Boyd builds prefabricated steel structures on England’s south coast and exports them to clients in places like Ghana and Barbados. Mike Hawes leads the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, representing the country’s automotive industry. The two business figures stood on opposite sides when the Brexit debate raged a decade ago — yet today, both share the same frustration over how things have turned out.

Ten years ago, supporters of leaving the European Union promised a bold new era for Britain — one where the country would reclaim authority over its own laws and borders, free from Brussels bureaucrats, and where the economy would thrive. That vision has not materialized. Instead, Britain has struggled to find its footing after losing seamless access to the EU’s single market, which encompasses 27 nations and roughly 450 million consumers.

The country’s economic growth has been sluggish at best. Taxes are elevated, public services are under strain, and government after government has failed to stop the steady stream of migrants crossing the English Channel in small inflatable boats. In short, there is little cause for celebration on this anniversary.

Boyd, who still supports the original Brexit decision, acknowledged the shortcomings. “No, it’s not delivered everything that was said it would deliver on the tin, but it is delivering,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s very sluggish. You only need to look at the statistics to see that.”

As managing director of REIDSteel — a company with around 130 employees based in Christchurch, England — Boyd places the blame for poor results on politicians who lacked the commitment to follow through. He also points to a series of unforeseen crises over the past decade, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The fallout from the Brexit vote began almost immediately, as businesses braced for an uncertain future during years of drawn-out negotiations over the U.K.’s new terms with the EU. When Britain formally departed the bloc on January 31, 2020, newly established trade rules made conducting business with European partners more expensive and time-consuming than before.

Creon Butler, who oversees the global economy and finance program at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, said the consequences of leaving the European single market have been far-reaching. “Whatever was promised, whatever one hoped for, (you have) to accept that it has been a major loss of wealth and prosperity for us through the choice we made to leave,” he said. “That’s a decision the British public have made, and they’re entitled to make it, but it does make us poorer.”

A recently published report from the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, backs up that assessment. Compiled by researchers from Britain, Germany, and the United States, the report measured the U.K. economy’s performance against 33 other countries, including European neighbors, the U.S., Canada, and Japan. The findings concluded that Brexit has shrunk Britain’s gross domestic product — a key measure of economic output — by 6% to 8%, cut investment by 12% to 13%, and reduced productivity by 3% to 4%.

The automotive sector was among the loudest voices against Brexit from the start, warning that the added red tape around parts shipments and finished vehicles would hurt an industry built on cross-border supply chains spanning multiple European countries. Those warnings proved well-founded. International automakers became less inclined to view Britain as an attractive gateway to European consumers, dampening investment. The industry is now looking to international trade agreements to help pick up the slack.

“We have been able to move with the times, so to speak, but undoubtedly it’s putting us at more cost into the industry, more pressure,” said Hawes.

Brexit backers frequently cited the ability to strike independent trade deals as one of the biggest upsides of leaving the EU, and Britain has since reached agreements with dozens of countries, including Australia, India, and the United States. Even so, EU nations still account for 41% of Britain’s exports and half of its imports, according to the latest government data.

Over more than five decades as an EU member, British businesses also grew accustomed to drawing workers from across Europe — particularly after the bloc expanded eastward in 2004. That access ended when Brexit eliminated the free movement of labor.

Few industries have felt that loss more acutely than Britain’s curry restaurant sector. Owners across the country — from Aberdeen in Scotland to Aberystwyth in Wales — have struggled after Eastern European workers returned home rather than navigate complex new visa requirements. Adding to their frustration, many in the industry had supported Brexit after being told it would open the door to more visas for South Asian cooks — a promise that was never kept.

“We feel betrayed,” said Oli Khan, president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association UK, who runs a restaurant in Stevenage, north of London, serving dishes like tandoori lamb chops, vegetable biryani, and chili paneer.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has responded to the economic stagnation by opening talks with the EU aimed at forging a closer relationship, hoping to inject new life into Britain’s sluggish economy.

Those efforts come as new polling data suggests public disillusionment with Brexit is deepening. A survey of 2,245 Britons aged 18 and older, conducted in May by Ipsos, the Policy Institute at King’s College London, and the think tank UK in a Changing Europe, found that 48% of respondents said Brexit was going worse than they had anticipated — up sharply from 28% in March 2021. Only about 9% said it was going better than expected, while roughly one in three said it was going about as they had foreseen.

Boyd, however, maintains that the most meaningful vote was the one cast on June 23, 2016, when 51.9% of voters — totaling 17.4 million people — chose to leave the EU. He remains convinced that Britain’s best days lie ahead outside the bloc, arguing that entrenched political and corporate interests sabotaged a genuine Brexit by keeping the country too closely aligned with the EU. That, he says, prevented Britain from unlocking its full potential as an entrepreneurial, innovative nation.

And he is firm that there is no turning back. “Imagine if we were to rejoin … today. The conditions upon which we would be allowed back in would be akin to us re-boarding the Titanic on the condition that we surrender our life vests first,” he said. “Need I say any more?”

Colombia has taken a sharp turn to the right, choosing nationalist attorney and political outsider Abelardo De La Espriella as its next president — a move that analysts say further solidifies a sweeping conservative wave rolling across Latin America.

Meanwhile, in Peru, officials are still tallying disputed votes from that country’s June 7 presidential runoff. Early projections show conservative Keiko Fujimori on track to win by a razor-thin margin of just over 0.2%, which would give her the presidency after three previous unsuccessful bids.

With Colombia and Peru now trending right, they join Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama in a regional shift that sharply contrasts with the so-called “pink tide” — a period in the early 2020s when a wave of leftist governments rose to power across the continent, including Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro, the country’s first leftist head of state.

Under Colombian law, a final verified vote count supervised by notaries and judges is required before results are official. That process was nearly finished late Sunday, though it remains to be seen whether it will fully match the initial tally.

Analysts point to struggling economies and surging crime rates as the driving forces behind the region’s political realignment. Once-fringe hard-right candidates have found growing audiences by pledging to crack down on lawlessness, riding a global wave of right-wing nationalism and benefiting from President Donald Trump’s push to counter China’s expanding footprint in Latin America and assert greater U.S. influence over the region.

“This is an unusual alignment of the stars for Trump,” said Steven Levitsky, a professor of Latin American Studies and government at Harvard University. “Rarely do you see a large number of governments as ideologically convergent as we’re seeing now.”

Over the past year, Trump has ordered military strikes that killed more than 150 people aboard suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, launched a right-wing regional coalition called the Shield of the Americas, and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a raid on Caracas.

Colombia’s Petro had been among Trump’s harshest critics in the region, drawing threats of military action and economic sanctions in response. De La Espriella stands in stark contrast — he is a self-described Trump supporter. A naturalized U.S. citizen who previously lived in Miami, De La Espriella received Trump’s endorsement before the runoff election. He has promised to join the Shield of the Americas, take a hard line against drug traffickers, cut business regulations and taxes, and restart oil and gas projects that were shelved under Petro.

His victory arrives as Colombia grapples with natural gas shortages, even as global energy markets are being rattled by the war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

With significant oil reserves in Guyana and Venezuela — which Trump has pledged to help develop — and one of the world’s largest shale formations located in Argentina, experts suggest Latin America is positioned to emerge as a major global energy supplier.

Right-wing governments in Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Colombia have built support on promises of tax relief, reduced government spending, and relaxed rules for mining and fossil fuel development. But many of those same governments are now wrestling with budget deficits, leading to unpopular spending cuts that have sparked public protests.

Bolivia declared a state of emergency this past weekend and began clearing blockades that had brought the country to a standstill for more than 50 days, as labor unions and other groups protested austerity measures introduced by center-right President Rodrigo Paz.

In Chile, President Jose Antonio Kast saw his approval numbers drop sharply after the Iran conflict prompted his government to raise fuel prices. In Argentina, President Javier Milei’s belt-tightening policies have been met with repeated demonstrations.

Security remains a stubborn challenge despite tough-on-crime campaign pledges. In Ecuador, homicides jumped 30% last year, with President Daniel Noboa’s government attributing the spike to territorial conflicts among fragmented criminal gangs. Murder rates have also climbed in Costa Rica under right-wing populist Rodrigo Chaves, and his successor, President Laura Fernandez, has pledged a war on crime — though killings remain high as the small Central American nation has become a major transit point for South American cocaine bound for the U.S. and Europe.

For De La Espriella, governing Colombia will be no easy task. Analysts say drug trafficking, illegal mining, and minimal government presence in remote parts of the country pose serious obstacles.

He won by less than 1% and will have to navigate a divided Congress, where his opponent Ivan Cepeda’s Historic Pact party controls more seats than any other faction.

De La Espriella’s fashion choices and his proposal to build mega-prisons have invited comparisons to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has dubbed himself the “world’s coolest dictator.” De La Espriella has pushed back on that characterization.

“Colombia is a much larger country and far more complex to manage than El Salvador, and importing El Salvador’s security solutions into Colombia is not feasible, whether legally, budget-wise, or in terms of international engagement,” said Sergio Guzman, founder of Colombia Risk Analysis.

Harvard’s Levitsky added that De La Espriella will need to work within Colombia’s established democratic institutions to advance any reforms, warning that “if he tries to be more radical then he can get into some trouble.”

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is widely expected to lay out a departure timeline as soon as Monday, yielding to growing demands from within his own Labour Party to step aside and pass the torch of leadership.

Should he follow through, Starmer would join a long line of predecessors, becoming the sixth prime minister in the past decade to make an early exit announcement from outside 10 Downing Street.

Starmer spent the weekend weighing his political future after Labour rival Andy Burnham claimed victory in a special parliamentary election. Burnham, who stepped down last week as the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, entered the race with the explicit goal of challenging Starmer for both the party leadership and the country’s top job.

Burnham is scheduled to be formally sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday.

Starmer’s office offered no comment on reports of a potential resignation. However, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Sunday that Starmer is “making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges and opportunities that he finds himself in.”

Whether Burnham would face a clear path to leadership or a competitive contest remains to be seen. Wes Streeting, who stepped down as health secretary last month in protest of Starmer’s leadership style, has publicly stated he intends to run if a leadership contest takes place.

Frustration with Starmer has been growing among Labour lawmakers for months. Party members have been eager to reverse the government’s falling popularity since Starmer led Labour to a sweeping election victory in July 2024.

His tenure has been marked by struggles to deliver on promises of economic growth, restore deteriorating public services, and ease financial pressures on ordinary citizens. His leadership has also been dogged by a series of missteps, including his decision to name Peter Mandelson — a figure with ties to Jeffrey Epstein and a history of controversy — as the UK’s ambassador to the United States.

Labour is hemorrhaging liberal voters to the expanding Green Party while simultaneously facing a surge from Reform UK, the anti-immigration party led by Nigel Farage that has consistently topped national opinion polls.

U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in even before any official announcement, tying Starmer’s potential exit to two of his frequent talking points: immigration and energy policy.

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.

It was not clear whether Trump’s post was a reaction to media speculation about Starmer’s plans. The two leaders did not speak over the weekend, and their once-cordial relationship has reportedly cooled in recent months over disagreements including the Iran conflict, which the United Kingdom chose not to join.

On the world stage, Starmer has earned recognition for his diplomatic efforts, particularly in uniting European nations in support of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion and working to manage the fallout from the Iran conflict.

Not all Labour voices have joined the chorus calling for Starmer’s exit. London legislator Neil Coyle pushed back sharply on the situation, writing on X: “the prospect of an utter stitch-up & the media circus being rewarded.” He added, “When the next leader cannot change Trump, Iran, Ukraine, Putin, Musk, broadcast editorial & algorithm bias overnight they’ll bay for his blood too. Better keep that guillotine sharp.”

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s deeply divided electorate handed conservative political newcomer Abelardo de la Espriella a razor-thin advantage in a presidential runoff Sunday, though the results face an imminent legal challenge from the opposing camp.

De la Espriella — a business owner and attorney who secured an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump despite never previously seeking elected office — captured 49.7% of the vote with 99.9% of ballots counted. His opponent, progressive lawmaker Iván Cepeda, an ally of outgoing President Gustavo Petro, received 48.7% support. Electoral authorities have not yet formally declared a winner.

Should de la Espriella prevail, his administration is expected to reverse many of Petro’s policies, including a controversial effort to conduct simultaneous peace talks with multiple illegal armed groups — an initiative that has largely fallen short. Cepeda had promised to continue that approach along with broader social reforms if he had won Sunday’s vote.

The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of widespread public anxiety over the possibility of renewed internal conflict in the country.

Addressing thousands of supporters from behind bulletproof glass in the northern city of Barranquilla on Sunday night, de la Espriella — known by the nickname “The Tiger” — opened with a unifying message before shifting to a more combative tone.

“I will govern for all Colombians,” he said, before adding: “Pack your bags and prepare to exercise the opposition. Make no mistake, Mr. Cepeda. You already know how fiercely the tiger roars.”

Speaking to his own supporters in Bogota after the results were tallied, Cepeda declared the vote count “unofficial and non-binding” and announced his campaign would contest results from more than 30,000 polling stations. It is worth noting that no presidential election recount in Colombian history has ever reversed an outcome. Petro also pledged to join the challenge.

“We will not allow … the rollback of the social gains we have achieved,” Cepeda said. “We will not allow democracy to be violated.”

The winner of Sunday’s election will begin a four-year presidential term on August 7.

The two candidates offered starkly contrasting visions for addressing the ongoing violence — including car bombings, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and mass displacements — that has plagued Colombia for decades.

De la Espriella, 47, advocated for a tough-on-crime stance, particularly regarding drug trafficking. He pledged to end Petro’s dialogue efforts with armed groups and proposed building large-scale prisons modeled after the aggressive security policies of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele — measures that have reduced homicide rates in that country but have also drawn human rights criticism. De la Espriella holds both Colombian and U.S. citizenship and is a member of the Republican Party.

Trump weighed in on the results via his social media platform, writing: “He Won, BIG!”

Yolanda Hernández, a 49-year-old who earns her living recycling trash, said she voted for Petro in 2022 but chose de la Espriella this time around. While she acknowledged that congressional gridlock prevented Petro from delivering on his promises to the poor, she said the country cannot afford another four years of his leadership.

“We want change in Colombia because it’s always the same violence, always the same thing,” Hernández said. “(Petro) said he was going to lower the cost of services, that he was going to lower the price of food, and everything is more expensive.”

Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the close result indicates Colombia “has not shifted overwhelmingly or decisively” either against Petro’s agenda or in favor of de la Espriella’s outsider “iron fist showmanship.” Freeman also noted the outcome highlighted deep regional divisions within the country.

“It’s regional not just ideological polarization; or rather, the two overlapping,” Freeman said. “Ironically, de la Espriella’s iron-fist message performed best in the core of the country, not the periphery, which bears the brunt of Colombia’s violence.”

Colombia’s illegal armed groups currently number more than 27,000 members. Last year, authorities recorded 14,780 homicides — the highest total since at least 2015 — driven largely by clashes between those groups. Among those killed was conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe.

MELBOURNE, Australia — In what officials are calling the biggest cocaine seizure in Australian history, law enforcement discovered 2.7 metric tons — roughly 3 tons — of the drug hidden on a property on the outer edge of Sydney, authorities announced Monday.

The discovery was made on June 19 in the suburb of Londonderry, on Sydney’s western outskirts. According to a statement from the Queensland Joint Organized Crime Taskforce, the cocaine was packed into plastic tubs and buried in underground bunkers concealed beneath three shipping containers on a semirural piece of land. The containers were equipped with false floors that allowed access to the hidden drugs below.

Authorities estimate the cocaine’s street value at 816 million Australian dollars, which equals approximately $572 million in U.S. currency. Two men, Sydney residents aged 21 and 25, were taken into custody at the scene and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an illegal substance. If convicted, both men could spend the rest of their lives behind bars.

The previous Australian record for a cocaine seizure was 2.34 metric tons — about 2.58 tons — taken off a fishing vessel near K’gari, formerly called Fraser Island, along the Queensland coast in 2024.

Investigators say the drugs were brought ashore by boat at Midge Point, a remote area in the Queensland tropics. Police allege that a Sydney-based organized crime group then moved the shipment overland to the city, a road journey of approximately 1,800 kilometers, or about 1,100 miles.

Authorities also believe the same vessel responsible for this shipment previously offloaded 178 kilograms — about 392 pounds — of cocaine that was seized earlier in Queensland. Six individuals have already been charged in connection with that earlier haul, which also included 142 kilograms, or 313 pounds, of methamphetamine.

Police suspect the vessel in question is the MV Wealth, a cargo ship registered in Belize that has since been seized by authorities in the Solomon Islands on suspicion of involvement in international organized crime. The Solomon Islands are located roughly 2,000 kilometers — about 1,200 miles — northeast of Queensland.

Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay warned that criminal organizations are increasingly exploiting Queensland’s vast 13,000-kilometer, or 8,000-mile, coastline as a smuggling route for narcotics.

Australia is considered an especially attractive market for drug traffickers because its residents pay some of the highest prices for cocaine anywhere in the world.

Negotiators from the United States and Iran gathered Monday in Obbuergen, Switzerland for a second day of diplomatic talks, working toward a permanent resolution to the conflict between the two nations following a turbulent opening day.

The mediating countries, Qatar and Pakistan, described the initial round of discussions as showing “encouraging progress.” A senior U.S. diplomat, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing negotiations, said headway had been made on several issues — notably the creation of “mechanisms” to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to global energy shipping and to maintain a ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

However, the first full day of negotiations was thrown into turmoil by sharp remarks from President Donald Trump, who was thousands of miles away from the Swiss talks but whose comments drew strong objections from the Iranian side.

Iranian state media reported that the talks were temporarily halted following the “publication of an insulting message by the U.S. President.” The Iranian delegation then met separately with Qatari mediators before leaving the negotiating site, according to state media. The senior U.S. diplomat later said the Iranians had remained on the premises and that talks were continuing.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had declared he would “never back down from the right to enrich uranium,” state media reported. Trump then told Fox News in a phone interview that Pezeshkian should be careful about his words, and also threatened to take over Iran, according to one of the network’s correspondents.

Trump continued posting warnings to Iran on social media even as negotiators were at the table, writing: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”

The American negotiating team includes Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. Iran’s delegation is led by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the country’s parliamentary speaker, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Vance told Fox News on Saturday that he expected to remain in Switzerland only a “day or two,” with Kushner and Witkoff managing the bulk of the technical discussions.

In a joint statement, Qatar and Pakistan announced that the high-level portion of the talks had concluded and that technical negotiations would continue in Switzerland for the remainder of the week. The two countries said both sides had agreed to establish a “communication line” to ensure safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as a framework for ending the conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The United States did not immediately respond to the joint statement, while Iran expressed appreciation for the mediators’ efforts. Foreign Minister Araghchi wrote on X that the first “real test” of the negotiations would be whether the new mechanism could actually halt the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Among the topics discussed was Iran’s posture regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s military claimed it had closed the strait on Saturday in response to ongoing fighting in Lebanon, though U.S. Central Command disputed that claim.

An interim agreement signed last week by the leaders of both countries calls for a 60-day window in which negotiators will work out the future of Iran’s nuclear program. The international community has raised concerns that Iran may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons — something Iran denies. Additional issues, including the status of frozen Iranian financial assets, are also part of the agenda.

While the talks cover a wide range of complex subjects, Iran has made clear its priority is resolving the conflict in Lebanon. A renewed ceasefire there that took effect Saturday appeared to be holding, and Israel’s military announced it would lift movement restrictions for residents near the Israel-Lebanon border on Monday morning. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a party to the U.S.-Iran agreement.

BEIJING — China’s government struck back Monday, announcing sanctions against 10 American defense companies after the United States recently blocked several prominent Chinese technology firms from receiving U.S. military contracts.

China’s Commerce Ministry announced that Chinese businesses would be prohibited from shipping so-called “dual-use” goods to the 10 American companies. Dual-use items are products that can serve both military and civilian purposes. The targeted American firms include military drone manufacturers and companies involved in rare earth mineral extraction.

The ministry stated the action was necessary to protect China’s national security and described it as a direct response to what it called the U.S. government’s “wrongful expansion of its so-called List of Chinese Military Companies.”

Chinese officials had previously stated that the American sanctions contradict an understanding reached between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump when Trump visited China in May.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Defense Department added several major technology companies — including Alibaba and Baidu — to its list of businesses it claims have ties to the Chinese military. Baidu pushed back on the designation, calling the claim that it is a military company “totally baseless.”

Being placed on that list bars the companies from obtaining U.S. military contracts.

China’s Commerce Ministry noted that Chinese firms may still apply for special export approval when goods are “genuinely necessary.” The ministry also warned that businesses or individuals in other countries are forbidden from transferring dual-use Chinese goods to any of the sanctioned American companies.

The 10 American companies facing the Chinese export restrictions are: AVEOX, based in Simi Valley, California; Red Cat Holdings and Teal Drones, both located in South Salt Lake, Utah; IMSAR in Springville, Utah; Jaia Robotics in Bristol, Rhode Island; Ball Aerospace & Technologies in Broomfield, Colorado; Oshkosh Defense in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; L3Harris Maritime Services in Norfolk, Virginia; MP Materials in Las Vegas; and USA Rare Earth in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer may announce a timeline for leaving office as soon as Monday, potentially setting the stage for an orderly handover of power to rival Andy Burnham and making him the United Kingdom’s seventh leader in a single decade.

Not even two years after Starmer led Labour to a sweeping election victory — one that was supposed to bring stability to Britain’s turbulent political scene — a source close to him said the prime minister spent the weekend weighing his options: either step aside voluntarily or fight to keep his job in a formal party leadership contest.

“Keir likes to think about things,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The pressure on Starmer has been mounting for months, but it intensified sharply on Friday when Burnham, who currently serves as the mayor of Greater Manchester, won a parliamentary by-election and returned to Westminster. His victory came at the expense of a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has topped national opinion polls for over a year.

That win energized Labour lawmakers who believe Burnham — a veteran politician widely praised for his ability to communicate — could reverse the party’s declining fortunes. Starmer’s personal approval ratings have fallen to the lowest level recorded for any British prime minister.

However, a leadership change carries its own risks. Burnham has spoken broadly about the need for sweeping national change and reducing the cost of living, but has not laid out detailed positions on foreign policy, economic strategy, or defense spending.

Much like Starmer, Burnham could find his hands tied by bond market investors who strongly resist any increase in government borrowing. He would also face a frustrated public that feels the country’s core systems are failing them.

Britain currently carries the heaviest borrowing costs among the Group of Seven wealthy nations, a situation driven by high debt levels, years of sluggish economic growth, difficulties in cutting public spending, and growing demands for investment in areas such as defense.

Investors consulted by Reuters were split on whether Burnham would take a market-friendly approach. Last September, Burnham said Britain needed to move “beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets” — a comment he later said was taken out of context.

“In our view, a Burnham premiership would inherit a precarious fiscal situation with few tools to deliver meaningful change,” economists at Citibank said on Friday.

Starmer had publicly stated on Friday that he would compete in any formal leadership contest held to replace him. Meanwhile, former health minister Wes Streeting said he has secured the support of the 81 Labour lawmakers required to enter such a race. However, a senior party figure suggested Streeting might cut a deal with Burnham — possibly accepting a high-ranking role in exchange for staying out of the contest.

While Starmer’s inner circle argues that his 2024 national election landslide gives him a mandate to govern through 2029, business minister Peter Kyle acknowledged on Sunday that the prime minister was thinking carefully about “the political challenges that he faces in this moment.”

Should Starmer step up to a podium at Downing Street on Monday to announce a departure date, he would join a long line of recent British leaders to exit under pressure. If Burnham succeeds him, he would become the seventh person to hold the office of prime minister since the Brexit referendum — a vote to leave the European Union that took place ten years ago this week.

That rate of leadership turnover is the highest Britain has seen in nearly two centuries, reflecting the deep difficulty successive governments have faced in improving living standards, public services, and controlling illegal immigration.

The political advisory group Eurasia suggested the most favorable scenario would be for Starmer to announce a September departure, allowing him to attend a planned UK-European Union summit in July while giving Burnham adequate time to prepare for taking office.

A powerful explosion erupted at Qatar’s primary natural gas export facility late Sunday night, injuring at least 54 people and leaving 18 others unaccounted for, according to Qatar’s Interior Ministry. The blast occurred as workers were attempting to bring the terminal back online after it had been struck by Iranian forces during the ongoing conflict.

The explosion took place at the Barzan gas supply facility within the Ras Laffan industrial area, according to state-run energy company QatarEnergy. Initial reports from officials suggested only a small number of injuries, but the Interior Ministry later released significantly higher casualty numbers hours after the incident.

The full extent of the damage has yet to be determined. The Barzan facility had the capacity to process nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day — energy that Qatar relied on mainly for domestic electricity generation and to operate its vital water desalination plants across the Arabian Peninsula.

Qatar holds the vast majority ownership of the plant, with a minor stake belonging to ExxonMobil. The oil company had not responded to requests for comment as of the time of this report.

The explosion comes after Iran struck Ras Laffan with a missile in March, triggering a fire that officials described as causing “extensive” damage before it was brought under control. Qatar had already suspended production at the site due to repeated Iranian attacks.

The disruption adds more uncertainty to global energy markets, as Qatar ranks among the world’s leading natural gas producers. The country had been forced to halt shipments when Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut off its export routes. With Iran beginning to ease its grip on the strait amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Qatar moved to restart operations — an effort that ended in Sunday’s disaster.

Qatar shares a vast offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf with Iran. Revenue from that gas production has funded Qatar’s rise as a global player, including hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, launching the Al Jazeera news network, and serving as an international mediator — including facilitating talks between Iran and the United States in Switzerland.

Russian officials say Moscow’s air defenses intercepted close to 60 drones in the early morning hours of Monday, prompting a temporary shutdown of flights at several airports near the capital.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced on Telegram that nearly 60 drones headed toward Moscow had been shot down. He did not offer additional details but confirmed that emergency crews were sent to the areas where the drones went down.

The aviation watchdog reported that four airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovskiy, which is located near the capital — all suspended flight operations during the incident. Flights were later allowed to resume at all four locations.

The latest attack comes on the heels of another drone strike last week that targeted Moscow’s only oil refinery. During that earlier offensive, Moscow’s defense systems knocked down nearly 200 drones in what was described as one of the largest aerial attacks on the city since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in 2022.

Meanwhile, in the Russia-annexed city of Sevastopol in Crimea, city governor Mikhail Razvozhayev announced on Telegram that all outdoor public events scheduled for Monday were being cancelled and that street lights would remain off. He also urged residents to reduce their electricity consumption.

Crimea, which draws large numbers of Russian tourists, has also suspended fuel sales to the general public and private businesses. Fuel supplies are now being directed exclusively to government agencies responsible for essential services and security, as Ukrainian drone strikes on supply routes and energy infrastructure have triggered a fuel shortage across the region.

SYDNEY — Australia announced Monday that it has reached its biggest defense export agreement in history, agreeing to sell cutting-edge radar technology to Canada in a deal worth A$2.5 billion, or roughly $1.75 billion U.S. dollars.

The technology at the center of the deal is known as Over-the-Horizon Radar, which is capable of detecting and tracking aircraft, ships, and missiles at distances of up to 3,000 kilometers — approximately 1,864 miles. This marks the first time Australia has sold this particular radar system to another country.

Canada plans to use the technology to strengthen its ability to monitor the Arctic, a region that makes up roughly 40% of the country’s total landmass. Despite its enormous size, the Canadian Arctic remains sparsely populated and largely undeveloped. A significant portion of Russia’s Arctic territory — about one-fifth of its total land area — faces both Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the significance of the agreement. “Today’s agreement marks a significant milestone in Australian defence trade and lays the foundation for deeper and mutually beneficial defence industry collaboration with Canada,” he said in a written statement.

Canadian officials also weighed in on the importance of the project. Stephen Fuhr, Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement, described the deal as part of a larger initiative. “Canada is reinforcing Arctic security through the Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar project,” Fuhr said. “This project is part of a broader effort to build an integrated Arctic surveillance and communications network that will strengthen Canada’s ability to monitor, understand and respond to activity in the Arctic.”

Australia noted that the agreement will create around 300 jobs domestically and represents only the first phase of what is expected to be a broader, ongoing collaboration between the two nations on radar development.

BOGOTA — Colombia has chosen a new direction, electing nationalist attorney Abelardo De La Espriella as its next president in a Sunday vote count that signals a dramatic rightward shift for the country.

Affectionately called “The Tiger” by his supporters, De La Espriella presented himself as an outsider capable of turning around Colombia’s struggling economy and bringing stability to a nation long troubled by illegal armed factions and drug trafficking.

His rise began early in the year, fueled by a firm stance on crime and public safety. He secured a first-round victory in late May with 43.7% of the vote, then defeated leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in the runoff election — earning 49.66% compared to Cepeda’s 48.7%, according to the national registrar’s official count.

De La Espriella has placed the blame for Colombia’s economic and security struggles squarely on outgoing President Gustavo. He won over a large portion of voters by promising to cut the size of government by 40%, expand the tax base, and abandon peace negotiations with armed groups in favor of a stronger military approach.

Among his economic plans, he intends to resume oil exploration and permit fracking, with the goal of nearly doubling production to 1.3 million barrels per day.

The president-elect says he funded his own campaign and that his political movement, “Defenders of the Homeland,” developed independently without backing from established parties or business interests. Reuters was unable to confirm that claim on its own.

Beyond his legal career, De La Espriella has built a wide-ranging business portfolio covering wine, rum, clothing, and real estate. Investigative news outlet La Silla Vacia reported that a number of those businesses have been dissolved, carry debt, and collectively lost money in 2024 — with his law practice standing out as his most financially successful venture. His campaign refused to respond to La Silla Vacia’s inquiries about his businesses, and later publicly questioned the outlet’s funding sources. La Silla Vacia denied any bias.

Despite never having served in the military, De La Espriella used a military salute as a signature gesture throughout his campaign. At 47 years old, he is frequently photographed wearing luxury timepieces, designer sunglasses, and a neatly trimmed beard — an image that has drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, who has famously referred to himself as the “world’s coolest dictator.”

Bukele has pursued aggressive law enforcement policies in El Salvador, including the construction of massive prisons, which have pushed crime rates to some of the lowest in Central America. Critics, however, point to the detention of more than 90,000 people and raise serious human rights concerns.

While De La Espriella denies that he is copying Bukele’s model, he has put forward a proposal to build 10 large-scale prisons across Colombia.

His legal career has also drawn scrutiny. De La Espriella previously represented Alex Saab, who is facing charges in the United States for allegedly laundering money on behalf of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He has also taken on clients connected to corruption cases, financial fraud, and right-wing paramilitary organizations. De La Espriella maintains that his work as an attorney does not imply any personal wrongdoing or criminal involvement.

A married father of four, De La Espriella was raised in the Caribbean city of Monteria and is known for his love of vallenato, a traditional folk music style from that region. He holds citizenship in three countries — the United States, Italy, and Colombia — and is scheduled to be inaugurated as Colombia’s president on August 7.

BEIJING — China has placed 10 American companies on its export control list, describing them as entities connected to the U.S. military, in a retaliatory move against Washington’s recent actions targeting Chinese firms.

The companies affected include Aveox, a manufacturer specializing in motors for mission-critical uses, along with rare earth producers MP Materials and USA Rare Earth. Being placed on the list means Chinese exporters are prohibited from selling dual-use items — goods with both civilian and military applications — to those companies.

China’s Commerce Ministry released a statement Monday saying the actions were taken in response to what it called the “U.S. government’s malicious practice.” The ministry said the measures were necessary to protect national security and fulfill international obligations, including commitments related to non-proliferation.

The ministry also stated that any ongoing export activities involving those listed companies must be halted immediately.

In a separate announcement, China’s finance ministry said it is moving against an additional 46 U.S. companies, banning Chinese buyers from purchasing any products those firms make. However, U.S.-funded businesses operating within China are still permitted to make such purchases.

The escalation comes two weeks after the United States added Chinese tech and automotive giants — including e-commerce company Alibaba, internet search provider Baidu, and automakers BYD and NIO — to a list of companies Washington believes are supporting Beijing’s military operations.

Authorities in Australia announced Monday they have made the nation’s biggest cocaine bust in history, recovering 2,700 kilograms of the drug from a semi-rural property on the western edge of Sydney.

The Australian Federal Police reported the seized cocaine carries an estimated street value of approximately A$816 million — roughly $572.3 million in U.S. currency. Officers found the drugs packed into plastic tubs that had been buried inside three shipping containers equipped with false floors.

The discovery was made on Friday during an ongoing investigation targeting an organized crime syndicate believed to be responsible for bringing illegal drugs into Australia along the country’s eastern coastline.

Two men, one 21 years old and the other 25, were taken into custody after they allegedly tried to run from the scene on foot. Both now face charges of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug — an offense that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Investigators say the cocaine was initially smuggled into the country near Midge Point in northern Queensland before being moved south to Sydney under the direction of the criminal organization. The investigation into the syndicate remains active.

This latest find comes on top of earlier drug interceptions tied to the same case, including 178 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of methamphetamine. Combined with Monday’s announcement, the total amount of drugs seized through this investigation has surpassed three metric tonnes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sweeping defense of his country’s recent military actions at the JNS International Policy Summit on Sunday, claiming that operations against Iran and its regional allies have dramatically reduced threats to Israel’s security.

Speaking to the gathering, Netanyahu pushed back against critics who had urged him to avoid military action in Rafah, hold back from striking Hezbollah, and steer clear of any confrontation with Iran.

“What have we achieved?” he asked the audience, before walking through what he called the results of those decisions.

Netanyahu said Israel successfully prevented Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and that joint operations with the United States resulted in what he described as the most extensive airstrike campaign in Israel’s history. He credited American military cooperation for making those strikes possible.

“We destroyed Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,” he said. “We knocked out 20 of their top nuclear scientists — 12 in Rising Lion, another eight in Roaring Lion.”

Beyond nuclear targets, Netanyahu said Israeli forces also struck Iran’s missile production, military industries, navy, and air force, while causing what he estimated to be hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He argued that the sustained military pressure had weakened the Iranian regime to the point where its eventual collapse was possible.

“But we didn’t just confront Iran. We shattered Iran’s terror axis,” he said.

Netanyahu told the summit that Israel eliminated senior terrorist leaders, killed tens of thousands of fighters, and managed to bring all hostages held in Gaza back home.

“And despite those who said it couldn’t be done, we brought back to Israel every single hostage, every single hostage, every last one of them,” he declared.

Addressing the situation in Lebanon, Netanyahu said Israel had wiped out more than 90% of the roughly 150,000 rockets and missiles that Hezbollah had stockpiled, severely weakening the group’s military capability.

He also confirmed that Israel has established security zones in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, and made clear those positions would be held indefinitely.

“As long as we need to protect our people, we will remain in the security zone in South Lebanon,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister also defended the conduct of Israeli forces in both Lebanon and Gaza, saying troops go to great lengths to minimize civilian casualties while carrying out operations against armed groups.

He closed his remarks by reaffirming his personal commitment to keeping nuclear weapons out of Iran’s hands, regardless of how ongoing diplomatic talks unfold.

“No matter what happens in the talks, with an agreement, without an agreement, I pledge to you that Iran, as long as I’m Prime Minister, will never have a nuclear weapon, never,” he said. “As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel, I will not let that happen.”

Turkey has put the finishing touches on a landmark transit project, completing the last segment of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı Metro Line on Friday. The fully operational 69-kilometer route is now recognized as the nation’s longest and fastest metro line.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presided over the opening ceremony in Istanbul, officially inaugurating the 22-kilometer Halkalı-Arnavutköy section — the project’s final phase. The completion brings the entire underground corridor connecting Gayrettepe, Istanbul Airport, and Halkalı into full service.

Stretching 69 kilometers with 16 stations total, the line reaches top speeds of 120 kilometers per hour, making it Turkey’s fastest metro route and placing it among the world’s lengthiest underground airport rail links.

At the ceremony, Erdoğan spoke to the scale of Istanbul’s growth and connectivity goals. “We are weaving our city, one of the world’s largest metropolises, with a population of 16 million and nearly 20 million annual visitors, stitch by stitch with a network of railways,” he said.

The newly unveiled segment features five stations: Ibn Haldun University, Kayaşehir, Olimpiyatköy, Halkalı Stadium, and Halkalı. Officials noted that around 1.5 million residents living in the Başakşehir and Küçükçekmece districts will now have direct rail access to both Istanbul Airport and the city center.

The metro system runs without drivers and uses the COBALT signaling platform, a technology developed domestically by ASELSAN. Of the 25 train sets assigned to the route, 15 were built to fully autonomous specifications by CRRC.

Turkish government projections suggest the line will produce economic benefits totaling 935 million euros by the year 2043. Additionally, reduced traffic congestion is expected to save commuters and travelers roughly 117 million hours of travel time.

The project was rolled out in phases over several years. Service on the Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport section launched in January 2023, with the Kağıthane-Gayrettepe portion following in January 2024. The Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport segment came online in March 2024.

With the full line now active, travel times are expected to drop considerably. Riders going between Halkalı and Istanbul Airport should reach their destination in about 30 minutes, while the trip from Gayrettepe to the airport is projected at roughly 35 minutes. End-to-end travel between Halkalı and Gayrettepe is estimated at 57 minutes.

The metro line also connects to a broader web of transportation options, including Marmaray commuter rail, high-speed rail services, and several other metro lines throughout the city.

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Monday that two vessels operating under South Korean management have navigated through the Strait of Hormuz, a development that comes in the wake of a memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire agreement signed by the United States and Iran last week.

According to the ministry, both ships are currently underway without incident, though officials noted they have not yet fully cleared the high-risk zone in the area. The ministry chose not to release additional details about the specific vessels involved.

Officials also confirmed that neither ship carries South Korean crew members, and neither vessel is headed to South Korea as its destination.

Despite this development, the situation remains tense for South Korean maritime operators in the region. A total of 22 South Korean-operated ships are still stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said.

Peace negotiations between the United States and Iran pushed into their second day Monday in Switzerland, following a rocky first session that saw Tehran announce it had once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz while President Donald Trump renewed his warnings of military action against Iran.

Vice President JD Vance led talks with Iranian representatives on Sunday at the Qatari-owned Buergenstock mountain resort in Switzerland. The discussions were held under a memorandum of understanding reached last week, which extended a fragile ceasefire — originally established in April — by at least 60 more days.

Just before negotiations formally got underway Sunday, Fox News reported that Trump warned Iranian officials directly, saying “you won’t have a country” if they attempted to close the strait again. Trump also repeated an earlier threat that the U.S. could take control of the waterway and potentially charge its own toll, according to Fox News.

The two sides offered conflicting accounts of how the talks unfolded. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed informed source, reported that after Trump’s remarks became public, the Iranian delegation refused to re-enter the negotiating room — though communication continued through Pakistani and Qatari intermediaries.

According to Tasnim’s source, the Iranian side insisted that before nuclear discussions could begin, the U.S. needed to fulfill other parts of the memorandum, including releasing frozen Iranian assets and issuing waivers to allow Iranian oil exports.

A U.S. diplomat directly involved in the negotiations pushed back on that characterization, telling Reuters: “The Iranians never left and are still here meeting and negotiating deep into the night. We’ve talked about the Strait, Lebanon, nuclear issues, and details of implementing the MOU, among other topics.”

A U.S. official said high-level talks were expected to conclude Monday, with technical teams staying on to continue more detailed discussions.

The memorandum of understanding had called for the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments — to remain open, and for all hostilities to cease, including in Lebanon. There, Israel has continued to carry out deadly strikes even as Iranian ally Hezbollah fires on Israeli targets.

Iran cited the ongoing fighting in Lebanon as justification for again halting maritime traffic through the strait over the weekend, and said Sunday’s session would not address substantive issues like Iran’s nuclear program.

At the Swiss talks, Vance downplayed the violence in Lebanon, telling reporters that progress had been made toward ending the fighting there. “These things are always a little bit messy,” he said.

Meanwhile, Trump took to social media from the United States to issue a stern warning: “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” The message appeared to be directed at Hezbollah.

Even as Trump was issuing those warnings, Vance told reporters that the president had “asked us to turn over a new leaf to transform our relationship with the people of Iran.”

Late Sunday, a U.S. diplomat said discussions focused on “clarifying some of the confusing messaging from Iran on the Strait and building deconfliction mechanisms to ensure the Strait will remain fully open.”

Despite a new ceasefire announced in Lebanon on Friday, there has been little evidence of a genuine halt to the fighting. Iran said Saturday that, as a result, it had closed the strait once more — a closure that, over nearly four months, had caused the most significant disruption to global energy supplies in history.

U.S. officials disputed that the strait was actually closed, but shipping data told a different story. According to analytics firm Kpler, only five vessels passed through the strait on Sunday — a dramatic drop from the 26 ships recorded just one day earlier. The figures may not account for vessels that turned off their tracking transponders while in the Gulf.

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a military source Sunday saying no new permits were being issued for ships to cross the strait until further notice.

Trump said he agreed to last week’s memorandum of understanding in order to prevent a global economic depression driven by surging oil prices caused by the strait’s closure. Oil prices had fallen sharply over the past week to their lowest levels since the conflict began on February 28, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran. By early Monday, Brent crude futures had climbed more than $1 to $81.66 per barrel following the turbulent start to the peace talks.

Sunday appeared to be one of the calmer days Lebanon had seen in some time, with no major incidents reported by nightfall — a relative quiet following two days of intense Israeli strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire on Israeli positions.

More than one million people have been displaced from their homes in Lebanon since Israel launched a ground operation in March targeting Hezbollah fighters who had been firing across the border in support of Tehran. Reuters journalists in southern Lebanon on Sunday observed some of the heaviest traffic seen since the memorandum was signed, as residents began returning home — some stopping along backed-up highways to wave Hezbollah flags.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a near standstill on Sunday after Iran declared it had once again sealed off the vital waterway, pointing to what it called violations of an interim peace deal by Israel and the United States.

According to data from shipping analytics firm Kpler, just five vessels made their way through the strait on Sunday — a steep drop from the 26 ships recorded passing through the day before. Among those five were three Very Large Crude Carriers, each transporting 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil and fuel oil, with at least one of those vessels bound for Japan. Analysts noted the figures may not account for ships that disabled their tracking transponders while traveling through the Gulf.

Iran had lifted its effective blockade of the strait last week after reaching an agreement with the United States to extend an April ceasefire by 60 days, creating a window for peace negotiations. However, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reversed course on Saturday, declaring the waterway closed again in response to Israeli military strikes in Lebanon. The U.S. military, for its part, stated that commercial vessels were continuing to operate in the area.

On Saturday, among the ships that exited the strait were three Very Large Crude Carriers transporting crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq. Three additional tankers carrying assorted oil products also passed through. On the inbound side, 13 ships entered the strait on Saturday, including two Very Large Crude Carriers.

In response to the uncertainty, Gulf energy producers Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. and Kuwait Petroleum Corp. have both issued tenders offering crude oil with flexible loading options — allowing buyers to pick up shipments from locations either inside or outside the Strait of Hormuz.

SAO PAULO — Brazilian authorities have intercepted what may go down as the largest cocaine seizure in the country’s history, after discovering evidence that drug smugglers had concealed narcotics inside a shipment of lumber in a joint operation involving U.S. and Bolivian officials.

Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service announced that law enforcement officers are now carrying out a forensic examination of the cargo after finding signs that illicit drugs had been embedded within the wood itself.

Acting on shared intelligence, officials ramped up border inspections on June 19 and stopped eight trucks on Sunday that were hauling roughly 260 metric tons of timber.

Drawing on experience from similar past cases using the same concealment technique, the revenue service estimated that narcotics could make up anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total cargo weight. Should the Federal Police analysis confirm those findings, the total cocaine recovered could fall somewhere between 20 and 50 metric tons — a staggering amount that would set a national record.

Qatar’s interior ministry announced Sunday that an explosion caused by what it described as a “technical accident” took place at a factory in Ras Laffan, an industrial city located north of the capital Doha and home to the country’s main liquefied natural gas processing operations.

Authorities confirmed that several people sustained injuries in the blast. Officials also stated there was no leak detected that “threatens safety” in the surrounding area.

While the interior ministry did not specify the exact location within the industrial zone, a source familiar with the incident told Reuters the explosion happened at the Barzan gas plant and was the result of an “operational error.”

The force of the blast was significant enough that a Reuters reporter in Doha reported hearing a loud boom from the city.

Crowds gathered in Beirut on Sunday to honor the memory of a beloved Lebanese conservationist who lost her life after an Israeli strike destroyed her home along Lebanon’s southern coast.

Mona Khalil, 76, had dedicated more than two decades to safeguarding sea turtles along Lebanon’s shoreline. She was critically wounded when a strike hit her home in the village of Mansouri earlier this month and passed away from those injuries on Friday.

Over the years, Khalil helped transform a building that had once belonged to her grandmother into the Orange House — a small but influential conservation center and ecotourism destination in Mansouri. The site became a sanctuary for endangered loggerhead and green sea turtles and served as a training ground where volunteers learned to document nesting activity along the coast.

Word of her death prompted an overwhelming wave of grief from environmentalists and the many people who had volunteered and worked alongside her over the years.

Journalist and environmental activist Fadia Jomaa first crossed paths with Khalil in 2016 while conducting research on sea turtles in Lebanon. That encounter led her to join Khalil’s conservation efforts as a volunteer.

For those who gave their time to the project, Jomaa explained, “this relationship didn’t stop at being a volunteering relationship — Mona became our mother.”

Jomaa eventually became one of Khalil’s most trusted collaborators, helping oversee the sea turtle conservation project. She even brought her own children along to volunteer, introducing them to the vital work of protecting nesting turtles and their hatchlings on Lebanon’s southern coast.

During the previous conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in 2024, Khalil initially refused to abandon Al-Mansouri beach, according to Jomaa. It took the Lebanese army to convince her to leave for her own safety. “She was the last one to leave the area,” Jomaa recalled.

“She had an awful time in Beirut,” Jomaa said, noting that Khalil desperately longed to return south to the Orange House and the beach she had spent years protecting.

A new conflict between Israel and Hezbollah broke out in March. Hezbollah launched cross-border fire into Israel on March 2, two days after Israel and the U.S. struck its ally, Iran.

Khalil had the option to leave Lebanon entirely. She held both Dutch and Lebanese citizenship, having previously lived in the Netherlands before returning to Lebanon and making her home in what had once been her grandmother’s residence — the structure that would come to be known as the Orange House. But she refused to flee again.

“She said I am a civilian, I have no weapons, I will shut my door,” Jomaa recounted.

On June 4, an Israeli strike hit Khalil’s home. She and her domestic worker were immediately taken to the hospital. The intended target of the strike remained unclear, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.

Jomaa said Khalil’s condition seemed encouraging following surgery, but she ultimately succumbed to her wounds two weeks later.

“It is a great loss for conservation, for the country, and for all of us who cared about the sea and the natural heritage of Lebanon,” said Johnny Baaklini, a former Orange House volunteer who had worked closely with Khalil.

Like Jomaa, Baaklini remembered that Khalil “treated us, the conservation advocates, like her kids.” He added, “It feels impossible to describe the impact Mona personally had on me and on so many other young naturalists.”

The center of Khalil’s life work was a narrow strip of shoreline — Al-Mansouri beach in Tyre province. Every nesting season, she and her volunteers would walk the beach after dark, tracking fresh marks in the sand and carefully moving vulnerable nests away from human disturbance and artificial lighting.

Beyond conservation, the Orange House also operated as a small beachfront bed-and-breakfast. During nesting season each summer, Khalil organized turtle hatchling viewings for visitors, drawing families who brought their children to witness the remarkable sight. These events typically took place at sunset, with volunteers guiding groups to watch the tiny hatchlings emerge from protected nests and make their way toward the sea.

Jomaa recalled conversations in which Khalil would gesture toward an olive tree or a small hill overlooking Al-Mansouri beach and say, “My soul will stay here” and “This is where you will bury me.” Where Khalil will ultimately be laid to rest remains uncertain, tied to the ongoing security situation in the region, Jomaa said.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Voters across Colombia cast their ballots Sunday in a tightly contested presidential runoff, with two very different candidates vying for the nation’s highest office.

On one side is Sen. Iván Cepeda, representing the progressive wing of Colombian politics. On the other is Abelardo de la Espriella, a business owner running as a conservative outsider. The two emerged from an earlier round of voting to face off in this decisive contest.

The Associated Press assembled a photo gallery capturing scenes from the historic election day, curated by AP photo editors.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel announced Sunday on social media that Ramiro Valdes, a celebrated figure of the Cuban revolution and one of Fidel Castro’s earliest companions in arms, has passed away at the age of 94. No cause of death was given.

Valdes carried the honorary distinctions of “Hero of the Republic” and “Commander of the Revolution” and served as a senior member of the Cuban Communist Party’s powerful Political Bureau until 2019. He was a fixture of Cuban government leadership for more than six decades following Castro’s rise to power in 1959.

Diaz-Canel expressed deep grief in a post on X, writing that Valdes’ death “hurts deeply, like that of a father.” The Cuban president closed his tribute with the words, “Until victory, always, Commander!”

Born on April 28, 1932, Valdes was only 21 years old when he stood beside Fidel Castro during the 1953 assault on the Moncada barracks — the bold attack that ignited the uprising against the regime of Fulgencio Batista.

After going into exile with Castro in Mexico, Valdes was among the 82 men who boarded the yacht Granma and sailed to Cuba in 1956 in an effort to reignite the revolution. Only 12 of those men survived the journey and its immediate aftermath.

Among those survivors were Fidel Castro, who died in 2016; his younger brother Raul Castro, who later became president and head of the Communist Party; and Argentine revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, who was killed in Bolivia in 1967 while attempting to spark an insurrection there.

Valdes joined the Castro brothers in the Sierra Maestra mountains of eastern Cuba, where he served as Guevara’s deputy commander. He fought alongside Guevara in the pivotal Battle of Santa Clara during the final days of the revolution, just before Batista fled Cuba on January 1, 1959.

Following the revolution’s success, Valdes took charge of the newly established security agency under Fidel Castro’s government.

Much like Castro and Guevara, Valdes carried a certain personal magnetism and was known for wearing olive-green military fatigues even in government settings. He maintained the Leon Trotsky-style goatee he had worn since his revolutionary days and was known as a fitness enthusiast who kept up an exercise routine well into his 80s.

Throughout his career, Valdes held a wide range of senior government posts, including interior minister, vice minister of defense, minister of information and communications, and vice president.

Even as Raul Castro worked to transition power from his so-called “historic generation” to a younger leadership — including handing the presidency to 60-year-old Diaz-Canel in 2018 — Valdes continued to serve in key roles. Most recently, he served as deputy prime minister with responsibility for addressing the island’s ongoing energy crisis.

Valdes frequently appeared in military uniform alongside Diaz-Canel, urging Cubans to conserve electricity, reduce demand, and maintain their “revolutionary” spirit during the country’s persistent power shortages.

Throughout his life, Valdes remained unwavering in his commitment to the revolution and Cuba’s one-party system, even during the nation’s most trying times.

At the 61st anniversary commemoration of the Moncada attack in 2014, Valdes offered a reminder of the revolution’s foundation: “We cannot forget we arrived here thanks to the unity of the people and their trust in the revolution.”

“We must preserve this unity above all things because we are aware this fight has not ended,” he added.

American and Iranian negotiators sat down together in Switzerland on Sunday, working to hammer out details of an interim agreement intended to bring an end to the Iran war. Pakistani and Qatari mediators also participated in the technical-level discussions, which center on a conflict that the U.S. and Israel launched in late February.

Vice President JD Vance is heading the American delegation, which also includes Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Across the table, the Iranian side is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Just before the talks got underway, Tehran announced it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, citing Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon. The interim agreement under discussion is designed to halt fighting on every front, Lebanon included.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose American tolls on the strait if a final deal with Iran is not finalized within 60 days. The current interim agreement calls for 60 days of toll-free passage through the waterway, which is critical to the global supply of oil, natural gas, and related commodities such as fertilizer.

Hezbollah Leader Demands Full Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem took to the airwaves to declare that his group will not accept any ceasefire arrangement that gives Israel what he called “freedom of action” inside Lebanon, or one that falls short of a full pullout of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

“There are no ‘security zones,’ for Israel,” Kassem stated, pushing back against Israel’s own terminology for the areas.

He added that Hezbollah would honor a ceasefire “if it happens,” but made clear that “we will not accept any violation.” The Iranian-backed militant group is not taking part in the separate Israel-Lebanon negotiations scheduled to resume Tuesday in Washington.

A fragile quiet has taken hold across Lebanon, with no Israeli strikes reported overnight or into Sunday following several days of intense fighting.

U.S. Ambassador Downplays Rift Between Trump and Netanyahu

The American ambassador to Israel is pushing back on talk of a growing divide between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mike Huckabee, speaking in Jerusalem, acknowledged that Trump has at times used blunt language when referring to the Israeli leader, but insisted the two maintain a strong bond and that Trump remains firmly committed to Israel’s security.

“The one thing that I’ve always heard him say – always — and that I’ve always watched him do, is that America has an unbreakable bond with the state of Israel,” Huckabee told the JNS International Policy Summit. “And I trust that he means what he says.”

Energy Secretary Says Ships Continuing to Move Through Strait

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that 67 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, a volume comparable to pre-war traffic levels for oil and oil-related cargo.

Iran’s joint military command had announced Saturday that it shut down the strait in response to Israel’s military campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon — a claim the U.S. disputed.

Wright told Fox News that while Iran has not yet cleared mines from the strait’s main shipping lane, the U.S. has established an alternative route to the south and has been guiding ships through it. He also acknowledged that some commercial shipping companies continue to have concerns about safety in the area.

Previous Vance-Iran Talks Stretched Nearly a Full Day

The last time Vance met face-to-face with top Iranian officials in this context was in early April, just days after a ceasefire took hold. Those talks, held in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, dragged on for 21 hours before ending without a deal. Qalibaf served as the lead Iranian negotiator in those discussions as well.

By Sunday afternoon, the clock in Switzerland had passed 4 p.m.

Four-Way Talks Officially Underway in Switzerland

Both Iran and the White House confirmed that four-party negotiations have officially begun in Switzerland, with Vance sitting down directly with Iranian officials.

Trump is hoping to revive the agreement that was signed the previous week, which has been put at risk by Israel’s continued operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. While Iran says its primary concern in these talks is the situation in Lebanon, and Israel maintains it must protect itself from Hezbollah, the U.S. is focused on locking Iran into negotiations over its nuclear program — the long-standing core of the tensions between the two countries.

Trump Issues Warning to Iran Over Hezbollah

President Trump took to social media to warn Iran that it must rein in Hezbollah and stop the group from “causing trouble.”

“If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!” Trump wrote from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend.

Vance Calls This a Turning Point for the Middle East

Speaking as officials gathered ahead of the start of Sunday’s U.S.-Iran talks — referred to as the “Lake Lucerne Summit” — Vance struck a cautiously optimistic tone.

“The question before us now is how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?” Vance said in brief remarks before the session began.

“Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly very much something that can happen,” he added.

It was unclear at the time whether Iranian officials were in the room when Vance delivered those comments.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s ruling party has locked in a dominant hold on parliament after final results from the June 1 election were announced Sunday, according to the country’s National Election Board.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party claimed 438 out of 501 seats in the House of Representatives. The newly elected parliament is set to gather in October, at which point Abiy is expected to be reelected to serve an additional five-year term.

The election unfolded against a backdrop of violence and political repression. Ongoing conflict in the Oromia and Amhara regions forced 143 polling stations to remain closed on election day, the election board reported. Armed clashes between the Fano militia and federal forces in Amhara, along with fighting involving the Oromo Liberation Army rebels in Oromia, have been central drivers of the instability as the government works to disarm both groups.

Officials reported a voter turnout of 94%. More than 50 million people had registered to vote out of Ethiopia’s estimated population of 130 million, according to the election board.

The Tigray region was once again left out of the election entirely. The area, where hundreds of thousands of people died during a war between federal and regional forces, has now gone without federal parliamentary representation for six years.

Electoral board chairperson Melatwork Hailu defended the process Sunday, saying the board upheld “institutional neutrality and performed its duties solely in accordance with the law and electoral guidelines, without interference.”

International observer missions from regional bodies including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development were present but drew criticism for largely staying within the capital, Addis Ababa, rather than deploying widely across the country. Their limited presence still provided the election with a degree of international legitimacy.

The vote drew sharp criticism from opposition figures, many of whom were barred from running. The ruling party’s most vocal critics were either imprisoned, living in exile, or had vanished. Those who did participate in the race said the environment was marked by fear and intimidation, and that the playing field was far from level.

Yitayal Assefa, who ran under the All Ethiopia Unity Party opposition banner and lost his race, spoke with The Associated Press on Sunday. He said the government held an enormous advantage while opposition candidates faced harassment and had little realistic chance of success.

“My participation was not about winning but about fighting for my voice and political ideals within the political spectrum against a government that is assured of a win, win or lose,” Assefa said.

Merara Gudina, a professor at Addis Ababa University and an opposition leader who chose not to participate in the election, told the AP the vote was a “sham” and that the outcome was never in doubt.

He warned the result will “negatively affect the already deteriorating stability of the country.”

Abiy’s government has faced repeated accusations of human rights abuses targeting critics and members of the press, despite pledges of democratic reform and peace that he made in 2020. Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for resolving a long-running dispute between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea. However, the two nations are now at odds, with Addis Ababa accusing Asmara of backing rebel groups to undermine Ethiopia’s stability, while Eritrea claims Ethiopia is threatening to seize its seaport.

MILAN — Fashion’s most iconic Italian house went back to basics Sunday when designers Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons took the runway at Milan Fashion Week with a collection rooted in the humble spirit of denim — though executed in anything but ordinary materials.

The duo’s vision for next spring and summer centers on a pared-down wardrobe: slim, cropped jackets paired with five-pocket trousers, anchored by classic blazers or leather blousons. Think everyday dressing, elevated.

“Sometimes you just realize you need a good pasta pomodoro,” Simons said ahead of the show, invoking the beloved Italian comfort dish as a metaphor for returning to something simple and satisfying.

Interestingly, despite the denim-driven inspiration, Prada revealed she has never actually worn a pair of jeans in her life. Simons, for his part, admitted he only recently rediscovered the wardrobe staple after spending roughly twenty years wearing wool trousers exclusively.

The result is a collection where five-pocket trousers and flat-pocket jackets — both slim and cropped — take center stage as the new Prada uniform.

The majority of looks were rendered in rich, soft leather in a palette of antique white, gray, burgundy, and turquoise, sent down the runway to the sound of rock guitar. A secondary grouping appeared in nearly sheer white technical fabric, well-suited to the heat gripping Europe this season. Only a handful of closing looks were made from actual denim.

Cropped shirts and knit vests with geometric patterns made appearances throughout, accessorized with clashing silk scarves tied at the waist. The only bags in the collection were colorful pouches worn at the hip, sometimes attached to wide belts. A pointed shoe with multiple Velcro straps completed each look.

Prada described the goal as creating pieces with universal appeal, deliberately steering away from what she called “useless design” — something she suggested was plentiful on other runways.

Simons echoed that sentiment, saying the designers wanted to bring fashion back in touch with how real people dress. He noted that some of the most powerful fashion ideas throughout history have come “from the street” rather than being handed down by luxury labels and runway shows.

“It’s a clear silhouette, vertical, simple, sharp, proud. A lot of white, peaceful, hopeful, and cleansing,” Simons said. “We think this collection is breaking the perception of what is perceived as typical luxury in high fashion.”

True to the theme of simplicity, the show took place in a stripped-down space with transparent bench seating — giving every attendee an equal view of the runway.

The front-row crowd included NBA star Anthony Edwards, South African-Australian singer and actor Troye Sivan, K-pop group ENHYPEN, and British actor Louis Partridge. Throngs of enthusiastic fans braved the summer heat outside to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebrities.

PRAGUE — A large crowd descended on the Czech capital on Sunday to push back against a government proposal that many fear would strip public broadcasters of their independence.

Demonstrators assembled outside the headquarters of Czech public television in Prague to show solidarity with the media. The rally came just one day before broadcast employees were scheduled to stage a warning strike, and followed a series of earlier protest marches held in Prague and other regional cities across the country.

The government, led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, approved the plan earlier in the week. Under the proposal, public radio and television would begin receiving their funding directly from the state budget starting next year, replacing the current system in which fees collected from individuals, households, and businesses support the broadcasters.

Opponents of the plan argue that shifting to state funding would hand the three-party coalition government a lever of control over the media — drawing comparisons to moves made by populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Mikuláš Minář, a lead organizer with the Million Moments for Democracy group, addressed the crowd with a pointed message: “The media don’t belong to politicians. They belong to us all and we won’t allow them to be stolen from us.”

The proposal has drawn criticism from international media organizations as well. Beyond the funding source change, the plan would also cut the broadcasters’ budgets by roughly 15% compared to current levels and includes no guarantees of future financial support.

Leaders of both the public radio and television networks warned that such cuts would force them to eliminate hundreds of positions. Babiš, for his part, argued that the media organizations need to tighten their belts financially.

The record of Babiš, his cabinet members, and allied lawmakers includes a pattern of criticism and attacks directed at public and mainstream media outlets. His coalition’s broader agenda also includes pulling back from support for Ukraine and opposing certain key European Union policies.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a firm warning on Sunday, declaring that Israel will not maintain a presence in Lebanon and that his organization stands ready to respond to any actions taken by Israeli forces that cross the line.

Qassem’s remarks came just days after a ceasefire between the two sides went into effect on Friday. Despite the agreement, Israeli officials have made clear that their military personnel are authorized to act freely and without limitation when it comes to neutralizing what they describe as threats within Lebanese territory.

PRAGUE — Thousands of people marched through the streets of Prague on Sunday to voice their opposition to the Czech government’s plan to completely overhaul how public media is funded — a system that has been in place for decades.

Protesters and critics argue the proposed changes would not only reduce funding but also open the door to political meddling in public broadcasting.

The demonstration came just one day before employees at public broadcasters Czech Television and Czech Radio were set to go on strike over the same issue. The work stoppage was expected to affect programming, though both stations planned to remain on the air.

The government — led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ populist ANO party and supported by right-wing and far-right coalition partners — announced last week its intention to eliminate licence fees, which currently serve as the primary source of revenue for public television and radio. Officials argue that most citizens do not want to pay the fees levied on households and businesses, and say they plan to fund public broadcasters directly through the state budget instead. Opponents contend this shift would be a direct threat to the broadcasters’ independence.

Mikulas Minar, a representative of the Million Moments (Milion Chvilek) group that organized the march, addressed the crowd at the outset of the demonstration with a firm message: “Media does not belong to politics.”

The planned march route was trimmed shorter than originally intended due to the intense heat wave gripping Prague and much of Europe. The CTK news agency estimated that thousands participated, walking through city neighborhoods toward the Czech Television building while holding banners reading “Hands off public media.”

Under the government’s proposal, funding would revert to levels last seen between 2008 and 2024 — before a rare fee increase implemented by the previous government took effect in 2025. That rollback would amount to a 15% reduction in overall financing for the broadcasters.

Czech Television’s chief stated this week that such a cut could force the station to lay off somewhere between 300 and 500 employees out of its total workforce of 2,900.

While the government has repeatedly criticized both public and privately owned independent media outlets — accusing them of bias — officials maintain that the funding changes do not threaten the editorial independence of Czech Television or Czech Radio.

WARSAW — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk took to social media Sunday to warn that the escalating political clash between Poland and Ukraine is damaging to both nations, urging leaders to pull back from the brink of a deeper rift.

The dispute flared on Friday when Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s Order of the White Eagle — Poland’s highest state honor. The move prompted three former Ukrainian presidents and other top officials to send their own Polish state awards back in protest.

Nawrocki’s decision came after Zelenskiy angered many Poles by renaming a Ukrainian military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army — a nationalist group responsible for the massacre of Polish civilians during World War Two.

Tusk, a pro-European leader who was returned to the prime minister’s office in 2023 after his coalition defeated the nationalist Law and Justice party — the political home of President Nawrocki — posted a pointed message on X calling for de-escalation.

“Wading into a conflict between politicians in Poland and Ukraine is a strategic mistake that will harm both sides: business-wise, geopolitically, and reputationally. And in politics, as we know, a mistake is worse than a crime,” Tusk wrote.

He also noted the difficulty of the situation, adding: “In discussions with my European partners, I strive to minimise losses and reduce tensions. This is no easy task.”