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Law enforcement officials in southern Mexico have launched an investigation into the deadly shooting of a municipal leader in Oaxaca state, according to the state prosecutor’s office on Saturday. Security forces have begun operations to locate those responsible for the crime.

Jose Angel Bravo Martinez lost his life after being gunned down during an incident in the Mixteca region, according to officials who classified the case as a high-impact crime requiring formal investigation. This marks the second killing of an Oaxaca municipal leader within the past month.

Crime scene investigators and forensic specialists were sent to the location following the shooting to collect evidence and retrieve the victim’s remains, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office. The agency reported coordination efforts with federal security personnel.

Officials have not yet released additional information regarding potential reasons behind the killing of Bravo, who was affiliated with a coalition of opposition parties, including the PAN (National Action Party).

Attacks on municipal leaders continue to pose significant challenges across regions of Mexico, where criminal organizations frequently exercise control, especially in remote communities. Mario Hernandez Garcia, the mayor of another Oaxaca town, Santiago Amoltepec, was killed last month during an assault that claimed two additional lives.

Data compiled by the non-governmental organization Causa en Comun indicates that no fewer than 60 politicians or lawmakers were killed in deliberate attacks during the previous year.

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Thousands of advocates for LGBTQ+ rights filled the streets of Romania and Bulgaria’s capital cities Saturday during their yearly Pride celebrations, facing growing pushback from traditional groups in these Orthodox Christian nations.

Demonstrators paraded through Bucharest and Sofia, displaying rainbow banners and sounding horns while demanding equal treatment under the law.

Romania and Bulgaria both became European Union members in 2007. Before joining the bloc, each nation enacted human rights laws to satisfy EU requirements, though public polling frequently shows less acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community compared to other member nations.

According to ILGA-Europe’s 2025 Rainbow Map, which evaluates legal and policy conditions for LGBTQ+ individuals throughout Europe, Romania and Bulgaria placed at the bottom among all 27 EU member states.

“We still have a deeply conservative society, with very strong traditional values,” said Alina Purcaru, a writer who attended the Bucharest march. “We still live in a patriarchy, sometimes explicit … with a lot of prejudice and a lot of fear.”

Neither Romania nor Bulgaria permits same-sex marriage or civil unions, even though the EU forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

“That is why we are taking to the streets today … to demand the legalization of civil partnerships,” Vlad Viski, president of the nongovernmental organization MozaiQ, told The Associated Press.

“We are talking about essential rights, such as the right to inheritance, hospital visits, medical decisions, survivor’s pension,” he added.

Simeon Vassilev, one of the organizers of Sofia Pride, told journalists on Saturday that in Bulgaria, “thousands of same-sex couples live together, build homes, raise children, and care for one another … without the right to legal protection or recognition of their relationships.”

According to advocacy organizations, animosity and hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ+ communities in these two Eastern European nations have increased in recent years. Counter-demonstrations opposing LGBTQ+ rights occurred in both cities Saturday.

In Sofia, a “March of the Family” gathering — organized by conservative and faith-based organizations since 2021 — promoted “Christian, patriotic and traditional values” during Saturday’s event. The traditional Orthodox Church, representing approximately 80% of Bulgarians, stated its “disagreement with the ideas and messages” and supported the “traditional family.” In Bucharest, a “March for Normality” was conducted by a nationalist organization.

This year’s Pride celebration in Sofia operated under a “Different Together” theme, with organizers seeking to challenge widespread negative messaging about the community.

Furthermore, the “Progressive Bulgaria” party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, which secured victory in an April general election, expressed backing for the “March of the Family” in Parliament, declaring it “a cornerstone of our national security, identity and future.”

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee condemned the statement for “placing one type of citizens as more valuable than others.”

ROME (AP) — Competing demonstrations brought tens of thousands of protesters to Rome’s streets Saturday, as opposing sides clashed over immigration policy following a controversial citizen petition that secured enough backing to reach Italy’s Parliament.

The citizen-led effort, called “Remigration and Reconquest,” collected the required 50,000 signatures to force legislative consideration, elevating the previously marginal “remigration” concept into mainstream political discourse. Parliamentary leaders have not yet set a voting schedule.

The initiative, championed by right-wing organizations, demands extensive actions against foreign nationals, including forced deportations, departure incentives, and broader policies that opponents warn could affect lawful residents.

The anti-migration rally drew several thousand participants from across Italy, who sang their national anthem during the event. Multiple times throughout the demonstration, many participants performed fascist salutes while chanting “Duce! Duce!”, referencing Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who controlled Italy from 1922 to 1943.

A counter-demonstration supporting migration rights brought tens of thousands to Rome’s streets Saturday evening in a separate location. Left-wing organizations and labor unions participated in this march, with some protesters displaying Palestinian flags.

Law enforcement deployed thousands of officers to keep the opposing groups separated. Authorities reported no violent incidents.

The migration discussion presents complex challenges for Premier Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition. The anti-migration League supports advancing the proposal, while Meloni’s Brothers of Italy and centrist partners have shown greater reluctance to embrace initiatives connected to extremist movements, citing legal concerns and potential internal conflicts.

Opposition politicians and legal scholars have condemned the proposal, claiming it would breach constitutional and international anti-discrimination standards by targeting individuals based on ethnic origin, including naturalized citizens and their families.

This debate unfolds as Meloni’s administration simultaneously pursues expanded legal immigration, having endorsed a multi-year strategy to welcome hundreds of thousands of non-EU workers to fill labor gaps in critical economic areas.

The Rome protests occurred one day after new European Union regulations took effect, establishing how the bloc’s 27 nations will handle irregular migration and asylum applications.

The European Migration and Asylum Pact represents the conclusion of extensive negotiations that reformed the previous framework, which was broadly viewed as ineffective and provided far-right movements with a powerful campaign issue.

Gunmen have abducted a high-ranking Haitian security official in what marks the most significant government kidnapping in the Caribbean nation in recent years, according to a source familiar with the situation.

James Boyard, who holds the position of cabinet director within the Defense Ministry and also functions as inspector general for Haiti’s police force, was taken by armed individuals, a person with knowledge of the incident confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday.

The abduction represents the capture of the most senior government figure in the gang-dominated country in recent memory.

According to local news outlets, the kidnapping occurred Thursday in the Bourdon neighborhood, an area of Port-au-Prince typically viewed as one of the safer districts. Criminal organizations control roughly 70% of the capital through a coalition called Viv Ansanm, which received designation as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in May of last year.

Boyard, who also holds credentials as a political scientist, has been working on efforts to reconstruct Haiti’s military forces and has participated in evaluating the National Police to implement necessary changes.

Authorities have not identified the kidnappers or confirmed whether ransom demands have been made.

“A person of this rank clearly has a fairly important security detail,” said Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.

Da Rin suggested the capture of Boyard likely indicates extensive planning went into the kidnapping and may have required assistance from someone within his security protection team.

According to Da Rin, criminal groups are increasingly conducting abductions in Port-au-Prince areas previously thought secure, with gang members sometimes wearing police clothing and conducting fraudulent traffic stops.

He observed that criminal organizations have been targeting individuals holding dual citizenship and focusing on government officials. This strategy could indicate they are demanding larger ransom payments and potentially attempting to prevent authorities from launching attacks on gang-held territories where victims are detained, Da Rin explained.

Law enforcement has recently conducted operations against Village de Dieu, an area under control of the 5 Segond gang, whose leader Johnson Andre goes by “Izo” and ranks among Haiti’s most influential gang commanders.

Da Rin pointed out that criminal groups have been bringing kidnapping victims to Village de Dieu.

Recent high-profile abductions have included Haitian media personnel and foreign missionaries among their targets. Between December 2025 and February 2026, at least 267 individuals were reported kidnapped, with men comprising the majority of victims, according to United Nations data. The year 2025 saw 1,268 reported kidnappings, representing nearly a 40% decrease from the 2,058 cases documented in the preceding year, the report indicated.

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation Saturday focused on ongoing efforts to resolve the Iran conflict, according to an announcement from Downing Street.

During the call, Starmer expressed appreciation for the advancement achieved to date and emphasized Britain’s readiness to assist in implementing any potential peace deal while collaborating with global partners to guarantee its effectiveness.

Both leaders reached consensus on the importance of restoring navigational freedoms to help reduce worldwide economic consequences.

Thousands of Belfast residents assembled on Saturday to speak out against anti-immigrant violence that swept through parts of Northern Ireland earlier this week following a stabbing incident involving an asylum seeker.

The peaceful counter-demonstration took place after several nights of destructive unrest triggered by the arrest of a 30-year-old Sudanese man facing attempted murder charges in connection with a knife attack that left a victim partially blinded.

Violence escalated when groups wearing masks targeted residences they suspected housed immigrants, setting multiple homes ablaze along with a public bus, while hurling bricks, bottles and explosive devices at law enforcement. The destructive rampage displaced more than 24 residents and wounded a dozen police officers in what authorities described as “thuggery.”

Speaking to the crowd assembled near Belfast City Hall, Elaine Crory stated: “All it takes is for one person who’s not white and local to commit a crime and that fire of racism is rekindled.”

Those participating in the peaceful counter-protest displayed messages reading “The problem is evil & violence not race,” “Your racism is not patriotism” and “Protect people not prejudice.”

A newly married couple, Cara Bell and Matthew Richardson, described it as fortunate timing to exit their wedding ceremony at City Hall and immediately join the peaceful gathering following the disturbing violence they had witnessed days earlier.

“It’s important to note that things like today really show that this is not the general feeling of people in Belfast,” Bell remarked, calling it “a week where you’ve seen the worst of humanity and the best of humanity in Belfast.”

Even with appeals for peace from authorities and the stabbing victim’s relatives, far-right and anti-immigrant activists were accused of inciting demonstrations across multiple locations throughout the United Kingdom during the week.

Violence in Glasgow, Scotland, focused on minority communities and forced mosque attendees into protective lockdown, according to police reports.

Saturday also saw an anti-racism organization mobilize thousands in Glasgow to take back city streets and “stand up to the far right.”

This large group encountered a significantly smaller group of predominantly male counter-protesters who appeared to perform Nazi salutes while shouting anti-Muslim slogans.

The anti-racism demonstrators responded by chanting, “Nazi scum off our streets.”

The White House and French government confirmed Saturday that President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron will share an evening meal at the historic Palace of Versailles following next week’s G7 summit of major industrialized nations in France.

According to senior administration officials who spoke anonymously under White House guidelines, Trump faces a packed agenda of individual meetings with international leaders alongside the main summit activities in the French lakeside community of Evian-les-Bains. The president is working to advance negotiations on completing an Iran war agreement in the near future.

French officials stated that Macron will welcome Trump for Wednesday evening’s dinner to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence at the Palace of Versailles, which they described as “a historic symbol of Franco-American friendship.”

The magnificent palace served as home to French monarchs spanning from Louis XIV through Louis XVI and continues to welcome world leaders and international dignitaries for official functions.

Macron previously welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the palace in 2021 for its 400th anniversary celebration, hosting them for dinner in the renowned Hall of Mirrors, among the palace’s 2,300 rooms.

The French leader also received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Versailles in 2017 when Macron had just taken office, before their relationship soured due to the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s schedule includes an initial meeting with Macron following his Monday afternoon arrival in France. The Republican president plans to leave Washington after marking his 80th birthday with a primetime mixed martial arts event on the White House lawn Sunday.

Administration officials revealed Saturday that Trump has scheduled individual discussions with leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and India, nations participating in the summit as Macron’s guests.

The G7 nations — consisting of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan — will address topics including economic expansion and development, securing supply chains for essential minerals, unauthorized immigration and artificial intelligence developments.

The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran will feature prominently in discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the gathering, though officials indicated no formal Trump-Zelenskyy meeting is planned, although an informal encounter remains possible.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A deadly shooting in South Africa this week represents the most recent incident in a pattern of violence targeting the nation’s most impoverished communities, which specialists attribute to criminal organizations exploiting law enforcement weaknesses and absence.

Multiple gunmen attacked an informal settlement made up of temporary structures in Johannesburg, resulting in 12 fatalities and a minimum of 15 injuries, officials reported.

No suspects have been taken into custody.

Earlier this year, South Africa’s president authorized military deployment to streets in various crime hotspots to address organized criminal activity — an uncommon decision that critics viewed as acknowledgment that law enforcement in Africa’s most economically advanced nation was failing in those regions.

Additionally, South Africa’s law enforcement agency has faced accusations of corruption and cooperation with criminal organizations. These allegations have led to arrests of over a dozen high-ranking officers and the suspension of top leadership, including the police minister and the national police commissioner.

Recent large-scale shootings — including two incidents in December that claimed over 20 lives — have taken place in economically disadvantaged areas distant from urban centers where criminal organizations exploit circumstances such as inadequate security, insufficient lighting and delayed police response times, specialists indicate.

“Criminal syndicates explicitly capitalize on this to hide weapons, execute hits, and vanish into the shadows,” Jacob Mofokeng, a professor of criminology at the University of South Africa, told The Associated Press.

South Africa experiences extremely elevated rates of violent crime, with current annual data indicating an average exceeding 60 murders daily.

However, the overwhelming majority of homicides happen in impoverished townships or temporary settlements. South Africa maintains a lengthy record of severe inequality that manifests in its criminal activity: wealthy neighborhoods experience significantly lower violent crime statistics.

Unauthorized mining organizations have persistently troubled Johannesburg and surrounding areas, the nation’s largest metropolitan region, which contains some of the world’s most extensive gold deposits.

These organizations are infamous and called zama zamas — a term meaning approximately “hustlers” or “chance-takers” in the Zulu language. They create headquarters in poverty-stricken and inadequately patrolled locations and engage in territorial conflicts with rival groups or employ violence to maintain dominance in those territories.

Mining organizations frequently consist of migrants from adjacent nations who are present in South Africa without legal status, according to officials.

This situation complicates police efforts to locate suspects since they possess “no legal identification, no registered address, and no fingerprints or DNA profile,” said Mofokeng. “They are effectively a ghost.”

South Africa’s government reports losing over $3 billion annually to unauthorized mining. Zama zamas have posed challenges for decades and contributed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s authorization of a year-long military street deployment to combat organized crime in designated areas nationwide.

Community members in the Johannesburg area affected by this week’s mass shooting indicated that unauthorized mining organizations were known to function there. Law enforcement stated the shooting’s motivation remained unknown, but mining organizations were central to the investigation.

South Africa maintains stringent rules governing legal firearm possession, but approximately 2 million to 3 million unauthorized weapons circulate throughout the 62 million-person nation, according to independent research and civil society groups.

Firearms represent by far the most frequent cause of homicides.

Willem Els, an analyst at South Africa’s Institute for Security Studies, said the circulation of unauthorized weapons and police shortcomings created perfect conditions for criminal activity.

“In South Africa, we actually managed to create conditions that are very conducive for violent crime and also for organized crime syndicates to operate with impunity,” he told the AP. “We’ve got a lot of unregistered firearms that are not being controlled by the police.”

Specialists indicate South African police lack adequate resources, but corruption accusations within the force have also severely damaged its reputation.

South Africa has experienced police corruption issues previously. A new accusation last year by a provincial police commander that senior officers and officials were collaborating with organized criminals prompted President Ramaphosa to announce a national investigation into police corruption. This has resulted in numerous arrests of high-ranking police officers.

Private investigator and security specialist Mike Bolhuis said police corruption affects street-level policing in areas impacted by violent crime as residents sometimes hesitate to provide information or assist authorities.

“The public doesn’t trust the police, they don’t trust the authorities, and they don’t trust each other,” Bolhuis said.

DUBLIN (AP) — Speaking in Ireland’s capital on Saturday, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined his vision for middle-power nations to band together rather than vie for American approval, as he continues building stronger ties with European allies before the G7 summit begins.

During his address, Carney highlighted that when combined, Canada and the European Union represent a population more than double that of the United States, featuring an economy of comparable size and collective defense spending that exceeds China’s by twofold.

The Canadian leader emphasized how smaller nations can amplify their influence through partnerships with countries sharing similar values.

“In a world of great power rivalry, middle powers have a choice — to compete for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact,” Carney declared during his speech at Trinity College in Dublin.

These remarks echo statements he delivered at January’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he proclaimed the end of the global rules-based order and criticized how major powers coerce smaller nations.

His Dublin audience responded with enthusiastic applause, and Trinity’s president praised his earlier Davos remarks.

Before his Dublin speech, Carney held discussions with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Saturday and met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, building momentum ahead of Monday’s Group of Seven summit in France.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to depart for the G7 gathering following Sunday’s UFC event at the White House celebrating his 80th birthday.

Carney characterized the Canada-Europe partnership as a “force for good — because we safeguard the values of human rights, dignity, and pluralism that our people hold dear.”

The prime minister noted that the combined EU-Canada relationship represents one of the world’s most significant economic, cultural, technological, financial, and military partnerships.

“The new world order will be built starting with Europe,” Carney stated during his joint press conference with Martin. “Canada is the most European of non-European countries. We are transforming our cooperation with Europe.”

Canada made history in February by becoming the first nation outside Europe to join the SAFE mechanism, the EU’s defense procurement program. During this ninth European visit since taking office 15 months ago, Carney highlighted Canada’s 56 partnerships in critical minerals across more than 10 countries, mostly European.

These statements come despite Carney’s acknowledgment that the U.S. shows little interest in major modifications to the free trade agreement involving Canada and Mexico.

“The U.S. has been clear. They don’t want to go to change the fundamental architecture,” Carney explained.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) faces its scheduled July 1 review, representing the current version of the North American trade pact that has connected these three economies since the early 1990s. Trump indicated this week he might not extend the agreement.

However, Carney pointed out that the Trump administration permits approximately 85% of Canadian exports to America to enter tariff-free under USMCA protection.

According to Carney, any fundamental changes to the agreement would require White House consultation with Congress, something the administration wants to avoid.

Following Trump’s repeated assertions this week that America doesn’t require Canadian goods, Carney has established an ambitious target to double Canada’s exports to non-U.S. markets within ten years, citing how Trump’s trade policies are dampening investment confidence.

Armed assailants fatally shot at least 17 farmers and wounded at least 13 others while they were working in agricultural fields in Nigeria’s northwestern region, according to local officials and residents.

The deadly assault took place Friday in Goron Namaye, located in Zamfara state’s Maradun area. While no organization has taken credit for the violence, attacks by criminal gangs have escalated in recent months across the region.

“The farmers were working on their lands when the bandits suddenly attacked and killed 17 of them,” Shehu Musa, a resident of Maradun, told The Associated Press on Saturday, adding that the wounded were being treated at a hospital.

According to Sanusi Dosara, chairman of the Maradun local government, the assault resulted from Zamfara state government’s unwillingness to enter negotiations with the armed groups. In a statement, Dosara urged government forces to eliminate the Bayan-Ruwa enclave in the Maradun forest, where the attackers have established their base.

The violence follows Thursday’s kidnapping of 39 individuals in Magamin Diddi, another Maradun community, where residents had gathered with relatives of a suspected criminal leader to discuss peace negotiations and address ongoing abductions.

The United Nations reports that an insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, combined with kidnapping for ransom schemes, has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people over recent years, despite repeated commitments by President Bola Tinubu to address the security crisis.

WASHINGTON, June 13 – Senior administration officials announced Saturday that President Trump has scheduled meetings with Middle Eastern leaders and plans to participate in a working session featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at next week’s G7 summit taking place in France.

The officials revealed these diplomatic plans as preparations continue for the international gathering of world leaders.

LONDON, June 13 – During a Saturday telephone conversation, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that the United Kingdom will release its defense investment strategy before the alliance’s scheduled summit in Ankara, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

The two leaders discussed the need for alliance members to bolster collective defense capabilities and respond more rapidly to emerging and evolving security challenges during their conversation earlier that day.

“The prime minister updated on plans for the defence investment plan, underlining his commitment to publish it ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also noted that “The NATO Secretary General welcomed the UK’s increased investment in defence as an important contribution to the alliance and to meeting the threats we face.”

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban secured another year as head of the Fidesz party during Saturday’s leadership vote, even after his party suffered a significant electoral setback on April 12 when they lost control to the centre-right Tisza party.

The 62-year-old nationalist politician, who became a model for right-wing conservative movements throughout Europe and America through his self-described “illiberal” approach to democracy, faced questions about his political career following the electoral defeat.

For the first time since taking power in 2010, Orban encountered open criticism from former supporters who urged him to step away from political life after Fidesz lost its governing position.

During the party’s congress, 729 out of 737 delegates cast ballots in favor of keeping Orban as their leader, with no other candidates seeking the position, according to state news agency MTI.

“I do not give up, I never, never, never, never, never give up,” Orban declared to congress members during his pre-vote address, while acknowledging his complete accountability for the party’s electoral failure.

The former Prime Minister described Fidesz as having served as a “fantastic governing party” for 16 years, but emphasized the organization must transform itself into an effective opposition force capable of returning to power.

During April’s election, Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority, providing sufficient votes to overturn Orban’s previous constitutional modifications.

Public opinion surveys indicate Fidesz has continued losing ground since the election. The Publicus Institute’s May polling showed Tisza enjoying 55% public support, an increase from their 53% election result, while Fidesz dropped to 17% from their previous 39% showing.

Approximately 200 demonstrators destroyed metal barriers and razor wire fencing at a high-end development location along Albania’s Adriatic coastline on Saturday, reflecting mounting opposition to construction projects in ecologically fragile zones.

For several weeks, Albanian citizens have been demonstrating against a proposed upscale resort supported by a firm connected to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, close to Vlora, an area known for its flamingo population and turtle breeding grounds.

During Saturday’s action, residents of Rrjoll, situated in a region characterized by sandy coastlines and pine woodlands in northwestern Albania, demonstrated against a separate development, claiming construction was occurring on property taken from them.

Demonstrators carried Albanian flags and chanted “Revolution” while dismantling the barriers. Although minor confrontations with law enforcement occurred, officers did not prevent the fence removal.

“The protests will not stop until the residents of the village of Rrjoll are compensated. We are 200 families whose land has been seized,” said Zeke Nikolle Shullani, 56, one of the landowners who have been protesting for several months.

A domestic Albanian firm has been constructing a five-star luxury tourism facility at the location, with the Albanian government granting the project “special status investor” designation.

“What is happening in this country is madness,” said Nikolin Markpalaj, 60, another local landowner. “We asked the investors to come and consult with the people but they refused. They think they can take all this wealth without blood or anything else that might happen here?”

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine has been successfully restored to the electrical grid after maintenance work conducted during a temporary ceasefire arranged by the International Atomic Energy Agency, officials announced Saturday.

The nuclear facility had been operating without external electrical power for almost three full days before technicians were able to complete the necessary repairs under the locally-negotiated pause in hostilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s statement released on June 13.

KYIV, Ukraine — One person died and three others sustained injuries when Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s southern Krasnodar region on Saturday, according to local authorities, marking another chapter in Ukraine’s ongoing campaign targeting military and energy facilities far inside Russian territory.

The drone wreckage ignited a blaze at a maritime terminal, according to local Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev. While he provided limited specifics, Russian media outlets indicated that a Black Sea export facility handling crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied gas in the village of Volna suffered damage.

Ukraine’s General Staff remained silent about the Krasnodar incident Saturday, though they confirmed their forces had successfully targeted an oil preparation and pumping facility during overnight operations in Russia’s Volgograd region, along with Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

This latest assault follows statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding his nation’s forces striking multiple military and energy infrastructure locations deep within Russia, including a defense facility that he claimed manufactured components for Russian drones and missiles.

Speaking Wednesday, he revealed that Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo long-range missiles had successfully struck the installation in Cheboksary, located in the Chuvashiya region, positioned more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) from active combat zones.

After more than four years since Russia launched its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, the extensive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) battle line has remained largely unchanged as drone swarms prevent significant territorial gains. Consequently, both nations have increasingly turned to long-distance strike operations.

Following Ukrainian attacks that ignited an oil facility in St. Petersburg and struck a nearby naval installation last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to enhance air defense systems, as these incidents overshadowed a prominent economic forum in his home city.

In other developments, Russian strikes wounded nine individuals in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, igniting a local marketplace, regional officials reported.

According to regional head Oleksandr Hanzha’s Saturday Telegram post, Russia launched more than 20 attacks using drones and aerial bombs across three districts in the region. He noted that six people required hospitalization, including one man in critical condition.

Iran’s government-controlled media announced Saturday that memorial services for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will take place in July, while diplomatic sources indicate a peace agreement to halt ongoing Middle East hostilities is approaching completion.

According to Iran’s state television network IRIB, the memorial ceremonies and burial rites for Khamenei are scheduled to occur from July 4 through July 9.

Khamenei died during the initial attacks of military action that the United States and Israel began against Iran in late February. His successor is his son Mojtaba, whom observers describe as taking a harder line than his predecessor.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that a diplomatic accord to halt the Middle Eastern conflict is nearer to completion than at any previous point and could reach finalization within the next day. Pakistani officials are making preparations for electronic signature of the deal, with technical discussions planned for the following week.

Writing on X, Sharif stated: “We would like to thank United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support”.

This diplomatic progress follows three days of military exchanges between Iran and both the United States and Israel this week, raising concerns about potential widespread regional conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted Friday on X that a settlement “has never been closer”. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly indicated in recent weeks that the nations are approaching an agreement, reshared Araghchi’s message on his platform.

The military campaign initiated by the United States and Israel on February 28 has destabilized the Middle East region and nearly eliminated petroleum and natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf area. A temporary ceasefire has remained in effect since April 7.

Three regional government officials, speaking anonymously due to the delicate nature of ongoing talks, indicated they anticipate a formal signing event for the accord in upcoming days pending approval from officials in Washington and Tehran.

Trump declared Thursday that substantial advancement had occurred in diplomatic discussions, shortly after issuing warnings about intensifying military action and taking control of Iran’s petroleum sector.

Memorial events for Khamenei will commence in Tehran before proceeding to Qom, an important center for senior Shiite religious leaders, and concluding in Mashhad, his place of birth, where burial will occur at the Imam Reza Shrine, regarded as the most sacred site for Shiite believers.

Memorial services for Khamenei’s daughter and son-in-law, who died in the February military strike, are also planned for the same date.

Khamenei significantly transformed the Islamic Republic during his leadership following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989. Khomeini was the passionate, influential thinker who directed the removal of the shah and established governance by Shiite Muslim religious authorities dedicated to promoting religious devotion.

His tenure exceeded Khomeini’s duration in power. He substantially grew the Shiite religious leadership and developed the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into the primary organization supporting his authority. The Guard evolved into a military and commercial powerhouse, serving as the nation’s premier force and controller of its missile program, with influence throughout Iran’s economic areas.

Chinese authorities expressed strong disapproval Saturday regarding the Pentagon’s decision to designate several major Chinese corporations as military-linked entities, claiming the action contradicts agreements made during recent high-level diplomatic meetings between the two nations’ leaders.

Earlier this week, the Defense Department included multiple privately-owned Chinese corporations on its military company registry, among them automotive manufacturer BYD and technology corporations Alibaba and Baidu. This designation aims to identify Chinese businesses believed to maintain connections with China’s armed forces, which bars these companies from securing contracts with the U.S. military.

According to a statement released Saturday by a representative from China’s Ministry of Commerce, the inclusion of these companies on the list means “the U.S. side has ignored the consensus reached during the meeting between the heads of state of the two countries in Beijing.”

The ministry representative further stated that America has “disregarded the overall interests of bilateral economic and trade relations, continuously generalized the concept of national security, and abused state power to unjustifiably suppress Chinese enterprises.”

The affected companies BYD, Alibaba and Baidu previously stated there’s no basis to include them in the list.

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump held a highly anticipated meeting in Beijing during mid-May. During their discussions, both leaders committed to strengthening economic cooperation between their nations, with agreements including increased Chinese purchases of American farm goods and Boeing aircraft, plus the establishment of separate trade and investment committees.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Saturday that America and Iran have reached a framework agreement aimed at resolving the ongoing Middle East crisis that has persisted for months.

According to Sharif, negotiators have completed the final language of the agreement. Pakistan is now making preparations for an electronic signing ceremony anticipated to occur within the coming day, followed by technical discussions scheduled for next week.

Reports from Tel Aviv indicate the United States and Iran may be nearing an agreement to conclude their conflict and restore access to the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that both nations have reached consensus on the language of a potential agreement designed to halt their Middle Eastern conflict, with mediators continuing efforts to complete the arrangement.

Past announcements of similar diplomatic breakthroughs have not come to fruition.

This potential diplomatic progress follows a three-day period of military exchanges between Iran, the U.S., and Israel earlier this week, raising concerns about regional escalation. U.S. Central Command reported Friday via social media that it successfully intercepted multiple Iranian attack drones targeting merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict, initiated by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, has destabilized the Middle East and essentially halted petroleum and natural gas transport from the Persian Gulf. A temporary ceasefire has remained in effect since April 7.

Key details of the potential agreement:

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Friday that nuclear program arrangements would be completed within 60 days following the initial agreement’s signing, with possible extensions available.

Tehran’s nuclear capabilities remain a central dispute. American and Israeli officials worry about potential weapons development — a primary justification they provided for military action. Iran maintains its nuclear activities serve civilian purposes.

A senior U.S. administration official, speaking anonymously under White House briefing protocols, confirmed Friday that the proposed agreement would initiate procedures for eliminating or relocating Tehran’s weapons-grade uranium.

The official explained the 60-day post-signing period would address technical aspects of uranium removal. Details remain unclear regarding oversight of the removal process for materials reportedly stored beneath three nuclear facilities damaged in American attacks last year.

The U.S. official confirmed the proposed agreement contains provisions for strait reopening.

Araghchi indicated Iran seeks terms allowing Tehran to collect fees “for services rendered” from vessels using the Strait of Hormuz. Iran implemented a fee structure during the conflict that the U.S. and other countries consider internationally illegal.

Disrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, essential for global oil and gas transport, has constrained worldwide energy availability, increased fuel costs, and raised prices for food and essential goods far beyond the immediate region.

Three regional officials, speaking anonymously due to negotiation sensitivity, reported the developing agreement likely includes gradual sanctions relief for Iran and release of frozen Iranian funds.

These sources anticipate a formal signing ceremony within days pending approval from Washington and Tehran officials.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese military forces evacuated their position at a base in a southern village on Saturday as Israeli forces moved into the surrounding region, according to a military official.

The evacuation of the army facility in Kfar Tebnit occurred as Israeli forces issued orders for residents to leave approximately 20 areas, including the southern city of Nabatiyeh and surrounding communities.

Lebanon’s government-operated National News Agency documented air attacks on Saturday targeting various communities near Nabatiyeh, including a strike that resulted in two deaths in Deir al-Zahrani. The agency also reported that Nabatiyeh experienced artillery bombardment on Saturday.

A high-ranking Lebanese military official informed The Associated Press that Lebanese forces relocated from the Kfar Tebnit facility after Israeli troops entered the region. The official, who provided no additional details, requested anonymity according to standard procedures.

Israeli forces appeared to be attempting to seize the tactical Ali Taher hill located at Kfar Tebnit’s perimeter, which provides visibility over extensive areas of Nabatiyeh and several roadways connecting the city to neighboring communities.

Israeli forces maintained control of the Ali Taher hill for 18 years before departing Lebanon in May 2000.

During late May, Israeli troops seized a neighboring tactical mountain crowned by the Crusader-era Beaufort Castle in the most significant penetration into the nation since 2000.

The advance toward Kfar Tebnit’s border occurred one day after Pakistan’s prime minister announced that the United States and Iran have reached consensus on language for an accord designed to halt their Middle Eastern conflict, with negotiators assisting both parties to complete an agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed Iranian government television on Friday that both nations were pursuing the signing of a preliminary accord announcing the conflict’s conclusion “on all fronts, including Lebanon.”

Senior Hezbollah official Hussein Haj Hassan informed Al Jazeera TV that Iranian representatives have notified them that Lebanon would be included in a forthcoming ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran.

Iran serves as Hezbollah’s primary supporter, providing the organization with various weapon types during the past four decades along with billions in funding.

Combat between Israel and Hezbollah has persisted despite a ceasefire implemented on April 17 that received multiple extensions but exists as a ceasefire only in title.

Israel maintains control over substantial portions of southern Lebanon while engaging Hezbollah militants, resulting in civilian deaths and infrastructure destruction. Hezbollah, which is excluded from the ceasefire accord between Israel and Lebanon, has conducted regular rocket and drone strikes.

The current Israel-Hezbollah conflict started on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel two days following the commencement of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.

Over 3,700 individuals have died in Lebanon during the recent combat, based on Lebanese Health Ministry data. Additionally, 30 Israeli military personnel and one defense contractor have perished in or around southern Lebanon, while two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Hundreds of LGBTQ+ community members and their allies gathered in Nepal’s capital city on Saturday for Pride Month festivities, taking part in a vibrant street demonstration.

The Himalayan nation has witnessed an expanding LGBTQ+ community and has achieved notable progress in advancing rights for sexual minorities over recent years.

Following March elections, the administration led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah established the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security, marking the first instance of a government department specifically created to address issues affecting women and sexual minorities.

The country achieved a milestone by becoming among the first Asian nations to permit marriages between same-sex couples. The nation’s 2015 constitution contains explicit language prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Following a 2007 judicial ruling that mandated government reforms benefiting LGBTQ+ individuals, citizens who don’t identify as male or female can now select “third gender” as an option on passports and additional official documentation.

Iranian officials have announced the schedule for memorial ceremonies honoring their deceased Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports released Saturday.

The services will commence in the capital city of Tehran on July 4 and will end with Khamenei’s interment in Mashhad, located in the country’s northeast, on July 9.

Khamenei lost his life during combined Israeli and American military operations against Iran this past February. His passing brought to a close over 30 years of leadership within the Islamic Republic.

Ukrainian forces successfully struck an oil processing and pumping facility located near Kotovo in Russia’s Volgograd region, sparking a fire at the installation, according to Ukraine’s General Staff on Saturday.

The Ukrainian General Staff announced via the Telegram messaging platform that the targeted facility is responsible for oil processing, transportation, and pipeline pumping operations that supply Russian oil refineries and export infrastructure.

Chinese cybersecurity officials announced new measures Saturday designed to strengthen data classification requirements for financial information services, saying the move will enhance security management and provide better industry oversight.

The Cyberspace Administration of China outlined a four-tier system that will categorize data as core, important, sensitive general, or routine general, with classifications determined by how critical the information is, its sensitivity level, and what damage could result if the data were compromised.

Six additional government departments collaborated on the announcement, including the People’s Bank of China.

The nation has been building up its data protection laws in recent years, progressing from broad legislative measures to more targeted regulations for specific industries.

According to the new guidelines, “Financial information services are developing in an orderly manner, and the volume of data is expanding … which urgently requires standardised, classified and graded management.”

The regulations will not cover information related to state secrets or military matters.

MOSCOW – In a Moscow coffee shop known for reliable Wi-Fi, a 41-year-old interior designer named Irina demonstrates the digital gymnastics now required for Russian internet users. She activates a virtual private network to message international friends through WhatsApp, which authorities have blocked domestically.

Minutes later, she disables the VPN to purchase train tickets from the national railway website, which refuses service to users masking their locations. Then she reaches for a separate phone to check client messages on MAX, the government-approved messaging platform.

“Of course this is all a huge pain in the backside, but what else can we do?” Irina said, requesting identification by first name only due to the topic’s sensitivity. “You get used to it and spend your days turning VPNs on and off, toggling between different messengers and switching between different virtual countries or phones to use the apps and websites you need.”

This year’s intensified internet controls represent the most severe digital restrictions under the current administration, affecting everything from banking to transportation and online shopping. The disruptions have frustrated citizens ahead of September parliamentary elections, drawing criticism from opposition groups, business executives, and even typically apolitical social media personalities.

Public approval ratings have declined amid the digital restrictions, combined with inflation, increased taxes, and conflict fatigue. State polling shows support dropping from 75.1% in February to 65.6% in April – the lowest since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Current ratings hover near 67%.

Government officials promote domestically-developed alternatives to foreign applications as part of a “digital sovereignty” initiative. However, many users remain skeptical of MAX after warnings from opposition figures and Western technology companies about potential surveillance capabilities, which the app’s owner VK denies.

Keeping the government app isolated on a secondary device provides peace of mind, Irina explained.

Virtual private networks function by routing internet traffic through external servers outside the country. March alone saw 9.2 million downloads of the five leading VPN services from Google Play – fourteen times the previous year’s volume, according to Digital Budget, a Moscow consulting firm tracking online behavior, as reported by newspaper Kommersant.

“We’ve never seen this kind of take-up rate before,” said Sarkis Darbinyan, an internet freedom advocate operating from Lisbon. Moscow has labeled Darbinyan a “foreign agent,” a designation applied to individuals viewed as conducting anti-state activities.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly justified internet controls as necessary during what officials characterize as an existential confrontation with Western nations over Ukraine. However, the president instructed government agencies in April to adopt a gentler approach, telling legislators it was “counterproductive” to “focus solely on bans and restrictions.”

Government representatives did not respond to inquiries for this report.

Although many authoritarian nations impose strict internet limitations, Russian citizens had grown accustomed to considerable online freedom. While security agencies have historically targeted domestic critics, authorities seldom interfered with foreign app usage or Western media access before the Ukraine war.

Since last year, the FSB security service – the Soviet KGB’s successor – has directed telecommunications companies to disable mobile internet for extended periods across various regions, claiming Ukrainian attack drones utilize these networks for navigation assistance.

Officials have also blocked or slowed connections to an expanding list of applications and websites that state communications regulator Roskomnadzor claims host illegal and extremist material.

WhatsApp and Telegram have accused the government of attempting to compel citizens toward less secure, state-mandated applications.

Disruptions escalated in March with nearly three weeks of outages in Moscow, frustrating senior bureaucrats who depend on internet access and Telegram for coordinating votes for the ruling United Russia party, according to two sources with Kremlin connections and various analysts.

“The issue is not whether the regime will be able to secure the outcome it wants (it will), but whether the electoral process will be a smooth one,” Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, wrote in April.

Even loyal government employees download VPNs and maintain multiple phones to separate government-backed applications like MAX from their personal digital activities, sources informed Reuters.

Some officials also disable microphones and cameras on devices containing MAX installations in case the FSB can access them, one source revealed.

“Even if you’re not up to any mischief, nobody wants the FSB reading your messages,” the source explained.

The president’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, openly demonstrates VPN usage by posting regularly on X, which requires such tools for domestic access.

While VPN use remains legal, Roskomnadzor has blocked access to hundreds of these services, creating an ongoing battle with users who must continuously download new services to reach desired content.

In April, government offices, financial institutions, and major online retailers – following regulator instructions – began blocking access for VPN-enabled users. This coincided with a 10% traffic decrease for Wildberries, the country’s equivalent to Amazon, according to Digital Budget.

“As market participants note, many users do not switch off their VPN to access the site and simply lose interest in making a purchase if they cannot open the product page,” Digital Budget stated in a Telegram post.

The percentage of citizens acknowledging VPN use rose from 23% in 2022 to 36% this year, according to the Levada Center, an independent polling organization on Moscow’s foreign agent list.

Tech-savvy younger adults sometimes purchase VPN subscriptions for their parents or create custom-designed VPNs. However, many citizens prefer applications and websites functioning without such tools.

MAX, launched last year, reported over 85 million daily users as of May, according to its owner.

Reuters TV interviewed half a dozen office workers and pedestrians near Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, revealing divided public opinion. Half expressed frustration with the digital environment, while others reported successful adaptation without VPN usage.

“Most Russians simply do not see the need to go to any extra trouble – what is readily available is quite sufficient for them,” Levada director Denis Volkov wrote in April.

When navigation applications failed in Moscow during March, delivery drivers for Flowwow, an online flower and gift marketplace, used vendors’ Wi-Fi connections to download customer directions, said Yuri Semichastnov, the company’s logistics head.

Paper map sales more than doubled in the capital during the shutdown, according to Wildberries data.

As frustration mounted, officials have moderated their messaging recently, assuring the public that mobile internet shutdowns are temporary.

A plan requiring mobile providers to charge customers extra for using more than 15 gigabytes of foreign data monthly was delayed in May, Russian media reported, suggesting the VPN-targeting requirement would likely be implemented after the election.

The president has also requested government agencies and the FSB collaborate to ensure critical services like healthcare platforms and online payment systems remain operational.

Irina, the interior designer, doesn’t anticipate her digital life improving soon.

“In Russia, we have a saying: Nothing is more permanent than the temporary,” she said.

Militants connected to al-Qaeda operating in Mali have dramatically altered their approach in controlled territories, moving away from violent intimidation toward more administrative governance, according to local residents.

In the village of Poutchi, fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) now regularly gather community men at a mud-brick mosque to collect taxes on livestock and crops, then distribute food, medicine and animals to those in need.

This represents a stark change from five years ago, when the same militants threatened to kill anyone in Poutchi who challenged their religious interpretation, including the local imam, according to Amadou, a village herder.

“Now, they don’t talk like that,” Amadou explained, noting how the militants now emphasize spreading their religious teachings without using threats or violence. “The dynamic has really changed.”

JNIM pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda upon its formation in 2017 and has spent the past decade using fear and force to establish control across the Sahel region of West Africa, prohibiting music, smoking and wedding celebrations.

Originally limited to remote desert and mountain locations, JNIM has grown stronger since Malian military officers who took power in 2020 expelled approximately 15,000 French and U.N. troops and began relying on Russian mercenaries to combat insurgents.

The group displayed its increased capabilities through bold attacks across Mali in April, striking the airport in the capital Bamako, killing the defense minister and capturing multiple army bases in the north while coordinating with Tuareg-led separatists.

Mali’s government labels both organizations as terrorists responsible for violence and instability throughout the country. Moscow has committed to continuing its fight against insurgents in Mali.

However, the jihadist organization now occupies the center of an expanding network of militants allied with al-Qaeda and Islamic State that spans 3,000 km (1,900 miles) across West Africa. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned in November that these groups were connecting and posed an increasing global threat.

Beyond the prominent military victories, a transformation is occurring in regions where JNIM’s control is established, residents reported.

The group’s messaging has become less harsh. Militants are taking on administrative duties, settling long-standing land conflicts between herders and farmers, permitting aid organizations to operate and allowing some government workers to return to JNIM villages for holiday visits with family, according to seven people living under JNIM authority in central Mali who spoke to Reuters.

“The stronger they have become, the less brutal they have to be,” said Corinne Dufka, a Sahel expert who has studied jihadist expansion in Mali for over a decade.

Dufka noted that JNIM was successfully governing in its strongholds, but that residents’ compliance was also a survival tactic.

“There is a combination of coercion, fear and persuasion,” she explained. “For many villagers, including those who have lived, married, and grown up under the group, they have just accepted that this is the new reality.”

Due to concerns about retaliation, the residents spoke to Reuters anonymously or using only first names.

Neither Mali’s government nor the military’s spokesperson provided responses to requests for comment on this story.

The transformation demonstrates the development of the Islamist militant movement in Mali over the past 15 years.

Jihadist organizations initially captured large portions of Mali in 2012 after forming alliances with Tuareg separatists. The combination of local and foreign militants enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, conducting public executions, floggings and destroying centuries-old mausoleums in Timbuktu.

JNIM, created from four of those organizations, is increasingly attempting to demonstrate it can peacefully govern seized territories and thereby gain political legitimacy, according to Sahel experts and Tuareg-led separatists working with JNIM.

Bilal Ag Cherif, a veteran of the separatist movement that has maintained an intermittent alliance with the Islamist insurgents and partnered with JNIM in April, said he had observed “positive changes” within the group, including openness to local Islamic interpretations and calls for a more “inclusive” Mali.

“They were open to discussing peace and stability in this region, to discuss important factors for us about their view of the future, to talk with everyone, to have peace,” Cherif, leader of the separatists now called the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), told Reuters by phone from northern Mali.

He also said the FLA was encouraging JNIM fighters to sever ties with al-Qaeda and concentrate on local issues.

“JNIM is dealing with this point positively, and we consider that very, very important,” he said, adding that it was difficult to envision a solution to the northern Mali conflict without JNIM’s participation.

JNIM has stated its immediate objectives are to force Russian troops out of Mali and to remove the army officers who seized power after coups in 2020 and 2021.

After the April attacks, JNIM modified its messaging, releasing an uncommon French-language statement urging Malians to join them in removing the government and establishing a new Mali based on Islamic law. JNIM increasingly uses videos featuring a Malian fighter speaking Bambara, a language primarily used in southern Mali, far from the jihadi strongholds.

JNIM doesn’t control major cities and does not currently appear focused on capturing the capital, unlike the Islamist rebels once aligned with al-Qaeda who took power in Syria in 2024.

Another video filmed by fighters and shared on social media after the April attacks shows JNIM fighters processing captured Malian troops for release in Tessit. Following previous victories, Islamist militants have executed captured soldiers.

Analysts say JNIM seeks a role in discussions about Mali’s political future – something the military government refuses.

“The government does not intend to engage in dialogue with the lawless armed terrorist groups who bear responsibility for the tragic events that our people have been experiencing for years,” Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said in May, referring to JNIM and FLA.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters was unable to reach JNIM for comment.

The group has been accused of massacres and remains capable of brutal violence.

In January, JNIM fighters killed 12 people in an attack on a fuel convoy – some had their throats cut – and areas that resist face collective punishment. The insurgents attacked two villages in central Mali in May, killing about 50 people.

Nevertheless, the residents living under JNIM rule who spoke to Reuters described a form of governance that is often more predictable, less corrupt and less violent than Mali’s military and allied forces.

“Since JNIM has controlled the area, we are safe. Even though their rule is difficult to respect, we have gotten used to it,” said Aminata, from Birga-Peul village in the Mopti region, which JNIM took over in 2017. “We are not killed.”

“They aren’t violent like the foreigners who were there at the beginning,” she said, referring to jihadists who had come from outside Mali. She said the movement was now much more embedded in the community. “They are tolerant and turn a blind eye to many things, like football and Android phones.”

Where JNIM has not taken control, it sometimes enforces blockades. In the village of Diafarabe, also in the Mopti region, one resident said 13 children and 40 adults, including the elderly, had died from a lack of food and medicine after JNIM imposed a blockade a year ago.

“People can’t even go 500 metres from the village … so there’s no more fish, no more meat, no more firewood,” the person said.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the figures, nor reach JNIM for comment.

The restrictions on freedoms imposed by Islamist militants in Mali, such as banning wedding celebrations, are at odds with West Africa’s long history of Islam, where Islamic teaching was traditionally blended with local customs.

However, reformist movements have gained influence in recent decades, often by funding health and education in poor communities. Experts say this – coupled with the abuse of civilians by government troops, allied militias and Russian forces – has created opportunities for jihadists to exploit.

Hambarke, 57, who lives in a village in central Mali controlled by JNIM for seven years, recalled how they barred men from shaving and women from engaging in trade.

He said punishments were initially severe, including public whippings, but now the “radical rhetoric” had eased, with sermons focused on calls for unity and social cohesion and JNIM giving warnings before meting out punishments.

Mali’s military has been accused by the U.N. and human rights groups of executing civilians suspected of collaboration with JNIM and other insurgents.

Malian soldiers and their Russian partners have killed three to four times more civilians than jihadists have over the last two years, according to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a conflict monitoring group.

Mali’s government has denied accusations its forces have targeted civilians, saying they had killed terrorists.

Six of the residents who spoke to Reuters reported abuse of civilians by the army or allied militias, with most saying this had driven young men in their villages to join JNIM.

“People have more faith in them, and it’s a good relationship,” said Amadou, the herder in Poutchi.

An 81-year-old Albanian man says he was blocked by barbed wire and security guards from entering what he believes is his own property along the southern Albanian coast last month.

Kostaq Konomi discovered through media coverage that his land had become part of a high-end resort development involving international investors, including Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The scenic property features a hillside covered in blooming gorse that descends to an isolated bay where cattle wade in shallow waters. The state had previously confiscated this land during Albania’s communist era, and Konomi couldn’t stand watching it happen again.

“I was ready to get a rifle and start shooting,” the 81-year-old Konomi shared with Reuters. “I was a small boy when I put my feet in that water. Now I am an old man and they say I cannot.”

Konomi represents one of twelve Zvernec village residents who informed Reuters that their property was improperly sold for development beginning in 2024 by someone else claiming ownership. Multiple villagers presented Reuters with property documents and tax paperwork they believe validate their ownership claims. None received any payment.

Reuters discovered no evidence suggesting Kushner engaged in any misconduct, as he has no direct involvement in the villagers’ ownership dispute. The news organization could not establish which parties hold legitimate ownership of the various land parcels, which remain under legal contestation.

The villagers’ legal assertions add complexity to an already controversial multi-billion-euro development project on an island and pristine mainland area that encompasses protected wetlands where flamingos, seals and sea turtles migrate.

Large-scale demonstrations broke out this week in Albania’s capital city Tirana, with protesters demanding construction be stopped, while the European Union has voiced concerns regarding the project’s environmental impact.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, who promoted the agreement during a Reuters interview this week, maintains that the development follows legal requirements and will safeguard natural habitats.

Kushner failed to respond to comment requests made through his investment company, Affinity Partners.

Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, the firm handling the project development, declined to answer inquiries about the construction plans or the land ownership conflict. A company representative directed Reuters to a Friday statement posted on X by the firm’s chairman, Asher Abehsera.

“Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of,” Abehsera stated.

The representative indicated that Sazan’s partners, including Kushner, were making personal investments rather than investing through Affinity. Reuters could not verify this information independently.

Zvernec sits on a thin peninsula divided from the mainland by a lagoon where flamingos gather during summer months. The ocean-facing side features vacant beaches, olive tree groves and dramatic cliff formations.

This landscape captivated Kushner and his spouse, Ivanka Trump, when they viewed the area from a yacht several years ago.

Rama encountered them during that visit, and Kushner expressed investment interest when they met again at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to Rama’s account to Reuters.

“You are an American investor, and this country is open to every American investor,” Rama recalled saying to Kushner.

During 2024, Kushner revealed the development plans on social media, sharing an artist’s concept depicting the land transformed with a hotel, residential buildings, swimming pools and yacht docking facilities.

The group of villagers, all in their 70s and 80s, have different intentions. Their attorney, Kostandin Beko, announced they intend to file a court injunction to stop the project.

Their ownership assertions underscore the challenges of investing in Albania, where inadequate documentation, complicated historical background and local corruption make property disputes frequent, according to legal professionals and government officials.

Albania remained under Ottoman control for centuries until 1912, then became isolated from the global community for fifty years following World War Two under a communist regime that collapsed in the early 1990s.

Family properties handed down through generations were seized by the government during communist rule. Following democracy’s return, efforts were made to restore confiscated land, but ownership of plots was frequently contested.

Zvernec’s residents have engaged in ongoing legal proceedings with Artur Shehu, who sold the contested property. Shehu claims his family’s ownership rights extend back to Ottoman Empire times.

Reuters could not contact Shehu or his legal representative, but he stated on an Albanian television program last week that his land ownership claim was “undisputed.”

Shehu, who mentioned living in Miami for 26 years, told the program he sold the disputed property to investors through an unnamed intermediary and was unaware of the buyers’ identities.

Reuters could not verify Shehu’s statements regarding his property rights or the sale details.

The Zvernec residents maintain he lacked authority to sell. A 2013 Albanian court decision determined they owned the land. Shehu filed an appeal, and the case remains pending, according to the residents’ attorney Beko and legal documents he provided to Reuters.

During a Friday phone conversation with Reuters, Rama dismissed these concerns.

“Just because there is a court trial does not automatically mean that the property is frozen,” he explained.

The residents displayed what they described as property deeds from local authorities dated in the 1990s, when land was returned to residents following communism’s end.

The residents and their lawyer stated they were not informed before the land sale and received no compensation.

“We thought Rama would offer us money,” said 84-year-old Thoma Kola.

He and others argued the land should not have been sold while under legal dispute.

Demonstrations began when fencing was installed in May, cordoning off a substantial area surrounding Zvernec and limiting ocean access. Multiple individuals sustained injuries during confrontations with private security personnel, and video of the incident became widely shared.

The fencing has been removed and the bulldozers that carved a new road through the property last month have departed. The timeline for resuming construction remains uncertain.

Stavri Hysa operates a beachside business renting chairs and selling beer and food to visitors in the area. The temporary shoreline closure reminded him of communist times, when authorities would permit access for only a few months annually.

“When I found out that they had blocked access to the sea, I couldn’t sleep for 15 days,” he shared with Reuters while holding back tears. “I do not agree with giving away parts of the beach. This should be public.”

An unmanned aircraft attack by Ukrainian forces resulted in one fatality and ignited a blaze at a maritime terminal in Temryuk, a port city located in Russia’s Krasnodar region, according to governor Veniamin Kondratiev, who made the announcement via the Telegram messaging platform.

The ongoing conflict has seen Ukraine persistently targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure while diplomatic efforts to end the war remain at an impasse.

This marks the second time Temryuk has faced Ukrainian drone attacks, with the previous incident occurring in late May when Kyiv’s security service reported hitting a gas terminal at the same location.

Regional officials also reported another incident on Saturday, where a separate attack ignited a fire in an industrial zone within the Kotovo district of the Volgograd region, according to statements attributed to governor Andrei Bocharov.

Bocharov refrained from providing specifics about the extent of damage or naming which facilities were impacted.

Earlier this month, Reuters documented that the Lukoil-owned Volgograd oil refinery in southern Russia halted its oil processing operations on May 29 after sustaining damage from a Ukrainian drone assault.

MELBOURNE, Australia — A swimmer is fighting for her life after being mauled by a shark at one of Sydney’s most frequented beaches on Saturday morning.

The victim, thought to be in her thirties, sustained severe injuries to her leg and arm during the attack that occurred at 11:15 a.m. near Coogee Beach, authorities reported.

Since mid-May, three individuals engaged in spearfishing have lost their lives to shark attacks along Australia’s coastline, pushing this year’s death toll to four.

Data from the Australian Shark Incident Database, a collaborative effort between the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Flinders University and the New South Wales state government, shows the country typically experiences two to three deadly shark encounters annually since 2000.

According to police reports, the woman was swimming when the attack occurred on Saturday. Good Samaritans rescued her from the water and began emergency care on shore until medical personnel could respond.

Emergency crews transported the injured swimmer to a nearby rugby field, where a helicopter airlifted her to a medical facility. Authorities continue to list her condition as critical.

Just one week prior, Daniel Turpin, 35, lost his life to a 4.5-meter (15-foot) white shark while spearfishing with relatives near Michaelmas Island, close to the port city of Albany in Western Australia state.

On May 24, spearfishing enthusiast Michael Jensz, 39, died from severe head trauma following an attack at the Great Barrier Reef along Australia’s northeastern waters. Bull sharks had been spotted in the area.

Seven days before that incident, on May 16, Steve Mattabonni, 38, was killed by a four-meter (13-foot) white shark while spearfishing near Perth, Western Australia.

The country’s first shark fatality of the year happened in January, when a 12-year-old boy succumbed to injuries sustained from a bull shark attack in Sydney Harbor.

Australia documented five deadly shark attacks in the previous year. Such incidents have increased over recent decades as population growth coincides with rising participation in water activities like surfing and scuba diving.

Large crowds converged on South Korea’s capital Saturday for competing demonstrations, with an annual LGBTQ pride celebration taking place alongside a conservative Christian counter-protest, according to event organizers and local authorities.

The Seoul Queer Culture Festival has consistently attracted both advocates for LGBTQ rights and strong resistance from conservative religious organizations in South Korea, a nation where marriage between same-sex couples lacks legal recognition and comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation has faced repeated setbacks.

Event coordinators established a performance stage and approximately 70 vendor booths starting at 11 a.m. local time in downtown Seoul, with the main festivities launching later in the day.

The march, serving as the event’s highlight, was set to begin at 4 p.m. and cover approximately 3 kilometers, event planners and police confirmed.

Festival organizers informed police they anticipated 50,000 attendees, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

A conservative Christian organization staged their opposing demonstration beginning in the early afternoon, positioned roughly 700 meters away from the pride celebration location. This group projected attendance of 30,000 participants and also scheduled a march.

Previous years have seen no violent confrontations between the opposing gatherings.

By 2 p.m., approximately 15,000 people had assembled in the vicinity for both competing events, based on live urban population tracking data from Seoul’s city government.

A confidential internal investigation by Doctors Without Borders has revealed widespread sexual exploitation and abuse by staff members working with refugees along Chad’s border with Sudan, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The humanitarian organization’s investigation, which concluded in July and was first disclosed by the AP on Saturday, documented 59 accusations of misconduct and resulted in the termination of 18 employees who have been banned from future work with the group. The organization reported that some incidents involved minors and staff members exchanging food or employment opportunities for sexual favors with refugees. Some cases suggested organized “sexual trafficking,” according to the findings.

The medical aid group initiated the extensive investigation following AP coverage that exposed allegations from women who claimed staff members sexually exploited them at displacement facilities in Chad, where hundreds of thousands have sought refuge from Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, now entering its fourth year. The organization acknowledged the AP’s “fundamental role as an external whistleblower” in bringing these issues to light.

The results from Doctors Without Borders — among the largest employers and most significant aid providers in eastern Chad’s refugee settlements — suggest the abuse was more extensive than initially understood.

Humanitarian emergencies have repeatedly been marred by sexual exploitation scandals, despite ongoing efforts by relief organizations to eliminate such misconduct.

During AP’s 2024 investigation in Chad, women reported that individuals supposed to safeguard them — including aid workers and local security personnel — demanded sexual favors in return for money, improved access to services, and employment. This type of sexual exploitation violates Chadian law.

The Doctors Without Borders investigation highlighted that the Chad situation was particularly concerning because the organization had dedicated additional resources specifically to prevent and address abuse. The internal document also indicated the findings likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many women were reluctant to come forward.

When questioned about the internal document, Doctors Without Borders — known by its French initials MSF — described it as “a candid internal analysis” that identified systemic failures.

The 59 misconduct allegations encompassed sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse and “represent a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities, and we deeply regret the harm caused,” MSF stated in its written reply.

MSF acknowledged that working in environments where people depend on humanitarian aid creates power disparities and abuse risks that require attention. The organization said its investigations aimed to proactively address the misconduct.

The group noted that identifying perpetrators proved impossible in some instances due to the emergency’s magnitude and population displacement.

Following the report’s completion, MSF has enhanced its hiring processes, background verification procedures, and complaint mechanisms, according to its statement to AP.

However, the organization admitted in its response that substantial work remains to achieve permanent reform.

MSF began its investigation in autumn 2024 and uncovered allegations involving exploitation and abuse of Chadian citizens, Sudanese refugees, and MSF personnel and contractors.

The document details investigations into multiple cases where female refugees were sexually exploited in exchange for basic necessities like food, water, and milk. Additional cases involved sex traded for employment opportunities and the prostitution of female refugees, including minors. The report describes an area within a refugee camp where staff members were observed seeking girls, prompting community leaders to establish a curfew to protect young girls from “visiting” MSF personnel.

One documented incident involved seven refugee girls, reportedly employed as day laborers, who were placed in an MSF vehicle under the pretense of going to water distribution and construction locations. Instead, the girls were transported elsewhere and “exposed to” sexual abuse and demands for sex, the investigation found.

The probe also revealed that some female Chadian employees faced job termination threats if they refused sexual advances from supervisors or coworkers.

During focus group sessions with investigators, women explained they frequently remained silent due to concerns about losing access to medical care. Some indicated they were unaware of their right to voice concerns or provide feedback, the report stated.

MSF personnel and community leaders informed investigators they feared reporting abuse due to potential loss of employment or aid. The document noted that six community leaders chose not to report incidents to MSF despite their daughters or sisters being victimized.

The investigation also found that some individuals who did report abuse received no assistance, with multiple alerts going unanswered.

The document criticized certain feedback systems, including complaint boxes, as largely ineffective.

MSF employs thousands of workers across numerous countries in roles spanning medical professionals like doctors, nurses, midwives, and epidemiologists to support staff in human resources, logistics, construction, and sanitation. The report did not identify which positions the accused individuals held. In its correspondence with AP, MSF declined to provide employment details citing privacy and safety considerations.

MSF’s response highlighted implementation of enhanced reporting procedures and integrated prevention and detection measures in current operations — including confidential reporting systems in its response to Congo’s Ebola outbreak.

According to the report, MSF was unaware of most abuse cases before AP’s coverage.

In 2023, the organization conducted extensive training sessions with staff and community leaders focused on prevention. However, these efforts failed to create lasting change and were weakened by high employee turnover, the report stated.

The document indicated that urgent staffing needs and lack of background checks resulted in hiring individuals with histories of misconduct or abuse.

Following the investigation, 18 staff members — including international, local, and contract workers — received or were scheduled to receive “Do Not Hire” classifications. However, the report revealed no system existed to share these flagged names, particularly for local staff, allowing them to potentially secure positions at other MSF locations.

The investigation produced several recommendations: clearly communicating behavioral expectations to staff, implementing “serious reference checks,” and establishing a comprehensive “Do Not Hire” database.

MSF acknowledged in the report having faced similar allegations previously — during the 2021 Ebola outbreak in Congo and reports of extensive exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers in multiple West African nations in 2002 — with minimal overall improvement.

“As a reminder, a rather similar diagnosis and recommendations were made in 2021,” the document stated. “Yet this led to no significant change.”