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A deadly vehicle attack in Leipzig, Germany has claimed two lives and left three people with severe injuries after a driver intentionally struck pedestrians in a crowded shopping district on Monday, according to German officials.

The 33-year-old German suspect was apprehended at the scene and now faces murder and attempted murder charges, prosecutors announced. Additional victims suffered minor injuries in the attack, authorities confirmed.

This incident adds to a troubling pattern of vehicle-ramming attacks that have occurred globally in recent years. Last summer, 37 people were hurt when a driver steered onto a sidewalk and struck a crowd near a Los Angeles nightclub. In 2024, a similar attack at a sports facility in southern China resulted in 35 deaths.

Major vehicle-ramming incidents include:

LOS ANGELES, July 19, 2025 — A minimum of 37 individuals suffer injuries when a vehicle strikes a crowd gathered outside a Los Angeles nightclub. Law enforcement reports that witnesses then turned on the driver, who was shot and wounded. A 29-year-old suspect later faces numerous attempted murder charges for what prosecutors describe as an intentional assault on the crowd. Legal proceedings remain ongoing.

LONDON, May 26, 2025 — A 53-year-old British citizen drives his minivan through a group of Liverpool soccer supporters celebrating their team’s Premier League victory, transforming celebratory cheers into screams of panic and injuring over 45 individuals.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26, 2025 — Multiple murder charges are filed against a suspect after an Audi SUV races down a blocked street lined with food trucks, striking festival attendees and causing 11 fatalities. Thirty-two additional people sustain injuries in the incident. The 30-year-old suspect reportedly had a documented history of mental health struggles, officials state.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1, 2025 — A minimum of 15 people lose their lives and dozens sustain injuries when a Texas resident drives into pedestrians in New Orleans’ busy French Quarter at 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Federal investigators name 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the perpetrator, who dies during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.

MAGDEBURG, Germany, Dec. 20, 2024 — No fewer than five people die and over 200 suffer injuries when a vehicle crashes into a Christmas market in eastern Germany. A 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor who supports Germany’s far-right AfD party is taken into custody.

ZHUHAI, China, Nov. 11, 2024 — A 62-year-old man drives into people working out at a sports facility in southern China, resulting in 35 deaths. Officials report the perpetrator was distressed over his divorce proceedings. He admits guilt to endangering public safety through dangerous methods and receives a death sentence.

WAUKESHA, Wisconsin, Nov. 21, 2021 — Six individuals die and dozens suffer injuries when a man drives his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee. Darrell Brooks Jr., who entered the crowd following an altercation with his former girlfriend, received a life sentence without possibility of parole.

LONDON, Ontario, June 6, 2021 — Four Muslim family members are killed when an attacker strikes them with a pickup truck. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau describes it as “a terrorist attack, motivated by hatred.” White nationalist Nathaniel Veltman receives a life prison sentence.

TORONTO, April 23, 2018 — Alek Minassian, 25, operates a rental van into predominantly female pedestrians on Yonge Street, Toronto’s primary thoroughfare, killing 10 and injuring 16. Minassian informs police of his membership in an online “incel” community of sexually frustrated men. He receives a life sentence.

NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2017 — Sayfullo Saipov, an Islamic extremist from Uzbekistan, operates a pickup truck onto a busy New York City bike path, causing eight deaths. He receives terrorism convictions and 10 life sentences plus 260 years imprisonment.

BARCELONA, Spain, Aug. 17, 2017 — A perpetrator drives a van into people on the Spanish city’s busy Las Ramblas boulevard, killing 14 and wounding others. The Islamic State group takes responsibility. Multiple members of the same extremist organization conduct a similar assault in the nearby resort town of Cambrils, resulting in one death.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Aug. 12, 2017 — During a “Unite the Right” demonstration, white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr. operates his car into a group of counterprotesters, killing one woman and injuring dozens. Fields serves a life sentence for murder and hate crimes.

LONDON, June 19, 2017 — Darren Osborne, radicalized by far-right ideology, operates a van into worshippers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park, killing one man and injuring 15. Osborne receives a life prison sentence.

LONDON, June 3, 2017 — Three perpetrators drive a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before attacking people with knives in nearby Borough Market. Eight people die, and police shoot the attackers dead.

LONDON, March 22, 2017 — Khalid Masood drives an SUV into people on Westminster Bridge, killing four, then fatally attacks a police officer guarding the Houses of Parliament with a knife. Masood is shot dead.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 20, 2017 – Six people die and over 30 sustain injuries when a car strikes lunchtime crowds at a pedestrian mall. James Gargasoulas is determined to have been experiencing drug-induced psychosis and receives a life sentence.

BERLIN, Dec. 19, 2016 — Anis Amri, a rejected asylum-seeker from Tunisia, drives a stolen truck into a Christmas market in the German capital, killing 13 and injuring dozens. The perpetrator dies days later in a shootout in Italy.

NICE, France, July 14, 2016 — Tunisian-born French resident Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel operates a rented truck along a packed seaside promenade in the French Riviera resort on Bastille Day, killing 86 people in the most devastating attack of its type. Police kill him, but eight others receive prison sentences for assisting in orchestrating the attack.

STILLWATER, Oklahoma, Oct. 24, 2015 — A woman drives a car into a crowd at an Oklahoma State University homecoming parade, killing four people, including a toddler, and injuring many others. Adacia Chambers, who entered a no contest plea to over 40 felony charges, serves four concurrent life sentences for the deaths.

APELDOORN, Netherlands, April 28, 2009 – Former security guard Karst Tates operates a car into parade spectators attempting to strike an open-topped bus carrying Dutch royal family members. Six people die, and Tates succumbs to injuries the following day, leaving his complete motivation unknown.

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina, March 3, 2006 — University of North Carolina graduate Mohammed Taheri-Azar operates an SUV into a crowd at the university, slightly injuring nine people, in what he describes as retaliation for Muslim deaths overseas. He receives up to 33 years imprisonment.

SANTA MONICA, California, July 16, 2003 — An 86-year-old man crashes into a farmers’ market, killing 10 people and injuring dozens of others. He received probation after conviction on 10 counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

EDMONTON, Alberta — A separatist movement in Canada’s Alberta province announced Monday that it has delivered nearly 302,000 petition signatures calling for a referendum on independence from Canada, significantly surpassing the threshold needed to force provincial consideration of such a vote.

Stay Free Alberta, the organization behind the effort, required 178,000 verified signatures to compel the province to move forward with referendum proceedings.

Provincial Premier Danielle Smith has previously stated that a verified petition would result in a referendum being held, though she has expressed personal opposition to the oil-rich province’s departure from Canada.

Mitch Sylvestre, who leads Stay Free Alberta, delivered the petition signatures to the Elections Alberta headquarters in Edmonton Monday, arriving with a convoy of seven trucks carrying the documentation.

“We’re happy with the number,” Sylvestre stated. He noted that signature verification procedures involved multiple reviews of most petition documents.

The delivery drew more than 300 supporters who gathered outside the elections office, displaying Alberta’s provincial flag and shouting “Alberta strong.”

The independence effort may encounter legal obstacles this week, as an Edmonton judge is anticipated to decide on a lawsuit filed by several Alberta First Nations groups. These Indigenous communities argue that provincial separation would breach existing treaty agreements.

Smith has criticized past federal Liberal administrations for enacting policies that she claims have restricted Alberta’s oil production and export capabilities, resulting in billions in lost revenue for the province. She has also expressed opposition to federal interference in provincial matters.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal administration has not yet issued a response to Monday’s petition submission.

SHENDI, Sudan — Sudan’s military forces successfully intercepted an unmanned aircraft targeting Khartoum’s primary airport on Monday, preventing any damage or injuries, according to airport authorities. The incident represents another escalation in Sudan’s devastating civil conflict, which has now entered its fourth year and brought the nation to a breaking point.

The attempted strike occurred just three days after the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group conducted a fatal drone assault that killed at least five civilians when it struck a passenger vehicle near Khartoum on Saturday.

According to airport authorities, Sudan’s air defense systems brought down the incoming drone as it approached from the southern direction on Monday, resulting in no harm or infrastructure damage. Military leadership verified that their forces had successfully neutralized the threat.

A military source informed The Associated Press that the unmanned aircraft originated from a bordering nation, though no additional specifics were provided. All sources requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to speak with journalists.

Operations at Khartoum International Airport experienced a temporary halt following the incident, though officials announced flights would recommence after standard security inspections. The airport’s progressive return to service last year represented a significant milestone in attempts to restore normalcy to Khartoum, which served as the primary battleground when hostilities erupted between government forces and the RSF in April 2023.

This past February marked only the second occasion a commercial aircraft had touched down at the facility since the conflict began.

While Khartoum has experienced relatively few RSF assaults since military forces regained control last year, the capital has witnessed intermittent attacks in recent weeks.

The ongoing warfare has claimed a minimum of 59,000 lives, according to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, an independent monitoring organization. However, humanitarian organizations warn the actual death count may be significantly higher due to restricted access across Sudan’s expansive territory.

The United Nations reports that 12 million people have been forced from their homes due to the conflict, while portions of Sudan now face famine conditions.

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban authorities have introduced the capital city’s initial pair of modular housing units constructed from converted shipping containers, marking a significant development in a metropolis where formerly grand buildings are falling apart.

This weekend, government leaders including President Miguel Díaz-Canel assembled to present the residences to two single mothers: one woman had resided in a shelter for over a decade, while the other was living in just one room with her two teenage children, state media reported.

According to media accounts, construction teams completed the dwellings within a month using leftover materials from tourism development projects, technology created by Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, and containers that had previously transported solar panel components from China.

On Saturday, authorities announced that Cuba faces a shortage of more than 800,000 housing units, with Havana experiencing the most urgent crisis.

Twenty-nine-year-old beautician Yurieska Artunet Martí, who resides in Havana’s historic district, was compelled to relocate from her previous apartment when it deteriorated completely. She continues to occupy the same building and floor, but now lives in the rear section that remains upright — at least temporarily.

“Everybody here in Havana lives in fear,” she said as she looked up at her rotting ceiling and disintegrating walls. They shelter Artunet Martí, who is four-months pregnant, and her three children, ages 7 months, 1 and 5.

Wall plaster drops onto their sleeping area during the night, she explained.

Artunet Martí lacks the financial means to relocate. Two months prior, she was compelled to shut down the beauty salon she operated from her residence, where customers had to navigate deteriorating stairs, avoid broken wood, and step around a large opening where an elevator previously functioned.

“People stopped coming because of the building’s condition,” she said.

The celebrated residences in Old Havana, featuring architectural styles from Spanish Colonial to Cuban Baroque, are notorious for collapsing, particularly following heavy rainfall, occasionally resulting in fatalities among residents.

Statistics from the government in 2020 revealed that the island nation of approximately 10 million inhabitants possessed 3.9 million residences, with almost 40% rated as fair or poor quality. Insufficient upkeep, severe economic difficulties, and harsh weather conditions are responsible.

The upper levels of Artunet Martí’s building remain vacant; all residents were relocated to shelters for their protection.

“What are we going to do?” she said. “We know we’re in danger, but we have to accept reality.”

In a different section of historic Havana, 60-year-old Carlos Sablón described how part of his building’s third level caved in during nighttime hours. Sablón was viewing television when it occurred but recognized what had transpired.

“It’s quite damaged by time,” he said of the building’s infrastructure as he looked out his second-story window and onto a tiny, crumbling courtyard.

The third floor was unoccupied during the collapse, but emergency responders evacuated all other tenants. Without means to afford alternative housing, Sablón, an engineer, returned to his unit. Since it remained undamaged, he restored electricity and water service for himself and several other residents who remained.

“You’re always going to be afraid,” he said as he lamented that no one ensures the safety of homes in Havana.

“This is the one I fear the most,” Sablón said of his apartment building, which he believes will keep collapsing. “I hope it’s not when someone is walking by.”

A few blocks from Sablón’s location lives 63-year-old Magalys Caro. She remains restricted to one room, an improvised kitchen area, and a bathroom in her building’s front portion. She previously inhabited a company building that allowed her to move in after her adjacent home was destroyed during a hurricane.

However, her current residence also presents dangers.

“The back there has collapsed,” Caro said as she pointed to a spacious, open-air area behind her.

“I’ve been living here in these poor conditions for about 10 years,” Caro said. “Nothing gets resolved. The Housing Department does nothing.”

During Saturday’s ceremony revealing Havana’s initial two modular residences, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz recognized that the shipping container conversion program could be accelerated.

“It is not moving at the desired pace,” he said, adding that the work is underway.

Delilah Díaz Fernández, housing director general at Cuba’s Ministry of Construction, announced that over 2,000 containers designated for residential conversion have received approval, with approximately 700 currently undergoing transformation.

“The program … holds immense potential and is here to stay,” she said, adding that as new containers arrive, they will be considered for eventual housing.

According to Díaz Fernández, the program will primarily benefit individuals who lost their residences due to severe weather or structural failures.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan officials are blaming Pakistan for deadly cross-border strikes that reportedly claimed three civilian lives and injured 14 others on Monday, highlighting ongoing tensions between the neighboring countries despite recent diplomatic efforts.

According to Afghan deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, who posted on X, the strikes also leveled two educational facilities, two places of worship, and a medical clinic in Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.

Pakistani Information Ministry officials quickly disputed these claims in their own social media response, pointing to previous cross-border gunfire originating from Afghan soil that targeted Pakistan. These earlier incidents in March and April resulted in nine civilian deaths, including women and children, in Bajaur district within Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Pakistani ministry characterized the Bajaur incidents as evidence of the “Afghan regime’s reckless and shameful actions.” Officials also questioned the authenticity of damage photos accompanying Afghanistan’s latest accusations, noting that undamaged rooftops and limited destruction patterns were “inconsistent with artillery impact” and suggested possible fabrication.

The two nations have been locked in deadly border conflicts for months, resulting in hundreds of casualties since late February when Afghanistan initiated cross-border operations in response to Pakistani aerial bombardments on Afghan soil.

Pakistan maintains that Afghanistan provides safe haven for militant groups responsible for terrorist activities within Pakistani borders, particularly the Pakistani Taliban organization known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. This group operates independently from but maintains ties with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, which assumed control of the country in 2021 following the withdrawal of American-led forces. Afghan authorities reject these accusations.

Chinese mediators facilitated discussions between Afghan and Pakistani representatives in western China during early April. Both nations committed to avoiding further escalation and working toward a “comprehensive solution,” according to Beijing’s statements. However, border skirmishes have persisted, though with reduced severity compared to pre-negotiation levels.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Following recent anti-immigration demonstrations in South Africa, Nigerian officials announced Monday they will bring home 130 citizens who have requested to leave the country voluntarily.

Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu called the evacuation a voluntary initiative and indicated additional citizens are expected to request assistance in returning to Nigeria. She characterized the repatriation as a response to escalating tensions.

During a Monday diplomatic meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu conveyed Nigeria’s “profound concern” to South Africa’s acting high commissioner regarding the treatment of Nigerian nationals.

While the recent demonstrations targeting immigrants did not result in any Nigerian fatalities, migrants have faced ongoing hostility in South Africa, where they are frequently blamed for contributing to the nation’s unemployment crisis.

South African leadership has denounced the violent incidents and pledged to take strong action against “xenophobic acts.”

In a separate development, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola engaged in telephone discussions with his Nigerian counterpart to address “challenges posed by irregular migration” and explore potential solutions to underlying issues.

The diplomatic tensions intensified following the deaths of two Nigerian citizens in encounters with South African law enforcement last month. Following Monday’s diplomatic session, Nigeria’s foreign ministry spokesman confirmed the country has demanded a thorough investigation into these fatalities and is seeking collaboration “in providing autopsy reports” to the victims’ families.

Moscow’s Defense Ministry announced Monday a temporary halt to combat operations in Ukraine scheduled for Friday and Saturday in observance of the 81st anniversary commemorating Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II, while simultaneously issuing warnings of severe consequences should Kyiv interfere with the Victory Day observances.

Military officials released a statement expressing hopes that Ukraine “will follow suit” during Russia’s most significant national holiday. Ukrainian leadership has not yet responded to the announcement.

Russian officials made the decision last week to significantly reduce the scale of their traditional military display in Moscow’s Red Square due to security concerns about potential Ukrainian strikes. Ukraine has been conducting aerial drone operations targeting locations deep within Russian territory as a response to the invasion that has continued for more than four years.

The Defense Ministry issued stark warnings that any Ukrainian attempts to interfere with Saturday’s commemorative events would result in a “massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv.” Officials cautioned civilians and foreign embassy personnel about “the need to leave the city promptly.”

Russian leader Vladimir Putin previously discussed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire for Victory Day during a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump last week.

The Kremlin has historically utilized the elaborate Victory Day military display to demonstrate its armed forces capabilities and international influence, serving as a significant source of national pride for many years.

However, this year’s parade in the Russian capital will proceed without the typical display of tanks, missiles and other military hardware for the first time in almost twenty years. Several smaller commemorative events scheduled throughout the country have also been reduced in scope or completely cancelled due to security considerations.

The Second World War continues to represent one of the few unifying elements in Russia’s complicated history during the Communist era. The Soviet Union suffered 27 million casualties during what they termed the Great Patriotic War from 1941-45, representing an enormous loss of life that continues to influence the national consciousness.

Putin, who has maintained control over Russia for more than 25 years, has transformed Victory Day into a cornerstone of his leadership and has attempted to use the commemoration to provide justification for the conflict in Ukraine.

The previous year’s parade marking the 80th anniversary brought the largest gathering of international leaders to Moscow in ten years, featuring prominent attendees including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Putin had previously announced a 72-hour suspension of hostilities beginning May 7, 2025, and government officials restricted mobile internet access in Moscow for several days to prevent Ukrainian drone strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy declared Monday that his nation will implement a halt in fighting starting at midnight on Tuesday, May 5th.

In a message posted to Telegram, Zelenskiy indicated that Moscow has failed to respond to Ukraine’s previous requests for a cessation of hostilities. He explained that Ukraine is moving forward with the decision because it considers “human life is incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary.”

“In this regard, we announce a regime of silence starting from 00.00 on the night of May 5 to May 6,” the Ukrainian leader stated.

Zelenskiy did not specify how long the ceasefire would last, but indicated that Ukraine would “act symmetrically from the specified moment.”

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was released from a Brasilia hospital on Monday following a surgical procedure on his right shoulder that took place last Friday, according to his physician Brasil Caiado who spoke with members of the media.

The operation was designed to address a long-standing medical issue that had been generating ongoing discomfort and restricting his range of movement.

Through a social media posting, Bolsonaro’s spouse verified that he had returned to his residence. Since the end of March, the former leader has been permitted to remain under humanitarian house arrest, following a Supreme Court justice’s approval of an initial three-month period based on health considerations.

The 71-year-old Bolsonaro has been carrying out a 27-year prison term since November after being convicted of conspiring to stage a coup following his electoral defeat in 2022 to the nation’s current leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The military leader serving as Mali’s president has stepped into the role of defense minister following the death of the previous minister in devastating coordinated strikes by extremist and separatist forces that shocked the West African country, officials announced Monday.

A presidential decree broadcast on state television revealed that Assimi Goita will continue his presidential duties while simultaneously overseeing defense operations. Former military chief of staff Gen. Oumar Diarra has been appointed to serve as his deputy in the defense role.

The leadership change follows the tragic death of Defense Minister Gen. Sadio Camara on April 25, who was killed when a suicide bomber targeted his residence in Kati, a military garrison community located near Mali’s capital city of Bamako.

Kati and Bamako were among multiple locations struck by fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, known as JNIM and affiliated with al-Qaida, working alongside rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist organization led by Tuareg forces. The synchronized assault represented one of the most extensive coordinated operations the nation has experienced in more than ten years.

The extremist fighters and separatist forces successfully captured numerous strategic towns and military installations during their offensive.

Mali’s government has operated under military control since leaders seized power through a 2020 takeover, pledging to improve security conditions as extremist violence escalated. Following their rise to power, the military government shifted toward Russia for security assistance, leading to the departure of traditional partners including France and United Nations peacekeeping forces.

However, security experts indicate that Mali’s safety situation has deteriorated further since the military takeover, with unprecedented levels of attacks and civilian casualties resulting from both Islamic militant operations and government military actions.

Goita’s appointment to the defense position occurs amid rising tensions following the detention of military members, civilians, and political figures suspected of connections to the separatists and militants behind the recent attacks.

On Saturday, armed individuals kidnapped a former Malian government minister who had criticized the junta from his residence, according to family members who spoke with The Associated Press on Sunday.

JNIM fighters have escalated pressure on the military administration by establishing a blockade surrounding Bamako beginning last week, creating roadblocks and security checkpoints that restrict movement.

Transportation companies informed the AP that while the blockade initially disrupted travel across multiple routes last week, the armed groups have now focused their efforts on blocking only the connection between Bamako and the western city of Kayes, leaving other roads connecting the capital to various parts of the country mostly accessible.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Several board members of La Nación, a prominent Costa Rican newspaper, have had their United States entry visas canceled, sparking new allegations that America is collaborating with Costa Rica’s government to silence critics through immigration penalties.

The newspaper’s board of directors announced in a front-page statement Sunday that the affected executives discovered their visa cancellations through reports in government-friendly media outlets.

La Nación has consistently challenged outgoing Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, who maintains close ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and has committed to accepting up to 100 deportees monthly from third countries as part of Trump’s expanded deportation initiatives.

The publication, which Chaves has repeatedly attacked since it reported sexual harassment allegations during his 2022 presidential race, stated that American officials provided no explanation for canceling the visas.

The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comment.

“We fully recognize that the United States, like any sovereign state, has the power to determine the terms of entry into its territory,” La Nación said. “However, it is unprecedented in Costa Rica’s recent history for visas to be revoked from members of the board of a general-interest and independent newspaper.”

This action appears to represent another example of the Trump administration using immigration policies to target political adversaries, drawing harsh criticism from Costa Rican opposition groups and press freedom advocates who are demanding explanations from both governments.

“If this decision is based on their critical stance toward this government, it would be yet another troubling signal for our democratic system,” the organizations said in a statement, adding that failing to provide transparent information would “constitute an unacceptable form of complicity.”

Mauricio Herrera, a journalist and former Costa Rican communications minister from 2015 to 2018, made stronger accusations, stating “there is no doubt that the cancellation of visas for its board of directors is in response to a request from the Costa Rican government.”

“The sanction seeks to intimidate those who dare to dissent and exercise their freedom of expression,” Herrera told The Associated Press.

Multiple prominent figures in Costa Rica have experienced visa cancellations, as conservative President Chaves’ confrontational leadership approach has faced criticism for undermining democratic principles.

In the previous year, the U.S. canceled the visa of Nobel Prize winner and former Costa Rican President Óscar Arias, a vocal Trump critic, along with his brother Rodrigo Arias, who served as legislative president and believed Chaves requested the U.S. action.

Opposition legislators including Francisco Nicolás from the centrist National Liberation Party and independent Cynthia Córdoba, both known for criticizing Chaves, have also seen their U.S. visas canceled recently, as has Constitutional Court Judge Fernando Cruz, a migrant rights defender who was prevented from traveling to the U.S. last month to receive recognition from Northwestern Law School.

Chaves, who has worked closely with the Trump administration on accepting deportees from various nations and extraditing suspected drug traffickers to the U.S., will step down Friday when President-elect Laura Fernández takes office.

America and several Gulf Arab nations are collaborating on a fresh United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at criticizing Iran’s interference with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz, who announced the effort Monday.

The ambassador indicated that discussions on this new proposal will occur throughout this week. This latest diplomatic push follows Russia and China’s decision last month to block an earlier resolution that Washington had hoped would rally global support for keeping the vital shipping lane open.

Waltz explained during a media briefing that the United States is working alongside Bahrain to develop this resolution, with additional contributions from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The proposed measure would call on Iran to halt its attacks against commercial vessels and stop attempting to collect fees from ships passing through the strait. Additionally, the resolution would demand that Iran cease deploying sea mines in the waterway and reveal where existing mines have been placed.

According to Waltz, this latest draft represents a “narrower effort” compared to the previously unsuccessful resolution and comes during an active ceasefire with Iran. “This is much more focused on mining international waterways and on tolling, which all of the economies of the world are affected by, particularly those in Asia,” he said.

MOSCOW, May 4 – On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary halt to military operations against Ukraine scheduled for May 8-9, coinciding with commemorations marking the end of World War II and Nazi Germany’s defeat, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The Defense Ministry stated it expects Ukrainian forces to observe the same pause in fighting, while issuing a stern warning about potential consequences. Officials threatened to launch extensive missile attacks targeting central Kyiv should Ukraine attempt to interfere with Victory Day commemorative events.

“Despite the capabilities at our disposal, Russia has previously refrained from such actions on humanitarian grounds,” the ministry declared in an official statement, while emphasizing readiness to respond if the temporary truce is violated.

The ministry also issued evacuation advisories, stating: “We are warning the civilian population of Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in a timely manner.”

A fragile three-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran reached a dangerous breaking point Monday as American military forces launched an operation to escort trapped commercial vessels through the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

The crisis escalated when the United Arab Emirates reported coming under attack for the first time since the early April truce began, while British maritime officials confirmed two cargo ships were burning near UAE waters.

Tehran denounced the American-led naval escort mission as a breach of the delicate ceasefire agreement. Despite President Donald Trump’s Sunday announcement of ‘Project Freedom,’ only two US-flagged merchant vessels successfully passed through the waterway with military protection, according to American officials.

Shipping companies and financial markets are expressing growing concern over Washington’s limited operational details. Maritime industry leaders question which crews and cargo owners would risk potential Iranian attacks.

For more than two months since hostilities began, Iran’s control over this vital shipping lane has trapped hundreds of commercial vessels and tens of thousands of crew members in the region.

The maritime bottleneck has created a massive backup of essential global commodities including oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other critical supplies. This strategic chokehold has given Iran significant leverage while damaging international economies and potentially affecting the Republican administration’s prospects in upcoming midterm elections.

Monday saw oil markets climb as uncertainty persisted around both the strait’s status and the American military intervention, which Trump characterized as a humanitarian mission to assist nations that have remained ‘neutral and innocent’ during the conflict.

Although European nations and other allies have expressed anxiety about the strait situation and received Trump’s appeals for assistance, no other countries appeared to participate in Monday’s operations.

Pentagon officials revealed the mission would deploy guided-missile destroyers, over 100 aircraft and 15,000 military personnel, though specific deployment strategies were not disclosed.

Trump issued a stern warning that any interference with the escort operation ‘will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully.’

American military commanders reported destroying six small Iranian patrol boats that were attacking civilian ships. They also said Iranian forces fired missiles and deployed drones against vessels under US protection.

Iran has effectively sealed the waterway by launching attacks on various ships during the past two months, while demanding that non-US and non-Israeli vessels pay transit fees for passage.

Maritime safety experts continue worrying about Iranian naval mines scattered throughout the shipping channel as companies evaluate the new American protection program.

Iranian military leadership declared Monday that vessels must still coordinate transit plans with Tehran authorities, warning that ‘any foreign military force — especially the aggressive U.S. military — that intends to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted,’ according to state media reports.

Iran’s official IRNA news service dismissed Trump’s strait reopening strategy as part of his ‘delirium.’

Iranian media outlets claimed their forces attacked an American warship southeast of the strait, alleging it was ‘violating maritime security and navigation norms.’ US military officials, who have maintained a naval blockade of Iranian ports for weeks, rejected these claims.

The US-led Joint Maritime Information Center continues rating the threat level around the strait as critical, despite issuing earlier guidance about the new American escort program.

Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer for the Baltic and International Maritime Council, a major shipping industry organization, said no official operational guidelines or specifics have been provided to commercial operators.

‘Without consent from Iran to let commercial ships transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, it is currently not clear whether the Iranian threat to ships can be degraded or suppressed,’ Larsen stated.

Larsen raised questions about the mission’s long-term viability versus its potential as a short-term operation, warning of a ‘risk of hostilities breaking out again’ if the effort proceeds.

The Joint Maritime Information Center has directed ships to use Omani territorial waters for strait crossings, noting that American forces have established an ‘enhanced security area.’ Officials cautioned that traveling near traditional shipping routes ‘should be considered extremely hazardous due to the presence of mines that have not been fully surveyed and mitigated.’

The center advised ship captains to maintain close coordination with Omani port authorities ‘due to anticipated high traffic volume.’

BERLIN — Multiple pedestrians sustained injuries Monday when a vehicle struck them in downtown Leipzig, Germany, according to local authorities.

Officials have not released exact casualty figures at this time. However, police confirmed that while several people were hurt in the incident, no fatalities have been reported, according to the German news agency dpa.

According to an official statement on Leipzig’s municipal website, authorities have apprehended both the vehicle and its operator, and the threat has been neutralized.

The collision occurred on Grimmaische Strasse, a thoroughfare that connects to Leipzig’s main retail district in the city center.

With a population exceeding 630,000 residents, Leipzig ranks among eastern Germany’s largest metropolitan areas and sits southwest of the nation’s capital, Berlin.

BERLIN – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is confronting the most severe diplomatic rift with the United States in recent decades as he approaches the one-year anniversary of taking office this week. The crisis escalated after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on European automotive imports and withdraw thousands of American military personnel from Germany.

These developments, revealed on Friday following Trump’s furious response to Merz’s critique of American tactics in the Iran conflict, highlight the deteriorating relationship between the two nations that has become increasingly strained during Trump’s second presidency. The situation adds to a growing list of challenges now confronting the German chancellor.

“We can see what’s going on with Donald Trump and the U.S., and that this is having an impact. We can see that China is getting stronger and stronger,” Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who serves as Merz’s deputy and leads his Social Democrat coalition partners, stated to Reuters.

“We can see that Europe isn’t strong enough. In this regard, a great deal depends on Germany.”

Following two consecutive years of economic downturn, Germany’s fragile economic recovery now faces potential collapse due to energy disruptions stemming from the Iran crisis. Meanwhile, promised reforms covering taxation, social services, and healthcare have been overshadowed by disagreements within the governing coalition.

Merz’s spontaneous communication approach, which he admits can be impulsive at times, has also frustrated German citizens.

German automakers, who form the foundation of the nation’s manufacturing sector and already face intense competition from Chinese companies, must now contend with increased tariffs rising from 15% to 25% in one of their crucial export destinations.

During a Sunday interview with German public television, Merz, who took his oath of office on May 6 of the previous year, recognized growing public skepticism. Recent polling data shows the far-right Alternative for Germany party now surpasses his conservative party as the nation’s most favored political organization.

“The doubts are growing. Not about me, but about the coalition,” he said.

Throughout most of his inaugural year, Merz compensated for domestic dissatisfaction with a relatively confident international presence, temporarily earning recognition as one of the few European leaders to develop a positive personal connection with Trump.

“He has strengthened key relationships, particularly with France and Poland, and has secured European influence in the context of the war in Ukraine through forums such as the E3,” explained Oliver Lembcke, a political scientist at Ruhr University Bochum, noting that Merz’s primary challenges remain domestic.

“In domestic policy, he’s fallen short of expectations – particularly when it comes to leadership.”

As someone who speaks English fluently, Merz maintains his belief in the transatlantic partnership, working to preserve it while Germany reconstructs its weakened military after years of insufficient investment.

With the Ukrainian conflict continuing to rage near the European Union’s borders, he has also proceeded cautiously in attempting to dissuade Trump from completely abandoning support for Kyiv.

However, he has consistently cautioned that the period of depending on American forces for European protection has ended and has grown increasingly disapproving of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, declining to deploy German troops to help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz until hostilities cease and a comprehensive international mission receives approval.

Recent events have demonstrated how delicate the balance must be with an American administration that has openly expressed contempt for European leadership, including those like Merz or Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who previously received Trump’s praise.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius minimized the importance of Trump’s decision to remove at least 5,000 troops from Germany and cancel planned Tomahawk cruise missile deployments, stating over the weekend that the action was anticipated.

Merz rejected claims that the decision resulted from his comments to students the previous week suggesting the US lacked an exit strategy in Iran and was experiencing “humiliation,” despite Trump’s angry social media criticism of the chancellor he once considered a friend.

Similar communication difficulties have characterized Merz’s tenure, including when he provoked controversy last year by implying that immigration had changed how German communities appeared.

Trump’s frustration with Europe has been evident throughout his presidency, particularly following Vice President JD Vance’s harsh remarks at last year’s Munich Security Conference.

“I think that just sped things up, but it wasn’t what set it off,” stated Roderich Kiesewetter, a foreign affairs committee member from Merz’s conservative CDU party. He indicated that canceling the Biden administration’s plan to station a US battalion equipped with long-range Tomahawk missiles posed a more serious concern for Germany.

“That undermines our deterrent. And it undermines trust in the U.S. And that is the real bad news,” he said.

The specific details regarding which troops will be removed from the 40,000 American forces based in Germany and how this will impact major US military installations, including the extensive Ramstein air base, remain uncertain.

While surveys indicate Trump lacks popularity among Germans and public sentiment strongly supports avoiding involvement in the Iran conflict, the American military presence has become an established part of life for Germans in the country’s western regions.

In Landstuhl, which houses one of the largest US military medical facilities, local resident Maria Raftopoulo described the deep connections that have developed between community members and American personnel over time.

“And even though there are fewer Americans now, they still provide jobs, they still rent, they contribute to the region doing as well as it does.”

BERLIN – A deadly vehicle attack in downtown Leipzig, Germany claimed two lives and left two others with severe injuries Monday when a car plowed into pedestrians, according to local media reports citing police sources.

Authorities in Leipzig verified to news outlets that a vehicle collision resulted in multiple casualties, though officials declined to provide additional specifics about the incident.

Witnesses described seeing a damaged Volkswagen SUV racing through a pedestrian area with an individual positioned on top of the vehicle, according to Radio Leipzig’s reporting.

Local media outlets quoted eyewitnesses who described seeing multiple victims covered by sheets at the scene, with some reports also mentioning a stabbing incident in connection with the attack.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to make a diplomatic trip to the United States this week for discussions with President Donald Trump, according to two Brazilian government officials who spoke with Reuters on Monday.

The Brazilian leader is expected to depart on Wednesday and conduct his meeting with Trump the following day, one source indicated.

The Brazilian newspaper O Globo had reported on these travel arrangements earlier Monday.

When contacted for confirmation, the White House had not yet provided a response.

This upcoming visit stems from an agreement the two presidents reached during a telephone conversation earlier this year, with the original plan calling for the meeting to occur in March. However, that timeline was not met and the visit was rescheduled.