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Violence broke out in Afghanistan on Tuesday when authorities used force to disperse demonstrators protesting the detention of more than a dozen women accused of violating dress code requirements, leaving at least three people wounded according to reports.

Witnesses reported that armed officers fired weapons during the demonstration involving more than 100 participants in Herat.

Such public demonstrations are uncommon in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has maintained control since 2021 following the turbulent departure of U.S.-led military forces. The current government has established regulations based on their rigid understanding of Islamic law, including severe limitations on women and girls such as prohibiting education past elementary levels and dictating acceptable public attire. Opposition is forbidden, and demonstrations challenging official policies are banned.

Current official requirements mandate that women may appear publicly only while wearing complete hijab — including head covering and full-length garments — plus facial covering that exposes only the eyes. These standards are enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Kakar, who observed the confrontation, described driving past the demonstration site when he noticed police vehicles arriving and officers discharging weapons into the air.

“After several shots, we got scared and got out of the car, to not be injured,” said Kakar, who requested only his single name be published due to concerns about retaliation for media contact. He continued that police subsequently confronted the demonstrators “and the police opened fire again, and some people were injured. I saw blood on the road.” Kakar indicated he could not determine the precise number of casualties.

A second witness, who requested anonymity for safety concerns, reported observing three wounded individuals.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations’ investigator on human rights in Afghanistan, expressed being “alarmed by excessive use of force against seemingly peaceful protesters in Herat today.”

Writing on X, he stated that individuals responsible for the violence should face consequences. “It’s time to defuse the tension, respect citizens’ freedom of expression, especially women and girls, and avoid further harm,” Bennett said.

This past Sunday, the U.N.’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan posted on X that detaining women in Herat for alleged dress code infractions created “serious human rights concerns.” The organization had voiced similar worries regarding comparable arrests in the Afghan capital, Kabul, during the previous year.

A human rights observer, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to share information with media, confirmed Monday that monitors had documented no fewer than 16 arrests and detentions in Herat since Friday for suspected dress code non-compliance, including one expectant mother.

Afghanistan’s vice and virtue ministry rejected claims regarding women’s arrests and detentions.

“The issues being spread about women being arrested in Herat are all rumors,” the ministry declared, stating that wearing “hijab is a divine command, a law that we are obliged to implement.”

During the previous week’s Friday prayers, religious leaders at Herat mosques made proclamations for the vice and virtue ministry declaring women could not leave their residences without proper hijab. The human rights observer noted that arrests and detentions commenced soon thereafter.

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine officials announced Tuesday they have formally objected to China’s placement of a floating platform staffed with personnel on a contested shoal in the South China Sea, expressing concerns it may represent Beijing’s initial step toward constructing another artificial island military outpost.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila filed an official complaint regarding China’s recent actions at Scarborough Shoal, which Philippine coast guard and military forces observed, though officials provided no additional specifics.

Beijing rejected the Philippines’ concerns and restated its position of having “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal and surrounding waters, while declining to provide details about the situation to Philippine authorities.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian stated from Beijing: “Any activities China conducts on Huangyan Island, including scientific research, are the legitimate rights of a sovereign state.”

“China urges the Philippine side to cease maritime infringements and provocations and stop hyping up the issue,” he added.

Following weeks of intense confrontation with Philippine vessels in 2012, China positioned ships to control the uninhabited Scarborough area, leading Manila to pursue international arbitration against Beijing’s territorial claims, which the Philippines substantially won.

The 2016 arbitration decision, based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, struck down China’s assertions over nearly the entire South China Sea.

However, China declined to take part in the Philippines-initiated arbitration process and rejected the decision as fraudulent, alleging it was orchestrated by the United States working with the Philippines.

Over ten years ago, China began converting contested and uninhabited reefs into what are now missile-defended island installations — including three equipped with military-grade airstrips — throughout the Spratlys archipelago, a heavily contested South China Sea region.

During the mid-1990s, Chinese military forces took control of one of seven locations, Mischief Reef, by constructing small elevated huts and claiming they would function as fishermen’s refuges in international waters.

The Philippines vigorously objected to China’s takeover of Mischief, asserting the location falls within its internationally acknowledged exclusive economic zone.

Gen. Romeo Brawner, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stated the Philippine military will prevent China from converting Scarborough into another island installation.

“We will not allow an incident before to happen again, where a small structure was built and later on, it grew into an artificial island,” Brawner said.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also assert territorial rights in the South China Sea, though confrontations have especially intensified between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval units in recent years.

The U.S. has consistently stated it is bound to protect the Philippines, its longest-standing treaty partner in Asia, if Filipino military personnel, vessels and aircraft face armed assault, including in disputed maritime areas.

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Commerce came to a standstill and transportation ground to a halt throughout Pakistan-controlled Kashmir on Tuesday following a strike organized by a recently outlawed organization with a history of violent demonstrations.

The shutdown was initiated by the Joint Awami Action Committee in response to deadly confrontations on Sunday in Rawalakot between the organization’s followers and law enforcement that resulted in seven fatalities. The deadly violence began after Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s Supreme Court determined that 12 legislative positions designated for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan have constitutional protection and cannot be eliminated without amending the constitution.

The JAAC, established in 2003, advocates for expanded political representation for Kashmir’s population and elimination of the refugee positions.

Local residents from the regional capital, Muzaffarabad, and surrounding communities reported to The Associated Press that commercial areas were mostly vacant and transportation hubs were abandoned on Tuesday. Nevertheless, it remained uncertain whether citizens were participating in the organized strike or staying away from public areas due to concerns about additional violence.

The organization had announced Tuesday’s “long march” from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad and the strike prior to the recent bloodshed. Eyewitnesses reported that thousands of followers assembled in the eastern community of Mirpur to journey to Rawalakot, where JAAC leadership was anticipated to launch the march toward Muzaffarabad.

Officials have positioned extra law enforcement and security forces throughout the area and cut internet access in major urban centers to discourage participation in the march.

Law enforcement and regional authorities alleged that armed JAAC followers fired weapons at officers during Sunday’s violence, marking the region’s most lethal unrest in recent years. During comparable disturbances last year, multiple officers were kidnapped and subjected to torture while in captivity.

The territorial administration prohibited the JAAC last week, expressing concerns regarding public safety and security, and arrested numerous supporters.

Regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore stated Monday he continued to welcome discussions with the organization’s representatives. He indicated the administration had agreed to most JAAC demands during previous year’s negotiations, with the exception of eliminating refugee positions and ending benefits provided to government officials and ministers, which must be handled by the Legislative Assembly due to constitutional limitations.

The refugee positions are maintained for individuals who relocated to Pakistan from Indian-controlled Kashmir decades earlier and are designed to represent communities displaced by the ongoing dispute over the Himalayan territory. The JAAC contends that these seats provide excessive power to people residing outside the region.

The Himalayan territory of Kashmir remains split between Pakistan and India, with both nations claiming complete control and having engaged in two military conflicts over the area since achieving independence from British control in 1947.

Political tensions have been escalating for weeks in advance of elections planned for next month.

The existing Legislative Assembly has finished its term, and political discussions have intensified regarding the future of refugee seats following the judicial decision.

PARIS — French entertainer Patrick Bruel remains detained by authorities as prosecutors examine accusations from at least 13 women alleging rape, attempted rape and sexual assault, according to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office on Tuesday.

The 67-year-old performer, who has been held since Monday, maintains his innocence regarding all accusations.

Bruel rose to prominence throughout French-speaking nations during the 1980s and 1990s through numerous chart-topping recordings that became cultural staples. His career also includes roles in over 40 film and television projects.

According to a statement from the Nanterre prosecutor’s office, the probe started when three women came forward alleging sexual assault and attempted rape that supposedly occurred in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

As the probe continued, investigators identified and spoke with more women. These additional accusers reported claims of rape or attempted rape, sexual assault and harassment, the statement indicated.

In a separate matter, prosecutors in western France had opened an inquiry regarding an alleged 2012 rape in Dinard, located in the Brittany region, which has now been moved to the Nanterre prosecutor’s office.

Belgian officials also formally informed French prosecutors this month about accusations from a woman claiming Bruel committed rape and sexual assault in Brussels during 2010, the statement revealed.

Legal representatives for Bruel, Christophe Ingrain, Céline Lasek and Fanny Colin, released a statement saying their client has signaled for weeks “he was available to the judicial authorities so that he could finally respond through the proper legal proceedings.”

French court officials may either bring preliminary charges against Bruel or release him without charges before day’s end.

Recent media coverage, particularly by French investigative publication Mediapart, has highlighted claims from multiple women spanning decades against Bruel, resulting in additional formal complaints being submitted.

MONTERREY, Mexico – Where dozens of children now kick soccer balls in a peaceful park, a deadly cartel battle once claimed 49 lives in one of Mexico’s most violent correctional facilities.

The dramatic transformation of this northern Mexican city illustrates how Monterrey has evolved from a battleground of drug violence into one of the nation’s safest metropolitan areas, just as it prepares to welcome international soccer fans for four World Cup matches.

Liberty Park now occupies the former grounds of the infamous Topo Chico prison, where inmates were brutally killed with knives and beaten with chairs during a savage clash between rival cartels a decade ago. The bloodshed represented some of the worst violence that plagued the Monterrey area during the early 2010s.

While drug-related violence continues to plague other regions of Mexico – including Guadalajara, another World Cup host city where cartel members recently burned vehicles and blocked roads after a major drug lord’s arrest – Monterrey residents worry more about traffic congestion and air pollution than personal safety.

Significant investments in law enforcement and broader economic growth have helped transform Monterrey into one of Mexico’s most secure major urban centers over the past decade and a half.

The tree-lined Liberty Park, featuring playing fields and recreational areas, opened initially in 2021 on the former prison site. City officials have continued expanding the facility with additional playground equipment and athletic fields in preparation for the World Cup.

Francisco Rodriguez Castillo, a 66-year-old retired accountant who has resided near the location for many years, vividly remembers the chaos that once defined the area.

“We could hear the riots, the explosions, the helicopters, and the soldiers’ patrols all over this area,” Rodriguez recalled.

Today, Rodriguez participates in morning running groups at the park and watches in amazement as youngsters play safely well into the evening hours.

“It’s an enormous change,” he said.

When officials demolished the 76-year-old correctional facility in 2019, workers conducted thorough searches of the prison’s soccer field and other areas looking for hidden burial sites, though none were discovered.

For neighborhood residents like 30-year-old attorney Gala Jazmín Rojas Cruz, converting the prison into a park represented a significant opportunity, particularly for local children.

“When I was a child, I had nowhere to play,” Rojas Cruz explained.

She remembered how dangerous it was to play outdoors and how families would seek shelter when gunfire erupted, signaling another prison uprising.

“(We knew) that at that very moment people were being killed,” she said.

In 2023, city leaders announced plans to construct a pediatric medical facility on the former prison property.

However, the proposal met strong opposition from community members, including Rojas and Rodriguez, who organized demonstrations and pursued legal action that successfully protected Liberty Park.

To prevent future development attempts, the activist group then lobbied officials to designate Liberty Park as a protected natural area. State authorities are currently completing the process to grant the park this special conservation status.

Afghan security forces shut down a demonstration supporting women’s rights in Herat province on Tuesday, following reports that morality police had detained women for alleged violations of required dress codes.

According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation resulted in one fatality, multiple injuries, and the arrest of dozens of participants, including women and girls. Taliban officials have not verified these casualty reports or arrest numbers.

The police spokesperson for Herat, Sayed Masoud Hosseini, informed the government-controlled Bakhtar News Agency that the demonstration in the Jebrail district had “created tensions” and disrupted public peace while opposing the Islamic hijab under false pretenses, calling it a religious duty.

Eyewitness accounts indicate the demonstration began after officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice tried to detain women who opposed the compulsory dress regulations.

Local residents reported that authorities even targeted women who were already following the mandated dress standards, which require complete coverage of the face and body.

Footage from Herat captured armed officials dispersing the crowd, which included completely veiled women among those protesting. One video showed people seeking shelter as gunfire could be heard nearby.

Following their takeover of power in Kabul during 2021, the Taliban has established extensive limitations on women and girls throughout the conflict-torn nation, including restrictions on educational access, work opportunities, and athletic participation, prompting widespread condemnation from the international community.

Herat, historically known as one of Afghanistan’s most culturally and socially dynamic cities, has experienced substantial transformations.

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed concern on Monday regarding reports of women being detained in western Afghanistan for purportedly not meeting dress code standards. The mission called on Taliban leadership to honor freedom of movement and equal treatment under the law.

Taliban officials maintain they honor women’s rights according to their understanding of Islamic law.

State media from China and North Korea published extensive coverage this week about the meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, yet completely omitted discussion of a critical concern for Washington: North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons capable of threatening the United States and regional allies.

This notable omission reveals more than volumes of carefully crafted state propaganda could convey.

Before diplomatic negotiations collapsed in 2019, Washington and Beijing had maintained a years-long partnership aimed at convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear program in exchange for essential aid and international legitimacy.

China consistently advocated for “denuclearization” — diplomatic language for nuclear disarmament — and officials in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo held hopes that Beijing would leverage its position as North Korea’s key diplomatic and economic ally to pressure Pyongyang regarding the nuclear crisis.

Xi’s trip to Pyongyang on Monday and Tuesday — marking his first journey there in seven years — may represent the conclusion of such expectations and indicate a major change in his approach to North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

From China’s viewpoint, Xi’s refusal to address the nuclear issue might reflect recognition of how advanced North Korea’s nuclear development has become since Kim Jong Un assumed leadership in 2011 — and acknowledgment of how improbable it is that negotiations could convince the North to surrender weapons it considers its primary defense against external threats.

The Chinese leader’s previous North Korean visit in 2019 presented a dramatically different message — Xi was reported in Chinese outlets as stating his country would contribute constructively to Korean Peninsula denuclearization efforts.

China’s primary objective remains maintaining stability in North Korea and the broader region. A governmental collapse in Pyongyang could result in millions of refugees crossing their extensive shared border.

With this goal in mind, China has frequently refrained from directly demanding an end to North Korea’s nuclear activities, according to research by Jiyong Zheng, dean of the Institute of Regional Studies at Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China.

Rather than targeting North Korea specifically, Beijing advocated for denuclearization across the entire Korean Peninsula — strategic language that enabled China to simultaneously call for ending U.S. nuclear protection commitments to South Korea and halting deployments of American nuclear-capable aircraft near the Korean Peninsula.

Recent months have seen Beijing indicate its preference for prioritizing regional stability over denuclearization goals, Zheng noted in his analysis.

“China is increasingly concluding that a rigid denuclearization-first approach is impractical and may worsen the regional security environment,” he said.

For Kim Jong Un, the absence of any public discussion or condemnation of his nuclear arsenal represents a victory. He has consistently sought international acknowledgment of his nation’s nuclear weapons status, which could result in lifting U.N. sanctions.

When questioned Tuesday about whether Seoul should reduce its expectations of Beijing following Xi’s apparent avoidance of nuclear topics in Pyongyang, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il maintained that China continues supporting nuclear disarmament objectives.

Likewise, following last month’s meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi, the White House stated both leaders reaffirmed their mutual commitment to North Korean denuclearization.

China, however, merely reported that the American and Chinese leaders discussed Korean Peninsula nuclear matters.

On Sunday, Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, rejected the U.S. account of the Xi-Trump discussion as “false information.”

Last week, Kim Jong Un revealed a new facility for producing nuclear materials and promised to strengthen nuclear capabilities “at an exponential rate.” His sister also characterized any American efforts toward North Korean denuclearization as an “anachronistic dream.”

China may prefer preventing North Korea and the United States from developing closer ties, suggested Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University, noting that Beijing might want to maintain North Korea within its influence sphere and utilize that connection as bargaining power with the U.S.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung informed reporters Monday that North Korea produces sufficient nuclear material yearly for approximately 10 to 20 weapons and approaches completion of intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities that could deliver nuclear warheads to the American mainland.

Kim, meanwhile, has emphasized that nuclear weapons form a fundamental component of North Korea’s national character. He has incorporated North Korea’s nuclear status into the constitution and allocated increasing resources, industry, and government infrastructure toward maintaining it.

Several analysts interpret China’s avoidance of “denuclearization” terminology during Xi’s current visit as a clear shift in Beijing’s position and implicit recognition of North Korea’s nuclear status.

This transformation could mean that deterrence efforts by the United States, Japan, and South Korea will become ongoing rather than temporary measures, according to Seong-Hyon Lee, a senior fellow at the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.

“Beijing’s silence should not be viewed as a bureaucratic oversight but as a deliberate strategic signal,” Lee said. “By tacitly accepting North Korea’s nuclear status, Beijing strengthens its position as an indispensable stakeholder in any future negotiations.”

Nevertheless, China’s tolerance for North Korea’s military objectives may have boundaries.

While Xi’s visit demonstrates a “strategic embrace of Kim,” it does “not a blank check for North Korea,” said Leif-Eric Easley, also a professor at Ewha Womans University.

Beijing seeks stability and recognition of its regional goals, Easley explained. “North Korea’s persistent expansion of military capabilities is pushing the limits of what its larger neighbor will tolerate.”

TOKYO (AP) — Authorities in a Japanese city located north of Tokyo successfully tranquilized a roaming bear on Tuesday, ending several days of widespread fear that forced the closure of educational institutions throughout the area.

The animal was initially observed on Saturday close to a park in Utsunomiya, which houses approximately 500,000 residents north of Tokyo.

Local authorities reported receiving numerous bear sighting calls over the subsequent days, with the creature appearing near educational facilities, a library, and a community center. These incidents prompted officials to shut down all municipal schools on both Monday and Tuesday.

Through social media platforms and mobile announcement vehicles, the municipality issued safety advisories instructing residents to seek refuge in buildings and cars when encountering bears, while emphasizing the importance of securing doors and windows and avoiding nighttime garbage disposal.

“On Tuesday afternoon, the bear was found on a private property and shot by a veterinarian with a tranquilizer gun,” city official Ryuhei Irie said. “Nobody was injured.”

Municipal workers deployed drone technology on Tuesday to locate the animal after it appeared earlier that day on a university campus, resulting in the cancellation of all academic sessions.

“Officials believe there was only one bear but that they are investigating to be safe,” Irie said.

This incident in Utsunomiya represents another instance of Japan’s expanding bear population moving into regions experiencing demographic decline and aging.

Just last week, a separate bear incident in Fukushima, located in northeastern Japan, resulted in four people sustaining moderate injuries during an attack in a residential neighborhood.

Government estimates from March place Japan’s total bear population at approximately 57,800. Authorities have implemented a management strategy that includes organized culling programs.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his journey back to China on Tuesday after completing a significant diplomatic visit to North Korea that featured high-level discussions and public events with leader Kim Jong Un, highlighting both nations’ efforts to strengthen their partnership.

The Chinese leader arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit to the country in seven years. During their high-level discussions that day, Xi indicated China’s readiness to broaden collaboration across multiple sectors such as trade, agriculture, construction and technology, while Kim described maintaining their nations’ friendship as “the most important top-priority strategic work,” based on reports from Chinese and North Korean state media.

On Tuesday, Xi and Kim made a visit to a North Korea-China friendship tower that pays tribute to Chinese soldiers who served alongside North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. The leaders emphasized the significance of continuing their nations’ longstanding friendship and spirit of opposition to the United States, according to Chinese state media coverage.

The two leaders, whose previous meeting took place in Beijing in September, also visited a ruling Workers’ Party training school and planted a fir tree as a symbol of their bilateral relationship. Xi subsequently participated in a luncheon and farewell ceremony before departing for Beijing, Chinese state media reported.

Analysts believe Xi probably sought to rebuild his nation’s unique influence over North Korea, which has recently prioritized its foreign policy relationship with Russia. They evaluate that Kim requires certain economic and political advantages in exchange.

Coverage from both nations’ state media organizations regarding Monday’s summit highlighted Xi and Kim’s dedication to expanding cooperation and featured Kim’s continued backing of China’s “one-China” policy concerning the Taiwan matter.

However, the coverage failed to indicate whether the leaders addressed North Korea’s nuclear program, a delicate security matter in the region. During his 2019 visit to Pyongyang, Xi stated Beijing was prepared to play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

This situation could represent a diplomatic victory for Kim, who seeks international acknowledgment as a nuclear weapons state, a position that analysts say he would leverage to demand the removal of international economic sanctions.

By avoiding mention of the denuclearization matter, China creates space for the understanding that it seems to acknowledge North Korea’s potential nuclear state status, going beyond simply ignoring it, according to analysis by Ban Kil Joo, assistant professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul.

In a strategic exchange, North Korea confirmed its backing of China regarding the Taiwan matter, Ban noted.

Kim Gyubeom, an analyst at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul, indicated China seems to be following a “managerial approach” that neither completely endorses nor heavily pressures Pyongyang, while keeping strategic dialogue with North Korea and emphasizing regional stability.

Rebuilding unique influence over North Korea would provide Xi with advantages in negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently voiced his interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim.

Concerns have emerged about China’s influence over North Korea in recent years, as the North has concentrated on supporting Russia’s war efforts through troop and weapon deployments in return for economic and other aid.

MOSCOW, June 9 – Russian officials announced Tuesday that no phone conversation is currently scheduled between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He noted that American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are continuing their diplomatic communications with both Russian and Ukrainian officials.

The two American mediators had been working on diplomatic efforts between the warring nations, but those initiatives came to a halt in February when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran.

“The mediation process on Ukraine is currently on hold. That said, U.S. negotiators are maintaining contacts — discussions are continuing with us through existing channels and with the Ukrainians. There is no exact date for their visit yet, but we would be delighted to welcome them in Russia at any time,” Peskov stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described his Monday discussion with Witkoff and Kushner as “positive” and commended their willingness to pursue a resolution to the Ukraine conflict in the upcoming weeks.

The Kremlin spokesman confirmed that Russian officials had not received notification about that conversation from American representatives.

When questioned about possible European involvement in mediation, Peskov characterized such participation as “unacceptable” from Russia’s perspective.

“First of all, starting mediation efforts by putting forward certain conditions to Russia is likely illogical and wrong… But the main thing is that, as far as we can see, the Europeans are far more inclined to focus on continuing the war rather than on peace talks,” he explained.

Authorities in Northern Ireland announced Tuesday that they have taken into custody a suspect connected to a violent stabbing that left one individual hospitalized in critical condition and prompted widespread concern after video of the assault spread across social media platforms.

The incident unfolded in north Belfast during the late evening hours on Monday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the assault as “sickening” following the widespread circulation of video footage online.

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly called for public calm in the aftermath. “My thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with the victim of this savage and barbaric attack,” she wrote in a social media post on X.

According to police statements released Tuesday, the detained individual is a man in his 30s who authorities believe is of Somali origin. The victim, described as a man in his 40s, remains hospitalized in serious condition.

Social media posts circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp have called for demonstrations to take place Monday evening in response to the incident.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson addressed the severity of the situation, stating: “This is a deeply concerning assault and I have declared this a critical incident. We have commenced an investigation to establish a motive.”

Henderson also issued a strong appeal regarding the video footage: “We are also aware of footage circulating online and we would strongly urge members of the public not to share or repost these images. Doing so risks causing further trauma to the injured man’s loved ones and may impact the ongoing investigation.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touched down in Estonia Tuesday for a gathering of Nordic and Baltic nation leaders and a meeting with Estonian President Alar Karis, according to Estonian public broadcaster ERR.

The summit took place in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city. Estonia currently leads the rotating presidency of the NB8, which brings together five Nordic nations and three Baltic states. The meeting included prime ministers from the bloc alongside Zelenskyy.

First lady Olena Zelenska joined the Ukrainian leader on the trip, with Estonia’s Foreign Ministry posting a welcome message on social platform X.

The diplomatic visit occurs during rising tensions over Ukrainian drones that have repeatedly entered the area in recent months as Kyiv increases attacks on Baltic Sea ports used by Russia for oil exports, attempting to impose economic consequences on Moscow for its war against Ukraine.

Russian forces continued their bombardment across Ukraine. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, attacks in the last day killed three people and injured 25 others, including three children, according to regional administration head Oleh Syniehubov.

Three people sustained injuries in the Dnipropetrovsk region when multiple districts faced overnight attacks, regional administration head Oleksandr Hanzha reported.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 166 long-range attack drones and two guided missiles at Ukraine during the night. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 146 of those drones, officials said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses destroyed 140 Ukrainian drones overnight. Regional emergency officials reported that a woman died when a Ukrainian drone struck an apartment building in the Belgorod region.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also made the trip to Tallinn, meeting with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna. Their discussions covered Ukraine’s security situation, pressure on Russia, and Kyiv’s efforts to join the European Union, Tsahkna said.

“Estonia will continue to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Tsahkna wrote on X. “As Putin intensifies his attacks and shows no sign of abandoning his imperial ambitions, our responsibility is to increase pressure, not offer concessions.”

In May, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Estonia supports Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and wants the bloc to keep advancing the process.

In related news, Zelenskyy reported Monday that he conducted productive discussions with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during an airport meeting in Moldova’s capital, characterizing the talks as focused on war resolution. He posted on social media that both sides explored diplomatic possibilities before this month’s Group of Seven summit, and that he updated the U.S. delegation on Ukraine’s analysis of Russia’s intentions.

ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed criminals seized 39 individuals in Nigeria’s northwest region during what was supposed to be a peace negotiation meeting, authorities reported Monday.

The mass kidnapping occurred Sunday when 47 people had gathered to meet with relatives of a suspected criminal leader known for orchestrating abductions in the area, according to police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar. The group was attempting to arrange “reconciliation and peace engagement” when the bandit leader showed up with his armed followers and captured 39 attendees, Abubakar explained in an official statement.

The incident unfolded in the Magamin Diddi community within the Maradun area of Zamfara, located in Nigeria’s northwestern region. Such community-led negotiations are common occurrences, as local residents often feel compelled to bargain directly with criminal organizations when military forces fail to shield them from ongoing violence.

The West African nation continues to grapple with widespread security troubles, particularly in northern territories where more than ten years of insurgent activity and criminal organizations conducting ransom kidnappings and unauthorized mining operations have intensified safety concerns nationwide.

This long-running insurgency began in the northeast and has expanded throughout the nation, resulting in thousands of deaths and forcing millions to flee their homes, the United Nations reports. Criminal gang violence also occurs frequently across Nigeria.

This recent mass abduction follows Sunday’s announcement by Nigeria’s military that they had rescued 360 individuals who had been captured by the extremist organization Boko Haram in southern Borno, which is also situated in the country’s northeastern area.

Military officials stated that rescue mission occurred in the Mandara mountains, a known stronghold for the extremist organization. Boko Haram along with its splinter group — an affiliate of the Islamic State known as Islamic State West Africa Province — represent the most significant Islamic extremist organizations operating in the region.

The previous month, the West African nation announced that a combined operation with the United States had eliminated 175 members of the Islamic State affiliate.

Security experts argue that the government is not taking sufficient action to safeguard its population, despite ongoing commitments from President Bola Tinubu to address the security emergency.

A United Nations investigation released Tuesday concluded that Israeli military personnel actively protect settlers during violent confrontations with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli authorities providing direct support for these attacks.

The Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory determined that Israeli officials have facilitated settler violence through economic backing and military assistance, creating an environment where perpetrators face no consequences due to weak judicial oversight and law enforcement.

According to the investigation, violent incidents targeting Palestinian communities and farmland have dramatically increased since 2023, climbing 130% and often involving groups of masked attackers. Israeli military personnel regularly escort settlers and serve as protection during these violent encounters, the commission reported.

Neither the Israeli Prime Minister Office nor military officials provided immediate responses when asked for comment.

Israel denies allegations that its forces protect settlers during West Bank attacks on Palestinians, characterizing such incidents as unauthorized actions that breach military guidelines and undergo investigation. Both Israeli and Palestinian advocacy organizations report that these investigations seldom result in disciplinary action.

Hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers reside alongside millions of Palestinians in territory Israel seized during the 1967 conflict, where Palestinians aspire to establish their own nation. The majority of nations and the U.N.’s highest court view these settlements as violations of international law, though Israel contests this interpretation, pointing to historical and biblical connections to the region.

United Nations data shows at least seven Palestinians died and 832 sustained injuries last year, with violence persisting into 2026 through almost daily assaults.

“The increasing participation of Israeli security forces in settler attacks amounts to a de facto collapse of the distinction between settlers and soldiers,” the investigation concluded.

The commission determined that such violence serves to advance government objectives, including the illegal occupation, forced removal of Palestinians, and territorial annexation of Palestinian land.

Investigators documented instances of physical attacks, kidnappings, and mistreatment of Palestinian minors by settlers. One case from April 19, 2025, involved a 12-year-old girl and her 3-year-old brother being kidnapped at knifepoint, taken to an olive grove, and restrained to a tree with plastic ties until family members rescued them.

Last July, the International Court of Justice issued a non-binding legal opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlement construction illegal, recommending immediate withdrawal in its most definitive ruling on the dispute to date.

The investigation also found that settlers engaged in or threatened sexual violence to create fear and intimidated Palestinian women.

“The relentless, daily assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians are intolerable — and must end,” stated commission leader S. Muralidhar, an Indian former senior judge. He called on the international community to pressure Israel to eliminate settlements and outposts while stopping the violence.

The investigation found that despite occasional criticism and removal of some unauthorized outposts, Israeli officials have failed to implement lasting measures to halt the attacks.

HAMAS VIOLATIONS

The commission also expressed serious concern about severe violations it documented in the Gaza Strip, another Palestinian territory, committed by the militant organization Hamas that governs the area.

Hamas officials did not provide immediate responses regarding the investigation’s conclusions.

The commission discovered that Hamas-connected forces participated in at least 60 of 249 documented cases of executions and brutal physical violence from 2024 to 2025, including beatings with metal pipes and deliberate bone-breaking as punishment for suspected cooperation with Israel or stealing aid supplies.

Two incidents involved the public execution of 11 men. The Commission classified these actions as war crimes and breaches of international law.

The investigation determined that the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and other armed organizations, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and included hostage-taking and property destruction, constituted war crimes. These attacks triggered an Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and widespread territorial destruction.

An earlier commission report concluded that Israel had committed genocide during its Gaza military operation, with senior Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, encouraging these actions. Israel dismissed these claims as “scandalous.”

Law enforcement officers in Kenya used tear gas Tuesday to break up demonstrations in the central community of Nanyuki, where residents are opposing an American-built quarantine facility for Ebola exposure cases.

The planned 50-bed medical unit, located on an air force base, has sparked outrage among many Kenyan citizens who believe the United States is transferring the health risks associated with treating individuals exposed to the Ebola crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Last week’s demonstrations in Nanyuki turned deadly, claiming two lives, as local frustration has intensified while Kenyan and American officials continue to publicly support the project despite existing court injunctions.

Officers deployed tear gas to break up small gatherings of demonstrators who assembled early Tuesday morning. Among the protesters, one individual held a white cross bearing the red-lettered message “Respect Ebola.”

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has stated it “cannot and will not allow” any cases to enter the U.S., marking a departure from the 2014-2016 West African Ebola crisis when several infected American citizens received treatment within the United States.

The Nanyuki medical facility is intended for Americans who have encountered the virus but remain without symptoms. Those who develop symptoms would be transferred to other nations for treatment, according to U.S. officials.

Military aircraft from the United States have continued delivering personnel and supplies despite judicial orders stopping the project, based on information from U.S. and diplomatic sources along with flight tracking records, with additional aircraft scheduled to arrive this week.

Satellite images reviewed by Reuters reveal a growing collection of white tents positioned in the center of approximately 0.046 square kilometers (11 acres) of cleared land within the Laikipia Air Base since May 27.

American officials have acknowledged awareness of the legal challenge and stated they are “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections.”

Kenyan authorities have indicated the facility would accommodate Kenyan citizens and other foreign nationals alongside American citizens, though U.S. officials have not verified this arrangement.

A United Nations refugee official says Thailand’s decision to allow Myanmar refugees to work legally has created opportunities for thousands and could serve as a blueprint for other Southeast Asian countries.

Since Thailand relaxed employment restrictions last year, more than 5,500 Myanmar refugees residing in border camps have secured jobs, according to Raouf Mazou, UNHCR assistant high commissioner for operations.

The policy shift responded to declining global humanitarian funding, partly due to foreign aid cuts by U.S. President Donald Trump, and Thailand’s growing labor shortages exacerbated by armed conflicts with Cambodia.

Thailand now permits approximately 80,000 Myanmar refugees to work legally – a major change for a community that has depended on humanitarian assistance for decades while living in nine border facilities.

Mazou believes Thailand’s initiative could provide a framework for other regional nations like Bangladesh and Malaysia that accommodate large refugee populations, demonstrating how displaced people can contribute economically while maintaining legal protections and government supervision.

“If it works here, it will have an impact on the region,” Mazou stated during an interview.

Since the program began in October, Thai officials have collaborated with employers to guarantee refugee workers receive legal safeguards, medical benefits, and minimum wage compensation, according to Mazou.

The initiative includes providing refugees with special identification documents that enable them to establish bank accounts, acquire mobile phone service, and confirm their legal standing – measures Mazou described as essential for incorporating them into Thailand’s official economy.

UN projections suggest that current patterns indicate between 10,000 and 20,000 refugees may obtain employment within the coming year, though growth depends on bureaucratic procedures and practical job availability.

Mazou noted that refugees continue facing obstacles including movement limitations and adjusting to life beyond the aid-dependent camp environment they’ve known for decades.

“Self-reliance prepares people to be part of the country they’re from… helps them if they are resettled elsewhere, or helps them integrate where they are,” he explained.

Taiwan’s maritime authorities are accusing Chinese coast guard vessels of intimidating commercial shipping in waters off the island nation, according to an announcement made Tuesday.

Officials say Chinese ships have been demanding information from merchant vessels about where they originated and where they’re headed, while asserting authority over the area. Taiwan’s coast guard characterized these actions as harassment of legitimate maritime traffic.

The confrontations began Sunday and stem from China’s displeasure over last month’s announcement that Japan and the Philippines would start official discussions about their sea boundaries. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and was upset by talks it viewed as affecting waters near the island.

Chinese state media reported Saturday that vessels had been deployed for what they called a “special maritime traffic law-enforcement operation” in waters east of Taiwan, responding to the Japanese and Philippine declaration.

Taiwan’s coast guard detailed how Chinese ships contacted three commercial vessels since Sunday, requesting details about their departure points and destinations through radio broadcasts.

Taiwanese vessels responded by announcing over radio that the area constituted Taiwanese territorial waters where China lacked any legal authority, telling the Chinese ships to stop bothering passing vessels, according to the coast guard statement.

The coast guard also advised merchant ships traveling through the region to ignore any requests from the Chinese vessels.

Despite the confrontations, Taiwan’s coast guard noted that commercial traffic continued moving normally through the area, with Chinese government ships not attempting to board, examine, or physically interfere with any vessels.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department addressed the increased Chinese coast guard presence, stating America expects any disagreements between China and Taiwan to be settled through peaceful methods without pressure tactics.

“We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with the elected leadership,” the spokesperson stated.

Taiwan’s leadership disputes China’s territorial claims over the island. China refuses diplomatic contact with Taiwan’s president, labeling him a “separatist.”

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office had not provided a response to requests for comment, and Beijing does not acknowledge Taiwan’s government as having any sovereign authority.

IMBERSAGO, Italy — A unique watercraft drifts smoothly across northern Italy’s Adda River, powered only by flowing water and guided by cables, providing stressed travelers with five peaceful minutes and an alternative path around traffic delays caused by a closed bridge.

Known as “Leonardo’s Ferry,” this reaction ferry system was conceived five hundred years ago and captured forever in a sketch by the Renaissance master, now housed in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle near London.

This vessel represents the final surviving example of its type operating on the Adda River, which flows from the Alps down to the Po River through the Lombardy region.

“This transportation method has served this location for 500 years, consistently linking both sides of the Adda,” explained Massimo Zoia, a volunteer operator of the watercraft. “Now it has resumed its fundamental function: bringing together communities separated by the river.”

While the ferry bears Leonardo’s name, questions remain about whether the Renaissance genius actually created the design. However, records confirm he documented it in 1513 during his extensive research of waterways, including Milan’s canal network. Leonardo was among history’s most versatile intellectuals, documenting inventions across numerous fields, including aircraft concepts that wouldn’t become reality for hundreds of years.

The vessel operates on a remarkably straightforward yet brilliant concept that produces zero environmental impact.

“The current pushes us downstream. A cable secures us, and through force distribution following the parallelogram principle we learn in secondary school, the energy splits with one portion creating resistance while the other generates sideways motion,” Zoia explained.

“We adjust the rudder to change the ferry’s angle, allowing it to better capture the water flow that strikes us and creates our movement,” he added.

The town of Imbersago operates the ferry service, carrying passengers to Villa d’Adda across the water. The operation nearly ended in 2023 when its previous operator abandoned the contract. Determined to preserve the service, Imbersago Mayor Fabio Vergani earned his own ferryman certification and worked with the local tourism group to recruit volunteer operators.

Starting in 2024, they mainly served weekend tourists traveling between the river’s banks.

However, they expanded to include daily commuter runs this spring when a local bridge closed for repairs, helping reduce road congestion. Current operations run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a two-hour midday break. Foot passengers pay 1.50 euros (approximately $1.75), bicycle riders pay 2 euros ($2.30), motorcycle users pay 2.50 euros ($2.88), and cars cost 3.50 euros (roughly $4).

Gianpaolo Graffagnino resides in Villa d’Adda while working across the river. He now cycles to his job, utilizing the ferry as a convenient route.

“Currently this represents the quickest option, but more importantly the most pleasant since you experience three minutes of tranquility,” he stated.

Mauro Carnati transported his daughter to school by driving his Maserati aboard the ferry, bypassing lengthy alternate routes created by the bridge shutdown.

“We do spend some money, and it’s not feasible daily, but the charm and special quality of the Adda and this ferry are genuinely remarkable. It creates a more pleasant beginning to the day,” he commented.

In the small community of Guangopolo, located east of Ecuador’s capital city, 76-year-old Ligia Ipiales sits in her humble dwelling, meticulously pulling apart horsehair strands from a tail. She’s creating a delicate mesh resembling fine cloth for a “cedazo” — a time-honored strainer that’s barely hanging onto existence.

This age-old skill that once brought recognition to the community is slowly disappearing. Just nine “cedacero” craftspeople are left. The group’s youngest member is 51-year-old Guido Paucar, who stands as the sole male practitioner, while Ipiales represents the eldest at 76 years old.

“This is our village’s identity. If it disappears, Guangopolo loses a part of who it is,” said Paucar. “We are the last generation making these sieves.”

Five decades ago, Paucar remembered, approximately 500 Indigenous households earned their livelihood creating and marketing these strainers, distributing as many as 600 pieces monthly at costs between $6 and $30 based on size. However, the introduction of less expensive plastic strainers and man-made materials transformed these sieves into decorative items with no practical household use. “Now we only sell up to 10 each week,” he added.

Community documentation reveals that 1,500 Guangopolo inhabitants have been creating sieves for two centuries. Constructed similar to a percussion instrument, each strainer includes a slender wooden border measuring 15 centimeters (6 inches) in height that holds the customary horsehair material in place. Through the end of the previous century, these implements were essential in Ecuadorian cooking areas, where cooks mainly employed them for filtering flour.

Manufacturing expansion and ecological changes have created growing challenges in obtaining horsehair and timber from the indigenous Pumamaqui tree.

Previously, horses served as essential partners for farm labor throughout the Andean highlands. Currently, though, agricultural workers choose motorcycles and farm machinery instead. This transformation has compelled craftspeople to search other areas, making southern Colombia and central Ecuador the main suppliers of horsehair. Yet the raw material carries a significant cost, with 100 pounds (approximately 45 kilograms) priced at roughly $1,000.

Following cleaning and air-drying, horsehair gets organized by strand length and mounted on a basic wooden structure called a guanga. Sitting with legs folded on the ground, the craftspeople operate with remarkable velocity that makes their hands appear to move in a blur, choosing, extending and tying single strands into a complex pattern.

Creating cedazos previously gave women additional earnings and occasionally covered their children’s schooling costs.

At the El Cedacero workshop facility, where Guangopolo’s surviving weavers gather, attempts to educate younger people through training sessions and instruction have consistently failed to succeed.

“From the age of 6 or 7 our mothers taught us how to weave sieves,” said Leonor Cuje, 57, gesturing toward a table lined with sieves, bracelets and brushes made from horsehair. “Now they are professionals and they don’t want to do this anymore.”

A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, though President Donald Trump confirmed both crew members aboard are safe following the incident in the strategically important waterway that remains under Iranian influence.

The cause of the Tuesday morning crash in the Middle East was not immediately determined, occurring as the region continues dealing with fallout from the previous day’s exchange of fire between Iran and Israel – marking the most significant escalation yet in the fragile ceasefire during the Iran conflict. Iranian state media reported on the helicopter incident through foreign news sources but provided no additional details.

The ongoing conflict that started when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 has disrupted the global economy, increased energy costs worldwide, and raised prices on essential items including food. Government officials have struggled to transform the April ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement.

Speaking with reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York following Monday night’s NBA Finals viewing, the president confirmed the aircraft incident.

“The pilots are fine. Yeah,” Trump said. “Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”

The New York Times initially broke the story about the U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter going down near the strait under unknown conditions. Neither the U.S. military’s Central Command nor the Defense Department immediately provided comment to The Associated Press when contacted.

Apache helicopters serve as crucial equipment for American military operations enforcing restrictions on Iranian oil shipments and tankers as part of efforts to pressure Tehran toward diplomatic agreement. The United Arab Emirates has also deployed these helicopters to intercept Iranian drones throughout the Iran conflict.

The president also shared renewed hope regarding diplomatic talks with Iran.

“We have a good chance” of reaching agreement within “two or three days,” Trump stated, though he offered no specifics about the basis for this optimism.

“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” the president explained. “If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”

He continued: “If we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don’t.”

Diplomatic mediators, primarily from Pakistan, have spent weeks attempting to finalize an agreement. Both Iran and the U.S. have maintained inflexible stances throughout negotiations.

American demands include Iran surrendering its highly enriched uranium reserves, believed to remain buried within the country following U.S. airstrikes during the 12-day 2025 conflict. Iran has rejected this requirement while seeking sanctions relief and unfrozen assets before any final agreement, which Trump has refused.

President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that two American helicopter pilots are safe following a crash near the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports that the Apache gunship crew was successfully rescued after their aircraft went down close to the Iran-controlled waterway.

The cause behind the Apache’s crash remains unknown, with uncertainty over whether Iranian forces shot down the helicopter, if it suffered mechanical problems, or encountered different issues entirely.

Reuters reached out to the White House, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Central Command for comment but received no immediate response.

When reporters asked Trump about what caused the helicopter to go down, he indicated officials would release a report later Tuesday.

“The pilots are fine,” Trump stated while speaking to media on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport before his return trip to Washington, D.C. “Nobody injured.”

This helicopter incident occurred one day after Iran and Israel announced they had stopped attacking each other following Trump’s appeal, although Tehran issued warnings that hostilities would restart if Israel kept striking Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The renewed fragile ceasefire develops as Washington attempts to negotiate an agreement with Tehran to conclude their conflict that has lasted over three months.

Trump also mentioned to reporters he might have “an idea” for an Iran deal in the coming days, though he provided no details. The Republican president, facing historically low approval numbers before November midterm elections, has frequently suggested an approaching deal with Tehran, but none has materialized.

The weekend brought the most direct confrontation between Iran and Israel since their April ceasefire.

Tehran launched missiles toward Israeli territory late Sunday, describing the attacks as payback for strikes against the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militia near Beirut.

Israel responded by targeting Iranian air defense systems and a petrochemical facility that officials claimed was being used for ballistic missile production. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported it struck back at a comparable Israeli facility in Haifa.

Authorities from both sides reported no fatalities.

U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a phone conversation Monday.

During an Axios interview, Trump revealed he cautioned Netanyahu that resuming war with Iran could leave the Israeli leader fighting without support. “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon,’” Trump stated.

An Israeli military official indicated Israel was ready to maintain operations for “as long as it takes,” while Iranian officials expressed similarly defiant positions.

A military source cited by the semi-official Tasnim news agency stated Tehran was prepared for extended conflict and could restart attacks against U.S. interests throughout the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described Tehran’s message exchanges with Washington as occurring in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion.”

Tehran has maintained that any peace agreement with the U.S. partially depends on ending the fighting in Lebanon, which Israel entered in March while pursuing Hezbollah fighters who had launched cross-border attacks.

Israel has not stopped its Lebanon campaign, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, arguing the conflict should remain separate from any U.S.-Iranian ceasefire. Hezbollah has maintained its attacks as well.

Tehran continues blocking most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which transported one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the war began. Washington has established its own blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump has stated any peace agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran’s conditions include removing international sanctions, releasing billions in frozen assets, and acknowledging its control over the strait.

The Philippines has launched formal diplomatic protests against China after discovering what officials call an unauthorized floating installation in contested South China Sea waters, according to the country’s maritime task force announcement on Tuesday.

Officials confirmed finding a 6-by-6 meter floating platform equipped with what looks like an antenna system at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a key flashpoint between the two nations.

“The Philippine government will continue to take appropriate actions consistent with international law and in defense of the country’s national interests,” the task force declared in an official statement, emphasizing that safeguarding Manila’s sovereignty and jurisdiction “remains a paramount consideration.”

Military imagery revealed the installation was first detected at the shoal’s entrance before moving into the interior lagoon area, with evidence suggesting the platform was occupied by personnel, the task force reported.

While the task force didn’t specify when the photographs were captured, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro mentioned during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 30 that he had obtained preliminary intelligence about the structure’s presence at the shoal.

Officials said they are continuously tracking the situation and evaluating the installation’s characteristics, objectives and possible consequences, maintaining that Scarborough “is part of the Philippines and within its maritime zones as recognised by international law.”

Reuters satellite imagery from June 5 verified the structure’s existence at the lagoon entrance, though subsequent images indicated it had been removed from that location.

The shoal serves as an important fishing area situated 200 km (124 miles) from the country’s western shoreline, while being 874 km distant from China’s closest territory, Hainan.

Chinese coastguard vessels and maritime militia have maintained a continuous presence in these waters since 2012.

While ownership of Scarborough, known to China as Huangyan Island, remains unresolved, a 2016 international arbitration panel ruled predominantly in the Philippines’ favor, determining that China’s blockade of the area breached international law and recognizing it as traditional fishing waters for multiple nations.

Indonesian lawmakers unanimously approved changes to the nation’s police law Tuesday, enabling active police officers to take positions within civilian government agencies without stepping down from their law enforcement roles.

The legislative changes follow similar revisions to military law passed one year earlier, which opened additional civilian positions to soldiers.

Since assuming the presidency in 2024, Prabowo Subianto has broadened the military’s involvement in civilian matters, utilizing armed forces to support his wide-reaching free meal programs and food independence initiatives, which have also included police participation.

The former special forces commander has placed high-ranking police and military personnel in key administrative roles throughout his government.

Parliamentary members approved the legislation during a full session without opposition.

The revised law permits active police officers to accept appointments to other government institutions or ministries beyond the National Police, including civilian roles, provided these positions align with police duties and responsibilities, according to the bill text reviewed by Reuters.

These roles encompass responsibilities tied to public safety and order, law enforcement, protection, community care and public services within ministries or government agencies.

Active officers may also accept positions outside their organization when requested by the president, ministries or government agencies, provided their specialized skills are required.

Sarifuddin Sudding, who serves on the parliamentary committee that reviewed the legislation, explained to Reuters that officers won’t need to resign because the administration requires their specialized knowledge.

“A more responsive and adaptable legal framework is urgent to ensure that National Police can perform their duties effectively,” law minister Supratman Andi Agtas stated during the parliamentary session.

The changes also increase the mandatory retirement age for police officers, including the national chief, by one year.

“The government seems to replicate what they have done with Military Law,” commented Haeril Halim from Amnesty International Indonesia, describing it as “a sign of authoritarianism where defence and security forces are used to back those in power.”

The new law conflicts with a Constitutional Court decision from last year requiring police officers to resign when accepting positions outside the force.

Muhammad Isnur from Indonesia’s Legal Aid Foundation argued that positioning active police officers in ministries and government agencies violates constitutional principles and will damage police professionalism while disrupting career advancement and merit-based systems for civil servants.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Across Gaza and Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of residents have spent over two years anxiously watching for the next social media update from Avichay Adraee.

The colonel serves as Israel’s military spokesman for Arabic-speaking audiences and has become the energetic public face of the nation’s military campaigns, delivering advance notices before strikes and major operations. This role has transformed him into one of Israel’s most well-known figures throughout the Arab world, generating both intense anger and curious attention.

Through social media videos distributed to his 2.5 million followers on various platforms, the military officer appears in uniform, using animated gestures while delivering official announcements and taunting Israel’s adversaries, frequently incorporating humor or references to popular culture, all delivered in perfect Arabic.

During the conflicts that began after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault, his online platforms have broadcast alerts for residents to evacuate — sometimes with very little advance warning — regions marked in red on maps showing Gaza and Lebanon. Millions have followed these instructions, with hundreds of thousands taking shelter in overcrowded temporary camps.

The retiring colonel expresses satisfaction with his contributions. When asked about being linked with death and forced relocation by many people, he responded that he has assisted Arabs in gaining better insight into Israel’s military actions.

“Because of these evacuation orders, many millions were saved,” he told The Associated Press. “There’s no other army in the world that acts this way.”

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and forced most of the approximately 2 million residents to relocate, often repeatedly, before a tentative ceasefire began in October. The recent conflict with the Iran-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon has caused roughly 3,500 deaths and displaced more than 1.2 million people.

Both military operations have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, charges that Israel has firmly rejected, frequently through representatives like Adraee.

These ominous alerts have also transformed him into somewhat of a public figure. In Lebanon, a delivery worker who resembles him creates comedic videos and surprises unsuspecting citizens, demonstrating the anxiety that Adraee creates.

“Avichay Adraee is the face of evil, to me and to the people of Gaza,” said Ayman Ahmad, a resident of Khan Younis in southern Gaza who has been displaced twice during the war. Few people in Gaza had heard of Adraee before the war, he said, but now everyone closely monitors his social media accounts.

“Once we see a new post from him, we know that a disaster is about to happen,” he said.

The 43-year-old Adraee was raised in Haifa, a northern Israeli city where Jewish and Arab populations coexist.

His paternal family belongs to the Jewish community that had resided in the region for generations prior to Israel’s founding in 1948. His maternal relatives relocated to Israel from Iraq, joining hundreds of thousands of Jews from ancient Middle Eastern communities who moved to Israel to escape violence and persecution.

The colonel recalls enjoying Egyptian television dramas on Israeli broadcasts during his childhood and describes his introduction to Arabic studies as “love at first sight.” He acquired some Arabic knowledge at home before formally studying the language in school and during his service in military intelligence.

“My ability to speak and absorb Arabic is connected to my roots,” he said. “My grandmother and father were very proud when they saw me on TV speaking in Arabic.”

In 2005, Adraee became the military’s inaugural Arabic-speaking spokesperson, conducting interviews with television networks, including frequent appearances on the increasingly powerful Al Jazeera.

He identifies 2011 as a pivotal moment with the emergence of social media, which played a significant role during that year’s Arab Spring movements.

“People know me, we’ve been through so many wars,” he said. “But the revolution of social networks in 2011 allowed us to lean on the persona of Avichay.”

The colonel aims for his videos to become widely shared, utilizing social media’s informal atmosphere to communicate his messages.

The military’s assertion about discovering Hamas infrastructure beneath a luxury hotel in Gaza received little attention, but Adraee noted that his humorous video featuring a Hamas leader writing a Trip Advisor review for the tunnels gained widespread circulation. He has sent birthday wishes to performers and holiday messages to Arab social media personalities, even engaging in public conversations with Lebanese reporters who work for Hezbollah-affiliated media.

“We want people to be exposed to the really important and serious messages, the information we’re trying to convince them of, but if you want them to remember you, you have to be more creative,” he said, adding that social media allowed him to “talk directly to the people, above the heads of the government.”

Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle East studies at the London School of Economics who was born in Lebanon, said Adraee’s posts are “dreaded and feared because they really carry life and death implications for hundreds of thousands of people.”

However, “you have some people basically who are fascinated by his personality because he’s now almost an official influencer for Israel,” he said, adding that Israel’s military has spokespeople in several languages, but only Adraee is famous enough to be known by his first name.

The professor explained this represents part of a broader pattern where official spokespersons attempt to make their communications go viral.

The Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida gained recognition for delivering passionate speeches, sometimes combined with footage of attacks or Israeli hostages, before his death in an Israeli airstrike. Hamas and Hezbollah have produced videos showcasing their attacks, enhanced with music and visual effects.

Iranian government supporters have created AI-generated music videos featuring Lego characters ridiculing U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House has produced its own videos celebrating strikes on Iran, incorporating video game images and movie scenes.

While adversarial yet professional relationships between military spokespersons and reporters are common, Adraee has faced accusations of defending the deaths of certain journalists.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports a “repeated pattern” in which Adraee “publicly labels Palestinian and Lebanese journalists as militants or terrorists — often without presenting verifiable evidence — before or after they are killed in Israeli strikes.”

Following a March strike that killed three journalists in Lebanon, Adraee’s account shared a photograph of one victim, Ali Shoeib, wearing military clothing. The image was subsequently identified as computer-generated.

The colonel acknowledged it was an error not to mark the photo as “illustrative,” but maintained that Shoeib was a recognized Hezbollah operative who gathered intelligence on Israeli positions while serving as a reporter for a Hezbollah-connected outlet. Adraee provided no proof of combat involvement. Israel maintains it does not target journalists.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 207 journalists have died in Gaza and 16 in Lebanon since 2023.

Following two decades in his position, Adraee is stepping down and will be succeeded by Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, the military’s highest-ranking Muslim woman.

Last month, the colonel received one of the most unusual communications of his extended career.

A teenager from a Beirut suburb contacted him through Instagram, claiming her school was concealing weapons. Since Israel routinely targets buildings allegedly used by militants, the message caused alarm, strong denials from school administrators, and a Lebanese military inspection that found nothing.

It was subsequently discovered that the girl was pranking a friend and probably wanted to skip classes.

Adraee viewed the entire incident as a success.

“The fact that the (Israeli military) spokesperson is someone you can write to on Instagram, that’s the whole story,” he said.

MALMÖ, Sweden — Once recognized as a pioneer in educational technology adoption, Sweden will prohibit mobile phones in schools starting this fall as part of a growing worldwide movement away from classroom screens.

The Scandinavian nation’s center-right coalition government has implemented policies since 2023 that emphasize increased reading instruction and reduced screen exposure, especially for preschool children, by promoting books and conventional educational materials.

Joar Forsell, chairperson of the Swedish parliament’s education committee, explained that officials have observed declining literacy skills throughout Sweden, particularly among younger pupils.

“We’re rolling the screens back because we believe that books and more traditional ways of learning are better for kids,” Forsell said.

Sweden’s initiative reflects a wider international reassessment of smartphone use in educational settings, following years of schools investing heavily in laptops, tablets and educational applications. Educational environments have become overwhelmed with digital devices, prompting increasing numbers of parents, educators and school systems to advocate for reducing technology use.

Within the Nordic region, Denmark appears ready to enact similar restrictions to Sweden, while Finland implemented legislation limiting mobile device usage in schools last August. Additional nations spanning from Spain to South Korea have introduced various measures ranging from classroom phone prohibitions to restrictions on digital homework assignments.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, America’s second-largest school system, has announced plans to eliminate screens through second grade, establish daily screen time limits by grade level, prohibit YouTube access and mandate reviews of all educational technology agreements.

Technology-forward Sweden, headquarters to music streaming service Spotify and telecommunications corporation Ericsson, operates one of the world’s most digitally sophisticated educational systems. However, the mobile phone prohibition seeks to create learning spaces with reduced interruptions by expanding upon phone restrictions many schools throughout the nation of more than 10 million have already independently adopted.

Accompanying the prohibition, the government allocated 555 million Swedish krona ($59 million) this year through a new funding program for acquiring textbooks and teaching materials.

The return-to-print-materials strategy resulted from declining literacy performance. According to the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment, the most recent study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 24.3% of Swedish ninth graders failed to achieve basic reading comprehension levels. This percentage represents only a marginal improvement over the European Union average of 26.2%.

Magnus Haake, an associate professor of cognitive science at Lund University in southern Sweden, explained that education using physical materials activates the motor sensory areas of children’s brains and “boosts the whole system.”

Sweden is also implementing measures beyond educational settings: Its public health agency has offered guidance to parents about modeling better screen usage behaviors, such as establishing identical “screen-free zones” at home that their children experience.

At Malmö Borgarskola high school in southern Sweden, mobile devices are currently prohibited during instruction. Students deposit their phones in a container — called a “Mobile Hotel” — and retrieve them when class concludes.

“When you have a phone, there’s always something to look at,” student Melina Sallahi, 17, said. “It’s less of a distraction.”

Fellow student Vasilije Stjepanovic, also 17, noted that applications such as games or social media platforms are “more fun than learning,” explaining that students achieve better educational outcomes when phones are removed.

Simultaneously, each student receives a laptop computer. However, Deputy Headmaster Patrik Sander indicated that students are now discouraged from utilizing them during class periods, unless instructors specifically authorize their use.

“Nowadays, we see the push going in the other direction,” Sander said. “We have pushed back, learning that writing with your hands and a pencil helps you remember.”

Beginning last summer, Swedish children younger than 2 years old may only access non-digital materials such as books, while preschoolers generally face no mandate to utilize digital educational tools. A revised curriculum emphasizing book-centered learning is anticipated by 2028.

Not all citizens in the Nordic country endorse the transition away from digital education.

Trade association Swedish Edtech Industry stated in a report that 90% of future employment opportunities are projected to demand digital competencies. Insufficient knowledge in this area could result in skills gaps among young Swedes, reduced innovation within the public sector and potentially higher unemployment rates, according to the report’s warnings.

Peter Carlsson, CEO of Malmö-based startup Imvi Labs, which employs virtual reality headsets to develop brain-eye coordination in children and adults, argued that not all screens interfere with education and certain software is “critical” for assisting children with learning or reading challenges.

“By having good tools, the teaching can become more efficient,” he said.

However, at Malmö Borgarskola, concerns about acquiring digital competencies remain minimal. During one May morning, students held textbooks while discussing Russian history as they prepared for final examinations.

“Everyone uses digital devices during their free time, so I don’t think that’s something that should be taught in school,” student Melina Sallahi said. “It’s nothing I’m worried about.”

Classmate Aslan Özhan Kilicasan added, “We learn much more easily when we use books.”

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines — Search and rescue teams combed through damaged structures across the southern Philippines Tuesday, working to confirm no survivors remained trapped following a powerful earthquake that claimed at least 37 lives and forced over 20,000 people from their homes.

Official records show only four individuals remain unaccounted for in the southern provinces where the 7.8 magnitude tremor hit Monday morning, though the Office of Civil Defense noted that numerous collapsed and severely damaged structures require complete examination for potential survivors or victims.

The seismic event, which originated near Mindanao, the nation’s second-largest island by population, left nearly 500 people wounded and drove more than 20,000 residents to seek refuge in emergency housing facilities.

Tsunami concerns prompted many residents to evacuate their homes. Ocean waves reaching up to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) above normal tide levels were recorded in the Philippines, though tsunami-related damage was limited to six stilt houses in a shoreline community. Lesser waves reached the coasts of Indonesia and Palau, extending as far as southern Japan.

The seismic disaster created widespread devastation, particularly affecting General Santos, a bustling port city home to more than 700,000 residents and recognized as the nation’s tuna fishing hub, where falling structures and debris claimed at least 13 lives.

Sarangani province recorded at least 18 fatalities, primarily from a mountainside collapse that buried homes in the highland community of Glan, reported Rafaelito Alejandro from the Office of Civil Defense.

Additional casualties occurred in the southern provinces of South Cotabato and Davao Occidental, as well as on Balut Island, emergency response coordinators confirmed.

Preliminary government damage reports indicate approximately 2,000 residential structures and 117 public buildings and facilities sustained damage across multiple provinces. The main airport in General Santos suspended operations, leading to the cancellation of 63 domestic flights, with exceptions made only for relief missions.

Roughly 6,000 educational facilities in earthquake-affected areas require structural evaluation before students can return to classes. The tremor occurred on the opening day of the academic year following a two-month summer recess, and many injured victims were young pupils who had assembled enthusiastically for morning flag ceremonies.

Officials have cautioned that structures showing crack damage could fail due to continuing aftershocks, some registering at dangerous intensity levels.

“We cannot force the immediate reopening of schools because we have to ensure the integrity of the buildings,” Alejandro said.

Monday’s earthquake originated beneath the ocean at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), positioned roughly 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province.

The tremor resulted from activity within the Cotabato Trench and marked the most powerful since the same underwater geological feature generated an 8.1-magnitude earthquake that created tsunami waves on Aug. 17, 1976, explained Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

That earlier disaster and resulting tsunami waves measuring 8 to 10 meters (26 to 33 feet) that overwhelmed numerous communities and provinces killed approximately 8,000 people, Bacolcol noted.

The Philippine seismological institute had planned to mark the anniversary of the 1976 earthquake and tsunami in August by placing commemorative markers to remind at-risk communities of the importance of maintaining constant preparedness, Bacolcol informed The Associated Press.

A 1990 earthquake of similar 7.8 magnitude resulted in over 1,000 deaths, injured thousands more, and caused widespread destruction across northern provinces and urban areas.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dispatched senior defense and disaster management officials from Manila to coordinate search and rescue operations, oversee distribution of tens of thousands of food packages and building supplies to earthquake victims, and evaluate damage to transportation infrastructure.

The United States, maintaining a defense treaty with the Philippines, announced it was coordinating with Manila and stood prepared to assist Philippine response efforts. France, Japan and New Zealand also offered their support.

The Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its position along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a chain of seismic fault lines encircling the ocean.

The island nation also endures approximately 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually, ranking it among the world’s most disaster-vulnerable countries.

Chinese customs officials announced Tuesday that the nation’s overseas sales accelerated in May, climbing 19.4% compared to the same period last year, even as the Iran war continued to impact global trade.

The May performance exceeded forecasts and marked an acceleration from the 14.1% annual growth recorded in April.

International sales have maintained their strength throughout the conflict, bolstered by strong shipments of vehicles and technology products, including artificial intelligence-related items like semiconductors.

Meanwhile, purchases from abroad surged 27.4% in May, representing a faster pace than April’s 25.3% annual growth.

Commercial relations with the United States continued to weaken, extending a pattern that started after U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office and implemented extensive tariffs on China and other key trading nations last year.

Sales to the U.S. declined 2.7% during the January-May period compared to the same timeframe last year, while purchases from America fell 5.5%.

An Army Apache helicopter gunship crashed Monday in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, though both crew members aboard were successfully rescued, according to a New York Times report citing two sources familiar with the incident.

Officials remain uncertain about what caused the crash, with possibilities including Iranian gunfire, equipment malfunction, or other unknown factors, the report stated.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details of the incident.

Vietnamese authorities have instructed their nation’s leading air carriers to expedite the execution of massive aircraft procurement contracts with American manufacturers, as the Southeast Asian country works to bolster its position amid escalating trade disputes with Washington.

The order, released by the Ministry of Construction on June 5 and examined by Reuters on Tuesday, came at the request of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which is spearheading Vietnam’s campaign to show Washington that trade agreements between the two nations are being fulfilled.

This action comes as three distinct Trump administration investigations examine Vietnam for allegedly manipulating trade through overcapacity, intellectual property theft, and utilizing products manufactured with forced labor.

According to the government document, officials instructed the national carrier Vietnam Airlines, low-cost operator Vietjet Air, and recently established Sun Phu Quoc Airways to report on advancement in executing and fulfilling contracts with American business partners, while proposing methods to increase purchases of U.S. advanced technology materials and machinery.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air collectively agreed to acquire 250 Boeing 737 MAX planes. Sun Phu Quoc Airways, the airline division of the Sun Group conglomerate, independently arranged to purchase 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft, the directive indicated.

Vietjet also maintains an agreement with Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX Group, for powerplants for its Airbus fleet, the document stated.

Vietnam’s shipments to the United States have increased dramatically. The U.S. trade imbalance with Vietnam hit $54.8 billion during the year’s first quarter, ranking second behind only Taiwan and exceeding the gaps with leading exporters China and Mexico, according to U.S. statistics.

The Trump administration has consistently stated its goal of cutting trade imbalances.

Taiwan’s armed forces conducted a major coastal defense exercise on Tuesday, practicing tactics to repel a simulated Chinese amphibious invasion along the island’s western shoreline.

The military exercise took place at eight different locations spanning a 12-mile coastal area near Taichung in central Taiwan, with forces deploying rockets and artillery to create what officials termed a “kill zone” against potential amphibious attackers.

Beijing considers the democratically-ruled island part of its territory and has not ruled out military action to gain control of Taiwan. Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels conduct operations near the island on an almost daily basis.

Military strategists consider Taiwan’s western beaches and tidal flats, which directly face mainland China across the Taiwan Strait, as the most probable sites for any attempted Chinese military landing.

Taiwan’s defense forces are undergoing modernization efforts, incorporating new mobile weaponry while making their exercises less predictable and more closely aligned with actual combat conditions.

Artillery commander Ong Yih-ming explained to media that the training approach has evolved significantly.

“What is different about this training compared with the past is that we are no longer conducting heavy artillery firing in a fixed, routine formation as before,” he said.

“The timing for entering positions this time was based on realistic combat conditions. So I believe this training posed a considerable level of difficulty for our troops.”

The exercise utilized Taiwan-made Thunderbolt-2000 rocket systems mounted on trucks, American-manufactured Paladin howitzers, anti-tank missiles, artillery pieces, and mortars to establish defensive positions.

Military officials noted this marked the first operational live-fire exercise for the Thunderbolt-2000 system in seven years. The weapon was designed for long-distance suppression capabilities and rapid deployment.

Rocket commander Liao Neng-cheng highlighted another key change in training protocols.

“What was different this time compared with the past is that previously, we would usually enter the position one week in advance and complete firing preparations,” said Liao.

“This time, however, we arrived at the position only one day before and carried out the relevant position preparations. So our preparation time was relatively tight.”

Taiwan’s leadership disputes Beijing’s territorial claims over the island, maintaining that only Taiwan’s citizens have the authority to determine their political future.

Authorities in a Japanese city continued their search Tuesday for a large black bear that has prompted officials to keep all 94 elementary and middle schools closed for the second day in a row.

The fully-grown bear, weighing approximately 100 kilograms (220 pounds), was most recently observed early Tuesday morning roughly 700 meters (765 yards) away from a university campus, city officials reported. Authorities believe this is the same animal first spotted Saturday evening, marking the initial bear sighting ever documented in the city located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Tokyo.

Japan has experienced a rise in bear encounters, including incidents within urban environments, leading the government to establish a task force this year focused on reducing casualties. During the 2025 fiscal year, the nation documented a record-breaking 238 victims, with 13 fatalities, the environment ministry reported.

While Asiatic black bears hold vulnerable species status worldwide, their population in Japan has reportedly grown threefold since 2012, aided by decreased hunting activities.

A city official from Utsunomiya explained that search teams comprising municipal and prefectural personnel, fire department members, and hunters’ association representatives are actively tracking the animal. The official noted that once located, teams will determine whether to use tranquilizers, lethal force, or capture methods for relocation based on the bear’s location.

Researchers attribute the increase in bear encounters to climate change, which has diminished natural food sources such as acorns and beechnuts. Additionally, rural population decline and the growth of abandoned agricultural land have encouraged bears to venture closer to populated areas in search of sustenance.

China’s overseas sales accelerated significantly last month, driven by international companies rushing to secure shipments before potential supply chain disruptions and sustained demand for technology products.

May exports jumped 19.4% compared to the same period last year when measured in U.S. dollar terms, according to customs officials who released the data Tuesday. This growth exceeded both April’s 14.1% increase and economist predictions of 15%.

Incoming shipments also demonstrated robust performance, rising 27.4% compared to the previous month’s 25.3% gain. Analysts had anticipated 25% growth.

While the Middle East conflict hasn’t yet impacted China’s overseas sales – a key driver policymakers rely on for economic growth – experts warn this protection is short-lived as stockpiling reaches its limit, expenses increase, and purchasers start depleting their reserves while awaiting a ceasefire.

Manufacturing activity reports for May revealed a sharp decline in new overseas orders from April’s two-year high, when facility managers described “booming” conditions during a rush by international manufacturers to secure supplies, indicating the advance purchasing trend may be weakening.

Robust overseas sales helped China’s $20 trillion economy exceed predictions during the first quarter, though growth has since decelerated, highlighting worries that weak domestic spending leaves the nation vulnerable to declining global conditions and raises the probability of additional policy measures.

International pressure is mounting on the government to boost domestic consumer spending, as critics caution that heavy dependence on imported materials and re-exported goods is warping trade patterns and pushing other developing nations out of higher-value production.

Last week, a report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development highlighted this concern, stating that almost 60% of Chinese companies’ “market share gains can be explained by subsidies received.”

Research from the U.S. Federal Reserve revealed that China’s trade surplus – when compared to global GDP – has exceeded 1%, surpassing the peaks reached by Japan and Germany in the late 20th century, with little indication of shrinking. This points to ongoing Chinese industrial excess capacity that will transform global manufacturing for years ahead.

A closely monitored meeting last month between the U.S. President and China’s leader helped reduce tensions but yielded no significant progress on tariff disagreements or collaboration to resolve the Iran conflict.

China’s trade surplus reached $105.43 billion in May, increasing from the previous month’s $84.8 billion and surpassing the predicted $92.1 billion.

SEOUL, June 9 – South Korea’s government ministers gave final approval Tuesday to a presidential order that advances a massive $350 billion investment commitment in American industries, fulfilling terms of a bilateral trade agreement reached last year.

The approved order establishes specific guidelines for the investment package, particularly defining what constitutes “commercial reasonableness” – a key standard that will guide $200 billion worth of direct investments in strategic American sectors.

Additionally, South Korea committed to providing $150 billion toward shipbuilding partnerships in exchange for better tariff treatment from the United States.

Under Seoul’s framework, a commercially viable project must be capable of producing sufficient revenue to cover both the original investment amount and interest expenses throughout the project’s anticipated duration.

Project timelines will be determined through discussions with Washington, according to the government statement.

The South Korean government will establish a state-sponsored investment entity designed to operate for two decades.

This investment package represents South Korea’s commitment under the trade agreement with Washington, which provides reduced American tariffs on South Korean exports, including vehicles.

Earlier this year in January, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of potential tariff increases to 25% on South Korean products, citing Seoul’s delay in implementing the trade framework that had limited American duties to 15%.

South Korea’s National Assembly successfully passed enabling legislation for the investment plan with support from both major parties during a full session in March.