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IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Turkey has effectively put peace negotiations with Kurdish militants on hold, according to a senior commander who spoke out Thursday about the stalled diplomatic efforts.

The militant leader, along with another official from his organization, claims Turkey’s government has not followed through on necessary legal and political changes required to advance the peace process. These accusations contradict recent positive remarks made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the negotiations.

In an interview with the PKK-affiliated ANF news service, Murat Karayilan, who helped establish the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and serves as one of its top commanders, stated his organization has made significant commitments to the peace efforts, including implementing a ceasefire and ending military operations.

“The process is currently frozen. That’s what we’ve been able to see and what has been reported to us,” ANF quoted Karayilan as stating. “We, as a movement, have fulfilled our responsibilities at this stage. It is clear that we have done everything necessary for the government to take action.”

Turkish officials have not yet responded to Karayilan’s statements.

In the previous year, the PKK announced it would surrender weapons and dissolve following instructions from its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The organization conducted a ceremonial weapon surrender in northern Iraq and subsequently moved fighters from strategic Turkish positions back to Iraq.

A Turkish legislative committee proposed various reforms this year to support the peace initiative, including allowing former PKK members who reject violence to rejoin society. However, the committee emphasized that legal measures should depend on security agencies confirming the group has given up its arsenal.

According to Karayilan, Turkish government and ruling party representatives had designated April as when parliament would receive legislation to move the process forward. That timeframe has elapsed without any proposed law being submitted.

He criticized Turkey’s government for not implementing fundamental measures the committee suggested, such as freeing imprisoned opposition leaders and activists.

Ocalan continues to be incarcerated. Karayilan explained that the PKK’s 12th Congress decision to cease fighting and disband was conditional on Ocalan directly overseeing the disarmament process, which means the group’s internal authorization cannot proceed while their leader stays imprisoned.

Zagros Hiwa, who speaks for the Kurdistan Communities Union, a political group connected to the PKK, told The Associated Press separately that his organization had implemented multiple measures following Ocalan’s instructions. However, Hiwa noted that Turkish military forces remain active in northern Iraq, government-appointed officials still hold positions meant for elected Kurdish mayors in Turkey, and thousands of Kurdish and Turkish political detainees remain behind bars.

“The Turkish state has taken no legal and political steps towards peace and has been continuing war-time policies under new rhetoric,” he stated, noting that Ocalan remains in isolation on Imrali island near Istanbul, where he has been held since his 1999 capture.

Hiwa claimed Turkey’s government is “instrumentalizing” the negotiations to strengthen the ruling party’s control and improve its electoral prospects, rather than pursuing genuine resolution.

“What happens next totally depends on the attitudes of the Turkish state,” Hiwa stated, warning the deadlock could have “precarious implications.”

The PKK officials’ claims that peace efforts have reached an impasse conflict with Erdogan’s recent remarks to his party’s lawmakers, where he described the peace efforts as progressing positively.

“The process is proceeding as it should,” Erdogan stated. “Those who write pessimistic scenarios about the process are acting entirely on their delusions, not on facts.

Since 1984, the PKK has conducted an armed rebellion that has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and extended into neighboring Iraq and Syria. Turkey, the United States, and the European Union classify it as a terrorist organization.

The organization originally pursued an independent Kurdish nation but later modified its goals to seek autonomy and greater rights within Turkey.

WAKISO, Uganda — A court in Uganda has condemned a man to death for the brutal slaying of four young children at a nursery school facility this past April.

Christopher Okello, 38, received the capital punishment sentence on Thursday after a judge dismissed his mental illness defense regarding the horrific incident that shocked the East African nation on April 2nd.

Spectators gathered under a large tent burst into applause when the magistrate declared that Okello must “suffer death” for his crimes.

According to the court, the defendant “failed to adduce any evidence to support this claim that he was not mentally okay” during the commission of the violent acts.

Authorities say Okello carried out a machete assault on the children at the educational facility located in a Kampala suburb. The nursery school, called the Gaba Early Childhood Development Program, became the scene of tragedy when the attacker allegedly posed as a parent to gain access.

According to eyewitness accounts, the perpetrator spoke briefly with school staff before securing the entrance gate and launching his attack on the young victims.

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni directed the judicial system to expedite the criminal proceedings using “mobile courts” — outdoor hearings that enabled hundreds of grieving community members and other observers to watch the legal process unfold.

However, questions arose regarding the accused man’s psychological state throughout the proceedings. Observers noted his anxious behavior and instances of unprompted laughter during the trial. The Uganda Law Society criticized the proceedings as “a judicial lynching rally.”

Court officials justified their decision to hold a rapid and highly visible trial, stating it demonstrated their “commitment to taking justice closer to the people through innovative approaches.”

While Uganda maintains capital punishment, executions are seldom performed in the nation. Numerous individuals facing death sentences have remained incarcerated for extended periods.

CAIRO (AP) — Tragedy struck in Mediterranean waters when a vessel transporting 33 Sudanese migrants overturned near Tobruk, Libya, resulting in 17 confirmed fatalities and nine individuals still unaccounted for, United Nations officials reported Thursday.

Just seven passengers managed to survive the maritime disaster, according to the U.N. refugee agency’s announcement on X.

The exact timing of when the vessel overturned remains unknown.

According to the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM), rescue teams found survivors who had been floating at sea for multiple days, with some migrants perishing from starvation and dehydration.

The vessel had departed from Tobruk with Greece as its destination when it overturned approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of the coastal city, IOM reported. Recovery efforts involved Libya’s naval forces, coast guard units, and Red Crescent personnel.

Thursday social media posts from the Libyan Red Crescent included images of the rescue mission, showing personnel handling multiple bodies placed in black bags.

The health status of those who survived has not been disclosed.

Libya continues serving as a primary departure point for migrants escaping conflict and economic hardship across Africa and the Middle East. The nation descended into turmoil following the 2011 rebellion that resulted in longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi’s death.

Just weeks ago, over 80 migrants disappeared when their boat sank in central Mediterranean waters after leaving Libya’s coastline.

IOM reported in early April that 2026 marked the most lethal beginning to any year for Mediterranean crossings since 2014. The Central Mediterranean region alone recorded 765 deaths, representing approximately 150% more fatalities than the corresponding timeframe in the previous year.

IOM Director General Amy Pope recently told The Associated Press that the organization is documenting increasing numbers of migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan attempting Mediterranean crossings.

Israeli naval forces stopped and seized control of aid ships attempting to reach Gaza, confronting the vessels in international waters near Crete on April 30, 2026.

The ships belonged to the “Global Sumud” flotilla, which organizers described as a humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid while challenging Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Israeli forces boarded multiple vessels hundreds of miles from their destination and redirected them toward Israeli ports.

According to Israeli Army Radio, the navy had begun taking command of the Gaza-bound aid ships. The operation took place in international waters close to Greece, where several boats were commandeered and their occupants detained.

Organizers of the flotilla condemned the Israeli action, characterizing it as “piracy” and an “unlawful seizure” conducted on international waters.

The Global Solidarity Foundation posted on Instagram: “Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel,’ pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees. Boat communications are being jammed, and an SOS was issued.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the seizure as legally justified, referencing Israel’s Counterterrorism Law that allows action against vessels and assets designated for terrorist activities. Katz stated that the Global Sumud flotilla “violates UN Resolution 2803, which stipulated that aid to Gaza should enter through accepted official channels.”

The defense ministry dismissed the mission as publicity-seeking rather than genuine humanitarian work. “Like previous provocations, this is nothing but a PR stunt: a provocation without humanitarian aid,” the ministry stated. “As international media have exposed, these are professional provocateurs on pleasure cruises, addicted to self-promotion.”

This incident mirrors a comparable but smaller maritime operation that occurred in 2025, when Israeli forces similarly intercepted vessels attempting to break the Gaza blockade.

BAGHDAD — President Donald Trump reached out by phone Thursday to Iraq’s newly chosen prime minister-designate, offering him an invitation to the White House once he successfully establishes his government, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s office.

Following the conversation, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to congratulate Ali al-Zaidi and express hopes for his “success as he works to form a new Government free from terrorism that could deliver a brighter future for Iraq.”

“We look forward to a strong, vibrant, and highly productive new relationship between Iraq and the United States,” the post said. “This is the beginning of a tremendous new chapter between our Nations — Prosperity, Stability, and Success like never seen before.”

The telephone conversation and social media message indicate Washington’s approval of al-Zaidi, a business executive with no prior political experience, following Trump’s earlier rejection of another contender for the position.

Iraq’s leading parliamentary group, known as the Coordination Framework — a Shiite party alliance with ties to Iran — selected al-Zaidi for the prime minister role Monday after extensive internal discussions among coalition members.

The alliance had initially indicated support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the U.S. considers too closely aligned with Iran. Trump openly opposed al-Maliki’s candidacy and warned of potential aid cuts to Iraq if he received the appointment.

Despite al-Maliki’s resistance to Trump’s interference, the parliamentary bloc ultimately chose a different candidate as a compromise.

Al-Zaidi, who serves as chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, gained momentum in the final selection rounds due to his financial expertise and business connections. He has never served in government before.

In 2024, Al-Janoob was among several banks prohibited by Iraq’s central bank from conducting dollar transactions as the U.S. pressured Iraq to combat money laundering and fund transfers to Iran. Neither the bank nor al-Zaidi face U.S. sanctions.

After receiving the nomination, al-Zaidi pledged to work toward making Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally.”

“This appointment comes at a sensitive time that requires concerted efforts from all political and social forces,” he said.

Constitutional rules give the designated prime minister 30 days to submit a Cabinet proposal to parliament, which needs 167 votes for approval.

The incoming government will face challenges from the Iran conflict’s political and economic consequences, which have affected Iraq, while Strait of Hormuz closures have disrupted the oil exports that drive Iraq’s economy.

WASHINGTON — The United States government has levied financial sanctions against Joseph Kabila, the former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing him of backing armed rebel factions attempting to destabilize his nation’s current government.

Federal officials from the Treasury and State departments revealed Thursday they have frozen any U.S.-based assets belonging to Kabila, who led Congo from 2001 through 2019. The sanctions also block any financial transactions involving the former president that pass through American banking systems.

According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Kabila has been providing assistance to the M23 and Congo River Alliance militant organizations, both backed by Rwanda and working to overthrow Congo’s existing leadership.

The action comes amid efforts to preserve a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda established last year to resolve the persistent violence in eastern Congo. While President Trump frequently highlights his role in negotiating that deal, the accord has faced significant challenges due to repeated ceasefire violations.

“President Trump is paving the way for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and he has been clear that those who continue to sow instability will be held accountable,” Bessent said. “Treasury will continue to use its full range of tools to support the integrity of the Washington Accords.”

State Department officials released their own statement declaring: “The United States stands with the Congolese people and calls on all regional leaders to reject those who perpetuate violence and instability. Today’s action sends a clear message: we will hold accountable anyone who obstructs peace efforts in the DRC.”

During a field visit to southern Lebanon, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that military operations will continue despite successfully completing objectives established by the nation’s political leadership, particularly stopping direct attacks on northern Israeli communities.

“The mission assigned by the political leadership to prevent direct fire on the communities – has been achieved,” Zamir stated. “Everything the political leadership defined for us regarding the current campaign in Iran and Lebanon we achieved and even beyond. And with this we created the operational conditions for the processes now being led by the political leadership.”

The military commander emphasized that combat activities remain ongoing. “On the combat front there is no ceasefire – you continue to fight and remove direct and indirect threats from the communities of the north,” he added.

In a related incident on Wednesday, air raid sirens sounded in Zar’it in the Western Galilee region due to hostile aircraft infiltration warnings. Military officials confirmed they are investigating the circumstances.

Israeli forces have intensified their campaign against Hezbollah positions over recent days. Military officials confirmed that over 30 Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, command centers, and infrastructure locations were targeted in southern Lebanon during the past 48 hours. Morning operations saw the Air Force working alongside the 91st Division’s fire brigade to strike approximately 20 Hezbollah infrastructure positions.

The Hezbollah-linked Lebanese Al-Mayadeen television network documented attacks in the southern Lebanese villages of Zibqine and Qabrikha, and reported what they called a “significant explosion” in Bint Jbeil.

Two earlier incidents involved Hezbollah launching multiple explosive drones that exploded near Israeli military personnel in southern Lebanon, though military spokespersons confirmed no injuries occurred. Israeli forces also eliminated a rocket launcher that had been positioned within a civilian structure in southern Lebanon.

Italy’s Jewish community is raising alarm about escalating hostility following confrontations during the country’s Liberation Day commemorations in April that saw Jewish participants expelled from a historic anti-fascist march in Milan.

The annual April 25th celebration, which honors Italy’s liberation from Nazi-fascist rule, began traditionally with partisan songs and flags. However, tensions erupted when the Jewish Brigade contingent joined the procession alongside other Jewish organizations and dialogue groups.

Demonstrators hurled insults at the Jewish participants, shouting “assassins,” “genocidal pigs,” and “you should have been soap” – a reference to Holocaust imagery. The confrontation escalated from verbal attacks toward physical threats before police stepped in and removed the Jewish Brigade from the march for safety reasons.

The situation in Milan was further complicated by a separate incident in Rome, where authorities arrested 21-year-old Eitan Bondì in connection with shooting two members of the National Association for Italian Partisans (ANPI) near Parco Schuster during Liberation Day activities. Italian media reports indicate Bondì, described as belonging to Rome’s Jewish community, allegedly confessed to firing an air gun at the victims.

The two injured individuals, Rossana Gabrieli and Nicola Fasciano, suffered non-life-threatening wounds to their neck, face, and shoulder areas. Police tracked down the suspect using surveillance footage and a white scooter’s license plate. A search of Bondì’s residence reportedly uncovered knives, ammunition, air guns, and Israeli flags, though investigators have not yet located the weapon used in the attack.

Rome’s Jewish community president Victor Fadlun expressed the community’s “dismay and indignation” over the arrest, emphasizing that the community “condemns and distances itself without reservation from any form of antidemocratic violence.” Fadlun urged political leaders and civil society to avoid exploiting the incident in ways that could promote hatred and trigger additional violence.

The Jewish Brigade organization denied any association with Bondì, stating they had no knowledge of him and no member with that name. They warned that connecting the Brigade’s name to the attack would dishonor those who served under its banner. Other Jewish organizations throughout Italy also condemned the violence and distanced themselves from the incident.

Some Jewish community members expressed concern that the focus on Bondì’s alleged actions was being used to deflect attention from the antisemitic hostility faced by Jewish participants during Liberation Day events and to shift discussions about antisemitism toward questions of Jewish accountability.

The historical significance of excluding the Jewish Brigade from the Milan march has not been lost on observers. The Brigade was established in 1944 as part of the British Army, composed of Jewish volunteers from Mandatory Palestine who fought alongside Allied and partisan forces in Italy’s liberation during World War II’s final phase. Brigade members are interred in Italian military cemeteries, and the group has traditionally participated in Liberation Day ceremonies.

Carlo Riva, who leads the Italian Federation for Progressive Judaism, characterized the events as marking a significant shift in public sentiment. “What happened on April 25 is not just another episode of tension. It marks a turning point. What we are witnessing is a shift from political criticism of Israel to something broader—a generalized aversion toward anything perceived as Jewish. That is a different phenomenon, and a much more concerning one,” Riva explained.

He noted that the hostility is no longer limited to extremist groups. “What struck us most was not only the hostility itself, but who was expressing it. This is no longer confined to radical fringes or organized groups. It has extended into wider segments of society—people who would normally be perceived as moderate,” Riva observed.

The symbolic contradiction troubled Riva, whose father fought as a partisan in the Resistance. “We are talking about a march that commemorates the liberation of Italy from Nazi fascism. The Jewish Brigade fought in that liberation. To see Jews effectively pushed out of that space is something that is both symbolically and historically contradictory,” he stated.

Walker Meghnagi, president of Milan’s Jewish community, directly criticized ANPI for creating conditions that allowed antisemitic hostility to flourish. He described the episode as “a very bad day” and blamed organizers for enabling the confrontational atmosphere. Reports indicate the Jewish Brigade was blocked from marching for over two hours before being removed for security purposes.

ANPI rejected antisemitism accusations, instead attributing the breakdown to tensions related to some Jewish Brigade participants’ conduct and certain symbols they displayed. The organization’s leadership maintained the incident should be viewed within the context of heightened polarization surrounding the Gaza conflict, while reaffirming their commitment to antifascist principles and inclusivity.

Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala suggested tensions had been anticipated but that the presence of Israeli flags was unexpected, implying their display may have contributed to the escalation. Participants disputed this interpretation, pointing to the regular presence of other political symbols, including Palestinian flags, at such events.

Data from the Center of Contemporary Jewish Documentation’s Observatory on Antisemitism reveals a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents across Italy in 2024, including vandalism, harassment, and physical attacks. In Milan, weekly cases jumped from approximately 30 before October 7 to peaks of 80 to 90.

Alex Zarfati, an adviser to Rome’s Jewish community, described rapid changes in Jewish life since October 7. “From October 7 onwards, we witnessed a very rapid closure of the spaces of Jewish life in Italy. Activities that were once normal—open, shared with civil society—have become increasingly difficult,” Zarfati said.

“Living a full Jewish life today is no longer possible in the same way as it was even a few years ago,” he continued, explaining that the concern extends beyond isolated incidents to broader environmental changes. “There are events that are no longer organized, invitations that do not arrive, and collaborations that become more difficult. What has changed is not only the level of hostility, but the level of normal interaction.”

Zarfati noted generational differences in perception, citing a gap between older leaders shaped by awareness of Jewish history and European responsibility, and younger people exposed primarily to single narratives. He also pointed to the media environment’s role, arguing that constant exposure to certain narratives makes it difficult for people to distinguish between information and propaganda.

In Bologna, Carmen Dal Monte, president of the Jewish Reform Community, identified what she called “institutional antisemitism.” “What we are seeing is a form of antisemitism expressed through institutional behavior—through choices, silences, and symbols. It is less explicit, but precisely for that reason more pervasive,” she explained.

Dal Monte organized an alternative civic demonstration on April 23, bringing together Israeli flags alongside Iranian anti-regime, Ukrainian, and Venezuelan flags. “The question was whether we are still capable of recognizing resistance when it is expressed by others, under different flags. Different communities share the same necessity—to resist to exist,” she stated.

The events in Milan and Rome suggest that April 25th, traditionally a shared civic reference point where different resistance movements converge, is no longer neutral territory. Jewish institutions remain under constant security protection, and some Israelis have begun avoiding public identification due to hostile reactions or fear of negative responses.

Community leaders view these developments not as isolated incidents but as part of a broader transformation redefining how Jewish identity is perceived and expressed in Italian society. The boundary between political expression and social exclusion appears increasingly unstable, making the civic space more difficult to reconstruct once that line shifts.

Video testimonies made public by Syria’s Interior Ministry show former air force pilots from the previous regime admitting they carried out bombing campaigns under direct orders from the highest levels of government, including the former president and defense ministry.

The recorded statements demonstrate that air attacks were not random acts but part of a systematic approach where target coordinates and strike zones were transmitted directly from air force headquarters, working closely with the defense minister and former president’s office.

These accounts show how air operations intensified over time during the war. Initially, helicopter attacks were the primary method, but by 2013, fighter aircraft entered the conflict, dramatically expanding both the number of strikes and their geographic reach.

A former senior pilot revealed that leadership placed special confidence in certain officers, assigning them to carry out heavy bombing campaigns, especially targeting the Eastern and Western Ghouta areas, which experienced some of the war’s most devastating military actions.

The statements expose a structured approach to managing air attacks. Flight crews received precise target coordinates before missions, with exact identification of strike locations. Some pilots also disclosed receiving monetary compensation for completing bombing runs, showing financial incentives were tied to these military operations.

Most attacks originated from key military airfields, particularly Al-Dumayr Military Airport near Damascus, along with al-Sin and Khalkhala bases. All operations followed centralized coordination between air force leadership and top military command.

The confessions include acknowledgments of striking civilian locations, including Douma’s marketplace, which faced intense bombardment using powerful vacuum missiles that caused massive casualties. Pilots also confirmed attacking the town of Deir al-Asafir in Eastern Ghouta during what they described as some of the most lethal operations.

Regarding targeted operations, one aviator admitted participating in the 2015 airstrike that killed Jaysh al-Islam leader Zahran Alloush, demonstrating the sophisticated intelligence and military planning behind certain attacks.

These revelations emerge as Syria pursues legal and security measures against individuals connected to the former government. Officials have announced arrests of multiple pilots and officers involved in bombing campaigns, including those facing international sanctions.

Legal experts suggest these testimonies could serve as crucial evidence in future accountability proceedings, both domestically and internationally, especially given ongoing accusations about using air power against civilian populations during the war.

If confirmed authentic, these confessions offer clearer insight into how air military operations functioned throughout the Syrian war. They underscore the centralized nature of military decision-making and political leadership’s role in directing strikes, potentially reigniting discussions about individual and institutional accountability in the conflict.

From the Syrian conflict’s start in 2011, air power became one of the most deadly weapons of war, especially in regions beyond government authority, where forces depended heavily on aerial bombardment, including barrel bombs and high-explosive missiles. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights data shows the Syrian war resulted in at least 306,887 civilian deaths by 2022, averaging roughly 84 civilian fatalities daily during the conflict’s early period.

While pinpointing exact responsibility for individual airstrikes remains challenging, numerous human rights investigations conclude that Syrian government forces and their allies caused the largest portion of civilian deaths. The Syrian Network for Human Rights reports more than 200,000 civilians killed by regime forces since the conflict began, the highest number among all warring parties.

These statistics show aerial bombardment was a leading factor in this devastating toll, particularly from 2012 to 2018, which marked peak usage of both warplanes and helicopters against populated areas. Cities including Aleppo, Eastern Ghouta and Idlib became sites of intensive bombing targeting residential districts, markets, and essential infrastructure, causing massive casualties and widespread displacement.

Field documentation by humanitarian groups, including the Syrian Civil Defense, verifies that tens of thousands of civilians died or suffered injuries from air attacks. Rescue workers extracted more than 125,000 people from debris during the war years, showing the scope and severity of the bombardment.

Annual documentation also records that bombing was not an isolated occurrence but a consistent practice. In 2022 alone, hundreds of civilians were documented as killed by regime forces, despite reduced operational pace compared to peak years, demonstrating continued dependence on air power even in the conflict’s later phases.

Human rights analysis shows that deploying warplanes in populated areas, particularly with weapons having extensive destructive capability, directly contributed to rising civilian casualties and led to repeated accusations of grave violations of international humanitarian law, including disproportionate or indiscriminate attacks.

While various sources provide different casualty estimates, the shared conclusion remains that aerial bombardment was among the primary causes of civilian deaths in Syria and that its impact went beyond human losses to include infrastructure destruction and creation of one of the contemporary world’s largest humanitarian crises.

A knife attack in a London neighborhood home to thousands of Jewish residents left two people wounded Wednesday, according to local authorities and community groups who say the attacker specifically sought out Jewish victims.

The incident unfolded in Golders Green, a northern London community where roughly half of the 15,000 residents are Jewish based on 2021 census figures. A local Jewish patrol organization called Shomrim reported capturing a male attacker who was “attempting to stab Jewish members of the public.”

Emergency responders from Hatzolah, a volunteer medical service, treated the two wounded victims at the scene. London police later arrived and used a taser to subdue the suspect before making an arrest, according to the patrol group’s account.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke about the violence during parliamentary proceedings, describing it as “deeply concerning.” He told lawmakers that officials were reviewing what happened and stressed the government’s commitment to be “absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the likes of which we’ve seen too much recently.”

The Golders Green area features numerous synagogues along with dozens of Jewish educational institutions and restaurants serving the community.

This latest violence adds to a string of anti-Jewish incidents across the United Kingdom. Recent weeks have seen arson attacks damaging multiple Hatzolah emergency vehicles, various assaults on synagogue buildings, and another attempted arson reported in the same area just Monday.

Police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s attack.

The United Arab Emirates has declared its intention to depart from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the broader OPEC+ coalition, with the exit scheduled for May 1, 2026. Officials say the departure represents a strategic shift toward greater production independence and enhanced domestic energy investment.

The Gulf nation revealed its plans through the government-operated WAM news service, explaining that the choice came after an extensive evaluation of the country’s energy policies. UAE leaders described the departure as a “policy-driven evolution” designed to provide more freedom in establishing output levels and adapting to worldwide market conditions.

“This decision reflects the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile, including accelerated investment in domestic energy production, and reinforces its commitment to a responsible, reliable, and forward-looking role in global energy markets,” the UAE said.

The new strategy will enable the UAE to incrementally boost petroleum production, breaking away from current OPEC+ output restrictions. This approach is anticipated to bolster the growth of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as it expands its operations as a comprehensive global energy enterprise.

This departure represents a substantial shift in the UAE’s position within the oil-producing organization and is seen as a considerable blow to the OPEC+ partnership, which has managed production volumes to impact international petroleum prices. The announcement arrives while member nations engage in ongoing conversations about preserving unity despite external political pressures.

UAE representatives indicated that this transition demonstrates the nation’s requirement for increased operational flexibility as it expands production capabilities and works to broaden its economic base.

The declaration also emerges during escalating disagreements between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially concerning economic strategies and the continuing conflict in Yemen involving Iranian-supported Houthi forces.

The UAE’s departure will conclude its decades-long participation in OPEC and reshape its position in international energy markets as it pursues an independent production approach beyond the organization’s collaborative structure.

SAO PAULO — Brazilian lawmakers voted Thursday to slash the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was serving a 27-year term for orchestrating a failed coup attempt.

The legislative action could potentially cut Bolsonaro’s incarceration time by approximately two decades, though political experts note the exact reduction remains uncertain. Bolsonaro, who started his sentence in November and is currently confined to house arrest, may see significant relief from the congressional decision.

The measure faced strong opposition from current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who blocked the proposal in December. However, lawmakers successfully overturned Lula’s veto during Thursday’s session, with multiple opposition representatives referencing the upcoming October elections during debate.

Political tensions remain high as Lula seeks another presidential term, facing fierce competition from Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, who has emerged as a leading challenger.

The congressional legislation broadly reduces sentences for various offenses, particularly those involving attacks on democratic institutions and coup-related activities.

Other Bolsonaro allies who received similar convictions for comparable charges may also see their sentences reduced under the new law.

Legal analysts expect the decision will face immediate challenges before Brazil’s highest court.

Thousands of workers flooded the streets of Buenos Aires on Thursday during May Day celebrations, voicing their opposition to President Javier Milei’s sweeping changes to Argentina’s worker protection laws.

Argentina’s biggest labor organization, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), organized the demonstration to “defend decent employment” in response to Milei’s modifications to employment regulations that had provided extensive worker safeguards since 1974. While these protections benefited employees, they also created expensive operational costs for businesses that deterred international investment.

For years, previous Argentine leaders attempted to make the job market more business-friendly but were unsuccessful due to strong opposition from the country’s influential labor organizations. However, Milei successfully enacted his employment law changes in February despite ongoing demonstrations and a countrywide work stoppage, marking a significant win for his market-oriented policies.

Opposition groups continue pursuing legal challenges questioning whether the new law violates Argentina’s constitution. Labor representatives plan to submit additional legal documents after a judge recently reversed a temporary order that had halted the law’s enforcement following union requests. The matter is anticipated to reach the nation’s highest court.

These employment reforms have particularly upset citizens in a country where labor unions helped establish the left-wing Peronist political movement that has influenced Argentine politics since the 1940s. The changes also come as Milei’s primary goal of stopping inflation has stagnated while joblessness rates have risen.

“Social discontent is being felt everywhere, and not only due to the drop in consumption,” said Jorge Sola, a CGT leader, speaking to local media before Thursday’s demonstration. “It is due to family debt, job losses and worse working conditions than what we had before.”

The updated legislation permits businesses to extend daily work schedules from eight hours to twelve hours, lengthen trial employment periods, and terminate employees with greater ease.

The new rules also restrict workers’ ability to go on strike and reduce judges’ flexibility in determining compensation payments. Supporters argue the previous system trapped employers in expensive legal battles and discouraged official hiring practices. Currently, nearly half of Argentina’s workforce operates without formal employment contracts.

SAO PAULO, April 30 – Brazilian lawmakers delivered a crushing blow to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday when they successfully voted to override his veto of legislation that dramatically slashes former President Jair Bolsonaro’s prison sentence for attempting a coup following his 2022 election loss.

The congressional action reduces Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence to slightly more than two years, representing another significant political setback for the leftist president’s legislative agenda. This marks Lula’s second major congressional defeat this week, following Wednesday’s Senate rejection of his Supreme Court nominee Jorge Messias – the first time in over a century that lawmakers have blocked a president’s high court selection.

The legislation, which lawmakers initially passed in December, also reduces penalties for individuals convicted in connection with the January 2023 attack when Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed and vandalized Brazil’s presidential palace, Supreme Court building, and congressional chambers.

Lula had rejected the measure in January, maintaining that substantial evidence supported the convictions of Bolsonaro and others involved in the coup attempt.

The 71-year-old Bolsonaro started serving his sentence in November and was initially held in prison before being transferred to what officials call “humanitarian house arrest” due to medical issues.

The former president has undergone multiple surgical procedures following a 2018 stabbing incident during a campaign rally and was hospitalized for several weeks in March while battling severe pneumonia.

Former President Donald Trump offered his congratulations Thursday to Ali al-Zaidi after the Iraqi politician was selected as the nominee for the country’s next prime minister position.

The Coordination Framework, which represents Iraq’s Shiite political coalition, announced Monday that they had chosen Zaidi as their candidate for the leadership role, according to a statement from the alliance.

In a message posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his hopes for Zaidi’s success in the position.

“We wish him success as he works to form a new Government free from terrorism that could deliver a brighter future for Iraq,” Trump wrote in his social media post.

“We look forward to a strong, vibrant, and highly productive new relationship between Iraq and the United States.”

The endorsement comes months after Trump issued warnings in January that the United States would pull its backing from Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received the appointment to lead a new cabinet.

MILAN (AP) — Days before the world’s most prestigious contemporary art exhibition was set to open, the entire international jury for the Venice Biennale stepped down Thursday amid controversy over Russia’s participation in the event.

The arts organization announced that jury president Solange Farkas along with members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi had all resigned, though officials provided no official explanation for the unprecedented decision.

The resignations occurred after Italian Cultural Ministry representatives visited the Biennale on Wednesday to investigate the reopening of Russia’s pavilion. Italy’s leadership has publicly criticized the exhibition’s choice to welcome Russian participation.

Originally, the jury was scheduled to announce winners of the coveted Golden Lion award and other honors when the exhibition officially launches May 9. With the jury’s departure, organizers announced that attendees will now vote for two recognition categories: Best Participant in the 61st curated Exhibition “In Minor Keys” and Best National Participation among the 100 country pavilions. Winners will be revealed on the final day, November 22.

When questioned about the resignations, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni restated her administration’s disagreement with allowing Russian involvement while recognizing the Biennale’s independence. She indicated uncertainty about whether the resignations were linked to her Culture Ministry’s inspection decision.

Cabinet Minister Matteo Salvini praised the shift to public voting, calling it “a great idea” by Biennale leadership. “So it will be an autonomous and democratic Biennale,” he said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Last week, the European Union reduced its financial support to the Venice Biennale by 2 million euros ($2.3 million) due to Russia’s return to the exhibition for the first time since Moscow’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.

Russian artists pulled out of the 2022 event, and Russia didn’t mount an exhibition in 2024 for its permanent pavilion space, instead lending it to Bolivia. Russia’s last participation in the International Art Exhibition occurred in 2019.

In a statement, the Biennale explained it “does not have the authority to prevent a country from participating. Any country recognized by the Italian Republic may request to participate.”

Because Russia owns its pavilion constructed in 1914 within the historic Giardini grounds, it needed only to notify organizers of its intention to participate, according to Biennale officials.

“La Biennale di Venezia rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art. The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,” the organization stated.

The Venice Biennale contemporary art showcase stands as the globe’s oldest and most significant exhibition of its kind, featuring a central exhibition alongside individual country pavilions that participating nations curate independently.

Historically, the Biennale has resisted external pressure to ban countries from participating, including previous calls to exclude Iran and Israel.

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that his administration is working to gather more information about a temporary halt in fighting that Russia’s Vladimir Putin suggested to President Donald Trump.

Putin floated the idea of pausing combat on May 9 — a date that marks Russia’s Victory Day celebration — during a telephone conversation with Trump earlier this week, the Kremlin confirmed.

“We have instructed our representatives to contact the United States president’s team and clarify the details of the Russian proposal for a short-term ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said.

The diplomatic developments came as violence continued on both sides, with Russian strikes overnight claiming one life in Dnipro and injuring dozens in the port city of Odesa. Ukraine maintained its own offensive operations, targeting Russian industrial sites for the second consecutive day.

A vessel that sparked tensions between Israel and Ukraine left Israeli waters Thursday without offloading what Ukrainian officials claimed was grain stolen from occupied Ukrainian territories.

Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Putin, confirmed that the Russian leader had brought up a potential ceasefire during the May 9 holiday — when Russia commemorates its World War II victory over Nazi Germany — in Wednesday’s call with Trump.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Thursday that no final arrangements have been established, emphasizing that Putin would determine any specific conditions.

“For now, no concrete decision has been made,” Peskov stated.

Zelenskyy indicated Ukraine favors a more extended pause in hostilities. “We will find out exactly what is being discussed, whether it’s a few hours of security for a parade in Moscow or something more,” he wrote on Telegram.

The controversial grain ship had been stationed near Haifa port for multiple days before departing Thursday morning, according to MarineTraffic.com vessel tracking data.

The Israel Grain Importers Association reported that the nation’s primary grain importing business turned down the shipment due to the delicate circumstances involving Ukraine, Israeli news outlets said. “The Russian supplier of the wheat cargo will be forced to find another destination to unload the cargo,” the association stated.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised the outcome.

“This demonstrates that Ukraine’s legal and diplomatic actions have been effective,” he wrote on X.

Zelenskyy had warned of potential sanctions against Israel earlier this week if the ship was allowed to unload. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that the country’s tax authorities had launched an inquiry into the vessel.

In Dnipro, drone strikes resulted in one death and five injuries, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional leader Oleksandr Hanzha, who reported damage to a store, residential structure and vehicles.

Odesa region chief Oleh Kiper said Russian forces conducted multiple waves of drone assaults on homes and civilian infrastructure overnight, injuring 20 people.

Kiper noted that while Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted many incoming threats, successful hits and debris from destroyed drones damaged apartment buildings, a hotel, a kindergarten and a government facility. The attacks also sparked fires in several areas that were subsequently extinguished.

Ukraine’s Security Service, known as the SBU, conducted strikes in Russia’s Perm region in the Ural Mountains for the second straight day, a security source revealed.

The source, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization for public comment, said the drone assault disrupted operations at the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez refinery, situated more than 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine.

Regional Governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed an industrial site was struck but reported no casualties or major damage, declining to elaborate further.

In a separate incident, Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondtratyev announced online that firefighters had extinguished a blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil facility in the Black Sea port of Tuapse after it burned for nearly two days, with petroleum products spilling onto city streets.

Ukraine’s Navy reported striking two Russian ships in the Kerch Strait using maritime drones in overnight operations leading into Thursday.

The naval forces said the attacks damaged a Russian patrol vessel called “Sobol” and another ship named “Grachonok.”

The Kerch bridge, finished in 2018, connects mainland Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally seized in 2014.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The sound of approaching water trucks sends the Abu Daqqa family into action, rushing to fill whatever battered plastic containers they can find, each marked with their family name to avoid confusion in the chaos that follows.

Yehia Abu Daqqa carefully divides the precious resource among her children, allowing just one container per child and carefully pouring small amounts into a sippy cup for her daughter outside their temporary shelter in Muwasi, a massive tent settlement now home to hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians.

“The water truck arrives, and some 500 to 1,000 people throw themselves at it,” Abu Daqqa said. “They start fighting. It’s real suffering.”

The ongoing water crisis has plagued Palestinians for over half a year since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas brought an end to most combat operations in Gaza. United Nations officials report that nearly 90% of the territory’s water systems were demolished during the conflict, including facilities that remove salt from seawater and plants that process sewage.

Prior to the conflict, both government agencies and private businesses supplied water through truck deliveries and underground pipeline networks. Wastewater moved through underground pipes to processing centers. Rebuilding this infrastructure remains a top priority for Gaza’s recovery efforts, though progress has stalled as Israel insists Hamas must completely give up its weapons first.

The WASH Cluster, a UN-coordinated group of humanitarian organizations working on water and sanitation issues, calculates that roughly 80% of Gaza’s population depends on truck-delivered water at central pickup locations. For resident Azmy Abu Lehya, this means walking more than 500 meters to his neighborhood’s distribution site, sometimes successfully obtaining water to carry back through Muwasi, and sometimes returning empty-handed.

“On two days, the water trucks come, and on the other two days, they don’t,” he said.

Israeli officials state they no longer impose restrictions on water imports. COGAT, the military organization handling humanitarian matters in Gaza, claims it has facilitated pipeline access to provide adequate water for sanitation, sewage treatment, drinking, and washing purposes, and has not restricted bottled water imports.

However, Palestinians report that bottled water — primarily delivered by private companies and sold in local markets — costs far more than most can afford, especially with Gaza’s economy devastated and residents unable to find employment or reliable income sources.

Muwasi resident Sharif Abu Helal avoids even looking at water bottles in his local market because he knows they’re beyond his financial reach.

“I am not ready to buy each person a bottle of water,” he said. “I have eight people. Is a gallon of water enough for them?”

Numerous materials essential for water cleaning and transportation — including pipes, fuel, cement, and chemicals like chlorine — fall under Israel’s “dual use” category and face restrictions due to concerns they might be converted into weapons or missile components.

Water access problems and shortages have been a constant challenge throughout the Gaza conflict, with pipeline systems destroyed, water delivery trucks struck by military attacks, and unexploded ordnance contaminating underground water sources that supply many wells.

In a water and sanitation assessment released this week, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a humanitarian organization, charged Israel with weaponizing water access, “systemically depriving” residents in what they describe as a “campaign of collective punishment.” Similar charges have been made by other organizations, including Human Rights Watch.

“While Gazans are deprived of water and sanitation, Israeli authorities are using aid as a tap, closing or opening slightly to allow only drops of aid to enter the Strip,” the report said.

MSF ranks as Gaza’s second-largest water provider. Drawing from interviews conducted in late 2025 following the October ceasefire, the organization reported that Israel frequently prevented essential infrastructure components like water pumps from entering Gaza, forcing aid workers to repair old or broken parts to maintain desalination and water treatment systems. According to MSF, water shortages create widespread problems for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, leading to sewage system failures, sanitation breakdowns, and increased rates of water-related and hygiene-related diseases.

“Israeli authorities know that without water life ends, yet they have deliberately and systematically obliterated water infrastructure in Gaza, while consistently blocking water-related supplies from entering,” said Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency manager.

While the report focused on past conditions rather than current circumstances, the organization urged Israel to permit entry of water and sanitation materials, noting that restrictions continue: “There are also not enough pipes available to create distribution networks,” the report said.

COGAT firmly rejected the MSF report’s accusations, calling them “a desperate attempt to regain legitimacy.” The organization stated that Israel permits over 70,000 cubic meters of water — approximately 33.3 liters (8.8 gallons) per person — to enter daily. Humanitarian organizations estimate individuals require at least 15 liters (4 gallons) daily for cleaning, washing, drinking, and bathing needs.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian authorities acknowledged Thursday that they are holding a German reporter who vanished several months ago.

Eva Maria Michelmann, 36, disappeared on January 18 alongside a Kurdish-Turkish coworker when Syrian government troops allegedly apprehended them during the capture of Raqqa amid combat operations targeting the Kurdish-controlled Syrian Democratic Forces, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which issued a statement earlier this week.

The press freedom organization has demanded her freedom.

Syria’s Information Ministry released a statement saying Michelmann and a Turkish individual — whom CPJ identified as Kurdish-Turkish reporter Ahmed Polad — were discovered during an Interior Ministry sweep of Raqqa inside a structure previously utilized by the SDF as a “security headquarters.”

According to the ministry, both foreign individuals had “refused to disclose their true identities and possessed no official documentation verifying who they were.” The statement indicated that during preliminary interrogation, they “claimed to be engaged in humanitarian work and made no mention of any journalistic role” and falsely stated they were employed by the United Nations.

The Information Ministry reported they subsequently tried to flee and were apprehended again on “suspicions that they may be foreign fighters present in Syria illegally.”

The announcement indicated both individuals were “formally detained, and legal proceedings have been initiated in preparation for referral to the competent judicial authorities.” No specific accusations against them were revealed.

CPJ reported both reporters were employed by Istanbul-based Etkin News Agency ETHA and Özgür TV, which broadcasts from multiple European locations.

Frank Jasenski, a lawyer representing Michelmann and her relatives in Germany, stated earlier this week, “We assume that her health is very, very poor and we demand her immediate release.”

Germany’s Foreign Office confirmed last week it had contacted the imprisoned journalist but provided no additional information, referencing privacy regulations.

Syrian government troops captured Raqqa, previously under SDF control, during a January offensive. The SDF and Damascus subsequently established a ceasefire and announced a deal integrating the SDF into the national military.

The truce continues while the integration agreement progresses gradually. Syria’s current leadership has faced challenges establishing complete control over the war-ravaged nation since overthrowing former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, following nearly 14 years of civil conflict.

Family members and community mourners carried the body of a young Palestinian through the streets of Ramallah on Thursday, following his death in what officials describe as part of an ongoing wave of deadly encounters in the region.

Ibrahim Al-Khayyat lost his life after sustaining gunshot wounds to his torso and stomach area in Hebron, as confirmed by Palestinian health authorities and emergency medical services. Family members told reporters the young man had been walking to a nearby convenience store when the shooting occurred on Wednesday.

Military officials from Israel stated that their forces opened fire on Palestinian individuals during a security operation in Hebron after coming under attack from thrown stones.

Al-Khayyat’s educator, Mumtaz Shabaneh, characterized the fatal shooting as part of a broader campaign of aggression targeting Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank, calling it an effort “to break our will and undermine our perseverance to remain steadfast on this land.”

Wednesday’s violence claimed a second Palestinian life when Abdulhalim Hamad, 37, was killed during an Israeli military operation in Silwad, located northeast of Ramallah. Palestinian media reported that Hammad died in his residence during the raid.

These latest fatalities bring the year’s total to more than 40 Palestinians killed by Israeli military personnel and settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to United Nations humanitarian coordination officials. Young people have been disproportionately affected, with three teenagers losing their lives in the previous week alone.

Meanwhile, an aerial attack struck Gaza City, resulting in three deaths, according to medical personnel at Shifa Hospital who received the victims. Israeli military representatives had not provided immediate comment regarding the strike.

Although major combat operations throughout the Gaza Strip have diminished following an unstable ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in October, Israeli forces continue conducting nearly daily military strikes across the territory. Gaza health officials report more than 820 Palestinian deaths from these ongoing operations. The health ministry, operating under Hamas governance, keeps casualty statistics that international agencies and independent analysts generally consider credible, though they do not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

NEW YORK — Celebrity-filled spring fundraising events are nothing new in New York City, but Wednesday night’s King’s Trust Global Gala had an extra royal touch that made all the difference.

King Charles III made his debut at the annual charity event, marking the first time in the gala’s five-year existence that the monarch has attended the fundraiser supporting his organization that assists young people in finding employment opportunities.

Though his visit was brief — lasting just three and a half minutes for his speech — the king’s presence created a noticeable excitement among the high-profile attendees at Christie’s New York auction house. Guests including Lionel Richie and Vogue editor Anna Wintour were spotted positioning themselves along velvet barriers and stretching to catch a glimpse of the royal visitor.

The anticipation was clear even before the event began. British makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury approached Martha Stewart, who had chosen a shimmering blue gown for the occasion, asking her to mention to Charles that she selected “royal blue just for you.” Meanwhile, Natasha Poonawalla, who serves as executive director at the Serum Institute of India, the globe’s biggest vaccine producer, observed that “everyone’s been waiting for him.”

“I think the fact that he’s here is going to strengthen the presence of the foundation so much more,” Poonawalla remarked.

The royal attendance appears to have paid off financially. Event coordinators announced a record-breaking fundraising achievement of more than $3 million, validating expectations that having the king and Queen Camilla present would increase donations as the charity works to create an endowment for its UK operations and expand relationships across more than 24 nations.

This appearance caps off Charles’s inaugural American visit since becoming king, a four-day journey designed to commemorate 250 years since America’s independence from Britain while working to repair strained diplomatic ties between the nations.

The King’s Trust has touched the lives of 1.5 million individuals globally through its educational and job training initiatives spanning five decades. During his short address before the dinner portion began, Charles highlighted how many program graduates eventually return to mentor other disadvantaged youth facing similar challenges.

“Only now do quite a lot of them actually admit they were started (here),” the king quipped.

Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, who served as a gala co-chair, has witnessed the trust’s influence firsthand in West London. He shared that his own family members, including cousins and brothers, have been able to build successful lives despite being dismissed by society as “not worthy.”

Enninful characterized Charles’s participation as the charity’s “glory moment.”

“He’s set the example that philanthropy matters,” Enninful explained to The Associated Press. “No matter how well you are doing, you’re not doing enough unless you’re passing it on to a newer generation.”

This year’s gathering was more exclusive than in previous years, hosting approximately 160 attendees. Musical entertainment was notably absent, with Richie announcing upfront that he wouldn’t be performing, which prompted Charles to joke that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member “must gargle with port.” The guest list also featured supermodels Karlie Kloss and Iman, actors Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy, plus fashion designers Donatella Versace and Stella McCartney.

Stewart reflected on her own fortunate path while building her multimillion-dollar lifestyle and media brand focused on cooking, entertaining, and home management. The business mogul noted that scholarships enabled her to afford her “fine education” and that she was blessed with consistently “excellent” employment opportunities.

“But I know today there’s a big challenge in getting a good job, a big challenge in getting a good education,” she stated. “And we’re here to help those people.”

Internal discord among Lebanon’s highest-ranking officials is undermining Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts to help the nation establish a cohesive approach toward potential peace discussions with Israel, according to Lebanese sources and international diplomats who spoke with Reuters Thursday.

The Saudi kingdom, which brokered the 1990 accord that concluded Lebanon’s lengthy civil conflict, has increased its diplomatic involvement with Lebanon in recent weeks. This comes as a fragile U.S.-mediated ceasefire has struggled to completely end the nearly two-month conflict between Israel and the Iranian-supported militant organization Hezbollah.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon had deteriorated over several years due to Hezbollah’s dominant influence in Lebanese governance and security matters. However, the Sunni-majority kingdom now perceives an opportunity following the militant group’s significant weakening during its 2024 confrontation with Israel.

The April 16 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was designed by the United States to pave the way for direct peace negotiations, potentially reshaping Lebanon’s internal political landscape and regional position. However, Lebanese leadership remains divided on both the format and objectives of such negotiations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has advocated for direct meetings with Israel in Washington and stated the ceasefire should evolve into “permanent agreements.” While he hasn’t explicitly endorsed a comprehensive peace treaty, two sources with knowledge of Aoun’s stance revealed to Reuters that he has privately indicated willingness to establish normal relations with Israel to end the conflict.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who maintains ties with Hezbollah, opposes direct negotiations, mirroring the Shiite militant organization’s stance. According to two Lebanese sources familiar with his views, Berri favors pursuing a non-aggression agreement with Israel rather than a comprehensive peace treaty.

Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan traveled to Beirut last week to urge Aoun, Berri, and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to develop a unified negotiating position and demonstrate solidarity through a joint meeting, according to two senior Lebanese political sources who met with bin Farhan and a Western official briefed on the discussions.

However, plans for such a gathering this week collapsed due to escalating tensions after Berri publicly criticized Aoun’s statements about negotiations as “inaccurate, to say the least,” all three sources confirmed.

Neither Aoun’s office nor Saudi government media representatives immediately responded to requests for comment. The presidency announced Thursday that Aoun met with Salam, notably excluding any mention of Berri.

The disagreements between Aoun and Berri, whose positions are determined by Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing arrangement, mirror wider societal divisions regarding negotiations with Israel.

Some Lebanese citizens view direct talks and rapid peace agreements as the only solution to end Lebanon’s long history of Israeli military incursions.

However, Hezbollah and much of the broader Shiite Muslim community, who have suffered the heaviest casualties from Israeli attacks, strongly reject face-to-face negotiations and diplomatic normalization. Protesters opposing talks earlier this month demanded the government’s removal.

Saudi Arabia’s intervention with Lebanese officials was motivated by concerns about potential instability and worries that Lebanon was advancing toward peace with Israel too rapidly, according to a Gulf source with knowledge of the situation, the two senior Lebanese political sources, and the Western official.

Bin Farhan obtained assurances that Hezbollah would not attempt to overthrow the Lebanese government and warned Lebanese leaders last week that Beirut’s peace progress with Israel should not exceed Saudi Arabia’s pace, the four sources indicated.

Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained it will only join the Abraham Accords normalizing relations with Israel if there’s agreement on a framework for Palestinian statehood.

U.S. President Donald Trump, eager to expand the accords, announced this month he would invite Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for discussions.

Bin Farhan recommended that Lebanese authorities postpone any meeting between Aoun and Netanyahu, the two senior Lebanese political sources reported.

Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia does support Lebanon working toward a “detente” with Israel that would end regional instability, according to the Gulf source and one of the Lebanese sources.

Israeli military actions have resulted in over 2,500 deaths in Lebanon and displaced more than 1.2 million people since the current round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah commenced March 2, Lebanese authorities report.

The April 16 ceasefire, which enabled separate negotiations regarding the Iran conflict, halted strikes on Beirut and its southern suburbs but continued in other Lebanese regions. An Israeli attack in southern Lebanon Tuesday resulted in three civil defense workers’ deaths.

Mali conducted a state funeral Thursday for Gen. Sadio Camara, the former defense minister who orchestrated the West African nation’s military alliance with Russia following recent coups.

Camara died during a weekend series of coordinated militant strikes that marked the most significant assault on the country in more than ten years.

Experts suggest his death, along with the substantial losses suffered by Mali’s military forces and their Russian mercenary partners, may cause rifts within the ruling military government and potentially force a reassessment of ties with Moscow.

Following two days of official mourning, military leader Gen. Assimi Goita attended Camara’s funeral service, which was televised nationally. Officials placed the casket beneath Mali’s green, yellow and red flag while oversized photographs of the deceased minister surrounded the ceremony venue.

Born in 1979 in the garrison community of Kati near capital city Bamako, Camara was killed at that same location when a vehicle bomb detonated near his residence Saturday.

During his early military career, he served in northern Mali during the late 2000s as armed insurgencies connected to Al-Qaeda began emerging. Following his graduation from military school, he completed multiple international training programs, including coursework at a Russian military institution.

Malian citizens first encountered Camara in August 2020 when he appeared on state television as a colonel alongside four other military officers who had removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from power.

The military group criticized Keita for accepting French support while failing to adequately address widespread militant violence throughout the nation. They promised enhanced security measures.

After seizing control, the new military government established Russia as its primary security ally, removing French forces and United Nations peacekeeping personnel.

Camara became instrumental in developing Russia as Mali’s principal security collaborator. He held the defense minister position under both military administrations — initially after the 2020 takeover and again following a second coup in May 2021 that elevated Goita to leadership.

Ulf Laessing, who directs the Sahel program at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, described Camara as the “architect of cooperation with Russia,” noting his role in bringing Russian mercenaries in 2021 and removing the U.N. peacekeeping operation called MINUSMA.

According to Laessing, Camara’s regular visits to Moscow and his crucial involvement in both coups made him essential to the military government despite worsening security conditions across the country.

The newly established Africa Corps — a Russian military formation answering to Moscow’s defense ministry with approximately 2,000 personnel in Mali — announced Monday that its forces had retreated from Kidal, following separatist claims of capturing the strategic northern city.

Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at Morocco’s Policy Center for the New South think tank, suggested Camara’s death combined with increasing dissatisfaction among citizens and military officials regarding Russian mercenaries’ failure to control insurgencies might prompt the junta to reconsider its Moscow partnership.

Laessing noted that Goita, who met with Russia’s Mali ambassador Tuesday, “seems open to collaboration with some Western countries, such as the United States.”

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared Thursday that her administration will not tolerate interference from the United States in Mexican sovereignty, announcing that the country’s attorney general will examine accusations from a New York federal indictment charging 10 current and former Mexican officials with collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel in drug trafficking operations.

The federal charges have identified several active officials from Sinaloa state, including members of Sheinbaum’s progressive Morena political party, creating significant political controversy as the new president works to balance pressure from Washington while maintaining support from her domestic political base. Following the indictment’s release, Mexican authorities confirmed they had received extradition requests from the United States for 10 Mexican nationals, though they declined to identify the individuals.

Among those named in the charges, Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya represents the most prominent figure, serving as a leading Morena party member and trusted associate of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who served as Sheinbaum’s political mentor.

During Thursday’s announcement, Sheinbaum explained that Mexican legal authorities will conduct their own examination of the cases and compile independent evidence to “determine whether there is evidence establishing that the allegations made by U.S. authorities have a legal basis for requesting arrest warrants.”

The Mexican leader has previously stated that she has not observed any supporting evidence for the American accusations.

Sheinbaum indicated her willingness to take a firm stance should their investigation reveal “no clear evidence” that the accused individuals engaged in criminal activity.

“If it is evident that the Justice Department’s charges are politically motivated, let there be absolutely no doubt: under no circumstances will we allow a foreign government to interfere in decisions that are the exclusive prerogative of the Mexican people,” Sheinbaum said.

LONDON (AP) — The mysterious street artist known as Banksy has taken credit for a sculpture that materialized overnight in London’s heart, showing a figure stepping away from a pedestal while a flowing flag obscures his vision.

The secretive artist revealed his involvement Thursday through a comedic Instagram video displaying clips of the nighttime installation process. The artwork was positioned during the early morning hours Wednesday on a pedestal located on a traffic island at Waterloo Place, not far from Buckingham Palace.

Prior to Banksy’s social media confirmation, curious onlookers and visitors had already suspected the piece belonged to the famous artist due to his distinctive signature carved into the pedestal’s base.

The new installation sits in proximity to monuments honoring King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910, and celebrated nurse Florence Nightingale, along with the memorial commemorating the Crimean War.

Three-dimensional sculptures represent a departure from Banksy’s usual medium. The artist gained recognition primarily through his graffiti work on building walls, beginning his career in the early 1990s in Bristol, located in southwestern England. His influence has expanded worldwide, with his artwork and installations commanding millions at auction houses. His public pieces frequently become targets for theft and destruction.

The artist, whose true identity remains unknown to the public, belongs to a movement of underground creators who consider the clandestine placement of their work a form of rebellious artistic statement.