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Iran unleashed four waves of missiles targeting northern Israel on Sunday evening, following through on threats of retaliation after Israeli military operations against Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s southern neighborhoods.

Israeli military officials confirmed on social media that missiles had been fired from Iranian territory and that defensive systems were actively working to neutralize the incoming threats. Military sources reported successfully intercepting two of the projectiles. Emergency authorities sent warning alerts to cell phones throughout affected regions and directed civilians to seek shelter in protected areas when alarms sounded.

This marks Iran’s first direct assault on Israel since a ceasefire took effect on April 8th.

Throughout the day, Iranian leadership had issued warnings that Israel would face repercussions for its attacks on Hezbollah facilities in the southern districts of Lebanon’s capital city.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s foreign policy and national security committee, characterized the planned retaliation as forceful. He posted on social media: “We will give a decisive and painful response to the Zionist regime’s attack on the suburbs … Watch the sky of the occupied territories tonight.”

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and the country’s top negotiator, declared that American military installations and resources throughout the region had become “legitimate targets” after the Israeli strikes.

Regarding current diplomatic efforts, Ghalibaf posted on social media: “They are neither committed to a ceasefire nor believe in dialogue, and through the naval blockade and violation of agreements regarding Lebanon they showed that they only understand the language of power.”

Channel 12 News reported that Israeli security officials had elevated alert status following intelligence analysis suggesting Iran had previously communicated it would respond directly if Israel targeted Hezbollah’s base of operations in southern Beirut. The report indicated Tehran had signaled several days earlier that strikes in the Dahiyeh area would prompt a missile counterattack.

Israeli forces confirmed they conducted operations Sunday against Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut’s southern districts after the organization launched attacks toward northern Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, Haim Bibas, chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, declared that all municipal governments would transition to restricted operations starting at 10 p.m. following updated emergency directives. School activities were suspended, outdoor events were restricted to 200 participants, and indoor gatherings were capped at 500 people in locations with access to standard protective shelters.

Law enforcement officials in Greece have taken a 37-year-old Palestinian man into custody over allegations he was planning a terrorist attack targeting an Israeli-operated cruise ship scheduled to arrive in Crete this week, Cyprus Inform reports.

The suspect was apprehended Saturday evening following a collaborative investigation between Greek and Cypriot intelligence agencies. Originally from Gaza, the man had been granted political asylum in Greece and was employed at a hotel in Agios Nikolaos, Crete.

Officials say he was allegedly plotting an attack against a cruise vessel operated by Mano Maritime set to arrive at the port on Tuesday. Greek intelligence officials determined the suspected plot had not advanced beyond the planning stages.

During questioning, investigators report the man confirmed his affiliation with Hamas and acknowledged maintaining communications with people recently taken into custody in Cyprus on terrorism-related charges.

Law enforcement officials also revealed his connection to two Palestinians detained in Cyprus on suspicion of terrorism offenses. Police believe all three suspects were part of the same operational cell.

According to investigators, the men had received Hamas training together in explosive handling and deployment techniques.

The detention came after intelligence was shared from Cyprus, where officials recently made arrests linked to Hamas operations and bombing incidents in Jerusalem. The Hellenic Police stated the operation required coordination between Cypriot intelligence services, Greece’s National Intelligence Service, and the Anti-Terrorist Service.

During the investigation, security teams conducted searches at several sites across Crete and Athens. Officials confiscated electronic equipment, including a laptop computer and cell phones, as well as bank cards and laboratory materials. Authorities said chemicals and measuring devices found during the searches were suspected to be for creating explosive devices.

Greek state broadcaster ERT reported the suspect had previously leased an apartment in downtown Athens.

No additional arrests have been announced by Greek authorities. The investigation remains active as security officials analyze evidence gathered during the operation and examine the suspect’s reported connections to those detained in Cyprus.

A debate concerning Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community has evolved beyond religious and political considerations into a pressing economic question: Can the nation sustain its changing demographics?

During a major economic policy conference this week, experts examined whether Israel can maintain its current trajectory as defense expenditures climb toward 8% of gross domestic product and approximately a quarter of the national budget, while the ultra-Orthodox population is expected to comprise an increasing portion of military-age Jewish citizens.

Military service forms part of Israel’s social framework, defense expenditures consume an expanding portion of national resources, and the armed forces represent a shared experience for most Jewish citizens. As these pressures intensify, ultra-Orthodox integration appears not merely as a disagreement over exemptions or religious matters, but as a budgetary, military, and economic challenge.

The implications are clear-cut. As the ultra-Orthodox become a larger portion of Israel’s population, the combination of military exemptions, restricted core education, reduced male workforce participation, and sectoral political influence could burden the military, tax revenue, and the skilled economy upon which Israel increasingly relies.

This concern permeated the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society, hosted by the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem. The gathering addressed defense expenditures, artificial intelligence, technology sectors, living costs, reconstruction, healthcare, and government budgets. Nevertheless, the ultra-Orthodox matter repeatedly emerged, sometimes explicitly and sometimes through broader discussions of human resources, labor participation, education, and public priorities.

The ultra-Orthodox community refers to Israel’s rapidly expanding religious population whose traditional male institutions emphasize comprehensive Torah study. Many ultra-Orthodox boys do not receive equivalent core instruction in mathematics, English, and science compared to other Israelis; many ultra-Orthodox men do not perform military service, and many join the workforce late or remain outside it for prolonged periods. Ultra-Orthodox women participate in employment at higher rates, frequently supporting large families, but household earnings remain comparatively modest.

Gilad Cohen Kovacs, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute who delivered a presentation on “The Economy as a Driver of Change in Haredi Autonomy,” contended that the matter also involves how a separate institutional framework influences growth, employment, and the welfare system.

Cohen Kovacs stated that subsidies supporting the current ultra-Orthodox model total approximately 35 to 37 billion shekels annually, or roughly 5.5% of the government budget. Without modifications, he cautioned, that amount could increase to more than 60 billion shekels yearly in future decades. These numbers were presented as part of his conference examination of ultra-Orthodox autonomy and government support.

He emphasized that the matter should not be viewed as a simple transfer of “money to Haredim.” In his assessment, part of the funding encourages behaviors that maintain ultra-Orthodox men outside the workforce, while another portion strengthens what he characterized as a parallel system of authority, educational networks, community institutions, and political influence.

A welfare system, Cohen Kovacs explained, is designed to assist those unable to work, protect individuals who have suffered harm, and facilitate mobility. In the ultra-Orthodox situation, he maintained, part of the subsidy supports the reverse pattern: reduced utilization of earning potential, partial employment, large families, and a yeshiva-focused lifestyle.

“These are not the conditions for which the welfare state was built,” he said.

This distinction redirects attention from individual poverty toward policy incentives that, according to Cohen Kovacs, maintain dependence and separation. His broader finding was that the current arrangement creates a substantial intersectoral transfer from non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish households to ultra-Orthodox households through tax differences, public services, subsidies, and exemptions from shared responsibilities.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also referenced studies on that net balance. According to Bennett, what he termed a “Zionist household”—a non-ultra-Orthodox Jewish household integrated into military service and the labor market—contributes approximately 6,000 shekels more monthly than it consumes or receives, while an ultra-Orthodox household receives about 4,000 shekels more monthly than it contributes. He characterized this as a difference of approximately 10,000 shekels monthly between the two household categories.

The comparison brought the fiscal discussion from national budgets to family income. It was not presented as a claim that one particular family directly funds another, but as an aggregate measurement of taxes, government services, subsidies, benefits, and participation in public duties.

Dr. Gilad Malach, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute who presented a separate study on the defense burden, told The Media Line that his research addressed one specific aspect of the larger subsidy discussion: security. He said Israel typically treats defense spending as a national budget item, without examining how that burden is distributed across different sectors of society.

Malach said it would be “too simplistic” to explain the gap just by noting that the ultra-Orthodox public is poorer and therefore pays less tax. “You might say, ‘OK, this is a poor society, so they pay less than their share in the population,’” he said. “But we see that the gaps between them and others—it’s much more than that.”

According to Malach, the visible security budget stands at about 120 billion shekels annually, but the actual cost approaches 150 billion once hidden burdens are included: conscripts paid below their labor value, delayed workforce entry, and the cost to employers when reservists leave their positions for extended service.

If the ultra-Orthodox represent about 14% of Israel’s population, he said, they should account for roughly 21 billion shekels of that burden. In practice, he estimated, they contribute about 6 billion.

“So, the gap is 15 billion,” he said.

The figure carries political weight because it places the draft discussion within a broader fiscal equation: who pays for security, who serves, and who bears the indirect costs of a society built around lengthy military service.

Malach was careful not to claim that the gap can be closed quickly. He said the policy tools he presented could reduce it, but not eliminate it. At most, he estimated, the immediate effect could be several billion shekels, not the full 15 billion.

“Just to make the situation less unequal, more equal than today, but not a real equality between the population,” he said.

The demographic warning was more severe. Some projections, Malach said, place the ultra-Orthodox population at around 30% of Israel’s total population within roughly four decades. The more significant number, he added, is not the overall population share, but the share among draft-age Jews.

Among Jewish 18-year-olds, he said, the ultra-Orthodox share could exceed half. In his view, that projection, if realized, would mean that “We won’t have manpower for an army if the situation would be that they are not serving in the army. And we can’t have a prosperous economy if so many people won’t have the ability to work in a modern labor market.”

Reem Aminoach, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies who previously served as financial adviser to the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, told The Media Line that the problem is often made to appear more complex than it is.

“All you need is to cancel the deferral,” he asserted, referring to the legal mechanism that has allowed many ultra-Orthodox men to avoid conscription as long as they remain in yeshiva study.

In his view, canceling the deferral would force a clearer choice: service, employment, or some other publicly accountable framework, rather than a system in which avoiding the army also discourages work. Aminoach said the army’s need is practical and immediate.

“The army lacks fighters, not clerks,” he said.

Shaul Meridor, a former senior Finance Ministry official, brought the discussion from national aggregates to the level of a single Israeli family. He described a middle- or lower-middle-class family in places such as Migdal HaEmek or Dimona, with five children, one of them serving in Lebanon, and unable to make ends meet. According to figures he cited from a recent study, such a family subsidizes a comparable low-income ultra-Orthodox family by nearly 1,000 shekels monthly.

“Many times we talk about high-tech and the rich and all kinds of other people who subsidize,” Meridor said. “I am talking about socioeconomic cluster four. Whoever knows what that means understands that this is not high-tech, and these are not people sitting in Tel Aviv or Ramat Hasharon. These are people who do not finish the month.”

He said the moral question after October 7 was no longer abstract.

“Why should a family that does not finish the month have to allocate, from money it does not have, 1,000 shekels net a month to subsidize a Haredi family that chose a different life?”

Meridor also argued that Israel’s current policies harm ultra-Orthodox children themselves by steering them toward poverty.

“As leadership, we must not condemn Haredi children to poverty,” he said. “And that is what we are doing today.”

His proposed principle was direct: those who serve should receive, those who do not serve should not. Combat service, he said, should receive the most; other service should receive less; evasion should receive nothing. But he cautioned that dismantling ultra-Orthodox autonomy would not happen through a single major law. It would require changes in thousands of government decisions, benefits, tax rules, and allocations that currently favor institutions over individuals.

Political speakers approached the same issue from different directions. Bennett focused on education and subsidies, using his speech to attack daycare payments for families in which the father does not work and does not serve. He also proposed a broad education reform built around a shared state curriculum, while preserving limited community autonomy.

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beitenu and a former defense and finance minister, framed the issue through coalition politics. In a conversation with Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, Liberman argued that Israel cannot sustain higher defense spending while preserving sectoral budgets and avoiding structural reform. He said any serious change would require a government not dependent on the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz offered a more cautious critique. He said parts of the ultra-Orthodox leadership were making a grave mistake by perpetuating a situation in which the community is more important than the state. At the same time, he emphasized that there are ultra-Orthodox individuals who work, study, serve, and contribute to the economy, and that they deserve respect.

Meirav Cohen, a Yesh Atid lawmaker and former minister for social equality, used Jerusalem as a warning. Speaking as a Jerusalemite, she said the capital already shows what happens when integration in the army, employment, and education does not move fast enough. Jerusalem, she said, has fallen in less than three decades from socioeconomic cluster five to cluster two. Every second household receives a municipal property tax discount, she said, meaning the other half must carry some of the highest municipal tax burdens in Israel.

“There is no economic model for this,” Cohen said. “You don’t need prophecies or warnings. Look at what happened to us in Jerusalem.”

The ultra-Orthodox discussion occurred during a conference dominated by the rising cost of security and the shrinking space for civilian spending. Former Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug said in the opening budget session that Israel’s economy had shown resilience, but that the Israel-Hamas war had imposed a heavy price. Defense spending, she said, now stands near 8% of GDP, compared with a little more than 4% before October 7, 2023. Its share of the total budget has risen to about one-quarter, compared with 16% before the war.

That larger fiscal picture helps explain why ultra-Orthodox integration is no longer treated only as a dispute over religious exemptions. Israel is trying to fund a larger defense establishment, increased rehabilitation needs, more support for reservists, reconstruction in the north and south, health-system gaps, transportation infrastructure, and a technology sector facing global competition. Speakers also warned that insufficient investment in Arab society carries its own cost in lost output, making the broader point that Israel cannot afford to underinvest in any large population group while defense and rehabilitation needs are rising.

Artificial intelligence and technology added another layer. The Israel Innovation Authority’s 2026 report, presented at the conference, showed that technology remains Israel’s main growth engine. In 2025, the sector contributed roughly half of the economy’s growth, reached 18.3% of GDP, accounted for 58% of exports, and employed more than 400,000 people. But the same report also warned of stagnation in employment share, a decline in research and development jobs in Israel, expansion of activity abroad, and growing pressure from the shekel’s appreciation.

That is why ultra-Orthodox integration now intersects with the artificial intelligence discussion. Israel wants to compete in a global economy built on advanced skills, data science, engineering, defense technology, and artificial intelligence. But a growing share of its future workforce is educated in systems that often do not provide the tools required for that economy. The point was not that every Israeli must work in technology, but that the next economy will demand basic quantitative and digital skills across far more jobs.

Eli Hurvitz, CEO of the Eddie and Jules Trump Family Foundation, told the conference that the children currently choosing what to study in high school will be the workforce of 2040. In an artificial intelligence-driven world, he said, mathematics, data, teamwork, and independent learning will become basic conditions for opportunity.

The challenge of ultra-Orthodox integration does not fit neatly into familiar categories of minority rights or welfare policy. In Israel, it is tied to compulsory service, repeated wars, high defense costs, a knowledge-based economy, and a parliamentary system in which sectoral parties can hold the balance of power. The ultra-Orthodox community is a growing part of Israel’s electorate, budget, labor market, and future security burden. That is why the discussion has become one of the country’s central tests of governance.

The conference produced no single, comprehensive solution. Some speakers emphasized immediate enforcement of the existing draft framework. Others focused on incentives, core education, tax benefits, or direct ties between the state and ultra-Orthodox individuals rather than through communal institutions. Some warned against coercion that could backfire, while others argued that decades of gradualism have failed. But there was a striking convergence around one point: the status quo is no longer to be treated as a manageable inconvenience.

The discussion, as reflected in the conference sessions and interviews cited here, was dominated by economists, former senior officials, and political figures warning about the long-term costs of the current model. Representatives of the major ultra-Orthodox parties were not quoted in those sessions or interviews.

Malach put the warning in the starkest terms. Israel has survived enormous shocks, he said, and remains a wealthy country with a strong economy. But if current patterns continue as the ultra-Orthodox population grows, the problem will not remain a matter of resentment or budgetary imbalance. It will become a question of manpower, productivity, and national resilience.

“Right now, it’s very hard, but we are handling,” he said. “The point is that if you call today’s situation very bad, things would be worse than that.”

What emerged in Jerusalem was more than an argument over the draft. It was a broader economic reckoning over who serves, who pays, who studies the skills needed for the next economy, and whether the state can continue financing separate rules for a growing part of its population. Israel’s next election may decide the coalition arithmetic. The harder question, raised throughout the conference, is whether any government will be willing to change the arithmetic of the country itself.

Syria’s new leadership is grappling with one of its most complex postwar security challenges: determining the fate of thousands of international combatants who participated in the country’s conflict and remain armed following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.

The issue gained renewed attention after Uzbek fighters in Syria issued a statement condemning the new government’s policies toward foreign combatants and warning of potential repercussions. The declaration highlighted the mounting pressure Damascus faces as it works to establish control over military and security forces while managing various armed groups that established themselves during more than ten years of warfare.

The resolution of this situation will be crucial for Syria’s ability to regain full sovereignty, eliminate independent military networks, and maintain long-term stability.

International Combatants in Syria

Beginning in 2012, thousands of international fighters arrived in Syria from numerous nations, especially from Central Asian republics, the Caucasus region, China, Afghanistan, North African countries, and Europe. The Syrian war drew foreign recruits driven by religious and ideological motivations, with many joining armed factions and extremist organizations.

Several international groups became major players on the battlefield over time. Notable among them were the Turkistan Islamic Party, consisting primarily of ethnic Uyghur combatants from China, and the Imam Bukhari Battalion, which includes Uzbek fighters. Chechen and other Caucasian groups also held significant positions, along with international fighters formerly connected to the Islamic State organization or other extremist groups.

While exact numbers are not available, the International Crisis Group estimated in May that approximately 5,000 foreign fighters who participated in Assad’s overthrow remain armed in Syria. Other analysts have similarly estimated around 5,000, excluding family members who relocated to the country during the conflict years.

“The foreign fighters no longer represent the large military force they once were during the early years of the war,” said Orabi Abdel Hay Orabi, an expert on jihadist groups, in comments to The Media Line. “However, they still possess combat experience and organizational networks that make dealing with them a highly sensitive security issue.”

The varied nationalities and organizational connections among international fighters makes developing a unified policy approach challenging.

Most arrived in Syria during the conflict’s initial years through international recruitment networks, exploiting the nation’s security breakdown and expanding warfare. Eventually, some international groups established autonomous command structures and gained substantial military power, especially in northern Syria.

That power has diminished in recent years due to military and political changes, ceasefire agreements, the departure of some fighters to other war zones, and the dramatic decrease in foreign recruitment that marked the war’s earlier stages.

Firas Allawi, a Syrian researcher specializing in Islamist armed movements, told The Media Line that the influence of foreign fighters today cannot be measured solely by numbers.

“Many have established deep social ties within local communities over the years,” he said. “A significant number have settled with their families and become part of the social fabric in some areas, which makes any purely security-based approach to the issue increasingly difficult.”

Challenge for Damascus

Since Syria’s new government took power, the foreign fighter situation has emerged as one of the nation’s most complex postwar obstacles, with consequences for domestic security, international relations, and future military structure.

Syrian authorities have consistently stressed the government’s commitment to restoring state control, monopolizing force, and dismantling armed formations operating beyond official institutions. They consider this essential for lasting stability and rebuilding Syria’s military and security apparatus on national principles.

Meanwhile, supporters of some foreign fighters contend that many of these individuals battled throughout Syria for years and now face uncertainty regarding their legal standing, personal safety, and their families’ futures.

Damascus also faces continuous international monitoring regarding these groups’ future. Many Western and regional governments view the management of foreign fighters as a crucial measure of the government’s capacity to ensure stability and combat extremism.

Incorporation Rather Than Deportation

Currently, the favored strategy appears to be containment and gradual incorporation instead of mass expulsion or direct confrontation.

Multiple reports indicate the government seeks to integrate some foreign fighters into official military structures under Syrian leadership as part of a comprehensive plan to dismantle independent armed networks and bring them under state control.

Political analyst and security affairs expert Kinana al-Kurdi told The Media Line that integration represents the least costly option in the short term.

“Deporting thousands of fighters or engaging in large-scale confrontations with them would be extremely difficult,” she said. “Many of these individuals cannot return to their countries of origin because they face legal prosecution or security-related repercussions.”

The expulsion option encounters major obstacles. Some nations refuse to accept their citizens back, while others require immediate prosecution upon return. Many fighters also fear detention or harsh punishment in their home countries.

However, the potential for security confrontations persists if some groups resist the new arrangements or try to maintain their military and organizational autonomy.

Threats to Stability

Inadequate handling of this issue could directly impact Syria’s internal stability. Foreign fighters have extensive military expertise, and some maintain international ideological and organizational ties.

Counterterrorism experts warn that applying too much pressure on these groups, or trying to eliminate them through force, could drive some individuals back to extremist organizations or promote the creation of new underground cells beyond state control.

This situation would create concerns not only within Syria but also among neighboring nations and international partners.

Regional governments in Central Asia and elsewhere are carefully watching developments, worried that fighters might move to other conflict areas or reactivate extremist networks in their home countries.

Four Potential Outcomes

Experts outline four main possibilities for foreign fighters’ future in Syria.

The first and most positive outcome involves successful integration of foreign fighters into state institutions, enabling Damascus to enhance stability and consolidate power.

The second possibility envisions ongoing tensions and limited demonstrations without escalating to direct conflict, leaving the matter unresolved for an extended time.

A third option is that some foreign fighters depart Syria for other nations or emerging conflict areas, either independently or through specific agreements.

The fourth and most hazardous scenario would involve tensions developing into security clashes between state forces and factions rejecting integration. This development could spark a new period of instability and undermine efforts to establish peace and state authority.

Ultimately, any government strategy’s success will depend not only on security actions but also on the state’s capacity to create legal, social, and humanitarian solutions for thousands of fighters and their families, preventing this issue from becoming a persistent postwar crisis.

As Syria manages these competing possibilities, the foreign fighter situation will likely continue testing Damascus’ ability to balance security needs with state-building goals while handling international pressure and the complex aftermath of years of conflict.

Federal officials have given initial clearance for a nearly $2 billion military equipment sale to Kuwait, centered on advanced technology to combat drone attacks threatening the Gulf nation.

The State Department announced the preliminary approval for the $1.98 billion Foreign Military Sale, which would provide Kuwait with sophisticated systems to identify, monitor and neutralize unmanned aircraft threats. Officials described the deal as part of efforts to bolster the defensive capabilities of a key Middle Eastern partner.

State Department officials revealed that the proposed transaction encompasses both physical and electronic combat systems, plus monitoring, command operations and support infrastructure. Anduril Industries, a defense technology firm based in California, is anticipated to serve as the primary contractor for the deal.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency outlined that the equipment bundle features Roadrunner-Munition and Anvil-Kinetic interception technologies designed to target threatening drones. The package also incorporates Lattice C2 software platforms and Menace tactical command centers to facilitate operational coordination.

Further components in the proposal feature extended-range Sentry observation towers, including portable and enhanced-distance models, sea-based Sentry installations, and deployment containers created to boost monitoring and identification functions. The arrangement also encompasses Pulsar electromagnetic combat systems engineered to neutralize unmanned aircraft through digital interference.

In addition to equipment, the potential transaction covers staff education, software creation, supply chain assistance, and technical guidance from both federal agencies and private contractors.

State Department representatives indicated the arrangement would equip Kuwait with both physical and electronic combat tools to counter threats from unmanned aircraft systems.

This authorization follows a pattern of significant weapons agreements the United States has pursued with Middle Eastern allies. These transactions aim to assist regional partners in deterring threats from Iran and securing vital energy facilities and ocean shipping lanes, according to the official statement.

Unmanned aircraft have emerged as a growing security concern for military bases and sea commerce throughout the region. The announcement highlighted that Iran regularly utilizes relatively inexpensive drones, forcing the deployment of costly American missile defense systems to intercept them.

The potential transaction continues to undergo the Foreign Military Sales review process. Upon completion, the package would supply Kuwait with a comprehensive anti-drone defense network covering surveillance, operational command, electronic combat, and interception technologies worth roughly $1.98 billion.

Moldova’s leader is calling for advanced drone defense capabilities as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to impact her nation’s security.

President Maia Sandu announced that new laws must be passed to enable the production of high-tech interceptor drones, citing the urgent need highlighted by the war next door. The country, which aims to join the European Union by 2030, has faced repeated violations of its airspace by Russian aircraft and falling debris near border areas.

The president, who has been vocal in her opposition to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, pointed to a recent incident where a drone hit a home in Galati, Romania, near the borders with both Moldova and Ukraine, leaving two people injured.

Speaking during a podcast with a local blogger aired Sunday, Sandu emphasized the vulnerability her constitutionally neutral nation faces.

“Those who want our country to be completely defenceless must understand that there is a risk that drones will fall on us and we won’t be able to do anything about it,” she stated.

“I have asked the government, particularly in the context of recent events, to begin introducing or preparing legislative amendments,” she added.

The proposed laws would enable both government and private sector collaboration in weapons manufacturing, while also creating opportunities for international investment in the defense sector.

Sandu revealed that her country has already begun discussions with Ukraine about drone technology, noting that Ukraine has developed significant expertise after more than four years of defending against Russian drone attacks.

“Ukrainians are the best in terms of interceptor drones,” she explained. “We will try to secure technology from there to the extent that we can with our capabilities. In order to use these technologies, we must first build up a team of experts.”

Moldova’s armed forces have been unable to respond to more than 20 separate occasions when Russian drones have entered the country’s airspace or when drone wreckage has fallen near Moldovan communities.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed on Sunday any notion that regional governments could seek compensation through Iranian assets, responding to reports suggesting the United States might utilize these funds to pay Gulf allies for war-related damages.

In a post on X, Gharibabadi declared that Iran’s assets were “neither war spoils for Washington nor a payment fund for its allies.”

According to a Saturday Reuters report citing a knowledgeable source, the United States plans to make Iranian assets accessible to Gulf partners for reconstruction efforts and repairs following future Iranian-caused damage.

The source indicated that America would also explore using these funds for previous damage repairs, noting that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had tasked a team with evaluating costs of harm already caused to Gulf allies by Iran.

Throughout the conflict, Iran conducted missile and drone strikes against multiple Gulf nations, claiming it targeted American and Israeli interests across the region.

Saturday saw Iran announce ballistic missile launches at American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. U.S. forces reported intercepting six missiles while a seventh failed to reach its intended target. Kuwait confirmed property damage without casualties, and Bahrain advised citizens to take shelter.

Research firm Rystad Energy estimated in April that Middle East conflict reconstruction could cost up to $58 billion for energy infrastructure repairs alone.

Gharibabadi warned that any seizure, transfer, or allocation of Iranian funds without Tehran’s approval would represent “a new internationally wrongful act,” creating U.S. liability while Washington claims to pursue negotiations with Iran. He indicated such actions would trigger an “appropriate response” from Iran, though he provided no specifics.

Iran has requested partial release of its confiscated funds through a framework both nations are discussing to conclude the Iran war.

The Deputy Foreign Minister stated that certain regional governments had made their territories and facilities available “at the service of aggression against Iran” and therefore lacked standing to seek reparations. He argued these governments should fully compensate Iran for damages inflicted upon it.

Tehran’s war-ending conditions include releasing billions in frozen assets, removing U.S. and international sanctions, and acknowledging its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

A devastating bus accident in southern Iraq claimed the lives of 21 people and left 19 others injured on Sunday, according to police and health authorities. The tragedy unfolded near Nassiriya when a passenger bus crashed and erupted in flames.

Authorities report that the driver lost control of the vehicle while traveling on a highway close to Nassiriya, leading to the bus flipping over and igniting. The violent crash resulted in immediate casualties and widespread injuries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has called for a full investigation into what caused the deadly incident and has instructed officials to provide a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances of the accident, according to his office.

Emergency responders and medical personnel confirmed that 21 individuals died either at the crash site or after being transported to medical facilities, while 19 survivors sustained injuries in the incident.

Health authorities indicated that the majority of those hurt in the crash are fighting for their lives in critical condition, with many suffering from extensive burn injuries.

Law enforcement officials stated that investigators are working to determine what led to the fatal crash.

Such vehicular accidents occur frequently throughout Iraq, where excessive speed, deteriorating roadway infrastructure, and insufficient traffic law enforcement result in numerous deaths annually.

Israeli officials reported Sunday that Iran had fired missiles toward their territory, marking the first attack of this kind since a tentative ceasefire was established in early April, further complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end.

Iranian state media verified the missile launch, and residents in northern Israel reported hearing multiple explosions. Israeli military officials stated they were attempting to intercept the incoming missiles but acknowledged “the defense is not hermetic,” noting that warning sirens were activated across multiple regions.

The Iranian response followed Israel’s unannounced attack on Beirut’s southern neighborhoods on Sunday, carried out despite Washington’s recent appeals to refrain from such actions. Israeli officials described their strike as retaliation for earlier attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah against northern Israeli territory.

The Israeli bombardment of Beirut occurred just days after Lebanese and Israeli officials had reached a ceasefire agreement through U.S.-mediated negotiations, although Hezbollah has refused to accept the arrangement. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the attack on a residential structure resulted in two deaths and 20 injuries.

Iranian officials had previously stated that any assault on Beirut would trigger renewed widespread conflict throughout the Middle East region, even as Pakistan attempts to facilitate renewed dialogue between Tehran and Washington. Iran maintains that any agreement must encompass an end to hostilities in Lebanon.

Israel’s military operations and ground offensive in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, along with the militant organization’s refusal to disarm, have hindered progress toward a comprehensive regional peace agreement. Iranian leadership insists that any settlement must address the cessation of fighting in Lebanon.

The White House has not issued a statement regarding Israel’s Beirut operation. Israeli authorities had previously announced plans to target southern areas of Lebanon’s capital on Monday, but intensive discussions through Washington prevented this action on the condition that Hezbollah cease attacks on Israeli border communities.

Hezbollah has not yet taken responsibility for the earlier Sunday attacks on Israel.

The militant group opposes the direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, instead backing Iran’s position that a comprehensive ceasefire arrangement between Tehran and Washington should address the Lebanese situation.

Diplomatic initiatives for a broader agreement continued Sunday as Pakistan’s interior minister traveled to Iran for official discussions, while Egypt announced that its foreign minister and his Qatari counterpart had reviewed “proposed elements” of a possible deal, though specific details were not disclosed.

U.S. President Donald Trump has not addressed the conflict on Sunday, but in a “Meet the Press” interview recorded Friday and broadcast afterward, he expressed support for “a more surgical attack on Hezbollah.” He also indicated he was “not demanding” that Lebanon be included in any comprehensive ceasefire agreement regarding the Iran conflict.

Meanwhile, Iran has maintained its control over the Strait of Hormuz while the U.S. continues blocking Iranian ports, disrupting shipments of oil, natural gas and fertilizer and causing economic strain globally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections later this year, intends to continue Israel’s military campaign until he determines that Hezbollah no longer represents a threat.

Pakistan’s interior minister was present in Tehran on Sunday. Mohsin Naqvi was carrying a communication to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. The message’s specific contents were not revealed.

Khamenei has remained out of public view since assuming leadership of the Islamic Republic following his father’s death on Feb. 28, the conflict’s opening day.

According to official Iranian media, Naqvi held meetings with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on Saturday evening and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday.

Pakistani officials have indicated that Islamabad, working alongside regional partners including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, is attempting to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran.

In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty and Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani reviewed “proposed elements” of a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry, though no specifics were provided.

Ukraine’s president arrived in London Sunday for high-level discussions with European leaders about continued support for his country and strategies to end the ongoing conflict.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Britain’s Keir Starmer at Downing Street, joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the June 7 talks.

“The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects,” Zelenskiy wrote on X upon his arrival in Britain.

“Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.”

Starmer greeted Macron and Merz at Number 10’s entrance before the Ukrainian leader’s arrival. The three nations form an informal security partnership known as the E3, which has emerged as a key supporter of Ukraine internationally.

Speaking Friday, Macron indicated Europeans could assist both Ukraine and Russia in developing a ceasefire and peace framework.

However, each side continues to blame the other for unwillingness to make concessions.

The Ukrainian president released a public letter Thursday suggesting direct negotiations with Vladimir Putin to resolve the conflict, which has entered its fifth year, but the Russian leader rejected the proposal.

In his correspondence, Zelenskiy claimed Russians had become weary of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes, economic inflation and fuel supply issues, making them receptive to peace.

Putin dismissed the proposal as insincere and said he saw no value in meeting currently, emphasizing the need for a “long term” solution.

During Thursday discussions with international journalists, the Russian leader maintained his firm position on the conflict while suggesting U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace proposals might halt the fighting if Kyiv showed willingness to compromise.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — The South African president delivered a national television address Sunday, vowing to take action on immigration concerns as anti-foreigner demonstrations and sentiment escalate throughout the continent’s most developed economy. Several neighboring countries have reported that their nationals are being subjected to xenophobic violence.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s televised remarks represented a recognition of the growing discord. Organizations opposing immigration have established a June 30 ultimatum for undocumented foreign nationals to depart South Africa and have sought discussions with government officials.

The nation has experienced previous episodes of migrant-related violence, notably in 2008 when xenophobic assaults on foreigners resulted in over 60 deaths, according to international human rights organizations.

Organizations demanding stricter immigration enforcement have attracted public attention through recent demonstration campaigns. These groups contend that undocumented foreign residents worsen the country’s severe joblessness crisis and add strain to overwhelmed healthcare and educational systems.

“Many South Africans are raising difficult but legitimate questions,” Ramaphosa said. “These concerns are real. They deserve to be heard, and they deserve to be addressed.”

However, Ramaphosa emphasized that officials would not permit vigilante justice or self-help remedies.

“Only authorized government officials can act against violations of our law,” Ramaphosa added, warning that some groups were “inciting” tensions.

No official statistics exist regarding undocumented migrants in South Africa, although various assessments suggest between 2 million and 5 million people among the nation’s 62 million residents lack proper documentation.

Being the wealthiest nation in the area, South Africa has historically drawn migrants from nearby countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho, along with others from Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Ethiopia. This migration pattern spans several decades.

Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique have recently reported that their nationals encounter intimidation and violence in South Africa due to their foreign status. Ghana brought approximately 300 citizens home from South Africa last month and indicated additional repatriations would be available due to reported threats.

Mozambique’s leadership announced this week that five nationals died in what officials described as xenophobic violence in Mossel Bay, a coastal town in southern South Africa.

South Africa’s coalition administration has emphasized immigration issues since forming in 2024 and reports removing over 100,000 undocumented individuals during the past two years. Ramaphosa stated Sunday that approximately 450,000 people attempting to enter South Africa without proper documentation were turned away at border crossings within the last year.

Ramaphosa acknowledged previous “weaknesses” in South Africa’s migration management and pledged “decisive” government response, while urging citizens to avoid turning against one another over immigration matters.

Military police in Israel have opened a criminal investigation into the death of a Palestinian baby who was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank on Friday.

Seven-month-old Sam Fahd Abu Haikal died when a soldier fired at the family’s vehicle, also injuring both of his parents. Israeli military officials confirmed the incident occurred in the occupied territory.

“Based on the findings of the preliminary examination, it was decided to open an investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division,” Israel’s military said.

“Upon its conclusion, the findings will be transferred to the Military Advocate General’s Office,” it said in a statement.

Military officials initially stated Friday that a soldier had discharged one round at a car that troops thought was speeding toward their position.

However, the infant’s father, Fahd Abu Haikal, provided a different account of events. He was behind the wheel in the Tel Rumeida area near the West Bank city of Hebron when he encountered soldiers on the roadway.

“The bullet penetrated the front windshield, went through my arm, and then struck my son in the head and my wife in the face,” Fahd told reporters on Saturday.

According to the father, he had brought his vehicle to a stop upon seeing the troops, and a soldier positioned about 10 meters ahead fired through the windscreen after the car had already halted.

Military authorities have not released the identities of any soldiers who were at the scene, and have not disclosed whether they remain on active duty.

PRISTINA, June 7 – The political party of Prime Minister Albin Kurti emerged as the frontrunner in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections held on Sunday, according to initial official tallies.

With 14.5% of ballots tallied, Vetevendosje captured 38.7% of the vote, data from the central election commission revealed.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s highest court determined Sunday that a dozen assembly seats designated for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan have constitutional safeguards and cannot be eliminated except through constitutional modifications.

The decision bolstered the regional administration’s stance in a conflict that has sparked weeks of demonstrations before next month’s legislative elections.

The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir delivered its judgment after receiving a presidential inquiry requesting clarification on constitutional matters related to the refugee representation and the forthcoming election for the 45-seat Legislative Assembly.

This significant decision eliminates legal ambiguity surrounding the electoral procedure, declaring that public safety cannot be compromised under the guise of demonstrations. The ruling followed Saturday’s arrest of numerous supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee, known as JAAC, an organization recently prohibited by regional authorities due to alleged public safety and security concerns.

The organization has conducted violent demonstrations in previous years and announced intentions to stage another protest next week to compel the government to meet its requirements.

The disputed refugee representation is allocated for individuals who relocated to Pakistan from Indian-administered Kashmir years ago, maintaining hopes of eventual return should the enduring territorial conflict reach resolution.

Kashmir remains split between Pakistan and India, with both nations asserting complete territorial claims over the Himalayan region and having engaged in two military conflicts since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.

The tribunal determined that legislative elections must occur within constitutionally mandated timeframes and that political conflicts, demonstrations, or constitutional disagreements cannot justify postponing the vote.

The court affirmed that refugee seats possess constitutional safeguards and may only be modified through constitutional amendments.

The judges also supported the administration’s position that unresolved constitutional matters should be handled by the Legislative Assembly. While acknowledging peaceful demonstration as a constitutional privilege, the court stated that activities disrupting public life, obstructing roadways, threatening citizens, or interfering with constitutional procedures lack legal immunity.

The ruling supports the administration’s contention that it cannot eliminate refugee seats through executive measures — a stance consistently maintained by Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore during discussions with JAAC.

Relations have deteriorated between regional authorities and the protest organization before a demonstration scheduled for Tuesday. Officials prohibited JAAC this week, claiming it threatens public safety.

Rathore stated Saturday that the administration had accommodated 36 of the organization’s 38 requests last year following negotiations between JAAC representatives, regional authorities, and Pakistan’s federal administration. He explained the remaining two requests concern constitutional matters that only the Legislative Assembly can modify.

The organization claimed Saturday that authorities killed one member when police discharged weapons. Kashmir police rejected the allegation, stating armed individuals had fired at officers overnight after being instructed to halt their vehicle.

Previous year’s confrontations between demonstrators and security personnel resulted in multiple fatalities, including law enforcement officers.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday that South Africa will target organizations responsible for stoking xenophobic violence, as anti-immigrant demonstrations continue to damage the nation’s international standing.

Several African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi and Mozambique are bringing home citizens who became caught up in the demonstrations, some of which have escalated into violence. Officials from Mozambique reported that five of their nationals lost their lives in the unrest.

During a nationally broadcast speech, Ramaphosa declared his administration would take action against those exploiting public concerns over illegal immigration for personal gain, though he did not detail specific measures planned.

“We will act against forces who are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal and criminal agendas,” Ramaphosa stated during his televised remarks.

“We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilize our country through inciting lawlessness and violence,” he added.

The president warned citizens against confronting people in public to check their documentation, emphasizing that only government authorities have the power to enforce immigration regulations.

Anti-immigrant violence has plagued South Africa repeatedly, with foreign nationals frequently scapegoated for the country’s economic challenges including widespread joblessness and criminal activity. Advocates for immigrant communities argue these claims are unjustified and manipulated by politicians seeking popular support.

During his address, Ramaphosa acknowledged that migrants were being unfairly held responsible for issues stemming from widespread poverty and lack of employment opportunities.

The administration is implementing various measures to handle migration issues, he explained, including tougher regulatory enforcement, comprehensive legal reforms, and collaboration with neighboring nations to tackle the underlying causes driving illegal border crossings.

Among the policy initiatives he outlined were plans to establish specialized courts for faster processing of immigration matters and modernizing the paper “green book” identification documents used by South Africans and legal residents with more advanced biometric digital cards.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa announced Saturday that his country has formally complained to the African Union regarding South Africa’s treatment of Ghanaian nationals. Ghana is documenting property losses suffered by its citizens during the attacks for potential future legal proceedings.

The White House is exploring a proposal to purchase the Chagos Islands directly from Mauritius, according to a report from the Telegraph published Sunday.

American officials have reportedly developed a plan that would circumvent the U.K. and establish a direct agreement to secure control of Diego Garcia, the report stated.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the Telegraph’s reporting. Both the White House and the UK Foreign Office did not provide immediate responses when asked for comment.

According to the report, this purchasing proposal represents one of multiple options being developed by the White House in a document designed to offer alternatives to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer transferring sovereignty of the Indian Ocean island chain to Mauritius.

The Telegraph also reported that the White House has maintained ongoing conversations with Downing Street regarding the future security of Diego Garcia.

In April, Britain’s government suspended its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which houses the joint U.S.-British Diego Garcia military installation that has faced criticism from Trump.

In February, Trump characterized the deal as a “big mistake.”

ROME, June 7 – Italian maritime rescue teams have pulled 10 bodies from Mediterranean waters following the capsizing of a vessel carrying migrants near Malta, according to a coastguard announcement made Sunday.

The vessel had left Libya with approximately 60 people on board before it overturned roughly 45 nautical miles east-southeast of Malta’s coastline, Italian coastguard officials reported.

“According to the latest information, a fishing boat in the area rescued around 48 people alive, out of about 60 reported to have set off,” the coastguard added.

“The Italian coastguard immediately dispatched a patrol boat to the area, which has so far recovered 10 bodies. Search operations in the area are continuing, coordinated by the Maltese authorities.”

Iran’s Parliament speaker has issued a warning that American military installations and Israeli facilities across the Middle East could face retaliation following recent developments in Lebanon and what he described as a U.S. naval blockade of Iran.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who serves as Iran’s Parliament speaker, made the statement on social media platform X after Israel conducted strikes against southern areas of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. These targeted zones are known to be controlled by Hezbollah, which maintains close ties with Iran.

In his post, Qalibaf criticized both the United States and Israel, stating: “They are neither committed to a ceasefire nor believe in dialogue, and through the naval blockade and violation of agreements regarding Lebanon they showed that they only understand the language of power.”

The Iranian official’s comments came in response to what he characterized as American approval for Israel to intensify military operations in Lebanon, as well as ongoing naval restrictions affecting Iran.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced Sunday that he had traveled to Britain for high-level diplomatic discussions with key European leaders.

Zelenskiy said he would hold one-on-one meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with a broader discussion format that includes French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz alongside Starmer.

In a post on X, the Ukrainian leader outlined the primary objectives of his visit. “The main focus is our defence in the war, greater cooperation for the security of all of Europe in the area of air defence, and our shared view of diplomatic prospects,” he stated.

Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of European involvement in future negotiations, adding: “Europe must be part of the negotiations and must be strong.”

President Donald Trump told NBC News in a recent interview that frozen Iranian assets will remain locked and sanctions will stay in place until a peace agreement is fully completed.

During the “Meet the Press” interview, Trump made clear that any relief for Iran would only happen following a finalized deal. “Comes after,” the president stated. “Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah.”

The president also indicated that Lebanon’s inclusion in any short-term agreement with Tehran is not a requirement from his administration.

“I think they’d like to see it, but I’m not demanding,” Trump explained during the Friday interview taping.

Military operations involving U.S. and Israeli forces against Iran commenced on February 28, with the Trump administration working for weeks to broker a potential peace agreement. “We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them,” Trump declared to NBC News.

Trump expressed willingness to engage directly with Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained out of public view since sustaining injuries during U.S. military strikes when the conflict began.

“I don’t want to say whether or not I know where he is, but there’s a good probability that I do,” the president revealed.

Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, maintain that a temporary ceasefire arrangement remains intact despite ongoing U.S. military actions against Iran, explaining to Congress last week that such strikes are defensive in nature.

Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar has leveled serious accusations against Israel, claiming the country is committing genocide against Palestinians just days after Israel revealed plans to establish its inaugural embassy in Slovenia.

The president took to social media platform X on Saturday to announce that the Palestinian flag would fly over the presidential building while condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

“The genocide against the Palestinians has not stopped, and the residents of Gaza and the West Bank are not living in peace and dignity. This is a symbol of blatant violations of international humanitarian law and human rights not only in Palestine, but also in other places in the world,” she wrote.

Her statement followed closely on the heels of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s announcement that Israel would open an embassy in Slovenia, marking a historic first for diplomatic relations between the nations.

Sa’ar revealed on Thursday that he had directed Foreign Ministry Director-General Eden Bar Tal to start embassy preparations and begin choosing an ambassador. Prime Minister Janez Jansa and Slovenia’s parliament have already given their approval to the initiative.

“The election of Prime Minister Janez Jansa marks a new chapter in relations between Israel and Slovenia,” Sa’ar wrote. “After years of the hostility of the previous government, we now have an opportunity to rebuild, strengthen, and deepen a real partnership.”

“An Israeli embassy is more than a diplomatic mission. It is a statement of friendship, dialogue, and a shared belief in freedom, democracy, and security. We are turning today a new page.”

Jansa expressed enthusiasm for the development, posting on X that he was “looking forward to a new era in Slovenia-Israel relations.”

Reports indicate the current administration has already begun reversing previous policies by allowing Israeli aircraft to resume operations at Ljubljana airport and taking down the Palestinian flag that had been displayed at the prime minister’s office.

Just last week, Slovenia had prevented an Israir passenger plane traveling from Tel Aviv from touching down in Ljubljana, compelling the flight to reroute to Zagreb, Croatia instead.

During former Prime Minister Robert Golob’s tenure, Slovenia officially acknowledged Palestinian statehood in May 2024. The following July, Slovenia imposed sanctions on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The prior administration had also implemented a travel restriction on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, established an arms embargo against Israel, and refused to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna due to Israel’s involvement.

Violence erupted Friday evening as Haredi demonstrators gathered at police stations in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, prompting law enforcement to use force to break up the crowds. The protests were organized in reaction to arrests that occurred during earlier demonstrations at Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg’s residence.

Reports indicate that demonstrators assembled outside the police facilities, with some attempting to force their way inside the buildings. Local residents reported being attacked during the unrest, and eyewitnesses noted that police took several minutes before beginning efforts to disperse the crowds.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that officers were sent to both cities and employed crowd-control tactics against the demonstrators. In Beit Shemesh, protesters allegedly hurled rocks at police officers as confrontations continued.

At Jerusalem’s Lev HaBira police station, officers worked to move demonstrators away from the surrounding area. Commander Shlomi Bachar, who leads the Zion District, ordered his officers to use force against the protesters. According to Maariv, police employed batons while working to drive demonstrators back from the station.

Throughout the confrontations, protesters shouted anti-police slogans while voicing opposition to the detention of Haredi demonstrators arrested at Sohlberg’s home and the court’s decision to extend their custody.

Violent encounters between law enforcement and demonstrators continued in Beit Shemesh, where officers also employed force while attempting to restore calm to the area.

Reports suggest that police had made advance preparations for the demonstrations after communications spread through the Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi) community encouraging Friday evening protests regarding the arrests. Even with these preparations in place, observers noted that significant time elapsed before police began responding to the situation.

A recent Channel 12 News survey reveals that Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, has moved ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in public opinion regarding who should lead the country.

The polling data shows Eisenkot’s Yashar! party making significant progress, while the former military leader has now become the top choice among respondents for prime minister. In head-to-head comparisons with Netanyahu, Eisenkot garnered 38% of support versus the current prime minister’s 35%.

When matched against other political figures, Netanyahu maintained leads over Bennett with 38% to 31% and over Avigdor Liberman with 36% to 24%.

Within opposition circles, Eisenkot outperformed Bennett with 46% preference compared to 39%. An additional eight percent indicated they favored a different candidate, while seven percent remained undecided.

If voting occurred immediately, the poll indicates Likud would continue as the nation’s dominant party, securing 23 Knesset seats with no change from prior polling. Naftali Bennett’s Together party dropped one seat to 21.

Eisenkot’s Yashar! party gained two seats and would claim 19 mandates based on the survey results. The Democrats under Yair Golan’s leadership maintained 10 seats. Both Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu earned nine seats each, with Otzma Yehudit taking eight and United Torah Judaism securing seven.

Within Arab political representation, both Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am would obtain five seats each. Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party stayed above the minimum threshold with four seats.

Several parties failed to meet the electoral threshold, including Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party, and Sami Abu Shehadeh’s Balad party.

The survey demonstrated that political bloc distribution remained static from the previous poll. Opposition parties, including Arab representation, would command 69 seats, while coalition parties would possess 51.

Public opinion regarding the potential appointment of Michael Rabello, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attorney, as state comptroller showed 45% opposition compared to 18% support.

Concerning election security, 57% of respondents expressed general worry about election integrity, while 35% indicated they were not particularly concerned.

Among opposition supporters, 53% favored a combined electoral list featuring Bennett and Eisenkot, while 33% rejected this concept and 14% remained uncertain.

The United States has circulated a proposed resolution among member countries of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s governing board, calling on Iran to provide detailed information about its nuclear facilities and uranium stockpiles ahead of this week’s scheduled meeting.

The draft document, obtained by Reuters on Sunday, requires Iran to furnish the International Atomic Energy Agency with detailed accounting of nuclear materials and safeguarded facilities within the country. The resolution also stipulates that Iran must allow the Agency complete access needed to confirm this information immediately.

The text specifically calls for Iran to supply “precise information” regarding its nuclear sites that have been damaged and its enriched uranium inventories.

Taiwan’s maritime authorities announced Sunday they successfully removed four Chinese government vessels from restricted waters near the island after an intense confrontation involving radio warnings from both nations.

The incident occurred as China continues to view Taiwan as part of its territory, with Beijing particularly upset over recent announcements from Japan and the Philippines about beginning official discussions to establish their maritime borders in disputed waters.

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

According to Taiwan’s coast guard, the four Chinese vessels – three of which were coast guard ships – entered Taiwan’s restricted maritime zone located 30 nautical miles southwest of the island’s southernmost point on Sunday afternoon.

Taiwan responded by dispatching seven coast guard ships to confront the Chinese vessels, successfully removing all four government ships from the restricted area by late Sunday afternoon, according to an official statement.

Taiwan’s maritime authorities released audio recordings capturing the heated exchange between the two sides. In the recording, a Chinese officer can be heard stating: “These are waters under Chinese jurisdiction. Our maritime law-enforcement formation is carrying out a special traffic law-enforcement mission in the waters of the Taiwan Strait. Do not interfere with our official duties.”

A Taiwanese coast guard officer responded by challenging China’s authority in the region, stating that China lacks any “sovereign rights” in Taiwan’s eastern waters.

“If conflict occurs, your side will face sanctions from the world. Only maritime stability can ensure your country’s development,” the Taiwanese officer warned.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office could not be reached for comment during non-business hours.

Taiwan has documented increased Chinese coast guard presence over the past two weeks, including confrontations near the Taiwan-administered Pratas Islands located at the northern edge of the South China Sea.

Chinese military forces already conduct operations in the area surrounding Taiwan nearly every day.

Taiwan National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu criticized China’s actions on his X social media account Sunday, writing: “The PRC is nothing but a big fat bully,” using the abbreviation for People’s Republic of China.

China has maintained its position of not ruling out military action to gain control over Taiwan, while Taiwan’s leadership continues to reject Beijing’s territorial claims.

Israeli forces carried out airstrikes Sunday targeting what government officials described as terrorist facilities located in the southern districts of Beirut, Lebanon, according to a joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

The military operation focused on the Dahiyeh area, which serves as a stronghold for Hezbollah, Israeli officials said. The strikes were conducted as retaliation for attacks launched by the group into Israeli territory, the joint statement indicated.

The controversial haircut known for being “business in the front, party in the back” took center stage in Denmark’s capital this weekend.

Thousands of enthusiastic spectators packed an outdoor venue in central Copenhagen on Saturday to witness Denmark’s annual mullet championship, where a dozen contestants showed off their distinctive hairstyles characterized by short front sections and lengthy back portions.

The wild 2026 competition, held on a stage in the heart of the city, drew over 1,000 onlookers for what organizers called the evening’s “mane” attraction.

Event founder Steffen Stiw Weber, a 37-year-old electrician, explained that the contest started four years ago following his own hair transplant procedure when he decided to grow a mullet.

Weber created the Danish competition after discovering he couldn’t participate in a similar U.S. contest due to citizenship requirements.

“I was like, OK, I have to do it on my own here in Denmark,” he said while smiling.

Judge Bobby Agren explained that participants were scored based on their haircut’s style, creativity, and overall stage presence, including their “mullet moves.”

Each participant received one minute on stage to display their unique cuts.

“I like the finesse, the twist, the nostalgia. I like it if it looks ridiculous or maybe ugly in a beautiful way,” said Agren, who operates two hair salons in Copenhagen.

“I think in our culture, when everything must … be perfect on social media and everything like that, I think that’s why people have to stand out from the crowd,” said Stiw Weber.

The competition showcased dramatic performances including alcohol consumption, breakdancing, and live musical acts. One participant even styled their mullet to mirror Denmark’s national flag.

Spectators roared and chanted throughout the event, their excitement clearly energizing the stage performers.

Following each act, judges displayed scoring cards to award points to contestants.

Construction worker Thomas Berg, 43, claimed victory after impressing judges with an energetic trampoline routine while wearing bright green athletic clothing and an orange headband to complement his mullet.

“I think it’s just funny. It’s just a big party,” said a grinning Berg after receiving his award. “It’s just nice to be a bit outside the box.”

While mullets have existed longer than professional hairstyling, the Oxford English Dictionary credits hip-hop group the Beastie Boys with popularizing the term through their 1994 song “Mullet Head” from the album “Ill Communication.”

The distinctive short-front, long-back style gained popularity among hockey players and 1980s musicians before eventually losing mainstream appeal.

Vogue magazine once labeled the mullet as “history’s most divisive hairstyle.”

However, the haircut has experienced a worldwide comeback in recent years. British publication i-D proclaimed 2020 “the year of the mullet” as pandemic salon closures and lockdown restrictions encouraged people to experiment with longer hair.

Similar mullet contests now occur globally, with Belgium hosting the European Mullet Cup just last month.

“It comes back every 20-30 years. There’s always a circular motion in fashion,” said Agren, the Denmark mullet competition judge.

Five Palestinians died and at least 16 others sustained injuries when an Israeli airstrike targeted a police station operated by Hamas in Gaza’s southern region on Sunday, according to health officials. The attack coincided with the start of renewed diplomatic efforts in Egypt aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.

Medical personnel did not specify how many of those killed or wounded were police officers. The strike targeted a police facility located next to a large camp housing displaced families in Khan Younis in the southern part of the territory. Israeli military officials had not provided immediate comment regarding the incident.

Over recent months, Israel has intensified its operations against police facilities and officers, resulting in dozens of deaths among police personnel, Hamas security officials reported.

Large-scale combat operations have been suspended since October following a ceasefire that ended two years of warfare, though negotiators have yet to finalize a comprehensive U.S.-supported plan calling for Israeli military withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza reconstruction.

Israeli forces continue to maintain control over more than half of Gaza’s territory, having forced residents to evacuate and demolished remaining structures. Nearly all of the territory’s 2 million residents now reside in a narrow coastal area, primarily in temporary shelters or damaged structures, under Hamas administration.

The status of Hamas’ approximately 10,000 police officers has become a contentious issue in discussions about advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan. Hamas seeks to incorporate them into a new police force, while Israel opposes any role for Hamas-affiliated personnel.

Egypt initiated a fresh round of ceasefire discussions with Hamas leadership and other Palestinian faction representatives, according to Hamas sources and others familiar with the negotiations. The talks are anticipated to continue for several days.

Both Israel and Hamas have repeatedly claimed the other side has broken the truce agreement. Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in more than 950 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began, while Palestinian militant operations have killed four Israeli soldiers.

The previous year’s agreement created a Board of Peace under Trump’s leadership to supervise a gradual ceasefire implementation, which received approval from the United Nations Security Council.

Nevertheless, the most challenging disagreements, including Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, and Gaza’s governmental structure, were deferred to later phases. Board of Peace negotiators have been engaging both parties regarding the disarmament matter.

Hamas informed representatives from the Board and mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that stopping Israeli attacks in Gaza was crucial for any advancement, according to group sources and officials familiar with the discussions.

Hazem Qassem, a Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, stated on Sunday the organization remained receptive to proposals that would end Israeli attacks in Gaza and establish common ground on second-phase issues of the Trump plan. However, he argued the Board of Peace should cease being “biased” towards Israel.

Approximately 73,000 people in Gaza have died since the conflict began, with most being civilians, Gaza health authorities reported.

Israel initiated its military campaign after Hamas-led militants crossed the border, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 Israeli and foreign hostages on October 7, 2023.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced Sunday that additional sanctions targeting Israeli settlers may be implemented within days as a response to increased illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank and rising settler violence against Palestinians.

Late last month, the European Union already put sanctions in place against Israeli settlers and organizations that provide support to them.

During interviews with Public Senat television and RTL radio, Barrot declined to identify which European nations might implement additional measures. However, referring to the earlier EU sanctions, he stated: “We could go further, and in the coming days, further sanctions could be imposed.”

Barrot’s statements come amid rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank and reflect growing frustration among many Western nations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has increased settlement activity. According to diplomats, this expansion seeks to weaken the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.

European diplomats told Reuters on Saturday that France is collaborating with multiple countries to increase pressure on Israel through coordinated national sanctions targeting individuals connected to West Bank violence.

“I am extremely concerned about the escalation of illegal settlement activity in the West Bank and the surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians,” Barrot stated.

“This is why I have pushed for sanctions to be imposed not only on those responsible for this violence, but also on the entities, companies and organisations in Israel that are providing these extremist settlers with the means to drive Palestinians from their land, burn their crops and destroy their public buildings,” he explained.

The Foreign Minister described the earlier sanctions as “a way of calling on the Israeli government to face up to its responsibilities regarding this violence which, in my view, also undermines the authority of the state to some extent.”

On May 22, seven major Western nations urged Israel to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank and control increasing settler violence.

“Over the past few months, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated significantly,” stated Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in their joint declaration.

The Central African Republic has reached an agreement to receive migrants from various nations who are being deported by the United States, according to two informed sources. This marks another instance of the Trump administration establishing partnerships with African nations to expedite removal processes.

The United States has previously sent these third-country deportees to African nations such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea through unclear agreements that Senate Democrats claim have required tens of millions in taxpayer funding. Many of these individuals had obtained legal safeguards through U.S. immigration courts preventing their return to their home countries. However, advocacy organizations argue these third-country arrangements enable the U.S. to bypass such legal protections.

The arrangement with Central African Republic was negotiated during a May 18 meeting in Bangui involving a U.S. delegation headed by Christian Jové Ehrhardt, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, according to a Central African government official.

“Central African Republic will indeed take in, within the framework of agreements with the U.S., immigrants deported by American authorities,” the official stated, requesting anonymity. A regional diplomat, also speaking confidentially, confirmed the agreement had been finalized.

Central African Republic has experienced ongoing cycles of conflict since gaining independence from France in 1960, resulting in widespread poverty among its 5.5 million residents. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who secured a third term in last December’s election, has sought Russian assistance for security matters while also expressing renewed interest in Western partnerships regarding critical minerals.

Details regarding the number of migrants to be relocated, their countries of origin, or the timeline for deportation flights remain unclear, though court records indicate attempts have already begun. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal issued a temporary restraining order on May 22 preventing the deportation of a Turkish national, noting that U.S. officials had scheduled the individual’s removal to Central African Republic for May 26.

An official from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the agency would assist deportees upon their arrival in Central African Republic. The IOM has previously aided third-country deportees in other African locations, including Congo. The United States allocated $85 million to the IOM this year for Central African Republic operations.

The Central African presidency and State Department did not respond to requests for comment. The Department of Homeland Security stated all deportees receive complete due process and directed questions about agreement details to the State Department. Washington has maintained the deportations are legally justified.

A deadly shooting incident in central Israel on Sunday left one person dead and five others wounded in what authorities are treating as a terror attack, according to Israeli police.

The victim, a 35-year-old man, was killed by gunfire while five additional people sustained injuries during shootings that occurred at three separate locations near the occupied West Bank, police reported. Two of the wounded are in serious condition.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the suspected shooter, identified as an Israeli Arab from the nearby city of Tayibe, was also killed. A weapon was recovered from the scene. Israeli media outlets reported that a second suspect was also fatally shot.

“Large police forces remain at the scene, and searches are continuing,” authorities stated, while asking residents to stay alert. Israel’s emergency medical services confirmed the 35-year-old victim died from gunshot wounds and characterized the incident as a drive-by shooting.

The attacks occurred close to the Palestinian West Bank city of Qalqilya. While the militant organization Hamas commended the attack, they did not take credit for carrying it out.

Following the shootings, Israeli military forces were sent to one location in central Israel and to a nearby Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Police reported they have found the vehicle believed to have been used in the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been informed of the situation, according to his office. Hardline Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a “profound change” among Israel’s Arab community, saying they are a “dangerous and extremist breeding ground for terrorism is growing that seeks to destroy the State of Israel.”

Nigeria’s military announced Sunday that it successfully rescued 360 individuals who had been kidnapped by the terrorist organization Boko Haram in the southern portion of Borno state, located in the country’s northeastern region.

Military officials said the rescue mission took place in the Mandara mountains, an area that serves as a key stronghold for the extremist organization. The operation resulted in the liberation of numerous victims, including children, who had been taken from various communities throughout Borno state.

According to army spokesperson Haruna Sani, two infants died from exhaustion caused by the difficult mountain conditions and the harsh treatment they experienced during their extended imprisonment.

“The remaining rescued abductees were successfully evacuated to safe locations for medical care and humanitarian support, marking a major operational success and a significant setback for the terrorist group,” Sani said.

The West African nation continues to grapple with severe security issues, particularly in northern regions where more than ten years of insurgent activity and operations by armed criminal organizations conducting kidnappings for money and unauthorized mining have worsened the country’s safety concerns.

The most notable Islamic extremist organizations include Boko Haram and a splinter group that has ties to the Islamic State group and goes by the name Islamic State West Africa Province.

In the previous month, the West African nation reported that a combined military operation with the United States resulted in the deaths of 175 ISWAP militants.

According to United Nations data, the northeastern insurgency has resulted in thousands of deaths and forced millions from their homes. Security experts argue that the government has not taken sufficient action to safeguard citizens, despite repeated commitments from President Bola Tinubu to address the crisis.

Pakistan’s interior minister traveled to Tehran Sunday in a renewed effort to restart diplomatic talks between Iran and the United States, while American military forces destroyed two additional Iranian drones threatening shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

The military action occurred as the U.S. administration continues pushing Iran to reach an agreement ending the Middle East conflict, which has damaged the global economy and created the risk of food shortages in some of the world’s most at-risk nations.

The most intense combat concluded with a temporary ceasefire on April 8, though the parties have failed to reach agreement on a permanent end to hostilities.

Combat between Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah persisted, even after last week’s announcement that a U.S.-mediated ceasefire had been prolonged.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran carrying a message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei from Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Iranian state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Khamenei has remained out of public view since assuming leadership of the Islamic Republic following his father’s death on the conflict’s opening day, Feb. 28, when the U.S. and Israel began bombing operations against Iran.

Naqvi conducted meetings with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni late Saturday, then held discussions Sunday morning with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, official Iranian media stated.

The message’s specific contents were not disclosed. Pakistani officials have indicated Islamabad, backed by regional nations including Qatar, Turkey and Egypt, has been working to resolve differences between the United States and Iran while promoting efforts to reduce tensions and ensure the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

The recent Lebanon ceasefire, announced during U.S.-mediated discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Washington last week, appeared to be failing.

The Iranian-supported Hezbollah has refused the U.S.-mediated agreement and instead supports Iran’s requirement that ending the Lebanon conflict be included in negotiations with the U.S.

Israel attacked what it described as more than 150 Hezbollah military positions during the weekend, including rocket launchers and command centers, throughout southern Lebanon.

Early Sunday, Israel detected at least five projectiles fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, which were either intercepted or landed in unpopulated areas. Hezbollah did not immediately acknowledge launching projectiles at Israel. The militant organization did confirm it attacked Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Two Israeli soldiers died in southern Lebanon fighting on Saturday, the Israeli military reported.

The Lebanon fighting, where Israeli forces have captured significant portions of the south during their latest ground operation, jeopardizes efforts to end the Iran conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for oil and gas transport. Its closure has disrupted the global economy.

Iran has insisted that any permanent ceasefire include Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections later this year, wants to continue Israel’s military campaign until he believes Hezbollah no longer represents a threat.

Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, departed for Pakistan Saturday following an invitation from Pakistan’s army chief. The Lebanese army provided no additional information and did not indicate whether this relates to Pakistan’s mediation between Iran and the U.S.

The U.S. military announced Saturday that it had destroyed multiple Iranian missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab partners, and attacked some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar installations in retaliation.

“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command said.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported it had targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which houses U.S. forces in Kuwait, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The U.S. military stated there were no reports of injuries to U.S. personnel.

Earlier this month, Iranian drones severely damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s primary airport, killing one person and injuring dozens.

The U.S. military has maintained its blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s control of the strait, a vital route for global oil and natural gas shipments.

Energy costs have risen sharply, creating political challenges for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Republican Party before midterm congressional elections in November.

A pair of earthquakes struck the Greek island of Evia on Sunday, registering magnitudes close to 5.0 according to information from the Athens Geodynamic Institute.

The consecutive tremors occurred on the island located northeast of Athens, causing no reported injuries. However, authorities noted some rockslides resulted from the seismic activity.

Residents in Greece’s capital city, situated approximately 80 miles away from the earthquake’s center in northern Evia, felt the ground shaking from the Sunday afternoon event.

Citizens of Peru headed to polling stations Sunday for a closely contested presidential runoff that could determine whether the South American nation joins a regional conservative movement or stands against it by selecting a leftist leader who has caused market concerns.

The choice comes down to two candidates: conservative Keiko Fujimori, whose father Alberto Fujimori served as a hardline president before being imprisoned for human rights violations, and leftist Roberto Sanchez, a cowboy-hat wearing politician who mirrors the rural messaging of jailed former President Pedro Castillo.

Recent polling data indicates both contenders are locked in a virtual dead heat.

The broader region has witnessed a conservative wave, with Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica and Ecuador all selecting right-wing leaders in recent contests, while Bolivia brought an end to twenty years of socialist governance in its most recent presidential race.

Crime has emerged as the dominant concern among Peruvian citizens surveyed by pollsters. Murder and extortion statistics have skyrocketed, sparking widespread demonstrations and ultimately leading to the removal of former President Dina Boluarte from office.

After previously attempting to separate herself from her father’s authoritarian and hardline crime-fighting approach, Fujimori secured first-round victory in April by embracing his political heritage. She drew parallels between his campaign against left-wing Maoist rebels and today’s battle against criminal organizations.

“We remember her father’s legacy and he built a good government. He ended terrorism; he ended hyper-inflation,” stated Willy Policarpo, 44, an independent worker and longtime “Fujimorista” who made the journey from the central Huancayo region to attend Fujimori’s Thursday campaign finale.

This marks Fujimori’s fourth appearance in a presidential final round. During the 2021 race, she suffered defeat by approximately 45,000 votes, representing slightly more than 0.2%, against Castillo.

Sanchez aims to duplicate Castillo’s success by concentrating on Peru’s second major political concern: economic disparity and the enormous socioeconomic gap separating the capital city of Lima from outlying rural areas.

His platform includes sweeping changes such as drafting a new constitution, restructuring mining agreements, and increasing rural investment. These proposals have found support among various groups, including the nation’s expanding informal mining community, though they have created market anxiety. Peruvian equities declined Friday as polling showed his campaign strengthening to match Fujimori’s support levels.

Political tensions remain elevated following a turbulent first round that generated fraud allegations and protest threats from both sides. The eventual winner must also navigate a divided congress that has removed three presidents over the past five years.

Voting begins at 7 a.m. local time and concludes at 5 p.m. Initial results should emerge within three hours, though final official tallies may require several weeks to complete.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Multiple gunmen carried out shooting incidents in areas adjacent to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and five injuries, Israeli emergency services reported.

Authorities confirmed they fatally shot one gunman. Extensive military operations involving ground troops and aerial units swept the region searching for other potential attackers. The multiple locations of the shooting incidents initially sparked fears of a coordinated assault.

Emergency response teams from Magen David Adom reported receiving initial shooting alerts from a fuel station near Kokhav Yair, a community on the Israeli side of the West Bank border, around 10:30 a.m. Additional shooting incidents were subsequently reported in Tsur Natan, Tsur Yitzhak, and near the Israeli settlement of Sal’it within the West Bank territory.

Authorities identified the gunman as a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the neighboring Arab community of Taybeh.

Local residents received orders to remain indoors while schools implemented security lockdowns, according to regional leadership.

“Since Oct. 7, the scenario we were expecting was terrorist crossing into our towns from over the boundary, I don’t think that anyone imagined that we would discover the attackers were Israeli citizens,” Oshrit Gani Gonen, the regional council head for the area that includes the towns where the shootings took place, told Israeli media.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet Sunday evening with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to coordinate continued assistance for Ukraine.

Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 European alliance – have served as major supporters of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Britain and France are spearheading the “coalition of the willing” effort aimed at providing security assurances for Ukraine during any future peace negotiations.

Sunday’s gathering follows a major Ukrainian drone assault that struck Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, demonstrating Kyiv’s expanding capability to launch attacks far into Russian territory. Gov. Alexander Beglov reported that three individuals suffered minor injuries during Saturday’s strike, which prompted authorities to urge residents to remain inside their homes.

As the battle lines remain largely static while drone swarms prevent territorial gains, both nations have attempted to gain advantages through long-distance attacks. The conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of its neighboring country has now stretched beyond four years with no resolution in sight.

The Saint Petersburg strike, occurring fewer than 24 hours after the conclusion of the city’s premier economic forum, delivered an embarrassing setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to portray the war as a remote conflict that doesn’t impact ordinary Russian citizens.

Putin on Friday dismissed Zelenskyy’s proposal for a meeting, stating he sees “no point” in such discussions.

In related developments, a Russian strike Sunday claimed three lives and injured one person as they waited for transportation in Balabyne in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional military administration head Ivan Fedorov, who posted the information on his Telegram channel.

WASHINGTON, June 7 – More than three months have passed since President Donald Trump initiated military action against Iran, and American armed forces are now adapting to an extended period of conflict that exists somewhere between full warfare and complete peace.

Throughout naval vessels and military installations across the Middle East, American service members – including those healing from combat wounds – continue operations while engaging in periodic firefights with Iranian forces as the Navy maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Meanwhile, the Pentagon works urgently to increase production of ammunition supplies that have been depleted, while military families at home struggle with the emotional burden of prolonged overseas assignments.

Iran has continued launching retaliatory strikes against regional U.S. allies, including Bahrain and Kuwait, with Iran conducting a ballistic missile strike against Kuwait on Friday.

Although Trump announced a ceasefire agreement with Iran in April, the military situation has evolved into a deadlock, with Iran maintaining its closure of the Strait of Hormuz to most maritime traffic while Trump warns of resuming large-scale bombing campaigns against Iran should peace talks collapse.

This ongoing threat necessitates that American forces maintain heightened combat readiness.

Such preparedness involves everything from ensuring military bases are equipped with missiles and defensive interceptors to continuously analyzing intelligence gathered from unmanned aircraft and satellite surveillance to keep target lists within Iran current in case intensive combat operations restart.

“To maintain this constant state of ‘Level 10’ alert vigilance, to be ready to go at the drop of a hat, is a very stressful and difficult operational mission,” said one U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Joseph Votel, the former commander of the U.S. military’s Central Command, described the current conflict phase as “a very, very dangerous period for us.” He said keeping troops ready during the ceasefire is no small challenge.

“It puts on a lot of pressure on leaders to make sure that people are still at their edge,” Votel said.

Asked for comment, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the U.S. military stands ready to support deployed troops “in every way imaginable.”

“The Department of War is proud of our incredible troops. Their courage, readiness, grit, and unmatched professionalism are why they are the greatest fighting force in human history,” Parnell said.

IMPACT ON SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

American troops who are recovering from combat injuries face significant challenges as the military adapts to this prolonged state of wartime operations.

U.S. Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Cory Hicks, 37, is among those wounded who are healing from an Iranian drone strike early in the conflict that caused him to lose his pulse for several minutes.

Hit by shrapnel that cut through an artery and broke his jaw, Hicks is also dealing with the effects of a traumatic brain injury from the explosion that may affect him permanently.

“It sounded like a small prop plane coming in quick,” Hicks told Reuters. “And then it just smashed into the building and blew up. And I remember a big bright ball of flames and lots of pressure and heat, and I was out.”

Hicks is not alone in adjusting to these new circumstances. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, where he receives treatment, is managing a fresh wave of combat medical cases years following the conclusion of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Hicks said.

Approximately 400 American troops have sustained injuries during this conflict, with many suffering traumatic brain injuries similar to Hicks. More than 90% have returned to active service, according to military officials. Thirteen service members have lost their lives in the conflict.

Military families also face emotional strain amid uncertainty about events occurring during the ceasefire period.

Iranian state media regularly broadcasts assertions about strikes against American naval vessels and aircraft. On Friday, Iran claimed it fired warning shots at U.S. warships in the Gulf of Oman, an incident the U.S. military denies occurred.

“It’s just really scary not to know details of what exactly is going on,” said Yadira Dessaint, mother of a sergeant in the Army Reserve from California’s San Fernando Valley.

Dessaint asked not to identify her son for fear of retaliation by the U.S. military. She has protested for an end to the war, which has damaged Trump’s popularity.

Just one in four respondents in a May Reuters/Ipsos poll said the U.S. military action in Iran has been worth it.

Dessaint said her son has witnessed multiple attacks on his position by Iranian drones, their debris falling around him after being intercepted by air defenses.

“I tend to send a text every day: ‘Good morning, son. I love you,’” Dessaint said. “Every so often, I get ‘I love you mom’ or ‘I miss you’ or something.”

CONTINUING DANGERS

While the United States and Iran work toward a potential agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil shipments passed before the conflict began, it appears increasingly probable that any deal would extend the current ceasefire while postponing resolution of the most complex issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program.

This suggests the current tense situation and demands on American military forces will persist.

Evidence of pressure on military operations can be seen in the massive consumption of ammunition during the war. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said it could require years to completely restore American stockpiles of missiles and interceptors.

Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., said it is not just inventories that are eroding.

“Wars are expensive. They grind on the equipment and the people, as well as the missiles that are shot,” Karako said.

Back in Maryland, Hicks maintains contact with fellow American soldiers in the Middle East, some frustrated by deployments that are being extended as the conflict continues.

“They’re doing a lot better now than they were. The threat is not as bad,” he said, referring to the reduced scale of fighting.

But Hicks carries the memory of six fellow soldiers who died in the Kuwait attack that injured him, including Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, 39.

“I was talking to Sergeant Amor when the drone hit. She was maybe 10 feet away from me,” he said. “It’s something that I’m going to have to deal with the rest of my life.”

Security forces in Nigeria have successfully liberated 360 captives from kidnappers who were holding them in a remote mountain stronghold located in Borno state’s northeastern region, military officials announced Sunday following an intelligence-driven mission.

The West African country’s administration has faced ongoing challenges for many years in addressing security threats, including conflicts between herders and farmers in central regions, as well as kidnapping operations, Islamist extremists, and community defense groups operating throughout northern areas.

The captives had been detained by militants from Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) in a remote location within the Mandara mountains in the state’s southern region, according to military officials. JAS represents the Arabic designation for Boko Haram’s primary faction.

The victims had been taken from different local communities in the region during an undetermined timeframe.

A combined task force including specialized military units conducted the liberation mission, compelling JAS militants to retreat from their stronghold positions, military sources reported.

Military officials confirmed that two young captives perished from exhaustion and the severe conditions they endured while being held prisoner.

The ongoing wave of abductions and the growing influence of armed organizations throughout Nigeria — the continent’s most populated nation — are expected to become major campaign topics leading up to the presidential vote scheduled for January.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung announced Sunday that he has demanded a comprehensive investigation into voting irregularities that disrupted the nation’s recent local elections, stating that both prosecutors and law enforcement will participate in the inquiry.

“As one citizen and as the president responsible for the government, I express deep regret,” he said in an X post.

The country’s local elections last week were disrupted when insufficient ballots prevented qualified voters from participating in the democratic process.

Following the controversy, the leader of the National Election Commission, an autonomous organization responsible for overseeing the election process, stepped down from their position. Despite this resignation, thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul, demanding that the local elections be conducted again.

In his social media statement, Lee described the situation as “difficult to comprehend” and criticized the NEC’s public response and explanations as inadequate.

The president revealed that he has requested parliament to launch a fact-finding investigation and develop preventive measures to avoid similar problems in future elections. He also indicated that he has called for discussions regarding structural changes to the NEC.

A newly premiered opera in Kyiv brings to life the harrowing real-world experiences of Ukrainian mothers who embarked on a perilous 3,000-mile journey to rescue their children from Russian captivity in occupied Crimea.

The musical work, titled “Mothers of Kherson,” received backing from New York’s Metropolitan Opera and draws from actual accounts of women who departed the southern Ukrainian city following its liberation in November 2022. Their mission: to retrieve their abducted children and bring them safely home.

These determined mothers navigated around the extensive 750-mile battle zone, traveling through Poland, Belarus and Russia to reach the facility in Crimea where their children were detained.

Ukrainian officials report that approximately 20,000 children have been confirmed as taken by Russian forces throughout the four-year conflict. A United Nations commission determined in March that Russia’s deportation and forced disappearance of Ukrainian children constitutes a crime against humanity.

Russian officials reject these allegations, claiming they relocated Ukrainian children to ensure their protection.

According to Save Ukraine, an organization that coordinates rescue efforts, only 1,343 children have successfully returned home to date.

Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, expressed his belief that using artistic expression to document Russian war crimes could increase public awareness and create a permanent historical record.

“It’s just an incredibly emotional story that these mothers would basically sacrifice everything, including their lives if necessary, to get their children back,” Gelb, 73, stated. He explained that transforming their experiences into operatic form amplified the story’s emotional impact.

“It has the capability of doing something that watching the news can’t possibly do, or reading a newspaper, which is to elevate our souls,” he remarked.

Among those attending the premiere at Kyiv’s historic 19th-century national opera house was Yulia Radzevilova, one of the mothers whose experience inspired Ukrainian composer Maxim Kolomiiets’ work. She successfully returned home just over three years ago with her son Maxim, who is now 16.

“The journey was very difficult and long,” the 39-year-old shared. Watching her story performed on stage moved her to tears: “I was transported back to those times and emotions. It sounds so beautiful.”

Radzevilova’s ordeal began when a teacher arranged what was described as a two-week recreational trip to Crimea in October 2022 for children to find respite from the war. However, Maxim remained there for four months. When Yulia requested his return, officials told her she would need to collect him personally.

Maxim, who was 12 during his detention, described the facility as resembling a “prison.” Children were prohibited from speaking Ukrainian, faced physical punishment, and were required to perform morning exercises while the Russian national anthem played.

He remembered tearfully contacting his mother through Telegram: “I wanted to go home. When I saw my mother, I was so happy.”

Thursday’s presentation, coinciding with Ukraine’s memorial day for children lost in the conflict, featured selections from the ongoing composition. The complete production will debut at the Polish National Opera in October, followed by its Metropolitan Opera premiere in April 2028.

Mykola Kuleba, who established Save Ukraine, recalled his surprise when Gelb contacted him following the 2023 rescues. The two later met in Washington to discuss the artistic project.

“An opera about kidnapped children – I’d never heard of such a thing,” Kuleba noted. He described experiencing the “magical music” at the premiere as a “moment of healing” during a period when Kyiv faces frequent air attacks.

Save Ukraine continues discovering additional cases of abducted children, many whose parents were killed, detained or have vanished. Kuleba reported that rescued children described being cut off from Ukrainian cultural connections and taught to view the West as hostile.

“We will not stop. We’ll continue our rescue missions,” he declared.

Keri-Lynn Wilson, who led the premiere performance, established the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra after the Russian invasion to highlight Ukraine’s artistic achievements globally. The Canadian conductor, who has Ukrainian heritage, believes the opera will increase awareness of Ukraine’s struggles and strength.

“Ukrainian culture and music are vital and alive and you can’t silence it,” said Wilson, who is married to Gelb.