diplomacy

Trump warns against Taiwan independence after China visit

economy

Bolivia unrest continues despite government deal with miners

  • Early Friday morning, the government said it had reached a deal with the protesters following "almost 12 hours of talks," Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza told reporters.
  • The Bolivian government struck a deal with protesting miners on Friday, but was still grappling with blockades and demonstrations by other workers across La Paz.
  • Early Friday morning, the government said it had reached a deal with the protesters following "almost 12 hours of talks," Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza told reporters.
The Bolivian government struck a deal with protesting miners on Friday, but was still grappling with blockades and demonstrations by other workers across La Paz.
However, other groups are still blocking access roads into the city, which is also the seat of government.
On Thursday, police prevented the miners from entering the main square by using tear gas, while the demonstrators hurled stones and explosives with slingshots, an AFP journalist observed.
Protests against the policies of center-right President Rodrigo Paz, in power since November, have convulsed the Andean nation since early May, and roadblocks were choking routes into La Paz throughout Friday, the national road authority said.
Miners demonstrating on Thursday demanded that Paz resign, arguing that he has not addressed their demands, which include the provision of fuel and work equipment.
Early Friday morning, the government said it had reached a deal with the protesters following "almost 12 hours of talks," Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza told reporters.
He said the negotiated agreement would be announced in due course, without providing further details.
"We mainly had nine points, all of which have been addressed successfully," Oscar Chavarria, president of Potosi's Federation of Mining Cooperatives, confirmed.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the governments of Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, and Honduras expressed their concern about the situation in Bolivia.
"We reject any action aimed at destabilizing the democratic order," the group said. "We urge all political and social actors to channel their differences by prioritizing dialogue, respect for institutions, and the preservation of social peace."
Paz won elections last year that marked a shift to the right after two decades of socialist rule.
He promised to end Bolivia's worst economic crisis in four decades, marked by an acute shortage of foreign currency and fuel.
Paz scrapped the two-decade-old fuel subsidies that had drained the treasury's international dollar reserves, but so far has failed to stabilize fuel supplies.
Now he is under pressure from all sides.
Schoolteachers, transportation workers, Indigenous people and other Bolivians have taken to the streets, calling for wage increases, economic stability and an end to the privatization of state-owned companies.
The Bolivian Highway Administration warned that roadblocks on routes leading into La Paz were preventing food supplies from entering the capital.
The government has been getting food into the city via air transport since Saturday -- a common response to protest blockades in Bolivia.
Argentina provided two aircraft to get food around the blockades and into the city, Jose Luis Galvez, a spokesperson for the Bolivian presidency, said Friday.
The prices of meat, chicken and some vegetables skyrocketed in some supermarkets this past week, after year-over-year inflation hit 14 percent in April.
gta/mvl/cc/msp/pnb/jgc

television

Eurovision final: how it works

  • - The songs - The song and artist can be chosen through televised national selection shows, an internal process or a mixed method.
  • The Eurovision Song Contest -- the biggest live televised music event -- has evolved to keep pace with technological, artistic and geopolitical changes since its foundation in 1956.
  • - The songs - The song and artist can be chosen through televised national selection shows, an internal process or a mixed method.
The Eurovision Song Contest -- the biggest live televised music event -- has evolved to keep pace with technological, artistic and geopolitical changes since its foundation in 1956.
The 25-country final of this year's 70th edition is being held on Saturday at the Wiener Stadthalle in the Austrian capital Vienna.
Here is a look at how the competition is put together and how the all-important voting system works:

Hosts

Winners host the following year's competition. Austrian vocalist Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, triumphed at Basel in 2025 with his operatic song "Wasted Love".

Who is taking part, and who is boycotting?

The competition is organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world's biggest public service media broadcasting alliance.
Competing acts are selected by EBU member broadcasters representing their countries. This year, 35 countries entered.
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia have pulled out in protest at Israel's participation, over the war in Gaza. It is the contest's biggest-ever political boycott.
However, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania have returned to the competition.
After a random draw, the participating countries competed in two semi‑finals held earlier this week. Ten countries out of 15 qualified from each.
Major financial backers Britain, France, Germany and Italy have reserved slots in the final, alongside the hosts, Austria, making up the 25 finalists.

The songs

The song and artist can be chosen through televised national selection shows, an internal process or a mixed method.
The songs have to be original and must not exceed three minutes.
Lead vocals must be live, performed to a pre-recorded backing track.
All performers must be at least 16 years old and a maximum of six performers may appear live on stage at the same time.
Since 1999 the songs can be in any language. The lyrics and performances must avoid political, commercial or offensive content.

Voting system

All 35 participating countries get to vote in the final.
Two sets of points, with equal weight, come from each country.
One set is given by a jury of music industry professionals after watching the second dress rehearsal.
The other set is given on the night by viewers voting via telephone, text message or the official app.
Each gives a maximum 12 points to their favourite act, 10 to their second favourite, then 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in declining order.
The rest of the world also has a viewer online vote, counting as an additional voting country.
Countries cannot vote for themselves.

Winner

Each country's jury votes are revealed in turn.
Moving to the second stage, points awarded by all 36 national audience votes are tallied for each competitor. They are announced one by one, starting from the bottom of the scoreboard -- thereby stretching out the suspense until the very end.
The winner receives a microphone-shaped trophy and gets to perform their song again.
bg-rjm/ach/ceg 

television

Eurovision: the grand final running order

  • Eurovision's main financial backers France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have guaranteed spots in the final, as do hosts Austria.
  • A total of 25 countries are taking part in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Vienna, with Denmark opening the show and hosts Austria in the closing slot.
  • Eurovision's main financial backers France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have guaranteed spots in the final, as do hosts Austria.
A total of 25 countries are taking part in Saturday's Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Vienna, with Denmark opening the show and hosts Austria in the closing slot.
Ten countries went through from Tuesday's first semi-final, while five were eliminated following votes cast by viewers and professional juries.
The final line-up was completed after Thursday's second semi-final, when 10 more countries progressed and another five were knocked out.
Eurovision's main financial backers France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have guaranteed spots in the final, as do hosts Austria.
The running order for the final was decided by Eurovision chiefs on Friday.
Here are the 25 countries, their acts and their songs competing for Eurovision glory on Saturday at the Wiener Stadthalle arena:
-- Denmark: Soren Torpegaard Lund, "For Vi Gar Hjem" 
-- Germany: Sarah Engels, "Fire" 
-- Israel: Noam Bettan, "Michelle" 
-- Belgium: Essyla, "Dancing on the Ice" 
-- Albania: Alis, "Nan" 
-- Greece: Akylas, "Ferto" 
-- Ukraine: Leleka, "Ridnym"
-- Australia: Delta Goodrem, "Eclipse" 
-- Serbia: Lavina, "Kraj mene"
-- Malta: Aidan, "Bella" 
-- Czech Republic: Daniel Zizka, "Crossroads" 
-- Bulgaria: Dara, "Bangaranga" 
-- Croatia: Lelek, "Andromeda" 
-- United Kingdom: Look Mum No Computer, "Eins, Zwei, Drei" 
-- France: Monroe, "Regarde!" 
-- Moldova: Satoshi, "Viva, Moldova!" 
-- Finland: Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen, "Liekinheitin" 
-- Poland: Alicja, "Pray" 
-- Lithuania: Lion Ceccah, "Solo quiero mas" 
-- Sweden: Felicia, "My System" 
-- Cyprus: Antigoni, "Jalla" 
-- Italy: Sal Da Vinci, "Per sempre sì" 
-- Norway: Jonas Lovv, "Ya Ya Ya" 
-- Romania: Alexandra Capitanescu, "Choke Me" 
-- Austria: Cosmo, "Tanzschein" 
rjm/jza/ceg

television

Eurovision: 70 years of geopolitics, patriotism, music and glitter

BY BLAISE GAUQUELIN

  • - Hit factory - Ever since the Swedish band ABBA rose to global fame after their victory in 1974, Eurovision has helped numerous stars, including Celine Dion and Italy's Maneskin, achieve stardom.
  • It's been the crucible of music icons from ABBA to Celine Dion, a flashy symbol of European integration, the charged focal point for geopolitics and a stage for social change. 
  • - Hit factory - Ever since the Swedish band ABBA rose to global fame after their victory in 1974, Eurovision has helped numerous stars, including Celine Dion and Italy's Maneskin, achieve stardom.
It's been the crucible of music icons from ABBA to Celine Dion, a flashy symbol of European integration, the charged focal point for geopolitics and a stage for social change. 
For seven decades, the Eurovision Song Contest -- which gathers performers from across Europe and further afield, selected by each country's public broadcasting service -- has delighted and, at times, baffled spectators. 
Now the glitzy annual competition -- hit this year by a boycott over Israel's participation -- is gearing up for its 70th anniversary grand final in Vienna on Saturday.
So what makes Eurovision so unique?

Geopolitical hotspot

The contest has been rocked this year by the withdrawal of several European countries in protest over Israel's participation following its war in Gaza, with the global backlash hitting last year's competition also.
But it was far from the first time the competition had been affected by geopolitical tensions.
During the Cold War, the absence of Eastern Bloc countries reflected Europe's division. Protests also erupted in the 1960s over the participation of Spain under dictator General Francisco Franco, and Portugal under the dictatorship of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar.
The 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus prompted Greece to pull out, while tensions between Georgia and Moscow and the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan have also left their mark. 
In 2022, Russia was excluded over its invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian contestant went on to win.

Reuniting Europe

On the other hand, since the contest expanded to the eastern part of the continent in the 2000s, Eurovision has served as a catalyst for European integration, said University of Glasgow expert Paul Jordan.
Participating in Eurovision has helped former Soviet republics such as Estonia and Ukraine cultivate their images as part of Europe, he added.
"Certainly for Ukraine, it was all about showing themselves as an independent Western, European country" while asserting opposition to Moscow, Jordan told AFP.
Galina Miazhevich from Cardiff University said that as much as countries have used "some ethnic elements and language elements to kind of declare: this is who we are", there has also been a melding of influences, with plenty of bilingual songs and homogenisation.

Social platform

In 1961, Jean‑Claude Pascal won with "Nous les amoureux" ("We the Lovers"), a song about a forbidden love that was later interpreted as an allusion to homosexuality.
The contest then became an ever more progressive stage, notably with the victory of transgender singer Dana International for Israel in 1998.
In 2015, Finland nominated Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat, a punk band of musicians with disabilities.
In 2021, Suriname-born artist Jeangu Macrooy addressed slavery, racism, and the colonial legacy in his performance.
That same year, Russia's Manizha performed a song about the pressures faced by women and women's emancipation, which stirred controversy in her home country.

Hit factory

Ever since the Swedish band ABBA rose to global fame after their victory in 1974, Eurovision has helped numerous stars, including Celine Dion and Italy's Maneskin, achieve stardom.
Following the rise of social media, singers and bands do not even have to win to make an international splash.
Armenia's Rosa Linn, who finished 20th in 2022, saw her song "Snap" go viral on Instagram and TikTok before scoring on international charts.

Cultural touchstone

Eurovision's vast archives rack up millions of views on YouTube, with performances that have become entrenched in popular culture.
Its fame has also expanded well beyond the world of music -- even breaching the United States, with the Will Ferrell-led 2020 comedy "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga".
It was not always so.
The show was "not cool" in the 1980s and 1990s and was dismissed as unappreciated kitsch in the West when eastern European countries joined, Jordan said.
The turn came in 2014, with the highly publicised victory of Austrian bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, Jordan added.
Even though some performances still leave audiences baffled as too vulgar, or with humour that is too niche, the show caters to a wide variety of tastes -- from pop to opera, rock to rap, folk to chanson.
And even those who do not like Eurovision have an opinion on it, said Jordan.
"It's a kind of cultural reference point that everyone has," he said.
"We're growing up with this television show. And I think there's maybe this nostalgia in a way that there isn't for other things."
bur/pdw/ceg

diplomacy

Boeing confirms China commitment to buy 200 aircraft

BY ELODIE MAZEIN

  • Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew home from China, Trump said the deal included "a promise of 750 planes, which will be by far the largest order ever, if they do a good job with the 200."
  • Aerospace giant Boeing on Friday confirmed that China had committed to purchasing 200 aircraft during a visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump -- a deal that could ultimately balloon with orders for 750 additional planes.
  • Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew home from China, Trump said the deal included "a promise of 750 planes, which will be by far the largest order ever, if they do a good job with the 200."
Aerospace giant Boeing on Friday confirmed that China had committed to purchasing 200 aircraft during a visit to Beijing by US President Donald Trump -- a deal that could ultimately balloon with orders for 750 additional planes.
"We had a very successful trip to China and accomplished our major goal of reopening the China market to orders for Boeing aircraft," the company, whose CEO Kelly Ortberg was part of the US delegation to China, said in a statement.
"This included an initial commitment for 200 aircraft and we expect further commitments will follow after this initial tranche," Boeing said, without specifying which models were on the negotiating table.
When asked by AFP to specify which planes were part of the deal, Boeing declined to comment.
The group thanked the Trump administration "for making this milestone happen," adding: "We now look forward to continually addressing China's aircraft demand."
In its latest 20-year outlook for global commercial aviation, published in June last year, Boeing estimated that 44,000 planes would be built worldwide by 2044, both to replace the existing roughly 21,000 aircraft in use and to respond to a growth in demand.
About half of that demand is expected to come from China, South Asia and Southeast Asia -- music to the ears of Boeing executives, who really only have one major competitor, Europe's Airbus.

'Big' planes

China's last order from Boeing dates back to 2017, when Trump went to Beijing at the start of his first White House term. At that time, it ordered 300 single-aisle and wide-body planes -- a mega-deal valued at $37 billion.
On Thursday, Trump had said China planned to order "200 big ones," in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
"I think it was a commitment," the president said. "That's a lot of jobs."
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew home from China, Trump said the deal included "a promise of 750 planes, which will be by far the largest order ever, if they do a good job with the 200."
US media have reported for several months that Beijing was poised to make a major order from Boeing that would include 500 single-aisle 737 MAXs and about 100 larger 787 Dreamliners and 777s.
The overall record in terms of number of planes for an aircraft order came from IndiGo, which purchased 500 Airbus A320s.
China was the last country in the world to reauthorize flights by Boeing 737 MAXs, after two fatal accidents on Lion Air in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in March 2019 that left a total of 346 people dead.
The 737 MAX family, Boeing's top seller, was grounded worldwide for 20 months after the accidents. It returned to the skies in the United States in November 2020 and in Europe in January 2021 -- but only in 2023 in China.
In 2019, Beijing had suspended all deliveries of Boeing aircraft. Four years later, in December 2023, it gave the green light to a delivery of 787 Dreamliners, and for 737 MAXs one month later.
Chinese regulators again halted deliveries for a few weeks in mid-2024 over a lithium battery issue in several models.
Boeing, the biggest US exporter by dollar value, was caught up in the tariff war launched when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. 
Beijing retaliated by forbidding Chinese companies from ordering Boeing jets -- or receiving those already ordered.
The world's top two economies reached a trade war truce late last year, allowing Boeing to resume normal activity with Chinese customers.
As of late last month, Boeing had 6,814 planes on order, including 4,371 737 MAXs, for a total value of an estimated $600 billion. 
elm/sst/pnb

US

Israel, Lebanon say extending ceasefire despite new strikes

BY SHAUN TANDON WITH AFP REPORTERS IN BEIRUT AND JERUSALEM

  • But he expressed his hope that the Lebanon-Israel talks "will pave the way toward a political solution."
  • Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire and hold expanded talks on a political settlement, the United States announced Friday, even as Israel carried out new strikes that it insists are not subject to the truce.
  • But he expressed his hope that the Lebanon-Israel talks "will pave the way toward a political solution."
Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire and hold expanded talks on a political settlement, the United States announced Friday, even as Israel carried out new strikes that it insists are not subject to the truce.
Israel has been pounding Lebanon and invaded its south in response to fire from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia movement that is not part of the ceasefire diplomacy.
Envoys from Israel and Lebanon's government, which has struggled to restrain Hezbollah, met for two days in Washington and said they would extend the ceasefire that was set to expire Sunday.
The cessation of hostilities "will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
He said that the State Department would hold negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent political agreement on June 2 and 3 and that the Pentagon would bring together delegations from the countries' militaries on May 29.
Lebanon's delegation said in a statement that the ceasefire extension and opening of military talks would offer "critical breathing room for our citizens" with a goal of "lasting stability."
In an implicit rebuke to Hezbollah, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told an NGO dinner in Beirut that his country has had "enough of these reckless adventures serving foreign projects or interests."
The latest brought "a war we did not choose but was forced upon us, which led to Israel occupying 68 towns and villages," he said.
The United States steadfastly backs Israel, with which it launched attacks on Iran on February 28, but has also gently voiced unease about Israeli troops' encroachments into southern Lebanon.
Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, who led his country's delegation, said after the talks that the priority was ensuring Israel's security.
"There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is great," Leiter wrote on X.
Iran's clerical state, Hezbollah's patron, has demanded a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon before any peace agreement with US President Donald Trump, who has been frustrated by Tehran's refusal to an accord on his terms.

Truce met with violence

Hundreds of people have died in Israeli strikes despite the truce announced on April 17. 
Moments after the ceasefire renewal was announced, an Israeli strike hit a center of the Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Committee in the southern town of Hanuf, authorities said. Six people died, including three paramedics, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Israel also carried out strikes in the southern city of Tyre after issuing evacuation orders, and Hezbollah said it targeted Israeli barracks in the northern city of Kiryat Shmona with drones.
Lebanon's health ministry said strikes in the Tyre district also wounded at least 37 people, including six hospital personnel, nine women and four children.
Hafez Ramadan, a resident near the building targeted by the airstrike, said it had housed people who had fled their towns due to the war and was adjacent to a hotel where more displaced were staying.
"There are only women, children and the elderly here," he said. "Because of this strike, people have been displaced again."
The Israeli military said another of its soldiers was killed in southern Lebanon, bringing the number of Israeli soldiers killed in clashes with Hezbollah since early March to 19. A civilian contractor was also killed.
It said it killed more than 220 Hezbollah fighters over the past week and struck hundreds of targets.

'Unacceptable' toll

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, said that diplomacy needed to stop the violence.
"The reality on the ground in Lebanon has been deeply alarming," he said. "Airstrikes and demolitions continue daily, with an unacceptable toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure."
But he expressed his hope that the Lebanon-Israel talks "will pave the way toward a political solution."
During the last talks between Israel and Lebanon, Trump brought envoys to the White House and predicted within the current ceasefire period that he would host a historic meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
That meeting has not happened, with Aoun saying a security deal was necessary first, and there was no mention of a summit in the last ceasefire extension.
Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Israeli attacks since then have killed more than 2,900 people in Lebanon, including more than 400 since the truce took effect, according to Lebanese authorities.
burs-sct/msp

diplomacy

Trump warns against Taiwan independence after China visit

BY DANNY KEMP, ISABEL KUA

  • Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
  • US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence after concluding his visit to China, whose leader Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support the self-ruling island.
  • Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Taiwan against declaring formal independence after concluding his visit to China, whose leader Xi Jinping had pressed him not to support the self-ruling island.
Trump ended the state visit claiming to have made "fantastic" trade deals, although the details were vague, and he did not appear to secure any breakthrough with China over his stalemated war on Iran.
Trump invited Xi for a reciprocal visit to Washington in September, signalling both sides will likely seek stability in the often turbulent relationship between the world's two largest economies.
On a key issue for Xi, Trump made clear he opposed a declaration of independence by Taiwan and appeared to question why the United States would defend the island in case of attack.
"I'm not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that," he told Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier."
"I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down," Trump said.
"We're not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China's going to be OK with that."
The United States recognizes only Beijing and does not support formal independence by Taiwan, but historically has stopped short of explicitly saying it opposes independence.
Under US law, the United States is required to provide weapons to Taiwan for its defence, but it has been ambiguous on whether US forces would come to the island's aid.
Xi had begun the summit with a warning on Taiwan, whose President Lai Ching-te considers the island already independent, making a declaration unnecessary.
Xi told Trump that missteps on the sensitive issue could cause "conflict".
Referring to comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said US policy toward Taipei was unchanged, Taiwan's foreign ministry thanked the United States for showing "it supports and values Taiwan Strait peace and stability".

No details on 'fantastic' deals

On Friday, Boeing confirmed that China had made an "initial commitment" to buy 200 aircraft, a deal previously announced by Trump. The company said more orders could follow. 
Trump also said Beijing would buy American oil and soybeans. 
"We've made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries," he said after a walk with Xi in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, a central leadership compound next to Beijing's Forbidden City.
"We've settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn't have been able to solve," Trump added, without providing specifics.
Xi promised to send Trump rose seeds for the White House Rose Garden and said it was a "milestone visit". 
But beyond Boeing, there were no other formal announcements from companies or from China on trade deals.
The reserve on the Chinese side echoes the tone of the summit as a whole, where Trump's overtures to Xi -- whom he described as a "great leader" and "friend" -- were met with a more muted response.
"Trump got the optics he was looking for and the Chinese were happy to give them to him," said Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.

Little on Iran

Trump had delayed the trip once due to the war in Iran, which has rebuffed his appeals for a peace agreement and retaliated by exerting control over the key Strait of Hormuz, sending global oil prices soaring.
Trump said Xi had assured him that China was not preparing military aid to Iran. Israel has alleged that Beijing has provided key missile technology to Tehran.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday released a statement on Iran saying "shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible". 
Trump also acknowledged that he could not persuade Xi to free Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon whose cause is broadly backed in Washington.
"He told me, Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do," Trump told reporters.
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific program, noted that Trump had already sounded half-hearted in his public comments on Lai.
"My sense is that the Chinese see that this is not a top priority for the United States," she said.
"What Trump seems to want most is purchases of American products -- that appears to be his highest priority."
The two leaders had been expected to discuss extending the one-year tariff truce that paused their frenetic 2025 trade war, struck during their last meeting in October.
But Trump told reporters on the way home that it "wasn't brought up".
burs-sct/sst/acb

War

US says Iran-backed militia commander planned Jewish site attacks

  • - 'High-value target' - Al-Saadi is most recently alleged to have plotted attacks in the United States against a New York synagogue and two Jewish centers in California and Arizona. 
  • US authorities on Friday detailed charges against a commander of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia who was allegedly involved in plotting terrorism against Jewish people in Europe, Canada and the United States. 
  • - 'High-value target' - Al-Saadi is most recently alleged to have plotted attacks in the United States against a New York synagogue and two Jewish centers in California and Arizona. 
US authorities on Friday detailed charges against a commander of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia who was allegedly involved in plotting terrorism against Jewish people in Europe, Canada and the United States. 
Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, 32, is said to have directed and urged others to attack US and Israeli interests, and to kill Americans and Jews, in retaliation for the war against Iran.
He was identified as a senior figure in Kataeb Hezbollah, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 
The Islamic Republic has in the past been accused of seeking to orchestrate terrorist incidents, and several have occurred since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February. 
According to US court filings, Al-Saadi and unidentified associates planned, coordinated and claimed responsibility for at least 18 terrorist attacks in Europe, and two in Canada.
Those attacks "appear to have been carried out both in retaliation for the United States and Israel's recent military actions against Iran and to compel the United States and Israel to halt those actions," a criminal complaint states. 
Examples included the non-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London on April 29, as well as several arson attacks on synagogues, Israeli businesses and Jewish schools in Amsterdam, Munich and elsewhere.
Al-Saadi's exact role is unclear, beyond allegations that he posted propaganda videos of the attacks on social media after they happened. 
In a recorded phone call, Al-Saadi is said to have unwittingly told an FBI informant that he or his associates were involved in the European attacks, as well as two in Canada. 
Authorities believe those include the March 10 shooting at the US Consulate in Toronto, in which no one was injured. 

'High-value target'

Al-Saadi is most recently alleged to have plotted attacks in the United States against a New York synagogue and two Jewish centers in California and Arizona. 
He allegedly paid an undercover US agent a $3,000 down payment to conduct the New York attack, before a warrant for his arrest was issued. 
FBI director Kash Patel said on X that his agency had arrested and returned Al-Saadi to the United States, calling him a "high-value target responsible for mass global terrorism."
Al-Saadi appeared Friday at a Manhattan court where he was charged with six counts including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorist groups Kataeb Hezbollah and the IRGC.
He is also charged with conspiring and providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to bomb a place of public use.
Kataeb Hezbollah is part of a pro-Iranian network in Iraq that regularly claims responsibility for attacks on American targets in the Middle East. 
The US blamed it for the December 2020 attack against an Iraqi base housing US troops that killed a US citizen contractor.
That incident sent tensions soaring, with the United States eventually killing Iran's most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone attack at the Baghdad airport.
Kataeb Hezbollah was also responsible for kidnapping American journalist Shelly Kittleson for several days in March 2026, at the height of fighting between Iran, Israel and the United States.
bjt/ksb

Global Edition

Stocks tumble as US-Iran impasse fuels inflation fears

  • "Today the catalyst is really the rally in bond yields, bond markets are under pressure as oil prices rise.
  • Global stocks slumped and oil prices rose Friday with worries about sustained inflation driving up bond yields with no conclusion to the Iran war in sight.
  • "Today the catalyst is really the rally in bond yields, bond markets are under pressure as oil prices rise.
Global stocks slumped and oil prices rose Friday with worries about sustained inflation driving up bond yields with no conclusion to the Iran war in sight.
The international oil benchmark Brent crude contract rose more than three percent to $109.26 a barrel. 
On Wall Street, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite slumped from fresh all-time highs set Thursday. The Dow was down around one percent.
The dollar firmed against the British pound, the euro and the yen.
The London, Paris and Frankfurt stock markets all ended the day with losses of more than 1.5 percent.
"It's been a strong, strong rally and there are some valid reasons for a pause," said Angelo Kourkafas of Edward Jones. 
"Today the catalyst is really the rally in bond yields, bond markets are under pressure as oil prices rise. There are some growing worries about government debt as countries potentially look to cushion the impact of higher energy prices via some consumer support."
Rising crude futures also pushed up government bond yields, including in Britain, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced fresh threats to his leadership. 
The yield on 30-year UK government bonds reached 5.869 percent, surpassing Tuesday's mark to hit its highest level since 1998, as investors demanded higher returns to reflect growing inflation risks.
In Japan, the 30-year bond rate hit four percent for the first time since 1999.
"The equity markets have been supported by fast-rising corporate profits and all the AI investments, while bond performance has been reflecting the concerns around energy and inflation," said Kourkafas.
Investors were left disappointed as a highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing failed to deliver major breakthroughs on the Middle East war or trade relations. 
Washington and Beijing both said trade agreements had been made, but no details were shared. Trump told Fox News that Beijing had voiced interest in buying US oil and soybeans.
He also said he did not bring up the issue of tariffs -- on pause since October -- during the summit.
China's top diplomat later said the two countries had agreed to continue implementing "all" agreements previously reached and to establish councils for trade and investment.
"The meeting... was big on warm words and symbolism but not outcomes," said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club.
"With diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Middle East conflict in limbo, fresh uncertainty has flooded in," she added.
The White House said the leaders had "agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy."
But investors had hoped for more progress toward reopening the crucial strait, where oil tanker traffic has ground to a near standstill since the outbreak of the war, sending energy prices soaring.
Trump also told Fox News on Thursday that he was "not going to be much more patient" with Iran.
"Stalled US-Iran diplomacy keeps supply fears firmly in focus," said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"Even if resolved next month, the oil market could remain undersupplied through October, keeping inflationary pressures high and adding another headache for consumers, central banks, and, eventually, investors," he added.
In Asia, Tokyo stocks closed two percent lower, while Hong Kong and Shanghai fell more than one percent. 

Key figures at around 2000 GMT

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 3.4 percent at $109.26 a barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 4.2 percent at $105.42 a barrel
New York - DOW: DOWN 1.1 percent at 49,526.17 points (close)
New York - S&P 500: DOWN 1.2 percent at 7,408.50 (close)
New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 1.5 percent at 26,225.14 (close)
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.7 percent at 10,195.37 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.6 percent at 7,952.55 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 2.1 percent at 23,950.57 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.0 percent at 61,409.29 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 25,962.73 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 4,135.39 (close)
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3316 from $1.3400
Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1620 from $1.1673 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: UP at 158.78 yen from 158.33 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.25 pence from 87.09 pence
bur-ajb-rl-aha/msp

court

Judge declares mistrial in Weinstein sex assault case

BY GREGORY WALTON

  • - 'Miracle' - During the trial, Mann recalled how he showered her with compliments after the pair met at a party in early 2013, when Mann was an aspiring 27-year-old actor and Weinstein a Hollywood powerbroker.
  • A US judge declared a mistrial in the trial of disgraced cinema mogul Harvey Weinstein after jurors again failed to reach a verdict on allegations he sexually assaulted actor Jessica Mann, prosecutors said.
  • - 'Miracle' - During the trial, Mann recalled how he showered her with compliments after the pair met at a party in early 2013, when Mann was an aspiring 27-year-old actor and Weinstein a Hollywood powerbroker.
A US judge declared a mistrial in the trial of disgraced cinema mogul Harvey Weinstein after jurors again failed to reach a verdict on allegations he sexually assaulted actor Jessica Mann, prosecutors said.
Weinstein, who was at the center of abuse allegations that spurred the MeToo movement in Hollywood, is already in prison for other sex offenses, so he will remain behind bars despite the end of this case.
"While we are disappointed that the proceedings ended with a mistrial, we deeply respect the jury system and sincerely thank all of the jurors for their time and dedication. For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement.
It was the third time that Mann has taken the stand against Weinstein after a 2020 guilty verdict was overturned due to mishandling of witnesses, and a 2025 case ended in mistrial after a jury-room feud.
"I felt like he was a really nice person and he was offering to mentor me," Mann told the jury last month, before painting a picture of an abusive relationship. 
Weinstein's spokesman Judah Engelmayer told AFP that "after hearing the evidence multiple times and seeing two juries unable to reach unanimity, it's clear there is significant reasonable doubt here." 
"The Manhattan District Attorney's Office should stop retrying the same case and focus its time and taxpayer resources on the actual violent crime, chaos, and public safety issues impacting New Yorkers every day."
He said that polling by the defense revealed that nine of the 12 jurors were in favor of acquittal. AFP could not independently verify his claim.

'Miracle'

During the trial, Mann recalled how he showered her with compliments after the pair met at a party in early 2013, when Mann was an aspiring 27-year-old actor and Weinstein a Hollywood powerbroker.
"He told me that I was prettier than Natalie Portman," she said.
She added that Weinstein's apparent interest in boosting her career, including buying her books on acting, initially seemed like a "miracle."
The 40-year-old's testimony -- much of which echoed what she said in the 2020 and 2025 cases -- was emotional and she took occasional pauses as her voice broke. 
Dale Margolin Cecka, director of the Family Violence Litigation Clinic at Albany Law School, told AFP there could now be a fourth trial on Mann's accusations.
"Mann would have to go through the entire process again. The district attorney has 30 days to decide whether to re-try (Weinstein)," Cecka said.
"(He) knew his team could paint Ms. Mann as a 'romantic partner' and plant doubt," Cecka added, while noting: "These women can still bring civil claims."
The Oscar-winning Weinstein, 74, is already serving a 16-year prison term in a California case for the rape of a European actress more than a decade ago. He is appealing that conviction.
He is also appealing a conviction on charges that he sexually assaulted movie producer Miriam Haley.
In 2017, blockbuster investigations by The New Yorker and The New York Times laid bare a series of claims by young women that triggered an avalanche of allegations from more than 80 complainants and prompted the global MeToo movement.
gw/sst

ebola

New deadly Ebola outbreak hits DR Congo, 1 dead in Uganda

BY DYLAN GAMBA

  • The current Ebola outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since the virus was first detected in the country.
  • A new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has been declared in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, African health officials said Friday, with neighbouring Uganda also confirming one related death.
  • The current Ebola outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since the virus was first detected in the country.
A new outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has been declared in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, African health officials said Friday, with neighbouring Uganda also confirming one related death.
Until now, the outbreak had been confined to Ituri province in northeastern DRC, bordering Uganda and South Sudan, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa). 
It warned of a high risk of spread, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths reported in the DRC. 
On Friday evening, Uganda's health ministry said a 59-year-old man from the DRC had died in Kampala after being admitted earlier in the week. His body was repatriated the same day. 
"This is an imported case from DRC. The country has not yet confirmed a local case," the ministry said. 
Tests showed the man was infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no vaccine exists. Vaccines are only available for the Zaire strain, which is the deadliest variant.
"It is a large outbreak," said Jay Bhattacharya, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The DRC government has not yet commented on the outbreak in the vast central African nation of more than 100 million people.
"The region where it is happening is highly volatile with the humanitarian situation" and cross-border population movements, said WHO emergency alert and response director Abdi Rahman Mahamud.
But he noted the country has extensive experience managing Ebola outbreaks.
"With the insecurity, people are crowded together in the city, and since there are so many people in the city, an epidemic like this would be very serious," Anne-Marie Dive, a resident of Bunia, the main city in Ituri, said by telephone.

Suspected cases

Mining in the gold-rich Ituri province creates an intense movement of people on a daily basis.
For years, it has been plagued by recurrent clashes driven by local militias, making it difficult to access certain parts of the province for security reasons.
The cases reported in recent weeks were in Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones, each home to around 150,000 people.
Suspected cases have been detected in Bunia, which has an estimated population of 300,000, and are awaiting confirmation, CDC Africa said.
The highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has killed an estimated 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years, despite advances in vaccines and treatment.
The last outbreak in the country was in August in the central region and killed at least 34 people, before being declared eradicated in December.
Nearly 2,300 people died in the deadliest outbreak in the DRC between 2018 and 2020.
First identified in 1976 and believed to have originated in bats, Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids. It can cause severe bleeding and organ failure.
- 'We just dug graves' - 
Burials have already taken place and concern is mounting among locals.
"For the past few weeks, the municipality of Mongbwalu has been recording a cascade of deaths, with at least five to six people dying every day in the streets," Gloire Mumbesa, who lives in the area, told AFP by telephone.
"We just dug graves to bury three people, but we don't actually know what these people died of. We're starting to be afraid of every possible case of illness," Salama Bamunoba, a civil society member in Rwampara, said.
A health source in the Mongbwalu area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an "exponential" number of deaths had been seen since mid-April.
Patients are currently placed in isolation in health centres but the staff lack equipment including protective gear, the source said.
In a country four times the size of France, delivering medicines is often a challenge, with transportation infrastructure limited and often in poor condition.
The current Ebola outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since the virus was first detected in the country.
Guinea, Uganda and Sierra Leone have also seen Ebola outbreaks in recent years.
burs-cld/rh/phz

Israel

Prosecutors seek death penalty for US man charged with killing Israeli embassy staffers

  • US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a court filing that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Rodriguez, who faces murder, firearms and hate crime charges. 
  • Prosecutors said Friday that they will seek the death penalty for a Chicago man charged with fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers in the US capital last year.
  • US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a court filing that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Rodriguez, who faces murder, firearms and hate crime charges. 
Prosecutors said Friday that they will seek the death penalty for a Chicago man charged with fatally shooting two Israeli embassy staffers in the US capital last year.
Elias Rodriguez was arrested immediately after the May 21 shooting of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his fiancee, Sarah Milgrim, 26, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a court filing that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Rodriguez, who faces murder, firearms and hate crime charges. 
"Rodriguez's actions were motivated by political, ideological, national, and religious bias, contempt, and hatred," Pirro said.
Rodriguez allegedly shouted "Free Palestine" as he was taken away by police after the shooting and told officers, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza."
According to the FBI, Rodriguez is believed to have acted alone, motivated by "anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian ideology."
Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, was a researcher at the Israeli embassy, while Milgrim, an American, worked for its public diplomacy department. The couple were engaged to be married.
President Donald Trump is a proponent of capital punishment and has called for an expansion of its use "for the vilest crimes."
cl/msp

television

Eurovision finalists tune up as boycotting Spain digs in

BY ROBIN MILLARD

  • "We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history,"  Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday in a video message on X. "In the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option.
  • Eurovision performers from 25 countries on Friday went through a full dress rehearsal for the grand final, while Spain's prime minister defended the country's boycott of this year's event over Israel's participation.
  • "We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history,"  Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday in a video message on X. "In the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option.
Eurovision performers from 25 countries on Friday went through a full dress rehearsal for the grand final, while Spain's prime minister defended the country's boycott of this year's event over Israel's participation.
This year in Vienna marks the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which despite the razzmatazz rarely escapes the politics in the background.
Eurovision is the world's biggest live televised music spectacle, typically reaching more than 150 million viewers, and Saturday's final at the Wiener Stadthalle is set to be no exception.
But Israel's presence has drawn a political boycott from five countries, including Spain, which is traditionally one of the top financial contributors to the glitzy extravaganza.
"We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history,"  Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday in a video message on X.
"In the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option. And we cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and in Lebanon."
In a central Vienna square, hundreds of demonstrators gathered for a pro-Palestinian event dubbed a "song protest" featuring a concert and speeches.
"Culture is a very important factor in protesting against injustice in the world," said Marco Van Jura, 38, one of the organisers, adding that the event aimed to "take a stand".
Eurovision director Martin Green said the door remained open for Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia to return.
"Regarding our five family members, we've made it very clear to them we can't wait for them to come back," he said Thursday.
"Obviously, the ball's in their court because it's their decision. And I'm sure those conversations will continue."

Audience mikes kept open

Finland are the overall favourites to win Saturday's final, with its violin and vocal duet "Liekinheitin", or "Flamethrower".
They came through Tuesday's first semi-final, along with Greece and Israel.
Four people were thrown out of Austria's biggest arena after attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, with the chanting of slogans heard on the live broadcast.
Asked whether they would mute the audience microphones in Saturday's final in case of further protests or disruption, host broadcaster ORF's programme director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz said: "We made the decision and we're going to stick to this decision. And we are sure that love will win."

Australian star rising

Australia's Delta Goodrem came through Thursday's second semi-final with her song "Eclipse", with bookmakers considering the 41-year-old established star as Finland's closest contender for the crown.
Australia has appeared at Eurovision by invitation since 2015, and Goodrem's performance went down well with the more than 10,000 fans in the arena.
She stood on top of a golden glittering piano, then soared into the air on a riser as sparks fell from the ceiling.
Romania and Denmark were among the others to qualify from Thursday's show.
Romania's heavy metal song "Choke Me" caused a minor furore in the Eurovision build-up over the lyrics.
Denmark's Soren Torpegaard Lund sang "For Vi Gar Hjem" ("Before We Go Home"), plunging the crowd into the world of nightclubs.
The 27-year-old musical theatre singer will open Saturday's final. 
Bulgarian pop singer Dara got the party started with some highly choreographed dancing on "Bangaranga".
"We have nothing like this in America, and I think Eurovision is phenomenal because it brings everybody together," Tory Huflar, a US fan, told AFP after Thursday's concert.
Australian fan Grace Casper said it was "an amazing thing to see... it's a very different experience to see it in person".
The final is decided by a mixture of public televoting and professional juries in participating countries, and a televote from viewers in the rest of the world.
Eurovision 2026 executive producer Michael Kroen told reporters after Friday's dress rehearsal: "We have a lot of different acts and features that really tell a story about 70 years of singing, laughing, happy people -- and that's what we're all about."
bur-rjm/phz

panda

Indonesia's first giant panda is set to charm the public

  • Ahead of his debut later this month, Rio has already amassed many fans who can't wait to see him. 
  • With his signature black and white fur, the first giant panda born in Indonesia is growing and thriving ahead of his public debut this month. 
  • Ahead of his debut later this month, Rio has already amassed many fans who can't wait to see him. 
With his signature black and white fur, the first giant panda born in Indonesia is growing and thriving ahead of his public debut this month. 
Satrio Wiratama was born in November last year in Taman Safari Indonesia, a zoo in Cisarua, West Java, to a pair of pandas loaned by China to Indonesia.
"There are so many Indonesians who had to go all the way to China just to see baby pandas. Now they don't have to anymore," zoo director Aswin Sumampau told reporters Friday. 
Inside the enclosure built to welcome his parents, the 170-day-old cub, whose name means "brave and noble warrior", was playing with a panda stuffed toy and a bamboo teether. 
His mother, Hu Chun, and his father, Cai Tao, arrived in Indonesia in 2017 when they were both seven years old as part of "panda diplomacy" aimed at celebrating 60 years of bilateral ties between the two countries. 
Nicknamed Rio, the cub was the only panda born in a zoo outside China in the past three years, Aswin said. 
Ahead of his debut later this month, Rio has already amassed many fans who can't wait to see him. 
"The little panda is cute, adorable and totally heart-melting," a fan wrote on the zoo's social media page. 
Rio currently weighs more than 11 kilograms and is still learning to climb, according to Bongot Huaso Mulia, the veterinarian caring for him. 
The cub, whose coat is still peppered with reddish fur, is very active and still nursing, he said. 
China has a long history of using giant pandas -- a national icon -- in its diplomatic outreach.
Indonesia maintains it has no maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, unlike other Asian nations, and does not contest ownership of reefs or islets there. 
str-dsa/acb

diplomacy

Showdowns and spycraft on Trump-Xi summit sidelines

BY DANNY KEMP

  • A Chinese official replied: “The security of our side does not allow you.”
  • While Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were hailing their friendship for the cameras, it was less amicable for the rival Chinese and US security services.
  • A Chinese official replied: “The security of our side does not allow you.”
While Donald Trump and Xi Jinping were hailing their friendship for the cameras, it was less amicable for the rival Chinese and US security services.
From a standoff over a US Secret Service agent’s weapon to a US staffer trampled during a melee, tensions bubbled to the surface throughout Trump's visit to Beijing.
The mutual distrust was underscored when US officials made staffers and media, including an AFP reporter, boarding Air Force One hand over all badges and pins given to them by the Chinese side.
Along with "burner" phones from the US delegation, the confiscated items were tossed in a trash can at the bottom of the stairs of the presidential jet.
For all Xi’s warm words about being "partners not rivals," this was always a summit between two superpowers with a long history of suspicion.
As they vie for supremacy without tipping over into conflict, both sides are taking their espionage and counterintelligence efforts to new heights.
The result in Beijing verged at times towards collective paranoia.
US officials and journalists traveling to China to cover the summit were advised to use phones and laptops that could be wiped or disposed of back home to preserve cybersecurity.
The frictions also played out on the ground in Beijing as US and Chinese officials appeared to be having their own shadow superpower battle.

'Don't run over anybody'

Two incidents made headlines, including when Chinese officials blocked US officials and journalists in a room during Trump and Xi's visit to the Temple of Heaven.
“We're in the motorcade with the president. Do you not understand that?" said one journalist, in scenes witnessed by an AFP reporter.
A Chinese official replied: “The security of our side does not allow you.”
Voices were raised and the US group ended up pushing past the Chinese team to get to their vans in Trump’s motorcade before it left.
"US press, we are going," a US official said. "Be gentle but we are going. Don’t run over anybody, do not do what they did to us."
That appeared to refer to an earlier incident at the Great Hall of the People, in which a US staffer fell and had her ankle trodden on as officials from both sides tried to corral journalists rushing to film the start of the Trump-Xi talks.
Earlier at the temple, US and Chinese officials had clashed over whether a US Secret Service agent should be allowed to bring his weapon into the complex.
For nearly half an hour under the sun on Beijing’s hottest day of the year, they had increasingly intense discussions as unyielding Chinese officials insisted the agent could not pass.
At almost every turn, there appeared to be diplomatic arm-wrestling between US and Chinese over timings, positions and alleged last-minute schedule changes.
US and Chinese officials like to talk about the principle of "reciprocity" in their relationship, particularly when it comes to confidence building measures.
But it can cut both ways -- and Xi is now due to visit the White House in September.
At one point in the Temple of Heaven standoff, an official could be heard talking about what would happen on that trip.
Both sides are known for ensuring that when limitations are placed on numbers for officials or journalists, tit-for-tat measures are taken when the other country makes a return visit.
One senior US official in the administration of president Joe Biden was even reportedly denied breakfast after their counterpart did not get their morning meal.
With Trump and Xi eyeing three more meetings in 2026, it could be a long year for their staff.
dk/bgs

troops

US scraps deployment of 4,000 troops to Poland

BY W.G. DUNLOP

  • "If a brigade other than the one originally planned is sent to Poland -- maybe the one from Germany -- and 5,000 soldiers leave Germany for Poland... there is no change to the security guarantees," Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
  • The United States has canceled the planned deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, US officials said Friday, as Washington reorganizes its forces in Europe after announcing it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.
  • "If a brigade other than the one originally planned is sent to Poland -- maybe the one from Germany -- and 5,000 soldiers leave Germany for Poland... there is no change to the security guarantees," Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
The United States has canceled the planned deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland, US officials said Friday, as Washington reorganizes its forces in Europe after announcing it would withdraw thousands of troops from Germany.
The head of US European Command "received the instructions on the force reduction," General Christopher LaNeve, the acting chief of staff of the US Army, said during a congressional hearing when asked about the canceled deployment.
"I've worked with him in close consultation on what that force unit would be, and it... made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater," LaNeve said, referring to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team.
Some elements of the unit had already been sent overseas and its equipment was in transit, according to the general, who said the order to cancel the deployment came from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's office.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, testifying alongside LaNeve, said the deployment was scrapped "a couple days ago."
Republican Representative Don Bacon said Poland had not been informed in advance.
"They called me yesterday. They did not know, they were blindsided," Bacon said during the hearing, describing the canceled deployment as "reprehensible" and "an embarrassment to our country."
Representative Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat, also criticized the move, saying that "when we take that many troops away, it says that we are not reliable ally."
At the beginning of this month, the Pentagon announced that Washington would pull 5,000 troops from Germany, with spokesman Sean Parnell saying the withdrawal was expected "to be completed over the next six to twelve months."

Iran war dispute

That announcement came during a heated dispute between Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the US-Israeli war against Iran, and the US president subsequently said the troop reduction would be "a lot further than 5,000," without providing details.
Poland's defense minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, suggested Friday that the cancelation of the deployment to his country could be related to the removal of troops from Germany.
"If a brigade other than the one originally planned is sent to Poland -- maybe the one from Germany -- and 5,000 soldiers leave Germany for Poland... there is no change to the security guarantees," Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters.
Trump has threatened to slash US troop numbers in Germany and other European allies during both his White House terms, saying he wants Europe to take on greater responsibility for its defense rather than depending on Washington.
He now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the Middle East war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran's forces have effectively closed.
A NATO official told AFP on Friday that "we know that the US is working to adjust its posture in Europe."
"A focus on rotational forces would not impact NATO's deterrence and defense plans. And we're already seeing increasing presence on the eastern flank from Canada and Germany -- all of which contributes to a stronger NATO overall," the official added.
burs-wd/ksb

Global Edition

Stocks tumble as US-Iran impasse fuels inflation fears

  • But investors had hoped for more progress toward reopening the crucial strait, where oil tanker traffic has ground to a near standstill since the outbreak of the war, sending energy prices soaring.
  • Global stocks slumped and oil prices rose Friday as talks between the United States and China failed to deliver progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rekindling worries of persistent inflation pressures that could derail economic growth. 
  • But investors had hoped for more progress toward reopening the crucial strait, where oil tanker traffic has ground to a near standstill since the outbreak of the war, sending energy prices soaring.
Global stocks slumped and oil prices rose Friday as talks between the United States and China failed to deliver progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, rekindling worries of persistent inflation pressures that could derail economic growth. 
Oil prices rose three percent, with the international benchmark Brent crude contract at nearly $109 a barrel. 
Rising crude futures also pushed up government bond yields, including in Britain, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced fresh threats to his leadership. 
The yield on 30-year UK government bonds reached 5.869 percent, surpassing Tuesday's mark to hit its highest level since 1998, as investors demanded higher returns to reflect growing inflation risks.
In Japan, the 30-year bond rate hit four percent for the first time since 1999.
"Bond yields have continued to march higher, and this has introduced more volatility to the wider financial markets as investors worry about the impact of increased government borrowings across the developed economies and what they mean for their economies," said FOREX.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada.
On Wall Street, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite slumped from fresh all-time highs set Thursday as an AI tech rally rolled on. 
The dollar firmed against the British pound, the euro and the yen.
The London, Paris and Frankfurt stock markets all ended the day with losses of more than 1.5 percent.
Investors were left disappointed as highly anticipated talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping failed to deliver major breakthroughs on the Middle East war or trade relations. 
Trump did not spell out the trade agreements he said had been sealed with China, but told Fox News that Beijing had voiced interest in buying US oil and soybeans.
Trump also said he did not bring up the issue of tariffs during the summit.
China's top diplomat later said the two countries had agreed to continue implementing "all" agreements previously reached and to establish councils for trade and investment.
"The meeting... was big on warm words and symbolism but not outcomes," said Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club.
"With diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Middle East conflict in limbo, fresh uncertainty has flooded in," she added.
The White House said the leaders had "agreed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to support the free flow of energy".
But investors had hoped for more progress toward reopening the crucial strait, where oil tanker traffic has ground to a near standstill since the outbreak of the war, sending energy prices soaring.
Trump also told Fox News on Thursday that he was "not going to be much more patient" with Iran.
"Stalled US-Iran diplomacy keeps supply fears firmly in focus," said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"Even if resolved next month, the oil market could remain undersupplied through October, keeping inflationary pressures high and adding another headache for consumers, central banks, and, eventually, investors," he added.
In Asia, Tokyo stocks closed two percent lower, while Hong Kong and Shanghai fell more than one percent. 

Key figures at around 1530 GMT

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 3.0 percent at $108.88 a barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 3.5 percent at $104.71 a barrel
New York - DOW: DOWN 0.9 percent at 49,636.63 points
New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,436.28
New York - Nasdaq Composite: DOWN 1.1 percent at 26,335.25
London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.7 percent at 10,195.37 (close)
Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 1.6 percent at 7,952.55 (close)
Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 2.1 percent at 23,950.57 (close)
Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.0 percent at 61,409.29 (close)
Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.6 percent at 25,962.73 (close)
Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 1.0 percent at 4,135.39 (close)
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3324 from $1.3400
Euro/dollar: DOWN at 1.1624 from $1.1673 on Thursday
Dollar/yen: UP at 158.68 yen from 158.33 yen
Euro/pound: UP at 87.25 pence from 87.09 pence
bur-ajb-rl/rlp

conflict

Ukraine vows more strikes on Russia after attack on Kyiv kills 24

BY DARIA ANDRIIEVSKA WITH ROMAN PILIPEY IN CHERNIGIV REGION

  • Kyiv has responded with its own attacks and a drone strike on the Russian city of Ryazan earlier Friday killed four people including a child, according to officials there.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Friday to launch more retaliatory strikes on Russia, a day after a Russian strike on Kyiv killed 24 people, including three children, according to officials.
  • Kyiv has responded with its own attacks and a drone strike on the Russian city of Ryazan earlier Friday killed four people including a child, according to officials there.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed on Friday to launch more retaliatory strikes on Russia, a day after a Russian strike on Kyiv killed 24 people, including three children, according to officials.
Russia has shown little sign of halting its more than four-year invasion of Ukraine, launching hundreds of drones and multiple missiles at its neighbour every day.
Kyiv has responded with its own attacks and a drone strike on the Russian city of Ryazan earlier Friday killed four people including a child, according to officials there.
US-led talks on ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II have stalled in recent months, while Moscow has ruled out a ceasefire or comprehensive negotiations with Kyiv unless it caves to its maximalist demands.
"Ukraine will not allow any of the aggressor's strikes that take the lives of our people to go unpunished," Zelensky said in a post on X.
"We are entirely justified in our responses against Russia's oil industry, military production, and those directly responsible for committing war crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians," he added.
Earlier Friday, Zelensky visited the site of a building in Kyiv ripped apart by a Russian missile.
"Here, Russia took the lives of 24 people, including three children," Zelensky said, after walking through a courtyard littered with rubble.
The three children killed were all girls -- aged 12, 15 and 17. 
The father of the youngest -- named as Liubava Yakovleva -- had already died fighting Russia's invasion, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.
"Rescue operations lasted more than 28 hours, 30 people were thankfully saved due to the tireless efforts of our emergency workers," she said on social media.
Two dozen people were still in hospital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

POW swap

The scenes in Kyiv contrasted with elation in northern Ukraine, where 205 Ukrainian soldiers were freed in the latest POW exchange with Moscow.
AFP reporters saw the released fighters -- with shaven-heads and draped in Ukrainian flags -- cheering, crying, embracing one another and waiting to be reunited with their families.
Kyiv freed the same number of Russian soldiers.
Moscow said its 205 released troops were brought to its ally Belarus, where they were receiving "psychological and medical assistance". 
The exchanges remain one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between the two sides, at war since Russia ordered troops into its neighbour in February 2022.
The release was the "first stage of the 1,000 for 1,000 exchange" that had been brokered and previously announced by US President Donald Trump, Zelensky said.
Most of the freed Ukrainian troops had been in Russian captivity since 2022, including those who fought for Mariupol's steelworks Azovstal and at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, which briefly fell to Moscow at the start of its invasion.

Slimming hopes for peace

Thursday's devastating attack on Kyiv -- the deadliest on the Ukrainian capital for months -- further hit already slim prospects for a breakthrough on ending the war.
Kyiv's allies accused Russia of mocking diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. 
Moscow has shown no sign of backing down from its aims in Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv give up four eastern and southern regions that Russia claimed in 2022 to have annexed.
Fresh Russian attacks on Friday killed one person in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
In Russia, Ukrainian overnight drone strikes on an apartment block in the city of Ryazan -- south-west of Moscow -- killed four people including a child, officials said.
Unverified social media videos showed plumes of smoke rising over Ryazan -- a city of around 500,000 -- and a high-rise apartment block with several blackened floors.
The Ukrainian army, which has launched retaliatory drone strikes throughout Moscow's offensive, said it had targeted an oil refinery.
Since Russia's invasion began in 2022, hundreds of thousands of people have died, millions have been forced to flee their homes and parts of eastern and southern Ukraine have been decimated by fighting.
Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine: the entirety of the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, most of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk -- collectively referred to as the Donbas -- and large parts of the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
bur-cad/jc/phz

conflict

Ukraine can down Russian drones en masse. But missiles are a problem

BY DARIA ANDRIIEVSKA AND JONATHAN BROWN

  • Ukraine's homegrown air defence network  -- electronic jamming systems, anti-aircraft guns, helicopters and jets, and smaller interceptor drones -- took down all but 22 of the Russian drones.
  • A massive Russian bombardment of Kyiv this week that lit up the night sky, sent thunderous booms echoing through the capital, and killed two dozen civilians, has revealed a stark dichotomy in Ukraine's air defence architecture.
  • Ukraine's homegrown air defence network  -- electronic jamming systems, anti-aircraft guns, helicopters and jets, and smaller interceptor drones -- took down all but 22 of the Russian drones.
A massive Russian bombardment of Kyiv this week that lit up the night sky, sent thunderous booms echoing through the capital, and killed two dozen civilians, has revealed a stark dichotomy in Ukraine's air defence architecture.
Ukraine -- at war for more than four years -- has become the envy of some of the world's most powerful militaries in combating long-range drones.
But at the same time it is uniquely vulnerable to Russian missiles, and remains almost entirely reliant on its Western allies to counter them.
Russia fired 675 drones and 56 missiles in the seven-hour barrage that ripped open a Kyiv apartment block, killing 24 people.
Ukraine's homegrown air defence network  -- electronic jamming systems, anti-aircraft guns, helicopters and jets, and smaller interceptor drones -- took down all but 22 of the Russian drones.
But 15 missiles got through.
For Ukraine, it once again revealed their acute shortage of sophisticated Western anti-missile systems and the expensive ammunition for them.
"The real damage was done by missiles, especially in Kyiv," Sergii Beskrestnov an advisor to the defence minister said in the aftermath of the attack.
President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ukraine's air force for downing 94 percent of the Russian drones.
But he conceded: "The most difficult challenge is defending against ballistic missiles."

Ammo is 'hard to find'

He repeated his call to allies for urgent help, including via the PURL system that Kyiv's partners use to buy US weapons for Ukraine.
After the attack, Britain's Defence Minister John Healey said he had "directed for UK deliveries of air defence and counter-drone systems to be accelerated as fast as possible."
But the war in the Middle East -- which saw US allies expend huge quantities of air defence ammunition protecting sites in the Gulf -- has exacerbated a shortage Ukraine has faced since the start of the war.
Ammunition for the US-made Patriot batteries that Ukraine uses can cost around $4 million apiece.
The United States produces only around 600 per year, and several can be needed to down a single ballistic missile.
Zelensky has said that Middle East countries used 800 PAC-3 interceptors to counter Iranian drones and other projectiles, adding that Ukraine had never had that many during its war.
A senior Ukrainian put the problem with missile interceptors for air defence batteries in stark terms to AFP: "They've become harder to find."
Just days before Russia unleashed its latest barrage, a representative of the Ukrainian air force told state media that ammunition was already being rationed due to "supply problems."
"The launchers that are part of certain units and batteries are half-empty -- and that's putting it mildly. They have a limited number of missiles," the official, Yuriy Ignat, said.
He added that Ukraine's stockpiles were already low following a devastating Russian campaign against Ukrainian energy facilities over the winter.
Air force representatives are sometimes negotiating with allies for as little as between 5 and 10 missiles for Western supplies systems, like Patriot batteries, he said.

Few short term options

The war in the Middle East may also present a solution for Kyiv.
Ukraine's success in drone warfare has attracted the attention of rich Gulf states that have been targeted with the same types of Iranian-designed drones that Ukraine is now well versed in countering.
Zelensky, on several visits to the region, has inked various air defence agreements with many countries in the region.
The details have not been revealed, but he had earlier proposed sharing Kyiv's anti-drone expertise in return for Patriot ammunition or investment in Ukraine's defence industry.
Lockheed Martin, the US-based producer of PAC-3 Patriot batteries plans to ramp up production over the next seven years. 
Over the long-term, Ukraine can also expand its domestic capacities with help from allies.
But options to fend off the attacks Ukraine is facing right now are limited, said Jade McGlynn, Research Fellow at the Department of War Studies, King's College London.
"Bluntly I can't see any significant solution or significant improvement that's available in the short term, beyond just giving Ukraine more, more of the air defence systems that are a bit more available than the Patriots," she told AFP.
bur-jbr/jc/pdw

luxury

Milan Fashion Week says will ask brands not to show fur

  • The National Chamber of Italian Fashion (CNMI), which organises fashion week, has been under pressure from animal activists to ban fur at the shows -- something fashion weeks in London, New York and various others have already done.
  • Milan Fashion Week said Friday it would "invite" participating brands at its high-profile runway shows not to show fur, in a partial concession to animal rights activists following pressure.
  • The National Chamber of Italian Fashion (CNMI), which organises fashion week, has been under pressure from animal activists to ban fur at the shows -- something fashion weeks in London, New York and various others have already done.
Milan Fashion Week said Friday it would "invite" participating brands at its high-profile runway shows not to show fur, in a partial concession to animal rights activists following pressure.
The National Chamber of Italian Fashion (CNMI), which organises fashion week, has been under pressure from animal activists to ban fur at the shows -- something fashion weeks in London, New York and various others have already done.
But the guidelines published Friday fell short of activists' demands, making the request not to show fur voluntary.
"CNMI believes that the most effective approach does not consist in imposing bans... but in issuing a request not to present, during the Milan Fashion Week shows, clothing, accessories, or any other item made of fur," the body said. 
The new guidelines, to come into effect starting in September, include the chamber not using fur in its communications. 
According to the chamber, materials excluded from the guidelines include shearling, vintage fur and fur obtained "by indigenous communities through traditional subsistence hunting practices". 
Most fashion names who show at Milan Fashion Week have already gone fur-free, including the Armani Group, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada, but a major holdout has been Fendi, which began as a furrier. 
In her first show for the brand, new Fendi designer Maria Grazia Chiuri showed a collection that included "remodelled" furs, or pieces from old furs reworked into new designs. 
In March, anti-fur activists demonstrated during the women's shows, unfurling banners that said "Milan Fashion Week Go Fur-Free".
Animal activists noted that CNMI's new guidelines fell short of the flat-out bans on fur seen in other fashion weeks, but nevertheless called it progress.
"Without a fur-free policy like those in place at New York and London Fashion Weeks, there is no guarantee that cruelty will be excluded from Milan’s runways, but we hope this anti-fur statement encourages greater use of next-generation biomaterials, which are both beautiful and responsible," said Emma Hakansson of Collective Fashion Justice.
The European Commission has yet to rule on a 2023 citizens' initiative that called on the EU to ban fur farms and the killing of animals such as mink, foxes, raccoon dogs or chinchillas solely for their pelts. 
Activists cite the cruelty inherent in fur farming, in which the animals  are crammed into tiny wire battery cages before being gassed or electrocuted.
ams/dt/pdw