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Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China and Indonesia have become a model for major developing countries to collaborate on solidarity, development, and mutual benefit. Li made the remarks in a written statement upon arriving in Jakarta for an official visit to Indonesia at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. China and Indonesia are friends and neighbors across the sea and close partners with a shared future, Li said, adding that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties, which have maintained steady growth. Ready to work with Germany to open new chapter in all-round strategic partnership: Xi The traditional friendship has grown stronger over time and practical cooperation has yielded rich fruits, Li said. Li recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo met twice last year, reached an important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence, lifted bilateral ties to new heights, and opened new opportunities for both sides to deepen cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work with Indonesia to keep consolidating cooperation in the "five pillars" of politics, economy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, maritime affairs and security, Li said. He urged both sides to enrich the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, join hands to pursue modernization, and make greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability and development. China criticizes US ban on Harvard's international students Li noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. Over the past 70 years, the Bandung Spirit of solidarity, friendship and cooperation has provided guidance for the independent and self-reliant development of Asian and African countries, injected impetus into the unity and cooperation of the Global South countries, and become an important norm of international relations, he added. At present, the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and all countries face many common challenges in their development, he said, stressing that as major developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and Indonesia should further carry forward the Bandung Spirit, strengthen solidarity and coordination, promote the practice of true multilateralism, work together to address challenges, so as to boost and share prosperity. During his visit, Li will hold talks with Indonesian leaders and attend events of the business community. Premier Li Qiang to visit Indonesia, attend ASEAN-GCC Summit to boost regional cooperation

The European Union has called for mutual respect in trade relations after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all EU goods entering the United States. Speaking after a call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said, “The EU's fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both.” "EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests." Earlier on Friday, Trump expressed impatience with the pace of ongoing EU-US trade negotiations, saying his plan to raise tariffs on June 1 was set. Writing on social media, Trump said, "Our discussions with [the EU] are going nowhere," adding that there would be no tariffs for products built or manufactured in the US. "I'm not looking for a deal - we've set the deal," he told reporters later, before immediately adding that a big investment in the US by a European company might make him open to a delay. Judge halts Trump administration’s attempt to ban foreign student at Harvard The EU is one of the Washington's largest trading partners, sending more than $600bn (€528bn; £443bn) in goods last year and buying $370bn worth, US government figures show. Reacting to Trump's threats, European governments warned that higher tariffs would be damaging to both sides. "We do not need to go down this road," said Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin. "Negotiations are the best and only sustainable way forward." France's Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, said: "We are maintaining the same line: de-escalation, but we are ready to respond." German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said the bloc "must do everything" to reach a solution with the US. While Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof told reporters that he backed the EU's strategy in trade talks and "we have seen before that tariffs can go up and down in talks with the US." With inputs from BBC

Syria welcomed Saturday the move by the Trump administration to ease sanctions imposed on the war-torn country, calling it a “positive step” to ease humanitarian and economic suffering. A statement by the foreign ministry said Syria “extends its hand” to anyone that wants to cooperate with Damascus, on the condition that there is no intervention in the country’s internal affairs, reports AP. Saturday’s statement came a day after the Trump administration granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions in a major first step toward fulfilling the president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 14 years of civil war. A measure by the State Department waived for six months a tough set of sanctions imposed by Congress in 2019. A Treasury Department action suspended enforcement of sanctions against anyone doing business with a range of Syrian individuals and entities, including Syria’s central bank. Over 60 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as aid remains scarce The congressional sanctions, known as the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, had aimed to isolate Syria’s previous rulers by effectively expelling those doing business with them from the global financial system. They specifically block postwar reconstruction, so while they can be waived for 180 days by executive order, investors are likely to be wary of reconstruction projects when sanctions could be reinstated after six months. The Trump administration said Friday’s actions were “just one part of a broader US government effort to remove the full architecture of sanctions.” Those penalties had been imposed on the Assad family for their support of Iranian-backed militias, their chemical weapons program and abuses of civilians. Trump said during a visit to the region earlier this month that the US would roll back the heavy financial penalties in a bid to give the interim government a better chance of survival. Syria’s foreign ministry said dialogue and diplomacy are the best way to build “balanced relations that achieve the interest of the people and strengthen security and stability in the region.” It added that the coming period in Syria will be reconstruction and restoring “Syria’s natural status” in the region and around the world.

A female has died after being shot by police in Melbourne, the capital city of southeast Australia's state of Victoria, on Saturday evening. The Victorian Police said in a statement on Friday evening that officers were called to Cecil Street in south Melbourne following reports of a male with a machete at around 5 p.m. local time.  Record floodwaters in eastern Australia 4 dead, 1 missing The police located the male and whilst he was being arrested, a vehicle was driven at a police officer. The officer shot at the offending vehicle, striking a female driver and her male passenger. The 34-year-old female has died at the scene, while the 26-year-old male has been taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The male senior constable has been taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.  Record floodwaters in eastern Australia, 1 dead and 3 missing The matter will be investigated with oversight from the Professional Standards Command, as is standard procedure for a fatal police shooting, said the statement.  

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s move to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students—a measure Harvard condemned as unconstitutional retaliation for resisting the White House’s political pressure. Harvard filed a lawsuit earlier the same day in Boston federal court, arguing that the government's action violates the First Amendment and would cause immediate and severe harm to the university and its over 7,000 international students. “The government is trying to erase a quarter of our student body with a single decision,” the university stated in its complaint, emphasizing that Harvard’s identity and mission are closely tied to its global student body. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued an order pausing the government’s action while the legal process continues. Harvard said the administration’s decision had created chaos just days before graduation. The affected students include those managing research labs, teaching, supporting faculty, and taking part in athletics. They now face the choice of transferring to other institutions or risking their legal status in the U.S. The move would be especially damaging to graduate programs such as the Harvard Kennedy School, where about half the students are from abroad, and Harvard Business School, where international students make up a third of the enrollment. It would also prevent thousands of new students from joining summer and fall programs. Harvard warned the policy could deter top international talent in the future, with applicants possibly avoiding the university out of fear of future government retaliation. If the policy were enforced, Harvard said it wouldn’t be able to admit new international students for at least two academic years, as schools whose certification is revoked must wait a year before reapplying. The university currently hosts about 6,800 foreign students, mostly in graduate programs, from over 100 countries. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified its action by claiming Harvard fostered an unsafe campus environment, citing incidents involving “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” targeting Jewish students. DHS also accused Harvard of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party and training Chinese paramilitary members as recently as 2024. Harvard President Alan Garber responded earlier this month, saying the school had implemented governance reforms and was actively addressing antisemitism. However, he reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to its “core, legally-protected principles,” regardless of political pressure. The university has pledged to respond separately to allegations raised by House Republicans concerning ties with the Chinese government. Former Harvard president and ex-U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers criticized the administration’s move on social media, warning that it could alienate future global leaders and calling the policy “madness.” The enrollment threat stems from an April 16 request by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded data on foreign students potentially involved in protests or violence. Harvard said it submitted thousands of data points in response, but DHS claimed the university did not comply—without offering specifics. Harvard’s lawsuit alleges the administration failed to follow its own rules for revoking a school’s certification under the Student Exchange and Visitor Program, which typically occurs for administrative failures like loss of accreditation or inadequate facilities—not for political reasons. Noem has said Harvard could regain its certification if it submits extensive records within 72 hours, including audio or video of international students involved in protests or hazardous behavior. This lawsuit is separate from another legal battle in which Harvard is challenging more than $2 billion in federal funding cuts imposed by the Trump administration.   

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, faced a large-scale Russian attack early Saturday, with both drones and missiles. Explosions and bursts of machine gun fire echoed across the city, prompting many residents to seek shelter in subway stations. The overnight attack coincided with a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine—the first phase of a deal reached in Istanbul last week—marking a rare instance of cooperation during the ongoing three-year conflict. According to Tymur Tkachenko, acting head of Kyiv's military administration, debris from intercepted drones and missiles fell across at least four districts of the city. Six people required medical treatment, and fires were reported in the Solomianskyi district. Greece deploys record firefighters and drones for wildfire season Local resident Yurii Bondarchuk recounted the experience, noting that the air raid siren began as usual, followed by the sound of drones overhead. A sudden explosion shattered glass in his apartment. “The balcony is totally wiped out, as well as the windows and the doors,” he said, standing outside in the darkness while firefighters worked nearby. To steady his nerves, he smoked a cigarette. The air raid alert lasted over seven hours through the night, with repeated warnings of incoming threats. Prior to the strike, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko warned that more than 20 Russian strike drones were en route. As the attack unfolded, he reported that drone debris struck a shopping mall and a residential building in Kyiv’s Obolon district, with emergency crews dispatched to the scene. The missile and drone attack came just hours after Ukraine and Russia began executing a prisoner exchange deal involving 1,000 captives from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 390 Ukrainians were returned in the initial phase, with more expected over the weekend—making it the largest exchange of the war to date. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it received an equal number of Russian nationals. A Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, said the handover took place at the Belarus border in northern Ukraine. The Russian prisoners were transported to Belarus for medical care. At the medical facility, relatives of the released men gathered, holding signs and shouting names or brigade numbers in hopes of finding loved ones. “Vanya!” cried Nataliia Mosych, calling out for her husband. Despite the large-scale exchange, fighting has not abated along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have already died. Both sides continue their deep-strike operations. Following the May 16 meeting in Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the prisoner swap as a “confidence-building measure” and said the parties had agreed in principle to meet again. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Friday that no venue has been finalized for further negotiations. UK net migration expected to halve in 2024: ONS Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow plans to present Ukraine with a draft document detailing its terms for a “sustainable, long-term, comprehensive” peace agreement once the ongoing exchange concludes. Yet, significant gaps remain in the positions of both sides. One of Ukraine’s key demands—backed by Western allies—is the implementation of a temporary ceasefire as a starting point for peace talks. European leaders have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling negotiations while seeking to gain more territory through military advances. In the days leading up to the latest attack, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported it had shot down 788 Ukrainian drones between May 20 and May 23. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched 175 Shahed and decoy drones, along with a ballistic missile, since late Thursday.  

At least 60 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as Israel continued its military campaign and allowed only limited humanitarian aid into the area. The fatalities included 10 in Khan Younis in the south, four in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to reports from Nasser, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Ahli hospitals. Israel is facing increasing global condemnation over its continued offensive and the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which has been under near-total blockade for almost three months. Experts warn that many of the two million residents face imminent famine. Even the United States, Israel’s key ally, has voiced alarm about the hunger crisis. Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO's speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military The latest airstrikes extended into Friday, just a day after Israeli forces targeted a hospital in northern Gaza with tanks and drones, causing fires and widespread destruction, according to Palestinian health officials. Video from Al-Awda Hospital showed destroyed walls and thick black smoke. Israel has pledged to continue its operations until Hamas surrenders and releases the remaining 58 Israeli hostages. Fewer than half of those hostages are believed to still be alive. Washington Attack Linked to Gaza Conflict The Gaza violence coincides with a deadly incident in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli Embassy staffers were fatally shot after attending an event. The suspect, who claimed the act was "for Palestine," has been charged with murder. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and criticized France, the UK, and Canada for backing the idea of a Palestinian state, arguing their stance implicitly supports Hamas. Minimal Aid Flows In, U.N. Says It's Not Enough In response to growing pressure, Israel allowed over 100 aid trucks into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Friday, carrying essentials like flour, food, and medical supplies. However, the U.N. called the volume inadequate compared to the 600 daily trucks needed during previous ceasefires. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres criticized Israel for offering only “a teaspoon of aid when a flood is needed,” noting that no aid has yet reached northern Gaza. Distribution is hampered by Israeli military restrictions and security issues within Gaza. At a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, desperate residents lined up with empty containers, hoping for a portion of lentil soup. Displaced mother Halima Abu Amra said her injured daughter survives on discarded, soaked bread, while her younger children eat only soup. The World Food Program reported that 15 of its aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza on Thursday night, citing growing desperation and lawlessness. Israel says the current aid is temporary until a new U.S.-backed initiative begins. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization, is expected to manage future aid efforts, using armed contractors for security. Israel claims the move is necessary to prevent Hamas from diverting aid. The U.N. has rejected this plan, arguing that it undermines international law and humanitarian standards. Guterres stated that the U.N. already has the capacity to deliver aid via 9,000 trucks. Meanwhile, a Geneva-based advocacy group has initiated legal proceedings to push Swiss authorities to oversee the GHF, which is registered in Switzerland. The foundation insists it operates independently and within humanitarian guidelines. Ceasefire Talks Stalled Ceasefire negotiations in Doha have hit a deadlock. Prime Minister Netanyahu withdrew his top negotiating team, citing lack of progress. A smaller team remains in place. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the two sides remain far apart. Hamas accused Netanyahu of pretending to negotiate in bad faith. The war began with a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251. In response, Israel launched a devastating campaign in Gaza, which has since claimed over 53,000 Palestinian lives, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Rising West Bank Violence The conflict has also escalated violence in the occupied West Bank. In Bruqin, Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian residents on Thursday, torching vehicles and damaging homes. The U.N. confirmed that eight people were injured, mostly while trying to put out fires. Israeli strikes kill 51 in Gaza as limited aid begins to arrive Mustafa Khater, a local resident, said settler violence had been ongoing for days. He evacuated his family out of fear but stayed behind to protect their home. The West Bank has seen an upsurge in both settler and military violence since the Gaza war began, with large Israeli operations targeting militants, killing hundreds and displacing many, while also triggering Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

On Friday, the Trump administration initiated major exemptions to longstanding U.S. sanctions on Syria, marking a significant step toward President Trump's commitment to end decades of punitive measures against a nation devastated by 13 years of civil war. Though sweeping, these exemptions are temporary and could be reversed. Syrians argue that only permanent relief can attract the tens of billions in investment needed to rebuild a country torn apart by war, displacement, and foreign militias. The State Department issued a six-month waiver on harsh sanctions introduced by Congress in 2019, while the Treasury Department paused enforcement on penalties targeting those doing business with various Syrian entities, including the country’s central bank. Syria is currently governed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former militia leader who played a role in ousting longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last year. EU to lift Syria sanctions, keep measures on former Assad regime President Trump stated last week that easing sanctions is intended to give Syria’s transitional government a chance to stabilize. The administration described the move as an opening for renewed investment and progress, calling it “a fresh start.” Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian American advocate for sanctions relief, said this approach could finally offer Syria a path to democracy, avoiding the collapse into a failed state. The 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act was designed to isolate Assad’s regime and hinder post-war reconstruction efforts. Though executive orders can waive these sanctions for 180 days, investors remain cautious due to the uncertainty of their permanence. Friday’s decisions, the administration said, are part of a broader strategy to dismantle the full framework of sanctions levied against the Assad regime, which were imposed due to ties with Iran-backed groups, use of chemical weapons, and human rights abuses. Conditions and Expectations Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Trump expects swift policy reforms in exchange for the relief. However, skepticism lingers due to al-Sharaa’s history — his faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, was once aligned with al-Qaida, despite later renouncing the affiliation. The group remains on the U.S. terrorist watchlist. U.S. officials warn that failure by al-Sharaa’s government could trigger renewed conflict and open the door for extremist groups like ISIS to regain ground. “We had to engage. Not engaging would’ve guaranteed failure,” Rubio told Congress, noting that sanctions needed to be lifted urgently as Syria’s interim leadership could be on the brink of collapse. Trump met with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia last week, a day after announcing the rollback: “We’re taking them all off. Good luck, Syria. Show us something special.” Despite the urgency, Rubio said the administration prefers an “incremental” approach to permanent relief. UK halts trade talks with Israel, announces sanctions over West Bank settlers While executive action can quickly waive some penalties, removing congressional sanctions permanently would require legislation. Within the administration, there’s division — some officials advocate for immediate broad relief, while others prefer a phased strategy, tying further relief to conditions being met by Syria’s government. One plan under discussion involves a three-phase process: beginning with temporary waivers, followed by stricter conditions for deeper relief, and ultimately, a complete lifting of sanctions. Conditions for phase two include eliminating “Palestinian terror groups” from Syria, which some say is too vague to enforce. Other requirements involve taking custody of Islamic State detainees and integrating U.S.-allied Kurdish forces into the national military. Phase three would demand Syria normalize relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords and verifiably dismantle Assad-era chemical weapons. Israel remains wary of Syria’s new leadership, despite statements from Damascus indicating no intent to engage in conflict. Since Assad's fall, Israel has launched numerous airstrikes and occupied parts of a U.N.-buffer zone within Syrian territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticised UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing them of siding with Hamas and being "on the wrong side of humanity." In a strongly worded video message released after Thursday’s fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, Netanyahu claimed the leaders had "effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power." He further accused them of aligning with “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers.” In his video, Netanyahu said Hamas wanted to destroy Israel and annihilate the Jewish people. He said the Palestinian armed group had welcomed the joint UK, French and Canadian criticism of Israel's war conduct. Some of Israel's closest allies wanted Israel to "stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive", he said. "I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer, when mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice," he added. Gaza's main hospital overwhelmed with children in pain from malnutrition "You're on the wrong side of humanity, and you're on the wrong side of history." Netanyahu also condemned remarks by UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on infant deaths in Gaza, calling them false and blaming such claims for inciting violence like the Washington shooting. "A few days ago, a top UN official said that 14,000 Palestinian babies would die in 48 hours. You see many international institutions are complicit in spreading this lie," he said. "The press repeats it. The mob believed it. And a young couple is then brutally gunned down in Washington." In the days before the Thursday’s shooting, the UK, France, and Canada criticised Israel’s intensified military campaign in Gaza as “disproportionate,” calling the humanitarian situation “intolerable.” While Sir Keir condemned the Washington killings and denounced antisemitism, he also said Israel’s limited aid access to Gaza was “utterly inadequate,” prompting the UK to pause trade talks with Israel. The attack in Washington left Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, dead at a Capital Jewish Museum event. Police arrested suspect Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, who reportedly shouted “free Palestine” during his arrest. Social media accounts linked to him suggest ties to pro-Palestinian movements. Authorities are investigating writings in which he accused Israel of genocide and criticised US policy. With inputs from BBC

China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in their all-round strategic partnership, to steer China-EU relations toward new progress and to make new contributions to the stable growth of the world economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday. Speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over phone, Xi once again congratulated him on assuming office. Xi said that as the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century and the international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence, the strategic and global significance of China-Germany and China-EU relations has become even more prominent. A sound and stable China-Germany relationship serves both countries' interests, and meets the expectations of various sectors in China and Europe, the Chinese president added. China and Germany have developed their bilateral relations based on mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and win-win cooperation, Xi stressed, calling on both sides to maintain and carry forward this fine tradition. First, Xi called for consolidating political mutual trust. He said China views Germany as a partner, welcomes Germany's development and prosperity, and is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Germany, respect each other's core interests and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations. Second, Xi urged the two sides to enhance the resilience of the bilateral relationship. He said both sides should not only continue to expand the existing cooperation in traditional fields such as automobiles, mechanical manufacturing and chemical industry, but seek more collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas including climate change and green development, contributing the wisdom and solutions of China and Germany to global sustainable development. Third, Xi noted that bilateral cooperation should continue to gather momentum. He said that China is willing to share with Germany development opportunities brought about by its high-level opening-up, adding that China hopes Germany will offer more policy support and facilitation for two-way investment, and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Xi pointed out that facts have fully proven that partnership is the proper positioning of China-Germany and China-EU relations, and a stable and predictable policy environment is essential to ensuring bilateral cooperation. As major countries, he added, both sides share a common responsibility. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, Xi said that the two sides should jointly review the successful experience in the development of China-EU relations and send a positive signal in support of multilateralism and free trade, as well as deepening openness and mutually beneficial cooperation.