Mohammad Sinwar, the elusive Hamas military chief in Gaza who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday had been eliminated, has long been at the top of Israel’s most wanted list.
Sinwar was elevated to the top ranks of Hamas in 2024 after the death in combat of his brother Yahya, mastermind of the 2023 attack on Israel that led to the war in Gaza and later named as overall Hamas leader.
Hamas has yet to confirm Mohammad Sinwar’s death, which would leave his close associate Izz al-Din Haddad, who currently oversees operations in northern Gaza, in charge of Hamas’ armed wing across the whole of the enclave.
It is unclear how Mohammad Sinwar’s death, if confirmed, would affect decision-making in the overall group — for example whether his death would bolster or diminish the influence of exiled members of the group’s leadership council in deciding policy in ceasefire negotiations.
Hamas officials describe Sinwar and Haddad as “ghosts” who have long outfoxed Israel’s intelligence agencies.
Like his brother Yahya, Sinwar had survived many Israeli assassination attempts, including airstrikes and planted explosives, Hamas sources said.
When Sinwar once visited a cemetery, his comrades discovered that a remote-controlled explosive resembling a brick had been planted along his path, according to the Hamas sources.
In 2003, Hamas operatives discovered a bomb planted in the wall of Mohammad Sinwar’s house, foiling an assassination attempt that the group blamed on Israeli intelligence.
Known for clandestine operations, Mohammad Sinwar played a central role in planning and executing Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the country’s worst security failure, Hamas sources said.
He was also widely believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2006 cross-border attack and abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas held Shalit for five years before he was swapped for more than 1,000 Palestinians jailed by Israel.
Under the deal, his brother Yahya Sinwar, whose meticulous planning for the 2023 attack shattered Israel’s reputation as an invincible power in a hostile region, was among those who were released.
REPUTATION AS A HARDLINER
Netanyahu has vowed to eradicate Hamas, and the offensive against Gaza by the Middle East’s most sophisticated and advanced military has severely weakened the organisation.
But the group that was created during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in 1987 and which carried out suicide bombings that traumatized Israelis in the second one, is still standing.
Born on September 16, 1975, Sinwar has rarely appeared in public or spoken to the media.
Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat during a routine Israeli patrol in Gaza in 2024.
Israel released footage of a severely wounded Yahya Sinwar throwing a piece of wood at a hovering drone, his last act of defiance towards his old foe before his death and his brother’s rise.
The Sinwars originally came from Asqalan – now the Israeli city of Ashkelon — and became refugees like hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians in what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe, during the birth of Israel during the 1948 war.
The family settled in Khan Younis in Gaza, which has been largely reduced to rubble in the latest war.
Mohammad Sinwar was educated in schools run by the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), which has long had tense relations with Israel, including during the current war in Gaza.
He joined Hamas shortly after its founding, influenced by his brother Yahya, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest and at one time most influential Islamist group in the Middle East.
His reputation as a hardliner helped him rise through the group’s military ranks, and by 2005, he was leading Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade.
The unit, one of the largest and most powerful battalions in Hamas’s armed wing, has been responsible for cross-border attacks, firing rockets and planting bombs along the frontier.
It also watches the movement of Israeli soldiers around the clock and in 2006, elite commandos led by Sinwar took part in Shalit’s abduction.
Sources close to Hamas say Sinwar developed close ties with Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, and Mohammed Deif, the aloof military chief assassinated by Israel.
Since breaking the ceasefire, Israel issued nearly one displacement order every two days, strangling people into isolated areas covering less than 20 percent of the Gaza Strip
Israel has used mass displacement orders and relentless military assault to systematically force civilians into five restricted zones—hemmed in by military corridors and the sea—that now make up less than 20 percent of Gaza. Combined with deliberate deprivation, this reveals a strategy not of targeting militants, but of dismantling and erasing Gaza itself, Oxfam warned today.
A new Oxfam analysis found that since breaking the ceasefire on March 18, Israel has issued over 30 forced displacement orders—nearly one every two days- covering a swathe of 68 out of 79 neighbourhoods, some multiple times. These, together with the expanding “no-go” Israeli military zones, make up over 80 percent of the Gaza Strip. The cumulative effect is the de facto confinement of the population into overcrowded, infrastructure-stripped enclaves.
The sheer scale and relentless frequency of these orders have made it virtually impossible for people to find refuge. The pattern suggests not an effort to neutralize a threat, but a deliberate campaign to dismantle and depopulate Gaza—a process of forced displacement which is a war crime.
Meanwhile, Israel has extended its military presence along five so called “security corridors”—Philadelphi, Murag, Kisufim, Netzarim, and Mefalsim—that cut horizontally across the length of the Gaza Strip. These corridors effectively divide the territory into five isolated zones, severing north from south and restricting civilian movement within what is already a tightly confined space.
Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s Policy Lead in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said:
“For over 600 days, Israel has been saying it’s targeting Hamas, but it is civilians who have been corralled, bombed and killed en masse every day. The displacement orders follow a clear and calculated pattern: using the threat of violence to herd civilians into ever-shrinking zones of confinement. This isn’t counterterrorism, as Israel alleges —it’s the systematic clearing of Gaza through militarized force into enclaves of internment.”
For over 600 days, Israel has been saying it’s targeting Hamas, but it is civilians who have been corralled, bombed and killed en masse every day. This isn’t counterterrorism, as Israel alleges —it’s the systematic clearing of Gaza through militarized force into enclaves of internment.”
Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s Policy Lead
Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
The pattern of Israel’s orders followed by military strikes underscores what Israeli officials have openly stated: plans to take control of Gaza and establish militarized “humanitarian” hubs, where civilians would receive aid from private contractors under armed guard. Oxfam and other international agencies have firmly rejected these proposals as coercive, politicized, and incompatible with humanitarian principles.
In just the last week (15–20 May), over 160,000 people were displaced—part of a broader total of nearly 600,000 people displaced since March 18, many of them repeatedly.
One of the most significant recent orders, issued on 20 May, covered 34.9 km², roughly 10 percent of Gaza’s land area, that affected 150,000–200,000 people in North Gaza’s Beit Lahiya and Jabalia. The effect of such orders on already-displaced populations has been devastating.
“In any other conflict, civilians would have routes to flee to neighbouring areas or countries. In this case, Palestinians are entirely caged under an iron-clad siege, being shoved towards the coastline.”
Fidaa Alaraj – Oxfam’s Gender Advisor in Gaza- who has been displaced with her family several times, said: “Imagine trying to move with four children or an elderly parent in the middle of the night, with no transport and nowhere to go. People are so exhausted, many would rather face death than flee again.”
The so-called “known shelters” designated by Israel—chief among them Al-Mawasi—are little more than dust-choked encampments that offer no real protection. Al-Mawasi, a barren coastal strip of roughly 40 square kilometre that housed just 7,000 people before the war, has now been designated as a relocation site for hundreds of thousands. Despite its label as a safe zone, it has been repeatedly struck by Israeli fire.
Nearly all of the remaining areas where civilians are being forcibly relocated—comprising just 20 percent of Gaza’s territory—entirely lack clean water, sanitation, medical care, and basic infrastructure. This reality stands in direct violation of international humanitarian law, which obligates Israel as the occupying power to ensure displaced civilians receive adequate shelter, hygiene, and protection.
“This annihilation campaign and the bloodshed must end. It is long past time for Western governments and other influential powers to move beyond statements and apply meaningful pressure on Israel to lift the siege and abandon any designs on annexing Gaza”, added Khalidi.
“Peace cannot be brokered on the ruins of Gaza nor the theft of Palestinian land. Ahead of the Two-State Solution Summit planned in New York next month, world leaders must urge Israel to lift the siege and abandon any annexation plans of Gaza or the West Bank. What’s at stake is not only Palestine’s future, but the integrity of every nation that claims to uphold international law.”
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIRUT, May 29 (Xinhua) — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will stop providing health care to some 1.5 million Syrian refugees living in Lebanon from November due to a significant funding cut, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NIA) reported.
The cessation of medical services was announced during a meeting between a UNHCR delegation led by the office’s representative in Lebanon, Ivo Freissen, and Lebanon’s Minister of Health, Rakan Nassereldin.
I. Freysen said there were plans to gradually reduce support for several primary health care centres due to reduced contributions from international donors.
R. Nassereldin urged the international community to fulfil its humanitarian obligations towards vulnerable groups.
Lebanon saw a new wave of displacement less than three months ago, the minister said, so the number of refugees remains very high compared to the size of the country and the ability of its health system to bear the additional burden.
He also pointed to the key role of UNHCR, which, together with Lebanon and other international actors, is seeking sustainable solutions to ensure refugees have continued access to health care, in particular through support to primary health care centres.
Lebanon has one of the highest per capita numbers of Syrian refugees in the world. Despite regime change and the recent easing of U.S. sanctions, Syria remains vulnerable to security threats and the deteriorating economic situation further complicates repatriation and reintegration efforts. –0–
An all-party parliamentary delegation from India led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda is currently visiting Saudi Arabia from 27 to 29 May 2025 as part of India’s global diplomatic outreach following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The delegation met with Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, to convey India’s firm stance against terrorism and seek continued cooperation in countering extremism. The Indian representatives emphasized that acts of terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances and highlighted India’s zero-tolerance policy toward such activities.
During their meetings, the delegation expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and underlined the need for coordinated global action to combat terrorism. This includes dismantling terrorist infrastructure, cutting off financing and safe havens, and rejecting any political justification for terrorist activities. The Indian side referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement: “This is certainly not the era of war, but this is also not the era of terrorism.”
The delegation also engaged with Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, for discussions on India’s approach to counter-terrorism. The Indian representatives noted Saudi Arabia’s consistent support on counter-terrorism issues and expressed confidence in continued cooperation on de-radicalization and combating extremism.
The delegation arrived in Riyadh early on Wednesday and interacted with India’s diplomatic mission before proceeding with their official engagements. They were also hosted by senior Saudi officials and members of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee.
The visit forms part of India’s broader diplomatic initiative involving multiple all-party delegations traveling to over 30 countries to highlight India’s anti-terrorism resolve and garner international support following the Pahalgam attack. The attack led to military escalation between India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was declared on May 10.
The Saudi visit concluded with interactions with prominent members of Saudi civil society, offering opportunities for further dialogue on counter-terrorism efforts and broader aspects of the India-Saudi Arabia bilateral partnership.
GRAND-LANCY, Switzerland, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Temenos (SIX: TEMN), a global leader in banking technology, today announced the winners of the Temenos Forward Awards 2025, which recognize the innovation of Temenos customers who are leading the way in the banking industry.
Jean-Pierre Brulard, Chief Executive Officer,Temenos, commented: “As banks adapt to changing customer demands and the opportunities and challenges of transformative technologies such as Generative AI, the Temenos community is shaping the future of finance. We are delighted to recognize the success of banks at the forefront of innovation with our Temenos Forward Awards. Congratulations to all our award winners. Together, we are leading banking forward.”
The following awards were selected by a judging panel comprised of Temenos executives, previous award winners, journalists and industry analysts.
Future-Ready Banking Award – Santander International
In 2024, Santander International became the first Temenos client to utilize lending on the Temenos SaaS Foundation Platform. Throughout the program it has transitioned to a near-zero customization SaaS architecture with integrations that enhance customer analysis and reporting, demonstrating Santander International’s commitment to agility and customer-centric solutions.
Customer Experience Excellence Award – PC Financial
Part of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s leading food and pharmacy retailer, PC Financial offers a range of financial products designed to deliver on the company’s purpose – helping Canadians Live Life Well. The retailer went live on Temenos SaaS in just six months and has raised the bar in digital banking with the launch of an innovative new savings feature for the PC Money Account. PC Financial is seeing strong customer engagement with this feature and stands out with a unique customer experience strategy that seamlessly blends everyday banking products with retail offerings.
Fast Track Growth Award – STC Bank
STC Bank has emerged as a fintech leader in Saudi Arabia, transforming from STC Pay into STC Bank as a fully licensed digital bank. This evolution highlights its strategic investment in cutting-edge technologies and innovation to redefine banking services standards in the region. With Temenos Core, the bank has successfully launched a microservice and data-driven architecture and is expanding into innovative lending and digital deposit solutions, reinforcing its strategy of modular, data-driven offerings.
Digital Transformation Award – Credem
Credem, a prominent Italian bank, has emerged as a digital banking frontrunner through its deep commitment to innovation and client-centric experiences. Having launched several new mobile apps using Temenos Digital, the bank offers a seamless, consistent experience for Retail, SME, and Private Wealth clients. In 2024, Credem successfully launched a new Retail Online Banking (OLB) platform as well as a completely redesigned mobile banking interface, leading to a significantly enhanced user experience and a marked improvement in its AppStore ratings.
Ambassador Award – Jihyun Lee (Bank Julius Baer)
As Head of IT APAC and Global Core Banking at Bank Julius Baer, Jihyun has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership, driving transformative projects that redefine modern core banking systems. Her expertise in pioneering innovations such as fully automated CI/CD pipelines and real-time integration patterns has positioned her as a trusted strategic partner within the Temenos community. Jihyun’s commitment to excellence and her ability to foster collaborative relationships make her a true ambassador of Temenos’ values and a thought leader in the industry.
Additionally, the following clients were chosen for a People’s Choice Award for their successful deployment of an innovative solution. Voting was conducted by a jury, as well as peers on social media.
People’s Choice Award (Banking Innovation) – MIDBANK
Established in 1975, MIDBANK provides retail, corporate, and investment banking services across Egypt. The bank has modernized its core and digital banking operations with Temenos to enhance efficiency and customer experience. This has led to a 30% reduction in processing times for transactions, projected annual savings of 20% in operational costs due to improved automation and streamlined workflows, and 25% higher customer satisfaction scores within the first six months of its migration.
People’s Choice Award (Banking Innovation) – EQ Bank
EQ Bank is Canada’s first-born digital bank, showing Canadians how banking can – and should – be better. In collaboration with Temenos and Microsoft, EQ Bank developed the TDH-EQB Fabric environment – an innovative solution enabling near real-time data access within the Temenos Data Hub (TDH) environment. This initiative delivers significant benefits to both EQ Bank and Temenos by enhancing performance, optimizing operational efficiency, and enabling faster insights.
A United Nations warehouse in war-torn Gaza was broken into by “hordes of hungry people” on Wednesday as aid trickles into the Palestinian enclave on the brink of famine and the United States readies new terms for a possible truce between Israel and Hamas.
The World Food Programme said initial reports were that two people had died and several more were injured at the central Gaza warehouse. The U.N. agency appealed for an immediate scale-up of food aid “to reassure people that they will not starve.”
Eyewitness video independently verified by Reuters shows large crowds of people pushing into the warehouse and removing bags and boxes as gunfire can be heard. It was not immediately clear how the people may have been killed or injured in the incident.
Under growing international pressure, Israel ended an 11-week long aid blockade on Gaza 10 days ago. It has allowed a limited amount of relief to be delivered via two avenues – the United Nations or the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
U.N. Middle East envoy Sigrid Kaag told the Security Council that the amount of aid Israel had so far allowed the U.N. to deliver was “comparable to a lifeboat after the ship has sunk” when everyone in Gaza was facing the risk of famine.
The United States has been trying to broker a ceasefire. Israel – which resumed its military operation in Gaza in March after a brief truce – continued strikes on Wednesday, killing at least 30 people, Palestinian health officials said.
“We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today,” U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Wednesday. “The president is going to review it.”
The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
UN VS GHF
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel’s killing of Hamas Gaza chief Mohammad Sinwar marked a turn towards the “complete defeat of Hamas”, adding that Israel was “taking control of food distribution” in Gaza.
Israel has accused Hamas of diverting and seizing aid supplies. Hamas has denied stealing aid.
At the United Nations, more than half the Security Council called on Wednesday for the 15-member body to act on Gaza. Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said some members are working on a draft resolution to demand unimpeded aid access.
“Remaining silent is not an option,” he told the council.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told the Security Council that Israel would allow aid deliveries “for the immediate future” via both the U.N. and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began aid deliveries on Monday.
However, Israel ultimately wants the U.N. to work through the GHF, which is using private U.S. security and logistics companies to transport aid into Gaza for distribution by civilian teams at so-called secure distribution sites.
“The U.N. should put their ego aside and cooperate with the new mechanism,” Danon told reporters before the council meeting.
The U.N. and other international aid groups have refused to work with the GHF because they say the plan is not neutral.
“This new scheme is surveillance-based rationing that legitimizes a policy of deprivation by design,” senior U.N. aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, Jonathan Whittall, told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
“The U.N. has refused to participate in this scheme, warning that it is logistically unworkable and violates humanitarian principles by using aid as a tool in Israel’s broader efforts to depopulate areas of Gaza,” he said.
WARNING SHOTS
The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, told Reuters it was “sad and disgusting” that the U.N. and other groups would not work with the GHF, describing the foundation’s aid distribution as “effective so far.”
The Israeli military on Tuesday said it fired warning shots in the area outside a GHF distribution site, which was briefly rushed by people waiting for aid. Footage shared on social media showed fences broken down by crowds as private security contractors fell back before restoring order.
“I am a big man, but I couldn’t hold back my tears when I saw the images of women, men and children racing for some food,” said Rabah Rezik, 65, a father of seven from Gaza City.
The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday that 47 people had been injured on Tuesday while seeking aid from the GHF, citing information from partners on the ground. It could not give a specific location of where people were injured. The GHF said no one was injured at the distribution site.
The foundation said aid distribution continued on Wednesday without incident as it opened a second distribution hub. Across the two sites it has so far given out the equivalent of 840,262 meals. The GHF said it is working to open four sites and expand further in Gaza in the weeks ahead.
The United Nations said that since aid deliveries resumed last week Israel had approved about 800 truckloads of relief.
But U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that fewer than 500 truckloads had made it to the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing, “where we and our partners could collect just over 200 of them – limited by insecurity and restricted access.”
Israel is under pressure over Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation. France, Britain, Canada and Germany have said they may take action if the military campaign is not halted. Italy on Wednesday said the offensive had become unacceptable.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, May 29 (Xinhua) — The Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RAUIE) proposes to create a joint Russian-Chinese platform for trading in used cars, RAUIE Executive Director Georgy Ryabtsev said Wednesday at the first Sichuan fair to connect suppliers and buyers in the used car export sector.
The event was held in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province (southwest China). It was attended by representatives of nearly 40 trade organizations and enterprises from 10 countries, including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Nigeria.
“This is not only an important milestone in Sichuan Province’s entry into the global used car market, but also a key opportunity to rebuild the international automotive trade chain,” commented Ryabtsev, calling the event a “bridge” that connects the advantages of China’s supply chain with global market demand.
“We are particularly pleased with the event’s focus on the used car market – one of the most promising areas for growth in Russian-Chinese economic cooperation,” he emphasized.
According to him, today the automotive industry is undergoing large-scale changes: electric vehicles are transforming the global car market, and the rapid growth of sales of Chinese cars with new energy sources is opening up new prospects for the used car trade.
“The Russian used car market is one of the largest in Eurasia. Last year alone, the volume of used car sales exceeded 5 million units,” explained G. Ryabtsev, noting the ever-growing interest in Chinese cars in Russia, as well as the growth in the import of used cars from China – both European and Chinese brands, which have already earned a reputation for being reliable, economical and meeting consumer demands.
According to G. Ryabtsev, RASPP proposes to create a joint Russian-Chinese platform for trading in used cars. This initiative involves the creation of a single digital platform combining B2B and B2C models, with a unified legal, logistics and service infrastructure.
“Russian consumers increasingly rely on digital channels: they are used to choosing, buying and even making transactions online. And the active development of electronic platforms, remote car diagnostic systems, logistics and legal services creates a favorable environment for the export of Chinese cars,” he added.
On the sidelines of the fair, agreements were signed on seven major cooperation projects worth a total of more than 1 billion yuan (about 139 million US dollars).
China began exporting used cars in May 2019, and will fully lift restrictions in this area in March 2024. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any action that could jeopardize ongoing talks between the Trump administration and Iran on a new nuclear deal, media reported.
“Well, I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did,” Trump said when asked if he warned Netanyahu against striking Iran to avoid disrupting the talks, The Hill reports.
“I said I don’t think it’s appropriate. We’re having very good discussions with them, and I don’t think it’s appropriate right now,” the US president added.
D. Trump also told reporters that the situation “could change at any moment — could change with a phone call,” CNN reports.
“I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, I will save a lot of lives,” the message said.
The fifth round of proximity talks between Iran and the United States ended last week in Rome with “some but not final progress,” said Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud al-Busaidi, who is mediating the talks. –0–
An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule held extensive meetings with South African leadership in Cape Town, reiterating India’s firm and united stand against terrorism.
According to a statement from the High Commission of India in Pretoria, the delegation met with South African Deputy Minister Kenneth Morolong and conveyed India’s counter-terrorism approach, which includes holding both terrorists and their enablers accountable through prompt and decisive action.
The Deputy Minister assured that the matter would be brought to the attention of the South African Presidency, said the Indian mission.
The delegation also held a detailed discussion with John Steenhuisen, Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Minister of Agriculture, along with other senior DA members.
“DA expressed solidarity with the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and supported India’s resolve to fight cross-border terrorism,” the High Commission stated.
Another key engagement was with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, chaired by Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo.
During the meeting, the Indian MPs provided details of the Pahalgam terror attack and emphasised that Operation Sindoor was a focused and non-escalatory response aimed at neutralising the threat posed by cross-border terrorism.
The visit began with a meeting hosted by P. (Les) Govender, Deputy Chairperson of South Africa’s National Council of Provinces (NCOP). During the session, a minute of silence was also observed in remembrance of the Pahalgam attack victims.
The parliamentarians highlighted India’s unified approach and zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Members of NCOP expressed their solidarity with India and condemned terrorism in all its forms.
Earlier, marking the start of the engagements, the delegation interacted with members of the Indian community in Johannesburg.
“All-party delegation led by MP Supriya Sule interacted with the Indian community in South Africa. They emphasised India’s national consensus and collective resolve against terrorism in all its forms. Commended the wholehearted support of Indian diaspora to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” the Indian High Commission posted on X.
In addition to Sule, the delegation includes BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party’s Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin.
The delegation arrived in South Africa following a successful visit to Qatar. The visit is part of India’s global outreach to raise awareness about the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, India’s calibrated military response.
The all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda met Mushabab Al-Qahtani, Director General of Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and underlined India’s commitment towards combating terrorism.
The Embassy of India in Riyadh shared on X: “The All-Party delegation led by @PandaJay met H.E. Dr. Mushabab Al-Qahtani, DG, Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies @KSAPSAIDS & conveyed India’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in its all forms. The delegation also discussed India-Saudi Arabia strategic ties.”
The delegation highlighted the significance of Operation Sindoor and India’s continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Riyadh after concluding successful engagements in Kuwait and Bahrain.
“India’s stand on terrorism is resolute and uncompromising – a message we bring to Saudi Arabia with our all-party delegation. Appreciate the warm welcome by Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Saudi Arabia-India Friendship Committee of the Sura Council, as we begin key engagements to strengthen our growing partnership,” Panda posted on X.
The delegation arrived in Riyadh early on Wednesday (Indian time) and later interacted with India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, at the India House.
The delegation also offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
“Along with my colleagues from the all-party delegation, offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, honouring his timeless message of peace, non-violence & tolerance. We also had a detailed interaction with Ambassador Suhel Khan, reaffirming India’s resolute stand against terrorism and commitment to global peace,” Panda posted on X.
During the three-day visit, the delegation will interact with a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders, business and media representatives. They will also engage with members of the Indian community, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.
As part of their concluding day of engagements in Kuwait on Tuesday, the delegation undertook a series of media engagements and cultural visits aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and highlighting India’s united stance against terrorism.
“The delegation concluded its highly productive visit to Kuwait by effectively conveying India’s message of ‘Zero Tolerance’ and ‘New Normal’ against terrorism to a variety of interlocutors in Kuwait, including the Government, civil society, media, think tanks, opinion-makers and members of the Indian community,” said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
The delegation also includes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak, BJP MP Rekha Sharma, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad and former Indian diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading a tumultuous efficiency drive, during which he upended several federal agencies, but ultimately failed to deliver the generational savings he had sought.
His “off-boarding will begin tonight,” a White House official told Reuters late Wednesday, confirming Musk’s departure from government. Musk earlier on Wednesday took to his social media platform X to thank President Donald Trump as his time as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency draws to an end.
His departure was quick and unceremonious. He did not have a formal conversation with Trump before announcing his exit, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, who added that his departure was decided “at a senior staff level.”
While the precise circumstances of his exit were not immediately clear, he leaves a day after criticizing Trump’s marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work with the U.S. DOGE Service.
Some senior White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, were particularly irked by those comments, and the White House was forced to call Republican senators to reiterate Trump’s support for the package, a source familiar with the matter said.
While Musk remains close to the president, his exit comes after a gradual, but steady slide in standing.
After Trump’s inauguration, the billionaire quickly emerged as a powerful force in Trump’s orbit: hyper-visible, unapologetically brash and unfettered by traditional norms. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, he brandished a red metallic chainsaw to wild cheers. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” he declared.
On the campaign trail, Musk had said DOGE would be able to cut at least $2 trillion in federal spending. He did not hide his animus for the federal workforce, and he predicted that revoking “the COVID-era privilege” of telework would trigger “a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.”
But some cabinet members who initially embraced Musk’s outsider energy grew wary of his tactics, sources said. Over time, they grew more confident pushing back against his job cuts, encouraged by Trump’s reminder in early March that staffing decisions rested with department secretaries, not with Musk.
Musk clashed with three of Trump’s most senior cabinet members – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He called Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro dismissed the insults, saying, “I’ve been called worse.”
At the same time, Musk began to hint that his time in government would come to a close, while expressing frustration at times that he could not more aggressively cut spending.
In an April 22 Tesla conference call, he signaled he would be significantly scaling back his government work to focus on his businesses.
DOGE GOES ON
Musk’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee in the Trump administration was set to expire around May 30. The administration has said DOGE’s efforts to restructure and shrink the federal government will continue.
“The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk said.
Trump and DOGE have managed to cut nearly 12%, or 260,000, of the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce largely through threats of firings, buyouts and early retirement offers, a Reuters review of agency departures found.
Musk on Tuesday criticized the price tag of Republicans’ tax and budget legislation making its way through Congress.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk told CBS News.
His political activities have drawn protests and some investors have called for him to leave his work as Trump’s adviser and more closely manage Tesla, which has seen falls in sales and its stock price.
Musk, the world’s richest person, has defended his role as an unelected official who was granted unprecedented authority by Trump to dismantle parts of the U.S. government.
Having spent nearly $300 million to back Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republicans last year, he said earlier this month he would substantially cut his political spending.
“I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at an economic forum in Qatar.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
UNITED NATIONS, May 28 (Xinhua) — The United Nations special coordinator a.i. for the Middle East peace process Sigrid Kaag on Wednesday warned that the “two states for two peoples” solution is in danger of being undermined, calling for collective action to restore it.
“The principle of ‘two states for two peoples’ is in danger of being disrupted. Its revival requires collective action,” said S. Kaag. “Peace cannot be a deal or a partial, temporary agreement. It must be based on international consensus and legitimacy, moving from conflict management to its end.”
There can be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region’s future will remain linked to its unresolved past unless bold political will and solutions break the vicious circle, she told the Security Council.
Palestinian statehood is a right, not a reward, she said. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The UN Security Council holds a meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
The interim UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process warned on Wednesday that the two-state solution is on life support, calling for collective action to revive it.
“The two-state solution is on life support. Reviving it requires collective action,” said Sigrid Kaag. “Peace cannot be a transaction or a partial, temporary arrangement. It needs to be built on international consensus and legitimacy, moving it from managing the conflict to ending it.”
There can be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The region’s future will remain bound to its unresolved past, unless bold political will and decisions break the cycle, she told the Security Council.
Palestinian statehood is a right, not a reward, she said.
The upcoming high-level international conference in June, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, presents a critical opportunity. It must not be another rhetorical exercise. It must launch a path toward ending the occupation and realizing the two-state solution based on international law, UN resolutions and previous agreements, said Kaag. “We need to pivot ourselves from declarations to decisions. We need to implement rather than adopt new texts.”
Humanitarian aid and assistance urgently need to reach all civilians across Gaza. Essential services, livelihoods, and human dignity need to be restored. Forced displacement of civilians must be rejected and prevented. Post-war Palestinian governance and appropriate security arrangements in Gaza are needed. The territorial and political unity of Gaza and the West Bank must be preserved. Hostages need to be unconditionally released, said the UN envoy.
While war-torn Gaza rightly captures the world’s attention, the West Bank is on a dangerous trajectory, she warned.
“Developments are best described as accelerating de facto annexation through settlement expansion, land seizures, and settler violence. If not reversed, this will make the two-state solution physically impossible,” she said.
International engagement and alignment are critical, said Kaag. “We need to act now to reverse the current trajectory. A well-defined, widely supported and timebound political process, accompanied by safeguards and guarantees, is essential.”
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 29, 2025.
Parents of autistic children are stressed. Here’s what they want you to know Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Mazzucchelli, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University ErsinTekkol/Shutterstock If you’re a parent or carer of a child who’s autistic, the odds are you’re spinning more plates than the average person. The emotional, physical and logistical demands stack up, often without the kind of support you
Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Woodley, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University CarlosDavid / Getty Last week, organisations from Australia’s online industries submitted a final draft of new industry codes aimed at protecting children from “age-inappropriate content” to the eSafety commissioner. The commissioner will now decide if the codes are
After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic
Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Its official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister
From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua McLeod, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years. From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business. With surging television ratings and
Sudden arrivals: NZ ambulance crews describe what it’s like when babies are born out of the blue Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University WOWstockfootage/Getty Images It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then expectant mothers don’t quite make it to the delivery suite on time – requiring specialised care from emergency medical services (EMS).
Why NZ must act against Israel’s ethnic cleansing and genocide ANALYSIS: By Ian Powell When I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put this in the context of where I live. I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Geographically it is around the same size
Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paola A. Magni, Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Murdoch University The following article contains material that some readers might find distressing. Around the world, knives are a popular weapon of choice among criminals. In Australia, for example, they are the most common weapon used in homicides. And
Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Henning, PhD Candidate in Feline Behaviour, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Ever wonder if your cat could pick you out of a line up? New research suggests they could … but maybe not in the way you would expect. Previous research has
PCOS affects 1 in 8 women worldwide, yet it’s often misunderstood. A name change might help Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helena Teede, Director of Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation, Monash University LightField Studios/Shutterstock Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in eight women globally. However, this complex hormonal condition is under-researched and often misunderstood. This is partly due to its name, which overemphasises “cysts” and the ovaries.
Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rawan Nimri, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality, Griffith University Prostock Studio/Shutterstock Wellness tourism is booming. Think yoga retreats in Bali, digital detox weekends in a rainforest, or a break on a luxury island to “find yourself”. It’s no longer just about taking selfies at the beach or
X-rays have revealed a mysterious cosmic object never before seen in our galaxy Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ziteng Wang, Associate Lecturer, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA), Curtin University Author provided In a new study published today in Nature, we report the discovery of a new long-period transient – and, for the first time, one that also emits regular bursts of X-rays. Long-period transients
Antarctica’s sea ice is changing, and so is a vital part of the marine food web that lives within it Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqui Stuart, Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND Antarctica is the world’s great cooling unit. This vital part of Earth’s climate system is largely powered by the annual freeze and melt of millions of square
The body as landscape: how post-war Japanese dance and theatre shaped performance in Australia Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan W. Marshall, Associate Professor & Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University “Tamaokoshi (たまおこし-) – Evocation” (2013) by Yumi Umiumare. Performers: Umiumare, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Fina Po, Helen Smith, Willow Conway, Sevastian Peters-Lazaro, Takashi Takiguchi. Photo by Vikk Shayen, reproduced
View from the Hill: Liberals and Nationals patch things up and announce a shadow ministry Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two Victorian Liberal women, Jane Hume and Sarah Henderson, have been dumped and a key numbers man has been promoted from the backbench to the shadow cabinet in the new frontbench announced by Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud.
Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070 Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Franklin64/Shutterstock In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project. The decision
Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Walker-Munro, Senior Lecturer (Law), Southern Cross University On Wednesday, Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt and economics professor Richard Holden gave a joint address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Their key message? Australia isn’t spending enough money on university research. Schmidt wants to ensure Australia can
There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1 Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated
Papua New Guinea seeks ‘fast track’ advice on resurrecting shortwave radio By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Papua New Guinea’s state broadcaster NBC wants shortwave radio reintroduced to achieve the government’s goal of 100 percent broadcast coverage by 2030. Last week, the broadcaster hosted a workshop on the reintroduction of shortwave radio transmission, bringing together key government agencies and other stakeholders. NBC had previously a
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, May 29 (Xinhua) — China’s used car exports to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continue to grow, with deals worth more than 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars) concluded at a business meeting on used car exports in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, on Wednesday.
The business meeting was attended by about 40 trade organizations and buyers from 10 countries, including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Nigeria.
“Everyone at the meeting came here with the obvious intention of buying,” said Huang Ruoyu, a spokesman for the China Automobile Dealers Association, adding that Belt and Road countries, which are currently upgrading their own auto markets, are increasingly looking to China for low-cost supplies.
In March 2024, China completely lifted restrictions on used car exports, speeding up access to Belt and Road countries where car consumption is growing, said Qiao Fang, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Commerce.
According to Qiao Fang, Sichuan Province exported more than 10,000 used cars worth 1.4 billion yuan in the first four months of 2025, up 32 percent from a year earlier. Used car exports have become a new engine for Sichuan’s trade growth, she added.
The meeting also saw the release of a number of documents and the announcement of the creation of contact centers in six countries, including Russia, Iran, Georgia and others, to ensure the sustainability of global supply chains.
China began exporting used cars in May 2019. Sichuan Province received approval to do so at the end of 2022. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Palestinians wait to receive free food at a food distribution center in the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on May 28, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Hamas said in an official statement on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on a general framework for Gaza ceasefire.
According to Hamas, the framework includes the release of 10 Israeli hostages and several bodies, in exchange for the release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, guaranteed by mediators.
Hamas said it is awaiting a final response to this framework, adding that “it is making significant efforts to halt the brutal war on the Gaza Strip.”
The group said the framework “will ensure a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the flow of aid, and a professional committee assuming control of the Strip’s affairs immediately after the agreement is announced.”
A Hamas official, who requested anonymity, said on Monday that Hamas had agreed to a proposal presented by Witkoff for a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, Witkoff denied that Hamas has accepted his proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to the Axios news site.
Israel has not yet announced its official position on the proposal, while Israeli media outlets have quoted officials as saying that Israel rejects the proposal and will not accept it.
Israeli conditions for ending war
Abdel Mohdy Motawe, executive director of the Cairo-based Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies and National Security, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “rejects any idea of ending the war in the Gaza Strip except on certain conditions: Hamas withdrawing from Gaza’s governance, disarming Gaza, and then exiling Hamas leaders” from the Strip.
“There is an Israeli consensus on these conditions with the U.S. administration, making it unlikely for Netanyahu to stop the war unless the conditions are met, though he might accept a partial deal,” Motawe told Xinhua.
Mokhtar Ghobashy, secretary-general of the Al-Farabi Center for Studies in Egypt, stressed that the lack of substantial international pressure has enabled Israel to pursue its strategy in Gaza, adding the U.S. pressure on Israel is insufficient.
“Israel is exploiting the time frame and the regional context to pursue a dangerous, systematic approach for displacing Palestinians,” he said.
Insuffient aid
The Israeli military said on Tuesday that two food distribution compounds operated by private U.S. companies had begun functioning in southern Gaza.
The initiative followed more than 11 weeks of an Israeli blockade preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching the enclave. Limited aid shipments were allowed last week, after UN experts warned that famine is spreading.
Thousands of Palestinians crowded into a humanitarian aid distribution center in Rafah on Tuesday, triggering chaos and a breakdown of order on the site’s first day of operation under Israeli military oversight.
The center, established at the Al-Alam roundabout in southern Gaza by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-based organization, was intended to deliver food aid to a population facing severe shortages due to Israel’s blockade. But scenes of disorder quickly unfolded as residents overran the facility, seizing food parcels and even dismantling parts of the barbed wire fencing that surrounded the site.
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday that the UN is not involved in the GHF’s operations in Gaza, and added that “it is a distraction from what is actually needed.”
Laerke said what is truly needed is the reopening of all crossing points into Gaza.
Israel launched a ground and air offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. The ensuing Israeli bombardments have devastated large parts of the enclave, killing at least 54,084 people and wounding 123,308 others, said the health authorities in Gaza on Wednesday.
Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. It resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows a city view of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. [Photo/Xinhua]
Dubai was the world’s busiest market for residential properties priced at US$10 million and above for the second consecutive year, according to a report from global property consultancy Knight Frank.
The United Arab Emirates city recorded 435 sales in this price bracket in 2024, almost equaling the number of the same price-range home sales in London and New York combined. A further 111 homes sold for over US$10 million during Q1 this year, the highest number for the same period in history.
Shehzad Jamal, a partner at Knight Frank, said, “The super-rich remain laser-focused on purchasing luxury homes in the city, and this unrelenting demand has been a critical driver of Dubai being the world’s busiest US$10 million-plus homes market for the second year running.”
A record of nearly 170,000 residential sales were made in Dubai in 2024, totaling US$100 billion, and the momentum has continued into 2025, with home sales hitting AED100 billion (US$27 billion) by March 4 – the fastest pace on record.
In partnership with market research firm YouGov, Knight Frank carried out a survey of 387 high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) based in India, Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and East Asia, each with an average net worth of US$22 million.
The survey finds that Saudi HNWIs have the highest average budget for a home purchase in Dubai (US$45.7 million), followed by those from India (US$44.6 million) and the U.K. (US$30 million). Asian HNWIs have the lowest budget among Knight Frank’s survey respondents, averaging US$23 million.
As to the target neighborhood for a residential acquisition, Dubai’s property market poster-child Dubai Marina (28%) was once again the top target among HNWIs, with Dubai Hills Estate (24%) and Emirates Hills (23%) in second and third place, respectively.
The survey also finds that 61% of the Chinese respondents have interest in property purchase in Dubai, following those from Saudi Arabia (96%) and India (86%).
Dubai’s overall real estate market continued to expand during 2024, with values and rents climbing to fresh highs and the total value of transactions across all sectors topping US$207 billion, according to the report.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s second-hand car exports to Belt and Road partner countries are surging, with deals worth over 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars) at a trade event held on Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, underscoring rising global demand for China’s quality used cars at competitive prices.
The growth follows China’s full opening of used car exports in March 2024, accelerating access to Belt and Road markets where auto consumption is growing, as highlighted at the First Sichuan Used Car Export Supply-Demand Matchmaking Conference, which drew nearly 40 trade groups and buyers from 10 countries including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Nigeria.
“Buyers arrived with clear purchase needs,” said Huang Ruoyu, who oversees the used car export branch at the China Automobile Dealers Association, adding that Belt and Road partner countries now experiencing auto market upgrades increasingly favor China’s cost-effective offerings.
Georgii Ruabtsev, vice president of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, called the event a “bridge” for global demand, while proposing a joint China-Russia used car trading platform.
Iman Ashtari Talkhestani, representing Iran’s Tehran Car Dealers and Exhibitions Union, emphasized investment opportunities by noting that Iran’s used car market is growing rapidly and promising strong returns in the short and long term.
Sichuan exported over 10,000 used cars worth 1.4 billion yuan from January to April 2025, a 32 percent increase year on year, according to Qiao Fang, deputy head of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce, who added that used car exports have become Sichuan’s new trade growth engine.
The province also released an overseas cooperation opportunity list and an industry self-discipline convention at the conference, while setting up contact centers in six countries to drive sustainable global supply chains.
China has launched exports of second-hand cars in May 2019, with an expansion in late 2022 that allowed Sichuan to conduct exports of second-hand cars.
Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years.
From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business.
With surging television ratings and huge demand for live events, the growth of darts continues to leave many sports looking on in envy.
There has been a combination of factors at play – not least one exceptionally prodigious teenager. Before discussing those factors, it’s worth taking a closer look at the numbers.
Becoming big business
Darts sits alongside a select few sports to have achieved significant commercial growth over the past decade.
In addition to the PDC World Championship – the sport’s premier knockout event – viewership records were also broken across the 2024 Premier League Darts season, a league-format competition featuring weekly fixtures between top-ranked players.
Outside the UK, darts viewership also continues to grow.
The Netherlands remains a strong and expanding heartland, while in Germany, viewership for the World Championship final has increased eightfold since 2008.
In Australia, precise viewing figures are not widely available, but the Foxtel Group’s landmark four-year deal with the PDC in 2023 suggests rising demand.
Surging audiences are translating into significantly larger broadcast deals.
In 2025, Sky Sports reportedly outbid Netflix to secure a new £125 million (A$260.3 million) deal for exclusive UK coverage of the PDC for 2026–30. That was double the size of the previous deal.
In contrast, many other sports face stagnation or even sharp declines in media rights value.
For instance, the UK Super League rugby’s rights on Sky Sports fell from £40 million (A$83.3 million) per season in 2021 to £21.5 million (A$44.5 million) in 2024.
Similarly, in soccer, the French Ligue 1’s TV deal with DAZN collapsed due to underwhelming subscriber numbers. Meanwhile, ESPN walked away from its long-standing agreement with Major League Baseball after unsuccessfully trying to cut its US$550 million (A$848 million) annual payment down to $200 million (A$309 million).
Prize money in darts has also exploded.
Next year, the winner of the two-week long World Championship will bank £1 million (A$2.08 million) – doubling this year’s purse.
Like Formula 1 and the UFC, darts benefits from being privately operated.
Without the typical bureaucracy and conflicting interests seen in many traditional sport governing bodies, the PDC can respond more quickly to audience preferences and market opportunities.
This streamlined, commercially driven approach has been key to darts’ growth.
The sport has been expertly tailored to modern audiences.
One of darts’ best-known selling points is the live event experience. The entertainment-first approach is known for loud music, the showmanship of player walk-ons, fancy dress from the crowd and yes, often plenty of alcohol.
The lines are blurred between sport and party and fans love it.
Culturally, darts is seen by many as fun, relatable, and rooted in working-class culture. After all, its heritage is in the pub.
Darts is ideally suited to modern sport media consumption habits: PLD matches last only 20–30 minutes and the up-close TV product works perfectly for social media highlight clips.
It is also one of the few sports where women compete directly against men.
This adds another layer of interest for fans and has helped elevate stars such as Fallon Sherrock, who made headlines in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship, eventually reaching the final 32.
A prodigy emerges
The so-called “Littler Effect” has given darts’ profile a significant boost.
The emergence of talented teenager Luke Littler has broken new ground for the sport and drawn global interest.
The English prodigy, who has quickly risen to fame, is by far the sport’s biggest star, but it would be unfair to say darts is a one-man band.
Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen enjoy significant profiles while Phil Taylor is regarded as the sport’s greatest player. Australia’s Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock also forged a successful career.
There is also colourful two-time world champion Peter Wright.
Where to from here?
The success of darts reveals much about modern sports audiences and their preferences.
Darts does not rely on traditional ideas of athletic excellence, nor does it fit the Olympic ideal.
Darts’ success stems from remaining authentic to its working-class roots while evolving into an engaging commercial product suited for television, short-form content and digital media.
For darts to fully achieve its global potential, the next step has to be continued international growth. Although it has grown steadily in markets like Australia and throughout Asia, the UK remains darts’ dominant base.
As the global sports marketplace becomes more fragmented and competitive, darts is well positioned to continue growing.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against taking any actions that could threaten ongoing talks between the Trump administration and Iran over a new nuclear deal, according to multiple media outlets.
“Well, I’d like to be honest. Yes, I did,” Trump said when asked if he had warned Netanyahu against strikes on Iran in order not to disrupt talks U.S. officials say they are having with Tehran, The Hill reported.
“I just said I don’t think it’s appropriate. We’re having very good discussions with them, and I don’t think it’s appropriate right now,” Trump added.
Trump also told reporters that the situation “could change at any moment – could change with a phone call,” CNN reported.
“Right now, I think they want to make a deal. And if we can make a deal, I’d save a lot of lives,” said the report.
The fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States concluded last week in Rome with “some but not conclusive progress,” said Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, the mediator in the talks.
The latest round of talks took place amid gaps between the two sides over Iran’s nuclear program. The ongoing tensions between the two nations have reportedly centered on uranium enrichment. The Trump administration has reiterated its demand for Iran to halt all uranium enrichment activities, but Tehran rejected the notion of “zero enrichment” and demanded the lifting of economic sanctions.
Netanyahu, wary of a diplomatic solution to curbing Iran’s nuclear program, continues to press for military action that would upend Trump’s push for a negotiated deal, The New York Times reported on Wednesday. The major newspaper in the United States noted that Israeli officials have told their American counterparts that Netanyahu could order a strike on Iran even if a successful diplomatic agreement is reached.
The New York Times reported in April that Israel had planned to strike Iranian nuclear sites as soon as this month but was waved off by Trump, who wanted to keep negotiating with Tehran.
When I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put this in the context of where I live.
I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Geographically it is around the same size as Gaza. Both have coastlines running their full lengths. But, whereas the population of Gaza is a cramped two million, Kāpiti’s is a mere 56,000.
The Gaza Strip . . . 2 million people living in a cramped outdoor prison about the same size as Kāpiti. Map: politicalbytes.blog
I find it incomprehensible to visualise what it would be like if what is presently happening in Gaza occurred here.
The only similarities between them are coastlines and land mass. One is an outdoor prison while the other’s outdoors is peaceful.
New Zealand and Palestine state recognition Currently Palestine has observer status at the United Nations General Assembly. In May last year, the Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of Palestine being granted full membership of the United Nations.
To its credit, New Zealand was among 143 countries that supported the resolution. Nine, including the United States as the strongest backer of Israeli genocide outside Israel, voted against.
However, despite this massive majority, such is the undemocratic structure of the UN that it only requires US opposition in the Security Council to veto the democratic vote.
Notwithstanding New Zealand’s support for Palestine broadening its role in the General Assembly and its support for the two-state solution, the government does not officially recognise Palestine.
While its position on recognition is consistent with that of the genocide-supporting United States, it is inconsistent with the over 75 percent of UN member states who, in March 2025, recognised Palestine as a sovereign state (by 147 of the 193 member states).
NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon . . . his government should “correct this obscenity” of not recognising Palestinians’ right to have a sovereign nation. Image: RNZ/politicalbytes.blog/
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s government does have the opportunity to correct this obscenity as Palestine recognition will soon be voted on again by the General Assembly.
In this context it is helpful to put the Hamas-led attack on Israel in its full historical perspective and to consider the reasons justifying the Israeli genocide that followed.
7 October 2023 and genocide justification The origin of the horrific genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and the associated increased persecution, including killings, of Palestinians in the Israeli occupied West Bank (of the River Jordan) was not the attack by Hamas and several other militant Palestinian groups on 7 October 2023.
This attack was on a small Israeli town less than 2 km north of the border. An estimated 1,195 Israelis and visitors were killed.
The genocidal response of the Israeli government that followed this attack can only be justified by three factors:
The Judaism or ancient Jewishness of Palestine in Biblical times overrides the much larger Palestinian population in Mandate Palestine prior to formation of Israel in 1948;
The right of Israelis to self-determination overrides the right of Palestinians to self-determination; and
The value of Israeli lives overrides the value Palestinian lives.
The first factor is the key. The second and third factors are consequential. In order to better appreciate their context, it is first necessary to understand the Nakba.
Understanding the Nakba Rather than the October 2023 attack, the origin of the subsequent genocide goes back more than 70 years to the collective trauma of Palestinians caused by what they call the Nakba (the Disaster).
The foundation year of the Nakba was in 1948, but this was a central feature of the ethnic cleansing that was kicked off between 1947 and 1949.
During this period Zionist military forces attacked major Palestinian cities and destroyed some 530 villages. About 15,000 Palestinians were killed in a series of mass atrocities, including dozens of massacres.
The Nakba – the Palestinian collective trauma in 1948 that started ethnic cleansing by Zionist paramilitary forces. Image: David Robie/APR
During the Nakba in 1948, approximately half of Palestine’s predominantly Arab population, or around 750,000 people, were expelled from their homes or forced to flee. Initially this was through Zionist paramilitaries.
After the establishment of the State of Israel in May this repression was picked up by its military. Massacres, biological warfare (by poisoning village wells) and either complete destruction or depopulation of Palestinian-majority towns, villages, and urban neighbourhoods (which were then given Hebrew names) followed
By the end of the Nakba, 78 percent of the total land area of the former Mandatory Palestine was controlled by Israel.
Genocide to speed up ethnic cleansing Ethnic cleansing was unsuccessfully pursued, with the support of the United Kingdom and France, in the Suez Canal crisis of 1956. More successful was the Six Day War of 1967, which included the military and political occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Throughout this period ethnic cleansing was not characterised by genocide. That is, it was not the deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of a large number of people from a particular national or ethnic group with the aim of destroying them.
Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians began in May 1948 and has accelerated to genocide in 2023. Image: politicalbytes.blog
In fact, the acceptance of a two-state solution (Israel and Palestine) under the ill-fated Oslo Accords in 1993 and 1995 put a temporary constraint on the expansion of ethnic cleansing.
Since its creation in 1948, Israel, along with South Africa the same year (until 1994), has been an apartheid state. I discussed this in an earlier Political Bytes post (15 March 2025), When apartheid met Zionism.
However, while sharing the racism, discrimination, brutal violence, repression and massacres inherent in apartheid, it was not characterised by genocide in South Africa; nor was it in Israel for most of its existence until the current escalation of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Following 7 October 2023, genocide has become the dominant tool in the ethnic cleansing tool kit. More recently this has included accelerating starvation and the bombing of tents of Gaza Palestinians.
The magnitude of this genocide is discussed further below.
The Biblical claim Zionism is a movement that sought to establish a Jewish nation in Palestine. It was established as a political organisation as late as 1897. It was only some time after this that Zionism became the most influential ideology among Jews generally.
Despite its prevalence, however, there are many Jews who oppose Zionism and play leading roles in the international protests against the genocide in Gaza.
Zionist ideology is based on a view of Palestine in the time of Jesus Christ. Image: politicalbytes.blog
Based on Zionist ideology, the justification for replacing Mandate Palestine with the state of Israel rests on a Biblical argument for the right of Jews to retake their “homeland”. This justification goes back to the time of that charismatic carpenter and prophet Jesus Christ.
The population of Palestine in Jesus’ day was about 500,000 to 600,000 (a little bigger than both greater Wellington and similar to that of Jerusalem today). About 18,000 of these residents were clergy, priests and Levites (a distinct male group within Jewish communities).
Jerusalem itself in biblical times, with a population of 55,000, was a diverse city and pilgrimage centre. It was also home to numerous Diaspora Jewish communities.
In fact, during the 7th century BC at least eight nations were settled within Palestine. In addition to Judaeans, they included Arameans, Samaritans, Phoenicians and Philistines.
A breakdown based on religious faiths (Jews, Christians and Muslims) provides a useful insight into how Palestine has evolved since the time of Jesus. Jews were the majority until the 4th century AD.
By the fifth century they had been supplanted by Christians and then from the 12th century to 1947 Muslims were the largest group. As earlier as the 12th century Arabic had become the dominant language. It should be noted that many Christians were Arabs.
Adding to this evolving diversity of ethnicity is the fact that during this time Palestine had been ruled by four empires — Roman, Persian, Ottoman and British.
Prior to 1948 the population of the region known as Mandate Palestine approximately corresponded to the combined Israel and Palestine today. Throughout its history it has varied in both size and ethnic composition.
The Ottoman census of 1878 provides an indicative demographic profile of its three districts that approximated what became Mandatory Palestine after the end of World War 1.
Group
Population
Percentage
Muslim citizens
403,795
86–87%
Christian citizens
43,659
9%
Jewish citizens
15,011
3%
Jewish (foreign-born)
Est. 5–10,000
1–2%
Total
Up to 472,465
100.0%
In 1882, the Ottoman Empire revealed that the estimated 24,000 Jews in Palestine represented just 0.3 percent of the world’s Jewish population.
The self-determination claim Based on religion the estimated population of Palestine in 1922 was 78 percent Muslim, 11 percent Jewish, and 10 percent Christian.
By 1945 this composition had changed to 58 percent Muslim, 33 percent Jewish and 8 percent Christian. The reason for this shift was the success of the Zionist campaigning for Jews to migrate to Palestine which was accelerated by the Jewish holocaust.
By 15 May 1948, the total population of the state of Israel was 805,900, of which 649,600 (80.6 percent) were Jews with Palestinians being 156,000 (19.4 percent). This turnaround was primarily due to the devastating impact of the Nakba.
Today Israel’s population is over 9.5 million of which over 77 percent are Jewish and more than 20 percent are Palestinian. The latter’s absolute growth is attributable to Israel’s subsequent geographic expansion, particularly in 1967, and a higher birth rate.
Palestine today (parts of West Bank under Israeli occupation). Map: politicalbytes.blog
The current population of the Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, is more than 5.5 million. Compare this with the following brief sample of much smaller self-determination countries — Slovenia (2.2 million), Timor-Leste (1.4 million), and Tonga (104,000).
The population size of the Palestinian Territories is more than half that of Israel. Closer to home it is a little higher than New Zealand.
The only reason why Palestinians continue to be denied the right to self-determination is the Zionist ideological claim linked to the biblical time of Jesus Christ and its consequential strategy of ethnic cleansing.
If it was not for the opposition of the United States, then this right would not have been denied. It has been this opposition that has enabled Israel’s strategy.
Comparative value of Palestinian lives The use of genocide as the latest means of achieving ethnic cleansing highlights how Palestinian lives are valued compared with Israeli lives.
While not of the same magnitude appropriated comparisons have been made with the horrific ethnic cleansing of Jews through the means of the holocaust by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Per capita the scale of the magnitude gap is reduced considerably.
Since October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry (and confirmed by the World Health Organisation) more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed. Of those killed over 16,500 were children. Compare this with less than 2000 Israelis killed.
Further, at least 310 UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) team members have been killed along with over 200 journalists and media workers. Add to this around 1400 healthcare workers including doctors and nurses.
What also can’t be forgotten is the increasing Israeli ethnic cleansing on the occupied West Bank. Around 950 Palestinians, including around 200 children, have also been killed during this same period.
Time for New Zealand to recognise Palestine The above discussion is in the context of the three justifications for supporting the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians strategy that goes back to 1948 and which, since October 2023, is being accelerated by genocide.
First, it requires the conviction that the theology of Judaism in Palestine in the biblical times following the birth of Jesus Christ trumps both the significantly changing demography from the 5th century at least to the mid-20th century and the numerical predominance of Arabs in Mandate Palestine;
Second, and consequentially, it requires the conviction that while Israelis are entitled to self-determination, Palestinians are not; and
Finally, it requires that Israeli lives are much more valuable than Palestinian lives. In fact, the latter have no value at all.
Unless the government, including Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, shares these convictions (especially the “here and now” second and third) then it should do the right thing first by unequivocally saying so, and then by recognising the right of Palestine to be an independent state.
Ian Powell is a progressive health, labour market and political “no-frills” forensic commentator in New Zealand. A former senior doctors union leader for more than 30 years, he blogs at Second Opinion and Political Bytes, where this article was first published. Republished with the author’s permission.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
1. On the results of the passage of housing and communal services enterprises and electric power industry entities in the autumn-winter period of 2024-2025 and the tasks of preparing for the passage of the autumn-winter period of 2025-2026
2. On the draft federal law “On the execution of the federal budget for 2024”
3. On the draft federal law “On ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the United Arab Emirates on the elimination of double taxation with respect to taxes on income and capital, and on the prevention of tax avoidance and evasion”
The bill aims to ratify the agreement signed in Abu Dhabi on February 17, 2025.
4. On the implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of state programs of the Russian Federation based on the results of 2024
The materials of the Consolidated Report contain information on the assessment of the effectiveness of 37 state programs.
5. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 33332–1 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”
The bill is aimed at forming a common market for veterinary drugs within the Eurasian Economic Union.
6. On Amending the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 30, 2004 No. 327 (in terms of amending the Regulation on the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance)
The draft act is aimed at granting Rosselkhoznadzor the right to establish departmental awards.
7. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Agency for Fisheries)
The development of the draft act was dictated by the lack of authority of the Federal Agency for Fisheries to create a certification commission, which is necessary to conduct, in the established manner, the certification of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Northern Expeditionary Squad for Emergency Rescue Operations” and the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Far Eastern Expeditionary Squad for Emergency Rescue Operations”, subordinate to the Federal Agency for Fisheries, which carry out emergency rescue operations to ensure the safety of fishing vessels in fishing areas during fishing.
8. On the draft federal law “On the execution of the budget of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund for 2024”
9. On amendments to the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 19, 2012 No. 608 (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation)
The draft resolution supplements the provision with a new authority to approve the procedure for providing representatives of a medical insurance organization with consultations to insured persons in filing claims against medical organizations in connection with refusal to provide medical care or poor-quality medical care and the collection of funds for the provision of medical care.
10. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 49 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation”
The bill was developed with the aim of improving the legal regulation of the procedure for concluding lease agreements in relation to federal real estate of civil aviation airfields.
11. On the distribution of subsidies to the budgets of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia region and the Kherson region
The development of the draft act is dictated by the need to bring public roads of regional, inter-municipal or local significance, including the street road network, into compliance with the regulatory requirements by 2025.
12. On the allocation to the Ministry of Construction of Russia in 2025 of budgetary allocations reserved in the federal budget for the provision of subsidies to the budgets of the Republic of Kalmykia and the Pskov Region for the implementation of measures to modernize the public utility infrastructure
The draft order is aimed at achieving the goals of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”.
13. On the allocation to the Ministry of Construction of Russia in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation of budgetary appropriations for the provision of one-time financial assistance in the form of a subsidy to the budget of the Saratov Region
The draft order proposes to allocate additional funds to the Saratov Region budget for the implementation of measures to improve public and courtyard areas.
14. On the draft federal law “On the execution of the budget of the Pension and Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for 2024”
15. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 151 and 18 of the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation”
The bill is aimed at improving the implementation of state migration policy, as well as legal regulation of issues related to the need for foreign citizens to confirm their proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history and the fundamentals of legislation.
16. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 35 and 38 of the Federal Law “On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right to Participate in a Referendum of Citizens of the Russian Federation”
The adoption of the bill will make it possible to avoid refusal to register a list of candidates, candidates for single-mandate (multi-mandate) electoral districts due to the expiration of the statutory deadline for submitting documents required for registration, if the failure to comply with this deadline was caused by a refusal to certify the list of candidates, the list of candidates for single-mandate (multi-mandate) electoral districts and this refusal was cancelled or recognized as illegal.
17. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 3 and 9 of the Federal Law “On Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Criminally Obtained Incomes and the Financing of Terrorism”
The implementation of the draft federal law will improve the effectiveness of the national system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
18. On Amendments to Certain Acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision)
The draft act is aimed at bringing certain provisions of the regulation into line with current legislation.
Moscow, May 28, 2025
The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
VIDEO: Sen. Reed delivers remarks on latest in Ukraine
CRANSTON, RI – As Russia steps up its targeting of Ukraine, with nearly 400 Russian drones and missiles fired at Ukrainian cities over the past few days, Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to demonstrate his commitment to the illegal invasion of Ukraine and contempt for President Trump’s negotiating efforts. In the wake of Russia’s increasing attacks, Germany became the latest Ukrainian ally to lift all range restrictions on weapons it sends to Ukraine to combat Moscow’s offensive.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, believes now is the time for President Trump to throw his support behind tough, targeted sanctions against the Putin regime. Senator Reed says that if President Trump refuses to act, the U.S. Senate must quickly pass a comprehensive sanctions package with a veto-proof majority.
“The Trump Administration must recognize that the only thing Vladimir Putin responds to is strength. To demonstrate our strength, the U.S. must join our allies in levying new sanctions on Russia to intensify the economic pressure. The European Union has recently approved a new package of sanctions targeting covert Russian oil exports, and has announced that work is underway for another set of even tougher sanctions,” said Senator Reed.
“The President claims to understand pressure and leverage in tough negotiations. But none of that has been evident in his dealings with Putin. He has refused to pressure Russia and has been unwilling to bolster Ukraine with adequate military assistance to gain leverage,” Reed continued. “Since the Administration has so far failed to take tough actions to pressure Russia to stop its brutal and illegal war of choice, the U.S. Senate must take up and quickly pass a comprehensive sanctions package against Russia. These bipartisan sanctions on Russia are overdue, should be swiftly enacted to counter Putin, and failure to do so will only embolden bad actors.”
Senator Reed is an original cosponsor of the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 (S. 1241), which has 81 cosponsors – 40 Democrats, 40 Republicans, and 1 Independent. The measure includes a 500 percent tariff on imports from nations that purchase Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas or uranium. The lead sponsor of the bill, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), wrote in the Wall Street Journal demanding change in Trump’s negotiating strategy and noting that the U.S. Senate is “prepared” to do what the president has not: impose severe sanctions on Moscow.
The bipartisan sanctions calls are coming from the U.S. Senate as President Trump himself is questioning Putin’s motives, writing over the weekend: “I’ve always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”
“I’ve always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!” Trump added.
The Kremlin responded to Trump’s criticism by blaming it on “emotional overload” followed by an escalation of military strikes on Ukraine. And Russian State Media site RT mocked Trump’s social media posts in a post of their own on X, writing:
‘Putin doesn’t realize… he’s playing with fire!’ — Trump’s message leaves little room for misinterpretation
Until he posts the opposite tomorrow morning
Senator Reed urged the Trump Administration to spend less time on social media and get to work on submitting a budget request that includes robust support for Ukraine. Failing to do so would harm U.S. national security and economic interests and benefit Russia.
“The Ukrainian people continue to bravely hold the line against Russian forces, which are supplemented by North Korean troops, equipped by Iran, and supported economically by China. The Ukrainians need arms and supplies to continue to protect their country. Instead, the Trump Administration has choked off U.S. military aid and has failed to request any additional support. This must be reversed immediately,” said Senator Reed. “I will continue to do everything in my power to support Ukraine, as their fight is our fight. I urge my Senate colleagues and the President to join me.”
-end-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
According to the department, S. Lavrov informed M. Rubio about the progress of implementing the agreements between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump on May 19, as well as about the preparation by the Russian side of specific proposals for the next round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey.
It is noted that M. Rubio, in turn, “emphasized D. Trump’s focus on a speedy end to the Ukrainian conflict and expressed Washington’s readiness to facilitate a rapprochement between the parties’ positions.”
“The parties confirmed their mutual commitment to continuing a constructive and mutually respectful dialogue between the foreign policy departments of Russia and the United States,” the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
It is reported that during the conversation, current issues on the bilateral agenda were also touched upon. –0–
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to enquire about his health after he was hospitalized in Kuwait.
Azad is part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, which is visiting partner countries to highlight India’s policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. PM Modi extended his best wishes and hoped for Azad’s speedy recovery.
Earlier on Tuesday, in a post on X, Azad shared an update on his health, saying that he is recovering well. “Blessed to share that despite the extreme heat in Kuwait affecting my health, by God’s grace I’m doing fine and recovering well. All test results are normal. Thank you all for your concern and prayers — it truly means a lot!” he said.
Baijayant Panda responded to Azad’s post, also wishing him a speedy recovery. “That is wonderful news indeed! Wishing you a speedy recovery. We were touched by your warm bonhomie, and truly admired your dedication to speak for India despite poor health through a grueling schedule in two countries,” Panda said.
He also praised Azad’s contributions during the visit. “Halfway into our delegation’s tour, Shri @ghulamnazad has had to be admitted to hospital. He is stable, under medical supervision, and will be undergoing some tests and procedures. His contributions to the meetings in Bahrain and Kuwait were highly impactful, and he is disappointed at being bedridden. We will deeply miss his presence in Saudi Arabia and Algeria,” Panda added.
The Baijayant Panda-led delegation has now reached Saudi Arabia after presenting India’s position on terrorism in Kuwait. The delegation was welcomed by Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the India-Saudi Arabia Friendship Committee of the Shura Council.
“India’s stand on terrorism is resolute and uncompromising — a message we bring to Saudi Arabia with our all-party delegation. Appreciate the warm welcome by H.E. Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Friendship Committee, Shura Council, as we begin key engagements to strengthen our growing partnership,” Panda said in his X post.
The all-party delegation includes BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Satnam Singh Sandhu; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
Revenue of $44.1 billion, up 12% from Q4 and up 69% from a year ago
Data Center revenue of $39.1 billion, up 10% from Q4 and up 73% from a year ago
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today reported revenue for the first quarter ended April 27, 2025, of $44.1 billion, up 12% from the previous quarter and up 69% from a year ago.
On April 9, 2025, NVIDIA was informed by the U.S. government that a license is required for exports of its H20 products into the China market. As a result of these new requirements, NVIDIA incurred a $4.5 billion charge in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 associated with H20 excess inventory and purchase obligations as the demand for H20 diminished. Sales of H20 products were $4.6 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 prior to the new export licensing requirements. NVIDIA was unable to ship an additional $2.5 billion of H20 revenue in the first quarter.
For the quarter, GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins were 60.5% and 61.0%, respectively. Excluding the $4.5 billion charge, first quarter non-GAAP gross margin would have been 71.3%.
For the quarter, GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.76 and $0.81, respectively. Excluding the $4.5 billion charge and related tax impact, first quarter non-GAAP diluted earnings per share would have been $0.96.
“Our breakthrough Blackwell NVL72 AI supercomputer — a ‘thinking machine’ designed for reasoning— is now in full-scale production across system makers and cloud service providers,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Global demand for NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure is incredibly strong. AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate. Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure — just like electricity and the internet — and NVIDIA stands at the center of this profound transformation.”
NVIDIA will pay its next quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per share on July 3, 2025, to all shareholders of record on June 11, 2025.
Q1 Fiscal 2026 Summary
GAAP
($ in millions, except earnings per share)
Q1 FY26
Q4 FY25
Q1 FY25
Q/Q
Y/Y
Revenue
$44,062
$39,331
$26,044
12%
69%
Gross margin
60.5%
73.0%
78.4%
(12.5) pts
(17.9) pts
Operating expenses
$5,030
$4,689
$3,497
7%
44%
Operating income
$21,638
$24,034
$16,909
(10)%
28%
Net income
$18,775
$22,091
$14,881
(15)%
26%
Diluted earnings per share*
$0.76
$0.89
$0.60
(15)%
27%
Non-GAAP
($ in millions, except earnings per share)
Q1 FY26
Q4 FY25
Q1 FY25
Q/Q
Y/Y
Revenue
$44,062
$39,331
$26,044
12%
69%
Gross margin
61.0%
73.5%
78.9%
(12.5) pts
(17.9) pts
Gross margin excluding H20 charge
71.3%
Operating expenses
$3,583
$3,378
$2,501
6%
43%
Operating income
$23,275
$25,516
$18,059
(9)%
29%
Net income
$19,894
$22,066
$15,238
(10)%
31%
Diluted earnings per share*
$0.81
$0.89
$0.61
(9)%
33%
Diluted earnings per share excluding H20 charge and related tax impact
$0.96
*All per share amounts presented herein have been retroactively adjusted to reflect NVIDIA’s ten-for-one stock split, which was effective June 7, 2024.
Outlook NVIDIA’s outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 is as follows:
Revenue is expected to be $45.0 billion, plus or minus 2%. This outlook reflects a loss in H20 revenue of approximately $8.0 billion due to the recent export control limitations.
GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins are expected to be 71.8% and 72.0%, respectively, plus or minus 50 basis points. The company is continuing to work toward achieving gross margins in the mid-70% range late this year.
GAAP and non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to be approximately $5.7 billion and $4.0 billion, respectively. Full year fiscal 2026 operating expense growth is expected to be in the mid-30% range.
GAAP and non-GAAP other income and expense are expected to be an income of approximately $450 million, excluding gains and losses from non-marketable and publicly-held equity securities.
GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates are expected to be 16.5%, plus or minus 1%, excluding any discrete items.
Highlights NVIDIA achieved progress since its previous earnings announcement in these areas:
Data Center
First-quarter revenue was $39.1 billion, up 10% from the previous quarter and up 73% from a year ago.
Announced that NVIDIA is building factories in the U.S. and working with its partners to produce NVIDIA AI supercomputers in the U.S.
Announced partnership with HUMAIN to build AI factories in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to drive the next wave of artificial intelligence development.
Unveiled Stargate UAE, a next-generation AI infrastructure cluster in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, alongside strategic partners G42, OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank Group and Cisco.
First-quarter Gaming revenue was a record $3.8 billion, up 48% from the previous quarter and up 42% from a year ago.
Announced the NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 5070 and RTX 5060, bringing Blackwell graphics to gamers at prices starting from $299 for desktops and $1,099 for laptops.
Unveiled NVIDIA DLSS 4 is now available in over 125 games, including Black Myth Wukong, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Marvel Rivals and Star Wars Outlaws.
Announced the Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by an NVIDIA processor and AI-powered DLSS, delivering up to 4K gaming.
Launched the NVIDIA RTX Remix modding platform, attracting over 2 million gamers, alongside the release of the Half-Life 2 RTX demo.
Professional Visualization
First-quarter revenue was $509 million, flat with the previous quarter and up 19% from a year ago.
Unveiled NVIDIA DGX Spark and DGX Station™ personal AI supercomputers powered by the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell platform.
Announced that leading industrial software and service providers Accenture, Ansys, Databricks, SAP, Schneider Electric with ETAP, and Siemens are integrating the NVIDIA Omniverse™ platform into their solutions to accelerate industrial digitalization with physical AI.
Automotive and Robotics
First-quarter Automotive revenue was $567 million, down 1% from the previous quarter and up 72% from a year ago.
Announced a collaboration with General Motors on next-generation vehicles, factories and robots using NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA Cosmos™ and NVIDIA DRIVE AGX™.
Launched NVIDIA Halos, a unified safety system combining NVIDIA’s automotive hardware, software and advanced AV safety AI research.
Announced NVIDIA Isaac™ GR00T N1, the world’s first open humanoid robot foundation model, followed by NVIDIA Isaac™ GR00T N1.5; NVIDIA Isaac GR00T-Dreams, a blueprint for generating synthetic motion data; and NVIDIA Blackwell systems to accelerate humanoid robot development.
Released new NVIDIA Cosmos™ world foundation models and physical AI data tools.
CFO Commentary Commentary on the quarter by Colette Kress, NVIDIA’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, is available at https://investor.nvidia.com.
Conference Call and Webcast Information NVIDIA will conduct a conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter fiscal 2026 financial results and current financial prospects today at 2 p.m. Pacific time (5 p.m. Eastern time). A live webcast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be accessible at NVIDIA’s investor relations website, https://investor.nvidia.com. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay until NVIDIA’s conference call to discuss its financial results for its second quarter of fiscal 2026.
Non-GAAP Measures To supplement NVIDIA’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, the company uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP other income (expense), net, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income, or earnings, per diluted share, and free cash flow. For NVIDIA’s investors to be better able to compare its current results with those of previous periods, the company has shown a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures. These reconciliations adjust the related GAAP financial measures to exclude stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related and other costs, other, gains/losses from non-marketable and publicly-held equity securities, net, interest expense related to amortization of debt discount, H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges, and the associated tax impact of these items where applicable. The inclusion of H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges in the reconciliations to adjust the related GAAP financial measures was a result of the U.S. government informing NVIDIA on April 9, 2025 that it requires a license for export to China of H20 products. H20 products were designed primarily for the China market. Free cash flow is calculated as GAAP net cash provided by operating activities less both purchases related to property and equipment and intangible assets and principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets. NVIDIA believes the presentation of its non-GAAP financial measures enhances the user’s overall understanding of the company’s historical financial performance. The presentation of the company’s non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the company’s financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the company’s non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.
NVIDIA CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
April 27,
April 28,
2025
2024
Revenue
$
44,062
$
26,044
Cost of revenue
17,394
5,638
Gross profit
26,668
20,406
Operating expenses
Research and development
3,989
2,720
Sales, general and administrative
1,041
777
Total operating expenses
5,030
3,497
Operating income
21,638
16,909
Interest income
515
359
Interest expense
(63
)
(64
)
Other income (expense), net
(180
)
75
Total other income (expense), net
272
370
Income before income tax
21,910
17,279
Income tax expense
3,135
2,398
Net income
$
18,775
$
14,881
Net income per share:
Basic
$
0.77
$
0.60
Diluted
$
0.76
$
0.60
Weighted average shares used in per share computation:
Basic
24,441
24,620
Diluted
24,611
24,890
NVIDIA CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
April 27,
January 26,
2025
2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
$
53,691
$
43,210
Accounts receivable, net
22,132
23,065
Inventories
11,333
10,080
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
2,779
3,771
Total current assets
89,935
80,126
Property and equipment, net
7,136
6,283
Operating lease assets
1,810
1,793
Goodwill
5,498
5,188
Intangible assets, net
769
807
Deferred income tax assets
13,318
10,979
Other assets
6,788
6,425
Total assets
$
125,254
$
111,601
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
7,331
$
6,310
Accrued and other current liabilities
19,211
11,737
Total current liabilities
26,542
18,047
Long-term debt
8,464
8,463
Long-term operating lease liabilities
1,521
1,519
Other long-term liabilities
4,884
4,245
Total liabilities
41,411
32,274
Shareholders’ equity
83,843
79,327
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
125,254
$
111,601
NVIDIA CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In millions)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
April 27,
April 28,
2025
2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
18,775
$
14,881
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
1,474
1,011
Depreciation and amortization
611
410
(Gains) losses on non-marketable equity securities and publicly-held equity securities, net
175
(69
)
Deferred income taxes
(2,177
)
(1,577
)
Other
(98
)
(145
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
933
(2,366
)
Inventories
(1,258
)
(577
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
560
(726
)
Accounts payable
941
(22
)
Accrued and other current liabilities
7,128
4,202
Other long-term liabilities
350
323
Net cash provided by operating activities
27,414
15,345
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
3,122
4,004
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities
467
149
Proceeds from sales of non-marketable equity securities
–
55
Purchases of marketable securities
(6,546
)
(9,303
)
Purchase related to property and equipment and intangible assets
(1,227
)
(369
)
Purchases of non-marketable equity securities
(649
)
(190
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(383
)
(39
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(5,216
)
(5,693
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds related to employee stock plans
370
285
Payments related to repurchases of common stock
(14,095
)
(7,740
)
Payments related to employee stock plan taxes
(1,532
)
(1,752
)
Dividends paid
(244
)
(98
)
Principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets
(52
)
(40
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(15,553
)
(9,345
)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
6,645
307
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
8,589
7,280
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
15,234
$
7,587
NVIDIA CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
April 27,
January 26,
April 28,
2025
2025
2024
GAAP cost of revenue
$
17,394
$
10,608
$
5,638
GAAP gross profit
$
26,668
$
28,723
$
20,406
GAAP gross margin
60.5%
73.0%
78.4%
Acquisition-related and other costs (A)
123
118
119
Stock-based compensation expense (B)
64
53
36
Other
3
–
(1
)
Non-GAAP cost of revenue
$
17,204
$
10,437
$
5,484
Non-GAAP gross profit
$
26,858
$
28,894
$
20,560
Non-GAAP gross margin
61.0%
73.5%
78.9%
GAAP operating expenses
$
5,030
$
4,689
$
3,497
Stock-based compensation expense (B)
(1,410
)
(1,268
)
(975
)
Acquisition-related and other costs (A)
(37
)
(43
)
(21
)
Non-GAAP operating expenses
$
3,583
$
3,378
$
2,501
GAAP operating income
$
21,638
$
24,034
$
16,909
Total impact of non-GAAP adjustments to operating income
1,637
1,482
1,150
Non-GAAP operating income
$
23,275
$
25,516
$
18,059
GAAP total other income (expense), net
$
272
$
1,183
$
370
(Gains) losses from non-marketable equity securities and publicly-held equity securities, net
175
(727
)
(69
)
Interest expense related to amortization of debt discount
1
1
1
Non-GAAP total other income (expense), net
$
448
$
457
$
302
GAAP net income
$
18,775
$
22,091
$
14,881
Total pre-tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments
1,813
756
1,082
Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments (C)
(694
)
(781
)
(725
)
Non-GAAP net income
$
19,894
$
22,066
$
15,238
Diluted net income per share (D)
GAAP
$
0.76
$
0.89
$
0.60
Non-GAAP
$
0.81
$
0.89
$
0.61
Weighted average shares used in diluted net income per share computation (D)
24,611
24,706
24,890
GAAP net cash provided by operating activities
$
27,414
$
16,628
$
15,345
Purchases related to property and equipment and intangible assets
(1,227
)
(1,077
)
(369
)
Principal payments on property and equipment and intangible assets
(52
)
(32
)
(40
)
Free cash flow
$
26,135
$
15,519
$
14,936
(A) Acquisition-related and other costs are comprised of amortization of intangible assets, transaction costs, and certain compensation charges and are included in the following line items:
Three Months Ended
April 27,
January 26,
April 28,
2025
2025
2024
Cost of revenue
$
123
$
118
$
119
Research and development
$
28
$
27
$
12
Sales, general and administrative
$
9
$
16
$
8
(B) Stock-based compensation consists of the following:
Three Months Ended
April 27,
January 26,
April 28,
2025
2025
2024
Cost of revenue
$
64
$
53
$
36
Research and development
$
1,063
$
955
$
727
Sales, general and administrative
$
347
$
313
$
248
(C) Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments, including the recognition of excess tax benefits or deficiencies related to stock-based compensation under GAAP accounting standard (ASU 2016-09).
(D) Reflects a ten-for-one stock split on June 7, 2024.
Three Months
Ended
April 27,
2025
($ in millions)
GAAP gross profit
$
26,668
GAAP gross margin
60.5%
Stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs
190
H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges
4,538
Non-GAAP gross profit (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)
$
31,396
Non-GAAP gross margin (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)
71.3%
GAAP net income
$
18,775
Total pre-tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments and H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges
6,351
Income tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments and H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges
(1,491
)
Non-GAAP net income (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)
$
23,635
Diluted net income per share
GAAP
$
0.76
Non-GAAP (as adjusted to exclude H20 excess inventory and purchase obligation charges)
$
0.96
Weighted average shares used in diluted net income per share computation
24,611
NVIDIA CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP OUTLOOK
Q2 FY2026 Outlook
($ in millions)
GAAP gross margin
71.8%
Impact of stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs
0.2%
Non-GAAP gross margin
72.0%
GAAP operating expenses
$
5,700
Stock-based compensation expense, acquisition-related costs, and other costs
(1,700
)
Non-GAAP operating expenses
$
4,000
About NVIDIA NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.
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Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the impact of H20 export licensing requirements; global demand for NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure; the demand for AI computing accelerating; countries recognizing AI as essential infrastructure and NVIDIA’s role; AI factories fueling a new industrial revolution and their impact; expectations with respect to growth, performance and benefits of NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, including Blackwell, and related trends and drivers; expectations with respect to supply and demand for NVIDIA’s products, services and technologies, including Blackwell, and related matters including inventory, production and distribution; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments and related trends and drivers; future NVIDIA cash dividends or other returns to stockholders; NVIDIA’s financial and business outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and beyond; projected market growth and trends; expectations with respect to AI and related industries; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JERUSALEM, May 28 (Xinhua) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday confirmed that Mohammed Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip and the brother of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli air strike earlier this month.
Speaking in parliament, B. Netanyahu said that Israel was at a “dramatic turning point” in the war against Hamas and that the military had “liquidated Mohammed Sinwar.”
He added that Israel’s recent operations have focused on eliminating Hamas’ governing structures in Gaza.
There has been no confirmation of M. Sinwar’s death from Hamas or independent sources.
Netanyahu’s statement was the first official confirmation of Sinwar’s killing since a joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service on May 13 hit a bunker beneath Gaza’s European Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to health authorities in the Palestinian enclave, the airstrike killed 26 people, but Sinwar’s fate remained unclear.
Mohammed Sinwar, 49, was a senior Hamas political and military figure who took over the movement’s operations and those of its militant wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in the Gaza Strip in October 2024 following the death of his brother.
B. Netanyahu also gave an update on the hostages held in the enclave, saying Israeli intelligence said 20 were still alive and 38 were believed to be dead.
Israeli attacks have killed at least 54,084 people in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, according to health authorities. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GAZA, May 28 (Xinhua) — The Palestinian movement Hamas issued an official statement announcing that it had reached an agreement with U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff on a general framework for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
According to a Hamas statement, the deal calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the handover of several bodies of the dead in exchange for the release of an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, under guarantees from mediators.
Hamas stressed that it was waiting for a final response to the framework, adding that it was “making significant efforts to stop the brutal war in the Gaza Strip.”
As the movement noted, the agreement “will ensure a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave, the supply of humanitarian aid and the establishment of a professional committee that will take over the management of the Strip’s affairs immediately after the agreement is announced.”
A Hamas spokesman, who asked to remain anonymous, said on May 26 that Hamas had agreed to Witkoff’s proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Meanwhile, according to the American news site Axios, S. Witkoff himself denied the fact that Hamas approved his proposal for a truce and the release of hostages in the enclave.
Israel has not yet announced its official position on the American proposal, but Israeli media reports, citing officials in the country, that the Jewish state rejects the plan and does not intend to agree to it. –0–
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) helped introduce bipartisan legislation to make permanent critical sanctions targeting Iran’s energy and weapons sectors, aimed at cutting off the regime’s ability to fund terrorism and pursue nuclear weapons. The bipartisan Solidify Iran Sanctions Act builds on the existing Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) of 1996 – which enables the U.S. to impose sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons sectors that provide critical funding sources for its nuclear program and terrorist proxies – by removing its sunset provision and ensuring continued pressure on the Iranian regime. The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously earlier this month.
“Sanctions have been critical in holding Iran accountable for its destabilizing actions, including support for terrorist proxies,” said Senator Rosen. “With Iran closer than ever to a nuclear weapon, I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that applies pressure on the Iranian regime.”
Senator Rosen has been a steadfast advocate for strengthening our national security, combating terrorism, supporting U.S. allies in the Middle East, and countering threats from authoritarian regimes like Iran. Senator Rosen has led bipartisan efforts to freeze Iranian assets, tighten oil sanctions, and ensure the regime is held accountable. Senator Rosen continues to support strong U.S. foreign policy priorities focused on safeguarding global stability.
Comments to the media by Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on the attack in DC & latest developments in the region.