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Turkey Rejects US Decision on Resettlement of Afghan Refugees

Afghan soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside the US Bagram air base, July 2, 2021.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
Afghan soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside the US Bagram air base, July 2, 2021.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
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Turkey Rejects US Decision on Resettlement of Afghan Refugees

Afghan soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside the US Bagram air base, July 2, 2021.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
Afghan soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint outside the US Bagram air base, July 2, 2021.REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Turkey criticized what it described the “irresponsible decision taken by the US” regarding Afghan refugees, a spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

The US State Department on Monday announced a new program under which thousands more Afghans will have a chance to resettle as refugees in the United States. Afghans in the program would have to make their own way to a third country, where they will wait 12 to 14 months for their application to be processed.

A senior State Department official said Washington had been in discussion with neighboring countries on potential outflows, adding it was important that Pakistan's borders with Afghanistan remain open, while others might travel to Turkey via Iran.

However, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it rejected a reference to Turkey as a migration route for Afghans.

"As Turkey, we do not accept the irresponsible decision taken by the United States without consulting our country. If the United States wants to take these people to its country, it is possible to transfer them directly to their country by planes," the ministry said.

“This announcement will cause a major refugee crisis in our region and increase the misery of Afghans on the migration routes,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in the statement.

Bilgic added that Turkey, which has hosted the largest number of refugees in the world for the past seven years, “does not have the capacity to undertake a new migration crisis on behalf of a third country.”

The State Department is offering potential refugee status to several new categories of Afghans who assisted the United States during the war in Afghanistan, including those who worked for news media and non-governmental organizations.

The department said in an announcement on Monday that the action was meant to protect Afghans “who may be at risk due to their US affiliation,” but who were not eligible for a special immigrant visa program that has begun to resettle thousands of Afghans and their family members.

But Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that gaining entry into the United States would not be easy for the affected Afghans, who must reach a third country before they can even apply for US refugee status, beginning a process that can take more than a year, thanks to backlogs and rigorous security vetting.

In the same context, Turkey's Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın held a phone call with Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor to United States President Joe Biden, on Tuesday.

In the call, they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.

The two officials pointed out that international cooperation is essential to avoid a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and to ensure an environment of stability and peace.

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World

Canarians Worry Arrival of Hantavirus Cruise Ship Will Bring Repeat of Covid Quarantines

This aerial view shows health personnel boarding the cruise ship MV Hondius, while stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. (AFP)
This aerial view shows health personnel boarding the cruise ship MV Hondius, while stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. (AFP)
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Canarians Worry Arrival of Hantavirus Cruise Ship Will Bring Repeat of Covid Quarantines

This aerial view shows health personnel boarding the cruise ship MV Hondius, while stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. (AFP)
This aerial view shows health personnel boarding the cruise ship MV Hondius, while stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 6, 2026. (AFP)

The arrival this weekend of a cruise ship hit by an outbreak of hantavirus is reviving memories for residents of Spain's Canary Islands of the quarantines they experienced during the Covid pandemic.

The MV Hondius, carrying 150 people, is expected to reach Tenerife on Saturday, where it will dock after Spain agreed to requests from the World Health Organization to receive it despite protests from the local government.

The archipelago was one of the first places in Europe to undergo quarantines during the early days of the pandemic. More than 700 holidaymakers were stranded in a hotel in Tenerife for 14 days in February 2020 after ‌authorities cloistered ‌the compound to prevent the spread of the virus, weeks before ‌it propagated ⁠to the rest ⁠of Europe.

Other epidemics, such as an outbreak of Ebola in 2014, have also affected the islands, whose economy relies heavily on tourism. The archipelago has also complained that it has had to bear the brunt of a migration crisis from Western Africa.

"We are a community that’s already quite flexible when it comes to helping others and being accommodating to people, but I think this is excessive," said local resident Margarita Maria, 62. "People are scared, people are worried. Spain is a ⁠huge country with plenty of ports where the cruise ship could ‌go."

The World Health Organization says the risk to ‌the public remains low and the variant detected among passengers can spread between humans only through close, prolonged ‌contact.

Nevertheless, the news was stirring fears that hospitals and health centers on Tenerife would ‌have to be locked down, said a nurse who asked not to be identified.

"It will be just like Covid ... People are worried about their children, elderly relatives and the vulnerable," the nurse said, adding that the islands' quarantine protocol for viruses, if one was declared, would affect schools and healthcare centers.

All the ‌passengers left on board the ship were not presenting symptoms of the disease and would be repatriated to their countries, while the ⁠14 Spaniards on board ⁠would be flown to a hospital in Madrid to quarantine, Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia said on Wednesday.

Some residents complained that the Canaries' status as a safe destination meant it always had to shoulder responsibilities other tourist markets shirk.

"Tourist destinations competing with the Canary Islands in the international market have not been taken into account, and the decision has been made to bring the cruise ship to the Canary Islands – there must be a reason for that," said Jorge Marichal, president of Tenerife's hotels association, Ashotel.

Madrid has failed to communicate what was expected of the archipelago, which was making it difficult to assuage the tourism industry, said the regional government's tourism minister, Lope Afonso.

Some Canarians worried it could have an impact on Pope Leo's scheduled visit to the Canaries in June.

"Can you imagine the Pope with hantavirus? That's a headline we don't want," local comedian Omayra Cazorla said on Instagram.

World

Japan Fires Missile in Joint Drill with US and Allies in Northern Philippines, Facing South China Sea

US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
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Japan Fires Missile in Joint Drill with US and Allies in Northern Philippines, Facing South China Sea

US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights

Japan's Self-Defense Forces fired a Type 88 anti-ship missile during a joint maritime exercise with US, Australian, and Philippine forces on Wednesday, hitting a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship in waters facing the disputed South China Sea.

The drill took place as Manila and Tokyo began talks on a potential defense equipment transfer, made possible by Japan's decision to scrap restrictions on military exports, said Reuters.

Discussions include the possible early transfer of Abukuma class ‌destroyers and TC-90 ‌aircraft to the Philippines, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro ‌Koizumi ⁠said.

Philippine Defense Secretary ⁠Gilberto Teodoro and Koizumi witnessed the live missile firing on the ground, while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the exercise from military headquarters in Manila via a live video feed, the president's office said.

"The exercise showcased coordinated maritime strike operations among allied forces and highlighted the AFP's growing capability to operate alongside international partners in promoting regional security and freedom of ⁠navigation," it said in a statement.

The Philippine military said ‌two Type 88 volleys were fired, hitting ‌the BRP Quezon within six minutes of the launch. The strike took ‌place about 75 km (46.6 miles) off the coast of Paoay in the ‌northern Philippines, which faces the South China Sea.

The Philippine Department of National Defense said Japan's Type 88 missile system was "designed to defend coastal areas and deter maritime threats."

"I'm very, very proud and happy that we were able to ‌pull this off for the first time and it will only get larger in scope with more partners," ⁠Teodoro said.

The ⁠live-fire drill was part of the annual war games held by Manila and Washington, known as "Balikatan", or "shoulder-to-shoulder".

Japan, together with Canada, Australia, France and New Zealand, are joining Balikatan as active participants for the first time, highlighting Manila's widening network of security partnerships.

On May 2, Filipino and American troops also deployed the anti-ship missile NMESIS in Batanes province, near Taiwan, as tensions simmer over the self-governed island that China views as its own territory.

More than 17,000 troops are taking part in this year's exercises, including around 1,400 from defense treaty ally Japan and 10,000 from the United States, even though Washington remains heavily engaged in the Middle East.

Beijing routinely criticizes Manila's joint military exercises with allies, saying they heighten regional tensions.

World

London Police Set Up Specialist Jewish Protection Team

Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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London Police Set Up Specialist Jewish Protection Team

Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British police are setting up a new team of 100 officers including counter terrorism specialists to help protect Jewish communities across London after a series of antisemitic attacks including the stabbing of two men.

The plan announced on Wednesday for a dedicated protection team comes as officers announced more arrests for antisemitism, including detaining a 35-year old man on Saturday after rocks were thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community, Reuters reported.

London's top police boss ⁠Mark Rowley said ⁠Jewish communities were facing "sustained threats" from hostile state actors as well as extreme right-wing groups, elements of the extreme left and terrorists.

Detectives are examining whether the arson incidents have possible Iranian links, after British security officials warned that Iran ⁠was using criminal proxies to carry out hostile activity.

Since late March, there have been a number of high-profile arson attacks with four Jewish ambulances burned and synagogues targeted. Last week, two Jewish men were also stabbed. Both victims survived the attack.

Over the past four weeks, police said they had arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes and charged eight individuals. On top of ⁠that, ⁠28 arrests have been made as part of investigations alongside counter terrorism policing for arson and other serious incidents.

"This new team will be primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats," said a statement from London's Metropolitan Police force.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting on Monday with business, health and cultural leaders aimed at trying to tackle antisemitism.