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Elon Musk in Row with Zelensky over Russia 'Peace Plan'

FILE - In this March 14, 2019, file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - In this March 14, 2019, file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
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Elon Musk in Row with Zelensky over Russia 'Peace Plan'

FILE - In this March 14, 2019, file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
FILE - In this March 14, 2019, file photo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks before unveiling the Model Y at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

US billionaire Elon Musk was embroiled in a social media spat with Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday over his ideas on ending Russia's invasion.

Musk sparked the controversy on Twitter by proposing a peace deal involving re-running under UN supervision annexation referendums in Moscow-occupied Ukrainian regions, acknowledging Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula and giving Ukraine a neutral status.

The Tesla and SpaceX founder created a poll to let his more than 107 million followers vote on the idea, AFP said.

Zelensky responded with a Twitter poll of his own, asking: "Which @elonmusk do you like more?" with the options "One who supports Ukraine" and "One who supports Russia".

Kyiv's ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk replied bluntly: "My very diplomatic response (to Musk) is to get lost."

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak suggested a "better peace plan" under which Ukraine took back its territories including Crimea, Russia was demilitarized and denuclearized and "war criminals" faced an international tribunal.

Musk later said Moscow could announce a full mobilization, leading to a "full war" where "death on both sides will be devastating" given Russia's far larger population.

"Victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace," he wrote on Twitter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukraine to cease hostilities and negotiate after ordering a partial mobilization to bolster his forces and threatening to use nuclear weapons.

Zelensky has said he will never negotiate with Russia as long as Putin remained its leader.

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World

Gunman Kills 6 Worshippers Inside Mosque in Western Afghanistan

A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)
A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)
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Gunman Kills 6 Worshippers Inside Mosque in Western Afghanistan

A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)
A general view of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Siddiqullah Alizai)

A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan, opening fire and killing six people as they were praying, a Taliban official said Tuesday.

According to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry, the attack happened on Monday night in the district of Guzara in Herat province. He said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that an investigation was underway.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded another worshipper, and the attacker fled the scene. Local media reported that the mosque's imam was among those killed.

“I strongly condemn the attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque,” former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on X. “I consider this terrorist act against all religious and human standards.”

ISIS’ affiliate in Afghanistan is a major Taliban rival and frequently targets schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas throughout the country.

World

Türkiye Detains ISIS Member who Planned Bomb Attack in Istanbul

An image taken from a video published by the Turkish Interior Minister on his “X” account showing security forces while capturing the ISIS terrorist who planned the Istanbul attack
An image taken from a video published by the Turkish Interior Minister on his “X” account showing security forces while capturing the ISIS terrorist who planned the Istanbul attack
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Türkiye Detains ISIS Member who Planned Bomb Attack in Istanbul

An image taken from a video published by the Turkish Interior Minister on his “X” account showing security forces while capturing the ISIS terrorist who planned the Istanbul attack
An image taken from a video published by the Turkish Interior Minister on his “X” account showing security forces while capturing the ISIS terrorist who planned the Istanbul attack

Türkiye has announced that security services foiled an ISIS attempt to carry out a terrorist bomb attack in Istanbul.

“An ISIS terrorist member who allegedly planned a bomb attack, was detained in Istanbul’s Beykoz district,” Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on social media platform X on Monday.

The suspect was arrested during an operation dubbed “Bozdogan 32.”

The Minister said that Turkish security services found that an individual identified by the initials K.A., belongs to the terrorist organization, and has knowledge of bomb making. The suspect was allegedly planning to carry out a bomb attack in Istanbul, he added.

Yerlikaya then explained that the counter-terrorism forces arrested the man at his workplace in the Beykoz region.

The suspect was testing with another person whether an explosion would occur with the chemicals he used.

Yerlikaya said that the chemical substances seized during the raid at the suspect's apartment “were capable of causing large-scale explosions.”

Also, during the operation, the minister said six others were detained on suspicion of ISIS links. A large quantity of bomb-making materials was seized.

“No terrorists will be tolerated. The security services will continue their fight against terrorism with determination,” the Minister affirmed.

Last week, Yerlikaya revealed that Turkish security services have conducted 1,422 operations against ISIS between June 1, 2023 and April 22, 2024.

He said 2,991 suspects were caught in the operations, with 718 arrested and 566 placed under judicial control.

Recently, ISIS renewed its activities in the country after a pause of seven years.

ISIS claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks in Türkiye between 2015 and 2017, which killed more than 300 and wounded dozens. Türkiye designated the group as terrorist in 2013.

ISIS said the attack on the Church was “in response to calls by ISIS leaders to attack Jews and Christians everywhere.”

The shooting at the church in Istanbul marks the first ISIS attack in Türkiye since 2017, when Abdulkadir Masharipov (alias Muhammed al-Khurasani), a man from Uzbekistan, has carried out the New Year's gun attack at Istanbul's Reina nightclub.

Since the deadly attack, Turkish security services have carried out continuous raids on ISIS cells and operatives.

The operations have so far led to the arrest of thousands of suspects, the deportation of nearly 3,000 people, and the denial of entry to the country to more than 5,000 foreign nationals.

World

Iran Warns Europe against Classifying IRGC as Terrorist Organization

Kanaani speaks during a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and media officials. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Kanaani speaks during a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and media officials. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
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Iran Warns Europe against Classifying IRGC as Terrorist Organization

Kanaani speaks during a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and media officials. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)
Kanaani speaks during a meeting with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and media officials. (Iranian Foreign Ministry)

The Iranian Foreign Ministry warned against any European move to classify the Revolutionary Guards on the terrorist list. At the same time, Tehran expressed its determination to move forward in strengthening relations with Russia against what it described as “American unilateralism.”
On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the expansion of sanctions on Iran and the classification of the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations, following an attack launched by Iran with missiles and drones against Israel, in response to the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
Among the motives of European legislators is Iran sending drones and missiles to groups described as “Tehran’s proxy” in the region, as well as Russia, which is waging a war with Ukraine.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that discussions raised during the European meeting were “baseless and irresponsible.”
Iranian media quoted Kanaani as saying during the weekly press conference: “The Revolutionary Guard is an official military force that plays an important role in preserving national security, protecting borders, confronting external and cross-border attacks and threats...”
He added that the IRGC assumed “an important role in development, economic prosperity, and public services for the Iranian people.”
Some countries are pressuring the European Union to find a way to classify the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
But officials, led by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, say that they have not yet found a legal basis for such a step, nor are they confident that it will gain the support of all European Union members.
European officials are currently studying a court ruling issued in the German city of Dusseldorf related to the activities of the Revolutionary Guard, which paves the way for efforts to include it on the terrorist list. The United States has classified the IRGC as a terrorist organization since April 2019.
In a related matter, Kanaani said that Moscow and Tehran are working on a comprehensive cooperation agreement document in the long term, which “could give impetus to expanding cooperation between the two countries.” He referred to “common positions on regional and international issues,” including confronting “American unilateralism and combating terrorism.”
In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, signed memorandums of cooperation in Moscow against Western sanctions on the two countries. For three years, the two sides have been studying signing a “20-year comprehensive cooperation agreement” similar to an agreement deal between Tehran and Beijing.

World

US Congress Warns ICC Over Possible Arrest Warrants for Israeli Officials

FILE - Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
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US Congress Warns ICC Over Possible Arrest Warrants for Israeli Officials

FILE - Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
FILE - Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

Members of the US Congress warned the International Criminal Court (ICC) that arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials will be met with US retaliation, sources told Axios on Monday.

The website said that Congress is already drafting legislation to that effect.

Earlier, Axios said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone so far as to urge US President Joe Biden to intervene to help prevent the warrants.

The ICC has been investigating allegations of war crimes against both the Israeli military and Palestinian factions dating back to 2014.

The White House declined to comment on Netanyahu's call with Biden but said “the ICC has no jurisdiction in this situation and we do not support its investigation.”

World

Philippines Accuses China of Damaging its Vessel at Hotly Contested Shoal

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo
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Philippines Accuses China of Damaging its Vessel at Hotly Contested Shoal

FILE PHOTO: Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. REUTERS/Adrian Portugal/File Photo

The Philippines on Tuesday accused China's coast guard of harassment and damaging one of its boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea, and rejected Beijing's position that it had expelled two vessels from the hotly contested shoal.
The Philippine coast guard said its two vessels stood their ground at the Scarborough Shoal, a key battleground in the South China Sea, but one sustained damage from use of water cannon by two Chinese coast guard ships, Reuters said.
"This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China coast guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels," Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a statement.
"They were not deterred and will persist in carrying out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety."
No country has sovereignty over the strategically located Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing patch used by several countries that is close to major shipping lanes. The shoal falls inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
China has occupied the atoll for more than a decade and waters around its lagoon, which has long been a sanctuary for vessels during storms, have been the site of multiple confrontations in recent years.
China's coast guard said the vessels had been expelled but did not provide details of the incident.
The Philippine' Tarriela said its vessel, the BRP Bagacay, suffered damage to its railing and canopy and China has installed a floating barrier at the shoal's entrance, "effectively restricting access to the area".
The two countries have traded accusations of illegal conduct at the shoal and the Philippines recently summoned a Chinese diplomat to explain the what it calls aggressive maneuvers. China typically accuses the Philippines of encroaching on its territory.
China and Philippines previously said they would seek better communications and management around skirmishes in the vast South China Sea, but tensions have increased recently, as the Philippines forges stronger diplomatic and military ties with the ally the United States.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's expansive claim had no legal basis, a decision Beijing has rejected.

World

Scotland's Leader Yousaf Quits After A Year

Humza Yousaf announced his resignation in an appearance at Bute House in Edinburgh - AFP
Humza Yousaf announced his resignation in an appearance at Bute House in Edinburgh - AFP
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Scotland's Leader Yousaf Quits After A Year

Humza Yousaf announced his resignation in an appearance at Bute House in Edinburgh - AFP
Humza Yousaf announced his resignation in an appearance at Bute House in Edinburgh - AFP

Scotland's first minister Humza Yousaf announced his resignation Monday ahead of two confidence votes this week sparked by his ditching of junior coalition partners in a row over climate policy.

The 39-year-old quit following a turbulent year as head of the Scottish government, during which support for his pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) has fallen.

Yousaf said he had "underestimated" the hurt he had caused by ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens in the Scottish parliament last week, AFP reported

His government had earlier abandoned ambitious targets for the transition to net-zero carbon emissions, angering the Greens.

The opposition Scottish Conservatives then lodged a vote of no-confidence in Yousaf, which was set for Wednesday and which the first minister was at risk of losing.

Scottish Labour lodged another no-confidence vote against his government.

The Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens all said they would vote against Yousaf in the personal vote, forcing him to seek the backing of the sole lawmaker from the pro-independence Alba party.

Yousaf -- the first Muslim leader of a major UK political party -- told reporters at his official residence that he thought winning was "absolutely possible".

But he added that he was "not willing to trade in my values or principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power".

"I have concluded that repairing our relationships across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm," Yousaf said.

Yousaf became Scotland's leader 13 months ago, after Nicola Sturgeon announced her surprise resignation after eight years in the job.

He won a bruising contest that exposed splits in the party between those on the left wing and others closer to the right.

Yousaf said he would continue as first minister until a successor was elected "in order to ensure a smooth and orderly transition", adding that the contest should start "as soon as possible".

World

9 People Go on Trial in Germany over an Alleged Coup Plot

Nine people charged with terrorism went on trial Monday in one of three linked cases - The AP.
Nine people charged with terrorism went on trial Monday in one of three linked cases - The AP.
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9 People Go on Trial in Germany over an Alleged Coup Plot

Nine people charged with terrorism went on trial Monday in one of three linked cases - The AP.
Nine people charged with terrorism went on trial Monday in one of three linked cases - The AP.

Nine people charged with terrorism in connection with an alleged far-right plot to topple the German government went on trial Monday in one of three linked cases.

The trial opening in Stuttgart is the first to open in relation to the purported conspiracy, which came to light in late 2022. It is focused on those defendants of the Reich Citizens group who allegedly were part of its so-called military arm, German news agency dpa reported.

Federal prosecutors in December filed terrorism charges against a total of 27 people, one of whom has since died.

Nine other suspects, among them a self-styled prince and a former far-right lawmaker, will go on trial on May 21 at a Frankfurt state court in the most prominent of the three cases. The other eight will go on trial in Munich on June 18, The AP reported.

The Frankfurt case includes Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss, whom the group allegedly planned to install as Germany’s provisional new leader; Birgit Malsack-Winkemann, a judge and former lawmaker with the far-right Alternative for Germany party; and a retired paratrooper.

The proceedings of the three cases are expected to last well into 2025.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on ZDF public television that the trial "shows the strength of our rule of law that the largest terrorist network of Reich Citizens to date (...) has to answer for its militant plans to overthrow the government.”

Prosecutors have said that the accused believed in a “conglomerate of conspiracy myths,” including Reich Citizens and QAnon ideology, and were convinced that Germany is ruled by a so-called deep state.

Adherents of the Reich Citizens movement, or Reichsbuergerbewegung in German, reject Germany’s postwar constitution and have called for bringing down the government, while QAnon is a global conspiracy theory with roots in the United States.

According to prosecutors, the group planned to storm into the parliament building in Berlin and arrest lawmakers. It allegedly intended to negotiate a post-coup order primarily with Russia, as one of the allied victors of World War II.

The nine defendants at the Stuttgart trial are accused of membership in a terrorist organization and “preparation of a high treasonous enterprise.” One of the defendants is also on trial for attempted murder, dpa reported.

Most of the nine suspects in the Frankfurt trial are also charged with membership in a terrorist organization and “preparation of high treasonous undertaking.” The other eight alleged members of the group have been charged in separate indictments at the court in Munich.

World

Stoltenberg: Ukraine Can Still Win War Despite Russian Advances

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has been outgunned for months' but that 'more support is on the way' - AFP
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has been outgunned for months' but that 'more support is on the way' - AFP
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Stoltenberg: Ukraine Can Still Win War Despite Russian Advances

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has been outgunned for months' but that 'more support is on the way' - AFP
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said 'Ukraine has been outgunned for months' but that 'more support is on the way' - AFP

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said it was "not too late" for Ukraine to win the war, despite its outmanned and outgunned military struggling in the face of Russian advances while waiting for stalled weapons deliveries from allies.

Ukrainian forces have been on the defensive for months, while Russia's troops have steadily inched forward along the frontline.

On Monday Russia claimed to have captured a second village in as many days in eastern Ukraine, while a missile strike on the Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least four people and wounded 27.

Moscow has for weeks pressed its advantage at the front, an effort it has accelerated in recent days before crucial US weapons reach Kyiv's exhausted frontline forces.

"Ukraine has been outgunned for months, forced to ration its ammunition... But it's not too late for Ukraine to prevail," the NATO secretary general said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said months-long delays in US military aid to Ukraine had "serious consequences on the battlefield".

But Stoltenberg insisted that "more support is on the way".

"Our allies are looking into what more they can do and I expect new announcements soon. So we are working hard to meet Ukraine's urgent needs," he promised.

Ukraine has been dependent on Western military aid to counter Russia's larger and more powerful army.

Russia on Monday said it had captured the village of Semenivka near the strategic town of Avdiivka that was captured in February.

The announcement came a day after Moscow claimed the nearby village of Novobakhmutivka, with Kyiv saying the situation for its forces was worsening.

Semenivka is close to Ocheretyne, where fighting has intensified and part of which is reportedly under Russian control.

Russia's strike on the strategically important port city of Odesa had left four people fighting for their lives, as well as killing four more, authorities said.

"Three women and a man were killed. According to the updated toll, 27 people were wounded, including two children... and a pregnant woman," Governor Oleg Kiper said on Telegram.

"Four of the wounded are in a serious condition, doctors are fighting to save their lives."

Russia regularly hits Odesa, which is crucial for Ukraine's exports.

Kiper earlier said the strike had damaged "residential buildings and civilian infrastructure".

Another Russian strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city that is also a frequent target, wounded one person, local authorities said.

Regional governor Oleg Sinegubov said on Telegram that a 42-year-old man had been wounded by shrapnel and the blast following a Russian "missile attack".

Speaking alongside Stoltenberg, Zelensky urged faster weapons deliveries to bolster the front line.

"The Russian army is now trying to take advantage of the situation when we are expecting supplies from our partner," the Ukrainian leader said.

"That is why promptness in supply literally means stabilisation of the front line," he said.

"Together we must disrupt the Russian offensive," he said.

Speaking of the long-awaited aid, Zelensky said "some things have started to arrive" but declined to "go into details".

US President Joe Biden gave final approval for the aid -- blocked in Congress for months -- last week, saying shipments will start "right away".

World

Clear Encampment or Face Suspension, Columbia University Tells Israel-Hamas War Protesters

A Palestinian flag flutters in the wind during a pro-Palestinian encampment, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, inside Columbia University Campus on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in New York. (AP)
A Palestinian flag flutters in the wind during a pro-Palestinian encampment, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, inside Columbia University Campus on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in New York. (AP)
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Clear Encampment or Face Suspension, Columbia University Tells Israel-Hamas War Protesters

A Palestinian flag flutters in the wind during a pro-Palestinian encampment, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, inside Columbia University Campus on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in New York. (AP)
A Palestinian flag flutters in the wind during a pro-Palestinian encampment, advocating for financial disclosure and divestment from all companies tied to Israel and calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, inside Columbia University Campus on Sunday, April 28, 2024, in New York. (AP)

Colleges around the country implored pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments with rising levels of urgency Monday, including an ultimatum from Columbia University for students to sign a form and leave the encampment by the afternoon or face suspension.

College classes nationwide are wrapping up for the semester, and campuses are preparing for graduation ceremonies.

The notice sent by Columbia to protesters in the encampment Monday said that if they leave by the designated time and sign a form committing to abide by university policies through June 2025 or an earlier graduation, they can finish the semester in good standing. If not, the letter said, they will be suspended, pending further investigation.

“We urge you to remove the encampment so that we do not deprive your fellow students, their families and friends of this momentous occasion,” the letter said, noting that exams are beginning and graduation is upcoming at the Ivy League university in New York City.

A spokesperson for Columbia confirmed the letter had gone out to students but declined to comment further.

Mahmoud Khalil, the lead negotiator on behalf of protesters, said university representatives began passing out the notices at the encampment shortly after 10 a.m. Monday. He said discussions were ongoing about how to proceed.

Early protests at Columbia, where demonstrators set up tents in the center of the campus, sparked pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country. Students and others have been sparring over the Israel-Hamas war and its mounting death toll. Many students are demanding their universities cut financial ties with Israel.

About 275 people were arrested Saturday at various campuses including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis. The number of arrests nationwide has surpassed 900 since New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia and arrested more than 100 demonstrators on April 18.

The demonstrations at Columbia have led it to hold remote classes and set a series of deadlines for protesters to leave the encampment, which they have missed. The school said in an email to students that bringing back police “at this time” would be counterproductive.

The students and administrators have negotiated to end the disruptions, but the sides have not come to an agreement, university President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Monday.

Protests were still active at a number of campuses. Near George Washington University, protesters at an encampment breached and dismantled the barriers Monday morning used to secure University Yard, the university said in a statement. The yard had been closed since last week.

Protesters at Yale University set up a new encampment with dozens of tents Sunday afternoon, nearly a week after police arrested nearly 50 demonstrators and cleared a similar camp.

At least one school, the University of Southern California, canceled its main graduation ceremony this spring. Others are asking the protests to resolve peacefully so they can hold their ceremonies.

Protesters on both sides shouted and shoved each other during dueling demonstrations Sunday at the University of California, Los Angeles. The university stepped up security after “some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators,” Mary Osako, vice chancellor for UCLA Strategic Communications, said in a statement. There were no reports of arrests or injuries.

The plight of students who have been arrested has become a central part of protests, with the students and a growing number of faculty demanding amnesty for protesters. At issue is whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students through their adult lives.

World

NATO's Chief Chides Alliance Countries for Not Being Quicker to Help Ukraine against Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) addresses lawmakers during his visit to the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, 29 April 2024. (EPA)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) addresses lawmakers during his visit to the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, 29 April 2024. (EPA)
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NATO's Chief Chides Alliance Countries for Not Being Quicker to Help Ukraine against Russia

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) addresses lawmakers during his visit to the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, 29 April 2024. (EPA)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) addresses lawmakers during his visit to the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, 29 April 2024. (EPA)

NATO countries haven’t delivered what they promised to Ukraine in time, the alliance’s chief said Monday, allowing Russia to press its battlefield advantage while Kyiv’s depleted forces wait for Western military supplies to arrive.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that “serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield” for Ukraine.

“NATO allies have not delivered what they promised,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, referring to delays by the US and Europe in sending weapons and ammunition.

Ukraine’s troops were compelled to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the eastern region, where the Kremlin's forces have been making incremental gains against their weaker opponent, Ukraine's army chief said Sunday. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Monday its forces had also taken the village of Semenivka.

“The lack of ammunition has allowed the Russians to push forward along the front line. Lack of air defense has made it possible for more Russian missiles to hit their targets, and the lack of deep strike capabilities has made it possible for the Russians to concentrate more forces,” Stoltenberg said.

Ukraine and its Western partners are in a race against the clock to deploy critical new military aid that can help check the recent slow and costly but steady Russian advance across eastern areas, as well as thwart drone and missile attacks.

Zelenskyy said new Western supplies have started arriving, but slowly. "This process must be speeded up,” he said.

Though the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line has shifted little since early in the war, the Kremlin’s forces have in recent weeks edged forward, especially in the Donetsk region, by sheer weight of numbers and massive firepower used to bludgeon defensive positions.

Kyiv’s Western partners have repeatedly vowed to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes.” But vital US military help was held up for six months by political differences in Washington, and Europe’s military hardware production has not been able to keep up with demand. Ukraine’s own manufacturing of heavy weapons is only now starting to gain traction.

Russia is a far bigger country than Ukraine, with greater resources to draw on. It has also received weapon support from Iran and North Korea, the US government says.

Drawn-out Ukrainian efforts to mobilize more troops, and the belated building of battlefield fortifications are other factors currently undermining Ukraine’s war effort, military analysts say.

Stoltenberg said more weapons and ammunition for Ukraine are on the way, including Patriot missile systems to defend against the heavy Russian barrages that smash into the power grid and urban areas.

That additional help may be needed as Ukrainian officials say Russia is assembling forces for a major summer offensive, even if it troops are making only incremental gains at the moment.

“Russian forces remain unlikely to achieve a deeper operationally significant penetration in the area in the near term,” the Institute for the Study of War said in an assessment late Sunday.

Even so, the Kremlin’s forces are closing in on the strategically important hilltop town of Chasiv Yar, whose capture would be an important step forward into the Donetsk region.

Donetsk and Luhansk together form much of the industrial Donbas region, which has been gripped by separatist fighting since 2014, and which Putin has set as a primary objective of the Russian invasion. Russia illegally annexed areas of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions in September 2022.