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Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing, marking the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations. The two leaders expressed their commitment to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, which has withstood the test of changing international circumstances. They agreed to further align development strategies, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and work together to promote a more just and equitable global governance system. The meeting resulted in the signing of several bilateral cooperation agreements covering areas such as trade, natural conservation, and media exchanges.

The global arms trade is thriving in Latin America and the Caribbean, with major powers like the United States, Russia, and China competing to supply weapons, aircraft, and military equipment to the region. In 2023 and 2024, arms imports by Latin American and Caribbean governments, as well as communist and anti-communist guerrillas, reached $103.7 billion since 1950. The military spending in the region exceeded $2.08 trillion from 1949 to 2023, with 21 of the 33 countries allocating $59.3 billion for defense budgets in 2023 alone. This geopolitical arms race is driven by the desire to combat drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as to assert regional influence. Countries like Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela have turned to alternative suppliers like Iran and Belarus, while Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador have strengthened ties with the United States and NATO.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully recovered government properties worth 3.2 billion Kenyan shillings that were illegally seized by influential individuals and companies in Uasin Gishu County. The recovered assets include the residence of an environmental and land court judge in Eldoret, as well as properties belonging to the police, the Uasin Gishu Referral Hospital, the county fire station, and the County Assembly. The EACC has also revealed that Moi University is a hub of corruption, with some universities accused of issuing fake certificates to generate revenue and lower education standards. The recovery of these stolen public assets is a significant step in the fight against corruption in the region.

Ukraine's armed forces have become an "army of the elderly," with the average soldier over 40 years old. This is due to demographic trends, with fewer young men available for conscription, and the influx of older volunteers and reservists since the 2014 conflict. While experienced older soldiers have advantages, they also face physical limitations in the demands of modern warfare.

The Ukrainian government has passed a law to lower the conscription age to 25, but it remains to be seen whether this will significantly rejuvenate the military. Demographic realities make it difficult to replicate Israel's model of near-universal conscription from age 18. However, Ukraine could learn from Israel's system of pre-military training for teenagers to better prepare young people for service. Ultimately, a balanced force of experienced veterans and agile younger fighters may be the best path forward for Ukraine's defense.

Dozens of rockets were launched from Lebanon into northern Israel, targeting the Galilee and Golan regions. Hezbollah claimed responsibility, stating it was a response to an Israeli attack deep within Lebanon. The rocket barrage came after Israel conducted airstrikes in Lebanon, which Hezbollah said targeted its positions. This latest exchange of fire raises concerns about a potential escalation of tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot five times in an assassination attempt on May 15th. The 71-year-old suspect, author Juraj Cintula, was arrested at the scene. Authorities believe the attack was politically motivated, amid rising political polarization and hate speech in the country.

Fico, a controversial figure known for his pro-Russian stance, was rushed to the hospital and is now out of immediate danger. The incident has been condemned by Slovak leaders, who blamed the attack on the country's divisive political climate. The upcoming transition of power to President-elect Peter Pellegrini, Fico's ally, adds further complexity to the situation.

According to recent statistics, Iran's daily gasoline consumption has reached 118.5 million liters, while production is capped at 110 million liters, leading to a significant deficit. Similar imbalances exist in the consumption of other fuels like diesel and kerosene. To address this issue, the government is implementing non-pricing measures, such as mandatory use of personal fuel cards and tracking systems for trucks and agricultural vehicles, to curb fuel misuse and smuggling. These efforts aim to save billions of dollars that are currently being wasted through inefficient fuel consumption and subsidies.

An investigation into an organized crime syndicate in Ankara has taken an unexpected turn, with allegations of a potential coup attempt within the police force. The probe began with the arrest of Ayhan Bora Kaplan, a suspected crime boss, but has since expanded to include several police officials accused of colluding with the criminal organization. The disappearance of a key witness, Serdar Sertçelik, who was under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor, has fueled speculation of a cover-up or even a broader conspiracy. The Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office has now taken over the investigation, with four public officials, including police commanders, being detained for questioning. The case has become a complex web of allegations, from bribery to attempts to implicate unrelated politicians and bureaucrats, raising concerns about the integrity of the police force and the justice system.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is making his first foreign visit since re-election, traveling to China to meet with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders will discuss key foreign policy cooperation, including trade, economic, and international organization collaboration. They are expected to address the Ukraine conflict, as Western leaders have sought China's influence on Russia. The visit is significant as Russia and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and prepare for cultural exchange programs. The meeting aims to define new areas of cooperation for the next six years, solidifying the "comprehensive strategic partnership" between the two nations as they pursue a more independent global role.

The Second Ministerial Meeting of the Net Zero Producers Forum was held in Riyadh, with the participation of six member countries representing three continents: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Norway, and Canada. The discussions focused on climate action plans and strategies to achieve net-zero emissions, aiming to accelerate the fair energy transition and support sustainable development and energy security.

The ministers welcomed the outcomes of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted by the United Arab Emirates, as well as global efforts to reduce methane emissions, including the Global Methane Pledge and the End Routine Flaring initiative. They also praised the work of the task force on deploying methane reduction technologies and expressed their commitment to expanding these efforts.

To further enhance cooperation and innovation, the Forum established a new task force on carbon utilization and storage, focusing on developing and enhancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies to reduce emissions and create value-added products, contributing to a circular and sustainable carbon economy.

French Interior and Overseas Minister Gérald Darmanin has accused Azerbaijan, a pro-Russian country, of interfering in the ongoing riots in New Caledonia, a French territory. Darmanin stated that a portion of the independence leaders in New Caledonia had made a deal with Azerbaijan, which he described as an "undeniable" reality. The French government has also banned the use of TikTok in the territory, citing concerns about foreign interference and disinformation from countries like China and Azerbaijan seeking to stoke tensions. Despite these alleged attempts at interference, Darmanin asserted that France remains sovereign in its own territory.

Woo Won-sik, the Democratic Party's candidate for National Assembly Speaker, has pledged to ensure the implementation of the party's legislative agenda. Woo emphasized that the Democratic Party's bills, which have been stalled, will be realized under his leadership. This statement comes as the National Assembly prepares for a new session, with the Democratic Party seeking to advance its policy priorities through the legislative process.

In an exclusive interview, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and the "father" of ChatGPT, shares his vision on the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and humans. Altman believes that the future will see people spending more time interacting with AI, but the key question is whether they will treat these AIs as capable colleagues or as extensions of themselves. He suggests that the ideal scenario is a "super-competent colleague" that knows everything about the user, but is still perceived as a separate entity. Altman also envisions a future where AI is not a "black box in the sky," but rather a collective intelligence formed by various contributing entities, much like how a smartphone is a collaborative effort. However, he acknowledges that current large language models like GPT-4 are "incredibly stupid" compared to what he hopes will be available soon.

The article reports that the State of Qatar strongly condemned the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic. The article also discusses the annual graduation ceremony organized by the Early Childhood Center at Qatar University, which celebrated the graduation of a new batch of children from the Preparatory 2 level. The ceremony was attended by the Dean of the College of Education, the Director of the Early Childhood Center, faculty and administrative staff, parents of the graduating children, and other guests from within and outside Qatar University. The event featured a video highlighting the center's achievements, activities, and the children's development during the academic year 2023-2024.