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Belarusian Opposition Leader Condemns Extradition Of Activist From Vietnam
The office of Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has issued a statement condemning the recent extradition from Vietnam to Belarus of Vasil Verameychyk, who fought on the Ukrainian side against invading Russian troops.
Verameychyk, who moved to Vietnam after he was denied permission to settle in Lithuania because of he had previously served in the Belarusian Army, was detained in Vietnam earlier this year.
The Crisis In Belarus
Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
Despite international appeals, Vietnamese authorities proceeded with his extradition in late October 2024.
Tsikhanouskaya's office described the extradition as a direct consequence of the repressive policies of the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, highlighting the regime's efforts to target opponents beyond its borders.
The statement emphasizes the urgent need for stronger international mechanisms to protect human rights, not only for Belarusians fleeing repression but also for those supporting Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia's ongoing invasion.
It calls on the international community to adopt individualized approaches when reviewing cases for international protection, end cooperation with the Belarusian security forces, and suspend bilateral agreements on extradition and legal assistance with Belarus.
Additionally, the statement advises Belarusians abroad to remain vigilant against potential actions by Lukashenka's security services.
It recommends consulting resources like Pashpart.org to identify countries deemed unsafe for Belarusians at risk of persecution.
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- By RFE/RL
Trump Seeks Iran Nuclear Dismantling, Hints At Flexibility
US President Donald Trump says the goal of the negotiations with Iran is to ensure the “total dismantlement” of Tehran’s nuclear program, but would consider allowing Iran to maintain a civilian nuclear energy program.
In an interview with NBC on May 4, Trump said tearing down Iran’s nuclear program would be “all I’d accept.”
The comment marks the first time Trump has explicitly said what he wants to do with Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran maintains is peaceful.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that Washington would be open to letting Iran operate a peaceful civil nuclear program, saying “there’s a way to do it.”
“And that is you build the reactors and you import enriched uranium to fuel those reactors. That’s how dozens of countries around the world do it,” he told Fox News on May 1.
Trump appeared to echo Rubio’s remarks, telling NBC that he would be “open to hearing it.”
“Civilian energy, it’s called. But you know, civilian energy often leads to military wars. And we don’t want to have them have a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple deal,” he added.
Trump said a civilian nuclear program would be used to generate electricity, but given Iran is an energy-rich country, it would not really it.
“My inclination is to say, ‘What do you need that for? You have a lot of oil,” he said.
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, said Trump's comments had made it clear that the administration was not looking for a revamped version of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
"This interview calls that fantasy into question," he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, others insist that Trump's call for tearing down Iran's nuclear program while at the time being open to allowing Iran to operate a civil nuclear energy program suggested that he was still undecided.
"Maybe one could argue that Trump's team still does not exactly know what it wants from Iran, but he himself desires a deal different from the JCPOA," wrote Iran-based foreign policy analyst Rahman Qahremanpour, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran has rejected calls to dismantle its nuclear program and give up its ability to enrich uranium.
Responding to Trump’s comment, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman on May 5 said Iran has “a right to peaceful nuclear energy” and dismissed Trump’s oil remark.
“Iran’s peaceful nuclear program goes back to the 1970s, when Iran had more fossil fuel and less consumption,” Esmail Baqaei said during a weekly press conference.
“Therefore, some fallacious comments about Iran having access to expansive fossil fuel reserves and not needing nuclear energy have no basis in science or reality.”
Iran and the United States have held three rounds of nuclear discussions since last month. Mediated by Oman, a fourth round was slated for May 2 in Rome but was postponed due to what Muscat called “logistical reasons.”
- By RFE/RL
British Police Detain 7 Iranians In Two Separate Counterterrorism Operations
British police have arrested eight men -- including seven Iranian nationals -- in two apparently unrelated counterterrorism operations, officers said on May 4, and authorities are attempting to determine if there are “any further risks” to the public.
"These were two major operations that reflect some of the biggest counter-state threat and counterterrorism operations that we have seen in recent years," Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper told reporters on May 4.
Specific details remained scarce regarding to two actions.
London's Metropolitan Police said five men, including four Iranians, were arrested on May 3 over a suspected plot to target a specific, undisclosed site. Authorities said they were still attempting to determine the nationality of the fifth suspect.
Separately, three Iranian nationals aged between 39 and 55 were arrested in London in a second operation that was not related to the first matter, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Iranian Embassy in London did not immediately comment on the arrests.
In the first incident, the men, aged 29 to 40, were detained in West London and in Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale, and Manchester, police said.
"The investigation relates to a suspected plot to target a specific premises. Officers have been in contact with the affected site to make them aware and provide relevant advice and support, but for operational reasons, we are not able to provide further information at this time," a police statement said.
Commander Dominic Murphy, chief of London police's Counter Terrorism Command, said, "We are exploring various lines of enquiry to...identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter."
Authorities said the suspects are undergoing questioning and have not yet been formally charged.
In the second case, the three Iranian nationals were detained under the National Security Act, authorities said, without disclosing further details.
Searches were ongoing at their addresses, the police statement read.
The arrests come at a time of intensified tensions over suspected Tehran-supported activities in Britain.
Last year, Ken McCallum, the head of Britain's domestic spy service, said that since 2022, authorities had responded to 20 Iran-linked plots that potentially posed lethal threats to the public.
At the time, McCallum said hostile states, radicalized individuals, and the revitalized Islamic State (IS) terror group have combined to create “the most complex and interconnected threat environment we’ve ever seen.”
In March 2024, Pouria Zeraati, a presenter at a Persian-language media organization in London critical of the Iranian government, was stabbed in the leg outside his home in London.
Two men were later arrested in Romania and charged over the attack on Zeraati, a TV host for the Iran International news network.
With reporting by Reuters and AP
Ultranationalist George Simion Set To Face Moderate Nicusor Dan In Romania's Presidential Election Runoff
BUCHAREST -- Near-final results have given ultranationalist George Simion a solid victory in the first round of Romania's presidential election, but he did not capture the majority needed to avoid a runoff on May 18, likely against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.
With nearly all ballots counted early on May 5, Simion , the 38-year-old leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, led with about 40.9 percent, or 3,857,463 votes, according to Romania's Central Election Bureau.
The 55-year-old Dan -- considered a political moderate -- overtook Crin Antonescu, a member of the country's ruling coalition overnight to move into second place, helped by diaspora voting, likely lifting him into the second round of Romania's crucial presidential election.
Dan had 20.98 percent of votes to Antonescu's 20.1 percent, representing a lead of an apparently insurmountable 82,000 votes. Nearly all diaspora votes had been tallied, according to election officials.
An estimated 973,000 people cast ballots in the diaspora, data showed.
Simion led diaspora voting with 61 percent, followed by Dan with 26 percent, and Antonescu with 6.8 percent.
"We have entered the second round. Thanks!" Dan wrote on his Facebook page.
Exit polls from leading firms earlier indicated similar overall results, although they gave Simion a smaller lead and included a higher total for Dan.
"I think it's an irreversible result, as things stand," Antonescu said after his vote total was surpassed by Dan. "I presented one program; the verdict of the Romanian people was different."
"The votes are clear -- the citizens have spoken. I'm sorry. I am ending this attempt, I think, with my head held high."
Antonescu did not state a preference for the second round.
"I don't know what coalitions there will be. I was not part of a coalition," he said.
"I urge my voters to consider for themselves which of the candidates' ideas are compatible with those I presented...I urge everyone who voted for me today to vote [in the runoff]," he said.
"I have no recommendations to make," he added.
In remarks recorded earlier in the night, Simion told supporters through a video link that "together we wrote history today!"
"We are approaching an exceptional result, far beyond what the [mainstream] television outlets are presenting...which only know how to stir up division with arrogance, to spray venom, and to distort everything and spread lies."
The vote was closely watched outside of Romania, in part because Simion has made controversial statements claiming parts of Ukrainian and Moldovan territories as well as questioning Romanian military aid to Ukraine.
He has also criticized Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Romania's Controversial Canceled Election
Last November, Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian nationalist seen as a fringe candidate, pulled off a surprise win in the first round of voting.
However, authorities annulledthe results amid accusations of a Russian influence campaign to boost his candidacy. Georgescu was banned from running in the new elections, and a raft of new rules were introduced for the May 4 rerun.
The canceled vote drew criticism outside of Romania, most prominently from US Vice President JD Vance, who weighed in during a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, accusing officials of acting on "flimsy suspicious and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors."
Simion has publicly embraced some of the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.
In November, he posted a photograph of himself wearing Trump's signature red baseball cap with the logo "Trump Save America," and he recently said he's "perfectly aligned ideologically with the MAGA movement."
On April 24, electoral authorities announced an investigation into Simion's political party over allegations it had violated campaign-financing rules.
The investigation has centered on allegations that Simion organized a $1.5 million payment to a US lobbying firm to set up meetings in Washington with prominent media figures allied with Trump. Simion has denied the allegations.
The election campaign drew outside observersto monitor the vote. In a pre-election report, monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized some of Romania's registration and vote tallying procedures.
The Trump administration also sent its own election observer independentof the OSCE: a top official from the Federal Election Commission, which oversees US elections.
If the results are confirmed, Simion will fall far short of the 50 percent-plus of the vote required for an outright victory. In that case, a second round of voting between the top two candidates will be held on May 18.
Most observers believe Simion will find it challenging to win a runoff, particularly if either Dan or Antonescu had been the second-place finisher.
Sanctions, War Tribunal On Agenda As EU Ministers Prepare For Warsaw And Lviv Meetings
European Union foreign ministers will gather in Warsaw this week for an informal council meeting and then head to Lviv in a show of solidarity with Ukraine in the face of a major Victory Day celebrations in Russia.
Few concrete decisions are expected be made in either Poland on May 7-8, nor a day later in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, as these aren't official EU councils.
"In line with the meeting's informal nature and taking benefit from the more intimate (ministers-only) setting, we encourage everyone's contribution to a truly frank and nonscripted discussion," read a welcoming note for the Warsaw meeting that was seen by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
"In this spirit, we recommend that our working sessions take place without interpretation or electronic devices. We also kindly invite you to opt for semi-formal attire throughout the meeting.”
But the informality doesn't mean the meetings will lack high-level officials and come at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking to capture the world's attention with a massive military parade in front of dozens of dignitaries from around the world.
During the first day of the Warsaw meeting, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will join to discuss European security, while the second day is dedicated to EU-US relations and the situation in Ukraine.
On the latter, the welcome note, signed by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the host, Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, proposes an "in-depth discussion" on the EU's role in bolstering Ukraine's negotiation position toward a "just and lasting peace."
Officials will look to do this, the note says, by "building on our unique collective leverage: broad support to Ukraine, in particular financial and military, pressure to constrain Russia's war chest, Ukraine's EU accession path, and the ongoing work on enhancing European defense capabilities."
While no decisions are to be rubber-stamped, there are three developments pertaining to Ukraine that analysts say will be closely watched.
The EU is aiming to announce more cash for Ukraine's defense industry, though a figure has yet to be agreed.
The bloc is also expected to accelerate sanctions on Russia in the wake of numerous missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks.
According to EU diplomats, it is likely to be a smaller package consisting mainly of the further blacklisting of Russian officers and politicians along with adding ships belonging to the Russian shadow fleet that will be banned from getting services in European ports.
Major new economic sanctions against Russia aren't expected to avoid dissent from some EU capitals and instead get a quick green light as a sign of solidarity in ratcheting up pressure on Moscow.
The Lviv meeting is set to take place as the ministers attend the establishment of a special tribunal aimed at prosecuting senior Russian and Belarusian leaders for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The tribunal is meant as a complement to the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide that was launched three years ago.
It will fill in the gaps as the ICC isn't looking into is what are legally known as "crimes of aggression" such as military occupation, annexation, and bombardments.
A so-called core group of countries, including all EU member states except Hungary and Slovakia, as well as the G7 minus the United States, has drawn up three documents on an agreement with Ukraine to establish the tribunal.
The actual tribunal won't be formally set up until the Council of Europe's committee of ministers votes on it on May 14.
The EU and Kyiv have been gathering evidence on crimes of aggression since 2023.
- By RFE/RL
During Prague Visit, Zelenskyy Says 'Eager' Putin Should Focus On Peace, Not Parades
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to focus on reaching a peace deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine instead of being "eager" to show off military hardware at next week's Victory Day parade
Speaking during a visit to Prague to meet with top Czech officials on May 4, Zelenskyy told a joint news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel that Putin "is very eager to show off his tanks at the parade, but he should think about ending his war."
In Moscow, which is preparing major celebrations on the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, Putin said Russia has the "strength and means" to bring the Ukraine war "to its logical conclusion," and that he hoped there would be no need to resort to nuclear weapons.
As Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine grinds on, now in its fourth year, both Kyiv and Moscow are preparing celebrations marking Victory Day, the World War II anniversary of the Nazi defeat.
Ukraine, which has suffered massive destruction and loss of life, shifted its remembrance of Victory Day to May 8, aligned with the date when Western allies mark the occasion.
As it did under the Soviet Union, Moscow observes the day on May 9, since the Nazi surrender in 1945 occurred overnight in Moscow.
Putin has called for a three-day cease-fire in its Ukraine invasion beginning on May 8 to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. In response, Zelenskyy called instead for a longer, 30-day cease-fire.
Pavel said Putin can end the war "with a single decision," but despite recent cease-fire claims, "has not shown any willingness" to do so.
Renewed Western efforts to resolve the conflict, pushed in large part by US President Donald Trump, have begun to falter, as Russia continues to press its advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Despite an earlier tentative agreement to limit attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine and Russia have also continued to target oil pipelines, power plants, electricity transmission lines, and other crucial sites.
When asked by NBC News on May 4 as to whether Trump "misread" Putin's intentions to negotiate the end to the three-year-old war, the US leader responded: "I have no idea."
"I’ll tell you about in a month from now, or two weeks from now," Trump replied.
The White House's lead envoy for Russia traveled to Moscow to meet with Putin last month and discuss a multipoint proposal to resolve the conflict, which included several points that Kyiv has publicly rejected.
In the NBC interview, Trump said the US is "closer" with one of the conflicting parties, and "not as close" with the other, but he refused to specify which country was which.
He also reiterated that the US might give up its role as mediator in the conflict, but expressed hope that an agreement would still be reached.
"Well, there will be a time when I will say, 'Okay, keep going. Keep being stupid and keep fighting,'" Trump said.
Russia Hits Kyiv With Drone Barrage
Hours before Zelenskyy visited Prague, Russia launched more than 160 drones, the Ukrainian military said, claiming 69 were downed or intercepted by Ukrainian defenses.
"The Russians are calling for a cease-fire... while hitting Ukraine every day," Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram.
In Kyiv, drones, and debris from downed drones, sparked fires in several buildings, according to emergency services.
Nearly two dozen drones were also launched at the central city of Cherkasy. Emergency services said one person was wounded and several residential buildings were damaged, in part by debris from falling drones.
Early on May 5, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense units in the Russian capital had destroyed four Ukrainian drones flying toward the city. No injuries were immediately reported.
Ukraine Seeks Artillery Shells
The Czech government has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters, spearheading a global effort to source and supply Ukraine with artillery shells. The Prague-led effort has already sent more 1.6 million shells in 2024.
After the meeting, Zelesnkyy told journalists that Ukraine hopes to receive up to 1.8 million more shells in 2025.
"The Czech artillery initiative has proven effective, and we will continue this effort," Zelenskyy said on X.
In a preview released May 4 of an upcoming interview on state television, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion."
"There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons," Putin said, "and I hope they will not be required."
"We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires," he said.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and the AP
Romanian Ultranationalist Simion Set To Win First Round Of Presidential Vote -- Race Tight For Second Place
BUCHAREST -- Romanian ultranationalist George Simion appeared to wrap up a solid victory, though not the majority needed to avoid a runoff, in a presidential election nearly six months after an initial vote was abruptly canceled amid allegations of a Russian influence campaign.
But, as final votes were being tallied early on May 5, it remained uncertain who his next-round opponent will be, as Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan and Crin Antonescu, a member of the country's ruling coalition, remained neck-and-neck, with diaspora votes likely to determine the outcome.
With 97 percent of ballots counted, Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the AUR party, led with about 40 percent, or 3,407,645 votes, according to Romania’s Central Election Bureau.
Dan had 20.65 percent, while Antonescu had 20.64 percent, giving the Bucharest mayor a lead of about 1,000 votes.
Election officials estimate some 800,000 diaspora votes will be counted. Overall, they appear to favor Simion, followed by Dan, and final totals could be enough to send the Bucharest mayor into the May 18 runoff.
Results from exit polls from leading firms indicated similar results, although they gave Simion a smaller lead and included a higher total for Dan.
The vote is being closely watched outside of Romania, in part because Simion has made controversial statements claiming parts of Ukrainian and Moldovan territories as well as questioning Romanian military aid to Ukraine.
He has also criticized Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Last November, Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian nationalist seen as a fringe candidate, pulled off a surprise win in the first round of voting.
However, authorities annulled the results amid accusations of a Russian influence campaign to boost his candidacy. Georgescu was banned from running in the new elections, and a raft of new rules were introduced for the May 4 rerun.
The canceled vote drew criticism outside of Romania, most prominently from US Vice President JD Vance, who weighed in during a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, accusing officials of acting on "flimsy suspicious and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors."
Simion has publicly embraced some of the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again movement.
In November, he posted a photograph of himself wearing Trump’s signature red baseball cap with the logo "Trump Save America," and he recently said he's "perfectly aligned ideologically with the MAGA movement."
On April 24, electoral authorities announced an investigation into Simion's political party over allegations it had violated campaign-financing rules.
The investigation has centered on allegations that Simion organized a $1.5 million payment to a US lobbying firm to set up meetings in Washington with prominent media figures allied with Trump. Simion has denied the allegations.
The election campaign drew outside observers to monitor the vote. In a pre-election report, monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized some of Romania's registration and vote tallying procedures.
The Trump administration also sent its own election observer independent of the OSCE: a top official from the Federal Election Commission, which oversees US elections.
If the results are confirmed, Simion will fall short of the 50 percent-plus of the vote required for an outright victory. In that case, a second round of voting between the top two candidates will be held on May 18.
Most observers believe Simion would find it challenging to win a second round, particularly if Dan or Antonescu garner enough votes.
- By RFE/RL
Russian Air Strikes Target Kyiv As Zelenskyy Calls For 30-Day Cease-Fire
Moscow launched air strikes against Kyiv hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested a three-day cease-fire surrounding its May 9 Victory Day remembrances -- a proposal dismissed by Kyiv as "theater."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered late on May 3 by calling for a more substantial pause in military action, saying Kyiv was seeking a 30-day "complete silencing" of arms and was ready to act immediately if Moscow reciprocated.
"We are ready to move to a cease-fire as soon as possible, even from today, if Russia is ready for mirror steps -- for complete silencing, for a long silence for at least 30 days," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
"This is an honest deadline when the next steps can be prepared. Russia must stop the war and stop assaults, stop shelling," he added.
The comments come as Russia maintains its relentless assault of Ukrainian military and civilian sites.
Shortly after midnight and through the morning of May 4, Ukraine military and government officials said a Russian drone attack damaged several residential buildings and ignited fires in the capital.
Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on Telegram that falling debris from destroyed Russian drones ignited fires in homes in Kyiv's Obolonskiy and Sviatoshynskiy districts.
He said at least two children -- aged 14 and 17 -- were injured in the Obolonskiy attacks.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko sent out an appeal for doctors to aid in assisting victims in the Sviatoshynskiy district.
The scale of the attack was not immediately clear. Reuters said witnesses reported hearing explosions and what appeared to be air defense systems operating.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the week suggested a three-day truce to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, running from May 8 to May 10.
Zelenskyy has long stated that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day truce as proposed by Washington.
Speaking to reporters on May 2, Zelenskyy said Putin's offer was aimed at making international guests feel safe at the annual Red Square parade on May 9.
Among those slated to attend are Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We do not recommend visiting Moscow on May 9. Don't ask us for assurances. It's your choice to go there," Zelenskyy said.
In his address on May 3, Zelenskyy said, "Right now, no one sees any such readiness from Russia; on the contrary, all of their internal rhetoric is increasingly mobilizing, and Russian propagandists continue to threaten not only Ukraine but also other neighbors -- Lithuania, the other Baltic states."
"This is exactly what we have been saying for a long time: Without pressure on Moscow, Russia will continue to wage war."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wanted a clear answer to its three-day cease-fire suggestion.
"We will, of course, await not ambiguous but definitive statements and, most importantly, actions aimed at deescalating the conflict over the public holidays," Peskov said.
Despite the talk of cease-fire, Russia maintained the intensity of its attacks on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian General Staff said 216 combat clashes had taken place at the front on May 2 and that more than a third of the fighting was recorded in the direction of Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian authorities saying they had repelled 83 attacks.
The area around the strategic town of Pokrovsk remains one of the heavily contested areas at the front with the largest number of combat clashes being recorded there over the past year.
Vadym Filashkin, head of Ukraine's Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said that in the town of Myrnohrad late on May 3, "the Russians killed a 56-year-old man and damaged six private houses. The second fatality was a 69-year-old resident of Komar."
Also, a correspondent for the Radio Liberty Donbas Realities project reported that a Russian attack on Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region led to fires breaking out in several private homes. Local authorities have not yet commented on the attack.
Ihor Taburets, governor of the Ukrainian region of Cherkasy, late on May 3 said that "since nightfall, our region has been under enemy targeting. Most of the Russian attack drones were directed at the regional center."
He said initial reports indicated that an infrastructure facility was damaged but that there were no immediate reports of casualties.
With reporting by Reuters
Pakistan Carries Out Ballistic Missile Test Amid India Tensions
The Pakistani military reported that it had test fired a ballistic missile on May 3, as the country squares off with India following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Video released by the army showed the missile streaking into the sky as soldiers looked on, before shouting joyful slogans.
The military said they had tested an Abdali surface-to-surface missile system, which has a range of 450 kilometers.
"The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced maneuverability features," the Pakistani military said.
The two countries have been locked in a standoff since militants killed 26 people in the Himalayan mountain town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage across India and brought nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of conflict.
India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack and the two countries’ militaries have exchanged fire across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border in Kashmir, which both sides claim sovereignty over.
On April 30, Pakistan said an Indian attack was “imminent” within the next 24-36 hours, but no attack materialized.
In recent days, Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help ease tensions with India. But the ballistic missile launch may rekindle them.
Prior to the test, India had warned that it would be a “reckless” act and a “provocation.” There was no immediate response to the test taking place on May 3.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif “congratulated the scientists and engineers” involved in the test, according to the Pakistani statement.
Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali told the Associated Press that the Abdali missile was named after a prominent Muslim conqueror of India, also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani, underlining its symbolic significance.
“The timing of this launch is critical in the current geopolitical context,” he said, adding it was intended as a strategic signal to India after it had threatened to suspend a crucial water-sharing treaty.
Pakistan previously conducted a test launch in August 2024. This was a Shaheen II surface-to-surface ballistic missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometers, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
In October 2023, Pakistan also successfully conducted a test flight of the Ababbeel weapon system. At the time, the military said the missile system was “aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region.”
Moscow Seeks 'Definitive' Truce Response After Zelenskyy Dismisses Putin's Plan
The Kremlin has said it wants Kyiv to give a clear answer to its call for a cease-fire lasting from May 8 to May 10 even as its forces continued to pound civilian targets in Ukraine.
“We will, of course, await not ambiguous but definitive statements and, most importantly, actions aimed at deescalating the conflict over the public holidays," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
His comments came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the truce proposal as “theater.”
And they preceded a Russian attack near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, reportedly killing two civilians.
Earlier, a major overnight Russian assault on Ukraine between May 2 and 3 targeted multiple regions with missiles and drones, according to local authorities.
The Ukrainian military reported that two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 183 strike and decoy drones had been launched at the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Mykolayiv regions.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv, located near the Russian border, bore the brunt of the drone offensive. The city sustained hits at 12 locations across four districts on the evening of May 2, resulting in dozens of casualties.
One local woman whose apartment was damaged told RFE/RL that the overnight assault had given her "a nervous breakdown."
"Everything is broken, everything is destroyed," she said. "Many people are cut up."
The woman, who gave her name as Natalya, said her home was rocked by an explosion as she was about to go to bed.
"The only thing that saved me was perhaps the corner that I was behind and the blanket that I had over me -- or simple luck," she said.
"We are alive and well, that's important."
Local authorities said at least 51 people had been injured and that eight had been hospitalized. The victims included two girls, aged 11 and 16.
Moscow has denied allegations of deliberately striking civilian targets in Ukraine throughout the war, even though repeated attacks on hospitals, schools, energy facilities, and residential buildings have been documented.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff said 216 combat clashes had taken place at the front on May 2 and that more than a third of the fighting was recorded in the direction of Pokrovsk, with Ukrainian authorities saying they had repelled 83 attacks.
The area around the strategic town of Pokrovsk remains one of the heavily contested areas at the front with the largest number of combat clashes being recorded there over the past year.
Vadym Filashkin, head of Ukraine's Donetsk Regional Military Administration, said that in the town of Myrnohrad late on May 3, "the Russians killed a 56-year-old man and damaged six private houses. The second fatality was a 69-year-old resident of Komar."
Also, the correspondent of the Radio Liberty Donbas Realities project reported that a Russian attack on Druzhkivka in the Donetsk region led to fires breaking out in several private homes. Local authorities have not yet commented on the attack.
In Russia, the governor of the Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone attack had hit a residential building in Novorossiisk, on the Black Sea.
He said two adults and two children were injured.
Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 170 Ukrainian drones in various regions. The number included 96 in Russian-occupied Crimea. They also claimed to have destroyed eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles over the Black Sea.
Battlefield reports cannot be independently verified.
Russian pro-war blogs also reported the Ukrainian drone attacks. Two of them reported that a Russian Su-30 fighter was shot down over the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian intelligence service claimed it was the first time ever that an unmanned naval drone had shot down an enemy warplane. At least one Russian blogger also reported that this had happened.
WATCH: Footage shared on social media purportedly showing a drone downing an Su-30 warplane:
The fighting again underlined how US-led efforts to broker a cease-fire have stalled.
In the latest move, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested a three-day truce to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, running from May 8 to May 10.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is ready for a 30-day truce as proposed by Washington.
Speaking to reporters on May 2, Zelenskyy said Putin's offer was aimed at making international guests feel safe at the annual Red Square parade on May 9.
Among those slated to attend are Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"We do not recommend visiting Moscow on May 9. Don't ask us for assurances. It's your choice to go there," Zelenskyy said.
With reporting by Current Time
- By RFE/RL
Ukrainian Forces To Join UK Military Procession In London Marking VE Day
Ukrainian soldiers will join a British military procession next week in London marking the 80th anniversary of end of World War II in Europe, the UK government announced on May 3.
Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK armed forces members on May 5 as UK kicks off commemorations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The participation of the Ukrainians will symbolize "the global support for their continued fight for freedom" against Russia, the government said in a statement.
"In the midst of the first full-scale war in Europe since the Second World War, it is fitting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently fighting on the frontline of freedom are represented in Monday's event," Defense Minister John Healey said in the statement.
The procession, including soldiers on horseback and military bands, will begin in Parliament Square when Big Ben strikes midday and will conclude with a flyover featuring an aerobatic team and historic military aircraft.
Britain has various events planned for the anniversary. Next week's events in London will culminate on May 8 with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey attended by the royal family.
May 8 is observed in Britain, France, the United States, and other countries as the date when the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany took effect in 1945. Russia, which fought the Nazis as part of the Soviet Union, marks the occasion on May 9.
Britain will observe a two-minute countrywide silence on May 8 at noon UK time to remember and thank those who fought for our freedom, the government said in a statement.
Britain has staunchly supported Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. It has provided billions of pounds in military aid and placed wide-ranging sanctions on Russian entities and individuals to punish Moscow for the conflict.
The Ukraine representatives in the VE Day march on May 5 will be soldiers deployed on Operation Interflex, the UK's training program for Ukrainian recruits with 12 partner nations.
The UK and partner nations have trained more than 54,000 Ukrainians in frontline combat skills.
Armed forces from Australia, Canada, and New Zealand will carry their nations' flags during the procession, which will feature the flags of every Commonwealth nation, the British statement added.
"People from all over the world joined forces 80 years ago to defend freedom -- we must remember all of their sacrifices," World War II veteran Jack Mortimer, 101, said in a statement issued by the government. Mortimer is expected to be one of the veterans observing the military procession on May 5.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
- By RFE/RL
US Approves F-16 Maintenance Deal For Jets Already Transferred To Ukraine
The US State Department on May 2 approved a deal to provide training and equipment for F-16 fighter jets already in Ukraine.
The State Department said it notified Congress that it has given the nod for a $310.5 million sale to Ukraine that will include services to maintain the aircraft in addition to training and equipment.
"The proposed sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring its pilots are effectively trained and by increasing its interoperability with the United States," the State Department said in a statement.
Ukraine has previously received F-16 jets from US allies under a transfer authorized by former President Joe Biden's administration. Ukraine received its first deliveries of F-16s in mid-2024 after two years of pushing Biden to approve their transfer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this year announced the delivery of a fresh batch of jets but did not say how many were delivered.
The deal announced on May 2 -- which Ukraine will pay for -- comes after US President Donald Trump criticized the billions of dollars in military and economic support provided to Kyiv under the Biden administration.
Zelenskyy said F-16s were discussed on May 2 during a meeting on the development Ukraine’s fleet of military aircraft.
“All the key issues were discussed: the F-16s that are already in Ukraine, the F-16s we expect in the near future, and the systemic solutions that will help us prepare and use our military aviation more effectively,” he said on X. “I thank everyone who is strengthening our actions in the skies.”
The weapons and equipment pledged to Ukraine under Biden were mostly approved under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the president to approve rapid transfers to foreign countries from US military stockpiles.
These weapons and others purchased with US funds on behalf of Ukraine continue to flow.
The sale approved by the State Department on May 2 is separate and represents an actual weapons deal whose principal contractors include US defense contractors Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and BAE Systems, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The sale could include aircraft modifications and upgrades, flight training, maintenance, and sustainment support; spare parts, repair, ground handling equipment, classified software, classified publications and support, the statement said.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP
- By RFE/RL
US Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration To Temporarily Halt Funding To Radio Free Europe, Other Broadcasters
A US appeals court paused lower court rulings requiring President Donald Trump's administration to transfer congressionally authorized money to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other federally funded news organizations.
The May 1 ruling by a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C., plus a related decision by the same panel on May 3, means RFE/RL's budget remains in limbo, as well as its ability to continue publishing and broadcasting.
RFE/RL has been locked in a legal fight with the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) since March 14, when Trump signed an executive order calling for the reduction of USAGM to "the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."
The executive order not only affected USAGM but also Voice of America, RFE/RL, and other news organizations that receive congressional funding such as Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and others.
Unlike Voice of America, which is a federal entity, RFE/RL, RFA, and MBN are private nonprofit organizations.
RFE/RL has sued USAGM to release frozen budget funds. On April 29, US District Judge Royce Lamberth granted RFE/RL a temporary restraining order, ruling it was Congress that "ordained that the monies at issue should be allocated to RFE/RL" and that Trump signed into law the budget resolution appropriating those funds.
The ruling ordered payment of some of the outstanding funds RFE/RL said it is due.
On May 1, however, the three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voted 2-1 to issue an "administrative stay," which paused Lambeth's decision.
The panel said it wanted to give "sufficient opportunity" to hear emergency motions from US Justice Department lawyers, which are representing USAGM in court.
The halt "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of those motions," said the panel, which included two judges appointed by Trump and a third who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
If it is appealed, then the decision on whether the administrative stay should remain in place will be heard by a fuller panel of the D.C. appeals court.
VOA and other federally funded broadcasters have been drastically affected by the Trump administration executive order and have filed parallel lawsuits challenging the order.
VOA has been forced to put nearly all its staff on paid leave and ended publications and broadcasts for the first time since it was launched in 1942.
RFA said nearly all of its staff, including those who have been furloughed, would be laid off as May 9. This means that by the end of May, half of RFA's language services will no longer produce or publish new content, it said.
RFE/RL has continued to broadcast and publish. However, it furloughed dozens of staffers, canceled many freelance contracts, and taken other measures to stretch dwindling budget funds.
The situation surrounding VOA is even more confusing. Lambeth, the same judge overseeing RFE/RL's case, on April 22 ordered the Trump administration to "take all necessary steps" to restore VOA employees.
On May 2, USAGM reportedly sent an e-mail to hundreds of employees instructing them to prepare to return to work in the coming days.
A day later, however, on May 3, a three-judge appeals panel -- the same panel that heard RFE/RL's case -- paused Lambeth's ruling, suggesting he did not have jurisdiction to order the VOA employees to return to work.
While the May 3 ruling did not directly affect RFE/RL, it could have legal implications for the broadcaster as its lawsuit proceeds.
Kari Lake, the Trump appointee who has overseen the efforts to shutter USAGM, hailed the appeals court ruling in a post to X: "Turns out the District Court judge will not be able to manage the agency as he seemed to want to."
RFE/RL continues to seek an injunction for the rest of the money it says it is due from congressional appropriations for the remainder of the 2025 budget year.
- By RFE/RL
In Move To Support Radio Free Europe, R.E.M. Releases Remix For World Press Freedom Day
The release of the single “Radio Free Europe” in 1981 introduced the alternative rock band R.E.M. to the world.
It also reminded the world of the role the US-funded broadcaster plays in building democracy in countries where a free press is banned or not yet fully established.
To mark World Press Freedom day on May 3, the band has announced a special reissue of the single to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty amid a fight over winding down operations at a number of US-funded broadcasters in what is seen by many as an attempt to silence pro-democracy media.
“Whether it’s music or a free press –- censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe,” said Michael Stipe, lead singer and a founding member of the band.
RFE/RL, along with other government-funded broadcasters, such as Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, have come under dire circumstances since US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that gutted the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
The USAGM is an independent government agency that oversees several US-funded broadcasters, which together distribute news and information in almost 50 languages to some 361 million people each week.
Hours after the executive order was published, a letter from the USAGM said the Congress-approved grant that funds RFE/RL, headquartered in the Czech capital, Prague, had been terminated, a move the broadcaster is currently fighting in court.
Trump, who has taken several moves to slash government spending since taking office for a second term in January, clashed with the USAGM over editorial independence and the direction of programming during his first term.
He has reiterated those concerns again since retaking office.
But supporters of the broadcasters say they are an important arm of US diplomacy and their silencing will be celebrated by the authoritarian regimes they expose.
“To me, R.E.M.’s music has always embodied a celebration of freedom: freedom of expression, lyrics that make us think, and melodies that inspire action,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus.
“Those are the very aims of our journalists at Radio Free Europe -- to inform, inspire, and uphold freedoms often elusive to our audiences. We hold people accountable, especially those threatened by the truth. They go to great lengths to silence us -- block feeds and websites and even imprison our colleagues.”
Lyrically, R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe” has been interpreted as a commentary on the desire for authentic information amid a landscape of misinformation. The upbeat and jangly sound of the music contrasting with heavier themes to capture a spirit of resistance and hope.
That spirit of resistance, said Mike Mills, a founding member of R.E.M., lives on in what he called the “OG” (Original Gangster) of pro-democracy broadcasting.
“Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies,” he said.
Four RFE/RL journalists and contributors -- Ihar Losik, Nika Novak, Vladyslav Yesypenko, and Farid Mehralizada -- are currently imprisoned on charges related to their work.
To commemorate the song, R.E.M. said it was releasing a limited-edition orange vinyl recording of “Radio Free Europe” as well as merchandise with proceeds going to RFE/RL.
- By RFE/RL
Ukraine War 'Not Ending Soon': Vance, Rubio Cast Doubt On Quick Peace Deal With Russia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance expressed uncertainty over the chances of reaching a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine one day after Washington and Kyiv signed a deal that gives the United States access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
"I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now…. They're closer, but they're still far apart," Rubio said on Fox News on May 1. Vance, speaking in a separate interview on the network, went further, saying the war in Ukraine is not going to end "any time soon."
Rubio said if there isn't a real breakthrough on the war in Ukraine in the near future, US President Donald Trump will have to decide how much more time to dedicate to the negotiation process.
The United States had already warned that negotiations had reached a "critical" phase, and a lack of progress could mean it would walk away from its efforts to broker an end to the conflict.
Rubio said last week that, while "real progress" had been made in talks to end Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "those last couple of steps of this journey were always going to be the hardest ones, and it needs to happen soon."
Trump, who began his second term as president in January, has made ending the war a top priority. He has called for an immediate and full cease-fire and demanded that Russia stop its indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Vance said he was "optimistic" about securing a halt to fighting but it would ultimately be up to Kyiv and Moscow.
"They're the ones who have to take the final step," he said. It is "going to be up to the Russians and Ukrainians now that each side knows what the other's terms for peace are. It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict."
"It's not going anywhere…. It's not going to end any time soon," Vance added.
Ukraine says it wants a cease-fire of at least 30 days to open the way for talks on securing a just peace. Russia has not agreed to such a truce, but President Vladimir Putin has unilaterally announced a three-day cease-fire next week to coincide with Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, and the Kremlin said he is open to direct talks with Kyiv.
Deadly Drone And Missile Attacks
Russian forces continue to launch deadly drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities almost nightly. Zelenskyy has called on Ukraine’s Western partners to take tougher measures against the Kremlin.
Both the United States and Ukraine on May 1 hailed the minerals deal, which was to have been signed on February 28 at the White House. But a tense exchange between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance resulted in the cancellation of the signing ceremony.
Both sides made efforts to patch up relations, culminating in a one-to-one meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on April 26 on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican.
The minerals agreement was signed on April 30 by Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Ukraine said the agreement secured key interests after protracted negotiations, including full sovereignty over its own rare earth minerals, which are vital for new technologies.
Washington called it a new form of US commitment to Kyiv after Trump ended military aid soon after he returned to office.
"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said.
Trump had initially demanded rights to Ukraine's mineral wealth as compensation for tens of billions of dollars’ worth of US weapons sent to aid Ukraine’s military under former President Joe Biden.
Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on May 1 that there were no debts to be paid from past US aid to Kyiv. He called the agreement “truly equal” and one that “creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine.”
“This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which helps us in defense, can earn in partnership,” he added.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
- By RFE/RL
Ukraine Hails Minerals Deal As Helping Strengthen US Support For Its Security
A landmark minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States offers "equal" benefits for both sides and opportunities for investment in Ukraine and the modernization of its industry, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on May 1.
Zelenskyy hailed the deal in a video posted on Telegram but also said more pressure on Russia is needed.
He and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent underlined that talks between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump in Rome during Pope Francis's funeral on April 26 played an important role in securing a deal.
"In fact, now we have the first result of the Vatican meeting, which makes it truly historic," Zelenskyy said.
The two leaders met one-on-one while seated informally in St. Peter's Basilica to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.
The accord, which was signed in Washington on April 30, establishes a joint investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction and would see the United States and Kyiv jointly develop and invest in Ukraine's critical mineral resources.
Trump initially described the deal as "money back" for billions of dollars in military aid that Ukraine has received since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Ukraine said the agreement is not linked to any past "debt,” and Bessent stressed that the accord signaled support for Ukraine.
"This agreement signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centered on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term," Bessent said.
The agreement establishes the United-States-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, which Bessent said in a news release is a historic economic partnership.
The deal will show Russia that there is “no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network on May 1.
It gives Trump the ability to now negotiate with Russia on even a stronger basis, he added.
The Ukrainian parliament must still approve the pact. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met parliamentary factions on May 1 as some members complained they had not seen the text of the agreement or been properly consulted.
First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the accord for Ukraine, told reporters in an online briefing that ratification would happen in the next few weeks
Zelenskyy said he hoped there would be no delays in securing parliament's approval, though some lawmakers said they expected it to take longer than a week.
Some technical details must be completed before a joint US-Ukraine investment fund can become operational, Svyrydenko said.
"We really need to be more sustainable and more self-sufficient, and this is a real tool that can help us achieve this goal," she said, adding that the two sides did not expect the agreement to begin generating revenue this year.
Svyrydenko, who is also Ukraine's economy minister, said the agreement "can provide success for both our countries" and "will attract global investment into our state" in highlighting its key points in a post on Facebook.
Svyrydenko said the investment fund will be filled with income exclusively from new licenses. This involves 50 percent of the funds from new licenses for critical materials and oil and gas projects, which will come into Ukraine's budget once the fund is established.
The agreement states that all resources on Ukraine's territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine, and Kyiv alone will determine where and what to extract. It also does not change Ukraine's European integration course, Svyrydenko added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andryi Sybiha wrote on X that he had briefed EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas about the agreement.
"This marks an important milestone in Ukraine–US strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s economy and security," he said in his post.
Military Aid
Beyond its monetary aspects, Ukraine also sees the agreement as key to ensuring its access to future US military aid.
Roman Kostenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker and special forces commander, told Current Time that the question of security guarantees in connection with the US-Ukraine minerals deal "remains open."
"Perhaps there were certain nuances that prevented their inclusion in the minerals deal, even though it was a demand from our side," he added.
On April 29, the US Congress website published a notice from a senior official in the State Department's Bureau of Legislative Affairs on the certification of a proposed license for the export of defense articles which included "defense services to Ukraine in the amount of $50 million or more."
According to the Ukrainian media outlet the Kyiv Post, the White House approved the license shortly after the two countries signed the agreement on mineral resources.
The US is seeking access to more than 20 raw materials deemed strategically critical to its interests. Among them are deposits of titanium, which is used for making aircraft wings and other aerospace manufacturing, and uranium, which is used for nuclear power, medical equipment, and weapons. Ukraine also has deposits of lithium, graphite, and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.
Trump said the deal “in theory” means that the US will get more from Ukraine than it contributed.
“I wanted to be protected,” he said in an interview on NewsNation, adding that he didn’t want to be looking “foolish” by not getting money back for the investment.
Trump said earlier at a cabinet meeting that the American presence will "keep a lot of bad actors out of the country or certainly out of the area where we're doing the digging."
With reporting by Reuters
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