World News

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday the Trump administration has reached consensus with Mexico on a plan for Mexico to address American concerns about its compliance with a 2015 agreement governing air travel between the two countries.

USDOT said Mexico will guarantee that U.S. carriers will have fair and transparent access to request and operate slots at Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport. Duffy said USDOT will not reconsider restrictions it imposed on Mexican airlines until Mexico has carried out some promised reforms. In October, Duffy revoked approval for 13 routes by Mexican carriers into the United States and imposed other restrictions.

(Reporting by David Shepardson)

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Nearly 60% of Israelis Say Ending the War Is Not in Line With Security Interests  

A majority of Israelis believe ending the war with Iran under current conditions would not achieve the country’s security goals, according to a survey released May 05, 2026 by the Israel Democracy Institute.   

The poll found that 59% of the total sample said ending the war is only slightly or not at all compatible with Israel’s security interests. Among Jewish respondents, roughly two-thirds held that view, while almost half of Arab respondents expressed the opposite position.   

At the same time, 62% of respondents said the likelihood of a return to widescale conflict with Iran is high, compared to 30% who assessed the chances as low.   

The findings reflect a broader drop in public confidence. Optimism about Israel’s national security declined from 47% in March to 39% in April, among the lowest levels recorded in recent surveys. Optimism regarding social cohesion also fell, from 30% to 22.5%. By contrast, views on the future of democratic governance and the economy remained stable.   

The survey also examined public attitudes toward Israel’s overall trajectory. In the total sample, 44.5% said the country has experienced more successes than failures, a decline from 48% last year and down 18.5 percentage points since 2020.   

On regional diplomacy, respondents expressed pessimism about prospects with Lebanon. Nearly three-quarters rated the likelihood of reaching a stable diplomatic-defense arrangement with the Lebanese government, including the disarming of Hezbollah, as low or nonexistent.   

Perceptions of external influence on Israeli policy also shifted. A majority, 51%, said the US administration has greater influence over Israel’s defense decisions than the Israeli government, up from 44% in October 2025, while the share attributing greater influence to Israel’s government declined to 18%.   

Concerns about Israel’s international standing were also evident, with 72% of respondents saying declining support among the American public is somewhat or very worrying.   

When asked about long-term security strategy, the largest share of respondents said both military strength and diplomatic agreements are equally important. In the short term, support for prioritizing military power declined to 28.5%, while support for diplomatic agreements rose to 30.5%.   

The survey also addressed domestic issues. A plurality of respondents said security forces treat settlers involved in violence against Palestinians too leniently, a view that has increased among Jewish respondents to 46%.   

The survey was conducted April 26–30, 2026 by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research and included 601 Jewish and 150 Arab respondents, representing Israel’s population aged 18 and above. 

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By Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang

TAOYUAN, Taiwan, May 5 (Reuters) – President Lai Ching-te arrived home on Tuesday from Eswatini saying Taiwan would not give in to pressure, having taken a circuitous route over the southern part of the Indian Ocean to avoid airspace controlled by close friends of China. 

China views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan’s government strongly disputes, and Beijing has demanded countries stop any engagements with the island.

Lai’s government said China had forced three Indian Ocean states – the Seychelles, Mauritius and ​Madagascar – to deny overflight permission for his aircraft when he had planned to originally go last month, for celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the accession of King Mswati III.

Lai arrived in the former Swaziland, one of just 12 countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, on Saturday, on a trip neither government had announced in advance and in defiance of Beijing’s anger, having taken the king’s private A340, previously operated by Taiwan’s China Airlines.

“The world belongs to everyone. Taiwan belongs to the world. Taiwanese people are citizens of the world. Taiwanese people have the right to engage with the world. We will not retreat in the face of suppression,” Lai said upon arrival at Taiwan’s main international airport at Taoyuan, outside of Taipei.

“The fact that this trip was obstructed at one point only made the world see Taiwan’s people’s firm determination and will to engage with the world,” he added.

CHINA LIKENED LAI TO A ‘RAT’

There was no immediate response from the Chinese government, which last week likened Lai to a “rat” for his “skulking” visit to Eswatini. 

Lai’s aircraft, the same A340, left Eswatini on Monday for Taiwan, taking a long route over the bottom part of the Indian Ocean, avoiding the flight information regions of Mauritius and ​Madagascar, which both have deep economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Then aircraft then flew over Australia’s Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, before entering Taiwan air space for arrival into Taoyuan, according to flight tracking apps.

Lai was accompanied on his flight by Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla, whom he said had ensured he and his delegation travelled safely to and from Eswatini. Dladla had been in Taipei only last week as the king’s special envoy.

“This visit is not merely exercising diplomacy rights between states in order to foster friendly relations, it is also a demonstration of Taiwan’s will to uphold international order with all like‑minded countries,” Lai said.

China has ramped up its efforts to squeeze Taiwan’s international space, saying Lai is a “separatist” and the island merely a Chinese province with no right to the trappings of a state. Lai rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying Taiwan has a right to engage with the world.

Taiwan is a “trusted and capable” partner of the United States and Taipei’s global relationships, including with Eswatini, provide significant benefits, the U.S. State Department said of Lai’s trip to Eswatini.

Prior to going to Africa, Lai’s last international trip was a tour of the Pacific, including stopovers in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam, in late 2024.

(Reporting by Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang; Writing and additonal reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Christopher Cushing)

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By Heejin Kim

SEOUL, May 5 (Reuters) – Seoul said on Tuesday that authorities will investigate the cause of an explosion and fire on a South Korean-operated ship in the Strait of Hormuz in an incident U.S. President Donald Trump blamed on an Iranian attack.

“The exact cause of the accident would be figured out after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed,” South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by South Korean shipper HMM was empty and at anchor when the explosion and fire occurred on Monday.

The ministry said there were no casualties and the fire had been extinguished. The ship, named HMM Namu, would be towed to a nearby port so that the damage could be assessed and repairs carried out, the ministry said.

An HMM spokesperson said the 24 crew remained on board the 35,000-ton general cargo vessel.

The fire had broken out in the engine room and surveillance camera footage showed it had been extinguished, the spokesperson said.

British maritime risk management group Vanguard said authorities would investigate whether the damage might have been caused by an attack, a drifting sea mine or another external object.

In response to the incident, South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on Tuesday it had asked Korean vessels in the area to move to safer locations and said authorities were in close communications with shipping companies and stranded vessels.

The South Korean government has said 26 South Korean-flagged vessels were stranded around the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said Iran had fired shots at the ship and other targets as the U.S. launched an operation seeking to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

He suggested it could be time for South Korea to join his new effort to help guide stranded ships through the waterway typically used to carry about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the presidential office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post.

South Korea has previously said it would carefully consider Trump’s call for countries to deploy navy ships to form a coalition to ensure safe passage through the waterway, while also stressing such a move would require legislative approval.

(Reporting by Heejin Kim and Jonathan Saul Editing by Ed Davies and Neil Fullick)

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FENGLIN, Taiwan (AP) — The Taiwanese town of Fenglin has grown a reputation as a place where life moves slowly and people can catch their breath.

Rather than push against this rhythm, the town of around 10,000 has chosen to embrace it and make it part of its identity. Enter the snails.

Fenglin has been putting on snail races as a way to celebrate its focus on a slower, sustainable lifestyle that values healthcare, longevity and community connections while bringing in more tourists in the wake of a strong earthquake in 2024 that dampened travel in surrounding areas.

“The earthquake two years ago had a relatively big impact on tourism because people are worried an earthquake may happen again,” said Hsu Lu, a 32-year-old resident. “Many people have left Hualien because of earthquakes,” Hsu said, referring to the surrounding county and the site of frequent quakes.

Snails are one way to bring tourists back, even if slowly.

Fenglin has associated itself with snails since 2014, when it joined the Cittaslow international network of small cities focused on quality of life and locally sourced foods. Cittaslow’s symbol is a snail carrying an assortment of buildings on its back.

The designation of a slow city seemed to fit Fenglin, whose population has shrunk threefold over the past few decades. Today, it is also an example of Taiwan’s “super-aged” society, with more than 20% of its residents older than 65.

To help reinvigorate local tourism after the April 2024 earthquake, which killed 19 people and injured more than 1,100, Fenglin residents decided to host a snail race the following month, said organizer Cheng Jen-shou.

“We thought that our event could attract people, and that would be a small help,” he said.

This year, the town held the third edition of the race over the May Day holiday.

Several dozen enthusiastic residents and tourists attended the event, which featured six snail races spaced out over two days. The winners from each race competed in the final, but not before posing in front of their audiences while slowly being pulled on a piece of plywood across a green carpet as their fans cheered them on.

Li Cheng-wen, a 70-year-old retiree from Fenglin, brought several snails to the race. He caught them in his vegetable garden snacking on his leafy greens, and instead of killing them as some farmers do, he decided to raise them as pets, he said. He feeds them slices of bananas, papaya and vegetable leaves and showers them daily.

“As to the criteria for choosing snails for the race, I usually select those that are very active and pleasing to the eye,” Li said.

Kelvin Hong and Tiara Lin also brought a sightly snail to the race. The couple traveled all the way from the southern city of Kaohsiung, about a five-hour drive away, together with their 2-year-old daughter, Murphy, and their giant African snail, Aquaman.

The couple had signed up Aquaman for a previous race in 2024, but just as they were headed for Fenglin, Lin went into labor. Now the whole family returned to cheer on Aquaman.

Despite being larger than most of its homegrown competitors — which had been picked out from local gardens or the side of the road — Aquaman was rather slow.

Once the race started, it and nine other snails were placed near the center of a round table covered with a thin vinyl sheet. The first to reach the edge of the table was crowned the winner.

The absolute champion was Guage, or Brother Snail. Its owner, 39-year-old Tanya Lin from Hualien, had been raising the snail since 2024, when it also won one race.

This year, Brother Snail crossed the 33-centimeter (13-inch) tablecloth in 3 minutes and 3 seconds. That performance earned it the top spot on a tiny stadium and a prize of organic sweet potato leaves.

Besides the snail race, the local government has been trying to attract tourism by offering guided e-bike tours with stops at historic tobacco barns, Japanese colonial-era buildings and a Hakka-minority museum.

The idea of a slower pace of life was compelling enough to attract university students Annette Lin and Tanya Liu, who rode the train for about 30 minutes from Hualien on Saturday to check out the snail race and Fenglin’s slow vibes.

The friends found the competition unique and enjoyed Fenglin’s leisurely pace — but only as a respite from the busy city life.

“I think for travel or a trip, it’s a great choice,” Liu said. “But maybe living here would not really be my dream choice.”

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May 4 (Reuters) – The U.S. military said on Monday that it struck a vessel in the Caribbean, killing two people, alleging that the vessel struck was operated by “designated terrorist organizations” that it did not identify.

The U.S. Southern Command said that no U.S. military forces were harmed. It described those killed as “male narco-terrorists,” without offering details.

This is the latest such attack condemned by rights groups as “extrajudicial killings” and which the Trump administration says are aimed at “narco-terrorists.”

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

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TAOYUAN, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Tuesday it was a basic right for countries to hold state visits, as he returned from his three-day trip to the African kingdom of Eswatini, which his government says China tried to block.

Lai was supposed to travel to the country, one of Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic partners last month, but had to cancel the initial trip owing to Chinese pressure, Taiwan’s government said.

China pressured three countries to revoke flight permits, denying Lai transit through their airspace, Taiwan’s government said. China did not confirm whether or not they had pressured the countries, but thanked them for their support for Beijing’s one-China principle.

Undeterred, Lai rescheduled the trip, arriving in Eswatini on May 2, where he discussed cooperation on economic, agricultural, cultural and educational ties.

“Just like going out to visit friends, this is every country’s basic right,” he said upon his arrival back in Taiwan Tuesday. “This trip, which was subject to obstruction, actually let the world see the Taiwanese public’s determination and will to be a part of the world.”

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, to be retaken by force if necessary, and prohibits countries it has diplomatic relations with from maintaining formal ties with Taipei.

In practice, Taiwan is self-ruled. However, it faces increasing pressure from China on all fronts. China’s military sends fighter jets and navy vessels towards Taiwan on a near-daily basis, while also pressuring countries to cut their diplomatic relations with the island through a mixture of economic incentives and pressure.

Over the weekend, organizers of a human rights conference in Zambia canceled the event after China pressured the host country to exclude Taiwanese activists.

Lai took a moment to thank the deputy prime minister of Eswatini Thulisile Dladla, who had accompanied them on the trip, for her role in ensuring “a smooth round trip” for everyone. Dladla had traveled to Taiwan at the end of April.

“Taiwan’s actions shows that the real display of power of a country isn’t in having others submit to you, but to bring prosperity to everyone,” he added.

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Wu reported from Bangkok

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May 4 (Reuters) – Fire broke out at a major UAE oil industry zone on Monday after a drone attack originating from Iran, authorities said, as the Gulf state’s military separately intercepted three Iranian missiles over its waters and a fourth crashed into the sea.

Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, the Fujairah Media Office said in a statement, adding that three Indian citizens were moderately injured in the attack and taken to hospital.

The UAE defence ministry said on X that its forces had intercepted three missiles, with a fourth falling into the sea.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy issued a map it said showed an expansion of areas under Iranian control near the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan as well as the coast of the Umm Al Quwain emirate, Iranian news agencies reported.

The drone attacks shattered a period of relative calm in the UAE since a Pakistani-mediated ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect on April 8, pausing more than two months of intense fighting in the Gulf region.

During the period of intense conflict, the UAE said it had intercepted and destroyed thousands of drones and missiles.

UAE authorities on Monday issued mobile phone alerts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi warning of the possibility of missile attacks. 

Monday’s strike was not the first time Fujairah’s energy infrastructure had been in the crosshairs. A drone attack on March 14 had previously hit the Port of Fujairah, triggering fires and the suspension of some oil-loading operations.

Fujairah has been critical to UAE oil exports during the Iran war as it sits at the end of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which carries crude from inland fields to the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

This has allowed the UAE to continue shipping oil to global markets even as the waterway remained under threat.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Alexander Smith)

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VIENNA, May 4 (Reuters) – The parliamentary leader of Austria’s ruling conservatives, August Woeginger, stepped down on Monday moments after a court convicted him of misuse of office and handed him a seven-month suspended prison sentence and a 43,200 euro ($50,600) fine.

The case centred on Woeginger’s intervention on behalf of a mayor from his party who was applying for the position of head of the local tax office in Braunau am Inn, on the German border.

The ruling could be a watershed moment in Austrian politics as it penalises officials allegedly involved in appointing a party loyalist over a more qualified candidate, in a country where two centrist parties carved up most top administrative posts between them for decades after World War Two.

Woeginger, a top figure in Chancellor Christian Stocker’s Austrian People’s Party (OVP), has maintained his innocence and said he never meant to exert undue influence, but also that in retrospect he would not do the same thing again.

“While I still expect to be acquitted on appeal, I will nevertheless – regardless of further legal steps – resign from my post of OVP parliamentary leader with immediate effect,” Woeginger said in a statement, adding that he planned to stay on as an OVP lawmaker.

Woeginger had spoken about the mayor’s candidacy to the then top civil servant in the finance ministry, OVP loyalist Thomas Schmid, who allegedly worked with two members of a committee that reviewed candidates for the job to promote the mayor’s candidacy.

Those two committee members were co-defendants in the case and both were convicted of misuse of office and perjury, and handed the same seven-month suspended sentence as Woeginger along with smaller fines. Schmid turned state witness in this and other cases involving his former OVP allies.

The mayor was awarded the job over a better qualified candidate, who filed a complaint.

The ruling is a blow to the OVP, which has stayed in power since its then-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was forced to quit in 2021 over corruption allegations he denies. The OVP now heads a three-party coalition in which each member is trailing the far-right Freedom Party in opinion polls.

“It is a verdict at first instance with a very harsh sentence,” Chancellor Stocker said in a statement. “Personally, I would have wished August Woeginger an acquittal.”

($1 = 0.8538 euros)

(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Susan Fenton)

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Reuters) – The U.S. military has destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran as the U.S. launches an operation to free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of Central Command, said on Monday.

Cooper said he “strongly advised” Iranian forces to remain clear of U.S. military assets as it launches the operation. He said a U.S. blockade of Iran, which prevents ships from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory, also remains in effect and was exceeding expectations.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees AliEditing by Nick Zieminski)

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