BERLIN: Fatou, the world's oldest gorilla living in captivity, celebrated her 69th birthday with a feast Monday (Apr 13), munching on cherry tomatoes, beets, leeks and lettuce at the Berlin Zoo.

But no birthday cake, because sugar isn't healthy for the ageing primate.

Fatou, a western lowland gorilla, arrived in what was then West Berlin in 1959. 

She was believed to be about two years old at the time, though her exact birthdate isn't known - Apr 13 is her designated birthday. 

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Gorillas can live for around 35 to 40 years in the wild and longer in captivity.

Fatou became the zoo’s oldest resident in 2024, following the death of Ingo the flamingo. The bird was believed to be at least 75 and had lived at the zoo since 1955.

Fatou was likely born in the wild in western Africa but the story goes that a French sailor took her out of Africa and bartered her to cover his bar tab in Marseille, France, according to the Guinness World Records. A French animal trader then reportedly sold her to the zoo.

These days, Fatou lives in an enclosure of her own and prefers to keep her distance from the zoo’s other gorillas in her old age. She's lost her teeth and she suffers from a touch of arthritis and hearing loss.

But Christian Aust, the Berlin Zoo's primate supervisor, said she's friendly with the zookeepers, if still a bit stubborn.

At 69 years old, she's earned it. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Fatou.

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday (Apr 13) that Israel supports United States President Donald Trump's decision to impose a naval blockade on Iran, adding that his government is in full coordination with Washington on the matter.

"Iran violated the rules (of the peace talks in Pakistan), President Trump decided to impose a naval blockade," Netanyahu said at a Cabinet meeting, according to a video statement released by his office.

"We, of course, support this firm position, and we are in constant coordination with the US."

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday after weekend talks with Tehran ended without a deal.

Trump had announced on social media that he would blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz trade route that he has been demanding Tehran fully reopen, after Vice President JD Vance left the failed negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad.

The US military said the blockade would begin at 2pm GMT (10pm, Singapore time), and apply to all ships leaving or seeking to dock at Iranian ports on either side of the key waterway.

Netanyahu said Tehran had violated the terms of the talks to begin with, saying Vance had briefed him after the negotiations ended in Islamabad.

"The breakdown came from the American side, which could not tolerate Iran's blatant violation of the terms for entering negotiations," Netanyahu told the Cabinet.

"The agreement was that there would be a ceasefire, and that the Iranians would immediately open the strait. They did not do so. The Americans could not accept this."

Netanyahu also said Vance had told him the "central issue" for Trump was the removal of all enriched uranium from Iran and "ensuring that there is no further enrichment in the years ahead - even decades ahead - no enrichment within Iran".

"That is their focus, and of course it is important to us as well," Netanyahu added.

SINGAPORE: Air cargo handler SATS is supporting cargo operations for Kuwaiti low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways in Dammam to help maintain Kuwait’s supply chains, the companies announced in a joint press release on Monday (Apr 13).

This comes as Jazeera Airways established alternative air-land connections to Kuwait, including in Saudi Arabia's Dammam, following the closure of the Kuwait International Airport amid the war in the region. 

SATS is serving as the cargo handler for Jazeera’s Airbus A320neo aircraft operating from its dual base at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, the companies said.

The SATS station in Dammam began managing all air cargo shipments for Jazeera Airways on Mar 26.

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This includes general cargo and perishables such as frozen meats, fruit and vegetables, which are then transported overland to Kuwait.

The initiative is part of Jazeera Airways’ efforts to support Kuwait’s supply logistics during the war in the Middle East, the companies noted.

“Through the movement of passengers and essential cargo such as food, pharmaceutical supplies, and critical spare parts, we hope to help maintain and keep vital air cargo connectivity open into Kuwait during this challenging period,” said SATS APAC Gateway Services’ CEO Bob Chi.

Jazeera Airways’ CEO Barathan Pasupathi noted that the airline's partnership with SATS was a key part of efforts to keep Kuwait connected.

He said that the airline's partnership with SATS "is a critical part of this effort, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of essential cargo including food items and other vital supplies".

“Together, we are not only maintaining connectivity, but reinforcing a lifeline for the community and the wider economy during this period.”

SATS operates three cargo facilities in Saudi Arabia – in Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. The company also has a cargo facility in Oman. 

“SATS stands ready to support the movement of emergency supplies from air hubs in Saudi Arabia and Oman to Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” it said.

NEW YORK: Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup is facing fresh uncertainty, as escalating tensions with the United States, one of the host nations, threaten to spill into the sport.

A fragile ceasefire between the two countries is now under strain, after Washington announced plans for a naval blockade starting on Monday (Apr 13) targeting Iranian ports and traffic linked to the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The developments have raised questions over whether Iran’s national team will be able to play matches on American soil.

The 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico, will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams. Iran is scheduled to play group matches in the US against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

It is the first time a host nation is at war with one of its participants in the lead-up to the competition.

PRIDE AND CONNECTION TO HOME

For some Iranian-Americans, football is a link to home.

Amir S, who moved to the US at a young age, said the sport helps him stay connected to his roots and family in Iran.

“You know, sports just sort of brings people together,” he told CNA.

Amir has spent hundreds of dollars securing 12 tickets to watch Iran’s national team, known as Team Melli, at the tournament, which begins in June.

For supporters like him, the World Cup represents a rare opportunity to celebrate national pride.

But whether Iran will take to the pitch in the US remains unclear.

CONFLICTING SIGNALS FROM LEADERS

In March, US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that the team was welcome, but added he did not believe it was “appropriate” for them to be there, citing concerns for their lives and safety.

Iran’s sports minister said in response that “considering the US assassinated their leader, under no circumstances could they participate in the World Cup”, referring to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes on Feb 28.

Team Melli pushed back on social media, saying “no one can exclude them from playing”, while the Iranian Football Federation indicated it was exploring the possibility of moving matches to another host country, such as Mexico.

However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino later said Iran would play in the US, following discussions with the team and coach.

PRESSURE AND GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS

Sports diplomacy experts say withdrawing from the tournament at this stage would come at a high cost.

Lindsay Krasnoff, clinical assistant professor at New York University’s Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, noted that teams face penalties for pulling out after qualification deadlines.

“It would make the Iranian Football Association and its team subject to disciplinary measures within FIFA … whether it is potential non-qualification for future tournaments or fines,” she added.

Allowing Iran’s matches to be relocated could also set a precedent.

“There could be, in the future, other requests for teams to be moved based on geopolitical events or other issues,” Krasnoff said.

If Iran does not participate, its spot could go to another Asian team, with the United Arab Emirates seen as one of the frontrunners.

A DIVIDED DIASPORA

Beyond soccer, the situation is also exposing divisions within the Iranian diaspora in the US.

Some supporters want Team Melli to succeed. Others, citing historical factors, including the state’s influence over the sport, see it as a symbol of an oppressive regime.

“It is political, whether we like it or not,” said Marjan Kamyab, who moved to the US a decade ago.

She noted that following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the state has exerted significant control over football, including restricting women from attending matches.

The ban has been partially eased in recent years, but limited ticket allocations, segregated seating and inconsistent enforcement mean many women are still unable to attend matches freely.

“The diaspora here are very, very anti-regime and anti-Team Melli right now. They view Team Melli as the regime’s team,” she said.

“So, they’re going to go to the stadiums and do the same thing they did in Qatar. They’re going to boo them and they’re going to protest.”

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, some Iranian fans protested in and around stadiums, holding banners with slogans such as “women, life, freedom” – a rallying cry linked to nationwide protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s hijab laws.

For Kamyab, events in Iran have overshadowed the sport.

She added: “Thinking about football as a sport is like, as my husband says, it's like thinking about Mona Lisa, while the Louvre is burning.”

The US military said it would block shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports starting at 10am ET (10pm, Singapore time) on Monday (Apr 13), a move that would prevent roughly two million barrels of Iranian oil a day from entering the world's markets, further tightening global supply.

Here's how it would work, what it means for oil markets and why US President Donald Trump is threatening to restrict access to a strait that he wants Iran to reopen.

WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED?

After weekend peace talks in Islamabad between negotiators from the US and Iran ended without a deal, Trump said the US Navy "will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz".

The US military's Central Command later said the blockade would apply only to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Gulf and Gulf of Oman. 

US forces would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, and additional information would be provided, it said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded to Trump by warning that military vessels approaching the strait would be considered a ceasefire breach and dealt with harshly and decisively.

Retired Admiral Gary Roughead, a former chief of US naval operations, cautioned that Iran could fire on ships in the Gulf or attack the infrastructure of Gulf states that host US forces.

WHAT IS THE IMPLICATION FOR IRANIAN OIL FLOWS?

Blocking Iranian shipments would disconnect a significant source of oil from the world's markets. 

Iran exported 1.84 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in March. It has shipped 1.71 million bpd thus far in April, compared with a full-year average of 1.68 million bpd in 2025, according to Kpler data.

However, a surge in Iranian output before the war started on Feb 28 has led to near-record levels of Iranian oil loaded on ships, with more than 180 million barrels floating as of earlier this month, according to Kpler data.

Before the war, most Iranian oil exports were shipped to China, the top global crude importer. Last month, the US unveiled a sanctions waiver that has enabled other buyers, including India, to import Iranian oil.

India is set to receive its first crude shipment from Iran in seven years this week, ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler showed on Wednesday.

WHY IS TRUMP THREATENING TO BLOCKADE THE STRAIT?

By targeting shipping linked to Iran, Trump is seeking to cut off a key source of revenue for Tehran’s government and military operations.

He may also be trying to pressure China into pushing Iran back to the negotiating table, said Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft.

"There is a logic behind this (blockade) that would say that he is moving forward with these types of pressures in order to get the Chinese to step in and pressure Iran," he said. "However, I do not see that working if the US's position simultaneously is zero enrichment. The Chinese know very well that the Iranians would never agree to that. The Chinese themselves do not agree with that objective."

Trump's move could therefore carry broader risks. 

"It's important to recognise he's not just going to do it against Iran if he goes after some of the ships that are holding Iranian oil - those have already been purchased by China, by India, by other countries in Asia, who will suffer from this, but it's also their oil," said Parsi.

"He is not taking Iran's oil. He's taking the oil that these countries have bought from Iran. So that would immediately put the United States on a collision course with China, with India and other countries."

If Trump goes ahead with the blockade, the Iran-aligned Houthis may close the Red Sea as well, Parsi warned.

"That's another 12 per cent oil flow globally that will be lost, together with the 20 per cent that has been jeopardised by what the Iranians are doing in the Strait of Hormuz. That would shoot up oil prices, probably closer to US$200," he added.

Parsi noted, however, that the developments could still be part of a negotiating strategy rather than a definitive breakdown.

"The failure of the first phase is not in and of itself necessarily a sign that talks, if they were to continue, would fail," Parsi said.

"It may very well be that the first round was supposed to be a failure. Neither side may have wanted to give the impression that they came to an agreement too quickly," he added.

A likely scenario, said Parsi, is that both sides will reach a new "non-negotiated status quo", one in which the Iranians do not get sanctions relief while retaining control of the Strait of Hormuz.

"And at the same time, the United States does not go back into full-scale war with Iran, and the question then becomes, will the Israelis conduct that war by themselves against Iran or would they also back off?"

HOW HAVE WORLD LEADERS REACTED?

China called for "unimpeded" navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

"The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy, and maintaining its security, stability, and unimpeded flow is in the common interest of the international community," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference on Monday.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain will not join the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is "not getting dragged in" to the war with Iran.

The strategic Strait of Hormuz trade route should open "as soon as possible", Türkiye's foreign minister said on Monday.

"Negotiations with Iran should be conducted, persuasion methods should be used, and the strait should be opened as soon as possible," Hakan Fidan told the official Anadolu news agency.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which relies heavily on the Middle East for crude oil imports, called for the restoration of "safe, unimpeded and continuous transit passage of vessels and aircraft" in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We call for the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire, aimed at preventing further suffering and loss of lives, ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation and overflight, especially for merchant, non-combatant vessels and aircraft in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), minimising disruption to the flow of energy and essential goods, and mitigating its adverse impact on global economic stability," ASEAN foreign ministers said in a statement.

TEHRAN: The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday (Apr 13), after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed with President Donald Trump blaming the Islamic republic's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Trump had announced on social media he would blockade the strategic Strait of Hormuz trading route that he has been demanding Tehran fully reopen, after his vice president, JD Vance left negotiations with an Iranian delegation in Islamabad on Sunday.

The stall in talks dashed global hopes of a deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands and thrown the global economy into turmoil since it began in late February.

As negotiating teams flew out, mediator Pakistan said it would keep facilitating their dialogue and has called on both sides to honour the fragile two-week ceasefire struck last week that experts said could be put at risk by any maritime military blockade.

"The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," US Central Command said in a statement, adding it would begin at 1400 GMT (10pm, Singapore time) on Monday.

US forces would not impede vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, it added.

Trump on his Truth Social platform confirmed the US military's statement, a more limited operation than envisaged in his earlier post that asserted all ships trying to enter or exit the strait would be blocked.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards had warned before the US military announcement that they had full control of traffic through Hormuz and would trap any challenger "in a deadly vortex".

In his lengthy social media post, Trump said on Sunday his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping and that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway.

"Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said. "Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!"

Oil prices - which tumbled last week after the temporary ceasefire - jumped around 8 per cent Monday, with both key WTI and Brent contracts topping US$100 a barrel.

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation in Pakistan, said Tehran would "not bow to any threats" from Washington, while navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump's blockade threat "ridiculous".

After the highest-level US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution failed to deliver a deal, Iranian foreign ministry Abbas Araghchi blamed "maximalism, shifting goalposts, and (a) blockade" that prevented an agreement he said they were "just inches away from".

Trump told reporters on Sunday he was ambivalent on the prospect of talks continuing with Iran.

"I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine," he said.

"FINAL AND BEST OFFER"

Tehran has already been restricting traffic through the strait - a key route for global oil and gas shipments - while allowing some vessels serving friendly countries such as China to pass.

Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at Sciences Po's Center for International Research, said a US blockade was "not a minor coercive signal" but could rather be considered an effective resumption of the war.

The US military said Saturday that two US Navy warships had transited the strait to begin clearing it of mines, a claim Tehran denied.

Iran's Fars news agency reported Sunday that two Pakistan-flagged oil tankers bound for the strait had turned back.

But the strait was far from the only friction point jettisoning global efforts led by Pakistan to end the war, which began on when Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, which retaliated by attacking Gulf and Israeli cities.

The US delegation in Islamabad - led by Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - was frustrated by Iran's refusal to give up what it called its right to a nuclear programme.

"I have always said, right from the beginning, and many years ago, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!" Trump later posted.

Vance told reporters in Islamabad that Washington had made Tehran its "final and best offer," adding: "We'll see if the Iranians accept it."

VIOLENCE IN LEBANON

Even before the historic talks, concern had been high over whether the ceasefire could collapse due to continued Israeli strikes it says are targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Iran and Pakistan insist the truce also applies.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Sunday he was working to stop the war and ensure Israeli troops withdrew, even as Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in south Lebanon that the fight there was far from over.

Lebanese and Israeli officials are due to hold talks in Washington on Tuesday.

Hezbollah said overnight it had launched rocket towards towns in northern Israel, continuing attacks that it began in early March to avenge the death of Iran's supreme leader in the opening salvo of Israeli-US strikes that began the regional war.

Israeli strikes on Beirut and other parts of Lebanon last week after the temporary ceasefire announcement had killed hundreds, according to Lebanon's health authorities.

SEOUL: South Korea and Poland hailed their deepening defence partnership on Monday (Apr 13), as the European country modernises its military following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Warsaw has emerged as a key buyer of arms from Seoul, and the countries signed a weapons deal worth over US$40 billion in 2022.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is in Seoul for the first such visit in 27 years, and held a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday.

"Even amid a prolonged period of geopolitical instability, defence cooperation between our two countries has continued to deepen," Lee said in his opening remarks.

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Seoul and Warsaw would also elevate ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership", he said.

The 2022 framework agreement covered Polish purchases of South Korean tanks, self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers.

Lee said some of those weapons were now "operating proudly across Poland's vast plains, helping to safeguard the country's territory and protect its people".

Poland, a member of the European Union and the NATO defence bloc, has stood firmly behind neighbouring Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

South Korea has also backed Kyiv, particularly since North Korea sent soldiers to fight for Russia.

Tusk described South Korea as "Poland's second-most important ally after the United States, particularly in the field of the defence industry", according to a Korean translation of his opening remarks.

The two leaders also agreed to expand cooperation in non-defence fields, including energy supply chains and infrastructure.

Tusk wraps up his visit on Monday and will then head to Tokyo.

SYDNEY: Australia on Monday (Apr 13) said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of the country's defence force leadership.

Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the current chief of joint capabilities, will become chief of army in July, the government said in a statement. She will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.

Coyle's appointment comes as Australia's military seeks to boost the number of female officers in its ranks. It faces a wave of allegations of systematic sexual harassment and discrimination.

"From July, we will have the first ever female chief of army in the Australian Army's 125-year history," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.

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Defence Minister Richard Marles called Coyle's appointment a "deeply historic moment".

"As Susan said to me, you cannot be what you cannot see," he said.

"Susan's achievement will be deeply significant to women who are serving in the Australian Defence Force today and women who are thinking about serving in the Australian Defence Force in the future."

Coyle, 55, enlisted in the military in 1987 and has held a number of senior command roles. She will be the first woman to lead any service branch of the military, Marles said.

Women currently make up around 21 per cent of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and 18.5 per cent of senior leadership roles. The ADF has set a target of 25 per cent of overall participation for women by 2030.

Last October, a class action lawsuit was filed against the ADF alleging it failed to protect thousands of female officers from systematic sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.

The government on Monday also appointed Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the current chief of the navy, as the head of the ADF, succeeding Admiral David Johnston.

The current deputy chief of navy, Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley, will replace Hammond as head of the branch.

HONG KONG: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday (Apr 13) said China should take on a more substantial role with issues including climate change, security, defence and the fight against inequality, adding that Europe will also have to redouble its efforts as the US withdraws from leadership roles on many fronts.

Sanchez, who is making his fourth visit to China in four years, spoke at Beijing's Tsinghua University.

His three-day visit comes as many Western governments seek to maintain engagement with Beijing despite lingering security and trade tensions. It follows visits to China earlier this year by the prime ministers of Britain, Ireland, Canada and Finland.

Spain has been one of Europe's loudest proponents of expanding trade and treating China as a strategic ally rather than an economic and geopolitical rival.

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Sanchez said China could do more in terms of fighting climate change, promoting global health, controlling the development of responsible artificial intelligence as well as nuclear weapons.

"For example, by demanding as it is doing, that international law be respected and that the conflicts in Lebanon, Iran, Gaza and the West Bank and Ukraine cease," he said.

"Europe will also have to redouble its efforts, especially now that the United States has decided to withdraw from many of these fronts."

Sanchez's visit comes as he seeks to position Spain as a bridge between Beijing and the 27-member European Union, whose relations with the US are showing signs of strain.

He is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, where they are expected to focus on geopolitics.

US President Donald Trump's tariffs and unpredictable foreign policy have caused concern among Western leaders, many of whom have flocked to Beijing in recent months seeking closer ties.

CHINA TRADE IMBALANCE WITH EU "UNSUSTAINABLE"

On Monday, Sanchez also called China's trade imbalance with the European Union "unsustainable" and called on Beijing to open its market to European imports.

"We need China ... to open up so that Europe does not have to close itself off," said Sanchez.

He called on Beijing to "help us correct the current trade deficit ... A deficit that is unbalanced, which grew by a further 18 per cent last year alone. And which is unsustainable for our societies in the medium and long term".

China accounted for 74 per cent of Spain's total trade deficit, Sanchez said, adding that cooperation was important to build a "balanced, globalised economy that generates shared prosperity".

Madrid hopes Sanchez's visit will narrow Spain's trade deficit, which more than doubled in four years to nearly US$50 billion in 2025. It is looking to boost agricultural and manufacturing exports to offset high volumes of China's imports.

China's official news agency Xinhua on Monday said Sanchez's visit was set to further consolidate bilateral ties and pointed to a broader pathway for steady engagement between China and Europe at a time of growing global uncertainty.

The Spanish leader is also keen to boost trade with China after Trump, who is due to visit Beijing in May, threatened last month to cut trade with Spain.

Trump's threats came after Spain denied the use of its military bases for US strikes against Iran, a key economic partner of Beijing.

Spanish government sources said a primary goal of the trip is to secure greater market access for agricultural and industrial goods, and to explore joint ventures in the technology sector.

Sanchez is also expected to use the visit to attract new investors for the eurozone's fourth-largest economy and to gain access to China's critical raw materials.

On Monday, he is scheduled to visit the headquarters of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi and tour a technology exhibit at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

During his visit to China in April 2025, Beijing agreed to expand access for a range of Spanish products, including pork and cherries.

The Spanish government has said that Spain's exports to China rose 6.8 per cent in 2025, crediting the growth to strong ties with Beijing.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Wednesday called Spain "an important partner of China within the EU", adding that Sanchez's visit offers a chance to "promote bilateral relations to an even higher level".

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia paid a state visit to China last November, the first by a Spanish monarch in 18 years, highlighting the closeness of ties.

BUDAPEST: Peter Magyar's landslide victory in Sunday's (Apr 12) Hungarian election has handed his centre-right Tisza party a sweeping mandate that will give it a free hand to enact reforms, bolster the rule of law and potentially unlock billions in European Union funding.

Economists and political analysts say the incoming government's expected two-thirds supermajority was the most EU- and market-friendly scenario - and before Sunday, one of the most improbable - and would likely trigger a strong rally in Hungarian assets on Monday.

A number of uncertainties remain, and wary diplomats and analysts say the new government must deliver on its promises before reaping the full benefits, but the markets, for now, look willing to give Budapest's new masters the benefit of the doubt.

"The result is a game-changer and will allow Magyar to govern with a free hand," said Mujtaba Rahman, a managing director at Eurasia Group. "Most importantly, he will be able to unwind Orban's autocracy and deliver on all of the reforms the EU is demanding.

"That means at least €6.4 billion (US$7.46 billion) from the resilience and recovery facility should flow quickly, shoring up the real economy and further consolidating Tisza's win."

MAGYAR PLEDGES TO REBUILD ALLIANCES

The election had long been anticipated as the ‌most market-sensitive in Europe this year, given the eurosceptic Orban's frequent clashes with Brussels during his 16-year rule, over issues ranging from immigration to his closeness to Russia.

Orban had expressed confidence throughout the election campaign despite lagging in opinion polls, saying his goal was to protect Hungary's national identity and traditional Christian values within the EU, while denying any wrongdoing.

But the markets had been signalling for weeks that investors expected change. The share prices of companies linked to Orban fell sharply, while market volatility gauges indicated that big currency moves were likely after the election.

Magyar, addressing jubilant supporters chanting "Europe, Europe" after Orban conceded defeat, pledged to make Hungary a strong EU and North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally and rebuild ties marred by years of conflict.

"With the two-thirds majority allowing us to amend the constitution, we will restore the system of checks and balances," Magyar said.

"We will join the European Public Prosecutor's Office and guarantee the democratic functioning of our country. We will never again allow anyone to hold free Hungary captive or to abandon it."

One fundamental plank of Magyar's plan to kick-start Hungary's economy, which has been mired in near-stagnation for the past three years, was to unlock EU funds frozen as democratic standards eroded under Orban.

"A constitutional majority is a different story entirely," said Ian Bremmer at GZERO Media.

"That would give Magyar the power to rewrite the constitution, clear out Fidesz loyalists from captured institutions, fully access EU funding, and even adopt the euro – a core campaign pledge."

On Sunday, Magyar called on Hungary's chief prosecutor, the head of the top court, the head of media authority and other officials to resign, saying the country's public institutions had been captured by Orban loyalists over the past 16 years.

DIPLOMATS AND RATING AGENCIES CAUTIOUS ON EU FUNDS

Magyar has pledged a sweeping anti-corruption drive as his party seeks to meet EU conditions, including stronger judicial independence and public procurement, to unlock the funds.

However, credit rating agencies such as S&P Global and Fitch Ratings, as well as some EU diplomats, are sceptical about whether any money still available under Hungary's pandemic recovery funding would be released.

Diplomats and analysts say comparisons with Poland's 2023 election, when Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-EU Cabinet secured a quick release of EU funding on promises to roll back his nationalist predecessor's policies, may be misguided.

"There is no willingness to give out the money only on a promise like the EU did to Tusk in Poland, who was not able to deliver on most promises," said an EU diplomat.

"Tisza would need to demonstrate that it can deliver. But if something is legally impossible, and that can be demonstrated, then the EU could figure out a way."

Analysts at Capital Economics say the release of EU funding could help cut Hungary's budget deficit towards 3.5 per cent to 4 per cent of national output by the end of the decade and stabilise public debt - the EU's highest outside the eurozone.

"Overall, the election result marks a major turning point for Hungary's economy," Liam Peach said in a note.

"The durability of any positive market reaction will now depend on how quickly Tisza moves to rebuild relations with the EU, secure EU fund disbursements and signal a credible medium-term fiscal anchor.

The first weekend of Coachella 2026 is about to end and so far, Asian and Asian-adjacent music acts have brought the heat to the California desert.

The first night of this year's Coachella saw girl group Bini become the first Filipino group to perform at the event. The group, which comprises Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena, performed hits like Zero Pressure, Salamin, Salamin and Blink Twice.

Following their set, the group told music outlet Billboard that they were "over the moon" and proud to represent the Philippines on a global stage.

Also performing on Day 1 of Coachella 2026 was global girl group Katseye, which has several members of Asian descent: Lara, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae.

With member Manon currently on hiatus, Katseye performed as a quintet during Coachella, thrilling audiences with hits like Gnarly and Gabriela.

The group’s set also delivered a standout moment, as they covered the megahit Golden from the Academy Award-winning film KPop Demon Hunters and brought out the singing voices behind Huntrix – Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna – on stage to perform it with them.

Following Katseye's performance, Megan's Singaporean mother, Sylvia Lee, took to Instagram to thank fans for showing Katseye "continued love and support".

"I can’t believe that I’m actually standing in front of [the] Sahara stage watching my baby girl and her sisters crush it at their debut at Coachella!" wrote Lee. "Congratulations to Katseye and [Hybe and Geffen Records] and all the staff, the production crew and dancers for making this dream come true!"

Shinee member Taemin made history as the first-ever Korean male artiste to stage a solo performance at the renowned music festival. The 32-year-old made the most out of his set at Mojave stage on Sunday morning (Singapore time) with a mix of old favourites like Move and Heaven, as well as the debut of six new songs.

Hours earlier, Japanese singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze also made his debut at the same stage where he thrilled fans with earworms like Matsuri and Shinunoga E-wa.

The first weekend of Coachella will conclude with performances by Icelandic jazz singer Laufey, whose mother hails from China, and K-pop legends BigBang, which comprises G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung.

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump forcefully criticised Pope Leo late on Sunday in an unusual and direct attack on the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church, which drew immediate rebuke from believers.

The president, in an apparent response to the pope's growing criticisms of the US-Israeli war on Iran and the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies, said Leo was "terrible".

"Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Catholics on social media quickly lambasted Trump for attacking the leader of their Church, who they believe is the successor of Saint Peter, one of Jesus' 12 apostles.

"There is no ambiguity about the situation now," Massimo Faggioli, an expert on the papacy, told Reuters.

He compared the comments to efforts by the leaders of Germany and Italy during World War II to draw the late Pope Pius XII to support their causes.

"Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the pope so directly and publicly," said Faggioli.

Archbishop Paul S Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was disheartened by Trump's comments.

"Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” he said in a statement.

POPE LEO ON WAR AND IMMIGRATION ISSUES

Leo, originally from Chicago, is the first US pope. Known for choosing his words carefully, he has ​emerged as an outspoken critic of the Iran war in recent weeks and decried the "madness of war" in a peace appeal on Saturday.

Last year, he questioned whether the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies were in line with the Church's pro-life teachings.

"Someone who says, 'I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States', I don't know if that's pro-life," the pontiff said in September.

Trump wrote in his post Sunday that "Leo should get his act together as Pope", later telling reporters he was "not a big fan" of the pontiff.

Trump's broadside against Pope Leo also accused him of being "weak on nuclear weapons", several days after the pope said the US president's threat to destroy Iranian civilisation was "truly unacceptable".

In a speech on Palm Sunday last month in St Peter's Square in the Vatican, the pope said God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have their "hands full of blood", calling the conflict in Iran "atrocious".

Pope Leo has also called on Trump to find an "off-ramp" to end the conflict and "decrease the amount of violence".

In his post, Trump suggested that Pope Leo was only elected to lead the Catholic Church last year "because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump".

The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The pope left the Vatican on Monday for an ambitious, 10-day tour of four countries in Africa.

Pope Leo has called for "deep reflection" about the way migrants are being treated in the US.

The pope's call for a more compassionate approach to immigration - a sentiment expressed by several of Leo's predecessors - stands in contrast to the stance of Trump, who has argued that the US must curtail immigration from developing countries to reduce crime.

"He's a very liberal person and he's a man who doesn't believe in stopping crime," Trump told reporters on Sunday night.

Trump also had a rocky relationship with Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticised Trump's immigration policy proposals when he first ran for president and suggested Trump was "not a Christian."

Trump had called Francis "disgraceful" in early 2016.