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TAIPEI, Taiwan — Across the Chinese diaspora, racing in dragon boats has been a tradition reaching back thousands of years.  But change is afoot, most recently in central Taiwan where the races were switched to the evening to take advantage of cooler temperatures, a refreshing breeze and the sight of the boats lit up with LED lights running the length of the low-lying watercraft.  A drummer pounds out a rhythm behind the elaborately carved dragon head in the bow, while a navigator sits in the stern, where a tail rises to complete the look of the mythical animal, a traditional Chinese harbinger of prosperity and good luck.  It is mainly an amateur sport and crews are formed among groups of neighbors and co-workers. Emily Lin, 31, who works as a sales executive in Changhua county, said training sessions at a local junior high school were an excellent way to strengthen friendships outside of work.  "This dragon boat race allows us to meet, exchange and take part in something,” Lin said Monday following qualifiers the previous night.  Daytime racing means dealing with the intense central Taiwan sun reflecting off the river, leaving you feeling unwell, said Chen Ta-tzung, a 28-year-old machinery maintenance specialist.  "But in the evening, you don’t have the sun,” Chen said.  “When we focus on rowing during the race, we cannot enjoy the beautiful scene. But when we row back, we can really enjoy the beautiful sights,” he added.  This year's races hold a special meaning for many participants and observers as they are the first after a three-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The sizes of the boats vary, and the numbers of rowers can range from 10 to 20 or more. The festival generally falls at the start of June based around the summer solstice according to the Chinese lunar calendar.   In recent decades, the sport has spread in popularity around the world and standards have been imposed on rules and equipment, including the size of paddles and requirements that the drummer, playing a similar role to the coxswain in college and Olympic rowing, maintains a constant beat.  “Racing at night is special for rowers," said Huang Yi-kai, 21, who is a coach for standup paddleboard rowers. "This allowed rowers to focus on the moment. It's a refreshing experience.”  Dragon boat races are also being held in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as around mainland China, where lax safety standards have occasionally led to deadly accidents. At least one person was killed after a dragon boat capsized in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Sunday, the local government reported.  At a competition on a canal in the east of Beijing on Monday, participant Shi Shulei cheered the event as a celebration of traditional Chinese culture, devoid of commercial or foreign influences.   “Nowadays people celebrate many festivals invented by merchants or by other countries. We sometimes forget about Chinese traditional festivals. This event should be promoted because it helps to rejuvenate Chinese traditional culture," Shi said.  Twenty-five teams representing companies, universities and residential compounds raced over the 200-meter (650-foot) canal, where two boats collided in the preliminary round after one of them veered from its lane. The 24 participants were swiftly rescued from the water, and no one was reported injured, while organizers called for more life vests and rescue boats.  Despite temperatures of 35 degree Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), crowds from around the city of more than 20 million lined the canal and cheered from a reproduced Chinese ship from the imperial era.  In Hong Kong, a former British colony where political and civil liberties have been increasingly restricted in recent years, the emphasis among racers was on working together to achieve a common goal.  “Dragon boat is a team sport. It’s important we share a team spirit," said Andy Ng, the coach of a local team. "Each member strives with the same objective, which is being the fastest to the finish point. Everyone in my team enjoys it and we enjoy the workout together.”  The races are connected to the tale of Qu Yuan, a loyal adviser to a Chinese emperor some 2,500 years ago who drowned himself in a river after his sage advice was rejected. According to legend, to prevent fish from eating his body, supporters tossed in rice cakes, a tradition that continues to this day as observers mark the fifth day of the fifth lunar month by eating sticky rice dumplings. 

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The Israel-Hamas war protests have led to rising conflicts between police and the press throughout the United States. Both police and reporters go to protests with jobs to do. But journalists say police often prevent them from doing theirs. Robin Guess reports.

Paris — Right-wing parties chalked up major gains in several key European countries following the European parliament elections — with France facing perhaps the biggest fallout. French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved parliament and called for new legislative elections later this month, after the far-right National Rally scooped up nearly one-third of the vote in Sunday’s European parliament elections — more than twice the share for Macron’s ruling Renaissance Party.   Shortly after the first results were announced, Macron was on national TV, announcing snap legislative elections in France — three years ahead of schedule. The first round of voting takes place June 30.   For centrist Macron, it’s a gamble that he might not win. If the National Rally scores strongly in this national poll, its 28-year-old president, Jordan Bardella, could become France’s next prime minister.   “What happened last night was a political earthquake,” said Celia Belin, who heads the Paris office for the European Council on Foreign Relations. The results themselves were not surprising, she said, as weeks of polling showed the National Rally scoring strongly, but what was surprising was Macron’s reaction.  “Snap elections are not common at all ... and usually are actually lost by the president who calls for these elections,” Belin said.  Gael Sliman, who heads polling agency Odoxa, was also surprised by Macron’s move. The president may be gambling he will prevail in these legislatives, but Sliman told France Info radio it’s quite possible France will usher in the Olympics next month with a far-right prime minister — or see gridlock if nobody wins an absolute majority.   The far right also scored strongly in several other key EU countries, including Germany, Austria and Italy. The European Council’s Belin said that will further divide the EU parliament and create gridlock.   “You might see even more opposition to climate action. Even more opposition to additional sanctions against Russia, for example. Or even more opposition toward actually doing anything about China,” she said.   But overall, the center right remained the main winner in these EU elections — good news for European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, who is campaigning for another term in office.  

Prague, Czech Republic — The Czech Republic said Monday it would open a new center to boost cultural and diplomatic ties in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, this week, a move likely to anger China.  China claims Taiwan as part of its territory under its one-China policy, and last month launched military drills around the self-ruled island.  The Czech Republic, a European Union and NATO member, officially embraces the one-China policy, like the EU, but its officials foster close ties with Taiwan.  "The Czech Centre in Taiwan will launch its activity on Friday, June 14" with an exhibition of Czech photographs, the foreign ministry said.  The CTK news agency quoted Czech Centres head Jitka Panek Jurkova as saying that Czechs "want to be seen and heard in Taipei."  "The Czech Centre in Taipei is designed to deepen the understanding among the Taiwanese public of traditional and especially contemporary Czech culture," she added.  The foreign ministry currently has 28 Czech Centres promoting the Czech Republic in 25 countries across the world but not in China.

The U.S. imposed another round of sanctions on top Ugandan officials, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among for their alleged involvement in corruption. The U.S. and U.K. also sanctioned a serving minister and two former ministers for misuse of resources in the poorest Karamoja region.

TAIPEI — Taiwan has arrested a Chinese man who sailed a speedboat into a harbor at the mouth of a river leading into Taipei for illegal entry, the Taiwanese coast guard said Monday.  Taiwan keeps a close watch on its waters and air space, given tensions with China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory, a claim Taipei rejects.  Taiwan's coast guard said a suspicious vessel was spotted on Sunday morning six nautical miles (11 km) off the coast of Tamsui in northern Taiwan. After entering the Tamsui River, which leads to downtown Taipei, the boat collided with other vessels at a ferry terminal.  A lone Chinese man on the vessel was arrested on suspicion of violating Taiwan's entry and exit laws, the coast guard said.

Vice President Kamala Harris will take part in next weekend’s Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland along with nearly 90 countries and organizations plan to attend. Ukraine says it struck one of Russia's most advanced warplanes over the weekend. Ukrainian military officials say weekend missile and drone attacks continued over the weekend amid concerns Moscow is looking to expand its buffer zone. And one year after the Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine collapsed, the devastating impacts continue.

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WESTBURY, New York — Spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled a six-run, two-wicket final over and South Africa held off Bangladesh by four runs to stay unbeaten in cricket's T20 World Cup on Monday. Bangladesh needed 11 from the last six deliveries to register a famous win, then needed a six off the last ball. Taskin Ahmed came to the crease after Bangladesh's seventh wicket, and faced the last ball, a full toss by Maharaj. Ahmed swung and managed only one run. On a typically tough batting pitch at Nassau County Stadium, South Africa successfully defended its lowly total of 113-6 and restricted Bangladesh to 109-7. It was the lowest target — 114 — ever defended in a T20 World Cup, trumping India's defense of 120 runs just the day before. “That was not nice on the heart, but feels good that we got over the line,” said top-scorer Heinrich Klaasen, the player of the match. "This wicket is not great for stroke play. We got some information from the last game and applied it today. I think we got a decent total on the board.  “We have had three pressure games now and I think we are through [to the next round].”  Maharaj finished with 3-27 in four overs, while Kagiso Rabada (2-19) and Anrich Nortje (2-17) also bowled well. South Africa firmed the top spot in Group D with three from three and was in pole position to secure a Super Eight spot. Bangladesh's first loss in two matches kept it in second place. South Africa chased down Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in its previous two matches at the ground and was made to bat first this time. But it still fumbled another start. Pace bowler Tanzim Sakib trapped opener Reeza Hendricks for a golden duck and had Tristan Stubbs caught for a five-ball duck.  Aiden Markram was bowled for 4. In between, Sakib bowled Quinton de Kock for 18 as the Proteas slumped to 23-4 in 4.2 overs. David Miller came up with another rescue job after his half-century against the Netherlands. He scored 29 off 38 balls and put on 79 runs for the fifth wicket with Klaasen. Klaasen top-scored with 46 off 44, including two fours and three sixes. The duo pushed South Africa past 100 before falling in the space of six deliveries. The late strikes left South Africa hanging at just about a par total. Bangladesh’s chase faltered at the start, too. It was down to 37-3 and then 50-4 at the halfway stage. Nortje dismissed skipper Nazmul Shanto for 14, and sent back Shakib Al Hasan for just 3, picking up his eighth wicket in three games. Litton Das was out caught off Maharaj, while Rabada had Tanzid Hasan caught behind for 9. Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah put on 44 off 45 balls to bring Bangladesh back on track. At 94-4 in the 18th over, Bangladesh was in the driver’s seat, then lost wickets rapidly to spiral out of control. It went from 94-4 to 108-7 in the space of 17 deliveries.  Rabada returned to trap Hridoy but Maharaj's left-arm spin turned the game in the final over. South Africa completes the group stage against Nepal on Friday. Bangladesh has the Netherlands on Thursday. 

MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of American and Philippine troops concluded Monday a new combat exercise in the northern Philippines that tested their endurance in more than a week of brutal heat and volatile weather, and braced them to respond to any threat in tropical jungles and on scattered islands, two U.S. and Philippine generals said.  The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of military alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in any possible confrontation over Taiwan and other Asian flash points. The move has dovetailed with Philippine efforts to shore up its territorial defenses amid escalating disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea.  The large-scale battle drills, which have been held in Hawaii in recent years under the U.S. Army’s Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, have been introduced in the Philippines this year. There is also a version in Alaska. The exercises allow the U.S. Army, its allies and friendly forces to train in extreme conditions “where they are most likely to operate from archipelagos, jungles and heat in the tropics to high-altitude and extreme cold in the Arctic,” said Major Adan Cazarez, a public affairs officer of the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division.  The June 1-10 warfighting exercise began with an air assault on mock enemy forces to allow the deployment of U.S. and Philippine soldiers who secured an area, which served as a staging ground before a major offensive. When their communication lines for supplies were threatened, top commanders decided to shift to a defensive assault and repelled the enemy attempt and successfully launched the offensive.  Key aspects of the mock battle, including the planning, deployments, logistical preparations and contingency readiness, were reviewed by military assessors for combat efficiency.  The combat exercises, Cazarez said, were integrated in annual U.S.-Philippine army joint exercises called Salaknib for the first time this year. About 1,500 U.S. and Filipino soldiers participated in the new battle drills staged in a hinterland in Fort Magsaysay, a sprawling Philippine army camp in an agricultural region known for its scorching weather. The temperature this year has been exacerbated by El Nino, an occasional warming of the Pacific that shifts global weather patterns.  "The terrain is without question some of the most difficult that our soldiers have ever had the experience to move into. The heat on a daily basis was well over 95 degrees (Fahrenheit; 35 degrees Celsius) and it challenged us from a sustainable perspective,” Major General Marcus Evans, commander of the U.S. Army’s Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division, told The Associated Press in an online interview from the battle training site.  Coordinating artillery and aerial fire and maneuvers “on a very challenging piece of terrain and, really, unforgiving temperatures, were all things that added to the overall training value,” Evans said. He added that American pilots also had to adjust to the region’s unpredictable weather.  Philippine army Major General Andrew de Lara Costelo said the combat drills were designed to allow U.S. and Philippine forces and potentially other allies to operate seamlessly in future contingencies.  “This fosters interoperability and shared tactics, techniques and procedures,” Costelo told the AP.  “By working together, we harness our combined strengths, knowledge and capabilities, ensuring that we are prepared to face any challenges that may arise,” he said.  The war exercises were staged after the conclusion of two larger back-to-back exercises earlier this year between U.S. and Philippine forces, the Salaknib and the Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — which involved more than 16,000 U.S. and Philippine military personnel in their largest combat maneuvers that involved live-fire drills in and near the disputed South China Sea. Several countries sent military observers.  China has vehemently opposed the combat exercises and increased deployments of American forces to Asia, including in the Philippines, saying such military presence was endangering regional stability and was designed to contain Beijing. The Philippine military says the military drills didn't target any country and served to deter aggression.  Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his decision to allow a U.S. military presence in more Philippine military camps under a 2014 defense pact, saying it was vital to his country’s territorial defense.  China had warned that the increased U.S. military presence would “drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife.”

MOSCOW — Russia's Foreign Ministry on Monday said it has rescinded the accreditation of a correspondent for Austria's public broadcaster ORF and told her to leave the country in response to Austria's expulsion of a journalist for Russian state news agency Tass.  The ministry said in a statement that Maria Knips-Witting was ordered to hand over her accreditation and instructed to leave "in the near future." Knips-Witting had been based in Moscow since January, according to ORF's website.  The order was in response to Austria's removal of Tass correspondent Ivan Popov's accreditation six weeks ago, the ministry said.  It was the latest action against foreign journalists in Russia.  Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich was arrested nearly 15 months ago on charges of espionage and remains in jail awaiting trial. U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was taken into custody in October 2023 for failing to register as a "foreign agent."  Eva Hartog, a Dutch journalist working for Politico, was denied a renewal of her visa in August 2023. In March, Xavier Colas of Spanish newspaper El Mundo said he was forced to leave the country when authorities denied him a new visa.

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Baramulla, Indian-administered Kashmir  — On June 4, 2024, the Langate neighborhood in Kupwara district on the Indian side of Kashmir reverberated with chants of “Cooker, cooker, pressure cooker,” after the local election commission office declared election results for the three constituencies in the region.  The results were part of the Indian general elections that ended June 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to secure an absolute majority in the voting but he retained office for a rare third term with the support of the Telugu Desam Party, or TDP, and Janata Dal United, or JDU.  Kashmir Valley exit polls normally favor the oldest regional political party, the National Conference, or NC. In the recent election, however, imprisoned firebrand politician Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as "Engineer Rashid," won a landslide victory.   He defeated Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and vice president of the NC, and Sajad Ghani Lone, a separatist-turned-mainstream politician and founder of the People’s Conference, or PC, by over 200,000 votes.  Rashid was arrested days before the government of India revoked the disputed Himalayan region’s semiautonomous status in August 2019. He was later charged in a terror-funding case and is currently imprisoned in New Delhi’s Tihar jail.   He is also the founder of the Awami Ittehad Party, or AIP.  “My father showed interest after being approached by his party members. He said that he would contest the election from the Baramulla parliamentary constituency if the AIP members thought he was a good fit for the position,” Abrar Rashid, son of Engineer Rashid, told VOA. “AIP had decided to contest the election in October last year,” he added.  AIP started its campaign late after filing the party chief’s nomination papers on April 30. Despite low resources to cover his campaign expenses, the junior Rashid attracted a massive crowd in support of his father.  “Initially, the response was moderate. But soon people, especially youth, began showing great interest in our campaigns. They [youth] spent their own money to support the election campaign. We faced a minor issue, as we couldn’t use our traditional party symbol, a cooking gas cylinder, because our party is not registered with the election commission,” Rashid said, adding that a pressure cooker was chosen as a new symbol, and it became popular among the masses in the region.  Political analysts attribute Engineer Rashid’s landslide victory as an outcome of sympathy and resistance politics.  “It was altogether a sympathy vote where people thought Engineer Rashid would be released soon after being elected as a member of parliament from north Kashmir,” Muzamil Maqbool, a political analyst and host of the podcast “Plain Talk,” told VOA.  “Secondly, people, especially the youth, are sick and tired of the same old dynasty politicking. They didn’t see Omar Abdullah or Sajad Lone as suitable candidates to represent them in the Indian parliament,” Maqbool added.  AIP disagreed, saying Rashid did not win because of sympathy votes but because of the party agenda, which includes the “unconditional release of all prisoners, the preservation of the culture and identity of Jammu and Kashmir, and ensuring full respect for human rights and freedom of expression of the local population.”  “Engineer Rashid has already proven himself as an honest, humble, pro-poor and fearless leader. Despite being imprisoned in Tihar since 4 August 2019 for speaking up for the people of Kashmir he remains calm and committed to his duty,” AIP spokesperson Firdous Baba said. “Engineer Rashid left his office to represent the nation, inventing a style of politics that brought him suffering but gave hope to the people. His arrest was due to his true interpretation of Kashmir, and he has remained steadfast in his position despite the challenges.” Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a Kashmiri political analyst and a prominent scholar of human rights and international law, also believes that sympathy worked for AIP and its founder.  “I would say sympathy, as well as his continued identification with resistance politics, played a crucial part in his victory,” Hussain said. “People had a third option — a former chief minister, a proxy candidate and a person in jail,” he said, referring to Lone, who was covertly supported by Modi’s BJP, without mentioning his name.  Rashid’s charisma was not confined to the north, as people from south and central Kashmir voluntarily campaigned for him — igniting the flame that led to his victory.  “Engineer Rashid is the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and I felt the need to support him,” Mudasir Thoker, a resident of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, told VOA. “I traveled from south to north continuously for 18 hours to extend my support. My message was clear that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir will support a leader who understands the struggles of the local population.”  Kashmir is a disputed territory between India and Pakistan. The two nuclear-armed South Asian neighboring countries control different parts of the Himalayan territory since their independence from British rule in 1947. A small portion is also under Chinese control.

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