(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump announced Friday that the U.S. and Venezuela have reached a "historic" oil deal that he said would give the U.S. a majority control of billions of barrels of oil reserves in the Caribbean country and lower gas prices for Americans.

In a social media post, Trump called it "THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY" and said it would provide majority U.S. control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Venezuela.

The president claimed that the deal will serve to "substantially lower" gas prices for Americans "long into the future."

The announcement comes as oil and gas prices continue to surge amid the Iran war, which reached the six-month mark on Friday.

"At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer," Trump said in the post.

A U.S. official with knowledge of the deal told ABC News that the U.S. will have a 55% share in a joint venture with a private Venezuelan company, which will be split between equity ownership and production.

This creates the "second-largest private oil company by reserves in the world," the official added.

The interim Venezuelan president granted the private company a 100-year lease for oil fields totaling 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, the official said.

In a statement in English posted on social media, Rodriguez hailed the agreement with the U.S. and said it would "have a significant impact on our nation's revival."

The U.S. official said the supply of at-cost oil produced from this company will help fill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and also benefit the U.S. military.

The deal was negotiated by the Defense Department and State Department, according to the official.

Venezuela has been beset by economic crises for years and suffered two powerful back-to-back earthquakes in June that left more than 6,000 people dead.

Rodriguez thanked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and said the agreement represents a "historic milestone" in relations between the two countries.

"The agreement will allow for a significant increase in oil production with the participation of private operators," Rodriguez said in the statement, saying the deal calls for the development of 17 strategic fields, with a proven potential of 65 billion barrels of oil, and an investment of more than $100 billion, and more than $209 billion in tax revenue.

"Venezuela is thus ushering in a new era of recovery, growth, production, security, and prosperity for our people," she said in the post.

Venezuela is recognized as holding the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

Chevron, the only U.S. oil company currently operating in Venezuela, declined to comment on the president's post.

Trump also said the deal would "greatly strengthen" the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela.

In January, the U.S. carried out a military operation in Venezuela to capture then-President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and bring them to the U.S. to face charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

Maduro and his wife, who have pleaded not guilty, are set to go on trial in New York City, in 2027.

In a social media post, Rubio called the deal a "huge win" for both the U.S. and Venezuela.

"It demonstrates how President Trump's bold foreign policy is driving America First wins: securing stable reserves and low-cost oil in our Hemisphere and lowering gas prices here at home," Rubio said in the post. "For the Venezuelan people, this deal will bring nearly $100 billion in private investment, support thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive the reconstruction of Venezuela's economy."

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LONDON -- The death toll continues to climb days after massive flash flooding obliterated parts of the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, with at least 682 bodies recovered across the region and over 3,000 people missing, authorities said Saturday.

As search and rescue efforts continued in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said at least 7,514 people had been rescued, including 227 foreign nationals, according to the  Nepal National Disaster Management Authority.

At least 219 injured people have received treatment or have been discharged as of Saturday, according to the disaster management authority.

In Nepal, 675 people have been reported dead and 2,498 others remain missing, according to the Nepal National Disaster Management Authority.

In the Chinese region of Tibet, seven people have been reported dead and 554 others have been reported missing, according to China state news agency Xinhua.

Among the missing are 90 Americans as of Friday, according to a State Department spokesperson. The department confirmed Friday that five Americans had been evacuated, up from three on Thursday.

The number of people considered missing has fluctuated significantly as recovery efforts have accelerated.

The flooding, captured in dramatic video footage, occurred in the northern Rasuwa district along the border with Tibet at around 8:40 a.m. local time Wednesday, authorities said. The flooding inundated areas along the Trishuli River, burying some buildings and damaging bridges and roadways.

The deadly wall of water that descended from the mountains on the border between Nepal and Tibet caused destruction at least 62 miles downriver from the border in Nepal, an ABC News analysis of verified video and satellite images shows.

The flood was reportedly triggered by a landslide about 12 miles northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border post along the Nepal-China frontier, according to Nepal Disaster Management.

A 5.2-magnitude landslide was registered in Nepal on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The seismic activity from the landslide was initially erroneously reported as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake, the agency said. It is unclear what triggered the landslide.

A geophysicist at Columbia University in New York told ABC News it appeared a landslide in the Himalayas took away a large glacier, or parts of one, in the mountain pass.

The initial location of the glacier was a cliff about 16,000 feet high. The debris avalanche, or landslide, slid down 6,000 feet on the slope, the USGS said.

While it will take time to determine how severe the landslide was, the USGS estimated that more than 100 million cubic meters of ice, rock and debris were displaced in the event, Ben Mirus, a research geologist with the agency, said Thursday.

Siddarth Venkatachalam, 30, told ABC News he had spoken to his mother just two or three hours before she went missing in the floods, as it was her birthday. Venkatachalam's mother was on a trip with his father and aunt, who are also among the Americans missing in Nepal.

"They were like excited for this trip," Venkatachalam said, visibly in shock. "It was like a spiritual, religious like trek they'd been looking forward to and preparing for."

The family said the three were located with Life360 on a bridge on the Tibetan border just before the flood.

In a statement, Nepal's Office of the Prime Minister expressed "deep sorrow" over the loss of life.

"Offering heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in this natural disaster, it extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and relatives," the statement shared on social media said.

Meanwhile, the Nepali government on Thursday established an "Emergency Control Room ... to facilitate search, rescue, information verification and consular assistance in respect of foreign nationals affected by, missing in, or otherwise connected to the flood incident," according to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

U.S. President Donald Trump was asked about the Americans currently impacted by the deadly Nepal floods in the Oval Office Thursday. He called the disaster a "terrible thing" and said the U.S. is in active communication with Nepal's leadership and has offered to provide as much aid as necessary.

"That's a terrible thing. No, we are sending aid, and we've spoken to the leadership, and we let them know anything they want will happen," Trump said.

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LONDON -- At least 358 people have been confirmed killed in the massive flash flooding that ravaged the Nepal-Tibet border region on Wednesday, emergency authorities in Nepal and China said. More than 1,300 people remained missing as of Thursday morning, authorities said.

As search and rescue efforts continued in Nepal on Thursday, police there said that at least 358 bodies had been recovered.

At least 826 people -- among them 579 tourists, of whom 476 are foreign nationals and 114 Nepali nationals -- were still out of contact as of Thursday morning, the Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said.

Across the border in the Chinese region of Tibet, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday that three people were confirmed killed with 558 others still missing, citing local officials.

The number of those considered missing fluctuated significantly as recovery efforts accelerated. The Nepal Tourism Board said that 63 Americans were among the missing.

The board said on Thursday that two Americans were among a group of 27 foreign tourists rescued from the Timure and Bhotekoshi area of Rasuwa.

The flooding, captured in dramatic video footage, occurred in the northern Rasuwa district, along the border with Tibet, at around 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, authorities said, inundating areas along the Trishuli River, burying some buildings and damaging bridges and roadways.

In a statement, Nepal's office of the prime minister expressed "deep sorrow" over the loss of life. "Offering heartfelt tribute to all those who lost their lives in this natural disaster, it extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and relatives," the statement shared on social media said.

The prime minister's office later said search and rescue operations carried out by the Nepali Army would continue through the night.

The State Department said the number of Americans among the missing and otherwise impacted by the floods fluctuated throughout the day on Wednesday.

"The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster," a department spokesperson said in a statement issued later Wednesday.

The spokesperson said the State Department is "closely monitoring the situation and is deploying a disaster response advisor to the region to support response efforts. The Department will also provide $500,000 in assistance through its global award with Catholic Relief Services, supporting emergency shelter, relief items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance to flood-affected communities."

An Indian spiritual leader and entrepreneur, known as Sadhguru, said in a post to social media that 77 people who were on tours organized by his Isha Foundation were at an immigration center at the Nepal-Tibet border when the floodwaters hit.

The Isha Foundation confirmed to ABC News that 22 of those 77 people were Americans. The organization, which is headquartered in India, also has a base in McMinnville, Tennessee. The group's coordinator told ABC News the organization has been in touch with family members in the U.S.

Three missing Americans were listed as traveling with a Nepali company called Fishtail Tours and Travel. The agency confirmed to ABC News that three American nationals are among the missing tourists traveling with them.

The flood was reportedly triggered by a landslide about 12 miles northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border post along the Nepal-China frontier, according to Nepal Disaster Management.

A 5.2-magnitude landslide was registered in Nepal on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The seismic activity from the landslide was initially erroneously reported as a 4.4-magnitude earthquake, the agency said. It is unclear what triggered the landslide.

A geophysicist at New York's Columbia University told ABC News it appeared a landslide in the Himalayas took away a large glacier, or parts of one, in the mountain pass.

ABC News' Desiree Adib, Somayeh Malekian, Charlotte Gardiner, Shannon Kingston, Joseph Simonetti, Dada Jovanovic, Meghan Mistry and Othon Leyva contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Canada on Tuesday announced retaliatory tariffs as high as 50% on hundreds of United States products, including some steel and aluminum goods, furniture and clothing, a senior Canadian government official told ABC News.

The levies, which take effect on Sept. 8, are set to escalate a trade war that erupted over the weekend after official negotiations collapsed.

Canada will target billions worth of U.S. goods, the senior official said.

The tariffs will match many products included in U.S. levies, among them paper and dairy, the senior official added.

The move comes after President Donald Trump on Monday said in a social media post that he will ratchet up tariffs on Canada-made cars and auto parts in January.

Negotiations between Canada and the U.S. broke down over the weekend and a fresh round of 50% U.S. tariffs on some Canadian goods took effect on Saturday, prompting a vow from Canada to retaliate with a set of its own levies.

The latest announcement from Trump promised to double tariffs from 25% to 50% on Canadian cars and auto parts starting on Jan. 1, 2027. The elevated levy will also apply to steel and trucks, according to the president.

"On Trade, and in other ways, also, they are among the worst Nations in the World to deal with," Trump said his social media platform on Monday. "They feel entitled, and yet, WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!"

Trump did not provide a reason for his choice to delay the tariffs until January.

In the first half of 2026, the U.S. exported $175.8 billion in goods to Canada -- the second biggest export trading partner after Mexico -- accounting for 14% of all U.S. exports, according to the Census Bureau.

The sharp criticism arrived days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued blistering remarks about the U.S. approach to trade negotiations. He said talks broke down after American negotiators made requests that were unfavorable to Canada.

"They asked too much and offered too little," Carney said at a Saturday press conference.

According to Carney, the 50% tariff would be applied to roughly $28 billion of Canadian goods and that Canada would match the U.S. "dollar for dollar."

Carney noted that one of the sticking points was changes by the U.S. over its levels of tariffs on automobiles that he claimed would have hurt Canada's economy over time.

He criticized the Trump administration, saying it "uses economic integration as a weapon."

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(WASHINGTON) -- CIA Director John Ratcliffe is in Moscow, Russia, for meetings, according to multiple officials familiar with the meetings.

A Boeing C-17A Globemaster III was seen at the Moscow airport. 

The CIA, Department of Defense and the Air Force declined to comment.

Tracking data published by the Flightradar24 website showed that a U.S. military Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, flight number RCH4555, departed from the Latvian capital Riga on Tuesday morning.

The flight landed at Vnukovo International Airport, which is one of the Russian capital’s four international airports, located to the southwest of the city.

Flightradar24 data showed that the flight originated from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, a major East Coast Air Force base known for hosting Air Force One.

The C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft, which the U.S. Air Force website says can be used for strategic and tactical airlift and airdrop missions, as well as aeromedical evacuations.

ABC News’ Patrick Reevell contributed to this report.

This is a developing story.

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LONDON -- A "massive" Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Wednesday night killed at least 15 people and injured more than 40 others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post to social media on Thursday.

"Throughout the night, our emergency services have been working at the sites of Russian strikes," Zelenskyy wrote. "The attack was massive -- the Russians prepared for a long time and combined different types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to inflict as much damage as possible on civilian infrastructure."

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched an unspecified number of ballistic missiles into the country overnight as well as 46 cruise or air-to-ground missiles of various types. Russia also launched 168 drones, the air force said.

"The main direction of the attack was the Kyiv region," the air force wrote in a post to Telegram. It added that 41 cruise missiles of various types and 145 drones were shot down or otherwise suppressed, with munitions reported impacting across 28 locations.

The air force did not say whether any ballistic missiles were shot down. Earlier this month, the air force stopped publishing the number of ballistic missiles fired or intercepted in Russia's nightly barrages.

Around the capital, Zelenskyy said that residential buildings, a children's hospital and school were among the sites damaged. The president also reported overnight Russian attacks in the southern Odesa and northern Chernihiv regions.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in posts to Telegram that damage was reported in the Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi and Darnitskyi areas of the city, including fires at warehouses and residential buildings.

Recent months have seen an expansion of Russian missile attacks all across Ukraine, as officials in Kyiv warn that Ukrainian stocks of anti-missile interceptor munitions are dangerously low and, in some cases, exhausted.

Ukraine is working on its own ballistic missile interceptor program -- the FREYJA -- but officials in Kyiv have said they do not expect the weapon to be operational until 2027.

Zelenskyy on Thursday again appealed to foreign partners to route more ammunition to Kyiv. "Unfortunately, while Moscow is investing in ballistics and escalation, there isn't always the necessary response from the world to such attacks," he wrote.

"As long as Ukraine lacks sufficient anti-ballistic defenses, Russia will not seriously consider peace. We are doing everything we can to ensure protection, and work on the FREYJA program continues every day. However, interceptors for 'Patriot' systems are not yet available, and they are needed every day," Zelenskyy wrote.

In a later post, the Ukrainian leader said that the country's defense against ballistic missiles is "entirely dependent on the supply of missiles for 'Patriot' systems to Ukraine, and therefore, it depends on our partners."

"We cannot simply stand by idly and watch as the Russians destroy lives with ballistic missiles. Ukrainian soldiers can operate effectively when the courage and professionalism of our people are supported by the appropriate assistance from our partners," Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported a "horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv," in a post to X. "This was one of the most brutal Russian attacks to date, with ballistic missiles raining down on our capital one after another," he wrote.

Russia's Defense Ministry described the overnight attack as having targeted "military industrial enterprises, a transport and logistics hub and warehouses in Kyiv and the Kyiv region."

The Defense Ministry also said that it shot down at least 726 Ukrainian drones over 18 Russian regions plus Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. At least 28 drones were shot down over the Moscow region, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Telegram.

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(NEW YORK) -- President Donald Trump said he is pausing for three days the new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods that were set to go into effect early Wednesday, citing a deal between the U.S. and Canada.

"I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period, based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL," Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday night.

The new tariffs, targeting dozens of products from hockey sticks to wine, were set to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

Trump confirmed Wednesday that he had a "very good conversation" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday night, repeating that he'd struck a deal to avert a 50% American tariff on a hodgepodge of Canadian goods for now.

"Yeah, we had a very good conversation with the Prime Minister last night, and we've come to a deal with Canada. As you know, the 50% tariffs across the board were going on against Canada today," Trump said Wednesday.

The president claimed that as part of the Canadian deal, Canadian tariffs on American agricultural goods would be "non-existent."

"The tariffs will be non-existent for our farmers. Our farmers were paying tremendous tariffs into Canada. And those tariffs are going to be totally eviscerated down to zero," Trump noted.

Canada's latest statement on the matter reflects that while "substantial progress" has been made, important work remains.

"As this work is ongoing, the United States has agreed to postpone the implementation of its 50% tariff on a range of Canadian goods under Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930 until end of day, August 21," Carney said in a statement.

The U.S. Trade Representative's official account on X responded to Trump's announcement Tuesday, providing a bit of insight into what a final deal might entail. 
"The deal will include comprehensive market access for all American goods, economic security commitments, digital trade alignment, and many important provisions that will continue to protect our market and American workers, along with our Canadian partners," the USTR posted.

Trump had suggested the deal might include a renewed effort to build the Keystone Pipeline, despite the project being canceled in 2021 after years of criticism about the project's environmental impact.

"Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!" Trump added in the post.  

Due to exemptions on key goods, the tariffs were expected to hit only a fraction of U.S. imports from Canada.

Still, the list of affected goods features an array of food items such as dairy products, honey, whey protein and molasses; as well as alcoholic beverages like whiskey and vodka.

It all comes weeks after Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on 60 trade partners, including the European Union. Those levies ramped up an effort to reconstruct far-reaching duties struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Unlike previous tariffs, the new Canada tariffs would have applied to products compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, a free trade agreement. The levies included significant exemptions, however, leaving out some top Canadian imports such as oil, gas and potash.

Trump first announced the tariffs in a series of executive orders last month, saying the move had been made in retaliation for Canadian policies he considers discriminatory against U.S. exports.

"President Trump is offsetting the burden and disadvantage on U.S. commerce from Canada's discriminatory treatment of U.S. commerce and is leveling the playing field for crucial American exports--cars, alcohol, and dairy," the White House said at the time.

In a statement last month, Carney criticized a flurry of U.S. tariffs put forward since last year, saying Canada has "merely matched those measures."

"This trade dispute has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S. Canada stands ready to engage intensively to address outstanding issues with the U.S. to the mutual benefit of our citizens," Carney said.

Trump has carried out on-again, off-again trade negotiations with Canada since he took office, aiming to resolve a dispute that began with tariffs announced by Trump early in his second term.

Trump sought to impose the tariffs under a legal authority enshrined in section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows the president to enact levies up to 50% for countries found to have discriminated against the U.S. relative to their treatment of other nations.

The provision has never been invoked before, meaning the move lacks judicial precedent, Abigail Watt, an economist at UBS, said in a memo shared with ABC News.

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(LONDON) -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that ongoing joint military drills with U.S. forces would end early, following President Donald Trump's announcement Sunday that he had ordered the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" the exercises.

The annual U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield began Monday. On Wednesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that, in response to a U.S. proposal, "the allies agreed to adjust parts of the exercise, including its duration and scale."

The drills will now end Aug. 21, six days earlier than originally planned. The two sides also agreed to scale back some combined field training exercises, the details of which are still under discussion, the JCS said.

"Going forward, South Korea and the United States will discuss and implement various measures to achieve the objectives of the UFS exercise and maintain a strong combined defense posture," the statement added.

A Pentagon official told ABC News that the exercise had been "substantially reduced" on "direction from the president and secretary of war."

"The exercise will conclude on Aug. 21, one week earlier than scheduled. Associated live-training events have been reduced, with certain events canceled or converted to simulations," the official said. "These adjustments preserve essential readiness and training objectives. There will be no degradation to U.S. training objectives."

Trump ordered the drills scaled back, citing his "very good" relationship with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang routinely protests joint U.S.-South Korean exercises, framing their military cooperation as undermining stability on the Korean Peninsula.

This week, Pyongyang described Ulchi Freedom Shield as an "open threat" to North Korea.

On Sunday, Trump criticized the annual military exercise as "inappropriate and hostile" toward North Korea, a country he said has been "unthreatening and respectful" toward the United States during his presidency.

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote on his social media platform.

"Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!" he said.

South Korea is a longtime U.S. ally and hosts roughly 28,500 U.S. troops. The U.S. presence on the peninsula has traditionally been intended to prevent a resumption of cross-border hostilities, with the Korean War of 1950-53 having never officially ended.

In 2006, North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon and has since been expanding its atomic weapons stockpile -- despite international condemnation and sanctions led by successive U.S. administrations -- alongside a ballistic missile research program which has produced munitions capable of reaching the continental U.S.

In recent decades, the U.S. presence in South Korea has also become an important point of leverage in the strategic contest between Washington and Beijing, the latter having long served as Pyongyang's prime patron.

ABC News' Joohee Cho, Desiree Adib, Will Gretsky and Steve Beynon contributed to this report. 

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he had directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially reduce" joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, citing his "very good" relationship with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea," Trump wrote on his social media platform. 

"Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!" he said. 

Trump said the exercises send "inappropriate and hostile" signals to North Korea, a country he says has been "unthreatening and respectful" towards America during his presidency. 

The annual U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield began on Monday. An official from the South Korean Ministry of Defense told ABC News that the military exercise now underway "will be carried on as planned."

South Korea is a longtime U.S. ally and hosts roughly 28,500 American troops. The U.S. presence on the peninsula has traditionally been intended to prevent a resumption of cross-border hostilities, with the Korean War of 1950-1953 having never officially ended.

In 2006, North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon and has since been expanding its atomic weapons stockpile -- despite international condemnation and sanctions led by successive U.S. administrations -- alongside a ballistic missile research program which has produced munitions capable of reaching the continental U.S.

In recent decades, the U.S. presence in South Korea has also become an important point of leverage in the strategic contest between Washington and Beijing, the latter having long served as Pyongyang's prime patron.

Trump's announcement came after North Korea on Friday threatened a strong response against the U.S. and South Korea in response to the planned drills.

In his post to social media, Trump also cited South Korea's refusal to join the U.S. military effort against -- and "denuclearization" of -- Iran, though said the issue was "somewhat unrelated (?)" to his decision to scale back the U.S.-South Korean drills.

In response to Trump's statement, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told ABC News it hoped the "friendly relationship between the leaders of the United States and North Korea will lead to meaningful dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang and pave the way for discussions aimed at advancing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

"The South Korean government has actively participated from the outset in international discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire in Iran and restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," the ministry added.

Trump has long lauded his relationship with Kim, though the president's first term began with an extended period of tensions that saw Trump repeatedly refer to Kim as "little rocket man" and threaten Pyongyang with "fire and fury."

But the discord gave way to a detente that saw Trump and Kim meet in person three times in 2018 and 2019 -- first in Singapore, then in Vietnam and later in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

But despite seemingly improved ties and the in-person meetings, Trump failed to achieve his stated goal of North Korean denuclearization.

Since talks with Trump broke down in 2019, Pyongyang has maintained a steady rhythm of ballistic missile tests. Earlier this month and with the U.S.-South Korea military drills approaching, North Korea conducted two ballistic missile launches in quick succession.

Recent years have also seen North Korea pull closer to both Russia and Iran, putting Pyongyang in opposition to the U.S. and its allies in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow-Pyongyang ties have reached an "unprecedented level of comprehensive strategic partnership."

ABC News' Joohee Cho and Hakyung Kate Lee contributed to this report.

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(LONDON) -- At least 224 people are dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, Colombia’s Public Ministry said.

The country's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a national disaster, with destruction reported in multiple cities.

The earthquake's epicenter was 5 kilometers, or about 3 miles, east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Along with the 224 dead, at least 572 others have been injured, officials said.

Alejandro Eder, the Mayor of Cali, said in a social media post on Tuesday morning that of the people killed in the earthquake, 95 perished in Cali, the second-largest city in Colombia with more than 2.2 million residents.

Eder said at least 86 people have been rescued in Cali so far. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 239 people are believed to be trapped in rubble and 949 people injured in the city, according to Eder. Additionally, 93 structures have been damaged and another 45 have partially or wholly collapsed, he said.

"Today more than ever, we need to be united and help each other," Eder said in the post.

The U.S. State Department said in a post on X that the Trump administration is committing $15.5 million for the Colombia earthquake response that will go towards emergency shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments.

Some of the hardest-hit regions include the cities of Pereira and Cali. Dozens of people have been reported dead in their respective departments.

De La Espriella, who was just sworn in as president on Friday, said more than 1,600 homes across the country collapsed in the earthquake. He said dozens of health centers, community centers and roads were also damaged.

A rescue effort was ongoing in a building where people are believed to be trapped, according to officials. A hospital in Cali experienced severe damage, with one of the wings partially collapsing, and patients were being relocated, the local governor said.

Eder announced a curfew from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday to "ensure safety in the city and to provide sufficient space and conditions for rescue workers to continue their efforts."

The governor of Chuco said there were injuries and "severe damage" to buildings in the department's capital city of Quibdo.

Seven airports have suspended service in the cities of Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdo, Buenaventura and Cartago.

There have not been any reports of collapsed buildings in the capital of Bogota, officials said.

The earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Survey. It was widely felt throughout Colombia and in neighboring countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, it said.

The Colombian president said in a video on social media that he was headed to Bogota to "focus on addressing the emergency facing our country" and has convened a unified command post to respond to the affected areas, including what's known as the Coffee-Growers' Axis.

The Trump administration is "closely monitoring" the earthquake and stands "ready" to support the people of Colombia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.   

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(LONDON) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that at least 17 people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region in a massive overnight Russian missile and drone strike, with Ukraine's air force failing to intercept any missiles amid a shortage of air defense munitions.

Ukraine's air force said in a post to Telegram that Russia launched 115 drones and 28 missiles -- 24 ballistic missiles and four anti-ship missiles -- into the country overnight, of which 98 drones were intercepted.

None of the missiles were shot down, the air force said citing "preliminary data," reporting missile and drone impacts across 26 locations.

Zelenskyy said in a post to Telegram that the "massive" and "devastating" attack killed at least 17 people. At least another 44 people were injured in the attack, Zelenskyy added.

"The main targets of the attack were storage facilities belonging to civilian enterprises, but there were also strikes on infrastructure and a railway station," Zelenskyy said. "The targets included entities unrelated to the war: a brewery, warehouses for building materials and civilian logistics facilities."

"Ballistic missile interceptors -- these are what could have saved the lives of those who died today," Zelenskyy wrote. "It is crucial that our partners understand that delays in their supply or a reluctance to provide anti-ballistic systems leads to precisely these horrific casualties and destruction."

"A significant portion of Russian ballistic missile production is not currently under sanctions. This needs to change. New steps are needed from the G7, from the EU, from everyone who supports the protection of life," Zelenskyy wrote.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement posted to Telegram that its "massive strike" targeted what it said were "transport, logistics and distribution centers in the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region."

The ministry said that storage and distribution facilities for drone components and electronic warfare systems were among the targets struck, as were three cargo ships.

The ministry also said that Russian forces shot down at least 475 Ukrainian drones overnight into Wednesday morning.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump on Friday reversed course on his offer earlier this month to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense systems, saying during a Cabinet meeting that "we have not agreed to that."

"We have to be very careful about letting somebody build them," Trump said as he gathered his top officials at Camp David. "You have to be very judicious, but you have to be very careful. Now, we have not agreed to that. We're talking about it. But it's a hard thing to give away that kind of technology."

The president's remarks contradict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's readout of their Tuesday meeting at the White House, in which Zelenskyy said Trump agreed to provide the license. Zelenskyy, while in Washington, met with executives at Lockheed Martin, the U.S. defense giant behind the Patriot missiles.

Trump's Friday comments are also a departure from his own public message to Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Turkey in early July.

"We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool, right?" Trump said to the Ukrainian president the time, adding: "This way he can't complain that we're not giving him enough. I said, 'Make them yourself.'"

Zelenskyy has long raised alarm bells about the rapid depletion of U.S. Patriot missiles, which are widely considered to be the most effective tool to counter Russian missiles and drones.

Just as Trump's Cabinet meeting was getting underway, Zelenskyy posted on X that he received a "good phone call" from Vice President JD Vance and reiterated that the Patriot missiles remain a "top priority."

"He'd like to have some Patriots," Trump said of Zelenskyy on Friday. "He'd like to have some Tomahawks, which are, you know, lethal. One offensive, one defensive."

Trump called it a "big step" to provide such a license, and then suggested that Ukraine or any other nation given the sensitive technology could one day turn and use such weapons against the U.S. 

"And I don't think this would ever happen, but, you know, those people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you. You know, that is possible," Trump said. 

"So, we have to be very careful," he added.

Trump said he spoke to Zelenskyy, presumably during his visit to the White House earlier this week, about the weapons systems.

"I also spoke to him about let's get this war over with," Trump said.

Trump said both Ukraine and Russia will have to make concessions in order to end the yearslong war, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

"I said, 'You got to get this war over.' I think he wants to make a deal, and I think Putin wants to make a deal. But there's a lot of dislike, as you probably notice," Trump said. "Well, nobody wants concessions, but they're both going to have to make some concessions. I mean, you got to make a deal." 

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(LONDON ) -- Officials said Friday that they found the remains of famed American mountain climber Sarah Mallory Geis, who was caught in a reported avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan's Karakoram mountain range.

Geis was part of a team of 10 climbers who went missing midday Thursday.

A Pakistani rescue team said in addition to Geis' remains, it also recovered the remains of two other climbers.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump announced Thursday an agreement for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire signed last year.

"This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people," Trump said in a social media post, referencing the newly formed multinational organization established by the U.S. president to oversee the 20-point peace plan in Gaza.

"At the same time, Israel will have the security it deserves, with Gaza no longer used as a base for terror attacks," Trump added.

Few details about the agreement were initially released and there was no immediate official comment from Israel or Hamas on the president's announcement.

In a statement following Trump's announcement, the Board of Peace said Hamas has "agreed to a detailed Roadmap for implementing the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire," calling it the result of a months of negotiations.

"The Roadmap represents a historic breakthrough," the board said. "For the first time, Hamas officially has committed to an actionable plan for relinquishing all its weapons, which will be followed by Israeli withdrawal from Gaza."

In his post, Trump said the agreement marks a "major milestone" in the 20-point plan and noted that it "will be carried out in carefully structured phases."

"As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors," Trump said. "Under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its PEOPLE."

Trump also thanked mediators -- including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey -- for their work on the plan.

Trump's 20-point plan, unveiled last fall, led to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The plan also calls for Hamas -- Gaza's militant rulers -- to surrender its weapons and dismantle its military infrastructure -- including a vast tunnel network -- and relinquish power to a new technocratic Palestinian government in return for an Israeli troop withdrawal, desperately needed humanitarian aid for Gaza's population and an international effort to rebuild the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Earlier this month, Hamas announced it had dissolved its government in the strip to make way for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza as part of phase two of the plan.

The war between Israel and Hamas began after the Hamas-led terror attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. The Israeli military subsequently launched a massive retaliatory campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including over 1,200 killed since the ceasefire, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health. The conflict also led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with the United Nations saying last week the overall situation remains "brutal."

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(NEW YORK) -- More than 1,500 people have died from Ebola as an outbreak continues to spread in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to government figures released on Thursday.

As of Tuesday, at least 3,442 cases and 1,521 deaths had been recorded, with 797 people hospitalized or in isolation, Congo's Ministry of Health said.

Health officials said the contact tracing rate stands at 78.3%, which is below the 90-95% that the World Health Organization says needed to contain the outbreak.

The outbreak was first detected in the DRC's northeastern province of Ituri, with cases officially confirmed by the health ministry on May 15.

It marks the 17th outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the DRC, which is Africa's second-largest country and its fourth-most populous nation. The country had a population of about 105 million as of 2023, according to the WHO.

The majority of cases have been detected in Bunia, the capital of the Ituri province, with cases also recorded in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo, health officials noted.

Aid organizations have said that community mistrust, insecurity due to armed conflict, and gaps in healthcare have hindered response and containment efforts.

Mercy Corps, an aid organization responding to the outbreak, said in a press release this week that teams are finding it "increasingly difficult to reach communities safely, consistently, and early enough."

Onesphore Bangenza, Ebola response team leader in Bunia for Mercy Corps, said that in 10 weeks, there have been about as many cases recorded as there were during the 2018-2020 outbreak, which is "alarming and should stop us in our tracks."

"There is no doubt that the virus is moving faster than we can contain it," Bangenza said in a statement. "We have seen a real improvement in people's understanding of Ebola over the past month, but those gains are fragile. When basic healthcare is unavailable, insecurity interrupts humanitarian assistance, or essential prevention infrastructure."

A doctor working on the Ebola response in the DRC told ABC News on Thursday that basic supplies for safe and dignified burials are running short in some areas. He asked to remain anonymous.

"People are crying because they don't even have the materials needed to bury the bodies," the doctor said.

Additionally, there aren't enough people to perform the contact tracing needed to get the outbreak under control, according to the doctor.

"You cannot investigate, you cannot do contact tracing with so few epidemiologists. Two epidemiologists per hospital is the minimum, but it is nowhere near enough to respond to an outbreak of this scale," he said. "The response needs more than money. It needs people, equipment and community engagement. All the partners need to work together."

Meanwhile, in neighboring Uganda, health officials declared the Ebola outbreak over earlier this week. The majority of the 20 cases reported in Uganda were travel-related, according to the country's health ministry.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, wrote in a post on X on Thursday that he was joining Uganda's Minister of Health for a media briefing following the declaration of the end of the Ebola outbreak.

"This milestone reflects the commitment and dedication of health workers, communities, national authorities and partners who worked tirelessly to detect, contain and overcome this outbreak," he wrote. "I commend the leadership of Uganda and all those who contributed to this response, including the teams from Africa CDC, WHO and partners who supported efforts on the ground."

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(TOKYO and LONDON) -- A powerful earthquake rocked southern Japan on Tuesday, damaging buildings, causing injuries and prompting warnings from officials, according to local authorities and broadcasts.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured at a magnitude of 6.8 after initially reporting a preliminary magnitude of 7.1.

It struck Kyushu Island, in the Kumamoto Prefecture, shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, where a large shopping mall has been damaged.

The shopping mall was evacuated when the quake struck, Japan's NHK News reported, adding that there appeared to have been an explosion in the earthquake's aftermath and that injuries were reported in the area.

Twenty to 30 mall employees have not yet been reached, and rescue operations are continuing, according to police.

Aerials taken above the shopping mall appeared to show that several walls, as well as the roof, partially collapsed. NHK reported that the fire department said the building's second floor collapsed.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said many people could be trapped inside the mall, NHK reported.

The quake struck about 6 miles beneath the island, which is the southernmost of the main Japanese islands, according to local and U.S. weather officials.

The quake prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue and later lift a tsunami advisory for the coasts of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsushiro Sea.

The agency warned that further quakes may strike the area in the coming days, with an official saying, "As the place where the latest earthquake occurred is shallow, this shows that many earthquakes have occurred."

“We have already confirmed extensive damage, including casualties, collapsed buildings, damaged roads and fires," Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said during a task force emergency response meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The rumbling on Tuesday afternoon lasted for about a minute, according to Japan's NHK News, which broadcast images of apparent smoke or fire nearby.

The prefecture's airport, Kumamoto Airport, in Mashiki, suspended all flights shortly after the quake, according to a notice posted on its website.

A task force for emergency disaster response was created Tuesday, headed by Takaichi, she said. Self-defense forces with approximately 3,600 personnel began operations in affected areas, according to the prime minister.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said in an emergency update that it had not recorded "abnormalities" at nearby facilities in Ikata, Genkai and Satsumasendai City.

Several thousand homes were without power following the quake, NHK reported.

Officials urged people to stay away from the ocean and the seashore. They also warned residents to watch for possible landslides.

Takaichi said strong shaking could be felt in both city of Uki and the town of Hikawa. She warned of potential tsunamis of about a meter, or just over 3 feet, near the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas.

“To those in areas that experienced strong shaking, the risk of building collapses and landslides remains high," Takaichi said. "Please avoid entering dangerous areas and take all precautions to ensure your safety."

The prime minister urged residents to remain alert for possible earthquakes over the next week or so, which she said could reach a seismic intensity of 7.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

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(LONDON) -- The man suspected of allegedly driving a vehicle into a crowd during Berlin's LGBTQ+ celebrations on Saturday, killing one person and injuring several others, has been killed, police said.

"Around 6 p.m., the suspect in yesterday’s attack in the Großer Tiergarten was located in an allotment garden complex in Spandau," according to a statement from Berlin police.

"According to current information, he reportedly ran toward our officers with a stabbing weapon, prompting our SEK Berlin unit to open fire," the statement continued. "Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by the Berlin Fire Department, he died at the scene."

Berlin police earlier Sunday released a photo of the man, whom they identified as Abdul B., using only an initial for his surname, as is common under German privacy law.

"Abdul B. is alleged to have injured several people with a moving vehicle in the Tiergarten area at approximately 10 p.m.," according to a joint statement released by the Berlin Police and Public Prosecutor's Office.

"Everything we are seeing here indicates that this was an Islamist terrorist attack," German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said at a press conference Sunday.

Dobrindt also updated the number of injured from 17 to 29, "including several who sustained serious injuries."

The suspect rammed into the crowd with a vehicle, Dobrindt said, after which "he then attacked other pedestrians with a bladed weapon, believed to have been a machete, seriously injuring them."

Dobrindt confirmed earlier police reports that the suspect, whom he described as a "German citizen of Lebanese descent who was born in Germany," had "an extensive criminal record, showed signs of radicalization, and was associated with the radical Islamist scene."

"He was previously sentenced in Berlin to one year and ten months in prison. The sentence was commuted to parole, and prosecutors appealed the decision," Dobrindt said. He did not provide details about why the suspect was sentenced to prison.

"The search for the suspect is currently the top priority," according to Dobrindt.

Details about potential motives for the attack were not immediately released.

Hundreds of thousands of people had come to Berlin to celebrate Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, according to the city.

The two-day event was scheduled on Saturday to include a parade, which was to begin in Mitte, in central Berlin, wind its way south into Schöneberg, then turn back northward toward Brandenburg Gate.

The vehicle crashed into the crowd in Tiergarten Park, according to law enforcement, an area along a footpath within the park and near to the parade's end.

"One or more people are believed to have subsequently fled the vehicle," police initially said. "Furthermore, several people are reported to have been injured with stabbing weapons."

Several of those who were injured had life-threatening injuries, the Berlin Police told ABC News.

The suspect was described by police as having a "slim build." They said he was about 1.9 meters tall, or about 6 feet, 3 inches, with black hair. He was wearing a black hoodie and white pants, police said.

"If you encounter this person, under no circumstances should you approach them or have any direct contact with them," police said. "They may be armed and dangerous! Immediately contact the police emergency number 110."

The police on Saturday called off the rest of the celebrations for the night after the incident at the park.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday described the vehicle crash as a "heinous act," adding that "people from all over the world were peacefully celebrating" during Christopher Street Day.

"They wanted us to treat each other with kindness and tolerance," he said on social media. "This is an attack on our society."

ABC News' Rashid Haddou, Felix Franz, Jamie Dorrington and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia to partner on developing the Kingdom's civil nuclear energy program, according to two U.S. officials.

The deal leaves open the possibility that Saudi Arabia will enrich uranium domestically in the future, the officials said, a prospect that could raise concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation.

In the deal, the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to safeguards to inhibit any weaponization effort, the sources said. But that framework would be governed by the two countries themselves, instead of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conventionally oversees nuclear pacts.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the agreement on Wednesday. He declined to comment on the contours of the plan but said that the Trump administration would work with Congress to formalize the deal.

“Suffice it to say, the U.S. is not going to reach any agreement with any country in the world that leads to the risk of proliferation,” Rubio said.

The agreement, under which U.S. industry would help develop Iranian nuclear infrastructure, spans 30 years and is valued at tens of billions of dollars, the officials said.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia discussed details of the proposal during a visit to Washington, D.C. by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last fall. The administration is expected to submit the deal to Congress, which is required by federal law.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that the president had approved the deal. 

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(ATHENS, Greece) -- Two Greek-American tourists were rushed to the hospital Tuesday morning after they were stabbed outside the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:05 a.m., just after the Acropolis Museum’s opening, police said.

Prior to the incident, an individual brandishing a knife outside the museum’s entrance was threatening pedestrians, prompting a bystander to place an emergency call to authorities, according to eyewitnesses and authorities.

Before law enforcement arrived, the assailant stabbed a couple, a 53-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman. The male victim suffered severe blood loss, police said.

The male victim’s injuries required urgent care due to blood loss, but both victims are reported to be in stable condition. The female victim suffered minor injuries to her hands and legs.

Police have taken a 60-year-old suspect into custody.

The rapid-response unit within the Hellenic Police and the Athens Police Directorate immobilized and disarmed the suspect, detaining the individual on the scene.

This is a story in development.

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(LONDON) -- Andy Burnham officially became British prime minister on Monday -- the country's seventh leader in 10 years -- having already been elected as the leader of the country's Labour Party last week.

Burnham, who until recently was serving as the mayor of Greater Manchester, succeeded outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Speaking outside the prime minister's official residence -- 10 Downing Street -- on Monday morning, Starmer said, "Today I am here to offer my resignation and close the book on my time as prime minister. My work is done."

"I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve. I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved. Thank you very much," Starmer added.

Of his successor, the outgoing prime minister said, "I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support."

After his address, Starmer traveled the short distance to Buckingham Palace to formally inform King Charles III of his resignation. Burnham then also traveled to palace where the king asked him to form a government.

The new prime minister then traveled to Downing Street to give his first address, telling the assembled press that Britain must show "that we can regain our stability."

Burnham said his appointment will serve as "a circuit-breaker" for the country, pledging to deliver a new political and economic model and a 10-year plan.

Among the new prime's commitments were to address cost of living concerns, help young people into work, end homelessness, re-industrialize the country, put "life's essentials back under public control" and push for more local powers.

Through the rest of Monday, Burnham is expected to begin appointing cabinet ministers from Number 10.

Starmer announced that he would step down in June, following months of domestic political turmoil. Despite leading Labour to a historic majority in parliament in the 2024 general election, Starmer faced persistent external and internal criticism over his perceived failure to deliver rapid change after 14 years of Conservative Party rule in Britain.

Many in Starmer's party had written to the prime minister asking him to step down following local elections in May, which saw the party lose more than 1,000 seats on local councils, results that were widely interpreted as a repudiation by British voters of Labour's performance under the prime minister's leadership.

Starmer long said he intended to see out his full five-year. Announcing his resignation in June, Starmer said, "The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace."

Burnham was the only candidate in the subsequent leadership election, ultimately winning nominations from 379 of the 403 Labour members of parliament -- of the 650 MPs in total -- in the House of Commons.

In accepting the leadership of Labour last week, Burnham said his mission was "to bring back hope" and address decades of economic inequality plus falling living standards.

"We must recognize that this generation of politicians -- myself included -- have failed to challenge a political culture and an economic model that simply doesn't work well enough for ordinary people," he said.

Burnham will become the seventh leader to take the reins of the country in 10 years, a reflection of the political and economic turbulence that has beset the country since the Brexit vote in 2016.

The incoming prime minister said he would also make British politics "less toxic, adding, "I will work to build a new politics. The country is crying out for it."

Burnham, 56, was born in the Lancashire region of northern England. Burnham started out as a journalist, writing for trade magazines, before transitioning to work as a Labour parliamentary researcher while in his early 20s.

Burnham rose through the party ranks before being elected as the MP for his hometown of Leigh, in Greater Manchester, in 2001. He held that seat for 16 years, during which time he was appointed to several cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

During Labour's years in opposition, Burnham bid to become Labour leader twice, but was defeated by -- and then served in shadow cabinets of -- Labour leaders Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.

In 2017, Burnham left parliament to become the mayor of Greater Manchester. In his victory speech, Burnham heralded what he called "the dawn of a new era, not just for this city region but for politics in our country. It has been too London-centric for too long. The old political and party structures haven't delivered for all people and for all places."

Burnham is associated with the center left of the Labour Party, and has described himself as a socialist. Burnham's time as Manchester mayor saw him emerge as a major proponent of shifting investment and political power out of London, and earned him the nickname "the King of the North."

ABC News' Kevin Shalvey contributed to this report.

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