Pentagon Official’s Beijing Visit in Doubt over $17.9 Billion US Arms Package for Taiwan, FT Reports
The Pentagon’s under‑secretary for policy, Elbridge Colby, may have his planned Beijing trip postponed as China ties approval to President Donald Trump’s decision on a $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan. The sale, valued at roughly $13.2 billion USD after converting the Singapore‑dollar figure, remains undecided, adding uncertainty to U.S. support for the island. Trump has signaled willingness to speak directly with Taiwan’s president, a move that could further strain U.S.–China ties. Both parties await a clear policy direction before resuming high‑level talks.
WHO Kicks Off Annual Assembly Amid Hantavirus, Ebola Crises
The WHO’s annual decision‑making assembly opened in Geneva on May 18 while the organization grapples with a rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship and a fresh Ebola flare‑up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At the same time, the United...
EU to Force Companies to Buy Components From Non-Chinese Suppliers, FT Reports
The European Union is drafting rules that will require companies to source critical components from at least three non‑Chinese suppliers, limiting any single supplier to 30‑40% of total purchases. The measure focuses on sectors such as chemicals and industrial machinery,...
Ukraine Drones Kill Four in Russia, Moscow Faces Biggest Attack in over a Year
Ukrainian drones launched a large‑scale attack on Russian territory on May 17, killing four civilians and injuring dozens. Air defenses intercepted 81 drones over Moscow, the biggest assault on the capital in more than a year, while Russia’s defence ministry reported...
Ukraine’s Zelensky Says Russia Considering Plan to Attack NATO Country From Belarus
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is weighing plans to launch attacks from Belarus, either against Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv‑Kyiv corridor or directly at a NATO member. He said Moscow is trying to pull Belarus deeper into the war, citing...
Poland Says It Intercepts Russian Aircraft over Baltic Sea
Poland's air force intercepted a Russian Il‑20 reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea, labeling it a provocation. The aircraft flew without a filed flight plan and with transponders turned off, but did not breach Polish airspace. Defence...
Hungary Summons Russian Ambassador over Drone Strikes on Western Ukraine
Hungary’s new government summoned Russia’s ambassador after a daytime drone strike hit western Ukraine, killing at least three people and damaging critical infrastructure. Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the meeting with Foreign Minister Anita Orban will demand an explanation and...
Why Are some People Mosquito Magnets? Clues Are Emerging
Scientists are pinpointing why certain individuals attract more mosquito bites, focusing on a blend of odor compounds, body heat, and carbon dioxide. A recent study identified 27 volatile chemicals that mosquitoes detect, with 1‑octen‑3‑ol from skin oil being especially enticing,...
US Top Diplomat Rubio Discusses Iran, Strait of Hormuz with Britain and Australia
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate telephone conversations on May 11 with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to address Iran’s aggressive actions in the Strait of Hormuz. The talks focused on restoring freedom...
Israel Will Prosecute Oct 7 Suspects in Eichmann-Style Tribunal
Israel’s parliament approved a special military tribunal to try roughly 400 Palestinians accused of the Oct 7 Hamas attacks, invoking the historic Eichmann trial as a model. The court will be built in Jerusalem, broadcast hearings, and allow group trials, with...
UAE Attacked Iran in April: Sources
The United Arab Emirates launched missile and drone strikes on Iran's Lavan Island refinery in early April, targeting a facility that processes about 60,000 barrels of crude daily. The attacks occurred just as President Donald Trump announced a cease‑fire in...
While You Were Sleeping: 5 Stories You Might Have Missed, May 11, 2026
President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s peace proposal as "totally unacceptable," heightening the risk of renewed conflict in the Middle East. He will also use an upcoming Beijing summit with China’s Xi Jinping to press Beijing on Tehran’s actions, while the...
How Female Anglerfish Evolved to Have It All
Researchers led by Alex Maile and Matthew Davis built the most comprehensive anglerfish phylogeny by analyzing over 100 museum specimens and DNA sequences. The family tree shows bioluminescent lures first appeared about 32 million years after the group originated roughly 72 million years ago,...
Science Talk: Asia Is Underinvesting in Its Most Cost-Effective Carbon Markets
Asia’s most carbon‑dense ecosystems—Indonesia’s peatlands, Philippine mangroves, and Borneo forests—remain severely under‑financed despite delivering the cheapest climate mitigation. Global nature‑based carbon finance totals roughly $84 billion a year, far short of the $300 billion needed to protect these assets. After a slump...
Israeli Attorney-General Opposes Appointment of Next Mossad Chief
Israel’s attorney‑general Gali Baharav‑Miara has formally opposed the appointment of Major‑General Roman Gofman as the next Mossad director, citing a 2022 case in which a 17‑year‑old was recruited for covert online operations and then arrested. The attorney‑general’s letter to the Supreme...
Brazil Supreme Court Justice Suspends Bill that Ordered Early Release of Ex-President Bolsonaro
Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended a bill that would have sharply reduced former President Jair Bolsonaro's 27‑year prison term, potentially freeing him in 2028. The measure, passed by Congress after overturning President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's...
Russia, Ukraine Trade Accusations of Ceasefire Violations
Russia and Ukraine each accused the other of breaching a US‑brokered three‑day ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump for May 9‑11. Despite the truce, drone strikes killed two civilians in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions and wounded three in Russia’s Belgorod...
Israeli Strike Kills Seven in South Lebanon, Lebanese Health Ministry Says
An Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese town of Saksakiyeh killed at least seven people, including a child, and wounded 15, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Israel said the target was Hezbollah militants planning attacks on its soldiers, while the IDF...
Mystery Sea Drone in Greece Is From ‘Foreign State’: Minister
Greek defence minister Nikos Dendias announced that a sea drone recovered off the Ionian island of Lefkada belongs to a foreign state. The unmanned surface vehicle, resembling Ukraine’s Magura‑class drones, was found with explosives on board and is being secured...
Over 3,000 Attacks on Ukraine Healthcare Since Start of War: WHO
The World Health Organization reported more than 3,000 confirmed attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare facilities since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in February 2022. Over 1,534 days of fighting, 80% of strikes hit outpatient clinics, hospitals and other care sites, while ambulances accounted...
Poland Signs First Loan Deal as Part of EU Defence Spending Push
Poland became the first EU member to sign a loan under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, securing €43.7 billion (about $48 billion) to modernise its armed forces. The loan makes Poland the largest beneficiary of the €150 billion ($164 billion) SAFE fund,...
Ukraine Weighs Sending Security Experts to Baltic States Amid Drone Incidents
Ukraine is weighing the deployment of security experts to the Baltic states after two drones, suspected to be Ukrainian, crashed in Latvia and caused damage to oil tanks near the Russian border. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv would apologise...
Russian Drones Swarm Smaller Ukrainian Power Stations, Data Shows
Russia has intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine by targeting small power substations, leveraging a surge in domestically produced Shahed‑type drones. Between November 2025 and March 2026, more than 27,000 drones and 1,000 missiles were launched, with small substations accounting...
Militant Attack on Nigeria Army Base Kills at Least Two Soldiers
Militant fighters linked to ISWAP attacked a Nigerian army forward operating base in Magumeri, Borno state, early Thursday, killing at least two soldiers and wounding the commanding officer. The assault also injured about 20 troops and resulted in the death...
Two Drones From Russia Crash in Latvia, Damage Oil Storage Facility
On May 7, two Russian‑origin drones entered Latvia and crashed, one striking an oil storage facility in Rezekne. The resulting fire was extinguished before firefighters arrived, averting a larger incident. Latvian authorities issued drone alerts, ordered residents to stay indoors and...
Trump to Host Brazilian President Lula in Test of Fitful Relationship
US President Donald Trump will host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on May 7, marking the first face‑to‑face since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Brazilian imports in July 2025. The agenda centers on security cooperation against...
US Reinstates Deportation Proceedings Against Pro-Palestinian Student Mohsen Mahdawi
The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals has reinstated deportation proceedings against Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, a pro‑Palestinian activist whose earlier case was halted by an immigration judge. The judge who blocked the Trump administration’s deportation effort was dismissed in...
At Least Five Killed in Russian Strike on Ukraine’s Kramatorsk: Zelensky
A Russian airstrike hit the centre of Kramatorsk on May 5, killing at least five civilians and wounding another five, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Local officials said three high‑explosive aerial bombs were dropped near the front line, the city’s most densely...
EU Invites Firms to Join New Ukraine Drone Alliance
The European Union has opened a call for companies to join a new EU‑Ukraine drone alliance, with registration open until May 25, 2026. The industry‑led initiative aims to pool manufacturers, start‑ups and end‑users from the EU single market and Ukraine to...
Trump Says Iran ‘Should Wave the White Flag of Surrender’
Former President Donald Trump told reporters on May 5 that Iran’s military has been reduced to “peashooters” and urged Tehran to “wave the white flag of surrender.” He claimed the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is iron‑clad and effective, suggesting Iran...
Lebanon’s Most Senior Shi’ite Politician Says No to Negotiations with Israel Until War Stops
Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah’s senior ally, said on May 4 that any negotiations with Israel must wait until the fighting in southern Lebanon ends. Israel has ordered residents of four villages to evacuate, while Hezbollah reported 11 attacks on...
Guyana Tells World Court Venezuela's Claim on Oil-Rich Esequibo Region Poses Existential Threat
Guyana has asked the International Court of Justice to rule that Venezuela’s claim to the oil‑rich Esequibo region is illegitimate. The dispute covers a 160,000‑square‑kilometre area, including offshore blocks where recent discoveries have attracted global investors. Guyana’s foreign minister warned...
Russian Missile Attack Kills Five in Ukraine's Kharkiv Region, Officials Say
A Russian missile strike hit the town of Merefa in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on May 4, 2026, killing five civilians and injuring 18 others. The attack damaged at least ten residential houses, an administrative building, four shops, a car‑repair workshop and...
US Attorney Pirro Says Fed IG's Findings Will Dictate Future of Her Powell Probe
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced she will close the criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, deferring to the Fed Office of Inspector General’s review of costly headquarters renovations. The IG’s findings will determine whether any further action is...
German Foreign Minister Wadephul, in Call with Iranian Counterpart, Demands Hormuz Reopening
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and abandon its nuclear weapons program during a call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. He framed the demand as consistent with the United States, which also seeks...
Swedish Coast Guard Seizes Suspected False Flag Tanker in Baltic Sea
Swedish Coast Guard seized the Syrian‑flagged tanker Jin Hui in the Baltic Sea, suspecting it operates under a false flag and belongs to Russia’s shadow fleet. The vessel was boarded near Trelleborg and appears on EU and UK sanctions lists,...
Why Trump’s Threat to Pull Even More US Troops Out of Germany Is Causing Unease in Europe
President Donald Trump has threatened to pull additional U.S. troops from Germany, following an initial order to withdraw roughly 5,000 service members. The move comes amid escalating tensions over the U.S. military campaign against Iran and a public spat with...
Two US Troops Missing During African Lion Exercise in Morocco
Two U.S. service members went missing near Tan Tan, Morocco, during the African Lion joint military exercise. The incident occurred near the Cap Draa training site, prompting a coordinated search‑and‑rescue effort by U.S., Moroccan and partner forces using air, land and maritime...
Israel Court Extends Detention of Gaza Flotilla Activists
An Israeli court extended the detention of two pro‑Palestinian activists, a Spanish citizen and a Brazilian, until May 5. The men were arrested after a Gaza‑bound flotilla was intercepted in international waters near Greece and were brought to Israel, while more...
‘Trump Is an Idiot’: Californians Fume over Soaring Petrol Prices
Petrol prices in California have surged to $130 per tank, about $30 more since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran. The conflict, which started on Feb 28, has disrupted oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gasoline to...
Trump Says US Navy Acting ‘Like Pirates’ to Carry Out Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports
President Donald Trump on May 1 accused the U.S. Navy of acting “like pirates” as it enforces a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The blockade follows the seizure of Iranian vessels and cargo, which Trump described as a profitable business. Iran...
Iran’s Meme War Against Trump Ushers in a Future of ‘Slopaganda’
Iran has escalated its information campaign by flooding social platforms with short, cartoon‑style videos that lampoon U.S. President Donald Trump. Early attempts to garner sympathy through emotional appeals failed, prompting Tehran to adopt a more aggressive, pop‑culture‑driven approach. The memes...
US LNG Exports to Asia Surged in April as Middle East Conflict Curtailed Supply
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia surged in April, with shipments climbing to 2.71 million tonnes—up 175% from February—after Middle‑East supply was disrupted by the Iran conflict. Asian spot LNG prices stayed high, averaging $17.92 per MMBtu, roughly 17%...
Lebanon's Internal Splits over Talks with Israel Trip up Saudi Mediation Efforts
Saudi Arabia’s envoy to Beirut failed to unite Lebanon’s top leaders on how to proceed with Israel talks, exposing a deepening rift between President Joseph Aoun, who favors direct negotiations, and Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally who opposes a...
Private Air Defence Takes Off in Ukraine
Ukraine has launched a private‑air‑defence programme, allowing firms to protect their own facilities against Russian drones. Twenty companies have registered, with two already operating under Ministry of Defence authorization. Providers such as Carmine Sky use layered systems—from interceptor drones to...
US Lawmakers to Grill Pentagon Chief on Iran War
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will appear before the House Armed Services Committee on April 29, the first congressional hearing since the Iran‑related conflict began. The hearing coincides with a request for a $1.5 trillion defense budget and comes amid bipartisan...
Russia Attacks Port Infrastructure in Ukraine's South, Hits Hospital
Russia launched a swarm of 171 drones against Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, targeting port facilities, residential buildings and a hospital. The attack destroyed the hospital’s admissions department, forced patients into shelters and left two people wounded in fires. Ukrainian air‑defence...
Panama Reaffirms ‘Neutrality’ of Canal Amid Middle East War
Panama reaffirmed the canal’s neutrality on April 28 as the Middle East war forces a surge in alternative shipping routes. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil and gas carriers to the Panama Canal, lifting daily transits...
First LNG Shipment Since Iran War Began Appears to Exit Hormuz
The Mubaraz, an LNG tanker owned by ADNOC, has apparently completed the first loaded LNG transit through the Strait of Hormuz since the Iran‑US conflict began two months ago. The vessel loaded cargo at Abu Dhabi’s Das Island in early...
Trump Unhappy with Iranian Proposal, US Official Says
U.S. officials say President Donald Trump is displeased with Iran's latest peace proposal because it omits any discussion of Tehran's nuclear program. Iran's offer would delay nuclear talks until the conflict ends and shipping disputes in the Gulf are resolved,...