"By around 3:30 a.m. local time, Russian authorities claimed that at least 73 drones had been shot down, with air defense systems still engaged in intercepting incoming targets.
Videos circulating on social media after 3 a.m. appear to show flashes in the sky and fires in numerous locations. Witnesses in Klin and Zelenograd said they heard loud detonations, suggesting that the attack extended beyond central Moscow into surrounding districts." KI
"U.S. President Donald Trump said that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, was killed in an operation conducted by U.S. and Nigerian forces.
"Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield. Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing," Trump said on Truth Social." msn
"According to preliminary estimates from the (USGS), the quake might have been felt by over 570,000 people across 8 countries: Guadeloupe (380,000), Antigua and Barbuda (100,000), Saint Kitts and Nevis (46,300), Montserrat (7,390), and Anguilla (4,310). Approx. 400,000 people were in areas with light shaking (intensity IV), the highest intensity this quake likely produced over inhabited areas." VD
"Labour is to ban new oil and gas fields in Britain, making it far harder for any future government to reopen the North Sea.A legal prohibition on new drilling will be included in the energy independence bill, part of the raft of new legislation set out by the King in his speech opening Parliament.
The bill will make Ed Miliband’s temporary moratorium on new drilling permanent, ensuring it would be far harder for a future government to reverse the ban. Labour also plans to legally ban onshore fracking.
A detailed note released by the Energy Secretary’s officials after the King’s Speech said the bill would “meet [Labour’s] manifesto commitment not to issue new licences to explore new fields, including delivering the commitment to ban fracking”." msn
"195 combat clashes between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders along the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk directions, there were 16 clashes. The enemy carried out five airstrikes, used 10 guided bombs, and conducted 80 shellings of settlements and Ukrainian positions, four of them with multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions five times near Vovchansk, Radkivka, Hraniv, Izbytske, and Starytsia. One engagement is still ongoing.In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two enemy assaults near Novoosynove and Podoly.
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian troops stopped seven enemy attempts to advance near Stepove, Novyi Myr, Stavy, Drobysheve, Yampil, and Ozerne.
In the Siversk direction, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled three enemy attempts near Zakitne and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk direction, one attack was stopped near Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 assaults near Kostiantynivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy carried out 23 attacks, attempting to advance near Vilne, Kucheriv Yar, Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Nove Shakhove, Bilytske, Hryshyne, Vasylivka, Novomykolaivka, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Boikivka, Serhiivka, and Molodetske.
Preliminary estimates indicate that in this direction alone today, 46 occupiers were eliminated and 14 wounded. Ukrainian forces also destroyed 11 vehicles, 8 special equipment units, one electronic warfare station, and one infantry shelter; three vehicles, three artillery pieces, and five UAV command posts were damaged. Additionally, 250 enemy drones of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
In the Oleksandrivka and Orikhiv directions, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations today.
In the Huliaipole direction, there were 17 assaults near Dobropillia, Verkhnia Tersа, Zlahoda, Hirke, Krynychne, Staroukrainka, Huliaipilske, and Charivne." Ukrin
"France is prepared to cooperate with Ukraine on developing a ballistic missile defense
system, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 16 following a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The announcement comes as Kyiv seeks to unite international partners around the creation of an air defense shield within what Zelensky has described as an "anti-ballistic coalition."
"France is ready to work on anti-ballistic measures. This is a strong decision and an important step. We discussed strengthening our capabilities to repel Russian attacks right now," Zelensky said." KI
"A magnitude 5.4 earthquake ...Eruption at seamount eruption in the Bismarck Sea is growing and now there are larger Earthquakes ! Pummice and water discoloration and more Ash is visible as well. Several mysterious ash plumes detected high up in the air in the Bismarck Sea near Papua New Guinea on the Pacific Ring of fire. Underwater Seamount / Volcano seems to be erupting in an unknown area , not a known underwater volcano but also Hunga Tonga started smaller ! This could be a new submarine volcano !" OnPulse
"263 combat engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out three airstrikes using eight guided bombs and conducted 57 shelling attacks, including one with a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). One enemy assault operation was reported.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces launched 10 attacks toward Izbytske, Ternova, Novovasylivka, and in the areas of Starytsia, Lyman, Synelnykove, and Vovchanski Khutory.In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched two attacks toward Kindrashivka and Radkivka.
In the Lyman sector, the invaders attempted to breach the defenses 13 times, attacking in the areas of Stavky, Zarichne, Yampil, Novyi Myr, Ozerey, and toward Novoserhiivka, Druzheliubivka, Lyman, and Dibrova.
In the Sloviansk sector, Russian forces launched four assaults toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and in the Zakitne area.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 23 attacks in the areas of Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, Sofiivka, Vilne, Stepanivka, Toretske, Ivanopillia, and toward Kostiantynivka, Novopavlivka, Bilytske, and Mykolaipillia.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 35 Russian army assaults toward the settlements of Zatyshok, Novooleksandrivka, Rodynske, Bilytske, Hryshyne, Serhiivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Novopavlivka, Filiia, Hannivka, and Molodetske.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched a single attack toward Dobropillia.
In the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 33 attacks in the areas of Pryluky, Charivne, Huliaipole, and Rybne, as well as toward Dobropillia, Zlahoda, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Pryvillia, Zaliznychne, Tsvitkove, Vozdvyzhivka, Staroukrainka, and Krynychne.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Russian Federation’s army carried out three attacks toward Antonivka and Bilohrudyi Island." Ukrin
"Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 205 prisoners of war, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced.The ministry said the Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus and are receiving psychological and medical assistance, adding that they will be taken to Russia for further treatment and rehabilitation.
The officials noted that the release was negotiated with the assistance of the United Arab Emirates, which has helped mediate exchanges on numerous occasions." RT
"Trump says Boeing Secured a 200 'Big' jet order from China. Trump says President Xi wants Hormuz reopened, won't give Tehran weapons.
Trump, Xi Put Hormuz, Iran, Trade, Taiwan At Center Of Historic Beijing Summit.
Trump said Boeing secured an order for 200 "big" jets from China. He said the order was initially for 150, but the final figure will be 200.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are currently seated at the main table at a state banquet. President Xi called the visit historic, and said U.S.-China ties are "stable" amid talks with Trump's team.
Trump and Xi agreed that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to free navigation and that Tehran should not charge a fee to ships using the critical waterway."
ZeroHedge
"Deadly overnight strike: Three people were killed and 12 injured when drones hit Ryazan, damaging residential buildings and sparking fires.
Refinery in flames: The Rosneft-operated Ryazan Oil Refinery, processing over 17 million tons annually, was set ablaze in the attack.
Escalating cross-border war: The strike follows intensified Ukrainian targeting of Russian energy sites and a deadly Russian attack on Kyiv the previous day." msn
"A very strong magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea 142 km (88 mi) from Indonesia in the early morning at 2.53 am local time (GMT +9). The quake had a moderate depth of 146 km (91 mi) and was felt widely in the area.
For most people (93.3%), the quake might only have felt as barely noticeable or weak shaking if at all (intensities I-III). Approx. 10,200 people were in areas with light shaking (intensity IV), the highest intensity this quake likely produced over inhabited areas." VD
"257 combat engagements between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the aggressor carried out three airstrikes using seven guided bombs, conducted 97 shelling attacks, including 12 with MLRS systems. Seven enemy assault actions were recorded.In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attacked 14 times near Vovchanski Khutory, Lyman, Starytsia, and toward Ternove, Radkivka, and Izbytske.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched four attacks near Kurylivka, Novoplatonivka, and Pishchane.
In the Lyman sector, Russian troops attempted eight times to break through near Drobysheve, Ozerne, Yampil, Dibrova, and Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, the invaders twice attempted to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled one enemy attack near Pryvillia.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 28 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Toretske, Kucheriv Yar, and Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Defense Forces stopped 39 assault actions by the aggressor near Nove Shakhove, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Kotlyne, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Serhiivka, Udachne, Molodetske, and toward Bilytske, Vasylivka, and Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked three times toward Oleksandrohrad, Sichneve, and Novohryhorivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 25 attacks near Nove Zaporizhzhia, Zlahoda, Huliaipole, Sviatopetrivka, Dobropillia, Olenokostiantynivka, Charivne, Zaliznychne, Hirke, and Huliaipilske.
In the Orikhiv sector, the Defense Forces stopped three enemy attempts to advance near Shcherbaky and Plavni.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian forces carried out three attacks toward Antonivka but achieved no success." Ukrin
"Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has announced her resignation amid a government crisis caused by an incident involving Ukrainian kamikaze drones hitting an oil depot near the Russian border.
Silina announced the decision at a press briefing on Thursday. Just hours earlier, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, a member of Silina’s liberal-conservative Unity party, stated that the prime minister has no intention of leaving office. Meanwhile, the opposition was planning a procedural maneuver to circumvent the five-day pause required under Latvian law before a request for a no-confidence vote is granted.The crisis in the Baltic state was triggered by an incident last week in which two Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones hit an empty oil depot near the town of Rezekne, around 40 km from the Russian border. No casualties were reported on the ground.MP Andris Suvajevs, who leads the Progressives parliamentary faction, stated earlier in the day that the ruling coalition was certain to collapse if a no-confidence motion is put to a vote. The prime minister was expected to take part in a session of parliament, but instead invited the media to her office to announce her resignation. She blamed “political jealousy and narrow party interests” for the crisis.
Moscow has accused NATO nations of tacitly allowing Ukraine to use their airspace to conduct strikes on targets in northwestern Russia, particularly oil export terminals in Leningrad Region. Officials in several countries where incidents involving Ukrainian drones were reported since mid-March have expressed concerns with Kiev’s military planning.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he told Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky that Helsinki regards Ukrainian aircraft entering its airspace as unacceptable. Estonian Defense Minster Hanno Pevkur said the Ukrainians should “keep their drones away from our territory [and] control their activities better.”RT
"Nine small earthquakes struck the Pardis area east of Tehran overnight, including a M4.6
event near the border of Tehran and Mazandaran provinces, renewing attention on seismic risks around the Iranian capital." W
