Putin hails Russia's test launch of a new ballistic missile and calls it the world's most powerful

"Russia

on Tuesday test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to
modernize the country's nuclear forces, a launch hailed by President Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.
Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda." msn

Ukrainian drone strikes spark fire in Russian oil tanks along Black Sea port

"Ukraine's military launched a drone attack on Russia's Krasnodar Krai overnight striking oil shipping infrastructure in the village of Volna, Russian Telegram media channels reported.

Videos posted to social media show large plumes of smoke rising from a nearby port, various channels reported.
In a separate post on Telegram, the Krasnodar Krai Operational Headquarters reported a fire in "one of the premises" in Volna, saying that one person was injured in the Ukrainian drone attack.
NASA's fire monitoring system, FIRMS, appeared to corroborate officials claims, with a fire reported at oil storage near the port, specifically a terminal called Tammanneftogaz that transfers oil and gas from Russian pipelines onto tankers going out through the Black Sea to sell to the world market." Ukrin

5.7 Earthquake - 275 km SW of Houma, Tonga

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 275 km (171 mi) from Tonga in the morning at 10.19 am local time (GMT +13). The quake had a moderate depth of 154 km (96 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

210 combat clashes on front line

"210 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops on the front line.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Russian forces launched six airstrikes using 16 guided bombs and carried out 81 shelling attacks, including four with MLRS. One assault action was recorded.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian troops attempted eight assaults near Starytsia and Kruhle, as well as toward Kolodiazne, Radkivka, Lyman, and Novovasylivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, one attack was recorded toward Novoplatonivka.

In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attempted five assaults near Stavky and toward Ozerne and Dibrova.
In the Sloviansk sector, one assault was recorded toward Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian troops attacked toward Nykyforivka.
On the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces carried out 31 assaults near Ivanopillia, Illinivka, Pleshchiivka, Sofiivka, Nove Shakhove, Vilne, and toward Kostiantynivka, Novopavlivka, and Kucheriv Yar.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 32 Russian assault operations toward Rodynske, Shevchenko, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Vasylivka, Udachne, Muravka, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, Bilytske, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, and Novopidhorodnie.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, one assault was recorded toward Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, the invaders carried out 16 attacks toward Zlahoda, Vozdvyzhivka, Olenokostiantynivka, Charivne, Tsvitkove, Staroukrainka, Pryvillia, and Huliaipilske.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian forces stopped five Russian attempts to advance near Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and Yehorivka." Ukrin

Russian drones leave parts of Mykolaiv Oblast without power

"Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure facilities in Mykolaiv Oblast with Shahed drones.
Several populated areas were left without electricity following the strike.
No casualties were reported. Restoration work is currently underway." KI

Trump thanks Lukashenko after release of foreign political prisoners

"According to the U.S. president, two Moldovan citizens and three Poles, including Andrzej Poczobut, were released. Polish President Karol Nawrocki asked Trump to help secure Poczobut’s release from a Belarusian prison, the U.S. leader said.

“We worked very hard to make this release happen … Today Poczobut is free thanks to our efforts. The United States helps its allies and friends. Thank you to President Alexander Lukashenko for the cooperation and friendship. So nice!” Trump wrote.
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held talks in Minsk with a delegation led by U.S. special envoy John Cole. After the meeting, Lukashenko said the United States had proposed a deal to him “on various issues.” It later emerged that Belarus had released 250 political prisoners.
Trump later thanked Lukashenko for releasing more than 500 political prisoners and said he was “looking forward” to meeting him at the Peace Council." msn

Zelensky's former second-in-command, Yermak, charged in major corruption probe

"President Volodymyr Zelensky's former chief of staff has been charged with money laundering tied to the construction of a luxury residential compound outside Kyiv, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said in a statement.

Although not named in SAPO's statement, the chief of staff in question is Andriy Yermak, a source in law enforcement familiar with the case told the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) allege that more than Hr 460 million ($8.9 million) was funneled through the project over several years using a network of shell companies, cash transactions, and fictitious financial documents.
Law enforcement alleges that the group planned to construct four private mansions, each roughly 1,000 square meters in size, along with a shared wellness complex featuring a spa and swimming pool. The estimated cost of each residence exceeded millions of dollars." KI

Putin seen with swollen face during Victory Day parade

"Over the weekend, Russia celebrated the 81st anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union

over Nazi Germany in 1945 with an unusually muted parade that, for the first time in years, featured no armoured vehicles or ballistic missiles.
But few listened to Putin's claims at the rally of fighting a 'just' war against Ukraine's 'aggressive force[s]', instead focusing on his bulging cheeks.
Ukrainian commentator Anton Gerashchenko pointed to one unflattering image of the 73-year-old ex-spy, posting: 'The face of a 'victor' and the leader of a 'superpower'.
He joked: 'It seems sanctions have even reached Putin's Botox'." msn

5.1 Earthquake - Philippine Sea, 66 km northeast of Taitung, Taiwan

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea near the coast of Taiwan in the early afternoon at 2.53 pm local time (Asia/Taipei GMT +8). The quake had a very shallow depth of 26 km (16 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter." VD

5.2 Earthquake - Solomon Sea, Honiara

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea near Mbanika Island island, Solomon Islands, in the evening at 8.48 pm local time (Pacific/Guadalcanal GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

174 combat clashes over past day

"174 combat engagements between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Russian troops carried out 65 shelling attacks, including three with MLRS. Four enemy assault actions were recorded.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces launched 11 attacks near Vovchansk, Starytsia, and Krasne Pershe.

In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy attacked twice near Radkivka and Kivsharivka.
In the Lyman sector, Russian troops attempted 17 times to break through Ukrainian defenses near Lyman, Drobysheve, Zarichne, Ozerne, and Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, Russian forces conducted nine assault operations near Riznykivka, Kryva Luka, and Zakitne.
No offensive actions were recorded in the Kramatorsk sector.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 16 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Ivanopillia, Novopavlivka, Toretske, and Kucheriv Yar.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled 32 Russian assault attempts near Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, Bilytske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Muravka, Novopidhorodnie, Molodetske, and toward Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces attacked twice toward Kalynivske and Verbove.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops launched 20 attacks toward Dobropillia, Staroukrainka, Zaliznychne, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Vozdvyzhivka, Charivne, Hirke, and near
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy carried out four assaults near Stepnohirsk." Ukrin

Zelensky should call Putin if he wants a meeting, Fico says after Moscow trip

"Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on May 10 that President Volodymyr Zelensky

should hold a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin if he wants to hold face-to-face talks.
Fico made the remarks a day after his meeting with Putin in Moscow, where he attended Victory Day events.
The Slovak prime minister said that during a personal conversation, Zelensky expressed readiness to meet Putin in any format.
"I conveyed a message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the president of Russia," Fico said in a video address." KI

"They'll Be Laughing No Longer": Trump Rejects Iran Peace Deal Response As "Totally Unacceptable"

"Trump calls Iran's peace proposal response "totally unacceptable"

Iran warns of 'decisive, immediate' response to British or French

warships approaching Hormuz Strait.
Iran responds Sunday to U.S. peace proposal, finally submitting something official to Pakistan. Details not initially disclosed. Trump TS: Iran "playing games with the United States."
IRGC new warning: will unleash "heavy attack" on U.S. bases in region if more Hormuz aggression persists." 

ZeroHedge

5.5 Earthquake - Arauco, Region del Biobio, Chile

"A strong magnitude 5.5 earthquake hit 254 km (158 mi) away from Arauco, Region del Biobio, Chile, late in the evening at 11.34 pm local time (America/Santiago GMT -3). The quake had a very shallow depth of 34 km (21 mi) and was felt over a large region. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

5.3 Earthquake - South Pacific Ocean, 370 km northeast of Tofua Island, Ha'apai, Tonga

"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 204 km (127 mi) from Tonga in the early morning at 5.41 am local time (GMT +13). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD