North Korea's Kim Jong Un warns of 'preemptive' use of nuclear force

"North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeated his warning that Pyongyang could
"preemptively" use its nuclear weaponry to counter hostile forces... Kim told top military officers that to "maintain the absolute superiority" of North Korea's armed forces, the country should be able to "preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves... if necessary," the official KCNA news agency reported." France24

NATO Jets Intercept Russian Fighters Multiple Times In Baltic & Black Sea Regions

"NATO fighter jets were scrambled on multiple occasions in response to Russian aircraft
which came near alliance airspace in the Black and Baltic Sea regions at a moment the Western alliance continues deepening its involvement in Ukraine via weapons shipments and intelligence-sharing. 

An official NATO statement said its fighters were sent to intercept Russian aircraft multiple times over the past four days.  Quick reaction fighters from Poland, Denmark, France and Spain made the intercepts in the Baltic Sea region. Meanwhile, Romanian and British aircraft scrambled from Romania to track aircraft in the Black Sea region, NATO said." ZH

Turkey to boycott NATO wargames

"Turkey will not participate in NATO drills amid escalating tensions with neighboring Greece citing security sources. Ankara was scheduled to send its F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to the annual ‘Tiger Meet’ drill, which will be held at the Araxos Air Base in western Greece from May 9 to May 22." RT

France shuts down 50% of nuclear reactors amid energy crunch

"France, one of Europe’s leading electricity exporters, has taken 28 of its 56 atomic reactors
offline due to defects or maintenance. The step comes amid a months-long energy crunch, one of the worst in European history." RT

Zelenskyy turns Nazi rhetoric on Russia

"Zelenskyy said there were operational differences between Russian forces today and the
Nazis during World War II, but said Moscow’s persistent lies are what separates the two. "Russian troops manage to be even more cynical than the Nazis 80 years ago," he said. "At that time, the invaders did not say that it was the Mariupol residents and the defenders of the city who shelled and killed themselves." FOX

White House admits Iran ‘few weeks or less’ from nuclear breakout

"Press Secretary Jen Psaki was forced to admit Iran’s “breakout period” for a nuclear weapon
“is down from about a year…to just a few weeks or less.”

The Times of Israel notes that the breakout period refers to the amount of time “it will take Iran to amass enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, if its chooses to do so.”

The Times of Israel notes that a distinction must be made: “having enough nuclear material for a bomb is not he same as having the capabilities to build the core of the weapon and to attach it to the warhead of a missile, which would likely take more time.”

Psaki told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference that Iran’s nuclear development “definitely worries us.” MichaelSavage

'Really Have to Think About It': Captured UK Mercenary Tells Brits Not to Join Fighting in Ukraine

"Following the start of the Russian special military operation, Kiev's regime called on

foreigners to come to Ukraine to fight on its side against the Russian military. Moscow believes that at least 7,000 mercenaries from over 60 countries have answered the call and advised states to prevent their citizens from travelling to Ukraine.

A British mercenary who was injured and captured by the Russian military in Ukraine has advised his compatriots to think twice before answering Kiev's call to join the foreign legion as he responded to questions on footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry.

 "You really have to think about it […] It does not involve us", a mercenary named Andrew Hill said while responding to a question as to what he would tell his compatriots regarding the idea of joining the Ukrainian forces." Sputnik

Kyiv urges residents to use public transport in order to save fuel for military

"Kyiv's City Council urged locals Friday to conserve fuel for the country's military by taking
public transit.

"Kyiv is urged not to travel by private vehicles if possible in order to ensure the need for fuel for the military as a matter of priority," the council said in a Telegram post. 

It added that residents "are asked to remember the needs of the army and our defenders and, if possible, to use public transport." FOX

Heatwave Triggers Indian "Power Crisis" As State Firms Seek Russian Crude To Secure Supplies

"Another devastating heatwave has parched large swathes of India this week, resulting in
power blackouts. 

The government has forced power cuts for factories in various provinces to mitigate the grid's collapse. Since most electricity generated in India is from fossil fuels and extreme heat increases power demand. Reuters revealed that Indian refiners are negotiating a six-month oil deal with Russia to import millions of barrels per month." ZH

European Commission VP Tells People to ‘Support Ukraine’ by Taking Fewer Showers & Not Washing Their Clothes

"The vice-president of the European Commission suggested citizens should ‘support Ukraine’
and the embargoes on Russia by taking fewer showers, not driving cars, and airing their clothes instead of washing them.

Yes, really.

Frans Timmermans, the Dutch vice-president of the bloc’s executive body, made the remarks during a meeting of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee.

According to Timmermans, Europeans must “Heat less, ride a bike and ventilate your clothes instead of washing,” in order to support punitive measures against Russia that have exacerbated a cost of living crisis for hundreds of millions of people in the west.

The technocrat, who personally doesn’t really need to worry too much about soaring energy costs given his $250,000 a year salary, urged “fellow citizens that they too could do something to move less money into Putin’s pocket.” IW

22-year-old American killed while fighting in Ukraine

"An American citizen and former Marine, Willy Joseph Cancel, has died in Ukraine while
fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, according to the man's family. It is the first known death of a U.S. citizen fighting in Ukraine. 

Cabrera said her son's body has not been found.

“They haven’t found his body,” she said. “They are trying, the men that were with him, but it was either grab his body or get killed, but we would love for him to come back to us.”

News9

Hitting a New Low: Ukrainian Man Posts Video Boasting of ‘Eating Russian Soldier’s Meat’

"The identity of the person behind the video is unknown, as the disturbing footage was his
only clip on YouTube – still, this fact does not make the video any less chilling.

An unidentified Ukrainian man shared a video in which he claims to have discovered a human bone with meat in a burnt tank in the Gostomel area – a bone which allegedly belonged to a deceased Russian soldier.

In the chilling footage, the “blogger” proceeds to “cook” what he claims is the human meat of the Russian soldier, only to taste it afterward.

He then notes it was always his dream to try the meat of a Russian.

Aside from YouTube, where the video was quickly deleted by the platform for breaching community guidelines, the man shared the footage on his Instagram page, attaching a threatening caption.

“Yes, this is not a clickbate,” he wrote. “All large Telegram channels were shocked. What did you expect? Do you still think we’re happy to see Russian soldiers? The best that awaits them is quick death. The worst – see in the video.” IW

Norway Expands Military Drills In North, Increases Emergency Preparedness, Citing Ukraine War

"The commander of the Norwegian armed forces has announced his country will step up
military exercises in the far north in response to Russia's ongoing attack of Ukraine. Major General Lars Lervik told national broadcaster NRK that "Based on what has happened in Ukraine, we have reported a need to increase activity here at home. In addition, we have reported a need to strengthen preparedness and make that work a little faster than originally planned." ZH

Recession? Economy Contracts 1.4%

"In the latest bit of proof that our “experts” are clueless, it’s being widely reported that the
economic decline we all saw coming is “unexpected” by the media.Amidst levels of inflation not seen since the Carter presidency, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released data this morning showing that real (inflation adjusted) U.S. gross domestic product declined 1.4% in the first quarter of the year. That’s despite record government spending that by definition inflates GDP, and as aggressive interest rate hikes that will further slow down growth loom." PopulistPress

Shootings Erupt on Russia-Ukraine Border

"Shootings erupted at two checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border, regional
authorities said as Russia’s military offensive on Ukraine continues to spill into its own territory. “Mortars were fired at a checkpoint in the village of Krupets at about 8:00 a.m. Retaliatory fire from our border guards and military crushed the firing point,” he added." MT