Chinese Foreign Minister: "Taiwan has never been a state in the past and will not be one in the future""We have taken note of President Trump's statements. Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory," he added. After negotiations with the Chinese leader, Donald Trump stated that he does not want to involve the US in a war over Taiwan and does not support drastic steps towards its independence.Trump also suggested reviewing arms supplies to Taiwan and emphasized the need to maintain the current status quo.His statements sharply contrast with the position of Joe Biden's administration, which publicly supported military defense of Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.Trump's advisors fear that China is determined to seize Taiwan, writes Axios. They believe that Beijing is increasingly asserting its claims to the island and is no longer hiding its policy of using force to exert pressure.Taiwan remains a key hub of the global microchip industry - about 60% of global supplies are produced there.
During NATO exercises on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, Ukrainian operators completely routed the Swedish forces. The Ukrainians played the role of the aggressor and, according to the scenario, simulated an attack on the island, which was defended by NATO forces.The exercises were observed by Associated PressOne of the Ukrainian operators, nicknamed "Tariq" [pilot 🇺🇦 of the 1st "Azov" Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine], said that the Swedish forces stopped the exercises three times to review their tactics, as in real conditions they would have already been destroyed.Another Ukrainian pilot, nicknamed "Karat", noted that the Swedish forces have potential, but need significant improvement in drones, tactics, and understanding of drone warfare at the commanders' level.The Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, General Michael Claesson, said that all NATO armies urgently need to learn to conduct combat operations using drones, just like the Ukrainians. According to him, the "fastest way" to master modern drone warfare is to directly adopt the experience of the Ukrainian military.Ukrainian operators demonstrated that Western forces do not fully understand the realities of modern combat.💬 Western forces can't understand what this is. You need to see it with your own eyes, — emphasized one of the pilots.
What is known about Yermak's involvement in the "Midas" case:• According to the investigation, in 2020, Oleksiy Chernyshov formed a team for the construction of the "Dynasty" closed complex in Kozina. The project involved businessman Timur Mindich ("Karlson") and another figure under the pseudonym R2 - Andriy Yermak.• The participants planned to build 4 private residences for their own use, as well as a joint building R0 with a SPA, swimming pools, and a gym. The cost of each residence was approximately $2 million.• To hide the real owners, they used the codes R1-R4 in the documents. The construction was consecrated.• The financing was carried out in two ways: through the formally legal cooperative "Sunny Beach" and through cash obtained illegally. Some of the money was transferred through Chernyshov's assistant and people from Mindich's entourage.• In 2024, according to NABU, the participants of the scheme began to look for ways to legalize the already spent money, including through the purchase of documents about the supposedly legal origin of the money.• In July 2025, after Chernyshov was charged with suspicion, Mindich decided to freeze the construction to avoid exposure of the money laundering scheme.• NABU and SAP state that between 2021 and 2025, almost $9 million may have been laundered through the "Dynasty" project. According to the investigation, the total amount of legalized funds exceeds 460 million UAH.• The High Anti-Corruption Court arrested a land plot and 5 unfinished cottages. Investigators also report pressure on one of the experts in the case.
From Rus defence ministry:In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin, a truce is declared on May 8-9, 2026, in honor of the celebration of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. We hope that the Ukrainian side will follow this example.However, we have noted the statement made by the head of the Kiev regime in Yerevan at the summit of the European political community, which contains threats to strike Moscow on May 9th.The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the festive events.In the event of attempts by the Kiev regime to implement its criminal plans aimed at disrupting the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will launch a massive missile strike on the center of Kiev.Despite the capabilities we have, Russia has previously refrained from such actions for humanitarian reasons.We warn the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions about the need to leave the city in a timely manner.
⚡️1500 and 2000 km deep into the borders of the Russian Federation - it's no longer a quiet rear. The Ukrainian "bird" flies wherever and whenever it wants, - Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert "Magyar" Brovdi Other statements:➡️ We don't count on people who hide from the army. For us, they are hopeless. We continue to recruit non-stop, but the pace of recruitment is not as we would like it to be. ➡️ The most important goal for us is the enemy's manpower, not a tank, a gun, or any other type of equipment or weapon. Without manpower, there's no assault. ➡️ Every month, Russia mobilizes 33-35 thousand of its soldiers for the so-called "SVO". And starting from December 2025, we for the first time destroyed as much of its manpower with drones as it mobilized. This is a significant turning point. ➡️ We are now awaiting the spring-summer campaign that Putin announced. He does not give up on his intentions, but the implementation does not meet his plan, so for now, in certain areas, we are actually retaking territories. ➡️ The number of personnel in the Unmanned Systems Forces is 2% of the total number of the Ukrainian army. And these 2% account for 35% of the total result. That is, every third unit of the enemy's personnel, every third enemy target is destroyed by the Unmanned Systems Forces. ➡️ It's futile to rely on such an unreliable partner as the USA is now. The most effective means of destruction in this war are being produced in Ukraine now. ➡️ The losses of the Unmanned Systems Forces are less than 1% of the personnel per year. ➡️ I'll never return to my pre-war life. Probably, for the rest of my life, I will remain a priority target for Russian special services. After the war, I will share my expertise with others.
Zelenskyy: In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia. Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business. The Israeli authorities cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying. Russia is systematically seizing grain on temporarily occupied Ukrainian land and organizing its export through individuals linked to the occupiers. Such schemes violate the laws of the State of Israel itself. Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped. I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to inform all partners of our state about the situation. Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme. We will also coordinate with European partners to ensure that the relevant individuals are included in European sanctions regimes. Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations.
❗️Reuters reported on a Pentagon letter describing plans for "punishing" NATO allies for their unwillingness to participate in a war with Iran.The report proposes expelling Spain from NATO, reviewing Britain's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in favor of Argentina, as well as stripping representatives of "difficult countries" of prestigious positions in NATO.The author of the report is infamously known Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby.1️⃣Spain▪️Colby called Spain's ban on US access to its airbases an "absolute red line." As "punishment," it is proposed to expel Spain from NATO. According to Colby's plan, expelling Spain would not have a significant impact on US military operations, but would have a "significant symbolic effect."▪️Exactly how to expel Spain is not entirely clear. The nuance is that the NATO treaty does not provide for the expulsion or suspension of any of its members; they can only leave the alliance by their own will.2️⃣Great Britain, Argentina, FalklandsReference: The Falkland Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Argentina, which Britain has de facto controlled since 1833. In 1982, a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri landed on the islands, claiming rights over them. Britain, under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, sent its ships there. As a result of the 74-day war, Argentina suffered a military defeat, and Britain defended its sovereignty over the islands.▪️The report proposes "reviewing" American diplomatic support for "imperial holdings," such as the Falkland Islands.(Well, if so, one could review US sovereignty over Hawaii - there was an independent kingdom there until 1893. One could also review sovereignty over California and Texas, which the US took from Mexico as a result of the war of 1846-48).▪️News about the "review" of the US position on the Falklands was welcomed by Argentine President Javier Milei: "We are doing everything possible so that the Argentine Malvinas (Argentine name, - ed.) return to the hands of Argentina. <...> We are making progress like never before."▪️The nuance is that in 2009 Britain granted the Falklands the right to self-determination, and in 2013 a referendum was held, in which 99.8% of residents voted to remain part of the United Kingdom.3️⃣"Sense of entitlement"▪️Among Colby's other proposals is to strip representatives of "difficult" European countries of prestigious positions in NATO. The goal is to "send a strong signal" to reduce some Europeans' "sense of entitlement."4️⃣At the same time, the following is not considered:▪️Colby's report does not mention the US withdrawal from NATO, despite Trump's statements about his readiness to do so;▪️the closure of US military bases in Europe is not considered;▪️there is no mention of reducing the US contingent in Europe.
The first details of what was actually on the table in Islamabad are emergingThe U.S. offered to release a portion of Iran's frozen funds and end the warIn exchange, they wanted a 20-year enrichment freeze, removal of all enriched material from Iran, and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz with no tollsThe Iranian delegation reportedly discussed the nuclear issue despite not being authorized to do so by Tehran, but the gaps between the two sides were described as enormousRead that again: Iran's negotiators went further than their own government instructed, and it still wasn't enough to close the dealThat either means the U.S. demands were genuinely unreachable, or Tehran's red lines are so rigid that even its own negotiators couldn't work around them, quite possibly bothA 20-year enrichment freeze is not a concession Iran has ever come close to accepting, and free Hormuz navigation without tolls strips Iran of its only remaining leverageThe distance between what Trump needs to declare victory and what Iran could survive politically may simply be too wide for any negotiator to bridge
The Pentagon just briefed Trump on the most complex military operation in American historyThe plan: fly hundreds of troops deep into Iran, parachute in the 82nd Airborne to secure the perimeter, build a runway from scratch, bring in heavy excavation equipment to blast through 300 feet of rubble, send Delta Force and SEALs in wearing hazmat suits with blow torches and saws to breach underground tunnels, locate and extract 1,000 pounds of uranium in sealed cylinders while checking for booby traps and decoys, decontaminate everything, then airlift it all out through hostile airspace.Timeline: weeks to months. Under constant missile and drone fire. With only a few dozen troops in the entire military trained to handle nuclear material retrieval.A former defense official put it perfectly: "It starts to look like you're not just buying a car on the lot, you're buying the entire assembly line."Yesterday Trump told Reuters he doesn't care about the uranium anymore because "it's so far underground."Today the Pentagon reportedly briefed him a plan to go get it. Source: Washington Post
Orban is massively buying votes in the poorest Hungarian regions.Party representatives are traveling around settlements and offering local residents €150-170 per vote. Local mayors promise firewood, medicines, part-time work, and transport to polling stations for a "correct" vote, and threaten them if they refuse. The campaign's reach is 600,000 voters (about 10% of the entire Hungarian electorate).This is stated in a large-scale investigation "The Price of a Vote," which was jointly conducted by six independent Hungarian projects.Journalists collected testimonies from 60 people from 14 different communities, including ordinary citizens, officials, and law enforcement officers.A few details:▪️Initially, journalists were just trying to collect evidence of voter bribery. As the investigation progressed, it became clear that this is a whole system that exploits the vulnerability of disadvantaged social strata.▪️In one of the settlements, where the mayor also works as a local doctor, residents fear that they will not be given medicines if they do not vote for the party.▪️In another village, an opposition candidate - a member of the Roma community - withdrew his candidacy from the elections after the authorities threatened to take away his children and send them to an orphanage.▪️Residents are offered €150-170 per vote (50-60 thousand forints), which is a significant sum for them, as the payment for a child, for example, is €30-50.▪️In the previous elections, voters were brought to the polling stations in buses. There is a practice where voters are asked to pretend to be illiterate. In this case, a "companion" is assigned to the person. This "companion" ensures that the "correct" vote is cast.▪️Several people described how drug addicts were offered crack (a cheap and easy-to-produce cocaine derivative), which is widespread in poor settlements.▪️The ruling party is not using such practices for the first time. Thanks to it, in the previous elections in a number of polling stations, Orban's "Fidesz" achieved scores of 80-100% of votes. But journalists note that previous campaigns cannot compare with the current scale.
