Russia’s War Machine Revs Up as the West’s Plan to Cap Oil Revenues Sputters (www.nytimes.com)
The United States and its allies in the Group of 7 nations set two goals in 2022 when they enacted a novel plan to cap the price of Russian oil: restrict Moscow’s ability to profit from its energy exports while allowing its oil to continue flowing on international markets to prevent a global price shock....
Faced With a Russian Onslaught, Ukraine Struggles to Keep the Lights On (www.nytimes.com)
As Ukraine struggles to hold back Russian advances, the country’s officials say they are once again facing the formidable challenge of keeping electricity flowing as Moscow’s forces increasingly strike power plants....
Austin at Ramstein: US has 'already delivered many of Ukraine's top priority requirements' (kyivindependent.com)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin delivered the opening remarks at the 22nd Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on May 20, emphasizing that the new Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast has added to the urgency of the West’s support for Ukraine....
‘People are in no mood to mourn’: mixed reactions in Tehran after death of President Ebrahim Raisi (www.theguardian.com)
Iran’s supreme leader has announced a five-day mourning period, but there have been fireworks and cheering in the country since the death was confirmed...
Germany: Trial of far-right coup 'ringleaders' set to begin (www.dw.com)
The ringleaders of a far-right network of “Reichsbürger” around Heinrich XIII Prince Reuss begins in Frankfurt on Tuesday. The group has been accused of planning to topple the government....
EU hit as China launches tit-for-tat anti-dumping probe (www.euronews.com)
Thermoplastics coming from the US, the EU, Taiwan and Japan are sold at prices below fair market value, says Beijing....
European leaders divided on ICC arrest warrant bid for Netanyahu (www.politico.eu)
Reactions ranged from welcoming the International Criminal Court’s decision to slamming it as “appalling” and “non comprehensible.”...
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Warrant Applications by the International Criminal Court (www.whitehouse.gov)
Full statement:...
A Ukrainian student escaped Russia after his arrest for anti-war posts. Meduza’s sources say his friends asked Putin’s daughter for help. (meduza.io)
International Criminal Court prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu, Hamas leaders (www.cnbc.com)
ICC to seek arrest warrants for Israeli, Hamas leaders (abcnews.go.com)
Comet fragment lights up sky over Spain and Portugal 'like a movie' (www.reuters.com)
Did anyone here see it?
EXCLUSIVE: ICC seeks arrest warrants against Sinwar and Netanyahu for war crimes over October 7 attack and Gaza war | CNN (edition.cnn.com)
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Requests Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Leaders (www.nytimes.com)
The International Criminal Court prosecutor said Monday that he has requested arrest warrants for the leaders of Hamas and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel....
Climate change impacts millions in India. But as the country votes, some politicians skirt the issue (apnews.com)
Almost 970 million Indians are voting in general elections amid sweltering heat and unpredictable weather extremes exacerbated by human-caused climate change, leading to loss of livelihood, forced migration and increasingly difficult living conditions for millions across the country....
Poland invests $2.5 billion into fortifying border with Russia and Belarus (apnews.com)
Poland is investing about $2.5 billion to step up security and deterrence on its border with Russia and its ally Belarus, the prime minister said Saturday....
Islamic State claims responsibility for gun attack that killed three Spanish tourists in Afghanistan (news.sky.com)
The terror group’s affiliate in Afghanistan is a major rival of the country’s Taliban government, and earlier claimed responsibility for an attack on Chinese citizens in Kabul in 2022....
'Stop threatening Taiwan', its new president William Lai tells China (www.bbc.com)
Taiwan’s newly inaugurated president William Lai has called on China to stop threatening the island and accept the existence of its democracy....
Post-Brexit trade border controls to cost UK $6 billion (www.dw.com)
The UK’s public spending watchdog said government expenditures on implementing new rules for post-Brexit imports would total some $6 billion. The report criticized “uncertainty” surrounding government plans....
EU will demand Labour’s Brexit plan involves European Court (www.politico.eu)
Keir Starmer wants to sign a new agreement with the EU — one which would smooth disruption to trade, solve the Northern Ireland border issue, and make life simpler for farmers, all in one go....
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange facing pivotal moment in long fight to stay out of US court [ BRIAN MELLEY | May 18, 2024 | Associated Press] (apnews.com)
“Julian has been indicted for receiving, possessing and communicating information to the public of evidence of war crimes committed by the U.S. government,” his wife, Stella Assange, said. “Reporting a crime is never a crime.”
‘Only Hamas can defend us’: Israeli raids and Fatah failures boost support in West Bank (www.theguardian.com)
Khalil, a shy 21-year-old whose name has been changed, was arrested in a pre-dawn raid last October for his allegiance to Hamas. But when Israeli forces smashed through the door of his family home, they didn’t tell him why they were detaining him. He was imprisoned for six months without charge, in conditions he described as...
AI chatbots’ safeguards can be easily bypassed, say UK researchers (www.theguardian.com)
Guardrails to prevent artificial intelligence models behind chatbots from issuing illegal, toxic or explicit responses can be bypassed with simple techniques, UK government researchers have found....
Taiwan’s new president takes office and calls on China to cease its hostile actions (www.theguardian.com)
Lai Ching-te has been sworn in as Taiwan’s new president, urging China to “cease their political and military intimidation against Taiwan” and to keep the world free from the fear of more war....