Japan stresses importance of keeping ties with Russia, says top diplomat
Japan's senior foreign affairs official Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters on May 12 that maintaining a working relationship with Russia remains a strategic priority for Tokyo. Motegi, speaking in Tokyo, highlighted Russia...
Iran allegedly relocates aircraft to Pakistan and Afghanistan to evade U.S. strikes
Iranian state media reported on May 12 that Tehran has transferred several combat aircraft to bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan to shield them from possible United States air raids. The story was quoted by a regional TV ...
SpaceX launches NROL‑172 mission, delivering U.S. intelligence satellites to orbit
SpaceX successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral on May 11, sending the NROL‑172 payload into low Earth orbit on a Falcon 9 booster. The mission marks the second launch this year for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Of...
Pakistani ambassador says Strait of Hormuz opening featured in Iran negotiations
During a diplomatic briefing on May 11, Pakistan's ambassador to Iran, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, indicated that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was a central issue in current Iran‑related talks. Tirmizi clarified that t...
U.S. media reports President Trump weighing renewed military action against Iran
A television channel cited by CNN on May 11 relayed that President Donald Trump is seriously considering a new military campaign against Iran, though any final decision is unlikely before his scheduled trip to China late...
Finnish politician says Estonian minister Kallas cannot mediate Russia‑EU talks
On May 11, Finnish politician Armando Mema declared that Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Kallas has no realistic chance of serving as a mediator between Russia and the European Union. Mema suggested that the role would ...
Russian diplomat blames Zelensky and US for 'Yermak scandal' threatening Ukraine’s image
Russian Foreign Ministry official Rodion Miroshnik issued a series of statements on May 11 linking Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Yermak’s recent controversy to broader political upheaval beyond Ukraine’s borders. Mir...
Netherlands quarantines 12 healthcare workers after hantavirus protocol breaches
Dutch health authorities placed 12 staff members from Radboud University Medical Center under quarantine on May 11 following an investigation that revealed lapses in handling a patient infected with hantavirus. The decis...
Pakistan to Host US‑Iran Negotiations as Iran Pushes 14‑Point Deal
Islamabad is set to become the venue for the next round of talks between the United States and Iran, the Pakistani ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, announced on May 11. The talks, scheduled for early June, will...
Former Ukrainian Official Claims Zelensky Offered Donbas in 2022 Talks with Russia
A former Ukrainian official, Yulia Mendel, asserted on May 11 that President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed handing over the Donbas region during the 2022 Moscow negotiations. According to Mendel, the Ukrainian delegation "...
Pakistan Seeks BRICS Membership, Ambassador Says It Would Strengthen Bloc
On May 11, Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, announced that Islamabad intends to apply for full membership in the BRICS grouping of emerging economies. Tirmizi argued that Pakistan’s accession would "...
Bosnian Serb Leader Dodik Accuses EU of Shrinking Under Kallas Leadership
Bosnian Serb political figure Milorad Dodik accused European Union institutions of losing relevance during the tenure of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s successor, Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, on May 11. Speakin...
UAE Allegedly Struck Iranian Oil Refinery on Lavan Island, Reports Suggest
According to unnamed sources cited by the Wall Street Journal and reported by TASS on May 11, the United Arab Emirates may have carried out an aerial or missile strike on the Lavan Island oil refinery in Iran’s Persian G...
Trump Signals Possible US Resumption of Strait of Hormuz Operations Amid Iran Tensions
In a televised briefing on May 11, President Donald Trump warned that the United States could resume naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz or take “more serious action” if Iran continues its “unacceptable” behavior, a...
Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman Fines Yandex’s Dutch Subsidiary €100 Million for Transferring Yango User Data to Russia
Finland’s Data Protection Ombudsman announced on May 11 that MLU B.V., a Dutch‑registered subsidiary of Russian tech giant Yandex, has been fined €100 million for illegally transferring personal data of Yango taxi‑servic...
Three-Day Russia‑Ukraine Ceasefire Ends as Both Sides Trade Violation Accusations
The three‑day ceasefire that began on May 9, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, expired at midnight on May 12, ending a brief lull in fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Both Moscow and Kyiv ac...
Ukraine’s Oligarchs Hesitant to Oppose Zelensky Over Fear of Western Sanctions, Says Former Secretary
Former Ukrainian secretary Yulia Mendel told TASS on May 11 that the country’s wealthiest individuals are refraining from openly challenging President Volodymyr Zelensky because they fear the repercussions of Western san...
EU and UK Impose Sanctions on Russian Officials Over Ukrainian Child Deportations
The European Union and the United Kingdom announced coordinated sanctions on a slate of Russian institutions and officials on May 11, accusing them of orchestrating the systematic deportation and ideological indoctrinati...
Analysts Debate 'Hunter Virus' Not New Covid, Discuss Oil Scenarios and Urals Discount
A commentary piece published by The Bell on May 11 explored three distinct topics affecting Russia’s economy: the notion that the so‑called “Hunter virus” is not a new coronavirus strain, emerging scenarios for the globa...
Ukraine’s Andriy Yermak Refuses Comment on Nickname Allegations Until Investigation Ends
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, declined to comment on recent allegations that a nickname used for him in the so‑called “Mindich audio files” was linked to espionage concerns. Spe...