Zelensky:

Our warriors continue enforcing sanctions against Russia’s shadow oil fleet — they struck two such vessels at the entrance to the port of Novorossiysk.

These tankers had been actively used to transport oil. Now they won’t be.

China’s Ministry of Commerce told Chinese companies: Do NOT comply with U.S. sanctions on certain Chinese oil refiners.

The U.S. had sanctioned these firms for buying oil from Iran.

China says the sanctions are illegal “extraterritorial” overreach.

China is protecting its oil trade with Iran and pushing back against U.S. pressure.

Israel approved buying two new fighter jet squadrons—F-35 Lightning II and F-15IA—for tens of billions of shekels.

Greece and Ukraine agreed to co-produce Ukrainian naval drones in Greek shipyards in 2025, giving Greece access to proven war tech and Ukraine a new production base.

But now the deal is stalled because Ukraine wants a formal say (possibly veto power) over how Greece could use those drones in a conflict.

Greek officials suspect Ukraine is trying not to antagonize Türkiye, a key Black Sea player and mediator with Russia.

Source: Kathimerini

New Die Welt profile on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz resurfaced a 2020 Zoom mishap.

During a COVID-era interview, Merz couldn’t hear anyone because he hadn’t turned on his speakers.

After a few seconds, he got frustrated and started yelling and swearing, while everyone else could hear him.

An aide, Armin Peter, quickly fixed it by pointing out the mute/speaker issue.

Source: Die Welt

Israel is ramping up propaganda (“hasbara”) spending to ~$730 million in 2026 (≈5× jump from 2025 to counter global backlash.

What the money does:
— Big push into social media ads + AI tools.
— Influencer campaigns + foreign delegations.
— Centralized “media war room” inside the Foreign Ministry.

Source: ToI

NEW: Iran's IRGC says the U.S. is boxed in:

“The room for U.S. decision-making has narrowed” and Donald Trump must choose between an “impossible military operation” or a “bad deal.”

King Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan (22) to a senior military coordination post inside the armed forces, marking his first real operational role.

The Role: “Coordinator of the Offices and Services of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR)”, a central position linking logistics, intelligence, and strategy across the military.

This is a hands-on command track, not ceremonial.

It mirrors the exact path Mohammed VI took as crown prince.

Netanyahu:

We are purchasing two squadrons of advanced aircraft, F-35 and F-15IA.

Our pilots can reach anywhere in Iran's skies, and they are prepared to do so if required.

And regarding independence: I have directed to invest in self-production capability of armaments.

In the coming decade, we will add 350 billion shekels to the defense budget, and this is to produce these armaments in Israel and not be dependent abroad.

Simultaneously, we will develop groundbreaking aircraft, blue and white products.

This will change the whole picture.

And regarding drones: a few weeks ago, I ordered the establishment of a special project to counter the drone threat.

And already today, a progress report on the subject will be presented to me. It will take time, but we are on it.

Two U.S. service members went missing May 2, 2026 during African Lion 2026 in southern Morocco (near Tan Tan).

A large search-and-rescue effort (U.S., Moroccan, partners) is ongoing.

Unconfirmed reports say they may have been off-duty near a cliff and possibly swept into the ocean, but that’s not officially confirmed.

Marco Rubio is expected to visit Italy this week and meet Pope Leo on Thursday.

Source: Reuters

Israel has carried out widespread destruction in southern Lebanon, flattening entire towns near the border, including places like Bint Jbeil.

Satellite imagery shows that dozens of villages have been heavily damaged or reduced to rubble since fighting with Hezbollah resumed in March.

The conflict has killed more than 2,600 people in Lebanon and displaced over a million. Civilian infrastructure—homes, schools, hospitals, and utilities—has been widely destroyed.

Israel says its actions are lawful and necessary.

Source: NYT

Bessent on Iran:

We are suffocating the regime.

They are not able to pay their soldiers.

Avi Bluth, head of the IDF Central Command (overseeing the West Bank), says Israeli troops can shoot Palestinian stone-throwers if they’re a threat, but not applied the same to "settlers" due to “severe sociological consequences.”

Algeria’s President Tebboune on UAE's withdrawal from OPEC:

It is a non-event.

Among the Arab countries, the main pillar in OPEC is the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

End of discussion, and the book is closed... with them... It's finished.

WATCH: German Chancellor Merz snapped at a terminally ill woman who challenged health cuts and political pay.

A woman with stage IV cancer said:

I’ve already sent you an invitation to my funeral… I can’t afford it.

Why are cuts hitting us citizens… but not politicians?

Merz, visibly irritated, shot back:

At no point… was it ever considered to raise government salaries.

I would be grateful if you would not repeat that unchecked.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio DJing at a wedding in Florida.

NEW: Iran proposes a 3-stage plan to end the war.

Stage 1 (Now): End the war

— Turn ceasefire into permanent peace (≈30 days)

— Reopen Hormuz + lift US blockade (gradual)

— Mutual non-aggression (incl. Israel)

Stage 2 (mid-term):

Nuclear deal
— Freeze enrichment up to 15 years

— Later cap at 3.6% (civilian level)

— No dismantling of nuclear sites

— Sanctions lifted step-by-step

Stage 3 (long-term): Region

— Launch Middle East security talks
Source: Al Jazeera

WATCH: Mass fuel-smuggling convoys spotted from Iran into Pakistan (Balochistan).

Hundreds of pickups + motorbikes hauling cheap Iranian fuel.

U.S. blockade limits sea exports → fuel builds up.

TankerTrackers on Hormuz blockade:

Out of 25 Iranian oil tankers in April, the U.S. stopped some, but most still got through.

25 total shipments.
7 turned back.
2 seized.
1 delivered.

16 made it past the blockade.

Sweden seized oil tanker Jin Hui in the Baltic Sea as part of a growing crackdown on Russia’s sanctions-dodging “shadow fleet.”

The ship—sailing under a Syrian flag—was boarded near Trelleborg.

Authorities suspect it’s involved in sanctions evasion using fake/irregular flag registration, and also flagged safety and seaworthiness problems.

It was reportedly not carrying cargo, and its route/destination raised questions.