🇪🇪 Arms prices in Europe have risen by 50%, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

According to him, in some cases prices have increased by 50–60% over the past two years.

He explained that the rise is driven by production shortages and the reluctance of defense companies to expand capacity without long-term contracts.

Pevkur also stressed that Europe should not delay boosting its combat readiness until 2030, as risks from Russia could materialize much sooner.

🇰🇷 Seoul Eyes Emergency Arbitration to Block Samsung Strike

South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok convened an emergency ministerial meeting on May 17, warning that a single day of halted semiconductor production at Samsung Electronics could incur direct losses of up to 1 trillion won (~$860M). The government and union are set to resume mediated pay talks on May 18, with Seoul prepared to invoke emergency arbitration — a rarely used measure that would prohibit industrial action for 30 days.

Samsung Electronics represents nearly 25% of South Korea's total exports, 26% of domestic market cap, and directly employs over 120,000 workers across 1,700 supplier relationships. A prolonged semiconductor line shutdown is particularly costly: restarting halted fabs can require months of recovery, with total economic damage potentially reaching 100 trillion won if materials are scrapped. Emergency arbitration has seldom been used and would mark an exceptional intervention by a union-friendly administration.

The union has stated it will negotiate in good faith, leaving mediated talks on May 18 as the immediate test of whether a strike can be avoided.

#SouthKorea

@asianomics

🇳🇬🇺🇸 US and Nigeria Kill Senior IS Leader in Joint Operation in Borno State

US President Donald Trump and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed on May 16, 2026 that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by Trump as the second-in-command of ISIS globally and sanctioned by the US since 2023, was killed in a joint US-Nigerian military strike on his compound in the Lake Chad Basin, in north-eastern Borno State. Nigerian and US Africa Command (Africom) forces conducted a precision air-land operation after intelligence identified a concealed and fortified enclave in a remote village. Several of al-Minuki's lieutenants were also killed. The Nigerian military reported no casualties or loss of assets.

Since late 2025, the US has pressed Nigeria to intensify counter-insurgency efforts and subsequently deployed drones and 200 troops for training and intelligence support. A previous joint airstrike was conducted in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, targeting Islamic State in the Sahel fighters.

#Nigeria

🔸 Source

@africaintel

Что случилось этой ночью: воскресенье, 17 мая

- В Подмосковье в результате атаки беспилотников погибли три человека. Еще один человек попал под завал

- В результате атаки дронов на Москву, по предварительным данным, ранено 12 человек. В основном пострадали строители Московского нефтеперерабатывающего завода.

- Минобороны сообщило о поражении 556 дронов ВСУ с начала воскресенья. Собянин заявил о нейтрализации 81 дрона на подлете к Москве.

- Нижегородский аэропорт принял 15 рейсов, направлявшихся в Москву. Причиной стали воздушные ограничения, объявленные ночью в столице.

- "Евровидение-2026" выиграла представительница Болгарии. Второе место досталось израильтянину, третье - певице из Румынии.

- "Аль-Наср" Роналду уступил японской "Гамбе" в финале азиатской Лиги чемпионов 2. Матч закончился со счетом 0:1.

#главное

@interfaxonline