🇦🇺🇨🇳⚡️- The Australian government has ordered six Chinese shareholders to sell their stake in the Australian rare earth mineral company, Northern Minerals Ltd. The six shareholders own approximately 17% of the company, which is valued at $220 Million AUD ($157 Million USD), and have been given 14 days to divest from the company.

This is the second time the Australian government has intervened in Northern Minerals Ltd. In 2024, they also forced the sale of 10.4% of the company, which was also owned by Chinese-linked buyers.

The company primarily produces heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium, both of which are in heavy demand by defence industries.

Notably, last year, the Australian government and the United States government signed a critical minerals deal that included clauses that Australia would block asset sales due to "security grounds" if needed.

🇯🇵🇨🇳⚡️- "On May 15 and 16, due to the possibility of airspace violations in the East China Sea, fighter aircraft from the Air Self-Defense Force's Western Air Defense Force and other units were scrambled on alert and took appropriate action.

The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to respond with utmost readiness 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to protect our country's territory and the peaceful daily lives of our citizens" - Japanese Ministry of Defence.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- "In the past 24 hours, the IDF attacked more than 30 infrastructures of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

Among the infrastructures attacked: a weapons warehouse, observation posts, and buildings from which Hezbollah terrorists operated to advance terrorist routes against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

The IDF continues to act to remove threats to Israeli civilians and IDF forces in southern Lebanon.

Additionally, several terrorists from the Hezbollah terrorist organization who operated to advance terrorist routes against IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon were eliminated in precise strikes." - Israeli Defence Force.

🇮🇷🇴🇲⚡- Tehran and Muscat held talks last week in the Omani capital to negotiate a mechanism for the safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

🇾🇪⚡- Yemen's Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, PLC, Minister of Interior, Ibrahim Haidan, says Yemeni forces, with the help of Saudi intelligence, foiled a "large political assassination plot" in Aden, PLC's capital.

Haidan claims the terrorist cell plotting the major assassinations were backed by a foreign actor.

🇸🇴🇦🇪🇮🇱⚡- Emirati and Israeli delegations attend Somaliland's Liberation Day parade.

🇺🇸🇻🇪⚡️- Weekly crude oil imports from Venezuela, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Since the start of the Iran war, oil imports have had a noticeable uptick, back to their 2019 pre-sanctions Venezuela levels at 588 thousand barrels of oil per day, the highest recorded since January 2019, as oil importers seek alternatives to Gulf oil.

🇷🇺🇧🇾⚡️- "Today, with a view to enhancing the Armed Forces’ readiness to deploy modern weapons, including special munitions, military units have commenced training in the combat use of nuclear weapons and nuclear support under the direction of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces – First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus.

Military units of the missile forces and aviation are being deployed for the exercise. During the exercise, in cooperation with the Russian side, it is planned to practise the delivery of nuclear munitions and their preparation for use.

The exercise is a scheduled training activity within the framework of the Union State; it is not directed against third countries and does not pose a threat to security in the region." - Belarus Ministry of Defence.

🇩🇪🇦🇪🇮🇷⚡️- Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz posted on x saying the attack on the UAE Barakah Nuclear Power Plant was "Iran's" attack. It is still not entirely clear who is responsible for the drone.

"We strongly condemn the renewed Iranian airstrikes against the United Arab Emirates and other partners. Attacks on nuclear facilities pose a threat to the safety of people throughout the entire region. There must be no further escalation of violence.

Iran must enter into serious negotiations with the USA, stop threatening its neighbors, and open the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions." - Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany.

The "airstrikes" he mentions are likely a translation issue; they were drone attacks.

🇷🇼🇨🇩 - The situation in the Uvira-Bukavu direction, South Kivu region, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Wazalendo's large-scale counteroffensive continues against the M23, recapturing almost the entire Burundi-DRC border, including Uvira, Sange and Luvungi. M23 have withdrawn to the final major town before Bukavu, Kamanyola.

The counteroffensive is supported by Burundi's military on the ground, and the DR Congolese air force. Pro-M23 Maji-Maji factions in the Minembwe highlands have been subjected to an intensive and continuous aerial campaign for almost an entire week.

🇱🇧🇮🇱⚡️- "The IDF struck overnight (Sunday) in the Baalbek area and eliminated the terrorist Wael Mahmoud Abd Alhalem, who served as the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Bekaa region in Lebanon.

Alhalem led the joining of Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists to fight alongside Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon and worked to advance terror plans against IDF forces during the recent period." - Israeli Defence Force.

🇵🇸🇮🇱⚡️- The IDF is blocking radio communication of the flotilla vessels by playing Brittney Spears songs.

At least 2 vessels have already been boarded by Israeli Commandos.

🇻🇦⚡- Pope Leo XIV will release his first Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25th, which he will present at a press conference on the day of. The focus of Magnifica Humanitas is on preserving and maintaining the human person in the AI epoch.

🇸🇦🇵🇰🇮🇷⚡️- Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under their mutual defence pact, in addition to the troops sent earlier in the war, with a pledge to send more troops.

The Pakistani Defence Minister has also previously stated that Saudi Arabia is protected under Pakistan's nuclear umbrella.

🇲🇱🇨🇳⚡- JNIM launched an attack on the Chinese-run Narena mining site in the Koulikoro region, just southwest of Mali's capital Bamako.

Nine Chinese nationals have been abducted by the group.