China's Foreign Ministry to Japan:

Is the Japanese side trying to repeat history… and once again become the source of disaster in East Asia?

Japan has been making frequent, dangerous, reckless, and provocative moves… defying its dedication to peace.

These remarks sound more like war mobilization and war cries.

The international community will never accept this.

Zelensky to Israel:

Buying stolen goods is a crime, this includes grain stolen by Russia.

This is not and cannot be legitimate business. Israel cannot claim it doesn’t know what enters its ports.

We took all diplomatic steps—yet the ship was not stopped.

We will sanction those transporting and profiting from this.

We expect respect—and no actions that undermine our relations.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

If I were American, I would have voted for Donald Trump.

He was speaking about family values, and people here like that.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić:

I cannot justify everything, but I am still a friend of Israel.

You cannot say it’s not a violation of international law to attack a sovereign country like Iran.

Greece’s ruling party is clashing with EU prosecutors over a huge farm subsidy corruption scandal involving hundreds of millions of euros.

Several politicians are implicated.

The government is attacking the EU investigation, calling it political interference and even threatening to pull out of cooperation, while the EU prosecutor insists the focus is on systemic corruption, nepotism, and fraud.

Source: Politico

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov:

Nobody in Ukraine would agree to lose even an inch of territory.

Nobody wants to deal with the weak — international law doesn’t work here.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov:

We will never renounce our territories. Never recognize occupation.

This is our land, we cannot trade it.

Ukraine carried out another drone strike on Russia’s Tuapse oil refinery, marking the third major attack this month.

The strike hit remaining fuel storage tanks, causing new explosions and large fires.

The facility was already heavily damaged.

Israelis were surrounded and shouted at by locals in Cusco, Peru, who accuse them of being “murderers”, “baby killers” and “war criminals” and tell them to leave.

Trump is weighing two paths in dealing with Iran: escalating with military strikes or continuing his “maximum pressure” sanctions to force negotiations.

He has at times taken a hard line, telling one adviser, “All [Iran’s leaders] understand is bombs.”

But advisers say he remains cautious about actually launching new attacks. As one described it, he is “frustrated but realistic… He doesn’t want to use force. But he’s not backing down.”

Source: Axios

WATCH: The village of Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon after extensive Israeli destruction.

Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel says Falkland Islanders who feel British to “go back to England”:

The Kelpers are English people who live in Argentine territory; they are not part of the discussion.

If they feel English, they should go back to the thousands of miles away where their country is.

Today, more than ever, the Malvinas are Argentine.

NEW: Russia claims a coup attempt in Mali was stopped.

Russia’s Defense Ministry says its “African Corps” helped stop a large-scale attack on April 25.

Around 12,000 fighters reportedly hit four major cities, including the capital.

Russia claims ~2,500 attackers were killed.

It also alleges the fighters were trained by Ukrainian and European instructors.

NEW: Poland and Belarus just swapped prisoners, 5 for 5.

Both sides exchanged 5 prisoners each at the border.

Belarus released 3 Poles (including journalist Andrzej Poczobut) and 2 Moldovans.

Poland returned 5 Belarusians, reportedly linked to intelligence activities.

The deal was partly facilitated with US involvement.

Timothy Ash | Russia & Eurasia Expert | Chatham House:
 

Von Der Leyen's comments on Türkiye were extraordinary & disappointing. 
 
After 4 years of war in Ukraine, European politicians should understand the existential threat from Russia - & that America is no longer there for Europe's defense.
 
Türkiye's response was grown up. 
 
The quickest way to build Europe's defense is with Türkiye. A major partner, EU candidate & deeply integrated into Europe.
 
Europeans pushed back on EU accession & Türkiye understood Europe was double faced.
 
But in the end, Türkiye & Europe's future is together.

FULL INTERVIEW

BREAKING: UAE says it will quit OPEC and OPEC+.

This means the UAE can pump more oil independently.

It also weakens OPEC+ control and signals more tensions with Saudi Arabia.

UAE Energy Minister says the decision was made independently and no direct consultations were held with others, including Saudi Arabia.

Source: Reuters

In China, you can buy 5 electric cars for the price of 1 average US car.

Average US car: about $51,000.

Many Chinese EVs: $6,000–$12,000.

Over 200 EV models under $25,000 in China.

Source: Reuters

Timothy Ash | Russia & Eurasia Expert | Chatham House:
 

It would be idiotic to ignore what Türkiye brings to the table. 400,000 battle-hardened soldiers, thousands of main battle tanks & armored personnel carriers - & a military industrial complex built over 20 years while Europe was de-industrializing.
 
The quickest way for Europe to rebuild defense capability is through Türkiye's defense manufacturing base.
 
Two-thirds of Türkiye's foreign investment, financing & trade is with Europe. Türkiye is the largest military force in European NATO.
 
Von Der Leyen's comments make no sense. European politicians are still living in a fantasy land - not understanding the threats they face.
 
When presented with solutions, they find excuses to ignore them.

FULL INTERVIEW

Serbia’s Jewish Foreign Minister, Marko Đurić, opens his statement in Hebrew during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart:

I want all Israelis to know—you have true friends.