CRUXMEDIA

Ukrainian President Zelensky slammed his Western allies for taking too long to make key decisions on sending military aid to Kyiv. Zelensky said he wanted his partners to be more directly involved in the war, but understood they were wary of antagonising Russia. He suggested ways in which allies could help more directly, including by shooting down Russian missiles over Ukrainian territory.

Taiwanese lawmakers shouted each other down in an unruly parliamentary session a day after President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration. Lawmakers jostled, unfurled banners and shouted at each other as the opposition tried to push through a bill that widens parliament oversight. While Lai won the presidential elections in January his Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority and now faces an opposition alliance. Taiwan’s main opposition parties have joined hands to back reforms that give parliament greater scrutiny over the government. One of the bills proposes to punish officials considered in contempt of the parliament. The KMT has proposed granting the legislature "investigative rights" beyond its current right to access official documents.

Poland has arrested nine members of a Russian spy ring in connection with alleged sabotage plots, PM Donald Tusk said. Warsaw says its position as a hub for supplies to Ukraine has made it a key target for Russian intelligence services and accuses Moscow of trying to destabilise the country. Those detained are accused of "beatings, arson and attempted arson," according to Tusk. "These are Ukrainian, Belarusian and Polish citizens," Tusk said, suggesting some may have been recruited from criminal circles. He said Poland was collaborating with its allies on the issue and that the plots also affected Lithuania, Latvia and possibly also Sweden.

The helicopter that crashed killing Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi did not have a transponder fitted or had it turned off, a Turkish probe has found. Turkey said that they had checked for a signal from the helicopter’s transponder that broadcasts height and location information. “Unfortunately, [we think] most likely the transponder system was turned off or that the helicopter did not have one,” Turkish transport minister said. Reports say that Iranian official had flagged concerns regarding the maintenance of its fleet of ageing helicopters. The Iranian government had reportedly been urged in a memo by officials to purchase two Russian helicopters for its leaders. The helicopter involved in the crash was a Bell 212, a US-made two-blade aircraft capable of carrying 15 people. Tehran has launched a probe into the crash which will also be examining if weather checks were made before the decision to fly was taken.

Taiwan's newly inaugurated president called on China to stop threatening the island and accept the existence of its democracy. Ching-te urged Beijing to replace confrontation with dialogue, warning that Taiwan would never back down in the face of intimidation from China. China responded to Lai, saying he had sent "dangerous signals" that sought to undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese foreign ministry lashed out saying “Taiwan independence is a dead end” and is “doomed to fail." Just as Lai was being sworn in, China's Commerce Ministry announced sanctions against several US companies "involved in arms sales to Taiwan."

Iran’s anti-Israel "Axis of Resistance" and its allies expressed condolences after Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Iraq-based armed groups and the Syrian government all mourned Raisi’s death. Among those killed when the helicopter crashed into a remote mountainside was Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Abdollahian was known for his fierce anti-Israel sentiment and skepticism of the West. Meanwhile, leaders of Russia and China both mourned the death of their good friend, Ebrahim Raisi’s died. Watch the video to find out more.

President Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash has come at a time when Iran is facing unprecedented external and internal challenges. The death of Raisi, the second most important man in Iran, after supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is expected to have far-reaching consequences. One of the big questions raised by Raisi’s death is how his absence is likely to affect the battle over who succeeds the current supreme leader. meanwhile, the loss of foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in the helicopter crash has dealt a blow to Iran’s foreign policy. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri has been appointed as Iran’s acting foreign minister amid the rapidly changing equation in the Middle East. However, experts say Iran’s hardliners may regard Bagheri as too willing to negotiate with the west over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Israeli government has offered no comment on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a chopper crash. However, the decades-long shadow war and the recent flare-up of tensions between the two sides led to speculation on Israel’s role in the incident. An unnamed Israeli official told Reuters that "It wasn't us" adding that Israel was not involved in the crash. Israeli minister, Avigdor Liberman, chair of the opposition party, said Israel did not expect Raisi’s death to make any difference to Iran’s policies. Rabbi David Chai Hacohen, the prominent head of a religious Zionist yeshiva, told his students to omit the Tachanun prayer on May 20. Meanwhile, a satirical page on X poofing the Mossad spy agency posted a photo implying a Mossad agent named “Eli Kopter” had piloted the chopper. Watch the video to find out more.

Iran's supreme leader appointed First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber as country's acting president after President Ebrahim Raisi's death on May 20. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi’s sudden death in a helicopter crash has cast a shadow of political uncertainty. However, The Iranian cabinet assured that the government will continue to operate "without the slightest disruption" following Raisi’s demise. Iran's constitution outlines the protocols to be followed when a president is incapacitated or dies in office. Meanwhile, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri was appointed acting foreign minister after the death of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash.

Iran’s President Raisi was killed after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed on May 19 due to bad weather. Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian, a key figure in the recent Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement, was also killed in the crash. The news of the Iranian President’s helicopter making a “hard landing” triggered an extensive search. The search and rescue operation was however hampered by bad weather and foggy conditions. Iranian Red Crescent Society announced they had found the location of the wreckage after it was detected by a Turkish Akinci UAV. Watch the video to find out about Turkish Akinci.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi died after a helicopter carrying him and other officials crashed in a mountainous terrain in heavy fog on May 19. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi and his companions were riding a US-manufactured Bell 212 helicopter when it made a “hard landing.” Apart from the President, the Iranian foreign minister and East Azerbaijan Province Governor were also onboard. The helicopter was manufactured by Bell Textron, an American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Watch the video to find out more.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has died after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in the country’s northwest on May 19, state media confirmed. Along with Raisi, Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other officials travelling with him have also died. The rescuers found the helicopter wreckage after a Turkish drone pointed to two “heat sources” in the village of Tawal. "Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet," state TV reported about 15 hours after the aircraft went missing.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) army said it repelled an attempted coup in the capital Kinshasa, involving Congolese and foreign fighters on May 19. At least three people were killed in Kinshasa following a shootout between armed men in military uniform and guards of a top politician. Two guards and an assailant were killed in an attack on the home of Vital Kamerhe, a member of parliament, tipped to become speaker. A Facebook page, likely belonging to Christian Malanga, a US-based politician, posted a video in which he appeared to be leading the attack.

In a significant display of military cooperation, a pair of US F-22 Raptors engaged in a rare dogfighting exercise with South Korean F-35As on May 16. The exercise, which marked the first simulated air battle between these advanced fighter jets, featured close-range air combat manoeuvres. According to the South Korea-based Maeil Business newspaper, the exercise was designed to test and enhance the capabilities of both the air forces. The ROKAF* confirmed that the training involved the four stealth fighters taking turns in offensive and defensive roles during simulated confrontation. The manoeuvres allowed pilots to share the latest tactics and improve their skills in identifying and engaging enemy aircraft at close range. Watch the video to find out more.

Ukrainian forces claim to have destroyed the Russian Black Sea fleet minesweeper, refuting Moscow’s earlier claim of having repelled strikes on Crimea. "Last night the Ukrainian Defence Forces destroyed the Russian Black Sea Fleet's Project 266-M Kovrovets minesweeper," Ukraine said. The Russian Foreign Minister said Moscow won’t view Western European countries as partners again for “at least one generation”. Russia’s defence ministry claims to have downed 57 drones over its Krasnodar region and three drones over Belgorod Oblast. Russian airstrikes killed at least five people in an overnight attack on the Kharkiv region on May 19.

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suffered a “hard landing,” Iran’s state TV reported on May 19. Raisi was travelling in Iran’s East Azerbaijan province when the incident took place, according to reports. State TV said the incident happened near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, some 600 km northwest of Tehran. Rescuers were attempting to reach the site, state TV said, but had been hampered by poor weather conditions in the area. There had been heavy rain reported with some wind in the region, according to reports. Travelling with Raisi were Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province and other officials, IRNA reported. One local government official used the word “crash” to describe the incident, but he said he had yet to reach the site himself.

Israel’s war cabinet minister threatened PM Benjamin Netanyahu of bolting his coalition if he did not prepare a post-war plan by June 8. Benny Gantz issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu demanding a post-war plan on Gaza, including who would rule the territory after Hamas’s defeat. Gantz listed six key goals including an alternative to Hamas rule in Gaza, the return of hostages and the normalisation of ties with Saudi Arabia. Gantz enraged several Israeli ministers by saying the war had been drifting in recent months due to the “cowardice” of some of Israel’s leaders. Not just Gantz, on May 15, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the third member of the war cabinet, said he would quit if Israel elected to reoccupy Gaza.

On May 19, Georgia President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the “Russian law” targeting media. The controversial law sparked massive protests and even saw protesters trying to barge into the parliament. Zourabichvili said the legislation contradicted Georgia’s Constitution and “all European standards,” adding it “must be abolished.” However, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, has a majority sufficient to override Zourabichvili’s veto and is widely expected to do so in the coming days. Zourabichvili said it was hard to say whether the bill was Georgian Dream’s initiative or if Moscow had played any role in its passage. Watch the video to find out more.

A Philippine mayor faced accusations of acting as a Chinese asset amid a growing territorial dispute between the two countries. “No one knows her… That's why we are investigating this,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Alice Guo, the 35-year-old mayor of Bamban, found herself in the middle of a potential scandal over her origins and allegiances. Guo claimed to have grown up on a pig farm and had raised no concerns prior to a strange discovery made in her town this month, the BBC reported. Marcos also said the Philippine authorities were investigating the matter with the Bureau of Immigration because of the “questions about her citizenship.” Watch the video to find out more.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used his presidential power to pardon seven retired generals who were serving life sentences. The retired generals were serving the sentence for their role in a military intervention in Turkey in 1997 known as the February 28 “postmodern coup”. The retired generals have been behind bars since August 2021 after their convictions in 2018 by a high criminal court in Ankara.

A protest broke out in the Philippines against the deployment of a US mid-range missile system in the northern part of the country. Members of the newly formed leftist movement P1NAS asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to reconsider the deployment of the US Typhon missile system. The Philippine activists argued that the missile system could make the region a “priority target” for Beijing. Typhon can launch various missiles, including the Tomahawk and the new SM-6 interceptor missile. P1NAS spokesman Antonio Tinio argued that deploying the Typhon meant making the region “a high-value target” for pre-emptive attacks or retaliation in the event of war. Watch the video to find out more.

The Philippines will purchase five patrol vessels from Japan amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. The deal will be financed through a Japanese loan worth about $415 million, the two sides announced on May 17. The deal is part of the Maritime Safety Capacity Improvement Project (MSCIP) approved by the Philippine government in 2023. The project aims to augment the capability of the Philippine Coast Guard to “respond to threats and incidents within the country’s maritime jurisdiction.” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had promised the loan during his Manila visit in November 2023. At a ceremony in Manila, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo signed an agreement on the loan. Watch the video find out more.

The Israeli military said a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operative was killed in an airstrike in the Gaza strip. The Israel Defence Forces said the slain PIJ operative was head of logistics for the terror group in the city in southern Gaza. As part of his role, he was responsible for “preparing the enemy for the IDF’s manoeuvre in Rafah,” said the IDF. Hamas said a "commander" was killed in an Israeli strike on May 17 on an eastern district of Lebanon near the Syrian border. Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said "commander" Sharhabil Sayed was killed "after he was targeted by Israeli occupation aircraft" in Lebanon's West Bekaa. A source close to the Palestinian militant group told AFP that Sayed was a Hamas official responsible for Lebanon's Bekaa region. Israel’s military said its troops continued operations in northern and southern Gaza, and that its jets struck 70 targets across the enclave in the last day.

Russian forces claimed to have seized a village near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, where it launched a new offensive last week. In an interview with AFP, Ukrainian President Zelensky warned Russia could intensify its offensive, urging the West for more air defences. However, Zelensky claimed Russia does “not have the forces” to attack Kyiv today, as it did in 2022. Zelensky said the "biggest advantage" for Russia was a ban on Ukraine using Western-donated weapons to strike Russian territory. Zelensky also rejected French President Macron's call for an Olympic truce, saying it would be an "advantage" to Russia, giving it time to move troops and artillery. US media reported that Kyiv urged Washington to provide intelligence on targets on Russian soil as Ukrainian troops struggle on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian President warned that Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region might only be the “first wave” of several such advances. Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in the region, where Russia had seized several border villages, was “controlled” but “not stabilized.” Zelensky said Russian troops were “going deeper” and could soon aim for the city of Kharkiv. Moscow expanded the area of active combat by almost 70 kilometres by launching its offensive in the Kharkiv region, said Ukraine’s army chief. Meanwhile, Nearly 10,000 people had been forced to leave their homes in Kharkiv since the ground attack launched by Russian forces on May 10.