Russian and American experts met last week to discuss mutual irritants in bilateral relations, Alexander Gusarov, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's North Atlantic Department, said in an interview with International Affairs magazine. "The dialogue between the Russian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department on eliminating 'irritants' has not stopped and continues on a regular, systematic basis at the level of experts. Incidentally, the most recent such meeting took place a week ago," Gusarov said. According to him, one of the key results of the talks has been the stabilization of the work of Russian and American institutions.

The authorities of Finland have confiscated Russian assets worth approximately €4 million. According to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle, Russia had transferred €3.7 million to Finnish authorities under a European Union cross-border cooperation programme. "The Enforcement Authority has confiscated Russian assets worth nearly €4 million… The claimant, as before, was the Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz and its subsidiaries," the authority said. Russia transferred the funds before the start of military operations in Ukraine, after which the programme was discontinued. The money remained on the balance sheet of the Finnish authorities.

The story of the "Russian institute" in Haifa unexpectedly raised a far more interesting question — who shapes public opinion in Israel, and with whose money? It appears that Israel's election campaign has begun before it has even been officially announced. And, as often happens during such periods, an old and familiar storyline has returned to the information space — Russian influence, the Kremlin, covert operations and, of course, Benjamin Netanyahu. The trigger was an investigation by OCCRP, which was later picked up by the Israeli project Shomrim. According to documents allegedly leaked from the Kremlin, the Russian Social Design Agency (SDA), described as the Kremlin's main executor of information operations in the West, developed a plan to create a fictitious research institute in Haifa that would produce analytical materials and promote a Moscow-friendly agenda in the Israeli media space.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have stepped up UAV strikes on Russian territory. The danger lies in the fact that Kyiv has moved their production into NATO's military-industrial complex, effectively becoming an unofficial participant in the alliance. Ukraine Enters Military-Industrial Complex of NATO Countries At the beginning of the year, the Kyiv regime reached an agreement with NATO countries — Belgium, Germany, Canada, Poland, Denmark, Norway and others — to move all major military production facilities from its territory into their jurisdictions. This was caused by the fact that Russia destroyed up to 50% of Ukraine's production capacity in 2025. At present, only small "garage" enterprises that equip drones remain in Ukraine, while large-scale production has been completely relocated abroad. Their products are delivered secretly and put into use immediately. This has produced results in terms of the scale and range of deployment, with a corresponding increase in damage and casualties in Russia.

A group of Russian fishermen endured an exhausting four-and-a-half-hour struggle with a giant mako shark before finally pulling the predator aboard their vessel in the Sea of Japan. The dramatic catch was captured on video and later shared on social media, where footage showed the fishermen battling the powerful fish as it repeatedly resisted their efforts to bring it closer to the boat. Despite the shark's strength and endurance, the crew eventually succeeded in landing the animal after hours of effort.

More than 46,000 women in Russia chose not to undergo abortions in 2025 after receiving pre-abortion counseling, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said during an international congress. According to the minister, counseling programs played a significant role in helping women reconsider their decisions and continue their pregnancies. Murashko presented the figures while outlining the results of the country's broader reproductive health initiatives and demographic support measures.

Residents of Russia's Trans-Baikal Territory woke up to winter-like conditions after a heavy snowfall blanketed parts of the region on the second day of summer. The snowfall struck the city of Petrovsk-Zabaykalsky, where roads, buildings, and open spaces quickly disappeared under a fresh layer of snow. The sudden weather change significantly reduced visibility and created difficult driving conditions. Forecasters warned that freezing temperatures could soon spread into neighboring Buryatia as the cold air mass continues moving across eastern Siberia.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is set to welcome a large number of foreign leaders and senior government officials this year, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said. Speaking ahead of the event, Ushakov said that approximately 20,000 participants from more than 100 countries have already confirmed their attendance. Political leaders and government representatives from around 76 countries are expected to take part in the forum. Among the confirmed guests are: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Abkhaz President Badra Gunba. Global Leaders to Join SPIEF Plenary Session Mirziyoyev, Suluhu Hassan, Han Zheng, and Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud are scheduled to speak at the forum's main plenary session on June 5. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also deliver a keynote address during the event.

Surgeons in the city of Lipetsk have successfully removed a dermoid ovarian cyst containing fully formed teeth from a 19-year-old patient, according to Russia's Ministry of Health. Doctors discovered the unusual growth during a medical examination and diagnosed it as a dermoid ovarian cyst, a benign tumor that develops from embryonic cells during fetal development. Medical specialists explained that these cells can become trapped in abnormal locations before birth. As a result, the cyst may gradually develop a variety of tissues, including skin, hair, sebaceous glands, and even tooth enamel.

Following a large-scale Russian attack that analysts described as one of the most powerful strikes on Kyiv since the start of the war, Ukraine has appealed to its Western partners for additional military support, stronger sanctions against Moscow, and greater diplomatic backing. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha outlined several measures that Kyiv believes its allies should take in response to the latest wave of attacks. Ukraine Calls for More Patriot Systems and Stronger Support Sybiha urged Western governments to use resources from the European Peace Facility to finance additional Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles for Ukraine.

The construction of the first prototype of Russia's Su-75 Checkmate fifth-generation fighter jet has officially begun, Vadim Badekha, Chief Executive Officer of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said. According to the official, the Checkmate program has already advanced to the prototype assembly stage, marking a significant milestone for one of Russia's most closely watched military aviation projects. "The work on the Checkmate has already reached the stage of building a prototype aircraft," the official  said, TASS reports.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has claimed that it uncovered and disrupted what it describes as one of the largest foreign intelligence operations ever conducted against the country through the use of spyware targeting mobile devices. According to an FSB operative quoted by state news agency TASS, foreign intelligence services allegedly deployed malicious software to gain access to the phones of Russian officials and individuals with access to classified state information. The agency described the operation as a complex, multi-layered intelligence effort involving coordination among several foreign states and warned that it carried significant security risks and potentially far-reaching consequences.

India plans to acquire 114 French-made Rafale fighter jets in a deal valued at approximately $40 billion, according to sources within the country's Ministry of Defence cited by local media. The proposed agreement would mark one of the largest defense procurement programs in India's history and further strengthen the country's efforts to modernize its air force capabilities. Under the reported terms of the contract, India would assemble 94 of the 114 aircraft domestically, while France would deliver the remaining jets directly.

Russian forces carried out a massive overnight strike on Ukraine in the early hours of Tuesday, targeting military-industrial facilities, military infrastructure, and strategic logistics assets across the country. Russia's Defense Ministry said the operation came in response to what it described as terrorist attacks carried out by Kyiv. According to the ministry, the strikes targeted defense industry enterprises in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as facilities in the Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Sumy regions. Military airfields, fuel depots, and transportation infrastructure used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces also came under attack. Russian officials stated that the operation involved long-range precision-guided weapons launched from air, land, and sea platforms, including hypersonic aeroballistic missiles and attack drones. The ministry claimed that all designated targets had been successfully hit.

Relations between Tehran and Washington have reached a critical point following a sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Iran has announced the immediate suspension of its negotiation process with the United States, accusing Washington of enabling the actions of the Israeli military. The decision comes amid intensified fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, effectively nullifying previous ceasefire understandings. The conflict now risks expanding beyond regional clashes and developing into a large-scale maritime blockade of strategically vital waterways.

The Pentagon's decision not to mention Taiwan at a major security forum has sparked discussion about shifting US priorities, military-industrial challenges, and the future balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. Pentagon Forgets About Taiwan Behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's diplomatic silence on Taiwan lies a systemic crisis within the American military-industrial complex and tactical doctrines. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth pointedly avoided mentioning Taiwan in his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore on May 30. Western analysts believe this was done to avoid unnecessary confrontation with Beijing.

The United States has designated two of Brazil's largest criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups, a move that could reshape migration policy, security cooperation, and the country's political landscape ahead of presidential elections. Trump Administration Draws Brazil Into a New Political Dispute The United States has added Brazil's criminal organizations Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Washington argues that both groups operate beyond Brazil's borders, extending their activities across Latin America and into the United States. The administration of sitting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opposed the measure, maintaining that these organizations are criminal enterprises rather than terrorist groups because they lack a political or religious ideology.

The global smartphone market is on track to record its most significant annual contraction since 2013, according to a new report from research firm Counterpoint Research. Following a reassessment of market conditions, analysts revised their forecast for 2026. In February, the firm projected a decline of 12.4 percent for the year. The latest estimate now points to a steeper drop of 13.9 percent. Counterpoint Research described the projected downturn as the largest annual decline since it began tracking the smartphone market in 2013.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a goal of ending hostilities before the onset of winter, head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov (included on the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring) said. "This is genuinely his objective — to bring hostilities to an end as quickly as possible, preferably before winter. As head of the President's Office, I will certainly do everything possible to achieve the goal set by the President of Ukraine," Budanov said. He described the objective as timely, well-considered and realistic.

A proposal reportedly under consideration in Brussels could significantly alter Central Asia's international profile and trigger domestic political debate across the region. According to Politico, the European Union is examining the possibility of establishing migrant holding centers in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected within the EU. The initiative is reportedly being discussed confidentially by the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Greece. In exchange, participating countries could receive simplified visa arrangements. Astana and Tashkent Reject the Role of Regional Migration Hubs Uzbekistan did sign an agreement with Austria during the official visit of Austrian foreign and interior ministers on May 7. However, the agreement concerns the transit of refugees through Uzbekistan to Afghanistan rather than their resettlement within the country.