Politics

BLOOMBERG Ukraine’s military confirmed the interception of a Russian “Kinzhal” hypersonic air-launched ballistic missile after it deployed Patriot air-defense systems obtained this spring from Western allies. The rocket was launched from a Mikoyan MiG-31 fighter jet towards the Kyiv region of May 4, according to Mykola Oleshchuk, Ukraine’s air force commander. The confirmation followed discussion on social media that a ...

BLOOMBERG More than two million Thais who registered for early voting began casting their ballots on Sunday ahead of next week’s general election, with opposition parties projected to win a majority. The vote is taking place amid an intensifying struggle for power in Thailand. The May 14 election pits supporters of the ruling military-backed coalition led by Prime Minister Prayuth ...

ALBERTA / WAM Canadian province of Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency after tens of thousands of Albertans have been forced to evacuate their homes as “unprecedented” wildfires rage on in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith, head of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) said at a press conference. More than 24,000 Albertans had been evacuated from their homes, with ...

BLOOMBERG Russian pro-war novelist and politician Zakhar Prilepin was injured and his driver killed in a car bombing as he was returning from Ukraine’s occupied territories, according to media reports. The attack, which took place about 460 kilometres (285 miles) east of Moscow in the Nizhny Novgorod region, followed two high-profile bombing deaths of Russian war supporters in recent months. ...

BLOOMBERG The US and the Philippines promised to deepen their defense alliance through expanded military drills and joint patrols during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s visit at the Pentagon where he was given rare honours, amid escalating China tensions. In new bilateral defense guidelines, the nations reaffirmed their commitment to defend each other in case of an armed attack in the ...

BLOOMBERG Donald Trump says Elon Musk’s release of internal files at Twitter Inc show it was illegal censorship when he was banned on the platform for stoking the January 6 insurrection. The ex-president said in a court filing it’s not enough that Twitter, under the new ownership of Musk, welcomed him back onto the platform late last year — an ...

BLOOMBERG The European Union (EU) is considering ways to target third countries seen as doing too little to stop Russia evade sanctions, particularly those that can’t explain spikes in trade of key goods or technologies, according to people familiar with the matter. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where he urged the creation of a ...

BLOOMBERG Singapore’s top diplomat expressed “grave concern” over altercations in the South China Sea following a near collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the highly-contested region. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said his government wants all nations, including superpowers, to work together to ensure “free access and opportunities” in Southeast Asia and its sea lanes. “So obviously we do view ...

BLOOMBERG Russia targeted Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles in the early hours on Monday that Ukraine’s army chief said were mostly intercepted. At least 34 people were reported hurt by a missile strike in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region. The barrage of attacks comes as Ukraine prepares for another ground offensive against Russian forces. Ukraine pushed back Russian troops from some ...

MEXICO CITY / WAM At least 18 people were killed and 33 injured when a bus fell off a cliff in western Mexico, Reuters said. The prosecutor’s office in Nayarit, the state where the accident occurred, said the vehicle fell some 15 metres (49.21 feet) down a ravine on a highway connecting the state capital Tepic and the tourist destination ...