German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in Rome. This will be Merz's first official visit to Italy since taking office, and it is expected that the two leaders will discuss a range of issues, including the ongoing migration crisis and European Union policy. The meeting comes as part of Merz's efforts to strengthen Germany's relationships with its European partners.

Meanwhile, in a significant shift in policy, Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner has expressed support for Germany's recently introduced stricter border controls. The measures, which include increased checks with neighboring countries and the potential for turning away asylum-seekers at the border, have been implemented in an attempt to manage the influx of refugees and uphold the EU's Dublin agreement.

Austria has agreed to cooperate on deportations to Syria and Afghanistan, and Interior Minister Karner has noted that the number of illegal migrants entering the country has decreased significantly as a result of Germany's new policy.

In domestic politics, the business-focused Free Democratic Party (FDP) has chosen a new leader following poor election results. Former Finance Minister and party leader Christian Lindner stepped down after the FDP's failure to make significant gains in the last election, and the party is now looking to rebrand and recover from the setback. The new leadership is likely to focus on economic issues and maintaining a strong voice within the coalition government.

Lastly, a police officer in Berlin was seriously injured in an attack. The incident occurred while the officer was attempting to apprehend a suspect, who reportedly resisted arrest and used a weapon. The assailant was also injured and taken into custody. This event underscores the risks faced by law enforcement officers in their line of duty and may lead to further discussions on public safety and policing strategies.

🇨🇳 "CHINA'S MILITARY LACKS COMBAT EXPERIENCE" In recent decades, China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has rapidly expanded, now standing as the largest navy in the world by vessel count. However, sheer size does not necessarily translate to operational effectiveness. The most significant vulnerability of the PLAN is its deficiency in real combat experience.

In contrast to the United States Navy and other QUAD navies that have participated in various conflicts and joint missions globally,

China's naval forces have encountered minimal significant combat since the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. Contemporary naval warfare requires advanced operational skills in complex situations, including high-intensity conflicts, amphibious landings, and coordination of carrier strike groups—domains where PLAN personnel have not been thoroughly tested. Who would emerge victorious in a conflict between the US and China...?
Source:Modern Diplomacy

A tornado tore through Juneau, Wisconsin, on Thursday, destroying a farm and tearing roofs off of homes.
Accuweather

This is not the 600 billion of Saudi Arabia, nor the 1.2 trillion of Qatar, or the 1.4 trillion of the UAE. Instead, it is China offering aid in Gaza today. It is regrettable for the Arab world that affluent nations overlook the plight of their Palestinian counterparts, while a non-Arab country like China steps up to deliver humanitarian support. #DoubleStandards #ArabLeague #HumanityFirst

Femi Otedola, a prominent Nigerian business mogul, recently expressed his admiration for a moment shared between Aliko Dangote, Africa's wealthiest individual, and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The handshake occurred during Trump's visit to Qatar, where the latter was involved in brokering significant business deals. On his X (formerly Twitter) account, Otedola posted a picture of the encounter with the caption: "The richest black man in the world shaking hands with the most powerful man in the world @realDonaldTrump @AlikoDangote," highlighting the convergence of immense wealth and power. The meeting, which involved other notable figures such as Elon Musk, occurred in the context of a $96 billion aircraft deal between Qatar Airways and Boeing. The viral image has sparked conversations in Nigeria about the potential implications and opportunities that such a high-profile interaction could bring to the country and the African continent.

2t_Upondeebeatz

Strong explosion in Crimea: Ukraine strikes Russian ammunition depot

A series of loud explosions thundered in Crimea on Friday night and early morning, May 16. Local publics report attacks on important military facilities of the Russian occupiers.
As reported by " Krymskiy Veter ",
", at 06:15 a very
strong explosion thundered in Sevastopol.
Russian air defense was operating from the territory of the Sevastopol Naval School named after Nakhimov. Eyewitnesses took a photo of the trace of the missile from the "Pantsir-S1" air defense system at this point.
In addition, explosions thundered in Perevalnoye, where the 126th separate coastal defense brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed. Eyewitnesses say that explosions are heard there and smoke is rising.
At the same time, the attack on Sevastopol continues. Eyewitnesses report explosions in the city. In particular, explosions are reported in the area of the Belbek and Kacha airfields.
However, local publics report that things are not so simple in Perevalnoye - the ammunition depot of the 126th Coast Guard Brigade is burning and detonating. According to Krymsky Veter, ambulances drove in large numbers from Simferopol along the Yalta highway towards Perevalnoye, where an ammunition depot is burning, although it is closer to get there from Alushta. Explosions also continue in Bakhchisarai, near Balaklava and Sevastopol.
"The loud sounds that were heard in the city are the work of our soldiers," claimed the Russian-installed proxy head of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev.
According to Razozhayev, six drones were downed over the occupied peninsula. He did not report any damage or casualties due to the attack.
ATESH agents also record incoming at tacks on Russian military facilities in Crimea.
According to the movement, there were also hangars with occupiers' equipment in Perevalnoye.
Agents recorded explosions in the Perevalnoye area, including the military base of the 126th separate guards coastal defense brigade and the 8th separate artillery regiment.
"There is information about the dead soldiers who were on duty at the warehouse," the report says.
Throughout Russia's all-out war, Ukraine has carried out several successful attacks against Russian targets in occupied Crimea and its vicinity, heavily degrading the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
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