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Intelligence Agency Investigating CIA Whistleblower Allegations, Official Confirms

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. | The Defender | May 15, 2026

An official with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) today told The Defender that the Intelligence Community Inspector General is aware of allegations by a CIA whistleblower that the agency obstructed a task force investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and is investigating them, along with ODNI and other agencies.

In written testimony provided to the U.S. Senate this week, James E. Erdman III told a Senate committee that the CIA obstructed the work of the CIA’s Director’s Initiatives Group (DIG), an agency task force investigating the origins of COVID-19, and retaliated against those in the group who believed the virus may have leaked from a lab.

Erdman worked for the DIG between March 2025 and April 2026. The group, created by Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, was ordered to start winding down in January and has since been dissolved.

Soon after the group started to wind down, “the CIA retaliated” against members who supported the lab-leak hypothesis, Erdman wrote.

Erdman, one of the earliest members of the DIG, said he was hired due to his “many years of experience at the CIA and my knowledge on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

But during his year with DIG, “the CIA obstructed lawful oversight related to the DIG’s work and retaliated against the DIG with what I believe were illegal investigations into DIG members.” … continue

US Overseas Biolabs Probe Aims to Rein in ‘Deep State’ Bureaucracy

By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – 15.05.2026

The announced investigation into secret US overseas biolabs by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) could end up being more of an internal compliance review than a sweeping exposé, experts told Sputnik.

“This is less about legal prosecution and more about the administration asserting control over the ‘Deep State’ bureaucracy  and signaling a broader rapprochement with Moscow by validating some of their long-standing security grievances,” says London-based foreign policy analyst Adriel Kasonta.

When it comes to accountability, the development, spearheaded by DNI Tulsi Gabbard, “suggests a move toward ‘America First’ oversight rather than an admission of criminal activity by previous officials,” the pundit believes.

“If the ODNI review reveals that US agencies lacked sufficient oversight, failed to properly manage the security risks of funding pathogen research abroad, or lacked transparency, ‘accountability’ will likely take the form of domestic policy adjustments, congressional hearings, and stricter funding guidelines,” says Marco Marsili, associate researcher at the Center for International Studies (CEI-Iscte).

Earlier this week, Tulsi Gabbard announced an investigation into more than 120 US biolabs operating across 30-plus countries, including 40 in Ukraine, with a focus on potential “gain-of-function” research.

The probe came on the heels of the indictment of a former advisor to top US health official Anthony Fauci, accused of unlawfully concealing federal records tied to the origins of COVID-19.

Ofcom and the Fantasy of Global Speech Control

By Al Loxley | Reclaim The Net | May 15, 2026

Ofcom appears to believe that a website is a kind of television channel. This would explain a lot about what happened on Wednesday, when Britain’s speech regulator fined an American mental health and suicide discussion forum £950,000 ($1.3 million) for hosting speech that is legal in America, on servers in America, operated by Americans.

The site had already blocked British visitors from accessing it, voluntarily, as a gesture of goodwill, despite having no legal obligation to do so and despite Ofcom having no jurisdiction to demand it. Ofcom fined it anyway. The fine is unenforceable.

The site owes Ofcom nothing under American law. And even if the site had never blocked a single British visitor, Ofcom’s case would still make no sense, because a British regulator cannot fine an American citizen for legal American speech on an American server any more than the French postal service can fine you for what you write in your own diary.

Ofcom is the Office of Communications, the British government’s speech regulator. Americans don’t really have an equivalent because most Americans would never stand for one. The closest thing is the FCC, except imagine the FCC could also decide what you’re allowed to say on the internet and fine you if it disapproves. … continue

Mainstream US media complicit in selling Gaza genocide, sweeping new analysis finds

MEMO | May 15, 2026

US media is systematically biased in favour of Israel, an analysis by The Intercept has uncovered. Investigation of more than 12,000 articles and 5,000 TV segments found mainstream US coverage was “one-sided, racist and dehumanising”, helping Israel justify its genocide in Gaza.

The investigation, published this week and drawn from research for a forthcoming book, examined more than 12,000 articles from the New York Times, the Washington PostCNN.comPoliticoAxiosUSA Today and The Associated Press, alongside 5,000 television segments aired on CNN and MSNBC.

The focus is on centre-left outlets influential with the Biden administration during the first year of Israel’s assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.

The analysis identifies seven recurring patterns that, taken together, document the US media’s role in selling Israel’s narrative to the American public as the death toll in Gaza mounted into the tens of thousands. … continue

AIPAC Favorite Ed Gallrein Wants to Bring Back the Draft

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | May 15, 2026

Ed Gallrein is running against Thomas Massie in Kentucky. Trump hates Massie because he opposes the Iran boondoggle war. Massie has also demanded the release of the Epstein files. Ed has received a whopping $11,824,741 from the Israel lobby. That’s on the high end of donations, so you get an idea how important it is to defeat Massie and gain another voice for Israel in Congress.

There is one issue at the top of Gallrein’s list. Ed mentioned it during an interview with USA Cares, a veterans organization in Kentucky. The reimplementation of a military draft. Ed says we need it for “national security.” Considering the hefty sum donated by the lobby, it is natural to conclude much of that “national security” concerns Israel. … continue

Israeli Forces Kill a Palestinian Child Near Nablus

IMEMC | May 15, 2026

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child, on Thursday night, for allegedly throwing stones near the village of Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank.

Media sources reported that one Palestinian was killed and another was injured after occupation forces shot them with live ammunition near Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya.

The slain citizen was identified as 16-year-old Fadi Zidan Oweiss, according to the Quds Press and Palestine TV news outlets. … Full article

Israeli settlers torch mosque and vehicles, scrawl racist slogans in Jibiya village

Palestinian Information Center – May 15, 2026

RAMALLAH – Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque and several vehicles, and sprayed racist slogans on walls in the village of Jibiya, north of Ramallah, at dawn Friday in a new attack targeting Palestinian property in the West Bank.

Local residents reported that settlers infiltrated the outskirts of the village during the night, igniting the mosque and multiple cars, which were burned and sustained extensive damage. They also wrote inciting, hostile slogans on walls and property. … Full article

Israeli minister announces illegal settlement plans in Lebanon, displacements in Gaza, West Bank

MEMO | May 15, 2026

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Thursday that the government plans to establish illegal settlements in Lebanon and displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.

The remarks came during Ben-Gvir’s participation in an event in Jerusalem marking the anniversary of Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem according to the Hebrew calendar, Israel’s Channel 7 reported.

“We have more plans to encourage migration from Gaza, encourage migration from Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and settlement in Lebanon, and we will not fear eliminating everyone who rises up to kill us,” Ben-Gvir said.

Israel continues daily violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, in effect since October 2025, where at least 857 people have been killed and 2,486 others injured. Israel also keeps breaching a truce in Lebanon, which runs through May 17, killing 2,896 and injuring 8,824 others since March 2.

Ben-Gvir also boasted about the harsh restrictions he imposed on Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons after referring to legislation he promoted in March allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners. … Full article

Ukrainian arms firm linked to graft probe says NATO member froze factory project

RT | May 15, 2026

The Danish government has suspended plans for a solid rocket propellant facility intended to supply Fire Point, a Ukrainian defense company facing allegations of involvement in high-level corruption, according to one of the firm’s executives.

Originally operating as a film scouting agency, Fire Point emerged as a major player in Ukraine’s defense sector last year, receiving strong public backing from Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and reportedly securing contracts worth up to $1 billion.

The Danish government had used national security provisions to bypass potential legal objections surrounding the construction of a facility in Vojens, southern Jutland, where fuel for Fire Point’s missile systems was expected to be manufactured. However, the project announced last September was quietly halted earlier this month, Fire Point chief designer and co-owner Denis Shtilerman told the Financial Times on Thursday.

Leaked surveillance recordings published by Ukrainian media since April indicated that businessman Timur Mindich – who is wanted in Ukraine over an alleged $100 million corruption scheme in the energy sector – effectively controlled Fire Point during 2025. The recordings also suggested he enjoyed preferential treatment from then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who now serves as secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. … Full article

Ukrainian drones kill four in attack on apartments in Russia – governor

RT | May 15, 2026

Ukrainian drones have killed four people, including a child, in the Russian city of Ryazan after striking high-rise residential buildings, regional Governor Pavel Malkov said on Friday.

Ryazan, the capital of the eponymous region located 210 km (130 miles) southeast of Moscow, was targeted overnight, with the UAVs damaging two apartment complexes.

Malkov said a total of 99 kamikaze aircraft were involved in the raid on the region. Multiple people were injured, including seven whose wounds are serious enough to demand treatment in hospital. The governor’s initial preliminary account reported three fatalities and a dozen other casualties. … Full article

China’s position on Iran, Hormuz remains unchanged

Al Mayadeen | May 15, 2026

China moved on Friday to publicly reaffirm its longstanding position on Iran after speculation and conflicting reports circulated regarding Beijing’s stance during recent regional tensions, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry publishing a full statement outlining its official position.

Asian diplomatic sources told Al Mayadeen that Washington is expected to continue promoting claims that it succeeded in persuading Beijing to pressure Iran, particularly following recent US-China discussions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear file.

The sources said that the growing American rhetoric regarding “the Iranian nuclear issue” or claims of an agreement with Beijing on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open “without fees” are merely “attempts at media flooding and covering up the essence of the matter.” … continue

‘Death to Arabs’: Settler mobs storm Jerusalem’s Muslim, Christian quarters for ‘Flag March’

The Cradle | May 14, 2026

Tens of thousands of Jewish settlers descended on occupied Jerusalem on 14 May to celebrate the so-called ‘Flag March,’ beating Palestinian residents in the Muslim Quarter of the city, damaging storefronts, and shouting anti-Arab slogans.

The event, also known as the Flag Dance, commemorates the Israeli conquest of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Even before the parade began, Zionist youths pushed and cursed Palestinian residents and activists from “Standing Together,” an Israeli-Palestinian group established to protect Palestinians during the parade.

“When we put our bodies on the line, it oftentimes reduces the violence because settlers are less willing to attack when there are Jews there or when we document what’s going on,” stated Ori Shaham, the group’s international spokesperson.

The parade has long been marked by violence, extreme racism, and hate songs directed against the Palestinian residents of the Old City. … continue

Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail from Türkiye with 54 vessels to challenge Gaza blockade

Palestinian Information Center – May 14, 2026

ISTANBUL – The Global Sumud Flotilla is set to depart on Thursday from the Mediterranean coastal city of Marmaris in a renewed international attempt to break the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, with the participation of 54 vessels and more than 500 international activists and solidarity campaigners.

The announcement came during a press conference held by several members of the fleet’s board of directors in Marmaris, including Saif Abu Kishk, who stressed that global efforts to challenge the blockade would continue despite repeated Israeli threats.

Abu Kishk said Israel “does not respect human rights or international law,” adding that activists had decided to continue organizing missions to break the siege after considering the scale of suffering endured by Palestinians over recent years.

He stated that 54 ships would depart from Marmaris toward Gaza, including five vessels affiliated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, carrying participants from multiple nationalities. … Full article

Colonizers Injure Palestinian, International Activist in Masafer Yatta

IMEMC | May 14, 2026

Illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers injured a Palestinian man and an international peace activist on Wednesday evening after attacking residential structures in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron.

Activist Osama Makhmara stated that a group of armed colonizers hurled stones at the home of Mohammad al‑Jabarin in the eastern part of Shu’ab al‑Batem.

Makhamra added that the colonizers injured al‑Jabarin’s son Fadi and an international activist and caused property damage to the home.

In a related development, Israeli occupation forces stormed the southern area of Hebron, deployed across several roads, and surrounded Palestinian homes.

The soldiers also detained several Palestinians, subjected them to harassment while interrogating them, and later released them. … Full article

Sharp rise in solitary confinement of Palestinian child prisoners inside Israeli jails

Palestinian Information Center – May 14, 2026

RAMALLAH – New Israeli data has revealed a dramatic surge in the number of Palestinian prisoners, particularly minors, placed in solitary confinement inside Israeli prisons since 2023, amid growing warnings from rights groups over the psychological and physical impact of the practice.

According to figures published by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, obtained from the Israeli Prison Service through a freedom of information request, the number of Palestinian minors transferred to solitary confinement in Israeli jails rose from just one child prisoner in 2022 to 50 in 2023, before soaring to 290 minors during 2024.

The data also showed that the number of adult Palestinian prisoners placed in isolation nearly tripled in 2024 compared with the previous year, reaching 4,493 detainees. The number of female prisoners held in solitary confinement also climbed sharply, from two women in 2022 to 25 in 2024.

Israeli prison authorities classify solitary confinement into two categories: punitive isolation, officially limited to 14 days, and “deterrent” isolation, which can last for six months and be repeatedly renewed. … Full article

Four killed, several injured by Israeli fire in northern Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – May 15, 2026

GAZA – Two Palestinians were killed and several others were injured on Thursday evening by Israeli occupation forces in northern Gaza, raising the number of people killed since the morning hours to four.

A local source said two civilians were killed and others wounded after Israeli aircraft targeted a group of residents on Al-Nuzha Street in Jabalia al-Balad, north of Gaza.

Sources confirmed the killing of young Palestinian Tamer Iyad al-Matouq in the Israeli strike on Jabalia, just two days after his father was killed.

Earlier, another Palestinian was killed after an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped a bomb on him on Old Gaza Street in Jabalia al-Balad in northern Gaza.

Another Palestinian also died after suffering critical injuries from Israeli sniper fire near a UNRWA clinic in Jabalia refugee camp.

Meanwhile, another Palestinian was injured by Israeli gunfire in the Al-Salatin area west of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.

Two more people were injured earlier Thursday in an Israeli strike near the Bani Suheila roundabout east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Israeli forces also demolished several homes east of Gaza City, while Israeli artillery shelling targeted the northern parts of the city.

In central Gaza, Israeli tanks opened fire east of the Bureij refugee camp as artillery shelling struck the town of Juhr al-Dik. … Full article

Israel’s 7 October narrative under fresh scrutiny after army accused of deleting footage

MEMO | May 14, 2026

The Israeli army secretly seized and deleted parts of the 7 October security camera footage, according to a report published by Israel Hayom yesterday, in the latest revelation to deepen suspicion over the official Israeli account of the events of that day.

The Hebrew-language daily reported that on the evening of 9 October 2023, a classified reserve unit operating under the Israeli army’s Ground Forces Command arrived at Kibbutz Be’eri and asked members of the kibbutz’s rapid-response squad to hand over the device storing all the community’s security camera recordings. The unit commander told the exhausted residents that he needed the material “to bring the hostages home” and promised it would not be shared and would be returned in full.

No written commitment was given. By the following morning, the officer had left Be’eri with the recordings and headed to the Kirya, the Israeli army’s headquarters complex in Tel Aviv. … Full article

Netanyahu Threatens to Sue NYT for Reporting on Rape of Palestinians

By Kurt Nimmo | Another Day in the Empire | May 14, 2026

The Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, put into force in 1949, prohibits “cruel treatment and torture” for prisoners of war, while the Fourth Geneva Convention states civilians must be treated humanely and protected from violence, torture, and inhumane treatment. Israel and the United States, however, don’t obey or respect international war.

Following revelations, published in of all places in The New York Times, of sadistic sexual torture, Bibi Netanyahu threatened the newspaper and the journalist Nicholas Kristof. “Today I instructed my legal advisers to consider the harshest legal action against The New York Times and Nicholas Kristof,” Netanyahu posted to X. … continue

France investigates possible Israeli company interference in local elections

MEMO | May 14, 2026

French authorities are investigating whether an obscure Israeli company called BlackCore played a role in a foreign interference campaign targeting the hard-left party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed – LFI) ahead of local elections held in March.

According to Reuters, citing two sources, French intelligence services are investigating who allegedly hired BlackCore to carry out a smear campaign against three party candidates through deceptive websites and social media accounts.

The campaign reportedly included false accusations of criminal behaviour and disparaging digital ads.

On its website, BlackCore describes itself as “an elite influence, cyber, and technology company built for the modern era of information warfare.”

According to French authorities and the candidates involved, the campaign targeted Marseille mayoral candidate Sebastien Delogu, Toulouse candidate François Piquemal and Roubaix candidate David Guiraud.

French newspaper Le Monde first revealed details of the operation in March, based on a report by the agency Viginum, which referred to a limited “foreign digital interference” scheme targeting a French political party and several of its candidates in Marseille, Toulouse and Roubaix.

Guatemala Admits U.S. Pressure Over Cuban Doctors

teleSUR | May 14, 2026

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez acknowledged Tuesday that the country has faced pressure from the United States regarding the presence of Cuban medical brigades, as the government moves to end a long-standing healthcare cooperation agreement with Havana.

Asked whether Washington had requested that Guatemala terminate the program a year earlier than planned, Martínez said that “there has always been pressure surrounding the Cuban medical brigades,” though he stopped short of directly confirming U.S. involvement in the decision.

Cuban medical personnel first arrived in Guatemala in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch devastated the country and caused nearly 300 deaths. The administration of President Bernardo Arévalo has now decided to end the agreement with Cuba after almost 30 years of uninterrupted collaboration.

“It is an agreement that is 27 years old and was established under a formula created 27 years ago. There is no government hiring process; the Cuban doctors are hired individually, and the Ministry of Health pays each of them,” Martínez said. … continue

Mark Rutte wants to triple military aid to Zelensky, with Western taxpayers footing the bill

RT | May 14, 2026

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wants NATO members to cough up 0.25% of their GDP for Ukraine. This figure seems minuscule, but how much hard-earned taxpayer money does it add up to?

Rutte floated the idea at a closed-door meeting of NATO ambassadors last month, and will likely be raised at the bloc’s annual summit in Ankara in July, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed NATO diplomats. … continue

NATO member’s government collapses after Ukrainian drone incident

RT | May 14, 2026

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has announced her resignation amid a government crisis caused by an incident involving Ukrainian kamikaze drones hitting an oil depot near the Russian border.

Silina announced the decision at a press briefing on Thursday. Just hours earlier, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, a member of Silina’s liberal-conservative Unity party, stated that the prime minister has no intention of leaving office. Meanwhile, the opposition was planning a procedural maneuver to circumvent the five-day pause required under Latvian law before a request for a no-confidence vote is granted.

The crisis in the Baltic state was triggered by an incident last week in which two Ukrainian long-range kamikaze drones hit an empty oil depot near the town of Rezekne, around 40 km from the Russian border. No casualties were reported on the ground. … continue

UAE launches Muslim Shia crackdown under cover of ‘Iran-linked terror’ claims

By Robert INLAKESH | MintPress News | April 22, 2026

The United Arab Emirates says it has dismantled an Iran-linked “terrorist organisation” targeting the Muslim Shia community of the UAE. But the evidence made public so far tells a different story — one that raises serious questions about whether these arrests are part of a widening crackdown on dissent against the US-Israeli backed war against Iran which the UAE is involved in, masked as counterterrorism.

Despite presenting itself on the international stage as a victim, the UAE is quietly participating and aiding the US and Israel in its war against Iran. Yet, Abu Dhabi has enforced draconian censorship laws that carry lengthy prison sentences for those posting or even privately forwarding videos of Iranians munitions impacting targets in the UAE.

This week, the UAE’s State Security Department announced the arrest of 27 individuals, described by state-run WAM media as members of a “Shia terrorist group” allegedly linked to Tehran. Yet despite the severity of those accusations, none of the detainees appear to be facing formal terrorism charges.

Instead, those arrested are accused of spreading “misleading ideas,” maintaining “foreign allegiances,” and forming a secret organization — vague allegations that critics say are often used to justify political repression. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, rejected the arrests outright, calling them “baseless and unfounded.”

Even Emirati state media reporting reveals inconsistencies. While headlines such as “UAE dismantles terrorist cell and arrests members” suggest a major security operation, the details within those same reports make no mention of terrorism-related charges, focusing instead on loosely defined political and ideological offenses.

However, within the article itself, there is no mention of any terror related charges, only that they were detained for spreading “misleading ideas”, have “foreign allegiances”, in addition to being accused of establishing a secret organisation and managing its activities.

The case has also raised concerns of a sectarian dimension. … continue

Iran opens Strait of Hormuz route for Chinese ships under rules: Fars

Al Mayadeen | May 14, 2026

A decision has been issued permitting a number of Chinese vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Tehran’s management protocols for the strategic waterway, the Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing an informed source.

The facilitation of Chinese shipping followed sustained diplomatic engagement by China’s foreign minister and Beijing’s ambassador in Tehran, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries, as per the same source.

In detail, the source added that an agreement was reached allowing the requested vessels to pass after reaching mutual understanding on Iran’s regulatory framework, confirming that transit operations have already begun as of last night.

It further emphasized that the measure is grounded in the Islamic Republic’s internal protocols and is intended to prevent the political exploitation of the strait’s maritime importance for external pressure, while reinforcing Tehran’s “smart and precise management” of this critical shipping corridor.

In a related development, Iranian state television reported that 30 vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since last night under the supervision of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. … Full article

Netanyahu ‘monster, disgrace to humanity’: Pakistani minister

Press TV – May 14, 2026

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has described Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “monster” and a disgrace to humanity for patronizing and promoting rape of Palestinian detainees.

‎In his interview with CBS News earlier this week, Netanyahu accused Pakistan of running a coordinated anti-Israel campaign to damage ties between the United States and Israel, alleging that Islamabad also provided refuge to Iranian military planes to shield them from US-Israeli attacks.

‎In reaction to the accusation against Islamabad, Asif lambasted Netanyahu for his appalling crimes, including patronizing and promoting rape of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

“Look who’s talking! A monster who patronizes and promotes the rape of Palestinian prisoners — women, men, and children — by Israeli soldiers, prison guards, and dogs. Humanity’s head hangs in shame,” the Pakistani defense minister said in a post on his X account on Wednesday. … Full article

Aafia Siddiqui and Pakistan’s bargain with American gulags

By Junaid S. Ahmad | MEMO | May 14, 2026

The Pakistani security state possesses an almost supernatural ability to discover “sovereignty” whenever cameras are rolling in Washington and to lose it entirely the moment the name Aafia Siddiqui is mentioned.

Apparently, the Field Marshal can help broker ceasefires, whisper into the ears of presidents, posture as a grand strategist of West Asian stability, and market Pakistan as the indispensable hinge of global diplomacy — yet cannot perform the infinitesimally smaller task of demanding the return of a Pakistani woman whose suffering has become one of the ugliest symbols of the War on Terror.

How extraordinary. A nuclear state that can allegedly influence the architecture of regional conflict suddenly develops the political helplessness of a hostage whenever Aafia enters the conversation. But this silence is not weakness. It is guilt.

Because Aafia Siddiqui is not merely a prisoner. She is evidence. Living evidence. Evidence of what Pakistan’s military establishment became during the War on Terror: a comprador security apparatus that rented out sovereignty to Washington in exchange for dollars, weapons, diplomatic indulgence, and the right to rule Pakistan without accountability.

The Pakistani security state did not merely cooperate with America’s post-9/11 imperial machinery; it became one of its most enthusiastic subcontractors. … continue

Pakistani war chief says deal to bring Turkiye, Qatar into Saudi defense pact ‘being finalized’

The Cradle | May 13, 2026

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif revealed during an interview with Hum News on 11 May that a deal to bring Turkiye and Qatar into the mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia is being “finalized.”

“If Qatar and Turkiye also join the existing agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, it would create significant cooperation in both the economic and defense spheres in our region and reduce external dependence,” Asif told Pakistan-based Hum News, adding that their inclusion would be “a welcome development.”

The agreement with Riyadh is still being finalized, Asif noted, adding that a wider arrangement could strengthen regional cooperation.

The defense minister said the initiative is not aimed at any specific country, but is intended to create a broader platform among “like-minded” states for regional stability and collective security. … Full article

Central Asia Alternative Fertilizer Source for Pakistan amid Strait of Hormuz Crisis – Expert

Sputnik -14.05.2026

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed government ministries and other bodies to develop plans for sourcing fertilizer imports from Central Asian states in order to protect the farming sector from potential shortages.

While this represents strategic diversification for now, it could evolve into a long-term shift toward Central Asian markets, argued Amir Jahangir, co-founder and CEO of Mishal Pakistan.

He explained:

  • Agriculture is not immediately at risk, but the danger is there: if fertilizer supplies are disrupted during the Kharif cropping period, crop yields could drop and food prices could rise.
  • Trading with Central Asian states such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reduces dependence on the Strait of Hormuz — and also strengthens regional commerce and economic ties.
  • In the long term, this can help make supply more secure, lower transport costs, and boost regional trade.
  • Pakistan should also prioritize securing natural gas supplies for fertilizer plants. Islamabad needs to boost local gas production, reform pricing, and reduce losses.

“Qatar is one option, but Pakistan should explore new markets and regions. I think for that Central Asia can be one of the options for gas procurement,” Jahangir said. … Full article

West Freezes About $590 billion Belonging to Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea – Shoigu

Sputnik – 14.05.2026

BISHKEK – Western countries, according to the most conservative estimates, have frozen about $590 billion belonging to Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Afghanistan, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday.

There is currently a clear lack of financial resources to normalize economic life in Afghanistan, the official said, adding that one of the reasons is the blocking of Afghan assets by the United States, the UK and Germany and the total amount of frozen funds is about $10 billion.

“According to our most conservative estimates, the Westerners have frozen about $590 billion in total belonging to Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Libya and Afghanistan. I am convinced that all sensible leaders will draw the right conclusions regarding the storage of national savings in the West,” Shoigu said at a meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek.

The steady degradation of international relations continues, primarily due to the desire of the United States and its allies to maintain their dominant position, Sergei Shoigu said.

“International relations continue to steadily deteriorate. The root cause of the current turmoil is the desire of the United States and its allies to maintain their dominant position,” Shoigu said.

Various methods are being used to achieve this, from using military force and unleashing trade wars to provoking regional crises, the official added.

The return of third-country military infrastructure to Afghanistan or the deployment of new military installations in neighboring countries is unacceptable, Sergei Shoigu said.

The situation in Afghanistan is of particular importance for ensuring security in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization space, the official said at a meeting of the secretaries of the Security Councils of the SCO member states in Bishkek.

“We consider unacceptable the return of the military infrastructure of third countries to the territory of Afghanistan or the deployment of new military facilities in neighboring countries,” Shoigu said.

The combined potential of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization allows it to become one of the pillars of the multipolar world order and a key element of the security architecture, Sergei Shoigu said. … Full article

Trump Visits Beijing In a World Washington No Longer Controls

By Joseph Solis-Mullen | The Libertarian Institute | May 14, 2026

When President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing yesterday for his summit with Xi Jinping, much of the American foreign policy establishment framed the meeting through the familiar lens of “great power competition.” Analysts will scrutinize every handshake, communiqué, and trade announcement for signs that Washington is either “standing up” to China or “conceding” ground to its principal rival.

But the more important reality is that the summit will likely underscore just how much the balance of leverage has shifted over the past several years—and how little appetite Beijing has for rescuing Washington from the consequences of its own strategic blunders.

The prevailing assumption in Washington remains that China is an aggressive revisionist power poised to overturn the international order through military expansion and economic coercion. Yet the actual picture is considerably more complicated. Beijing’s posture today looks less like that of a state eager for global confrontation and more like that of a rising commercial empire patiently exploiting American overextension.

That overextension is now impossible to ignore. … continue

Return of the Next Pandemic Script

By Yaffa-Shir-Raz | Brownstone Institute | May 14, 2026

… an international cruise ship experiencing serious illnesses and deaths during a voyage would seem destined to become an immediate global news story. But that did not happen.

Only weeks later, on May 1, the story suddenly received intense international coverage. Within a short time, headlines around the world warned of a “plague ship” at sea, passengers from 23 countries under monitoring, quarantine measures, and fears of human-to-human transmission. […]

… the timing is particularly striking. On May 1, three days before the MV Hondius story received widespread international media attention, the World Health Organization announced yet another one-year delay in negotiations over the PABS – short for Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing – annex of the Pandemic Agreement.

On the surface, this may appear to be just another technical delay within a cumbersome diplomatic process. In reality, however, it reflects one of the most significant crises the WHO has faced in the post-Covid era.

The dispute over PABS is far more than a bureaucratic disagreement. It is a symptom of a much broader and deepening crisis of trust surrounding the very idea of centralized global pandemic governance.

The WHO’s Deeper Crisis

To understand why the timing of the MV Hondius story is so striking, one first has to understand the position in which the World Health Organization now finds itself.

The WHO’s May 1 announcement of yet another one-year delay in negotiations over the PABS annex was far more than a routine diplomatic setback. It amounted to an acknowledgment that one of the organization’s central post-Covid projects – a project with enormous international implications, has become stalled in a deep political and institutional deadlock. … Full article

3.. 2.. 1.. Claim: Climate Change will Cause More Hantavirus

By Eric Worrall | Watts Up With That? | May 12, 2026

Just one problem – Ushuaia, the source of the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, has a comparable climate to Prince Rupert in British Columbia. … continue

Hantavirus, the WHO, and the Conflicts in Weighing Mortality

By David Bell | Brownstone Institute | May 13, 2026

Yesterday, almost 2,000 people, mostly young children, died of malaria because they could not access effective and relatively cheap treatment quickly enough. About 4,000 people died of tuberculosis (TB), including many young adults leaving orphans. This happens every day. Progress in reducing these numbers is stalling, as partly due to the continuing economic damage from the Covid-19 response.

In the past two weeks three tourists unfortunately died among about 150 passengers and crew on a cruise ship MV Hondius off the west coast of the African continent where most of those malaria and TB deaths occurred. The Hondius had a hantavirus outbreak, known to have infected less than 10 people but including at least two of those that died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10,000 to 100,000 hantavirus cases occur every year, spread across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The current media coverage and WHO news conferences therefore concern about one-thousandth of the cases expected this year. The United States averages about 30 – they simply have not been newsworthy. … continue

Russia says disputes over Iran, Greenland and Canada distract from Palestine

MEMO | May 13, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the US of trying to distract global attention from Palestine, Anadolu reports.

Commenting on the situation in the Middle East in an interview with RT India TV channel, Lavrov said ongoing US-provoked disputes involving Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Greenland and Canada were distracting international attention from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“All of the efforts that are being taken right now on Venezuela, Iran, Cuba, Greenland, and now Canada … all of these issues are moving us away from settling the most protracted, the most negative crisis in the world – that is, the crisis around Palestine,” he said.

The minister criticized American proposals regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, saying they did not address the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“I have no doubt that when plans to stir up aggression against Iran were being hatched, one of the goals was to prevent the normalization of relations between Iran and the Arab states,” he said.

He added: “Now, everything is being done to ensure that reconciliation never happens … and to pull its other Gulf neighbors into structures that, first, will not focus on resolving the Palestinian issue, and second, will force them to betray the Palestinian cause as the price for normalizing relations with Israel.”

Lavrov argued that failure to create such a state would prolong instability and extremism in the region for decades.

“We are returning to a period when everything is decided by force and international law is ignored,” Lavrov said.

Palestinian Child Killed By Israeli Fire In Sinjil

IMEMC | May 13, 2026

Israeli occupation forces killed, on Wednesday, a Palestinian child in the town of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank, after groups of illegal paramilitary Israeli colonizers invaded the town, attacked residents, and stole sheep.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that the child, Yousef Ali Ka’abna, 16, was struck with live ammunition in the chest, sustaining life‑threatening wounds before succumbing to his injuries.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its medics provided emergency treatment at the scene before transferring him to the Martyr Yasser Arafat Hospital in Salfit, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The PRCS added that at least four Palestinians were injured by rubber‑coated steel bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces who accompanied the colonizers during the attack.

The shooting is part of an ongoing colonizer assault documented in Sinjil and Jaljulia, where armed colonizers invaded Palestinian agricultural areas, assaulted residents, and stole dozens of sheep.

The colonizers from nearby illegal colonies repeatedly stormed the outskirts of both towns, harassed shepherds, and seized livestock under the protection of Israeli soldiers.

In related news, Israeli soldiers abducted three Palestinian shepherds after the colonizers attacked them while they were tending their flocks. … Full article

Soldiers Kill a Palestinian Worker, Injure Another, Near Jerusalem

IMEMC | May 13, 2026

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian worker and shot another on Tuesday night, while they attempted to cross the Apartheid Wall in the town of Ar-Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Health Ministry announced that occupation forces killed 44-year-old Zakaria Ali Mohammad Qadis, in Ar-Ram town; he is a resident of Deir Qadis village in the Ramallah governorate.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that its ambulance crews received the body of a citizen who was shot in the head with live ammunition to the hospital in Ramallah.

The PRCS added that earlier ambulance crews transported a Palestinian worker to the hospital after he sustained a live gunshot wound to the leg in Ar-Ram town. … Full article

Two children among dozen killed in multiple Israeli strikes on south Lebanon

Press TV – May 13, 2026

At least twelve people, including two children, have been killed in a string of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, as the Tel Aviv regime continues its breaches of an ongoing ceasefire.

According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, three separate air raids targeted vehicles on a major highway linking Beirut to the south on Wednesday. The Health Ministry said those strikes killed eight people, including two children.

A photograph of the bombed cars shared by Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) following the attacks in the Jiyeh area showed the vehicles severely damaged, their exterior charred and torn apart.

A fourth attack killed one person near the southern city of Sidon, 40 kilometers from Beirut.

Three more people ‌were killed as Israeli forces struck cars in three locations further south in Tyre district, the ministry said. … Full article

Senior UN official briefly detained by Israel after Gaza visit

MEMO | May 13, 2026

Israeli authorities detained the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gilles Michaud, over his previous visit to the Gaza Strip.

According to Israeli media reports, the UN official was stopped during security checks at Ben Gurion Airport, where security personnel confiscated his passport and took him to a special waiting area before questioning him about an official visit he made to Gaza in August last year. The visit had reportedly been coordinated in advance with Israeli authorities.

Michaud described the incident as unprecedented treatment for a senior UN official, saying he had never faced similar conduct in any other country he had visited.

Following the incident, the UN official cancelled all his scheduled meetings in Israel, in a move reflecting growing frustration over the Israeli measures, which come amid mounting international criticism of Israel’s treatment of international institutions operating in Palestine, particularly in light of increasing pressure linked to the war in Gaza.

One killed, another injured in Israeli strike on Nuseirat in central Gaza

Palestinian Information Center – May 12, 2026

Israeli forces continue violating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip through ongoing airstrikes, gunfire, and the continued blockade.

A Palestinian was killed and another injured Tuesday evening in an Israeli airstrike targeting a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

The PIC correspondent reported that medical crews transferred one killed victim and one injured person after an Israeli drone struck the entrance of a home belonging to the Nofal family east of the Nuseirat camp.

The victim, identified as Abdul Rahman al-Shaafi, was killed in the Israeli strike near Salah al-Din Street east of the camp. … Full article

Knesset approves formation of special military tribunal to try Palestinians allegedly involved in 7 Oct operation

Netanyahu has been blocking a state commission of inquiry into Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, during which Israeli forces killed many of their own citizens

The Cradle | May 12, 2026

Israel’s Knesset passed a law late on 11 May to establish a special military tribunal for trying Palestinians accused of participating in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October 2023.

The legislation was jointly submitted by representatives of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party and the Yisrael Beytenu opposition party.

It calls for setting up a tribunal to try around 300 Palestinians abducted from Gaza and detained by Israeli troops throughout the genocide.

The law would allow the tribunal to charge the Palestinians with all relevant crimes, including genocide, under the 1950 Israeli Law for the Prevention of Genocide.

Other crimes would include harming Israeli “sovereignty,” causing war, helping the enemy, and terrorism.

Those convicted would be eligible for execution, which was recently passed into Israeli law. … Full article

The Mainstream Media Revives The Mass Rape Hoax- Relying On A Primitive Fraud Of A ‘Report’

The Dissident | May 12, 2026

The mainstream media has hit a record new low, reviving the “mass rape hoax”, the false claim that Palestinians committed mass rape against Israelis on October 7th, sourced entirely to a crude hoax report written by a proven liar and scam artist.

The mainstream media finally acknowledged the actual mass rape committed by Israelis against Palestinian detainees, with the New York Times publishing an article (only under the opinion section), detailing the mass rape unleashed by Israeli authorities against Palestinian detainees.

This shot the Israeli propaganda machine into overdrive, with the Israeli foreign ministry calling the piece “one of the worst blood libels ever to appear in the modern press”.

On cue, the mainstream media revived the mass rape hoax, writing coordinated articles about a report that supposedly proves that Hamas committed mass rape on October 7th.

The British tabloid the Daily Mail, published an article with a headline claiming to expose “October 7 barbarism beyond all imagination” entirely based on a “report, fittingly titled ‘Silenced No More’, which is released today” written by “Dr Cochav Elkayam-Levy, founder of The Civil Commission and lead author of the report”.

The entirety of the Western mainstream media- at the behest of their handlers in the Mossad, CIA and MI6- began writing articles echoing the Daily Mail.

The following mainstream media outlet laundered the report:

  • CNN called the report “the most comprehensive body of evidence yet of sexual and gender-based violence against women, men and children, which it describes as ‘systematic, widespread, and integral to’ the assault.”
  • The BBC said the report , “published harrowing details of ‘systematic, widespread’ sexual violence by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the attacks on 7 October 2023, and against hostages.”
  • The New York Times called the report , “the most comprehensive report yet on sexual violence by Palestinian militants during and after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.”
  • The Washington Post said the report proves that “Sexual violence was systematic, widespread and integral to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks and their aftermath”.
  • The Globe And Mail (Canada’s equivalent to the New York Times) said the report proves that “Hamas militants used sexual violence as a ‘deliberate tactic’ in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel”.
  • The Associated Press said the report proves that “Sexual violence was systematic, widespread and integral to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks and their aftermath”.

Through laundering this fraudulent report, the aforementioned mainstream media outlets have exposed themselves as blatant fake news outlets laundering propaganda.

As I will show in this investigation, the report’s author, Cochav Elkayam-Levy, has been proven to be a con artist and liar- even by Israeli media, and the report repeatedly cites proven hoaxes to back up its claim that mass rape occurred on October 7th. … continue

German soldiers attacked by NATO ‘haters’ – media

RT | May 13, 2026

Two German soldiers have been attacked outside the NATO operational headquarters in Brunssum, Netherlands, according to dpa news agency and Der Spiegel. The assailants, who are yet to be identified, reportedly shouted anti-NATO slogans.

A personal protection officer and a staff officer who were both in plain clothes were attacked in a wooded area just outside the base on Monday evening, Der Spiegel said. Both sustained light injuries but are in good condition, a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry told journalists, adding that the ministry is treating the incident as “security-related.”

The attackers, who were wearing masks, allegedly attacked the soldiers verbally and physically while shouting slogans such as “we hate NATO” in English. The identities and motives of the assailants are still being investigated, the reports said, adding that the Dutch military police are involved. … Full article

Russia Not Ruling Out West’s Preparing Another ‘Bloody Hoax’ in Ukraine – Diplomat

Sputnik – 13.05.2026

MOSCOW – Russia does not rule out that the West is preparing another “bloody hoax” in Ukraine similar to the one arranged in the city of Bucha in 2022, Yulia Zhdanova, the head of the Russian delegation at the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, said on Wednesday.

NATO representatives have held three meetings with directors, screenwriters and producers working in the cinema industry in Brussels, Los Angeles and Paris, and planned a next meeting with members of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, Zhdanova said.

“The letter received by those invited to these events mentions ‘three projects’ that are already in development. Perhaps NATO countries are once again preparing for another bloody hoax? For instance, like the one staged in Bucha in April 2022,” Zhdanova said at the 1136th meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in April 2022 that the footage of Bucha published by Kiev was a provocation. The ministry said that not a single local resident was subject to violence during the time that the town was under Russian control.

All Russian troops withdrew from Bucha by March 30, 2022, leaving the northward roads to and from the town open to traffic, while Ukrainian troops shelled the southern outskirts with large-caliber artillery, tanks and multiple launch rocket systems.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia rejected any accusations of involvement in the alleged deaths in Bucha and warned world leaders against jumping to conclusions without first considering Moscow’s arguments.

Trump’s Evangelical Support Might Be Declining

New polling shows a significant drop with this crucial part of the president’s base

By Jack Hunter | The American Conservative | May 13, 2026

… Trump’s sharing of a controversial AI-generated image of himself portraying Jesus in April on his own Truth Social platform (that he eventually deleted) and some of the religious language that has been used by the administration to promote war has also not been received well by Christians. Polling done by the Canadian Angus Reid Institute found that 67 percent of Americans thought that Trump’s Jesus depiction post went too far, with 64 percent of Christians overall saying the same. This poll also found strong majorities of Americans overall either not believing or not being sure of Trump’s later claim that he thought he was just playing a doctor in that image.

When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said during a religious service at the Pentagon in March that there would be “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy” an ABC News–Washington Post–Ipsos poll found that 69 percent disliked his remarks. That same poll showed a whopping 87 percent of disliking Trump’s faux messiah post.

One could couple these faith-related missteps by the administration with an increasingly unpopular war, all occurring in the same three month time period that Trump dropped by double digits in approval. … Full article

CIA Waging Covert War Against Drug Cartels in Mexico – Reports

Sputnik – 13.05.2026

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is waging a covert war against drug cartels in Mexico and is now directly involved in the assassinations of their members, media reported, citing sources.

The previously unreported CIA campaign in Mexico, overseen by the elite and top-secret Ground Branch, is aimed at the complete dismantling of drug cartels, the report said on Tuesday. Since last year, CIA officers have been personally involved in assassination attempts against cartel members, primarily mid-level ones, the report added.

One of the US intelligence operations in the country was the car bombing of Francisco Beltran, a suspected member of the Sinaloa Cartel, on a highway near Mexico City in March, the report read. According to the report, CIA officers planted a bomb directly in Beltran’s car.

Such operations may be illegal in Mexico, the broadcaster reported, adding that not all missions were coordinated with the Mexican government, creating the risk of retaliatory action by cartels in the United States.

In March, US President Donald Trump announced that the US and Latin American countries were creating a military coalition to combat drug cartels in the region.

EU buys record volumes of Russian LNG – report

RT | May 13, 2026

The EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) has reached a record high this year, amid the growing energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to a report by a US-based energy think tank.

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) reports that the bloc’s imports jumped 16% year on year in January-March, with France, Spain, and Belgium accounting for most deliveries. Russia remains the EU’s second-largest LNG supplier, despite the bloc aiming to phase out Russian fossil fuels by 2027, it noted. … Full article

Iraq, Pakistan ink Hormuz safe passage deals with Iran: Report

The Cradle | May 13, 2026

Iraq and Pakistan have reached separate arrangements with Iran to move crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Strait of Hormuz under Tehran’s new system for controlled passage through the strategic waterway, Reuters reported on 12 May.

The deals come as the US-Israeli war on Iran has sharply reduced energy exports from the Gulf, a region that normally supplies 20 percent of the world’s crude oil and LNG.

Claudio Steuer of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies told Reuters that “Iran has shifted from blocking Hormuz to controlling access to it … Hormuz is no longer a neutral transit route, it is a controlled corridor.”

Under this new framework, Iraq secured safe passage for two very large crude carriers, each carrying about 2 million barrels of crude, through the strait on Sunday.

An Iraqi oil ministry official said Baghdad is now seeking Iranian approval for additional shipments, as oil revenue makes up 95 percent of the Iraqi budget.

“Iraq is a close ally of Iran, and any deterioration in Iraq’s economy would also damage Iran’s economic interests in the country,” the official said.

In a separate arrangement, two tankers carrying Qatari LNG are heading to Pakistan after Islamabad reached an agreement with Tehran, according to two industry sources cited by Reuters. … continue

Chinese tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz as Trump heads to Beijing

Al Mayadeen | May 13, 2026

A Chinese-flagged oil supertanker was tracked moving through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump traveled to Beijing for high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping centered on the ongoing war on Iran and the deepening global energy crisis, CNN reported.

Shipping data from MarineTraffic showed the supertanker Yuan Hua Hu moving eastward through the strategic waterway early Wednesday before its tracking signal disappeared hours later, raising speculation that its automatic identification system may have been switched off amid mounting security risks in the Gulf. … Full article

‘Utterly baseless’: Iran rejects Kuwait’s claim of hostile plot on its island

Press TV – May 13, 2026

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed as “utterly baseless and rejected” accusations by Kuwait that the Islamic Republic had been planning hostile acts against its neighbor.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry strongly condemned the “improper action” of the Kuwaiti government in “politically and propagandistically exploiting” the case of four Iranian personnel who had been on a routine naval patrol mission and entered Kuwaiti territorial waters due to a navigational system malfunction.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, while reiterating its principled policy of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region, including Kuwait, declares that it expects the Kuwaiti authorities, while avoiding hasty statements and baseless allegations, to pursue the existing issues through official channels,” it said.

The ministry also stressed the need for Iran’s embassy in Kuwait to be granted “the fastest possible access” to the detained Iranian nationals in accordance with international legal norms, and called for their immediate release. … continue