*) EU: Russia ‘most direct threat to world order’

Russia is the "most direct threat" to the international order because of its attacks on Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Russia "is today the most direct threat to the world order with the barbaric war against Ukraine, and its worrying pact with China," von der Leyen said after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

For his part, Kishida said Russia's offensive in Ukraine is not just a matter for Europe, but it shakes the core of the international order including Asia.

*) Ukraine to hold first ‘war crimes’ trial of captured Russian

As fighting continues in Ukraine, Kiev's top prosecutor has disclosed plans for the first "war crimes" trial of a captured Russian soldier.

The 21-year-old soldier is accused of gunning down a 62-year-old civilian in February, four days into Russia’s attack on the country.

While he could get up to 15 years in prison, it is not known when the trial will start.

The prosecutor general’s office added it has been investigating more than 10,700 alleged "war crimes" committed by Russian forces.

*) North Korea confirms first Covid outbreak, orders nationwide lockdown

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for thorough nationwide lockdowns as the country confirmed its first-ever case of Covid-19.

The country has detected an outbreak of a sub-variant of the highly transmissible Omicron version of the coronavirus, state news agency said.

The agency called it a "severe national emergency incident" after more than two years of keeping the pandemic at bay.

*) Calls for probe into killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh grow louder

The killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank has drawn global condemnation.

The United States, United Nations, European Union and Türkiye separately called for a fair probe into the incident.

Al Jazeera said 51-year-old Palestinian-American Abu Akleh was killed "in cold blood" and demanded Israeli forces be held accountable.

But Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggested "armed Palestinians" were "likely" responsible for the killing.

And, finally...

*) Oil giant Saudi Aramco overtakes Apple as world’s most valuable company

Oil giant Saudi Aramco has dethroned Apple as the world's most valuable company as surging oil prices drive up shares and tech stocks slump.

The Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company was valued at 2.42 trillion dollars based on the price of its shares at close of market on Wednesday.

Apple, meanwhile, has seen its share price drop over the past month and was valued at 2.37 trillion dollars when official trading ended.

*) Ukrainians make gains in east

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian troops are being pushed away from Ukraine's second city Kharkiv.

In his nightly address, Zelensky said "the occupiers are gradually being pushed away" from the Kharkiv region.

Ukrainian authorities in the region said four villages near Kharkiv were cleared from Russian troops.

"Fierce battles" were ongoing in the region, and that the city itself was under heavy fire, they added.

*) US lawmakers approve $40B military, economic aid for Ukraine

US lawmakers have voted to send a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine.

The defence, humanitarian and economic funding passed the House of Representatives by 368 votes to 57.

It will likely pass the Senate by the end of the week or next week.

All the dissenting votes came from the Republican ranks.

*) Israeli troops shoot dead Al Jazeera journalist in occupied West Bank

Israeli forces have shot dead an Al Jazeera reporter in the occupied West Bank.

Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while reporting on a raid in the city of Jenin, Palestinian officials said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said a second reporter, Ali Samodi, working for the Jerusalem-based Al Quds newspaper had been wounded.

Israeli army confirmed that it had conducted an operation in Jenin refugee camp, saying that reporters were hit “possibly by shoots fired by Palestinian gunmen."

The occupied West Bank city of Jenin has seen intensified army raids in recent weeks as violence in the region has surged.

*) UN urges restraint, calls for dialogue to quell deadly Sri Lanka unrest

The UN has condemned the spiralling violence in Sri Lanka, calling on authorities to prevent further unrest and pursue “meaningful dialogue.”

“I am deeply troubled by the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka after supporters of the prime minister attacked peaceful protesters in Colombo” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said.

Eight people, including a parliamentarian, have been killed and over 250 wounded in initially peaceful demonstrations as the country battles its worst economic crisis in history.

And, finally...

*) Apple pulling the plug on iPod after 20 years

Apple is discontinuing the iPod more than 20 years after the device became the face of portable music.

The company said in a blog post that the current generation of iPods will only be available as long as current supplies last.

The trend toward streaming music services has made devices designed just for carrying digital tunes around less enticing for customers.

*) Biden signs bill reviving world war 2 plan to supply arms to Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has eased the acceleration of US weapons shipments to Ukraine through a law based on a World War II measures helping US allies to defeat Nazi Germany.

Biden signed the Lend-lease Act in the Oval Office, saying the US supports Ukrainians' "fight to defend their country and their democracy against Putin's brutal war".

Acknowledging the billions of dollars already spent by the United States, Biden said "caving to aggression is even more costly".

*) Marcos Jr wins by landslide in Philippines presidential election

The son of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos has won a landslide presidential election victory as Filipino voters dismissed warnings his rise could put their fragile democracy at risk.

With more than 90 percent of an initial count concluded, Marcos Junior had secured almost 30 million votes, more than double the tally of his nearest rival, liberal candidate Leni Robredo.

Rights activists and Catholic leaders and analysts had all warned Marcos Jr could rule with an even heavier fist if he wins by a large margin.

*) Sri Lankan PM quits, lawmaker among several dead in violence

Sri Lankan Prime Minister has resigned in the worst violence since anti-government protesters took to the streets against an unprecedented economic crisis.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down after more than 100 people were wounded when his supporters attacked protesters demanding his and the president's ouster.

Sri Lanka imposed curfew deploying thousands of troops and police to enforce it after the worst violence in weeks of protests.

*) Cleaning up 'imminent' Yemen oil spill will cost $20B

The UN has warned that it would cost $20 billion to clean up an oil spill in the event of the "imminent" break-up of an oil tanker abandoned off Yemen.

"Our recent visit to (the FSO Safer) with technical experts indicates that the vessel is imminently going to break up," the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen said.

Last month, the UN said it was seeking nearly $80 million for its operation.

And, finally...

*) Famed painter Hockney’s The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 in Istanbul

Legendary English painter David Hockney’s latest paintings created during the pandemic have arrived at Istanbul’s Sakip Sabanci Museum.

They are prints of paintings created on a custom-made iPad app that a programmer had developed for the artist.

A total of 116 artworks, printed on frames and filled with intricate detail now hang at Istanbul’s Sakip Sabanci Museum at Emirgan.

*) Ukraine's Zelenskyy says Russian strike at school killed about 60

Sixty civilians have died in the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine's Lugansk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is appalled by the reported attack which hit a school where many people were apparently seeking shelter from the ongoing fighting.

Guterres reiterated, in a statement, that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in times of war.

*) Putin to mark Soviet Union's WW2 victory over Nazi Germany

President Vladimir Putin will lead anniversary celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany as Russian forces fight Ukrainians in one of the deadliest European conflicts since World War Two.

Putin has in recent years used Victory Day to needle the West from a tribune in Red Square before a parade of troops, tanks, rockets and ballistic missiles.

*) Philippines votes for new president in 'most consequential election'

Filipinos have begun voting for a new president with the son of an ousted dictator and a champion of reforms and human rights as top contenders.

Monday's election pits Vice President Leni Robredo against former senator and congressman Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the son and namesake of a dictator.

Opinion polls put Marcos, popularly known as "Bongbong", leading his rival by over 30 percentage points, having topped every poll this year.

*) Dozens killed in 'CODECO militia' raid on DRC gold mine

Raiders have killed at least 35 people in an attack on a gold mine in Ituri, in Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources said.

One local official of the rural Mungwalu settlement in Djugu, Ituri, said the militia carried out the attack on the artisanal mine.

29 bodies had been retrieved, while another six burnt bodies had been found buried at the site.

And, finally...

*) Türkiye inaugurates renovated Armenian church in Diyarbakir

Türkiye has officially reopened a 16th-century Armenian church that had been damaged by terrorists before restoration by the Turkish government.

Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said everyone “shares the excitement” of the renovated Armenian Church in Diyarbakir which will reopen for worship.

The historic church in Diyarbakir's Sur district was damaged by PKK terrorist attacks in 2015.

*) UK: Russia aims to take #Mariupol before V-Day

The UK believes Russia wants to take the port city of Mariupol and its vast steel mill before it marks Victory Day on Monday.

“The renewed effort by Russia to secure Azovstal and complete the capture of Mariupol is likely linked to the upcoming 9 May Victory Day commemorations”, the British Defence Ministry said in a daily intelligence briefing.

Whilst Ukrainian resistance continues in Azovstal, Russian losses will continue to build and frustrate their operational plans in southern Donbass, it added.

*) Almost 500 civilians evacuated from Mariupol: Ukraine

Staying with Ukraine, Kiev has said almost 500 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol and its besieged Azovstal steel plant since a UN-led rescue operation began.

"We have managed to evacuate almost 500 civilians," Andriy Yermak (An-dree Year-mak), who heads Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said.

The United Nations had said that a new convoy would evacuate civilians from the "bleak hell" of the factory, which has become the last pocket of resistance in the southern port city.

*) UK PM Johnson loses control of traditional strongholds in local elections

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has lost control of traditional strongholds in London and suffered losses elsewhere in local elections.

Early results showed that Johnson's party was ousted in Wandsworth - a low-tax Conservative stronghold since 1978.

The Tories also said they had lost control of the borough of Barnet, which has been held by the party in all but two elections since 1964.

"This is a warning shot from Conservative voters," said Daniel Thomas, the Tory leader of Barnet council.

*) Researchers find animal virus in deceased man's implanted pig heart

US researchers trying to learn what killed the first person to receive a heart transplant from a pig have discovered the organ harboured an animal virus.

University of Maryland doctors said they found an unwelcome surprise, viral DNA inside the pig heart.

They did not find signs that this bug was causing an active infection. But a major worry about animal-to-human transplants is the risk that it could introduce new kinds of infections to people.

57-year-old David Bennett died in March, two months after the groundbreaking experimental transplant.

And, finally...

*) Asian Games postponed as China battles Covid

The Asian Games due to take place in China in September have been postponed indefinitely as Beijing battles a resurgence of Covid cases.

"The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the 19th Asian Games will be postponed," said a statement on the official Games website.

No reason was given for the delay, but China is racing to extinguish its largest outbreak of Covid-19 since the early days of the pandemic.

#RussiaVDay #UKElection #OrganTransplant #PigHeart #AsianGames

*) Russia announces 3-day #ceasefire for civilian evacuations in Ukraine's Mariupol

Russia announces a three-day cease-fire for evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of #Mariupol.

In a statement, Russia’s defence ministry said an evacuation corridor would be opened in the #Azovstal area "based on humanitarian principles".

The humanitarian corridor will be opened for the evacuation of civilians, including workers, women and children, from the Azovstal plant site on May 5-7, from 0500 GMT to 1500 GMT, the ministry said.

*) UN: More than 300 evacuated from Mariupol

Over 300 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol and other areas in southern Ukraine as part of a joint UN-Red Cross operation, the United Nations said.

The evacuations came as Ukrainian forces inside Mariupol's Azovstal steel works said they were fighting "difficult bloody battles" against Russian troops.

Mariupol is one of the most battered cities in #Ukraine. A group of Ukrainian forces are still holding out at the plant with hundreds of civilians trapped inside.

*) UK votes in local elections with historic N Ireland result predicted

Polls have opened across the UK in local and regional elections that could prove historic in Northern Ireland and heap further pressure on embattled Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The contest in Belfast could see a pro-Irish nationalist party win for the first time in the troubled history of the British province.

On the other side, poor results could reignite simmering discontent within Johnson’s ruling Conservatives about his leadership after a string of recent scandals.

*) Colombia extradites 'world's most wanted' drug trafficker to US

#Colombia has extradited the world's most wanted drug trafficker, Dairo Antonio Usuga David, to the United States, where he faces indictments in three federal courts

Colombian President Ivan Duque said that Usuga David is "comparable only to Pablo Escobar", referring to the late former head of the Medellin drug cartel.

The former rural warlord had stayed on the run for more than a decade by corrupting state officials and aligning himself with combattants on the left and right.

Usuga David and his drug cartel are accused of illegally bringing over 73 tonnes of cocaine into the US between 2003 and 2012.

And, finally...

*) Real Madrid beat Man City, to face Liverpool in Champions League final

Real Madrid have fought back from the brink of elimination to beat Manchester City 3-1 after extra time in an enthralling and dramatic Champions League semi-final.

City led 1-0 on the night when Riyad Mahrez scored after 73 minutes, but Real substitute Rodrygo equalised in the last minute of normal time.

Five minutes into extra time Karim Benzema converted a penalty awarded for a foul on him and Real held the shell-shocked English side at bay to reach the final.

Real, the record 13-times European champions, will play Liverpool on May 28 in Paris.

#RealMadrid

*) Russia strikes Kiev during UN chief’s visit

Russian forces have pressed their offensive in south and east Ukraine after bombarding capital Kiev during a visit by the United Nations' Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

At least three people were wounded in strikes in the western part of Kiev, the first in the capital in nearly two weeks.

The strikes came after Guterres toured Bucha and other suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have committed mass atrocities.

*) UNSC ‘failed to do everything in its power to end war’: Guterres

Staying with Ukraine, UN chief Guterres admitted while visiting Kiev that the Security Council has failed to go far enough in its efforts to "prevent and end" Russian onslaught in Ukraine.

"Let me be very clear: the Security Council failed to do everything in its power to prevent and end this war,” Guterres said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“This is the source of great disappointment, frustration and anger," he added.

*) Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia to start new era in ties

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with top Saudi leadership in his first visit to the kingdom in five years following the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

King Salman received Erdogan in the city of Jeddah and both leaders held a closed-door meeting at Al Salam Royal Palace. Erdogan also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I believe we will take our relations to a level beyond what they were previously; my visit will open the doors of a new era with our friend, brother Saudi Arabia," Erdogan said.

*) South Asia wilts in heat as India rubbish mountain burns

Millions have sweltered in a dangerous early summer heatwave across India and Pakistan that has led to power and water shortages.

Several states imposed power cuts on factories as air conditioning and fan consumption skyrocketed with temperatures crossing 45 Celsius in parts of the region.

In Pakistan, temperatures are expected to be up to eight degrees higher than usual.

Scientists say the climate crisis is making heatwaves harsher and more frequent across South Asia.

And, finally...

*) Scientists discover fossil of largest raptor dinosaur in southern Argentina

A team of Argentine palaeontologists digging in Patagonia has discovered the remains of the largest dinosaur belonging to the raptor family ever recorded.

The dinosaur, a new species named Maip macrothorax, was between nine and 10-metres-long, while other "megaraptors" were no longer than nine metres.

The carnivorous dinosaur is thought to have inhabited what is now the southern tip of Argentina 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period.

*) Putin warns West of lightning retaliation

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if any other country intervenes in Moscow's operations in Ukraine, Russia will launch a quick-fire military response.

Putin said: "If anyone sets out to intervene … and creates unacceptable threats for us that are strategic in nature, they should know that our response... will be lightning-fast".

"We have all the tools for this, that no one else can boast of having. We won't boast about it: we'll use them if needed," he added.

*) Germany biggest buyer of Russian energy

An independent research group has found that Germany is the biggest buyer of Russian energy in the first two months of Moscow’s assault on Ukraine.

The study published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air calculates that Russia earned 66.5 billion dollars from fossil fuel exports since the offensive began.

Of the 66.5 billion, the researchers reckon that 9.6

billion dollars came from Germany.

Berlin says it can't comment on estimates and declines to provide any figures of its own.

*) Muslims across world observe Islam’s holy night of Laylat al Qadr

Muslims around the world have observed Laylat al Qadr or the "Night of Power".

It is on this night that Muslims believe Allah sent the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad and revealed the first verses of the holy Quran.

The exact day of the night is not officially known but Muslims are told to search for Laylat al Qadr during the last odd nights of Ramadan.

It is widely believed to be the 27th night of Ramadan.

*) Palestinians subjected to ‘racial segregation’ in E Jerusalem

Israel's housing policies in occupied East Jerusalem amount to "racial segregation and discrimination" against the Palestinian people and a violation of their human rights, a group of UN experts has said.

"The discriminatory zoning and planning regime in occupied East Jerusalem clearly amounts to segregation based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin," the experts said in a statement.

"Racially segregated settlements have had significant and lasting consequences on the standards of living of the Palestinian people," they noted.

And, finally...

*) Fossils of giant ancient marine reptiles discovered in Alps

The fossils of three giant marine reptiles, called ichthyosaurs (ik·thee·uh·saw·s), have been discovered high up in the Swiss Alps and include the largest ever tooth found for the species.

The prehistoric giants weighed up to 80 metric tonnes and grew to 20 metres before they died out 200 million years ago, making them among the largest animals to have ever lived.

The specimens in question were discovered in the late 20th century, at an altitude of 2,800 metres.

During their lifetimes the three swam in waters around the supercontinent Pangea (pan·jee·uh), but due to plate tectonics and the folding of the Alps, the fossils kept rising.

*) UN chief and Russia’s Putin agree on Ukraine evacuation

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle on arranging evacuations from a besieged steel plant in the battered city of Mariupol.

The announcement came from UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric after the two met one-on-one for the first time since the Ukraine conflict began.

Dujarric said further discussions will take place between the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Russian defence ministry.

The last Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol are hunkered down after months of Russian siege and bombardment at the Azovstal steel complex.

*) Britain says Ukraine controls majority of its airspace

The UK's defence ministry has said that Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace, adding that Russia has failed to effectively destroy the country's air force or suppress its air defences.

"Russia has very limited air access to the north and west of Ukraine, limiting offensive actions to deep strikes with stand-off weapons," the ministry said on Twitter.

"Russian air activity is primarily focused on southern and eastern Ukraine, providing support to Russian ground forces," it added in a regular bulletin.

*) Myanmar court sentences Suu Kyi to 5 years for corruption

A court in military-ruled Myanmar has convicted the country’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption and sentenced her to five years in prison.

Suu Kyi, who was ousted by an army takeover last year, had denied the allegation that she had accepted a bribe of $600,000 in cash and gold bars.

Suu Kyi still faces a raft of other criminal charges and could be jailed for more than 100 years if convicted on all counts.

*) Israeli forces kill Palestinian in West Bank clashes

Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian man and wounded three others in the occupied West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The dead man was identified as 21-year-old Ahmad Massad, from the village of Burqin in the northern occupied West Bank.

He was shot in the head by Israeli forces during arrest raids, officials told the agency.

And, finally...

*) Gold prices dip as dollar rises to pandemic high

Gold prices have fallen as the dollar consolidated at its highest level in more than two years and pressured demand for greenback-priced bullion.

Spot gold was down 0.4 percent at $1,897 per ounce as the dollar stood at 102.39 against a basket of rival currencies.

The dollar stands at its highest level since the early days of the pandemic and is heading for its best month since 2015.

*) Ukraine fires at Russian village - Russian official

Russia says several buildings have been damaged in the Golovchino village in Russia's Belgorod province which came under fire from Ukraine.

Hours earlier, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov [Veeyacheslav Gladkov] said at least two people were hurt in an attack on another village, Zhuravlyovka.

He did not specify whether the two attacks were cases of artillery or mortar shelling or missile strikes.

*) Erdogan, Guterres reaffirm goal to end conflict in Ukraine

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have reaffirmed their "common objective" of ending hostilities in Ukraine in a meeting in Ankara.

The two leaders "stressed the urgent need for effective access through humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians and deliver much needed assistance".

Guterres also expressed his support for Türkiye's "on-going diplomatic efforts in relation to the war in Ukraine."

The UN chief and Erdogan "agreed to stay in contact to follow up on ongoing initiatives."

*) Kim vows to 'strengthen' North Korea's nuclear weapons

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen the country's nuclear weapons programme during a speech at a high-profile military parade in Pyongyang.

Kim said his country would continue to take steps to strengthen and develop the nation's nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace.

Pyongyang has carried out more than a dozen weapons tests this year, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017.

*) UN: World to be hit harder by disasters

A disaster-weary globe will be hit harder in the coming years by even more catastrophes colliding in an interconnected world, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warned in a report.

If current trends continue, the world will go from around 400 disasters per year in 2015 to an onslaught of about 560 catastrophes a year by 2030, according to the report.

Report authors added that disasters are hitting poorer countries harder than richer ones, with recovery costs taking a bigger chunk out of the economy in nations that can’t afford it.

*) Elon Musk buys Twitter

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has bought Twitter for 44 billion dollars, shifting control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world's richest person.

Musk pledged to protect free speech on the platform in a statement following the acquisition.

However, experts and rights groups say there is a risk to human rights and personal safety as Musk seeks to privatise the platform and now has access to an immense amount of data.