Source of drone strike on civilian ship has not been confirmed | A civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza was targeted in a drone attack early Friday while sailing in international waters near the island of Malta, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement.

💬 “At 00:23 Maltese time, a FreedomFlotilla ship was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull,” said the coalition. It added that “the ship is currently located in international waters near Malta” and that it sent out an SOS distress signal. The coalition said “the Maltese government has not yet responded to the SOS signal from this civilian humanitarian vessel.”

The coalition called on Malta to fulfill its “obligation to act and ensure the safety of a civilian ship in distress within its proximity” as required by international maritime law.

■ Drones hit ‘Freedom Flotilla’ Gaza aid ship in international waters (Al Jazeera)

U.S. and Ukraine sign long-awaited minerals deal, establishing joint reconstruction fund and splitting revenue 50/50 | On Wednesday, the U.S. and Ukraine signed an economic partnership agreement granting the U.S. preferential access to new natural resource extraction projects in Ukraine, including ones focused on aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas, Bloomberg reports. The agreement, signed at the U.S. Treasury Department on April 30, also provides for the creation of a joint U.S.–Ukrainian investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. ■ U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, announcing the deal, said that it's “time for this cruel and senseless war to end.” He added: “This deal sends a clear message to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process that has a free, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine at its centre in the long term.” Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who signed the agreement on Kyiv’s behalf, said the two countries are “creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country.” Here's what we know about the terms of the deal so far.

■ US-Ukraine minerals fund could begin operating within months, Economy Minister says (The Kyiv Independent)
■ Ukraine and the U.S. have signed a long-stalled minerals deal (NPR)
■ Ukraine And US Sign Mineral Agreement (charter97.org)
■ US ready to spend another 100 days on Russia-Ukraine peace – Vance (RT)

 ■ The so-called government in Kyiv was not even legitimate in 2014 when the Obama/CIA staged a coup in that country, installing the Nazis there in a so-called government. Since then, “President” Zelenskyi has removed all democratic institutions in the country, opposition parties and media have been removed. The Russian Orthodox Church has been destroyed.

 ■ The so-called “president” lost his office in May 2024. Now he is not even legitimate by Ukranian (the CIA's) terms. The Rada, however, and its President, are legitimate in principle, but not really, because the election was a monstrosity. So there's nothing legitimate here. Nothing at all.

💬 "On February 26, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) passed a resolution extending Zelensky's mandate until martial law is lifted, [and] while the Verkhovna Rada must approve any decision to lift martial law, it is typically initiated by a presidential decree or proposal." (iAsk.ai)

 ■ Well, Mr. Zelenskyi will not lift martial law because he wants even more war. The US government now wants "peace" so it can start digging, and it is drooling to plunder the country of everything of economic value. It now has entered into an “agreement” with the illegitimate, Nazi regime in Kyiv. "Historic economic partnership" -- My foot! The “partnership” is a legal nullity, and is of no juridical relevance. Besides, does an antelope make a deal with a lion?

 ■ This means that the American government is stealing and plundering a country without restraint, pretending that this is legitimate and in good order. President Trump is a thief, a dirty criminal, bought and paid for...by the Jewish-controlled USA. Yes, we just said it, letting the cat out of the bag. They own him, and he does their dirty work. He's looting Ukraine for them. -- It is grotesque!

 ■ Russia should definitely consider taking all of former Ukraine minus a small strip of land in the border area with Poland, thus denying the US government their plunder. Yes, take Odesa too, and the coastal areas, thus making rump-Ukraine a landlocked entity. Drive them all out! The Americans, the British, and the French. All of them. -- And good riddance! (Editor awip)

Kit Klarenberg | Across the United States and much of the West, criticism of Israel and solidarity with Palestine are increasingly being criminalized—a project long championed by Israel’s government and its powerful lobbying networks. | In February 2020, Israeli leader and internationally wanted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu proudly declared that Tel Aviv had “promoted laws in most U.S. states” to punish those who boycott Israel, offering a rare glimpse into the foreign forces eroding free speech in the American heartland. ■ Since then, anti-boycott laws have quietly spread to dozens of states, forcing public institutions, businesses, and even individual contractors to pledge loyalty to Israel—or risk losing jobs, contracts, and funding. What began as a niche effort to shield Tel Aviv from grassroots criticism has rapidly escalated into a sweeping assault on free speech across the Western world. ■ The overwhelming majority of states now boast laws making it illegal for local entities, including hospitals and schools, to work with individuals or companies that boycott Israel. For example, in 2016, Indiana’s Senate unanimously passed a law calling for mandatory divestment by state agencies, commercial enterprises, and nonprofit organizations—including universities—from any firm involved in “the promotion of activities to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel.”

✅ Facing Prison Time in Germany for Criticizing an Israeli Journalist: The Case of Hüseyin Dogru (Alan Macleod)