The Friday Edition

Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

May 21, 2026

Helping to Heal a Broken Humanity (Part 89)

The Hague, 22 May 2026 | If you know of a decisive story, tell the world! We're still searching.

The “Non-Violence” (or “Knotted Gun”) sculpture by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd on display at the UN Visitors’ Plaza

Where hatred and the thirst for revenge dominate,
where war brings suffering and death to the innocent,
the grace of mercy is needed
to settle human minds and hearts and bring about peace."

Saint Pope John Paul II
Homily at the Shrine of Divine Mercy at Krakow-Lagiewniki, 17 August 2002, No.5

Click here for Part 1

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Click here for Part 49
Click here for Part 50

Click here for Part 51

Editorial | If You Want Peace, TALK PEACE!

By Abraham A. van Kempen
22 May 2026

To be continued on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Enjoy your weekend,

Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor

Building the Bridge Foundation, The Hague
A Way to Get to Know One Another and the Other

Remember! Diplomacy is catalytic—transformative —while military action is cataclysmic—destructive and catastrophic.

When faced with the options to be good, bad, or ugly, let’s build bridges, not burn them. After all, mutual deterrence reigns.

THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR PUTIN TALKING TO XI, SAYING WE MAY BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE – RAY MCGOVERN

In this episode of RT’s Sanchez Effect, Rick talks to retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern.

Watch the Video Here (56 minutes, 07 seconds)

Host Rick Sanchez
HomeShowsSanchez Effect
18 May 2026

Rick was intrigued to hear experts like Scott Ritter and Daniel Davis suggest that Russia might retaliate against the recent EU-supported Ukrainian drone attacks. However, Ray remains doubtful, saying Putin is very “cool” and unlikely to be provoked.

CIA Analyst, Ray McGovern, believes Russia is not escalating and is winning in Ukraine.
McGovern also states that Putin is confident the European public won’t allow their unpopular leaders to trigger a major war with Russia.
Additionally, Ray shares his experience briefing U.S. presidents and notes that Israeli influence has caused issues for Washington since the 20th century.

US INDICTS FORMER CUBAN PRESIDENT RAÚL CASTRO OVER THE 1996 DOWNING OF TWO PLANES. WHO IS HE?

US indicts former Cuban President Raúl Castro over the 1996 plane shootdown that killed four Americans, reviving a decades-old case

Raúl Castro Photograph: (AFP)

Edited By Jatin Verma
WION News India
21 May 2026

On Wednesday (May 20), the US Justice Department charged Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former Cuban president, regarding the 1996 incident where a civilian aircraft operated by critics of the communist regime was shot down.

The unsealed indictment accuses Castro and others of conspiracy to kill Americans and related criminal charges related to the attack that resulted in four deaths. During the announcement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the indictment highlights the US's ongoing pursuit of justice for its citizens.

Blanche emphasized, "For nearly 30 years, the families of four murdered Americans have waited for justice." He added, "The United States and President Donald Trump do not and will not forget their citizens."

Please continue reading ...

WION NEWS | IRAN CONSIDERS BOUNTY ON TRUMP AND NETANYAHU FOR ASSASSINATION OF AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI

Iranian lawmakers are debating a bill that proposes hefty rewards for assassinating US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This move heightens tensions after the February strikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Watch the Video Here (1 minute, 55 seconds)

WION News India
19 May 2026

'THERE WON'T BE ESCALATION," TRUMP SAYS, CALLING THE INDICTMENT AGAINST RAÚL CASTRO A "VERY BIG MOMENT."

Donald Trump praised Raúl Castro’s indictment while Cuba condemned the charges as a political provocation tied to the 1996 plane shootdown

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on May 20, 2026. Photograph: (AFP)

Edited By Jatin Verma
WION News India
21 May 21 2026

On May 20, Trump praised the US indictment of Raúl Castro but said further action against Cuba isn't needed amid rising speculation about Washington’s plans. He called the charges against Castro, 94, a "very big moment" and said there won't be escalation, as "the place is falling apart" and "a mess."

Trump also signaled that his administration plans to soon lift the longstanding US embargo on Cuba. “We’ll see. We’ll be announcing it pretty soon,” Trump stated when asked about the duration of the embargo. The US has had a decades-old economic embargo and oil restrictions on Cuba, which have worsened the island’s ongoing economic and energy crises.

Read the full story ...

Families of victims react

The indictment stems from the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. The planes were destroyed near the Cuban coast after being targeted with heat-seeking missiles. Prosecutors allege that Castro, who was serving as Cuba’s defense minister at the time, authorized the attack. Miriam de la Pena, whose son Mario was among the four men killed in the incident, welcomed the charges against Castro.

“His age doesn’t matter; he can be brought in on a stretcher,” she told CNN regarding the former Cuban leader. Another relative reportedly added:

“That’s what wheelchairs are for.”

Cuban reaction

Residents in Havana pushed back against the indictment, describing it as a politically motivated move that could worsen tensions during an already fragile period in US-Cuba relations. In areas surrounding Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior and the headquarters of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, several residents criticized the US action as a deliberate provocation. The Cuban government also strongly condemned the indictment, calling it a ‘despicable accusation’ against Castro.

“It is a despicable and infamous act of political provocation,” the government said in a statement published online and broadcast on state television.

Cuban authorities accused the United States of distorting facts surrounding the 1996 incident involving the downing of the two aircraft. Cuba has long defended the shootdown, arguing that the planes repeatedly violated Cuban airspace despite multiple warnings issued to Washington.

“It is highly cynical that this accusation is made by the same government that has murdered nearly 200 people and destroyed 57 vessels in international waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific, far from the territory of the United States, with the disproportionate use of military force,” the statement read, referring to US operations against alleged drug-trafficking boats.

The Cuban government further claimed the indictment was intended to justify “collective punishment” against the Cuban people.

Jatin Verma: With over 12 years of experience in journalism, Jatin is currently working as a Senior Sub-Editor at WION. He brings a dynamic and insightful voice to both the sports and the world of...Read More

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited and annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

DMITRY POLYANSKIY: RUSSIA HAS LOST ITS PATIENCE WITH EUROPE

Dmitry Polyanskiy is the Permanent Representative of Russia to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria.
Before this, he served for several years as the First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations in New York.
Amb. Polyanskiy contends that Europe's escalation in the Ukraine proxy conflict has exceeded all red lines, and discussions about employing a tactical nuclear weapon against Europe are no longer considered taboo in Russia.

Watch the Video Here (30 minutes, 40 seconds)

Host Prof. Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
21 May 2026

PUTIN AND TRUMP COULD MEET IN NOVEMBER – KREMLIN

The potential encounter may happen at the APEC summit in China, Yury Ushakov has indicated

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at the Anchorage summit in Alaska, US, August 15, 2025. © Getty Images / Anadolu / Contributor

HomeWorld News
20 May 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump could meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China in November, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, who added that no talks are currently planned.

Putin, who has just concluded his official two-day visit to China, told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he plans to attend the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Trump, who also traveled to China last week, has reportedly signaled his intention to participate as well.

“Our president has confirmed that he will come to the APEC summit,” Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday. “I think that, in any case, if both leaders are in China, they will probably cross paths and hold some kind of meeting,” he said.

The Russian presidential aide added that

“So far, this has not yet been agreed, but given that such a prospect exists, it is unlikely that anyone would refuse it.”

Please continue reading ...

RUSSIA-CHINA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TURNS 30: HOW FORMER RIVALS BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS

The key milestones that led to “no-limits” cooperation between Moscow and Beijing

A meeting of a Russian and Chinese delegations on December 15, 2014, in Astana, Kazakhstan. © TPG/Getty Images

HomeWorld News
19 May 2026

Respectfully annotated by Abraham A. van Kempen

Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting China, marking a key milestone in their "no-limits partnership.”

Putin’s visit marks the 30th anniversary of China-Russia's strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

Over three decades, pragmatism, Western influence, and shared economic interests have helped China and Russia build a key partnership beyond the Western-led global system.

Soviet chapter: From comrades to combatants

The Soviet Union and Communist China formed an ideological alliance in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The USSR, seen as China’s ‘elder brother,’ helped rebuild after WWII and the Civil War. Soviet technicians aided in building factories and railways and in establishing an industrial base.

Read more
Decade of strategic partnership: Key Putin-Xi meetings that shaped Russia-China ties

Relations worsened in the 1950s after Khrushchev distanced himself from Stalin’s policies, a move that alienated a close Mao ally. Khrushchev condemned Stalin’s purges and cult of personality, moving toward peaceful coexistence with the West.

Beijing accused Moscow of "revisionism," of diverging from Marxism-Leninism, and of causing rivalry. Tensions peaked in 1969 during an undeclared clash over Damansky Island (Zhenbao in China) on the Ussuri River.

Read more
Russia and China are building something America cannot break

The Long Thaw

Ties normalized in the mid-1980s with the reformers Gorbachev and Deng gaining power. Moscow and Beijing held talks to reduce border disputes, and relations improved after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and the halting of support for Vietnam’s involvement in Cambodia.

The new era of reconciliation began when Gorbachev visited Beijing in 1989, the first Soviet leader to do so in 30 years.

Partnership takes shape

The Soviet Union’s 1991 collapse didn't disrupt improving ties, as China quickly recognized Russia. Both nations supported each other: China wanted Soviet weapons and resources, while Moscow sought funds amid its market transition.

Read more
China-Russia-US relations: Zero-sum is gone for good

In April 1996, Russia and China moved toward a “strategic partnership of equality and trust" for the 21st century. A year later, they supported a "multipolar world" to counter US dominance. Both grew concerned about NATO’s eastward expansion.

Trade boom

In 2001, the two parties signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, committing to cooperate on shared threats and promote global stability. Later, they resolved their border dispute.

Read more
Where do Russian and Chinese foreign policy interests align?

The political foundation proved economically fruitful, with China’s trade with Russia rising more than sevenfold—from $8 billion to $60 billion—between 2000 and 2010. Russia supplied energy, coal, and raw materials, while China exported machinery, consumer electronics, and affordable manufactures to Russia.

New era in energy cooperation

The 2014 Ukraine crisis and Western sanctions on Russia strengthened Moscow-Beijing ties.

In May 2014, Gazprom and CNPC agreed on a $400 billion, 30-year deal to deliver 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually via the Power of Siberia pipeline, which began operation in December 2019.

Read more
Putin addresses Chinese people ahead of official visit (VIDEO)

Bilateral trade grew rapidly, tripling from 2010 to 2022 to over $180 billion. Both countries developed grievances against Washington: Russia opposed NATO's expansion and Western support for Ukraine, while China had a standoff with the US in the South China Sea over trade tariffs and technology.

“No limits partnership”

In early February 2022, less than three weeks before the Ukraine conflict escalated, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping issued a joint statement stating that:

The “friendship between the two States has no limits” and that “there are no ‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation.”

Read more
Decade of strategic partnership: Key Putin-Xi meetings that shaped Russia-China ties

China chose not to condemn Moscow's military operation, declined Western sanctions, and blamed NATO expansion. It remained Moscow’s main economic partner, especially in energy, despite EU efforts to reduce ties with Russia.

China continued to import cars, electronics, trucks, and other goods into Russia, filling the gap left by Western companies.

Before this week's visit, Putin said in a video address that Russia-China trade exceeded $200 billion, mostly in national currencies.

SUN TZU, MAO, AND THUCYDIDES: CHINA’S STRATEGY AGAINST THE UNITED STATES

The shape of the next conflict – Oğul Tuna explains how Beijing increasingly determines the tempo and terrain of the emerging global confrontation, even as Washington still possesses immense power.

By OĞUL TUNA
Multipolar Press
Substack.com
19 May 2026

The Beijing summit between U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen as a “historic” event. Nevertheless, Xi’s cold transmission to Trump in October 2025 and the attack on Iran in February 2026 raised doubts about whether the meeting would take place.

The American president arrived in Beijing on May 13. The summit was mainly symbolic and rhetorical; during the welcoming ceremony, Xi paid little attention to the leaders' statements.

As of May 17, many Western analysts called the meeting a 'mountain giving birth to a mouse.” While no major breakthroughs occurred, long-term strategic rivals like the US and China aren't expected to reconcile. The leaders' posturing, especially contradictory American messages, showed they are influenced by today’s climate—Xi’s remarks echoed Reagan’s 'tear down this wall,” setting the tone for a new era. The hegemon is tired; China is preparing for confrontation, making this meeting more of an intermission than a breakthrough.

“THE EXHAUSTED HEGEMON” IN BEIJING

Using Hüseyin Korkmaz's term, even the route of the “exhausted hegemon” to Beijing is symbolically significant. While the US remains powerful, it can't manage international crises alone. Washington seeks shared responsibilities with China.

This position reveals a contradiction. Like Gorbachev, Trump initially aimed to renew and purify the empire to preserve it. His early foreign-policy moves showed an isolationist trend and a focus on China as the main threat in the Pacific. Despite preparations to withdraw, the U.S. became more involved in the Middle East. While planning for a confrontation with China, Washington engaged in talks with Beijing on Iran, Taiwan, and technology issues.

Throughout this process, Xi employed strategies reminiscent of Sun Tzu, who said, “the victorious side determines the conditions of victory before the war begins.” Beijing set the scene, controlling the pace and agenda, which was increasingly shaped by Beijing rather than Washington. Even before Trump's visit, Chinese messages reflected Cold War ideas of “peaceful coexistence,” highlighting the shifting environment. Xi’s demeanor towards Trump—and Trump’s restrained, polite, and culturally aware response—held deep significance on all levels.

THREE DOSSIERS: IRAN, TAIWAN, AND TECHNOLOGY

China responded to Washington’s gentle messages, but behind Beijing’s friendly image were concerns about:

The Strait of Hormuz
Taiwan
Rare earth elements
AI
Espionage
Supply chains.

These issues show that the U.S.–China rivalry has shifted from solely military and diplomatic conflicts to a contest over infrastructure and technological systems.

Trump expected Xi to assist with Iran and give the global economy space, showing the U.S. can't handle all crises alone, especially those with ripple effects like Iran. China, however, doesn't want to be just a subcontractor but aims to be a key player in the global order.

The most surprising message of the talks—one that no one expected—came from Xi himself. Usually known for his calm, measured, and constructive tone, China's leader referenced the “Thucydides Trap,” sparking discussions across many articles and languages. Named after the ancient Greek strategist Thucydides, this concept highlights the risk of war when a rising power threatens a dominant one. However, at the Trump–Xi summit, the phrase was less about an inevitable war and more about how to manage competition. China does not seek immediate escalation or direct conflict with the U.S., but prefers to keep this rivalry on its own terms, within a framework in which its red lines are acknowledged and what it calls “constructive strategic stability” is maintained.

Despite its constructive tone, Beijing seems to be adapting Mao Zedong's “protracted war' doctrine to today's context. Sun Tzu’s idea that “the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting” continues to guide their approach. China is not aiming for a direct military victory over the U.S.; instead, it is creating conditions that gradually limit America’s freedom of action—spanning rare earth minerals and AI standards to the Persian Gulf and the South China Sea. Mao’s focus on sustained struggle and political resolve supports this tactic. For China, the main concern isn’t whether America has power, but how long Washington can maintain that power across Iran, Taiwan, technological rivalry, and internal politics.

Xi’s approach avoids direct conflict with the U.S., instead secretly advancing in areas that exacerbate America’s capacity, resolve, and time-management issues.

NOT A TRAP, BUT MANAGED INSTABILITY

Some analysts argue that Xi’s caution regarding the “Thucydides Trap' doesn’t imply China fears war. Instead, it shows China’s aim to channel competition into a long-term, controlled, and manageable process that benefits it. At the same time, signs of trouble are already emerging for Taiwan. A single incident there this fall could ignite a global crisis.

Despite America’s demands, China does not seek to end the rivalry. Beijing prefers a “measured,” “manageable” competition respecting China’s red lines. Officials warn that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict or war. The U.S. maintains its policy and a low profile. Trump’s May 15 remark—

”You know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war [Taiwan]. I’m not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down.”—illustrates this.

Remember Sun Tzu’s adage: “All warfare is based on deception.”

Ultimately, the Beijing summit neither achieved peace nor reconciliation; instead, it created a new competitive framework. China views avoiding direct conflict not as a sign of weakness but as a strategic tactic, leveraging time, geography, and crisis patterns to its benefit. The United States adopts the same approach.

However, the current facts reveal an “exhausted hegemon” confronted with a rising power that essentially demands, "Tear down these walls!”

(Translated from the Turkish)

WION DECODES | SUN SETTING ON NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT? ISRAEL MAY BE HEADING FOR SNAP ELECTIONS AS KNESSET DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT | WION DECODES

Israel could be heading toward another snap election after lawmakers took the first formal step toward dissolving the country’s parliament, a move that threatens the survival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government at a time of war.

As wars rage across Gaza and Iran, Netanyahu now faces a political crisis at home. Photograph: (AFP)

Edited by Moohita Kaur Garg
WION News India
21 May 2026

Israel may move toward early elections as lawmakers start dissolving parliament, threatening Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. The timing is critical due to international criticism of the war and far-right ministers in his cabinet.

On May 20, Israeli lawmakers approved a bill to dissolve the 120-seat Knesset, passing the initial reading with 110 votes in favor and none against.

The bill needs approval through parliamentary stages before becoming law. If approved, Israel likely will hold elections within 90 days, possibly before the current session ends in October.

Reports show Netanyahu’s allies, the Ultra-Orthodox parties, accused him of not delivering a promised law exempting religious students from military service. Frustration led some coalition members to support dissolving parliament.

Why is Netanyahu under pressure?

Netanyahu faces political and personal challenges amid declining support since the October 7 Hamas attacks, with many Israelis blaming his government for security lapses and growing frustration over the war.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is trying to negotiate a plea deal that could push Netanyahu out of politics, while he's also involved in a corruption trial.

Questions about Netanyahu’s health have resurfaced after reports of his prostate cancer treatment and earlier pacemaker surgery.

What happens next?

The bill is under review as lawmakers discuss a potential snap election before final approval. Polls suggest Netanyahu might lose his majority, but Israel’s fragmented politics often complicate coalition formation.

This suggests that the country might experience political deadlock again, with Netanyahu possibly remaining caretaker prime minister until a new coalition is formed.

Moohita Kaur Garg: Moohita Kaur Garg is a senior sub-editor at WION with over four years of experience covering the volatile intersections of geopolitics and global security. From reporting on global...Read More

THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING - THE GRAYZONE LIVE

Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate discuss the controversy surrounding a New York Times report that finally reveals the systematic Israeli use of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees.

They then verify a new Israeli report loaded with falsehoods, designed to divert attention from the PR crisis, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to threaten legal action against The Times.
They also cover recent developments in Lebanon, the possibility of renewed attacks on Iran, Trump's summit with Xi, and the approaching political crisis in Israel.

Watch the Video Here (2 hours, 20 minutes, 27 seconds)

Hosts Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate
The Grayzone
Substack.com
16 May 2026

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanisms for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're seeking the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanisms for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge fosters understanding, dispels prejudice, and sparks a desire to learn more about the subject. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet, its misuse can cause untold harm, leading to misunderstandings, prejudices, and conflicts.

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