Austria has claimed antennas on the roofs of Russian Embassy buildings may have been used for spying

Austria’s decision to expel three Russian diplomats will be met with a harsh response from Moscow, the Russian Embassy in Vienna said on Monday, calling the move unjustified and politically motivated.

Earlier in the day, Reuters cited Austrian Foreign Minister ‌Beate Meinl-Reisinger as saying that the three diplomats had already left the country. The minister accused the Russian mission of “committing espionage,” claiming that an “antenna forest” on the roofs of diplomatic buildings could be used to intercept satellite communications.

”A harsh response from Moscow to these absolutely reckless actions by the Austrian side will undoubtedly follow,” the Russian Embassy in Vienna said in a statement. “Full responsibility for any further deterioration of already historically low bilateral relations lies entirely on Vienna.”

The Russian mission accused the Austrian authorities of targeting not only embassy staff but also Russian officials serving at the Permanent Mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Vienna hosts the headquarters of several major international organizations – including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), OPEC, and a number of UN agencies – in which Russia participates, maintaining diplomatic and technical engagement.

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Slamming the expulsion as entirely “unjustified, purely politically motivated, and categorically unacceptable,” the embassy highlighted that Austria provided no evidence of any violations of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The latest expulsions bring the total number of Russian representatives forced to leave Austria since 2020 to 14. In September, Austria ordered a Russian diplomat to leave over alleged contact with a dismissed executive suspected of espionage at state energy company OMV. In 2024, Vienna removed two more Russian Embassy officials over activities deemed incompatible with their status. Moscow has responded with tit-for-tat measures, ordering Austrian officials of equivalent rank to depart Russia.

In April, Austrian magazine Falter reported, citing a draft from the country’s Justice Ministry, that Vienna plans to tighten its laws by introducing criminal liability for espionage targeting the EU and international organizations based in the country.

Divided into Allied sectors after World War Two, ⁠Austria long had a reputation as a den of spies during the Cold War.

Brussels is set to announce plans to build massive computing hubs while critics stress there is almost no domestic artificial intelligence industry to use them

The EU’s plan to spend over €20 billion ($23.5 billion) on AI gigafactories has drawn sharp criticism ahead of its formal launch as lawmakers and experts question whether there is any real demand for the facilities.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first outlined the plan in February 2025 as the EU’s answer to large-scale US computing projects. It involves building four or five mega facilities with a formal call for proposals set for this spring.

However, the project has been met with pushback from lawmakers. “Nobody could explain to me what is the business case they are planning with these gigafactories,” German Greens MEP Sergey Lagodinsky has said.

“I talked to some who are saying: ‘we just need more compute in Europe.’ But then, when I ask them, ‘what for?’ They say ‘it doesn’t matter, we just need more compute.’” Lagodinsky was quoted as saying by Politico.

It is also unclear who the facilities would be used by, according to Nicoleta Kyosovska, a research assistant at a Brussels-based think tank. She described the planned datacenters as “cathedrals in the desert,” noting that Europe has only one AI company capable of using such infrastructure – the French startup Mistral, which is already building its own data centers.

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A Commission spokesperson has defended the plan by arguing that Europe requires computing sovereignty to avoid dependence on other continents. 

The skepticism comes amid broader concerns over global AI overspending. Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft reportedly plan to spend a combined $725 billion this year on AI infrastructure.

However, Gary Marcus, a professor emeritus at New York University, has described the planned spending as the “greatest capital misallocation in history.” Tech analyst Ed Zitron has also noted that the economics of data centers “do not make sense” given that most AI startups are unprofitable and the majority of data center credit deals are rated junk grade.

Meanwhile, consumers have also been venting their anger over the global chip crisis sparked by overzealous AI development plans.

“The reason why RAM has become four times more expensive is that a huge amount of RAM that has not yet been produced was purchased with non-existent money to be installed in GPUs that also have not yet been produced, in order to place them in data centers that have not yet been built, powered by infrastructure that may never appear, to satisfy demand that does not actually exist and to obtain profit that is mathematically impossible,” software engineer Jatin K Malik surmised.

Jewish Green Party leader condemns Times cartoon after Israel claims he is ‘legitimizing’ violence against British Jews

The Times of London has come under fire for circulating “anti-Semitic” imagery after publishing a cartoon targeting Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and an outspoken critic of Israeli policy.

The controversy came against the backdrop of a broader UK debate about threats that Jewish community is facing, amid heightened pro-Palestinian activism. Polanski has faced criticism from some quarters for allegedly minimizing the risks of anti-Jewish violence that is directed at himself too.

Figures within the Israeli government and pro-Israel voices in Britain have made such claims, with some accusing the Green Party of harboring anti-Semites.

’Misinformed commentary’ on stabbing spree

The controversy follows a stabbing spree last Wednesday in which a Muslim assailant with a history of mental illness injured a Muslim acquaintance and later attacked two random Jewish men. Coverage by major UK outlets, including the BBC, emphasized the Jewish victims.

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Polanski drew backlash after sharing, without comment, a video of police responding to the incident in London’s Golders Green, which alleged officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head.”

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley accused Polanski of spreading “inaccurate and misinformed commentary” that could erode self-confidence in law enforcement. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the implied criticism as “disgraceful,” questioning Polanski’s suitability for political leadership.

’Vile, anti-Semitic’ image

The controversial cartoon, published in the paper’s Sunday edition after being previewed by artist Peter Brookes a day earlier, depicts Polanski kicking a police officer in the head while he and his partner restrain a knife-wielding suspect – an apparent reference to the Golders Green incident.

An obvious antisemitic caricature of Zack Polanski in The Times.

But there will be no media or political outrage, which tells you all you need to know. pic.twitter.com/ULe1TDRuZD

— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 2, 2026

Critics, including the Green Party itself, argued that Polanski’s portrayal echoed features historically associated with anti-Jewish caricatures.

“A national newspaper has chosen to depict the country’s only Jewish political leader using imagery long linked to anti-Semitic stereotypes,” the party said in a statement, calling the decision “astonishing.” Polanski himself described the cartoon as “vile” and “anti-Semitic” in remarks to Sky News.

Debate over Jewish safety and Israel policy

Last Friday, the UK government raised the national threat level to “severe,” citing the Golders Green attack alongside broader concerns about Islamist and far-right extremism.

On Sunday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel took aim at Polanski, labeling him an “extremist” and accusing him of “legitimizing violence against Jews,” referencing his sharing of the police video.

#bbclaurak
The Guardian sacked Steve Bell after an outcry over his caricature of Benjamin Netanyahu (left) But so far, radio silence from #bbcnews et al after this anti-Semitic caricature of Zack Polanski by #TheTimes cartoonist, Peter Brookes (right) pic.twitter.com/EW4H3QPRar

— George_T_Truth2🛞 (@George_T_Truth2) May 3, 2026

Polanski pushed back on the accusation, saying the “death and destruction” by the Israeli government should be properly described as extremist. He also called the UK government’s support for Israel “shameful.”

Echoes of Corbyn’s ouster

Allegations of anti-Semitism have frequently surfaced in UK political debates surrounding criticism of Israel. In 2023, The Guardian cut ties with cartoonist Steve Bell over an image showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wearing boxing gloves while making a Gaza-shaped incision on himself.

Some interpreted it as invoking an anti-Jewish “pound of flesh” trope that serves a plot device in Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice,’ though others argued it referenced a historical anti-Vietnam War caricature of US President Lyndon Johnson.

The vile racists I witnessed in Corbyn’s Labour are now in the Greens. Polanski has to get a grip. pic.twitter.com/WRSs3Jt1ru

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedMP) May 2, 2026

Claims of entrenched anti-Semitism in the Labour Party during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership led to his ouster and replacement by Starmer in 2020. Recently, Labour MP Steve Reed declared: “Vile racists I witnessed in Corbyn’s Labour are now in the Greens.”

The chancellor insists that the indefinite delay of the stationing had nothing to do with his row with the US president

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has confirmed that the US will not station Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles in Germany in the foreseeable future. He insisted that the suspension had nothing to do with his row with President Donald Trump but was rather caused by inadequate stockpiles.

Merz made the remarks in an interview with ARD on Sunday, saying that the promise given by then-President Joe Biden will be left unfulfilled.

“The Americans themselves don’t currently have enough,” Merz said, adding that there was “hardly any way” for Washington to transfer the systems at present. At the same time, he noted that it is “not too late” for the deployment.

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The original plan was announced in July 2024 by Biden and then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A joint statement said that the US would begin “episodic deployments” of long-range fires from its Multi-Domain Task Force in Germany in 2026, including SM-6 missiles, Tomahawks, and developmental hypersonic weapons, with a view to long-term stationing.

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Merz insisted that the U-turn was not related to his criticism of Trump, including remarks in which he said that Washington “obviously has no strategy” in the Iran war and that the US “is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.” At the time, Trump fired back, claiming Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and advising him to focus on “fixing his broken Country.”

As the row intensified, the Pentagon announced the withdrawal of around 5,000 US troops from Germany, with Trump suggesting the number could be even higher.

At the same time, the US is indeed struggling with depleting stockpiles. In late March, CBS News reported, citing sources, that the US had used more than 850 Tomahawks in the Iran conflict, roughly nine times the Pentagon’s average annual procurement rate.

The Tomahawk is a long-range cruise missile launched mainly from ships and submarines. The US Navy says Block IV and V versions can fly about 900 nautical miles, or 1,600 kilometers, and carry a 1,000-pound-class (450kg) conventional warhead.

The move comes just days after the Gulf nation broke with OPEC and OPEC+, citing the need to gain more flexibility over oil output

The United Arab Emirates has officially withdrawn from the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), according to a statement posted by the group on X on Sunday.

The exit took effect on May 1 – the same day Abu Dhabi’s withdrawal from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the wider OPEC+ format, which includes Russia, came into force.

The decision came amid ongoing Middle East turmoil triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. A dual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for about 20% of global oil flows – along with repeated US warnings that strikes could resume, has pushed crude prices to multi-year highs.

OAPEC, headquartered in Kuwait, was established in 1968 to boost economic cooperation among Arab oil exporters. Its three founders – Kuwait, Libya, and Saudi Arabia – were later joined by other Arab states, and prior to the UAE’s departure the group comprised 11 members, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Syria, and Tunisia. Unlike OPEC and OPEC+ groupings – which include major oil producers worldwide and play a direct role in managing supply and prices – OAPEC is primarily a technical body coordinating energy policy among Arab producers.

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“The General Secretariat of the OAPEC has been informed of a letter from… Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure… containing the decision of the UAE to withdraw from membership in the Organization, effective from 1 May 2026,” the group said.

It voiced no opposition, saying it “appreciates the role played by the UAE” during its membership and its “effective contributions” to advancing joint Arab cooperation in the petroleum and energy sector.

Abu Dhabi has not yet commented on the decision. The Gulf nation previously said its exit from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ format was driven by national interests, describing it as part of a long-term strategy to gain more flexibility over oil output, free from production caps and multilateral restrictions.

The move, however, has fueled debate over potential repercussions for OPEC and the oil market, as well as speculation about underlying motives.

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Some analysts pointed to possible political considerations, including alignment with the US, which has long sought a stronger foothold in the global oil market. US President Donald Trump, who has frequently accused OPEC of acting as a monopoly to keep prices high, welcomed the exit as “great” news.

UAE Trade Minister Thani Al Zeyoudi said on Monday the nation is in talks with Washington over a currency swap line – an instrument that allows central banks to access each other’s currencies without using foreign exchange markets, lowering costs and exchange-rate risks for cross-border activity. He described it as part of an “elite group” arrangement the US maintains with just five regions: Canada, Japan, the Eurozone, the UK, and Switzerland.

Oil markets reacted to the UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ with short-term volatility, but most analysts suggest the near-term impact will be limited. Although the move could allow output to rise eventually, exports remain constrained by the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf. Days after the announcement, seven OPEC+ members agreed to raise combined crude production by 188,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June 2026 – a move many said signaled business as usual.

READ MORE: Kremlin comments on UAE decision to quit OPEC

UAE Energy Minister Al Mazrouei said on Monday the decision to quit was made on “good terms” with OPEC members. Speaking at the ‘Make It In The Emirates’ conference, he said the UAE will continue to work closely with other oil-producing countries, including members of OPEC and OPEC+, despite leaving the cartel.

Russia earlier said it respects the UAE’s decision to withdraw from OPEC, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying the nation has a “sovereign” right to do so. Moscow signaled it has no plans to leave OPEC+ and dismissed suggestions the UAE’s exit could spell the end of the group.

Marjan Yeshayayi has described the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that damaged a Tehran synagogue

Iranian rescue workers dug through debris by hand to recover religious artifacts from a Tehran synagogue damaged by an Israeli strike last month, Marjan Yeshayayi, a member of the local Jewish community, has told RT.

In an exclusive interview broadcast on Monday, she described her dismay at seeing the site reduced to ruins, with holy Torah scrolls buried under the rubble. She said she had asked rescue workers not to use machinery in order to preserve the scriptures.

“When I made the request, I did not believe they would accept it, but instead they said, ‘OK, we will remove it manually,’ and they really did. Each brick was removed by hand, and the scrolls came out safely and were handed over to the Jewish association,” Yeshayayi recalled.

According to Yeshayayi, the Iranian state protects the rights of the Jewish minority. Under the country’s constitution, Jews are allowed to practice their religion freely, including maintaining synagogues and holding services. Roughly 8,000 Jews live in Iran and worship in dozens of synagogues.

READ MORE: Jewish ambulances torched in London (VIDEOS)

The Rafi Niya synagogue, located near Palestine Square in central Tehran, was heavily damaged when a nearby residential building was struck by Israeli fighter jets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later acknowledged the strike, saying it had targeted a senior Iranian commander, and expressed regret over “collateral damage” to the synagogue.

Yeshayayi said three of her friends died in the strike, describing her sadness and anger at the attack.

Watch the interview below.

Russian Orthodox Exarchate has provided clean water and shelter to villagers after a militant raid in Benue State

Following a deadly attack on a Christian community in Nigeria earlier this year, two drinking water wells have been drilled in with church backing, the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa said on Sunday.

The assault by Islamist militants on the village of Turan in Benue State in early March, left several people dead and forced survivors to flee their homes. Among the victims were two members of a local Russian Orthodox community operating in the village.

“These are the first African parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church to be killed for their faith,” the Exarchate said in a statement.

Following the violence, hundreds of residents fled to neighboring areas. Aid workers reported a severe shortage of clean drinking water in makeshift camps. Geological surveys were conducted in late March, and within weeks two wells equipped with pumps were completed to restore access to water for displaced families in temporary settlements in Benue State for refugees from the village of Turan.

Funding for the project was raised through the Exarchate’s official channels, with additional humanitarian assistance delivered to those affected. Food supplies were distributed to families at risk of starvation, while medical care continues for the wounded. Support also included covering tuition and relocation costs for schoolchildren after local schools in Turan were shut down.

READ MORE: Russian Orthodox Church parishioners killed in Nigeria

Reconstruction efforts are now underway, including the construction of traditional clay-and-wood housing for the displaced residents and a temporary church in the new settlement.

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According to the Exarchate, more than 300 displaced people were left without shelter, sleeping outdoors on bare ground and often hiding in bushes to avoid the risk of further attacks. Emergency assistance later included the distribution of mattresses and the organization of temporary accommodation. The Exarchate also reported that many of the injured suffered serious wounds, including gunshot injuries, while children sustained fractures.

“On behalf of all those under our care, we express our deepest gratitude to Metropolitan Constantine and all the kind people from Russia who helped us in this difficult time,” Archimandrite Nifont, a rector within the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, said.

A senior aide to US President Donald Trump has hailed worsening economic conditions in the Islamic Republic

A top White House official has said Iran is on the brink of an “extreme calamity” and hunger as the US is counting on economic pressure to secure its objectives in the conflict.

President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iranian ports and intensified sanctions after a bombing campaign failed to bring down the government in Tehran. Although large-scale military operations largely paused under a fragile ceasefire announced last month, both sides are now seeking to use economic strain to gain leverage.

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, pointed to what he described as severe economic deterioration in Iran during an interview with CBS News on Sunday, blaming the Iranian leadership for the situation.

“They’re an economy that’s really on the precipice of extreme calamity,” Hassett claimed, citing internal briefings. “They are having hyperinflation. They’re starting to face hunger.”

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When asked whether the naval blockade – traditionally considered an act of war – meant the US was effectively at war with Iran despite the president’s statements to Congress, Hassett said he was uncertain “what the definition of war is when we’re not shooting and we’re negotiating.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed the administration’s stance, telling Fox News that US anti-Iranian measures were “suffocating the regime.” He emphasized a coordinated government effort, describing efforts by his department as “economic fury” in a reference to the Pentagon’s designation for the war on Iran, Operation Epic Fury.

“We [have been] running a marathon over the past 12 months, and now we are sprinting toward the finish line,” he added.

US economic warfare

Washington has long relied on unilateral sanctions to target foreign governments, leveraging its influence over global financial systems and the central role of the US economy to enforce restrictions.

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While US officials often present such measures as aimed at pressuring government officials, critics argue they amount to a form of economic warfare. A 2025 study published in The Lancet Global Health estimated that unilateral sanctions imposed by the US and EU between 2010 and 2021 contributed to approximately 564,000 excess deaths annually.

Washington facing mounting challenges

Despite assertions by Trump administration officials that the campaign against Iran has been a resounding military success, Tehran has not accepted US demands and continues to exert control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies.

The US is also reported to have drawn down significant stocks of critical munitions, and it has strained relations with traditional allies who declined to back the military action. It is also dealing with the fallout from the broader economic disruption caused by the crisis, which could trigger the worst global economic crisis in decades.