Day: May 28, 2026

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

Zelenskyy has issued an urgent, direct appeal to the Trump administration for enhanced U.S. air defense systems – Google Search https://www.google.com/search?q=Zelenskyy+has+issued+an+urgent%2C+direct+appeal+to+the+Trump+administration+for+enhanced+U.S.+air+defense+systems&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1133US1133&oq=Zelenskyy+has+issued+an+urgent%2C+direct+appeal+to+the+Trump+administration+for+enhanced+U.S.+air+defense+systems&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDQ1MTNqMGo3qAIIsAIB8QWktuk9_u6Awg&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

#CIA #FBI #Mossad

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

#AI Review of #News: Global #security and intelligence briefing for Thursday, May 28, 2026. https://thenewsandtimes.blogspom/2026/05/ai-review-of-news-global-security-and.html

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The News and Times Blogs

AI Review of News: Global security and intelligence briefing for Thursday, May 28, 2026.

AI Brief

Global Tensions Rise as Conflict Tech Shifts

Thursday, May 28, 202610:01 AM

Key Stories

  • Sweden Boosts Ukraine Air Power — Sweden is stepping up in a big way by donating 16 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, with plans for the country to buy 20 more advanced models later on.

  • Internal Struggles Grip the Kremlin — Reports suggest Russian leadership is debating a forced reserve call-up as they face high losses and Ukrainian drone superiority that is neutralizing their numbers advantage.

  • IDF Targets Hamas Leadership — The Israeli military confirmed they eliminated a major Hamas financial facilitator and a weapons official during a recent strike in Khan Yunis.

  • Dire Health Crisis in Congo — Aid workers report that people fighting Ebola in Congolese displacement camps are so short on water they have to use sand or oatmeal to wash their hands.

  • California Solar Goals Fall Short — A decade-long plan to bring solar panels to one million low-income residents in California has hit a major snag, missing the target by over 900,000 homes.

Summary

From new fighter jets for Ukraine to health crises in the Congo, today’s news is heavy on international shifts. While Russia faces internal struggles over military recruitment, the tech war is heating up on multiple fronts.

AI Brief

Global Security Tensions and Visa Policy Debates

Thursday, May 28, 20269:59 AM

Key Stories

  • The H-1B visa program sparks controversy — A new report highlights the ongoing battle between Big Tech and U.S. workers over the H-1B visa program, which critics say is displacing local talent.

  • Europe weighs new defense strategies — Experts are calling for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense through new coalition formats as American focus shifts elsewhere.

  • Digital disinformation targets election trust — Russian-linked disinformation campaigns are being flagged for using fake videos to try and convince Americans that their democratic systems are broken.

  • A look back at a Polish resistance rescue — History buffs are remembering the day in 1945 when the Polish Home Army successfully freed prisoners from a Soviet NKVD camp near Warsaw.

Summary

This week’s roundup covers a heated domestic debate over tech visas in the U.S. and growing concerns about European defense strategies. We also look at the lasting impact of digital disinformation and a somber anniversary from World War II history.

Get the latest news.

Good morning. Here is your 7 AM global security and intelligence briefing for Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Global Conflict: U.S.-Iran Standoff

  • Strait of Hormuz “Arrangements”: Diplomatic friction continues to intensify over the operational control of the Strait of Hormuz. Senior Iranian officials are insisting that any reopening of the strait to civilian shipping will occur exclusively under “Iranian arrangements”—a framework the U.S. has forcefully rejected as a violation of freedom of navigation. Concurrently, new satellite intelligence indicates Iran is exploiting the fragile ceasefire period to reconstitute military capabilities, most notably at the Yazd Missile Base.

  • Iranian Counterintelligence Claims: The Iranian Intelligence Ministry has issued a formal statement outlining what it perceives as an ongoing U.S.-Israeli “hybrid warfare” campaign. The ministry alleges coordinated sabotage, weapons smuggling, and border incursions by foreign-backed armed groups designed to exploit the domestic strain caused by the ongoing naval blockades.

Unmanned Systems & The Ukraine Front

  • Oreshnik’s 25% Failure Rate: Following Russia’s massive, $411 million combined strike package against Ukraine earlier this week, military analysts are scrutinizing a significant technical malfunction. Open-source intelligence indicates that one of the two $50 million Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missiles launched fell well short of its target, crashing into Russian-occupied territory near Avdiivka. With four combat launches to date and one known failure, the system’s 25% failure rate severely undermines Moscow’s framing of the Oreshnik as a highly reliable, next-generation delivery vehicle.

Geopolitics & Institutional Strategy

  • China’s UN Maneuver: Holding the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for May, China initiated a high-level multilateral meeting in New York. Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented a “five reinvigorations” proposal aimed at reforming the UN Charter and Security Council authority, while simultaneously holding closed-door talks with U.S. strategic and business representatives. Analysts view this diplomatic offensive as Beijing aggressively positioning itself as the stabilizing guarantor of the international system, capitalizing directly on the recent collapse in UN peacekeeping deployments noted earlier this week.

Note: There are no major new developments regarding the Aur0ra ransomware framework, the U.S. indictment of Raúl Castro, or the Pentagon’s DAWG drone procurement initiative since previous digests. I will continue to monitor those specific files.

–

https://gemini.google.com/share/e2c3b4f70dbb – News Today

Here is your Scheduled Action daily strategic briefing for Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Today’s intelligence picture reveals the friction between diplomatic posturing and kinetic reality in the Middle East, a severe escalation in biodefense containment protocols, and a catastrophic industrial failure in the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

Geopolitics & Global Security

  • Iran Negotiations “On Fumes”: During a Cabinet meeting yesterday, President Trump stated that Iran is “negotiating on fumes,” asserting that the impending November midterm elections will not pressure his administration into a rushed deal. The core epistemological gap between the two sides remains the disposition of Iran’s highly enriched uranium (HEU). While an emerging framework involves exchanging HEU for sanctions relief, the U.S. has signaled discomfort with allowing geopolitical rivals like Russia or China to take custody of the material.

  • Kinetic Strikes Resume: Highlighting the fragility of the current diplomatic back-channeling, the U.S. military conducted another round of strikes against targets in southern Iran earlier this week, which the Pentagon has characterized strictly as self-defense operations.

  • Zelenskyy’s Air Defense Appeal: In the wake of the recent Russian Oreshnik hypersonic strike and coordinated drone swarms we monitored over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an urgent, direct appeal to the Trump administration for enhanced U.S. air defense systems to protect Kyiv’s deep-rear infrastructure.

Intelligence & Asymmetric Threats

  • Hamas Decapitation Confirmation: Expanding on yesterday’s initial assessments, the IDF has confirmed the details surrounding the elimination of Hamas military chief Mohammed Odeh. Odeh, a former Hamas intelligence chief and a central architect of the October 7 attacks, is the fourth military leader killed by Israeli forces since the conflict began. The speed of his localization—just 11 days after his predecessor was eliminated—underscores a highly lethal, localized fusion of signals intelligence (SIGINT) and on-the-ground human networks.

  • Starship Grounded: Following the Starship flight we tracked earlier this week, federal regulators have officially grounded SpaceX’s Starship rockets pending a formal investigation into the test flight, temporarily pausing the advancement of this critical heavy-lift and rapid-deployment architecture.

Domestic Crises & Infrastructure

  • Washington State Industrial Disaster: A catastrophic structural failure is currently unfolding at a paper mill in Longview, Washington. A 900,000-gallon tank containing “white liquor”—a highly caustic chemical mixture used in manufacturing—imploded. Currently, one person is confirmed dead, nine are injured, and nine workers remain missing. Recovery operations are paralyzed because the remaining tank structure is critically unstable, preventing specialized teams from safely accessing the blast radius.

Global Health & Biodefense

  • Ugandan Border Closure: The containment strategy for the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain has escalated rapidly from localized travel restrictions to hard geographic quarantine. Uganda has officially closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo as suspected cases continue to surge in the region. This marks a dramatic intensification of the international biodefense posture, shifting from screening protocols to absolute area denial.

Given the complexities of the HEU stockpile transfer, would you like to pivot tomorrow’s assessment to focus on the intelligence and verification mechanisms required for that phase of the Iran negotiations?

Security and Intelligence  

FRANCE 24 English14m

Ukraine asks Trump for more US air defence help against Russian missile attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has written to US President Donald Trump and Congress asking for more American-made air defence ammunition to counter intensifying Russian ballistic missile attacks, Kyiv said Wednesday. The move came after a recent escalation in aerial attacks by both sides in the more than four-year war that followed Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor. FRANCE 24’s International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more. #Ukraine #Trump #Zelensky 🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen 🔴 LIVE – Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN 🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/ Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen Follow us on X: https://f24.my/Xen Bluesky: https://f24.my/BSen and Threads: https://f24.my/THen Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen
Iran's Counterintelligence Methodologies Explained https://gemini.google.com/share/c88b0d3ea91e
@mikenov37m
According to a release from the Israel Defense Force (IDF), the IDF conducted a strike yesterday in Gaza’s city of Khan Yunis that targeted and eliminated a key Hamas financial facilitator Ihab Karazim. Per the release, Karazim was in charge of managing the transfer of monies estimated in the millions to Hamas’ military wing. Additionally, a key Hamas weapons production official, Muhammad Alhabash, was also eliminated in the strike.
@sentdefender38m
MORE (🧵1/3): There are likely internal debates within the Kremlin about whether Russia should conduct another round of involuntary reserve call-ups. Putin appears to remain committed to the ongoing contract recruitment campaign for now, however. These apparent discussions in the Kremlin about a potential involuntary reserve call-up are likely coming from a place of weakness, as Russia is increasingly struggling with poor battlefield performance, compounding effects of the war on the Russian economy, declining recruitment rates, and societal discontent. The Kremlin appears to remain committed to defining its main advantage over Ukraine as overwhelming numbers, but Ukraine’s tactical drone su
@TheStudyofWar40m
Now 🇸🇪 is donating 16 Gripen C/D fighters with armaments to 🇺🇦, and 🇺🇦 will in addition procure up to 20 Gripen E/F fighters later. This will be a very significant long term augmentation of the 🇺🇦 defence capabilities.
@carlbildt42m
News Today
@mikenov44m
News at 7 AM https://gemini.google.com/share/fbedced04048 The Iranian intelligence apparatus—primarily split between the civilian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the military-aligned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO)—faces a highly complex operational environment. When countering what Tehran defines as a U.S.-Israeli "hybrid warfare" campaign involving sabotage and smuggling, their counterintelligence (CI) methodologies rely heavily on saturating the environment, both physically and digitally. Here are the specific tradecraft and methodologies MOIS and IRGC-IO are likely employing to detect and disrupt these networks: Exploiting the State-
@mikenov45m
According to a release from U.S. Central Command, since the start of the U.S. blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports, 111 vessels have been redirected by more than 20 participating U.S. naval vessels.
@sentdefender51m
Putin’s motorcade in Astana included an armored vehicle with a roof mount for a machine gunner
58m

Putin’s motorcade in Astana included an armored vehicle with a roof mount for a machine gunner

The motorcade accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Kazakhstan included an armored vehicle fitted with a roof mount for a machine gunner — though the machine gun itself was not installed, according to the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT).
Foreign disinformation is not just “fake news.” It is psychological warfare aimed at Americans’ trust in elections, institutions, and each other. Once that trust cracks, hostile powers gain ground without firing a shot. #Disinformation #Russia #HomelandSecurity https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russian-and-iranian-groups-sanctioned-over-u-s-election-disinformation
@Robert47871h
Pinned: Fatah Official Jibril Rajoub: After a Century, Palestinians Now Have Opportunity to Confront the “Malignant Cancer” of Israel; Hamas Leader Saleh Al-‘Arouri Was a “Loss” to Palestinian National Movement
@MEMRIReports1h
𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡! Moscow: Additional air defenses are being installed atop high-rises presumably to defend Kremlin "decision making centers" should Putin go through with his threats. #OSINT #Ukraine
@UKikaski1h
Russia’s trick is getting Americans to carry Moscow’s message for free. Pay a few voices, seed the outrage, and let social media do the rest. The target is not one party. It is national trust. #Russia #InfoWar #NationalSecurity https://apnews.com/article/russian-interference-presidential-election-influencers-trump-999435273dd39edf7468c6aa34fad5dd?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share
@Robert47871h
RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: The beating and humiliation of Russian Storm-Z disposables will continue until moral imrpoved. #OSINT #Russia
@UKikaski1h
Russia does not need to invade America to weaken it. It can flood our feeds with lies, turn Ukraine into a culture-war weapon, and make Americans see each other as enemies. Russian intelligence knows information warfare! #Russia #Disinformation #HomelandSecurity https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-biden-disinformation-335ed5bf57996b66bc387497a7efdbb9?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share
@Robert47871h
Sweden is already training Ukrainian pilots and ground crew on the Gripen -Swedish MoD Ukraine will start receiving C/D model Gripens early next year.
@Osinttechnical1h
#FBI #News Today - AM https://share.google/aimode/QhOfPTVUD4u39U2Kz #Cybercrime and Public Safety Warnings: Internet Crime Report Insights: A newly released FBI Internet Crime Report highlights that cryptocurrency investment fraud is the primary driver of digital financial loss in the U.S., accounting for $7.2 billion in victim losses. Google Search https://www.google.com/search?q=fbi+news+today&newwindow=1&sca_esv=35308fe20e06e5ed&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1133US1133&aep=1&cs=0&hl=en-US&prmd=ivns&sxsrf=ANbL-n5sazSDFaeERcQMN3KHdBoa250K2w%3A1779970684225&source=lnms&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKp0UJuhqwKhR0QUhF54-6jIX2xhuqmjuyJb8bmeAomNlFMB8Bu7AGJj-3abmVQJgPJISKM9tMepJA6iGWh6NouCpz6B1ZRx9WXInR8JsPMuZ
@mikenov1h
𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖/𝗗 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 Announced today by Prime Minister Kristersson and President Zelensky at Uppsala Air Base. The transfer is free of charge, with the number of aircraft rumored to be up to 16 JAS-39 Gripen C/D jets. Deliveries expected by early 2027. This marks Sweden's first direct transfer of fighter aircraft to Ukraine. It establishes the pilot training pipeline, support infrastructure, and logistics framework for the eventual procurement of of 150 advanced Gripen E models by 2030 financed through an EU-backed loan. #OSINT #Ukraine
@UKikaski1h
cryptocurrency - Google Search https://www.google.com/search?q=cryptocurrency&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1133US1133&oq=cryptocurrency&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyDAgAEEUYORixAxiABDISCAEQABgUGIMBGIcCGLEDGIAEMg8IAhAAGEMYsQMYgAQYigUyBwgDEAAYgAQyDQgEEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyDQgFEAAYgwEYsQMYgAQyBggGEEUYQTIGCAcQRRhB0gEIMTUxOGowajeoAgiwAgHxBT6JBKequP08&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
@mikenov1h
At Cannes, a Russian director urged Putin to end the war. Cue a Ukrainian eye roll.
1h

At Cannes, a Russian director urged Putin to end the war. Cue a Ukrainian eye roll.

Andrei Zvyagintsev urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the “bloodbath”  — but in Ukraine his remarks elicited ridicule and frustration.
@UKikaski1h
@UKikaski1h
Montreal Imam Adil Charkaoui: On Eid Al-Adha, the Most Beloved Act to Allah is to Shed Blood and Sacrifice for Him – It Is Not Just about Slaughtering Sheep
@MEMRIReports1h
KEY TAKEAWAY: Any arrangement in which maritime traffic can only pass through Iran’s traffic separation scheme with Iranian approval contradicts the US demand for freedom of navigation, and such an arrangement would significantly undermine US interests and establish a dangerous precedent for the freedom of navigation in international waterways. Read more ⬇️
@TheStudyofWar1h
Every like, search, app ping, and public post can help build a profile. Foreign intelligence services can use that data to target U.S. citizens, troops, and leaders. Personal privacy is now national security. #DataPrivacy #Intelligence #HomelandSecurity https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-surveillance-fisa-intelligence-fc13cfaa521e3380539611065a45f112?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share
@Robert47871h
The News And Times Information Network – Blogs By Michael Novakhov – thenewsandtimes.blogspot.com
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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

RT by @mikenov: RT by @mikenov: Today, on May 28, 2 republics appeared at once, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the Armenian Democratic Republic. Ave Europa congratulates both people’s of Armenia and Azerbaijan on this beautiful day and supports the efforts for peace, development and cooperation 🇦🇿 🇦🇲🇪🇺

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

Iran’s Counterintelligence Methodologies Explained https://gemini.google.com/share/c88b0d3ea91e

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

News Today

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Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) / Twitter

News at 7 AM https://gemini.google.com/share/fbedced04048 The Iranian intelligence apparatus—primarily split between the civilian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the military-aligned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO)—faces a highly complex operational environment. When countering what Tehran defines as a U.S.-Israeli “hybrid warfare” campaign involving sabotage and smuggling, their counterintelligence (CI) methodologies rely heavily on saturating the environment, both physically and digitally. Here are the specific tradecraft and methodologies MOIS and IRGC-IO are likely employing to detect and disrupt these networks: Exploiting the State-

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Current News – currentnewschannels.blogspot.com – Blog by Michael Novakhov
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Current News – currentnewschannels.blogspot.com – Blog by Michael Novakhov