News
Arab League leaders call for Gaza ceasefire at Baghdad summit amid regional crises
Gaza and Lebanon dominated the 34th Arab League Summit as some top brass skipped attendance.
Russo-Ukraine Istanbul ceasefire talks break up without result
The first direct meeting between the Kremlin and Bankova for negotiations since the start of the war in Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16 ended in failure with little progress being made.
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Trump administration proposes 5% tax on migrant remittances amid Latin American outcry
The Trump administration has introduced a controversial legislative proposal to impose a 5% tax on remittances sent abroad by non-citizens living in the United States.
Syria and DP World sign $800mn MoU to develop Tartus Port
Syria's new government has signed a deal with Dubai-based DP World to rebuild Tartus port on the Mediterranean Sea.
India asserts regional air superiority with Operation Sindoor success
Between May 7 and 10 during what it dubbed Operation Sindoor, India executed a swift and precise air campaign against Pakistan, showcasing its advanced indigenous aerial capabilities and shifting regional perceptions of air superiority.
Poles to hint if they want to hand Tusk more power in presidential election's first round this Sunday
Voting is underway in Poland and Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski is poised to advance to the second round of Poland’s presidential election on May 18, according to multiple opinion polls ahead of the first-round vote on May 18.
BYD moves European HQ to Hungary, sets up €250mn business and development
Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD will relocate its European headquarters from the Netherlands to Hungary as part of a newly signed strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian government on May 15.
Viktor Orban's "bullet shield" and long-time chief prosecutor leaves post to secure job at Constitutional Court
Peter Polt is stepping down as chief prosecutor after more than two decades in the role, three years before his mandate was due to end, to take up a seat on the Constitutional Court, an institution already stacked with figures loyal to Viktor Orban.
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Brazil and Russia edge closer on nuclear deal
Brazil and Russia are expected to advance cooperation on small modular reactor (SMR) technology, Brazil’s Minister of Energy Alexandre Silveira said after a visit to Moscow with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Albanian PM shoots down Starmer’s hopes of asylum seeker “return hub”
Edi Rama firmly rejects allowing the UK to set up a “return hub” on Albanian territory, saying Tirana will only host migrants for Italy.
Syria’s Foreign Minister al-Shaibani meets US Secretary Rubio in Antalya amid sanctions lift announcement
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 15 that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, to discuss the details of lifting sanctions on Syria.
UAE honours US President Trump with Order of Zayed, invests $1.4 trillion in AI companies
US President Donald Trump arrived in Abu Dhabi on May 15 on a state visit to the United Arab Emirates, marking the final stop of his three-country Gulf tour, with the country expected to sign $1.4 trillion in deals.
Putin slaps Zelenskiy in the face, skipping the Istanbul meeting, sending a low-level delegation in his place
Russian president Vladimir Putin was a no-show at direct talks he proposed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and sent a low-level delegation instead that didn't include a single minister, in what has been called a “slap in the face”.
South Africa must develop its gas industry or face economic regression, says energy minister
South Africa expects a sharp decrease in natural gas supplies to industries in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces as imported gas from Pande and Temane fields in Mozambique runs low.
Trump says US very close to Iran nuclear deal during Gulf tour
US President Donald Trump has stated that the United States is "very close" to securing a nuclear deal with Iran, claiming Tehran had "sort of" agreed to the terms
Viktor Orban escalates crackdown on civil society and media with sweeping Russian-type foreign agents law legislation
Hungary's ruling Fidesz has unveiled a draft law that critics warn could cripple the country's remaining independent media outlets and civil society organisations, deepening fears over democratic backsliding and growing estrangement from the EU.
Colombia officially joins China's "Belt and Road" initiative amid private sector concerns
Colombia has formally joined China's Belt and Road Initiative despite strong opposition from the country's private sector, which warns the decision could severely damage domestic industries.
Lula presses Putin to attend Ukraine peace talks as Russian leader sends deputies instead
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined the chorus of voices piling pressure on his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to personally attend proposed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but to no avail.
Central Europeans overwhelmingly oppose Trumpist narratives about free speech, 2025 Media Freedom Poll shows
Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech.
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Singapore unveils scale models of next-generation multirole combat vessels at IMDEX 2025
Although ST Engineering remained tight-lipped on the finer details of the six-ship class optimised as motherships for unmanned systems, the scale models offered valuable insights.