News
Iranian stocks edge higher as Tehran reopens bourse after 80-day war shutdown
Tehran Stock Exchange resumed operations with 42 major listed companies, representing about 35% of total market capitalisation, still suspended because of direct war damage or exposure through subsidiaries
US cancellation of troop deployment rattles Poland
A decision by the Pentagon to scrap a planned deployment of around 4,000 US troops to Poland has rattled Polish politicians, who have long assumed that the alliance with Washington is unbreakable.
Georgia and Azerbaijan sign energy and transit deals at Aliyev-Kobakhidze summit
Deals cover natural gas supply, electricity imports and transit, the revival of the Baku-Tbilisi-Supsa oil pipeline, and rehabilitation work on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
Kosovo begins construction of first ammunition factory
Factory producing 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm calibre ammunition is expected to become operational by end-2026.
Russian drones hit Chinese ship before Putin visit
By hitting a vessel manned by citizens of its most critical economic lifeline, the Kremlin risks complicating diplomatic optics just as Putin seeks deeper financial and military alignment with Beijing to sustain his war economy.
Cuba armed with Russian and Iranian drones discussed strikes on US soil, leaked files show
Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and held internal discussions about potential strikes on the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, American naval vessels and possibly Key West, Florida, Axios reported.
Ukraine escalates drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, exports down 10%
Ukraine has stepped up its drone strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure with one of the most intense weekends of bombing that targeted refineries, pipelines and storage facilities in a campaign that has reduced oil exports by about 10%.
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Emirates breaks ground on $5.1bn aircraft engineering facility in UAE
Emirates has broken ground on a $5.1bn aircraft engineering complex at Dubai South, billed as the world's largest aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, due for completion by mid-2030.
Gabbard’s overseas biolab probe revives debate over US-funded research in Ukraine
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has launched a review of more than 120 overseas biological laboratories funded by American taxpayers.
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Iraq posts $24.7bn trade surplus for 2025 on oil exports
Iraq recorded a trade surplus of close to $24.7bn in 2025, with exports of $90.43bn against imports of $65.74bn, supported by oil shipments that account for the bulk of state revenues.
Trump freezes Taiwan arms deal as leverage in links to China
Even before his trip, Trump characterised Taiwan as the most important issue for Xi and has since claimed it had dominated discussions during their summit.
Japan suggests possible yen intervention, with US support
Japanese authorities recently spent close to $63bn intervening after the yen weakened beyond the JPY160 per dollar level.
Polish construction firms sign pact for Ukraine post-war reconstruction
Three major Polish construction companies signed a cooperation agreement on May 15 to jointly target infrastructure projects as part of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
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Iran's Ghalibaf handed China portfolio in signal of deepening Beijing tilt
Iran has placed parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in charge of relations with China, in a move described as a step to deepen ties with Tehran's most important strategic partner, academic Mohammad Marandi has said.
Ukraine strikes Moscow in the biggest drone attack of the war
The tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes between Russia and Ukraine went up another notch on May 17 after the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) launched its biggest drone strike on the Russian capital since the war started.
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Drone strike sparks fire at UAE's Barakah nuclear plant as IAEA voices concern
A drone strike has sparked a fire on the perimeter of the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant, prompting the IAEA to express "grave concern", though authorities said radiation levels remain normal and operations were unaffected.
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Venezuela hands Maduro's financier to US in show of loyalty to Trump
Venezuela's interim government has deported Alex Saab, the Colombia-born businessman who served as a close financial associate of ousted president Nicolás Maduro, to the United States.
Bolivia deploys thousands of troops to break La Paz siege as economic crisis bites
Bolivian security forces clashed with anti-government demonstrators outside La Paz on May 16, deploying some 3,500 soldiers and police officers in a bid to clear road blockades that have severed supply lines to the capital for two weeks.
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Lukashenko praises US as Belarus receives two-thirds of humanitarian aid from Washington
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has praised the United States as a leading source of humanitarian assistance for his country, saying Washington supplied two-thirds of the humanitarian aid received by Belarus over the past year.
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Saudi Arabia floats non-aggression pact with Iran modelled on Helsinki accords
Saudi Arabia is discussing with allies a non-aggression pact between Middle Eastern states and Iran, modelled on the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.