Latest News and Breaking Stories

live Israel launches huge strikes on Lebanon as Iran says U.S. breached ceasefire with attacks

Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the countries in April. The attacks came as Iran accused the U.S. of violating a separate ceasefire with strikes near the Strait of Hormuz.

Putin to gift Kazakhstan endangered tigers as he embarks on charm offensive

11:27

Russia-Kazakhstan

Putin to gift Kazakhstan endangered tigers as he embarks on charm offensive

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Kazakhstan late on Wednesday for an unprecedented second state visit to the country in two years. He will gift Astana four Siberian tigers during the trip, as Moscow attempts to bolster its relationship with its closest partner in Central Asia.

Five things Rubio’s Armenia visit tells us about the region’s shifting alliances

13:02

U.S. Armenia Ties

Five things Rubio’s Armenia visit tells us about the region’s shifting alliances

The visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Armenia marks one of the clearest signs yet of Washington’s growing interest in the South Caucasus.

14:18

Latvia

Latvia deploys anti-drone teams after NATO airspace breaches

Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO member’s airspace, according to a senior military official.

14:17

NASA

NASA unveils next steps for permanent Moon base amid race with China

NASA has revealed the next phase of its plan to build a permanent base on the Moon, outlining the vehicles, robotic landers and hopping drones it intends to send as part of the project.

Region

South Caucasus Central Asia Middle East

11:41

Water diplomacy

Central Asia faces mounting pressure as water diplomacy takes centre stage

Tajikistan is hosting the Fourth International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” in Dushanbe from 25 to 28 May, bringing together more than 2,500 participants from governments, international organisations and financial institutions.

Japan and UNDP launch $3 million Caspian project in Kazakhstan

18:13

View from Kazakhstan

Japan and UNDP launch $3 million Caspian project in Kazakhstan

Japan and the United Nations Development Programme are launching a $3 million environmental project in Kazakhstan to support the Caspian Sea and improve water monitoring, amid growing concern over falling sea levels and risks to regional trade routes.

12:25

Armenia election

Armenia elections may shape South Caucasus geopolitical future

Armenia’s upcoming elections are emerging as a defining geopolitical test, amid growing debate over the country’s future direction between Russia and the West, rising regional pressure, energy dependence concerns and shifting security alliances.

15:23

West Bank

Sheep theft ruins Eid celebrations for Palestinian shepherd in West Bank raid

A Palestinian shepherd says her family’s Eid al-Adha preparations were destroyed after dozens of sheep were allegedly stolen in a pre-dawn raid in the West Bank, leaving her without both a religious sacrifice and her family’s main source of income.

Hamas confirms death of armed wing chief in Israeli strike on Gaza City

27min ago

Israel-Gaza

Hamas confirms death of armed wing chief in Israeli strike on Gaza City

Hamas has confirmed the death of its armed wing chief, Mohammad Odeh, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City, according to the Israeli milit...

Israel launches huge strikes on Lebanon as Iran says U.S. breached ceasefire with attacks

1h ago

Middle East Conflict

live Israel launches huge strikes on Lebanon as Iran says U.S. breached ceasefire with attacks

Dozens of people were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Tuesday, Lebanese officials said, straining a fragile ceasefire agreed between the cou...

Tajikistan hosts global water summit as climate pressures grow

3h ago

View from Uzbekistan

Tajikistan hosts global water summit as climate pressures grow

Tajikistan is hosting the Fourth International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” from 25 to 28...

3h ago

Ebola

Canada, Bahamas impose Ebola-related travel bans

Canada and the Bahamas announced on Tuesday that they will temporarily restrict entry for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda an...

3h ago

Latvia

Latvia deploys anti-drone teams after NATO airspace breaches

Latvia is strengthening its anti-drone capabilities along its borders with Russia and Moscow-allied Belarus after several drones entered the NATO memb...

World

World News

Britain and Poland to sign landmark defence treaty amid rising security threats in Europe

12:09

Defence deal

Britain and Poland to sign landmark defence treaty amid rising security threats in Europe

Britain and Poland are set to sign a new defence and security treaty on Wednesday (27 May), deepening cooperation between the two NATO allies as European governments respond to what they describe as a growing range of hostile threats across the continent.

08:29

North Korea

North Korea tests AI-guided missiles in latest weapons display

North Korea says it has carried out a series of weapons tests involving tactical ballistic missiles, multiple-launch rocket systems and AI-assisted precision cruise missiles, according to the state-run KCNA news agency.

Hidden tunnels uncovered after China’s deadliest mine disaster in 15 years

09:24

China mining

Hidden tunnels uncovered after China’s deadliest mine disaster in 15 years

Chinese investigators have uncovered hidden tunnels, missing worker trackers and fake underground walls during an initial investigation into the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than 15 years.

Russia accuses U.S. of breaching UN obligations over visa denial

01:30

World News

Russia accuses U.S. of breaching UN obligations over visa denial

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations has accused the United States of breaching its obligations as host of the UN after denying a visa to a senior Russian official to attend a Security Council meeting.

Business

Business Economy Markets

Samsung shares jump as union deal averts strike action but bonus costs worry investors

10:49

Samsung Electronics

Samsung shares jump as union deal averts strike action but bonus costs worry investors

A government-mediated agreement has suspended an 18-day walkout by about 48,000 Samsung union members, easing fears of damage to South Korea's economy and global chip supply.

Stocks soar on Nvidia earnings and Samsung strike suspension

09:58

Global markets

Stocks soar on Nvidia earnings and Samsung strike suspension

Asian stocks surged on Thursday as some vessels resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while forecast-beating results at Nvidia and a suspended workers' strike at Samsung Electronics lifted shares of chipmakers.

10:12

Space

FAA tells Elon Musk's SpaceX to boost reliability for extra launches

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will have to improve its reliability before receiving approval for its target 10,000 launches annually within five years, Bryan Bedford, Head of the U.S. civil aviation agency, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has said.

Samsung strike explained: What South Korean workers want and how it could unfold

12:11

Explainer

Samsung strike explained: What South Korean workers want and how it could unfold

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics is facing its largest potential labour action in years, with tens of thousands of workers preparing for a prolonged strike over bonuses and profit-sharing at a time when the company is benefiting from a global artificial intelligence (AI) driven chip boom.

Samsung fails to reach deal with union as strike risk rises

08:22

Business

Samsung fails to reach deal with union as strike risk rises

Negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its workforce on Wednesday have broken down, officials said, raising fresh concerns over potential disruption to South Korea’s export-heavy economy.

Culture

Culture News Lifestyle Art

11:25

Festival

Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau Bun Festival draws thousands with ‘floating children’ parade

Thousands of visitors flocked to Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau island on Sunday for the annual Bun Festival, as crowds gathered to watch the famous “floating children” parade and prepare for the traditional midnight bun-scrambling competition.

Son of Mango founder detained in Spain over investigation into father's death

13:32

Police Investigation

Son of Mango founder detained in Spain over investigation into father's death

Spanish police in Catalonia have detained Jonathan Andic, the son of Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his father’s death in December 2024, authorities said.

09:45

Eurovision 2026

Eurovision 2026: Where did it all go wrong for the South Caucasus?

Eurovision Song Contest once again proved how unpredictable its outcome can be, with Bulgaria’s Dara turning a late surge into a dominant win while several expected contenders collapsed early. At the same time, the absence of the South Caucasus region from the final raised questions.

08:06

Eurovision

Bulgaria wins Eurovision amid reduced participation over Israel row

Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.

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