The Middle East crisis is set to dominate the ASEAN summit on 8 May, shifting focus away from regional diplomacy.
While the U.S. and Iran exchange strong messages over the Strait of Hormuz, their words may be misunderstood and lead to wider instability across the whole of the Middle East, according to a Baku-based political commentator.
The husband of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has expressed growing concern over her health following her hospitalisation for severe medical complications, warning that her condition could become life-threatening without proper treatment.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said it is difficult to assess the U.S. response to its proposal, citing Washington’s history of “excessive and unreasonable” demands.
Israel has approved a major defence deal to purchase new squadrons of advanced fighter jets from U.S. manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the country’s defence ministry said on Sunday (3 May).
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi has been taken to hospital in Iran after what her family described as a “catastrophic deterioration” in her health, including a severe cardiac crisis.
President Donald Trump has said the United States could restart strikes on Iran “if they misbehave”, as he waits to review the full details of a new proposal from Tehran.
More than 100 pro‑Palestinian activists aboard boats carrying aid to Gaza were taken to the Greek island of Crete on Friday after Israeli forces seized their vessels in international waters near Greece, according to flotilla organisers.
The final day of the Youth Forum on United Nations Global Goals 2026 in Istanbul focused on innovation, cooperation and global impact, with young participants and experts underlining the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, visited Tehran to address “urgent humanitarian concerns” following the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, according to an ICRC delegation statement.
In the Gulf, U.S. military bases have long been central to regional security. But rising tensions and shifting global dynamics are prompting new questions about what they protect - and whose interests they serve.
The Iron Dome has long symbolised Israeli security, reshaping modern warfare with its reported “90% success rate”. But as regional tensions surge in April 2026, questions are growing over whether the world’s most battle-tested air defence system can remain sustainable.
Five people have been killed in Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon, including three emergency responders who rushed to help victims of an earlier blast, according to Lebanese officials.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, has asserted Tehran’s right to respond after accusing the U.S. of “state-sponsored piracy” following the seizure of two oil tankers.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a four-day tour on Tuesday, visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia, expressing satisfaction with discussions focused on bilateral ties and regional developments.
China’s reaction to the latest tensions around Iran has been firm in tone but restrained in action. It has condemned strikes, called for dialogue and stepped up diplomacy but shown no sign of military involvement or appetite for escalation.
Loyalists of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas won most municipal races, election officials said on Sunday (26 April). Reuters reported that elections were held for the first time in nearly two decades in the central Gaza city of Deir al‑Balah, which is governed by Hamas.
Residents in central Gaza are preparing to vote in municipal elections on Saturday (25 April), marking the first ballot in the Strip since 2006. The vote in Deir al-Balah is being watched closely as a rare indication of public sentiment, including towards Hamas.
Türkiye sent six trucks carrying critical medical supplies to Iran on Thursday, reinforcing humanitarian assistance amid challenging cross-border conditions.
The European Union has introduced new trade restrictions on Kyrgyzstan under its 20th sanctions package against Russia, marking the first time a Central Asian country has faced measures targeting an entire trade channel.
An Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinians, including three children, near a mosque in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday (22 February), health officials said.
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