17:01

Middle East Conflict

live Iran pushes for end to blockade and war in Lebanon in U.S. proposal response - Middle East conflict on 11 May

U.S. President Donald Trump called Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “totally unacceptable” amid talks over ending the war and securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. A cargo vessel near Qatar was hit by a projectile as Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace.

16:59

Georgia

Metropolitan Shio elected 142nd Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia

Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku has been elected the 142nd head of the Georgian Orthodox Church at a meeting of clergy in Tbilisi following the death of longtime Patriarch Ilia II.

16:35

Hantavirus

live Australia confirms evacuation of nationals from hantavirus-hit cruise ship; U.S. passengers isolated after outbreak

Australia confirmed it will repatriate citizens from the MV Hondius cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak, with quarantine on arrival. Spain, France are evacuating nationals as three deaths are confirmed. In the U.S., two passengers have been isolated after testing positive for the virus.

15:14

View from Kazakhstan

Tokayev and Putin discuss trade and transport links ahead of Kazakhstan visit

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for talks on trade, infrastructure and preparations for Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan later this month.

14:15

View from Afghanistan

Afghanistan signs five-year, $20m gold mining deal, including with Azerbaijan

Afghanistan has signed a five-year gold mining contract with Afghan and Azerbaijani companies in a deal worth more than $20m, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has said.

13:30

France

Macron opens first French business summit in English-speaking African nation

French President Emmanuel Macron opened France’s first-ever business summit in an English-speaking African nation on Monday (11 May), as Paris seeks to strengthen ties across the continent following a decline in influence in several former French colonies.

12:20

World News

UK PM Starmer vows EU reset after Labour suffers crushing local election losses

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attempt a political fightback on Monday (11 May) with a speech promising closer ties with the European Union after Labour suffered heavy local election losses and growing calls for his resignation.

11:08

2026 BAFTA's

'Adolescence' breaks record with four BAFTA wins, as 'Celebrity Traitors' and 'Last One Laughing' shine

Netflix drama 'Adolescence' was the standout winner at the Bafta Television Awards in London on Sunday (10 May), breaking records with four wins and dominating the night alongside 'The Celebrity Traitors' and 'Last One Laughing', which each took home two prizes. 

10:19

Israel-U.S.

Netanyahu says Israel aims to end reliance on U.S. military

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel aims to eventually end its reliance on U.S. financial military support within the next decade. The decision signals a long-term shift in the country’s defence policy as it seeks to deepen ties with Gulf states.

09:31

Thailand

Jailed Thai ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra released after sentence cut

Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s billionaire former prime minister, has been released on parole from prison on Monday (11 May). Shinawatra served part of an eight-month sentence that capped years of legal battles, political turmoil and controversy surrounding his return from exile.

08:15

Middle East conflict

Trump rejects Iran's response to U.S. peace proposal, Qatar condemns hit on cargo ship, oil prices jump amid stalemate

President Donald Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal sent oil prices surging higher on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed.

07:28

Plane fire

Turkish Airlines plane catches fire after landing in Kathmandu, Nepal

A Turkish Airlines plane caught fire in its landing gear tyres after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday (11 May) morning, temporarily disrupting airport operations, officials said.

18:54

Middle East conflict

Iran sends reply to U.S. peace plan as tensions persist in Strait of Hormuz

Iran said on Sunday (10 May) that it had sent its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at launching peace talks to end the war, as signs of tentative movement emerged around the Strait of Hormuz despite renewed security incidents across the Gulf.

12:09

Azerbaijan-Slovakia

Fico cites Azerbaijan’s sovereign policy as Aliyev thanks Slovak leader for support

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has cited Azerbaijan as an example of what he described as a sovereign foreign policy, recalling remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during talks in Yerevan, where he sharply criticised resolutions adopted against his country by the European Parliament.

23:54

Russia-Ukraine

Russia holds scaled-back Victory Day parade, rejects prolonged ceasefire

Russia is holding a significantly scaled-back Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May 2026, reflecting heightened security concerns and the ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

21:14

Hungary's prime minister

Péter Magyar sworn in as Hungary's prime minister

Centre-right leader Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary’s prime minister on Saturday, propelled into office on promises of change after years of economic stagnation and strained ties with key allies under his predecessor Viktor Orbán.

19:35

Kanak rights warning

UN committee warns France over Kanak self-determination rights in New Caledonia

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has warned that France risks undermining the self-determination rights of the Kanak Indigenous People in New Caledonia amid proposed political and constitutional reforms.

18:55

View from China

How China turned a tech ban into a research revolution

China’s leading chipmakers are funnelling unprecedented sums into research and development as Beijing accelerates efforts to reduce reliance on foreign technology amid intensifying U.S. export restrictions.

16:35

SOCAR

SOCAR completes acquisition of Italy’s Italiana Petroli

SOCAR has completed the acquisition of a 99.82% stake in Italiana Petroli (IP) from API Holding after receiving all required regulatory approvals.

16:13

Azerbaijan- Armenia

Azerbaijan expands fuel exports and transit trade with Armenia

Fuel exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia are continuing, with eight rail wagons carrying 479 tonnes of diesel fuel dispatched as part of the latest shipment between the two South Caucasus neighbours.

13:58

Somalia

WFP warns Somalia faces worsening malnutrition crisis without urgent aid

Somalia is facing a severe malnutrition crisis and urgently needs additional humanitarian funding to prevent conditions deteriorating further, the World Food Programme has warned.

13:51

View from Kyrgyzstan

Buddhist temple complex uncovered at ancient Silk Road city in Kyrgyzstan

A Kyrgyz–Japanese archaeological expedition has uncovered the remains of a Buddhist temple complex at the medieval settlement of Ak-Beshim, also known as Suyab, in Kyrgyzstan’s Chui Region.

12:03

AnewZ-BSU cooperation

Baku State University and AnewZ sign cooperation memorandum

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Baku State University (BSU) and the international television channel AnewZ, marking a new stage of cooperation in journalism education and media development.

11:37

UK

UK local elections: Is it over for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to carry on as leader on Friday (8 May) after his ruling Labour Party suffered heavy losses in local elections. Labour lost hundreds of councillors across the country, as some figures in the party said he should stand down.