Politics

Colombia begins process to join BRICS bank

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.

Ministers resign one by one as protests grow in Libya’s Government of National Unity

Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports

Supreme Court blocks Trump’s use of wartime law for deportations

The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.

North Korean fishermen stuck in South as Pyongyang cuts contact

Two North Korean fishermen picked up by South Korean patrols in March remain stranded in the South as Pyongyang refuses to respond to requests for their return.

Moody’s strips US of last top credit rating over debt concerns

The US has lost its final AAA credit rating after Moody’s downgraded the country to Aa1, citing growing deficits and mounting debt as risks to long-term fiscal health.

Leaked report shows high dropout rate among new Canadian military recruits

A leaked internal report shows the Canadian military is losing new recruits at more than twice the average rate, as frustration grows over training delays and the inability to get into desired roles.

Afghanistan and Russia sign trade and energy deals at Kazan Forum

Afghanistan and Russia signed five agreements on Friday covering transport, trade, and energy cooperation.

Top British and Pakistani diplomats discuss tensions between Islamabad and Delhi

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Friday to address the recent flare-up between Islamabad and New Delhi.

Sweden shaken by death of diplomat under espionage investigation

A high-ranking Swedish diplomat who was recently questioned on spying allegations has died, shocking the country.

U.S. to discuss troop reductions in Europe after NATO summit

The United States will begin talks with allies later this year on scaling back its military presence in Europe.

Syria regains World Bank funding after Saudi Arabia and Qatar pay $15.5 million debt

Syria regains World Bank funding after Saudi Arabia and Qatar pay $15.5 million debt

CIS security chiefs meet in Dushanbe to strengthen cooperation

A meeting of the security agencies of the CIS member states took place on May 16th in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.

Iran says it has not received any written nuclear proposal from US

Trump wraps up Gulf tour pocketing over $2 trillion in announced deals

President Donald Trump has completed a four-day tour of the Gulf, announcing more than $2 trillion in investment and defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Azerbaijan responds to Armenian PM’s claims on territorial integrity

Azerbaijan has dismissed recent remarks by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview with Azerbaijani Public Television in Albania, accusing him of misleading the international community on territorial claims and the OSCE Minsk Group’s dissolution.

EU ramps up pressure on Putin with new sanctions package

The European Union is preparing a new sanctions package to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen announced. This comes as European leaders meet in Tirana and Russia and Ukraine hold direct peace talks in Istanbul.

Ukraine and Russia agree to continue ceasefire talks, Turkish FM says

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators agreed in Istanbul to resume talks aimed at a ceasefire and to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war.

President of Uzbekistan to pay visit to Hungary and Slovenia

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay official visits to Hungary and Slovenia from May 19 to 22, holding talks with top leaders and participating in key bilateral and multilateral events.

Ukraine and Russia agree to exchange 1,000 prisoners following peace talks in Istanbul

Ukraine and Russia agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, following their first direct peace talks in over three years held in Istanbul.

Ukraine-Russia peace talks end in Türkiye

Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Türkiye for their first direct peace talks since 2022, with discussions lasting under two hours.

Baltic Sea NATO states and EU sign pact to protect undersea infrastructure

Ten Baltic Sea NATO states and the EU signed a memorandum to enhance cooperation on protecting critical underwater infrastructure.

Central Asian and Chinese transport ministers sign MoUs to boost digital and cross-border logistics cooperation

Transport ministers from China and Central Asian countries signed two memoranda of understanding to enhance digitalization and streamline cross-border freight operations, aiming to unlock greater economic, trade, and humanitarian cooperation potential in the region.

Trump departs Abu Dhabi, ending visit to the region

U.S. President Donald Trump wrapped up his visit to Abu Dhabi on May 16, announcing a landmark deal between the United States and the UAE that will allow the Gulf nation to purchase advanced artificial intelligence semiconductors from U.S. companies, marking a significant step in their strategic par

S&P says US-China tariff truce eases macroeconomic pressure

S&P says easing tariff tensions between the US and China has improved macroeconomic conditions by lowering uncertainty, boosting markets, and reducing risks, though global trade challenges still weigh on credit conditions.