Pope Leo XIV to visit France in September
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the tri...
Leaders from the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and 22-member Arab League met in Doha on Monday, concentrating on the impact of recent attacks on Qatar and the wider Middle East, and calling for coordinated measures to preserve stability and support ongoing mediation efforts.
Participants emphasised that lasting peace requires respecting international mediation efforts and addressing the Gaza conflict, calling for adherence to the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant United Nations resolutions. They also urged the international community, including the UN Security Council, to set a clear timetable for ending the occupation and to take urgent action to halt attacks.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned the recent bombing in Doha. He warned that such actions threaten negotiations aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and called for the protection of the city’s sovereignty.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov expressed support for Qatar’s sovereignty and mediation role, highlighting the need to revive talks in Gaza and achieve a durable ceasefire. He noted Azerbaijan’s humanitarian contributions, including $2 million in aid to Palestine since 2023, alongside education and health projects, and reiterated support for a two-state solution.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the attack as unacceptable and reaffirmed Türkiye’s backing for Qatar’s mediation efforts. He pledged to strengthen bilateral ties with Doha, particularly in defence and security.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pledged to review the organisation’s defence posture and activate “joint defence mechanisms and Gulf deterrent capabilities.” The GCC, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, affirmed full solidarity with Qatar and condemned the attack in the strongest terms.
Observers noted the absence of statements from the Abraham Accords signatories — the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco — and that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not address the summit, falling short of expectations from several Arab capitals and Palestinian representatives.
The summit also voiced support for ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
Türkiye has issued 20,000 work visas to Afghan citizens for jobs in the livestock sector, the Turkish Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul said during talks with Afghanistan’s refugee minister on Wednesday.
The second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026 takes place tonight in a rain-soaked Vienna, with the final 10 places in Saturday’s grand final still up for grabs.
Foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS bloc gathered in New Delhi on Thursday (14 May) for a crucial two-day meeting overshadowed by the ongoing Iran war, internal tensions within the grouping and mounting fears over global energy supplies.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war as well as the bodies of fallen soldiers, on Friday (15 May). The swap came as Ukranian officials said Moscow had carried out its largest aerial attack over 48 hours since the conflict started.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
Pope Leo is set to visit France from 25 to 28 September, with a stop at UNESCO headquarters in Paris expected to form a significant part of the trip.
The Trump administration plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro next Wednesday, according to a U.S. Justice Department official, in a move that would escalate the pressure campaign against the island's communist government.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, was killed in an operation conducted by U.S. and Nigerian forces.
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