Georgia and Azerbaijan sign landmark energy and transport agreements in Baku
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partne...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday the importance of unifying international efforts to prevent the return of "terrorist groups", including Islamic State.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed a shared vision for a strong and unified Syria, with an emphasis on addressing long-standing challenges and advancing stability across the war-torn country, according to a statement from the Syrian presidency.
The call underscored the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial integrity and independence while protecting the rights of all citizens, including the Kurdish community. Both leaders acknowledged the need to guarantee Kurdish rights within the framework of a unified state, as part of a broader push towards political stability.
Trump and al-Sharaa also stressed ongoing cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State group, highlighting the continued focus on counterterrorism efforts even as diplomatic engagement expands.
The discussion comes amid a fragile ceasefire in northeastern Syria and recent shifts in U.S. policy toward deeper engagement with the current Syrian leadership. Earlier agreements aimed at integrating the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into national institutions and expanding central government control have been part of wider efforts to draw the conflict to a close.
This diplomatic outreach follows earlier landmark meetings between the two leaders, including a historic White House visit by al-Sharaa in November 2025, which marked a significant shift in relations between Washington and Damascus.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Germany will deploy a Patriot air-defence battery to Türkiye in the coming weeks as part of a NATO mission aimed at strengthening the alliance’s south-eastern flank, German officials have said.
Estonia said on Tuesday (19 May) that a NATO fighter jet shot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over its territory, in the latest reported airspace violation in the region amid ongoing Ukrainian strikes against Russia.
Sweden has agreed to buy four naval frigates from France’s Naval Group in a deal worth more than $4 billion, as Stockholm moves to strengthen its defence capabilities in the Baltic Sea, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Tuesday.
Spanish police said on Tuesday they had detained a 25-year-old man suspected of killing his two parents and injuring four other people, including his son, in a shooting in the southern city of El Ejido in Almeria province overnight.
European Union negotiators are expected to agree on Tuesday (19 May) on legislation removing import duties on U.S. industrial goods, in a move aimed at implementing last year’s trade agreement with the United States and avoiding higher tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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