Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 18th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) continued in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 18 May, focusing on global housing challenges and sustainable urban development. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the Urban Expo launch, and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration aimed at advancing Africa’s urban agenda.
A drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, with officials confirming no injuries or radiation leaks. Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting three drones entering its airspace from Iraq, while investigations into the incidents are ongoing. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to act quickly, saying time was running out as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
At least four people were killed in a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory, including the Moscow region, which authorities described as the biggest aerial assault in over a year. Russian officials said air defences intercepted dozens of drones, with 81 targeting the capital area alone. Residential buildings and infrastructure were damaged, including in Khimki and Mytishchi.
The Eurovision Song Contest highlighted the unpredictable nature of the competition, with Bulgaria’s Dara securing a dominant win. Her performance of 'Bangaranga' stood out for its K-pop-inspired choreography, precision, and unified visual identity. The result marked Bulgaria’s first Eurovision victory and reflected a shift toward performances that combine strong concept, clarity, and global pop trends. In contrast, entries from the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia) failed to reach the final for the first time since 2018.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has dismissed media reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow ear...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for greater economic cooperation among Muslim countries, saying their combined economic weight remai...
Indonesia deployed thousands of security personnel around parliament and other major cities on Thursday as students returned to the streets, one ye...
Oil prices fell after the U.S. expanded economic sanctions on Iran, as Tehran vowed to retaliate and warned it had tools to respond, raising concerns over potential disruption to regional oil supplies.
Rescuers in Nepal used helicopters on Thursday to scour for hundreds still missing after a wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border with China's Tibet, sending catastrophic floods through towns and valleys, killing 162 people.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told allied foreign ministers Washington will focus on sanctions and other pressure on Iran “for the time being”, Axios reports. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman have resumed talks on a temporary shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for greater economic cooperation among Muslim countries, saying their combined economic weight remains disproportionately small compared with their population, strategic location and resources.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has dismissed media reports that CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Moscow earlier this week to warn Russia against attacking NATO, dismissing them as "scare stories," which had nothing to do with reality.
Indonesia deployed thousands of security personnel around parliament and other major cities on Thursday as students returned to the streets, one year after nationwide anti-government protests left 10 people dead.
Thousands of Russians are hunting for apartments in Tbilisi and Yerevan - not because of a mobilisation order that's been signed, but because of one many fear is coming.
Poland has asked the European Commission to impose a €250 million ($291.3 million) fine on Meta, accusing the technology company of failing to adequately tackle fraudulent advertisements on its platforms.
Ratko Mladić, the former Bosnian Serb military commander convicted of genocide for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, has died, according to a United Nations official.
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