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...
The US House has passed the MEGOBARI Act, a bipartisan bill promoting democracy in Georgia and proposing sanctions on officials. As it heads to the Senate, Tbilisi pushes back, warning it could strain US-Georgia ties amid calls to reset relations.
The US House of Representatives has passed the MEGOBARI Act- a major bill aimed at strengthening democracy and accountability in Georgia. Approved by an overwhelming 349 to 42 vote, it now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The Georgia Accountability, Resilience, and Independence Capacity Building and Mobilization Act, known as MEGOBARI, was introduced by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers. The bill expresses support for the Georgian people and proposes sanctions against officials accused of undermining democracy and violating human rights.
Georgia’s ruling party is pushing back. Officials in Tbilisi argue the bill is based on inaccuracies and disinformation, calling it a political move aligned with the country’s opposition. They reject allegations, including corruption claims related to the Anaklia port project, and warn that such actions risk damaging US-Georgia ties.
Tbilisi says it remains ready to reset relations with Washington and hopes the Senate and President Trump will take a different approach, pointing to the country’s history of strategic partnership from joint military missions in Afghanistan and Iraq to shared security interests.
As US lawmakers deliberate, Georgia’s ruling party is also preparing for its internal congress tomorrow, where it will elect new leadership to tackle the country’s ongoing challenges.
For now, the future of the MEGOBARI Act and its potential impact on US-Georgia relations- rests with the Senate.
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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