Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for May 11th , covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. India and Pakistan agree to a ceasefire in US-mediated talks
India and Pakistan have agreed to a full, immediate ceasefire following days of cross-border violence, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social, citing “high-level negotiations mediated by Washington.” Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed Islamabad’s commitment to peace, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both sides will begin formal talks on broader issues. Rubio praised Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif for their “wisdom and statesmanship,” noting he and JD Vance spent 48 hours in closed-door meetings with senior officials from both nations.
The truce comes after one of the most dangerous escalations in years—missile strikes, drone incursions and artillery fire that have killed at least 48 people, mostly on the Pakistani side. Pakistan launched “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos” in retaliation for India’s “Operation Sindoor” on May 6, which New Delhi says targeted militant bases but which Pakistan claims killed 33 civilians. Both sides have already accused each other of ceasefire violations.
2. Azerbaijan welcomes ceasefire between India and Pakistan
Azerbaijan on Saturday hailed the newly declared ceasefire between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In a statement, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said it “welcomes any initiative that eases regional tensions and lays the groundwork for enduring peace and stability. We urge both sides to pursue constructive dialogue to resolve remaining disputes and strengthen mutual confidence.”
3. European leaders in Ukraine’s Kyiv press Russia for 30-day ceasefire
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled together by train from Poland to Kyiv on Saturday, where they and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to demand a 30-day ceasefire as a first step toward ending the three-year war. They warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not agree to halt fighting on land, sea and in the air by Monday, Moscow would face “massive sanctions,” potentially targeting its energy and banking sectors. Macron also proposed deploying a “reassurance” force of foreign troops and said the United States, backed by European partners, would lead monitoring of any ceasefire.
4. Putin proposes direct peace talks with Ukraine after three years of war
President Vladimir Putin invited Kyiv to resume talks without preconditions in Istanbul, with details to be worked out with President Erdoğan. U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the initiative, while European leaders had urged a 30-day ceasefire. Despite the offer, Russia launched a drone strike on Kyiv overnight. Putin pointed to a 2022 draft agreement calling for Ukrainian neutrality and said Russia remains ready to negotiate.
5. Pope Leo XIV visits the Sanctuary of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano
During a surprise visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Rome, Pope Leo XIV knelt in prayer before the remains of Blessed Stefano Bellesini, the Augustinian friar.
6. Trump orders 20,000 new officers to enforce deportations
The plan aims to incentivize undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily, offering paid travel and a $1,000 “exit bonus” through a new federal program.
In a video statement Friday, Trump said he was making it “as easy as possible” for undocumented immigrants to self-deport, while warning those who stay could face “significant jail time,” wage garnishment, and confiscation of property.
The executive order instructs DHS to expand staffing through new hires, as well as by deputizing local and state law enforcement and contracting former federal officers. However, it does not specify how the expansion will be funded. Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently employs over 21,000 people, including about 6,100 deportation officers.
The administration's harsher deportation measures have faced setbacks in federal court. Judges in Texas and New York recently ruled Trump's use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to expel certain migrants unlawful.
Despite legal challenges, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced this week that bonuses and government-funded travel would be offered to encourage voluntary departures via the CPB Home app.
Media accreditation has opened for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, the United Nations’ flagship conference on sustainable urban developme...
The European Union faced calls to implement a never-before-used range of economic countermeasures known as the 'Anti-Coercion Instrument' as part of ...
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Alley of Martyrs to honour the memory of those killed on 20 January....
Six people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, authorities said, as firefighte...
The world is entering a more unstable and fragmented phase as global cooperation declines and rivalry between major powers intensifies, the World Econ...
The European Union faced calls to implement a never-before-used range of economic countermeasures known as the 'Anti-Coercion Instrument' as part of the bloc's response U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on European countries in connection with Greenland.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
The Turkish Defence Ministry has voiced its support for recent military operations by Syrian government forces against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy the support of the United States.
Tens of thousands of users were left unable to access Elon Musk’s social media platform X on Friday, with outages reported across multiple countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Ashley St. Clair, mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s company xAI, alleging that its AI tool Grok generated explicit images of her, including one portraying her as underage.
The Kremlin has welcomed recent signals from several major European capitals suggesting a renewed openness to dialogue with Moscow, calling the shift a “positive evolution” in Europe’s stance towards Russia.
The European Union faced calls to implement a never-before-used range of economic countermeasures known as the 'Anti-Coercion Instrument' as part of the bloc's response U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on European countries in connection with Greenland.
Six people have been killed after a massive fire tore through a shopping centre in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, authorities said, as firefighters battled through the night to contain the blaze.
The world is entering a more unstable and fragmented phase as global cooperation declines and rivalry between major powers intensifies, the World Economic Forum has warned.
The Trump administration has denied a report that countries would be required to pay $1bn to join a proposed U.S.-backed peace initiative, after Bloomberg News said a draft charter set out a membership fee.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 18 January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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