Putin and Zelensky to skip Ukraine peace talks

Neither Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky nor Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in the first direct Ukraine peace talks since 2022, dampening hopes for a breakthrough. Putin first proposed direct negotiations for May 15 over the weekend, but the Kremlin later announced he would not be attending.

Taiwan calls for inclusion in global health decision-making

National Health Insurance (NHI) system, Taiwan’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Dr. Chiu Tai-yuan, stated that health is not merely a national concern but a universal value and fundamental human right. He emphasised that improved public health directly contributes to national well-being, security, and development, while reinforcing global resilience in the face of cross-border health threats.

Mexican beauty influencer shot to death during TikTok livestream

A 23-year-old influencer was shot and killed on Tuesday at a beauty salon in Jalisco, Mexico, while she was livestreaming on TikTok, according to the state prosecutor’s office.

Uruguay’s José Mujica, world’s ’poorest president’, dies

Former Uruguayan President José Mujica, known as ’’Pepe’’, has died at the age of 89.

HRW urges new Pope to review 2018 China deal to protect religious freedom

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged newly appointed Pope Leo XIV to review the Vatican’s 2018 agreement with the Chinese government, which gives Beijing significant control over the appointment of Catholic bishops.

Trump pledges to lift Syria sanctions as he seals $142bn arms deal on Saudi visit

President Donald Trump has said the US has ’’no stronger partner’’ than Saudi Arabia during his first major foreign trip - a whirlwind visit of Gulf countries mainly focused on shoring up investment.

10 satellites working round-the-clock to ensure India’s security: Isro chief

Addressing the 5th Convocation ceremony of the Central Agricultural University (CAU) in Imphal on Sunday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) Chairman V Narayanan said that at least 10 satellites are working round-the-clock for strategic purposes to ensure the safety and security of Indian citizens.

Islamabad facing alarming rise in crime incidents

The federal capital witnessed a surge in criminal activity over the past week, with at least 64 incidents of crime, including carjacking, armed robberies, and street snatching, reported across various localities, according to official police data.

Ousted Bangladesh PM Hasina’s party barred from election as party registration suspended

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has suspended the registration of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, effectively barring the party from contesting the next national elections.

IPL 2025 to resume on May 17; final on June 3

PL 2025 will resume this week on Saturday (May 17) with a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders, the BCCI confirmed on Monday (May 12). A total of 17 matches will be held across six venues with the final scheduled to be played on June 3.

Digging for prosperity: The hidden challenges of mining in Pakistan

Pakistan’s mining sector has found itself at the forefront of national discourse, driven by recent discoveries, government-backed investment drives, and a contentious new legal framework that has sparked debate across the country.

Pope Leo XIV welcomes India-Pakistan ceasefire in his first Sunday address

In his first Sunday address, new US-born Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace worldwide, specifically mentioning the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and welcoming the ceasefire between India and Pakistan on May 10.

US says it has a deal with China while Chinese call it ’consensus’

In a media briefing after a second day of talks with U.S. negotiators on Sunday, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said trade talks with the U.S. “achieved substantial progress and reached important consensus.”

China’s unilateral fishing ban in East Sea invalid: Agriculture ministry

China’s seasonal fishing ban in certain areas of the East Sea is invalid as it violates Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and interests in the sea, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Pope Leo appeals for no more war in first Sunday address

Pope Leo XIV appealed for no more war in a message to world powers during his first Sunday blessing at the Vatican.

US sanctions on China refiners over Iran oil disrupt operations, sources say

Recent U.S. sanctions on two small Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil have created difficulties receiving crude and led them to sell product under other names, sources familiar with the matter said, evidence of the disruption that Washington’s stepped-up pressure is inflicting on Tehran’s biggest oil buyer.

India and Pakistan accuse each other of ’violations’ after ceasefire deal

India and Pakistan have accused each other of ’’violations’’ hours after the two nations said they had agreed to a ceasefire following days of cross-border military strikes.

India, Pakistan agree to ceasefire, Trump announces

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that both India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire, though neither country has confirmed the arrangement.

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Services Suspended Indefinitely: Foreign Secretary

Amid the escalation of tensions with Pakistan and indiscriminate firing from the neighbouring country across the Line of Control (LoC), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday said that the services of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further notice.

Virat Kohli tells BCCI he wants to retire from Test cricket

Virat Kohli has told the Indian cricket board that he wishes to retire from Test cricket, but top officials have asked him to reconsider the decision, The Indian Express reported.

Power Struggles in Bangladesh: Islamist Influence and BNP’s Declining Relevance  

Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government, Bangladesh’s political landscape has been in turmoil. The remaining political factions—Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the newly formed National Citizen Party—have been engaged in intense maneuvering, each vying for influence in the post-Hasina era. Muhammad Yunus, leader of the caretaker interim government, has been perceived as favoring Jamaat-e-Islami, further

House opens hearing on Chinese surveillance targeting U.S. from Cuba

House Homeland Security lawmakers held a hearing in Washington, D.C. to examine China’s expanding intelligence operations in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. They attributed the activity to a deliberate effort by the Chinese Communist Party to build asymmetric surveillance capabilities near U.S. shores that threaten national security.

IPL 2025 suspended indefinitely due to escalating India-Pak conflict

The ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has been suspended with immediate effect due to the heightened armed conflict between India and Pakistan following the terrorist strike on tourists in Pahalgam, as per media reports.

India has right to take steps to defend itself, says UK MP Priti Patel

UK Member of Parliament Priti Patel condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and called on the British government to strengthen counter-terror cooperation with India.

Chinese exporters use ’origin washing’ tactics to evade US tariffs

A surge of ’’origin washing’’ advertisements has emerged on Chinese social media platforms, presenting exporters with methods to evade hefty US tariffs by re-exporting goods and using freight forwarding services or by misrepresenting their manufacturing locations, according to a report from Radio Free Asia (RFA).

David Lammy hails UK-India trade deal as gateway to shared prosperity

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday said that the landmark trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India marks a new era of bilateral cooperation, highlighting the economic and strategic importance of the deal.

Foreign airlines avoiding Pakistan airspace

Air France and Germany’s Lufthansa were among global carriers avoiding Pakistani airspace, airlines and flight trackers showed, as tensions between India and Pakistan remained high.

India reaches out to US, UK, Russia following ’Operation Sindoor’

India reached out to several leading countries, including the US, Russia, the UK and Saudi Arabia, early Wednesday and briefed them about the military strike it carried out on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, sources said.

Asian airlines re-route, cancel flights due to India-Pakistan fighting

Several Asian airlines said on Wednesday they were re-routing or cancelling flights to and from Europe because of fighting between India and Pakistan.

India strikes Pakistan in aftermath of Kashmir tourist killings

India attacked nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir on Wednesday with at least three deaths reported, and Pakistan said it was mounting a response as the worst fighting in years erupted between the longstanding enemies.