Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet newly appointed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday, as Ukraine seeks additional military aid amid a surge in Russian airstrikes. Since assuming office three weeks ago, Merz has been actively pushing for a ceasefire and working to maintain Western unity in support of Ukraine. Germany, second only to the US in military assistance to Ukraine, remains a critical partner.

In a major policy shift, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the government will no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. Instead, vaccines will be advised only for adults aged 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions. This change aligns the US with nations like the UK, Germany, and France, where annual boosters target high-risk groups. Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine stance, called it a “common sense”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return all hostages—both living and dead—as Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 52 people, including 33 in a school-turned-shelter. The military said the site was a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command hub, though many victims were reportedly children. The pledge came amid confusion over a proposed ceasefire. A Palestinian source close to Hamas claimed the group accepted a U.S.-backed 70-day truce deal involving the

Following the U.S. government’s decision to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students for the 2025–2026 academic year, Hong Kong's Education Bureau is urging local universities to attract affected scholars. The ban, attributed to alleged antisemitism and ties to the Chinese Communist Party, will force international students—many of whom are Chinese nationals—to seek alternatives.

Former President Donald Trump announced that US Steel will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh, citing a major investment boost from its partnership with Japan’s Nippon Steel. The collaboration, he said, will generate 70,000 jobs and inject $14 billion into the U.S. economy, mostly within 14 months. Following his statement on TruthSocial, US Steel shares surged nearly 24% on Friday, according to AFP.

Federal authorities have labeled the Washington, D.C. shooting outside a Jewish museum as an act of terrorism and hate crime. Elias Rodriguez, 31, allegedly shot and killed two Israeli Embassy staffers who were soon to be engaged. Witnesses heard him shout, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza” and “Free Palestine” while being taken into custody.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the border region of Kursk on Wednesday, following Russia’s recapture of the area from Ukrainian forces last month. His trip included meetings with local volunteer groups and an inspection of a nuclear power plant. Kursk, briefly seized by Ukraine in August 2024, marked the first incursion into Russian territory since World War II.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has firmly rejected U.S. criticism of Tehran’s nuclear program, stating that Iran does not need American approval to enrich uranium. Speaking at a memorial for the late President Ebrahim Raisi, Khamenei dismissed U.S. warnings as “nonsense,” emphasizing that “no one in Iran is waiting for their permission” and that the country will continue to follow its own policies.

King Charles has personally written a message of support to former U.S. President Joe Biden, who was recently diagnosed with aggressive Stage 4 prostate cancer. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the monarch, currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, reached out with a heartfelt note. On May 18, Biden’s office announced that the 82-year-old was battling cancer that has spread to his bones, following symptoms that

Months after their heated Oval Office exchange, US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met again on Sunday in Rome. This marked their first face-to-face since the February 28 debate at the White House, where tensions rose over differing views on the war in Ukraine. In Rome, both leaders appeared cordial, sharing smiles in photos posted online. “Our countries share the goal of ending unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine,” Vance wrote on X, adding

Balochistan’s decades-long struggle for autonomy resurfaced this week as Baloch representative Mir Yar Baloch symbolically declared independence from Pakistan. Though largely symbolic, the announcement has reignited global attention on the region’s historical grievances and ongoing unrest.

In a historic first, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi was closed to the public to welcome US President Donald Trump during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit, part of Trump’s wider Middle East tour including stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, began with a solemn tribute at the mausoleum of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Citing national security, India paused the 1960 World Bank-brokered agreement and linked its resumption to Pakistan ending support for terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, "Water and blood cannot flow together," emphasizing that terror and talks or trade cannot coexist.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel's war in Gaza will continue, even if a new deal is struck to release more hostages. His statement followed U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the region and the release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, negotiated directly by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit two hospitals in Khan Younis, killing at least eight and wounding dozens. Netanyahu insisted the mission to "destroy

President Donald Trump has begun a four-day Middle East trip with high-stakes meetings in Saudi Arabia. His first stop is with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, resolving the Gaza conflict, and maintaining low oil prices. A formal dinner and Gulf Cooperation Council gathering will follow. Trump values cheap oil as key to controlling inflation and countering Russia's war in Ukraine. Yet, with Brent crude at $64.77 a barrel, Saudi Ara

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed resuming direct peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, without preconditions. The offer follows a joint call from France, Germany, the UK, and Poland—backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting Monday. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted on a ceasefire before talks.

In a significant show of international presence, leaders from 27 nations gathered in Moscow alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The commemorative Victory Day parade was held at Red Square, where President Putin addressed the gathering with a message highlighting unity and shared sacrifice.

Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old American prelate and member of the Augustinian order, has been elected the new Pope, making him the second consecutive pontiff from the Americas after Argentina's Pope Francis. Born in Chicago, Prevost had served extensively in Peru and was appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023. These roles were entrusted to him by Pope Francis, who also made him a Cardinal.

Following India's precision missile strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, border states Rajasthan and Punjab are on high alert. The strikes, a response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, destroyed Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed training centers.

Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, aiming to address rising hostilities between the two nations. Carney’s unexpected election win was fueled by growing public anger over Trump’s actions—particularly his call to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and the imposition of harsh tariffs affecting key Canadian industries like auto manufacturing and energy. These moves, widely seen as an attack on Canada’s sover