Palestine condemns Israel's mistreatment of Gaza flotilla activists as 'policy devoid of dignity'

Palestine condemned Israel's mistreatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, saying Israeli forces' actions reflect a policy devoid of "law, human morality and human dignity." The Palestinian presidency called the interception "maritime piracy" and a flagrant violation of international law.

Trump rejects Iran’s planned tolls on Hormuz shipping

US President Donald Trump has firmly opposed Iran’s reported plan to impose transit fees on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an international waterway. He also vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and claimed a naval blockade is already choking Iranian ports.

Greek minister praises Türkiye’s drone success: ‘Truly commendable’

Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias acknowledged Türkiye’s significant achievements in defense production, stating that Ankara recognized new technologies early and reached a certain level of UAV production when many countries did not even understand what drones meant. He called Türkiye’s progress “truly commendable.”

China warns US over Taiwan arms and Asia-Pacific missiles

China sharply criticized planned US military activities involving Taiwan and Japan, warning that weapons sales and missile deployments in the Asia-Pacific region could increase regional tensions and undermine stability amid growing geopolitical competition between Beijing and Washington.

Türkiye boosts steel output as global production falls

Global crude steel production declined 1.9% in April, dragged down by sharp drops in China, the Middle East, and Russia. However, Türkiye recorded a robust 9.4% year-on-year increase to 3.3 million tons, maintaining its rank as the world’s seventh-largest steelmaker, World Steel Association data shows.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine hit Russia’s Yaroslavl refinery

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced overnight strikes on facilities linked to Russia’s Yaroslavl oil refinery, calling it a key asset financing Moscow’s war effort. “We are bringing the war back home — to Russia — and that’s only fair,” he said, vowing more long-range actions.

US reports slight progress on Iran and Strait of Hormuz talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported “slight progress” on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz situation, warning that Tehran’s attempt to establish a “tolling system” in the strategic waterway is unacceptable. He also stressed that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons.

Epstein aide gives investigators 3 new names in abuse probe

Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime assistant Sarah Kellen has provided congressional investigators with three previously undisclosed names linked to the late sex offender’s alleged abuse network. Kellen denied being a co-conspirator and described herself as a victim of Epstein.

ECB’s Lagarde says inflation expectations still anchored

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has reassured that long-term inflation expectations in the eurozone remain broadly stable despite the Middle East-driven energy crisis. She said the impact on medium-term prices and growth will depend on the shock’s intensity and duration, while reaffirming the ECB’s 2% inflation target.

Pakistan seeks closer China ties amid Iran war diplomacy

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is heading to China for high-level talks focused on strategic coordination, economic cooperation and regional diplomacy as Islamabad continues mediation efforts linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

Trump says US seeks to help Cubans, denies carrier deployment as intimidation

President Trump said the US is seeking to help the Cuban people and denied that the recent arrival of a US aircraft carrier near Cuba was intended to intimidate the government. He said the administration's approach would focus on humanitarian concerns and enabling Cuban Americans to invest in the island.

UN Women: Women, girls face highest Ebola infection risk due to caregiving roles

Women and girls are likely to face the highest risk of Ebola infection during the current outbreak in the DRC and Uganda because of their caregiving and frontline community roles, UN Women warned. During previous outbreaks, women accounted for around two-thirds of reported cases.

French minister sees US NATO shift as opportunity to bolster Europe

Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters ahead of the NATO summit in Sweden that Washington's reassessment of its commitment to European allies presents an opportunity to deepen Europe's role within the alliance, while warning that calls for French withdrawal from NATO are "unreasonable and entirely irresponsible."

New Zealand activist describes torture, humiliation by Israeli forces during flotilla interception

New Zealand activist Mousa Taher, part of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla attacked by Israeli forces, said he was subjected to torture and humiliating treatment. "The Israeli occupation forces really tortured me this time," he said, showing injuries on his face and leg.

Pashinyan denies Armenia role in anti-Russian acts

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has rejected accusations from Moscow that Yerevan is engaging in “unfriendly” actions, saying many parties seek a crisis in bilateral ties. He insisted Armenia is not Russia’s ally on the Ukraine issue and defended hosting Ukraine’s president at a recent summit.

Tanker fires warning shots off Yemen's Socotra: UKMTO

The UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Friday that a tanker's armed security team fired warning shots at a suspicious small craft approaching the vessel approximately 98 nautical miles north of Yemen's Socotra island, adding that authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Pakistani minister holds fresh Tehran talks over proposals to end war

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held fresh talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Friday to review proposals aimed at ending the war between Washington and Tehran, examining ongoing indirect contacts and a 14-point framework plan, according to Iranian media reports.

China urges APEC unity as trade ministers meet in Suzhou

China's international trade envoy Li Chenggang opened the APEC ministerial meeting in Suzhou urging regional economies to send a strong message supporting cooperation, as delegates convened amid mounting concerns over US protectionism and threats to the multilateral trading system.

AI reshaping global trade, Europe risks 'digital tenant' status, study warns

Artificial intelligence is rapidly emerging as a new force shaping global trade and contributing to Europe's growing digital dependency, a study finds. Europe risks going "from being an industrial hub to a digital tenant," as US hyperscalers dominate cloud and data infrastructure.

Message exchanges between Iran, US continue through Pakistan mediation, differences remain

Exchanges of messages between Iran and the US through Pakistan's mediation remain ongoing as efforts continue to reach a framework agreement, with some differences yet to be settled, ISNA reported. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi delivered a message from the US side to Iranian officials.

Israeli forces raid West Bank towns, fire tear gas causing suffocation

Israeli forces raided multiple towns across the occupied West Bank on Thursday, firing tear gas and stun grenades that caused temporary suffocation among Palestinian residents, as part of an ongoing military escalation that has included road closures and mass arrests since October 2023.

Return of Global Sumud activists a victory for ‘humanity’s conscience’

Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran hailed the safe return of Global Sumud Flotilla activists as “an important milestone in the struggle carried out on behalf of humanity’s conscience,” condemning Israel’s “piracy” and praising international solidarity with Gaza.

Saudi, Syrian FMs discuss bilateral ties by phone

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a call from his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani to discuss bilateral relations and developments of common interest. The call reflects Syria’s new administration’s push to expand regional cooperation after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Lavrov, Palestinian VP discuss Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh discussed the need for a sustainable Gaza ceasefire and the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure. Moscow reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution and Palestinian national unity.

Algerian activist: Torture by Israel cannot compare to Palestinians' suffering

Algerian activist Muhammed Harkati, unlawfully detained by Israel from the Global Sumud Flotilla, said the torture they endured could not be compared to the suffering faced by Palestinians. "Palestinians do not have such an opportunity" of embassy support, he said.