The European Union banned Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta for spreading propaganda about the invasion of Ukraine and disinformation ahead of parliamentary elections in the 27-nation bloc.

A vessel in the Red Sea sustains damage near Yemen's Hodeidah due to Houthi militants' attacks, raising regional security concerns.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stresses the critical need to strengthen air defences in Kyiv against Russia's advancing offensive in the northeast, seeking international support for enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities. He doubled down on pleas to allies to send more air defence and fighter jets to combat Russia's air superiority as the war grinds through its third year.

A prison-like watchtower casts a pall over an otherwise idyllic tropical beach in the Dominican Republic's extreme southwest. As Dominicans cast their ballots in the presidential election on Sunday, the wall -- a flagship project of incumbent Luis Abinader -- stands as a symbol of his tough, and popular, stance on migration.

Friday said his army needed more men to boost the forces' morale, a rare acknowledgement from the Ukrainian leader. Then their morale will be improved, Zelensky told AFP. It is a matter of their physical strength and justice.

Nepal PM Prachanda to seek vote of confidence on May 20 after coalition partner withdrawal. Belongs to Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal withdrew support, leading to resignation as deputy PM.

Nato allies, including the US, consider sending troops to Ukraine for training amidst a critical manpower shortage and worsening battlefield position due to Russia's advances. General Charles Brown Jr believes a Nato deployment of trainers is inevitable, with involvement from leaders like Emmanuel Macron and countries like Estonia and Lithuania.

Slovak PM Robert Fico undergoes another operation after being shot in serious condition at University F D Roosevelt hospital. Robert Kaliniak, the defence minister, mentioned the removal of dead tissues during surgery

IMF warned Maldives of high debt distress risk, China discusses debt relief with Male. Chinese ambassador Wang Lixin says debt restructuring may hinder further financial aid from Beijing. China prioritises grants and free aid to prevent Maldives' debt increase. India extends $50 million treasury bill rollover as goodwill gesture to Male govt after special request.

Japanese lawmakers enacted legislation for joint custody after divorce to address concerns of domestic violence, child abuse, and frustrations of non-custodial parents. The UN committee recommended shared custody for foreign parents in 2019. No official tallies exist for minors cut off from a parent in Japan.

The Vatican sharpened its rules for investigating supernatural events such as visions of Christ or the Virgin Mary, acknowledging Friday that overactive imaginations and outright lying risked harming the faithful. Believers could be misled by events attributed to a divine cause that might in fact be merely the product of someone's imagination or those who have an inclination toward lying.

Residents of Brixham, a town in Devon, are dealing with a stomach illness that has impacted many people. As of Wednesday, 22 cases of cryptosporidiosis have been confirmed by medical experts, with over 100 individuals seeking medical help for symptoms in the past week. Health authorities in Devon are looking into an outbreak of cryptosporidium.

Pro-Palestine student protesters at Columbia University faced injuries during arrests, contradicting statements by New York Mayor Eric Adams and police officials. The incident highlighted concerns about police brutality and fueled the ongoing student protest movement, sparking debates on anti-Israel protests and campus violence.

Eight EU states urge re-evaluation in Syria for voluntary return of refugees. Cyprus sees influx from Lebanon. EU announces 1 billion euro aid for Lebanon to curb asylum seeker flow to Cyprus and Italy.

Kenyan lawyers block Kenya's police deployment to Haiti following a court ruling. President Ruto signed a security deal with Haiti to address objections. Opposition party leaders challenge government actions, citing contempt of court potential. International support for the deployment includes civilian contractors and pledges from various countries.

The United States has expressed its disapproval of China's stance on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a state visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his willingness to collaborate with the Russian leader in guiding the future direction of bilateral relations between the two countries.

A Sri Lankan court has remanded till May 30 the five suspects, including a retired Major General, arrested in connection with a human smuggling operation to send former military personnel to serve in the Russian and Ukrainian forces amidst their ongoing war.

A university student lost his life but killed two suspected muggers in a gun battle near New Sabzi Mandi in Karachi on Superhighway in the early hours of Wednesday.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott pardons Daniel Perry, a former US Army sergeant convicted of murder for shooting armed demonstrator Garrett Foster during 2020 protests, as recommended by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Travis County DA Jose Garza criticizes the decision, citing the 'Stand Your Ground' law and pressure from Tucker Carlson.

The White House halted the release of President Joe Biden's interview audio regarding classified documents handling, claiming Republicans intended to politicize the recordings. This dispute drives Republican attempts to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt and hinder Biden's reelection bid in the closing months of a fiercely contested campaign.

Slovak politicians have urged for peace in the Central European nation. This comes after Prime Minister Robert Fico was attacked multiple times by a potential assassin on Wednesday. The incident, a rare case of political violence, was surprising given the intense political divide. As per a hospital official, Fico's condition was serious but stable on Thursday.

Meta Platforms' social media sites Facebook and Instagram are under investigation for possible violations of EU online content regulations related to child safety. EU regulators announced on Thursday that this investigation could result in significant fines. Tech companies have an obligation to take further action to address illegal and harmful content on their platforms.

Ukraine reported that its forces were engaged in combat with Russian troops in the northern districts of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region on Thursday. The report mentioned that the invaders had not succeeded in advancing further into the border town. The capture of Vovchansk would mark Russia's most significant advancement since the start of its incursion into the region last Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Chinese leader Xi Jinping for efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict at a Beijing summit Thursday, where the two leaders reaffirmed a no-limits partnership that has grown deeper as both countries face deepening tensions with the west. Putin is on a two-day state visit to one of his strongest allies.

Dimitri Chikovani, who is a member of Georgia's opposition United National Movement (UNM) and actively protests against a controversial new law, stated that he was attacked by five people last week. He blamed the government for trying to intimidate opponents. Mass protests have been occurring in the capital city of Tbilisi for the past month.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is currently in serious but stable condition according to a hospital official. The populist leader was targeted in an assassination attempt where he was shot multiple times. This incident has deeply impacted the small country and sent shockwaves across the continent just weeks before the European elections.

Five Israeli soldiers were killed in battle in northern Gaza during the ongoing war against Hamas militants, increasing the total Israeli troops casualties to 278. The army did not provide details on the cause of casualties. The fighting has intensified in northern Gaza, with reports of heavy Israeli bombardments in Jabalia and Nuseirat camps.

The Pakistan federal government has finalised the preparations for Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan's appearance before the apex court bench via video call in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments case, scheduled to be held today (Thursday), reported ARY News, citing sources.

Philippine activists have embarked on a voyage towards a disputed reef in the South China Sea, prompting China to issue warnings against Manila for permitting the civilian mission in the West Philippine Sea, a term Manila uses for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its 200-nautical mile EEZ, Voice of America reported.