Monday

It is reported by the Wall Street Journal that the United Arab Emirates has secretly joined the United States and Israel in carrying out airstrikes on Iran during the war. Additionally, Emirati forces have reportedly struck a oil refinery on Lavan Island in April. (Middle East Eye)

2026 Iran war ceasefire

Pakistan in the 2026 Iran war

Italy evacuates 72 Palestinian students in Gaza under the "university corridor" initiative that allows them to continue studying at universities in Italy and San Marino. (Middle East Monitor)

Ali Rizq, a prominent field commander in the Rapid Support Forces, announces that he will defect from the paramilitary group, making it the second high-profile departure from the paramilitary group in less than two months. (Sudan Tribune)

The United Nations reports that 880 civilians in Sudan have been killed in drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces between January and April, mostly in the Kordofan and Darfur regions in the first three months of 2026. (Euronews)

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser says that the oil market will not normalize until 2027 if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed beyond mid-June. (CNBC)

Shio III is elected Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, becoming head of the Georgian Orthodox Church. (Orthodox Times)

Public broadcasters in Ireland, Slovenia, and Spain announce that they will not air the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in protest over Israel's participation amid the Gaza war. (AFP via Al Arabiya)

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is released from prison on parole after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption. (AFP via France 24)

The Philippine senate is placed under lockdown after an altercation involving the National Bureau of Investigation and senator Ronald dela Rosa during an attempt to serve the arrest order from the International Criminal Court against dela Rosa. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) (Reuters)

British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood bans seven far-right activists, including MAGA influencer Valentina Gomez, from entering the UK, who were planning to attend a far-right rally in London, England, led by Tommy Robinson. Prime minister Keir Starmer says "agitators" will be blocked from entering the country ahead of the rally on May 16. (The Guardian)

A lawsuit is filed against ChatGPT maker OpenAI, accusing it of planning the mass shooting at Florida State University. (AP)

Thirteen Philippine senators vote to install minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano as senate president, ousting Tito Sotto in a surprise ouster move. (Gulf News) (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Philippine vice president Sara Duterte is impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time. (AFP via RFI) (BBC News)

Christian Schmidt announces his resignation as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He will stay in office until a replacement is found. (AP) (BBC)