* Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) on Thursday officially validated the election of independent candidate Nicusor Dan as the next president, confirming his victory in the May 18 runoff.
* Cyprus has officially lowered the national voting age from 18 to 17 following a constitutional amendment passed by parliament on Thursday, marking a significant shift in the country's electoral framework.
* An Indian army trooper was killed Thursday in an ongoing fierce gunfight with militants in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.
* British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday signed an agreement transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The deal formally cedes British control of the Chagos Archipelago to the Mauritian government. Under the terms of the agreement, Mauritius will lease the Diego Garcia military base -- located within the archipelago -- back to Britain and the United States.
* Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam on Thursday welcomed the signing of a "historical" agreement concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, seeing it as a "great victory" for the country.
* The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has launched a full investigation into a failed warship launch that occurred Wednesday at the Chongjin Shipyard, state media reported Friday.
* Republic of Korea's defense ministry said Friday that no discussion had been made with the United States about the withdrawal of some U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula. The ministry announced the statement in response to a U.S. media report that said Washington was considering a pullout of around 4,500 soldiers from the RoK.
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Thursday that he held a meeting to prepare for a 1,000 for 1,000 prisoner exchange with Russia.
* Slovenia will extend border controls with Croatia and Hungary until Dec. 21 due to ongoing security concerns, the government announced following its regular cabinet meeting on Thursday.
* The UN Security Council condemned Wednesday's school bus attack in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Thursday. In a press statement, the council members "condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack" in Khuzdar, Balochistan province.
* Talks between Venezuela and the United States have been resumed and are making progress in the interest of both countries, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Wednesday.
* After a phone conversation with her U.S. counterpart, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum decided Thursday to continue negotiating the tariff issue concerning the steel, aluminum and automotive sectors.
* The Civil Aeronautical Authority of Panama (AAC) announced Thursday the resumption of flights between Panama and Venezuela, after a 10-month suspension.
* Laos' National Blood Transfusion Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, convened a meeting to discuss strategies for the prevention and control of thalassemia.
* The U.S. Donald Trump administration on Thursday revoked Harvard University's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the institution from enrolling new international students.
* The Estonian government has initiated the preparation of a national special spatial plan and a strategic environmental impact assessment for the possible construction of a 600-megawatt nuclear power plant (NPP).
* The first aid in 11 weeks delivered to Gazans includes nutrition supplies, flour, medicines and other critical goods, UN humanitarians said Thursday.
* Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Thursday there will be no nuclear agreement if the United States seeks to cease Iran's uranium enrichment.
* Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that U.S. companies would begin distributing food to Palestinians in Gaza in the coming days, in areas secured by Israeli forces.
* Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone conversation on Thursday to discuss regional developments, with a particular focus on the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip.
* The Philippines on Friday called for the "full, safe, rapid, and unhindered delivery" of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.
* Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed on Thursday to end the presence and operation of weapons held by Palestinian factions outside the control of the Lebanese state, including within Palestinian refugee camps.
* Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday warned that the country will not hesitate to forcefully respond to any "transgression," and will spare no effort to protect its interests and people.
* The United Nations on Thursday warned of the worsening humanitarian situation in war-torn Sudan. The surge in fighting in various areas across Sudan is pushing civilians out of their homes and into shelters, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
* Argentina on Thursday unveiled a package of measures to loosen regulations on financial transactions to spur the flow of cash.
* Public borrowing in the United Kingdom (UK) surged to 20.2 billion British pounds (27.07 billion USD) in April, marking the fourth-highest level since monthly records began in 1993, official data showed Thursday.
* Japan's core consumer prices in April rose 3.5 percent from a year earlier, government data showed Friday. The increase in the nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), excluding volatile fresh food, accelerated from the 3.2 percent gain in March, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed.
* Indonesia's central bank reported that broad money supply (M2) grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year in April 2025, reaching 9,390.0 trillion rupiah, down from 6.1 percent in the previous month.
* Iraq's Ministry of Electricity said on Thursday it had lost 3,500 megawatts of generating capacity following a sharp drop in gas supplies from Iran, highlighting the country's continued vulnerability to energy shocks despite its oil wealth.
* South Africa has suspended imports of live poultry, eggs, and fresh poultry meat, including frozen items, from Brazil after a bird flu outbreak in the South American country.
* Spain's State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has confirmed that 2022-2024 marks the hottest three-year period ever recorded in the country.
* Authorities on the Greek island of Crete were on high alert after a 6.1-magnitude earthquake jolted the area on Thursday, although no injuries or serious material damage have been reported so far, the Fire Service said.
* A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's western Bengkulu province on Friday morning, injuring several people and damaging some houses but without triggering large waves.
