* Robert Francis Prevost, the cardinal of the United States, was elected the new pope on the second day of secret ballots in the cardinals' conclave held in Vatican City. The name he chose as the new pope was Leo XIV.
* Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the elected members of parliament (MPs) of his Labor Party to maintain a focus on working for all Australians after winning re-election.
* China and Russia urged nuclear-weapon states to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games, according to a joint statement on global strategic stability released here on Thursday.
* German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday called for protection of unity against extremism and populism as the country marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe with ceremonies in Berlin.
* The United Nations hopes that the talks between China and the United States scheduled to take place in Switzerland will help the two countries move towards a more normalized trade relationship, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday.
* China and Russia expressed support on Thursday for the United Nations to play a central role in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
* The Indonesian government is currently preparing a set of deregulation measures for several products related to import, export, and domestic trade to facilitate investment and attract more investors, Minister of Trade Budi Santoso said on Thursday.
* Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed national preparedness and inter-ministerial coordination in New Delhi, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.
* The Indian armed forces on Thursday launched military operations against air defense systems at multiple locations inside Pakistan, Indian media reports said.
* Several areas in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, including Jammu and Uri, situated along the international border with Pakistan, came under heavy attack by artillery fire from Pakistan, said TV media reports late on Thursday.
* The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a joint striking drill on the eastern fronts using long-range artillery and missile systems as its top leader stressed the importance of improving the combat readiness of the country's nuclear forces, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Friday.
* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
* The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday ratified a natural resources deal with the United States, which would establish a joint investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction.
* U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced at the White House that the United States and Britain had reached a new trade agreement, which includes partially rolling back tariffs in certain sectors and further expanding market access for each other's products.
* British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday announced that the United Kingdom has reached an agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs on a range of goods, following a recent wave of so-called "reciprocal tariffs" introduced by Washington.
* The European Commission has launched a public consultation targeting U.S. imports worth 95 billion euros (107.2 billion USD), warning that retaliatory measures could take effect if ongoing negotiations with the United States fail to yield an agreement, according to a statement released on Thursday.
* Estonia will reallocate 200 million euros (226 million USD) in unused European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy funds to enhance national defence over the coming years, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced Thursday.
* Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke Thursday about strengthening defence ties between their two countries, according to a statement from Carney's office.
* Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday rejected a Fox News report claiming to have identified a new secret nuclear facility in Semnan province.
* At least 21 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, the Civil Defense in Gaza said.
* Yemen's Houthi group on Thursday celebrated a recently-announced ceasefire agreement with the United States as a "victory for Yemen" while warning of a "devastating response" to Israel, according to the Houthi-run Saba News Agency.
* A top Iranian military commander said Thursday that Iran prefers and prioritizes the path of diplomacy for resolving the nuclear issue, but is also ready for war if threatened, according to the official news agency IRNA.
* The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), and peace monitors in South Sudan on Thursday called on the country's leaders to cease hostilities and urgently resume dialogue to advance the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.
* The Israeli government has approved a maritime trade cooperation agreement with Morocco, paving the way for its implementation within 30 days, Israeli authorities announced in a statement on Thursday.
* Slovenia will gradually raise the retirement age from the current 65 to 67 in an effort to alleviate the financial strain of an aging population, the government announced on Thursday following its regular session.
* The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Thursday it mobilized a record 8.7 billion USD in non-sovereign cofinancing in 2024, underscoring the growing role of private sector engagement in advancing development across Asia and the Pacific.
* Indonesia's rice production projection for 2025 has been revised to over 34 million tons, up from the initial estimate of 32 million tons in November last year, creating potential opportunities for exports, an official announced on Thursday.
* The Bank of England (BoE) announced on Thursday a cut to its benchmark interest rate from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent, citing softening inflationary pressures and rising global economic uncertainty fueled by U.S. trade measures.
* Austria recorded a foreign trade surplus of approximately 40 million euros (45.2 million USD) in February, as exports declined while imports grew, Statistics Austria reported on Thursday.
* Hungary welcomed its five millionth tourist of the year on May 6, marking a new milestone in the country's rapidly growing tourism sector, Visit Hungary said Wednesday.
* April 2025 was the second warmest April globally, the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported on Thursday. C3S said April 2025 was only 0.07 degrees Celsius cooler than the record April 2024, with an average surface air temperature of 14.96 degrees Celsius.
* Canada's second-largest airline, WestJet, is pausing nine routes between the United States and Canada as demand dampens for travel between the two countries, local media reported Thursday.
* A Sri Lanka air force helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in North Central Province of the country on Friday morning, but all twelve people on board survived, said air force spokesperson Eranda Geeganage.
