**Summary:** Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit New Delhi for the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for May 14–15. The event aims to strengthen strategic cooperation among the bloc's members.

**Key points:**
- India, the current chair of the BRICS bloc, is hosting the meeting to discuss global governance and strategic partnerships.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is confirmed to attend the two-day event in New Delhi.
- The meeting serves as a preparatory session for the 18th BRICS summit, which is set to take place in New Delhi this September.
- Iran officially joined the BRICS group of emerging economies in 2024.

**Why it matters:** The meeting highlights the deepening diplomatic engagement between India and Iran within the expanded BRICS framework and serves as a key platform for shaping the bloc's agenda ahead of its upcoming summit.

thejasnews.com - ഇറാന്‍ വിദേശകാര്യ മന്ത്രി ഇന്ത്യ സന്ദര്‍ശിച്ചേക്കും , റിപോര്‍ട്ട്

brazilsun.com - Iran FM Araghchi likely to visit India for BRICS foreign ministers meeting : Sources

Free Press Journal - Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi Likely To Visit India For BRICS Foreign Minister Meeting In New Delhi On May 14

Iran's Foreign Minister Expected to Attend BRICS Meeting in India

**Summary:** French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the 'Africa Forward' summit in Nairobi to promote a renewed partnership with the continent, emphasizing pragmatism and economic cooperation following recent diplomatic tensions in the Sahel.

**Key points:**
- The summit marks the first time a major Franco-African event is held in a non-francophone country, signaling a shift in French diplomatic strategy.
- French Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces Alice Rufo visited Algiers to facilitate a thaw in relations, including the resumption of work by a joint commission of historians.
- France has reappointed Stéphane Romatet as its ambassador to Algeria, one year after his recall, to help stabilize bilateral ties.
- The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is undergoing a strategic reorientation amid reduced state funding and shifting priorities in its economic diplomacy.

**Why it matters:** The initiative represents a critical attempt by France to recalibrate its influence and diplomatic standing in Africa after significant setbacks and a decline in regional partnerships.

tsa-algerie.com - La relation France – Algérie quitte la zone de turbulences, et maintenant ?

jeuneafrique.com - Emmanuel Macron : « En Afrique, nous ne sommes pas les prédateurs du XXIe siècle »

la-croix.com - « Une approche gagnant-gagnant » : comment la France veut rebondir en Afrique après les revers au Sahel

jeuneafrique.com - Quel bilan pour Rémy Rioux, l’homme qui voulait réinventer la diplomatie économique française en Afrique ?

France Seeks to Reset Relations with African Nations Through 'Africa Forward' Summit

**Summary:** On Mother's Day, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed that gender-based violence has ended in the country, while simultaneously facing protests from collectives of mothers searching for their missing children.

**Key points:**
- President Claudia Sheinbaum made her remarks during an event in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, where she emphasized that her administration represents all Mexican women.
- Colectivos of searching mothers marched in Mexico City from the Monument to the Mother to the Angel of Independence, declaring they had nothing to celebrate.
- The searching mothers demanded that the government move from rhetoric to effective action, citing a national crisis of over 133,000 missing persons.
- In a separate incident in Jalisco, the collective Madres de Corazones Unidos en Busca de Nuestros Tesoros discovered five sets of human remains during a search operation.

**Why it matters:** The stark contrast between the government's official narrative of progress and the ongoing crisis of disappearances highlights a significant tension in Mexican social and political life.

wradio.com.mx - Se acabó la violencia contra las mujeres , afirma Sheinbaum desde Sonora este Día de las Madres

wradio.com.mx - Nada que festejar : Madres buscadoras marchan en CDMX y exigen a Sheinbaum pasar del discurso a la acción

oem.com.mx:443 - Madres de Corazones Unidos en Busca de Nuestros Tesoros no festejaron , fueron a prospección y hallaron cuerpos ; van 26 - El Occidental | Noticias Locales , Policiacas , sobre México , Guadalajara y el Mundo

Mexican President Sheinbaum Declares End to Gender Violence Amidst Protests by Searching Mothers

**Summary:** German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to discuss deepening military cooperation and the joint development of advanced unmanned weapon systems.

**Key points:**
- The visit focused on establishing joint ventures between German and Ukrainian defense firms to leverage battlefield experience.
- Pistorius highlighted the development of 'deep strike' capabilities and long-range unmanned systems as a key priority.
- The initiative includes supporting developers through the Ukrainian innovation platform Brave One.
- Germany aims to increase private investment in Ukrainian defense production as part of a broader strategic partnership.

**Why it matters:** The visit signals a deepening of the strategic defense partnership between Germany and Ukraine, specifically targeting the co-development of advanced drone technology to counter Russian forces.

Lenta.ru - Министр обороны Германии Писториус внезапно прибыл в Киев

DIE ZEIT - Verteidigungsminister: Pistorius reist zu Gesprächen über Rüstungskooperation in die Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius Visits Kyiv to Strengthen Defense Cooperation

**Summary:** Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from a Bangkok prison on Monday after serving eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power.

**Key points:**
- Thaksin Shinawatra, 76, will remain on probation for four months, during which he must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and report to officials.
- The former leader was initially sentenced to eight years in prison, which was later commuted to one year by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
- Thaksin's release follows a Justice Ministry panel's decision citing his age, good behavior, and low risk of reoffending.
- His daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, served as Thailand's youngest prime minister before her removal by the Constitutional Court in 2025.

**Why it matters:** Thaksin Shinawatra's release marks a significant moment in Thailand's long-standing political polarization, raising questions about his potential influence on the future of the Pheu Thai party.

fnnews.com - 탁신 전 태국 총리 가석방 … 8개월 복역 끝 출소

shorouknews.com - إطلاق سراح تاكسين شيناواترا رئيس وزراء تايلاند الأسبق من السجن

thedailystar.net - Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin released from prison

japantoday.com - Thailand's Thaksin released from prison after serving 8 months for abuse of power

2news.com - Thailand Thaksin released from prison after serving 8 months for abuse of power

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Released on Parole

**Summary:** Passengers and crew from the MV Hondius are being repatriated from Spain's Canary Islands following a hantavirus outbreak that has resulted in three deaths. Evacuees are undergoing varying quarantine and monitoring protocols across their home nations.

**Key points:**
- One American passenger tested positive for the virus without symptoms, while a French traveler developed symptoms during their flight home.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a 42-day quarantine period for all returnees, though enforcement varies by country.
- Evacuation procedures involved the use of full-body protective gear and decontamination measures for all passengers leaving the ship in Tenerife.
- The Andes strain of the virus, which can occasionally spread between humans, was identified as the cause of the outbreak.

**Why it matters:** The incident highlights the logistical and public health challenges of managing infectious disease outbreaks on international cruise vessels.

kob.com - One evacuated passenger tests positive for hantavirus and another develops symptoms on flight home

theguardian.com - Hantavirus : what happens to cruise ship passengers now and will they quarantine ?

Repatriation of MV Hondius Passengers Following Hantavirus Outbreak

**Summary:** Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on citizens to adopt austerity measures, including reduced fuel consumption and limited foreign travel, to help the country navigate global economic instability and rising prices.

**Key points:**
- Modi encouraged the use of public transport, carpooling, and remote work to lower national dependence on imported petroleum products.
- Citizens were advised to refrain from non-essential gold purchases and unnecessary overseas trips to preserve foreign currency reserves.
- Farmers were urged to reduce chemical fertilizer usage by half and explore natural farming methods to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
- The Prime Minister emphasized that these collective efforts are necessary to address economic challenges exacerbated by international conflicts.

**Why it matters:** These measures reflect India's strategy to manage its trade deficit and energy security in response to global supply chain volatility and geopolitical tensions.

tengrinews.kz - Премьер Индии призвал сограждан экономить бензин, золото и валюту

unn.ua - Премьер Индии Моди призвал граждан экономить топливо и отказаться от поездок за границу

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Urges Citizens to Conserve Resources Amid Economic Pressures

**Summary:** Iran has warned of a decisive and immediate response if European nations deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to support U.S. naval operations, asserting that it alone is responsible for security in the strategic waterway.

**Key points:**
- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Iran will not permit foreign interference in the strait, regardless of whether the region is in a state of war or peace.
- France and the United Kingdom have been in discussions regarding a potential international coalition to protect oil shipping routes, though French President Emmanuel Macron denied plans for a unilateral naval deployment.
- Negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue, with a 14-point memorandum of understanding currently under consideration to address the nuclear program and the lifting of economic sanctions.
- The U.S. has proposed a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear enrichment program, while Tehran has countered with a proposal for a partial freeze until 2031.

**Why it matters:** The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint for oil transit, and escalating military tensions between Iran and Western powers threaten to disrupt global energy supplies and derail ongoing peace negotiations.

La Tercera - Irán advierte represalias “inmediatas” a posible despliegue militar europeo en estrecho de Ormuz

Expresso - Tensão alastra à Europa : Irão ameça reagir a navios franceses e britânicos em Ormuz

La Tercera - Uranio en disputa: El punto clave de las negociaciones entre Washington y Teherán para la reapertura del estrecho de Ormuz

Iran Threatens Immediate Response to Potential European Military Presence in Strait of Hormuz