A bilateral summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has drawn mixed expectations about its potential success. According to Leiden University associate professor Salvador Santino Regilme, the outcome will depend on each leader’s priorities and how the results are presented to their domestic audiences.

For Trump, success would mean a visible and positive outcome that can be showcased to the American public. This could include Chinese commitments to purchase US goods, tariff flexibility, cooperation on Iran, or concessions on rare earth exports. For Xi, success would involve maintaining China’s internal stability, ensuring economic predictability, and reinforcing its position as a global power without appearing to yield to Washington.

Experts cited in the report believe that a broad trade deal is unlikely due to unresolved structural rivalries between the two nations. However, limited agreements—such as temporary tariff suspensions, purchase pledges, or frameworks for future talks—remain possible, potentially easing tensions without addressing deeper issues.

Talks between the United States and China may take on new dimensions as the Iran conflict becomes a key topic. A potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leaders is expected to include the Iran crisis among the long list of mutual interests and disagreements. US officials have suggested that China should play a more active role in pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts believe that in exchange for helping to resolve the crisis, Beijing may seek significant diplomatic concessions from Washington. Experts suggest that China could bring the Taiwan issue to the center of the discussions, pressing the US to take a clearer stance against Taiwan’s independence. According to Inderjeet Parmar, professor of international politics at City, University of London, China may use its influence over Iran as leverage in this negotiation.

Observers note that the Middle East’s instability has evolved beyond a regional issue, becoming a new arena for US–China geopolitical bargaining. The future of the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz may thus depend not only on Tehran and Washington but also on Beijing’s strategic calculations.

Israel has been identified as the most negatively viewed country in the 2026 Global Country Perception Ranking, according to a new international survey. The study, conducted by research organization Nira Data, analyzed opinions from 46,667 respondents across 129 countries and three international organizations. North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iran followed Israel on the list of least positively perceived nations.

The survey attributes Israel’s declining global image to the ongoing war in Gaza, large-scale displacement of Palestinians, food shortages, and rising violence in the occupied West Bank. Allegations of international law violations by human rights groups, UN experts, and international courts have further worsened perceptions of the country. In contrast, Switzerland topped the list of most positively viewed nations, followed by Canada, Japan, Sweden, and Italy.

The United States also saw a sharp drop in its global standing, now ranking among the five most negatively viewed countries. Analysts linked this decline to President Donald Trump’s foreign policies, strained NATO relations, trade disputes, and Washington’s role in the Iran-Israel conflict.

TikTok has introduced its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and developer toolkit, allowing marketers to connect their own AI agents directly to the TikTok ads platform. Announced by global head of product marketing Jose Villalobos during TikTok World, the company’s sixth annual global ad product summit, the new system enables AI agents to plan, launch, and optimize ad campaigns without manual input. The MCP automates tasks such as setting up creatives, adjusting bids, and managing budgets, aiming to improve performance through a combination of automation and AI.

The initiative continues TikTok’s broader 2024 strategy to automate advertising operations. Similar developments have been seen across the industry, with Google, Meta, and Amazon each launching their own MCP servers to let AI models interact directly with their ad systems. According to adtech expert Shirley Marschall, a major motivation behind these proprietary MCPs is data sovereignty, as platforms seek to retain control over how AI agents access and use their data.

The announcement came alongside other product updates at TikTok World, which also marked leadership changes within the company’s marketing division following the resolution of its U.S.-China deal earlier in the year.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has forecast that global oil supply will decline by 3.9 million barrels per day throughout 2026 due to disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In its latest report, the agency said the stalemate in the region, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, has led to a rapid depletion of global oil inventories.

According to the IEA, global oil demand is also expected to fall by 420,000 barrels per day this year. The agency noted that more than ten weeks after the start of the Middle East conflict, the continuing supply shortfall through the Hormuz Strait is driving inventories down at a record rate.

The report added that the ongoing deadlock and fast-declining reserves could signal a potential rise in oil prices in the near future.

Scientists have warned that a 'super El Niño' could develop in 2026, intensifying global heat and wildfire risks. According to data compiled by World Weather Attribution, from January to April this year, more than 150 million hectares of land have already burned worldwide, 20 percent higher than previous records. The phenomenon, which warms the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, is expected to disrupt global weather patterns as the Northern Hemisphere enters summer.

Imperial College London wildfire expert Theodore Kipping said the wildfire season has started unusually early, with Africa losing about 85 million hectares and Asia around 44 million hectares to fires so far. He warned that the risk of wildfires could increase later this year as El Niño heightens the likelihood of heatwaves and droughts in Australia, Canada, the United States, and the Amazon rainforest.

The World Meteorological Organization stated last month that El Niño conditions are expected to begin in May, potentially bringing drought to parts of Australia, Indonesia, and South Asia, while causing floods and rising temperatures elsewhere.

The United Nations has warned that around 45 million people could face severe hunger and famine if fertilizer shipments through the Hormuz Strait are not restored soon. Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and head of a task force addressing the crisis, told AFP that the world has only a few weeks to prevent a major humanitarian disaster.

According to Silva, about one-third of the world’s fertilizer supply passes through the Hormuz Strait. The ongoing disruption has already affected global fertilizer distribution, threatening food production worldwide. The UN fears that the prolonged blockade of this vital trade route could trigger a collapse in agricultural output, worsening global food insecurity.

The organization cautioned that failure to stabilize the situation could escalate into a massive humanitarian crisis, as millions more people are pushed into hunger and deprivation.

The United States and the United Kingdom have held high-level discussions focused on reopening the Hormuz Strait. According to the US State Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of restoring normal maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.

A separate defense conference involving defense ministers from 40 countries is scheduled to take place today to discuss plans for securing navigation in the Hormuz Strait. The meeting will be co-chaired by UK Defense Minister John Healey and French representative Catherine Vautrin. They are expected to outline possible military contributions from various nations to ensure the strait’s safety following the end of the recent conflict.

The discussions highlight ongoing international efforts to stabilize maritime operations in the region and coordinate post-war security measures through multilateral defense cooperation.

Netflix has announced the return of its globally popular Spanish crime drama series 'Money Heist' or 'La Casa de Papel'. The original series officially ended in 2021 after five seasons, but nearly five years later, the streaming platform released a teaser titled 'The World of Money Heist Continues' on social media, confirming that the franchise’s story is not over. The teaser hinted that the 'Money Heist' universe will expand further, sparking widespread speculation online.

The teaser, shared on Netflix’s official channels, suggested that a new project is in development, though it remains unclear whether it will be a sixth season, a spin-off, or a sequel. Meanwhile, the second season of 'Berlin', titled 'Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine', is set for global release on May 15. The promotional materials featured the series’ signature red and black theme and referenced the iconic 'Bella Ciao' motif, symbolizing that the revolution continues.

The teaser also revisited iconic heist scenes from the Royal Mint and Bank of Spain, while hinting at new missions that could broaden the franchise’s storyline.

An article by Imran Hossain Naim, published on May 11, 2026, examines how Western scholarship has shaped and limited the understanding of Ibn Khaldun, the 14th-century Muslim thinker and author of the 'Muqaddimah'. The writer argues that most readers encounter Ibn Khaldun through European interpretations rather than his original Arabic text, creating a gap between the authentic and the constructed versions of his thought. This gap, the article notes, stems from ignorance of Arabic, Eurocentrism, and the tension between modernity and religion.

The essay traces how Ibn Khaldun’s intellectual legacy was preserved and studied primarily in the West, while his birthplace in the Muslim world neglected institutional study of his works. It highlights how Orientalist scholars explored Ibn Khaldun for their own academic and political purposes, often filtering his ideas through Western theoretical lenses. The author cites scholars who note that Western academia tends to universalize European theories while marginalizing non-Western thinkers.

The piece concludes that Western discomfort with Ibn Khaldun’s religious identity reflects a broader hesitation to reconcile faith and science, revealing the persistent Eurocentric bias in global intellectual traditions.

The United Kingdom and France will jointly host a virtual defense ministers’ meeting on Tuesday to discuss military planning aimed at normalizing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a British government statement. The announcement came just hours after Iran warned both London and Paris against deploying warships to the region. More than 40 countries are expected to participate in the meeting, co-chaired by UK Defense Minister John Healey and French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin.

The meeting follows an April gathering of military planners in London, where discussions focused on implementing a multinational mission led by the UK and France to secure the vital waterway after a sustainable ceasefire. Both countries have already deployed naval assets to the Middle East: France sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, while the UK dispatched the destroyer HMS Dragon. Officials said these deployments are part of preparations for an international mission to safeguard maritime traffic.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned that any foreign warships entering the strait would face an immediate and firm response, asserting that only Iran can ensure its security. French President Emmanuel Macron later clarified that France supports a coordinated security mission involving Iran rather than unilateral naval deployment.

Global oil prices climbed after former U.S. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s response to Washington’s proposal to end the ongoing war. On Sunday, Brent crude rose by 3.17 percent to reach 104.50 dollars per barrel, while U.S. crude increased by 3.21 percent to about 98.48 dollars per barrel. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the latest American proposal set a clear red line, but Trump dismissed Iran’s reply as completely unacceptable.

The lack of a peace deal in recent weeks has hindered the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Iranian state media reported that a senior military official warned of possible trouble for ships from countries enforcing sanctions against Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. has maintained its naval blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, attacking two Iranian-flagged tankers last Friday.

Crude prices now stand about 20 dollars higher per barrel than before the war began, raising fuel costs for Americans. Analysts warn that Trump’s rejection could prolong the Middle East conflict, further unsettling global energy markets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that he maintains close coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump over the ongoing Iran war, saying they speak almost daily. His statement came amid reports that Washington has been excluding Israel from consultations on the conflict, raising doubts about the true state of their alliance. Public skepticism toward Netanyahu’s credibility has fueled speculation that relations between the two leaders are deteriorating.

Analysts cited in the report suggest that Netanyahu’s repeated assurances of a strong partnership may mask serious fractures. Political consultant Dalia Scheindlin expressed concern that the war is going badly, while former diplomat Alon Pinkas described how Netanyahu persuaded Trump to pursue military action against Iran, using Venezuela as an example. U.S. intelligence officials reportedly warned of Iranian retaliation, which later materialized through attacks and economic disruption.

By late March, Trump was said to be frustrated with Netanyahu, ceasing to mention Israel in his statements and excluding it from ceasefire talks. Observers believe the conflict has politically damaged both leaders ahead of their respective elections, leaving their once-aligned fortunes increasingly uncertain.

FIFA has revived memories of England’s remarkable goal against Iran in the 2022 Qatar World Cup as part of its countdown to the 2026 tournament, which begins in 35 days. The goal, scored by Jack Grealish during England’s 6–2 victory, has been recognized as the longest passing move leading to a goal in World Cup history, lasting 86 seconds and involving 35 consecutive passes.

All eleven England players, including goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, participated in the build-up that began with a short free kick from Declan Rice. Midfielder Jude Bellingham played a central role, contributing nine passes and orchestrating the rhythm of the attack. The move concluded when Callum Wilson set up Grealish for a simple finish, sealing a moment that blended patience, precision, and teamwork.

Previously, the record for the longest passing sequence before a World Cup goal stood at 25 passes, shared by Argentina in 2006 and England in 2018. England’s 2022 goal surpassed that mark, becoming a symbol of collective artistry and tactical harmony in modern football.

Russia has called for the withdrawal of a draft resolution submitted by the United States and Bahrain to the United Nations Security Council that urges Iran to end its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov said Moscow cannot support the proposal and advised against rushing any decision on it.

Alimov explained that Russia and China have prepared an alternative draft resolution calling on all parties to cease hostilities, refrain from the use of force, and resolve disputes through dialogue. The US-Bahrain draft has backing from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, though none of these Gulf states are permanent members of the Security Council.

The report noted that Russia holds veto power in the Security Council, giving it the ability to block the resolution if it proceeds to a vote.