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India marked International Peacekeepers Day on May 29. The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is marked annually on May 29, and India is among the largest troop-contributing countries which has deployed nearly three lakh troops in more than 50 UN Peacekeeping Missions since 1948.
The Philippines and Kyrgyzstan are competing for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028. The election is scheduled for June 3. Kyrgyzstan has mounted a late challenge to the Philippines, which was previously considered the strong favorite for the sole Asia-Pacific seat. This contest has become a geopolitical contest between Indo-Pacific and Eurasian interests. A quiet diplomatic battle is taking shape between the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan over the United Nations Security Council’s sole Asia-Pacific non-permanent seat for the 2027-2028 term.
The US Trade Representative designated Vietnam a Priority Foreign Country for intellectual property on April 30, the US Trade Representative designated Vietnam as a Priority Foreign Country for intellectual property, the most severe classification in the annual Special 301 Report and the first time in 13 years any country has been tagged with the label. The designation rests on five grounds: online piracy, counterfeiting, inadequate border enforcement, unlicensed The post USTR’s Vietnam desi.
The Shangri-La Dialogue opens in Singapore on May 29. Nations in the Indo-Pacific are seeking strategic alternatives. This shift is driven by Middle East conflicts, great-power friction, and doubts about the US security umbrella. The forum is becoming a market for hedging strategies. As Asia’s premier defense forum opens in Singapore on May 29, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue is morphing from a venue of superpower posturing into a high-stakes market for strategic hedging.
Ethan A. Goldrich, former deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, stated that fundamentally different ideas about the region are hindering US-Iran talks. He spoke with RFE/RL about the current state of negotiations. Goldrich’s comments suggest diplomacy faces significant obstacles in preventing escalation. To understand where Iran negotiations stand and whether diplomacy can still prevent escalation, RFE/RL spoke with Ethan A.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, arrived Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for ceasefire, saying no conflict is worth condemning people to death from preventable diseaseThe deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can be stopped, the head of the World Health Organization has said, as he arrived in the country to support efforts to contain the disease. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinsasha on Thursday and was d.
US President Donald Trump urged Muslim-majority states to join the Abraham Accords unexpectedly called on a number of Muslim-majority states to join the Abraham Accords in a social media post suggesting the move could pave the way for a broader peace arrangement with Iran, many responded with uneasy silence.
The United Nations reported nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence globally in 2025. This figure more than doubled from the previous year. Rape, sexual slavery, and abduction were used as weapons of war. These acts occurred across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean. Nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded worldwide last year – more than double the previous year's figure – as rape, sexual slavery and abduction were deployed as weapons of war across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean.
Ebola is spreading rapidly in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming at In today’s newsletter: As the virus spreads across borders, health workers warn that weakened global support is making a prolonged crisis more likelyEbola is spreading rapidly in parts of east Africa. The deadly disease, which kills around half of those it infects, is suspected to have claimed the lives of at least 240 people since the outbreak began in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of.
A former Trump National Security Council official stated a tentative US-Iran deal is As conflicting signals continue to emerge from Washington and Tehran over reports of a possible interim agreement, the White House has struggled to clarify whether the US and Iran are actually on the verge of a deal.
Internet access has been partially restored in Iran. The government had shut down communications in late February. This occurred at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign. Iranians reported being unable to check on loved ones during months of air strikes. Internet access in Iran has been partially restored after the government shut down communications at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign in late February.
An image showing Thai police in sparkly dresses with a handcuffed suspect was an AI fake. Picture was created by administrator in charge of station’s Facebook account who wanted to create ‘friendlier image’It was an arresting image and an irresistible story. A group of tough Thai police officers – five men and one woman – all wearing elaborate festival-style dresses, surrounding a drug dealer they had caught while undercover. The image, released by local police, was so compelling that i.
The World Health Organization Director-General traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday. He called for a ceasefire in the country's eastern region. This region is currently experiencing a resurgence of Ebola. Instability is widespread in the affected area. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) headed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday as the country continues to combat a deadly resurgence of Ebola in its volatile eastern region where instability is rife.
Former Pentagon official Michael Patrick Mulroy described Iran-US talks as a dangerous game. He stated both Washington and Tehran have reasons to avoid renewed conflict. The Strait of Hormuz remains a long-term pressure point, even if an agreement is reached. Former Pentagon official Michael Patrick Mulroy says both Washington and Tehran have incentives to avoid renewed war, but warns the Strait of Hormuz will remain a long-term pressure point even if an agreement is reached.
Mexico's senate passed a constitutional amendment allowing election results to be annulled due Opposition says constitutional amendment would give bill ruling party carte blanche to overturn will of votersSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailAmid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico’s senate has passed a constitutional amendment to include “foreign interference” as grounds to annul election results in the country. The bill, which was presented by the country’s preside.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio da Silva stated Brazil will not be treated like a Marco Rubio made announcement after meeting president’s far-right challenger Flávio BolsonaroBrazil will not be treated as a “tinpot country,” the country’s president, Luiz Inácio da Silva, said on Friday after the United States designated Brazil’s two largest criminal gangs, the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command, as foreign terrorist organisations. The announcement, made by Marco Rub.
The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization reported that global temperatures are expected to remain at or near record highs for the next five years. This projection comes as climate change continues to accelerate on land and in the oceans. The agency warned that the world is entering another period of significant heat. The world is heading into another period of dangerous heat, a new UN report warns on Thursday, and it’s nearly certain global temperatures over the next five years will stay “at or near record levels” as climate change accelerates across land and sea.
The UN human rights office stated that blocking children from social media is insufficient. It issued a 10-point framework on Friday. The framework urges governments and tech companies to increase efforts to protect children online. Platforms must be made safe by design. Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned Friday, as it issued a 10-point framework urging governments and tech companies to go further and faster to protect children online.
UN chief António Guterres outlined further progress for the UN80 Initiative UN chief António Guterres has outlined further progress in the wide-ranging UN80 Initiative, a major reform and restructuring project aimed at making the global body more effective, agile and better equipped to respond to global challenges.
At least 20 foreigners, primarily from Western countries, have worked for the family of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Alina Kabaeva over the past eight years. These individuals have been involved in raising and educating two boys believed to be the couple's children. This information comes from an investigation by RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit. Over the past eight years, at least 20 foreigners have helped raise and educate two boys believed to be the sons of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his purported partner Alina Kabayeva, most of them from Western countries, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has determined.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova stated that Patriot missile systems are critical for Ukraine’s defense. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly appealed to former President Donald Trump and the US Congress. He warned that Ukraine urgently requires more Patriot missile systems. Russia has increased its ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an unusually direct appeal to President Donald Trump and the US Congress, warning that Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot missile systems as Russia intensifies ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The United Nations warned of escalating conflict in Ukraine. The United Nations on Thursday warned of a dangerous escalation in the war in Ukraine after a wave of large-scale Russian strikes and threats of further attacks, with Secretary-General António Guterres saying “the death spiral must stop.”.
The UN Security Council convened an emergency session on Ukraine following a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack on May 23-24. Kyiv described the assault as the most severe on its capital to date. UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the council, stating that "the time for peace is now." Russia has issued further threats following the attacks.
Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, stated Kyiv needs a surge of air defense systems to intercept ballistic missiles from Russia. She told RFE/RL that Ukraine is prepared to finance these additional systems. The ambassador described the need as desperate. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, told RFE/RL that Ukraine is "desperate" to strike an agreement with the United States on military support to intercept ballistic missiles launched from Russia, adding that Ukraine is prepared to finance the additional systems.
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