Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing has transitioned from commander-in-chief to president. This follows a coup five years ago that removed an elected civilian government. Foreign governments are advised to calibrate their interactions with Naypyitaw. This is to avoid granting undue legitimacy to the current administration. Five years after mounting a coup that ousted an elected civilian government, Min Aung Hlaing has overseen tightly staged elections transitioning him from commander-in-chief to president.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority chairman Ashik Chowdhury stated defense issues would be discussed during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming trip When Ashik Chowdhury, the executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, was recently asked about Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming trip to China, his response caught the room off guard. “Many issues will come up,” Chowdhury remarked, “starting with defense.” For a diplomatic trip strictly billed around trade, investment, and business, it was an The post Everythi.
Zardaly, a Kyrgyz village in the Batken region, is seeing its only access road expanded and reinforced. Previously, the precarious mountain pass was dangerous for people and horses, with some falling to their deaths. The infrastructure improvements are bringing new life to the area. New housing is being built. A power station is also planned for Zardaly. In Kyrgyzstan's remote Batken region, locals say people and horses have fallen to their deaths while traversing the only road to the village of Zardaly.
The Pentagon restored the designation US Pacific Command, replacing the Indo-Pacific Command name The Pentagon’s decision to restore the designation US Pacific Command (USPACOM), replacing the Indo-Pacific Command name adopted in 2018, has officially been presented as a historical adjustment rather than a strategic shift., the command’s area of responsibility remains unchanged, stretching from America’s Pacific coastline to India’s western border,.
Armenia will hold its general election on 7 June. Foreign policy issues dominate the campaign. Voters are focused on the country's relations with Russia and Turkey. They are also concerned about the ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. The election results could significantly alter Armenia's geopolitical alignment. Armenians will head to the polls on 7 June for the country’s first general election since 2021.
Djibouti occupies a strategic location on the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This position has made it a hub for foreign military bases. The country hosts facilities for the United States, China, France, Japan, and others. These bases reflect Djibouti's role in regional security and global trade routes. This week on The Horn, Alan speaks with Samson Abebe Bezabeh, Assistant Professor of African Studies at the University of Hong Kong, about Djibouti’s history, politics and efforts to navigate turmoil and shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
Pakistan is mediating proposals to end the U. S.-Iran war. The conflict began on 28 February with U. S. and Israeli bombings of Iran. Islamabad sees significant risks in this role. However, Pakistan believes the stakes are high enough to continue its mediation efforts. Soon after the U. and Israel began bombing Iran on 28 February, Pakistan started conveying proposals for ending the war.
The European Union's upcoming seven-year budget may jeopardize funding for conflict prevention The European Union’s next seven-year budget could put spending on conflict prevention and aid to fragile states at risk. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts Lisa Musiol and Dylan Macchiarini Crosson explain the potential consequences.
Israeli envoy Danny Danon demanded the resignation of UN official Pramila Patten at a New York At a meeting in New York to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, the Israeli envoy, Danny Danon, demanded the resignation of Pramila Patten, who produced a report that blacklisted Israel for such alleged abuses for the first time, accusing her of bias.
Marjane Satrapi was laid to rest in Paris on June 19. The Iranian-born author wrote the graphic novel Persepolis, which was later adapted into a Cannes-winning animated film. Satrapi's work was honored with tributes in Paris. She was a renowned artist, activist, and filmmaker. Iranian-born author Marjane Satrapi, who wrote the hit graphic novel Persepolis, was laid to rest on June 19 in Paris amid tributes honoring her work.
Russia is experiencing gas shortages at fuel stations. Pulling up at a gas station with no fuel for sale, a Russian woman is aghast: “What’s going on in this country?” What’s going on is that in the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine is fighting back with strikes on oil refineries, part of a bid to bring the war to citizens across Russia.
US and Iranian delegations delayed travel to Switzerland for peace talks after Israeli military bombardment in southern Lebanon US and Iranian delegations delayed plans to travel to Switzerland on Friday for the opening round of talks to cement the details of a peace agreement as the Israeli military bombarded southern Lebanon, killing at least 18 people and threatening once again to derail momentum toward a diplomatic resolution.
The term "Wasian" is gaining visibility in popular culture. “Wasians” are having a moment right now. Think of Winter Olympians Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu, singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, actors Lola Tang (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Hudson Williams (Heated Rivalry), or singer/dancer Megan Skiendiel from Katseye. In fact, Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey featured many of these same “Wasians” in her recent Madwoman music video.
Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley announced a Caribbean leaders' manifesto for slavery reparations. The document asserts the moral, ethical, and legal case for compensation. It emphasizes harm done to African women. Other Caribbean nations are considering the manifesto. Updated document, which emphasises harm done to African women, is being considered by other Caribbean countriesBarbados’s prime minister, Mia Mottley, has announced a new manifesto from Caribbean leaders asserting the “moral, ethical and legal case” for reparations over damage caused by hundreds of years of enslavement. Mottley was speaking at a “historic” conference in Ghana to advance the push fo.
Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus were sentenced in South Africa for rhino ‘Mastermind’ Dawie Groenewald given fine of 2m rand or four-year jail term almost 16 years after arrestTwo traffickers of rhino horns have been sentenced by a South African court in what police said was the world’s largest such case, partly bringing to an end an almost two-decade legal saga. Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus had faced more than 1,700 charges ranging from illegally hunting and de.
Iranian authorities sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to 74 lashes. This punishment was for performing in a YouTube video. She sang "From The Blood Of the Youth" in an empty theater in 2024. The video has 2.9 million views. Iranian authorities have sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to a punishment of 74 lashes for performing in a YouTube video that has racked up 2.9 million views over the last two years.
The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights warned of impending international crimes as militias advance on El Obeid. The city is the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state. An offensive risks deepening the existing humanitarian crisis. The UN’s top human rights official has issued an urgent warning that an imminent offensive against El Obeid, the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan state, carries the risk of serious international crimes and threatens to deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
The head of the UN-affiliated atomic energy agency welcomed the signing of an initial Iran The head of the UN-affiliated atomic energy agency on Thursday welcomed the signing of an initial Iran-US memorandum aimed at ending the war, before proposing “to sit down” with both parties to assist with concrete measures such as verification of Iran’s nuclear programme, a key sticking point.
Colombia holds a presidential runoff vote on Sunday. Colombians will choose on Sunday between two men whose lives have been very differently shaped by the militias, and whose visions for the country are poles apartWhoever wins Sunday’s presidential runoff vote in Colombia, the country’s next leader will have a personal history intertwined with one of the criminal forces at the heart of a decades-long armed conflict that claimed nearly half a million.
Extreme weather risks are intensifying across vulnerable regions. UN agencies warned millions facing hunger and displacement could soon face another climate shock. El Niño conditions are developing. This could exacerbate existing hardships in already stressed areas. Millions of people already facing hunger, displacement and economic hardship could soon face another major climate shock, as UN agencies warned on Thursday that extreme weather risks are intensifying across some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
A 21-year-old New Zealander, known by his call A soldier who goes by the call sign Kiwi was still a teenager in Wellington, New Zealand, when he saw Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the news in February 2022. As the war dragged on, he learned that he could enlist and receive training to fight alongside the forces defending Ukraine.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied Donald Trump's claim that she begged for a photo at the G7 summit. Trump told an Italian television channel that Meloni had requested the picture. Meloni stated Trump invented the story. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused Donald Trump of making up a story about her, after the US president told an Italian TV channel that she had "begged" him to take a picture with her at the G7 summit in France.
Severe thunderstorms caused destruction in the Balkans last week. The storms formed over the Adriatic Sea due to lingering hot air and a southward cold front. Slovenia experienced strong winds and heavy rain. Strong winds and heavy rain batter Slovenia, while France experiences atypical heatwaveSevere thunderstorms swept across the Balkans last week, bringing widespread destruction to parts of the region.
Repair crews began emergency work on Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral after a June 15 attack. The UNESCO-protected site sustained damage. Priceless items were moved to safety. Experts warn soot and moisture still threaten remaining historic artifacts. Ukrainian workers are conducting emergency repairs to a historic cathedral, part of a UNESCO-protected monastery, which was damaged in an overnight attack on June 15.
Ukrainian drones targeted a Moscow oil refinery on June 18, marking the Multiple Ukrainian drones hit a Moscow oil refinery on the morning of June 18, in what was the second attack this week on the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region. At least 16 people were injured in the attack,.
