Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing transitioned from commander-in-chief to president after staged elections. Foreign governments should calibrate interactions with Naypyitaw to avoid legitimizing the 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. Foreign governments should ensure interaction with Naypyitaw is calibrated, so as not to confer unwarranted legitimacy on the administration.
Tajikistan officials rejected a couple's chosen name for their newborn. A Tajik couple was forced to abandon the name they chose for their newborn child after officials said it was not on an approved registry. The case highlights Tajikistan's controversial effort to promote Persian-rooted names and curb visible Islamic influences.
Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa secured Chinese backing for Indonesia When Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa landed in Beijing last week, the official agenda appeared straightforward: secure support for Indonesia’s first sovereign Panda Bond, deepen financial cooperation with China and strengthen investor confidence. By those measures, the visit was productive. Purbaya returned with Chinese backing for the Panda Bond initiative, discussions on expanding yuan-rup.
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 first general election since 2021 on June 7. Foreign policy has dominated the campaign, raising questions about Yerevan's future external relations. Armenians will head to the polls on 7 June for the country’s first general election since 2021. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Joshua Kucera explains why foreign policy has dominated the campaign and what the results may mean for Yerevan’s external relations.
Djibouti's history, politics, and navigation of regional turmoil in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea were discussed. The nation seeks to manage shifting alliances. 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 began conveying proposals to end the U. S.-Iran war after bombings started on February 28. Islamabad perceives high stakes in its mediation efforts. Soon after the U. S. and Israel began bombing Iran on 28 February, Pakistan started conveying proposals for ending the war. The mediator’s mantle comes with risks, but Islamabad feels the stakes are high enough that it has persevered at the task.
The European Union's next seven-year budget may reduce spending on conflict prevention and aid to fragile states. Experts warn of potential consequences for global stability. 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.
Qatar confirmed the launch of talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland. Qatar said that it hoped the meetings would "lead to a comprehensive and lasting agreement addressing all aspects covered by the Memorandum of Understanding", referring to an accord signed by the U. S. and Iran earlier this week. Mediator Qatar confirms launch of U. S.-Iran talks in Switzerland.
Delegations from the United States, Iran, Qatar, and Pakistan gathered on June Delegations from the United States, Iran, Qatar and Pakistan began gathering on June 21 at the Lake Lucerne Summit, launching what could become the most consequential diplomatic effort yet to stabilize the Middle East after weeks of war. Delegations Gather For US-Iran Summit Amid Fragile Regional Truce. High-level talks have begun between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian representatives at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, launching what could become the most consequential diplomatic effort yet to stabilize the Middle East after near four months of war.
Twenty thousand runners competed in the Comrades race in South Africa. For one day every June, South Africa’s searing racial inequality seems to melt away at Comrades raceIn the early morning dark, thousands of runners waited, jostling with anticipation. South Africa’s national anthem rang out. Then the haunting swell of Shosholoza, first sung by Zimbabwean migrant workers in South Africa’s goldmines.
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.
Artists at the United Nations used cultural artifacts and performances to illustrate how art can counter hate. Examples included an enslaved African's gold collar and Holocaust-era music. A staged hate radio broadcast and participatory porcelain cup displays were also presented. From a gold collar worn by an enslaved African to music preserved for nearly a century after the Holocaust, a staged reconstruction of a hate radio broadcast or porcelain coffee cups laid out in participatory remembrance, artists in a United Nations discussion on Friday used powerful images to underscore how culture can shape the fight against hatred.
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 horn trafficking. Police called it the world's largest case. The sentence concludes a legal process that began nearly 16 years ago. ‘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.
Advocates state Canada's Safe Third Country Agreement compels asylum seekers to enter the Advocates say the Safe Third Country Agreement forces immigrants to head to an unsafe country: the United StatesIt was the threat of gang violence in Honduras that pushed Carlos and Antonia to flee their home. In 2021, with their toddler, Alejandro, and a handful of belongings, the married couple ventured north hoping to reach safety in the US. The journey, through Guatemala and Mexico, was filled.
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.
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.
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.
