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 new 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.
China banned government departments from buying products from 46 US defense contractors. It also blacklisted 10 American companies from receiving Chinese dual-use exports. The Ministry of Finance announced the procurement ban. This action is a response to recent US sanctions. China hit back at Washington on Monday with a sweeping two-pronged retaliation, barring government departments from buying products from 46 US defense contractors and blacklisting 10 American companies from receiving Chinese dual-use exports.
The Taliban has started restricting smartphone use among government employees in Afghanistan. Enforcement is uneven across the country. The Taliban has begun restricting the use of smartphones by government employees, although the order appears to be unevenly enforced across the country. In some areas, civilians' mobile devices have reportedly been targeted as well, sparking concern that the ban may eventually extend nationwide.
Tajikistan officials rejected a newborn's name because it was not on an approved registry. The government is promoting Persian-rooted names. It is also restricting names with visible Islamic influences. This policy aims to shape national identity. 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.
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 efforts to navigate regional turmoil are discussed. The nation seeks to manage shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea. 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, undertaking the mediator role despite associated risks. 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 discuss the potential consequences of these funding plans. 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.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The trip follows the signing of a US-Iran peace framework agreement and aims to address regional security concerns. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain this week on his first official visit to the Gulf since the outbreak of the Iran war and just days after Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement aimed at bring peace to the region.
Global confirmed Ebola cases reached 1,000. As global confirmed Ebola cases reach 1,000, nearly three million children and adolescents are at risk in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while efforts increase to treat prisoners near the epicentre of the current outbreak, UN agencies warned on Monday.
Pope Leo visited the World Food Programme headquarters in Rome. He urged the international community to renew its commitment to tackling hunger and malnutrition. He described access to adequate food as a fundamental human right. The humanitarian strain deepens in Gaza. Families are returning to Lebanon. Pope Leo called on the international community to renew its commitment to tackling hunger and malnutrition, describing access to adequate food as a “fundamental human right” during a visit to the World Food Programme (WFP) headquarters in Rome on Monday.
World leaders warned that progress against HIV is slowing due to financial pressures and shrinking support. Four decades after AIDS first emerged as a global crisis, world leaders, advocates and community representatives gathered at UN Headquarters on Monday issued a stark warning: progress against HIV is slowing just as financial pressures and shrinking support threaten to reverse decades of gains.
UN officials reported clear signs of progress in Syria after over a decade of crisis, but noted acute needs remain. Syria has emerged after more than a decade of crisis with “clear signs of progress”, but acute needs remain and efforts must boost support so the country can “move from survival towards recovery”, UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.
The source claims mainstream media undercounts civilian deaths in Gaza. The mainstream media has no problem guesstimating the deaths (500,000) from the Assad dictatorship’s civil war in Syria, nor the estimated deaths in the wars in Ukraine, Sudan or Iran. Somehow, media editors do not let their investigative reporters assess the extent of Israel’s mass murder of civilians in Gaza.
Pakistani and Qatari mediators announced on June 22 that the US and Iran Pakistani and Qatari mediators said on June 22 that US-Iran negotiations have concluded, with the two warring sides agreeing on a framework toward reaching a final peace deal within 60 days, including the guarantee of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and an end to fighting in Lebanon.
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.
U. K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned from his post. In this episode, we look at the resignation of U. Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid mounting political pressure, the deadly ammonia gas leak at a seafood processing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district, and more. PM Keir Starmer resigns: What went wrong?
The National Library Board detailed timelines for library upgrades. Ang Mo Kio Library will be closed on Aug 1 to prepare for its relocation to AMK Hub, while Queenstown Library will be closed temporarily from Aug 31 for a revamp that will preserve the building's iconic facade while refreshing its interior.
Polish activist Monika Silva Koniuszek was murdered in Ecuador, 41, was investigating allegations against the family business of President Daniel Noboa. A postmortem revealed she died from a blow to the head and strangulation. This contradicts the government's initial claim that her death was a suicide. Monika Silva Koniuszek died from a blow to the head and strangulation, a postmortem found, despite government claim of suicideCampaigners in Ecuador say a Polish anti-corruption activist who investigated allegations against the family business of the country’s rightwing president was murdered to silence her. Monika Silva Koniuszek, 41, was found dead in her home in Montañita, a coastal town in Ecua.
Ukrainian drones hit Moscow's main oil refinery, prompting Russian media to downplay the impact and call for a crackdown on videos of the attack. After recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow’s main oil refinery, Russian media are downplaying the impact of the dramatic attacks. As Current Time's Andrey Cherkasov explains, authorities and pro-Kremlin pundits are calling for a crackdown on people who post videos of burning ruins online.
Far-right lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella won Colombia's presidential election. He narrowly defeated leftwing senator Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella is a supporter of Donald Trump. Leftwing opponent alleges vote count irregularities after Trump-endorsed lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella secures narrow majorityThe Trump-admiring far-right millionaire lawyer and self-styled “outsider” Abelardo de la Espriella has won Colombia’s presidential runoff, defeating the leftwing senator Iván Cepeda. With 99.99% of ballots counted in the preliminary vote tally, De la Espriella had secured.
Healthcare workers in Newfoundland and Labrador received a scam email promising a paid day off. The email, titled "June Holiday," was part of a cybersecurity test. Unions called the message a "cruel hoax" and "insensitive" to staff already facing burnout. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about working conditions in the province's healthcare system. Unions condemn ‘insensitive’ internal cybersecurity test sent to healthcare workers in Newfoundland and LabradorFor years, healthcare staff in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador have felt overworked and underappreciated.
Abelardo de la Espriella, a supporter of Donald Trump, was elected in Colombia. His rhetoric includes vows to eliminate the left and execute criminals. This election has raised concerns about the country's democracy. Trump-admiring Abelardo de la Espriella has vowed to ‘disembowel’ the left and kill criminals like ‘rats and cockroaches’When more than 20 women accused a Colombian evangelical pastor in 2012 of sexually abusing them, the defendant’s lawyer sought to discredit the allegations by telling the court that they were “trepadoras” – a pejorative term meaning social climbers. He ultimately secured his clie.
AI systems are perpetuating gender stereotypes, abuse and excludes women from digital decision-making. The technology reproduces old patterns as it reshapes work, communication, and information access. Women are being left out of shaping the digital future. As artificial intelligence reshapes how people work, communicate and access information, UN Women warned on Monday that the technology is reproducing old gender stereotypes, which amplify online abuse and leave women out of the decisions that will define the digital future.
