Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing has become president after staged elections. He led a coup in 2017 that ousted the civilian government. Foreign governments are advised to be cautious in their interactions with his administration to avoid giving it undue legitimacy. 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.
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck northern California on Wednesday. 5.6-magnitude California tremor, 7.2-magnitude temblor in Japan and two quakes in Venezuela all struck within hoursA 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck a rural part of northern California on Wednesday. Hours later, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the northern coast of Japan and two powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela in a devastating mass casualty event. The tremors happened in the span of eight hour.
Quantum firms are repositioning to navigate the US-China rivalry. Companies are building domestic manufacturing bases and creating independent units for non-Western markets. Physicists are racing to achieve entanglement in labs. The US and China are escalating their quantum technology rivalry. As the United States and China escalate their rivalry over quantum technology, companies across the sector are already repositioning to navigate the geopolitical storm, from building domestic manufacturing bases to carving out independent units for non-Western markets.
Armenians head to the polls on June 7 for the country's first general election since 2021. Foreign policy has dominated the campaign, with issues of war and peace taking center stage. The election outcome may impact Yerevan's external relations, Armenians will head to the polls on 7 June for the country’s first general election since 2021.
Djibouti's strategic location on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea has made it a prime real estate for global powers. The country hosts military bases for the US, France, China, and Japan. Djibouti's government is navigating these alliances amid regional turmoil. Samson Abebe Bezabeh, Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong, provides insights on Djibouti's history and politics.
Pakistan began conveying proposals to end the war between the U. S. and Iran after the two countries started bombing Iran on 28 February. Islamabad took on the mediator role despite the risks. The stakes are high for Pakistan to persevere with the task. Soon after the U. and Israel began bombing Iran on 28 February, Pakistan started conveying proposals for ending the war.
The European Union's proposed seven-year budget may reduce funding for conflict prevention and aid to fragile states. Crisis Group experts Lisa Musiol and Dylan Macchiarini Crosson warn of potential consequences. The budget could impact the EU's ability to support countries vulnerable to conflict. The European Union’s next seven-year budget could put spending on conflict prevention and aid to fragile states at risk.
Zimbabwe's senate voted 75-4 to approve a constitutional amendment extending the presidential term. The change could allow 83-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in office longer. Opposition figures have criticized the move, calling it a "constitutional coup" that will tighten Mnangagwa's hold on power. The amendment still needs to be approved by the lower house and ratified in a national referendum.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ended a three-day tour of the Persian Gulf on June 25. He met with regional allies to reassure them of Washington's support. Rubio reaffirmed the intention to pursue diplomacy with Iran and insisted on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He aimed to reassure Washington's allies in the region. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a three-day swing through the Persian Gulf on June 25 with messages aimed at reassuring Washington's allies in the region, reaffirming an intention to pursue diplomacy with Iran, and insisting on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Senators Bill Cassidy and Todd Young changed their votes on the Iran war powers resolution. They had previously supported the measure, but switched after President Donald Trump criticized them. The resolution was blocked as a result of the flipped votes. The change occurred during a procedural vote on Wednesday. Two Senate Republicans who supported a previous resolution calling for an end to the US war on Iran changed their votes late Wednesday after President Donald Trump publicly and privately berated GOP lawmakers, calling them “losers” who provided “aid and comfort to the enemy.” In Wednesday’s procedural vote, Sen.
United Nations peacekeepers detected no airstrikes in southern Lebanon since Tuesday. Since Tuesday, United Nations peacekeepers have detected no airstrikes or new missile fire in southern Lebanon. The lull remains fragile, however, as Israeli drones continue to fly over the area and military operations continue on the ground. From Lebanon to the Strait of Hormuz, a region hangs on fragile peace talks.
The United Nations Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan warned of growing risks in El Obeid due to escalating violence. The envoy voiced alarm over the situation on Wednesday, citing the potential for further military escalation to put thousands of civilians at risk. The conflict in Sudan is deepening the country's humanitarian crisis. Thousands of civilians are already affected in and around El Obeid.
Former officials from Iran nuclear talks stated verifying Iranian compliance will be difficult. Amid an ongoing row between Washington and Tehran over whether international monitors can verify Iranian compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments, former officials have told RFE/RL that the scale, scope, and degree of access are crucial to the success of inspections. Veterans Of Iran Talks Say Verification Will Be ‘Heavy Slog’ With Details Of Access Key To Success.
US and Russian scientists downblended weapons-grade uranium in the 1 In the 1990s, US and Russian scientists pulled off the ultimate nuclear magic trick: "downblending" weapons-grade uranium so it could never be used in a bomb. Now, the US and Iran are trying to repeat history.
Papua New Guinea faces food shortages due to El Niño bringing frost and drought. Oxfam predicts PNG will be worst-hit country in Pacific from the weather pattern, with up to 3 million people affected nationwideFamilies across Papua New Guinea’s Highlands are facing depleted harvests and the threat of hunger after the El Niño weather pattern brought frost and prolonged dry conditions that have destroyed food gardens providing sustenance and income for thousands of households. Th.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new technical negotiations between the United States and Iran. - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a new round of US-Iran technical negotiations will resume in Switzerland at the end of June, as he wrapped the second day of a high-stakes Persian Gulf tour aimed at calming regional concerns over Washington’s tentative accord with Tehran.
Iran directed the December 2024 attack on Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue. The Australian Security Intelligence Organization stated a former resident in Iraq, recruited through militia groups, carried out the act. A former Australian resident living in Iraq directed the attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in December 2024, Mike Burgess, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, has revealed.
Rescue teams are rushing to Venezuela's north coast after earthquakes flattened dozens of buildings, killing at least 235 people. Thousands more fatalities are feared. The US is among countries sending help to search for survivors, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio involved in the efforts. US among countries sending help to search for survivors on north coast, where dozens of buildings flattened, as official death toll reaches 235Rescue teams are racing to Venezuela’s shattered northern coast after almost simultaneous earthquakes reduced dozens of buildings to rubble, killing at least 235 people but with thousands more fatalities feared. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said t.
House Speaker Mike Johnson met with former President Donald Trump in Washington. They discussed legislative priorities including the SAVE America Act. Johnson also planned to reschedule a housing bill signing ceremony. Johnson is the highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. Mr. Trump and Mr. Johnson were expected to discuss a legislative path forward for the SAVE America Act and rescheduling the signing ceremony for the housing bill.
A state of emergency was declared in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes struck the country. The quakes registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5. Buildings collapsed in the capital, Caracas, sending residents into the streets. Officials warned of widespread damage and high casualties. Rescue efforts are underway in affected areas. Two powerful earthquakes – with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 – sent residents running into the streets as buildings shook and collapsedVenezuela earthquakes: back-to-back quakes collapse buildings in capital CaracasVolunteers, medics and relatives of victims have raced to the Altamira area in Caracas hoping to help save survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings there.
At least 164 people were killed in Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes hit the northern coast. The quakes collapsed buildings in Caracas and coastal towns. Residents described the experience as horrible, with houses shaking violently. Many people scrambled out onto the streets as buildings fractured and crumbled. People in Caracas and coastal towns describe powerful quakes that collapsed buildings and killed at least 164As a double whammy of powerful earthquakes rattled Venezuela’s northern coast on Wednesday, residents of the capital, Caracas, scrambled out on to the streets from shuddering, fractured buildings.“It was horrible.
UN teams are supporting the international response to the Venezuela earthquake disaster. The double earthquake has left buildings flattened in Caracas and other areas. People are likely still trapped in the rubble. The UN is urging a collective effort to help the victims. UN teams scrambled on Thursday in support of the international response to the devastating double earthquake disaster in Venezuela, where buildings lie flattened and people are likely still trapped in the capital, Caracas, and beyond.
The International Maritime Organization has paused its Hormuz ship evacuation initiative. The plan to move stranded ships out of the Persian Gulf through the strait is on hold. This decision was made after a vessel was attacked, prompting the agency to seek safety guarantees for the ships on the evacuation list. The evacuation will resume once these guarantees are confirmed.
Hundreds of vessels waiting at anchor near the Strait of Hormuz face technical and operational challenges after months of closure. These ships must address issues before resuming normal trade. The closure has affected hundreds of vessels. Even if shipping traffic resumes through the Strait of Hormuz, hundreds of vessels that have spent weeks or months waiting at anchor must first overcome a range of technical, operational and human challenges before returning to normal trade.
More than half of Russia's 83 regions are experiencing gasoline shortages. Ukrainian drone strikes are the main cause of the shortages. Local authorities have imposed daily limits to restrict fuel purchases and prevent panic buying. The shortages are affecting 45 regions. More than half of Russia’s 83 regions are struggling with gasoline shortages, due overwhelmingly to Ukrainian drone strikes. Local authorities are imposing daily limits or other restrictions.
