Colombia Runoff Election Set for June 21 Colombian politics is headed for a high-stakes showdown as Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing outsider, faces leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in a runoff election scheduled for June 21. The first round left voters sharply divided, with de la Espriella securing 43.7 percent of the vote and Cepeda just under 41 percent. Both candidates now gear up for a final contest tha

Trump Appoints Tom Barrack On Sunday, May 31, US President Donald Trump announced that Tom Barrack would serve as Special Presidential Envoy to both Syria and Iraq. Barrack, who already serves as the United States Ambassador to Türkiye, will retain his ambassadorial duties while taking on this expanded diplomatic mandate. The announcement highlights the Trump administration’s intent to strengthen strategi

Report of Resignation Surfaces On Sunday, May 31, reports emerged claiming that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had resigned and sent a letter to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The report, citing a source, suggested that Pezeshkian cited the overarching power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a reason for his exit. The claims appeared amid discussions of a potential peace deal between

Cyprus and Bangladesh Compete for UNGA Leadership The United Nations is under intense pressure to demonstrate its relevance amid numerous global crises, and attention now turns to the election of the 81st President of the General Assembly. Cyprus and Bangladesh are in a tight contest, with the vote set for Tuesday, 2 June. The winner will assume office when the new session opens in September, overseeing the

Rescue teams successfully brought four miners to safety on Saturday, May 30, after they were trapped inside a remote cave in Xaysomboun province for 10 days. The miners were part of a seven-person gold mining team stranded by sudden flash floods. One miner had already been rescued the day before, while two remain missing. How the Rescue Unfolded Emergency crews, includin

The ongoing war in Gaza has triggered a worrying increase in child marriages. Families struggling with displacement, economic hardship, and insecurity are increasingly marrying off teenage daughters, seeing it as a means to protect them and ensure survival. Interviews with girls aged 13 to 16 reveal stories of early pregnancies, miscarriages, and abuse, highlighting the harsh consequences of these marriages. One mother, who lost her husband and eldest son in the conflict, explained, “I thou

United States President Donald Trump has declared his final terms for a potential peace agreement with Iran. The proposal emphasizes strict nuclear compliance and guarantees for uninterrupted shipping through the strategic Hormuz Strait. This announcement has sparked strong reactions from Iranian officials, signaling potential hurdles in diplomatic negotiations. Iran Responds to US Demands

The United States announced new sanctions against an Iranian network involved in procuring advanced military technology through deceptive practices. The network reportedly misrepresented itself as legitimate companies, acquiring critical equipment such as spectrum analysers and security devices for Iran’s defense programs. The sanctions reflect Washington’s ongoing effort to restrict Iran’s access to sensitive military technology.

Former Arcadia Mayor Pleads Guilty Former Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang pleaded guilty on Friday, May 29, to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. Wang admitted to promoting Beijing-backed content in the United States without notifying federal authorities, violating US law. She resigned earlier this month after being charged in April for acting on behalf of a foreign government. Prosecutors alle

Hegseth Affirms U.S. Military Readiness US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday, May 30, dismissed concerns over the United States’ military preparedness, asserting that the country remains fully capable of launching fresh operations against Iran if necessary. Speaking at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Hegseth emphasized the US military’s ability to res

Zelensky Warns of New Russian Strikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, May 29, warned that Russia is preparing a major new attack on Ukraine. His message comes after Kyiv experienced one of the largest Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The capital city was among the hardest-hit areas during last weekend’s wave of strikes, raising concerns about further

US-Cuba Talks at Guantanamo Bay Senior military officials from the United States and Cuba met on Friday, May 29, at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, amid ongoing political tensions between Washington and Havana. The meeting involved U.S. General Francis Donovan and Cuban General Roberto Legra Sotolongo, focusing on operational security matters. A photograph released by the U.S. Southern Command showed the two

Late on May 28-29, a Russian drone struck a residential building in Galati, Romania, causing a fire and injuring two civilians. Romanian authorities described the event as extremely serious and summoned the Russian ambassador for explanation. The strike marks a notable escalation of regional tensions and highlights risks to civilian areas in Eastern Europe. Romanian Government Response President Nicusor Dan convened the

Russia and Taliban Formalize Military Pact Russia and the Taliban have officially signed a military cooperation agreement, aiming to enhance defense collaboration and regional stability in Afghanistan. The deal was finalized during the International Security Forum in Moscow, held from May 26 to May 29. Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob emphasized that this pact strengthens Afghanistan’s military capabilities while recognizing Russia

WHO Chief Visits Congo World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo can still be contained, even as the death toll has crossed 200. Tedros arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday, May 28, and is expected to travel to Ituri province, the centre of the outbreak in northeastern Congo. He said the virus can be stopped and added that the WHO does

Strikes Hit Near Beirut Israel launched a wave of strikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday, May 28, and carried out a rare raid near Beirut, placing further pressure on an already fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah. Lebanese authorities said the strike in Choueifat, south of the capital, hit an apartment and killed three people, including a woman, her baby daughter and a child of Syrian nationality. Fiftee

The Ofgem July price cap 2026 will raise typical UK household energy costs from July as higher wholesale gas prices continue to affect Britain’s energy market. Ofgem announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, that the energy price cap for Great Britain will rise by 13% for the period from Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Under the existing typical household usage measure, the annual figure will rise from £1,641 to £1,862.

The US military executed a targeted strike on a vessel suspected of transporting illegal narcotics in the Eastern Pacific on Tuesday. The operation resulted in one fatality and two individuals rescued alive. Officials confirmed that the vessel was navigating known drug trafficking routes and linked to transnational criminal networks. No US personnel were injured, and the Coast Guard immediately initiated search and rescue efforts for the survivors.