May 2026
Meloni and Trump’s cooling relationship marks the failure of an EU‑MAGA middle ground
Italy’s right-wing leader was once seen as Trump’s main ally in Western Europe – but not so anymore.
Cheers! Welcome to the Nepalese village where everybody knows how to distill
Chang, a refreshing, low-strength brew, and arak, its stronger relative, have long been part of Tibetan rituals.
Strait of Hormuz: Why the US and Iran are sailing in very different legal waters
Tehran and Washington look to different rules to govern their conduct in the key choke point.
Russia’s pared‑down Victory Day parade tells a story: Away from the pomp, war in Ukraine is not going to Putin’s plan
Moscow’s influence is Eastern Europe has been slipping of late, including with the loss of a stalwart ally in Hungary. The battleground, as ever, remains Ukraine.
Foreign aid’s hidden benefit: Recipients are more likely to pay the generosity forward
A study found that South Koreans who received donated US vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic were more in favor of their government giving to other nations.
Why the US military is stuck using $1 million missiles against Iran’s $20,000 drones
Bureaucratic hurdles mean the US military typically has to wait a decade between the time it sees a new threat and the employment of a new system to defend against it.
Gulf state cooperation has long been shaped by the threat of Iran − but shows of unity belie division
The Gulf Cooperation Council was formed after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Since then, GCC members have tried different strategies to contend with Tehran.
Trump‑Xi summit: Cautious progress on trade, ties and some ‘win‑wins’
On the issue of contested island, both US and China appear happy to keep with the status quo. Meanwhile, the presence of US Defense chief hints at Washington’s desire for a military ‘hotline.’
Financial strain, lockdowns and fear of infection during disease outbreaks magnify violence against women and girls − new research
Disease outbreaks can make women and girls especially vulnerable to violence, but health surveillance systems do a poor job tracking these trends.
Baloch insurgency: Suicide bombs and uptick in violence threaten Pakistan, regional security
A long-running insurgency has recently flared up again in Pakistan’s restive southwest province – complicated by instability in Iran and resource interest by the US.