Relations between Tehran and Washington have reached a critical point following a sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Iran has announced the immediate suspension of its negotiation process with the United States, accusing Washington of enabling the actions of the Israeli military. The decision comes amid intensified fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, effectively nullifying previous ceasefire understandings. The conflict now risks expanding beyond regional clashes and developing into a large-scale maritime blockade of strategically vital waterways.

The Pentagon's decision not to mention Taiwan at a major security forum has sparked discussion about shifting US priorities, military-industrial challenges, and the future balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. Pentagon Forgets About Taiwan Behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's diplomatic silence on Taiwan lies a systemic crisis within the American military-industrial complex and tactical doctrines. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth pointedly avoided mentioning Taiwan in his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore on May 30. Western analysts believe this was done to avoid unnecessary confrontation with Beijing.

The United States has designated two of Brazil's largest criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups, a move that could reshape migration policy, security cooperation, and the country's political landscape ahead of presidential elections. Trump Administration Draws Brazil Into a New Political Dispute The United States has added Brazil's criminal organizations Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Washington argues that both groups operate beyond Brazil's borders, extending their activities across Latin America and into the United States. The administration of sitting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opposed the measure, maintaining that these organizations are criminal enterprises rather than terrorist groups because they lack a political or religious ideology.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has set a goal of ending hostilities before the onset of winter, head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov (included on the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring) said. "This is genuinely his objective — to bring hostilities to an end as quickly as possible, preferably before winter. As head of the President's Office, I will certainly do everything possible to achieve the goal set by the President of Ukraine," Budanov said. He described the objective as timely, well-considered and realistic.

A proposal reportedly under consideration in Brussels could significantly alter Central Asia's international profile and trigger domestic political debate across the region. According to Politico, the European Union is examining the possibility of establishing migrant holding centers in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected within the EU. The initiative is reportedly being discussed confidentially by the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Germany and Greece. In exchange, participating countries could receive simplified visa arrangements. Astana and Tashkent Reject the Role of Regional Migration Hubs Uzbekistan did sign an agreement with Austria during the official visit of Austrian foreign and interior ministers on May 7. However, the agreement concerns the transit of refugees through Uzbekistan to Afghanistan rather than their resettlement within the country.

French naval forces have detained the oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic Ocean, French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron announced that the vessel was allegedly operating in violation of international sanctions. "Yesterday morning, the French Navy detained another oil tanker coming from Russia that is subject to international sanctions — the Tagor. Our determination remains unchanged and absolute,” the French president wrote on X.

Kalashnikov has started supplying its new SKAT 220 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle to customers, according to the company's press service. The high-speed drone is based on the larger SKAT 350M platform, which is currently used in the special military operation zone. Engineers reduced the size and weight of the new model, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation, according to a statement released by the Kremlin. During the call, Putin congratulated Pashinyan on his birthday and wished him good health and continued success. "Relations between our countries and peoples have traditionally been friendly in nature. We are interested in their further steady development,” the Kremlin said in its statement.

A spaceport is being built on a small Portuguese island in the Atlantic. Is Portugal on the verge of becoming a space nation?

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to journalists in Astana following his visit to Kazakhstan and made a series of statements regarding the special military operation, negotiations with Ukraine, the European Union and security threats facing Russia. The head of state said Moscow remains open to continuing negotiations on a settlement in Ukraine. "There are no negotiations as such at the moment, although we are ready for them. We have never refused negotiations,” the Russian leader stated.

The drone strike on a residential building in the Romanian city of Galați triggered a diplomatic dispute and renewed calls for tougher anti-Russian sanctions across Europe. The incident occurred during the night of May 29, when an unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the roof of a high-rise apartment building and sparked a fire on the 10th floor. Galați lies approximately 14 kilometers from the junction of the Romanian, Ukrainian and Moldovan borders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that experts must examine the wreckage of the drone that crashed in Romania before anyone can determine its origin. Speaking to journalists in Astana, Kazakhstan, Putin said no one can reliably identify the source of the unmanned aerial vehicle without a professional investigation. "No one can say where a particular aircraft came from until experts conduct a proper examination of that aircraft,” the Russian leader stated.

North Korea is reportedly experiencing a rapid increase in the number of private vehicles after authorities relaxed decades-old restrictions on personal car ownership. For years, the country remained known for its nearly empty roads. Some estimates suggested that North Korea had only around 30,000 vehicles nationwide — roughly one car for every 800 residents. Reports now indicate that licensed drivers can purchase one vehicle per household through state-authorized dealerships, fueling a noticeable rise in traffic congestion and parking shortages.

The Kremlin confirmed that President Vladimir Putin received a report about the drone incident in Romania, according to presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov. When asked about the briefing, Peskov replied briefly: "And how could it be otherwise?" The incident involved a drone that struck a high-rise residential building in the Romanian city of Galați, near the border with Ukraine's Odessa region.

Ethiopia’s Medemer philosophy and Russia’s collective security vision complement each other by promoting regional cooperation, strategic autonomy, and non-aggression frameworks for long-term Gulf stability. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” (Helen Keller) This article was inspired by Andrew Korybko’s earlier one titled “Ethiopia’s ‘Medemer’ Concept Would Serve The Gulf […]

Nikol Pashinyan's election platform, which presents Armenia as a "crossroads of peace,” could lead to financial collapse and a sharp fall of the dram amid conflict with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Parliamentary elections in Armenia are approaching and will take place on June 7. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has built the campaign platform of his Civil Contract party around two key ideas. Armenia intends to remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union while simultaneously continuing reforms based on European standards for as long as possible.

A budget-friendly dinner does not have to feel boring. With the right technique, ordinary cabbage transforms into a rich, flavorful dish with a restaurant-quality texture. The key lies in achieving proper browning through the Maillard reaction during frying. As the eggs set around the cabbage strands, they create a structure that stays crisp on the outside while remaining juicy inside. "The most important thing is to slice the cabbage as thinly as possible. Thick pieces will stay raw inside while the cheese burns on the outside,” cafeteria chef Lyudmila Kravtsova told Pravda.ru.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev formalized a new framework for bilateral relations by signing a document titled "On the Seven Foundations of Friendship and Good Neighborliness.” The document outlines seven core principles guiding relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. Shared history - a responsible and balanced approach to understanding the past in a spirit of good neighborliness. Eurasian integration - joint efforts to create a secure regional space for cooperation and dialogue. Common borders - development of border regions as a unified area of cooperation. Economic partnership - consistent strengthening of trade, investment ties, and major joint projects. Linguistic and cultural diversity - preservation of traditional values and civilizational closeness, with the Russian language serving a unifying role. Humanitarian cooperation - active educational exchanges, sports development, and partnership in youth policy. A shared vision for the future - continuous dialogue and coordinated efforts in response to modern global challenges. "Signing such documents in the current geopolitical environment demonstrates the predictability and stability of ties, even as neighboring countries face risks of external interference or the use of diplomatic crises as instruments of pressure,” political analyst Anton Kudryavtsev told Pravda.Ru.

In the space of five days, Xi Jinping hosted both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Beijing. Two summits, back to back, in the same capital, with the same host. The American president arrived with corporate executives and left with a strategic stability framework. The Russian president arrived days later, signed new cooperation agreements, expanded […]