The UN body charged with maintaining international peace and security
Ten years after Brexit, Europe has moved on while the UK contends with its legacy. EU states see Britain as an ex-partner navigating a changed landscape; the UK faces ongoing questions about economic model, immigration rules, and future ties. Readers are guided through how this shift shapes politics and daily life.
Saudi Arabia has urged the US to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran's allies, including the Houthi rebels, could close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital alternative shipping route. The UAE is lobbying the UN for a military resolution to reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating Iranian attacks. Oil prices remain elevated as regional tensions disrupt key maritime trade routes.
Multiple senior Iranian military figures, including IRGC commanders, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past days. The strikes targeted Iran's naval and intelligence leadership, with Iran confirming the deaths of Alireza Tangsiri and others. The conflict has escalated with missile attacks and infrastructure damage across the region.
The UN Security Council has failed to pass a Bahrain-sponsored resolution that authorizes defensive measures to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Russia and China vetoed the resolution despite 11 votes in favor. The resolution aimed to ensure safe navigation amid Iran's blockade, which has disrupted global oil supplies and raised energy prices.
The UN reports a surge in violence against humanitarian workers from 2023 to 2025, with over 1,010 killed globally. Despite resolutions calling for protection, aid staff face restrictions, detention, and targeted attacks, highlighting a collapse in international safeguards during ongoing conflicts.
Multiple countries have expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian and security situation in Lebanon. Israel has intensified air and ground operations following Hezbollah missile attacks, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and 1.2 million displaced. UN peacekeepers have been killed, prompting calls for increased protection and a ceasefire.
On April 10-11, 2026, Mali's transitional government withdrew recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This move aligns Mali with Morocco and the US-backed UN Security Council resolution, deepening regional divides with Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front seeking independence for Western Sahara.
Security efforts in Haiti have slowed gang advances but remain fragile, with gangs adapting to drone strikes and expanding into remote areas. Meanwhile, Kenya faces rising politically linked gangs targeting leaders and disrupting public order, prompting urgent calls for legislative action and security reforms.
Venezuelan opposition leader Machado has visited Spain, meeting with opposition figures and avoiding talks with the government. She has received a warm welcome from conservative leaders, highlighting divisions within Venezuelan politics and contrasting her approach with that of the Spanish government, which emphasizes democratic sovereignty.
The IPC analysis shows 1.24 million Lebanese face food insecurity at crisis levels due to renewed conflict, displacement, and soaring prices. The war between Israel and Hezbollah has displaced over 1.2 million, damaged farmland, and pushed farming costs higher, threatening agricultural livelihoods and livelihoods alike.
The United Nations Security Council is considering a US- and Gulf-backed draft resolution that would require Iran to halt attacks on shipping and to cooperate with a humanitarian corridor through the Strait of Hormuz. The measure, drafted under Chapter VII, could impose sanctions and potentially enable force if Tehran fails to comply. Talks are underway at the UN as a four-week truce strains amid renewed tensions.
UN Security Council talks are examining a US-backed draft resolution with Gulf partners that could sanction Iran and authorise force if Tehran does not halt attacks and threats to the Strait of Hormuz, amid a broader push to restore safe navigation and humanitarian corridors.
France and Algeria have stepped toward a diplomatic thaw as senior envoys return and talks on security, migration and judicial cooperation resume. The focus remains on Christophe Gleizes, a French sports journalist jailed in Algeria on terror charges, who has withdrawn his appeal in hopes of a presidential pardon.
The U.N. Security Council is considering a U.S.-backed Bahrain-led resolution on Iran's attacks and mine actions in the Strait of Hormuz. China and Russia are likely to veto, while talks of a temporary halt in hostilities surface amid ongoing diplomacy.
EU foreign ministers are discussing the idea of engaging directly with Russia to end the Ukraine war, with Kyiv urging Europe to take a strong role. Names floated for a potential EU envoy include Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi, and Sauli Niinistö, though Brussels remains cautious about impartiality amid stalled US-led negotiations.
Nickolay Mladenov has told the UN Security Council that implementation of the US-led Board of Peace Gaza roadmap has stalled because Hamas has refused to disarm and Israel is maintaining control of roughly 60% of Gaza. Daily strikes and constrained aid are persisting, reconstruction finance is drying up, and diplomacy is not completing the transition to the second phase.
Israeli forces have intensified incursions and shelling along the Syria-Israel border, particularly in Quneitra and Daraa, with tanks, vehicles, and artillery movements repeatedly reported. Local residents describe growing fears over the safety of farmland and civilian lives as operations appear to be expanding in scope.
Since January, the US‑led Board of Peace for Gaza has received pledges totalling billions but has had virtually no funds transferred into its World Bank‑administered account; donors are instead routing money into a JPMorgan account with limited transparency, and only a small share of pledged aid has reached Gaza as fighting and political disputes continue. (28 May 2026)
Ukrainian drone strikes and falling drone debris have caused fires at multiple Russian oil facilities this month, including an oil terminal in Novorossiysk that has wounded two people and reported damage at Taganrog and Armavir. Kyiv has been carrying out long-range strikes to disrupt Russian oil exports and revenues.
The Board of Peace has warned that the Gaza ceasefire’s second phase hinges on Hamas’s disarmament and a civilian transition, with Israel’s obligations and humanitarian access under scrutiny. Mladenov has urged action to prevent a permanently divided Gaza, while Hamas rebuffs accusations and calls for entry of a technocratic administration.
Ukraine reports renewed Russian strikes and warns of further escalation; Zelenskiy calls for air-defence support and sanctions while Russia cites drone and missile activity. Multiple attacks have left casualties and raised international concern over potential retaliation and broader escalation.
The latest reporting shows ongoing antagonism in the Middle East, with Hamas casualties and suspected Israeli strikes in Gaza City, while Lebanon reports fatalities from Israeli strikes in the south. The UAE has confirmed drone attacks originating from Iraq and a fire at its nuclear facility has been attributed to such actions. US diplomatic and military positioning indicates a fragile ceasefire amid ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Germany has failed to win a rotating United Nations Security Council seat, scoring 104 votes against Portugal's 134 and Austria's 131 in the General Assembly vote on 3–4 June 2026. The result is prompting sharp criticism at home and government statements that Russia and Germany's positions on Ukraine and Israel have cost votes.
Ukrainian forces have retaken territory along the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, with May gains marking a shift in momentum. Kyiv cites drone strikes and rear-area pressure as key factors, while Russia faces intensified counterattacks and logistical disruptions. International diplomacy continues, with calls for ceasefire talks and humanitarian safeguards.
Colombia’s president has sparked international backlash by posting the Nazi slogan “Heil Hitler,” drawing condemnations from Israeli leaders and Latin American lawmakers. The remarks have intensified scrutiny ahead of the June 21 runoff, with critics warning against references that distort Holocaust memory and destabilize democratic debate.
Amid rising settlement expansion in the West Bank, Israeli policy advances 69 new settlements with a total plan value of $388m, while a parallel UN-backed and Amnesty reports allege state-backed displacement of Palestinians. Western powers impose coordinated sanctions targeting settler networks; human rights groups call for broader accountability as violence intensifies.
Norway plans a legislative package to ban trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The bill also targets real estate and commercial activity linked to settlements, with consultations running for three months.
The memorandum of understanding on ending the war has been signed in Switzerland and will see the Strait of Hormuz reopen to commercial traffic. Negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions will follow in a 60‑day window, with promises to lift sanctions and unfreeze assets. Officials say the immediate end to hostilities includes Lebanon, and reconstruction plans will be developed.
The Israeli government has announced that planning and construction powers in the H2 zone of Hebron will be transferred to Israeli authorities, while Palestinian and international actors condemn the move as unilateral and damaging to potential peace. The Hebron Protocol's status is invoked as a reference point in escalating tensions across the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The UN Secretary-General has visited Port-au-Prince amid gang violence, with UN figures showing 2,300 killed, 1.5 million displaced, and 300,000 in Port-au-Prince. The new Gang Suppression Force is to start operations with multinational troops to support Haiti’s police and armed forces. Prime Minister Didier-Fils-Aimé emphasizes elections and republican rule as security remains paramount.
The UK has pushed for a closer relationship with the EU, while not rejoining the bloc, as leaders discuss a second summit and a youth mobility scheme. Prominent Labour figures have signalled varying openness to rejoining the EU, though the party remains committed to not re-entering the single market or freedom of movement.
The text of a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding has been released, outlining an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, respect for sovereignty, a 60-day window to reach a final agreement, and steps to restore trade, sanctions, and economic plans. Drafts from multiple outlets show near-identical provisions, with negotiations urged within the 60-day limit.
Across Gaza, the IDF has eliminated multiple Hamas and PIJ operatives accused of orchestrating attacks and rebuilding military capabilities. The ceasefire period has seen renewed strikes with casualties on both sides; the latest operations include the elimination of a Nukhba commander and other senior figures, while border incidents and rocket launchers are addressed.
Ukraine has warned it may recalibrate its ceasefire offer if the UN Security Council delays a resolution calling for a full, unconditional end to hostilities. Kyiv says Russia’s war effort has faced disruptions, as strikes and drone attacks target both military and civilian sites. The war remains unresolved as Ukraine signals potential direct talks may resume, while international support and Russian responses continue to evolve.
The RSF is expanding its presence around El-Obeid, raising alarm of potential offensives. The UN and other bodies warn of atrocity risks while drone strikes disrupt civilian life and humanitarian access.
DOZENS OF NGOs have called on the UN Human Rights Council to act urgently to prevent atrocities around El-Obeid, Sudan, where RSF encirclement and siege-like conditions threaten civilians amid rising violence. The letter urges a debate, a UN fact-finding mission, and accountability for all violations, warning of a potential ground offensive and a repeat of El-Fasher’s atrocities.
The United States has struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities and coastal radar sites in response to an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reports strikes on a pier area in Sirik, while Bahrain condemns the actions as threats to regional stability. Israel and Lebanon sign a framework to end fighting with Hezbollah, though details remain unclear.