Reader Edition

Monday, June 1

Boats atop the water pictured in a view of the Strait of Hormuz on a hazy day in mid-May with rock and plantation bokeh in the foreground and mountains in the background, taken from Oman on 22 May.
Foreign PolicyJune 1, 2026

U.S. Strikes Iranian Military Sites After Tehran Targets American Forces

U.S. Central Command conducted self-defense strikes against Iranian radar and command sites following a series of aggressive escalations by the IRGC, including missile attacks on U.S. forces in Kuwait.

A composite image of Zhang Linghe and the shattering glass with a crowd
Foreign PolicyJune 1, 2026

Fanaticism leads to chaos as mob shatters mall doors in China

Uncontrolled crowds in Nanning, China, caused significant property damage and injuries while attempting to catch a glimpse of a celebrity, forcing organizers to scrap the event entirely.

A South African protester in a white T-shirt reading March and March until we win holds a placard with the words: South Africa is for South Africans
ImmigrationJune 1, 2026

Nigerian Authorities Move to Quell Retaliatory Violence Amid South African Immigration Protests

The Nigerian police have issued a stern warning against reprisal attacks on South African interests following widespread protests in South Africa calling for the removal of undocumented migrants.

A charred wrecked building overlooks a dirt track on a sunny afternoon, with people standing around in the distance.
ImmigrationJune 1, 2026

Deadly Explosion Rocks Rebel-Held Myanmar Village

A massive explosion in a rebel-controlled village near the Chinese border has killed at least 46 people, exposing the dangerous reality of unregulated mining operations used to fund insurgent campaigns.

A promo image shows a damaged E-3 Sentry plane emblazoned with the words US AIR FORCE. The tail of the plane has been severed and the aircraft it surrouded by debris. The image is imposed over a satellite image showing destroyed aircraft hangars at a US base.
Foreign PolicyJune 1, 2026

Tehran's Aggression Leaves 20 U.S. Military Sites Damaged as Pentagon Downplays Threat

New satellite imagery confirms that Iranian forces have successfully struck 20 U.S. military sites across the Middle East, inflicting millions in damage to critical air defense systems and aircraft while the White House continues to project

Composite image showing Colombian presidential candidates Iván Cepeda Castro and Abelardo de la Espriella.
PoliticsJune 1, 2026

Colombia Faces Political Crossroads: Pro-Trump Conservative Challenges Socialist Status Quo

Colombian voters have propelled pro-Trump conservative Abelardo de la Espriella into a runoff against leftist senator Iván Cepeda, setting up a definitive clash over the nation's future security and economic direction.

A close-up of Meji Alabi, with beard and dreads, looking into the camera
Foreign PolicyJune 1, 2026

Grammy-Winning Director Probes Family Ties to Nigeria’s Brutal Civil War

Director Meji Alabi and his uncle Leke Alabi-Isama have produced a documentary exploring the Nigerian Civil War and the controversial military service of their relative, Godwin Alabi-Isama.

Sunday, May 31

A man stands in front of a bus with the number 5 on the front wearing sunglasses and a grey t-shirt.
Foreign PolicyMay 31, 2026

Russian Terror Tactics: Kherson Bus Drivers Targeted in Brutal Drone Campaign

Russian drone operators are systematically targeting public buses in Kherson, killing transport workers and terrorizing civilians in a clear violation of international norms.

Relatives of trapped coal mine workers are carried away from the site of a flooding accident at the coal mine, sitting astride Xiangning County of Linfen City and Hejin City of Yuncheng City, Shanxi province March 29, 2010.
Foreign PolicyMay 31, 2026

Deadly Chinese Mine Disaster Exposes Rampant Corruption and Safety Failures

A massive coal mine explosion in China's Shanxi province has left 82 dead, revealing a systemic failure of management and a culture of illegal mining practices that prioritized profit over human lives.

Donald Trump looks straight ahead with his eye narrowed. He is wearing a navy suit, white shirt and red tie with an American flag pin on his lapel. In the background is an American flag.
Foreign PolicyMay 31, 2026

Trump Demands Tougher Terms in Iran Negotiations, Refusing to Compromise on National Security

President Trump is pushing for critical amendments to a proposed ceasefire deal with Iran, signaling he will not settle for anything less than a framework that permanently prevents the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The Beaufort castle which sits atop a hill, with two flags flying from the top of the castle - an Israeli flag and what appears to be a flag of the Golani Brigade - on a sunny day in southern Lebanon on Sunday.
PoliticsMay 31, 2026

Israel Seizes Strategic Beaufort Castle as Ground Offensive Against Hezbollah Intensifies

Israeli forces have captured the strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the campaign to secure the border against Hezbollah's persistent aggression.