Reader Edition

Monday, June 1

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.

A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Type 88 surface-to-ship missile launcher fires during the Joint Task Force (JTF) Maritime Strike, part of Balikatan
Foreign PolicyMay 31, 2026

Japan Defies Beijing's Propaganda, Calls Out China's Massive Military Build-up

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi forcefully pushed back against Chinese accusations of remilitarization, pointing to the reality of China's own rapid, opaque military expansion as the true threat to regional stability.

Saturday, May 30

Marcia Lucas and her fellow Oscar winners Richard Chew and Paul Hirsch holding their golden trophies at the 1978 Academy Awards
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

Marcia Lucas, Oscar-winning editor who helped define the Star Wars legacy, dies at 80

Marcia Lucas, the Academy Award-winning editor who provided the narrative structure and emotional heart for the original Star Wars films, has died at the age of 80.

Forensic investigators examine the location of impact after a Russian drone struck an apartment building in Galati, eastern Romania
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

Russian Drone Strike Hits Romanian City, Exposing Vulnerabilities on NATO's Eastern Flank

A Russian drone attack on the Romanian city of Galati has damaged a residential building, fueling local fears and highlighting the escalating risks posed by Moscow's ongoing aggression.

Composite image showing on the left damage and debris, and on the right, a man with white hair wearing a brown top
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

Russian drone strike on Romanian soil exposes the reality of unchecked aggression

A Russian drone struck a civilian apartment complex in Romania, injuring two people and forcing local residents to confront the immediate threat posed by the ongoing war.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, May 30, 2026
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

Hegseth to Asian Allies: Stop Freeloading and Build Real Combat Power

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the Pacific while bluntly warning Asian allies that they must increase their own military spending and stop relying on American strength alone.

John Healey speaks and gestures with his hands at a podium at the US embassy, flanked by Richard Marles and Pete Hegseth. The US, UK and Australia flags are posted behind them.
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

AUKUS Alliance Accelerates Underwater Drone Program to Counter Global Threats

The AUKUS partners have launched a new underwater drone initiative to bolster maritime defense and protect vital undersea cables from increasing threats.

US President Donald Trump
Foreign PolicyMay 30, 2026

Trump Holds Firm: No Deal With Iran Without Total Nuclear Disarmament

President Trump is refusing to finalize a ceasefire framework with Iran, insisting that the regime must permanently abandon its nuclear program and clear the Strait of Hormuz before the U.S. will consider any further diplomatic progress.