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• Tehran has suspended negotiations with the United States, citing recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon as the primary reason for the breakdown. • The escalation threatens to reignite direct military exchanges and risks destabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane.

• China's defense minister, Dong Jun, was absent from this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, yet the nation remained the central focus of the security discussions. • The event highlighted ongoing regional tensions, with participants addressing China's influence and strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific.

• French philosopher, sociologist, and former Resistance fighter Edgar Morin has passed away at the age of 105, having lived from 1921 to 2026. • A pioneer of "complex thought," Morin's intellectual work reshaped modern approaches to education, knowledge, and human understanding across global platforms.

• China is promoting its Global Security Initiative (GSI) to reduce international confrontation and foster security cooperation through dialogue and diplomacy. • The GSI has been implemented via mediation efforts, peace talks, counterterrorism cooperation, and support for UN-centered multilateralism.

• Iranian state media announced that talks with the U.S. have halted and warned that "other fronts" are opening, including potential attacks on key waterways. • This escalation follows statements from Donald Trump suggesting the Iranian regime "really wants to make a deal" to resolve ongoing tensions.

• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli army to expand its military invasion of Lebanon as of Sunday, May 31, 2026. • The escalation is part of a broader conflict involving a war between Israel, the United States, and Iran.

• The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to war in the Middle East has triggered significant negative consequences for the global economy. • The crisis has highlighted critical structural vulnerabilities and the extreme sensitivity of international trade to disruptions in this strategic maritime corridor.

• Middle Eastern states are increasingly utilizing digital diplomacy—including strategic communication and online narratives—to project soft power and manage national images on a global scale. • These digital tools allow governments to bypass traditional media to engage directly with international audiences, manage crises, and connect with their respective diasporas.

• The article highlights a contradiction between the rise of nationalist rhetoric among global politicians and the actual public desire for international cooperation. • It argues that global solidarity remains remarkably popular among citizens, despite political efforts to belittle foreign alliances and promote isolationism.

• Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on Sunday that Tehran will refuse any deal with the United States until the rights of the Iranian people are fully secured. • Separately, official Berri highlighted that the primary obstacle to a ceasefire is not the resistance's position, but the ongoing Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Revelations appear in second tranche of released files about Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassadorPeter Mandelson was receiving sensitive security briefings about the Foreign Office’s work, and was in discussions with the head of MI6, before he had completed the developed vetting process, newly released documents reveal.Declassified emails show the ambassador designate and Richard Moore, the former chief of MI6 – a role known as “C” – had agreed to meet in early January 2025 before Mandelson went to Washington. Continue reading...

Social Democratic leader secures third consecutive term as prime minister amid crisis in ties with Donald Trump over GreenlandDenmark’s Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen said on Monday she has agreed to form a centre-left coalition government, maintaining her grip on power amid a crisis in ties with Donald Trump over Greenland.The deal to form a minority cabinet gives Frederiksen a third consecutive term as prime minister, ending months of uncertainty after a March election in which 12 parties won seats in the Danish parliament. Continue reading...