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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is facing a major Ebola outbreak, with local officials reporting that the death toll has reached 204. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said three volunteers are suspected to have died from Ebola, while neighboring Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases.

According to AFP, health authorities in DR Congo said three provinces have reported 204 deaths and 867 suspected cases. However, the latest figures released by the World Health Organization on the 22nd showed 177 deaths and 750 suspected cases.

The WHO has declared the highly contagious Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia are all at risk of being affected by the virus.

Ebola is a highly fatal zoonotic disease with an incubation period of around 2 to 21 days. In severe cases, patients may suffer systemic bleeding leading to organ failure and death. The virus spreads mainly through bodily fluids such as blood and vomit. Since it was first identified in 1976, several major outbreaks have occurred in DR Congo.

The Ebola virus can survive for hours on dry surfaces and for days in bodily fluids. Traditional practices in affected communities, such as washing and touching bodies during funeral rites and gathering in large mourning ceremonies, have accelerated the spread of the disease. In addition, many infected communities believe the illness is caused by “witchcraft,” prompting people to seek treatment from traditional healers instead of hospitals, delaying case reporting and complicating containment efforts. Days earlier, angry residents set fire to a hospital after learning a body would not be returned for burial, partially destroying the facility and highlighting the conflict between traditional customs and public health measures.

Countries bordering DR Congo, particularly Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, face an elevated risk of transmission. Rwanda has closed its border with DR Congo, while Uganda has urged citizens to avoid hugging and handshakes. Uganda’s president has also postponed local pilgrimage events to prevent mass gatherings.

The United States announced $13 million in emergency aid for DR Congo and Uganda and said it is considering additional funding through United Nations humanitarian programs while also implementing outbreak-related travel restrictions. The WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Authorities in DR Congo said they are relying on hard-earned experience and public health measures to confront the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak.

On May 20, the U.S. Department of Justice deliberately chose Miami’s Freedom Tower to unseal an indictment that had been approved on April 23 by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida. The indictment charges former Cuban national leader Raúl Castro, now 94 years old, for his alleged involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two American civilian aircraft that resulted in the deaths of four people on board.

The decision to unseal the indictment on May 20 — a date commemorating Cuba’s independence from Spanish rule — at both the Miami headquarters of “Brothers to the Rescue” (BTTR), the organization to which the victims belonged, and at Freedom Tower, an important landmark for Cuban exiles, symbolized an escalation of U.S. pressure on the Cuban government.

The incident occurred on February 24, 1996, when the Cuban Air Force shot down two Cessna aircraft belonging to the Miami-based humanitarian organization “Brothers to the Rescue” (BTTR) in international airspace without warning.

At the time, the aircraft were conducting search and rescue missions for Cuban refugees at sea. Castro has been charged with one count of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, four counts of murder, and two counts of destruction of aircraft. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Also indicted alongside Castro were five Cuban military pilots.

The incident resulted in the deaths of four crew members: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.

The White House also issued a statement on Cuba’s Independence Day, criticizing the current Cuban Communist leadership as a “direct betrayal” of the country’s founding ideals and reaffirming continued pressure on the government in Havana. Measures cited included recent visits to Havana by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, while President Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose an oil blockade on Cuba and pursue regime change.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized during a press conference that regardless of rank or how much time has passed, the United States will never forget its citizens, and any leader responsible for killing Americans must be held accountable.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel dismissed the U.S. move as a “political theater”, arguing that it lacked any legal basis and served only as a pretext for military aggression against Cuba. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla reiterated that Cuba’s actions at the time were based on self-defense and mocked the U.S. initiative as driven by “nostalgia for neo-colonialism”.

Although U.S. authorities have issued a warrant for Castro’s arrest, the absence of an extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States means the move is widely viewed as carrying more symbolic significance than practical effect.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a planned new wave of military strikes against Iran, originally scheduled for the 19th, has been temporarily suspended at the request of the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as “serious negotiations” are currently underway. In a post on social media, Trump stated that an agreement “acceptable to the United States” and emphasizing that “Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons” is close to being reached and would satisfy all parties. However, he also warned that if negotiations collapse, the U.S. military stands ready to launch a large-scale, full-scale attack at any time. Iran has not publicly responded.

According to foreign media reports, Iran currently maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and is coordinating with Washington through Pakistan. Iranian media indicated that Tehran has proposed conditions including a comprehensive ceasefire, the lifting of the U.S. blockade, guarantees against future attacks, war reparations, and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Reports also suggest that the United States has requested that Iran retain only one nuclear facility and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States. Trump had previously indicated that he might accept Iran suspending its nuclear program for 20 years instead of permanently terminating it.

Meanwhile, Trump is facing growing domestic political pressure. According to the latest poll conducted by *The New York Times* and Siena College, as many as 64% of respondents believe that going to war with Iran was the wrong decision, while Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 37%.

According to a report by NBC News citing two U.S. officials, ceasefire negotiations with Iran have collapsed, and President Donald Trump is preparing to resume large-scale military operations. At the same time, the military is reportedly considering renaming the war against Iran as “Operation Sledgehammer.” The administration may also seek to restart the 60-day military engagement period under U.S. law that requires congressional authorization for combat operations.

The United States and Israel jointly launched a major military campaign against Iran on February 28. Last month, Washington suspended the airstrike campaign known as “Operation Epic Fury” and instead shifted to a strategy focused on blockading Iranian ports to increase pressure. Iran responded by stating that it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz unless Washington ended the blockade.

If the ongoing diplomatic negotiations fail to produce a permanent resolution, the United States is highly likely to resume and expand military operations against Iran. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, “We have escalation plans if necessary.” He also acknowledged that the White House has another contingency plan involving the complete withdrawal of more than 50,000 American personnel from the Middle East.

Two Middle Eastern officials told The New York Times that Israel and the United States are conducting intensive preparations for renewed attacks on Iran. According to officials cited by the newspaper, options for restarting military and infrastructure operations against Iran include bombing strategic sites, seizing Kharg Island — Iran’s main oil export hub in the Persian Gulf — and deploying special operations forces into Iran to remove nuclear materials buried beneath previously bombed ruins.

Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of initiating military action and obtain authorization, or otherwise withdraw forces within 60 days. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that “Operation Epic Fury” had concluded. Observers believe that if military action resumes, President Donald Trump may adopt a different operation name to avoid domestic legal challenges and congressional backlash.

The UK’s Financial Times reported that Saudi Arabia, while consulting with its Gulf allies on how to address the regional situation after the end of the war with Iran, discussed the idea of Gulf countries signing a non-aggression pact with Iran.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking to model the proposal on the “Helsinki Accords” signed during the Cold War in the 1970s between the United States, Western European nations, and the then-Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries. Riyadh hopes that a non-aggression pact with Iran could ease tensions in the Middle East and promote deeper economic cooperation between rival powers.

Countries across the Middle East currently expect that post-war Iran, although weakened, will still pose a threat to its neighbors. Gulf states are particularly concerned that once the conflict ends and the United States reduces its military presence in the region, they may be left to confront an even more hawkish Islamic regime on their doorstep.

Diplomatic sources revealed that many European countries, as well as the European Union, support Saudi Arabia’s proposal and are urging other Gulf nations to follow suit, viewing it as the best way to prevent future conflicts. However, the non-aggression pact is only one of several ideas currently under consideration.

At the same time, divisions remain within the Arab world, especially with the United Arab Emirates, which in recent years has frequently clashed with Saudi Arabia. Besides economic rivalry, Saudi Arabia and the UAE also hold sharply different visions for the region’s future. The UAE has consistently been the Gulf country most strongly advocating a hardline stance against Iran and has criticized the Arab world for failing to respond more forcefully to Tehran. Whether the UAE would be willing to join such an arrangement remains highly uncertain.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the 14th, marking Trump’s first visit to China as a sitting U.S. president since 2017. The talks lasted approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, exceeding original expectations. During the meeting, Trump praised Xi as “a great leader” and said U.S.-China relations could become “the best in history.” Xi, meanwhile, stressed that the world is facing “changes unseen in a century” and said both countries should work together to overcome the “Thucydides Trap” and avoid conflict between major powers. The summit is widely seen as a crucial turning point in stabilizing U.S.-China relations, signaling efforts by both sides to establish a new framework for managing competition and preventing further geopolitical deterioration.

During the talks, Xi proposed the concept of a “constructive strategic stability relationship between China and the United States,” emphasizing that bilateral interactions over the next three years should promote cooperation while maintaining manageable competition despite differences. On economic and trade issues, a “star-studded delegation” of 17 top global business executives — including Elon Musk of Tesla, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, and Tim Cook of Apple — discussed establishing a new trade mechanism aimed at reducing the trade imbalance and expanding Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, Boeing aircraft, and energy products. Business leaders attending the summit expressed positive views of the discussions, with Musk describing the dialogue as “excellent.”

“The Taiwan issue is the most important issue in U.S.-China relations,” Xi declared firmly during the meeting, reiterating that “Taiwan independence” is fundamentally incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait and urging Washington to handle the matter with extreme caution. Trump, meanwhile, hoped Beijing would use its influence over Tehran to help broker a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. When repeatedly asked by reporters afterward whether Taiwan had been discussed during the summit, Trump deliberately shifted the topic, simply responding that “the talks were great” and that “China is beautiful.”

After the meeting, Trump and Xi visited the Temple of Heaven together, making Trump the first sitting U.S. president in 50 years to tour the historic site. On the evening of the 14th, Trump is scheduled to attend a grand state banquet at the Great Hall of the People. Further tea discussions and a working lunch are expected on the morning of the 15th as both sides continue efforts to implement the preliminary consensus reached during the summit.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on the 11th that Ukraine’s battlefield-tested drone expertise has become a key driver of diplomatic breakthroughs. Nearly 20 countries around the world have expressed interest in cooperation, with four formal agreements already signed and the first contracts now being prepared for implementation. This “drone diplomacy” initiative has not only strengthened defense cooperation, but also helped Ukraine secure critical energy supplies and agricultural export markets.

According to foreign media reports, since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict in late February this year, Zelenskyy has actively traveled across the Middle East and Europe, leveraging drone technology to secure a number of diplomatic and military agreements. By the end of March, Ukraine had established long-term security partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In April, Ukraine also signed defense agreements with Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands. In addition, last month Ukraine reached agreements on energy and defense cooperation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

In a post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy stated that through these diplomatic agreements, Ukraine has already begun receiving the fuel supplies necessary for its energy security. He also revealed that Ukraine is preparing to launch a new security cooperation framework with other regions of the world. Although he did not specify which regions would be involved, Ukraine’s drone technology has clearly elevated the country’s strategic importance on the global stage.

Hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East have once again been overshadowed by rising tensions. On the 11th, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he had rejected Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, calling the contents “completely unacceptable.” He also warned that the already fragile ceasefire agreement could collapse further. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Trump had allowed maximum room for diplomatic mediation, but if negotiations fail, the United States is prepared to return to the battlefield. Iran responded defiantly, saying its military is fully prepared to defend its nuclear facilities and does not rule out opening new fronts in the conflict.

As the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran entered its 73rd day, the United States and the United Kingdom simultaneously imposed new sanctions on Iranian-linked individuals and entities accused of helping export Iranian oil to China. Trump stated that, in pursuit of “total victory” in the war, he is considering restarting “Project Freedom” to resume naval escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, he announced plans to temporarily suspend the federal gasoline tax to ease public frustration over soaring energy prices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the war is not over and insisted that Iran must still remove its enriched uranium stockpiles and dismantle related facilities.

In response to U.S. warnings, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond to any aggression and warned that if Britain or France deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will retaliate immediately. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also threatened to target U.S. positions in the Middle East if oil tankers come under attack. As warfare and shipping risks intensified, international oil prices surged, with Brent crude rising above $104 per barrel. The United Nations expressed concern that continued disruption of this critical waterway could trigger a large-scale humanitarian and food crisis, placing simultaneous pressure on both the Middle East and the global economy.

According to a Reuters report, the cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced an outbreak of the Hantavirus, arrived early on the morning of the 10th at Tenerife in the Canary Islands to begin passenger evacuation operations. Spanish officials stated that none of the passengers onboard are currently showing symptoms of infection. All passengers will first undergo testing, and after being confirmed asymptomatic, they will be transported ashore in small groups by boat. They will then board dedicated quarantine shuttle buses to the airport before taking charter flights back to their respective countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

There are approximately 150 people aboard the MV Hondius. So far, six confirmed cases of Hantavirus infection have been reported, including three deaths, while two additional suspected cases are under investigation. Spanish authorities arranged for Spanish nationals to disembark first, with passengers of other nationalities evacuated afterward. All individuals involved in the operation are required to wear FFP2 masks throughout the process. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that everyone onboard is considered a “high-risk contact” and recommended a 42-day period of active health monitoring. Meanwhile, around 30 crew members will remain onboard as the ship continues to the Netherlands for decontamination procedures.

Due to concerns over the outbreak, residents of Tenerife have been protesting the ship’s arrival since the 8th, chanting slogans such as “We want tourism, not viruses.” In response, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that the evacuation operation poses an extremely low risk to the public. He stressed that passengers would be completely isolated from local residents, saying, “You will not encounter them.” Tedros also explained that Tenerife was chosen because of its strong medical capabilities, infrastructure, and humanitarian capacity, and said he would personally oversee the entire evacuation process.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview on the 6th that it is highly possible the United States could reach a ceasefire agreement with Iran before his visit to China next week. The two sides are currently discussing a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at ending the conflict. While the contents of the MOU have not been disclosed, it reportedly covers three core issues: restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, and Iran’s commitment to limiting its nuclear program. Trump particularly emphasized that one key condition would involve the United States obtaining highly enriched uranium from Iran. He also warned once again that if negotiations collapse, the U.S. military would resume even more aggressive bombing operations.

Trump is expected to travel to China on the 14th and 15th for a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump is eager to end the war before the summit. If no agreement is reached beforehand, he would likely seek Beijing’s assistance in mediating with Iran. Such a scenario could potentially force concessions from Washington on issues including Taiwan, high-tech supply chains, and trade imbalances. Therefore, resolving the Iran issue beforehand would allow Trump to avoid meeting Xi Jinping from what critics describe as the position of a “petitioner.”

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made an unexpected visit to Beijing on the 6th and held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Iran stated that it is reviewing the U.S. proposal with assistance from China and countries such as Pakistan. Wang Yi noted that the current situation stands at a critical turning point “from war to peace.” He added that China is highly concerned about the reopening of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and reiterated Beijing’s support for resolving disputes peacefully through diplomatic negotiations.

The international community continues to hope for a final settlement between the United States and Iran, seeking an agreement that could end a conflict which has severely impacted global energy markets and international trade. Whether Trump can successfully secure both peace in the Middle East and stability across the Taiwan Strait during his 36-hour visit may become one of the most significant turning points in the global political and economic landscape in 2026.