Hannah Neumann, a German member of the European Parliament, has renewed her opposition to possible talks between the European Union and the Taliban in Brussels, saying any such engagement would undermine the bloc’s credibility and help legitimize the Taliban. “The EU must not invite the Taliban to talks in Brussels. Because anyone who sacrifices foreign policy principles for deportation deals […]

Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said that relying on assurances from the Taliban would be “dangerous,” citing what he described as repeated contradictions between their statements and their actions. In an interview with Pakistan’s Geo News, Asif said Taliban officials had made commitments to address security concerns but had been unwilling to formalize those pledges in writing. “Trusting them is […]

Toplines North Korea is developing systems intended to improve its conventional artillery capabilities while dispersing its nuclear armament across hybrid platforms. Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) General Secretary Kim Jong Un observed the first live-fire test of a modular missile launcher and a tactical cruise missile launcher on May 26.[1] The modular missile launcher resembles the US’s High Mobility Artillery […]

In May, Xi Jinping received a rare and undoubtedly pleasant opportunity to be at the center of world politics. One by one, it was visited by the leaders of the United States and Russia. Such summits always attract attention, especially when they practically merge together. On May 14, Trump arrived in Beijing first accompanied by a ent for billionaires and […]

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a prominent Pakistani opposition leader, has called on Pashtuns in Pakistan to obtain Afghan identity cards, a proposal that has drawn criticism from Afghan politicians and former officials. Achakzai, leader of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and a senior opposition figure in Pakistan, argued that because millions of Pakistanis hold dual citizenship with countries such as Canada […]

China’s Ministry of Public Security is often portrayed as a domestic law enforcement agency, but it is also a global security actor. This paper explores how MPS has used international law enforcement and security cooperation agreements—over 200 since 2006—to advance China’s vision of security in a changing global environment. IntroductionThe Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is the main domestic law […]

Newly released files raise further questions about how senior SAS officers handled allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan An initial internal review into reports of war crimes committed by SAS soldiers in Afghanistan was dismissed in just one day, newly declassified documents have revealed. The file provides further evidence that senior special forces officers willfully ignored persistent reports that elite […]

Punjab’s Urban Verdict The results of Punjab’s Municipal Corporation (MC), Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections, declared on May 29, 2026, delivered a decisive victory to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), reinforcing its dominance in urban Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The outcome is significant given the challenges facing the party, including the defection of seven Rajya […]

In May, Xi Jinping received a rare and undoubtedly pleasant opportunity to be at the center of world politics. One by one, it was visited by the leaders of the United States and Russia. Such summits always attract attention, especially when they practically merge together. On May 14, Trump arrived in Beijing first accompanied by a ent for billionaires and […]

Toplines The PRC has not blocked Taiwanese government officials, including Minister Without Portfolio Yang Jen-ni, from participating in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in the PRC, despite its general policy against Taiwanese officials participating in international forums. Taiwan sent Yang, who is also the head of the Taiwan Office of Trade Negotiations, to Suzhou to attend an APEC ministerial meeting […]