Council on Foreign Relations

A rare Ebola strain is rapidly spreading through Central and East Africa, challenging local public health authorities and raising concerns about global health security.

The US is leading the response to a Venezuela earthquake with $300 million in humanitarian aid, following two massive quakes that killed over 1,700 people and left 50,000 missing. The Trump administration pledged $150 million within 24 hours and deployed four search-and-rescue teams and military personnel.

Deadly earthquakes in Venezuela, described as the strongest in a century, are testing the Trump administration’s disaster relief response after dismantling USAID. President Trump pledged U.S. support, signaling a potential diplomatic realignment with Venezuela and highlighting Washington’s role in aiding the country’s post-Maduro transition.

MSCI will decide on June 23 whether to downgrade Indonesia to a frontier market, risking $13 billion in capital outflows. The potential downgrade follows concerns about ownership data opacity and market activity, contributing to a 28% decline in the Jakarta Composite Index in 2026. Investor concerns include policies under President Prabowo Subianto, such as fiscal strain and increased state economic control.

Ethiopia's recent elections saw a landslide victory, but the country faces significant internal instability and deteriorating foreign relations.

President Trump and Iran announced a peace deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program, but Iran has not yet made concrete commitments like dismantling nuclear sites or accepting inspections. The agreement's success remains uncertain, with U.S. officials acknowledging it may take time to finalize details and verify Iran's compliance.

Washington and Tehran are exploring a new nuclear agreement that differs from the 2015 Obama-era JCPOA, with a focus on extending a ceasefire and deferring complex nuclear issues. Experts emphasize the importance of verification, inspections, and compromise, while contrasting the new framework with the JCPOA's strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear program.

US President Donald Trump will meet Middle Eastern leaders and attend a working session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the G7 summit. No bilateral meetings with Zelensky or Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are planned, though Trump may meet Zelensky on the sidelines. The summit will address economic growth, supply chain resilience, and other global issues.

A US public health expert warns the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda could surpass the 2014 crisis, with over 900 suspected cases and 223 deaths reported. Stephanie Psaki attributes the crisis to reduced US-backed aid programs and detection failures, while the State Department defends its response strategy. The CDC has initiated airport screenings for travelers from affected regions.

Cuba continues to face an energy crisis with no relief in sight, despite the U.S. indictment of former leader Raúl Castro. International affairs experts are analyzing the lack of connection between the legal action and improvements to the island's ongoing power situation.

The US has begun a blockade of oil tankers to Cuba, worsening the country's energy crisis. Roxanna Vigil provides analysis on the situation. The blockade exacerbates an ongoing energy crisis in Cuba.

US and China released conflicting readouts following their leaders' meeting, with the White House emphasizing Chinese investment and Iran's nuclear program while Beijing focused on Taiwan concerns. The divergence in priorities highlights fundamental diplomatic differences and suggests the summit is unlikely to significantly alter the long-term US-China relationship.

President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade, artificial intelligence, and Taiwan. The summit aims to stabilize the US-China relationship without giving ground on deeper strategic disputes. Trump seeks new economic agreements, while Xi prioritizes strategic patience.

US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with China's reception expected to be warm and ceremonial. The visit comes at a restless moment for the world, with concerns about war, trade, and artificial intelligence. The meeting is seen as an opportunity for China to negotiate from a position of strength.

President Trump is attending a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss trade and AI. The summit is expected to focus heavily on these topics. Chris McGuire from the Council on Foreign Relations will provide analysis.

The biotech and pharma industries are being destroyed by their own leaders as China gains ground in innovation and drug development, with global pharmaceutical companies spending over $137 billion on licensed drug assets from China in 2025. The US is heavily dependent on China for generic medications, with an estimated 60-90% of active ingredients originating from China. This rise to dominance has occurred in just three years.

Mira Rapp-Hooper joined RFA's board in April 2026. She is a national security and Asia strategy expert currently partnering at The Asia Group and serving as a visiting fellow at Brookings Institute. She has held senior government positions including roles at the White House National Security Council.

Cole Allen, a 31-year-old California man, faces an attempted assassination charge for allegedly targeting President Trump and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman and Bruce Hoffman, a counterterrorism expert, provide further analysis on the case.

The article discusses China's perspective on the stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations in the Middle East, as analyzed by Zongyuan Zoe Liu of the Council on Foreign Relations. It highlights how China is positioning itself amid the crisis through expert insights.

The article discusses China's perspective on the stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations in the Middle East, as analyzed by CFR senior fellow Zongyuan Zoe Liu during an NPR interview. Liu provides insights into how China views the regional crisis and potential implications for global diplomacy.

President Donald Trump has used naval blockades to pressure Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, but Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and its military capabilities create a more complex scenario. Experts debate the effectiveness of these blockades, noting that Iran's strategic leverage and economic risks to the global economy, including U.S. gas prices, may force a resolution.

The Iran war's energy disruptions are pushing Asian and African nations to expand nuclear power generation, with countries like Bangladesh, Kenya, and South Korea accelerating projects. Existing nuclear plants are increasing output, while non-nuclear countries are fast-tracking long-term atomic energy plans to mitigate future fossil fuel shocks.

Global stock markets showed resilience as oil prices declined following Israel's agreement to direct talks with Lebanon, signaling optimism about a potential US ceasefire deal. The US and Iran prepared for peace talks in Pakistan amid unresolved issues like Israel's Lebanon offensive and Hormuz access. Israeli PM Netanyahu agreed to disarm Hezbollah, while Trump urged scaled-back strikes to support negotiations with Iran. Ed Fishman discussed the economic implications of these geopolitical developments.