General Briefs
-
EU Migration Pact to be Enforced
Learn about the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. It will be enforced on June 12, 2026, after a two year long implementation period. The pact is a set of ten interrelated EU laws which span the whole range of migration policy.
-
Colombia’s Runoff Becomes a Fight Over Fear and the Future
Colombia’s heated presidential election headed to a runoff on Sunday, preliminary official results displayed. On June 21, Right-wing lawyer Abelardo De La Espriella will face left-wing candidate Ivan Cepeda.
-
Ebola Spreads Faster Than The Congo Can Respond
The Ebola outbreak has deeply impacted the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the Bundibugyo strain, a fatal virus with no approved treatment, continues to rapidly spread.
-
Electricity Costs Continue to Rise for U.S. Consumers, Here’s Why
As electricity costs increase and American households struggle to keep up, policymakers have explored multiple reforms to address global conflicts, local policies, and the structure of energy corporations.
-
Russia Begins New Wave of Attacks with Fatal Strikes on Ukrainian Cities
The Russo-Ukrainian War has driven global tensions and created a humanitarian crisis. Russia now occupies 20% of Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin has escalated the war by launching one of his most dangerous offenses yet.
-
China Overhauls Hukou System, Helping Integrate Migrant Workers
On Friday, May 22, China’s State Council announced a major change to their notorious household registration system, known as hukou (“hoo-koh”), allowing migrant workers to access social insurance in the cities where they work for the first time.
-
Iran Deal Nears as Global Stakes Rise
Negotiations between the United States and Iran appear closer to a breakthrough than at any point since the war began. Officials from Washington and Tehran have both signaled progress while warning that diplomacy remains fragile.
-
A Transatlantic Collapse: NATO’s Rift Fully Explained
President Trump’s relationship with personal business (both socially and financially) has long been defined as transactional and self-centric. That mentality has bled into foreign policy.
-
The Collapse of Latvia
The sudden fall of the Latvian government is sending ripples throughout the Balkan region. The firing of the Defense Minister led to a political fallout.
-
The Late Show’s Last Act
Since 1993, the CBS News network has hosted The Late Show, originally with David Letterman. After 11 years of comedy and satire, Stephen Colbert gave his final show on May 21, 2026, after CBS chose to cancel The Late Show.
-
Elon Musk Loses OpenAI Lawsuit
On May 18, Elon Musk lost his lawsuit against OpenAI, marking a major turning point in the debate over AI governance and dealing a significant blow to his effort to reshape the company’s direction.
-
Inside Trump’s $1.8 Billion DOJ Payout Fund
The Donald Trump administration’s Department of Justice announced the creation of a nearly $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” (often rounded to $1.8 billion). The fund is designed to compensate people who claim they were unfairly targeted.
-
Outbreak After Outbreak: Global Health Authorities Respond
On May 2, 2026, passengers aboard the MV Hondius, a cruise ship traveling across the Atlantic, reported an unidentified respiratory infection. After the death of a passenger, the WHO identified the deadly infection as the Andes strain of Hantavirus.
-
The Trump-Xi Summit: The Global Standstill
On May 14 2026, Donald Trump met with Xi Jinping in Beijing for a major summit centered on trade policy, tariffs, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and the future of US-China economic relations.
-
From Screen to State: Vijay’s Rise to Power
In the early morning hours of May 10, Tamil film star Joseph C. “Thalapathy” Vijay was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a monumental shift away from the two-party dominance that had controlled Tamil Nadu politics for nearly six decades.
-
The Complex Picture of Chip Smuggling
Unfortunately for China hawks in the U.S. government, China’s demand for AI chips has been so high that the chip smuggling industry thrived in 2026. Recent DOJ investigations reveal the nature of some of these schemes.
-
Trump’s Summer Surge: National Guard to Bolster D.C. Presence
The President has ordered troops to major cities around the nation in his attempt to “crack down on crime.” One of the cities that has received the most attention in this regard is the President’s own backyard: Washington, D.C.
-
The World’s Sixth Mass Extinction
This specific sixth mass extinction is caused by anthropogenic sources instead of natural cycles or events. Scientists estimate that the world is currently experiencing approximately 50,000 species extinctions annually.
-
Why Did the UAE Leave OPEC?
On April 28, the UAE announced that it would be leaving OPEC after 59 years in the group. OPEC will be left weakened, losing 15% of its oil exporting capacity and the world’s 8th largest oil producer.
-
Reform UK’s Historic Election Surge Reshapes British Politics
On May 7, the United Kingdom held local elections across 136 English councils. The results were devastating for the two parties that have dominated British politics for over a century.
-
Iran’s War Shakes the U.S. Housing Market
For the second week in a row, borrowing costs for American homebuyers have climbed, and experts say relief is not coming anytime soon. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.37% this week.