ISRAEL – GAZA – UNITED STATES
Hamas says it is ready for indirect talks to resolve the “points of contention” regarding a possible truce agreement mediated by the United States. The announcement comes amid pressure from Arab representatives, who are putting pressure on the leaders of the movement that controls the Palestinian territory to accept the proposal of special US envoy Steve Witkoff. Meanwhile, Palestinian media are reporting that Israeli ground troops are advancing in Khan Younis, while new overnight air raids were reported in Gaza City. In Colorado, in the United States, at least eight people were injured when firebombs were thrown at participants in a pro-hostage rally called by the Jewish community.
CAMBODIA – THAILAND
Cambodia will file a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over a border dispute with Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Manet said today, following the death of a Cambodian soldier in a recent border clash. Tensions and sporadic violence have occurred since 2008, resulting in 28 deaths. The latest incident occurred on 28 May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a region known as the Emerald Triangle, a joint border area between Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
JAPAN
Japan’s cabinet will meet this week to address rice supply problems, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told parliament last Thursday. As dissatisfaction grows among voters ahead of the upcoming summer elections, the government released an additional 300,000 tonnes of rice last week to curb prices, which have doubled in the past year.
INDIA – PAKISTAN
Indian police have arrested scores of people for “sympathising” with Pakistan, a month into the worst row in decades between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals. The arrests took place in Assam, northeastern India, with the local Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma saying at least “81 anti-nationals” are now behind bars for “sympathising with Pakistan.” One of them was charged for posting a Pakistani flag on social media.
SAUDI ARABIA – ISLAM
Saudi authorities have barred more than 269,000 people from entering Makkah ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage for lack of the necessary permits. Riyadh blames overcrowding – and resulting deaths – on the presence of unauthorised pilgrims, as happened last year. About 1.4 million pilgrims are currently in the holy city, with more expected in the coming days.
CHINA – UNITED STATES
Beijing accuses Washington of having “severely violated” the trade truce reached last month in Geneva and announces strong measures to defend its interests, after Donald Trump made similar accusations against China. US actions ostensibly undermined the consensus reached in the phone call in January between Xi Jinping and Trump. As part of the truce, the US lowered tariffs on goods from China from 145 per cent to 30 per cent, China from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.
RUSSIA – TURKEY
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he went to Moscow to convey his thoughts and assessments on the resolution of Russia's conflict with Ukraine. For the same purpose, he went to Kyiv, where he met with his counterpart Ukrainian Andrii Sybiha in an attempt to promote shuttle diplomacy on behalf of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
KYRGHYZSTAN – SOUTH KOREA
According to Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistical Committee (Natsstatkom), customs data indicate that the trade with South Korea increased significantly between January and April 2025, to a total of US$ 865 million. This was largely due to exports of South Korean goods to Kyrgyzstan, double last year's figures (US$ 452 million).
