Ukraine-Russia War Intensifies as Peace Talks LoomOn the eve of scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, both Ukraine and Russia escalated their conflict dramatically. Ukraine launched one of its most ambitious operations yet, targeting Russian nuclear-capable bombers at air bases deep in Siberia—over 4,300 km from the front lines. Ukrainian intelligence officials detailed a covert plan to hide explosive-laden drones inside wooden sheds, which were then transported by truck to the perimeter of the bases before the drones were remotely launched. At least 41 Russian warplanes were reportedly hit, and Russian authorities confirmed fires at airfields in Murmansk and Irkutsk. Meanwhile, Russia responded with its largest drone attack of the war—472 drones launched overnight—alongside missile strikes and advances in Ukraine’s Sumy region, claiming to have seized 450 square km of Ukrainian territory in MayDiplomatic Tensions and Security Shifts in AsiaAt the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged European allies to focus on European security rather than Asian defense, as the U.S. sought to concentrate its efforts on countering China. European leaders, however, resisted these calls, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global security and highlighting their long-standing economic and military ties to Asia. China, absent from high-level participation, accused Hegseth of “vilifying” remarks and warned against U.S. “interference” in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Australia and the Philippines echoed concerns over China’s military build-up and actions in contested watersGaza Humanitarian Crisis DeepensIn Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians attempting to access a food distribution site run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), killing at least 31 and injuring over 175, according to hospital officials and witnesses. The GHF denied responsibility, but witnesses described scenes of chaos and desperation as crowds surged toward the site, only to be met with gunfire from Israeli troops and snipers. The UN and major humanitarian organizations have rejected the GHF’s aid distribution system, arguing that it allows Israel to use food as a weapon and does not meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Meanwhile, a Gaza doctor who lost nine of his ten children in an Israeli airstrike died from his own injuries sustained in the same attackGlobal Protests and Political DevelopmentsClimate activist Greta Thunberg joined an international flotilla departing from Italy to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, carrying symbolic humanitarian aid. The flotilla is part of a broader strategy to pressure Israel through civil resistance. In Australia, pro-Palestine student protesters at the University of Melbourne face expulsion for occupying an academic’s office, sparking debate over free speech and university policies. France, meanwhile, is leading an international push for Western nations to recognize Palestinian statehood, with a summit planned in New York later in June

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