An intercepted Iranian missile wounded five Americans and destroyed an MQ-9 Reaper at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem base, a day after Trump's ceasefire talks collapsed. In Singapore, Pete Hegseth pressed Asian allies to spend 3.5 percent of GDP and warned against Chinese hegemony, while Washington floated a US-China trade board. Ukraine deepened its drone war and turned to Europe as US mediation faded, Egypt scrambled to save the Gaza truce, and Israel's Lebanon campaign drove fresh displacement. In Congo, a rare Ebola outbreak passed 230 deaths as the WHO chief flew to Kinshasa.

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Iranian ballistic missile strikes US air base in Kuwait, wounding five and destroying an MQ-9 Reaper

Iran fired a Fateh-110 ballistic missile at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait on Saturday, May 30; Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted it, but falling debris wounded five US military personnel and contractors, destroyed one MQ-9 Reaper drone and severely damaged a second, an estimated $60 million in losses. The strike landed 24 hours after President Donald Trump unveiled a US-brokered framework to extend a regional ceasefire by 60 days, a deal now thrown into doubt as commanders weigh retaliation. It raised to more than 1,850 the number of Iranian ballistic missiles fired since the war began on February 28.

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Zelensky convenes top security chiefs to prioritize air defense and an EU drone deal as US steps back from mediation

On Saturday, May 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a high-level strategic meeting with National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, First Vice Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Kyrylo Budanov to fix Ukraine's immediate priorities in diplomacy, military procurement and humanitarian operations. He named advanced anti-ballistic air defense, bilateral documents to scale drone production and a 'Drone Deal' with the EU, and fresh energy-sector support as the focus for the coming weeks, while flagging undisclosed 'important negotiations' ahead. The session comes as Washington steps back from active mediation -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio conceded a lack of progress -- pushing Kyiv to consolidate European alliances.

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Kilicdaroglu visits CHP headquarters as ousted leader Ozel demands an immediate congress and primary

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, reinstated as CHP leader by a May 21 court ruling that scrapped the party's 2023 primary, visited the opposition party's Ankara headquarters for the first time on Saturday, pledging to convene a congress 'as soon as possible.' Ousted leader Ozgur Ozel told thousands at an Ankara rally that 'the CHP does not accept appointments,' demanding an immediate congress and a primary and offering to step down if he won less than 85 percent. Analysts cast the court-ordered removal as part of President Erdogan's broader campaign to weaken the opposition, citing the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu; one poll found just 11 percent approved of Ozel's ouster.

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Ukraine confirms capture of two North Korean soldiers, revealing secret troop deployment

Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers in January 2025, providing the first hard evidence of a secret deployment of some 15,000 North Korean special forces to support Russia's invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the capture, which was linked to a deal exchanging military technology and cash for Pyongyang's nuclear program. Human rights groups criticized Ukraine for exposing the prisoners' identities, citing Geneva Convention violations.

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