Commentary

The packed agenda of the European Union (EU) summit reflects the wide range of challenges facing the bloc, from geopolitical, economic and security crises to growing pressure to strengthen its defence capabilities. EU leaders are shouldering the task of reinforcing the Union’s strength and restoring its standing in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world.

On his way to France to attend the G7 Summit, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung made stops in several European countries. His visits to Belgium, Italy, and the Vatican have attracted considerable international attention.

After more than three months of war and arduous negotiations, the US and Iran have reached an agreement to end the conflict. This is considered a significant step towards peace in the Middle East, providing strong impetus for resolving issues related to Iran’s “nuclear dossier.”

The European Union (EU) has recently conducted a cybersecurity exercise named Cyber Europe 2026, involving around 5,000 experts. The bloc’s caution is by no means excessive, as large-scale cyberattacks have inflicted enormous damage in the past.

The EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum has officially entered into force, marking the most sweeping reform of migration management in decades.

The conflict in the Middle East has dealt a heavy blow to the global economy. A fragile ceasefire and the stop-start nature of US-Iran negotiations have weighed heavily on market sentiment. Recently, the World Bank (WB) cut its forecast for global economic growth to the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Asia to Europe, countries are being severely affected by unprecedented heatwaves. Extreme weather events continue to demonstrate that the fight against climate change remains an uphill battle, with a persistent gap between promises made and action taken.

Although both Israel and Iran have declared a halt to attacks against each other, deep differences between the two sides over issues related to Lebanon continue to raise the risk of renewed confrontation. Meanwhile, US-Iran negotiations remain deadlocked as Washington persists with its “stick” policy towards Tehran, creating a major obstacle to efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East.

The military conflict in the Middle East has triggered an unprecedented energy shock with far-reaching consequences across the globe. At the same time, it has created momentum for countries to build resilient energy defence lines for their economies. Securing energy self-sufficiency is being prioritised by an increasing number of nations as a key factor in ensuring economic stability and national security.

The “nightmare” scenario of tens of millions of people falling into hunger due to conflict in the Middle East is at risk of becoming reality, as United Nations statistics show that the number of people facing food insecurity has risen alarmingly.

Amid the gradual emergence of a multipolar world, developing countries are becoming increasingly important factors in promoting multilateralism, mediating conflicts, and driving economic development. However, the member structure of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, the UN's top governing body, is considered not to fully reflect the role and contributions of developing countries to global peace and security.

The European Union (EU) is accelerating its pursuit of digital sovereignty as the global technology gap continues to widen.

At the 114th International Labour Conference organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, delegations representing workers, employers and member states discussed many important issues shaping the world of work. The ILO called for the promotion of lifelong learning to respond to the risk of job losses to artificial intelligence (AI).

The digital environment helps children access knowledge, learn, interact, and integrate into the community quickly, as well as develop their creativity. However, amidst this “ocean” of information, children need guidance and knowledge to be able to select what is beneficial and stay away from harmful elements.

The strategic partnership between Russia and Kazakhstan recently reached a significant new milestone as the two countries signed a series of bilateral cooperation agreements during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to the Central Asian nation.

While the world closely monitors each development in the peace talks between the US and Iran, questioning whether an agreement can be reached, some countries — notably Qatar and Pakistan — are refusing to remain on the sidelines.

An Ebola outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries in Central Africa, raising international concerns over a dangerous new health crisis.

After nearly 80 years of development, the UN peacekeeping force has left a significant mark on efforts to build a better world. However, the combined pressures of financial shortages, geopolitical tensions and declining troop numbers are confronting the force with serious challenges.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on a visit to India in an effort to stabilise and warm up bilateral ties, which have been marked by a number of disagreements.

The prolonged conflict in the Middle East has had a profound impact on labour markets, aviation, tourism, public finance, and growth prospects across many major economies in Asia and Europe. Experts warn that even if the conflict comes to an end, the scars it leaves behind may take years to heal.