Secretary General

Host Mary Louise Kelly, NPR Russia Correspondent Charles Maynes, and NPR National Security Correspondent Greg Myre discuss a reported power struggle within Ukraine's military command — described as a clash between a younger technology-focused official and a veteran battlefield general — and what the turmoil...

Al Jazeera English reports that Kenya is facing growing concerns over political violence as groups linked to past electoral unrest are re-emerging ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Kenya Human Rights Commission documented serious rights violations during a recent by-election, signaling an escalating pattern...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres traveled to Damascus on July 25, 2026, meeting with Syria's foreign minister and President Ahmed al-Sharaa—the first visit by a UN chief to Syria in 17 years. The visit follows Syria's gradual reintegration into international institutions after years of isolation under...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on July 25, 2026, calling for international support as Syria enters a critical phase of post-conflict reconstruction following the end of its civil war. According to Africanews, Guterres characterized the moment as a "pivotal"...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Manila on July 23, 2026, described President Donald Trump's policy toward Iran as a 'head for an eye' — a direct response to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who...

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran will continue to 'pay the price' for what he described as its failure to stick to agreements, telling reporters that President Trump's policy toward Tehran is 'a head for an eye,' according to Al Jazeera English.

South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan arrived in Washington D.C. on July 23, 2026, for talks with top U.S. officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. According to Arirang News, the agenda covers energy investment cooperation — including finalizing the first project under Korea's $200 billion...

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested an additional $70 billion in defense spending specifically allocated toward continued military operations targeting Iran, according to Al Jazeera's reporting. The funding request comes amid broader U.S. military posturing in the Persian Gulf.

TRT World reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced heated questioning from senators over Washington's strategy in the Iran conflict, with lawmakers pressing whether the administration has a clear plan to end the war. According to TRT World, Hegseth rejected accusations of strategic failure...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested $87 billion in additional Pentagon funding at a Senate committee hearing as the US conducted its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran. DW News reports that senators criticized Hegseth's Iran war strategy during the hearing. President Trump has threatened...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing that the U.S. military campaign against Iran has cost an estimated $37.5 billion, according to WION. The figure marks a significant increase from the administration's previous estimate released in May.

The U.S. and Iran entered their tenth straight day of military engagement Tuesday with no negotiated path to de-escalation. Iran released footage of new missile launches while U.S. airstrikes continued, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely halted, raising concerns about global oil...

South Korea is hosting the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the first time, according to an exclusive Arirang News interview with Korean National Commission for UNESCO Secretary-General Hong Hyun-ik. Hong said the meeting reflects Korea's growing leadership within UNESCO. South Korea has been a member...

Joshua Kerry has been charged with the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former British Member of Parliament and Cabinet minister, according to UK authorities. Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP for multiple decades and held ministerial positions including Shadow Home Secretary.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on July 17, 2026, that states failing to implement certain election security steps will lose federal counterterrorism grant money, and committed to aggressive pursuit of voter fraud cases. The statement followed President Trump's primetime address claiming U.S. election infrastructure...

According to the Associated Press, veteran Labour Party politician and former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is set to become Britain's next prime minister, formally taking over from Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last month.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the agency will review state databases to identify cases of noncitizen voting, according to Scripps News reporting. The move follows President Trump's address to the nation in which he claimed, without evidence, that previously classified documents showed earlier elections...

Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus testified before Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, recommending 'protest exclusion zones' around Jewish schools and synagogues, according to ABC News Australia. Dreyfus, a Labor MP and Jewish cabinet minister, described antisemitic incidents he experienced following the October 7,...