Around the World in 5 – 8
“Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
Falls drop by drop upon the heart,
Until, in our own despair, against our will,
Comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”
Monday, 26 May marked the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Ottawa for their two-day visit to Canada. At the request of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the visit appears to assert Canadian sovereignty and reaffirm relations with the Crown—interpreted by some as opposition to Trump’s ‘51st state’ rhetoric. This marks the King’s first visit to the country since his coronation in 2023. Notably, the visit will conclude with the King reading out the government’s goals for the upcoming session in Parliament—an act last undertaken by a monarch in 1977.
Today also marks the third consecutive day of Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine, in what is reportedly the largest offensive of its kind in the conflict to date. The Kremlin authorised the deployment of 255 Shahed drones and 9 cruise missiles, directly defying a warning issued by Trump on Sunday. He cautioned that any attempt by Putin to conquer Ukraine would result in Russia’s “downfall”. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated last week that Ukraine’s Western allies would not place range limits on supplied weapons, asserting that Ukraine must be able to defend itself—“for example, by attacking military positions in Russia”. The Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, warned on Monday that providing Ukraine with long-range missile capabilities would be a “dangerous move”.
Meanwhile, Germany also faces Uganda’s official suspension of military cooperation following accusations of “subversive activities” by German Ambassador Matthias Schauer. Uganda’s People’s Defence Forces allege that Ambassador Schauer has been engaging with and supporting anti-government groups. This development marks a significant strain on the previously strong bilateral relationship, particularly in military logistics and technical assistance on the African continent.
In the occupied Palestinian territories, the situation continues to deteriorate. On Monday, right-wing Israeli groups stormed both the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and a UN facility for Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem. The attack coincided with an annual march celebrating Israel’s conquest and annexation of East Jerusalem during the 1967 war. Participants were heard chanting “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn” at Palestinian bystanders. UN coordinators present at the facility reported that Yulia Malinovsky, a key Israeli legislator who has banned the UN from continuing certain programmes in Palestinian territories, was among the demonstrators. As of May 2025, the death toll among Palestinians has reached 53,822, including 17,400 children. A further 122,383 have been seriously injured.
The 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit also began today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As the host of the 2025 conference, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim opened proceedings with the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. He called on member states to strengthen cooperation amid growing challenges from US tariffs and shifting global power dynamics, warning that “protectionism is resurging as we bear witness to multilateralism coming apart at the seams”. The day concluded with the signing of the “Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future”—a white paper outlining the bloc’s strategic direction over the next two decades. Cooperation with China and other regional bodies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remains a key priority following today’s closing remarks.
Liberty, Gustave Doré, c.1865-75.
