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A drone strike caused a fire at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, officials said on Sunday, with ...
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported.
The decision is seen as reinforcing Kim’s authority over North Korea’s political and security structure. State media said the leadership praised improvements in defence strength, stressing that nuclear forces remain the foundation of the country’s military doctrine.
The general secretary is the highest political position in North Korea’s power structure.
Officials said North Korea’s nuclear-based deterrence capability has been enhanced through continued development of missile systems and other strategic weapons, despite long-standing international sanctions. These claims are based on state media reporting and cannot be independently verified.
The party congress, which opened on 19 February and is now in its fourth day, is normally held once every five years and serves as North Korea’s main platform for reviewing national policy direction.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Kim Jong Un on his reelection. Xi said he is ready to work with Kim to strengthen bilateral ties and “write a new chapter” in China–North Korea relations.
Party restructuring and policy focus
During the meeting, delegates elected new members to the Central Committee and approved amendments to party rules, although details were not disclosed. Reports suggested several senior figures from the previous leadership structure were removed.
North Korea claims to have continued advancing intercontinental ballistic missile technology while keeping much of its military programme secret. Before the congress, authorities also showcased what they described as nuclear-capable rocket launch systems, though the claims have not been independently verified.
Public attention has also focused on Kim Ju Ae, Kim’s teenage daughter, amid speculation about a possible future leadership role. However, there has been no official confirmation that she is being prepared as a successor or that she attended the congress.
State media also said Kim emphasised improving living standards and described economic development as an important national objective, even as the country continues to face external sanctions and economic pressure.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would face growing economic costs from the conflict. The remarks came as Hezbollah reported new attacks on Israeli forces despite an extended Lebanon ceasefire.
At least eight people have died and 32 others were injured after a freight train collided with a public bus at a railway crossing in Bangkok on Saturday (16 May), triggering a fire that quickly spread through the vehicle.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Small businesses across Russia are increasingly feeling the impact of tighter internet restrictions, including limits on the messaging app Telegram, stricter controls on virtual private networks, and repeated mobile internet outages.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has reaffirmed the island’s commitment to sovereignty and regional stability following the recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
At least four people have been killed in a major Ukrainian drone attack on Russian territory, including the Moscow region, which authorities say faced its largest aerial assault in more than a year.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
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