U.S. Unseals Charges Against Five Alleged CJNG Leaders, Raises Reward for New Cartel Chief 
Rubio, UK’s Miliband Stress Stronger European Security Role in Washington Talks 
Russia Intensifies Drone and Bomb Attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia, Deepening Civilian Fear 
Taiwan President Lai Oversees Coastal Strike Drills in Han Kuang War Games 
Trump Faces Tough Choices as Iran War Drags On 
Russian Strikes Kill Six in Eastern and Northern Ukraine, Dozens Injured 
Iran-Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Deal as Shipping Tensions Persist 
Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Vaccines and Autism Research 
Canada, US Hold Constructive Trade Talks as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
Joe Biden’s Prostate Cancer Has Spread Further, Hunter Biden Says 
ICE to Complete Nationwide Body Camera Rollout by End of August 
Ukraine Agrees to Protect Kazakhstan Oil Exports via Black Sea 
SEC Moves to Dismiss Insider Trading Case Against Trump-Pardoned Terren Peizer 
Senate Majority Leader John Thune Moves to Advance Crypto Clarity Act 
Mark Carney Jokes About Teleprompter, Takes Swipe at Trump 
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz effectively undermined Michelle Bachelet's campaign to become the next UN Secretary-General, expressing shared concerns with Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska during a Senate committee hearing this week.
Senator Ricketts raised two significant objections to the former Chilean president's candidacy. First, he criticized Bachelet's 2022 report as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, arguing it failed to formally label China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang as genocide — despite the report's findings that detentions there may constitute crimes against humanity. Second, Ricketts took issue with her advocacy for abortion as a fundamental human right. Waltz confirmed he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio share these concerns, a statement widely interpreted as a signal of U.S. opposition.
The timing is critical. A new UN Secretary-General will be elected later this year to serve a five-year term beginning January 1, 2027. Any successful candidate must secure support from all five permanent, veto-holding members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. Notably, China also distanced itself from Bachelet following the same Uyghur report.
Bachelet, Chile's first female president who served two terms, lost her home country's backing in March 2025 after Chile shifted politically to the right. She continues her campaign supported by Brazil and Mexico.
Waltz emphasized that the U.S. priority is finding the strongest possible leader rather than selecting based on gender or regional representation, stressing the need for reform and a renewed focus on peace and security.
Three other candidates are in the running: Rafael Grossi, current director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, former Vice President of Costa Rica; and Macky Sall, former President of Senegal. All four candidates are scheduled to participate in live UN dialogues next week, beginning with Bachelet on Tuesday.
