Red Sea Security: UN chief António Guterres warned that renewed Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels are widening tensions and could trigger serious economic, humanitarian and environmental fallout, urging immediate de-escalation and freedom of navigation through Bab al-Mandab. UN Diplomacy in Syria: Guterres arrived in Damascus for the first visit by a serving UN secretary-general since 2009, meeting President Ahmed al-Sharaa and others as Syria seeks to rejoin global diplomacy after the 2011 war. US-Iran Standoff: Trump said the US is “locked and loaded” on possible military action against Iran while negotiations continue, as strikes and regional alerts raise fears of escalation. EU Rights Clash: Iran hit back at EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, calling EU human-rights concerns “hypocrisy” amid sanctions and accusations tied to the US-Israeli war. Trade Tensions: Trump threatened a Section 301 probe and tariffs over EU fines on US tech firms after a record EU penalty against Google. Africa Development: UNDP said Africa’s “blue economy” could reach $650bn by 2063, while Ethiopia highlighted AU-backed reforms and a ten-year development plan at an AU finance and trade session. Food Security: A UN report showed global hunger fell for a third straight year in 2025, but Africa remains the hardest hit.