India and Pakistan Clash With Missile Strikes

Asia & the Pacific

India and Pakistan Trade Missiles and Drone Strikes

Tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan escalated sharply this week after India struck 6 cities, killing 31 citizens, and Pakistan responded with strikes of their own. The latest exchange comes after the brutal terrorist attack in Kashmir and India blaming Pakistan for the attack. Both sides have a long history of flare-ups that nearly spiral into open war, and regional analysts are watching closely for missteps. Pakistan's foreign minister told local news that if India stops here, then "we will consider to stop here".

Read more | A history of India-Pakistan tensions

Myanmar’s earthquake recovery efforts are faltering as the military blocks aid and medical supplies. Health workers say the junta’s actions have worsened an already dire crisis. Read more

South Korea’s conservative party replaced its presidential candidate after merger talks of party frontrunners failed. The move could reshape the country’s electoral landscape ahead of upcoming elections. Read more

Africa

Thousands Protest Foreign Influence in Burkina Faso

After a failed coup attempt in Burkina Faso, protesters took to the streets across Africa this week, accusing foreign powers of meddling and sowing political chaos. The rally, held in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Liberia, united under the banner "Hands Off the AES!” (Alliance of Sahel States). The AES, made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, emerged as a symbol of West African resistance against neocolonialism.

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Ugandan opposition leader (& pop star) Bobi Wine announced a new presidential bid, slamming Western governments for turning a blind eye to human rights abuses. His message was aimed at rallying young voters and reenergizing a fractured opposition. Read more

A UN report warns that hunger could hit 50 million people in West and Central Africa this year as conflict and climate shocks devastate food systems. Officials are calling for urgent action to avoid a full-blown famine. Read more

Eastern Europe

Ukraine Uncovers Hungarian Spy Network

Ukraine’s security services say they’ve uncovered a covert Hungarian military intelligence network operating inside the country. The spy ring allegedly collected sensitive battlefield data and fed it back to Budapest, which has long had tense relations with Kyiv. The revelation could strain already frosty ties between Hungary and other EU states, especially those backing Ukraine’s war effort. Hungarian officials have not commented publicly. Kyiv says arrests have been made and more could follow.

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Thousands of Romanians rallied in Bucharest in support of the EU, as the country heads into a pivotal presidential runoff, with far-right Simion in the lead. The race could shift Romania’s foreign policy and democratic trajectory. Read more

European leaders backed a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for war crimes, supporting Ukraine’s push for international accountability. Read more

Latin America & the Caribbean

Ecuador’s Noboa Inches Closer to Congressional Majority

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has gained several new allies in congress, bringing him just one vote short of a working majority. The shift follows weeks of post-election negotiations and could strengthen Noboa’s hand as he pushes ahead with controversial security and economic reforms. His party is still facing resistance from left-wing factions, especially after contested election results and mounting violence across the country.

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Venezuelan opposition activists holing up in an Argentine embassy, fearing political persecution, have now relocated to the U.S., according to Senator Marco Rubio. Their move underscores rising tensions ahead of elections. Read more

Nicaragua is withdrawing from UNESCO in protest over a press freedom award given to jailed journalist Nicaraguan journalist Miguel Mora. Critics say it’s the latest step in Ortega’s authoritarian crackdown. Read more

Middle East

UN Warns Gaza May Be Facing “Another Nakba”

A UN committee warned this week that Gaza could be experiencing a second Nakba, after Israel unveiled its new plan to expel hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Aid deliveries remain blocked, infrastructure has collapsed, and over half of Gaza’s population has been forced from their homes. The warning invoked the 1948 Palestinian exodus, drawing historic parallels that echo across the Arab world. Israel has pushed back against the rhetoric, insisting its campaign targets Hamas operatives. But with humanitarian conditions worsening daily, pressure is mounting for a ceasefire.

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Syria confirmed indirect talks with Israel, marking a rare diplomatic shift amid a backdrop of regional tension. The talks focus on prisoner swaps and border de-escalation. Read more

The Israeli military strikes Yemen’s main airport, fully disabling Sanaa International Airport. The attack came after a Houthi missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport. Read more

Good News Around the World

Uganda has officially declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization praised the country’s fast response and public health coordination. Read more

Pope Francis’ Popemobile will be converted into a health clinic for children in Gaza. The Vatican-backed project aims to bring mobile care to areas cut off from hospitals. Read more

Brazil has reversed deforestation trends, marking the lowest level of Amazon deforestation in a decade. Marina Silva urges urgent action to save the Amazon and preserve a livable future. Read more