🥇 Must Know
Pakistan launches cross-border strikes in Afghanistan, killing dozens
Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts along the Afghan border, with Afghanistan's Taliban government reporting strikes hit a school and homes, killing and wounding dozens. Islamabad blamed Afghan-based militants for a surge in deadly suicide bombings. The strikes reportedly targeted seven camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban.
Why it matters: The escalation marks a dangerous deterioration in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and risks igniting broader regional conflict while complicating counterterrorism efforts.
Al Jazeera (center) · Deutsche Welle (center) · Reuters (center)
Iranian students mount first major anti-government protests since deadly crackdown
Students at universities across Iran chanted anti-government slogans as the new semester began, marking the first large protests since last month's mass demonstrations that left thousands dead. Protesters honored those killed in the government crackdown, with slogans calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei heard in several cities. The gatherings come as Trump threatens strikes and the US bolsters military presence in the Gulf.
Why it matters: The resurgence of protests despite brutal repression signals the regime's fragility and could influence US calculations on military action against Iran.
BBC World (center) · NYT World (center-left) · WSJ World (center-right) · Al Jazeera (center)
US ambassador says Israel has right to vast swath of Middle East, sparking Arab condemnation
Mike Huckabee told Tucker Carlson it "would be fine" if Israel took over territory from the Nile to the Euphrates, sparking fierce denunciations from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Muslim nations. The comments contravene the UN Charter and come as regional tensions remain high. Arab countries issued a joint statement condemning the remarks as "absurd and provocative."
Why it matters: The statement from a sitting US ambassador legitimizes territorial expansion and could derail already fragile regional diplomatic efforts.
Al Jazeera (center) · Financial Times (center-right) · SCMP World (center)
Trump announces hospital ship to Greenland amid sovereignty push
President Trump said he is sending a hospital ship to Greenland "to take care of the many people who are sick and not being taken care of there," continuing his campaign to acquire the autonomous Danish territory. The announcement comes hours after Denmark evacuated a US submarine crew member in Greenlandic waters. It's unclear whether the ship was requested by Denmark or Greenland.
Why it matters: The move appears to be soft power projection masking Trump's stated territorial ambitions, testing NATO solidarity and Danish sovereignty.
CBC News (center) · Reuters (center) · SCMP World (center)
🥈 Should Know
Australian warship transits Taiwan Strait, tracked by Chinese navy
An Australian naval vessel conducted a freedom of navigation transit through the Taiwan Strait, closely monitored by China's navy. Beijing claims the narrow strait as territorial waters and views such transits as provocations. The operation comes amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
Why it matters: Australia's willingness to challenge Chinese claims signals deepening security cooperation with the US and Taiwan despite economic ties with Beijing.
Reuters (center) · The Hindu (center)
India and Brazil sign critical minerals deal to reduce China dependence
India and Brazil agreed to boost cooperation on critical minerals and rare earths, with Brazilian President Lula calling it the "core of the pioneering agreement." Prime Minister Modi said the partnership aims to build "resilient supply chains." The pact comes as countries seek to diversify away from Chinese dominance in strategic materials.
Why it matters: The agreement reflects a broader geopolitical shift as democracies build alternative supply chains for materials essential to defense and clean energy technology.
Al Jazeera (center) · SCMP World (center) · Reuters (center)
EU bans Chinese entities from critical technology programs including AI and chips
Researchers in China have been excluded from the European Union's most advanced collaborative technology programs covering AI, semiconductors, and other critical sectors. The ban comes amid growing Western concerns over technology transfer and dual-use applications. Specialists say the impact may be limited as collaboration had already declined.
Why it matters: The tech decoupling between Europe and China accelerates, reshaping global research networks and signaling EU alignment with US security priorities.
SCMP China (center)
Venezuela receives over 1,550 amnesty requests as Cuban security forces exit
Venezuela's interim government reported receiving more than 1,550 amnesty requests under new US-backed legislation, with over 370 political prisoners already released. Separately, Cuban security advisers and doctors have been leaving Venezuela as Delcy Rodriguez's government faces intense Washington pressure to unwind Latin America's closest Cuban ties.
Why it matters: The changes suggest the interim government is consolidating control and distancing itself from allies of the ousted Maduro regime under US pressure.
Al Jazeera (center) · Reuters (center) · Straits Times (center)
Trump raises global tariff rate to 15% after Supreme Court ruling
One day after the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariff authority, President Trump signed an executive order raising the global tariff rate from 10% to 15%. He called the court decision "anti-American" and vowed more tariffs in coming months. Major trading partners expect Trump to stick with his favorite policy tool despite the legal setback.
Why it matters: Trump's defiance shows tariffs will remain central to his trade policy regardless of legal constraints, prolonging global economic uncertainty.
Reuters (center) · SCMP World (center) · Straits Times (center)
Germany's ruling party backs social media ban for under-14s
Germany's ruling conservatives passed a motion to ban social media use for children under 14 and introduce stricter digital age verification for teenagers. The move builds momentum for such limits across Europe as nations increasingly review children's access to social platforms amid mental health concerns.
Why it matters: The push for age-based restrictions reflects growing political consensus that social media poses developmental risks to children, with potential global regulatory ripple effects.
Reuters (center) · SCMP World (center) · Straits Times (center)
Ukraine strikes ballistic missile factory 1,400km inside Russia
Ukraine hit the Votkinsk plant that produces ballistic missiles in Russia's remote Udmurtia region, more than 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine. The strike demonstrates Kyiv's deepening long-range strike capabilities as the war enters its fifth year. Eleven people were wounded in the attack.
Why it matters: The ability to strike deep into Russian territory shifts the strategic calculus and shows Western-supplied capabilities are extending Ukraine's reach.
Deutsche Welle (center) · Reuters (center) · Straits Times (center)
🥉 Also Notable
🌎 Americas
Nine bodies recovered from deadly California avalanche near Lake Tahoe — CBC News
NASA delays moon mission to April after rocket helium flow problem discovered — Al Jazeera
Canada appoints new chief trade negotiator to US amid tariff standoff — Reuters
JPMorgan closed Trump's bank accounts month after January 6 attack, court filing reveals — Reuters
DHS suspends TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs amid shutdown — The Guardian
🌍 Europe
Police officer killed, 24 injured in explosions in Ukraine's Lviv labeled terror attack — Straits Times
Russian missile strikes Oreo factory in eastern Ukraine, second hit on plant — Reuters
Five European nations pledge to produce low-cost drones using Ukrainian war expertise — SCMP World
Yellow Letters wins Golden Bear at Berlin film festival dominated by Gaza controversy — The Guardian
Germany and UK military chiefs jointly call for rearmament, say it's 'not warmongering' — The Guardian
France floods: record 37 days of rain leaves villages isolated with four departments on red alert — Le Monde
🌏 Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong to buy fire-ravaged Tai Po flats for HK$6.8 billion — SCMP Asia
Bangladesh moving toward restoring visas for Indian nationals after December halt — The Hindu
Japan bill requires airlines deny boarding to unauthorized visitors — Nikkei Asia
New Zealand storm leaves 30,000 without power, disrupts transport nationwide — NYT World
Bus with Chinese tourists crashes through ice on Russia's Lake Baikal, killing eight — SCMP World
158 giant tortoises reintroduced to Galapagos island after nearly 200 years — BBC World
🌍 Middle East & Africa
Eight migrant bodies wash ashore in Libya and Greece as Mediterranean crossings continue — Al Jazeera
Islamic State claims attacks on Syrian army, announces 'new phase' of operations — Reuters
At least 30 people in Iran face death penalty after protests, Amnesty says — SCMP World
Sudan's RSF paramilitaries claim capture of Al-Tina on Chad border — Le Monde
Israeli strikes kill two Palestinians in Gaza during Ramadan, death toll since ceasefire reaches 614 — Al Jazeera
🤖 Tech
Indian AI summit marred by chaos as Bill Gates pulls out, university expelled for presenting Chinese robot as own — CBC News
CXMT offers DDR4 chips at half market rate, raising dumping concerns — Hacker News
Cloudflare suffers major outage affecting global services — Hacker News
LibreOffice blasts OnlyOffice for working with Microsoft to lock users in — Hacker News
Alibaba unveils Qwen3.5 model targeting agentic AI to compete with OpenAI and DeepSeek — The Verge