The United States has carried out a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, bombing targets across the country and capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, before flying them to the United States, according to American and international media reports (Al Jazeera; The Guardian). U.S. President Donald Trump said
On January 9, 2026, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, was scheduled to travel to Somalia for the first time in decades. However, the trip, which was part of Wang’s January Africa tour, was postponed. The purpose of the visit was to increase diplomatic engagement, trade cooperation, and strategic
Tensions are escalating between the United States and Greenland as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten his pursuit of the nation. His interest is not new; he first mentioned his goal of purchasing Greenland in 2019 during his first term, according to the Arctic Institute. His fixation has only
On Sunday, January 18, the Syrian government announced a ceasefire with the Syrian Defense Force, giving the Syrian government almost complete control of the country. The agreement follows weeks of skirmishes in the Aleppo governorate, and more recently along and beyond the Euphrates, territory controlled by the S.D.F. The agreement
NIAMEY— Niger’s military rulers approved a ‘general mobilization’ and officially authorized requisition of both people and goods as the country continues to fight armed groups across the West African nation, as reported by Al Jazeera. According to government statements, “people, property, and services may be requisitioned during general mobilization to
Protests in Iran have ignited, which are the largest in the country since 2022. These protests in Iran’s capital city of Tehran are connected to the economic pain the Iranian People have faced, driven by a spike in inflation, according to The New York Times. These protests are different than
Recent diplomatic engagements between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have renewed claims of progress toward ending the nearly four-year war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Dec. 28, 2025, where both leaders described negotiations as approaching a
Widespread protests have erupted across Iran over the past week, driven initially by economic grievances and escalating in some cases into broader political dissent. Demonstrations have been reported in Tehran and dozens of cities nationwide, with clashes intensifying in western regions of the country, according to Al Jazeera. The protests
Somaliland is a self-declared and, now, semi-recognized independent state in northern Somalia. The area lies west of the state of Djibouti and south of the Gulf of Aden. Djibouti is militarily significant, while the Gulf of Aden has trade and economic implications. Historically, Western powers, particularly Britain, France, and Italy,
Due to bumper harvests and rising global prices, Tunisia’s olive oil industry is on track for a significant global breakthrough. Production is predicted to surpass the output of Italy, which has historically been the world’s second-largest producer behind Spain, indicating a possible boost for the North African country’s economy as
On Dec. 28, 2025, Myanmar’s military junta began the first ballot day of a three-phase general election. Elections will only take place in territory controlled by the military junta, and in places that are not actively under conflict. This, among other factors, has provoked international contestation: many western states believe
Oil tankers carrying crude and fuel have recently been sighted departing from Venezuela, despite the ongoing United States blockade. Reuters reported that around 12 oil tankers were spotted making their way outside of the country with at least four tanking routes near Margarita Island. This is not an isolated occurrence,
Haiti’s security crisis entered a new phase on December 8 with the arrival of 230 Kenyan police officers in Port-au-Prince, marking one of the largest reinforcement efforts since the United Nations (U.N.) expanded and restructured its security mission. Officers have been deployed to the newly established Gang Suppression Force (G.S.F.),
On Sunday, December 21, 130 abducted Nigerian students were released from captivity. Initial reports claim that on November 21, an unknown group abducted between 230 and 265 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Paipiri. This mass abduction adds to the long list of targeted attacks on schools and places
As of Dec. 2025, the death toll in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 beginning of the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 70,000, as Israel continues to launch attacks across the Gaza Strip despite the brokered ceasefire. The long-standing Israeli Palestinian conflict has now seen multiple cycles of war and breakdowns of
In a recent development, China has carried out live-firing drills around Taiwan in a series of military exercises. These military exercises have been named Justice Mission 2025 and have been the largest demonstration to date, as reported by Reuters. These actions come in the aftermath of the United State’s announcement
NIIGATA, JAPAN— Niigata’s local government voted last Monday in favor of reopening the world’s largest nuclear power plant: Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. The vote was the last step to the plant’s planned restarting of reactor No. 6 this coming January, a move that could boost Tokyo’s total energy supply by nearly two percent,
Senegal’s 2025 crisis reveals how economic orthodoxy, driven by debt management and external financial discipline, can undermine democratic legitimacy–even in one of Africa’s most celebrated democratic systems. Long regarded as one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, by 2025 Senegal was dealing with the long-term political
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a significant shift in Ukraine’s strategy, stating that he is willing to drop the country’s long-standing ambition to join NATO ahead of potential peace talks with Russia. This declaration comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United States and European partners to bring the
On the 14th of December, there was a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, during a Hanukkah celebration. It turned the peaceful Sunday evening into one of Australia’s worst days. For the celebration, more than 1000 people gathered at the beach when two gunmen opened fire on the
