Africa
China Coal Mine Explosion Kills at Least 90
A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in China’s Shanxi province has killed at least 90 workers, with nine still missing. The blast constitutes the country’s worst mining disaster in 16 years.
Ebola Outbreak Spreads Across Central and East Africa
Uganda has confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing its total to five. The new cases include a driver who transported the country’s first confirmed patient and a health worker. Meanwhile, Ebola is spreading faster than responders can track in eastern Congo, where health workers managed to follow up with barely one in five identified contacts in a single day.
- Al Jazeera — Uganda confirms three new cases
- SCMP — Congo contact tracing falters
- NYT — What to know about the outbreak
U.S. Ebola Travel Ban Faces Criticism; Congo Soccer Team Told to Isolate
Kinshasa residents continue to pack markets, bars and public transportation despite growing international concern. Separately, the White House has told Congo’s soccer team, now in Belgium, to isolate for 21 days or risk being denied entry to the U.S. for the World Cup in Houston.
Senegal’s President Sacks PM Sonko and Dissolves Government
Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government after a months-long feud. The renewed instability could complicate bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Supporters of the ousted PM have rallied outside his home in Dakar.
Middle East
Israeli Strike Kills Five Gaza Police Officers
Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip killed five police officers on Saturday, targeting a police checkpoint in northwestern Gaza. Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to create chaos and a security vacuum by targeting the police force since the October ceasefire.
Israeli Bombardment Reduces Buildings to Craters in Southern Lebanon
Israel carried out overnight strikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa valley and the southern province of Tyre, killing at least four people and reducing buildings to craters. Strikes continued Saturday morning, hitting close to Lebanese army barracks and killing civilians in multiple towns.
Freed Gaza Flotilla Activists Allege Israeli Abuse Including Rape
Activists released from Israeli custody after being detained on a flotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza were subjected to abuse, organisers said, with several hospitalised with injuries and at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape.
Iran’s Top Negotiator Warns U.S. Against Restarting War
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told Pakistan’s army chief during a meeting in Tehran that Iran would not compromise on the rights of its nation. He said Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt capabilities during the ceasefire and that if the U.S. “foolishly restarts the war,” the consequences would be “more crushing and bitter.”
Suspicious Maritime Activity Reported in Gulf of Aden
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported suspicious activity in the Gulf of Aden, with multiple reports of vessels being approached by skiffs. A large skiff with two outboard engines was observed carrying ladders and weapons.
Even if the Iran War Ended Today, U.S. Fuel Prices Unlikely to Normalize This Year
As the war with Iran enters its third month, drivers have become infuriated by rising gas prices and inflation. Analysts say prewar average prices of about $3 a gallon nationally are unlikely to return in 2026 even with a lasting peace deal.
United States & Americas
Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as National Intelligence Director
Tulsi Gabbard resigned as President Trump’s director of national intelligence, saying she needed to step away as her husband battles cancer. She is the fourth Cabinet official to depart during Trump’s second term.
NATO Allies Confused by Trump’s Deployment of 5,000 Troops to Poland
Some NATO allies say they are confused by President Trump’s different statements on U.S. troop deployments to Europe, following an unexpected move to deploy 5,000 troops to Poland.
DNC Chair Faces Calls to Resign Over Election Autopsy Handling
DNC chair Ken Martin is facing mounting calls to resign over his handling of an autopsy report on Kamala Harris’s 2024 defeat. Martin suppressed the document for months before releasing it, admitting it “won’t meet your standards.”
Canada Turning Refugees Over to ICE at Border
As Canada tightens asylum rules, refugees attempting to reunite with family say they were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and jailed for months after failed border claims.
Europe & Ukraine
Zelenskyy Says ‘Time Is Right’ for Ukraine to Begin EU Accession
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said the time is right for Ukraine to start the process of joining the EU, as both Kyiv and Moscow try to advance their interests on the battlefield.
Lukashenko Offers to Meet Zelenskyy After Russia Sends Belarus More Tactical Nukes
Following multi-day drills involving a rehearsal of Russia’s use of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Lukashenko offered to meet Zelenskyy “anywhere.”
UK Needs ‘National Consensus’ on Rejoining EU, David Miliband Says
Former foreign secretary David Miliband urged a reset of UK-EU relations at “higher dosage,” after officials were revealed to have pitched single market access for goods to the EU.
Turkey: Thousands Rally After Court Ousts Opposition Leader
Thousands rallied in Ankara and Istanbul to protest against a court verdict ousting the popular leader of Turkey’s main opposition CHP party, in the latest government crackdown on opposition figures.
Asia-Pacific & Diplomacy
Rubio Meets Modi in India With Energy Sales on Agenda
Secretary of State Rubio met Prime Minister Modi during an India visit, seeking to sell U.S. energy to Delhi to make up for shortfalls caused by the Iran war.
Pakistani PM Visits China Amid Middle East Peace Drive
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is visiting China as the country seeks support for its efforts to mediate in the U.S.-Iran conflict. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Japan and China Ministers Hold Brief Talk at APEC
Japanese Trade Minister Ryosei Akazawa and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke briefly at an APEC dinner in Suzhou. It marks the first face-to-face ministerial interaction since PM Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan strained ties.
Signs from APEC That U.S. and China Remain Far Apart on Trade
U.S. and Chinese officials have met and spoken publicly about differing priorities since the Trump-Xi summit concluded in Beijing last week.
Science & Technology
SpaceX Launches Upgraded Starship V3 in Test Flight From Texas
SpaceX launched its biggest, most powerful Starship yet — an upgraded version NASA is counting on to land astronauts on the moon. The redesigned mega-rocket debuted two days after Elon Musk announced he was taking SpaceX public. It carried 20 mock Starlink satellites that were released mid-flight.
Pope Meets Families Affected by Mafia Toxic Waste in Italy
Pope Leo visited the “Land of Fires” near Naples, meeting families whose loved ones have died or have cancer as a result of illegal toxic dumping linked to a multi-billion-euro criminal mafia racket.
Finance & Markets
Consumers Continue to Power Through Gas Price Increases
Weekly economic indicators show consumers continue to spend despite rising gas prices linked to the Iran conflict.
SpaceX IPO Buzz: Valuation Pegged at $500 Billion
As SpaceX prepares to go public, analysis pegs the company’s valuation at $500 billion.
Millions of Business Owners About to Retire — Employee Ownership Pitched as Solution
A once-in-a-generation wealth transfer is underway as millions of business owners approach retirement. Employee ownership (ESOPs) is being advocated as a bipartisan tool to ensure the transition builds broader prosperity.
Rising Bankruptcy Concerns
Analysis flags rising corporate bankruptcy risks in the current economic environment.