What We're Watching

What We’re Watching: Obstacles to peace in Gaza, Tensions on the Afghan-Pakistani border, Indonesia’s prime minister and Trump caught on hot mic

​Buses carrying Palestinians released from Israeli prisons under a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal with Palestinian factions arrive outside the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, on October 13, 2025.
Buses carrying Palestinians released from Israeli prisons under a Gaza ceasefire and hostage exchange deal with Palestinian factions arrive outside the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, on October 13, 2025.
Photo by Majdi Fath

Peace won’t come easy in Gaza

US President Donald Trump and several other leaders may have signed a Gaza ceasefire deal in Egypt on Monday evening, but the Strip isn’t fully peaceful as yet. Hamas publicly executed eight Palestinians in Gaza last night, inciting more fear among citizens of the enclave just as many of them finally get to return home amid the ceasefire with Israel. The militant group claimed that those executed were “collaborators with Israel,” while members of a rival Palestinian clan described the killings as a “criminal” act. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Israeli drones killed six Palestinians in the northern part of the strip, per a local news agency – the Israeli Defense Forces said that several people were approaching the “yellow line” to which it withdrew as part of the peace deal.

Tensions flare up again on the Afghan-Pakistani border

Afghan and Pakistani forces exchanged deadly fire over the weekend in what some are describing as the worst violence between the sparring neighbours in years, and sparking fears that tensions could spill over into a wider conflict. There is a debate over the number of deaths, but each side acknowledged that it had some casualties after the Taliban targeted Pakistani military outposts along the 1,622-mile border and Pakistan hit back. The Taliban said it initiated the fighting in response to reported airstrikes in Kabul last week. The fighting has stopped after Qatar and Saudi Arabia called for calm, but the lengthy border remained shut on Monday, shutting down trade and leaving hundreds stranded.

Prabowo’s hot-mic request to Trump raises questions of overlapping business and diplomacy

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was caught on a live microphone asking Trump if he could meet the US president’s son Eric after a Gaza ceasefire summit in Egypt. Trump replied he would “have Eric call.” It’s possible the exchange was related to Trump Organization business, as Prabowo also mentioned “Hary,” who some think refers to Hary Tanoesoedibjo, a longtime Trump partner. Hary’s MNC Group co-develops resorts with the Trump Organization in Indonesia.

More For You

Chris, an Army veteran, started his Walmart journey over 25 years ago as an hourly associate. Today, he manages a Distribution Center and serves as a mentor, helping others navigate their own paths to success. At Walmart, associates have the opportunity to take advantage of the pathways, perks, and pay that come with the job — with or without a college degree. In fact, more than 75% of Walmart management started as hourly associates. Learn more about how over 130,000 associates were promoted into roles of greater responsibility and higher pay in FY25.

Eileen Zhang, Natalie Johnson

Will the US and Iran reach a nuclear deal before 2027? Will the Cuban regime fall this year? Will France win the World Cup? These questions are generating up to millions of dollars today on prediction markets — platforms where people wager on the outcomes of real-world events.

Participants and protesters hold posters opposing Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration and her policies on constitutional revision and military expansion during a Constitution Memorial Day rally in Tokyo, Japan, May 3, 2026.
REUTERS/Issei Kato.

Will Japan rewrite its rules of war? Europe meets (again) to shape its own defense destiny, US to “guide” ships through Hormuz

Natalie Johnson

Putin is increasingly paranoid, according to a Financial Times report out today. Security has been tightened, more time is being spent in underground bunkers, and the vast majority of his attention is being absorbed by Russia’s war with Ukraine. One reason of his concern is said to be Ukraine’s drone capabilities, which have demonstrated an ability to strike Russian airfields thousands of miles from Kyiv.