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Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay (photo) died on August 11, after being the victim of an attack last Saturday, June 7, while attending a political rally in the Modelia neighborhood of Bogotá.
Hard Numbers: Colombian presidential candidate dies after June shooting, Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza, South Korean military dropoff, Chinese ship hits its own man
39: At the age 39, center-right presidential candidate Miguel Uribe died on Monday, nine weeks after he was shot by a 14-year-old boy during a campaign rally in Bogota, the Colombian capital. Before his death, the shooting had catapulted Uribe to the top of the polls for next year’s election. The incident has revived fears in Colombia of a return to political violence, which was endemic in the 1980s and 1990s – read more here.
5: Five Al Jazeera journalists – and one freelance reporter — were killed in an Israeli strike on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday, including prominent Arabic-language correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The Israeli military accused al-Sharif of leading a Hamas cell, a claim that Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalist and a UN expert have denied.
20%: South Korea’s paltry birthrate is now affecting the size of its military ranks, which have dropped 20% in the past six years to 450,000 troops. This is less than half of North Korea’s military, which numbers 1.2 million. South Korea has conscription – even soccer star Son Heung-min had to complete a military training, albeit a shortened one.
3104: There was some friendly fire, so to speak, in the South China Sea on Monday, as a Chinese warship accidentally rammed a Chinese coast guard ship – Coastguard Vessel 3104 – as it was chasing after a Philippine boat. The South China Sea has been a major area of dispute between Beijing and Manila, ever since China seized the Scarborough Shoal area in 2012.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures during a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025.
What We're Watching: Modi defies Trump on Russian oil, Bolsonaro put under house arrest, Israel proposes full occupation of Gaza
India digs in heels amid Trump’s tariff threat
US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his tariff threat against India, warning he will “substantially” raise the duty on Indian imports in order to stop Delhi from buying Russian oil. India is unmoved, though, calling the threat “unjustified.” This spat might not just be about oil, though – amid ongoing trade talks, Washington is pressing India to open up its massive agricultural markets, a bitter pill for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to swallow.
Brazil’s top court puts Bolsonaro under house arrest
Brazil has placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest, after he violated the terms of a previous court order by posting on social media. The right-wing leader and Trump ally is on trial for allegedly planning a coup after his 2022 election loss. The latest move is certain to heighten US-Brazil tensions – last month Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil, blasting current leftwing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro.
Netanyahu to propose full Gaza occupation
With Gaza ceasefire talks once again going nowhere, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly seek approval to fully occupy the strip at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday evening. Israel already controls 75% of the enclave, and the head of the Israeli military has warned that a full occupation could put soldiers and the remaining hostages, 20 of whom are still believed to be alive, at risk. Israel first took control of Gaza during the Six Day War in 1967, but formally withdrew its military and settlers in 2005 for security reasons. Netanyahu opposed that move at the time.
Palestinians mourn the loss of their loved ones killed in Nasser Hospital for after Israel opened fire at Palestinians trying to reach the points in the southern Gaza Strip, on July 30, 2025.
Hard Numbers: Gaza aid point killings climb, Oz slashes student debt, Buddha gems head back to India, DRC launches Big Barça sponsorship
91: Israeli forces killed 91 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza on Wednesday, according to the enclave’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. A local hospital has confirmed at least 50 of the deaths. The latest toll adds to a string of killings at aid points, as global pressure mounts on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the territory.
$10 billion: On Thursday, Australia’s parliament passed a law wiping out 20% of student loan debt – worth AU$16 billion (US$10 billion). It’s the first major legislative win for center-left Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who promised to address the rising cost of living prior to his election in May.
300: Sotheby’s will repatriate 300 jewels from the Piprahwa Gem collection – relics believed to be linked to the Buddha’s burial ground – following pressure on the famed auction house from the Indian government. The artifacts, excavated by English explorer William Claxton Peppé in the 19th century, were initially set to be auctioned off in May.
$50 million: Spanish football giant FC Barcelona has struck a $50 million 4-year sponsorship deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo to display the slogan “DR Congo – Heart of Africa” on the back of their training jerseys. The government hopes the deal will boost DR Congo’s international image, but some Congolese are questioning the decision to invest in global branding rather than domestic economic and social priorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during ‘Christian Conference’ in Jerusalem July 27, 2025.
What We’re Watching: Pressure mounts on Bibi, Ivorian leader announces another run, China’s top property firm to delist
Netanyahu faces the squeeze
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming under criticism from both sides of the political spectrum amid the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. Far-right US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) declared on Monday that Israel was committing genocide in the enclave, while center-left UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday he’d recognize Palestinian statehood unless Israel met certain conditions by September. Given the importance of Israel’s relationship with the US, Netanyahu will be far more concerned about whether MAGA figures are distancing from Israel, as well as a Gallup poll that showed just 32% of Americans approve of Israel’s military action in Gaza (down from 50% at the start of the war).
Ivorian leader announces he’s running for fourth term
After winning a third term in 2020, Côte d'Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara hinted that he wouldn’t run again. Five years on, the 83-year-old has changed his mind, announcing another run and starting the race in pole position – the election is on October 25. Located on Africa’s West Coast, Côte d'Ivoire is home to over 30 million people and is the world’s top producer of cocoa. Its economy has been booming lately, but there has also been political unrest: Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term angered many, and he had to deny widespread – and false – rumors of a coup earlier this year.Embattled Chinese property developer to be delisted
The troubles continue for Evergrande, once one of China’s largest property developers. After being ordered into liquidation earlier this year, the firm will be delisted from Hong Kong’s stock exchange after failing to produce a viable plan to restructure $23 billion in offshore debt. Evergrande’s stunning collapse has become a symbol of China’s broader economic slowdown as consumer demand weakens, the workforce shrinks, and debt climbs.
Is Europe’s attitude towards Israel shifting?
In this episode of Europe In :60, Carl Bildt discusses the new EU-US trade deal and Europe's response on Gaza.
Bildt describes the trade agreement as a "lose-lose" for both sides. He also critiques the projections from the White House, stating, "That's sort of fake figures of the sort that is often associated with Mr. Trump having his press briefing."
On Gaza, Bildt notes a growing European response, citing President Macron’s pledge to recognize Palestine by September and the EU Commission “now contemplating to throw Israel out of some other research programs.” Bildt adds that he thinks “more can be expected on that front.”
Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City, July 28, 2025.
What We’re Watching: Trump undermines Bibi’s starvation claim, Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, Taiwan recall fail
Trump contradicts Bibi on Gaza humanitarian crisis
US President Donald Trump on Monday acknowledged that there’s “real starvation” in Gaza, an unusually direct contradiction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had claimed there is “no starvation.” International condemnation of Israel for the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza has swelled recently, focused especially on starving children and the killing of hundreds of Palestinians at US- and-Israeli run aid distribution sites. But no global voice rings as loudly in Israel as the US president’s. Israel over the weekend announced a brief pause in military operations to allow for the entry of more desperately needed aid. The US will also start setting up its own food centers in the strip, Trump said. (Is Bibi losing MAGA? See here.)
Thailand and Cambodia reach ceasefire deal
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an unconditional ceasefire at peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, bringing to an end five days of border clashes. The conflict dates back over a century but this was the worst flareup in more than a decade: at least 33 people died and another 150,000 have been displaced since Thursday. Ahead of the talks, which were co-organized by the US and Malaysia and attended by China, US President Donald Trump had declared he would not resume tariff negotiations with either country until a ceasefire was reached.
Taiwan’s historic recall fails
An unprecedented effort to oust a fifth of Taiwan’s entire legislature fell flat Saturday, as all 24 opposition lawmakers from the China-friendly Kuomintang party (KMT) survived their recall votes. The outcome is a big blow to President William Lai’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, which had championed the recalls as a strategy to wrestle a legislative majority away from the KMT. Now, though, the KMT-led coalition’s interest in halting Lai’s agenda may be keener than ever. Click here for more on the historic recalls.View of Tehran at sunset on February 26th, 2025.
Hard Numbers: Iranian water shortages prompt public holiday, Trump admin to burn contraceptives, Ozzy leaves the stage for the last time, & More
1: Iran announced an impromptu one-day public holiday on Wednesday for Tehran’s residents, in an effort to save on water and electricity. Intense heatwaves have added strain to an already-worsening water crisis in the country, brought about by climate change and mismanagement.
$10 million: The Trump administration will incinerate nearly $10 million worth of US-funded contraceptives – intended for poorer nations – in France, after storing them for months in a Belgian warehouse following cuts to USAID programs. The White House reportedly rejected offers from the United Nations and other NGOs to buy or distribute the supplies themselves.
$4 billion: A Saudi business delegation arrived in Syria on Wednesday, where it is expected to sign $4 billion worth of joint projects and deals with Damascus. Riaydh has been a key financial backer in Syria’s post-war rebuilding efforts.
100: Over 100 humanitarian organizations issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling on governments to take decisive action against mass starvation in Gaza. Demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the statement warns that Israel’s partial aid blockade on the enclave has left assistance workers – alongside Palestinian civilians – “wasting away.”
76: Heavy metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne died at 76 on Tuesday. Just weeks ago, the ailing rock icon held a final reunion concert with Black Sabbath, the supergroup that he started as a young lad in Birmingham, United Kingdom, more than half a century ago. So long Oz, may the Crazy Train keep chugging on into eternity.
Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025.
What We’re Watching: Israeli forces advance into new Gaza area, DRC to ink peace deal with rebels, Chilean crime wave pushes voters rightward
Israel advances for first time into central Gazan refuge city
Israeli ground forces have pushed into Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, an area that the IDF has previously largely avoided because it is believed to be where the remaining Israeli hostages are held. The incursion has raised concern for the safety of the many Gazans who have taken refuge there over the course of the conflict. Israel says it aims to dismantle the remains of Hamas’ infrastructure, but families of the hostages have demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appear before them and the public to clarify the risks to their loved ones.
Democratic Republic of Congo to sign peace pact with rebels
The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have agreed to sign a peace deal by Aug 18, following months of Qatari mediation. The US, which has facilitated separate talks between the Congo and Rwanda, is pushing for peace in the long-running conflict, partly in order to facilitate greater Western investment in the Congo's critical mineral resources. For more background, see our recent piece here.
Crime pushes Chile to the right ahead of election
Deep political polarization is afflicting every region of the world these days, but the trend is especially pronounced in Chile ahead of its November presidential election. Current leftwinger Gabriel Boric must bow out due to term limits, and while polls put Communist candidate Jeanette Jara in first place for now, just behind her is ultraconservative Catholic José Antonio Kast, an open admirer of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Given the popularity of several other rightwing candidates, Kast would be the favorite to win a runoff. A key campaign issue: a recent crime wave driven in part by criminal gangs composed of migrants from Venezuela.