🌍 State of the World

Today's developments were dominated by a sharp escalation in the Middle East and a deadly earthquake in the Philippines, alongside continued conflict and diplomatic maneuvering across multiple regions.

• Israel/Iran: Israel and Iran resumed direct strikes in the most serious clash since the April ceasefire, with Iran launching missiles at Israel and Israel striking Iranian targets as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz reignited.
• Lebanon/Yemen/Iraq: Regional escalation widened as Israel continued bombing Lebanon, Houthis resumed attacks on Israel and declared a ban on Israeli Red Sea shipping, and Iran struck Kurdish bases in Iraq—threatening the Bab el-Mandeb and Djibouti's strategic waterway.
• Philippines: A major 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Mindanao, killing at least 37 and injuring 479, triggering tsunami advisories that reached Christmas Island, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau and the Solomon Islands.
• Ukraine/Russia: A Russian missile and drone attack on Kharkiv Oblast killed at least 10 and injured 106, while Putin rejected Zelenskyy's offer for direct talks even as the EU confirmed Ukraine's membership negotiations.
• DR Congo/Uganda: The DRC Ebola outbreak surpassed 500 cases as the WHO launched a $518M response plan and praised neighboring Uganda's containment efforts.
• North Korea: Kim Yo Jong ruled out denuclearization ahead of Xi Jinping's expected first visit to Pyongyang since 2019.
• Finland/Estonia: NATO activated Forward Land Forces in Finland and bolstered its northeastern flank amid reports Russia is preparing an ICJ case against the Baltic states.
• Africa/Latin America: Sudan sought a permanent ceasefire with international backing, Somalia faced clashes over a presidential term extension amid hunger, and Bolivia cleared military deployment against road blockades.