🌍 State of the World

Today's developments were dominated by a sharp escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict spilling across the Middle East, alongside a deadly earthquake in the Philippines and continued instability across multiple regions.

• Israel/Iran: Israel launched major airstrikes on Iran in a rapid escalation of mutual attacks, drawing regional fallout including a World Cup sanctions row.
• Wider Middle East spillover: Iran's IRGC claimed an attack on the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain; Jordan intercepted five Iranian missiles aimed at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base; Kuwait downed "hostile" aerial targets; Yemen's Houthis fired drones and missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia; and a U.S. helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz (UAE), with pilots rescued.
• Lebanon: Israeli strikes killed 14 in south Lebanon and Tyre was ordered to evacuate amid Iran-linked threats.
• Philippines: A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines, killing dozens and triggering tsunami advisories across the Pacific (Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Christmas Island, Palau).
• Ukraine/Russia: Zelenskyy proposed talks with Putin as Russian attacks continued; Poland demanded a seat at peace talks, and Norway pledged €109M for naval drones.
• DRC/Uganda: An Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC reached 550 cases and spread to Uganda, prompting Mauritius to bar travelers from affected states.
• Afghanistan/Pakistan: Pakistani airstrikes killed at least 13 people, including 11 children, in Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces, escalating cross-border conflict.
• Bolivia: The president signed a military law amid a sixth week of blockade protests, deepening the political crisis.