India secured 60 days of crude oil supply and slashed fuel duties on Thursday as the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent the rupee to a record low. The Indian government was forced to invoke emergency commodity laws, an unmistakable sign that a conflict thousands of miles away is landing hard on one of Asia's largest economies.

As the Middle East conflict grounds cargo flights and spikes energy costs, South Asia's booming growth numbers are beginning to show the cracks beneath.

India outlined an ambitious economic growth plan focused on AI expansion at its February Impact Summit, aiming to shift its largely low-skill workforce towards higher-skill sectors, with support from tech companies, and foreign investors. However, climate experts warn that this plan for a rapid AI-centered expansion could worsen the country’s already severe environmental crisis.

Increasing tensions along the Line of Actual Control are pushing India to strengthen partnerships and broaden its strategic role as a stabilizing power in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Renewed cross-border strikes between Pakistan and Afghanistan since Feb. 21 have intensified tensions along the Durand Line. Civilians living near the border now face displacement, economic disruption and mounting humanitarian risks.

After youth-led protests toppled Nepal’s government in 2025, the country’s March 2026 elections may show whether South Asia’s Gen-Z movements can change street power into lasting political change. 

India’s border dispute with China illustrates how New Delhi prioritizes security and sovereignty over economic competition, particularly before the Galwan Valley clash. As further tensions arise, India’s foreign policy stabilizes diplomacy and defence.

India has delayed announcing its 2035 emissions target even as the COP30 progresses, making it one of the only G20 nations in the conference yet to outline this goal. Many now speculate the government will place a greater emphasis on multilateralism and focus on existing pledges.

As New Delhi and Washington navigate trade tensions, the balance between energy sufficiency and international alliances remains unpredictable. The negotiations could pronounce India’s standing between the East and West.

Prominent Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was murdered on the outskirts of Nairobi at the hands of the Kenyan police on Sunday, Oct. 23. Sharif had sought refuge in Kenya after he left Pakistan in August, fearing for his life. 

During their Migration and Development Brief, the World Bank stated that India is expected to receive a record $100 billion in remittance in 2022, the first time a single country has reached this number. This is a significant increase compared to the $89.4 billion made from India’s remittance rate last year.

Nepal registered the nation’s first legal ​​same-sex marriage between citizens of different countries on Oct. 6, 2024.

Last weekend, US President Joe Biden met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders from Japan and Australia to discuss the future of one of his key foreign policy platforms: the Quad Partnership.

On Sept. 25, the IMF reached a deal with Pakistan, securing the nation the seven billion dollars needed to pay its debts and stay afloat. The news was uplifting to the country that has an external debt of  $130 billion, with $90 billion due over the next three years. The International Monetary Fund, the financial wing of the United Nations, has continuously lent out money over recent years to Pakistan as the nation struggles to pay back interest on decades-old debt. Pakistan has requested a staggering twenty-three bailouts. This request comes as the nation teetered on being unable to pay back its interest obligations, in effect defaulting.

On August 29th, India unveiled a new missile submarine with possible nuclear capabilities in an effort to compete and assert power against China in light of their ongoing dispute.

This past Thursday, September 19th, in Pakistan two individuals were killed over accusations of Blasphemy. The first, Dr. Kanbhar, was shot dead by police after a mob moved to attack him. 

Women’s rights in Afghanistan are in a state of deterioration, amplified by tensions from the Taliban who regained control of the state in August 2021. Throughout November, four prominent women’s rights activists were arbitrarily detained by the Taliban. Hundreds of women’s rights activists, fighting for the right to allow girls to receive an education, are now in the Taliban’s custody.

The Indian delegation to the The United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) pledged to redouble efforts moving away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, among many other commitments, led by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conference, the only multilateral decision-making body on climate change, is taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

In late November, Forbes Magazine used satellite imagery to uncover four previously undisclosed state-run Bitcoin mining facilities in Bhutan. The locations include Dochula Pass, a sacred region home to 108 shrines for fallen Bhutanese soldiers, the town of Trongsa, the Dagana district, and Education City – a failed megaproject designed to create an educational hub in the region.

On Tuesday, rescuers freed 41 construction workers trapped under a collapsed tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, after spending 17 days under rubble. The laborers, all migrant workers from poorer states in India, quickly reunited with their families after their release.

On Nov 11, the Pakistan Navy and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) launched the third edition of their “Sea Guardian” maritime drills. The exercise comes as a move to strengthen Sino-Pakistani ties and enhance strategic capabilities in jointly safeguarding the oceans.

This past Monday, the Nepali government announced a ban on TikTok, the video-sharing app that has accrued over 1 billion users globally. Officials pointed to the prevalent hate content on the app as the main justification for the ban.

On Friday, Nov. 3, a powerful earthquake struck Nepal, a small landlocked nation that lies along the south of the Himalayas. The earthquake is to have caused 150 casualties plus hundreds of injuries, with the possibility that these numbers may rise as aftershocks continue to rumble through the region.

On Tuesday, the state legislature elections within the Indian states of Mizoram and Chhattisgarh began. Elections in the states of Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are set to begin later this week.

On Oct.25, an advanced Chinese research vessel, Shin Yan 6, docked on the port of Colombo amidst India’s fears of China extending its influence over to the Indian subcontinent on an unprecedented scale.

On Oct. 31, suspected insurgents ambushed a group of police commandos sent to the Indian state of Manipur, resulting in a shootout. The situation ended when the Assam Rifles successfully rescued the police from the situation.

On Oct. 3, the Pakistani government announced that all unregistered Afghan refugees will be forced to leave the country by November 2023. Specifically, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the crackdown order on “illegal immigrants.”

The Indian Embassy in Ottawa, Canada announced the resumption of visa services on Oct. 25 in Canada, after a diplomatic fallout between the two countries over the last couple of months.

On Oct. 3, at around 6:30 AM, Indian police staged several raids on the office and private homes of employees at NewsClick – an English-language independent news outlet focusing on “progressive movements.”

On October 17, 2023 in New Delhi, the Indian Supreme Court reached the verdict of denying the recognition of same-sex marriages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration previously opposed petitions to the court because they view the ideology of same-sex marriage as incompatible with the “Indian family unit concept” of a husband, wife, and children.

China has increased its presence through investment, energy ties and diplomacy, raising questions about how its role compares to the United States’ longstanding security influence in the region.

With the Middle East in crisis, the unstable relationship between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah is exposed, as Hezbollah’s war with Israel raises questions in Beirut.

Billions in Gulf investment help stabilize Egypt’s economy, but growing ownership of strategic assets raises questions about political leverage in the Middle East.

The US-Israel-Iran war of 2026 saw Iranian forces repeatedly strike targets in the Gulf countries, even though they did not participate in offensive actions on Iran.

On October 26, 2025, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher, the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) final major stronghold in the western Darfur region. The fighting has devastated the country since 2023: displacing more than 14 million people, killing more than 40,000, and pushing more than 24.6 million people to the brink of famine.

After 13 years of civil conflict, the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad gave Syrians a sense of hope for stability. However, recent attacks led by Assad loyalists threaten the potential to eliminate division within the country.

The steady uptick in Iranian human rights violations has caused public scrutiny and dissent, of which has existed in Iran for decades. However, one must ask, how many more executions have to happen before the public dissatisfaction grows large enough to overthrow the Islamic Republic?

Upon receiving her presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris said she and President Joe Biden were working “around the clock” to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Harris has since made dozens of statements claiming that the administration has been “dedicate[d] to ending this war and bringing the hostages home.”

These statements are misleading.

A new decree from the Taliban is set to ban women from pursuing education in midwifery and nursing, with some students having already been barred from classes. 

The endless cycle of conflict in the Middle East demands a shift from moral debates to pragmatic solutions — a practical, incentive-driven framework may be the only path forward. 

On Oct. 26, Israeli missiles struck military bases in three Iranian provinces. To further prevent Iraq and Syria from intercepting the attacks, Israel’s missiles also targeted their air defense systems. Four Iranian soldiers were killed in midst of the strikes.

US investigators are inspecting how a pair of highly classified intelligence documents leaked online. The two documents that surfaced on the messaging platform Telegram last Friday purportedly detail a US assessment of Israel's plans to strike Iran.

On Oct. 16, 2024, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), was killed by the Israeli military.

Israel has targeted United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon in recent attacks, injuring several and forcing entry into UN bases. 

On Tuesday, October 1, Iran launched around 180 missiles into Israel. These strikes are a direct response to escalations between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah, one of Iran’s regional proxies. Iran stated that the missile attacks were a result of a string of recent killings by Israel, particularly Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this July. 

Conflict in the Middle East has thrust the United States into a diplomatic and strategic high-wire act that is becoming increasingly central to the 2024 presidential election.

On the one-year anniversary of the attacks on October 7, 2023, the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to shape political dynamics and international advocacy.

On Oct. 13, Turkish authorities detained 269 individuals suspected to be members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) across Diyarbakır province in Türkiye.

Speculation of attacks on Iranian oil supplies have caused global oil prices to spike. Fears of disrupted supply have led to sharp price fluctuations, raising concerns of a direct impact on supply and consumer prices.

By endorsing offshore “return hubs” and criminalizing undocumented migrants, the EU’s new Return Regulation threatens to dismantle decades of asylum protections.

EU Energy ministers held an emergency meeting as oil and gas prices surge. Brussels prepares to revive crisis measures from 2022.

In response to a claimed act of ‘economic espionage,’ Russia has expelled British diplomat Albertus Gerhadus Janse van Rensburg. This comes as part of an ongoing move by the Russian Federation to limit British power in Russia, increasing restrictions on who is eligible to be a diplomat in the region.

As the U.S. and Iran argue over the Strait of Hormuz, Downing Street faces rising household bills and plummeting poll numbers just weeks ahead of May's local elections.

Von der Leyen’s call to ditch the rules-based approach to foreign policy has drawn pushback from EU diplomats, member states, and her own colleagues.

In an effort to support allies engaged in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, France has deployed a dozen naval vessels to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and potentially the Strait of Hormuz. This move comes after drones were intercepted while flying towards Cyprus last week.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s delayed approval for the US to use UK bases has put a strain on the ‘special’ US-UK relationship, threatening a crucial trade deal and drawing criticism at home. 

With Italy’s general elections creeping up in 2027, the current center-right ruling coalition is under scrutiny for proposing a new bill that could keep Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in power. 

The UK Government introduced its new plans to build a small nuclear plant in Northern Wales, which has angered the US, who had planned to build a reactor in the same location. British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has previously struck nuclear deals with US President, Donald Trump, and therefore these plans call into question the role of the US in the UK energy sector going forward.

The EU has strengthened its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, imposing new sanctions on Russian trade, and introducing changes to funding and a road-map of future defences against Russian attack. These plans pose a threat to the Russian economy and present an attempt to pressure Russia into peace negotiations.

In August 2025, Germany’s center-left and far-right coalition introduced a bill that would significantly increase military spending.

As Syria stands on the brink of a new era, the European Union faces pivotal decisions that could redefine its role in the Middle East.

Donald Trump's return to power marks a pivotal moment for the European Union (EU). With the European Commission focusing on critical areas like trade, climate, and migration, the EU must brace for the challenges a second Trump term will bring.

The German ruling coalition, led by Olaf Scholz, has collapsed following the firing of the finance minister, Christian Lindler, last week.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) defense spending and international security commitments are attracting much attention as the government balances global threats and budget conflicts.

As BRICS continues to assert its influence, the European Union (EU) must carefully evaluate the implications of its growth. The summit's outcomes hold particular relevance for the EU, given the bloc's strategic interests and increasing involvement in global affairs, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. How is BRICS going to impact the EU's strategic interests?

As of Oct. 22, 2024, the United Kingdom and Germany have signed a significant defense pact to reinforce military collaboration in response to the growing threat posed by Russia. Such an agreement highlights the strategic importance of their alliance as both powers seek to confront escalating security challenges in Europe.

On Friday 25 Oct French authorities revealed they’d charged seven individuals in connection with the cyberbullying of Thomas Jolly, the creative director for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

On Sunday, October 20th, Moldova held a referendum vote on joining the European Union (EU), alongside its planned presidential elections.

Italy's plan to process migrants in Albania faces legal challenges after a Rome court ruled the return of migrants to their countries unsafe and unlawful. While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defends the deal as a European model, critics raise concerns about human rights violations and tensions between national policies and European law.

Accused of war crimes and genocide, Myanmar’s de facto leader assumes the presidency with 73% of votes from a parliament dominated by the armed forces.

Fighting in the Middle East has disrupted thousands of flights, driven up oil prices, and upended key transit routes connecting Southeast Asia with much of the world.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit began on Wednesday Oct. 9 in Vientiane, Laos with a major focus placed on tackling a critical issue within the region: the worsening civil war in Myanmar.

Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia, has recently urged Australian citizens in Lebanon to leave while they still can. An estimated 15,000 Australians remain in Lebanon after Israel initiated a ground operation in Hezbollah.

On Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2024, Thailand’s landmark marriage equality bill was approved by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, making the nation the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage.

On Sept. 18, Indonesia’s Central Bank (Bank Indonesia) announced a decrease in their interest rate from 25 basis points (0.25%) to 6%, in a move that came as a surprise to most experts.

In 2022, New Zealand was lauded for passing the world's first generational smoking ban. In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand has backtracked its course on the ban, announcing a disappointing reversal that has drawn criticism from public health officials.

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine boat on a resupply mission on Oct. 22, 2023, this past Sunday morning. Following the collision, both sides have swapped accusations of blame, heightening tensions in the already-disputed South China Sea.

In the midst of the worldwide polarization over the Israel-Palestine conflict, Southeast Asia has not been immune to its impact. Malaysia and Indonesia, two predominantly Muslim nations, have voiced strong support of the Palestinian cause. In contrast, several other countries in the region have maintained relatively vague or pro-Israel stances on the issue.

This past Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated the country’s first high-speed railway in Jakarta, Indonesia, marking a new phase in the region’s transportation system.

Malcolm Turnbull, the former prime minister of Australia, is leading the charge to curb Rupert Murdoch’s monopoly of influence.

In their March report, the Indonesian super-app provider, GoTo, said that its 2022 net loss widened by 56% to 40.4 trillion rupiah ($2.6 billion) as the company continues to struggle to turn a profit.

Big Western chipmakers are increasingly turning towards Singapore as a production hub, both to meet growing demands and to diversify their supply chain risks.

On Feb. 25 last week, the Philippines marked the 37th anniversary of the People’s Power Revolution.

In early December, The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted interest rates for the eighth consecutive month, taking its benchmark to 3.1%.

Amidst the ongoing political tug of war between the US and China, Biden has to establish what ASEAN centrality means.

President Joe Biden met with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders on Nov. 12, marking the 45th year of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation and raising issues of U.S. support in the region amidst increasing intervention from China.

These are but some of the common ways scammers operate. Protected by the anonymity of the internet, there has been a significant rise in individuals falling for these scams all across Asia.

Japanese megabank Sumitomo Mitsui and U.S. tech giant Microsoft are teaming up to provide financial services to digital platforms in Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian capital of Jakarta is sinking and it is sinking fast. Parts of the megacity could be entirely submerged by 2050, with 95% of North Jakarta estimated to sink. In addition to this, Jakarta has been continuously plagued by traffic congestion, air pollution and land subsidence – all of which contribute to increasingly damaging floods in the region.

After losing key oil lifelines, Cuba faces a White House pressure campaign that has exposed Washington’s regional reach; Havana has answered with concessions and calls for dialogue, but Democratic pushback and Trump’s Iran standoff have complicated what comes next.

The war in Iran continues to escalate as two Marine Expeditionary Units, aboard the USS Tripoli and the USS Boxer, sail towards the Middle East. Together, these deployments will add approximately 5,000 troops to a regional buildup that already includes the 82nd Airborne Division and the USS Abraham Lincoln. This growing U.S. presence comes amid mounting questions of U.S. war crimes in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as Washington struggles with relocating troops against Iranian drone attacks. 

The administration claims that its strikes have significantly degraded Iran’s military capacity. But as long as Tehran can pressure oil flows and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Washington faces a more difficult test: how much economic pain can the United States absorb before it turns toward de-escalation? The central question is not simply how many more sites the United States can hit or how many more commanders Iran can lose. It is whether military pressure can achieve political results without a ground war, or whether the economic blowback to the United States will force Washington toward a deal first.

Chinese-American freestyle skier Eileen Gu’s decision to represent China instead of the U.S. was met with significant backlash, though she is only one of many athletes who chose to represent another nation in past Olympics.

After Anthropic refused to remove safety guardrails from its AI systems, the Pentagon labeled the company a “supply-chain risk,” which is setting off a legal battle that could shape how AI is used in national security.

As the US and South Korea’s Freedom Shield 26 exercise is underway, speculation and unease are mounting over whether the conflict with Iran could distract from the US military’s force posture in the region. 

U.S. and Chinese officials plan a mid-March meeting in Paris before President Donald Trump’s March 31-April 2 trip to China. Beijing’s arms red lines and the Iran conflict are tightening the window for deals.

The US Men’s Hockey Team’s post-win celebration in the locker room sparks political controversy on a global stage.

On Nov. 26, 2024, Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire between the two nations.

As the United States prepares for another Trump administration to assume power in 2024, the nation faces significant political shifts.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, reached an agreement to fund developing nations’ efforts to adopt clean energy and combat climate change through 2035.

Numerous protests have erupted in Jamaica’s tourism sector over complaints of underpayment, long hours, withheld tips, and a lack of job security.

In a time of uncertainty, the Biden administration is working to reassure allies across the globe that their relationships have the potential to remain strong.

As the United States’ 2024 election cycle ends, the international community braces for its potential outcomes. The implications extend beyond domestic policy, potentially shaping the resolution of conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, and Taiwan and China.

As Haiti’s situation deteriorates, the Federal Aviation Administration has introduced new restrictions on US flights to the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince. 

Just weeks before the 2024 election, the Justice Department’s National Security Division warned that the US may face a “multi-pronged” threat from Russia, Iran, and China.

European security has long depended on the United States, including its role in NATO, commitment to defense spending, and conflict involvement. In recent U.S. presidential elections, the prospect of a new administration has raised questions about potential shifts in defense strategies and budget priorities. This election features former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, each representing contrasting approaches to defense and NATO contributions.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, the UN General Assembly called on the US to end its economic embargo on Cuba for the 32nd year. The 193-member General Assembly voted 187-2 in favor of ending the embargo, with only Israel and the US opposing the resolution and one nation abstaining. Former President John F. Kennedy initially implemented the embargo in February 1962 in response to actions by the Cuban government.

At a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Oct. 27, a speaker's racially insensitive joke about Puerto Rico made national headlines and sparked backlash. The twist? The speaker was not Trump.

In October 2024, North Korea sent troops to Russia to aid its war efforts against Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the conflict has attracted substantial international attention, with the US emerging as one of Ukraine’s primary supporters. The involvement of North Korean troops could signal a major shift in Moscow’s strategy in the war.

Vikash Yadav, a self-identified “senior field officer” in the Indian government, was indicted by the US Attorney's Office on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, implicating him in the foiled murder plot of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an attorney and vocal Sikh advocate, earlier this year.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the biannual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from Oct. 6 to 11, 2024, to discuss US foreign policy.

Low attendance at CELAC’s latest summit exposed ongoing divisions and the lasting influence of the United States as the bloc looks to strengthen ties beyond the region.

A US-backed security mission is beginning to deploy in Haiti amid cautious optimism from UN officials, but questions remain over whether foreign intervention can reverse years of state collapse and gang control.

Reports presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 16 indicate that allegations of torture and arbitrary detention in Venezuela have continued despite the removal of President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

Colombia is preparing to impose a 50 percent tariff on roughly 300 Ecuadorian goods in retaliation for Ecuador's matching increase, escalating a trade dispute that threatens more than $2 billion in bilateral commerce. 

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet enters the race to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN secretary-general with backing from Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a failed coup attempt to block the transfer of power after the 2022 election. The ruling concludes a multiyear investigation into the plot, which prosecutors say involved plans to sabotage Brazil’s electoral system and assassinate now President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and now Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.

Peru severed diplomatic ties with Mexico after its government granted asylum to former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who is facing rebellion charges tied to Pedro Castillo’s 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress. The decision marks the most serious escalation in a relationship already strained by years of political friction

Peru has now seen eight different faces for their presidency in the past ten years. On Oct.10, Congress voted to remove President Dina Boluarte amid allegations of illicit enrichment and public outrage over rising violent crime that left her approval ratings in the single digits.

Nicaragua has withdrawn from multiple international organizations amid allegations of human rights violations. Is this a stand for sovereignty or a move to evade accountability?

NYU Stern alumnus Daniel Noboa and Luisa González are set for an April 13 runoff after Ecuador’s Feb. 9 first-round election, but shifting political alliances could reshape the race. As Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza emerges as a key power broker, a feud with Rafael Correa threatens to fracture the left, testing the durability of Correísmo and Noboa’s reelection bid.

The 158-page report done by the UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela revealed a pattern of coordinated human rights violations committed by Venezuelan security forces, government officials, and colectivos - armed, parapolice-like civilian groups loyal to Maduro.

On Wednesday, hundreds of Indigenous people covered in body paint and holding animal images marched in Brazil's capital against the ‘Marco Temporal’ Doctrine.

The Panama Canal, a critical waterway for global trade, is experiencing a severe drought due to the El Nino phenomenon, costing Panama millions of dollars. This drought has led to a significant drop in water in the Gatun Lake; the water source that powers the canal lock system and a water source for residents in Panama City and Colon. 

On Sunday, October 20th, Moldova held a referendum vote on joining the European Union (EU), alongside its planned presidential elections.

On the evening of Oct. 18, the island of Cuba experienced a blackout, leaving 10 million residents without power.

On Oct. 11, the government of Nicaragua announced it would sever all diplomatic ties with Israel.

The inauguration of North America’s first female head of state, Claudia Sheinbaum occurred this past Tuesday, Oct. 4 in Mexico City

Wildfires in the Amazon are rapidly increasing as a result of climate change and illegal deforestation. Wildfire season in the Amazon used to span three months, from August to October; however, climate change, deforestation, and increased use of land for farming has dramatically increased the season to six months, leading to greater destruction of flora and fauna.

Haiti is currently under a state of emergency as a result of its rampant gang violence—thousands are internally displaced, and millions are facing malnutrition. The violence is exacerbated by the damage of hurricanes and floods that have left millions without homes, causing a dramatic drop in GDP. Gang violence has seeped into all areas of the country, but most notably, the capital of Port-au-Prince. Despite its proximity to the United States, many Americans remain unaware of the humanitarian crisis in Haiti. 

Over the weekend 10 more people were reported killed as a result of cartel violence in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. This brings the death toll to over 50, with another 50 missing in the capital city of Culiacan.

Thousands of Bolivians gather on the streets in support of former President Evo Morales, partaking in a 118 mile “March to Save Bolivia” from the village of Caracollo to the political capital of La Paz.

On April 25, Haiti’s transitional council officially took over, signaling the formalization of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation. The transitional government is set to govern until the next presidential election, expected by February 7, 2026.

The United States must consider its next steps, as the temporary license to ease restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sanction is set to expire on Thursday. The agreement's condition, which provides necessary breathing room for Venezuela's oil and gas sectors, would depend on President Nicolas Maduro making democratic progress by the upcoming election date of July 28.

In the lead-up to Mexico's largest election, a wave of violence against political candidates has cast a shadow over the country's democratic process. The targeting of candidates by organized crime groups seeking to influence the outcome of elections has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the safety of those participating in it.

In an interview on Dec. 6th with the IR Insider, Jorge G. Castañeda, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs for Mexico and Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University, shared his insights on the different positions of Latin American countries on the Israel-Hamas War.

The longstanding territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana has escalated in recent weeks, drawing international attention and raising concerns over the potential for a broader conflict. At the heart of the matter is the oil-rich Esequibo region, spanning over 160,000 square kilometers, where significant oil and gas reserves have been discovered.

On Nov. 22, Nelson Piñero, a prominent Venezuelan activist and a member of the opposition party Encuentro Ciudadano, was arrested within the confines of his own home. The charges levied against Piñero were centered around accusations of incitement of hatred.

Doctor Rolando Fonseca, director of the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales Honduras (FLASCO) recently published a paper on immigration trends in Honduras that suggested that the country will not have enough young people to replace the older generations by 2035.