Philippines: Ferry sinking kills 18 as 316 rescued A ROPAX ferry sank near Basilan in the Philippines, killing at least 18, with 316 rescued and 10 reported missing. Disasters like this quickly become political: they raise questions about regulation, vessel safety, emergency response and the informal economies that push people onto risky routes. Ethiopia: Marburg outbreak ends after nine deaths Ethiopia declared an end to a two-month Marburg virus outbreak that killed nin

Guatemala: Ninth policeman dies after prison riots as emergency declared A ninth police officer died from injuries linked to prison riots and attacks on officers in Guatemala; a further dozen officers were injured, and a state of emergency was declared. The numbers matter because they point to state authority being contested not only by gangs but inside the penal system itself — a recurring regional pattern with direct political costs. Philippines: Arrest ordered over ₱92.

Europe: Giant cocaine seizures expose industrial-scale trafficking routes Law enforcement logged two extraordinary interceptions: Swedish police seized three tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Helsingborg, while Spanish police — working with UK and US agencies — seized 10 tonnes hidden among salt cargo off the Canary Islands, arresting 13 people on board. The scale points to trafficking networks operating with the logistics sophistication of legitimate trade — and to ports as

Gaza: Airstrike kills four as ceasefire politics stay brittle An Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering displaced people in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza Strip killed four Palestinians, a grim datapoint that cut through diplomatic language about restraint. Israel said it was targeting Hamas. Even isolated incidents like this can harden negotiating positions and tighten the space for mediators trying to keep broader arrangements intact. Pakistan: Police seize two tonn

Iran: Currency shock fuels protests and a central-bank resignation Protests in Tehran continued for a second day after the Iran’s rial slid and inflation was reported at 42.2%, a jolt that sharpened public anger over living costs. The head of the Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Reza Farzi, resigned, underscoring how quickly monetary stress can turn political when credibility is thin and households feel the hit immediately. India: Contaminated water deaths highlight basic-serv