Nepal, Guinea - Poorest countries in the Global South hit by mass climate tragedies they didn’t cause

While the mainstream media has focused on the graphic videos and the number of foreigners amongst those disappeared in Nepal, it has downplayed the underlying issues leading to the tragedy and overlooked the various other countries experiencing impossible and devastating situations.

On the Nepal-Tibetan border, the current death tolls stands at 389, with some 1,300 people still missing. A landslide-flood of water and mud many stories high suddenly hit the area, burying buses, buildings, roads, land and people in seconds. The flash flood was likely caused by a glacier chunk breaking off and temporarily damming a river. Nepal’s glaciers are shrinking by up to 15 meters annually, and that is destabilizing the Himalayan slopes.

Also this week, a landslide at a huge waste dump killed 30 in Guinea. The landslide occurred as a result of heavy rains and flash flooding - which are typical in the region but getting worse, and combine with poor infrastructure. The landslide and collapsing waste covered nearby tents and shacks.

Drought in Jamaica is seeing the government sending water to people in trucks due to a lack of rain. In Sudan, climate change and El Niño are making the hunger crisis there worse - the Nile’s waters are extremely low, which affects farmers. Somalia is also facing a hunger crisis after a long drought, but is now expecting horrific floods in October which will displace people and kill farm animals.

Both Guinea and Nepal emit less than 0.1% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions each. Nepal ranks as the sixth most climate-vulnerable country. For comparison, the US is responsible for about 11.7% to 12.7% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions, at least 117 times as much as Nepal. - PANW, CD, CBC, BN, RW, M, AJ, R, H, BBC

Also in this week’s Global South news

• The Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the fastest growing ever, killing 317 people in the past week (a historic record) for a total of 2,642 so far. -M, PANW

• The new conservative Colombian president has ordered a crackdown on undocumented migrants. He is also planning to build maximum-security mega-prisons. - GSW, GSW

• Iran’s currency hit a record low as US sanctions tightened - TRT

• Paraguay doctors have been on strike for three days so far over wages - ABC

• Bolivians protested the suspension of fuel subsidies, and the right-wing government deployed troops against the protesters. -tS

• Gangs killed up to 42 people in one attack in Haiti, hundreds of residents fled -N, GSW

• Indonesia charged 72 over fires as haze choked Borneo and Sumatra -M

• Kurdish-led SDF announced its dissolution after merging with Syria’s military -AJ

• Rohingya refugees face a deepening triple crisis of shrinking aid, no safe path home, and little hope for the future (little to no access to work, education) after almost a decade of displacement -RW

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People marched in the capital today toward the US embassy in rejection of the US’s economic influence and military presence. The US’s Pax Silica global tech agreement, launched at the end of last year, builds supply chains for AI and semiconductor technologies - including a 1,600 ha industrial hub in the Luzon Economic Corridor. The project will see much of the Philippine’s resources handed over to transnationals. Further, under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, the US has access to some Philippine military bases, which the US can use in its competition with China.

There has been little to no critical English-language media coverage of the Pax Silica initiative, with attention focusing on how much of an edge it gives the US over China. But the hub to be built in the Philippines would consume copious amounts of water and energy, impacting nearby communities and the environment. -BTN, PS, R, ABS-CBN

Headlines in this week’s Global South news

• Colombia earthquake: Some 250 people killed, destroyed buildings and infrastructure is leading to food scarcity in Pereira - C, EH, LR

• Bolivia records its first same-sex civil marriage - MP

• Israel blows up school, strikes religious commemoration site in southern Lebanon despite truce - MEM

• Congo’s Fastest-growing Ebola Outbreak Reaches a Sixth Province - PANW

• New right-wing president in Colombia swears in, promises a heavy hand - BBC

• Mass protests defeat unpopular land reform in Argentina -BTN

• Wildfire ravages Indonesia’s Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park - M, M

• Syrian court sentences ousted president Assad to death in absentia - TRT

• Hundreds of thousands in India protest proposed trade agreement with the US - BTN

• Peru: Far-right Fujimori sworn in as president, amid protests - GL

• Brazilian students protest against Flavio Bolsonaro, education policies -GSW

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Bangladesh floods, sunken boats - Over 1.1 million people across Bangladesh have been affected by floods, including waterlogging and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rainfall. At least 51 people have died, more than half of those Rohingya refugees and others living in Cox’s Bazaar. Nearby, over 500 people on two boats are feared dead, after boats carrying Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar capsized. -RW, JN, MN, BBC,

US to finally leave Iraq - The US has said it will leave Iraq by September 30, following a 23-year-invasion that began in 2003 and continued in 2014 under the pretext of combating ISIS. The Iraqi PM was clear that US companies will remain in the country. In 2007, the US had 170,000 troops in Iraq. It leaves a violent legacy behind, having trained many of Iraq’s current troops, and having killed at least over 400,000 Iraqis during the first eight years of the invasion. - AP, GSW, BBC

While media focuses on Strait of Hormuz, US kills in Iran - Six nights ago, the US resumed bombing of Iran, killing 35 people until today, and people had to flee after the US dropped various bombs near the Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz. In retaliation, Iran targeted US bases in six countries. - MEE, MEM, GSW, TRT

UN wants an arms embargo on the UAE for “aiding in genocide” in Sudan - The UAE supports the RSF in Sudan, and the US supplies a majority of the UAE’s arms. While the UN now says the RSF is committing genocide in Sudan, the Sudanese Army has also played a destructive and violent role in the ongoing civil war there. Further, a Sudanese court has sentenced RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) to death, in absentia, after convicting him of war crimes. In El Obeid, there is reportedly an immediate risk of genocidal massacres as the RSF surrounds the city. An estimated 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition in Sudan this year, - DM, MEM, AJ, GW

Palestine: Israel expands West Bank invasion, kills 11 in Gaza - Israel has signed a US$2.3B deal to expand its settlements in the West Bank with 12,000 new homes. Israel continues to use drones in Gaza to violate the ceasefire and kill people, with 11 killed on Tuesday alone. And, Morocco has signed an agreement to join the so-called “Peace Board”. - MEM, MEM, MEM

4,500 killed in Venezuela earthquake - The government has updated the death toll from last month’s earthquake to 4,561, and 16,700 people injured. -S

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Burkina Faso cuts ties with France - France invaded Burkina Faso in 1896 and incorporated it into the federation of French West Africa in 1904. After gaining independence in 1960, now the country is severing diplomatic relations, after France has continued to interfere. The measure comes after the government also kicked out French troops. -AN, GSW,

Wave of anti-migrant xenophobia in South Africa - Anti-migrant protests are being held in South Africa following months of anti-migrant violence that has forced many people originally from nearby countries to flee. South African police have arrested more than 900 people during the protests. Xenophobic groups had declared June 30 as a deadline for migrants to leave the country, and it seems the migrants are being scapegoated for deeper socio-economic problems and high unemployment. South Africa has relatively few migrants compared to other countries like Uganda with 1.8 million. -TRT, F24, AJ

India protests and worst drought - In the state of West Bengal, the new ultra-right-wing government’s policy of large-scale demolitions of houses and small shops has provoked protests in the state capital and other cities. The country meanwhile is facing its driest June in 100 years, with a rainfall deficit of more than 42% and farmers fearing crop failure. Farmers are protesting in Gujarat state, as renewable energy projects are taking away productive farmland and the compensation farmers are receiving is miniscule. -BTN, TRT, TW

Record food insecurity levels in northern Nigeria - More than 17 million people across nine states in northern Nigeria are experiencing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger. The crisis is expanding in states affected by conflict, and the conflict means people are having to flee their homes and farms, and aid can’t get in. Climate change is leading to resource conflicts, and there are violent campaigns led by campaigns by Boko Haram and ISWAP. -RW

“Board of Peace” settling into Gaza - Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” is planning to separate Palestinians into “humanitarian corridors” that enable Israel to continue its takeover of Gaza. The board’s first “tactical vehicles” arrived at the International Security Force (ISF) base in Gaza on Tuesday, as logistical preparations continue for the deployment of a multinational force in the area. The board has selected the Tel Sultan neighborhood in Rafah as the first area where it will “direct” Palestinians in Gaza to enter in the coming weeks. Israeli forces also moved the concrete blocks marking the yellow line west, expanding areas under their control. - MEM, MEM, TO

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Demands for reparations in Ghana - A conference convened by Ghana’s president and backed by the African Union and UNESCO adopted the Accra Next Steps Commitment on Reparatory Justice, a comprehensive framework aimed at addressing the lasting consequences of slavery, colonialism, and apartheid against Africans and people of African descent. The framework seeks formal apologies, financial compensation, and accountability for slavery’s lasting impact. -TRT, UNESCO, TG

Israel defies Iran-US MoU - Israel has stated that it will not leave its occupied “security zone” in southern Lebanon even if the US demands it, and it will also stay in Gaza and Syria. In Gaza, the UN warns that nearly 1.7 million displaced Palestinians — around 80% of the population — are living in dire conditions with acute shortages of water and shelter. Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon, with environmentalist Mona Khalil among those it has murdered. The US temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil. Iran has now announced the creation of a new “De-confliction Cell” to monitor ceasefire arrangements, as talks continue in Switzerland over 60 days. -MEM, MEM, MEE, GSW, TRT, TO.

Venezuela earthquake - Two earthquakes at over 7 on the Richter scale hit Venezuela last night. Tall buildings around the capital and in nearby states collapsed. At the time of writing, the confirmed death toll was 235, with 4,300 injured, though the final figure will likely be much higher, as rescue teams try to access people in the rubble, and tens of thousands have been reported missing. In the short term, the country’s biggest challenge is a lack of heavy machinery to remove rubble and quickly save people. Estimated economic losses are also very high, at 1-7% of the GDP, and the acting president has announced a huge IMF loan, without yet explaining what Venezuela will be forced to do in exchange for that. -N, P12, AJ

US imposes even more sanctions on Cuba - After Cuba was just recently pressured to pass 176 measures that largely opened the country up to private interests, the US has still gone ahead and added even more sanctions to existing ones that are choking the country. The latest sanctions target the Cuban Army and other state-owned companies, such as GeoMinera, a mining company. -BT

50 Israeli soldiers deployed to Somaliland - Israel has deployed troops to Somaliland earlier this year, though the news only came out over the past week. The move is part of its efforts to control the Gulf of Aden. Somaliland faces Yemen at the entrance to the Red Sea. -TC, i24

Protests in Colombia following right-wing victory - After the victory of the Trump-backed candidate in Colombia, there were major protests, particularly in Cali, where demonstrators burned US flags and clashed with riot police who responded with tear gas; students also protested in Bogotá outside the National University. - E

Pakistani Kashmir protests, food cut off - People in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are protesting over legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, which some say Pakistan exploits to maintain political control. In response, the Pakistani government launched a crackdown that reportedly left 58 people dead, while also allegedly restricting the flow of food, fuel, and medicines into the region to pressure protesters (Pakistani authorities deny imposing any blockade). Residents are reporting acute shortages and are calling for a massive march. -I

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Cuba going through its “worst time” this century, discusses economic measures - Cuba’s parliament is discussing various structural changes, including decentralising prices, changes to banking and taxes, broadening foreign investment, salary reform and employment protections, and changes to state property relations. Cuba is experiencing its “worst” moment “this century … the current reality is forcing necessary and urgent changes,” the president told parliament today. -CD, CD, CD, CD, N, tS, CD

Iran and the agreement to “end” the war - Iran and the US will sign an MoU Friday to end the war, and according to the text, this includes; the “permanent termination” of military operations” on all fronts including Lebanon, respect for sovereignty, a final deal within 60 days, the lifting of the US’s naval blockade, no charge in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, US-provided reconstruction funds, an end to all US sanctions against Iran, Iran won’t produce nuclear weapons, the US will unfreeze Iran’s assets… and more. Nevertheless, Israel has rejected withdrawing from Lebanon and has hit the country with drone strikes today. -TO, TO, MEE, PC, NPR

Bolivia “returns to normalcy” - After 48 days of protests, Bolivian workers have presented a proposal for peace to the right-wing president while attending a formal dialogue. The COB (Bolivian Workers’ Centre) is demanding guarantees for human rights and the repeal of rules restricting the right to protest, economic sovereignty and the defence of public companies (ie no privatisations), transparency, public consultations, and more. The president claimed Bolivia is now returning to normalcy, but 50 road blockades remain in place. - N, N, tS

Fujimori appears to have won Peruvian elections - At the time of writing there are still no official results, but rightwinger Keiko Fujimori appears to have very narrowly beaten Roberto Sánchez. The outcome has sparked massive protests, with accusations of fraud. These come in the context of a US-backed coup against the previous elected president, Pedro Castillo, who was also left-leaning, though not in Sánchez’s left coalition. -W, N, P, RI

Equatorial Guinea government resigns over not doing its job - Equatorial Guinea’s government has resigned after failing to meet its objectives. The prime minister presented the resignation of all members of the government after it only reached 10% of its targets. The president had also observed that the government fostered corruption and “failed to diversify the economy.” However, he has ruled since 1979 and has appointed family members to key government roles. -PANW

MSF sacks 18 staff for sexually assaulting Sudanese refugees - Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed that 18 members of its staff in eastern Chad have been dismissed for “serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse … reported by Sudanese refugee women”. The US, meanwhile, has directed its representatives at institutions like the World Bank and the IMF to oppose loans or debt relief to the Sudanese government, except in cases of emergency humanitarian projects. - AA, TRT, D

Venezuela signs deal with GE, US bombs Venezuela - The Venezuelan government is using the private sector to try to address its energy needs, signing an MoU with GE Vernova, a company formed from the 2024 breakup of US conglomerate General Electric. A few days before, the US launched a military strike inside Venezuelan territory that apparently killed a leader of criminal group Tren de Aragua. The acting Venezuelan government called it a joint operation. The Tren de Aragua group has no activity with nor in the US, and Venezuela claimed it had been dismantled in 2023. -VA, VA, tS

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Massive teachers’ protests in Mexico - The National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) has held a series of protests since mid May, with a national strike to demand improved working conditions, including the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law Reform — which basically privatised pensions and meant the final amount isn’t guaranteed. President Sheinbaum had promised to repeal the reform during her presidential campaign, but hasn’t. Instead, the government has repressed protesters, firing tear gas and rubber bullets, including at one teacher, who lost his left eye as a result. The teachers have tried to take over the main square in Mexico City and have threatened to stop the World Cup. -LJ, SEM, SEM

Colombia heads to June 21 runoff - After presidential elections on the weekend, far right candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella, and Iván Cepeda for the left, will head to a runoff election. De la Espriella received slightly more votes than Cepeda. Trump had expressed support for De la Espriella, in a similar way as he did with Honduras’ elections recently, which the left called out as interference. The current left president, Gustavo Petro denounced irregularities in the voting and said he didn’t recognise the results. -N, I, C1

Lebanon, Israel agree to US-backed ceasefire - While the two countries have agreed on various ceasefires already, which Israel consistently violates, on Thursday the three countries issued a joint statement to implement a conditional ceasefire. -BT

No, Guatemala doesn’t want the US in its territory - Guatemalan president Bernardo Arévalo met with US Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan today, and said he appreciated bilateral collaboration, including around security and drug smuggling. The visit came amid controversy after reports emerged (ie media outlets like the NYT lied) that Guatemala had agreed to joint U.S. airstrikes against drug trafficking networks — a claim Guatemalan authorities denied. -PL

Ebola outbreak in DRC growing - There are now 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths, in eastern DRC, with the WHO declaring a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments, and a fatality rate of 30–50%. The response is severely hampered by ongoing conflict and forced displacement in the country. Uganda has also reported 15 cases. - BT, CD

RSF allegedly killed 27 civilians in non-militarised zone - Sudan Doctors Network said the RSF last Thursday attacked villages in North Kordofan and killed 27 people. -PAN

Bolivians take over oil fields and facilities - After a month of protests, strikes, and blockades, movements have seized the Campo Humberto Suárez oil well in Santa Cruz and blockaded the YPFB plant in Senkata (El Alto), and communities in Yapacaní threatened to take over additional oil fields unless the right-wing president resigns. -PO, RLA,

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Bolivians protest and strike - After marching for 20 days, small farmers’ unions have declared an indefinite general strike demanding the resignation of President Rodrigo Paz, and protesting a new law which undermines Indigenous and land rights by opening the door to corporate agribusiness. The Federation of Mining Cooperatives of La Paz has joined them, protesting shortages, fuel access, and pending mining contracts. Amidst this, a Bolivian court issued a new arrest warrant for former president Evo Morales, and his bank accounts were frozen pending his appearance in court. Morales has called the case “lawfare.” -N, J, PD

CIA director visits Cuba - A US government plane was seen in Havana as CIA director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials there, today. This follows the US Navy and Air Force having conducted more than two dozen surveillance flights near Havana and Santiago de Cuba since early February — a pattern that also preceded US military operations in Venezuela and Iran. Meanwhile, the Cuban energy minister said the country has run out of fuel, and amid partial blackouts across the island, President Díaz-Canel said Cuba would accept humanitarian aid offered by the United States — with fuel, food, and medicine as top priorities — but insisted the real solution was lifting the blockade. - CD, CD, BTN, CD, R

Historic prisoner swap in Yemen - The largest since the outbreak of war in 2014, the government and Houthis will exchange 1,700 prisoners. -N

More massive Indian worker protests - Hundreds of thousands of workers took to streets across India on Tuesday in solidarity with the unorganised workers facing state repression in various parts of the country. Also in India, deadly storms have killed over 100 people. - PD, TRT

Massive protests in Argentina as well - Hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and university staff, joined by movements and trade unions, protested across Argentina on Tuesday to demand Milei fund public universities. At the same time, Buenos Aires has begun a process of privatising its water. - PD, LJ

Rubbish, rodents leading to public health catastrophe in Gaza - Thanks to Israeli destruction and stopping most aid, there have been more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections in Gaza so far in 2026, with over 80% of displacement camps reporting recurring rodent and pest infestations, as well as skin conditions such as scabies and lice. There are now 40 million tons of accumulated waste across Gaza serving as a breeding ground for vermin, flies, and disease. The collapsed sewage system and a lack of medical care are also making things worse. - S, M, TES

Nigerian military apparently kills 100 people in market - The Nigerian military is denying reports by Amnesty International and the Red Cross that a military airstrike on Sunday hit a market in Tumfa in Zamfara state. Amnesty said that in one village alone, 80 civilians were buried. -PAN

Landless squatters protest in Nepal - The government is carrying out an eviction drive across the country, bulldozing settlements. -IT

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US / Israeli intervention in Honduras, Americas - Leaked audios allegedly demonstrate that Trump and Netanyahu plan to build a new military base and provide legal support for AI companies in Honduras via recently-freed former Honduran president, Juan Orlando Hernández. Similar audios, part of a leak to Hondurasgate and Canal Red, allegedly demonstrate plans for a media campaign against the Mexican and Colombian governments. -DR, H, DR

Drought, hunger displaces more than 500,000 people in Somalia - Between last September’s failed rains and harvest, and war choking off aid with vital food shipments stranded, people in Somalia are struggling. More than 500,000 have been forcibly displaced this year. -TRT, AJ

Various violent attacks in Mali - Armed groups coordinated attacks around the country over the weekend, including one attack that killed the defence minister and his wife. The Malian president said the attacks were “foreign-sponsored”. -NPR, R, PD.

42 people die in clashes over water in Chad - Less than half the people in the country have access to safe drinking water, and there is climate-induced drought, insufficient infrastructure, and large camps of Sudanese refugees. Clashes over the scarce resource in one village saw 42 people killed and others injured. -PANW

El Salvador passes life imprisonment for minors - Minors can now receive life sentences for major crimes in El Salvador. The country continues to operate under a state of emergency. -N

Kenyan court recriminalizes abortion -The court overturned a 2022 High Court ruling that abortion is a constitutional right, and recriminalized abortion. -PD

18 Global South countries moving towards treaty to end fossil fuels - Around 55 countries gathered in Colombia this past week in an effort to establish international cooperation around phasing out fossil fuels and halting the climate crisis. Some 18 countries, all in the Global South, are already participating in the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative. Tuvalu and Ireland will co-host the second conference within the next year. -FFT, FFT, FFT, FFT.

Protests for workers’ rights - Protests are just kicking off around the world for 1 May. A massive march was held in the Philippines, one of the countries most severely affected by the Hormuz Strait situation, and with workers demanding wage increases and commodity price decreases. - ABS

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Fuel shortages cripple Mozambique - Like many countries, especially in the Global South, fuel shortages are having serious consequences in Mozambique, with long queues, disruption to services, no public transport, and fuel rationing. -TRT

Trump extends Lebanon ceasefire, Israel kills more journalists - Israeli forces killed journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday. Since 2 March, Israel has killed 27 journalists in Lebanon. Trump announced a 3-week extension to the “ceasefire” today, hours after Israeli airstrikes killed three people. Israel has established a “yellow line” within southern Lebanon, replicating the same yellow line it is using in Gaza. -MEM, MEE, TO, MEE, MEM, PD

Right wing goes to run off in Peru - Keiko Fujimori will face the ultraconservative López Aliaga in a runoff election in June. That means that either way, Peru will be added to the growing number of right-wing led countries in Latin America (though with the coup government there, it was already right wing). -W, EFE, RTVE

Nepal protests new government - Nepal’s new government, largely voted for as a response to protests against corruption in September last year, is itself now the target of protests. The protests are against the scrapping of student unions, a controversial customs duty on goods from India, and growing demands for Minister Sudan Gurung’s resignation over alleged financial irregularities. -SGL, IT

416 people kidnapped in Nigeria in March are still captive - On 3 March, Boko Haram kidnapped 416 people, mostly children and women. They are still being held, as the armed group continues to demand a ransom from the government. A 72-hour deadline for payment expired on Wednesday, with the group saying hostages would be harmed. -AA, SR

Trump announces Iran ceasefire extension - US president Trump announced on Tuesday an extension of the Iran ceasefire — set to end Wednesday, though Iran alleged the extension was a ploy for a surprise attack. Trump said its naval blockade would remain in place. -TRT, TO

Gambia begins paying reparations - The Gambia has begun paying reparations to more than 1,000 victims of the Jammeh-era; the violent 22-year regime of former president Yahya Jammeh that ended in 2017. -AA

Afghanistan faces water shortages - In Kabul, groundwater levels are dropping, seeing many residents having to walk long distances to communal taps or rely on deliveries. -TRT

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150,000 dead in 3 years in war in Sudan - April 15 marks 3 years of war in Sudan, and it continues. The war has claimed at least 150,000 lives, most of them civilians. In total, the conflict has displaced 14 million people; 9 to 10 million internally, and 4.4 million refugees and asylum seekers are living in neighbouring countries. Recently, 44 people were killed by drone strikes in central Darfur, and there has been a sharp increase in this kind of attack since the start of the year. -AA, DS, AA, RW.

Indian workers demand wage hike, protest - Workers in Noida, India’s industrial hub, burned cars, as they demanded better wages amid price hikes and a sharp rise in cooking gas prices. Police conducted widespread arrests — at least 300, including “cautionary arrests” and main roads were blocked, while factory floors were empty. -TRT, TOI, TW

US military fully withdraws from Syria after 10 years - US troops left via Jordan as Damascus moves to take over the last US-held base. -MEE

10-day “ceasefire” in Lebanon - Israel has already violated the ceasefire agreement it struck with Lebanon late on Thursday, the Lebanese Army said, with the shelling of various villages. Lebanese people were celebrating Thursday, and thousands started moving back to their homes in the south. The total death toll over the past six weeks of Israeli bombing is 2,055. The short ceasefire follows talks between the Lebanese and Israeli government, and Hezbollah said they would respect the ceasefire. -N, TRT, MEM, DSN

Close vote in Peruvian presidential election - Currently, with votes still being counted, candidates are very close and will have to go to a runoff; conservative Keiko Fujimori has a comfortable lead at 17%, while left-leaning Roberto Sanchez and far-right candidate Rafael Lopez Aliaga are neck-to-neck at around 12% each. -R

250 Rohingya refugees feared dead - A boat of Rohingya refugees capsized in the Andaman Sea, near Myanmar and Thailand. The boat, with 280 people, was trying to get to Malaysia. Only about 30 people survived, while the rest are unaccounted for. -TRT

Damage and harm in Iran - According to the Iranian government, the US and Israel have killed at least 3,375 people, have damaged 140 heritage sites, and over 40,000 homes. Iran announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz Friday. -MEM, MEM, tS, NPR

Kenya sues BP - The High Court in Kenya ruled Thursday that a class action lawsuit against multinational oil and gas company BP can go head. The suit states that decades of improper toxic waste disposal contaminated drinking water in northern Kenya. It claims that the waste, which contained radioactive materials, contaminated ground water and sickened or killed hundreds of residents and livestock. -M

Eviction of Indigenous communities in Guatemala - Despite the fact that centre-left president Arévalo had signed an agrarian pact against such evictions, the government continues to evict Q’eqchi communities. -PC

Increased poverty in the Philippines - Surging oil prices could push 1.34 million Filipinos into poverty. Farmers and transport workers are particularly affected. -R

Israel restricts aid into Gaza - Since the October “ceasefire” in Gaza, Israel has killed 733 people. MSF says that Israeli military control of the strip and limiting of aid is “suffocating life.” There are critical shortages of bread, baby formula, and water. -MEM, MEM, M

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Israel bombed Lebanon 100 times in 10 minutes - Less than a day after the ceasefire agreement for Iran, Israel killed at least 303 people. Today, Netanyahu said he would begin peace talks with Lebanon, though he has said that before. -MEE, MEE, DN, TO

Iran recap - On Friday, the US-Israel coalition completely destroyed a research centre at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. The next day, they targeted rail infrastructure. Then Trump threatened to target more vital infrastructure, calling Iranians “animals”. He later upped the racist, horrific vitriol and threatened to send Iran “back to the Stone Age” and said Iran’s “civilisation will die”. In response, Iranians formed human chains around critical infrastructure in order to protect it. Pakistan intervened, and Trump announced Tuesday night his time a two-week ceasefire. While so far, it appears the ceasefire is sort-of holding, one of the points was for Israel to stop bombing Lebanon, and that hasn’t happened yet. - TRT, TRT, MEM, EP, PD, MEM, TW

Argentina approves mining in glaciers - Milei promoted, and the parliament approved, a bill that allows mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost. -HDN

Cuba gives go ahead to mixed public-private companies - Under pressure from the US, and in order to try to increase the country’s exports (and therefore access to foreign currency reserves), Cuba will now allow joint state-private enterprises. -N

Israel kills 3 journalists in one day - Israel carried out deadly strikes in both Gaza and Lebanon on Wednesday, killing journalists Mohammed Samir Wishah, Ghada Dayekh, and Suzan Khalil. Wishah worked in Gaza for Al Jazeera and was directly targeted. Lebanese journalist Suzanne Al-Khalil, a presenter for Al-Manar TV, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Kayfoun. -CPJ, AJ, JT

World Bank pressures Bolivia to open up to mining investments - Bolivia’s new conservative government has implemented a range of economic laws to “reactivate” the economy, i.e. open it up to transnational companies to exploit, including mining and petroleum companies. - N

Sudanese teachers unpaid since 2022 - Some Sudanese teachers haven’t been paid since 2022, and other teachers in Al-Jazirah state complained of very low wages and arrears dating back to 2023. In response, the state head of education threatened to replace teachers with paramilitary troops. -PAN

Bangladesh bans political party - The new Bangladeshi government has effectively banned the Awami League’s political activities, including meetings and social media posts. The Awami League was in power during the 2024 uprising that toppled the PM. -P

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Sudan hospital struck - A drone strike targeted Al-Daein Hospital in Sudan’s East Darfur state on 20 March, rendering it inoperable and, according to the WHO, killing 70 people, including children and medical staff, and injuring 89 others. It wasn’t initially clear if the RSF or the Sudanese Army were responsible, but the attack took place in an RSF-controlled area. A Dabanga/Yale report later concluded the SAF were responsible and had deliberately targeted the hospital. Further, areas of Sudan are facing a serious drinking water crisis as a result of the dry season and a lack of infrastructure. -3A, PANW, UN, D, D

UN declares slave trade “gravest crime against humanity.” - The UN General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, with 123 countries supporting the move. It could pave the way for discussions on reparations. The US, Israel, and Argentina (with its pro-Trump government) were the only countries to vote against the resolution, whereas most of the Global North, including most of Europe, as well as Japan and a few other countries, abstained. - UN

Israel expands ground invasion of Lebanon - The Israeli military said in a social media post today that their troops would operate in southern Lebanon “with the aim of expanding” a “buffer zone” in the area. A few days prior, Israeli forces detonated explosives to destroy a mosque in a residential neighbourhood in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese government reported that 1,094 people have been killed and more than 3,000 injured since this latest Israeli offensive began. More than 1 million people have been displaced. - TRT, AJ, OCHA

Thousands march in Argentina’s to mark 50 Years after the coup - Masses of people marched, stating “memory is our tool” and demanding the state provide information about those who were forcibly disappeared. - D, P12, LJ

US pressuring Uruguay to break commercial ties with China - As with many countries, especially in Latin America and the Global South, Uruguay revealed that the United States is exerting “unimaginable” and “unsustainable” pressure on the country to “break” its trade relationship with China. -MP

Over 5,000 Haitians murdered in a year - A new UN report details the human rights impacts of the expanding reach of gangs in Haiti, including their control over key sea and road routes. -OHCHR

Harsh blockade and solidarity with Cuba - Cuba has now suffered various long-lasting blackouts, thanks to the US’s decades-long blockade, as well as its more recent prohibition against any country sending fuel to the island. One NYT investigation found that some patients in Cuba are dying and suffering as a result. Activists have arrived in Cuba on planes and a boat to bring supplies and break the blockade. - CD, TRT, LP/NYT

Chile protests for the environment - Chileans demonstrated in at least 15 different cities against the new right-wing government’s decision to end 43 environmental decrees made by the previous government. The decrees included protection for various animal species, the creation of national parks, regulations for thermoelectric emissions, and plans to clean-up contaminated areas, like Lake Villarrica. -M, C16

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January, February deadliest ever for migrants in the Mediterranean - According to the International Organisation for Migration, the first weeks of 2026 have been the deadliest on record, with over 600 refugees and migrants confirmed missing — and many more feared lost. With no coordinated reporting, rescue, or transparency, the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean are shrouded in secrecy. - PANW

Chad shuts Sudan border after strike kills civilians - The Chadian president has ordered the immediate closure of Chad’s 1,300-kilometre border with Sudan and placed its military on maximum alert after a reportedly Sudanese, RSF drone strike on a border town, Mabrouka. A gathering of civilians was hit, and at least 16 people killed. -D

Ecuador curfew and alleged bombing of Colombia - As the US “works” with Ecuador in a supposed military offensive against organised crime - supplying troops and arms, the country has imposed a curfew and arrested almost 400 people in two days. Some 30,000 troops have been deployed around the small country. Nearby Colombia has accused Ecuador of launching bombs into its territory, near the border. An unexploded bomb was found, as well as 27 scorched bodies. -tS, P, F24, NM

Israel continues assault on Lebanon, apparently planning significant invasion - Israeli attacks on Lebanon are intensifying, with some 350,000 people displaced and at least 850 people killed in the three-week campaign. According to Israeli media, Israel plans to occupy the first line of villages in southern Lebanon. The US is pressuring Syria to join in Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. -MEM, MEM, BN, TRT, TO

Media barely blinks as 400 reportedly killed in Afghanistan - On Monday, the Afghan government reported that Pakistan had launched a bomb at a hospital in Kabul, killing some 400 people, Later, when forensic workers confirmed that at least 100 people had been killed in a drug rehab facility, a few media outlets briefly mentioned the event. Some 3,000 patients were crammed into the hospital meant for just 1,000 people. The incident comes after Pakistan declared open war on Afghanistan. - TAT, PANW, BBC, NPR

US-Israel continue to bomb Iran, Iran continues to respond - It’s very hard to get a sense of the harm caused to Iran, as the mainstream media focuses on oil prices, and most sources reporting total deaths are unreliable or have vested interests. Hengaw says 5,300 people in Iran have been killed so far, while HRANA, a US-based agency, says 3,100 have been killed since 28 February. Trump has threatened to blow up Iran’s gas field, the largest in the world. -H, CGTN, NBC

Niger summons European envoy - Hours after the European Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the “immediate and unconditional release” of former France-backed president Mohamed Bazoum - ousted in 2023 - the Nigerien government stated it “will not accept any directive” from Europe and summoned the EU envoy to formally protest. -PD

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Argentina’s Milei makes biggest reform of labour laws in 50 years - Firing people will be easier and 12-hour days allowed in Argentina now, with paying overtime optional. The reform also limits strikes, with essential-service workplaces like schools, transport, energy, and hospitals having to guarantee minimum 75% provision. The changes also basically privatise social security. While the senate passed the reform Friday, there were significant protests outside the building. -EP, LJ

US starts joint military operations in Ecuador supposedly against drugs - The US has launched joint military efforts to combat “designated terrorist organisations” with the right-wing government in Ecuador that took the country from being quite peaceful to riddled with organised crime violence. The “terrorist” designations were made by the US, not by Ecuador. US special operations are expected to assist in raids for an “undefined” amount of time. Meanwhile, Ecuador also ended its relations with Cuba and expelled its ambassador, and also recently passed a mining and energy law that puts the Galapagos Islands at risk. Ecuador is also expected to sign a trade agreement with the US next week. -N, I, PD, SC, P, P

US-Israel drops 4,000 bombs on Iran, conflict escalates across the region - Israel said that it dropped 4,000 bombs on Iran in the first four days, with strikes hitting key government buildings, schools, hospitals, and, according to the US, over 20 Iranian naval vessels. The US and Israel combined had killed 1,230 people in Iran by Thursday. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was confirmed killed. He had held the position since 1989. Now, an interim leadership council is in charge.

Since the first strikes Saturday, things have escalated, with Iran then retaliating against key US bases and economically strategic targets and Israeli targets, and France and Greece dispatching warships Tuesday to Cyprus after Iran hit a UK base there. NATO has said it is prepared to defend its member countries from attacks from Iran. Some 330,000 people across the region have been forcibly displaced. Trump also approved US strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. -TO, N10, MP, PANW, MEM, MEE, TRT, TO, TRT

Global South protests US-Israel attacks on Iran - There were protests around the world in response to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Mainstream media downplayed these demonstrations, especially those in the Global South. People in New Delhi protested and criticised the Indian government’s lack of condemnation of the attacks, and US marines opened fire on demonstrators in Karachi outside the US consulate. There were also massive protests in Islamabad, Lahore, Kargil, Beirut, and Baghdad. In total, 23 protesters were killed in Pakistan. There were also protests in Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Turkey. -IT, R, LR, PD

Israel bombs Lebanon, continues breaking ceasefire agreement there - In a few days, Israeli forces have killed 123 people and wounded almost 700 since Monday, and at least 28,000 people have been displaced. Now, Israel has announced a new ground incursion into the country and Hezbollah has said it has been left with no choice but to return to resistance. -TRT, MEE, AJ

Senegal continues to implement electric bus policy - Senegal is employing 121 electric buses that run entirely on renewable energy. -CT

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48 die in Brazil floods - Southeast Brazil has been hit by extremely strong rains and streets in Juiz de Fora, a city of 560,000, are covered in mud, while authorities are concerned about more landslides. -AP, CD

US mainstream media makes Mexico’s suffering about US tourists - After the US has driven the so-called War on Drugs in Mexico for the past 20 decades, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and forced disappearances, then largely forced the Mexican government to capture the head of the organised crime corporation, the CJNG, the US media then made the ensuing violence about US tourists. Many states shut down schools and universities after the CJNG responded to the death of the cartel leader, El Mencho, with hundreds of roadblocks, burning public buses and public banks (not typically used by tourists, but which locals depend on). Some 60 security forces and organised criminals were killed in confrontations. -AP, AP

Zimbabwe turns down US$367-million US health “deal” - The US offered Zimbabwe the money over five years to support a million Zimbabweans to receive HIV treatment in exchange for broad access to health data and control over the country’s disease response. -PANW

Cuba doctors expelled from Honduras while Cuba returns fire on Florida boat in its waters - Under pressure from the US, the Honduran government has cancelled its agreement with Cuba and will expel 169 Cuban doctors working there. A US-civilian boat attacked Cuban personal in Cuban waters, and the authorities fired back, killing four people. - TI, LJ

Pakistan declares open war on Afghanistan - Pakistan has bombed Kabul and other cities after Afghanistan attacked its border. The Pakistani government declared open war, after there have been various back-and-forth deadly strikes between the two countries since October. - SCMP, F24

No deal reached in US-Iran talks - While the US has deployed its largest military presence in the region in nearly 20 years, it is also demanding that Iran destroy its three main nuclear enrichment sites. The two countries are holding indirect, mediated talks around the demand, and while they aren’t agreeing, technical details will be addressed on Monday, suggesting there has been some progress. While the US insists on zero enrichment, Iran wants to continue its nuclear power development program, with safeguards. The US has threatened “really bad things” if Iran doesn’t agree to its demands. - PD, PBS

Peru political upheaval - Last week, Peruvian legislators installed Jose Balcazar as interim president after Jose Jeri was voted out of office by Congress after just four months following a scandal. Then, Balcazar swore-in Denisse Miralles as prime minister on Tuesday, despite having officially announced days earlier that the position would go to former presidential candidate Hernando de Soto. -PR, EP, R

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2 million people face hunger in Kenya - Drought has hit Kenya over the past few weeks, and could lead to millions facing hunger, on top of others fleeing the northern part of Kenya due to conflict. Farm animals are already dying from the drought. Thanks to climate change and Global North pollution particularly, the country’s wet season, from October to December, was one of the driest ever.- KTN, M

BNP leads Bangladesh elections - After the 2024 protests that lead to the ouster of the PM, Bangladesh held elections today. The previous governing party did not run. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party currently has a strong lead, but there are no official results yet, at the time of writing. The BNP is an older, traditional, and right-leaning party. Bangladesh has also signed a trade deal with the US, which, among other things, forces it to purchase US energy products and gives other US goods preferential entry into the country. -TRT, AJ, P

Indonesia prepares to send 8,000 troops to Gaza - As part of Trump’s “Peace” board, Indonesia will send 8,000 soldiers for the “stabilisation force.” The Indonesian government has stated it would only participate in missions focused on reconstruction, medical care, and so on, and with Palestinians’ approval, but the reality seems otherwise. -MEE, PC, ABC

National strike in India - No to US trade deal - Today, Indian farmers and workers went on strike in opposition to four new labour codes, as well as the trade deals with the US and EU. Farmers burned symbolic copies of the India-US trade pact in their fields and at protest meetings, saying the government moved ahead without consulting them nor considering their needs. Trade unions said they expected 300 million workers to participate in the strike. It seems the trade deal is similar to what the US has with Mexico, where cheap and subsidised US produce is forced on the country, and local farmers struggle to compete. -T, F, PD, F

Mexico sort of reduces its working week - Mexico’s Senate has approved reducing the working week from 48 hours to 40, by 2030, with hours reducing gradually each year. Mexico will still only have one obligatory day of rest per week, and the majority of workers are still informal and will keep working seven days a week. The change has to now go to the Chamber of Deputies for approval. - M, EP, I

Chile launches Latin America AI - An alliance of 15 countries have launched Latam GPT from Chile, aimed at including Latin American information and realities, as well as Indigenous languages. -GB, N

DRC opposition to US minerals deal - The US held a minerals summit last week and signed a range of deals with African countries to access their minerals (most of which would go to US tech companies). But in Kinshasa, lawyers and human rights activists critique the deal’s impact on the DRC’s sovereignty, and have filed a lawsuit - details so far are unclear. - PANW

Report: Israel used weapons in Gaza that evaporated thousands of Palestinians - The US-supplied thermal and thermobaric munitions burning at 3,500°C left no trace of an estimated 2,842 Palestinians. - AJ

300 injured in Argentinian protests against new labour reform - The government has passed a new bill that curbs the right to strike, allows for 12-hour working days, and curtails severance payments. Police repressed protests on Wednesday, detaining 31 people. - CD, MP

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Hundreds die in mine landslides in DRC - Last Wednesday, several mines at a major coltan mining site in eastern Congo collapsed as a result of landslides from heavy rains, though the news didn’t reach the media until the weekend. The mines, controlled by the M23, also likely collapsed because they are dug by hand and unsafe. Coltan contains tantalum, a key component of smart phones and laptops. At least 300 people were killed in the disaster, with many still buried. -CGTN, NPR, F24

Right-wing win in Costa Rica - Laura Fernández Delgado has been elected as the new president of Costa Rica. She has promised to create a “third republic” which would include institutional changes and declarations of states of emergency in order to allegedly tackle crime - an overt copy of Bukele’s model in El Salvador. She has also promised to build prisons like El Salvador’s CECOT. -EM, TSE, EM, N

482 deaths in prison in El Salvador - Since the right-wing government declared a state of emergency, allegedly to address the serious gang situation, 482 people have died in prisons, most of them with no ties to gangs. - N

Pakistani forces kill over 170 in Balochistan - Across two days, authorities announced they had killed 177 supposed militants of the Baloch Liberation Army, which they say had been carrying out suicide bombings and attacks on police stations. Authorities also imposed months-long security restrictions on the province, banning public gatherings and demonstrations, and limiting traffic movement. Ethnic Baloch are seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of the area’s natural resources, but Pakistani authorities blame BLA violence on “Indian terrorism.” -PANW, EN, AJ

Malaysia bans e-waste imports - Malaysia has announced an immediate and full ban on the importation of electronic waste. The government says the country will not be a “dumping ground” for the world’s waste. Toxic metals from e-waste contaminate soil and water. -DW, AP

US warships arrive in Haitian capital - The US has sent the ships just as the mandate for the Transitional Presidential Council in the country ends this weekend. The US claimed the war ships were aimed at “Haiti’s security, stability, and brighter future.” It has also intervened by taking a strong position on who should succeed the council: business person and PM Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. -tS, X, MH, PD

75 people killed in massacre in Nigeria - Some 75 people were killed in two towns in Nigeria on Tuesday by “bandits” or “terrorists”. The head of one town, Alhaji Umar Saliu Tanko, said three of his children were killed and his wife abducted. - TDL

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Internet somewhat restored in Iran, US builds up military in the region - Confirmed details of the protests are still hard to come by, especially as the internet was restricted for three weeks and only began to partially resume on Wednesday, though most websites are still blocked. According to European and US human rights groups (who aren’t without their own interests), doctors who help injured protesters are being arrested. On Tuesday, Trump said an “armada” is heading towards Iran, and Israel has also pressured the US to strike Iran’s missile program. -II, MEM, II, TG

Sri Lanka moves to student-centred learning system - Sri Lanka has implemented education reforms that aim to move away from a teacher-centred system towards education modelled on compassion and learning without pressure. -O

Hundreds of refugees feared drowned in the Mediterranean - An estimated 380 people may have drowned last week while trying to cross to Europe, as Cyclone Harry hit the region, and as racist border policies and fewer rescue ships place people in danger - PANW

Trinidad families of boat strike victims sue US - Families have filed a lawsuit in order to hold the Trump administration accountable for killing two Trinidadian men in an airstrike in the Caribbean. -TI

Indonesia fast-tracks permit for Papua rice megaproject without Indigenous consent - The government has quickly approved a massive rice plantation — 328,000 hectares (810,505 acres) — without consulting original inhabitants, who legally have that right. The project risks triggering large-scale deforestation and land dispossession. -M

Cuba faces worsening energy situation - With the US stopping Venezuelan oil reaching the country, and now threatening any country with tariffs that sends oil to Cuba, there are now chronic power outages there affecting work, transport, and basic life. Cuba has solar energy parks, but with limited capacity. -TRT, CD, CD

Limited reopening of Gaza border - Israel has announced that there will be a limited reopening of the Rafah border, for people only, on Sunday, after it has been closed since May 2024. Meanwhile, in Gaza, there is a 90% water shortage, -PD, MEM

Peruvians protest against interim president - Peruvians have held significant protests against interim president, José Jerí, who is being investigated for influence peddling and was allegedly involved in a corruption scandal, with rape charges against him also dropped. -R, DW

Venezuela passes reform to hydrocarbons law - Venezuela’s National Assembly passed the reform today after pressure from the US. The reform facilitates foreign company participation in the oil sector and more flexibility and establishes royalties of up to 30%, and a gross income tax of up to 15%. On Monday, acting president Rodriguez met with representatives of oil companies including Repsol, Chevron and Shell. In the early 2000s, then president Chávez nationalised Venezuela’s oil and used the funds for social spending. -AN, AN, MP, CNN, IB

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Algeria criminalises French colonisation - Today, Algeria’s parliament passed a law that officially recognises colonial crimes. There are a few key elements of the law that will continue to be discussed, including calling on France to issue an apology and provide compensation for crimes committed. -MEM

Venezuela “cooperates” (under duress) on energy with the US - Acting president Rodríguez has been focusing on diplomacy, she says. This week, four Venezuelan private banks received a reported US$300 million from the first US-administered sale of Venezuelan petroleum. US forces seized a seventh oil tanker on Tuesday. The Venezuelan government has called for its first national consultation for the year for March, in which communities can nominate social projects. -VA, VA, G

Uganda elections - Long-running head of state, Yoweri Museveni, has been declared the winner of the presidential election. He has been president for 40 years already, and there were allegations of fraud, violence, and repression during the voting. The opposition has rejected the results, and observers raised concerns about internet shutdowns. -TRT

Indonesia sues 6 companies for links to deadly floods - Indonesia’s environment ministry is seeking US$284 million in environmental damages from six companies after deadly floods and landslides were triggered by Cyclone Senyar in November and over 1,000 people died. The government accuses the companies of logging rainforests, leading to damaged watersheds. -M

Trump, Israel launch “Peace Board”, while Palestinians displaced in West Bank - The colonial body was initially meant to be a small group to oversea the “ceasefire,” and doesn’t include Palestinians, but it now includes various other countries — which have to pay $1 billion to join, with Israel added yesterday. Today, the US also announced its “New Gaza” development plan which includes data centres and seaside resorts and rebuilding to be funded by the international private sector. At the same time, Israel has imposed a siege in Hebron, trapping 70,000 Palestinians. In 2025, 13 rural Palestinian communities in the West Bank were completely wiped off the map by Israeli settlers. -AJ, TO, R, TRT, TO

SDF calls on Kurds to join the resistance - After a meeting between the Syrian president and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) leader didn’t go well, the SDF called on Kurds to resist, while the government called on mosques to celebrate victories against the Kurds. This followed an agreed-on ceasefire for SDF integration and for Syrian forces to not enter Kurdish villages, which was then followed by escalated attacks against the SDF. - R, SO, GL, DSN, N

Sudan passes emergency budget, RSF drone strikes intensify - Sudan’s Sovereign Council has passed a budget for the year, though the details of it are unknown - it likely allocates a lot of funding to the military, and little to urgent social needs. The RSF is using drones to strike villages, and Sudan has now recorded the longest school closure due to war, in history. - PANW, TRT, StC

Pockets of famine expected in Yemen - Over 148,000 people entered into crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2025 alone. Pockets of famine affecting groups of 40,000 people in different areas are expected in the next few months, after conflict, economic crisis, lack of access to food and health, and humanitarian funding cuts. -RW

Wildfires in Chile - At least 18 people have died as wildfires swept through dry forests, burning species already in danger of extinction in an area that is disputed between local communities and the mining industry, and the government declared a state of catastrophe. - EC, EC

Mozambique experiences disastrous flooding - Intense rain since late December and consequent flooding has killed at least 200 people now in southern Africa - most of those in Mozambique, and displaced 723,000. -I7, PANW

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