A Planet on Edge: The Intertwined Crises Demanding Our Attention
The global landscape is currently a tumultuous tapestry woven with threads of conflict, humanitarian crises, and profound societal unrest. From simmering geopolitical rivalries to internal governance challenges and brutal atrocities, some of today’s news sources paint a vivid, if sobering, picture of a world grappling with immense instability.
In the Middle East, the Israel-Iran conflict continues to claim civilian lives, with Iran’s Health Ministry reporting at least 610 civilians killed and over 4,700 wounded since hostilities began on June 13, 2025. The ministry spokesman described “extremely harrowing scenes” in hospitals, noting that among the deceased are 44 women, including two pregnant mothers, and 13 children, the youngest just two months old. This tragic toll persists despite attempts at a ceasefire, with fresh Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian sites even after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Israel had called off its mission at his behest. Trump publicly criticized both nations for undermining the truce, specifically condemning Israel for an “excessive retaliatory campaign”. This ongoing military engagement risks escalating into a broader regional war, prompting calls for immediate restraint from international bodies like the United Nations and European Union.
Across Africa, a different kind of turmoil unfolds. In northern Mozambique, a disturbing rise in child abductions has been reported by Human Rights Watch, with at least 120 children kidnapped by jihadist insurgents in recent days. These children are reportedly forced into labor, transport looted goods, and are even coerced into becoming child soldiers or forced into marriage. This neglected crisis in Cabo Delgado has already displaced over 600,000 people and has been further exacerbated by climate shocks, violence, and spiraling hunger, leaving more than 5 million people facing critical levels of hunger.
Nigeria, too, faces significant internal challenges. The Department of State Services (DSS) had forewarned the military weeks in advance about an imminent attack on communities in Benue and Nasarawa states by suspected Fulani militias, yet violence on June 13 killed over 200 people, including farmers and displaced persons. The planned attacks were reportedly in retaliation for seized cows.
Simultaneously, the Nigerian Police Force is threatening a “daredevil nationwide strike” by the end of July over a “slavery-like” pension scheme, demanding a shift to a defined benefits plan like the military. This potential shutdown of police operations could have severe implications for national security, especially amid rising insecurity.
Furthermore, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has extended the service year of corps member Rita Ushie by two months as a punishment for her viral social media criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the worsening economic hardship. This act has sparked condemnation from civil rights groups, who view it as an attempt to suppress freedom of expression.
The West African region is in a state of flux. Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has just been chosen as the next chairman of ECOWAS, taking the helm of an economic bloc grappling with rising violence, member departures, and economic disturbances. His tenure begins as the Sahel belt contends with record levels of jihadist violence, making it the world’s deadliest region for terrorism. Three member states—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—have already withdrawn from ECOWAS following military coups, forming their own security partnership and forging new ties with Russia, often involving the Russia-linked Wagner Group.
Indeed, the Wagner Group’s alleged involvement in atrocities in West Africa has drawn international scrutiny. A confidential legal report submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) asserts that the group has committed war crimes by promoting images of apparent atrocities on social media, including graphic videos alluding to cannibalism. These disturbing videos, reportedly showing men in military uniforms butchering corpses and posing with human body parts, are argued to constitute the war crime of outrages on personal dignity and the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts for psychologically terrorizing civilian populations. The ICC is reviewing this brief, which also asks for an investigation into crimes committed “through the internet”. Observers note that this new approach by military governments, turning from Western allies to Russia and its mercenaries, has led to unprecedented levels of dehumanization in the region.
Adding to the global unease are escalating tensions in Southeast Asia and shifts in international power. Cambodia has accused Thailand of escalating border tensions by imposing new land crossing restrictions following an armed confrontation that killed a Cambodian soldier. While both sides agreed to de-escalate, Thailand’s new restrictions block most land crossings for tourists and were accompanied by measures targeting online scam operations in Cambodia, which Cambodia claims also originate in Thailand.
Meanwhile, China is poised to showcase its “new-type combat capabilities,” including hypersonic weapons and electronic gear, at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. This display underscores China’s growing military sophistication and its aim to replace the United States as the main military power in the Asia-Pacific, with much of its upgrading focused on Taiwan.
Finally, the global issue of migration remains a flashpoint. The U.S. Supreme Court has recently allowed the Trump administration to resume swift migrant deportations to countries other than their own, lifting a restriction that previously allowed migrants to challenge such deportations in court. Justice Sotomayor warned in her dissent that this decision could endanger countless lives.
These events, spanning continents and involving diverse actors, highlight a complex and challenging moment in global affairs. They underscore the urgent need for international cooperation, accountability for human rights abuses, and responsive governance to address both internal pressures and cross-border conflicts, lest the frayed edges of global order unravel further.
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