Jun

Niger's military ruler Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in the 2023 coup, has cut ties with Western partners including the United States and France and brought in Russian forces to provide his personal security and support combat operations. The shift marks another step in the Sahel's drift away from traditional Western partners toward Moscow, and is drawing amused and critical reactions online.

The Council of the European Union has decided to extend the mandate of EUBAM Rafah, the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah crossing point, until 30 June 2027. The announcement was made by the European External Action Service. The mission concerns the monitoring of the crossing between Gaza and Egypt, and the extension signals continued EU commitment to a border presence in the region.

India has proposed banning junk food sales in school canteens and within 50 metres of schools, aiming to curb rising obesity and diabetes among children. The move, reported by Reuters, would restrict children's access to unhealthy snacks around school premises and reflects growing official concern over diet-related health problems among young Indians.

Former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe and other experts warn that while being hit by falling space debris remains less likely than a lightning strike, those odds are shifting as more objects reenter the atmosphere. They argue governments and companies should be required to use materials that fully burn up on reentry, raising concerns about the growing risk of space junk to people on the ground.

A debate is resurfacing over the scientific validity of shaken baby syndrome diagnoses, with critics arguing courts have convicted caregivers on evidence that may not meet modern scientific standards. The discussion centers on whether legal precedent, rather than rigorous science, has shaped how the diagnosis is accepted in courtrooms, raising concerns about wrongful convictions and the reliability of medical testimony in child abuse cases.

A new migrant report covering Libya for May and June 2026 has been published, documenting the situation of migrants in the country. Libya remains a key transit point for people attempting to reach Europe, and periodic reports track arrivals, detentions and living conditions. Aid groups and officials use these findings to assess protection needs and respond to ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrants there.