Global Terrorism Index: The 2026 Global Terrorism Index says West Africa’s terrorism surge is fundamentally a governance crisis, with deaths and incidents concentrated in a handful of countries and linked to state fragility and weak institutions. Arctic Shipping Test: South Korea’s PanStar Acro is sailing to Europe via the Arctic’s Northern Sea Route to see if it can beat the Suez route on speed and cost, as environmental groups warn of ecosystem risks. Palestine Diplomacy: Egypt’s foreign minister calls for protecting Gaza and the West Bank amid Israeli settlement expansion, settler violence, and the push to move from the first to the second phase of a US-backed peace plan. Space & Policy: India’s PM Modi urges stable, globally competitive policy for private space startups as ISRO says about 440 startups now operate in the sector. AI Funding: Alibaba plans a HK$80bn ($10.2bn) share placement in Hong Kong to expand its AI “full stack” capabilities. Ukraine Funding: Zelenskyy presses parliament to pass reforms to unlock €30bn in European defense funds. Stablecoins Move Mainstream: Circle says stablecoins are increasingly used for real-world finance, with digital dollars gaining traction in payments and treasury uses. Sports—South Africa vs NZ: New Zealand beat South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park, turning a tight first half into a decisive second-half rout.