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Macron grapples with deepening political crisis as domestic unrest eclipses his global clout, Ukraine pounds Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal in one of its largest drone strikes in months, and Turkey detains an Istanbul district mayor amid a sweeping opposition crackdown.

Today’s lead story focuses on the UN, as it confronts the challenge of reform, resilience, and relevance in a fragmented world.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇨🇳 🇵🇭 China warns Philippines as PLA steps up South China Sea patrols: China has conducted its second “routine patrol” in the South China Sea in under two weeks, warning the Philippines against “provocations” near the contested Scarborough Shoal. PLA Southern Theatre Command spokesperson Senior Colonel Tian Junli accused Manila of “spreading illegal claims” and “inviting external forces,” vowing China would “safeguard sovereignty.” The patrol follows Beijing’s announcement of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which Manila says lies within its EEZ, prompting protests and support from Washington. The U.S., Japan, and the Philippines recently conducted joint drills in the Philippine EEZ to bolster regional security. Tensions have intensified amid frequent Chinese patrols and Philippine pushback, raising fears of further escalation in one of the world’s most volatile maritime flashpoints.

2️⃣ 🇷🇴 🇵🇱 🇷🇺 Romania scrambles jets after Russian drone breach as Poland lifts high alert: Romania reported a Russian drone entering its airspace during strikes on Ukraine, prompting its military to scramble two F-16 jets on Saturday. The drone was tracked until it vanished near Chilia Veche. Poland also deployed aircraft and helicopters after Russian drones struck near its border, briefly raising its air defence alert before Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed it had been lifted. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is deliberately expanding drone operations and urged tougher sanctions and collective defence measures. Donald Trump said the US would impose major sanctions only if all NATO members acted in unison and stopped buying Russian oil. Meanwhile, Kyiv claimed responsibility for a long-range drone strike on Russia’s Bashneft oil refinery in Ufa, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s war financing.

3️⃣🇳🇵Nepal picks first ever female prime minister to lead interim government after deadly unrest: Nepal will hold elections on 5 March after President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved parliament and installed an interim government led by Sushila Karki, the country’s first female prime minister and a former chief justice known for her anti-corruption work. Karki’s appointment follows Nepal’s most intense protests in years, driven by Gen Z demonstrators angered by corruption, nepotism, and economic hardship. The unrest left 51 dead, thousands injured, and parliament and politicians’ homes torched. Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign. Authorities have now lifted curfews in Kathmandu as the country slowly returns to normal. India welcomed Karki’s appointment, while China has yet to comment, having earlier called for calm and protection of civilians.

4️⃣ 🇺🇳 🇭🇹 UN chief condemns gang massacre in Haiti’s Labodrie village: UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the reported killing of at least 40 people in Labodrie, a fishing village north of Port-au-Prince, in one of the deadliest gang attacks outside the capital this year. Haitian media said the assault occurred Thursday last week, with gangs torching the village after the killing of Vladimir, a leader of the Viv Ansanm alliance—designated a terrorist group by Washington in May. The UN urged Haitian authorities to bring perpetrators to justice, warning that unchecked violence is destabilising the country. The US has blamed Viv Ansanm for much of Haiti’s insecurity, with the coalition controlling much of Port-au-Prince and expanding its reach into nearby regions. Police have not commented on the reported killings.

5️⃣ 🇭🇳 🇹🇼 🇨🇳 Honduras election reignites debate over ties with Taiwan and China: Honduras’ decision to cut ties with Taiwan and recognize Beijing in 2023 is now a central issue ahead of November’s presidential election. President Xiomara Castro framed the shift as an economic opportunity, but many Hondurans say cheap Chinese imports have devastated local businesses, shrimp exports to Taiwan have collapsed, and promised investments have been slow to materialise. Conservative candidate Nasry Asfura has pledged to restore ties with Taiwan and strengthen relations with Washington, drawing a sharp rebuke from the Chinese Embassy. Centrist Salvador Nasralla has voiced similar support. The debate has become a referendum on sovereignty, economic direction, and Honduras’ place in the U.S.-China rivalry — a decision that could reshape its foreign policy and set a precedent for other democracies weighing Beijing’s influence.

Major Story

🇺🇳 THE UN AT 80: REFORM, RESILIENCE, AND RELEVANCE IN A FRAGMENTED WORLD

Eighty years after its founding, the United Nations remains humanity’s most ambitious experiment in collective security. Conceived in the ashes of World War II, the UN sought to prevent future conflicts, promote human dignity, and enshrine the rule of law. Its history is marked by failures — Rwanda, Srebrenica — but also by successes such as Namibia’s independence and East Timor’s transition to statehood. It has fed millions, sheltered the displaced, and helped shape norms on human rights and sustainable development.

A Crisis of Legitimacy and Representation

Today, the UN faces a more complex world than that of 1945. Power is diffuse, alliances are fraying, and nationalism is resurgent. The Security Council remains frozen in time, its structure failing to reflect the rise of powers like India, Brazil, and South Africa. Reform is essential not just for fairness but for legitimacy and effectiveness.

The UN must become more agile, streamline its decision-making, and reclaim its moral voice in an age of disinformation. Member states must recommit politically and financially to its mission, lest the institution drift into irrelevance.

A Necessary Imperfect Institution

The UN was never designed to deliver utopia—only to prevent catastrophe. As Dag Hammarskjöld observed, it exists “to save humanity from hell.” If it evolves to be more representative, responsive, and resilient, it can remain the indispensable platform for dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly divided world.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇹🇷 Turkey arrests Istanbul district mayor in widening opposition crackdown: Turkish authorities detained Hasan Mutlu, mayor of Istanbul’s Bayrampaşa district, along with 47 municipal officials, in a sweeping corruption probe on Saturday. Police raided 72 locations, seizing documents and accusing Mutlu of bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and bid rigging. Mutlu denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. He is the latest in a wave of opposition figures targeted in recent months, including Istanbul’s mayor and CHP leader Ekrem İmamoğlu, currently on trial over alleged falsification of his university degree. The CHP argues the arrests are an effort by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2028 elections. Ankara insists the judiciary is independent. A key court ruling on Monday could annul the CHP’s 2023 congress, potentially destabilising its leadership.

2️⃣ 🇺🇦 🇷🇺 Ukraine targets Primorsk oil terminal in massive drone assault on Russia: Ukraine launched one of its largest drone barrages in months, striking Russia’s Primorsk oil terminal in the Leningrad region, a key hub for Baltic energy exports and Russia’s shadow tanker fleet. Kyiv said multiple pumping stations feeding Primorsk and Ust-Luga were hit, while Russian officials reported fires at a vessel and pumping station but no casualties. Moscow claimed more than 120 drones were intercepted across nine regions, including near Moscow and Bryansk, where a drone strike injured seven people. Operations at St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport were briefly suspended. The attack, among the most significant since the start of the war, underscores Ukraine’s strategy of hitting deep inside Russian territory to disrupt fuel supplies as Moscow intensifies missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.

3️⃣ 🇫🇷 🇪🇺 Macron battles political crisis as domestic turmoil overshadows global influence: French president Emmanuel Macron has cemented himself as a major global player, brokering security guarantees for Ukraine and securing major trade and environmental deals. Yet at home, his presidency is faltering. Macron’s approval rating has plunged to 15% amid public anger, legislative gridlock, and a fragmented National Assembly. The ouster of prime minister François Bayrou after just three months marks his fourth change of government in two years. His latest appointee, Sébastien Lecornu, faces an uphill battle to pass the October budget and form a coalition from France’s divided parliament. With new protests looming and snap elections likely to boost the far left and right, Macron’s political survival—and his legacy—depend on restoring stability before 2027.

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Book Shelf

Here are some books we recommend 📚:

Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

Sea Power

The Tragedy of Great Power Politics