Turning our attention to the Middle East, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the UN for its lack of action regarding Israeli attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers in Lebanon, questioning the Security Council's role as five soldiers have been wounded in clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, scrutiny mounts on US aid officials who have been attending meetings at Israel’s controversial Sde Teiman base, accused of human rights abuses against Palestinian prisoners. Israel's consolidation of humanitarian operations at this site, in collaboration with the US and other organizations, follows a tense regional backdrop.

Shifting gears to Africa, a newly formalized cooperative agreement on the Nile River has stirred tensions. Despite South Sudan's recent accession and the support of several Nile Basin nations, Egypt opposes the pact, fearing water shortages due to Ethiopia's ambitious dam project on the Blue Nile.

In North America, diplomatic frictions are intensifying between India and Canada over the 2023 murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Both nations have expelled diplomats following accusations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about India's involvement—a claim that India strongly denies as relations continue to sour.

On the public health front, the WHO has approved the Jynneos vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17 amid the global mpox emergency. With the virus spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo, this aligns with recent European approvals, as efforts to safeguard younger populations ramp up.

Finally, the humanitarian plight in Chad captured the attention of the Duchess of Edinburgh, who was deeply affected by the stories of violence and famine faced by Sudanese refugees in Adre. Her visit underscores the urgent need for international focus on aid, amid what has been labeled a grave humanitarian crisis.