1) Beijing’s power optics: Xi hosts Putin and Kim at massive military parade.
In a striking show of alignment, China staged its largest-ever military parade in Tiananmen Square, with Xi Jinping flanked by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un. The pageantry—complete with nuclear-capable missiles and underwater drones—signaled tighter anti-Western coordination even as analysts note limits to the trio’s cohesion. The Guardian
2) Afghanistan reels after deadly earthquake.
A magnitude-6.0 quake in eastern Afghanistan and powerful aftershocks have killed more than 2,200 people, with rescue operations hampered by terrain and limited resources. Aid groups warn the toll could rise as access improves and needs escalate. Al JazeeraABC News
3) Hurricane Kiko tracks near Hawaiʻi—threat moderates but surf hazards remain.
Kiko peaked as a Category 3; forecasters now expect the core to pass north of the islands, easing fears of damaging winds and flooding. Emergency orders remain in place as large swells and dangerous rip currents affect east-facing shores. AP News
4) War in Ukraine: Kyiv hit by drones as Zelenskyy taunts Putin.
Russia launched fresh drone strikes on the capital; Ukraine’s president publicly challenged Putin to “come to Kyiv,” underscoring a war that remains dynamic amid long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
5) Political jolt in Argentina: Congress overturns Milei’s veto.
Lawmakers overrode President Javier Milei’s veto of a bill expanding disability support, a first for his administration and a key signal ahead of midterms. Markets and politics alike are watching the fallout. ReutersAP News
Why it matters: From great-power signaling in Beijing to humanitarian shocks and climate-driven hazards in the Pacific, this week underscores how security, politics, and extreme weather are colliding in real time.
