Welcome to our roundup of news and current events related to ethics and international affairs! Here’s some of what we’ve been reading this past week:
Attack on civilian settlements in Gaza. Photo credit: aricancaner/Shutterstock
Al Jazeera - Gaza Board of Peace announces Hamas disarmament agreement: What we know
Following President Trump’s announcement on Truth Social, Hamas has agreed to a framework for a Gaza peace deal reached through the U.S.-led Board of Peace and mediation from Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye. Under the plan, Israeli forces would withdraw in phases as Hamas and other armed groups disarm in stages, with a new Palestinian police force and the International Stabilization Force—a verification body led by a U.S. general—overseeing the process. Skepticism lingers over the strength of the deal, particularly regarding Israel’s willingness to halt operations and withdraw as required. Governance of Gaza would be transferred to a new Palestinian technocratic body under oversight from the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace has faced criticism from some global leaders for concentrating influence in the United States and for sidelining traditional UN mechanisms; critics have also linked its vision to Jared Kushner’s redevelopment plans, which they describe as favoring a “disaster capitalist” model of high‑rise construction and low‑wage labor.
Read more on the war in Gaza and the future of international peace deals in Ethics & International Affairs:
The Diffusion of Global Power and the Decline of Global Governance (2025: 39-2)
The Future of Protection in UN Peace Operations (2024: 38-4)
Enumerating Civilian Harm: Experience, Ethics, and Erasure (2026: 40-1)
Border between Spain and Morocco from Ceuta. Photo Credit: Jose Luis Carrascosa/Shutterstock
The Guardian - At least 57 people die as tens of thousands cross to Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco
In late July, an estimated 50,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, triggering a strong response from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and criticism from right-wing forces across the EU. This episode echoes a similar incident in May 2021, when Moroccan authorities relaxed border controls, allowing approximately 10,000 migrants to enter Ceuta in direct response to Spain admitting the leader of the Western Saharan Independence Movement for COVID-19 treatment. Although some speculation links this recent surge of migration to Sánchez's recent visit to Algeria, the Moroccan government attributes this crisis to “criminal organizations” and maintains that the relationship between Madrid and Rabat is “exemplary." Across the EU, member states convened an emergency meeting, during which some governments expressed support for Spain while others called for the country to be suspended from the Schengen free-movement area. While Spain seeks to process the arrivals and expedite their return to Morocco, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ceuta, where thousands have been left without shelter and at least 57 people have died while attempting the crossing.
Read more on migration in Ethics & International Affairs:
Beyond Myth Busting: How Engagement with Ethical Dilemmas Can Improve Debates and Policymaking on Migration (2025: 39-1)
The Refugee Hospitality Dilemma: Between Universalism and Closure (2025: 39-1)
Lima’s Main Square (Plaza Mayor), the historic center of Peru’s capital. Photo credit: BETO SANTILLAN/Shutterstock
DW - Fujimori takes charge in Peru amid China, US balancing act
Keiko Fujimori’s inauguration as Peruvian President in late July signals a populist, neoliberal shift in the country as well as the evolution of Peru as a flashpoint for the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. Domestically, Fujimori’s security-centric platform has raised human rights concerns, as her government vows to expand video surveillance, increase police presence, and develop new mega-prisons. Foreign policy and trade will also be central to Fujimori’s administration, with China and the United States emerging as Peru’s two largest trade partners, accounting for nearly $75 billion in combined bilateral trade. Balancing influence from Beijing and Washington will be a key challenge, as Peru plays a central role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative—with the Chancay Port serving as China’s key Pacific hub in the Americas—while also pursuing closer security ties with the United States through its planned accession to the “Shield of the Americas” alliance.
Read more on democratic elections and the evolving global order in Ethics & International Affairs:
Information Fragmentation and Global Governance in Hard Times (2025: 39-2)
Parties, Democracy, and the Ideal of Anti-factionalism: Past Anxieties and Present Challenges (2022: 36-4)
The Myth of the "Civilization State": Rising Powers and the Cultural Challenge to World Order (2020: 34-2)
Cockroach Janta Party protest in India. Photo credit: SajadIllustrator/Shutterstock
New York Times - 'We Are Not Learning Anything': India's Gen Z Rage is a Test for Modi
Mounting pressure on India’s Gen Z erupted into fury this year after 2.2 million students were ordered to retake the country’s college entry exam when it was cancelled following a question-paper leak. Although student-led protests led to the resignation of India’s education minister, anger continued to grow among India’s youth against the Modi government's educational policies. According to journalists and protestors, India’s public schools, particularly those in rural areas, often fail to meet basic academic standards or adequately prepare young people for college and the workforce. In response to these gaps, families pay for expensive private tutors, placing additional expectations and stress onto students who hope that this extra support will improve the chance of college admission. Even after passing entrance exams, financial pressures mount as professional degrees are prohibitively expensive and offer little guarantee of employment, fueling protestors’ demands that Modi’s government prioritize youth outcomes.
Read more on resistance movements and education in Ethics & International Affairs:
A Responsibility to Support Civilian Resistance Movements? Broadening the Scope of Nonviolent Atrocity Prevention (2024: 38-1)
The Pragmatics of Democratic "Front-Sliding" (2022: 36-4)
The Global Liberal Arts Challenge (2022: 36-3)