Week In Review (WIRE) News 04.20.2026

Edited by Mary Wahn, Grey Cohen, John Gooden, Emma Grace Jarvis, Ethan Joyce, Bianca Orfila-Molinet, and Meera Srinivasan

Asia and the Pacific

Written by Jesse Vu

Taiwanese Opposition Leader Visited Xi Jinping on a Rare Occasion

Cheng Li-wun is the opposition leader and the chair of the Kuomintang party (KMT) of Taiwan. While current Taiwanese President Lai Ching–te of the Democratic Progressive Party has not visited China and there is no official diplomatic channel between his government and the Chinese government, the opposition leader became the second figure from her party and one of the most prominent Taiwanese politicians to visit China over the last decade or so. 

Cheng’s visit to China lasted six days and included stops at major Chinese provinces and cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing. Notably, during Beijing’s visit, the Taiwanese opposition leader met with President Xi Jinping and the two embraced each other. Echoing past and current Chinese talking points on Taiwan, Cheng called for mutual cooperation to eliminate hostility between the two countries and emphasized the shared cultures of the two. Furthermore, both leaders condemned any foreign interference in the relations of the two countries, referring to recent attempts by the United States and Japan to expand their military and strategic presence in the region.

While the CCP has never recognized Taiwan as an independent state and considers it part of China, most Taiwanese citizens prefer the current status quo and the sovereignty of the state. Nonetheless, this visit carries symbolic significance and shows that even amid rising cross-strait tensions, certain segments of Taiwan remain open to engagement with Beijing. 

Central America and the Caribbean

Written by Gabriella Ramirez

Intense Instability in Haiti, While Cuba Clashes With the United States

Deep unrest afflicts Haiti after heavy rains killed at least 12 in the northwestern region, as the rains flooded farmland, a local hospital, and more than 900 homes. Floods destroyed a bridge and dozens of roads and crops, while nearly half of the population faces high levels of acute food insecurity, and local authorities state they are unable to access communities that urgently need basic goods. The mayor of a commune in southern Haiti appealed for help from the central government after an attack from an unknown gang left seven people dead, and a police station was set on fire as armed men expanded their reach into new territory. Meanwhile, two state officials in Haiti were dismissed from their posts following a stampede at a mountaintop fortress that killed 25 people and hospitalized 30. Two directors within Haiti’s Institute for the Preservation of National Heritage were fired and accused of “serious negligence” and “biased passivity.” Nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident, including five police officers. 

Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel asserted the U.S. has no valid reason to carry out a military attack against the island or to attempt to depose him, claiming that an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security, and that Cubans would defend themselves if the situation arose. He also stated Cuba is interested in engaging in dialogue without the condition of changing the political system as “[Cubans] are not demanding change from the American system, about which we have a number of doubts.” The current administration in Cuba blames the U.S. energy blockade for its deepening woes, with a lack of petroleum affecting the island’s health system, public transportation and the production of goods and services.

Europe

Written by Ethan Joyce

Italy Suspends Recurring Defense Agreement with Israel

On April 16, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy said the country would suspend its defense agreement with Israel. The announcement came after Italy publicly condemned Israeli bombings of Lebanese civilians and after allegations were made that the IDF fired warning shots at Italian UN peacekeepers in the south of Israel. 

According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) drafted in 2003 and agreed upon between Israel and Italy, cooperation between the two nations was to be focused on defense industry procurement policy, the import, export, and transit of military equipment, and the armed forces organization. In response to the MoU suspension, Israel's foreign ministry issued a statement which downplayed both the impacts of their agreement and Meloni’s decision, stating they had “no security agreement with Italy” instead suggesting they only had “a memorandum of understanding from ‌many years ⁠ago” which “never contained any substantive content”. Further, Israeli representatives said this would have a completely negligible impact on their defense capabilities and coordination.

While Italy’s government has not traditionally been critical of Israel, Meloni faces reelection in late 2027, and her recent rhetorical shift appears tied to growing domestic dissatisfaction with her earlier positions. As Lorenzo Castellani, a political historian at Rome’s Luiss University, told Reuters, “She’s afraid that a sizable portion of the electorate, even among the centre-right, will become highly critical of Trump and Netanyahu.” Castellani added that the fallout from the war in Iran could further damage her standing.

Middle East and North Africa

Written by Ansley Hovater

Israel and Lebanon Begin Peace Talks While Pakistan Offers Second Round for U.S. and Iran

On April 14, Pakistan offered to host a second round of the U.S.-Iran peace talks after negotiations to end the war in Iran fell apart on April 11. The fragile tripartite ceasefire announced on April 8 still holds until April 21, and includes Israel, which continued an ambitious battering of Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon entered their own ceasefire on April 10 to make room for negotiating Hezbollah’s disarmament.

The agreement refused to include the militant group Hezbollah, which Israel aims most of its militant attacks towards. The ceasefire grants Israel the right to strike at will, and although the agreement does not involve Hezbollah as an official party, it reserves what they call their right to resist any military advances from Israel and promises to promptly respond. As the week progresses, the ceasefire holds, with the 10 days scheduled to end on Monday. 

The first round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran ended without agreement and led to a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran’s profiting from war-elevated oil prices while targeting enemy-flagged vessels. Iran’s Foreign Minister announced on Friday that the Strait is open, but U.S. President Donald Trump maintains that the blockade on Iranian ports will continue until a full deal is reached. Pakistan offered to host the U.S. and Iran again, for a second round of peace negotiations, which Trump suggests will culminate in a peace deal “soon.”

On April 17, Iran’s military opened the Strait of Hormuz in response to the prior ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. However, on April 18, the strait once again closed, which Iran states is a result of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. U.S. President Trump promises an end to the blockade once an agreement between the United States and Iran is reached, while Iran accuses the United States of burglary and sternly states that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the blockade ends. 

North America

Written by Justin Cohen

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Party Secures a Majority in Canadian Parliament

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s party secured a majority in the national legislature following a series of special elections victories earlier this week. The three by-election wins, combined with a series of party switches from those already serving in Parliament, allow the leading Liberal Party to create just the third majority Canadian government in two decades. Prime Minister Carney, who took over as head of government under a coalition agreement just over a year ago, was quoted as saying he plans to lead the new majority government with “humility, determination and a clear understanding of what this moment demands.”

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who ran against Carney for the Prime Minister role in the last general election, sought to downplay the Liberals’ feat, calling the recent party switches that facilitate the majority “dirty backroom deals.” With four of the party switches moving from Poilievre’s Conservatives to Carney’s Liberals, Poilievre’s leadership has come under greater scrutiny.

The first year of Prime Minister Carney’s tenure has been chiefly defined by his dealings with the United States and American President Donald Trump. Described as “more button-down and businesslike” than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Carney has developed a more productive relationship with his American counterpart, resulting in a decline in President Trump’s previously incendiary rhetoric directed at Canada. Recent polling has depicted a largely satisfied Canadian electorate, with Prime Minister Carney’s public satisfaction ratings sitting in the high fifties.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Written by Alex Whirley

UN Special Envoy Warns of Escalating Violence in DRC Despite Washington Accords

On April 14, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, Huang Xia, briefed the UN Security Council regarding the severely deteriorating security environment in eastern DRC. Despite the “Washington Accords” signed in December 2025, tensions between the DRC and Rwanda remain dangerously high. The UN raised specific alarms over extreme violence and targeted attacks by M23 rebels against human rights defenders and civilians in the Kivu provinces.

The M23 rebel group first emerged in 2012 as a Tutsi-led movement following the collapse of a 2009 peace agreement between the DRC and the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). After suffering military defeats in 2013, the group lay dormant for years before resurfacing with renewed intensity in 2022. By January 2025, M23 began making major advances towards Goma and Bukavu, the provincial capitals of North Kivu and South Kivu, with alleged Rwandan backing.

The escalating conflict must be understood within the framework of competing regional interests and long-standing grievances. Rwanda’s pursuit of access to the eastern DRC’s mineral-rich regions, critical to the global tech industry, fueled accusations of resource exploitation. The humanitarian toll has been catastrophic, and the crisis in the DRC is severe, with 23.4 million people facing food insecurity and over 237,000 displaced persons in 2025 alone.