Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian leader ever to address Israel's parliament on the opening day of his two-day visit to Jerusalem, declaring that India stands with Israel "with full conviction" in this moment and beyond while forcefully condemning the October 7, 2023 attacks as barbaric and stating that no cause can justify the murder or killing of civilians. He emphasized India's support for global counter-terrorism efforts and a just peace process, as the leaders committed to giving final shape to a mutually beneficial free trade agreement, pursuing joint development production and technology transfer in defense cooperation, and advancing with renewed momentum the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 grouping for regional connectivity and stability. As the world remakes itself, it is useful to know where India's current leadership stands in relation to the state of Israel and its ongoing genocidal and destabilizing behavior. It will be interesting to see how India manages relationships with staunch critics of Israel including other members of BRICS like Russia and China.

Syrian authorities have officially confirmed a large-scale mass escape from the al-Hol detention camp in Hasakah province, northeastern Syria, which held more than 23,000 people, the vast majority women and children related to suspected Islamic State fighters, following the chaotic January 20 handover from Kurdish-led SDF forces. Investigators discovered over 138 breaches along the 17-kilometer perimeter wall, with roughly 5,000 people still unaccounted for after many were recaptured and relocated to the Akhtarin camp in Aleppo; the European Union has raised urgent security concerns over risks of radicalization and potential ISIL family members re-entering communities across Europe and beyond. It seems to me that it is unjust to lock up relatives of those suspected to be terrorists and that eventually such a system would crumble due to outside pressure. Nonetheless, I'm sure this does pose a serious security risk to nearby nations.

Mexico's Chamber of Deputies overwhelmingly passed sweeping labour legislation that will gradually reduce the standard workweek from 48 hours to 40 hours by 2030 through annual two-hour cuts beginning next year, directly benefiting nearly 13.4 million workers while allowing employers greater flexibility on overtime as a compromise. The bill, originally proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum in December and already cleared by the Senate, now requires ratification by two-thirds of state legislatures before taking full legal effect. Interesting outcome here. As we see further south in Argentina the stripping away of labor protections, in Mexico we see a push towards what we've long taken to be the standard in the United States. Seems like a win for labor largely, especially for laborers with full employment.

Economist Larry Summers announced his resignation from all positions at Harvard University effective at the end of the current academic year following intense scrutiny of his documented friendship, communications, and relationship with Jeffrey Epstein during Summers' tenure as university president. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to provide closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee this week in the ongoing congressional Epstein investigation, with former President Bill Clinton set to testify the following day after extensive negotiations between legal teams and lawmakers. Hopefully all bad actors related to this scandal are arrested. It is astounding though to see the Clintons, at least Hillary, finally cooperating with the investigation.

Cuban coast guard forces shot and killed four people while wounding six others aboard a US-flagged speedboat that entered territorial waters off Villa Clara province, asserting that the armed Cuban-American occupants fired first during an attempted infiltration and terrorist operation. US officials have launched their own full investigation to verify the identities of those killed and the precise circumstances, as the deadly clash further strains relations over migration routes, energy supplies, and political pressures on the island. We have short historical memories but it was not that long ago that the tension between the United States and Cuba put the whole world in peril and we would be wise not to trigger that level of hostility. It seems that what is needed is concessions by Cuba and the U.S. to normalize relations and stop trying to economically and politically dominate the island.

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled the Trump administration's third-country deportation policy unlawful and unconstitutional, determining it violates due process rights by allowing migrants to be removed to destinations other than their home country without adequate notice or opportunity to object. A senior Department of Homeland Security official separately assured state election chiefs that ICE agents will not be deployed to polling places, directly dismissing related claims as disinformation and unfounded rumors of voter intimidation.

The White House has frozen approximately $259 million in federal Medicaid dollars allocated to Minnesota as part of a nationwide initiative targeting fraud and improper payments in state health and social services programs. Governor Tim Walz is preparing comprehensive new state anti-fraud legislation and corrective measures, while Minnesota authorities are actively investigating at least 200 providers for potential irregularities across 14 different Medicaid service categories. This seems to be the best way forward and if the investigations can be transparent it can set a good precedent for the beginning of this war on fraud. Although, historically wars on things that aren't nations have largely been protracted failures but I guess it makes for useful campaign slogans.

The Iowa City Community School District is planning roughly $8 million in spending reductions to address a multimillion-dollar shortfall driven by declining enrollment, including elimination of about 20 teaching and support positions plus freezes on administrator salaries. Officials are also pursuing emergency short-term loans and expediting overdue financial audits as residents question priorities around classroom technology expenditures. Loans are a short-term and somewhat problematic solution to what appears to be a serious structural problem here. I highlight stories like this all throughout the country just to provide a sense of what is happening with public education right now.

In her final State of the State address, Governor Gretchen Whitmer pressed for urgent strengthening of literacy programs in Michigan schools where the state ranks near the bottom nationally in reading proficiency, alongside a new affordable housing tax credit to tackle the ongoing crisis. She also advocated stronger protections against medical debt, including interest rate caps and outright bans on using medical bills as liens on patients' property, urging bipartisan action on affordability issues before her term ends.

Ohio lawmakers advanced legislation that would prohibit ranked-choice voting across the entire state, overriding expressed interest in the system among several cities for local elections. A companion bill would withhold state funding from public universities that fail to comply with anti-DEI requirements, including mandatory tracking of former diversity office employees and formal certification of adherence to new higher education reform standards. The rise of ranked-choice voting is one of the most fascinating shifts in our political climate. Perhaps it would produce better results but I'm nervous that it would do more harm than good given so many people have a hard time understanding how it works. Banning it seems heavy-handed though.