Borders

Toxic haze from Indonesia's wildfires is spreading across Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. A strong El Niño combined with land-clearing practices has created tinderbox conditions, fueling the fires and pushing smoke across national borders. The recurring transboundary pollution problem is again raising health and environmental concerns across the region.

A Russian suicide drone struck near the Yahodyn border crossing between Ukraine and Poland, according to a report circulating on social media. The crossing is a major logistics hub for Western military and humanitarian aid entering Ukraine, so any strike in its vicinity is significant. Details on casualties, damage, and the exact impact site remain unclear as official confirmation has not yet been issued.

Israel says its border is open for Gazans wanting to leave, but residents desperate to exit the territory report they are still unable to do so. Practical and administrative obstacles continue to block departures, leaving many stuck despite official assurances that the way out is available.

The UN's International Organization for Migration says displaced people from Sudan's Darfur region are crossing the border into Chad to escape ongoing fighting. The agency also reported that more than two thousand people have fled from El Fasher to Tawila in recent days as security conditions deteriorate in the area.

Russia has in recent weeks begun targeting Ukrainian border crossings, according to reports. Ukraine is now responding by striking Russian border crossings, including ones on its border with Belarus. A drone strike was reported next to a Russian border crossing with Belarus, highlighting how the war is expanding to infrastructure on both sides of the frontier.

Ethiopia has publicly accused Sudan and Eritrea of supporting Tigrayan forces as fighting escalates in the country's north. The allegations sharpen tensions in the Tigray conflict and strain relations with two key neighbours, raising concerns about the war drawing in regional powers and further destabilising the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia has publicly accused Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan forces as fighting intensifies in the country's north, a charge that deepens regional tensions over the year-long conflict. The claim risks straining relations with two neighbours already at odds with Addis Ababa over a disputed border region and dam negotiations. Observers warn the accusations could further internationalise the war.

A Myanmar military air strike has killed dozens of people in Rakhine state, according to Al Jazeera reporting. The attack adds to the heavy civilian toll of the country's ongoing civil war, which has intensified since the 2021 coup, with the army increasingly relying on air power against opponents in Rakhine and other border regions.

Palestinian couples from Gaza remain forcibly separated by borders, with spouses stranded in different countries and no clear path to reunification. Restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza have left families divided for years, and couples say they have exhausted legal and diplomatic avenues. Advocates are calling for international pressure to allow family reunification, as the situation shows no sign of improving.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders reports that hospitals in Ethiopia are receiving a surge of war-wounded patients as fighting resumes in the country. The organisation raised the alarm about the strain on health facilities treating casualties of the renewed conflict.

Palestinian couples from Gaza remain forcibly separated, with families and spouses still waiting to be reunited after the Israeli army suspended travel in and out of the Strip. Reports highlight that border closures have left loved ones divided between Gaza, the West Bank and abroad, with no reunification in sight and no clear timeline for travel to resume.

Ethiopia has accused Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigray forces as fighting intensifies in the region. Sudan's army has denied the allegation, saying it is the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that maintain ties with Tigray fighters. The accusations deepen tensions between the Nile neighbours at a time when relations are already strained over water and border disputes.

The number of Sudanese refugees fleeing into Chad has increased twenty-fold, according to a report carried by regional media, while aid funding for the displaced is running out. The surge reflects the continuing fighting in Sudan, which has pushed growing numbers of families across the border into camps that are already overwhelmed and facing severe shortfalls in food and basic assistance.

Polish authorities issued shelter warnings to residents near the border after a Russian strike hit Ukrainian territory roughly 2km from Poland. Alerts urged people to find a safe place as air-defence responses and the risk of spillover put border communities on edge, highlighting how closely the war continues to press against NATO territory.

Russia is escalating hybrid warfare tactics beyond Ukraine's borders, according to a report that describes growing efforts to destabilize European countries through means short of open conflict. Such tactics typically include disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, sabotage and interference in politics. The activity is raising alarm across the continent as European governments assess their vulnerability and consider stronger responses.

An aggressive Israeli military offensive is underway in South Lebanon, according to Iranian state media, which argues that American diplomatic efforts are serving as cover for the operation rather than restraining it. The report frames Washington's mediation as ineffective or complicit while strikes continue against targets in the region, adding to tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.

A Russian bomb attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv injured 22 people, according to the city's mayor. Kharkiv, close to the Russian border, has been repeatedly targeted by airstrikes and shelling since the full-scale invasion began. Officials have not yet detailed the extent of the damage or whether any of the wounded are in serious condition.

Sudanese families are crossing into Chad as violence intensifies in Sudan, joining a growing refugee population in the border region. Aid organizations and host communities are struggling to keep pace, with shelter, food and medical support falling well short of needs. The exodus underscores how Sudan's conflict keeps displacing civilians across borders faster than the humanitarian response can expand.

Poland has voiced growing concern that the war in Ukraine could spread beyond Ukraine's borders and into NATO member states. The warning comes as fighting continues near Polish territory, with Warsaw highlighting the risks of strikes or incidents crossing into its airspace. Polish officials are calling for continued vigilance and allied support as the conflict shows no sign of ending.

Communities along Poland's border with Ukraine are preparing for a potential Russian hybrid attack, amid ongoing war just across the frontier and repeated incidents of sabotage, drones and disinformation in the region. Residents and local authorities are reportedly on alert, reflecting broader concern in NATO's eastern flank countries about Russian destabilisation tactics short of open conflict.

US customs authorities are moving to block Americans from importing prescription drugs from Canada, a workaround many have relied on to avoid high domestic medication prices. The Wall Street Journal reports the change could cut off access to cheaper medicines for patients who regularly order refills across the border, drawing concern from patients and advocacy groups.

Thousands of migrants attempted to reach the port of Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, amid fears of missing out on one of only 1,700 places in a new camp set up by authorities. Police requested reinforcements to contain the crowds as tensions rose at the scene.

More than 55,000 Sudanese have crossed into Chad, according to regional reporting, as fighting and worsening conditions inside Sudan drive one of the world's largest displacement crises. The influx is straining refugee camps and aid operations along the border, where hundreds of thousands had already sought safety since the conflict began.

Residents in eastern Poland, near the border with Ukraine, are preparing for the possibility that Russia's war could spill across the frontier. Communities there have lived with the war next door since 2022, and fears of drones, missiles or other incidents crossing into Polish territory are shaping daily life and local preparedness.