Have feedback? Email [email protected] to let me know your thoughts.
1. A referendum held on Sunday and Monday in Italy failed, delivering a blow to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government. What did the vote address?
Reorganizing Italy’s voting districts
Meloni had hoped to keep a low profile ahead of the vote to prevent it from becoming a test of her own popularity, Giorgio Ghiglione wrote last week.
2. A temporary cease-fire between Afghanistan and Pakistan that began last week ended on Monday. What was the reason for the truce?
To allow refugees to cross the countries’ shared border
To discuss permanent peace terms in Qatar
To recover the dead from a recent hospital bombing
To celebrate the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday
Neither side used the opportunity to discuss terms for a longer-lasting cease-fire, showing how difficult it will be to de-escalate the conflict, FP’s Michael Kugelman writes in South Asia Brief.
3. Thousands marched in Buenos Aires on Tuesday to commemorate 50 years since what event?
The beginning of Argentina’s military dictatorship
Argentina’s first World Cup victory
The death of former first lady Eva Perón
Civil society efforts to remember the regime’s brutality have been complicated by the rise of Argentine President Javier Milei, who has at times downplayed its legacy, Lautaro Grinspan wrote in December 2023.
4. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called for immediate peace talks in which conflict?
Renewed fighting between Thailand and Cambodia
Beijing’s expressed desire for peace is sincere as it stares down a looming energy crisis, FP’s James Palmer writes in China Brief.
5. South Africa’s top cop was served with a warrant on Wednesday to appear in court as part of an investigation into an allegedly corrupt contract to provide police officers with what?
Military-grade weapons and gear
Training on using AI surveillance tools
Opportunities for extra overtime pay
The latest scandal comes on the heels of a variety of corruption allegations in South Africa last year, which Max Meizlish and David May wrote about in November.
6. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was appointed to lead government coalition talks on Wednesday despite what outcome in Denmark’s snap parliamentary elections a day prior?
The revelation that some precincts had thrown out votes
The right-wing Danish People’s Party saying the election was rigged
Her Social Democrats party winning a majority of seats
Her Social Democrats party suffering a major defeat
The result was the Social Democrats’ worst performance since 1903, dropping from 50 seats to just 38 in the 179-member parliament, FP’s Alexandra Sharp reports in World Brief.
7. Israel on Thursday said it had killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Alireza Tangsiri, who Israel said had been responsible for bombing operations that blocked ships from crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Which arm of the IRGC did Tangsiri lead?
The Trump administration has attempted to project a sense of control over the Strait of Hormuz, but its empty rhetoric will not resolve the war or reopen the waterway, Maisoon H. Kafafy writes.
8. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a gift on Thursday “just in case any enemies show up.” What did Lukashenko give Kim?
A ceremonial sword and medieval helmet
An assault rifle manufactured in Belarus
The meeting between the two allies is a further demonstration of Pyongyang’s decision to stop hedging and firmly align with Moscow and Beijing, as Sangsoo Lee wrote about in July 2025.
9. Which global music phenomenon performed in South Korea on Saturday ahead of a world tour set to begin on April 9?
While Saturday’s crowd fell short of projections, groups like BTS bring a windfall of tourism revenue for cities they play in, Reuters reports.
10. On Wednesday, Sarah Mullally became the first woman leader (after 1,400 years) of which Christian denomination?
The new archbishop used her sermon on Wednesday to extol the power of hope while acknowledging the struggles people face in their daily lives, the New York Times reports.
It’s a big world out there! Brush up on global goings-on by subscribing to World Brief, Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter.
Great job! Now, dig deeper by subscribing to Foreign Policy’s one-stop regional newsletters: Africa Brief, China Brief, Latin America Brief, South Asia Brief, and Southeast Asia Brief.
Perfection! You’re a pro who needs the in-depth insights offered in Situation Report, our newsletter on national security and defense.
Have feedback? Email [email protected] to let me know your thoughts.
Drew Gorman is a deputy copy editor at Foreign Policy.
Commenting is a benefit of a Foreign Policy subscription.
Already a subscriber? Log In.
Join the conversation on this and other recent Foreign Policy articles when you subscribe now.
Please follow our comment guidelines, stay on topic, and be civil, courteous, and respectful of others’ beliefs.
I agree to abide by FP’s comment guidelines. (Required)
The default username below has been generated using the first name and last initial on your FP subscriber account. Usernames may be updated at any time and must not contain inappropriate or offensive language.
I agree to abide by FP’s comment guidelines. (Required)
