7 Days, 7 Issues, 1 World: HI UNPAR International Roundup | Edition 29 December 2025 – 4 January 2025
A number of major events shaped international affairs in late December 2025 and early January 2026. On Friday (2/1), a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City and several other regions. The quake caused temporary power outages in several neighborhoods, toppled power poles and trees, injured at least 12 people, and left one person dead after falling while attempting to escape. The epicenter was located in the state of Guerrero, and the tremors were also felt in Morelos, Oaxaca, Jalisco, Colima, and Tabasco. The earthquake also briefly disrupted President Claudia Sheinbaum’s schedule during a press meeting.
Meanwhile, the Middle East and East Africa were marked by diplomatic tensions after Israel officially recognized Somaliland as an independent state and established full diplomatic relations, making it the first country to do so. The move triggered rejection from Somalia and condemnation from several countries, including Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has not been widely recognized, views Israel’s recognition as an opportunity for strategic and economic cooperation. Some observers argue that Israel’s move is linked to its security interests in the Red Sea region.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained since July as a diplomatic step to rebuild relations between the two countries. The move followed the latest ceasefire, which has so far held for more than three days, after a series of deadly border clashes throughout December that killed dozens and forced more than one million people to flee their homes. The agreed ceasefire includes a halt to hostilities, a freeze on troop movements, cooperation in mine clearance, and the repatriation of detained personnel.
Tensions also escalated in South America after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States military had launched a large-scale military operation in Venezuela, including a series of explosions in the capital, Caracas. The operation resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently flown to New York to face narcoterrorism charges. The United States stated that it would temporarily “manage” Venezuela until a safe transition of power could take place. The military operation, which caused explosions at multiple locations, was condemned by Venezuela as a violation of its sovereignty, sparking international criticism and legal controversy over plans for U.S. companies to manage the country’s oil sector.
Turning to Iran, an economic crisis driven by international sanctions sparked waves of demonstrations that turned violent, with at least seven people reported killed. The protests were triggered by the collapse of the rial to its lowest value in history due to sanctions, directly affecting daily life and fueling public frustration with the government. The demonstrations expanded from economic demands into broader anti-government protests, marked by anti-government and pro-monarchy slogans. Unrest erupted in several areas, including clashes with security forces and the burning of state symbols, while the government responded by reshuffling its economic policies.
In Europe, New Year celebrations at Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort in the Swiss Alps turned into a tragic large-scale fire that killed around 40 people and injured approximately 115 others. The fire broke out about two hours after midnight, and Valais cantonal police are still determining the exact number of victims. Authorities remain in the investigation phase to identify the cause of the fire, with no indications of an attack or suspects so far. Several foreign nationals, including Italian citizens, were among the victims. Survivors described chaotic conditions inside the bar, which severely hampered evacuation efforts.
Meanwhile, the United States military again came under scrutiny after reporting that eight people were killed in a recent attack on a vessel suspected of involvement in drug smuggling in international waters, bringing the death toll from similar operations since September to at least 115. U.S. Southern Command stated that the attack was carried out in two phases on Tuesday and Wednesday, without disclosing the location. Despite the lack of concrete evidence and criticism from international law experts and human rights groups—who argue that the actions may violate international law—the operation was claimed to be part of counter-narcotics efforts.
Source:
“Demo Berdarah di Iran, 7 Orang Tewas sampai Massa Ngamuk Bakar Gedung.” CNN Indonesia. 2 Januari 2026. https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20260102104320-120-1312781/demo-berdarah-di-iran-7-orang-tewas-sampai-massa-ngamuk-bakar-gedung.
“Gempa bermagnitudo 6,5 guncang Mexico City, belasan terluka.” ANTARA News. 3 Januari 2026. https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5331556/gempa-bermagnitudo-65-guncang-mexico-city-belasan-terluka?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_right.
“Maduro arrives in New York after capture in Venezuela.” NBC News. 3 Januari 2026. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/latin-america/live-blog/venezuela-explosions-trump-maduro-live-updates-rcna251053.
Muhaimin. “Militer AS Ngamuk Lagi, Serang Kapal-kapal Diduga Angkut Narkoba, 8 Orang Tewas.” Sindo News. 1 Januari 2026. https://international.sindonews.com/read/1661937/42/militer-as-ngamuk-lagi-serang-kapal-kapal-diduga-angkut-narkoba-8-orang-tewas-1767240062.
Muhaimin. “Pesta Tahun Baru Swiss Berujung Tragedi Kebakaran Mengerikan, 40 Tewas, 115 Luka.” Sindo News. 2 Januari 2026. https://international.sindonews.com/read/1662097/41/pesta-tahun-baru-swiss-berujung-tragedi-kebakaran-mengerikan-40-tewas-115-luka-1767308509?showpage=all.
Reyhansyah, Muhammad. “Thailand Akhirnya Bebaskan 18 Tentara Kamboja yang Ditahan Sejak Juli.” Metro TV News. 31 Desember 2025. https://www.metrotvnews.com/read/NxGCPRXG-thailand-akhirnya-bebaskan-18-tentara-kamboja-yang-ditahan-sejak-juli.
Sef. “Kronologi & Motif Israel Akui Somaliland, Buat Negara Dunia Murka.” CNBC Indonesia. 29 Desember 2025. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20251229110400-4-697868/kronologi-motif-israel-akui-somaliland-buat-negara-dunia-murka.