As tensions escalate in Ukraine due to Russia's intensified missile attacks, France, the UK, and Poland have pledged to bolster their support, with commitments highlighted by French President Macron and British Prime Minister Starmer at the G20 summit in Brazil.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Shabna Begum, CEO of the Runnymede Trust, voices concern over the alarming rise in Islamophobia, driven by divisive politics and recent international conflicts, leading to unprecedented levels of hate crimes against Muslims.

Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump's defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, is under scrutiny after past sexual assault accusations emerged, with his legal team revealing a settlement to avoid further legal complications, though the Trump transition team remains silent.

In Bangladesh, the interim government is making headlines with its push to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, a move intertwined with the ongoing democratic reforms seeking to stabilize the nation after recent turmoil.

Meanwhile, tensions on the high seas rise as Yemen's Houthi rebels target a commercial ship in the Red Sea, a troubling pattern impacting vital trade routes, often affecting vessels unconnected to the broader conflict narrative linking back to Israel, the US, or the UK.

With these geopolitical challenges as a backdrop, world leaders gather at the G20 summit in Rio to focus on pressing issues like climate change and poverty, aiming to foster cooperation despite the looming political tensions sparked by potential shifts in US leadership.