Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 22h

Hamas returns the wrong hostage to Israel, testing the two sides’ precarious cease-fire deal.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/15/i...

Hamas Returns Wrong Hostage to Israel, Testing Fragile Gaza Cease-Fire

Israel has threatened to withhold humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza over Hamas’s slow return efforts.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 1d

Israeli forces fire on Palestinians in northern Gaza—just days after a cease-fire deal went into effect.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/14/i...

Israeli Forces Fire on Palestinians in Northern Gaza

The incident comes days after a cease-fire went into effect in Gaza.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 5d

The Israel-Hamas cease-fire takes effect in Gaza. Now, the next 72 hours will see a slew of diplomatic meetings, more aid entering the enclave, and a hostage-prisoner swap.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/10/i...

The Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Has Taken Effect. What’s Next?

The next 72 hours are expected to see a hostage-prisoner swap, more aid entering Gaza, and a slew of diplomatic meetings.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 7d

Israel and Hamas inch closer to a peace deal, with high-level negotiators arriving in Egypt for indirect talks.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/08/i...

Israel, Hamas Inch Closer to an Exchange Deal

But several points of contention remain, even as new high-level negotiators join the fray.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 8d

Two years on, the world reflects on Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza. But indirect peace talks are igniting new hopes of an end to the conflict.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/07/i...

Two Years On: Where the Israel-Hamas War Stands Now

Indirect peace talks are igniting new hopes of an end to the conflict.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 9d

Israel and Hamas hold indirect talks in Egypt focused on the details of a hostage exchange deal as well as the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/06/i...

Israel, Hamas Hold Indirect Negotiations on Gaza

Hamas is seeking guarantees that Israel will not restart its military campaign once the group frees its remaining hostages.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 12d

Israeli forces intercept the final Gaza-bound ship in a humanitarian aid flotilla—sparking global anger from world leaders and rights activists.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/03/i...

Global Condemnation Erupts Over Israel’s Seizure of Gaza Aid Flotilla

The incident has further highlighted the immediacy of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 14d

European leaders consider building a drone wall to stop Russian incursions. But the Kremlin warns that doing so will only worsen Moscow’s relationship with the West.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/10/01/e...

Can a European Drone Wall Stop Russia?

The European Union is hoping that a network of sensors and weapons will prevent Russian drones from violating European airspace.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 16d

U.S. President Donald Trump unveils a peace plan for Gaza. Although Israel has backed the proposal, experts suggest that Hamas will likely contest several points.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/29/t...

Trump Unveils U.S.-Led Peace Plan for Gaza

Hamas is likely to contest several points of the proposal.

foreignpolicy.com

1 1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 19d

Calls for Palestinian statehood overshadow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/26/n...

Global Condemnation of Israel Taints Netanyahu’s UNGA Speech

Dozens of nations boycotted the prime minister’s address, capping off a disappointing week for Israel.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 20d

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas denounces Israel’s “war of genocide” in Gaza and says that the PA is “ready to work” toward a peace plan to end the conflict.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/25/m...

Abbas Denounces Israel’s ‘War of Genocide’ in UNGA Speech

In a video address, Mahmoud Abbas called on more nations to recognize an independent Palestine.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 21d

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns of an arms race with Russia just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump appears to reverse Washington’s Ukraine policy.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/24/u...

Zelensky Warns of ‘Destructive Arms Race’ in War Against Russia

Meanwhile, Washington may be moving closer to Kyiv as Trump shifts his Ukraine rhetoric.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 22d

U.S. President Donald Trump slams the United Nations, immigration, and climate change in a rambling, self-indulgent speech to the General Assembly.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/23/t...

Trump Slams the United Nations in Its Own Backyard

Between shots at immigration and climate change, the U.S. president expressed his disappointment with the multilateral body.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 23d

The United Nations General Assembly kicks off its high-level week with a major conference on how best to implement a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/22/u...

The Two-State Solution Takes Center Stage at UNGA

Several countries are using the high-level week to recognize a Palestinian state in a symbolic, though limited, move.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 26d

In their first phone call since June, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping haggle over the final details of a long-anticipated TikTok deal.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/19/t...

Trump, Xi Inch Closer to a TikTok Deal

Further talks are expected, including an in-person meeting at next month’s APEC summit.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 27d

U.S. President Donald Trump dodges political hardballs during day two of his state visit to the United Kingdom.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/18/t...

Trump, Starmer Seek Common Ground in State Visit

Day one was filled with royal pageantry. Day two dodged the pitfalls of politics.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · 29d

Israel launches its long-awaited ground offensive on Gaza City amid new allegations of Israel committing genocide against Palestinians.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/16/i...

Israel Launches Ground Offensive on Gaza City

Meanwhile, a U.N. Commission of Inquiry concludes that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 15

The United States and China reach a “framework” TikTok deal that will see Chinese company ByteDance divest the popular social media app.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/15/u...

U.S., China Reach ‘Framework’ TikTok Deal

The agreement would see Chinese company ByteDance divest the social media app to a U.S. corporation.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 12

The United States believes that imposing tariffs on India and China for continuing to purchase Russian oil will force Moscow to the negotiating table. But Europe isn’t convinced.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/12/u...

The U.S.-Europe Divide on How to Hurt Moscow

The White House believes that tariffs are the best strategy, but Brussels maintains that direct sanctions are more effective.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 11

Poland pursues a stronger military agenda following Russia’s drone incursion—signaling NATO concern that Moscow seeks to expand its war against Ukraine.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/11/p...

Poland Pursues Stronger Military Agenda After Russian Drone Incursion

Several Eastern European nations have also closed their borders with Russia and Belarus.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 10

NATO shoots down Russian drones over Polish airspace as Warsaw activates the alliance’s Article 4 clause.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/10/p...

Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones, Invokes NATO’s Article 4

This is “the closest we have been to open conflict since World War II,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 9

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigns amid deadly, nationwide anti-government protests. But the Gen Z-led movement does not appear to be slowing down.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/09/n...

Nepal’s Gen Z Reckoning

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigns amid deadly anti-government protests.

foreignpolicy.com

1

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 8

French Prime Minister François Bayrou loses a confidence vote, becoming Paris’s fourth failed premier in less than two years.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/08/f...

France Descends Toward Another Government Collapse

François Bayrou loses a confidence vote, becoming Paris’s fourth failed prime minister in less than two years.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 4

More than two dozen countries commit to deploying troops to Ukraine as security guarantees in a future peace deal with Russia.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/04/r...

26 Countries Commit to Deploying Troops to Ukraine Postwar

Kyiv maintains that security guarantees are vital to ensure Russia adheres to a future peace deal.

foreignpolicy.com

Alexandra Sharp @alexandrassharp.bsky.social · Sep 3

China’s military parade sends a pointed message to the West: Beijing is seeking to challenge the U.S.-led international order and bolster its own influence on the world stage.

foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/03/x...

China’s Military Parade Sends a Pointed Message to the West

President Xi Jinping is flaunting Beijing’s weapons development and close ties with other autocratic leaders.

foreignpolicy.com