World This Week: Deadly Hong Kong Inferno, Coup in Guinea-Bissau and New Global Flashpoints

This week’s global headlines were dominated by a catastrophic apartment fire in Hong Kong, a sudden coup in Guinea-Bissau, a terror-linked shooting near the White House, and renewed tension from Gaza to Ukraine.

At the same time, world leaders wrapped up a disappointing COP30 climate summit and a divisive G20 meeting in South Africa, underlining how fragile global cooperation remains.

Hong Kong fire: deadliest blaze in decades

A huge fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, killing at least 65 people and injuring more than 70. Hundreds of residents remain missing, making it the territory’s deadliest fire in decades and one of the worst in its modern history.

The blaze spread rapidly across several of the 31-storey towers, which were under renovation and wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh. Investigators say flammable foam and non-compliant materials likely helped the flames race up the exterior, drawing comparisons to other high-rise disasters such as London’s Grenfell Tower.

Police have arrested three executives from the construction company on suspicion of manslaughter due to alleged gross negligence. Meanwhile, more than 900 residents have been moved into temporary shelters as crews continue a dangerous search of blackened stairwells and apartments. The tragedy has sparked urgent reviews of fire safety rules and scaffolding practices across Hong Kong.

Guinea-Bissau coup: military seizes power again

In West Africa, army officers in Guinea-Bissau toppled President Umaro Sissoco Embaló just days after a tightly contested presidential election. The military, calling itself the “High Military Command for the Restoration of Order,” declared “total control,” suspended the vote and sealed the country’s borders.

On Thursday, General Horta Nta Na Man was sworn in as transitional president for one year, deepening fears of another prolonged period of instability. Regional bloc ECOWAS and the African Union swiftly condemned the takeover and demanded Embaló’s release, warning that yet another coup undermines democracy in a state already labelled a narco-hub for cocaine trafficking.

For ordinary citizens in the capital Bissau, life has been disrupted by gunfire, checkpoints and uncertainty about when, or if, real elections will resume. However, coup leaders insist they acted to prevent alleged fraud and promise a return to constitutional order after reforms.

Washington shooting: National Guard attack fuels immigration clash

Near the White House, two National Guard soldiers were critically wounded in what officials describe as a targeted shooting in downtown Washington, DC. The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was shot and arrested after exchanging fire with security forces.

Authorities say Lakanwal arrived in the United States under an Afghan evacuation program and was granted asylum earlier this year. While investigators have not publicly detailed a motive, the Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump have labelled the attack an act of terror.

As a result, the administration has ordered a pause on new Afghan immigration processing and called for a sweeping review of tens of thousands of evacuees. Supporters argue the move is necessary for security, while critics warn it fuels collective suspicion against refugees who previously worked alongside US forces.

Gaza and Lebanon: ceasefire under strain in the Middle East

In the Middle East, a fragile US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza came under renewed strain as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 24 Palestinians over the weekend. Gaza’s media office says Israel has violated the truce nearly 500 times in 44 days, while UNICEF reports that two children a day have been killed during the “ceasefire” period.

Meanwhile, tensions widened to Lebanon, where an Israeli strike on a Beirut suburb killed at least five people, including Hezbollah’s acting chief of staff. Israel framed the operation as a pre-emptive move against an imminent threat, but Lebanese officials denounced it as a dangerous escalation that could trigger wider war.

UN officials briefed the Security Council on the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where vast areas lie in ruins and more than 1.7 million people remain displaced. However, diplomatic efforts to lock in a more durable ceasefire remain stalled, leaving civilians caught between shifting front lines and limited aid.

Ukraine war and peace talks: battlefield and propaganda

On Europe’s eastern flank, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passed day 1,372 with intense fighting reported across the eastern and southern front lines. Ukrainian forces describe brutal battles “for every metre” around towns such as Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region, amid heavy Russian shelling and drone attacks.

At the same time, analysts say Russia has stepped up information warfare by flooding social media with AI-generated fake videos showing Ukrainian soldiers allegedly surrendering near Pokrovsk. Kyiv accuses Moscow of using deepfakes to damage morale and pressure Western partners, while vowing to keep defending its territory.

Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. Negotiators in Geneva have been working on a 19-point peace framework that tries to postpone the toughest questions, such as territorial control, to later talks. However, Russia still demands recognition of its annexations, and Ukraine insists its borders are non-negotiable, leaving any real breakthrough uncertain.

Climate and summits: COP30 disappointment and a divided G20

Climate diplomacy also made headlines as the COP30 UN summit in Belém, Brazil, ended without an agreement to phase out fossil fuels. More than 80 countries backed a transition away from coal, oil and gas, but major producers including Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE blocked stronger language.

The final text contained no new binding pledges on ending deforestation or cutting meat-related emissions, despite warnings that the 1.5°C warming limit is slipping out of reach. Climate groups described the outcome as a missed opportunity, highlighting the heavy presence of fossil-fuel lobbyists and the absence of a formal US delegation after Washington again quit the Paris Agreement.

Separately, the G20 summit in South Africa concluded without the United States at the table, after Washington boycotted the gathering over claims about the treatment of white-minority Afrikaners. Other leaders nonetheless adopted a declaration on climate and economic challenges, signalling that major economies are increasingly willing to move ahead even when superpower politics get in the way.

Featured image: Reuters