As Brazil heads toward elections in 2026, millions live in fear. Nearly one in five people is affected by gangs or militias in areas where the state is absent and violence is routine. Al Jazeera’s Monica Yanakiew reports from Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. | Al Jazeera English

China is engaged in a second day of live-fire military exercises encircling Taiwan, with Taiwanese fighter jets in the air in response. Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi is in Taiwan. He says the military is on high alert - but there’s no sense of panic in the country. | Al Jazeera English