Russia Faces Large Bill to Dismantle Ageing Nuclear Reactors
Russia is facing a substantial future bill to dismantle ageing nuclear reactors, according to a commentary published on 4 October. The piece says some reactors in the country are already more than 50 years old, raising questions about how decommissioning will be funded and managed. It also notes that Moscow continues to expand its nuclear industry abroad at the same time.The article says Rosenergoatom plans to decommission 35 reactors. It adds that the company's own estimates point to a funding shortfall of about 18.7 billion euros, against a total estimated decommissioning cost of roughly 21 billion euros. The commentary argues... [Continue Reading]
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Noontime News Recap: Kyiv hit again as Gaza, North Korea and regional tensions deepen
Kyiv was hit again by a Russian strike on a major bridge on Sunday morning, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was in the city for talks, underscoring the pressure on the Ukrainian capital amid renewed attacks. 🔗In the Middle East, a strike in Gaza City killed two Christian women, Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter Mary al Najjar, in the Remal neighbourhood, prompting mourning from church leaders as the war continues to exact a heavy civilian toll. 🔗 Houthi forces also took control of the Red Sea city of Mocha, leaving thousands of civilians trapped in the district as conditions... [Continue Reading]
Latvian PM Andris Kulbergs wins parliamentary election and faces coalition talks
Latvia's Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has won the country's parliamentary election, with his centre-right United List emerging as the largest party and securing 42 of the 100 seats in parliament. He now has to assemble a new coalition to continue governing. The result gives his pro-European and pro-Ukrainian camp a strong position, but it does not by itself provide a majority.Mr Kulbergs said the margin of victory was wider than he had expected after exit polls pointed to a strong showing for his party. He said the result showed that people wanted change, and linked that to economic growth and... [Continue Reading]
Somalia rejects alleged Israeli presence plans in Berbera
Somalia's president has said the country will not accept an Israeli presence "under any circumstances", after alleging that Israel was planning to establish a naval base in Berbera and use the city's airport. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made the remarks in an exclusive interview, framing the issue as part of wider efforts to pull Somalia into Middle East conflicts. He said Somalia would resist such moves and described the alleged plans as a challenge to the country's sovereignty.Mohamud said the alleged Israeli plans were aimed at gaining closer access to the Gulf states and Iran. He also linked them to what... [Continue Reading]
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UK man charged over alleged terror plot targeting Nigel Farage as Widdecombe murder case continues
British police have charged Joshua Kerry with preparing acts of terrorism, including an alleged plot targeting Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The 28-year-old is already facing a separate murder charge in connection with the death of former MP and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.Police said the terrorism charge covers alleged conduct between 31 May 2024 and 8 July 2026. The charge was brought after authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, and counter-terrorism officers said the investigation has been running for some time. Senior national co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing... [Continue Reading]
US Delivers Two F-16V Fighter Jets to Taiwan After Months of Delay
The United States has delivered two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets to Taiwan, in a move that comes amid renewed concern on the island over Washington's commitment to its defence. The aircraft landed on Friday at noon local time, after flying via Hawaii and Guam, according to the supplied report. They are part of a larger arms package intended to strengthen Taiwan's air defences as it faces pressure from China.The jets are part of an $8bn deal for 66 F-16Vs approved during Donald Trump's first term. Their arrival followed months of delay, with the report saying Beijing had repeatedly asked... [Continue Reading]
ICC ends insurer contract amid looming US sanctions pressure
The International Criminal Court has ended its contract with French insurer Axa with immediate effect, as the court faces mounting pressure linked to possible United States sanctions. The move means the Hague-based court will switch to another health insurance provider. It comes after weeks of growing concern that financial restrictions could affect the court's operations.The decision was first reported on Thursday and was later confirmed by an ICC spokesperson, who said the court and Axa had agreed by mutual consent to terminate the relationship. According to the supplied report, the two sides had spent months in talks but were unable... [Continue Reading]
United States removes Syria from arms export ban list
The United States has removed Syria from its list of countries barred from buying or importing US weapons, marking another step in Washington's easing of restrictions on the country. The change means defence articles and defence services can now be reviewed for Syria on a case-by-case basis. The move was set out in an amendment to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, or ITAR, published on Wednesday.According to the notice, the Secretary of State approved a new defence trade policy for Syria on 19 August 2026. That policy allows the review of transfers of defence articles and services to Syria... [Continue Reading]
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Oil flows through Strait of Hormuz recover as Iran-US talks continue
Crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz have recovered to nearly 80% of pre-war levels, according to the latest tanker-tracking data cited in the supplied report. The improvement comes as Iran and the United States, with mediators, continue efforts to end seven months of hostilities. Even so, the waterway remains far from normal, with tanker insurance costs and wider geopolitical risk still elevated.The report says Middle East crude exports reached an estimated 16.328 million barrels per day in September, the highest level since the war began in late February. Flows through the Strait of Hormuz itself were expected to reach... [Continue Reading]
Netanyahu faces fresh October 7 warning allegations as election pressure builds
A fresh report has intensified scrutiny of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over claims that he was warned before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack. According to the latest account, Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, is said to have phoned Netanyahu days before the assault, adding to earlier media reports that the United Arab Emirates also issued a warning in the week before the attack. The allegations have emerged as Israel heads towards a parliamentary election on October 27, keeping the issue of security failures at the centre of the campaign.The report says Kamel had also travelled to Israel in... [Continue Reading]
Hurricane Polo Brings Flooding and Structural Damage After Category 3 Landfall in Mexico
Flooding and damage have been reported in parts of Mexico after Hurricane Polo made landfall as a Category 3 storm. The storm brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to affected areas, with streets submerged in water in some locations. Images from the scene also showed residents clearing fallen branches and debris from their properties.Several buildings were damaged, including roofs that collapsed under the force of the storm. The available reports do not give a full count of affected homes or businesses, but the visual evidence points to widespread disruption in the areas hit by the system. The storm's impact was... [Continue Reading]
G20 trade ministers meet in Milwaukee amid tariff tensions and limited breakthrough hopes
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended Washington's trade approach in Milwaukee on Tuesday, saying the administration is "not anti-trade." He said countries are facing similar challenges linked to global overcapacity and what he described as non-market policies. The comments came as G20 trade ministers opened two days of talks in the city, with tariffs and trade frictions expected to dominate the discussions. The meeting brings together officials from the Group of 20 major economies, including China, India, Russia, Japan, Germany and France, as well as the European Union and the African Union.Analysts quoted ahead of the talks said they did... [Continue Reading]
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Trump plans 32-day campaign tour ahead of US midterm elections
United States President Donald Trump has said he will spend 32 days travelling and campaigning for Republican candidates before the November midterm elections. The vote will decide which party controls Congress and is being widely viewed as a test of Trump's second term in office. He said the tour will include states such as Texas and Ohio, where competitive races are under way.Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking to reporters, saying Republican candidates wanted him to campaign for them. He rejected suggestions that party hopefuls were trying to distance themselves from his administration before the vote. He described... [Continue Reading]
South Africa launches emergency response after 12 women killed near Johannesburg
South Africa's president has announced a national emergency response after the bodies of 12 women were discovered in an area east of Johannesburg over a two-month period. The deaths have triggered widespread concern about violence against women in a country that already faces one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. The announcement came on Tuesday as authorities faced pressure to respond to the scale and apparent clustering of the killings.Cyril Ramaphosa said the government would begin a multidisciplinary, national-level response to the murders. He said there had been four arrests in connection with the case, but... [Continue Reading]
North Korea envoy speaks at UN General Assembly wearing Kim family brooch
North Korea's vice foreign minister, Kim Son Gyong, addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday while wearing a brooch featuring the faces of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung. The appearance drew attention because the two former leaders are treated in North Korea as eternal leaders and their images are commonly used in official settings. Kim used the speech to restate Pyongyang's position that its nuclear status is permanent.During the address, Kim said North Korea's nuclear status cannot be reversed and argued that the country's arsenal is necessary to protect sovereignty and security. He... [Continue Reading]
Iraq seeks oil export alternatives as Strait of Hormuz blockade cuts revenues
Iraq is looking for alternative ways to export oil after the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut off most of its sea-based trade. The disruption has hit a key source of state income and left Baghdad facing a widening financial squeeze. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi raised the issue in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.According to the supplied report, Iraq says it has been unable to export about 90% of its oil via the Gulf. Officials say the country has lost about $60bn in oil revenues since the war between the United States and... [Continue Reading]
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Bangkok flooding continues as disaster declaration covers all 50 districts
Parts of Bangkok remained under water on Monday after days of heavy rain overwhelmed the city's drainage system. The flooding has affected streets, homes and transport links across the capital, with some areas still difficult to access. In Bang Kapi, residents were seen wading through knee- and waist-deep water to collect essential supplies, while small boats were used to reach shops.Officials said some parts of the city recorded more than 30 centimetres of rain, with around 300 millimetres falling in 48 hours in sections of the capital. Authorities declared a disaster across all 50 districts and made Monday and Tuesday... [Continue Reading]
Serbia calls snap parliamentary election for 25 October amid student revolt
Serbia has moved to an early parliamentary election on 25 October, after President Aleksandar Vucic announced the vote in response to months of student-led protests and wider political pressure. The election had originally been due in December 2027, making the new timetable a significant acceleration of Serbia's political calendar. Analysts quoted in the supplied reporting say the decision is intended to reduce political risk rather than settle the crisis.The protests have been driven by anger over a 2024 railway-station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, with student demonstrators accusing the authorities of negligence and corruption. The unrest has continued for... [Continue Reading]
Trump-Xi Taiwan arms row deepens after ambassador says China was asked about buying US weapons
US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons during their meeting in Washington last week, according to remarks attributed to US ambassador to China David Perdue. The claim adds a new layer to an already sensitive dispute over Taiwan, where Washington has been weighing a delayed arms package worth $14bn. It also comes as Beijing continues to oppose US arms sales to the island.Perdue said Trump raised the idea while discussing US weapons sales more broadly, telling Fox News that the president asked Xi whether China would like to... [Continue Reading]
Powerful nor'easter floods US Northeast as outages rise and storm lingers
The nor'easter continued to flood low-lying areas in New Jersey and New York City on Sunday, while strong winds and heavy rain left tens of thousands of homes without power across the Northeast. Tidal surges swamped coastal neighbourhoods in New Jersey, and streets in Howard Beach in Queens were inundated as the slow-moving storm pressed on into a second day. The weather system was expected to linger through Sunday, with impacts extending into New England.Officials and weather forecasters said the storm had already produced more than 10cm, or 4 inches, of rain in some parts of New Jersey since Friday.... [Continue Reading]
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Dubai Property Market Faces Litmus Test as Nakheel Waterfront Investors Await Final Judicial Verdict
Hundreds of international and local investors who purchased land plots in Nakheel’s massive "Waterfront" project nearly two decades ago are holding their breath. Following the official cancellation of the project by the Dubai Land Department and its integration under Dubai Holding, a special judicial committee appointed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been tasked with resolving the liquidation and settling investor claims. ​Because the decisions of this specialized committee are legally binding and final, with no avenue for appeal, the upcoming rulings are being viewed as a critical turning point for the regulatory reputation of Dubai's... [Continue Reading]
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]


