The Daily Digest

World

Hegseth Seeks to Reassure Southeast Asia of US Security Commitment to the Region – The Diplomat

Speaking at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu…
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Cebu, Philippines, Oct.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth yesterday sought to reassure Southeast Asian counterparts on Wednesday of Washington’s commitment to the region…

thediplomat.com16d ago

World

Flávio Bolsonaro’s defeat is a major blow to Trump and his orange wave | Brazil | The Guardian

The far-right candidate was supposed to claim the presidency, but Brazilian voters had other ideas
The far-right candidate was supposed to claim the presidency, but Brazilian voters had other ideas F or Donald Trump…
The far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, was supposed to claim the presidency on Sunday…

theguardian.com16d ago

World

Yemen War: Could a Saudi-UAE Rapprochement Help Riyadh Fight the Houthis?

Saudi Arabia has a growing list of problems in its escalating war against the Houthis in Yemen…
The Iran-backed Houthis made major territorial gains along the Red Sea coast in a blistering offensive last month…
10 on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300.

foreignpolicy.com16d ago

World

Why Africa needs its own AI off switch - Rest of World

Africa needs AI systems with local control to protect critical infrastructure such as mobile money networks from growing AI-powered cyberthreats.
Merchants are delivering vegetables from up-country farms to the retailers who sell to the city’s households.
Everyone is using M-Pesa, Safaricom’s mobile money platform, when suddenly, the system crashes, bringing the market to a standstill.

restofworld.org16d ago

World

Hello Kitty company cuts ties with Japanese spy show after China outcry | China | The Guardian

Sanrio ends association with TV drama Vivant after China says portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents is ‘deliberate smear’
Sanrio ends association with TV drama Vivant after China says portrayal of ruthless Chinese agents is ‘deliberate smear’ The company…
Sanrio, a Japanese firm whose characters are popular around the world…

theguardian.com16d ago

World

Singapore, Indonesia Ready to Address Bilateral Issues Including Haze, Minister Says – The Diplomat

For several weeks tension between the two neighbors has been growing over a range of issues including transboundary haze…
Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir speak to the press after a meeting in Jakarta…
Singapore and Indonesia are prepared to do what is necessary to manage their differences over transboundary haze, energy supplies…

thediplomat.com16d ago

World

Cambodian police and soldiers helped guard abusive scam compounds, Amnesty alleges | Cambodia | The Guardian

Survivors tell rights group that serving officers who worked as guards administered electric shocks and beatings
Survivors tell rights group that serving officers who worked as guards administered electric shocks and beatings Cambodian police and military…
The global rights group alleged they worked for security companies as part of a system that enabled slavery and rape…

theguardian.com16d ago

World

Afghanistan opium production jumps fivefold as farmers find ways round Taliban ban | UN News

Opium production in Afghanistan has risen fivefold in a year. According to a UN survey released on Thursday…
29 October 2026 Law and Crime Prevention Opium production in Afghanistan has risen fivefold in a year.
According to a UN survey released on Thursday…

news.un.org16d ago

World

Judge rejects Trump effort to block California ‘noncitizen’ ballots | US Midterm Elections 2026 News | Al Jazeera

More than 100 subpoenas issued across 13 states as government ramps up search for alleged noncitizen voters.
A United States judge has rejected a Department of Justice request to temporarily halt California from counting mail ballots…
US District Judge David Carter’s ruling on Wednesday came as US President Donald Trump expands efforts to search for alleged…

aljazeera.com16d ago

World

The Impact of the Philippine Supreme Court’s Recent Landmark Rulings – The Diplomat

Two important rulings on political dynasties and the budget system could have significant implications for the Marcos administration.
The Supreme Court building in Manila, Philippines.
The Philippine Supreme Court issued two major decisions over the past two months that could affect not just the work…

thediplomat.com16d ago

World

Outcry after Call of Duty maker uses real footage of deadly Seoul crowd crush in new video game | South Korea | The Guardian

Bereaved families have urged the publisher of Call of Duty…
Bereaved families have urged the publisher of Call of Duty…
The clips , which are seconds-long, appear in the opening moments of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4…

theguardian.com16d ago

World

Europe’s Superpower Is Trade, Not Regulation

Over the decades, the European Union has weathered recessions and revolutions, internal fissures and external threats.
It has seen the Iron Curtain teeter and fall and watched as the world order shifted from bipolar to unipolar…
Through it all, the EU has proved remarkably durable, but threats loom on the horizon.

foreignpolicy.com16d ago

World

Pakistan’s Artificial Intelligence Warfare – The Diplomat

Faced with multipronged challenges, the country has gradually incorporated AI into its security strategy.
For the first time in its volatile history, Pakistan topped the Global Terrorism Index this year…
The fatalities have risen further in 2026, with the third quarter of the ongoing year showing an 83 percent hike…

thediplomat.com17d ago

World

Activists accuse Israeli settlers of assault in occupied West Bank | Occupied West Bank News | Al Jazeera

Footage shows men, some armed, beating a US journalist and an Israeli-Russian activist in Umm al-Khair.
Russian activist Adele Shoko has said that Israeli settlers attacked her alongside two of her colleagues in the Palestinian village…
Shoko said on social media platform X that she, US journalist Jasper Nathaniel…

aljazeera.com17d ago

World

US man gets 30-year sentence for Minnesota fraud that drew Trump backlash | Corruption News | Al Jazeera

Government says Salim Said hit the jackpot in a scheme claiming to feed needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 37-year-old man who played a key role in defrauding a United States food programme in the state of Minnesota…
The widespread scheme in Minnesota, which resulted in dozens of convictions, has repeatedly drawn attacks from Trump…

aljazeera.com17d ago

World

Higher Ground: How New York is raising a park to hold back the sea | UN News

On 29 October 2012, Hurricane Sandy slammed into New York City, unleashing a devastating storm surge that flooded homes…
By Charlotte Dawson and Mashael Shah 28 October 2026 Climate and Environment On 29 October 2012…
In just 48 hours, 44 people were killed, nearly two million New Yorkers lost power…

news.un.org17d ago

World

Tokayev Proposes Dipping Into National Fund to Turn Kazakhstan into a ‘Big Construction Site’ – The Diplomat

In his annual state of the nation address, Tokayev laid out an ambitious spending spree focused on infrastructure and investment.
“Kazakhstan must turn into one big construction site,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proclaimed in his October 28 national address…
That represents more than 21 percent of the National Fund…

thediplomat.com17d ago

World

Albania imposes $6,000 fine for demonstrators present at a protest that turns violent | Albania | The Guardian

The fine – six times the average monthly salary – will apply to people present at violent protests…
The fine – six times the average monthly salary – will apply to people present at violent protests…
The capital, Tirana, has been racked by months of anti-government protests that in recent days have deteriorated into pitched battles…

theguardian.com17d ago

World

Lula’s Election Win in Brazil Is a Relief for China – The Diplomat

Lula’s victory secures the most important destination for Chinese foreign direct investment in the Western Hemisphere and ends a winning…
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a signing ceremony…
On October 4, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finished the first round of Brazil’s presidential election behind his main rival…

thediplomat.com17d ago

World

The Evolution of Taiwan’s Military – The Diplomat

Insights from Eric Setzekorn.
The Diplomat author Mercy Kuo regularly engages subject-matter experts, policy practitioners…
Eric Setzekorn – historian and author of “On the Brink…

thediplomat.com17d ago

World

Netanyahu bloc loses majority as most ballots counted – as it happened | Israel | The Guardian

Both blocs fall short of the 61 seats needed to form a government in initial forecasts as support for Palestinian…
It’s just after 6am in Tel Aviv where Israelis are waking up to exit polls that show no clear victor…
The polls published by Israel’s major TV networks show Benjamin Netanyahu ’s governing bloc tied with the opposition grouping led…

theguardian.com17d ago

World

No clear winner in Israel election with nearly 90 percent of votes counted | Israel Election 2026 News | Al Jazeera

Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc leads but is falling short of the votes needed to form a government.
No clear winner has emerged from Israel’s election…
The Israeli Central Elections Committee said on Wednesday that it had counted more than five million votes as of 9pm…

aljazeera.com17d ago

World

As Russia Struggles, Will Putin Escalate the War in Ukraine?

These are tricky times for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The “special military operation” he launched against Ukraine in 2022, intended to last a few days until a puppet regime in Kyiv could be installed, has now gone on longer than both the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany…
His forces have long ceased making significant gains on the battlefield; some data even suggest that Russian forces lost territory in April and May.

foreignpolicy.com17d ago

World

Is Ukraine Turning on Zelensky?

Get audio access with any FP subscription.
Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?
LOGIN For most of his presidency and especially since Russia launched its full-scale war, Ukrainian voters have rallied around Volodymyr Zelensky as a pillar of national resilience and unity.

foreignpolicy.com17d ago

The Daily Digest by email

World