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Rubio Gets a Medal. Russia Gets Military Drills. Karakalpakstan Gets Silence. – The Diplomat

Washington celebrates closer ties as Tashkent strengthens its Russian alliance—and offers no announced relief for Karakalpak political prisoners.
On October 19, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio the Order of Outstanding Merit .

thediplomat.com24d ago

World

Faecal waste pollutes drinking water in Mexico’s Yucatan, Greenpeace says | Environment News | Al Jazeera

The report says nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater are the likely sources of contamination.
Faecal bacteria are contaminating water in wells and sinkholes in Mexico’s Yucatan state, which are a vital source of drinking water, according to a report by Greenpeace, a global environmental organisation.
The report, published on Tuesday, said nearby pig farms and municipal wastewater were likely sources of the pollution in the southeastern coastal state.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

China Capitalizes on America’s Scientific Brain Drain – The Diplomat

For generations, the flow of global talent was almost entirely one directional. Now China is increasingly attracting top researchers from U.S. institutions.
This summer, the departure of more than a dozen established scientists from American universities to China caused a stir in the international press.
They were established figures across a variety of disciplines – mainly in the sciences – from quantum computing to biochemistry to artificial intelligence.

thediplomat.com24d ago

World

Portugal cost-of-living protesters pour back into camps cleared by police | Protests News | Al Jazeera

Police arrested 55 people while clearing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto.
Thousands of protesters have returned to two central squares in Portugal for demonstrations against an intensifying housing crisis, hours after police cleared their camps in the capital, Lisbon, and the city of Porto, a…
Activists have demanded the centre-right government withdraw a bill that makes evictions easier and ends rent caps on new leases, which passed a first parliamentary reading.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

UN experts call on India to stop using ‘excessive force’ against protesters | Protests News | Al Jazeera

UN experts press for an ⁠independent investigation into Indian authorities’ conduct.
UN experts have called on the Indian government to stop the use of “excessive force” in the wake of the crackdown on opposition and student protests in India.
In a statement on Tuesday, the two dozen independent experts pressed for an impartial investigation into Indian authorities’ conduct, saying that demonstrators had sustained injuries and some reported being subjected to…

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

U.S.-China Competition Can Be Kept in Limits

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President Donald Trump visited Beijing in May, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the U.S.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

US jails Guatemalan man for 30 years over deadly smuggling operation | Migration News | Al Jazeera

The 2022 incident resulted in the deaths of 53 migrants trapped inside a tractor-trailer in dangerously high heat.
A Guatemalan man has been sentenced to 30 years in a United States prison for his role in a human-smuggling operation that killed 53 migrants trapped in a truck – a disaster that had been described as one of the deadlie…
US District Judge Orlando Garcia handed 39-year-old Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco a 30-year prison term on Tuesday, more than a year after his extradition from Guatemala in March 2025.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Sanae Takaichi took on Japan’s male-dominated politics and won – can she survive a second year in power? | Sanae Takaichi | The Guardian

The straight-talking PM’s ability to manage Trump and stand up to China have endeared her to the public, but she may need friends closer to home to survive
The straight-talking PM’s ability to manage Trump and stand up to China have endeared her to the public, but she may need friends closer to home to survive V isitors squeeze into the kiosk near Japan ’s national diet bu…
“The Takaichi range is incredibly popular,” says a member of staff.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

Nigeria confirms Ebola case as outbreak spreads into western Africa | Ebola | The Guardian

Case in Africa’s most populous country was detected in a woman who had travelled from Uganda
Case in Africa’s most populous country was detected in a woman who had travelled from Uganda Nigeria has confirmed an Ebola case in its capital, Abuja, after a woman who arrived from Uganda tested positive for the virus…
The woman began showing symptoms on 7 October and was admitted to a hospital in Abuja four days later, where she was later diagnosed with Ebola.

theguardian.com24d ago

World

King Charles welcomes Omani sultan, hails peace efforts in UK state visit | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

King Charles III pays tribute to Muscat’s ‘noble efforts’ to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain’s King Charles III has welcomed Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for a state visit, praising the Gulf Arab monarch’s efforts to broker peace in the region.
Haitham bin Tariq said his country has chosen the path of diplomacy in a region rife with conflict, following a day of ceremonies including a reception by a red-uniformed military honour guard at Windsor Castle.

aljazeera.com24d ago

World

Weapons to Russia, Wigs to China: How North Korea Balances Its Allies – The Diplomat

A clear division of labor ensures North Korea’s alliances with Russia and China are complementary, not competitive with each other.
North Korea’s balancing act is back in the spotlight.
In September, it opened its first road bridge with Russia.

thediplomat.com24d ago

World

What Machiavelli Would Say About Trump

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LOGIN Paul Krugman put up a nice post on his Substack last week, pointing out how other countries are rapidly losing their fear of U.S.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Spain's Sánchez Calls Snap Elections Over Failed Housing Reform

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Spain ’s failure to pass housing reforms, student-led protests across France , and widespread calls for the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for snap elections on Monday, just days after his left-wing minority government failed to pass emergency measures to tackle the country’s worsening housing crisis.
29, is likely to be risky, as Sánchez has never before led his Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party to an outright parliamentary majority .

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Modi’s Crackdown Is a Strategic Error – Foreign Policy

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LOGIN Recent scenes in New Delhi evoke memories of past security crackdowns across South Asia, mostly by military dictators fighting to hang onto their regime.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Trump's Russia Diesel Deal Won't Lower Prices

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President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel exports won’t do much, if anything, to lower fuel prices, especially before next month’s midterm elections.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

The Next Frontier of U.S.-China Competition Is Biomanufacturing

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politician wants to reinvigorate manufacturing, but most are chasing a 20th-century version of it.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

U.S.-China Competition Can Be Kept in Limits

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President Donald Trump visited Beijing in May, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that the U.S.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Israel Election: Neither Netanyahu nor his Opponents Are Expected to Win Outright

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LOGIN This is supposed to be the most fateful election in Israel’s history—a vote on whether the country continues down the path of illiberalism, insularity, and aggressive military policies that Prime Minister Benjamin…

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Reflects on Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy Under Trump

Senate was in session before breaking for fall recess, Sen.
Jeanne Shaheen strode onto the chamber’s floor and made an unusual request.
The 79-year-old Democratic lawmaker sought to force a vote to confirm 10 new ambassadors.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Trump's Farmer Bailout Aims to Rally Midterm Support

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voters head into the final stretch of a high-stakes midterm campaign, President Donald Trump is making his last pitch to a key constituency that has been pummeled by the economic fallout of the Iran war: American farmer…

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Trump's Farmer Bailout Aims to Rally Midterm Support

Get audio access with any FP subscription.
Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER?
voters head into the final stretch of a high-stakes midterm campaign, President Donald Trump is making his last pitch to a key constituency that has been pummeled by the economic fallout of the Iran war: American farmer…

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Oslo Ukraine Talks: How Zelensky Is Navigating Trump's Russia U-Turn

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be open to talks with Russia and China over the future of Ukraine, arguing that “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine.
They haven’t been doing much.” That came amid an onslaught of Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, schools, and energy facilities.
The reason that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pleading for a complete restoration of Starshield, the military internet service provided by SpaceX, along with full intelligence sharing with Washington and the…

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Ukraine's Zelensky Meets Witkoff in Oslo Amid Strained Ties

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Ukraine’s deteriorating relationship with the United States, government measures to tackle protests across Europe , and the Houthis’ deadliest strike in Yemen since fi…
President Donald Trump looks increasingly interested in currying favor with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that a face-to-face with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff will be enough to repair…
president throws more support behind Moscow.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

World

Ukraine's Zelensky Meets Witkoff in Oslo Amid Strained Ties

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at Ukraine’s deteriorating relationship with the United States, government measures to tackle protests across Europe , and the Houthis’ deadliest strike in Yemen since fi…
President Donald Trump looks increasingly interested in currying favor with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes that a face-to-face with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff will be enough to repair…
president throws more support behind Moscow.

foreignpolicy.com24d ago

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