East Asia & the Pacific
Brunei: RBAF contingent departs for UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
Borneo Bulletin (Brunei)
A total of 21 personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) have officially been deployed to participate in the Malaysian Battalion 850-13 (MALBATT 850-13) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission, following a National Flag Handover Ceremony held Thursday morning at the Air Movement Centre, Rimba Air Force Base.
Cambodia: Vietnam, Cambodia vow to strengthen comprehensive defense cooperation
Khmer Times (Cambodia)
The Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to continue strengthening their trusted, comprehensive, and substantive cooperation at the eighth Vietnam–Cambodia Defense Policy Dialogue, held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 29.
China: ‘Amazing’ Xi-Trump summit, as it happened – deals struck as trade war thaws
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has held talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump, their first in-person meeting since Trump’s return to the White House, as the rivals seek to manage heightened tensions, particularly over trade. The closed-door talks took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the South Korean city of Busan.
China: Astronauts of China’s Shenzhou XXI mission meet press
China Daily (China)
Chinese astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang for the upcoming Shenzhou XXI spaceflight mission, met the press on Thursday. The Shenzhou XXI crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:44 pm Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference earlier on the day.
Japan: Japan, S.Korea leaders agree on future-oriented relations
NHK World (Japan)
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held her first summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung in Gyeongju, South Korea where the APEC summit will be held. At the beginning of the meeting, Takaichi said she is convinced it would be beneficial for the two leaders to develop a future-oriented relationship in a stable manner based on the foundation that has already been laid. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea.
Japan: U.S., Japan leaders ink rare earths deal ahead of Trump-Xi meet this week
Asahi Shimbun (Japan)
U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed a framework agreement on Tuesday for securing the supply of rare earths, as both countries aim to reduce China’s dominance of some of the key electronic components.
Malaysia: Malaysia, US to ink bilateral defense agreement at ADMM-Plus, says minister
Malay Mail (Malysia)
Malaysia and the United States (US) are slated to sign a bilateral defense pact today, marking the first formal security arrangement between both nations. Speaking to reporters at a press conference today, defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the agreement will be signed on the sidelines of the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM).
Mongolia: Mongolian Teachers Strike Over Pay, Testing Government’s Fiscal Limits
Mongolia Weekly (Mongolia)
Mongolia’s budget fight has turned into a duel between economic sense and political survival. After the court reinstated Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar following an unconstitutional no-confidence vote, lawmakers reopened debate on sweeping salary and pension hikes that could push public finances to the edge.
Myanmar: SpaceX cuts off 2,500 Starlink devices at Myanmar scam centres
Frontier Myanmar (Myanmar)
SpaceX has cut service to more than 2,500 Starlink internet devices at Myanmar scam centers, a company executive said Wednesday, after Agency France-Presse revealed that their use had exploded in the illicit industry.
New Zealand: Measles spread modeling considers 150 cases a week possible
Radio New Zealand (New Zealand)
As many as 150 people a week could get infected with measles if an epidemic takes hold, in a “pessimistic” scenario, official measles modeling suggests. Modeling to estimate the impact of a potential measles epidemic was done last year by the government-owned ESR, now known as the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF).
Palau: Palau Unites for Nationwide Clean-Up Marking 10 Years of National Marine Sanctuary Protection
Island Times (Palau)
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), communities across Palau united for a nationwide Coastal and Community Clean-Up — reaffirming Palau’s enduring commitment to conservation and cultural stewardship. From island states to high school teams, more than 2,000 kilograms of waste were collected in one day, showcasing the collective spirit that continues to define Palau’s leadership in ocean protection.
South Korea: Lee, Takaichi hold 1st talks, keep shuttle diplomacy on track
Korea Herald (South Korea)
President Lee Jae Myung and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi, who became Japanese prime minister last week, held talks Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences in South Korea, continuing “shuttle diplomacy” as her predecessor had vowed.
South Korea: Trump praises Lee as ‘best leader’ in negotiations after nuclear-powered sub talks
Korea Herald (South Korea)
US President Donald Trump praised South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as the “best leader” in trade negotiations and lauded Seoul’s pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, Seoul’s presidential office said Thursday. Kim Nam-jun, spokesperson for the presidential office, briefed reporters on the atmosphere of Wednesday’s South Korea-US summit and the special state dinner hosted by Lee in Gyeongju, saying Trump repeatedly expressed admiration for the South Korean leader.
Taiwan: Taiwan doing all it can to prevent war amid China threat: VP Hsiao
Focus Taiwan (Taiwan)
Vice President Hsiao commented on Taiwan’s position in regard to the idea of being threatened by China. She expressed the open possibility of engaging in talks with Beijing for the incentive of benefits to be gained on both sides.
Europe & Eurasia
Albania: Albanian government approves agreement with Italy
ANSA (Italy)
The Albanian government gave preliminary approval to a wide-ranging strategic cooperation agreement with Italy covering at least ten sectors including healthcare, security and migration.
Denmark: Denmark drops plan to make tech firms scan messages for child abuse material
The Copenhagen Post (Denmark)
The Danish government has withdrawn a controversial proposal that would have forced tech companies to scan all citizens’ messages for child abuse material.
France: A French trial examines Holocaust Memorial graffiti believed linked to Russia
AP News (United States)
A Paris court put three Bulgarian men on trial for allegedly spray-painting hundreds of red handprints on the city’s Holocaust Memorial – an act French intelligence services say was orchestrated by Russia to sow social discord.
Italy: Italy court stalls Sicily bridge, triggers Meloni’s fury
Courthouse News Service (United States)
Italy’s Court of Auditors refused to approve a €13.5 billion project to build a bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, citing documentation concerns. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed the ruling as an “intolerable intrusion.”
Lithuania: Lithuania extends closure of Belarus border crossing after balloons enter its airspace
AP News (United States)
Lithuania will keep its two main border crossings with Belarus closed for at least a month after a spate of incidents in which helium balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes repeatedly forced flight suspensions.
Poland: Poland scrambles jets, closes airports as Russia strikes Ukraine
Polskie Radio (Poland)
Poland temporarily closed two civilian airports, scrambled fighter jets, and put its air defenses on high alert as Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on neighboring Ukraine.
Portugal: Portugal government agrees with far right to toughen nationality rules
Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Portugal’s minority center-right government struck a deal with the far-right Chega party to push through a law toughening the requirements for foreigners to obtain Portuguese nationality.
Sweden: Swedish PM under fire for allowing parties at official residence
The Local Sweden (Sweden)
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is facing criticism for allowing friends and family to use his official country residence, Harpsund, for private events such as a student party and a family member’s 70th birthday.
Ukraine: As battle for Ukraine’s Pokrovsk heats up, Putin touts nuclear-powered arms
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Ukrainian and Russian forces are locked in intense fighting around the eastern city of Pokrovsk, with Moscow claiming, and Kyiv denying, that thousands of Ukrainian troops have been encircled. President Putin has touted the development of new nuclear-capable arms.
Near East
Israel: Ultra-Orthodox Jews rally in Israel against military service
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Around 200,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews brought West Jerusalem to a standstill to protest plans to draft them into the Israeli army, following last year’s court decision to overturn conscription exemptions for Jewish seminary students. The move has become a political headache for Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose coalition relies on their support.
Egypt: Egypt’s vast $1bn museum to open in Cairo after two-decade build
The Guardian (England)
A vast $1bn museum billed as the world’s largest archaeological facility dedicated to a single civilization will open outside Cairo on Saturday, after countless delays over the course of its two-decade construction.
Palestine: Hamas decries Israel’s ‘treacherous escalation’ in Gaza; 100 dead
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
At least 109 Palestinians, including dozens of children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza over the past 12 hours in a major breach of the US-led ceasefire agreement.
Yemen: Yemen’s Houthis say arrested UN staff will be tried over Israeli links
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Yemen’s Houthi-run government will put dozens of detained United Nations staff on trial, alleging that they have spied for Israel or had links to an Israeli air strike that killed the prime minister, according to officials. The UN defendants are Yemenis and could face the death penalty under the nation’s laws.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: China’s Donkey Skin Demand Drives Illegal Trade
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
Donkeys, vital for transportation and daily life in many African communities, are rapidly disappearing due to Chinese demand for their hides. This illegal trade has deprived rural families of their primary income source and increased the burden on women and girls. In response, several African countries, including Kenya, Niger, and Tanzania, have implemented bans or restrictions on the commercial slaughter and export of donkey hides.
CAR: Russia Pushes CAR to Choose Africa Corps Over Wagner Mercenaries
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
The Central African Republic (CAR) is facing pressure from Russia to replace the Wagner Group, formerly under Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in 2023, with Africa Corps under the Russian defense ministry. The Kremlin has demanded millions of dollars from CAR to cover Africa Corps personnel costs. However, although receiving accusations of human rights violations from Wagner fighters against civilians, the government much prefers them.
Ethiopia: Heated Rhetoric Raises Specter of Renewed War in Horn of Africa
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have escalated as the former claims the latter is funding militia groups like the Fano in preparation to wage war, in a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos. Eritrea responds to Ethiopia’s warning of military response by referencing the letter as deceitful and reckless. Concerned individuals are wary of global powers utilizing this conflict as a proxy war, like the Sudanese civil war, in a time when the humanitarian condition is already fragile in northern Ethiopia.
Kenya: Kenya’s internet ad market to be world’s fastest growing
Semafor (United States)
The projection that Kenya’s internet advertising market is anticipated to generate $470 million in revenue by 2029 would place the country as the fastest-growing internet advertising market.
Niger: Terror Attacks Rise in Niger as Junta Focuses on Regime Security
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
Since the 2023 military coup in Niger that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, there has been a rise in terrorist attacks. Niger’s military junta, which expelled French and U.S. forces, has increasingly relied on Russia’s Wagner Group, now Africa Corps, leading to heightened violence in areas such as Tillaberi. While the junta concentrates on maintaining control over Niamey, the capital, civilians are suffering from massacres, forced marriages, and community destruction.
Nigeria: US revokes visa of Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka
Semafor (United States)
The first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, who has a long history of activism and protest in Nigeria, has had his U.S. visa revoked, banning him from the country. He has attributed this act to the Trump Administration, given his outspoken criticism of current U.S. President Donald Trump.
Sierra Leone: New Laboratory Will Help Sierra Leone Fight Parasitic Infections
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
Sierra Leone has opened a new National Parasitic Diseases Laboratory and Training Center in Freetown to strengthen its fight against malaria and other parasitic diseases. Funded through the country’s public health partnership with the United States and U.S. Africa Command, it aims to play a vital role by improving diagnosis, research, and training in a country facing over 2 million cases annually.
Sudan: Evidence Supports Claim That Sudan Army Used Chlorine Gas Against RSF
Africa Defense Forum (Nigeria)
International observers have accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)of using banned chemical weapons, likely chlorine gas, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) based upon video evidence of an attack near Khartoum in 2024. Following the SAF’s denial of these accusations, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights calling for their cooperation with investigations.
Sudan: UN is needed in Sudan ‘to monitor violations’ after abuses allegedly from RSF
France24 (France)
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, accused of war crimes in Sudan, has followed up by arresting the fighters accused of abuses. However, individuals like the country director at Relief International Sudan, Kashif Shafique, have called for the UN to be on the ground to monitor violations and make sure civilians are protected.
Sudan: What photos and videos can tell us about the El-Fasher massacres
France24 (France)
In Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group took control of El-Fasher on October 27 after a year and a half siege. The militants celebrating their victory have taken photos and videos showing the atrocities they are committing, with satellite images providing evidence of mass killings.
Tanzania: political opposition says 700 people killed in election unrest
CBS News (United States)
Following the elections, violence has escalated in Tanzania as protesters clashed with security forces and faced resistance, resulting in up to 700 deaths over three days, according to the main opposition party, Chadema. The UN has spoken out, claiming to have received ‘credible reports’ indicating that at least 10 people were killed, while Amnesty International reports at least 100. These election-related protests follow what the opposition believes to be election rigging.
Zimbabwe renews efforts to drop US dollar by 2030
Semafor (United States)
Zimbabwe aims to end its dependence on the US dollar by 2030 and encourage the use of its local currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG). The strategy intends to strengthen the central bank’s control and support local industries. It is mainly propelled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has extended his term. Nonetheless, analysts caution that the US dollar may stay dominant for the foreseeable future, as ZiG inflation remains approximately 90%.
South & Central Asia
Afghanistan: ‘Last-ditch push’: Pakistan-Afghanistan talks falter amid deep mistrust
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
After four days of exhaustive discussions between Afghanistan and Pakistan in Istanbul, the core goal was to end the violent tension between the neighboring countries, but Pakistani officials have confirmed a clear failure.
Bhutan: New 35 million USD project launched to drive value addition and job creation in rural Bhutan
Bhutan Broadcasting Service (Bhutan)
Bhutan launches a $35 million USD initiative, funded by the World Bank, in hopes to uplift the nation’s agriculture and rural economy.
Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyzstan launches national stablecoin pegged to som, while Tajikistan remains cautious
Asia-Plus (Tajikistan)
Kyrgyzstan has become of the first in the Central Asia region to promote their first national stablecoin, KGST, on Binance. The country aspires to become a resource of crypto for the world.
Pakistan: Istanbul dialogue: Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to continue ceasefire
Dawn (Pakistan)
Despite tensions growing more drastic with new disagreements arising, Pakistan and Afghanistan have mutually agreed to continue their ceasefire.
Uzbekistan: President of Uzbekistan Discusses C5+1 Summit Agenda with Trump’s Special Envoy
Fergana News (Russia)
The President of Uzbekistan, conversed with Trump’s Special Envoy last Tuesday, prioritizing a more strategic relationship between the countries and optimistic hopes for the outcome of the C5 + 1 Summit Agenda to be held on November 6th in Washington D.C.
Western Hemisphere
Brazil: ‘Brothers in the forest’ – the fight to protect an isolated Amazon tribe
BBC News (United Kingdom)
A man named Tomas Anez Dos Santos was recently confronted by the Mascho Piro, one of the world’s largest isolated and uncontacted indigenous groups in the Amazon, near the small town of Nueva Oceania. The group, which has been seen less frequently, has raised concerns among local communities and human rights stakeholders. Many indigenous peoples of the Amazon face severe threats from logging, mining, oil drilling, as well as from disease spread through prohibited contact by evangelical missionaries and social media influencers seeking publicity.
Brazil: More than 130 killed: How did a Brazil raid on a Rio favela turn so deadly?
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
A state police operation has raised major national and international concerns as it now became one of the country’s deadliest raids targeting a major drug gang in Brazil. With a death count of 132 people from the low-income neighborhoods (favelas) of Rio de Janeiro, protests have broken out against excessive police force with activists calling the operation a slaughter.
Canada: Alberta Protestors Express Distress at Canada’s Capital Ottawa
WWSW (United States)
As of October 28th, both far-right libertarian separatists and central left protestors have united in opposition to Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) government. The conflict stems from the UCP ordering 15,000 striking teachers to return to work or face up fines as high as $500,000 for “illegal job action.” Teachers argue that the proposed wage increase does not keep pace with the country’s high inflation and does not cover necessary costs. Separatists remain frustrated by high taxes, strict environmental regulations, and what they view as under-representation in Canada’s parliament and overreach in controlling natural resources.
The Caribbean: WFP At Hand as Hurricane Melissa Hits the Caribbean
WFPUSA (United States)
Four casualties have been reported in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, while Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba are facing severe flooding, mudslides, and landslides. In Haiti, 23 deaths have been counted in Petit-Goâve, and over 735,000 Cubans have been evacuated, with 214 communities cut off in Santiago Province. Emergency relief efforts are ongoing across all affected Caribbean islands, with countries like the Dominican Republic providing emergency cash assistance to 4,000 vulnerable households.
The SHU World Review is produced by the Student Research Assistants of the DiploLab at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. Some summaries may be copied from article text. Back issues are available in Seton Hall’s repository.