East Asia & the Pacific
Australia: At least three nations ‘willing to kill’ on Australian soil, spy chief says
ABC (Australia)
At least three nations are willing and capable of carrying out an assassination on Australian soil, the nation’s spy chief has warned. In a major address, Mike Burgess has also spelled out his concerns about the rise of AI, and a plot to steal AUKUS secrets.
Cambodia: Thailand says it remains ready to redeploy heavy weapons should Cambodia breach the accord
Khmer Times (Cambodia)
Cambodia has reiterated its commitment to the peace agreement with Thailand amid a demilitarization exercise at the frontier, even as a senior Thai Army spokesman sought to allay domestic concerns that Thailand may not be able to redeploy its heavy weapons to the border “in time” should Cambodia breach the accord.
China: Xi calls it a ‘strategic choice’ to deepen ties in meeting with Russian PM
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
President Xi Jinping reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to Moscow, saying it was a “strategic choice” to strengthen ties, during a meeting with visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Tuesday. Xi told Mishustin that China-Russia ties were advancing with steady determination “despite the turbulent and challenging external environment”, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Indonesia: Indonesia may buy four more Airbus A400M military planes, president says
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Indonesia may start negotiations to buy four more units of Airbus’ A400M military aircraft, President Prabowo Subianto said on Wednesday, as the country continues to revamp its aging military through a string of hardware deals. The purchase of military equipment has picked up since Prabowo, a former special forces commander, became defense minister in 2019 and then president last year, with multiple deals struck for new fighter jets as well as submarines.
Japan: Takaichi eager to outline policies on foreigners in January
The Asahi Shimbun (Japan)
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Nov. 4 that she intends to formulate the direction of policies on foreign nationals, one of her administration’s priorities, in January. At the inaugural meeting of a new ministerial council tasked with the issue, Takaichi instructed her ministers to accelerate discussions on issues such as compliance with existing rules, proper administration of various systems and a review of regulations governing land acquisition by foreign nationals.
Laos: Laos Sets New Economic Direction Under 2026–2030 Development Strategy
The Laotian Times (Laos)
Laos is setting an ambitious new course for national growth as the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Finance have rolled out their five-year development plans for 2026–2030, outlining strategies to accelerate industrialization, strengthen financial stability, and build a self-reliant economy. At the sixth Party Committee Congress of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in late October, Deputy Minister Chanthaboun Soukaloun presented the draft Industry and Trade Development Plan, which positions the sector as a central driver of the country’s economic transformation.
Mongolia: Mongolia Political Instability Analysis: PM Zandanshatar Consolidates Power as Party Congress Nears
Mongolia Weekly (Mongolia)
When the parliament voted on October 17 to oust Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, few expected him to return within a week. Yet the Constitutional Court’s October 22 ruling nullified the vote, and he was back in the prime minister’s seat.
Myanmar: Tens of thousands flee raids by Myanmar regime forces near Kalay
Borneo Bulletin (Brunei)
The displaced individuals are residents of at least 30 villages targeted by two junta columns over the past week, sources said.
North Korea: US Forces Korea focused on North Korea but can respond to other crises: Hegseth
NK News (South Korea)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) remains primarily focused on deterring North Korean aggression but will retain “flexibility” to respond to wider regional contingencies if necessary.
South Korea: Lee calls for bipartisan support for 2026 budget centered on AI
The Korea Herald (South Korea)
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday outlined a 728 trillion won ($506 billion) budget plan for 2026, calling it “Korea’s first budget to open the AI era” and pledging sweeping investments to make the country a global leader in artificial intelligence. Addressing the National Assembly in Seoul, Lee said the government would allocate 10.1 trillion won — triple this year’s amount — to accelerate the nation’s transition to an AI-driven economy.
Taiwan: US Weapons Transfer to Taiwan
Focus Taiwan (Taiwan)
Pentagon working to expedite Taiwan Harpoon deliveries: DoD nominee
Only some of the 66 fighter jets ordered from U.S. may be delivered on time: Koo
Nominee for assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and forces, discusses the transportation of fulfilling the delivery of the 100 harpoons approved of and to be sent to Taiwan by the United States Pentagon.
Taiwan: Taiwan’s defense ministry establishes AI office
Focus Taiwan (Taiwan)
In hopes to strengthen Taiwanese military, Taiwan’s defense ministry established an AI office within the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to be used predominantly for video and image-related purposes but highlighted the possibility of combat uses as well.
Thailand: Thai PM declares war on scammers
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
The Prime Minister of Thailand calls for action on technology-based crimes, highlighting that online scams in particular are damaging countries and individuals physically, financially, and socially.
Thailand: Turmoil in tiaras at Miss Universe in Thailand
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Miss Universe Host Nawat Itsaragrisil dramatically insults Mexican delegate Fatima Bosch for missing an unrequired photoshoot, then calls security after her rebuttal that her organization advised her absence. This event led to a walkout of many fellow delegates in the name of protecting the dignity and respect of women everywhere.
Vanuatu: Opposition seeks removal of Speaker for not summoning MP Simeon
Daily Post (Vanuatu)
“The Opposition bloc has accused Speaker of Parliament Stephen Felix of breaching the Constitution and Parliament Standing Orders, lodging a motion yesterday morning seeking his removal”
Vietnam: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits Vietnam amid protracted arms supply talks
BBC News (United Kingdom)
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Hanoi, Vietnam to discuss U.S. provisions of military equipment to the country, based on agreements to “promote defense cooperation”.
Europe & Eurasia
Belgium: Drone sightings force fresh flight cancellations at Belgium’s main airport
AP News (United States)
Brussels International canceled dozens of flights after overnight drone activity triggered a shutdown amid wider security concerns.
European Union: EU countries agree deal on 2040 climate target, Danish presidency says
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Environment ministers backed a 90% emissions-cut goal for 2040 with new flexibilities ahead of COP30.
European Union: European military trainers should be part of Ukraine security guarantees, EU general says
Reuters (United Kingdom)
The EU’s top military adviser urged deploying trainers inside Ukraine after the war as part of Western guarantees.
European Union: EU weighs pausing parts of landmark AI Act amid pressure, FT reports
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Brussels is considering delaying elements of its AI rules under lobbying from big tech and US officials.
European Union/Ukraine/Hungary: Zelenskyy calls on Hungary’s Orbán to stop blocking EU bid
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Kyiv urged Budapest to lift objections as Brussels advances accession steps despite reform concerns.
Germany/Russia: Far-right German MPs to visit Russia as scrutiny of Moscow ties mounts
Reuters (United Kingdom)
Two AfD lawmakers plan a Moscow trip amid allegations of sharing sensitive information. The party has denied these allegations.
Italy: Italian Politics in Turmoil: Boccia Withdraws from Campania Election Amid Scandal
Brussels Morning (Belgium)
The sudden withdrawal of a key candidate in the Campania regional election amid a scandal highlights growing instability within the national governing coalition.
Italy: Italy’s Constitutional Court Rejects Bid to Allow Third Term for Regional Leaders
Trieste (Italy)
Italy’s highest court blocked a Trentino law allowing a third consecutive term for the regional president, emphasizing limits on regional autonomy.
Latvia: Treaty protecting women triggers political row in Latvia
The Times (United Kingdom)
A bill to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention has sparked protests and a presidential referral back to parliament.
Near East
Egypt/Algeria: Egypt’s FM meets Algerian president to discuss Gaza reconstruction, Libya crisis
Daily News Egypt (Egypt)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Algiers on Wednesday. During the meeting, Abdelatty reviewed the outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit and the historic agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip. He stressed the importance of building on this achievement to ensure the ceasefire holds, and humanitarian aid flows into the enclave, a precursor to reconstruction efforts.
Iran: Trump says he was ‘very much in charge’ of Israel’s June 13 attack on Iran
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
United States President Donald Trump has claimed responsibility for Israel’s initial attack on Iran, contradicting previous US assertions that the Israeli government acted unilaterally. “Israel attacked first. That attack was very, very powerful. I was very much in charge of that,” Trump told reporters on Thursday.
Israel: Israeli official says Israel would strike Beirut if army fails to disarm Hezbollah
Naharnet (Lebanon)
A senior Israeli military official has warned that Israel would attack targets in Beirut if the Lebanese army fails to disarm Hezbollah. “If the Lebanese army does not disarm Hezbollah and fails to meet the demands of the ceasefire, Israel, with U.S. backing, will attack Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including in Beirut,” the official told Israeli Channel 12, hours after Israel struck a series of targets in southern Lebanon.
Morocco: With 11 Members Voting in Favour, 3 Abstaining, Security Council Adopts Resolution 2797 (2025), Renewing Mandate of UN Mission in Western Sahara for One Year
United Nations Meetings Coverage and Press Releases (United Nations)
The Security Council today renewed for one year the mandate of the long-standing United Nations peacekeeping mission in the disputed Western Sahara, referencing Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal presented in 2007 — which envisions the territory as self-governing under Moroccan sovereignty — as a basis for negotiations.
Morocco: Morocco Elected to UNESCO Executive Board
Morocco World News (Morocco)
Morocco has been elected as a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during the 43rd session of its General Conference, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Kingdom secured 146 votes for a four-year mandate, according to the Moroccan delegation in Samarkand.
Syria: US removes Syrian president from global ‘terrorist’ sanctions list
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
The US Department of the Treasury removed al-Sharaa, a former fighter linked to al-Qaeda, from the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list on Friday. Al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump are set to meet next week. The United Nations Security Council also removed al-Sharaa from a largely symbolic sanctions list on Thursday.
Syria: Syria’s al-Sharaa pledges commitment to climate goals at COP30
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa joined world leaders at the United Nations COP30 summit in Brazil, pledging his commitment to global efforts to limit climate change, in the latest sign that the war-torn country is returning to the international fold.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa: Growing Drone Use Raises Likelihood of Attacks by Self-Directed Machines
Africa Defense Forum (United States)
The use of drones has increased in conflicts on the African continent. Experts have expressed their worries about drones operating without human intervention, otherwise known as lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), potentially being used on the continent as testing grounds. As countries like Nigeria and South Africa strengthen their defense and security projects, fears of AI-enhanced drones falling into the wrong hands of terrorists or insurgent groups have led analysts to call for African voices in global AI governance.
Angola: Angola looks for $4.5B in funding for Lobito Corridor rail extension
Semafor (United States)
The Angolan government is seeking $4.5 billion to extend the Lobito Corridor railway into Zambia’s Copperbelt, a significant increase from the $1.6 billion estimate by the African Development Bank (AfDb) earlier in 2024. The 830km extension aims to provide a less congested route that would speed up copper exports from Zamba and the DRC , which supply over 13% of global copper. The U.S.-backed project is viewed as an alternative to investment from China on the continent, although funding has been slow, with a $533 million loan from the U.S. yet to be disbursed.
Cameroon: 92-Year-Old President Biya Sworn In for Eighth Term
allAfrica (United States)
President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest leader, has been sworn in for an eighth term in Cameroon. In his inaugural speech, he offered condolences to those affected by post-election violence, which he attributed to irresponsible politicians, and promised to restore order.
Kenya: Community-led SALW Efforts Seen As Key To Peace and Stability
Africa Defense Forum (United States)
In an effort to curb the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW), Kenya has become a leader in community-led disarmament efforts in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions, disposing of nearly 40,00 illegal firearms over the past two decades.
Libya: Libya to Co-Host Flintlock 26
Africa Defense Forum (United States)
Flintlock, a special operations exercise involving over 30 African countries allied with the U.S., will be co-hosted by Libya in 2026, marking a historic feat. This exercise will bring together military institutions from the West and the East to collaborate, overcoming divisions and strengthening their capacity, following years of conflict and the subsequent 2020 ceasefire.
Nigeria issues $2.35B eurobond amid Trump threats
Semafor (United States)
To help finance its budget, Nigeria has issued a $2.35 billion Eurobond, drawing $13 billion in investor orders. The move comes amidst tensions with the U.S., which has criticized the Nigerian government for not curbing violence against Christians. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut aid and even take military action, with reports that the U.S. Africa Command has identified potential targets. Nigeria joins countries like Angola and Kenya in turning to Eurobond markets despite debt concerns in Africa.
Sudan: RSF agrees to US and Arab-led ceasefire deal
Semafor (United States)
A U.S. and Arab-led proposal detailing a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan amid a civil war between Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the military-led government has been agreed to by the former. The latter has yet to respond to the programs, which also called for a permanent ceasefire and a transition to civilian rule following a three-month humanitarian truce.
South Africa: Nearly half of world’s most unequal countries are in Africa – report
Semafor (United States)
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has reported that Africa is home to nearly half of the world’s most economically unequal countries. A new report on global inequality, commissioned by South Africa, claims that inequality should be considered an emergency and has called for a panel on inequality that incorporates global voices.
South Africa: Probes 17 Citizens Recruited to Fight in Ukraine War
allAfrica (United States)
The South African government received a distress call from seventeen South African men in the Donbas region of Ukraine who had apparently been lured under the assumption of finding lucrative employment opportunities to join as mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the recruitment of the men while the government works to bring them back safely.
Tanzania’s internet shutdown cost economy $228M, monitoring group says
Semafor (United States)
During the elections in Tanzania, an internet outage occurred, which many rights groups attributed to the silencing of dissent and narrative control, and has impacted democratic participation. Net, an internet monitoring group, has claimed that the six-day shutdown has cost the economy $238 million. This raises concerns among people about the government’s use of state-ordered internet outages during periods of unrest or elections in African countries.
Uganda: Ugandans Fear Russian Traffic Monitoring System is a Tool for Spying
Africa Defense Forum (United States)
Ugandan citizens are questioning the new digital license plates that all vehicles entering the country are fitted with, which track and monitor the driver’s activity. The system, known as the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), is controlled by the Russian Joint Stock Company Global Security. Many Ugandans have called out the lack of transparency, fearing what data is being collected and who has access to it.
West Africa: Can Coastal West Africa Resist Sahel Terror Threats?
allAfrica (United States)
Many African countries in the Sahel region have strengthened border security in response to rising terrorist attacks by two al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadi groups. Mistrust among Sahel nations and ECOWAS, along with inadequate cross-border intelligence and regional coordination, has allowed terror groups to infiltrate borders.
South & Central Asia
Afghanistan: Pakistan Launches New Attack on Afghanistan as Fresh Round of Talks Begin
The Khaama Press (Afghanistan)
Pakistani troops opened fire on Taliban members as Afghanistan and Pakistan were engaging in peace talks in Istanbul, reigniting detrimental tensions on the countries’ shared border.
Bangladesh: Bullet-hit BNP candidate airlifted to Dhaka from Chattogram
Prothomalo (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh National Party nominated candidate Ershad Ullah, was attacked by raining bullets at an event in Chattogram, Bangladesh. He was flown to Dhaka for emergency medical treatment, and two suspects have been arrested.
Western Hemisphere
Bolivia: Former Interim President, Jeanine Anez, is freed from prison after Supreme Court Ruling annulling her sentence
AP News (United States)
On November 6th, former Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez was released from prison following a decision made by the Supreme Court that annulled her 10-year sentence. This decision was made on the grounds of procedural legal irregularities and legal inconsistencies in the ruling. She told the media upon release, “there was never a coup in this country; there was electoral fraud,” in reference to claims from her predecessor, the country’s first indigenous socialist president, Evo Morales, being ousted in a coup. He was suspected of committing fraud in the 2019 elections with many U.S. scholars now finding there is no hard evidence to suspect an electoral steal.
Mexico: Mexican Mayor Shot Dead amid Dia de Los Muertos celebrations
NPR (United States)
As of Saturday, November 1, mayor Carlos Alberot Manzo Rodriguez of the Urupan municipality, was gunned down seven times in front of the town’s historic center before being rushed to the hospital until being declared dead upon arrival. Another city council member and a bodyguard were also injured in the attack that has been found to be linked to two armed clashes between rival criminal groups in the region.
Nicaragua: Attempted Murder on Former Nicaraguan Political Prisoner
Havana Times (Nicaragua)
A man by the name of Kevin Solis, one of many of President Daniel Ortega’s 222 political prisoners, has been in exile in Spain since 2024. It wasn’t until last Saturday when he alleged that he was the victim of an attempted murder, he told La Prensa. “The man was about to shoot when a third person shouted,” adding that the man was holding a photo on his phone of him only a few meters outside his home before pulling out a firearm at him. “Human rights organizations have been documenting this incident as the first case of transnational persecution by the Sandinista regime on Spanish soil,” quotes Havana News.
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.