Geopolitical Developments and Conflicts
The Israel-Hamas conflict remains a focal point, with reports of Hamas delivering the bodies of two Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza. This comes amidst a fragile US-brokered ceasefire, which US Vice President J.D. Vance stated was "going better than expected" during his visit to Israel, urging patience regarding Hamas' pace of returning hostages. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to permit UN aid into Gaza and meet civilians' basic needs. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have reportedly killed dozens of Palestinians.
In Eastern Europe, the Russia-Ukraine War continues to escalate on diplomatic and military fronts. The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Russia for its ongoing war in Ukraine. The United States Treasury Department further increased pressure on Russia's energy sector by sanctioning its two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, citing Moscow's lack of serious commitment to a peace process. Ukraine's military claimed to have struck a chemical plant in Russia's Bryansk region, vital to Moscow's war effort, using Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles. Additionally, Russian nuclear forces conducted drills, and a planned meeting between President Trump and President Putin regarding the Ukraine war has been called off.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the North's eastern waters, as reported by South Korea, continuing its pattern of weapons testing. This action precedes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
India has formally elevated its Technical Mission in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy with immediate effect, following a visit by the Taliban administration's acting Foreign Minister to India. This move aims for deeper bilateral ties with Afghanistan.
International Economic and Strategic Alliances
The United States and Australia signed a critical minerals agreement on October 21, 2025, at the White House. This agreement, involving an $8.5 billion mineral supply pipeline with both nations contributing $1 billion, aims to strengthen Western supply chain resilience and reduce China's dominance in critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements.
India and the US are reportedly nearing a long-awaited trade deal that would link tariff reductions to reduced Russian oil imports.
In North Africa, a Saudi firm, Midad Energy, signed a $5.4 billion oil and gas deal with Algeria, funding a 30-year project in the Illizi Basin. Algeria also launched a comprehensive $60 billion oil, gas, and hydrogen strategy spanning 2025-2029, focusing on boosting upstream investment, refineries, and renewables.
Other Notable Global News
Libyan banks faced overwhelming withdrawal demands, leading the government to inject 11 billion Libyan dinars in new currency to ease a deepening cash crisis.
In the tech world, OpenAI launched ChatGPT-Atlas, an AI-powered web browser, positioning itself to compete with existing browsers like Google Chrome.
Peru's President Jose Jeri declared a state of emergency in Lima to address surging violence. Similarly, Guatemala passed an anti-gang law, designating gangs as terrorist groups.