Deals, Divisions, and a World on Edge
Upcoming Free to Join NGO Events
30 October 2025 @ 12:00-1:30 p.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House, United Kingdom
Climate diplomacy in a multipolar world: a new beginning?
In light of the current overlapping global crises, this event commemorates the Paris Agreement's tenth anniversary and considers its successes and limitations. Chatham House brings together diplomats from the Global South to discuss how international climate cooperation needs to change as developing nations become more influential in climate politics. Effective cooperation models, striking a balance between the development of domestic green industries and the importation of clean technology, and strategies to re-elevate climate change as a geopolitical priority in advance of COP30 in Brazil will all be discussed. For more information and registration, visit [Chatham House].
30 October 2025 @ 12:00-1:00 p.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House, United Kingdom
Saudi-Pakistan defence pact: What are the implications for regional power and security?
In this forum, discussions will revolve around the repercussions that will arise from this new Saudi-Pak defence accord. The panellists for this dialogue will critically dissect how this Saudi-Pak defence accord will affect Indo-Pak relations and nuclear security. The defence accord will have a profound effect on Saudi Arabia’s defence policies as well. The role of this defence accord in changing India’s West Asian policies will come under scrutiny in this dialogue. For more information and registration, visit [Chatham House].
30 October 2025 @ 2:00-3:15 p.m. (GMT+1), Chatham House, United Kingdom
What's next for Gaza?
The impact that has arisen from Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and its future will be considered in this webinar. The reason for this is that a large portion of Gaza has been destroyed and millions have been left without a place to call home. The speakers will therefore critically consider whether a 20-point framework has a possibility of restoring stability and how well-versed either side is in adhering to this new strategy. Another important aspect will be that of Arab and Muslim states. For more information and registration, visit [Chatham House].
30 October 2025 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-4), Atlantic Council, USA
What to expect in Iraq’s 2025 elections
The event focuses on disambiguating Iraq’s coming November election, which will happen in a context where there is political fragmentation and a lack of interest in voting. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is hoping to win a new term in parliament but is challenged in this quest not only by other leaders within his own Shia group but also by a lack of opportunities to consolidate power. The event will cover how a new government might emerge and how Iraq's domestic and foreign policies will change. For more information and registration, please see [Atlantic Council].
30 October 2025 @ 10:00-11:30 a.m. (GMT-4), Belfer Center, USA
How America Failed to Disarm North Korea: Implications for the Future
This conference focuses on Joel Wit’s book titled *Flashpoint: The Inside Story of How America Failed to Disarm North Korea* where Joel Wit discusses how six US Presidents have failed to stop North Korea’s nuclear project. Joel Wit has conducted more than 300 interviews and has had direct experience with North Korean officials for many decades. The forum focuses on how the policies of Obama and Trump have added to this disaster and how Northeast Asia is on the brink of a nuclear arms race. For more information and registration, visit [Harvard].
31 October 2025 @ 8:30-9:30 (GMT-4), Asia Society (New York), USA
Assessing Trump’s Asia Tour
In this topic-driven webinar on rapid response for the Asia Society’s think-tank arm, Asia Society Policy Institute, this event will examine Donald Trump’s first presidential trip to the region since resuming his leadership role. Taking place after a number of setbacks to US-China trade talks and in response to Asian initiatives to negotiate new deals with Washington, this review will examine Trump’s vision for Indo-Pacific and its resulting trade and response dynamics. For more information and registration, please see [Asia Society].
3 November 2025 @ 2:00-6:00 p.m. (GMT+1), Bruegel, Belgium
EU sustainable growth: what is the right mix of structural, monetary and fiscal instruments?
In this event, evaluation will take place regarding the growth and competitiveness strategy within one year since the Draghi Report. The event has panelists evaluating how sustainability has influenced Europe's growth strategy. The panelists will debate how sustainability influences Europe as far as growth is concerned. Sustainability is related to how Europe focuses on its growth while taking into consideration its goals regarding climate change. The event will cover how Europe’s strategy for competitiveness has to come up with different approaches in relation to new security challenges. For more information and registration, visit [Bruegel].
3 November 2025 @ 10:30-11.30 a.m. (GMT+7), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
Fade to Blue? What the Revamped Senate Reveals about Thailand’s Politics
The given speech analysis is conducted in this study through a critical examination and review of a speech given by Dr Duncan Mccargo. The speech is focused on Thailand’s Senate election in 2024 and how a “merit-based” election has turned out to be dominated by political factions in addition to Bhumjaithai’s “blue faction” that holds power in more than 200 members of parliament. However, this Senate has a capability to appoint high-ranking officials and is dominated by conservatives that are a setback to Thailand’s progressives. For more information and registration, visit [ISEAS].
4 November 2025 @ 1:30-2:30 p.m. (GMT-5), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
After Khamenei: Iran’s Political Culture and the Struggle for Its Future
As Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's reign draws to a close, this panel examines Iran's uncertain political future. Experts will talk about possible successors, the development of Iran's political order, and the factors influencing its post-Khamenei trajectory as the regime's ideology becomes more and more out of step with its society. The conversation with Karim Sadjadpour, Ali Ansari, and Robin Wright, moderated by Nazee Moinian, will evaluate the ramifications for Iran's 92 million citizens, American policy, and the Middle East as a whole. For more information and registration, please see [Carnegie].
🌍 Top Stories of the Week 23/10 - 29/10
23 October
🇵🇸 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 Gaza seems to be completely destroyed. All buildings are in ruins. Currently, the U.S. and Israel are considering a plan that would divide Gaza into separate zones controlled by Israel and Hamas. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇺🇦 Trump allows Ukraine to use Long range missiles against Russia !! After disagreements and cancellation of the meeting between Trump and Putin, now Trump is trying different ways to pressurise. [Source]
Trump later went on to deny these claims while sanctioning 2 major Russian oil companies. [Source]
🇺🇸U.S. national debt has surged past $38 trillion. U.S. national debt rose by $1 trillion in the last 2 months. [Source]
🇪🇺 🇷🇺 Europe approves 19th package of sanctions against Russia. Preparing for 20th package soon. [Source]
24 October
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump on Thursday issued yet another reprieve for a crypto mogul who happens to have greatly enriched the Trump family’s net worth.
Founder and former CEO of Binance, Zhao, served 4 months in prison in 2023 for anti-money-laundering violations. After months of lobbying the Trump administration, he received a pardon, with the White House said on Thursday it his case was “overly prosecuted” by the Biden administration. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇻🇪 Escalation in Venezuela. Warships, fighter jets and CIA In Response: Venezuela says CIA plot 'will fail' after Trump authorises covert action.
US will send B1- bombers near Venezuela intensifying military pressure upon alleged drug traffickers. [Source]
With the increased pressure Trump may be seeking regime change in Venezuela. Caracas (Capital of Venezuela) has attempted to calm Trump’s wrath “offering the U.S. a dominant stake in Venezuela’s oil and mineral wealth”. [Source]
Nobel-prize winner María Corina Machado who was a key figure in promoting democracy in Venezuela recently has urged the US to press left wing populist Maduro into leaving office and honour the authentic election results by handing her party power.
🇺🇸 🇨🇦 Trump says trade talks with Canada terminated over an advertisement. [Source]
25 October
🇷🇺 🇺🇦 At least four killed in Russian strikes overnight on Ukraine. [Source]
🇹🇭 Thailand's former queen Sirikit dies aged 93. [Source]
26 October
🇫🇷 Louvre detectives believe heist was inside job. [Source]
Paris police have 'evidence member of museum security team was in contact with' suspected thieves, source tells The Telegraph.
27 October
🇨🇳 🇺🇸 🇹🇼 US will not abandon long-standing support for Taiwan in China deal — Rubio. [Source]
China has been pushing the US to oppose Taiwan independance which would grant China a huge diplomatic win.
Trump will meet with Xi next week in the regional summit at South Korea. More will be discussed.
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Both a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter Jet and a MH-60 Seahawk helicopter crashed separately in the South China Sea. [Source]
🇮🇳 🇨🇳 India and China resume direct flights as ties improve. [Source]
🇦🇺 Anthony Albanese’s met with Premier Li Qiang (second highest authority in China) today, one week after a Chinese fighter jet confronted an Australian surveillance plane in the South China Sea, firing two flares dangerously close to the P8. Albanese only noted that his concerns were ‘heard’ not understood. No further information from the meeting was provided by Albanese [Source].
28 October
🇻🇪 🇺🇸Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew toward the Caribbean Sea today. This is the third bomber mission near Venezuela in two weeks. [Source]
Will this spur an upcoming coup in Venezuela?
🇻🇪 🇺🇸 Venezuela Claims To Have Captured Group Of CIA-Aligned Mercenaries. Accuses the U.S. of plotting 'false flag' attack on its own warship. [Source]
🇯🇵 🇺🇸 At first summit with Trump, Takaichi pledges 'new golden age' for alliance. [Source]
Said by the Japan Times of being a 'influenced by Abe’ who during his power was close with Trump. Takaichi presented him with a unique gift: a putter used by Abe and a golf bag signed by Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama.
The two announced the agreement signed on 28 October in Tokyo on critical minerals and rare earths. The agreement will entail:
Securing supply by supporting domestic industries and encouraging dialogue amongst upstream and downstream companies to diversify supply chains.
Investing in mining and processing
Specific project selection in permanent magnets, batteries, catalysts, and optical materials.
Providing financial support for these selected projects to generate end product for delivery to buyers in the United States, Japan and other ‘like minded’ countries.
Mobilising private capital to strengthen critical minerals and rare earth supply chains.
Measures to accelerate, streamline, or deregulate permitting timelines and processes
Fair competition and pricing mechanisms
Asset sales
Investing in recycling technologies
🇪🇺 🇯🇵 European Space Agency opens first Asia office in Tokyo. [Source]
🇨🇳 China pitches itself as alternative to US protectionism after signing expanded ASEAN free trade pact. [Source]
The free trade area covers a combined market of more than 2 billion people and lowers tariffs on goods and boosting flows of services and investment.
Trump at the ASEAN summit on Sunday announced new economic details with Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, though all countries are still subject to new tariffs he has brought in. Disenchanting these ties with the US. During this time Australia must the address the imperative to reiterate its ties within the Indo-pacific.
🇦🇺 Australia to form part of Pacific 'taskforce' set to stir regional controversy. [Source]
29 October
🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Netanyahu told the military to immediately carry out “powerful attacks” in Gaza. Trump-brokered ceasefire held for just over two weeks. Netanyahu previously said “it’s doesn’t matter what US wants, we are independent country”. [Source]
🇵🇰 🇦🇫 Pakistan says peace talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban government in Istanbul failed after four days. [Source]
🇰🇵 North Korea says it test-fired cruise missiles ahead of Trump’s visit to South Korea. [Source]
🇦🇺 🇲🇾 Australia's Lynas invests in new Malaysian heavy rare earth facility to meet rising demand. [Source]
Lynas, the world's largest rare-earth producer outside China, said the project would cost about A$180 million ($116.96 million) and will have the capacity to separate up to 5,000 tonnes per annum of heavy rare-earth feedstock.
🇨🇦 🇺🇸 The U.S. government inked a partnership with the Canadian owners of Westinghouse Electric on Tuesday that aims to build at least $80 billion in nuclear reactors. [Source]
🇨🇦 Canada to work with G7 partners to secure critical mineral supply deals, minister says. [Source]
🇯🇵 Man pleads guilty to killing Japan's former PM Shinzo Abe. [Source]
